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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we take a look at what happened to arcades. Back in the day, arcades were virtually the only way to enjoy video games, but over time the home console overtook one of the most popular hangout locations for kids and adults alike. We'll explore exactly what lead to the downfall of arcades and the rise of the home console by looking back at gaming from the late-70s through today.
Phil Spencer won't rule out any Xbox exclusive making the jump to PlayStation. This comes on the heels of Microsoft's latest "This is an Xbox" advertising campaign that showcases how a tablet, smartphone, and more can be an Xbox. Does this hurt the Xbox brand? Are Xbox console buyers losing out on their investment?
The Steam Deck and ROG Ally have created an all-new handheld PC market with top titles like Cyberpunk 2077 running on hardware that can be docked to almost any desktop setup. This mobile and affordable step into the PC market has left some Xbox fans wondering whether they'd ever be able to take their Xbox on-the-go with them (and not on their smartphone). Phil Spencer has confirmed that Xbox does indeed have plans to make a handheld, but it's still years away.
Game preservation has been on the brain of gaming historians and retro game fans for well over a decade. While there have been a fair bit of wins and losses in the space, today we're happy to report that GOG has taken up an official effort entitled the "GOG Preservation Program" to ensure the longevity of over 100 games (with more to come!).
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we explore three wacky arcade machines. First up from 1976 is "Fonz" by Sega, based on the popular character from the hit TV show Happy Days. Second, we have Fire Truck by Atari (1978), that boasts the title of "first co-op arcade game." And finally, Police 911 (2000) that showcased immersive motion controls before the creation of things like the Kinect and the Wii.
The Borderlands Movie was a big flop in theatres but according to Take-Two it didn't hurt at all - if anything, it ended up helping with some game sales.
Sony has patented a game controller that has a rewind button on it. Likely you're thinking it's a button that simply rewinds a game by 30 seconds or so in the event of a player mistake, but the patent mentions quite a few interesting potential use cases including: a timeline of selectable past gameplay moments, reminders to players if they miss something (ie a quest item left in a room), and marked spots in time where the player could come back to their favorite moments of the game.
Mass Effect is on the way after the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard - but the new game isn't the only thing on the way for fans of the franchise. A TV series is in the works alongside Amazon MGM Studios.
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After Concord's launch and subsequent de-listing, many gamers figured that Sony's troubled hero shooter would re-release as a free-to-play title, or live on in some other form. Unfortunately, Sony has decided to shut down Firewalk Studios altogether.
Cyberpunk 2077 is on the way to the Mac! With Apple taking gaming more seriously these days, Cyberpunk is looking to cash in with any gamers in the Apple ecosystem.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 just launched and its officially the biggest release in Call of Duty history. Black Ops 6 released day-one on Game Pass, a first for the franchise, alongside releases on other platforms such as PlayStation 5 and Steam. New records were set for the highest amount of new Game Pass subscribers in a single day, plus the PS5 and Steam saw record first weekend sales.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we go back in time to take a look at motion controls on the Sega Genesis. The Sega Activator is a controller that allows players to move, kick, and punch their way through various experiences like fighting games. It is a ring of infrared sensors set up in different segments that represent individual inputs, the player would stand in the middle of the ring and interrupt the infrared beams to register inputs.
Black Ops 6 has released day one on Game Pass, the first in the series to do so. However, as what was an annual AAA release that required a purchase to access, some are concerned that the expected surge in Game Pass subscriptions will only be temporary, meaning Microsoft could have surrendered too many sales.
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The Xbox Partner Preview showed off some upcoming Xbox games including titles such as: FBC Firebreak, Blindfire, Cronos: New Dawn, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, and more!
Former PlayStation exec, Shawn Layden, has been sounding the alarm about what he calls a "collapse of creativity" in the gaming industry that has lead to development companies relying on blockbuster hits - ultimately killing the AA game. Is this a death sentence for the gaming industry as we know it?
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we discussed an innovative controller for the Atari 2600 that allowed players to control games via their mind! This mystical device was called the Atari Mindlink and it didn't really give you telepathic gaming powers, it instead used sensors in a headband to detect forehead and facial movements and convert them into commands, like moving the joystick.
With the new Horizon Lego game coming out soon, some gamers are wondering when another mainline title for the series would see the light of day. Unfortunately, it seems like to may be quite a while as there may be a Horizon live service game in development.
In other Horizon news, Sony has de-listed the original Horizon: Zero Dawn PC port in favour of the remastered version. This new edition requires a PSN sign-in, a controversial requirement that saw some players review bomb Helldivers II some months back.
Ubisoft has been having some troubles lately, most recently with disappointing sales of Star Wars: Outlaws. Now the company is taking a look at potentially going private, a move that would see Yves Guillemot and Tencent teaming up (two big Ubisoft shareholders) to do so.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we explored the origins of E3, as video games matured from a simple tent at CES, to a well organized and professionally represented industry. Previously considered just a kid's toy, video games weren't given a proper platform to showcase their hardware and software. However, after the Senate started taking interest in violent games such as Mortal Kombat, the IDSA (now ESA), ESRB, and E3 were eventually all formed to give games a place to interact on a political and public relations level.
PlayStation State of Play September 2024 just took place and was loaded with announcements for not only PS5 but also PS VR2. Some key game announcements & showcases included the Ghost of Tsushima sequel - Ghost of Yotei, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.
With the PS5 Pro available for pre-order and a short hardware showcase behind us, many gamers were left wondering which games would be taking advantage of the PS5 Pro's power. Sony has released a rather large list of games, both old and new, that will be receiving PS5 Pro enhancements including: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Rise of the Ronin, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and much more.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact, we go back in time to the theatrical release of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and the rather ridiculous rapid-fire movie games that were used to promote it. There are an astonishing three movie games released to promote this movie including Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator 3: War of the Machines, and Terminator 3: The Redemption. As an honourable mention, shortly before the movie Terminator: Dawn of Fate was also released. Game stores in 2004 had up to four new Terminator titles on their shelves all at once.
With the Switch 2 reveal looming, everyone seems to be fired up over some unverified leaked images. A mix of CAD and PCB designs allegedly leaked from a Chinese website before making their way onto Reddit. The drawings show magnetic Joy-Cons, two USB-C ports (one top, one bottom), and a larger screen.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have officially sued the Palworld developer over multiple patent infringements. Early speculation estimates that one of these alleged infringements could be regarding the capture of creatures in a similar way to Pokéballs capturing Pokémon.
Tango Gameworks was purchased by PUBG publisher, Krafton, after Microsoft wanted to shutter the studio. Many in the community would be right to assume that Krafton was after the profits from a highly anticipated sequel to Hi-Fi Rush. However, the publisher said that they don't believe Hi-Fi Rush 2 will generate them a profit, instead they said they made the purchase as a means to strengthen the legacy and creativity of the gaming industry.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact, we take a look at the speedrunning community surrounding the game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. We'll explore some key milestones like the discovery of wrong warp, super slide, and much more!
Sony has officially unveiled the PS5 Pro with an upgraded GPU, advanced ray tracing, and AI-driven upscaling. This new model promises to help bridge the gap between performance and fidelity modes to allow players to have their cake and eat it too! But that cake will cost a tonne of cake, with a pricepoint coming it at $699.99 USD.
Microsoft has cut 650 jobs from its gaming division. Phil Spencer addressed employees in a company memo expressing that the decision was not easy to reach, but was necessary to ensure long-term success.
The Watch Dogs movie was announced 10+ years ago...and now it's finally complete, as filming has wrapped for the project. Time (and reviews) will tell upon release how well Watch Dogs has been adapted from its original video game medium and whether or not audiences are interested in paying a ticket price to see the film.
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Concord, Sony's Overwatch-like competitive shooter, has been taken offline as of September 6, 2024 - just days after its debut on August 23, 2024. The developer has stated that they will be exploring options that include ways to better reaching their players. My estimate? It'll be back and free-to-play.
Microsoft says that Apple's 30% fee makes Xbox Cloud Gaming iOS app impossible. One of the perks of Game Pass Ultimate is Xbox Cloud Gaming, a feature that many assumed would eventually appear on the App Store. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case as Microsoft claims that Apple's rules are still too restrictive.
Star Wars Outlaws has released to a mixed bag of reviews - currently the game sits at a 76 on Metacritic (critic reviews as of Sept 9, 2024). According to analyst Daniel Kerven Star Wars Outlaws "has struggled to meet our sales expectations despite positive critical reviews." resulting in Ubisoft's share price taking a hit.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we explore one of the first public cases of development hell by analyzing a game that took a whole 14 years to release! Duke Nukem Forever went through two development teams, two engines, and some terrible reviews before all was said and done. This goes to show us that video game development isn't easy, and even if a project should only take a couple years - it can easily spin out of control.
GameStop has pivoted once again, this time to focus on retro gaming. GameStop Retro locations are stores that will stock physical consoles, discs, and cartridges from classic Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, and Sega platforms. As the hobby of video game collecting seems to be heating up online, is this a good move for the aging (and struggling) retailer?
With the recent masterpiece that is the Borderlands movie (this is a joke), why wouldn't we want more video game TV and movie content? This time some Remedy franchises, namely Control and Alan Wake, are taking to the big and small screens as we just recently learned that some TV and movie projects are being worked on! Furthermore, "other audiovisual formats" based on these franchises were also confirmed - I bet it's a podcast or two!
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In this episode of the Day One Patch Podcast, we kick things off with a Video Game Fun Fact, where Matt takes us through the story of Microsoft's infamous one billion-dollar mistake—better known as the Red Ring of Death (RROD). Learn how this major hardware flaw led to massive recalls and ultimately shaped the future of Xbox.
Top Stories:
- Fortnite's iPhone Comeback: After years of litigation and regulatory changes, Fortnite is finally back on iOS—but only in the EU. We discuss the return of the game through new third-party app stores and what this means for mobile gamers.
- Krafton Saves Tango Gameworks: In a surprising move, Krafton, the publisher behind PUBG, has acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush IP from Xbox. This acquisition prevents the studio's closure, ensuring the continuation of its popular titles and the development of new projects.
- Activision's War on Download Sizes: Activision is making moves to address the ever-growing size of Call of Duty downloads. We explore the upcoming changes, including the separation of Warzone from the main game and new file optimization techniques aimed at reducing the game's footprint.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact, we explore the first ever easter egg and the origins behind it. Back when video games were in their infancy, developers were often completely overshadowed by the brand they worked for, often never being given credit directly - but some found creative revolution, just like in the game "Adventure" for the Atari 2600.
Video game voice actors are going on strike over AI protections after 18 months of negotiations.
Fallout London is finally out on GOG! The mod project the size of a full game has finally released, compatible with both the GOG and Steam versions of Fallout 4 (with all DLC).
More Epic drama as Fortnite is set to leave the Galaxy Store after Samsung turns on their Auto Blocker feature by default (as of the OneUI 6.1.1 update). In previous updates, Auto Blocker was opt-in, meaning it was off be default but users could toggle it on.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we take a look at one of the first gaming VR experiences that not only delivered major IP titles such as Mario, but was also a portable solution over 20 years before the Oculus Quest 2's release. We are of course talking about the famous (some say infamous) Nintendo Virtual Boy.
Amazon is now selling a "no console required" Xbox bundle, as the Xbox Game Pass app lands on the Fire TV Stick. The bundle includes a Fire TV stick + remote, Xbox controller, and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1-month pass. Is this the beginning of the streaming-only future that some believe is coming in fast?
Xbox Game Pass is under fire from the FTC once again due to their price increase and new tiers that erodes "day one on Game Pass" for some users. The FTC's new filing includes a comment that reads "Product degradation — removing the most valuable games from Microsoft's new service — combined with price increases for existing users, is exactly the sort of consumer harm from the merger the FTC has alleged"
Microsoft has integrated Nvidia's GeForce Now service into its Xbox game pages, allowing users to choose between Nvidia’s cloud gaming service and Xbox Cloud Gaming. This new feature lets players launch supported games directly from Xbox.com using either platform.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we explore the world of Bethesda's game engines, starting all the way back with Elder Scrolls: Arena - before the days of the famous (infamous?) Creation engine.
Xbox Game Pass is receiving a price increase and a new standard tier that will not be including day one releases. The new tier replaces the console tier, however, existing console tier customers will still be receiving day one releases. We feel as though the price increase is fair, but this new tier ads another layer of potential confusion and seems to punish console-only players.
Nintendo Switch has had one long run, so long in fact that it is now Nintendo's longest running console ever. This is beating out the previous longest running Nintendo console, the Famicom that had a run of 2,686 days.
Hellblade 2 sales data reveals some concerning numbers for what was a highly anticipated title. The sales numbers also revealed Game Pass "sales" as well, showing numbers that were much lower than we expected. It is important to note, however, that Hellblade 2 did not receive a physical release. Is there an Xbox curse? Is the brand damaged?
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we discussed the infamous PS3 development woes, namely how difficult it was to create PS3 games for developers. This was due to the console's complex Cell Processor, ununified memory, and more.
Then in the week's gaming news, we discussed:
Nintendo believes that longer game development cycles are inevitable, however, there are ways to keep on top of them. They believe that they've been doing a good job time balancing modern (and complex) game development.
It's a well known fact that Steam users purchase a lot of games that they never play - typically due to deep discounts during times like the Steam Summer Sale. It has been roughly calculated by PCGamesN that Steam users have spent $19 billion on games that they've never played.
Some believe that modern gaming is the worst era of video games to date, and that the golden age was during the Xbox 360 and PS3 generation. One Metro reader submitted their opinion piece of how they think that the Xbox 360 era was the peak of gaming and how it has gotten worse ever since - we took some of their opinions and discussed them.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has seen some nerfs in its first patch - specifically nerfing the extremely effective perfumes into the ground, as well as taking away an exploit that allowed players to use a spiky shield in such a way that boss fights were extremely easy. We discussed if nerfs like this make sense in a (mostly) PvE game like Elden Ring.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we explore early wireless gaming controllers, specifically the Game Mate 2. Many people believe that the Wavebird for Nintendo GameCube was the first wireless controller, but in fact wireless controllers go all the way back to 1982 with the Atari 2600.
Nintendo Direct June 2024 was a loaded presentation that Tim was kind enough to take us through. Major announcements included Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, Mario and Luigi Brothership, Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, and much more!
PS VR2 may be in trouble as Sony has reportedly cut its investment in VR. This comes off the heels of Ubisoft's own VR woes, with the disappointing sales of Assassin's Creed Nexus VR.
The Elden Ring DLC is here and has officially de-throned The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine expansion as the top-rated DLC on IGN. CD Projekt Red took to social media to congratulate From Software on their achievement.
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact, we explore the bit wars! Namely the period of time where consoles were fighting for dominance through rigorous hardware upgrades and full force marketing campaigns - many of which rallied around how many bits their console had under the hood. Despite the bit wars' lack of an official start and end date, this period lasted roughly from the mid 1980s until the mid 1990s with the release of the Atari Jaguar.
Then in the mainstream news, the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 rocked the house with a seemingly never ending slew of killer game announcements that may just put Xbox in a great competitive position in the 2024/2025 gaming landscape. These titles included a surprise look at Gears of War: E-Day, a peek at Atomfall, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 deep dive, and much much more!
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In this week's Gaming Fun Fact, we discuss the history of gaming handhelds. Many people think that the original Game Boy kicked off the handheld gaming scene, but it started much earlier back with the Microvision in 1979. Sporting a 16 x 16 pixel screen and cartridge-based games, the Microvision pre-dated the Game Boy by ~11 years.
Hot off the presses, Geoff Keighley and his team delivered the Summer Game Fest 2024 presentation filled to the brim with game reveals, trailers, and more for the entire 2 hour presentation. Some of the games shown off included: Alan Wake II DLC, Lego Horizon Adventures, Quidditch Champions, and more!
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In this week's Video Game Fun Fact, we explore the world of blowing into cartridges. If you've ever used a console that relied on cartridges, then you've almost definitely tried to boot up a game, have it fail, take the cartridge out to blow on it, then get it magically works. Well what exactly is happening there? Should you blow on your cartridges when they don't work?
The PlayStation State of Play (May 2024) happened just days ago, with showcases on many titles on the way to the PS5 and PSVR2 including: Concord, Marvel Rivals, Until Dawn, and more! We go through most every reveal at the show, offering our impressions and opinions.
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