Gaming Thread 8/31/2014

Some big news the last week. Probably the biggest is Google didn't end up buying Twitch because of anti-trust concerns. Amazon did end up buying it though for a cool $970 million in cash (not including payroll and other costs).

Though I still don't see Twitch being even close to worth that, still not bad for starting off as ghetto section of JustinTV.

• Nintendo continues their history of combining horrible names and new hardware.

In the run up to TGS next week, they announced two new 3DS model (regular and XL model) with more ram, better CPU, built in NFC, second very tiny nub joystick (that looks dumb and painful to use) and Z buttons next to the L+R buttons which look painful and clumsy to use. They've gone to calling it New 3DS. Nope, not making that name up, it's really called New 3DS. Still trying to make up my mind on which name is worse: Wii U, DSi or New 3DS. Comes out this Christmas in Japan and next year for NA and EU. This is Iwata continuing to be in flail mode by trying to give the 3DS a few more years of life until they can kill the Wii U alongside it and release their hybrid console/handheld. Though if there is any stock owning justice, Iwata will hopefully be long gone before then.

• They also announced that like the DSi, it will be getting some exclusive software that can only be played on New 3DS. The one they used was Xenoblade Chronicles. As a game that didn't run that great on the Wii, a demake that runs even worse (based on the video) is a bit perplexing on a consumer level though it makes a ton of business sense.

The other main takeway from their direct was the pricing on the Amiibo figures. They're gonna cost $12.99 each (you can pre-order them on Amazon). Don't get me wrong, I'm gonna pick up 5 of them (Marth, Link, Fox, Wii Fit Trainer & Samus) but it would be nice to know what the heck they're gonna be used for other than very vague concepts. Hopefully we get some concrete plans next weekend.

• The whole spergfest between SJW and MRA continues and I still don't find myself caring. TotalBiscuit was pretty on point IMO. I would totally be okay if we could just nuke the whole battlefield. Brad Wardell, owner of Stardock put it bluntly:

Radical philosophy: I like games. I like making games. I like gamers. I like reading about games. I don't care about your sex. ok?

— Brad Wardell (@draginol) August 29, 2014

• I really don't want any more Saints Row and I was happy that Volition said they were done with the series for the time being but gotta pay off Deep Silver's purchase. Saint's Row 4 coming to the current gen consoles as it collects the DLC (which sucked) and a new stand alone DLC called Saints Row: Gat Out Of Hell. I do not care

• I typically don't care that much for the content of radio stations in videogames (and even less so in racing games) but I do have to commend Press Play in collecting an all killer no filler soundtrack to the upcoming Forza Horizon 2. Me finding one station to care about would be commendable but this game is gonna have it where all stations make me not want I don't want to kick a puppy.

• I can totally get behind a Behemoth made hex based SRPG

• So Peggle 2 is finally coming to the PS4 on October 14th. Not a bad game, still don't think this series should be on consoles (works better on PC & mobile) but still not a bad game.

• In news no one cares about, the man behind those dreadful Castlevania Lords of Shadows games, Dave Cox has left Konami.

• after the teaser photos, this isn't exactly what I was expecting but Firewatch looks good

Though the quantity isn't there, the quality is with three releases.

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (Vita) - First game was an awesome, quirky and kinda twisted visual novel and this is more of it. You are gonna need to have played the first one which came out in February (and is currently on sale for $20 on PSN). Mostly a straight up visual novel (read and click dialog choices) with some very rudimentary crime scene investigation. Instead of a high school, this one takes place on a beach resort. I dunno, if you don't mind being a passive participant in a game, you'll be rewarded with a good story and pretty good writing.

Dance Central Spotlight (XB1) - Best reason to own the first Kinect finally comes to the Xbox One as a platform rather than a game. $10 for 10 songs in the initial base game, tracks are:

Avicii – “Wake Me Up”
Cher Lloyd – “I Wish”
David Guetta ft. Sia “Titanium”
Jason Derulo ft. 2 Chainz – “Talk Dirty”
Kid Ink ft. Chris Brown – “Show Me”
Lorde – “Royals”
OneRepublic – “Counting Stars”
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”
Rihanna – “Diamonds”
will.i.am ft. Justin Bieber – “#thatPOWER”

with extra tracks costing $2 a pop afterwards . Also get to import your Dance Central 1-3 DLC into the game at no cost. Of course with the price drop on the tracks, you do end up with repeated choreography which kinda sucks. Really don't want to know how many hours me and my friends have put into the other games as it's been THE defacto party/after the bar game since it's release. Makes for a decent workout as well. I'm gonna promptly ban Talk Dirty just as a ground rule even though most will end up doing "Wake Me Up" and "I Love It" instead. One of the biggest releases of this coming glut of gaming for me.

The Sims 4 (PC) - Oh yeah, the new entry of The Sims is finally coming out. Need to keep that expansion pack train rolling. Personally never cared for the series (think it's the wrong path to take the Sims branding down even though my favorite Sims games didn't sell for jack in the 90's) but it's got it's fan base and it does keep Maxis from being shut down by EA so there is that. It is missing some features from 3 like swimming stuff and baby stuff.

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posted by Gang of Gaming Morons! at 03:17 PM

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