Gaming
Pokemon GO’s Update Lands with New Pokemon, Weather, and Gym Improvements
Whenever I walk my dog, I take out my smartphone and turn on Pokemon GO. There’s no better time to catch a Pokemon when your dog is sniffing a fire hydrant, but that’s beside the point. Earlier today, when I gave my dog her first walk, I was disappointed the new Hoenn region Pokemon hadn’t landed yet. But, one hour ago, when I took my dog out for her second walk, to my surprise, I caught a Zigzagoon. Niantic unleashed the Hoenn update during the middle of my dog walk, and I got to witness the effects firsthand.
Regrettably, I didn’t see much in the way of new Pokemon; just a few Zigzagoons, two Seedots, a Wurmple, and a Skitty. You know, the kinds of Pokemon trainers run into during their first hours playing the Gen III Pokemon games. But, judging by the new holiday splash screen, trainers will also be able to catch Wingull, Plusle, Minun, Spheal, Kirlia, and all their post and pre-evolutions (the screen also features a Mudkip, but starters are always a given). Quite frankly, I can’t wait to catch a Torchic.
You might remember Niantic announced a dynamic weather system would be introduced alongside the new Pokemon, and that system is up and running as well. Not only does it affect the spawn rates of certain Pokemon and the strength of different moves, but thanks to the weather, Pokemon who spawn more often are more likely to have better stats and award more Stardust when caught. It’s currently cloudy where I live (at least according to Pokemon GO), which makes Fairy, Fighting, and Poison-type Pokemon spawn in droves. I found more Qwilfish (they’re Water/Poison) today than I have the rest of the year, so it’s safe to assume the weather system works as intended.
At first I thought that was the end of the update, that Niantic had only introduced Gen III Pokemon and the weather system to Pokemon GO. But, to my surprise, I was greeted with a new UI during a gym battle. Yes, gyms have received yet another facelift, and it’s a good one. Previously, trainers had to tap furiously on their screens to attack and hold down on the screen to unleash a more powerful attack, but now these strong attacks have a dedicated button. Players have been begging Niantic to implement this feature since the first days of Pokemon GO, and I can see why: it’s so much easier and intuitive. Sure, players still need to swipe their screens to make their Pokemon dodge attacks, but one small step at a time. Also, the retreat button is now at the top left corner, so players are less likely to accidentally press it when they only want to switch out Pokemon.
If you want a full list of the updates, visit the official Pokemon GO site.
Gaming
Recruited Since Last Month: More Than Eight Million Helldivers 2 Players
The relentless force of Helldivers 2 shows no signs of slowing down, as recent reports indicate that Arrowhead Games Studios, the Swedish developer behind the game, has sold over eight million copies since its release on both PS5 and PC just last month.
According to TD Cowen analyst Doug Creutz (thanks, VGC), who spoke to Bloomberg, it is believed that the game has exceeded expectations in terms of performance. It’s amazing how word-of-mouth buzz and the unconventional guerilla marketing strategy keep driving up recruitment numbers week after week. Arrowhead’s studio motto, “A game for everyone is a game for no one,” reflects their unwavering commitment to their unique internal design philosophy.
It appears that the PC community has recently surpassed the PlayStation fanbase in terms of player numbers and platform preference. However, thanks to crossplay, both groups continue to benefit from the growing popularity of gaming. Although it’s not particularly thrilling to see yet another service game achieve rapid success, the hardcore nature of Helldivers 2 fills us with optimism for Sony’s ongoing live gaming endeavors. We anticipate dedicating ourselves to the defense of Super Earth for many years to come.
What are your thoughts on Creutz’s sales estimate? Does it come as a surprise to you? Does it exceed or fall short of your expectations? Have you noticed any changes in your level of enthusiasm for the Democratic Party? Has it waned or grown stronger? We would greatly appreciate your feedback in the comments section below.
Gaming
Exciting news for gamers! A wide selection of PS5 and PS4 games are now available at discounted prices, but only for this weekend
Don’t miss out on this limited-time opportunity to grab some amazing titles at a fraction of their original cost. Sony clearly understands the potential of the PS Store, as it consistently adds a plethora of new titles every week. This allows for future opportunities to offer discounts and promotions on these games. It’s evident that sales are consistently growing each month, with the introduction of time-limited weekend offers in addition to the usual sale events.
This weekend brings another round of exciting deals, with significant discounts on several popular PS5 and PS4 games. For instance, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now available for £35.99/$35.99, while DiRT 5 Year One Edition can be purchased for just £14.79/$15.99.
Here are a few other standout moments we noticed:
- Back 4 Blood Deluxe Edition: £8.99/$8.99
- BioShock 2 Remastered: £3.99/$4.99
- Borderlands 3 Next Level Bundle: £9.74/$10.49
- EA Sports PGA Tour Deluxe Edition: £16.99/$16.99
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Deluxe Edition: £17.99/$20.99
Hurry up and make your decision before the offers expire on March 19th. Don’t miss out on your chance to snag some great deals. For a comprehensive list of all the latest offers, make sure to visit this page. And don’t forget to share your purchases with us in the comments section below!
Gaming
Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest on 7th June keeps the spirit of E3 alive
E3 is long gone, but that doesn’t mean we won’t have any exciting video game events this summer. Geoff Keighley, the host, has just revealed that the highly anticipated Summer Game Fest event is making a comeback on Friday, June 7th, at 5 PT/5 p.m. ET/10 p.m. BST. The event will be streamed live from the YouTube Theatre in glamorous Los Angeles.
We have a date!@SummerGameFest streams live on Friday, June 7 from @youtubetheater in Los Angeles, with thousands of in persons fans and millions watching online.
A cross-platform LIVE showcase of what's next for video games.
Public tickets on sale May 7th. pic.twitter.com/krQada8uuS
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) March 13, 2024
In a recent tweet, Keighley assured his followers that a large number of fans will be present at the event, both in person and online. He expressed excitement about the upcoming cross-platform showcase, where the future of video games will be unveiled. Presumably, PlayStation and other gaming companies will have their own separate livestreams. However, Sony has a tendency to support Summer Game Fest, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for any announcements from them.
If you’re thinking of going, tickets will be available for purchase starting on Tuesday, May 7th. It’s definitely an event worth noting on your calendar. So, what are your expectations for this year’s Summer Game Fest? Feel free to share your dream announcements in the comments section below.
- Gadgets9 years ago
Why the Nexus 7 is still a good tablet in 2015
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Galaxy Note 5: is there room for improvement?
- Editorials9 years ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – How bad updates prevent people from enjoying their phones
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Nexus 5 2015 and Android M born to be together
- Gaming9 years ago
New Teaser For Five Nights At Freddy’s 4
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Google not releasing Android M to Nexus 7
- Gadgets9 years ago
Moto G Android 5.0.2 Lollipop still has a memory leak bug
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Nexus 7 2015: Huawei and Google changing the game