Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break is a carefree hop, skip, and jump through world history, art, and absurdist meme culture. One moment it's 800 BC and the set is dressed in the myths of ancient Greece, the next it's 1500 AD and the sun god gazes down on Tenochtitlan, then a bit later it's the very beginning of time and everything is spaghetti and meatballs. It never dwells, never stops to make sense of it all. Historical figures pop their cartoonish heads into view for a brief visual gag before disappearing, bit players tossed aside in a bygone round of whack-a-mole.Fittingly, Rock of Ages 3 is best enjoyed with the same restless approach in mind. Structured as a series of discrete challenges, each hectic bout of arcade action lasting no more than a couple of frantic minutes, it feels designed to be experienced in short, sharp bursts. Don't linger. Dip in and, when you feel the frustration levels rising, dip out, move on to a new challenge, or simply come back later.The core conceit revolves around the idea that all war, throughout all history, is essentially fought by lobbing rocks at each other. The Rock of Ages series has so far focused on one very specific interpretation of this idea: You have to roll a rock through a trap-laden obstacle course to attack the enemy castle at the end. Controlling the roll takes some adjustment. The initial temptation is to embrace the top speed of your chosen boulder and should be resisted. Move too fast and you won't have the handling to steer through the crowded tracks, let alone slow down in time to make the next corner. Rocks don't have brakes as such, and it took me some time to get used to easing off the accelerator when required and knowing when my built-up momentum was optimal to negotiate what lay ahead.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

2K Sports has released a new trailer for the soon-to-release PGA Tour 2K21, this one focusing on the franchise's course designer. First and foremost, the trailer comes with the disclaimer that the course designer will not be available on Nintendo Switch. [Update: a press release from 2K says the course designer won't be available "at launch," suggesting it may come later. However, the video below does not include the "at launch" wording.]The course designer, which was featured in previous games in the series, is part of what makes the golf franchise so good and enduringly popular. Players have created thousands of courses over the years, and this gives users new sites to play on a regular basis to keep things interesting. The creativity of the playerbase has led to some fantastic and imaginative courses.It's a bummer that Switch owners won't have access to the designer, which this year has been updated with even more objects, such as kangaroos. The designer will be available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Netflix boot-up sound is very well known, but it was almost completely different.Netflix VP of product, Todd Yellin, said on the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast (via THR) that the company also considered other, very different sounds. These included underwater bubbles and even a goat's bleating sound.All of these sounds--including the "Ta Dum" sound that ultimately was chosen--were composed by sound designer Lon Bender, who won the Best Effects Sound Editing Oscar for Bravehart. The "Ta Dum" sound, as it's known internally at Netflix, was initially introduced in 2015.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Captain Marvel 2 is in the works, and a new report suggests that a director has been found. Deadline is reporting that Nia DaCosta, the director behind the Jordan Peele-produced Candyman movie coming out later this year, is attached to direct the Marvel movie. Disney and Marvel provided the outlet with no comment, so take this with a grain of salt for now, but it seems likely. DaCosta has only directed one feature before Candyman, an indie picture called Little Woods, which reviewed well. Along with directing, she also wrote the screenplay for Candyman, which is looking terrifying.DaCosta, who is currently 30 years old, will likely tie with Ryan Coogler (who released Black Panther at 32) as the youngest Marvel movie director when the film premieres.The first Marvel movie to be directed entirely by a woman will be Black Widow, directed by Cate Shortland. 2021's The Eternals will be directed by Chloe Zhao. Captain Marvel was the first Marvel film to focus primarily on a female superhero. It was previously reported that WandaVision writer Megan McDonnell was working on a script. The first Captain Marvel film was written and directed by team Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.Captain Marvel 2 is currently planned for a 2022 release, but with the COVID-19 pandemic shifting schedules around, that could change. Info from Gamespot.com

Toxic behavior is a problem in NHL 20, and EA Sports is further addressing it with a new reporting feature that players can use to let the developer know about offending players.Users can now report player names and Club names for the World of Chel mode through the Pro Clubs website. You can do this by simply pressing the "report club" button on the site, and then sharing more details about the offenses.We’ve added the ability to directly report offensive WOC Player and Club names in #NHL20 through our Pro Clubs site: https://t.co/q4oBeVgCdEWith your help we’ve actioned on over 9000 accounts this year, and will continue to take the proper steps to enforce against any offenders pic.twitter.com/Igmr4I6tG2 — EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 6, 2020Even before these tools were implemented, EA already took action against more than 9,000 accounts so far in 2020, the studio said. The developer promised to "continue to take the proper steps to enforce against any offenders."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

FIFA 21 is looking to combat online player toxicity by removing certain celebrations and and shortening or removing cutscenes, so that your opponent cannot showboat too hard when they get a goal or stall for time. According to a report from Eurogamer, various measures are being taken to improve the overall online experience.Two celebrations, the "shush" and "a-ok", will be removed. The "shush" is simply irritating--as it's a running celebration, often used to extend the cutscene and annoy opponents--but the "a-ok" has more sinister implications, as the "okay" symbol has turned into a racist symbol (and was recently removed from Call of Duty.)Some cutscenes are being reduced or removed, too--FIFA 21 will no longer have the "walk back" cinematic after scoring a goal online, which will reduce the time spent watching cutscenes. Animations for players grabbing the ball for a throw-in or the keeper getting ready for a goal-kick are also gone from online matches. Goal celebrations are being shortened across the board, too.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is coming to Nintendo Switch on October 30, and it includes all DLC from the original plus new prologue and epilogue content. The game released on the Wii U back in 2013, and at some point in the 7 years following its release the price dropped to $20 digitally as part of the Nintendo Selects discount line. Now, with a new version on the way, that has changed.Nintendo Everything noticed that the game has been pulled from sale digitally, so you can no longer buy it for the Wii U from the Eshop. The Switch version is now available to preorder, and retails for $60. While the Switch version comes with extra content, and can be played in handheld mode, whether that's worth $40 more is up for debate.As Nintendo Everything points out, Nintendo did something similar when Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was announced for Switch. If you're looking to buy a digital copy of any of the few Wii U games that have not made their way to Nintendo's new console, it might be good to do so soon rather than later.Pikmin 4 was announced back in 2016, but has since gone AWOL. Pikmin 3 comfortably made our list of the best Wii U games.Info from Gamespot.com

Look at a screenshot of Windbound and its art direction (a vibrant, watercolour style), will likely remind you of a very well-loved Legend of Zelda game--Breath Of The Wild. Watch a video of Windbound in action, and seeing its focus on sailing through vast oceans might instead remind you of another Legend of Zelda game--Wind Waker. Actually start playing Windbound, however, and it's quickly very clear that despite those stylistic influences, it plays nothing like a Zelda game. Which is, honestly, a relief.Windbound is the second release from 5 Lives Studios, a team of Australian developers who previously released Satellite Reigns, a spiritual successor to the much-loved Syndicate games. Neither of those games are like Windbound either. Alright, alright--Windbound is a third-person survival game, the kind where resource gathering and crafting tools and supplies to stay alive are the main concerns that dominate the second-to-second gameplay loop. These things are very popular, I hear.Windbound structures its survival as a single-player rogue-lite, much like Don't Starve. You start the game as a woman named Kara, who is shipwrecked and separated from her clan. She wakes up on a tiny island, which barely has enough resources for you to build a basic canoe to row your way outta there. From there, your goal is to head towards the next procedurally generated landmass that makes up Windbound's archipelagic world and hopefully find a way to get back to your people.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

My wife calls them "chore games." Day-to-day life simulations such as Stardew Valley, Graveyard Keeper, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons celebrate the mundanity of routine, assigning you daily lists of menial tasks to perform and rewarding you for completing them with another day and another to-do list. Littlewood is most certainly another one of these chore games. Rather than weighing it down, Littlewood's daily grind is leavened by a lean, focused approach to its various labors, the swift turnover of its day-night cycle, and a dash of mystery that elevates its charming setting.Peace has spread across the land of Solemn in the aftermath of the defeat of a dark wizard. Leading the victorious band of adventurers was a great hero who, in classic video game protagonist tradition, is now suffering from amnesia. He or she cannot remember a single thing about the battle, the triumph, or life beforehand. Nonetheless, at the urging of the friends you apparently fought alongside, you are granted the tiny village of Littlewood and tasked with managing its recovery in a post-war world.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

While primarily known for his work on the FX horror anthology series American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy has a new series called Ratched arriving to Netflix on September 18 following the early days of the classic antagonist Nurse Ratched from Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Next.During the TCA summer press tour, Netflix's presentation kicked off with a better look at the upcoming series from Murphy and Ian Brennan. The two previous worked together on the Netflix original series Hollywood. Check out the unsettling trailer for yourself below."From Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, Ratched is a suspenseful drama series that tells the origin story of asylum nurse Mildred Ratched," reads the official description for the show. "In 1947, Mildred arrives in Northern California to seek employment at a leading psychiatric hospital where new and unsettling experiments have begun on the human mind. On a clandestine mission, Mildred presents herself as the perfect image of what a dedicated nurse should be, but the wheels are always turning and as she begins to infiltrate the mental health care system and those within it, Mildred's stylish exterior belies a growing darkness that has long been smoldering within, revealing that true monsters are made, not born."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Bethesda has released the patch notes for Fallout 76's Update 2.1. The update--which is out now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One--irons out some bugs, introduces new in-game events, and more.The headlining feature is the addition of two new in-game events: Fortifying Atlas and A Colossal Problem. The first, Fortifying Atlas, is a two-party community-wide event in which you--and other Fallout 76 players--are tasked with building a potential base for the Brotherhood of Steel faction. If everyone submits enough resources, the community will unlock even more events and new cosmetic rewards, including Brotherhood of Steel-themed customization items and more. The first part of Fortifying Atlas, Project Alpha, is officially underway; Project Bravo, part two of Fortifying Atlas, kicks off on August 27.The other event, A Colossal Problem, is "an instanced multiplayer Public Event." The event is pegged for players level 50 and above and can be started after blasting through the Monongah Mine. Once initiated, you're tasked with diving deep into the mine to battle against a huge legendary Wendigo Colossus. Should you and your squad take out the Wendigo Colossus before the event timer expires, you will be rewarded some loot, XP, Caps, Treasury Notes, and more.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

A new season is about to begin in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and the battle royale game Warzone. Activision has now lifted the veil on the Season 5 content, and it sounds like one of the biggest seasons to date. We're breaking down all the big-ticket items here, while you can expect the update to drop on August 5 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Here's everything new that's coming, including a revamp to the Warzone map that opens the stadium, new Modern Warfare maps, and much more.Call Of Duty: Warzone Season 5 Content And File Size:One of the first things you may notice in Verdansk is that the stadium--which is now officially known as the Acropolis National Arena--is now open for visitors.The stadium is gigantic, and players can either drop directly into it or enter from the ground. The stadium has a field, of course, as well as rows of seating where skirmishes will no doubt take place. There is also an underground parking garage, a lobby, and "multiple interior concourses."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Destiny 2 servers are now back online following maintenance, and you can begin playing the online shooter again. When you first log in, you'll need to download and install a small hotfix, update 2.9.1.2. You can get the full rundown on what to expect from the update below in the full patch notes, which cover PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Stadia versions of the game.The patch notes don't feature any major additions or changes, as is expected with most hotfixes. One thing of note is that some Leviathan raid rewards have been changed to a weekly lockout; you'll continue to earn multiple weapon and armor rewards, but XP, glimmer, and chances for Exotic and Bright Engrams are all now limited. Additionally, the Festering Core Master Nightfall's Power level requirements have been fixed--it had been operating at 750 even though 1080 was listed in the Director. Bungie says you should expect a "much greater challenge" next time you give it a try.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Valorant has rolled out a large new patch that introduces changes to almost every aspect of the game, from competitive play on-down. First, the patch introduces a new agent to the game, Killjoy. A master of tech, Killjoy comes equipped with a turret, an Alarmbot that tracks enemies and makes them more vulnerable to damage, and a trap called "Lockdown" that can potentially disable enemies for up to 8 seconds.Like previous updates, this patch also takes aim at nerfing Raze's explosive kit. Her Showstopper rocket launcher now takes slightly longer to equip, and her Blast Pack grenade damage has been reduced by a third. However, it now does more consistent damage to objects, making her effective against build-heavy agents like Killjoy.Additionally, Patch 1.05 marks the end of Valorant's first competitive season, here termed "Acts." Competitive Act II has now begun, meaning that players will have to earn their placement again. However, the new system of Act Ranks will allow you to display your previous rankings as a measure of your "proven skill." The game's matchmaking system will also prioritize party size when it comes to making games, meaning that you're more likely to go up against solo players if you're solo-queueing, and vice versa. It's all a bit complex, so if you're looking to fully grasp the nuances of the game's competitive system, check out that update on the game's site.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Marvel's Avengers has been teasing PlayStation exclusive content and recently announced that everyone's favorite wall-crawler, Spider-Man, will only be available on PS4 and PS5. But PlayStation is getting a few other extra goodies, like timed exclusive access to cosmetics, and free bundles with in-game currency.As detailed on the PlayStation Blog, each time a new hero launches, PlayStation players will get 30-day exclusive access to one of their Legendary Outfits, Emotes, Epic Takedowns, and nameplates. That includes each of the launch heroes, along with any post-launch heroes like Hawkeye. In addition, PlayStation Plus members will get a free bundle alongside the launch of any new heroes. That bundle includes a Rare Outfit, nameplate, and 100 Credits. At launch, you'll get a Ms. Marvel bundle.The blog didn't specify the exclusive looks, but it did show off some cosmetics we haven't seen before. Those include the Iron Man Solaris Outfit, the Hulk Champion Outfit, and Ms. Marvel Battle Suit outfit. And as previously announced, PlayStation players will get early access to the beta.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com