Game Informer |
- Exploring The Full History Of Supergiant Games' Bastion | Video Gameography
- Weekend Warrior – Retiring The Jacket
- World Of Warcraft: Dragonflight Brings Sweeping Changes To Talents And Professions
- Zelda: A Link To The Past's 30th Anniversary | All Things Nintendo
- Chants of Sennaar Is An Alluring Adventure Game About Connecting People Through The Power Of Langauge
- Get Ready To Heat Up With The Elden Wing Challenge
- Halo Series Episode 5 Review – Best Episode Yet
- Federal Judge Dismisses Majority Of Discrimination Claims In Lawsuit Filed Against Sony PlayStation
- Splatoon 3 Gets September Launch Date In New Gameplay Trailer
- Call Of Duty Warzone: Operation Monarch Trailer Teases A Showdown Between King Kong And Godzilla
- Nintendo Switch Online Adds Three More Sega Genesis Games, Including Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball
| Exploring The Full History Of Supergiant Games' Bastion | Video Gameography Posted: 23 Apr 2022 07:00 AM PDT
We've emerged from the depths of the BioShock series to begin a fresh season of Video Gameography! We're doing things differently this time as we're discussing the gameography of a developer rather than covering an individual game series. That studio is Supergiant Games, acclaimed indie developer of Bastion, Transistor, Pyre, and Hades. We kick things off by examining their debut outing, Bastion. Bastion launched on Xbox Live Arcade on July 20, 2011, and was created by a ragtag team of seven friends that formed the core of Supergiant (all of whom remain at the studio today). Developed under two years entirely in co-founder Amir Rao's father's living room, Bastion gave the upstart team a chance to create the game of their dreams after spending years working for triple-A studios. We'll discuss Bastion's unorthodox development cycle (it had no pre-production phase), the origins of beloved elements such as its narrator and soundtrack, and how the game's success launched Supergiant into stardom. Join hosts Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), John Carson (@John_Carson), and Prima Games staff writer Jesse Vitelli (@jessevitelli) for an entertaining and informative chat about the history and narrative of Bastion! You can also decide which one of us does the best narrator impression. If you'd like to get in touch with the Video Gameography podcast, you can email us at podcast@gameinformer.com. You can also join our official Game Informer Discord server by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the Video Gameography channel under "Community Spaces." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Weekend Warrior – Retiring The Jacket Posted: 22 Apr 2022 03:00 PM PDT
Another week has flown by, another busy handful of weekdays have disappeared in no time. Blizzard had a big week, announcing the new World of Warcraft expansion Dragonflight (we have previews of it here and here) as well as detailing the character reworks coming in the Overwatch 2 beta. A Ghostbusters VR game was announced from Sony Pictures and nDreams, the new TMNT brawler has a release window, and Volition finally showed off Saints Row's suite of character customizations. On top of all of that huge news, one of our team has a big day today. Our very own Dan Tack is leaving Game Informer today after over eight years on the team, and moving on to a new adventure that he will share at a later date. He's been PC Editor, Senior Editor, our Souls Daddy, The Jacket, and most recently has spearheaded our efforts into streaming regularly on Twitch. He has an invaluable mind for video games and is one of the smartest people I've ever met. We're going to miss him greatly, but can't wait to see him thrive in a new role. We love him dearly and wish him luck in the future. With that said, here's what the GI staff is up to over the next few days: Jill Grodt – Ya'll. Once again, the world is trying to keep me from gaming. My backlog is atrocious right now, and I also want to assemble my MythForce party for some '80s-inspired tomfoolery. But here's the problem: the weather is going to be gorgeous. It's luring players away from behind the screen in favor of outdoor get-togethers, and I don't know if I can escape spring's siren song. Brian Shea – This weekend, I am digging more into Kirby and the Forgotten Land while continuing my playthrough of Elden Ring. If I find extra time, I'll probably continue my career in MLB The Show 22. Dan Tack – Elden Ring John Carson – My weekend is getting busier by the minute to catch up on stuff before I go on vacation to Portland next week, but I am making time for myself. Tomorrow, I'll be participating in the Magic: The Gathering Streets of New Capenna pre-release event at my local game store. I'm super excited to check out the new set and see how the complex, three-color factions work in a limited format. Other than that, I'll have research to do for Video Gameography and a game to play for review for next week. Also, the NBA Playoffs are still in the first round, so I'll be cheering on my Milwaukee Bucks. Wesley LeBlanc – This weekend, I'm hoping to finally wrap up Horizon Forbidden West and then get back to Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. However, a lil game called Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin keeps popping into my head for some reason so maybe I'll give that a go. I don't know – truth be told, since completing Elden Ring a few weeks ago, I've struggled to get into any game, really, so I'm just hoping something really digs into me soon! Elsewhere, after beating Sonic Generations last weekend for the first time, I think I'm finally going to sit down and watch the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie so I can catch the sequel while it's in theaters. Marcus Stewart – I may have stumbled into Elden Ring's endgame while playing this week. Not sure what that could mean yet, but I'll be skirting along the edges of that while also digging into Weird West. I fired it up briefly last night and only played an hour, but it has enough of my attention for me to want to see more. When I'm not playing games, I'll be riding my bike, catching up on comics, and taking a trip to see The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Kimberley Wallace – I'm visiting family back in Chicago this weekend, so it's very much about spending time with them. I've been playing Kirby and the Forgotten Land with my nephews whenever I see them, which is the perfect co-op game! Hopefully we make good progress. Other than that, we'll be cheering on the Bulls tonight against the Bucks. It's a longshot, but you gotta believe!! And now it's your turn! What kind of shenanigans are you aiming to be a part of over the weekend? Are there any games, movies, podcasts, books, music, or comics you'd like to share with the community? Do you have any favorite Dan Tack stories that you want to reminisce about? Take your thoughts and ideas on all of these topics and more in the comments down below! |
| World Of Warcraft: Dragonflight Brings Sweeping Changes To Talents And Professions Posted: 22 Apr 2022 02:00 PM PDT
This week, Blizzard announced World of Warcraft's newest expansion, Dragonflight, showing off the new race and class combination, the Dracthyr Evoker, as well as the new lands players will be exploring in the long-hidden Dragon Isles. Some of the reveals this week weren't as flashy as playable transforming magical dragons. Yet, they do provide a better window into the philosophy and priorities of the World of Warcraft team in the immediate future. I spoke with Dragonflight senior game designer Jackie Wiley about the complete talents system rework coming to all classes in 10.0 as well as the big changes coming to professions. "We're stepping away from borrowed power this expansion to work on our evergreen systems, but also letting players express themselves how they want," says Wiley. The concept of "borrowed power" comes up often in the Warcraft community, which references systems like Legion's artifact weapons, Azerite armor from Battle for Azeroth, and the Covenant abilities and Soul Binds from Shadowlands, which all gave players new stat boosts, spells, and skills not inherent to the core class progression and talents system. At the start of recent expansions, large swaths of your character's power were wiped away, leaving significant holes in class rotations and utilities left to be filled by whatever the next borrowed power mechanic would be in the new expansion. According to Wiley's statement, Dragonflight won't have a system like that, with Blizzard instead opting instead to learn from those borrowed power systems to rebuild a more classic take on Talents. Currently, WoW players gain a majority of their spells and abilities automatically when they level up, with only a handful of choices given to them regarding their preferred playstyle for their class specialization. Every 15 levels or so, you can choose one of three talents from a specific tier; some offer modifications to existing abilities, while others grant new skills altogether. However, with only six real choices to make per character at a given time, there's not a lot in the way of player expression and customization for a given class. That all changes in Dragonflight.  Talent trees are coming back to World of Warcraft in a big way, giving players a chance to pour precious talent points into their chosen skill upon every level up. The earliest iterations of the WoW Talent system provided a tree for each specialization in which players could spread their points across all available trees, enhancing specific class abilities. Dragonflight, however, will have two trees: one for the overall class utility and identity and another for that character's chosen specialization. You won't be able to necessarily build a Mage into a Frost/Fire hybrid spellcaster, but the new system should offer much greater granularity in how players want to min/max their talents and customize how their character plays. Every level-up, players will earn either a Class Talent Point or a Specialization Talent Point, which can be spent to activate talents on that particular tree. The concept isn't new, but it is a refreshing return to form and a big step closer to what players like me craved in the lead-up to World of Warcraft Classic. Having that choice each level – that tiny reward and semblance that I'm building my character – in theory, makes the leveling experience more fulfilling and less like a chore while powering through old content to get to the current expansion's zones. It's not just the old ways of doing talents for the sake of change. "We've taken a lot of lessons from all of the systems we had the past few expansions that are dear to our hearts like Azerite armor, Conduits, Soul Binds, legendaries and taking inspiration from those," says Wiley. "So you might see a few friendly things that you remember speckled, dispersed throughout your talent trees." Those friendly things being various Covenant abilities possibly becoming a permanent fixture for a class, though nothing specific is being promised. An example given was Druid's Full Moon spell making its way from a Legion artifact weapon power to joining the active roster of spells for that class. "For example, after Legion, Balance Druids were like, 'I still want to drop a moon on things, though.' And so, luckily, they can still drop a moon on things," explains Wiley. "It's really taking inspiration from those changes we want to make the class, but also just stuff that players love, or even some players love that we want to give them the option for again." It should be noted that the addition of these fleshed-out talent trees will not represent complete reworks of each class' central identity. Wiley describes, "We're not looking to overhaul classes/specs/rotations like we did in Legion; if you like how your spec plays today we want you to be able to largely recreate that in 10.0, but with more customization via talents."  Like Talents, the Professions of World of Warcraft are getting somewhat of an overhaul. The details haven't all been revealed quite yet, but big changes are coming to crafting and gathering and their importance to the player fantasy and economy within the game. Crafting professions like Blacksmithing or Leatherworking will have their own specialization tracks that will have players focus on a particular aspect of that trade. For instance, Blacksmiths can once again choose to prioritize Weaponsmithing or Armorsmithing and become renowned on that player's server for being the best swordsmith around. Not all crafted items will be the same, mind you, with a new Crafting Quality rating being added, showing off that your character used better materials or specialization in making that particular item. Gear will also be available to accentuate these trade skills and will automatically be equipped when performing your trade, such as picking herbs or sewing some new cloth armor. Finally, new Crafting Orders will allow players to commission specific items to be made from various crafters, even those that are Soulbound on pick up, which makes previously non-transferable, Profession-specific items available to anyone who can use them. Those who want to submit a Crafting Order will open an Auction House-style window in-game and choose the item they would like made and sent to them. They can contribute some or all of the required materials to craft the item, and whatever fee the contractor will ask for to complete the job. Players can shop around for different offers and choose which crafter they want to work with. Crafters, on the other hand, can make a name for themselves through Crafting Orders by providing reasonable rates, the quality of their crafted items, or even throwing in some extra goodies to their customers.  With the release of Dragonflight, the entire Professions system could receive a new lease on life if these ideas pan out as they've been presented so far. I've never been more interested in participating in the WoW economy and hope that crafting and gathering become a meaningful way of interacting with players rather than cold auction transactions as they are now. These Profession changes, partnered with the complete talent rework, are substantial changes to the foundation of World of Warcraft and could make for a much better experience for the game's player base moving forward. |
| Zelda: A Link To The Past's 30th Anniversary | All Things Nintendo Posted: 22 Apr 2022 01:00 PM PDT
This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian is joined by Game Informer's Daniel Tack to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The two talk about its development, its legacy, why the game is considered such a masterpiece, and their own personal experiences with the title. Before that, they break down news including Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Sonic Origins, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, and... Crazy Taxi/Jet Set Radio? The show wraps up with a huge Definitive Ranking topic and Dan's eShop Gem of the Week, as well as some personal news from Dan. If you'd like to follow the people from this episode on Twitter, hit the following links: Brian Shea (@brianpshea), Daniel Tack (@dantack) The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we can celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to talk about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, they'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and even look back on the classics we all grew up with. A new episode hits every Friday! Be sure to subscribe to All Things Nintendo on your favorite podcast platform. The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. 00:00:00 – Introduction If you'd like to get in touch with the All Things Nintendo podcast, you can do so by emailing AllThingsNintendo@GameInformer.com, tweeting to Brian (@BrianPShea), or by joining the official Game Informer Discord server. You can do that by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the All Things Nintendo channel under "Community Spaces." For more Game Informer podcasts, be sure to check out The Game Informer Show with hosts Alex Stadnik and Alex Van Aken, which covers the weekly happenings of the video game industry, and Video Gameography with hosts Marcus Stewart and John Carson, which explores the history of video games – one series at a time! We also have From Panel to Podcast from host Andrew Reiner, covering everything from the world of comic books, including the shows, movies, and games that spawn from them! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 22 Apr 2022 11:26 AM PDT
Chants of Sennaar is an eye-catching narrative adventure game that debuted at PAX East whose story is steeped in the legend of Babel. As a robed figure, you must unite a population shunned by the gods by restoring their primary connection: language. The core of the experience involved decoding ancient languages to communicate with the Tower of Babel's silent residents and solve puzzles. The reveal trailer also showed off more traditional environmental puzzle-solving as well as some stealth; Chants of Sennar is a war of words, rather than fists. The game's sharp art direction and a relaxing soundtrack lend the game both a soothing and mysterious atmosphere. Chants of Sennaar is slated to arrive in 2023 for Switch and PC. |
| Get Ready To Heat Up With The Elden Wing Challenge Posted: 22 Apr 2022 09:16 AM PDT
This year, Elden Ring has already shown up as a big contender for Game of the Year – so what better way to check it out than with a spicy crew and even spicier wings? Game Informer is teaming up with Wingstop to deliver some incredibly high stakes and hot action, where each death in-game brings the threat of hot wings. We'll be keeping count and raising the temperature levels as each episode goes on! Will the group be able to endure the wings getting hotter and hotter as the stream goes on? Will the game break the team as the fire rises? You'll have to tune in to find out. The second episode of Elden Wing kicks off today at 2 PM CT, only on the Game Informer Twitch Channel. Come for the wings, come for the game, come for the zany commentary – it's going to get hot! |
| Halo Series Episode 5 Review – Best Episode Yet Posted: 22 Apr 2022 08:00 AM PDT
It's no secret that the Halo series has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Episode one saw an exciting introduction to both the iconic Spartans and the brutal Covenant forces that seek to tear humanity apart. But then we got weeks of melodrama and ill-paced storylines that made us question if we wanted to continue with the show. Episode five, titled "Reckoning," is a stark reminder of why this series has so much potential, and we're breaking it all down on this special edition of The Game Informer Show! Join Alex Stadnik and Andrew Reiner as they bring on Kate Sanchéz, EIC and entertainment critic for But Why Tho?, to discuss and spoil the fantastic battle and more from this week's entry in the Paramount Plus series. We start the proceedings off by gauging Kate's level of enjoyment for the show and blow through some of the other less exciting plot points to get to the good stuff. We also touch on the thankfully brief encounters with Soren and Kwan as they trek through the desert, en route to Madrigal. While that storyline continues to suffer, it wasn't much of a deterrent, as the panel all walked away from this week's show excited for what's to come. Programming Note: Our Episode six review will premiere on Monday, May 1, instead of the regular Friday timeslot. This is due to a particular video editor and his need to take a vacation. We appreciate your patience and look forward to continuing the series review! What do you think about Halo thus far? Be sure to let us know in the comments below. We'd also love your feedback on the extra GI Show episodes. Do you like them? Do you want to see us focus on games or the Marvel shows in the future? Please email us at podcast@gameinformer.com or reach out on Discord as we want to know what you think. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Federal Judge Dismisses Majority Of Discrimination Claims In Lawsuit Filed Against Sony PlayStation Posted: 22 Apr 2022 07:40 AM PDT
A former Sony IT security analyst named Emma Majo filed a lawsuit against Sony PlayStation in 2021, alleging that "Sony discriminated against female employees, including those who are female and those who identify as female, in compensation and promotion and subjects them to a work culture predominated by men." Major sought court approval in 2021 to turn her case into a class-action lawsuit, stating that she filed the suit on behalf of herself and all women who have worked for Sony before and those still working there. Sony asked a court to dismiss this case in February, but that didn't happen. Then, in March of this year, eight more claims of sexism experienced at the company's U.S. offices were added to the case. These womens' claims include demeaning comments, a lack of attention for their ideas and work, unwelcome advances, and a general sense that getting promoted within the company is harder for women. Then, roughly a week later on March 17, Sony responded to the allegations. "To be sure, SIE takes the substance of the newly submitted declarations seriously," the company's lawyers wrote in a court filing. "Although most are by former employees who no longer work at SIE, SIE either has addressed or will address the issues raised in them in due course, as SIE values its female employees and takes proactive steps to ensure they have every opportunity to thrive and be heard." Now, just a little over a month later, a federal judge has dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Majo's lawsuit, as reported by Axios. The publication reports that in a 20-page order, U.S. magistrate judge Laurel Beeler dismissed the claims without prejudice, including allegations of pay discrimination and harassment experienced at the company. Majo can, of course, amend the claims and try to push them through court once more, but she'll need to address the court's ruling that the 10 dismissed claims do not have enough evidence or details to continue forward. "This claim is dismissed because the plaintiff merely recited the elements of the claim and did not allege any specific facts," Beeler writes, according to Axios. "For example, she does not describe her work or how her work was substantially equal to the work of any male allegedly paid more than she was paid." The three claims still standing that Majo can sue over include allegations of wrongful termination and a violation on Sony's end in regards to whistleblower protections. [Source: Axios] |
| Splatoon 3 Gets September Launch Date In New Gameplay Trailer Posted: 22 Apr 2022 06:30 AM PDT
Nintendo has released a new gameplay trailer for its upcoming third-person multiplayer ink shooter, Splatoon 3, and in it, the company reveals that it will launch in just under five months. More specifically, Nintendo has revealed that Splatoon 3 will hit Switch on September 9. To accompany the news, a nearly four-minute trailer showcasing some Turf War gameplay has been revealed and it looks great. If you're familiar with Splatoon, you know what you're getting with this trailer, but this new gameplay showcases not only the visual upgrade Splatoon 3 has received (in comparison to Splatoon 2), but some of the new weapons and mechanics as well. You can watch the trailer below: As you can see, it features more than three minutes of Turf War gameplay, one of the most popular modes in the Splatoon franchise. It tasks two opposing teams with covering as much of the arena as possible with ink. Whichever team has the most ink on the battleground when the timer is up wins. "Splatoon 3's online 4v4 Turf War battles can create heated matches across a mix of new and returning stages, where teams of four face off to cover the most ground in their ink," a press release reads. "Newly uncovered footage provides insight on one of these new stages, Eeltail Alley, along with a look at the stringer – a new bow-shaped weapon type that enables you to sling ink sideways and vertically." Nintendo has also revealed that starting today, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers can play the Splatoon 2 DLC, Octo Expansion, on the Switch at no additional cost. "In the Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion DLC, you play as Agent 8, an Octoling who awakens without her memories on a dark subway platform," the press release reads. "Navigate a mysterious underground test facility in this adventure that spans 80 missions packed with challenges you won't find in the main game. Escape from these twisted depths, and you'll be able to join multiplayer matches as your very own Octoling." This is just a taste of Splatoon 3's multiplayer, but it will also feature a full story campaign and Salmon Run, too, which is a wave-based cooperative mode. For more, watch this Splatoon 3 trailer that reveals mammals are reemerging after that. Splatoon 3 will hit the Switch on September 9, with a $59.99 price tag. Are you excited for Splatoon 3? Let us know in the comments below! |
| Call Of Duty Warzone: Operation Monarch Trailer Teases A Showdown Between King Kong And Godzilla Posted: 22 Apr 2022 06:19 AM PDT
If you've been playing Call of Duty: Warzone lately, wondering to yourself, "this could really use some more kaiju," then you're in luck because that seems to be exactly what Operation Monarch is bringing to the battle royale. An Operation Monarch teaser trailer for Call of Duty: Warzone released today teases a climactic showdown between the famed King Kong and Godzilla, not unlike that seen in the 2021 movie, Godzilla vs. Kong. As for how this fight plays into the actual battle royale that is Call of Duty: Warzone, that remains unclear. Save for one of the Warzone planes going down after being grabbed out of the sky by King Kong, the soldiers we play as in the game are nowhere to be seen. You can check out the teaser trailer for yourself below: Operation Monarch will go live on May 11, but hopefully before then, we learn more about how Godzilla and King Kong will actually affect Call of Duty: Warzone. Perhaps they'll replace the ever-enclosing circle, or perhaps they'll just be fighting in the background. Regardless, here's hoping we get some cool skins and customization options related to the kaiju out of this. In the meantime, read Game Informer's Call of Duty: Vanguard review and then read about how a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare sequel and new Warzone game are confirmed for 2022. Check out this story about how Call of Duty will reportedly skip 2023 after that. Are you excited for Operation Monarch to hit Call of Duty: Warzone? Let us know in the comments below! |
| Nintendo Switch Online Adds Three More Sega Genesis Games, Including Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball Posted: 22 Apr 2022 05:13 AM PDT
Nintendo has released the latest batch of games to users subscribed to its Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack and this time, it's three more Sega Genesis games. More specifically, you can now play Space Harrier II, Shining Force II, and Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball on your Switch through the service. These three games join the recently-added Sega Genesis games, Altered Beast, ToeJam & Earl, Dynamite Headdy, Sword of Vermilion, and Thunder Force II, as well as Banjo-Kazooie, which was added to the service back in January. You can check out all three new Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack games in the trailer below: Space Harrier II Space Harrier II was first released in 1988 and was one of the original launch titles for the Mega Drive (what the Sega Genesis was known as in Japan) and one of the six Sega Genesis launch titles in the U.S. Nintendo says Space Harrier II is "a celebrated launch title for the Genesis/Mega Drive," and that "in this sequel to the popular 3D shoot-em-up, Harrier takes to the skies once more to defend Fantasy Land from a mysterious invader." Shining Force II Shining Force II is a tactical RPG released in 1993 and while it is a sequel for the franchise, it's not a direct sequel to the first shining force. Nintendo says this "second entry in the popular tactical-RPG series" features "even more strategic combat." In it, "Sir Astral's squire, Bowie, must assemble an army of light from all the world's races to stop evil from overtaking the land." Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball is the first of the pinball-related spinoffs in the Sonic franchise. Originally released for the Mega Drive in 1993, Nintendo says "the world's fastest hedgehog bursts onto the pinball scene in an all-new adventure," and that "in this action pinball game anyone can pick up and enjoy, gather the Chaos Emeralds, and save four worlds from Dr. Robotnik." Are you excited about any of these Sega Genesis games? Let us know which ones in the comments below! |
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