05-18-2019, 06:35 AM
The Weekender: Earth Edition
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-weekender-earth-edition.jpg" width="1280" height="720" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-weekender-earth-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>Doing something a little different today, simply because a piece of news dropped we can’t really ignore (and because reasons I can’t really write this up separately). I have dabbled with doing upcoming releases and similar such things in Weekender, but it’s not been consistent so far.</p>
<p>Apologise for the rather lack-lustre week again – we’re on track to have some decent reviews and goodies for you next week though, so hopefully that’ll make up for it.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gamining…</p>
<h2>New Announcements</h2>
<p>Microsoft just announced their own take on <em>Pokemon GO</em> in the form of <em>Minecraft Earth</em>. This AR mobile game will allow you to drop your Minecraft creations into the real world for everyone to see. It’s going to be stand-alone experience, meaning you will need to build everything within the app itself, using resources you source from in-game nodes in much the same way you visit Pokestops.</p>
<p>There’s also reference to something called ‘Adventures’, which are quick scenarios where you can interact with <em>Minecraft</em> creatures or enemies, which can be done solo or with friends. Not much else to say at this point, other than to leave you with a promotional trailer (<em>I feel like we’ve been her before</em><strong>-ED</strong>).</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYKxBKj29dI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<p>Oh there’s also a beta <a href="https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">you can sign up for, if you want</a>.</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Steam Link (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/steam-link/id1246969117?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.valvesoftware.steamlink" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>Well now, isn’t THIS is a surprise. It’s been a year since Apple blocked Valve’s attempt to release their SteamLink app on the app store, citing <em>“business conflicts”</em>. Us Android users have been sitting here smugly enjoying our ability to stream Steam to our phones… maybe. I don’t know I haven’t actually used it yet. Been on my to-do list…</p>
<p>Anyway, our smugness is now at an end because Steam Link has finally appeared on the App store. I’m not sure what’s prompted this change of heart, or whether there’s any difference between the version, but it might be high time we look at this probably now that all mobile gamers can make use of it.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mraRO_BNQG4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Talisman: Origins (iOS & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomadgames.talismanchronicles&gl=GB" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>Nomad Games have released a new stand-alone Talisman experience. This new adaptation focuses on the solo experience and uses the completed Revisied 4<sup>th</sup> Edition Rules. It features 20 quests spread across 4 campaigns, with over 100 challenges and a new interactive tutorial. There are twelve characters you can control, and it seems like you can play as both good and bad.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NG5cDOMDm5g?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<p><strong>Please note that at the time of writing, <a href="https://twitter.com/Nomadgames/status/1129307958297485312" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a bug on the App Store</a> is preventing the iOS version from showing up when you try to search for the game. Nomad and Asmodee are working on a solution but it seems the problem is on Apple’s end.</strong></p>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<h3>Talisman: Digital Edition (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1312840735?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="http://https//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomadgames.talisman" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p><em>Origins</em> isn’t the only thing Nomad have been working on – the <em>Ancient Beats</em> DLC is also now available for <em>Talisman: Digital Edition</em>.</p>
<p><em>Please note that the same issues that’s effecting Origins on iOS is also affecting Ancient Beats on the app store.</em></p>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>There’s quite a few sales this week that attracted our attention:</p>
<ul>
<li>On iOS, Overhaul Games have discounted their <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/developer/overhaul-games/id869400201" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">entire catalogue</a> down to $1.99, which includes games like <em>Baldur’s Gate</em>, <em>Icewind Dale</em> and more (not on Android, sadly).</li>
<li>To celebrate the release of <em>Origins</em> and a new DLC, Nomad has discounted <em>Talisman: Digital Edition</em> on iOS & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomadgames.talisman" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li><em>Kingdom: New Lands</em> Is also discounted on <a href="http://https//itunes.apple.com/app/id1118513354?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.noio.kingdom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li><em>Sentinels of the Multiverse</em> was given a minor update at the start of the week, and is now discounted on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id923772792?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.handelabra.Sentinels" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li>And last but certainly not least, iOS readers can pick up <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1108475553?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Jade Empire</em></a> for $2.99.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-weekender-earth-edition.jpg" width="1280" height="720" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-weekender-earth-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>Doing something a little different today, simply because a piece of news dropped we can’t really ignore (and because reasons I can’t really write this up separately). I have dabbled with doing upcoming releases and similar such things in Weekender, but it’s not been consistent so far.</p>
<p>Apologise for the rather lack-lustre week again – we’re on track to have some decent reviews and goodies for you next week though, so hopefully that’ll make up for it.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gamining…</p>
<h2>New Announcements</h2>
<p>Microsoft just announced their own take on <em>Pokemon GO</em> in the form of <em>Minecraft Earth</em>. This AR mobile game will allow you to drop your Minecraft creations into the real world for everyone to see. It’s going to be stand-alone experience, meaning you will need to build everything within the app itself, using resources you source from in-game nodes in much the same way you visit Pokestops.</p>
<p>There’s also reference to something called ‘Adventures’, which are quick scenarios where you can interact with <em>Minecraft</em> creatures or enemies, which can be done solo or with friends. Not much else to say at this point, other than to leave you with a promotional trailer (<em>I feel like we’ve been her before</em><strong>-ED</strong>).</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYKxBKj29dI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<p>Oh there’s also a beta <a href="https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">you can sign up for, if you want</a>.</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Steam Link (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/steam-link/id1246969117?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.valvesoftware.steamlink" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>Well now, isn’t THIS is a surprise. It’s been a year since Apple blocked Valve’s attempt to release their SteamLink app on the app store, citing <em>“business conflicts”</em>. Us Android users have been sitting here smugly enjoying our ability to stream Steam to our phones… maybe. I don’t know I haven’t actually used it yet. Been on my to-do list…</p>
<p>Anyway, our smugness is now at an end because Steam Link has finally appeared on the App store. I’m not sure what’s prompted this change of heart, or whether there’s any difference between the version, but it might be high time we look at this probably now that all mobile gamers can make use of it.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mraRO_BNQG4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Talisman: Origins (iOS & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomadgames.talismanchronicles&gl=GB" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>Nomad Games have released a new stand-alone Talisman experience. This new adaptation focuses on the solo experience and uses the completed Revisied 4<sup>th</sup> Edition Rules. It features 20 quests spread across 4 campaigns, with over 100 challenges and a new interactive tutorial. There are twelve characters you can control, and it seems like you can play as both good and bad.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NG5cDOMDm5g?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<p><strong>Please note that at the time of writing, <a href="https://twitter.com/Nomadgames/status/1129307958297485312" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a bug on the App Store</a> is preventing the iOS version from showing up when you try to search for the game. Nomad and Asmodee are working on a solution but it seems the problem is on Apple’s end.</strong></p>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<h3>Talisman: Digital Edition (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1312840735?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="http://https//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomadgames.talisman" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p><em>Origins</em> isn’t the only thing Nomad have been working on – the <em>Ancient Beats</em> DLC is also now available for <em>Talisman: Digital Edition</em>.</p>
<p><em>Please note that the same issues that’s effecting Origins on iOS is also affecting Ancient Beats on the app store.</em></p>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>There’s quite a few sales this week that attracted our attention:</p>
<ul>
<li>On iOS, Overhaul Games have discounted their <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/developer/overhaul-games/id869400201" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">entire catalogue</a> down to $1.99, which includes games like <em>Baldur’s Gate</em>, <em>Icewind Dale</em> and more (not on Android, sadly).</li>
<li>To celebrate the release of <em>Origins</em> and a new DLC, Nomad has discounted <em>Talisman: Digital Edition</em> on iOS & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomadgames.talisman" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li><em>Kingdom: New Lands</em> Is also discounted on <a href="http://https//itunes.apple.com/app/id1118513354?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.noio.kingdom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li><em>Sentinels of the Multiverse</em> was given a minor update at the start of the week, and is now discounted on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id923772792?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.handelabra.Sentinels" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li>And last but certainly not least, iOS readers can pick up <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1108475553?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Jade Empire</em></a> for $2.99.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>