Fewer terms are more iconic to gamers than “Pokemon Gym,” even though it’s a bit of a misnomer since most people visit gyms to train, not fight for fame and fortune. Then again, the Pokemon franchise has a tendency to misuse terms, the most egregious examples being “light-year” and “evolution,” but I’m rambling here. Getting back to the point, Niantic is changing how gyms work in Pokemon GO. According to a blog post on the official Pokemon GO site, these changes will be part of the game’s biggest update. Strap yourself in folks; it’s going to take a while to cover everything.

Prior to the update, Pokemon Gyms were fairly bare bones. Trainers could leave one Pokemon at a gym controlled by their teams. These gyms held up to ten Pokemon, and opposing teams usually had to grind battles to take over gyms. Now — or at least when the update is finished — gyms will have the standard six Pokemon limit. Furthermore, with the new system, each Pokemon must be unique, so trainers won’t have to worry about facing off against multiple Blisseys (Blissies?). The update will also introduce the motivation mechanic: the longer a Pokemon defends a gym, the more its motivation will decrease , and the more a Pokemon’s motivation decreases, the lower its CP will drop. Don’t worry though, the CP loss is only temporary. Trainers can boost a defender’s motivation with a berry treat, but eventually the Pokemon will lose all motivation and return to its trainer after its defeated. Also, when I say gyms are receiving a facelift, I mean it; gyms will look far more impressive, and each battle will start with trainers staring each other down, just as they do in the main Pokemon games.

Another big change to the gym system is the introduction of gym badges. They might not function like badges in the main franchise, but they are still a welcome sight. Pokemon GO’s gym badges will provide various bonuses and can be leveled by battling in gyms, giving berries to defending Pokemon, and spinning the gym’s photo disc. Oh, right, I forgot to mention that gyms will also function as Pokestops, which means trainers can obtain items by visiting gyms. Much like other Pokestops, gyms will attract wild Pokemon, but occasionally a raid boss Pokemon will spawn at a gym and supplant all defending Pokemon. As the name suggests, raid boss Pokemon are extremely powerful and will curb stomp even the most powerful of solo trainers. Once a raid boss appears, gamers will have five minutes to defeat these super-powerful Pokemon, specifically by teaming up with up to twenty nearby trainers — including members of opposing teams.

With powerful raid bosses come powerful rewards, including the chance to catch these Pokemon. Additionally, these Pokemon will drop valuable new items, including Golden Razz Berries (a more powerful version of the Razz Berry), Rare Candies (wildcard candies and can be used on any Pokemon), and the much-anticipated Technical Machines. Of course, trainers can’t just fight raid bosses whenever they feel like it: gamers can only fight raid bosses if they use a Raid Pass. These passes can be either bought in the cash shop or found at a local Pokemon Gym, but trainers can only hold one pass at a time, which means if you lose the battle, you need a new pass.

These changes just might be the booster shot Pokemon GO needs. Not only will the reworked mechanics encourage trainers to visit more gyms, but raid bosses will give players an incentive to cooperate, especially if those bosses include the legendaries trainers have been waiting for since Pokemon GO was first announced.

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Aaron Greenbaum

All you have to do to get my attention is talk about video games, technology, anime, and/or Dungeons & Dragons - also people in spandex fighting rubber suited monsters.

Gaming

Helldivers 2 has quickly become one of Sony’s top-selling games in the US

Published

13 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Zach Riley

Helldivers 2 proved to be a surprising success, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. As per Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it currently ranks as Sony’s seventh highest grossing game in the United States to date, trailing behind a trio of Spider-Man titles, a couple of God of War games, and Ghost of Tsushima. It’s only been on the market for less than three months and is not even being sold at full price.

According to Piscatella, a significant factor contributing to the game’s success is its release on PC. He mentioned that, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, the game has consistently ranked first in terms of active users on Steam in the US since its launch, including April. The release of Helldivers 2 on both PlayStation and PC has been an extraordinary triumph.

He stated that Helldivers 2 has already become the seventh highest-grossing Sony-published game in history. Without a PC, it would not currently be considered one of the top 20 games. While I’m emphasizing the success of the PC SKU, it’s important to note that I’m not disregarding the success of the PlayStation SKU. I just wanted to clarify that. This launch has proven to be incredibly successful.

Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Sony made it clear that they would be launching their live service-style titles simultaneously on both the PS5 and PC. The success of this approach will undoubtedly strengthen their strategic vision. It will be intriguing to witness if the company reveals official sales figures in the near future, as the title appears to be one of the platform holder’s most successful sellers to date.

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Gaming

The developer of Stellar Blade for the PS5 Expressing gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support amidst a recent controversy surrounding censorship

Published

13 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Zach Riley

Shift Up, the Korean developer, seems to be reconsidering its contentious alterations to the Stellar Blade outfit. In a message to fans, they have urged everyone to stay tuned for updates and expressed gratitude for the passionate feedback from players. For those who may not be aware, a petition gained significant attention over the weekend when gamers discovered changes made to a few of the game’s costumes through a day-one patch.

The launch day update includes a fantastic New Game + mode, but some players were disappointed by the changes made to protagonist Eve’s outfit. These alterations sparked debates about censorship. Director Hyung-Tae Kim later clarified that this was the studio’s original vision, but he acknowledged that it may require further persuasion to win over users. Internal discussions were also underway to address any concerns.

Thanks to all our Stellar Blade fans for your passion & feedback. Stay tuned for updates🤍 pic.twitter.com/jCRzM4OQBS

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) May 1, 2024

There is no definitive confirmation regarding the reversal of the outfits, but considering the language used in the statement and the widespread controversy surrounding the alterations, it is highly likely that a future patch will restore the original costumes. If you want to get a sneak peek at all of Eve’s different outfits and learn how to unlock them, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive guide, All Outfits and How to Get Them.

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Gaming

Will Stellar Blade be available for PC?

Published

2 days ago

April 30, 2024

Zach Riley

It’s quite possible. Fans all over the world are interested in Shift Up’s highly anticipated action-adventure game, Stellar Blade. With its captivating post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Nier and a compelling protagonist named Eve, it’s no wonder the game has generated such widespread attention.

The game consistently impresses with its stunning visuals and high-octane action, leaving players in awe with each new trailer.

Yet, just like other noteworthy second-party and third-party game releases, fans are pondering: Will Stellar Blade be available on PC?

In this article, we delve into the details to determine the platform availability of the highly anticipated title.

Will Stellar Blade be available on PC? Allow me to provide you with the answer.

Unfortunately, Stellar Blade will not be available on PC, at least not initially. Currently, the game is only available on PlayStation 5 starting on April 26, 2024.

Regrettably, it appears that there is no indication of a potential PC release for Stellar Blade in the future. In most cases, trailers for PlayStation timed-exclusive titles conclude with a disclaimer that specifies the duration of their exclusivity.

In the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch trailer, it is explicitly stated that the game will only be accessible on other platforms starting on May 29, 2024.

Regrettably, when it comes to the stellar blade, there is no indication of such.

It’s important to note that Sony Entertainment Interactive published Stellar Blade, unlike Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This means that the chances of it being released on PC or other platforms in the near future are even slimmer.

However, it is worth noting that there is a chance the game might be released on PC in the future, given PlayStation’s track record of bringing their exclusive titles to the platform. However, it could be a while before this comes to fruition.

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