Schlagwort: Uncategorized

  • Willkommen in Knockout City, der Dodgebrawl-Hauptstadt der Welt

    Willkommen in Knockout City, der Dodgebrawl-Hauptstadt der Welt

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Hallo zusammen, ich bin Josh Harrison, der Marketing Manager bei Velan Studios. Wir arbeiten seit einer Weile an einem teambasierten Actionspiel namens Knockout City und freuen uns sehr, es endlich der ganzen Welt vorstellen zu können. Knockout City ist ein Spiel, in dem ihr euch mit Freunden zusammenschließt, um gegnerische Crews in epischen Dodgeball-Schlachten zu besiegen.

    Willkommen in Knockout City, der Dodgebrawl-Hauptstadt der Welt

    Als Dodgebrawler und Einwohner von Knockout City müsst ihr euch mit Geschick und Stil einen Namen machen. Ihr habt gelernt, eure Fähigkeiten zur Schau zu stellen, ihr habt euch in Schale geschmissen, also ist es jetzt an der Zeit, euren Gegnern Bälle ins Gesicht zu werfen. Dies ist ein Multiplayer-Erlebnis, wie ihr es noch nie gespielt habt, deshalb möchte ich euch heute vorstellen, was Knockout City so besonders macht.

    Im Grunde geht es in einer Partie um Werfen und Fangen, aber ihr müsst auch Positionsspiel, Timing und Teamwork meistern, wenn ihr einen Sieg einfahren wollt. Wenn ihr einen Ball mit perfektem Timing fangt, wird er aufgeladen, was euren Wurf zurück zum Gegner beschleunigt. Trickwürfe ermöglichen es euch, den Ball über Objekte zu lupfen oder in Kurvenform um Ecken herum zu werfen. Ihr könnt auch Würfe antäuschen, eine gefürchtete Technik, um das Fangtiming eurer Gegner zu stören, was euch die Chance gibt, sie endgültig auszuknocken.

    Weicht heranfliegenden Bällen aus und rammt Gegner, um ihnen die Orientierung zu nehmen und sie dazu zu bringen, alle getragenen Bälle fallen zu lassen. Und lasst euch von niemandem einreden, dass Assists unwichtig seien – ein schneller Pass zu euren Teammitgliedern lädt den Ball auf und bietet die Möglichkeit, einen Gegner aus einem besseren Winkel zu treffen. All diese Fähigkeiten ergeben zusammen das Rezept für den Erfolg auf den Straßen und Dächern der Stadt.

    Macht euch keine Sorgen, mit leeren Händen dazustehen – jeder in Knockout City kann sich zu Boden werfen, zusammenrollen und zu einer Waffe für die eigenen Kameraden werden, die gegen das andere Team eingesetzt werden kann. Benutzt diese Fähigkeit, um euch schnell ins Getümmel zu werfen oder einen Gegner auszuknocken, wenn er es am wenigsten erwartet. Ladet einen Teamkameraden in euren Händen für einen ultimativen Wurf auf: Werft ihn hoch in die Luft, damit er aufs Schlachtfeld kracht und eine riesige Explosion auslöst, die zum sofortigen K. o. führt. Es gibt nicht Befriedigenderes, als ein gesamtes Team mit einem einzigen Angriff auszuschalten.

    Nur eine Sache ist noch besser, als in Knockout City abzuräumen: in Knockout City abzuräumen und dabei gut auszusehen. Ihr habt nahezu endlose Möglichkeiten, euren Stil anzupassen – dank eines eingebauten Fortschrittssystems, das euch vor die Wahl aus Hunderten von kosmetischen Objekten und Anpassungsoptionen stellt. Bestimmt das Aussehen eures Brawlers – ob knallhart oder irrsinnig komisch – mit einer Vielzahl an verschiedenen Looks. Aber es hört nicht bei der Kleidung auf! Wir wollen, dass ihr allem euren persönlichen Stempel aufdrücken könnt, von eurem K.-o.-Effekt über eure Sieges- und Niederlageposen bis hin zu eurem Gleiter. (Oh, hatte ich schon erwähnt, dass ihr jederzeit einen Hängegleiter auspacken könnt? Das könnt ihr nämlich.)

    Euer Team ist während eines Matches für euch da, aber eure Crew ist immer für euch da … oder zumindest so lange, wie ihr den Weg zum Ruhm gemeinsam bestreiten wollt. Bis zu 32 Freunde können eine Crew bilden, was noch eine Möglichkeit draufsetzt, eure Looks anzupassen. Ihr tragt alle euer holografisches Crew-Logo hinten auf den Jacken und erscheint zu euren Kämpfen in eurem stylishen Crew-Hovercar. Ihr bekommt außerdem jede Saison wöchentliche Herausforderungen gestellt, die ihr als Crew abschließen müsst, um neue Möglichkeiten freizuschalten, die einzigartige Identität eurer Crew zu definieren.

    Während ihr so durch Knockout City schlendert, werdet ihr viele Orte entdecken, die es wert sind, sie mit eurer Crew zu verteidigen, und jeder davon bietet einzigartige Mechaniken, damit die Scharmützel interessant bleiben. In Rooftop Rumble katapultieren starke Winde euren Gleiter vorwärts. Eine riesige Abrissbirne schleudert in Concussion Yard selbst die härtesten Brawler durch die Gegend. In Knockout Roundabout herrscht endloser Verkehr, perfekt für ein K. o. im Vorbeifahren oder einen schnellen Abgang. Back Alley Brawl, unsere zuletzt angekündigte Karte, besitzt viele Röhren, die euch aufsaugen und woanders auf der Karte wieder ausspucken. So könnt ihr schnell verduften oder eure Gegner aus einer anderen Richtung angreifen. Dazu kommen noch weitere Schauplätze, die in Zukunft angekündigt werden, es gibt also mehr als genug Platz für euch, um euer Revier zu markieren.

    Neben dem Standardball stehen euch auch viele Spezialbälle zur Verfügung, um die Matches frisch und dynamisch zu halten. Der Bomb Ball (Bombenball) beginnt zu ticken, wenn ihr ihn aufhebt, bis er nach kurzer Zeit (Überraschung!) explodiert. Sperrt eure Gegner im Cage Ball (Käfigball) ein, um sie gegen ihre Teammitglieder einzusetzen oder von der Karte zu werfen. Und wenn ihr hoch hinauswollt, schnappt euch den Moon Ball (Mondball)! Damit könnt ihr höher springen (als wärt ihr auf dem Mond) und wenn ihr einen Gegner damit trefft, stoßt ihr ihn praktisch in den Orbit! Heute ganz frisch angekündigt wurde unser Sniper Ball (Sniper-Ball), der einen weit entfernten Gegner anvisiert und nach einem Wurf rasend schnell auf ihn zuschießt. Bleibt am Ball, denn auch in diesem Bereich wird es weitere Ankündigungen geben.

    Unser Standard-Spielmodus ist „Team KO“, ein 3-gegen-3-Match über mehrere Runden, doch bis Ende des Jahres werden wir über 20 neue Spiellisten einführen. Ein weiterer Modus ist „Face Off“, wo ihr eurem Gegner allein auf einem stetig schrumpfenden Schlachtfeld gegenübersteht, bewaffnet mit nichts als eurem Köpfchen und einer Reihe an Bällen. Wir werden bald noch haufenweise weitere Spiellisten enthüllen, einschließlich einiger Überraschungen, die nur durch das einzigartige Gameplay von Knockout City möglich sind.

    Ihr könnt euch Knockout City auf PlayStation 4 holen, wenn es am 21. Mai erscheint. Es bietet Abwärtskompatibilität und Verbesserungen für PlayStation 5-Spieler. Und zur Feier der Veröffentlichung werden alle das Spiel für begrenzte Zeit auf allen Plattformen kostenlos spielen können! Falls ihr bereits vorher eine Kostprobe haben möchtet: Wir veranstalten eine Cross-Play-Beta, an der ihr unbedingt mit euren Freunden teilnehmen solltet – unabhängig davon, wie ihr spielt. Meldet euch für die Beta an*, um schon vorab zu erleben, wie sich Dodgeball-Ruhm anfühlt.

    Knockout City ist seit vier Jahren in Entwicklung und das gesamte Team von Velan Studios freut sich riesig, es in Zusammenarbeit mit EA Originals schon bald mit euch teilen zu können. Haltet euch über Knockout City auf dem Laufenden, indem ihr uns auf Twitter und Discord folgt.

    Bis bald, Sportsfreunde!

    * ES GELTEN BEDINGUNGEN UND EINSCHRÄNKUNGEN. INFORMATIONEN HIERZU GIBT ES UNTER http://www.ea.com/games/knockout-city/closed-beta.

    © 2021 Velan Studio, Inc. EA und das EA-Logo sind Warenzeichen von Electronic Arts Inc. Warenzeichen sind Eigentum ihrer jeweiligen Inhaber.

    Website: LINK

  • Arduino MKR IoT Carrier: Control what you want, how you want to!

    Arduino MKR IoT Carrier: Control what you want, how you want to!

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Arduino MKR IoT Carrier: Control what you want, how you want to!

    Arduino Team — February 24th, 2021

    By popular demand, we are pleased to announce that it’s now possible to buy the Arduino MKR IoT Carrier. Originally forming a key part of the Arduino Oplá IoT Kit, we’ve responded to our community to make the carrier available on its own, thus enabling you to benefit from having a bunch of sensors, actuators, and a display all featured on the one board — making it quicker and easier to take your IoT projects to the next level.

    Featuring a large set of built-in sensors and actuators as well as a useful color display, the carrier lets you focus on prototyping your IoT ideas right away by saving on the hassle of wiring and soldering these components.  

    The carrier can become a WiFi, LoRa, NB-IoT or GSM-compatible device by seamlessly connecting to any MKR family board. Building a user interface for these boards is easy with the embedded color OLED screen, five capacitive touch buttons, and the five RGB LEDs. The integrated sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure, RGBC light, gesture and proximity) allow you to map the environment around the carrier, and should you need to capture any other data there are over 100 additional Grove sensors that can easily be connected directly to the carrier.

    Here’s are quick demo of the carrier’s capabilities! (Special shout out to Mirko Pacioni and Fill Connesso for creating this demo.)

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQhgfG9x6OE?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Capture and store all the data locally on an SD card, or connect your MKR family board to the IoT Cloud for real-time data captured, storage, and visualization.

    The MKR IoT Carrier features:

    • Round OLED display
    • Five RGB LEDs
    • Five capacitive touch buttons
    • On-board sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure, RGBC light, gesture and proximity)
    • Buzzer
    • IMU (Three-axis accelerometer sensor and three-axis gyroscope sensor)
    • Two 24V relays
    • MicroSD card holder (SD card not included)
    • Plug-and-play Grove connectors for external sensors — two analog and one digital (I2C)
    • 18650 Li-ion rechargeable battery holder (battery not included)

    The MKR IoT Carrier is now available to purchase from the Arduino online store for €48 / $57.60 — find infinite possibilities for all your IoT projects

    Interested in learning how to build IoT projects, then we have the perfect choice of kits for you, both featuring the MKR IoT Carrier. The Arduino Explore IoT Kit is the ideal kit to learn about the Internet of Things and what you can do with it, while the Arduino Oplá IoT Kit is great for experiencing the benefits of IoT at home or in the office with eight out-of-the-box IoT projects controlled on the Arduino IoT Cloud. 

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    You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

    Website: LINK

  • Introducing the next generation of VR on PlayStation

    Introducing the next generation of VR on PlayStation

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    More than four years ago, we launched PlayStation VR to offer a transformative new way to play games on PS4, providing a much stronger sense of presence and deeper immersion to players compared with traditional games. In that time, we’ve seen tremendous experiences that have propelled virtual reality gaming forward, including highly acclaimed titles like Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, Tetris Effect, Blood & Truth, Moss, Beat Saber, and Resident Evil 7 biohazard. We’ve also enhanced the experience for some PS VR titles when played on PS4 Pro and PlayStation 5.

    Today I’m pleased to share that our next-generation VR system will be coming to PlayStation 5, enabling the ultimate entertainment experience with dramatic leaps in performance and interactivity. Players will feel an even greater sense of presence and become even more immersed in their game worlds once they put on the new headset.

    We’re continuing to innovate with our new VR system so that our fans can continue to enjoy the unique experiences that are synonymous with PlayStation. We’re taking what we’ve learned since launching PS VR on PS4 to develop a next-gen VR system that enhances everything from resolution and field of view to tracking and input. It will connect to PS5 with a single cord to simplify setup and improve ease-of-use, while enabling a high-fidelity visual experience. 

    One of the innovations we’re excited about is our new VR controller, which will incorporate some of the key features found in the DualSense wireless controller, along with a focus on great ergonomics. That’s just one of the examples of future-proof technology we’re developing to match our vision for a whole new generation of VR games and experiences. 

    There’s still a lot of development underway for our new VR system, so it won’t be launching in 2021. But we wanted to provide this early update to our fans, as the development community has started to work on creating new worlds for you to explore in virtual reality. 

    We also want to thank all of our PS VR players for your continued support — with upcoming games like After The Fall, Sniper Elite VR, and Humanity, there’s much more to come for PS VR whether you’re playing on PS4 or PS5. With both PlayStation VR and the next-generation VR system we’re building, our commitment to virtual reality as a medium for games is stronger than ever. We look forward to sharing more details in the future!

    Website: LINK

  • NeoPixel fireflies jar with Raspberry Pi | HackSpace 39

    NeoPixel fireflies jar with Raspberry Pi | HackSpace 39

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    This twinkly tutorial is fresh from the latest issue of HackSpace magazine, out now.

    Adding flashing lights to a project is a great way to make it a little more visually appealing, and WS2812B LEDs (sometimes known as NeoPixels) are a great way to do that.

    They have their own mini communications protocol, so you can control lots of them with just a single pin on your microcontroller, and there’s a handy library for Pico MicroPython that lets you control them.

    First, you need to grab the library from hsmag.cc/PicoPython and copy the PY file to your Pico device. You can do this by opening the file in Thonny and clicking Save As, and then selecting your MicroPython device and calling it ws2812b.py.

    You create an object with the following parameters: number of LEDs, state machine ID, and GPIO number, in that order. So, to create a strip of ten LEDs on state machine 0 and GPIO 0, you use:

    pixels = ws2812b.ws2812b(10,0,0)

    This object has two methods: show() which sends the data to the strip, and set_pixel which sets the colour values for a particular LED. The parameters are LED number, red, green, blue, with the colours taking values between 0 and 255.

    At the time of writing, there’s an issue using this library in the interpreter. The author is investigating, but it’s best to run it from saved files to ensure everything runs properly. Create a file with the following and run it:

    import ws2812b
    import time

    pixels = ws2812b.ws2812b(10,0,0)
    pixels.set_pixel(5,10,0,0)
    pixels.show()
    time.sleep(2)
    pixels.set_pixel(5,0,10,0)
    pixels.show()
    time.sleep(2)
    pixels.fill(0,0,10)
    pixels.show()
    time.sleep(2)

    So, now we can light up some LEDs, let’s take a look at how to turn this into an interesting light fixture.

    We originally created the fireflies example in the WS2812B project for Christmas tree lights, but once the festive season was over, we liked them so much that we wanted to keep them going year round. Obviously, we can’t just keep a tree up all the time, so we needed another way to display them. We’re using them on thin-wire WS2812B LEDs that are available from direct-from-China sellers, but they should work on other types of WS2812B-compatible LEDs.

    There are some other methods in the WS2812B module, such as set_pixel_line_gradient() to add effects to your projects

    For display, we’ve put the string of LEDs into a glass demijohn that we used to use for brewing, but any large glass jar would work. This gives an effect inspired by fireflies trapped in a jar. You can just download the code and run it (it’s in the examples folder in the above repository), but let’s take a look and see how it works. The first part of the code sets everything up:

    import time
    import ws2812b
    import random

    bright_div = 20
    numpix = 50 # Number of NeoPixels
    strip = ws2812b.ws2812b(numpix, 0,0)

    colors = [
    [232, 100, 255], # Purple
    [200, 200, 20], # Yellow
    [30, 200, 200], # Blue
    [150,50,10],
    [50,200,10],
    ]

    max_len=20
    min_len = 5

    flashing = []

    num_flashes = 10

    You can change numpix, and the details for creating the WS2812B object, to whatever’s suitable for your setup. The colors array holds the different colours that you want your LEDs to flash (in red, green, blue format). You can add to these or change them. We like the subtle pastels of this palette, but you can make it bolder by having more pure colours.

    The max_len and min_ len variables control the length of time each light flashes for. They’re not in any units (other than iterations of the main loop), so you may need a little trial and error to get settings that are pleasing for you. The remaining code is what actually does the work of flashing each LED:

    for i in range(num_flashes):
    pix = random.randint(0, numpix - 1)
    col = random.randint(1, len(colors) - 1)
    flash_len = random.randint(min_len, max_len)
    flashing.append([pix, colors[col], flash_len, 0, 1])

    strip.fill(0,0,0)

    while True:
    strip.show()
    for i in range(num_flashes):

     pix = flashing[i][0] brightness = (flashing[i][3]/flashing[i][2]) colr = (int(flashing[i][1][0]*brightness), int(flashing[i][1][1]*brightness), int(flashing[i][1][2]*brightness)) strip.set_pixel(pix, colr[0], colr[1], colr[2]) if flashing[i][2] == flashing[i][3]: flashing[i][4] = -1 if flashing[i][3] == 0 and flashing[i][4] == -1: pix = random.randint(0, numpix - 1) col = random.randint(0, len(colors) - 1) flash_len = random.randint(min_len, max_len) flashing[i] = [pix, colors[col], flash_len, 0, 1] flashing[i][3] = flashing[i][3] + flashing[i][4] time.sleep(0.005)

    The flashing list contains an entry for every LED that’s currently flashing. It stores the LED position colour, length of the flash, current position of the flash, and whether it’s getting brighter or dimmer. These are initially seeded with random data; then we start a loop that keeps updating the display.

    That’s all there is to it. You can tweak this code or create your very own custom display.

    Issue 40 of Hackspace Magazine is out NOW

    Front cover of Hack space magazine featuring Pico on pink and black background

    Each month, HackSpace magazine brings you the best projects, tips, tricks and tutorials from the makersphere. You can get it from the Raspberry Pi Press online store, The Raspberry Pi store in Cambridge, or your local newsagents.

    Each issue is free to download from the HackSpace magazine website.

    Website: LINK

  • New year, new mode, new content for Predator: Hunting Grounds

    New year, new mode, new content for Predator: Hunting Grounds

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    New Year, New Mode, and a whole lot more…Happy New Year from IllFonic! To ring in 2021, we wanted to do something special; we wanted to give you exactly what you want by giving you control – Custom Private matches are in this Free Update. We also are continuing our dive into Norse lore with the newest Predator class in our Paid DLC. All of that, paired with some upgrades, and you’ll be ready to take on anything in the jungle in the new year.

    Predator: Hunting GroundsPredator: Hunting Grounds

    As we discovered in October, the Viking Predator can be traced back to when the Viking raiders managed to draw the attention of the Yautja. As the legends of this mighty creature spread, Norsemen saw an opportunity to gain an honorable death by way of this wanderer, so they continued to pursue glory.  Few even relished over a Yautja death, which angered the Predators, so they sent in their fiercest warrior – the Valkyrie. This newest Predator class’ sole purpose is to choose the slain worthy of a place in Valhalla. Many fought against her in search of glory, but none could best her. So beware, if you were able to bring a Viking Predator down, she is coming for you in this DLC pack.

    Along with her cunning, this hit and run character will wreck your house. She carries with her a mighty two-handed Norse Hammer that deals crippling close-range damage. The secondary attack provides a heavy overhead swing with increased damage to any prey unfortunate enough to stand in her path. This Hammer is Predator’s interpretation of Odin’s vision for superior god-like weaponry mixed with Yautja ancestry and is available for early access* with this new paid DLC. Also with this update, the Rocket Launcher is now unlockable for all at level 85.

    Predator: Hunting GroundsPredator: Hunting Grounds

    As we said, New Year… New Mode. You now have full control with the new Custom Private mode for both Clash and Hunt. With an abundance of match styles, you can tweak, adjust, add, or omit to your hearts’ content. This mode has a few hidden gems sure to make everyone happy. You can modify actions under a range of categories: Clash, Hunt, Fireteam, HUD, Predator, Weapons/Gear, and General Gameplay. We even added in fun modes; why so serious after all? The takeaway is we want to give you, the community, the power through an array of different modifiers and modes to find the perfect way to play with friends.

    Predator: Hunting GroundsPredator: Hunting Grounds

    As you adjust for the perfect play, you and your comrades will find all XP is 25% of typical play with one exception. Hardcore Hunt: a favorite of the IllFonic team. Have your mics on as survival rests on your team’s ability to communicate. You will need to keep an eye on your team’s health in this mode; there will be blood. With reduced health, a minimal HUD, and limited abilities (such as no target isolation), you’ll need to make use of the visible wear and tear on your body to track your health and stay alive. HH is not only a gritty, pure, and realistic mode; it rewards players with full XP for each match.

    Other fun modes and modifiers to try out: Big Head Mode – big heads, say no more. Lunar Shooter – do you still have your eagle eye and steady hand in low gravity. The Floor is Lava – Predator bursts into flames when touching the ground – hope you have been practicing your Predkour. And for Clash Stabbers Only – because yes, you’re the guy that brings a knife to a gunfight. We can’t wait to see how you build out your Custom Private Matches!

    A few other things to look forward to… Field Lockers are more personalized based on what you still need cutting down on duplicate items so that you can finish that collection! Mask drops abound; keep an eye out on our socials to see what’s coming next. Lastly, If you are looking for a sneak peek at the next Predator class drop, be sure to listen closely to your Dutch tapes… as he always has the answer.   

    Predator: Hunting GroundsPredator: Hunting Grounds

    *Norse Hammer unlockable to all via gameplay by April 2021.
    Internet connection and PlayStation®Plus membership (sold separately) required for online multiplayer.

    Website: LINK

  • The Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 388: Have A Dice Day

    The Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 388: Have A Dice Day

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

    Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here

    Welcome back! This week Sid and Brett share the joys of causing some damage in Destruction AllStars, and roll the dice on sci-fi strategy game Tharsis.

    Stuff We Talked About

    • Little Nightmares II
    • Red Bull Capture Point photo mode competition
    • PlayStation Wrap Up 2020
    • Destruction All Stars
    • The Nioh Collection
    • Tharsis

    The Cast

    Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE

    Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

    [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

    Website: LINK

  • Flip this DIY hourglass over and watch its LEDs fall like sand

    Flip this DIY hourglass over and watch its LEDs fall like sand

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Flip this DIY hourglass over and watch its LEDs fall like sand

    Arduino Team — January 28th, 2021

    For centuries, hourglass instruments have been used to keep track of a certain amount of time. But while long superseded by other methods, this project by Ty and Gig Builds takes things full circle, creating an electronic version around WS2812B addressable LEDs.

    The frame takes the form of a sort of 2D wooden hourglass, with RGB strips connected to snake from one end to another. An accelerometer reads whether the device is up or down, which passes orientation info to an Arduino Mega. The Mega in turn controls animations, simulating grains of sand as points of light dropping from the top section. As this happens, the bottom half incrementally fills with lit LEDs (as the top becomes dark), and the instrument can be again turned to reverse the process.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeIhOZMU5To?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
    You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

    Website: LINK

  • Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 387: Shadow Strikers

    Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 387: Shadow Strikers

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

    Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here

    This week, we interview Aarne Hunziker of Mechanical Head Studios about upcoming side-scrolling platformer Cyber Shadow.

    Stuff We Talked About

    • Resident Evil Village
    • Persona 5 Strikers
    • Dead Space 3
    • The BTS music pack on Beat Saber
    • Bloodborne

    The Cast

    Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE

    Tim Turi –  Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE

    Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

    [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

    Website: LINK

  • Hitman 3: Waidmanns Heil, Agent 47

    Hitman 3: Waidmanns Heil, Agent 47

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Da ist er wieder und ermordet alles und jeden, solange er einen Auftrag dazu hat: Agent 47. In Hitman 3 erwartet euch genau das, was ihr bisher immer gemacht habt. Nur ein bisschen schöner. Ob euch das gefallen wird, hängt vermutlich davon ab, ob sich bereits Hitman 2 oder ein anderes Spiel des Franchises in euer Herz schleichen konnte. Solltet ihr dem wandelbaren Glatzkopf bereits verfallen sein, erwarten euch im letzten Teil der Trilogie quasi die Flitterwochen. Euer erster Stop: Dubai!

    Willkommen bei den Reichen und Schönen

    In Hitman 3 begebt ihr euch mit Agent 47 an insgesamt sechs verschiedene Orte (unter anderem Berlin!), die einzelne Kapitel des Spiels darstellen. Jedes einzelne von ihnen ist unglaublich schön und steckt voller Details: Von Reflexionen im Spiegel bis hin zu den vielen Geheimnissen, die es im Herrenhaus zu entdecken gilt. Die Figuren selbst sind keine großen Hingucker, aber ihr geht ihnen ja sowieso meist aus dem Weg.

    Die einzelnen Gebiete in einem Kapitel lassen es wie eigene Universen mit zahlreichen Geheimnissen wirken. Sechs Kapitel klingen zunächst nach einem kurzen Spielspaß, doch lasst euch nicht täuschen: Ein Level kann in 15 Minuten erledigt sein, oder auch drei Stunden in Anspruch nehmen. Das kommt ganz darauf an, wie sehr ihr euch treiben lasst. Wollt ihr alles nur ein Mal durchspielen, könnte es sich allerdings auch wie eine Erweiterung anfühlen…

    Ziel finden und erledigen

    Im ersten Areal findet ihr euch in einem Luxusgebäude in Dubai wieder. Hier residieren die Schönen und Reichen – also auch eure Ziele. Irgendwo zwischen edlem Bankett, Garderobe und Treppenhaus wandeln die Menschen umher, die für den Abschluss der Mission getötet werden müssen. Im Gegensatz zur Aufgabenstellung sind die Lösungswege niemals linear: Verwandlungskünstler Agent 47 kann zahlreiche Gegenstände nehmen, um die Zielpersonen zu erledigen. Ob ihr mit eurer Münze eine Dose kauft und die Leibwache K.O. schlagt, über die Fensterputz-Installation das oberste Stockwerk infiltriert oder im Serverraum die Wachen mit einer Banane umhaut, um ihre Uniform zu klauen: Erlaubt ist, was funktioniert. Ob ihr eure Opfer umbringt oder sie nur für kurze Zeit bewusstlos schlagt, bleibt euch überlassen. Aber bedenkt: Werden sie gefunden, können sie ihren Kameraden berichten und ihr habt einen weiteren Gegner am Hals.

    Apropos Opfer: Um zu verhindern, dass euer Verbrechen entdeckt wird, solltet ihr euch um die Entsorgung der Leichen (bzw. Gegner) kümmern. Werft sie das Treppenhaus hinab, versteckt sie in Schränken oder zieht sie wenigstens hinter eine Skulptur, um etwas Zeit zu schinden. Und lasst euch bloß nicht von den Kameras dabei aufzeichnen!

    Die vielen verschiedenen Waffen und die wirklich sehr groß ausfallenden Level bieten euch immer wieder neue Möglichkeiten und Ideen. Ihr wollt euch nicht die Hände mit Blut beschmutzen? Dann lasst doch einfach einen Kronleuchter auf eure Ziele fallen oder vergiftet ihr Essen. Zahlreiche Räume und Gegenstände tragen zu einem hohen Wiederspielwert bei. 

    Macht langsam!

    Hitman ist nicht dafür gemacht, husch husch durchgespielt zu werden. Ihr müsst euch Zeit lassen, es genießen und eins mit dem Agent 47 werden. Nur dann entfaltet sich auch in eurem Kopf das volle Potential des Spiels. Bevor in in eine der Missionen springt, könnt ihr den Startpunkt und Missionsziele festlegen. Wenn ihr hier einige Anpassungen vornehmt, kann sich euer Mord grundlend verändern. Und das, obwohl die KI in einigen Fällen ziemlich dumm und vorhersehbar ist. Ab und an haben sie sich auch mal festgebuggt oder Dinge angesprochen, die gar nicht passiert sind. Das kann Vor- und Nachteile haben. Als das Ziel direkt neben dem Ausgang in Schockstarre verfiel und wir zwei Sekunden nach seinem Mord bereits im Fluchtfahrstuhl standen, war das gar nicht so schlecht. Eine Mission in weniger als 2 Minuten abzuschließen pusht das Ego! Der darauffolgende Durchlauf hat allerdings über eine Stunde gedauert, da wir einfach keine Brechstange finden konnten!

    Mord ist unser Hobby

    Was soll man zu Hitman 3 groß sagen, außer: Morden macht Spaß! Teil 3 macht eigentlich gar nichts anders als seine Vorgänger, was vielen Hardcore-Spielern gleichermaßen positiv und negativ aufschlagen wird. Schließlich bekommt ihr hier genau das, was ihr erwartet: Einen eiskalten Killer, der in zahlreichen Verkleidungen seine Opfer umlegt und im offenen Kampf eine ziemliche Niete ist. Aber auf Feuergefechte zielt Hitman auch nicht ab: Euer Ziel sollte es immer sein, möglichst unbemerkt zu morden. Und wenn das bedeutet, dass ihr drei Minuten in einem stickigen Schrank oder einer Kiste wartet, bis sich die Lage beruhigt hat, dann ist das eben so. Ungeduld wird selten belohnt.

    Morden in VR

    Wenn ihr eine PSVR Brille besitzt, könnt ihr noch tiefer in das Abenteuer rund um die Welt mit Agent 47 eintauchen. Hitman 1 und Hitman 2 sind außerdem ebenfalls kompatibel mit der virtuellen Welt. Habt ihr einige coole Items bereits in Hitman 3 freigespielt, dürft ihr die sogar in den Vorgängern verwenden. Praktisch!

    Um Hitman 3 in VR zu spielen, solltet ihr zum DualShock-Controller greifen und eure Bewegungen möglichst präzise ausführen: Das lautlose morden funktioniert zwar gut, aber nur an speziellen Punkten, die ihr auslösen müsst. Dabei kann es hin und wieder mal zu ungewollten Handlungen kommen, die uns im normalen TV-Modus nicht passiert sind. Könnt ihr darüber hinwegsehen, erwartet euch die Möglichkeit, einfach mal genauso cool wie Agent 47 zu sein. Den Gegner mit der Klavierseite lautlos umzulegen, ist auch in VR ziemlich befriedigend.

    Ihr wollt jetzt endlich selbst Hand anlegen? Kein Problem! Bestellt euch doch einfach die Disc-Version im Store von Square Enix bequem nach Hause oder sichert euch die digitale Version im PlayStation Store.

    Website: LINK

  • 3D-printed mobile robot platform based on the Arduino Due

    3D-printed mobile robot platform based on the Arduino Due

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    3D-printed mobile robot platform based on the Arduino Due

    Arduino Team — January 19th, 2021

    Although an Arduino can be a great way to provide computing power for a mobile robot platform, you’ll need a variety of other electronics and mechanical components to get it going. In his write-up, computer science student Niels Post outlines how he constructed a robot that travels via two stepper motors, along with casters to keep it upright. The round chassis is 3D-printed and runs on three rechargeable 18650 batteries.

    The platform is based on an Arduino Due, with stepper drivers and a custom PCB to take care of the wiring. The robot has no sensors or navigation aids onboard, but instead relies on an nRF24L01+ module to communicate with a Raspberry Pi that hosts the web interface for control and livestream viewing. This setup employs a webcam to sense and direct the robot through its environment using printed markers.

    More details on Post’s project can be found in his Instructables tutorial.

    You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
    You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

    Website: LINK

  • Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 386: Valholidays

    Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 386: Valholidays

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Email us at pspodcast@sony.com!

    Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here

    Happy new year! Kristen and Tim are back to share what they played over the holidays, and geek out during an Assassin’s Creed Valhalla spoilers chat.

    Stuff We Talked About

    • Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game
    • Ghost of Tsushima
    • Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
    • Tomb Raider (yes, the 1996 classic)
    • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
    • Spoilers begin at 29:00

    The Cast

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 32087949147_a45966a017_o.jpgThis image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 32087949147_a45966a017_o.jpg

    Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 37846460335_e5e5df9d93_o.jpgThis image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 37846460335_e5e5df9d93_o.jpg

    Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist

    Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

    [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

    Website: LINK

  • Mesmerize your holiday guests with these motor-driven rheoscopic fluid ornaments

    Mesmerize your holiday guests with these motor-driven rheoscopic fluid ornaments

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Mesmerize your holiday guests with these motor-driven rheoscopic fluid ornaments

    Arduino Team — December 23rd, 2020

    We’ve all see Christmas ornaments shaped like a ball – interesting, but a bit passive. Will Donaldson, however, has created an amazing enhancement for these “orbaments,” adding a rheoscopic fluid inside that shows turbulent swirling patterns as it moves.

    The fluid is simply tap water and food coloring, plus the special rheoscopic concentrate that contains an array of light reflecting particles. To maintain a state or turbulence, Donaldson affixed a small drone-style motor to the hanger assembly on top of each orb using hot glue.

    Motors were inserted with propellers attached, which were bent to fit inside. To vary the speed of the turbulence, Donaldson added an Arduino Nano, along with an L293 driver, using the analogWrite() function for PWM control.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5JNFqDF61k?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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    You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

    Website: LINK

  • FIA Gran Turismo Championships 2020 World Finals offer three days of thrilling racing

    FIA Gran Turismo Championships 2020 World Finals offer three days of thrilling racing

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    The FIA certified Gran Turismo Championships began its third year with great anticipation as it continued to grow and attract new audiences and new players. World Tour 2020 – Sydney in February was a stunning way to start the new season in spectacular surroundings with some thrilling races. Japanese driver Takuma Miyazono took the honours in the Nations Cup and Nicolás Rubilar (CHI), Randall Haywood (USA) and Coque López (ESP) took the win for BMW in the Manufacturer Series.

    We all know what happened next. The global pandemic locked down countries and restricted large gatherings and international travel. There would be no more physical World Tour events for the rest of the year.

    But, of course, one of the great features of these emerging championships is that the majority of the racing takes place online. The 2020 Online Series saw competitors across five global regions racing each other over the 30 rounds.

    Come November, three online Regional Finals were staged with all the action broadcast on YouTube and results available here.

    More great racing action selected the fastest Gran Turismo drivers in the world to take part in the World Finals in December.

    Not being together physically did not mean we could not create a great arena for racing. A new virtual home for the World Finals 2020 was created, and, with the help of new series partner Sony α (Alpha) cameras, we brought our competitors together via video from 14 different countries (and many different time zones).

    The result was, once again, some epic racing.

    Day 1 – GR Supra GT Cup

    The scene was set by the support event – the one-make GR Supra GT Cup final in association with Toyota. 24 competitors took part in two semi-finals narrowing the field to a 12-player Final.

    After trailing by more than 20 seconds at one point in the final race, a combination of superb tyre strategy and lightning-fast driving saw Takuma Miyazono of Japan cross the finish line first. The race win shot him to the top of the standings and handed him the 2020 GR Supra GT Cup title ahead of Brazil’s Lucas Bonelli and 18-year-old Spaniard Jose Serrano.

    Day 2 – Manufacturer Series

    Day two of World Finals weekend was devoted to the Manufacturer Series. 36 competitors represented 12 manufacturers – including series Official Partners Toyota and Mazda – in teams of three. The three teammates would contest one race each with the cumulative points total deciding the winning manufacturer.

    The Grand Final climax of the Manufacturer Series was a 30-lap contest around Autódromo de Interlagos, where two past Nations Cup World Final champions would go head to head: Brazil’s Igor Fraga, the 2017 winner (and real F3 race driver) representing Honda, and 2018 champ Mikail Hizal of Turkey driving for Subaru.

    After some close, exciting racing – and a battle of strategy of how best to use the three different compounds of Michelin tyres required in the race – Hizal emerged with the race win and Championship for a Subaru team that also comprised American Daniel Solis and that man Takuma Miyazono.

    Team BMW took second place ahead of Team Mercedes-Benz.

    Day 3 – Nations Cup

    The FIA GT Championships 2020 reached its climax with the Nations Cup, pitting the top 16 competitors from all over the world against each other over three races. With the Grand Final worth double points, it came down to two drivers, Miyazono and Italy’s Valerio Gallo, who took their heated battle to the final corner of the last race, keeping everyone watching on the edge of their seats until the very end.

    The battle between Miyazono and Gallo began early as the Japanese driver grabbed pole position for Race 1 at the Fuji International Speedway in the exciting new Toyota GR Yaris, with the Italian driver two spots behind him in P3. But Gallo ran a flawless race with a perfect pit stop strategy enabling him to cross the finish line first, while Miyazono came in a disappointing 9th place. But the winner of the Asia-Oceania Region came roaring back in Race 2 by grabbing pole position around the tricky Tokyo Expressway – East Outer Loop street circuit, run in tricky rain conditions on Michelin wet tyres in the Porsche 911 RSR. Miyazono put his car-control skills on full display, besting Jose Serrano of Spain on the final corner for the win. Gallo never found a rhythm in this race, crossing the finish line in 10th.

    The Grand Final began with intrigue as the two points leaders, Miyazono and Serrano, had a disappointing qualifying session, managing only a 7th– and 8th-place starting position, respectively. Gallo, seeing a window of opportunity, laid down a blistering lap in the stylish Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept around the Sarthe Circuit, home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to take pole position for the 10-lap race.

    With several different pit-stop strategies employed by the drivers, they put on a grand show as several notable drivers challenged for the lead, including Australia’s Cody Nikola Latkovski, Tomoaki Yamanaka and Ryota Kokubun of Japan and Canada’s Andrew Brooks. After 10 laps, however, it was Gallo who crossed the finish line first, but Miyazono’s 2nd-place finish was enough to hand him the 2020 Nations Cup title, giving him 45 total points to Gallo’s 42 and 3rd-place finisher Kokubun’s 29. He also made it a World Final clean sweep, winning all three events of the weekend to add to his ‘World Tour 2020 – Sydney’ victory and Asia-Oceania Regional Finals win.

    While many of us may wish to forget 2020, Takuma Miyazono will remember it with pride for a long time to come.

    All three events are available as separate streams on the Gran Turismo TV YouTube channel with results and full news available at gran-turismo.com.

    Website: LINK

  • GTA Online – So meistert ihr den Cayo Perico Heist

    GTA Online – So meistert ihr den Cayo Perico Heist

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Die Heists sind immer eine ganz besondere Herausforderung in GTA Online und der brandneue The Cayo Perico Heist macht da natürlich keine Ausnahme. Welche Neuerungen ihr in dem bislang umfangreichsten GTA Online-Update geboten bekommt, haben wir euch bereits ausführlich in unserem Post Das erwartet euch beim The Cayo Perico Heist verraten. Jetzt möchten wir euch ein paar Tipps geben, wie ihr den Drogenbaron El Rubio, der sich auf seiner bestens bewachten Privatinsel sicher fühlt, in dem spektakulären Abenteuer richtig ausnehmen könnt und euch die Flucht zurück nach Los Santos gelingt. Übrigens könnt ihr erstmals den Heist auch ganz alleine spielen, wenn ihr gerade keine Crew für einen gemeinsamen Raubüberfall zusammen bekommt.

    Club-Gespräche

    Das Abenteuer beginnt in dem neuen Underground Club „The Music Locker“ in Los Santos, der Eingang befindet sich im Diamond Casino & Resort. Dort könnt ihr erst einmal den fetten Beats von renommierten Top-DJs lauschen und das Tanzbein schwingen, bevor ihr von Miguel Madrazo angesprochen werdet. Das Mitglied des mächtigen Madrazo-Clans hat Probleme mit einem Lieferanten, der auf die Ganovenehre pfeift. Das Ärgernis heißt El Rubio, ein Drogenbaron, der in einer gut gesicherten Villa auf seiner eigenen Privatinsel residiert. Klar, dabei handelt es sich um Cayo Perico, die neue, abwechslungsreiche. Location in GTA Online. Es versteht sich, dass ihr das lukrative Angebot gegen eine üppige Belohnung bei El Rubio einzubrechen und belastende Dokumente zu stehlen, auf keinen Fall ablehnt.

    Money, Money, Money

    Hoffentlich ist euer Konto mit reichlich GTA-Dollar gefüllt, denn als Heist-„Eintrittsgeld“ werden gleich mal 2.2 Millionen fällig, die ihr in ein U-Boot investieren müsst. Nach dem Gespräch mit Madroza steht dann die Kosatka zum Kauf im Onlineshop von Warstock Cache & Carry zur Verfügung. Fehlt euch das nötige Kleingeld, dann absolviert noch ein paar Missionen oder profitiert als PS Plus-Abonnent von der Extra-Überweisung in Höhe von stolzen $1.000.000, die ihr jeden Monat den ihr Grand Theft Auto Online spielt auf euer Maze Bank-Konto im Spiel bekommt.

    Rüstet die Kosotka unbedingt weiter auf

    Mit dem frisch erworbenen U-Boot, welches auch als neuer Social Space und Planungsraum mit der wichtigen Raubüberfall-Planungstafel fungiert, habt ihr nur die absolut notwendige Grundausrüstung für den Heist im Inventar. Investiert unbedingt so bald, wie nur machbar in zusätzliche Ausstattung. Lenkraketen, Waffenwerkstatt und zusätzliche Fahrzeuge erleichtern euch ungemein die anstehenden Aufgaben. Besonders nützlich ist die Sonarstation, die zwar mit üppigen $1.200000 euer Konto belastet, dafür aber die Möglichkeit bietet, täglich Unterwasser versteckte Pakete mit Geld- und RP-Boni aufzuspüren. Euer Konto wird es euch danken. 

    Wer suchet, der findet 

    Lasst euch unbedingt Zeit: Neben den zwingenden Ausrüstungsmissonen, habt ihr die Möglichkeit im Freien Spiel oder in optionalen Erkundungsmissionen jeden Quadratmeter der Insel in aller Ruhe zu durchstreifen. Das können wir euch auch nur empfehlen, denn jedes zusätzliche Ausrüstungsteil und jeder entdeckte Ort machen euch das knackige Finale erheblich leichter. Und ihr wollt doch bestimmt alle mit eurer Beute sicher nach Los Santos zurück. 

    Neben nützlichen Einbruchswerkzeugen, beispielsweise Bolzenschneider, Fingerabdruck-Scanner oder Schneidbrenner, findet ihr auch neue Infiltrationspunkte, die alternative Wege in die Villa von El Rubio ermöglichen oder Fluchtwege, bei denen ihr schnell den alarmierten Wachen entkommt. Auch eine entdeckte Luftabwehrstellung macht es euch leichter, sonst werdet ihr wohl unangenehm überrascht, wenn ihr versucht mit einem Helikopter einzudringen. Wenn ihr alles in Ruhe ausgespäht und fotografiert habt, dann erledigt auch gleich ein paar Waffenhändler auf der Insel, damit nehmt ihr den Gegnern einiges an Verteidigungskraft oder holt euch Hilfe bei einer Unterstützungscrew aus Spezialisten, die euch allerdings zum Teil nur zur Verfügung stehen, wenn ihr bereits vorherige Heists gespielt habt. 

    Der Planungsbildschirm auf der Kosotka

    Natürlich sind nicht alle interessanten Orte auf der Karte markiert, ihr sollt schon die Vorbereitung weitgehend selber in die Hand nehmen. Ein wichtiges Werkzeug für die perfekte Planung ist dabei die Raubüberfall-Planungstafel auf eurem fahrenden Hauptquartier. Hier seht ihr zwar nicht alle Fundorte, könnt aber sehr gut erkennen, wie viele wichtige Orte, Werkzeuge, mögliche Zusatzbeute oder Zugangspunkte euch noch fehlen, um die beste Ausgangslage für das Heist-Finale zu erreichen. 

    Auf der Jagd nach der goldenen Waffe

    Die vielen Geheimnisse auf Cayo Perico sollt ihr natürlich möglichst selber entdecken und wir wollen euch ganz bestimmt nicht den Spaß nehmen. Ein kleiner Tipp ist aber vielleicht für euch noch hilfreich: Wenn ihr gerne die ganz spezielle Waffe im Heist-Finale ergattern wollt, dann schaut euch genau in der Villa von El Rubio um und nutzt auch unbedingt die Überwachungskameras. Vielleicht fällt euch das Versteck auf und ihr könnt dann trotz Hektik und bleihaltigen Gefechten einen zusätzlichen Fang machen. Wichtig: Wenn ihr nicht alleine, sondern mit einer Crew spielt, dann seht zu, dass ihr als erstes zugreift, denn nur der Schnellste darf die Waffe dann auch behalten.

    Website: LINK

  • Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 384: Game of the NieR

    Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 384: Game of the NieR

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Email us at pspodcast@sony.com!

    Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here

    This week, the team chats with Emi Evans, singer on the NieR Replicant soundtrack (interview starts around 16:30), before sharing their 2021 gaming resolutions. Listen in!

    Stuff We Talked About

    • Persona 5 Strikers
    • Destiny 2
    • Demon’s Souls
    • Ghost of Tsushima
    • Haven
    • Immortals Fenyx Rising
    • Gaming resolutions for 2021

    The Cast

    Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE

    Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

    [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

    Website: LINK

  • Amplitude Studios kehrt mit Endless Dungeon zum Rogue-lite-Genre zurück

    Amplitude Studios kehrt mit Endless Dungeon zum Rogue-lite-Genre zurück

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Hallo zusammen! Wir freuen uns, euch heute alles über Endless Dungeon zu erzählen, mit dem Amplitude Studios ins gefeierte Endless-Universum zurückkehrt und sich erneut ins Rogue-lite-Genre vorwagt. Wir sind vielleicht am besten für unsere rundenbasierten Strategiespiele bekannt, aber viele von uns haben ein Faible für Rogue-lites und Dungeon-Crawler, daher ist es für uns besonders aufregend, mit unserem neuen taktischen Rogue-lite-Actionspiel wieder in diesen Bereich einzutauchen.

    Amplitude Studios kehrt mit Endless Dungeon zum Rogue-lite-Genre zurück

    Gestrandet auf einer verlassenen Raumstation der alten und mächtigen Endless-Zivilisation besteht eure einzige Hoffnung auf Flucht darin, die Geheimnisse dieses Ortes zu lüften. Ihr versammelt euer Team von Helden und verteidigt euren Kristall gegen unendliche Wellen von Monstern, während ihr tief in das Herz dieses verfluchten Ortes vordringt … oder (vielleicht unvermeidlich) beim Versuch draufgeht. In diesem Fall kehrt ihr wieder dorthin zurück, wo ihr angefangen habt, denn der Tod ist hier nicht das Ende.

    Dennoch ist es immer empfehlenswert, gut vorbereitet zu sein, also was erwartet euch in Endless Dungeon?

    Eine brandneue Geschichte im Endless-Universum

    Das Endless-Universum steckt voller Geheimnisse, aber nach eurem Schiffbruch auf dieser Station gibt es nur eines, das euch wirklich wichtig ist: Was hält euch auf dieser Station gefangen und lässt euch immer wieder ins Leben zurückkehren? So viele Geschichten dieser Ort und die Leute hier auch zu erzählen haben, seid ihr nicht gerade begeistert von dem Gedanken, wie manche von ihnen einige Jahrzehnte hier zu verbringen …

    Taktische Teambuilding-Übung

    Ihr seid nicht die Einzigen, die sich aus dem Staub machen möchten. Daher versammelt ihr eine Truppe von illustren Charakteren um euch und prüft, ob eure kombinierten Fähigkeiten ausreichen, um ins Herz der Station zu gelangen. Wechselt im Einzelspielermodus nahtlos zwischen Helden oder tut euch mit einem Freund zusammen, um den Endless-Bedrohungen im Koop-Modus gemeinsam gegenüberzutreten.

    Gefährliche Erforschung in eurem eigenen Tempo

    Da fast alles auf der Station versucht, euch den Garaus zu machen, braucht ihr vielleicht hin und wieder eine Pause. Also atmet durch. Schaut euch um. Plant und bereitet euch vor. Und tretet dann durch die nächste Tür, um eine weitere Welle von Monstern in einem Hagel von Klauen und Schüssen über euch schwappen zu lassen, bis nur noch ihr übrig bleibt – oder sie. (Tatsächlich raten wir davon ab, gegen Türen zu treten, da sie ziemlich robust sind …)

    Knallharte Verteidigung

    Ihr wisst vielleicht nicht, was das für ein Kristall ist, aber ihr wisst, dass er für euer Überleben und eure Flucht unverzichtbar ist. Ihr braucht ihn, um Türen zu entriegeln und die Systeme dieser Station mit Strom zu versorgen, damit ihr endlich abhauen könnt. Leider scheinen all diese Wesen um euch herum großen Appetit darauf zu haben. Zum Glück steht euch eine Vielzahl von Türmen und anderen automatischen Verteidigungsmaßnahmen zur Verfügung, sodass ihr beim Showdown immer noch eine zusätzliche Waffe oder zwei in der Hinterhand habt.

    Moment mal! Abgestürzt in den Ruinen eines uralten, vergangenen Reiches? Ein geheimnisvoller Kristall, der ihre wundersame Technologie antreibt? Türme, um endlose Wellen von Feinden zu bekämpfen, die eine Flucht praktisch unmöglich machen? All das wird Fans des Endless-Universums sehr vertraut vorkommen und an unser erstes Abenteuer im Rogue-lite-Genre, Dungeon of the Endless, erinnern.

    Dieser geistige Vorfahr von Endless Dungeon wurde aus einer Idee – oder vielmehr einem Witz – heraus geboren, die bei einem unserer Community-Events die Runde machte. Ein kleines Team von Entwicklern hat einen Prototyp daraus gebastelt und wir wussten sofort, dass wir mit diesem „Rogue-like-Tower-Defense-Dungeon-Crawler“ etwas ganz Besonderes in unseren Händen hielten, das ebenso irrwitzig war wie seine Genrebezeichnung. Doch wir hatten nicht erwartet, dass das Spiel bei unseren Fans so gut ankommen und schnell eine leidenschaftliche Community anziehen würde.

    Wir haben viel aus der Entwicklung dieses Spiels, dem Feedback unserer Community und den Geschichten ihrer Lieblingsmomente im Spiel gelernt. Damit haben wir uns wieder ans Reißbrett gesetzt und ein völlig neues Erlebnis mit dem gleichen Feeling aufgebaut, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf der direkten Kontrolle über die Action und einem tollen Multiplayer-Erlebnis lag. Gleichzeitig haben wir uns auf taktische Kämpfe, wellenbasierte Verteidigung und Exploration konzentriert.

    Website: LINK

  • Hood: Outlaws & Legends – Bringing the Legend to Life

    Hood: Outlaws & Legends – Bringing the Legend to Life

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Robin Hood was never just one person.  Over the years many real-life and fictional people have contributed to the legend.  Like any good story it has been adapted and embellished over the years for different audiences and indeed political motivations.  

    We wanted to go back to basics.  If you go back to the earliest stories, Robin Hood was a cruel outlaw who stole and killed in cold blood and without remorse.  It is only much later that he becomes more altruistic, gentrified and heroic.  

    This led us to ask, “what would it be like if HBO did Robin Hood in a Game of Thrones style?” But perhaps more “Battle of the Bastards” than the dragons…

    With Hood: Outlaws and Legends we wanted to (again) adapt and reimagine the legend for a new audience and our own purposes. The fact that there was a patchwork of origin stories with no one definitive Robin Hood, felt like a perfect basis for a multiplayer game. 

    Hood is not one person. It is an idea. A symbol to the people.  It is a mantle that is passed on from one person to another to maintain the myth – like Black Panther or The Dread Pirate Roberts.

    We asked what if in the incumbent Hood has died suddenly with no clear successor.  Who would step into that vacuum?  As anyone who watched the 1980’s Robin of Sherwood series will know the two top contenders for the Hood title are Robin and Loxley and Robin of Huntingdon.  (by the way Micheal Praed should never have left to do Dynasty but don’t get me started on that one) 

    So we had our set-up, two gangs of outlaws, locked in battle, each vying to pull off an audacious heist. Both seeking to be hailed by the people as the real “Hood.”

    The Outlaws

    In a world where the people are oppressed, outlaws can become heroes. But our outlaws are not completely altruistic. Each is an outcast from society, the disenfranchised, the shunned, the disowned. They are WOLFS HEADS – they have no more rights than a wolf and can be killed on sight. Each have their own reason to seek revenge on the State. They steal from the rich – to hurt the rich.

    When we looked at the other player characters, as with Hood, we decided to take what worked from the legend and reworked them for our gameplay needs. 

    We needed a diverse team whose skills could be combined to pull off a daring heist.

    Hood is of course the Ranger skilled at ranged combat.  He can hide in the shadows or perch at a high window and support the team from a distance.  He can tag targets and remove threats with his longbow.  His explosive arrow ability can be devastating to tightly packed groups, and can even down the dreaded Sheriff – for a while at least.

    Little John has become John Nailer, a Brawler, close combat specialist and general tank. His deadly hammer can kill with a single blow, while his Wrath ability turns him into an unstoppable melee powerhouse with endless stamina.  If your team is trapped and all seems lost, he is the only outlaw strong enough to raise the portcullis and open up an escape route for the team.  

    Friar Tuck we morphed into Tooke – a scarred ex-State inquisitor. His flail makes him strong at close and mid-range combat, while his mystical abilities can heal and support his team, revealing the position of nearby enemies.

    Maid Marion moved from being a damsel in distress to a warrior and leader in her own right, which is indeed how some of the legends already depicted her. Her burst-fire crossbow and assassination skills terrorise the enemy, while her smoke grenades and invisibility ability bring a stealthy advantage to any heist.

    The State & Wider World

    We deliberately stayed away from a named time period or try to recreate specific real-world locations.  Not being tied to historical, or indeed geographical, accuracy gave us the freedom to make the gameplay we wanted.   

    Our enemy is an un-named power known simply as The State, represented by the AI-driven guards and Sheriff that oppose both teams during heists.  It is not supposed to be any historical faction but rather a representation of corrupted power and authority.  Imposing its will on the common people. The State buildings are exaggerated projection of their power – much bigger than any that would have existed then – but they make for more fun gameplay.  

    In fact, “following the fun” is the mantra we adopted throughout development.  For the weapons and armour we played fast and loose – blatantly stealing from other cultures and (close-ish) time periods or just making stuff up because it’s cool, like Marianne’s triple crossbow.  

    With the maps and biomes we again went for what looked cool and worked best for gameplay.  We have huge Citadels and some snow-capped mountains you would be hard pushed to find in England.  There are however ample references and nods to the legends for those looking for them – Barnsdale Outpost and Fountaindale, for example. 

    Summary

    With Hood, we wanted to create a dark and brutal re-imagining of the traditional legend, where old world myth and superstition clashed with man-made power and corruption.  We also wanted to bring a new and fresh twist to the multiplayer heist genre.

    In some ways, because we never explain who Hood is, never give him a single origin story, it could be argued that ours is one of the more honest representations of the lore.  This is after all not trying to tell a story based in historical fact, or even historical fiction.  It is the story of a legend.  

    Hood: Outlaws & Legends – Bringing the Legend to Life

    Hood: Outlaws & Legends releases on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on May 10, 2021. Pre-order players will get exclusive bonuses and early access to the game from May 7, three days before the official release.

    Website: LINK

  • Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 383: Let’s Get Mythical

    Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 383: Let’s Get Mythical

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

    Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or RSS, or download here

    This week, Tim and Kristen dive into the divinely distinct styles of mythological storytelling in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Immortals Fenyx Rising. 

    Stuff We Talked About

    • TemTem
    • The Last of Us Part II
    • Kratos in Fortnite
    • How much we enjoy various mythologies
    • Demon’s Souls
    • Astro’s Playroom

    The Cast

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 32087949147_a45966a017_o.jpgThis image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 32087949147_a45966a017_o.jpg

    Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE

    Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

    [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

    Website: LINK

  • New Raspberry Pi OS release — December 2020

    New Raspberry Pi OS release — December 2020

    Reading Time: 10 minutes

    Well, in a year as disrupted and strange as 2020, it’s nice to know that there are some things you can rely on, for example the traditional end-of-year new release of Raspberry Pi OS, which we launch today. Here’s a run-through of the main new features that you’ll find in it.

    Chromium

    We’ve updated the Chromium browser to version 84. This has taken us a bit longer than we would have liked, but it’s always quite a lot of work to get our video hardware acceleration integrated with new releases of the browser. That’s done now, so you should see good-quality video playback on sites like YouTube. We’ve also, given events this year, done a lot of testing and tweaking on video conferencing clients such as Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, and they should all now work smoothly on your Raspberry Pi’s Chromium.

    Version 84 of the Chromium web browser

    There’s one more thing to mention on the subject of web browsers. We’ve been shipping Adobe’s Flash Player as part of our Chromium install for several years now. Flash Player is being retired by Adobe at the end of the year, so this release will be the last that includes it. Most websites have now stopped requiring Flash Player, so this hopefully isn’t something that anyone notices!

    PulseAudio

    From this release onwards, we are switching Raspberry Pi OS to use the PulseAudio sound server.

    First, a bit of background. Audio on Linux is really quite complicated. There are multiple different standards for handling audio input and output, and it does sometimes seem that what has happened, historically, is that whenever anyone wanted to use audio in Linux, they looked at the existing libraries and programs and went “Hmmm… I don’t like that, I’ll write something new and better.” This has resulted in a confused mass of competing and conflicting software, none of which quite works the way anyone wants it to!

    The most common audio interface, which lies underneath most Linux systems somewhere, is called ALSA, the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture. This is a fairly reliable low-level audio interface — indeed, it is what Raspberry Pi OS has used up until now — but it has quite a lot of limitations and is starting to show its age. For example, it can only handle one input and one output at a time. So for example, if ALSA is being used by your web browser to play sound from a YouTube video to the HDMI output on your Raspberry Pi, nothing else can produce sound at the same time; if you were to try playing a video or an audio file in VLC, you’d hear nothing but the audio from YouTube. Similarly, if you want to switch the sound from your YouTube video from HDMI to a USB sound card, you can’t do it while the video is playing; it won’t change until the sound stops. These aren’t massive problems, but most modern operating systems do handle audio in a more flexible fashion.

    More significant is that ALSA doesn’t handle Bluetooth audio at all, so various other extensions and additional bits of software are required to even get audio into and out of Bluetooth devices on an ALSA-based system. We’ve used a third-party library called bluez-alsa for a few years now, but it’s an additional piece of code to maintain and update, so this isn’t ideal.

    PulseAudio deals with all of this. It’s a piece of software that sits as a layer between all the audio hardware and all the applications that send and receive audio, and it automatically routes everything to the right places. It can mix the audio from multiple applications together, so you can hear VLC at the same time as YouTube, and it allows the output to be moved around between different devices while it is playing. It knows how to talk to Bluetooth devices, and it greatly simplifies the job of managing default input and output devices, so it makes it much easier to make sure audio ends up where it is supposed to be!

    One area where it is particularly helpful is in managing audio input and output streams to web browsers like Chromium; in our testing, the use of PulseAudio made setting up video conferencing sessions much easier and more reliable, particularly with Bluetooth headsets and webcam audio.

    The good news for Raspberry Pi users is that, if we’ve got it right, you shouldn’t even notice the change. PulseAudio now runs by default, and while the volume control and audio input/output selector on the taskbar looks almost identical to the one in previous releases of the OS, it is now controlling PulseAudio rather than ALSA. You can use it just as before: select your output and input devices, adjust the volume, and you’re good to go.

    The PulseAudio input selector

    There is one small change to the input/output selector, which is the menu option at the bottom for Device Profiles. In PulseAudio, any audio device has one or more profiles, which select which outputs and inputs are used on any device with multiple connections. (For example, some audio HATs and USB sound cards have both analogue and digital outputs — there will usually be a profile for each output to select where the audio actually comes out.)

    The PulseAudio profile selector

    Profiles are more important for Bluetooth devices. If a Bluetooth device has both an input and an output (such as a headset with both a microphone and an earphone), it usually supports two different profiles. One of these is called HSP (HeadSet Profile), and this allows you to use both the microphone and the earphone, but with relatively low sound quality — equivalent to that you hear on a mobile phone call, so fine for speech but not great for music. The other profile is called A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), which gives much better sound quality, but is output-only: it does not allow you to use the microphone. So if you are making a call, you want your Bluetooth device to use HSP, but if you are listening to music, you want it to use A2DP.

    We’ve automated some of this, so if you select a Bluetooth device as the default input, then that device is automatically switched to HSP. If you want to switch a device which is in HSP back to A2DP, just reselect it from the output menu. Its microphone will then be deactivated, and it will switch to A2DP. But sometimes you might want to take control of profiles manually, and the Device Profiles dialog allows you to do that.

    (Note that if you are only using the Raspberry Pi’s internal sound outputs, you don’t need to worry about profiles at all, as there is only one, and it’s automatically selected for you.)

    Some people who have had experience of PulseAudio in the past may be a little concerned by this change, because PulseAudio hasn’t always been the most reliable piece of software, but it has now reached the point where it solves far more problems than it creates, which is why many other Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, now use it by default. Most users shouldn’t even notice the change; there may be occasional issues with some older applications such as Sonic Pi, but the developers of these applications will hopefully address any issues in the near future.

    Printing

    One thing which has always been missing from Raspberry Pi OS is an easy way to connect to and configure printers. There is a Linux tool for this, called CUPS, the Common Unix Printing System. (It’s actually owned by Apple and is the underlying printing system used by macOS X, but it is still free software and available for use by Linux distributions.)

    CUPS has always been available in apt, so could be installed on any Raspberry Pi, but the standard web-based interface is a bit unfriendly. Various third-party front-end tools have been written to make CUPS a bit easier to use, and we have decided to use one called system-config-printer. (Like PulseAudio, this is also used as standard by Ubuntu.)

    So both CUPS and system-config-printer are now installed as part of Raspberry Pi OS. If you are a glutton for punishment, you can access the CUPS web interface by opening the Chromium browser and going to http://localhost:631, but instead of doing that, we suggest just going into the Preferences section in the main menu and opening Print Settings.

    The new Printer Settings dialog

    This shows the system-config-printer dialog, from which you can add new printers, remove old ones, set one as the default, and access the print queue for each printer, just as you should be familiar with from other operating systems.

    Like most things in Linux, this relies on user contributions, so not every printer is supported. We’ve found that most networked printers work fine, but USB printers are a bit hit-and-miss as to whether there is a suitable driver; in general, the older your printer is, the more likely it is to have a CUPS driver available. The best thing to do is to try it and see, and perhaps ask for help on our forums if your particular printer doesn’t seem to work.

    This fills in one of the last things missing in making Raspberry Pi a complete desktop computer, by making it easy to set up a printer and print from applications such as LibreOffice.

    Accessibility

    One of the areas we have tried to improve in the Desktop this year is to make it more accessible to those with visual impairments. We added support for the Orca screen reader at the start of the year, and the display magnifier plugin over the summer.

    While there are no completely new accessibility features this time, we have made some improvements to Orca support in applications like Raspberry Pi Configuration and Appearance Settings, to make them read what they are doing in a more helpful fashion; we’ve also worked with the maintainers of Orca to raise and fix a few bugs. It’s still not perfect, but we’re doing our best!

    One of the benefits of switching to PulseAudio is that it now means that screen reader audio can be played through Bluetooth devices; this was not possible using the old ALSA system, so visually-impaired users who wish to use the screen reader with a Bluetooth headset or external speaker can now do so.

    One feature we have added is an easy way to install Orca; it is still available through Recommended Software as before, but given that is not easy to navigate for a visually-impaired person, there is now a keyboard shortcut: just hold down ctrl and alt and press the space bar to automatically install Orca. A dialog box will be shown on the screen, and voice prompts will let you know when the install has started and finished.

    And if you can’t remember that shortcut, when you first boot a new image, if you don’t do anything for thirty seconds or so, the startup wizard will now speak to you to remind you how to do it…

    Finally, we had hoped to be able to say that Chromium was now compatible with Orca; screen reader support was being added to versions 8x. Unfortunately, for now this seems to only have been added for Windows and Mac versions, not the Linux build we use. Hopefully Google will address this in a future release, but for now if you need a web browser compatible with Orca, you’ll need to install Firefox from apt.

    New hardware options

    We’ve added a couple of options to the Raspberry Pi Configuration tool.

    On the System tab, if you are running on Raspberry Pi with a single status LED (i.e. a Raspberry Pi Zero or the new Raspberry Pi 400), there is now an option to select whether the LED just shows that the power is on, or if it flickers off to show drive activity.

    LED control in Raspberry Pi Configuration

    On the Performance tab, there are options to allow you to control the new Raspberry Pi Case Fan: you can select the GPIO pin to which it is connected and set the temperature at which it turns on and off.

    Fan controls in Raspberry Pi Configuration

    How do I get it?

    The latest image can be installed on a new card using the Raspberry Pi Imager, or can be downloaded from our Downloads page.

    To apply the updates to an existing image, you’ll need to enter the usual commands in a terminal window:

    sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade

    (It is safe to just accept the default answer to any questions you are asked during the update procedure.)

    Then, to install the PulseAudio Bluetooth support, you will need to enter the following commands in the terminal window:

    sudo apt purge bluealsa
sudo apt install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth

    Now reboot.

    To swap over the volume and input selector on the taskbar from ALSA to PulseAudio, after your Raspberry Pi has restarted, right-click a blank area on the taskbar and choose Add / Remove Panel Items. Find the plugin labelled Volume Control (ALSA/BT) in the list, select it and click Remove; then click the Add button, find the plugin labelled Volume Control (PulseAudio) and click Add. Alternatively, just open the Appearance Settings application from the Preferences section of the Main Menu, go to the Defaults tab and press one of the Set Defaults buttons.

    As ever, do let us know what you think in the comments.

    Website: LINK

  • Join the Hunt as Kratos in Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 5

    Join the Hunt as Kratos in Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 5

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    PlayStation fans,

    Following the final battle of last Season, the Zero Point has become exposed. The danger? The Island’s Characters are now at risk of escaping the Loop. Unable to prevent this alone, Agent Jones has enlisted the help from realities beyond the Loop, including a reality PlayStation fans are well familiar with…

    Among the first figures to arrive beyond the Loop is Kratos. As Kratos, you may have taken down Valkyries of ages past, but now it’s time to fight a battle that will shape the future of the Island… Join the hunt to make sure no one escapes the Loop.

    Join the Hunt as Kratos in Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 5

    Below, we’d like to share more about what it looks like to fight this consequential battle as Kratos — specifically, all his gear plus a brief overview of Chapter 2 – Season 5’s gameplay.

    Be What the Gods Have Made You

    Kicking off the new Gaming Legends series is the Oathbreaker set, comprised of the Kratos Outfit plus gear from his time in Midgard — all available now in the Item Shop for purchase. Take Kratos with you to join the hunt.

    In your previous feats as Kratos, you’ve probably put on many different kinds of armor. As a nod to his Norse adventures, when you play a match of Fortnite on your PlayStation 5 after purchasing the Kratos Outfit, you’ll unlock the Armored Kratos Style in glorious gold.

    Also available for purchase in the Item Shop is the Guardian Shield Glider, a memento of Kratos’ beloved wife Laufey the Just. And as Mimir gave you wisdom in Midgard, he also has your back on the Island: take the Head with you in battle in the form of the Mimir Back Bling. 

    Brok and Sindri are on your side as well: harness the power of the Leviathan Axe as you harvest with the Leviathan Axe Pickaxe. 

    The Leviathan Axe Pickaxe is special in more ways than one, as this Pickaxe includes a built-in Emote. With the built-in Freezing Burst Emote, show off the frozen leviathan.

    The Hunt is On

    At Epic, we’re excited to have Kratos join the hunt. Not only does his history make him a great candidate for Agent Jones’ mission, but his legendary status makes him an esteemed addition to the world of Fortnite. 

    From Santa Monica Studio, Cory Barlog also mentioned excitement around the partnership:

    “Having Kratos in Fortnite is a mashup that we’ve been talking about for a long time, so it’s especially gratifying to see the collaboration come to fruition! The first thing I’ll do with Kratos in the game is hold hands or maybe go for a moonlit stroll with Mancake. I’m most excited about the Guardian Shield glider, that thing is AWESOME.

    I want to give a big thanks to all the devs over at Epic for the incredible job they did realizing Kratos in Fortnite. I’m truly in awe of their talent and passion.”

    Need a Chapter 2 – Season 5 primer before jumping in? You may have a familiar ally in Kratos, but the battle itself is quite different than in Seasons past. 

    In addition to new weapons and locations, this Season brings brand new gameplay. As a hunter, you can take on quests and bounties from the Island’s Characters, get intel from them, purchase their “Exotic” weapons, or hire them to be on your side. And if you don’t want to negotiate, you can challenge them to a duel and reap the rewards.

    This exchange of goods and services runs on Bars: your reward for completing quests and bounties and eliminating players. (You can also find Bars stashed around the Island!) But be careful out there: others may have a bounty on you…

    Join the Hunt as Kratos in Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 5

    Your targets are waiting. Join the hunt.

    Website: LINK

  • Share of the Week: Awe-inspiring

    Share of the Week: Awe-inspiring

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Last week, we asked you to share gaming moments that left your jaw on the floor using #PSshare and #PSBlog. From hulking scenery to epic attacks, here are this week’s awe-inspiring shares:  

    Astro stares around in wonder in Astro’s Playroom, shared by KUSH7710.

    SindyJ_B shared the stunning aquarium from The Last of Us Part II.

    The hulking Qliphoth tree from Devil May Cry 5 inspired Sefwick.

    This dragon from Demon’s Soul brings the heat in this share by Blurrsky.

    This Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order share by GamerAnnaSim makes us feel tiny.

    Nothing is more awe-inspiring that Kratos and his axe in God of War, shared by SpartanWarriora.

    Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? 

    Theme: Feast

    Share by: 9am Pacific on Wednesday, December 2

    Next week, let’s eat! From snack boosts to full fledged meals, share feast moments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

    Website: LINK

  • Watch the PlayStation Partner Awards 2020 Japan Asia, streaming December 3

    Watch the PlayStation Partner Awards 2020 Japan Asia, streaming December 3

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Greetings, PS Blog readers! On December 3, we will host the PlayStation Partner Awards 2020 Japan Asia to recognize hit PlayStation titles released in the past year. We will be broadcasting the event on the official PlayStation Japan YouTube channel starting at 19:00 / 7pm JST (2am Pacific, 10am GMT). English subtitles will be available.

    The PlayStation Awards have been held every year since the birth of the platform in 1994, celebrating its 25th anniversary last year. This year, we’re giving the event a new name — the PlayStation Partner Awards — and adding a few new awards to look forward to.

    At the PlayStation Partner Awards, we will be paying homage to creators who have appeared on PlayStation platforms over the past year. Jon Kabira and Hatsune Matsushima will host the event, presenting awards to the multitudes of hit titles released throughout 2020.

    Tune in on December 3 — maybe you’ll find something new to play!

    Award Categories

    Grand Award

    Awarded to the top three titles developed in the Japan / Asian regions with highest worldwide sales between October 2019 and September 2020*.

    Partner Award

    Awarded to titles developed in the Japan / Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2019 and September 2020*, with particularly noteworthy activity results**.

    Special Award

    Awarded to the following 2 titles:

    1. Titles developed by creators from outside the Japan / Asia region that have amassed the highest sales in the Japan / Asia region from October 2019 to September 2020*.
    2. Titles developed in the Japan / Asia region in conjunction with SIE Worldwide Studios that have amassed the highest worldwide sales* from October 2019 to September 2020.

    * Hard copy and digital copy sales through PlayStation Store are counted in the calculation (including additional content and digital currency sales).
    ** SIE indices, which include player numbers, also factor into the determination of nominees.

    Website: LINK