Nintendo’s Brand Relevance Rises In The UK, PlayStation Still Most Recognised
Nintendo has gone from strength to strength this generation thanks to the success of the Switch, so it’s no surprise to hear its brand recognition has now risen this year within the UK.
According to Prophet’s Brand Relevance Index for 2018, which surveys 11,500 consumers in the UK about 240 brands across 27 different categories, Nintendo has risen to 11th place – moving up two places from the previous year. In comparison, Sony’s PlayStation brand came in at third place, beaten out by the master builder Lego in second place and tech giant Apple in the first place.
This technically makes PlayStation the only video game brand in the top 10 and the most recognised video game brand within the UK. Microsoft’s Xbox dropped six spots down to 17th place, while online giants Google and Amazon placed in the 4th and 8th spot.
The brand and marketing consultancy also conducted the same annual survey in the US, though gaming isn’t as prominent. Apple again took the top spot, PlayStation came in at 13th place, Xbox was all the way down to 25th place and EA was at 34th place. Nintendo was not listed in the US version of the survey.
Save up to 80% in the Made with GameMaker sale during this week’s Midweek Madness*!
GameMaker Studio 2 is the latest and greatest incarnation of GameMaker! It has everything you need to take your idea from concept to finished game. With no barriers to entry and powerful functionality, GameMaker Studio 2 is the ultimate 2D development environment!
Over 40 games made with GameMaker are on discount during this sale as well as GameMaker Studio 2 at its lowest price ever on Steam! Whether you want to play these amazing games or start making games, check out the deals today!
Fortnite: Last Chance To Complete Season 5 Challenges
We're now in the final week of Fortnite Season 5, which means a whole new season and other big changes are just around the corner for the popular battle royale game. That also means this is your last opportunity to complete Season 5 challenges and unlock any remaining Battle Pass rewards if you still haven't on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile.
As it has done in previous seasons, Epic released 10 weekly batches of challenges for players to complete throughout Season 5. For this season, the tasks were divided up into two categories--Free and Battle Pass--so even those who haven't purchased a Battle Pass, which was typically the only way to gain access to the challenges, could be able to complete some and earn rewards.
Season 5 is slated to run until September 25, meaning you have until then to finish up any remaining challenges. If you need help getting them done--or would just like some pointers on how to clear them as quickly as possible--we've assembled guides for each weekly set of missions in our complete Fortnite Season 5 challenge roundup. You can also see all of the items and cosmetics you can earn by completing the challenges in our Season 5 rewards gallery.
Week 10's challenges arrived on September 13, and as usual, they featured a mix of straightforward tasks (like dealing damage to opponents and consuming enough apples or mushrooms) as well as some slightly more involved ones. One of the trickier challenges has you searching for Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces in basements; we've put together a guide of their locations here. You can see the full list of Week 10 challenges below.
Epic recently rolled out Fortnite's 5.40 content update, which introduced another new weapon to the game's ever expanding arsenal: the Suppressed Assault Rifle, a new gun that lets you take out other players stealthily. The update also moved the Drum Gun into the vault.
Become the living book, Tractatus de Monstrum, and command a brigade of puppet soldiers as you navigate the twisting passageways of the labyrinth of Refrain.
When at your base, prepare for your journey by upgrading your brigade! Create new puppet soldiers, assign them different squads and formations, synthesize better equipment, take requests from townsfolk, and get assistance from Dronya in the form of Witch Petitions.
Once you've entered the labyrinth, be sure to search every nook and cranny as you jump over barricades, solve puzzles, and smash your way through walls to delve further and further downward in search of treasure and rare artefacts. But be careful, the more riches you obtain, the more vicious the dungeon becomes. Can you survive long enough to bring your haul back?
Fight past terrifying monsters by giving orders to your puppet brigade. Change their formation, use special skills, or call for an all out attack! The battles you face will be challenging, so your success depends on your preparation and your strategy.
Grab your free code below (Please allow up to 1 hour to receive an email):
About the game:
In Magic: The Gathering Arena you are counted among the elite spellcasters of the Multiverse—the Planeswalkers. Your deck of cards represents your weapons, containing the spells and the creatures you can summon to fight for you. Magic: The Gathering Arena is a free-to-play online Magic game, reborn digitally for gamers, fans, and streamers. This is real Magic for the modern era. Play, collect, and build online just like you would at your kitchen table or local game store.
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Offer valid only while supplies last. In order to redeem offer you must be 13 years of age or older and reside in one of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia or in one of the Territories of the United States, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Offer not redeemable for cash. This Offer may be modified of terminated at any time without notice. Certain terms and restrictions apply. Limit one per household. Offer ends 12/31/2018 or when all codes have been redeemed, whichever comes first.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 09-16-2018, 01:08 AM - Forum: Lounge
- No Replies
New Apple Watch 4 Release Date, Price Announced (Apple Keynote 2018)
Apple has shown off the next iteration of its Apple Watch, which has been "redesigned and re-engineered." Revealed during its keynote, the company showed off the Series 4's bigger screen, which utilises a new user interface to make use of the additional real estate. We also got a release date and prices for the various models, along with the new iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.
To make the most of the extra space, there are now new customization options for faces and Complications. The modular face can now surface more detailed information from stocks and healths apps. The Breathe app will now be available as a watch face and will guide you through a deep breath exercise when you raise your wrist. Other dynamic watch faces that interact with the larger screen and its curved edges.
The Digital Crown now has haptic feedback and the speaker has been redesigned to be 50 percent louder, which is handy for phone calls and talking to Siri. The microphone has been shifted away from the speaker to reduce echo, while the back of the Series 4 Apple Watch is made of black ceramic and sapphire crystal. Radio waves can pass through the front and the back, which means better reception.
Inside the device is the S4 chip with a dual-core 64-bit processor, which deliverers 2x faster performance. The accelerometer gyroscope has been improved significantly too, to the point where it can tell when a wearer has fallen over. If it senses you're immobile for more than a minute it starts informing emergency services.
Three new heart features were also announced. The first is a notification when your heart rate is too low. Apple Watch can also screen your heart rhythm in the background and send you information if it detects atrial fibrillation. The final new feature is the ability to take electrocardiograms (ECG); this is the first time an ECG product has been offered over the counter to consumers, according to Apple. Built in electrodes in the back of the watch and the Digital Crown detect electrical signals from the heart and the S4 chip processes this information, before surfacing it to the wearer in the Health app. This information can be exported as a .pdf file and given to doctors. All this data, Apple says, will be protected, as the information is encrypted on the devices and in the cloud.
The Apple Watch Series 4's battery life has the same 18-hour battery life as its predecessors, even with the enhancements.
Series 4 will be available in silver, gold, and space grey. A stainless collection will also be available, alongside a gold stainless finish. Band colours and styles that are already available will still fit the new watch. Apple Watch Series 4 starts at $399 with GPS, $499 with cellular and will be available to order from September 14 and picked up from September 21. The Series 3 Apple Watch will drop in price to $279. The latest version of WatchOS, meanwhile, will launch on September 17.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 09-16-2018, 12:10 AM - Forum: Lounge
- No Replies
Ex-Riot devs net $2.5M to help launch new LA studio Singularity 6
News slipped out today that there’s a new game studio in Los Angeles: Singularity 6, founded by former Riot Games staffers Anthony Leung and Aidan Karabaich with an eye towards creating “genre-defining” online games.
Notably, the pair have secured $2.5 million in seed funding from London Venture Partners, which is reportedly the largest single investment the firm has ever made in a company.
Perhaps most notably for game devs, Singularity 6 appears to be hiring. Further details can be found over on the company’s new website.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 09-16-2018, 12:10 AM - Forum: Lounge
- No Replies
Hop into the driver’s seat with Nintendo Labo Vehicle Kit, now in stores
Hop into the driver’s seat with Nintendo Labo Vehicle Kit, now in stores
It’s time to drive, dive and fly in the newest addition to the Nintendo Labo line of interactive DIY kits, harnessing the power of the Nintendo Switch system to create imaginative gameplay experiences. Starting today, Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit navigates its way to stores at a suggested retail price of $69.99. The new kit includes materials to build several unique projects, called Toy-Con, including a car, plane, submarine, spray can, pedal and two keys. But building these projects is only the start of the fun!
In Adventure, a single- or multiplayer game*, players can explore a large, mysterious world featuring snowy mountains, a futuristic city and even archeological ruins solo or with a friend. Navigating the world is as easy as hopping behind the steering wheel of the Toy-Con Car, grabbing the flight stick of the Toy-Con Plane or rotating the controls of the Toy-Con Submarine. When players want to change from one vehicle to another, they simply have to swap out the Toy-Con Key to continue exploring through land, air or sea.
“Fans of all ages have embraced the originality and creativity of Nintendo Labo,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit expands the possibilities of what Nintendo Labo can do, with a variety of fun gameplay modes and deeper programming elements to explore.”
Each of the three vehicles in Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit handles differently, with specific controls and special moves. Players can launch a grappling hook with the submarine, do a barrel roll and shoot missiles in the plane, and perform wheelies and deploy weapons while driving the car. All of these moves and more can be used while participating in the many activities scattered around the colorful and vast in-game world.
Some of the other games include Rally, in which players pass through checkpoints in an off-road race against the clock in the world of Adventure; Circuit, a racing game with a twist – players can launch punches at in-game opponents; Slot Cars, a classic game that is controlled using only the Toy-Con Pedal; and Battle, one-on-one automotive showdowns with other players or against the game’s AI.
Customization is a big part of the Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit experience. In Paint Studio, people can use their Toy-Con Spray Can to personalize their in-game vehicles and drivers. When gently shaking the Toy-Con Spray Can, users will actually hear the “ball” inside as they mix the paint. In Discover, users can learn how Nintendo Labo works, and in Toy-Con Garage, users can experiment with new ways to play and create their own Toy-Con inventions. Custom Controls is a new feature that allows users to make their own Toy-Con controllers for the game using common household items. For example, by using unexpected objects like a sponge and a notebook, industrious creators can make an additional Toy-Con Pedal for a friend! The possibilities are only limited by the scope of the user’s imagination.
Players can feel like they’re really in the driver’s seat by using the Toy-Con Car, Toy-Con Pedal and Toy-Con Key to control their in-game vehicle in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch. This immersive functionality will be available to download as a free software update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Sept. 19. These custom options join the Motorbike from the Nintendo Labo Variety Kit, which is already compatible with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
*Multiplayer games require additional Joy-Con controllers and may require an additional Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit. System, kits and some accessories are sold separately.
*Nintendo Switch system required. Parental supervision recommended.
You can tell by the way I use my stock I’m a survival man, no time to talk.
As Summer ends and the leaves begin to fall we see nature switching into survival mode. The ID@Xbox team decided it’s the perfect time to collect our favorite survival games and put them on sale. From now through September 10 you can save up to 70% on great survival games. Embrace the looming Fall, grab your favorite warm beverage, and prepare to survive with great titles like:
Don’t Starve Mega Pack (50% off) Play as Wilson, an intrepid gentleman scientist who has been trapped by a demon and transported to a mysterious wilderness world. Learn to exploit his environment and its inhabitants if he hopes find his way back home. Set out on your own in a classic game of uncompromising wilderness survival in Don’t Starve, or gather up to six friends and play Don’t Starve: Together for an all-new experience with unique items, character skins, resource variants and more!
Conan Exiles (40% off) Explore a vast, seamless world full of challenge and opportunity in Conan Exiles, an open-world survival game set in the brutal lands of “Conan the Barbarian.” Survive in a savage world, build your kingdom, and dominate your enemies in brutal combat and epic warfare. Wage war using swords, bows, siege weapons, and even take control of giant avatars of the gods and lay waste to enemy cities. Hunt animals for resources, slay monsters for treasure, and delve deep underground to discover the secrets of ancient civilizations.
Deep Rock Galactic (Game Preview) (30% off) Danger. Darkness. Dwarves. Hoxxes IV has the highest concentration of valuable minerals ever discovered. However, everything on the planet from the creatures to the fauna is extremely hostile. Good thing Deep Rock Galactic employs the best space miners in the universe: Dwarves! Combining two things they love most – mining and killing monsters – and Hoxxes is the perfect job for any proud, space-faring Dwarf.
Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide (80% off) The world is ending… though few believe it. The once proud city of Ubersreik now stands in ruin at the hands of the dreaded Skaven army. Few have survived their ruthless invasion. Team up with three friends and work together to thin out the ratmen’s forces and drive them out of the city. Assume the role of one of five heroes, and hack, slash, smash, burn, and pierce the vile Skaven using a multitude of weapons. Fight your way through the city of Ubersreik, from the top of the Magnus Tower to the bowels of the Under Empire. Only you can stem the Vermintide.
The Flame in the Flood (60% off) A wilderness survival game in which a girl and her dog travel on foot and by raft down a procedurally-generated river. Scrounge for resources, craft tools, remedy afflictions, evade the vicious wildlife and, most importantly, stay healthy in a dangerous wilderness.
This is just a small sample all the great survival games on sale from September 4 to September 10. Whether you’re a hard-core survivalist or just trying to survive the start of school season this sale has something for you. See the full list of games at Xbox.com
The Escapists: Complete Edition Is Breaking Free On Switch Later This Month
Team17 has revealed that The Escapists: Complete Edition will be making its way to Nintendo Switch later this month, launching on the system on 25th September.
If you missed the initial announcement last month, this edition of the game promises to be the most content-packed version so far, including all the prisons from the original game plus nine bonus maps. One of these maps – Fhurst Peak – has never previously been released on console.
The Escapists: Complete Edition will be available to download on Switch on the 25th September for just £9.99 / $14.99 / €14,99.
Will you be tunnelling your way to escape once again?
