MMO inspired tale .Hack//G.U. is coming back after a long 10 years with HD remaster .Hack//G.U. Last Recode. We saw Haseo's struggle for power earlier this year in the announcement trailer, but now we're getting a good look at the title's gameplay.
So far, it looks like your typical JRPG. Active time battles and unique enemy designs are sprinkled in with run-of-the-mill navigation. Models and textures have been overhauled, and while it does look to play a little clunky here and there, it's clear it's staying true to its roots.
We first saw .Hack//G.U. on PS2 about 10 years ago, but the .Hack// series has been running for 15 years. .Hack//G.U. follows the story Haseo, in an MMO game that isn't quite the utopia he was dreaming of. In a struggle for power, he goes on the hunt for the player Tri-Edge, who defeated his friend Shino and left her in a coma in the real world.
The title will include all three original volumes of the series G.U. installment, Rebirth, Reminisce, and Redemption, and an additional volume called Reconnection. Outside of the expanded story, the game will have a new cheat mode that will let players start the game at max stats, remastered cutscenes, and enhanced mechanics.
.Hack//G.U. will be available on PS4 and PC later this year. It will release in Japan on November 1, and on November 3 in North America and Europe.
We teamed up with Blizzard to give away ten (10) BlizzCon 2017 Virtual Tickets that include in-game freebies! Entry is open Worldwide. Yup, you read that correctly... WORLDWIDE. Competition ends Sunday, October 29th, 2017 at 12:00PM PT and ten winners will be contacted via email. Scroll down to enter below.
The Virtual Ticket let's you stream BlizzCon 2017 from the comfort of your own couch, live and in high definition. You'll get coverage of both days of the show, including panels, contests, interviews, the closing ceremony, and more, along with some in-game goodies. This year's BlizzCon takes place November 3rd & 4th.
The in-game freebies you get include:
Overwatch: BlizzCon 2017 Winston Skin
World of Warcraft: Stormwind Skychaser and Orgrimmar Interceptor
StarCraft II: Junker SCV, Probe, and Drone Skins
Heroes of the Storm: Nexus Razorback Mount
Diablo III: Murkromancer Pet
Hearthstone: Mystery Goodie
Enter below (the additional entries are optional to increase your chances of winning):
Super Mario Odyssey is technically an open-world game, but it's actually split into over a dozen open environments--17, to be exact. These range from the festive Sand Kingdom, which features a mix of motifs inspired by ancient Egyptian architecture and Mexico's Day of the Dead holiday, to the vibrant, hunger-inspiring Luncheon Kingdom. Every location has character of its own and a surprising number of puzzles, platforming challenges, and hidden secrets within.
In the video above, we tour through Super Mario Odyssey's kingdoms (including late-game locations) and offer a preview of what it's like to run, jump, and butt stomp your way through the wide variety of colorful locales.
Two highly-anticipated series returned to television this week: The Walking Dead and Stranger Things. Did they live up to the hype or fall flat on their faces? In addition, we're also taking a look at two new series that aired this week--one of which is a game show hosted by Snoop Dogg.
Over the course of the past couple of months, we've been looking at a selection of new and returning shows and giving you a quick breakdown of what is worth watching and what you should pass on. This week, we're talking about The Walking Dead, At Home With Amy Sedaris, Joker's Wild, and Stranger Things.
The Walking Dead
The AMC series entered its eighth season this week and starts the march to an all-out war against Negan and the Saviors. Rick and his group go on the offensive with a very intricate plan and give Negan the chance to surrender in the 100th episode of the series.
Season 7 was a drag. It was slow-paced and tried to build tension towards a battle with The Saviors; however, it failed to keep the interest of many fans. Luckily, the opener to Season 8 is a whole lot better. We get to see Rick and company's first strategic move and a good half of the episode has some awesome action sequences. The flashforwards were a bit confusing but weren't featured enough to deter from the main story. It's too early to say whether or not the show has gotten back its footing, but this episode is a good start on the long road to redemption.
Is It Worth Watching?: As a fan of the comic book series, I have a lot of hope for this new season, so I say put the show back on your DVR schedule, with caution.
The Walking Dead airs on Sundays at 9 PM ET on AMC.
At Home With Amy Sedaris
What do you get when you mix a daytime cooking/crafting series from the Food Network with Comedy Bang Bang, a dash of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, and outdated '50s stereotypes? You get At Home With Amy Sedaris. The new TruTV show parodies shows you know exist but have never watched.
The premise of the series is pretty brilliant, since these shows, like ones starring Rachael Ray, Martha Stewart, or the Barefoot Contessa (my mom keeps telling me about her) are very dry and dull. TruTV aired the first two episodes of At Home With Amy Sedaris, and very quickly, the segment "Crafting Corner" became my favorite. It's a chaotic mess of failure, sadness, and regret, as Sedaris attempts to create terrible at-home crafts and is nowhere near successful because there is always some sort of problem. Not every joke is a hit, but the comedy has a broader appeal than shows with the same tone, like Comedy Bang Bang, which seemed to alienate those who weren't comedy nerds. Sedaris's series is fun, inclusive, and weird.
Is It Worth Watching?: Yes, but keep in mind the concept is a bit bizarre, and the first episode has a slow start.
At Home With Amy Sedaris airs on Tuesdays at 10:30 PM ET on TruTV
Joker's Wild With Snoop
Snoop hosts the new, revamped Joker's Wild, a game show that ran during the '70s. Contestants spin a giant slot machine with numerous categories on the wheels, and they have to answer questions based on what pops up on the slot. This is all hosted by Snoop, so you know there are quite a few mentions of pot.
I love game shows, within reason. Joker's Wild isn't interesting, and while there are a few laughs, it's incredibly repetitive and the fun feels forced. Even the inclusion of Seth Rogan and Wiz Khalifa doesn't help make this entertaining. Plus, it doesn't help that one of the contestants is insufferable and overreacts to everything. It's a revamp that tries to cover its flaws with a coat of paint, but everything bad about it bleeds right through. The biggest laugh came unintentionally, as Snoop was counting out $100 bills for the winner and slapping them on a podium. They were terrible-looking fakes, and the look on the contestant's face said it all, "Am I supposed to pretend this is real?"
Is It Worth Watching?: No matter how much you love Snoop, this is not worth your time.
Joker's Wild airs on Tuesdays at 10 PM ET on TBS.
Stranger Things
Taking place one year after the events of Season 1, the boys are back in town, getting ready for Halloween, and a new mystery arises: who is beating all of Dustin's high scores at the arcade? Additionally, Will is seeing the Upside Down in the real world, so he may be having PTSD or visions of what's to come.
Don't worry, we're avoiding big spoilers while talking about this. While the series primarily plays to our sense of nostalgia, which some critics have railed on, the first episode of the newest season is fantastic. The cast is at a place where they're trying to get back to some sort of sense of normalcy, but it's almost impossible because they have to keep what happened to them a secret, since the reality of the situation is completely unbelievable. The opening episode sets the tone, but it's not as dark--so far--as the Duffer Brothers claimed it would be. The only wrench in the episode comes from the cold open. It feels very out of place, although I'm sure later episodes will explain this more.
Is It Worth Watching?: Yes. The new season captures the things we love about the first season and pushes forward the narrative.
All of Season 2 of Stranger Things is currently available on Netflix.
Come back next week for a Halloween-themed special and figure out which one of the shows we're covering isn't spooky: Helltown, Stan Against Evil, Ghost Adventures: Museum of Madness, and Total Divas.
By Anonymous on Oct 28, 2017 08:30 pm The new film Jigsaw is the 8th film in the franchise. It is set 10 years after the apparent death of the Jigsaw killer. We review the film and compare it to others in the franchise. Written by Dan Auty.
World of Tanks continues to be one of the biggest games on the planet in terms of players. According to Wargaming's latest count, the game had 130 million players on PC alone. Given the immense success of the game over the past seven years, you might have expected Wargaming to make a sequel. That hasn't happened, and it sounds like it's not going to.
Speaking today at PAX Aus on the GameSpot Theatre stage, Wargaming regional publishing director Alex de Giorgio was asked directly if World of Tanks 2 was in the cards. "World of Tanks 2? No," de Giorgio said.
He added that Wargaming sees World of Tanks as a games-as-a-service title, one that the studio continually updates and expands upon. That being the case, there won't be a sequel coming out anytime soon, if it ever happens at all.
"It's this constant evolution; that's been the hallmark of the game," de Giorgio explained, adding that a sequel to World of Tanks "doesn't really make sense to us."
The games-as-a-service model is an approach that that many developers use. Continuing to support a title gives players a reason to stay in the game and spend money. For a game like World of Tanks, which is free-to-play, in-game microtransactions are critical. Some developers argue that the free-to-play is democratic and good for games it forces developers to create compelling content. If they don't, people might walk away.
Earlier this week it was reported that DC's Shazam hits theaters in April 2019. It has now been revealed that the upcoming superhero movie will star Zachary Levi.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Levi will take on the lead role in Shazam, which is expected to start production early next year. Levi is no stranger to the genre--he is already part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having played Fandral in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok, which hits theaters next week. Levi is also known for NBC's spy comedy Chuck, the animated hit Tangled, and the recent TV drama Alias Grace.
Shazam will be directed by David F. Sandberg, who previously helmed the horror hits Annabelle: Creation and Light's Out. Sandberg confirmed the film's April 2019 release on Reddit. DC announced an April 5, 2019 release for the movie back in 2014; however, this date no longer appears on the studio's official slate.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was previously announced in the role of Shazam's nemesis Black Adam and is set to appear in a spinoff movie focusing on that character. However, it has now been confirmed that he will not feature in the Shazam movie.
Shazam first appeared in 1939, when he was known by the name Captain Marvel. The character was bought by DC in 1971, when he was renamed, due to Marvel's ownership of the name Captain Marvel. A live action Shazam TV show was broadcast in the mid-70s, while an animated show followed in 1981.
The next DC movie to hit theaters will be Justice League, which releases next month. The film is on course for a huge first weekend at the box office, with early tracking predicting a $110-$120 million opening. In addition, the studio'sAquaman has now completed production. That movie stars Jason Momoa and Amber Heard and is released in December next year.
Sony is apparently going to announce seven games next week. The company said in a blog post today that its briefing at Paris Games Week on Monday, October 30, will include "seven all-new game announcements." This covers both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR games. These announcements will start coming in during Sony's pre-show event, kicking off at 8 AM PT on October 30.
Then at 9 AM PT, when the show begins in earnest, Sony will "give you an exclusive new look at the next wave of huge PlayStation titles." And after the event ends, Sony's post-show stream will "dive deeper" into the reveals. So this is all to say: Monday sounds like it is going to be a BUSY day.
Sony's Paris Games Week briefing will be streamed live basically everywhere, and we'll have a page on GameSpot where you can tune in. We'll of course also have a full breakdown of all the big reveals.
What are you hoping to see during Sony's Paris Games Week briefing? Let us know in the comments below! And this may not be the end of Sony's reveals this year, as PlayStation Experience is coming in December.
By Anonymous on Oct 28, 2017 06:30 am This episode was a very contained story that gave us backstory to the events that transpired after the Five/Nine Hack. Greg breaks down Season 3, episode 3 - "Legacy"!
Super Mario Odyssey is a huge, wonderfully designed game brimming with personality. Although it doesn't specifically impact gameplay (for the most part), one new thing it introduces is the ability to dress Mario up in a wide variety of costumes. These range from his wedding outfit to Waluigi's overalls and many others.
Amiibo figures play a part in accessing these costumes, as you can scan select ones to unlock a corresponding outfit in-game. They can also provide various bonuses, such as extra hearts and--in the case of Mario's Amiibo figures--invincibility for 30 seconds. In the video above, we provide a full rundown on what you can get. Be aware that the costumes thankfully aren't exclusive to Amiibo figures--you can unlock everything in-game without owning any.
To scan in an Amiibo you own, you have to speak with the appropriately named Uncle Amiibo. He's the Roomba-looking robot who can typically be found near your ship after completing a kingdom. Speaking with him brings you to a menu where you can scan in your figures--just hold one over the reader on the right Joy-Con (or the middle of the Pro Controller) to do so.
GameSpot News with Jess McDonell and Dan Crowd brings you the video game news that matters. Except when Chastity Vicencio and Kallie Plagge are filling in, when they also give you the news that matters, just in a different accent. Here are the top five stories from the week that was:
Metal Gear Survive Requires An Internet Connection
It appears that Metal Gear Survive will be always-online. People on NeoGAF discovered that a page on the game's website contains the important disclaimer that "an internet connection is required to play the game," even though the spin-off's main modes are single-player and co-op. We'll have to wait a bit to know for sure, though; the game is set to release on February 20 in the US and February 22 in Europe.
GTA 5 Story DLC Expansions Won't Happen And Here's Why
Rockstar Games never promised it would release single-player expansions for Grand Theft Auto V, but some fans hoped the developer would. Rockstar has instead focused on updates for GTA Online, which have been plentiful and substantial. Design director Imran Sarwar has explained, "We did not feel single-player expansions were either possible or necessary, but we may well do them for future projects."
Even though it's still in Early Access, smash hit PUBG is coming to Xbox One, complete with a disc release. Microsoft is also reportedly working to keep the game an Xbox One exclusive for longer, attempting to delay PUBG's possible release on PlayStation 4 or other consoles. Since the popular battle royale game has surpassed 2 million concurrents on Steam, we're interested to see how it does on Xbox.
Xbox One's First Original Xbox Backwards Compatible Games Now Available
A total of 13 games for the original Xbox can now be played on Xbox One. This includes some of the platform's best games, such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Ninja Gaiden Black. More will be coming in Spring 2018, which means plenty of time to play KotOR.
Microsoft's Kinect sensor, which sold millions across its Xbox 360 and Xbox One iterations but was often criticized, is officially dead. The company has revealed that it has put an end to manufacturing of the device, meaning the ones still on store shelves will be the last ones available. (Check out the video for a surprise guest.)
Jess and Dan will be back on Monday to catch you up on all the video game news you missed out on over the weekend. Let us know in the comments what big games you'll be playing in the meantime!
Spoilers for Stranger Things 2, up through Episode 9, "The Gate," below
If there's one main thing to love about Stranger Things' Season 2 finale, "The Gate," it's how unabashedly happy it is. The original season's ending was famously bittersweet, Will's rescue and Brenner's defeat contrasting with Barb's death and Eleven's disappearance. The good guys won, but at a cost.
The same can be said of Stranger Things 2 overall, but this episode specifically ended on a sustained note so brimming with joy that it was almost jarring. At the very least, it was a pleasant surprise; I won't say no to some positivity, and the kids' well-deserved happy ending was one long shot of sweet, sweet nostalgia.
"The Gate" even took the time to tie a bow on pretty much every smaller relationship and character-based subplot, including the end of Nancy and Steve's relationship, Barb's funeral and closure for her parents (justice for Barb!), Hopper and Eleven's touching and funny reconciliation, Mike and Eleven's budding romance--not to mention Lucas and Max's, and maybe Joyce and Hopper's--and even Dustin's heartfelt search for love.
Of course it wasn't all rainbows and wrap-ups. This finale's showdown between Steve and Billy--a former villain and a current one--rivaled any duel in Netflix's Marvel shows for sheer brutality. On top of that, it was far more fitting for Max to ultimately defeat her awful brother than for Steve to somehow best him in a fight, which would have been implausible at best. For Steve to even be where he is--for him to stick his neck out like that--is itself enough fulfillment for him as a character. Consider the fact that he probably got a concussion for his trouble as his final atonement for the years he spent as a douche.
In finally standing up to her brother, Max got her own arc too, and finally showed another dimension as a character.
If I've failed to mention Stranger Things' phenomenal score in any of these reviews, it's only because it's been so consistently great all season that it's an inextricable part of the show's fabric, beyond criticism or praise. But, uh, I'm praising it now. The music is so good, and has been all season.
Stranger Things Season 2 really has been a great nine episodes of television, despite some flaws in its pacing, a couple of poorly drawn new characters, and a cheesy detour in Episode 7. This finale perfectly encapsulated every one of the show's many strengths, from the fantastic cast of characters played by top tier acting talent to the complex but believable plots that weave them all together.
There were even more surprises. Against all odds, Dr. Owens the government spook turned out to really not be a conniving sociopath, something I found hard to grasp right up until the end. Maybe that's on me, or maybe that's the way the show wanted it.
It felt like everyone had something to do in this episode, between Steve and co.'s impromptu plan to torch the tunnels, Eleven and Hopper's trip to close the Gate, and even Will's exorcism. That last one verged on campy, but the basic premise--that they could force the Mind Flayer out with sheer heat--is so obvious and well-set-up throughout the season that it works.
Eleven's ultimate victory over the Gate was an appropriately epic set piece, given how many episodes it took for her to re-enter the main story. Seeing her rise into the air gave me goosebumps, and made me truly excited for Stranger Things' future--as long as it stays firmly planted in this aesthetic rather than the bad X-Men knock-off we glimpsed in "The Lost Sister."
And, of course, it wouldn't be a Stranger Things finale without a tease for future episodes. Stranger Things Season 2 felt like a middle movie in a lot of ways, especially compared with the relatively self-contained story of Season 1. Yes, the main threads--Will's connection with the Upside Down and Eleven's fugitive life--reached satisfying conclusions. But just think about how many didn't:
Kali surely has a larger part to play in this story.
It feels like there's more to learn about Hopper's backstory.
We only just finally started to see more dimensions to Max as a character, and there's some legit tension between her and Eleven.
The Gate is closed, but the Mind Flayer is still out there, and we still don't know what exactly it is, what it wants, or what it will do next.
#JusticeForBob.
Stranger Things 2 managed a difficult feat: maintaining fairly consistent quality across a sophomore outing that had to follow a near-universally lauded first season. We can't know right now whether it will be able to keep that up through as many as three more seasons, but like Mike checking in with Eleven every night for a year, we can always hope.
Best reference or easter egg:
This episode's three separate plotlines--Steve and the kids underground in the tunnels, Eleven and Hopper in the lab, and the Byers in the cabin--seemed inspired by The Goonies, The Terminator, and The Exorcist, respectively.
Check out the giveaway below, and then head back to our Stranger Things 2 hub for more episode reviews, theories, references, easter eggs, and more!
There are countless costumes to collect in Super Mario Odyssey with each one you acquire nearly as charming than the last, and they're actually more closely associated to Mario's history than you might think. In fact, most of the costumes are direct references to outfits that Mario has worn throughout his 30+ year career.
To show just how far back Super Mario Odyssey reaches in history, we've gathered all the costumes that refer to past games or media in the Mario franchise.
Super Mario Odyssey is out now for Nintendo Switch. It's the latest installment of Nintendo's tenured franchise starring the lovable Italian plumber. You once again control Mario as he works to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. But this time around, he has the help of a new hat sidekick named Cappy, who he can throw at certain objects or enemies to temporarily possess them and use their unique abilities.
The Explorer Outfit is an homage to Mario's appearance in Mario's Picross, which first released on the original Game Boy in 1995. Mario could be seen wearing the outfit in the game's promotional art and on the top left corner of the screen as you played.
Builder Outfit
Mario's Builder Outfit references his appearance on the cover of Super Mario Maker for Wii U in 2015. In that game, you could only use the outfit in 2D-pixelated form. However, in Super Mario Odyssey, you can finally wear it in full 3D.
Chef Suit
The Chef Suit is an homage to Mario's appearance in Yoshi's Cookie, a tile-matching puzzle game released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992. Mario could be seen wearing the outfit as he controlled the machine that guided the puzzle pieces that came down.
Space Suit
The Space Suit is one of the cooler outfits in Super Mario Odyssey. You might not know this, but Mario has actually worn an astronaut suit previously in the Space Zone levels in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins in 1992. The Space Suit was likely added into the game as homage to Mario's earlier space adventures.
Doctor Outfit
This one should be obvious, but the Doctor Outfit is a clear reference to none other than Mario's appearance in Dr. Mario for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990.
Mechanic Outfit
The Mechanic Outfit you can purchase from the Crazy Cap store is a reference to Mario's appearance in Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally on the Famicom Disk System in 1988. Both Mario and Luigi can be seen wearing the outfit the game's promo art and instruction manual.
Classic Suit
Hardcore fans will instantly recognize the color scheme of the Classic Suit. It's a reference to Mario's appearance in none other than the iconic 1981 arcade game where he made his first appearance, Donkey Kong.
Black Tuxeudo
It's possible to acquire a Black Tuxedo costume in Super Mario Odyssey. While it may seem like a simple re-skin of the White Tuxedo, the color swap is actually a reference to Mario's appearance from the front cover of Super Mario-All Stars on Super Nintendo.
Poncho Costume
Mario's Poncho costume comes from the Game Boy port of arcade puzzler, Qix. In that game's intermissions, Mario wore a sombrero and poncho while playing a guitar in the middle of a desert.
Painter Outfit
If you've spent a significant amount of time playing Mario Paint on Super Nintendo back in the early '90s, then you're likely to get a huge kick out of the Painter Outfit. It's the outfit that Mario can be seen wearing on the game's front cover.
Boxer Shorts
Gamers were shocked when Nintendo first unveiled Mario's Boxer Shorts outfit in one the game's later trailers. However, it was first showcased in the Summer 2016 wallpaper released by Nintendo of Japan and Play Nintendo.
Golf Suit
Mario's Golf Suit is a reference to his appearance in Family Computer Golf: U.S. Course for the Famicom Disk System in 1987. However, most fans are likely to recognize the outfit from NES Open Tournament Golf for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987.
Swimwear
A bit of a deep cut, the Swimwear outfit is a direct reference to Mario's appearance from the 2016 Club Nintendo calendar. Mario can be seen wearing the outfit in the calendar's August section.
Samurai Armor
The Samurai Armor is a reference to the T-shirt that Shigeru Miyamoto wore during the Super Mario Run debut on Jimmy Fallon in 2016. As this was before Super Mario Odyssey had been officially announced, the shirt became the subject of fan speculation towards a new Mario game.
Fashionable Outfit
Mario's Fashionable Outfit is a reference to an outfit he wore in a Japanese commercial for the New Nintendo 3DS.
Cowboy Outfit
While not a direct 1:1 match in appearance, the Cowboy Outfit is likely an homage to the clothes Mario wears in Western Land in Mario Party 2 on Nintendo 64. Thankfully, you don't have to complete an abundance of mini-games to get it.
Mario 64 Suit
This incredibly nostalgic and low-poly costume is perhaps one of the coolest in the game. The visual detail of this outfit is directly inspired by Mario's appearance from the iconic Super Mario 64 on Nintendo 64.
Metal Mario Suit
Adding upon the super nostalgic costumes you can get in the game is the Metal Mario Suit. It's modeled exactly the same as the Mario 64 Suit but with a thick coat of chrome.
Important Note: We understand that image above is from Super Mario 64. Like you, we've only recently purchased the game and are working hard to acquire this costume. We'll be sure to update this slide once we get a solid screenshot.
GameSpot Theatre returns to PAX Australia this year, and we're hosting a bunch of great panels featuring the GameSpot Australia team--Jess McDonell, Dan Crowd, Eddie Makuch, and Edmond Tran--as well as our friends from all over the video game industry, including developers from the likes of Sonic Mania, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Netherealm Studios, and Square-Enix Montreal and so much more! My gosh!
If you're in Melbourne, come visit us! The theatre is located by the main entrance on Level 1, next to the Take This AFK Room. If you're not lucky enough to be at PAX Aus in person, you can watch all the action via livestream on this page as it happens, and check out the full schedule here.
10:30 AM - Game Journos Read Mean Comments (And Talk About Dealing With Online Abuse)
If you want to watch games journalists read out mean comments internet strangers have written to them, you've come to the right place! Stick around for a few laughs and find out what it's actually like to deal with internet insults on a daily basis.
PANELISTS: Jess McDonell [Video Host, GameSpot], Dan Crowd [Video Producer, GameSpot], Eddie Makuch [Associate Editor, GameSpot], Lucy O'Brien [Games & Entertainment Editor, IGN], Joab Gilroy [Esports Editor, Red Bull]
12:00 PM - A Dummy's Guide to Watching Esports
Have you just started watching esports and have no idea what's going on? Our panelists are here to help you learn to appreciate a variety of different games and genres! From Overwatch to StarCraft, SMITE to Street Fighter, you'll learn how to get the most out of spectating so you can cheer at the right times and learn something in the process.
PANELISTS: Dan Crowd [Video Producer, GameSpot], Daniel "dethSC" Haynes [Commentator, StarCraft], Alexander "HughZ" Hughes [Commentator, SMITE], Kevin "Burnout" Kim [Community Manager, Xsplit & Street Fighter Commentator, CouchWarriors], Stacia Grooby [Community Manager, Gfinity]
1:30 PM - Fakin' It: Game Reviews
Four professional game reviewers attempt to defend utterly rubbish games, and here's the twist: one of the panelists actually likes each of the games. Can you pick which panelist likes which awful game? 1/10 games, 10/10 hilarity.
PANELISTS: Nic Healey [Breakfast Host, 2SER 107.3FM], Lucy O'Brien [Games & Entertainment Editor, IGN], Joab Gilroy [Esports Editor, Red Bull], Edmond Tran [Editor, GameSpot]
3:00 PM - World of Tanks: Staying Strong for Seven Years and Beyond
With annual gaming franchises the norm, how do you keep the momentum behind a game for more than seven years? Join the global Wargaming team as they discuss the journey they've been on with the hugely successful World of Tanks franchise, how the game has evolved since it was released, and what's next for Aussie fans.
4:30 PM - Stationeers: Blending the Survival and Simulator Genres
Dean Hall (DayZ) and RocketWerkz Developers discuss the progress of Stationeers, their upcoming multiplayer space station construction & simulation game. The panel includes an exclusive reveal of Motherships, a significant development milestone for the science systems-based game, as well as Q&A from the audience.
5:30 PM - Blast from the Past: How Yesterday's Heroes Became Today's Icons
As video games come of the age that allow us to talk about the "good old days", we look at how the games and characters that entertained and inspired us in our youth are making a comeback! Sonic, Crash Bandicoot and of course our favourtie Italian Plumber, Mario. What makes these characters so timeless? What makes them appealing to the new generations of gamers? And what characters do our panelist want to see make a return to our consoles?
PANELISTS: Nic Healey [Breakfast Host, 2SER 107.3FM], Eddie Makuch [Associate Editor, GameSpot], Alex Boz [Co-Founder, Editor-In-Chief, Ausretrogamer], Skye Hall [Contributor, Weird and Retro], Christian Whitehead [Developer, Sonic Mania]
Super Mario Odyssey is jam-packed with hidden details and subtle references to past Mario games. For series veterans, these are easy to spot, but for newcomers they can be more obtuse. With so many fun details to notice and discover, we've gathered nine fascinating secrets and easter eggs that we've found in the game so far. Click ahead to see what we saw during our early runnings with the game.
After much anticipation, Super Mario Odyssey is out now for Nintendo Switch. It's the latest installment of Nintendo's tenured franchise starring the lovable Italian plumber. You once again control Mario as he works to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. But this time around, he has the help of a new hat sidekick named Cappy, who he can throw at certain objects or enemies to temporarily possess them and use their unique abilities.
If you stop controlling Mario for a prolonged period of time, he'll eventually lay down and relax. Listen closely and you'll even hear Mario talk in his sleep about Princess Peach and his favorite pasta. Wait even longer and a bird (indigenous to the Kingdom you're in) will swoop in to perch upon Mario's nose.
Dangerous Cacti
If you accidentally walk into a cactus while exploring the Sand Kingdom, the spines will get stuck on poor Mario's nose. It's not a pleasant sight, but the attention to detail in this instance is amusing unto itself.
Mechanic Mario
The Mechanic Outfit you can purchase from the Crazy Cap store is a reference to Mario's appearance in Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally on the Famicom Disk System. Both him and Luigi can be seen wearing the outfit the game's promo art and instruction manual.
Poncho
Mario's Poncho costume is a direct reference to the his appearance in the Game Boy port of arcade puzzler, Qix. In that game's intermissions, Mario could be seen wearing a sombrero and poncho while playing a guitar in the middle of a desert.
Mario Cat and Peach
In multiple Kingdoms, you'll often encounter walls with art of both Cat Mario and Cat Peach. These feline versions of Mario and Peach should be familiar to those who played Super Mario 3D World for Wii U, which is where this special form made its first appearance.
Diddy Kong Costume
One of the costumes you can purchase at a Kingdom's local yellow Crazy Cap store is a blatant reference to Diddy Kong. Heck, it actually makes you into Diddy Kong (with the face of Mario). This snazzy outfit can be unlocked in the store by collecting enough moons, or scanning the Diddy Kong Amiibo into Uncle Amiibo.
We're hoping Nintendo will one day release an update offering more outfits like this. Can you imagine if there was a Samus Mario costume or even a Link Mario costume? The possibilities are endless.
Warping Into The Odyssey
The pipe spewing steam on the back of the Odyssey can also be used as an alternative way of entering it. While doing so isn't entirely useful or practical, it's a nice touch!
Dirty Clothes
If you roll on the ground in the Sand or Beachside Kingdom, your clothes will pick up some of the dirt. It's not one of the craziest things you can pull off in the game, but it's a nice detail worth pointing out.
Fedora Wearing Shiba Inu
In a few of the Kingdoms you explore, you'll come across an adorable Shiba Inu wearing a fedora. Stick with this stylish pup long enough and he'll eventually lead you to a spot where he'll dig up some coins for you. If that's not enough of a reward for you to stick around with this cute doggo, then try playing fetch with it instead by throwing Cappy when you're near him.
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