The eSports website known as Gamebattles use to be extremely popular in the mid-2000s to early 2010s. It offered a structured league and tournament setting for a wide array of video games and the gamers who played them. More or less offered a place for healthy competition and even springboarded many a professional gamer’s career. Heck, you could even win money and prestige for simply playing competitive titles like Call of Duty. Not bad right? Well, naturally during that time frame people would do anything they can to gain an advantage. That meant cheating, breaking the rules, or all-around being a horrible person.
This was especially detrimental in the days before the PS4 share button and capture cards/software being easily accessible. Still things weren’t terrible and admins and support mods could still handle things properly. Unless they were “corrupt” or put more emphasis on premium accounts and their disputes. However, times are changing and eSports and recording software/hardware are more open than ever to anyone. This should surely weed out the cheaters and any problems of Gamebattles days of old? Not in the slightest and things have become even worse in my opinion.
I participated in the Gamebattles scene in the late high-school through college days. It was a fun way to extend my game of choice and my skill level. Plus, money prizes certainly didn’t hurt for the good ol’ college lifestyle. I wasn’t a constant competitor, but I did get in a few leagues and tournaments for the Resistance series and a few Call of Dutys. About 75% of the time, things went off without a hitch. The remaining moments were full of cheaters who would invite friends into the lobby to spectate their opponent’s position, lying about scores, or simply dispute because they didn’t like a person. Sportsmanship goes a long way people. Still things ended up fine for the most part. Who really won would move on and all that. Although I have heard horror stories from others about being wronged in big ways.
Then I took a break from all that due to life and building my career. Fast forward years later and a really fun arcade game, Disc Jam, is free thanks to PlayStation Plus. Turns out I have a knack for it and end up being a current top five player in the United States. Awesome for me being in my mid-20s and all. Plus, the community is awesome, supportive, and basically friends all around. So when Gamebattles announced that Disc Jam would get its own ladder there, I was all in. Especially since the community knew each other and the support was there. No longer going into Gamebattles as a lone wolf per se. With this added supportive element and recording capabilities of gameplay easier than ever, there should have been no problems at all. Turns out I was wrong and learned that Gamebattles is now mostly for people scheming their way up the MLG rankings. Not like it would matter if these people didn’t have actual skill in a game, but no one ever said cheaters were smart.
The first few days were fun and perfectly fine. Everyone understood the rules, knew what to do, and even how to improve thanks to this extra competitive element. Then the exploits of Gamebattles’ system and admins not doing their job properly popped up like never before. Let’s start with the latter. Anyone who knows how Disc Jam works knows that one match is the best of three sets. In Gamebattles’ Disc Jam tournaments, the winner moves on by winning a best of three matches. So that’s anywhere from a total of four to six possible sets. I participated in one of these competitions and won two sets in a row in the first match and then again in the second match. Therefore I was the winner and won a best of three matches. Not according to my opponent who somehow didn’t understand that concept. He thought that you had to play two different best of threes even though the rules never stated that and my opponent also used the best of three rule to back up his claim. Whatever I thought, someone’s stupidity isn’t what I’m complaining about.
Unfortunately, this person somehow convinced a support agent of his logic once he disputed the score (because we apparently had two more matches to play for a total of four. Not a best of three if the total matches is more than that). I waited for forty minutes to move on to the next round because: A. My opponent wasn’t the brightest and B. The support admin for Disc Jam didn’t know how Disc Jam worked. After enough arguing on my end, this mod finally contacted another one who then confirmed I had indeed won. A support agent didn’t know how the basic mechanics of a game worked that he supervised matches for. This has far reaching consequences that Gamebattles admin don’t know the very games they’re proceeding over. Also, for those asking why I didn’t just play the guy again since I beat him handily? I didn’t want to set a precedent because an idiot who didn’t understand rules, should get his way.
Everything ended fairly (I didn’t get an apology from the mod in question for wasting forty minutes) but still raises major concerns as I mentioned. Still that is nothing to the current exploits going on thanks to Gamebattles’ rather hands-off approach. You see there are people who take advantage of the Gamebattles dispute system. They’ll lie about the score, report a no-show that didn’t really happen, and much more thanks to easily exploitable rules and staff not paying attention. You could report a match that you won, and have proof, but your opponent could report a no-show. What about their “proof” you ask? All they’ll have is fifteen minutes of footage with them standing in a game’s lobby. For some reason that proves the cheater right and they get the win.
My favorite one I’ve loosely experienced, and heard about from other Disc Jammers, is a cheater messaging someone saying they can’t make it. So the receiver reports the no show or the score like they should. Then the cheater reports a no show with his fifteen minutes of b-roll footage. The dispute takes place and the cheater wins. Now a normal person would submit a picture of the aforementioned conversation on the cheater admitting they can’t make it. After all capturing photos and videos has never been easier on gaming systems. Nope! The admins conveniently don’t accept messages as valid proof. Even if the cheater’s gaming ID matches his Gamebattles ID and team name.
The kicker to all this? There are some people who make a habit of doing this across many different ladders and leagues. Not just in Disc Jam. Upon researching one of the griefers in question, I found that this person disputed nearly every match like I’ve described in many different games. That’s over hundreds of matches that end in this fashion. Why hasn’t Gamebattles staff caught on or registered this trend? I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell you. Myself and others contacted support every which way to describe what was happening. It barely worked out in the end and either this one (out of many) cheaters disbanded his team due to the pressure we posed or support actually did their job. Plus, it’s not like the system hides his disputes. After all if 90% of matches are disputed, doesn’t that raise a red flag?
That’s not even mentioning how some prominent accounts DDoS attack other competitors’ internet. Yea, that really happens and staff are slow to do anything. If it wasn’t for the vast support of fellow gamers and friends, I would have given up competitive gaming on this site awhile ago. It’s incredibly frustrating that the staff of Gamebattles can’t do their job properly and how their system is so easily exploitable. Times have changed Gamebattles and so should you. Or at least hire workers who are familiar with the games they supervise and have some sense of logic. For the time being, I recommend ESL for your competitive gaming needs. If you’re a Disc Jam player and want to participate in leagues/tournaments problem free, check out the Discord channel, Disc Jam Dojo. That’s where the official stuff is going on.
Have you ever played on Gamebattles before? Any problems you’ve faced? Let us know in the comments.
After many years of fans begging Square Enix to remaster Final Fantasy VII, they finally listened and did just that. There were numerous excuses as to why the game’s re-release had lagged behind the re-releases of both VII and IX, with the most common excuse being that the game’s original code was lost years ago. However, the company made it happen and the game is finally available for modern audiences to play on modern hardware today. We’re going to give you 5 reasons why you should do just that.
First time available on modern hardware
As we’ve already said, this is the first time that the game is available on modern hardware. While the game originally launched for PS1 back in 1999, it later got a PC port in 2000. That means that is has been a whopping 19 years since a new version of the game has been available for purchase, and that wait was a brutal one. However, it is finally over and you can now play this classic game on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch along with PC. If the lack of modern hardware support was stopping you from checking out, that excuse just got thrown out the window.
The visuals look better than ever
Thankfully, Square Enix did not just slap this port together quickly and throw it out there to shut everyone up. They did a terrific job of putting on a shiny new coat of paint for the game, with the character models in particular looking much better. While things like environment textures didn’t get quite the same amount of attention, this is nevertheless the best that the game has ever looked. It also helps that the game is simply beautiful from a design standpoint, with the game’s world being gorgeous to behold even though we’re dealing with the hardware limitations of 1999.
Quality of life improvements
While those who played the game 20 years ago will still be getting what is essentially the same experience, Square Enix did add some quality of life improvements to put it more in line with current JRPGs. These changes include the likes of increasing battle speed by 3 times, shutting off random encounters completely and even a cheat to give you max HP and limit breaks. While these may seem minor, these will go a long way to ease some of the tedium that many feel after some particularly long gaming sessions. Max HP and Limit Breaks will also make the incredibly tough Ultima and Omega Weapon boss fights a lot easier to deal with.
Triple Triad
The Final Fantasy series is known for having its fair share of enticing side quests and mini games, but there isn’t a single one that is as addicting as Triple Triad. The game is essentially a card game that is played on a 3×3 grid, and each card has a certain number on the top, bottom, left and right sides. You need to place your cards in a manner that the numbers on your cards are higher than your opponents, and seeing as your card can be attacked from four different sides this can be tricky. You’re able to challenge many different characters to a match throughout the course of the entire game, and doing so comes with plenty of nice rewards that will make your quest easier.
The game is awesome
While our previous points focused on specific elements of the game, this one is a simple fact that has been true since 1999: the game is awesome. Unfortunately, releasing immediately after Final Fantasy VII (a watershed moment for gaming) put it under a very cruel microscope, with many knee jerk reactions simply saying it “isn’t as good as VII.” However, in the years that have passed people have revisited the game, and the consensus has definitely changed. This adventure that Square created is unlike any other in the series, being host to an ambitious and bizarre plot filled with some of the best characters the series has ever seen. If you’ve played the game before then this is the perfect time to experience this masterpiece all over again, and if you haven’t then what are you waiting for?
2019 has been yet another good year for gaming so far, with several games releasing that will be big contenders for game of the year once the curtain closes. However, despite the year already being more than halfway over, there are still some huge titles on the horizon that are sure to make their own dents on the coming best-of lists. This article will list the 10 biggest games that are still coming in 2019.
Control
A new game from Remedy Entertainment is always highly-anticipated, and Control is no different. The game is an action-adventure game in the same style as Alan Wake or Quantum Break, but with a supernatural twist. Players will control Jesse Faden, who possesses a variety of supernatural abilities like telekinesis, levitation and more. She will be using her abilities in order to defeat an enemy known only as the Hiss, which has corrupted reality. Control launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on August 27th.
Borderlands 3
It has been many years since the last game in the Borderlands series released, but the hiatus is finally coming to an end very soon. Those who have played previous games in the series will feel right at home with this game, as it’s once again a loot-driven FPS. The game will offer more zany characters and a charming and insane world to explore, all while dealing with new antagonists Troy and Tyreen Calypso along with their Children of the Vault cult. Borderlands 3 launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, with a Google Stadia port release date being TBA.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series is returning soon with Breakpoint, which will serve as a continuation of previous game Wildlands. The game is set in an open world environment called Aurora, which is a fictional island in the Pacific Ocean. Players will control Lieutenant Colonel Anthony “Nomad” Perryman, who is a special forces operative that was sent to the island to investigate a series of disturbances in the area. Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 4th, with a Google Stadia port coming in November.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Each new installment in the Call of Duty series is always huge, but Modern Warfare’s release marks a first for the long-running franchise. It will be the first game in the series that is reimagining of a previous game in the series, taking 2004’s original game and updating its mechanics and themes to match today’s world. The game will still have some of the beats that the first game had, but will also incorporate lots of surprises to make it a fresh experience. Modern Warfare launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th.
The Outer Worlds
Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds is one that will be very highly-anticipated for fans of Fallout: New Vegas, as this game serves as a sort of spiritual successor to that game. It will be an open world RPG that allows you to explore many unique areas crawling with plenty of deadly foes. Players will also be able to encounter and recruit NPCs as companions that have their own personal missions and stories to take part in. The Outer Worlds launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th, with a Switch port also being in the works.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
It seemed very unlikely that Luigi’s Mansion would become a recurring franchise for Nintendo following the original GameCube game, but here we are. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming to Switch, which also means it will be the first home console release since the original game back in 2003. This time the game is set in a haunted hotel rather than a mansion, and Luigi has some new tricks up his sleeves to take down all those ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 31st.
Death Stranding
If you’re looking for the most ambitious (and weirdest) game still coming in 2019, then look no further. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding has perplexed gamers ever since its announcement, and each new trailer that releases just brings more and more questions to the table. It is Kojima’s first game since breaking up with Konami after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phanton Pain (and the cancellation of Silent Hills), and it looks like Kojima has taken the newfound complete creative control to deliver something truly original. Death Stranding launches exclusively for PS4 on November 8th.
Pokemon Sword & Shield
At this point we all know what to expect from a new Pokemon game, and Sword and Shield seems poised to deliver even more cute creatures for players to capture and battle very soon. What sets Sword and Shield apart from its predecessors is that it will be the first home console release for the series, which is saying something considering the series has been around for over 20 years. Pokemon Sword & Shield launches exclusively for Switch on November 15th.
Shenmue III
If you’re a fan of Shenmue then nothing needs to be said for the inclusion of the upcoming third game on this list. Fans of the series have been waiting nearly two decades for a follow-up to the second game, and in just a couple of months that will finally be delivered to them. Brought to life thanks to an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, the game continues the adventure of protagonist Ryo Hazuki as he hunts down his father’s killer. Shenmue III will launch for PS4 and PC on November 19th.
DOOM Eternal
id Software’s DOOM 2016 was one of the best FPS games to come along in years, so it’s a no-brainer that the follow-up would be on this list. Eternal is set to offer yet another intense FPS campaign for players to plunge into, while also offering a multiplayer component that greatly improves upon the last game’s underwhelming multiplayer mode. There will also be twice as many demon types than there was in the last game, meaning that the chaos level just got that much higher. DOOM Eternal launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC on November 22nd.
Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 Press Conference has officially come to an end, and with it came plenty of big announcements to get excited about. Some new games were announced, whereas previously-announced games got new footage and/or release dates. In this article we’ve narrowed it all down to the 5 most exciting announcements.
New Xbox “Project Scarlett” Coming Holiday 2020
We’ve known for a while now that a new Xbox was in the works, but now we know when to expect it. Microsoft’s fourth console (which hopefully has a better official name than Xbox One did) will be a big step up from the previous console. Things like much faster load times, an AMD Processor that is four times more powerful than the Xbox One X, 8K Resolution and 120 FPS were all mentioned. A price and exact release date weren’t mentioned. It will also be launching with…
Halo Infinite Coming Holiday 2020, Launching On Both Xbox One and Project Scarlett
The wait for the next Halo game has been longer than ever before for series fans, and the announcement at E3 revealed that the wait will continue. Halo Infinite will not be launching until Holiday 2020, meaning it will have been 5 years since the previous game released with Halo 5. It will also be launching on Xbox One and Project Scarlett, meaning the new console will have a big launch title for fans to get pumped about.
Cyberpunk 2077 Coming April 2020, Stars Keanu Reeves
It’s hard to pick a game that people have been more excited about than Cyberpunk 2077, and after Microsoft’s press conference we’re even more excited. Not only is it coming in April of next year, but Keanu Reeves himself will be playing a “key” role in the game. Everything shown from the game has looked great so far, so hopefully it all pans out and we have another classic from CD Projekt RED come April 2020.
FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin Collaboration Elden Ring Announced
This one was actually leaked prior to the presentation, but Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin are collaborating on a new game. The game is called Elden Ring, and it will be a departure from the developer’s most recent games as it will be open world. Very little information on the game is known at this point, as it is still in the early stages of development.
Phantasy Star Online 2 Is Coming West
It took a very long time, but the popular MMORPG is finally coming west. The game is coming to Xbox One in a free-to-play form in Spring 2020, so the wait won’t be that much longer. “There will be no limitations on game experiences,”says Sega, because they want to “provide all players with a fair and exciting experience.”
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