By Amber Neely
Thursday, September 12, 2019, 07:28 am PT (10:28 am ET)

Announced earlier in September, the Sonos One SL and Sonos Port AirPlay 2 speakers are now available for purchase.

Sonos has released two new products for audiophiles everywhere. The wifi-enabled Sonos One SL speaker gives users a reasonably priced entry point into smart sound. The Sonos Port gives users a chance to incorporate their existing audio equipment into their smart home ecosystem.

Sonos One SL

Sonos One SL is a compact, fit-anywhere wifi speaker designed to seamlessly integrate into your life. At just over four pounds, it’s easily carried from room to room.

Additionally, it’s humidity resistant, giving it the ability to be use in high humidity spaces like bathrooms and kitchens without fear of damaging it.

The Sonos One SL is AirPlay2 compatible and works with over 100 streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify, and more. Trueplay gives users the ability to tune speakers for a custom experience within their spaces.

Multiple Sonos One SLs can be paired with each other, or with the Sonos One. The Sonos app gives users the ability to group speakers together by room and control them as needed. If you’ve already got a Sonos Playbar, Playbase, or Beam, a pair of Sonos One SLs can be used as rear home theater surround sound speakers.

The Sonos One SL does not feature a microphone, which is likely a boon for those who want a bit of added security.

The Sonos One SL is available in both white and black and retails for $179.

Sonos Port

The Sonos Port gives users the ability to turn their traditional stereo systems into smart devices.

Connecting a Sonos Port allows any amplified audio system to work with Apple’s AirPlay2—stream music directly from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Siri integration. Additionally, users can stream music from most streaming services, like Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more.

Connecting the Sonos Port to your vinyl, cassette, or CD player will allow you to play your audio to other Sonos speakers through the Sonos app.

The Sonos Port features a sophisticated digital-to-analog converter, providing a crisp, clear listening experience.

The Sonos Port retails for $399 and can be purchased directly from the Sonos website.

It sneaks up on me every year. One minute, my family is fully ensconced in summer break, the next we’re deep into school supply lists and pre-work to prep for the first day back.

This year, as I’ve helped my own students get ready to go back to school, I’ve been thinking about all the cool (and free!) offerings Microsoft provides to bridge the technology gap for student developers. We’re committed to empowering the next generation of creators with access to technology and training – after all, our future is in their hands! – and we have a little healthy competition thrown in for good measure. Here are a few of the offers that students can take advantage of today and throughout their educations:

One of the newest additions to our lineup, developer hub GitHub offers their Student Developer Pack, which provides access to the best real-world developer tools and training. Students who join the Pack receive GitHub Pro at no charge while in school, plus exclusive offers from GitHub Education partners, including Microsoft.

Microsoft Azure for Students offers a free annual renewal subscription to our top cloud services, plus access to dozens of other Azure and artificial intelligence (AI) tools and training. Students can build skills in trending tech including data science, AI, machine learning and other areas with access to professional developer tools like Visual Studio Code.

Microsoft Education has a plethora of resources available for students and educators, who can get Office 365 free as well, which includes powerful tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and now Microsoft Teams and a lot more. This isn’t a trial – it’s a full-featured product that is free while the student is in school and offered at a big discount after graduation. Educators also have a wealth of resources available to them to help students engage with STEM, from customized training opportunities to unique Minecraft editions to access to special guest speakers.

For college and university students, the annual Imagine Cup competition is now open for entry. I’m continually impressed by the impactful ideas that come out of Imagine Cup – many of which go on to become full-fledged products. But big ideas that make a difference aren’t born in a vacuum, and they can’t be achieved alone. I think that’s one of the things that makes Imagine Cup so special. Students learn how to work together, be resourceful, meet deadlines and a select few receive funding to help take their ideas to the next level.

This year’s Imagine Cup theme is AI for Good. Driven by inspiration and a growing sense of purpose, we’ve seen student competitors create applications tackling some of the world’s biggest social, environmental and health challenges – one user at a time – and that’s what Imagine Cup is all about! So, it only makes sense that there is a stronger focus on AI this year. It’s one of the most promising ways technology can help us be more inclusive, effective and productive. I encourage students with a dream of a better future and an idea to sign up and get to work.  I’m excited to see where the competitors take the challenge this year – and where the competition takes them.

Students who want to be a force for good and make a difference in their communities – while learning and sharing Microsoft technologies with their peers – can apply to be a Microsoft Student Partner, a program that lets student leaders gain experiences, access exclusive resources and gather real-world technical and career skills.

Finally, LinkedIn offers a wide variety of networking and educational opportunities to support students when it comes time to look for a job, learn a new skill or connect with classmates. A current and accurate LinkedIn profile is one of the best ways to build and maintain a career network.

Our goal is for all students to have access to the technology and support they need to make their dreams come true. Please share these offerings with the students in your life, and if you are a student, I hope you’ll take advantage of one or more of them to take your ideas to the next level this year.

Tags: Azure, education, GitHub, LinkedIn, Office 365

The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!

Nintendo Switch

Daemon X Machina (Nintendo, Fri 13th September, $59.99) A new fast-paced mech action game from Kenichiro Tsukuda is coming to Nintendo Switch. Players take their customizable Arsenal powered suit on a variety of missions to thwart the enemy at all costs. They can choose and equip their Arsenal with a multitude of weapons, obtain more from downed enemies and swap them on the fly to suit their strategy in the face of ever-changing threats. Read our Daemon X Machina review.

AI: The Somnium Files (Spike Chunsoft, Tue 17th September, $59.99) In a near-future Tokyo, Special Agent Kaname Date is on the case of a mysterious serial killer. Date must investigate crime scenes as well as dreams on the hunt for clues.

LEGO Jurassic World (WB Games, Tue 17th September, $39.99) Following the epic storylines of Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, and Jurassic World, LEGO Jurassic World allows players to relive and experience all four Jurassic films. Reimagined in LEGO form and now available on the Nintendo Switch system, the thrilling adventure allows fans to play through key moments and explore Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna.

Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure (Natsume, Tue 17th September, $29.99) Grab your rod, reel, and adventurous spirit as you join three friends on a summer road trip to remember! Visit a variety of fishing spots, from deep-sea fishing to freshwater stream fishing as you and the gang track down and try to catch the elusive Legendary Fish.

Star Wars Pinball (Zen Studios, Fri 13th September, $29.99) Feel the power of the Force in Star Wars Pinball!

Switch eShop

Castle Crashers Remastered (The Behemoth, Tue 17th September, $14.99) Hack, slash, and smash your way to victory in this Remastered edition of the popular 2D arcade adventure from The Behemoth! At 60FPS, Castle Crashers Remastered delivers hi-res visuals like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

The Sinking City (Frogwares, Today, $49.99) The Sinking City is an action/investigation game set in an open world inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft. In this new type of adventure, you take on the role of Charles W. Reed, an investigator in the 1920s United States. No sooner have you arrived in Oakmont, Massachusetts, than you are led to investigate a mysterious flood inundating the city, in the hopes of shedding light on the darkness that has seized the place and corrupted the minds of the inhabitants – and yours…

Akash: Path of the Five (Truant Pixel, Mon 16th September, $29.99) Akash: Path of the Five is a visual novel in the otome style. Players will become Aurora, a member of a magical race of elementals. As the first elemental girl the village has seen in over 200 years, all eyes are on your fast-approaching coming of age ceremony. All is not as it seems, however, as tensions between Akash and a nearby human settlement threaten to erupt into an all-out war.

Arcade Archives VIGILANTE (HAMSTER, Thu 5th September, $7.99) “VIGILANTE” is an action game released by IREM in 1988. Play as a vigilante who sets out to rescue his beloved Madonna from the Rogue Gang, a group so out of hand even the police can’t stop them. Punch, kick, and use your powerful nun-chucks to fight your way through 5 stages across the great city of New York!

Atomic Heist (Drageus Games, Fri 13th September, $7.99) It has been nearly six years since the end of the Delotian wars. Our first war… our first contact, with an alien race. We thought the Delotians were coming to annihilate us. We later learned they were running away from the real threat.

Battle Supremacy – Evolution (Atypical Games, Today, $9.99) Experience the true power in Battle Supremacy: EVOLUTION, a sci-fi transforming vehicles game with thrilling gameplay and showoff-worthy visuals. Act as a tank, a drone or an airplane, Battle it out in this riveting game, packed with lush landscapes and destructible environments.

Chop (QubicGames, Fri 13th September, $9.99) Accessible in its mechanics, it offers a real strategic dimension and a depth of gameplay that will put your skills to the test. One hit to kill, respawn almost instantly. CHOP is meant to give a feeling close to what you can experience in fast FPS, mixed with platformer setting and influences from beloved titles.

DISTRAINT: Deluxe Edition (Ratalaika Games, Fri 13th September, $5.99) DISTRAINT: Deluxe Edition is a 2D psychological horror adventure game that tells the story of Price, a young man who seizes an old woman’s apartment. After seizing her home, his humanity is now gone. So begins his tale of regrets…

Ellen (JanduSoft, Fri 13th September, $7.99) Help young investigator James uncover the dark truth behind the murder of the Smiths and their missing daughter Ellen in this thrilling 2D pixel horror game. If you don’t believe in paranormal events, meet the people from White Hill.

Hyperdrive Massacre (34BigThings srl, Fri 6th September, $7.99) Hyperdrive Massacre is an 80s inspired local multiplayer fragfest for up to 4 players. Players take control of a space Cadillac and frag their way to victory against friends or can also play against AI. Both modes allow players to unlock a full crew roster. Submachine guns, sniper rifles, frag grenades, homing missiles, and bullet deflectors are just some of the tools player can use to create havoc.

Jet Kave Adventure (7Levels, Tue 17th September, $19.99) Jet Kave Adventure brings everything you love about 2.5D platformers. Enjoy the skill-based action, challenging boss fights, clever secrets and thrilling set-pieces in a game where the Stone Age and science fiction collide.

Kaiju Khaos (Pocket Money Games, Fri 6th September, $4.59) Unleash the beast! An endless runner where you must cause as much destruction as you can whilst you make your escape from the military containment facility. Unlock different Kaijus and grow them to monstrous sizes to overcome the obstacles in your path and take your revenge on mankind.

Molecats (Vidroid, Thu 5th September, $12.99) Molecats is a challenging indirect-control puzzle game that takes place in the quirky and beautiful world of. . . Molecats! Molecats are sort of cat-mole hybrids. They are a bunch of gawky fellows who like mushrooms, marching and adventures of all kind!

Rest in Pieces (Itatake, Fri 13th September, $7.99) Please save all the poor souls that have been trapped in the dream demons porcelain nightmares. Awake little Georgina from her evil clown dream, weaved of her worst fears. Help the drunken pirate Jack Parrot to vanquish the horrible sea monster Kraken.

Ritual (Hexage, Today, $9.99) Equip your sorcerer with powerful combinations of Spells and Skills and blaze through hordes of monsters in a unique spell-casting action RPG. You are a Sorcerer Angel. They tried to sacrifice you and failed. Hunt them down, kill their foul God and purge the world!

Super Dodgeball Beats (PlayStack, Today, $12.99) Take part in insanely cool dodgeball games played to the rhythm of 18 original music tracks. Conquer your rivals in style with perfect rhythm and sweet moves. There’s nothing else like it! MULTIPLAYER: Play against a friend via couch co-op and show off your amazing skills.

Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan (CollectorVision, Today, $19.99) You play as Sydney Hunter, an explorer who gets trapped inside a Maya pyramid while he is out exploring the region. Sydney soon discovers that Kinich Ahau (the Maya sun god) and Kukulkan (the feathered serpent god) have broken up the sacred Maya Haab calendar into seven separate pieces, has taken four precious idols, and are hiding them throughout the pyramid. Read our Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan review.

The Tenth Line Special Edition (Sungazer Software, Today, $12.99) In The Tenth Line, you’ll guide the princess of the tiny nation of Easania, along with her unusual but reliable companions, and explore a vibrant world of humans, beasts, and dragons, while escaping the clutches of a mysterious cult in hot pursuit.

New DLC

Fire Emblem: Three Houses – Expansion Pass Wave 2 – In the great land of Fódlan, you must be ready for any conflict that could arise. With this new wave of paid downloadable content for the Fire Emblem: Three Houses game (sold separately), prepare your army for war by testing their strength in five additional auxiliary battles, invigorate their fighting spirit with a new auxiliary battle song option, equip them with a powerful set of items and dress them for success in a new training outfit for many characters. Oh, and the protagonist, Byleth, can wear glasses now, too. Looking good, Professor!

Activities

Celebrate the launch of ASTRAL CHAIN with My Nintendo! – Find the dimensional gates hidden on the ASTRAL CHAIN website to earn My Nintendo Platinum Points. Redeem My Nintendo points for wallpapers and printable box art covers featuring ASTRAL CHAIN, the new action game for the Nintendo Switch system.

My Nintendo Back to School – Back-to-school season is in full swing with September rewards from My Nintendo. Get ready for a classic adventure with a calendar inspired by the Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening game, discount coupons and much more.

Nintendo eShop Sales

Check out the full list of deals available this week here.

So that’s your lot for this week’s North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!

The latest Nintendo Download update for Europe has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!

Switch Retail – New Releases

DAEMON X MACHINA (Nintendo, 13th Sept, £44.99) – When the moon fell, mankind harnessed advanced AI to rebuild the world. However, the same disaster saw the arrival of the Immortals, an evil machine race who turned that AI against its masters. Hope for the future became a bitter battle for survival.
Now, an endless war rages between powerful consortiums and the Immortals in a fight to save humanity. Join the ranks of the Reclaimers – an elite group of mercenaries – and search for the secret of the Immortals before it’s too late. Read our DAEMON X MACHINA review

Switch eShop – New Releases

Amnesia: Collection (Frictional Games, 12th Sep, £25.20) – The collection contains three Amnesia titles: The Dark Descent, A Machine For Pigs, and Justine. Experience the horror that kickstarted the Let’s Play revolution; be immersed in three living nightmares that will chill you to the core.

Blasphemous (Team17, 10th Sep, £17.99) – A foul curse has fallen upon the land of Cvstodia and all its inhabitants – it is simply known as The Miracle. Play as The Penitent One – a sole survivor of the massacre of the ‘Silent Sorrow’. Trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth, it’s down to you to free the world from this terrible fate and reach the origin of your anguish. Explore this nightmarish world of twisted religion and discover its many secrets hidden deep inside. Use devastating combos and brutal executions to smite the hordes of grotesque monsters and titanic bosses, who are all ready to rip your limbs off. – Read our Blasphemous review

The Sinking City (Frogwares, 12th Sep, £44.99) – The Sinking City is an adventure and investigation game set in an open world inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft, the master of Horror. The half-submerged city of Oakmont is gripped by supernatural forces. You’re a private investigator, and you have to uncover the truth of what has possessed the city… and the minds of its inhabitants.

Throne Quest Deluxe (Valorware, 11th Sep, £4.49) – Throne Quest Deluxe is a seem-less open-world Action Role Playing Game (ARPG). Delve into an adventurous world full of dungeons and crypts, fighting many types of vicious monsters and search for huge amounts of loot. Change between 12 classes throwing your axes, fire, harps and even a djenty-guitar in fast-paced combat whilst gulping potions and collecting drops to level-up and become a champion. Explore your way through the dangers of the lands on an epic quest to reach the central castle- to claim the Throne held by a demon boss.

Battle Supremacy – Evolution (Atypical Games, 12th Sep, £8.99) – Experience the true power in Battle Supremacy: EVOLUTION, a sci-fi transforming vehicles game with thrilling gameplay and showoff-worthy visuals. Act as a tank, a drone or an airplane, Battle it out in this riveting game, packed with lush landscapes and destructible environments. Drive or fly through futuristic cities with suspended highways and gigantic bridges. Unlock each level’s medals to master over 100 single-player missions.

Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan (CollectorVision Games, 12th Sep, £16.09) – You play as Sydney Hunter, an explorer who gets trapped inside a Maya pyramid while he is out exploring the region of Yucatan. Sydney soon discovers that Kinich Ahau (the Maya sun god) and Kukulkan (the feathered serpent god) have broken up the sacred Maya Haab calendar into seven separate pieces, has taken four precious idols, and are hiding them throughout the pyramid. Read our Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan review

The Sinking City – Deluxe Edition (Frogwares, 12th Sep, £44.99) – The Sinking City is an action/investigation game set in an open world inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft. In this new type of adventure, you take on the role of Charles W. Reed, an investigator in the 1920s United States. No sooner have you arrived in Oakmont, Massachusetts, than you are led to investigate a mysterious flood inundating the city, in the hopes of shedding light on the darkness that has seized the place and corrupted the minds of the inhabitants – and yours…

The Tenth Line Special Edition (Sungazer Software, 12th Sep, £9.89) – In The Tenth Line, you’ll guide the princess of the tiny nation of Easania, along with her unusual but reliable companions, and explore a vibrant world of humans, beasts, and dragons, while escaping the clutches of a mysterious cult in hot pursuit. Explore the world through fast-paced 2D platforming by controlling three separate characters, each with unique movement mechanics and ways of interacting with the world.

DISTRAINT: Deluxe Edition (Ratalaika Games, 13th Sep) – DISTRAINT: Deluxe Edition is a 2D psychological horror adventure game that tells the story of Price, a young man who seizes an old woman’s apartment. After seizing her home, his humanity is now gone. So begins his tale of regrets… Creep your way through different locations, learning the backstory of Price and his motivations that led him down this dark path.

Rest in Pieces (Itatake, 13th Sep) – Please save all the poor souls that have been trapped in the dream demons porcelain nightmares. Awake little Georgina from her evil clown dream, weaved of her worst fears. Help the drunken pirate Jack Parrot to vanquish the horrible sea monster Kraken. Save Father Lugosi from Count Draculas bloodthirsty fangs.

Ellen (JanduSoft, 13th Sep) – Help young investigator James uncover the dark truth behind the murder of the Smiths’ and their missing daughter Ellen in this thrilling 2D pixel horror game. If you don’t believe in paranormal events, meet the people from White Hill. It’s been years since all but the daughter in the Smiths’ family were found brutally murdered.

Atomic Heist (Drageus Games, 13th Sep) – It has been nearly six years since the end of the Delotian wars. Our first war… our first contact, with an alien race. We thought the Delotians were coming to annihilate us. We later learned they were running away from the real threat. For eighteen generations the Delotians were hunted by the Rhaokyns. Everything they knew, everything they were had been lost or destroyed.

CHOP (QubicGames, 13th Sep) – Accessible in its mechanics, it offers a real strategic dimension and a depth of gameplay that will put your skills to the test. One hit to kill, respawn almost instantly. CHOP is meant to give a feeling close to what you can experience in fast FPS, mixed with platformer setting and influences from beloved titles. it speaks to those who like gore, comics, post-apo and are looking for a supercharged party game!

Ritual (Hexage, 13th Sep) – Equip your sorcerer with powerful combinations of Spells and Skills and blaze through hordes of monsters in a unique spell-casting action RPG. You are a Sorcerer Angel. They tried to sacrifice you and failed. Hunt them down, kill their foul God and purge the world!

Super Dodgeball Beats (PlayStack, 12th Sep, £11.99)

Star Wars Pinball (Zen Studios, 13th Sep)

Yellow Fins (Sprakelsoft, 12th Sep)

Arcade Archives TRACK & FIELD (HAMSTER, 12th Sep)

Newt One (Whitethorn Digital, 12th Sep)

Golazo! (Klabater, 12th Sep)

Switch eShop – Demos

Trials Rising Demo (Ubisoft) – Explore over-the-top action and physics-bending motorcycle racing in the latest opus of the Trials franchise. All new features, more competitions and more tracks means new challenges. Ride challenging tracks around the world – from the Great Wall of China and New York City to the Eiffel Tower and everywhere in between. With the new hilarious Tandem Bike, get your friends and try to control one bike with two riders. From your local backyard to worldwide stadiums, defeat all your opponents online and rise to glory.

CONTRA: ROGUE CORPS Demo (KONAMI) – CONTRA is back! Two years after the Alien Wars ended, the Damned City erupts from the final battleground. From the midst of the chaos, a group of scoundrels emerge. They might not be typical heroes, but they’re here to save the world… or get rich trying. Featuring action packed battles, customisable gear, gigantic bosses and explosive multiplayer action.

Yellow Fins Demo (Sprakelsoft)

MISTOVER (Time Trial Demo) (Krafton)

Switch eShop – Pre-Orders

EA SPORTS FIFA 20 Nintendo Switch Legacy Edition (Electronic Arts) – EA SPORTS FIFA 20 Legacy Edition launches September 27th on Nintendo Switch featuring the latest kits, clubs, and squads from some of top leagues around the world. It will also feature some of the world’s most famous stadiums, including some brand new to FIFA 20. Gameplay features and modes will have parity with FIFA 19 on Nintendo Switch.

Call of Cthulhu (Focus Home Interactive, pre-order from 9th Sep)

Killer Queen Black (Liquid Bit, pre-order from 12th Sep)

Zombieland: Double Tap – Road Trip (Game Mill, pre-order from 12th Sep)

Galaxy Champions TV (Silesia Games, pre-order from 12th Sep)

Omen Exitio: Plague (Forever Entertainment, pre-order from 12th Sep)

Street Outlaws: The List (Game Mill, pre-order from 13th Sep)

Island Maze (Drageus Games, pre-order from 13th Sep)

Switch eShop – Special Offers

DLC / Add-On Content

Nintendo Switch

• Trials® Rising – Crash & Sunburn (Ubisoft)
• The Sinking City – Worshippers of the Necronomicon (Frogwares)
• The Sinking City – Chicago Organ Grinder (Frogwares)
• The Sinking City – Investigator Pack (Frogwares)
• The Sinking City – Experience Boost (Frogwares)
• Overcooked! 2 – Carnival of Chaos (Team17)
• Pic-a-Pix Pieces: 15×15 Pieces Pack 9 (Lightwood Games)
• Pic-a-Pix Pieces: 20×20 Pieces Pack 9 (Lightwood Games)
• Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Dodge Challenger Sheriff (Microids)
• Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – BMW Z4 Rodster Red Camo (Microids)
• Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Dodge Challenger Ignition (Microids)
• Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Ottanta (Microids)
• Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – BMW M4 Coupé Loyal 1 (Microids)
• Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé Paint Stroke (Microids)
• Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Hazard Stickers Set (Microids)
• Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Wings Stickers Set (Microids)

So that’s your lot for this week’s Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!

There is a new Humble Bundle of interest to developers, the Humble Level Up Your Python Bundle.  This one is an eclectic mix of Python related content including subscriptions to JetBrain’s PyCharm Python IDE, access to training courses, videos and books.  As always Humble Bundles are organized into tiers, with each tier giving complete access to all the tiers below it.  In this case however it is slightly different, in that subscription duration replace those from the lower tiers with a longer duration and are not cumulative.

Tiers of this bundle consist of:

1$ Tier

• PyCharm IDE Pro Subscription 2 Months
• MongoDB for Developers Video
• PyBites Code Challenge 20
• Python Tricks The Book
• Illustrated Guide to Python 3

14$ Tier

• PyCharm 4 Months
• Async Techniques and Examples in Python Video
• Pytbites Code Challenge 40
• Python  Basics
• Learning the Panda Library

20$ Tier

• Building Data Driven Web Apps with Flask and SQLAlchemy Video
• Pybites 60
• Managing Python Dependencies with Pip and Virtual Video
• Effective PyCharm
• PyCharm IDE 6 Month Subscription
• Python Morsels: Weekly Practice 6 Month Subscription

Please be aware that many of these items need to be redeemed before the end of 2019 or they will expire.  As always with Humble you can choose how your money is allocated between the publisher, humble, charity or if you choose (and thanks if you do!) GFS.  If you are interested in learning Python for Game Development, check out the following Python Game Engine resource.

GameDev News

While it’s always a good idea to ask for help when you feel like you might need it, it doesn’t always benefit you in the long run. This is something the team behind Daemon X Machina may end up learning when the game releases this week. After developer Marvelous released a demo way back in February and explained that it wanted feedback on how to improve the game, a number of players instead interpreted it as a product that was close to completion, and so decided that because it was a bit on the shonky side they weren’t going to buy it.

Fast forward seven months and it’s fair to say that Marvelous was absolutely right: Daemon X Machina has certainly improved in numerous ways thanks to user feedback. It does throw up two questions, though: exactly how much has it improved, and is it too late to get back those who were disillusioned by that extremely early demo? We can’t answer the latter – only time and the charts will tell – but we can at least confirm that the finished game is a solid piece of work, even if it isn’t quite an absolutely essential one.

Playing as an unnamed rookie mercenary who specialises in piloting giant mechs, your job is to take on a series of paid missions to do your bit in the war against artificial intelligence, which turned against the human race after a colliding moon sent some strange radiation across the planet. It isn’t all bad news: this radiation also increased your own abilities, meaning your fully customisable avatar has more to offer than your typical civilian. Accompanying you on your quests are mercenaries from other factions, who turn up and drop out depending on whether they fancy a piece of each mission.

This whole idea of characters popping in and out can make it difficult to get a grasp of the plot early on, and as the storyline develops and you start getting a load of conspiracy theories and “can you trust this faction, can you trust that one, can we even trust the company we’re working for” shenanigans, it can continue to be a little tricky to stay on top of things. That isn’t the fault of the voice acting (which is generally of high quality) or even of the dialogue itself, which is well written. There are just far too many active components in play here: it’s like playing chess and having the pieces swapped out for new ones every few turns. The fact that many of the cutscenes between missions simply involve different characters turning up to stand practically motionless in a room and talk to each other does nothing to help matters: even if what they’re saying is of interest, the set-up is dull as dishwater and it can be hard to keep focused.

Games like this do their talking on the battlefield, of course, and it’s here where Daemon X Machina shines for the most part. Mech games can be a bit of a slog to control but that isn’t the case here at all: your Arsenal (which is what the game’s mechs are called) is a breeze to commandeer, and while the hefty command list can initially seem quite daunting, it only really takes a couple of missions before you’re swooping around with all the grace of… well, a 50-foot robot. A graceful one, though.

When you’re in the air movement is a simple case of looking in the direction you want to go and heading that way, while more extreme altitude changes can be controlled with either the ‘B’ button (to quickly boost upwards) or pressing in the left stick (to kill your jets and drop quickly downwards). A useful dash button assigned to ‘R’ is an essential piece of kit, especially as the game progresses and you find yourself in increasingly larger firing lines. When on the ground, you’re also able to exit your mech and run around on foot, though this is rarely useful: technically it lets you continue to get involved in the action while you wait for a partner to repair your downed mech, but you’re so vulnerable in this state that it almost always results in death, at least in the early stages of the game.

Combat, meanwhile, is similarly satisfying. There’s a generous aim assist in play here, meaning as long as you look in the general direction of an enemy you’ll lock onto them and start firing at them with decent accuracy. Some of the self-appointed ‘hardcore’ may object to this but it does make sense: many of the game’s standard enemies are also airborne and it would be a bit odd if your extremely expensive, technically impressive giant mech struggled to accurate take down a basic flying foe. There’s something very gratifying about taking on a group of five or six enemies and picking them off one at a time with relative ease.

This aiming assist also goes some way to make up for the awkward feel of twin-stick controls you typically get when playing the Switch in handheld mode: since there’s no need to be absolutely spot on with your aiming, it’s far less frustrating. You have an option to switch to motion-controlled aiming should you so desire but we were happy enough with the standard settings that we didn’t feel the need to swap over. If you’ve been put off by mech games in the past because of their apparent complexity, this is the approachable one you may have been looking for.

Customisation is the main order of the day here, though. As well as the extensive options available to you when creating the look of both your pilot and your mech, there’s a wealth of weaponry that can be unlocked as you progress: some by simply clearing the main and side missions, others by looting the wreckage of downed enemies. While your mech starts off with a basic combination of an assault rifle in one hand and a shield in the other, before long your hangar will be stocked with swords, laser guns, sniper rifles and the like, giving you plenty of options.

Naturally, you can’t take all your guns into battle with you, but the game’s at least generous to an extent in that regard: it’s possible to enter a mission with a weapon allocated to your left arm (which is fired with the ‘ZL’ button), one allocated to your right (‘ZR’), a missile launcher on your shoulder (‘L’), an ‘auxiliary weapon’ like grenades or mines (‘Y’) and two more spare weapons that you can attach to pylons above you and swap out for your main ones whenever the situation requires. This means lengthy battles – and they can get very lengthy, especially when fighting bosses – can at least stay entertaining as you make the most of all the weaponry at your disposal.

At its core it’s an enjoyable mech game, then, but Daemon X Machina is not without its faults. Despite taking on user feedback and tweaking the game accordingly, elements of the game can still be pretty overwhelming, especially to beginners. Your HUD consists of no fewer than 21 elements, ranging from three different gauges to all your weapons’ ammo counters to a whole array of icons showing the health of each element of your mech (head, body, legs and each arm). The detailed options menu lets you turn off any of these as you see fit, but they’re all useful to an extent so we don’t necessarily recommend that: you just have to get through that initial adaptation period.

It also gets repetitive after a while. The majority of the game really is just a case of ‘do a mission, get paid, watch a cut-scene, do the next mission’ and as the plot gets more complex and your inventory gets progressively larger (though you can sell some of it off) you do start to get the sense that it’s just a rinse and repeat situation. Although there’s some variation to the missions – one minute you’re defending buildings, the next you’re taking on other rogue mercenaries – there’s still no escaping what is a fairly rigid structure.

If you get bored of the single-player missions there’s also the option to take part in some co-op ones, be that online or locally, with up to three other players. These are generally quite meaty (you’ll be fighting giant bosses, scrapping with groups of powerful enemy mechs, that sort of thing) and give decent cash rewards for completion, even though in the grand scheme of things they’re still more of the same sort of stuff. If you detest the idea of other humans you can take these on solo, and as you play through the main story you also unlock AI partners to recruit and fight alongside you (though they’re often as useful as a chocolate teapot).

If you’re still on the fence about Daemon X Machina, our advice is simple: download the free prologue demo that’s currently available on the Switch eShop. This gives you the first few missions and, should you like them and decide to buy the full game, you can carry your save file over. While a lot of other demos are too short to really get across the full picture of the game they’re representing, the fact that Daemon X Machina is such a formulaic experience means that by the time you reach the end of the Prologue you’ll have a pretty good idea of how most of the rest of the game is structured. By that point, if you want more of the same, you can feel safe in the knowledge that if you buy the full game you’ll be getting exactly that.

This week at Bungie, we released our Director’s Cut.

Usually, you find the majority of Destiny-related news within a This Week at Bungie blog post, dropping each Thursday around 3 PM Pacific. This week, we’ve done something different. We won’t be picking each of these apart here in the TWAB, but rather directing your attention to where this information lives. Here’s the rundown:

Luke explores the learnings of Destiny 2 Year 2 and the Annual Pass: what went well, what didn’t, and what we’ve learned. This is a bit of a read, so make sure to have some snacks before you start.

This morning, Luke went a bit deeper on what the live stream covered, providing additional context for how you will transition from the armor you wear now to Armor 2.0 in the Fall. Additionally, he covered how the ways you acquire Power will change and how New Light will introduce players to the Power system in October.

(Coming Soon) Director’s Cut: Part 3 – Combat: The Inevitable Collision of Action and RPG

Tomorrow, we take a hard look at damage. Shadowkeep will bring many changes to buffs, debuffs, stacking, Supers, and more.

We’re sure you have questions—and that you’ll have even more after tomorrow’s final entry to the Director’s Cut series. We’ll be looking to answer as many as possible as we approach October 1. Sound off with what you’d like to hear more about, and feel free to ask about any of the finer details.

Dresstiny

While Luke was burning up the keyboard, DeeJ took to the streams to host members of the development team in exploring new elements of customization coming with Armor 2.0 in Shadowkeep. Stats, mods, appearance, and more were discussed throughout the stream.

There are a lot of reasons to be excited for Shadowkeep. Quality-of-life updates, overhauls to investment systems, and new ways to fine-tune your monster-killing machine. Of all the customization options coming with Armor 2.0, I’m most excited to rock my favorite Titan gauntlets once more, decked out with various mods to complement my playstyle. Shaxx always tells me to throw more grenades, but I sure do love shoulder charging people into oblivion.

Discipline, strength, and resilience are on my mind. Intellect? Bah. I don’t need the help. I’ll make my own Supers with my knee. That said, efficiency is only half the battle. Destiny is also about fashion. Some even call it Dresstiny from time to time. Starting in Shadowkeep, we’ll be celebrating those among you with a keen eye for style with a new Community emblem.

The Levante Prize  

The most prestigious fashion prize. Awarded in honor of the original Guardian Outfitter, Eva Levante.

“When I was young, the Last City would celebrate looking fashionable for a whole week. Seeing that tradition come back brings me such joy. It’s my honor to grant you the first Levante prize of a new fashionable era.” —Eva Levante   

Each month, we’ll host a fashion show of sorts, and winners will earn this sweet emblem. I personally can’t wait to see how you all customize your guardians, mixing and matching various sets with an assortment of shaders. Stay tuned for more details!

Prepare to Cross Save

This is their report.

Safeguarding Your Steam Account

Next Tuesday, August 20, Steam linking is scheduled to go live for all players on Bungie.net.

Steam linking is the first step for PC players to migrate their Destiny 2 accounts from Battle.net later this year and is required before players with linked PC accounts can activate cross save.

Because account security is vital, we strongly encourage players to setup Steam Guard two-factor authentication. For a comprehensive guide on setting up Steam Guard on your mobile device, please visit Steam’s support page.

Cross Save: August vs. October

Next Wednesday, August 21, cross save is scheduled to become available for all Destiny 2 players on Bungie.net.

Before this feature goes live, we’d like to set expectations on how the cross save experience will evolve following the launches of New Light and Shadowkeep on October 1.

Expansion Destinations and Activities

When cross save launches on August 21, cross-save-enabled players will not be able to access expansion destinations or activities from platforms where they do not own that expansion license until the corresponding expansion is purchased on that platform.

For example: A cross-save-enabled player who owns Forsaken on their Xbox One account, but not on PlayStation 4, will not be able to launch into the Dreaming City on PlayStation 4 when cross saving their Xbox One characters.

With the arrival of New Light on October 1, we’re changing how players access destinations and activities for content that they do not own. For more information on New Light, please see our New Light page.

Powerful Rewards

When cross save launches on August 21, cross-save-enabled players who earn gear on platforms where they do not own Forsaken will receive that gear at below-Forsaken Power levels until Forsaken is purchased on that platform.

For example: A cross-save-enabled player on a 750 Power character who owns Forsaken on their Xbox One account, but not on PlayStation 4, will receive all powerful gear drops at 380 Power when earned on PlayStation 4 while cross saving their Xbox One characters.

These Power restrictions will be removed in Update 2.6.0 with the launches of New Light and Shadowkeep later this year.

It’s…

This week, our winners will not be assisting you on how to recognize different types of Guardians from quite a long way away. They’ll be referencing some cheeky jokes, new and old. Hopefully this week, we have content for the whole family—even those pesky kids who keep telling me to “Yeet this Wheat.”

Movie of the Week: The Round(ish) Table

Honorable Mention: Get Ready to Drop

That’s a wrap! Well, sort of. We’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning for Part 3 of the Director’s Cut. Seeing as though I just got a Crucible tattoo, I’m excited to hear your thoughts on the details that Luke will be sharing. Until next time, I’ll be finishing up my Solstice sets.

Cheers,

Dmg04

The combat update from 1.9 has been a controversial topic for many. Some loved the changes, while others hated it and refused to move on from 1.8.

Mojang has been hard at work trying to make it the best experience possible to the needs of PC players while also making sure those that play on phones or tablets have a good experience.

To this end, jeb has posted on Reddit a new custom snapshot which contains several large changes to combat.

This is a summary of those changes, as explained by jeb:

This “manually installed Java snapshot” is the first experiment of the new direction of combat mechanics. It’s based upon the current Java Edition system, but with the following major changes:

• Overall much faster attacks

• Attacks only happen when fully charged, even if you spam click

• You can hold to attack

• Weapons have different reach (attack range)

• When you stop attacking, the attack timer will continue charging to 200%

• At 200% you can perform special attacks (crits, sweeping, knockback) and these attacks have longer reach

• Sweeping only occurs on swords with the Sweeping enchantment

• Critical attacks (jump attacks) bypass shields

• Shields have no warm-up delay

• Shields also activate when crouching/sneaking

• If you hit something, the target’s “invulnerability timer” will be shorter if you have a quick weapon

Installation instructions:

Finding the Minecraft application folder:

• Windows: Press Ctrl+R and type %appdata%/.minecraft and press Ok

• Mac OS X: In Finder, in the Go menu, select “Go to Folder” and enter ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft

• Linux: ~/.minecraft or /home/<your username>/.minecraft/

Once you have the launcher set up you can download the server files from there as well.

If you have any comments, issues, or other criticisms, then leave a comment over on Reddit so that jeb will see it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/c5mqwv/a_custom_java_edition_snapshot_to_test_new_combat/