Tuesday, 28 February 2017

The developers of 80 Days are making an open-world adventure

Inkle, a studio that specialises in narrative adventures, have shown off their next game at GDC.

heavens-vault3

Heaven’s Vault, according to the game’s press kit, involves exploring ‘The Nebula’, which consists of a network of rivers that flows between moons. It’s hard to get much of a grasp of what that all means, exactly, but you’ll be playing as Aliya “El” Elasra, a woman exploring the nebula with her robot assistant.

heavens-vault heavens-vault3 heavens-vault2

You’ll be able to “sail rivers of starlight, translate lost languages, and investigate ancient ruins”, apparently. There will be a large cast of characters to interact with, and like a Telltale game, they’ll remember everything you say. How open the game is remains to be seen, but inkle has a solid track record (although this is their most ambitious project by a pretty significant margin).

More details are available on the inkle blog.

The game is playable at GDC, if you happen to be at the event in San Francisco.


The developers of 80 Days are making an open-world adventure posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Street Fighter 5’s newest fighter, Kolin, is available today

Streeties fans, keep an eye out for a new challenger today.

street_fighter_5_kolin_4

Kolin, who attacks her enemies with blasts of ice and snow, previously appeared in Street Fighter 3, but not as a playable character. This is the first time you’ll be able to fight with her. We know a bit about her from her introduction video, but it’ll be interesting to see how she affects the game’s competitive landscape.

This brings the total number of playable characters for Street Fighter 5 up to 28, if you’re keeping up with the DLC.

Kolin is available as part of the season 2 character pass, which includes her, Akuma, and four other upcoming characters.


Street Fighter 5’s newest fighter, Kolin, is available today posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

http://ift.tt/2k0KdyZ

http://ift.tt/2k0KdyZ


http://ift.tt/2k0KdyZ posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Conan: Exiles will hit the Xbox Preview program later this year

Conan Exiles will be available for Xbox players in the third quarter of the year.

conan_exiles (3)

Conan Exiles, which is selling very well and received a lot of press for its dick ‘n ball physics (NSFW), is still in Early Access on Steam. It’s coming to Xbox through the Game Preview program, so the version at launch won’t be ‘version 1’.

This was announced via Funcom’s financial report, which outlines the game’s success. “The game is expected to reach its 12 month sales goal on PC of 487,000 units within the first 30 days after launch”, the report boasts. “For the first time in modern Funcom history the direct project cost was covered in less than seven days and the game is now profitable and will continue to be so in foreseeable future.”

Going forward, there are plans to release patches “every one or two weeks” until release.

The game is slated for a proper 1.0 release in 2018, on PC, Xbox One and PS4 (which doesn’t currently have any sort of early access system in place).


Conan: Exiles will hit the Xbox Preview program later this year posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Battlefield: Bad Company 2’s Vietnam expansion is currently free on Xbox Live

The one and only expansion for the much-loved Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is currently available for free on Xbox.

battlefield_bad_company_2

Bad Company 2, an Xbox 360/PS3/PC title which is now part of EA Access and is backwards compatible on Xbox One, only ever received the one expansion pack. Now, you can pick it up for free if you’re on Xbox. What’s more, if you’re not a member of EA Access, the full game is currently discounted down to $10.

The game is also discounted on PS3 and PC, but the DLC isn’t free on either.

I’m not sure how active the multiplayer is for the Xbox version of Bad Company 2, but if you’ve got EA Access now would be a great time to try it out. Now, how about Bad Company 3, DICE?


Battlefield: Bad Company 2’s Vietnam expansion is currently free on Xbox Live posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

The Switch pro controller will work with your PC games too

If you’re picking up a Switch pro controller alongside the console this week, it looks like you’ll be able to use it with your PC games as well.

YouTube user Drewoof has gotten his hands on the controller early, and shows how the controller works through a Bluetooth connection. He’s also released another video in which he briefly explains how to connect the controller.

Drewoof shows it working with the Dolphin emulator (used for GameCube and Wii games), but it should also work for any game with gamepad support, he says. “It works with Steam Big Picture as well”, Drewoof clarifies.

This wasn’t something we necessarily expected from a Nintendo branded controller, so it’s good news – especially since most reports suggest that the controller is top-notch. The Switch, and the pro controller, launch on March 3.


The Switch pro controller will work with your PC games too posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

GDC 2017 - Gorgeous Open-World Flying Game 'Fugl' is Finally Near Completion (Really!)

We've been following the development of open-world flying game Fugl for several years now, and this year at GDC we once again checked out the latest version. The twist this time is that the game is actually, finally, for realsies this time almost complete. If you're unfamiliar, Fugl has you playing as a bird with free reign to fly and explore a gigantic procedurally-generated world. It uses a voxel art style and a gorgeous color palette, making it the type of game that's just a joy to kick back and take in. We took the latest version of Fugl for a spin at GDC and here's what we saw.

I've always loved the look of Fugl since the first time I ever saw it, but somehow this year it looked better than ever. The colors really pop and the frame rate is incredibly silky smooth. There's also tons of neat little hidden extras, like the ability to befriend some of the creatures roaming around the land. I really can't wait to get my hands on the final version which should finally be arriving for mobile this coming June.


GDC 2017 - Gorgeous Open-World Flying Game 'Fugl' is Finally Near Completion (Really!) posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Overwatch competitive season 4 has begun: check out how the rankings system has changed

The fourth season of competitive Overwatch begins today, and it looks like hitting the top or bottom of the rankings is going to be more difficult this time around.

overwatch_symmetra

The changes have been outlined on Overwatch’s website, and while they’re not quite as dramatic as past changes they’re still worth noting.

Back in season 2, players who were in the Diamond, Master, or Grandmaster tiers needed to play at least one game per seven days to maintain their status. This has now been changed so that if your ranking is over 3000, toy need to play at least seven games a week. This means that you can play seven games all in one day and then take six off if need be, but that more games must be played to maintain a high ranking.

“When you complete a match, the amount of time until skill rating decay occurs is pushed back by 24 hours”, the post reads, “and you can bank up to seven days per week. That means as long as you manage to play seven games over a one-week period, your skill rating will be safe. You could play one match per day or complete all seven in a single session.”

Skill rankings below 500 will no longer be shown, because Blizzard doesn’t want to incentivize people intentionally getting their scores down to 0. Meanwhile, to get the rewards for a top 500 placement, you now need to maintain that placement by the end of the season. Before, anyone who was within that leaderboard at some point during the season would net the special sprays and icons reserved for the very best players.

Some changes to respawn times are also being made. “This season, we’ve implemented a respawn time delay that’s activated when the attackers outnumber the defenders on a contested point”, the post reads. “If the point hasn’t been captured and the defense hasn’t regained the advantage after a specified time, the defender respawn timer will slowly begin to increase until it hits a maximum value. If the defense manages to gain the upper hand, the timer resets to zero.”

This has been done to help make matches more dynamic, as it will be easier for attackers to regain control of objectives.

In any case, best of luck to everyone in their placement matches.


Overwatch competitive season 4 has begun: check out how the rankings system has changed posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Gmod Guess Who Funny Moments - Cursed Casino Mirror (Garry's Mod)


Gmod Guess Who Funny Moments - Cursed Casino Mirror (Garry's Mod) posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

GDC 2017 - 'Dragon Up: Match 2 Hatch!' is a Match-2 Game Featuring Adorable Vomiting Dragons

Some of you may be familiar with Eastside Games from their release Dragon Up [Free] several years ago, a game that gained quite a bit of popularity for its vomiting dragons. It's the little things in life, isn't it? Anyway, they're working on a follow-up that's not exactly a sequel but does feature the same adorable vomiting dragons from Dragon Up. It's called Dragon Up: Match 2 Hatch, and it combines strategic match-2 gameplay (yes, match TWO, not three) with unlocking and adopting those cute dragons. Check out a demo of Dragon Up: Match 2 Hatch we were given at GDC earlier today.

It's pretty difficult to get excited about a matching game in this day and age, but I found the matching gameplay in Match 2 Hatch pretty interesting and strategic. There will be a TON of levels on launch and I'm sure many more to come post-launch, and same goes for the little vomiting dragons that you get to unlock. Dragon Up: Match 2 Hatch is currently in a closed beta but Eastside will be looking to our community to do an open beta in the coming months, so keep an eye out for that.


GDC 2017 - 'Dragon Up: Match 2 Hatch!' is a Match-2 Game Featuring Adorable Vomiting Dragons posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Ark: Survival Evolved adds four new creatures and more TEK tech

The PC version of Ark: Survival Evolved just added some interesting new content in its v255 update.

The new beasts and pieces of technology available to players are outlined in the video above, but the press release sent out gives us a bit more information.

The new TEK equipment includes new building structures, a “TEK Forcefield” which “can be dynamically expanded or contracted”, and some autodoors that can be customised as you see fit.

The main attractions are the new creatures though, which look set to kill players in new, interesting ways. They are as follows:

Electrophorus Beluadomito – A species of Knifefish, Electrophorus uses an electrical charge to zap its prey, bringing down smaller fish and eels. Tribes have been known to capture and tame schools of Electrophorus in order to use them for taking down larger aquatic animals.

Microraptor Gnarilongus – Resembling a bird with a reptilian face, Microraptor is a vicious predator that is instantly aggressive to anything its size or smaller (including humans). Able to jump, run and do short glides, Microraptor is incredibly dangerous alone or in packs, and when trained, they can even take riders right out of their saddles during combat.

Ammonitina Multiamicus – One of the more unique creatures of the sea, the Ammonite resembles a nautilus, but much bigger. For unknown reasons, an attack on an Ammonite brings forth the wrath of all neighboring sea creatures, who will fervently defend it. This makes it a challenge to kill one, though the rewards are often worth it – the shell itself is valuable (as it is rare) and the bile can be used to concoct a unique new pheromone dart.

Thylacoleo Furtimorsus – Also known as the “marsupial lion”, Thylacoleo is a powerful predator native to the island’s redwood forests. A strong bite – the strongest of any land mammal – and bolt cutter-like teeth, make this creature a formidable ambush predator, leaping from above to crush the necks of its prey.

So, they sound pretty deadly. The update is available now.


Ark: Survival Evolved adds four new creatures and more TEK tech posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

http://ift.tt/2mCx9Cn been live for 4-5 hours doing some latenight feral mage druid forgot to post x)

http://ift.tt/2mCx9Cn been live for 4-5 hours doing some latenight feral mage druid forgot to post x)


http://ift.tt/2mCx9Cn been live for 4-5 hours doing some latenight feral mage druid forgot to post x) posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Are we showing up as live for you guys? http://ift.tt/2lwYgRR

Are we showing up as live for you guys? http://ift.tt/2lwYgRR


Are we showing up as live for you guys? http://ift.tt/2lwYgRR posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Inkle Announces Their Latest Game: 'Heaven's Vault'

Inkle has revealed the first details of its newest game, Heaven's Vault. Essentially its third major title after 80 Days [$4.99] and the four-part Sorcery series of games, this is Inkle expanding a bit on their narrative game expertise. You'll help guide Aliya "El" Elsara and her robot assistant Six as they journey through the Nebula. This is a network of rivers that flow from one moon to the next, and somewhere in these ruins, there's a shocking truth to be discovered.

Part of Heaven's Vault will involve learning and translating the language of the Ancients of the Nebula. But of course, you'll have some options on how to play, whether you care to act as a virtuous detective, or perhaps a mischievous rogue, or something else entirely. Inkle is one of the dominant forces in narrative games and interactive fiction, and Heaven's Vault sounds like another immensely intriguing title from the studio. It's in the works for mobile, desktop, and console.


Inkle Announces Their Latest Game: 'Heaven's Vault' posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

The Nintendo Switch Nindies Showcase reveals 17 new games coming to Switch

Judging by this showcase, the Nintendo Switch will be boasting some serious indie credentials by the end of 2017.

17 games are shown and discussed during this video, most of them having not previously been confirmed for Switch:

  • SteamWorld Dig 2
  • Yooka-Laylee
  • Overcooked: Special Edition
  • The Escapists 2
  • Gonner
  • Dandara
  • Kingdom: Two Crowns
  • Runner 3
  • Blaster Master Zero
  • Flipping Death
  • Graceful Explosion Machine
  • Mr. Shifty
  • TumbleSeed
  • Shakedown Hawaii
  • Pocket Rumble
  • WarGroove
  • Stardew Valley (now with multiplayer)

Many of these games will launch first on Switch, feature console-exclusive multiplayer options (although Stardew Valley’s multiplayer will probably eventually make it to other consoles), or will support the HD rumble features of the Joy Con.

The full video gets into detail about what these games will entail. It’s a strong line-up.

The Nintendo Switch launches this week on March 3.


The Nintendo Switch Nindies Showcase reveals 17 new games coming to Switch posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

We're Streaming iOS Games Live on Mobcrush [Demon's Rise]

mobcrush-logo-r225xWe're streaming live on Mobcrush right now. There's a couple different ways you can watch the stream, and they all work equally well and it's really just a matter of personal preference as to which method you prefer. The easiest way to watch is just watching the embedded player right here on TouchArcade. In the interest of being polite, we mute the audio. If you're somewhere you can listen, be sure to turn it back up- the controls for that are in the lower right corner of the video stream. Alternatively, if you're on a mobile device, download the free Mobcrush app for iOS [Free], also available on Google Play. From there, search for TouchArcade. If you follow us, you'll get alerts when we're streaming. Last, but not least, you can visit our channel directly in your browser at http://ift.tt/1MbWTeU. Oh, and if you want to participate in chat, you'll need to register over on Mobcrush first.

If you missed the stream, we upload archive videos to our YouTube channel, so just head over there to see previous streams and our other random video content. Additionally, if you would like to stream on Mobcrush, it's actually supremely easy and doesn't require any kind of extra hardware and the software to do it is a quick (and free) download. Check out the Mobcrush FAQ for more information.

 


We're Streaming iOS Games Live on Mobcrush [Demon's Rise] posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

The Humble ARMA Bundle is a cheap military trilogy

If you’ve been thinking about jumping into ARMA, this deal is for you.

arma_3_marksman

The Humble ARMA Bundle offers all three games in the series, and although the first game in particular is a bit dated by now, this is a cheap way to pick up 2 and 3.

Pay $1 or more to unlock:

  • ARMA: Gold Edition
  • ARMA: Cold War Assault
  • ARMA: Tactics

Beat the average (currently $12.64) to get:

  • ARMA 2
  • ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead
  • ARMA 2: British Armed Forces
  • ARMA 2: Private Military Company
  • ARMA 2: Army of the Czech Republic

Or pay $15 to also nab:

  • ARMA 3
  • ARMA 3 Karts

This is a fine deal – not the most stupendous Humble Bundle of all time, but a great buy for anyone curious about ARMA.


The Humble ARMA Bundle is a cheap military trilogy posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Pokemon Go has three more “major” updates planned for this year

The enduring Pokemon Go will see three new major updates this year, making for four in total after the recent Johto update.

pokemon_go_feb_update_trailer_grab_2

During the Mobile World Conference, Niantic CEO John Hanke dropped some information about future Pokemon Go updates, which Reddit page The Silph Road picked up on and reported.

While referring to the recent release of generation 2 Pokemon in Pokemon Go as the game’s “first major update”, Hanke stated that there were three other major updates planned for the game this year. His wording, as the Reddit thread points out, implies that updates before this latest one were “minor” updates, and the three he’s alluding to are likely to include major additions or changes to the game.

Speculation seems to indicate that PVP may be one of the features added. With Pokemon Go spiking in popularity again, this seems like a distinct possibility.

If you want to build up your collection just in case this happens, be sure to check out our exhaustive Pokemon Go guide.

Whether or not we’ll see more Pokemon added this year remains to be seen.


Pokemon Go has three more “major” updates planned for this year posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

@Northern_GG @themagician it was perfect!

it was perfect!


@Northern_GG @themagician it was perfect! posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Nier Automata on PS4 Pro has superior image quality and a slightly more consistent frame rate

It looks like Platinum Games has made great use of the PS4 Pro’s power to wrangle a stronger performance out of Nier Automata.

This video from Digital Foundry showcases the advantages of the PS4 Pro version of Nier Automata. It runs at a higher resolution,features superior anti-aliasing and more visual effects, and – most importantly – manages to maintain a consistent 60FPS during busy action sequences.

As is often the case, though, there are a handful of sections where the base PS4, for whatever reason, handles things a little better: as they show in the video, the PS4 Pro has a few hard dips throughout.

The game is also getting a PC release, which is likely to be the most stable of all (if you have the rig for it).

Digital Foundry concludes that Nier Automata is “a brilliant game with an impeccable sense of style”, so none of these issues ultimately matter too much.

Nier Automata releases on March 10.


Nier Automata on PS4 Pro has superior image quality and a slightly more consistent frame rate posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Check out PeeBee’s loyalty mission in Mass Effect Andromeda

The loyalty mission for Mass Effect Andromeda‘s fresh-faced Asari has you stranded and investigating a Remnant signal.

The video, uploaded by IGN, has been edited to avoid spoilers.

It’s 18 minutes long, and shows a significant portion of the mission (albeit not the full thing), so if you’re sensitive about going in as fresh as possible you might want to give it a miss.

The mission is quite banter-heavy, with a lot of discussion between party members. The comments below the video are largely negative at the time of writing, but it’s worth noting that this is only a tiny slice of the game – our own Alex Donaldson had plenty of good things to say about the game after a hands-on session.

After a long wait, Mass Effect Andromeda is due for release on March 21 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.


Check out PeeBee’s loyalty mission in Mass Effect Andromeda posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

SteamWorld Dig 2 debuts on Nintendo Switch this year

The latest game in the SteamWorld series follows the tradition of timed Nintendo exclusivity this year.

Image and Form has revealed SteamWorld Dig 2.

It looks a lot like the first game, which is not a bad thing. The press release offers a very brief plot synopsis: “In search of her lost friend, a lone steambot and her unlikely companion must dig deep, gain riches and explore an underworld riddled with danger. But time is running short…”

The original SteamWorld Dig, as well as its turn-based strategy spin-off SteamWorld Heist, debuted first on the 3DS before making their way to just about every other console, as well as PCs. We’d assume that SteamWorld Dig 2 will follow a similar path.

The game is targeting a summer 2017 release on Switch initially, although the YouTube description under the trailer suggests that it will come to all consoles before 2017 is over.

SteamWorld-Dig-2-Screenshot-1 SteamWorld-Dig-2-Screenshot-2 SteamWorld-Dig-2-Screenshot-3 SteamWorld-Dig-2-Screenshot-4 SteamWorld-Dig-2-Screenshot-5 SteamWorld-Dig-2-Screenshot-6 SteamWorld-Dig-2-Screenshot-7 SteamWorld-Dig-2-Screenshot-8

The game is playable at GDC, and will make an appearance at PAX East as well.


SteamWorld Dig 2 debuts on Nintendo Switch this year posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

We’re taking a robot infested journey through Horizon: Zero Dawn – tune into the stream here

We’re firing up the PlayStation 4 and popping in Horizon: Zero Dawn. Come watch as we traverse a gorgeous land filled with friend, foe, and robot beasts.

Watch live video from vg247 on www.twitch.tv

In today’s livestream, Shabana will be trying out Horizon: Zero Dawn for the first time, and she seems rather excited about it.

She’ll playing from the start, so hopefully she won’t get knocked off by some massive piece of machinery too far into it.

Horizon: Zero Dawn was released today in North America, and it’s out tomorrow in Europe. We’ve already got a few pages in our guide posted, so if you need a bit of help, hit up these links:

Wish Shabana luck and enjoy the stream.


We’re taking a robot infested journey through Horizon: Zero Dawn – tune into the stream here posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Avatar, the highest-grossing film ever, is getting a new game from The Division devs

Massive Entertainment is leading development of a new game set on Pandora, the planet from James Cameron’s Avatar.

avatar

The game is the result of a partnership between Ubisoft, film production company Lightstorm Entertainment, and Fox Interactive.

The 2009 film earned an incredible $2,787,965,087 at the global box office, but while four sequels are being planned, Avatar has faded somewhat from the public consciousness. This game is, presumably, being created to stir up interest in the franchise going forward. The game will be built using the Snowdrop engine, the same engine used for The Division, which will also be used for “a number of other unannounced Ubisoft projects” according to the press release.

No real details about the game were released, except that it’ll be coming to PC and consoles. With Avatar 2 aiming for a late 2018 release and Avatar 3 targeting 2020, it’s likely that we’ll be waiting a while on the accompanying game.


Avatar, the highest-grossing film ever, is getting a new game from The Division devs posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Grab Nintendo Switch on launch day come midnight at Walmart Supercenters

Nintendo Switch launches this Friday, and if you live close to Walmart in North America, you can pick one up bright and early.

nintendo_switch_2

Starting at 12:01am local time on Friday, March 3, Nintendo Switch will be available at 24-hour Walmart Supercenters across the country.

The store will be carrying the system in blue, gray and red, and it will run you $299.

If you’re local store isn’t open for 24 hours, just give Walmart a call to find out when the units will be available for sale.

The new console from Nintendo will be sold in-store while supplies last, so if you want one on launch day, you should probably stay up late and get to the store before midnight rolls around.

We’ll have plenty more on Nintendo Switch for you come launch day. And The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild too, as it releases alongside the console and Wii U March 3.


Grab Nintendo Switch on launch day come midnight at Walmart Supercenters posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Pokemon Sun and Moon’s fourth global mission has both begun and been completed

Pokemon Sun and Moon players have had a patchy record with the game’s global missions, but this fourth one has proven to be a pushover.

pokemon_sun-moon-pscree_21

The very first global mission last year tasked players with capturing or defeating a collective 100 million monsters, but players did not even come close. The general thought process was that not enough players had signed up for the mission, and promises were made to tweak the goals of these missions.

The second mission, which lowered the number to one million monsters but also required use of the Island Scan feature, also failed. Players taking part in these global missions still received an award, but it was nowhere near as large as the award for completion. Things finally came together for the third global mission, as players were effectively able to make a million trades and collect 4000 festival coins (even players not competing were given 2000).

Less than 12 hours ago, the fourth mission went live, asking players to reach 250,000 Battle Points in the Battle Tree. As of now, Serebii.net is reporting, the objective has already been completed, making this by far the easiest global mission.

The mission will run until March 13 if you want to get in on it. Entering alone earns you 5 rare candies, and if the collective player base manages to double this and hit 500,000 Battle Points (which seems likely), everyone will receive a Heavy Ball (perfect for capturing heavy Pokemon) as well.

It seems like balancing these events for Pokemon’s audience is hard work. Pokemon Sun & Moon are available now on 3DS.


Pokemon Sun and Moon’s fourth global mission has both begun and been completed posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Battlefield 1 – play a free trial this weekend on PC and Xbox One

If you’ve yet to enlist for WWI shooter Battlefield 1, you play a free trial this coming up this weekend.

battlefield_1_shotgun_guy_1

DICE announced the news on the Battlefield Blog, stating that PC and Xbox One players can try Battlefield 1 next weekend.

It’s the full game on Xbox One – not just a sampling. So feel free to play multiplayer, single-player or both to your heart’s content.

To play the trial on Xbox One, you will need to be an Xbox Live Gold subscriber, as it’s part of Xbox Live Gold’s Free Play Days. You will be able to play it starting Friday, March 3 at 9am PT/12pm ET/5pm UK until Sunday, March 5 at 11:59pm PT/2.59am ET (March 6) 7.59am UK (March 6).

All Gamerscore and Achievements earned during this event along with your saves and game data will carry forward into the full game if purchased.

PC users can try Battlefield 1 through an Origin Open Trial period March 3-6. It kicks off Friday at 5am PT/8am ET/1pm UK and runs through Monday, March 6 at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm UK.

You’ll get 10 hours of play time with four multiplayer modes on five maps. You can also play the first two War Stories of the game’s single player.

And don’t forget, if you like the game, it’s on sale through Origin and the PlayStation and Xbox Stores via EA’s Publisher sale.

You can hit up the link to the Battlefield Blog above for more information.


Battlefield 1 – play a free trial this weekend on PC and Xbox One posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

THE MARCH GIVEAWAY IS LIVE! http://ift.tt/2lTxlND !!!! Time to win a WICKED PC! @NickPolom @Sodapoppintv #NGHYPE #http://NGFampic.twitter.com/nSfZmCUSTz

THE MARCH GIVEAWAY IS LIVE! http://ift.tt/2lTxlND !!!! Time to win a WICKED PC!


THE MARCH GIVEAWAY IS LIVE! http://ift.tt/2lTxlND !!!! Time to win a WICKED PC! @NickPolom @Sodapoppintv #NGHYPE #http://NGFampic.twitter.com/nSfZmCUSTz posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Listening to @themagician 2016 megamix all day and I haven't wiped out (yet). Now with a stella, it's nothing less than perfect!http://pic.twitter.com/Y1P1fmHb39 – At Chair 10: Mammoth Mountain (Gold Rush)

Listening to 2016 megamix all day and I haven't wiped out (yet). Now with a stella, it's nothing less than perfect! – At Chair 10: Mammoth Mountain (Gold Rush)


Listening to @themagician 2016 megamix all day and I haven't wiped out (yet). Now with a stella, it's nothing less than perfect!http://pic.twitter.com/Y1P1fmHb39 – At Chair 10: Mammoth Mountain (Gold Rush) posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

How 'Nindies' Could Keep the Nintendo Switch Content Flowing

One of the interessting lines about the Nintendo Switch is how traditional console games seem to be in short supply. Nintendo's certainly throwing a powerful opening salvo with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but the Mario game doesn't hit until the holiday season, for example. And third-party efforts seem a bit limited. Certainly, this could be a bit worrying for anyone interested in buying the system. But in 2017, we're beyond the age of being shy on content. And Nintendo, with their Nindies Nintendo Direct presentation on February 28th, seem set to ensure that there's a steady stream of content to hit the Switch.

Some cool new titles were announced, including SteamWorld Dig 2, turn-based strategy game WarGroove, and the March 9th release of Blaster Master Zero on the Switch and 3DS. Some ports including TumbleSeed, Enter the Gungeon, and Stardew Valley with multiplayer were also announced.

Now, what's interesting is that there's a whole lot of games in the works. It's at a point where realistically, there could be several new titles for the Switch every single week. And this is before any possible smaller, mobile-scale games hit, if they ever do. The general sense I've gotten from developers releasing on the Wii U is that the platform did rather well for them. It helps if you're the main content supply on a system, too. Switch owners could find themselves not lacking for titles to play. Perhaps not from major third-party sources, but if Nintendo can profit off of the Switch hardware and first-party efforts, while indies help flesh out the system's lineup, these could be rather interesting times for the hybrid system.


How 'Nindies' Could Keep the Nintendo Switch Content Flowing posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Overwatch update with Bastion, Winston, Roadhog changes, CTF, more is live – here’s the patch notes

The Overwatch update which brings and overhaul to Bastion and smaller changes to Winston and Roadhog has gone live. But changes have been made to other heroes and Capture the Flag becoming permanent has also been added. Head below for the patch notes.

Screenshot-3---Bastion

As previously reported, changes were made to Bastion’s Sentry, Tank and Recon configurations and he has a new passive called Ironclad. Today’s Overwatch patch notes on the character haven’t changed since the Bastion’s update hit the PTR, so we’ve not included those to save you from picking through the wall of text. You can look over those through our previous post.

A couple of weeks ago, small changes were made to Roadhog and Winston. The former has his Scrap Gun Spread decreased by 20% and his Chain Hook targets are now pulled to a location 3.5 meters away, up from 2 meters. The cooldown was also increased from six to eight. Meanwhile, Winston has his critical hit volume reduced by 15%.

A change to Competitive Play was also made. After applying the update, skill ratings below 500 will no longer be displayed. Blizzard said it noticed players have been “deliberately throwing their matches” in an effort to reach the lowest attainable skill rating. Because of this, Blizzard made the change, stating it doesn’t want to “incentivize such behavior, because Competitive Play works best when everybody is trying.”

Earlier this month, Blizzard said Capture the Flag (CTF), introduced with the Year of the Rooster event, would become a permanent fixture. With today’s update, it is now available in the Arcade as an ongoing game mode, starting today with Nepal, Lijiang Tower, Ilios, and Oasis. This gives the player 12 maps to try when creating a Custom Game.

Today’s update also includes the Game Browser which allows players to adjust the settings on various maps, modes, and heroes to create a tailor-made match.

Game Browser is an extension of Overwatch’s Custom Game mode, and once the player has created their settings, they just need to set up permissions. They can even limit the number of people who can join the game by toggling “Friends Only” or “Invite Only” options. The server can also be set to “Public” by clicking the launch button.

Below you will find a the rest of the patch notes focusing on Hero updates, map balancing and big fixes. Again, you can find the changes made to Bastion at the top of the post.

overwatch_mercy

 

Hero Updates

Ana

  • New Hero Option: Nano Boost Sensitivity – Allows players to adjust Nano Boost’s targeting sensitivity.

D.Va

  • Defense Matrix – Enemy shots no longer need to travel a minimum distance before they can be blocked.

Developer Comments: Previously, there was a minimum distance a projectile had to travel before it could be destroyed by Defense Matrix. This made it nearly worthless in situations where an enemy was right next to your teammate, such as when Roadhog hooks your ally. This change removes that restriction so Defense Matrix should now reliably destroy projectiles regardless of how far they have traveled.

Mei

  • Cryo-Freeze – Mei can now be targeted by allies while in Cryo-Freeze.

Mercy

  • Resurrect – While performing a resurrection, Mercy now becomes temporarily invulnerable along with the allies being revived.
  • Caduceus Staff – Zenyatta can no longer be targeted when Transcendence is active.
  • New Hero Option: Guardian Angel Sensitivity – Allows players to adjust Guardian Angel’s targeting sensitivity.
  • New Hero Option: Beam Sensitivity – Allows players to adjust targeting sensitivity on Mercy’s Caduceus Staff beams.

Developer Comments: Mercy’s Resurrect has always been very powerful, but it often forces her to sacrifice herself to use it well. There have been changes in the past that attempted to help her in this area, but haven’t done enough to solve it. This change means that once she uses the ability, she will always survive long enough to be with her team again.

Sombra

  • New Hero Option: Hack Sensitivity – Allows players to adjust the targeting sensitivity on Sombra’s Hack ability

Symmetra

  • Sentry Turret – [CONSOLE] Damage per second increased from 21 to 25.5

Developer Comments: Back in July, the damage per second from Symmetra’s turrets was reduced by 30 percent. We’ve been keeping an eye on her over the past few months and decided to restore about 15 percent of that damage. On PC, her damage is still 30.

Torbjorn

  • Rivet Gun – Ammo is now loaded earlier in the reload animation
  • Build Turret – [CONSOLE] Damage increased from 10 to 12

Developer Comments: Like Symmetra, the damage from Torbjörn’s turrets was also reduced by 30 percent in July. After monitoring his effectiveness, we’ve decided to give his turret a small boost, restoring about 15 percent of the damage. By contrast, the damage from Torbjörn’s turret on PC is still 14.

Widowmaker

  • New Hero Option: Grappling Hook Sensitivity – Allows players to adjust Grappling Hook’s targeting sensitivity

Zarya

  • New Hero Option: Projected Barrier Sensitivity – Allows players to adjust Projected Barrier’s targeting sensitivity

Zenyatta

  • New Hero Option: Harmony Orb Sensitivity – Allows players to adjust Harmony Orb’s targeting sensitivity
  • New Hero Option: Discord Orb Sensitivity – Allows players to adjust Discord Orb’s targeting sensitivity

overwatch_eichenwalde (26)

Map Balance Changes

General

Respawn Delay

  • When attackers outnumber defenders while taking a control point on Assault, Escort and Assault/Escort maps, the defenders’ respawn time will slowly increase until it hits a maximum value or the defense manages to gain the upper hand.

Developer Comments: Until now, stalling an attack by repeatedly throwing yourself at the point has been a common defensive strategy on Assault, Escort and Assault/Escort maps—even when the attackers have a decisive advantage. Typically, this tactic doesn’t change the outcome of battle; it simply delays the attackers’ progress.

Eichenwalde

  • A second gate no longer closes after the payload passes through the castle doors. Instead, rubble from the damaged doorway partially blocks the entrance.

Developer Comments: Once the offensive team gets through the castle entrance, the map becomes very heavily stacked in the defense’s favor. This change will give the offense more entrance options, which should improve the map’s overall balance.

Bug Fixes

General

  • Fixed an audio bug that prevented the point capture sound from increasing in pitch as the capture progressed
  • Fixed an issue preventing key bindings on the communication wheel from displaying properly
  • Fixed a bug causing some key bindings to revert to default after the first round of a Control map
  • Fixed a bug that allowed commendation cards to be recalculated and transferred to a new player after the previous recipient left at the end of a round
  • Fixed a bug that caused the “experience gained” audio effects to continue playing, even after the players left the game lobby
  • Environmental damage to barriers no longer counts toward the “Damage Blocked” statistic

A.I. – Fixed a bug that caused Roadhog bot to spin around after hooking a target

Competitive Play

  • Fixed a bug preventing “60 seconds remaining” and “30 seconds remaining” voice lines from playing during the second round of a match
  • Heroes
  • Fixed a bug preventing Lucio’s “Sound Barriers Provided” statistic from being properly calculated
  • Fixed a bug preventing Reinhardt’s Charge from properly pinning targets
  • Fixed a bug preventing Reinhardt’s shield from displaying cracks at low health with the Wujing skin equipped
  • Fixed a bug that allowed Roadhog to turn freely while pulling a hooked target
  • Fixed an issue that allowed Sombra’s Translocator to become stuck in the air
  • Fixed a bug preventing Tracer’s ”Clock’s Tickin’’ spray from matching the thumbnail in the Hero Gallery

Maps

  • Adjusted the collision in the attacker spawn room on Eichenwalde to prevent players from getting stuck in the pipes
  • Torbjorn can now construct turrets on the stairs in Oasis
  • Fixed an issue that caused Highlight Intros to clip into the roof of a building on Lijang Tower

Overwatch update with Bastion, Winston, Roadhog changes, CTF, more is live – here’s the patch notes posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Going live! http://ift.tt/2kTtthJ

Going live! http://ift.tt/2kTtthJ


Going live! http://ift.tt/2kTtthJ posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

'Meganoid' 2017 Reboot Almost Complete, March Release Possible

Orangepixel has been working hard on the 2017 reboot of Meganoid, one of the solo developer's earliest titles. And it's coming along remarkably well! Like, it's almost done. No joke. Orangepixel says the game's about 98% done and on track for a March release. There's 24 different consumable items to use in the game, from detonators to jetpacks. Don't worry, free-to-play haters: "consumable" doesn't mean in-app purchases: this will be a paid game without IAP.

There are various 'hacks' you can unlock which will change up how the game plays. The levels will be procedurally generated, but you'll have four worlds with three bonus areas to try and tackle. Even I thought this was a lot further out than expected, but I'm excited to check it out in March. Until then, the forum thread for the game is gonna be your friend to get more details on this game.


'Meganoid' 2017 Reboot Almost Complete, March Release Possible posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

The blue-skinned one is back: Rogue Trooper Redux announced for PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One

Rebellion is bringing Rogue Trooper back and its getting a lovely makeover for consoles and PC.

A remastered version of the 2006 classic, Rogue Trooper Redux is based on the cult sci-fi strip 2000 AD.

The tactical, cover-based third-person shooter was originally released for PC, PS2 and Xbox and used several story and plot elements from the original comic. It was the second game from Rebellion based on characters from the universe, the first being Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death in 2003.

In Rogue Trooper Redux, players will return to the “chem-blasted battlefields” of Nu Earth as a bio-engineered GI named Rogue. He is immune to the planet’s toxic atmosphere, and carries three fallen comrades as biochips in his equipment.

His goal is to exact revenge by causing death and destruction to the colonial Nort regime.

A release date for Rogue Trooper Redux was not provided, but it’s “coming soon” to PC, PlayStation 4, Switch and Xbox One.


The blue-skinned one is back: Rogue Trooper Redux announced for PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

The 'Hearthstone' Patch that Nerfs Pirates and Changes Ladder and Arena Is on the Way

We had a hunch that the big Hearthstone [Free] patch that will change the game quite a bit would hit today, and we were right. Even though it will take a bit for it to hit mobile, it's definitely on the way. What does the patch bring? Well, a ton of huge changes that should rejuvenate the game. The first is the addition of floors in Ranked; you won't be able to drop below certain ranks - 20, 15, 10, 5, and Legend - once you hit them. That should help the Ladder feel more fun and the level of challenge more appropriate for the rank, especially after the first week or so of the season. The other big change is the Arena shift from Wild to Standard and the change in card frequency; expect to see more rare, epics, and legendaries as well as more spells and fewer neutral basic/classic cards.

The other huge change is the two nerfs that should hopefully reduce the power of Pirates and Shaman. The first is Small-time Buccaneer's health going from 2 down to 1 and the other is Spirit Claws' cost going from 1 to 2. There are also many other improvements, like better matchmaking for newer players, memory optimizations, and a ton of bug fixes. You can see all the changes here, and hopefully they will make the game more fun to play.


The 'Hearthstone' Patch that Nerfs Pirates and Changes Ladder and Arena Is on the Way posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

The Division servers on Xbox One back up after Premium Currency issue causes delay

Ubisoft Massive has brought the Xbox One servers for The Division back online after an issue during downtime this morning caused a delay.

the_division_last_stand_header

According to a post on the Ubisoft forums, issues Premium Currency, the new microtransactions available in The Division, caused an unexpected issue resulting in a delay bringing Xbox One servers back online.

The team said it has made “good progress” with resolving the issue, in order to get the game back online as soon as possible, the use of Premium Currency has been disabled.

Players can still buy credits in the Xbox Store, but will not receive them in-game until the issue is fixed.

Massive said it will provide an update on when the Premium Currency will be available for Xbox One as soon as possible.

There was also a delay getting the PC and PS4 servers up on time after the maintenance period was scheduled to end at 6am ET. The servers were back online four hours ago, at around 9:30am ET.

The Division’s Last Stand DLC and the free patch 1.6 are now ready for download.


The Division servers on Xbox One back up after Premium Currency issue causes delay posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

'The Amazing Bernard' Has Gone Free for the First Time

The Amazing Bernard [Free] is a pretty smart auto-runner/platformer where you get to create platforms and springs to keep Bernard going. Now, the game has gone free for the first time, and if you like smart, though not perfect, platformers, you should pick this one up. While the game has a few small issues - the jumping is on the floaty side and the whole game moves a bit too slow - it's definitely entertaining and comes with a ton of content and great art. Amazing Bernard has 30 unique levels for you to power through along with a Challenge Mode, where you play all 30 levels in a row and gain bigger rewards as you go along.

The developers have continued updating the game since it came out, with the most recent update adding new obstacles and challenges and improving the 3 Endless Runner stages with new obstacles and better control. The game is free, so go pick it up.


'The Amazing Bernard' Has Gone Free for the First Time posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Battlefield 1’s upcoming expansions take the fight to Belgium, Russia and Turkey

Battlefield 1 DLC They Shall Not Pass releases next month, and that’s not all: players will have three more expansions to look forward to in the months to come.

battlefield 1 they shall not pass

As previously announced, the Battlefield 1 pass contains four DLC drops, with the first expansion taking players into France.

Following the release of They Shall Not Pass, the other expansions will take players into Belgium, Russia and Turkey.

DICE provided scant information on each today, and we’ve posted it in full below.

battlefield_1_in_the_name_of_the_tsar

In the Name of the Tsar – Enter the war’s biggest front with the Russian Army and fight in snow-covered ravines and a freezing archipelago in four new maps.

battlefield_1_turning_tides

Turning Tides – Participate in the amphibious warfare of WWI and engage in the daredevil Zeebrugge Raid, the Gallipoli Offensive, and more.

battlefield_1_apocalypse

Apocalypse – Go over the top in the most infamous battles of WWI, conquer bitterly contested ground with brutal tools and unique weapons.

All expansions will come with new maps, armies, weapons, and more. Release windows for the three teased today were not provided.

They Shall Not Pass will be released in March for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.


Battlefield 1’s upcoming expansions take the fight to Belgium, Russia and Turkey posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Ankama's New CCG 'Krosmaga' Lets You Play as a God

Ankama, of Krosmaster and Dofus fame, has given us another interesting mobile game called Krosmaga [Free]and it looks pretty fun. This CCG will remind you a lot of Mojang's ill-fated Scrolls in that you use cards to place units on a battlefield and take out the other player's towers while protecting yours. In Kromaga, you play as a god and can unleash godly - and probably ungodly - powers upon your poor opponent. As with every CCG, you collect cards, build decks - or go with the premade ones the game offers - and go for either the PvP or the single player mode.

The cards come from the Krosmoz universe, so if you've played any of the other Ankama games, you'll recognize many of the cards in your hand. The trailer looks very nice, so I'm definitely giving this one a shot. The game is out now and is F2P.


Ankama's New CCG 'Krosmaga' Lets You Play as a God posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

The Label is A Premium Gaming Publisher Backed by FunPlus, Will Feature New Edmund McMillen Game

There's an intriguing new mobile games inititative that wants to be the "HBO of mobile games" called The Label, and it's got some intriguing names behind the scenes, not to mention with content being created for the service. Robert Bowling, formerly of Infinity Ward, is behind The Label, with publisher FunPlus helping to back the initative. The Label will publish Bumbo by Binding of Isaac [$14.99] creator Edmund McMillen. As well, Guildlings by Threes [$2.99] developer Sirvo will be part of The Label, along with some interesting other titles from games industry veterans.

What many people will be happy to know is that the idea is that these will be premium games introduced through The Label. How well these will work out is obviously an open question, but if a publisher wants to try something dedicated from day one with premium mobile games, I'm intrigued to see how it plays out.

[Glixel]


The Label is A Premium Gaming Publisher Backed by FunPlus, Will Feature New Edmund McMillen Game posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Pokemon Go: how to evolve Sunkern into SunFlora, Gloom into Bellossom using the Sun Stone

Put those new Special Items to great use and evolve more of you Pokedex favourites.

sunflora_pokemon_go

It’s quite easy to evolve Sunkern into SunFlora and Gloom into Bellossom in Pokemon Go, once you know how. In fact, it’s a similar method to evolving Poliwhirl into Politoed or Onix into Steelix. Key to this evolution, however, is the Sun Stone.

How to get the Sun Stone in Pokemon Go

Right then. You’re going to need a Sun Stone before you can evolve anything. You get them from PokeStops. You have a better chance of being rewarded with a Sun Stone every seventh day, or at least, being gifted one of five Special Items at this time, one of which could be a Sun Stone.

How to evolve Sunkern into SunFlora

Get yourself a Sun Stone and add 50 Sunkern Candy. Mix them all up in a blender – or use the evolution menu in the game as normal – and out pops your SunFlora. Et voila!

How to evolve Gloom into Bellossom in Pokemon Go

Can you see the pattern here? Basically you’ll need a Sun Stone and 100 Oddish Candy to evolve your Gloom into a Bellossom. It’s that simple.

Want some more crucial Pokemon Go tips and advice? You’re in luck, we’ve got it all here.

So there you go: two more rad little pokemon to add to your pokedex.


Pokemon Go: how to evolve Sunkern into SunFlora, Gloom into Bellossom using the Sun Stone posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Torment: Tides of Numenera: after four years of waiting, it’s out today – get all the scores here

The big day has finally arrived: Torment: Tides of Numenera has been released, and you can find out what critics think of the long-awaited spiritual successor to Black Isle’s Planescape: Torment in our review scores round up.

Developed by inXile Entertainment, Torment: Tides of Numenera was funded through Kickstarter in 2013, and reached its target of $900,000 in just six hours. By the time the campaign ended, 74,405 backers pledged $4,188,927 to the game’s development through the service. It still holds the record for third most funded video game on Kickstarter.

The game received more funding through the official website after the campaign ended on the crowdfunding service, with over $5 million tossed at the title.

Torment: Tides of Numenera can be purchased through Steam and GOG, and digitally through the PlayStation and Xbox stores on PS4 and Xbox One, respectively.

Physical editions of the game are also available thanks to a publishing deal with Techland.

Review scores below are based on ten being the highest unless noted. Some sites note the console editions were also tested.


Torment: Tides of Numenera: after four years of waiting, it’s out today – get all the scores here posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Pokemon Go: how to evolve Slowpoke into SlowKing, Poliwhirl into Politoed using King’s Rock

So this is what you use King’s Rock for?!

slowking_pokemon_go

Evolving Slowpoke into SlowKing and Poliwhirl into Politoed in Pokemon Go is relatively easy once you know what you need.

Both use the same method to evolve, fuelled by King’s Rock, one of the new special items introduced with the Gen 2 update.

How to get King’s Rock in Pokemon Go

Get yourself to a PokeStop is the short answer. Much like other new items in Pokemon Go, you’ll find King’s Rock at PokeStops. Keep an eye on the seventh day of your PokeStop Daily Bonus, as this is when you’re most likely to be gifted one of five special Items. It may just be the King’s Rock you’re looking for.

How to evolve Slowpoke into SlowKing

All you need is King’s Rock. And 50 Slowpoke Candy. Once you have them both, evolve Slowpoke as normal in the game, and you’ll see it change before your very eyes. Fantastic.

How to evolve Poliwhirl into Politoed

You guessed it. You need King’s Rock and candy. But for this evolution you need a not insignificant 100 Poliwag Candy. Evolve as normal using the in-game menu and boom – there’s another new entry in your bulging Pokedex.

While you’re here, why not check out our humungous Pokemon Go guide. You’ll learn something new, guaranteed*.

* Well, we’re pretty sure you will, if not “guaranteed”.


Pokemon Go: how to evolve Slowpoke into SlowKing, Poliwhirl into Politoed using King’s Rock posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

'Journey to Un'Goro', Arena Changes, and More 'Hearthstone' Weekly News in 'Touchstone' #86

Hello everyone and apologies for coming one day late; we didn't want to ignore the big Monday news. So, what a week this past one has been, especially given what happened yesterday, Monday. Blizzard finally announced Journey to Un'Goro, the next Hearthstone [Free] expansion that we all knew was on the way. The announcement got generally positive responses, as is usually the case, but what matters is the impact the expansion will have on the meta and whether it will make the game more fun. In addition to the expansion news, we also heard about the upcoming changes to the Arena, which should make the mode feel fresher and - hopefully - more fun. I think it's fair to say that we've never had so many changes announced as we've had in the last couple of weeks, which I hope is part of the developers' attempts to solve the game's problems and improve the experience for everyone involved. So far, so good, I think. Let us begin.

 

 

The Next Expansion is Called Journey to Un'Goro

As most of you know by now, the next expansion is called Journey to Un'Goro and is coming at some point in April along with the new Standard rotation. As the flannel-wearing, axe-wielding Ben Brode announced on Monday, the next expansion is all about the primordial wonders hidden in Azeroth, and those include a new tribe called Elemental, new mechanics - like Quest and Adapt - and lots of other fun ideas. The expansion will bring 135 new cards to the game, and we will start getting more spoilers starting March 17th. Blizzard will be offering the usual 50-pack pre-purchase deal that comes with a card back. Check out our full story for more information on Journey to Un'Goro.

 

Check Out More Journey to Un'Goro Cards

While we haven't seen too many of the new cards so far, the ones we have seen are very interesting and bring some new ideas to the game. As we talked about in this story, Un'Goro brings the first Legendary spell to the game, Awaken the Makers, and the Quest mechanic, which gives you crazy rewards if you manage to complete it. We are also getting the Adapt mechanic, which is a Discover-like mechanic that allows you to buff a minion in a variety of ways - ranging from buffing the attack to giving Taunt and so on. The other interesting card is Pyros, a Mage card that comes back to life twice as two different cards. Check out the whole story here, and let me know what you think of the new cards.

 

More Details on Journey to Un'Goro

This story has been continuously adding more details regarding the upcoming expansion, and there are some pretty interesting ones. Quest cards are always in your opening hand, but you can mulligan them if you want to. They count as spells and they generate tokens, not collectible cards. Each class will be getting a neutral Legendary minion and a Quest Legendary Spell, which means the set will only have five Neutral legendaries. The story is constantly updating, so check it out for more details on the new expansion.

 

Adapt and Quest Mechanics

This story focuses more on the two new mechanics, Adapt and Quest. It's the first keyword addition since Discover, and that was all the back in 2015 and League and Explorers. The writer describes Quest as a supercharged Secret; the Quest cards don't do anything the moment they are played, and their effects aren't seen until their conditions are met. He likes the fact that Quests appear to be a good tool for Control-style decks that doesn't also benefit aggro decks. Adapt will give you some flexibility to respond to what's going on in any given game, which can be a very useful tool.

Arena Changes Coming This Month

We've talked recently about the developers wanting to change a few things in the Arena and make it more entertaining, and this week we got to hear exactly what those changes will be. The Arena will shift to Standard instead of Wild, the card distribution will change to include less common and more rare, epic and legendary cards, and Flamestrike and Abyssal Enforcer will show up 50% less often than they currently do. Spells will also be seen more often - in an attempt to make the mode less minion-based - and, finally, neutral Cards will be seen much less than before.

 

Blizzard Finally Trying to Fix the Game

This story focuses on what the writer sees as the downward spiral of the game - mostly because of the stagnant meta, the neglect of modes other than Standard, and the weak cards in the most recent expansions - and the right steps Blizzard seems to be taking to address these issues. Firstly, he talks about the nerfs and the Hall of Fame, which should help make more viable decks now and in the future, and then the slightly better Ladder, which should make the grind a bit better. Then he moves on to the Arena and Wild changes, with the first one getting much-needed improvements and the latter more attention in the form of Heroic Tavern Brawl and Wild Tournaments. And, finally, the other much needed change is the addition of more cards, which might make the game more expensive but should also make it less stagnant.

How Blizzard Can Win Back the Community

The writer of this story feels that some of the core design aspects of the game are problematic, to the point where many pros and casuals are feeling very frustrated with the game. Even if the frustrated players are part of a vocal minority, the game does have its issues. According to the writer, making the Ladder seasons longer and reducing the stars players drop after the Ladder resets should help the game. They could even go with a Heroes of the Storm style tier system. The other action the developers can take is reducing early game RNG, especially because RNG hurts your ability to counterplay since you can't really predict what will happen. In-game stat tracking is another important feature that would be very useful to players as would be an update of the current client. The writer has even more ideas, so check them all here.

 

Lifecoach Retires from Hearthstone Because He's 'Fed Up'

Lifecoach is one of the most recognizable players in professional Hearthstone, so the news that he has decided to retire from the game and, instead, focus on other CCGs like Gwent definitely didn't go unnoticed by the community. Lifecoach said that the main reason he's decided to leave is the game's balance issues and Blizzard's philosophy on the pro scene. He is very unhappy with how Blizzard nerfs new combos, which allows only a few viable decks, and doesn't seem to listen to the game's pro players. As the article points out, many other pro players have similar complaints, so it remains to be seen if Lifecoach is the first of many players to leave the game.

 

It Will Cost $670 to Get 90% of 2017's Cards

If you were wondering how much it would cost to get most of the 2017 cards, the answer is apparently $670. That amount is around $200 more than last year when we still had Adventures. This number comes out of the calculations of reddit user FliccC. This increase is because we will have more content now and without a way to get one full set like we could with Adventures in the past. The almost 25% increase in price will be a big change that probably can't be compensated for through launch event giveaways and free packs. His conclusion is that Blizzard should either reduce prices of packs or introduce a more efficient way of buying bundles.

 

The Hearthstone Winter Championship Line-up is Complete

We finally know the top 16 players heading to the Bahamas for the Hearthstone Championship Tour Winter Championship. We've got b787, Lojom, Palmblad, and Yulsic from Asia, Fr0zen, Tarei, DocPawn, and DrJikininiki from the Americas, Pavel, ShtanUdachi, Greensheep, and Neirea from Europe, and lovelychook, Xhope, Lyge, and OmegaZero from China. The Winter Championship will run from March 23 to March 26 and will have a prize pool of $250,000.

 

 

 

 

Kripp on Un'Goro

Amaz Reacts to Un'Goro

1st Look at Un'Goro Cards

Un'Goro Reveal and Reaction

Wild Pirate Infestation

Misplay of the Game #1

Streamers Were Wrong about Gadgetzan Cards

WTF Moments #100

Replacing Cards as a F2P Player

February Balance Patch Preview

 

 

As always, we have some good resources on the site for you in case you are new to the game or simply want to sharpen up your game. There's never such a thing as too much help in Hearthstone, so check out our guides.  

Hearthstone Beginners' Guide

Hearthstone Deck-building Guide

 

 


'Journey to Un'Goro', Arena Changes, and More 'Hearthstone' Weekly News in 'Touchstone' #86 posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Pokemon Go: how to evolve Scyther into Scizor, Onix into Steelix using Metal Coat

Use the same method to get these Gen 2 pokemon in Pokemon Go.

To get Steelix and Scizor in Pokemon Go you just need to follow this simple process. It’s pretty much the same for both Pokemon so just wat ch the video above for a visual guide, while we break it down for you below

First up, you’re going to need Metal Coat. Let’s start with that…

How to get Metal Coat in Pokemon Go

You can find Metal Coat in Pokemon Go at any PokeStop, as you would find eggs. Urban areas are your best bet for Metal Coat. Also remember that every seventh day your PokeStop Daily Bonus streak coughs up one of five Special Items: either a King’s Rock, Metal Coat, Upgrade, Dragon Scale or Sunstone.

600px-212Scizor

How to evolve Scyther into Scizor

Once you have your Metal Coat and 50 Candy you’ll be able to evolve Scyther into Scizor. Just evolve using the in-game menu as you would any other Pokemon.

Remember that once you’ve used the Metal Coat you won’t get it back, so make sure you’re certain of this evolution.

pokemon_go_steelix

How to evolve Onix into Steelix

Evolving Onix into Steelix is just as easy as evolving Scyther into Scizor. Use one Metal Coat and 50 Candy and evolve using the normal method.

If you’re interest in more Pokemon Go help, we have a huge guide for you right here.

So there you have: Scizor and Steelix are now safe and snug in your pokedex.


Pokemon Go: how to evolve Scyther into Scizor, Onix into Steelix using Metal Coat posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Microsoft announces Xbox One subscription service with access to 100 games for $10 a month

Microsoft has announced a subscription service called Xbox Game Pass which provides users with “limited access” to over 100 games.

xbox-games-pass

The games include both Xbox One and backward compatible Xbox 360 games. Some of the titles included at launch later this spring include Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16 and SoulCalibur 2.

“One of the best things about Xbox Game Pass is that you can discover and download the full titles directly on your Xbox One,” according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer. “That means continuous, full-fidelity gameplay without having to worry about streaming, bandwidth or connectivity issues.”

Xbox One games in the catalog and the available add-ons and members of Xbox Games Pass can also purchase titles at an “exclusive discount.”

New games will be added monthly and will cycle into the subscription with some cycling out. This will provide the subscriber with new titles on a regular basis.

Spencer said Xbox Game Pass will be tested by select members of the Xbox Insider Program in the Alpha Preview ring starting today. Titles are limited number during this period, and Xbox Live Gold members will also be receiving exclusive access to Xbox Game Pass prior to the program launching to the broader community.

Xbox Game Pass will run you $9.99 or the regional equivalent per month.


Microsoft announces Xbox One subscription service with access to 100 games for $10 a month posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW

Xbox Live deals: Battlefield 1, Destiny, FIFA 17, Inside, Firewatch, Titanfall 2, more

Deals with Gold discounts this week are aplenty.

playdead_inside_fi

The weekly list of deals on the Xbox Store has arrived, and there are many, bug discounts this week. The list of included games is bigger than usual, too, thanks to an EA publisher sale.

As such, expect Battlefield 1, Battlefield 4, Titanfall 2, FIFA 17, and many other EA-published titles to get deep discounts. There’s also an assortment of critically acclaimed indie games like ABZU, Firewatch, Inside, and more.

Deals are live now on Xbox One and Xbox 360, all the way through Monday, March 6. See the full list below.

(Deals marked with asterisks are available only to Gold members)
Xbox One

  • #KILLALLZOMBIES* – 50%
  • ABZU* – 20%
  • Battlefield 1 – 50%
  • Battlefield 1 Deluxe Edition – 50%
  • Battlefield 1 Shortcut Kit: Ultimate Bundle – 25%
  • Battlefield 1 Ultimate Edition – 40%
  • Battlefield 1 – Titanfall 2 Deluxe Bundle – 67%
  • Battlefield 4 – 75%
  • Battlefield Hardline Standard Edition – 75%
  • Destiny – The Collection* – 33%
  • Dragon Age: Inquisition Deluxe Edition – 67%
  • Dragon Age: Inquisition – Game of the Year Edition – 67%
  • DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 – 40%
  • DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 Deluxe Edition – 25%
  • FIFA 17 – 67%
  • FIFA 17 Deluxe Edition – 67%
  • FIFA 17 Super Deluxe Edition – 30%
  • NHL 17 – 67%
  • NHL 17 Deluxe Edition – 67%
  • NHL 17 Super Deluxe Edition – 50%
  • UFC 2 – 67%
  • UFC 2 Deluxe Edition – 67%
  • Elite Dangerous: Horizons Extra Edition* – 33%
  • Firewatch – 50%
  • Forza Motorsport 5 Car Pass* – 80%
  • Forza Motorsport 5 VIP Membership* – 75%
  • Forza Motorsport 5: Racing Game of the Year Edition* – 67%
  • Forza Motorsport 6 Platinum Edition Bundle* – 40%
  • Hyper Light Drifter – 40%
  • INSIDE – 33%
  • Instant Indie Collection: Vol. 4* – 25%
  • Lifeless Planet: Premier Edition* – 50%
  • Madden NFL 17 – 67%
  • Madden NFL 17 Deluxe Edition – 67%
  • Madden NFL 17 Super Deluxe Edition – 50%
  • Mirrors Edge Catalyst – 60%
  • NASCAR Heat Evolution – 25%
  • Need for Speed Deluxe Bundle – 70%
  • ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD – Gold Edition – 60%
  • ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD – Gold Pack – 60%
  • One Piece: Burning Blood – 60%
  • Overcooked – 35%
  • Oxenfree – 50%
  • Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 – 80%
  • Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – 80%
  • Rock Band 4 Rivals Bundle* – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “All Star” – Smash Mouth – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “Call Me” – Blondie – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “Footloose” – Kenny Loggins – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “Jungle Boogie” – Kool & the Gang – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “My Iron Lung” – Radiohead – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “New Divide” – Linkin Park – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “Oh, Pretty Woman” – Roy Orbison – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “Pretty in Pink” – The Psychedelic Furs – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “The Perfect Drug” – Nine Inch Nails – 30%
  • Rock Band 4 – “Weird Science” – Oingo Boingo – 30%
  • Star Wars Battlefront Rogue One: Scarif – 35%
  • STAR WARS Battlefront Season Pass – 50%
  • STAR WARS Battlefront Ultimate Edition – 50%
  • Stranger of Sword City* – 75%
  • The Flame in the Flood – 50%
  • The Technomancer* – 75%
  • The Witness – 40%
  • Titanfall 2 – 60%
  • Titanfall 2 Deluxe Edition – 60%
  • Titanfall 2: Angel City’s Most Wanted Bundle – 25%
  • TurnOn* – 60%
  • Unravel – 75%
  • Worms Battlegrounds* – 75%

Xbox 360

  • Alien Breed 2: Assault* – 75%
  • Alien Breed 3: Descent* – 75%
  • Alien Breed Episode 1* – 75%
  • Battlefield: Bad Company 2 – 50%
  • Battlefield: Bad Company 2 – Vietnam – 100%
  • Bully Scholarship Edition* – 40%
  • Dragon Age: Origins – 50%
  • Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening – 100%
  • FIFA 17 – 60%
  • SSX: Classic Characters Pack – 100%
  • Forza Horizon 2* – 70%
  • GTA 4 The Ballad of Gay Tony* – 40%
  • GTA 4 The Lost & Damned* – 40%
  • GTA 4* – 35%
  • Madden NFL 17 – 67%
  • NBA JAM: On Fire Edition – 50%
  • Red Dead Redemption* – 35%
  • Skate 3 – 50%
  • SSX – 50%
  • Worms 2: Armageddon* – 75%

Head over to Major Nelson’s blog for regional prices and store links.


Xbox Live deals: Battlefield 1, Destiny, FIFA 17, Inside, Firewatch, Titanfall 2, more posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW