Shantae Studio to Help Finish Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night developer ArtPlay has brought Shantae: Half-Genie Hero developer WayForward Technologies on board to help with development.

Announced through Bloodstained’s Kickstarter page, producer Koji Igarashi called WayForward a “top-tier” developer of side-scrolling action games, adding that he worked with one of WayForward’s employees on a previous project. Igarashi said WayForward would help him to realize his vision for the game.

The producer added that WayForward has been “helping to improve the game and fix any bugs that pop up.” There’s one bug in particular that’s currently making Bloodstained crash, but Igarashi said it’ll be fixed with the new partner studio’s help. 

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Audeze Mobius Gaming Headset Review

Be sure to visit IGN Tech for all the latest comprehensive hands-on reviews and best-of roundups. 

Audeze burst onto the scene ten years ago, and since its inception has become a household name – if your household is full of high-end headphone enthusiasts, that is. The company was born out of a meeting between two headphone industry professionals and an engineer who had developed special materials for NASA, and they wanted to use some of those materials in the production of a headphone line. The result was a true high-end headphone experience that cost up to $4,000. (Yes, that is the correct number of zeroes.) Luckily one of those zeroes disappears for the company’s first gaming headset, the Mobius (See it on Audeze’s site). It’s a high-grade wireless (or wired) cross-platform gaming headset with sophisticated technology, and head-tracking for VR. They’re in a class of their own due to their design and $400 price tag, so how well does that high-end philosophy translate to gaming?

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Fortnite GeForce Bundle Gets You A Skin, V-Bucks When Buying A Graphics Card

Fortnite isn’t just the biggest battle royale game in the world; it’s one the biggest games in the world, period. And although it’s technically free to play, a lot of people spend a lot of money on fashionable in-game outfits and accessories. For a limited time, if you buy select GeForce graphics cards, you’ll get free items in Fortnite.

The deal is available on the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, 1070, and 1060 graphics cards, which GeForce advertises as “up to 3X the performance of previous generations.” Buy one of those from the GeForce Fortnite bundle page, and you’ll receive 2,000 V-Bucks as well as the male Fortnite Counterattack Set.

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Here’s what comes in the Counterattack Set:

  • “Reflex” Outfit – Rare
  • “Pivot” Glider – Rare
  • “Angular Axe” Pickaxe – Uncommon
  • “Response Unit” Back Bling

As for the V-Bucks, you can spend them on things like new outfits, emotes, and gliders, or use some of them to pick up the Battle Pass for Season 7, which should begin shortly after Season 6 ends on December 6.

For now, Epic is being tight-lipped about what’s in store for Season 7 of Fortnite. As is typical for the game, though, players have begun noticing some mysterious things happening, including indications that the temperature may be dropping and an iceberg floating toward the island. This could portend a winter theme for Season 7, though we’ll have to wait a little longer to be sure.

In the meantime, if you’ve been on the lookout for a new graphics card, you might consider one of the following GeForce Fortnite bundles.

GeForce Fortnite Bundles

Avengers: Infinity War Director Confirms Loki Is Really Dead

During a screening of Avengers: Infinity War on Wednesday night, the directors of the film – the Russo brothers – confirmed that Loki did in fact die in Infinity War.

Peter Sciretta from Slash Film tweeted updates from a live Q&A after the screening.

“The Russo’s were asked about a fan theory that Bruce Banner is really Loki in disguise. They answered. That ‘Loki is dead,'” Sciretta tweeted.

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Fortnite’s Cross-Play Account Merging Delayed

Epic Games’ plans to allow players to merge their Fortnite accounts–V-Bucks and all–across multiple platforms have been delayed. Originally due out by the end of the month, Epic has confirmed that the account merging feature won’t be available in 2018.

Epic shared the news on Fortnite’s website, saying the ability to merge accounts will not go live until “early next year.” It didn’t explain what exactly was causing the hold-up, only citing “ongoing technical concerns.”

“We want to make sure that this process is thoroughly tested and working properly before releasing it to those of you currently looking to transfer purchases from other accounts to your primary account,” it said. “We’ll be sure to update you as we get closer to the release of the feature, which will include a web page on launch to help guide you through the flow!”

Account merging was first announced back in September. With the game now supported on so many platforms–PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, and Android–it would allow you to combine various things into a single, unified account. This would include both things you’ve purchased (Battle Royale cosmetics, V-Bucks, and early access to Save the World mode) as well as lifetime win stats.

As of September, it’s possible to link your Fortnite accounts to a single Epic account, ensuring that purchases made after the link is set up are shared across accounts. The current process is slightly complex, as you need to determine which account you want to treat as your primary one.

Epic previously delayed Save the World out of 2018. The PvE mode, which was the original concept for Fortnite before Battle Royale exploded onto the scene, is still in early access. It’s now due out as a free-to-play release for all players sometime next year. In the meantime, Battle Royale players have Week 10 challenges to complete, and Season 7 is drawing near.

US Army Plans to Use Microsoft’s HoloLens for Combat Missions, Training

Microsoft has won a “$480 million contract to supply prototypes for augmented reality systems to the Army for use on combat missions and in training.”

As reported by Bloomberg, this contract could lead to the US Army purchasing over 100,000 HoloLens headsets, intending to “increase lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide and engage before the enemy.”

While the U.S. Army and Israeli military have been running training programs with Microsoft HoloLens, these next steps would prepare them in use for live combat.

While the Army will be using HoloLens devices, they will obviously be different than the consumer-grade products as they will look to “incorporate night vision and thermal sensing, measure vital signs like breathing and “readiness,” monitor for concussions and offer hearing protection.”

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Venom Release Date, Special Features, & US Pre-Order Guide: Digital, 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD

Heads up, comic book movie fans: after cleaning up at the box office, Venom is nearly ready for home release. The Tom Hardy-led film is set to land on digital platforms on December 11, with the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD release following a week later, on December 18.

But you don’t have to wait until then to secure a copy for yourself (or someone on your shopping list this holiday season). If you’re ready to bring the symbiotic superhero into your home in any format, you’ll probably want to know where you can get it and where you can find the best deal. We’ve done the legwork, so check it out below.

Digital

Currently, all digital versions of Venom cost $20. That goes for SD, HD, and 4K, so pick the one that matches your TV and don’t look back.

4K UHD

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Buy Venom in 4K Ultra HD format, and you’ll also get a Blu-ray and digital version at no extra charge.

Blu-ray

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The Blu-ray edition of Venom also comes with a digital copy as well as a DVD.

DVD

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Usually these days, DVD releases are as barebones as the studios can possibly make them, but this one comes with a digital copy of the film. How about that.

Venom Special Features

  • Venom Mode: When selecting this mode the film will engage informative pop-ups throughout the film to provide insight on the movie’s relationship to the comics, and to reveal hidden references that even a seasoned Venom-fan may have missed!
  • Deleted & Extended Scenes: These deleted and extended scenes will give fans even more of the Venom action they loved in theaters!
  • Ride to Hospital – Eddie and Venom take a ride to the hospital.
  • Car Alarm – Let’s just say that Venom is not fond of car alarms.
  • San Quentin – Extended post-credits scene at San Quentin.
  • From Symbiote to Screen: A mini documentary about the history of Venom in comics and his journey to the big screen. Interviews with Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Ruben Fleischer, Oliver Scholl, and Director and Comic Fanboy Kevin Smith.
  • The Lethal Protector in Action: Go behind the scenes with the production crew and learn the secrets behind the awesome Motorcycle stunts, wire stunts, and drones.
  • Venom Vision: A look at how Ruben Fleischer came to the project, gathered his team, and made Venom a reality. Utilizes interviews from cast, crew, and producers as well as Fleischer himself.
  • Designing Venom: Designing and creating Venom meant a huge challenge for VFX artists; follow the amazing journey.
  • Symbiote Secrets: Blink and you may have missed it! Enjoy the hidden references throughout the film.
  • 8 Select Scenes Pre-Vis sequences: See the progression of the visual effects, storyboards and fight chorography compared to the finished film.
  • “Venom” by Eminem – Music Video
  • “Sunflower” by Post Malone, Swae Lee (From Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)
  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sneak Peek

BioWare Teases Dragon Age Announcement

BioWare General Manager Casey Hudson teased a Dragon Age announcement in a recent post on BioWare’s official blog.

“If you’ve been following these blogs, or myself and Mark Darrah on Twitter, you know we’re also working on some secret Dragon Age stuff,” said Hudson. “Dragon Age is an incredibly important franchise in our studio, and we’re excited to continue its legacy.  Look for more on this in the coming month (though I won’t tell you where to look…).”

While “Dragon Age stuff” doesn’t necessarily mean BioWare is gearing up to announce the next entry in the role-playing franchise, the timing of this news is interesting. It’s possible this announcement could come during The Game Awards, which airs on December 6.

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Underworld Ascendant Review

I had finally done it. After several hours of navigating bugs and glitches, surviving enemies whose AI seemed to ping-pong between omniscient and ludicrously stupid, and maze-like level design, I had reached the end of an area of Underworld Ascendant that had given me considerable trouble. I actually paused, allowed myself to feel that relief and euphoria one gets when they never have to look at something terrible again. The portal to the exit was before me. I stepped forward.

…And fell through the floor, as the geometry of the Stygian Abyss decided arbitrarily to render itself ethereal. The Ascendant, Underworld’s protagonist, plummeted into some sort of netherscape that forced a reset to escape, and, thanks to Underworld Ascendant’s ludicrous save system, all progress in the level in question was lost. An entire night spent meticulously poking around, exploring, fighting, and sneaking was rendered moot by something beyond my control.

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Hugh Jackman’s Big Surprise Wasn’t More Wolverine, But a One-Man Show

Hugh Jackman had a big surprise to reveal this morning, and while he didn’t announce that he was returning as Wolverine, he did confirm that he will be reviving his one-man show for a multi-city tour around the world.

During The Today Show, Hugh Jackman announced his show, “The Man. The Music. The Show.”, and that it would begin in 2019 and include songs from The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, The Boy From Oz, and more.

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