It’s Time for Captain America to Get Political
The All-New, All-Different Marvel relaunch has been underway for a few weeks now, and while one of Marvel's new series has been in the mainstream news lately, it's not necessarily for the reasons the publisher would have wanted. Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuna's Captain America: Sam Wilson has stirred up some controversy this month because the title hero dared to get political. The first issue saw Sam publicly renounce his ties to S.H.I.E.L.D. and the US government and, in the tradition of like-minded heroes like Green Arrow, become a socialist hero of the common man. Not only is the idea of a politically motivated Captain America not a bad thing, it's just what Sam needs to distinguish himself from the other heroes who have wielded the shield before him.
Below Embraces Death in a Powerful Way
Death isn’t a penalty, but rather a learning experience in Below.
Capy’s moody, mysterious, and brutal adventure game hearkens back to an era where hands weren’t held, and exploration and experimentation reigned king. Coming to Xbox One and PC, the studio’s follow-up to Sword and Sworcery and Super Time Force exudes a fantastic sense of trust in the player.
It trusts us to fear and respect the things that lurk in the dark corners of our descent down into the depths of the island. A slight prick from an enemy causes your nameless wanderer to start bleeding out, and it’s up to you to figure out how to cauterize the wound. Keep adventuring, and you’ll get hungry and thirsty. It’s up to you and you alone to figure out how to survive, and continue to delve deeper into Below’s enigmatic world.
Pokemon Is Coming to McDonalds Happy Meals
The Pokemon Company and McDonalds are teaming up for a range of Pokémon-themed Happy Meals.
The Happy Meal program will feature eight Pokémon toys based on the loveable critters seen in Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire. Those eight figures include: Pikachu, Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Lugia, Rayquaza, Mega Latios, and Wobbuffet.
In addition to a toy, buyers will also receive one of 12 Pokémon Trading Card Game cards. This promotion is also how players in the US can get their hands on the mythical mischief Pokémon Hoopa.
Hoopa, for those who haven’t heard, is compatible with Pokémon X, Pokémon Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby, and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. If you’re a player of the latter two titles, however, you’ll be able to change Hoopa’s form from Confined to Unbound.
How Stephen King Saved Evil Dead – Twice!
It’s all true! According to Evil Dead director Sam Raimi, you can thank none other than Stephen King for the long-lived franchise that spawned Deadites, boomsticks, and of course, that immortal dimwit Ash. And now, the Evil Dead return in Ash vs. Evil Dead, the new Starz TV series which debuts this weekend. Judging by the first episode (directed by Raimi), AvED is everything a fan could hope for and more, a bloody fun return to the insanity of the beloved original trilogy of films.
In anticipation of the show’s debut, I spoke with Mr. Raimi recently about the history of the Evil Dead -- how the first low-budget film came about, why a sequel was even made, and yes, how years ago it was Stephen King who made sure that we could all now live in an Evil Dead world. It’s always fun to talk to Mr. Raimi, but I must confess this was a particularly thrilling chat for me as we geeked out over a franchise that we both love so dearly. I hope you guys enjoy our discussion as much as I (and I think he) did!
Steam Halloween Sale Serves Up Spooky Savings
In celebration of Halloween, Valve is currently running a sale on Steam that discounts a wide array of different spooky and horror-themed games.
In addition to sizable discounts for all three BioShock titles, Techland's Dying Light is currently available at half price. CD Projekt's The Witcher trilogy, as well as the first two Dead Space games and several entries in Capcom's Resident Evil series have had their prices slashed, too.
That said, Valve's sale isn't limited to just horror games, as Grand Theft Auto V, ARK: Survival Evolved, and Cities: Skylines have all had their prices reduced as well.
Steam's Halloween sale will remain live until November 2 at 10am PT. You can head over to Valve's online store right now to take advantage of the savings.
Metal Gear Solid 5 Ships 5 Million Copies
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has shipped 5 million units worldwide, Konami announced.
According to its latest financial report detailing the six-month period ending September 30, the publisher noted that this figure includes both digital copies, as well as those shipped to retailers. It also doesn't take into account the month of October, so shipment numbers may now be even higher.
Additionally, Konami revealed that its Digital Entertainment division (i.e. its video games business) was its most profitable segment, amassing 51.7bn yen in revenue.
Thanks to the incredible success of its smartphone title Jikkyou Pawafuru Puroyakyu, which has been downloaded a whopping 17 million times, Konami continues to thrive in the mobile market.
The Best Things We Saw at Paris Games Week
Hello, again. This week we headed under the English Channel for Paris Games Week. Here's a rundown of the best stuff we saw including:
- Playing Uncharted 4's revamped multiplayer for the first time
- Going all Sam Fisher with a baby boar in Wild
- Playing loads of PlayStation VR
- Eating CCP's leftover snacks
So what are you waiting for? Listen to our audio offering below, or watch the chaos unfold in the video above!
Iron Gaming’s New App Rezli is LinkedIn for the Games Industry
A LinkedIn - like service for gaming enthusiasts and industry professionals will launch into its first official beta this week.
Called Rezli, the app is meant to bridge the gap between gamers and games industry professionals and allow them direct contact with one another. According to Iron Gaming CEO Cory Allison, Rezli will "allow gamers of all ages to connect their skillsets with actual career opportunities."
Through Rezli, people can create profiles showing off their skills,interests, and strengths, then explore and discover educational opportunities and job openings while connecting with other players. It's a social platform intended to give players direct access to the industry as a whole.
Evolve’s Fifth Monster, Gorgon, Will Arrive Next Month
Evolve's fifth monster, the Gorgon, will arrive on November 3, 2015.
With traversal web slinging, Gorgon can swing and sling across the map and snare Hunters with webs. She can also attack with an Acid Spit ability, fire off a "bright green, player-controlled version of itself" that can detonate to inflict massive damage, and release a "spider-like creature" from her abdomen.
You can pick up the Gorgon for $10, or download the new creature free as part of Hunting Season Two.
Evolve launched in February, with a focus on eSports. Back in May, 2K announced over 2.5 million units had been sold and that Evolve would be a new permanent IP for Take-Take Interactive.
The Duct Tapes Are Forever Is the New DLC for The Escapists
Mouldy Toof and Team17 have announced that The Duct Tapes Are Forever DLC for The Escapists will be available next week.
The new DLC will be available on November 3 for PlayStation 4 and PC, and November 4 for Xbox One via the ID@Xbox program. It will cost you £3 / $4.50 / €4, and you'll need the base game to play.
"Captured by a heinous villain and trapped in his underground lair," says the game's description, "you must use all your spy cunning to sneak into restricted areas and gather the necessary items you’ll need to craft together to pull off your explosive break for freedom!"
The Duct Tapes Are Forever will contain a new lair to escape from, a leaderboard, and six new achievements to unlock.