Tag: Gaming

  • ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Introduces New Spider-Cat Companion

    ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Introduces New Spider-Cat Companion

    Some might not know this, but I am a proud owner of a rather energetic cat. As such, I tend to have a soft spot for anything cat-related, especially in Marvel media. Goose was a personal highlight in Captain Marvel, especially with how realistic it depitced owning a cat can be. Looks like one more hero is getting a feline addition. Game Informer offered an exclusive video for Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which seems to include a litlte side mission where you save a cat named, what else, Spider-Man. He was briefly teased in a tweet a whilie back, but looks like there is more to this little feline. It is an adorable little video that also showcases how far the game has come with the upcoming next-gen upgrade in Mile’s own unique story.

    That ending is rather suprising isn’t it? Not only did someone give the adorable cat a Spider-Man mask but it also looks like he will offer some unique takedown animations. This reveal opens up a lot of questions, as this could mean that every unique suit may include its own takedown animation. Spider-Cat is a great addition to the game, as this could also give you an incentive to try out different costumes besides their unique abilities. Gameplay-wise, the game looks fantastic as always with many unique flairs to the familiar UI designs. It also seems to be running extremely smoothly as Miles webs his way threw the city or takes out badguys. I am a big fan of his toxic punch ability, which adds an amazing visual flair to the game’s combat. As I said, I have a soft spot for this kind of stuff so I cannot wait to try it out when the game launches next week.

    Source: Game Informer

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First Content Update is Here

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First Content Update is Here

    The biggest issue, besides the bugs, was the lack of content. There were doubts if we would see any additional content in the future, as updates constantly got delayed. Well, looks like the wait is finally over. Crystal Dynamics just released their first content patch. The patch V1.3.3 not only fixes a lot of major issues but also will include two brand new additions for the game’s overarching story that will be active as of 15th October, so keep that in mind with the current update.

    That is not all, as it also finally gives us some much needed Quality-of-Life improvements, such as Mega Hives rewarding two guaranteed Exotic gear items when completed. They even added ways to access Faction rewards through terminals, so you don’t have to switch between Outposts constantly. Still, you aren’t here for that, you want to know what new content was added.

    • SHIELD Substation Zero Outpost will give you access to a brand new location that will include some new NPCs, story content and potentially some new missions. It will be located in the Pacific Northwest when accessing it through the War Table.
    • Temporal anomalies have been popping up in the world which will give oyu access to new Tachyon Rift missions. Over time, your team will get damaged but you get access to your Heroic abilities much faster. These missions rotate daily and first-place players get a Cosmic gear as a reward. As the name implies, time will be an important factor.

    It is interesting to note that the Substation article only mentions “content” in addition to a narrative and characters. We don’t know what that could mean exactly, as the story will tie into the new mission type. Hopefully, this means we will also get some additional missions. In the last War Table, they revealed that the Ouptost will act as its own operation. Also, some eagle-eyed players have noticed that the marketplace also has an open slot ready for a young archer that was going to be released later this month.

    https://twitter.com/PlayAvenger/status/1316423100003758080

    It has been a long wait for this and these are some fantastic additions. Hopefully, this is a sign of what we can expect from Crystal Dynamics in the near future. Keep in mind, we will still get a State of the Game this week, so this is just the beginning. It still was a great move by the developer to showcase how much they listened to feedback. They not only fixed bugs, added content but also provided QOL improvements everyone has been asking for. So, let us see if they can keep this momentum going but I am very happy to finally get my hands on the new content update.

    Source: Play Avengers, Twitter

  • ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Gameplay Reveals Miles First Boss Fight

    ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Gameplay Reveals Miles First Boss Fight

    We are only a month away from the next generation of consoles releasing. It is crazy to think that 2020 is already nearing its end. Still, we have a lot to look forward to as Spider-Man: Miles Morales will finally release in November. The game takes place one year after the events of 2018’s Spider-Man and focuses on our young protagonist growing into his role as the iconic character. We’ve already gotten our first full look at the gameplay a month ago. We’ve got a lot of teases on what we can expect from a big next-generation console. Miles Morales already looks promising with recent images showcasing the potential of where the gaming industry is heading. Now, Game Informer has given us some more exclusive gameplay to showcase what awaits us next month.

    Looks like Miles Morales is going to face a familiar foe, as Rhino is confirmed as the first boss encounter for the game. It is great to see that they are also bringing back some familiar foes. The gameplay also highlights Miles’ unique venom attacks that will give him an advantage over stronger enemies. This short sequence sitll includes Peter, so it is uncertain how long he will be in the game. Hopefully, this means we will see some of the other villains from 2018’s game make an appearance as well once the game releases next month.

    Source: Game Informer

  • New ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Stills Showcase Next-Gen Graphics & New Costumes

    New ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Stills Showcase Next-Gen Graphics & New Costumes

    We are only a few weeks away before Spider-Man: Miles Morales releases for the next-generation of consoles. I am still on the fence if I should jump on early in the new console’s life cycle but the visuals promised are quite promising. We got our first real look at the game’s gameplay just over a month ago. It showed us what unique abilities that Miles brings as the titular character with some staple classics from the 2018 game still remaining. At one point, the Remaster of the original Spider-Man game stole the spotlight, as they revealed a new design for Peter. Finally, we are getting a closer look at what the game has to offer in Game Informer’s exclusive coverage of the game. They kickstarted the coverage with a beautiful new cover for the magazine showing Miles patrolling during the game’s winter setting.

    That is not all, the digital edition has also found its way online with many sharing the beautiful in-game visuals featuring our titular hero in all his glory. These images are from Game Informer but provided by YouTuber @GameRiotArmy on Twitter.

    The next-generation of consoles is certainly promising. These are some amazing visuals from the game. This game will also give us a very unique version of the Tinkerer, who you can see in her purple high-tech outfit in the second tweet. It is a new take on the character, as she will also be more hands-on rather than just tinkering away at new technology. Also, this image confirms that Peter Parker will make an appearance at one point in the game’s story. Of course, it is to be expected but so far Insomniac has been very good at letting Miles shine with his own game. There is one more image that gives us a really interesting new costume design in the game.

    This might be the most unique Spider-Man costume we’ve seen so far. I am a huge Daft Punk fan so the helmet is a great touch. I cannot wait to see this costume design in action once the game releases next month. Game Informer is also teasing new gameplay, which hopefully we will get our hands on soon.

    Source: Game Informer (Cover), Twitter, Twitter (suit)

  • Black Panther May Have Been ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First DLC Character

    Black Panther May Have Been ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First DLC Character

    Marvel’s Avengers players are starving for content. So far, we only got the Mega Hive as post-launch addition with more on the way. Just recently, the community manager took to Reddit to share that they are taking current concerns seriously. It was a necessary touch to give players some reassurance. They did confirm we would receive a confirmation for the timings by next week. To build up to that moment, I’ve been rewatching old War Table videos. My goal was to get a feeling for what the plans may have been for the game. As such, I just felt like playing around with a theory as we wait for the official reveal of future content by the developer Crystal Dynamics.

    The game’s release kicked off with quite a few bugs, so a delay is part of the course in the Games-as-a-Service model. Yet, we wouldn’t get our first real addition until the end of October with Kate Bishop. The reveal trailer at the time included a brief tribute to Chadwick Boseman with the info that Black Panther would not be included as originally planned. I started wondering when they planned to reveal him, as we haven’t heard anything about the character in over a month. I was rewatching the War Table that gave us our first DLC reveal, and something caught my eye while going through the initial reveal for Hawkeye. His symbol was the second among the four.

    Every Avenger has a unique symbol in the game, which is used in the character select menu. It seemed like initially, they were planning to reveal four characters at one point. Optimistically speaking, maybe they planned on four DLC characters for 2020. There is no confirmation for that, but it could’ve been a monthly release once the game was made available. Still, what we are focusing on is the placement of Hawkeye’s symbol.

    This visual would confirm he was always going to be the second addition. A month later, we learned Kate Bishop would be our first official post-launch character. As mentioned previously, Black Panther seemed to have a larger role in that War Table’s reveal until he was delayed. Both Bishop and Hawkeye’s operations are confirmed as a double feature so he may have been the third DLC character. Yet, something doesn’t quite add up once you take a closer look at later showcases of the video. If you rewatch the brief tease of Bishop’s operation, you’ll notice a similarity between hers and Clint Barton’s. The unique symbol is identical to the one we saw during Hawkeye’s reveal.

    The initial reveal video showed something more akin to the Fraction comic’s bullseye logo. Even early leaks seemed to reveal a unique logo for potential echo characters like War Machine. So, it would’ve made sense for her bullseye visual to be Kate Bishop’s unique design. Even if the Hawkeye stories are a double-feature, why give characters one-of-a-kind visuals if they aren’t the operations? In reality, we never actually saw her symbol transition into an in-game design. It was just a visual flair during the video to call back to the comics. It also opens up the question of how character selection would include both characters. Crystal Dynamics might be giving you the option to chose Hawkeye with an additional choice between the variations. If this is the case, why is Hawkeye’s symbol the second one if both characters share it in-game?

    It seemed that Black Panther was going to be an aspect of the first character reveal. At one point, he may have been the first DLC in the game. It may also explain why Kate’s DLC release is delayed until the end of October. There is also the addition of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Substation Zero operation will lead to Kate’s storyline. It will introduce us to the Tachyon Rifts that will play an important role in the Avengers Initiative campaign. So, if Black Panther was going to be the first released, his story may have built up towards these rifts. The delay also could mean that some parts of the story had to be rewritten or adapted, which added to the current content delays.

    Keep in mind, this is nothing more than a theory but it is an interesting one with the information that was originally given by the developers. In some way, maybe the lack of a release date for Kate Bishop may also be caused by the upcoming Disney+ show. Marvel Studios confirmed her inclusion in Hawkeye, so they were forced to wait for the official reveal of the actress to build upon that hype. The synergy between Marvel’s ventures is great for the shows but may have also added to the issues that plagued the game’s release. No matter what may have been the reason, it is interesting how these things come together.

    Source: Reddit, YouTube

  • Crystal Dynamics Teases an ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Update for Next Week

    Crystal Dynamics Teases an ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Update for Next Week

    So, the wait for any content has been truly harsh. I am enjoying the game quite a bit but have been taken more frequent breaks. I even broke down the reasoning and importance of this with these types of games in a journal entry you can check out by clicking here. We were anxiously waiting for an update this week but didn’t even get our weekly War Table blog entry. It is understandable that many are frustrated with the lack of content that was promised post-launch. Thankfully, Kotaku got an official statement by Crystal Dynamics studio head Scot Amos. It’s a refreshing article to read. Instead of just posting it directly, I would like to tackle some aspects that stand out. Let’s start off with the promise of brand new mission types and the first Raid event.

    As such, we have a number of new content pieces coming in the weeks ahead including: a totally new War Zone mission type called Tachyon Rifts, a new Outpost that’s a jumping off point for new story missions in the future, and AIM’s Cloning Lab, which requires a coordinated high-level group of four players to beat with new top-end loot rewards for finishing it. And in each of these updates we do tuning and bug fixing to enhance the overall experience.

    The AIM Cloning Lab, or Secret Lab, has been teased since before the launch. They have postponed its launch most likely to focus on fixing the matchmaking issues that plague the PC port. Forbes’ Paul Tassi shared an interesting article on the topic with the active low-numbers on Steam not helping the matter. I do believe once they start offering a consistent flow of content players will gradually return. They just sadly dragged it out for too long. The Tachyon Rifts do sound like a promising addition with a story building towards the larger content drop with the first character additions.

    In addition, we’ve announced two new Heroes coming in the near future: Kate Bishop in Operation: Taking AIM, and after that the double-feature Operation starring Clint Barton… this is the “two Hawkeyes” we mentioned in the last War Table. These new Operations pick up right from where the main Reassemble campaign ended in the core game and will propel the overall world story forward with new mysteries and villains, as well as new multi-player content.

    They are teasing some interesting additions plus new villains. Right now, the selection is rather scarce with two Warbots, Abomination and Taskmaster. This gets pretty redundant after a few weeks, as the core gameplay of these fights doesn’t really change much – only the environment does. They do add that more content will be added throughout the next few months, so hopefully, next week’s blog will offer more details. We’ve been waiting for a roadmap that was promised since the last War Table video, so they promise a bigger update next week

    Our biggest issue sadly has been the decrease in communication. At first, they were actively sharing information and pointing aspects out but that seems to have calmed down quite a bit in recent weeks. It looks like they may have been strategizing something, as they promise new community communication initiatives moving forward.

    We’ll have more information and details about the very near content drops in a blog scheduled for next week and we have new community communication initiatives coming soon to even more directly share fun and useful information with you.

    So, this is something I think many of us were hoping to hear. It could mean that Crystal Dynamics is trying to find better ways to communicate with its audience. I will say though it is odd that they didn’t share this on Twitter or in their Discord. It seems like a PR move, which is great to see. They are trying to get general info out there about them working hard on the game. Something, we haven’t really seen from others. Of course, they did miss out on using this chance to share it with their community directly which is a missed opportunity. Still, this is a big step forward for Crystal Dynamics and Marvel’s Avengers. They even acknowledge that they are losing their player base. No matter where one stands, this is a big step. I believe that if they keep their word and release the info on upcoming updates next week, we could see an upswing. The important thing is, they can’t drag this out forever and need to start pumping out consistent updates to keep players. Still, I always like to be positive and I cannot wait to share whatever info we get next week with you!

    Source: Kotaku, Forbes

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Teases Doctor Strange Storyline & ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Jemma Simmons

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Teases Doctor Strange Storyline & ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Jemma Simmons

    Marvel Avengers‘ leaks have become my favorite past-time at this rate. We are still anxiously awaiting the reveal of the game’s roadmap. It was teased all the way back during the early September release but so far nothing. It makes sense, Crystal Dynamics is focusing on fixing the bugs that have become the norm with Games-as-a-Service releases. Still, a lot of leaks have been pointing to some great additions coming in the near future including War Machine, Black Panther, and many more. Ever since the leaks have calmed won with even some fake 3D models being shared online teasing an Infinity Gauntlet. Sadly, that turned out to be from Fortnite’s model, so it seemed like the leaks have stopped.  At least that was until now, as @mmmmmmmmiller has once again shared something that was leaked. This time around, it is an audio file that is from a very hyper NPC. At face value, there is no dead giveaway who this character could be but Miller luckily has a very unsubtle hint based on his own data mining.

    So, yeah, the audio file would be strongly hinting at the addition of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. character Jemma Simmons. He also points out that the voice lines are from a stand-in actress as they might not have cast yet. This isn’t the first time Simmons was featured in a Marvel’s game, as she also had a starring role in Marvel’s Future Fight. The audio file does not confirm that it is Simmons, but sentences like “absolutely smashing” could be a hint at the future voice cast being British. That or it is a female version of Nigel Thornberry. Still, it is an audio file for the Avengers game as she also mentions the Anthill. It also confirms that they’ve planned out most of the future content in advance, which probably is one of the reasons the current build is still barebones. They have to prepare a lot of assets in advance to keep a consistent flow of content post-launch, and I theorize that recent events may have shifted a lot as well.

    Still, let’s focus on what this audio file may tease. We might not see her in the upcoming Substation Base update, as her storyline seems to connect to ghosts of some kind. Yes, this audio file confirms that we will see some supernatural activities. This reveal also matches the leak that Doctor Strange will be in the game as a playable character at one point. There is also the mention of Tanaka. Now, that is an interesting name, as there are multiple Tanaka’s in comic history. There is the martial arts teacher of X-23, which would tease the future addition of the X-Men. Yet, there is also Leiko Tanaka, who some might recognize as Big Hero 6‘s GoGo Tomago. Either way, this reveal could be a massive addition to the game in future updates. Each new leak certainly gets me pumped for the future of this game.

    Source: Twitter, Vocaroo

  • Pitching a ‘Metal Gear Solid’  Inspired S.H.I.E.L.D. Game

    Pitching a ‘Metal Gear Solid’ Inspired S.H.I.E.L.D. Game

    We have entered a new era of Marvel’s gaming. Sony’s Spider-Man kickstarted a brand new franchise. Marvel’s Avengers attempted a new style of game for the franchise. Now, many of us wondered if we could see any other games based on iconic characters. Spider-Man had the advantage of learning from the games that were released years ago. So, I started wondering if there is any template that would be perfect to use for the Marvel universe. At one point, I was replaying Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, and I then realized it. Hideo Kojima could bring us an amazing game based on the spy organization S.H.I.E.L.D. I do doubt he would ever tackle a third-party IP like this but it is still a fun experiment. So, here are the reasons I believe that Kojima would be perfect to bring Nick Fury and the spy organizations into the gaming world.

    Tactical Espionage Action

    So, the most obvious reason is the stealth-gameplay from the Metal Gear Solid. Just imagine being able to take control of iconic S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Quartermaine, or Jimmy Woo. You’ll have a set of different characters available with unique aspects. Quartermaine might be more of a combat-focused character. He has more ammunition available while Jimmy can hack specific doors. You can access different missions where you infiltrate locations from comic history like an underwater HYDRA base. Maybe you even have to sneak through the Avengers mansion. They are spies so they will do anything to get access to the information they need. They also are regular people so they won’t be able to just take on superpowered individuals. So, it makes sense that they are more stealth-based.

    Let’s imagine a scenario of Maria Hill having to get her hands on valuable intel. It would reveal the whereabouts of Baron Zemo, who has gone off their radar. So, you infiltrate the location while stealing one of the soldier’s uniform. Halfway through the base, you realize you don’t have the required key card to continue. So, you have multiple choices. You can use Maria’s knack for disguises to take over from a higher ranking member. Of course, you have to learn the enemies’ patterns and find the perfect time to steal it. Or, you try to squeeze your way through an air duct through which you uncover a discussion between Zemo and the Grim Reaper. You could risk jumping in to take them out, or you focus on your mission.

    Heroic World Building

    There is one more reason that Kojima‘s approach to storytelling would work well with a S.H.I.E.L.D.-based game. He has this style that easily blends supernatural worlds with military action. To give an example, the original MGS focuses on the character of Solid Snake. The story slowly eases us into a world filled with supernatural characters. Many players fondly remember the moment Psycho Mantis takes over our controller. The entire game ends in a battle on top of a giant Metal Gear mech. He isn’t a stranger to this type of storytelling that would help players jump into a world filled with superheroes, magic, and other dimensions. Plus, he has a way of handling even the most absurd characters. Even S.H.I.E.L.D. has its fair share of strange members like Dum Dum Dugan sticking around since the 1940s.

    It would be such a perfect opportunity to let Kojima‘s sometimes insane writing style enter this expansive world. Marvel already did all the world-building over its history. Death Stranding is quite a confusing story, but it does work on an incredible world-building. You start a simple espionage story before you realize people aren’t who they seem to be. You are facing villains with abilities beyond your comprehension, but there is no way around them. Some of your teammates are Skrulls in disguise. It also lets the boss fights get crazier as the story progresses. It opens up the question if S.H.I.E.L.D. becomes too dependent on the heroes to come to the rescue. Nick Fury wants to take things into his own hands and prove that humans are capable of so much more. If there is anyone that can keep the balance of realism and surrealism.

    Just a Pipe Dream

    Even as I write this article, I know it is a pipe dream. Kojima Productions is focusing on unique IPs. Marvel would supervise soo much that Kojima would get flashbacks to the times working at Konami. Moreover, Konami still has the rights to the Metal Gear Solid franchise. A similar build would get the attention of their lawyers. Still, a part of me hopes that this concept could see the light of day at one time. They can create a roster of unique characters that would include Inhumans or Mutants. Your roster grows as the game’s world starts to expand with new threats. You can be part of S.H.I.E.L.D. growing throughout the game and seeing it adapt to the world around it. It also forces you to adapt your playstyle along the way, as each new mission or encounter comes with its own new challenge. In a world filled with wonders, wouldn’t you want to prove the world you can stand among the mightiest?

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Journal: Importance of Taking Breaks

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Journal: Importance of Taking Breaks

    You read that title correctly. I have taken a break from playing Marvel’s Avengers until the next major update. No, I have not found any exotic gear. I didn’t max out any character cards. So far, I’ve only really gotten Thor and Hulk past the 110 Power Level. In reality, I have a lot more grinding to do so that I could proclaim I’ve maxed out all my characters. I am also not a person to chase down PlayStation’s platinum trophies. The story was great, and I enjoy playing as the different Avengers. Not everyone will share my outlook on the game. That is why I started this series, and I am taking a bit of a break. Crystal Dynamics promised future updates, so I don’t feel the urge to burn myself out early. From what I’ve seen online, I would recommend it to anyone reading this right now

    A Current Limitation

    The Avengers Initiative is currently barebones. I have repeated this statement multiple times throughout these entries. After releasing their latest patch 1.3.1 the general mood seemed to be in an upswing. All players wanted now was more content, but that didn’t happen this week. Right now, theories are that we will get something by the end of next week. This would include the S.H.I.E.L.D. Substation Zero and the A.I.M. Secret Lab. These are great additions that hopefully are also accompanied by new mission chains and environments. I’ve finished the last mission chain titled “Reigning Supreme”. It will build-up towards the new cloning technology that Monica Rambeau has been cooking up. My motivation was to finish up this mission chain as it contained small story hints, teases of future content, and even unique animations. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but it felt like the story was moving forward. I finished it around 50 to 60 hours in as I took my time to grind a bit to adjust to specific mission caps.

    Afterward, most people hit the “now what” phase of the game. From what I’ve seen and discussed, a lot of players continue to focus on the additional checklists. There is a lot to do, but you are going to repeat existing missions to do so. The only new content added was the single-player focused Mega Hive. It’s the same as the sixteen-floor Epic Hive that was the final mission of the last mission chain. It is a single-player experience that rubbed people the wrong way, as it was new content that recycled existing concepts. Personally, it is a fine addition, but it felt like a quick way to add more content as they focus on fixing bugs. As long as matchmaking has issues, there is no point in adding a Raid mission. Technically, it was a safe move by Crystal Dynamics. Still, people wanted those Exotics that rarely drop, and kept playing it even if they were vocally frustrated. We want to play the game with friends to make the repetition easier. There are multiplayer options, but it just drops Exotics at a much lower rate. Right now, getting the best gear won’t serve any specific purpose outside of a stat increase. There is no point focusing on getting something that will only end up frustrating you. If there is a mission that would require these stats, then it might be worth the time.

    A Personal View

    As much as I enjoy the combat, attempting it multiple times with Mega Hive’s 40 floors and crash issues, no wonder someone will get mad. Plus, if you manage to finish it and don’t get the reward you want, you will be frustrated. My approach to the Mega Hive is to try it out now and then. I generally only play one or two missions every other day if I feel like it. Sometimes I try to get in some mission cards. I’ve gotten to the point with now 40 more hours in that it’s a bit repetitive now. Also, I have other games and projects I need to spend time on. Currently, I feel no drive to play the game for long sessions, and I don’t see any issue with that. It’s been only a month, and the game will only grow from here. I don’t lose anything by taking my time. Crystal Dynamics has been working hard on the game to get it where it needs to be. Should it have released like this? No, absolutely shouldn’t have, but we can’t change it now as it is already released. I respect the work they put in with consistent updates. I do hope we get more transparency in the future. It all depends on the reveal of the roadmap, which will give us a better feeling of what the future entails.

    Right now, my future investment depends on what content they plan to add. The selling point of this game is the potential of what it may offer in the future. I enjoyed my time with the game and spent countless hours playing it. This is only the third game I put in more than 100 hours into the game. So, how could I proclaim the game wasn’t worth my investment? Plus, future additions are for free, so that covers a lot of additional hours. I’ve seen some state that this game is predatory with its time-based missions to force people into paying for it. In the end, it is all just optional. The game wants you to play for a long-time rather than rush through it. So, why rush through the experience? At some point, you will hit the limitation of content with any game. There is no point forcing yourself to play through everything now if it only ends up frustrating you. Of course, it is easier said than done. I am just sharing my own approach to the game.

    A Look to the Future

    This is a bit of a different journal entry. I am not focusing on the game’s content, as I covered most of what was available. Even I felt like I played through it faster than I initially expected. People are proclaiming the game’s death as they focus on Steam numbers and Twitch streams. There is no point in doing so. We don’t know how many people are actively playing it on other consoles. Who knows how many are just sitting it out until new content drops. In the end, the developers need to know if enough players are around to make it worth investing in it. All of us want the same thing, to have a good time playing Avengers and see it succeed so we can see it expand throughout the coming years. This sentiment is shared by the man responsible for saving Final Fantasy XIV Online. I look forward to what the future holds and to continue to share my experiences with it, as I leave you with Naoki Yoshida‘s quote:

    It’s not about forcing players to keep playing the game consistently. If you just consume everything with each major patch then you’ve played everything, then you can play other games, you can spend your time and plan around your timing. If you want to come back to Final Fantasy XIV, you can come back and catch up easily. Everybody has different hobbies and ways they want to spend their time, they’re quite busy.

    Source: WCCFTech

  • Minecraft Steve Joining ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’

    Minecraft Steve Joining ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’

    Modern fighting games have become famous for their addition of 3rd party characters. Tekken 7 shocked the world by adding The Walking Deads‘ Negan. Mortal Kombat has focused on additions from horror films like Alien, Predator, or Jason. There is one franchise that became the epicenter of video games’ past. Super Smash Bros. has added many iconic video game icons that made it stand out among the fighting game crowd. The latest addition was Min Min from Arms, so many were hoping one of the many requested characters would be added next. Now, after a long wait, we finally find out who will be the latest addition.

    Of all the franchises, I did not expect Minecraft to be added. There are many favorites that people are hoping for like Crash, Sora, or Spyro. Yet, it is hard to deny how popular Minecraft is as a franchise. We only got a brief teaser of the character and he seems pretty in line with what you would expect. You can play as different skins from the game. Players can wear the skins of Steve, Alex, a Zombie, or an Enderman.

    They also stuck to the game’s animation with the rather blocky movement. You also seem to have access to a variety of tools ranging from carts, TNT to regular dirt blocks. It will be interesting to see how you can use the building mechanic to get an advantage int he game. Sakurai even pointed out they had to rework existing stages to include material to build on. We will get a full reveal trailer for the gameplay in two days, so we have something to look forward to.

    Source: YouTube