UPFRONT
We received the GRID 2019 Ultimate Edition for review. This edition comes with the base game, VIP Pass, passes for Seasons 1 to 3 and the custom GRID Aston Martin Vantage. Overall, the download size is a little under 40GB, so not too bad by modern game size standards with some games going over the 100gb mark. So – depending on your internet line, you can start your engines within a day or so of starting the download. All included in this 40GB file is more than 60 cars, ranging from Jedi F1000s to Mini Coopers to Porsche 911s – there really is something for everyone here, as well as some of the world’s most iconic tracks and some “GRID special edition” fictional tracks from 13 different locations around the world. And all of this is just the start, the new seasons will see new cars, tracks and locations added to your game experience.THE GAME
Upon starting the game for the first time, you are welcomed in with a video of a car accident in reverse, this is the same video used in the trailer shown below. https://youtu.be/8sieDLKUEN0 The video really shows off GRID’s insane graphics and physics and is best enjoyed in 4K goodness on top tier consoles and PCs. Unfortunately, I do not have one of those and my OG Xbox One battled through the video with a few jumps and jitters, although it all still looked really great. After chatting to a friend of mine who was fortunate enough to experience this masterpiece on an Xbox One X, he said the game ran completely smoothly with no jitters and jumps – guess I’m in the market for a new Xbox then. Once the intro is done, you are thrown right into the thick of things as you pick up the controls in three different race types that give you a taste of what you can expect in your Grid journey. One thing that does set GRID 2019 from other simulator racing games, and some hardcore fans of the genre might disagree with me here, is the fact that you can adjust the difficulty so that all players across the skills board will be able to get a good measure of fun and challenge out of this game. The settings can be changed from full sim experience with realistic damage affecting performance and no guidelines or other assistance to a more casual arcade-type experience with visual-only damage, corning lines and the works. I kept the game on its “out the box” setting, which is medium, and put the pedal to the metal. Once the tutorial is complete, you are thrown headfirst into your quest to become the GRID’s best driver and you can do so while competing in around 100 different events and races in the career mode.
The six different race modes to choose from are Touring, Stock, Tuner, GT, FA and Invitational. Each mode coming with its own set of cars and, with those, its own unique set of challenges and fun in racing them. Each game mode ending with a “Showdown” event that puts the player to the test in the hardest and most challenging races of the mode.
One very awesome feature that GRID 2019 has is the FA mode or rather the Fernando Alonso mode. This mode allows you to race in a wide range of cars from grippy almost go-kart type cars all the way through to actual F1 cars as you challenge Alonso himself to a showdown. Rumour has it that if you beat him, you can choose him as your teammate in races. Hopefully, he’ll be a beneficial teammate – but more on that later.
CAREER
Being more of an arcade racer myself, yes – I’m sorry, and enjoying games like Need for Speed and Forza Horizon (some will say Forza is not arcade) where you can just slam into any corner and drift your way out of it with style, GRID’s technical controls was something to get used to. Timing is everything in braking and turning into corners and straightening and accelerating out of corners – doing these slightly too early will result in an unplanned meeting with the wall or a hard brake out of the corner to correct yourself while your opponent’s fly past you, doing it slightly too late and you lose all your speed as you brake to compensate or spin out and start trying to claw your way through the pack from the back. Using your opponents as turning cushions, as I so often do, or hitting into them one time too many results in them becoming your nemesis for that race – meaning their entire strategy changes and becomes more aggressive towards you as they favour running you off the track over winning the race. This seems to be a regular feature for me as I end up having half the pack trying to run me off the road. This being said, the driving AI of GRID is definitely one of the best I’ve seen, and the racers really are good and present a decent challenge at whatever your skill level is. Each event is divided into two races and your overall times and positioning is taken into account to determine a winner for each race. Some races specify finishing in the top 3 to progress and unlock the next track. Before each race, you have the option to compete in a hot lap to determine your starting position, forgoing this will start you in, or near, the back of the pack. Personally, I found this process a little tedious, but the hot lap does give you good knowledge of the track beforehand, helping you to perform a bit better in the actual event. I elected to skip this on most races and enjoyed the climb to the top – and hitting all the cars on my way past, including my teammate. The teammate system seems a little useless to me at present as my current team mate, Nick Whittle, is not the most gifted of racers in-game and usually refuses my requests for him to attack for a higher position. This may be because he hasn’t really forgiven me after I hit him in our first race together, causing him to become my nemesis – but this is not yet proven. You can change your teammate in the menu, but I have not yet done that.
Each race earns you credits, as well as losing some in costs depending on your racing style (mine is rather pricey). These credits can be used to buy other cars to race in other modes or to have more cars, and better cars, to choose from in your favourite events. My recommendation here would be to focus on one or two events out the gate and build up a bit of a monopoly before branching out into the other modes and spending too much of your credit but credits are pretty easy to earn so its up to you how you manage your budget.
MULTIPLAYER
Multiplayer is a great way to really test your skills. All tracks and modes are available to you in multiplayer, you can choose your own and invite friends to it, or join an online session. As in career mode, you need to have the right cars for the right mode, and these can be purchased through in-game credits once again. Good thing is that all resources are pooled in the game, so cars you own in either career or multiplayer is owned in the other. Venturing a little into this game mode, I played a few races with an online friend of mine who is a big enthusiast of racing games and a GRID veteran. Playing a few races with him showed me how good this game can be for someone who has really refined the skill into somewhat of a masterpiece. He showed me up in almost every race as he finished first by miles with me following far behind in third or fourth if I was lucky. It was great playing with him as he often remarked on how similar this GRID felt to the original Race Driver: Grid game. When probed a little more on it, he said the cars were similar to those found in the original and some of his favourite tracks had returned. The handling he said was “similar but better” and he looks forward to throwing many hours into this game, both in the career mode and in multiplayer.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Although this is a game best played on higher spec machines, it runs really well on lower spec ones too. With only a few jitters in cutscenes – but nothing groundbreaking. This game really does stir the desire in me to get a newer console to really get a true taste of what GRID has to offer visually. Being a reboot of the GRID franchise, I feel Codemasters has really stayed true to themselves in keeping this as close to the original in what worked and really improving in what didn’t back then. The racing AI is flawless and really presents a good challenge to the player. Except for the teammate AI – which could probably do with a little polishing. All in all, Codemasters has done a really great job in creating more than just a racing game. All of the stunning visuals, challenging tracks, awesome cars with realistic engine purrs and screeching tyres, up to date and relevant commentary from your pit crew (who sounds irritated with me more often than not). Commentators really bring it all together as a great racing experience. This is a game that definitely has something for everyone and everyone from the casual car enthusiast to full-blown fanatic will find something worth spending time on. So – to sum it all up, I give GRID 2019 a solid 9 out 10 steering wheels (shhh… just let me have this one)
GRID is available to own on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows. And will be available to stream on Google Stadia when that is released later this year.
A big thank you to Apex Interactive for giving us the chance to review this game.
Again, with my limited experience in the realm of basketball games, my lack of skill was made obvious when I was dabbling in the Play Now area. I chose my favourite team - Golden State Warriors and had a normal 5v5 match against the Philadelphia 76ers. The learning curve of this game is huge and my fingers felt stupid on the controller as I button hacked trying to figure out what I was doing.
A quick look in the control settings showed me what I needed to know and I was able to play with at least answering all the shots that were taken against me.
The graphics are very impressive, with big basketball stars being very easy to spot and recognise in-game (if you know who you're looking for) and the fluidity of gameplay is smooth and responsive.
2K has done a fantastic job in drawing the player into the game with realistic crowd cheering, good and fair game commentating and well place "highlight" shots of impressive gameplay moments, like dunks and 3-pointers.
Attack all depends on your positioning and timing as well. Drive the ball up close to the hoop and go for a layup, standing in the zone will result in a 2-point jump shot and the further you are from the hoop you are, the trickier the shot (of course). If you try and shoot while being pressed - your shot will be blocked or missed, try to layup with a bigger defender standing over you - slapped down and left looking like a deer in the headlights with all pride thrown out the window.
A little more guidance through this part of the game would've been much appreciated but the hints that 2K did leave did not tell enough for the new and inexperienced players to fully grasp what they were doing there.
Being pretty chuffed with the 6foot4 digital version of myself, I started the career mode and was in for a good time.
You pick up the story in a crucial semi-final match, where you are the captain and hero of your college. This match is impossible to lose as the score jumps miles ahead of your opponents while you are benched during parts of the match. At the end of the match a teammate gets injured which results in him losing his scholarship. You choose to do something about this and sit out of the final - which your team loses, and you fall from grace and try to earn a spot at the NBA Draft. You go through a process known as the NBA Combine, which allows scouts to properly evaluate and assess potential talent for the league. You are asked to do various drills, which help you learn the controls of the game, and then play in a few scrimmages to increase your chances of being noticed and drafted.
During this process, you are given choices to increase your rep or your skill. Choosing the one, will result in a decrease in the other and allows the game to decide your path forward as you tell it what kind a player you want to become - chasing the fame, or looking to be a NBA great.
I was able to work my way up from a "late 2nd round" to "solid 1st round" pick, even though I made some serious blunders during the Combine, including completely fluffing my vertical standing jump and some of my shooting. The pressure is high during this part and I definitely cracked under some of it.
Luckily - I got the invite for the Green Room and was drafted in the first round.
GO WARRIORS!
Special thanks to Prima Interactive for supplying us with a review copy.
So we got the inside scoop with the developer of this game, Ian Jamie Pillay, and asked him a few questions about the game, himself and a couple non-essential need to know questions.
And here it is - straight from the mouth of the man himself.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where you come from, what you do for a living, etc.
A: Born in SA, Durban (27y/o). Studied Bachelor of Computer science, and have been making games since i was in grade 10. Currently I am a big data specialist at Standard Bank. (Machine Learning, Data & AI)
Q: What kinds of games do you usually find yourself playing?
A: Anything really. my favourites include Fifa, Dota2, Cod/ BF, any RPG (big final fantasy fan), MMO fan (GW, Wow, ESO etc), God of war (my best game ever)
Q: If you had to choose your top 5 all time classic games, what would they be?
A: Classics? Spyro, Tomb Raider, NFS Underground 2, Prince of Persia, Diablo 2
-the man has good taste-
Q: As a person who is developing a game, what aspects of games do you find you most enjoy in other games?
A: Fluid movement is vital, being an rpg fan, my favourite aspects are definitely the combat system (flexible impactful combat) and story narration (story driven like the new gow/ horizon/ witcher)
Q: Tell us a little bit about your game. What is it about, what type of game it is, etc.
A: Type of game - It is a fantasy action RPG with platforming and stealth elements. high emphasis on story narrative, and fun game play! About the game:
Akromah's Tale follows a young adventurer, who lives a normal peaceful life, with his friend.
Until one day the very foundation of his beliefs are ripped away from him.
With only one way forward, he looks towards an uncertain future - with the intent to right the wrongs of this world.
Together, Akromah and his untrustworthy companion, Tayle (whose soul is trapped inside a utility bag), will learn devastating magic and the difference between friend and foe.
They will look to find peace and justice through his ideals for the world he once knew.
-it's got me hooked-
Q: What was the inspiration behind this game for you?
A: The game actually started off as a sidescroller, but over time with my friends it grew into what it is now. aspire for a quality game that is genuinely fun. Witcher 3 for sure - quality before greed!
-did he just say Witcher? Consider the game bought-
Q: What type of character development does the game have?
A: Levels, gear, etc. It will have levels, but cant say for sure how it will be implemented. thinking of leveling skills/ armor/ mechanics instead of generic hero levels.
Q: What do you find the hardest for you in your process to develop this game?
A: Time management for sure! I enjoy programming so I don't mind that solo, but managing this game and my job kinda forfeits a social life (excluding 2 the friends from high school who are helping with story line and some other niche areas)
Q: What do you hope gamers will get from your game?
A: Fun, emotional experience, building a legacy for the game/ the studio
Q: Is this your first game? If not, what other types of games have you worked on?
A: Not exactly. I've made a few horrible games during high school, and a mobile sidescroller a few years ago which gave me a ton of experience for this game. (lessons, do's and don'ts)
Q: Where do you see yourself going with game development?
A: Ideally full time game studio, but that isn't going to happen anytime soon - ha ha.
Q: When do you expect your game to be complete and where would people be able to get it from?
A: Hoping for mid 2020, Currently aiming at Steam on PC, but hoping, with the help of a kickstarter etc, PS/ Xbox consoles.
-holding thumbs for console release as well-
Q: What kind of specs should we be running to play your game?
A: Mid to high range definitely, but still hard to improve performance (GTX 1050 + should run it well)
-so fresh potato PCs should work fine-
Hopefully that's gotten all of you salivating at the mouth as much as it has me.
NOW!
For those need to know questions.
Q: Long walks down the beach or a stroll in the mountains?
A: Neither, locked up in my room with my pc, internet and snacky/ concentration food.
-touché-
Q: Pepsi or Coke?
A: tap water, gave up fizzy drinks a long time ago - ha ha
-he chooses health and longevity over pure liquid enjoyment, fair enough-
Q: Skittles or rascals?
A: Astros
-a man who refuses to colour inside the lines-
Q: What’s your favourite colour?
A: Fuchsia
-yeah... I had to google that-
Q: Do you believe the earth is flat or round?
A: Round
-there is hope yet-
Q: If you had to choose one, Playstation or Xbox?
A: PlayStation FTW
-that's a pity-
Q: You’re stranded on an island - what 3 things do you have with you to survive?
A: unopened FedEx box, Wilson volleyball, and an Ice Skate.
-uhm... ok? He's going to have to explain this one-
Q: Who was your first celebrity crush?
A: Kim Possible (don't judge me - ha ha)
-no judgement there! I'm sure there's a lot more of you in that boat than you realise-
This game seems to tickle all the right places, with diverse biomes and ecosystems, interesting sounding story and character development, mystery and intrigue, an untrusty companion, cool art style and awesome looking adversaries.
I, for one, am very eager to join Akromah on his noble quest.
Have a look at the final teaser for the game right here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHktg_sA4Ao&feature=youtu.be
And while you're at it, why don't you give the man a subscribe on YouTube.
However, the Switch is still crazy expensive here in South Africa, with the cost of it being around 6Gs at the time of this article. So is the Lite a smaller, cheaper version of the Switch? Like the iPhone XS is to the XS Max? Or is it a watered down version of the same product, like any lite/diet version of drinks? We'll let you decide that for yourselves.
Before we delve into it, retail price has not yet been confirmed in South Africa, but it has been announced at $200. Don't all rush to your converters to see what we'll be paying here just yet. As is the norm, we know that it'll be a good R1500+ more than the overseas selling price.
So what exactly is the Switch Lite?
The Lite is a handheld console designed for the Nintendo users who prefer the portable capabilities of the original Switch. It is slightly smaller, will not be able to link up to a TV and it doesn't have the Switch's trademark break-away Joy-Cons, rumble or motion feedback. All of which lends to the "portable system" focus of the Lite.
One massive improvement to the Lite's overall design and feel is the addition of a D-Pad on the left side of the device - something fans have been asking Nintendo for since the Switch was released.
At the moment, the Lite is available in 3 colours - Yellow, Turqoise and Grey, but there is also a limited edition Pokemon Sword and Shield design pictured below.
One other interesting point to mention is that not all current Switch games will be playable on the Switch Lite, due to the Lite's reduced functions. So you will have to check on the back of your case to see if your favourite Switch titles are playable in handheld mode.
Along with the Switch Lite, Nintendo also announced a new version of the Switch which is said to have a longer battery life in it's handheld form. Not much else is known about this "enhanced" version of the Switch, except that it may feature a few internal improvements on the existing Switch model.
If you are interested in getting your hands on a Switch Lite, they will be releasing in South Africa at the same time as the rest of the world (thank you Nintendo for having an established presence in our country) and will be on shelves on the 20th of September this year. Pre-order is available at select (overseas) vendors though.
For more infromation on the Switch Lite, have a look at this video straight from Nintendo.
The EA Play event brought us news from the gaming giant on some of their latest developments and updates to some of their current big titles.
The event included information on titles such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Apex Legends, Battlefield V, FIFA 20, Madden NFL 2020 and The Sims 4.
So let's break it down and see exactly what's happening.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Now this is a game that I, personally, have been keenly following since its announcement a few months back.
The EA Play event treated us to 15 minutes of gameplay footage and WOW! What a game this thing is shaping up to be.
The game is canon and is set just after Order 66 was given so, for those Star Wars fans out there, it's set between Episode 3 and 4 and before Rogue One. The 15 minutes of gameplay showed our blue lightsabre wielding protagonist, Cal Kestis, running through spider infested levels and kicking some serious Imperial butt! We are introduced to some of the force powers swordmanship that is available in the game, and both are really impressive!
We are also introduced to Star Wars' next very lovable droid (move aside BB-8) in the form of Buddy Droid 1, commonly known as BD-1. This little guy is essentially your backpack as we see him dispensing health vials, as well as projecting holographic maps and accessing power ports for you. He's a very active little guy and moves around on Cal's back as the various situation's demand it.
If you missed the gameplay footage, you can check it out here.
Battlefield V
The latest game in the Battlefield franchise got some screen time at this year's EA Play event and, in it, we were informed of a whole lot of new things coming our way.
The first, and probably biggest, piece of news is a new map, called Al Sondon. This is a massive map that focuses more on the large scale battle side of things which Battlefield has always been known for.
They also spoke about Marita, a new map which recently dropped into play.
E3 2019 officially kicked off with Microsoft showing us some of the things we can expect from them in the near future and, with Sony nowhere in sight at this year’s conference, Microsoft took full use of the opening.
We got details on the next generation of Xbox, codenamed Project Scarlett, and a look at the trailers of games like Halo Infinite and Gears 5, as well as when we can expect them to drop.
These are just some of the things that were revealed at E3 2019 but if I told you all the secrets up front then there would be no point in writing further…
So let’s break it down.
Project Scarlett
After months of speculation and rumours, Microsoft FINALLY let its fans know what to expect from its next-gen console and, man, what a machine it is!
This thing is said to have 4 times the processing power of the Xbox One X and manages to run at 120 fps, double that of the One X (yes – we know PC Gamers, we know). Project Scarlett also boasts 8K resolution, more photo-realistic lighting effects thanks to new and improved ray tracing (google it – I had to too). Now we can go on about all the other tech stuff but the thing that piques my attention the most is a new breed of SSD, which is said to be 40 times faster than current SSDs available on the market – hello super-fast loading times.
Take a look at the reveal video here.
And it's damn sexy too!
Gears 5 and Halo Infinite
New instalments for some of Microsoft’s biggest, and most loved, exclusive game franchises are on their way to a console near you (provided you’ve bought it).
Have a look at these trailers to get some hype!
Bethesda, never one to leave their fans disappointed once again brought the magic... Opening with a touching tribute and shout-out to the players, and what we as the players, mean to Bethesda.
Todd Howard was first to take the stage and apologised for the rough start of Fallout 76. Next was The Elder Scrolls: Blades, the very popular mobile game. New features such as dragon questline and single person arena modes. The features don't stop there, Blades is coming to the Nintendo Switch!
Fallout 76
https://youtu.be/DyhceJEIhBo
Fallout had a rocky start, but with tons of updates it has become a rather happy community, and now, the latest update called Wastelanders, bringing with it Human NPC's, more main quests, choice and consequences as well as a host of new weapons and gear. A new and refreshing game mode is also included, Vault 51 needs a new overseer, and in true gaming logic, the only way to decide that is by way of... a Battle Royale... a 52-man fight to be the overseer, named Nuclear Winter!
Ghostwire: Tokyo
https://youtu.be/MZBcNP8_FVE
Ghostwire Tokyo is a new paranormal action adventure game. This title will take you to Tokyo where people are going missing, your job is to find out why. Along the way, you will meet both good and bad spirits, who will aid or increase your struggles during your adventure. Looking at the trailer, it would seem that a great deal of your time will be invested in trying to discover which elements are normal and which are paranormal...
Elder Scrolls: Online
https://youtu.be/XpfOjHzEPuQ
Dragons! Dragons have come to ESO. Elsweyr was recently launched, allowing players to explore the homeland of the Kajhit and try out the new necromancer class. The previous season of ESO showed us how dragons were brought to the world of ESO, now see what they are doing to the world and its inhabitants in the new world premiere! Introducing the new order of dragon hunters that will be launched with the next expansion called Dragonhold which will complete the season of the dragon. August will bring Scalebreaker, a dungeon-crawling release adding much-requested gameplay to the ESO game.
Elder Scrolls: Legends (mobile)
https://youtu.be/RlKDNzwYoSE
Bethesda is really investing in the mobile game genre, and taking their biggest names and taking them mobile. ES: Legends is a card based game coming to mobile, similar to Gwent. ES Legends will be available for download immediately.
Rage 2
https://youtu.be/1Rps7WKTYr4
With the release of Rage 2 Id Software has created what is arguably one of the best open world shooters ever, and they are not planning on stopping there. In the near-future Rage 2 will be getting its first expansion bringing with it a host of new characters, missions, vehicles, and weapons. The new expansion is called Rise of Ghosts. Oh and wait, you can now drive... a Mech!!!
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot (VR)
Time to head back to Europe and kill some more Nazis, this time in VR! You find yourself in the shoes of a French hacker working for the resistance, hacking the Nazi war machines and turning them on their creators!
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
More weapons! More custom playstyle and MORE NAZIS TO KILL! What is better than killing Nazis? Killing them with a friend! Grab a friend and jump to the 1980s, BJ is missing, you take control of his twins on the hunt to find their dad, either doing it solo or with a friend! This is going to be BLOODY GORGEOUS!
https://youtu.be/XVGsNUnrvAI
Deathloop
Deathloop is a new and interesting title coming from the creators of Dishonored. Showcasing 2 assassins stuck on an island prison/paradise, depending on who you ask, in a timeless loop hunting and killing each other over and over. With Arkane studios at the helm, Deathloop promises to bring a mind-bending story as well as providing many ways to approach and complete the task at hand.
https://youtu.be/qclEO3QxclY
Orion (new game-engine tech)
https://youtu.be/8n61-78vBM0
With all the talk of game streaming, Orion tech can be applied to any game engine and make it more efficient for streaming! Up to 20% faster per frame and 40% lower bandwidth, for us, this means faster streaming of games as well as making it cheaper and less-hungry on data. You will still be able to stream your game at max settings even if you live further away from data centres.
DOOM ETERNAL
https://youtu.be/uxBQmSXrDxM
DOOM is arguably the poster boy title for Bethesda, and Doom Eternal solidifies this statement! Insane speed, tremendous amounts of blood and gore! Doom promises bigger and better! Demon slaying is the game, and DOOM Eternal brings the newest and best way of doing so with new map designs, new weapons and new enemies to try them on, all while finding your own way of slaying!
Square Enix is a powerhouse company boasting some of the biggest game names in the industry and at 2019 E3 they did not hold back!
Final Fantasy VII remake
Yes, it is finally happening, after many years in development hell and many sneak peeks at previous E3 conferences, Final Fantasy 7 is finally getting some worthwhile info to share. With visuals that are simply breathtaking, this, arguably the greatest in the Final Fantasy franchise will pull at heartstrings of new and old alike. Final Fantasy 7 is going to be large it will spand 2 bluray discs! New players to Final Fantasy 7 should not worry, the game has been tailored for newbies and veterans alike. Gone is the turn-based fighting system and welcome to the FF15-style combat system.
Final Fantasy VII will drop on 03:03:2020
https://youtu.be/eBZyJl7_OPM
Life is Strange 2
After Life is Strange 2 and The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, comes a continuation of one of the most emotional roller coaster rides you can possibly have in a game. Daniel is starting to control his powers and meets up and shares it with fellow friends and foes along the way. Life is Strange cannot be classed in words; all you can do is simply experience this narrative splendour for yourself.
The latest chapter is available now
https://youtu.be/yqrQ44bQdaY
Dragon Quest Builders 2
The builders have been abducted and it is up to you, and your mysterious partner to save them! Defeat the children of Hargon and become the master builder, but wait, building is always better with a friend, now you can call on your friends to help you save the world!
https://youtu.be/pBcRuaBOeX4
Battalion 1944
Battallion 1944 is getting many new features and game modes as well as new weapons! As well as a new multiplayer system allowing for easy leagues and tournaments as well as major bragging rights. Check out the fast-paced video to see all the newest additions to what is sure to be a classic.
https://youtu.be/_-I3KsAQOtQ
Square Enix Music
The music app that gamers want! You now have Square Enix game soundtracks at your fingertips! Simply hop onto all leading subscription services and listen to your favourite Final Fantasy soundtrack immediately!
Now some of you newer generation gamers are thinking why would I want a remade retro console? Well, this thing is shaping up to be pretty cool and quite advanced. It includes things like WiFi (WOW), two colour touch screen controllers, HDMI and USB ports (so it will work with modern TVs) and - wait for it - RGB LIGHTING! It can't get much cooler than that!
This console will be a hit for young and old alike. It's designed to bring the social lounge aspect back into gaming and will be simple enough to use and play for even the most technologically disadvantaged folk and no-skill gamers among us. The Amico's ease of play and simplicity will definitely be a party maker, and if you have more than 2 people at your party (is it even a party with 2 people?), there's a controller app for the Amico that allows you to connect up to 8 players into a game! They are also including competitive online multiplayer and leader boards so that you can compete with your friends for bragging rights and some unique achievement trophies.
The console will be hitting the market late 2020 and will be coming in at the very tempting price of about $180, with games going for $2.99 to $7.99, every one of them exclusive to the Amico! The console will launch with several built-in titles and over 20 games in its online store, including Earthworm Jim. As they said, they are creating a console that parents will want to buy, not one that they are asked to buy. That's a bold statement but Intellivision is really working hard at making the Amico appealing, and there is definitely a large and growing group of gamers who would be into this console.
This console will definitely do well on the market and will surely become a feature in most homes, with it's highly niche target market and affordability. Intellivision is doing a lot right with the Amico, but let me not bore you by going on about this console, here is a video from Intellivision themselves telling you exactly what you can expect from the Amico.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xokUnn1lBGA
And if that's not enough for you, check out their website;
This was a wise move on the side of Psyonix as it brings them more resources, both human and financial, to continue to support Rocket League's growing competitive e-sports league. They also plan to bring the game to the Epic Games store later this year.
Once the game appears on the Epic Games store, it is unsure if it will remain in the Steam store but all sources and evidence are suggesting that it will no longer be available to purchase through Steam.
Now what does the mean for those of you who have already purchased and logged some serious time through Steam?
In a statement made by Epic, it seems clear that there are pre and post Epic store phases. Currently (pre-Epic), the game is available to purchase on Steam and it is playable and supported (obviously). Later (post-Epic), the game will be available to purchase in the Epic store but will still be playable and supported on Steam for those who have already purchased it there. However, Epic has not officially announced that it will stop selling the game on steam, it's all guessing at the moment, but that does seem like the most likely outcome as Steam and Epic are direct competitors.
This buy over should not come as a surprise to anyone as Psyonix and Epic have had a long-standing partnership, dating back to the early days of Unreal Engine and games like Unreal Tournament 2004. Psyonix was even founded a short distance from Epic Games headquarters in 2001. Both companies are also well known for pushing the bar in cross-platform gaming, with Psyonix supporting cross-play in Rocket League and Epic supporting it in Fortnite (which helped fuel its rise).
However beneficial this acquisition is for Epic and Psyonix, it will raise many heads as Epic continues to spend huge amounts of resources to chip away at Valve's dominance in PC game sales. Epic purchasing a studio with a hit title, and pulling that away from Steam will come as a huge blow to Valve.
So, for those of you also asking the question around cross-play for Apex Legends, Respawn - producers of Titanfall and Apex Legends, have confirmed that cross-play is in the works but has not yet indicated when they will be adding it in to the game that has taken the Battle Royale genre by storm.
Drew McCoy, the lead producer at Respawn, said to Eurogamer that they plan “to allow players to play with their friends on other platforms” at some point. This obviously generated a whole lot of buzz! It is likely that cross-play on Apex Legends will look a lot like cross-play with Epic Games, where gamers will create an account, possibly through Origin, and link their platforms to this central account, which will then be used to add gamers on other platforms and squad up with them - but this is all just educated guessing.
McCoy also said in the same interview that cross-progression will, unfortunately, not be possible because of how the game was set up in it's early days of production and this can not be reconciled. So, if you are looking to play Apex Legends with your friends on other platforms, you'll be doing it for some good old fun, and not for adding kills and wins to your counters.
Apex Legends is currently free and available on PS4, Xbox One and PC. Whether it will be making an appearance on Switch, mobile, and other platforms is still to be seen.
So here's to hoping that cross-play finds it's way to Apex Legends very soon! Until then, enjoy the first season, look forward to new legends, choose your drops wisely, and don't get bamboozled!
