Connect with us

Gaming

FusionFall, the Cartoon Network MMO, is Being Revived. And Remade.

blank

Published

on

blank

Yesterday, while the Internet geeked out over Guild Wars 2’s latest expansion, Path of Fire, another smaller MMO was released. Well, not so much released as entered an early-access alpha/beta test, but this other MMO is still worth talking about.

So, who here has heard of FusionFall? It was a short-lived MMO that was released back in 2009, developed by Grigon Entertainment, and published by Cartoon Network (yes, as in the television cable channel). The game had fairly simple combat mechanics, but it also had numerous platforming sections, which is something you don’t see very often in MMOs. However, what really sold FusionFall was its aesthetic; the game used an anime art style that, unlike other MMOS with anime art styles, actually stood out from the crowd. Moreover and more importantly, FusionFall featured a game world where almost every single Cartoon Network character lived side-by-side in (relative) harmony. If you could name the character, he or she (or it) was probably an NPC in the game. Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory? One of the main protagonists. Ed, Edd, and Eddy from Ed, Edd n Eddy? They gave players quests. Mojo Jojo from The Powerpuff Girls? Surprisingly, he was an ally. Practically all Cartoon Network original programs, from Johnny Bravo to Ben 10 and even Megas XLR, were represented in the game in one form or another. All in all, FusionFall was an excellent MMO anyone could pick up and play, even children. Especially children. In fact, thanks to the game’s simple design and use of familiar characters (both old and new), parents could play FusionFall together with their kids. Sadly, the game shut down in 2013, but several dedicated fans are trying to revive it, which is where the previously mentioned alpha/beta test comes in.

Actually, claiming that the team of fans is only trying to revive FusionFall is a bit of an oversimplification. While the fan/developers will release an emulation of the original game in the form of FusionFall Retro, they are also currently working on a remake of the game that includes new models, textures, animations, lighting, NPCs, enemies, combat mechanics, and levels. While the emulation is currently undergoing extremely limited testing (you can download the client here), the remake, FusionFall Legacy, is a long way off and probably won’t be available until 2018 at the earliest. With luck, the emulation is almost ready — it was actually supposed to release yesterday, August 1st.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff9nOqn6sIs

FusionFall was not the only MMO designed for children and their parents to play together and wasn’t the the first one either. The Walt Disney Company took a crack at MMOs in 2003 with Toontown Online. The game also closed down in 2013, but fans are keeping Toontown alive with their own servers, the most popular being Toontown Rewritten. However, while Toontown’s fans are content to simply re-release the game, the FusionFall Retro/Legacy dev team is going above and beyond to create the definitive FusionFall experience. I used to play FusionFall and even helped beta test the game, and I have to admit I am extremely impressed by the work of FusionFall Legacy’s new developers. These superfans clearly know what they’re doing, and I daresay the animations, locations, and characters shown off in the FusionFall Legacy trailer surpass the work done by Grigon Entertainment. I wish the new fan/development team luck in reviving this gem of an underrated and underappreciated MMO.

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

blank

Published

on

blank

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.

Continue Reading

Gaming

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

blank

Published

on

blank

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.

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.

Continue Reading

Gaming

Will Stellar Blade be available for PC?

blank

Published

on

blank

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.

blank

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.

Continue Reading

Trending