Why Go Outside When I Can Play Eidolon? This Is The Review

Written By: Tyler

Rating: 8/10
Verdict: It's a slow game with a few technical hiccups, but getting lost in this survival/walking simulator is a pretty rewarding experience. 


I turned on the game, clicked the "Play" option and then the words that were there because of the title screen disappeared instantly and I was left standing -- in first-person view -- on some grass, surrounded by trees, with the whole world ahead of me. I was confused, silent but intrigued. Here is a game that I can respect in the same way as I do games like Minecraft or Terraria for its willingness to just drop the players into unknown territory and let them fend for themselves.

Eidolon isn't an exciting game and it's not one that everyone will take to. I didn't immediately take to it myself, if I'm being honest. It's a walking simulator, and it is labelled as such on its Steam page, and it's all about exploring. You walk through a massive world -- seriously, the scope is huge -- and it's easy to get lost because while certain areas do look different, a lot of it looks similar. You can walk for hours and find very little without guidance, or you might get lucky and hit the jackpot and find a bunch of things in quick succession. There are goals, but the game doesn't indicate them at the beginning, so it's up to you to decide what you want to do.

I say that the game doesn't indicate them at the beginning, but it does do a little bit to push you along if you want it to. As you travel this post-apocalyptic Washington, there are two types of things you can collect: a green shape and a white. The green has plot items, such as notes or even maps. These are all hand-written with their own personalities and piecing them together to uncover the personal and more large-scale narratives is interesting. The game has a feature that will show you the direction of the next piece of information. The white gives you items, such as binoculars, a bow, a fishing rod, etc. These are few and far between so when you collect one it's a big deal.

Some people aren't a fan of this type of gameplay, either. Some will definitely find it boring, and that's completely understandable. It really depends on your philosophy concerning what makes a "game." This may not be enough to warrant your attention. I think it has enough gameplay to keep it interesting.

Sprinkled in to add a little bit of tension to the exploration are light survival elements. You can starve, you get tired, you can get cold and die or you can get injured. Injuries can lead to death if they aren't appropriately dealt with, but there are healing checkpoints scattered throughout the world so death isn't always a bad option.

I was looking up the butt of a deer.

You can get mushrooms, berries, catch fish, kill animals with your bow (though be careful because some are aggressive and you have to be pretty spot-on with the trajectory of the arrows), and food can go rotten. Don't fear though, because the game isn't about surviving really and it feels like a game mechanic just kind-of tacked on to make it more like a conventional game. Food is everywhere in some form, and I never starved to death. This aspect of the game may give you a little something else to consider besides the scenery, but it's never overbearing or even difficult, because that would detract from the core element of the game: relaxation and discovery.

This isn't a genre that I prefer, but I like all genres because I love games. The idea of simply walking around and uncovering a world, with very little else to do, sounds interesting on paper but is often done so poorly it's boring. Eidolon doesn't suffer from that because of the care put into making the world believable and atmospheric. However, it's not perfect and has a few hiccups along the way.

But then a deer was just standing on the head of its enemy.

Since it was done by a smaller team, it's easy to forgive that the graphics just aren't that great. They're completely serviceable in this context, but the world does feel same-y and a little unpolished. Some of the models used aren't that appealing to the eyes, but I'm not saying that they're bad. The unfortunate reality, at least in my opinion, is that a game like this would benefit greatly from a bigger budget and thus better visuals. Imagine a AAA studio making this game and fantasize the incredible environments that could be created. Some genres are less reliant on top of the line graphics than others. A world in which the only thing you can do is explore puts more emphasis on the visuals than say, an RPG. Ice Water Games done a good job with the resources they have, but it's not one of the prettier indie games I've played. I deem this more of an observation than a criticism though, merely something I threw out there for the readers so they'd know what they can expect going in.

The game also stutters a bit when loading areas, but that's most likely because the world is gigantic. This is forgivable and basically ignorable. The animations of the animals and whatnot could have used some polish as they just go from standing one second to awkwardly on their side the next once you've killed them.

Despite this, it's still entertaining to adventure in this world, because occasionally you will see something like this:

The music plays a bit role in bringing Eidolon to life though. Sometimes it's non-existent, but then a song will slowly work its way into the fold and it'll be gorgeous. Slow guitar will often enter, and a beautiful ambiance permeates Eidolon, putting you at peace with yourself while you explore the world and unearth the stories of the ghosts of Washington. Or just kill animals.

Sometimes the songs are more menacing. I came across one place and instead of the typical pretty tune I was accustomed to hearing, something a little creepier, a little scarier, edged its way into my brain. I was investigating what looked to be ruins, and it was very fitting.

Michael Bell did an incredible job with the soundtrack, and it really does a lot to engulf you in this world.

Eidolon is a great game to those who are willing to give themselves over to it. It meditative, relaxing games where you simply explore an empty, lonely land aren't your thing, then avoid this one. If you are able to get into this kind of thing, there is a lot to love here.

Weekly News Round-Up, May 4 - 10: New Unreal Tournament! Call of Duty Is Game Of Thrones! The Shaq-Fu 2 Apocalypse! The Gameboy Is Still Direct Competition! Exclamation Marks!

Written By: Tyler


Remember That Call of Duty Series? Here Are Some Details On The New Game, Advanced Warfare
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/tons-of-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-details-emerge/1100-6419415/

Try not to pass out from this news, but it appears that there's a new Call of Duty coming. I know, I know... craziness.

Here are some details about the new game, stolen from Gamespot:

• In development at Sledgehammer Games for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. A separate studio to be named later is working on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. There's no word on Wii U.
• The game runs on a new and unspecified game engine.
• The story opens with a catastrophic event that Sledgehammer Games cofounder Michael Condrey describes as "like a global 9/11." There's little more to go on, but major cities on multiple continents are affected by some kind of terrorism perpetrated by a terrorist organization called KVA.
• It is set in 2054.
• You play a character named Private Mitchell, who is voiced by prolific voice actor Troy Baker. You may know Baker for his recent roles in The Last of Us (Joel), BioShock Infinite (Booker), and Batman: Arkham Origins (The Joker). Mitchell only speaks during cutscenes; never during gameplay.
• Mitchell starts Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare as a Marine, who is squadmates with Will Irons, the son of Private Military Company Atlas Corporation CEO Jonathan Irons (played by Kevin Spacey). After their tour of duty is done, the elder Irons asks Mitchell if he wants to leave the Marines to join his company. Mitchell says yes and is outfitted with an "EXO" suit for his new job.
• Unlike past Call of Duty games, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has only one protagonist.
• Kevin Spacey says he was "very excited" about joining the game when he was originally approached.
• You'll earn points every mission that can be used to upgrade your EXO suit. Using the EXO suit, you can climb walls with magnetic gloves, boost-dodge toward cover, perform super-jumps that let you get to higher ground, use optic camouflage for cloaking, and hover in mid-air.
• Your arsenal includes "variable grenades," which can be switched from concussion to threat detection while they cook. The threat detection grenade reveals enemy locations and makes this information available via an augmented reality system visible in your visor.
• Some of your guns are energy-based, and do not use traditional ammunition.
• There is a rideable vehicle called a Pitbull, which is based on the real world Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle.
• There's no official word on Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare multiplayer yet, but Condrey teases, "You can probably imagine the possibilities of a lot of the stuff you saw in single-player and how it would apply online." Activision also says it is "absolutely committed" to supporting eSports.
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will have some kind of co-op mode.
• Veteran Metal Gear Solid composer Harry Gregson-Williams is working on the game's soundtrack. Audio director Don Veca says, "I think Advanced Warfare is going to be the best-sounding and certainly the best-mixed game ever."
• In an effort to create a believable world, Activision consulted with "experts from production design in movies to experts in the military to scientists and futurists," according to Sledgehammer cofounder Glen Schofield.

Somebody took some influence from TITANFALL.


Guns Up! And Everything's Game Trademarked By Sony
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-sony-trademarks-discovered-before-e3-include-guns-up/1100-6419427/

Continuing their pursuit of trademarking stupid and silly names, Sony recently trademarked Guns Up! and Everything's Game. I can only assume that Guns Up! includes guns.


The Best Kept Secret Since Area 51 -- What Is The Dualshock 4 Light Bar Really For?
http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/05/08/dualshock-4-light-bar-created-for-project-morpheus

What is the Dualshock 4 light bar for? When did it come here? Is it friendly or foe? Does it prove the existence of life outside of Earth? Is it alien technology? Does it make sandwiches?

I can answer one of those questions. The Dualshock 4 has annoyed a lot of people apparently, and they released an update that allowed you to dim it. But why is it here? Well... it is on the controller because it has to do with the construction of Project Morpheus, the VR system that Sony is working on.

http://thepsdualshock4disclosureproject.com/notarealurl.html


Phil Spencer Is Talking Again
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-boss-promises-new-ip-and-sequel-announcements-at-e3/1100-6419419/

Phil Spencer recently said that there will be new IPs and sequel announcements at E3, but he also said some other stuff. Again, from Gamespot:

• Microsoft is focusing on hardcore gamers for the show.
• Some announcements will be made in May, ahead of E3. "Yea, you'll get a couple of things before. May should be a good month for news. Took me a month to get plans set," Spencer said.
• Microsoft will announce new studios it's working with.
• Spencer is not allowed to talk about anything related to what Halo studio 343 Industries is working on.
• Microsoft's overall goal for 2014: "I feel like what we will show this year is stuff we are committed to, from top studios, for this year and future."
• Don't expect a Microsoft-made gaming handheld anytime soon. "I don't think we'll do a dedicated handheld gaming device, rather just focus on [Windows Phone], tablets, maybe with controller support someday," Spencer said.
• Spencer wants Microsoft's E3 2014 showing to be more "fan focused."
• Microsoft thought about using the voice of Cortana for their E3 show, but Spencer did not like this. Asked if the Cortana voice search functionality could come to Xbox One someday, Spencer said, "I like [Windows Phone] feature but don't want to overdo it."
• Gamers won't need to wait until the Tokyo Game Show (September) to learn about new Japanese Xbox One games.
• Microsoft is close to finalizing a release date for the Xbox One version of Minecraft.
• The Lost Odyssey rights are "a bit complicated," but Spencer would like to see the 2008 role-playing game come to Games on Demand some day.
• Details about external storage support for Xbox One are coming later.
• Why there hasn't been a Battletoads sequel: "Just time, lot's of things we want to build, all the teams are full right now and a long list of what they'd want to do next. You want to spend time because you want things to be as good as they can be, I don't want to do cheap ports," Spencer said.

Their E3 presentation will be titled "Xbox: Game On" and it will take place Monday, June 9 at  9:30 a.m. PDT.


First Screenshot From Tales From The Borderlands Has Shown Up
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-images-of-walking-dead-developer-s-borderlands-game-emerge-what-do-you-think/1100-6419425/

The game is told from the perspective of Rhys and Fiona, and is told through flashbacks. The loot that you can collect will be usable in other games in the Borderlands universe. 



NHL '15 Announced, Nobody Is Surprised
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nhl-15-announced-for-xbox-360-xbox-one-ps3-and-ps4-check-out-a-teaser-trailer/1100-6419423/

If you thought a new Call of Duty was a big surprise, then I have a whopper -- not to be confused with the delicious burger -- for you: there's a new NHL game from EA. There's a teaser trailer in the link above, but I can tell you exactly what it'll look like. I bet there's going to be two teams full of people with bad hockey hair, hitting each other and pucks. I know, I'm psychic. 


Mortal Kombat Will Not Show Up On The Wii U Virtual Konsole
http://www.destructoid.com/ed-boon-shuts-down-possibility-of-mortal-kombat-wii-u-virtual-console-releases-274268.phtml

It's important to know that this was called, "If video games were real."

Ed Boon said that the first few Mortal Kombat games will not show up on the Wii U Virtual Console. That's it, seriously. That's pretty much all he said.


Marek Okan Is A Tease
http://www.destructoid.com/the-last-of-us-concept-artist-teases-something-with-artwork-274281.phtml

He posted this picture and said, ""let me tease you something... Its coming."

It looks like a grown-up version of Ellie from The Last Of Us. After he realized people gave a crap, he said this:

Lol. This is how you know you are teasing your stuff the right way
So before its gonna get blown out of proportions - its gonna be strictly personal image.
Is it about TLOU2? Not really... Maybe... Its classified ;P
But seriously its gonna be just a fan art ;]

Oops I did it again, I played with your heart...

From Software Has A New Game?
http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/05/05/from-softwares-rumored-to-be-working-on-project-beast

There are images in the link above, and if it is true, the game is titled "Project Beast" as of right now. Is this legit or is it fake? I don't know, but I will call From Software tomorrow.



People Are Going To Jail For Stealing In-Game Items
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/thieves-going-to-jail-for-stealing-in-game-items/1100-6419443/

Two people realized that they could make money by taking in-game items and selling them for real money in the game Dungeon Fighter Online. They were unemployed and dedicated so they got someones login information and cleaned him. And now they're going to jail.



The Danish Government Created The Entire Country In Minecraft
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/danish-government-creates-entire-country-in-minecraft-users-promptly-blow-it-up-and-plant-american-flag/1100-6419412/

The Danish Geodata Agency created the entire country on a 1:1 scale as a teaching tool. Then, because they forgot to disable the minecart with dynamite item, users started blowing stuff up... replacing things with American flags and tanks.

Ah yes, just like the good ol' days.


Microsoft Released Its Second ID@Xbox Game: Nutjitsu
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-s-first-sub-10-game-launching-this-week/1100-6419461/

On May 8th, Nutjitsu was released. This is big news because it's the second game released under the ID@Xbox program, but it's also the first Xbox One game to be under $10. $6.49 to be exact.



Get In On The WildStar Open Beta Between May 8 - 18
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/upcoming-pc-mmo-wildstar-gets-an-open-beta-this-week/1100-6419450/

Go to this linky right here in order to request a key so you can play the open beta of WildStar. If you are unaware of what the game is, it's an MMO because the market is getting a little shallow in MMOs right now. In the beta, you can advance to level 30.


The Shaq-Fu Sequel Has Reached Its Funding Goal
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/shaq-is-back-new-shaq-fu-fighting-game-reaches-funding-goal/1100-6419447/

Activision Is Giving Bungie $500 Million For Destiny
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-investing-500-million-for-bungie-s-destiny/1100-6419444/

It appears that it is their destiny (I'm sorry) to get lots of money, as Activision is giving Bungie $500 million to make Destiny. This is just pocket change to me, but I'll let Activision handle this one.



Here Comes The Doom And Gloom Again -- Nintendo Posted A $457 Million Loss
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-u-sales-slow-to-a-crawl-as-nintendo-posts-457-million-loss/1100-6419475/

Speaking of pocket change, Nintendo posted a loss of $457 million. Here's the article in a nutshell: The Wii U isn't selling (shocking), but the 3DS is doing better. Nintendo is still expecting to post a profit though.

If you want specific numbers of sales and whatnot, they're in the link above.


EA Will Announce 6 Games At E3, 1 Will Work At Launch
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-will-announce-a-major-frostbite-3-game-at-e3-what-do-you-think-it-is/1100-6419476/

EA's presentation at E3 is going to be called "EA World Premiere: E3 2014 Preview," and it takes place June 9 at 12 p.m. PDT. They are expected to show off six games and announce a "major" Frostbite 3 game. 


Nintendo Is Low On Money... Re-Releasing Pokemon Ruby And Sapphire In November
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-ruby-sapphire-remakes-coming-to-3ds-this-year/1100-6419483/

3DS owners will see the re-release of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire this November. They will be titled Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and they will make a lot of money.


Don't Start Is Going To Have Multiplayer
http://www.destructoid.com/multiplayer-is-coming-to-don-t-starve-274469.phtml

Entitled "Don't Starve Together," Don't Starve will be receiving multiplayer in alpha form in summer of this year. I look forward to maybe eating my friends. I also look forward to playing Don't Starve Together.


The Second Towns Developer Has Left... And You Probably Shouldn't Pay Attention To This Game Anymore
http://www.destructoid.com/towns-left-in-limbo-as-second-developer-quits-the-project-274462.phtml

"I'm putting this whole fucking town in my rear view."

Florian Frankenberger is making like Ben Affleck in The Town and putting Towns in his rear view. After the original developer left, he tried to do what he could, but he's not making money and has bills to pay and people to feed so he's out. And you should be out of Towns. Go to a nice village or something, avoid the city.


Stephan Frost Says That WildStar Is One Of The Most Feature-Complete MMO In The Last 10 Years
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/upcoming-pc-game-wildstar-is-one-of-the-most-feature-complete-mmos-of-the-past-10-years/1100-6419508/

From Gamespot:

"We decided to go with the subscription fee because we are a triple-A game," Frost said. "We are one of the most feature-complete MMOs to be coming out in the past 10 years. HBO, for example, is premium content. It has great shows like Game of Thrones and True Detective. They don't charge extra for those things, they're just charging that sub fee and people gladly pay it because it's good. If it wasn't good, they wouldn’t pay for it."

Except HBO is a channel that offers TV shows of various types... you're a single game that offers the same experiences all the time, because you're just one game. But besides that, yeah, you're right.



The Elder Scrolls Online Delayed For Consoles
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/elder-scrolls-online-xbox-one-ps4-delay-confirmed-bethesda-explains-why-it-was-necessary/1100-6419504/

If you're a console gamer and are waiting to be bored like the rest of us, you'll have to wait. It looks like The Elder Scrolls Online is delayed for consoles. They cited "unique problems," but they're trying to make us a deal: if you buy the game on PC now, you can transfer your characters from PC to Xbone/PS4 and get the game for consoles for $20. Why not... buy it twice?

Go PC Master Race!


Activision Is Comparing Call Of Duty To Game Of Thrones... Nobody Buys It
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-wants-call-of-duty-to-be-talked-about-as-much-as-game-of-thrones/1100-6419503/

Yup, another masterpiece by yours truly.

They want CoD to be discussed like people do with Game of Thrones. They are planning to make Advanced Warfare story heavy, hoping to hit emotional moments that resonate with players for years to come.

But people do talk about Call of Duty. It just... usually isn't nice anymore, it seems.


Nintendo Abandons The Wii U To Develop "New Consoles" In Other Markets
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-to-launch-new-console-not-the-wii-u-or-3ds-in-emerging-markets/1100-6419501/

I'm just kidding... Nintendo didn't abandon the Wii U. But they are developing different consoles for countries like China in order to get their foot in the door.


Nintendo Explains Why Mario Won't Be On iPhones Anytime Soon
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-explains-why-you-won-t-play-mario-on-your-iphone-anytime-soon/1100-6419502/

The President of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, said, "Our games such as Mario and Zelda are designed for our game machines so if we transfer them into smartphones as they are, customers won't be satisfied. If customers aren't satisfied with the experience, it will decrease the value of our content."

To be fair, I won't be satisfied with the experience just because touch screen controls are the devil.


Nintendo Feels Responsible For Their Problems
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-president-i-feel-deeply-responsible-for-poor-performance/1100-6419499/

Satoru Iwata also said, "Posting an operating loss for the fourth fiscal year running is something unacceptable. I feel deeply responsible for this and I need to fulfill my responsibility by recovering the momentum of our business."

I guess the first step is admitting you have a problem.


Nintendo To Get Into Figurine Games
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/update-nintendo-to-integrate-skylanders-like-figurines-with-wii-u-and-3ds/1100-6419497/

Like Skylanders, Nintendo is looking to integrate figurines into their games. They're going to call it NFP-nfc. They also announced Mario Kart TV, which will tie into Mario Kart 8 and let you watch Nintendo videos, replays and see rankings.


Nintendo Plans To Quit Hardware Business At The End of 2015 And Focus Solely On Making Games For Microsoft


Gimme Gimme Gimme -- Monolith Soft's X Is Destined For 2014
http://www.destructoid.com/monolith-s-x-is-still-on-track-for-2014-for-both-japan-and-the-west-274523.phtml

X is going to rule the world. Seriously, after Xenoblade: Chronicles I have so much faith in them that I'd buy Farmville if they were making it. Good news for fans who are looking forward to X, because it should be released in Japan and North America in 2014.

They also gave a brief list of some other games and their release dates:

• Bayonetta 2 -- 2014
• Hyrule Warriors (temp.) -- 2014
• Yarn Yoshi (temp.) -- TBD
• Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem (temp.) -- TBD
• The Legend of Zelda (temp.) -- TBD

Dying Light Is Delayed Until February 2015
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/05/08/hopes-of-dying-light-in-2014-flicker-out-as-title-is-delayed.aspx

Techland said this week that Dying Light will be delayed until February 2015, so they don't have to compromise on any of their ideas. This is good news for quality, I'm sure, but I wanted to play it!


Here's A Doozy -- Epic Games Revealed The Free Unreal Tournament
http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/05/08/epic-games-reveals-free-to-play-unreal-tournament

The next Unreal Tournament is coming in the not-so-near future, but it's going to be free and co-developed with the community so their mods and whatnot will be important post-launch. Free Unreal Tournament, and they stress it's "not free to play, just free."
 

Oh Yes, Sunset Overdrive Gets Its First In-Game Footage
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/462820/video-watch-sunset-overdrives-first-in-game-footage/

Ladies and gentlemen, our cherries have been popped, because we got some footage for Sunset Overdrive, that you can find in the link above. I'd post the video here but blogger is stupid and sometimes it just deletes the videos I post.

If you can't watch the video, basically it's crazy. It's an open world game but you can run across walls and movement seems to be really fluid. There are a lot of crazy guns because it's Insomniac Games, and it just looks like it's going to be ridiculous.

Anybody want to start funding my Xbox One purchase?


Harmonix Released The Free-To-Play Rhythm Runner "Record Run"
http://www.destructoid.com/harmonix-releases-free-to-play-record-run-for-ios-devices-274557.phtml

If you got an apple device, you can grab the new Harmonix game for free now. It's a rhythm runner where you avoid obstacles and whatnot, and you can import your own playlist. So finally you can use that grindcore-laptop-death-pop-jazz fusion-jelly-fishcake-thrash-rap song that you really like.

It's going to be coming to Android as well.



Believe In The Shield Because Portal Is Coming To The Nvidia Shield Next Week
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-s-beloved-portal-comes-to-nvidia-shield-next-week/1100-6419520/

On May 12, you can pick up Portal on the Nvidia Shield. So... do that.


Oculus VR To Create The Largest MMO Ever?
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-vr-aspires-to-create-an-mmo-world-with-1-billion-people-in-it/1100-6419518/

The Oculus CEO stated this week that he wants to create the largest MMO ever, using the Oculus Rift. He is planning on a billion people. He also had this to say, which I want to make fun of:

"Do we want to be Game Boy, or do we want to be iPhone or Android? I think Game Boy is an awesome platform, but I think you'll see that handheld gaming device largely disrupted by the mobile market. For VR, where we want to go, connecting a billion people, do you want to be building a platform that has a billion users on it, or 10 or 20 or 50 million?"

Released last century, still on competition today... apparently.

 It's fun that he mentioned the Game Boy since we're at the Nintendo 3DS. I know this is just semantics, but like I said I want to make fun of him. For someone so forward thinking, it's great that he chose such an old handheld.


Games I Kind Of Wish I Could Stop "Reporting" On -- TITANFALL and Battlefield 4

New TITANFALL DLC Is Called Swampland, Here's A Picture Of It
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-dlc-map-swampland-screenshots-and-details-released/1100-6419517/

DICE Give Up, Turn To The Community
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-dev-turns-to-fans-for-help-testing-new-improvements/1100-6419516/

It appears that DICE themselves realize that they can't fix Battlefield 4, because they have created the "Community Test Environment" that allows PC users to help them test out things.

You've spent your money on it, now you can help fix it. That seems... fair.

I kid Battlefield 4, I kid. I actually enjoy you.


GLAAD Is  Not ?Glaad? That Tomodachi Life Doesn't Have Same-Sex Relationships
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-responds-to-criticism-regarding-same-sex-relationships-in-tomodachi-life-update/1100-6419530/

It appears that GLAAD -- the LGBT group -- is not happy about Nintendo not including same-sex relationships in their odd, life simulator (that doesn't fully simulate life) game Tomodachi Life.

Wilson Cruz cruz'd to a criticism of Nintendo, stating, "In purposefully limiting players' relationship options, Nintendo is not only sending a hurtful message to many of its fans and consumers by excluding them, but also setting itself way behind the times."

The Big N had this to say in response, "We apologize for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to change this game’s design, and such a significant development change can’t be accomplished with a post-ship patch. At Nintendo, dedication has always meant going beyond the games to promote a sense of community, and to share a spirit of fun and joy. We are committed to advancing our longtime company values of fun and entertainment for everyone. We pledge that if we create a next installment in the Tomodachi series, we will strive to design a game-play experience from the ground up that is more inclusive, and better represents all players."

In my humble opinion, it would have been nice if Nintendo had included homosexuality in Tomodachi Life so I could finally come out of the closet in a safe environment (with myself?), but it's likely that a lot of people will just see this as silly, thus hurting GLAAD's crusade.

Can't we all just get along? #Ihatehashtags


Sony's E3 Press Conference Is June 9 At 6 p.m. PDT
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-playstation-e3-2014-press-conference-dated-for-june-9-6pm/1100-6419546/

Sony last year.

On June 9 at 6 p.m. PDT, Sony will be doing their press conference. If you remember, which if you're a gamer you probably do, Sony came in like a wrecking ball last E3. Will they do what they did last year and become the Heavyweight Champion of the World while they slap down the competition? Or will it be more normal? I can't wait to find out.




Well folks, that is it for the Weekly News Round-Up. We've had United States terrorism/imperialism, free Unreal Tournaments, DICE throwing in the towel, and lots of Nintendo saying things. We've had some good times, we've had some bad times, we've had some grey times because LIFE ISN'T BLACK AND WHITE MAN. Until next week -- or whenever I write another article that you will subsequently ignore -- I am Tyler, and you can tell me what you think on my pretentious Twitter account @ArtBathednCrime or in the comments below. You can even send a carrier pigeon to my house if that's what tickles your fancy. See ya!

Weekly News Round-Up, April 20 - 26: Happy Birthday Gameboy!

Written By: Tyler


Hey you! Welcome. This is the Weekly News Round-Up for April 20 - 26. If you are unfamiliar with what I do here, let me break it down for you. I go around a few different video game websites, steal some of their news, post it here as a "round-up" and then make snarky comments about the news. Though I do ultimately post the news, don't get offended by anything I say here because I make fun of everything... even stuff I love.



Let's Start This Off Right -- Suikoden 2 Coming To PSN?
http://kotaku.com/holy-crap-looks-like-suikoden-ii-is-finally-coming-to-1565978567

The ESRB has rated Suikoden 2, which is a good indication that it will hit the PSN eventually. Not a moment too soon, because last I heard, prices for a legit copy were at least five million dollars and wars have been raged over it.

Hopefully this does mean that people will be able to buy it for a reasonable price yet again.


And Then Let's Second Start This Off Right -- The Gameboy Turned 25 This Week
http://www.destructoid.com/happy-25th-anniversary-game-boy--273570.phtml#ext

On April 21st, the Gameboy became 25. This was before iPhones and Androids (except in Blade Runner), and we had to carry around this pretty bulky piece of brilliance in order to play our games that didn't even have a full palette of colours. Back then, things were simple, and it is that I say... happy belated birthday Gameboy. 


Some Deals On PSN Have Started, And They Go Until April 29
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstation-plus-brings-pixeljunk-monsters-to-vita-for-free-this-week/1100-6419112/

On Vita you can get Pixeljunk Monsters for free. Here are some other deals:

• Batman: Arkham Asylum - $12.59 (regular price: $13.99)
• Batman: Arkham Origins (PS3) - $25.19 (regular price $27.99)
• Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (Vita) - $12.59 (regular price: $13.99)
• Cel Damage HD (PS4/PS3/Vita) - $8.99 (regular price: $9.99)
• Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition (PS4/PS3) - $25.19 (regular price: $27.99)
• Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition (Vita) - $12.59 (regular price: $13.99)
• Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (PS3/Vita) - $12.59 (regular price: $13.99)
• Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - $12.59 (regular price: $13.99)
• Octodad: Dadliest Catch - $11.99 (regular price: $14.99)

Naughty Dog News!

The Last Of Us Lead Artist Quits
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-last-of-us-lead-artist-quits-naughty-dog/1100-6419110/

Nate Wells left Naughty Dog and went to Giant Sparrow, who worked on The Unfinished Swan. Since both studios are based in Santa Monica, Wells walked out the door at Naughty Dog, walked across the street to Giant Sparrow, and now he has grown wings and can fly, fly like a... sparrow.


Uncharted 4 Actor Recast After 
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/uncharted-4-actor-recast-after-following-naughty-dog-writer-to-ea/1100-6419118/

Todd Stashwick's role was recast, and he didn't really know why. What does this all mean? I don't know, who do you think I am, an insider? All I know is that a lot of people come and go, and things seem to change a lot, at Naughty Dog.


Uncharted 4 Gameplay May Be Revealed At E3
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-uncharted-4-gameplay-may-be-revealed-at-e3-what-do-you-hope-to-see/1100-6419126/

It is very possible that Uncharted 4 will be shown off at E3. Tidux tweeted that the game has been in the works for three years and that we will see it at E3. So I'm guessing we're going to see it at E3, but I have a screenshot of it:


Resident Evil 6 For Xbox 360 Dropped To $8.
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/resident-evil-6-for-xbox-360-drops-to-8/1100-6419111/

Sony systems and the ol' PC haven't seen big price drops like this, so if you haven't played Resident Evil, the Xbox 360 version is the way to go at this point.


Sony Trademarks A Couple Names
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ahead-of-e3-ps4-company-sony-trademarks-kill-strain-and-entwined/1100-6419108

Sony has trademarked two names, Entwined and Kill Strain. There is no information on the games so far, but Kill Strain kinda has a cool name. I think. Or it's just incredibly cheesy, I'll come back later and let you know which it is.


Not To Be Outdone, Microsoft Trademarks... Eden Falls
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-studio-microsoft-trademarks-a-new-game-called-eden-falls/1100-6419109/


Microsoft has trademarked a name as well, Eden Falls. It's a game about Eden falling down the steps. Not really, but nowadays we have a game where a goat ragdolls around town hitting everything so imagine the fun we could have throwing Eden down the steps? And since Eden is both a guy and a girls name, there is no sexism in this joke so nobody can get mad!

Although I went with the gif of the little girl going down the steps... oops.

People Want Grand Theft Auto 5 On PC?
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-5-pc-petition-approaching-700-000-signatures-it-s-been-216-days-since-the-console-version-arrived/1100-6419106/

Sega On Sonic Boom, Split-Screen Gameplay And CryEngine 3
http://www.destructoid.com/sega-opens-up-about-cryengine-3-on-wii-u-split-screen-for-sonic-boom-273539.phtml 

Sega has decided on CryEngine 3 for Sonic Boom, the unfortunately named new Sonic game. The Wii U version will in fact have split-screen gameplay, and since this isn't a standard thing with the engine, they are working really close with Crytek to make this happen.


No, Kill Strain Is A Silly Name
http://onthegamely.blogspot.com/2014/04/weekly-news-round-up-april-20-26-happy.html

It has been confirmed.


New Grid Announced, Not Coming To Xbox One Or PS4
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-authentic-grid-announced-here-s-why-it-s-not-coming-to-xbox-one-or-ps4/1100-6419124/

Grid Autosport is a thing now, but it's only coming to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Why is that you ask? Well I'll look into my crystal ball and tell you why, because the answer certainly isn't there in the link above.

Basically, they don't want to rush the game to next-gen and they feel like after Grid 2 they have something to prove. They want to give old-gen their all while they work on tech for next-gen. It's not an unreasonable explanation, but I can't wait until old-gen dies so I can finally play games on a system that I paid hundreds of dollars for on day one.


No More Banjo-Kazooie Anytime Soon
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/banjo-kazooie-spiritual-successor-falls-apart/1100-6419122/

Despite a character being drawn up and there being a "demo level type thing," the game has fallen apart because we gain one entry into the world -- Grid Autosport -- but lose another... multi-tasking. But seriously, people had other jobs to do so Banjo-Kazooie probably won't see a new game for a while.

Banjo-Kapooie.


New Fatal Frame For Wii U?
http://www.destructoid.com/new-fatal-frame-materializing-on-wii-u-273595.phtml

There appears to be a new Fatal Frame coming to Wii U. Before you get too excited, if you only speak English, then there is a good chance that they just don't bother localizing it because Nintendo gonna Nintendo. Here's hoping, though, because lord knows the Wii U needs games.


Fireside Gatherings And Leaving Your House
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-wants-you-to-leave-your-house-and-hang-out-with-real-people/1100-6419138/

Blizzard has a new initiative for Hearthstone called Fireside Gatherings that encourages you to leave your house and meet other players in exchange for benefits (nah not friends with benefits but I wish). So Blizzard wants me to go... outside?

Blizzcon Is Happening On November 7 and 8
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzcon-2014-dated-for-november-7-8-get-your-tickets-next-month-for-200/1100-6419139/

On May 7 and 10 you can throw $200 their way and get tickets. If you spend $750 you can have a pre-Blizzcon dinner for the Children's Hospital of Orange County.


Want SNES And GBA Remix To Happen? Demand It!
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/snes-and-gba-remix-could-happen-but-will-require-fan-demand/1100-6419165/

NES Remix 2 came out this week, and there's a possibility that Nintendo will make SNES and GBA Remix, if people demand it enough.

Koiichi Hayshida told IGN, "If we get a big enough cry for that, with a lot of people saying, 'Hey, we'd love to see more of these perhaps for the SNES, Game Boy, or Game Boy Advance,' then it would be something we can take a look at."

Because if there's anything Nintendo does well, it's listen to what the fans want.


Bungie Revamps Their Site For Destiny And Puts A Bunch Of Information About The Game On It Now
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-website-updated-with-new-information-about-classes-enemies/1100-6419155/

So Bungie revamped the Destiny website, and they put information on it such as introduction videos for the classes, information on the places you'll visit and the enemies you will blast. Make sure to check it out.


Ubisoft Teases A New Prince of Persia?
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ahead-of-e3-ubisoft-teases-new-prince-of-persia-game/1100-6419153/

Drew James tweeted this picture, that clearly teases a new Prince of Persia. But that question mark is mysterious, ain't it? What's the next installment in the series going to be like? I think it's going to be about The Riddler.


The Monetization Of H1Z1
http://www.destructoid.com/soe-talks-early-monetization-plans-for-its-zombie-survival-mmo-h1z1-273688.phtml

Since H1Z1 is free-to-play, they dropped dime on a few possible ways that they're going to make money off of us:

• Wearables will be sold, but players can "find and craft a lot of stuff." If someone kills and loots another player's gear, they'll be able to wear it for a few deaths. "Station Cash wearables won't degrade at all."
• Guns, ammo, food, water, and boosts impacting these won't be sold.
• Extra emotes beyond "the basics," which will be free.
• Character slots.
• Crates containing "random cool stuff from the store" can be found in H1Z1. "We're considering letting you see what's in them before you buy a key (ala Dota 2.). This idea isn't fully locked yet."

It's really not a big deal. Free-to-play doesn't have to be a bad thing, and as of right now, there is nothing major here or anything that screams pay-to-win.



Pre-Order Bonuses For The Witcher 3 If You Buy It Off Of GOG? "Fucking Amazing"
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/preorder-bonuses-for-the-witcher-3-at-gog-will-be-f-ing-amazing/1100-6419142/

If When you pre-order The Witcher , get it from GOG. The developers promise that the pre-order bonuses will be, and I quote, "Fucking amazing." They wouldn't go into any more detail than that, but I feel like The Witcher 3 is one of those games where they don't really have to. People love The Witcher.



Borderlands For PS3 Is Going Offline On May 31, So Are Some Other Games
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-ps3-going-offline-next-month/1100-6419135/

They're looking into a feasible option to replace Gamespy for Borderlands, but if you only own it on PS3 you won't be able to play it online for a while. Here are the other games affected by the shutdown:

• Borderlands (PS3)*
• Civilization Revolution (PS3)*
• Close Combat First to Fight (PC / Mac)
• Jetfighter (PC)
• Jetfighter V: Homeland Protector (PC)
• Leadfoot (PC)
• Rune (PC)
• Stronghold 2 (PC)
• Stronghold Legends (PC)
• Top Spin (PS2 / PC)
• Top Spin 2 (PC / DS)
• Vietcong (PC)
• Vietcong Demo (PC)
• Vietcong Fist Alpha (PC)
• Vietcong 2 (PC)
• Vietcong 2 Demo (PC)
• MLB Fantasy All-Stars (DS)
• Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (DS)
• Major League Baseball 2K9 Fantasy All-Stars (DS)
• NHL 2K10 (Wii)
• NBA 2K10 (Wii) (OH GOD NO!)

Anything but NBA 2K10 for the Wii!

Namco Bandai Announced "Rise Of Incarnates"
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/tekken-soulcalibur-creator-reveals-new-pc-fighting-game-rise-of-incarnates/1100-6419131/

The game launches in the second half of 2014, and players will be able to craft their own playstyles, have 2v2 games and fight in places where there are real-world backgrounds. Should be fun, let's do this.


Dragon Age: Inquisition Is Coming October 7
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dragon-age-inquisition-digital-deluxe-includes-soundtrack-mounts/1100-6419141/

The next installment in Dragon Age comes out October 7, and there is also a deluxe edition that costs $10 more that nabs you the soundtrack and "digital goodies."


Here's A 9 Minute Video Explaining The Watch Dogs Multiplayer
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-multiplayer-explained-in-9-minute-developer-walkthrough-video/1100-6419161/ 

In the link above there is a video that showcases what the multiplayer consists of. It's pretty ambitious and awesome, to say the least. In the video, they explain three different modes. Make sure to check the video out because up until now, Ubisoft hadn't really said anything about the multiplayer.


The Playstation 4 Will Get The Xbox MGS5: Ground Zeroes Mission And Vice Versa
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mgs-5-ground-zeroes-playstation-mission-will-be-coming-to-xbox-xbox-mission-coming-to-playstation/1100-6419174/

Looking for more gameplay from Ground Zeroes? Playstation 4 will be getting the Xbox Ground Zeroes mission and Xbox will be getting the Playstation Ground Zeroes mission... all of this insanity is taking place May 1 and it will be free.

This is great news, now Ground Zeroes will be thirty minutes long.


China Bans Games That Feature Drugs, Violence, Gambling Or Obscenity
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/china-reveals-censorship-rules-for-console-games-nothing-that-promotes-drug-use-or-violence-will-be-allowed/1100-6419151/

China revealed their censorship rules, and it's a doozy. They won't allow any games that have drug usage, violence, gambling or obscenity, which effectively eliminates 98% of all games.


But Don't Worry, Because There Was A Study
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/majority-of-parents-say-video-games-are-a-positive-part-of-their-child-s-life/1100-6419186/

The Entertainment Software Association released the latest installment of "Essential Facts," and people love video games!

Quoted from Gamespot:

Who Is Playing?:

• 59 percent of Americans play games.
• 181.3 million Americans play games.
• Average gamer age is 31.
• 51 percent of Americans own a dedicated game console, and those that do own an average of two.
• 52 percent of U.S. gamers are male, and 48 percent are female.
• Women aged 18 or over make up a much larger percentage of the gamer population (36 percent) than boys 18 or younger (17 percent).
• The average number of years gamers have been playing video games is 14.

Who Is Buying?:

• Average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 35.
• Of the most frequent game purchasers, 50 percent are male and 50 percent are female.
• 44 percent of gamers said video games give them the most value for their money, compared to DVDs, music, or going out to the movies.

At Play:

• 88 percent of parents whose children play games believe the ESRB rating system is either very or somewhat helpful in choosing games for their children.
• 85 percent of parents are aware of the ESRB system.
• 87 percent of parents believe that the parental controls available in video game consoles are useful. In addition, parents impose time usage limits on video games more than any other form of entertainment. 83 percent for games, 80 percent of Internet usage, 76 percent TV viewing, and 70 percent movie viewing.
• Of the games rated by the ESRB in 2013, 46 percent were rated E, 19 percent were rated E10+, 23 percent were rated T, and 12 percent were rated M.
• 91 percent of parents whose children play video games are present when games are purchased or rented.
• 82 percent of children ask for their parents' permission before purchasing or renting a game.
• 95 percent of parents say they pay attention to the content of the games their children play.
• 56 percent of parents say video games are a positive part of their child's life.

Bottom Line:

• The "action" category was the best-selling console video game genre in 2013, making up 31.9 percent of all games sold last year. The next closest category was the "shooter" category at 20 percent.
• For PC, strategy games took the lion's share, with 38.4 percent of all sales. The next closest category was "casual" at 28.3 percent.
• The best-selling console game of 2013 was Grand Theft Auto V, followed by Call of Duty: Ghosts.
• On PC, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm was the best-seller, followed by SimCity.
• In all, gamers spent $21.53 billion on all video game content in 2013.

Minecraft For PS4 And Vita Coming Soon
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-ps4-and-vita-expected-by-september/1100-6419199/

Continuing their pursuit to conquer the entire world with awkward, low-res Legos, Mojang have announced that the PS4 and Vita versions of their hit game Minecraft -- maybe you've heard of it? -- will hit between now and September. The PS3 version will be hitting May 16, and when asked about whether you have to pay for the PS4 version if you got the PS3 version, they said, We’re in the process of finalising cross-buy/upgrade/DLC things. More news soon."

You will also be able to use your Xbox 360 saves for the Xbone version.



Bear Simulator Got A Bunch Of Money
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/people-donated-100-571-to-pay-for-a-game-about-being-a-bear/1100-6419158/

Humans are simple beasts, but bears are awesome beasts. People donated $100,571 to the cause and now Bear Simulator will be better. The developer describes it as a mini-Skyrim, but as a bear. Did I mention that you play as a bear?


XCOM: Enemy Unknown Is Now On Android
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xcom-enemy-unknown-arrives-on-android/1100-6419200/

You can pick up the Android version of the excellent game, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, now for $9.99. More reasons not to do anything at work, like you needed any you lazy person, you.


A Wild Newly Registered Domain For Just Cause 3 Has Appeared
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/just-cause-3-news-may-be-incoming-as-new-domain-name-discovered/1100-6419196/

Are you looking forward to a new Just Cause? This doesn't mean that there will be a new one for sure, but a domain name was registered for Just Cause 3. When reached for comment by yours truly about why they did this, the developers of the series simply answered, "Just cause."

Okay they didn't, and that was a terrible joke. Can you believe I get paid to do this?

I don't. I don't get paid.


Here's An Image Of The New TITANFALL Map, War Games
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-s-first-dlc-map-shown-off-in-new-images/1100-6419190/

The Expedition DLC is coming next month, and Respawn have shown us an image of the new map, which is described as a "parkour playground." Looks different than any playground I ever played on.

But my question is, where's the next-gen zipline?



Koch Media Is Publishing A Boxed Version Of Goat Simulator In The UK
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-publisher-will-release-goat-simulator-as-a-boxed-product-in-the-uk/1100-6419188/

Koch Media owns Deep Silver, and they will surely own every gamers heart soon because they are publishing the massively entertaining game Goat Simulator in the UK! There are no prices or anything available, but we know there's a box and there's a goat. Somehow I'm not surprised by this news.


There's A Mario Kart 8 Bundle Coming In The UK
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-wii-u-bundles-confirmed-for-the-uk-but-what-about-the-us/1100-6419181/

It looks like the UK is getting a Mario Kart 8 bundle when it launches May 30. 

There's no talk yet that this will come to North America. Here's what it entails, from Gamespot:

The special bundles will sell for £299.99 ($500) and come in Red Mario and Green Luigi varieties, both of which you can see in the image above. Both bundles include a 32GB system, a racing wheel, GamePad protector, Mario or Luigi hat, Wii Remote Plus, and a Mario Kart 8 game guide.

You won this round UK.

Here Are The Free Playstation Plus Games For May
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstation-plus-free-games-of-may-for-ps4-ps3-and-vita-announced/1100-6419159/


PS3:
Puppeteer
Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 (US ONLY)
Skullgirls Encore (US ONLY)

Payday 2 (EU ONLY)

PS Vita:

Limbo (US ONLY)

Surge Deluxe (US ONLY)

Muramasa Rebirth (EU ONLY)

Everybody's Golf (EU ONLY)

PS4:
Stick it to the Man

Nice to see the PS4 getting a high-quality Triple-A title! Thank God we can finally play Limbo 32 years after it was released!

In all seriousness, some of these games are really sweet.


A Book About Eve Online Is Coming
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/read-all-about-eve-online-in-upcoming-book/1100-6419233/

If you're like me, you're interested in Eve Online but you may be too intimidated to actually play it. I enjoy hearing all the stories of war and politics, and now there is going to be a book that discusses the game from the moment it went online to now. It's sad that I'm probably more interested in reading about this fake world than I am the real world. The sadder thing is that you probably are too.

The book is going to be called A History of the Great Empires of Eve Online, and it has already reached its Kickstarter goal, with 29 days to go.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/twitch-beats-out-espn-wwe-and-mlb-as-largest-live-streaming-site-in-the-us/1100-6419226/

Battlefield 4 Is Still... Not Working
http://www.destructoid.com/dice-just-wanted-to-let-you-know-that-battlefield-4-is-still-broken-273786.phtml 

Seriously EA/DICE, just get this right. The game has been out for months and has seen multiple DLCs and it still doesn't work? I hope it works by the time Battlefield 5 comes out. That would be grand.


Let's End This On A Doozy -- Mad Max Is Delayed Until 2015
http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/04/25/mad-max-delayed-to-2015?

I'm not sure if anybody actually cares, but I sure don't. Regardless, the game adaption of the classic movie series isn't seeing the light of day until 2015... unless the world ends.



That's this end for another week, guys, gals and Tralfamadorians. Hope this didn't pain you too much, and we will see you next week, unless you'd like to tweet me on that Twitter thing @ArtBathednCrime. Or you know, check out the blog on other days besides Saturdays.