News

News

The Hot & the Cold

Innovation in Accessibility

This year, the Game Awards will be introducing an award that will recognize innovation in gaming accessibility. The event will take place on Thursday, December 10th.

Dontnod’s Tell Me Why

Dontnod’s newest game features the first transgender playable character from any major studio. The developers worked with GLAAD, a LGBTQ media advocacy group, to create an authentic portrayal of a trans man.

Mario 35th Anniversary

Super Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy hit the Nintendo Switch. While exciting, Nintendo only provided a limited release window and did very little to polish the games. And many ask, where is Galaxy 2?

Games or Groceries?

With so many new game reveals for new consoles, one can’t help but notice the $70 price tag which seems to have become the norm. If a game costs as much as a trip to the grocery store, then there may be a problem.

Hogwarts Legacy

The RPG takes place in the Wizarding World during the 1800s. While the game looks great, it is announced on the heels of J.K. Rowling’s toxic tweets towards trans people. It will take a lot to justify supporting this one.

Games & Online Harrassment Hotline

In recent years, the games space has revealed itself to be more and more toxic. From abusive and sexist behavior in the workplace to harmful rhetoric toward marginalized groups from big name streamers, the time has come to say enough is enough. Enter the Games and Online Harassment Hotline, a text-based hotline that offers emotional support and resources for people in the gaming community. This not only includes developers but streamers, competitors, and players. The initiative was started by Anita Sarkeesian with the help of Christopher Vu Gandin Le. The hotline works to “ensure that anyone who experiences such abuse can reach out...whether it’s just someone to talk to about what they’re going through or referrals to other resources to help them protect themselves or take legal action.” 1 The hotline also hosts live Twitch streams where they bring on various guests to talk about topics in the games space. Past conversations have focused on accessibility in competitive esports, getting started in games writing, and holding leaders accountable. The hotline is active from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Friday. To use the hotline, text SUPPORT to 23368 from anywhere in the US.

Junub Games: Games for Peace

Salaam is a mobile game from Junub Games that follows a refugee who must flee a war torn region. It comes from Lual Mayen, CEO of Junub and who was once a refugee himself. In Arabic, salaam means peace and peace is what Junub aims to promote in the mindset of their players. “We will humanize displaced people by putting players in the shoes of a refugee forced to deal with daily hardships,” 6 they write. Learn more about the game’s release at junubgames.com.

Spider-Man Gets a New Face

Insomniac recently revealed one big change coming to Spider-Man Remastered - our hero’s face. Ben Jordan was cast as the new face model to better match voice actor Yuri Lowenthal’s facial capture. Fan reactions have not been the best. Although Insomniac’s Creative Director Bryan Intihar offered words of reassurance, the decision still feels perplexing. The character is unrecognizable and the choice undermines the integrity of the original look. Not to mention he now looks like a Tom Holland rip-off.

Gigantic Itcho.io “Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality” Raises Over $8 Million

Back in June, Itch.io released a massive bundle of over 740 titles from over 560 developers called the “Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality.” The bundle cost a minimum of five dollars and all of the money raised was split 50/50 toward the “NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund” and “Community Bail Fund.” It included notable titles such as Celeste, Oxenfree, and A Short Hike, and these titles don’t even scratch the surface of what the bundle offered. As the bundle gained traction, the amount of games grew to over 1,400 and ended up raising $8.1 million, surpassing the $5 million goal. At a time when many companies are jumping on the racial justice bandwagon without really doing much beyond lip service, Itch.io and the game developers actually put their money where their mouth is. Even games such as Night in the Woods, which normally stay away from bundles, broke their rule in support of the initiative. The bundle was met with positive vibes and shows how much good the gaming community is capable of. To learn more about Black Lives Matter and how you can help, visit https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/. 2 3 4

Untitled Goose Game News

Untitled Goose Game was one of the biggest indie hits of 2019 and is one of the most charming games on the market. 2020 is bringing some more great Goose content that we need in our lives. First, it has finally received a free update for multiplayer. You and a friend can now terrorize the local neighborhood together, two honks at a time. What is even more exciting is that the game got a physical release for the Nintendo Switch and PS4, as well as a vinyl soundtrack. The PS4 box is unique because it is the first ever official eco-focused game package. In a Twitter thread from iam8bit, they explain how they used 100% post-consumer, recycled material to create a Sony approved game package. “Our goal was to find the right balance to ensure this feels sturdy and fits on your shelf with the rest of your collection. We promise it passes the ‘squeeze test.’” 5 The box is also made with 20-pt stock and no harmful inks, and wrapped in Biolefin which is an eco-friendly shrinkwrap. Seeing such high measures being taken to help the environment is a step in the right direction! Honk honk for iam8bit and Goose Game!