Gamer's Outpost Press (Archived)

by Colin Campbell

This game is about real life. The main protagonist is you.

Called Reflections, the game is still in Greenlight mode on Steam. Even if the set-up sounds a little unusual, the game does look pretty interesting.

It’s another one of those walkabout games in which you explore your surroundings, pick up stuff, make decisions and move the story forward. You begin the game packing up your things to head out to college. The player explores and interacts. The story reacts to how the player moves objects around.

Developer Tristan Moore of Broken Window Studios explained to Polygon what else happens. “Interactions are all based around manipulating physics-driven objects, but we’re pushing hard to make each of these interactions meaningful,” he said. “You can do things like exploring your home, making repairs, cultivating the relationship with your friends and family, exploring your neighborhood or even just play games like basketball.”

As you complete interactions, objects become flushed with color. The player’s view of the world gradually changes from monochrome to vivid color.

Reflections was originally built at a game jam at around the time Moore was graduating from college. He wanted to try to make a game that spoke about real life, but decided to focus on other stuff, like open-world horror title Grave.

“Since then, a few games have come out with interesting experiences that were just about normal people,” he explains, referring to the likes of Gone Home and even more fantastical fare like Dear Esther and The Stanley Parable. “The value of that type of experience has been proven. Not every game has to be about action, combat or puzzles.”

So, why make a game about people pretty much being themselves? “We’re really pushing the idea that the you are ‘you’ in the game, so the elements of the story are designed to be general. We are setting up a couple of questions for you to answer at the start which may change some of the outcomes and characters. We want to leave the character of ‘you’ pretty open, so it’s more defined by your actions than a predetermined context.”

Reflections, due out in April, asks the question: “Where will your life take you?” If you’re interested, over to the Steam Greenlight page would be a good start.

by Jeff Grubb

Gamers are not afraid to let you know when they’re unhappy, and publisher 2K is learning that right now. People are slamming the Steam store page for the new 4-on-1 online shooter Evolve with damning reviews as a way of letting others (and 2K) know that they do not like many aspects of the game. The most common complaint is that Evolve has too much day-one downloadable content that players can pay to unlock as well as the premium-priced versions that include extra stuff that many people think should come included with every version of Evolve. We asked 2K to comment on the gamer response, but we’re still waiting on the company’s statement.

If you pay the $60 retail price to purchase Evolve, you get it with 12 of the hunter characters (some of which you unlock as you play) and three of the monsters. But you do not get immediate access to four additional hunters and the three monster skins that paying $80 unlocks. Or you could pay $100 to immediately have access to 18 hunters, four monsters, and four monster skins. 2K has eight different ways to buy Evolve — all of which come with various pieces of extra content that act as incentives to get players to spend more. While this may potentially increase the revenue the game generates, this price structure is also enraging some players who may enjoy Evolve but are eviscerating it in reviews because they think it’s not fair to pay $60 for what they feel is an incomplete product. It doesn’t help that Evolve is multiplayer-focused. Gamers are accustomed to paying $60 for releases that are brimming with single-player content as well as competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes. Evolve is laser-focused on its 4-versus-1 mechanics — but many people think that even $60 is too much for that. But the game also had nearly a dozen cosmetic skin packs for characters available for purchase the moment it went on sale. All of these issues have led to a number of negative user reviews on the Steam store page for Evolve.

by Nicholas Holden

On Saturday, we reported that a popular YouTube streamer was raided by police in front of 60,000 viewers, as a result of a false police report claim, or “Swatting.” The ‘SWATer’ is yet to found, but in an unrelated case a Nevada gamer has been arrested, as he has been accused of orchestrating a “SWATting” attack on a video gamer over the summer.

Brandon Wilson, 19, known by some as “Famed God,” was arrested last week Thursday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Wilson falsely reported a murder to Naperville police in July 2014, resulting in armed law enforcement arriving at a victim’s address.

Brandon Wilson, 19, aka “Famed God”

Prosecutors working on the case stated that Wilson also threatened an attack on the victim’s banking and Social Security accounts. He told the victim that  he would put the victim’s father “in debt for life.” The threats will form as additional charges, of which Wilson can expect up to five years in prison.

Investigators found evidence of Wilson’s involvement in the SWAT attack as well as other similar incidents. He charges include; two counts of computer tampering and one count of intimidation, computer fraud, identity theft and disorderly conduct. The are said to be up to three other states currently after him who may proffer additional charges.

Most “swatting” related incidents come from gamers. The success of streaming platforms such as Twitch, which provide a live screening of victims being ‘Swatted’ could be the reason, as it provides the perpetrator with an audience. That being said, it looks like we are slowly but surely seeing these pranksters being punished for their actions. As a result, we may see swatting reduced over the next few years when more of these internet thugs land themselves behind bars.

Do you think Wilson’s five year jail sentence is too harsh? Remember Justin Carter, the teen jailed in 2013 over the League of Legends disagreement? His case is still under investigation. Carter spend a lot of time in jail and is still under house arrest, over a comment.

by Chris Reed

Superhero movies have been making a killing at the box office for more than a decade now, but all too often the video games based on these spandex-clad characters are a little lackluster (*cough* Superman 64 *cough*). Thankfully, we can find some diamonds in the rough. Here, in no particular order, are some of the best superhero video games ever made.

1. Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3

When it comes to superhero Fighting games, Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is about as good as it gets. Each player picks three fighters from a massive roster of Capcom characters and Marvel superheroes, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Hulk. Then you tag-team your way through your opponents, pulling off big flashy moves unique to each character.

To the untrained eye, the results might seem too chaotic. But once you get a little experience under your belt, you’ll find a game with all the depth and balance of Capcom’s best fighting titles.

2. Spider-Man 2

The 2004 game Spider-Man 2 was one of the better open-world games of the era, thanks in no small part to its swinging mechanic. It was great fun to web-sling through the skyscrapers of Manhattan, taking in the vistas and stopping to thwart the occasional crime.

Beyond that, though, the game sported voice acting from the cast of the movie, narration by cult hero Bruce Campbell, and plenty of fun side missions. Other Spider-Man games have come out before and since, but this one just might be the best of the bunch.

3. X-Men

In the 1990s, some of the most fun you could have with your friends was going to the arcade and crowding around the four sets of control inputs on the X-Men arcade game. Each player could jump, attack, and use a limited superpower against the hordes of Sentinels and other enemies the game sent after you. It was challenging as all get-out — which ensured you’d keep pumping in quarters — but the four-player cooperative gameplay was second to none.

4. Freedom Force

Everyone loves the Bioshock games, but before those were conceived, developer Irrational Games made Freedom Force, one of the best squad-based tactical games around. Before each mission, you assemble a team from a list of superheroes. Then you go out into the city and stop the bad guys before they can finish their bad deeds, whether that means thwarting purse-snatchers or fending off an alien attack. It’s all great stuff that’s clearly inspired by the early years of superhero comics, and it works fantastically in the game.

5. Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

The angry green giant hasn’t enjoyed the video game spotlight as often as Spider-Man or the X-Men, but he starred in one really fun game in the PlayStation 2 era. Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is an open-world game in which — as the title suggests — you can wreak havoc on the city.

Just about everything in the game is destructible, from the cars to the lamp posts, and even some of the buildings. Better yet, you can use pieces of the stuff you demolish to break other things and fight off enemies. If you enjoy the occasional unhinged rampage, this game’s for you.

6. Lego Marvel Superheroes

by Alyssa Newcomb

A popular gamer said he was shaken up after armed police, apparently prompted by a prank phone call, raided his home as he was live streaming to nearly 60,000 viewers on the video game website Twitch.

Joshua Peters, a U.S. Air Force veteran who lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota, was playing browser games on Wednesday when he fell victim to an apparent “swatting” prank.

Swatting is the practice of placing a phone call that prompts armed police to deploy to the home of an unsuspecting target — something that can be incredibly dangerous for victims caught off guard.

St. Cloud Chief of Police William Anderson confirmed the incident to ABC News and said it was currently under investigation.

Known as Koopatroopa787 on Twitch, Peters played with his noise-cancelling headphones on as armed officers swarmed the residence where he was with his mother and younger brothers.

When he heard his mother call to him that officers were in the home, a confused Peters exited from view of the camera. After it was evident he had been a victim of swatting, Peters returned to close out his stream as he held back tears talking about the dramatic situation.

“I see you posting my address. I had police point a gun at my little brothers because of you. They could have been shot, they could have died because you chose to SWAT my stream,” he said, addressing the anonymous attacker. “I don’t give a s*** about what you have against me, or what I did to you. For that, I am at a loss for words. Your gripe is with me so let it be with me and do not involve my family in any way, shape or form with this. They don’t deserve that.”

Peters told ABC News today he does not have “beef” with anyone and was not sure who would target him.

“It was more or less a wake-up call that I have to be careful. It can happen to anybody,” he said. “I came back on after and told everyone what was going on. I knew the person who did it was watching and I wanted to let them know you can’t do this.”

The officers who stormed his home were “very professional about it” when they realized they had been sent to the house as part of a swatting prank. Peters said he is now working with authorities to determine who could have targeted him.

by Rashid Sayed

by Rob Crossley

Rise of the Tomb Raider will star a distraught Lara Croft one year after her perilous expedition across the Yamatai, now obsessed with immortality myths and venturing across the frozen wilds of Siberia for answers.

The new details were disclosed in the latest edition of Game Informer magazine, which describes the Crystal Dynamics-developed adventure as both a fight against the savagery of nature and Lara’s internal battle with the trauma from her last game.

Storms, avalanches, wolves, and grizzly bears are just some of the natural hazards that players will encounter in the snow-blanketed region of Russia. According to Crystal Dynamics, the game will also take players though other distinct locations across the globe, with Game Informer citing “dusty sandscapes, dense forests, and underwater caverns”.

“Lara feels like an outsider in the real world”
— franchise director Noah Hughes

Rise of the Tomb Raider follows Lara one year after her fight for survival in Yamatai. Having discovered on that island what she believed was an immortal being, Lara is now in search of Kitezhm, a mythical city she believes can be found in Siberia, which could provide answers to her question.

“People think she’s crazier than she is,” said franchise creative director Noah Hughes.

“If you came back [from Yamatai] and started talking about an immortal being and a secret sun-worshipping cult, that’s a tough pill to swallow. So Lara feels like an outsider in the real world. Her next expedition is a way of dealing with the trauma she’s been through, but it’s also a way of finding peace by chasing any shred of evidence that what she saw was real.”

Players will have enhanced options for crafting new survival gear along the way. Plants, minerals, metals, clothes, hides, and other rare relics can be collected, though some preparation will be required to amass enough items for crafting.

“You might have a particular upgrade that requires an alpha wolf hide, but wolves only come out at certain times of the day,” Hughes says, inferring to some form of day-night cycle within the game world.

The serious tone and sheer brutality of the previous game will also make a comeback here, he said, and the effects on Lara’s psychology will be fairly well pronounced.

“Lara’s learned a lot from the last game, but she doesn’t have unflinching confidence. She can’t face unlimited opponents unscathed. She’s in a life-and-death situation, so we want to capture a certain amount of humanity by showing that Lara is continually challenged as a character. It’s important for us to capture those moments where she is uncertain about her identity, her direction, or her ability to come out alive.”

In the video above, Hughes also appeared to suggest that the game would lean on more of a Metroidvania style, with environmental puzzles to explore and overcome.

“We love that game structure, I think the most important thing to us is really to live up to that promise of tomb-raiding, and make sure that–as much as this is a game about traversal, exploration and combat–it’s also very much about tombs and puzzle solving.”

Crystal Dynamics also reveals in the Game Informer article that the Tomb Raider development team worked 18-hour days for about a year in order to finish the 2013 reboot on time. It adds that sales, including those of the Definitive Edition, now totals more than 7 million units.

Rise of the Tomb Raider will be a timed Xbox One and Xbox 360 exclusive, scheduled for release later this year, and published by Microsoft.

The Xbox 360 version will be developed by an external studio.