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Showing posts from May 22, 2022

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CD Projekt Buys an Indie Studio to Make a Game Based on One of Its Properties

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Explained - Why the Animated Series Is very Different From the Comics

Weeks before Star Wars Celebration 2022, word broke of a new animated anthology series called Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi . That series shares its name with one of the earliest and most influential comics in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. But now that the series has been officially unveiled, we know the new Tales of the Jedi is a very different project, one that focuses on multiple Jedi Knights during the Prequel era . Tales of the Jedi is a name with deep significance to the Star Wars mythos. The original Dark Horse Comics series was among the first Star Wars stories to flesh out the ancient history of the Jedi Order and their war with the Sith. It doesn't appear that the new animated series shares much more in common than the title, but there's always a chance the connection runs deeper. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at the original Tales of the Jedi comics and why they're so different from the newest Star Wars cartoon. These are the topics we cov

Floppy Knights Builds a Tactical Deck of Cartoon Nostalgia

With Advance Wars Re-Boot Camp indefinitely delayed and a new Fire Emblem tactical game nowhere in sight for now, lovers of cartoonish tactics games would do well to pay some attention to Floppy Knights. It’s inspired heavily by both aforementioned tactics franchises, but is still wholly itself thanks to a whimsical aesthetic and the addition of a deck-building mechanic that throws in an element of strategic randomness to reckon with on top of the usual unit moving and attacking and objective completion. Floppy Knights takes place in a mish-mash world of fantasy and 90s-era technology, and follows a teenager named Phoebe and her sentient robot arm Carlton. Phoebe’s ready to move out from her parents’ house and build a life of her own, but she’s also uninterested in most jobs and would rather spend her time doing cool science. So she creates a digital army of “Floppy Knights” named for the floppy discs they’re stored on, intending to use them for typical odd jobs. But she quickly win

How Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Picks Up From Fallen Order

Cal Kestis’ journey is officially continuing in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, set for a PS5, Xbox Series, and PC release in 2023 . The sequel is coming nearly four years after Jedi: Fallen Order introduced us to new Jedi, new Inquisitors, and one of the cutest droids in the galaxy. But it’s actually been an even longer stretch of time in between the stories of both games: EA confirmed Survivor is set five years after the events of Fallen Order, and our first look at Survivor shows Cal and BD-1 in some serious trouble. Now, one big component of Cal’s life, as far as players know, is his found family and crew of the Stinger Mantis, Cal’s starbound home throughout the events of Fallen Order. We don’t really see the crew - Cere, Greez, and Merrin - in the Survivor reveal, but we can surmise things haven’t gone all that well for them. The trailer shows the Mantis downed on a desert planet, with a slow pan through its main hull spelling nothing but trouble. Looking out the cockpit window, you

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Announced, First Trailer and 2023 Release Revealed

The first trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor premiered as part of Star Wars Celebration. The sequel to Respawn’s critically-acclaimed Star Wars game is set to be released in 2023. In a brief, cinematic trailer we see Cal Kestis after the events of Jedi: Fallen Order. Where he is still on the run from the Empire. While the trailer is short on plot, it’s got plenty of Star Wars with new inquisitors and new mysteries. Curiously, Cal who spent the previous game gaining a family of allies is all alone. And his lightsaber which he spent so much time rebuilding appears to fall into the hands of the Empire. Essentially, Cal is in a bad place at the start of Jedi: Survivor. Respawn’s next Star Wars action RPG will be released on next-gen platforms PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. EA doesn’t make mention of past-gen consoles, but with developers moving towards new-gen systems there’s a good chance Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is too. The trailer premiered during Star Wars Celebrati

Best Anime Series on Netflix Right Now (June 2022)

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It’s the official halfway point in the year and thus far, Netflix ’s continued steadily adding to the anime library. But, the streamer’s shift in priorities can definitely be felt. There’s been a mass cancellation of most of its western animation projects and a steep drop off in licensing of classic series and creation of its own original series as well. Hopefully the powers that be will realize shortchanging its anime audience doesn’t make good sense (or dollars). For the present, subscribers who live in the anime library will have to be satisfied with a slow drip of new titles, like five episode series Vampire in the Garden , and circling back to the goodness to be found among the classic anime series. Note: As this is a list of anime series to watch, no anime movies were considered for this feature. This list applies to U.S. Netflix subscribers. Some titles may not currently be available on international platforms (yet). This list will also be periodically amended to remove seri

Kao the Kangaroo Review

Kao the Kangaroo reminded me why I fell in love with 3D platformers back in the N64 days. While I missed the Dreamcast console-exclusive original back in the day, it surprised me how familiar this reboot of the 22-year-old series felt, though the revived Kao doesn’t exactly try hiding how it’s looked to other modern platformers to create a highly derivative comfort-food experience. It’s a lot of fun, colorful, and certainly rather nostalgic; just don’t come in expecting a Crash Bandicoot 4 -level challenge. Stories of heroes rescuing loved ones against the odds is nothing new in this genre, so suffice it to say that Kao’s not breaking from tradition here. Dialogue could’ve been stronger, too; there’s good humor to it, but that’s sometimes weakened by outdated pop-culture references. Kao’s mom referencing “taking an arrow to the knee” is hardly topical, and the younger crowd a game like this is aimed at probably won’t recognise it. Still, there’s a pleasant cast joining our young he

Mario Strikers Battle League Preview: Will the Third Mario Soccer Game Be Enough for the Hat Trick?

Since its premiere on the Gamecube in 2005, Mario Strikers has been a favorite of many Mario sports fans, thanks in large part to its non-stop action. Its successful formula was improved in Mario Strikers Charged just two years later on the Wii. And then…nothing. It's now been 15 years since the last time we got Mario and his friends on the field for a friendly (or not-so-friendly) soccer match. My demo session left me intrigued by the updates and excited to take it for a spin myself, but in the back of my head, I had the looming question: Is Mario Strikers Battle League playing it too safe? I recently watched 45 minutes of Mario Strikers Battle League ahead of next month's release, played by members of the Nintendo Treehouse. The session showed us two offline modes: Quick battles and Cup battles. The latter features multiple double elimination tournaments of increasing difficulty. Mario Strikers Battle League will also support up to 8 players offline versus on one console a

The Art of Horizon Forbidden West Revealed By Dark Horse Books

Dark Horse Books is adding another major franchise to its ever-growing library of video game art books. This time, Horizon Forbidden West is the subject of a lavish hardcover book that gives fans a much closer look behind the scenes. First off, check out the stunning cover to The Art of Horizon Forbidden West below: Like all of Dark Horse's past art books, The Art of Horizon Forbidden West features a healthy mix of concept art and interviews with the development team at Guerrilla Games. In total, the book clocks in at 200 pages. The Art of Horizon Forbidden West is priced at $49.99. The book is scheduled to debut online and in bookstores on Tuesday, October 18 and in comic shops on Wednesday, October 19. Based on Dark Horse's past releases, there may also be a deluxe edition version of the hardcover, but the publisher has yet to announce one. Previous Dark Horse art books include The Art of Halo Infinite , The Art of Deathloop and The Art of He-Man and the Masters of

Cyberpunk 2077 Expansion: Leak Points to Inaccessible Areas Being Opened

Warning: If you want to know knothing about potential details for Cyberpunk 2077's first expansion, turn back now. It looks as though Cyberpunk 2077 is about to get a whole lot bigger after the game's 2023 expansion. According to VGC details of the still-untitled expansion have been leaked online, pointing to inaccessible areas from the main game being opened up for the first time. The Combat Zone, an area of the Pacifica region which was mentioned in the main game but remains locked, is said to be opened up in the new expansion. The zone was previously featured in the Cyberpunk 2077 art book. Additionally, the Sports Dome will finally be opened – another large, inaccessible area from the main game. It’s said that this area will house one of the new main missions from the expansion. The leaked files have already circulated on social media, and also reveal some details about the new content of the expansion. The DLC will reportedly follow Songbird – a character previou

Valve Responds to #SaveTF2, Says Its Working on Improvements

Valve has responded to a growing Team Fortress 2 community movement in protect of the game's massive botting problem, and is reassuring players it is "working to improve things." In a tweet today from the official Team Fortress 2 account, Valve said "TF2 community, we hear you! We love this game and know you do, too. We see how large this issue has become and are working to improve things." It is the first tweet from the account since July 2020 (not counting a single retweet of an official Valve tweet from October 2020). TF2 community, we hear you! We love this game and know you do, too. We see how large this issue has become and are working to improve things. — Team Fortress 2 (@TeamFortress) May 26, 2022 This comes in response to the hashtag #SaveTF2, which the Team Fortress 2 community has adopted in the last few days to draw attention to a massive botting problem that has been ongoing in the game since 2020. The hashtag has been adopted by a large n

The Callisto Protocol 'No Longer Takes Place in the PUBG Universe' According to Creator

Striking Distance Studios CEO Glen Schofield revealed that upcoming game The Callisto Protocol no longer takes place within the PUBG universe. "FYI @CallistoTheGame is its own story and world," he explained on Twitter. "It no longer takes place in the PUBG Universe. It was originally part of the PUBG timeline, but grew into its own world. PUBG is awesome, and we will still have little surprises for fans, but TCP is its own world, story and universe." FYI @CallistoTheGame is its own story and world. It no longer takes place in the PUBG Universe. It was originally part of the PUBG timeline, but grew into its own world. PUBG is awesome, &we will still have little surprises for fans, but TCP is its own world, story and universe. — Glen A. Schofield (@GlenSchofield) May 26, 2022 The survival horror game was originally announced in December 2020 and was going to take place within the same universe as PUBG several centuries into the future. However, it was u

Phil Spencer Says He Will Recognize Raven Software's Union Once Acquisition is Complete

Just days after QA workers at Raven Software voted to unionize , Xbox’s head Phil Spencer announced that he will recognize the new union after the company acquires Activision Blizzard . According to a report by Kotaku , during an internal meeting today, Spencer said he would “absolutely support” the union. “Once the deal closes, we would absolutely support [an] employees’ organization that’s in place,” he told employees during the internal meeting, according to Kotaku. “We think it is a right of employees and something that can be a part of a relationship between a company and people who work at the company.” Previously, Microsoft had announced that it wouldn’t “stand in the way” of unionization , though today marks the first time a Microsoft executive has officially announced their support for the union. The company’s move to acquire Activision Blizzard is still being investigated and has been muddied by various complaints and protests against Activision Blizzard, including a l

Sony Expects to Be Done With PS4 Games by 2025

At the latest Sony investor presentation, Sony revealed that it plans to be done with PS4 games by 2025 . Additionally, the company also explored the growth they’ve had in the PC and mobile realms, and used numbers to examine the past and predict the future of releases. In the 2019 fiscal year, almost all Sony's releases were on PS4. But the estimated spread for 2022’s fiscal year accounts for Sony’s recent success on PC, and includes their foray into mobile as well. For 2025? There is nary a mention of the PS4. Instead, half the graph broadcasts releases for the PS5. Sony expects that PC should account for around 30% and mobile 20% for the rest of that fiscal year’s releases. Many current games, like Elden Ring and Horizon: Forbidden West , can be found on both PS4 and PS5, but according to Sony’s projections that will be a thing of the past within three years. Elsewhere, the presentation largely focused on how the company plans to expand its reach to more people, what it&#

Sony Announces Horizon Series for Netflix, God of War Series for Amazon, and a Gran Turismo Show

Three major PlayStation franchises are getting TV adaptations with Horizon going to Netflix, God of War to Amazon, and Gran Turismo to a currently unannounced platform or network. Revealed in an investor briefing on May 26 and confirmed by industry insiders including David Gibson on Twitter (below), Sony president Jim Ryan revealed during a Q&A that the company was expanding its entertainment adaptations even further. The long-rumoured God of War series and other shows will join PlayStation exclusives including The Last of Us, Uncharted , and Ghost of Tsushima in being adapted to other media , though there's no inclination as to when these series will be released. Sony IR - 3 positives in the presentation 1) Horizon (Netflix), God of War (Amazon) and Gran Turismo in TV development 2) 2 live service games coming in FY3/23 are not Destiny and 3) PC gaming revenues will surge 3.8x in FY3/23 (which I think relates to live service games) #sony — David Gibson (@gibbogame) Ma

These Are the Best PlayStation Days of Play Deals in the UK

We're entering a brand new day for the Days of Play sale in the UK, and there's still plenty of incredible discounts to check out at the moment. One of the biggest deals is definitely on the DualSense Controller, with up to 25% off every single colour available right now . Not only that, but Amazon is selling the gamepad at a better price than PS Direct, with some controllers like the Cosmic Red dropping to just £44.99 . There's also discounts on plenty of PS5 games right now, including Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart for just £34.99, or Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection down to £23.99 , and more which I've included down below. There's only discounts on other PS5 accessories like the DualSense Charging Station, or the Media Remote, which are both down to just £19. TL;DR - Our Favourite UK Deals Right Now Days of Play: 25% Off PS5 DualSense Controllers Days of Play: Best PS5 and PS4 Game Deals Days of Play: Best PS5 Accessory Deals Perfect for PS

Call of Duty Hosting a 100km Charity Run... Inside Warzone

Call of Duty is hosting what Activision says is the first-ever charity race inside of a video game, with players invited to run 100 virtual kilometers in Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific, between May 26 and June 3. The Veteruns event will support the Call of Duty Endowment fund's ongoing mission of veteran employment, with Activision Blizzard, the video game developer and publisher behind Call of Duty, allocating "$1 for every 10 virtual kilometers run on-foot in Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific, up to $10 per player as part of a $1 million total donation to the Call of Duty Endowment," according to a press release. As well as racking up their virtual steps for a chance to appear on the event leaderboard , players will be able to claim some reward-based incentives for each milestone they reach, including a bronze calling card after running 25 kilometers in the game, a silver version for achieving 50 kilometers, and a gold in-game calling card for completing 100 kilometers