Scientists Use Fortnite To Talk About Climate Change
Fortnite feels like the biggest thing on the planet right now, so it makes sense that some clever Twitch streamers have started using it as a platform to teach viewers about this crazy planet. According to Wired, ClimateFortnite is a channel full of climate scientists who discuss global warming while playing Epic's popular battle royal game.
"It builds a community where people can ask the hard questions directly to an expert," ClimateFortnite host Henri Drake told Wired. "For a topic like climate change that is steeped in misinformation, direct access to experts is crucial."
ClimateFortnite has a megar following, but this is an inventive use of Epic's game and the Twich streaming service, and we're interested to see if other scientists follow suit. The Wired article is full of even more details on ClimateFortnite and climate change, so check it out if you have a chance.
[Source: Wired]
Jackbox Games' latest party pack is coming out next week, which gives us an excuse to round up GI's party people and play through a bunch of fun stuff. Check out today's NGT for a sampler of each of the bundle's five games. Don't worry: We exited each game before Kyle could lose and throw a fit that would ruin it for everyone else. Whew!
We've got a full crew this episode, including Kyle, Jeff Marchiafava, Ben Hanson, interns Jill and J.P., Leo Vader, and me. Over the course of about an hour, we match wits (and embarrass ourselves) with some You Don't Know Jack: Full Stream trivia; devise fiendish scenarios in Split the Room; spit fire in Mad Verse City; pitch our best products in Patently Stupid; and play Zeeple Dome for a few seconds. Seriously, Zeeple Dome ain't great.
Jackbox Party Pack 5 is available October 17 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, and mobile.
James Gunn, former director of the popular Guardian’s of the Galaxy franchise, has been hired on to write DC's next Suicide Squad film. Gunn is also being looked at to possibly direct.
This news comes months after Disney’s controversial decision to fire Gunn from directing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after some unsavory tweets made by Gunn a decade ago were unearthed. Following his departure, it is significant that Gunn has chosen Marvel's rival, DC Entertainment for his next project. The filmmaker is also currently working on a horror film titled BrightBurn, which is set to release next May.
For the next Suicide Squad, Gunn says he'll take a new approach, so this may or may not be a sequel to the David Ayer-directed film in 2016. With a solid track record directing successful films about a motley cast of anti-heroes, Gunn makes a ton of sense here, and could be just what the DC cinematic universe needs right now.
So far, the new Suicide Squad film does not have a release date.
[Source: Deadline]
The indie farming simulation Starew Valley was a delight. If you missed out on the original release, you'll have even more reasons to check it out because the Harvest Moon-inspired title is now coming to mobile. Stardew Valley releases for iOS on October 24.
🌾 Surprise! 🌾 #StardewValley by @ConcernedApe is coming to Mobile!
Coming first to the iOS App Store on October 24th! Pre-Orders available from today. Check out the launch trailer:
🎥 Trailer: https://t.co/RlDSEabyV8
📝 Blog: https://t.co/QnlmvDw75e pic.twitter.com/EcuEEXlKBo
For more on the game, watch our interview with developer Eric Barone where he talks about its long development.
It's that time of year again. We've reached October, which means Overwatch's Halloween celebration is in full swing. The Terror event, which just went live today, has its share of special treats, such as the wave-based horde mode Junkenstein's Revenge, alongside new Halloween-themed skins, emotes, and voice lines. Every year, Blizzard raises the bar with its Halloween designs, making it a true contender for the best event skins. While the first year capitalized on its Junkenstein theme of basic (but super cool) Halloween fare, subsequent years have thrown us some nice surprises, from the far out Totally '80s Zarya to the Cthulhu-inspired cultist Zenyatta. As the skins are the main attraction, we decided to rank all of them from worst to best. After much deliberation and compromise, here's what we came up with as a staff for our favorite and not-so favorites.
Part of this might be our disdain for Bastion mains, but this skin also isn't that great. The color scheme and "RIP" text is true to the holiday, but it's not something you'll worry about if the loot box gods don't bestow it upon you.
Another skin that crosses an item off the Typical Spooky Halloween Things checklist; this one is disappointing for how little it changes up Widowmaker's design. Not only does it use the same color scheme, but it's extremely safe and boring. Thankfully, it's not a legendary, but admit it, out of all the new skins announced this year, it's definitely your least favorite.
This skin seems good in theory, but it's not exactly a skin that screams Halloween, nor is it a costume your friends would be jealous of. We think Blizzard can get a bit more creative on how to accessorize Torbjorn and his turret for the occasion. Hopefully, his rework impresses more than this one.
It seems that Blizzard just can't figure out what to do with Mei as far as Halloween skins are concerned. Her pumpkin get-up is about as uninspired as it gets, especially compared to Hammond and Reaper's take on incorporating Jack-O-Lanterns into their costumes. The color scheme is too close her Persimmon skin. This is one skin we'd gladly smash in the spirit of Halloween mischief.
Mei's other Halloween skin is...different, but it's a far cry from her more memorable threads (see PajaMei and Mei-rry). While the color scheme certainly pops and the Chinese vampire is an interesting idea, it just doesn't hold a candle to the fierce Halloween competition. Maybe Mei would have been better suited as a devil. She may be all about ice, but we've all felt the Mei burn as she's waved before headshotting us with an icicle...
The design for this skin is actually pretty cool, but it could also pass for a winter skin. Coldhardt isn't exactly the creepy Halloween skin you've been waiting for. There are much better ways to make a ghost with armor, as can be seen by Pharah's newest skin for the event. Also, why not just get it over with and make Reinhardt wear a Thor costume? He has the giant freakin' hammer already.
Another example of an early skin that just didn't wow. It was acceptable, but something we very rarely equipped. That being said, the purple smoke rising out of her was a nice touch.
Hanzo's demon skin is striking, especially for the detail on his clothes and tattoos, but this isn't exactly a unique skin. It merely gets the job done - nothing more, nothing less.
As a tribute to one of the greatest music videos of all time, this skin is merely okay. I mean, this is most likely what a dad would think would be cool to wear to a Halloween party, so I guess it works in that regard.
There was no way we weren't getting a vampire skin, and this one is about as exciting as a standard vampire uniform can get.
She's everyone's favorite grandma, and part of what makes this skin a delight is thinking of the often serious and mission-focused Ana getting into the holiday spirit. Pair it with her candy emote and she becomes the adorable old lady we know she really is deep down.
With his pistol skills, it's hard to think many people could get the jump on McCree, but in this case even if they did, he'd just rise from the dead. The skeleton bandana and DAMF belt are a nice touch.
As we noted earlier, we weren't escaping vampire skins, and we now have three! Of course, Reaper needed to one-up Symmetra and Mei by turning himself into The Count. The black and red trenchcoat alongside his guns just make him look out for blood.
She already has the eye patch, so what could be more fitting than Ana donning a pirate costume? Blizzard didn't phone it in, either. Her attire would make any pirate envious, complete with a parrot and sniper rifle that also doubles as a cutlass.
Halloween isn't just about frights. It's also about just having fun with your costume. Zarya's skin represents our love affair with the '80s, from the big hair to oversized leg warmers. Her headband, "Let's Get Physical" shirt, and leopard-print tights just add all the right details to this blast-from-the-past getup.
McCree seems as if he likes to play hero, so we're not surprised to see him as the fictional vampire hunter. After all, Reaper needs an archnemesis as Dracula, and what better way to add to the feud of who's the better attack hero than giving them opposing roles? Blizzard's recreation of Van Helsing's trademark black hat on McCree suits him well.
A pumpkin seems like a good substitute for a hamster ball, but what's great about this skin is how it takes such a cute character and makes him something truly terrifying. The Jack-O-Lantern is only one element to his terror - just look at those eyes and tell me that Hammond doesn't just feel bigger and more terrifying than he's ever been before.
Here's a good example of taking something typical - a skeleton - and putting a new spin on it. Skullyatta very much fits the character, while mixing in some key skeleton features. The ribcage bones and exposed brain help sell the look, but Zenyatta is also wearing his typical monk attire. As an omnic on the path to enlightenment, the darkness here helps sell the sinister part of Halloween.
Junkenstein is out of control, so it's not surprising that he'd make a bride for himself. What is the surprise is that it's Sombra and she pulls off the look so damn well. The skin's aesthetic is cool, the hair is fantastic, and what it adds to the Junkenstein story only makes it that much better. Let's see her try to hack her way to a better skin than this.
The Halloween skins have transformed characters into plenty of iconic monsters, but Swamp Monster Doomfist looks like something straight out the Creature from the Black Lagoon. He represents the monster he apes wonderfully, with great detail and a vibrant color palette. Doomfist's speed and surprise element is also a great fit for this monster.
Pharah's previous skin might have been a bit disappointing, but this headless horseman re-creation more than makes up for it. The detailed armor has gold and turquoise running through it, making it stand out. We wonder if the ability to go headless means headshots are now out of the question.
Solider 76's Immortal skin left a lot to be desired, but this new one more than compensates for it. Channeling his inner Jason with some style, this homage to the Friday the 13th films, features a new take on his leather jacket with slashes across his shirt and body. This isn't what you'd except for our resident dad, but that's part of what makes Halloween so fun. Plus, he's got the right disheveled hair to sell the character.
The long-running joke about Reaper is that he tries too hard to be an edgelord, but his pumpkin skin brings some much-needed levity to the character. Maybe he doesn't take himself so seriously, and maybe he's not so predictable. Either way, it's a fun skin and gunning down enemies with a giant pumpkin head never gets old.
So far, Moira hasn't had the best event skins, and her David Bowie look is getting overplayed. Her Banshee skin is by far the best one yet, and it's fitting considering it involves Irish Mythology. She truly looks like something horrific with her draping hair and glowing eyes. Throw in her fade ability and she was already on the cusp of being supernatural, making this a perfect match.
The way Blizzard builds characters around Junkenstein just keeps getting better. Every mad scientist needs a creation, and Roadhog masquerading as the popular fiend is about as good as it gets. Just like the monster, there's something that's inherently lovable about the hog. The attire hits all the Frankenstein notes, while incorporating Roadhog's key features such as his pig nose and his mask with "hogdrogen" inhalers.
Dr. Jamison Junkenstein is the catalyst for the fun Junkenstein's Revenge mode, earning him major points. However, it's Junkrat's fascination with explosives and wild hair that makes him the perfect fit for a mad scientist. After all, nothing pleases him more than creating chaos and destruction. The result is a fantastic-looking skin, complete with a fun Halloween story involving various Overwatch characters on the side of good and evil.
Now this skin is much better and more creative than her vampire skin. Symmetra's second Halloween skin really upped the ante. As an ally to Witch Mercy, the dragonic summoner is as deadly as this skin is detailed. The overall look is something you weren't expecting, with a purple and gold color scheme and dragon horns to boot. The best skins surprise you and make you excited to hit the equip button, which is why this is so high on our list.
Speaking of cool skins you want to immediately equip, Zenyatta's cultist skin more than qualifies. Obviously a nod to H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu, it transforms the omnic into a scaly, squid-faced creature. Zenyatta's meditative pose gives a peaceful and serene feel that just begs for worship. It's also not a stretch to say that his search for spiritual enlightenment alongside his transcendence ability could spark some idolization and followers his way. But let's not dig too deep on whether or not Zen could cause chaos by having a cult form around him.
No character dons the Halloween attire better than Mercy does as the Witch of the Wilds. Her staff - which is cleverly transformed into a broomstick with the skin - already brings the power to heal, boost powers, and fly, so it's not a stretch to think she got this magic from somewhere and there's some witchcraft involved. Offering the objects of people's desires "for a price," Witch Mercy plays her role well. With her spellbook and black hat, she certainly looks the part, but we're also happy Blizzard didn't just follow the generic witch look by putting her in all black or making her skin green; instead, Mercy was allowed to have her own style. Also, those witch boots!
Epic Games is strongly against cheating in Fortnite, the company's immensely popular battle royale game, and now the studio is putting its money where its mouth is. Epic has acquired Kamu, a start-up company based in Finland best known for Easy Anti-Cheat software. Epic is already using this product, but Kamu promises this move will better support "the live management of player satisfaction, community building, and game integrity."
Kamu's software is currently serving more than 80 games and is installed by over 100 million PC players globally. For now, it looks like that will continue. However, with Epic now at the helm, it remains to be seen how that could change.
This acquisition also puts Epic's foot in the Finland market. In their press release, Kamu explains "Epic’s new presence in Helsinki will serve as a base for recruiting technology, engine, and online service developers." For now, you can play Fortnite knowing the battle against cheaters wages on.
Fortnite just kicked off its darkly themed sixth season, you can read all about the new additions here. Also, Epic recently released a bundle for the Nintendo Switch to entice fans, both new and old.
[Source: TechCrunch]
No Code, award winning creators of Stories Untold, and Devolver Digital are jumping back into the horror genre with Observation. In this sci-fi thriller, something has gone terribly wrong with your space station and the crew has vanished. However, you won’t solve this mystery as a human protagonist, but rather as the station AI, S.A.M. In the game, players operate the station’s control systems, cameras, and tools to help one survivor uncover the truth.
No stranger to interactive suspense, No Code’s Stories Untold bagged an 8.25 from Game Informer back in 2017. Javy praised its impressive atmosphere and nuanced thrills. For their third full release, No Code is “scaling up considerably” to craft Observation, and the team is pulling inspiration from its current staff, some of whom worked on Alien: Isolation.
Observation will release on PlayStation 4 and PC next Spring.
This morning, Microsoft and 505 revealed that, this holiday season, the critically-praised Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will be available on store shelves for the first time ever.
Developed by Ninja Theory, the developer behind titles like Heavenly Sword and Devil May Cry, Hellblade follows the story of a Celtic warrior battling her inner demons as she ventures into hell to save the soul of her deceased lover. Created with the help of neuroscientists and people who experience psychosis, the game aimed to offer a realistic portrayal of mental illness.
A critical and commercial success, the game sold over one million digital copies and won five 2018 BAFTA Games Awards and three 2017 Games Awards. Hellblade has been praised for its excellent audio design and the motion capture performance given by Melina Juergens, who played Senua.
Micosoft will publish Hellblade on Xbox One while 505 will be handling the PS4 edition. Both versions will hit store shelves on December 4 for $29.99. If you still haven't played the game, be sure to check out our Hellblade news hub for behind-the-scenes stories and interviews. Also, read our review where we go more in-depth on Senua's nightmarish journey.
Kotaku recently reported and Microsoft is close to inking a deal to purchase the independent developer Obsidian Entertainment. According to the report, the deal is “90%” finished.
Obsidian is best known for its work on RPG series like Knights of the Old Republic II, and Fallout: New Vegas, and most recently the Pillars of Eternity series. Obsidian is currently in a contract to make a new RPG with Private Division, a label within Take-Two Interactive. Fallout creators Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarksy are helming this new project, but It remains to be seen how a Microsoft buyout could effect the game.
Neither Microsoft or Obsidian have confirmed the rumor, but we've reach out to both companies for a comment. A Microsoft spokesperson said, "We do not comment on rumors or speculation.”
[Source: Kotaku]
Get ready to explore that tall grass. Pokémon from Diamond and Pearl will soon be populating the world of Pokémon Go. Niantic recently announced that, in addition to the new critters from the Sinnoh Region, the developer will be adding a few added tweaks to the game, such as:
Moving forward, the weather feature will have a reduced effect on the rate at which Pokémon appear. As you explore a given area, you will notice that a greater variety of Pokémon species will appear over time and at different rates. Certain areas, such as parks and nature reserves, will now contain more varied Pokémon species. CP values will be adjusted going forward to improve game balance. HP values will be adjusted to close the gap between Pokémon with high and low HP. Pokémon Defense and Stamina values will be rebalanced, allowing Pokémon with high defensive stats to be valuable by outlasting opponents in battle rather than these Pokémon merely taking too long to defeat. Defense values have also been slightly reduced for most Pokémon. Changes like these will help narrow the gap between Pokémon with the highest defensive stats and other Pokémon.Niantic hasn't provided an exact date for these updates, or if the Gen-4 Pokémon will be dished out in waves like Gen 3 was, but the developer said to expect these new Pokémon "soon." In the meantime make sure you make the most of your time with Pokémon Go by reading our Summer Guide.
[Source: Pokémon]
Crytek revealed a second map, the Lawson Delta, for Hunt: Showdown in a nightmarish trailer. In 1861, the Civil War blew through Lawson but the evil never left. Mimicking late 19th century slideshow technology to creepy effect, Crytek presents how citizens of the idyllic town fell on hard times during the war, and then rose again as an undead horde. We know the Lawson Delta map is set in post-Civil War Louisiana, but more details will be revealed at TwitchCon, running from October 26-28 in San Jose, California.
Hunt: Showdown is a multiplayer bounty hunting game from Crytek that takes you to “the darkest corners of the world” which released on Steam Early Access in February. The competitive first-person shooter mixes survival and match-based gameplay together with PvP and PvE elements. Play solo or in groups of two to track down gruesome monsters in the swamps of Louisiana, but, with up to ten players in a match all hoping to bag the same trophies, watch out that the hunter doesn’t become the hunted.
Players can experience the Lawson Delta map in person exclusively at Hunt: Showdown’s TwitchCon booth before it goes live shortly after the event. Hunt: Showdown is currently available on Steam Early Access. For a look at gameplay, check out a round for New Gameplay Today back in February.
Grab your guns and get into Pandora once again with Borderlands 2 VR on PSVR, coming out December 14.
Unlike the original, the title doesn't feature co-op, but developer Gearbox has tweaked some of the co-op aspects of the original to suit this game's single-player design. For instance, in Borderlands 2 VR players can simultaneously drive a vehicle (using the PlayStation Move motion controllers) and aim its guns (using the headset).
The game also includes a bullet-time slow-mo feature called BAMF Time (BadAss Mega Fun Time) that is included as an upgrade to existing abilities.
[Source: Official PlayStation Blog]
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