- Culture
The Internet Reacts To Nintendo Labo
Nintendo Labo is basically high-tech cardboard, so naturally the internet is still trying to process the Japanese developer’s “new interactive experience.” While some people hoped for news of new Switch functionality, or perhaps Smash Bros., nobody guessed it would end up being DIY arts and crafts. Leave it to Nintendo to continually subvert expectations and…
By Ethan Gach Published January 17, 2018 -
UncategorizedNintendo Announces Nintendo Labo, A Wild New Experiment For Switch
Nintendo today announced Nintendo Labo, a wild new experiment for the Switch that will allow players to insert the console into assorted pieces of cardboard, creating items like robots, fishing rods, and pianos. “Nintendo Labo combines the magic of Nintendo Switch with the fun of DIY creations,” the company explains on the Labo website. You’ll…
By Jason Schreier Published January 17, 2018 - Uncategorized
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Battles Sure Do Escalate Quickly
Partway through the second act of Divinity: Original Sin 2, you visit an area called the Blackpits. While you’re there, you get into a fight. It is not an easy fight. At around 10:30PM last night, I loaded up the game. I picked up immediately after my party had entered the main area of the…
By Kirk Hamilton Published January 17, 2018 - Culture
They Are Billions, As Told By Steam Reviews
On its face, Steam sensation They Are Billions appears to be about three of gaming’s most-hallowed S’s: survival, steampunk, and (s)zombies. That, however, is all just window dressing. Truth is, They Are Billions is a game about failure, which is where all the best stories come from. Steam users have been sharing some doozies. In…
By Nathan Grayson Published January 17, 2018 -
UncategorizedThe Beginner’s Guide To Shipping
When I hear the term “shipping” I usually try to remember if I ordered something online that I can track obsessively until it reaches the office. But over the past few years I’ve heard it in reference to imagining romances between characters in games like Fire Emblem and Overwatch. I was happy to discover that…
By Paul Tamayo Published January 17, 2018 -
UncategorizedThe Designer Of Towerfall Watched Us Play His Excellent New Game, Celeste
A few days ago, the game designer Matt Thorson was watching me idly jump around one of the many comically challenging rooms in Celeste, his new game that is on the verge of release. “Wow, it’s nice to just watch someone play the game,” he said, his voice brimming with sincerity. When a game is…
By Tim Rogers Published January 17, 2018 -
UncategorizedClaymation JRPG Hylics 2 Is Looking Twisted As Heck
Designer Mason Lindroth released the first Hylics back in 2015, the culmination of his various experiments combining abstract claymation with JRPGgame systems. Hylics 2 has been in the works ever since, and as the latest preview trailer shows, it seems to be coming along nicely. While the presentation of Hylics 2 is reminiscent of the…
By Ethan Gach Published January 17, 2018 - Uncategorized
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux releases on the 3DS on May 15. A remake of the 2010 JRPG dungeon-crawler on the DS, Strange Journey Redux will add some new story beats as well as a new character, Alex. While 2018 will probably mark the end of the 3DS, so far it still has some…
By Ethan Gach Published January 17, 2018 - Uncategorized
Fortnite Battle Royale‘s Success Is Hurting Epic’s Other Games
Yesterday a representative for Epic Games’ online battle arena Paragon posted a message on Reddit casting the future of the game in doubt. Today, on the Unreal Tournament forums, fans are worrying over the fate of the latest installment of that beloved series. Both games share a common problem: the runaway success of Fortnite Battle…
By Mike Fahey Published January 17, 2018 - Esports
The Death And Resurrection Of The Fighting Game Community’s Most Beloved Message Board
The last few weeks have been a turbulent time for Shoryuken, the world’s leading fighting game website, and full disclosure, my former employer. After the outlet’s owners announced plans to shutter their message boards, the competitive community was sent into a frenzy, worried what the move meant for the future of genre discussion. And while…
By Ian Walker Published January 17, 2018 -
CultureRomance Games For Women Began With A Management Sim
Otome games like Mystic Messenger and Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side are made specifically for women. The genre began with with Koei’s 1994 game Angelique. Nowadays, otome games are mostly visual novels with lots of reading, but the genre started with a dialogue-light management sim. When I sat down with Tim Rogers to play it for…
By Gita Jackson Published January 17, 2018 - ReviewsBoard Games
Android: Netrunner: The Kotaku Review
The card game Android: Netrunner does not feel like a game. Jacked into its system, Android: Netrunner’s thorny mechanics melt away until all that’s left are electric impulses in my brain interfacing with my opponents’. It becomes a stylish dance of psychology. Android: Netrunner is not a new card game, but it’s the most captivating…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published January 17, 2018 -
OpinionArcade Runner Is The Perfect Relaxation Tool
Void Wisp is an arcade game all about soothing soundscapes and living life as close to the edge as possible. Players control a small mote of light floating through an obstacle course of shapes and laser beams that create noise the closer you get to them. In order to get the most points, players need…
By Heather Alexandra Published January 17, 2018 -
UncategorizedNew Mod Adds Mario 64 Characters To Goldeneye 007
At long last, someone finally put Mario 64 characters inside GoldenEye 007 StupidMarioBros1Fan spent the last four months working on a mod of GoldenEye 007 that adds Princess Peach, Koopa Troopas, and of course, Mario himself. Along with a fully-reskinned multiplayer mode, the crossover is peak N64 nostalgia and finally playable. They originally uploaded a…
By Ethan Gach Published January 17, 2018 -
UncategorizedThe Best Couch Co-Op Games
Couch co-op games tend to be more intimate than competitive multiplayer games; when it’s just you and a friend or partner, there’s more time to learn and absorb. Where competitive multiplayer needs to be accessible enough to pick up in a pub, co-op games can grow on you over the course of a few evenings.…
By Keza MacDonald Published January 17, 2018 - Esports
Regulators In The Philippines Continue To Tighten The Screws On Esports
Competitive gaming in the Philippines was dealt another serious blow after the recent signing of a resolution by the country’s Games and Amusement Board (GAB). In addition to mandatory drug testing for THC and methamphetamines, the resolution will require esports events to ensure all participants are officially licensed by the state as well as share…
By Ian Walker Published January 17, 2018 - Uncategorized
UK developer Playground is making a new Fable game, Eurogamer reports. We’ve heard the same, although we’ve also heard that it’s very early in development, and Microsoft does have a history of canceling big projects if things aren’t going well. In other words, stay cautious.
By Jason Schreier Published January 17, 2018 - Uncategorized
How Buying Cards Works In Magic: The Gathering Arena
Wizards of the Coast’sHearthstone-ishMagic: The Gathering Arena is a fresh take on digitizing the venerable TCG, but it’s still a game about spending money, virtual or otherwise, to collect trading cards. Here’s our first look at how Arena is handling its in-game economy. How the economy plays out in Magic: The Gathering Arena is every…
By Mike Fahey Published January 17, 2018 - Uncategorized
Why People Are Freaking Out About Street Fighter‘s Ryu And Sakura
In the Street Fighter series, Sakura has always wanted to prove herself to her hero Ryu. In Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition, the bar appears to have been raised. Note: If you haven’t played through Sakura’s story mode, beware because there are spoilers below! By Street Fighter IV, Sakura had a crush on Ryu, but…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 17, 2018
