EnterGamingXP: February 2020

Saturday, February 29, 2020

NHK Fan Poll Results Revealed

February 29, 2020 5:24 PM EST

NHK organized a Final Fantasy series fan poll ranking the games, characters, bosses, summons, music, and published the results via a TV show.

NHK, Japan’s national broadcasting organization, organized a fan popularity poll for the Final Fantasy series. This isn’t the first time NHK organizes such a huge popularity poll, and before Final Fantasy, a similar poll was organized for the Gundam franchise back in 2018. The NHK Final Fantasy poll lasted from December 20, 2019, to February 11, 2020, and fans could vote on a special page NHK opened up for the occasion. Note that non-Japanese Final Fantasy fans could easily vote in NHK’s poll, as it wasn’t region-locked or anything. 468,654 votes were gathered in total. Temporary results were published back in January, and the final results were published via a prestigious TV show that aired on February 29. The show featured many Japanese personalities fan of Final Fantasy, including:

Takanori Nishikawa (T.M. Revolution)
Susumu Imadachi (Comedian)
Michiko Tanaka (Fashion Model, Actress)
Ayana Tsubaki (Talent, Event Host, and MC)
Kenichi Maeyamada (Hyadain)
Sayawaka (Writer, Critic)
Kato Emiri (Seiyuu who voiced Kyubey in Madoka Magica or Naru in Pretty Series. Also one of the biggest seiyuu fan of Final Fantasy XI alongside Yuichi Nakamura and Yuu Asakawa)
Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Seiyuu who voiced Noctis in Final Fantasy XV)
Shinnosuke Tachibana (Seiyuu who voiced Alphinaud in Final Fantasy XIV)
Hiroaki Hirata (Seiyuu who voiced Balthier in Final Fantasy XII)
Masakazu Morita (Seyiuu who voiced Tidus in Final Fantasy X)

Nobuo Uematsu also performed live some of the tracks which ranked in the Top 10 Final Fantasy Music Ranking.

Seeing we’re nearing the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake, anyone who already played a Final Fantasy game in Japan and beyond is in full nostalgia mode right now. This poll’s timing was optimal, and it brought surprising results.

Top 30 Final Fantasy games according to the Japanese fans NHK poll: (Votes details sorted by gender and age are included for the top ten, the 13th, 15th and 24th places):

1st Place: Final Fantasy X

2nd Place: Final Fantasy VII

3rd Place: Final Fantasy VI

4th Place: Final Fantasy IX

5th Place: Final Fantasy XIV

6th Place: Final Fantasy V

7th Place: Final Fantasy VIII

8th Place: Final Fantasy IV

9th Place: Final Fantasy XI

10th Place: Final Fantasy XV

11th Place: Final Fantasy Tactics

12th Place: Final Fantasy III

13th Place: Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-

14th Place: Final Fantasy XIII

15th Place: Final Fantasy XII

16th Place: Final Fantasy Type-0

17th Place: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

18th Place: Final Fantasy II

19th Place: Final Fantasy X-2

20th Place: Moebius Final Fantasy

21st Place: Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII

22nd Place: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

23rd Place: Dissidia Final Fantasy

24th Place: Final Fantasy

25th Place: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Ring of Fate

26th Place: Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy

27th Place: Seiken Densetsu -Final Fantasy Gaiden-

28th Place: Final Fantasy XIII-2

29th Place: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Echoes of Time

30th Place: Final Fantasy Record Keeper

Final Fantasy Characters Ranking:

1st Place: Cloud (Final Fantasy VII)

2nd Place: Yuna (Final Fantasy X)

3rd Place: Aerith (Final Fantasy VII)

4th Place: Vivi (Final Fantasy IX)

5th Place: Djidane (Final Fantasy IX)

6th Place: Emet-Selch (Final Fantasy XIV)

7th Place: Tidus (Final Fantasy X)

8th Place: Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII)

9th Place: Tifa (Final Fantasy VII)

10th Place: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)

Over 200 characters were ranked, you can find the full results on the NHK Final Fantasy Poll page.

Final Fantasy Boss & Summon Ranking:

1st Place: Knight of the Round (Final Fantasy VII)

2nd Place: Kefka (Final Fantasy VI)

3rd Place: Hades (Final Fantasy XIV)

4th Place: Anima (Final Fantasy X)

5th Place: Omega (Final Fantasy V)

6th Place: Valefor (Final Fantasy X)

7th Place: Brasca’s Final Aeon (Final Fantasy X)

8th Place: Bahamut Zero (Final Fantasy VII)

9th Place: Syldra (Final Fantasy V)

10th Place: Safer Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)

The full results for the boss & summon ranking can be found on the NHK Final Fantasy Poll page.

Final Fantasy Music Ranking:

1st Place: To Zanarkand (Final Fantasy X)

2nd Place: Clash on the Big Bridge (Final Fantasy V)

3rd Place: Eyes On Me (Final Fantasy VIII)

4th Place: Searching For Friends (Final Fantasy VI)

5th Place: Blinded by Light (Final Fantasy XIII)

6th Place: One-Winged Angel (Final Fantasy VII)

7th Place: Aerith’s Theme (Final Fantasy VII)

8th Place: Melodies Of Life～Final Fantasy (Final Fantasy IX)

9th Place: Final Fantasy Main Theme

10th Place: Those Who Fight Further (Final Fantasy VII)

Full results with over 100 tracks are on the NHK Final Fantasy Poll page.

February 29, 2020 5:24 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/nhk-fan-poll-results-revealed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nhk-fan-poll-results-revealed

Name Every Pokemon in Order

February 29, 2020 4:04 PM EST

Can Serebii Joe name every single Pokemon in Pokedex order? Find out if the webmaster of the largest Pokemon fansite has what it takes.

Joe Merrick who runs Serebii, the largest Pokemon fansite, is able to instantly name a Pokemon solely by their Pokedex number. But in a brand new challenge, can he really name every single Pokemon in Pokedex order? That’s quite the tall order. You can check out the Youtube video below to see if he succeeds at this nigh impossible task or if he fails spectacularly:

In huge news from Nintendo’s nine-month earnings report, released Thursday, it was revealed that Sword and Shield has sold more than 16 million copies since its November release, becoming the latest highlight in an already strong fiscal year for the company.

The recent Nintendo Direct two new expansion packs for the mainline games, called Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra, were announced with plenty of details. The former will launch in June 2020 and the latter sometime in Fall 2020. A remake of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX for Nintendo Switch was also revealed and you can check out our preview of the demo here. Finally the new Pokemon Home service is set to drop in February and will be available for both the Switch and mobile devices with a variety of plans.

According to the latest NPD data, the latest installment in the long running series has the highest launch month dollar sales in Pokemon franchise history. And for the month of November, Sword was the third best selling game, the double pack including both titles ranking at fourth place, and Shield being in fifth place. However, if you combined those sales then total it would bring them to the number two spot.

In other recent news, Sword and Shield are already the eighth best-selling Nintendo Switch games of all time at six million units sold during its launch weekend alone. And if you’re one of those buyers, reading up on our guide on how to train Pokemon EVs and breed perfect IVs for competitive play is a great way to learn how to strengthen your team.

Pokemon Sword and Shield released for Nintendo Switch on November 15th. Meanwhile check out our in-depth review for the game here, in which the News Editor states that “Sword and Shield are a lot of fun, even if the series is experiencing growing pains with the transition to home consoles.” You can purchase Sword here and Shield here.

This post contains affiliate links where DualShockers gets a small commission on sales. Any and all support helps keep DualShockers as a standalone, independent platform for less-mainstream opinions and news coverage.

February 29, 2020 4:04 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/name-every-pokemon-in-order/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=name-every-pokemon-in-order

Pokemon Artist Showcases Imposing Legendaries in Gorgeous Fanart

February 29, 2020 3:26 PM EST

A talented artist celebrating Pokemon Day created some gorgeous fanart showcasing the legendary Pokemon amidst their trademark elements.

Twitter user Devin Elle Kurtz celebrated Pokemon Day with some incredible fanart that depicts the legendary Pokemon in a whole new light: as massive, impressive, and imposing as they would actually look to the human inhabitants of the world:

Happy Pokémon Day!
I can’t even describe how much Pokémon has meant to me as an artist. All I can say is thanks! pic.twitter.com/kzgyIn3Xky

— Devin Elle Kurtz (@DevinElleKurtz) February 27, 2020

Seeing them rendered in that level of detail as they command the elements is nothing short of wondrous. You can check out their official site for more of their fantastic works here. Hopefully they’ll continue to put out even more incredible Pokemon-related works in the future (though a recent tweet from them stating that Reshiram and Zekrom are next is very promising).

February 29, 2020 3:26 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/pokemon-artist-showcases-imposing-legendaries-in-gorgeous-fanart/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pokemon-artist-showcases-imposing-legendaries-in-gorgeous-fanart

The Last of Us Part II Gets Some Adorably Fun Animal Crossing Themed Fanart

February 29, 2020 2:54 PM EST

Have you ever wondered what The Last of Us Part II characters would look in Animal Crossing’s artstyle? This cute fanart answers that burning question.

Every week Naughty Dog posts on their social media accounts The Last of Us Part II themed fanart submitted to them by talented artists from the community. This week’s is particularly fun and relevant as the artist, credited as Diamond Angelic, decided to crossover the realistically styled franchise with the much cuter aesthetic of Nintendo’s big IP Animal Crossing. The results are absolutely adorable as they depict an older Ellie with her love interest Dina:

#FanArtFriday: The Last of Us Part II x Animal Crossing by Diamond Angelic.

Want to share your own creations? Send them our way here: https://t.co/rkNPoi2lDv pic.twitter.com/CA2u8tOkEN

— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) February 28, 2020

Fans have been coming together to create tons of creative works centered around the long awaiting sequel to the popular IP. For instance we have this gorgeous fanmade movie poster for the game here, as well as an impressive recreation of what the upcoming sequel could have looked like as a PS1 game in this Dreams creation from YouTuber Bearly Regal.

In terms of recent news around The Last of Us Part II, things have been pretty quiet other than Naughty Dog announcing its delay late last year from February to May. However, the game’s ESRB rating was revealed recently on the game’s official website, and hinted at a more mature tone with the first inclusion of nudity and sexual content in a Naughty Dog game.

The Last of Us Part II will release exclusively for PS4 on May 29, 2020, and you can pre-order the game right now over on Amazon. There’s also a lovely official artbook if you can’t get enough of the game’s amazing art design. The book comes in three editions: a deluxe edition, a hardcover edition, and a Kindle edition. It’s published by Dark Horse Books and created in collaboration with the developers at Naughty Dog.

For more on the game, you can also read our recent editorial from our own Tanner Pierce on why The Last of Us Part II is one of our most anticipated games of 2020, in which he states that “Naughty Dog’s follow-up to their best game of all time, The Last of Us Part II, looks like it will be just as incredible as the original.”

February 29, 2020 2:54 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/the-last-of-us-part-ii-gets-some-adorably-fun-animal-crossing-themed-fanart/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-last-of-us-part-ii-gets-some-adorably-fun-animal-crossing-themed-fanart

Disintegration Developers Aiming for Gameplay That “Halo and Bungie Did So Well”

February 29, 2020 2:25 PM EST

Coming from Halo’s Marcus Lehto, V1 Interactive’s upcoming shooter Disintegration is aiming for an experience where “gameplay is king.”

While the current landscape of shooters today is dominated by major successes like Apex Legends and Fortnite, several studios are still finding their way by delivering more traditional experiences that harken back to older experiences. The upcoming shooter Disintegration from developer V1 Interactive especially is one that comes to mind from one of the co-creators of the Halo series, with the studio sharing a bit more on how Bungie’s iconic series has influenced a lot of the direction and focus of the FPS/RTS hybrid.

Speaking in an interview at PAX East 2020, V1 Interactive environment artist Blake Low shared a bit more insight into the development and making of Disintegration, the upcoming shooter from the studio that merges the gameplay of FPS and RTS games into a new type of experience across online multiplayer and a single-player campaign.

Specifically, one of the topics that Low shed more light on was the influence of the Halo series and Bungie on the development of Disintegration, which is being directed by Halo series co-creator Marcus Lehto. While the game itself is establishing its own identity by merging these two genres together, Low explained how Halo‘s influence and legacy can still be felt in Disintegration and that “you can’t play this game and not feel that familiar smooth first-person shooter that Halo and Bungie did so well; it’s a testament to having design be first.”

While Lehto and the rest of the development team behind Disintegration want it to have its own story and playstyle to stand out in the shooter space, Low explained that “we have this world we built, we have this story we’re telling, but gameplay is king and that’s important in this studio.” In terms of the end goal for Disintegration heading into release, Low explained that the studio wants “a smooth, fun gameplay experience, and that’s something that Bungie always has done well.”

In terms of other recent news around Disintegration, an open beta for the game took place towards the beginning of this month to give players one of their first tastes of the upcoming shooter. We’ve happened to play it a few times over the past few months, including at PAX East 2020 – in the meantime, you can read our most recent impressions from the game’s open beta for more.

Disintegration is in development for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and is expected to launch sometime later this year. You can stay tuned on the game’s official website for news and updates for upcoming beta tests.

February 29, 2020 2:25 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/disintegration-developers-aiming-for-gameplay-that-halo-and-bungie-did-so-well/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=disintegration-developers-aiming-for-gameplay-that-halo-and-bungie-did-so-well

GTFO Developer Chose Its Unusual Title Because “You Remember It”

February 29, 2020 1:25 PM EST

Developer and publisher 10 Chambers Collective felt GTFO’s unorthodox title was “suiting” to the player experience of the horror shooter.

With its reveal at The Game Awards a few years ago, the horror co-op shooter GTFO gained a lot of attention for its intriguing mix of tactical shooting and collaboration in a horrifying setting. Of course, the game gained a lot of attention for its unusual title, which the developer felt perfectly suited the experience that players would be facing as they fight to survive.

Speaking in an interview at PAX East, 10 Chambers Collective shared a bit more on the development and inspirations behind GTFO. During this discussion, one of the subjects that came up was the source of the game’s title, with 10 Chambers Collective’s Svante Vinternatt providing an explanation for how the team landed on the title for its shooter:

“We did some brainstorming for a name; like okay, what should the title be? As a collective, we actually voted. We had a couple of alternatives, and of course discussed what we should end up with, and we thought this was a suiting title to the game. Some people love it, some people hate it, but you remember it and it fits with the game.”

Vinternatt was transparent with the fact that not everyone loves the title, but having played the game for a bit myself at PAX East 2020, it’s easier to see how GTFO surprisingly captures the feeling of tension and horror in the game. From the demo that I played at PAX, you are very much trying to get the f*** out of a bad situation, and it certainly is a title that is memorable, to say the least.

In addition to discussing the origins behind the game’s title, Vinternatt also explained that the studio is certainly considering console versions of the game down the line but wants to focus on the core PC experience first; this echoes what the studio has said previously about considering taking the game to PS4 and Xbox One. When asked about the possibility of GTFO coming to next-gen systems with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, Vinternatt said that “we’d need to try that out first and see what works.”

GTFO is available now on PC through Steam Early Access, with no set date or window yet for the game’s full release.

February 29, 2020 1:25 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/gtfo-developer-chose-its-unusual-title-because-you-remember-it/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gtfo-developer-chose-its-unusual-title-because-you-remember-it

Fallout 76’s Wastelanders expansion looks promising • Eurogamer.net

Bethesda has shown off gameplay of the upcoming Fallout 76 Wastelanders expansion – and it looks like it makes some significant improvements to the game.

In the video below, Bethesda developers show off a raft of new locations, NPCs, conversations and a quest.

Much has changed in the massively multiplayer online game – and perhaps the most significant change is the addition of NPCs you can talk to. Upon leaving Vault 76 you’ll bump into a couple, and some areas once dead are now alive with people.

Expect to see NPCs as soon as you leave Vault 76.

The video shows how the developers have remade the initial location you get the first Overseer’s care package from into a bar called The Wayward. Inside is the bartender, a character called Duchess, who you can speak to. Of note, there are lines of dialogue to choose from – and sometimes more than four options, too. Fallout 4 was heavily criticised for letting you choose from just four options in dialogue, so this is a marked improvement.

You’ll get dialogue options based on your S.P.E.C.I.A.L.S., as Fallout fans will be familiar with, but there are also negative speech checks. These can often result in funny lines of dialogue, the developers said, as your character displays their stupidity.

Negative speech checks will often result in funny dialogue.

Also inside the bar is a ghoul character called Mort, who, it turns out, is voiced by Jason Mewes, aka Jay from Jay and Silent Bob. Mort will teach you about building, which is a much more natural way of learning camp construction.

Mort, one of the new NPCs in Fallout 76.

Bethesda has also gone back to old robot characters and given them dialogue, too. For example, Wastelanders lets you have a proper chin-wag with the Grafton mayor.

Wastelanders adds instances, team-only interiors in which you make important story choices that have significant consequences. These private areas are unique to your character, and should help make Fallout 76 feel much more reactive, story wise.

There are two new cities, and Bethesda showed off one of them: Foundation. Here, settlers built a civilisation at Spruce Knob – the highest point in West Virginia. Wastelanders adds two main quest lines the player picks from, but you can dip into both until a point of no return decision must be made to help either out. This feeds into the new reputation system Wastelanders adds to the game.

Foundation is one of the new cities in Fallout 76.

Elsewhere, there’s a new bow and arrow weapon, which Bethesda showed off via a quest to escort a caravan through some tunnels infested with raiders. The difference here is the caravan includes human NPCs, so it’s not just some brahmin and the players skulking about. Eagle-eyed fans will spot new power armour, the new Blood Eagles raider faction and the plasma caster weapon from Fallout 1.

Wastelanders adds a new weapon, the bow.

Overall, Wastelanders looks like it significantly improves Fallout 76. As someone who played the game at launch for review, I wish all this stuff had been in the game back then. Will Wastelanders all of a sudden fix Fallout 76? I doubt it. I’m sure there will be huge swathes of post-apocalyptic West Virginia that will remain the same despite this new update. And the NPC facial animations are… well… they’re very Bethesda. But I’m liking what I’ve seen of Wastelanders so far and I’m excited to dip back into Fallout 76 when it launches in April.

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/fallout-76s-wastelanders-expansion-looks-promising-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fallout-76s-wastelanders-expansion-looks-promising-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

The Witcher Season 2 Casts Kim Bodnia as Vesemir, the Oldest and Most Experienced Witcher

February 29, 2020 1:55 PM EST

Netflix reveals their casting choice for the oldest Witcher and Geralt’s father Vesemir, who will make his debut in Season 2 of The Witcher series.

It seems that Geralt’s father figure and the oldest Witcher on the continent is getting more screentime. Netflix has officially announced that Kim Bodnia will be playing the role of Vesemir in the upcoming season 2 of The Witcher. This news comes after the reveal that the animated series The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf will be starring the same character:

Introducing Vesemir: Kim Bodnia will play the Continent’s oldest and most experienced Witcher in Season 2 of #TheWitcher. pic.twitter.com/HAmYciZ5K4

— NX (@NXOnNetflix) February 28, 2020

Vesemir was the oldest and most experienced Witcher at Kaer Morhen in the 13th century and acted as a father figure to Geralt and the other witchers. He was one of the few members of the School of the Wolf to survive the assault on Kaer Morhen.

Recently Netflix also revealed more of the season 2 cast, which was drawn from Game of Thrones and other shows. The Witcher in general is one of the most popular releases of 2019 and has garnered plenty of attention from fans, to the point of the show still being in high demand even now. Following the show’s success, the book publisher has announced they’ll be reprinting 500,000 copies of the original novel to meet demand. Recently Henry Cavill, the actor who plays Geralt of Rivia, confirmed on his Instagram that season two will be in pre-production soon.

Recently showrunner Hissrich addressed some criticisms of The Witcher in an extensive and informative Twitter thread about the creative process and how certain decisions are made when adapting any sort of media.

She also announced a brand new podcast series, which gives fans a behind the scenes look at the production and crew responsible for making the show. Said podcast has made its debut through Netflix’s Behind-the-Scenes podcast series, with the first episode specifically gives us more insight into how the show approached bringing its the series’ iconic protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, to life on the small screen.

Henry Cavil, the actor who plays as main protagonist Geralt, loves The Witcher universe and strives to deliver the best possible performance. In a recent interview he explained that in terms of his involvement with the show, it was important for him to stay as “true to the lore as possible” for the role of Geralt and that “it was about bringing my love for the character to the show, as a fan.” He specifically had wanted the show to incorporate more of Geralt’s signs in order to highlight his abilities as a witcher and that “the audience must know he can do these things.”

The new Shot By Shot video from Netflix features Henry Cavill breaking down the brilliant Blaviken Fight from The Witcher, while another video finds Cavill explaining the Witcher’s swords.

It seems the series’s launch has had a positive affect on the games, as it caused a large resurgence in The Witcher 3′s player count — which hit over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam, more players than during its launch.

Be sure to check out our own review for the Netflix series The Witcher here.

February 29, 2020 1:55 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/the-witcher-season-2-casts-kim-bodnia-as-vesemir-the-oldest-and-most-experienced-witcher/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-witcher-season-2-casts-kim-bodnia-as-vesemir-the-oldest-and-most-experienced-witcher

Infinity Ward is using Modern Warfare weapon charms to reference some of the best moments from the MW2 campaign • Eurogamer.net

The Call of Duty games are packed full of Easter eggs – and Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare soft reboot is no exception.

It turns out Infinity Ward is using Modern Warfare weapon charms to reference the Modern Warfare 2 campaign – and that discovery has led fans to speculate that each Modern Warfare season is themed around one of Infinity Ward’s previous games.

Eagle-eyed redditor AnalVor noticed three new weapon charms found in Modern Warfare as part of the game’s second season battle pass directly reference iconic moments from the Modern Warfare 2 campaign.

Really clever IW, really clever from r/modernwarfare

Drawing a link between each of the three weapon charms highlighted, AnalVor suggests Modern Warfare season two is themed around Modern Warfare 2. When you consider season two added fan-favourite character Ghost and beloved multiplayer map Rust – both of which were taken from Modern Warfare 2 – the theory makes sense.

So, what do the weapon charms reference, exactly? The first weapon charm is a jumper cable, which references the moment in Modern Warfare 2’s campaign when Ghost prepares to torture a bad guy with jumper cables. (Skip to 1:40 in the video below to see this scene.)

The second weapon charm is a petrol can, which is a reference to the moment Roach and Ghost are doused in petrol and set alight in the Modern Warfare 2 campaign. The third weapon charm is the gun General Shepherd (what a bastard!) uses to kill Roach and Ghost. You can see both memorable moments in the video below.

Infinity Ward art director Joel Emslie responded to the find with a post on reddit: “You’re paying attention…good;)”

So, we have season two weapon charms as Modern Warfare 2 references. What next? Fans are currently speculating that season three will be themed around Modern Warfare 3 (following Ghost’s arrival on the Coalition side for season two, perhaps Makarov will be a new operator added to the game on the Allegiance side for season three). If this is true, then perhaps Modern Warfare season four will be themed around Call of Duty: Ghosts.

And if that’s true, fingers crossed Colin the dog is coming to the game.

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/infinity-ward-is-using-modern-warfare-weapon-charms-to-reference-some-of-the-best-moments-from-the-mw2-campaign-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=infinity-ward-is-using-modern-warfare-weapon-charms-to-reference-some-of-the-best-moments-from-the-mw2-campaign-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

Call of Duty Zombies overlord Jason Blundell exits Treyarch • Eurogamer.net

Jason Blundell, one of the chief creators of Call of Duty’s popular zombies mode, has left Treyarch after 13 years.

In a statement published to Twitter, Blundell said his time working on zombies had been “special”, and thanked the zombies community for helping to create “memories I will cherish for a lifetime”.

We wish to thank Jason for his many contributions to Treyarch. We?ve enjoyed our journey together and wish him the very best going forward! pic.twitter.com/Tb8o36VWb2

— Treyarch Studios (@Treyarch) February 28, 2020

Blundell began working on nazi zombies – 1-4 player bonus mode in which players fought against waves of enemies – back in 2007 for 2008’s Call of Duty World at War. World at War was the first game in Activision’s blockbuster shooter series to feature a zombies mode, although it was only playable once the campaign was completed. It would go on to gain huge popularity within Treyarch’s Black Ops games as a fully-fledged mode separate to campaign and traditional multiplayer.

In an interview with Gamesradar, Blundell talked about the creation of zombies mode in World at War.

“The deal – interestingly enough – the deal that got struck about it was: ‘OK, you can put it in, but don’t talk about it. We’re not going to promote it, we’re not going to market it’. It was going to be ‘We will put it in at the end, and see what turns out’.”

Jason Blundell on-stage during Activision’s Call of Duty Black Ops 4 reveal event in May 2018.

Blundell became co-studio head of Treyarch in November 2016 after a stint directing the zombies modes of the various Black Ops games. His exit comes at an interesting time for Treyarch, which was reportedly drafted in to develop Black Ops 5 as 2020’s Call of Duty game after trouble at fellow Activision-owned studios Raven and Sledgehammer. This means Treyarch will have had just two years to make its next Call of Duty game, rather than the previously standard three.

In July 2019, Activision released a statement denying Blundell had left Treyarch after reports emerged claiming he’d been fired.

“While we typically don’t comment on rumour, as a personnel matter we feel it’s important to address,” read the statement. “Jason has not been fired, and in fact, he continues to direct the zombies experiences for Black Ops 4. In addition, Jason, along with a handful of developers, are working with Activision to develop new creative opportunities.”

Half a year later, Blundell’s exit is confirmed. He has yet to announce what’s next.

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/call-of-duty-zombies-overlord-jason-blundell-exits-treyarch-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=call-of-duty-zombies-overlord-jason-blundell-exits-treyarch-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

FIFA 20 gives some players an in-game button overlay to help EA improve responsiveness • Eurogamer.net

EA Sports has given some FIFA 20 players a special in-game button overlay as it bids to improve responsiveness.

Responsiveness – or the lack of – is one of the hot topics within the FIFA community. It’s felt FIFA 20 is particularly unresponsive when played online, where it can feel like there’s a significant delay between a button press and the corresponding action in-game.

In truth, this has been a long-standing issue with EA Sports’ FIFA games, and despite the developer’s best efforts over the last few years, community complaints remain.

Now, EA Sports has revealed it’s currently running a live study for small backend changes related to button responsiveness, and as part of that, it’s adding an in-game button overlay for a select number of players.

In the latest Pitch Notes article, EA Sports revealed a screenshot of how this in-game button overlay looks, while stressing it’s subject to change. You can see the overlay in the top-right hand corner of the screen, with icons representing the buttons on the console controller.

“With this button overlay, we want to let players see their inputs in real-time but also the impact the connection with the data center has on those inputs,” EA Sports explained.

“This also helps us analyse matches more efficiently since we can get clips of players sharing their experience and raw input. We’ll have more to share about the results of the button overlay live study in the future.”

This live study is just a part of EA Sports’ overall connectivity and responsiveness efforts, the studio said. The question is, will any of EA’s efforts make for a significant improvement in FIFA 20, with FIFA 21 waiting in the wings?

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/fifa-20-gives-some-players-an-in-game-button-overlay-to-help-ea-improve-responsiveness-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fifa-20-gives-some-players-an-in-game-button-overlay-to-help-ea-improve-responsiveness-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

Major Counter-Strike tournament is eerily quiet without a crowd • Eurogamer.net

But over half a million turn up to watch online.

A major Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament forced to go ahead without a crowd due to fears over Coronavirus has pulled in a massive live audience online.

IEM Katowice, ongoing at the time of this article’s publication, is being played without a crowd at the Spodek arena – and it’s making for an eerily quiet viewing experience.

Without the cheer of the Polish crowd to accompany the action, we can hear the players yell at key moments, the occasional clap from a coach and… that’s about it. In between rounds the stage is treated to a light show that’s now for the benefit of the cameras only.

<br />

On 27th February, a day before the event was set to begin, its organisers told ticket-holders not to turn up at the venue this weekend.

“It breaks our heart that, today at 19:45 CET we were informed that, due to the dynamic changes in the global health situation, the Masters Championship at IEM Katowice 2020 has been closed to the public by the Polish Gouverneur of Silesia hours before its door opening,” reads a statement from the ESL.

“We respect the decision from the local authorities. Your health and well-being stand above everything else.

“For the first time ever, the legendary Spodek arena will not be echoing with your chants and cheers. In the spirit of esports, we will still broadcast the tournament as planned on online and TV channels. Join us in the chat, we are going to make sure to deliver a legendary weekend.

“We are deeply sorry for all the fans and players.”

Despite the unusual atmosphere in the arena, Counter-Strike fans are watching online in their hundreds of thousands, with a concurrent viewers figure that at one point breached the half a million mark.

And the eight-year-old Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has once again broken its all-time record for peak concurrent players in-game, with a peak of 933,748 on Steam.

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/major-counter-strike-tournament-is-eerily-quiet-without-a-crowd-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=major-counter-strike-tournament-is-eerily-quiet-without-a-crowd-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

Trackmania goes live service with Trackmania Nations remake • Eurogamer.net

A remake of Trackmania Nations is in the works, Ubisoft has announced.

The remake includes an official season campaign, daily track selections as well as new track-creation options with new surfaces and special blocks, developer Ubisoft Nadeo said.

Trackmania Nations came out in January 2006 as a free, standalone game. This remake, simply dubbed Trackmania, launches on PC on 5th May. It was announced at the Grand League Finals in Lyon, France, where Ubisoft Nadeo showed a trailer, below.

“In Trackmania, we will have daily and weekly casual cups, seasonal official campaign rankings, and a Grand League & Open Grand League happening two times a year,” said Ubisoft Nadeo boss Florent “Hylis” Castelnerac in a blog post.

“Community events and professional tournaments will have easy in-game access and will be advertised on tracks, bringing the fantasy of esports to Trackmania.

“Historically, Trackmania has always had a large amount of content thanks to our players. However, we noticed that after releasing a game, players rush through the campaign and then stop playing. So we decided to create a seasonal game, with a regular official campaign and one daily track selection among all players submitted and peer-reviewed maps. Additionally, we intend to create regular updates of Trackmania for new seasonal blocks or new features.”

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/trackmania-goes-live-service-with-trackmania-nations-remake-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trackmania-goes-live-service-with-trackmania-nations-remake-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

Game Developers Conference postponed amid Coronavirus fears • Eurogamer.net

Will E3 suffer a similar fate?

The Game Developers Conference has been postponed, its organisers have announced.

GDC said it intends to host a GDC event later in the summer.

“Having spent the past year preparing for the show with our advisory boards, speakers, exhibitors, and event partners, we’re genuinely upset and disappointed not to be able to host you at this time,” GDC said in a statement.

GDC plans to host an event later this summer.

The announcement came after a number of companies, including Sony, Microsoft and Epic, had pulled out of GDC amid fears over the Coronavirus.

GDC speakers now have the option of contributing their talks in video format, which GDC will then make available to view for free online.

GDC said conference and expo attendees will receive a refund in full, and those who had made hotel reservations inside the GDC room block will not have to pay penalties or fees. But there are still many left out of pocket – and some developers face a stressful time attempting to claw back lost funds.

GDC is the latest video game event to be hit by cancellation over Coronavirus. Eve Online developer CCP cancelled this year’s Fanfest event in Reykjavik, Iceland because of the spread of COVID-19. Fanfest was due to take place early April. Commenting, CCP said:

“We realise that the situation a month from now could be very different, but the way events are developing both globally and in Iceland’s neighbouring countries, an in-depth and serious review has made it clear that this is a necessary step to take.”

Meanwhile, Capcom has cancelled a number of its Street Fighter tournaments that were due to take place over the next couple of months.

I’ve got something important to tell you. Please read this attach.#SFV #CPT2020 pic.twitter.com/I67AEBQTt4

— Yoshinori Ono (@Yoshi_OnoChin) February 28, 2020

Thoughts now turn to other high-profile video game events set to take place later this year. Will E3, which is set to take place in Los Angeles in June, be affected?

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/game-developers-conference-postponed-amid-coronavirus-fears-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=game-developers-conference-postponed-amid-coronavirus-fears-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

Casual game-making through the years: an evolving, instructive joy

When you were growing up, how often did you wish a game did something a little differently? I had that urge a ridiculous amount of times. To an extent, it was probably because I grew up with a Commodore 64 for a long time and those games were frequently delightful, yet also extremely limited compared to the options we have now. Throw in a lack of money and I was simply grateful for whatever came along, but that didn’t stop me dreaming of how I wanted games to play out.

The dream was an RPG where you played a footballer working their way up to glory. I tried coding it in BASIC, mostly by writing it down in a notepad rather than actually sitting in front of the Commodore 64. Predictably, it was not a huge success, but I liked thinking it through. It was a similar case for many an adventure game, too. I think I realised at that young age that graphics weren’t going to be my forte so I focused on storytelling and the text-based side of things. I just wanted to make something. Anything.

This was the opening for the Shoot-Em-Up Construction Kit. Sure, it wasn’t about storytelling but it was about creating your own levels, creating enemy bullet patterns, changing the behaviour of enemies, and essentially setting yourself up for a spectacularly tricky bullet-hell experience. You could even export your games for others to play and yup, they did. Commodore 64 magazine, Zzap!, showcased many SEUCK (as it was affectionately referred to) games on its cover tapes.

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/casual-game-making-through-the-years-an-evolving-instructive-joy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=casual-game-making-through-the-years-an-evolving-instructive-joy

Friday, February 28, 2020

GDC 2020 Officially Postponed After Major Companies Withdraw

February 28, 2020 8:40 PM EST

After numerous publisher/developer dropouts due to coronavirus concerns, GDC 2020 has officially been postponed to the summer.

After several weeks of uncertainty, March’s GDC 2020 has been postponed until further notice. The statement was made today on their website and Twitter.

Important GDC 2020 Update https://t.co/EoReMGtZJJ

— Official_GDC (@Official_GDC) February 29, 2020

GDC’s official website was briefly down due to high traffic, so a screenshot of the statement has been provided.

GDC 2020 Officially Postponed After Major Companies Withdraw

This cancellation seemed somewhat inevitable, as high profile attendees have been withdrawing from the event steadily throughout the last few weeks. Sony and Facebook dropped out on March 21st, with Kojima Productions following suit days later. Microsoft announced their withdrawal from GDC on Match 27th, and Epic Games withdrew only yesterday. PAX East — which is currently taking place in Boston — saw numerous last-minute withdrawals, such as Sony and Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 14 team. I fully expect to see similar stories and cancellations surrounding June’s E3 event in the coming months.

Still, there was speculation that GDC 2020 would continue regardless. The list of exhibitors number in the hundreds, with many smaller indie companies looking to gain exposure or share their interesting developments. Public eyes may be drawn to the activities and announcements of the triple-A companies, but it’s the indie developers in attendance that benefit the most from discussions and networking on the show floor.

Nonetheless, it’s not entirely doom and gloom for GDC. As per their statement above, a replacement event is intended to be held during the summer. Furthermore, Microsoft has stated that its panels, announcements, and exhibitions will be broadcast digitally between March 16th and 18th. Scheduled announcements regarding consoles and games will no doubt find their way to players through other methods.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 is certainly proving to have an impact on the entire world, not just the game’s industry. There’s even rumblings that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are under threat, with the World Health Organization advising Japan to monitor the situation closely. Not to alarm anyone, but that’s kind of how Akira starts… In all seriousness, be sure to stay safe, stay hygienic, and follow the advice of the WHO and CDC as the situation continues. DualShockers will keep you updated on further coronavirus updates in the industry, as well as future GDC news.

February 28, 2020 8:40 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/gdc-2020-officially-postponed-after-major-companies-withdraw/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gdc-2020-officially-postponed-after-major-companies-withdraw

Netflix’s live-action Witcher series casts its Vesemir • Eurogamer.net

And, no, it’s not Mark Hamill.

Following the success of the Witcher TV series’ first season (and, of course, the enduring popularity of a certain inescapable song), streaming service Netflix has continued to fan the flames of hype with an ever-increasing roll-call of cast members for season two. And now it’s finally named the man who’ll fill the shoes of Geralt of Rivia’s friend and mentor, Vesemir.

Admittedly, it’s probably not the name some fans were expecting/hoping to hear; recent rumours suggested that Mark Hamill had been offered the part of Vesemir (and Hamill himself expressed an interest in the role last year), but we know now that Danish actor Kim Bodnia will play “the Continent’s oldest and most experienced Witcher”, Vesemir, in season 2.

Bodnia, if you’re unfamiliar, received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor last year for his roll in spy thriller Killing Eve, so the character should be in good hands. It’s unclear, however, if he’ll also be doing voice acting duties in Netflix’s previously announced animated Witcher movie, which will chart Vesemir’s adventures long before meeting Geralt.

Introducing Vesemir: Kim Bodnia will play the Continent’s oldest and most experienced Witcher in Season 2 of #TheWitcher. pic.twitter.com/HAmYciZ5K4

— NX (@NXOnNetflix) February 28, 2020

Season two of Netflix’s live action series isn’t currently expected to arrive until sometime next year, and will see Henry Cavill Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Joey Batey reprise their respective roles as Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, and Jaskier.

New to season 2 are Yasen Atour as Coen, Agnes Bjorn as Vereena, Paul Bullion as Lambert, Thue Ersted Rasmussen as Eskel, Aisha Fabienne Ross as Lydia, Mecia Simson as Francesca, and Game of Thrones’ Kristofer Hivju as Nivellen.

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/netflixs-live-action-witcher-series-casts-its-vesemir-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=netflixs-live-action-witcher-series-casts-its-vesemir-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

Monster Hunter Movie Posters Feature Milla Jovovich and Tony Jaa

February 28, 2020 3:41 PM EST

Paul W.S. Anderson’s upcoming Monster Hunter movies gets two new teaser posters featuring stars Milla Jovovich and Tony Jaa.

This fall, Director Paul W. S. Anderson is bringing the world a new fantasy action thriller set in the Monster Hunter universe. At this weekend’s PAX East festivities, the team shared two teaser posters via IGN. One features Milla Jovovich with a great sword, while the other has Tony Jaa holding a Great Hunter’s bow. Of course, you’d love to see some monster on the poster, but, for a teaser, this one isn’t bad. Check them both out below.

Choose your weapon. See the Official Teaser Posters for #MonsterHunterMovie, in theaters this fall. #PAXEast pic.twitter.com/Xy96bFbltZ

— Monster Hunter (@Monster_Hunter) February 28, 2020

Monster Hunter tells the tale of a military team led by Captain Natalie Artemis (Jovovich) who falls through a portal into an alternate world inspired by the Monster Hunter games. Once there, they team up with The Hunter (Jaa) to fight against the monsters and keep them from invading Earth.

Both Anderson and Jovovich have a ton of experience making movies based on video game properties. The husband and wife duo met on the set of the first Resident Evil movie and have since worked together on six of those films. Anderson also directed both the original Mortal Kombat movie and 2006’s DOA: Dead or Alive. Jaa doesn’t have the video game movie background, but when it comes to action films, that dude can flat-out go. His performance in movies like Ong-Bak and Tom-Yum-Goong remain some of the best martial arts showpieces of the last decade. Joining those two on the cast is T.I. and Ron Perlman, among others.

Monster Hunter is currently slated for a September 4 release. It will certainly be interesting to see how it does in comparison to the massive success that is Monster Hunter World.

February 28, 2020 3:41 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/monster-hunter-movie-posters-feature-milla-jovovich-and-tony-jaa/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=monster-hunter-movie-posters-feature-milla-jovovich-and-tony-jaa

Samurai Shodown Interview — Lead Producer Discusses Switch Port and Continued Support

February 28, 2020 3:00 PM EST

In our latest Samurai Shodown interview with Lead Producer Yasuyuki Oda, he discusses the game’s development on Switch and future support.

There has never been a better time to be a fighting game fan…. okay, maybe there has been a better time, but you cannot deny how fantastic the modern fighting game scene is. Sure, titles like Street Fighter 5, and Mortal Kombat 11 are expected to be decent. But even the lesser-known games bring something unique to the table. This includes SNK’s stylish fighter, Samurai Shodown.

We recently had the opportunity to ask Samurai Shodown Lead Producer Yasuyuki Oda some questions about the newly released Nintendo Switch port, as well as how they will continue to support the game.

Michael Ruiz: How does the performance of Samurai Shodown for Nintendo Switch compare to the PS4 and Xbox One versions?

Yasuyuki Oda: With Samurai Shodown, this is the first time SNK developed for multiple platforms. This title was developed on PC, and for each platform, there are unique parts that are needed to be developed. When it comes to the online-related sections, each platform has its own challenge, but by using Unreal Engine 4, we proceeded smoothly with our development.

MR: Does Samurai Shodown for Nintendo Switch utilize the Nintendo Switch’s unique capabilities like HD Rumble?

YO: On the Switch version, you can use the Joy-Con to fight against your friends anytime, anywhere.

MR: How has Samurai Shodown performed on Google Stadia so far? Is SNK happy with the results and do you plan on supporting the platform in the future?

YO: With the help of Google, we were able to take on a completely new system and service, which was quite a breathtaking experience for us. Although players can be quite strict in regard to online multiplayer fighting games, we do believe that Samurai Shodown was highly appreciated by many. And the potential of streaming games is growing, as well. So, we will keep challenging and trying our best.

MR: Was there ever any discussion for including DLC characters in the base version of Samurai Shodown for Nintendo Switch? Why did SNK decide to not go this route?

YO: Because these characters have been released on other platforms as DLC characters.

MR: Is SNK pleased with the performance of its games on Nintendo Switch such as SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy and SNK 40th Anniversary Collection? Is it a platform you will consider going forward?

YO: Both titles are suitable for playing on Switch, and we are quite satisfied with how they perform. As a platform forming its own market, SNK will continue to release titles on the Switch in the future. Wouldn’t you agree that the Metal Slug series and Top Hunter are a perfect fit for the Switch?

Samurai Shodown Interview

MR: Why didn’t SNK release Samurai Shodown simultaneously on all platforms?

YO: The development of both PS4 and Xbox One versions proceeded forward as planned from the very beginning. But we decided on Stadia and Switch versions during their development.

MR: There is an increasing call from fans for SNK fighting games to improve netcode or utilize GGPO. Is SNK taking these criticisms into account? What steps are being taken to improve netcode in current and future SNK fighting games?

YO: The Garou: Mark Of The Wolves upgrade, which contained rollback conducted by Code Mystics, was highly appreciated. And we will definitely take our fans’ comments into concern for future titles.

MR: What were some of the biggest challenges with bringing Samurai Shodown to the Nintendo Switch?

YO: I have to say the most challenging part was the porting of the graphics. But I think we have done a great job.

MR: What does the life cycle for Samurai Shodown look like? Is this something you’re looking to support with even more fighters (beyond Season Pass 2), or just move to another entry?

YO: Personally, I wish all the characters can join Samurai Shodown.

Samurai Shodown Interview

MR: There are a lot of fighting games out there now, most notably Tekken and Mortal Kombat, that have included guest characters we wouldn’t normally see in their games. Could we see guest characters in Samurai Shodown?

YO: I wouldn’t say it is 100% impossible.

MR: Samurai Shodown seems to be doing great in the tournament scene with a presence at EVO, EVO Japan, Combo Breaker, etc. Are there any plans to further expand on Samurai Shodown esports beyond just tournament presence?

YO: Yes, we do have a plan concerning that. After the coronavirus is contained, we hope that we can work something out.

Samurai Shodown is now available for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch. You can check out what we thought of SNK’s fighter in our review. You can also check out our thoughts on the Switch port.

Questions provided by DualShockers Staff

February 28, 2020 3:00 PM EST

source https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/samurai-shodown-interview-lead-producer-discusses-switch-port-and-continued-support/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=samurai-shodown-interview-lead-producer-discusses-switch-port-and-continued-support