WRC 8 Seems Inspired by Codemasters’ F1 Games, and That’s Good
After a year on the backburner KT Racing’s ever-improving WRC series is back for 2019 and, based on a recent hands-on with it, I’m optimistic about its return.
The natural comparison for the current WRC series is Codemasters’ revered Dirt franchise, and it’s a fair one. Buoyed by decades of off-road pedigree the Dirt games are generally regarded as the best contemporary rally games available, so it makes sense to assess any other aspiring rally racer with that in mind.
While I’ll reserve the more exhaustive analysis for the review, WRC 8 is certainly coming out swinging. WRC 8 will contain more than 100 stages across 14 countries, and this time around there’s dynamic weather. The refurbished physics have improved the driving feel noticeably, too – especially on a control pad. On default settings, at least, WRC 8 seems to have shed WRC 7’s control pad twitchiness; countersteering and course correcting feels a bit less deadly but overall it’s still nice and responsive. KT Racing has even included classic rally cars at long last, though there’s only a small handful in the preview build and it’s unclear whether the retro roster will expand much in time for release.
WRC 8 Seems Inspired by Codemasters’ F1 Games, and That’s Good
After a year on the backburner KT Racing’s ever-improving WRC series is back for 2019 and, based on a recent hands-on with it, I’m optimistic about its return.
The natural comparison for the current WRC series is Codemasters’ revered Dirt franchise, and it’s a fair one. Buoyed by decades of off-road pedigree the Dirt games are generally regarded as the best contemporary rally games available, so it makes sense to assess any other aspiring rally racer with that in mind.
While I’ll reserve the more exhaustive analysis for the review, WRC 8 is certainly coming out swinging. WRC 8 will contain more than 100 stages across 14 countries, and this time around there’s dynamic weather. The refurbished physics have improved the driving feel noticeably, too – especially on a control pad. On default settings, at least, WRC 8 seems to have shed WRC 7’s control pad twitchiness; countersteering and course correcting feels a bit less deadly but overall it’s still nice and responsive. KT Racing has even included classic rally cars at long last, though there’s only a small handful in the preview build and it’s unclear whether the retro roster will expand much in time for release.
Dirt Rally 2.0 VR Upgrade Available Now on PC
Codemasters has announced VR support for the excellent Dirt Rally 2.0 is ready and available now for the PC version of the game.
Dirt Rally 2.0 is on the Oculus Store now and OpenVR support has been added to the Steam version for free. Players who pick up the Oculus version will apparently able to compete in special daily, weekly and monthly challenges (and the Oculus edition will also feature five exclusive car liveries for players who really, really want the word Oculus writ large on their car).
Codemasters has again reiterated there are no plans to add PSVR support to Dirt Rally 2.0, but a free new (old) location has been added to all versions of the game: DirtFish Rally School. DirtFish has been inserted as Test Drive location and is expected to be added to Freeplay “in a future update.” American rally academy DirtFish, located in Washington state, was previously included in Dirt 4.
Dirt Rally 2.0 VR Upgrade Available Now on PC
Codemasters has announced VR support for the excellent Dirt Rally 2.0 is ready and available now for the PC version of the game.
Dirt Rally 2.0 is on the Oculus Store now and OpenVR support has been added to the Steam version for free. Players who pick up the Oculus version will apparently able to compete in special daily, weekly and monthly challenges (and the Oculus edition will also feature five exclusive car liveries for players who really, really want the word Oculus writ large on their car).
Codemasters has again reiterated there are no plans to add PSVR support to Dirt Rally 2.0, but a free new (old) location has been added to all versions of the game: DirtFish Rally School. DirtFish has been inserted as Test Drive location and is expected to be added to Freeplay “in a future update.” American rally academy DirtFish, located in Washington state, was previously included in Dirt 4.
Walmart Reportedly Removing Violent Game Ads, Will Still Sell Guns
Walmart is reportedly removing signs, displays, and even video game demos that showcase violence. This follows a mass shooting at a Walmart Supercenter in El Paso, Texas on August 3, 2019.
Vice reported that Walmart employees received memos from corporate headquarters asking for the immediate removal of “signing and displays referencing violence.” A picture of the alleged memo shared on Twitter is telling employees to:
“Remove your store for any signing or displays that contain violent images or aggressive behavior. Remove from the salesfloor or turn off these items immediately.”
Walmart Reportedly Removing Violent Game Ads, Will Still Sell Guns
Walmart is reportedly removing signs, displays, and even video game demos that showcase violence. This follows a mass shooting at a Walmart Supercenter in El Paso, Texas on August 3, 2019.
Vice reported that Walmart employees received memos from corporate headquarters asking for the immediate removal of “signing and displays referencing violence.” A picture of the alleged memo shared on Twitter is telling employees to:
“Remove your store for any signing or displays that contain violent images or aggressive behavior. Remove from the salesfloor or turn off these items immediately.”
All the Pokemon of the Galar Region (So Far)
Each new generation of Pokemon brings us a plethora of new pocket monsters to catch and befriend, but some familiar faces make the Pokedex too. Sword and Shield are already promising great new Pokemon, with a mood-changing mouse, a very dapper Wheezing, wiggly corgi butts, and some of the cutest pokemon we've ever seen.
All the Pokemon of the Galar Region (So Far)
Each new generation of Pokemon brings us a plethora of new pocket monsters to catch and befriend, but some familiar faces make the Pokedex too. Sword and Shield are already promising great new Pokemon, with a mood-changing mouse, a very dapper Wheezing, wiggly corgi butts, and some of the cutest pokemon we've ever seen.
Shocking No One, Activision Confirms Call of Duty Will Be Released Every Year
Benjamin Franklin once said the only things certain in this world are death and taxes. But you can probably add annual Call of Duty releases to that list as Activision reaffirmed its commitment to annualized releases, even as live-service games take over the industry.
In an investor call for its Q2 2019 earnings, Activision was asked whether the company will keep its annualized release schedule for the Call of Duty franchise as games like Fortnite and Rainbow Six: Siege adopt live-service models. This model keeps the base game feeling new thanks to regular updates, years after the initial launch.
Shocking No One, Activision Confirms Call of Duty Will Be Released Every Year
Benjamin Franklin once said the only things certain in this world are death and taxes. But you can probably add annual Call of Duty releases to that list as Activision reaffirmed its commitment to annualized releases, even as live-service games take over the industry.
In an investor call for its Q2 2019 earnings, Activision was asked whether the company will keep its annualized release schedule for the Call of Duty franchise as games like Fortnite and Rainbow Six: Siege adopt live-service models. This model keeps the base game feeling new thanks to regular updates, years after the initial launch.