Most Recent: News

Nintendo Switch Presentation: Stretchy boxing game Arms announced

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Mike Ryan

Nintendo’s next big game announcement during the Switch Presentation is a fighting/sports game called Arms. Think of it like Wii Sports: Boxing meets Stretch Armstrong (or a fighting game where everyone is Dhalsim for you Street Fighter fans).

To play, you push the JoyCon Controller forward to punch and pull back to block. Nintendo also showcased a short a demo of Arms featuring two characters, Spring Man and Ribbon Girl, with lots of wacky action. Arms will also feature local and online multiplayer. I think it looks frantic and fun with a very cartoony visual style.

Arms will be released for the Nintendo Switch this Spring. (more…)

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Nintendo Switch Presentation: Minigame collection 1-2-Switch announced

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Mike Ryan

During Nintendo’s Switch Presentation, a new minigame collection known as 1-2-Switch was announced.

Billed as a game that utilizes the new “HD Rumble” feature of the JoyCon Controllers, 1-2-Switch is designed not to be played in front of a screen, but to be played face-to-face, eye-to-eye. Players will each take a JoyCon Controller and duel head-to-head in a variety of competitions.

1-2-Switch will be released alongside the Nintendo Switch on March 3, 2017.

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Nintendo Switch Presentation: Everything you wanted to know about the JoyCon Controllers

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Mike Ryan

During Nintendo’s Switch Presentation, the consolemaker revealed a few new details about the JoyCon Controllers:

JoyCon Controller Features

  • Taken together, the JoyCon Controllers use a traditional button layout
  • Separately, the Analog Sticks can be pressed
  • Includes an NFC reader for Amiibo figures
  • JoyCon Controllers can be flipped sideways, NES-style, and they’ll include L and R Buttons.
  • A Capture Button will be available for capturing screenshots, and in the future, video. You’ll be able to share the screens you capture with your friends via social media.
  • A Wii Remote-like acceleromator and motion sensors will also be included
  • Multiple color variations will be available, including Neon Blue and Neon Red at launch
  • JoyCon strap accessory (acts like the Wii Remote strap)
  • The Right JoyCon has a motion IR Camera and can recognize hand features and distance
  • JoyCon Controllers have a more advanced version of rumble, called HD Rumble

And in case you missed it, the Nintendo Switch will launch on March 3.

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Nintendo Switch Presentation: March 3 launch date, no region lock for games, Nintendo Switch Online Service announced

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Mike Ryan

We’re liveblogging the Nintendo Switch event, and here’s the big news!

Many speculated the Switch will release on March 17th, but Nintendo announced today that the actual release date is actually March 3rd in Japan, the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and “major European countries.” That’s a whole two weeks earlier than initially thought.

On the other hand, while many thought that the price would be $249.99, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Switch will be officially priced at $299.99.

Nintendo will also launch a new online service for the Switch known as the Nintendo Switch Online Service. The Online Service will be free during the launch period, but a monthly fee will be required beginning in Fall 2017.

Finally, games on the Switch will not be region locked… much to the joy of gamers everywhere.

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WWE 2K17 will be released for the PC on February 7

Posted on January 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

2K Games has announced they’ll bring their newest wrestling sim, WWE 2K17, to the PC on February 7. Players interested in taking their turn in the squared circle will be able to pick it up in two different configurations… a Standard Edition for $49.99 or a Digital Deluxe Edition for $74.99.

The Standard Edition will come packaged with the base game and the Goldberg Pack, which adds two more Arenas and two different versions of the wrestler (“WCW Goldberg” and “WWE Goldberg”) to WWE 2K17. The base game and the Goldberg Pack are also included in the Digital Deluxe Edition, but its higher price also gives players access to the Season Pass content…

PC Digital Deluxe Edition
In addition to the base game, the WWE 2K17 PC Digital Deluxe includes over 20 characters, 50 new moves, and access to loads of additional content:

  • WWE 2K17 MyPlayer Kick Start
  • NXT Enhancement Pack
  • Accelerator
  • Legends Pack
  • New Moves Pack
  • Future Stars Pack
  • Hall of Fame Showcase

Steam users who purchase WWE 2K17 before launch will receive a 10% discount on the Standard Edition or a 15% discount on the Digital Deluxe Edition.

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Writers Guild nominates CoD Infinite Warfare, Far Cry Primal, Uncharted 4, Mr. Robot mobile app for 2017 WGA Award in Game Writing

Posted on January 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Writers Guild of America has announced the nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing.”

Once again, Naughty Dog has collected a nomination for their work on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. The prolific developer is a popular choice for the nominating committee at the WGA, previously receiving nominations (and later winning) in 2012 (Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception), 2013 (The Last of Us), and 2014 (The Last of Us: Left Behind).

Other nominees for “Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing” in 2017 include Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Far Cry: Primal, and Mr. Robot: 1.51exfiltratiOn, a mobile app developed by Night School Studio.

The winner of this year’s Writers Guild Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing” will be announced on Sunday, February 19. The complete list of nominated writers can be found after the break. (more…)

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Nintendo Download: F-Zero X, Shift DX

Posted on January 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

We’re just six hours from the unveiling of the Nintendo Switch, but the consolemaker still found the time to update the Nintendo eShop today.

Wii U owners will get the chance to get behind the wheel of a supersonic hover racer this week in F-Zero X. Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, many fans consider it the best game in the series. Over on the 3DS eShop, players can purchase Shift DX, a puzzle game where you need to shift the playing field to move forward.

Additional details for both games can be found right here… and we’ll see you tonight for the Switch Presentation:

Wii U eShop

F-Zero X – In this high-octane Nintendo 64 racer, choose from 30 different hover-car racers, including updated versions of the Blue Falcon and other vehicles from the original F-Zero game. With five separate play modes, hidden vehicles and courses, and an excellent soundtrack, F-Zero X is an all-time classic Nintendo racing experience.

3DS eShop

Shift DX – Many have tried to emulate the gameplay of Shift since its first release in 2008, but none have managed to capture the frantic, mind-bending nature of the series. Players are tasked with making their way through a series of perplexing rooms, equipped with nothing more than their ability to “shift” the playing field. Is a wall blocking you from progressing? Flip that level upside down and turn that wall into a pit!

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U |

2017 DICE Awards nominations announced and Uncharted 4 leads the way with ten

Posted on January 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has announced their nominees for the 2017 DICE Awards.

A Naughty Dog leads this year’s pack, as Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End scored ten nominations including one for “Game of the Year.” The developer’s swan song for Nathan Drake will be competing against Battlefield 1, Inside, Overwatch, and Pokemon Go for the coveted honor. We’ll hear from all of this year’s “Game of the Year” contenders throughout the ceremony as each earned multiple nominations including Inside with nine, Battlefield 1 with eight, Overwatch with six, and Pokemon Go with two.

The AIAS will hand out two new DICE Awards this year for “Immersive Reality Game of the Year” and “Immersive Reality Technical Achievement.” The nominees for both will be announced at a later date.

A total of 56 games received at least one nomination, and hosts Greg Miller and Jessica Chobot will announce the winners on Thursday, February 23, at 10:30 PM (Eastern Time). Viewers at home will be able to livestream the entire ceremony through the AIAS’s official website.

A complete list of this year’s nominees can be found after the break. (more…)

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