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Geekscape Games Reviews: ‘The Jackbox Party pack 4’!

by The_aczOctober 21, 2017

Reviewed On: Xbox One
Also Available For: Nintendo Switch, PS4, AppleTV (4th Gen), PC, Mac, Amazon Fire TV, Android,

MSRP: $24.99

Review Copy Provided By Publisher

The Jackbox Party Pack 4 is the 4th installment in what has become the yearly Jackbox series. This time around, Jackbox Games has brought only 1 familiar game, and 4 brand new ones revealed over the course of this summer, and while they all aren’t perfect, There are still plenty of great laughs and moments to be had with the game 4 iterations in.

Fibbage 3 is the first and only returning veteran game this time around. Nothing has changed other than new questions and the removal of the deFIBrillator. The best new addition to Fibbage 3 comes in a new mode titled Fibbage: Enough About You. This mode is where you write out truths about yourself and see if you’re closest friends can get them right. It can be incredibly satisfying when you’ve perfectly guessed one of your friends, and even more surprising when you find out things you never knew about them.

Survive the Internet is the first new game of the pack and is also a contender for one of the pack’s best offerings. Players are asked pretty tame and tepid questions about their thoughts on medial and trivial things. Afterwards, those words are given to another player and are told to twist them into something vile and untrue in order to slander their reputation. Much like Quiplash before it, this game is not for the faint of heart, but you’ll find plenty of gut-busting and chuckle-worthy moments that make the game worth coming back to constantly.

Monster Seeking Monster is a mystery dating game where you play the role of a monster in disguise trying to date other monsters. Each of you has a hidden ability that’s only revealed if you are the highest placing player. You must attempt to date and gain hearts for 6 nights while trying to avoid having your ability revealed. It can take at least 1 full game to really understand the game which goes against the easy pick-up-and-play nature of Jackbox, but it can be very rewarding the second time around, as play styles can slightly change depending on which monster you are. The only thing weighing the game down a bit is that the usual 8th spot in the game is exclusively reserved for the audience this time around. It can be fun to watch it choose random pickup lines in hopes of dating someone, but it would have been nice to have an option to turn them off and replace them with a proper 8th person.

The 4th game on the list is Bracketeering, this pack’s answer to Quiplash. Players answer one prompt and duke it out in a tournament sized bracket to see who’s answer is the best. Players can also bet on which answer they think will make it out on top before, and during the start of a new bracket for extra points.The big draw of the game is the ability to play with up to 16 people at once, but sadly this ends up hurting the game in the long run. There are no options to readjust brackets for games with less than 16 people, so the game automatically fills in answers. The computer prompts aren’t especially enticing or fun, and more often than not, just draw the game out too long. There’s also the fact that ties are settled by quickly tapping the answer you want to win. In a group f 16+ this probably wouldn’t be a big problem, but when you have a group of 6-8 people, it can become unbalanced if someone is faster at tapping than others. While a great idea on paper, Bracketeering is ultimately undone by its ambitious scope.

The 5th and final game is Civic Doodle. In the game, the mayor of Doodle Valley tasks you with drawing murals and pictures of citizens in order to make the town a nicer place. Players will take turns competing against each other as they draw different murals on the same wall. Once a winning mural is chosen, the next players will be tasked to modify or add more to the drawing. once everyone has had 2 turns to draw, everyone must name the mural. Much like Survive the Internet, Civic Doodle is one of the top contenders for this year’s pack. It’s tons of fun seeing odd and hilarious modifications being made to previous paintings. the only downside is that 2 rounds in an 8 player game can drag out just a bit as 8 phases to one round is already a lot.

Overall, The Jackbox Party Pack 4 is still a great time with friends on or off the internet. Expanded audience features are nice, such as being able to choose a collective lie for Fibbage 3, but others such as being the only 8th player in Monster Seeking Monster impede on some of the local aspects of the game.

FINAL VERDICT: ★★★★☆

Geekscape Giveaway: Destroy Your Competition With An AfterShokz ‘Gamez’ Bone Conducting Wireless Headset!

by Shane O'HareFebruary 18, 2016

We’re at it again Geekscapists! It’s giveaway time, the go around we’ve teamed up with AfterShokz to give you gamers a chance to get your hands on a pair of their Gamez bone conducting wireless headsets!

First, a little bit about AfterShokz and the Gamez headset.

AfterShokz has strived to bring bone conducting technology to lightweight headsets. They’ve prioritized situational awareness, safety and comfort in their designs. They’ve brought what they’ve created and are known for to the gaming market. Gamez headsets don’t actually sit ON your ears, but right in front of them. Two bone conducting transducers sit right on your cheekbone. They send vibrations through your cheekbone and into your inner ear, completely bypassing your ear drum. This means you aren’t shut out from what is around you (perfect for CS:GO LAN parties where making calls to the people in the room is essential), and gamers with hearing impairments aren’t kept away from the action. They also feature:

PremiumPitch+™ Stereo Sound: Bone conduction audio has earned its bad reputation due to a blend of natural sound leakage and weak bass. PremiumPitch+™ technology optimizes the sound and includes additional features like LeakSlayer™ technology, which ensures sound is directed exactly where it should be.

OpenFit™: A promise of uncompromised situational awareness and extended comfort due to our revolutionary open ear design. That means you can tune in to your games without tuning out the world around you.

Sweat Resistant: IP55 rated to repel sweat, moisture and dust.

Six Hours of Gaming and Calls: A single charge will reliably deliver six hours of game play and talk time. You can charge fully in 1.5 hours; a quick 15-minute charge provides enough boost to get you through a long gaming session or call.

Noise Canceling Mics: Precisely placed dual noise canceling microphones exclude surrounding noise, effectively enhancing speech when communicating with other gamers during game play.

Voice Prompts: Audrey Says™ seamlessly guide you through power, pair, play and talk, and everything in between.

Now, read below for what you’re really looking for (how to enter, of course):

Al that you need to do to enter is sign up using your email or Facebook login in the widget below, and then choose from multiple ways to gain ballots! The more you do, the better your chances, and you can even tweet once a day to maximize your entries! Please be sure to use an email you check regularly, as we will use it to contact you to obtain your shipping information. This contest is open to U.S. & Canadian residents only!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information on Gamez, check out AfterShokz official website. Gamez are PC, MAC and Mobile compatable (pretty much anything that is Bluetooth v4.0). They’re also offering a 20% discount through this Sunday (2/21) with the coupon code GAMEZ20 , so if you want to snag a pair guarantee’d this is a great chance!

Good luck!

Geekscape Mobile: Blizzard’s ‘Hearthstone’ Is Now Available For iPhone And Android Phones

by Derek KraneveldtApril 16, 2015

Blizzard’s mobile money-printing machine, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft has been available for iPad users for over a year at this point (and Android tablets since December). Today, after a long wait and a few delays, Blizzard finally added the iPhone and Android phones to its list of supported devices.

I’ve been skeptical of Blizzard’s plans to shrink the title and its glorious artwork down for smartphones, but the free-to-play collectable card game’s new iteration features a complete redesign that looks just as intuitive as its tablet and desktop counterparts. Current players, of course, need not worry about lost progress, as simply logging in to your Battle.net account will sync each and every card, record, and piece of gold into the iPhone version as well.

To further entice players to download the game on another device, Blizzard notes that playing through an entire match on the mobile edition will earn gamers a free classic card pack. I don’t know about you, but I’m sold.

I’ve put more hours into Hearthstone than I have into any other iOS title that I’ve played, and I have to say that the fact that an iPhone version now exists terrifies me. Hearthstone remains one of the most addicting games that I’ve experienced, and it’s hard to imagine having it on the device that’s always with me. If you haven’t yet experienced its power, be warned: the free-to-play moniker is misleading, as Hearthstone may cost you more of your time than you ever thought possible.

In any case, take a look at the Hearthstone mobile trailer below, and let us know if you plan to try it out!

https://youtu.be/bwO80QZU00A

Geekscape Mobile: Blizzard’s ‘Hearthstone’ Is Now Available For Android!

by Derek KraneveldtDecember 16, 2014

Briefly: I’ve been dabbling in Blizzard’s Hearthstone for nearly a year now, and while my addiction to the game seems to come in waves (unlike my addiction for Nintendo’s damn Amiibo figures), my love for the game never wavers.

The game is insanely well designed and balanced, and definitely at home on a tablet’s screen (in fact, probably better than on a PC). It even features cross-platform multiplayer, so you’re really not missing anything by playing it on a tablet. The game is totally free to play (and not pay to win), but it can be really, really hard not to hasten your progress by paying for some new packs (which can be as addicting as hell to open).

The game is now available for Android tablets, so you non-computering, non-Apple folk can finally wet your whistles. All you need is an Android tablet with a 6 inch screen or larger, 1Gb of RAM, and Android 4.0 or later.

Already playing? Let us know what you think of the game below, and if not, you can grab it from the Amazon Appstore for Android and Google Play.

http://youtu.be/o84Y_cSjVyE

The First Season Of ‘The Wolf Among Us’ Will Conclude On July 8th!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 3, 2014

Briefly: I’ve arguably been enjoying Telltale’s The Wolf Among Us even more than the amazing second season of The Walking Dead.

The developer has just announced the release date for the final episode of their Fables adaptation, and I’m feeling pretty bittersweet about it. On one hand, it’s another episode and another chance to jump into this incredible world, and on the other hand, when will we get to play more?

Telltale hasn’t announced a second season of The Wolf Among Us, but as they’re calling this its ‘first’ season, I sure hope that they’re insinuating that more is on the way. Please, Telltale?

In any case, the episode will hit PSN, Mac, and Windows on July 8th, Xbox 360 on July 9th, and iOS on July 10th. You can take a look at the trailer for the episode, titled Cry Wolf below, and be sure to let us know what you hope to see in the finale!

‘Marvel Heroes 2015’ Launching On June 4th, Including A Mac Beta!

by Derek KraneveldtMay 30, 2014

Briefly: I’ve been looking forward to playing Marvel Heroes since it was revealed all the way back in 2012… but I’m a Mac user, so I have unfortunately been missing out on the title all this time.

That’s all set to change on June 4th with the launch of Marvel Heroes 2015, and the debut of the Mac open beta.

The team is planning a massive anniversary celebration, and has also “come a very long way” since the game’s original launch.

Gazillion CEO David Brevak states that “Marvel Heroes 2015 nicely represents everything we have accomplished and intend to accomplish with one name. We’ve come a very long way since our original launch a year ago, and the now imminent release of Marvel Heroes 2015 alongside our massive anniversary celebrations marks the beginning of something even better.

Whether it’s defending the X-Mansion or recruiting your favorite superhero as a Team-Up, we’re excited to continue delivering on our community’s expectations. We truly believe we put more improvements into our game than any other iterative release out there. The 2015 moniker reaffirms our commitment to keep doing it.”

You can take a look at the first teaser for Marvel Heroes 2015 below, and learn more about the Mac beta here! Have you played Marvel Heroes? Is it worth checking out? Let us know!

The Newest Update Video For ‘Mighty No. 9’ Has Us MEGA Excited!

by Shane O'HareMay 30, 2014

The team over at Comcept have just put out this new update video for their Kickstarter success story, Mighty No. 9. The spiritual successor for Megaman is looking more and more amazing the further the project goes.

http://youtu.be/q1iEFfOBP1o

Amassing over Four Million USD, Mighty No. 9 is the brainchild of Keiji Inafune. He wanted to bring the best of the 16-Bit era side scrollers to today.

You can grab Mighty No. 9 sometime in April 2015, and it’s on pretty much everydamn platform including; PC, MAC, Linux!

‘The Wolf Among Us’ Fourth Episode Gets A Release Date!

by Derek KraneveldtMay 22, 2014

Briefly: Just two days ago Telltale debuted three new screenshots from The Wolf Among Us‘ next episode, In Sheep’s Clothing, and now we have the chapter’s release date(s).

Episode four will launch on May 27th for PS3, Windows, and OS X. It’ll hit Xbox 360 on May 28th, and iOS on May 29th. You can take a look at the new trailer for the game below, and be sure to let us know what you think of the game so far!

‘The Wolf Among Us’ Next Episode, ‘In Sheep’s Clothing’ Gets Three New Screenshots!

by Derek KraneveldtMay 20, 2014

Briefly: After the insane conclusion of the last episode of Telltale’s The Wolf Among Us, we were itching for more content to sink our teeth into. Now, a month and a half has passed, and the developer has finally released the first screenshots for the game’s fourth episode, In Sheep’s Clothing.

The shots give us a look at a battered Bigby, a somber Snow White, and a dejected Narissa. If you know how the last episode ended (I won’t spoil things if not, but you should definitely be playing this game), you know exactly why everyone looks so down.

Once Telltale starts releasing screenshots, release dates (or at least their announcements) are typically soon to follow. Take a look at the shots below, and be on the lookout for more The Wolf Among Us news.

A SuperHot Kickstarter You Need To Check Out

by MoreLikeAndyMay 14, 2014

Part of the 7DFPS game jam in 2013, SuperHot stood out from the rest of the games created. With the mixture of interesting art design and controlling time a big gameplay mechanic, turning a first-person shooter into a real-time strategy game as well is something special indeed. Since time moves when you do, carefully planning out each step in hopes of evading bullets while setting up your limited shots is a challenge. Just have a look at some of the latest gameplay footage below for SuperHot and tell me that isn’t intriguing as hell.

Wanting to fully flesh out this amazing idea past the 7 day prototype built in 2013, SuperHot is looking towards Kickstarter to get it done. With a goal of $100,000 to complete this project, it may seem a little ambitious for what we have seen so far. After seeing some of the things the developers want to do in SuperHot, the amount seems more than fine. From the Kickstarter page, some of the goals are:

Story driven single-player campaign. SUPERHOT is more than just a shooter with a gimmick. We want to deliver a solid, interesting campaign built around a carefully constructed, not overly in-your-face story.

Improved visuals. We are keeping the original game’s minimalistic artstyle while making everything look a lot better. SUPERHOT is all about style.

Infinite mode. A lot of people have asked us for an endless, arena-style mode that will allow them to play SUPERHOT for as long as they want. Master the game’s mechanics and get ready for the ultimate time-bending challenges.

More weapons – shotguns, machineguns, grenades that change the way you play around with the time-bending mechanics.

More enemy types – thanks to improved AI the foes will use tactics and be able to work together to hunt you down.

More levels – imagine fighting in the middle of a motorway during rush hour, or close combat in an elevator – and other amazing, movie-like scenarios.

Slow-motion explosions!

Oculus Rift support. Dodge bullets flying right in front of your face and lean behind corners for increased immersion!

It’s about time we see some new innovations in FPS games. If you would like put some cash down to support SuperHot, $15 will get you Steam key as well as a DRM-free downloadable copy when the game releases. To see more pledge tiers, head on over to their Kickstarter page and have a gander.

Geekscape Mobile: ‘Hearthstone: Heroes Of Warcraft’ Is Now Available For iPad Worldwide!

by Derek KraneveldtApril 16, 2014

Briefly: I’ve been (casually) playing Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft since the free-to-play title soft-launched on the Canadian App Store a couple of weeks back, but I’m happy to say that the game is now, finally available for iPad worldwide.

The game is very well designed, and definitely at home on the iPad’s screen. It even features cross-platform multiplayer, so you’re really not missing anything by playing it on your tablet (I’d argue that it feels even better, actually). I’ve been having a blast with it, and it’s definitely a title that I’d recommend checking out (especially since, again, you can play for free).

You can download Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft for your iPad right here.

http://youtu.be/FgwS3S0Knzk

Telltale Games Announces Next ‘The Wolf Among Us’ Release Dates!

by Derek KraneveldtApril 2, 2014

Briefly: Almost like a kind of cruel joke, Telltale Games yesterday released the launch trailer for the third episode of The Wolf Among Us… but didn’t actually give us any release dates.

Today, the developer/publisher rectified the issue with the following tweet:

Release dates for #TheWolfAmongUs Ep3! 4/8: PC/Mac WW, PS3 North America; 4/9: Xbox 360 WW, PS3 EU; iOS next week too pic.twitter.com/biVzFvwJtY

— Telltale Games (@telltalegames) April 2, 2014

Obviously exciting news, and from the image, it looks as though Bigby may completely wolf-out this time around.

How are you liking The Wolf Among Us thus far? How does it stack up to The Walking Dead? Sound out below!

‘The Wolf Among Us’ Third Episode, “A Crooked Mile” Gets A Launch Trailer

by Derek KraneveldtApril 1, 2014

Briefly: We still don’t have a release date for the third episode of Telltale’s amazing The Wolf Among Us, but the developer has just debuted the chapter’s launch trailer.

It does contain spoilers to past episodes, so if you’re not yet caught up I’d definitely not watch the video below. Then, I’d definitely go play the damned game, because it’s wonderful.

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think. As soon as we hear a release date, we’ll be sure to let you know! As always, the next chapter is looking top notch.

Hearthstone Leaves Beta, Brings Some Goodies Along To Celebrate

by MoreLikeAndyMarch 12, 2014

It was just a couple of days ago on the official forums for Hearthstone that a community manager brought word that the beta would soon be ending for their new free-to-play collectible card game. Who knew it would be this soon? Hearthstone is officially shakes off that beta tag and with its debut, brings along a new patch with plenty of new goodies for all.

In this new patch (1.0.0.4944), the usual bug fixes are applied that alleviated cards floating off the screen or the occasional dancing cards whenever you attacked. Also in this patch, players can now connect to other regions to challenge people worldwide. Just remember that account progress as well as card collections are saved separately per region. World of Warcraft players can now receive a new mount called the Hearthsteed just for winning three matches in either Play or Arena mode. Look at the video below to see how majestic this mount is. You know you want it.

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Certain cards have more effects and pizazz when played which makes those cards much more special. Nothing like having a Ragnaros spew forth from the flames of hell onto the field. Not to be outdone, the heroes that you play as get the golden treatment. Once you hit 500 wins with a hero, the portrait with turn gold and animate just like golden version of cards do already. The catch is that those 500 wins has to come by way of Ranked matches. No stomping on the A.I. to get these I’m afraid. You’ll have to earn it the hard way, as you should.

To read more in depth about everything that has changed or been added to Hearthstone, head on over to the blog post on the official site.

Telltale’s ‘The Wolf Among Us’ Episode 2 Gets A Release Date!

by Derek KraneveldtFebruary 1, 2014

Briefly: Telltale launched the first trailer for the second episode of The Wolf Among Us just a few days ago, and today the developer let us all know just how soon we can return to Fabletown.

Episode 2, Smoke and Mirrors will launch for Windows, OS X, and PS3 on Tuesday, February 4th, and will hit Xbox 360 (and European PS3’s) on February 5th. The episode will also release on the iOS App Store sometime next week.

Did you love episode 1 as much as we did? What do you hope to see in episode 2? Sound out below!

http://youtu.be/rHw7rRvh4vs

Geekscape Games Presents: The Games of 2014

by Josh JacksonJanuary 13, 2014

If our list of the greatest games of 2013 taught us one thing, it’s that last year was a fantastic year to be a gamer. With that said, 2014 will mark the first full year that all of the now current gen consoles will be available. In addition to the continued stream of solid software for the 3DS while we STILL cross our fingers for the Vita to have a strong showing, there are plenty of games across the board that are worth getting hyped for. With that said, there are some that just can’t be ignored, which is why we’ve compiled the games you should look out for in 2014.

Watch Dogs

Starting off as one of the most anticipated games of 2013, a packed holiday season and the need for some extra development time shifted Watch Dogs into 2014. The ability to essentially hack an entire city promises to bring some fresh ideas to the sandbox genre, and with all of the videos and screenshots shown so far, this one’s looking like it’ll satisfy that action craving too.

Watch Dogs is coming to Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PS4, Xbox One and PC in mid 2014.

Metal Gear Solid V

Buried under all of the controversy surrounding MGS V, (including long time Snake voice actor, David Hayter, getting the boot in favor of Kiefer Sutherland,) is another potential must own from the developers at Kojima Productions. Promising to delve deeper into the motivations of Big Boss and further detail his eventual creation of Outer Heaven, this fifth game will be the first to take the signature stealth of the series into an open world setting. Split into two parts, Ground Zeroes will come to the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on March 18th with Phantom Pain’s release date still listed as TBD.

The Elder Scrolls Online

After much rumor and speculation, The Elder Scrolls Online was finally confirmed to be a thing last year. Scheduled for a summer release, gamers will finally be able to combine their love for the environments, lore and abilities of The Elder Scrolls franchise with their slightly higher enthusiasm for berating each other in an online setting with their “vast” gaming knowledge. Get ready to pwn some n00bs starting on April 4th for PC and Mac users, while PS4 and Xbox One owners will soon follow suit in June.

Destiny

As the first outing for Bungie since breaking away from Microsoft and the Halo franchise that put them on the map, Destiny has a lot to prove. Thankfully, looking at all of the information we know about the game, it seems like it’s on the right track. Combining their FPS know-how with customizable characters, co op missions and a desolate environment, and we’re looking at what could be considered a marriage between a game like Halo and Borderlands. Destiny will land on September 9th for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

InFamous: Second Son

The first InFamous set the stage for being a super powered conduit with a city as our playground. The second allowed us to combine and expand our powers while fighting in a world where we weren’t the only one with powers anymore. Second Son is looking to build upon the legacy that Cole and company left behind with new powers, upgraded visuals and a new cast that’s truly looking to put the PS4 on the map. InFamous will release on March 21st.

Titanfall

As one of the most talked about games at last year’s E3, Titanfall seems to be the reason to make it to another year for FPS fans. Part arena shooter, part mech fighter, the game has some serious potential in the sense that it can bring a ton of new dynamics to the multiplayer shooter playground. As the first game from Respawn, the team consisting of the scorned devs formerly of Infinity Ward, (the core Call of Duty team,) Titanfall is another title that has a lot to prove, yet doesn’t seem like it will have much of a problem doing so come March 11th, exclusively to Windows, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Project Spark

One of the most impressive pieces of tech shown off at E3, Project Spark is part world builder, part action/platformer and all gorgeous. Using Smartglass technology, players can alter the world, interact with characters and mold their experience with a touch of their finger. Scheduled for a 2014 release barring any delays, Windows, 360 and Xbox One gamers can look forward to put their god playing skills to the test.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Another title that got pushed from the end of last year, Donkey Kong Country appears to be well worth the wait. Considering that Donkey Kong Country Returns was such a fantastic display of what the 2D platforming genre can do, the addition of Dixie and Cranky can only give the good people at Retro Studios even more ideas to squeeze out of the old ape. DKC: TF is coming exclusively to Wii U on February 21st.

Mario Kart 8

The success of Mario Kart Wii and MK7 prove that this series is a gaming juggernaut, selling millions upon millions of copies every time a new entry in the popular racing franchise is released. Every new version brings something new to the table, with 8 being no exception thanks to the anti gravity tracks that were shown off during its reveal. It blew us away at E3, and now we can’t wait to get our hands on the steering wheel again in a few short months. Look for Mario Kart 8 in Spring, also exclusively for Wii U.

Hyrule Warriors

At the end of 2013, Hyrule Warriors went from being completely unknown to being one of the most talked about games heading into the new year. Combining the characters, environments and weapons of The Legend of Zelda with the hack and slash game play of Dynasty Warriors did more than just raise a few eyebrows, but watching the game in action was an incredible sight that turned most of us into believers. Hyrule Warriors has a loose release date of 2014.

Bayonetta 2

Speaking of controversy, the memory of Bayonetta 2 being announced as a Wii U exclusive is still vividly burned in my memory. Despite the outcries of disloyalty, (despite the fact that the game would’ve reportedly never been possible without Nintendo’s funding,) Platinum Games seems to be providing what it’s gained that loyalty with in the first place; tight, refined game play with over the top enemies and characters. Action games don’t get much better than their offerings, and after trying out Bayo 2 myself, I’m comfortable in saying this tradition will carry on strong. Bayonetta 2 is set to arrive sometime in 2014.

Super Smash Bros.

Easily in the running for the most anticipated game of 2014, Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS will bring back the blockbuster mascot fighter to consoles AND will also mark its handheld debut. New arenas, characters, (including Megaman!) and features are sure to make Super Smash Bros a must own on almost anyone’s list. Scheduled for a vague 2014 release, we can calm our excitement with daily updates at smashbros.com… although sometimes I think it makes the wait so much worse!

Chibi Robo: Photo Finder

Another late 2013 surprise, Chibi Robo didn’t get nearly as much fanfare as Hyrule Warriors before it. Nonetheless, for a series many considered all but dead outside of Japan, seeing Photo Finder get a U.S. release date was a high note for fans of the cult Gamecube classic. Once again being tasked with bringing joy to all around it, Chibi Robo must help create a museum of artifacts by collecting your own household items. Photo Finder is available now on the eShop for an insanely low price of $10, so I suggest checking it out. Expect a full review in the coming days!

Bravely Default

As I mentioned in my preview article, Bravely Default hits all the right notes for old school RPG fans looking for a nostalgia trip. Its tough enemies, interchangeable job system and classic fantasy setting blends in well with the new features added, especially the Brave, Default and StreetPass functions. Are you an RPG and a 3DS fan? Then mark February 7th on your calendars, because Bravely Default is looking like a fantastic ride.

Yoshi’s New Island

Produced by Takashi Tezuka, the creative director of the original Yoshi’s Island, Nintendo is looking to bring the modern feel to the classic Yoshi game play in the same way New Super Mario Bros has for gaming’s most popular plumber. Coming this spring, Yoshi’s New Island is looking to kick off a great year for Mario’s noble steed, especially if Yarn Yoshi makes it into 2014 as well.

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

2014 marks the year of the gentleman with a double dose of Professor Layton. First up, the Professor, Luke and Emmy will head off towards their final showdown with Descole in Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, which will simultaneously serve as the final game of the prequel trilogy AND the reported final game of the series. With more mysteries, picarats and puzzles you can tip your top had towards, this beloved series will get the sendoff it deserves come February 28^th.

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney

The second Layton game this year will be the crossover that many have been clamoring over for what feels like forever, (myself included!) After being in localization hell for far too long, 2013 confirmed that we would FINALLY see the Ace Attorney and the Top Hat Professor team up Stateside. Combining the court room drama of Ace Attorney with the puzzle solving challenges of the Layton series, a 2014 release window means we’ll finally get to experience this dream team.

Kirby’s Triple Deluxe

Kirby’s 3DS debut is coming later in 2014 for us, but word out of Japan, (where it just released this weekend,) says that this game is a must own for platforming fans. Bringing back old and new copy abilities alike, with upgraded stage design thanks to foreground and background portions of each level, the long awaited debut of the pink puff ball on the 3DS seems like it will be worth the wait. Plus, the bonus “Kirby Fighter” mode seems like an interesting use of multiplayer, pitting Kirby against Kirby in a fight for copy ability superiority. Keep an eye out as details emerge for this title.

Soul Sacrifice Delta

As one of the better Vita exclusive games last year, it’s no surprise that Soul Sacrifice is getting a follow up with Delta. From the mind of Keiji Inafune, the father of Megaman, this “kind of, but not really” Monster Hunter clone will once again pit sorcerers against various monsters told through the journals of sorcerers of the past, but this time, players will be able to reject the gods by choosing neutral options rather than be forced to sacrifice or save fallen enemies. With a March 2014 release date in Japan, look for it to hit stateside later in the year.

Of course, there are numerous games slated for 2014 that weren’t listed here, but that’s just a testament to how great of a year this is looking to be for gamers across all platforms. Is there a game here that you think isn’t worth mentioning? How about a favorite upcoming title that we missed? Let us know below and let us know what you’re looking forward to in this upcoming year of gaming!

Geekscape Games: Steam Family Sharing First Impressions

by Shane O'HareOctober 15, 2013

The month of Valve is over, and all of those features announced with the Steam OS are but a distant memory. All except one, that is. The Steam Library Family Sharing just hit its public Beta, and some of us here at Geekscape got our hands on it just a bit early. Here are our initial thoughts.

The Steam Family Sharing program was announced back in September to much acclaim and fanfare. It allows user to authorize another computer and let someone have access to their Steam Library. Simple as that. But how does it work in practice?

I was invited to the Press Beta Test a few weeks back, and I was very excited to give the service a try. I had just built a pretty powerful gaming PC for my Dad and he was itching for some new games. Signing up was simple enough, I just went into my Steam settings on my account and opted into the Beta, and restarted. Then I was stuck.

There was no new interface added to my Steam, so then started the long and arduous process of hunting through every single menu looking for Family Share. I crawled through the settings and found only an option to view authorized accounts and computers, but no way to ADD anyone. The original press release said that users could request access to the library of someone else, so I figured the borrower had to ask the lendee. So I walked over to my Dad’s PC and started the long and arduous process of finding the request for authorization option.

Is it found by right clicking on your friends list? Nope. Is it found on the lendee’s profile page? No. Is it found on the store page for a particular game you want to borrow? No. There IS no option to request authorization. There IS no option to GRANT authorization, and here lies my biggest gripe with the service. The vague stipulations attached to actually getting the program to work.

When the product was first announced, the general consensus was that any user could be authorized (up to 10) and then have access to your games. If you wanted to play a game and they were using it, they would be given “A few minutes to finish up or buy the game for themselves.”. That sounds like if your Dad in another room (or state/country/planet) is playing your Bioshock and you want a crack at it then he’d be kicked off. That’s not how it works.

Wanna know how it works? The lendee (owner of the games) has to log into their account on the borrowers machine, then log out. Then the borrower logs in and can see a separate list of games from the lendee’s library. There is NO option to remotely authorize an account or computer. If you want to lend your games to a family member or friend that you do not have physical access to you are out of luck. The only way around this would be desktop sharing.

So far the remote authorization is the only complaint I have with the service, and from just lurking the Family Sharing support forums it seems everyone else shares my opinion. The service works great and every game that my Dad tried fired up no issue.

We are going to continue testing Steam Family Sharing and see if we run into any glaring issues. Valve has said they are going to be adding more features when Steam OS and Steam Machines beta is launched. Hopefully they will add in remote authorization.

Super Splatters Finally Gets a Release Date, Coming Late June to Steam.

by MoreLikeAndyMay 23, 2013

After what seemed forever, SpikySnail is now in the final push to releasing an updated version of their 2012 XBLA release, The Splatters. I had great things to say about The Splatters in my review so with some new tweaks, more modes to play and new insane levels to conquer, it’s only right that it’s called Super Splatters. Even better is that Super Splatters will work on PC, Mac and Linux so no excuses of not playing this game.

If you want to help out this very small team and play a really great physics-based puzzle game, you can pre-order Super Splatters over at superspaltters.com with 30% off until release. Steam codes will be given to those who pre-order or if you want, wait until Super Splatters shows up on Steam and pre-order it there.

Tim Schafers Crowd Sourced Game Gets A Title! Check Out ‘Broken Age’

by Shane O'HareMarch 24, 2013

If you’ve been under a digital rock for the past year, adventure game legend Tim Schafer, started a Kickstarter to build an old school point and click adventure game. Cutting out the publisher and going straight to the fans. If you check it out, Double Fine was able to raise over $3 MILLION!

Well today we got ourselves and official website and pre-order information! The site went live today. We got a nice picture and the broad description of the game. Take a read!

Broken Age is a point-and-click adventure telling the stories of a young boy and girl leading parallel lives. The girl has been chosen by her village to be sacrificed to a terrible monster–but she decides to fight back. Meanwhile, a boy on a spaceship is living a solitary life under the care of a motherly computer, but he wants to break free to lead adventures and do good in the world. Adventures ensue.

Broken Age development began when we asked our community if they would help us create a classic-style adventure game without needing to rely on traditional publishers. It turns out they did.

And ever since day one, 2 Player Productions has been recording the whole process in an ongoing series of in-depth episodes documenting the creation of a game. By becoming a backer, you can follow the game’s development as it progresses!

I’m not a huge adventure game fan, sans Walking Dead, but I respect Tim Schafer and all the work he has done. I am very excited to see what turns up when this game comes out!

There is no official release date yet, but if you get the backer status pre-order you get access to the forums and the 2 Player Productions documentary, and from what I’ve heard it is TOTALLY worth the extra dollars.

The BEST Version Of ‘The Walking Dead’ Ends Tomorrow, Here’s A Trailer!

by Derek KraneveldtNovember 19, 2012

Tomorrow is going to be both sad and glorious.

On one hand, after seven long, amazing, heartbreaking months, we’ll finally get a chance to witness how things conclude for Lee and the gang. On the other hand, my favourite game of 2012 is coming to a close, and I can only imagine that it’s not going to be a happy ending.

Telltale Games has crafted one of the finest adventure titles that I’ve ever played, and if the past few months have been any indication, I can’t recommend it enough. I can’t think of a game that deserves all the praise its been getting more than this one.

Check out the trailer below and share your excitement! It’s going to be tough getting through work tomorrow know that this is waiting for me at home.

Telltale’s ‘The Walking Dead’ Adventure To Conclude Next Tuesday!

by Derek KraneveldtNovember 14, 2012

You know how much Geekscape loves Telltale’s The Walking Dead. Jonathan has stated over and over that their episodic adventure is his favourite iteration of the series, and I’ve gone even further than that to say the Telltale’s The Walking Dead is my favourite piece of zombie fiction, period.

It also happens to be my favourite game of the year. If you’re still not playing it despite all of our countless recommendations, you don’t deserve to!

I’m both ecstatic and sad to learn that the final chapter of this amazing, memorable adventure is set to hit in just under a week. Next Tuesday, no matter what platform you happen to be on (including iOS!), you’ll be able to download and play through the final few hours of this incredible tale.

Telltale has assured us that we’ll be getting another season of the adventure, but with how things tend to go for this group of survivors, I can fairly confidently say that the story probably won’t be related. Too bad, as Telltale has crafted some of the best characters that The Walking Dead has ever seen.

Shit went absolutely crazy in the closing moments of the penultimate Around Every Corner. I swear that if anything happens to Clementine, there’ll be hell to pay. You can read our reviews of past episodes here, here, here, and here. As I’ve mentioned before, we’re not on Telltale’s payroll, the game is simply that good!

Are you excited? Let us know what you’ve thought of the game so far!

Watch The Trailer For Telltale’s Fourth Episode of ‘The Walking Dead’!

by Derek KraneveldtOctober 2, 2012

The Walking Dead Episode 4: Around Every Corner is set to hit sometime this month. Geekscape cannot wait, as it has already been far too long since an episode was released (Like August!).

Telltale released the trailer for the upcoming fourth chapter today. Watch it, want it, and let us know your thoughts on the game so far below!

Again, the episode does not have a release date as of yet, but is scheduled to come out sometime this month.

ArenaNet Launches ‘Guild Wars 2’ OS X Beta!

by Derek KraneveldtSeptember 18, 2012

Guild Wars 2 seems to be taking the world by storm. The much anticipated title launched just a few short weeks ago to rave reviews and much fanfare.

The title had its share of issues at launch, largely stemming from insane popularity that even ArenaNet couldn’t have anticipated. For a short time after launch, digital copies of the game were pulled to lessen the server load for current players.

The issues seem to be fixed, the game is a great time, and ArenaNet had a very cool (and unexpected) announcement today for Mac users.

The Guild Wars 2 client is now available for OS X (In beta form for now)! This opens the game up to millions of new users who haven’t ever been able to enter the world of Tyria. It also means that us BootCamp users will have one less reason to restart!

I’m currently downloading the beta, so I have no indication yet of how it runs, but I’ve heard plenty of good things!

Kudos to ArenaNet for thinking of us!

From the press release:

Today we’re happy to announce another major milestone in the development of Guild Wars 2: going forward, ArenaNet will also be supporting the game on Apple’s Mac OS X. The Mac Beta client is available immediately for all Guild Wars 2 players. It shares the same features and connects to the same live game servers as the PC client. Anyone who purchases Guild Wars 2 can now play it on both PC and Mac.

Bringing Guild Wars 2 to the Mac is huge for us, because it introduces the game to an entire group of players who are often ignored by game developers. The ability to play together with your friends is one of the underlying principles of Guild Wars 2, and providing a Mac client means that friends and guildmates can play together regardless of what operating system they favor.

On top of it all, ArenaNet staffers are big fans of Macs. We offer them as part of our employee laptop subsidy program, and our president Mike O’Brien is rarely seen without his Mac laptop. We’re as excited as anyone to play Guild Wars 2 on OS X.

I’m excited! Anyone else currently playing? What are your thoughts on the game?

Like Plants Vs. Zombies? How About A Free Copy!

by Derek KraneveldtSeptember 10, 2012

Ever hear of Plants Vs. Zombies? It’s an insanely fun and crazily addicting tower-defense title from PopCap Games.

It first released a few years ago, and since has hit almost every device under the sun (iOS, Android, PC, Mac, Consoles, and even some televisions).

PopCap and the American Dental Association are running a pretty cool promo this halloween. Head to the dentist and you’ll get some cool PvZ trading cards, and head to http://www.stopzombiemouth.com/ to get a code for a free Mac/PC copy of the game (redeemable after October 30)!

The price won’t get any better, and the game is addicting as ever. Check out the trailer below, and head to the site for your free copy!

Walking Dead Episode 3 Gets A Trailer! Update: Dates!

by Derek KraneveldtAugust 27, 2012

Update: Telltale revealed today that the game will hit PSN today (!), and XBLA, Mac, and PC tomorrow. No word yet on the iPad edition. Looks like they made their deadline!

The Walking Dead game is amazing. If you haven’t yet played it, you really should be. It’s on nearly every console (nearly, sorry Wii owners), as well as the iPad.

Whatever device you choose to play on, the game is a fantastic mix of adventure, action, and horror. At the end of each episode, I’m itching for more. Each of the chapters so far has been perfectly paced, with drastically different stories and events. It’s intense as hell and really gives you a feeling of dread for the future of these characters.

We still have no release date for episode 3 (subtitled Long Read Ahead). Telltale planned it for the end of August, which is nearly upon us, so hopefully we hear something in the next few days.

They have, however, just released a trailer for the upcoming chapter. Check it out below!

Side note: Episodes 1 and 2 are free right now for Playstation Plus members. If you’re a member and still haven’t played, you really have no excuse!