Author: Trafficblast

Sonic The Hedgehog Is Struggling At The Chinese Box Office, But So Is Every Movie

The Sonic the Hedgehog movie has finally released in China, following a delay due to COVID-19 that has severely impacted its international gross, and it’s not making a lot of money. As of August 12 according to the China Box Office Twitter account, the movie has made the equivalent of $2.43 million since its release over the previous weekend.

There’s more to this then the Sonic movie simply not being a success in China, however, with 2020 throwing the usual rules out the window.

Since cinemas in China started to partially re-open in July, few new Hollywood films have done particularly well–Doolittle being, oddly, the stand-out, although it’s still earning below what it would in a typical year. Bad Boys For Life, the top-grossing film in the world for 2020 so far, is expected to earn just $7 million in China.

This is likely due, at least in part, to piracy, and the Sonic movie likely would have done much better in China if it wasn’t easy to pirate a high definition version. The tweet from the China Box Office account, below, notes how much of an issue this is. Bloodshot’s failure in the country is notable because Vin Diesel’s films have often played well in China–The Fate of the Furious and Furious 7 are the second and third highest-grossing Hollywood films ever in China.

All of this is to say that the failure of Sonic the Hedgehog at the Chinese box office isn’t entirely due to the character being unpopular in the country–although, as Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad points out, the Sonic IP is not as well-known in China as it is elsewhere.

Last year, Avengers Endgame broke the record for the highest-grossing Hollywood film in China, earning an astonishing $614 million. We’re not going to see numbers like that this year due to the effects of COVID-19 on cinemas.

Sonic the Hedgehog remains the year’s second-highest grossing movie internationally. A sequel has been greenlit, which will release April 8, 2022.

Now Playing: Sonic The Hedgehog – Official New Trailer

Demons Ate My Neighbors Will Pay Homage To A Retro Classic Next Year

The 90s classic Zombies Ate My Neighbors is getting a spiritual successor. The newly-announced Demons Ate My Neighbors is a rougelike twin-stick shooter, and its coming to PC and Switch in late 2021 from developer Tuned-Out Games and HumaNature Studios (Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove).

The game, which will be set in 1991, is not an official sequel to the original game it takes inspiration from. It’s about April and Joey, two heroes who need to save their suburb of Fairweather Valley from the demons unleashed by a cursed VHS tape.

The game will feature local co-op, and you’ll need to squirt the bad guys with a water gun to keep them at bay. You can check it out in the trailer below.

The game will feature procedurally-generated levels, but each character will be able to use their “RadWatch” radar to seek out the survivors they need to rescue in each level, as well as the demons that need to be killed.

A Kickstarter will launch on September 1 for the game, and while the PC and Switch versions are definitely happening, the $175,000 goal will be used for Xbox Series X and PS5 versions, if it’s reached. More levels and monsters will be added if the campaign is successful, too.

The game is due to release in autumn 2021, so it’s a while away yet. If you’re interested, keep an eye out for the Kickstarter next month.

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Following Halo Infinite Delay, The Monster Energy Double XP Promo Will Be Extended

Even though neither company officially announced the promotion, Microsoft and Monster Energy recently teamed up to create Halo Infinite-branded energy drinks that offer double XP for the game. The fine print on the cans that appeared in the wild with no fanfare mentioned that the XP offer extends to December 31, 2020.

But with Halo Infinite now delayed to 2021, people who bought the cans are wondering if they will still receive the bonus when the game finally arrives next year. The good answer is that, yes, the double XP will still be available, though the details are still being sorted out.

Halo’s community director, Brian Jarrard, said on Twitter, “Details are being ironed out but there will be an updated process / it’ll be accounted for. More info soon.”

People who bought the Monster Energy drinks will want to hold on to them to not only get the double XP for Halo Infinite’s free multiplayer, but also because the cans may become something of a collector’s item with Halo Infinite now delayed to 2021.

The marketing materials from the Monster Energy drinks also state that some kind of “AR Experience” for Halo Infinite is set to begin on September 1. However, with Halo Infinite now delayed to 2021, it’s unclear if this is still going forward.

Halo Infinite is scheduled for release this holiday as a launch title for the Xbox Series X. The game will also come to the regular Xbox One as well as PC. Developer 343 Industries sees Halo Infinite as a platform instead of game, and one that the studio plans to support until 2030 or later.

For more on Halo Infinite, check out GameSpot’s editorial below.

Now Playing: Free Halo Multiplayer Is Such A Smart Move

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Playdate Handheld Games Shown, Including A Version Of Doom Using The Hand Crank

The Playdate console was announced last year, and it looked very interesting–a small handheld with inbuilt games, a black-and-white screen, and a hand crank that some developers will use as a control mechanism. Over a year later, we’ve only gotten minor updates, but today the Playdate Twitter account has dropped previews of some of the games external developers are working on, with a promise of more news to come.

About 250 people around the world have their hands on development kits, the Twitter account says, and it wants to show off some of their work. It’s worth noting, though, that not all of these games will necessarily ship with the Playdate–they could end up as experiments that don’t release, or might just not make it into the system’s first season of content.

The first game is Down the Oubliette by Rebecca König, whose previous work includes the world’s smallest version of Tetris.

Some of the other games are a bit more conceptual, like this calligraphy experience and drifting game, seen below.

They also show off a new take on Tetris, a version of solitaire, an accelerometer-controlled adventure, and an adventure game about pushing blocks.

Inevitably, the Playdate will also receive a version of Doom, and this one has an exciting detail–you can use the crank to fire the Doomguy’s chaingun. Rip, tear, and rotate.

More details on the Playdate are being promised soon, including a release date and a list of titles you’ll get at launch with the system. A “surprise” is also being promised, which is intriguing.

The system can be developed for, once you have one, which means you can theoretically make your own games for the system to bolster the library.

Playdate isn’t the only interesting handheld on the horizon, as the Analog Pocket also recently sold out at its pre-order stage.

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Soon You Can Fight Mutated Dinosaurs With Second Extinction On Early Access

Second Extinction, the dinosaur-hunting FPS from Just Cause developer Avalanche’s new Systemic Reaction studio, will come to Steam Early Access very soon. The studio has confirmed the game will launch there in September 2020.

Second Extinction’s early access version will include a “really robust rock-and-roll shooter to play with,” the developer said in an FAQ. The purpose of launching in an unfinished state is to “dial in our core gameplay and mechanics to the perfect frequency at launch,” the team said.

The early access will include the newly announced War Effort “metagame.” The overall dino threat level in the game will depend on how players perform by killing dinosaurs, completing missions, and partaking in extra activities. “This constant wave of conflict will affect the kind of enemies, activities, rewards, and more you’ll encounter in any given region,” Systemic Reaction said.

Systemic Reaction is not sure how long Second Extinction will stay in early access, only stating that it will be there for “as long as it takes.”

“When the community is happy with the overall direction, and when we are ready to welcome more players to the party, we will leave early access,” the studio said.

Progress made in the early access version of Second Extinction will carry forward to the full release when it launches. “So you’ll be able to show off and strut around the community when all the full release noobs show up,” the developer said.

The dinosaurs in Second Extinction won’t be what you expect. They are mutated, and more deadly as a result. For example, there is a raptor in the game that has the power of electricity in addition to its own chompers. The game supports co-op for up to three players at a time.

Second Extinction is also coming to Xbox Series X, but there is no word on if it will come to the Game Preview program, which is similar to early access.

Now Playing: Second Extinction Gameplay Trailer | Inside Xbox

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Marvel’s Avengers On PC: Min And Recommended Specs, Plus Unique Features Revealed

Marvel’s Avengers is releasing on September 4, and if you’re planning on buying and playing it on PC you’ll want to know whether your computer is up to the task. Thankfully, developer Crystal Dynamics has released the minimum and recommended specs for the game, as well as the exclusive features coming to the PC version.

No matter what, you’ll need at least 8GB of RAM and a fair chunk of HDD space. Check out the minimum and recommended specs below.

Minimum Specs

  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • CPU: i3-4160 or AMD equivalent
  • 8GB RAM
  • NVIDIA GTX 950 / AMD 270 (min 2GB video ram)
  • DirectX 12
  • 75GB HDD space

Recommended Specs

  • Windows 10 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K, 3.4 Ghz or AMD Ryzen 51600, 3.2 Ghz
  • 16GB RAM
  • NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 480, 8GB.
  • DirectX 12
  • 110GB SSD space

The PC version will also give you the option of downloading a 30GB high-resolution texture pack, if you don’t mind sacrificing some HDD space for enhanced visuals. You’ll likely want a 4K monitor to get the most out of this. Ultra-wide resolutions are also supported for the PC version, as well as multi-monitor set-ups.

The PC version also sports an unlocked framerate, and full customization options across keyboards and controllers. You’ll be able to check out some of these features yourself in the upcoming closed beta across August 14-16 if you’ve preordered; there’s also an open beta on Steam across the August 21-23 weekend. If you jump in, look out for the hidden mission that stands as the beta’s highlight.

It remains to be seen when the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions release, and whether they’ll include some of these higher-res textures.

Now Playing: Marvel’s Avengers – Official Beta Trailer

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Avatar 2 Photos Reveal Giant Sets And Shots Of Director James Cameron

Filming on the Avatar sequels is due to resume again in New Zealand, and now new set photos have emerged that provide a behind-the-scenes look at the large-scale production.

One of the images showcases “the lab,” which looks to be the place where the human characters are transformed into their Na’vi counterparts. A second, smaller structure can be seen in the background of the image, and this appears to be another set.

Another images shows director James Cameron on the lab set, with production materials plastered on poster boards surrounding him.

The Avatar movie Twitter account also replied to questions from fans, and confirmed that while Cameron looks very tired in the image, he’s actually “just very focused.” The account also confirmed that, despite the production delays, Avatar 2 remains on track to come to theatres on December 16, 2022. Further sequels are expected to follow in the years after.

Avatar 2 brings back the stars of the original movie, including Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, and Zoe Saldana, along with newcomers Kate Winslet, David Thewlis, and Vin Diesel.

In addition to the Avatar movie sequels, The Division developer Ubisoft Massive is working on a new Avatar video game. In 2017, Ubisoft announced that it hired Battlefield veteran Patrick Bach to lead the team, which is on a hiring spree.

Cyberpunk 2077 – Which Life Path Is Right For You?

The world of Cyberpunk 2077 reacts based on your choices. The first of these is one of the most important, as it determines where your character starts, and how the world will react to them: their life path. In preparation for Cyberpunk’s November release, we’re going to dive into all three choices so you can be prepared to build your perfect V.

You’ll have three options to choose from for your life path: street kid, nomad, and corporate. The one you select will impact how you move through Night City, as you’ll encounter different characters, story beats, and conversations depending on your origin. In this video, Jake breaks down each life path, and explains how they impact V’s life leading up to the start of the RPG.

Life paths follow you into the main quest and beyond as well. CD Projekt Red has said that each origin will determine which characters you meet and your relationships with them, and though some will appear across life paths, their disposition towards you will differ. Jackie Wells, your in-game companion, is an acquaintance regardless of which you choose, but your relationship will vary as each origin gives the two of you a different history.

So which path are you taking to Night City?

Shroud’s Return To Twitch Brings In Half A Million Viewers

Superstar streamer Michael “shroud” Grzesiek returned to a massive audience on Twitch today, even though he went live an hour late. Hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in to watch him play Valorant, although most had to watch a “starting soon” banner for an hour. The viewership numbers kept climbing during the wait, too, even despite some technical difficulties.

“It wouldn’t be a Shroud stream without some difficulties,” he said once he went live. Viewership ballooned to over 500,000 people once he started his broadcast. “I’ve been gone for a long time.”

Shroud was originally scheduled to go live at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET, but didn’t show his face until almost an hour later. Once he did start the stream had several technical issues including audio dropping from his opening video.

“I don’t know how many people were watching this expecting something grand,” he said adding that he was just going to “play games” like any other stream. Shroud said he got more than 13,000 Twitch subscriptions from viewers shortly after going live.

“I am so excited to be able to announce my return to Twitch and more importantly get back to streaming. Twitch is where I was able to first turn my passion for streaming into a successful career—and it is all due to my incredible and loyal fanbase,” Shroud said in a statement yesterday. The streamer signed a new exclusivity deal with the Amazon-owned service recently.

Shroud announced an exclusive return to Twitch after his deal with Mixer got paid out after Microsoft chose to close the service and partner with Facebook Gaming. His original deal is rumored to have made him $10 million. Not a bad payday after streaming on Mixer for less than a year.

Shroud was one of the most notable faces on Twitch when he announced he would exclusively stream on Mixer last October. Viewership on Mixer remained low compared to competitors like Twitch and Youtube despite Microsoft shelling out millions to bring over streamers like shroud and Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. As of July 22, all Mixer sites and apps direct viewers to Facebook Gaming.

Hard-To-Find Arcade Cabinet With 300 Games Will Be Back In Stock Soon

Last year, AtGames entered the arcade market with the ambitious Legends Ultimate arcade cabinet. Unfortunately, disruptions in manufacturing caused by the coronavirus pandemic slowed production to a crawl, making the cabinet extremely difficult to find. It’s been out of stock for months now, but AtGames has announced that a re-release is coming soon–really soon. Starting August 31, you’ll see the Legends Ultimate making its way back to major retailers for $600, including Walmart, GameStop, and Sam’s Club.

AtGames is mostly known for its officially licensed Atari Flashback consoles and other plug-and-play systems. The Legends Ultimate is decidedly more expensive than AtGames’ earlier retro products, but it’s also a full-size cabinet packed with hundreds of games and unique features you don’t typically find in home cabinets.

$600

The $600 Legends Ultimate Arcade Cabinet is a full-size cabinet (29.53 x 21.65 x 65.44 inches) that boasts 300 games, including Centipede, BurgerTime, Tempest, Missile Command, Tetris, and Space Invaders.

You can check out the full list of games on AtGames’ site. Games are played on a 24-inch HD LCD monitor, with sound coming through the down-firing stereo speaker.

The Legends Ultimate has a variety of control inputs to support its eclectic library of arcade and home console classics. Each cabinet has two joysticks, a trackball, a pair of spinners, and two sets of six buttons (ideal for multiplayer). You can also get third-party controllers to work via USB/Bluetooth.

Separating itself from some other modern cabinets, the Legends Ultimate has built-in Wi-Fi and an ethernet jack to view global leaderboards, livestream your gameplay, and download new updates. It also has an add-on tool that lets you load more games, or even make your own titles to play on your Legends Ultimate cabinet. And for those who like tinkering with Raspberry Pi, you can pair it with the Legends Ultimate over Bluetooth.

In addition to all of the onboard games and customization options, the Legends Ultimate has an optional subscription service called ArcadeNet ($20 per month), which gives you access to a growing library of games. You can also stream games from cloud servers and your own PC games with the Bring Your Own Game feature–it does cost $1 per hour, though.

Walmart and Sam’s Club had been selling the original iteration for $50 to $100 off at times, so it’ll be interesting to see if this pricey, albeit feature rich, cabinet is sold for less than retail price again.

AtGames’ Legends Ultimate is part of the growing trend of home arcade machines boasting hundreds of games and customization features. It’s joined by the upcoming iiRcade cabinet, which has a Sega license and shattered its Kickstarter goal recently. SNK also just revealed the Neo Geo MVSX, which comes packed with 50 classic Neo Geo and SNK arcade titles. The Legends Ultimate is certainly aimed at retro gamers, and if that’s you, don’t forget to check out our complete guide to retro gaming in 2020.