May 1, 2018 | Game ON news

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

News:: GOG just brought back Star Wars: Episode I Racer

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace led to the creation of a memorable late-'90s racing game, Star Wars: Episode I Racer, and for that I am thankful. All of my memories are relegated to the Nintendo 64 version, but it was also available for PC and eventually ended up on Dreamcast.

Today, Episode I Racer lives on thanks to GOG with an updated and optimized PC release. The podracing game will normally run you $9.99, but there's currently a 15 percent launch discount.

I was truly terrible at this game when it was new and never made much progress since, but I liked it a lot at the time. If you're in the mood for old Star Wars games but aren't as down with Episode I Racer, GOG also has a bunch of other titles -- including X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter -- on sale for the next week.

GOG just brought back Star Wars: Episode I Racer screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/gog-just-brought-back-star-wars-episode-i-racer-501187.phtml

News:: Ant-Man and the Wasp's second trailer is one big dick joke

Ant-Man's been in the news a lot over the past few days, but it has nothing to do with his forthcoming sequel release on July 6, just over two months away.

Instead, it's owing to his conspicuous absence in Avengers: Infinity War; you may have noticed that he was the only comic book movie character ever created not featured in the box office behemoth.

To remind you of his existence, Marvel released Ant-Man and the Wasp's second trailer two days after Avengers went all Hulk on every box office opening record ever, you know, to maximize their potential marketing audience.

Ant-Man and the Wasp's second trailer is one big dick joke screenshot

News:: Owlboy is getting a physical limited edition for consoles

The retail release for Owlboy is getting closer everyday, but publisher SODESCO isn't content to simply put the game in a box. Just announced, Owlboy will be receiving a limited edition box for Switch and PS4. Details are mum on what this version will include, but a very nice render of the box is available and it certainly looks fetching. Thankfully, this will be available worldwide, though it is still limited to 6,000 copies.

Owlboy is getting a physical limited edition for consoles screenshot

News:: Mega Man 2 and X are getting reprints from iam8bit

Fans of physical copies and old school hardware have a reason to rejoice today as Capcom is teaming up with iam8bit to print reproduction carts of Mega Man 2 and Mega Man X. More than simply a gimmick, these carts will work on original hardware and will come with recreated box art, instruction manuals and some "retro" surprises. Both games, which are currently available for pre-order, are going for $100 and are limited to 8,500 copies. They will only work on NTSC consoles (US and Japan).

While the X cart is definitely nice, I'm very partial to the light blue Mega Man 2 cart. That looks really slick and it would be awesome to see in a top loader NES. If you're lucky, your cart might even be a limited glow in the dark blue variant (which has a one in eight chance of being in your box), which would be even sweeter.

Mega Man X And Mega Man II Classic Cartridges Announced [Game Informer]

Mega Man 2 and X are getting reprints from iam8bit screenshot

News:: EA's adding a free World Cup mode to FIFA 18

With the arrival of this summer's World Cup tournament in Russia, Electronic Arts is veering from one of its soccer game mainstay. For the first time in 20 years, EA Sports won't release a dedicated World Cup game.

Instead, EA plans to launch a free World Cup update to FIFA 18 for all platforms (PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One) on May 29. It's more than an afterthought, too. EA promises the full rosters of all 32 qualified countries, the 12 Russian stadiums the World Cup will be played in, official kits and tournament balls, and new celebration cinematics.

This is a significant offering for a free update. On one hand, it's incredible that this content -- which was its own retail product for two decades -- is now a gratis add-on. On the other, maybe EA ran the numbers and realized that new Ultimate Team microtransaction sales would outweigh net sales of a new games.

Generosity and business savvy are mutually exclusive, and this is almost certainly the latter. But, business savvy doesn't necessarily put the consumer in a disadvantageous position. This feels like an instance where everyone wins -- except the handful of people who eagerly awaited 2018 FIFA World Cup (Russia) and never got it.

FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia is Coming to FIFA 18 for Free on May 29 [EA Sports]

EA's adding a free World Cup mode to FIFA 18 screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/ea-s-adding-a-free-world-cup-mode-to-fifa-18-501198.phtml

News:: Sea of Thieves gets new cosmetics ahead of first major content update

Screwing around and looking fab on the high seas -- that's the Sea of Thieves way. I've pretty much got my withered pirate looking the way I want, but maybe you're still searching for that perfect outfit.

Today, Rare added a number of new cosmetics, including a limited-edition weapon (picture above) that costs just 1 Gold; The Eye of Reach is available for the next two weeks. The latest update has also made skeletons less accurate when firing cannons from long distances. (They were too good.)

The studio has spoken more about its future content plans in a developer update video.

To recap, Rare has split into three separate Sea of Thieves teams -- one for The Hungering Deep, one for Cursed Sails, and one for Forsaken Shores. The first is considered a medium-sized content update, while the latter two will be larger due to a longer lead time. After The Hungering Deep's launch in May, the developers will begin rolling out weekly events leading up to the next content update.

Executive producer Joe Neate also spoke about some upcoming quality-of-life features. Private crews are on the way, possibly as soon as next week, and the team is working on the ability for players to hand resources like bananas to one another. Lastly, for the sake of easier stealth maneuvers and ship-boarding schemes, Rare wants to hide players' nameplates when they're swimming underwater.

Sea of Thieves gets new cosmetics ahead of first major content update screenshot

News:: Facebook's Instant Games now offer in-app purchases

Facebook's Instant Games are about to add a cornerstone of the modern gaming experience, although it's not necessarily the one you'd hope for. The social site is adding support for in-app purchases to Instant Games on both Android and the web, letting you buy extra goodies (no doubt including a ton of in-game currency) in titles that don't require lengthy downloads. The tools are available now, although game creators can only start submitting apps on May 7th.

Source: Facebook Developers

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/01/facebook-instant-games-in-app-purchases/

News:: New Mega Man figure line once again has Vile rocking a glass of whiskey

Mega Man X's Vile has a long history of rocking a whiskey glass from an old manga storyline. It even made it into his D-Arts figure rendition, and now it's part of the '66' line.

'66' is the name of Bandai Namco's new figure initiative, which will be sold in the form of blind boxes, as well as a Ride Armor 2-pack. The former will run you 5,940 yen for 10 figures, and the latter is 6,480 yen. Again the 10-pack is for a massive blind box haul, and you should be able to find individual boxes over in Japan this September when '66' launches.

Or, you can just pre-order them on Amazon Japan right now. I think I'm all tapped out on Mega Man toys, especially of the blind box variety -- I try now to partake in this scheme as often as I can.

Mega Man 66 [Amazon.jp via Rockman Corner]

New Mega Man figure line once again has Vile rocking a glass of whiskey screenshot

News:: The Oculus Go standalone VR headset stealth-released today

With no formal prior warning, Oculus unleashed a new headset upon the world today. About a half year after the Oculus Go was first revealed at the VR-focused convention Oculus Connect 4, retailers have started shipping them to consumers.

Oculus Go is meant to be a mid-range solution that bridges the gap between the cheap and smartphone-dependent Gear VR, and the more impressive but high-end PC-dependent Oculus Rift. Go is a self-contained device, meaning that all of its components are inside the wireless headset; no external tech is needed for Go to function. The model with 32GB of storage is selling for $199, while the 64GB model is $249.

The stealth-release is part of Facebook's F8 conference which is taking place right now. The announcement was part of Mark Zuckerberg's keynote speech, and he stressed how this is "the easiest way to get into VR." The Go is available now through many retailers, including Amazon and directly through Oculus.

Even though this was a surprise, Oculus still sent out some review units to media. Ars Technica has a detailed breakdown of everything the Go does right and wrong. It sounds like exactly what Oculus was aiming for -- it's not as good as the Rift, but it's impressive enough to give an accurate representation of VR for a much more affordable price.

The Oculus Go standalone VR headset stealth-released today screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/the-oculus-go-standalone-vr-headset-stealth-released-today-501192.phtml

News:: Pokemon Duel passes the 34 million downloads mark

The Pokemon Company have revealed that that digital board game for mobile, Pokemon Duel has surpassed over 34 million downloads since its initial release.

The Free-to-Play title launched in Japan in 2016 before making its way to worldwide Android and iOS devices in January of the following year, Players move a team of six Pokemon across a gridded area, stopping for battles with the opposing team. Strategic movements can be made to block the path of the opposition, or to stun Pokemon without battle by surrounding them on all adjacent spaces.

Our own CJ Andriessen found entertainment in the game in his review, but was very wary of the game's microtransactions, which could easily lead to an imbalance in power between players who grind and those who spend.

Pokemon Duel is available now on iOS and Android.

Pokemon Duel passes the 34 million downloads mark screenshot

News:: Ikaruga hits Nintendo Switch this month with vertical screen option

Treasure's everlasting shmup Ikaruga is officially headed to Nintendo Switch.

After some not-so-subtle port teases last month, the company is moving ahead with Nicalis for a Switch version that's due out May 29, 2018. It'll cost $14.99 on the eShop.

Notably, Ikaruga will let you play in TATE mode, which is to say that you can hold your Switch on its side for a vertical screen orientation. That's the dream right there, folks. Here's a screenshot:

I don't need another copy of Ikaruga, but then again maybe I do...

Ikaruga Blasts Its Way to Nintendo Switch on May 29! [Nicalis]

Ikaruga hits Nintendo Switch this month with vertical screen option screenshot

News:: Player wins Fortnite match with an astounding 43 kills

A lot of the appeal of the battle royale genre is how casually you can enter any given match and possibly win. There have been many a "chicken dinner" or "victory royale" by way of one, two, or even zero kill sessions, but this win from player Teeqzy is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum.

Teeqzy managed to wrack up an incredible kill count of 43 before securing a win in Fortnite. To put that into perspective for those of you who don't play, that's nearly half of the 100 people in the match. They saved it all in clip form and it's only 18 minutes long, just in case you want to see what top-level play is like in a relatively short amount of time.

Again, the mere idea of battling 99 other players and coming out on top in the time it takes for a 15 minute break, on your cell phone no less, is part of the reason why people are playing this genre.

Player wins Fortnite match with an astounding 43 kills screenshot

News:: Saints Row 2 is here to f&$@ up Xbox One backward compatibility

The original Saints Row was a competent enough game, but it mostly felt like a direct Grand Theft Auto clone instead of anything new. The sequel is where things started to get a bit crazy and is definitely the place where new players should begin. Now, you won't even need to dig up an Xbox 360 or PS3 to play the game, since Saints Row 2 has joined the Xbox One backward compatibility list.

It is the sole game being added today, but that is fine enough. What really sold me on Saints Row 2 was the inclusion of full story co-op. Having my friend tag along was a wild ride, especially when we got into "Septic Avenger" and "Insurance Fraud." The combos we got going were pretty damn insane.

Saints Row 2 is here to f&$@ up Xbox One backward compatibility screenshot

News:: An unknown retailer recently sold a brand new copy of Sonic 2 for the Game Gear

As reported by NPD Group analyst Matt Piscatella, at some point in March, somebody in the United States walked into a retail outlet and purchased a brand new copy of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Game Gear, originally released in 1992.

This little mystery is being chatted about online, with many assuming it's likely to have been sold as part of the closing down sales implemented by distributor Toys 'R' Us. As if a single copy of the game was just found lingering in some dark and dusty warehouse corner, underneath a stack of unsold WWF action figures and a Manta Force playset.

So far it appears that neither the seller nor the purchaser have been identified, but it makes for a fun little story. I hope, wherever you are, that you are enjoying the hang-gliding action on your original hardware, in-between catching some quality programming via your plug-in TV Tuner.

An unknown retailer recently sold a brand new copy of Sonic 2 for the Game Gear screenshot

News:: Battlefield 1's They Shall Not Pass expansion is free right now

With development on Battlefield 1's updates slowing down, the time has come for free stuff. DICE is giving away the first expansion, They Shall Not Pass, for two weeks. The offer is currently up for Origin and Xbox One players, but at the time of writing, it's not ready for PlayStation 4 users in North America.

They Shall Not Pass is the one with the French army, Frontlines mode, the Battle of Verdun, the Trench Raider class, and the mighty Char 2C tank, among other content additions. Pretty sweet deal.

Battlefield 1's They Shall Not Pass expansion is free right now screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/battlefield-1-s-they-shall-not-pass-expansion-is-free-right-now-501183.phtml

News:: Miitomo is closing very soon, but Nintendo is allowing you to save your Miis

There was a time where pretty much everyone I knew was using Miitomo, Nintendo's forgotten first mobile app (it wasn't Super Mario Run!). Then it kind of died off -- which wasn't an isolated incident it seems -- so much so that Nintendo announced their intention of killing it. We've known for a while now that Miitomo is ending officially on May 9, just a week and some change away, but there is going to be a final backup of sorts.

By way of an in-app news update you probably missed because you don't have Miitomo on your phone anymore, Nintendo clarified their intention of allowing the creation and editing of Miis by way of a browser. The notification explains it best:

With the end of Miitomo service, it will no longer be possible to create or edit Mii characters using Miitomo, but we are planning to add a feature in late May 2018 which will enable you to create and edit Mii characters for your Nintendo Account via your web browser of choice. In order to add this feature, we will be performing system migration maintenance from the end of Miitomo service until late May 2018. During this period, you will not be able to change your Mii character set to your Nintendo Account (including clothes and accessories).

Yep! That's going to be a thing in late May if you care.

Miitomo is closing very soon, but Nintendo is allowing you to save your Miis screenshot

News:: Nintendo faces Switch patent infringement investigation in the US

Nintendo is under investigation by the US International Trade Commission, and the fate of the Switch hangs in the balance. Gamevice, the company behind the Wikipad and a line of snap-on controllers for mobile devices, says the Nintendo Switch violates its patents on attachable handheld gamepads and their related accessories. Alleging violations of the Tariff Act of 1930, Gamevice is requesting a cease and desist order against Nintendo, a move that would halt imports of the Switch into the US.

Via: CNET

Source: USITC

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/01/nintendo-switch-wikipad-gamevice-import-investigation-patent/

News:: God of War contains a secret that allows Kratos to unleash his inner Thanos

Moxxxxxi, a user on the sub-reddit for Sony's super-successful adventure game God of War, has come across a relic that seems suspiciously familiar to that wielded by Marvel's mega-villain (who some are foolishly projecting as some misunderstood hero) Thanos.

Spoilers below regarding hidden God of War weapons/Easter eggs.

Within God of War, players can find a Talisman known as the "Shattered Gauntlet of Ages", along with the description that the item is "An ancient relic of Hel, deemed too powerful to remain whole, fragments of its former strength lie scattered throughout the realms..."

Once equipped, players can find six enhancements to attach to the talisman, each of which sounds somewhat familiar to the six Infinity Stones sought after by the megalomaniacal antagonist of Marvel's Infinity War. These enhancements are as follows:

God of War contains a secret that allows Kratos to unleash his inner Thanos screenshot

News:: There are no plans for a Sonic Mania sequel at this moment

Sonic Mania was a bonafide hit. Sega seems happy with its sales, and critically, it's done far better than the vast majority of the Sonic franchise since the first Sonic Adventure. You'd expect the publisher would greenlight five sequels right off the bat, but nope -- it seems like they're taking it easy at the moment.

Beyond the upcoming Plus expansion, there aren't any plans to expand Mania. Speaking to Famitsu Sonic series producer Takashi Iizuka explains: "The next project is called Sonic Mania .That was a joke, the project "Sonic Mania" feels complete issuing the packaged version "Plus". I have not thought about what to do with the series in the future currently."

Iizuka also took the time to thank Sonic fans, stating: "Thanks to everyone who bought the original Sonic Mania, we’re able to continue it to Plus, and we’re really grateful for that. There may be some impressions that Sonic Mania was aimed for people who knew of the Genesis-era games simply because it is a 2D game that feels like the past, but in actuality, people from a very broad age range are playing it. Especially outside Japan, the highest user demographics of digital downloads came from grade schoolers. This time we’re selling it in a form and price that’s easy to obtain, so to those who haven’t got to play this yet, please kindly get this. I can proudly recommend this title to Japanese grade schoolers as well."

Its good times for Sega. People have mostly forgotten about the lows they experienced with Sonic Boom and Sonic Forces, and have moved on to looking forward to Plus and enjoying Sonic cartoons again. It's a weird, possibly brief window into my childhood where everyone actually liked Sonic and we had two TV shows and a host of good games to choose from.

Sonic [Famitsu via PlayStation Lifestyle]

There are no plans for a Sonic Mania sequel at this moment screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/there-are-no-plans-for-a-sonic-mania-sequel-at-this-moment-501125.phtml

News:: Oculus Rooms gets Hasbro games and a major redesign

Alongside the Go's launch today, Oculus also announced an updated version of Rooms, its app for hanging out with friends in VR. The new app sports a swankier design, and it also features Hasbro board games, which will really make it feel like you're relaxing in your living room. Boggle will be available this month, and Oculus says Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit will arrive in the future. As for other new features, you'll be able to customize your rooms environment, and you'll also have higher-quality avatars to customize.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/01/oculus-rooms-venues-hasbro/

News:: Oculus Go standalone VR headset is now available for $199

Oculus' first stab at a standalone VR headset is finally here after several months of hype. The Oculus Go is now available to order from the company's website for buyers in 23 countries, with US pricing set at $199 for a version with 32GB of storage and $249 for a 64GB model. Americans can also buy the headset from a mix of online and physical retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and Newegg.

Source: Oculus

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/01/oculus-go-launch-date-pricing/

News:: Oculus Go review: Finally, cheap and easy VR for everyone

The Oculus Go is the most convenient and comfortable VR headset ever made. That might sound like hyperbole, but it's well deserved. With the Rift, its first headset to reach consumers, Oculus helped introduce us to high-end VR. And together with Samsung, it delivered the cheap Gear VR headset for smartphones. But the $199 Go has a far better chance of getting average consumers into virtual reality, because it's dead simple to use.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/01/oculus-go-review/

News:: Review: Frostpunk

Here are some thoughts that popped into my head while playing Frostpunk:

These damn cripples are useless!
Why is the work day so short? I need to do something about this.
If you don't like working a 24-hour shift, maybe you'd like to head out into the freezing waste?
I wish I could put out propaganda more often...

I am not a kind and benevolent leader.

Review: Frostpunk screenshot

News:: PSA: The next Pokemon legendary giveaway starts soon, involves Yveltal and Xerneas

I know they're contentious, but I was a big fan of Pokémon X and Y, especially at the time. In part it was the shift to a more advanced visual style, but I also really dug exploring the Kalos region, more so than several other regions before it. Also, to be frank, it was nice not having to deal with another "Super" or "Ultra" iteration throughout a generation.

That duo of games also created Yveltal and Xerneas, and now you can grab them in the newer sets of games by way of 2018's legendary promotion. Starting on May 4 to May 27 you can go to GameStop and grab either of them. It'll have the same restrictions as other recent promos -- Yveltal is linked to Pokemon Ultra Sun or Pokemon Sun, and Xerneas is linked to Pokemon Ultra Moon or Pokemon Moon.

Next up in June is a Shiny Zygarde, followed by Tornadus or Thundurus in July, Groudon or Kyogre in August, Latios or Latias in September, Zekrom or Reshiram in October, and Ho-oh or Lugia in November.

PSA: The next Pokemon legendary giveaway starts soon, involves Yveltal and Xerneas screenshot

News:: Sony adds a slew of PS2 games to PlayStation Now

Sony's PlayStation Now hasn't been of much use for nostalgia trips unless most of your memories revolve around the PS3, but that's about to change: the first wave of PS2 titles is available through the game streaming service. They're not must-have blockbusters, but they're definitely titles you'll recognize, including Ape Escape 2, Dark Cloud 2 and Hot Shots Tennis. And importantly, these aren't straight content dumps -- each of these games plays in HD (no 4K, alas) with trophy support.

Source: PlayStation Blog

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/01/sony-adds-ps2-games-to-ps-now/

News:: Screenshots and key art revealed for Artisan Studios' Brave Neptune

A selection of screens and some lovely key art have been revealed for Compile Heart's upcoming Brave Neptune. Well, I say "revealed", but, really, they just sort of turned up on Amazon Japan.

The action-RPG will see series regulars Neptune, Noire, Vert and Blanc battle both amnesia and a host of horrible critters as they make their way through an all-new 2D take on Gameindustri, the beloved home of the Hyperdimension Neptunia series. Histoire will be on hand to help the gals out, but has reverted to the form of a simple book.

Brave Neptune is being developed by Canada's Artisan Studios, making this the first game in the kooky series to be developed outside of the East. Not a whole lot is known about the game's mechanics, but levels are expected to have a "labyrinthine" feel, and the tone of the game is said to be the most light-hearted yet, and that's saying something.

Brave Neptune is currently schedule for launch on PS4 in Japan September 27.

Screenshots and key art revealed for Artisan Studios' Brave Neptune screenshot

News:: My Nintendo mixes up its rewards with Zelda-themed items

My Nintendo isn't all that exciting, but every so often a discount comes along that might be worth rolling out of bed for.

Nintendo has updated its lackluster system to include discounts for various Zelda games, including 30% off Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, Majora's Mask 3D and Ocarina of Time (Wii U), as well as 50% off Oracle of Seasons (3DS), Link's Awakening DX (3DS), Oracle of Ages (3DS) and Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS).

Pretty much every game above is worth picking up, especially Link's Awakening if you somehow haven't played it yet. Even if Nintendo has relegated the 3DS to mostly an old-game-player at this point that's perfectly fine -- I just hope that when the Virtual Console eventually does come to the Switch that it finally has a real account system where we can re-download all our games instead of buying them for the fifth time.

Ha!

Too cool for Hyrule: May My Nintendo rewards [My Nintendo]

My Nintendo mixes up its rewards with Zelda-themed items screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/my-nintendo-mixes-up-its-rewards-with-zelda-themed-items-501119.phtml

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Tuesday, May 1, 2018