At E3 2017, Nintendo teased a new Pokemon game for the Switch. Instead of the rumored Pokemon Stars, which was thought to be an enhanced version of the 3DS games Sun and Moon, Game Freak's untitled Switch Pokemon game is a new, "core RPG." We know very little about the game, so we started dreaming up all the things that could make a Switch-exclusive Pokemon game extra special.
2016's Sun and Moon--and last year's updated versions, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon--added a few of the quality-of-life features that will most likely return in the next Pokemon game. New and improved tools for high-level training, like being able to see a Pokemon's IVs at a glance, were a boon for competitive players, as was the reintroduction of Move Tutors in the Ultras. Alola also saw the introduction of regional variants of existing Pokemon, which is probably here to stay as well.
So what's left to improve? We had quite a few ideas. Click forward to see nine things we want to see from Pokemon on Switch, and let us know in the comments what else you're hoping to see!
Way Less Hand-Holding
Recent Pokemon games have been regarded as, well, a bit easy. Pokemon is for everyone, but that doesn't mean the games should painstakingly explain the basics of catching and training Pokemon for the first two hours, either. Learning how to play Pokemon is easy, but mastering it is hard, and that's a big part of why it's so rewarding to build a successful team--so the next Pokemon game should actually make that a challenge again.
A Bigger, Better World To Explore
Gen 2 (Gold, Silver, and Crystal) is the best Pokemon generation of all time, in part because you got to take on all of Kanto after conquering Johto. It was like having a bonus Pokemon game after you finished your Pokemon game. That same principle could extend to Pokemon on Switch--with more power than the 3DS, the world could be so much bigger and more alive. And what's Pokemon without the adventure part?
More RPG Elements
Pokemon has the stats and complex party-building mechanics present in a lot of RPGs, but it could go even further. There are already trainer classes, like Youngsters and Fishermen, so why not make them work more like traditional RPG classes? Imagine choosing the Breeder class and getting Egg-hatching bonuses or becoming an Ace Trainer so you can be more of a jack of all trades.
Add an MMO-Style Online Component
Pokemon has mainly been the domain of handhelds, and although the Switch is portable, it's also a proper home console (with the promise of an online service). So if the Switch Pokemon game has a bigger, better world and a few more RPG-style details, it's not a stretch to hope for even more of a living RPG world when you connect online. There would probably be parental controls and safety limitations, since this is Nintendo, but if Game Freak brought back Secret Bases and made online connectivity a little more immediate, we would be pretty stoked.
Bring Back Ride Pokemon
The death of HMs was one of Sun and Moon's greatest gifts to Pokemon, which means Ride Pokemon shouldn't go away any time soon. You should never again keep a Linoone (a very good HM Pokemon, for the record) or anything else you don't really want to train in your party just because it can move boulders for you.
Your Pokemon Should Follow You, Dang It
This is probably the most frequently requested Pokemon feature ever. It hasn't been a thing since HeartGold and SoulSilver, and assuming the 3D (and graphics in general) would be a lot better on Switch, walking Pokemon would be a great way to show that off. Imagine a Rowlet hopping around or a Growlithe digging at the dirt when you stand in one place too long!
Improve the Post-Game
This goes hand-in-hand with a few other things on our wishlist, but seriously--in Sun and Moon, there really wasn't much to do after beating the game unless you play the competitive meta or want to catch lots of legendaries. Adding a significant late-game area to explore, bringing back Pokemon Contests, and adding mini-games would all go a long way toward improving the post-game experience for all kinds of players. Also, Pokemon on Switch should definitely bring back the ability to call trainers you've battled for a rematch at any time.
Pokemon Bank Compatibility
This is a no-brainer. Pokemon on Switch has to work with Pokemon Bank, since there wouldn't be any other way to trade up the Pokemon from your previous games. Plus, bringing your favorite Pokemon onto the Switch could be a lot like when you uploaded your Pokemon from Red and Blue into Pokemon Stadium--there's your favorite Charizard, but on a bigger screen.
Pokemon Amie/Refresh With the Joy-Cons
Pokemon Amie (from ORAS) and Refresh (from Sun and Moon) are both very charming, simple additions that make anyone who wants to use them feel closer to their Pokemon. A version on Switch could incorporate either the touchscreen or the Joy-Cons if that's your jam, and it would be ridiculously cute.
With such a long comic book history for the Black Panther, there are endless possibilities. Beyond that, the movie itself--and the future of the MCU--left so many options for a sequel to tackle. The GameSpot team has a few ideas that definitely need to happen, though.
First and foremost, director Ryan Coogler needs to return to direct the sequel. There's no denying that without Coogler, this movie wouldn't be anywhere near the same, and he needs to be the driving creative force behind whatever comes next.
As for the story, there are a number of things that should unfold in Black Panther 2. Shuri (Letitia Wright), for instance, needs a much bigger role. She was one of the most exciting standouts in the first movie, serving as the Q to T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) James Bond. However, in the comics, she also takes on the Black Panther mantle at a certain point. Imagine the possibilities of Shuri designing her own Panther suit.
The second film also needs to focus on a singular villain. In Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), Black Panther gave the MCU arguably its best villain yet. Putting the focus on one baddie allows for that character to be developed. Naturally, we hope Kraven the Hunter somehow finds his way into the MCU and the next Black Panther movie, but that's a character that happens to be controlled by Sony.
What else would we like to see in a Black Panther sequel? Check out the video above for all of GameSpot's ideas.
Fortnite developer Epic has been regularly introducing new weapons to the game's free-to-play Battle Royale mode on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, with the most recent being the powerful Hand Cannon. Among the other new items on the way to the game are jetpacks, but it appears players will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on one.
PC Gamer has reported that jetpacks have been delayed, with a new gun set to debut in their place. According to Epic, jetpacks were originally slated to roll out this week in Fortnite: Battle Royale, but they have now been pushed back due to a "last minute design issue" that the developer discovered. Epic hasn't announced a new time frame for when the jetpacks will arrive in Battle Royale, but this week's new item will now be the Hunting Rifle.
Aside from the news of their delay, Epic hasn't shared many details about the jetpacks. The items were first mentioned in Fortnite's New Updates section as "coming soon" to the game, but their accompanying description didn't reveal how they would function or what modes they would be available in, only stating, "Take the fight to all new heights."
Movies and TV shows often miss their mark when it comes to predicting the future. We still don't have flying cars or time traveling devices, for instance. Having said that, there are several visionary films like Minority Report and 2001: A Space Odyssey that have managed to predict some aspects of technological innovation correctly.
You could assert that many of these revolutionary films and TV shows had a direct influence in turning science fiction into science fact. Regardless, from predicting VR to self-driving cars, here are movies and TV shows that were ahead of their time. We've ordered them chronologically in the following gallery.
1. Space Travel - A Trip to the Moon (1902)
Not only did writer and director Georges Méliès depict us traveling into space all the way back in 1902, but his black and white film showcased humans traveling to the moon. In the silent short, explorers get blasted into space via a cannon-propelled capsule and return to Earth by dropping into the sea. Sound familiar?
Humans wouldn't fly into space until 1961, however, when Russian Lt. Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit the Earth. And it wouldn't be until 1969 when Neil Armstrong would first set foot on the moon.
2. Robots - The Grim Game (1919)
The first robot made its debut on film before the term "robot" was even coined. In the Harry Houdini black-and-white silent film The Grim Game, we see a humanoid-looking "automaton" named Q.
We've since had numerous robots throughout history, but one relatively recent one that caught the attention of many is Sophia. The human-looking robot was developed by Hong-Kong company Hanson Robotics. She was activated in 2015 and is capable of speech coupled with 62 different facial expressions. The Saudi Arabian government thought she was so lifelike that they made her an honorary citizen in 2017.
3. Robot Vacuum - The Jetsons (1962)
Considering we have smart lights and speakers, The Jetsons was really ahead of its time with the concept of a smart home. The futuristic Hanna-Barbera cartoon portrayed machines that could produce meals with the press of a button and briefcases that could transform into flying cars. While we still don't have those technologies, it did accurately predict the advent of little robot vacuums. Now we have roaming Roombas that keep our floors clean and startle our cats.
4. Smart Watch - The Jetsons (1962)
Roombas weren't the only invention The Jetsons accurately predicted. The cartoon also conveyed a smartwatch that allowed you to watch videos on your wrist.
Apple would release its Apple Watch 53 years later in 2015. Now we have a plethora of smart watches from companies like Google, Samsung, and more.
5. Video Chatting - The Jetsons (1962)
Before there was Skype, The Jetsons depicted video chatting in 1962. Skype would help popularize video conferencing when it came out in 2003. Now we have numerous video applications including Slack, Google Hangouts, and more.
6. Cell Phones - Star Trek: The Original Series (1966)
Spoiler warning: Like The Jetsons, Star Trek predicted several technological innovations. One of the most notable ones involves the hand-held Communicator, which allowed Captain James T. Kirk and crew to call the USS Enterprise whenever they explored alien planets on foot.
Motorola would later experiment with wireless calls in the early 1970s, but cell phones wouldn't hit the consumer market until 1983.
7. Electronic Translators - Star Trek: The Original Series (1966)
To communicate with aliens throughout the galaxy, Star Trek crew members used a universal translator, which had hundreds of languages programmed into a device that did real-time language translations.
While we still don't have something quite as robust, Google did launch Google Translate in 2006. Coupled with smartphones, the translating app offered voice support in 2010. In 2017, Google released its Pixel Buds. The bluetooth earbuds offer near real-time translations with its built-in microphone. Accuracy of translations with the device are known to vary, however.
8. Tablet - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey is another sci-fi classic that predicted numerous technological innovations. In the 1968 film, we see protagonist Dr. Dave Bowman watching videos on a tablet as he's eating a meal aboard a space station.
Apple began popularizing the tablet form factor when it initially released the iPad in 2010. Now we have several computing tablets from Google, Samsung, Microsoft, and more.
9. AI Voice Assistant - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
HAL 9000 is one of the greatest characters in sci-fi history. The AI assistant was capable of speech, facial recognition, and more. Oh, and it was hellbent on killing humans.
Apple famously released its own voice assistant in 2011 with the launch of Siri on iPhones. Now we have Android's OK Google voice assistant and Amazon Alexa. The verdict is still out on whether these AI assistants will try to end us, however.
10. Cloning - Sleeper (1973)
In the comedic movie Sleeper, Woody Allen's character wakes up in the year 2173 after being cryogenically frozen. While we don't have the technology to safely freeze people yet, when Allen's character wakes up in the future, he finds out that cloning is a thing and is tasked with re-creating an entire human being using nothing more than remnants of a nose.
While the jury is still out on whether or not we've attempted to clone humans, animals have been successfully cloned. Dolly is perhaps the most famous example. The female sheep was cloned in 1996 with scientist taking a cell from another sheep. More recently, actress Barbra Streisand revealed that she made two clones of her dog.
11. Digital Billboards - Blade Runner (1982)
The 1982 sci-fi film Blade Runner is greatly revered for its evocative, neon depiction of the future. Massive digital billboards playing videos were prominent throughout the movie's cyberpunk world.
Flashforward to today and you have neon digital billboards littered in areas such as Times Square in NY and Dotonbori in Japan.
12. Body Scanners That Can See You Naked - Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
Comedic movie Airplane II: The Sequel most likely didn't intend to accurately predict the future in any meaningful way when it released in 1982, but it showcased an airport body scanner that's capable of seeing through clothes.
Real-life backscatter X-ray machines, nicknamed "naked scanners", were widely implemented in the US with the FAA Modernization Reform Act of 2012.
13. Military Robots - Short Circuit (1986)
In the 1986 movie Short Circuit, a tech company prototypes robots for the U.S. military and ends up creating "Johnny 5." The robot ends up getting struck by lightning, providing it a form of sentience.
While robots may not be sentient (at least not yet...), there are companies like Boston Dynamics that are designing robots for the U.S. military. Recently, the tech company released a video that went viral, which showcased a man trying to hold back a dog-like robot from opening a door. Despite some tugging from the man, which lead to minor robo dismemberment, the robot persisted until it accomplished its mission. Cool, or creepy?
14. AR - RoboCop (1987)
After being shot up, police officer Alex J. Murphy finds himself on the brink of death in RoboCop. He's saved when the government revives what's left of him and augments his body with machinery. Among his enhancements is a visor that augments his vision. It displays grids, which help bolster his aim and provides additional info like mission objectives.
Today we have augmented reality glasses like Google Glass and AR visors like HoloLens and Magic Leap that are in development.
15. Self-Lacing Shoes - Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Back to the Future Part II showcased self-lacing Nike shoes. Fast forward to today and you have Nike shoes that look and function nearly identical to the ones in the movie. Okay, so maybe this is a case where a movie directly influences an invention. This is especially evident when you consider that Nike only produced 89 of them (to coincide with the 1989 release of the movie). All of the proceeds also went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Nike actually started working on the shoes in 2005, but the battery technology wasn't ready at the time and it required bulky motors. As mobile technology improved, Nike resumed work on the shoes in 2012 before releasing them in 2016.
16. Hoverboard - Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Just about everybody wanted a hoverboard after Marty Mcfly rode one in Back to the Future Part II. Well, we have them now, kind of. Tech company Hendo successfully funded its Hoverboard Kickstater by raising over $500,000 through the crowd funding site. It works, too. I've tried it. The only caveat, and it's a major one, is that it uses maglev technology and thus requires a conductive metal floor. So unless you have access to a copper skate park, you probably won't get to ride one any time soon.
17. Self-Driving Cars - Total Recall (1990)
In Total Recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger's character rides in a self-driving Johnny Cab. The sci-fi taxi featured a talking robot driver. While that's not a thing today, self-driving cars are very real. Google has been testing them since 2009, and as of June 2016, the tech giant's self-driving vehicles drove over 1.7 million miles. Many companies such as Nvidia, Tesla, and Uber are now working on self-driving car technology aimed at the mass-market.
18. VR Headset - The Lawnmower Man (1992)
In the 1992 film The Lawnmower Man, Dr. Lawrence Angelo (played by Pierce Brosnan) experiments on a simple-minded gardener named Jobe Smith (played by Jeff Fahey) by strapping him to a virtual reality headset. The VR contraption dramatically improves Smith's cognitive abilities, which eventually allows him to learn Latin in two hours. It also inadvertently gives him telepathic powers. An evil mastermind subplot ensues.
While we've yet to discover telepathic capabilities, we do have VR headsets like the Oculus Rift, PSVR, and HTC Vive. In addition to gaming, VR headsets are also helping autistic people developer better social skills and are assisting patients overcome psychological issues like PTSD.
19. Widespread Genetic Testing and Engineering - Gattaca (1997)
Gattaca depicts a future where genetic testing and engineering are pervasive parts of our culture. In the 1997 sci-fi film, job interviews are determined by genetic tests and babies are engineered to near perfection before they're born. In the movie, DNA tests are so accurate that they not only indicate what diseases individuals might be susceptible to, but can even predict cause and time of death.
Today 23andMe allows you to conduct your own genetic testing at home. For a fee, the Biotech company will send you a vial that you can deposit your saliva into and mail back to get test results that will tell you what diseases you might be susceptible to.
In addition, recent breakthroughs in the biotech world have given scientists the ability to make precision edits to DNA. This is a technique known as CRISPR, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. In 2015, scientists were able to use CRISPR to cut the HIV virus out of living cells from patients in a lab. Scientist also assert that CRISPR could allow babies to be born without many common genetic disorders in the near future.
In the 2002-released movie Minority Report, actor Tom Cruise waves his hands and fingers in the air to control a gesture-based UI. Roughly eight years later in 2010, Microsoft would release the Kinect with an infrared projector that would allow the Xbox 360 to track user limbs in three-dimensional space. More advanced, subsequent devices like the Leap Motion and Microsoft's very own second-generation Kinect would later add higher-fidelity finger tracking.
Minority Report wasn't only right when it predicted motion-tracked gestures, but it also showcased personalized ads. In the sci-fi film, you see Cruise's character getting served ads tailored to his interests and purchasing history. This is now a very crucial component to websites like Facebook, which came out two years after Minority Report.
Though the plot of the upcoming Captain Marvel movie remains largely unknown, small pieces continue coming together as production on the film continues. Already, fans have spotted star Brie Larson in a version of the famed Captain Marvel suit, while the cast list has continued to grow.
Now Deadline reports yet another actor joining the foray. Gemma Chan, best known from her roles in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them and the AMC series Humans, has been cast in the role of Minn-Erva, better known to comic book fans as the villainous Doctor Minerva. In Marvel Comics lore, Doctor Minerva is a Kree geneticist and spy with similar powers to Captain Marvel.
What is known about the movie is that it will take inspiration from the Kree-Skrull war, with the Skrulls serving as the film's villains. That makes for an interesting situation where Doctor Minerva is concerned. The character has traditionally been at odds with Mar-Vell, who will be played by Jude Law in the film
Captain Marvel also stars Ben Mendehlson (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) as a villain, and Samuel L. Jackson reprising his Marvel Cinematic Universe role of Nick Fury. The movie hits theaters on March 8, 2019.
Is CM Punk ready to tame the beast? He's about to find out as the UFC fighter and former WWE star has a new job. Punk will join retired NFL player Tiki Barber as a US host of Ultimate Beastmaster Season 3, Netflix's take on American Ninja Warrior set inside an obstacle course that looks like a giant dragon.
The news was announced by Punk and Netflix simultaneously, with the former WWE Champion tweeting, "The Beast is back and I'll be your host for Team USA along with [my] co-host the awesome [Tiki Barber]! Don't miss the most intense obstacle course in the world!!!!! [Ultimate Beastmaster] Season 3 coming in 2018!" The role will see him interviewing competitors and working with Barber to provide commentary while people run the obstacle course.
The Beast is back and I'll be your host for Team USA along with the my co-host the awesome @TikiBarber! Don't miss the most intense obstacle course in the world!!!!! #UltimateBeastmaster Season 3 coming in 2018!!!!! pic.twitter.com/j9nS4n7Udg
Punk replaces comedian Chris Distefano, who teamed with Barber in Season 2. He's not the only wrestler joining the series, though. Stu Bennett, who previously competed in WWE as Wade Barrett, will serve as one of the hosts for Team UK. "The beast is the gnarliest, most intense, most demonic obstacle course ever created," Bennett says in a video on Twitter. "And you are not going to want to miss this."
Naturally, Beastmaster isn't the only thing Punk has going on at the moment. While a return to UFC has yet to be announced, he's teased on Twitter that the company's June show in his hometown of Chicago may be where he'll fight next.
The series returns to Netflix later in 2018. The new season will feature teams from nine countries competing to be crowned the year's Ultimate Beastmaster.
Blizzard has revealed the newest hero joining Overwatch: Brigitte (pronounced Bri-gee-ta). The character has been detailed in the latest Public Test Realm patch notes and also on the game's official website, and is listed as a support class hero.
"An engineer with peerless armor-constructing abilities, Brigitte Lindholm is a valiant squire who fights on the front line to protect her allies," reads the patch notes. "Brigitte's armor engineering capabilities make her a stalwart support hero, capable of holding her ground in combat while also providing healing and armor for her allies." The official website, meanwhile, says "Brigitte specializes in armor" and can throw Repair Packs to heal teammates, or automatically heal nearby allies when she damages foes with her Flail.
Brigitte's primary weapon is a "heavy-hitting Rocket Flail," which she "swings in a wide arc in front of her to smash multiple enemies at once." The Whip Shot ability uses the flail to strike enemies at a distance and stun them. Landing blows allows Brigitte's passive ability, Inspire, to heal nearby allies over time.
Her Barrier Shield deploys a "frontal energy barrier that can absorb a limited amount of damage and protect any allies directly behind her." With her shield deployed, she can execute Shield Bash to "lunge forward and stun the first enemy in her path." From the sounds of it, she's a mixture of Reinhardt and her father, Torbjörn.
Her ultimate ability is called Rally, and is described as "a galvanizing call to arms that generates a substantial amount of armor for nearby allies and increases Brigitte's movement speed so she can lead them into battle." Check out Brigitte's origin story in the video above or read her story and learn about her abilities below, courtesy of Blizzard.
"No longer sitting on the sidelines, Brigitte Lindholm has taken up arms to defend those in need of protection. The youngest daughter of weapons designer, Torbjörn Lindholm, Brigitte was the first of his children to show an interest in mechanical engineering. Brigitte spent much of her spare time in her father's workshop, learning the trade and honing her skills. Her aptitude for engineering mirrored that of her father's, but Brigitte's primary interest was in armor fabrication and defensive systems, unlike Torbjörn, who was world renowned (and perhaps infamous) for the weapons he created.
"Everyone expected that Brigitte would continue her apprenticeship and follow in her father's footsteps. But her plans changed due to influence of another prominent figure in her life, her father's close friend and fellow Overwatch agent, Reinhardt Wilhelm. A close friend of the family and Brigitte's godfather, Reinhardt told Brigitte tales of heroes and chivalry as she grew up. After his retirement and Overwatch's fall, Reinhardt declared that he would become a knight-errant on a quest to bring justice. Before he left on his adventures, Brigitte surprised him by asking to join him as his squire. Reinhardt accepted.
"As a squire, Brigitte had many responsibilities, the most important of which was the upkeep of Reinhardt's Crusader armor (a design she was familiar with as the current version was designed by her father). But more and more, she found her main job was taking care of Reinhardt himself, trying to protect him from his overenthusiasm even as his body was breaking down from years of combat.
"Eventually, she realized that serving only as a mechanic wasn't enough, and that the best way she could aid Reinhardt was to become a warrior in her own right. While Reinhardt trained her in combat, Brigitte began to build her own suit of armor in secret. Now Brigitte fights at Reinhardt's side to protect him, and any others in need as knight and squire journey to make the world a better place, one battle at a time."
Rocket Flail: Brigitte's melee weapon has an extended range, enabling her to strike multiple enemies with a single swing.
Repair Pack: Brigitte throws a Repair Pack that can heal an ally. Any healing over that ally's maximum health provides them with armor instead.
Whip Shot: Brigitte throws her flail a long distance, dealing damage and knocking an enemy away from her.
Barrier Shield: Brigitte deploys a frontal energy barrier to absorb a limited amount of damage.
Shield Bash: Once her Barrier Shield is deployed, Brigitte can dash forward to stun an enemy.
Rally (Ultimate): Brigitte moves faster and provides all nearby allies with armor that lasts until it's removed by damage.
As it so often does, Twitch is offering another batch of free in-game goodies to Amazon Prime members, this time for Epic's popular shooter Fortnite. Beginning today, February 28, those with a Prime account will be able to claim the Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack, which includes cosmetics and other items for both Battle Royale and Save the World modes.
The Twitch Prime Pack is redeemable on all platforms--PC, PS4, and Xbox One--and comes with two exclusive gliders and outfits for Battle Royale: the Havoc Outfit and Back Bling, plus the Sub Commander Outfit and Slipstream Glider. Additionally, users will receive four exclusive Twitch chat emoji and two heroes for Save the World: Havoc and Sub Commando Jonesy. You can take a look at some of the freebies below.
Twitch Prime regularly offers free items and games for Amazon Prime members, so anyone who's a subscriber to the premium service is able to take advantage of this offer. To grab the Fortnite Twitch Prime Pack, simply click on the Prime Loot icon at the top of Twitch's homepage or visit Epic's official website for more details about how to claim the free items.
The Twitch Prime Pack isn't the only freebie that Fortnite players can get right now. PS Plus subscribers can also download the PlayStation Plus Celebration Pack on PS4, which includes an exclusive glider and outfit. You can grab the pack here. Meanwhile, the next free game for Twitch Prime members is Devil May Cry HD Collection, although that won't be available to claim until March 6 due to "unforeseen technical circumstances."
From March 8, 2019, Sony will no longer offer PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita titles for free as part of a PlayStation Plus subscription. In a PS Plus update on the PlayStation Blog, the platform holder said it "will focus on PS4 titles" instead. The company has since confirmed to GameSpot that it will not be replacing the lower number of free games with more PS Plus games, meaning the total number of games given away each month with PS Plus from March next year will be two, down from six right now.
"This won't affect any games you've already downloaded, or will download, prior to March 8, 2019," it continued. "Those games will still be part of your PS Plus games library as long as you remain a member." It emphasized that game saves and other benefits will not be changed.
"Many of our fans are playing on the PS4 platform, with the increasingly vast number of PS4s in homes around the world," Sony continued. "We'll continue to prioritize the benefits you receive through your PS Plus membership, such as online multiplayer, online game save storage, PS4 monthly games, and exclusive PS Store discounts across content and network services."
Looking ahead, Sony said there are "plenty of new games and exclusive PS Store discounts to come for PS Plus members, and we look forward to sharing this with you."
PlayStation Plus, as a service, launched on the PS3 with Wipeout HD, LittleBigPlanet, and Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty as part of some its earliest freebies. Over the years it has come to be a big draw for existing and prospective PlayStation hardware owners. For some games, launching as a free PS Plus title has propelled their games into the limelight and, in the case of Rocket League, huge success.
Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) are returning to the big screen this November with Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. The movie is directed by Zootopia's Phil Johnston and Rich Moore and features an additional voice cast that includes Taraji P. Henson, Alan Tudyk, James Corden, and a few extra famous voices from Disney's past like Jodi Benson, who played Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
The movie was first announced during the summer of 2016; however, it was originally supposed to come out in March and has since been pushed back to the fall of 2018. With the release of the most recent trailer, fans of the original film finally have an idea of what the sequel to the 2012 movie is all about. In addition to that, the Wreck-It Ralph 2 trailer is filled with Easter eggs relating to video games, the history of Disney, and other Disney characters. Here's everything we saw in the new trailer.
The trailer opens with Litwak's Family Fun Center, the arcade from the first movie. It takes place at least six years after the first one. At the 17:17 mark of the original Wreck-It Ralph, "HAPPY 5TH B RTHDAY SVZY" appears on the sign for the arcade. In the Wreck-It Ralph 2 trailer, the sign says "HAPPY 11TH B RTHDAY SVZY," so at least six years have passed, as long as Mr. Litwak has been updating Suzy's birthday.
There are a few video game Easter eggs once Mr. Litwak--the Walter Day-esque owner of the arcade--enters the building. In his arcade, we can see Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Virtua Cop--a shooter which also appeared on the Sega Saturn.
For the most part, it's business as usual for the inhabitants of the arcade. All the video game characters are still hanging out in the Grand Central Station-like area while the arcade is closed. The only character we could make out was Q'Bert, probably because he's bright orange.
While Walter is connecting to the internet, there's an arcade machine behind him called The Red Scare. This could refer to the event that took place in October 20, 1947 where US Congress opened investigations to see if members of the Hollywood community were members of the Communist Party. Walt Disney was one of the people that gave a statement saying there is no communist influence in Hollywood. This moment in American history is commonly referred to as "The Red Scare."
In Walter's office, there are two plates featuring Star Wars characters on his shelf: Yoda and Chewbacca. That's not the only Star Wars reference in the film though. According to IMDB, Anthony Daniels is reprising his role as C-3PO for Wreck-It Ralph 2.
After Walter turns on his new router, Ralph and Vanellope find themselves accidentally taking a trip to the internet, leaving the arcade behind. Our guess is that the movie is about the duo trying to find their way back to the arcade.
When Ralph and Vanellope get to the internet, there are signs for games, apps, and websites everywhere. However, the only ones that actually exist in the real world are YouTube Red and Trip Advisor. That's a bummer because GunThock sounds pretty awesome.
Ralph and Vanellope find themselves inside Ebay, watching auctions happen in real time. They stop to stare at a velvet painting of "Sorrowful Kitten."
Upon closer inspection, the artist's signature reads "E. Schiele." There is actually a painter named Egon Schiele from the early 20th century. The Austrian artist was an early Expressionist painter, primarily known for his overtly-sexual portraits, which included many nude self-portraits. To the best of our knowledge, he did not paint a sad cat.
In the background of eBay, other items up for bid are shown. One of them is a Magic Lamp for $30. It's the lamp from the Disney film Aladdin.
Ralph and Vanellope end up inside a mobile game on a little girl's tablet where Ralph is feeding a bunny pancakes, over and over again. That little girl looks really familiar.
She looks familiar because it's baby Moana. Either she's a time traveler or a direct descendant of the character. In fact, Auli'i Cravalho--the voice of the character--is reprising her role for Wreck-It Ralph 2, as listed on IMDB.
Sony has revealed its free PS Plus games for March 2018, and some great titles are included. Out of all the PS4, PS Vita, and PS3 games on offer, the biggest game going is hit 2015 action RPG Bloodborne.
From March 6, PS Plus members will be able to download Bloodborne at no extra cost. The other PlayStation 4 game this month is Ratchet & Clank, the reimagining of the first game in that series that came to PS4 in 2016. Read more about the two games in our Bloodborne review and our Ratchet & Clank review.
PS4 owners will receive some bonus game in March thanks to Cross-buy. Mighty No. 9, the spiritual successor to Mega Man, is free on PS3 but the PS4 version is also available for no extra cost. Similarly, PS Vita games Claire: Extended Cut and Bombing Busters are free on the portable console but have PS4 versions that will be available for no extra charge at the same time. The final game going free this month is Legend of Kay on PS3.
One final bonus freebie is the Dungeon Defenders PS Plus Pack, a special add-on for Dungeon Defenders II that includes costumes, gold, and a Ninja Gato Pet. The DLC pack will be available for no extra cost from March 13 until April 10 for PS Plus members, though it appears to be exclusive to the US. Finally, Sony has confirmed that from March 8, 2019, it will no longer be giving away PS3 and PS Vita games with PS Plus, instead focusing on PS4 titles.
With the announcement of these new additions, time is running out to get your hands on February 2018's free PS Plus games, which include Knack and Rime. You can see all of February's PS Plus games here or take a look below for the full list of March's free PS Plus titles.
March's Free PS Plus Games For PS4, PS3, And PS Vita
Final Fantasy XV's PC launch is right around the corner, and Square Enix has come up with an unexpected way to celebrate it. It has teamed up with EA to bring exclusive content from The Sims 4 to the FFXV for a limited time. The Sims 4 players will also be able to download a special FFXV bonus in their game too after it officially launches on PC.
Anyone who preorders the game or buys it before May 1 on Origin will unlock a free Sim-themed outfit that can be worn by Noctis in Final Fantasy XV's single-player campaign or by the player's avatar in FFXV's multiplayer expansion. The two outfits available are the iconic Llama Suit and Plumbob Suit. You can see how the outfits look in the game in the video below.
Anyone who preorders the game will also get an additional FFXV Decal Selection. It contains a host of colorful decals for the Regalia car, celebrating Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis, and the people of Kingsglaive.
Sims 4 players will get a bonus out of this partnership as well. Starting March 8, anyone who players The Sims 4 will be able to download a free crowned prince Noctis Lucis Caelum outfit for their characters.
Final Fantasy XV officially releases for PC on March 6. A demo for the game, which allows you to play the tutorial and opening quests, has now been released on Steam, Origin, and the Microsoft Store. If you're thinking of preordering or buying when FFXV is released, The Sims 4 isn't the only crossover content you'll have access to. Anyone who purchases by May 1 will also be entitled to Half-Life/Final Fantasy XV crossover content that lets you dress up as Gordon Freeman, complete with crowbar.
Where the Water Tastes Like Wine defies any sort of comparison to other games. You're tasked with collecting stories and building up folklore across Dust Bowl America, wandering across the land and briefly involving yourself in other people's lives. You're collecting tales so that you can share them with other wanderers who are moving across the country and eventually appease an anthropomorphic Dire Wolf (played, amazingly, by Sting) who, in the game's opening cutscene, beats you in a card game and sets you to work collecting these folk stories as payment for the debt you now owe. It's a wholly unique premise for a game, but not necessarily one that reaches its full potential.
You guide a skeleton avatar around the map, moving between states by foot, by train, or by hitchhiking, and collect stories when you encounter them. These are folktales by and large: animals will talk to you, children will be all-knowing (and often touched by evil in some way), you'll meet ghosts and dying men and people capable of impossible feats. Some will stick with you, offering creepy imagery or neat twists, and others will fade from your memory soon after you hear them, but the hit-to-miss ratio of the 219 stories on offer is pretty high.
The tales you collect fit into one of four basic descriptors: hopeful, tragic, funny, or adventurous. These categories become important as you work your way through the game's main objective--uncovering the life stories of various fellow wanderers. Campfires around the map house other travelers who will exchange their own life stories for some of your collected tales. The characters cover a spectrum of gender, race, sexuality, and your goal is to visit each person as they move between campfires, telling them stories they like, and eventually encounter their "true" selves, having learned everything you can about them. The real reward isn't so much the folktales themselves as the artwork of these final encounters--seeing each figure twist into an artistic representation of their own character's struggles or values is a highlight.
Once you've spread your tales among these campfires, they start to mutate, and you'll begin to encounter retellings of your tales that add or change details as you travel. Telling someone who asks for a scary tale about a demon you met might end in you being chastised for telling a "cheerful" story, while a seemingly hopeful tale about a journalist who always sees the bright side is classified as funny, but as these stories evolve, they become more cheerful and funny, respectively. These versions will have a more significant impact on your future campfire visits and will make it easier to appease wanderers and unlock the next chapter in their story. It can also cause the tale's classification--which you have to decipher--clearer, which is helpful, because it's frequently hard to tell and remember.
After a few hours you get into a good rhythm of uncovering and sharing stories, and the way the game works eventually becomes clear (it's light on instruction). But there's a problem here--you soon realize that wandering the map, listening to stories, and slowly heading towards the next destination is really all there is to do, and with no satisfying overarching narrative to keep you going, the excitement of the process quickly begins to diminish. The game opens by spreading North America out in front of you to explore, and suddenly starts to look incredibly narrow as it becomes clear that you're going to spend the rest of the game just clicking through other people's stories and slowly trudging between campfires.
It doesn't help that getting around the map can be an extremely time-consuming process. Your avatar walks slowly--you can speed up by whistling a song, but this involves a "press direction keys in order" mini-game that ultimately feels like busywork. You can hitchhike, but roads only go one way, and the controls for hitching a ride are inconsistent--sometimes I could hail down a car, while other times my avatar refused to stick its thumb out. Rivers will slow you down, and using trains requires either money or hopping on one without paying. Doing the latter usually ends with you getting injured and dying, and although death isn't a big deal here, it will reset you to the last town you visited, which usually undoes the train ride's progress.
Once you've heard half the game's stories, you start to see where each tale is going from the first paragraph, and it's much easier to find and identify sad or scary stories than hopeful or adventurous ones. When you've had a few dozen tales retold and figure out which classification they fit into, you don't really need to worry about gathering more, either. You can rely on the same handful of tales, both because they're the easiest to remember the details of and because the game doesn't really incentivize diversifying your repertoire, especially since the stores you accumulate at campfires act as wildcards during future encounters. If you're asked for a tragic story, for instance, selecting any of the tales told by someone you encountered at another campfire will make you tell that story while "focusing on the tragic parts." I cleared almost every final encounter by just telling stories from other wanderers, and you don't get to experience this retelling--you just select the option from the menu and get a brief reaction in response.
Over time, even the best parts of the game start to grate. Ryan Ike's soundtrack, which mixes elements of jazz, bluegrass, and folk music, is excellent, and a great companion for the first few hours. But when you're engaged in yet another long trek across the plains, it's hard to resist switching over to your own music. By the end, I was rushing through the stories of the remaining campfires because I just wanted to see what happened when I'd collected them all, and I was skipping over new stories because it had become difficult to keep caring about them.
I spent 12 hours working my way around the America of Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, but after the first six hours I felt like I had gotten everything I wanted out of the game. Most of the rest of the time was spent checking the map to figure out where the next campfire was, holding W to move forward, and then clicking through dialog (all of it brilliantly voice-acted, but patience only stretches so far) until I was able to appease the Wolf.
If the basic premise of gathering folk stories across a version of 1930s America strongly appeals to you, then Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is worth a look, but it's probably not worth finishing. Perhaps one day I'll feel the urge to jump back in and encounter a few more tales, but Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, for all its interesting ideas and unique elements, outstays its welcome.
H1Z1 has been in early access on Steam since 2015, but the game officially releases with version 1.0 today, February 28. Originally, H1Z1 was a survival game with a separate battle royale mode, but was eventually split the two games in 2016 between Just Survive (survival) and King of the Kill (battle royale). However, battle royale spawned a huge following and the mode was rebranded as just H1Z1, which is now out of early access.
One of the more notable features is the all-new Auto Royale mode; a twist on traditional battle royale that sticks a team of four players into a vehicle against up to 29 other teams (limit of 120 players total). Players cannot leave the vehicle and must take down enemy teams by shooting out of the car while one person drives. The result is a hectic car combat game in the normal H1Z1 map, but with power-ups, weapon pick-ups, and high-flying ramps scattered across the map. Think of it as Twisted Metal meets team-based battle royale.
Teams choose between an armored vehicle (ARV) or a more nimble sedan at the start, and then drive across the map to find color-coded pick ups for fuel, land mines, smoke screens, oil slicks, and weapons (like the brand new light machine gun) that spice up the fight. Just like battle royale, this mode features an ever-shrinking circle that forces players into smaller zones. Developer Daybreak Games stated that it tweaked the map so a few more objects and structures are easier to drive through which helps prevent vehicles from getting stuck. In addition, ramps provide a way to jump between buildings and land atop structures for even more power-ups.
Although Auto Royale is a separate queue in H1Z1, the car combat mode is currently in beta and will be tweaked based on community feedback, according to Daybreak. With the standard battle royale game officially released, however, comes a slew of gameplay tweaks and quality-of-life improvements. One new feature in the base game is tactical deployment, which lets players choose where to parachute in at the start in addition to providing a heat map that gives players an idea of where others chose to spawn. Airdrops have also increased in frequency and will contain more valuable loot. There's a new in-game scoring algorithm to reward aggressive play-styles, not just top 10 match placements, which wraps into the start of the first in-game competitive season for H1Z1.
Join us as we check out the newest hero to come to Overwatch Brigitte the support hero!
No comments:
Post a Comment