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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Gaming

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

Published

14 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Zach Riley

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.

「Stellar Blade」 Physical Package Secrets⚠️#StellarBlade #PS5 #Disc pic.twitter.com/WQSzKUSDQ4

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) April 22, 2024

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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Gaming

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

Published

15 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Zach Riley

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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Gaming

New PS5 Patch Introduces Rare 40FPS Mode for Avatar Game

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2024

Zach Riley

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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