Wot I Think: Learning electronics with Bomb Squad Academy

If there’s one thing I’m sick of, it means I’ve had some sort of head injury and forgotten the many, many, copious things I’m also sick of. But amongst their number is the cavalcade of recent games that feel the need to try to trick me into learning computer programming. You know, I’m good thanks. I’m 40 this year, my brain has pretty much established over multiple attempts that it just isn’t willing to let in computer programming, along with French, the difference between “affect” and “effect” [not to mention “defuse” and “diffuse” -ed.], and the HTML for embedding an email address. You program the games, I’ll play them. Ta.

Anyway, so there’s a nice new puzzle game out called Bomb Squad Academy [official site], a game about defusing bombs against the clock, and – WAIT A SECOND! This game’s teaching me electronics! Why I oughtta… … [visit site to read more]

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It’s Spring Again devs launch One Eyed Kutkh free

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Everything wrong with the first three minutes of Thimbleweed Park

My very first interaction in Thimbleweed Park [official site], and most likely anyone else’s, was to “Look at Willie.” I don’t know who I’m playing yet, nor who Willie might be, but my German accented chap has appeared on a screen with two interactive items: a gate, and a slumped drunken man called Willie. So I looked at him, he being potentially more interesting than a gate, presuming that my character would inform me that either he knew this man and needed to speak to him, or that he did not. I got neither. Because “Look at Willie” speaks to him. … [visit site to read more]

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Wot I Think: Excellent physics-puzzler Snake Pass

Smarter than half a dozen BioShocks despite looking a bit like it fell from a lost GameCube promotional disc, Snake Pass [official site] is an animal physics game without the slapstick comedy that often entails. (Tail, like a snake has).

I’m not sure if it’s best referred to as a platformer or a puzzle game. The main activity in Snake Pass is progressing from one platform to another, but where historically (hiss, like a snake) platformers involve high-speed bounding from place to place, this is about slow-speed slithering, climbing and clenching. You’re a snake, see. Snakes don’t jump, apart from in that bit in David Attenborough when one of them snatches a hummingbird out of the air or something.

… [visit site to read more]

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Hacknet Labyrinths cracks out today

It’s a good day for fans of crashing through firewalls with their password crackers blazing. Hacknet Labyrinths [official site], a big expansion for one of the top ten hacking games, has just been released. It’s a new 3-4 hour storyline that takes place near the end of the main story, a sizeable chunk of new stuff for a game that wasn’t very long itself. As part of an elite crew of hackers, you’ll be chatting over IRC, planning and performing “data heists” with new tools and clandestine programs, and generally hacking the planet.
… [visit site to read more]

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Total War: Warhammer 2 announced

With their business in The Old World concluded, The Creative Assembly have announced Total War: Warhammer II [official site]. The strategy sequel is off to visit the Lizardmen, High Elves, Dark Elves, and another faction being kept secret for now. Get a look at this lot in the announcement trailer: … [visit site to read more]

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Have You Played… Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes?

Have You Played? is an endless stream of game retrospectives. One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time.

There aren’t enough games with manuals any more. The smell of a new game’s glossy information booklet is a sensation lost to the ages. But Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes joins the Zachlikes of this world in keeping this tradition alive, even if it means printing out your own manual. It’s a co-op game of disarming bombs and shouting furious nonsense at your partner. It’s brilliant. … [visit site to read more]

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Texts from Rezzed, Day 2

Day 2 of EGX Rezzed 2017 is underway in That London, where Tobacco Dock [nb: I’ve discovered it does have a boat but still neither boat trips nor fags -ed.] is filled with games, talks, and lights for three days. We’re Rezzed’s official “media partner” so we’ve dispatched Pip, Adam, Graham, and a poorly Alec to poke around, host some talks, interview some developers, and look proud of our ‘Cave of Wonders’ showcase. To slack off, in other words.

Tonight they’re going to the pub ‘on official RPS business’ and you’re invited. I’m not, but you are. So to ensure they continue generating content while swanning about on, I’m making them send me updates throughout their day. … [visit site to read more]

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The best games of *my* lifetime, with commentary

Earlier this week Adam and I shared our picks for our favourite games for each year we’ve been alive. Adam offered justification for his picks on Sunday and you can read it here. Below is my own justification for my own picks, which differ greatly. … [visit site to read more]

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Titanfall 2 launches big update and trial weekend

Titanfall 2 [official site] has launched a big free update adding a new map and more so, to celebrate, a free trial is running this weekend. Until Monday, all and sundry can
swing by Origin to play the full multiplayer side and one singleplayer chapter. Titanfall 2 was our favourite FPS of 2016 for bringing together the two best things in FPSs — giant robots and fun, fast movement — and I heartily recommend giving it a go. … [visit site to read more]

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The Foxer

Warm-Up Foxer (What am I?)

I’m a game, a weapon, and a place. I’m a mother and a mass murderer. I’ve won an Academy Award. I’m roughly the same height as the tallest structure in the world. I may have influenced one of the world’s most famous paintings. I’m impossible to anagram. I made headlines in the year one of Prague’s most famous sons was born. … [visit site to read more]

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The Flare Path: Mostly Militaria

How to find the Flare Path stand at EGX Rezzed 2017. Make for the gap between the Signal From Tölva booth (giant robot skull) and the Steel Division: Normandy 1944 one (two bomb-flipped Tiger tanks). Roughly midway between these unmissable landmarks, projecting a few inches above the heads of the milling crowds, you should see some plastic cabbages and leeks. Said vegetables are sprouting from the roof of a replica Anderson shelter. Enter the shelter and, assuming there’s room (there will be) sit down opposite the man wearing the pith helmet, the ear plugs and the frightened rabbit expression. Congratulations. You’ve made it. … [visit site to read more]

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Outcast overhaul delayed into autumn

Outcast – Second Contact, the remake of 1999’s open-world sci-fi shooter, is delayed again. It’s now due some time in the autumn, according to a new trailer giving a peek at the modernised adventures of Cutter Slade. Have a peek: … [visit site to read more]

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