Rumors. Cardboard. Sneakers. This Lucky Gamer Recap has it all.
Another week another surprise announcement from companies we thought were out of surprises. This week in gaming news Activision publishing CEO takes a walk, Nintendo tells us to play with the packaging, and information leaks from every pipe in the house to fuel rumors. As In read that back I realize it sounds like Video Games went back to middle school for a week. That’s ok though, we all need to tap into our inner child every now and then. Don’t worry its totally cool as long as you come back to adulthood in a reasonable timeframe. I mean I spend have of every week acting like a child on purpose and look at me. Probably not the best example, any way here are the goods to make you feel lucky this week:
1. Nintendo literally tells kids to go play with a Box.
When it comes to video games, Nintendo is the crazy uncle in the family who you’re never really quite sure what he does or how but you know he’s bringing in the big bucks. Ever year Nintendo drops this insane, outrageous, damn near ridiculous plan for a new product. This year that product is Nintendo Labo, a line of build it yourself experiences for the Nintendo Switch. Players will be able to build cool experiments that can be connected to the Switch and interact with specific software. I could talk about the fact these kits are completely modular or I can reference the silliness that is Nintendo calling them your creations Toy-Con’s (sounds pretty bad out loud) but instead I want to tackle something bigger. All the kits are made of Cardboard Sheets designed to interact with your console. That’s right. Cardboard. That’s what they’re selling us now. A variety Kit for $69.99 that includes materials to build a two cars, a fishing rod, a house, a motorbike, and a piano OR a Robot Kit for $79.99 (that brings material to build a robot suit). And I’d be a damn liar if I said I didn’t want them all.
2. It seems even publishing maybe exhausted from Call of Duty.
After eight years with the company Activisions Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg will be leaving the company. Eric had an incredible run with the company and is making the strong decision to go out on top with Call of Duty WWII and Destiny 2 both dominating the top selling games list of 2017 (#1 and #2 respectively). For some this may be a huge moment of exciting because you are thinking “COD is trash anyway, maybe the new guy can make it better” but you’re wrong. That wasn’t his job. For some people this is terrifying new because you are thinking “Damn now COD is gonna be trash, the new guys going to ruin it.” but you to are also wrong. His job was to sign off on titles getting published so we can play them till our hearts collapsed. So if you’re thinking “thank god maybe we wont get anymore awful ports or licensed games” you are absolutely right cause those were totally his fault. Damn you Eric. However, on a serious note, Where ever Eric moves on to, we at Hard Mode Gamers wish him the best and thank him for all his hard work for this ungrateful and under satisfied industry. Don’t be mad you know damn well we are never fully satisfied as gamers.
3. Strong chance there will be significantly fewer happy people this spring.
Things happen in this industry regularly because there are so many uncontrollable variables. I’m not gonna do the list thing sorry. Originally slated for an April 13th release date, We Happy Few has been delayed till sometime time in the summer. Compulsion Games, the guys developing the game, have simply said they just need a little more time to polish the game up. The detailed version seems to point at story pacing revisions as the primary concern so who knows exactly when it will be ready. This game has had quite an interesting development cycle if you ask me, so while you wait for it to release in some undisclosed timeframe, catch up on the whole process on the developers website. Crowdfunding for the win!
4. Let’s put the good Xbox rumors in the same place and as the bad ones last week.
As you get to know me you’ll get to understand I treat all systems equally. No bias or inequality in my world. Do something good you get applause, do something bad you get the saw. This week, if all these rumors pan out to be true, Xbox gets a huge applause. First rumor is that a new Fable games is in development at Playground Games, home of Forza Horizon. Supposedly the recent success of Horizon Zero Dawn, the other horizon game, was a major influence on this decision and if so, that is the type of healthy competition we need. Second rumor on the report is that Microsoft is working on another Xbox Elite Controller for it’s most elite players. There obviously aren’t a ton of concrete details but, if rumors are to be believed the new control will bring rechargeable battery built in, a USB C port, three levels of hair-trigger locks, a three profile switch, and more. All of which, in my opinion, is sooper dope.
5. More on the rumor mill.
Like I said this was the week of gossip gamers, so let us soak it all in. A series of European tore listings let slip that a last generation THQ game may be getting a new generation facelift. Red Faction: Guerrilla may be seeing new life on PS4 and Xbox One as early as sometime in the near future. See that’s how rumors work they tell you a bunch of information that ultimately goes nowhere. Not my fault, come at me bro. In a completely unrelated leak, comicbook.com reports that TT Games may be working on two new Lego adventures for us to die over. The first being a Lego Incredibles game, obviously to coincide with the release of the highly anticipated Incredibles 2 film. That one I’m pretty inclined to believe is true because of the blatant marketing opportunity. The second rumored Lego game in development I’m not entirely convinced is real yet. Supposedly the other Lego game in development is a DC villains game centered around the Rogue Gallery (you know the Joker, Lex, Harley, Mr. Freeze, etc.). Unless a rogue gallery film is in the works or this was supposed to coincide with the Justice League sequel we will never get, I don’t know how this would entice the normies. But hey what do I know?
6. Blizzard World is here! Almost.
The long-awaited Blizzard World Map for Overwatch, announced back at Blizzcon 2017, will be available on January 23rd. See straight to the point for all the fans who came here for one thing and one thing only. If you are unfamiliar for some outrageous reason, Blizzard World is a new Overwatch map that pays homage to Blizzards other franchises that paved the way. Featuring areas themed around games like World of Warcraft & Hearthstone you can expect cool easter eggs to be laced all around the theme park. Exclusive streaming deal with Twitch, an incredibly supportive community, and new content on a regular basis, Overwatch has made it very clear it plans to be a part of E-Sports for a long long time.
7. The partnership of incredibles! Playstation themed basketball shoes.
Nike reveals a brand new pair of incredible basketball sneakers called the PG-2. Why is this video game news? Well I’m glad you asked. You see these particular basketball sneaks are the birth child of a unique breeding ritual between Nike, Playstation, and Paul George. Paul George is a basketball player who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunders and is a long time Playstation fan. Playstation is one of the greatest video game platforms of all time and with basketball games that features Paul George and Nike clothing. Nike is a clothing company that just had to sit back and watch one of its main competitors dominate the “nerd culture” community by starting a DBZ sneaker line. This combination was just a heavenly match waiting to happen. How this beautiful shoe came to be is unbeknownst to me however. I will absolutely need a pair when they are made available for purchase on February 10 at a look shoe dealer near you. If I don’t get a pair, Just be careful walking back to the car.