#71: Switch is about to get Physical…

Top Story

Nintendo tease new Switch ‘belt’ peripheral with September 12 reveal

Nintendo has just revealed a “first look at a new experience” involving a bunch of smiling, happy families and friends doing something while holding what looks like some kind of Switch motion controller shaped like a belt or ring.

The video shows people getting very physical while playing some unseen games, with no indication of exactly what’s going on. Maybe it’s Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020?

It’s weird and goofy – Nintendo’s signature design

The players are running on the spot, stretching, squatting, balancing, apparently driving and definitely pretending to fire a bow and arrow. Looks like Nintendo wants us to get into shape! Could it be Switch Fit or Switch Sports?

There’s also a strap for attaching a JoyCon controller to your leg, while the other one is slotted into the weird belt controller. The belt is flexible, and it appears possible to squeez and manipulate it quite roughly without fear of breaking it. Is it a full-body input device? No idea, but it looks like you’ll break a sweat. We’ll know more about this new experience on September 12th

Time For A Quick Daily Quiz?

Which of these games did Gears of War: Judgment developer People Can Fly NOT work on?

• Gears of War 4
• Painkiller
• Fortnite
• Bulletstorm

The answer will be revealed at the end of this issue!

News Bits

Fairy Tail manga becomes RPG for PC and consoles in 2020

The popular Fairy Tail manga by Hiro Mashima is getting adapted once again, this time for PC, PlayStation 4 and Switch. Various Fairy Tail games have been released for PlayStation Portable, mobile and web browser, but now it’s finally getting a proper AAA console RPG treatment, courtesy of Koei Tecmo and GUST Studios.

Community-made tool ‘imports games’ from rivals into Steam

The number of different stores and platforms available for PC means running a bunch of different launchers, and it can be confusing. Fortunately, the community-made SteamGridDB Manager allows you to import games from Origin, Uplay, Epic Games Launcher, Battle.net and GOG Galaxy into your Steam library, with the added benefit of enabling Big Picture mode, the Steam Overlay, the Steam Input API and last but not least, In-Home Streaming.

Daily Fact

George A. Romero made a live-action Resident Evil commercial

Horror icon George A. Romero was actually tipped to direct the live-action Resident Evil movies at one time, having already directed a live-action TV commercial for Resident Evil 2. However that is as close as he would get because it would eventually go to Paul W.S. Anderson and the creation of ‘Alice’ who doesn’t exist outside the films in the Resident Evil universe.

Also, before Leon S. Kennedy makes it into Raccoon City in Resident Evil 2 he should have been in civilian clothes as it was intended for him to change into his RCPD uniform. This poignant scene was designed to show Leon’s “determination to protect both the city and his principles” but a problem with the CG kept it from ever making it into the game. I guess he never really cared after all. RIP Raccoon City.

VR Corner

Star Wars Mods for Blade & Sorcery

Blade & Sorcery, the Early Access medieval fantasy sandbox, now features Star Wars mods. ‘The Outer Rim’ is a mod that adds lightsabers and blasters as well as waves of Sith and Jedi to fight against. The mod also features telekinesis powers, enabling players to move objects using The Force.

Blade & Sorcery is available on Steam and the Oculus Store, and supports the Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality headsets.

Gearbox Software confirm Borderlands 2 VR is coming to PC this winter

Gearbox Software, the developers behind the massively popular Borderlands series, has confirmed that Borderlands 2 VR will arrive on PC this winter. Borderlands 2 VR launched on PlayStation VR back in December 2018, earning a modest 72 on review aggregator website Metacritic.

It looks like the biggest complaint about Borderlands 2 VR – the lack of a multiplayer/cooperative mode – has not been addressed for the PC version. Publisher 2K Games has not confirmed whether the game will be available on Steam, which has gamers worried since Borderlands 3 is an Epic Games Store exclusive.

Taking ‘seated VR experiences’ to a new level

If you’re one of the unlucky people who love playing VR games but suffers from motion sickness, you know how annoying it is when you quite playing because you literally feel nauseous. But your wobbly guts may soon be calmed by the VRGO Mini – a disc-shaped device that you … sit on.

Recently launched on Kickstarter, the VRGO Mini allows you to traverse virtual worlds by tilting the disc in the direction that you want to go – essentially putting the left thumbstick on a controller under your butt. Featuring haptics and a cushioned seat, the VRGO Mini can be placed on most chairs and connects to VR setups using Bluetooth. Promising low latency and a more comfortable experience for players who can’t get on with existing VR setups, this is certainly something to keep an eye on.

With 20 days left to go on Kickstarter, the VRGO Mini already smashed its £20,000 goal and is estimated to be delivered in March 2020.

Ones to watch: September 2019

September holds a lot of promise for VR releases, so here’s a quick rundown of some of our most anticipated titles.

Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son is due to release on September 17th on the Vive and Rift. If you’re looking for a pirate-themed combat title, Battlewake is sailing onto the Vive and Rift on September 10th. For those interested in the BBC’s favourite Time Lord, Doctor Who: The Edge of Time is arriving on Vive, Oculus and PSVR sometime in September.

Finally, Espire 1: VR Operative, an upcoming stealth game that has been compared to Metal Gear Solid, is set to release on September 24th, so you’ll be able to grab this on Oculus, Vive, Index, PSVR or Windows Mixed Reality by the end of the month.

Daily News

Fortnite plagued by red balloons and laughs in It: Chapter 2 promotion

Fortnite is all about the red balloons, storm drains and creepy laughs right now thanks to an It: Chapter 2 crossover event promoting the movie’s debut this weekend.

Pennywise itself will probably not appear, and it’s sort of limited how much of the film’s themes can be woven into Fortnite since it’s rated R and most Fortnite players are considerably younger than that.

Pennywise or Fortnite – which is truly more terrifying?

It could be that the It references are nothing more than some easter eggs – Epic is no stranger to pop culture references after all – but we’re closing in on Halloween, so maybe they have a bigger event planned? Of course, they could also have been offered a huge bag of money in return for sticking red balloons near storm drains and playing Pennywise’s creepy laughter. Easy money.

If there’s a bigger crossover event like the Avengers: Endgame one, then it should be kicking off the day before the premiere – which is today! Want my advice, you better stay away from storm drains, don’t accept red balloons from strange clowns and shoot anyone with a creepy laugh and/or red nose. Oh, yeah, and that only applies in-game!

A review round-up for Gears 5 from The Coalition

The latest instalment in the long-running Gears of War franchise is out now, and follows Kait Diaz, an Outsider with some Locust in her family. She’s determined to uncover the origins of the Locust and her family. JD Fenix also returns, alongside his friend Delmont Walker and original series hero Marcus Fenix. Gears 5 might think it’s too cool to put ‘of War’ in its title, but what do the critics think?

• Game Rant (Score 5/5) – ”After the slightly disappointing Gears of War 4, Gears 5 shows that the series is back with a vengeance, with what is the best Gears of War game yet.”
• God is a Geek (Score 10/10) – ”If you didn’t think you needed another Gears of War, you were wrong. Gears 5 is a barnstorming success, and a triumphant return for the series. This is the essential first party game the Xbox One desperately needed.”
• Digital Trends (Score 4.5/5) – ”Gears of War 4 saw The Coalition faithfully tracing from the established Gears of War formula. Gears 5, on the other hand, shows the studio is ready to draw. A more engaging and emotional campaign introduces features we hope to see in all subsequent games, and the addition of Escape gives more aggressive players more reasons to keep coming back. Though Horde mode’s different upgrades can get a little unwieldy and we could do without the microtransactions, this is the best version of Gears of War we’ve played in years.”
• GamesBeat (Score 90/100) – ””Gears 5 has a lot to offer, with multiplayer, co-op modes, and a single-player campaign with wide range of emotions, from humor and laughter to despair and tragedy. It leaves the fans with a bit of a cliffhanger ending, but that just means that fans will want Gears 6 to come soon.”
• Xbox Achievements (Score 90/100) – ”Once again, The Coalition proves itself as Gears of War’s ideal custodian. Gears 5 is one of the best entries in the series yet, delivering an unrivalled package that still boasts the best headshots in the business.”
• Press Start Australia (Score 9/10) – ”Gears 5 is a big, loud blockbuster that brings so much to the table, it’s easy to under-appreciate it. By building on the stories set in motion by its predecessor, Gears 5’s narrative journey is a benchmark for the series so far with well-rounded characters that are far easier to love when compared to the original trilogy’s gruff, motley crew. Once you throw a polished, brutally competitive online facet, Horde’s best iteration and the promising Escape into the mix, Gears 5 becomes a package too hard to refuse considering the clear value on offer. The story’s driving force might be “bound by blood” but Gears 5 is bound for greatness.”
• TheSixthAxis (Score 9/10) – ”Gears 5 is a brilliant experience which can be enjoyed alone or with friends in equal measure. It keeps much of the series’ core gameplay and feel, but also takes it in some new directions. It’s great to see Gears evolving, opening the door for even more positive changes in the future.”
• Twinfinite (Score 4.5/5) – ”With Gears 5, The Coalition took some risks, and it makes for one of the best entries in the series yet.”
• Game Informer (Score 8.5/10) – ”Gears 5 is exactly what it needs to be. This old war vet still packs a punch. The open-world exploration has issues, but that isn’t enough to steal away the thunder The Coalition expertly deploys on the battlefield. The campaign is a fun ride that concludes with a shocker moment and a hell of a setup for a sequel. I’m already looking forward to that follow-up.”
• GamesRadar+ (Score 4/5) – ”Gears 5 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it changes enough to keep its signature style of cover-based shooting from feeling monotonous. Going into this review, I was convinced Gears of War needed to change drastically or risk obsolescence. But the Coalition has found a different way forward, using new mechanics to polish the old, making the whole game shine.”
• EGM (Score 4/5) – ”Gears 5 makes major strides in the series’ approach to storytelling. This is the most heartfelt Delta Squad has ever been, and The Coalition backs up that emotion with genuine improvements to gameplay. While its new co-op mode, Escape, is generally underwhelming, Arcade mixes up the competitive meta enough to keep things interesting. All told, Gears 5 is more Gears, but it’s also a bold statement for why this series is still relevant.”
• Attack of the Fanboy (Score 4/5) – ”Gears 5 once again feels like a safe bet by The Coalition. You can start to see the developer thinking about new ideas and potential directions that the series can go, but Gears 5 feels largely familiar. The additions of some new features and a new mode added to the fan-favorites that return make for a robust package though.”
• AusGamers (Score 7.9/10) – ”I played the first Gears of War, and right now, Gears 5 has barely changed the flavour of the original. And while the original might have been a revelation, Gears 5 presents as a detriment.”
• USgamer (Score 3/5) – ”Gears 5 survives on its solid cover shooting gameplay and a campaign that isn’t afraid to pose difficult questions about problematic topics. But the largely stagnant Horde mode and general mess of an Escape mode really pull the sequel back from being a bold step forward.”

News Bits

The Binding of Isaac prequel ‘The Legend of Bum-bo’ out November 12

Indie developer Edmund McMillen’s Binding of Isaac prequel The Legend of Bum-bo is on track to delight and terrify us on November 12th. While Isaac fans might expect another twin-stick rogue-lite, Bum-bo is actually a puzzle-oriented “deckbuilding roguelike” with a papercraft art style. It is launching first on PC and Mac, and arrives a little later on iOS and Switch.

Spot light on Bloodlines 2’s Camarilla

Paradox Interactive has spilled the beans on the ever-manipulative schemers of clan Camarilla, and how they fit into the 21st century Seattle of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. They’re one of five big factions you can oppose, join or at least take advantage of in the upcoming RPG. Prince Cross leads the Seattle chapter of Camarilla and he’s got big plans. Paradox recently posted a dev commentary with footage from a pre-alpha gameplay demo build.

Quiz Answer - Did You Get It Right?

Which of these games did Gears of War: Judgment developer People Can Fly NOT work on?

Answer: Gears of War 4!

Polish developer People Can Fly made its name with the excellent Doom-style FPS Painkiller, before being acquired by Epic Games. The team went on to work on all the Gears of War games, before taking the lead on Bulletstorm and Gears of War: Judgment – which would be its last Gears game.

People Can Fly split from Epic after Judgment was released, and the Gears franchise was acquired by Microsoft and handed over to new team The Coalition – who made Gears 4 and 5.

Between all this however, as Epic was looking to move away from the Gears franchise and into new IP, it began work on a little game called Fortnite – which People Can Fly also helped out on!

Now, we’re specifically referring to the early Fortnite Minecraft-like Save The World here – long before the game became a battle royale phenomenon. Still, being a creator of the biggest game on the planet? Not bad for a little Polish studio who started out making an old-school FPS.

Weekly Giveaway

Iconoclasts on PS4

It’s time to save the world in another DailyBits giveaway! We have 5 PS4 keys to give away for amazing platformer-adventure Iconoclasts. All you have to do to enter the sweepstakes is to follow us on Twitter and on our Facebook page, and we will choose five random followers who will each receive a Iconoclasts PSN code to play on PS4! It couldn’t be any easier.

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