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altalksaboutstuff · 4 years ago

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My Top 5 Games of the Past Generation Youtube Script Plus Notes

This is, more or less, the script for My Top 5 Games of the Past Generation video that I just published on Youtube: With the Xbox One and Playstation Four about to head out of the door to make ways for the Xbox Series X and the Playstation 5 respectively to lead us into the next generation of consoles were only Nintendo has been sitting comfortably with the Switch, the Wii U has been long gone and Nintendo also recently announced the official end of the Nintendo 3DS line cutting all the ties to this last generation. With that almost everyone is now releasing their lists of the best games of the current generation, myself included, I couldn't help but notice a lot of same-soundy lists such as Game Informer's top 5 list. I myself have to disagree with these, not to say that any and/or all five of those games on Game Informer's Top 5 aren't good, important or worth playing just that I don't think they are the best representative of this generation in terms of impact and wide appeal, so much as had the most money backing them. That these games on the list are more the best representative of the biggest Triple A titles. The games that I had in mind are more impactful on how this generation swayed and set new standards. I want you to keep in mind that while I liked some of these games, these aren't my personal top 5 of the past generation either but I think closer to what best represents our closing era of gaming, when I say the “best games of the current generation.”

First off I'd like to make an honorable mention of PT. PT or playable trailer was supposed to be a demo for the new Silent Hill S game that unfortunately never came to be for the Playstation 4 from Konami. A joint venture between film director Guillermo del Toro and the famous creator of Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojima, this demo spooked the pants off of everyone and was probably the reason a lot of people decided to buy a Playstation 4. Unfortunately Konami let Hideo Kojima go under less than favorable conditions and the demo vanished with him in time. Since then the immersive, first person perspective horror game demo changed the landscape of what survival horror could be. We then saw Resident Evil VII by Capcom, the Park by Funcom, Layers of Fear by Aspyr and Death Standing by Hideo Kojima's new studio Kojima Productions that were all heavily influenced by PT (this point made more obvious for Hido Kojima's Death Stranding) and the future of Survial Horror / Suspense games seems to be headed there with upcoming games like Resident Evil VIII: The Village. The only reason this isn't officially on the list is because, well, it was sadly never a game but its influence was too important for me not to mention.

Number 5: Sonic Mania. Ok so Sonic Mania isn't anything new but it is very important in the sense that it is a major franchise, Sonic, by a well established publisher, Sega, and they had officially given the keys of Mobius to the fandom to make a new game and it was fantastic. While that's oversimplying things a bit errr a lot, since Sega just didn't come out of the blue offering that opportunity. Rather Sega saw a Sonic game pitched by Christian Whitehead, aka Taxman, who worked on porting previous ports of Sonic games to Mobile platforms. Why I think it is important is that this validating the bridge between fandom and passion projects in world where game hacks and fangames are traditionally shut down almost immediately after gaining the slightest attention. While Sonic Mania isn't a fangame, its roots were deep from the Romhack community. This represents cracking the door between what the fandom produces and what the corporate offices allow being available to consumers in a world were popular fangames and hacks result in cease and desist orders - which is why I think is very important to put Sonic Mania as the number 5 game of this console generation.

Number 4: Rocket League. As of today, Rocket League is a now free to play game for better or for worse. Rocket League is high-octane fun, blasting balls across various courts and fields such as basketball and football with fast automobiles but what it is most well known for is basically soccer with cars. Rocket League is a lot of fun to play and has a large audience of in the streaming and esports field which would be reason enough to put this game in a top 5 but what this game marks maybe even more importantly is cross console online play. While other games have and do continue to have online play across systems, back in March of 2016 Microsoft was very interested in allowing online play between Xbox One and other consoles them being extremely hopeful for Playstation 4 in particular, however Sony was holding out. Sony was hesitant, citing their emphasis on providing a certain quality online experience but finally came to the party and in 2019 you could finally play Rocket League online with all your friends whether it be on PC, Xbox One, Switch, or Playstation 4. Since then we have had other games slowly roll out this feature such as Wargroove and the trend seems to be expanding. I hope to see all games adopt this in the future and since Rocket League “birthed” this concept coming to the table for cross console online play for us all to enjoy, this is why I think Rocket League deserves the number 4 slot.

Number 3: Bloodborne/Dark Souls III. This past generation and hell even to some extent decade, spanning to the PS3/Xbox 360, has lead us to compare every challenging game that comes out to Dark Souls. Cuphead is the Dark Souls of run and gun shooters, Dead Cells is the Dark Souls of Metroidvanias, Celeste is the Dark Souls of platformers, etc. While the meme of “X is like the Dark Souls of” is hard to find a concrete start, according to Google Trends this first seemed to spike in April of 2015 around the release of Bloodborne, the PS4 game created by FromSoftware. While not technically a Dark Souls game, it was made by the same team and the game play and feel is very Dark Souls in the sense that I feel the phrase is used today, in contrast to the first two Dark Souls games. Then we can see that in/and around October 2017 the trend has risen to its peak a little after a year and a half of the release of Dark Souls III. While this justification may seem more flimsy and ultimately the Dark Souls brand was established in 2011, I do think Bloodborne/Dark Souls III is more in the zeitgeist, if you will, of the “X is like Dark Souls” comparison that has shaped the conversation of so many games today.

Number 2: Undertale. Undertale is perhaps the darling of this generation. A game chock full of charm with multiple ways to approach it. Will you save everyone, sacrifice everyone, or something in-between? This game does look next gen, current gen or even comparable to past gen games until you hit perhaps the SNES or even late NES. Maybe a number 2 spot is too high on list – this game didn't revolutionize the industry in ways that the other games on this list did nor was it the first anti-RPG of its kind, that would probably go to MOON, but Undertale just had such a powerful impact on gamers when it came out and became so unforgettable. I feel like Undertale will be a game that we remember for a long time and to not include it in this list because its an indie game would be a real tragedy which segways me to my number 1 game.

Number 1: Shovel Knight. Shovel Knight is the indie game that, I think, lead to the current boom of retro inspired indie games we have been enjoying. A love letter to the NES games of the past such as Castlevania, Mega Man and Ducktales to name a few. Shovel Knight wasn't the first retro inspired indie games but I feel like the attention to detail in trying to stay as true to what the hardware could run in terms of look, color, sound and pixel art with its overwhelming success showed that there was a market for these type of games. Its success kickstarter in 2013 also showed that Kickstarter could be used as a viable platform to create indie games for a wider audience without having to rely on that Triple A model of good gaming synonymous with big budget corporate funding. I firmly believe that we wouldn't have the great retro inspired games like Celeste and Dead Cells or the Kickstarter'd Yooka Laylee and Bloodstained or games that did both like Blasphemous if it wasn't for the hard-work and ingenuity that Yacht Club Games paved with Shovel Knight.

To use a popular Youtube cliché to conclude this list, “At the end of the day” I didn't make this list to put Game Informer or anyone's personal preferences down. If you believe that they got the Top 5 games of the decade right that's perfectly ok and valid too, to have as your opinion. I also want to reiterate that those five games – The Last of Us Part II, the Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, Zelda Breath of the Wild and God of War are all important to this generation coming to a close as well in their own way. While this list isn't my favorite games of the past generation, maybe I'll do that in the future, they are my subjective “best games list” of the past generation for what I think they did to the industry and you are free to agree, disagree, pick and choose between my list and Game Informers list or make a completely different list of your own. I'm personally excited to see what the future of gaming has for us in this coming generation and optimistic for what's both around the corner and late into the next systems' life-cycle. Happy gaming to you however you play.

Webpages noted: https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/17/21443683/nintendo-3ds-discontinued-lifetime-sales-hardware-software-units

https://www.fandom.com/articles/sonic-mania-just-nostalgia

https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/15/15807138/sony-playstation-cross-network-play-xbox-block-response

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/were-ready-microsoft-says-about-xbox-one-ps4-cross/1100-6438654/

https://www.rocketleague.com/news/full-cross-platform-play-now-live-in-rocket-league/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/yachtclubgames/shovel-knight

https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DavidDAngelo/20140625/219383/Breaking_the_NES_for_Shovel_Knight.php

Games shown/referenced in the video:

The Last of Us Part 2

God of War

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Red Dead Redeption II

Witcher 3

PT / Silent Hill S

Sonic Mania

Rocket League

Blood Borne

Dark Souls III

Undertale

Shovel Knight

Shantae: Half Genie Hero

Cuphead

Celeste

Yooka Laylee

Mega Man 2

Ducktales

Castlevania

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Blasphemous

Dead Cells

Resident Evil 7

Resident Evil 8

Moon

Layers of Fear

The Park

Death Stranding

Bonus Footage:

Xbox Series X reveal trailer

PS5 reveal trailer

Also note: I messed up in the original video and said the phrase, “X is like Dark Souls of” spiked in April of 2015 when I should have said first peaked in January to April of 2015. I noted it in the video but wanted to note it again, sorry.

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tessatechaitea · 5 years ago

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Wonder Twins #7

I didn't realize the Wonder Twins were Gen X.

Oh yeah! Zan had just saved the world by stopping a plot that was going to save the world.

I just realized I hadn't scanned the cover yet and as I did, I noticed the Wonder Twins fist/star emblem marks a striking resemblance to a goat.se riff. Zan and Jayna get taken off of monitor duty at the Hall of Justice now that they've stopped the League of Annoyance. You'd think that doing a good job would get you a promotion but those of use who have always done spectacularly good jobs know better. While everybody else works down to the lowest common denominator (because who wants to do more work than the next guy?! A fool, that's who!), good workers just put on blinders and do the job they were hired for until the time they're being paid for is up. Sure, that sounds like I'm describing a sucker who's been completely manipulated by the man! But I'm also describing a person who fulfills their end of whatever bargain they've agreed to! So when I say Zan and Jayna wind up giving tours at the Hall of Justice because they were too good at catching criminals, you'll understand why I went into the previous digression. Maybe? I don't know. Have you seen what state the U.S. is in?! Why are you picking apart my writing style?! Mark Russell takes a few pages to shit all over hockey fans and now I hate Mark Russell with a burning passion. Even though I'd hardly call myself a hockey fan. I mean, I loved NHL '93 (unless it was '92 (or maybe '94?)) and I loved going to San Jose Sharks games when I was still living in the Bay Area (plus my friend worked equipment for the Sharks and would get us free tickets). But it's not like I follow it much anymore. I just like the feeling of being angry at somebody for writing a satirical critique of sports fans rioting because they're so happy that their team won. Although why would I be angry when I've never done that nor think Russell's wrong in his pointed and humorous critique?! Oh, who cares why! Being angry is just more fun! Oh shit! I finally understand people's attraction to Fox News! I just watched a YouTube clip of somebody's Jeremy Roenick highlights from NHL '94 set to the song "More Than a Feeling" and it was pretty awesome. Also, that was definitely the one we played nonstop back in 1993 and 94 and maybe even into 95. Roenick unstoppable down with the puck while Sharks players lay splayed out on their back all across the ice. To stop the riot, Superman calls in Repulso! He's a guy whose super power is super stink and he's kept in a locked room with a bare table and a microwave and nobody wants to be his friend because he smells like a garbage dumb that vomited on top of the diarrhea it shit out while standing on its head so the stanky muck ran down his body absorbing all of his body odor and then somebody cut up a durian and tossed it in the mix.

Superman is a dick. Get this guy some friends with no sense of smell. Or at the very least, an Xbox Gold account.

After the hockey riots, some "the end of the world" riots take place because Zan and Jayna screw up something or other. Basically what that means is that Repulso gets to be let out of his airtight containment unit again! He's a pretty optimistic guy for being sealed away by Superman (which is just Superman's way! Is somebody a problem? No problem! Put them in the Phantom Zone!). He's so happy and not bitter about his living arrangements that I feel like Zan and Jayna had better figure out a way to give him a better life before this issue ends. Because if Mark Russell fails this character he created before this issue is over and I have to face reality after snot crying about a fictional person, I'm going to be pretty upset when I continue to buy Mark Russell comic books because what other choice do I have? Am I going to stop reading DC's best written comic books because Mark Russell betrayed poor Repulso? Of course not! What am I? A person with integrity?! Repulso winds up getting his ass beat by rioters as Repulso's handlers flee the chaotic "end of the world" downtown riot scene. Luckily the Wonder Twins are headed downtown to save his life and maybe become his friend or something? Please? After Zan and Jayna save Repulso, Jayna goes to Superman to tell him everything sucks. He gives her a big speech about how being a hero is lonely work because you don't always get to fuck the hot chick at your secret identity's workplace and also fuck an Amazon warrior while also getting to fuck anybody at all whose initials are "L.L." and also have a best friend who is the coolest guy in the world with a butler who makes the best pancakes. Sometimes you're a fat jerk who smells who even Superman won't fucking give the time of day because Superman has this speech about how being a hero is lonely and that's a good thing so you should embrace your loneliness because who wants to put up with your super stink, fatty?

Jayna is a way better hero than Superman. At least in this comic book that's all about her and not Superman so of course she's going to outshine him!

Oh yeah, the ant in the above picture is Jayna. It can't smell. Wonder Twins #7 Rating: A+. I should probably be less cynical when reading Mark Russell comic books because he's as earnest and serious as he can be while also providing lots of jokes. He takes writing seriously because what else is there? If your message isn't going to matter, why bother? (is his philosophy. I think. It's not my philosophy! I don't think? Maybe it is! I just write things that matter in a much different way than Mark Russell writes things that matter.) I should probably read Superman's speech and be inspired by the idea that you don't do good because you want adulation; you do good because it's the right thing to do, even if the entire world thinks you're an asshole for doing it. Even if all of the other superheroes think you're a stinky fuck and only keep you around to use as a tool to oppress and manipulate the masses without having to use logic and reason on them (because, let's face it, the people doing terrible things don't understand logic and reason. Or they're do but they're just selfish and greedy so nothing is going to reach them anyway (which maybe is part of Superman's message?)), you're still a hero at the end of the day. You can still be proud of your stinky self. And even if the life is lonely, you should remain positive and upbeat because Superman really doesn't want to be reminded that you exist every time you complain about the lack of reasonable living conditions. Being a hero is a state of mind, says the guy who also looks great and is invulnerable and has the best wife and a cool son and doesn't have to fear death! So inspiring!

#Wonder Twins #Mark Russell #Stephen Byrne #DC Comics #DC

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kingofthenorth49 · 3 years ago

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Potholes on the information superhighway, and other things to miss

So as I sit hear listening to the sound of the wave gently caressing the soft sandy soiled walls of the eroding bank in front of our COVID driven overly expensive waterfront view, I’m staring at two words blinking at me from the screen of my laptop that are causing me to smile, that deep internally satisfying smile we only get when something so perfect touches our souls.

No internet.

Now that may send shivers down the spine of even the most hardened 15-year old gamer as they sit in front of their Xbox One for the 100th time as it does a 12 gig regular update, but not me, it brings a sense of inner peace. See I’m a gen X’er, born during Canada’s centennial and raised on skinned knees, streetlight hide and seek, and the best music generation of all times, if you discount the renaissance. Love me some Mozart.

But why would the lack of access to the internet of things, an absence of bit transfer, make me so happy?

Because we have become enslaved by technology, and we are indebted to a few technocrats who now control almost every aspect of our lives. Don’t believe me? Leave your phone at home for a day. Let me know how that works out for you.

Think about how easy it is to unperson someone now. They unpersoned the President of the United States in under a day, so think about how easy it would be to make you disappear from society. If you’ve ever read Orwell’s 1984 you’d understand how immensely easy Winston Smith’s job would be in 2021, how quickly you could scrub the very existence of a person from society should a bad actor, say like a government bureaucrat who didn’t like a post you made on twitter criticizing their political candidate. They can shut off your access to your bank account with a keystroke, no cash for you and speaking of cash, once our current paper/plastic currency goes away that control gets even tighter as you won’t make a single transaction without the government knowing about it, and eventually approving it.

Approving it you say? The government can’t tell me what I can and cannot buy! Really? C’mon Prole, you have a short memory. It was only a few weeks ago Walmart had to caution tape off clothing aisles in their stores across Canada so the unwashed masses couldn’t buy new clothes because they aren’t essential goods.

Well I’m glad to hear that, that mandate will fit well into my retirement plans, but I digress....

China has had a social credit system for some time; it’s a way the ruling class keeps the Proles in line. You write blogs like this that criticize the government; they turn off your access to things like travel. Miss too many days at work this month? No access to smokes or liquor for 60 days. Click. Unpaid parking tickets? Forget about booking that cruise Winston.

Do you think I’m making this up like some dude in 1948 writing about Ministries of Truth? Do you think this isn’t coming? It’s coming at us like a drug infused Charlie Sheen at dollar night at Baby Dolls.

Think vaccine passports. Seems innocuous (pun intended) enough doesn’t it. I mean countries have always required vaccinations to travel into them right? But here’s what you aren’t thinking about. If I wanted to travel to Mozambique I’d need a malaria vaccination, maybe a few others, but it’d be my choice to get vaccinated to do the travel. If I didn’t want to be vaccinated, I’d just not travel to Africa in the first place. No biggie.

But they are pushing to vaccinate the world population all at once, all for a bad flu (yes, I know people died, but people die every single day from the same family of viruses, some years more than others) and at the same time some countries are trying to mandate vaccination passports, like Canada for example. I bet most of you didn’t know that the Government of the right dishonourable sock puppet, the crime Minister of Canada, the son of Fidel himself has issues a request for proposal to tech companies to develop and operate a biometric identification system to imprint Canadian subjects’ identities to vaccination status.

That’s right, if you live in Canada soon you will be required to give up your biometric information to the government in exchange for a few beans, that is as long as you follow the mandated vaccination schedule and eat all your veggies. Think my tinfoil hat is on too tight? I’d challenge you to sit down and do some research on some of the bills Trudopes minions are tabling right now. They literally aren’t hiding their agenda any longer they’ve become that bold.

Combine that with the mass buying of single family homes buy large equity funds like Blackrock. There’s no conspiracy theory, both CBC and the National Post have reported on this, and it’s not new, large corporations have for a long time controlled the majority of the residential rental market but now they’ve changed strategy and have started buying homes in suburbia.

Why?

Control.

By 2030 you will own nothing and you’ll be happy. This is the agenda of the progressives, to even the playing field for everyone, equality is the end goal to ensure everyone is equal. Except them. Someone has to live in the farmhouse and drink the milk, you know, for brains and stuff.

Within the next decade those who stare at goats will control every aspect of our lives through the use of technology. Gone will be the days of individual freedoms and opportunity. It’s not a far stretch from where we already are if you think about it, we can easily be cancelled nowadays for simply sending the wrong 128 character combination across the IoT. Remember Jim? Oh yeah, he was a pot stirrer right up until the time he posted that tweet about JT’s wife liking chocolate better than vanilla then POOF he was gone. Whatever happened to him?

Holy squirrel’s batman, it’s hard to focus this morning. Sorry.

We give children iPhones and then can’t understand why they become introverted and troll their friends on social media by the time they are 12 or spend their nights locked in their bedrooms talking to strangers or conducting cam shows for magic tokens they can trade for new possessions.

This pandemic just helped that little model move up the greatest hits chart just a wee bit faster now didn’t it. I heard the word “Cave syndrome” for the first time yesterday, a connotation that some people will have a hard time re-integrating into society once things “open up”, and by “open up” I mean our tormentors allowing us by virtue of some untold regulation to resume our lives in a new normal.

A new normal of more control.

The allegory of the cave is a good one (double points right there folks!). Yes, I was going all Socrates/Plato on that one. Most people do not grasp the enormity of the reality of where we are going, nor do I think they even care because they have been facing the blank wall for way too long and have developed Stockholm syndrome as a result. If you don’t know that the water temperature is increasing, and you are enjoying what you think is a hot tub fiesta, well then all of this will be lost on you anyway so you might as well embrace the bubbles. Technology is a double edged sword that we’ve swallowed whole, damn the torpedoes. We have become so dependent I fear there’s no escape what’s next.

But not here.

Blink. Blink. No Internet.

I’m going to ensure there’s always a Barchetta stored here, you know, for the future, it just likely won’t be red. Red cars always attract attention.

For now I’ll enjoy the sound of the surf, the wind through the trees, and the feel of the cover of a good book in my hands as society races to obliterate itself at an alarming rate, one I’ll never understand. And I know one thing, i’ll use my phone to access the ‘net when needed, then shut it off when not. That’s freedom folks, that’s what I was promised, and that’s what I’m living.

Namaste.

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technologybrandnews · 4 years ago

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Because of FPS Enhance the Xbox Sequence S is an unimaginable worth at $300

In February, Xbox introduced a Brand New Attribute for Its Xbox Collection S and Series X, Known as FPS Boost. It allows specific backward-compatible Xbox One matches, which initially ran at 30 frames per second, currently running at 60fps or greater on consoles. These improvements are finished in-house from the Xbox hardware category and do not need developer input. Last week, Microsoft announced that 74 fresh brand matches would support FPS Boost, such as Far Cry 5, Assassin's Creed Unity, Recore, along Alien Isolation. The tally so far is 97 matches across Series X and Series S using all the FPS Boost remedies. The capacity to play with these older names at frame speeds they were not supposed to operate at radically increases the worth of their Xbox collection S. So far so that I could begin recommending it on the Series X.

Frame rate is everything.

That is right. Length speed means everything to me personally. I have had the Xbox collection S and Series X because they started in November, and at that time, I've come to be a comprehensive frame speed snob. So for me, frame speed has become the most significant feature in estimating how "next-gen" a match seems. And when a match does not at least provide a 60fps manner, I will not perform it. It doesn't seem kind, I know, but it is true. Games that run at 60fps appear smoother, are far more visually pleasing, and react faster than reduced frame-rate games. As soon as you've experienced it in more than a couple of matches, it isn't easy to return to 30fps. All this is why I had a challenging time advocating the Xbox collection S to friends searching for a next-generation method when I bought it back in November. Besides the quicker load times, many backward-compatible games conducted no greater than they did initially. Several games were optimized for its Series S, such as Gears 5, which looked good and ran at 60fps. However, there were not nearly enough of them. That is all changed now, as a result of the massive influx of FPS Boost matches and the launch of more Series S optimized matches. There are currently 97 games that contain FPS Boost on Xbox collection X and S.

'Optimized for Series X|S.'

Imagine if a match does not utilize FPS Boost? That is where the optimizations for both Series X and S return. These have a game that's on the Xbox One also provides new features such as a higher resolution, even greater graphic results, and a 60fps (and or greater ) frame speed. The programmers themselves generally manage all these optimizations. I want to acknowledge it, but I'll buy games that I have just a passing curiosity about if I find they have the "X|S" optimized emblem. I did this using Deadly Shell and The Avengers. Additionally, lately, Xbox declared that Ocean of Solitude had obtained the FPS Boost remedy. I had never heard of the game before I had heard about this upgrade. However, I downloaded it through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the afternoon of this FPS Boost statement. So I shall say at least Today, give it a go.

Some frustrations still

As far as I value the advancements made during the past couple of weeks, there continue to be a few frustrations. Occasionally games Receive a 60fps patch around the Series X, although maybe not about the Series S. The Outer Worlds and Wreckfest both currently operate at 60fps about the Series X; however, top out at 30fps about the Series S. That is probably due to the gap in graphical bandwidth involving the 12 teraflop GPU from the Series X along with also the four teraflop one from the Series S. Obtaining a few games to run in a constant 60fps about the Series S -- without even using FPS Boost -- may take more effort.

The system of choice?

If you are a hardcore gamer prepared to pay $500 (#450, then AU$749) to get a game to console if you can find one, that's the Series X is really for certain that the machine for you. Unfortunately, I do not have a PlayStation 5 and probably will not until the conclusion of the calendar year, so I can not speak for its quality. However, my colleague Dan Ackerman urges it if you can discover it. But if you do not match the above mentioned, the Series S is a fantastic choice next-gen system. The games are a little simpler to locate, and also, the value proposition of this SSD rate, functionality in optimized matches, and FPS Boost matches is unmatched. When you mix that with Game Pass for about $10 or $15 (#11, AU$16) per month, it is a ridiculous worth that will only get better within the upcoming few months as better and more games have been published. Read the full article

#xbox #XboxSequenceS

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smokeybrandreviews · 4 years ago

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Exclusive Bias

With Xbox buying Bethesda, there’s been a ton of talk about exclusivity and if it’s good or bad for the consumer. As a gamer of, what? thirty-one years, i wanted to chime in a little on what i think this means. I am on record as being a straight up Sony shill. I’ve been team PlayStation since my brother brought home his friend’s copy of Final Fantasy IX some twenty years ago. Sony has been good to me in regards to content that i gravitate toward. I play a lot of RPGs and single player outings and that has been PlayStation’s emphasis since their inception. I love those types of game because, more of ten than not, they have the most compelling narratives. I do have the original Xbox but that’s basically to play literally six games; Dead or Alive 3, Dead or Alive Ultimate, Kotor, Kotor 2, Panzer Dragoon Orta, and Dead or Alive: Beach Volleyball. I also had Sudeki but that game is kind of trash. When the next gen came around, i bought a PS3 and never looked back.

Xbox became the console of the NA region. They have a lot of First Person shooters and cater hard to the battle royale crowd. Madden and 2k have a massive install base on the Microsoft console, not saying there aren’t that many on the PlayStation ideas i have been known to get down on a 2K every so often, but those games are easily more important to that system than Sony’s machine. I mean, Sony just makes great f*cking games and Microsoft doesn’t. I don’t care about Halo or Gears or whatever else they want to force my face into. I enjoy wast worlds with compelling characters like the Horizon series or the new God of War. Hell, even their licensed titles like that new Spider-Man game sh*t on everything that Xbox has to offer, which is why i think they shelled out so hard for Bethesda. Xbox is not a console built for my gaming tastes and this acquisition doesn’t change any of that. From what I've seen Microsoft pushing, buying Bethesda moves them farther away from my interests as a whole.

I love playing games. I have for years. The thing is, for me, narrative trumps game play in this genre. Video games are far more enriching entertainment that film, and we all know how much I love cinema. A cursory search through the archive on this blog will show you essay after essay, review after review, that I've written about movies. Video games take those experiences and profoundly expands upon them in every facet. The fact hat you can play a game, interact with the narrative instead of just experiencing a story being told to you, is amazingly rewarding to me. Once I played my first Final Fantasy title and understood what could be achieved with story in games, I was hooked. This turn toward the cinematic in both narrative and presentation with the PS2/Xbox era, lends itself to the core aspects of why I love movies as a whole. However, gaming is free from all of those Hollywood studio constraints. Unless you work for EA, 2K, or Activision. Those guys are assholes. Outside of those horrific companies, the creativity displayed with gaming is profound and some of the best narratives I've ever experienced, have been interactive. Even shooters and fighting games are starting to incorporate story into their game play heavy entries, all of which I adore. I love great story telling and video games present a medium that can give the most immersive take on those narratives. Bethesda tends to tell some very interesting stories but I don't know that their plots are enough for me to buy an Xbox. A lot of the titles I play tend to have more unique, original, worlds to explore outside of the pedestrian fare presented by the house that Todd Howard maintains.

I need to clarify that i play a ton of Japanese RPGs. I like their battle systems and like that they have a rather eclectic choices in how to deliver that type of content. Western developers often force an RPG into a hard fantasy world like Dragon Age or Elder Scrolls, which is fine because i generally enjoy fantasy stories, but i love sci-fi or a modernized version of a fantasy title even more. Final Fantasy VII is one of my favorite games of all time specifically for those reason. Off the top of my head, I can think of the Xeno franchise and Star Ocean games that give me something new, something different, but still grounded in sci-fi fantasy. That’s not to say the west doesn’t occasionally hit it out of the park. Mass Effect fast became one of my favorite titles in stark contrast to my aversion with shooters but that narrative and character writing was just too delicious not to get fat on, you know? Despite the shoddy nature of Andromeda, i still really enjoyed the character writing in that game, i just wish there was a better, overall, writing. Bethesda doesn’t have games like that. They don’t make titles that capture my imagination or lure me back in with grandiose worlds outside of that Arthurian or Tolkein-esque fantasy world. I don’t care for Elder Scrolls and my chick is the Fallout fan, even if she’s wavering due to how sh*tty 76 continues to be. I was looking forward to Starfield specifically for this reason but, knowing Bethesda and their hard on for the FPS, I probably would have passed on I anyway, RPG elements or not. The only games available on their roster currently that would even tweak my interests are maybe Doom and Wolfenstein but, even those are a near miss. I just don’t care for shooters. I don’t care about what Bethesda makes.

I think that’s the ultimate stance i have on this; I don’t care. Look, gaming is f*cking awesome and everyone should be able to play with everyone but I'm not going to sit here and say that a first party studio should be forced into supplying games to a direct competitor. It’d be nice if that were a thing, maybe have one of those timed exclusives or whatever, but I'm not ignorant of commerce. I know that in-house studios don’t have to share with outsiders and i am okay with that as long as the quality of games doesn’t diminish. Do i hope Bethesda continues to release on the PlayStation platform? Sure but that’s mostly because my chick likes their games, not me. I asked her of this merger was enough to buy an Xbox if Bethesda went exclusive and she said, rather frankly, no. There’s not enough content coming out of that company to warrant another five hundred dollar purchase, especially since we are both, for sure, getting a PS5. The fact that the aforementioned Horizon and God of are are almost certainly going to be exclusive to Sony is more than enough to secure that purchase but it looks like Final Fantasy XVI is going exclusive, too. Probably limited but still, I'll have that game long before Xbox receives it. It might suck for the Microsoft lot but i am indifferent to it. Sony makes better games for me and my tastes so my loyalties lie there, exclusivity or not.

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smokeybrand · 4 years ago

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Exclusive Bias

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entergamingxp · 4 years ago

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10 Other Things You Could Get For $1,500 Dollars Instead of the Logitech Embody Gaming Chair

July 22, 2020 4:24 PM EST

Logitech has announced their brand new Embody gaming chair they created in partnership with HermanMiller, but with a price tag of $1,500, really makes you wonder, what else could you get with that sort of cash?

Logitech revealed today their brand new Logitech Embody gaming chair that they partnered with Herman Miller for, and while it is a beauty and no doubt will be comfy, at $1,500, that’s a lot of cash to drop on something you are going to fart constantly on. So let’s take a look at what those $1,500 bucks could get you elsewhere!

Introducing the @LogitechG x @HermanMiller gaming setup. Learn more at https://t.co/iIq3n8bo3T #PlayAdvanced pic.twitter.com/jGXxD0Cg0l

— Logitech G (@LogitechG) July 22, 2020

1) NVIDIA RTX 2080 TI + Nintendo Switch : $1,199.99 + $299.99 = $1,499.98

One of the beefiest graphics cards on the market today, making for some of that sweet, sweet raytracing goodness, comes in at $1200 bucks! That means you have plenty of money left over to buy a Nintendo Switch to keep you busy with while you download the drivers and all the sick new PC games you will play with your new GPU! You may even be able to play Crysis at Ultra Settings!

2) Sony X800H 75 Inch TV w/ 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV with HDR and Alexa Compatibility: $1,398.00

The new generation of consoles is almost here, and for the $1500 you would spend on a Logitech Embody gaming chair, you could take and get a brand new TV that will pair perfectly with the new systems. Hell, if you shrink the size a bit, you could find some TVs in a price range so you could get two! One for both your Series X and your PlayStation 5!

3) 6,250 packets of Maruchan Chicken Ramen Noodles: $1,497.60

So apparently, on Amazon, you can buy a 24 pack for $5.76, and after some expert-level math-ing, you could get by 260 of these packs for under $1,500. Two days later, with that free Amazon Prime shipping, you will be the proud owner of 6,250 bricks of ramen noodles and enough chicken-flavored salt to kill a football team.

4) (Probably) Xbox Series X + PlayStation 5 : $1,500

Now at the time of writing, the prices of the new systems remain a mystery, so this is purely speculation. However, we will assume the worst and that both will come in at a staggering $699.99 (this would indeed be the worst timeline if this happens). At the apocalyptic price, you would still be able to pick up both on launch day.

5) 1/28th of a Beta Black Lotus: $1,500

The current price for the cream-de la-cream magic card sits at $42,000. That means, with your $1500, you could be the proud owner of a fraction of a piece of legendary cardboard! Mind you, at $42,000, it won’t be in the best of shape, definitely not a perfect ten graded Beta Black Lotus, but still, it’s the Black Lotus!

6) Adopt multiple rescue puppies and kittens: Number of fluffs and cost varies

Puppies and kittens are damn cute. Even people with allergies to them think they are adorable. Now the prices for adoptions of rescue animals vary, but as a servant for a rescued doge myself, I paid $275, so we will go with that. Plugging that cost into my Math-o-Matic machine, that means you could save five puppies! Since many times saves come spayed/neutered, you will also be helping Bob Barker! Double win!

7) Polymega + All Addon Modules + Extra Controllers : $1,038

Retro game fans with stacked libraries that may lack a working tube television would be able to snag the upcoming Polymega retro game console and add-ons. The Polymega would allow you to play many of your disk-based console games once again, and with all the add-ons opening up the chance to play your cartridge games too. Forget the next-gen systems; you could play Plok on your 4k TV!

youtube

8) 8 Day Caribbean Cruise for 2: $1,459 (before tax)

Global pandemic and recent troubles of the cruise lines aside, an 8-day cruise in the bright blue ocean, hot sun overhead, dolphins swimming in the ship’s wake. You and a friend or partner could enjoy it together! It’s the perfect chance to play a nautical Dungeons and Dragons campaign!

9) Every game from our “The 50 Best Video Games of the Decade” list: roughly $1,400

A chair is excellent, and all, but even this Logitech Embody gaming chair I doubt will last a decade, whereas these games we think have proven themselves as some of the best of the past decade. With Games like Grand Theft Auto 5, FTL: Faster Than Light, and Knack, your backlog of games will get some real gems that may just last you the next decade.

*Edit: I have been made aware that Knack is not one of our best games of the decade…maybe you should get the chair then.

10) 62,998 Gems in Raid: Shadow Legends: $1,499.98

Speaking of gems, a lot of people on YouTube seem to be playing Raid: Shadow Legends, the free-to-play dark fantasy RPG where you will face wave-after-wave of enemies in the game’s exciting campaign mode where – wait, what was I say? Oh, the gems, right, so what better way to spend your $1,500 then on Gems from Raid’s store! I couldn’t tell you exactly what they do, but if you do, I bet the idea of nearly 63k of them sounds pretty good! It’s good, right?

With these suggestions now in your mind, you can figure out the best use of your money. I do not doubt that Logitech Embody gaming chair has a pretty high likelihood of being one of the comfiest objects to set your keester on, and if I have the spare money that I could spend that much on a chair, it would be at the top of my list. If you get one, let me know how it is! If you get any of these, let me know what you think! I would especially love to see pictures of the cute animals and what 6,250 packs of ramen look like!

July 22, 2020 4:24 PM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/07/10-other-things-you-could-get-for-1500-dollars-instead-of-the-logitech-embody-gaming-chair/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-other-things-you-could-get-for-1500-dollars-instead-of-the-logitech-embody-gaming-chair

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hellopopculture · 5 years ago

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The Absolute Worst Video Game Consoles of All-Time (Part 8)

Description: This list will rundown the worst home gaming & portable devices of all time. Some you may have played, many i’m sure you have not because either they were complete market failures or they folded under the weight of other much better products at the time.

40. Capcom Home Arcade-Now that Flashback and Retro Consoles have become trendy, everyone is trying to get a piece of the action. The Capcom Home Arcade is basically a high priced scam for people who have never used an emulator before. Capcom did very well in arcades especially as far as fighting games are concerned and they have a ton of really cool games they could have offered here to justify this thing's price point. I believe it's actual retail price is about 120$ but now i'm seeing people re-selling them for anywhere between 250$ to 500$. You do not need a big ass Capcom shaped arcade stick in your house that only plays 16 games. It's not worth the money.

39. Ouya-The only reason this isn't higher on the list, is because it wasn't created by some seasoned game development company, it was a Kickstarter campaign and a vision. It was an honest attempt at something that nobody really tried for years which was to actually produce a viable alternative to what the 3 majors (Nintendo, Microsoft & Sony) were standing behind in the 8th generation of gaming. I respect anyone who has a dream or an idea and just takes the necessary steps to try and get it done.

With all that said though, the Ouya is actually a really disappointing piece of technology. First of all it came out in 2013 which puts in the same gen as The Wii U, Xbox One & Playstation 4. It's not even remotely on the same level as those consoles in terms of capabilities and game libraries. At this point in time, which ever console you picked could be based on features but it will most likely be the games. Those 3 consoles appealed to a specific type of gamer but i'm not sure who the Ouya was supposed to appeal to. The marketing seemed to be more about what the console can do, how open it was to developers and how much it costs than what you could play on it which is why many people probably ignored it.

38. Dingoo A320-The Dingoo A320 was basically the precursor to what would become the current most popular versions of this type of handheld. It was basically built for emulation. The PocketGo & The LDK Landscape does exactly what this does except they are better quality. Nice try, we all have to start somewhere but I think this is pretty much done for. The race for the best emulation handheld passed this one by pretty quickly.

37. Nintendo VirtualBoy-Being 6'5 now and a relatively tall kid when this came out, it was almost impossible for me to play this. A friend of mine had one and even sitting on a dresser that would bring it up to a pretty good height, I could not play this for more than 3 minutes without neck and back pain. The infrared graphics don't bother me as much as they maybe did everyone else, my only actual gripe about this console is that it had such a short life span because of how hard it is to play that there are very few games for it. I have played alot of the games via emulator and they ARE fun, it's just that within that headset, it's a strain on the eyes to try and get some enjoyment out of this.

36. Atari Jaguar & Atari Jaguar CD-The Jaguar was an overpriced, convoluted piece of gaming equipment that almost nobody I knew actually had. I believe this system was the final nail in the coffin for Atari in the console market. When it came out it was about 250$ which is alot of money for game system that didn't have any real selling point to put it above what consoles you probably already had by the time it was released in '94.

It had one of the worst controllers I ever held in my hand, all of it's best games were on other consoles (such as Sega Genesis & Super Nintendo) and by the time the CD attachment came out...the SONY PLAYSTATION & the SEGA SATURN had been released. 1994 was too late in the game for Atari to think they could hang in this home entertainment war with something that was pretty much obsolete when it came out.

#Atari Jaguar & Atari Jaguar CD #Nintendo VirtualBoy #Dingoo A320 #Ouya #Capcom Home Arcade #The Absolute Worst Video Game Consoles of All-Time #Video Games

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captainevo · 8 years ago

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Could Microsoft Release Project Scorpio Hardware at E3?

So 22 years ago I was a freelance writer covering the videogames industry. I played everything back then, but my preferences leaned towards Sega as I loved their hardware focus (I had a SegaCD, a Nomad and a 32X!) and their exclusive games always appealed to me more than Nintendo's (although I was already enamored with Ridge Racer on my gray market PlayStation Japanese import).

The 1995 E3 trade show was held in Los Angeles that year, where I happened to live. Thanks to Tom Kalinske's stunning announcement at the press conference I attended, I was able to buy a Sega Saturn (and Virtua Fighter!) by stopping in at the Toys R Us near my house on the way home. I couldn't believe it!

Of course, that early release of the Saturn is a well documented disaster (read: Console Wars by Blake Harris) and was pretty much the end of the Sega I loved. However, it got me thinking after reading all the release coverage on Microsoft's upcoming Project Scorpio console:

Wouldn't it be awesome if Microsoft released the Project Scorpio console hardware at this year's E3?!

Now before you write that off as insane, hear me out. Microsoft announced the Xbox One S and Project Scorpio at the same time at last year's E3 show. While the S was a nice revision bump for the current console, those of us who already owned an Xbox One console (I was already on my second one, having upgraded my Day One box to the beautiful limited edition Forza console) and understood the promise of Project Scorpio were immediately put in a hold pattern. Why buy the S in September when a year later true 4K gaming was going to arrive?

So instead gamers like me have been biding their time waiting for Scorpio. It's painful since many of us have popped for a 4K UHD HDR TV - which my current Xbox One works great with, but I can't play UHD Blu-rays yet (but at least my Kinect still works without an adapter). I applaud Microsoft for actually announcing their Scorpio plans when they did, as I probably would have bought an S if they hadn't - new hardware is very hard to resist.

So it's been almost a year since the initial Scorpio announcement and in the meantime we have the release of the PlayStation 4 Pro. This is the first generation where I haven't owned "all" the systems. I used to buy every new console on launch day; originally because I wrote about games and hardware, and then later because I had a young son who shared my passions. But after stints with AOL and VideoGame Advisor/GameWeek I turned my attentions full-time to my IT career, my son grew up, and then gaming became purely recreational for me. When the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were announced, I looked at the past 8 years, realized I almost never played my PS3 and lived on my Xbox 360, and decided all I needed was an Xbox One (racing games are my passion, and for me Forza is the only exclusive that matters).

Anyway, the hardware junkie in me was tempted by the PS4 Pro, but I had just upgraded my PC to a GTX 1070 and an ASUS ROG 27" 2K monitor, so I decided that would hold me over until the Scorpio arrived with true 4K gaming (and mercifully, based on Digital Foundry's articles, that faith in Scorpio looks well founded!).

So - why the idea of releasing the Scorpio console hardware at E3? First off, the Scorpio hardware is 100% backward compatible with the current Xbox One consoles. So on launch day one, without doing anything else, the Project Scorpio console has a library of literally hundreds of games, maybe a thousand. Games that now immediately get a bump in framerate and possibly resolution, depending on how they were coded.

Now Microsoft is seeding hardware in the hands of its hardcore Xbox evangelists. They’re showing it off to their friends - cool new hardware and look how good the games are? For those Xbox One first-gen owners who skipped the S, they now get those "S" features like HDR in Forza Horizon and Gears of War, and the ability to play 4K UHD HDR Blu-ray discs (I've already started buying them instead of regular BD discs now even though I can't play them yet, because I know I'm getting a Scorpio). Even though there are only a few HDR games for Xbox One, at least there would be some titles that would immediately take advantage of the Scorpio hardware beyond improved frame rates.

Depending on the price, I think there is a huge pent up demand for a true 4K console like the Scorpio - an early hardware release could let Microsoft ramp up production towards the big holiday push while delivering those early adopter consoles, which would mean more true hardware availability in 2017 and potentially a much larger sell-through for the year. Any game developers who are on the fence would see that, and it could give them the push to have more 4K asset "upgrades" available for download in December/January, which in turn would drive more hardware demand and provide a nice bump in sales for those older, upgraded titles as there would be a new reason to own/play them.

And none of this would diminish "Holiday 2017" - it would still be the big blockbuster mainstream rollout as that's when the new AAA titles are released and the Scorpio ad campaigns would feature the console and the "upgraded" versions of those games. Plus that's when Microsoft would release the bundles (Scorpio + Forza 7, Scorpio + Crackdown 3, or maybe Star Wars Battlefront II).

Beyond all of that, just imagine how it would play at E3 in June. It would simply be epic.

Is there any chance of this happening? My realistic guess is no. For starters, I don't think there's any way Microsoft and retailers could keep something like this a secret; they'd have to be shipping well in advance of the date to have stock in hand and unlike 1995, the Internet and blogs are far more pervasive now.

So the only way to do it would be a Microsoft Online Store exclusive (at least for the first couple of weeks). That would probably upset retailers (many were furious with Sega for giving a few chains the early exclusive on Saturn, a necessity due to limited hardware availability and trying to keep it a secret). Digital game sales are already straining relationships with retailers, but maybe because of that it doesn't really matter much anymore.

And we really don't know yet how Microsoft defines "Holiday 2017" - The S launched in September of 2016, and the last several iterations of the Forza games have also been released in September. If Microsoft keeps to that sort of schedule (and as a dedicated Forza player I sure hope they do!), then it's possible that we could see pre-orders announced at E3 with availability in September - that's only another three months.

Another wrinkle could be that perhaps not all the Xbox One game backward compatibility testing/tweaking is complete yet. It would suck if Scorpio was release but there was a list of games that were problematic; it needs to play the existing catalog at least as good as the original Xbox One on Day One.

Microsoft is probably building the production versions of the new consoles right now, but since they all have to go through the "Hovis Method" it may take time to build up an adequate supply of consoles. They may not want to announce availability and then have 2 month shipping backorders (like Google with the Pixel phones).

Given all of that, September is probably the earliest realistic availability date. But given the unprecedented release of detailed hardware information ahead of the release, and that this holiday is "all about the games", it just feels like something truly unexpected could happen during the June 11th event. We'll find out in less than two months!

What do you think?

#Scorpio #Xbox #E3 #XboxOne #Project Scorpio

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loudcreationsublime · 6 years ago

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Divinity: Original Sin released on Xbox One in 2016 to important praise and also lots of awards in addition to nominations, yet as we obtain closer to the release of Divinity: Original

Sin 2 – Definitive Edition let’s

speak about some of the differences – and enhancements – between the 2. Extra pals, even more chaos, more fun DOS EE saw an event of two join forces as well as clean Rivellon of wickedness, today the hijinks is increased by 2. In Divinity: Original Sin 2, as much as four players use up the job of restoring confidence and also handling The Divine Order. It’s the only RPG of its type to provide co-op, not to mention four-player co-op. How does this job? Well, decrease into a players video game or develop brand-new personalities and begin with each other. A new party inventory system makes it a whole lot easier to handle your uses, as well as you’ll be able to incorporate your wits with the new journal to milestone your journeys and fix puzzles as a group. Or, more probable, breast that one buddy out of prison for pointlessly stealing egg-shells from that one guard they simply couldn’t let alone. Or leave them there. They most likely deserved it.

Undead, and Lizards, as well as Dwarves, oh my! It’s enjoyable to roleplay humans, as a human you’re doing it now. Me too, as it occurs. Regardless, Rivellon is a rich as well as swarming world, with a great deal of races to play in D: OS 2. Now, you can develop a Lizard, Elf, Human, Dwarf, as well as an Undead variant of each. We’ve 6 Origin personalities to pick from, each with their own tales as well as dialogue options. These brand-new races (DOS EE only allowed you to play as a human)each have their own racial attributes. The Undead can select locks with their bony fingers. Fairies could eat the flesh of dropped opponents as well as absorb their memories and also discover new skills, and so on. D: OS 2 takes area in a world that responds to who you are, and also exactly what you do. Again, much like real life! However I do not advise consuming deteriorating human flesh out in London or whatever.

You could still speak to animals, however allowed’s have a conversation with a ghost

D: OS EE introduced trans-species conversational stories into the globe of video gaming, if you had the Pet-Pal ability. Certainly, this remains in the follow up. This time, you could additionally chat to ghosts! With no spoilers, there’s a minute in the game where you might mistakenly(?) produce a whole lot of them. If you do, have a chat and also learn how they feel regarding that. It’s the least you can do. As a fairy, if aerial beings aren’t your thing, you’re more than welcome to obtain insights from a cut head. Two heads are much better than one, afterall.

Dynamic songs that alters with you The music in D: OS 2 is specified by you. The soundtrack to your journey adjusts based upon a couple of things: the tool you choose in personality creation, as well as the actions you take throughout the game. From 4 instruments, the music in fight will adjust heroically or depressingly depending on the activities you take. Brave battle? The celebration will certainly know. That cello will certainly appear more predominant, and your good friends will certainly know it was you that electrocuted that one man into the netherrealm. Losing a fight? You’ll hear it prior to the final blow lands. The instruments dynamically weave in as well as out of the music perfectly. Currently, in the Definitive Edition the Lady Vengeance ship will certainly play your personal song.

A brand-new video game engine improves everything from visuals to auto mechanics

D: OS 2 leapt to an entirely new engine, consisting of the new trademarked (most likely, maybe) A.I 2.0. Adversaries in D: OS 2 know all the tricks. They can be as innovative as you are. The Definitive Edition boosts even further on this, with a brand-new version of the physics engine bringing a lot more disorder to the video game. Currently, appreciate points like height benefits in combat, in addition to PBR (Physically-Based Rendering) bringing the Divinity series right into the next-gen for best-in-class visuals on the Xbox One, with HDR as well as 4K.

< img course ="alignnone size-full wp-image-97787"src="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/DOS_03.jpg"alt=" Divinity Original Sin II Screenshot"width= “1440”elevation= “810 “/ > These are simply 5 of the significant changes between Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition, and also the new Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition. Not only are there dozens of other significant adjustments in between the two, there are thousands of changes between the initial release of D: OS 2 and its new Definitive Edition variation you’ll be getting your practical. At Larian, we’ve striven to enhance the game based upon gamer responses despite its universal essential praise, in hopes that you completely enjoy this, the extremely essentially named Definitive Edition of Divinity: Original Sin 2. Seethe remainder of the story on Xbox Wire Connected: This Week on Xbox: July 20, 2018 Soulcalibur VI 101 New Preview Alpha and also Alpha Skip Ahead 1810 Update– 7/20/18

#Xbox

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ladytitanium · 7 years ago

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1,2,7 to 17, 19 to 23, 25 to 70

OKAY SO this got suuuuper long and I’m gonna answer it under a readmore but thank you so much for asking!

1. First game you played obsessively?

Definitely Minecraft. I got it around 2012 and played it whenever I could, although shortly afterwards I moved on to playing a lot of TF2 with some online friends.

2. A game that has influenced you creatively? Writing, drawing, etc.

TF2 and Portal 2 were the first things I ever wrote fanfic for, so I’d say those two are big and important for sure. More recently, though, Transistor and Pyre have been inspiring me to pursue more art and music.

7. Any games you have multiple copies of?

I have Portal 2 for xbox 360 and PC.

8. Rarest/Most expensive game in your collection?

I had a copy of Link to the Past in great condition, but my ex stole that and my entire SNES so :/

9. Most regrettable purchase?

No Man’s Sky is the obvious answer but I think I have some steam games lying around that I bought and played once, or just never touched. Not sure which ones, though. Usually if I’m going to spend actual money on something, I try to make sure it’s good first.

10. Ever go to a midnight game release or stand in line for hours?

No, but I’d like to someday.

11. Have you ever made new friends from playing video games?

Not in the sense of meeting people in an mmo or anything, but I’ve definitely bonded with people I’ve met over a mutual love of games.

12. Ever get picked on for liking games?

Nah, not really. I’ve been picked on more for not having played enough games, honestly.

13. A game you’ve never played that everyone else has?

I’ve never played Overwatch or most online competitive games, or any MMOs aside from like 5 hours of gw2.

14. Favorite game music?

Anything Darren Korb, the composer for Supergiant Games, has made. Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre OSTs will always have a special place in my heart. Honorable mention goes to the Portal 2 soundtrack.

15. If it was a requirement to get a game related tattoo, what would you pick?

I……. have a triforce tattoo…….. on my left wrist……………

16. Favorite game to play with your friends IRL?

I tend to like watching people play games rather than doing competitive or couch coop type things, so it’s hard to say. I used to hang out with my friends while we all did playthroughs of the Mass Effect trilogy, though, which was wonderful.

17. Ever lose a friend over a game?

Nah. Had some arguments over the Souls games, though.

19. Favorite handheld console?

3DS, definitely, although I do have some nostalgia for the good ol’ GBA.

20. Game that you know like the back of your hand?

Portal 2, although it’s been a few years since I’ve played so I might not be as familiar with it as I once was. Barring that, Stardew Valley.

21. Game that you didn’t like or understand as a kid but love now?

I can’t think of any, honestly, since I almost never played anything as a kid.

22. Do you wear game related clothing/accessories?

The occasional Zelda t-shirt, and my old Aperture Science tanktop. I’d wear more if I owned more.

23. The game that you’ve logged the most hours into?

TF2, I think? I used to play for hours every evening.

25. Were you ever an arcade game player?

Sadly, no. My mother thought arcades were giant wastes of time and money and would corrupt me and make me stupid.

26. Ever form any gaming rivalries?

No, I don’t get competitive much.

27. Game that makes you rage?

Any kind of roguelike makes me angry just thinking about it. I hate losing progress. Really difficult platformers make me frustrated and angry too.

28. Ever play in a tournament?

Dear god no.

29. What is your gaming set up?

Currently, none. I have a shitty, half-broken laptop.

30. How many consoles do you own?

I own a Switch and a 3DS. I have access to an XBONE though.

31. Does the 3DS and/or Virtual Boy hurt your eyes or give you headaches?

I’ve never tried a Virtual Boy, but leaving the 3D on high on my 3DS is something I’ve only done once due to the nasty headache it gave me.

32. Did you ever play a game based on your favorite show/cartoon/movie/comic?

I don’t think so, no.

33. Did you ever have any bootleg games or plug-n-play games?

I had a Sonic handheld game from a happy meal, does that count?

34. Do either of your parents play video games?

My dad does, a lot. Mostly MMOs. I think my mother did too, but mostly Civ, some ancient Egypt themed MMO, and Guild Wars, from what I can recall.

35. Ever work in a game store? Or do you have a favorite game shop?

I worked in a game store for about six months late last year/early this year. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

36. Have you ever shed actual blood, sweat or tears over a game?

Oh, tears, absolutely. Plenty of games have made me cry. FFXV, Persona 5, Transistor, Portal 2, the list goes on.

37. Have you played E.T. for the Atari 2600? Do you think that’s the worst game ever, or do you have another nomination?

I actually have played it! Perks of working at a game store that sells Ataris. I was utterly baffled by it, so I think “worst game ever made” is a fair title.

38. A game you’re ashamed to admit that you like?

I really enjoy all the walking simulators/art games I’ve played. I know a lot of people say they aren’t real games or whatever but I think most of the ones I’ve played are genuinely enjoyable experiences.

39. A sequel that you would die for them to make?

...Portal 3, but with the same writers+VAs+team in general. I know that’ll never happen now but I need it like I need air.

40. What to you think of virtual reality headsets or motion controls?

Motion controls can be hit or miss. I think they need to be integrated well and very functional to be enjoyable. Like, wii sports and stuff? I loved it. Those tilt puzzles in the shrines in BOTW? Absolutely horrendous. As for VR, I really want to try it someday. I think it’s neat.

41. A genre that you just can’t get into?

Roguelikes, Souls-like (where the only purpose of the game is to be as difficult as possible so people who master it can be snobs about it), and any realistic online-only FPS things like Call of Duty are the three main things I will never, ever touch.

42. Maybe it wasn’t your first game, but what was the game that started you on your path to nerdiness?

Pokemon Ruby, absolutely.

43. Ever play games when you really should have been concentrating on something else?

All through the second half of high school, tbh.

44. Arcade machine that has consumed the most of your quarters?

I’ve never actually gotten to play arcade games much.

45. How are you at Mario Kart?

I’m only decent at Mario Kart Wii, because I played it a lot.

46. Do you like relaxing games like Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon?

Absolutely! Animal Crossing New Leaf and City Folk are games I love dearly and have spent a LOT of time on over the years.

47. Do you like competitive games?

Almost never. I only ever played TF2 with friends, and that pretty much extends to any competitive game I might play. Only with friends, and only sometimes.

48. How long does it take your to customize your player character?

So. Long.

49. In games where you can pick your class, do you always tend to go for the same type of character?

Yeah, mages are kind of my thing. I get jumpy when I have to do a bunch of melee so I tend to prefer to stand back a little. I always went full biotic in Mass Effect for that reason.

50. If you were a game designer, what masterpiece would you create?

That’s a tough one. I’ve had a few concepts over the years, but none that have really stuck with me.

51. Have you ever played a game for so long that you forgot to eat or sleep?

Yeah, definitely. I lose track of time really easily if I’m absorbed in something.

52. A game that you begged your parents for as a kid?

All Pokemon games from gen 4+5.

53. What’s your opinion on DLC these days?

Any DLC that adds characters or plot necessary for the full enjoyment of the game should be free imo. Skins/weapons/maps/non-essential quests and missions can be behind a paywall. Like, ME3′s From Ashes DLC should have been free, and I go back and forth between whether it was cool to have Citadel and Omega DLCs behind paywalls, but all the weapons/armor/alternate appearance packs I’m totally fine with being paid DLC.

54. Do you give in to Steam sales?

Only when I have money.

55. Did you ever make someone you hated in the Sims and did mean stuff to them?

I never played any Sims games.

56. Did you ever play Roller Coaster Tycoon and kill off your guests?

Never played Roller Coaster Tycoon either.

57. Did you ever play a game to 100% or get all of the achievements?

Minish Cap, I think? I tried to 100% Super Mario Galaxy but I couldn’t ever quite do it.

58. If you can only play 3 games for the rest of your life, which ones do you pick?

Oh, shit. Uh. Animal Crossing New Leaf, Pokemon Sun (or Moon), and... I can’t pick a third one. Probably something with multiplayer.

59. Do you play any cell phone games?

Yeah, but most of them are just little time-wasting puzzle games.

60. Do you know the Konami Code?

Yes!

61. Do you trade in your games or keep them forever?

I’ve never traded in a game but I might if I bought a physical copy of something I didn’t like.

62. Ever buy a console specifically to play one game?

Does the Switch count, since till Splatoon 2 came out I only had BOTW on it? I’ve considered getting a PS4 just for P5 and Horizon Zero Dawn.

63. Ever go to a gaming convention or tournament?

I went to GenCon a few times when I was really young but I barely remember it, and I’ve tagged along to a handful of Warhammer 40k tournaments with my dad, but that was also like 10 years ago. So no, not really.

64. Ever make a TV or monitor purchase based on what would be best for gaming?

I’ve never bought a TV or monitor myself.

65. Ever have a Game Genie, Game Shark or Action Replay? Did it ever mess up your game’s save file?

I had an Action Replay for shinies in X and Y.

66. Did you ever have have an old Nokia with Snake on it?

No, my first phone was a Windows phone when I was 14 because my mother hated technology and wanted to control me so a phone was way too much freedom and entirely out of the question :/

67. Do you have a happy gaming-related childhood memory you want to share?

I remember the first time I beat Portal 2, sitting on the floor in front of the TV and crying tears of joy. That was pretty great.

68. Ever save up a ton of tickets in an arcade to get something cool?

I wanted to, but didn’t go to arcades enough.

69. In your opinion, best game ever made?

Transistor. Can’t think of a single bad thing about it, honestly. Persona 5 and Horizon Zero Dawn are near-flawless too.

70. Very first game you ever beat?

The first game I beat was Pokemon Ruby, but idk if that counts since I shared with my brother, and I think my dad had to help us beat the Elite 4 because we were young and didn’t grind enough. I took turns with Portal 2, too. Portal 1, maybe?

#anonymous #goodsola shh

0 notes

oddlymysteriousphoenix · 7 years ago

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#74 (#2) 1:59pm July 14

-October 22 2:56pm Eh, today had been a bit better compared to other days. I realize I’ve been lazy and haven’t been writing much on here. I will promise for now on, it has been pretty rough since last Friday since my sadness hit on of it’s lowest points again. Blegh, this year I’ve lost more than what I’ve gained so far. I don’t plan to live long if the trend continues for the rest of this year and the next. I miss all my close Xbox friends, it’s my fault I’m currently avoiding them. I think they’re happier without me and their happiness is all I care about (for the most part). On the bright side, I’ve managed to get some inspiration to continue my skills on guitar, drawing and ‘’singing’’ (I can’t sing). The motivation came from a reference from an old movie which ‘’predicted’’ October 21 2015. (Back to the Future 2, 1985) The actor who played the crazy scientist recorded a video containing these words: ‘’Great Scott! If my calculations are correct, it is now precisely October 21, 2015. The future has finally arrived. Yes, it is different than we all thought. But don’t worry. It just means your future hasn’t been written yet. No one has. Your future is whatever you make it so make it a good one.’’ His last words probably hit me more than others since I love ‘’Back to the Future’’. It’s one of my favorite movies. I recently watched ‘’Bridge of Spies’’ this past weekend. I thought it was a great movie, especially for not making the Russians the ultimate bad people during the Cold War. (Movie set during the height of it). Asides from movies, I’ve managed to gear from my gf’s voice after weeks of not hearing it. It stuck me to my heart to hear how depressed she was. Thought the call cut out, I was able to treasure the bitter sweet voice I was able to hear. Like always, she’s my everything. I just hope she can beat her illness… -3:31pm -October 27 7:32pm Today’s the day of my 33rd monthly anniversary with my gf! Plus, today is when Halo 5 is finally out after all these years. I might get it tonight or tomorrow I cant wait to play it. Aside from that I’ve been having a rough week. Ive gotten so much of tests and homework, I’m pretty sure I’m off to a bad start. My depression loves to get the best of me. Sometimes I think my life is useless and Ill never be good enough. Suicidal thoughts? Yes, plenty of them as each minute fades to the past. I’m still waiting if life really does get better, things have been pretty flat with some downs. I still feel numb from the constant bombings of my thoughts. I’m still unhappy with my life, not even improving in my hobbies. I play guitar like a child, I sing like a whale and my drawings would be great to be used as toilet paper on how crappy it is. Ugh, at least all of my friends are doing well. Sosa (basically only school friend) has been doing great since he’s been hanging out with this one girl. She sounds pretty friendly from what I’ve heard of her from him. I’m just concerned things might go wrong between them, resulting them to not to speak to each other (Im sure they wouldn’t have sex, she’s a lesbian, at least for now). I hope the best for him. He’s a great guy for certain. I don’t know how my other friends are doing, I haven’t talked to them due to my ‘’exodus’’. I hope they’re all okay. Lastly, but for best, I THINK my doing fine. Depressed, still? Yeah. Busy? Yeah. Do I still love her? Always and eternity. Happy 33rd anniversary, my love. My everything… 8:00pm P.S. = Te amo

- November 4 7:12pm Well, this week has been alright. Anyway! I got Halo 5 and beat the campaign on the same day. My opinion for the story: It was alright, I mean, some parts were just great, yet I think the story could’ve been so much better. Cortana… Ugh, I’m speechless, I can’t believe what happened to her. She didn’t seem right when she first appeared. She changed. It pains me to know after what Master Chief tried to do to get Cortana back, he couldn’t. Cortana went off her own path on what she thought was right. Master Chief asks ‘’Where’s Cortana?’’ Spartan Locke replies ‘’She’s gone. He stares at Locke with his broken visor. Then, Cortana causes havoc. More scenes passes by, then the credits. The music plays on only to leaves us guessing what’ll happen soon. (Break) -11:16pm. Well, I forgot to continue, woops. Ill write more soon. I have a lot in mind at the moment. - November 11 6:20pm

Ah, this day had been lonesome. Monday and Tuesday has been alright. Yet, Tuesday after school I realized something. I’m worth nothing. Ugh, I’m basically depressed. On Xbox, Stori has been distant. It’s like she doesn’t like my presence anymore. She’s been hanging out with ‘’Skitz’’ and ‘’G’’ (both Xbox names just shortened) so much. I don’t understand why. I understand G is online all the time and so is Stori, but I guess G has convinced Stori to get away from me. G and I haven’t talked in weeks., he’s a horrible person. If only Stori would notice, it bothers me greatly. I know G wants me dead, he told Seeker and Stori that I should commit suicide. Ugh, he disgusts me. I don’t plan to talk to him, but Ill do it if it prevents me from losing Stori. As of now, my best friends are Seeker, Dj, and Sosa, the school friend. Skitz and G can just be gone, they’re rotten apples to me. Useless and unwanted, I despise them immensely. It’s blatant that G hates me, you can feel the vibe of it. Well, sorta, I’m just exaggerating here. My gf says just to give it time. Which I will, since I can’t be against what makes my friend happy. I just miss Stori and Dj and Seeker being around. Nowadays, it’s just me all alone. Sosa is suicidal, but ‘’his’’ girl should help out a lot. Even though she’s a lesbian, things can change. As for my Erin (GF), she’s doing just fine. I still think she’s fine without me. I still love her. All the time she. She’s my universe. Yeah, she’s happy with me, but I feel I’m not good enough. I never have felt it, I’m nothing. Hell, I haven’t done anything that adds worth to me. Everyone else is just better than me no matter how little they try. I’m invisible, I’m no one and nobody. Suicide has been constant in my mind, but I live for others. Ill keep living until (Break, mom’s here, 7:01pm) 10:43pm They’re all gone from my life and gone from their thoughts. As for now, they’re here and I should enjoy their presence while I can. They’re family. MY family, the one I always wanted… 10:46Pm P.S. I had no school today.

-November 13 6:43pm

Each day of each hour has its sweets and sours. Days and nights where they feel the same. Today is bittersweet. I’ve managed to speak to my Love on Skype. She’s perfect as always, I love her greatly. She’s still largely insecure about our love. She feels like one day Ill send her a breakup text, which will never occur no matter what situation. I love her. Before that, she was talking about her being pregnant with triplets, in her dream. Saying how it went and how our family was there, both friend and biological. She spoiled me with kisses as we chatted, she’s just perfection. I could never ask for more, only for us to be together soon. T took some screenshots to store the memories for the near future. Yet, as of now, I’m lonely. Erin is off doing something and I’m alone on Xbox as well. A couple of minutes ago I’ve been noticed that France is under terrorist attacks. It’s so interesting to know how everything can change so easily in just one hour. I’m afraid what will happen afterwards especially the refugees. I know most Europeans will be swayed towards anti-Islam thinking gen realizing the enemy and hurting the innocent. I’ve observed many tragedies, I hope this doesn’t lead them to chaos. If it does, time will tell. The choices of the people will determine the future of a country. As for now, I guess I’ll have another lonesome Friday. As my friends have fun, as my love carries on, I’ll be here. Hoping for the best in each of us. 7:05pm

-November 17 10:52pm

Ah, Im here doing homework Ill probably sleep at 12. Quick review of this week from last Friday/ Terrorist attack on France, soon later saw ‘’Forrest Gump’’ for the first time. I loved it. Saturday, I managed to get close to Stori on Xbox. It was just her, Seeker and me. She told me how G was still angry at me from a long ago event. She’s been trying to think otherwise. Plus, she reminded me on how Im still important to her. Oh, before that Seeker and Stori got into a small brawl over her different laughter which he wasn’t used to. Though it kinda killed the party mood, it soon recovered. I just feel bad for Seeker since I’m the only one that knows him seriously. As he said, being a jokester causes people not to take him seriously. He’s a great gut, I just wish he was valued more by people. We all stayed up to around 4 A.M. . It was great, also my GF called on Skype to 3:11-3:13 to 3:14-28 Am. She mumbled mostly through all. Sunday was all work. This week has been okay besides having a lot of work to do. My Gf and I talked again which made me very happy. She’s perfect. Well, I need to focus on my work now. I’m so sleepy… 11:10pm

-November 24 12:55am

Ah, what a pleasant week it has been Friday. Guitar playing, gaming on Xbox One, talking to my Perfect Love and best friends, as well as drawing. I, for once, feel like I’m making progress in my life. Maybe Ill start writing a song since my mom has been awfully occupied with babysitting. Yet, it leaves the place to me. I don’t mean that as a selfish way, more in a way to be able to express what I love to do. As of now, I’m listening to ‘’FoxBoro HotTubs’’ which is basically ‘’Green Day’’ under another name. As nerdy and childish it sounds, I hope to be as great as them or even more. I love their songs as most would already know. I most certainly would cherish in being in a band and becoming a songwriter along with a couple of hobbies on the side. Even though I contain no pride or self esteem, it’s still something I want to go for. If I’m not able to reach that dream, then I’m not sure what’ll become of my. I’m sure I’ll be married to the girl who I love now, Erin. Skyping her for an hour was fantastic, 11:32pm-12:33pm. She makes me feel complete and I fly with joy knowing she’s beside me at all times. She’s perfection. Aside from that, I’ll update my family. Stori has being doing great compared to her bad things. One of her best friends has come over to visit her for the week. As from latest knowledge, they went to a birthday party. Bubba has been doing just fine, nothing negative that I’ve seen. He’s still trying to get his Canadian girl named Cristina, she’s sweet and happy usually. I wish him luck, even after about one or two years chasing after her. I introduced her to Bubba way back on Xbox, first met her sister then Cristina on GTA V on the Xbox 360. Anyway, Sosa has been doing well, I think. I texted him a bit today, still with his ‘’French’’ girl. Rose is okay, I sadly haven’t talked to her much. I plan to talk to her more, I don’t want to lose her. She means too much to me, she’s part of the family. I’m doing a drawing for her to cheer her up. She’s okay, but not well. I want her to know that I’m still beside her in her hardships. We’ll that’s about it. I’m off to play some Halo 5 or Black Ops 3. I desire for days like this are soon to arrive. 1:45Am

-3:26pm

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symbianosgames · 8 years ago

Link

The following blog post, unless otherwise noted, was written by a member of Gamasutra’s community. The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not Gamasutra or its parent company.

[Video Game Deep Cuts is a weekly newsletter from curator/video game industry veteran Simon Carless, rounding up the best longread & standout articles & videos about games, every weekend. This week's highlights include a GDC talk on 'the aesthetics of cute', the hidden story of TOSE, & the return to car wrecking of key Burnout developers.

Another interesting week of longer-form 'things', and I've been ruminating a bit on how these videos and articles intersect in weird but neat ways with 'breaking news' or 'hottest games'. Seems like you'll get at least _some_ bleed-through - for example, this week we have Battlegrounds, Signal From Tolva & Night In The Woods again, all of which are newish or interesting releases.

But many of these pieces are evergreen & exist separately of the 'hot reactions' grind. Which is good. Exist too close to the 24-hour hype cycle, and you'll miss trends and more thoughtful takes like some of these good folks. VGDC aims to reverse that. We hope you think we do a good job.

- Simon, curator.]

-------------------

Guild Wars 2’s art style passes from father to son (Philippa Warr / RockPaperShotgun) "Recently I had the chance to talk to ArenaNet (and thus Guild Wars 2) art director Horia Dociu about his work at the studio. One of the interesting things about his promotion to the role is that he succeeds his father, Daniel."

We’ve been missing a big part of game industry’s digital revolution (Kyle Orland / Ars Technica) "Last year, the Entertainment Software Association's annual "Essential Facts" report suggested that the US game industry generated $16.5 billion in "content" sales annually (excluding hardware and accessories). In this year's report, that number had grown to a whopping $24.5 billion, a nearly 50-percent increase in a span of 12 months. No, video games didn't actually become half again as popular with Americans over the course of 2016. Instead, tracking firm NPD simply updated the way it counts the still-shadowy world of digital game sales."

Warren Spector believes games 'need to be asking bigger questions' (Alex Wawro / Gamasutra) "Gamasutra sat down with Spector at GDC last month to catch up on how the process is going, roughly a year into his full-time gig at OtherSide. It was an interesting conversation, especially if you're at all interested in where games are at these days, where they came from, and what sorts of stories they're best at telling."

A Rare Look Inside Nintendo (Otaku / Game Escape / YouTube) "This clip is an excerpt from the French documentary film "Otaku" by director Jean-Jacques Beineix from 1994. It appeared dubbed on German TV some time later, which is the version you are seeing here. It has, to my knowledge, never been released in English. The subtitles are my own. Content is the intellectual property of the original rights holders."

An Interview With One of Those Hackers Screwing With Your 'Black Ops 2' Games(Patrick Klepek / Waypoint) "He's not there to ruin your stats. He's there to sell you software that'll let you launch a DDOS attack from your Xbox 360. [SIMON'S NOTE: this is crazy - modded Xbox 360s that find other player's IP addresses and can DDOS them?! I had no idea.]"

Put a Face on It: The Aesthetics of Cute (Jenny Jiao Hsia / GDC / YouTube) "In this 2017 GDC session, Hexecutable's Jenny Jiao Hsia explains why cuteness as an aesthetic may be worth exploring for developers who want to push against current trends in game design."

Proc. Gen. and Pleasant Land | Sir You Are Being Hunted (Robert Seddon / Heterotopias) "It was a perfect rustic idyll, in its way. Perfectly lovely, nestled between the grassy fields. Perfectly quiet, as only dead places can be. Perfectly still, because a player careless enough to create a disturbance might attract the robotic hunters. Big Robot’s Sir You Are Being Hunted had, through the digital governance of its landscape generation algorithms, somehow perfected the British countryside."

How video games were made - part 3: Marketing and Business (Strafefox / YouTube) "In this final chapter we cover the business side and marketing of 8 and 16 bit games. [SIMON'S NOTE: Lots of archival footage in here & SO much work cutting it all together - and the other entries in the 'how video games were made' series look pretty good too!]"

Video Games Are Better Without Stories (Ian Bogost / The Atlantic) "A longstanding dream: Video games will evolve into interactive stories, like the ones that play out fictionally on the Star Trek Holodeck. In this hypothetical future, players could interact with computerized characters as round as those in novels or films, making choices that would influence an ever-evolving plot. [SIMON'S NOTE: lots of responses to this all over the Internet - here's a couple of good ones from the Waypoint folks.]"

'Burnout' Series Creator Talks Remaking Crash Mode for 'Danger Zone' (John Davison / Glixel) "Spend longer than a few minutes talking with fans of driving games about which series they'd love to see revived, and invariably someone will bring up Criterion's Burnout. Unlike contemporaries that were leaning harder into realism and officially-licensed cars as a response to games like Gran Turismo, the first Burnout – released by Acclaim for PlayStation 2 in 2001 – was unapologetically action-focused."

Famitsu Special Report – The Mystery of TOSE (Famitsu / One Million Power) "This is the real story behind TOSE: The game development company that’s been making games for nearly 38 years (since 1979), but hardly any gamers know. [SIMON'S NOTE: Brandon Sheffield covered TOSE for Gamasutra back in 2006, but by and large, they've been PRETTY vague about what they work on - which is fascinating.]"

How Three Kids With No Experience Beat Square And Translated Final Fantasy V Into English (Jason Schreier / Kotaku) "One day in the late 1990s, Myria walked into the Irvine High School computer room and spotted a boy playing Final Fantasy V. There were two unusual things about this. The first was that Final Fantasy V had not actually come out in the United States."

Night in the Woods is Important (HeavyEyed / YouTube) "An analysis of the recently released game - this video contains very minimal spoilers but watch at your own discretion.."

Designing the giant battle royale maps of Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (Alan Bradley / Gamasutra) "For Brendan "Playerunknown" Greene, the creator of Battlegrounds, the vision for his game world was born from extensive experience creating and manipulating environments that direct players to play his games the way he intends them to be played."

All We Have Is Words (Matthew Burns / Magical Wasteland) "Sometimes I give the impression of knowing Japanese, but I really don’t. I have no claim to it. I never made a real study of the language, I don’t know kanji and thus can’t read at all, and even in speech I can’t exchange more than pleasantries or the most rudimentary logistical information. [SIMON'S NOTE: I believe this is a subtle 'subtweet'-style article response to the recent Persona 5 translation furore? Maybe?]"

Changing the Game: What's Next for Anita Sarkeesian (Laura A. Parker / Glixel) "Anita Sarkeesian’s talk at this year’s Game Developers Conference in San Francisco falls at an unfortunate time: 10am on the last day of the conference – a Friday. Most attendees – a mix of indie programmers, mainstream publishing teams and media – are still bleary eyed from the night before. And yet, at five-to-ten, the small room on the third floor of the Moscone Convention Center is standing-room only."

The quest to crack and preserve vintage Apple II software (Leigh Alexander and Iain Chambers / The Guardian Podcast) "Why has the quest to hack old Apple II software become the best hope we have of preserving a part of our cultural history? How do these floppy discs – still turning up in their box-loads – shine a light on the educational philosophies of the 80s? And do a new generation of gamers risk losing whole days of their lives by playing these compelling retro games in their browsers?"

Video Games Help Model Brain’s Neurons (Nick Wingfield / New York Times) "Since November, thousands of people have played the game, “Mozak,” which uses common tricks of the medium — points, leveling up and leader boards that publicly rank the performance of players — to crowdsource the creation of three-dimensional models of neurons."

Longtime 'Star Citizen' Backers Want Its New Referral Contest to Die in a Black Hole (Leif Johnson / Motherboard) "Developers of multiplayer video games often host referral programs encouraging existing players to recruit their friends for a boost in cash flow, and in that regard, the new referral contest from Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium Games isn't much out of the ordinary. The same can't be said of the reactions from the players themselves."

Localization Shenanigans in the Chinese Speaking World (Jung-Sheng Lin / GDC / YouTube) "In this 2017 GDC session, IGDShare's Jung-Sheng Lin discusses a wide variety of possible issues that can arise when undertaking Chinese localization for your game. These problems include grappling simplified vs. traditional Chinese, naming problems, UI & fonts, and China-specific policies that may relate to localization, political implications, and more."

Good Game/Tech/History Youtubers (Phoe / Medium) "[SIMON'S NOTE: this got birthed after a conversation I had with Phoe in the Video Game History Foundation Discord chat - he watches a lot of good retro/interesting YouTube, and there's a number of recommendations in here I was unaware of!]

Red Bull TV - Screenland (Red Bull TV) "Plug into the fresh stories within the world of video games and game design. The personal tales, wild new developments, and unexpected genres shed new light on what gaming means in the world now and what it could mean in the future. [SIMON'S NOTE: this is an entire _season_ of gaming documentaries, including with Frank Cifaldi (Video Game History Foundation), UK cult classic Knightmare, and lots more.]"

Tim Schafer tells the story of Amnesia Fortnight (Philippa Warr / RockPaperShotgun) "“I started feeling a little bogged down by the scope of [Brutal Legend],” says Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine. “It was really huge and I felt like the team had been doing it for a long time and had a long way to go yet. I felt like they needed a break.” That break was Amnesia Fortnight, a two week game jam during which anyone at the developer can pitch an idea and, if it’s selected, lead a team to turn it from concept to working prototype."

The Signal From Tolva: The Best Game Ever (Matt Lees / Cool Ghosts / YouTube) "New video! Matt dives into a spooky robot world, to talk about some of the cool design aspects of The Signal From Tölva. [SIMON'S NOTE: Can't emphasize enough that Cool Ghosts has some of the best game criticism on YouTube. Please patronize them! (On Patreon, not by talking down to them.)"

-------------------

[REMINDER: you can sign up to receive this newsletter every weekend at http://ift.tt/2dUXrva we crosspost to Gamasutra later on Sunday, but get it first via newsletter! Story tips and comments can be emailed to [email protected]. MINI-DISCLOSURE: Simon is one of the organizers of GDC and Gamasutra, so you may sometimes see links from those entities in his picks. Or not!]

#IFTTT #Blogger

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entergamingxp · 4 years ago

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Burnout Paradise Remastered on Switch is an Excellent, But Expensive Port

June 25, 2020 11:00 AM EST

Burnout Paradise Remastered has received an excellent Switch port, but the price of admission is way too steep for what it is.

Burnout Paradise Remastered on the Switch is excellent. It looks the way you remember it, runs like a dream, and offers a complete package with tons of things to do and cars to collect.

But it’s also a port of a two-year old remaster of a 12-year old game, which released at a $49.99 USD retail cost on the Nintendo eShop when the PlayStation 4 version currently costs $10 digitally and $5 on Steam.

By all means, Burnout Paradise is an arcade racer worth experiencing, and its remaster is the best way to go about it. But its other versions being drastically more affordable make the Switch one a tough sell.

youtube

Like its initial release two years ago, the Switch version of Burnout Paradise Remastered is the complete edition of Criterion’s 2008 open-world hit. All the expansions — from the additional cars, bikes, and modes to Big Surf Island and so on — are included alongside the base game, which has been optimized by Stellar Entertainment to run at 60 frames per second in 900p docked and 720p in portable mode.

>>From The Archives: Burnout Paradise Remastered Review (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

It is a downgrade from its console and PC counterparts, which run in a native 1080p with 4K support, but it’s definitely not a dealbreaker. Visually, Paradise looked great when it first came out for the PS3 and Xbox 360, and it has aged remarkably well in the time since. Though it maybe isn’t running at the best fidelity possible, there was never a point where the Switch version of Paradise looked bad (on a TV or undocked) outside of a couple grainy textures or filters here and there that are barely noticeable when your car is zipping through the streets at top speed.

Perhaps more importantly, I never noticed a drop in performance. The game seemed to always stay at 60 FPS, and even if it did drop, it recovered fast enough before I could realize.

Paradise has also aged gracefully in terms of gameplay and structure. When Criterion was getting the Burnout series ready for its, at the time, true next-gen debut, the development team did so by transitioning it into an open world.

The end result was Paradise City, an expansive map that borrows bits and pieces from major cities across America to form a playground that plays to the series’ strengths and rewards exploration. The downtown area is filled with tight corners to drift around, construction sites to cut through to find shortcuts, and jumps that can either be used to your advantage in events or just as a means for faster navigation. The expressways, meanwhile, expand out into the mountains, letting you keep your foot (finger?) on the gas uninterrupted for long stretches of road.

Burnout’s main modes up to that point all made their way over too, in the form of events that are at every traffic light you come across in the game, and are started by revving your engine (holding in ZL and ZR at the same time). These events can be any of a standard race, Takedown (where you have to crash as many opposing drivers as you can within a time limit), Marked Man (get to a designated point in the city while other drivers try to total your car), Stunt Run (perform drifts, jumps, and other tricks to rack up the highest score you can), or a Burning Route (essentially a time trial).

Winning an event earns you a mark on your Paradise City license, the game’s main means of progression that starts as a learner’s permit with the goal of eventually upgrading it to a Burnout and then Elite level license.

As the wins pile up, your license improves and more cars unlock for you to try. It’s straightforward, and pretty simple, but it’s an approach that does its job in getting you from event to event, while giving you the freedom to do things at your own pace.

DJ Atomika, Paradise’s in-game radio host, put it best: “The best tip I can give to any new Paradise City resident who wants to compete is just cruise the city. Explore at your own speed, get to know the place. Finding the jumps, the shortcuts, the billboards, all that stuff is what makes you a winner.”

All the events are fun in their own way, and not only encourage different styles of driving, but also experimentation with different vehicles that carry varying stats.

While some races do keep you on a certain route through a series of checkpoints, I appreciated that a lot of them just require you to get to the finish line and don’t care how you do it. So you can take a complete detour from the rest of the pack and take a much quicker route, run all the opponents off the road, or take the standard approach of trying to outdrive them all. The game doesn’t care, first place is first place all the same in Paradise City.

Marked Man and Takedown, however, were my favorite events by far. I don’t know, something about running other cars one after the other into a support beam or off a ramp and into the ocean while Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” plays on the in-game radio is oddly amusing.

Speaking of, Paradise’s licensed soundtrack is stellar all around. It’s perfectly suited to an aggressive arcade racer like this, and even includes a playlist of original tracks from older Burnout games if you have any nostalgia for them.

Admittedly, the event types do get a bit repetitive after so many hours. And while there are more than 150 vehicles available in the game, the DLC ones are unlocked for you right from the get-go, which takes away from that aforementioned encouragement to experiment because for much of my play time I already had access to a car that could pull off whatever I needed it to.

The difficulty never really presented much of a challenge, either. I never needed more than three tries to complete a particular event, and more often than not, me failing was a result of my own mistake, like taking a bad turn or accidentally driving straight into a wall that I didn’t have enough time to react to. It was almost never the result of AI drivers outsmarting me.

Paradise Remastered also retained its online suite in the Switch version, allowing you to participate in ranked events or invite friends into Freeburn Online to drive around the city together and create custom matches. But in an attempt, albeit a limited one, to try out a few online races, the game couldn’t find me a ranked match to jump into. I’m not sure if that was a server issue, low player count, or something with Nintendo Online, though.

Burnout Paradise Remastered’s pros far outweighs its cons, and I’d argue that its cons, as far as the game itself goes, are pretty minor to begin with.

The big issue is that as good as the Switch port is, it really doesn’t make sense to pay $50 for it when there are far more affordable ways to get the exact same experience. Maybe if the Switch was the only platform you own, but even then, it may be better to wait for a decent sale unless you absolutely cannot hold off.

June 25, 2020 11:00 AM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/06/burnout-paradise-remastered-on-switch-is-an-excellent-but-expensive-port/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=burnout-paradise-remastered-on-switch-is-an-excellent-but-expensive-port

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symbianosgames · 8 years ago

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Night in the Woods is Important (HeavyEyed / YouTube) "An analysis of the recently released game - this video contains very minimal spoilers but watch at your own discretion.."

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