Galcon is a mobile strategy classic, boiling down real-time strategy to easy taps and simple numbers. One criminally underappreciated feature is that Galcon can be played anywhere you can turn your phone on, with the device held at any angle and for any length of time.
Cosmic Frontline takes the basic Galcon gameplay — a set of planets, one or two opponents, and swarms of ships that spawn as you successfully hold said planets — and lets you display those planets on a background generated from your camera. That is, the playing field appears to be floating above your desk in real life. It’s a cool effect, but how does it play?
I think most of us can agree that Galcon would not be greatly improved if it were only playable from certain angles and locations, with the phone held awkwardly static until the level could be completed. By adding AR elements to this basic design, Cosmic Frontline ensures that the player will spend half their gaming time searching for an appropriate flat surface to cast planets upon and the rest of the time holding still while trying to place orders.
That means the game is not playable in many situations. If you’re commuting, the play field will fly off into the distance when your vehicle starts moving. Even when I was waiting at the bus stop, the planets managed to attach themselves to a passing car and zoom away just as victory was in my grasp. There’s an option to reduce the appearance of AR, but all that does is paint the background with a very pretty starfield; you still have to hold the device steady to keep the camera on the planets. The one new interesting wrinkle to the addition of AR is that sometimes planets will spawn behind you or otherwise slightly out of frame, forcing you to change your perspective slightly in order to keep everything in view.
It would have been better to just go all in and make the game only playable in a giant field where you have to run from planet to planet to issue orders. At least then you could get some exercise beyond holding your arms very still. An option to play without AR at all would also be preferable; with a stationary camera you could play the game in bed and it would still be a really pretty-looking basic RTS, perfect for mobile.
Cosmic Frontline is a great-looking game, and fun too in limited doses. There’s a variety of planet designs, plus asteroids and space debris to keep it looking interesting. The swarms of ships move smoothly and realistically. The AI is smart enough to take advantage of any weaknesses, and the levels are set up in ways that provide different challenges each time. When the game is set up right, it’s pretty neat to see these spinning planets and whirring ships flying around your bedroom.
That means Cosmic Frontline is a great tech demo, or an A+ final project in a game development course. It’s even pretty fun when conditions are just right. Any other time, however, it’s not worth your money.
Brutal, bloody beat-?em-up action without compromise. Redeemer: Enhanced Edition is an explosive top-down action shooter in which you fight your way through hordes of opponents in a variety of different ways. Play alone or in local co-op mode by turning your living room into an arena.
Come work on your favorite childhood robot including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and others. Help us defeat Megatron and the Decepticons!
DMG Entertainment has partnered with Hasbro for the development of the world’s first Transformers™-themed location-based entertainment center.
The Game Engineer must enjoy a collaborative and creative work environment and is looking to push the boundaries of cutting-edge 3D graphics. Research, develop, implement, and debug high-end and photorealistic graphics techniques applicable to characters and large-scale environments.
Responsibilities:
Design and develop data and code following direction from programming leads
Work independently to implement new functionality in game and tools
Able to adapt quickly to new coding environments and programming standards
Work on other programmers’ code, fixing bugs and implementing features
Analyze performance and implement optimizations in both high and low-level code
Quickly create standalone tools as needed to support the project
Comfortable designing and implementing code for multi-processor environments
Work with other team members to implement complex systems
Work with teams in other companies to help them deliver finished products
Some training and direction of entry-level programmers
Whether you’re just starting out, looking for something new, or just seeing what’s out there, the Gamasutra Job Board is the place where game developers move ahead in their careers.
Gamasutra’s Job Board is the most diverse, most active, and most established board of its kind in the video game industry, serving companies of all sizes, from indie to triple-A.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-25-2019, 06:37 AM - Forum: Lounge
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NetEase opens R& D studio in Montreal
Newsbrief: The Chinese game giant NetEase has opened a new R&D-focused studio in Canada’s growing game development hub of Montreal.
According to the economic growth agency Montreal International, this makes NetEase the first major Chinese game company to expand into Montreal.
NetEase, meanwhile, says that the new studio helps further its goals of global expansion for its online game business, and that it plans to hire both local and international staff for the new North American studio.
A press release announcing the new studio also notes that both Montreal International and Investissement Quebec, a company that aims to attract foreign investment to the providence, worked with NetEase to bring the expansion to fruition.
Torchlight burst onto the scene 10 years ago, transporting us to its quirky and charming, steampunk and fantasy world. Since then the series has been adored by fans for its dynamic dungeons, unique aesthetic, and old-school ARPG gameplay. And now, Torchlight II is making its way to Xbox One!
Torchlight II features four character classes: Berserker, Embermage, Engineer, and Outlander. Customize your class and set out to avenge Torchlight with a lovable pet companion. Xbox One players will gain access to an exclusive new pet: the Molten Imp, a fiery little rascal with smoke and ember effects on its tail. Pre-ordering the game will also get you exclusive access to another pet: the beloved goblin Yapper. Torchlight fans might recognize Yapper from elsewhere in the Torchlight universe.
The interface and controls for Torchlight II have been completely overhauled for the Xbox One gamepad, making for a fast and refreshing action-packed experience. With Xbox Live, up to four players can play together to face the Torchlight world’s most imposing enemies. If you’re looking to get caught up with the story, the original Torchlight is still available on the Microsoft Store, and is backwards compatible!
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Torchlight with us and relive the glory of Torchlight II.
CODE VEIN is Now Available for Pre-Purchase on Steam!
In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity. Wandering aimlessly in search of blood, the Lost will stop at nothing to satisfy their hunger. Team up and embark on a journey to the ends of hell to unlock your past and escape your living nightmare in CODE VEIN.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-25-2019, 06:37 AM - Forum: Minecraft
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Minecraft 1.14 Pre-Release 3 and 4
A full summary of the content available in this snapshot can be found in the changelog on Minecraft.net.
Update: We’re now on pre-release 4 and we expect this to be the last pre-release before the full release. We aim to release Village & Pillage for Minecraft: Java Edition on Tuesday, April 23rd.
Fixed bugs
Performance improvements
MC-101233 – Burned out redstone torch map causes memory leak
MC-144173 – When foxes eat a soup they eat the whole bowl
MC-144346 – Composter Bottom texture uses side texture
MC-145736 – taiga_meeting_point_2 has two logs that are rotated incorrectly
MC-145762 – Villagers don’t go to their appropriate work site
MC-146528 – Raid bar will disappear after being filled in villages created in nether
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-25-2019, 06:37 AM - Forum: Lounge
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GuardianCon Charity Marathon
As part of the GuardianCon Charity Marathon, we’re putting a price on our own heads. From 1-5 PM PDT (4-9 EDT) on June 20, 2019, we’ll be hosting a Bungie Bounty. The prize for besting us in matchmade combat in our own game is usually an emblem. This time, we have so much more in the reward pool.
This will be a bit different from previous bounties, as we’ll have one member of Team Bungie live on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC at the same time. Throughout the afternoon, we’ll be swapping game modes, players, hosts, and developers in and out of the chairs while viewers have the opportunity to donate to a great cause:
The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago.
Bounty Schedule
Hour 1 – Crucible Quickplay
Hour 2 – Gambit Prime
Hour 3 – Iron Banner
Hour 4 – Iron Banner
If you happen to be on our team, help us win. If you’re going against us, we dare you to kick our ass. We’ll be in Crucible Quickplay, Gambit Prime, and Iron Banner. The winning team will receive the Sign of Mutual Combat emblem.
If you’d like to throw a wrench in our fighting style, or score some sweet loot as a reward for donating to charity, check out the incentives below:
GuardianCon Charity Marathon
Donation Incentives
$10 — Sign of Gambit 2018 emblem code
$25 — Entered for chance to win an item from the Bungie Prize Pool
$50 — New “Gateway to Knowledge” emblem code
$100 — Entered to win a signed Collector’s Edition of Destiny, Destiny 2, or Destiny 2: Shadowkeep
$300 — Invert controls for player of your choice
$500 — Three players all rotate stations
$777 — Player of choice wears Shaxx helmet for a match
$1,000 — DeeJ reads a lore entry
$5,000+ — Studio tour for a three player fireteam (Five max, travel/lodging not included)
Sign of Gambit (2018 Event Emblem)
Gateway to Knowledge (First available via GuardianCon Charity Stream!)
Donation Goals
Every 10K — dmg04 eats slice of bread
25K — Release The TWAB early
50K — Shadowkeep Legendary weapon art reveal
75K — Shadowkeep Legendary weapon art reveal #2
100K — DeeJ plays a match
150K — dmg04 gets a Destiny tattoo
Top donors
We’re creating three swag bags for our top donors, filled with various merchandise from the studio:
Top Donor: Uldren Statue, signed Shadowkeep Collector’s Edition, signed D2 Collector’s Edition, signed D1 Collector’s Edition, 3A Titan, Bronze Cayde statue, MegaBlocks Goliath tank, Cayde game box
Second Highest Donor: Signed Shadowkeep Collector Edition, signed D2 Collector’s Edition, signed D1 Collector’s Edition, Cayde game box, Cayde Statue, MegaBlocks Goliath tank
Third Highest Donor: Signed Shadowkeep Collector Edition, signed D2 Collector’s Edition, signed D1 Collector’s Edition, Mega Blocks Goliath tank
Bungie Prize Pool
If you donate $25, you will be entered to win one of the following items. We’ll sign what we can, but some things (like a Ghost Plushy) don’t respond well to ink.
(10) Destiny Grimoire Anthology, Volume 1
(5) Cayde Game Boxes
(5) MegaBlocks Goliath Tanks
(5) Plushy Ghosts
(5) Vinyl Ghosts
(4) Cayde Bronze Statues
(2) 3A Titan Figures
Collector’s Editions
If you donate $100, you’ll be entered to win one of the following Collector’s Editions:
(20) Signed Shadowkeep Collector’s Editions
(20) Signed D2 Collector’s Editions
(10) Signed D1 Collector’s Editions
This event and associated sweepstakes is operated by Rare Drop Co LLC. (“Rare Drop”) and subject to Rare Drop’s official rules located at https://ww1.guardiancon.co/. Bungie, Inc. is not the sponsor or organizer of this event.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-25-2019, 02:04 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Madden NFL 20 Early Access Is Live, Here's How To Get In
Madden NFL 20's official release date is August 2, but with the way EA games work, you can start playing much earlier--albeit for a limited period of time, and only if you're willing to pay for the privilege. Here's how to jump into the game on PS4, Xbox One, or PC early. [Update: Early access has officially begun for EA/Origin Access members on all three platforms. You can now download the full game and play up to 10 hours as long as you have an active subscription.]
EA Access subscribers can start playing a trial of the game beginning on July 25. EA Access has been available on Xbox One since 2014, but the service launches on PlayStation 4 this week, so for the first time, PS4 owners can play the latest Madden ahead of release thanks to EA Access.
Madden NFL 20 is also launching on PC, and those with memberships to Origin Access can start playing early, too. There are reports online that Madden NFL 20 early access through Origin Access Premier begins July 24, but this is seemingly unconfirmed.
If history is any indication, the Madden NFL 20 early access trial on console and PC will let you play the full game (or presumably most of it) for a set number of hours, the exact number of which is unclear at this stage. All of your progress is likely to carry forward if you choose to buy the game outright. EA/Origin Access members save 10 percent on all EA digital content, which knocks down the price of Madden NFL 20's standard version from $60 USD to $54 USD.
Another way to play Madden NFL 20 early is to pre-order one of the game's more expensive premium versions. The Ultimate Superstar ($100 USD) and Superstar ($80 USD) editions unlock three days early, beginning on July 30. These premium SKUs also include various in-game extras.
Madden NFL 20 promises a series of updates and improvements. Among its most notable new additions is college football; a small selection of college football teams, including Florida and Oklahoma, are featured in the game's new Face of the Franchise career mode. You can check out a preview of the mode in the video embedded above. Also new for Madden NFL 20 are X-Factor super-abilities for some of the league's best players.
Vasara Collection’s Physical Switch Release Goes Up For Pre-Order This Week
Vasara Collection, the upcoming shoot ’em up bundle featuring both Vasara and Vasara 2, will soon be available to pre-order. It’ll be ready very soon in fact, with orders scheduled to go live this Saturday.
A limited physical run, and an even more limited Collector’s Edition, will be available to purchase exclusively from Strictly Limited Games. The standard release will cost 29.99€ and will be limited to 2,500 copies, while the Collector’s Edition will cost €49.99 and will be limited to just 1,500 copies. The contents of the Collectors Edition are expected to be revealed tomorrow, 25th July.
Strictly Limited Games notes that the product should ship between August and September; the game still hasn’t received an official digital release date, so we expect that both the physical and digital releases will launch around that time.
Excited to play these Japanese arcade titles on your Switch? Let us know if you plan to pick up a physical copy with a comment below.
