#to be fair nintendo online is cheaper than online play on other consoles . but its still annoying

[sonknuxadow]

i think that subscription services that make you give them your card info just for a free trial should explode and die. and i think subscription services that hide the option to turn it off in the settings somewhere should also explode and die

[aion-rsa]

Why the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Paywall for N64 and Sega Genesis Games Is a Terrible Idea

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Almost every announcement in the September 2021 Nintendo Direct broadcast tried to one-up the other reveals. Audiences finally got the long-awaited Bayonetta 3 gameplay trailer (it was every bit as exciting as we hoped), minutes after the internet was left to decide whether to shout “Wahoo!” or “Mamma mia!” over the Super Mario movie voice cast. But the highlight of the mini-expo, even though virtually everyone predicted it, was the announcement that Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can soon play Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games… assuming they pay for a more expensive subscription model. Something doesn’t smell right.

Before we continue, here’s a quick refresher. For only $20 a year, Nintendo Switch Online hands gamers access to online multiplayer features, voice chat, save data cloud functionality, and an ever-growing collection of NES and SNES games. Sounds like a steal, especially compared to PS Plus and Xbox Live Gold, which ask for $60 annually and only offer a trickle of free games instead of an archive’s worth. But the devil is in the details.

Nintendo Switch Online’s voice chat is a smartphone app that isn’t compatible with all devices, and the save data cloud is on a per-game basis. Want to back up your Splatoon 2 or Pokémon Sword/Shield progress? Tough luck. Oh, and even though you need the subscription to play titles such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate online, lag is a constant bugbear that can render matches unplayable. Back when Nintendo offered free multiplayer, lag was expected and even forgivable in games like Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U, but now players need to pay for online multiplayer even though lag hasn’t improved. Makes you wonder why Nintendo wants to charge even more money.

Starting late October, Nintendo will sell a “new membership plan” dubbed “Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.” This new subscription will provide “more benefits” (no idea what they are), and the company plans to provide further details, including pricing, at a later date. The wording implies the Expansion Pack will be more expensive than vanilla Nintendo Switch Online, which stinks of unnecessary paywalling. But, the catalyst that makes the stench unpalatable is the addition of N64 and Sega Genesis titles. Sure, it’s nothing short of a miracle to play games from Nintendo’s ancient blast-processing rival on the Switch, but locking them behind an additional fee seems questionable…maybe even greedy.

Audiences have wanted N64 games on the Switch ever since Nintendo started providing complimentary NES and SNES titles with subscriptions. This would have been an obvious evolution for the service, but virtually everyone who hoped Nintendo would add N64 games expected them to come at no additional cost. That is the industry standard, after all. Sorta. PlayStation and Xbox consoles have evolved into Netflix-esque video game platforms via PS Now and Xbox Game Pass, which are separate from PS Plus and Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, but they don’t come in different tiers. Anyone with a PS Now account gets hundreds of games on demand for a flat-ish fee. It’s cheaper to buy a year’s worth of PS Now than to purchase a new game each month à la carte, but subscribers can play everything on the menu regardless; Sony doesn’t hide titles like Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots or Rogue Galaxy behind extra fees. So why is Nintendo going down that path? Nobody at the company has explained the reasoning behind the decision, so we can only speculate.

One reason comes to mind, though. Nintendo likely recognizes the N64’s popularity and knows gamers will shell out to relive those classics. Sure, the N64 itself didn’t push as many units as the Nintendo 3DS, but look at any best Legend of Zelda games list. The N64 entries, Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, are always at or near the top. Same with best Super Mario games lists. Moreover, the SNES Classic sold out in nanoseconds. Clearly demand for retro games is big enough to smother supply, so why would Nintendo potentially cap profits with limited physical N64 Classics when they can sell unlimited, new N64-themed subscriptions? You can’t exactly sell out of a digital product, now can you?

Under normal circumstances, we would give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt, but this new subscription is merely the latest in a concerningly growing list of questionable decisions that started with the amiibo. At first, the mini plastic statues only provided fun, superfluous extras, such as bonus Mario Kart Mii costumes and special Super Smash Bros. CPU fighters. But lately, Nintendo has locked some decidedly overpowered enhancements behind amiibo. Two special Metroid Dread amiibo (that are already sold out everywhere) will provide players with extra health and missile tanks; be thankful the game doesn’t sport competitive multiplayer, because anyone who owns the amiibo would have an advantage merely because they dropped an extra $30. And who can forget when the internet temporarily caught fire over the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD amiibo that strong armed players out of $25 for fast travel?

But, amiibo are not the only indicators. The SNES controllers for the Switch were $30 at launch (and still are). Meanwhile, the upcoming N64 and Sega Genesis controllers for the Switch are $50 each. The N64 controller’s price hike makes a bit of sense since it sports more buttons and an analog stick, but the Sega Genesis is basically a SNES controller with fewer buttons. Anyone who purchases it is literally paying more for less.

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Now to be fair, Nintendo is keeping a lot of Expansion Pack details under wraps. We don’t know its non-N64/Genesis library benefits or price tag. If the new membership only costs $1 more and gives customers bonuses like monthly game discounts, free Switch eShop titles for keeps, and eventually Sega Dreamcast games, it might be more than worth the extra cash. On the other hand, if the new subscription is $10 extra, and its only new benefit lets players pre-order games early, then it will be a worse benefit-cost ratio than vanilla Nintendo Switch Online.

No matter how you slice it, though, you cannot deny that locking Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games behind a new subscription with a new price seems pretty cynical since the current subscription doesn’t really justify its cost. Then again, Nintendo will probably get away with it because we’re talking about the N64 and Sega Genesis; anything from those consoles prints money, regardless of the year.

The post Why the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Paywall for N64 and Sega Genesis Games Is a Terrible Idea appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3ual1vw

[orphancookie69]

4/20: Switch Lite: Bad Marketing & Video Review Story

I spoke a little bit about Nintendo before, but before I delve into my Nintendo Switch Lite story-I want to speak a little bit more about the company. Anyone who reads my blogs knows that I am also a fan of Apple. What does apple have to do with Nintendo? Both companies are focused on their industry and products, while products change over time-there is something about them that is timeless and you know, regardless of age, when your holding a Nintendo or Apple product. When these companies make splashes, it is a huge splash. Apple with the iPhone or iPod-Nintendo with Wii and Switch. Other companies in the same industry go against their go to design to integrate what these companies bring to the industry. When Nintendo and Apple are quiet preparing for a new splash, other companies try to "get ahead" and come out with a system or update before they do only to find they rush to compete with the two companies when they do actually speak about their update. The Nintendo Switch is the most recent product from Nintendo.

What does this have to do with me? Well, I love Nintendo consoles and handhelds-since I was a wee lad. When the switch came out, I wanted it but as usual I wait for it to be out for a year or two and hope the price goes down-I try to be a responsible gamer. I would put it on Christmas lists and hope it showed up, no luck so far. In quarantine, my bff decided we needed to get one and the switch lite had come out- $100 cheaper than its first gen counterpart. I at first was leaning towards the first gen Switch. As a console and handheld, you can take it to go or plug in to the TV and play with your family all those classic Mario games. I did what I always do when deciding to do a major financial purchase-watch review videos on YouTube. Comparing Switch to Switch Lite seemed really unfair, since the first gen Switch actually got a major update the the switch lite (more handheld version) had a hard time comparing to the version that could go to your TV. The switch lite was amazing comparing to other handhelds, but awful when comparing to other consoles. So I turned my bff to a first gen switch.

So a day or so later we go out into the world to try and find a switch, after having a heck of a time finding one online to save our lives! While we are out looking for a first gen Switch, we see the lites running out as well. Nintendo, by the way is doing really well right now. We try to wait for a shipment to come in and preorder, but the preorders are gone in minutes. So we decide to switch gears and go for a lite. We barely find a switch, and after that the game and accessory sections become ransacked. I am literally talking about ransacked after  day or so. I can not even tell you how many posts I have seen of people looking for switches since I started looking for one myself. But between online ordering, Gamestop, and Walmart-me and my friend have switches and attempt to social distance using Animal Crossing.

Something I did not expect to happen, was to be as happy and happier over time with the Switch Lite. Nintendo with the Switch and Switch Lite have merged Console and Handheld, and it is as incredible as the Wii and Wii Fit was when it came out, getting people off their couches. I know when I held my switch lite for the first time, I felt a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time-I felt like a kid opening up my Game Boy Color, gold and silver version, with Pikachu on it and thinking...how did they materialize perfection? That excitement, feeling it in your hand, the adventures your about to digitally have...its an awesome feeling. But even more than the unboxing, with the right accessories the Switch Lite is as good or better than the Switch. It also even has the amiibo reader built into the device! Accessories are an easy way for any company to make money after selling the main item, and Amiibos are this for Nintendo. There's three ways I enjoy the switch lite right now:

a) Handheld: Playing alone or online, chat with the Nintendo Switch App. The Switch Lite is a good size for holding, good graphics, decent battery life, and when your battery is low, place your device in a metal holder and plug her in.

b) Single Player Console: Place device in holder and plug in Gamecube Wired Remote (a great comeback remote btw!) into your device. This makes for a great playing experience, but does drain your device, so you will need to trade your remote for a charging cord in due time.

c) Multi Player Console: Place device in holder and connect wireless joycons to the device. Make sure they are charged before hand, and if needed place them in a grip if you have two players that need comfort. If you have four players, each joycon acts as its own remote. If your joycons are not charged and you have a two player experience, you can get a splitter and plug your Gamecube wired remotes into the splitter and play off of one device.

I know as your reading this, your wondering what do you need to recreate this? I will tell you:

Important - Internet card ($20), Nintendo Switch App, Switch Lite/Charger ($200), SD Card ($25), Case ($15), Screen Protector ($10), Games ($15+)

Supplementary - Amiibos ($5/ea), Mini Backpack for storage of all things Switch ($25), Metal Holder ($20), Switch Splitter ($30), Joy Cons ($80), Joy Con Charger ($20), Joy Con Grip ($10), Wired Remote ($25), USB to C adapter ($5)

If anyone is analytical, they took a couple of minutes to add all those numbers up. In case you don't want to add it all up-its $550+ (depending on if you get more than one of anything). Video games are not a cheap hobby. So part of what surprised me is, there are a lot of people who claim they are not doing well or not paying their rent because times are tough but Nintendo products are ransacked. Anyone investing in a Nintendo System is easily spending $500+ dollars. I thought this would be an ok time to look for something like this and everyone is getting one to pass the quarantine time with. I really hope everyone who is buying this is also being responsible. To be fair to Gamestop, anyone who reads my blog will understand my feelings for them, they are the only reliable store to get Switch and accessories from right now. Target and Walmart are trying, but they are not competing with Gamestop for Switches right now. Also, with the Switch-Nintendo is veering away from having the same titles over and over and getting more into cheap indie games. When you spend that much money on a system, its nice to have cheap but good games.

[lovefadingengineerstudent-blog]

Redefining the gaming industry with Blockchain Technology

WSS: Redefining the gaming industry with Blockchain Technology

Over the years, Blockchain has established its footprints in all most all sectors, one of them is the online gaming industry that is ongoing through appreciable changes, thereby, bringing the realistic gaming experience to the players. The varied application of the internet and mobile has led to the noticeable development in the gaming industry, thereby, making it robust in all terms. The secure and immutable ecosystem served by the blockchain technology can further institute changes in the gaming industry and make it compliant and resilient.

Though varied application of the Blockchain, the smart contracts has effectively brought up a decentralized system, left with no loopholes for frauds and other illicit activities in the gaming industry, still there are certain dynamics and characteristics of the online gambling industry that have serious flaws and loopholes. Henceforth, in order to create a robust and reliable gaming industry where gamers feel free and secure to play games, certain challenges must be addressed, which will be a very crucial step in enhancing the overall platform.

Challenges in the gaming industry

Ever-rising online scams, frauds, data thefts, lack of privacy and transparency, and high transaction fees are some of the major challenges that the online gaming industry is facing today. Let’s have a closer look over the challenges to be addressed in the gaming industry:-

Not Regulated

The online gaming industry is not self-regulated which enforces its dependency over the third parties and grey markets, which will further increase the chances of frauds and malpractices.

Lack of Transparency

There is no clear separation between online gambling and gaming services, which endangers the rights of all the actors and thereby, makes the gaming system less secured.

Trust issues

Usually, data safety, privacy, and transparency are neglected on gaming platforms. Further, the loyalty programs being offered to the gamers are broken, which leads to trust issues.

Why do we need blockchain in the gaming industry?

The decentralized blockchain technology along with smart contracts has not only let gamers to fight against the loopholes in the gaming industry but also, irrevocably altered the future of the gaming industry. Let’s have a look over the parameters that are essentially brought up by the blockchain in the gaming industry:-

Data security

The data and information stored over the blockchain interface are encrypted and safe from any kind of manipulation and breaches. Further, the distributed ledger ecosystem secures public records, interactions, as well as transactions in a cryptographically secured manner.

No to grey market

Since the records cannot be altered or changed at any point in time, blockchain provides users a platform that offers a more secure and trustworthy network where there is no third party interference and thus the copyrights are kept safe and prevented to enter the grey market.

Impactful

The inception of the Blockchain in the online gaming industry provides an opportunity to innovate, expand, and also improve the in-house relationship between the actors over the platform. Thus, blockchain technology can certainly leave a positive impact on the online casinos and eSports industry.

Trustworthy

Eliminating the need for third-party interference or the involvement of the grey market makes it impossible to forge or manipulate the data and information. This lets the establishment of 100% secure network that has zero chances of frauds.

Fair conduct

The blockchain powered platforms can significantly alter the distribution and allocation of winning money for the gamers, which can bring up a fair system for betting games as they are played individually. This is the best solution to avoid entry into any gamblers money.

Reduced Cost

Since the blockchain platform eliminates the need of any intermediate party for any kind of verification process. The information and data are stored cryptographically over blocks over a network. This makes it impossible to encrypt or manipulate and overall are cheaper.

Incentives

Besides, avoiding the need of any kind of documentation work, which in turn gives anonymity for its users, the gamers enjoy the privilege of earning or getting incentivized in terms of Cryptocurrency that can be easily exchanged or traded for various other cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies. For example, one would be able to win/earn a virtual asset in a game like Super Smash Brothers and use it to buy characters in other Nintendo games. The unique confirmation process of blockchain is very pleasing for the gamers, thereby, bringing their interest in this next level of gaming.

Further, noticeable changes are starting to spread throughout the $108.9 billion computer gaming industry, as blockchain technology looks set to change the perspective of games enjoyed by over 2.2 billion people around the world.

This technological development is further getting a boost collectively from both big techno giants and numerous startups. For instance, a startup came out of stealth in November 2018 announced a $16 million Series A funding round has decided to use the venture capital to develop a number of games on the EOSIO blockchain for PC, mobile, and consoles and create an open environment for developers to build games with “player-owned economies”, thereby, giving enough freedom to the gamers from all corners of the world.

To continue on from the above discussion, a reasonably new addition to the industry is that of blockchain-based gaming. By utilizing the decentralized characteristics of the blockchain protocol, gaming developers have the potential to cut out of the middle-man and market their designs directly to the consumer.

Moreover, it also provides a seamless barrier to entry, as there is no requirement to inject resources in the hosting of an independent server.

In terms of monetization, blockchain-based gaming has the opportunity to install a similar model to that of mobile gaming, insofar that users are not charged a fee to play but they do have the option of purchasing additional in-game products. However, the key difference is that instead of using conventional payment methods such as a debit or credit card, users pay with cryptocurrencies.

Adding to the values, another thing worth being considered about the intrusion of the blockchain technology in the gaming which makes it more interesting is that players can monetize their gaming experience and in-game items what they can trade on internal or external markets like Worldopo have been done. Crypto-based Mobile Game with the capability of transforming the gaming experience into real profit.

For example, “Worldopo” is a crypto-economical strategy game in the real world based on the blockchain tech, Augmented Reality and Geopositioning. It is a building simulator set on a real world map where every player can buy or rent a piece of land, start raising in-game structures and mining farms around the world so as they may build up their capital. The game encourages an economic stimulus and encompasses gameplay through the implementation of its own cryptocurrency WPT, which players may mine within the game.

By the way, the Mobile game is available for download in both the Appstore and the Google Play store, (Android and IOS devices).

What’s the Verdict?

It seems that the online gaming industry has a bright time ahead, not only because developers have recognized the huge demand for in-game purchases, thereby, judging merely by the year-on-year growth analysis to such a business model, and conforming to the fact that the users present worldwide see no problem in spending additional money in order to obtain rewards that otherwise, would be difficult to get through game-play points alone.

However, with the age of digitalization now transitioning over the world of blockchain technology, could we soon see a more equal playing field , whereby both the participants the developers and the end-user have the chance to benefit.

These updates from the year 2018, shows that blockchain uses in relation to computer games are growing rapidly and that global gaming companies have already taken a step forward to explore the endless potential of the blockchain technology in turning the possibilities go alive. Thus, Blockchain technology has overall improved the prospectus of an online gaming platform, making it more realistic, safe, secure and sound in all terms. Further, in accordance with the era of digitalization, the online gaming industry which has consistently maintained a large and enthusiastic pool of fan base since its inception in the global market is growing at an exceptionally faster rate. This growth has taken over as a result of consecutive development in technology over the years and has further created a plethora of innovative revenue streams for the gaming developers across the world to monetize their designs further.

One such technological development ever took in the gaming industry is the blockchain technology, that has proved to bring laurels to the hard-core players. Henceforth, now, game developers cater to a vast global audience of 2.3 billion gamers who have already spent more than $137 billion in the year 2018 and as per the developments in blockchain taking now is likely to cause more disruption in the fast-moving world of gaming. Further, blockchain can solve some of the problems that have developed within the gaming industry, thereby making it more lively.

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[seanmalatesta]

And Away Wii Go!

How Nintendo Rethought Its Product and Got Its Groove Back

I wouldn’t have wanted to be in Nintendo’s board meeting when they looked at the number of consoles Sony and Microsoft sold compared to the number of Nintendo Gamecubes sold. Sony alone sold over seven times more PlayStation 2s than Nintendo sold Gamecubes. The Xbox was a brand spanking new console and sold a few million more units than the Gamecube.

These were all huge red flags for Nintendo. Their console just wasn’t getting the support of third party game developers because it couldn’t run games that the other two consoles could.

High definition televisions were another big driver of Xbox and PS2 sales. Their consoles could run games at 720p and eventually 1080p and would look amazing. Gamecube games looked very washed out on and grainy on HD TVs. What was Nintendo to do?

If I were them, I would have beefed up the graphics to compete with Microsoft and Sony. I would have made it easier to connect with friends through Nintendo’s online network. I would have tried to get third party developers to come back and make games specifically for Nintendo.

And I would have been dead wrong.

Going sideways

Well, to be fair, they did do some of those things. But this was Nintendo, the only video game company that also owned a Major League Baseball team. And they decided to throw the curveball.

In came the Wii. No console had been so explicitly family oriented before. They gave us the Wii controller, which was the economic miracle that Nintendo needed. It was also an oddity and almost a throwback. The market at the time was dominated by games like Call of Duty and Halo. You needed a console with online multiplayer capability to run any of those blockbusters.

Nintendo said foo to that. Instead it gave us a controller with motion controls and told us video game consumers that we would really need it to play Wii Sports. And we did.

Starting in 2006, families were ecstatic to find this wholesome alternative to all of the violence and gore that the gaming industry seemed to produce in buckets. Not only did the Wii force people to play next to each other, Nintendo made it fun again.

They also considered price. The Wii was much cheaper than its competition. A family could purchase a Wii for at least $50 less than Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. That’s a big deal when you are on a budget for Christmas.

Many of the consoles were sold because the whole family could get involved in the action. I remember being way too excited one Christmas because all of my relatives were coming to my parents’ house. We were all going to play Wii Bowling together.

There was also Wii Tennis, Golf, and Boxing. All in one game. It was the perfect package for an amazing time. And guess what? Nobody cared about being online. Nobody cared about the graphics. And nobody cared that they were using a motion controller instead of those newfangled double joystick controllers.

Nintendo built on top of tech that they had pioneered in the 1980s – think the Duck Hunt game with its toy light gun – to give us a gaming experience that we had never felt before. People rewarded this new experience by buying the console and continuing to buy it in decent numbers for about a decade. It sold over 100 million units worldwide.

This gave Nintendo new life to once again have a seat at the video game table. Who would have guessed that a motion controller and only a handful of video games could bring the gaming community back into the living room?

The Nintendo difference, and yours

Nintendo had always been different than the competition. That difference makes it possible for them to succeed when they don’t try to copy the competition.

Since the Wii, Nintendo has produced the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch. The first flopped, the second is currently lighting up the charts again.

The Wii U struggled to succeed because it forgot the thing that made the Wii such a success. It was too much like the competition and not enough like the Wii experience, which had encouraged gamers to play next to each other.

Nintendo got back on track with the Nintendo Switch. This console can be taken on the go, which allows it to be a handheld gaming system, but it can also be played on the big screen at home and the controllers have such add-ons as a motion-sensitive wheel that can be used to play racing games.

I was at a local video game console arcade about a year ago and my whole family used those controllers to race through Mario Kart together. That is the sort of experience that didn’t even seem possible in 2006, until the Wii launched.

There’s a lesson in here for businesses far beyond the world of video games: Don’t always be so quick to copy the product of your competition. Look at what makes your organization different and where you add value. See if you can persuade customers that you can not only meet their needs with your product but also offer them a unique experience.

from Michael Hyatt https://ift.tt/2PN1fEy via IFTTT

[nickyschneiderus]

How to watch the midterm election results in real time

The only thing more exhilarating (or stressful) than the 2018 midterms race is Election Night. Control of both the Senate and House of Representatives is up for grabs, and most races are too close to predict. Whether you’re looking to live stream election results on a traditional cable news channel like CNN or MSNBC, or you’re looking for special coverage from respected news outlets like the Washington Post or some lighter fare from late-night hosts, here’s everything you need to watch online. 

Election results 2018: 8 ways to watch online for free

All of the major live TV streaming services offer at least a free seven-day trial. If you haven’t yet cut the cord or you’re just stuck on mobile for Election Night, this is a great opportunity to see what you’ve been missing.

1) FuboTV

Cost: $39.99 for your first month and $44.99 per month thereafter (after a 7-day free trial)

Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices

News channels for 2018 election results: CNN, CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, BBC America

Billed primarily as a sports-focused streaming service, FuboTV isn’t surprisingly solid for news as well, providing the four main pillars of cable news (CNN, CNBC, Fox News, and MSNBC), as well as BBC America. In addition to a ton of specialty sports channels, you’ll also get great channels like AMC, Syfy, FX, and more. (Here’s a complete guide to FuboTV channels.)

Game-changing feature: Three-day replay for games and 30 hours of cloud DVR.

Fubo TV

FuboTV

2) Sling TV

Cost: $25-$40 per month

Sling TV Devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices

News channels for election results: CNN, MSNBC, CNBC

Sling TV is split up between two separate basic packages (which you can combine for a premium), and a few add-on options, so getting your news and election results can be tricky. If you’re a Fox News acolyte, you’re out of luck. Sling TV doesn’t offer it at all. But if you want CNN, both Sling Blue and Sling Orange offer it, but Blue will get you more overall channels. If you want MSNBC or CNBC, you’ll have to pick Blue (or the combination Sling Orange + Blue package), then add on Sling’s “News Extra” package for $5 per month. It’s a bit of a jumble, but Sling TV is worth the hassle.  (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels.)

Game-changing feature: Price. Sling TV offers the most flexibility for the least amount of money.

SlingTV

Sling Orange + Blue

3) Hulu with Live TV

Cost: $40 per month (after a 7-day free trial)

Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices

News channels for election results: CNN, Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC

There’s no BBC available on Hulu (or any Viacom properties, like Comedy Central), but you get the majority of necessary news channels to keep up with election results from a variety of political perspectives.  (Here’s a complete guide to Hulu Live TV channels.)

Game-changing feature: Every subscription comes with free access to Hulu’s on-demand library, meaning you can catch up on all of your favorite shows. (Here are our picks for the best movies on Hulu, Hulu documentaries, anime, and the must-see Hulu originals.)

Hulu with Live TV

Hulu with Live TV

4) YouTube TV

Cost: $40 per month (after a 7-day free trial)

Devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices

News channels for election results: BBC World News, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC

YouTube has a fair bit of fluff (do you really need a channel devoted to Seattle Sounders FC?), but you’ve got basically every option you need for election results 2018 coverage. If you’re looking to keep the streaming service after the election, there are better entertainment packages out there, but YouTube TV is great about letting up to six people make accounts through one subscription. And it’s the same price as Hulu with Live TV. (Here’s a complete guide to YouTube TV channels.)

Game-changing feature: You can add up to six accounts per household, and each one of those accounts gets unlimited cloud DVR. Even better: You can fast-forward through ads in recorded programs.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV

5) DirecTV Now

Cost: $40-$75 per month (after a 7-day free trial)

Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Amazon Fire Stick.

News channels for election results: CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, OAN, BBC World News

Even though it sits in the standard-to-high price range, DirecTV Now gets you the most bang for your buck. With more than 65 channels, the entry-level Live a Little package will get you the major news networks, but not BBC World News, unfortunately. You’ll have to go two packages up to the $65-per-month Go Big option for that. If you plan on keeping the streaming service after election results 2018 are in, DirecTV Now is the cheapest way to get HBO as an add-on, for a measly $5 per month. (Here’s a complete guide to DirecTV Now channels.)

Game-changing feature: AT&T Unlimited customers can save $25 a month off every DirecTV Now package.

DirecTV Now

6) PlayStation Vue

Cost: $44.99-$79.99 per month (after a 7-day free trial)

Devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire, Google Chromecast, Kodi, iOS and Android devices

News channels for election results: CNN, CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC

PlayStation Vue is available on way more than just your living room console, and altogether it’s not a bad option for watching election results 2018 on the four main news networks. That said, its more expensive packages quickly delve into redundant channels you’ll never watch. The silver lining is that PlayStation Vue has one of the wider selections of add-on packages, including Spanish-speaking channels and HBO. (Here’s a complete guide to PlayStation Vue channels.).

Game-changing feature: You can stream on up to five devices at once, and there’s unlimited cloud DVR.

PlayStation Vue

7) PlutoTV

Cost: Free

Devices: Desktop, iOS, Android,  Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Google Chromecast, PS4.

News channels for election results: NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, CBSN2

Yep, that’s right free, and it’ll get you live streams of NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, CBSN2, and a few other smaller options. PlutoTV’s channel lineup is very untraditional. Instead of major channels like AMC or FX, you’ll get more genre-based options. Dig martial arts action? Try out Flicks of Fury. Stand-Up 24/7 is exactly what it sounds like, and Anime All Day will fill your heart with giant robots piloted by cute girls. On the downside, it’s a little weird to see RT America included in the news lineup, considering its parent network has long been accused of being a propaganda machine for Russia’s government. (Here’s a guide to Pluto TV)

Game-changing feature: Besides being free, Pluto TV is a familiar format for anyone coming from cable channel grids.

Pluto TV

8) Philo TV

Cost: $16 per month (after a 7-day free trial)

Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, iOS, Android

News channels for election results: BBC World News

The good news is Philo TV is almost $10 cheaper than Sling TV’s barebones Sling Orange package. The bad news is it’s almost a desert of news content, save for BBC World America. So I guess if you prefer the sweet tones of British accents delivering the news of your country’s fate to your eager ears, you can’t go wrong with Philo. To be fair, Philo does a surprisingly good job of getting entertainment options like AMC, BBC America, Comedy Central, BET, HGTV, and more. (Here’s a guide to Philo TV channels.)

Philo TV

Election results 2018: Other ways to watch results online

It’s 2018, and you’re just as likely to be on the internet while you watch the future of American politics play out. Plenty of news outlets have already created hub pages where you can follow live streams and watch the polling data come in. Plenty of entertainment shows like The Daily Show and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be jumping into the fray, hoping to ease the tension with some laughs. If you’re fixated on your social media apps, you can bet they’ll be there, too. Here’s a comprehensive guide to where you can find all these election results 2018 hubs.

1) The Washington Post Live

Washington Post Live is WaPo’s hub for live journalism, meaning it’s the place the publication frequently hosts speakers, policy wonks, and politicians who discuss the issues of the day. The Post is already featuring midterms previews, so you can bet it’ll have live commentary on the election results as they come in. No subscription is needed.

2) The Washington Post election results tracker

If you want the hard data as it comes in, WaPo is also providing a state-by-state breakdown of each individual race with easy to understand text and graphs. Not only that, interactive maps of each state let you see how voting results break down from county to county. If you’re someone who hasn’t managed to keep up with every single race in your home state, WaPo’s tracker is an easy-to-use option, and it provides enough surface level context to quickly bring you up to speed.

Washington Post

3) New York Times Midterm Results Hub

Be careful with this one, as it’s evidently subject to the same story limit as any other New York Times article. If you’ve been scouring through their site reading other stories, you could lock yourself out of the results hub. That said, it’s a broader version of the Washington Post’s tracker.

New York Times

4) AP midterms hub

Like a lot of other outlets, the Associated Press will be regularly updating its own midterms hub with various reports and visual data to help you parse out how the night is going. If you’re looking for a more narrative account of the night that isn’t the dread-inducing Twitter, this is a solid option.

5) BuzzFeed News election results hub

BuzzFeed News had strong Election Night coverage in 2016, and we expect more live commentary on the site’s YouTube channel.

6) Apple News midterms hub

If you have the Apple News app on your iPhone or desktop, you’ll get a pleasant little surprise on Nov. 6, when the app switches out its midterms previews coverage for a new Election Night section. The new section will also replace the Apple News Digest at the bottom of the app. You’ll be able to track live results and key race updates. It’ll also have a cool graphic of the split between Democrats and Republicans that’s updated every minute or so. If you like your news more bipartisan and curated, Apple News will be cultivating reports from all the major outlets. And don’t worry: Apple says you don’t have to authenticate a TV provider if you want to watch video coverage.

Apple News

7) Politico live election results

Politico’s hub can be a little much to look at at first, but it’s surprisingly well-organized, with tabs for individual state election results, live analysis, a live call feed for when final tallies come in, and more. My favorite bits are the two simple graphs for the Senate and House races, with a clear “Politico favors ____ to gain/maintain control of the _____.” Beneath that, you’ll find small blog posts detailing each state election in the order in which they close their polls.

8) FiveThirtyEight

Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight was one of the few outlets to poll Donald Trump as having a legitimate chance of winning the election, and while it’s more of a data aggregator than a pollster, it’s proven itself a fairly reliable resource for election data. You can find a House forecast here, and a Senate forecast here.

FiveThirtyEight

9) Snapchat

Snapchat has been doing a bang-up job of encouraging users to get to the polls as of late. Aside from the filters and lenses that proudly show off the fact that you’ve voted, Snapchat has provided registration information and successfully registered more than 400,000 users in a two-week span. Snapchat is also showing people where their polling location is via a partnership with Get to the Polls. If you’re just looking for election results, though, Snapchat is also planning on hosting a live stream on its Discover page. It will include streams from the Washington Post and local stations in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. Snapchat’s original show, Good Luck America, is planning on airing new episodes throughout Election Night.

10) Yahoo/Huffington Post

Yahoo and HuffPo are teaming up just in time for the midterms to launch a news channel on Roku. It features content from Yahoo News, Yahoo Finances, HuffPost, MAKERS, Yahoo Sports, and RYOT. All you have to do is add the Roku channel to your existing Roku device. (Here are our guides for the best Roku channels, Roku private channels, and Roku free channels.)

Bonus: Late-night shows

The usual roundup of late night entertainment shows will be presenting either live or special editions of their programs for election night. Expect to see Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and Trevor Noah’s Daily Show.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Of course, you can always follow along here on the Daily Dot. We’ll be keeping tabs on the evening’s tightest races and following the major narratives around the House and Senate.

from Ricky Schneiderus Curation https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/midterm-election-results-2018/

[karstensenovergaard39-blog]

New Ransomware Appears, Imitates Windows Update.

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If I discovered out he had fucked a dog for 7 years from his life our marital relationship would certainly, that being actually mentioned be over. Because the game consistently teleported Preston to Hinckley's site if he acquired too much, Hinckley made certain that the sky citadel was actually close enough to the ground that Preston could not teleport there. Play through vital moments in the films and regulate your favored characters, each with their personal unique abilities that create them invaluable during the course of specific missions. That is actually a very threatening game to play, but one that compensates really good team effort and also mindful techniques. In addition, accessibility to the entire season is a little cheaper on mobile devices, along with NBA Organization Pass costing $149 rather than $199. In the video listed below, he completely transforms a Rattata right into a Zapdos through injecting code in to a system in real time, as he plays the game on the PC. 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Having said that, that still seems to be to be the instance that communication in between the details footwear and the private distance runner possesses a primary impact on effect attributes, such that the correct amount of cushioning is other for each and every distance runner as well as it's difficult to forecast the amount that is right for any single jogger. Any kind of popular music you buy on Google.com Play Songs will definitely also be actually added to your selection. You locate the tunes you want, incorporate them to playlists, then you can play back the several playlists. John GBC is actually a Video game Child Different colors emulator and also one of the most ideal ones currently accessible. Certain, there is actually a modest assortment from great ones to select from on both Oculus Break and HTC Vive Yet, games like Battlezone and also The Climb up - those especially authored for the 360-degree layout - are greatly much more encouraging compared to a number of our preferred existing labels making the relocate to Virtual Reality. If you avoid suspicious APKs, establishments and also apps, there's little additional surveillance danger presented to a rooted mobile phone. You'll have the ability to replay the activity with things that you unlocked on previous operates. If you're interested in big-budget console and also Personal Computer games along with very high development market values like Telephone call from Duty and also Deus Ex, and also this is actually a concern-- at least. If these unemployment cycles proceed occurring, gifted individuals will certainly leave the globe from computer game for additional steady professions, and also though our team might not see the effects of the immediately, many of the programmers I have actually talked to over the past few months as well as years think that one thing's mosting likely to provide. I merely tried it in my job as well as it looks wonderful, though when I develop the activity this seems to ice up the making, that operates penalty in the Editor but not in a standalone develop somehow. A separate activity referred to as Caverna is additionally accessible which is primarily the very same jut larger and also latest, also an excellent choice! I 'd like to believe our experts may all of concur that integrity as well as truthfulness, online as well as off, is crucial. They showed off the phone at the establishment as well as informed me that it was having a long time to boot, so they maintained that for 2 days (Tues 4th Aug - Thurs 6th Aug) and also stated they would certainly substitute the motherboard. I used the JV team along with each of the sophomores as well as failed to help make the varsity staff till my elderly year ... when I threw a massive 11 innings all season. Although the game may be played offline, the multiplayer encounter for asphalt 8 airborne is one of a kind and is actually one of its strong suits. This rigorous initial individual shooting will certainly be actually made much better when you play it on BlueStacks Android Simulator.

[netunleashed-blog]

40 best PC games: the must-play titles you can't afford to miss

http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=15147 40 best PC games: the must-play titles you can't afford to miss - http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=15147 Now that people can actually afford the best graphics cards again, we can’t think of a better time to dive into the best PC games. Perhaps you’ve heard all the hype around Far Cry 5 and World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth and you want to see what all the fuss is about. So, let this be your introduction.We took the liberty of gathering 40 of the best PC games we’ve played over the years – you really need to try all of these fantastic titles out for yourself. Even if a few of the best PC games will require a keyboard and mouse, many of the best PC games can be played with a controller, if that’s more your style. You should also keep in mind that many of the games on this list are also available on Xbox One, PS4 or even Nintendo Switch – just in case you haven’t joined the PC gaming movement yet.If you’re a newcomer to PC gaming, we’d like to extend you a warm welcome. As we intend to demonstrate with this list, PC gamers don’t need to be the elitist gatekeepers we’re unfortunately stereotyped to be. We here at TechRadar believe in inclusivity – so that’s why we ranked the best PC games you can play today – so anyone can get in on the magic. Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article If you ask someone who was building PCs in the early 2010s, they’ll likely tell you the premier game to benchmark your new gaming rig with was either Metro 2033 or Metro: Last Light. And, if you missed out on those exciting times, you’re in luck, as this PC-centric shooter series will be pushing yet another generation of PCs when Metro Exodus launches later this year – and we’re expecting to see exactly when at E3 2018 next month.Forgoing the cramped metro tunnels of the first two titles, Metro Exodus will instead focus on the surface, offering players large areas to explore �� without sacrificing the tension that the previous games’ linearity allowed. This game is sure to be one of the most beautiful games when it eventually launches. Unfortunately, it was just pushed back to 2019, so we’ll have to wait just a bit longer to get our hands on it.Expected: 2019 Beautiful visuals? Check. Huge explorable world? Check. Enthralling combat? Duh. The Witcher 3 stands tall as one of the most ambitious open world RPGs to date, combining Skyrim’s unrestrained grandiosity with Grand Theft Auto 5’s scale. While it’s been criticised for its inventory system and not quite matching the graphics shown in its promo materials, it’s so ambitious and jam-packed with detail that the package more than lives up to the hype. Huge, beautiful and an absolute time-sink, The Witcher 3 isn’t just the best PC game, it’s one of the best games period. Dragon Age: Inquisition, while not perfect, places you in the midst of a huge, vibrant world on a much larger scale than past Dragon Age titles. Packed with hours of engrossing story and a wealth of side content, Dragon Age: Inquisition brings the series to an open world setting in a smart and compelling way. If you want an idea of what this game is like, take the Elder Scrolls and combine it with Baldur’s Gate, and you have a pretty good idea.  Inspired by, and made from the same developers as, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone is easy to learn, but hard to master. Like it’s big MMO sibling, Hearthstone combines classes, characters and a bit of random fortune when pitting you against either AI or online opponents. Stick with it and you’ll not just get rewarded by improved skill, but by in-game rewards as well. Keep in mind that while its accessibility is addictive, you shouldn’t expect to be a world-class Hearthstone champion overnight. Practice makes perfect, after all.  Read: Hearthstone arrives on iPad, but it is better on tablet or PC? Although it's arguably not as difficult as previous entries in the series, From Software's Dark Souls 3 takes everything you like about the Souls series and combines it with elements found in Bloodborne, the developer's more recent game for PS4.We’re not going to lie – Dark Souls 3 isn’t easy. It still takes skill and, more importantly, patience to master its complex combat system, but it plays fair too, inviting more casual gamers to take part in its bleak, fantastical world. Plus, on the bright side, it brings remarkably better PC optimization than that of the first game. And, now that you can pick up Dark Souls: Remastered and see where this apocalyptic series got its start – there’s never been a better time to link the first flame. Pillars of Eternity is a sprawling RPG in the vein of Baldaur's Gate or Icewind Dale that combines highly detailed technical combat with hundreds of hours of gameplay. It has refreshingly low system requirements on the PC but still looks incredible thanks to its simple but effective art style, which harks back to those aforementioned isometric fantasy RPGs of the 2000s. But it's not all about nostalgia: Pillars of Eternity has enough interesting characters, baddies and clever writing to make it a modern classic of its own. Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most anticipated console ports to ever hit the PC. You probably didn't need telling twice to head back into Los Santos's hugely detailed and interactive world, but it's 10 times more fun with the PC's richer graphics and smooth 60 frames per second gameplay. After you’ve completed its 30-hour campaign, there’s an overflow of post-game content to enjoy here. Most recently that includes The Doomsday Heist in GTA Online and even a radio station hosted by Frank Ocean. BioShock is a first-person shooter that takes concepts from Ayn Rand's Atlast Shrugged and tosses them underseas. To be exact, BioShock takes place in an underwater city called Rapture, free from government regulation, designed for artists and entrepreneurs to thrive. Of course, not all goes well in a city where the residents have all the power and, well, stop what you're doing and play it right now if you haven't already.You're in for one of the great games if you play BioShock, one that balances story elements with horror nigh-perfectly. There's a remastered version out there now, too, which is free of charge if you own the original. Set 15 years after the events of the first Alien film from 1979, Alien: Isolation is the suspense-packed game that fans of the franchise have been crying out for. Playing the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, your mission is to track down and recover the flight recorder of the Nostromo spacecraft from the first Alien film which has been located aboard the Sevastopol space station. First and foremost a stealth game, Isolation ramps up the tension by providing you with minimal weaponry. Its excellent graphics shine on high-end PCs and clever AI helps ramp up the dread, leaving you to quiver when turning every corner. Read: How the tech of Alien Isolation will scare you back into the 1970s If nothing else, Overwatch breaks the norm of gray-ish cover shooters competitive gaming year after year. Its bright, vibrant colors are complemented by likeable characters, each decorated with their own interesting backstories which, although they aren’t present in the game, make for fun web comics nevertheless. Overwatch is also a technical feat in that it can run smoothly even on older PCs. What’s more, the PC version is cheaper than on consoles, so long as you don’t opt for the Origins Edition. That goes without mentioning its astounding community of players. By now, there’s no excuse to sign into your Battle.net account and take every character – from Ana to Zenyatta – for a test run in Overwatch today. Even if it came out almost 6 years ago, Counter-Strike Global Offensive is still a fantastic update to a timeless classic that continues to thrive thanks to its vast online communities – it’s truly one of the best PC games. Global Offensive is a well-rounded tactical shooter that builds on the simple Terrorists vs Counter-Terrorists gameplay of Counter-Strike 1.6, by updating classic maps such as Italy and Dust – while also adding new modes in Arms Race and Demolition. Simpler than Battlefield, but more complex than Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a shooter for those who like to think – if only just a little bit.  Read: 9 games that are far better on PC than consoles In a lot of ways, Far Cry 5 is the ultimate Far Cry game – combining all of the elements that has made the series successful, while cutting a lot of the fat (including the towers, thank god). And while on its own it doesn't do anything entirely new, it perfects the Far Cry formula to a point where Far Cry 5 is one of the best open world First Person Shooters you can play in 2018.After a very heavy and intense intro, you’re dumped in the middle of rural Montana and given the task of dismantling the local cult. But, that quickly fades into the background as a myriad of activities – from hunting down aliens to taking out outposts – ultimately become your focus. But it’s precisely this focus on playing your own way that makes Far Cry 5 so special.  FTL (Faster Than Light) puts you command of running a spaceship and looking after its crew. Featuring a complex game mechanism that involves maintaining weapons, engines, shields and other areas, in addition to tactical combat, FTL can get extremely in-depth over time. Whether you're ordering your crew to quite literally put out fires on deck in the heat of battle, or are navigating through asteroid fields, FTL is as much about long-term progression and satisfaction as it is quick fixes. Don't let its indie stylings fool you: this is game with untold depth and scary levels of addictiveness. A 90s classic brought back to life (unlike its main protagonist), Grim Fandango Remastered is a successful attempt at reviving one of the PC's best adventure games of all time. Combining writing that matches the funniest dark comedies with clever puzzles and a still-impressive art style, Grim Fandango was the most entertaining work of art to take place in a Mexican setting for years until Breaking Bad came along. Now with updated graphics, sound and better controls, Manna Calavera's adventure has never looked so good. Read: Grim Fandango is headed to the PS4 and Vita Six years after its initial release, Skyrim is going as strong as ever thanks to a vast selection of mods and high-resolution texture packs. Even if you're only interested in playing the vanilla version of the RPG, it offers more than 100 hours of gameplay.Throw in three action packs DLC expansion packs (Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn), and it lasts even longer. That Skyrim has been compared to graphically superior but similar RPG blockbuster The Witcher 3 is testament to its enduring popularity. Step into Skyrim and you too can be an adventurer - just try not to take an arrow in the knee. Read: 9 games that are far better on PC than consoles If you’re anything like us, and you secretly pine for the days of ultra-fast arena shooters, you’re going to absolutely love Quake Champions. Unlike a lot of new games in ancient series, the DNA of Quake is left completely intact in Champions. You’re dumped into a relatively small map with a ton of verticality and armed with completely bonkers weaponry. And, there’s no battle royale or any other kind of trendy game modes here – it’s deathmatch all the way, baby. Much in the same way that Id Software mastered the reboot of Doom and brought it to a modern audience, Quake Champions is a nostalgic shooter that still manages to feel fresh in 2018. The kicker? If you act fast, you can score it for free on Steam ahead of its full release.  Read: Is the MMORPG on the verge of extinction? The phrase "build it, and they will come" literally rings true when it comes to Minecraft, the survival-based sandbox RPG that has now been purchased more than 100 million times since its conception in 2009. In it, you can create your own worlds using resources you find in the wild or explore worlds created by other players online. In Minecraft, you can either limit yourself to the numerous tools and blocks provided by the developer, Mojang, or you can install mods to truly capitalize on your investment. What’s more, come 2018, you’ll be able to take part in the Super Duper Graphics Pack, an optional piece of DLC that adds more realistic lighting effects and textures to an already fantastic product. The Orange Box may be showing its age, but it remains a must-play collection of games - particularly for FPS fans. Half-Life 2, technically still the most recent game in Valve's franchise (excluding its Episode 1 and 2 add-ons), remains a modern masterpiece and is famed for being the first game to intelligently apply physics to its puzzles and combat set-pieces.The collection's other titles aren't too shabby either: Portal takes gravity-based puzzles to the extreme by equipping the player with the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device (also known as the Portal Gun), which places two portals for objects to pass through, while Team Fortress 2 continues to go from strength-to-strength thanks to the introduction of custom gear and well-balanced team combat. Read: 9 games that are far better on PC than consoles Sometimes a game that’s been out for 10 years becomes temporarily free on Origin and you just have to play it. Dead Space is one of those games. A survival horror game by definition, this acclaimed piece of science fiction stars a fittingly named Isaac Clarke, whose name itself is a combination of the famous sci-fi authors Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov. Told from an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective, Dead Space is a rescue mission story, wherein you (as Isaac) are tasked with investigating a mining ship mysteriously full of alien virus-infected dead bodies. All the while, you’ll have to stay on top of upgrading your futuristic ‘RIG’ suit too.    Id Software's Doom was a phenomena for PC gamers in the 90s. The crudely rendered first-person shooter series was as controversial as it was beloved, largely thanks to its cutting-edge depictions of gore and violence that only a computer could deliver. Parents be damned, the franchise has made a comeback in 2016 with a fresh restart, appropriately titled Doom. Although the multiplayer might not appeal to shooter fans regardless of age, the single player campaign will pit you against demons in Hell for a lengthy experience that's as bloody as it is satisfying. If Forza Horizon 3 is the racing game for newcomers to racing games, Asetto Corsa is the game for the grizzled experts. Its obtuse handling and insane difficulty straight from the get go makes it a toss up for one of the most realistic racing simulators of all time. And, even if you can get it on consoles, unlike Project Cars, this is a game that was developed for PC first. Everything about this game, from its demanding career mode to its deep seated driving mechanics – which basically require a racing wheel accessory – make it a joy for die-hard petrolheads, even if its difficulty curve is often just backbreaking.  Read: Why realistic PC racer Project Cars is the torque of the town Modelled after the 1984 game Elite, Elite: Dangerous is one of the most ambitious space sims around. Featuring an in-game galaxy based on the real Milky Way (how's 400 billion stars for depth?), the ultimate goal is to advance your rankings to Elite status by levelling up combat, trading and exploration.Starting out with a rickety ship and 1,000 credits in your space suit's back pocket, you'll need to turn to piracy, trading, exploring, mining or bounty hunting to rise through the intergalactic ranks. Doing so takes time and requires serious graft, but the experience provides a level of satisfaction that few other titles can match. And then there's the Oculus Rift... From developer Playdead, the same team that devised the acclaimed (and platform ubiquitous) Limbo, comes another eerie tale. Like Limbo, Inside follows another nameless boy in a bleak world that's apparently out to get you. Only, this time, there's at least a few shades of color to keep you from complete despair. It's not clear why, but the mute protagonist in Inside is being chased down by what appears to a group of shadowy men.Nothing is explained in either spoken dialogue or text, so for the most part you're on your own when it comes to figuring out the story. Nonetheless, Inside is bound to be an instant classic; although, revealing anything about it would inch into spoiler territory. Want more games like this? Check out our best indie games list Described as "achingly beautiful" by Unity Engine boss John Riccitiello, Ori and the Blind Forest borrows its game mechanics from old-school 2D games such as Metroid and Castlevania while adding a modern twist. If any word can describe Ori's atmospheric world, it's alive. You'll have to think fast and use new abilities gained along the way to bash, stop and manoeuvre your way through its gorgeous locations, and with no automatic saving system or easy difficulty level, it's no walk in the park. As satisfying to master as it is to look at, Ori and the Blind Forest will re-open your eyes to what 2D games still have to offer. Unity CEO argues games are at, wants Jurassic Park in VR Grow Home is an experimental PC platformer that looks like an "indie" game but is in fact the latest release from Rayman developer Ubisoft. Similarly charming thanks to its distinctive 3D art style, you play as BUD, the game's robot protagonist, whose main job is harvest seeds and grow a beanstalk-like 'Star Plant' by grabbing its branches and connecting them to nearby floating islands in the sky.There's a fair bit of trial-and-error involved, and while having to climb all the way back up again after a fall is frustrating, grabbing a passing vine at the last minute by the tips of your fingers can be equally as exhilarating. The ability to move BUD's arms and legs independently helps put you in control - just try not to get them tangled up. Because you will - a lot. Unity CEO argues games are at, wants Jurassic Park in VR A 2D exploration game set on a boat can't be that creepy, right? Wrong. More gothic than a Cradle of Filth concert, Sunless Sea throws all manners of joyless themes your way: death, insanity and cannibalism to name a few. Sailing from port-to-port in the monster-filled underworld of Fallen London, you'll have to manage fuel and supplies while battling sentient icebergs, Zee-beasts and other water-dwelling nasties to remain afloat. Top-notch writing gives Sunless Sea an absorbing storyline that's up there with history's best text-based adventures. Already familiar to millions before they've played a played a second of it, Rocket League turns the age old game of football (or soccer, depending) on its head. Played with rocket-propelled cars in futuristic low-gravity environments, the aim is simple: knock the ball into the opposing team's goal. Doing so is harder said than done because there could be up to three cars on the opposing team trying to steal the ball off you - or ram you into submission - at any one time. Gorgeous to look, simple to learn but difficult to master, Rocket League is the surprise smash hit of 2015 - and a wonderfully addictive one at that.Read: 8 real-life footballers in Rocket League: which one are you? As inevitable as sandals in summer, Blizzard finally launched its first MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game in June. Featuring a ton of characters from Blizzard games such as Warcraft, World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2, Heroes of the Storm sees two teams of five attempt to destroy the other's base. When not sounding out enemy units to destroy, its expansive maps give you room to take on secondary objectives such as finding skulls or unlocking special siege units to help your team.Accessible to newcomers while packing plenty of depth, Heroes' finely balanced gameplay mechanics, shorter matches (compared to League of Legends) and ability-based levelling system make it a refreshing alternative to established MOBA titles and a fine game in its own right. Metal Gear Solid V, the last Metal Game which will be helmed by Hideo Kojima after his forceful ejection from Konami, is a hugely ambitious title. Its massive open world setting allows you to tackle missions using stealth, but you’re still able to go in guns blazing if you prefer – though you won’t get as good a score.Taking place nine years after the events of Ground Zeroes, The Phantom Pain’s story unravels through its main missions and more than 100 Side Ops tasks. The action is interspersed with beautiful cutscenes, and while you sometimes have to decode annoying pseudo-military babble to figure out what’s happening, TPP’s fast pacing and beautiful Afghanistan and African settings make sure the game never feels like a chore. A gripping horror game in the vein of Amnesia: The Dark Descent (it's from the same developer), SOMA has its fair share of "NOPE!" moments. But it's not really about jump scares; the game's most compelling aspect is its philosophical story arc, which unravels as you encounter a series of confused robots. Suffering from existential stress, the decaying machines believe they are human.The tension builds as you venture deeper into the underwater research facility that you wake up aboard, avoiding murderous creatures, solving clever puzzles and checking voice memos to unravel the mystery. Expertly weaving elements of survival and psychological Sci-Fi horror, SOMA is a little less action packed than Alien: Isolation but engages more of the old grey matter. If that's what you're looking for in a fright-fest, SOMA doesn't disappoint. if you think you've learnt a thing or two about prison life watching films like The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption over the years, cuff-em-up Prison Architect lets you put your knowledge to the test. Playing as wardens, you're tasked with keeping prisoners in check, preventing riots from boiling over and foiling The Great Escape-style plots. And yes: it does involve sending men to the electric chair. Gnarly. Alternatively, a second mode called Escape lets you unleash your inner Bronson by hatching a plot to lead your fellow inmates to freedom. (Until you get arrested again, anyway.) Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide was one of the best PC games for anyone who loves playing the best PC games with friends. And, we’re delighted to say that Warhammer: Vermintide 2 takes the deep co-operative gameplay of the original and improves on it in every conceivable way.Although it technically allows you to form complex strategies with your teammates, the action often turns into chaos, where the only way you can survive is mindlessly bashing at enemies until you, and your teammates (preferably), are the only things left standing. And, because Vermintide 2 adds a wide range of Orc enemies on top of the familiar Skaven enemies, you’ll never run out of things to hack to pieces. It's official: Fallout 4 has lived up to the hype. Despite feeling a little bit like Fallout 3 but with nicer graphics at times, its tighter shooting, in-depth crafting system and well-thought out story make it a wholly more enticing affair.As the Sole Survivor (the first fully-voiced protagonist in the Fallout series) in Boston's post-apocalypse wasteland, you'll take on Feral Ghouls, Raiders, Syths and Bloodbugs and more with high-powered weaponry that includes the Fat Man mini nuke cannon and the fusion cell-powered Laser Musket. Fallout 4: the good, the bad and the ugly of the Boston Wastelands If the Call of Duty series is the poison that dumbed down the FPS genre with its run-and-gun gameplay, then Rainbow Six: Siege is the antidote. Working as a team to out-wit the enemy, Siege plays out like a thinking man (or woman's) Counter-Strike that doesn't simply encourage cooperation if you want to win - it requires it.When you're not peering down your gun's iron sights, you'll be laying traps, scouting ahead using drones, strategising with your teammates and building walls that could keep a herd of demented bulls at bay. While Siege's heavy reliance on tactical team-based gameplay can prove its biggest weakness if you're hoisted into a server with a particularly uncooperative bunch, when it does click, it provides a level of satisfaction rarely found in online multiplayer games. "Console port" is no longer a dirty phrase thanks to efforts like Rise of the Tomb Raider, which gets the treatment it deserves on PC. Featuring stunning and varied locations, exciting combat and effective stealth mechanics, Lara's epic outing often feels movie-like in its execution and scope.Crystal Dynamics has kept the soul of the original games intact too – there's pistols aplenty, amazing architecture and angry animals that would quite like to gobble you up – meaning you'll never get bored once you've soaked up Siberia's amazing architecture. If you're into adventures, it's easily one of the best PC games around. Imagine a survival-based shooter where every match starts with your avatar being ejected from a cargo plane alongside 99 other players with no weapons or items. That’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, or at least the solo, free for all mode. After spending the early minutes of the game digging for resources, you’ll soon be forced to reckon with your own mortality as the body count ticker at the top of the screen descends into desolation.Abbreviated PUBG, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is based on another “last man standing” game released back in 2013: PlayerUnknown’s Battle Royale. It doesn’t require a copy of Arma III or H1Z1 to run, but you’ll need to keep your wits about you. There’s no respawning in PUBG, so it’s less about the precision of your aim as it is about your ability to scavenge quickly for weapons, first aid kits and clothing.  Picking up immediately after the events of Wolfenstein: The New Order, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus will inevitably be heralded as a classic. For some, it’s the punishing old-school gunplay that’s to thank for this. Even on the default difficulty, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus will have you fretting for your life. Yet, for others, story reigns supreme. And, if The New Colossus serves as an interactive showcase for anything, it’s story, the most interesting parts of which are told through flashbacks. We won’t go as far as to spoil the plot, but what we will say is that B.J. Blazkowicz’s motives become a lot clearer in this iteration of Wolfenstein, not that he needs to justify killing Nazis. Originally created as an entry to the 7 Day FPS Challenge, Superhot's Polish developers were inspired by a top-down game called Time4Cat where time only moves when the player does. They took this concept one step further and turned it into a FPS. Falling somewhere between Portal and Max Payne, nifty reflexes, patience and an eye for puzzle solving is required.The aim is to defeat a finite number of enemies by dodging bullets and returning a few yourself. The game is now available to buy and download on Steam, but you can head back to where it all began by playing the flash version of Superhot online for free. You'll need the Unity Web Player plugin which is currently not supported by Chrome. X-Com 2 is one addictive game, and we still can't put it down. Following up from 2012's XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which reimagined the 1994 cult classic UFO: Enemy Unknown, XCOM 2 has delivered everything we wanted in a sequel. Bigger, deeper, faster and even easier on the eyes, the turn-based tactics game takes place 20 years after its predecessor.It pits you in control of the Avenger, a converted alien ship that serves as your mobile base of operations used to devise strategy and execute fight plans against otherworldly enemies. With a greater focus of stealth, more intelligent alien AI and deeper customization options, XCOM 2 is bound to end up one of our games of the year. Anyone familiar with World of Warcraft knows that it's among the most successful and influential massively multiplayer online role-playing games (or MMORPGs) of all-time. Comprising nearly 14 years of content, with over thousands of hours just waiting to be invested, there are few better games to spend your money on than World of Warcraft.With Battle For Azeroth, the all-new expansion pack, players will be able to explore two new continents – Kul Tiras for Alliance players and Zandalar for the Horde. Blizzard has kept the leveling system from Legion, as well, meaning you can tackle the new zones in any order you feel like. This will of course come with all the new raids and dungeons we’ve grown accustomed to over the years and a storyline that will see the two playable factions at each other's’ throats in a major way. From PlatinumGames and Square Enix, Nier: Automata is a sequel to the 2010 cult classic Nier, which itself is a spin-off of the Drakengard series. Technically an action role-playing game, Nier: Automata’s most gripping quality is that it never truly adheres to one particular genre. At times, it’s a 2.5D platformer and, at others, it’s a twin-stick shooter. It’s unpredictable and a breath of fresh air when compared to other PC games out on the market.The story centers around a femme android by the name of 2B who is aided by a survey android called 9S, or Nines. With many questions being asked along the way, both of these characters are tasked with extricating Earth from alien machines that have engulfed the planet. Just be conscious of how you play because not only does Nier: Automata feature different endings, but with each new path comes vastly different gameplay.  Source link

[inkwatch-blog]

The return of friend codes prove Nintendo hasn’t learned from the mistakes of the Wii U

March 2nd, 2017

The first teaser for the Nintendo Switch, released back in October, is an example of marketing done right. The three minute and thirty-six second video tells you everything you need to know about Nintendo’s new console without using confusing gaming terminology. Just visuals and sound effects. It’s a home console. Gotta go somewhere? It’s a portable console too. Wanna play with some friends? Hand them one of your controllers. Wanna add more friends? Throw in an extra Switch.

If you compare it to the launch of the Wii U, where even journalists initially had a hard time figuring out if it was a new console or not, the Switch’s reveal was pretty close to perfect. It’s a really well made video, with a catchy song behind it and the now-infamously satisfying Switch-click. It fooled people into thinking Nintendo had learned from its mistakes.

Yes, I said it. Fooled.

Nintendo’s January conference was promising; it fell somewhere short of the hype that the initial reveal had, but they showed a lot of promising games (with the unfortunate reality that not many of them would be ready for launch), and laid out a lot of the details of what the Switch would be like when it launched in less than two months.

But there were a lot of unanswered questions, and as the Switch’s launch date of March 3rd, 2017 grew nearer, those questions rang louder. What was the paid online system going to look like? What did the eShop look like? Would it launch with the Virtual Console? Would you be able to transfer old purchases from the 3DS or Wii U? Would it support apps like Netflix?

Most of those questions have, in some way, been answered in the past week and a half. Setting aside the amount of time Nintendo took to address basic questions from the press about their new console, most of the news about the Switch has been largely negative. It wasn’t launching with the Virtual Console. It wouldn’t have apps like Netflix, or even a browser, rendering it unable to compete with the tablet market outside of gaming capabilities. There were major problems with the left JoyCon losing connection, a problem Nintendo hasn’t even admitted to yet. Even some launch titles came into question about whether they’d actually be ready at launch.

And today, the day-one patch was pushed to reviewers, and we learned that not only had Nintendo kept quiet about their online service, they’d outright lied.

In January, CNet published an interview with Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and notable meme. Here’s an excerpt:

Connecting with friends will be on a case-by-case basis, but Nintendo is hoping to create a standardized experience. "There are no friend codes within what we're doing," Fils-Aime said, referencing the company's past cumbersome system for adding contacts.

Today, news broke that, following Nintendo’s day-one patch that added online capabilities to the Switch, including the eShop and multiplayer options, that the way to add friends was not through their Nintendo Network ID system, but through friend codes.

The friend codes they’d done away with for the Wii U. The friend codes they said they weren’t using. They brought them back, without explanation.

If you don’t know what friend codes are, a quick explainer: friend codes were 12-digit codes introduced with the Wii that you needed in order to add someone to your friends list. They were used on the Wii, and again on the 3DS, before being dumped on the Wii U. No one ever liked friend codes, and as they aged, it became clear that Nintendo didn’t quite understand how online multiplayer worked.

Arguably, they still don’t. Today, Nintendo is competing against the robust online services offered by both Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo is going to start making users pay to play online in the fall, albeit for a cheaper price than either Sony or Microsoft.

And they’re still using friend codes. They also have a 300-friend cap, in comparison with the 2000 and 1000 person caps offered by Sony and Microsoft, respectively.

To me, an early Wii U owner, this spells disaster. To me, this says they haven’t learned from their many mistakes made by the previous console. It tells me they aren’t even competing in the console market. Gamers expect to be able to easily add their friends online. Why should someone play a hypothetical third-party online FPS on the Switch when it’s so easy to get online with friends on other consoles? If this year’s Call of Duty launches on the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, tell me why anyone would want to play it online rather than on the other two consoles. Nintendo fans will be quick to point out that Nintendo hasn’t directly competed against the other console manufacturers since, arguably, the Gamecube. The Switch isn’t about power or online gaming, it’s about portability and the option to play at home or on the go. Sure, that’s an argument to be had, but it’s fundamentally flawed. Whether Nintendo wants to admit it or not, they’re in the gaming industry, and they have to convince gamers to buy their console over recently-released PS4 Pro and upcoming Project Scorpio. If online play on the Switch sucks, they could very well be in trouble.

Troublesome online play could create a chain of events all too familiar: if people don’t want to play Switch games online, developers and publishers aren’t going to bring games that focus on online multiplayer to the console. If developers and publishers start electing to only bring some of their games to the Switch, gamers are going to go to platforms that have the games they want. If the Switch doesn’t have the games they want, they’re going to go to the PS4, Xbox One, or PC. Finally, if gamers aren’t buying the Switch, developers are going to make even less games for the platform, until it loses the majority of third party support.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s almost exactly what happened with the Wii U. In fairness, the Wii U wasn’t sunk by its online problems, it was sunk by how difficult it was to develop for and how poorly the average consumer understood what the damn thing even was. The Switch, by most accounts, is far easier to port to and develop with, and this is in Nintendo’s favor. But if something causes gamers to not show up, developers are going to pull out. They did it with the Wii U, and they did it pretty early. If the Switch starts to flounder, I doubt publishers will be afraid to abandon the console.

Now, I don’t think the complication of friend codes alone is actually enough to sink the Switch, but it’s one more note to add to a growing list of concerns. When will the virtual console launch? Will VC titles you bought on the Wii U or 3DS be transferable? What will the actual experience of playing online look like? Will you have to use your smartphone to communicate online? Are the problems with the left JoyCon firmware-based, or should we expect a recall? When will you add streaming apps like Netflix? Without streaming apps like Netflix, and basic apps like a browser, will this device be able to compete with tablets? If it isn’t competing with consoles, and it isn’t competing with tablets, what goddamn market is this thing even in?

Among many things, marketing sunk the Wii U, and Nintendo has absolutely course-corrected. Nintendo’s marketing team has been killing it with the Switch. Their first teaser was great. Their Super Bowl commercial - their first ever - was a good introduction to the console. And they have Zelda, which has been getting 9’s and 10’s almost universally.

But there’s enough we don’t know one day before launch to make most consumers hesitate to drop $300 for a new, unproven, unfinished platform. And that should be enough to make even a hardcore Nintendo fan nervous.

image credit: Forbes