Top Story
PlayStation 5’s ‘total backward compatibility’ just might happen
According to a tweet by @PSErebus, who has leaked reliable information before, Sony might have achieved more than just PlayStation 4 backwards compatibility.
Sony has already confirmed that they are investing heavily in backwards compatibility, hoping for full backwards compatibility with PlayStation 4 – and if @PSErebus is right, they’re aiming for full PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 compatibility as well.
But do dreams really come true?
This would be a huge change for the industry as a whole, both since no other platform has ever offered this kind of backwards compatibility, and because it would suddenly make every publisher’s back catalogue relevant again in the blink of an eye.
PlayStation 5 is currently scheduled to launch in time for the Holidays of 2020, featuring not just better graphics, but quicker loading times, high-capacity blu-rays and a new DualShock controller. Let’s hope it also manages to bridge Sony’s past and future.
Time For A Quick Daily Quiz?
What year did EGX launch?
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2012
The answer will be revealed at the end of this issue!
News Bits
Ghost Parade marches onto PC, PlayStation 4 and Switch
Ghost Parade is about about a young girl named Suri who gets lost in the woods. The side-scrolling action game from Lentera Nusantara Studio teams you up with 30 ghostly companions based on Indonesian mythology and folklore as you fight your way out of the forest.
Stellaris: Galaxy Command gets pulled over ‘artwork theft’
Paradox Interactive just launched Stellaris: Galaxy Command, the mobile version of their sci-fi grand strategy series. Unfortunately, the game contained some artwork that had been used without the creator’s permission, so Paradox had to halt the maiden voyage. Paradox will “perform a full content sweep and ensure this issue is resolved,” so Stellaris: Galaxy Command will remain in drydock for a little longer.
Daily Fact
Remembering ECTS – the European Computer Trade Show
EGX 2019, the UK’s biggest videogame show, starts today. Unlike E3 and TGS, there are usually no big announcements, but it often features the first chance to play many major new titles. Before EGX was established, the biggest trade show in the UK – and actually in all of Europe – was ECTS, the European Computer Trade Show.
Between 1988 and 2004, ECTS was the number of videogame trade show in Europe, and while EGX and GamesCome are consumer-oriented affairs, the ECTS was more like E3: Strictly business people and journalists.While ECTS never got as big as E3, it was still the kind of show where companies made big announcements.
ECTS started losing its mojo in 2001, as the company running the show – CMP – introduced the European Game Developers Conference. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for CMP and they pulled the plug on both shows in 2005. A few smaller events tried to fill the void, and EGX eventually took the throne – although it’s more of a consumer than trade show.
Daily News
Riot Games unveils 6 new projects, most League of Legends related
Riot Games is up to more than just League of Legends, unveiling six new projects. Most of them are based on League of Legends, like League of Legends: Wild Rift – a console and mobile MOBA – and Legends of Runeterra, a free-to-play card game along the lines of Hearthstone.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – just add genres
The other projects are simply known by simple codenames: Project L is a 1v1 fighting game like Street Fighter, while Project F “explores the possibilities of traversing the world of Runeterra with your friends.”
Project A is billed as a “stylish, competitive, character-based tactical shooter for PC,” that will undoubtedly go head-to-head against Overwatch. A mobile version of their autobattler Teamfight Tactics was also announced – and a brand-new IP “set on a beautiful near-future Earth”
Ring Fit Adventure review round-up
Nintendo’s odd new Ring-Con peripheral for Switch is debuting alongside Ring Fit Adventure on October 18th. Plug in your JoyCons and get moving as you take on an evil bodybuilder dragon named Dragaux. What do the critics have to say about that?
- CGMagazine (Score 8.5/10) – ”Ring Fit Adventure is one of the best attempts yet to blend fitness with gaming, even if gaming sometimes grabs the reins.”
- Gameblog.fr (Score 8/10) – ”With its very efficient Ring-Con and a funny RPG game, Ring fit Adventure is a brilliant way to workout without even noticing it. If there is motivation, and a lot of space, you’ll be able to do what you want to, at your own pace, with a few smiles. A very pleasant successor to Wii Fit, indeed.”
- IGN (Score 7.8/10) – ”Ring Fit Adventure offers an inventive fitness RPG that doesn’t quite have all the moves.”
- GamesBeat (Score 60/100) – ”The core mission of Ring Fit Adventure is to make you forget that you’re exercising, and I think it’s only partially successful at that.”
- Eurogamer (Score ‘Recommended’) – ”An exercise game with legs – providing you can get over your own sore legs.”
- The Verge (Unscored) – ”I can’t tell you that Ring Fit Adventure is a proper substitute for going to the gym or a way to really get in shape. What I can say is this: it’s a polished, fun game that feels like a real workout, and, for me, it became a way I could almost seamlessly fit physical activity into my life. Even as I sit here typing this, I’m feeling a bit off about only having put in 20 minutes today. The good thing is that squeezing in another 20 is pretty simple. I just need to slay some yoga mats.”
Score pending release
- VideoGamer (Score TBD) – ”A fitness game that actually works, Ring Fit Adventure is colourful, fun, and offers a comprehensive workout.”
- DailyStar (Score TBD) – ”Another innovative showcase of the Joy-Con working with the new Ring-Con accessory, the fun-packed RPG mechanics makes Ring Fit Adventure the perfect gateway to fitness for gamers.”
- TheSixthAxis (Score TBD) – ”Whether or not it sticks, I’ll have to let you know, but it’s done a good (if initially repetitive) job of feeding a range of exercises into my daily life this past week. It’s not just for beginners though, and could easily appeal to those looking to gameify their workouts.”
- Vandal (Score TBD) – ”It is a complete experience that fulfills its objectives in a remarkable way, a video game with all the usual elements in a role story and that gives a fun purpose to the fact of sweating, and is one of the best exergaming games we have seen.”
- My Nintendo News (Score TBD) – ”With Nintendo’s unique charm, Ring Fit Adventure is a great fitness RPG for those who enjoy exercising at their own pace. Its sensitivity to movement, ability to estimate your heart rate, and wide range of things to do within the game keeps your daily workout routine feeling invigorated and fresh. And since the Ring-Con is so versatile, it’s easy to get carried away with different pushes and pulls. [Recommended]”
- VGC (Score TBD) – ”Ring Fit Adventure is a unique and entertaining adventure that could offer laxed gym-goers a compelling route back into exercise.”
- EGM (Score TBD) – ”The best compliment that I can give Ring Fit Adventure is that it’s a video game that features exercise, instead of an exercise program disguised as a video game. In the two weeks that I’ve been playing my copy, I’ve legitimately regretted any day that I couldn’t play, and have always looked forward to not only exploring deeper into its adventure mode, but actually doing the workout associated with it”