Jun 8, 2018 | Game ON news

Friday, June 8, 2018

News:: Hitman 2 Collector's Edition includes sweet rubber duck

Following up on yesterday's big reveal of Hitman 2, Warner Bros. have released details of a Collector' Edition for the stealthy sequel, developed once again by the tried-and-trusted folks at IO Interactive.

Packaged in one of those foamy suitcases that my mate carries his Third Strike board around in, the Collector's Edition includes a copy of the game itself, the Sniper Assassin mode, a bullet keyring, Agent 47's "signature" coin (for all your guard-distracting needs) and, best of all, a Hitman rubber duck - rubber ducks being a trademark/running gag throughout franchise history.

As well as this physical guff you also get the "Expansion Pass" for future DLC, four days early access from November 9, and some exclusive in-game items and weaponry. The Hitman 2 Collector's Edition is available to pre-order at GameStop in North America for $150 and GAME in the U.K. for £90.

Hitman 2 launches November 13 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Hitman 2 Collector's Edition includes sweet rubber duck screenshot

News:: E3 2018 press conference and stream schedule

Once again Destructoid will be covering E3 2018's press conferences live on location, and now that we basically know where everyone stands outside of Sony, it's time to publish the full schedule and see what we're looking at.

In the past few years E3 has crept up on the weekend, and we basically have conferences from Saturday, June 9 all the way through Tuesday, June 12. Once again Nintendo has bogarted the Tuesday slot all to themselves, and Monday is completely packed to the point where some of you are probably going to be taking off work. There's a lot of slight changes and at least one big alteration this year -- Bethesda isn't annoyingly going to run at 12 midnight Eastern anymore, as it's now been shifted to 9:30 PM ET on Saturday, June 10.

Once we get more information on potential smaller conferences (remember that crazy one from Konami eight years ago?) we'll add them in. Also, once the conference is done and we've recapped it, we'll post that below too. Strap in, E3 is nearly here and the ride has already begun.

E3 2018 press conference and stream schedule screenshot

News:: Life is Strange dev's Twin Mirror looks like a real mind bender

Dontnod Entertainment, developer behind Life is Strange and Vampyr, has announced that its next game will be the story-driven mystery thriller Twin Mirror. Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment and releasing on PC, PS4, and Xbox One next year, the game has a cliched setup that sees its protagonist (named Sam) return home after some tragic event strikes his hometown. That is where the generic plotting ends, as Twin Mirror looks to be channeling a lot of Alan Wake and Fahrenheit from the setting.

Sam wakes up the next day to find that his shirt is covered in blood and he has apparently murdered someone. As the trailer reads, "Your mind is the one place to find the truth," possibly insinuating that this game will be a psychological journey for the players and Sam. The setup is ripe for the episodic nature that Life is Strange employed, but it seems this will be a full game with a single release date.

In any case, this isn't replacing the Life is Strange sequel that the developer has been working on. We'll probably see more from Twin Mirror at E3, so this quick trailer will have to tide us over until then.

Life is Strange dev's Twin Mirror looks like a real mind bender screenshot

News:: Mario and Bowser invade Zelda: Breath of the Wild in this clever mod

The modding scene for Zelda: Breath of the Wild has exploded recently, and this showdown between Mario and Bowser is no exception. Trollsquad57 has actually put together several mods into one package (LynardKiller's Bowser, WilianZilz's Mario, and BeardBear's music mod) to create one epic showdown between the Koopa King and Fire Flower Mario, and for the most part, it works.

There are some concessions for movesets as Mario is basically operating as Link and looks a bit off, but the sheer quality of the Bowser model is on point; who is based off of the troll-like Hinox shell. While some might find this wacky, Mario has a long history of using weapons in combat (particularly in the Mario RPG/Mario & Luigi series), and I can definitely see an official Mario mini-quest Easter egg working out in a Zelda game.

Mario and Bowser invade Zelda: Breath of the Wild in this clever mod screenshot

News:: J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot to open video game division

Announced in The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. Interactive and Tencent will work alongside a new division within J.J. Abrams' production company, Bad Robot, to produce video games.

Bad Robot Games will partner with the industry giants to create new gaming experiences. Tencent will be responsible for the distribution of Bad Robot's titles, while Warner Bros. are an investor in the company. Bad Robot Games hopes to produce games on all market levels, from indie hits to big release, AAA titles.

"I’m a massive games fan, and increasingly envious of the amazing tools developers get to work with, and the worlds they get to play in," said Abrams in a statement. "Now we are doubling down on our commitment to the space with a unique co-development approach to game making that allows us to focus on what we do best, and hopefully be a meaningful multiplier to our developer partners."

Obviously there are no titles currently announced or planned, but it looks like there's one more major money-player in the market now. I'm looking forward to seeing how Bad Robot Games approaches the industry, and how hands-on a part Abrams himself takes in any future production.

Bad Robot launches video game division [The Hollywood Reporter]

J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot to open video game division screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/j-j-abrams-bad-robot-to-open-video-game-division-506761.phtml

News:: Makers of ‘Life Is Strange’ announce psychological thriller ‘Twin Mirror’

Studio Dontnod came back from its embattled game Remember Me with 2015's Life Is Strange, a critical darling lauded for its rich characters and themes. Last week, the developer released the very different Vampyr, a WWI-era science-meets-supernatural game. Dontnod's next project is a step back to our world (or so we assume) with Twin Mirror, a psychological thriller published by Bandai Namco that's headed to modern platforms next year.

Source: Dontnod (Twitter)

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/06/08/makers-of-life-is-strange-announce-psychological-thriller-twi/

News:: Ubisoft boss thinks there's only one more generation of consoles, then comes the cloud

Ubisoft is riding high. They have multiple multi-million franchises just chilling, perpetually earning more cash from ongoing DLC and updates. They're also typically at the forefront of requesting better hardware from console manufacturers to make that all happen, but at the current moment Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot thinks that there's only one more generation left before it all moves to the cloud.

Speaking to Variety, Guillemot states: "I think we will see another generation, but there is a good chance that step-by-step we will see less and less hardware. With time, I think streaming will become more accessible to many players and make it not necessary to have big hardware at home. There will be one more console generation and then after that, we will be streaming, all of us."

Okay so there's a lot to unpack here. Guillemot is a revered battle hardened executive, and when he has something to say about hardware, it benefits everyone to listen. I know a lot of people aren't going to accept this reality, but it could very well happen. I mean, it's basically being utilized in small pockets right now, it just needs to catch on in a larger scale. And why wouldn't publishers want it to happen? Instead of tossing Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo a chunk of their profits they can just pocket it with their own cloud-based software platforms. Origin, uPlay -- all of those little micro-services can just pair up with smaller streaming boxes as technology advances. The worst part of all this? At that point you'll basically be renting content and will own nothing.

Some folks, especially those who are in rural areas will be left in the dust (which sucks), but if the money is there, the publishers will be there too. Gaming is going to get complicated in five or six years, but I take solace in knowing that we're all going to go through that shift together.

Ubisoft Believes Next Gen Is the Last for Consoles as Microsoft Looks Beyond Platforms [Variety]

Ubisoft boss thinks there's only one more generation of consoles, then comes the cloud screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/ubisoft-boss-thinks-there-s-only-one-more-generation-of-consoles-then-comes-the-cloud-506735.phtml

News:: Review: Ocean's 8

It’s been eleven years since we had an Ocean’s franchise film. But consider this, we went 41 years before 2001’s Ocean’s 11 remade the original Rat Pack film. Maybe we should have waited another 30?

Review: Ocean's 8 screenshot

News:: The Pokemon Company explains just how much motion will be required to play Pokemon Let's Go

With its millions of dormant and active users, Pokemon Go has the power to shape the entire gaming industry. It's been so impactful for Nintendo alone that they're event sort of following it up with their own set of back-to-basics games -- Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee. They're out later this year on Switch, and the first thing people were worried about (beyond the ambiguous online capabilities) was just how simple it would be.

Come to find out, The Pokemon Company has confirmed that motion controls are required to capture Pokemon in Let's Go, to a point. Although you will be required to move either the Joy-Con or the actual Switch system around in portable mode to aim, you can press a button to toss a ball. A rep informed Eurogamer that "it is not touch screen like on a smartphone because the Switch is quite a bit heavier than your smart phone."

Okay, so it's not the end of the world, but options would be great?

Motion controls are compulsory for catching Pokémon in Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee [Eurogamer]

The Pokemon Company explains just how much motion will be required to play Pokemon Let's Go screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/the-pokemon-company-explains-just-how-much-motion-will-be-required-to-play-pokemon-let-s-go-506698.phtml

News:: Knuckle up, Dead or Alive 6 is coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC

Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja have recently announced that the sixth iteration of the fast-paced one vs one fighter, Dead or Alive, is currently in development and coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The Dead or Alive games are known for their hard-hitting cast of brutish dudes and face-smashing gals. Throws, strikes and counters all play an integral part in DOA'a Triangle system, where reading your opponent and predicting their next move can turn the battle around in a split-second.

You can check out the official website here and a trailer for the new title below. More information will be forthcoming on June 11 which is, probably not coincidentally, the first day of the E3 expo.

Dead or Alive 6 is in development for PS4, Xbox One and PC. Trailer courtesy of IGN.

Knuckle up, Dead or Alive 6 is coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC screenshot

News:: Lose yourself in the ever-shifting 'Shape of the World'

Sometimes I need a video game that doesn't involve shooting people or decapitating monsters. (Sorry, Bloodborne and Wolfeinstein II: The new Colossus.) My brain cells crave something quieter, like a meandering dive through Abzu or a free-roaming session in Skate 3. If you fall into the same camp, I highly recommend Shape of the World, a serene walking simulator set in a colorful and constantly evolving wilderness.

Source: Shape of the World

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/06/08/shape-of-the-world-procedural-generation-game/

News:: J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot expands into gaming with China's Tencent

J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions, the company behind blockbuster films and TV shows like Star Trek, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Lost and Westworld, is making a jump into gaming. It's joining forces with Chinese gaming giant Tencent, and minority partner Warner Bros. to launch Bad Robot Games. "I'm a massive games fan, and increasingly envious of the amazing tools developers get to work with, and the worlds they get to play in," said Abrams in a statement.

Via: Variety

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/06/08/j-j-abrams-bad-robot-gaming-tencent/

News:: Review: Hotel Artemis

Hotel Artemis, like some cool, hole-in-the-wall motel you find on a road trip, has promise. You think it looks cool and a bit retro, and it'll have heart. Not like those big chain hotels that cost twice as much. It'll be an adventure staying here -- your mind fills with visions of classic movies and roadside motel drama.

Then you actually check in and nothing is actually what it seems. The bed is falling apart, there are bugs over there, and the kitschy artwork is really kitschy. Also, John Wick isn't around. I really thought someone like John Wick would be around... at this hotel... which is a metaphor for the movie.

Review: Hotel Artemis screenshot

News:: Build morale by slaying monsters after work

On the 62^nd floor of One World Trade Center, Lorghoth the Decayer is waiting. A party of brave coders and digital strategists gathers around a conference table to slay the wicked beast -- praying the D20 rolls their way.

It's just another Wednesday night at Code & Theory, a digital creative agency in New York City's tallest skyscraper. Every other week, a team of developers and designers hops into a conference room (with a stunning view of Manhattan) to participate in a unique, after-hours exercise: a Dungeons and Dragons game night. Timm Woods, a professional dungeon master, leads each session, guiding the colleagues through intricate adventures filled with gypsy-camp raids, vindictive scarecrows and the cruel mists of Ravenloft.

Woods, an energetic and scruffy Brooklynite, has been a professional dungeon master for about five years, running everything from after-school campaigns to private parties and events. The weekly sessions at Code & Theory represent the next step in his business plan: going corporate.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/06/08/dungeons-and-dragons-corporate-team-building-timm-woods/

News:: Review: Hereditary

Hereditary had so much buzz coming out of festival season that I was chomping at my horror bit to get into theaters and see it. I'm not sure I was more excited to see a single film at SXSW this year (until the surprise announcement of Ready Player One). The movie was being likened to the genre-shaking It Follows, and just seemed creepy as hell from everything I'd seen. People were calling it the scariest movie of the year.

I came out of Hereditary let down as one often does when things are hyped, I suppose. It's not bad by any stretch of the imagination, and it is definitely scary, but when you're talking about movies defining genres I'm expecting things to go somewhere new or interesting. Hereditary never really does that, and it's lack of thematic push pulled me away from the skilled horror direction. A movie that promises so much can only deliver on half its goals.

Review: Hereditary screenshot

News:: How the PlayStation Vita compares to legendary handhelds

The PlayStation Vita is hanging on by a thread. Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said in 2015 there was no hope for a follow-up to the handheld console, and since then, the Vita machine has been quietly winding down. Sony is halting production of physical Vita games across Europe and North America on March 31st, 2019, though Sony Japan will continue to churn out carts in the domestic market -- for now.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/06/08/vita-game-boy-3ds-ds-psp-compare-sony-nintendo-handheld/

News:: It can't be overstated how skilled Nintendo is at file compression

It was sometime during the lifetime of the Wii, I believe it was after the launch of Mario Galaxy 2, that I found myself in awe of just how skilled Nintendo was at compressing their games.

While many other AAA titles were encroaching on 40GB at the time Nintendo managed to squeeze so much into so little, to the point where Galaxy 2 is still one of the best looking projects of that generation. The trend continued with the Wii U, and they got even better on Switch. We've seen all manner of wizardry so far, but Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is confirmed to clock in at 1.4GB on Switch by way of a new eShop listing.

For those of you keeping track, that's 0.5GB less than the original Wii U release in 2015 -- and this is with additional levels in tow. While some third party developers haven't figured it out, I hardly ever have to clear out space for a first party game on a Nintendo system. Shout-out to the folks that make that all possible!

It can't be overstated how skilled Nintendo is at file compression screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/it-can-t-be-overstated-how-skilled-nintendo-is-at-file-compression-506671.phtml

News:: The Morning After: A Facebook privacy bug affected 14 million users

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to Friday! Amazon's fusing together its Echo smartspeaker and Fire TV box -- and the result is a cube. We also report on a new BlackBerry phone and a spinning cat-litter tray. Unrelated.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/06/08/the-morning-after/

News:: Xbox One 'Skip Ahead' ring tests features months before release

The Insider program on Xbox One is a few years old now and just keeps rolling out new features for testing by early adopters. Now Microsoft has announced that it's giving participants a chance to try features that are even further away from their scheduled release date with a new "Alpha - Skip Ahead" ring of testers.

There's no word on exactly which features people will be able to test, but there's traditionally one or two new items coming in a Winter-window update, and isn't there some kind of event just around the corner where Microsoft might make such an announcement? If you value life on the bleeding edge over stability -- or just have multiple consoles and can afford to have one that's running far-future test builds -- you will see the option to enroll "in the coming weeks" if you're an Alpha tester already, and later by invitation for others.

Source: Xbox Wire

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/06/08/xbox-one-alpha-skip-ahead/

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Friday, June 8, 2018