Thursday, October 22, 2015

New Games

New Games


Halo 5: Guardians Pre-order Comparison Breakdown

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 02:30 PM PDT

Hardcore Halo fan looking to pick up Halo 5: Guardians on its release day? For those thinking of pre-ordering, there are actually some interesting pre-order perks from several retailers.

Lots of offers abound, but we're slightly favoring the Microsoft Store (until tomorrow anyways). They're offering a $10 bonus Xbox gift card and if you pre-order before Friday, October 23rd at 1PM ET you'll get free release day delivery on 10/27. Otherwise Best Buy's $10 in "My Best Buy Rewards" plus 20% off for GamersClub Unlocked members is very attractive, as is Amazon's $10 off deal with a Prime membership.

Halo 5: Guardians Pre-order Comparison Breakdown screenshot

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There's a $370 PS4 bundle with Uncharted, Guitar Hero Live

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 12:30 PM PDT

We know Black Friday is around the corner, but retailers are trying their darnedest to bundle console offerings to offload inventory. Some are better than others. This PS4 One in particular is decent.

Over at Antonline's eBay outlet, they're selling a PS4 with Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Guitar Hero Live (including the guitar controller) for only $370. That's a savings of $80, provided you want Guitar Hero Live... if not, offload it for $70-$80 to a friend and you'll have yourself a PS4 for under $300.

Now the big money question is this: will you be seeing $300 PS4s this holiday season? Unlike the Xbox One, we don't think this is very likely, and if such deals are available, they will probably be in supremely limited quantity (online or off). Snagging a unit will require a Satanic ritual, sacrificing your neighborhood deals robot.

Meh to that, we say.

There's a $370 PS4 bundle with Uncharted, Guitar Hero Live screenshot

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Adam Jensen is brutal in this Deus Ex trailer

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 12:00 PM PDT

Between the ceiling full of mechanical arms and that man with the golden mask, there's a lot to like in this trailer for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. But as someone who adored Painkiller's stake gun, one of the all-time greats in video game weaponry, my attention is drawn to Adam's projectile blade.

In one of the gameplay clips scattered throughout the video, he fires a blade through a guy's neck, pinning him to some nearby crates. What form do I have to fill out for that upgrade?

Adam Jensen is brutal in this Deus Ex trailer screenshot

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Alienware's Steam Machine specs aren't good enough for this year's big titles

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 11:30 AM PDT

Alienware's Steam Machines are now available for pre-order, and come in tow with a Steam Controller, Steam OS, and a fourth-generation Intel Core processor. Unfortunately, the other specs aren't that great, at least when compared to most recommended specifications for the latest games.

These Steam Machines come in three preconfigured flavors: Intel Core i3 with 4GB of RAM for $449.99; Intel Core i5 with 8GB of RAM for $649.99; and Intel Core i7 with 8GB of Ram for $749.99. 

The highly anticipated Fallout 4's recommended PC specs are pretty doable by modern-day standards, only requiring a decent processor and 8GB of RAM, but Alienware's specs fall short of the graphical requirements, having only 2GB of GDDR5 video RAM.

When comparing the Alienware Steam Machines to the upcoming hardware hog Star Wars Battlefront, things look a bit more dire: Battlefront's recommended PC specs ask for 16GB of RAM and 4GB of GDDR5, both well above the maximum specs offered by Alienware.

Alienware's Steam Machine specs aren't good enough for this year's big titles screenshot

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Is this new Super Mario Bros. world record a perfect run?

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 11:00 AM PDT

A new Super Mario Bros. speedrun world record has been set (as seen above) and it looks damned near perfect. It's mostly a vanilla run, meaning the player doesn't use many glitches aside from one allowing access to the second warp pipes in a strange way.

This speedrun, while impressive, looks not even close to as cool as some of the Super Mario Maker levels.

One time, I had a time trial world record on the long-forgotten and Sega-published racing game Full Auto, so I'm kind of a big deal like this guy too...right?

Is this new Super Mario Bros. world record a perfect run? screenshot

All the Fallout games on sale on Steam again this weekend

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 10:30 AM PDT

After Fallout 4 was announced, Steam discounted the preceding entries in the Fallout series. Steam has now done this again, ahead of Fallout 4's November 10 release date, just in case you did not buy any of them last time. The series is discounted as steeply as 66% throughout the weekend, with its own discount page right here.

  • Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition – 50% off at $9.99
  • Fallout 3 – 66% at $3.39
  • Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition – 50% off at $9.99
  • Fallout: New Vegas – 66% at $3.39
  • Fallout Classic Collection – 50% at $9.99
  • Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel – 66% at $3.39
  • Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game – 66% at $3.39
  • Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game – 66% at $3.39

All the Fallout games on sale on Steam again this weekend screenshot

More footage uncovered from the cancelled Star Wars: Battlefront III

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 10:00 AM PDT

Remember a couple of years ago when footage was leaked of pre-alpha gameplay for the now-cancelled Star Wars: Battlefront III? Well more footage from Free Radical's third entry in the series has been leaked from a supposedly more finished build, which can be seen above. 

The audio in the video has been mostly muted due to copyright reasons, but you can still get a glimpse at Luke Skywalker and some awesome space battles (which are missing from EA's Battlefront). It hurts to see what could have been, especially when I don't think the new game is all that great.

More footage uncovered from the cancelled Star Wars: Battlefront III screenshot

Where to buy Fallout 4 the cheapest, with the best extras

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 09:30 AM PDT

Today we learned that Best Buy is selling Fallout 4 with a pair of socks, but what if you already have socks, and it's really a pair of underwear you need, or a cravat? Perhaps you've already pre-ordered Fallout 4, maybe even secured the Pip-Boy edition. Otherwise, here are your (pre-order) options.

Where to buy Fallout 4 the cheapest, with the best extras screenshot

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I have a new favorite 3DS cover plate

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 09:00 AM PDT

If I owned a New 3DS, I'd be all over this Super Mario Maker cover plate.

Lotta Splatoon and Animal Crossing love packed in, which makes me wonder what the process was for selecting characters. They made room for Tingle and the Duck Hunt duo, at least, so I'm happy.

The plates will be available next month in Japan as a standalone release and also bundled with a black New 3DS. Nintendo has four other similar bundles coming up, including one for Hello Kitty.

North America is far behind Japan when it comes to cover plates -- we only just got the system that uses them late last month! -- but importing is always an option.

Mario Maker [Nintendo via Tiny Cartridge]

I have a new favorite 3DS cover plate screenshot

Indie wave, big third parties confirmed for PlayStation Experience

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 08:30 AM PDT

Sony is hosting its own convention again this year. PlayStation Experience, moved from its inaugural Las Vegas home to the much more extravagant San Francisco (hooray, I don't have to go anywhere!), it takes place December 5 and 6. It's also being bundled with the Capcom Cup Street Fighter tourney, likely in part to Sony and Capcom's console-exclusivity with Street Fighter V.

Apparently Early Bird tickets and Capcom Cup VIP tickets have already sold out, so you may just have to loiter outside the building. I'll come out and bring you snacks once in a while.

Sony has detailed "some" of the games that will be playable at PlayStation Experience and, while fun-filled, it reads like your run of the mill PAX or any convention -- not really a "PlayStation experience." Likely Sony will have some announcements at its big show this year, Paris Games Week, that could see time at PlayStation Experience, too.

Of course there will be a big third-party presence, not yet detailed, but here are some of the companies with dedicated space:

Indie wave, big third parties confirmed for PlayStation Experience screenshot

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The Legend of Zelda Maker is a real (unofficial) thing

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 08:00 AM PDT

People have been hoping that the success of Super Mario Maker leads to more "Maker" titles for other Nintendo franchises. Well good news for Zelda fans: your wait is over, sort of. A fan-created The Legend of Zelda Maker as shown in the video above is now available for free.

Now, I know what you're thinking about Nintendo sending the creator a cease-and-desist letter. Fear not, they are prepared for that:

"Nintendo will cease and desist a project like this, so in time, when I've got the ability to change the sprites, I will do so, and I will also add things that Zelda games don't have to make it a somewhat unique experience. Regardless, I won't be acting like this isn't going to be a Zelda (Maker?) clone, through and through. I'd just like to add some things that I think official Zelda games could use. This is a very early build of the game, and it does not represent what the final game will look like."

The Legend of Zelda Maker is a real (unofficial) thing screenshot

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Planet Coaster looks like my kind of theme park sim

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 07:30 AM PDT

I'm not sure where I was on June 16, but I wasn't here reading Darren's post about Planet Coaster. In fact, I'm only now learning about the game. It looks like a treat for management sim fans.

While Atari is putting out a new RollerCoaster Tycoon this year, Planet Coaster seems to be the one to watch. Not just because it's being made by Frontier Developments, the studio behind RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 (and more recently Elite: Dangerous), but because it looks charming.

In this video, we're told about the team's approach to designing crowds. Park attendees have individual personalities. They're expressive. They don't clip through one another. And oh my goodness, I can't wait to stick them on a "malfunctioning" ride and deny all wrongdoing.

Planet Coaster looks like my kind of theme park sim screenshot

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Yo-Kai Watch is nearly here, see what it's all about

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 07:00 AM PDT

Thousands of people all across the western world have seen the cute pictures of Yo-Kai Watch's characters, heard that there's an anime, and most likely know that it's the work of Level-5. But a lot of people I've talked to strangely don't know what Yo-Kai Watch is when it comes to actual gameplay.

This overview video of the western version will help explain the gist. Think traditional RPG combat with some overworld exploration, and mix in some first-person bits and you're there.

Yo-Kai Watch is nearly here, see what it's all about screenshot

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A few gory minutes from Doom's multiplayer

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 06:30 AM PDT

Did he... did he just punch another player's head off?

Ahead of Doom's spring 2016 launch on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, here's some multiplayer footage captured from the closed alpha scheduled to go public this weekend. As far as content goes, the alpha build is limited, but this video gives a general idea of how combat will flow.

The player-controlled Revenant is shown right near the end of the clip. (Until someone bashes his face in, too.) I have a real soft spot for multiplayer games that pit monsters against humans.

A few gory minutes from Doom's multiplayer screenshot

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Street Fighter V's second beta isn't going swimmingly

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 06:00 AM PDT

Meet the new Street Fighter V beta, same as the old Street Fighter V beta. Again, like the first beta held in July, this one is also running into some snags. And, those aren't likely to be fixed.

Capcom detailed the situation in an employee blog. According to the developer, several new problems came about recently which affected the rate at which matches are made. It's said that matchmaking is very slow right now. As Capcom put it, the beta "[isn't] operat[ing] exactly as we intended."

Things probably won't get better either. Capcom says that "[it's] not confident that the matchmaking rate will improve significantly throughout the course of the beta period. That said, user experience will vary." Regardless, the servers will be kept on for the previously-announced time frame.

As was outlined earlier this week, the second Street Fighter V beta was designed largely to test cross-play between PS4 and PC. It's unknown how that will be impacted by these issues. PC players can pre-load the beta on Steam now, and it will go live tomorrow evening.

Anyone frustrated by Street Fighter V's beta performance has likely forgotten that the video game industry has reappropriated the phrase and added a marketing twist over the past several years. Those betas are for largely finished products, close to release, and designed to drive pre-orders. Capcom is using this process to actually work on its game -- you know, exactly what betas are designed for.

SFV Beta 2 Information Update [Capcom]

Street Fighter V's second beta isn't going swimmingly screenshot

Konami touts new Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain DLC, gives us no details

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 05:45 AM PDT

[Update: Yep, it was the DLC that already was announced. Apparently Microsoft pulled the trigger early on the add-ons.]

Konami just sent over the weirdest press release, presumably to get more people to spend money on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain before the Big Boss pachinko machines roll out. Here it is:

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announces that a new update for METAL GEAR SOLID V: The Phantom Pain is now available across all platforms – PlayStation®4, PlayStation®3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC. The new update includes seven DLC costumes and the Costume & Tack Pack bundle.

So yeah, if that Mother Base "insurance" DLC wasn't enough, you can now spend more money on costumes for an undisclosed amount of cash. After we're done doing Konami's job for it we'll post more information, I assume they're the costumes they already announced.

Konami touts new Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain DLC, gives us no details screenshot

Final Fantasy XV director sheds some light on Noctis and crew's dark outfits

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 05:30 AM PDT

Apparently, fans have been wondering why Noctis and the rest of his Final Fantasy XV crew are all dressed in black. They've taken to the official forums to voice their questions, and the game's director, Hajime Tabata, stepped in to address the issue.

According to him, the clothing is "official battle gear" of the Kingdom of Lucis. He goes on to explain, "Noctis is a member of the royal family and the other three characters are parts of various Lucian national organisations and they are each wearing the specific battle dress relevant to their individual stations. In the Kingdom of Lucis where our heroes reside, the color black has historically been treated as a special color. Because of this, the attire of the royal family and those in occupations closely tied to them are unified by having black as a base coloring. This part of the lore is the reason why the outfits of all four main characters are black. For the finished game we also intend on having their clothing having effects in battle and not just being a part of the world and its background. So watch out for that too!"

Uh, that was way more detailed than I expected. Tabata seems to really care about XV, and as I've mentioned in the past, I have a lot of hope for it.

Director Tabata [Final Fantasy Forums via Siliconera]

Final Fantasy XV director sheds some light on Noctis and crew's dark outfits screenshot

Free DLC is coming to Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 05:00 AM PDT

If you're itching for more stuff to do in Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden, you might be in luck. As revealed by the newest issue of V-Jump, the game is getting more content in Japan by way of extra online battles. Some of them are bizarre, like the Son Goku Farmer character that can "steamroll enemies with his tractor." The update is billed as free.

It's not yet known if any of this is coming west, but I think there's a strong chance when anything Dragon Ball related is involved.

Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden [ShonenGamez]

Free DLC is coming to Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden screenshot

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Mega Man 3 in Unreal 4 is arguably better looking than Mighty No. 9

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 04:30 AM PDT

One guy who really likes Mega Man 3 (hey, I'm with you buddy) has created a build using Unreal Engine 4, and it actually looks pretty neat. This whole thing was developed by Handré De Jager, who has posted his project on YouTube, showing off the Gemini Man stage.

The concept is still a work in progress and it's up in the air as to whether or not it will become a full fan game -- right now, it's just a side project. I can dig it!

Mega Man 3 in Unreal 4 is arguably better looking than Mighty No. 9 screenshot

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We were on Comedy Central last night for the best reason

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 04:15 AM PDT

Well, this is something that happened. Your favorite robot was on @midnight with Chris Hardwick last night. As our former video wizard Bill Zoeker tweeted "If Destructoid were going to be shown on television, this would be why."

The clip came at the beginning of the second part of the show during a segment called "Vital Peen-formation." Perfect. Here's the link to the full episode if you want some context with your sexy Sonic.

I think it's safe for me to speak for Papa Niero and say that he's never been more proud.

(Shoutout to Handy for his 2013 CBlog that isn't at all incredibly disturbing.)

We were on Comedy Central last night for the best reason screenshot

Nintendo Download: The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 04:00 AM PDT

It's another big week for Nintendo platforms, as a new Fatal Frame game is arriving as a Wii U eShop exclusive. Additionally, you'll find Just Dance 2016, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Ascent of Kings, Color Bombs, Cutie Pets Pick Berries, Just Dance: Disney Party 2, and Slender: The Arrival.

Additionally, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is coming out on 3DS this week. Point blank, if you're going to play alone, I wouldn't recommend picking it up at full price -- it isn't nearly as fun to play solo as Four Swords Anniversary or Adventures. You can also pick up a Yo-Kai Watch demo, as well as Gunslugs 2, Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations, Fairune, Wizdom, Gravity Falls: Legend of Gnome Gemulets, and a demo for Stella Glow.

Nintendo Download: The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes screenshot

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Star Trek Online hands out Back to the Future hoverboards

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 03:45 AM PDT

Are you tired of hearing news about Back to the Future day yet, especially now that it's technically over already? If you are...well, I'm sorry, but hey, this one might even be cool, because it comes from even further into the future - the 25th-century timeline of Star Trek Online, to be exact. 

From yesterday until October 26th, just before the launch of the game's big Season 11 update, players that log into the game can claim a free Back to the Future-style hoverboard, complete with an evocative pink color scheme and royalty-free "Future Flyer" branding. There's even a cute bit of flavor text from the game's Temporal Investigations NPCs explaining just how strange artifacts from the 21st century got themselves into the 25th.

In case you aren't willing to download a fat MMO to get your taste of 2015's top toy, there's a picture of the item,  as well as some hot quantum-teleported lore, below. 

Star Trek Online hands out Back to the Future hoverboards screenshot

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Good god this Metal Gear Solid V cosplay is great

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 03:30 AM PDT

Although I don't post many cosplay updates, I'm a big proponent of the craft. I love going to conventions and seeing people play their favorite characters, as the community seems to really, truly enjoy it. The enthusiasm is infectious.

This cosplay however from photographer eosAndy, takes the cake. It's insanely detailed, all the way from the costumes for Quiet and Venom Snake to the actual, live, adorable dog doubling as DD. I mean, the picture where Snake and DD are running down a path looks like it's from the actual game. Insane.

eosAndy [Facebook]

Good god this Metal Gear Solid V cosplay is great screenshot

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Best Buy's $85 Fallout 4 bundle comes with...socks

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 03:15 AM PDT

Right now, Best Buy has a special edition of its own for Fallout 4, for Xbox One and PS4. It comes with the base game, a Season Pass, and...socks. Yep, socks. Since the game is $60 and the pass is $30 at the moment, this is also a bit of a deal.

I have no idea what to expect from Fallout 4. On one hand, I loved Obsidian's New Vegas, and I like the idea of id Software having a hand in 4. On the other, Fallout 3 was one of the most drab, unexciting games I've ever played, so I'm cautiously optimistic.

Fallout 4 [Best Buy]

Best Buy's $85 Fallout 4 bundle comes with...socks screenshot

Do you consider the Fatal Frame sexy outfit alterations censorship?

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 03:00 AM PDT

The localization of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water made waves recently after it was discovered that some of the game's sexier outfits were removed for the western release. As usual people were shouting, from those who shamed fanservice enthusiasts to those that were calling for a boycott of the game.

Of course, the mindset is a bit more nuanced, and indicative of a larger issue when it comes to censorship of art. We as a nation are getting better about it, and import copies are more readily available by way of digital distribution, but we still have a long way to go.

I think XSEED has the right mindset. Speaking to Operation Rainfall, Vice President Ken Berry noted that their localization team consists of people that are vocally against censorship, and as long as the game doesn't earn them an AO rating, they try to preserve as much of the original experience as possible. He notes that the ESRB isn't going to shut them down, nor is it their job to censor, just rate their content and choices.

Now, XSEED is a smaller company that delivers niche games. Nintendo is a massive operation that is known for its family-friendly image. It's not the same, though Bayonetta as a whole is arguably way more sexual, and was prominently advertised for the Wii U. Unlike Fatal Frame, sexuality was a core theme of Bayonetta and couldn't possibly be censored, but by the same token, Nintendo lent its name and image to it.

Would I personally use the outfit in Maiden of Black Water? No, I actually prefer the new Samus and Zelda costumes. But at the same time, I'm also a big proponent of upholding the original creator's vision. I really want to know what other people think though, if we can refrain from yelling at each other.

Do you consider the Fatal Frame sexy outfit alterations censorship? screenshot

Vivendi just bought even more stake in Ubisoft

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 02:45 AM PDT

Vivendi seemingly has its sights set on Ubisoft, and it doesn't look ready to back down. After an initial investment of $161 million last week, Vivendi just spent approximately another $111 million on Ubisoft stock.

That second stock acquisition bumped Vivendi's stake in the French publisher up from 6.6 percent to 10.39 percent. Along with the Ubisoft purchase, Vivendi again invested in Gameloft, raising its ownership from 6.2 percent to 10.2 percent. The two video game companies are connected in that they were both founded by Michael Guillemot.

The purchase is detailed in a press release published by Vivendi. In it, Vivendi makes it clear that it's possibly looking to own enough of the two companies as to be represented on their boards of directors. That would obviously give it enough input to partially influence decision-making.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently sent around an internal email calling the Vivendi investment "unsolicited and unwelcome." It's unknown if that was in response to the initial or second purchase; Vivendi acquired more stake on October 20, and word of Guillemot's email was published by GamesIndustry International on October 21. However, the actual date of the email wasn't reported.

It's worth noting that Ubisoft isn't earning any additional money on Vivendi's investment. Vivendi's buying up existing stock from shareholders, and Ubisoft hasn't issued any additional stock. It's easy to see why it doesn't sit well with Guillemot that a single entity is buying up large swathes of his company. Vivendi looks aggressive and relentless in its pursuit of Ubisoft. Something tells me we haven't heard the end of this saga.

Vivendi increases its equity interest in Ubisoft and Gameloft [Vivendi]

Vivendi just bought even more stake in Ubisoft screenshot

Volume: Coda is a launch title for Playstation VR

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 02:30 AM PDT

We may not yet know an exact date for the launch of PlayStation VR, but we do now know at least one piece of software that will be playable on the hardware on launch day.

Volume: Coda is a story expansion for Volume, indie developer Mike Bithell's modern, top down, stealth game retelling of the Robin Hood story. The DLC will apparently tell the story of a master puzzle solver called "The Troubleshooter." It contains thirty new missions, and features a new plot that is set after the event of the main game with a different cast.

The DLC will apparently be free for all PS4 Volume owners, and will also add VR support to the main game on PS4. Existing story content, user generated maps, and the new DLC will all feature PlayStation VR support.

Volume: Coda's DLC campaign will also be coming to the currently unreleased Vita port of the game, but obviously without the VR support.

Now to quietly sit and wonder if developer Bithell has played The Beginner's Guide recently. Hmmm, Coda.

Volume: Coda is a launch title for Playstation VR screenshot

Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash has online, amiibo support, and little else

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 02:00 AM PDT

We've been wondering if Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash would be light on new content since E3. I played some more of it yesterday, and there are some things not previously talked about. There is online play, for one, including the ability to play online with two people on the same console (doubles). Always appreciated.

Ultra Smash also support amiibo. Like Smash, you can train a character by playing against them and save that data on one of your Nintendo toys. You can continue to play against this powered up character, or use them as your doubles partner if you're lonely.

Boo, Daisy, and Waluigi were just confirmed a couple days ago, joining Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Wario, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong. Rosalina is playable, too; I wonder if Nintendo would ever consider bumping the stale Peach for this more modern princess. Probably not. Daisy's still kicking around.

One other Wii U specific feature lets opponents play with one person watching the TV, the other watching the gamepad, so you don't have to switch top and bottom orientation.

Otherwise, Ultra Smash is Mario Tennis. It keeps Mario Tennis Open's Chance Shots, directing you to a target where the ball will land and giving you a button prompt. The main addition is the Mega Mushroom the Toads will throw onto the court. I didn't really like either, so I'm pretty thankful there's a chance to turn both off completely for a classic Mario Tennis feel, even if that means Ultra Smash really isn't offering anything new.

Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash has online, amiibo support, and little else screenshot

Angry Birds studio Rovio sheds over 200 jobs

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 01:30 AM PDT

Rovio Entertainment is parting ways with 213 employees, according to the developer.

The announcement follows months of "employee negotiations," which began in late August, when the Finnish mobile game giant revealed plans to cut up to 260 jobs.

"Fundamental changes are needed to ensure Rovio succeeds in its global ambitions to be the leading entertainment company with mobile games at its heart," said CEO Pekka Rantala in August. "This is personally a difficult decision. However, it is certain that a leaner and more agile Rovio is absolutely necessary to move forward and take the company to new successes in the future."

Rovio (which has offices in Espoo, London, Stockholm, Shanghai, and Tokyo) did not specify where job cuts are taking place, but did indicate the downsizing excludes "those working on the production of the The Angry Birds Movie in the United States and Canada."

The restructuring, Rovio says, will allow the company to focus on its three primary businesses: games, media, and consumer products, while it moves away from its educational efforts.

Rovio, attempting to rekindle its early success, launched Angry Birds 2 in August. However, the company has had trouble maintaining dominance in the rapidly-evolving mobile space. Despite its impressive reach, (over 30 million in the first two weeks alone) Angry Birds 2 isn't currently ranked among the top-grossing mobile games on the market today.

This comes on the heels of a similar move from late 2014, when Rovio laid off 110 employees.

Rovio concludes employee negotiations [Rovio]

Angry Birds studio Rovio sheds over 200 jobs screenshot

Review: Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 01:00 AM PDT

At this point in time, I've had a full week to experiment with the Xbox One Elite controller, and I'm still at a crossroads. On one hand, it's likely the best controller of this generation, and one of the best of all time.

On the other, it's $150.

Review: Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller screenshot

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