Gaming

New releases in fiction, nonfiction and comics that caught our attention.

Harper

Normally a book described as being largely about a teen love triangle wouldn’t be something I’d reach for, but I decided to give this one a go after reading many glowing reviews, and found myself drawn in by Louise Erdrich’s prose right away. There is a love triangle, yes, but The Mighty Red is about much more than that. It covers a lot of ground, including the struggles of a farming community facing economic recession, land degradation and concerns about the chemicals being used to keep the land productive.

The Mighty Red follows characters Crystal and Kismet, a mother and daughter, and the people in their orbits in rural North Dakota. There is a tragedy that underlies much of the story (and a hint of the supernatural), but there’s a fair amount of humor mixed in too.

$23 at Amazon

W. W. Norton & Company

Every so often I’ll be minding my own business, just going about my day, when I suddenly remember the terrifying possibility that a small asteroid could someday strike Earth and do unfathomable damage. Mood ruined. This exact scenario is something that scientists have been investigating for decades and devising tactics to prevent. Promisingly, they’ve made some major strides in recent years. In How to Kill an Asteroid: The Real Science of Planetary Defense, science journalist Robin George Andrews dives into the ongoing efforts to develop a planetary defense strategy, like asteroid redirection.

The beginning of this book reads like an apocalyptic nightmare, which is to say it’s pretty engrossing. As Andrews moves on from the hypothetical and into reality — the history and the science that the book is all about — he keeps it interesting with a conversational writing style that makes even the jargon feel readable.

$28 at Amazon

Oni Press

Despite being obsessed with Cult of the Lamb, it’s taken me a little while to get around to reading the comics, the first of which was released back in June. I finally snagged issues 1-4 this week, though, after the fourth and final book of this arc was released, and it’s been a lot of fun reading through them. The comics (so far) rehash the game’s already established lore — how the Lamb came to be leading a cult, why they’re fighting the Bishops of The Old Faith, etc — but there’s some new stuff to latch onto even for people who already know the story really well. At least, new to me (did you guys know Clauneck is a duck?).

Running a cult is complicated stuff, as anyone who has played the game can attest, and the comics get into the emotional ins and outs of that burden. It’s just as cute-yet-horrifying as you’d expect a Cult of the Lamb comic to be. Issues 1-4 are being collected in a volume called  that’s due to come out in December, but you can find them individually at your local comic store or in digital form.

$5 at Amazon

Even though Bethesda tried its best to hype up Starfield: Shattered Space, the DLC hasn’t been received well by gamers. Over on Steam, the story-driven only managed to draw in a little under 600 reviews within the first 24 hours, with the majority of them being negative.

Gamers have labeled Shattered Space a massive flop and given Starfield the classic review-bomb treatment once again. All of this is quite disappointing to see, considering the fact that Todd Howard has fantasized about this phenomenal IP for nearly 55 years at this point.

Even though Starfield hasn’t exactly hit the mark, Bethesda still considers the project to be the best thing they’ve ever developed. In an interview before the game’s launch last year, Todd Howard opened up about the development process and what motivated him and Bethesda to take their RPG formula to space.

Howard shares his personal and professional journey, which led to the creation of Starfield. Since his birth in 1970, he has always been fascinated with space and the moon landing, which coincidentally connects to his family’s history.

Howard’s brother was born on the same day as Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. This sparked a lifelong dream for him to create a space-themed video game that would shake up the entire gaming industry.

Even though Starfield spent eight years in development, it’s been on Howard’s mind for nearly 55 years. Sure, it’s not a perfect game by any means, but it brings a universe packed to the brim with stars, planets, and galaxies to explore. The title allows gamers unprecedented freedom and the next level of immersion.

Starfield truly expresses Howard’s personal love for space exploration, his childhood dreams, and his experiences growing up with NASA’s moon landing, which all contributed to his vision for the game. It’s Howard’s ultimate project, which, with quite a few fixes, will be right up there with Bethesda’s most iconic franchises.

Even though the space RPG is Howard’s biggest project ever, it still doesn’t change the fact that its latest expansion, Shattered Space, has failed to live up to the expectations. Currently, it’s being torn apart by gamers who believe Bethesda has truly lost its way, and it won’t be long before it suffers the same fate as Ubisoft.

So, why did Shattered Space DLC fail? It’s simply because Howard and his team didn’t bring much to the table for a $30 DLC. Despite the steep cost, for which you can buy some quality games, it doesn’t feature any new ship parts, skills, or gameplay mechanics that you’d expect with any DLC.

It took the company over a year to develop Shattered Space. In the past, it has delivered some phenomenal additions to its classic games, which were developed in way less time and altered the titles completely.

It’s time for the development team to own up to its failures and finally do Howard’s dream project justice. All it needs is some meaningful additions, and it’ll be back at the top of Steam charts.

With that said, do you think Starfield has failed to deliver on its promises? If so, let us know in the comments below.

“The Rotterdam-based (The Netherlands) indie games publisher/developer SOEDESCO and the Berlin-based (Germany) indie games developer FreetimeStudio, are today very happy and excited to announce that their upcoming farm-life RPG “Garden Witch Life”, is coming to PC (via Steam) and consoles (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X//S, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch) this year (Q4 2024).” – Jonas Ek, TGG.

343 Industries has announced that Halo Infinite will be getting a third-person mode next month, complete with a gameplay video that has fans both excited and somewhat perplexed. After all, Halo has been synonymous with first-person shooters for over two decades, so seeing the Spartans from a new perspective is bound to raise some eyebrows.

But amidst the hype and the inevitable debates about whether this is sacrilege or a breath of fresh air, one can’t help but wonder: is this really the feature that Halo Infinite needs most right now?

The announcement of the upcoming third-person mode for Halo Infinite came in the form of a tweet from the official Halo account, accompanied by a minute-long gameplay video showcasing the new perspective in action.

And while it’s certainly interesting to see your Spartans from a different angle, it’s not exactly the game-changing feature that fans have been clamoring for:

Experience a new way to play!

3rd Person Mode is coming to Halo Infinite this November 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WkDkGLx8fF

— Halo (@Halo) October 4, 2024

In fact, some players are even questioning whether this is a step in the right direction for the series. After all, Halo has always been known for its immersive first-person gameplay, and switching to a third-person view could potentially disrupt that classic formula.

As one Redditor put it:

Comment
byu/ControlCAD from discussion
ingamingnews

And they’re not alone in that sentiment. For years, fans have been vocal about their desire for one specific feature in Halo Infinite: split-screen co-op.

Split-screen co-op has been a staple of the Halo series since its inception, allowing players to team up with friends and tackle the campaign together from the comfort of their own couch. It’s a feature that has been sorely missed in recent entries, and fans have been hoping that Halo Infinite would finally bring it back.

Unfortunately, 343 Industries has been rather evasive when it comes to addressing the split-screen co-op situation. Despite promising to include the feature in future titles following its absence in Halo 5, the developer has yet to deliver on that promise.

Comment
byu/ControlCAD from discussion
ingamingnews

It’s a frustrating situation for fans, especially when you consider the fact that modders have already managed to implement split-screen co-op in the game through an exploit. While it’s not an official solution, it proves that the feature is possible—and that 343 Industries’ excuses for not including it are wearing thin.

At the end of the day, fans just want to be able to play Halo the way they always have: with friends, on the same couch, blasting through the campaign together. And while a third-person mode is a neat addition, it’s not the feature that will keep players coming back for more.

As Halo Infinite continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether the devs will finally give fans the one thing they really want. But until then, we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope that the developer is listening to the community’s feedback.

What do you think about Halo Infinite‘s upcoming third-person mode? Is it a feature you’re excited about, or would you rather see 343 Industries focus on implementing split-screen co-op? Let us know in the comments below!

In an MMORPG like Throne and Liberty you will constantly be grinding for something. This game doesn’t have classes, though, so you will mainly be leveling up your character and their equipment. That is a fun system on the surface, but it can create a problem where you don’t want to upgrade to a new weapon because you’ve already leveled up a lower-tier weapon so much. Thankfully, there’s a way to pass along all that XP you gained on one weapon into a better one. Here’s how it’s done.

How to transfer weapon stats

You will unlock the ability to transfer gear stats automatically as soon as you get your first piece of gear that can be upgraded. This should happen very shortly into your adventures. All it requires is two weapons of the same type and some Sollant.

Step 1: Get two pieces of the same gear or weapon type.

The piece you want to transfer XP to must be of a higher level than the gear you’re drawing XP from — you can’t pass XP down to a lower-level weapon.

Step 2: Open the Gear Enchantment menu and go to the Transfer tab.

Step 3: Put the gear you want to receive the transfer in the top circle and the gear you want to take XP from in the bottom from the grid on the right side of the screen.

Step 4: Once both are in place, you can see what the end result will be for your new piece of gear.

Step 5: Hit Transfer at the bottom of the screen and a warning will appear letting you know that the gear you’re drawing XP from will be destroyed in the process.

Additionally, the gear you get after the transfer is complete will become bound, meaning you can’t trade it.

Gekko’s ability to use his little companion Wingman for planting or defusing the spike in Valorant has been a game-changer for the game. And players have found a trick with Wingman on Bind. Gekko players have recently found a hilarious and effective trick to use Wingman creatively on the desert map.

By throwing Wingman to plant the spike right as you enter the teleporter from the A site outside of Hookah, Gekko players can have Wingman sprint back to the A site to plant. This makes for a funny little sight, but it’s also a neat trick to fool the enemy team.

The trick is made even more powerful by Wingman’s ability to both scout and plant. While the enemies are focused on defending or retaking a site, Wingman can stealthily rush in and complete the spike plant. This makes Gekko one of the better initiator agents.

A great use of Gekko and the bind teleporters
byu/VMH_Undead inVALORANT

With Bind’s teleporters, this technique is even more effective, allowing Gekko to switch locations quickly while Wingman is on the long run back to the site.

To do this trick, Gekko players need to enter a teleporter while releasing Wingman at the same time. The timing is crucial. If done correctly, Wingman will sprint through the teleporter and continue to the planting site, while Gekko remains safely on the other side.

wingman doesn’t complain, scream, be toxic, or have an ego.

be more like wingman. pic.twitter.com/Hp0rfg3Kb1

— Keeoh (@Keeoh) April 15, 2023

This tactic has been perfected by many players, turning Wingman into a high-speed delivery system for the spike. Players describe the sound of Wingman zipping through teleporters as almost comical, likening it to a “super-speed” rush as he hurries to plant.

Gekko’s Wingman Plant and Defuse Ability#VALORANT pic.twitter.com/zM1oHgb0Oy

— Valorant Updates (@ValorantUpdated) March 4, 2023

Pulling off this Wingman trick requires practice and precision. The timing of throwing Wingman and teleporting must be perfect, or the ability won’t work as intended. Some players suggest heading into custom games to get the rhythm down before trying it in competitive matches.

Wingman’s trick works particularly well in coordination with other agents. For example, agents like Sage or Harbor can provide cover with their walls or utility, allowing Wingman to safely plant while the enemies are distracted. Gekko is a great pick for the current meta.

wingman doesn’t complain, scream, be toxic, or have an ego.

be more like wingman. pic.twitter.com/Hp0rfg3Kb1

— Keeoh (@Keeoh) April 15, 2023

The possibilities for team plays and synergies are endless, making this trick not just something you do for fun but possibly a team strategy. Imagine your whole team teleports and forces the enemy team to rotate off of the site only for them to find out that Wingman planted it on the site they just left empty.

Since we all agree that Gekko is meta, especially on Icebox, here is an A-exec molly you can swipe from #VCTPacific
Thanks @lakiaone pic.twitter.com/lPtyvoyziv

— Elevated (@ElevatedSpeaks) April 13, 2024

With the right setup, Gekko and Wingman can dominate a round, especially on maps like Bind where rotations can make or break a match. And this is just one of many situations where the agent shines.

Gekko’s Wingman has plenty of potential across other maps as well. Players are experimenting with different ways to use the little companion in high-pressure situations.

The ability to send Wingman into dangerous areas without risking a player’s life makes Gekko a highly desirable agent for teams looking to take a more strategic approach to their matches.

Have you tried out this Gekko trick? Let us know in the comments!

When I first booted up Age of Empires Mobile, it seemed like a faithful, if simplified, mobile adaption for the popular real-time strategy game series. I used my phone’s touchscreen to move units around, engage in combat, or take down structures. I was starting to see how this game could hook me if it were always like this, as I’ve dumped my fair share of time into games like Age of Empires II. Unfortunately, after that opening, Age of Empires Mobile exposes its true form.

Much of my early time in Age of Empires Mobile was spent in gacha menus, idle city building, and auto battles — none of which screamed Age of Empires to me. Nuggets of what’s so enjoyable about Age of Empires can be found in its mobile counterpart, but in practice, it feels like a mobile game adapted to the Age of Empires IP rather than a faithful and considerate Age of Empires adaptation for mobile.

A historical gacha

The core gameplay loop of Age of Empires Mobile is all about obtaining resources so you can continue to build up your citadel and upgrade the historical heroes and troops. For this early build, I was given tons of resources and never had to worry about timers or having insufficient resources to build what I needed. I suspect there will be time and money gates for free-to-play players, though. Obtaining historical figures through gacha pulls works for Age of Empires Mobile, as it gives the game a chance to cover a wide breadth of history without overloading the experience with many factions or campaigns from day one.

While games like Marvel Strike Force have shown me how this system can get predatory, I at least understand its inclusion here.  These historical figures serve as the leaders of troops I commanded, but unfortunately, Age of Empires Mobile lacks the depth of its PC counterparts or even fellow real-time strategy games on mobile, such as Warcraft Rumble. There’s a world map where players can walk around and engage players, but these battles are as simple as clicking a button to attack and watching the battle play out in real time. If you’re at a higher level than whoever you’re fighting, you’ll always win.

Age of Empires Mobile does feature Sieges and multiplayer battles that seem to act closer to the PC strategy games, but I did not encounter any of these in the early hours of the game outside of that opening. Even if that kind of content exists somewhere down the line, it feels a little misleading for Age of Empires Mobile not to get right into it. Choosing to focus on idle city building and an autobattler mode early on rather than the kind of RTS gameplay the series is known for is a baffling decision.

Building up my citadel was where most of my playtime was spent. It’s a sensible area for this mobile game to focus on, as maintaining a well-built and defended base is part of the PC Age of Empires games. Unfortunately, there’s little in the way of actual customization, so this part of the game felt like a huge time and resource sink to me rather than engaging. It also didn’t help that I was frequently directed to Age of Empires Mobile’s Island Tactics mode.

This mode is a direct clone of Auto Chess, as I placed my historical heroes in tiles and hoped they outlasted the competing forces. Autobattlers can be fun, but that’s not the type of strategy gameplay I come to Age of Empires for. It lacks much in the way of strategic interaction, which seems to be a recurring problem with Age of Empires Mobile. Outside of that opening and the occasional exciting historical hero pull, it does not feel like an Age of Empires game, but rather a reskin of other popular mobile games.

I’m not one to immediately dismiss mobile games. Marvel Snap has been my most-played game ever since it entered beta in May 2022, and I’ll occasionally check out games like Threes, Marvel Strike Force, or Warcraft Rumble when I need to kill some time on my phone. As a fan of Age of Empires, I was ready to be hooked by its mobile adaptation. Instead, I was left underwhelmed and confused about why I was seeing so many clichés rather than a sharp mobile strategy adaptation that gets why the PC Age of Empires games are as beloved as they are. Age of Empires Mobile may find an audience, but I doubt it will be with hardcore Age of Empires fans who’ve enjoyed the series for decades.

Age of Empires Mobile launches for iOS and Android on October 17.

It’s been nearly 17 years, and Dragon Ball fans are finally getting the long-awaited fourth entry in the legendary Budokai Tenkaichi series with Sparking Zero. Just like previous entries in the franchise, Sparking Zero includes a massive roster of 181 characters with beloved fighters, a single-player mode that takes us back to the most iconic moments, and a number of “What if” storylines.

With Sparking Zero‘s release right around the corner, gamers can’t wait to get their hands on this title and dive back into the Dragon Ball franchise. The fighting game’s file size has also surfaced online, finally giving us an idea of how much space we’ll need. It’s truly getting embarrassing for the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

If you’re planning to pick up Sparking Zero, you’re probably keen to know about the download size. After all, all modern-generation games can prove to be quite extensive in terms of required space. Fortunately, this fighting game won’t chew away much of your storage drive.

Thanks to PlayStation Size and Yeims_11, we finally know how much space the upcoming title will take. Currently, Sparking Zero is set to take 39 GB on Steam, 27.5 GB on PS5, and 21.9 GB on Xbox Series S/X. Compared to other fighting games out there, the download size is rather small.

Sources:
@/PlaystationSize
@/Yeims_11 who was able to pre-download on Xbox and Steam’s official site. pic.twitter.com/jcM4nP2fE6

— Hype (@DbsHype) October 4, 2024

Previous rumors suggested that Sparking Zero would require at least 80 GB on Xbox Series S/X or even over 100 GB. If we compare, Dragon Ball Z Kakarot‘s file size was around 40 GB of storage, which was fair considering the fact that it was an open-world adventure game.

While the title won’t require 80 GB of storage, Sparking Zero, being 30 GB, is quite shocking. As we’ve said before, Sparking Zero is packed to the brim with content, including huge rosters, heavily detailed arenas, and an expansive story. Players can create their own storylines and share campaigns for online players to experience as well, meaning there’s a lot to do.

It’s great to see Bandai Namco caring for its fans and their storage drives, unlike Activision with the upcoming Call of Duty Black Ops game.

Traditionally, Call of Duty titles have always featured a large file size. At this point, we’re all used to it, but for some odd reason, Activision is taking things to the next level with Black Ops 6.

Thanks to the Xbox store, gamers got to know that the approximate file size for the upcoming Black Ops game is 309.8 GB. That’s way too much for a single game, but according to the developers, it’s the size for the Call of Duty application, which contains the majority of the files for 2023’s Modern Warfare 3, 2022’s Modern Warfare 2, and Warzone.

Black Ops 6 itself will take 149 GB of storage. Even though it’s not a crazy number, like 309.8 GB, it’s still quite bizarre. Activision states that the game is highly graphic-intensive with brand-new characters, maps, modes, and features such as Omnimovement, which has led to larger file sizes.

Maybe it’s time for Activision to take a page out of Bandai Namco’s book and learn how to properly optimize game files and not destroy gamers’ storage drives.

With that said, are you excited to play Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero? If so, let us know in the comments below.