Yearly Archives: 2020
The Game of Thrones Board Game Is Becoming a Video Game
Fantasy's Flight's A Game of Thrones: The Board Game is coming to PC (via Steam) in Q3 2020.
The board game, originally released in 2003, was updated in 2011 around the start of HBO's Game of Thrones show and now, years later, the board game is making the jump to video games, as reported by Dicebreaker. The video game version of this board game is simply called A Game of Thrones: The Board Game - Digital Edition.
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The digital version of the board game is essentially just the physical board game translated to a digital format. It seems to play exactly the same in rules and mechanics. The game takes place after King Robert Baratheon's death — which as fans of the books and HBO series know, is the event that sets the rest of the series in motion — and sees up to six players control different territories of Westeros as the series' main houses.
This includes the Lannisters, the Starks, the Greyjoys, the Martells, the Tyrells, and of course, the Baratheon's. The physical board game received a Mother of Dragons expansion that adds both the Arryn and Targaryen houses but it's unknown at this time if those two houses will be in the PC version.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/17/the-best-deaths-on-game-of-thrones"]
The PC version will include the option to play with up to five AI opponents and will feature scenarios not originally found in the board game. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game — Digital Version will launch in the third quarter of 2020 according to the Steam listing for the game. The game is being developed by Dire Wolf and published by Asmodee Digital.
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Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales Plot Details Revealed
Insomniac has revealed plot details for the upcoming Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS5, and revealed that the studio will continue to tell the story of its Peter Parker in future.
Described by creative director Brian Horton on the PlayStation Blog, Miles Morales is set a year after the events of Marvel's Spider-Man. The standalone follow-up kicks off just before Christmas, as a street war kicks off between "an energy corporation and a high-tech criminal army". Harlem, where Miles now lives, is in the middle of that war, and he sets out to put a stop to it.
Insomniac says the new game will include "a new story, with new set-pieces, fresh villains, and unique quests across Marvel’s New York City." Along the way, Miles will discover new powers that set him apart from Peter Parker's Spider-man (and we've already seen both his venom strike and invisibility powers shown off in the reveal trailer).
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/18/marvels-spider-man-miles-morales-official-trailer-recap"]
Per a new trailer recap video from Insomniac, Miles is being designed to feel distinct from Peter Parker in the first game. Aside from his differing powers, Miles' combat and traversal animations will be brand new – perhaps most interestingly, Miles' lower confidence in being a superhero will be reflected in how he web-swings, with hero animator James Ham pointing out that he flails around more while swinging.
Insomniac makes clear that this game is entirely about Miles Morales, who is "a critical part of our Spider-Man universe" - but the studio also hints that the original Spider-Man will return, saying, "we still have much of Peter’s story left to tell." Horton also explains that the first game's director, Brian Intihar "continues to imagine big things for the Marvel’s Spider-Man universe." It's certainly not a confirmation of a Peter Parker-centric Spider-Man 2, but it definitely feels like a hint at one.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/spider-man-miles-morales-is-ps5s-biggest-sell-next-gen-console-watch"]
Horton also briefly discusses the PS5 tech being used to bring the new game to life, which will include "near-instant loading, ray-tracing, 3D audio and the DualSense controller." Character models should look more realistic, and even the returning New York City has apparently been "updated" for its PS5 debut.
Horton doesn't cover the size of the game, however. After some confusion, Insomniac confirmed that the game would be a standalone release, but reports have said that it will be a smaller game than the first, similar in scope to other "expandalones" like Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is due for release on PS5 this Holiday. Here are the six comic stories we think could inspire it.
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Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales Plot Details Revealed
Insomniac has revealed plot details for the upcoming Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS5, and revealed that the studio will continue to tell the story of its Peter Parker in future.
Described by creative director Brian Horton on the PlayStation Blog, Miles Morales is set a year after the events of Marvel's Spider-Man. The standalone follow-up kicks off just before Christmas, as a street war kicks off between "an energy corporation and a high-tech criminal army". Harlem, where Miles now lives, is in the middle of that war, and he sets out to put a stop to it.
Insomniac says the new game will include "a new story, with new set-pieces, fresh villains, and unique quests across Marvel’s New York City." Along the way, Miles will discover new powers that set him apart from Peter Parker's Spider-man (and we've already seen both his venom strike and invisibility powers shown off in the reveal trailer).
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/18/marvels-spider-man-miles-morales-official-trailer-recap"]
Per a new trailer recap video from Insomniac, Miles is being designed to feel distinct from Peter Parker in the first game. Aside from his differing powers, Miles' combat and traversal animations will be brand new – perhaps most interestingly, Miles' lower confidence in being a superhero will be reflected in how he web-swings, with hero animator James Ham pointing out that he flails around more while swinging.
Insomniac makes clear that this game is entirely about Miles Morales, who is "a critical part of our Spider-Man universe" - but the studio also hints that the original Spider-Man will return, saying, "we still have much of Peter’s story left to tell." Horton also explains that the first game's director, Brian Intihar "continues to imagine big things for the Marvel’s Spider-Man universe." It's certainly not a confirmation of a Peter Parker-centric Spider-Man 2, but it definitely feels like a hint at one.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/spider-man-miles-morales-is-ps5s-biggest-sell-next-gen-console-watch"]
Horton also briefly discusses the PS5 tech being used to bring the new game to life, which will include "near-instant loading, ray-tracing, 3D audio and the DualSense controller." Character models should look more realistic, and even the returning New York City has apparently been "updated" for its PS5 debut.
Horton doesn't cover the size of the game, however. After some confusion, Insomniac confirmed that the game would be a standalone release, but reports have said that it will be a smaller game than the first, similar in scope to other "expandalones" like Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is due for release on PS5 this Holiday. Here are the six comic stories we think could inspire it.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=spider-man-miles-morales-playstation-5-screenshots&captions=true"]
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Netflix’s Cursed: Release Date, Teaser Trailer & New Images Revealed
Netflix has unveiled the release date, teaser trailer and new images for Cursed, the upcoming Arthurian legend series based on the illustrated novel by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller.
Cursed is set to premiere on July 17, and promises a new take on the legend of King Arthur, with a story that is told through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman who is destined to become the Lady of the Lake.
The teaser trailer for the fantasy series features Katherine Langford as Nimue, the sword-swinging hero at the centre of the old-time tale. She is joined by Devon Terrell as Arthur, and Vikings' Gustaf Skarsgard as Merlin, among many other familiar Arthurian characters.
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"They came while we slept to cleanse the world of our kind because we're different; because magic runs through us; because we have what they want," the trailer narration explains. "The legend says this sword belongs to the one true king, but what if the sword chooses a queen?"
Netflix describes Cursed as a coming-of-age story whose "themes are familiar to our own time: the obliteration of the natural world, religious terror, senseless war, and finding the courage to lead in the face of the impossible."
The latest images depict some of the other cast members starring in the series, including Daniel Sharman as the Weeping Monk, Sebastian Armesto as King Uther Pendragon, Matt Stokoe as Gawain, Lily Newmark as Pym, Shalom Brune-Franklin as Igraine, Emily Coates as Sister Iris, Billy Jenkins as Squirrel, Bella Dayne as Red Spear, and Peter Mullan as Father Carden.
The Netflix series adaptation of Frank Miller's Cursed will make its official debut on July 17, with 10 hour-long episodes in the first season. For more on the Arthurian legend series, cast an eye over these first-look images from the forthcoming season.
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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Netflix’s Cursed: Release Date, Teaser Trailer & New Images Revealed
Netflix has unveiled the release date, teaser trailer and new images for Cursed, the upcoming Arthurian legend series based on the illustrated novel by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller.
Cursed is set to premiere on July 17, and promises a new take on the legend of King Arthur, with a story that is told through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman who is destined to become the Lady of the Lake.
The teaser trailer for the fantasy series features Katherine Langford as Nimue, the sword-swinging hero at the centre of the old-time tale. She is joined by Devon Terrell as Arthur, and Vikings' Gustaf Skarsgard as Merlin, among many other familiar Arthurian characters.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=cursed-on-netflix-19-new-images&captions=true"]
"They came while we slept to cleanse the world of our kind because we're different; because magic runs through us; because we have what they want," the trailer narration explains. "The legend says this sword belongs to the one true king, but what if the sword chooses a queen?"
Netflix describes Cursed as a coming-of-age story whose "themes are familiar to our own time: the obliteration of the natural world, religious terror, senseless war, and finding the courage to lead in the face of the impossible."
The latest images depict some of the other cast members starring in the series, including Daniel Sharman as the Weeping Monk, Sebastian Armesto as King Uther Pendragon, Matt Stokoe as Gawain, Lily Newmark as Pym, Shalom Brune-Franklin as Igraine, Emily Coates as Sister Iris, Billy Jenkins as Squirrel, Bella Dayne as Red Spear, and Peter Mullan as Father Carden.
The Netflix series adaptation of Frank Miller's Cursed will make its official debut on July 17, with 10 hour-long episodes in the first season. For more on the Arthurian legend series, cast an eye over these first-look images from the forthcoming season.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Netflix’s Cursed: Release Date, Teaser Trailer & New Images Revealed
Netflix has unveiled the release date, teaser trailer and new images for Cursed, the upcoming Arthurian legend series based on the illustrated novel by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller.
Cursed is set to premiere on July 17, and promises a new take on the legend of King Arthur, with a story that is told through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman who is destined to become the Lady of the Lake.
The teaser trailer for the fantasy series features Katherine Langford as Nimue, the sword-swinging hero at the centre of the old-time tale. She is joined by Devon Terrell as Arthur, and Vikings' Gustaf Skarsgard as Merlin, among many other familiar Arthurian characters.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=cursed-on-netflix-19-new-images&captions=true"]
"They came while we slept to cleanse the world of our kind because we're different; because magic runs through us; because we have what they want," the trailer narration explains. "The legend says this sword belongs to the one true king, but what if the sword chooses a queen?"
Netflix describes Cursed as a coming-of-age story whose "themes are familiar to our own time: the obliteration of the natural world, religious terror, senseless war, and finding the courage to lead in the face of the impossible."
The latest images depict some of the other cast members starring in the series, including Daniel Sharman as the Weeping Monk, Sebastian Armesto as King Uther Pendragon, Matt Stokoe as Gawain, Lily Newmark as Pym, Shalom Brune-Franklin as Igraine, Emily Coates as Sister Iris, Billy Jenkins as Squirrel, Bella Dayne as Red Spear, and Peter Mullan as Father Carden.
The Netflix series adaptation of Frank Miller's Cursed will make its official debut on July 17, with 10 hour-long episodes in the first season. For more on the Arthurian legend series, cast an eye over these first-look images from the forthcoming season.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
This War of Mine Added to Official School Reading List in Poland
This War of Mine, the 2014 wartime survival sim, has been added to the education ministry's official reading list for schools in Poland. This is the first time a country has included a video game in its national education system, according to Poland's prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki.
"Young people use games to imagine certain situations [in a way] no worse than reading books," said Morawiecki (via Notes from Poland). "By incorporating games into the education system, we will expand our imagination and bring something new to the culture."
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This War of Mine will be classified as optional "reading" for students studying sociology, ethics, philosophy, and history during the 2020-21 academic year, according to GamesIndustry.biz. The game will be free to those students so long as they are 18 or older, due to its PEGI rating.
“Of course, games are already being used in education for teaching maths, chemistry, and developing cognitive abilities," said Grzegorz Miechowski, CEO of developer 11 bit studios, "but I don’t think we’ve ever encountered a game being officially included in the educational system on a national level as a school reading."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/14/this-war-of-mine-final-cut-update-trailer"]
Inspired by the Siege of Sarajevo, This War of Mine explores the impact of war from a civilian perspective. "In contrast to most computer games — shooting, chasing, fast cars, more shooting — in this game there is a lot of reflection, situations in which we put ourselves [in the position] of a person who has to survive war," said Morawiecki.
IGN's This War of Mine review called it "a great study of survival during wartime and civil collapse" and one of 2014's "most thoughtful games."
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Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.
This War of Mine Added to Official School Reading List in Poland
This War of Mine, the 2014 wartime survival sim, has been added to the education ministry's official reading list for schools in Poland. This is the first time a country has included a video game in its national education system, according to Poland's prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki.
"Young people use games to imagine certain situations [in a way] no worse than reading books," said Morawiecki (via Notes from Poland). "By incorporating games into the education system, we will expand our imagination and bring something new to the culture."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="legacyId=20014526&captions=true"]
This War of Mine will be classified as optional "reading" for students studying sociology, ethics, philosophy, and history during the 2020-21 academic year, according to GamesIndustry.biz. The game will be free to those students so long as they are 18 or older, due to its PEGI rating.
“Of course, games are already being used in education for teaching maths, chemistry, and developing cognitive abilities," said Grzegorz Miechowski, CEO of developer 11 bit studios, "but I don’t think we’ve ever encountered a game being officially included in the educational system on a national level as a school reading."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/14/this-war-of-mine-final-cut-update-trailer"]
Inspired by the Siege of Sarajevo, This War of Mine explores the impact of war from a civilian perspective. "In contrast to most computer games — shooting, chasing, fast cars, more shooting — in this game there is a lot of reflection, situations in which we put ourselves [in the position] of a person who has to survive war," said Morawiecki.
IGN's This War of Mine review called it "a great study of survival during wartime and civil collapse" and one of 2014's "most thoughtful games."
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.
The Last Of Us Part 2 Review (Spoiler Version)
Editor's note: You may have seen our spoiler-free The Last of Us Part II review, originally published on June 12, 2020. Due to a strict embargo, we were limited in what aspects of the game we could touch on in that review. While I critiqued the game in full for that embargo, there may be some parts of the review that could use more explanation. Now that the embargo has lifted and the game is now available, I've expanded on my thoughts here; this review has the same arguments and score as the first one and is simply more detailed in my analysis. Note that this review contains spoilers, including one major character death.
The Last of Us Part II begins with serious tonal whiplash. One moment, Ellie and her close friend Dina are becoming more than friends in a basement filled with weed plants and Naughty Dog porn puns; the next, Joel is being savagely beaten to death with a golf club. It's the first of many, many gruesome deaths. Some happen whether you want them to or not, in intimate cutscenes that are hard to watch, while others happen just because an NPC got in between you and your objective and killing them was the easiest thing to do. Either way, that brief glimpse of happiness at the beginning is left very much in the dust.
But while the scale and severity of death and loss in this game is incredibly high, The Last of Us Part II is more a character study than a musing on the nature of violence. On that front, the story of Ellie, her playable foil Abby, and their quests for revenge and redemption is a gripping and harrowing one, and I found myself deeply emotionally entangled with each woman and her strengths and flaws. The bloodshed is very much a part of that story, but it's far from the most effective one, and it's where the game stumbles a bit.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Last Of Us Part 2 Review (Spoilers)
Editor's note: You may have seen our spoiler-free The Last of Us Part II review, originally published on June 12, 2020. Due to a strict embargo, we were limited in what aspects of the game we could touch on in that review. While I critiqued the game in full for that embargo, there may be some parts of the review that could use more explanation. Now that the embargo has lifted, I've expanded on my thoughts here; this review has the same arguments and score as the first one and is simply more detailed in my analysis. Note that this review contains spoilers, including one major character death.
The Last of Us Part II begins with serious tonal whiplash. One moment, Ellie and her close friend Dina are becoming more than friends in a basement filled with weed plants and Naughty Dog porn puns; the next, Joel is being savagely beaten to death with a golf club. It's the first of many, many gruesome deaths. Some happen whether you want them to or not, in intimate cutscenes that are hard to watch, while others happen just because an NPC got in between you and your objective and killing them was the easiest thing to do. Either way, that brief glimpse of happiness at the beginning is left very much in the dust.
But while the scale and severity of death and loss in this game is incredibly high, The Last of Us Part II is more a character study than a musing on the nature of violence. On that front, the story of Ellie, her playable foil Abby, and their quests for revenge and redemption is a gripping and harrowing one, and I found myself deeply emotionally entangled with each woman and her strengths and flaws. The bloodshed is very much a part of that story, but it's far from the most effective one, and it's where the game stumbles a bit.
Continue Reading at GameSpot