Home

Tag: microsoft

  • The Ten Coolest Games Showcased at E3 2018

    The Ten Coolest Games Showcased at E3 2018

    With Nintendo’s Direct in the books, the E3 2018 press conferences have now wrapped. There were some huge reveals from all the major players. Let’s check out some of the hottest games showcased during the show! 

    Gears of War 5 

    Photo Credit: NDTV Gadgets 

    As one of Microsoft’s flagship franchises, Gears of War has had some serious longevity. The newest entry focuses on Kait Diaz, pictured above. Kait was first introduced in Gears 4 and is a refreshing change from the monotonous macho-man mayhem the series is known for. The trailer Microsoft showed featured colorful new vistas and an arctic environment. Previous entries were criticized for their gray-and-brown color pallet, so it’s nice to see some color in the series. The trailer also showed off some interesting new monsters for the protagonists to chew through. Get ready for war! 

    Fallout 76 

    Photo Credit: ComingSoon 

    Few franchises command as much fanatic devotion as Fallout. After a teaser before the show, Bethesda unveiled more details during E3 2018. This time around, players will work together to make a settlement and defend it from monsters. Oh, and other players. In Fallout 76, all NPC are replaced by players. Those marauders looking for nuclear launch codes to wreck your settlement? Yeah, those are players. Go get ’em, hero! Or join them, if you want. Bethesda is giving players the freedom to adventure how they wish. 

    Spider Man 

    Photo Credit: GameSpot 

    Insomniac’s amazing-looking Spider Man game got a new trailer. In this game, things look rough for the web-slinger. The Raft, a floating prison for super-criminals, has had a prison break. Rhino, Scorpion, Vulture, Electro and Mister Negative are all teaming up to take down Spidey. The trailer showed off some Arkham Asylum-esque combat and fluid, fast-paced web-slinging. If any game is going to make you feel like Spider-Man, this is the one. Another killer exclusive for the PS4! Spider Man hits September 7th. 

    Super Mario Party 

    Photo Credit: VG 24/7 

    One of Nintendo’s surprise reveals this year was Super Mario Party. Showcasing board game-like play with multiple Switch systems, the game seems perfect for the hybrid console. While it has been a few years since the last Mario Party, this one seems poised to revitalize the series. This outing will be bolstered by the flexible “go-anywhere” Switch hardware. Mario Party while camping? Sure! Game night at a friend’s house? Bring your Switch! Meeting some friends for lunch one lazy Sunday? Bring Mario Party and make an afternoon of it! Nintendo is really bringing the heat to Switch this holiday season. Super Mario Party is landing on October 5th. 

    Halo Infinity 

    Photo Credit: VG 24/7 

    Halo, Microsoft’s juggernaut first-person shooter, was due for an appearance. The cutscene shown at the show looked absolutely incredible, but scant details about the story were shared. Apparently, the game will run in a new “Slipspace” Engine, designed from the ground up for Halo. The cutscene shown ran in that engine, which is assuring. While the game is likely still a year or two away, it looks exciting! Here’s hoping developer 343 Industries doesn’t repeat the narrative mistakes of Halo 5. 

    Anthem 

    Photo Credit: EA 

    BioWare’s newest project looks like a serious contender for Bungie’s Destiny. The gameplay shown looks fast-paced and exciting, and the game is gorgeous. Many have reservations about the explosions-first direction, as developer BioWare has a history of story-based games. However, the trailers shown certainly reaffirm the tight, explosive gameplay looks fun. And why else play video games than to have fun? Not to mention, the latest attempt at a story-based game by the studio was a disaster. Mass Effect: Andromeda will forever remain a black spot on developer BioWare. Hopefully they can forge a new legacy with the promising-looking Anthem. 

    Death Stranding 

    Photo Credit: Wccftech 

    Hideo Kojima-led project Death Stranding still makes no sense, but it looks awesome. Featuring Norman Reedus of Walking Dead fame as the apparent protagonist, the game seems to be a horror-exploration hybrid. The trailers so far haven’t exactly explained the plot or why exactly the main character has a baby in a tank in stasis. That said, the trailers have all been quite gripping and intense. The trailer shown at Sony’s press conference showed gameplay footage that involved traversing a gorgeous, desolate open-world. The protagonist was also shown hiding from an invisible monster with hands for feet (apparently) and avoiding shadowy, human-like monsters. And those monsters have umbilical cords, for some reason. Yeah, the game looks weird. And I can’t wait to see more. 

    Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 

    Photo Credit: Ubisoft 

    The latest entry in the long-running open-world series takes place in Hellenic Greece. Like, all of it. And a huge swath of the Mediterranean. It looks downright stunning, as one would expect from this series. This entry also introduces new RPG-like elements, allowing the player to shape the unfolding story. There are also now quests to engage in romance with NPCs, instead of just, y’know, stabbing them. With wrist-mounted knives. But don’t worry, there will still be tons of badies to shank. 

    Beyond Good and Evil 2 

    Photo Credit: Gematsu 

    Cult classic Beyond Good and Evil is finally getting a sequel! Well, a prequel, but, hey, we’ll take it. No gameplay or release dates yet, but the trailers confirm Jade and Pey’j will both return. Aside from the amazing-looking cinematic, though, we have scant few details on the game. However, Ubisoft seems dedicated to providing awesome experiences and really knocked it out of the park at E3 2018. 

    The Star of E3 2018: Super Smash Bros Ultimate 

    Photo Credit: The Verge 

    Easily the biggest game of the show, Smash Bros Ultimate promises the return of every character to ever grace the legendary series. Even Solid Snake and Pichu are back this time! Additionally, developer Masahiro Sakurai has promised this will be the biggest Smash Bros yet. The game has been made from the ground-up with new animations and mechanics for every fighter. Truly, the development team has been putting in crazy amounts of work. It looks like the game is walking the razor-thin balance of appealing to both competitive and casual players. Super Smash Bros Ultimate is sure to break records when it drops on December 7th. 

  • Microsoft Looking to Shore Up First-Party Development for Xbox, Buys Four Game Studios

    Microsoft Looking to Shore Up First-Party Development for Xbox, Buys Four Game Studios

    During their E3 press conference, Microsoft aimed to dispel the doubts about the Xbox One. The biggest doubts they took aim at, of course, where those of exclusive games. Recently, Sony has been absolutely sprinting past Xbox in terms of sales, and many gamers chalk this up to the exclusives. Sony has huge names like Uncharted, The Last of Us, God of War, Nier Automata and many more to bolster their brand. This is understandably frustrating for the company, as their Xbox One X system outpaces the PS4 Pro in terms of raw power. Microsoft’s answer? Their greatest strength: money to throw at the problem. 

    As it Has Been, so it Shall Be 

    This isn’t a new strategy for Microsoft, either. In the earliest days of the Xbox, monetary incentives were the primary reasons developers made games for the system. Halo creator Bungie was bought by Microsoft in 1999, and Rare, Banjo-Kazooie creators, were bought a few years later. This strategy helped Xbox make a name for itself with its exclusives.  

    That strategy worked once, and clearly the compnay behind Xbox hopes it can work again. At their E3 conference they announced their acquisition of four game studios. The studios in question: Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, Playground Games and Undead Labs. 

    Why Now? 

    It is a bit late in the Xbox One’s life cycle for Microsoft to only just now be acquiring these studios. Surely, any future games from these studios won’t be out for a year at least, meaning that their contributions likely won’t be felt on the Xbox One. Instead, it seems, this is a preemptive move to bolster the launch of the next Xbox. 

    Phil Spencer, head of the gaming division of Microsoft, confirmed at E3 that the hardware teams are hard at work on the next Xbox consoles. The pluralization is interesting, too. Is Microsoft working on multiple systems? Only time will tell. 

    Microsoft Learning from Their Own Mistakes 

    Hopefully Microsoft now sees the importance of their exclusives, and the importance of a consoles first impression. In 2013, their Xbox One announcement was met with near-universal criticism. Between the strong DRM and lack of focus on games, many saw the system as a step backwards. The next Xbox will need a stronger announcement and launch if it hopes to dislodge Sony and compete with Nintendo.  

    Hopefully the wealth of new talent being brought on board means stellar new IPs to bolster the brand. After all, competition between Microsoft and Sony just means more awesome games for us! 

  • E3 is Soon! What are We Expecting to See?

    E3 is Soon! What are We Expecting to See?

    It’s almost time for E3! Are you excited? I know we are! We had an article about what we were hoping to see, but now that we’re in the home stretch before the big event, let’s round up what we’re expecting to see. The Hype Train is moving full speed ahead, hop on board! 

    Nintendo at E3: Super Smash Bros and Pokemon 

    Nintendo surprised everyone when they announced Pokemon Let’s Go a full two weeks ahead of the event. You can rest assured we’ll see an in-depth breakdown of Nintendo’s newest Pokemon games at the event. Given that these are the first big console Pokemon RPGs since the Gamecube’s Gale of Darkness, they’re going to be huge. Expect to see Switch sales bolstered immensely by Nintendo’s yellow mouse mascot. 

    Speaking of Nintendo mascots, the other surefire topic at the event is assuredly Super Smash Bros. After the surprise reveal during March’s Nintendo Direct, the internet has been abuzz with rumors and speculations. Expect to see gameplay footage, new stages, new characters, and tons more. Nintendo has promised a tournament in the new game featuring some of the top Smash Bros players from around the world during the event. We’re sure to see new characters and gameplay features during this event. 

    Microsoft: More Exclusives? Please? 

    The Xbox One X is the most powerful home console out there, no doubt. The PS4 Pro doesn’t keep up. But that means very little when the system has next to no exclusives. Sea of Thieves doesn’t count, sorry; that game doesn’t come close to making the system flex. (Even if it is super fun.) Rumor has it that Microsoft is looking to remedy this with a slew of first-party titles to be revealed during E3. 

    Big names like Crackdown 3, Forza Horizon 4, Gears of War 5, Halo 6 and more are expected at the show. Hopefully Microsoft has more than just sequels to aging franchises, though. Something fresh, exciting and new should be at the top of their list of reveals this year. 

    Sony: Upward Trajectory 

    Sony’s doing pretty well in the gaming world. They’re not doing too amazingly well elsewhere, but they’re leading the current console war. Expect to see news on first-party titles like Spider-Man and The Last of Us 2. New IPs like Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone and Dreams will also likely make appearances.  

    Sony’s PS4 has been selling well and riding a wave of newfound popularity. God of War, the revival of the popular action series, has already sold over 3 million units. All Sony needs to do this year is keep telling us about awesome new games on the way and we’ll be happy! 

    The Other Stuff 

    Other big names at the event will be showing off their multiplatform efforts, of course. Bethesda will talk about Fallout 76, that one is for sure. They launched a teaser video last week with scant details, so fans will be ravenous for more come showtime. Borderlands 3 will likely be on display from Gearbox. We can expect Just Cause 4 and Kingdom Hearts 3 to also make appearances. Also, oddly, Rage seems to be getting a sequel and will be unveiled at E3 this year.  

    What Won’t We See? 

    Next gen consoles, probably. Sony and Microsoft have both only just pushed out updated versions of their existing consoles with better hardware. The odds of them overshadowing these updated consoles with announcements of next gen are pretty low. Similarly, Nintendo just released the Switch last year, and its sales have been quite strong.  

    Odds are good that this year is going to have the focus on games, first and foremost. This is good news for gamers who were getting sick of too much focus on gimmicks like Kinect and AR and the Wii U. Wait, that last one was its own console? Man, Nintendo fumbled the marketing for that thing… 

  • 10 Cool Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do with Windows 10

    10 Cool Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do with Windows 10

    Windows 10 is a robust, fascinating operating system. It’s user-friendly and deep, and there’s likely tons of neat little tricks in it you don’t know about. How many of these interesting Windows 10 tricks do you know? You’re sure to find something here you didn’t already know how to do! 

    Old-School Desktop 

    If you like the more old-school look, try right-clicking the Windows button. This pulls up a set of controls that are familiar to long-time users. Hopefully if you’re having trouble navigating the OS, this trick helps you find your bearings. 

    God Mode, Enabled 

    If you’ve ever wanted to take direct control, you’ll love God Mode. It’s surprisingly easy to enter this Windows “cheat code,” but it’s super useful. To start, you should go to your desktop, right click, and make a new folder. Then, rename the folder “GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}”. Congratulations, you’ve now enabled God Mode. Have fun with all these commands! 

    Customize Tiles 

    If you want to customize your tiles, right click them. Now you can unpin, resize, pin to taskbar and more. You tile dashboard is meant to be an all-inclusive display, so having direct control of it is awesome. Make it your own, and have it show all the info you want at a glance! Remember, Windows 10 was made to be a great desktop OS and a great tablet interface in one. 

    Right Click Taskbar 

    Right clicking the taskbar brings up tons of awesome functions. Don’t be afraid to try it out! Some Cortana functionalities are controlled through here, you can mess with Windows schemes, and more! This one is simple but helpful. A lot of folks don’t even know this menu is there! 

    Show Desktop Button 

    That tiny little bar down there in the bottom-right corner where the cursor is in the image is the show desktop button. If you have a bunch of windows open and want to see the desktop, this is a great shortcut. Clicking in the bottom right corner is much easier than having to minimize four or five windows one after the other! 

    Pinning Windows  

    If you drag a window to one side of the screen, it’ll get pinned there as exactly half the screen. If you drag it to a corner, it will become a quarter of the screen. This is awesome for professionals who need to multitask! If you often use editing software or have to multitask a lot, you’ll love this feature. It’s also just cool to have for when you want to live-Tweet a stream and not have to hold your phone the whole time. 

    Fun with Cortana 

    Did you know Cortana knew a bunch of games? She can play rock, paper scissors, for one. She can flip coins, roll dice and more. Just type in the Cortana box any of those commands, or, if you’ve enabled it, use voice commands. These little diversions are a fun use of Cortana’s functionality. 

    Focus Assist 

    Sick of notifications throwing you off when you’re trying to work? Try Focus Assist. Go to settings, and under system settings you’ll find Focus Assist. This mode lets you set hours you’d like to silence notifications, and even lets you customize which notifications are high-priority. This functionality is similar to smartphones’ Do Not Disturb mode. It isn’t frequently used, though, as many people don’t even know that it’s there! 

    Transparent Command Prompt 

    The command prompt is super handy for programming and debugging. If you often use the command prompt but would like to be able to monitor other windows while doing so, try this trick. When using the command prompt, right click the top of the bar. Then, click on colors, and look for the opacity slider at the bottom. Slide until the window is as transparent as you want it! Now you can watch your commands get reflected in real time. 

    The Coolest Hidden Windows 10 Function: Dictating 

    Dictation is super handy for a number of uses. For one, it’s good for when you just don’t feel like typing or feel like you can speak faster than type. More importantly, it’s a great accessibility tool for those unable to use a keyboard. In any event, enabling dictation is simple! Go to settings, then speech, then related settings. Then, click on “Speech, inking and typing privacy settings” and enable dictation. Boom, now we’re talking! Literally!  

    Did you know all of these cool Windows 10 tricks, or did you learn something new? Now, go forth and enjoy your operating system with all these new tricks you know! 

  • Xbox Systems to Support Voice Assistants Like Alexa

    Xbox Systems to Support Voice Assistants Like Alexa

    A new report from Windows Central has shown a screenshot of options for voice assistants in Xbox One. While the system already has support through the (now shuttered) Kinect service via Cortana, the Windows Central report goes beyond Microsoft’s proprietary AI. The report indicates Google Assistant and Alexa would both be supported in addition to Microsoft’s own assistant. 

    Smart Speaker Integration 

    Smart speakers are sort of taking over the world right now, so it makes sense that Microsoft would focus on this technology. The Xbox One has always been marketed as a home entertainment system first, with TV and music being huge for the system. Having the system connect to your Smart Home network is a no-brainer for Microsoft.  

    Xbox Voice Gaming Potential 

    Additional inputs aren’t a bad thing, and Xbox is known for unconventional inputs. The aforementioned Kinect service serves as evidence of this. Voice and gesture commands were once a hallmark of the Xbox family of games but fell out of favor as the company refocused on core games. However, the surge in popularity of voice assistants could signal another push by Microsoft to reenter the Kinect space. “Alexa, start Halo on my Xbox,” is one thing. But “Alexa, help me find nearby save points,” could bring a new layer of depth to certain games.  

    Heck, Microsoft could even be cute and play favorites with Cortana funcitonality in Halo. As fans know, Cortana is actually an AI character in the famed sci-fi series. Talking to her directly in game via a smart speaker could bring another layer of immersion to the experience. “Cortana, where are the enemies?” “Cortana, show me the way out of here,” you can imagine the possibilities.  

    Considerations for Xbox Owners 

    There is nothing more frustrating than buying a cool new piece of tech only to find out it isn’t compatible with your set-up. If you’re an Xbox owner thinking about getting a smart speaker, it may be wise to hold off until Microsoft announces more. We aren’t sure as of yet which services and speakers will be compatible. For the moment, hold tight and see what unfolds. 

  • GitHub Acquired by Microsoft

    GitHub Acquired by Microsoft

    GitHub, the world’s largest repository of code, is set to be acquired by Microsoft. The deal is to the tune of 7.5 billion dollars in Microsoft stock. That number is pretty astonishing, conisdering GitHub is just a storage service. What does this acquisition mean for code developers and designers? Will things be changing behind the scenes for the site? 

    Reservations by GitHub Developers 

    Microsoft is known as being a very corporate and profit-minded company. They didn’t grow to be one of the largest forces in tech by accident. With their reputation, developers have been somewhat nervous regarding this acquisition. GitLab, a major competitor of the code-hosting site, has seen a surge of users following the breaking of this news. Microsoft has attempted to reassure developers, however, stating that their intent is to keep the service just the way it is now.  

    Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, had a few words wit regards to the move. “Microsoft is a developer-first company, and by joining forces with GitHub we strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation… We recognize the community responsibility we take on with this agreement and will do our best work to empower every developer to build, innovate and solve the world’s most pressing challenges.” 

    What This Means for GitHub 

    On the corporate side, however, GitHub and Microsoft will both see some personnel changes. Nat Friedman, Microsoft’s current Corporate Vice President, will be installed at CEO of GitHub. GitHub’s current CEO, Chris Wantstrath, will become a “technical fellow” at Microsoft.  

    Regarding the acquisition, Wanstrath had this to say. “I’m extremely proud of what GitHub and our community have accomplished over the past decade, and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead. The future of software development is bright, and I’m thrilled to be joining forces with Microsoft to help make it a reality… Their focus on developers lines up perfectly with our own, and their scale, tools and global cloud will play a huge role in making GitHub even more valuable for developers everywhere.” 

    When Does this Happen? 

    The acquisition isn’t final yet, so these changes won’t take place immediately. A regulatory board will review the acquisition, but experts see little reason to block the move. Once it’s complete, developers can expect to see few changes on the user-end. However, Microsoft will likely turn the code repository into an Azure service, hosted on their cloud platform. Aside from that superficial change, though, Microsoft seems unlikely to change much else for fear of scaring off developers.
     

  • Top Ten Xbox 360 Games with Backwards Compatibility you Have to Play Again

    Top Ten Xbox 360 Games with Backwards Compatibility you Have to Play Again

    When regarding your backlog of old games, you usually think: “man, I wish I didn’t have to dig out my old console to play that awesome old game.” Thankfully, Microsoft has been implementing backwards compatibility with select Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One. If you’re wondering which of your favorite 360 games are playable on your modern-day system, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our ten favorite 360 games with backwards compatibility! 

    10. Braid 

    Photo Credit: Top Best Alternatives 

    This trippy, time-bending puzzling platformer is a great adventure to relive. If you missed it the first time, its new lease on life on the Xbox One is a great chance to replay it. Braid features a crazy story told in reverse and quaint, charming graphics. If you always wanted a more mature, thought-provoking take on Mario, Braid is for you. 

    9. Mirror’s Edge 

    Photo Credit: Cro Hasit 

    Mirror’s Edge is a slick, polished action game with a sweet “fight-the-power” narrative. If you’ve ever been interested in parkour or free running, check this one out. Mirror’s Edge features a unique first-person perspective, making the action feel very immediate and pressing. What’s more, the game’s protagonist is an empowering and believable bad-ass lady! Those are in short supply in the gaming world, so it’s worth mentioning! 

    8. Gears of War 3 

    Photo Credit: Gamers Heroes 

    Where the first entry in the series defined action games for a few years, Gears of War 3 set a new benchmark for horde modes in action shooting games. The series’ signature chainsaw guns and muscular protagonists are here, front and center. While the series has stumbled in recent years, GoW 3 is a great reminder of just how awesome the series once was. The action is pulse-pounding and white-knuckle, rewarding smart use of cover and good aim. If you’re looking for a blast from the past of shooting games, Gears of War is for you.  

    7. Super Meat Boy 

    Photo Credit: Threadless Blog 

    Super Meat Boy defined the indie formula for blistering difficulty balanced with rewarding gameplay. Allowing the player to respawn instantly saves this game from being mind-numbingly frustrating. The influence of SMB can’t be overstated: indie platformers have been taking inspiration from this masterpiece for a little under a decade. Notably, 2018’s breakout hit Celeste follows in the footsteps of SMB’s balanced, thumb-breaking gameplay. If you want to relive the meat grinder, give this one another shot. You won’t regret it… but the Meat Boy will.  

    6. Deus Ex: Human Revolution 

    Photo Credit: Square Enix 

    The sleek, sexy and thought-provoking reboot of the legendary Deus Ex series is as fresh today as it was seven years ago. With a surprisingly deep story and rewarding, branching gameplay, Human Revolution never fails to engage the player in the action. If you’ve ever wanted to be a super-powered assassin with robot arms, this is your game.  After you’ve enjoyed Human Revolution’s backwards compatibility, check out the sequel, Mankind Divided, which released in 2016. 

    5. Fable II 

    Photo Credit: YouTube 

    Remember when Fable was awesome? Before some seriously awful spin-offs, the name Fable signaled excellence in western-style RPGs. If you want to experience the magic again, Fable II, arguably the best of the series, has backwards compatibility. Fable features a beautiful, storybook world made with loving attention to detail. The gameplay and combat are both tight and satisfying, and progression is always rewarding. It almost hurts to wonder what might have been in store for this series in they hadn’t made that awful Kinect spin off… 

    4. Portal: Still Alive 

    Photo Credit: Know Your Meme 

    What can I say about this seminal first-person puzzler that hasn’t been said? It’s amazing. The writing is consistently hilarious, the puzzles are mind-bending, and the portal gun is awesome. You play as a test subject being tormented by an all-powerful, rampant AI. Your captor forces your through a series of increasingly deadly puzzles, outfitting you only with a portal gun. The portal gun can open a two-way portal on certain surfaces, testing your spatial knowledge and challenging you to think outside the box. 

    3. Dark Souls 

    Photo Credit: Bandai-Namco 

    Haunting, oblique and unapproachable, Dark Souls is a game that refuses to be easily engaged with. You’ve doubtless heard all the talk about “hardest game ever,” but that’s only part of the story. Dark Souls is difficult in the way watching Begotten is difficult. It’s so grand, so epic, so utterly alien, that you have to change the way you approach it to appreciate it. The game is art in the true sense of the word: it makes you feel. Feel alone, outnumbered, isolated, up against positively absurd odds. 

    When you first cross swords with a screen-filling demon, your heart fills with dread. How could you possibly fell such an imposing monster, an engine of raw destruction? But you persevere, you learn, and dodge and you kill the beast. And then you face another monster, this one even tougher and meaner. Then you face a dragon. Then you face gods. It’s hard to really describe the feeling of growing power, the satisfaction of winning in a world so bleak. But do yourself a favor: play this ugly, mean, triumphant game. And prepare to die. 

    2. Red Dead Redemption 

    Photo Credit: The Verge 

    Red Dead Redemption tasks you with bringing in the members of your old gang to save your family from a corrupt FBI agent. In the Old West. Yeah, it’s as awesome as it sounds. Rockstar’s magnum opus, Red Dead Redemption climbs into your heart and lives there. The voice acting, and world building, are absolutely top-class, unmatched before or since, and give the game a sense of place unseen in the medium. If you missed this one the first time around, it sports backwards compatibility now, so you owe it to yourself to experience it again. If you missed it (shame on you) try it out now: it hasn’t aged a day since it was released. 

    The Best Xbox 360 Game with Backwards Compatibility: Halo Reach 

    Photo Credit: Halo Waypoint 

    Legendary developer Bungie’s swan song to their incredible Halo series, Reach is a triumpant achievement. While both Bungie and the Halo series would stumble along into the 2010’s with middling-to-awful entries, Reach stands head and shoulders above all first-person shooters that have come after. With the possible exception of Overwatch, no competitive first-person shooter has matched the raw fun and intensity of Reach.  

    Sporting a storyline that ties into the original and adds great depth to the universe, Reach delights on all fronts. It also features the return of the excellent Firefight mode from ODST. If you never caught this one and have always wondered what Bungie did before they made a disastrous deal with Activision, it’s available now with backwards compatibility. Go forth, and enjoy a reminder of how awesome the series once was. 

  • Top Ten Things We Want to See at E3 2018

    Top Ten Things We Want to See at E3 2018

    It’s almost that time again. E3, the biggest conference for gaming news, starts on June 12th, and runs through the 14th. What kinds of news can we expect from the big three console makers? And what news will break from third party developers? Buckle up and get ready for a one-way ride to hype town, because we’re counting down our biggest E3 wishes! 

    Rocksteady Superman 

    Photo Credit: Comic Vine 

    Rocksteady, the developers behind the phenomenal Batman: Arkham series, have been rumored to be working on a Superman game. Such a project may well represent a chance for the big blue Boy Scout to finally star in a good open-world video game.  

    After seeing what Rocksteady could do for the Caped Crusader, it’s exciting to think about how they could handle Superman. Free-flying through Metropolis, beating up bad guys and saving the innocent? Sounds like a recipe for an awesome adventure! Here’s hoping it doesn’t play anything like Superman 64… 

    Fable 4 

    Photo Credit: Game Skinny 

    There are rumors circulating that a reboot of the storied Fable franchise might be on the way. An announcement at E3 would be met with trepidation by some, and joy by others. Lionhead Studios, the team responsible for the series, was shuttered back in 2015. This came after a series of downright awful Fable titles that experimented with the series’ direction. Namely the disastrous “Fable: The Journey,” an on rails (!) shooting game (!!) that was played with Kinect (!!!). 

    However, Microsoft would be handling Fable 4’s development in-house. If they stick to the RPG roots the franchise was founded on, it could be something truly exciting for the struggling Xbox brand. Fingers crossed that Microsoft learns from past mistakes made with the franchise and just makes a freaking RPG. If this one even mentions the word Kinect, I’ll be disappointed. 

    Borderlands 3 

    Photo Credit: DSO Gaming 

    It’s been rough for Gearbox lately. Their foray into the hero shooter genre, Battleborn, was absolutely trounced by Blizzard’s Overwatch. While Battleborn was quirky and cool in its own ways, it was unfavorably matched up against Blizzzard’s smash-hit. That’s in the past now, though, and Gearbox can push forward with their flagship franchise: Borderlands. The famous frenetic shooter was a smash-hit for Gearbox back in 2009, and its sequels were fantastic.  

    Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, the last entry in the looter-shooter franchise, came out in 2014. In the meantime, the gaming world has changed pretty tremendously. Here’s hoping Gearbox sticks to their guns (ha) on this one and makes a solid Diablo-like shooting RPG. If they try to go toe-to-toe with Fortnite and make this one a battle royale I might scream. Gearbox, come on, guys: do what you’re best at! 

    Elder Scrolls VI 

    Photo Credit: GamingScan 

    With the exception of Elder Scrolls Online, we haven’t seen an Elder Scrolls game since 2011’s Skyrim. Many single-player RPG fans have been clamoring for another entry in the open-world series. While Bethesda has been experimenting with spin-off card game titles and their MMO, they’re clearly still dedicated to their core games.  

    Odds are pretty good we’ll see at least a trailer or some gameplay footage from a hypothetical new Elder Scrolls. However, some of Bethesda’s other franchises like Prey or Doom might be receiving the next full-game treatment. If so, we’ll be sure to see them at E3. With luck, we might just see one of those in addition to a new single-player Elder Scrolls!  

    Next Gen Systems from Sony and Microsoft 

    Photo Credit: NDTV Gadgets 

    The Xbox One and PS4 are five years old now. There’s definitely some speculation that Sony and Microsoft might be showing off some new hardware at this year’s E3. If so, pricing, graphical capabilities and exclusive games will certainly be the topic of conversation.  

    However, it is worth noting that the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro were recently released. This might give a bit of extra life to the aging systems. However, with the Nintendo Switch only recently being released, it might be wise of the other two console makers to fast-track their follow ups.  

    Star Fox 

    Photo Credit: DeviantArt 

    Star Fox is one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises, but it’s had a bit of a rough patch lately. The unusual and pervadingly awkward Star Fox Zero has somewhat sullied the franchise. However, rumor has it that a racing game like F-Zero is in the works with the Star Fox cast. This would be more than a little odd, but it would be interesting.  

    Nintendo hasn’t released an F-Zero title in America since 2003. Seeing it live on, even in spirit, would be great. I would definitely rather see a new F-Zero than see Star Fox become a racing game, I wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand. Hopefully, though, the rumor is empty, and we’ll see a real follow-up to 2006’s fantastic Star Fox: Command. Either way, expect to see something from Star Fox at E3! 

    Fire Emblem 

    Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons 

    Fire Emblem, once circling the drain and ready for cancellation, is now one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises. Buoyed tremendously by its characters appearing in Super Smash Bros, Fire Emblem is an example of the latter franchise’s propensity for playing king-maker.  

    Announced at last year’s E3, the Switch version of Fire Emblem is likely to be part of Nintendo’s June 12th presentation. The Switch is a perfect fit for the franchise: console releases like Path of Radiance have delivered huge, gorgeous maps. Handheld releases like Awakenings have delivered deliciously-difficult strategy on the go. Marrying these two aspects of the franchise is a match made in heaven. If Nintendo releases this game in the same window as Pokemon and Smash Bros, it’s going to be a very good year for gamers. 

    Gears of War 5 (Or Really Any Xbox Exclusives) 

    Photo Credit: Game Rant 

    The Xbox One isn’t doing too well when compared to the PS4 and the Switch. A lot of momentum Microsoft carried into this console generation was wrecked by their awful DRM policies when the system was announced. Following the abysmal reaction to the announcement, early games on the system were plagued by network issues and bugs. Notably, the Master Chief Collection, a game that should have been an easy home run for the company, was bungled out of the gate and nearly unplayable.  

    Needless to say, Microsoft needs some wins. While they’re in no danger of going out of business or anything (hello, Windows), they do run the risk of becoming irrelevant. Sony does everything Xbox does, but with better graphics and better exclusives. At least, for now. Maybe Microsoft has some heavy hitters up their sleeve for E3. Maybe something like… Gears of War 5? Alright, I guess Gears games are cool. Maybe try somehting new, guys? Oh well, time will tell. 

    Pokemon 

    Photo Credit: Den of Geek 

    It’s absolutely astonishing that it took this long for a core Pokemon game to make it to home consoles. It’s almost funny: Nintendo had to make a hybrid console to finally maneuver Game Freak into making a Pokemon for one of their home consoles. In any event, the internet is collectively abuzz with hype for this release. This one is guaranteed money for Nintendo if they just put in a few much-demanded features.  

    A “pro” mode where they don’t teach you how to throw a damn Pokeball would be cool. Let my Pokemon follow me around in the overworld. Give me a 3D, over-the-shoulder camera. Little things, man. You guys should knock this one out of the park. Hell, Game Freak already made 1080p 3D renders of the entire Pokedex for X and Y. (Don’t believe me? Emulators can extract those models, and they’re gorgeous.) Fingers crossed that we see a lot of this one at E3. 

    Most Hyped Game of E3: Super Smash Bros 

    Photo Credit: Screen Rant 

    Nintendo set the Internet ablaze when they announced Smash Bros for Switch at the end of their March Nintendo Direct. This series has achieved legendary status among Nintendo fans. Smash Bros singe-handedly ignited interest in the Fire Emblem series in the US. Characters included in this fighting game’s roster become instant icons. The promise of Smash on the go on a big, gorgeous Switch screen is a huge one. Two-player fighting in table top mode with split Joy Cons! Huge LAN-style parties with linked Switch systems! The Switch was seriously made for Smash. 

    Nintendo likely plans to launch their paid online service alongside Smash, so we’re likely to see it in September. I don’t think there’s another game that deserves as much attention at E3 as Smash. Seriously, any information Nintendo gives during their E3 Direct will be dissected, obsessed over and talked to death in the months before the game finally drops. Hopefully we can all keep our hype contained in the meantime. 

  • Microsoft’s New Adaptive Controller Makes Xbox Gaming More Accessible Than Ever

    Microsoft’s New Adaptive Controller Makes Xbox Gaming More Accessible Than Ever

    For many gamers, the controller isn’t a portal into another world, but is a hindrance keeping them from enjoying the game. Microsoft seeks to alleviate that problem with their new adaptive controller. Retailing for $100, the adaptive controller looks pretty simple at a glance. The front face sports two big buttons and a directional pad. There are a few menu buttons, and some USB ports. It looks incomplete. And that’s purposeful, because it kind of is incomplete before its end-user gets their hands on it.  

    Accessibility Through Adaptivity 

    On the side of the controller are a series of 3.5mm jacks, each wired to be an Xbox controller button. This might seem very odd to some readers. Why 3.5mm jacks? What is this? The Adaptive Controller is an officially sanctioned version of something many gamers have been using for some time now. Accessibility rigs like this one have been the norm for years for limited mobility gamers, using 3.5mm jacks to customize their experience. Binary, on-off buttons are commonly plugged into the jacks to act as different controller inputs. Some of the jacks even support standard-style josticks. The adaptive controller also sports two side USB ports.  

    One Size Does Not Fit All 

    By releasing an eminently-customizable controller and making no assumptions about the end-user, Microsoft has made something truly special. Officially recognizing the existence and unique struggles of mobility-limited gamers is refreshing. Many hospitals and non-profits have been helping gamers with rigs like this for some time. Seeing it officially condoned and supported by Microsoft is truly exciting for the future of accessibility in gaming.  The unassuming adaptive controller will certainly be a boon to those gamers who want to enjoy their experience without a standard controller holding them back. 

    Adaptive Controller Affordability 

    By making this type of controller widely available for this price, Microsoft changes the game for limited-mobility gamers. Custom-built rigs like this are often prohibitively expensive. Broadened Horizons, a hardware maker, is somewhat similar to the Xbox Adaptive Controller, but has no large face buttons out of the box. It actually requires several add-ons to match the XAC’s functionality. Microsoft has certainly changed the face of this type of technology. The XAC will be compatible out of the box with all Xbox One systems, and a tiny bit of set-up gets it rolling on most Windows PCs. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, and more accessibility options will be opened up because of this first step. 

  • Windows 10 April Update Crashing Intel Solid State Drives

    Windows 10 April Update Crashing Intel Solid State Drives

    Microsoft is blocking the rollout of the April Windows 10 update to certain users. Windows users with Intel Solid State Drives are being blocked from the update in order to protect them from a system-crashing series of bugs. Specifically, the Intel SSD 600p Series and Intel SSD Pro 6000p Series are encountering the bug, according to a report by Ars Technica. 

    Solid State Drives Causing Woes? 

    This isn’t the first time new OS updates have caused issues with SSD users. The unique drivers incorporated by SSDs often clash in unexpected ways with operating systems. Linux users experienced similar issues last year, with the new OS’s power management features attempting to override the primary functions of the SSD drivers. 

    What’s the Deal? 

    The details of this bug are currently unknown. It seems unlikely this issue will be terribly massive: a simple fix already exists. Users need only rollback the update from the Safe Mode screen to recover their PCs. However, this is frustrating, given the ubiquity of Intel SSDs and the massive size of Microsoft. How is it that no beta testers found this bug? Or, if they did, why wasn’t it addressed before the updates went live? 

    Sign of Things to Come? 

    This update was already delayed after bugs causing blue-screens were identified by beta testers. The update went back to the developers for fine-tuning, but somehow still went live with computer-crashing bugs. Thankfully these bugs aren’t fatal, but they are still troubling. How does a company as big as Microsoft miss something as big as this?