Monthly Archives: June 2024

‘Thirst-person shooter’ The Crush House hits PC on August 9

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The Crush House, the latest game from Reigns developer ​​Nerial, will debut on August 9. 

Described as a "thirst-person shooter," The Crush House has you playing as a camera person tasked with filming a 1999 reality show. You’ll cast four out of 12 potential characters for the show, and then film them at a secluded Malibu mansion for a week to create your season. The aim is to find the perfect reality-show balance of drama, romance and near-violence to keep audiences hooked. Similar to the Reigns games, you’ll have to play to different audiences’ desires to keep the show ratings up, and pleasing everyone is a near-impossible task.

There seems to be a lot more to The Crush House than just a run-of-the-mill reality show. From the trailer, there’s clearly some dark horror going on behind the scenes, and you’ll be able to explore the mansion after-hours, talk to the cast and live out your dream of being a Bravo producer. Because everyone dreams of that, right? Right?

The Crush House hits PC on August 9, published by Devolver Digital, and there’s a demo set to hit Steam imminently.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/thirst-person-shooter-the-crush-house-hits-pc-on-august-9-002222406.html?src=rss

Phoenix Springs, possibly the prettiest detective game ever, arrives September 16

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Phoenix Springs is a point-and-click detective game that looks like the cover of a mid-century sci-fi novel, and it’s due to go live on Steam on September 16.

Steeped in mystery and a vibrant neo-noir aesthetic, Phoenix Springs follows reporter Iris Dormer as she searches for her brother, Leo, in a mysterious community at the heart of a desert oasis. It’s a challenging puzzle game featuring voice acting and a minimal UI, and Iris’ inventory is designed to be filled with mental notes rather than physical objects, encouraging players to think in abstractions.

Visually, there’s no other game like Phoenix Springs. It mixes 2D and 3D animations, and it’s composed of hand-drawn scenes featuring heavy shadows and muted greens, with bright pops of yellow and red. The game looks old and new at the same time, and for puzzle fans, it’s one of the most intriguing titles coming out this year.

Phoenix Springs is developed and published by Calligram Studio, a four-person art collective based in London. Calligram launched a Kickstarter for the game in 2017 and successfully raised more than €10,000. Over the past seven years, Calligram has secured a handful of prestigious awards and nominations for Phoenix Springs, adding an extra touch of anticipation to today’s release-date announcement.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/phoenix-springs-possibly-the-prettiest-detective-game-ever-arrives-september-16-235408369.html?src=rss

This lightweight camper for mid-sized trucks has auto expanding pop-top mechanism to maximize headroom

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Adventure Manufacturing has been delighting adventurous souls with their truck campers ever since the 2020 pandemic under the brand Scout Campers. With the success of the hardtop shell Tuktut camper for 4×4 trucks, the new addition to the lineup focuses on all-weather and lightweight design, making even more sense.

Designed for mid-sized MUVs like Toyota Tacoma, Ford Raptor and Jeep Gladiator, the pop-top camper dubbed Yoho Pop Up is ultra-lightweight at just 976 lbs, and is super easy to set up. Thus, making it ideal for vehicles that can be prepped for an adventure trip by the morning time, and then, trimmed down back to their native utility by the night. This all-weather camper doesn’t eat up much of your range which makes it an even better choice for electric MUVs and electric off-road trucks.

Designer: Scout Campers

The brand is targeting midsized truck users who don’t want to compromise on fuel economy and crave a solution that hits the right balance of protection and practicality of use. Yoho Pop Up is made out of composite panels with an aluminum exoskeleton and a single-piece monocoque composite roof. The cabinets are made out of recycled paper and feature bamboo countertops. Scout Campers is confident that the pop-up camper sleeps three people and a dog or a small kid, but to be safe we’ll say, two adults and a dog or small kid is what the pop-top will be comfy enough on extended trips.

It has a total height of 69.75 inches which can be expanded to 79 inches for more headroom even for the tallest of people. The expanding function can be initiated with the built-in pop-top mechanism (called Early Rise) that allows you to leave your bedding in place even when the top is down. The automated feature comes in handy when traveling solo, or weather conditions are not in your favor. Designed to mimic the look of a hardtop shell camper, the Yoho Pop Up has larger doors for easy access.

The maker has fitted the Pop Up version with an 18.5-liter Lifesaver Jerrycan Filtration-ready water canister with a 3,000-W Goal Zero power station. A stainless steel sink, dual 100W solar panels, a 5-lb propane tank, and exterior lighting also come standard with the model. If you want to go for more, there is the optional 45-L Dometic CFX3 fridge, Kammok Crosswing awning, portable indoor/outdoor gas cooktop, portable toilet, and 7.5-L RotoPax canister to increase the freshwater capacity.

The pricing of Yoho Pop Up is more than the hardtop version at $27,000 which is surprising. Also, we have to keep in mind the fully proof weather-resistant design of the hardtop model. While most of the hardcore adventurers will lean towards the Tuktut, this pop-top version is made for people looking to have the option of a low drive profile while traveling. Those interested can make a $500 deposit to book their unit with availability promised in a few months.

The post This lightweight camper for mid-sized trucks has auto expanding pop-top mechanism to maximize headroom first appeared on Yanko Design.

Arranger turns a slide puzzle into an adventure game this July

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Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure is due to hit PC, Switch, PlayStation 5 and mobile devices on July 25.

Arranger is an adventure game with a simple and disruptive conceit: The world exists on a grid of sliding tiles. Moving the main character, Jemma, slides the connected row or column of tiles with her, shifting the landscape as she travels. This mechanic turns walking into a puzzle and it forms the basis of the game’s spatial riddles.

Jemma is a misfit who’s venturing outside of her cozy home for the first time, discovering all of the amazing and terrifying things the wider world has to offer. The land is ruled by a strange, static force, and Jemma’s mission is to make the place loosen up (quite literally, it would seem).

Arranger is developed and published by indie studio Furniture & Mattress, which includes Braid artist David Hellman, Carto writer Nick Suttner, Per Aspera composer Tomas Batista and Ethereal developer Nicolás Recabarren. The mobile version of Arranger will be distributed through Netflix, meaning anyone with an active subscription should be able to play at no extra charge.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/arranger-turns-a-slide-puzzle-into-an-adventure-game-this-july-232441365.html?src=rss

UFO 50, the latest game from the Spelunky team, will finally arrive September 18

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And now for a game that’s actually 50 games — at least.

UFO 50, the latest project from Spelunky studio Mossmouth, is due to hit Steam on September 18, about six years after it was originally expected to launch. That’s merely an observation, not a criticism — UFO 50 is an ambitious project that offers 50 full, retro-styled games in a single package, and it’s all coming from a team of just six people.

In UFO 50 lore, UFO Soft was a game developer who was active between 1982 and 1990, peak NES and Genesis years. The games collected in UFO 50 feature recurring characters and sequels from UFO Soft’s fictional past, and they’re restricted in terms of color and audio, as if they had actually been developed for bygone hardware. Mossmouth is manifesting an alternate timeline of video game history here, and it looks like a ton of fun.

“The story of UFO 50 is that the games were all created in the ‘80s by a fictional company that was obscure but ahead of its time,” the game’s FAQ reads. “They're also connected by a unique 32-color palette and other restrictions we decided on to make them feel more authentic. (However, we don't force sprite flickering or slowdown, as we didn't feel that it would make the games more enjoyable.)”

Every game in UFO 50 is unlocked from the start, and the collection features a wide variety of genres, including platformers, RPGs, roguelites and shoot-em-ups. None of the titles are mini- or micro-games, and while they’re all done in an 8-bit aesthetic, their visual and mechanical styles evolve with the years. Every game is playable solo, and half of them include multiplayer elements.

All that said, I think Mossmouth is selling itself short by calling UFO 50 a collection of just 50 games. Sure, it includes 50 individual experiences inspired by classic games of the 1980s, but there’s also one huge, hidden title in the collection — UFO 50 itself. Don’t forget to factor that into your pricing deliberations, Mossmouth.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ufo-50-the-latest-game-from-the-spelunky-team-will-finally-arrive-september-18-231541214.html?src=rss

Battle Vision Network is Capy’s spiritual successor to Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

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The next title out of Capybara Games — the studio behind Super Time Force, Below and Grindstone — is a competitive, online puzzler with real-time strategy and color-matching mechanics, live updates and a seasonal narrative shaped by players. It’s called Battle Vision Network, and it’s heading to PC and mobile devices in 2025.

Battle Vision Network feels like an encapsulation of Capy’s sensibilities over 20 years as an independent game studio. It’s adorable in a Saturday-morning-cartoon kind of way, kind of like OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes. It relies on color-matching tactics, much like Grindstone. It has music from longtime Capy collaborator Jim Guthrie (Sword & Sworcery, Below) and Grindstone composer Sam Webster. And finally, it’s a one-on-one puzzle fight, similar to Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes. In the announcement video for BVN, director Dan Vader described the new game as a spiritual successor to Clash of Heroes with an emphasis on multiplayer combat.

BVN has unlockable units with special abilities and a roster of customizable characters. The environments in BVN are outlandish and bright, packed with alien creatures, enthusiastic astronaut spectators and at least one talking skeleton. There are a handful of intergalactic teams in the game, each with a specific vibe, captain and engagement style. Every season players will determine the champion by battling under the banner of their preferred team and racking up points in a shared pool, affecting stats, events and narrative outcomes for everyone.

Capy is building BVN to be accessible but deep, with hours of replayability baked into its design. Netflix will distribute the iOS and Android versions of the game, meaning it should be available to all Netflix subscribers at no extra charge.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/battle-vision-network-is-capys-spiritual-successor-to-might--magic-clash-of-heroes-230547594.html?src=rss

Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is coming out surprisingly soon

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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the stunning action and strategy RPG from Capcom, is set to come out on July 19 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PS5 and PC. It'll be a day-one Xbox Game Pass title.

We've had our eyes on Path of the Goddess for a while now. Even just in early trailers, it seems to offer a beautiful exploration of Japanese folklore, featuring lush settings packed with reactive details and dangerous creatures to battle. In Path of the Goddess, the land is fighting back against the people who have defiled it, spreading blight and spawning monsters called the Seethe. Players have to recruit villagers to their side during the day, and at night, they fight the Seethe, strategizing and managing resources along the way.

Capcom is celebrating Japanese history and culture with this game, similar to its previous titles Okami and Shinsekai: Into the Depths.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/capcoms-kunitsu-gami-path-of-the-goddess-is-coming-out-surprisingly-soon-230516011.html?src=rss

Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is coming out surprisingly soon

Posted on by

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the stunning action and strategy RPG from Capcom, is set to come out on July 19 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PS5 and PC. It'll be a day-one Xbox Game Pass title.

We've had our eyes on Path of the Goddess for a while now. Even just in early trailers, it seems to offer a beautiful exploration of Japanese folklore, featuring lush settings packed with reactive details and dangerous creatures to battle. In Path of the Goddess, the land is fighting back against the people who have defiled it, spreading blight and spawning monsters called the Seethe. Players have to recruit villagers to their side during the day, and at night, they fight the Seethe, strategizing and managing resources along the way.

Capcom is celebrating Japanese history and culture with this game, similar to its previous titles Okami and Shinsekai: Into the Depths.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/capcoms-kunitsu-gami-path-of-the-goddess-is-coming-out-surprisingly-soon-230516011.html?src=rss

Simpler Times, the coziest game of Summer Game Fest 2023, is available now

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Simpler Times, the game that’s sweet like honey on a summer’s day, is out right now. Simpler Times is a soft and slow exploration game set in a supremely cozy bedroom, featuring a lifetime of memories to uncover and a soundtrack of soothing lo-fi music. Simpler Times is available on Steam.

The game takes place over four seasons, as the protagonist, Tania, clears out her childhood bedroom and looks back on her life. Her room is compact, with a wide bay window, a desk, a bed and a record player, which controls the game’s soundtrack. Players have to physically swap out the vinyl to keep the lo-fi beats going: remove the record, select a new one, slide the arm back and forth, drop the needle down. The process is meditative and rewarding, just like the rest of the game.

Indie studio stoneskip and publisher iam8bit announced Simpler Times’ surprise launch during the Day of the Devs showcase, which is part of Summer Game Fest. We played the demo at last year’s SGF and found it to be the coziest game of the show.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/simpler-times-the-coziest-game-of-summer-game-fest-2023-is-available-now-225927580.html?src=rss

Simpler Times, the coziest game of Summer Game Fest 2023, is available now

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Simpler Times, the game that’s sweet like honey on a summer’s day, is out right now. Simpler Times is a soft and slow exploration game set in a supremely cozy bedroom, featuring a lifetime of memories to uncover and a soundtrack of soothing lo-fi music. Simpler Times is available on Steam.

The game takes place over four seasons, as the protagonist, Tania, clears out her childhood bedroom and looks back on her life. Her room is compact, with a wide bay window, a desk, a bed and a record player, which controls the game’s soundtrack. Players have to physically swap out the vinyl to keep the lo-fi beats going: remove the record, select a new one, slide the arm back and forth, drop the needle down. The process is meditative and rewarding, just like the rest of the game.

Indie studio stoneskip and publisher iam8bit announced Simpler Times’ surprise launch during the Day of the Devs showcase, which is part of Summer Game Fest. We played the demo at last year’s SGF and found it to be the coziest game of the show.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/simpler-times-the-coziest-game-of-summer-game-fest-2023-is-available-now-225927580.html?src=rss