At long last, Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god of success and fortune, is coming to SMITE. According to the trailer made by the game’s developer Hi-Rez Studios, he is built for granting others success instead of claiming it for himself. That, and the “a” at the end of his name is silent.
As one would expect from a god with an elephant’s head, Ganesha is a melee tank in SMITE. However, his abilities are mostly designed for support and crowd control rather than survivability. This is no more obvious than his passive ability, Good Fortune. Whenever Ganesha kills an enemy god, he gives a nearby ally credit for the kill and receives the assist reward instead. Every time Ganesha kills an enemy, the range of this passive ability increases until it eventually resets. Good Fortune highlights how Ganesha excels at team-play rather than glory hogging, so players who complain about kill-stealing or brag about their kill-to-death ratio: you’ve been warned.
Ganesha’s first activatable ability, Turn of Fate, also highlights how he focuses on teamwork. This ability shoots a sphere in a straight line that damages up to five enemies and buffs the attack of nearby allies. The more enemies who are hit the bigger the buff. The trailer is unclear if Ganesha receives this buff or not, but allied gods who focus on attack power, such as Guan Yu or Camazotz, are clearly meant to capitalize on Turn of Fate‘s attack buff to devastate and possibly kill weakened enemies.
Ganesha’s second ability, Ohm, once again, is more focused on supporting allies than on helping the god. When he uses this ability, Ganesha moves slower than usual, but he increases ally defenses and silences enemies (i.e., prevents them from using abilities) in front of him. This ability is clearly meant to be used when allies are nearby, as Ganesha is stuck in the lotus position for the duration and cannot attack. Smart players will likely use Ohm right after Turn of Fate to transform their allies into offensive and defensive powerhouses who wail on helpless opponents, especially ones who rely on abilities.
Ganesha’s third ability, Remove Obstacles, is very different from his other skills. This ability makes Ganesha rush forward, much like an elephant, and try to spear an enemy. Unlike an elephant, Ganesha uses his goad instead of his tusks. Ganesha either dashes forward a set distance, or he runs into an enemy and tosses him or her into the air. This ability is not just a simple dash attack, as it lets Ganesha pass through walls and barriers made by enemies gods, which makes it both an effective attack and a means of escape.
Ganesha’s final and ultimate ability, Dharmic Pillars, just might be the ultimate cage. Granted, it’s made out of four giant pillars and a light barrier that doesn’t prevent enemies from leaving, but it damages, slows, and weakens the defenses of enemies who try to enter or exit it. Essentially, Dharmic Pillars is the ultimate cage in that it is a conundrum: stand and face a rampaging god that hits like an elephant or flee at a significant cost to survivability. Furthermore, the barrier constantly deals damage, which means anyone who is stunned while trying pass through barrier is as good as dead.
Ganesha is a god who can make or break SMITE matches depending on how well players support one another. Teammates who stick close to Ganesha and capitalize on his abilities’ buffs are almost guaranteed to bulldoze opponents, but that all depends on whether or not they work together.
Gaming
Sony is reportedly engaged in discussions to form a partnership for a potential bid on Paramount
There hasn’t been much buzz lately about any new acquisitions in the world of video game intellectual property. According to a recent report, Sony is currently engaged in discussions with a well-funded partner to potentially acquire the renowned film studio Paramount, along with all the exciting possibilities that come with such a merger.
As reported in the New York Times (thanks, ResetEra), Sony Picture Entertainment is reportedly in discussions with Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, as per two sources familiar with the matter. In the past, Apollo had made an offer to acquire Paramount for a minimum of $26 billion, but their bid was ultimately turned down.
The terms of the joint bid are currently under discussion, and there is a chance that the two parties may decide against making a formal offer. Unnamed sources have revealed that Paramount is currently in exclusive discussions with Skydance, preventing any official offer from being made at this time. Investor opposition to the recent deal that Skydance brought seems to have been significant.
Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, have been in discussions about teaming up for a joint bid to acquire Paramount, people familiar with the situation said Thursday. https://t.co/qN86H4y7Va
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 18, 2024
The potential impact of such an acquisition is immense. First and foremost, it would introduce adaptations of Sonic and Halo into the expanding media empire of the PlayStation platform holder. Following the announcement, Paramount’s stock experienced a significant 11% surge in after-hours trading.
What are your thoughts on the news? Is there a possibility of Sony acquiring Paramount? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
In the ongoing conflict against the Automaton invasion fleet, the Helldivers 2 players have successfully halted their advance. However, the situation has now reached a tiresome stalemate. Yet again, the machines refuse to take a break from their relentless pursuit of progress, with reports emerging of the Factory Striders being deployed in record-breaking quantities.
There have been reports of alleged machines that were supposedly encountered during Operation Swift Disassembly, which was just the beginning of a larger campaign. However, these accounts should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are unverified and seem to be more on the imaginative side. Factory Striders have gained a reputation as formidable weapons platforms that can produce more Automatons while enduring significant damage. If the machines are able to withstand such a relentless assault, it will be necessary to develop innovative strategies.
Factory Striders have made a resurgence on the Automaton front. These imposing, massive support dreadnoughts now threaten freedom and democracy throughout the galactic rim. pic.twitter.com/XRTPU7k71s
— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) April 16, 2024
Have you come across groups of Factory Striders in Helldivers 2? Which strategies are proving to be the most effective in taking down these armored brutes? The Orbital Railcannon Strike will prove to be a valuable asset in the comments section below.
The recent release of Amazon’s adaptation of Fallout has ignited a renewed interest in the series and brought attention to the captivating alternate history that forms its foundation. Fans have expressed concern that the TV show’s events might be at odds with the plot of the Obsidian Entertainment video game New Vegas. Warning: Spoilers ahead for New Vegas and Amazon’s show!
Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard and Fallout TV executive producer Jonathan Nolan recently sat down with IGN to discuss the timeline. Howard was taken aback when showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet presented him with the surprising concept of obliterating Shady Sands, the bustling capital of the New California Republic, in the aftermath of the events in New Vegas. Howard eventually warmed up to the idea: “After discussing it, we realized that this could be a significant story moment that many things hinge upon.”
It seems that they had to make some tough decisions to ensure everything fell into place, but Howard emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity of the Fallout timeline: “We take great care with the timeline. There seems to be some confusion in certain areas. However, all the events from the previous games, including New Vegas, did occur. We take great caution in that matter. We’re really pushing the limits here, but the explosions occur right after the events of New Vegas.
What are your thoughts on this? Is it up to par? Even though it may not have a significant impact on the overall quality of the games or show, it is comforting to know that those in charge are paying attention. We value your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
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