Square Enix’s ‘Cosmos Rings’ is an RPG for your Apple Watch
After pulling installments of the Chaos Rings series from the App Store and then filing a trademark for a game called Cosmos Rings in Europe, Square Enix turned some heads. Now the publishing giant is bringing us an interesting new release: an RPG exclusively for the Apple Watch. Unsurprisingly, it’s called Cosmos Rings.
Announced via Famitsu, Cosmos Rings is releasing worldwide this summer as one of the first RPGs out there specifically for the Apple Watch. Said to utilize the Apple Watch’s pedometer, Cosmos Rings looks like a trippy and colorful good time that will hopefully utilize the watch’s special features.
Takehiro Ando (Chaos Rings) is producing the game, while Yusuke Naora is responsible for the artwork, which looks like a delightfully futuristic amalgam of old and new. It’ll be interesting to see how this Apple Watch exclusive will actually play.
Via: Kotaku
Source: Famitsu
PSVR’s ‘cinematic mode’ boasts a virtual 226-inch screen
No matter how big your TV might be, a movie theater screen will likely always be bigger. But with PlayStation VR you can simulate up to a 226-inch display using the headset’s Cinematic Mode. Cinematic Mode, of course, is the feature that’ll allow you to play traditional PlayStation 4 games without taking the helmet off. It’s a bit like the virtual desktop apps we’ve seen with Oculus and Vive. A post on the Japanese PlayStation Blog outlines how it all works.
There are a trio of (simulated) viewing sizes: 117 inches, 163 inches and 226 inches. The translated post says that the default 163-inch size will encompass your entire field of view, while the gargantuan one will require you to move your head from side to side if you want to see everything at once. So, kind of like sitting in the front row of a movie theater. At the other end of the spectrum, the smallest size reorients the screen to your head movement. If you get tired while wearing the PSVR you can apparently lay down while wearing it and the display will match your horizontal perspective.
As UploadVR points out, however, there is a caveat to all this that might keep you from using the headset for any sort of critical movie viewing. That’d be the “screen-door effect” — seeing the gaps between a display’s pixels — inherent with current VR tech. However, if there isn’t a free TV in the house, this could sub in as a pinch-hitter display.
There’s no word of an actual movie theater setting like what’s available for movie watching apps on other VR platforms, but hopefully one of those will happen too. And if that doesn’t happen and you’re looking for a more immersive experience, well, hey, you can always use the helmet to check out 360-degree photos and videos.
Via: UploadVR
Source: PlayStation Blog (Japanese)
Take a look at how ‘No Man’s Sky’ handles combat
In the almost three years since we first saw No Man’s Sky, gameplay videos and previews have focused mostly on its exploration and survival aspects. Now, mere weeks ahead of its PlayStation 4 launch, we’re getting a better look at how the game earns its “fantasy violence” descriptor from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. The clip embedded above focuses on combat not only in outer space against armadas of ships, but also the various procedurally generated (and dangerous) creatures on the planets you’ll galavant around.
It’s the second in a four-part series, with clips for the game’s trading and survival aspects coming next week and the following. Keeping the videos on repeat is certainly one way to make the wait for August 9th feel a little shorter, but I can’t say that I recommend doing so.
Source: PlayStation (YouTube)
The live-action ‘Pokémon’ movie starts production next year
Last week the rumblings of a live-action Pokémon movie were just that. But now Legendary Pictures has confirmed that it has secured the rights for a Detective Pikachu flick, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The game it’s based on isn’t available stateside just yet, but perhaps it will be by the time production starts on the movie next year. We now know that Universal is doing the distribution work outside of Japan. However, any other details are light.
THR writes that this is being fast tracked, likely due to the franchise’s 20th anniversary, the overwhelming popularity of Pokémon Go and the mobile game’s impact on Nintendo’s stock price at the moment. Maybe this big-screen version will finally entice Danny DeVito to lend a foul-mouthed voice to the adorable electric-type pocket monster. In reality though, that seems about as shaky as the stability of Pokémon Go’s servers at this point.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
‘TowerFall’ team’s next game is all about climbing a mountain
TowerFall may have been focused on multiplayer mayhem, but developer Matt Thorson’s next project looks like a different type of chaos. Celeste is a tough-as-nails 2D platformer a la Super Meatboy about the perils of climbing a mountain. No, not dealing with vertigo or rockslides, but slippery slopes and spike-filled pits. That’s assuming the game follows the groundwork of the same-named prototype Thorson and co-developer Noel Berry put on the web in 2015. The game’s out next year and really that’s about all we know at this point. There’s a cryptic GIF on the development blog, sure, but that isn’t much to go by.
Despite its two-button control scheme, the web version of Celeste wasn’t simple by any means so I don’t expect the expanded version to be any different. As Rock, Paper, Shotgun notes, Interested mountain climbers can still check out that early version online.
Via: Rock, Paper, Shotgun
Source: Celeste Game
Pick up ‘Inversus’ and other new PS4 indies this August
August is shaping up to be a big month for indie gaming for PlayStation 4 owners, with a smattering of titles hitting next month, like the creative puzzler Inversus. It’s headed for the PlayStation Store on August 16th in all its monochromatic glory.
Inversus tasks players with moving on either white or black tiles. Much like Ikaruga is all about reversing the polarity (read: swapping between white and black) and Inversus is about flipping tiles over to create a path while ensuring you keep your enemies from progressing further. You can also play alone while fighting off waves of enemies if you’re more of a solo player. If you’re more interested in taking your game on the road, there’s a full suite of multiplayer options too.
Summer is a great time to pick up other indies as well, like Headlander, which comes out on July 26th. August is bringing Abzu, Brut@l and Bound as well. If indie gaming is your thing there are several new releases coming your way to help you beat the summer heat. Just wait until fall gets here, though.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Nightdive Studios’ ‘System Shock’ remake is coming to PS4
The Kickstarter-funded System Shock remake from Nightdive Studios is coming along swimmingly, having already reached its funding goal of $900,000 with 7 days to go in its campaign. Because of the huge demand from fans, it’s now coming to an additional platform: PlayStation 4.
The announcement showed up on the project’s Kickstarter blog, with an update detailing the impending console release. After taking note of an “overwhelming demand” for a PS4 version of System Shock, the team at Nightdive Studios collaborated with Sony to make it happen, and it looks like it’s definitely going to happen. It’s not contingent on a stretch goal or additional funds, but as the company describes it, it’s a “thank you” to backers who put their faith in the project.
Currently System Shock is set for release on PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One and now PlayStation 4. You can pick up a free alpha demo for a taste of the game now.
Source: Kickstarter
Twitch streamer banned for shady betting on ‘Counter-Strike’
Recently, some high-profile video game streamers have been exposed as owning third-party gambling sites where players can bet on the outcome of matches for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive — an obvious conflict of interest. Last week, Twitch announced that anyone violating a game’s terms of service would be prohibited from broadcasting, and they’ve followed up by banning a prominent streamer who had 1.3 million followers.
James “PhantomL0rd” Varga, who has the seventh-largest following on Twitch, had his account suspended indefinitely over the allegations. Four days ago, YouTuber Richard Lewis released a video alleging that Varga had an ownership stake in CS:GOShuffle, the betting website he extensively used and promoted, and that he had asked the site’s technical administrator for typically-hidden gambling probabilities to increase his chances of getting valuable items.
To get around legal challenges, the game’s betting community used weapon “skins” as a secondary currency, since those digital items can be sold for real-world money on third-party sites. But it seems enough is enough: news broke yesterday that CS:GO’s creator Valve, previously silent on the issue, sent cease-and-desist notices to 23 gambling sites. It probably has something to do with getting included in two class-action lawsuits in Connecticut and Florida a few weeks ago for not doing enough to shut them down.
Source: Eurogamer
‘Dots & Co.’ is a meditative puzzle game that should be on your phone
Mobile puzzle game Two Dots (from developer Dots) did a ton of things right when it was released in 2014. The game took a simple mechanic — matching two or more dots of the same color — and added a bunch of great power-ups, varying goals, constant content updates, new mechanics as you progress and a great visual style. It was a huge improvement over the original Dots and was one of the best examples of a free-to-play game that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you to death. It’s easy to play and succeed in the game without ever spending a dollar, if that’s what you want to do.
After releasing more than 700 Two Dots levels, the game’s developer is ready to unveil the next evolution in the series: Dots & Co. is out today for iOS and Android. If you’ve played earlier Dots games, the new one will feel pleasantly familiar: Your job is still to connect same-colored dots, and making a square will clear all of that color off the board. Each level has an objective to be accomplished in limited moves (clear a certain number of specific colored dots, or break all of the “ice” on the board, for example), and you’ll still get up to three stars based on how many points you get. The new game is not the radical change that we saw between the initial Dots and Two Dots. But Dots & Co. is still a fresh and refined experience that introduces a bunch of new gameplay features, and that is definitely a good thing.
The most noticeable change is the new “companions” that help you in each level. Fortunately, these helpers are very subtle. You’ll see them at the top of your screen as you play through a level — a big penguin or eskimo smiling down on you as you play through the level. Throughout the playing field are companion dots; clearing those helps fill up an energy bar at the top of the screen. When it’s full, your companion drops a special move in the screen to help you progress.
This changes the way you play the game in pretty significant ways. In Two Dots, my main focus was on making color-clearing squares to jump-start my progress if I was having a tough time with a level. Now, you can either try and make squares or link together companion dots to get a boost. I’ve only unlocked two companions in the time I’ve played thus far, but I’m looking forward to finding more to see their different abilities.
Probably the other biggest change is to the game’s economy. Instead of starting with five lives that slowly regenerate after you’ve lost them, you use “energy” to start a level. Your meter goes to 15, and each level drops your level by three points. Finishing a level regenerates energy — but you’ll only get all three energy points back if you “ace” the level and get three stars. So even if you keep successfully finishing levels, you’ll run out of energy unless you consistently get three stars, something that could be tough as the difficulty ramps up.
If you want, you can replenish your energy using tokens, but those tokens need to be bought using real-life money unfortunately. The game starts you with 25, and you can use them to replenish your energy fully, give your companion a power-up at the beginning of a level or get some extra moves if you fail to complete a level. Two Dots similarly charged real money for power-ups, but the game also introduced ways to get freebies from time to time; I’m hoping that Dots & Co. does the same at some point. But the company did confirm that, at least for now, you’ll need cash to buy those tokens.
Fortunately, the new companions and their ever-present special moves help keep the game feeling balanced and fair. I haven’t played for long, but the levels haven’t gotten unfair or cruel thus far — if anything, I’m hungering for a bit more of a challenge. Based on Two Dots, I’m sure the game will get much harder as the levels pass. But the Dots team has lots of experience designing fair and fun free-to-play experiences, and that appears to be the case with Dots & Co. as well.
Crucially, Dots & Co. retails the excellent, unique atmosphere and mood of the previous game. It’s one of the least stressful puzzle games out there, with gorgeous graphics and an extremely chill soundtrack. It looks unique and feels like it’s been put together with more care and love than just about any other mobile game out there. Given the entry price (free, if you haven’t been paying attention), it’s absolutely worth a download. And given the many updates Two Dots received (and will continue to receive), you should get plenty of play time out of its sequel. Dots & Co. is out today for iOS and Android — you can download it now from the App Store or Google Play.
Source: iTunes Store, Google Play
‘Pac-Man Championship Edition 2’ looks chaotic, wonderful
A few years ago, Bandai Namco figured out the key to reviving the Pac-Man: just make the original top down dot-chomper faster, brighter and more competitive. Pac-Man Championship Edition and Championship Edition DX+ changed just enough of the classic game to make it fresh and exciting. Now, the company is going to try it one more time. Today Bandai Namco announced Pac-man Championship Edition 2, a remix that promises new rules, bigger ghosts and new direction in level design
Specifically, the new game seems to break out of the traditional Pac-man maze, but only sometimes. The trailer shows Pac-Man leaping out of levels to chase pixelaed 3D ghosts through the air, or dropping down to a hidden, second maze after completing a level. The majority of the gameplay still seems to happen on a traditional 2D plane, but a new “giant ghost” and special isomeric levels appear to break the tradition from time to time. We’ll know more when the game hits the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC this September — but either way, Pac-man Championship Edition 2 looks like a fun evolution of a classic game.
Source: YouTube, Polygon
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