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Brass gets a facelift, and it was about time

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Brass Kickstarter campaign covers

Any self-respecting board gamer has played or at least has heard of Martin Wallace’s magnum opus: Brass. I myself managed to play it for the first time a couple of years ago. It was a warm summer evening. The local insect population was already swarming the lowly lit porch where we were sitting. Yet the intensity that game created was so exhilarating that not even mosquito bites managed to break the fun. I myself can attest that although we were just some dudes drinking beer and flipping tokens over a plain looking map of Lancashire, we could actually feel the heat coming from the newly built ironworks of Manchester. As the sun was setting, we were determined to grab the last contracts with the overseas market and develop our cotton mills before the board would be wiped clean. And that was just the beginning.

Brass gets a facelift - Kickstarter campaign, Lancashire map

Lancashire map detail
/credit Kickstarter

For those who can’t quite grasp the experience of playing Brass, Roxley Games has taken upon themselves to produce a visual update to the classic game that’s worthy of its spirit. Being now live on Kickstarter, Roxley Games is offering Brass: Lancashire along with Brass: Birmingham, a new implementation of the rules, but in a different setting and with the same outstanding production value.

What is it about?

Brass was originally released ten years ago. The game focused on the area of Lancashire, England which experienced a massive change due to the Industrial Revolution. The damp climate was a perfect environment for developing cotton wool, and so auxiliary industries such as coal extraction and iron smelting were also on the rise. Players take on the role of greedy industrialists seizing new business opportunities. Each player is dealt a hand of cards which must be used wisely in order to capitalize not only on the intrinsic cotton demand of the external market but also on the demands created by their competitors’ industries. New ports scream for shipping contracts while the iron market beckons with quick profits.

Surely enough, Liverpool was becoming an important link for commerce. However, transport boats could not keep up with the demands. The water canals from the late 18th century could no longer support the volume of goods and so, Lancashire went through a new phase. Railroads pumping coal now began reaching from all directions. At a certain point in the game, the board goes through a literal apocalypse.

The entire canal infrastructure gets removed and most if not all industries go into disarray. Players who have not prepared for the shift in paradigm need to push hard to recuperate. Only the strongest industries get to prosper as the land is reshaped to make way for the steam engine. The dance of industry continues and by the end of the game, Lancashire becomes dotted with coal mines and cotton mills. The coastline is busy with commercial traffic and ship manufacturing. Finally, industrialists get to count the final points, because ‘Where there’s muck there’s brass’.

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Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5

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It appears that many

are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.

We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.

It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.

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Here are all the patch notes for the new PS5 firmware update that adds the community game help feature

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Sony has recently launched the newest PS5 system software update, which is always an exciting occasion for avid PlayStation fans. With a size of slightly over 1GB, you can download and install it right away. As always, the question remains: What exactly does the update bring to the table?

According to the official patch notes, there have been some notable improvements, particularly in the area of game help. We are introducing an exciting addition to our platform: the Community Game Help feature. This feature enhances the PS5’s Game Help system by providing you with gameplay videos from fellow players. Players have the option to choose whether or not they want their gameplay videos to be shared using this feature.

If you’re concerned about it, you can now hide your Remote Play connection status as well.

Presenting the complete patch notes:

  • Game Help has been enhanced with the addition of Community Game Help features
  • Within Game Help, players can find Community Game Help hints in supported games. These cues come from gameplay videos that other players have shared.
  • If you’re up for it, you have the option to contribute to Community Game Help by giving permission for your gameplay video to be automatically recorded and included in the feature after it’s been reviewed
  • If you want to join in, navigate to Settings, then Captures & Broadcasts, followed by Captures, Auto Captures, and finally Community Game Help. From there, simply choose the option to participate. Users have the option to unsubscribe whenever they choose
  • During Remote Play, players now have the option to hide the persistent message “Remote Play connected.” that appears on their game screen. To ensure a seamless gaming experience, navigate to the Settings menu, then proceed to the System section. From there, locate the Remote Play option and activate the Hide Remote Play Connection Status feature
  • The system’s software performance and stability have been significantly enhanced
  • The messages and usability on some screens have been enhanced

While not the most groundbreaking update, the Community Game Help feature has the potential to be intriguing, contingent upon the number of games that offer support for it. What are your thoughts on the latest update? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

 

 

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New PS5 Patch Introduces Rare 40FPS Mode for Avatar Game

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Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has received an exciting update that introduces a new graphical mode, elevating the game’s visual experience. With a smooth frame rate of 40 frames per second and enhanced resolutions, players can now immerse themselves in even more stunning and detailed environments. Now downloadable on PS5 with the latest patch 3.2, this mode is compatible with 4K TVs that can handle up to 120 Hz. Before this update, Avatar PS5 only offered quality and performance modes. However, with this new option, players can now enjoy the benefits of both modes after downloading the 2.4GB update.

Throughout the PS5 era, 40fps modes have been a rarity, much to the disappointment of the hardcore community. Insomniac Games first introduced them in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and later added the feature to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. They also included it in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Other PS5 titles, such as Hogwarts Legacy, Lies of P, and God of War Ragnarok, also offer 40fps modes.

In addition to that, Patch 3.2 for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora brings along the following:

Worldwide:

  • Research Station Alpha now features a convenient Fast Travel option
  • The issue of controller re-mapping and resetting on game restart has been resolved
  • Addressed multiple instances of crashes
  • I corrected a few spelling errors
  • Addressed the issue of voice lines overlapping during dialogue

Primary Objectives & Optional Objectives:

  • [Main Quest: Shadows of the Past] This main quest is an intriguing journey into the depths of history. Addressed a bug that previously hindered quest progression in co-op mode

More bug fixes have been implemented.

  • [Available on all platforms] The rescued human characters no longer return to the Resistance HQ wearing masks
  • Available on all platforms. There is a noticeable improvement in the visibility of NPCs when they are at the edge of the Player’s vision

 

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