Obsidian's new RPG teased with Fallout, BioShock-like ads

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 29, 2018 3:24 PM CST

Obsidian's new RPG has yet to be announced, but the devs give us a sampling of its unique visual style.

Obsidian's new RPG teased with Fallout, BioShock-like ads

New banners on Obsidian Entertainment's official website offer a small look at its new RPG, namely its artistic flair. Sources told TweakTown in 2017 that the new RPG is based in a new IP, and aims to be Obsidian's answer to Fallout--which is only fitting given Fallout series creator Tim Cain is leading the project.

While these details have yet to be verified, the new fourth-wall breaking advertisements seem to align with our sources' info. The ads channel an older 1950's vintage Fallout- and BioShock-esque style, bringing to mind an age of sci-fi comics, nuclear families, and dreams of flying cars.

Continue reading: Obsidian's new RPG teased with Fallout, BioShock-like ads (full post)

PlayStation Classic specs revealed

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 29, 2018 2:09 PM CST

Sony's new $100 PlayStation Classic packs enough power for optimum emulation, but the software throws off performance.

PlayStation Classic specs revealed

Retro mini consoles are all the rage these days and offer the likes of Sony and Nintendo ways to make a quick buck. These boxes are cheap to make and cash in on nostalgia, but unlike the NES and SNES Classic Editions, Sony's latest PlayStation mini actually has decent specifications for old-school emulation.

According to a teardown from Eurogamer, the micro-console features a MediaTek MT8167A SoC (the same used in Acer's 10-inch Iconia tablet) alongside 1GB of 1866MHz RAM.

Continue reading: PlayStation Classic specs revealed (full post)

Nintendo scraps controversial Creator's Program

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Nov 29, 2018 11:11 AM CST

Nintendo has decided to relax its vice grip on IP protection and give YouTubers, livestreamers, and content creators more flexibility on covering its games.

Nintendo scraps controversial Creator's Program

Nintendo is tired of letting its control issues get in the way of free press, exposure, and accessibility, and has now decided to kill off its strict Creator's Program. The company announced that the Creator's Program, which instilled strong regulations that content creators had to uphold lest they face channel strikes or even IP infringement, is shutting down in December 2018. The games-maker has replaced the draconian ruleset with a more creator-friendly set of guidelines (but there's still some similarities and red flags).

First off, Nintendo still wants its cut of advertisement revenue. Content creators can't monetize videos of Nintendo-copyrighted content unless the company says so, and whenever you earn any money from Nintendo Game Content (NGC) it goes to Nintendo first and you get to keep the rest. That part hasn't changed.

Continue reading: Nintendo scraps controversial Creator's Program (full post)

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden 'Farrow' trailer released

Jak Connor | Gaming | Nov 29, 2018 5:00 AM CST

Funcom and The Bearded Ladies have debuted a new trailer for their coming title Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, titled 'Farrow reveal trailer.' Let's jump into the action below!

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden 'Farrow' trailer released

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a tactical strategy game that is much like XCOM, it takes aspects of exploration, stealth and critical thinking into a turn-based combat firefight. Players will be exploring a post-human world that features abandoned cities, crumbling highways, and overgrown countrysides.

The trailer also gives us a quick look at the team players will using, we have "A duck with an attitude problem and a boar with anger issues; these aren't your typical heroes. Get to know Dux, Bormin, Selma, and many other characters each with their own unique personality and deranged perspective on the world and their situation." For more information regarding Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, visit the official website here.

Continue reading: Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden 'Farrow' trailer released (full post)

Nintendo declines plans for Zelda: Skyward Sword Switch port

Jak Connor | Gaming | Nov 29, 2018 4:00 AM CST

It appears that we will not be getting a Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Nintendo Switch port, Nintendo has just recently confirmed that they have "no plans" in the works.

Nintendo declines plans for Zelda: Skyward Sword Switch port

Just a couple days ago, we heard about The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma, talk about a Nintendo Switch port for Zelda: Skyward Sword. Despite Aonuma's tease at a Legend of Zelda concert in Osaka Japan, Nintendo have confirmed in a statement to Eurogamer that "At this time we have no plans to release The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword on Nintendo Switch."

Maybe now that Skyward Sword has been confirmed to be arriving anytime soon on the Nintendo Switch, we might see other Zelda titles such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD or The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD considered? In my opinion, the more Zelda titles on the Switch the better. For more information regarding Zelda on the Nintendo Switch, check out the Breath of the Wild store listing on the Nintendo Switch website here.

Continue reading: Nintendo declines plans for Zelda: Skyward Sword Switch port (full post)

Why Kirby survives in Smash Bros. Ultimate 'World of Light'

Jak Connor | Gaming | Nov 29, 2018 3:00 AM CST

After we saw the official Adventure Mode 'World of Light' trailer released for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, questions arose to why Kirby was chosen to survive Galeem. Smash Bros director, Masahiro Sakurai has given an explanation why.

Why Kirby survives in Smash Bros. Ultimate 'World of Light'

Before jumping into the reasons why Kirby survived, if you haven't watched the World of Light trailer for Smash Ultimate check that out here and then return to this article. Jumping into the explanation now, Sakurai says that the reason for Kirby's survival is not because he was the original creator of the serious, but because from a game design perspective Kirby was simply the best choice for the role. Sakurai further explains why Kirby was chosen and the decision revolves around his Warp Star being able to defy physics.

"We needed a solid, convincing reason for why said character could outrun Galeem. All fighters possessing 'normal' abilities were immediately disqualified. Given that its assault enveloped the ends of the galaxy, only a vehicle that could defy the laws of physics would work. Even short-distance teleportation wouldn't be enough." Sakurai continues and says "Some of you may have forgotten, but Kirby's Warp Star has been able to, you know, warp since his very first game. That alone made him a pretty solid contender. The only other two fighters that could have survived would have been Bayonetta or Palutena. That said, Bayonetta's enemies from Purgatorio (a hellish other world) were turned into Spirits, so it wouldn't have made sense for her to escape. Other divine beings like Hades were also turned into Spirits, so there was no way Palutena could have survived, too."

Continue reading: Why Kirby survives in Smash Bros. Ultimate 'World of Light' (full post)

$250 million of Nintendo products sold in a five-day period

Jak Connor | Business, Financial & Legal | Nov 29, 2018 2:00 AM CST

Nintendo have recently released their sales statistics for a five-day period running from Thanksgiving through until Cyber Monday. The Big N has hit new milestones by raking in a huge $250 million just within this time frame in product sales.

$250 million of Nintendo products sold in a five-day period

In a recent press release from Nintendo, the company details how they went over the course of Black Friday sales to Cyber Monday. According to the press release, the "Nintendo Switch set two new records from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday: It became the best-selling Nintendo console in U.S. history for that five-day period, surpassing even Wii system sales." This strong demand in Nintendo products pushed the company to sell more than $250 million dollars worth of Nintendo products within the five-day period from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday.

According to Nintendo's internal sales figures, the Nintendo Switch sales grew a massive 115% when compared to the same time last year. "Lifetime sales of Nintendo Switch, which is entering only its second holiday season, have reached more than 8.2 million units." The sales data also reveals that 1 million first party titles sold during the period of Nov 22-26, this includes digital downloads as well. Nintendo also mentions the beast title that they haven't released yet, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Smash Ultimate is Nintendo's flagship title and will definitely be pushing the Switch unit sales even further than they already have gone. For more information, check out the official press release here.

Continue reading: $250 million of Nintendo products sold in a five-day period (full post)

Dragon Ball FighterZ: November update trailer released

Jak Connor | Gaming | Nov 29, 2018 1:00 AM CST

Bandai Namco has scoped out the coming November update for Dragon Ball FighterZ. In celebration of the content update, a brand new trailer has been released onto the Bandai Namco Entertainment YouTube Channel.

Dragon Ball FighterZ: November update trailer released

Dragon Ball FighterZ players will soon be getting their hands-on a bunch of brand new content, the content that will be arriving within the free November update is; FighterZ Tournament with over 70 different tournament rules and the chase to acquire all Z Trophies. Players will also be able to enjoy all the Z Trophies in their very own "Z Trophy Room", within this room players can decorate their spaces with their most prized collectibles.

It addition to FighterZ Tournament updates, players will also be able to acquire more seasonal Z Capsules, christmas stamps, lobby avatars and outfits. The above trailer showcases all that I mentioned above within a very short a sharp minute. The Dragon Ball FighterZ November update will be arriving on PS4, Xbox One, PC and the Nintendo Switch. For more information regarding Dragon Ball FighterZ, visit the official Dragon Ball FighterZ website here.

Continue reading: Dragon Ball FighterZ: November update trailer released (full post)

Ashe is now in Overwatch competitive mode, and she's OP AF

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Nov 29, 2018 12:15 AM CST

If you've played Overwatch in the last 24 hours you'll have noticed that Blizzard has unleashed its latest character Ashe into competitive play, and she's so overpowered right now it's not funny. Pro tip: if someone throws Ashe's dynamite at you... RUN.

Ashe is now in Overwatch competitive mode, and she's OP AF

Ashe has been playable for weeks now but not in competitive play, a Blizzard standard for new Overwatch characters. Ashe is the latest in a slew of characters to play, and she's unbelievably powerful with a super-powerful ultimate. She can be great in tight situations, and flex out in long-ranged combat with her dynamite that can be thrown and spew fire onto surrounding players.

Ashe sports a semi-automatic rifle that fires quick shots, but you can also aim down the sights for more precise shots at picking enemies off in the distance. Her dynamite can be thrown as an explosive that blows up after a small delay, or right away if you - or someone else, shoots it. There's also DOT (damage over time) from the dynamite, as it engulfs enemies in flames. She also has her Coach Gun that blasts enemies away from her, and over ledges and cliffs in the right level, as well as throwing herself backwards to get out of a fight quickly.

Continue reading: Ashe is now in Overwatch competitive mode, and she's OP AF (full post)

Qualcomm Ventures sets aside $100 million for AI investments

Qualcomm Ventures has just announced a $100 million investment into the future of artificial intelligence, with the corporate venture capital arm of the Snapdragon giant putting the gauntlet down on AI.

Qualcomm Ventures sets aside $100 million for AI investments

While most other companies are working on AI that sits in the cloud, Qualcomm is getting things working closer to home: on-device AI. Qualcomm will be using its $100 million investment to give startups funding for on-device AI that runs on the actual device, whether it be a smartphone or a self-driving car, versus the cloud. The future of AI isn't in the cloud according to Qualcomm, but rather on-device AI.

Albert Wang, Qualcomm Investment Director, explained: "Today's AI processing is very computationally intensive. When you're talking to Alexa, nothing is processed on your device, it gets taken to the cloud and gets scrunched there. There are a few problems with that - performance deteriorates, it consumes a lot of bandwidth and there are privacy issues. Imagine you have an Alexa that is more private and user-friendly, you ask the questions and can get the answers instantly. It doesn't take the round trip all the way to the cloud".

Continue reading: Qualcomm Ventures sets aside $100 million for AI investments (full post)