Resident Evil 7 Proves VR Is More Than Just a Gimmick
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’s 10 hour campaign can be played entirely in virtual reality — every jump scare, every grueling boss fight, every disgusting enemy encounter, experienced up close and uncomfortably personal with the help of Sony’s PlayStation VR headset.
As someone who was initially skeptical about how a full-length, entirely VR-optional game would work in VR, I was surprised to discover that it was actually… pretty good!
So far, most successful or well-known virtual reality experiences have been created specifically with VR in mind: Job Simulator, Batman: Arkham VR, and so on. These games take advantage of VR’s unique offerings to craft moments that wouldn’t be the same played on a screen. Seeing your hands in-game using PlayStation Move or the HTC Vive controllers goes a long way to make you feel physically present in a virtual world, even if you are just sloppily putting together cartoon sandwiches in a comedy game. But while it’s important for developers to identify what some of VR’s specialized capabilities are sooner rather than later, the result has been a lot of games attempting to experiment with the same few ideas, over and over again. It’s easy for VR skeptics to feel unsure about whether these isolated mechanics are enough to carry a full-length AAA game campaign.
Former Rockstar North President Announces New Game
Former president of Rockstar North, Leslie Benzies, has announced a new video game, Everywhere, using Amazon's free game engine, Lumberyard.
Everywhere is the game's temporary title, and there are no further details currently known about the project, including its genre, gameplay, and what platforms it might appear on. However, Benzies did reveal that his studio has a long-term vision for the title, with the goal "to create a platform where players can be entertained, and also entertain others while blurring the lines between reality, and a simulated world."
Benzies also confirmed that his team will use Lumberyard's client and cloud features "to create a new type of game that was never before possible for today’s massive gaming communities.”
8 Mass Effect Andromeda Figures Coming From Funko
With Mass Effect Andromeda nearing release, Funko has unveiled eight new figures based on the game.
The Pop! vinyl collection features characters from Mass Effect Andromeda. There's the hero Sara Ryder, for instance, along with Peebee, Liam Kosta and even the main villain Archon.
Funko actually revealed two of the Mass Effect Andromeda characters earlier this week, along with an Overwatch set of figures. The company also recently released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt figures.
QuakeCon 2017 Dates Announced
QuakeCon 2017 will return to Dallas on August 24-27, Bethesda has announced.
The largest bring your own computer (BYOC) LAN party in North America is open to the public for free and will take place at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. A special room rate at the resort is being offered to QuakeCon attendees for $185 per night.
Over two thousand BYOC seats will be available at the event, but other "diverse activities" are being offered for those who choose not to bring a computer, according to Bethesda. Attendees will get sneak peeks of upcoming Bethesda games as well as the ability to attend presentations, tournaments, workshops, and exhibits from leading tech companies.
Accel World vs. Sword Art Online Announced for PS4, Vita
Bandai Namco today announced Accel World vs. Sword Art Online, a new anime crossover RPG from the author of both series, Reki Kawahara. It will launch digitally on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Summer 2017.
Check out some images from the game in the gallery below.
The original story from Kawahara involves the worlds of Sword Art Online and Accel World, chaotically merging into one. As the merging unfolds, skilled Alfheim Online players from Sword Art Online and Burst Linkers from Accel World join forces to stop the Seven Kings of Pure Color.
Players construct three-person teams composed of favorite characters from both franchises, combining skills like magic and fairy flight from Sword Art and special techniques from Accel World. An online multiplayer mode will let you team up in battle with three friends.
Star Wars: Here’s Every Announcement Poster
As readers surely know by now, the news came earlier this week that Star Wars: Episode VIII will be called Star Wars: The Last Jedi. That of course got fans to speculatin' about the nature of the title -- who is the last Jedi? And also, why is the logo's font in the first poster for the film red?
You'll have to click through the links above for more on those burning questions, but below you'll find a quick slideshow of every Star Wars announcement poster ever released. From the original film (before it was even called A New Hope) to the prequel films and of course up through The Force Awakens, Rogue One and now The Last Jedi, see them all right here:
11 Relaxing Video Games for De-Stressing
Note - this piece was first published in 2017, but we thought you could use some relaxation this week.
When we think about our favorite gaming moments, we tend to think of the high-octane stuff: car chases, escaping heavily-armed guards, racking up a kill streak in the final moments of an online game...
But there’s another side to games, too: the peaceful ones that offer us some much-needed variety and help us de-stress at the end of a long day.
If you’re looking for calmer games to help you unwind, here’s our list of gaming’s most relaxing titles.
Professor Layton and The Unwound Future commands no extensive knowledge of video game logic, which makes it appropriate for both experienced and inexperienced players. Made up of riddles, visual challenges, and brain teasers, it’s great for both long play sessions and short bursts. It’s this engrossing playstyle and the stunning animated presentation that make it an exceptional short-term antidote to stress.
New Beauty and the Beast Character Posters Released
Ahead of Beauty and the Beast's debut this March, Disney has released a fresh batch of new character posters, spotlighting the core cast of its upcoming live-action film.
See Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, and many more in the gallery below.
In addition to Watson, Stevens, and Evans, the film stars Kevin Kline as Maurice, Josh Gad as Lefou, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters on March 17, and is directed by Bill Condon. While you wait for its release, check out this teaser for a sneak peek at Emma Watson singing as Belle, and then find out what Stevens recently had to say about the physical challenges of playing the Beast.
Smallville’s Vandervoort Joins the New Saw Movie
Saw: Legacy, the eight installment in Lionsgate's horror franchise, will star Laura Vandervoort and Hannah Anderson.
As reported by Variety, Vandervoort and Anderson are the first two cast members to have been announced for the upcoming film. Saw: Legacy was filmed this past November and is currently in post-production.
In addition to appearing in the film Ted, Vandervoort played Indigo in the Supergirl TV series, and previously starred as Kara Zor-El herself in Smallville.
Vandervoort as Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) in Smallville
Obsidian Announces Pillars of Eternity 2
A fan-funding campaign for a follow-up to 2015's Pillars of Eternity, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, is now live.
Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind Fallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and the original Pillars of Eternity, launched the campaign on Fig. The campaign has an overall goal of $1.1 million USD.
According to Obsidian, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire "improves upon the rich narrative, beautiful environments, and intricate, tactical combat" that helped make the first game a success.
The sequel sees players return to the world of Eora, this time to explore the Deadfire Archipelago. Traveling "by land and sea," players move from island to island, exploring the environments and smoothing out relations between the locals, "trading companies, and bands of fierce pirates."