Press Start to BGN

Press Start to BGN

Recorded from the Brantford campus, this show gives students in the game design program a chance to get out onto the airwaves and talk about their gaming passions. Each episode, the hosts will discuss the topics of what is new in the gaming world, talk about a specific gaming aspect for the show’s overall topic, what they have been up to in regards to playing games, and what their fans can expect to come out in the upcoming weeks. Tune in on Wednesdays from 7pm-8pm.

Summer Plans… Press Start to BGN 29/03/2017 Show Recap
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Summer Plans… Press Start to BGN 29/03/2017 Show Recap

Hey! Listen!

Welcome back to Press Start to BGN, Laurier’s gaming show by a bunch of Game Design & Development students here at Laurier’s Brantford campus. The program is very new and so is our show, so for those who don’t know Game Design & Development is headed by Dr Scott Nicholson through the Brantford Games Network or BGN, hence the name “Press Start to BGN” which sounds like “begin.” This is our last show of the 2016/2017 school year and so, of course, we’re talking about our Summer game plans! We discuss the games we want to play with our well deserved time off… Thanks for tuning in!

NEWS!

 

  • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series Episode 1 – “Tangled Up in Blue”  has been announced to be available on all platforms on April 18; season passes will be made available on May 2nd in North America
  • Rocket League CEO Dave Hagewood has called the game’s online issues as “totally unacceptable”
  • Ex-senior Apple employee Michael Hillman has been hired as the new head of hardware for Oculus VR
  • Warner Bros. has unveiled the first details of the Tomb Raider movie, which includes images of Alicia Vikander as Laura Croft

 

  • The first teaser trailer for Destiny 2 has been released, with rumours of the release date being set to September 8th

  • Lego City Undercover has been discovered to require Internet connection to play due to the fact that it requires 13 GB of storage
  • Marie Blue’s cartoon strip of Kirby with human feet has quickly become the latest meme
  • The Australian Classification Board’s decision to ban Outlast 2 in Australia has been reversed since the original submission, said to be a mix-up, had the final game code and a video file of the Alpha version of the game; Red Barrel’s public relations team has stated that the video file shouldn’t have been sent “as its content was not representative of the final game”

What’s Coming Out Soon!

Has-Been Heroes (March 28th, PS4, XB1, Windows, SWITCH)
Has-Been Heroes is an action-adventure game with both RTS and turn-based strategy elements. Made by Frozenbyte, the game has you playing as 4 heroes making their way through a dungeon and surviving the biggest challenge: get the Kings Twin Princesses to school! Playing it on the Switch is interesting; the game play has you playing every character at once, so at first you have a really crappy time just not understanding. Once you get it, though, it comes naturally and poses a different kind of challenge. I would recommend it if you’re looking for something different and engaging. Pick it up for $20!

Rainworld (March 28th, PS4, Windows)
PLAY AS CAT BUG! wait-
Play as Catslug, a part cat, part slug… Thing, that is working to survive an incoming torrential downpour. Escape enemies, find shelter and forage for food as you discover your larger purpose on this futuristic planet Earth. Pick it up for $15.99!

Persona 5 (April 4th, PS4)
Buy. This. Game.

Thanks for sticking around guys, have a good summer and hear our voices again comin in September!

Music!

Persona 5: https://youtu.be/B14111ZRHNQ

GTA V: https://youtu.be/Ru2uzhqQ3a8

Topic of the Show:

As the school year comes to a close (except for those doing summer courses) and exam’s start coming back, Press Start to BGN says goodbye for now. The topic of the show this week was what we were all doing this summer. How will we spend our time, in the sun perhaps? Probably not too much. Playing games with some buds or by ourselves? That’s pretty much a guarantee. A lot of us will be catching up on our gaming because of the now abundant amount of free time we will have, what will you be doing this summer? Or rather, what will you be playing? Let us know in the comments!

What We’ve Been Playing:

Stephan:

  • Fallout Shelter
    • From Bethesda Game Studios comes the single-player simulation game Fallout Shelter. In this game, players build and manage their own Vault as the coordinator and leader of the citizens that live there with you. Keep everyone happy as you meet to your citizen’s needs of power, food, and water.  Rescue survivors, take care of your citizens and pet your dog in this game available on iOS, Android, PC and now the Xbox One.
  • Overwatch
    • From Blizzard Entertainment comes their 2016 first person shooter, multiplayer game Overwatch. Overwatch contains multiple characters to choose from to battle as with their strengths being linked to four main play categories: offense, defense, tank, and support. Choose your character and fight either one on one or on a team of six against other teams throughout the game’s various game modes and maps. With updates and events coming out throughout the year, Overwatch is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Jelena:

  • Hyper Light Drifter
    • From Heart Machine comes the action roleplaying game Hyper Light Drifter. In this game, players control the Drifter, a figure who has technology that has been long forgotten by the world’s residents and who is suffering from a mysterious illness. Travel across the land and discover the secrets of this immersive world. Available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Ouya.
  • This War of Mine
    • From 11 bit studios comes the war survival game This War of Mine. Based on the true events of the 1992-96 Siege of Sarajevo during the Boasian War, this game has players experience what it is like to be a civilian trying to survive in a war environment. Different endings will occur based on the decisions you make throughout the game. Try to survive the everyday dangers you occur and experience a small taste of what it is like to be a civilian in a warring nation. Available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Cassie:

  • Pokemon Sun
    • From Nintendo comes another instalment to their Pokémon franchise, 2016’s Pokémon Sun and Moon. Pokémon is a role-playing game that has players catching various species of Pokémon, battling trainers be it online or in the game’s story mode, take care of their teammates in Pokémon Refresh and more. In Pokémon Sun, players can find Pokémon exclusive to their version of the game and has their game running exactly to their 3DS’ programmed clock. Available to play on the Nintendo 3DS.

Hunter:

  • Tap Tap Fish (AbyssRium)
    • From SangHeon Kim comes the Zen aquarium tap game Tap Tap Fish, also known as AbyssRium. Acquire fish and reef life, take pictures of your fishes to share online and create your own aquatic atmosphere experience. Available on iOS and Android.
  • OneShot
    • From Degica comes the fourth wall breaking adventure game OneShot. Play as Niko, a small cat-like child as you traverse through a mysterious computer world with the task of restoring the world’s lightbulb like the sun. There is a catch, though. This world knows you exist and every choice you make has consequences. You only have one shot to rekindle this world’s sun and to get Niko home. Available on PC. Proceed with a warning: this game heavily interacts with your computer and brings out feelings of paranoia.

Paris:

  • Need for Speed
    • From Electronic Arts is their action racing game Need for Speed. Choose and customize your vehicle, race against other players, and do your best to win. Specifically the PS4, Xbox One and PC Need For Speed reboot released in 2014.

WRAP

That’s everything! We’re super excited to be doing this show and we hope you’re enjoying it too 🙂 We’re on every Wednesday at 7 pm on this site and if you have any questions or feedback feel free to tweet Stephan (@StephanReilly) or email reil4130 (at) mylaurier (dot) ca. Thanks again and catch you next week!

Outlast 2 Controversy – Press Start to BGN 22/03/2017 Show Recap
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Outlast 2 Controversy – Press Start to BGN 22/03/2017 Show Recap

Hey! Listen!

Welcome back to Press Start to BGN, Laurier’s gaming show by a bunch of Game Design & Development students here at Laurier’s Brantford campus. The program is very new and so is our show, so for those who don’t know Game Design & Development is headed by Dr Scott Nicholson through the Brantford Games Network or BGN, hence the name “Press Start to BGN” which sounds like “begin.” This week we go into the game genres we suck at but still love to play as well as all the game news and releases for the week. Thanks for tuning in!

NEWS!

  • Super Mario Run will be available to Android on March 23rd
  • Kurt Margenau, Game Director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, has confirmed to the PlayStation Blog that Nathan Drake will not be making an appearance in the game “at all”
  • Game Freak has released recruitment advertisements for a console game, stating that recruits will be working on “characters, monsters and items” for “a title that everyone knows”
  • Tang Gameworks may have leaked The Evil Within 2 through an internal job listing for QA
  • The Australian Classification Board has denied Outlast 2 a rating due to the sexual violence found within the game

  • YouTuber JonTron has tried to clear up some of his offensive remarks from last regarding race while engaged in a debate on Steve Bonnell’s Twitch channel
  • Allie Rose-Marie Leost, a worker within EA’s motion-capture labs, is currently experiencing vicious harassment online due to the overall disappointment in the lack of improvement in Mass Effect: Andromeda’s animation quality
  • In just under two weeks, Horizon Zero Dawn has sold a total of 2.6 million copies
  • CapCom will be bundling its Disney Afternoon NES Classics for PS4, Xbox One and PC (available in April 18th for $19.99)

What’s Coming Out Soon!

Games out this week:

  • Mass Effect: Andromeda (PS4, X1 & PC)
  • Everything (PS4)

  • Super Mario Run Mar 23 (Android)
  • Mario Sports Superstars Mar 24 (3DS)

PlayStation Plus:

  • Disc Jam, PS4, Tearaway Unfolded, PS4, Under Night: In-Birth, PS3, Earth Defense Force 2025, PS3, Lumo, PS Vita (crossbuy on PS4), Severed, PS Vita

Games w/ Gold:

  • Layers of Fear 01/03 to 31/03, Evolve: Ultimate Edition – Available 16/03 to 15/04, Heavy Weapon – Available 16/03 to 31/03

Topic of the Show:

This week we discussed our favourite genres that we love to play but absolutely suck at, as well as what genres we feel like we’re really good at!

What We’ve Been Playing:

Stephan:

  • Fallout Shelter
    • From Bethesda Game Studios comes the single player simulation game Fallout Shelter. In this game, players build and manage their own Vault as the coordinator and leader of the citizens that live there with you. Keep everyone happy as you meet to your citizen’s needs of power, food, and water.  Rescue survivors, take care of your citizens and pet your dog in this game available on iOS, Android, PC and now the Xbox One.
  • Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
    • In the newest installment to the Zelda franchise comes Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In this action adventure game, players play as Link after awaking from a hundred-year slumber. This game is a large departure from the regular linear storyline the series is usually known for. This new installment prides itself in its open world exploration and allows players to defeat dungeons in any order they wish. Explore to your heart’s content, available on the new Nintendo Switch system and on Wii U.
  • Overwatch
    • From Blizzard Entertainment comes their 2016 first person shooter, multiplayer game Overwatch. Overwatch contains multiple characters to choose from to battle as with their strengths being linked to four main play categories: offense, defense, tank, and support. Choose your character and fight either one on one or on a team of six against other teams throughout the game’s various game modes and maps. With updates and events coming out throughout the year, Overwatch is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
  • Rhythm Doctor
    • From 7th Beat Games comes Rhythm Doctor, “the hardest one button game you will ever play”. Save a variety of patients by tapping on the seventh beat to start the patient’s heart. So far there is a demo out, available to play on itch.io with six levels to tap out the beat to. Coming to Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android some time this year.

Jelena:

  • Nidhogg
    • From Messhof, comes Nidhogg comes, a single player/multiplayer fighting game. This game is a fast paced two-player dueling game that has players fencing against one another to reach their opponent’s side of the playing field. Get to the other side first and you will be swallowed by the Norse serpent Niohoggr for your efforts. Available on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita.

Cassie:

  • Jelly Juggle
    • From Ian MacLarty comes the iOS game Jelly Juggle. In this game, you lay as a little goldfish swimming in a circle, as you try and collect pieces of Jello with faces on them. Avoid crabs and score points in this game described as “an exciting new thumb-sport!”
  • Kirby: Triple Deluxe
    • From Nintendo comes their 2014 Kirby installment Kirby: Triple Deluxe. In this game, players play as Kirby as he tries to rescue Dream Land from insect evil forces residing in Floralia, a new land that has appeared above Dreamland. This installment includes three new copy abilities on top of the twenty from the previous game, challenging battles, and new puzzles to complete. Available on Nintendo 3DS.

Hunter:

  • Night in the Woods
    • From Kickstarter to reality comes Infinite Fall’s Night in the Woods. In this single player adventure game, players play as a 20-year-old cat named Mae who has just recently dropped out of college and has returned to her hometown of Possum Springs. Reuniting with her old high school friends, Mae begins to settle back into her small-town life but finds things are not going to be the same as they use to be. Play various mini games, spend time with your friends and create a new chapter in your life in this spectacularly charming game. Available on PC and PlayStation 4.

 

Adam:

  • XCOM: Enemy Unknown
    • From Firaxis Games comes the turn-based tactic roleplaying game XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Set during an alien invasion on Earth, the player is tasked with controlling the multinational paramilitary organization XCOM whose must protect the Earth from these alien invaders. Send your teams on missions, research alien technologies, capture prisoners and manage the expansions of XCOM’s base of operations in this tactical, turn based game. Available on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iOS, Android, and PlayStation Vita.

WRAP

That’s everything! We’re super excited to be doing this show and we hope you’re enjoying it too 🙂 We’re on every Wednesday at 7 pm on this site and if you have any questions or feedback feel free to tweet Stephan (@StephanReilly) or email reil4130 (at) mylaurier (dot) ca. Thanks again and catch you next week!

Press Start to BGN 16/03/2017 Show Recap
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Press Start to BGN 16/03/2017 Show Recap

Hey! Listen!

Welcome back to Press Start to BGN, Laurier’s gaming show by a bunch of Game Design & Development students here at Laurier’s Brantford campus. The program is very new and so is our show, so for those who don’t know Game Design & Development is headed by Dr Scott Nicholson through the Brantford Games Network or BGN, hence the name “Press Start to BGN” which sounds like “begin.” This week we break down the latest game news and releases and Stephan freaks out over how many games he can’t afford or play. Thanks for tuning in!

NEWS!

  • Australian development team Samurai Punk will be releasing a VR game later this year called The American Dream, in which players’ engage in normal everyday activities with their hands being replaced with guns.

  • The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses has the tour dates and location announced for 2017; they will be coming to Toronto’s Sony Centre on September 15
  • PlayStation Now, Sony’s game streaming service, will soon be bringing in PS4 games
  • Nintendo reported that they sold 1.5 million Switch units in its first week
  • Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan recently took to Reddit and revealed new details, including a buff for Winston (due to him being the least played hero in Overwatch), a possible reworking for Lucio, a new legendary skin for Widowmaker, the possibility of being able to gift your friends with Loot Boxes, and recent consideration of bringing Overwatch to the Switch (despite how “challenging” it would be)
  • BlizzCon 2017 will be taking place on November 3 and 4 at the Anaheim Convention Centre, with passes being sold April 5 and 8 for $200
  • Six new games will be coming to PlayStation’s Play Collective, with discounts for PS Plus users: Everything, Rain World, PaRappa the Rapper Remastered, Cosmic Star Heroine, Full Throttle Remastered and What Remains of Edith Finch.

  • Colin Moriarty, co-founder of Kinda Funny, has quit after he posted a sexist tweet on International Women’s Day

What’s Coming Out Soon!

Well, would you look at the time! What time is it, you ask? Well, it’s time for the Games Out This Week!

  • Danganronpa 1&2 Reload (March 14, PS4)
    • Do you like anime? Have you seen Danganronpa? Do you recognise that black and white bear thing? If so, NIS America releases Danganronpa 1 & 2 Reload as a PS4 exclusive, just for you! In all seriousness, though, they’ve remastered both of these amazing PSVita games just for PS4, with all new features and extras you can’t find anywhere else! (except probably on amazon for, like, a billion times the price) This pack includes 2 games: Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. You can get the Limited Edition version for just $20 more, which includes an artbook, a 2-disc soundtrack, sunglasses, as well as a couple of other things. Pick up this weird, crazy visual novel for $30! Also, if you like this, keep your eye out for Danganronpa Another Episode: Criminal Girls, out later this year.
  • Star Trek: Bridge Crew (Delayed, May 20th, 2017)
    • Stephan’s childhood: Rebooted. Star Trek: Bridge Crew is a VR game made for Oculus, Vive, and PSVR, in which you play as Starfleet on the Starship USS Aegis, helping the Klingons. But who cares about plot when YOU CAN BE THE CAPTAIN OF A STAR TREK STARSHIP! You can play this in single or multiplayer with up to 4 other players, and just generally be an awesome person as you fly through space on a spaceship. It’s cool. It’s not out yet though. Bummer. Pick it up on May 20th!

  • Styx: Shards of Darkness (PS4, XB1, PC, March 14th, 2017)
    • The sequel to Styx: Master of Shadows is out! Play as Styx, a stealthy orc, uncovering the mysteries behind the choices people have made. The game looks awesome, the story looks cool, and Styx makes me generally scared of orcs. However, the game looks like it’s going to do well, as Metacritic gave it a 73% for good gameplay. The game’s lore looks to be a little lacking, however, the gameplay is what brings you back into playing it every time. Pick it up for all consoles for $50!

Stephan and Cassie seem to really enjoy this game, and its FREE for PS+ members this month, so it’s worth mentioning once more. Severed (PSVita, Wii U, N3DS, iOS) Severed is a PSVita classic by Drinkbox Studios that was released last year. It is an action RPG game with a favourable storyline that I personally don’t know much about, however, the gameplay is about severing enemy’s body parts off, so that’s fun. With touch controls, a really cool severing mechanic, an Original Soundtrack by YAMANTAKA//SONIC TITAN (a Juno-nominated band), and the ability to upgrade your character in any way you want, traversing through a nightmare has never seemed so fun. Pick it up for free today!

Topic of the Show:

This week on Press Start to BGN, the topic of the show was… too many games. Part 2. Also, known as Stephan goes on a rant and Cassie wants to romance all the characters in Mass Effect Andromeda. So, it was a standard show. There are too many games and we only have so much time to play so many games, which leaves little time for sleep, extracurricular, and assignments. The basic summary ended up being, stay healthy and if you need someone to talk to go to the wellness centre and set up an appointment. Take care of yourself, you deserve it.

What We’ve Been Playing:

Paris:

  • Mortal Kombat 10
    • From NetherRealm Studios comes another instalment to their long-standing series, the fighter game Mortal Kombat 10. Play through the various game modes such as story, tower or Krypt in various combat battles. Play against your friends as one of the various in-game characters or your own created individual. Available on iOS, PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One and Android.
  • Need for Speed
    • From Electronic Arts is their action racing game Need for Speed. Choose and customise your vehicle, race against other players, and do your best to win. Available on several platforms including iOS, PC, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStations 2, 3 and 4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
  • Overwatch
    • From Blizzard Entertainment comes their 2016 first person shooter, multiplayer game Overwatch. Overwatch contains multiple characters to choose from to battle as with their strengths being linked to four main play categories: offence, defence, tank, and support. Choose your character and fight either one on one or on a team of six against other teams throughout the game’s various game modes and maps. With updates and events coming out throughout the year, Overwatch is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
  • Street Fighter 5
    • From Capcom comes their 2016 fighting game Street Fighter 5. Fight in the single player story mode or fight against your friends in a multiplayer match as you fight with one of the 20 available characters in this newest Street Fighter instalment. This game introduces the new v-gauge that builds up as the player receives attacks and gives players three new skills to their characters. Available on PC and PlayStation 4.

Jelena:

  • Dota 2
    • From Valve Corporation comes the 2013 single/multiplayer online battle arena Dota 2. In this free to play multiplayer battle arena game, players are divided up into two teams with five players on each team. Each player chooses their hero to play as, each hero exhibiting their own abilities and play styles. During matches, players collect experience points and items to defend their Ancient structure and win the game by destroying the other team’s Ancient. Available on PCs.

Cassie:

  • Animal Crossing: New Leaf
    • From Nintendo comes the adorable life simulation game Animal Crossing: New Leaf! In this game, you are the mayor of a town filled with andromorphic animals. Talk to your town residents, explore your little town, and enjoy various activities such as bug hunting and fishing. Modify your wardrobe and get yourself a lovely house in this charming game available on the Nintendo 3DS.
  • Severed
    • From DrinkBox Studios comes Severed, the single player action game. In Severed, players are Sasha, a one-armed warrior who wields a living sword. Journey with her through a nightmare world to save her family. Sever enemy body parts in this dungeon combat RPG adventure, available on PlayStation Vita, Wii U, iOS and Nintendo 3DS.

  • Super Smash Bros.
    • From Nintendo comes their fighting action platformer Super Smash Bros. In this game, choose your character from various Nintendo game instalments, from Mario to Pikachu to Lucas, and fight against your friends in various battle platforms. Fight using your character’s various abilities in various game modes against various people! Available on the Nintendo GameCube, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 64, and Virtual Console.
  • Unravel
    • From Coldwood Interactive comes the puzzle platformer, single player game Unravel. Play as Yarny, a little red yarn figure who travels through open landscapes to collect the memories of an elderly woman. Use your body of yarn to get past obstacles, use the landscape around you to your advantage and discover memories lost by time.  String yourself over to a PC, PlayStation 4 or Xbox One device to play.

Stephan:

  • Jelly Juggle
    • From Ian MacLarty comes the iOS game Jelly Juggle. In this game, you lay as a little goldfish swimming in a circle, as you try and collect pieces of Jello with faces on them. Avoid crabs and score points in this game described as “an exciting new thumb-sport!”

  • Horizon Zero Dawn
    • From Guerrilla Games comes their 2017 action roleplaying game Horizon Zero Dawn. In this game, players play as Aloy, an archer hunter who lives in a world overrun by robots. The game comes with an open world to explore, tribes to visit and side quests to complete alongside its main storyline. Discover the dangers and secrets lurking in this game’s world, now available on PlayStation
  • Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
    • In the newest instalment of the Zelda franchise comes Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In this action adventure game, players play as Link after awaking from a hundred-year slumber. This game is a large departure from the regular linear storyline the series is usually known for. This new instalment prides itself in its open world exploration and allows players to defeat dungeons in any order they wish. Explore to your heart’s content, available on the new Nintendo Switch system and on Wii U.

WRAP

That’s everything! We’re super excited to be doing this show and we hope you’re enjoying it too 🙂 We’re on every Wednesday at 7 pm on this site and if you have any questions or feedback feel free to tweet Stephan (@StephanReilly) or email reil4130 (at) mylaurier (dot) ca. Thanks again and catch you next week!

Rainy Day Games – Press Start to BGN 08/03/2017 Show Recap
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Rainy Day Games – Press Start to BGN 08/03/2017 Show Recap

Hey! Listen!

Welcome back to Press Start to BGN, Laurier’s gaming show by a bunch of Game Design & Development students here at Laurier’s Brantford campus. The program is very new and so is our show, so for those who don’t know Game Design & Development is headed by Dr Scott Nicholson through the Brantford Games Network or BGN, hence the name “Press Start to BGN” which sounds like “begin.” ______. Thanks for tuning in!

NEWS!

  • dbrand, a manufacturing company for skins for electronics, has reported that the JoyCons’ coating does not “play well with any kind of adhesive”
  • Nintendo Switch launch sales have surpassed Nintendo’s records in the Americas and Europe
  • The Nintendo Switch cannot share microSD cards, rendering it unable to transfer game saves between consoles
  • Several Switch owners have already reported Wi-Fi connection issues, as well as slower-than-expected download speeds
  • Sign up for Quake Champions closed beta is now available on the Quake website: https://quake.bethesda.net/en/signup.
  • Overwatch’s newest hero, Orisa, has been nerfed ahead of her full release; Ana, Junkrat, Winston, Sombra and Zenyatta will also have some changes
  • Naughty Dog has revealed their first details for Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and co-president Evan Wells has stated that “Naughty Dog doing an Uncharted after this is unlikely.”

  • Voodoo Vince: Remastered is announced to be released on April 18th
  • No Man’s Sky is getting an update this week that will bring planet exploration vehicles

What’s Coming Out Soon!

Games are coming out this week, so let me tell you about them!

  • Lego Worlds (March 7th, PS4, XB1, PC)
    • Lego is back with a brand new video game! Lego Worlds seems to be Lego’s answer to a thriving Minecraft community, and boy does it look impressive. Going back to its roots, Lego Worlds seems to be all about exploring, discovering, and most importantly, creating anything your mind can imagine, with those nostalgic little Lego pieces. As a sandbox adventure game, you can build dinosaurs, play with animals, ride motorbikes, and even adventure for hidden treasure! Pick up Lego Worlds on all next-gen consoles for $29.99.
  • Neir Automata (March 7th, PS4, PC)
    • PlatinumGames, the creators of Bayonetta 1 and 2, are back with a new game! This action-RPG is a sequel to Neir, but has no connection to the game. It’s a distant future where two androids work to make the world safe through the Resistance. There is a trophy for trying to see the main characters underwear 10 times, so there’s that. With multiple endings, the story is very deep and has much to explore. Pick it up if you liked Neir! Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands (March 7th, PS4, XB1, PC) The next game in the Ghost Recon series is finally out! In Wildlands, you play as a Ghost team, tasked with infiltrating and taking down a militia group that has taken over Bolivia in the near future. I played the Open Beta for this game, and I must say, everything feels good. Shooting is easy, sniping is fun, listening to conversations expands the plot of the story, and the seriousness of the game isn’t drowned out by comedic plug-ins that
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands (March 7th, PS4, XB1, PC)
    • The next game in the Ghost Recon series is finally out! In Wildlands, you play as a Ghost team, tasked with infiltrating and taking down a militia group that has taken over Bolivia in the near future. I played the Open Beta for this game, and I must say, everything feels good. Shooting is easy, sniping is fun, listening to conversations expands the plot of the story, and the seriousness of the game isn’t drowned out by comedic plug-ins that ruin story. The only complaint I have about the game, is that there isn’t much to do past the story. There isn’t much to do in the open world other than explore (Ubisoft why). Pick up Ghost Recon; Wildlands for PS4, XB1 and PC for $79.99!
  • Jelly Juggles (March 9th, iOS)
    • Pong is back, and it’s… cute? Jelly Juggle is an adorable game about keeping your jelly in a circle. With nice music and easy controls, it’s going to be very interesting to see how this does on the app store. Follow Ian MacLarty (@muclorty) for updates on the game!

 

 

It’s a BRAND NEW MONTH! That means…BRAND NEW PS+/GAMES WITH GOLD GAMES!

The list isn’t as big as last month, but the games are just as good. For PlayStation+ we’ve got:

  • Tearaway Unfolded (PS4)- Stephan’s recommendation!
  • Disc Jam (PS4) Lumo (PS Vita, Cross buy with PS4)
  • Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late (PS3)
  • Earth Defence Force 2025 (PS3)
  • Severed (PS Vita)

Games with Gold:

  • Layers of Fear (XB1, March 1-31)
  • Evolve Ultimate Edition (XB1, March 16- April 15)
  • Borderlands 2 (XB360, XB1, March 1-15)
  • Heavy Weapon (XB360, XB1, March 16-31)

Those are the Games out this week! Have fun playing! Don’t spend all your money, I know I can’t!

Topic of the Show:

This week on Press Start to Begin we talked about games we like to play when it’s raining outside. Games that we typically play on one of those “lazy days” where the only thing you plan on doing is relaxing. Sometimes that’s a game that was made with this aspect in mind. Other times, it’s a game that you have played multiple times and find that playing it has become a second nature to you. Whether you’re playing Off or Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 it all depends on the player and what they find bring a chill atmosphere and sometimes a warm and fuzzy feeling.

What We’ve Been Playing:

Stephan:

  • Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
    • In the newest instalment to the Zelda franchise comes Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In this action adventure game, players play as Link after awaking from a hundred-year slumber. This game is a large departure from the regular linear storyline the series is usually known for. This new instalment prides itself in its open world exploration and allows players to defeat dungeons in any order they wish. Explore to your heart’s content, available on the new Nintendo Switch system and on Wii U.

  • Horizon Zero Dawn
    • From Guerrilla Games comes their 2017 action roleplaying game Horizon Zero Dawn. In this game, players play as Aloy, an archer hunter who lives in a world overrun by robots. The game comes with an open world to explore, tribes to visit and side quests to complete alongside its main storyline. Discover the dangers and secrets lurking in this games world, now available on PlayStation 4.

Jelena:

  • Mortal Kombat 10
    • From NetherRealm Studios comes another instalment to their long-standing series, the fighter game Mortal Kombat 10. Play through the various game modes such as story, tower or Krypt in various combat battles. Play against your friends as one of the various in-game characters or your own created individual. Available on iOS, PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One and Android.
  • Pokemon Moon
    • From Nintendo comes another instalment to their Pokémon franchise, 2016’s Pokémon Sun and Moon. Pokémon is a role-playing game that has players catching various species of Pokémon, battling trainers be it online or in the game’s story mode, take care of their teammates in Pokémon Refresh and more. In Pokémon Moon, players can find Pokémon exclusive to their version of the game and has their game’s clock running twelve hours ahead of their 3DS’ clock when they play. Available to play on the Nintendo 3DS.

Cassie:

  • Kirby: Triple Deluxe
    • From Nintendo comes their 2014 Kirby instalment Kirby: Triple Deluxe. In this game, players play as Kirby as he tries to rescue Dream Land from insect evil forces residing in Floralia, a new land that has appeared above Dreamland. This instalment includes three new copy abilities on top of the twenty from the previous game, challenging battles and new puzzles to complete. Available on Nintendo 3DS.
  • Night in the Woods
    • From Kickstarter to reality comes Infinite Fall’s Night in the Woods. In this single player adventure game, players play as a 20-year-old cat named Mae who has just recently dropped out of college and has returned to her hometown of Possum Springs. Reuniting with her old high school friends, Mae begins to settle back into her small-town life but finds things are not going to be the same as they use to be. Play various mini-games, spend time with your friends and create a new chapter in your life in this spectacularly charming game. Available on PC and PlayStation 4.
  • Smash Bros. Wii U (see Hunter’s section)

Hunter:

  • Super Smash Bros.
    • From Nintendo comes their fighting action platformer Super Smash Bros. In this game, choose your character from various Nintendo game instalments, from Mario to Pikachu to Lucas, and fight against your friends in various battle platforms. Fight using your character’s various abilities in various game modes against various people! Available on the Nintendo GameCube, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 64, and Virtual Console.

Paris:

  • Street Fighter 5
    • From Capcom comes their 2016 fighting game Street Fighter 5. Fight in the single player story mode or fight against your friends in a multiplayer match as you fight with one of the 20 available characters in this newest Street Fighter installment. This game introduces the new v-gauge that builds up as the player receives attacks and gives players three new skills to their characters. Available on PC and PlayStation 4.
  • We Didn’t Playtest this at All
    • As the name suggests, this game created by Chris Cieslik was not play tested at all. In this card game ranging from a playtime of one to five minutes, players all have the goal to win the game and get everyone else to lose. In all sorts of hilarious card based encounters, try your best to win in this two to possibly twenty player card game. Available in stores now.

Music:

Songs used this week: Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception: Nate’s Theme, The Legend of Zelda BOTW- Story Trailer Music, Off: Soft Breeze (Extended).

WRAP

That’s everything! We’re super excited to be doing this show and we hope you’re enjoying it too 🙂 We’re on every Wednesday at 7 pm on this site and if you have any questions or feedback feel free to tweet Stephan (@StephanReilly) or email reil4130 (at) mylaurier (dot) ca. Thanks again and catch you next week!

Press Start to BGN 01/03/2017 Show Recap
Shows/Press Start to BGN
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Press Start to BGN 01/03/2017 Show Recap

Hey! Listen!

Welcome back to Press Start to BGN, Laurier’s gaming show by a bunch of Game Design & Development students here at Laurier’s Brantford campus. The program is very new and so is our show, so for those who don’t know Game Design & Development is headed by Dr Scott Nicholson through the Brantford Games Network or BGN, hence the name “Press Start to BGN” which sounds like “begin.” This week Stephan rants and raves about his latest game obsession Night in the Woods. And of course we talk about all the news and game release… but mostly Night in the Woods. Thanks for tuning in!

Press Start to BGN Show 22/02/2017 Recap
Shows/Press Start to BGN/Talk Shows
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Press Start to BGN Show 22/02/2017 Recap

Hey! Listen!

Welcome back to Press Start to BGN, Laurier’s gaming show by a bunch of Game Design & Development students here at Laurier’s Brantford campus. The program is very new and so is our show, so for those who don’t know Game Design & Development is headed by Dr Scott Nicholson through the Brantford Games Network or BGN, hence the name “Press Start to BGN” which sounds like “begin.” This week we dive into all the latest game news and releases as well as go over everything we’ve been playing. We also discuss the best games to play with your significant other, just a couple days late for Valentine’s Day <3 <3 Thanks for tuning in!

NOTE: We had originally planned to air this episode February 15th but due to Men’s hockey taking over the broadcast we moved it to February 22nd. Thanks for understanding!

NEWS!

  • Disney cuts their ties with YouTube star Pewdiepie after several uploads of anti-Semitic videos
  • Humble Bundle has released a 47-game’s worth bundle for $30, with all proceeds going to the ACLU, the International Rescue Committee and Doctors Without Borders
  • Nintendo has hinted at bringing GameCube games on Virtual Console
  • Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto has expressed his concerns with VR, stating that “When I see people play virtual reality, it makes me worry, just as for example if a parent were to see their kid playing virtual reality, it would probably make them worry.”
  • Panels for Rouge One’s visual effects supervisor John Knoll, Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s developers, and Hello Games’ founder Sean Murray have all been announced for GDC 2017
  • Perception, a horror game from Deep End Games and publisher Feardemic, has been announced to be coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC
  • E3 2017 will be accessible to the public, with 15 000 tickets available for purchase
  • Nintendo has announced Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition for the Switch
  • Up to 10 Switch consoles can be connected locally, as confirmed by Nintendo during their Splatoon 2 press release
  • Nintendo has announced the the Splatoon 2 demo will be available on the Switch from March 24 to 26
  • Netflix has announced that a Castlevania animated series will be coming this year
  • Valve has ended Steam Greenlight and has implemented Steam Direct
  • Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of GTA,  has licensed a couple of their most popular game titles in hopes of turning them into movies
  • Gabe Newell, founder of Valve, has stated that Valve is in the process of developing 3 new full-length VR games
  • Gabe Newell has also expressed Valve’s disinterest in developing any games for console
  • The map for Horizon: Zero Dawn’s huge open world has been leaked
  • Humble Bundle has become a games publisher
  • The Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix PS4 collection is getting a limited edition version, and is now available for pre-order
  • South Park: The Fractured But Whole has once again been delayed by Ubisoft
  • Mass Effect: Andromeda has removed the Paragon/Renegade system, since it reportedly  “felt very Shepard”

  • Overwatch’s Capture the Flag mode is now a permanent part of the game, and now has an additional 9 maps
  • Atlus has released a Persona 5 custom Valentine’s card generator, Check it out!
  • Bungie is partnering up with McFarlane Toys to make action figures for Destiny’s Guardians
  • Nintendo has announced details regarding the Season Pass for Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

What’s Coming Out Soon!

(There’s a pun there, but I can’t seem to put my foot on it…)

  • Deformers (PS4, Xbox one, PC, Feb 14th)
    • Do you like cute creatures? Well little blobs of animals, aliens, and just general adorableness are coming to your screen, and are ready to rumble! Deformers is a party game by the creators of Order 1886, Ready at Dawn. The game is getting great reviews, and it’s only $20, so check it out!
  • For Honor (PS4, XB1, PC, Feb 14th)
    • This Valentine’s day, you favourite samurai, knights, Vikings, and other old fighters have been mushed together and are ready to absolutely MURDER each other. For Honor is a multiplayer action fighting game made by Ubisoft, having you take up one of these factions and fighting everything in your path for your factions glory! You can get the game from your local Viking/samurai/knight Salestore for $80. There’s also a story mode that’s probably about friendship and love but WHO CARES YOU CAN STAB KNIGHTS WITH KATANAS

  • Sniper Elite 4 (PS4, XB1, PC, Feb 14th)
    • Rebellion is back with more 3rd person action! With improved AI and better overall gameplay, the Sniper Elite series is at its best with its newest instalment. Get it on all platforms for $60.
  • Semispheres (PS4, PC)
    • Stephan played this game and beat it in 2 hours, and he absolutely loves it. In this game about using both sides of your brain (with a little cute story about a robot in comic form within the game). It’s challenging, it’s cute, and most importantly, it’s actually fun. Pick it up for $15 on all platforms!

  • Monster loves you (PS4, PC)
    • Take control of a little monster as it grows into an adult, and influence it’s (and it’s humans) lives in the process! Monster Loves You is a choice-based story game where your choices affect the ending. Become a neurosurgeon! Eat Little Red Riding Hood! Live your life! Pick it up on steam for $10.

And that’s it for releases this week! It seems to be an eventful Valentine’s day, hopefully yours is just as eventful! Pick up the games, and have fun!
(I never did figure out the joke. AH well, next time maybe :P)

Topic of the Show:

This week on Press Start to BGN since we were recording on valentine’s day our topic was video games that we like to play with our significant others. Games that you can enjoy with another person, games that you love to play with your player 2. This can range from actual multiplayer games, to games that both of you simply like to play and watch be played all cuddled up and cozy.

What We’ve Been Playing:

Stephan:

  • Fallout Shelter
    • From Bethesda Game Studios comes the single-player simulation game Fallout Shelter. In this game, players build and manage their own Vault as the coordinator and leader of the citizens that live there with you. Keep everyone happy as you meet to your citizen’s needs of power, food, and water.  Rescue survivors, take care of your citizens and pet your dog in this game available on iOS, Android, PC and now the Xbox One.

  • Gravity Rush Remastered
    • From SCE Japan Studio is the gorgeous action adventure game Gravity Rush. Players play as Kat, a young girl who finds herself forgetting her memories as she wakes up in the floating city of Hekseville. Travelling with your mysterious cat Dusty, use your ability to manipulate the gravity around you to defeat creatures called the Nevi and various villains as you try to protect the people of Hekseville. Find yourself in this story driven game, available on the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4.

Jelena:

  • Saboteur
    • Created by game designer Frederic Moyersoeon is the tile matching, hand management and bluffing card game Saboteur. In this three to ten player card game, you play as a gnome miner or saboteur. Miners play mine shaft cards to try and reach the gold nugget card at the end of the player’s created path. The gold is hidden beneath one of three cards so be careful where you lay your path. Also, be on the lookout for a saboteur planning on trying to get all the gold for themselves. You can hinder your opponents with broken tools to try and increase your chances of being the first to reach the gold card. Be the gnome to get the most gold in this card game, available in stores now.

Hunter:

  • Saboteur (see Jelena’s section)

Cassie:

  • Super Smash Bros.
    • From Nintendo comes their fighting action platformer Super Smash Bros. In this game, choose your character from various Nintendo game installments, from Mario to Pikachu to Lucas, and fight against your friends in various battle platforms. Fight using your character’s various abilities in various game modes against various people! Available on the Nintendo GameCube, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 64, and Virtual Console.
  • Animal Crossing: New Leaf
    • From Nintendo comes the adorable life simulation game Animal Crossing: New Leaf! In this game, you are the mayor of a town filled with andromorphic animals. Talk to your town residents, explore your little town, and enjoy various activities such as bug hunting and fishing. Modify your wardrobe and get yourself a lovely house in this charming game available on the Nintendo 3DS.

Paris:

  • Agricola
    • From game designer Uwe Rosenburg comes the strategy board game Agricola. In this game, you are a farmer with their spouse and a simple home. Using your two actions per turn, you can explore what is on your farm land from clay, wood to stone to build up your farm property.  Manage your recourses carefully in this board game available now.
  • Persona 5
    • From Atlus comes their next instalment in their Persona franchise, Persona 5. In this roleplaying, social simulation game, you play as a silent protagonist who has just transferred to Shujin High School after having been put on probation. During the day, you go to school, make friends, and go through various leisurely activities. At night, you are a part of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, protecting the citizens of your community and using your powers called Persona to attack various creatures in a supernatural realm called Palace. Begin your own adventure on April 4th 2017. Available on PlayStation 3 and 4.

WRAP

That’s everything! We’re super excited to be doing this show and we hope you’re enjoying it too 🙂 We’re on every Wednesday at 7 pm on this site and if you have any questions or feedback feel free to tweet Stephan (@StephanReilly) or email reil4130 (at) mylaurier (dot) ca. Thanks again and catch you next week!