Stone Marshall's Blog, page 72

Every video game would be better on Nintendo’s newest console

It turns out that “Ultra Street Fighter II,” a souped-up version of the 1991 classic for the new Nintendo Switch console, is a certifiable smash hit.

So far, game developer Capcom says “Ultra Street Fighter II” has sold 450,000 copies, reports IGN— despite lukewarm reviews, and the ongoing shortage of the Switch console itself. Now, Capcom says it’s planning to release a flurry of new Switch games to meet this apparent demand.

From my perspective as a Nintendo Switch owner, the reason for the runaway success of this game is simple: Every video game ever made is better, or would be better, on the Nintendo Switch. All of them. Full stop.

Let me explain.

What Nintendo does for me

I own a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox One, and a whole heap of games to play on them. Still, I don’t get a lot of time to play games on the TV, and when I do, it’s usually for a matter of minutes, not hours. Lately, I’ve played many more games on my iPhone or Nintendo 3DS than my fancy-pants TV consoles.

It means that critically acclaimed games like “The Witcher 3” and even the older “Skyrim” have all passed me by. They’re probably both great, but I just haven’t been able to commit the 40-plus hours in front of my TV that those games would demand from me for full enjoyment.

Back to Nintendo. In case you haven’t heard, the Nintendo Switch has a simple, killer gimmick: It’s a TV console, like an Xbox or PlayStation, but when you’re on the go, you can pick it up right off its dock and keep on playing. It even lets you split one controller into two, for impromptu two-player action.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch can be plugged into a TV, or played on-the-go. Either way, it’s great. Ben Gilbert/Business Insider

This has been a huge boon for me, personally. The Switch is a TV console, and a thing I can take with me. All of a sudden, I don’t have to choose between playing a console game or something portable. Console games fit into my life, once again. And I suspect that I’m not alone in feeling this way.

So, yeah, of course “Ultra Street Fighter II” sold like crazy, despite being a mediocre version of a decades-old classic. And when “Skyrim,” which first released in 2011, comes out for the Switch later this year, it’ll probably sell like crazy, too. The Switch itself makes any game more accessible, and more playable, by virtue of sheer flexibility. (Plus, this early in a console’s life cycle, people are thirsty for any half-decent game, which also helps.)

Ultimately, I would urge every game developer out there to consider a Nintendo Switch version of any games they’re working on, or even that they’ve already made. Superhero fighting game “Injustice 2,” for example, would be killer on the Switch.

And, look, I get that the Nintendo Switch isn’t as powerful under the hood as the Xbox One or PlayStation 4, graphically. Speaking personally, though, I would rather play a version of a great game at a lower resolution, or with slightly diminished special effects, than I would not play it at all.

‘Minecraft’ for the Nintendo Switch proves what’s so great about both the game and the console

How can you tell that I’m old?

The answer: I can’t stand playing most 3D games on a touchscreen for very long. I love playing “Minecraft,” Microsoft’s smash-hit block-building game, on my iPhone with my nephews, but the control feels weird and unnatural to my withered 30-year-old hands. I could play it on PC, naturally, but then I lose the portability.

This is why I was so eager to try “Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition,” the $30 version of the game for the new Nintendo Switch console. I thought, perhaps, this version would strike the perfect compromise:

Because the Switch is a TV games console, it uses a traditional joystick setup, the kind I’m very accustomed to. And because you can detach the Switch from the TV, I can take it on the go.

Well, the game met my expectations, and actually exceeded them. And in so doing, it shows off what’s so great about both “Minecraft,” and about the Nintendo Switch itself.

Mining and crafting

The actual experience of playing “Minecraft” is exactly the same here as it is on other versions.

In Survival Mode, you begin alone and unarmed, and are challenged to craft tools and weapons in a blocky, charmingly pixelated world. In Creative Mode, you’re freed from the shackles of responsibility, and can zip around the world using the game’s amazingly intuitive interface to build massive structures limited by your imagination.

minecraft nintendo switch

The Switch can either be plugged into a TV to act as a normal console, or else used as portable system, as pictured here. 4J Studios

This version’s sole twist is a Nintendo-exclusive “Mario Mash-Up Pack,” which optionally lets you play as various Super Mario characters, while also giving a Mario-style makeover to the game’s items, buildings, and enemies. If you happened to play the Wii U version of “Minecraft,” it’s the exact same here as it was there.

It’s a fun addition, but not game-changing (so to speak). If you’ve ever played “Minecraft” before, and you should, you know what you’re getting. One thing I would note is that the game’s graphics get just a little worse when the console is in its portable mode, with the distance you can see noticeably diminished. That’s a quibble, though.

Playing with power

The real beauty of this version of “Minecraft” comes in the unique stuff that the Switch brings to the table.

Again, I can’t get used to touchscreen controls. So having a portable version that supports the Switch’s trademark Joy-Con controllers, thumbsticks and all, was a welcome blessing. I found myself playing the game more, and for longer sessions, than I had with other versions of “Minecraft.”

My absolute favorite moment with the game, however, came when I showed it to my nephews. Like the Xbox and PlayStation versions of the game, “Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition” supports a split-screen multiplayer with up to four players, so long as the console is plugged into the TV.

Minecraft (Super Mario)

The game has a pre-built Super Mario world for you to explore. Microsoft/Nintendo

When the Switch isn’t plugged into the TV, though, you still keep the power to have two local players. It meant that my nephews could play with each other sitting at the coffee table, while a movie played on the TV. They love “Minecraft;” they love playing “Minecraft” with each other, and they were totally into this idea.

The caveat is that “Minecraft: Switch Edition” doesn’t support the Switch’s nifty method for turning one of its Joy-Con controllers into two, meaning you’ll need a full two controllers to take advantage. That part is a bummer.

Still, to me, it proves two things. First, Nintendo’s boasts of the Switch as a social console are well-deserved. Whether it’s attached to the TV, or in your backpack on a trip, the Switch really does let you have fun solo or with friends.

Second, “Minecraft” is really an extraordinary game. It’s incredibly flexible, and is equally as fun on phones, consoles, and PCs. It’s no wonder that the game has had such staying power when it’s so easy to get started everywhere the game plays. And when Switch players of “Minecraft” get the ability to join their Xbox brethren later this year, you can expect the fun to get cranked up to 11.

For the first time since the original, a new ‘Minecraft’ game is in the works — and it’s arriving in 2019

For the first time since the original “Minecraft,” the series is getting a new entry.

It’s not a sequel — the game is named “Minecraft: Dungeons,” and it’s a dungeon crawler along the lines of “Diablo.”

“Minecraft: Dungeons” is scheduled to arrive on PC in 2019. It’s not clear when it will come to other platforms.

For the first time since “Minecraft” arrived in 2011, a new entry in the series is in the works from the same studio that created the original. It’s named “Minecraft: Dungeons” — it was revealed on Saturday during an annual “Minecraft” live broadcast known as Minecon Earth 2018.

From what we’ve seen so far, it looks like a very “Minecraft-y” version of beloved classics like “Diablo.” It sounds lke that, too!

“Dungeons” is described as, “an all-new action-adventure game inspired by classic dungeon crawlers,” in its announcement. Alone, or with a group of up to four friends, you’ll tackle, “a ruthless swarm of new-and-nasty mobs” in a variety of locations: “canyons, swamps and — of course — mines.”

Minecraft Dungeons

Like other dungeon crawlers, “Minecraft: Dungeons” appears to feature different classes of character to choose from — from a warrior to a mage, and everything in between. Mojang/Microsoft Studios

The game is said to be a passion project for the folks at Mojang — the Swedish studio that was founded to create the original “Minecraft.” It’s the first of several new initiatives within Mojang aimed at expanding the universe of “Minecraft.”

Unlike “Minecraft,” the focus in “Minecraft: Dungeons” is action.

“We wanted to focus on making sure that we made the dungeon crawler part as good as possible,” Mojang creative lead Jens Bergentsen told me in a phone interview last week.

To that end, don’t expect to see a lot of the usual mining and crafting.

“I would say that it’s a distilled version of ‘Minecraft,'” Bergentsen said. “Building in the game is something that we’ve talked about a lot, but we were concerned that it would distract from what the game was about. So in ‘Minecraft Dungeons,’ it’s strictly an adventure game with a story attached to it.”

The game is scheduled to arrive on PC first in 2019 — a beta will precede its arrival, but don’t expect anything like the soft launch “Minecraft” had. “Minecraft: Dungeons” is getting a relatively standard beta before a “traditional” release, we’re told.

Check out the game’s debut trailer right here:

Xbox Live Deals With Gold Features WB Games, Grand Theft Auto V and More

This week’s Xbox Live Deals With Gold have begun trickling in, and there are a number of great deals on titles offered by WB Games.

For instance, Batman; Arkham Knight and Batman: Return To Arkham are available for dirt cheap, which means you can enjoy the full Rocksteady Studios trilogy for a swell deal.

On top of that, several Lego video games are also marked down, including the latest release, Lego The Incredibles, as well as classic favorites like Lego Batman 3, Lego Marvel’s Avengers, Lego Jurassic World and several more. And you can snag Grand Theft Auto V for cheap, too!

The sale prices are good between now and October 2nd at 6 AM EDT, so you’ve got time to do some serious shopping and add games to your library. Let’s take a look at the deals that are on hand!

Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion- $29.99

Beast Quest- $12.00

Ben 10- $15.00

Defunct- $4.49

Divinity Original Sin: Enhanced Edition- $10.00

I, Zombie- $2.67

Lords of the Fallen Digital Complete Edition- $7.50

Mega Man Legacy Collection- $6.00

Mega Man Legacy Collection 2- $11.99

Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 + 2 Combo Pack- $15.00

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2- $8.00

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 Deluxe Edition- $10.00

Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered- $22.49

Road Rage- $9.00

Rock of Ages 2: Bigger and Boulder- $7.50

Shiny- $7.50

Slain: Back From Hell- $6.00

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Season Pass Edition- $16.00

The Coma: Recut- $7.50

The Golf Club 2- $12.00

The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA Tour- $37.49

The Surge- $10.00

Transcripted- $4.70

Valkyria Revolution- $26.79

Vampyr- $40.19

Warhammer Bundle: Mordheim and Blood Bowl 2- $16.50

Bastion- $7.50

Batman: Arkham Knight- $10.00

Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition- $20.00

Batman: Return To Arkham- $10.00

Cars 3: Driven To Win- $20.00

Dying Light- $14.99

Dying Light: The Following Enhanced Edition- $20.09

Grand Theft Auto V- $19.49

Grand Theft Auto V + Great White Shark Cash Card- $32.49

Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition- $32.99

Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition + Great White Shark Card Bundle- $40.00

Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition + Whale Shark Card Bundle- $55.00

Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition + Megalodon Shark Card BUndle- $80.00

Hyper Sentinel- $10.04

Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham- $11.99

Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Deluxe Edition- $17.50

Lego City Undercover- $15.00

Lego Jurassic World- $10.00

Lego Marvel Super Heroes- $8.00

Lego Marvel Super Heroes Bundle- $24.00

Lego Marvel Super Heroes Deluxe Bundle- $30.00

Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2- $24.00

Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition- $30.00

Lego Marvel’s Avengers- $10.00

Lego Marvel’s Avengers Deluxe Edition- $12.00

Lego Movies Game Bundle- $20.00

Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens- $10.00

Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Deluxe Edition- $12.00

Lego The Incredibles- $41.99

Lego Worlds- $20.99

Mad Max- $8.00

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition- $8.00

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War- $24.99

Mortal Kombat XL- $10.00

Scribblenauts Showdown- $20.00

The Elder Scrolls Online- $10.00

The Elder Scrolls Online Collection- $40.00

The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset- $23.99

The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset Collector’s Edition- $35.99

The Lego Movie Videogame- $10.00

The Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game- $25.00

The Surge- $10.00

Hurry up and get these great deals while you can!

‘Marvel’s Spider-Man’ Game Story Continues in New Spider-Geddon Comic Debuting This Week

At this point, there are some of you that finally beat Spider-Man on PlayStation 4. Not 100 percent yet, mind you (save for a few of you), but at least gotten through the story. So you’re probably wondering…what’s next? Well, besides the DLC that will start debuting next month, there’s also a fun side story that’s coming to the comics as well — and we’ve got a first look at which way this version of Spider-Man will be going in this particular universe.

Marvel has released some teaser images for Spider-Geddon #0, which is set to make its debut on newsstands and comic book stores starting September 26, introducing this Spider-Man to this particular world.

The first few pages have an interesting story to tell, penned by writer Christos Gage, alongside Jed MacKay, and artistically created by Clayton Crain, Javier Garron and Israel Silva. You can see all the pages below, but here’s the quick lowdown:

Spidey begins by swinging through the city, listening to J. Jonah Jameson’s latest podcast (to a point, anyway), before Mary Jane decides to give him a call. She explains that some sort of maniac is tearing his way through the city, and the hero goes to confront him.

It turns out to be none other than the Tarantula, who lets loose with a number of mechanical appendages, threatening to crush Spidey underneath them.

After making a joke about copyright infringement, Spidey tries to find a way to stop Tarantula, only to find his webs are ineffective with his electrical shielding. However, he’s able to finally subdue him with the help of a web bomb, leaving him tied up for the police.

But then things get really interesting, as another Spider-Man suddenly appears from another dimension, addressing him as Spider-Man of Earth 1048. He tells him that “he is needed,” in which he’s thrown for a loop. And that’s where the tease comes to an end. Check out the first few pages below!

You can read the rest of the story for yourself in just a few days, so be sure to pre-order your copy when you get a chance!

Spider-Man is available now for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro.

DARK HORSE TEAMS WITH MOJANG AND MICROSOFT TO BRING THE WORLD OF ‘MINECRAFT’ TO COMICS

One of the most infuential and popular videogames of all time is headed to the comic store. Dark Horse Comics, Mojang AB and Microsoft are teaming up for a “multi-project publishing partnership” focused on Minecraft. The first offering? A series of Minecraft graphic novels, set for release next summer. Scroll down for an exclusive first look at Minecraft Volume One.

Here’s what we know about the story of the upcoming comic so far, courtesy of Dark Horse: “In Minecraft Volume One, everyday kid Tyler’s life is changed when his family moves away from the town he’s always known. Thankfully, Tyler has a strong group of friends forever linked in the world of Minecraft! Tyler, along with his friends Evan, Candace, Tobi and Grace, have gone on countless adventures together across the expanses of the overworld and are in need of a new challenge. They decide to go on the Ultimate Quest—to travel to the End and face off against the ender dragon!”

“We are very excited at the prospect of bringing Minecraft to comics,” said Dark Horse President and Founder Mike Richardson of the partnership. “The world of Minecraft is vast with countless stories to tell. We look forward to working with the great people at Mojang AB and Microsoft to bring these stories to its enormous fan base.”

Since its release in November 2011, Minecraft has sold 144 million copies across all platforms, making it the second best-selling video game of all time. (Tetris remains the king of the hill.) Nearly seven years on, the Minecraft fandom is going strong, with more than 75 million fans playing the game every month. “We can’t wait to follow the incredible imaginations that Dark Horse’s comic creators will bring to the world of Minecraft,” said Lydia Winters, Chief Brand Officer of Mojang AB, said of the collaboration.

Minecraft Volume One will feature the work of writer Sfé R. Monster (The Beyond Anthology, Seven Stories from the Sea), artist Sarah Graley (Kim Reaper: Vampire Island, Our Super Adventure) and letterer John J. Hill (Bedtime Games, Superman). Minecraft Volume One debuts summer 2019. The 80-page graphic novel will be released next summer, and is currently available for pre-order from Target, Amazon, TFAW and other retailers. It will sell for $9.99.

While you wait to get your hands on the graphic novel, Minecraft is available to play on just about every gaming device conceivable: Windows, Mac OS, Windows Phone, iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Wii U, Switch, DS, Apple TV, Oculus Rift and Gear VR.

Why construction needs the Minecraft generation

Children are already learning the skills they will need for a digital future through play, says Jaimie Johnston. The trick for the construction industry will be how to attract and harness this pool of talent

Jaimie Johnston BW 2018

Computer games may not sound like a big part of the future for construction design, but they could be. Through Minecraft, and games like it, kids are already learning the skills they will need to excel at virtual design.

For those of you who haven’t played it, Minecraft involves “mining” different kinds of 3D blocks and then “crafting” them into new creations. There are parallels with Lego, but Minecraft goes much further. On LinkedIn, tech commentator Joel Chappell says: “It’s like building something out of Lego after you made and moulded the plastic and dyed it with plants that you grew yourself, and then going on an adventure inside it through forests and deserts while monsters are chasing you”.

It’s entertainment, of course, but the skills required to play it are absolutely relevant to the process of virtual design. Players need to be able to build in response to different biomes (terrain), problem-solve in a “live” environment while facing pressure from monsters, use materials in creative and unique ways, and collaborate with others around the world.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Chartered Institute of Building, which has created “Craft Your Future” within the Minecraft world. Through it, young learners collaborate in teams to design, plan and build within Newtown, a specially created virtual city. Commercial and educational organisations have seen the potential of the system, too. When Sioux Steel was planning a new site earlier this year, young people were invited to contribute their ideas for the project through Lego and Minecraft. Also this summer, children in Northern Ireland had the opportunity to construct a virtual replica of the new Armagh collage campus through Minecraft.

All of this matters, because what the building industry needs from its designers is changing fast. A new generation of digital natives will work in partnership with algorithms. Their contribution will increasingly be the initial concept, which is where design value is greatest. A much smaller proportion of their time will go into documenting the idea than it does now. These skills will also be needed in many other industries, so construction must be able to compete to attract them – and some, like the

tech giants, have deep pockets.

The digital natives will drive a new kind of automated, or platform, construction. As in Minecraft, they will create unique structures from sets of standardised components, designed to fit together, as they do in manufacturing. This means much less waste and faster build times. And because efficient assembly processes can be designed in, site workers will need far less training than traditional trades require. The skills shortage we currently face makes that a very good thing.

Some might question whether digital natives can replace existing architectural training or cope with the practical challenges. A Minecraft building may not be structurally sound, for example. Yet structural requirements, and other standards – for fire resistance or electrical connectivity – could be designed in. The technology doesn’t exist yet, but it seems inevitable that it eventually will.

Others might argue that existing architectural education should simply be adapted to meet new needs, but architecture training is already very expensive – it can cost up to £120,00 for a five-year course. Moreover, technology is developing so fast that knowledge will need to be constantly renewed.

Ideas such as skills acquisition through Minecraft sound radical, but so does the future. The World Economic Forum estimates that 65% of children who are now in primary education will end up in jobs that don’t exist today. It’s a view echoed by Dell Technologies, which predicts that 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t yet been invented. Few would doubt that technology is driving change at an ever-increasing rate, but it is also extending the scope of human creativity. Today, young people can learn virtual design through play. Our industry will need their skills, and so will many others.

Jaimie Johnston is director and head of global systems, Bryden Wood

The Minecraft New Nintendo 2DS XL Is Coming To Europe After All, Available Next Month

Nintendo has officially revealed the Minecraft New Nintendo 2DS XL ‘Creeper Edition’ for Europe.

Back in July, this luminous green beauty was confirmed for Japanese buyers alongside new Animal Crossing and Mario Kart bundles, but it was unclear whether or not the system would make it to western shores. Then, late last month, we spotted the console tucked away inside a PDF file sent by Nintendo RU around the time of Gamescom. It turns out that the PDF file wasn’t lying after all, and the system is indeed about to arrive in Europe.

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

Nintendo of Europe



@NintendoEurope

On 19/10, look out for the #Minecraft New Nintendo #2DS XL – Creeper Edition, distinctively decked out with a Creeper design and pre-loaded with Minecraft: New Nintendo #3DS Edition!

Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition is available on #eShop now!

16:16 – 20 Sep 2018

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While the Creeper design is sure to be the major selling point of this one, the console also comes with a copy of Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition pre-loaded. If you’re a Minecraft fan still looking for a new 2DS system, or know someone who is, you can’t really get much better than this.

The console will be available in stores from 19th October.

City’s science museum creates Minecraft maps of Bristol

A museum is encouraging people to digitally rebuild Bristol by offering free Minecraft maps of the city.

We The Curious created the maps for its Minecraft workshops as part of its Festival of What If over the summer.

Life science officer Tom Rodgers said: “There was a rollercoaster, a giant rainbow and someone turned College Green into a volcano.”

Minecraft is a video game, but there is no winning or losing. Gamers create digital worlds.

“There was no Metrobus or Arena – maybe that’s not what 12-year-olds are concerned about,” Mr Rodgers said.

The museum’s maps cover the city centre around the Harbourside and can be downloaded from the museum’s Twitter page.

Mr Rodgers said: “We’ve never done a digital event like this before, but really we just want to inspire people to have a go themselves and give them new ideas.”

Minecraft: Education Edition To Launch On iPads In September

Microsoft is set to launch the iPad version of Minecraft: Education Edition to schools in September, the company confirms in a statement.

On its official website, Microsoft said students can now use their iPads to build historic monuments, bring creative stories to life, and swim through coral reefs through its Update Aquatic.

Students can also experiment with chemistry and document their accomplishments with its camera and portfolio features. Minecraft: Education Edition can also discuss subjects like STEM, history, language, art, among others.

Minecraft: Education Edition is designed to help teachers incorporate the software into their curriculum, including their lesson plans and sources. Microsoft said teachers who are using Minecraft: Education Edition could utilize the beginner’s tutorial world and access the game’s official website for a number of free classes online.

Teachers can also seek help year-round onboarding and classroom support from a global community of “Minecraft Mentors” and from the growing community composed of 35 million licensed teachers and students in 115 countries.

According to Kyriakos Koursaris, head of Education Technology for PaRK International School, Minecraft: Education Edition on iPad will open new ways of collaboration between students and teachers to explore curriculum and projects.

“The features allow for deep and meaningful learning, and the values it promotes, from inclusivity to 21 century skills, empower everyone to use technology with extraordinary results,” Koursaris said.

How To Get ‘Minecraft: Education Edition’ On iPad?

Microsoft said that if a school is licensed through Microsoft 365 for Education (A3 or A5), it already has access to Minecraft: Education Edition and could download the app onto iPads in September. However, school administrators must assign the available licenses to the teachers who want to use it.

In addition, Microsoft has updated Intune for Education to help IT administrators manage student devices from a unified, streamlined console.

If a school is interested in introducing Minecraft: Education Edition on iPad to teachers and students, but has not purchased a license in the past, a volume licensing agreements is available through the Microsoft Store for Education and other resellers. Schools shell out for the annual subscription of the software, but they can try it out for free for up to 25 teacher logins and 10 student logins.

Update For ‘Minecraft’ Windows 10 PC And Xbox Users

Microsoft said that Minecraft players and families who play outside of school using Windows 10 PC and Xbox console could now use the Chemistry Resource Pack that was originally released for Minecraft: Education Edition.

According to Microsoft, the Chemistry Resource Pack package includes lab tables, element blocks, and items that are craftable only using the new chemistry features. Players can enjoy the Chemistry Resource Pack by going to Create New World option in the game and toggle the Education option under the Cheats menu.