It seems Bungie’s seen a small drop in player counts for Destiny. At least, that’s what can be inferred by this new survey that’s popping up online. The maker of Destiny is asking players why they left.
Redditor unknownRNG started a thread in the Destiny subreddit about the survey. They included this screenshot. “Why haven’t you been playing Destiny lately?,” it asks.
The options are what pushed the user to post the question. Bungie highlights endgame content, grinding, PvP and recent changes as the possible cause for decreased playtime.
Hey doods! Disgaea is launching on Steam this month, and it is out to devour your worthless human soul… no to mention a gargantuan chunk of you free time in the process. NipponIchi’s quirky classic will launch for the PC on Feb. 24 bringing with it Steam achievements, a much needed HD overhaul, and a free pass to get out of social obligations you would not attend.
The 300+ hours on my original PlayStation 2 save file don’t lie.
Those still interested in physical copies can sink their chops into a special Deluxe Dood Edition, also recently announced by NIS America. This version will get both a physical and digital release, and it also comes with Etna and Flonne’s Netherworld Guide art book and the game’s soundtrack.
Warning, this is not a drill! Only those with all the free time in the world to lose should pick up this game with the intention of beating it. Disgaea PC will launch on Steam on Feb. 24, doods!
Square Enix’s charming Final Fantasy Adventure remake, Adventures of Mana, will make a surprise worldwide launch on iOS and Android this week, Thursday Feb. 4.
Of course, Japan is also getting a PS Vita version that the West has been outright denied. I’d love to see the explanation behind that one. I mean, you have the programming done for a Vita version in Japan and entire translation is already completed… What’s the problem here?
The remake features entirely rearranged music from famed composer Kenji Ito, and it overhauls the original’s combat and magic system to more like the “Ring” system found in Secret of Mana and other later games in the franchise. Players can also assign fast-buttons to select their favored attacks more quickly.
The original Final Fantasy Adventure is one of my all-time favorites, and I just burned through it last year. It holds up. I’d love to give the remake a try, but not without the aid of physical buttons to push. Touch screen controls just aren’t going to get it done with this game, especially during a few boss fights that require tight precision.
Sorry, Square Enix, but the longer you hold out on the PS Vita version in the English speaking world, the more reasons I’ll have to keep going back to the Game Boy original.
Adventures of Mana launches on iOS and Android this Thursday, Feb. 4.
Ubisoft makes Ghost Recon. EA’s recently founded development studio is named Ghost Games. EA has filed to trademark the word Ghost as it relates to video games, and now Ubisoft has filed an official Notice of Opposition to that trademark.
EA tried to trademark the term in order to protect its Ghost Games studio, but it looks like Ubisoft takes issue with the filing because it might lead to consumer confusion. Here’s the legal text from the Opposition that indicates as much. In the text, the Applicant is EA while the Opposer is Ubisoft.
Applicant’s Mark so resembles Opposers’ GHOST RECON marks alleged herein as to be likely, when used in connection with the goods and services identified in the Applications, to cause confusion, to cause mistake, or to deceive. Consumers are likely to believe, mistakenly, that the goods and services Applicant offers under Applicant’s Mark are provided, sponsored, endorsed, or approved by Opposers, or are in some way affiliated, connected, or associated with Opposers, all to the detriment of Opposers. Registration of Applicant’s Mark, therefore, should be refused under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1052(d) and 1063.
EA has until March 9, 2016, to respond.
Now, legal battles are often legitimate, but this one seems a little silly in my mind. What consumer will look at the Ghost Games developer and assume they make Ghost Recon? I’m not sure any would… ever.
Konami has released its financial reports for the most recent fiscal quarter, and you’d be surprised to learn that it even mentions video games. However, it’s true. Konami has devoted a few lines, in between its health, gym, and pachinko results, to mention thatMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has sold 6 million units to date. The game, developed by Hideo Kojima, is the only major video game mentioned in the entire report, unless you want to count Yu-Gi-Oh as still being relevant.
You have to wonder if 6 million is enough to call the game a success. I remember when the Tomb Raider reboot launched to 5 million copies, and Square Enix called it a flop. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was developed by two studios in two different countries with an enormous staff, the MVP of game directors, and a proprietary, high-end graphics engine.
Plus, much of the fallout between Kojima and Konami stemmed from the auteur ignoring budgetary limits, signalling this took a lot more to make than the average AAA release.
Is 6 million enough to call it a success? Do we even want his game to be a success? If Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain proves to be a dud in the long run, maybe Konami will think twice before continuing the franchise without its famed director.
In a fight between zombies, superheroes, space pirates and cartoons, who wins? You could argue it’s Zen Pinball on NVIDIA SHIELD that wins, as it’s host to all the most famous ones: The Walking Dead, the Marvel universe, Star Wars, and the animated TV shows of Fox and Adult Swim.
Zen Pinball is available now on SHIELD as a free download with a large variety of pinball tables based on popular franchises available as in-game purchases.
Zen Pinball offers the most advanced ball physics in existence, with detailed 3D tables that feature all the multiballs, bumpers, ramps and habitrails you expect of a physical table. They also play host to the animated objects only virtual pinball can enjoy, all made possible by NVIDIA’s powerful SHIELD technology.
Naturally they also offer sophisticated social elements, with challenge modes, pro scores and pinball champion rankings via Google Play Games Services. Each also has unique achievements, stats, and hotseat multiplayer, and can be bought individually, or within the Zen Pinball base game – which is free.
There’s a great selection of Pinball games available now in Zen Pinball, offering something for just about everyone.
Seth MacFarlane’s American Dad has hit its stride – and at its best is easily a match for the Griffins featured in Family Guy. Stan, Francine, Hayley, Steve and Roger the alien are a perfect match for Zen Pinball, too. Set at the Smith house, in Roger’s Place (transported to the garage) and the Fun ’N’ Gun, the game incorporates the infamous Threat Level that CIA-man Stan’s so obsessed with – and manipulating it impacts how the game plays.
Created in 1941 and not promoted yet, Captain America takes a break from his stalled career with this superb table. In it Cap, Bucky and the Howling Commandos launch an assault on Baron Zemo’s castle, while attempting to destroy the Sleeper robot. A series of huge battles against the Red Skull ensues – it takes all your skill to grab back the Cosmic Cube.
In South Park for Zen Pinball, players can choose between Super-Sweet Pinball and Butters’ Very Own Pinball Game. Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman are featured in the tables, but expect to see Wendy, Jimmy, Timmy and even Mr Hankey. You’ll also find genuine voices and scenes, such as Sarcastaball, Christmas in Canada and Cartman’s probe.
Get right into the danger zone with Sterling Malory Archer, the world’s greatest spy/lacrosse player. Archer Pinball features authentic voices and sound effects, multiple mini playfields, and unique progression and achievement systems. It’s also hilarious.
Get into a fight with Darth Vader, take down AT-ATs by winding the ball around their marching legs and recover Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber – this clever table absolutely embodies the original trilogy, and is stuffed with genuine voices and sound effects to boot.
While Stewie once created a clone to deal with all his nitpicky stuff, rest assured a lot more effort has gone into making this. Help Peter Griffin fight the Giant Chicken, aid Chris in catching the Evil Monkey, save Stewie’s beloved teddy Rupert and much more. It’s a must-play game for Family Guy fans.
Spider-Man can do everything a spider can and this table captures Spidey’s personality brilliantly. It’s a super-fast creation with tons of twisting, swirling ramps, and fantastic obstacles such as the Mary Jane kicker ramp, the Jameson Mini and the Unpredictable Sink Hole.
Based on the award-winning game series, and involving Telltale Games and Walking Dead-creator Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead Pinball follows the game’s Season One. The real cast provide the voices, and it goes way beyond authentic locations (such as Clementine’s treehouse and Everett’s pharmacy) to include authentic, often heart-wrenching, scenarios.
All three Iron Man movies are in the top six grossing Marvel movies ever, and Tony Stark earns his place here. This table pits you against the villains of the second two films, such as Whiplash, Mandarin and Ultimo, and it stands out as a fittingly tough challenge.
The Star Wars of 2016 has stolen almost every record going, and it’s set to beat Avatar and Titanic to become the biggest film of all time. Only the most isolated moisture farmer (or crazy old wizard who lives in a cave) could deny it the top spot here.
Valve’s enormously popular first-person puzzle franchise is celebrated in Portal Pinball, which features Chell, Wheatley and all of the sights, sounds and humor fans of the Portal series will appreciate.
Offering Rey, Finn, Poe, General Leia and Han Solo on the rebel side, and the First Order – led by Kylo Ren – for the Empire, this amazing table has a lot to discover. Yes, you can hit hyperspace on a Star Destroyer, but more importantly you can affect the Balance of the Force. With comprehensive social elements tracking scores globally, Zen Pinball players fight for overall supremacy on either the dark or light side.
Inspired by our own Brandon Russell’s “Guess the Phone” series, we’re taking a crack at “Guess the Game.”
Games are easier, I think, so we’re going to try and ride the line between easy and challenging. We don’t want to pick some crazy obscure title that no one has ever played, but we also don’t want to roll out here with Modern Warfare and call it a day.
So, we’ll start with a game that’s probably easier than it should be. In fact, the title of this post, “this is too easy,” is actually a quote from this game.
This one was creepy. It packed an amazing art style, stands as one of the best on its platform and has a loving cult following. It’s not a game for everyone, but those who give it a fair shake typically wind up in love.
It also sports a ridiculous control scheme, so there’s that.
As you may or may not know, one of Final Fantasy’s greatest protagonists is also one of its most unsung. Final Fantasy Tactics’ Ramza Beoulve, the honorable noble who threw his birthright in the dirt for a greater sense of justice, has never appeared in another majorFinal Fantasy title. He is never slapped into a spin-off to boost the fanboy sales numbers, and he certainly doesn’t appear in the spin-offs to his own games.
In fact, his acknowledgement in the greater gaming world runs parallel to his fate in Final Fantasy Tactics in which nobody ever learns about his selfless heroism.
Until now, of course. Square Enix promised the sky when it stated that Ramza would be appearing in its arcade fighter Dissidia Final Fantasy, and it has finally followed through with his highly-anticipated reveal. Somebody stop these goosebumps!
He doesn’t have a trailer just yet, only a series of screenshots, but this is real! It’s Ramza Beoulve… in a game outside of Final Fantasy Tactics. I never thought we’d see the day.
Ramza joins Dissidia Final Fantasy on Feb. 4. Square Enix will give him a full trailer during a live-streaming event on Feb. 3. Dissidia Final Fantasy is currently available in Japanese arcades around the country. We’re still waiting for information on the PlayStation 4 home console release.
Dark Souls III is just a couple months off, so the hype train is starting to roll out to speed. This week we’re being treated to some new screens and concept art via Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu.
There’s lore that goes with these, though the screenshots and concept art both look great on their own, depicting dilapidated ruins and intimidating bosses. We get a peek at some of the armor and weapons we’ll have available as well.
The creature in the second shot, called the Ash Adjudicator, and the waxen woman in the first piece of concept art are both sufficiently spooky for the series.
Check out the source link below for some incredible art by the user who posted about the screens initially along with some rough translations of the text that accompanied the images as they appear in Famitsu.
Dark Souls III is set to hit PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in the US on April 12, 2016.
Bandai Namco has released a new series of high-definition screenshots from its upcoming action role-playing game, Dark Souls III. The images showcase some new characters, armour sets, and locations players can expect to encounter in the game.
The screenshots showcased a new boss named the Iudex Gundyr (pictured above). This enemy wields a long spear-like weapon, and is shown with a dark mass exploding from its form in combat. Players will encounter this boss upon being revived in the Untended Graves as an "Unkindled".
The images also reveal the Firelink Shrine, where a Fire Keeper resides and serves players "on their long and arduous journey." The location serves as a starting area for new players in the game.
Dark Souls is scheduled to launch on April 12 outside of Japan for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam). For those planning to pick up the game on PC, make sure to check the system requirements outlined here. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's hands-on experience with a preview build of Dark Souls III earlier last year.
We have two bits of news today for Homefront: The Revolution.
First, the easiest of the bit. Deep Silver has announced the closed beta start date for the shooter. Homefront: The Revolution will be playable on Xbox One in closed beta form. The closed beta will run from February 11-14, and it will feature Resistance Mode.
You can register for the beta by signing up on the official Homefront site. There’s no specific beta registration page, simply creating an account will do the trick.
Now, what’s Resistance Mode? That’s the other bit of news. Resistance Mode is the four player cooperative gametype in Homefront: The Revolution seen in the trailer directly above. Here’s how it was described in the official press release.
Resistance Mode is a brand new four-player co-operative online experience. Form a Resistance Cell with your friends online and wage guerrilla warfare against the KPA military in thrilling narrative-driven missions across occupied Philadelphia. Customize your personal roster of Freedom Fighters as you and your teammates go from rookie civilians to battle hardened soldiers. Unlock new skills, earn weapon blueprints, rare equipment and combat gear to upgrade.
It sounds like the narrative in the cooperative mode is different than what you’ll get in the single player mode.
Homefront: The Revolution will release for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC platforms on May 17, 2016.
