Destiny’s New Matchmaking Chooses Connection Over Skill
Destiny's new Trials of Osiris competitive PVP mode will incorporate a new form of matchmaking, Bungie has confirmed. But unlike the standard skill-based matchmaking, this new system will focus on player connections.
Speaking on the topic of matchmaking bias, Derek Carroll, Bungie's House of Wolves Senior Crucible Designer stated, "We have a different matchmaking criteria for Trials
. We’re highly favoring latency and connections."
"We’re more interested in you having a great game than having a very close match," Carroll said. "We’re matching you with people with good connections."
Though if you're worried about whether this means you won't find a competitive game, not to worry, Bungie has covered that as well. Trials of Osiris requires you to be in a pre-constructed fireteam to join the fray, similar to the intended raiding party system. There's no friend-finding here.
Heroes of the Storm Crowns Collegiate Champion
Heroes of the Dorm, a collegiate Heroes of the Storm tournament with competitors from over 460 schools, was conquered by UC Berkeley students this weekend.
The grand prize is free college tuition coverage for the rest of the winning students' college careers.
The tournament finale, featuring teams from University of Illinois, Arizona State University, and UC Berkeley, was the first college eSports event to be aired on ESPN2.
Almost half a million dollars worth of prizes were awarded to both competitors and spectators, including $10,000 to the audience member with the best bracket predictions.
Continuum for Windows Phone Turns Your Handset Into a PC
Microsoft's previously announced Continuum feature for Windows 10 has showcased new ways to seamlessly interact with a PC, much like you would a touch-based device. But during today's Build 2015 keynote, the company also revealed Continuum for phones.
Basically, since the UI experience for applications on both Windows 10 on your PC and Windows Phone are nearly identical, you can use your phone as the PC. Hooking up the phone via HDMI to a monitor, you can use the touch screen of the phone as a mouse and keyboard, or just sync those physical inputs via Bluetooth to the phone.
Chris Evans: Cap is ‘Probably a Virgin’
Captain America is frequently busy saving the world. So busy, he probably doesn't have much time for romance.
"It's funny when you think about it - he's probably a virgin," actor Chris Evans told Entertainment Weekly about Cap's love life. "He's probably a virgin! I don't know when it would have happened."
"He was on tour. That’s true," Evans said when he was reminded Cap went on tour with the USO. "Maybe one of those
girls blew his mind.
He’s probably just a good guy He was probably holding out for Peggy Carter and he’s a little more old-fashioned in that sense."
App Store Update: April 29
Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Ys Chronicles 1 – ($4.99)
Originally released in a two-game combo pack with Ys II on PSP a few years ago, this remake of the original Ys has now been pulled back out to be separate and re-released for iOS. I was actually the one to review the PSP version back in 2011, and at the time I thought it was just a fair experience – it's especially obtuse in some progress points, leaving you scratching your head and having to consult a walkthrough online to figure out what it is you're supposed to do next. But then the always lovely and civilly toned comments on that review of mine called me out on that point, so maybe what do I know? Beware the Ys defenders.
Why Destiny’s Newest PvP Mode Has Only One Map Per Week
As mentioned on Bungie's Destiny live stream today, the new upcoming weekly PvP activity, Trials of Osiris, will be locked to one map per week.
If that sounds limiting, there's actually a pretty good reason behind it. Teams will carry a punch card of sorts, called "The Passage of Osiris," with rewards being doled out based on how many wins (up to nine) they can scratch out before hitting three losses. In order to ensure as little randomness as possible, Crucible lead designer Derek Carroll felt that locking in one map for the week-long recurring event would create a stable, uniform competition.
Trials of Osiris will be played exclusively in the new match type, called Elimination, in which fireteams of three face off with no respawns. Revives are allowed, the first team to down all three members of the opposing team wins a round, with five round wins needed to take the whole thing.
Destiny: How Trials of Osiris Redefines PVP
"Power Matters" is a slogan Bungie has been boasting since it held the first Iron Banner event. While the launch version of this Crucible gametype most certainly did not do the saying justice, the developer has since gone back to the drawing board to make sure the slogan’s definition now applies. It’s made those advantages matter, and today, the time you put into leveling your armor and weapons will have a direct impact on your chances of success in the Iron Banner. Hopefully you’ve become accustomed to those advantages, because there’s another mode coming to the Crucible where you can reap amazing rewards if your guardian can go the distance. That new mode is one of the best multiplayer experiences I’ve ever had: Trials of Osiris, an intense 3v3 match between that forces your team to work together in ways Destiny hasn’t done before.
Destiny’s PVP Mode Crucible is Getting an Overhaul
Major changes are coming to the PVP mode in Destiny known as the Crucible. During a recent studio visit IGN had the opportunity to sit down with Bungie’s Lars Bakken the Crucible Design Lead and Derek Carroll the Senior Crucible Designer who have been hard at work bringing a lot of much sought after improvements to multiplayer.
First and most importantly they’ve doubled the marks and reputation across the board in Crucible which is used to buy certain weapons and armor. Now when you win you’ll receive six marks instead of three and twice the amount of experience per match. They also promised that you’ll be seeing a lot more loot in Crucible. Lars Bakken said "We've doubled that stream period so you're going to see a lot more blues dropping at the end. On top of that we've added purple. I believe there are 12 new legendaries that will drop." "Not only that, but we're allowing you to get etheric light." Etheric light is the new item that lets you upgrade all your gear to the new maximum level. Bungie confirmed that you’ll receive one from hitting level 3 in Iron Banner, one for hitting level 5 in Iron Banner, as random drops in Trials of Osiris, and as a supplemental drop in Nightfall missions. Deej also confirmed that the weekend vendor Xur will be completely abandoning the old upgrade system and that the only way to level up weapons and armor will be by using the etheric light items.
Destiny’s Dark Below Crucible Maps Will Soon Be Free
Bungie has confirmed to IGN that with the release of The House of Wolves, The Dark Below multiplayer maps for the Crucible will be made free for all players.
The Dark Below, the first expansion released for Destiny featured new strike missions, story content, a new raid called Crota’s End, as well as new Crucible maps. According to Bungie, when the House of Wolves launches the three maps included with the first expansion, The Cauldron, Skyshock and Pantheon will be free for all players even if they didn’t purchase any of the DLC content. When purchased separately the original expansion can be purchased for $19.99, or buyers can purchase the season pass that includes both The House of Wolves and The Dark Below for $34.99.
All 4 of Destiny’s New PVP Crucible Maps
The Trials of Osiris may be the big feature everyone is paying attention to today, but Bungie also revealed four new maps that'll be available when The House of Wolves launches on May 19th. Below we've posted gameplay from each so you can get an idea of how they're constructed. We think Crucible fans are going to enjoy them.
A decommissioned Firebase that's believed to have been a key defensive position used by the Cabal when they established their warbase on Mars.
A Fallen hideout located in the calderas of Venus with precarious drops that offer alternate routes for those willing to risk the fall.