David Wong

Writer and journalist for almost a year. Doing this for fun. Learned a lot along the way. I'm interested in businesses and the moves they make, tech and how it changes the world, and of course, enjoy playing some video games! I enjoy console and PC, but mostly RPGs, FPS, and League of Legends.

Next-gen Xbox “Scarlett” will be a series of devices rather than a single unit

by
Next-gen Xbox "Scarlett" will be a series of devices rather than a single unit 1

E3 was a huge success as it got fans excited more than ever for official reports of upcoming games.

The next Xbox, codenamed Scarlett, was released at Microsoft’s press conference which showed off a broad range of game titles and very little time for the tech powering the games. Phil Spencer, the top dog of Xbox, suggested that a wave of next-gen projects are moving forward under that same esoteric name.

He spoke on the vibrant nature of the games industry and promised Microsoft’s commitment tot he future that involves AI, cloud-based streaming, and the next Xbox console.

He used the word “consoles” which suggests that it’ll be more than a single piece of the console. This means a whole multitude of devices. The speech focused on talking about games more than hardware and fans were fine with it. Halo Infinity, Cybperunk 2077, The Division 2, and even Fallout 76.

With such diverse games, the console has nothing to show for it at this point. We’ll have to scrap the tidbits of info like usual until time tells all the details.

Microsoft announces new Surface Pro devices, Andromeda, HoloLens, and next Xbox

by
Microsoft announces new Surface Pro devices, Andromeda, HoloLens, and next Xbox 2

Microsoft will have some pretty neat future hardware, as their plans have been leaked so we can all ogle at what we have in store.

In 2019, there’s a new version of HoloLens codenamed Sydney. The documents hint that it’ll hit the market for developers and possibly commercial availability also. it’ll be a lot cheaper than the current version, lighter, more comfortable, and with an improved display. It’ll also likely use a sensor package from Project Kinect for Azure announced at the Build developer conference last May and include the newer, second-gen holographic CPU.

Next, Microsoft’s pocketable two-screen device named Andromeda is supposed to hit the shelves in 2018. It’s a product in its own market which will define a new hardware form factor. Like the Surface Pro, it’ll be a completely different piece of hardware that’s currently not in existence. It’ll have to offer similar appeal to the Surface Pro and be able to be widely used at the same time.

There’s also a new line of Surface Pro devices with codenames Carmel, Libar, and Andromeda as mentioned already. Carmel is the next device in the like of the Surface Pro. It’ll feature new Intel CPUs as Intel is refreshing their mobile processors later this year. The two CPUs in question are codenamedWhiskeyy Lake and Amber Lake- with power consumptions of about 15W and 4.5W, respectively.

Lastly, the next Xbox was confirmed to be in development and is due for release in 2020 with the codename Scarlett. It’ll likely be a family of devices rather than a single piece of hardware that keeps backward compatibility for games, as that’s what Microsoft has a history of doing. It’ll also likely just be a faster version of the current Xbox One X- to put it simplified.

Apple rumored to be ditching physical buttons on the Apple Watch

by
Apple rumored to be ditching physical buttons on the Apple Watch 3

FastCompany released a report today saying that Apple will release a future version of the Apple Watch that’ll have touch-sensitive buttons instead of clickable ones.

This applies to both the crown and traditional single button watches that currently show the apps recently used. However, the button configuration won’t change. They’ll stay the same and the user will be able to touch each one and the watch will provide haptic feedback.

A similar change was made to the iPhone 7, which was filed with mixed reactions. MacBook trackpads did the same thing with localized feedback.

It’s also said that the change will be made to free up space in the device for other parts. This could also help with water resistance also as Apple is rumored to be working on a new biometric sensor to the buttons. This shouldn’t be surprising given their history of ditching buttons when possible.

The next Apple Watch is due for release this Septemeber. If this feature isn’t implemented yet, it’ll likely be next year’s model instead.

J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions partners with Tencent and Warner Bros. to make games

by
J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions partners with Tencent and Warner Bros. to make games 4

Bad Robot Productions, J.J. Abrams’ company, is known for creating many popular TV and films such as Alias, Lost, Fringe, Westworld, Person of Interest, Star Trek, and a lot more. The company announced that it would create “both large and indie-scale projects for mobile, PC, and console” and also partnered with Tencent- the popular Chinese gaming company who will provide some funding for their projects.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment division will also act as a small investor in the partnership. Tencent will hold all commercial rights to copies sold overseas.

Abrams has talked about film adaptations for games like Portal and Half-Life, which is probably a good hint at the future of games Bad Robot will create. They’ve only announced two developers- Dave Baronoff and Tim Keenan. Baronoff has credits as a producer for two Star Trek games while Keenan is an indie developer that has completed a few titles like A Virus Named TOM and Duskers.

Abrams says:

“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. 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.”

 

World of Warcraft and Discord: Keyboard and mouse suddenly not working? Fix it.

by
World of Warcraft and Discord: Keyboard and mouse suddenly not working? Fix it. 5

Ever play World of Warcraft and suddenly you can’t type in the chatbox? Or your mouse suddenly doesn’t work anymore? Tried relogging and the problem is still there?

It’s an easy fix that’s often complicated by another program- namely Discord. If you’re not a Discord user, you can stop reading now. This fix won’t help you.

All you need to do is the following:

  • Log in to Discord if you haven’t already
  • Click on the Setting icon (the gear)
  • Click on the “games” tab
  • Uncheck the “overlay” checkbox next to World of Warcraft.

That should fix it! You should no longer get any issues with Discord and WoW.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey description leaked on the PS Store

by
Assassin's Creed Odyssey description leaked on the PS Store 6

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey had a description leak on the PS Store for just a tidbit in time.

A post was found on Reddit that had someone show off a screenshot of the game’s description. However, the only confirmation about this game is a tweet from the official Twitter account that only says “SEE YOU AT E3” in bold letters on a new logo and title.

There isn’t much about the game beyond that.

From the leak, we can see that the game will be during Spartan times where your choices affect the outcome of the game. If the description is accurate, the game will likely take place in Greece. This would be the first time a game from the AC series has taken place in this setting. It’s been mentioned multiple times already in the series.

The image for the game’s art shows off some Greek weaponry that the Spartans toted during their time in wars. Spartans would venture in the night to stealthily assassinate targets, so it’s fitting for the next title.

As of now, this is all just hearsay. Nothing is confirmed. We’ll have to stay tuned and wait for the announcement at some point during E3.

Hitman 2 being developed by Warner Bros. leaked pre-E3

by
Hitman 2 being developed by Warner Bros. leaked pre-E3 7

Another game was leaked before E3 on the 4th of June.0506

It was Hitman 2. And it had a logo on Warner Bros. Interactive’s page. Since then, it’s been removed. It’s unknown if the title is just a remake or a related game to the Hitman 2: Silent Assassin game which was released back in 2002. It’s likely season two of Hitman which got a retail release with Warner Bros. this year and started releases back in 2016.

IO-Interactive is the developer which was originally a part of Square Enix before they were sold off. It got to keep the rights to the series which they’ve held onto since 2000. CEO Hakan Abrack confirmed a new entry is being developed back in late 2017, so this is probably the game he was talking about.

The official Hitman and WB Games Twitter account have also been teasing a new game. It hinted at a return of Agent 47 stating that news was coming on June 7th, and it pointed out that a game reveals referencing their pre-E3 announcement. The teaser showed off a racecar with the Hamsun brand. Hitman gamers will know that this is a makeshift oil company in season 1 of the of the original episodic Hitman title released by Square Enix.

Since 2000, the series has spanned six games and is a popular title for its stealth action gameplay. The latest title was released in 2016 and was praised for its movie-like content, but still received a mixed reception. IO-Interactive is likely to continue with the episodic content strategy as they’ve been working on it during their sale from Square Enix.

Tales of Vesperia remaster on the way?

by
Tales of Vesperia remaster on the way? 8

Another rumor has surfaced that a remaster of Tales of Vesperia is on the way.

Gematsu has found a password-protected page which then claimed that it’s a remaster of the game for the 10th anniversary which will be announced at E3 this year. The game was first released back in 2008 and it’s widely considered to be the best of the bunch. It’s the 10th game in the series of RPGs developed by Namco.

It follows the story of an imperial knight who takes on an adventure to unravel a mystery behind an energy source known as blastia. Yuri Lowell is the main protagonist who’s joined by many other friends and companions during the journey.

The game had a re-release in 2009 which addicting full voiceovers, new characters, and new dungeons. The last Tales game was released in 2017. Stay tuned for updates.

State of Decay 2 fixes itself up with a huge 20GB patch

by
State of Decay 2 fixes itself up with a huge 20GB patch 9

State of Decay 2 has received some positive reviews so far. Players have racked up over 600 million zombies slain in just a few weeks since the game’s launch.

I recently covered that the game garnered over 1 million players, but the game was still riddled with bugs. Now, a 20GB patch went live on June 5th, 2018 that patches a huge number of plaguing issues- no pun intended.

You can find the full list on their page, but here are some highlights of what’s new in the State of Decay 2 patch:

  • Improved game stability
  • Improved networking interactions for clients
  • Improved vehicle interactions
  • Out Of Memory crash fix
  • Networking bandwidth and CPU improvements
  • Vehicle interactions in multiplayer games to address weird “rubber-banding” and physics issues
  • Flying cars bug
  • General crash bugs
  • Bug with player HUD disappearing after NPCs are executed by zombies
  • Collision spots across all 3 maps where players or vehicles were getting stuck
  • Collision spots across all 3 maps where players were getting stuck in an infinite freefall animation loop

This should make some players very happy because they were at the point where the bugs could ruin gameplay and make the game unplayable. Now, it’s nice to see that Undead Labs are working hard on the issue.

Jeff Strain, CEO of Undead Labs, says:

Hey fellow survivors, I just wanted to drop in a quick personal note on behalf of the development team to thank you for your support and for jumping in with us on State of Decay 2. This patch today is just the beginning — we have big plans for State of Decay 2, and we’re humbled and appreciative to you for giving us the opportunity to make those big plans happen. Keep playing, keep surviving (or not, as sometimes happens), and stay tuned for more good stuff!

This is awesome for all players who’ve held off on the game. It’s a good time to get into it whether or not you’ve purchased a copy for yourself yet. Or if you’re on the fence, this should sweeten the deal!

Fallout 76 announced; possible online Fallout game

by
Fallout 76 announced; possible online Fallout game 10

A 24-hour live stream debuted nothing but a “Please Stand By” sign, a figurine, a watch, and random things on screen from employees at Bethesda. Over 2 million viewers still watched it.

Todd appears later and thanks everyone for showing up. Then shows off a new trailer for the newest Fallout game.

Fallout 76 was announced. The trailer shows off some of the fine artwork and ends with an unknown character wearing a jacket with the logo. Vault 76 is one of the 17 control vaults and had 500 occupants at one point. It was set to be unlocked only 20 years after a nuclear war. It has been referred to in Fallout 3 Mothership Zeta and Fallout 4 in the prologue segment.

Jason Schreier, a Koatku reporter, stated that he hard about Fallout 76 being an online game developed by Bethesda in Maryland and Austin. There’s no detail about whether or not this is true. Details expected at E3 this year.

Build your own prehistoric civilization in Madruga Works’ next game – Dawn of Man

by
Build your own prehistoric civilization in Madruga Works' next game - Dawn of Man 11

Madruga Works is announcing a new game called Dawn of Man.

They’re the devs behind the space colony game Planetbase, which allowed players to explore space and colonize a wide variety of planets- each with their own pros and cons. The game had a few minor issues and wasn’t perfect, but that still didn’t make it a huge flop. It was released on PC and later ported to Xbox One in May 2017.

Madruga Works now is working on Dawn of Man, which is another colonial-type game except it takes place on a smaller, yet more detailed, scale. This time you build out and village tens of thousands of years ago back in the caveman era, or at least it appears so. Humanity is still on the brink of survival and is struggling to make it past the days with basic tools and no electricity. Players will create their own prehistoric village and guide its development and evolution over a period of 10,000 years. It’s like Spore but stuck in the prehistoric era.

Like many other games in this genre, you’ll have to gather basic supplies in order to the proposer. You can farm animals, hunt them, craft stuff, and breed out your population. Gathering materials like wood, stone, flint, berries, meat, skin, clothing, and food are all necessary to mankind.

The Steam store page shows that you can build up your village in preparation for conflict. There will likely be some PvE elements or possibly even PvP as well. The trailer shows off some raiding between players, so PvE is likely confirmed. Wild animals, humans, and other savage beasts lurk around your village and it’s up you to defend it.

The title will be available sometime in late 2018. Sit tight for updates. This time around, it may just be a hit.

Source: TechRaptor.

State of Decay garners 1 million players; Framerate and bugs “number one” priority

by
State of Decay garners 1 million players; Framerate and bugs "number one" priority 12

State of Decay 2 has reached over 1 million players in just a mere two days after its Standard Edition launch.

It was launched on May 22 for PC and Xbox One. The exclusive title to Microsoft launched on the Xbox Game Pass on the same day as well. The Ultimate Edition launched on May 18- a few days prior. But the 1 million player number includes everyone who has bought the game, used copies, Game Pass users, and game sharing also. Either way, it’s a pretty decent title.

The milestone was first announced on the Xbox Wire. 675 million zombies were killed, 6 million bags of snacks were eaten, and over 6 million firecrackers and fireworks were used. Plus over 6 million player hours played. The player count is probably due to the Game Pass inclusion at launch, following Sea of Thieves back in March. Plans to launch every first-party title on release day has been upheld so far.

State of Decay 1 broke records early as well. It reached over 500,000 players in just two weeks back 5 years ago. It was fastest-selling original XBLA game ever made. Players complained about FPS and bugs, but the game is new. They’ll be patched soon enough as Undead Labs continues to work on the game and fix it up.

Microsoft and Undead Labs say:

“The team at Microsoft Studios and Undead Labs continue to work on updating the game to address these issues as our number one priority”.

Dark Souls-like Action RPG Unworthy coming out on May 29th

by
Dark Souls-like Action RPG Unworthy coming out on May 29th 13

Unworthy is a new 2D Metroidvania game that plays similar to Dark Souls.

It’s the second game from indie developer Aleksandar Kuzmanovic and plays in the classical tradition of being a hardass action RPG. It’s a “hardcore combat-focused Metroidvania” where players can explore a grim universe. The game also offers a ton of weapons, unique abilities, and plenty of lands to explore.  He also uploaded a new video showing off the game as sort of a teaser trailer.

From the trailer, you can see that the game is very similar to Dark Souls. in that players must defend themselves and forge a new path in a grim world with black-and-white pixel art. The game has enemies, bosses, and plenty of hazards that can be dodged by rolling or blocking. The game also has an in-game cash shop where players can buy items and gear. The game is pretty much an indie version of Dark Souls.

Players will be controlling an unknown hero who wanders the lands in search of meaning. The narrative is similar to Dark Souls., so it’s not surprising to see indie games paying homage to it.

Unworthy will be released on Steam on May 29th with a $14.99 price tag.

Sega confirms Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 getting remasters – 60FPS and HD resolutions

by
Sega confirms Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 getting remasters - 60FPS and HD resolutions 14

Sega will be releasing a remaster of Yakuza 3, 4, and 5.

Yakuza 3 will be released on 8/9/18 in Japan, as reported by Dengeki PlayStation and Weekly Famitsu. The remasters will update the entire Yakuza library in order to make it playable on the PS4, but not in English. They’ll all run at a smooth 60FPS as well, and also have support for 1080p resolution. There’s no report on when the English version will release as of now.

The game will retail in Japan for 4000 yen. Yakuza 3 is the first of the trilogy to get the remaster. The other titles will come following afterward, as expected.

Yakuza 3 continues the story of Kazuma Kiryu and Haruka Sawamura as they try to forge a new life in Okinawa. Kazuma returns to the Morning Glory orphanage where they plan to hide and wait for the events of Yakuza 1 and 2 settles. Kazuma then has an encounter with Goro Majima and other characters from his past and then finds himself sucked back into the world of crime once again.

Producer Daisuke Saito believes there’s a market for remasters in Japan. Especially with the reception of Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2, remastering older games is a good idea. Several reviews stated that a number of minigames and additional content was implemented for the NA release of the game. Fans should sit tight for the announcement.

Stellaris: Distant Stars DLC update – what’s coming

by
Stellaris: Distant Stars DLC update - what's coming 15

Paradox Interactive has recently announced that their awesome epic strategy game Stellaris has a new DLC pack coming next week.

Fans of the game will already know what to expect. But those who aren’t really familiar with it or have put it down for a bit may be surprised to see the updates.

Stellaris: Distant Stars will bring a new focus on discovering new and weird creatures that lie in the far reaches of space. New surprises will occur that may help or harm your exploration adventures, and new revelations will be received in this DLC pack geared towards building a backstory.

There will also be new solar systems to be discovered each with their own tale to tell. The more you traverse the galaxy, the more you’ll find in terms of new tech to implement to your ship and new resources to utilize. If you’re a fan of exploration, you’ll probably like this update. Then again, this game is all about exploration in space.

You’ll find some hidden traces of a gateway network that gives way to a hidden constellation that lies outside of your own galaxy. You don’t know what’s hiding in this far void, but you’ll have to find out by taking the dive. As you travel to this new galaxy, you’ll find some notable resources and events that’ll allow your team to learn new methods of observing and analyzing the entire galaxy.

The new DLC pack pretty much focuses on having you do what the game does best- explore. You’ll get rewarded handsomely for exploring deep space and a lot fo backfill storyline for those who care.

There will also be plenty of new monsters waiting for you also. You’ll find huge creatures that live in wide areas that are behemoths in scale. Some of them are gentle, others not so much.

Stellaris: Distant Stars will arrive on PC, Mac OS X, and Linux on May 22, 2018. Be ready to explore some real space.

GoG giving away Unreal and Return to Na Pali expansion pack

by
GoG giving away Unreal and Return to Na Pali expansion pack 16

GoG is giving away the full package of the first game in the Unreal series, which contains both Unreal and the expansion pack Return to Na Pali. This is called Unreal Gold.

It was first released back in 1998 by GT Interactive. It was the main game of several development teams including Digital Extremes, Epic Games, and GT. It was the product of companies that later went on to produce games like WarFrame and Gears of War. And it was one of the most successful FPS games for PC of all times and is often compared to Quake and Doom for the gameplay, fast-paced action, and graphics at the time.

It was also the first game ever to use the Unreal Engine, which is now one of the most popular development tools in the whole industry. It’s been used in many video games from AAA companies to indie titles and has received tons of awards from industry leaders. It’s also gotten the record for the “most successful video game engine” by the Guinness Book of World Records.

GoG is now giving away the first full package of the game for free for the next 48 hours, so grab your copy now. If you like the series, you can get the whole bundle for 80% off which includes pretty much all the Unreal games. This will only cost you $5.97 for those looking to play the following successors tot he first game.

Whether or not you’re a fan of the game, it’s still worth a play through. It’s backlog-worthy. Free is free. Grab it now from GoG. So worthy.

PC Building Simulator gets colored cables and new hardware in newest update

by
PC Building Simulator gets new hardware and keeps dropping content.

PC Building Simulator released another update which adds a bunch of new stuff any PC builder will appreciate.

If you’ve never heard of this game, it’s one of those simulator games that went viral. PC Building Simulator will let you build a custom PC from scratch and also repair PCs in a struggling repair shop that challenges players to bring it back to profitability. Start with simple tasks like virus removal and work up to fixing hardware issues.

The newest update to the game adds the Antec DF500 case and is probably one of the first of many cases added to the game. The developers have developed a partnership in order to get the license to use their products.

CPU water cooling is also added in the newest update. It’s a simplified version of the water-cooling system used to cool the CPU. It’s an all-in-one water cooler rather than the complex ones enthusiasts use today. Perhaps in a later update, we’ll get the hardcore version.

Colored cables with over 100 options can be selected to brighten up the computer parts to make it a little prettier. Not all of the colors work properly, but it should be fixed within a new update. It’s a major patch of the cabling feature and the devs will surely improve it.

Other bug fixes have also come along in the newest update. You can see the full patch notes here.

GTA V gets battle royale in Trap Door update

by
GTA V gets battle royale in Trap Door update 17

The battle royale trend continues. Its next bandwagoner is GTA V.

Five years after its release, the game is still getting content updates to the online mode. The newest one is a new Adversary mode called Trap Door. Players also get discounts accompanying the update as usual.

The Trap Door mode sits with other GTA V Adversary Modes like The Vespucci Job and Hardest target. However, this is a true battle royale mode, with two teams facing off on a shrinking platform upon the Pacific Ocean. Well, it’s not true battle royale. But it’s pretty much GTA’s take on it.

Teams are small with no aspirations like the 100-player matches of the battle royale leaders. The contests take place over several rounds and any player that gets killed is dropped into the red zone, which gives them a chance to escape it in order to redeem themselves.

The system is vastly different from revivals on other teammates. The player’s second chance depends on themselves rather than strangers, which is a welcome twist to the genre. Rockstar’s continual improvement to the game isn’t anything surprising, given that it’s one of the best-selling games of all time and makes sense to continue giving it some TLC.

But this isn’t the first time GTA has done this. Motor Wars was similar and was released to the game last year.

Discounts to new weapons and vehicles will apply with this update and discounts on vehicles and weapons. Players will also get extra cash for doing Smuggler’s Run and Biker Business games.

RAGE 2 being made by Avalanche Studios and id Software

by
RAGE 2 being made by Avalanche Studios and id Software 18

RAGE 2 didn’t seem like it would happen. After all, how would Bethesda convince Mr. Goodman to come back to making games in 2018?

Nevertheless, the 2011 shooter is getting a sequel and id Software is teaming up. With Bethesda.

RAGE 2 packs a carnival of carnage so intense it can only come from two legendary AAA studios. That’s right, this is a f****ing AAAAAA game.

That’s right. RAGE 2 is coming as announced by a trailer. It’ll be made from the people behind DOOM. Avalanche Studios are the creators of Just Cause and Mad Max. While this is id Software’s real RPG, they’re following the guidance of companies who know how to do it right.

From the trailer, you can see how awesome this game is going to be. It’s not a dungeon crawler anymore, but rather a huge environment with regular battles and driving. There may be some racing as well with some mutants competing towards a finish line. The trailer also shows off mech suits and giant robots as well. It’s definitely the game on steroids.

The Wingstick is also here, which is a combination of boomerang and machete for those who don’t know. This tool was probably the best part of the first game, so it’s nice to have it back. Nanotrite abilities will let players cush baddies from above or go into rage mode.

RAGE 2 will be discussed at Bethesda’s E3 press conference. It’ll be released in Spring 2019 and available on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. This game will be followed for updates nonstop until release. Stay tuned.

SteamVR Input allows control scheme support for pretty much any controller

by
SteamVR Input will allow players to use any controller and use custom schemes.

Value has just announced the beta for SteamVR Input.

It’s a new input system that allows players to make bind configs for controllers in the game. This works whether or not the controller is in production when the game is released. This lets Valve’s homegrown JoyToKey or XPadder to work within SteamVR. Players can make any input system and any other player can choose to use it if they want in the Steam Community.

Support for SteamVR Input is built-in to the system and anyone with the application can access the new input system. Developers can also customize default bindings for every controller type and create new control all the schemes without having to go back and change them for each controller type. SteamVR Input is currently in beta, but you can try it out by going to Properties > SteamVR > Beta and select your build.

There’s basic documentation in the announcement post for software and hardware development information that’s worth checking out.

SteamVR Input comes from the announcement that Nintendo Switch Pro Controller will be supported by Steam. The support for this controller and the new input system allows Valve to make a new effort to expand controller support across other builds.

 

Space Agency Sim Mars Horizon confirmed

by
Space Agency Sim Mars Horizon confirmed 19

UK developer Auroch Digital announced a new space game called Mars Horizon where players will manage their own spaceport.

It combines rocket building, mission control, and space agency management, according to the devs. It lets players choose agencies in all major countries in the space race and guide it through decades of technology. The country to first send a ship to Mars is the hero.

There was also a reveal trailer released for the game as well that showcases the game’s artwork and mechanics. Auroch also got back in from the UK Space Agency during the development as well. They provided a grant, advice, and info on space exploration and space agency management, so the game is somewhat realistic.

It’ll feature custom rocket building, diplomatic relations with other nations, and a realistic space agency sim. The company has worked with many other titles that have been socially conscious.

Mars Horizon is coming out for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and a PC release with an unknown price to be announced.

NEOGEO mini by SNK loaded with 40 classic titles

by
NEOGEO mini by SNK loaded with 40 classic titles 20

The NEOGEO that debuted back in 1990 is now coming back as a NEOGEO mini because SNK is celebrating their 40th anniversary.

This console loads up 40 nostalgic titles and sports a 3.5-inch display. Classic games can be played without the need for a TV at all. The small display is comfortable to the touch and allows it to be held in just your hand. It measures only 162mm tall and 135mm wide and weighs just 600g.

The console will be available in two different designs that cater to the western and eastern markets uniquely. The eastern version is red, white, and black that mimics the original NEOGEO cabinet. The western version is a modern take with white, black, and blue. It comes with an AC adaptor. The frame includes a joystick, ABCD buttons, HDMI output, headphone jack, and two external controller ports in case you want to connect to your TV.

The 40 games are unknown at this point, but promo ads show off some popular titles like The King of Fighters and Real Bout Fatal Fury.

Other details like price, release date, and games haven’t been confirmed as of now. SNK fans will log some hours.

Nintendo shuts down Miitomo, but plans to expands mobile line

by
Nintendo shuts down Miitomo, but plans to expands mobile line 21

Miitomo, Nintendo’s planned smartphone app, has been shut down.

There wasn’t a specific reason for the shutdown, but it’s likely because no one uses the app. While it’s nice to have a smartphone app for everything, some apps are just not necessary- at all. Miitomo was launched with over 10 million users in the first month but then dropped over time.

Nintendo will still have a mobile extension of their company. The new president, Shuntaro Furukawa, said he’s interested in making more mobile games and make it a big business.

We’ll have to see what Nintendo’s plans are in the future for mobile gaming. The president wants to expand it to capture mobile gamers that are fans of Nintendo. He wants to make it turn into a huge, 100 billion yen platform.

Han Solo update coming to Star Wars Battlefront II – get the details

by
Han Solo update coming to Star Wars Battlefront II - get the details 22

EA has finally revealed details on a new event coming to Star Wars Battlefront II.

The Han Solo Season event with be live on May 15th and allows all players to celebrate him with new content that spans many eras in Solo’s history. Players will be able to play through many contents from the original trilogy this May including before Solo: A Star Wars Story content in June.

Here are some details of what’s coming in the Han Solo update:

A new map. Players will be able to play in Jabba’s Palace and play in Blast, Hero Showdown, and Heroes vs. Villanins. Hero Showdown allows players to duke it out in a round-based eliminiation mode where players can use their favorite duos per match.

New Appearances. Players will be able to snag neww Appearences from the Return of the Jedi, such as Calrissian with his Skiff Guard or Organa wearing the boounty hunter Boushh’s gear with a new voice over. Starfighter Custom Arade is also a new mode where players can play airborne in the cockpit with Starfighters from all ears.

The Ewok Hunt had players battleing as either an Ewok or Stormtrooper in Endor. The update introcuded some microtransactions that were removed previoiysly. Crystals were also added as a way to unlock Appearnaces.

More details will be coming soon. Stay tuned.

Nintendo Switch Online price, launch titles, cloud saves, and more details

by
Nintendo Switch Online price, launch titles, cloud saves, and more details 23

Nintendo has revealed some pricing details of their Nintendo Switch Online platform launching this September 2018.

It’ll come with a large library of 20 games, 10 of which have been announced. It’ll also have cloud saves, special deals, and other goodies for subscribers.

Here’s a brief summary of what to expect so far.

Pricing will be as follows:

  • One month (solo): $3.99
  • Three months (solo): $7.99
  • Twelve months (solo): $19.99
  • Twelve months (Family): $34.99

There aren’t any 1 or 3-month plans for the Family Membership because these accounts allow up to 8 accounts total which can be spread out worldwide.

Cloud saves will be much-improved and won’t have that horrible save disaster the Switch previously had. Now the cloud platform should be working 100%. No more data wiping! That’s something to be excited about.

And the library of games will have an online feature to play with friends. They can also watch your screen and you can watch theirs and take turns. Screen sharing will also be available s well. Voice chat will be done with an app on smartphones. All games will work offline as well. So far, 10 games have been announced:

  • The Legend of Zelda
  • Ice Climber
  • Balloon Fight
  • Donkey Kong
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Dr. Mario
  • Mario Bros.
  • Super Mario Bros.
  • Super Mario Bros. 3

Nintendo is behind it he online marketplace, but now they hope to claim a market share with their online platform. Switch owners won’t be able to play games without an online payment plan after September 2018. More details to be revealed.

We’ll have to see how this plays out. Stay tuned for updates.

They Are Billions gets Six Wonders update – see what’s new

by
They Are Billions gets Six Wonders update - see what's new 24

Numantian Games has released a new update for their Steampunk RTS They Are Billions.

In a Steam post, they outlined the new content that’s coming to the game. It’s called The Six Wonders update, and here’s what new.

They’re adding six new major buildings to the game:

  • The Lightning Spire gather energy from lightning strikes for the use of your people and also gives you 1500 victory points (VP).
  • The Victorious is a fortified shelter that shields your colony from the infected.
  • The Atlas Transmutator takes common materials and turns it into oil and gives you 2000 VP.
  • The Academy of Immortals trains your people by famous heroes and gives you 1500 VP.
  • The Crystal Palace allows climate control to help crops thrive in barren lands and gives you 1500 VP.
  • And the Silent Beholder reveals the whole map and enemies permanently and gives you 1500 VP.

The update is currently available to all owners of the game. Some new campaign content may be added to Survival Mode, such as map themes, features, and infected as well, according to the post.

The game is still currently in Early Access on Steam, but a campaign mode will be released on launch. They Are Billions is one of the most unique RTS games I’ve played in recent times. If you’re looking for a game that’ll keep you busy for a while, look no further.

Taco Gun lets you blow up your friends in local multiplayer coming on May 17th

by
Taco Gun lets you blow up your friends in local multiplayer coming on May 17th 25

Taco Gun, developed by Floating Island Studio, is coming to Steam on May 17th, 2018.

If you like local couch multiplayer, this may be a game you want to check out. You play as a character who’s been hardened by society in a world where bullets are food. Standoffs with pistols are a common thing and taco shells need to be dodged with precision. Food is everywhere, but the world you live in is very difficult to survive in. That’s where Taco Gun comes in.

You’re packed with weapons such chili peppers, coconuts, and other foodstuffs on your adventure. You need to shoot your enemies before they can shoot you. There are 8 levels you can try out, each with their own environments that have some hiding places, but you need to find safe places to protect yourself. There are 7 characters to pick that each have their own abilities and play styles. The game is difficult to explain, so watch the video below.

It’s a party game where you need to destroy your friends in local multiplayer. You can choose from between 2 to 4 individuals and choose which character or level you want to destory before starting the match. You can get pretty creative with the combinations. You can mix chili suances or use powerups to throw a bunch of tacos and have them rain from the skies.

If this sounds like your type of game, you can check it out on Steam and get more info about it. It looks like a pretty interesting game that could be hit-or-miss.

Airport security sim TSA Frisky taking flight on May 17, 2018

by
Airport security sim TSA Frisky taking flight on May 17, 2018 26

Out There Entertainment’s new TSA Frisky got a release date.

It’s coming out on May 17, 2018 for PC. It’s a VR title that comes with a single-player campaign where you play as a TSA agent and you need to keep everything in order at the airport. You need to make sure all passengers aren’t carrying prohibited items by rummaging their luggage. You’ll have to frisk, watch, ID, scan, and search passengers to find drugs, illegal goods, food, weapons, and even prohibited liquids. It’s a difficult job and it ain’t easy being the TSA guy.

One thing you’ll have to watch out for is your stress meter. If it maxes out, it’s game over. You need to get all passengers through check-in while keeping your stress low- ’cause you know, stress is bad.

TSA Friskyalso has a nice upgrade system where objectives and goals are both available to players looking to improve their skill as a virtual TSA agent. Each shift unlocks new equipment and getter tech as well.

Remy Bustani, a founder of Out There Entertainment, states:

[The team] liked the idea of taking the dreaded security check at the airport and use VR to really exploit the fun in that, VR is a unique platform and gives us as developers the tools to take something out of real life and make something fun out of it.

The game will come out for PC and supports VR systems like Windows Mixed Reality, Occulous Rift, and HTC Vive. You can try a demo of the game on Steam.

Patch 1.0.6 adds a founder’s edition limited-edition rifle

by
Patch 1.0.6 adds a founder's edition limited-edition rifle 27

the newest update to Sea of Thieves adds a new limited-edition rifle. And it’s awesome.

It’s a “launch crew” rifle added in the 1.0.6 patch. Specifically, it’s called the “Launch Crew” Eye of Reach rifle for only the next two weeks. It’s a founder’s edition rifle and will cost just one Gold, according to the forum.

Rare has also reduced Skeleton accuracy when shooting cannons from stands at long distances. Regional stock is also being changed with shopkeepers in different regions now only having specific item sets. This will help reduce mistimed deliveries. The bell on the small ship has been moved to the other side of the ladder as well. This is to reduce accidentally bell-rining. Rare also changed the position fo the ammo crates on the sloop and galleon.

There will also be new cosmetic outfits as well. Rare also address the flying ships bug and other issues as well.

There are also a few other quality-of-life improvements in the patch. See the full patch notes post for more details.

Sea of Thieves will be getting weekly new content as well. It’s a good time to be a pirate indeed.

Spartan Fist coming May 15th to Steam; it’s a “first-person puncher”

by
Spartan Fist coming May 15th to Steam; it's a "first-person puncher" 28

Spartan Fist launches May 15th on Steam.

Developer Glass Bottom Games has confirmed it in a press release. Spartan Fist is a first-person puncher game where players take control of a character named Emma Jones- a detective looking to make some big bucks quickly. Emma looks for the ultimate cash prize by entering the arena of Spartan Fist.

If you’ve played other games by Glass Bottom Games, you’ll notice the characters are a continuation of previous games like Hot Tin Roof: The Cat that Wore a Fedora and Jones On Fire. But the game doesn’t require any previous knowledge to play, so you’re okay if not.

There was also a new trailer released about the game which shows off some of the gameplay and unique blocky artwork that was used in previous games by the same developer. You can use fist-based weapons like “kitty fist” or “rock fist” which changes how your character punches. Every playthrough will be unique when the game is restarted.

The artwork is one to behold. It’s gory, violent, and awesome, but all done in a colorful array of blocky voxel goodness.

You can buy it on Steam for $15.