Gaming
Required Internet Connection and Microtransactions Mar Metal Gear Survive

Konami just doesn’t seem to want to learn from its past mistakes, which is a shame. As a fan of the company’s past games, I want Konami to succeed and win over customers, but that doesn’t seem likely if it continues to implement features in Metal Gear Survive known to piss off customers.
Konami recently talked with Gamespot regarding a few key features of Metal Gear Survive, specifically multiplayer. Since the game is built around the ability to switch between single and multiplayer modes, Konami decided players need to be online to play the game regardless of mode.
Konami explained, “Metal Gear Survive’s online connectivity requirements were built to support a seamless integration between single player and co-op. This will also enable us to provide ongoing content post-launch.”
History does not look back fondly on games that require players to always be online. These games always suffer horrendous server issues at launch. Arguably the most infamous of these launch debacles was Diablo 3, as players were plagued with “The servers are busy at this time. Please try again later. (Error 37)” messages; many cite the game’s disastrous launch in arguments against requiring online connections to play single-player modes. While these games were eventually patched so gamers could play them offline, they all left horrible first impressions, and Metal Gear Survive is already off to a rocky start when it comes to impressions. The title alone is reason enough for many gamers to boycott the game; the last thing Konami needs is to give gamers a legitimate reason.
Speaking of reasons gamers boycott games, according to Gamespot, Konami will also place microtransactions in Metal Gear Survive, which will mostly (or exclusively; details are vague) boost the rate at which players obtain resources. While these microtransactions are nowhere near as offensive as loot boxes or Metal Gear Solid V‘s Forward Operating Base insurance, they raise a serious question: just how grindy is the final version of Metal Gear Survive? Is Konami just being greedy, or did it intentionally manipulate the rate at which players earn resources to incentivize purchasing resource boost microtransactions? That is, after all, a common practice among free-to-play mobile game publishers. Ever since EA made Star Wars Battlefront 2 pay-to-win with loot boxes, gamers have started eyeing any game with microtransactions with suspicion. Konami knows players hated microtransactions in Metal Gear Solid V, yet the company is implementing them in Metal Gear Survive nonetheless, which is a horrible business decision from any perspective.
Metal Gear Survive has been fighting an uphill battle ever since it was announced, and these recent revelations are not doing Konami any favors. Most companies would realize that you shouldn’t put microtransactions and a mandatory Internet connection in a game many players want to hate, but Konami has a history of making poor decisions and not caring.
Gaming
Larian Reveals Baldur’s Gate 3’s Mildest Multiclass Builds

Since the excellent Baldur’s Gate 3 has been out in the wild for a while, interesting data can be gleaned, such as how players choose to play an innovative new RPG from home. Stats from developer Larian Studios and posted on the PlayStation Blog show that most people want to play as a stealthy archer like in Skyrim when given nearly limitless options.
According to a fascinating graph, Rogue/Ranger is the most popular multiclass build, with over 175,000 players using it to snipe unsuspecting enemies from range. The next two builds reveal similarly. 150,000 played Barbarian/Fighter because they loved pummeling things, and 109,00 played Barbarian/Paladin, which lets players talk to their victims before beatings.
More sense emerges as you descend. If the Paladin/Warlock/Sorcerer/Bard has high Charisma, any combination can be interesting. Charisma helps these classes cast spells and abilities and interact with NPCs outside of combat.
Playing a single class through Baldur’s Gate 3 feels great, which is what most players do. A pure Fighter or Wizard becomes so powerful by game’s end that we don’t blame you for not mixing things up!
Play as a Tiefling Oathbreaker Paladin, Dark Urge Origin (which you must resist), or Bard for real moral dilemmas. You could also play pseudo-Aragorn again.
Gaming
Techland Shows Durable Dying Light 2 Content Roadmap

Techland is continuing to release Dying Light 2 content as part of its long-term support. This is surprising since the meaty Good Night, Good Luck update was released a few months ago. It’s nice to know what’s coming, but no timeline was given.
IGN-exclusive roadmap trailers reveal more co-op missions, board quests, a tower raid, and replayable GRE anomalies. Executions and finishers may be added to the April Gut Feeling update, which overhauled melee mechanics. Graphical options, weapon repair, gear, and mod dismantling are always welcome.
Knives, polearms, and more enemy variants are coming, including a Nightmare difficulty. Changes to NG+ include firearms. Players can finally dress to their hearts’ content with new cosmetic options.
Has Techland’s Dying Light 2 support lured you back? Would you rather focus on something new?
Gaming
Epic to Globalize V-Buck Price Hike

Epic Games expanded the Fortnite V-Buck “pricing alignment” after laying off almost 900 employees, citing “inflation and currency fluctuations”. Fortnite’s premium currency will rise in international markets, including the largest.
Epic Games will raise the price of V-Bucks and real money content packs in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Eurozone countries, Hungary, Japan, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, and the US (including all US Dollar storefronts) on October 27.
Raising the price of this fictitious currency was successful when the company trialed it in the UK, Canada, and Mexico, so it was decided to announce it worldwide now. These USD increases range from $1 (1000 V-Bucks, previous $7.99) to $10 (13,500 V-Bucks, previous $79.99).
How do you view Epic’s timing and pricing increase?
- Gadgets8 years ago
Why the Nexus 7 is still a good tablet in 2015
- Mobile Devices8 years ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Galaxy Note 5: is there room for improvement?
- Editorials8 years ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – How bad updates prevent people from enjoying their phones
- Mobile Devices8 years ago
Nexus 5 2015 and Android M born to be together
- Gaming8 years ago
New Teaser For Five Nights At Freddy’s 4
- Mobile Devices8 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 Devices8 years ago
Nexus 7 2015: Huawei and Google changing the game