Monthly Archives: March 2017
How Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Powerful Nostalgia Connected Me to My Mother
The first game I ever played was The Legend of Zelda on NES. Well, I wasn’t really playing.
My mom, who passed away in 2009, would play, handing me a second controller while she explored Hyrule. And as I’ve returned to a different, but equally as mysterious version of that world in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I am brought back to those early days of a scrolling, 8-bit Hyrule. One that seemed so filled with danger, but one that, with my mother, we could tackle together.
As I’ve explored more of Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule, which lends itself to its own unique type of multiplayer, I am struck by how similarly the adventures unfold, full of mystery and agency that makes the experience feel so tailor-made to me. And the further I dive into its secrets, the more I wonder what my mom would have thought of Breath of the Wild.
Wrestling Wrap Up: WrestleMania Can Still Be Great Despite Underwhelming Card
It's go time! Crunch time! We're so close to 'Mania 33 that you can smell all the odoriferous eminations!
Some business to get out of the way first though...
- You can read my interview with Randy Orton about his upcoming match with Bray Wyatt here.
- Here are the 5 Most Promising Matches at WrestleMania 33.
- Check out these 8 Unlikely WWE World Champions.
Tetris Might Prevent PTSD
A new study says that playing Tetris might prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Telegraph reports that Oxford University and Karolinska Institute in Sweden had people involved in car accidents play the puzzle game within six hours after entering the emergency room.
These people who played Tetris were then found to be less likely to have PTSD in the future.
"Our hypothesis was that after a trauma, patients would have fewer intrusive memories if they got to play Tetris as part of a short behavioral intervention while waiting in the hospital Emergency Department," said Emily Holmes, a professor of psychology at Karolinska.
Netflix Renews Santa Clarita Diet for Season 2
Netflix is bringing back its cannibal comedy series Santa Clarita Diet for a second season.
Production on Season 2 will begin this summer, with Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant returning as Sheila and Joel Hammond, respectively. Netflix revealed the announcement with a short, appropriately disturbing YouTube video.
Netflix's announcement for Season 2
The half-hour comedy's first season debuted earlier this year on February 3. IGN's Santa Clarita Diet: Season 1 review said "there’s enough strong acting and pop culture overlap to pique any interest. Mix in a supernatural element and enough gross out humor to drop your jaw, and the result is an enjoyable first season to a promising new comedy."
Star Wars: Last Jedi Sizzle Footage Debuts at CinemaCon
Have you felt it? There's been an awakening, as the first footage from Star Wars: The Last Jedi debuted at CinemaCon 2017, an annual convention held in Las Vegas where film studios present their biggest films to the National Association of Theater Owners.
In this case, The Last Jedi footage was dropped in the middle of Disney's general sizzle reel promoting their upcoming slate of movies. There were only seconds of a scene shown, but consider this your spoiler warning if you're still trying to avoid any and all details about the film...
The scene in question only lasted about three seconds and showed Rey on Ahch-To, the home of the first Jedi Temple where she met up with Luke Skywalker at the end of The Force Awakens. According to IGN Movies Executive Editor Jim Vejvoda, the footage shows her swinging Luke's blue lightsaber, seemingly in the same general area where she ended the last film.
PlayStation Plus April Free Games Revealed
The lineup of games available free to PlayStation Plus subscribers in April has been revealed and includes the co-op action title Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime.
In addition to Asteroid Base's aforementioned space shooter, PlayStation Blog notes that PS4 owners will also get Drawn to Death free of charge, which David Jaffe confirmed earlier this month. The new arena shooter from the Twisted Metal creator will launch as a free game for PS Plus subscribers on April 4.
The Witness Developer Hiring for New, Unannounced Game
The Witness developer Thekla Inc. is officially hiring for its next game.
Creator Jonathan Blow revealed on Twitter the studio is searching for "an experienced 3D character animator to work on a new, unannounced game." This will be the third game from the game designer/programmer, who also created Braid, a puzzle-platformer initially released in 2008.
The Witness was released to critical acclaim, earning a 10 from IGN for its "graceful combination of tangible goals, obscurity, and freedom" and recently nabbing four BAFTA nominations. It also enjoyed commercial success, bringing in over $5 million USD in its first week, despite being highly pirated.
How DC Made the Flintstones Politically Relevant
The world is a politically tumultuous place these days, and that's reflected in comic books as much as anywhere else. But would you believe that no current series is doing political satire better than The Flintstones? Month in and month out, this series pulls directly from the headlines as it explores the life of a modern Stone Age family.
As the series first trade paperback collection arrives in stores, we thought it would be fun to look back at these early issues and explore how writer Mark Russell and artist Ben Caldwell transformed a beloved animated sitcom into subversive comic book satire. We've got commentary from both creators, so scroll down to find out why this series should be on your pull list.
Blizzard Overhauls Heroes of the Storm in 2.0 Update
Heroes of the Storm will update and overhaul its leveling and reward systems - as well as add a new character - in an update significant enough for Blizzard to dub it "Heroes of the Storm 2.0".
The MOBA will now feature no level cap for either player or hero levels and reward loot chests (not unlike Overwatch's loot boxes) for every player level reached. Specific player level milestones will reward chests with guaranteed rarer items, while hero level milestones will drop chests with rewards specifically for that hero.
Existing players' XP will be converted into the new level system, with the appropriate number of loot chests and rewards given to them immediately.
Chests can include full playable heroes, which in the past have only been unlockable through in-game or real currency. Blizzard has also created several new types of cosmetic item, which can be unlocked through loot chests:
Gears of War 4 to Begin Seasons for Ranked Play, Adds Rewards
Some changes are coming to ranked play in Gears of War 4. As well as basic improvements and additions, the first ever ranked Season will soon be under way.
According to the announcement on the Gears of War website, players will take part in placement matches and earn a rank which will go up and down based on performance. The optimal length of the season is still being determined.
As for Season rewards, you'll earn parts of some new weapon skin sets based on your rank, which ranges through Bronze, Silver, Gold, Onyx, and Diamond.
The current matchmaking system will be receiving an update over the next few days, which should "provide improved team balance in Ranked Play." The Skill Ratings system is also being improved, and by taking your change in skill over time into account, should provide a more accurate rating for you.