West Coast Avengers...Sort Of

Ghost of Tsushima aims to set itself apart from other first party AAA open world titles, but does it stand out above the rest?

The post Review: Ghost of Tsushima Is Just Another Open World Experience appeared first on Siliconera.

Developer Washbear Studio's exceedingly enjoyable, and thoroughly adorable, dinosaur theme park sim Parkasaurus will be waving goodbye to Steam Early Access and getting its Version 1.0 release on 13th August.

Washbear initially launched Parkasaurus into early access at the tail-end of 2018 and the developer has been steadily adding new features and finessing the experience since. Even back in 2018, though, it was a bit of a joy, delivering a light-hearted - but still remarkably rich - spin on the classic theme park management formula, offering plenty to get to grips with along the road to creating the ultimate prehistoric tourist attraction.

You'll need to hire and train staff, maintain stock, tweak prices, and scour visitors' feedback in order to get them to open their wallets wide, and Parkasaurus also offers a wealth of layout and landscaping options, decorations, shops, and facilities - with more unlockable through research - to ensure everything looks and runs exactly as you please.

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In this 2018 GDC talk EA's Magnus Nordin gives an overview of the potential of neural nets in game development, and how they can be combined with reinforcement learning to create new forms of AI. ...

PS3 players did it. The MGSV nuclear disarmament ending has been unlocked on the system and a player shared the ending online.

The post MGSV Nuclear Disarmament Comes to the PS3 appeared first on Siliconera.

In today's contest we're giving away Switch and Steam copies of Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break!

Who likes quirky mixes of tower defense, level building, mass destruction, and Monty Python-styled humor? *checks hands*

Ok! Well come win a Switch or Steam copy of Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break, featuring everything listed above and more.

The game’s immediate launch onto PlayStation Plus will give tons of people a taste of the addicting game

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Ready for take-off on August 18

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No Comiket? No problem! Comic Vket 1 will bring the lines, crowds, and booths to the wilds of virtual reality.

The post Manga Markets Go Virtual With Comik Vket VRChat Event appeared first on Siliconera.

As we approach the Thursday release date for Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxiboost On, Bandai Namco has released a new trailer for the game. The focus of the trailer is the new Maxi Boost Mission mode, which is the other half of the game's offline offerings. So to finally have some information about this is a blessing for many.

You can check out the trailer and its long-awaited details below.

Recently, Jezebel received a curious email from someone who identified themselves as a co-founder of GetEmails.com, “an all new audience growth tool for publishers.” The technology, we were told, could identify anonymous visitors to a website by providing publications like us with the names, email address, and,…

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It’s eating him! And then it’s gonna eat me! OH MY GOOOO

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Original Crash Bandicoot developer Naughty Dog has moved from the world of anthropomorphic marsupials to globe-trotting treasure hunts and post-apocalyptic tales of revenge, but the platforming mascot has nonetheless remained beloved by fans almost 25 years after his debut in 1996. And even with a number of less-than-stellar releases since, his original trilogy remains a benchmark for 3D platforming. So much so that a proper, numbered sequel is set to be released this year with Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

The Third Dimension

While Crash’s debut wouldn’t mark the first major platformer mascot to enter 3D space — Super Mario 64 had of course wowed the world earlier in 1996 — but Rubin explained how, in designing the character, giving his personality a third-dimension was key to the team’s philosophy, something that was lacking from mascots in the past.

Mariko Tamaki teams the warrior princess with one of her most dangerous enemies

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Today Phantasy Star Online 2 has been announced for Steam, but the game’s reach in the west is far from universal, being available only for Xbox One and PC.

On the other hand, the game is also playable on PS4 and Switch in Japan, creating a rather odd situation in which platforms are pretty radically split by region.

The official press release sent to Twinfinite about the Steam release includes a comment by  PSO2 Team North America’s head of marketing Fred White.

White mentions that the team’s goal is to make the game available to as many players as possible.

“It is our goal to bring Phantasy Star Online 2 to as many players as we can.

We have heard the requests for a Steam launch, and we are excited to announce that soon Steam users in 35 countries on six continents will be able to experience PSO2 on their platform of choice, including popular features like Steam Achievements and Remote Play. The Steam Store page for PSO2 opens today. Additionally, all players on PC and Xbox One will be able to start Episode 4 on the same day — August 5th!”

It remains to be seen whether this means that fans on other console platforms can hope to play the game in English any time soon. A while ago, Xbox division head Phil Spencer himself went on record mentioning that the game will likely make it to other platforms. Yet, no further information has been shared about additional console releases for now.

Phantasy Star Online 2 is available in the west for Xbox One and Windows 10, with the Steam release coming on August 5 alongside the Episode 4 update.

Good Smile Company has announced a line of FigmaPlus Sega consoles, so your Figmas can play on a Dreamcast or Game Gear.

The post FigmaPlus Sega Consoles Will Arrive in January 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.

The PlayStation 5 will seemingly have a dedicated function for getting the player directly into specific parts of a game. It's a feature called "Activities" and we're first learning about it via a media preview leak.

Recently, European outlet Gamereactor previewed racing game WRC 9 which will launch on both current- and next-gen consoles. In the presentation (which was presumably done remotely and controlled by the developer and/or publisher), the Activities function was demonstrated and described as "an instant deeplink to specific races directly from the [PS5's] menu."

Gamereactor has pulled its preview of WRC 9. However, Gematsu captured it and posted the relevant bit to Twitter:

I’ve never really thought of Mario Kart as a game with “plays” à la League of Legends or Street Fighter, but I’m more than happy to have been proven wrong by this amazing moment from a weekend Mario Kart 8 tournament.

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Splash!

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Earlier today, we learned that the StudioMDHR’s hit game Cuphead is now available on the PlayStation 4. In case that wasn’t enough Cuphead news for you, iam8bit has announced they will be releasing a CD set featuring music and art from the game.

This two-disc CD set will include 12 variant tracks from Cuphead in addition to two never-before-released tracks. The soundtrack is composed of lively 1930s big-band jazz style songs from the game.

In addition to the two CDs, the set will include an exclusive booklet featuring archival Cuphead artwork. This booklet even includes linear notes by the Kristofer Maddigan, the composer of the game’s soundtrack, for the first time ever.

The description on iam8bit’s website explains what you can expect from this CD set:

The rollicking, lively jazz of Cuphead is a musical institution of modern game soundtracks… which is a bit of an oxymoron, considering it is truly a blast from the past. It’s a score that defies convention, boasting a 1930s style big band luster that can only be achieved by recording super talented humans playing actual old-school instruments in a studio. The tunes have become so popular globally that StudioMDHR and iam8bit Japan teamed up to release a 2-CD set, featuring — for the first time ever — composer Kris Maddigan’s extensive liner notes, because he’s simply never written down his thoughts on the inspiration for and creation and recording of the Cuphead soundtrack until… right now! 

The set is an import from Japan, and while the release is slated to ship during Q4 2020, the website reminds customers that there may be slight delays “due to current world events.”

"When people feel like you're over-delivering on value, they want to not only continue to use your service but they want to tell their friends about it." ...

The PSO2 Steam page is now online and has an August 5, 2020 release date.

The post PSO2 Steam Page Has an August 5, 2020 Release Date (Update) appeared first on Siliconera.

25: Rock n’ Roll Racing (1993)

PlayStation 4 is getting an absolute gem of an indie game today. Nearly three years after launch, Cuphead is coming to PS4. That's not the end of the surprises.

Studio MDHR is working on a treat for Cuphead's earliest adopters. The Xbox version is getting free special update that includes a digital art gallery, behind-the-scenes commentary, and a playable soundtrack. It's like the bonus features disc in a DVD box set.

The special update isn't imminent. The developer says it's in "the early planning stages." Also, Studio MDHR is probably prioritizing work on the Delicious Last Course add-on moreso than a free update. But, whenever it arrives, it'll be a nice little touch and a tip of the hat to the platform that most heavily promoted Cuphead.

Surprise!! Cuphead is Coming to PlayStation 4...And It's Out Today! [Studio MDHR]

Where is the yarn ball?

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GDC organizers are happy to announce GDC Summer attendees will have access to comprehensive workshops designed to help you be a better ally and support a diverse workplace culture. ...

Google Stadia is adding several games and other perks for its Pro subscribers for free today and later this week alongside its summer sale.

The action and tower defense hybrid Orc Must Die! 3, a Stadia timed-exclusive, is free starting today for Stadia Pro members. Meanwhile, platformer Celeste is now available in the Stadia store for $19.99 today as well.

Four games will be coming to Stadia Pro members to download and keep for as long as subscribed on Aug. 1. The four games include first-person shooter Metro 2033 Redux, cooperative third-person shooter Strange Brigade, adventure game set in 1970s Northern Canada Kona, and action rhythm game Just Shapes & Beats.

Stadia Pro members still have time to grab a free copy of Zombie Army 4: Dead War until Aug. 1. Pro members can also claim the PUBG Season 8 Survival Pass for free when the season begins on Thursday, July 30.

Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break, which launched for PC and consoles last week, will also be free for Pro subscribers when it releases for the platform on Aug. 14.

Google Stadia is currently in the middle of its summer sale with slightly higher discounts for Pro members on several games such as Assassin’’s Creed Odyssey, Mortal Kombat 11, NBA 2K20 Legend Edition, The Crew 2, and Trials Rising.

If you're curious to know what free game-shaped things your Xbox Gold subscription will be bringing you in August, kindly set your knowledge hat to receive immediately: August's Games With Gold are Red Faction 2, Portal Knights, Override: Mech City Brawl, and MX Unleashed.

Portal Knights and Override: Mech City Brawl are your Xbox One offerings, with the former being a 3D sandbox action RPG from developer Keen Games. There are undoubted similarities to Minecraft, but it's game that goes much heavier on the RPG elements - with classes, upgradable skills, and the like - and places a stronger focus on exploration as players warp to distinct new worlds with their chums in tow, building and bopping enemies along the way.

Override: Mech City Brawl, meanwhile, is, yes, a 3D mech brawler in which players battle it out in giant robosuits, laying waste to the cities - inspired by real-life locations - around them. There's a single-player campaign, local and online support for versus battles, and it even manages to pack in a co-op mode where up to four players can work together, each controlling a different part of the mech. Oh, and you can customise your metallic punching machines too.

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Joining the likes of the Bounty Hunter, Trader, Collector and Moonshiner, the latest Frontier Pursuit role to be added in Red Dead Online 2 is The Naturalist.

The Naturalist is a wildlife focused role that obviously, has perks related to being out in nature, but also has the unique opportunity to work for both Harriet Davenport and big game hunter Gus Macmillan with consequences of course.

The Naturalist is designed to spend their time out in the wilderness, tracking and hunting Legendary Animals with tools such as improved Bows, the Animal Field Guide and Legendary Animal Map, and also a new Naturalist Varmint Rifle with sedative cartridges.

They will be able to craft special Animal Reviver Tonics to help preserve and protect animals, Weight Loss and Weight Gain tonics, and tonics that will mitigate the effects of weather and make it easier to sneak around. In addition, they can set up temporary campfires known as Wilderness Camps that other players can join up on to craft and cook.

The Netflix show’s song deserved a nomination

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The release of New Horizons sparked an influx of both new and old fans to the Animal Crossing community, bringing with it endless creativity. We love to see fan-inspired creations, so we’ve gathered some of our favorite Animal Crossing cosplays for you to browse.

These creators took a break from decorating their islands and houses to really put their hearts into their makeup and outfits —have a look for yourself.

Are you ready to experience the ultimate Star Wars fantasy in VR? Well you can later this year on Oculus Quest. That's right, you play as a droid technician. Who wants to be a Jedi these days anyway? In Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, your path to engaging with legendary figures and heroic deeds begins with a crash landing and a pirate attack that begins a grand journey.

The game features a variety of enchanting Star Wars environments and scenarios, utilizing Seezelslak (Bobby Moynihan) and a lively cantina to transport the player to different times and places in the Star Wars universe - essentially letting you experience these tales firsthand!

New experiences and characters also await, completing missions in the wilds of Batuu where you'll meet the pirate Tara Rashin (Debra Wilson). Check out the trailer below for more details!

While the pandemic may have banished away the usual glitzy pageantry of awards season, it hasn’t stopped the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences from soldiering on with the annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Much like the rest of the world, the process and ceremony are bound to look a little different. For instance,…

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The Mortal Kombat 11 Summer Heat skins give Kitana, Erron, and Baraka excuses to rock some seasonal fashion on August 6th.

The post Mortal Kombat 11 Summer Heat Skins Give Kitana, Erron, and Baraka New Looks appeared first on Siliconera.

Kingdom and Kingdom: New Lands developer Noio is onto something special with Cloud Gardens, a relaxing simulation game about planting seeds so nature can overtake "lo-fi scenes of urban decay."

I was on board with that one-sentence pitch, but Cloud Gardens goes deeper – there's a bit of motivational structure for players who don't just want to creatively unwind. Outside of a care-free sandbox mode, there are six "campaign"-like chapters "where the task is to strike a balance between nature and the manufactured by covering each scene with salvaged objects and lush vegetation."

"As you overgrow the objects, a meter fills to show your progress," says Noio. "You are given objects to expand the scene. These objects contribute energy to the growing of plants, but you will also have to cover them in foliage to complete the stage, striking a balance between nature and the manufactured."

It's beautiful and thoughtful and I badly want to play it. I appreciate that there's more substance to the game than just dropping seeds and watching them take root (which would've been fine). Even without that concept, I'd still want to mess around with these dioramas. The low-poly look is enticing.

Cloud Gardens will be on Steam Early Access for "about three months" and it's launching "soon." If you're captivated by this sort of soothing game design, you should also look into Townscaper.

It’s not just cheap RAM that Newegg have in their deals basket today, as they’ve also shaved $300 off two rather good Asus ROG Strix gaming laptops at the moment, too. The first is a Core i5, GTX 1660 Ti-powered number that’s now $999 instead of $1299, while the other is a Core i7, RTX 2070 machine that’s now down to $1700 instead of its usual $2000, giving you two very good options at both ends of the price spectrum.

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Today Creative Assembly released a new trailer of the upcoming Total War game A Total War Saga: Troy.

This new video focuses on changes made to the game since it was announced a while ago.

We get to see several balance tweaks including Achilles and flanking attacks, some UI quality of life improvements, and a very handy setting to change the visibility of arrow trails. 

You can check the video out below.