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Yearly Archives: 2020

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Dead Space Writer Says His New Game Will Be Shown at PS5 Event

The writer behind Dead Space has revealed that a game he has worked on will feature during Thursday's PS5 event. Antony Johnston, who wrote the script for Dead Space and has credits on Shadow of Morder and Binary Domain, tweeted that he's been "working on a big videogame for almost 2 years now," and suggested that those interested should "watch the PS5 launch event on Thursday." Johnston added in the subsequent replies that the game has you "play a character having a really bad time" which is... not a lot to go off, honestly, but we'll take it! In another quoted retweet suggesting the game will be a horror, Johnston noted that it was "weird how everyone automatically assumes it'll be a horror game." Whether it is something in the same vein as Dead Space or something completely different remains to be seen. Johnston's pedigree is reason enough to be interested however - not least because we consider Dead Space one of the scariest games ever made. Regardless, it offers even more reason to tune in to the forthcoming PS5 conference which was recently rescheduled to this Thursday, the 11th of June. If you're keen, check out our article detailing how to watch the event tomorrow. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/08/01/top-10-scariest-games-of-all-time"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
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Gone With the Wind Returns to HBO Max With Contextual Prologue

Two weeks after it was pulled from HBO Max, Gone With the Wind is back on the streaming service but is now preceded by a disclaimer and an introduction that provides context about the 1939 film's troubled legacy that caused it to be pulled in the first place. In the opening segment, TCM host and film scholar Jacqueline Stewart addresses the controversy that has surrounded the Oscar-winning film since before it was even released due to its depictions of African-Americans and a romanticized antebellum South. "Watching Gone with the Wind can be uncomfortable, even painful," Stewart says. "Still, it's important that classic Hollywood films are available to us in their original form for viewing and discussion." As The Hollywood Reporter points out, HBO Max's presentation of Gone with the Wind also includes the video extras "Gone With the Wind: A Complicated Legacy" and "Hattie McDaniel: What a Character!". Our original report from June 9th follows. [poilib element="accentDivider"] The recently launched HBO Max has removed the Oscar-winning epic Gone With the Wind from its library, but the streaming service says the film will eventually return unaltered but with context added to address its outdated and racially insensitive elements. While the 1939 blockbuster -- which won eight Oscars including Best Picture -- may be widely considered a classic of cinema, it's also long proven controversial and disliked for its romanticized portrayal of the Confederacy and Southern plantation life, particularly its depiction of the institution of slavery. In a statement from an HBO Max spokesperson, the streaming service said:

"Gone With The Wind’ is a product of its time and depicts some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that have, unfortunately, been commonplace in American society. These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible. These depictions are certainly counter to WarnerMedia’s values, so when we return the film to HBO Max,  it will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions, but will be presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.  If we are to create a more just, equitable and inclusive future, we must first acknowledge and understand our history.”

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2011/06/01/gone-with-the-wind-frankly-my-dear-i-dont-give-a-damn"] HBO Max's removal of Gone With the Wind comes a day after the Los Angeles Times published an op-ed from Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) blasting the picture as "a film that glorifies the antebellum south. It is a film that, when it is not ignoring the horrors of slavery, pauses only to perpetuate some of the most painful stereotypes of people of color.” Ridley's article isn't the first think-piece to criticize Gone With the Wind, its romantic depiction of the antebellum era, and the film's long-held lofty place in cinematic history. There have been multiple calls from academics and artists over the decades for not just a reassessment of the film but for its celebration to cease. Director Spike Lee used Gone With the Wind's own imagery to lampoon white supremacy in his Oscar-winning film BlacKkKlansman, and has recounted how seeing Gone With the Wind on a school trip as a kid deeply disturbed him. Gone With the Wind was adapted from Margaret Mitchell's bestseller, and the hype around its production and casting was as feverishly covered by the press as a major comic book movie is today. But Mitchell's hugely problematic novel prompted the NAACP to lobby the filmmakers to alter some of the book's most racially insensitive and troubling elements, from a scene involving the Ku Klux Klan to the book's many racial epithets. In the end, the film adaptation removed many but not all of the slurs and altered one particularly incendiary scene featuring the KKK. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-dark-knight-trilogy-and-more-dc-movies-and-series-missing-on-hbo-max&captions=true"] In addition to winning Best Picture, Gone With the Wind saw Hattie McDaniel win Best Supporting Actress, making her the first African-American and black woman to ever win an Oscar. McDaniel played Mammy, the slave of Vivien Leigh's protagonist Scarlett O'Hara. McDaniel wasn't allowed to be seated through the Oscar ceremony with her fellow cast members and filmmakers due to the racial segregation of the time. Her struggles were recently depicted in the Netflix miniseries Hollywood, wherein she was portrayed by Queen Latifah.
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XCOM 2 Collection For Nintendo Switch Review – Close Encounters of the Bugged Kind

You're hunkered down behind a beaten-up truck, bleeding from a chest wound. You can hear the labored breathing of one of your squadmates over the comms. Nightmare, as the team knows her, is unconscious at your feet, but you can't think about that right now as a horde of zombies comes skittering around the corner. You take aim, the first of your targets weaving erratically in your field of vision before you blow its brains out. You repeat this twice more and as the horde advances yet again, you hear a shot ring out and a bullet zips past your ear, splintering the helmet of an ADVENT soldier who had a flamethrower at the ready.

The sniper, Rat King, holds up five fingers--minutes until evac arrives. Another member of your squad, Outrider, drops cloaking and picks Nightmare up to take her to safety as the sounds of more Lost ring out in the distance. It takes seconds, in the end. With the Commander's voice in your ear, you pull the pin on the frag grenade and chuck it, close enough to clip the rampaging horde but also to light up the truck that you're taking cover behind. This resulting explosion will finish you, but allow everyone else to make it to safety. After all the hard choices the Commander has had to make, your last thought is the hope that this has been easy in comparison.

XCOM 2 Collection on the Switch is an ambitious port, full of those excruciating choices and richer for it. Firaxis Games' alien-massacring hit has become a bit of a household name when it comes to strategy games. Even though it's infamous for its Russian roulette-style approach to combat probability, the impact that XCOM 2 has had on the genre as a whole is widely accepted, making this one of the more highly-anticipated ports of legacy franchises to Nintendo's flagship console. Unfortunately, the full experience is too performance-intensive for the Switch to let the title's tactical magic truly shine through in this latest iteration.

Continue Reading at GameSpot
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XCOM 2 Collection For Nintendo Switch Review – Close Encounters of the Bugged Kind

You're hunkered down behind a beaten-up truck, bleeding from a chest wound. You can hear the labored breathing of one of your squadmates over the comms. Nightmare, as the team knows her, is unconscious at your feet, but you can't think about that right now as a horde of zombies comes skittering around the corner. You take aim, the first of your targets weaving erratically in your field of vision before you blow its brains out. You repeat this twice more and as the horde advances yet again, you hear a shot ring out and a bullet zips past your ear, splintering the helmet of an ADVENT soldier who had a flamethrower at the ready.

The sniper, Rat King, holds up five fingers--minutes until evac arrives. Another member of your squad, Outrider, drops cloaking and picks Nightmare up to take her to safety as the sounds of more Lost ring out in the distance. It takes seconds, in the end. With the Commander's voice in your ear, you pull the pin on the frag grenade and chuck it, close enough to clip the rampaging horde but also to light up the truck that you're taking cover behind. This resulting explosion will finish you, but allow everyone else to make it to safety. After all the hard choices the Commander has had to make, your last thought is the hope that this has been easy in comparison.

XCOM 2 Collection on the Switch is an ambitious port, full of those excruciating choices and richer for it. Firaxis Games' alien-massacring hit has become a bit of a household name when it comes to strategy games. Even though it's infamous for its Russian roulette-style approach to combat probability, the impact that XCOM 2 has had on the genre as a whole is widely accepted, making this one of the more highly-anticipated ports of legacy franchises to Nintendo's flagship console. Unfortunately, the full experience is too performance-intensive for the Switch to let the title's tactical magic truly shine through in this latest iteration.

Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Song From The Last of Us Part 2 Trailer Was Inspired by Existing Cover Version, Uncredited

Naughty Dog VP Neil Druckmann has confirmed the acoustic version of New Order’s ‘True Faith’ used in a recent trailer for The Last of Us Part II was indeed inspired by musician Lotte Kestner’s existing cover of the song. Druckmann, creative director on The Last of Us Part II, explained the situation as an “oversight.” “Ellie's rendition of ‘True Faith’ was inspired by Lotte Kestner’s haunting cover of the song,” said Druckmann via Twitter. “Due to an oversight on our end, she wasn’t credited as intended. Our deep apologies – we are rectifying this ASAP.” Seattle, Washington-based singer/songwriter Kestner pointed out the similarities to Naughty Dog and Druckmann via Twitter late last week, calling the version used in the game’s trailer a “replica” of her own track, released in 2011 on her album Stolen. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/03/the-last-of-us-part-ii-official-extended-commercial"] “I wrote original parts not in the original song that are copied exactly by whoever covered it,” wrote Kestner. “I am heartbroken.” Kestner has since removed that post and noted her thanks. Towards the end of Kestner’s cover is a hummed vocal segment, which has been replicated at the end of the version ostensibly sung by Ellie in the trailer. This hummed melody does not appear in the original 1987 new wave synth-pop track by New Order, either as vocals or an instrument solo. To compare, listen to Kestner’s cover, the trailer, and the original New Order song. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-last-of-us-part-2-new-screenshots&captions=true"] For more from The Last of Us Part II, check out the new enemy factions, the new terrors of the infected, and our final, story spoiler-free preview. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter sporadically @MrLukeReilly.
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Cops Canceled After 32 Seasons on TV

The Paramount Network dropped the long-running reality series entirely in the wake of the worldwide protests against police brutality caused by the killing of George Floyd
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Zack Snyder Reveals Some Key Visual Changes in Store for Justice League

Beyond just the obvious narrative differences between the 2017 theatrical release and The Snyder Cut, fans can expect some key technical and visual changes to be made when Zack Snyder's retooled version of Justice League debuts on HBO Max next year. Snyder revealed a few details on such changes to fans on the social media platform Vero. As pointed out by /Film, Snyder confirmed that he will alter the color of the orange-red sky seen during the theatrical release's end battle. Another exchange between Snyder and a Vero user -- picked up by Reddit -- revealed that The Snyder Cut will utilize a 1.66.1 aspect ratio, what is commonly known as "European Widescreen". [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/justice-league-snyder-cut-darkseid-confirmed-and-revealed-ign-news"] The Direct says the 1.66.1 aspect ratio "will give a taller look for the scenes of the film as it shows more of the top and bottom of the screen." Netflix's Marriage Story used this aspect ratio so you will notice the black bars (or mattes) along the sides of this frame from the film. Reddit user BatmanNewsChris made the examples below of what Justice League looks like in both its original theatrical 1.85:1 aspect ratio and The Snyder Cut's 1.66.1 aspect ratio: [caption id="attachment_2362444" align="alignnone" width="720"]Justice League's theatrical aspect ratio. Justice League's theatrical aspect ratio.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2362445" align="alignnone" width="720"]Justice League in 1.66.1 aspect ratio. Justice League in 1.66.1 aspect ratio.[/caption] So what do you think of these visual alterations to Justice League? Let us know in the comments. And for more on The Snyder Cut, behold Zack Snyder's version of Darkseid, learn why it will cost a lot more than originally reported, and read up on why the cast won't be involved with reshoots. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-superhero-directors-cuts-you-can-stream-now&captions=true"]
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Who Is Punchline? Why Joker’s New Partner Is No Harley Quinn

DC is gearing up for the start of Joker War, an epic new crossover featuring what is said to be the final showdown between Batman and Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime knows Batman's secret identity, and he's finally ready to end their long dance and bring Gotham burning down around them. But he won't be doing it alone. Joker has a brand new ally in the form of Punchline. Thanks to the release of new books like Batman #92 and The Joker: 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, we now know much more about Punchline's origin and how she fits into Joker's grand plan. Read on to find out how this new Batman villain came to be and why she's not just a replacement for Harley Quinn. Warning: this article contains spoilers for Batman #92, The Joker: 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, and Batman: Secret Files #3! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=these-incredible-batman-covers-showcase-the-heroes-and-villains-of-joker-war&captions=true"] Among the many stories featured in The Joker: 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, one features writer James Tynion IV and artist Mikel Janin chronicling the origin of Punchline. This story reveals she was once a seemingly ordinary college student named Alexis, albeit one with an unhealthy fascination with the Joker. After her school holds a "Dress like your favorite hero" event in response to Joker's latest crime spree, Alexis courts controversy by dressing like her role model. And when the school's dean attempts to talk sense into her, Alexis lets her dark side spring free. [caption id="attachment_2362390" align="aligncenter" width="927"]Art by Mikel Janin. (Image Credit: DC) Art by Mikel Janin. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] Alexis poisons the dean with her own homemade Joker toxin and reveals her desire to destroy the world and usher in a new era of chaos and anarchy. As it turns out, the Joker is hiding in Alexis' closet and watching the whole performance. Now satisfied she's worthy of being his partner, Joker officially welcomes her into the fold and agrees to make her part of his latest and greatest plot to destroy Batman. Thus, Punchline is born. This story reveals two crucial differences between Punchline and Joker's former flame Harley Quinn. Whereas Harleen Quinzel was a well-meaning psychiatrist corrupted through her sessions with Joker, Alexis was well on the path to villainy before ever actually meeting Joker. And while Harley was treated more as Joker's sidekick and punching bag, Joker seems willing to accept Punchline as a true partner-in-crime. What exactly are the two villains planning? As Batman Secret Files #3 reveals, they're going after the money. A story by Tynion and artist Sumit Kumar flashes back a month before the events of the current "Their Dark Designs" storyline, as Joker and Punchline approach Deathstroke with an offer. Joker wants to steal the Wayne fortune and use it to fund his war on Batman. In exchange for his help, Deathstroke will receive the beneficiary trust Bruce set up for Dick Grayson. [caption id="attachment_2362393" align="aligncenter" width="920"]Art by Sumit Kumar. (Image Credit: DC) Art by Sumit Kumar. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] Even as Deathstroke has been among the hired assassins working for the Designer, it seems Slade has had ulterior motives. If Joker wants to steal the Wayne fortune, he may have to get in line. Batman #92 (by Tynion and artist Guillem March) serves as the penultimate chapter of "Their Dark Designs," which deals with a villain called the Designer manipulating Batman, Catwoman, Riddler, and Penguin as part of a larger plot to rule Gotham. The Designer once showed Catwoman a way to steal the Wayne fortune and become Gotham's richest resident, and now Selina is desperate to stop him from carrying out that plan himself. Unfortunately, she and her temporary partner Harley Quinn are stymied when they bump into Punchline, who's also looking to do a little bank robbery. Needless to say, Harley isn't amused by Joker's biggest fan. [caption id="attachment_2362392" align="aligncenter" width="921"]Art by Guillem March. (Image Credit: DC) Art by Guillem March. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] With only one issue remaining in this storyline, we're getting a much better picture of how Joker plans to strike at his nemesis. If all goes according to Joker's plan, Batman will find all his wealth and resources turned against him and wielded by an enemy who knows his secret identity. Look for Joker War to officially begin in Batman #95, which is currently scheduled for release on Tuesday, July 8. For more on the future of the Batman franchise, find out why Three Jokers is a spiritual sequel to Batman: The Killing Joke and which iconic Batman: The Animated Series villain is finally making their DC Comics debut. Then see which series and creators were included among the 2020 Eisner nominations. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
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How to Watch PlayStation’s The Future of Gaming Event

Updated on 6/11 with livestream and pre- and post- show times. Today Sony is hosting a digital conference called The Future of Gaming that will finally give us a first look at some PS5 games. The reveal event is expected to be about an hour long and is the first part of a series of updates Sony has planned for its upcoming console. So far, we’ve learned about PS5 specs and hardware, the new DualSense controller, and a few confirmed next-gen titles. But this will actually be our first, truly dedicated look at games we can expect to play on PlayStation’s upcoming console. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/10/ign-summer-of-gaming-live"]Hey! We’re going to be collecting YOUR video comments for our Summer of Gaming coverage. Head over to this How-To article and tell us what you’re most excited about, share predictions, and post-reveal reactions. If you’re lucky, your Yap may be played live, on-air! Sony hasn't mentioned which games to expect to see or if we’ll finally get a glimpse of the official PS5 design. Either way, if you’re interested in what PlayStation has planned for the next-gen, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss the show. Here’s what you need to know to catch the livestream, and some speculation about what we might see based on what we know so far.

How to Watch the PS5 Reveal Event (June 2020)

The PS5 games reveal, also known as The Future of Gaming livestream, takes place on Thursday, June 11 at 1pm PT/ 4pm ET/ 9pm BST. You can watch it here with us or on one of the many IGN channels we have across several major platforms. We'll be hosting a pre show, starting at 12:45pm PT/ 3:45pm ET/ 8:45pm, and a post-show which we estimate to start around 2pm PT/ 5pm ET/ 10pm BST but could be sooner depending on when the PS5 event ends. Either way, check-in 15 minutes before it begins and stay turned after it ends to hear our predictions, impressions, and more. For the sake of convenience, here is a list of all the places you can watch the PS5 games reveal event: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"]

What Games to Expect at Sony's The Future of Gaming Event

There's no official word on which games we'll see at The Future of Gaming livestream. All we know for certain is that Sony plans on revealing some of its up-and-coming titles at the event. That said, we can speculate a little bit about what we might see based on the list of games confirmed and rumored for the PS5 so far. Following the reveal of Unreal Engine 5, Epic Games confirmed Fortnite as a launch title for the PS5. Rainbow Six Seige is yet another title confirmed for launch. Additionally, when speaking on the topic of PS5 backward compatibility, Sony says it intends to have the majority of PS4 titles available on its next system. Whether or not this is a feature we'll see at launch like the Xbox Series X is still to be determined. Take a look at the list of confirmed games we might see at the PS5 reveal event:
  • Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Holiday 2020)
  • Battlefield 6 (2021)
  • Chorus (2021)
  • Cygni: All Guns Blazing (TBA)
  • Destiny 2 (TBA)
  • DiRT 5 (October 2020)
  • Dying Light 2 (TBA)
  • Fortnite (Launch)
  • Godfall (December 2020)
  • Gods and Monsters (Holiday 2020)
  • Gothic Remake (TBA)
  • Madden NFL 21 (TBA 2020)
  • MicroMan (2021)
  • Moonray (2021)
  • Nth^0 Infinity Reborn (2021)
  • Observer (Holiday 2020)
  • Outriders (Holiday 2020)
  • Psyhotel (TBA)
  • Quantum Error (TBA 2020)
  • Rainbow Six Quarantine (2020-2021)
  • Rainbow Six Siege (Launch)
  • Redo! Enhanced Edition (TBA 2020)
  • Scarlet Nexus (TBA)
  • Soulborn (2021)
  • The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (2021)
  • The Sims 5 (TBA)
  • Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 (TBA 2020)
  • Untitled Game from The First Development Division/Square Enix (TBA)
  • Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 (TBA 2020)
  • Warframe (TBA)
  • Watch Dogs: Legion (Holiday 2020)
  • WRC 9 (TBA 2020)
Which games do you hope to see at The Future of Gaming event? For more, check out what we have planned for IGN's Summer of Gaming and make sure to check out everything we know about the PS5 so far. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Felicia Miranda is SEO Editor at IGN and you can find her on Twitter at @FeliciaVagabond.
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