Video: Embracing change on the road to reinventing God of War
(Alert for photosensitive viewers: Cory’s presentation includes white flashes on slide transitions. The first one occurs approximately 6 minutes into this talk. Please be aware when watching.)
Sony Santa Monica’s God of War was a departure from previous entries in the series, both in tone and world. But change on any level is never a simple or straightforward thing, especially in game development.
In this talk from GDC 2019, creative director Cory Barlog discusses the journey the team at Sony Santa Monica took to reinvent God of War and the special honor and responsibility that creating a different, better, and truly more memorable experience brought with it.
He walks through the development of the game, starting from those earliest moments when the realization struck that changes had to be made to every aspect of the latest game in the long-running series, and through the countless gut-wrenching failures and joyfully sweet successes experienced on the road to release.
In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its accompanying YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.
Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.
April 2nd New Preview Alpha 1904 Update (1904.190401-1920)
Starting at 6:00 p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha Ring will begin receiving the latest 1904 Xbox One system update (19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1904\18362.2013.190401-1820). Read on for more about the new features, fixes and known issues in the latest 1904 system update.
DETAILS:
OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1904\18362.2013.190401-1820
Implemented changes to increase the performance of the messaging inbox. You should all see your old 1:1 conversations and message history now prior to Jan 2019 when we started flighting this framework. Please keep the feedback coming!
System
Localization fixes.
Known Issues:
Profile Color
Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.
Hands On: Third Time’s A Charm With Dragon’s Dogma On Switch
I’ve got quite an odd relationship with Dragon’s Dogma. When it was originally released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 way, way back in 2012, I was fresh off the back of Dark Souls and was hungry for a similar swords-and-sorcery experience. With its grim fantasy setting and frenetic third-person combat, Capcom’s brand-new IP seemed like the perfect successor to sate my thirst – but it proved to be a very different game in terms of mechanics and challenge, and while I didn’t fall as head-over-heels in love with it as I did with FromSoftware’s often punishing epic, it certainly left a mark.
So much so that when Capcom released Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen (the 2013 expansion to the original game) on the PlayStation 4 in 2017, I decided it was worth making a second trip to the wilds of Gransys to fight goblins, zombies and griffins. To give you some background, I rarely replay a game as convoluted as this; Dragon’s Dogma requires tens (if not hundreds) of hours of commitment from the player, and I simply don’t have many hours to spare these days. Yet here I am, already tens of hours into Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen on Switch, and I’m still not entirely sure how the game has sunk its hooks so deeply in me.
I’m playing it for the third time, and, as before, I literally can’t think of anything else when I’m not playing it
I’ll save my deeper impressions for the full review, but Dragon’s Dogma is exactly how you’d expect a video game from 2012 to look and feel. It has moments of true visual splendour which are counterbalanced by basic character models and obvious pop-in, while the repetitive nature of many of its quests can become bothersome, especially when you’re a good few hours in.
Despite its obvious shortcomings as a game, Dragon’s Dogma somehow manages to entertain in a way that few other action RPGs can – as is evidenced by the fact that I’m playing it for the third time, and, as before, I literally can’t think of anything else when I’m not playing it. Family mealtimes are now ruined by me absent-mindedly thinking about which of the nine vocations to switch to next so I can expand my character’s move-set, and in the evenings I gently encourage my wife to ‘have an early night’ so I can get back to my important work around the bustling city of Gran Soren.
Of course, this addiction is made all the more worse with the Switch version because now I can play it anywhere. With the previous versions, the massive land of Gransys was tethered to my television, but now I can explore its lush forests, rocky mountains, sandy beaches and dank dungeons wherever and whenever I like; of course, there are other Switch ports which have liberated home console games in this manner (it still amazes me that Skyrim can be played on a portable system) but Dragon’s Dogma has special significance to me; this is a vast, sprawling world that I’ve already spent well over 100 hours exploring on other consoles, yet the fact that I can now take it with me anywhere I like means I’m finding stuff I’d missed the first (and second) times around.
Given its age, it should come as no great shock to learn that Dragon’s Dogma runs like a dream on Switch
Given its age, it should come as no great shock to learn that Dragon’s Dogma runs like a dream on Switch. In handheld mode the resolution drop doesn’t really impact things massively, and while there are moments of slowdown, they’re no worse than they were on the PlayStation 4 ‘update’. There’s been a slight change to the way in which Pawns – your AI helpers – work, no doubt necessitated by the fact that you don’t need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to exchange them between players. You can use your Nintendo ID Account to swap them instead, but it’s no longer possible to send them away with a gift and comment when you part company with them; a minor change, but one that feels significant to me, at least. I used to like the ‘human connection’ of sending a player’s helpful Pawn back to them with a thank-you note in tow.
But as I said, I’d best save some detail for the full review, which I imagine I’ll take great pleasure in writing. Dragon’s Dogma isn’t the perfect action RPG – far from it. It’s flawed in many ways and, when you break down its mechanics, is arguably out-done by many other examples of the genre. However, it has that special something – hence this being my third enthusiastic visit to Gransys – and being able to play it while sitting on the toilet is an early contender in my personal list of 2019 highlights (sorry for sharing).
“Intense” Side-Scrolling Shoot ‘Em Up Black Paradox Fires Onto Switch In May
Indie publisher Digerati has revealed that upcoming shoot ’em up Black Paradox, developed by Fantastico Studio, will be blasting onto Nintendo Switch on 3rd May.
We first heard about this one last summer, when the game was preparing to enter Steam Early Access and carried a promise of a future release on consoles. That release is now just around the corner, meaning we don’t have long to wait before we can test out the game’s fast-paced roguelite action and the variety of weapons, power-ups, drones, and other upgrades available to ensure survival.
Here’s a list of key features:
Key features – 20 weapons, 37 powerups, 13 deadly drones, 8 amazing power-up combos, and the ultimate space-bending move: the “Black Paradox” – 62 different enemies, each with its own attack patterns – 14 deadly bosses with unique attacks + 1 secret boss – Upgrade your stats and unlock new powers – 2 player local co-op – Amazing pixel art, awesome synth-wave soundtrack – Extra hardcore boss rush mode to unlock
Will you be firing this one up when it arrives on 3rd May? Tell us below.
This week at Bungie, something funny happened on the way to Arc Week.
On Tuesday, the celebration of Arc energy began. A sandbox update refreshed Arc subclasses that launched with Destiny 2. Vendors in the Tower invited you to take the changes for a spin through various bounties. The Lost Cryptarch quest has returned for Guardians looking for a direct path to the Thunderlord, which will be available through April 23. If you solved the mystery of the Lost Cryptarch during Festival of the Lost, you too can visit Old Russia again—and be sure to check around the frozen wastes outside the Wall. You may find a few scannables hidden among the rubble.
Shortly after Update 2.2.1 was released, we identified a few rough spots that needed immediate attention. Earlier today, Hotfix 2.2.1.1 went live, addressing the following issues:
Fixed an issue where Wavesplitter was being rewarded from Xûr on unintended platforms
The weapon will persist in inventory and become available to equip in September 2019
Fixed an issue where players could reacquire pinnacle weapons from vendors at no cost
Pinnacle weapons may once again be acquired from vendors after their respective quests are completed
Fixed an issue where players could have the Sentry perk “Umbral Strike” even when not having the proper amount of Sentry armor equipped
Sentry Armor will now grant the appropriate perks in Gambit Prime
Additionally, we are looking intro Arcstrider Supers and their ability to achieve higher-than-intended damage against bosses when mixing certain perks. Until fixed, you may notice bosses in Gambit or other activities being pummeled into the ground by Hunters and their Arc Staffs. We’ll keep you updated on the status of our investigation.
Spring Is in the Air
The Revelry is almost in bloom. Eva Levante will return to a freshly decorated Tower to celebrate the coming of Spring—and break a few rules in the process. All Guardians in Destiny 2 are invited to visit the Verdant Forest and cause some mayhem during this event.
If you’re in a mood to throw more grenades, punch more enemies, or wield your class abilities more than usual, Eva will offer the Reveler’s Tonic to reduce the cooldown for each. There will be some awesome new rewards to earn, including the Exotic Linear Fusion Rifle, Arbalest. This thing is as mean as it looks.
If you want to get up to speed before the Revelry goes live, make sure to read the full description of the event right here on the Bungie Blog.
The Revelry begins April 16 and lasts through the weekly reset on May 7, 2019.
See You at GuardianCon
Once a year, Guardians invade Florida to attend a legendary event.
You may have heard of it: GuardianCon! Raising millions for charity and serving as a hotbed for community interactions, this is an event you’ll want to attend. We’re sending an away team from Seattle to Orlando, and we’re cooking up some fun ideas for what you can get your hands on if you join us.
Last year, it was an absolute blast to meet so many Guardians from the Destiny community and host the Gambit Invitational. Whether it’s witnessing clan members meeting for the first time, watching the 1v1 Crucible tournament, or just making new friends in the Gambit line, these memories will live for ages to come.
We’re excited for July to come around again, and we hope to see you there. This is our strong recommendation to get your tickets now. We’ll unpack exactly what we have planned for our booth in the weeks to come. Bungie developers will be on site to shake your hand and thank you for being a Guardian. Destiny will be playable. There will be loot.
We’re working on some other fun surprises for the show, and we’ll tell you more about those soon…
Running the Gauntlet
This year marks our sixth anniversary of the Gauntlet Tabletop Fundraiser. On Sunday, May 19, Team Bungie will compete in a tournament against 20 other local gaming studios and tabletop aficionados in order to raise funds for El Centro de la Raza (The Center for People of All Races), a Seattle-based organization that works to build unity across racial and economic sectors and empower the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. Your donations will help them provide after-school programming for low-income middle school students through academic support and social activities. Your donations will also embolden our team with Power Ups that will help us win the tournament! Head to our team’s Donation Page to commit your support on or before May 19!
As always, we have some sweet backer rewards to thank you for your efforts:
$50: Receive the exclusive Gauntlet 2019 emblem*
$100: The prize above, plus a “Programmer Art” caricature of you—we can’t guarantee it’ll be good, but it will be funny!
An email will be sent to donors at the end of the event, no later than Wednesday, May 29, containing a deadline for photo submissions; no photos will be accepted after the deadline has passed
$250: All prizes above, plus a 1-hour gameplay session with Bungie employees
An email will be sent to donors at the end of the event to request your specific time and date availability
We can’t reveal secrets or talk about unannounced content, but we can talk about making games, our day-to-day work, what a career path into games looks like, what we feel the best class is, or even debate favorite snacks
$500: All prizes above, plus lunch at Bungie with the Gauntlet Tournament participants, followed by a tour of Bungie’s public-facing lobby
An email will be sent after the event to provide three dates to choose from throughout the year
Travel and accommodations not included
$1000: All prizes above, plus a full tour of the studio for you and your fireteam, including onsite Destiny gameplay with Bungie employees, motion capture tour, audio tour, and more
An email will be sent after the event to provide three dates to choose from throughout the year
Travel and accommodations not included
Top 50 Donors: Receive a signed PS4 Destiny 2 Collector’s Edition
Ties will be broken by donations received at the earliest date
An email will be sent to donors after the event to collect shipping information
*Note: Exact distribution date to be announced to all donors via email after the fundraiser ends
Page Turner
Today, we’re happy to announce that Cayde’s Six—Part 1 is available at the comics.bungie.net portal for all. Here’s a summary of the story captured in its pages:
“Cayde’s Six—Part 1” sets the stage for a showdown between the notorious Hunter Vanguard and the vile Scorned Barons who eventually orchestrated his demise. This is no eulogy. It is adventure. It is action. It is a reminder that, while a hero may be gone, he will always be remembered through the many stories that carve his legend.
Additionally, the Destiny Comic Collection Volume One is available for pre-order on the Bungie Store. Including all previous Destiny comics, this will also feature Cayde’s Six—Part 2, an exclusive Cayde-6 collectible art print, and a bookmark printed with a “Heroes of the Light” emblem code.
Electricians
If you’ve been on the #Help forum since Update 2.2.1, you may have encountered a member of Destiny Player Support. They’ve been hammering away at known issues and spreading awareness on the status of our investigations. Today, they have more information on general issues that we’re tracking for future hotfixes and a rundown on some trending issues that have been recently fixed with Update 2.2.1.
This is their report.
Season of the Drifter Known Issues
Destiny Player Support is tracking the latest issues reported by players on the #Help forum. Provided below is a brief overview of the latest known issues in Destiny 2: Season of the Drifter.
Lost Cryptarch: We’re investigating an issue where players who have a full Pursuits inventory can claim the Lost Cryptarch Thunderlord quest from Amanda Holliday, but it disappears and can’t be reclaimed. Players should remove a quest from their Pursuits before picking up this quest, or complete the quest with a second character.
Massacre Medals: We’re investigating an issue where this medal isn’t dropping for players in Gambit Prime.
Destiny 2 Update 2.2.1
On Tuesday, April 9, we rolled out Destiny 2 Update 2.2.1 to players. The update introduced new fixes to help resolve issues players reported encountering in the game. Below are a few highlights:
Fixed an issue where the Vow could not be infused above 650
Fixed an issue where Wish-Ender did not highlight targets while user was invisible
Fixed an issue where the Triumph “The Best Offense” was not giving credit for all orbs generated
Power Surge Bounties that have expired or been deleted are now available on the Drifter, though each bounty can still be completed only once per character
Players who sided with the Vanguard on the Allegiance quest can now also bank Motes in normal Gambit to progress on the Prime Research quest step
Additionally, the weekly lockout reset for Invitations of the Nine has been moved to Thursday reset (1700 UTC); players will now have two extra days to complete them before being locked out of a new Invitation the following Friday.
If you experience issues while playing, let us know about it in the #Help Forum.
What? What?! Wow!
Are you a Titan? Do you find yourself giddy with joy when shoulder-charging enemies into oblivion? Is the answer to every problem in your life… your fist? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may enjoy this week’s winning entry for Movie of the Week.
Movie of the Week: Thunderdome
Honorable Mention: Why don’t you level up?
Honorable Mention: Thrown in 2018, landed in 2019
Honorable Mention: It’s all in your mind
If you’d like a chance at the Lens of Fate emblem, be sure to submit your footage to the Community Creations portal on bungie.net.
Happy Arc Week. I have a laundry list of things to do to celebrate, starting with an Arc Singe Nightfall. As a Gunslinger main, it’ll be interesting to dabble with the Arcstrider paths for a while. I can’t help but try them out after seeing this awesome community creation.
See you next week for Revelry! I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but imagine what this tonic tastes like. Fruity? Bitter? Soapy? Maybe… like bread?!
Experience a new puzzle adventure from the studio behind Fe and Flipping Death. In Ghost Giant, you are the protector of the lonely little boy, Louis. Invisible to everyone but him, you explore his world and use your size to help him and the citizens of Sancourt.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 04-12-2019, 02:42 AM - Forum: Lounge
- No Replies
See Detective Pikachu And Get A Special Pokemon TCG Card
Warner Bros.' live-action Detective Pikachu movie hits theaters in exactly one month, and those who go see it will be able to take home a little bonus. In a nice throwback to the days of the first Pokemon movies, fans who purchase a ticket to the film will receive a special Detective Pikachu Pokemon TCG promo card.
The card, which you can take a look at below, will be distributed at theaters on opening weekend, and it features Detective Pikachu--voiced in the film by Ryan Reynolds--drinking a cup of his favorite adult beverage, coffee. One of his moves is also a play on his love of caffeine. If you're hoping to get the card, however, you'll need to see the movie early, as The Pokemon Company says it'll only be available while supplies last.
The Detective Pikachu card was announced as part of a new promotional video, which takes the form of a mock screen test showcasing numerous Pokemon that will appear in the movie, including a couple we haven't previously seen, like Purrloin and Torterra. You can watch the new video below.
Like the 3DS game that inspired it, the Detective Pikachu movie is set in Ryme City and follows the story of Tim (Justice Smith), whose famous private detective father has mysteriously gone missing. Tim has the unique ability to understand Pokemon, and he teams up with Pikachu to investigate his father's disappearance.
The Detective Pikachu movie premieres on May 10. It's directed by Rob Letterman (Goosebumps, Captain Underpants) and also stars Kathryn Newton (Blockers), Ken Watanabe (Godzilla, Inception), and Bill Nighy (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). While you're waiting for its release, be sure to check out our roundup of everything we know about the Detective Pikachu movie.
God Eater 3 Hacks And Slashes Its Way To Switch This July
Bandai Namco has revealed that God Eater 3 will be released on Nintendo Switch. A launch date of 12th July has been confirmed.
Originally launching on PC and PS4 this February, the game is unsurprisingly the third entry in the God Eater series. It’s an action-RPG with hack-and-slash gameplay present throughout; players use ‘God Arc’ weapons – which can be transformed into guns – to hunt and kill huge monsters known as Aragami.
As you can see in the tweet above, the game will let you tackle these terrifying beasts with a friend in co-op multiplayer battles, or with up to eight players when you take the fight online. The end of the trailer also highlights some exclusive costumes which will be given away as a pre-order bonus.
Not a bad announcement, huh? Let us know if you’re excited to play this one on Switch with a comment below.
Witch Thief Sneaks Its 3D Shmup Gameplay Onto Switch Next Week
Witch Thief, an “intense but humorous story-driven 3D shooter”, is blasting its way onto Switch next week, it has been confirmed.
Featuring plenty of 3D bullet hell action, the game sees players heading on a quest to steal an enchanted grimoire, playing as a snarky sorceress exploring five perilous zones. You’ll come up against arena-based ambushes featuring possessed dolls and arcane bosses, and you’ll be able to unlock three more playable and equally feisty witch heroines with different powers and their own personal stories.
A press release for the game mentions a relaxed ‘Chill Mode’, with flexible difficulty settings being available so that players of all skill levels can enjoy the game at their own pace. You can see a full list of features below.
Game features: – Flexible difficulty – from standard limited-life modes with ramped challenges to an innovative “Chill Mode”, where losing a life merely resets to weapon defaults.
– Unique bullet-hell perspective – play in classic 2D Shmup perspective or over the shoulder 3D. Adjust the player camera’s vertical angle on the fly to best deal with the patterns of attack, and use focus control to concentrate both projectile spread and visual perspective.
– Unravel a world of mystery – learn different perspectives on the same story as four different playable witches, each with their own unique abilities.
– Explore five distinctive zones – from spooky forest glades to magnificent cathedral vaults, each with multiple boss battles and ambush arenas.
– Battle a cast of memorable and relentless bosses in epic showdowns – from the castle’s guardian angel to the chuckling bishop!
– Endless Dungeon Mode – explore and overcome the endless dungeon where the walls move and every play-through is different.
Witch Thief launches on Nintendo Switch on 19th April with pricing still to be confirmed.
Do you like the look of this 3D shmup gameplay? Will you be giving it a go next week? Tell us below.
