Riot Is Celebrating League Of Legends Netflix Series Arcane Throughout November

2 years 6 months ago

Riot Games is taking the whole month of November to celebrate its new Netflix animated series Arcane within all of its League of Legends universe games. The event dubbed RiotX Arcane starts today, with the official kickoff beginning on November 6 at the League of Legends World Championship.

This upcoming “Super Weekend” will include World Championship tournament play and the premiere of Arcane episode one at 5:30 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. It will be the first Netflix show to have a simultaneous debut on Twitch, which fans can watch on Riot’s page or co-streamed on other content creators’ Twitch channels. The remaining two episodes of Arcane will be released weekly on Netflix.

To commemorate Arcane’s premiere, Riot is releasing updates in all of its League-related games all month long, some of which are based on the new show. Here’s what Riot has cooking for players throughout November:


League of Legends:

Author
John Carson

Awesome Games Done Quick 2022 unveils full list of over 170 charity speedruns

2 years 6 months ago

Awesome Games Done Quick is back with more charity speed-running shenanigans in few short months - once again returning as an online-only event in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic - and organisers have now revealed the sizeable list of runs scheduled for the show.

Awesome Games Done Quick 2022 takes place from 9th-16th January next year and will span more than 170 speedruns, all raising money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation and covering the usual mix of triple-A titles, smaller-scale indie offerings, retro classics, and oddities.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Father Of Newborn Child Uses Free Time To Get Trophies Added To Bugsnax DLC, Still Doesn’t Have Peace Walker Platinum

2 years 6 months ago

It’s a story as old as time.

Someone claims to love PlayStation trophies – even though they don’t have the platinum for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker – finds out a game they want to play doesn’t have trophies, and they go online and pester those hardworking indie developers until trophies get added. In this case, that person is Greg Miller, whom some (very few, probably) know from IGN and Kinda Funny. Most people would know him as the photographer of washed-up hero, Shirtless Spider-Man

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Final Fantasy 14's Infamously Long Story Proves No Match For Hironobu Sakaguchi

2 years 6 months ago

An MMO like Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn can take 100+ hours to complete, and that's not even considering its growing list of huge expansions, which add anywhere from another 50 to 100 hours. This is seemingly no problem for Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, who has reportedly played through the entirety of Final Fantasy 14 in a month, setting himself up for the Endwalker expansion that releases on November 23.

As reported by PCGamesN, Sakaguchi started playing Final Fantasy 14 in late September, sharing his progress and screenshots on Twitter. Sakaguchi only needed 16 days to complete the base game and just two days for Heavensward (an estimated 73 to 150 hours on HowLongToBeat). He then completed Stormblood, Shadowbringers, and smaller patch content by October 29. He even managed to squeeze in some time to attend his daughter's wedding, the madman.

A conservative estimate, just counting the base game plus three expansions, puts Sakaguchi at 300+ hours of playtime according to HowLongToBeat. That's assuming he touched absolutely none of the side content in the expansions or smaller patch content updates, which could put him up to a maximum of 1567, which is literally impossible to pull off in a month and change.

Author
Joseph Knoop

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Video Games Stuck In Development Hell: Part 1

2 years 6 months ago

Video games are incredibly hard to make. Be it the cost to create them, the staff needed to actually develop a game, or something else behind the scenes, a lot can happen to take it off course. While it’s sad for players, developers know best what their game needs, and time is almost always something developers could use more of. Sometimes, though, time can’t fix everything, and in those cases, games can find themselves stuck in what’s known informally as “development hell.” 

This is a term used to describe games seemingly stuck in development forever. No matter what those development teams do, more and more barriers get in the way, and all of a sudden, a game misses its release date by a couple of months, then a year, then multiple years, and in some unfortunate cases, we just don’t ever hear about the game ever again. Here are five games stuck in development hell.

Part 1 of 3 in Game Informer's series detailing games that might be stuck in development hell.

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker Crafter & Gatherer Artifact Gear Revealed

2 years 6 months ago

Today Square Enix revealed the look of new gear that will be introduced with Final Fantasy XIV’s upcoming expansion Endwalker.

To be more specific, we get to see images of the artifact gear that crafting and gathering classes will be able to earn when the expansion releases later this month.

As a bonus, we get to see artwork of the Three Magus Sisters that we’ll encounter during the story.

You can check everything out below.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

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Mafia: Definitive Edition Headlines PlayStation Now's November Line-up

2 years 6 months ago

PlayStation Now subscribers have a new batch of games to play this month. Four games join the library tomorrow, November 2, and can be played via cloud streaming or installed directly to a console. 

Mafia: Definitive Edition headlines November’s round-up. This ground-up remake of the classic Mafia was released in September 2020 and coats the 2002 sandbox title with the Mafia III engine's paint. Don’t worry if you’re a purist; Mafia still retains its classic design, for better or worse. You can read our review of the game here. Mafia: Definitive Edition exits PS Now on February 28.

In its wake comes the goofy party game Totally Reliable Delivery Service, a role-playing classic in Final Fantasy IX, and 2017’s critically acclaimed platformer, Celeste. These three titles will be available on the service until further notice. 

Author
Marcus Stewart

Unpacking Review

2 years 6 months ago

In real life, moving is the worst. In Unpacking, described by its creators as a “zen puzzle game,” settling into a new place is surprisingly comforting. Unpacking takes you through a series of homes representing an invisible protagonist’s life from 1997 to 2018, and as it turns out, you can tell a lot about a person by the things they take with them. Though the mechanics are simple and the campaign can be completed in a handful of hours, Unpacking is a memorable, delightful game that shows that there are still new ways to tell stories in video games out there.

You might not think stacking plates and organizing books is compelling, but strangely, it really is. Part of that might have to do with how often you’ve pulled up stakes. For me, it was a lot: between the ages of 18 and 26, I moved more than half a dozen times. Packing and unpacking became an almost annual ritual as I transitioned through a series of apartments in various neighborhoods throughout the Philadelphia area. None of these places ever felt like home until I started unpacking: taping the David Bowie poster with torn edges to the wall, finding a flat surface for my ancient record player, and lining up my Harry Potter books in chronological order on the shelves. Settling into the next place always felt like a new chapter of my life was starting, and that’s a feeling Unpacking captures well.

Author
Dan Stapleton

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Best Nintendo Gifts: Holiday Gift Guide 2021

2 years 6 months ago

The holiday season is nearly upon us, and that means it's time to start grabbing gifts for family members and friends. If you've got a Nintendo fan on your list this year, you'll want to check this out. We've rounded up a number of great gifts that are perfect for Nintendo fans of all ages. From popular Switch games and accessories to LEGO Super Mario-themed sets, we'll make shopping for the perfect gift this year a breeze.

The Top 3 Must-Have Nintendo Gifts

If there's one thing many Nintendo fans will be looking for this year, it's the brand new Nintendo Switch OLED. With its larger, more vibrant display, it's sure to please anyone who can get their hands on one as they are highly sought-after. Aside from that, Nintendo Switch Lite is a great portable option, and you can't go wrong with Metroid Dread - Samus' first proper 2D adventure in nearly 20 years.

Best Nintendo Switch Game Gifts

The Nintendo Switch isn't much without its great collection of games. This year, treat your friends and family to some of 2021's biggest hits including The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD and WarioWare: Get It Together!, or spring for some all-around family fun with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Author
Matthew Adler

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It Takes Two, GTA, & Forza Horizon 5 Highlight Latest Batch of Xbox Game Pass Games Coming This Month

2 years 6 months ago

The Xbox Game Pass team, as they do each month, has updated all of us on what to expect this month and the lineup is looking pretty, pretty, strong.

For starters, the excellent co-op game and dare I say game of the year contender, It Takes Two will arrive on the service this week on Nov. 4. If you got a buddy to play with, we highly recommend giving It Takes Two a go as it is one of the most charming and fun co-op games to release in quite some time.

The big-time Xbox Series X|S and PC exclusive, Forza Horizon 5 arrives on Nov. 9 as well and is the case for all Xbox in-house developed games, you’ll be able to pick that one up for free on Xbox Game Pass on day 1 if you’re a subscriber.

Finally, If you are in the mood for some PS1 nostalgia or somehow haven’t played GTA: San Andreas yet, then you can pick up GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition this month as well on Nov. 11. This version of the game, unlike the original Xbox version of it, includes improved controls, lighting, and textures for a smoother experience.

Other games coming this month include:

  • Minecraft: Java and Bedrock Editions (PC) – Nov. 2
  • Unpacking (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – Nov. 2
  • Kill It with Fire (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – Nov. 4
  • Football Manager 2022 (PC) – Nov. 9
  • One Step from Eden (Console and PC) ID@Xbox – Nov. 11

If you want a little more info on all of the games releasing this month, you can check out the full blog post from Xbox right here.

Author
Ed McGlone

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New Call Of Duty: Vanguard Trailer Released, PC Specs Revealed

2 years 6 months ago

With just four days left to go until launch, Activision Blizzard has released a new Call of Duty: Vanguard trailer, this time focused on PC gameplay. 

Beenox is leading the development charge on the PC version of Vanguard, and its new trailer showcases some of the things PC players can expect. For example, it will launch with visuals up to 4K resolutions, ultrawide screen support, multiple performance options, and more. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Stardew Valley's official board game adaptation goes back on sale this Wednesday

2 years 6 months ago

Earlier this year, developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone surprised fans with news that Stardew Valley was making the jump to the tabletop with an official board game adaptation. Unfortunately, the first batch went fast - but those that missed out on the initial run now have a second chance at acquiring the game, with orders re-opening this Wednesday.

Online orders will once again only be available for shipping within the US, but Barone says he's teamed up with a number of distributors in the UK, the EU, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand this time around, and that copies will be available directly from local stores in these regions. "It's not possible for us to keep track of which stores specifically," he adds, "so the best way is to contact your local store and ask if they are carrying copies.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Uncharted 3's Director Reveals the Origin Of the Famous Cargo Plane Sequence On Its 10th Anniversary

2 years 6 months ago

Uncharted 3's most memorable sequence is undoubtedly Nathan Drake's running battle through a cargo plane in midflight. It's peak Naughty Dog action design, steadily escalating until Drake finds himself hanging desperately from a cargo net over the desert.

Hard as it is to believe, Uncharted 3 is now 10 years old, having first released on PS3 on November 1, 2011. To mark the occasion, several of its original developers came together to share their memories of Uncharted 3's development. They include building the cargo plane sequence, which then-designer Kurt Margenau says was the first time in his career he had a chance to build such a setpiece.

"It was truly a collaborative effort with animators, programmers, sound designers, and anyone else who cared to contribute. It started with an off-the-cuff idea of, 'What if you could chase down a plane on the tarmac and board it,' which turned into, 'Ok, what if the plane crashed while you were in it?' and then figuring out how that could even work and be playable," Margenau remembers.

The scene was born of Naughty Dog's desire to keep escalating after Uncharted 2, which left the studio confident that it could "achieve whatever wild-ass blockbuster ideas we could think up to one-up ourselves."

Author
Kat Bailey

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SpongeBob & Patrick Star Take on Squid Game In These Hilarious Memes

2 years 6 months ago

***Fair warning, the following content spoils a major twist in the Netflix original show, Squid Game. If you haven’t seen it yet and don’t want to be spoiled, come back after you’ve seen at least the first episode.***

Ever since it was released on Netflix back in November, the Korean thriller Squid Game has been the talk of the town. On top of the popularity it has found in terms of viewership and critical acclaim, the series has also had some pretty amazing crossover memes.

Arguably one of the funniest crossovers we’ve seen so far belongs to Twitter user DitzyFlama. Over the course of the past month, this artist has created multiple masterpieces by combining Squid Game and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Author
Andrew McMahon

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Fall For Indies: Stardew Valley Follow-Up News And The First Launches Of November

2 years 6 months ago

No doubt about it now; change is in the air, and fall is in full force. Time to head inside, pull up a seat by the fireplace, and get wrapped up in a few indie tales. As we step into November, it’s not just the leftover Halloween candy we can’t wait to get our hands on. Recent news from one of the scene’s biggest developers has us feeling warm down to our toes, indies are getting a new stage, and on top of it all, we’re positively rolling in game releases. 


Raking Up The Big News

Fall is all about transformation, but who would have known Stardew Valley developer Eric Barone AKA ConcernedApe, would get so into the spirit when dropping the first real details of his follow-up title?  And that’s not all. Thunderful Games is putting on its debut digital showcase, and Mark Hamill is hosting!

Author
Jill Grodt

Halo Infinite Map Remakes Not Ruled Out, But Don't Expect Many

2 years 6 months ago

One of Halo's traditions is for new games to feature remakes of multiplayer maps from past games, but 343 is changing things up a little bit with Halo Infinite. Lead multiplayer designer Andrew Witts told IGN that the studio is more interested in creating all-new playspaces. That said, players will notice that some of Halo Infinite's maps are inspired by classic maps, and overall, 343 isn't ruling out the possibility of remakes. But the overall goal is to make Halo Infinite's maps feel distinct and new.

Witts pointed out that the Big Team Battle map Fragmentation is a good example of what 343 is trying to achieve. The map is seemingly inspired by Halo 3's Valhalla, which itself takes cues from Halo: Combat Evolved's Blood Gulch.

"I think that what we've done with [the Big Team Battle map] Fragmentation is something we want; we want things to feel new, but we want things to be a bit reminiscent without giving you the exact same layout or the same layout with slight differences, because we're a different game with different needs," Witts said.

"There are some maps that have been coming out in almost every single iteration of Halo. So I wouldn't say we would never do a remake," Witts added. "But again, we're doing a spiritual reboot, so we look at how we kind of put our own twist on it, but still make it feel like a little bit of a nostalgia trip when you kind of run through them."

Lead multiplayer designer Cayle George said the team experimented with one-to-one ports of previous Halo maps, but "they don't work well."

Author
Eddie Makuch

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Returnal's Suspend Feature Can Be Turned Into a Full Save

2 years 6 months ago

Returnal's recent 2.0 update finally gave players a method to suspend their game, turn off their PS5, and return to the suspend point to continue their run. The catch? That suspend point erases when you return, meaning you can still absolutely bungle a run in the next area and have to run through the lengthy, punishing roguelike world all over again. Now players have discovered an exploit that turns that suspend point into a full-blown save point can be reloaded again and again like the save scumming monsters we are.

As described by Inverse writer Joseph Yaden (and reported by Kotaku), the exploit requires you to suspend your save in-game, upload your save to PlayStation's cloud servers, and then when you die, download the save from the cloud. This will allow you to return to your suspend point as many times as you want as long as it's in the cloud, since it can't be erased.

Author
Joseph Knoop

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