IO Interactive confirms Agent 47 is getting some rest following Hitman 3
With the rebooted Hitman trilogy come to a close with Hitman 3, IO Interactive is looking ahead to its next project. Part of that, it sounds like, is giving Agent 47 a little break.
In a recent interview with IGN, IO Interactive CEO and co-owner Hakan Abrak discussed the future of the Hitman franchise, after Hitman 3 put a neat bow on the trilogy's story.
"Our thinking right now is Agent 47 deserves a bit of a rest," said Abrak. "He's been busy the last three games."
IO Interactive has still been busy with live elements, supporting the platform that's been built across the three recent Hitman games, which it calls the "World of Assassination." Abrak says the studio will continue releasing new things for its communities moving forward. Even if he's taking a breather, this is not the end of Agent 47.
"As we talked about before, it's synonymous with IO, it's a very beloved franchise of ours and, of course, Hitman will continue," said Abrak. "Agent 47, maybe, is going to take a bit of a rest, but that doesn't mean we're not working on some cool, cool stuff with the World of Assassination. So there's definitely activity coming and I'm looking forward to talking about that sometime in the future."
IO Interactive, meanwhile, is gearing up for its next game set in the world of a very different international operative: 007. Project 007 will see IO take on the classic Bond franchise, and hopefully see some of that Hitman charm and physical comedy sneak its way into the world of international espionage and shaken martinis.
FMV mystery Erica is coming to PC May 25
Flavourworks has announced that it is bringing mystery title Erica to PC. The dark FMV mystery, which launched on PS4 back in 2019 before hitting iOS in January of this year, will launch on the Steam platform May 25, priced at around $12 USD.
Erica is the story of the titular young woman's struggle to come to terms with the traumatic memories of her father's untimely death. After strange new visions find their way into her life via constant, mind-bending nightmares, Erica is forced to confront the past in an investigation that will lead her to the doors of abandoned asylum Delphi House, and the ancient, occult mysticism that lines its dilapidated halls.
Adorable city-builder The Colonists moves in on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch next month
Publisher Auroch Digital, in association with indie outfit Mode 7, has announced that it is bringing The Colonists to PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on May 4, following the super-cute bot-builder's previous release on PC, waaaay back in October 2018.
The Colonists tasks players with building a fully-functioning society of adorable droids, effectively managing a self-replicating squad of bots as they create a sprawling and peaceful settlement to cater to their every need. As three ages pass, players will keep on top of the changing technology - providing homes, transport and resources to keep the cyber city and its populace content. Harvest and refine materials such as metal, wood, stone and fish, create farms and factories, and research new and more efficient technology to turn your small settlement into an expansive haven.
Survival horror game Abandoned is about waking up alone and hunted in the woods
Waking up in the woods by yourself is usually a bad sign, and finding out there's a cult hunting you throughout said forest isn't much help. Abandoned is a new survival horror game is coming to the PlayStation, combining open-world environments and realism with a really bad night in the woods.
According to the game's reveal today, Abandoned follows player character Jason Longfield, as he finds himself waking up in an unknown forest without any memories. He soon learns there's some evil afoot, possibly an evil cult, and now is as good a time as any to escape.
Hasan Kahraman, game director for developer Blue Box Game Studios, says that the team wants to deliver a gameplay experience that feels realistic. If Jason sprints for a really long time, for example, his accuracy might suffer. Guns themselves are also pretty slow to fire, so make any shots count.
Abandoned will also be making use of some of the PlayStation 5's features, like the DualSense controller. The adaptive triggers, for example, will make pulling the trigger on a loaded or unloaded gun feel different from each other. The PS5's 3D audio will also help you identify where shots are coming from, so you can react accordingly.
It also seems to be an extremely high-fidelity game. Kahraman says the team is working to render at 4K native, and I will say, the woods and trees have a bit of an uncanny valley effect on me in this footage. Sadly, it doesn't seem like this particular survival horror game will have any tall vampire ladies in it, but it still looks fairly interesting. A gameplay reveal is set to come soon, and Abandoned will launch exclusive to PS5 sometime in Q4 2021.
Zombie Army 4: Dead War gets free next-gen upgrade on PS5 and Xbox Series X
Are you digging WW2 monster-masher Zombie Army 4: Dead War, but just feel like the blood and viscera flying through the air is missing that certain je ne sais quoi? Well, worry no more, as developer Rebellion has announced a free next-gen upgrade for the console editions of its alternate-history shooter, which rolls out this week on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Players who are currently run 'n' gunning through Dead War and its many expansions on PS4 and Xbox Series X will be able to access the upgrade on the same console family gratis. The PS5 edition has already unlocked faster loading times, 4K resolution options, and a 60Hz mode partnered with Dynamic Resolution Scaling (DRS). On April 8, Xbox Series S will receive similarly reduced loading times, and 1080p at 60Hz, while bigger brother Xbox Series X will be afforded a new Quality/Performance Mode toggle, offering the same visual boosts as the PS5 edition. You'll be popping skulls like never before.
In addition, to the technical upgrades, Rebellion has released a new patch on all platforms, fixing a slew of general and specific bugs and glitches, while also adding crossplay between the Windows 10, Steam, and Epic Game Store editions of the game. With Zombie Army 4: Dead War hitting PlayStation Plus this month, and an Xbox Game Pass debut on the horizon, it looks like the manic shooter is about to lock 'n' load for a fresh round of decay and destruction. Brrraiinnnsss.
Borderlands movie casts villain, will remain 'authentic to characters, tone and style'
Lionsgate's cinematic adaptation of Borderlands promises to retain the characters, world, and overall tone of the video games, while allowing for new and original storytelling within the wastelands of Pandora. At least that's the score according to Eli Roth, who will be sitting in the director's chair for the star-studded movie, which starts rolling later in 2021.
Roth made the comments in a recent interview with Deadline, where the goremeister addressed the plot of the upcoming movie. Borderlands will see a team of unlikely heroes on a hazardous quest to locate and protect the daughter of "the universe' most powerful S.O.B." Atlas, as the child allegedly wields unimaginable power that could shape the destiny of not only Pandora, but the entire universe.
Nier Replicant went gold 'a while ago,' and will have free mystery DLC
Ha! Even the "gone gold" announcement for Nier Replicant is sufficiently Nier-like.
The game's producer, Yosuke Saito, took to Twitter to confirm the news, noting that Replicant's new release was completely ready to go and went gold. In fact, they note that it had gone gold "quite a while ago," and even has DLC approved. Yep, Nier Replicant got a final confirmation of some form of free DLC, which has already been greenlit and will be offered at a later point in time.
Rumors are already swirling that this could be the "Papa" or "Old Man Nier" storyline grafted into the game as an optional way to play. Now that would be extremely ambitious, but even a side story of sorts wouldn't be out of the question. Or, it could be costumes. Either way, it's free! Saito also states that there will be an announcement of what the DLC is "and the date" at some point in the future; then tells people to pre-order the game.
Nier Replicant is only a few weeks away and a lot of new Nier converts from Automata are waiting with bated breath. Until that day comes, read our preview, and our review will be arriving around launch.
Yosuke Saito [Twitter via Gematsu]
Girls Make Games teams with Google Play for Change the Game initiative
Google Play, in association with the Girls Make Games group, has opened submissions for this year's annual Change the Game Design Challenge. The initiative encourages girls and young women to put forward their own original game ideas, with the possibility of earning a spot in a series of upcoming game design workshops.
"Though women are playing mobile games at record numbers and make up 45% of gamers, they are heavily underrepresented in the gaming industry and as protagonists in video games." reads the initiative's website. "At Google Play, we have a mission to make mobile gaming truly for everyone by enabling women to be celebrated and empowered as both players and creators. We're calling on teens to become Game Changers by sharing an original game idea and a unique vision for the future of the gaming industry."
Capcom breaks down Monster Hunter Rise's Wirebug in this helpful video guide
In my review, I noted how impactful the Wirebug was in Monster Hunter Rise, and since launch, I've heard the same sentiment from countless readers.
What is the Wirebug you ask? Well, it's like a thematic grappling hook, which you can use to not only zip around the map and scale areas vertically (hence the "Rise" bit of the moniker), but you can also deploy it actively for special Wirebug moves and for recovery: like getting up quickly in a fighting game.
The entire system is governed by a meter, which provides a cooldown for each Wirebug charge. On paper, it can seem complicated, but after a few missions, it becomes second nature. This handy six-minute video from Capcom helps break it all down.
If you're pressed for time, the actual guide sans primer pageantry begins at 1:40 in. It starts at basic traversal, then moves into combat pointers at 3:40. Finally, at 4:40, they get into Silkbind techniques, which vary from weapon to weapon and can be customized.
The biggest tip that people miss is using the "halt momentum" technique by pressing A in the air after using a Wirebug traversal technique. You'll hang in the air and you can even air evade. Also a lot of people forget that wallrunning can actually lead to attack opportunities.
Sony says it was MLB's decision to bring The Show to Game Pass
The announcement that Sony's baseball sim MLB The Show is coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch was a bit of a surprise, to say the least. But Sony is saying the decision didn't come from them.
Speaking to Inverse, a PlayStation representative says the decision to bring MLB The Show 21 to more consoles, and to Game Pass, came straight from MLB itself.
"As part of the goal for this year's game, MLB decided to bring the franchise to more players and baseball fans," the rep told Inverse. "This decision provides a unique opportunity to further establish MLB The Show as the premier brand for baseball video games."
It was already a surprise in 2019 when the end of MLB The Show's exclusivity was announced. Now the Sony San Diego-developed baseball sim is not only arriving same-day on Xbox, but launching on Microsoft's subscription gaming service as well. These are certainly interesting times for being a sports-game fan.
MLB The Show 21 arrives on PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on April 20, 2021.
Turtle Power: Oro comes out of hiding for Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
It has been a long time, a real long time, since we last saw mysterious warrior Oro step up to the plate. Being a hermit, I guess that's kind of his deal. But the Street Fighter III veteran is almost ready to take a break from his life of solitude to take a break on a few clavicles.
During yesterday's Street Fighter V Spring Update live stream, we finally got our first look at Capcom's resident 140-year-old in his all-new Champion Edition form. Having mastered the secrets of immortality, the old boy is looking pretty spritely - still rocking his ramshackle robe and ball-bag skin structure. Oro has also brought a little turtle along for the ride. Not content with just whooping your ass, he's gonna carry a little amphibian while he does it.
I want to live in this minature Zelda: Breath of the Wild Link house model
We frequently put spotlights on Zelda: Breath of the Wild in-game accomplishments, but the crafting community is just as talented. Breath of the Wild is a big world full of tons of little surprises, many of which have been recreated by immensely gifted crafters.
Take this miniature model from Ethirdes on Reddit of Link's House, found in Hateno Village. I mean, just look at it! Any hardcore Zelda: Breath of the Wild fan will be able to start pointing out the little details. Like the Flameblade, or the Desert Voe Spaulder. They even have Renado's Letter!
The creator notes that the bulk of this was done with cardboard and glue, but the components include: super sculpey, popsicle sticks, cardboard, tacky glue, and acrylic paint. Evidently the floor is 35x22 cm, which serves as the base for the model, and the bedroom wall is 25 cm high.
In all it took four months to build it, and the original concept involved an amiibo house of sorts, but ultimately they felt like it would be too busy with them in it. Ethirdes says that this is the "first project of this kind" that they've done, and they have another one planned.
Well, you blew me away.
Miniature Link's house [Reddit]
Huntdown brings its lurid cyberpunk carnage to Steam May 12
2020 was a kick-ass year for video games, I'm sure y'all would agree. But when it comes to the crunch, I don't there's any new release I played more than Easy Trigger Games' anarchic, explosive, kick-you-in-the-crotch-fantastic platform shooter, Huntdown.
One of the best indie releases from a top-tier year, Huntdown offered pulse-pounding, trigger-twitching mayhem, backed by some of the year's best sound design, and dripping in sordid '80s cybersleaze. Compelling in all of the right ways, Huntdown is a tribute to the staying power of Raw Unashamed Arcade Action. A retro love letter - written on rusted metal and inked in blood.
Super stylish rhythm game Unbeatable has cleared its initial Kickstarter goal
Unbeatable is an anime-infused rhythm game where music is illegal and you do crimes.
D-Cell Games launched its Kickstarter campaign for Unbeatable yesterday with a goal of $55,000. As of this morning, less than 24 hours later, that goal's already been cleared.
It's pretty easy to explain what makes this Kickstarter pitch so compelling, from its extremely stylish look and rockin' soundtrack to the two-button rhythm gameplay. Seeing it all in motion last night, I was already down for what D-Cell is working on.
With a story about rebellious musicians rocking out and a look that D-Cell says "aims to look like a long lost bootleg '90s VHS recording of the newest anime on the block," everything about this just seems rad.
There's even a demo on the way, called Unbeatable [white label], that's set to be a "special episode" in the world of Unbeatable. On the Steam page, D-Cell says that every week for the length of Unbeatable's crowdfunding campaign—now through May 7—the demo will be updated with new story content and beatmaps, eventually creating a complete stand-alone narrative.
Unbeatable is currently targeting a release date by Dec. 2023, judging by their Kickstarter tiers' estimated delivery. Honestly, take all the time. Unbeatable already looks rad, and with an initial funding goal cleared, I'm excited to see what the team can put together for the future.
Monster Hunter Rise is giving out a free item pack to celebrate five million units shipped
In case you missed it, Monster Hunter Rise hit five million units shipped in just under two weeks. It's a big accomplishment for Capcom, and there's more to come as Rise continues to hit that word of mouth stride and builds up to its PC launch in 2022.
In the meantime, Capcom is celebrating with some free items, which they're calling "Kamura Pack 1: Big Hit Celebration."
It's in the cards: Rose returns in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition April 19
In all my years - decades - of playing Street Fighter, there is no one character I have put more time into than gaming's foremost fortune-teller, Rose. From her first appearance in 1995's Street Fighter Alpha, to her great, EVO-winning comeback in 2008's Street Fighter IV, I've poured months' worth of time into the Italian psychic. And that clock is set to keep turning, with Rose's long-awaited return in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.
As revealed during yesterdays' "Street Fighter V Spring Update" live stream, Rose's high-fashion heels are set to come click-clacking into battle on April 19. The solemn, tragic diva will return to the ring armed with her trusty scarf, her mastery of Soul Power, and more than a few tubs of hair gel.
Notably, for the first time, Rose will truly use the power of the Tarot in battle, as her V-Trigger I ability will afford her the use of a selection of cards, which can be used to either buff herself or apply de-buffs to the opponent. This mechanic alone offers Rose a tactical depth that is missing from so many fighters on the SFV roster - welcome creativity that bodes well for the design of future iterations in the franchise.
School's Out: Akira Kazama kicks ass in her first Street Fighter V: Champion Edition trailer
Capcom has released the first teasing look at Rival Schools' Akira Kazama making her distinct presence felt in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition. The teenage biker gal will step back into the ring for the first time in decades, but her inimitable and impactful martial-arts style to Street Fighter's roster of sluggers.
Pac-Man 99 is out tomorrow for Nintendo Switch Online and there's a single-player mode
Pac-Man 99 is the next last-player-standing game for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers following Tetris 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35 (RIP), and you know what? Sure. I'm down. There's going to be a point of diminishing returns for these nostalgia-mining pack-ins, but we aren't quite there yet. (Or are we?)
Bandai Namco Entertainment is launching Pac-Man 99 for Switch Online on April 7, 2021, and you'll be able to download it and compete against the pellet-munching masses starting at 6:00 p.m. Pacific. Beyond the basic recurring battle royale concept, the game is also throwing in fun elements like ghost trains, which I'm stoked to see after recently revisiting Pac-Man Championship Edition 2.
To outlast other players, you'll need to clog up their screens with jammers by waking up sleeping ghosts, powering up, and tearing through trains. It's going to get chaotic fast, but that's the appeal.
If you aren't into the idea of facing off against strangers or you're just looking to practice, there's single-player CPU Battle, as well as Score Attack and Blind Time Attack, so you can play offline. You can also switch up the look and sound of Pac-Man 99 with optional DLC themes based on other classics. You can get everything (including themes) bundled together for $30, or spend $15 on a Mode Unlock pack.
Yep, I'm going to have to buy the Dig Dug theme for two bucks. There's no resisting it.
Harold Halibut, a hand-made adventure game set on a sunken ark, is coming 'soonish'
Point-and-click adventure fans with a soft spot for hand-crafted worlds will want to keep an eye on Harold Halibut, "a cross between game and stop motion film." I'm sure I've seen it before – the creators at Slow Bros. have toiled away for years – but now it's back on my radar with a story trailer for 2021.
The latest release window? "Soonish." It'll be done when it's done, of course. Video games, particularly ones that incorporate stop motion animation, shouldn't be rushed out. Aesthetics can only go so far.
This new preview is a fairly comprehensive look at Harold Halibut's colony of capital-C Characters, and it's an enjoyable watch in and of itself. It's a legit trailer. Hundreds of years after fleeing the Cold War, our current-day oddballs are stuck aboard a spaceship that's stranded on a surprisingly inhospitable ocean planet, and the stars are about to align for a possible re-launch for greener pastures. You'll fit in the picture as Harold, a well-meaning lab assistant. You're gonna point, and you're gonna click.
The original vision for the game goes as far back as 2012, during a "conversation over dinner about our love of stop motion and story games," according to the team. "It wasn't long after that we started building dollhouse-sized sets and puppets in our bedrooms." And thankfully, they stuck with it.
High-effort hand-made games haven't always fared that well commercially, but I think I speak for a lot of us when I say the ambition is appreciated. It's wonderful to see games merge with other disciplines.
I'm expecting a huge sigh of relief from the creators when this project finally wraps up. No rush!
Threes creator's new studio announces mouse-bouncing battler Beast Breaker
The creator of mobile hit Threes has a new studio and a new project. Vodeo Games has announced its inaugural game, Beast Breaker, is coming to PC and Nintendo Switch this summer.
Shown off in a new trailer, Beast Breaker seems like a mix of pinball physics and the sort of brick-smashing action you'd expect in Breakout or Holedown. You command a tiny heroic mouse named Skipper on their quest to destroy massive beasts, which are already conveniently split into mosaic parts for your squeaky squire to bounce between.
According to Vodeo's description of the game, it will combine those physics with tactical decision making, where you have to line up angles and strike the beast. There's also persistent upgrades and crafting new equipment, as you travel the land with Skip to take down more beasts.
Vodeo Games is founded by Asher Vollmer, the creator of Threes, and they describe their particular brand of games as "cozy-crunchy." The team plans to launch one new "Vodeo Game" every year, with diverse settings and genres, but always cozy-crunchy. If it's anywhere near as engaging and time-consuming as Threes, it's gonna chew the battery right out of my Nintendo Switch.
Canceled Dreamcast Castlevania prototype surfaces online
A forgotten piece of Castlevania history seems to have been recovered. Preservationists have recently found a playable demo of Castlevania: Resurrection, a canceled 3D Castlevania game for the Sega Dreamcast.
Dreamcast preservationists (via Polygon) got their hands on a disc that seems to predate E3 1999, when Castlevania: Resurrection was reportedly shown behind closed doors. A video shows a presenter booting up the game, accessing a menu, and running around 3D environments in this old prototype.
The story would have featured Victor Belmont and Castlevania Legends protagonist Sonia Belmont, teaming up across time to deal with Dracula. According to an old interview with art director Greg Orduyan, it would have been point A to B, closer to side-scrolling games than any sort of free-roaming. However, it ended up getting canceled.
For preservationists, it's neat to have this record of a game that existed, even if only in a prototype. And it's a little odd to think of an alternate timeline where Castlevania's legacy continued on to the Dreamcast, especially when the series has been so quiet as of late. At least we have some other series still trying to keep the torch alight.
Diablo II: Resurrected will have a single-player technical alpha this weekend
Diablo II's resurrection is close at hand, or at least, an alpha of it is. Blizzard is hosting a single-player-only technical alpha for Diablo II: Resurrected on PC this weekend.
A limited number of players who opted into the technical alpha will be chosen randomly to participate, and should receive emails about it soon. The alpha will go live on Friday, April 9, at 7 a.m. PT, concluding on April 12 at 10 a.m. PT.
Three of the seven classes will be available in the alpha: Barbarian, Amazon, and Sorceress. Those who make it in will be able to play through the first two Acts, and there will be no level cap, so alpha players can grind as much as they'd like until the end of the weekend.
Though single-player is the focus, Blizzard says that a separate test focusing on multiplayer will be coming later this year.
Diablo II: Resurrected was announced earlier this year during BlizzCon 2021's online showcase. It's set to bring the classic dungeon-crawling action RPG to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, with cross-progression and the ability to keep your old saves. You can check out our interview with the developers for more on this resurrection, but hopefully, it can keep that Diablo magic alive—or at least set a more positive tone for Blizzard re-launches.
Fire Emblem Heroes revisits its past with new Blazing Blade warriors
Now that NON-DENOMINATIONAL EGG AND RABBIT day is behind it, Nintendo's mobile battler Fire Emblem Heroes can get back to its typical, war-faring ways. The newest update for the gacha title is feeling a little nostalgic, offering up a quartet of characters from 2003 Game Boy Advance release Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, incidentally the first title in the storied adventure series to see an official release on western shores.
BioWare details how it's rebalancing Mass Effect for the Legendary Edition
The Mass Effect trilogy remaster is just over a month away now, bringing the story of Shepard to modern consoles. Of course, this means fine-tuning the games, especially the older ones.
BioWare already confirmed that the Mass Effect Legendary Edition will include some technical improvements, as well as some minor changes to camera framing. Today, in a new PlayStation blog, community manager Jay Ingram goes over a more detailed list of exactly what those changes entail.
One of the biggest differences in the trilogy is the leap from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2, which eschewed heat gauges for "thermal clips" (ammo). The first Mass Effect also had some more traditional RPG mechanics, and some odd quirks to its control scheme.
Minor changes, like being able to sprint outside of combat, flag items as junk and bulk sell or reduce them to Omni-gel, and having a dedicated melee attack button all seem like genuinely solid quality-of-life updates to the first Mass Effect. All classes will be able to use any weapon without penalty (though classes can still only specialize into certain weapons) and weapon accuracy and handling has been "significantly improved."
Some boss fights have also been tweaked—Ingram highlights a certain fight on Noveria as one—and most importantly, squadmates can now be ordered around independent of each other in the first Mass Effect, like you can in the sequels.
Of course, the Mako is the big one. Mass Effect's infamous all-terrain vehicle has plenty of in-jokes about how it handled in the first game, even if some people (me) ended up finding its quirks endearing. Ingram says that physics have been tuned to feel "weightier," the camera controls have been improved, a new speed boost thruster has been added, and lava no longer results in instant death.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition will also have a unified launcher and updated character creator, including the previously confirmed canonization of Mass Effect 3's default "FemShep" across all three games as the default female Shepard.
It sounds like the Galactic Readiness system from Mass Effect 3 has also been a bit rebalanced. The numbers aren't laid out, but Ingram says in comparison with the previous version of Mass Effect 3 with the Extended Cut (which included a rebalance of Galactic Readiness), being fully prepared for the final fight against the Reapers will be more difficult in the Legendary Edition. Also, the Extended Cut ending is now the default finale.
Other changes, like fixes and backend improvements to the Paragon-Renegade system, abound throughout the Legendary Edition, so it sounds like a lot has been done alongside the visual update. It's a mild bummer this won't include the stellar multiplayer of Mass Effect 3, but I'm also just keen on having another way to play through these games, and another excuse to roll a new Shepard with these changes, especially in Mass Effect 1.
FBI reportedly investigating CS:GO match-fixing in North American league
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has announced that it is working in close proximity with U.S. law enforcement, including the FBI to investigate accusations of match-fixing in the competitive world of online shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Ian Smith, Integrity Commissioner for the ESIC, revealed the operation in a conversation with YouTube channel Slash32. According to Kotaku Australia, Smith confirmed that there was indeed an investigation underway concerning a "relatively small but significant group of players" suspected of fixing matches in the CS:GO North American Mountain Dew League.
"[It's] what I would describe as classic match-fixing," said Smith in the interview. "In other words, it's players being bribed by outside betting syndicates in order to fix matches. Rather than players doing it off their own backs, opportunistically [...] it's been going on for longer, it's much more organized [than previous match-fixing schemes]."
Smith says that the ESIC has been gathering evidence and is preparing to go public with its findings, and any related charges, within the next fortnight. The investigation comes a mere six months after the previous scandal, which saw seven Australian CS:GO players banned for a year after breaching the MDL's Anti-Corruption rules. This was followed by the ESIC issuing a total of 35 bans in January against players found to be betting on their own matches.
Perhaps the introduction of a law enforcement agency as powerful as the FBI might lead some players within the esports world to toe the line a little more. But, (perhaps a little more realistically), it's a competitive scene and there's money involved - hence, corruption. As surely as night follows day.
This deal is getting worse all the time!
Remember weeks ago when Sakurai confirmed that Pyra and Mythra were joining the Super Smash Bros. squad? Although the amiibo figures for the duo are far away, the larger, more detailed Good Smile statues were confirmed for another round of pre-orders following the broadcast.
Well, they're up now for the "second round," and they're about on par with a lot of other Good Smile offerings in terms of price: Pyra and Mythra will run you $192.99 each. Here's the kicker though, they aren't slated to ship until March 2023. Note that this second round will run until April 28.
Previously, you could have gotten in on this racket in 2018 for Pyra and 2019 for Mythra. The company did another run that's coming in June, with another round in late 2022. But this official "second round" (the one you can get today) is going to be even more elusive.
Consider this a PSA!
This possessed schoolkid almost stepped up to the River City Girls
One of the key features that made WayForward's high-school brawler River City Girls so utterly appealing was its wicked cast of characters. Led by the dynamic duo of Misako and Kyoko, RCG was absolutely bursting fun enemies, shopkeepers, bystanders and boss characters. So many neat characters, in fact, that sadly not everyone got a turn getting their nose broken.
Apropos of nothing, WayForward has released an image of one such boss character that didn't make the cut for the bone-breaking punch-up. According to the publisher, "Noroi" was a kind-hearted schoolkid possessed by a malicious Yokai demon, turning him into a meat-cleaver wielding maniac with a ghostly visage. The River City Girls cast was already pretty much packed-out, and our boy never made it off the page.
River City Girls has an amazing array of Big Bads, from franchise favorites such as Misuzu and Abobo, to the amazing arachnid fashionista Hibari, the hard-rockin' but troubled megastar Noize, and the sexy, sword-swinging, crime lord Sabuko. There isn't a dud among them, which just leaves one wondering what other awesome design ideas hit the cutting room floor alongside the demonic Noroi. So knuckle up, ladies, it looks like there still might be further evil lurking in the avenues and alleyways of your burned-out 'burg.
PlayStation Plus really wants us to play Days Gone in April
[Update: It's time to claim the PlayStation Plus games for April 2021, so follow those links.]
Sony is back with three games for PlayStation Plus in April, and it's an interesting lot.
Some people – notably, PlayStation 5 owners – are probably going to feel short-changed by Sony's decision to double-dip. From April 6 until May 3, PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to claim Oddworld: Soulstorm (PS5 only), Days Gone, and Zombie Army 4: Dead War for their library.
In a vacuum, I like this lineup, but for anyone who got a "free" copy of Days Gone with their PS5 through the PlayStation Plus Collection promo, it's a retread. Of course, there's a lot to like with this open-world romp – more than people were initially thinking – and it's a meaty game. As a freebie, it's a solid pick.
We already knew about Oddworld: Soulstorm's inclusion after a recent State of Play (what felt like the sixth time we've seen this long-time-coming game appear on a stream), so that's not a surprise. Are you curious? It's worth reiterating that even though Soulstorm is launching on PS4 as well, you can only claim the PS5 version through PS Plus – although you don't need to own the console yet to do so.
As for Zombie Army 4, I've never fooled around and fallen in love with this wild series, but I'm weirdly open to the idea. I'm back on the Resident Evil 4 train and have been going hard with Mercenaries. When I've done all that I can with the full crew, I'll be in the mood for more frantic head-popping mayhem.
On the off-chance you haven't done this already, don't forget to grab the Play At Home 2021 games before April 22. Unlike April's PS Plus titles, anyone can redeem this stuff with a free account.
Sales figures suggest that Balan Wonderworld reportedly sold roughly 2,000 physical copies in Japan
The hits for Balan Wonderworld keep coming.
Following a poor critical reception, the Square Enix-published mascot platformer allegedly has only sold roughly 2,000 copies in Japan. Evidently, the game did not even chart (with any SKUs), missing the top 30 at retail. Though we don't have the digital sales figures from Square Enix, it's increasingly likely that they will ignore that this game exists eventually.
Following through, I checked the eShop to see if the game was ranked in North America, and it's still not in the top 30. Nintendo Life reports that the game did not crack the top 40 UK charts on any platform as well. Low-end word of mouth also tracks with the Steam listing, which still only has 68 total reviews: an extremely low turnout for a game from a major publisher.
It's heartbreaking in a way, as famed former Sega developer Yuji Naka has made it known in no uncertain terms that Balan Wonderworld might be his last shot to make a genre game like this. But if the market isn't responding well, and the game is fundamentally flawed, this might realistically be the end of the road.
Mascot platformers as a whole in 2021 are a very tough sell as it is, because "flawed but fun" is becoming increasingly less cute in a sea of polished genre staples. It was an uphill climb from the start, no matter how wide-eyed Naka may have been.
Having played it (I'll try any mascot platformer), there a neat game buried under there, amid many design flaws and an overall failure to provide a cohesive vision for what the world of Balan Wonderworld even is. Did you know there's a novel that fleshes out elements that weren't in the game? Extreme Mighty No. 9 vibes.
Cartridge Games [Twitter]
Zangetsu now playable in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night mobile edition
NetEase and ArtPlay continue in their efforts to bring all of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night's console content to the mobile edition of Igarashi's great gothic platformer. Today sees the arrival of a new playable character, Zangetsu, who joins the Bloodstained roster on iOS and Android as a free download.
Here's what Final Fantasy XIV looks like running on PS5 outside of a marketing trailer
Following Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn since 2013 has been a trip.
I saw it launch on PS4 for the first time nearly a year after it arrived on PC and PS3, and I saw it die on PS3 for the last day when Square Enix decided to sunset support for it in 2017. It'll be interesting to see if or when Square Enix decides to similarly sunset the PS4 edition, but for now, Final Fantasy XIV is officially on three platforms again. Well, sorta!
The PS5 version actually isn't out yet, but it will be available via beta form on April 13, which is also the launch date of patch 5.5. If you can't wait that long, the game's producer, Naoki "Yoshi P" Yoshida just put out a new episode of Letter from the Producer Live, which showcases the PS5 port in action.
Note that this is basically the first time the PS5 version has been shown in real-time, following the marketing trailer in the recent XIV press conference. Yoshi-P adorably crawls through what the port entails, including the more detailed skill icons, as well as the smoother framerate and crisper visuals.
The PS5 bit starts at roughly 1:20:00 in, if you're interested in watching the entire thing. It's fairly lengthy, and runs through around 1:35:00, at which point the team runs through a slideshow (with English) that re-iterates all of the enhancements. That slideshow also confirms a "high-resolution UI" option for PC players.
Yep, this is looking real good. XIV is still one of the most gorgeous games in existence, so being able to see a livelier version is a plus, as is a more stable framerate for higher octane bouts.
[Update: As expected the rollout seems to be a mess. The official Twitter account didn't update anyone when the process began, leaving many fans in the lurch as to how they should actually buy the new Animal Crossing line. After many requests, it provided a link to the waiting room.
In addition, after a lot of hype, they are reportedly only selling Isabelle and Tom Nook SKUs at this time (which might be the entire "line" altogether). Many folks on Twitter are reporting that they couldn't get in the waiting room, or never got the email explaining anything regarding the process. If you try and join the waiting room now the time listed is "over an hour."]
Ah, another day, another Nintendo-merchandise-related fiasco in the making.
Fresh off of the insane demand for Animal Crossing Sanrio crossover amiibo cards is the newest promotion on the block: Animal Crossing Build-A-Bear. You laugh, but this promo is so crazily hyped that the Build-A-Bear corporation is actually taking this very seriously, and has provided exact go-times for the online frenzy.
Today at 10:30AM ET, you'll be allowed the privilege of stepping into a virtual waiting room for an 11:00AM ET sale time. If you're curious, you're probably going to want to sign up for the newsletter to get the go-ahead and the link for said online room.
For reference, they haven't even explained what characters will be part of the line, and what they look like. Note that this is the only way to get the line before the summer starts, as stated by the company: "The Animal Crossing: New Horizons collection will be arriving in the Workshop this summer. Be sure to sign up for email notifications for updates on online restocks and in-store arrivals."
While my kid would probably love one of these, I'm at the point where I rarely get involved in Nintendo-related merch anymore. There are too many dropped balls by retailers and very little oversight in terms of limiting scalpers. When the hunt stops being remotely fun, it's time to walk away.
Having said that, good luck if you're trying today!
Build-A-Bear [Twitter]
The gang's all here for The Walking Dead: Survivors, hitting mobile April 12
Phenomenally popular franchise The Walking Dead is making another foray into the world of video games. Coming to iOS and Android devices on April 12, The Walking Dead: Survivors sees an all-star cast of monster mashers reunite for more bloody, siege-management action.
A collaboration of Elex and Skybound Entertainment, TWD: Survivors is a free-to-play game that will see players build a custom team taken from 80+ famous faces from the Image Comics series and its TV adaptation. Set your squad to fortifying your territory against waves of Walkers, as well as vicious attacks from clans of other players. Keep your team alive and your walls standing while managing your resources and increasing growth across the region. Team with other players to solidify your presence, lead attacks against other clans, and maybe you and yours will live to see tomorrow.
Grand Theft Auto V is coming to Xbox Game Pass this week
Big news today for Xbox Game Pass: it's getting one of the biggest games in recent memory.
Yep! It's none other than Grand Theft Auto V, which hits the Game Pass service on April 8, on mobile devices and consoles. Also on that same date you'll find Disneyland Adventures, as well as Rush: A DisneyPixar Adventure, and Zombie Army 4.
It's a good spread! I mean you have two ultraviolent games and two things for kids to play. And GTAV is kind of the perfect Game Pass game at this point, because it's so old that anyone who really wanted it already bought it, and folks who were on the fence might get sucked in and pay for GTA Online goodies. It's a win-win for Rockstar.
On April 12 NHL 21 is still arriving, with Rain on Your Parade and Pathway on April 15. Then there's MLB The Show on April 20. You can find the full list of April offerings below.
Game Pass continues to be worth the price of entry.
A brand new Monster Hunter Rise patch fixed a few bugs, including the save lockout glitch
Monster Hunter Rise is having a pretty good go of it right now.
It's shipped five million copies and is instantly one of Capcom's top-10 most successful games. It's riding high with positive critical and fan reception, and for the most part, there are only a few bugs. Although the parameters for triggering them are obscure you should be aware of them; though a few of which were squashed today.
Just this morning Capcom pushed a new update for Monster Hunter Rise, which shored up some lingering problems since launch. The vast majority of them have to deal with uncommon menu and emote bugs, most of which can be fixed by restarting the game. It's not ideal! But thankfully there was only one major save-threatening bug found so far.
The really good news is that if you were impacted by this one, Capcom has been able to fix it without ruining your save. Here's the snippet from the patch notes: "Fixed a bug causing save data to be corrupted when you try to continue the game from the Title Menu after quitting the game while having the Attack Pose Set and Hurt Pose Set equipped to the Action Bar or the radial menu. You will now be able to resume your game with the save data in question."
Bolded for emphasis! You can find the full patch notes for version 1.1.2 below.
E3 2021 will run from June 12 to June 15, Nintendo and Microsoft confirmed, but not Sony yet
With all the rumors flying around, it's entirely possible that the ESA pivoted its E3 plans multiple times these past few months. But as of today, they are committed to a free June show.
The ESA confirmed to Destructoid this morning that E3 2021 will take place from "June 12 to June 15," with "early commitments from the following publishers: "Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games and Koch Media, and more to come." So there's a few of the usual "press conference" suspects, minus Bethesda. Also note that Sony is again not present on this early list. Gulp!
There's a few takeaways from this seemingly innocuous confirmation, too. The ESA reconfirms that the show will be "available to everyone for free," which is great news as a potential last-minute decision prevented a disaster of paywalling. And there's another thing to note from the ESA's statement this morning, too.
"The ESA looks forward to coming back together to celebrate E3 2022 in person, in the meantime see you online this June!" Bold! Most companies said this last year too, so we'll have to see on that. It should be fine, right? Keep that optimism: You have a heart of gold. Don't let them take it from you.
"In the meantime see you online this June" is also a little disingenuous. Maybe from you, ESA! But the summer of packed conferences is starting up in April, and likely won't let up until later this fall. I miss a physical E3 mostly because it allowed all of those publishers to just pack everything into a week and not spread it out across half a year of micro-streams.
Pull off 'that' Akira bike slide in exciting cyberpunk VR title RUNNER
Remember that scene in Akira where Tetsuo steals Kaneda's bike and gets the ever-loving shit kicked out of him by a street gang? If you've ever watched that scene and thought "Man, that could be me!" then you might want to look into RUNNER, a brand new VR biker title headed to PS5 and PC.
Developed by indie outfit Truant Pixel, RUNNER soaks up the style of classic cyberpunk anime, capturing the atmosphere of movies such as Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Patlabor - an aesthetic beautifully dubbed "Cassette Futurism" by the developer. Players will don the biker leathers of black market mod courier Mina, as she snakes her way through the sectors of "The Thoroughfare," relentlessly pursued by agents of the Caldara corporation.
The whole world has fallen in love with Guilty Gear Strive's Ramlethal Valentine
What an amazing feat. It has been revealed that the global Guilty Gear community has fallen head over heels for Ramlethal Valentine, the beautiful, war-mongering diva of Arc System Works' luscious fighting game franchise. The revelation of Ram's popularity came as part of an update on GG Strive's development process, ahead of the game's official release on PlayStation and PC June 11.
The newest developer diary sees GG Strive director Akira Katano address stats and feedback taken from the anime fighter's February beta test, which afforded players the opportunity to throw down in nail-biting head-to-head gameplay. ArcSys' then asked said players to contact the developer with their thoughts on the beta, which they did in droves. And it seems, for the most part, that everyone's experience was mostly positive. Responding to the wave of feedback, Katano notes that while some of the issues raised will be addressed before launch, others are simply part of GG Strive's intended design, and will be left relatively untouched.
The reception for Save me Mr. Tako upon its release in 2018 didn't really play out the way developer Christophe Galati thought it would. A passion project for fans of the Game Boy and Super Game Boy, its initial response wasn't encouraging, with perfectly valid complaints about its difficulty, camera, and movement. Normally, a game would receive a patch or two to address these complaints. But Galati couldn't do that as the game's publisher, Nicalis, wouldn't foot the bill for it. After two years, Galati split with Nicalis and Mr. Tako was delisted from digital storefronts.
On May 5, the 8-bit octopus is coming back with a new definitive edition and a physical release from the folks at Limited Run Games. Save me Mr. Tako: Definitive Edition will release for Nintendo Switch and Steam, and it will include a host of improvements over the original title. Some of these include:
Review: Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-
I can't claim to be intimately familiar with Record of Lodoss War, but then, it's a little scarce in the West. It started out as a "replay" of a group's Dungeons and Dragons campaign, then spun out in about a million directions. We previously only got one of the games on the Dreamcast, and, frankly, I'm not sure how this one happened. A lot of the media remained in Japan.
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is an absolute mouthful of a game that Playism has bestowed upon us. What's immediately fetching about it is its outward similarities to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Just look at it and tell me you don't see it. The title character, Deedlit, has practically the same walking animation as Alucard. But mockery is the sincerest form of flattery! No, wait…
Marvel's Avengers is doing it again. Although this new weekly War Table update has some tweaks, and the game just launched a second Hawkeye, the marketplace is the big focus this time. Such is the life of a live service game.
The skins in question this time around are the "Aerospace outfits," which come in a set for the entire team, including the new Hawkeyes. "Subsequent weeks" will swap new outfits in and out, so in addition to spending real cash on them, (900 premium currency, which is roughly $9), you'll also have the FOMO of getting matching costumes as a group.
This week, Captain America and Iron Man are up. Starting strong! Our community said that those two were in the top three most-used characters in our poll near launch. Who knows how many people still play, of course. If you want, you can also grab a Black Widow BW046 nameplate for free as promotion for the upcoming MCU film.
Marvel's Avengers is in such a weird spot. It wasn't the best-received game at launch, much less after a number of improvements. It's a learning experience for big publishers. Maybe coming out of the gate super strong with mobile service provider tie-ins and a huge push for live service isn't always beneficial when it alienates the people you want to monetize.
Still, there's plenty of life left in this game, and I'm curious to see where it goes. Black Panther and Spider-Man are up later this year, among others.
War Table [Avengers]
There's a good chunk of games (especially from big publishers) I kind of avoid until they're basically out. "No, I don't want to watch this NPC backstory video. Call me when it's out!"
Our own Jordan Devore can't count the number of times I've asked "is [x] out yet?" whenever he's tasked with covering a specific beat. It's weird to think about now, but Fortnite was a big one. When it was just the "Save the World" edition I never really bothered to pay attention to its development process until it was finally out.
Outriders is another big one. It's one of those huge releases that is whispered in the wind, and I'll see it when I see it. Well, I saw it! And it's better than some of the other ill-fated looter shooters in recent memory, but it still has plenty of issues.
Prepping for PlayStation's digital store shutdown is a total slog, so start sooner than later
After hearing the PSP, Vita, and PS3 store shutdown news last week, I was disappointed, but I wasn't as fired up as some. More like all-around bummed and tired. We're really doing this, Sony? Welp, okay.
With the recent clarification that we'll still be able to download our purchases after the store closures (for the time being, anyway), I had planned to procrastinate on getting my libraries in order. July 2 – the PS3 and PSP store shutdown date – felt far enough away that I didn't need to spring into action.
With that "I'll get around to it later" mentality, on Friday, I began poking around various forums and communities to refresh myself on which digital-only games and cost-effective buys are worth looking into before it's too late. Tomba costs how much on disc nowadays? Okay, sure, another PS1 Classic for the list. Next thing I knew, I was in the researching groove and I couldn't help myself. I went a bit nuts.
Join me on my quest to see nipples in BMX XXX
BMX XXX sounds like a terrible idea on paper. It's technically a perversion of the Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX series, which itself is a perversion of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Acclaim decided that they weren't making enough money on their "sort of okay" series, so they decided to add the only thing that could possibly bring them more attention: tits. BMX is, after all, the most erotic of sports. It basically boils down to a lot of straddling in fancy and inventive ways.
I like breasts as much as the next woman, but this came out while I was in high school, and even then it sounded like a cynical attempt to make sales with controversy. Of course, this was also at a time when I was trying to maintain the illusion that I wasn't interested in flesh of any kind, so I would have passed it up anyway so that no one would discover my dark secret.
Now I'm an adult and I can explore my interests without having to worry about getting "the talk" from my parents. So, I'm going to take this game -- one that I'm probably going to hate -- and see how long it takes me to see a nipple. That is, after all, the main bullet point of this game. Also, I don't count nipples that are visible through tops. You don't get bonus points just because you don't wear a bra.
Review in Progress: Oddworld: Soulstorm
I tell this story time and time again, but my introduction to Oddworld was completely by accident.
It was dropped into my lap by a family member, who heard I liked interesting adventure games and gifted me a PlayStation copy. Man, I'm glad that happened.
The House in Fata Morgana is coming to Switch in English this week
Visual novel fans hoping to take more of their libraries on the go are getting a new one this week. A Nintendo eShop listing shows that The House in Fata Morgana: Drams of the Revenants Edition is hitting the Switch eShop in North America on April 9, 2021.
The eShop listing popped up sometime recently, as noted by a few sharp observers. We reached out to publisher Limited Run Games for confirmation and a spokesperson confirmed that yes, it will be released digitally this Friday.
The House in Fata Morgana is a pretty well-regarded visual novel, sitting as one of the highest-rated stories by users on VNDB and overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. Though it was first released in Japan in 2012, it went worldwide on PC in 2016, with a run from Limited Run Games in 2019 for both the PlayStation Vita and PS4.
Set in a mansion throughout various time periods, it follows an attempt to regain lost memories by viewing past tragedies associated with the residents and their residence. I've managed to keep myself pretty unspoiled on what more happens, but given the praise I've seen for The House in Fata Morgana, it's definitely jumping up my backlog.
The Dreams of the Revenants Edition coming to Nintendo Switch contains the main game, as well as the prequel A Requiem for Innocence, a sequel called Reincarnation, and other additional short stories. Basically, a whole lot of visual novel to read. It'll be fun to see how developer Novectacle's VN makes the jump to Switch, and to have some more stories to read on my Switch.
This Zelda: Breath of the Wild motorcycle stunt video is stylish and surgically efficient
You don't see Zelda: Breath of the Wild motorcycle stunt videos as often as other clips.
I mean, that's because it takes work to unlock it! To get the Master Cycle Zero, you need to finish the Champion's Ballad DLC, which not everyone even owns, much less has the gumption to finish. But if you do, it's a pretty rad reward in its own right, and allows for all sorts of open world shenanigans. Like this video from Redditor kneil95!
Short and to the sweet, like many classic Breath of the Wild stunt videos, they take the Master Cycle for a spin and get launched into the air by a waking Hinox. But the fun isn't over, as they whip out their bow and launch some slow motion explosives down at the unsuspecting foe. The landing is arguably the best part, with a Legolas style leap at the end.
The creator of the video was actually inspired by Aura over on Twitter, who is helping popularize Master Cycle stunt videos again. I can get down with this new wave! Every few months the community shifts to something new, showing off their take on a classic stunt. And of course, most people end their videos with the slow motion "no look" anime walk away.
There's an accepted etiquette at this point for these videos. That's how far we've come from "check out this random clip I made." One of the first-ever videos I remember watching ages ago was the "bear is on fire" clip.
I was inspired to try this out [Reddit]
FIFA 21 surpasses Outriders to return to the top of the UK Charts
Well, for a while it was actually a bit different. The past month has seen Monster Hunter Rise, Spider-Man Miles Morales, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, and even Supergiant's excellent Hades all hit the number one spot. But normal order has been restored, and Electronic Arts' FIFA has returned to the top of the UK Charts.
The soccer sim managed to successfully push past Square Enix's Outriders to regain the physical sales throne, with the brand new RPG shooter debuting outside of the Top Five at number six. It should be noted that Outriders is also available as part of Xbox's paid gaming service, Xbox Game Pass, which will have cut into the title's physical launch numbers.
Elsewhere in the Top Ten, it's still The Nintendo Show, with appearances from Animal Crossing: New Horizons - sitting at #2 a full year after release - as well as Switch mainstays Ring Fit Adventure, Minecraft, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Super Mario 3D All-Stars enjoyed a final week sales spike, before being removed from shelves for seemingly no reason other than... to encourage a final week sales spike.
Here are some very quick beginner's tips for Outriders
Outriders, like many modern looter shooters, can seem daunting at first. It's really not!
Here are a few quick tips to help you on your way.
Apex Legends Season 9 set to see a 'ton of Titanfall content'
It sounds like Apex Legends will be doing some more digging into the broader Titanfall universe. Respawn Entertainment's battle royale is in the same setting as the Titanfall series, though not the same point in time; and with Season 9, it sounds like Apex will be leaning more into that side of things.
As reported by Dexerto, a recent panel hosted by Brown Girl Gamer Code brought on several Apex developers. During the discussion, game director Chad Grenier said there was more in store for Titanfall content crossing over into Apex Legends.
"Next season, Season 9, you're actually going to see a ton of Titanfall coming back into the game in one way or another," said Grenier. "I've told some people before, if you're a Titanfall fan, hang on for Season 9 because there's gonna be some really cool stuff there."
Senior writer Ashley Reed also discussed how Apex Legends' place in the timeline informs the relationship between the battle royale and the universe at large.
"What's going on in Titanfall is a war, so it's very much a war story" said Reed. "Apex is what happens after the war, like what is life like in this place, so we're trying to integrate Titanfall into that, because Titanfall's very much [...] a part of the universe, but it's a piece of something very much bigger."
The two already share a lot of weaponry and broader lore, though what more Titanfall content means could stretch across a lot. Titans dropping from the skies or not, it'll be nice to see more references to the games that kicked all of this off.
