Updated: Jun 10, 2023 11:41 am EDT (GMT -04:00)

Saturday, Jun 10, 2023

Future Games Show Today

Future Games website PC Gamer details how to watch today's Future Games Show Summer Showcase, which gets underway in a couple of hours at 1:00 pm EDT. Here's the plan:
The 2023 Future Games Show Summer Showcase from our friends at GamesRadar is happening today—Saturday, June 10—at 10 am PT. If you're not sure when that is in your time zone, here's a handy guide.

The videogame showcase will be streamed on Twitch, YouTube (embedded above), GamesRadar, among other channels, and will feature 10 world premieres, plus new looks at a bunch of games, including:

  • Lords of the Fallen (I'm excited about this one ever since I saw it at GDC)
  • Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
  • Life By You (Another cool one I checked out at GDC)
  • Layers of Fear
  • Pacific Drive
  • C-Smash VRS
  • VR Skater

June Humble Choice

The June Humble Choice* is now available for members, it being June and all. Subscribers receive a collection of DRM-free games each month which are free to keep. The headline game this month is Ghostwire Tokyo while other offerings include Remnant: From the Ashes - Complete Edition, Curse of the Dead Gods, Honey I Joined a Cult, and more. Here's an overview from the Humble Bundle Blog:
Explore the spectral streets and haunted rooftops of Ghostwire: Tokyo. Survive the twisted otherworldly realms of Remnant: From the Ashes – Complete Edition. And much more….

June’s Humble Choice games have arrived from places beyond, and this month’s mix will take you on an otherworldly journey through a haunted metropolis, alternate dimensions, cursed temples, across time—and to a crazy golf/race course too for good measure. Eight supernaturally great games are waiting, all yours to own and add to your PC gaming library forever when you’re a Humble Choice member this month!
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Intel on Arc Super Sampling

Intel discusses its foray into the enthusiast market with a post about XeSS support in Intel Arc graphics cards. XeSS, or Xe Super Sampling, is Intel's super sampling tech, and the post goes on to discuss what it brings to the game(s):
Intel Arc graphics have dedicated AI hardware built-in. Leveraging those capabilities for gaming gets the most performance possible out of Arc GPUs, and that’s exactly what Xe Super Sampling does. Let’s look closer: when you turn on XeSS, every frame the GPU renders starts at a lower size than your target resolution. That smaller image renders quickly, then XeSS steps in. XeSS uses a trained AI model combined with motion vectors and frame history to intelligently upscale frames to full HD, 1440p, or 4K. Got all that? The sausage-making can get pretty technical, but the important thing is turning XeSS on scales games to high resolutions faster than traditional rendering could.

FPS numbers aren’t the only thing we’re increasing: over fifty games now include XeSS, from the biggest franchises to your niche favorites. When we launched the Intel Arc A750 and A770, we showed how XeSS works to boost FPS in nine popular games with over a dozen more on the way. Now with our high-performance desktop GPUs out for half a year, our game developer friends have helped deliver even more AI-fueled upscaling to over fifty new and existing games. A full list of every game and demo with XeSS included is at the bottom of this article.

Shadows of the Damned Remaster Revealed

A new trailer from Grasshopper Manufacture touts development of a Shadows of the Damned Remaster (thanks Game Informer). The original version of this action/adventure came to PlayStation 3 and Xbox One in 2011. Platforms go unmentioned, but presumably the remake is coming to the current console generation, and perhaps will arrive on PC as well. This will likely be cleared up next week on the Grasshopper Direct 2023 show. Here's word:
Coming soon from the collective brains of Suda51 and the Grasshopper Manufacture team in collaboration with Engine Software - Shadows of the Damned: Remastered!

Also be sure to check out our very first Grasshopper Direct on June 14th at 9:00pm PST/June 15th at midnight EST/June 15th at 9pm JST right here on the Grasshopper Archives!

On Sale

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Saturday Legal Briefs

Out of the Blue

The air purifier I ordered arrived yesterday, a day earlier than expected. But the haze and smell from the smoke condition were already gone. The device's air quality meter confirmed this. It rated our AQ as "good" to start, which quickly graduated to "very good" after running it for a short time. We're happy with the improvement and pleased to have a filter running. I've mentioned MrsBlue's asthma in the past, which makes this seem like a sensible purchase. Naturally, some of the smoke that left our area is now causing problems elsewhere, so I hope you're being safe if you're in its path.

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Friday, Jun 09, 2023

Apple and Epic Appeal Court Decision

They say the best deals are when neither side ends up happy. By that logic, the Apple/Epic antitrust decision may be fair, as Reuters reports that both sides have requested a reexamination of the ruling. Each side requests that 11 judges convene "en banc" as a panel to reconsider the outcome. Reuters notes this type of request is a long-shot: "Federal appeals courts do not often grant en banc requests. Last year, the 9th Circuit received 646 petitions asking the court for en banc rehearings. During that period, the court granted 12 requests. In 2021, the court granted en banc review in nine cases." Epic filed an antitrust suit against Apple back in 2020 over mobile platform fees. The result went mostly in Apple's favor, but both sides appealed. Apple won that appeal, but it seems both sides still have lawyers banging away. Here's a summary:
The April three-judge ruling upheld a 2021 order in California federal court in Epic's lawsuit which accused Apple of unlawfully requiring software developers to pay up to 30% in commissions on consumers' in-app purchases.

The trial judge found that Apple violated a California state unfair competition law, but not U.S. antitrust provisions. Apple's new filing challenged a nationwide injunction over conduct Apple said was "procompetitive and does not violate the antitrust laws."

Epic's 9th Circuit filing argued that its claims against Apple directly implicate the "core purpose" of U.S. antitrust law to foster competition. Epic also argued that the appeals court did not conduct a "rigorous" balancing between asserted asserted consumer benefits and anticompetitive effects of Apple's practices.

The Division 2 Gets New Game Mode

Ubisoft announces the launch of Broken Wings, the Mr. Mister-free first season of Year 5 for The Division 2. It adds a whole new mode called Descent to the open-world driving game. The title may evoke 6DOF flight, but it's a new roguelite mode available to all players. Here's a Launch Trailer and more:
Descent Mode
Leaving all your gear and SHD tech behind may seem like a daunting challenge for seasoned Division 2 Agents, but that's just what you'll do in the new rogue-lite mode, Descent. Starting anew on each run, you'll work your way through a high-tech bunker and fight against AI enemies and bosses in a special training simulation. Along the way, you'll build up your loadout with new weapons, skills, and talents as you fight your way deeper and deeper toward the ultimate foe. Descent is available now for all Division 2 players to test their mettle in either solo or co-op play, and the soundtrack will be released tomorrow, June 9.
Continue here to read the full story.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Returning to Series' Roots

A new trailer titled A Return to the Roots for Assassin's Creed Mirage discusses just that: A return to the origins of the Assassin's Creed series, which was about parkour, stealth, and assassinations. The description says this kicks off a series:
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Assassin's Creed Mirage and discover how the development team created an experience that pays tribute to the beginnings of Assassin's Creed by revisiting its core pillars: parkour, stealth and assassinations.

This is the first episode of our series that takes you behind the scenes! And stay tuned for our upcoming videos to learn more about Basim's journey and 9th century Baghdad.
Continue here to read the full story.

Quoteworthy

TEKKEN 8 Network Test This Month

Bandai Namco is now accepting signups for closed network testing of TEKKEN 8, the next installment in the fighting series. A three-day test will begin on June 21st for PlayStation 5, and another one starts on July 28th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Here's the Closed Network Test Announcement Trailer and more on plans for the game and the test:
Developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc., TEKKEN 8 promises to be the most visually stunning and visceral TEKKEN™ title yet. The game is introducing major new changes to combat that include a new “aggressive” fight system that encourages an offense-first play style, keeping the action at a high level by rewarding players who stay on the attack. Another first for the series is cross play, raising the level of competition by allowing players to fight each other regardless of which platform they prefer. With the upcoming CNT, players are invited to experience “Ranked Matches” and play a part in helping influence key game mechanics and features coming to the sequel.

The TEKKEN 8 CNT will feature online head-to-head competitive play with cross-platform matching. Testers will be able to choose from 16 playable characters including those previously revealed, with Jin, Kazuya, Jun, Paul, Law, King, Lars, Jack 8, Xiaoyu, Nina, Leroy, Lili, Asuka, Hwoarang, and Bryan, along with a new fighter made available for the CNT: Claudio. There will be five available stages with Urban Square, Yakushima, Rebel Hangar, Sanctum, and Arena.
Continue here to read the full story.

Human Fall Flat 2 Announced

Devolver Digital announces Human Fall Flat 2, a sequel to No Brakes Games' multiplayer puzzle/platformer. A new installment is no surprise after the news that the original sold over 25 million copies. The official website has the link to wishlist this on Steam, where it carries a "to be announced" release date." There's also a Game Announcement Trailer teasing the news. Here are the details:
Human Fall Flat 2 is the bigger, better and clumsier sequel to the puzzle platformer global sensation featuring brand new levels, customisable characters, and even wilder physics-based fun.

Each intricate level comes packed with new toys and devices to fiddle with as you'll solve a range of fiendish puzzles on your own or in teams of up to eight friends.

A new physics-engine, new gameplay interactions and new mechanics will make every session uniquely silly and more dynamic than ever before. Along with refined controls, visuals and music, Human Fall Flat 2 is a slapstick experience unlike any other!
Continue here to read the full story.

Greyhill Incident Released

In news that seems ripped from today's clickbait headlines, Greyhill Incident is now available for Windows on Steam, offering a survival/horror game set during a UFO invasion. A console version is due next week. There's also a Digital Abducted Edition bundling two launch DLC packs. One of these adds a new Found Footage mode with a new way to play the game. Here's a Launch Trailer showing the aliens seem to be from planet Trope. Read on for more:
InGreyhill Incident , players equipped with only a baseball bat and a revolver – with limited ammo – must run, hide from, and fight the grey extraterrestrial invaders to uncover an alien conspiracy, save their son and make it out alive. Playing as Ryan Baker, survivors will meet weird, and often wacky, fellow Greyhill residents along the way and communicate with walkie-talkies, receiving advice on escaping from the out-of-this-world visitors. Justifiably paranoid, calling the police is out of the question fear of being sent to the psychiatric ward, leading residents to band together and take matters into their own hands.
Continue here to read the full story.

Wizard with a Gun Demo

The title Wizard with a Gun probably evokes curiosity as well as expectations. If that describes your reaction, you may want to head to Steam to check out the new Wizard with a Gun Demo. It offers the chance to check out this co-op sandbox survival game where you use devices to produce magical streams of lead to vanquish your foes. Here's a new Gameplay Overview Trailer, and here's more on this wizardry:
Wizard with a Gun is an online cooperative sandbox survival game set in a magical wilderness wrought with dangerous creatures and arcane mysteries. Embark on a journey alone or with friends to collect, craft, and outfit your wizard however you see fit as you explore the unknown. Carefully design weapons, bullets, and furnishings for your tower home but try not to burn it all down as the magic you wield escalates beyond your control...
Continue here to read the full story.

Broken Roads Demo

Put some broken gas in the broken car, because it's time to check out some broken roads. A playable demo for Broken Roads is out on Steam, offering a sample of this post-apocalyptic RPG. This post has details, saying the demo allows you to experience one of the game's four origin stories and its turn-based combat. Here's the most recent gameplay trailer and the pitch:
Born of a love for traditional computer role-playing, Broken Roads provides a rich, engaging narrative in which players make their way across a desolated future Australia. Blending together traditional and all-new role-playing elements on top of a classless system offering nearly unlimited character development options, Broken Roads presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass. This novel design sees dialogue options and questing decisions influence, and be influenced by, a character's philosophical leaning.
Continue here to read the full story.

SLUDGE LIFE 2 This Month; Demo Released

Devolver Digital announces a June 27th release PC date for SLUDGE LIFE 2, the first-person vandalism sequel. The news comes with a new trailer. It revels in the game's offbeat sensibilities and reveals that a playable demo is now available on Steam. Here's word:
Art vandals Terri Vellmann and DOSEONE are beyond pumped to bring SLUDGE LIFE 2 to Steam on June 27!

Big Mud is missing! Everyone's favorite rapping frog has vanished, and his closest homie Ghost (that's you) is on a mission to find him. SLUDGE LIFE 2 whisks you away to Ciggy City Suites, a luxurious multi-floor hotel heaving with secrets, gadgets, gags, peculiar characters, and ugly corporate architecture to makeover with your spray can.

Also, SLUDGE LIFE: The BIG MUD SESSIONS is now available to demo! Chop it up with BIG MUD and crew to get small glimpse of what went down prior to the events of SLUDGE LIFE 2.
Continue here to read the full story.

Bleak Sword DX Released

Bleak Sword DX is now out for on Steam for Windows and on Switch. This action/adventure by more8bit lives up to the developer's name, and you can see it in 8-bit action in the launch trailer. This also shows how battles play out on mini dioramas, as this originated as a mobile game. Here's an explanation:
Pure, thrilling, and wonderfully cruel, Bleak Sword DX is a dark fantasy action game challenging warriors to fight their way through compact, cursed diorama battlefields.

Newly updated for PC, Bleak Sword DX expands on the critically acclaimed Apple Arcade version with elegant controls, three new game modes, and multiple gameplay and graphical improvements.

Through twelve tense and deeply atmospheric chapters, you must lift the curse of the legendary Bleak Sword by striking down all manner of horrifying creatures across an oppressive world wielding fierce weaponry and powerful magic.
Continue here to read the full story.

Baby Steps Announced

Devolver Digital announces Baby Steps, a walking simulator coming next year to PC and PlayStation 5. The announcement trailer reveals that rather than a QWOP-style game where you control a baby's limbs, this features the struggles of a baby man living at home. Here's a bit on Nate's one-step-at-a-time journey of redemption:
Baby Steps is coming in 2024 on PC and PlayStation 5, and tells the story of Nate, an unemployed failson with nothing going for him until one day he discovers a power he never knew he had: Putting one foot in front of the other.

Explore a world shrouded in mist, one step at a time. Hike the serene mountains by placing each footstep yourself, in original physics-based gameplay from the minds behind Ape Out and Getting Over It. Take in the sights, fall in love with the local fauna and try to find meaning in a wasted life.
Continue here to read the full story.

Humanica Announced

One person development studio PanfachDev announces Humanica, a historical city-building game coming to Steam later this year. Here's a trailer showing off gameplay, and here is an overview:
This is not just a sandbox. You have to compete with neighboring settlements with their own desires and ambitions. This means that your task is to become the best. Choose one of the strategies you will stick to for the rest of the game. You can go the military route, becoming a conqueror, turning your neighbors into vassals and instilling fear in everyone. Or you can choose the trade path - you'll get unique opportunities for mass production of goods and different tricks to sell valuable resources. Or the cultural path - you will create various masterpieces and explore ancient ruins in the surrounding wild world to increase the cultural value of your civilization.
Continue here to read the full story.

Out of the Blue

MrsBlue and I have appointments with the eye doctor today. These were pushed back repeatedly due to the pandemic. More correctly, way back, since we were already overdue to begin with. So now we're over-overdue. I got new computer glasses and sunglasses around seven years ago, but opted to keep my regular pair since the prescription was only three years old. That makes them 10-years old now, so their prescription is a bit off, and they are also somewhat scratched and hazy. The situation has caused frustration for a while, so it should be plain to see I'm pleased to be addressing it.

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