Fallout 76's release date is a month away, but some players will have a chance to try Bethesda's new multiplayer-focused RPG very soon. Following the recent pre-beta stress test, Bethesda is kicking off the first Fallout 76 beta session on Xbox One on October 23 (before expanding it to PS4 and PC the following week), and those who've qualified are able to pre-load it right now.
The Fallout 76 beta is open exclusively to those who've pre-ordered the game, so if you want to jump in, you'll need to reserve Fallout 76 on your platform of choice. Not everyone who pre-orders will get into the beta right away, however, as Bethesda will gradually invite more players in waves. You'll also need to have an Xbox Live Gold or PS Plus subscription in order to participate.
As Bethesda details on its FAQ page, to download the beta, you'll first need to find the redemption code on your pre-order receipt or in the email confirmation you received. After that, you'll need to log in to Bethesda's website, then input the code using the link on the FAQ. Once that is completed, Bethesda says it will send an email with further instructions.
The first beta session is scheduled to begin on October 23 at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET and run until 8 PM PT / 11 PM ET. No further dates and times have been announced yet, but Bethesda says it will be running during "targeted time frames." According to the developer, the purpose of the beta is to "stress test and break the game," so players should expect some hiccups along the way. The beta will go on until shortly before the game's launch next month.
Fallout 76 releases for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 14. Unlike previous installments in the series, 76 is an always-online RPG with an emphasis on multiplayer, which we found makes for a very different kind of Fallout game. You can learn more about the title in our roundup of everything we know about Fallout 76.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance - The Amorous Adventures of Bold Sir Hans Capon
The heart of our much-loved young Sir Hans Capon is bursting with overwhelming longing for... his latest flame.
The second DLC "The Amorous Adventures of Bold Sir Hans Capon" for Kingdom Come: Deliverance revolves around his attempts to woo the fairest maid he has ever set eyes upon, and his success will not depend only on his own mastery of the art of love ? it?s also up to his trusty wingman, you - Henry, to ensure that The Amorous Adventures of Bold Sir Hans Capon come to a happy end!
That?s the main objective linking three new quests, in which you will not only have to read love poems, arrange a nighttime tryst and keep an enraged butcher at bay, but also infiltrate the camp of a band of bloodthirsty brigands, enter a dice tournament, dig up a corpse, investigate a murder and... er... perhaps commit a few. All for love, of course!
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-21-2018, 09:17 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Video: How Gauntlet paved the way for class-dependent multiplayer
People take Dungeons & Dragons-style class-based heroes for granted in their favorite games now, but Atari’s Gauntlet brought that staple multiplayer feature to arcades and consoles for the first time with its Warrior, Wizard, Valkyrie, and Elf.
In this GDC 2012 talk, Gauntlet creator Ed Logg, who also designed ground-breaking titles like Centipede and Asteroids, shares his thoughts on creating the game that popularized the phrase “Wizard needs food badly”.
He discusses how the game paved the way for the class-dependent multiplayer experiences that are a cornerstone for many popular titles today.
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.
Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Americas.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-21-2018, 09:17 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Cast away the dark in DARK SOULS: REMASTERED
Cast away the dark in DARK SOULS: REMASTERED
Experience the critically acclaimed, genre-defining game DARK SOULS: REMASTERED. Revisit the ancient lords with enhanced details to the meticulous world. DARK SOULS: REMASTERED includes the main game plus the Artorias of the Abyss DLC.
Deep and Dark Universe
Delve into an epic dark fantasy universe stricken by decline and the Curse. Explore its intricate world design–full of hidden passages, dungeons and secret–and uncover its deeply rooted lore.
Each End is a New Beginning
Each playthrough surprises you with new challenges and unexpected facets of the game. Don’t bet on completing the game only once.
Gameplay Richness and Possibilities
Apply hundreds of unique combinations of weaponry, armor, magic, and crafting options to create your own playstyle and gaming experience.
Sense of Learning, Mastering, and Accomplishment
From your first steps to mastery, build your character while refining your playing skills. Learn to strategize freely and experience the rewarding taste of overcoming daunting foes.
The Way of the Multiplayer (up to 6 players with dedicated servers)
Online player capacity has been increased from 4 to 6 players, with password matchmaking available for the first time!
Whatever your motivations are to play online*—collaboration or confrontation, support or betrayal—you’ll find your true home among the nine covenants. Which allegiance will you choose?
If we could pull your attention away from exploring the beautiful scenery and becoming a Horizon Superstar in historic Britain with Forza Horizon 4, we have some new Xbox One features to share. The October 2018 Xbox Update adds new ways to express yourself with Avatars, interact with your console with Voice Skills, and enjoy your favorite streaming content. Here’s a rundown of what’s new:
New Xbox Avatars The new Xbox Avatars are expressive, creative and, most importantly, bring to life the community of fans they represent. The Avatar Editor features a wide range of body types, and the entire Avatar closet supports all of them, enabling you to uniquely tailor your Avatar however you see fit.
Avatars will appear across your Xbox One. You will see your own Avatar on your profile, as well as the profile pages of anyone who has chosen to represent themselves as an Avatars. You’ll also find Avatars on activity feed posts, Friend blocks on the Home screen, Gamerscore leaderboards, club headers, profile comparisons, and more. In addition to all the items that are available at launch, we also have a new Avatar Store where you can obtain even more new Avatar items, including licensed designs from Halo, Gears of War, and more. With new content every month, the Avatar Store is a diverse marketplace of clothing, outfits, props, and accessories to make your Avatar even more unique.
Once you’ve created your new Avatar, you can use the Photobooth feature to capture a great photo of your Avatar to use as your Gamerpic. In addition to the mood that you set for your Avatar, you can also use the Photobooth to pose your Avatar using a multitude of different emotes, each of which can be paused and advanced frame-by-frame with more control than ever before. Rotate and zoom controls help you capture the exact pose that you’re looking for, and a wide variety of background colors enable you to set the scene.
If you prefer your Xbox Original Avatar, that’s okay too! The new Xbox Avatar Editor also enables you to compare and choose which version of the Xbox Avatar best represents how you want to be seen on Xbox Live. If you choose to represent yourself as an Xbox Original Avatar, all the content from your Xbox Original avatar’s closet continues to be available via the Xbox Original Avatars app on Xbox One and Windows 10.
Xbox Skill for Cortana and Alexa The Xbox Skill for Cortana and Alexa is available today in the U.S. This feature enables people to use their voice to navigate and interact with Xbox through Cortana and Alexa-enabled devices – expanding voice navigation beyond previous Kinect and headset capabilities. With the Xbox Skill, people can use voice commands to power on/off their console, adjust volume, launch games and apps, start and stop broadcasts on Mixer, capture screenshots, and more. For example, if you have the Xbox skill enabled on your Echo just say “Alexa, launch Forza Horizon 4” and this command will automatically turn on your console, sign you in, and launch Forza Horizon 4. Look for the Xbox Skill in the Alexa Skill Store or the Cortana Skill Store to get started. To set up Alexa, just say, “Alexa, open Xbox” and to set up Cortana, just say, “Hey Cortana, open Xbox”, or search for “Xbox” in the assistant skill store. To learn more about this new feature, see our previous post.
Additionally, starting tomorrow in the U.S., anyone who buys a qualified Xbox One S or Xbox One X bundle at Amazon.com will also get a new Amazon Echo Dot, but don’t wait too long because this offer is only available while supplies last.
Dolby Vision video streaming on Xbox One Xbox is committed to bringing rich entertainment options to our fans. Today we are excited to launch our latest entertainment option, Dolby Vision™ HDR video streaming support across Xbox One S and Xbox One X! Dolby Vision enables select TVs to deliver enhanced HDR with dynamic scene-by-scene precision and accuracy versus standard HDR, which is static for the entire movie/show you are watching. If you have a TV that supports the latest version of Dolby Vision and a Premium Netflix subscription, jump in and experience incredible brightness, contrast, and color for yourself today! Dolby Vision on Netflix with a premium subscription will be supported at launch with more Dolby Vision apps adding support in the coming months.
To enable Dolby Vision on your console, navigate to Settings -> Display and sound -> Video output -> Video modes -> Allow Dolby Vision. If you need more assistance setting up the feature or want more information on supported TVs, check out this blog post.
New languages for Narrator Xbox is committed to being more accessible and inclusive. Today we are adding five additional languages to Narrator on Xbox One, including Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, and Dutch. We’re also adding an Australian version of English language for Narrator, so Australian users will no longer have to select U.S. or U.K. English to use Narrator.
These updates are available because of the Xbox Insiders who have helped shape these features, so big thanks to all of you for your valuable input. If you’d like to help create the future of Xbox and get access to early features, download the Xbox Insider Hub app on your Xbox One or Windows 10 PC today. You can also visit the Xbox Insider Blog here for the latest release notes and to learn more. We’ll have more to share soon on additional features releasing to Xbox One this fall. Until then, enjoy the October Update and happy gaming!
Shakedown Hawaii Releasing On Switch And 3DS Early Next Year
If you enjoyed Retro City Rampage by Vblank Entertainment on WiiWare, it might be worth taking a look at the new gameplay overview trailer for its successor Shakedown Hawaii. The game was originally scheduled to arrive in 2017 on the 3DS and Nintendo Switch and has since been pushed back to Q1 2019. Surprisingly, the 3DS release is still on the way – with the developer previously clarifying it was committed to releasing this particular version.
As explained in the trailer above, Shakedown Hawaii is a 16-bit destructible open-world adventure that parodies big business and the white collar crimes that go alongside it. You’ll take control of a trio of protagonists as you build a corporation, acquire businesses, sabotage competitors, rezone land (by demolishing it) and shaking down shops for protection money. You can explore the world on foot, by car or boat, go inside more than 200 stores, interact with multiple citizens and traverse a variety of environments ranging from jungles to farmland.
Are you still excited to play Shakedown Hawaii? Which platform will you be picking it up on? Take a look at the new overview trailer above and tell us in the comments below.
HBO’s sweeping Game of Thrones television adaptation has always been the weekly opportunity for many fans to take a seat and proselytize the best course of action for one of its many characters on course to take the Iron Throne to they friends as it plays out in real time.
Meanwhile, Nerial’s Reigns and Reigns: Her Majesty are consistently some of the most entertaining mobile experiences out there, inviting mere peasants on iOS and Android to try their hand at royal decision-making. It’s no surprise, then, that the two would be a match made in heaven. Reigns: Game of Thrones is not only the best iteration of Reigns to date, but it also happens to be the best Game of Thrones video game adaptation, with an expansive set of storylines,
For those unfamiliar with Reigns, it adopts a Tinder-like formula that only requires one real thing of players: swiping right or left. In the first two games, you took on the role of a fledgling king or queen and lived out many moons as royalty until you inevitably perished (which you do, quite a lot). Citizens, advisors, and strangers flock to you with favors, advice, and other tasks that require you to mull over decisions on, with a left swipe for no and a right swipe for yes.
Some may seem frivolous, but the ramifications of your choice can echo throughout later happenings. Some appear disastrous at first but may end up a boon for your kingdom. It’s simple enough to get the hang of, but you never quite feel as though you’re making the right decision in your heart of hearts. That’s the beauty of it, and perhaps what keeps you coming back for more.
Luckily, the icons at the top of the play screen give you a tiny bit of insight as to which aspects of your rule will be affected by your decisions. So when you mull over whether you should prepare for battle to take the land of Meereen back as Queen Daenerys Targaryen, the first character unlocked in Reigns: Game of Thrones, you should check said icons.
You’ll see your standing with the Sept, or the religious segment of the Game of Thrones world, your military power, how to people view you, and your money reserves. Each decision will move a meter up or down so that the icons can become completely full or empty. Emptying is denoted by a red cast to each icon, while filling it is green.
The key here is to remember that neither filling the icons nor emptying them is vital to your success. In fact, if you fill them at all, you’re going to be headed for an ending, whether you’re poisoned, killed by a crowd of angry villagers, run into a particularly angry dragon, or fail to survive one of the most punishing seasons in the Game of Thrones world – winter, of course. You have to walk a fine line between catering to one group too much and another not enough, just like in real life, and Reigns‘ classic formula works miraculously here.
It’s hard to tell when death might suddenly befall you, but it will, again and again. You just learn to deal with it and move on swiftly, and then come back at the game with a renewed sense of purpose. You’ll know which decisions to avoid next time, if you remember them, since the game always throws new challenges your way and randomizes situations, so you don’t get too complacent.
At its core, Reigns: Game of Thrones is, essentially, a re-skinned version of the classic Reigns formula with some new tricks up its sleeve. But thanks to a few changes Nerial opted for this time around, there are some intriguing alterations to its core design that give the game new life. For instance, the Red Priestess Melisandre acts as a catalyst for the rebirth of your characters time and time again. When one dies, you may unlock another. And then you may select which one you’d like to play as. Melisandre offers some brief hints about clues to look for when making decisions.
You aren’t relegated only to Daenerys, though. There are eight playable characters and plenty of other personalities you’ll recognize in the game, including Arya, Jaime Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Jon Snow, Sansa, and Cersei. Each come with their own unique sets of storylines and challenges to overcome, just like in the show, but there’s an overarching narrative too, which you’ll soon come to find out.
All of these elements come together to make a simple yet exciting and wholly addictive exercise in strategizing, decision-making, and general Game of Thrones nerdery. It’s every bit as engaging as the Telltale vision of the series, even more so in fact, and trumps the other poor game adaptations in ways that aren’t even fair. This is the best attempt any developer has made thus far when it comes to conceptualizing Westeros, its varied personalities, and the world’s political intrigue yet. And it all comes down to a Tinder-like swipe fest. But you know what? It sure is a fantastic one.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-21-2018, 01:59 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Review: Venom (2018) Movie -- A Comic Book Movie Time Capsule
Making a Venom movie without Spider-Man is a unique challenge. But many of Venom's issues have nothing to do with Spidey's absence.
For example: Early in Venom, the Symbiote that will later be revealed as Riot escapes the Life Foundation's custody and infects a woman in a marketplace in Malaysia, with the explicit goal of reaching San Francisco. The movie's main story then begins: Eddie Brock makes some poor decisions, loses his job and his fiancé (Michelle Williams' Anne Weying), and hits rock bottom. Cue a six month time jump--and our friend Riot, still inhabiting the old woman from the marketplace, has finally made it--to the airport?
What was Riot doing for the six months between then and now? Did it go on a killing spree across Malaysia? Was it dormant or hibernating--something the movie never gives any hint that Symbiotes might be capable of? Was it biding its time pretending to be someone's grandma? That blatant plot hole has nothing to do with Venom's general 1990s cheesiness as a character, or the considerable challenge of trying to make a Venom movie without a single reference to Spider-Man. It's just good, old fashioned, avoidable sloppiness.
Don't get me wrong: The lack of Spider-Man does cause problems. Specifically, the entire premise--that Venom chooses to stick around on Earth, attach itself permanently to Eddie Brock, and betray its entire species--doesn't really work in this movie. In the books, Venom's obsession with Spider-Man gives it common purpose with Eddie, and cutting Spidey out of the equation necessitates something take his place as their end goal. The movie tries to get around that by clumsily painting Eddie and Venom as Breakfast Club style lovable "losers" (actual, direct quote: "On my planet, I am kind of a loser, like you"). It's nonsensical, implausible, under-explained, and tonally weird; that line is easily the movie's biggest laugh, but not in a good way.
Venom is surprisingly funny, mostly in the verbal abuse the Symbiote whispers directly into Eddie's brain, usually after Tom Hardy's character does something Venom considers cowardly or embarrassing. When Eddie holds his hands up in surrender to law enforcement, Venom laments that he's "making us look bad;" when Eddie opts to take the elevator rather than jumping from a skyscraper, Venom calls him a "pussy." These moments are deliberately played for laughs, and they land well enough. The bigger problem is why an alien parasite from space talks like a frat bro, or, extrapolating further, why it needs eyes and teeth if its main form is a shapeless, pulsing black goo. These essential curiosities of Venom as a character are never so much as acknowledged, much less explained.
On the plus side, Venom and the other Symbiotes look pretty good in this movie. The CG work is somewhat inconsistent, and it definitely goes through ups and downs when it comes to raw fidelity. But unlike in his other live action incarnations (looking at you, Spider-Man 3), Venom actually looks like Venom here. The alien comes off as both lithe and powerful; it leaps around gracefully, but its hulking form also exudes menace and strength. The visual effect of Venom's vicious visage wrapping itself over Eddie's head is creatively executed, and Symbiote-on-Symbiote fight scenes play out in unexpected ways, with human hosts and alien parasites struggling to remain linked while trying to rip and tear their opponents apart.
Hardy is as baffling in this role as the movie's trailers have suggested he'd be. As a New York transplant living in San Francisco, he's doing something like a caricature of an NYC cab driver's accent, mixed with frequent slurred mutterings--and that's before he encounters the Symbiote and his behavior becomes understandably erratic. Besides Hardy's strange performance, Brock himself is not a likeable or relatable character. He thoughtlessly uses his fiancé in a half-baked gotcha journalism scheme that gets them both fired, and it literally never occurs to him to so much as apologize to her, until Venom for some unknowable reason nudges him in the right direction later in the film. Brock lacks the depth of character to carry this movie, and Hardy lacks the charm to make up for the character's shallowness.
Michelle Williams does just fine as Anne, although her attachment to Eddie is really inexplicable, as the two have zero chemistry. Even weirder is the willingness of her new doctor boyfriend (Reid Scott) to administer Eddie multiple MRI screenings, even after Eddie interrupts their fancy lunch date by climbing into a lobster tank (the Symbiote affects him in some truly strange ways).
Riz Ahmed does a great job as the megalomaniacal head of the Life Foundation, totally selling his character's belief that humans will have to mutate themselves using alien parasites if we want to survive climate change. That said, it's a pretty thin motivation, and Dr. Carlton Drake is an utterly one note villain. To be honest, the only character who actually experiences any kind of growth or change is the scientist played by comedian and actress Jenny Slate, who is terrific in this movie--and, unfortunately, underused.
Venom has all the ingredients of a decent superhero movie--10 or 15 years ago. With spotty CGI, poorly drawn characters, tonal inconsistency including forced "edginess" and awkward humor, sidelined female characters, and even cringeworthy licensed musical cues, it feels like a relic from the distant, pre-Marvel Cinematic Universe past. That may in part be attributed to the fact that it's been in production in one form or another since at least 2008. But its problems go way past simply being "old school," and ultimately, Venom lacks the charm, clarity, and ambition superhero fans have come to expect.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-21-2018, 01:59 AM - Forum: Windows
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Watch the Forza Racing World Championship 2018 live this weekend
This Saturday Oct. 20 and Sunday Oct. 21, the Forza Racing Championship (ForzaRC) 2018 season races to the finish line with its final and most exciting event of the year – the Forza Racing World Championship (ForzaRWC) 2018. After months of competition, the top 24 global drivers will take the stage at Gfinity Esports Arena in London, England where they’ll compete for their share of a $100,000 prize pool and the Forza Racing World Champion 2018 title.
The action begins tomorrow, Oct. 20, at 10:00 a.m. PDT/6:00 p.m. BST as all 24 drivers head into the semifinals. The drivers will be split into two groups, each competing in three races from which their individual points will be earned. At the end of the day, the top six drivers from each group will move on to the finals, beginning Sunday, Oct. 21, at 10:00 a.m. PDT/6:00 p.m. BST. Tune-in all weekend to catch the action and unlock in-game rewards on our Mixer stream at watch.ForzaRC.com.
In addition to the weekend’s racing competition we’ve got even more excitement lined up for those tuning in:
Special guest:
We’re excited to welcome back legendary motorsport broadcaster and ForzaRC guest commentator John Hindhaugh! He’ll be joining our incredible talent lineup including Brian Ekberg, Alie Tacq, Andy Dudynsky, Aaron Martin-Pilkington, and Lottie Van-Praag, to bring you all the moment to moment excitement as well as a wealth of insight and anecdotes from his career in motorsports.
Driving the Design:
The ForzaRC artist series Driving the Design comes to an end as we reveal the final two episodes of the series. Tune-in Oct.20 to see Episode 4 featuring livery artist AMR The Hulk and ForzaRC driver Williams Mitch and Oct. 21 for Episode 5 featuring livery artist Little Vixen and ForzaRC driver Noble B0x. Our artists will be joining us live in the studio to chat about their experience. Missed a previous episode? Catch up on the whole series on the ForzaRC YouTube channel.
Forza Horizon 4:
Torn between spending your weekend exploring beautiful, historic Britain in Forza Horizon 4 and watching the best drivers in the world compete in ForzaRWC? Then do both! Tune-in to watch.forzarc.com beginning at 9:00 a.m. PDT/5:00 p.m. BST on Oct. 21 to find out how you can join a special pre-show Forza Horizon 4 play session with members of Turn 10, Playground Games, and ForzaRC Pro drivers.
Viewership rewards:
Those tuning in this weekend will have the chance to win a number of all-new, limited edition in-game rewards for Forza Motorsport 7 including:
The Forza Racing World Championship driver suit and livery
The Driving the Design series of liveries (5 in total)
The Unicorn livery
Catch all the action on our Mixer channel at watch.ForzaRC.com, where viewers will have a chance to earn in-game rewards and participate in raffles for special prizes, or on Twitch at Twitch.tv/ForzaRC where you can try out the ForzaRC extension and receive in-game rewards through Twitch Drops.
Want to watch live and in person? Tickets to attend the ForzaRWC, at Gfinity Esports Arena in London, England, can be purchased at ForzaRWC.eventbrite.com.
New to ForzaRC and looking to catch up before the big event? Head on over to the official ForzaRC YouTube channel where you can watch VODs of every race this season as well as recaps of both the Series 1 and Series 2 Playoffs.
Catch every minute of this action-packed event beginning tomorrow, October 20, at 10:00 a.m. PDT/6:00 p.m. BST and Sunday, October 21, at 10:00 a.m. PDT/6:00 p.m. BST at watch.forzarc.com.
Follow us on Twitter to join the conversation all weekend long using #ForzaRC to share highlights and cheer on your favorite drivers. We hope to see you there!
