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It Takes Six Transformers Trading Cards To Build Devastator
Predaking? Weak. Superion? Bah. Before the Autobots and Decepticons started transforming teams of five into one giant robot, there were the Constructicons, six construction vehicle robots who combined into the mighty Devastator. The original gestalt is a “towering warrior” in the Transformers Trading Card Game’s upcoming Rise of the Combiners expansion. The Rise of the…
By Mike Fahey Published February 8, 2019 - Uncategorized
How Apex Legends’ Microtransactions Work
Respawn’s new battle royal game Apex Legends has tons of cosmetic unlockables, ranging from new character outfits to special animations for when you execute a downed player. All of them can be earned either by progressing in the game or by spending real money on loot boxes. Here’s a breakdown of how Apex Legends’ microtransactions…
By Ethan Gach Published February 8, 2019 - Uncategorized
Nintendo Exec Says ‘A Very High Number’ Of Its Designers Are Women
One of the key reasons behind Nintendo’s success over the decades isn’t just that it makes fun video games, but that it makes video games that broadly appeal to both men and women. One possible explanation? There’s a “very high” number of women employed at the company, Nintendo says—although they haven’t offered statistics. Nintendo’s executives…
By Jason Schreier Published February 8, 2019 - CultureKotaku Game Diary
Socialist Tabletop Game Reminded Me That You Have To Stop Infighting To Get Shit Done
On Wednesday night, a group of friends and I gathered to spark a revolution. We were playing Comrades, a tabletop RPG that puts its players in the shoes of leftist activists fighting for their causes. I make it no secret that I am a socialist. That’s right! I’m the political dissident the President is warning…
By Gita Jackson Published February 8, 2019 - Culture
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
The weekend is for having been invited to a lot of dinner parties, which feels very adult. It’s also for video games! I’m going to spend more time in Apex Legends this weekend. Last night a friend texted me to play this game with her by calling it “Ape Legs,” which I am hereby declaring…
By Riley MacLeod Published February 8, 2019 - Anime
The Japanese Voice of One Piece‘s Whitebeard Has Died
Voice actor Kinryu Arimoto began his career in the mid-1960s. Since then, he lent his vocal talents to numerous anime. Perhaps his most famous role was the One Piece pirate Edward Newgate (aka “Whitebeard”). Today it was announced that Arimoto has passed away. Besides Whitebeard, Arimoto voiced Commissioner Nogami in City Hunter, Patrick Zala in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 8, 2019 - Uncategorized
How Chinese Online Retailers Get Around Game Bans
Violent games keep getting banned in China. Last month, as r/gaming pointed out, China banned nine games and forced changes in 11 more. Many gory games have no chance of release. To slip past the country’s draconian censors, Chinese online retailers must get creative. According to website Abacus, Taobao sellers have been trying to skirt…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 8, 2019 -
CultureCosplayGallerySome Of Our Favorite Cosplay From PAX South 2019
PAX South was held in San Antonio a few weeks back, and while there was a lot of great stuff going on, we’re here today to highlight some of the cosplay that was on show. Mineralblutook all of the photos you’ll see below, (as well as shooting a 12-minute video) while you’ll find both the…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 8, 2019 -
CultureAstroneer Makes Outer Space Survival Relaxing
The worst problems are often ones we make for ourselves. For instance, while wandering Astroneer’s idyllic starter planet, I found a hole. Its alluring darkness contrasted the planet’s candy swirl aesthetic so perfectly that I couldn’t resist. I gently edged my way down one of its walls. Then I started sliding. Then I kept sliding.…
By Nathan Grayson Published February 7, 2019 - Uncategorized
Listen To Banjo Read Magic: The Gathering Cards
Banjo, the titular bear from N64’s Banjo-Kazooie, can speak, but not in words. When he moves his mouth only gibberish comes out. It’s a cursed virtual life he leads, especially when he’s forced to read the words on Magic: The Gathering cards. Reddit user haochies created a program called Banjo MTG. It’s pretty straightforward: type…
By Ethan Gach Published February 7, 2019 - Uncategorized
OK, We Can Shut Down Overwatch Toys Now
Wrap it up. Nearly three years after it was first released, and long after I stopped playing the actual game, my one and only Overwatch request has come true, and so there is no need for any further merchandise. There’s a Figma based on Mercy coming next year. Selling for $90 (!) from Blizzard’s online…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 7, 2019 -
UncategorizedBeautiful Battlefield “Trailer” Was Shot Entirely Using Unsuspecting Real Players
By day, Gage Allen makes video game trailers. But for this Battlefield clip, he wanted to do something different. Instead of carefully staging every shot and lining everything up just right, he tried to just play Battlefield, capture a ton of footage of random strangers running around and see what he could do with it.…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 7, 2019 - Uncategorized
Epic Games Store Release Crashes Without Files Called “Steam”
Axiom Verge has been free on Epic’s new game store this week, only with a surprise catch: the game crashed early on because the developer removed a bunch of files called “steam” when bringing the game over from Valve’s shopfront. As PC Gamer report, the issue arose when entering the game’s third area, which contains…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 7, 2019 -
UncategorizedThe Division 2‘s President Has A Different Concern About The U.S.-Mexico Border
The creators of The Division 2 have been clear that their “goal isn’t to make a political statement,” but the game’s new private beta is surely making at least a political joke, or maybe it’s a political wink? When your character walks into the empty, insurgency-wracked Oval Office, they find on the president’s desk an…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 7, 2019 - Uncategorized
World Of Warcraft Guild Beats Newest Raid Boss Before Anyone Else, Twice
Earlier this week, top World of Warcraft guild Method defeated the Mythic difficulty version of the game’s newest raid boss, Jaina Proudmoore, who became available to fight on January 29. Yes, the Jaina Proudmoore, an Alliance leader you’re probably familiar with even if you haven’t touched Warcraft since it became an MMO. It took Method…
By Nathan Grayson Published February 7, 2019 - Uncategorized
Team Fortress 2 YouTuber Returns Three Years After Faking Terminal Illness
The popular Team Fortress 2 YouTuber known as Sketchek has returned to the platform after a three-year hiatus with a new video in which he admits to having lied about being terminally ill. In a now-deleted video originally uploaded to YouTube in November 2015, Sketchek told his fans in the Team Fortress 2 community that…
By Ethan Gach Published February 7, 2019
