Category: Games

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Xbox Series X Launch Game The Medium Was Originally Planned For Two Console Gens Ago

The Medium is an Xbox Series X exclusive horror game, where you play across two different realities at once. The game, from Layer of Fear developer Bloober Team, is one of a few games announced for Series X that is not coming to Xbox One–but it nearly made it to an earlier Xbox console.

As Nintendo Life recalls, back in 2012 many game sites reported getting a mysterious phone call, which played a pre-recorded message: “Do you know about Medium? If not, you will.”

It was discovered, at the time, that Bloober Team had registered a domain for the game, and that they intended to release it on modern systems at the time–PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS Vita, and mobile.

It’s hard not to wonder what the Wii U version would have looked like, as the system’s two screens would have lent themselves to the game’s concept. At the same time, if the game was being designed with the Vita and mobile in mind, it must have been very different in scope.

Bloober Team has previously said that the game is skipping Xbox One because developing it for a current system would have meant making compromises. This leads some credence to this idea–evidently, the game wouldn’t work on earlier generation consoles.

The Medium is now available to preorder.

Now Playing: The Medium Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2020

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Sam Rockwell In Talks To Play Country Music Legend Merle Haggard And Do His Own Singing

A new biopic about the late legendary country singer Merle Haggard is in the works at Amazon Studios, and Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell is reportedly in talks to play the lead role.

Deadline first reported the news, adding that Rockwell will do his own singing. The film is said to take place in the 1960s as Haggard rose to fame. Haggard died in 2016.

The film will be directed by Robin Bissell, who produced Seabiscuit and The Hunger Games. It’s based on Haggard’s memoir, Sing Me Back Home, and Haggard’s wife Theresa will be a producer.

Haggard has a movie story-like life. After his father died and his mom abandoned him, Haggard hopped trains around America and stole cars. He escaped from juvenile detention centers on numerous occasions, and was eventually locked up for three years in the infamous San Quentin prison. It was there that he attended Johnny Cash’s first prison performance. After getting out of prison he attempted to reform his life and moved on from the past, and this journey will likely be part of the story.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for the drama and controversy surrounding Haggard’s life leading up to his music-making days that put him on the map and shaped the country music scene forever.

As for Rockwell, he won the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Star Fox 2 Almost Featured A Human Woman Pilot With Incredible Hair

The recent Nintendo leaks have revealed numerous old designs for SNES and Nintendo 64 games, including a janky-looking Yoshi and our first look at a Luigi model inside of Super Mario 64. One leak is for a game that, while designed for the SNES, didn’t release until 2017–Star Fox 2.

As Kotaku reports, one of the early designs that has leaked for the game shows off a different co-pilot line-up. One of them is a human woman, and her hair is incredible. We don’t know much else about her, but considering the absence of humans across the rest of the Star Fox series, it’s certainly interesting to see one here.

The woman is Black, too, which is significant as Nintendo has historically had few Black characters. It was only the most recent Animal Crossing, for example, that started to allow you to choose Black skin for your villager. On the SNES, she would have been even rarer.

Unfortunately the game’s lead designer, Dylan Cuthbert, does not remember this character. “This is all very early on prototype stuff, we switched around a ton of stuff,” he said on Twitter. Unfortunately we’ll probably never know more about this character, although we’re glad to know that, at one point, she existed in the game.

Star Fox 2 is available now through Nintendo Switch Online. Unfortunately, this character does not appear in it. The game received a 5/10 in GameSpot’s review, as it has not aged well. “Framerate issues and tech that wasn’t suited for this style of game prevent Star Fox 2’s vision from being fully realized, but it’s an important piece of gaming history kept alive with an official release,” wrote reviewer Michael Higham.

Now Playing: 7 Minutes Of Star Fox 2 On The SNES Classic Gameplay

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Ride 4’s October Release Date Revealed In Gameplay Trailer

RIDE 4 is back on the race track this October, with a new gameplay trailer ready to show off all the new details that are lurking under its hood. In a new press release, developer Milestone says that the latest footage features an in-engine look at several new motorcycle models, with each two-wheeler revealing “incredible bike details that have been perfectly reproduced from their real-life counterparts.”

“All bike models in RIDE 4 have been created from the ground up using the most advanced technologies and the original CAD and 3D scans of real models, to bring to life authentic and lifelike replicas of the most iconic motorcycles, even the rarest and most exclusive ones.”

RIDE 4 will also feature a redesigned career mode that will eventually lead players to challenge the best that two-wheeled motorsports have to offer in the ultimate championships. If players are seeking an even greater challenge, they can also attempt to outlast the competition in the new Endurance mode, which Milestone describes as “the hardest challenge that only the best virtual riders can face,” and also features “level of realism and authenticity with dynamic lighting and weather conditions, and Pit Stops for tires and fuel management.”

Our last run on Milestone circuit was back in 2017’s RIDE 2, which didn’t exactly leave critic John Robertson yearning for more of the studio’s flavor of motorcycle racing.

“On paper, then, Ride 2 is an exciting proposition that bundles the promises of aspirational game design with the raw power and fun associated with motorbikes,” Robertson wrote in GameSpot’s Ride 2 review.

RIDE 4 will be out on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on 8 October 2020.

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Suikoden Spiritual Successor, Eiyuden Chronicle, Reached Kickstarter Goal In Two Hours

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the spiritual successor to Suikoden and Suikoden II, has met its Kickstarter goal of about $500,000 USD in about two hours. The campaign went live at 9 AM PST today to help fund Suikoden and Suikoden II writer and director Yoshitaka Murayama’s next project. Kickstarter crashed for about 45 minutes during the campaign.

The initial goal funds the development of a PC release; however, there is a stretch goal at $1,000,000 to bring the game to all major consoles. Considering the campaign is live through August 28, and it took less than 24 hours to fund $500,000, a console release seems likely.

The game was announced on July 27, and is being developed by Rabbit & Bear, an independent studio founded in Tokyo earlier this year. Eiyuden Chronicle is a 2.5D turn-based JRPG featuring a massive cast of 100 heroes. The game will feature a six character party system, as well as a fort-building element to house your heroes.

The team at Rabbit & Bear chose Kickstarter to help fund the development of Eiyuden Chronicle because it would allow them to retain ownership over the IP, even if they do make a deal with a publisher. According to Murayama, crowdfunding the game is necessary to ensure the developers retain its rights. “We chose Kickstarter in order to make an interesting game with the players in mind, hold the rights to the planning, world, and story of the game, all while keeping the fun of the project,” he said.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is tentatively planned to launch in Fall 2022. You can see the Kickstarter campaign here.

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Tenet Has Yet Another Release Date For Select U.S. Theaters

Director Christopher Nolan’s new film Tenet finally, for real, has a release date that is seemingly likely to stick. Recent rumors from last week indicated that the film could launch internationally before a domestic release, and that is true: Tenet will debut internationally on August 26 before opening in select cities in North America on September 2. In all, the movie will be launching at the end of August in 70 international territories, including Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom. This news comes after Warner Bros. recently indicated it would be shelving a traditional release for the film altogether amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It’s unclear how long Tenet will be in American theaters, and for how long.

This is the third time Tenet has been delayed and then had another release date set, but these plans seem plausible as there are also reports from Deadline that a 10th anniversary screenings of Nolan’s Inception are also in the works. Nolan, a staunch advocate for film as a medium and it to remain a theater experience long before COVID-19, has said that Tenet is “most designed for the audience experience, the big screen experience.”

Despite how much has been written about and anticipating Tenet’s release, not much is known about the film itself. Its cast includes David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kenneth Branagh, and Michael Caine. The plot reportedly is about spies who are tasked with preventing World War III with time travel. A trailer for Tenet recently premiered inside of Fortnite.

Luigi Has Finally Been Found In Mario 64

When Mario, our favorite mushroom-mashing plumber, made his way to 3D in Super Mario 64, he infamously did it without his loyal brother Luigi. The green-clad sidekick never made it to the game, despite accompanying his brother through adventures since 1983. His absence, and ways to make him appear in-game, have become somewhat of an urban legend. But after the recent Nintendo leak, it seems our missing Mario Brother has been found after all.

25 years later, fans have pulled apart development files for Luigi’s models that were part of the leak and are now showcasing them eagerly online.

Uncovering Luigi’s hidden model isn’t entirely unexpected. In an interview originally featured in the official strategy guide (and preserved by Shmuplations), Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Mario’s brother was meant to be featured, but ultimately had to be scrapped due to memory issues. This interview also reveals that Yoshi was almost removed from the game as well when an event centered on him didn’t come out the way the team wanted it to, but in an effort to not waste the model, he was kept in for the ending.

Luigi has come a long way since his Mario 64 snub, starring in three entries of his spooky standalone series, Luigi’s Mansion. Still, it’s endearing to see the duration of some fans’ enthusiasm for him. It’s anyone’s guess what other secrets fans may find through this latest leak.

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New To Amazon In August 2020: More Movies, TV Shows, And Original Programming

If you’re looking for something to watch on Amazon, and you want to plan your August binge-watching schedule now–something I’m sure everyone does–then you are in luck. The list for Amazon’s releases in August have arrived, and you can check out everything coming below, along with a few recommendations.

On August 10, the Tom Hardy-starring Capone arrives to the service. The film follows the notorious gangster in his late-40s before his death, as dementia takes hold over him. Capone becomes haunted by his criminal past while the FBI lays in wait, trying to figure out where the mobster has hid his wealth. Reviews have been mixed, but the film seems to be entertaining regardless.

If you’re familiar with the kid’s TV show Dora: The Explorer, then you shouldn’t sleep on Dora And The Lost City Of Gold, which arrives on August 3. The live-action adventure comedy follows Dora looking for, well, the lost city of gold. It may not have been on your radar, but the film is a ton of fun and feels a bit like a modern-day Indiana Jones.

Finally, everyone’s least favorite Spider-Man movie arrives on August 1. That’s right, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 lands, and you can watch emo Peter Parker dance his way through your heart. Also, the movie is full of villains like Venom, Sandman, and Green Goblin–kind of. But the star of the show is Peter Parker, who goes through so many changes and loves jazz and dancing with chairs. Here’s a reminder.

Below, you’ll find everything coming to Amazon this August.

New to Amazon in August:

August 1

  • 3:10 To Yuma (2007)
  • Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994)
  • Inception (2010)
  • Margin Call (2011)
  • My Bloody Valentine (1981)
  • Rain Man (1988)
  • Rustlers’ Rhapsody (1985)
  • Safe (2012)
  • Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
  • Spare Parts (2015)
  • Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  • Steel Magnolias (1989)
  • The Holiday (2006)
  • Top Gun (1986)
  • Beverly Hillbillies: Season 1 (Best TV Ever)
  • Beyond Scared Straight: Season 1 (A&E Crime Central)
  • Bitchin’ Rides: Season 1 (Motortrend)
  • Blood: Season 1 (Acorn TV)
  • Californication: Season 1 (Showtime)
  • Chesapeake Shores: Season 1 (Hallmark Movies Now)
  • Dusty’s Trail: Season 1 (Best Westerns Ever)
  • Fifth Ward: Season 1 (Urban Movie Channel)
  • Ice Road Truckers: Season 1 (HISTORY Vault)
  • Lego Jurassic World: Legend Of Isla Nublar: Season 1
  • Les Miserables: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)
  • Moveable Feast: Season 1 (PBS Living)
  • Riviera: Season 1 (Sundance Now)
  • The Berenstein Bears: Season 1 (PBS Kids)
  • The Teacher: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)

August 3

  • Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (2019)

August 5

  • Arkansas (2020)

August 6

  • The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)

August 7

  • Jessy & Nessy – Amazon Original Series: Season 1B

August 10

  • Capone (2020)
  • Hard Night Falling (2019)
  • Lucky Day (2019)

August 14

  • Bernie The Dolphin 2 (2019)
  • Master (2017)
  • World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji – Amazon Original Series: Season 1

August 18

  • The Cup (2012)

August 21

  • Chemical Hearts (2020) – Amazon Original Movie
  • Clifford – Amazon Original Series: Season 2B

August 22

  • The Legion (2020)

August 28

  • Prime Rewind: Inside The Boys – Amazon Original Special
  • Primal (2019)
  • The Courier (2019)

Square Enix Confirms That Project Athia Will Be An Open-World Game

Project Athia, Square Enix’s upcoming PlayStation 5 and PC title, will be an open-world game according to the publisher. Described as a “thrilling other-worldly adventure” when it was revealed in June, Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda provided more details on Project Athia’s design and how the PlayStation 5 will allow for more detailed rendering of its world.

“The game Project Athia, which we will release for PS5, is an open-world style game in which users can freely move around the game world,” Matsuda said to Weekly Tokyo Keizai Plus via a Gematsu translation. “PS5 dramatically improves video technology, such as with the implementation of light-reflecting ‘ray-tracing’ technology.”

“Compared to what you see on PC, it is nearly identical. By utilizing these special traits, we’re able to create incredibly precise imagery. We still plan on developing well-balanced games tailored to a platform’s traits, including smartphone and cloud-based games, but we will never stop developing for high-end platforms such as PS5. Because these things are packed with the best technology.”

In the original June trailer, Square Enix teased the game with the tagline “In a world not her own, where resolve will be tested, truths will be questioned, and devotions will be doubted, she will rise.” Screenwriter Gary Whitta then confirmed shortly afterwards that he led a team of “A-list writers” from “film, TV, games, and fantasy literature” on this project, which he described as “this immense new universe.”

Currently in development by Square Enix’s Luminous Productions studio, Project Athia is yet to be given a release date.

Now Playing: Project Athia Teaser Trailer | Sony PS5 Reveal Event