Pokken Tournament: How to Play Local Multiplayer Without FPS Drops

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When playing Pokken Tournament local multiplayer, the frame rate drops from 60 FPS to 30 FPS.

local multiplayer, the frame rate drops from 60 FPS to 30 FPS. Here is a guide to keep the frame rate at its original quality.

When Pokken Tournament was announced, it immediately piqued the interest of Pokemon fans. An intriguing collaboration between Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, and Namco Bandai, the title looked set to combine the fighting gameplay of the Tekken series with the beloved characters of Pokemon . All this led to the game being one of the most anticipated titles of 2016.

However, the game’s eventual form has proved to be a little bit underwhelming. In particular, fans have taken umbrage with the fact that theplayable character roster is disappointingly low, with only sixteen Pokemon to choose from out of the over 700 that currently exist. All in all, this made the title feel a little more like a barebones project than a finished product.

That said, Pokken Tournament has also gained plenty of plaudits, with praise for some of the more refreshing parts of the title’s gameplay alongside some impressive visuals. However, the title’s graphical quality can take a hit when playing local multiplayer, as the game’s 60 FPS will drop down to 30 FPS. Thankfully, there is a workaround that will allow players to keep the game at its original quality, while dreaming of the most wanted Pokemonthat didn’t make the final game.

If players wish to stay at 60 FPS whilst playing local multiplayer, however, they will need a different setup entirely. Local Battles in Pokken Tournament allow one player to use the Wii U GamePad, and the other to use a controller and the actual TV screen, as seen in other titles such as. This is actually the cause of the decreased locked 30 FPS frame rate, since there is an increase in game rendering to accommodate for the separate perspectives. Instead, players can play the hidden LAN Battle mode, which requires two Wii U consoles and two separate copies of the game.

This secret mode, however, is not found in the standard gameplay menu options. The user can find it by going to the title screen, and holding down L, R, and Down on the D-Pad before pressing Start. Both of the players accessing the LAN Battle mode will need to choose the same game options, although a positive is that all playable characters are available to play, even if the players have not unlocked them yet.

There are three different ways to actually connect for the LAN Battle mode, with their own requirements for both hardware and software configurations. The first two require access to networks, whilst the final – and perhaps most stable – mode is a direct Wii Uto Wii U connection. Here are the different requirements for each configuration.

Home Networking

This network is a normal wired network, with both Wii U consoles connected via LAN cable through the network. There can be some issues, however, if there are other devices using bandwidth that may affect the connection. The following hardware is required:

2 Wii U Consoles

2 Copies of Pokken Tournament

2 Televisions or Monitors

2 Wii U LAN Adapters

2 LAN Cables

1 Router

Both users can set up this connection by going to Settings > Internet > Connect to the Internet and finally choosing Wired Connection as the default option.

Wireless Networking

The next network option is another that connects over a standard network. However, this uses the console’s wireless capabilities. This can once more result in some interference. Below is the hardware needed:

2 Wii U Consoles

2 Copies of Pokken Tournament

2 Televisions or Monitors

1 Wireless Router

Both users can set up this connection by going to Settings > Internet > Connect to the Internet and finally selecting the Wireless option. However, both users should make sure they are connected to the same access point.

Wii U Direct Connection

Finally, players can choose the direct connection option between the two Wii U consoles. This method is actually chosen for tournament play, since the direct connection between the two consoles removes much of the risk of latency issues. Here is the hardware that players will require:

2 Wii U Consoles

2 Copies of Pokken Tournament

2 Televisions or Monitors

2 Wii U LAN Adapters

1 Crossover LAN Cable

The setup of this method is the most complex of the lot, however. Users should follow System Settings > Internet > Connect to the Internet, then press Y and select Wired Connection. They should then connect the LAN Adapter to the Wii U consoles and press OK. A communication test will start, but will then fail. Players should not worry, and instead select OK to see the error results.

Next, users should press X, which loads up the Internet Connection Setup screen, and follow on to the details of the connection. Tabbing right, the correct IP address can then be selected. Players should choose Do Not Auto-Obtain, and then enter these values:

IP Address: 192.168.000.001 or 192.168.000.002 (depending on the console)

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.000

Gateway: 192.168.000.050

The Wii U will then ask the users to set up DNS servers, at which point Do Not Auto-Obtain should be chosen again. Instead, the Primary DNS value should be 001.000.000.000. Users can then press B to save the settings, making sure to not run a connection test. Finally, the game can be loaded and a LAN Battle can commence.

Hopefully, this guide will have assisted in allowing a smoother Pokken Tournament local multiplayer experience. With Nintendo currently holding no plans for any DLCfor the title, this may prove a useful way to get the most out of the game from the limited content available at launch. It could also be a great way to hone skills against other hardened Pokemon fans at the highest FPS available.

Source: Serebii

The Division: ‘Loot Cave’ Found for Farming Phoenix Credits & Gear

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While gamers are less likely to compare The Division with Destiny now that they’ve had time with both games, it’s hard to overlook the similarities between the two.

now that they’ve had time with both games, it’s hard to overlook the similarities between the two. In fact, when it comes to looter shooters, there are certain analogues that gamers try to make between titles like Destiny and The Division , if only because Bungie’s game was many players’ first experience with an online RPG loot-focused shooter.

As far as those similarities are concerned, some Division players have just found the mother load: a new loot cave. Yes, The Division might not have any caves to speak of, but the goal is still the same: farm enemies, collect endless loot, and repeat.

Truth be told, there are actual several loot caves scattered throughout the landscape of New York City post-outbreak, but the most efficient grinding spot is in the Northwest part of the map, right next to the Autumn’s Hope safe house. What players will want to do is spawn into the safe house, which can be found in the top left of the map, somewhat close to the Dark Zone. From there they will head outside, make a left at the first street, and head forward. Somewhere at the end of that street should be a mob of enemies, with one named boss in the group.

That boss is key to the farming, and should be the only target on player’s mind. It’s important not to kill the entire mob because then the process can’t be repeated.

As with any named boss, killing this guy will net players two Superior items and anywhere between 1-4 Phoenix Credits. Then, simply let the remaining enemies take you out, or do the work yourself with a grenade or sticky bomb. Upon respawn you should be back in the safe house and the enemies (including the boss) should respawn as well.

Now, before Division players head straight to Autumn’s Hope, we should point out a few things. If the boss is not appearing for you, it could be because of a few reasons, some of which can be fixed.

If you’re not level 30then there’s no point in looking for the boss, so wait until you hit that point. You will want the boss to drop level 30+ gear anyway, so there’s no point in farming him until the game.

Secondly, if at any point you happened across this boss and killed both him and his goons, he will not respawn. The only way to gain access to him after that is to join a friend’s world instance where he is not dead or matchmake with a teammate who has yet to kill the boss. Once in a world state where the boss is not dead, you can have the group leader kick you from the group and still have access to the boss as long as you don’t log out. However, the boss will not respawn in your world at all, so make sure the group leader kicks you instead of leaving the group.

Also, if you feel confident that you did not kill the boss then it’s possible to trigger his spawn by completing all of the mission’s near the Autumn’s Hope safe house. Some report that the boss and his mob will appear once the area is clear.

Although the Autumn’s Hope farming spot is not the only one on the map, it is by far the most efficient. The distance between the respawn point and the boss keeps travel time to a minimum and the enemies are in that middle ground where they are strong enough to take out the player but not before the boss falls first. However, if you are having trouble, it may be because there are other players in your group, which increases enemy health and damage.

Those who are curious to check out the farming spot are recommended to do so sooner rather than later. There has been no official word from Ubisoft on the “loot cave” but the community managers who stream on Twitch acknowledged the farming spot and said they will “address” it soon, perhaps in next week’s update. Happy looting!

Tom Clancy’s The Division is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

EA Sports UFC 2: How to Play as Joe Rogan

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Added as a mystery fighter in the first update to EA Sports UFC 2 , gamers can unlock motor mouthed UFC commentator Joe Rogan for play by using the infamous Konami Code.

While MMA had its start in dark and dingy arenas, it has exploded into one of the most popular sports in the world, with the UFC cementing itself as the preeminent mixed martial arts league. Thus, the uber-popular company had no problems padding the roster for its second outing with EA Sports, naturally titled EA Sports UFC 2 , with over 250 fighters ready to throw down.

Whilemay have found itself the topic of discussion after gaming fans found themselves debating whether the dreaded “ EA Sports Curse” had caused popular fighters and UFC 2 cover stars Ronda Rouseyand Conor McGregorto lose fights, developer EA Sports and UFC president Dana White were quick to remind fans that anything can happen in the high octane world of MMA. Turns out, “anything can happen” also includes having one of the sport’s most popular announcers step into the octagon to trade blows with MMA’s best. Well, virtually at least, thanks to a brand new cheat code in UFC 2 .

The first major update to the well-rated UFC 2 brought three new fighter to the game: Welterweight wunderkind Sage Northcutt, Women’s Strawweight tactician Jessica Aguilar, and an unrevealed mystery fighter. Debate raged on just who this enigmatic brawler could be, and gamers quickly got to work deciphering how to unlock the fighter. Just days after the update went live, players found that unlocking the mystery fighter required gamers look back to the cheat codes of yore; namely, the fabled Konami Code.

Perhaps gaming’s most infamous cheat code, the Konami Code reappears in UFC 2 . Gamers found that inputting the venerated code on the game’s start screen would unlock the mystery fighter, which turned out to be the comedian turned MMA announcer Joe Rogan. To unlock the commentator, players need to input:

Xbox One : Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left Right, B, A, Menu Button

PlayStation 4 : Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, O, X, Options Button

If done correctly, a clip of Rogan hollering “Wow! I love it!” will play, signifying the unlocking of the fighter. Once unlocked, Rogan can be found in the Welterweight division, with the one-time Fear Factor host clocking in at a respectable 86 rating (a point higher then the controversially rated wrestler turned soon-to-be fighter CM Punk.)

Cheat codes are a rare occurrence in the gaming world these days, so seeing EA Sports using the beloved code is a nice tip of the cap to the gaming world of yore. While Rogan has never stepped into the octagon before, his inclusion in EA Sports UFC 2 will let MMA fans and Rogan haters alike see just how the motor mouthed comedian does against the UFC’s best and brightest.

EA Sports UFC 2 is currently available for Xbox One and PlayStation 4

Source: Gamespot

Division: How to Create an OP Skill Power Build

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After demonstrating some advice regarding skills, talents, and player builds, YouTuber Arekkz is back with a new video that demonstrates a new Sticky Bomb Skill Power build.

One of the most interesting parts of Tom Clancy’s The Division is the number of versatile agent builds that are possible, something that players have been actively testing out since the game’s release. When he’s not releasing useful videos regarding the game’s skill trees and abilities, YouTuber Arekkz Gaminghas been putting in some serious time into experimenting what player builds are possibleAfter releasing a couple of videos for sniper builds, and for tank character builds, Arekkz is back with a new – and somewhat unconventional – build video.

Rather than focus on the usual sniper and medic builds typical of these RPG-shooters, Arekkz’s new skill power build eschews all subtlety and focuses completely on overpowering enemies using the Sticky Bombskill. With the firearms attribute taking a backseat for once, this build requires players to focus on the stamina and skill power attribute, while maintaining a near-instantaneous cooldown for the Sticky Bomb. Since the Sticky Bomb is the primary source of damage, players don’t need to worry about looking for the right high-end weapon.

A key thing to note about this build is that it is primarily group-based. In order to maintain those near-instantaneous cooldowns required for the build, the Triage talentis needed, and this talent works best in a team of four. While solo playerscan still use this Sticky Bomb build to good effect, a team of four will maximize this build’s destructive power.

For those wanting the lowdown on how Arekkz’s overpowered Sticky Bomb build works, check out his video right here.

If Arekkz’s Sticky Bomb build is done correctly, players will be able to unleash insane amounts of damage without having to worry about critical hits. This bodes well for those who want to tackle those difficult Dark Zone bosses, but don’t quite have the weapons to do it.

As for those who are still keen on farming some high-end weapons and gear, Arekkz’s build has come at the right time. With the Madison Field Hospital loot farmstill available, as well as the recent discovery of the new Russian Consulate loot cave, players will be running short on inventory slots in no time.

One thing is for sure, 1v20 Dark Zone battles may be the tip of a carnage-filled iceberg if Arekkz’s Sticky Bomb build catches on with Dark Zone wanderers.

Tom Clancy’s The Division is available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Source: YouTube – Arekkz Gaming

Activision Talks Call of Duty DLC Exclusivity Partnership with Sony

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In the past, during any of the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo conferences, Activision typically has opted to debut new content for their Call of Duty franchise on Microsoft ‘s stage.

‘s stage. This year, however, the game publisher shook things up a bit and revealed gameplay for the upcoming sequel in the series, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 , during Sony’s E3 2015 keynote instead. Moreover, Activision confirmed that first look DLC exclusivity would transfer from Xbox platforms to Sony platforms for this year’s game.

While many have considered this to be a strange move on Activision’s part, Eric Hirshberg — the organization’s CEO — has assured fans that the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 exclusivity with Sony is only natural. When asked about how the relationship between his firm and Sony came to pass, Hirshberg has said that it was not only timing that came into play, but also both of the companies’ successful collaborations in the past that spurred the cooperation.

The game publishing head is excited for the recent association between Activision and Sony, as Hirshberg says, “The time was right for us to partner up with Sony. They really wanted it.” Plus, as previously stated, the favorable teaming of the two video game titans, such as Activision‘s partnership with PlayStation on Bungie’s Destiny, gave both companies plenty of confidence that their match up would work well.

In regards to Activision’s successful outing with Destiny ‘s PlayStation developers, Hirshberg says:

“When a first party is really excited and gets behind your games it makes a really big difference. [Sony] did a great job with Destiny and helped launch that and make it successful.”

While Hirshberg is obviously proud of the work between Activision and Sonyso far, he also wishes to remain as diplomatic as possible when referring to Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 , for it would be unwise to alienate any fans that might play the title on systems other than a PlayStation 4 console. In light of that notion, Hirshberg says, “It’s important to remember that this is a cross-platform game and everyone gets all the content eventually and it’s going to be the best shooter on any platform no matter where you want to play.”

Although Hirshberg’s last statement is more tactful than anything, it’s worthy to mention the fact that the Activision/PlayStation alliance ensures that any Black Ops 3 add-on content will come to Sony first, as had been the case with Xbox in previous years. Regardless, with the title already jam-packed with content on all platforms, such as franchise staples like the story campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies gameplay, it’s hard to imagine that non-PlayStation gamers will mind having to wait.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is set to release on November 16, 2015 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Source: IGN

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Was the Best Selling Game of 2015

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December NPD numbers are in, and Call of Duty continues its sales dominance into the final month of 2015, while also securing the title of best selling game of the year.

NPD numbers are in, and after a few “down” years, the Call of Duty franchise is back on top in more ways than one.

First off, December sales numbers reveal that Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 was the best selling software for the period. That shouldn’t come as much of surprise; Activision and Treyarch’s latest has been at the top of the chartssince its debut, and it has been one of the most attractive games available for holiday shoppers.

However, the more impressive achievement for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is its dominance over all 2015 titles, including those released much earlier in the year. With December now complete, the NPD can confidently name Black Ops 3 the best selling game of the past year.

For those curious, other games to top the 2015 overall list include Madden NFL 16 , Fallout 4 , and Star Wars Battlefront . All three were big sellers in the latter part of the year, with Fallout 4 riding a huge wave of anticipation into its November release. Even so, Fallout 4 was unable to eclipse the perennial all stars that are Call of Duty and Madden .

And in keeping with the sports theme, NBA 2K16 andjoined Madden to make the overall sales list. It just goes to show that regardless of whether there are big changes, small changes, or no changes – sports games are big sellers for the year.

But perhaps the most impressive title to make the list for December and 2015 overall is Minecraft , which continues its sales dominance despite releasing several years ago. While it’s not surprising to see a prior release like Grand Theft Auto 5 on the list thanks to its current-gen and PC ports, Minecraft is already all over the place. And yet it continues to sell extremely well.

Check out the full 2015 sales list below, followed by the December 2015 list:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Madden NFL 16 Fallout 4 Star Wars Battlefront 2015 Grand Theft Auto V NBA 2K16 Minecraft Mortal Kombat X FIFA 16 Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Star Wars Battlefront 2015 Fallout 4 Madden NFL 16 NBA 2K16 Grand Theft Auto V Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege Minecraft Minecraft: Story Mode FIFA 16

Overall, it was another banner year for video games. Both the PS4 and Xbox One continue to sell very well, with sales increasing 48% when compared to last year. That’s likely because old-gen consoles sales took their biggest hit – a 53% decrease year-over-year – proving that consumers are finally ready to make the transition.

With that, December 2015 was also the best sales month for current-gen releases thus far, and 2015 was the overall best sales month for current-gen sales. Needless to say, if you’re in the video game business there is plenty to be happy about.

Which of the best selling games from 2015 did you buy? Are you surprised by any of the games on either list?

Fallout 4’ Confirmed to Take Place in Boston

‘Fallout 4’ Confirmed to Take Place in Boston
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After an ample amount of anticipation, Bethesda has finally pulled the curtain of Fallout 4 .

. The game was teased in a recent countdown, with players being met with a debut trailer for the gamewhen time finally ran out. This understandably set the internet ablaze with anticipation for the title, and the new environments for the game almost certainly contributed to that.

While rumors have been swirling in regards to wherewould be taking place leading up to its official unveiling, the teaser trailer has confirmed that Boston, Massachusetts will be every fans’ nuke-ridden playground this time around.

As eagle-eyed gamers surely noticed during the newly released footage, there are several key Boston-based landmarks scattered throughout the entirety of the three minute long affair. Most prominent are the Paul Revere statue, Massachusetts State House, and the dilapidated Bunker Hill Monument which can all be seen in the new gameplay snippets.

All of these only cement earlier rumors that Fallout 4 would be taking place in Boston, so this doesn’t come as a massive surprise to those that have been following recent developments. Even still, the setting is sure to have a variety of locales to explore and shoot up, ranging from cities to harbor fronts. Couple the scenery with what appears to be ever-changing weather effects, and players are in for an atmosphere that will undoubtedly be worth exploring.

Furthermore, it’s evident just by looking at the title in action that that it was built with current-gen platforms in mind. Despite initial reports that the game could be coming to Xbox 360 and PS3, that no longer appears to be the case. While this isn’t a happy realization for gamers that are currently limited to the older consoles, it’s just one more incentive to seriously start considering an upgrade. That’s not to rule out the possibility of the software arriving on past-gen hardware, but it doesn’t look likely at this point.

There’s still a lot that Bethesda has yet to unveil about Fallout 4 , but that’s sure to change in the coming weeks in the build up to E3 2015. With that in mind, be sure to stay tuned to Game Rant for more details on the next entry in the Fallout franchise.

What do you think of the Boston setting? Is there somewhere else you would have preferred Fallout 4 to take place in? Get at us in the comments!

Fallout 4 will arrive for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC with more details on the game set for Bethesda’s E3 2015 press conference.

Source: IGN

Fallout 4 Mod Tools Coming ‘Early 2016’

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The ability to mod video games lets folks to tinker with practically all of a title’s components from the ground up until the base model has been remolded to either fit a player’s liking, or simply to make wild, imaginative creations.

The ability to mod video games lets folks to tinker with practically all of a title’s components from the ground up until the base model has been remolded to either fit a player’s liking, or simply to make wild, imaginative creations. Fortunately, Bethesda will allow fans to do just that with Fallout 4 mod tools after it releases. Prior to the developer’s forthcoming entry, the modding community has put the post-apocalyptic series on the receiving end of mod-treatments many times over, as seen in videos like the Fallout: The Frontier mod trailer– a complete nuclear winter re-imagining of New Vegas .

As most of the gaming world would attest,is arguably one of the most highly anticipated titles of the year, and fans are doubly excited about being able to make the game unique in their own ways, as mods were being developedalmost immediately after the sequel was announced. Bethesda is all for players getting their hands dirty when it comes to altering the Wasteland, which is why the studio is putting out the game’s Creation Kit out as soon as humanly possible.

During a recently released Bethesda.net interview recorded during E3 2015, Fallout 4 ‘s director, Todd Howard, touched on the game’s new feature that gives players the chance to craft and customize weapons, armor, and settlements, likening the process to Minecraft . Even though the gameplay component is completely optional, Howard believes that purely giving fans the opportunity to do so automatically builds a rapport with the community, as it introduces even more freedom in the game. But for those who enjoy the capacity to create stuff outside of the title, the director says that Fallout 4 ‘s Creation Kit will be available some time in “early 2016”.

When it comes to Bethesda‘s views on open world design, Howard trusts that giving fans more options and more choices ultimately pays off in the long run. Regarding the matter, he says:

“The world ultimately becomes the main character of our games. A lot of stuff we do, we want to show you that world, and you immediately think, ‘What would I do in that circumstance? Who would I want to be?’ and that makes it much more personal to you, and much more of a different experience than other games, other types of entertainment. The more you can say yes to the player, the better we are.”

For the most part, Todd Howard is right. Not only does offering fans the materials to produce original content for games give the titles a more individualized feeling, but it also teaches significant lessons regarding game design. Once mod tools are officially in the hands of fans, there’s no telling what kind of interesting creations will be thrown into the mix. Certainly, the ingenuity of Fallout 4 fans will live up to Howard’s ideas of what it takes to make better loot.

Fallout 4 is set to release on November 10, 2015 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: Bethesda Softworks(via PC Gamer)

Fallout 4 Player Creates Star Wars AT-AT Settlement

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When it comes to the world of video games, it doesn’t get much bigger than Fallout 4 right now.

right now. And when it comes to the world of movies, it’s hard to top Star Wars . So what better way to capitalize on the popularity of both than with a mashup?

As we’ve seen before, Fallout 4 players are a creativity bunch. Through the use of mods and the game’s new settlement crafting systems, players have been able to create numerous homages to George Lucas’ sci-fi series, from working lightsabersto this most recent creation, an AT-AT settlement. The AT-AT has everything that a post-apocalyptic survivor could want, from cozy beds to working electricity, but most importantly it serves as an imposing fortress from which survivors can keep away from invading baddies.

While it would have been amazing to see a Fallout 4 player create a working AT-AT – a hulking metal death settlement – this stationary creation is no less impressive. Is it a little crude in its design? Yeah, but the tools Bethesda provides for its settlement crafting systemaren’t that customizable…yet. Eventually, mods will make almost anything possible, including a working version of an AT-AT, we hope.

If nothing else, mods have allowed Fallout players to live out their fantasy battle royales, like pitting 3,000 Deathclaw against 30,000 Brotherhood of Steelsoldiers, or watching every Legendary creature duke it out in a battle to the death. Mods make the little things possible and they also improve the gameplay experience, and for the first time in the Fallout series, mods will be making their way to consoles.

For the time being, though, let’s marvel at another Fallout 4 player’s creativity at work (and share in a little Star Wars fandom before the release of the first feature film in over a decade). The game may only have released a month ago, but already players are showing that Bethesda’s sandbox experience can support imaginations far and wide.

And even if players don’t want to expand on the Fallout 4 experience, there’s still plenty to explore within the game. Granted, there are fewer quests in Fallout 4 than in Bethesda’s prior work, Skyrim, but the amount of content packed into the game is still staggering. So much so, in fact, that one player took several days to craft a map of the game’s underwater treasures.

What do you think of this AT-AT created in Fallout 4 ? What Fallout fan creations have impressed you the most?

Fallout 4 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Fallout 4’s Far Harbor DLC is Larger Than Oblivion’s Biggest DLC

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Publisher Bethesda reveals that Fallout 4 ‘s forthcoming expansion pack known as Far Harbor is larger than the biggest DLC for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion .

With Fallout 4 ‘s Automatron DLChaving been recently released, fans of Bethesda’s popular post-apocalyptic RPG have now turned their attention to the title’s forthcoming add-ons. As it happens, one gamer took to Twitter to ask the studio’s Vice President of PR and Marketing, Pete Hines, about the magnitude of‘s Far Harbor content, which resulted in the executive saying “it’s bigger in size than Shivering Isles,” which was The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion ‘s biggest DLC package.

For those unaware, Shivering Isles was the first expansion pack for Oblivion , and it brought loads of fresh materials, including a map about a quarter of the area of Cyrodiil, which is Elder Scrolls 4 main setting. Bearing that in mind, it makes sense as to why Bethesda’s intent to charge $25 for Fallout 4 ‘s Far Harbor as a standalone download.

@SirCabbageit's bigger in size than Shivering Isles. I asked.— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) March 22, 2016

Prior to Hines’ confirmation of Fallout 4 ‘s forthcoming expansion pack being bigger than Oblivion ‘s most massive add-on, the post-apocalyptic RPG’s director, Todd Howard, had confirmed the Far Harbor DLC contains the largest landmasscreated by Bethesda yet, but revealed it actually has a little less playable content than Shivering Isles. Of course, even though Fallout 4 ‘s upcoming island adventure doesn’t include as much as Oblivion ‘s giant expansion, it doesn’t mean that the quality is going to be poor. If anything, fans should expect a rollicking good time with the studio slightly paring down the content to include better faction quests, settlements, creatures, dungeons, as well as higher-level armor and weapons.

Before Fallout 4 ‘s Far Harbor expansion launches in May, however, fans of the game may be more excited to receive the title’s Survival Mode, which is receiving a PC beta build this week. While the add-on will surely provide plenty of new content, some Wastelanders may have a heavier hankering to ratchet up Fallout 4 ‘s difficulty.

While all of Fallout 4 ‘s DLC offerings for story and typical gameplay elements are certainly appealing, the April release date of Wasteland Workshop— that is, Bethesda’s extensive enlargement of the action-RPG’s crafting options — is arguably the most anticipated add-on yet. After all, giving fans a larger swathe of design options for settlements to create a more livable homeand customize the title’s assets even more has sort of become an extremely time-consuming game in and of itself.

At any rate, all of the previously mentioned materials — Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, and Far Harbor — are set to provide Fallout 4 players with plenty more reasons to jump back into the Boston Commonwealth. In truth, the only decision fans have to make at this point is whether or not to pick up the DLC separately at individual prices, or to go all-in with the Season Pass for $50.

Fallout 4 is out now and is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: Pete Hines – Twitter(via)

Howard: Fallout 4’s Far Harbor DLC is the Game’s Largest

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Bethesda studio head and Fallout 4 director Todd Howard explains that the upcoming Far Harbor DLC for Fallout 4 is currently the largest expansion planned for the game.

Next week, the first DLC expansion for Fallout 4 will release. Priced at $10, some may feel as though the first DLC for Fallout 4 doesn’t add enough content to the game. Well, anyone worried about that just needs to wait until May, as the Far Harbor expansion for the game is planned to be the largest thatwill receive in its first wave of DLC.

Whereas Fallout 4 ‘s Automatron expansionwill cost $10, and April’s Wasteland Workshop will sell for $5, the Far Harbor DLC for Fallout 4 will be available for $25. The size of this content coupled with Bethesda’s plans to make even more DLC is why the Fallout 4 season pass increased in price, but Bethesda’s Todd Howard feels as though gamers will still be getting their money’s worth.

“In this first run [of DLC], Far Harbor is the largest. But, we kind of priced that based on what we’ve done before so you can look at Far Harbor and say ‘Well, even though the land mass is bigger, it doesn’t have as much content as Shivering Isles – which was $30- but it has more than Dawnguard, which was $20.'”

So, even though Far Harbor is the largest DLC landmassthat Bethesda has created, gamers should go in expecting a little less content than was available in the Shivering Isles expansion that was released for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion back in the day. However, the Far Harbor expansion for Fallout 4 appears as though it will be larger than any of the DLC that released for Skyrim when that game was still being supported by Bethesda.

In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how fans respond to next week’s Automatron DLC, and next month’s Wasteland Workshop expansion, as Bethesda could still possibly tweak parts of Far Harbor to react to the community’s response over the DLC that comes before it. For example, if fans are disappointed with the incorporation of Fallout 4 ‘s companionsin the Automatron DLC, Bethesda may make it a point to increase their presence in the Far Harbor add-on before release.

At any rate, few will complain that Fallout 4 is getting three expansions, each of which seem to be reasonably priced for what they bring to the table. Bethesda gave consumers a chance to buy the Fallout 4 season passbefore its price increased, so some are getting the add-on content relatively cheap compared to others. Those people probably won’t complain about the size of Automatron or Far Harbor , and gamers in general may appreciate Todd Howard clarifying how pricing was decided for each of the game’s expansions, in addition to confirming that May’s DLC will be the largest released for Fallout 4 .

Fallout 4 is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: IGN

Fallout 4 Guide: How to Get Maximum Happiness in Settlements

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One of the biggest ways Fallout 4 differs from its predecessors is its focus on crafting and settlement building .

. Much like in past games, the junk found throughout the game world can be collected, but in Fallout 4 the parts can then be used to build and improve settlements created throughout the wasteland.

Managing settlements and raising the happiness of the settlers living therein is one of the more challenging gameplay elements of. Happiness is also important for players who want to unlock the “Benevolent Leader” trophy/achievement in Fallout 4 , but as stated previously, it’s no easy feat.

This guide is for those looking to raise the happiness of their settlements with hope of unlocking the Benevolent Leader achievement/trophy, as well those that that just want tips on raising their settlements’ happiness levels in general.

Preparation

This is truly one of the more daunting challenges that can be found in Fallout 4 ‘s post-apocalyptic Bostonian wasteland. So before attempting to raise the maximum happiness of a settlement, first focus on leveling and collecting bottle caps, perhaps until the main questis finished.

While it’s certainly possible to accomplish this before finishing the main quest, getting that out of the way will likely put players in a better position to be successful. Also be sure to maintain the “chosen settlement” periodically while completing the main quest, so the work is spread throughout the game.

To improve the settlement, players should be adding food, water, beds, and other resources, while also building a recruitment beacon to attract as many settlers as possible. Settlers from other settlements besides the primary one can be told to travel there if the player character’s charisma is high enough, so keep that in mind if it’s a struggle to reach the 20 settler mark.

While leveling and going through the main quest, try to funnel skill points into Charisma, as Charisma is crucial to the later stages of maintaining a settlement. Two other perks that one should spend skill points on are the Local Leader and Cap Collector perks, as they will both come in handy later on, and are the most important out of Fallout 4 ‘s 275 perk levelsfor successful settlement building.

Fallout 4 has no level cap, so players that find themselves at the end of the main quest without the proper skills leveled can simply keep grinding by completing quests and defeating enemies until they do have the necessary skills.

Meet the Needs of the People

When ready to start truly trying to raise the settlement to maximum happiness, be sure to build a clothes store and a trading store, in addition to as many clinics and restaurants as possible. This is where the Local Leader and Cap Collector perks come into play, as the former allows players to open these shops in the first place, and the latter allows them to invest in the shops, raising their overall buying capacity as a result.

Opening these stores will require a significant investment of caps, which is one of the reasons why we recommend waiting until finishing the main quest to start. Unless players are using the infinite bottle caps glitch, it will take quite a long time to raise the necessary funds.

Players should also keep an eye on the basic needs of the people, which includes maintaining the food and water sources, as well as supplying enough beds and defense. Whenever one of these areas is lacking, their icons will be red, and a caution sign will be seen next to the name of the settlement in the Pip-Boy.

To have a decent supply of food in a settlement, pick an area to plant crops, and then assign settlers to maintain the crops. Build water purifying machines for the settlement as well, but keep in mind that they will need to be powered by generators. Make sure to build any beds under a roof, as that seems to have an effect on the happiness of the settlers.

Even if there is an adequate amount of these resources available to the settlers, when in doubt, just add more, as more of everything can improve the happiness stat. This is especially true for defense, so build as many turrets as possible, though don’t assign too many settlers to guard posts; assign them to crops and shops instead.

The only resource that does not appear to have any effect on the happiness stat is power. Power is necessary for things like traps and generators, so there wil be a lot of power in the settlement, but don’t stress too much about it as it is not hugely important to the task at hand.

Things to Consider

While the reviews for Fallout 4 praise it as one of the best games of the year, there’s no denying that the game definitely has its fair share of bugs. Unfortunately, this particular achievement/trophy and the process of raising a settlement to maximum happiness is not free from these issues, so there are some things players should keep in mind during the process.

First of all, some gamers have reported that it is impossible to achieve max happiness with a companion following the player. Others have disputed this claim, but those having difficulties may consider sending any companions to a different settlement, just in case.

Second, being away from the settlement tends to trigger an issue wherein the settlement is not properly registering all that’s actually in it. This means that even though more beds and food resources may have been recently added, the game may claim that there is a deficiency, and the happiness of the settlement will reflect that deficiency. Visiting the settlement again usually fixes this problem.

In fact, the best thing to do is to stay in the settlement when doing nothing but attempting to raise max happiness, as just standing around the settlement and spending time there seems to make the happiness stat rise. Alternatively, utilizing the wait function and sleeping in the settlement is also helpful in this regard.

Unfortunately, some players have reported being stuck at 99 happiness, which can be frustrating for obvious reasons. Those that are having difficulties bumping the happiness up to 100 should try the waiting trick, or filling the settlement with decorations.

Setting up trade routes to go through the settlement also helps, as does clearing out any debris or junk, such as destroyed cars or fallen trees, which is also a way to collect valuable crafting materials. Fill the settlement with as much resources, decorations, and shops as possible, and keep waiting or sleeping there to try to make the happiness stat rise.

Following this guide should prove useful to anyone going for the Benevolent Leader achievement/trophy in Fallout 4 , and for anyone trying to raise the happiness levels of their settlements to maximum. If you have any additional tips that make the process a little easier, feel free to drop a comment below and let us know other methods for raising the happiness stat of settlements in Fallout 4 .

Fallout 4 is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: TrueAchievements

Fallout 4 Monster Battle: 1,000 Deathclaws vs 100 Brotherhood of Steel

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One Fallout 4 fan pits 1,000 Deathclaws against 100 Brotherhood of Steel in gnarly battle for survival in Bethesda’s recently released post-apocalyptic RPG.

With Fallout 4 having just dropped last Tuesday, most would-be Vault Dwellers have more than likely barely dented the main storyline of the open world title, and are probably putting more effort into customizing settlements, weapons, and armorthan anticipated. Nevertheless, there are players like YouTuber Cosmic Contrarian who wish to experience the release in their own wacky ways, by eschewing Fallout 4 ‘s base game altogether.

As seen below, Cosmic Contrarian’s idea of a good time with Fallout 4 is to put 1,000 of the irradiated Boston Wasteland‘s most treacherous creatures known as Deathclaws up against 100 units of Brotherhood of Steel Knights, which are one of the Commonwealth’s major military powers. As is to be expected, what follows is all-out mayhem.

While some may believe that the match-up is lopsided in terms of the sheer number of Deathclaws being used, the Brotherhood of Steel Knights don’t take the this one sitting down. The soldiers clad in T-60 power armor put up a solid fight, using a hearty mix of energy firearms and miniguns—the latter of which, surprisingly, didn’t make the cut for our choices of the best Fallout weaponsprior to the sequel’s release. Of course, rather than spoil the outcome, fans will have to check out the video above to see which army reigns supreme.

Even though Fallout 4 has been out for less than a week, this isn’t the first clip released that involves two factions scrapping. YouTuber Tyrannicon recently uploaded footage to the Web involving a skirmish between a pack of the action-RPG’s Terminator-like Synths and a group of unruly Raiders with the video showing the 100 enemies battling to the death.

On top of the aforementioned bloodbaths created by players, other Fallout 4 fans have chosen to celebrate Bethesda’s retro-futuristic release with their own homemade content via the use of mods. For instance, over the weekend, one player built a mod for his real life dogto be put in the game, while another invoked the ire of Major League Baseball copyright holders with his recreation of an in-game version of the Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz.

Clearly, we would be remiss in suggesting that these are the only portions of fan-generated material out there for Fallout 4 . As it happens, there’s already so much to wade through that it can get a tad overwhelming. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of content that’s already available is a testament to the popularity of the post-apocalyptic game, and the gaming world is sure to encounter even more user-made content in the near future.

Fallout 4 is out now and is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: Cosmic Contrarian(via PC Gamer)

HTC Executive: Vive Will Be Expensive

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The Vive won’t be on store shelves until later this year, but fans expect that its official price will be announced soon.

won’t be on store shelves until later this year, but fans expect that its official price will be announced soon. Gamers looking to grab the virtual reality headset on the cheap, however, will probably be out of luck: the Vive is set to ring in at a premium price tag, while delivering what HTC believes will be a high-end experience.

This information comes from Jeff Gattis, the executive director for marketing at HTC, who believes that the higher price of the Vivewill be justified.

In a recent interview with MVC, Gattis said that the new Vive would come out at a “slightly higher price point” than other virtual reality headsets. He also admitted that, due to the “pent-up demand” for virtual reality, HTC will release the Vive at a high price, and then drop the cost after sales to hardcore gamers create interest from mainstream consumers.

Starting with the premium experience, even if it has a slightly higher price point, is the right thing to do from a strategic point of view. The price can always come down as the market grows. We know there is some pent-up demand there, so there’s not so much price sensitivity early on. But to get the broader consumer adoption we’re all hoping for, the industry will have to drive price down to make it more accessible. Whether we do that with Vive or other form factors and devices, we understand the importance of driving price down to achieve adoption.

To find out what a “premium price” means in the ever-evolving virtual reality world, there’s really only one baseline to compare it to: the Oculus Rift, which was the first mainstream virtual reality headset on the market. The Oculus’s original developer edition released for $300, while an updated version came out last year for $350. The company expects that the retail edition of the Rift will cost$200-$400. It’s likely that the Rift’s final price will be on the higher end of that estimate, so expect the to Vive cost gamers more than $400.

The bulk of the higher price likely comes from the Vive’s two wireless controllers, which will come bundled with the headset. These wireless controllers use several laser arrays to pick up movement in relation to two stationary transmitters. That system requires more complex hardware than the Oculus Rift’s motion-sensing solution, which uses a stationary camera in front of the headset, and will likely cost more as a result.

The first announced game for the Vive is called Job Simulator , which will also be released on the Oculus Rift. If the higher price point holds, fans will expect the Vive to provide some exclusive games that take advantage of its technological superiority. Originally, HTC employee mistakenly stated that Half-Life was coming to the new headset, but the statement was quickly labeled a mistake.

Developer editions for the Vive are expected to arrive soon, with the retail edition still scheduled for a late 2015 release.

What do you think about the Vive, Ranters? What would it have to do to justify a premium price tag for you?

Source: MCV

Most Anticipated VR Games

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In 2016, major VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR will see release, and these eight games for those VR devices have the most potential.

Marketed as a type of virtual reality device, Nintendo’s Virtual Boy was a complete and utter failure, and is considered one of the company’s biggest missteps. For years after the Virtual Boy flopped, virtual reality was considered little more than a pipe dream, and something that the industry could only achieve far off into the future. Well, the future is now.

Virtual reality technology is finally at the point where it is impressive, immersive, and can deliver truly unique gaming experiences. Numerous hardware manufacturers are gearing up to release their own VR headsets, resulting in a VR war that has seen Oculus Riftand PlayStation VRemerge as the headsets with the most potential.

Of course, video game hardware is of little worth without high quality games to go with it. Luckily for gamers, plenty of VR games are on the way for Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and other VR headsets as well. That being said, we see these eight games as having the most potential and should be on every VR enthusiast’s radar.

100ft Robot Golf

There’s really nothing else on this list quite like. Billed as a combination between a fighting game and a golf game, 100ft Robot Golf sees players control giant robots as they play golf and destroy cities. 100ft Robot Golf will have 4-player split-screenalong with online multiplayer options, in addition to a goofy campaign that follows the lives of the pilots inside the robots. It won’t require PlayStation VR, but it will use the device to enhance the experience, allowing players to get even more engrossed in the robotic mayhem.

100ft Robot Golf is scheduled to release in 2016 exclusively for the PlayStation 4.

Edge of Nowhere

Insomniac Games may be mostly known for the work they’ve done for Sony, so it may come as a surprise to some that the company’s first foray into virtual reality is an Oculus Rift exclusive. Edge of Nowhere is a third-person adventure game in the vein of Uncharted and Tomb Raider , but with a darker tone than either of those franchises. As Insomniac’s first virtual reality game, there’s a lot of expectations for, and here’s hoping it lives up to the hype.

Edge of Nowhere is coming exclusively to the Oculus Rift, but no release date information is currently available.

EVE: Valkyrie

One of the most talked-about VR games has been. A spinoff of the popular EVE Online franchise, EVE: Valkyrie looks to provide the most immersive space dogfighting experience possible. The game will likely be one of the first VR experiences for many, as it will serve as a launch title for both PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift. It will even be bundled with Oculus Rift pre-orders, which shows that Oculus has faith in EVE: Valkyrie to deliver a satisfying gameplay experience.

EVE: Valkyrie is coming to Oculus Rift at launch later this year, and will also be a launch title for PlayStation VR on the PS4.

Golem

Former Bungie developers came together to form Highwire Games, andis the first title from that studio. While many expected the company to create an FPS game, Golem is actually a third-person title exclusive to PlayStation VR. After slipping on the PlayStation VR headset, players will take control of a girl who has access to what appears to be even more advanced VR technology, and which she is using to control a large stone golem. Confusing “VR-ception” aside, Golem ‘s unique premise definitely helps it to stand out from the rest of the VR pack.

Golem will be available at some point in the future, exclusively for PlayStation VR.

Lucky’s Tale

Oculus is counting on Lucky’s Tale to be to the Oculus Rift as Super Mario Bros. was to the NES. It comes packed-in with every Oculus Rift headset, and looks to provide a traditional 3D platforming experience, but in a virtual reality space. It will be interesting to see how Lucky’s Tale takes advantage of the VR technology at its disposal when the game launches alongside Oculus Rift within the next few months.

Lucky’s Tale is an Oculus Rift exclusive game that will be available for the device at launch.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin

Just last year, the Psychonauts franchise seemed to be dead, with no hope for a sequel in sight. And then, within the last couple of months, all of that changed. Psychonauts 2 was announced, as was a virtual reality Psychonauts gamecalled. Little has been shown of the game so far, but we’re sure that Tim Schafer and the talented folks at Double Fine will be able to come up with something truly creative using virtual reality technology.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin will launch in 2016, exclusively for PlayStation VR.

Robinson: The Journey

Crytek is stepping a bit out of their comfort zone when it comes to, an open world VR game with dinosaurs, but what we’ve seen of it so far looks very promising. Hopefully more of the game is revealed soon, as Robinson: The Journey looks like one of the most visually impressive VR games shown to date.

Robinson: The Journey has no release window yet, but it will be a PlayStation VR exclusive game.

Star Citizen

recently passed $100 million in crowdfunding, and those funds are being put to good use to combine and refine a number of genres under one umbrella. Equal parts sandbox game, first-person shooter, and spaceship simulator, Star Citizen will also include a virtual reality component for those who own the tech. The extent to which Star Citizen will utilize VR remains to be seen, but if done properly, it is sure to add yet another layer of immersion to the highly anticipated game.

Star Citizen is slated for release later this year, exclusively for PC. It will be compatible with Oculus Rift and other VR headsets, such as HTC Vive, for virtual reality purposes.

If the games on this list prove anything, it’s that the future is looking bright for virtual reality. All of these games are brimming with potential to deliver high quality, memorable gaming experiences, and luckily we won’t have to wait that much longer to see if they live up to the hype.

Both Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR are expected to release in 2016, and so the race for virtual reality dominance is just beginning. Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR both have a number of strong exclusives in their lineups, so it will be interesting to see what will determine which headset emerges as the dominant device. It’s possible that Oculus Rift’s high price pointcould slow down its momentum, but PlayStation VR requiring a PS4 to function could prove problematic as well. Only time will tell.

Are you planning on buying any of the games on our list? Which virtual reality titles are you most excited about? Are you hyped for the major VR headsets to see consumer release this year, or do you think it will just be a passing fad? Sound off in the comments below and leave us your thoughts on Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and virtual reality technology in general.

Resident Evil Spinoff Umbrella Corps Debuts New Gameplay Trailer

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Capcom releases an official gameplay video demonstrating Resident Evil spin-off Umbrella Corps, and some of its core mechanics, including the zombie jammer.

Capcom today released a narrated gameplay video demonstrating what gamers can expect from Umbrella Corps . The video shows some specific gameplay mechanics unique toand showcases the Alpha and Bravo teams facing off against each other in a zombie-infested area.

The video, seen below, encompasses a three minute time-limit battle called “One Life Match,” meaning that a player only has one life, and once a team is wiped out, the opposing team wins. Both teams are equipped with jammers that prevent most zombies from engagingthem during combat, though jammers can be destroyed, making the zombies aggressive to combatants. There was no demonstration provided of whether voice chat will be built-in to the title, but a wide variety of in-game commands to set up a plan with teammates was demonstrated.

The new competitive shooter bears a strong resemblance to other games of the genre, and heavily relies upon using cover to elude enemy fire. Classic FPS sneak melee attacks will also be rewarded with quick kills.

While competitive shooters are massively popular amongst gamers, Umbrella Corps bears little resemblance to the original Resident Evil titles that started it all. Unfortunately for fans of traditional Resident Evil titles, SuperData’s assessment that Resident Evil 7 has a 2015 release dateappears to be false. However, there’s still plenty for fans of the series to look forward to that stays closer to the game’s original survival horror roots. Resident Evil Zero and Resident Evil 2 will finally be receiving HD remakes in the near future, and Capcom’s producer has insinuated that Resident Evil 7 is on the horizon.

Capcom’s last attempt to put gamers in the seat of an Umbrella firing squad didn’t do so well, with Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City receiving poor reviews. It’s hard to say whether this title will fare any better, though this game will probably have little pull with long-time Resident Evil fans, and may appeal to the FPS crowd instead. Umbrella Corps’ fast-paced, horror-free shooting action makes Resident Evil 5 and 6 (which have been ridiculed regularly for their departure from the survival horror genre) look downright spooky by comparison.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with Capcom departing from Resident Evil ‘s formula for a spin-off game – providing they can actually recapture the creepiness that made the main series great for Resident Evil 7 .

Umbrella Corps is slated for release in early 2016 for PC and PS4.

Source: YouTube

Valve VR Experience ‘The Lab’ Brings Back Aperture Science

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Valve announces that a collection of virtual reality experiments entitled ‘The Lab’ will make their debut at GDC 2016, and will be available for free on Steam this Spring.

Valve has announced a brand new compilation of VR experiments that are collectively referred to as ‘The Lab’, all of which will be set in a pocket universe of Aperture Science. The news was announced earlier today in an official Valve press release, which confirmed that virtual reality enthusiasts will be able to return to the world of Portal no sooner than this Spring, when the experiments are released for free on the Steam platform.

The studio will debut The Lab during the Game Developers Conference 2016, which takes place this March 14-18 in San Francisco. Within The Lab, players will be able to experience “multiple ways to enjoy room-scale VR”, although nothing else has been said about the virtual reality experiments.

With so much mystery behind the announcement, there will be plenty of anticipation ahead of GDC 2016 this year, as we’re certain developers and gamers alike would love a chance to return to the world of Portal – especially via VR.

Valve also rolled out the SteamVR Performance Test last month, which is a program that gamers interested in VR can use to see if their computer has what it takes to run Vive. Much like the Oculus Rift, running VR with the Vibe is very hardware-intensive, and not everyone will be able to make the plunge without buying some significant upgrades to their gaming rigs.

The VR headset rings in at a hefty $799, but that did not stop over 15,000 VR enthusiastsfrom taking the plunge during the pre-order phase, with the first batch of units scheduled to ship out in April.

Portal wouldn’t be the only high-demand property arriving to the Vive, although it certainly would be one of the more predictable ones. Game of Thrones was rumored to have a Vive tie-inlast year, but nothing seems to have surfaced on that front. Conversely, Space exploration gameannounced it would be compatible with the Vive half a year ago, and Valve will be working to bring VR wherever it can in the coming years as they fight for their spot in the market.

In any event, The Lab will have no shortage of interested gamers when it arrives on Steam this Spring. Valve hasn’t specified the release date beyond the season itself, but more news is bound to surface once the company actually gets a chance to demonstrate the product next week. We’ll keep you posted about the long-awaited return to Aperture Laborities.

What do you think about The Lab, Ranters? Do you think the VR experiments will reveal any new facts about Aperture Laboratories?

Source: PC Gamer

Pokemon Sun and Moon Officially Announced for Nintendo 3DS

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Nintendo finally pulls the curtain off of the next core iterations of the Pocket Monster franchise, Pokemon Sun and Moon , showing off just a glimpse of the titles.

At this point, gamers would be forgiven for not being at all surprised by the names of the next installments of theseries. Despite initial hype for their grand unveiling through a special Nintendo Direct, word prematurely got out in regards to how the new versions would be branded. As it turns out, initial reports ended up being correct, as Pokemon Sun and Moon are officially the newest games arriving for the Nintendo 3DS system in 2016.

The Direct presentation that formally and officially brought the existence of these titles to the attention of consumers was, admittedly, rather brief. As a result, absolutely no gameplay footage of Pokemon Sun and Moon was shown, with The Pokemon Company and Nintendo instead opting to showcase developers working on the project alongside brief flashes of concept art for the (potentially) new region that they depict. It was a rather underwhelming introduction to the forthcoming games that will undoubtedly leave trainers wanting more, but, with the software confirmed to arrive this year, it’s obvious that Nintendo has something big planned for them.

Those hoping to catch glimpses of Sun and Moon and can so below:

Despite there being little to no information about the games made public, The Pokemon Company did have a few other announcements for the projects. Primarily, that those picking up the re-releases of Pokemon Red , Blue , or Yellow on Nintendo 3DSwill be able to trade the monsters they capture on the old-school and digitalized games to the newer versions through the existing Pokemon Bank service. As many fans will painfully recall, it wasn’t previously possible to relocate the beasts in the transition from Game Boy to Game Boy Advance, so it’s nice to see that the company has worked hard to ensure that that is not the case this time around.

At this point in time, a release for Holiday 2016 is the only known thing about Pokemon Sun and Moon , but there are still plenty of other things to keep fans entertained in the wait for more concrete details. Games such as, for example, will finally give players the opportunity to suit up as several infamous creatures in order to square off with a medley of other beasts in the first-ever Pocket Monster -focussed fighting game.

And, who knows, maybe Sun and Moon are really the true sequels to Pokemon Red and Blue that we wanted. The odds of that are looking incredibly unlikely, but Nintendo certainly still has a few cards up its sleeve that fans will have to speculate on in the meantime.

What do you think of Pokemon Sun and Moon ? Will you likely be picking them up later this year? Get at us in the comments.

Pokemon Sun and Moon are set to arrive on the Nintendo 3DS in Holiday 2016.

Pokemon Red, Blue & Yellow Re-Release Trailer

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In preparation for Pokemon Red , Blue , and Yellow arriving on the Nintendo 3DS later this month, a new trailer surfaces that’s sure to bring back fond memories for fans.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Pokemon Red , Blue , and Yellow , and given that the games sold more than 25 million copies and launched one of the company’s biggest franchises, Nintendo is going out of its way to mark this milestone.

Later this month,trainers old and new will be able to download the original trio of titles via the Virtual Console service on the Nintendo 3DS. Now, Nintendo has published a lengthy trailer that’s sure to elicit plenty of nostalgia from anyone who was around to play these games when they released in the late 1990s.

From its unmistakeable chiptune soundtrack, to the classic monster-collecting gameplay that made Pokemon a hit worldwide, the original generation is still well-loved by many. More recent releases like Pokemon X & Y have certainly helped the franchise break new ground, but many tenured fans will always return to Red, Blue and Yellow .

First released in Japan in 1996, followed by a 1998 launch in North America, Pokemon Red and Blue were based on series creator Satoshi Tajiri’s childhood memories. Growing up in the more rural Tokyo of the 1960s and 1970s, Tajiri earned the nickname ‘Dr. Bug’ thanks to his love of insect collecting.

A huge component of the franchise’s success was its focus on collecting and trading. Players were encouraged to seek out friends with the opposite version of the game, as the only way to collect all 151 Pokemon was to swap for some of the beasties exclusive to each edition — the Virtual Console re-release allows players to trade via a local wireless connection, but unfortunately there’s no way to make the exchange over the Internet.

Another key element of the Pokemon craze’s early years was its hugely popular animated adaptation. Airing all over the world, the show loosely followed the events of Red and Blue , despite elaborating on certain situations and often veering into its own tangents.

Nintendo would capitalize on the television show’s massive audience by offering a third version of the game, Pokemon Yellow . This third pillar allowed players to choose Pikachu as their starter Pokemon , and contained a host of other minor and major changes, prompting the tradition of a supplementary release that continued for a decade.

Now, fans who missed out on Red, Blue and Yellow will be able to experience how this monumental franchise got its start — and there’ll no doubt be plenty of trainers returning for another shot at the Elite Four, too.

Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow are scheduled to be released for Nintendo 3DS on February 27, 2016.

Capcom Announces Multiplayer Resident Evil Game

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Make no mistake, Capcom still considers Resident Evil to be one of the most lucrative franchises in its possession .

. While the studio is still staying rather quiet on the next mainline entry in the series, this morning saw Capcom announce a new multiplayer shooter entitled Umbrella Corps at the Tokyo Game Show.

The game will be set in theuniverse, and is a multiplayer shooter geared towards competitive play. From the first trailer, it seems that players will take on the role of an Umbrella Corps soldier — but they will be fighting both other operatives and the series’ trademark undead enemies.

The quick cuts of this reveal trailer make it difficult to get too much of a read on the pacing of gameplay, but we do see several different mechanics demonstrated. Melee combat seems to be something of a focus, with a nasty-looking weapon called the Zombie Beil being given particular prominence.

The Beil also seems to tie into some kind of traversal system, not unlike the sort of mechanic we’ve seen in games like Dying Light and Brink . We’re seeing more and more of this type of gameplay in multiplayer shooters, so it’s not all too surprising to see Umbrella Corps follow the trend.

Similarly inevitable is the presence of a cover system, which is described as ‘analog’ in the trailer. There’s a risk that the game might seem like a grab bag of elements from other popular titles based on what we’ve seen so far, but it’s far too early to tell whether the mixture works at this point in time.

The Resident Evil franchise certainly could lend itself to an engaging entry in this genre, but it all depends on the execution — and I’m not talking about the Gears -inspired curb stompwe see in the trailer. In the past, the series’ spin-offs have definitely ranged from very good to very bad.

The Outbreak games won over many fans with their multiplayer action, but conversely there were few that truly enjoyed Operation Raccoon City and its attempt to implement out-and-out shooter gameplay. Here’s hoping that Umbrella Corps turns out closer to the former than the latter.

Also of note is the fact that the game seems to be a console exclusive for the PlayStation 4. Ever since a brief period of exclusivity for Nintendo consoles in the early 2000s, Resident Evil games have largely released for all major platforms, although it’s unlikely this move will impact the next mainline game in the series.

Capcom is certainly entering a crowded market with the release of Umbrella Corps , but the popularity of the Resident Evil franchise might help it carve out an audience. If that is the case, expect to see more budget-priced spin-offs to major franchises from other developers.

Umbrella Corps is expected to release for PlayStation 4 and PC in early 2016.

Source: IGN

SOMA Review

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Frictional Games has a psychological thriller on their hands with SOMA, a game which prompts questions about humanity amidst the chaos that lurks within PATHOS-II.

What does it mean to be human? That’s the question Frictional Games sets out to ask gamers within their new psychological horror game, SOMA . Hailed as a survival horror game, SOMA injects plenty of psychological debate into a compelling narrative that will leave gamers questioning the morality of their decisions right from the beginning. If a machine seems human, and thinks it’s human, is it okay to destroy that machine? It’s not all philosophical debate, though – the game will throw physical harm at the player in classic Amnesia style.

When it’s not throwing physical harm at the player, SOMA succeeds in tying together a mysterious narrative to develop a strong plot line with consequences that feel truly heavy. The world in which it takes place is well designed, though the rusting hallways gamers will stumble down aren’t without their downsides.

Players take on the role of Simon Jarrett, a young man working at a comic book store in Toronto, Ontario. After surviving a car accident that leaves his friend dead, Simon begins to suffer from brain trauma, and goes in to get a snapshot of his brain in the hopes that they’ll find a cure for his problems. Everything that happens after he sits down in that chair, however, is a psychological thrill-ride that only Frictional Games could cook up. Waking up in the bloodied halls that form the PATHOS-II deep sea station, with danger lurking around each corner, is just the beginning. The real torment is within the player’s head.

SOMA takes players through an intense and disturbing journey that leads them to question the meaning of humanity itself. As players progress through the game, they’ll encounter notes and audiotapes which help paint an intricate backstory that explains what happened to the crew of each station within PATHOS-II. Players will encounter plenty of unique puzzles along the way, though most of them are relatively easy to figure out compared to some other mystery games. Beyond that, Frictional Games has several different types of roaming monters that will be all too familiar for those who have played Amnesia: The Dark Decent , and although they can be terrifying at times, they’re actually the weakest link in the game’s arsenal.

While we have no problems with the avoid-and-hide gameplay the monsters bring with them, each of the monsters feels like a repetitive task – most of the time it’s a matter of unlocking a door, hiding because the monster hears the door, and then continuing onwards once the monster returns to its usual roving pattern. If a monster hits Simon, he goes into a ‘wounded mode’ and players must hobble to safety before they get hit again. If they get hit before healing, it’s game over and players reset back at a previous checkpoint. As a concept that makes sense, but it never feels like the player is truly in danger, mostly because monsters almost never notice crouched players huddling in corners. The monsters do mix up the pacing of the game, but ultimately are unnecessary to the rest of the narrative. Thankfully, the scenery does a great job distracting from where the monster AI might falter.

The setting of the game is downright gorgeous. Lighting is used to great effect, whether it’s seeing the glow of semi-robotic enemies as they lurch down decrepit corridors, or the atmospheric glow of red lights glistening among along the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. PATHOS-II may be a rusting tomb, but the last bastion of humanity is incredibly well-designed and most gamers will likely find themselves in awe at several points throughout the game – especially when encountering underwater sections for the first time. Occasionally it’s easy to get lost along the optional paths in the game, but the levels always seem to point the player back to the right path sooner rather than later.

As a hero, Simon is easy to relate to, and his passage through PATHOS-II draws the player in. His vocal questions and debates about morality with an eventual cohort are a little ‘on-the-nose’ early on, but as the game progresses the player will likely begin to ponder humanity and their decisions the same way Simon does. By the end of the game, the weight of the decisions feel heavy, and Frictional Gamesmakes the entire game feel like an emotional investment.

With so many clues and details hidden among the paths players will travel, it’s almost a shame when monsters show up to force the player to rush through an area, rather than appreciating the details – however grotesque they might be. The psychological questions the game places on Simon’s shoulders are without a doubt the game’s highlight, and these moments will leave a much more lasting impression than the times Simon is huddled in a dark corner, or avoiding a roving monster like so many other traditional scare-tactic games.

A direct comparison tois inevitable, but ultimately they are very different experiences. Though both utilize horror and suspense to great effect, SOMA focuses more on advancing the plot with each element, and doesn’t always stick to the genre’s roots. Gamers will find plenty of mental puzzles along their way through PATHOS-II, and those provide the most diverse bits of gameplay SOMA has to offer. Whether it’s routing power across grids, figuring out passwords or rotating the right levers, the game does a great job of coming up with unique ways to advance to the next point.

SOMA is a survival horror game that is undoubtedly one of the best of the genre, and its setting and plot are shining examples of how to engage an audience. Frictional Games has done a great job in sustaining their horror game reputation through narrative alone, by way of a game that’s filled with probing questions of the soul and helped along by an engrossing plot. While the monster encounters feel forced and are certainly a weak point of the game, it does little to lessen the experience.

Trailer

SOMA is available now for PC. Game Rant was provided a PC code for this review.