Random: These Colourful And Retro-Themed Switch Lite Concepts Look Amazing
The Switch Lite already seems like the perfect system to release in a bright array of colours and classic video game themes. Alongside the yellow, grey and turquoise models, Nintendo has revealed an official Pokémon Sword and Shield design.
Still, even this is not enough to stop fans from imagining what other designs and colours might look like on Nintendo’s newest member of the Switch family. Following on from the Game Boy-themed Switch Lite concepts we shared yesterday, Twitter and Instagram account McCoy Customs has revealed a bunch of colourful and retro-themed Lite designs.
The more colourful ones (above) are based on Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon, the Game Boy Advance, and the spice orange GameCube. Below are designs modelled on the NTSC and PAL Super Nintendo systems, and the original Game Boy hardware.
What do you think of these designs? Would you like to see Nintendo release colours and themes like this? Tell us below.
New executive directors named for both the IGDA and the IGDA Foundation
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) has announced new executive directors for both the IGDA and the IGDA Foundation, filling leadership vacancies left by Jen MacLean’s departure in April.
Renee Gittins has been named the new executive director of the IGDA, a move that comes after serving on the organization’s board of directors for more than two years and pulls her from her soon to be former position as a solutions architect at Spirit AI.
In a press release, Gittinis notes that her plans for the future of the IGDA include taking an active role in representing the needs and rights of game developers, and kicking off an initiative to foster the IGDA’s community as part of that effort.
The IGDA Foundation, the IGDA’s charitable organization, has named former ESA head of public affairs Nika Nour as its own executive director. Nour herself has spent more than ten years working with companies on social and cultural impact initiatives, and has held positions at the ESA, Internet Association, and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and commerce.
“Diversity and inclusion efforts are critical to ensuring the growth and success of video game developers, players, and businesses,” said Nour. “The industry can do more to support women, minorities, LGBTQ, accessibility needs and underserved communities, and the IGDA Foundation’s work would be incomplete if we didn’t focus on the whole inclusivity pipeline.”
Immortal Treasures: – Added custom sound effects for Pugna, Timber, Lion, Warlock, Centaur and Lifestealer immortals.
Mo’rokai: – Added a 100 point reward for losses. – Increased the point reward for winning to 300 from 250 (the total for winning with a bonus token is unchanged). – Jungle Map and Weather effects are no longer automatically applied – Each team now has two guaranteed bans. – Increased experience, gold and essence gain by 30%. – Wagering and Tipping have been added. – Updated the Mo’rokai Event page in the dashboard. – Penalties are now being assessed for abandons, and games should now be correctly marked as safe to leave when appropriate. – Fixed a bug that prevented wins from applying towards Jungle Expedition and Daily/Weekly Quest progress. – Fixed a bug that allowed players to not be assigned a hero if they were disconnected during the hero pick phase. – Fixed a bug that caused bonus tokens not awarding the correct number of additional points. Players are being granted 1000 points for each bonus token consumed, up to that users point cap for the week in which it was consumed.
Welcome to Shadow Fencer Theatre, Available Now on Xbox One
“Hey, you look like you’re into puppets!”
This is our icebreaker of choice when showing our game Shadow Fencer Theatre at conventions. The typical responses are along the lines of “What a weird thing to say” or “What about my face says that?” or just straight up laughter, but it often jolts people out of autopilot and brings them into to our booth.
It sounds odd, sure… but hey, you’re still reading this! At this point we would say something like: “Shadow Fencer Theatre is our competitive awkward physics sword-fighting game set in the world of shadow puppets! Why don’t you jump in and try it out?”
Despite playing with shadows, there is quite a bit of depth to the fighting in Shadow Fencer Theatre. Your left joystick controls the hand holding your shadow puppet and the right joystick swings the puppet’s floppy fencing arm. The player that can best control their wiggling puppet and deliver a lethal hit wins that take. The first puppeteer to win by two takes wins the match and ends the scene. You can also choose to throw your sword to win a take, but you better be confident, because once you do, there are no takebacks. When you realize you are not the grandmaster puppeteer you thought you were and lose your weapon, you can still get down to fisticuffs, but it’s not going to be easy.
Every character has the same reach from their hitbox to sword point, putting each character on a level playing ground. What makes every character unique are the variations between joints, limb lengths, and the size of their weapons. This gives advantages and disadvantages to each puppet and allows for a unique playstyle depending on who you select.
Long swords have more stability to the swing and provide a larger area to hit with. Throw it and miss however, suddenly your baby arms aren’t doing much to protect you. Just ask our city-destroying kaiju, Lizilla. If she loses her limousine sword, her tiny T-Rex-like arms leave her vulnerable. Conversely, our Gorilla character’s banana sword may be wobbly to swing, but after you throw it, your reach is still crazy long.
You know what? Because we like you, here’s a pro tip. If you need a little room to breathe when the swordplay gets intense, jab the puppeteer’s hand to cause your opponent to whimper and jerk backwards. Each puppeteer finds their own techniques for managing the awkward physics of our characters, so what will yours be?
If puppets attacking you wasn’t enough, the environment is out to get you as well. Each stage has unique elements that can affect the fight. Scenery, such as bats, arrows, tumbleweeds, and helicopters can get in the way of sword swings. Large set pieces can help you hide from your opponent to get a cheeky sword throw in. Most importantly, pro tip #2, don’t fall off the boat!
Shadow Fencer Theatre is created by ShuddaHaddaLottaFun, a two-person dev team from the Midwest, and we are so excited to bring our premiere title to Xbox One. We met in college, working on sketch comedy rather than going to class, and then at some point in time we were like, “How about video games?” And now we do that.
We started out slow, learning the ropes by doing game jams. Then after many attempts, we made a game that people really liked. Now just a little over two years later, Shadow Fencer Theatre went from a small jam game to a full featured game with a ton of characters, multiple game modes, and crazy awkward mini-games.
We are so excited to be finally launching our game on Xbox One, and we can’t wait for you to get out there and start poking each other. Poke your friends. Poke your classmates. Poke yourself. Best of luck puppeteers, the theater is calling for you, so go out and put on a great show!
You’ve sought the Truth, and found it. You’ve lit your path through darkness with Lumina. Now, Calus is mixing things up a little. In case you’ve been out of the loop, an imperial invitation is waiting for you in the robotic hands of Werner-99 on Nessus. Guardians have been earning a menagerie of loot since the beginning of the season. Now we’re entering a time of celebration. Moments of Triumph and the Tribute Hall became available on Tuesday, each of which commemorate your accomplishments as a Guardian.
The Tribute Hall comes with a small price to pay. Calus couldn’t make things too easy for you, now could he? You’re a Guardian after all. As you enter the Tribute Hall, you’re greeted by walls of gold and platforms to place trophies representing your history within Destiny 2. Each trophy requires a sign of your devotion, ranging from an offering of planetary materials to glimmer. Calus offers you four bounties a day to earn discounts for each trophy, so if you’re strapped for Data-Lattice or Bright Dust, you can eventually work your way to a far lower price.
After placing a few of your trophies, Calus brings a little Bad Juju to the fold…
Alongside your hall of tributes, Moments of Triumph are available to complete. While some Triumphs won’t be available until Solstice of Heroes, players can start gaining progress towards the Moments of Triumph 2019 Seal. For more info, make sure to check out the Bungie Day blog post.
GuardianCon Recap
Last week, we had the privilege to spend some face–to-face time with players at GuardianCon (now known as GCX) in Orlando, Florida. Moments like these are refreshing, as many of us started in the same community that we were celebrating throughout the weekend. If you weren’t able to make it to the event, there are recaps of the Bungie Opening Ceremony and the Whisper/Zero Hour Ride Along available on Twitch.
World First Titles were awarded to representatives of their fireteams. Never call these trophies just ‘belts’, or Big Show might show up on your doorstep with a few choice words. Guardians also spent some quality time with Eris, and we can’t thank Morla enough for her marathon signing sessions.
To everyone who took a chance in our Risk/Reward matches, thanks for stopping by! Good games were had and loot was earned. It’s always a blast hosting Crucible matches at events and we loved watching players that had never met before overcoming some pre-formed fireteams. Never underestimate your opponents, no matter how strong the bond with your fireteam may be.
Whatever the name is, it’s humbling to know that there’s an event that began with a bunch of Guardians meeting up at a bar to enjoy each other’s company. We’re excited for the future of the Gaming Community Expo. Maybe we’ll see you there next year.
Blinding the Well
No matter how much you prepare, a little bug may crawl into your luggage and find itself on a one way trip to the Dreaming City. The Player Support team has been navigating the waters of the #Help forum, gathering information on what players are seeing in the wild since Destiny 2 Update 2.5.1.1 went live.
This is their report.
Destiny 2 Update 2.5.1.1
This week, we deployed Destiny 2 Update 2.5.1.1 to players. Here’s a sampling of issues resolved with this release:
Resolved an issue where players could not activate the Witch’s Vessel in the Crown of Sorrow raid without a team wipe, blocking flawless runs.
Resolved an issue blocking the Drifter and Vanguard Allegiance quests from progressing.
Resolved an issue where Werner 99-40’s weekly bounties no longer gave powerful rewards.
Resolved issues where Sturm did not reload non-Drang sidearms, and would play reload audio on every kill.
Additionally, as of today’s background maintenance, issues encountered by players in the Blind Well have been resolved. Players who visit the Blind Well in the Dreaming City should be able to spend any-tier Charge of Light to once again initiate this activity.
Vital Information: High Roller Triumph
With the launch of the 2019 Moments of Triumph, we have monitored player confusion regarding the unlock conditions for the High Roller Triumph. Here is what is required:
Players must complete a Nightfall with a minimum final score of 100,000 points
Players must have a complete loadout of weapons and armor from any the following sources equipped. These can be mixed and matched:
The Leviathan
Eater of Worlds
Spire of Stars
The Menagerie*
Crown of Sorrow
*Armor from The Menagerie must be from an “Opulent” armor set. Eligible weapons include:
Destiny 2 Season of Opulence Known Issues
Listed below are the latest player-impacting issues discovered in Season of Opulence, as reported by players to the #Help forum.
Ryzen 3000 CPU: We are investigating player reports directly with AMD, where players describe being unable to launch Destiny 2 with Ryzen 3000 series CPUs on PC.
Countdown and Survival Crucible: We are investigating an issue where players cannot be revived upon death in Countdown and Survival Crucible matches after Update 2.5.1.1.
Conflux Lost Sector Imperials: We’re investigating an issue where players slot a rune before the required quest step in the introductory “An Imperial Summons” quest, blocking them from completing the rest of the quest.
Drink Deep Triumph: We’re investigating an issue where this triumph doesn’t unlock for all players who claim the Masterwork slot in the Chalice of Opulence.
System of Peace
Lastly, this week we’d like to clear up a recent miscommunication regarding the Bungie Foundation’s iPadsforKids fundraiser donation reward.
In an in-game message, we incorrectly stated that players who donate $50 or more would receive the Sign of our City emblem. The actual emblem for participating in this fundraiser is the System of Peace. To correct this issue, any player whose donation qualifies for this emblem will receive both emblems after July 14.
Just Fight Your Bad Guy
Ah, Movie of the Week. This place is usually home to brutal plays in the Crucible, or Guardians slaying Hive gods. This week, our winner tugs at the heart strings.
Movie of the Week: When you’re playing games, just pick a thing that straight bagel the way uh like just just just ma or if there’s something that makes you your your your uh thing sit and enjoy the view
Honorable Mention: Threading the needle
Honorable Mention: A Triumphant Creation
If you’d like to put your name in the hat for Movie of the Week, make sure to post your content to the Community Creations page on Bungie.net, or throw a video to myself or Cozmo on twitter.
Teams throughout the studio are hitting Shadowkeep hard. From Cross Save to [REDACTED], we’re on seek and destroy missions to eliminate bugs and ensure a smooth launch in September. Exciting times, to say the least, but we’re looking forward to sharing more details with you soon. Cozmo and I are planning some deep-dive TWAB’s between now and launch to give you a clear view on the changes coming to Destiny 2.
Until then, we’ve still got some fun in store for the remainder of the season, waiting for you in the Solstice of Heroes event. More on that coming soon…
Kali Linux is a specialized distribution targeted at security professionals that also shows up on popular TV show, Mr. Robot. Kali Linux is now compatible with the Raspberry Pi 4. Currently, the distro is only available as a 32-bit OS, but the project is planning on releasing a 64-bit version soon. In the meantime, security aficionados who have a spare Raspberry Pi 4 lying around can head over to the Kali Linux site and download the distro image. (Source: NoteBookCheck)
Switch Lite -- When And Why Nintendo Refreshes Portable Hardware
Nintendo has announced the Switch Lite, a smaller and lighter model that lacks the TV docking mode. That makes this version of the Switch a dedicated handheld, similar to Nintendo's long legacy with the Game Boy, DS, and 3DS. Hardware revisions have become a regular practice for Nintendo's handheld systems, for a variety of reasons. To glean why, and what this might mean for the future of the Nintendo Switch, we can take a look back at Nintendo's history of hardware revisions.
From Game Boy to 2DS Lite
The Game Boy, Nintendo's first dedicated handheld hardware (setting aside the Game & Watch), was followed by both the Game Boy Pocket and the Game Boy Color. The first was a revision to the form factor, while the second added color functionality lacking from the original and was backwards compatible with existing Game Boy games. The Game Boy Advance similarly was followed by the Game Boy Advance SP, which added a much-needed backlight, and the ultra-tiny Game Boy Micro.
The clunky first iteration of the Nintendo DS was then followed by the much more popular DS Lite. Nintendo followed that with the DSi, targeted at the emerging online marketplace, and finally the DSi XL with larger screens.
Nintendo's latest handheld system, the 3DS, has had the most hardware revisions of any system--in part because it split into a separate "2DS" line with its own iterations. The original 3DS was followed by the 2DS and a big-screen XL model. Confusingly, though, the system iterations also started branding themselves as "New." This left three more revisions: the New Nintendo 3DS, the New Nintendo 3DS XL and the New 2DS XL. The New 2DS is the latest iteration, though it notably ditches the flat system design of the original 2DS in favor of the clam-shell design of the other 3DS models.
Better, Stronger, Faster
The rationales behind these various hardware revisions were numerous. Some, like the Game Boy Pocket and 3DS XL, were revisions to the overall form factor without many notable changes to functionality. Others were clearly designed to reach some degree of feedback or market demand, like the GBA SP's backlit screen or the DSi's online marketplace. And some, like the original 2DS, are built more heartily and budget-priced to appeal to families who may have younger players.
One common factor remains the same throughout all of the revisions, though. By introducing a steady stream of revised hardware, Nintendo has been able to maintain or even increase sales while older models are starting to reach their saturation point. Whether by attracting repeat customers who want to trade up for new features, or expanding the market to new players, hardware revisions have consistently been a sales driver for Nintendo.
Peaks and Valleys
Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad responded to the Nintendo Switch Lite news on Twitter by publishing a pair of sales charts for DS and 3DS models. The first shows the original DS model peaking in its second year, and almost immediately becoming fully overtaken by the much more successful DS Lite. The Lite ruled the DS roost for three straight years, before becoming overtaken by the DSi. The DSi XL, by comparison, mostly kept pace with its non-XL version. In each case, we can see how the models begin to dip just as another lines up to replace it in the market, keeping the top-line sales of all units combined relatively consistent over a long period of time.
Image credit: Niko Partners
The 3DS shows a similar trajectory. Though the original model of 3DS was much more successful than the original DS, the 3DS XL helped supplement it just as it began to drop. In fact, thanks to a wider array of different models--six instead of four--the top-line sales on 3DS models remains even more consistent, though not reaching the high highs of the DS models.
Image credit: Niko Partners
Switch Lite And Beyond
The Nintendo Switch Lite is an unusual hardware revision, largely because it abandons a central part of the system's identity. The ability to "switch" between TV-docked and handheld modes was the main pitch for this console, to the point that it's even named after it. This makes the revision most closely analogous to the 2DS, which stripped out the 3D functionality of the 3DS. Also, the 2DS did not replace the former models like some hardware revisions, but began its own line. Nintendo hasn't given any indication that the Switch Lite signals a change to a portable-only future for the console, and a high-end model is still rumored to be on the way.
It may also be similar to the 2DS in that it's smaller and looks more solid. A hands-on report claimed the controllers are less "creaky" since they can't detach. All this would seemingly make it a good fit for younger players. This is especially relevant as Pokemon Sword and Shield approaches, and it's no coincidence that Nintendo is putting out a special Switch Lite model to match.
However, while Nintendo never admitted as such, the stripping out of 3D from the 2DS appeared like a tacit acknowledgement that its gamble on 3D hadn't panned out. The feature was widely regarded as inconsistent and Nintendo may have had research data that showed it going underused. It's difficult to say if the Switch Lite is a response to market trends. In a financial presentation from March 2018, Nintendo reported almost 30% of users playing primarily in handheld mode, as compared to less than 20% playing primarily in docked mode.
Time To First Hardware Revision (Earliest Territory)
Game Boy to Game Boy Pocket: 104 months
Nintendo DS to DS Lite: 16 months
Nintendo 3DS to 3DS XL: 17 months
Nintendo Switch to Switch Lite: 30 months
In terms of timing, the Nintendo Switch is now two years old. That puts this hardware revision slightly later in the Switch lifespan than the DS Lite and 3DS XL's first revisions. Switch sales were slightly down in the most recent fiscal quarter reporting, so like its predecessors, the Switch Lite appears primed to pick up the slack. If Nintendo continues its trends from prior generations, though, we're likely to see more revisions, possibly including one as early as next year, and then a steady stream of others following for nearly a decade. The original Nintendo Switch is reportedly getting a subtle update to some internal components as well.
If the Switch Lite signals a 3DS/2DS split, the company could alternate between revisions to the portable-only "Lite" line and the main console hybrid line. Either way, don't expect this to be the last Nintendo Switch.
The Jackbox Party Pack 6 Comes To Nintendo Switch This Fall
Jackbox Games has confirmed The Jackbox Party Pack 6 will arrive on the Nintendo Switch this fall.
Alongside this is the reveal of the second ridiculously fun party game, Dictionarium. This game serves up “never-before-seen words” and it’s your job to work out what each one means.
What’s a “blarnkt” — a type of fungus? The sound a sick pigeon makes? A stew served at weddings where the couple doesn’t really love each other? Don’t ask us, it’s up to you!
The definition with the most votes wins, but you’re not off the hook yet! You’ll also have to come up with a synonym and use the word in a sentence. By the end, you and your friends will have created entirely new dictionary entries. Dictionarium supports 3-8 players and an audience of thousands of word-lovers.
Dictionarium will be joined by the most-requested game, Trivia Murder Party 2. If you haven’t played this before, it’s a deviously funny game where getting questions wrong results in fighting for your life in multiple absurd and challenging mini-games.
Have you played this party game series before? Will you be trying out the sixth entry when it is release? Leave a comment below.
