The SNES PlayStation Was Going To Have A Super FX Chip Built-In
The Super FX chip was a groundbreaking piece of tech; a “console on a chip” which massively enhanced the SNES, allowing it to push polygons with aplomb.
Created by Argonaut Software, a small UK-based firm, the chip was created when Nintendo enlisted the help of Argonaut’s Jez San to assist the company in making 3D games.
It’s already known that, at one stage, there were discussions within Nintendo about building the Super FX chip into the North American version of the SNES. That ultimately didn’t happen, but Jez San reveals that there was a later plan to put a version of the chip into the unreleased SNES PlayStation, a joint venture by Sony and Nintendo which was canned when the latter got cold feet and left the former standing at the altar.
San told us:
When we designed the Super FX chip for Nintendo, It was too late to make it into the Japanese version of the SNES. But with the American version, they were contemplating having it built in, which would have made the games cartridges much cheaper, and would have also meant that 3D was a standard in the console. In the end, we missed out on that. But then, initially, Nintendo and Sony were going to do a PlayStation with a CD attached to a SNES, with our chip in it – ours was going to be the 3D chip inside the original PlayStation. Then Sony and Nintendo fell out.
Could the Super FX have given the SNES PlayStation the power to mix it up with the likes of the 3DO and Jaguar? We’ll never know, but it’s interesting to know that it almost made it into not one, but two consoles.
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PS4 Cyber Monday Game Deals: Here Are The Best Deals On PS4 Games
There are still quite a few great deals left over from this year's Black Friday deals frenzy, and Cyber Monday 2019 is basically already here. The long weekend has seen a ton of PS4 game deals, and while we don't expect any of the current or upcoming deals to beat Black Friday's, most of the Black Friday deals will likely carry over into Cyber Monday, which means you still have time to spend and save big for the next couple of days.
We're putting together a master list of the best PS4 game deals right here. As of now, many of the deals listed below were part of retailers' Black Friday sales. Come Monday, a plethora of PS4 game deals will be available at numerous retailers. Amazon's Cyber Monday sale kicks off Monday, but some early deals are live now. Target's Cyber Monday sale actually starts Sunday, December 1, as has Best Buy's, Ebay's, and Amazon's. Meanwhile, Walmart and GameStop will all get in on the action on Monday. The PlayStation Store's Black Friday sale runs until Tuesday, so there's still time to browse Sony's digital wares, too.
Rainbow Six Siege and “Money Heist” Team Up in Free Weekend Event
Summary
Rainbow Six Siege crosses over with Netflix’s “Money Heist” for a special in-game event
Xbox Live Gold members can play Rainbow Six Siege for free between November 21 and November 24
Grab Rainbow Six Siege from the Microsoft Store for up to 70% off until December 3
Rainbow Six Siege crosses over with Netflix’s “Money Heist” (aka “La Casa de Papel”) for a special in-game event that begins today, adding a new, show-inspired mode and cosmetic items until November 24. What’s more, Xbox Live Gold members can try the new content for free, as Rainbow Six Siege will be free to download and play between November 21 and November 24.
During the event, players can take on a special Hostage mode
set in the Bank map, with the hostage kitted out in the red suit and Salvador
Dali mask worn by the “Money Heist” robbery crew. The event also adds eight new
cosmetic items for two of Rainbow Six
Siege’s Operators; Vigil and Hibana each get their own versions of the red
suits and Dali masks, along with exclusive weapon skins and “Money
Heist”-inspired charms. The new cosmetics will be available for purchase in two
bundles, which players can grab for 1,680 R6 Credits.
Xbox Live Gold members who want to keep the tense firefights going after the event ends can grab Rainbow Six Siege from the Microsoft Store for up to 70% off until December 3, and preserve any progress they made during the weekend event.
In the meantime, jump in risk-free, try the “Money Heist”
event (along with all the other maps and modes included in the game), and see
for yourself why Rainbow Six Siege,
now in its fourth year,is going
stronger than ever.
Stadia Games and Entertainment was opened earlier this year with the remit of working on first-party titles for the Stadia. The Montreal-based studio is led by industry veteran Jade Raymond, who spent over a decade at Ubisoft working on franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Splinter Cell, and Watch Dogs.
Now, Raymond will be joined by fellow Ubisoft alumni Sebastien Puel, Francois Pelland and Mathieu Leduc. Puel has been appointed as general director at Stadia Games, having previously spent a decade working as an executive producer on the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
Pelland has been brought in as the fledgling head of production, while Leduc has been named art director. During their time at Ubisoft, Pelland served as the executive director of development at Assassin’s Creed Syndicate developer Ubisoft Quebec, while Leduc was the art director at Ubisoft Montreal and worked on both Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs.
Earlier this year, Raymond explains that Stadia Games will look to create exclusive content in-house, while also working with third-party developers on other projects.
“As the head of Stadia Games and Entertainment, I will not only be bringing first-party game studios to reimagine the new generation of games,” she commented back in March. “Our team will also be working with external developers to make all of the bleeding-edge Google technology you’ve seen here today available to partner studios big and small.”
Random: Online Petition Asks Elon Musk To Put The Cybertruck In Rocket League
Last week, Elon Musk revealed the Tesla Cybertruck to the world. Since the presentation, it’s developed into a meme online and has already – unofficially – been added to a bunch of different video games. Just earlier this week, a talented modder put Elon and his pickup into GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64.
While some see this nothing more than a joke, there are others out there who are a bit more serious about the Cybertruck being added to their favourite games. One fan, by the name of Nikki Luzader, has gone to the extent of opening an online petition, asking Elon to put the Cybertruck in Rocket League:
Our great and generous Elon Musk has bestowed upon us a revolutionary vehicle whose beauty, power, and elegance is unsurpassed. Now my fellow gamers, we must fight for what is most undoubtedly meant for us to play with, because lets face it, most of us will never be able to afford one. Please sign this petition and fight to put it in the hands of the man with the plan himself. He will do it for us. He will do it for the memes. He will do it because he is the one and only: Elon Musk.
Some other Rocket League players have already added the Cybertruck to the game themselves (see below), and over on social media, there are fans who have gone to the extent of contacting Elon directly – asking him to collaborate with Psyonix Studios.
Do you think the Cybertruck would be a good fit in Rocket League? What other games could you see this truck being added to? Comment down below.
Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 30th)
It’s been yet another crazy week in the Nintendosphere, this time full of Pokémon news from every direction and even a new Metroid rumour to be sceptical of.
Now, though, it’s finally time to sit back and relax. Team Nintendo Life have discussed our weekend gaming plans below and we’d love for you to join in via the comments and poll sections below.
PJ O’Reilly, reviewer
It’s become increasingly difficult to get a moment with my Switch as my son has developed a chronic PokémonSword addiction over the past week or so – note to Santa, one Switch Lite please – but when I do get my hands on it over this coming weekend I’ll be settling into some good old terrifying myself with Alien Isolation.
I’ve just finished up the main campaign for review but still have all the DLC to blast through which should keep me more than busy/scared witless. Otherwise, I’m still making my way through Astral Chain, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and mopping up bits and pieces in the sublime The Touryst. Have a good weekend, pals!
Ryan Craddock, staff writer
Any free time I get this weekend will go towards working on my Pokédex in Pokémon Sword. I’ve beaten the Champion and made it through the scenes which follow, so the next goal is to search far and wide for as many different critters as I can, hopefully one day getting every single one (depending on how long I stay interested).
To be fair, I’ve really really enjoyed my time with the game so far. I’d actually say that this is the most fun I’ve had with the series since at least Generation 6 or 5, perhaps even 4. Now, then, how to convince one of my Pokémon Shield playing friends to let me keep their Zamazenta?
Ollie Reynolds, reviewer
This weekend I’ll be plugging away at Pokémon Shield. The game hasn’t quite clicked for me yet (then again, I’ve struggled with the series since the debut of Diamond and Pearl on the DS), but I really appreciate the quality of life improvements like minimised random encounters. I’ve only conquered two gyms so far, so I’m hopeful it will pick up soon!
I’ve not got much else on the go as far as gaming goes, but I’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on the Black Friday deals over the weekend and see if anything catches my attention. Although at some point, I need to put aside three and a half hours to watch Martin Scorsese’s new film The Irishman!
Gavin Lane, staff writer
I’ll be heading back to Galar this weekend. I’m really enjoying making my way from town to town. It’s been a long time since I’ve played a Pokémon (the original, actually) and it’s a treat to see how much (and sometimes how little) has changed over the last two decades. I can imagine series stalwarts being a little frustrated at the lack of advancement after this many entries. For me, though, it’s like a warm blanket. Lovely.
I also picked up Starlink: Battle for Atlas starter pack for a mere 10€, so perhaps I’ll get around to hopping in an Arwing, too. Probably not, though.
My game of the week is the surprise release of Trover Saves The Universe. Who knew that even without VR, the unmistakable humour of “Rick and Morty” co-creator Justin Roiland would work so well on the Switch?
Austin Voigt, contributing writer
Some of you have already had to listen to me talk about this far too much – but I don’t care. For the past couple of mornings, I have had an adorable, sweet owl hooting outside of my bedroom window. I have appropriately named it Rowlet, based on the fact that I wish Pokémon were real. This is my very poor segway into the fact that I’m literally just going to be playing Pokémon Shield this entire extended Thanksgiving weekend. And I believe that is the same thing I’ve written for the past three weekend entries.
As always, thanks for reading! Make sure to leave a vote in the poll above and a comment below with your gaming choices over the next few days…
If you’ve been holding out for the physical release, you’ll be pleased to hear pre-orders for the Limited Run version are now open. The game is priced at $29.99 and you have until 13th December to secure a copy.
Each copy includes a full-colour interior print on the cover sheet reverse side and a full-colour booklet. The item is still being manufactured and will not be shipped until one to three months after pre-orders close. Unfortunately, the Collector’s Edition containing panoramic poster art has already sold out.
Update: 2064: Read Only Memories is also available to pre-order for $29.99. Like VA-11 HALL-A, this one will ship one to three months after pre-orders close and includes a booklet and interior cover print. A Collector’s Edition is still available at the time of writing for $59.99.
Will you be adding either of these games to your physical Switch library? Comment below.
Leap Into Adventure and Nature with Tamarin, Coming Soon to Xbox One
Summary
We’re glad to finally announce that Tamarin is coming soon to Xbox One
Tamarin embarks on an exciting journey and is thrown into an intense fight for survival to bring back his family
Tamarin aims to rekindle the joy and excitement of classic 3D adventures that many people fondly remember
Introducing Tamarin, a new third-person action-adventure that mixes two styles of play. This cute monkey seems harmless, jumping around beautiful Nordic environments, swimming in the fjords, climbing mountains, catching birds. But things go wrong very quickly; The tamarins’ idyllic forest burnt down, his family taken away, and his house destroyed!
A World of Surprise
This is when you’ll discover the dual nature of Tamarin; beautiful 3D landscapes such as fjords, mountains, and forests, full of adventure and exploration – contrasted with claustrophobic underground tunnels and industrial factories guarded by an intelligent and powerful insect species. Never content, working in groups and with weapons and tools to do whatever they want. They expand and consume, driving other animals out from where they live. Tamarin embarks on an exciting journey and is thrown into an intense fight for survival to bring back his family!
Classic 3D Gameplay
Tamarin aims to rekindle the joy and excitement of classic 3D adventures that many people fondly remember, and which some of our team were part of creating in the past. Tamarin pays tribute to the style and variety of games developed by Rare in the previous decades, from action-filled shooters to 3D platformers with charming animals (you can try some of them in the Rare Replay collection).
Leap Into Nature
The natural world is amazing! So many colors and phenomena. This planet has so many astonishing living things that you didn’t even imagine existed. One such species that might have escaped your attention are these adorable small animals called tamarins. Their cool movements are fascinating to watch. Through many years of developing this new 3D explorative adventure, we’ve been aiming to bring this feeling of leaping quickly through the air straight to your fingertips. We’re glad to finally announce that Tamarin is coming soon to Xbox One!
You will help jump start our transition to Unreal for AAA console games. You should have deep experience or specialty in at least one area, and strong working knowledge of all client systems — graphics, ai, physics, animation, game rules, audio, ui, i/o, and tools. You should have strong opinions about what goes in cpp and what goes in blue print. You should be able to communicate the “right” way to do things in Unreal to the team.
Requirements:
Shipped a high quality Unreal project in the last 5 years
Voodoo knowledge of UE4
5+ years of games or simulation experience in C++ or C#
Experience on mid- to large teams
Plus – broad knowledge and passion of current generation shooting games
Links to the titles you worked on with a description of which features you owned
Whether you’re just starting out, looking for something new, or just seeing what’s out there, the Gamasutra Job Board is the place where game developers move ahead in their careers.
Gamasutra’s Job Board is the most diverse, most active, and most established board of its kind in the video game industry, serving companies of all sizes, from indie to triple-A.
We're in the midst of the Black Friday madness, and luxury gaming chair company Secretlab has a sale of its own on several of its best lines of chairs. The company's chairs are normally quite expensive, so the Black Friday deals are worth taking a look at if you're in the market for something comfortable for your gaming bum. The Black Friday sale is on through December 2.
Secretlab's 2018 and 2020 series are both on sale for $65 off and $35 off respectively for Black Friday. Every single chair from both lines, except for the Overwatch, D.Va, and T1 editions, are included. The chairs come in both PU artificial leather and fabric weave, but Secretlab also has a Black Friday deal on its real NAPA leather line--$100 off through Cyber Monday. NAPA leather has a softer feel to it than most leather, and because of that, it boasts a much bigger price tag than Secretlab's PU leather and fabric options.
You can see all of Secretlab's Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019 deals in the list below. And be sure to check out the rest of our Black Friday deal roundups of all things gaming, including the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Every single chair from the 2020 series--except the Overwatch, D.Va, and T1 editions--is discounted by $35 this Black Friday. Thankfully, there are still plenty of special editions included in the sale, such as the Dark Knight, Dota 2, and Game of Thrones editions.
The entire Secretlab 2018 series sees a $65 price drop for Black Friday. That includes the League Championship Series edition for all you LoL fans out there.
