News:: May these Star Wars games that are discounted on the PlayStation Store be with you

May the 4th, the day in between May the 3rd and May the 5th, just so happens to be today! And for that reason, PlayStation is discounting some Star Wars games.

As far as recent games go, there isn't a whole lot. Battlefront II is $36 and Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is $10. But, there's a decent variety of PS3, Vita, and PSP -- including some classics that are playable on newer platforms. There's also some add-on stuff and a lot of a la carte pinball levels.

Here's the full list of all the PlayStation Star Wars savings. The sale ends May the 7th.

May the 4th Sale [PlayStation Store]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/may-these-star-wars-games-that-are-discounted-on-the-playstation-store-be-with-you-501677.phtml

News:: PUBG Corp has temporarily halted personal item trading in PUBG

Along with good old fashioned microtransactions, PUBG has allowed players to trade items between each other. This was a way for friends to hand over some of the more ludicrously expensive items to their buddies without asking them to shell out a couple of Benjamins. The feature has now been suspended since it turns out that was leading to some "shady" behavior.

In a post over on the Steam community, PUBG Corp has noted that a number of individuals were taking to third party trading sites to sell items that circumvented the Steam marketplace. By adding a friend and then using the personal trade option, they were cutting out the profit that Valve and PUBG Corp would get from selling directly on Steam. While I'm not sure if this is in violation of the EULA for PUBG, it is something the developer doesn't want happening anymore. The feature will be coming back once PUBG Corp figures out a better solution.

I honestly didn't know this feature even existed, but I don't really see the harm in people cutting out the middle man. This is the same kind of stuff that happens with any market, digital or not. If people want a product and don't want to go through official channels, it is their right to decide to do so. You can buy a used car, for instance, directly from a seller instead of needing to go to a dealership. Maybe I would care more if PUBG wasn't still riddled with cheaters and bugs, but I guess we just can't change some facts.

Temporarily Turning Off Personal Item Trades [Steam Community]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/pubg-corp-has-temporarily-halted-personal-item-trading-in-pubg-501673.phtml

News:: How to play as Street Fighter's Sakura in Monster Hunter: World

She's here she's here she's here! Capcom has opened up the challenge quests for Sakura in Monster Hunter: World, and we've got ourselves some Pink Rathians to chop down and carve up.

"Pleased to meet you!" 🥊

Special challenge quests to unlock Sakura from @StreetFighter Empress in Full Bloom I, II, III go live to all #MHWorld hunters in just 2 hours. pic.twitter.com/I3BDgLhlDv

— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) May 3, 2018

You'll find the Sakura questline at the Arena Counter in the Gathering Hub -- it's listed under the Challenges heading. The seven-star quests are "Empress in Full Bloom I," "II," and "III," all of which involve fighting a Pink Rathian but feature different weapon sets, so take your pick based on whatever you're most comfortable wielding. The only requirement is being Hunter Rank 12 or higher.

I'm completely out of practice but still made it through on my first attempt. There's a lot of leeway on time and fainting, so you don't need to play perfectly by any means. That said, you'll definitely need to run these quests several times for all of the necessary crafting materials. Don't forget to make liberal use of the sleep, paralysis, and poison knives at your disposal and you'll do great.

The Smithy can craft the Sakura Alpha Armor Set for you at the Workshop, but you'll need a few things first: 40,000 zenny, SFV Ticket II x4, Hunter King Coin x4, Rathian Coin x4, and Pink Rathian Scale+ x6. The crossover armor is mostly for looks, but for a specific stat breakdown, head over here.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/how-to-play-as-street-fighter-s-sakura-in-monster-hunter-world-501668.phtml

News:: Destiny 2 has something completely new planned for the fall

The original Destiny relied on its Taken King expansion -- the official beginning of the second year of content -- to reinvigorate the game. Developer Bungie significantly reworked nearly every aspect of Destiny to make it a better experience. The Taken King is often recognized as the exact moment when Destiny actually became the game it always should've been.

Dedicated players hope the same is true for Destiny 2's fall content. Despite being mere days from the launch of the Warmind add-on, the attention has already shifted toward September's expansion. It's named Comet and Activision is quick to sing its praises.

In an investors' earnings call, Activision president and COO Collister Johnson said "But even more of what’s coming this fall into the innovations and gameplay there, including to what we think will be an incredibly engaging new mode, one that introduces a whole new style of play for first-person shooter gaming generally and certainly for the shooter space that Destiny created."

The wording invites speculation as to what kind of game style (that probably already exists) might fit into the framework of a team shooter. A leading theory is that it's randomized dungeons that are similar Diablo III's Nephalem Rifts. (Also, that phrasing almost certainly means it's not a battle royale mode, so Activision is likely to only chase that industry trend with Call of Duty.)

Comet's true nature will be revealed at E3, probably during PlayStation's press conference. The new mode will steal the headlines. But players just want this to be a turning point for Destiny 2, a restructuring that makes the game worth sinking countless hours into. They want this to be a literal game-changer a la The Taken King. Hopefully history repeats itself.

Destiny 2's fall expansion to have a completely new mode [Polygon]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/destiny-2-has-something-completely-new-planned-for-the-fall-501670.phtml

News:: Final Fantasy VII, Tomb Raider among new games inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame

In case you haven't heard, there's a World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York as part of The National Museum of Play.

Periodically the Hall of Fame program, which started in mid 2015, will induct games based on four pillars: iconic, reach, influence, and longevity. Based on that criteria, the Hall of Fame inducted Spacewar, Tomb Raider, John Madden Football, and Final Fantasy VII into its ranks this week. I know the main source of contention is going to be Final Fantasy VII, especially since no other Final Fantasy game is currently in the Hall of Fame (only four out of 20 are RPGs for that matter, five if you count The Sims), but you could easily argue that it meets the requirements set by the foundation.

As for those that haven't made it in yet -- Minecraft was a holdover finalist for this year, and new finalists for 2018 included King's Quest, Ms. Pac-Man, Half-Life, Dance Dance Revolution, Asteroids, and Call of Duty. I'm sure you can argue all day over whether or not any of the above should have made it in before the four who were actually inducted, but either way this is a pretty fine list of games. Last year Pokemon Red/Green/Blue, Street Fighter II, Halo, and Donkey Kong were inducted.

You can peruse the full list here.

Inducted Games [World Video Game Hall of Fame]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/final-fantasy-vii-tomb-raider-among-new-games-inducted-into-the-world-video-game-hall-of-fame-501617.phtml

News:: Little Nightmares gets Nintendo Switch gameplay trailer

We found out earlier this year that Tarsier Studio's twisted horror title, Little Nightmares is headed to the Switch. The Swedish indie developer have put out a video featuring the spooky adventure running on Nintendo's hybrid platform.

Little Nightmares launched on PC, PS4 and Xbox One last year, where it received praise for its disturbing cast of characters and the overwhelming unease that seeps out of the game's dark visuals and twitch-inducing audio.

The Switch release will contain the base game and also The Secret of Maw DLC expansion. In a fun bonus, activating the Pac-Man amiibo with the Switch edition unlocks a creepy "Pakku Mask" for the player character.

Little Nightmares launches May 18 on Switch, and is available now on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/little-nightmares-gets-nintendo-switch-gameplay-trailer-501616.phtml

News:: Newest version of G.I. Joe 3 may have title, sees Dwayne Johnson return

The G.I. Joe movie franchise has been stuck in park for a while now as Paramount has been struggling to develop the franchise into something that people actually want (hint: no one really wants it). To that end they've gone through a bunch of scripts, and still haven't settled on anything, but it looks like they might be gearing up to move forward as Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec have penned a script called G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant, and it reportedly features the man in every movie ever, Dwayne Johnson.

Johnson would return as Roadblock, who he portrayed in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, but he'd be more of a lead character, and assemble a team of new Joes to take terrorists who have created a WMD that turns people into dust. Seems pretty inline with a basic cartoon plot. Still, we should take this with a grain of salt, as there's probably 50 different plans drifting around still for this movie.

Remember also that G.I. Joe is going to be part of an Hasbro '80s cartoon/toy cinematic universe that's shared by the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons, Transformers, ROM and Micronauts movies. Or kind of. That whole thing is weird. I'm not sure they'll ever actually cross over each other. After the whole Dark Universe thing I'm hoping Paramount and Hasbro realize how dumb forcing a cinematic universe is.

EXCLUSIVE: Character Details About The G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant [ThatHashtagShow]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/newest-version-of-g-i-joe-3-may-have-title-sees-dwayne-johnson-return-501631.phtml

News:: Owlboy's limited edition will be available in July

Just a few days ago, publisher SODESCO unveiled that a limited edition of Owlboy was coming to PS4 and Switch. Along with the July 13 release date, all the details are out on what this LE contains and it looks great. Obviously the game is included, but you'll also receive a certificate of authenticity, the soundtrack, a game manual, a notebook, some pins and coins with a box to store them and a sticker sheet. Talk about stuffed!

Sadly, no price has been given for this just yet. The regular edition of Owlboy on consoles is going for $29.99, so I would imagine this is more expensive. Whatever the case, this LE is limited to 6,000 pieces, so you'll need to act fast if you want in. While I'm interested in grabbing the game on Switch, I'm very partial to the way the PS4 box looks.

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/owlboy-s-limited-edition-will-be-available-in-july-501633.phtml

News:: The Good Life's story trailer has that trademark Swery humor

Whether you're familiar with Swery's new game The Good Life or you've never heard that name before, you ought to watch this story trailer. It is a strange thing of beauty and it cracked me the hell up.

Deadly Premonition, D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die, and now The Good Life. We're home.

Since checking in on the Kickstarter yesterday, the crowdfunding campaign has seen quite a bit of movement. It's now up to $719K at the time of writing, with mere hours left to go. If The Good Life can get up to $800K in pledges, White Owls Inc. will also release a Nintendo Switch version of the game.

As I've said before, I'm happy this project exists. It's just so delightfully peculiar.

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/the-good-life-s-story-trailer-has-that-trademark-swery-humor-501660.phtml

News:: The first round of Splatoon's TMNT splatfest starts this weekend

This weekend, U.S. and European players will fight it out in the first ever multi-round splatfest of Nintendo's arena-shooter Splatoon 2. This three-week battle royale is an effort to determine who is the greatest Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle.

Round one will see TMNT's hot-headed warrior Raphael, represented in the fun art above by Pearl, take on long-time team leader, the cool-headed Leonardo, who is backed by Off the Hook's plate-spinner Marina. The splatfest begins this evening in North America at 21:00 PT until the same time tomorrow. In Europe, it's shell-time from 15:00 CET until the same time on Sunday.

Next week will pit mechanics-wiz Donatello against party dude Michelangelo, with the winner going on to face this week's winner in the Grand Final the following week. I'm not a betting man, but if I were, I'd be putting all my bottle-caps on Raphael to take the whole thing.

Splatoon 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/the-first-round-of-splatoon-s-tmnt-splatfest-starts-this-weekend-501600.phtml

News:: Pikachu originally had another form that was much more garish

We know Pikachu today as the adorable little rat voiced by Ikue Ōtani, but apparently he was going to have more of a devlish side originally.

While he does have several forms (Raichu, Alolan Raichu, Pichu), all of them are still so damn cute. Yet, speaking to Pokemon co-creators Koji Nishino, Atsuko Nishida, and Ken Sugimori, Yomiuri Online found out that there was supposed to be another creepier version of Pikachu called "Gorochu."

Nishida explains, "The Pokemon known as Gorochu (goro-goro being the Japanese phrase for the sound thunder makes) bared fangs and even had a pair of horns," a statement that Sugimori clarifies: "There wasn’t any problem with its appearances, but it was omitted due to matters surrounding game balance."

I mean, wow! It's crazy to know that other classic Pokemon may have had more forms that pushed the original count past 151 -- and could have easily been selling millions of stuffed toys for the past few decades. The entire interview is worth reading as they explain that Pikachu was originally based on a squirrel, not a rat (Nishida was "really into squirrels at the time," an absolutely amazing quote), and muse on Pikachu's low capture rate in the original set of games.

Pikachu [Yomiuri Online via Siliconera]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/pikachu-originally-had-another-form-that-was-much-more-garish-501611.phtml

News:: Conan tackles God of War in new Clueless Gamer episode

A new episode of Clueless Gamer is out, where comedian and talk-show host Conan O' Brien tackles one of the big video game releases of the day. This time around, Conan checks out Sony's ultra-mega-smash-hit God of War.

- Video may contain spoilers -

Accompanied by fellow comedian and actor Bill Hader - of Saturday Night Live and South Park fame - Conan plays through some of the game's moments, where he's kinda jarred by the brutality of the hunt and the general somber overtones of Kratos and Atreus.

Obviously, it is a satirical video, so both guys are riffing pretty hard on the dramatics and characters. So if you're a bit precious about the game and its awesome story, try not to get all mad about it. It's ignorant, sure, but that just goes with the territory of the Clueless Gamer concept.

God of War is available now on PS4.

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/conan-tackles-god-of-war-in-new-clueless-gamer-episode-501596.phtml

News:: Final Fantasy Tactics director talks about why Ivalice is so important and why it made it into FFXIV

Final Fantasy Tactics is just one of those games that won't go away, and a lot of that staying power is due to its wonderful setting of Ivalice.

It was created over 20 years ago to debut with Tactics, and has made its way to many other games, including most recently, Final Fantasy XIV. This new IGN interview with Ivalice co-creator and Tactics director Yasumi Matsuno showcases why the location is so important, specifically as it relates to the translation into an MMO.

If you, like many others, can't let Tactics go, the clip below is a nice trip down memory lane. Interestingly the interviewees touch on that specter of nostalgia, explaining that the bulk of the Ivalice games are so old that newer players might scoff at the visuals -- but as technology continues to advance, creators are more easily able to show players the full extent of their creations.

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/final-fantasy-tactics-director-talks-about-why-ivalice-is-so-important-and-why-it-made-it-into-ffxiv-501610.phtml

News:: One man built his own vacation spot in VR

When most people fancy a vacation, they pack up their suitcase and go somewhere warm like Barbados. Not Bastiaan Hooimeijer, who goes by the name "Naam" online. Instead, he built his own holiday spot inside virtual reality. The result — crafted using Google Blocks — isn't an idyllic beach or a villa hidden in the French Riviera. It's a small caravan in a poky piece of land surrounded by piles of discarded junk. The world is bright and colorful, but it's not the sort of place that Lonely Planet would send one of its travel writers.

Source: A Piece of the Universe

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/04/piece-of-the-universe-naam-vr-blocks/

News:: Call of Duty: WWII is free to play on Steam this weekend

If you're a PC and gamer never got around to checking out Activision's hugely-successful Call of Duty: WWII, then now's your chance, as the publisher have announced a free weekend for the billion-dollar shooter.

From now until May 6, Steam users can download the latest in the long-running Call of Duty series, with the full game - that's Campaign, Multiplayer and Zombies - all unlocked and freely available for the duration of the trial. CoD WWII is a pretty good title, nothing groundbreaking, but it has fantastic visuals and great set-piece battles in its campaign, while the multiplayer remains curiously addictive as always.

As always, any progress made in the game will be carried over should you decide to buy the title before the trial ends. The game will also be receiving a price discount on both its Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions until May 7.

Call of Duty: WWII is available now on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/call-of-duty-wwii-is-free-to-play-on-steam-this-weekend-501588.phtml

News:: Oh hell yes, this Breaking Bad Final Fantasy XIV cosplay is on point

I've posted many times about how expansive the cosmetic (glamour) system is in Final Fantasy XIV, but people always manage to surprise me.

Here we have a pretty on point rendition of Walter White from Breaking Bad by osprey_skyhigh, both in his "wacky teacher" form and as the one who knocks. You'd think that as a Lalafell they'd have trouble doubling as Bryan Cranston, but they pull it off with spades. The creator says that it's for a Free Company cosplay competition, and suffice to say I think they have a good chance of winning.

I think the most impressive thing is the recreation of both backgrounds. They managed to find both a school and desert setting that looks very similar to the actual shots from the show. Nice work!

Free Company is holding a cosplay competition here is my entry [Reddit]

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/oh-hell-yes-this-breaking-bad-final-fantasy-xiv-cosplay-is-on-point-501609.phtml

News:: New Capcom video series looks at the history of Street Fighter

We are bearing down hard on the release of Capcom's Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, which will see some of the greatest fighting games of all-time gathered on one compilation, presenting an almost complete history of the iconic Street Fighter franchise.

In the lead up to Anniversary Collection's launch, Capcom are putting out a series of videos looking at the series to date. Narrated by FGC veteran James Chen, the first video looks at 1987's Street Fighter and 1991's Street Fighter II.

The first Street Fighter, barely playable today and not particularly amazing then, would feature the debut of series regulars such as Ryu, Birdie and Sagat, among others. The game does contain the famous Fireball, Tatsu and Dragon Punch maneuvers, but you have to practically break your wrist to get them to out and they're OP as fuck.

What can be said about Street Fighter II that hasn't been said before? A legitimate global phenomenon, featuring a larger roster, great music, unforgettable characters and stages, combos, tick-throws, tactical blocking, dizzies. Street Fighter II, without question, is the blueprint that would lead to every single fighting game released since, and to date.

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection launches on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Switch on May 29.

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/new-capcom-video-series-looks-at-the-history-of-street-fighter-501586.phtml

News:: Suda51 is going to make a 'special announcement' at this year's MomoCon

Goichi Suda, also known as "Suda51," has been hard at work creating Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, but as we know his studio Grasshopper Manufacture is frequently working on multiple projects at once.

TO celebrate Grasshopper's 20th anniversary Suda says he has something special planned -- specifically, a "special announcement" to be held at MomoCon 2018 in Atlanta. He says on May 26 at 7:00PM ET he'll be running a Grasshopper panel, and will announce something there. The panel will also feature NIS America members in conjunction with Suda, who have published several of his studio's games in the past.

As with anything Suda does a lot could happen, even if it's not on a massive stage like E3 or TGS.

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/suda51-is-going-to-make-a-special-announcement-at-this-year-s-momocon-501608.phtml

News:: Spyro Reignited Trilogy's pre-orders are on fire

Activision has announced that the pre-order numbers for the upcoming Spyro Reignited Trilogy are doing even better than the publisher anticipated.

A re-release of the classic PlayStation titles seemed a foregone conclusion after the amazing success of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. But Activision sure kept the fans rabid with anticipation until the ultimate reveal of the game, one month ago today.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy will comprise of remakes of three of the purple dragon's greatest adventures: Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage! and Spyro: Year of the Dragon, all of which are being rebuilt from the ground up for the nostalgic compendium.

Speaking in a recent financial conference call, where the company posted a hugely profitable first quarter, Activision stated that pre-orders for Reignited Trilogy were "well ahead of expectations", with the game's debut trailer being viewed "tens of millions" of times. Looks like those those profits are set to grow and grow.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy will launch for PS4 and Xbox One September 21.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/spyro-reignited-trilogy-s-pre-orders-are-on-fire-501584.phtml

News:: Next 'Minecraft' update will be the last for older consoles

If you love playing Minecraft on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U or PS Vita, the game's developers have some bad news for you. The next update, called "Update Aquatic," will be the last that is compatible with these platforms.

Via: Kotaku

Source: Minecraft

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/04/minecraft-ps3-xbox-one-vita-wii-u-last-update/

News:: Overwatch's new Venetian map Rialto is live now on all platforms

Blizzard just added a new map into Overwatch -- and it's live for all platforms. It's called Rialto, and is based on Venice, Italy, featuring its waterways and architecture. Rialto is currently not playable in competitive -- just regular modes at the moment.

Like just about everything Overwatch related there's a lore explanation for the map. It focuses around Talon member Antonio Giordani, who was basically a mob member and arms dealer that antagonized the Overwatch organization. Reyes, known now as Reaper, murdered him instead of taking him in by the book, because that's just how Reaper rolls.

So don't expect Bartalotti to make it into Overwatch anytime soon -- unless he's secretly a cyborg now or something.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/overwatch-s-new-venetian-map-rialto-is-live-now-on-all-platforms-501607.phtml

News:: Challenge your friends to lightsaber duels in 'Star Wars: Jedi Challenges'

Last November, Disney and Lenovo partnered up to release Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, an augmented reality experience that combines video games with a lightweight AR headset and a matching lightsaber. With the headset on, you can play Holochess, command field troops on Hoth and, of course, have duels with bad guys like Kylo Ren. Today, Disney is releasing yet another update to the game with a hotly requested feature: local multiplayer, so you can duel your friends in the same room.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/04/star-wars-jedi-challenges-multiplayer/

News:: The Morning After: Gaming cheats are getting caught

Welcome to the end! Of this week. We get a vague due date for Tesla's next big project, the Model Y, Google's voice assistant makes its way into thousands more smart devices and cheaters never prosper (and possibly go to jail) when it comes to Overwatch and Fortnite.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/05/04/the-morning-after-gaming-cheats-go-to-jail/