Originally Posted by MMO-Champion

Death Knight (Forums, Talent Calculator, PvP Talent Calculator, Artifact Calculator)
Pets

• Monstrous Blow Strike an enemy with a smashing attack, dealing [ 11.14% [ 18% of Attack Power ] Physical damage and stunning for 2 sec. Can be cast in Ghoul. Melee range. Instant. 1.5 min cooldown.

Mage (Forums, Talent Calculator, PvP Talent Calculator, Artifact Calculator)
Minor Glyphs

• Glyph of Steaming Fury (New) Your Water Elemental is replaced by a Steaming Elemental. Minor Glyph. Minor Glyph.
• Glyph of Steaming Fury (New) Your Water Elemental is replaced by a Steaming Elemental. Minor Glyph. Minor Glyph. 1.5 sec cast.
• Glyph of the Cold Waves (New) Your Water Elemental is replaced by a Cresting Wave Elemental. Minor Glyph. Minor Glyph.
• Glyph of the Cold Waves (New) Your Water Elemental is replaced by a Cresting Wave Elemental. Minor Glyph. Minor Glyph. 1.5 sec cast.
• Glyph of the Dark Depths (New) Your Water Elemental is replaced by a darker Depths Elemental. Minor Glyph. Minor Glyph.
• Glyph of the Dark Depths (New) Your Water Elemental is replaced by a darker Depths Elemental. Minor Glyph. Minor Glyph. 1.5 sec cast.

Warlock (Forums, Talent Calculator, PvP Talent Calculator, Artifact Calculator)
Demonology

• Summon Demonic Tyrant Summon a Demonic Tyrant to increase the duration of all of your current lesser demons by 15.0 sec, and increase the damage of all of your other demons by 15%, while damaging your target. Warlock - Demonology Spec. Warlock - Demonology Spec. 2% of Base Mana. 40 yd range. 2 sec cast. 1.5 min cooldown.

Item Effects

• Acid Resistance Attacks from Ooze and Slime creatures have a 10% chance to deal 50% 0% reduced damage to you. Instant.
• Aqueous Reliquary (New) Instant. 1 sec cooldown.
• Arcane Tempest (New) Your damaging abilities have a low chance to unleash an arcane tempest for 20 sec, dealing Arcane damage to nearby enemies every 2 sec. Each time the tempest damages a lone enemy, its frequency will increase, stacking up to 6 times. Approximately 1.5 procs per minute.
• Assembling Combine 30 Hardened Spring, 10 Tempered Plating, and 5 Machined Gear Assembly to create a Bundle of Recycled Parts. 3 sec cast. Reagents: Item #168952 x 30, Item #168951 x 10, Item #168950 x 5. 12, Item #168950 x 5.
• Assembling Combine 30 Hardened Spring, 10 Tempered Plating, and 5 Machined Gear Assembly to create a Bundle of Recycled parts. 3 sec cast. Reagents: Item #168217 x 30, Item #168216 x 10, Item #168215 x 5. 12, Item #168215 x 5.
• Balancing Nature (New) Increase damage to beasts by 0%. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Battle-Born Vigor (New) Gain 0 health every 5 sec for 1 sec when you kill an enemy of the opposite faction. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Bioelectric Charge Your auto attacks have a very low chance to prime Diver's Folly. For 12 sec, 5% of your damage will be stored as bioelectric charge. When Diver's Folly discharges, deal Nature damage equal to the charge to 3 nearby enemies. Approximately 1 proc per minute.
• Brightspine Shell (New) Put the bright, spiky shell on your head, which deals Physical damage to enemies that attack you in combat, but increases the radius that enemies detect you. Only usable in Kul Tiras, Zandalar, and Nazjatar. Instant.
• Burgeoning Battlefield Furor Combine 0 Combine 15 Burgeoning Battlefield Furor to create Battlefield Honor Rib-Bone Choker of Dominance. 1.5 sec cast. 1 sec cooldown. Reagents: Burgeoning Battlefield Furor x 15.
• Chain of Suffering Name changed from "Mindleech Tether" to "Chain of Suffering".
• Coalescing Blood of the Vanquished Combine 0 Coalescing Blood of the Vanquished to create either Blood of the Enemy, Sphere of Suppression, or Artifice of Time. The item created is based on your Loot Specialization. 1.5 sec cast. 1 sec cooldown. Reagents: Coalescing Blood of the Vanquished x 200. Item #169680 x 200.
• Curse of the Tides (New) Instant.
• Curse of the Tides (New) Instant.
• Curse of the Tides (New) Instant.
• Cursed Lover's Ring Bind your ring to another Cursed Lover's Ring. Instant. 10 yd range. Instant.
• Declare Edict Name changed from "Declaration" to "Declare Edict". Declare an Edict. Cannot be used in combat. 4 sec cast. Declare Edict of the Myrmidon, absorbing 0 Physical damage. 4 sec cast. 20 sec cooldown.
• Drink Restores 80% Restores 60% Mana over 20 sec. Must remain seated while drinking. Instant.
• Edicts of the Faithless Gain Edict of the Sentinel, absorbing the next 0 Physical damage, stacking each time the absorb breaks, up to 10 times. Recharges after 16 seconds. Every 16 seconds, gain a shield. Each time the shield breaks, the following shield will be 10% stronger, up to 100%. Your active Edict determines the type of damage absorbed by the shield.
• Enhance Item (New) Empower a Pearled item from Nazjatar, increasing its item level by 5, up to a maximum of 430. Instant.
• Enhance Item Empower a Pearled item from Nazjatar, increasing its item level by 5, up to a maximum of 430. Instant. 415. Instant.
• Enhance Item (New) Empower a Pearled Azerite item from Nazjatar, increasing its item level by 15, up to a maximum of 430. Instant.
• Enhance Item Empower a Pearled Azerite item from Nazjatar, increasing its item level by 15, up to a maximum of 430. Instant. 415. Instant.
• Enhance Synapses Zap yourself for 8,153 Nature damage, gaining 557 Intellect for 15 sec. Instant. 45 sec cooldown.
• Enhanced Mining Drill (New) Increase the speed in which you gather Azerite from mining nodes and mineral veins. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Eternal Palace Dining Set (New) Prepare for dinner. Instant.
• Fermented Deviate Fish (New) Eat me. Instant.
• Fight-or-Flight (New) When your health drops below 0% gain 0 Speed rating for 1 sec. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Filling... Arcane enchantments fill your pouch with life-giving liquid when used while standing in water. 10 sec cast. Reagents: Magnificent Desalinating Pouch. Mardivas' Magnificent Desalinating Pouch.
• Flopping Fish (New) Eat me. Instant.
• Focusing Life Anima Combine 15 Focused Life Anima to create Lifebinder's Invocation Lingering Seed of Renewal. The item created is based on your Loot Specialization. 1.5 sec cast. 1 sec cooldown. Reagents: Focused Life Anima x 15.
• Gangrenous Spores (New) Throw Gangrenous Spores on an enemy, dealing 0 Nature damage every 3 sec for 15 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. 40 yd range. Instant.
• Gardbrace (New) Absorbs up to 0 damage you take from ranged attacks. Lasts for until cancelled. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Instant.
• Herbal Medicine (New) Increase all healing received by 0. Lasts for until cancelled. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Instant.
• Inexhaustible Shield Sacrifice 5% of your maximum health for an absorb of equal value each time the absorb is depleted. this absorb is depleted.
• Last Rites (New) Increase your Stamina by 0 for 1 sec when you slay a Furbolg, Druid or Keeper to rest. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Leviathan Chomp Your damaging abilities have a very low chance to summon a Leviathan, inflicting 0 Physical damage. Your damage cultivates fluorescent algae, on your target, increasing your chance to summon. Approximately 10 procs per minute.
• Liquid Speed (New) Increase your Speed rating by 0 for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Luminous Jellyweed Your heals have a chance to grant Luminescence to the lowest health ally within 40 yds. Heals on allies with Luminescence heal for 10% more up to a total of 0 your most injured ally within 40 yds. Allies with Luminescence receive 10% additional healing, up to 0 total additional healing. Approximately 3 procs per minute.
• Machinist's Brilliance Critical Strike increased by 100. Instant. 500. Instant.
• Mage-Hunter's Badge (New) Killing an enemy magic wielder increases your primary stat by 0 for 1 sec. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Memento of the Deeps (New) Place a seashell on the ground. Interacting with the memento fills you with memories of adventures in Nazjatar with your allies. Instant.
• Mist to Muscle (New) Increase your Speed rating by 0 for 1 sec when you kill an enemy. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Muck Slime (New) Increases chance to Dodge by 35% and grants increased Haste when you dodge an attack. Only usable in Kul Tiras, Zandalar, and Nazjatar. Instant.
• Mudwrap (New) Wrap yourself in rejuvenating mud, healing and removing a curse, disease, magic, and bleed effect every 3 sec. Only usable in Kul Tiras, Zandalar, and Nazjatar. Instant.
• Natural Culling (New) Increase damage to beasts by 3%. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Nature's Rest (New) Increase your Stamina by 0 for 1 sec when you slay a Furbolg, Druid or Keeper to rest. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Ocean Simulator Immerse yourself in the sounds of the ocean 10 yd range. 2 sec cast.
• Paint Filled Bladder (New) Try and throw the Paint Filled Bladder at your target. 30 yd range. 1.5 sec cast. 1 sec cooldown.
• Pandaria Defender (New) Increase your damage done to Mogu and Mantid enemies by 0%. Lasts for until cancelled. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Instant.
• Poisoned Whetstone (New) Chance on attack to cause the target to take 0 Nature damage every 5 sec for until cancelled. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Instant.
• Potion of Reconstitution Chance to create multiple potions. Alchemy. Alchemy. 2 sec cast. Reagents: Zin'anthid x 8, Akunda's Bite x 3, Crystal Vial.
• Razor Coral Name changed from "Arcing Razor Coral" to "Razor Coral". Plunge a shard of Charging Plunge Razor Coral into your target dealing 0 physical damage. Subsequent attacks have a chance to deal 0 damage and add a charge to the coral. 8 and giving your damaging abilities against the target a high chance to charge the coral and deal 0 additional Physical damage. 40 yd range. Instant. 20 sec cooldown.
• Razorshell (New) Summons a rideable shell that knocks other players off of their mounts. On dismount, stuns all nearby enemy players. Can only be used in War Mode. Instant.
• Rummaging (New) Dig through the bag, revealing a secret. Only usable in Nazjatar. 3 sec cast.
• Rusty Scrap (New) Your damaging spells and abilities have a chance to throw rusty scrap metal at your target, dealing 251 damage. Approximately 3 procs per minute.
• Scrying Stone Allows the detection of otherwise unseen treasures buried beneath the wet sands of Nazjatar. Instant. for 30 min. Instant.
• Seasbane (New) Increase your damage against Naga, Kvaldir and Pirates by 0%. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Seastorm Totem (New) Summons a Seastorm Elemental to aid you in combat for 60 sec. Only usable in Zandalar, Kul Tiras, and Nazjatar. Instant.
• Shadescale (New) Grasp the shadows around the scale, and perceive the world as if it were midnight. Instant.
• Shirakess Warning Sign (New) Place a Warning Sign that lasts for 60 sec. A message can be carved into the sign, causing it to last for 60 min and making it visible to other players. Instant.
• Shiver Venom Your damaging abilities have a high chance to apply Shiver Venom to your target, dealing 0 Nature damage over 20 seconds, and stacking up to 5 times. 40 yd range. Approximately 5 procs per minute.
• Shivering Lance Your damaging abilities have a chance to deal 0 Frost damage. If your target is afflicted with Shiver Venom an ally has afflicted your target with Shiver Venom, also, deal 0 Nature damage to nearby enemies.Approximately 3 procs per minute.
• Snapdragon Scent Gland (New) Smash the gland and become the pack leader, summoning snapdragons to fight for you for 60 sec. Only usable in Zandalar, Kul Tiras, and Nazjatar. Instant.
• Spark of the Elements (New) Increase your damage by 3% for 1 sec when you kill an elemental. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Spell Turning (New) When hit by a spell, increase your damage by 3 for 1 sec. Lasts for 1 sec. Only usable on Island Expeditions. Limited to 1 target. 20 yd range. Instant.
• Storm of the Eternal Name changed from "Azshara's Storm" to "Storm of the Eternal". Azshara's Storm Storm of the Eternal will grant 864 additional Haste, split between members of your party.
• Storm of the Eternal Name changed from "Azshara's Storm" to "Storm of the Eternal". Azshara's Storm Storm of the Eternal will rise for 10 sec, every 2 min. Azshara's Storm Storm of the Eternal is enhanced for every member of your party wearing Azshara's Garments.
• Storm of the Eternal Name changed from "Azshara's Storm" to "Storm of the Eternal". Azshara's Storm Storm of the Eternal will grant 864 additional Critical Strike, split between members of your party.
• Storm of the Eternal Name changed from "Azshara's Storm" to "Storm of the Eternal". Azshara's Storm Storm of the Eternal will restore 0 health to an injured ally 3 additional times.
• Storm of the Eternal Name changed from "Azshara's Storm" to "Storm of the Eternal". Azshara's Storm Storm of the Eternal will deal 0 Arcane damage to a nearby enemy 3 additional times.
• Storm Totem (New) Summons a Storm Elemental to aid you in combat for 60 sec. Only usable in Zandalar, Kul Tiras, and Nazjatar. Instant.
• Summon Zoatroid Casting a single target heal has a chance to summon a Zoatroid by your target's side, absorbing 0 damage and granting up to 0 Versatility based on the remaining shield absorb remaining. Every 10% mana you spend nourishes 0 absorb to each Zoatroid your Zoatroids, adding 0 absorb and 10 Versatility. Approximately 3 procs per minute.
• Sunwarmed Sand (New) Sprinkle the dust, and perceive the world as if it were midday. Instant.
• Swimmer's Legs You are 5% larger while in Nazjatar and The Eternal Palace. or The Eternal Palace.
• Symbol of Gral (New) Believe in Gral and be blessed. Instant.
• Tidal Guard (New) Summons a tidal guardian to assist you for 2 min. Only usable in Kul Tiras, Zandalar, and Nazjatar. Instant.
• Turbo-Chaged Name changed from "Hurricane Heart" to "Turbo-Chaged". Your attacks have a chance to trigger the Hurricane Within, increasing increase your Haste by 226 every 2 sec. Lasts 12 sec. Approximately 1 proc per minute.
• Underlight Sealamp (New) Place the lamp. Instant.
• Unforged Armor Breaks the target's armor, increasing physical damage taken by 100% for 60 sec. 30 yd range. Instant. Only usable on Island Expeditions. 30 yd range. Instant.
• Venomous Bolt Your damaging abilities have a chance to deal 0 Nature damage. If your target is afflicted an ally has afflicted your target with Shiver Venom, deal 0 additional Frost damage.Approximately 3 procs per minute.
• Vision of Demise Reveal your enemy's impending doom demise, increasing your Haste by 0 for 10 sec. This Haste is further increased proportionally by how much health your enemy is missing. 40 yd range. Instant. For every 10% health your target Is missing, gain 0 additional Haste. 40 yd range. Instant.
• Void Negotiation Your abilities have a low chance to create a Void Tear for 30 sec. Standing near a Void Tear opens a portal, granting you 90 Intellect for 10 sec. Approximately 1.5 procs per minute.
• Voltscale Shield (New) Strikes nearby enemies with tidal guardian lightning, inflicting Nature damage and increasing Nature damage taken. Only usable in Kul Tiras, Zandalar, and Nazjatar. Instant.
• Wind-Up Utility Pylon Name changed from "Sublimating Power" to "Wind-Up Utility Pylon".
• Zanj'ir Weapon Rack (New) Equip a naga weapon. Instant.

Professions
Cooking

• Unagi Skewer Prepare Unagi Skewer. Cooking. Cooking. 2 sec cast. Reagents: Viper Fish x 5, Mauve Stinger x 5.

Enchanting

• Force Multiplier Permanently enchant a weapon to occasionally increase Strength or Agility by 500 and Mastery, Haste, or Critical Strike by 100 500 for 15 sec. Your highest stat is always chosen. Enchanting. Enchanting. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Umbra Shard x 6, Gloom Dust x 25, Veiled Crystal x 3.
• Force Multiplier Permanently enchant a weapon to occasionally increase Strength or Agility by 500 and Mastery, Haste, or Critical Strike by 100 500 for 15 sec. Your highest stat is always chosen. Greatly reduced materials. Enchanting. Enchanting. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Umbra Shard x 4, Gloom Dust x 20, Veiled Crystal x 2.
• Force Multiplier Permanently enchant a weapon to occasionally increase Strength or Agility by 500 and Mastery, Haste, or Critical Strike by 100 500 for 15 sec. Your highest stat is always chosen. Reduced materials. Enchanting. Enchanting. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Umbra Shard x 5, Gloom Dust x 22, Veiled Crystal x 3.
• Machinist's Brilliance Permanently enchant a weapon to occasionally increase Intellect by 500 and Mastery, Haste, or Critical Strike by 100 500 for 15 sec. Your highest stat is always chosen. Reduced materials. Enchanting. Enchanting. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Umbra Shard x 5, Gloom Dust x 22, Veiled Crystal x 3.
• Machinist's Brilliance Permanently enchant a weapon to occasionally increase Intellect by 500 and Mastery, Haste, or Critical Strike by 100 500 for 15 sec. Your highest stat is always chosen. Greatly reduced materials. Enchanting. Enchanting. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Umbra Shard x 4, Gloom Dust x 20, Veiled Crystal x 2.
• Machinist's Brilliance Permanently enchant a weapon to occasionally increase Intellect by 500 and Mastery, Haste, or Critical Strike by 100 500 for 15 sec. Your highest stat is always chosen. Enchanting. Enchanting. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Umbra Shard x 6, Gloom Dust x 25, Veiled Crystal x 3.
• Oceanic Restoration Permanently enchant a weapon to occasionally increase Intellect by 500 for 15 sec, and restore 5,000 mana. Greatly reduced materials. Requires One-Handed Axes, Two-Handed Axes, Bows, Guns, One-Handed Maces, Two-Handed Maces, Polearms, One-Handed Swords, Two-Handed Swords, Staves, Bear Claws, CatClaws, Fist Weapons, Daggers, Spears, Crossbows, Wands. Enchanting. Enchanting. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Umbra Shard x 4, Gloom Dust x 20, Veiled Crystal x 2.

Engineering

• Ub3r-Module: P.O.G.O. Name changed from "Ub3r-Module: P.O.G.O" to "Ub3r-Module: P.O.G.O.".

Inscription

• Glyph of Steaming Fury (New) Inscription. Inscription. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Light Parchment, Crimson Ink x 10, Ultramarine Ink x 30.
• Glyph of the Cold Waves (New) Inscription. Inscription. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Light Parchment, Crimson Ink x 10, Ultramarine Ink x 30.
• Glyph of the Dark Depths (New) Inscription. Inscription. 1.5 sec cast. Reagents: Light Parchment, Crimson Ink x 10, Ultramarine Ink x 30.
• Highborne Compendium of Mystical Bulwark Craft a Highborne Compendium of Mystical Bulwark. Inscription. Inscription. 2 sec cast. Reagents: Light Parchment, Maroon Ink, Ultramarine Ink, Expulsom. x 50, Maroon Ink x 45, Ultramarine Ink x 25, Expulsom x 2.
• Highborne Compendium of Storms Craft a Highborne Compendium of Storms. Inscription. Inscription. 2 sec cast. Reagents: Light Parchment, Maroon Ink, Ultramarine Ink, Expulsom. x 50, Maroon Ink x 45, Ultramarine Ink x 25, Expulsom x 2.
• Highborne Compendium of Sundering Craft a Highborne Compendium of Sundering. Inscription. Inscription. 2 sec cast. Reagents: Light Parchment, Maroon Ink, Ultramarine Ink, Expulsom. x 50, Maroon Ink x 45, Ultramarine Ink x 25, Expulsom x 2.
• Highborne Compendium of Swirling Tides Craft a Highborne Compendium of Swirling Tides. Inscription. Inscription. 2 sec cast. Reagents: Light Parchment, Maroon Ink, Ultramarine Ink, Expulsom. x 50, Maroon Ink x 45, Ultramarine Ink x 25, Expulsom x 2.

View the full article

The massive success of Fortnite is old news, but sports icons like Michael Jordan are still able to capitalize on its continued popularity with its latest promotion deal. "Game Recognize Game", Fortnite's sneak peak slogan for the mash-up, couldn't describe the deal better.

Following up the Avengers and John Wick, the Fortnite x Jordan event is showing what both parties can bring to the table. In the latest LTM, Downtown Drop, new cosmetics have hit the Fortnite store including the highly famed shoes. Though Michael Jordan has his name on this, the theme aims more towards skateboarding rather than basketball. Along with new character items, the event comes with an exclusive set of free challenges that give you rewards limited to this Michael Jordan promotion.

The event is currently live and ending on June 3rd at 5 pm CT. 

[Source: Eurogamer]

View the full article

Note: Some mild spoilers for both Observation and the 2018 horror film Hereditary 

There's this nugget of wisdom that writers like to say whenever the subject of innovation comes up: every story has already been told. The statement is probably right, but it isn't even one of defeat. Instead, what it implies is that even though every story has been told, the real, exhilarating challenge for creators is finding new ways to tell the story. My Own Private Idaho, for example, is a version of Henry IV that uses Portland and modern language to tackle universal themes about duty, betrayal, and friendship. Or, for something more gamey, I think there's a sound argument to be made that The Last Of Us is just another version of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. The specificity of the events in each story is different but the broad strokes are the same in the end: two characters traversing an unkind world, struggling to find a connection with one another as much as they are struggling to survive. 

Horror, perhaps like no other genre, bears the brunt of that distressing statement more than any other. How can you scare someone when their eyes are already searching the shadows for the boogeyman waiting to leap out, when they've seen 27 variations of this particular plot play out in other movies before, when they've become so desensitized to knives through the eyeballs and heads cleaved from necks? There are only so many stories about monsters and people and the shapes they come in, and yet in spite of that deficit of so-called innovation, horror persists, and it persists wonderfully.

Take Observation, the recently-released sci-fi horror adventure game from No Code. Observation approaches the traditional sci-fi horror staple of Artificial Intelligence Gone Awry from a fresh point of view: that of the artificial intelligence itself. Observation's S.A.M. challenges the concept of the coldly detached sociopathic A.I. like Alien's Mother or 2001's HAL by simply the virtue of you, a human being, playing the role. This novel twist lays the foundation for all of Observation's strengths. Instead of being a weakling human running through the corridors of a broken space station, you're the demigod trying to help (or harm?) that weakling.

Observation excels because instead of taking power away from you and shoving you in a dangerous space, it lets you operate from a traditionally safe standpoint. You're an A.I.: it's impossible for you to suffer bodily harm. That's a huge risk that No Code makes, making you not worry about your own safety but the safety of your human companion, Doctor Emma Fisher. This is a huge departure from horror games, where jump scares and monsters pursuing you to the ends of the earth serve as the traditional model of what a scary game should be. However, what I like most about Observation is that it packs its thrills and unsettling moments into its conceit in a natural, slow-burn way that mimics Emma and S.A.M's co-dependent relationship as questions slowly unfold during your journey.

Just how did the space station fall apart? Who is responsible for all the troubles that Emma and her crew are suffering? Was it S.A.M, whose memory banks are conveniently wiped before the game begins, or something else? Can Emma trust you? Can you trust yourself?  The player, like S.A.M. and Emma, must face these questions head-on as they progress through the game and the pair's relationship. Observation lurches into paranoia, eschewing jump scares for deeply unsettling paradoxes and stomach-churning plights of the soul. And during that time, the horror and possibility of danger emerges from the emotional tether you have to Emma. In the end, Observation is what the brilliant but flawed SOMA should have been: a game that has no need for actual roving monsters because its story, characters, mechanics, and setting all work together to present a powerfully disturbing and enticing experience.

In a lot of ways, Observation reminds me of Hereditary, a movie that marries grief to a Polanski-style descent into raving lunacy. For me, Hereditary's most powerful moment had nothing to do with blood or death but instead an argument screamed over a dinner scene where two people unleash their resentments and grief on another. It's a raw, powerful sequence that really gives life to Hereditary's despairing stance that family is not a place of sanctuary but instead one of doom. The movie reckons with the idea that family brings us into an existence where we're doomed to die, where curses swim in our blood. The notion of generational curses in any medium is not new (One Hundred Years Of Solitude, An American Haunting, so on) since they're rooted in folklore of various cultures. However, Hereditary mines that anxiety that we're on trial for the sins and failures of our parents (and that our children will likely be on trial for our own failures) in a visceral way. Observation approaches the notion of surveillance and the idea that we're completely removed from danger if we're operating from a place of power in a similar, topsy-turvy fashion where nothing is sacred or safe no matter how powerful we think we are.

I truly believe that horror is probably the hardest genre to pull off because it requires its creator to be a skilled illusionist and manipulator, tricking their audience into thinking the same old story they've seen a hundred times is in fact something startling and new. Observation is a masterclass lesson in that particular art, and one that I hope the developers of tomorrow's horror games take to bloody heart.

View the full article

Following in the footsteps of Detective Pikachu, Rico Rodriguez is next to recieve the movie treatment. 

German production company Constantin Film has acquired the rights to the Just Cause game franchise, eyeing the potential for a film franchise. Coming just a day after the announcement of John Wick 4, John Wick creator and writer Derek Kolstad has been signed to pen the script. Just Cause isn't the first Square Enix adaptation Kolstad has been attached to, either. In 2017, he was attached to write the pilot for a Hitman TV series for Hulu, though there is no word on the show's current status. 

This is not Constantin Film's first foray into the world of game adaptation, as the company is responsible for Paul W.S. Anderson's Resident Evil franchise, which has netted over 1.2 billion dollars worldwide. This news also follows the $300 million dollar success of Warner Bros.' Detective Pikachu. 

The movie will closely follow the game's story, as Rico Rodriguez struggles to dismantle a lethal mercenary group called 'The Black Hand'. While the casting for the film has not been announced, Aquaman star Jason Momoa was slated to fill Rico's shoes as far back as 2017, and no announcements have been made as to whether or not he is still attached to the project. 

Filming is set to begin in 2020. 

[Source: Variety]

View the full article

At the 2015 Game Awards, Psychonauts 2 was announced to the surprise and delight of many. At the same time, a crowdfunding campaign went along with it for a $3.3 million dollar goal, a small amount for a game of that size, and eventually hit $4 million by the end of the campaign. In the last four years, despite fairly frequent videos from the developers, there hasn't been a particularly extensive blitz of footage and information about the game for the wider audience. That looks to be changing with an E3 panel next month.

The panel will be hosted by Tim Schafer, head of Double Fine, and Jack Black, who I believe is some sort of up-and-coming video game YouTuber that won a contest. It will be hosted by Geoff Keighley, who himself is host and chief of The Game Awards, and be a part of the E3 Coliseum. The group plans to talk about the game's ongoing development and share new gameplay footage from the title, though it has not currently been said when it will take place.

Psychonauts 2 is theoretically being published by Starbreeze, though that future is very much in doubt. When asked, Schafer has previously said he believes Psychonauts 2 could find another publisher easily, so there's probably not a lot of concern that the game will eventually come out on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

View the full article

Frontier has just announced its ambitious Planet Coaster: Ghostbusters DLC for PC. The studio seems to be going all out for the new content pack to bring players an authentic Ghostbusters experience.

The content pack is said to include a fully-voiced, narrative campaign, featuring Dan Aykroyd and William Atherton themselves. It also comes with new in-game items such as, the interactive ghostbusting ride called 'The Ghostbusting Experience' and a slimer-themed kiddie coaster called the 'RollerGhoster'.

Classic Ghostbuster characters also make an appearance, including Raymond Stantz, Slimer, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and a few more surprise faces. Lastly, it includes authentic scenery pieces and sounds right out of the original film, such as the Ghostbusters HQ, Ecto-1, and Ray Parker J's unforgettable Ghostbusters theme.

Throughout the campaign, Dan Aykroyd mentors the players and helps them build their park and fight off ghostly issues that are thrown their way. Though nostalgia is a key factor in this DLC, players who have grown up without the classic movie can still find satisfaction in the campaign and build a strong coaster park with the new items.

Planet Coaster is no stranger to creating eccentrically themed parks, check out our cover of YouTuber Brad Hamilton's Dishonored Planet Coaster build.

View the full article