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Netflix is hiking its prices again – is it time to go back to cable?
Oct 19, 12:00
Kotaku Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:56 AM  Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game Baldur's Gate 3 contains a variety of fantastical races, some of them cute, others…not. The humanoid BG3 Githyanki race comes in shades of sulfur, with pinched noses and stretched ears, which, tragically, makes it the least popular choice for custom characters. But players on… |
Kotaku Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:00 AM  Spider-Man 2 comes out on October 20, but a big post-launch update will follow later in the year. The patch will add a new game plus mode, more accessibility options, and the ability to replay older missions. |
Kotaku Thursday, October 19, 2023 9:30 AM  For the first time ever Awesome Games Done Quick, the huge annual speedrunning charity event where players compete to set world records in crafty ways, will have a dog compete onstage. I suppose this is the logical culmination of speedrunning. |
Kotaku Thursday, October 19, 2023 9:15 AM  Spider-Man 2 features two superheroes this time around instead of just one, and there's a ton more stuff to upgrade as a result. Whether you're primarily playing as Peter Parker or Miles Morales, here are all of the abilities, skills, and suit powers you should focus on powering up first. |
Kotaku Thursday, October 19, 2023 8:15 AM  Spider-Man 2 doesn't waste any time showing you all of the ways it's bigger and better than the first two games. The result is one of the best video game openings ever. |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:41 AM  Are the Warhammer: Age of Sigmar - Realms of Ruin system requirements? You won't need the power of an army to run Warhammer Age of Sigmar Realms of Ruin on your PC. Even the average rig should be okay running what might be one of the best games set in the Games Workshop world. Yet, before you wage war throughout the Mortal Realms in Warhammer: Age of Sigmar - Realms of Ruin, it may still be worth upgrading to the latest Windows 11 operating system or one of the best gaming SSDs to limit loading times. Continue reading Warhammer Age Of Sigmar Realms of Ruin system requirements MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:44 AM  What are the best Roblox games? Games aren't just better than ever for kids; the means of creating them are, too. The best example of that is Roblox: a massively multiplayer online game creation platform, and since it is so easy to make something fun, there are millions of Roblox games to enjoy. User-generated creations allow you to weather the existential threat of a natural disaster, try your hand as a pizza maker, and take a break from it all with a spot of peaceful scuba diving. From sims to RPGs and adventure titles, we've highlighted the best Roblox games to enjoy, with over 100 million other pals in online games. Think of it like Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet smooshed together and forged into an entire platform to create one of the best free PC games available. Below you can find the best Roblox games and more about this exciting platform. If you're looking for some Roblox freebies, you can check these guides for working, new Skibiverse codes, and Fruit Battlegrounds codes to gain an advantage in your games. Continue reading The best Roblox games in 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:42 AM  Rumors of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Super series have been swirling for practically as long as the graphics card family has been around, largely due to hopes of GPUs with more VRAM. Now, it appears that the GeForce RTX 4070, in addition to the RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4080, may be due to receive a refresh. Continue reading Nvidia RTX 4070 Super may be in the works, alongside two other GPUs MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GeForce RTX 4060 review, DLSS explained, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:40 AM  What are the best Cyberpunk 2077 mods? Most focus on making the game run at more playable frame rates or improving its visuals on specific rigs. All important stuff considering Cyberpunk 2077 was, on launch day, in an absolute state for all but the highest specs. It helps that CD Projekt Red has released its own REDmod tools for free, allowing everyone to install Cyberpunk 2077 mods through a dedicated client they can download from Steam or GOG. This release comes as we also see mods that alter the range of facial features, change your looks in small ways after character creation, and even access stuff we were never meant to see. That last one's important as it adds new functionality to the cyberpunk game. What starts with a shove one day could evolve into giving your character superpowers. Continue reading The best Cyberpunk 2077 mods MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty review, Best Cyberpunk 2077 mods, Buy Cyberpunk 2077 |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:42 AM  What are The Password Game answers? If you've ever frustratingly bashed your keyboard as you try to find the most secure password available that will appease the many rules required of you, The Password Game might just be the one that tips you into pure rage. The new browser-based game from coder Neal Agarwal is frustrating minds globally, but we've discovered some handy tips and potential answers if you're truly stuck. The Password Game looks easy enough to begin with, presenting itself as just a box that asks you to choose your new password, and reminds you that it needs capital letters, numbers, and special characters. This browser game takes a turn, though, when it begins asking about things like algebra and the current phase of the moon. It's among the more mind-melting free games we've played recently. We've also got a list of all The Password Game rules to help you out even more. Continue reading The Password Game answers and tips MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Password Game answers, Best free games, Best free Steam games |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:34 AM  When is the Path of Exile 2 release date? Path of Exile 2 has now evolved from its initial role as effectively a large expansion to become its own full game, with completely new mechanics, classes, and an entirely fresh story and campaign. Like the first game, PoE2 places an emphasis on deep and nuanced build crafting, letting you put together a powerful arsenal of skills and loot to blast your way through thousands of enemies across the maps of Wraeclast. Path of Exile 2 is the standalone sequel to the first ARPG from New Zealand-based studio Grinding Gear Games. Built by a team of Diablo 2 fans who decided to make their own take on the ARPG genre and officially released as a free game in 2013 following several years in beta, Path of Exile rose to become one of the best games like Diablo and continues to update with regular seasonal leagues. Here's a first look at Path of Exile 2, including everything we know about the new mechanics, gameplay differences, microtransactions, and the Path of Exile 2 release date. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best games like Diablo, Path of Exile 2 preview, Best free games |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:27 AM  When is the Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 release date? Well, that's a question we've been asking for a long, long time. As the next instalment in Seattle's ongoing saga of strife and exsanguination gets a new developer and release window, there's a lot to get excited about. Arise Kindred, there's blood to be spilled and a power vacuum that's in desperate need of filling. After all, we've been looking for a good vampire game to sink our teeth into for some time, hoping and praying (maybe not the last one) for any word on Paradox's Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 2, the sequel to White Wolf's iconic 2004 VTM RPG. The game has been passed between two different developers, but it looks like we finally have something a little more concrete to go on - and a release window, too. Continue reading Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 release date window, latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Bloodlines 2 gameplay, Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 2 release date, Pre-order Bloodlines 2 |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:10 AM  How do you update the Steam Deck? The Steam Deck is an amazing piece of hardware, capable of being not only a great PC gaming handheld, but a powerful desktop PC too. Like with any of the best gaming handhelds, the Steam Deck needs the occasional update to help fix any bugs or glitches within the system, or just give it a well-needed sprucing up. Updating to the latest software is an important step to keeping your handheld performing the way it should, and so you can get the most out of your PC handheld gaming experience. Continue reading How to download Steam Deck update MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:20 AM  What are the best Fallout 4 mods on PC? The mod community is out in force, so you have lots to choose from when looking to enhance your adventures in the Wasteland. It's thanks to mods like these that RPG games like Fallout 4 enjoy such longevity after launch. To celebrate the weird and wonderful creations of the Fallout 4 mod community, we've picked out more than 50 of the best Fallout 4 mods out there to get you well on your way to a more interesting Boston Wasteland. If that's not enough tinkering for you, check out our list of Fallout 4 console commands, which give you even more customization in one of the best PC games around. Continue reading Best Fallout 4 mods 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fallout 4 console commands, Fallout 4 mods, Fallout 4 System Requirements |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:15 AM  What are the best pirate games on PC? Arr matey, ye be interested in the best pirate games on PC, do ye? Why, it'll always be a good idea to want to be a buccaneer. The clash o' swords, the deck at your feet, the sea in yer beard, the grog in your stomach - 'tis a pirate's life that's right for us. So we grabbed our bottle of rum and our tricorn hat and headed for the high seas to find the very best pirate games for PC. Right, that's enough of that, it's starting to give me a headache. There's nothing more liberating than being a pirate. No, not that kind of pirate - you'll want to pay for most of these games to support the creators and get the best experience possible, but there are a few free PC games included below for that feeling of looting booty without the actual piracy. So, from insult-sword-fighting to dodging krakens, let's run our swords through the best PC games that incorporate swashbuckling piracy on these high seas. Just try not to spill your grog on the way through the best pirate games on PC, landlubber. Continue reading The best pirate games on PC 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Sea of Thieves tips, Sea of Thieves quests, guilds, and raids, Sea of Thieves endgame |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:01 AM  With Resident Evil, RE2, RE3, the original Resident Evil 4, and even the likes of Dino Crisis and its sequel under his belt, it's not surprising that The Evil Within isn't the first Shinji Mikami survival horror game that most people would name. But that doesn't make it any less valuable, and if you enjoyed his other work or the genre in general, I'd mark The Evil Within as a game you owe it to yourself to try - and it's a free game right now, so don't miss your chance. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Evil Within system requirements |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:22 AM  When is the next Steam sale date? It feels like one Steam sale has just ended when the next one begins, but with some events offering better discounts than others and genre-specific sales, it's a good idea to keep these dates to hand. Fortunately, Valve has released the entire Steam sale dates for the rest of the year so that you can plan your wishlist beforehand. Whether you're looking for new PC games to sink your teeth into or simply the best PC games of all time, there's something for everyone on Steam. The seasonal sales are much bigger and last one to two weeks, with more games, DLC, and bundles available with chunkier discounts. The Steam summer and winter sales are by far the biggest on the calendar, and winter isn't far off. Continue reading When is the next Steam sale? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ, Steam family sharing, Steam in-home streaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:58 AM  I've been a remote worker in the cybersecurity industry since December 2019, working ungodly amounts of time on both sides of the Atlantic from a battery of various office chairs. The sound of dry spaghetti snapping? Oh, that's just me standing up after a day of work. Fast forward to around three weeks ago when I was asked to review the Flexispot C7 ergonomic office chair. Promising both lumbar relief and comfort at a solid price point, I put it through the proverbial wringer with endless Microsoft Teams calls, PowerPoint marathons, and some late-night creative writing sessions. Honestly, with a fairly sizable dataset at this point in my career, the FlexiSpot C7 isn't just another seat. It's genuinely been a bona fide game-changer in my quest to find a chair that I can throw long work days at, without getting up with a back so tight it hurts to walk around sometimes. If you're also in the market for some swivel-based sedentary real estate, lists of the best office chairs and best gaming chairs should be your next port of call. After the lion's share of a month testing it, I can attest that the FlexiSpot C7 deserves a spot on both. Continue reading FlexiSpot C7 Ergonomic office chair review MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:47 AM  Stellaris is one of the defining space strategy games. Carrying the 4X formula, as laid down by classics like Civilization 6 and Europa Universalis, into the far reaches of the galaxy, it mixes hardcore tactics with glorious sci-fi visuals. But there's another stone-cold classic of PC gaming to rival Stellaris, and it feels apt that it should launch now, hot on the heels of Bethesda's Starfield. After a lengthy time in Steam Early Access, Galactic Civilizations 4, one of the icons of strategy gaming, is finally available in full on Valve's store. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best 4X games on PC, Galactic Civilizations 4 review, Six games like Civilization |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:35 AM  Is Cities Skylines 2 Steam Deck compatible? Constructing a great city-building experience on the Steam Deck shouldn't be a difficult process, but the city-building sequel by Paradox Interactive hasn't yet been checked for compatibility. However, Valve has deemed its predecessor as playable, which bodes well for the performance of Cities Skylines 2 on the PC gaming handheld. The Cities Skylines 2 system requirements require 50GB of install space before you start living out your city-building dreams, and while that's not as demanding as it could be, it's still a big step up from the previous game. Picking up one of the best microSD cards for Steam Deck will ensure you have enough of storage space to start shaping out your ideal thriving metropolis, especially if you own the 64GB model of the Valve handheld. Continue reading Is Cities Skylines 2 Steam Deck compatible? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:45 AM  October 10, 2023: Checked for new Honkai Star Rail codes following the 1.4 update and PS5 release, removed expired. What are the new Honkai Star Rail codes? If you're just starting your adventure through developer Hoyoverse's anime epic, you might be wondering if there are any codes for freebies to give you a headstart. Thankfully, Hoyoverse has delivered, and we've got the complete list of active Honkai Star Rail codes right here to prove it. Honkai Star Rail codes are released periodically and typically appear in promotional livestreams ahead of major updates. These codes can net you some high-value currency, including Honkai Star Rail Stellar Jade, which you can use to pull the best characters from Honkai Star Rail banners. To save you time, we've collated all the latest HSR codes and how to redeem them in Honkai Star Rail, so be sure to check back regularly before they expire. Continue reading Honkai Star Rail codes October 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, Honkai Star Rail tier list |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:22 AM  What are the best free PC games? Whether you're broke or just frugal, free is a price point that appeals to everybody's purse. No matter your genre of choice, it turns out that zero can buy you quite a lot in the F2P game world, and even beloved classics are available at the steepest possible discount. We've collated the top free games on PC guaranteed to deliver a near-endless stream of complementary entertainment. All you need to spend is your time. From cultural landmarks like Fortnite to all-time greats like Team Fortress 2, some entries on this list can easily make our list of the best PC games of all time. In no particular order, here are the best free games on PC. Continue reading The best free PC games MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 9:46 AM  Star Wars Battlefront offers grand-scale conflict among the stars and planetary ground battles to boot. But what if you incorporated the strategic elements of games like Starcraft and Command & Conquer? That's exactly what Executive Assault 2, the latest blend of RTS and FPS games, does in style. Out now following five years in development through Steam Early Access and with 'very positive' Steam reviews, Executive Assault 2 is finally complete. Continue reading Battlefront meets Starcraft as FPS strategy game launches on Steam |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 8:00 AM  The GTA Online weekly update for October 19-26 is here, and Rockstar Games brings some new free gifts for you to grab as the Halloween event festivities continue. Along with its usual round of free cars, bonus rewards, and discounts, there's a new rotation of spooky event modes to play, and the Ghostbusters themed event is still live if you're yet to grab Grand Theft Auto 5's take on the Ecto-1. If you've been disappointed by the Red Dead Redemption 2 offerings this season, at least GTA 5 has got you covered. We've got all the details for the latest update, so read on for more. Continue reading GTA Online weekly update gives you more free gifts for Halloween MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best GTA 5 RP servers, GTA 6 release date speculation, GTA 5 system requirements |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:23 AM  How do you install and play a Minecraft snapshot? These snapshots are the very first iteration of Minecraft updates, and are a way for Mojang to test out bug fixes, technical changes, and new mechanics before officially rolling them out. Anyone with the Java edition of the creative game can try these features without any risk to your current world, so let's find out how to be the first to try the next big Minecraft update. During Minecraft Live each year, the next big Minecraft update is revealed to the community. In past years, we've had the likes of the Caves and Cliffs update, The Wild Update, and the Trails and Tales update - each of them overhauling the base game with new Minecraft biomes, blocks, and mobs. Since these updates come with so much new content, they need to be tested out first, and that's where Minecraft snapshots come in. Use them to test out new experimental features before anyone else, and feedback to Mojang if you have any issues. It's a win-win situation. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:20 AM  What are the Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria system requirements? The Dwarves of Middle Earth are not to be messed with, and in Return to Moria, we join them on a journey to reclaim their home. Fortunately, this journey doesn't look set to push your gaming rig to the limits as its requirements set quite a low bar. Continue reading The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria system requirements MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:19 AM  What are the best Minecraft maps? Minecraft is the inventor's paradise, but, of course, it is also the connoisseur's nightmare. Thanks to the huge number of user-created Minecraft maps out there, it's almost impossible to find the finest creations around. Who has time these days to sift through hundreds of Minecraft maps, devour them with their digital senses, and come to a conclusion on which ones are worth your time? Well, us, actually. We have scoured forums, marathoned YouTube videos, and sampled more of the best Minecraft maps than we can count on to bring you the definitive list. To find the very best, we have whittled down the finest user-created environments and placed them into their very own category. Whether you fancy a Minecraft dropper map to plunge through or a Minecraft city map in which to live out your Minecraft life game fantasies, we have absolutely everything you need to get the most out of Minecraft maps. Continue reading The best Minecraft maps MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:08 AM  Cities Skylines 2 mods are going to be one of the defining parts of Paradox and Colossal Order's new city builder. Between changes to roads, services, traffic management, and the blessed roundabouts, many of the greatest mods from the original Cities Skylines have been incorporated into the CS2 base game already. But in terms of real longevity, Cities 2 is going to thrive based on new mods. Paradox has already confirmed details about the Cities Skylines 2 download size and preload, and outlined its vision for the new CS2 mod platform. Now the Cities Skylines 2 team says that mods will not arrive "super close" to release day, meaning we may need to wait a while. Continue reading Cities Skylines 2 mods will not arrive "super close" to release MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines 2 release date, Cities Skylines 2 system requirements, Cities Skylines 2 maps |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:02 AM  October 5, 2023: Some new (old) codes have been added! What are the new DBD codes? These freebie-granting DBD rewards can actually be quite hard to keep up with since they arrive pretty regularly, which is no bad thing. We're never going to complain about in-game giveaways, and Dead by Daylight codes can give you anything from outfits to charms, and even Bloodpoints and Iridescent Shards. Whether you want your favorite DBD killers to get a stylish new look, or you want to add to your survivors' wardrobes, be sure to redeem the codes below before it's too late. There may also be codes for Dead by Daylight Bloodpoints, Rift Fragments, and charms, so there are plenty of goodies to be had. Some of these Dead by Daylight codes are ongoing though, so you may have snapped them up already. Continue reading DBD codes October 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:10 AM  What are the best RPG games on PC? Roleplaying games can have everything from interplanetary exploration, lightsaber duels, and bloodthirsty vampires to irradiated mutants who need to be beaten with golf clubs, lizards who can talk to cats, and a whole lot of dice rolling if that's your jam. It's a pretty diverse pool. The scale and scope of RPG games are like never before, with tech finally catching up to developers' ambitions, enabling vast, open worlds previously unseen. As a result, some of these adventures are among the best PC games ever made. So, dear traveler, gather your party and head out. We're about to bear witness to the best RPGs available on PC. Continue reading Best RPG games on PC 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 builds, Baldur's Gate 3 review, Baldur's Gate 3 classes |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 12:00 PM  Roccat makes some good mechanical keyboards, especially their Vulcan line which combines 'floating' low profile keycaps with pleasant tactile switches, a volume dial and a wrist rest. These keyboards are normally available around the $70 mark, but today you can pick one up from Amazon in black for $48 - a good deal for a full-size mechanical keyboard from a major brand. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 12:00 PM  I had, shall we say, a bad experience some years ago. Several days of lying in a darkened room eating cold party leftovers were to be expected. The amount of comfort I got from playing Alpha Centauri throughout, though, was a surprise. It's less about mere familiarity than you'd think, given how late I first played it. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri By Sid Meier endures partly because its design has aged well, but mostly because it's an unusually human 4X strategy. Its high concept story asks for interpretation, for a philosophical response. Where so many others are about the arbitrary icons of nationalism, or stock elves/insectoids/robots, it's a game about ideology and personality. Where a sequel to Civilization's "send a colony ship into space" ending could have asked "what if lasers and aliens", Alpha Centauri instead asked: Where is humanity going? |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 12:00 PM  Cities: Skylines the game that defined the city building genre in the wake of Sim City's self-destruction never truly grabbed me. It's important to say that, because it helps with the context, and it's context that I'm struggling with. For a follow-up, Cities: Skylines 2 is basically good. I'll even continue playing it, which isn't that common after a review, especially for such a timesink. This time around, it has grabbed me, and yet it's such a small step forward that I don't feel entirely comfortable recommending it outright. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:32 AM  Space Tales is a new real-time strategy game from Vietnam-based Saigon Dragon, who worked with Numantian Games to develop the brilliant They Are Billions. In They Are Billions, you scraped together walls and turrets to hold off a world's worth of undead, and prolong the miserable lives of a tiny handful of non-zombified humans at your settlement's core. Space Tales is breezier of demeanour - like the confusingly named 2014 RTS Space Rogue, it takes inspiration from 1940s retro-futurism, with brightly coloured maps and chunky chrome unit design. But there are similarly grim overtones. The game puts you in charge of a Starship Troopers-esque expeditionary force, carving out secure nooks on very-much-inhabited alien planets and flogging them as holiday destinations. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:07 AM  Please ignore that I erroneously call this episode 34 at the start of the episode. In episode 35 of The Electronic Wireless Show podcast we briefly discuss Just Stop Oil's game-themed protest at EGX this weekend, as well as re-highlighting a guide from the Arma 3 devs so you can tell when someone is trying to share fake war footage (originally created during the early weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but now relevant again with the spread of fake Israeli-Palestinian conflict videos). For our larger theme we discuss games that flip-reverse their theme when you least expect it, which is usually seemingly-cute games becoming horror - much like Harvest Island. Plus: James gives us a rundown of fun games he tried at EGX, which sound very cool! |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:00 AM  After busting down the castle door with their chaotic, siege-based citybuilder Diplomacy Is Not An Option last year, the last thing I expected to see next from developers Door 407 was a chill, meditative puzzle game that's just about, well, building tiny cities. In Urbo there are no sky lasers, no oncoming hordes. Nothing. Just dinky little grid-based maps, and an endless stream of tiny adorable buildings to plonk down on them in the pursuit of sweet, sweet point scores. This being a puzzle game, the aim here is to place three buildings of the same type altogether, either in a line or right-angled cluster, at which point they'll all shzooge together to level up to the next building type. This is where the Threes comparison comes in, though you can zhuzh more than three of the same building together if you're smart to earn more points. But it's not quite as simple as that. You see, your buildings will only shoump onto the tile you placed down last, and careful city planners will likely want to think about placing their buildings in reverse so they end up with their fancy new house in the place they actually want it, not in an awkward middle spot that cuts off two precious tiles from play, or awkwardly sits in the middle of another chain of dwellings accidentally. And yep, that's where the Dorfromantik connection comes in, and I really do like it very, very much. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 8:57 AM  Recruit an army of soldiers, accountants, demons, dogs, dog-catching robots, nanite grey goo, zombies, priests, slimes, whales, fires, nuclear bombs, vampires, and other oddities to liberate the United States in Million Monster Militia. It's a roguelikelike deck-building strategy game where you draft units who drop onto a grid in random positions, enabling all sorts of abilities and combos depending on where they all land. It's kinda like the roguelikelike slot machine Luck Be A Landlord dressed for a Halloween party in a turn-based tactics costume. Million Monster Militia is ropey in its current early access stage, but I have enjoyed discovering weird builds and I am cautiously curious about its future after some updates. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:24 AM  343 Industries' and Microsoft's well-reviewed, but fan-derided and far from chart-topping sci-fi FPS Halo Infinite is experiencing a slight revival, and it's all thanks to the magic of, er, Pokemon. Pokemon being one of several new custom gametypes knocked together by intrepid Halo players using the Forge map editor's new AI toolkit, added in the Halo Season 5: Reckoning updates, which allow you to bring campaign AI into Forge maps and tweak its behaviour at length. I choose you, Master Chief! |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 5:46 AM  Following three years solely on the Epic Games Store, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2's recent Steam launch was a largely happy occasion – save for it carrying over the same always-online requirement as it has on Epic. Yesterday's 1.1 patch for the Steam version has now made offline play possible, but in a move that simultaneously makes loads of and absolutely no sense, it's only available on the Steam Deck. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 5:32 AM  Flour, egg, banana, butter, salt. Given the ingredients at hand, I thought this was a decent attempt at making banana bread. The free cooking game Little Chef disagreed, and dubbed my dish 'Eggy Mess'. Everyone's a critic. But it's fun to puzzle out potential recipes, dragging ingredients into the pot, brushing my cursor against little physics-simulated spoons and plant fronds, and discovering what fresh horror I've concocted. It's free and playable in your browser, so hie thee to Itch.io and get experimenting. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, October 19, 2023 5:27 AM  Immersive sims like Dishonored or System Shock can be very fulfilling, but they are also oddly stressful. After all, the flipside of the genre mantra of solving problems through imaginative application of the tools is that when you achieve a boring solution, that's all your fault. Did you miss the final jump while trying for a complex, third-storey infiltration in Deathloop, resulting in a sadly non-immersive firefight in the courtyard below? Did you fail to combo those magical abilities and terrain variables as the developers hoped - nay, dreamed you would, forcing you to rely on ye olde cover-shoot tactics to reach the checkpoint? Shame on you! Don't you know how much imsims cost to develop? Go back to Open-Ended Systems School and retake that course in The Power of Choice. Also, consider playing Mosa Lina instead. |
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Siliconera Thursday, October 19, 2023 12:00 PM
Square Enix has released seven tracks from Star Ocean: The Second Story R on multiple digital platforms including Spotify and YouTube. These early releases act as a preview for the upcoming full soundtrack, which the company will release in November 2023.
The aggregate link that Square Enix shared lets people choose the platform to listen to the tracks. Other than Spotify and YouTube, the tracks from the second Star Ocean entry's remake are also available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer. The link also includes Japanese music platforms, such as Awa, Mora, Recochoku, and Dwango JP.
Here is the list of seven tracks that are available to stream. All of them are new arranged versions that Motoi Sakuraba made for The Second Story R.
The full original soundtrack is still on track for release on November 8, 2023 in Japan. Square Enix has yet to announce the final number of tracks that will be included in the entire soundtrack. However, it has provided short previews for the 22 tracks contained in the first out of the album's four discs.
Square Enix has also since opened pre-orders on its North American web store. The album will be available at $37.99 and imported directly from Japan.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R will be released worldwide for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC on November 2, 2023. A prologue demo of the RPG is also immediately available. The game's original soundtrack will be available on November 8, 2023.
The post Star Ocean: The Second Story R Preview Tracks Are Up on Spotify appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:30 AM
Square Enix has been sharing Final Fantasy VII and FFVII Rebirth screenshots, and the latest two compare the Buggy. The vehicle appeared as one of the early means of getting around the world map in the original game. In the remake, it shows up again serving the same purpose, only with a redesigned appearance that makes it look more like a traditional car.
First, here's how the Buggy looked in the original game. It was a red vehicle with four pairs of wheels, but a ship-like appearance.
Next, here's the screenshot showing how the Buggy looks in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, with some of the FFVII design elements preserved. There's a more truck-like appearance to it, though it still has four pairs of wheels on it. It is also open on top, like a pickup truck or jeep, compared to the enclosed original version.
The Buggy is one of two returning vehicles confirmed for the second part of the trilogy. Square Enix also noted that the Tiny Bronco plane would return. Like the Buggy, it allows the party access to areas they couldn't normally reach on foot. However, while the Tiny Bronco's appearance is confirmed, Square Enix still hasn't said anything about its owner Cid Highwind yet.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will come to the PS5 on February 29, 2024, with the exclusivity arrangement ending on May 29, 2024. FFVII Remake is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC.
The post Square Enix Compares Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and FFVII Buggy Screenshots appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:00 AM
Back on October 17, 2023, Konami's Japanese Metal Gear social media account teased a Metal Gear Solid crossover with a Vtuber. Hololive retweeted it. Now we know this was alluding to Vtuber Calliope Mori preparing to release a Metal Gear Solid collab song ahead of the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 1 release. It will debut on October 20, 2023 at 2am PT/5am ET/11am CET/6pm JST.
Ahead of that full debut, a brief clip of the song and its music video did appear. Mori shared a sample on her official social media account. It's only a 15 second sample, but shows footage from the three games interspersed with the Hololive EN Myth member.
This isn't unusual for the Vtuber. She's often released tracks tied to other game or anime IPs. For example, earlier in 2023, she created the theme song for a One Piece manga volume. Around 106's Japanese debut, she shared "Future Island." That also accompanied a new look for her based on the series.
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 1 will appear on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch on October 24, 2023, with the Calliope Mori song preceding that on October 20, 2023. The PS4 version of the game's release date has yet to be determined.
The post VTuber Calliope Mori Releasing Song Inspired by Metal Gear Solid appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:30 AM
Kotobukiya has opened pre-orders for its upcoming figure of Tio Plato from Nihon Falcom's The Legend of Heroes: Trails series. The character's appearances in the Crossbell duology of Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure will serve as the base design for this figure. The 1/8 scale figure will have an overall height of 257mm (~10.1 inches), which includes Tio's staff weapon.
The Japan-exclusive Kotobukiya Online Shop revealed an alternative face plate featuring a smiling Tio as an exclusive bonus. However, its fine print suggests that this bonus may also be available in some of the overseas sales and future restocks.
Other than contacting local retailers, people from all around the world can also place pre-orders on AmiAmi, which supports international shipping. While the figure has a normal price tag of 20,900 yen (~$139.50), AmiAmi provides a discount that reduces the price to 17,550 yen (~$117).
The two Crossbell titles originally came out for PlayStation Portable in Japan as Zero no Kiseki in 2010 and Ao no Kiseki in 2011. After a long wait, NIS America published the official English releases of Trails from Zero in September 2022 and Trails to Azure in March 2023 for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
The 1/8 scale figure of Tio Plato from The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure will be officially available in May 2024.
The post 1/8 Scale Tio Plato Figure Pre-Orders Opened appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:00 AM
Sega confirmed that it will set up game demo booths in four separate events that run in Southeast Asia from October to December 2023. People who reside in Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia but could not go to Tokyo Game Show 2023 will be able to play demos for the upcoming Like a Dragon and Persona titles.
The first event Sega will visit will be Thailand Game Show 2023, which will run concurrently with Wonder Festival 2023 Bangkok at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on October 20-22, 2023. It will then attend the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit at World Trade Center Metro Manila in the Philippines on November 3-5, 2023.
Sega will also place its booths in Indonesian and Malaysian events for the first time. The Indonesia Comic Con x DG Con 2023 will take place at Jakarta Convention Center on November 4-5, 2023. The company will also have a presence at Malaysia's Comic Fiesta 2023 in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on December 23-24, 2023.
The full list of Sega game demos that Sega will be at the upcoming events in Southeast Asia is available right below:
The post Sega Will Place Game Demo Booths at 4 Southeast Asian Events appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, October 19, 2023 9:30 AM
Sony and General Mills partnered to produced a limited edition Wheaties cereal box featuring both Peter Parker and Miles Morales' Spider-Man masks from the upcoming Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The boxes are scheduled to become available on October 19, 2023 from the Wheaties online store.
General Mills created several themed Wheaties boxes over the years, often (but not exclusively) featuring athletes and sports stars. The recent Century Collection boxes with Simone Biles, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jordan are currently listed on the company's online store, though they are all sold out at the time of writing. The exact price of the Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Wheaties box is not listed, but the previous boxes are listed at $25 and $35 dollars.
You can get a look at the box itself in the tweet below:
Marvel, Insomniac Games and Sony held several promotional events ahead of the launch of Spider-Man 2, including a lottery campaign with Japanese store chain Lawson, showing sneak peaks of several of the suits available in the game, and detailing the game update set to arrive on the same day it launches.
The Limited Edition Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Wheaties Box will be available from October 19th on the Wheaties online shop. The game itself will launch for PS5 on October 20, 2023.
The post Marvel's Spider-Man 2 to Appear on Limited Edition Wheaties Box appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, October 19, 2023 9:00 AM
Ahead of the Super Mario Wonder debut, Nintendo shared an interview series going over new features like Badges. These are a kind of equipment a player can set in the game to change their character's ability. The idea is to offer them new options, as well as influence the overall difficulty. Part of the discussion went over their general implementation, as well as how there were over 50 options when they were working on prototypes.
Director Shiro Mouri spoke most about the Super Mario Wonder badges. He noted that the goal was to keep abilities from being from being tied to characters, so any player could make a game more or less challenging via badges.
Here's what he had to say about the new feature and its implementation:
We ended up with over 20 different badges. These were the top picks from more than 50 prototypes. In fact, if a specific ability is tied to a character, players must choose that particular character depending on the course. So, it was difficult to apply an edgy ability. Since we were able to separate out abilities in the form of badges, not only can players equip badges that make it easier to clear courses, but we could also create abilities that let skilled players do challenge runs. For example, a badge that makes you run nonstop or one that makes your character invisible to both you and enemies.
Some badges alter actions, like jumping higher after crouching, while others are aimed at beginners, like one that automatically bounces your character back out of pits. Switching badges lets you experience the same course differently or at varying difficulty levels. I think the game is designed to be cleared more easily, even for players who used to quit 2D Mario games halfway because they found them too difficult. It also led to a new gameplay element to collect badges. During multiplayer (16), different gameplay styles become available, like boldly choosing badges that require some skill. Everyone can become invisible, for example.
In the first part of the interview series, the team discussed how Super Mario Wonder started out with a small development team. There was also no set deadline for it. It also wasn't affected by the movie in any way.
Super Mario Bros Wonder will come to the Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2023.
The post There Were Over 50 Super Mario Wonder Badge Prototypes appeared first on Siliconera. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:56 AM  Lords of the Fallen has a great range of classes for players to choose from. For those who wanted a specialized build, the Exiled Stalker may have been the perfect choice. A build focusing on agility and speed, you'll be darting between opponents and delivering a chain of lethal attacks. To have a strong start to the game, you'll want to know the best gear to look out for. Best starting weapons for Exiled Stalkers in LOTF These two weapons are the starting weapons of choice for Exiled Stalkers, considering their dependence on agility, their weight, and their damage. Make sure to get your hands on them! For the Exiled Stalker, lighter agility weapons is what will be wanted. For this reason, the best weapon in the early for the Exiled Stalker is the Fist of Insight. Requiring only agility, but also applying burn, these speedy fist weapons can be purchased from Damarose the Marked on your second encounter with her. Make sure to purchase these before you l... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:55 AM  Part of the appeal of Vampire Survivors is its incredibly deep pool of characters. With so many options to choose from, each with their own passive ability and starting weapon, you can have a fresh experience with the same set of maps for a long, long time. As of the game's Tides of the Foscari DLC, there were 57 in total, but the Chilling Update throws one more into the mix: the enigmatic ice sorceress She-Moon. If you want to know how to unlock She-Moon in Vampire Survivors, and add a touch of frost to your roster, then read on for a full guide to doing so. How to add She-Moon to your squad in Vampire Survivors To unlock She-Moon, the first thing you'll need to do is unlock the new Whiteout stage that also came with the Chilling Update. You can do this by collecting 20 Orologions, the time-freezing items that occasionally drop from light sources, across all of your runs. Screenshot: PC Invasion Once this is complete, jump into Whiteout to con... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:45 AM  Destiny 2 is one of the best Looter Shooters around and has the gameplay loop down to a science. Nothing rounds off a session with your friends better than adding a new Exotic to your collection. The issue is, if you're a new or returning player, how do you know what's good? Exotic weapons can be so powerful they define the meta. There are also plenty of Exotics that are complete stinkers. Let me show you the best Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2. If you've just got one, let's find out if you struck gold or if the Cryptarch is about to get Titan smashed. Related: How to complete May You Never Cease Triumph in Destiny 2 Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons Grading weapons is complex in Destiny 2 because there are two very different parts to the game. On the one hand, we have PvE, which includes Nightfalls, Strikes, Raids, Story and seasonal content. On the other hand, we have PvP, which encapsulates the Crucible, Iron Banner, and Trials. ... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:45 AM  With the introduction of the Blood Harvest in Diablo 4 Season 2, there are many new and unexplained features. One of these things are Seeker's Caches which require a Seeker Keys to open. If you're new to Season of Blood and Blood Harvests, you're probably confused as to where you can find these keys. We'll explain how to get Seeker Keys in Diablo 4 Season 2. Diablo 4: Where to get Seeker Keys If you're engaging in Blood Harvests, you've probably noticed those tempting Seeker's Caches. They're sadly locked, but require a Seeker Key to unlock. How you can get Seeker Keys in Diablo 4 Season 2 is by defeating Blood Seeker enemies during Blood Harvests. Screenshot: PC Invasion There's a specific way to come across these special enemy types with the name 'Blood Seeker'. During the Blood Harvests, you'll slowly collect Blood Lures from various enemy drops. Once you collect at least 1... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:38 AM  Hotwheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged has an amazing feature that lets players build any track according to their liking and race on it. Players can make the tracks however they like by putting any element that they want to. The Track Builder method has a vast amount of content, which will take every player a lot of time to understand and learn properly. In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Track Builder in Hotwheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged to make the best tracks by using your creativity. Related: Hotwheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged review – Almost a typical kart racer How to use Track Builder in Hotwheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged Before building a track, you must build a demo track as the tutorial for this process. Once you are done with the tutorial, you will be given full access to the track-building menu. Before starting to build the track, select the desired environment in which you want your track to be. After the enviro... |
WGB, Home of AWESOME Reviews Thursday, October 19, 2023 8:15 AM Assassin's Creed: Mirage is marketed as a return to the shadows, a smaller game focusing on stealth and assassinations. Weak writing holds it back, but it's an otherwise fun throwback. |
Pivotal Gamers Thursday, October 19, 2023 6:16 AM Hello all. gamehag holds a new giveaway for various titles. Read on for their offering. To get: 2000 KD, 1500 KD, 1000 KD, 850 KD, 700 KD, 500 KD, 250 KD, 200 KD, 100 KD, 50 KD, 25 KD, 10 KD To get this key your Steam level must be at least 2. Last minute notes Login with your gamehag account, complete all steps to get your key. So what are you waiting for? Click on the button below to claim your ... |
Pivotal Gamers Thursday, October 19, 2023 6:16 AM Hello folks. gamehag is giving you the chance to win on various titles. Let's hear them out. To get: 2000 KD, 1500 KD, 1000 KD, 850 KD, 700 KD, 500 KD, 250 KD, 200 KD, 100 KD, 50 KD, 25 KD, 10 KD To get this key your Steam level must be at least 2. Last minute notes Login with your gamehag account, complete all steps to get your key. So hurry up. Click on the button below to claim your prize... |
Pivotal Gamers Thursday, October 19, 2023 4:21 AM What's up all? Giveaway Of The Day is giving everyone the chance to win on Mystical Island. Their message follows. Mystical Island is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Mystical Island You are a brave captain of your ship.You were on your way for new adventures, but there was a shipwreck at sea and now you find you... |
MonsterVine Thursday, October 19, 2023 9:00 AM Gargoyles Remastered is a decent remaster of an intriguing Sega Genesis game that has been a bit lost to time. Though the remaster itself is a bit sparse, the game being remastered is worth your time if you're a fan of the cartoon or Genesis-era platformers. Gargoyles Remastered Developer: Empty Clip Studios Price: $60 Platforms: […] |