Tag: Xbox One

Xbox Games With Gold Evolves In March with ‘Evolve’, ‘Layers Of Fear’, And More!

by The_acz

For those of you that won’t be completely swallowed by the hype trains behind the Nintendo Switch and Horizon Zero Dawn, look no further than Xbox’s Games with Gold for March 2017.

While not the strongest line-up in the history of the service, there are still some interesting and fun games worth taking a look at. Xbox One users will be able to play the horror title Layers of Fear as well as the infamous team shooter Evolve. Xbox 360 users (also playable on Xbox One) will be able to get their hands on the extremely addicting Borderlands 2, and Popcap’s side scrolling shooter Heavy Weapon. Check out the trailer below to get the specific dates of each release, and tel us your favorite game from the selection in the comments below!

 

‘Yooka Laylee’ Gets A Jolly Soundtrack Release!

by The_acz

Yooka Laylee is still around 2 months away from release, but there’s still plenty to say about the game before it launches on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on April 11th.

Today, Playtonic Games announced that the Soundtrack to the game will be available via CD, vinyl, and digital 4 days prior to the games release on April 7th. The soundtrack will include all music from the game and their composers such as DKC Veteran David Wise, Kameo composer Steve Burke, and Banjo/Viva Pinata composer himself Grant Kirkhope. If you’re interested in pre-ordering the soundtrack, check it out right here! What’s your favorite composition from the game? Tell us in the comments below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9X_VGRpw8U&t=243s

 

Microsoft Announces Its E3 Press Conference, Now On Sunday!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: E3 is still nearly four months away, but the house of Xbox wants us all to mark our calendars now.

There’s probably a couple of reasons for this. The post notes that the conference will take place on a different day of the week – Sunday June 11 instead of last year’s Monday, but more importantly than that, we’re expecting some major Project Scorpio news during the presentation.

Will we get a launch date? Price? Just what sort of performance improvements can we expect with this thing? It’s too early to tell, but this is one conversation that I’ll be watching closely.

Are you looking forward to E3 this year? Which presentation are you most looking forward to?

‘Project Cars’, ‘Star Wars: The Force Unleashed’, & More FORCE Their Way Into Games With Gold!

by The_acz

February is fast approaching, which means so is Xbox Games With Gold.

This month has another batch of very different games from many different genres. Everything from co-op, to racing and adventure games. It’s all here. All month long Xbox One users will be able to download the co-op action game Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, after that, They’ll also be able to download Project Cars starting from February 16th – March 5th.  As for Xbox 360 users, they’ll also have a good selection of games.

From February 1st – 15th both 360 and One users can download LeChucks Revenge: Monkey Island 2, and choose whether to go down the path of sith or jedi in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from February 16th – 28th. What do you think about this months line-up? Tell us in the comments below!

Celebrate The Lunar New Year With Overwatch’s Latest Event! Check Out ‘The Year Of The Rooster’

by Shane O'Hare

The best thing that Blizzard is doing with Overwatch (that is going to contribute greatly to it’s longevity), are their Seasonal Events. Summer games, Halloween, and Christmas were all a hoot to play. Players get access to awesome character skins, emotes and game-modes; while some levels got a nice makeover. All have been well received by the community and really show that Blizzard cares about the quality of life for Overwatch. Valve, take note. Santa hats on the CS:GO chickens aren’t enough.

A few weeks ago we got teased for their newest event celebrating the Lunar New Year, and today we finally get the full list of details! Check out the trailer below.

We got ourselves a HUGE series of goodies to track down and fight for. Over 100 different cosmetic items can be had from Lunar New Year Loot Boxes. As always, players can earn them from play or buy them for real cash.

The event starts TODAY and goes until February 13th. You can find me frantically searching for that Mei skin. Mei is bae.

InuJoshua’s 13 Most Anticipated Games Of 2017

by Josh Jackson

It may have taken a few years, but 2017 is looking like the year where the big consoles will finally hit their strides with a strong lineup across the board. From action games to RPGs, sequels to new IPs, and some recent surprises, there won’t be a shortage of quality content for gamers to enjoy throughout the year. Yet, we can’t play it all, which is why I narrowed down the thirteen games I’m most anticipating in 2017, which reflects the variety of content on every platform. Without delay, here we go!

Honorable Mention: Mass Effect Andromeda

It’s odd what difference a few years will make. Not too long ago, I would have considered Bioware to be one of my favorite active developers. But after Mass Effect 2 almost completely gave up on the first game’s RPG elements to become more of a straightforward shooter, the debacle that was Dragon Age 2, and the disappointing Mass Effect 3, I haven’t been all that up on Andromeda. With that said, I’m looking forward to giving this universe another chance, but I’m hoping we can up the RPG side of things while bringing back the interesting characters and alien sex that has become synonymous with the series.

13. Horizon: Zero Dawn

As the first new IP from Guerrilla Games since coming off of their mostly successful Killzone series, Horizon has a lot to prove. Based on everything we’ve seen so far though, it looks like it’s on track to go above and beyond expectations. As if fighting off robotic dinosaurs on horseback with a bow and arrow wasn’t crazy enough, the game is promising a strong narrative to match up with its incredible visuals. The only reason the game isn’t higher is because I wasn’t the biggest fan of the team’s previous games, but with something that looks so well done, Horizon has the potential to change all that.

12. South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Forrowing up on the laugh out loud hilarious Stick of Truth, The Fractured But Whole will take us back into the world of South Park, as the kids switch from their fantasy game to their super hero personas. Being tasked with once again creating your own kid to join in on the hilarity, the sequel is promising to deliver a more refined battle system to match up with what will surely be a hilarious script. Let’s just hope that unlike the first game, that Fractured ends up being free of game breaking glitches, features ways to re-visit past missions, and offers more content than an afternoon’s worth of adventuring.

11. Fire Emblem Warriors

I can’t say that I was ever a particularly big fan of Warriors games, but Hyrule Warriors taught me that the games are way more exciting when you’re playing as your favorite characters from other properties rather than fictional takes on historical figures. Transitioning from the land of Hyrule to the world of Fire Emblem, the franchise has hundreds of characters to choose from when putting together an all star cast, many of which will have unique abilities that fit in perfectly with the one vs. all style of these games. Corrin’s dragon abilities, the expert swordplay of characters like Marth, and flying in on a pegasus are just some of the possibilities we can expect, especially if there’s a small chance that we can have some of our favorite Tokyo Mirage Sessions characters make their return. Can I PLEASE wipe out armies with Tsubasa while she sings Feel?

10. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

From one Fire Emblem game to another, 2017 is looking like a fantastic year for a franchise that was considered dead in the water a few short years ago. While I knew next to nothing about Fire Emblem Gaiden before the announcement of Echoes, I’m thrilled to see how Nintendo is adapting everything that made the cult classic unique. We’ll have dungeon exploration for the first time in the West, a more focused story that won’t rely on a create your own character to drive the narrative as your main lord, and optional battles as you explore the two kingdoms. Two new gorgeous looking amiibo give me even more of a reason to be excited for May 19th, and I’m hoping that this won’t be the next game in the series that I buy and never finish…

9. Persona 5

This one has been a long time coming, with Atlus’ most popular RPG series relying on some fantastic spinoffs and remakes to keep the name out there. But after nine years, Persona 5 will finally find its way into our hands, as the Phantom Thieves take center stage. Since the third game, Persona has featured strong storytelling mixed with some of the finest turn based combat you’ll find, and wrapped it up in a high school / dating simulator where you can put the moves on your party and important NPCs in exchange for new abilities. Expect the same dark themes and haunting imagery to follow along with some of the finest role playing on the market, because after such a long wait, it just has to deliver.

8, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite

Here’s another game that seeingly came out of nowhere towards the end of 2016. Promising more of a focus on the Marvel Cinematic Universe side of things and rumors swirling that the X-Men will be completely absent, we’re almost promised a mostly unique cast of characters. It’s a shame since X-Men: Children of the Atom was the game that really kicked off this series, but if losing Wolverine means we can get characters like Black Widow, Ant-Man, Groot, Star Lord, Vision, Scarlet Witch and Loki to make their debuts, then it will almost make up for it. I’m just hoping that the return of the 2 on 2 format will make the game much harder to break compared to MvC2 and UMvC3, but I’ll never underestimate the fighting game community’s ability to scrub every nook and cranny of the game.

7. CyberDimension Neptune: Four Goddesses Online

There’s two comments I have to make about this entry. One, it’s not actually scheduled to come out this year. Two, if it had a confirmed date, it would be much higher on the list. BUT… The reason why I have the long awaited journey into Vert’s favorite MMORPG near the halfway point of this list is because much like Neptune vs. Sega Hard Girls last year, that game also wasn’t scheduled, but found its way onto the Vita by the end of the year. In other words, I fully expect this out before 2017 is over. CyberDimension will take the girls of the Neptunia series to uncharted territory in more ways than one, making their debut in the simulated MMORPG realm as their first game made with Unreal 4 and placing them in roles that are brand new to each character. Uni as a thief? Neptune as a paladin? Noire as a Dark Knight? Get me that lifelong subscription!

6. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

Last year marked the end of the original Danganronpa story, with the third installment being told through an anime with mixed reception. Starting with a clean slate, V3 places us in a prison with 15 other inmates, with the same goal of getting away with murder in exchange for their freedom. The biggest reason why I named the first games my game of the year in 2014 was because of how creative it got with a genre as rigid as the point and click adventure series, so I’m anxious to see how Killing Harmony will continue this trend with the ability to lie. Expect plenty of heartbreak, despair, and many a waifu candidate this year. Now, excuse me as I go on a media blackout ahead of its Western release to avoid spoilers.

5. Gravity Rush 2

Gravity Rush 2 was a shoe in for a top three slot on this list… Until the Nintendo Switch conference happened and blew my expectations out of the water. Even still, Kat’s big return is easily my most anticipated game on the PlayStation 4 this year, which will deliver a much larger world for the Gravity Queen to manipulate with her incredible powers. We got a taste of her new ways to control gravity during the E3 demo last year, so the idea of taking such a creative premise and essentially tripling the possibilities is something I’m beyond excited for. Throw in Raven as a playable character, an expanded story that will hopefully fill some of the first game’s gaps, and multiple missions to tackle, and we’re left with PlayStation’s most can’t miss game this year.

4. Splatoon 2

We talked a little bit about 2014’s game of the year, so we can’t leave out 2015’s top game! Splatoon left a strong impression on me because of how different it was for an arena shooter. To think Ninendo’s biggest new IP in years would be an online shooter where the goal is to shoot everything BUT your opponent! Yet, here we are, getting ready for our second trip to this world where squids take human forms and pass the time by shooting each other with ink all day. From the small amount of footage we’ve seen so far, an expanded set of new abilities, weapons and gear will help make this sequel worth visiting, all while hopefully packing in a much more fleshed out single player mode. Trust me, I won’t sleep well until I learn why Marie is all alone in that reveal video…

3. Xenoblade Chronicles 2

As far as I’m concerned, the original Xenoblade definitely belongs in the discussion as one of the greatest RPGs of all time. Taking Western exploration and combining it with a more Japanese blend of combat and storytelling, I’ve still yet to play a game with such scope as either the original, or Xenoblade Chronicles X on the Wii U. The surprise reveal left us with plenty of questions, but one that was answered incredibly quick was when it would be released. Promising a 2017 launch, XC2 looks like it’s picking up in a post Monado… And post Shulk world, with a more cartoon-y cast to accompany that beautiful world. At this point, I trust anything that Monolith Soft does, so I’ll continue to let the intrigue build as we trudge through the year. One thing is for sure though, I’m fully expecting to be wowed yet again.

2. Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of three games that I go back and forth on regarding what my favorite game of all time is, so whenever a new 3D Mario game is announced, you better believe that I will be paying close attention. Not that I needed much convincing after watching Super Mario Odyssey trailer, because it’s already looking like a joy to play. The big draw when it comes to mainline Mario games is experiencing how the team at Nintendo EAD manages to find a way to make the formula feel fresh despite continuously using a now 21 year old game as its foundation. This time around, it’s looking like a free roam city inspired by the real world and the ability to use your hat as an additional platform seem to be the most noticeable changes, with plenty more to come I’m sure. Odyssey has some legendary shoes to fill, but it might be able to do so with a living hat!

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild at number one should come as no surprise to anyone. Easily the most ambitious title in the franchise since Ocarina of Time, Link’s Switch debut is taking the series in some bold, new directions. Forsaking linear progression for an enormous version of Hyrule to explore, our hero will have to prepare for new threats, different terrains, and the harshness of nature as the world is literally his playground. With statements being made saying that the game is possible to complete very early if you explore thoroughly enough, early word makes it sound like the game will be open ended enough to let each and every one of us carve out our own experiences. We can approach dungeons in different ways. We can prioritize resource gathering. We can give up our trademark sword and shield in favor of a broadsword or an axe. And yet, it still retains that whimsical charm and loose basis in reality that has made the series beloved for decades now. So while we have numerous games both on and off this list that will surely be fantastic, Breath of the Wild is the only one with the potential to change how we view a franchise. And that’s why it places as my most anticipated game of 2017.

Now it’s your turn! What games are you most looking forward to in 2017, which ones should have made the list, and which ones don’t belong? Let us know in the comments!

‘Mafia 3’ Is 2016’s Biggest Gaming Tragedy

by Josh Jackson

Sequels often have the well earned reputation of being more of the same, rarely treading new ground while instead opting for something stagnant. Mafia 3 goes in the opposite direction, shifting its focus from a Godfather inspired crime story about a grunt’s rise through the ranks of organized crime, to a man’s quest for revenge against the Italian mob for killing those he called family. As a former member of the black mob in 1968 New Bordeaux, (a not so subtle take on New Orleans), Lincoln Clay has more than just criminals, assassins and the most ruthless bosses the city has ever seen. He also has to deal with the horrors of segregation, institutionalized racism, and a section of the city that sees him as less than human based on his skin color.

Mafia 3‘s setting, story and acting are some of the finest I’ve ever seen in a game, with an amazing soundtrack that places you right in the era. But more than any game I can think of, it does its best to take full advantage of the interactive medium, placing us in an ugly period of American history and making us feel the anxiety of what it means to be an “other” in such a hostile environment. Yes, the game pales in comparison to the feeling in real life, but being put in the shoes of a character going through these experiences was eye opening as I pushed through this tale of vengence. Traversing black neighborhoods leads to people greeting you and wishing you well, while whispers of what that “boy” is doing here can be heard from the NPC’s in the white neighborhoods. Missions that require you to enter certain buildings that are marked as “Whites Only” will lead to the police being called to attack and arrest you in the same way as being caught fighting or shooting would. Committing crimes in white neighborhoods will also result in the cops responding much faster and aggressively, while they might not even show in the bayous occupied by the poor black citizens. Encounters with the KKK, underground “jungle fights” where whites gamble on black men fighting, and the justification of murdering black men via talk radio segments round out everything you need to know about the world Mafia 3 creates, which is one I’ve never come close to encountering before.

To top off the period piece that the game works towards being, the story is framed as a documentary. Cutscenes flash back and forth between present day versions of characters you interact with in the main game explaining the events you’re about to play, and playing as Lincoln carrying these events out. Whether or not he ends up as a savior or a monster depends on your choices towards the end, but every twist and turn that takes place justifies each possibility. Each character feels like they could have been a real person, adding gravitas to the events that create your story. This leaves us with the most unforgettable campaign I’ve ever played, possibly ranking as my favorite narrative after 25 years of gaming.

But the real tragedy comes with the fact that despite the top notch presentation, the meticulously crafted recreation of 1968 as a black male, the expert voice acting and its overall uniqueness, Mafia 3 isn’t a very good game. Missions are repetitive, essentially filling its 30 hour play time with the same six or so missions repeatedly. The amount of bugs I came across were appalling, which ranged from enemies getting stuck in the environment to my map becoming a giant white line and textures completely vanishing. I also don’t think I got through more than two hours at a time without the game completely crashing, kicking me back to the Xbox One home menu before having to sit through the very long initial load screen. The AI is as dumb as it can get, with stealth missions dominating the game when patrolling guards will literally line up to “investigate” the guy who was stabbed two feet in front of them, only to walk into a knife in the throat. Lather, rinse and repeat. That’s Mafia 3.

And you know what? That’s horrible. Because everything that was so great about the game deserves better than what essentially amounts to an even glitches and more drawn out retread of the original Assassin’s Creed. So I’m not going to dance around the issue. Mafia 3 is one of the worst high profile games of the year from a pure game play standpoint. It feels unfinished, clearly needing a few more months to add more content and fix up the technical issues. If you’ve read my previous reviews, editorials and lists, you know that game play is what matters most to me, since without that, the story might as well have been a movie. But despite these issues, I urge anyone reading this to give the game a chance anyway, even if you put it down long before the credits roll. Running around New Bourdeax alone is worth your time. Even outside of the main story, moving around in this environment is a truly valuable form of interactivity in a way that no other game before, which I hope starts a trend for designers to use games to help us visit more realistic depictions of our history.

It’s just tragic that the first game of its kind has to play so bad.

Mass Effect Andromeda Gets A Release Date!

by The_acz

After about 2 years of waiting and multiple gameplay teases like at N7 day and The Game Awards, EA has finally given Mass Effect Andromeda a release date. Coming straight from the official Mass Effect blog, they revealed that North America will get the chance to explore Andromeda when the game launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on March 21st, shortly followed by a worldwide release on March 23rd. Are you excited for Mass Effect Andromeda? What’s your favorite Mass Effect game? Tell us in the comments below!

Xbox Games With Gold: January 2017 Line-up & 2 Extra Free Games!

by The_acz

For the last year, Microsoft has been on a hot streak with Xbox’s Games With Gold, and it doesn’t look like their planning on stopping anytime soon.

Starting all throughout January, Xbox One users can download World of Van Helsing: DeathTrap, while both 360 and one users can enjoy Double Fine’s The Cave from January 1st through the 15th. Now things heat up a bit. From January 16th to February 15th, Xbox One owners can ultra combo their way back into KI with Killer Instinct Season 2. Don’t count out 360 though, because from the 16th through the 31st both Xbox users can download the critically acclaimed Rayman Origins!

BUT WAIT! We’re still not done with free games! That’s right, Microsoft seems to be acting very generous this month as there are actually 2 other surprise games that Xbox One users can download from Games With Gold. By logging onto the Japanese Xbox store with your U.S account, you’ll be able to access and download Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, meanwhile you can access the German Xbox store to claim a free copy of the game Kalimba.

What are your thoughts on these surprise games? Which ones are you the most excited to play? Tell us in the comments below!

Xbox Celebrates 300 Backwards Compatible Titles With A Free Copy Of ‘Lost Odyssey’ For Everyone!

by The_acz

Just a little over a year ago Microsoft launched Xbox 360 backwards compatibility for Xbox One, and ever since have been slowly rolling out tons of titles onto the service.

Now  with 300 and more titles underneath their belt, they’re celebrating this achievement in the best possible way. FREE STUFF! Yes, up until December 31st, all Xbox One users will be able to download the cult hit JRPG title Lost Odyssey via backwards compatibility. Created by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Lost Odyssey was praised as being a better Final Fantasy then whatever the actual Final Fantasy was doing at the time. What are your thoughts? Are you excited to download and play Lost Odyssey again or for the first time? Tell us in the comments below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwJOe-Y918A

 

All Three ‘Bioshock’ Titles Are Now Backwards Compatible On Xbox One!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: In case the recently launched (and awesome) Bioshock: The Collection isn’t quite your style, if you’re an Xbox One owner, you now have another option.

Bioshock, Bioshock 2, and Bioshock Infinite are now all backwards compatible on Xbox One. This means that if you’ve got the games on your Microsoft account, or if you’ve got the discs laying around, you now have an opportunity to replay these classic titles.

Larry Hryb revealed the additions on his Twitter account earlier today, and as someone who hasn’t had an opportunity to pick up The Collection, but has the first game on my Microsoft account, I’m more than happy to be sharing this news.

Reminisce in the original Bioshock launch trailer below, and let us know if you plan to replay the titles!

‘Yooka Laylee’ News: Wii U Version Canceled For Nintendo Switch, Official Release Date, And More!

by The_acz

Playtonic Games just dropped a bombshell of Yooka Laylee news onto the world today, so without any further hesitation, let’s dig into this info.

Let’s just get the bad news out of the way. As of today, Tuesday December 13th 2016, the Wii U version of Yooka Laylee has officially been canceled due to technical problems with the console. In their newest update, Playtonic stressed that this decision was very hard for them, and right up until today they had been constantly searching for work arounds to the issue, but sadly could not find any. Don’t fret just yet though! While Wii U is officially off the table, Playtonic also dropped that development on Nintendo will continue with a Switch version now set to release!nintendoswitch_hardware-0-0

Now, even though Yooka will be arriving on the switch in 2017, it will not be launching alongside the other versions, but that does bring us to our next piece of news which is far cooler, the game has an official release date! That’s right, get ready to go bat ship crazy because Yooka Laylee will be launching on April 11th 2017 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC! Not only that, but Playtonic also released a look at a brand new world coming to the game titled Capital Cashino. Check out the video below and tell us what you think about this update!

‘Sea Of Thieves’ Sets Sail For Technical Alpha 0.1.0! Playable Next Week For Insider Program!

by The_acz

After months and months of teasing, Rare is finally letting Sea of Thieves loose onto the world! (for a select few.)

If you’re part of the Sea of Thieves insider program, you have the chance of being randomly selected out of 1000 people to take part in this beginning alpha test. In this Alpha, players will be able to sail the sea looking for treasure. You’ll have to work together with your crew to chart out the island, make your way to it, find the treasure,and get back safely in order to cash it in. You’ll even be able to use weapons like your sword or blunderbuss!

If you’d like to join the insider program for the chance to get in the alpha, you can apply right here! Check out the video below for more details on what to expect. Sea of Thieves is expected to launch on Xbox One and Windows 10 in 2017. What are you looking forward to the most in Sea of Thieves? Tell us in the comments below!

PSX 2016: Rumours Confirmed! ‘Marvel VS. Capcom: Infinite’ Is Everything We’ve Been Told It Is

by Shane O'Hare

Well color me surprised. After a series of unsubstantiated rumours, and a serious argument from yours truly AGAINST those rumours, the truth comes out!

We are getting a new Marvel VS. Capcom game. Check out the trailer for Infinite below!

What rumours have come true you ask? Well it looks like gone are the 3 VS. 3 battles of previous titles. Now we have a 2 VS. 2 system, and most likely will have third “assist” character option available.

It also appears that Marvel is pushing for using IP’s that it has more control over. This one appears to be heavily influenced by the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe. So say bye bye to The X-Men!

Thats pretty much it! The biggest shock was that the damn game was actually announced.

No specific release date has been given, but we are looking for a “2017” release window. It will be launched on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

The Crazy Launch Trailer For ‘Final Fantasy XV’ Is Finally Here!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s finally here.

After more than a decade, an entire console generation, a name change, delays, and countless world events, the long awaited Final Fantasy XV is finally here.

To celebrate (and probably sell me a copy of the game), Square-Enix today debuted the Final Fantasy XV launch trailer, titled ‘Ride Together’.

The trailer mostly features footage that we’ve already seen, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t a unit seller. It shows off Square-Enix’ always incredible cutscenes, and features a fantastic soundtrack that I definitely just added to my Apple Music library.

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what your hopes for Final Fantasy XV are in the comments below! Final Fantasy XV is available now for PS4 and Xbox One.

Don’t Sleep On Xbox Games With Gold For December! Sleeping Dogs, Burnout, & More!

by The_acz

Xbox’s last month of Games with Gold for 2016 is going out in style.

During the whole Month of December, Xbox One users will be able to download the now defunct United Front Studios open world adventure game Sleeping Dogs. Then, from December 16th through January 15th, One users can download the horror game hit Outlast, and what’s more scarier than Mid January? 360 users fret not, as you also have some cool games coming your way. From December 1st through the 15th you’ll be able to play Ubisofts odd multicolored platform game Outland. Finally, from December 16th through the 31st, users will be able to take to the streets in Burnout Paradise. (No crash mode, but hey! It’s still Burnout.)

burnout-paradise

What are your thoughts on Decembers Games With Gold? Which game will you be playing the most? Tell us in the comments below!

 

‘Lego City Undercover’ Gains New Life On Next Gen Consoles!

by The_acz

Remember Lego CIty Undercover? No?  Well, I don’t blame you.

The 2013 Wii U game came out to not much fanfare, and as a result fell through the cracks and faded from peoples minds. It was essentially a Lego version of Grand Theft Auto with a big open world to explore, a huge amount of cars to drive, and multiple different disguises to wear. It’s one of the most overlooked Wii U games, and that’s why Lego and WB are giving it a second chance as they just announced that the game will be making its way to PS4, Xbox One, PC, and even Nintendo Switch in Spring of 2017.

This is a great release date as there’s a strong chance this game will be part of the Nintendo Switch Launch come its release. What are your thoughts on this announcement? What system are you planning on buying it for? Did you ever play the original Wii U version? Tell us in the comments below!

Want To Help Shape Up ‘Sea Of Thieves’? Become A Sot Insider!

by The_acz

Ever since they revealed the game a year ago at E3 2015, Rare has been non stop hard at work trying to polish off their newest creation, Sea of Thieves.

They’ve been pretty good with helping keep fans in the loop with their podcast, short haul videos, and inn side stories. One of the biggest things about the game that people want out of it is just to play the game itself so they can experience all the great stuff they’ve heard from E3 and Gamescom. Well, that time has finally come. Today, Rare launched the Sea of Thieves Insider Program Which will allow fans to sign up in order to help shape the game and even play early test builds.

The only catch to this is that you have to be 18 and have an XBL gamertag, but other than that you’re good! Check out the video below for more info, and sign up for the program right here. Sea of Thieves has no release date, but is planned on releasing for Xbox One and Windows 10.

The Nominees For ‘The Game Awards 2016’ Are Live!

by The_acz

We’re just 2 weeks away from the biggest night in gaming with The Game Awards 2016, and to celebrate, Geoff Keighly and co have released the nominees list. Here’s just a couple of categories out of all 24.

Game of the Year:

  • Doom (ID Software, Bethesda)
  • Inside (PlayDead)
  • Overwatch (Blizzard)
  • Titanfall 2 (Respawn, EA)
  • Uncharted 4 (Naughty Dog, Sony)

Best Studio/Game Direction

  • Blizzard for Overwatch
  • Dice for Battlefield 1
  • ID Software for Doom
  • Naughty Dog for Uncharted 4
  • Respawn for Titanfall 2

Best Narrative

  • Firewatch (Campo Santo)
  • Inside (PlayDead)
  • Mafia III (Hangar 13, 2K)
  • Oxenfree (Night School Studios)
  • Uncharted 4 (Naughty Dog, Sony)

Best Art Direction

  • Abzu (Giant Squid, 505)
  • Firewatch (Campo Santo)
  • Inside (PlayDead)
  • Overwatch (Blizzard)
  • Uncharted 4 (Naughty Dog, Sony)

Best Soundtrack

  • Battlefield 1 (Dice, EA)
  • Doom (ID Software, Bethesda)
  • Inside (PlayDead)
  • Rez Infinite (Enhance Games)
  • Thumper (Drool)

Best Performance

  • Alex Hernandez as Lincoln Clay (Mafia III)
  • Cissy Jones as Delilah (Firewatch)
  • Emily Rose as Elena (Uncharted 4)
  • Nolan North as Nathan Drake (Uncharted 4)
  • Rich Sommer as Henry (Firewatch)
  • Troy Baker as Sam Drake (Uncharted 4)

If you’d like to check out the full list of Nominees, check it out right here! Did your favorite game get nominated? Who do YOU think should have been nominated? Tell us in the comments below! The Game Awards premieres on December 1st.

Xbox Turns 15, Celebrates So, So Many Gaming Hours!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Can you believe that the Xbox brand turned 15 today?

Microsoft’s first console released when I was just 11 years old, and what a time its been. The original Xbox was actually the first platform that I played Half Life 2 on, I had some of my first four-player multiplayer experiences with Halo, and my friends all loved Fusion Frenzy even though I thought it stunk. I think I may even still have one of those giant early controllers in a box somewhere.

To help celebrate this momentous occasion, Microsoft has shared some incredible data marking just how much Xbox has grown over this period. Some of the numbers are pretty incredible:

– Number of players: 222,468,423
– Number of total gaming hours: 100,539,390,670
-Number of total multiplayer hours: 29,000,304,183
– Number of Achievements unlocked: 32,667,582,157
– Gamerscore racked up: 572,605,554,587
– Highest Gamerscore: 1,416,465
– Number of Xbox Live friendships made: 4,233,891,482

That highest Gamerscore though… Wow.

Naturally, there’s a hashtag to go with the celebration, and Microsoft would love it if you shared your favourite Xbox memories on social media using #15YearsOfXbox.

Here’s what else is going on, straight from Xbox Wire:

Team Xbox Gaming with the Community

The team here at Xbox is full of gamers, so most of us will be spending the day on Xbox Live, playing games with and against our awesome community. In fact, we’ll have kiosks set up around the Xbox offices that will allow any employee to hop on Xbox Live for a quick multiplayer match. All you need to do is follow us at the Club named “Celebrate 15 Years of Xbox” and get to playing! Or, if you want to focus your gaming energy solely on Halo, join the “Halo” Club to take on the developers.

Livestreams

If you’re not able to join us on Xbox Live for some gaming, why not watch some of the talented folks on our teams play instead? You can take a look at the Forza livestream on Beam starting at 1PM PT at www.beam.pro/ForzaMotorsport. Then, beginning at 3:43PM PT, check out our Halo live stream at www.beam.pro/Halo or www.twitch.tv/halo, featuring videos from various members of the 343 team and Bungie sharing memories of Halo, live gameplay with community influencers, and more.

We also have special Game With sessions planned throughout the day starting 11:00AM PT. Major Nelson will kick off the day followed by special appearances from the Killer Instinct Team, Back Compat Team, Beam Team, Ambassadors Team, and a surprise executive Game With! Tune in to www.beam.pro/Xbox or www.twitch.tv/Xbox for an exciting day of Game With Xbox.

In-Game Events and Giveaways

A few of our teams are working on special giveaways and in-game events in honor of our 15 year celebration. First up, the Forza team is gifting a 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor complete with a custom livery celebrating Xbox’s 15th anniversary. All players will receive this livery for free and Forza Horizon 3 VIPs will receive a bonus truck with an alternative Xbox 15th anniversary livery as well.

There will be two Rivals events created as well, with one in Forza Motorsport 6 and the other in Forza Horizon 3. In addition, there will be a special Bucket List Challenge in Forza Horizon 3 (TITLE: Celebrate #15YearsofXbox), which players can find by traveling to the Pink Lakes Bucket List point in the game.

If you’re a Halo fan, if you simply log in to Halo 5: Guardians between November 15 at 10AM PT and November 22 at 10AM PT, you will receive a free “15th Anniversary REQ Pack”, which contains consumable items for use in Warzone game modes and the legendary Mark IV Gen 1 armor set, worn by Spartan IIs in the darkest hours of the Covenant War!

What’s been your favourite Xbox game or memory over the last decade and a half? Sound out below!

‘Overwatch’ Update: Sombra, Arcade Mode, And More Are Here!

by The_acz

Awww yeah baby!

Out of nowhere an hour ago, Blizzard just released an almost 10GB Patch for Overwatch onto Xbox One, PS4, and PC that finally makes Sombra, arcade mode, and more live! Sombra is pretty self explanatory by now, but arcade mode is a brand new mode where you can play specific special brawls from a select playlist like Lucioball and Junkenstein’s Revenge! There’s also a brand new map by the name of Ecopoint: Antarctica. Among other things are Pharah’s ability to fly forever, some changes and tweaks to Zarya, and more! Check out the full patch list right here! What are you planning on trying out first in this update? Tell us in the comments below!

Watch The Insane Launch Trailer For ‘Dishonored 2’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Somehow, again, another incredible looking title completely slid under my radar.

Bethesda has just debuted the official launch trailer for Dishonored 2, and I think it may be the first Dishonored video that I’ve ever seen. How? With the first title being as celebrated as it is… I really have no idea.

In the game, you’ll “Reprise your role as a supernatural assassin in Dishonored 2, the next chapter in the award-winning Dishonored saga by Arkane Studios. As either Emily Kaldwin or Corvo Attano, travel beyond the legendary streets of Dunwall to Karnaca – a once-dazzling coastal city that holds the key to restoring Emily to power. Armed with the mark of the Outsider and powerful new supernatural abilities, hunt down your enemies and forever alter the fate of the Empire.”

Pre-orders get to play the game a day early, and also include a copy of Dishonored: Definitive Edition, so if you missed out on the first game, it’s Game of the Year Edition, and its re-release, you won’t be left in the dark any longer.

For now, take a look at the trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking up Dishonored 2 on November 11th!

The ‘Watch Dogs 2’ Launch Trailer Is Here, And It’s Bad-Ass!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I hated the first Watch Dogs game.

Obviously, that first E3 trailer for the game sold me on it. It looked gorgeous, open, futuristic, with mechanics and opportunities that we’d never seen (or even thought of) in a game before. Watch Dogs was to truly be the first next-gen feeling title for PS4 and Xbox One.

Then Ubisoft released a buggy, ugly, boring Grand Theft Auto clone that I sunk about 10 hours into before realizing that I’d wasted nearly $100.

Watch Dogs became the brunt of a lot of jokes in the early days of the Geekscape Games podcast, and aside from the neat announcement trailer from this year’s E3, I’ve largely ignored its sequel.

Until now, that is. I’m starting to see ads all over the place (and a myriad of commercials for the title during last night’s election coverage. With just a week to go until the game’s launch, Ubisoft has officially debuted the Watch Dogs 2 launch trailer… and it looks super cool.

Our new protagonist actually sounds interesting, the story sounds far, far more affecting than that of the first game, and the hacking actually looks really cool. Not to mention how gorgeous San Francisco looks.

In any case, decide for yourself! Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be picking up Watch Dogs 2 when it releases on November 15th!

Is Bigfoot In ‘GTA V’? Check Out Game Sleuth! The Spiritual Successor To Pop Fiction!

by The_acz

Earlier this year, legendary video game website Gametrailers.com closed its doors.

With that, a lot of well known shows such as The Final Bosman, Huber Hype, and more were no longer. One of the most popular out of them was a show called Pop Fiction. Created by Michael Damiani, Pop Fiction centered around tackling very popular video game myths and putting them to the test. The show became incredibly popular and many were sad to see it go.

Now going 8 months strong, Easy Allies is the spiritual Successor to GT and features a ton of successor shows (Huber Syndrome instead of Huber Hype, and Easy Update instead of Mandatory Update.) This is no exception to Pop Fiction, as back in may we got its spiritual sequel, Game Sleuth. The first episode based off of the running man from Ocarina of Time.

The episode today though has nothing to do with Zelda. Instead, they examine the amazing Phenomenon of Bigfoot being in GTA V. Is it real? Is it fake? WHY DO I HAVE THE SUDDEN URGE TO BUY A COPY OF GTA V!?! Everything will be revealed in the video below. What are your thoughts on the video? What gaming myths do you hope they cover in the future. Tell us below in the comments!

 

 

‘Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon’ Roars its Way Into Xbox GWG For November!

by The_acz

After a somewhat ok month, Xbox Games with Gold seems to be heating up a bit again.

From November 1st through the 30th, Xbox One users will be able to download the upcoming go-op dungeon crawling game Super Dungeon Bros.  After that, from November 16th to December 15th you’ll be able to download the 2014 adventure mystery game Murdered: Soul Suspect. Xbox 360 fans are also in for some nice treats. From November 1st through 15th, 360 users can download the point and click classic The Secret of Monkey Island. Then, from November 16th through 30th, you’ll be able to download the crazy, 80’s neon induced, downloadable title Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.  What do you think about this months games? Which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!

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Geekscape Games Reviews: ‘The Jackbox Party Pack 3.’

by The_acz

Reviewed On: Xbox One
Also Available For: PS4, PC, Amazon Fire TV

MSRP: $24.99

In the past 2 years, Jackbox Games has made a name for themselves by breathing new life into the party game genre. Introduced back in 2015, The jackbox Party Pack was a compilation of 5 random party games with completely different rules and play styles that could easily be played with your phone ad even easily streamed online. Because of this, Every year since then we have gotten a compilation pack, and this year is no exception, but is this third trip worth playing another round, or should you just drop out?jackbox-titleParty Pack 3 is split up into 5 separate games just like the last 2. You’ve got at least one returning fan favorite game, but the other 4 are completely new. This review will go into all 5 games in the order of how often our play group played them. Keep in mind that just because we didn’t play a specific game a lot, doesn’t mean it was bad. With that in mind, let’s get started.

Trivia Murder Party

the-jackbox-party-pack-3-6Trivia Murder Party is all about getting kidnapped by a psychotic trivia obsessed serial killer and trying to escape from him alive. players are asked easy to very obscure trivia based questions much like You Don’t Know Jack, but instead of just getting harassed by the host for getting a question wrong, you’re instead taken to a place called the killing floor, where you must fight for your survival, or you will be killed on the spot. Players are slowly killed off one by one until only one remains. The final round is a race to the exit where the only person alive must escape the house of horrors before any of the ghosts catch them, or else they will die and someone else will come back to life.tmp-1

The mystery hosts insane personality can be downright hilarious throughout the whole game. Things get especially tense when you’ve only got a couple of live players left being sent to the killing floor as you’re not sure who’ll be the next to go. Even the audience serves a big role in the game. They are tasked with working together to gain more money than the current player winning so that they can escape the killer alive. They can also bet on who they think will die during a killing floor round, which adds an extra competitive element. With over 1000 questions, and plenty of fun and different torture mini games, Trivia Murder Party is a breakout title you’ll be DYING to play over and over again.tmp-2

Quiplash 2

the-jackbox-party-pack-3-3Quiplash 2 is a sequel to last years runaway hit Quiplash, and is the only returning veteran game this time around. The game plays exactly like the first one, but with some major and much welcome changes. There are now multiple different final rounds that you can now get so that you’re not just getting a regular static question that everyone answers. Instead, you either get comic lash, where you have to fill in the blank to a comic book panel, word lash, where you have to use a specific word in your answer, and acronym lash, where you have to create a clever anagram with a specific set of given letters.quiplash-2-1The end round changes are very welcome and varied as the final round means much more as someone who has fallen way behind could easily take the game from behind with one good quip. The audience has also received another boost. While waiting between rounds, audience members can now answers random prompts just for them. Of course they’re all completely brand new prompts also, but other than that, the gameplay is largely unchanged. Much like Drawful 2 earlier this year, Quiplash 2 expands upon its predecessor enough that the game is completely worth playing again. For more on Quiplash, check out our review of it in last years Party Pack 2.quiplash-2-2

Tee K.O

the-jackbox-party-pack-3-5Tee K.O is about creating and battling custom made t-shirts in order to be crowned king of the island. The start of the game has you creating 3 drawings of whatever you want to draw. Afterwards, you’ll be told to type in as many catchphrases and quotes as you can. Then, you’ll be taken to the t-shirt creation tool where you’ll have the chance of creating one t-shirt out of 3 possible designs and 4 random phrases. Finally, you’ll go face to face with your opponents t-shirts as you try and take them down.  tko-1The art style in this game is gorgeous and very reminiscent of many japanese culture games such as Taiko Drum Master. The gameplay is also incredibly fun and addicting. It’s so much fun to battle against a really well put together shirt, but also a very random one. Out of all the games, my group got the biggest laughs out of just making fun of everyone’s shirts. The best part is that you can even buy the shirts you made. The audience also has fun as they can suggest drawings, sayings and vote on their favorite shirts also akin to Quiplash. In the end, Tee K.O expertly fills the drawing game void that Drawful or Bidiots would have done, but has such a new and amazing twist to it that it ends up coming off as one of my favorite games in party pack history! In terms of battles, this game wins the title belt.tko-2

Guesspionagethe-jackbox-party-pack-3-4

Guesspionage is a game all about percentages.You take take the role of a government agent as you are asked questions correlating to a certain percentage of something. The game is very similar to Family Feud as the answers are taken from a group of people surveyed online. Now I’ll admit, while the game does sound a bit boring, it really isn’t. The host is humorous enough to give you some good laughs, and the questions are actually very well varied and funny like what percentage of people pee in the shower, or how many people have been injured by trampolines.guess-1 The game has 3 rounds. Each round one player gets the chance to try and guess what the percentage of that question is. After that, the other players get to vote on if they think the real percentage is higher or lower than the one the current player guessed. You can even double down by choosing much higher or much lower, but you’ll need to be within 15% of the answer to get your points doubled, so it’s risky. Once again the audience gets another time to shine. If you have at least 7-10 people in your audience the poll results in the questions will be taken from the audience instead of the global poll. This adds a whole new layer to the game as now you’re trying to get into the mind of your audience. Quirky, weird, and fun, Guesspionage is 100% fun to play.guess-2

Fakin’ Itthe-jackbox-party-pack-3-2

Fakin’ It is an odd game to review. Not because it’s hard or confusing to understand, but because this is the only game in the entire collection that is very much not stream friendly. Fakin’ It is for 3-6 players and is very much inspired by the game Werewolf. In this game you and your friends will be given random prompts to do such as pointing your finger at something or holding up a certain amount of hands. The only problem is that one person will not get a prompt and so they have to fake knowing it. This is where you won’t be able to correctly play this online as to really experience the game as its meant to be, you’ll have to get your actual local group of friends over to play, but once you do it’s a riot.fakin

Trying to spot the faker blend in or constantly trying to out them with a good poker face can be super fun. The audience is also back, and they can try and decide who they think the faker is. They don’t have as much influence as in the other games, but it’s still welcome. Overall, how much you play it will depend on if you prefer streaming these games or playing them locally. Either way, you should give the game a shot at least once, but it really can be a magical experience.the-jackbox-party-pack-3

Negatives and Final Thoughts

While I’ve already logged many fun hours with this game, it isn’t perfect. During every round of Tee K.O there’d be a specific part where the announcers voice always overlapped for some strange reason. The game also has a decent amount of loading time when exiting back to the main pack from any of the games. While they were odd, they hindered our experience very little. Although I do hope to see these resolved soon. In conclusion, The Jackbox Party Pack 3 is a perfect example of yearly installments done right. Each year these games get progressively more and more fun and original. It was a tough undertaking to make another one of these, especially after the 2nd one still manages to consume a large amount of time spent during parties, but they really outdid themselves with this collection. If you have an upcoming party of any kind this is a MUST OWN.

Final Verdict: ★★★★★!

Check Out The Official Trailer To Rockstar’s ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’

by Bigyanks

Just two days ago Rockstar confirmed ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’  with a teaser poster and promised us a trailer and today the pony express delivered. So saddle up for a new adventure into the wild west in the next-gen iteration to Rockstar’s other hot property.

Still no details about the video game itself except for a release date for Fall 2017.

Fighting For Fun! ‘Pit People’ Closed Beta Impressions

by The_acz

Pit People is an ambitious project.

The developers at The Behemoth are working their hardest to make one of their weirdest, and best games to date. I got the amazing chance to try out the Xbox One closed beta of the game, and from that, have gathered some thoughts on it. One thing to note before jumping into impressions. The game I played, in its current stage, is unfinished and nowhere near done. Some cutscenes are still in animatic form, and at one point in the game, the main story line just stops. With that in mind, let’s go.pp-bearThe story of Pit People is just as weird of a story as you’d expect coming from The Behemoth. In short, the world was once peaceful, until the giant bear crashed into the planet, causing mass chaos. The game centers around a humble blueberry farmer named Horatio, who is hated by the games narrator and wants him dead. Refusing to die, and very frustrated, the narrator kills Horatio’s family, and now Horatio seeks revenge. Along his journey he meets other members of what will be his crew including the Princess Pipistrella, Yosef the cyclops, and more! Of course, the thing that ties everything together in the story is the delightfully hilarious narrator played by the very talented Will Stamper. (same narrator from Battleblock Theater.)

Pit People is a bit different than other behemoth games. While their other games usually focus on platforming and combat, this game is entirely focused on turn based battles and party management. The game plays very similar to games like Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics.  Players move their characters a certain distance on a grid based board to attack enemies, and each weapons and armor have different strengths and weaknesses against each other. There are some things that PP does differently.pp-3One of my favorite things is that you can actually move all your characters in one turn if you want, and while it’s very nice to be able to do this, it doesn’t compensate the difficulty and can still give you a challenge. You can also recruit enemies by buying cages in town and killing everyone but one person in an encounter. You even get a very humorous character entry when catching a new member for your party.pp-2Now, you might be wondering to yourself if there’s anything else that this game has to offer outside of the main story mode, and the answer is yes! As the title of the game implies, you can test your strength in the arena where you have two options. You can play through an endurance type mode where you face off against 3 groups of AI teams in one life in order to score new weapons, armor, money, etc. The other mode is a team vs. team PVP mode against other players. You can even spectate battles and bet on individual players.While I do love this mode, I feel like it’d be fun if they added a bit more to do in spectator mode such as being able to throw insults at other teams, or maybe even throwing objects into the arena. Other than that, it’s a very addicting mode and tons of fun to play.pp-1In conclusion, Pit People really stands out form developer Behemoths other ventures. The scale of this game is a bit beyond what they’ve done with their previous games while still maintaining what makes their games so special. I can’t wait to check out more and jump back into the game when it officially launches. No solid release date is planned yet, but is planning on launching for Xbox One and PC.

The ‘Overwatch’ Halloween Update Is Live!

by The_acz

The Halloween update for Overwatch is finally here! While there have been a few ghostly updates to some existing maps to help set the mod, there’s plenty of new things that this update has. The new brawl is now a special mode known as the revenge of Dr. Junkenstein, which consists of 4 players as McCree, Ana, Soldier 76, and Hanzo battling against Dr. Junkenstein’s evil creations while also defending their castle from him getting in.

You can now also earn and buy Halloween loot boxes which can include special skins and more ranging from a witch outfit for Mercy, to a Headless Horseman costume for Reaper. (Halloween boxes can be earned on console, but not bought until October 12th. The event will run from today until November 1st, so get playing! Are you enjoying your update? What’s your favorite part of it? Tell us in the comments below!

Get An Inside Look at Loot Crate’s October Gaming Crate!

by jake108

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We’re back to unbox Loot Crate’s October Gaming crate! If you liked what you saw this week, but weren’t totally sold on picking up a subscription, maybe this month’s crate will.

First on the list is this awesome Fallout-themed shirt, which is exclusive to Loot Crate. For all the Fallout fans out there, I’m sure at least one of these Vault Boys represents you, unless you’re like me and haven’t finished a Fallout game (don’t hate me).

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Next, to celebrate the upcoming release of Gears of War 4, this month’s crate also comes with a small Lancer figure!

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Unfortunately, the blade looks a little used, but I’m sure most of you won’t mind. I’m definitely adding this to my small collection, right next to my model of the SSV Normandy SR-2 and these Halo figures that came in the Legendary crate last month.

To celebrate the upcoming launch of Gears 4, I’ll be using these two very cool shot glasses that I wish I had in college:

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To add to my list of things I wish I had in college, you can most definitely add this Dead Rising swiss army knife:

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The last couple of items in this month’s crate are perfect for any collectors out there. First, we have a Dark Souls single issue comic book.

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Next, we have a coin pin straight from Battleground!

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That’s all for this month! Next month, it’s looking like we’re going to get some goodies from games like Overwatch, The Legend of Zelda, and Sonic! If you want that box, be sure to sign up ASAP. Be sure to visit www.lootcrate.com/geekscape and use the coupon code “geekscape” for a special discount! Thanks for reading!

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