With Endgame approaching, here’s a look at who the most powerful Avengers really are.
Doom Patrol Does a Lot With Very Little
Warning: Full spoilers for Doom Patrol Season 1, Episode 7 below. If you need a refresher on where we left off, check out our review for Season 1, Episode 6.
Doom Patrol has a unique ability to render plot unimportant and and almost meaningless. Normally I consider myself a stickler for pacing and react poorly to shows that don’t progress at a steady clip. But Doom Patrol consistently proves that some projects don’t need much narrative momentum, so long as they have compelling, extremely damaged characters worth exploring.
Granted, it took a little while for “Therapy Patrol” to click. There’s a slight “Haven’t we been here before?” quality to the early scenes, as we see Rita and Larry continue to grapple with their respective tragic pasts. With Larry in particular, I don’t know that “Therapy Patrol” had all that much to add in terms of his backstory and his struggles as a closeted gay man in 1960’s suburbia.
Deal Alert: Check Out These Awesome Pre-Built Desktop PCs
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Have you wanted to get into PC gaming, but found the process of building a computer too daunting? Walmart has you covered, as they have a wide array of prebuilt machines on sale at various price points to meet each buyer’s individual needs. Thanks to the rapidly dropping costs of RAM and storage, these desktop computers are coming in at a great price while still guaranteeing 1080p, 60fps performance.
Below is a list of the desktop PCs that caught our eye, or you can head here, to see Walmart’s entire desktop PC listing.
How Nintendo Uses Luck To Make Games Fun For Everyone
Since its pre-video game years as a Japanese playing-card company, Nintendo has designed games that combine strategy, competition, and luck. This mixture takes competition-centric pressure off players, making the game less about winning and more about having fun.
Franchises like Mario Party, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros. are designed to put advanced players and novices on a more equal footing. These games are easy to pick up and understand, can be played alone or with others, and have high replay value.
However, some players rebel against luck in video games, arguing that skill and technical prowess should be the ultimate arbitrators of who wins or loses. They see games as a meritocracy and view luck as punishing some players for being good, while unjustly rewarding other players who didn’t put in the time and effort to improve. But for many Nintendo games, the focus on competition isn’t the point.
Dr. Nicholas Bowman is an associate professor at the Interaction Lab at West Virginia University. He researches interactivity and media psychology, analyzing how people react to media on screens. Bowman says Nintendo games such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros. use elements of luck to downplay cognitive aspects of gaming (strategy, reflexes, choosing what button to push at the right time, etc.) to enhance the social experience of playing.
“In some ways, they take after board games, which always have that element of luck, whether you are playing Monopoly or even something like Dungeon and Dragons,” Bowman explained. “No matter how good you are, you still have to roll the dice.”
What Nintendo knows is that an important part of having fun is those around you also having fun. Adding dice rolls to Mario Party, or items based on your place in a Mario Kart race, or stage obstacles to Super Smash Bros. creates an element of surprise that makes each playthrough unique and offers novice players a chance to win. Bowman argues that these Nintendo games are meant to allow players of varying experience levels to have fun playing against each other.
“You know that if you had five friends come over, and they never touched a video game in their life, you could have them play one of those games and they’d be fine,” Bowman continued. “But the most important thing is they think they have a chance of winning.”
Bowman also studies video games and nostalgia, and said the ease and casual nature of these Mario multiplayer games facilitates greater levels of social connection.
“What you find out is people aren’t nostalgic for the game itself, but the game reminds them of the people they were around when playing it,” Bowman said. “Putting Smash Bros. on 100 lives is ridiculous–unless you want to spend hours with your buddies–then it’s awesome. The things that are most nostalgic are things that have these social connections with them.”
But many casual gamers, for whom competition isn’t a big motivator, often feel the broader gaming community looks down on those in it for the “play.” In his book, “The Toxic Meritocracy of Video Games,” Dr. Christopher Paul is critical of the ways in which gaming culture has come to over-emphasize meritocracy at the expense of enjoyment. He writes that, as games became more popular and the community sought to carve out space as a legitimate sport, gaming culture uncritically accepted the idea that “success in video games is something that is properly earned by players through effort and labor.”
Paul, an assistant professor at Seattle University, argues that this thinking and other cultural assumptions underlie toxic in-group versus out-group dichotomies of who gets to be called a “real” gamer. Those who accept this framework are likely to think luck has no place in a game, because randomness erases complete control and makes the game “unfair.”
The logic goes that if a game is easy to learn, it takes less skill and less time to learn that skill; therefore it isn’t a good or fun game, and those who play games like Mario Kart or Party are not serious about gaming or are “not real gamers.” If luck makes it so that “anyone” can win, why play the game?
Super Smash Bros. is the traditionally considered the most skill-based of the Nintendo games previously mentioned; there are tournaments such as EVO, where items and certain stages are banned in order make the battles solely about skill. Mario Kart, meanwhile, has gotten some of the worst flack, mainly for what critics feel is the unfairness of the “blue shell.” Many advanced gamers are critical of Mario Party, seeing it as too random, as opposed to being a genuine test of skill.
These critiques are indicative of what many more advanced gamers feel about Mario spin-offs, but also highlight that they are likely conflating skill, competition, and technical mastery on one hand, and “fun” on the other. Not being able to see the value of games like Mario Party is overlooking and diminishing the social intent behind them.
The rationale behind critiques of these multiplayer Mario games can be a bit contradictory. The stigma placed on luck or randomness is often at odds with how unexpected moments in games are often the most enjoyable. If you flip through Fortnite highlights on Youtube or Twitch, a constant thread is moments where players, even professional ones, get lucky. It doesn’t mean these players didn’t have skill, but shooting an opponent from a distance so far that you can barely see them is as lucky as hitting the first place driver with a red shell right before they cross the finish line.
Also, some gamers defend gaming as a sacred space of competition in ways they would find unacceptable in more traditional sports. If you and your friends went to shoot some hoops, and someone came over to say what you all were doing wasn’t “real basketball,” what would your reaction be? So why do we do this–either implicitly or explicitly–in the gaming community? Bowman thinks sometimes our competitive drive can bring out the best and the worst in us.
“Most people don’t realize, it’s not the in-group that’s dangerous, it’s once you start calling other people out-group,” he said. “It’s okay to be proud of who you are or the time you put in, but when that means other people who aren’t you can’t be proud, that’s a problem.”
What may be overlooked is the fact that the chance and probability elements of these games are meant to alter and augment player strategy, not diminish it.
There are scenarios in Mario Kart games where the best position to be in is second place, but if you are in first, you may want to hold on to a Super Horn to neutralize attacks from possible red and blue shells. After a few times playing Smash Bros. games, you understand how going after items is both an opportunity and a distraction. The randomness of their appearances forces players to constantly adjust their strategy and to see offense and defense as simultaneous choices, not separate ones. In Super Mario Party, players can take a risk and roll their special dice to move around the board faster, but also have to account for the probability that buying a star can help an opponent as well, since it moves the Star Space to another place.
Good players learn how to not only navigate the balancing elements of these games, but use them to their advantage. But while these games use chance as a way to even the odds a bit, they don’t overcorrect to the point where skill and strategy are no longer vital.
For example, being good at mini-games gives you a big advantage in Mario Party. Anyone who has played Smash knows that the random item appearances or the obstacles on different stages aren’t going to help a novice opponent who doesn’t know how to block and dodge, or who hasn’t learned how to overcome edge guarding. Mario Kart’s director and producer Hideki Konno previously noted that Nintendo wanted an experience where “everyone was in it until the end,” but the “best” player is still going to win most of the time–like they would in pretty much any other game.
On its website, Nintendo’s marketing for the Switch includes phrases like “keep the focus on fun,” “connect and make memories,” and “something for everyone.” These Nintendo favorites don’t eliminate the incentives for mastery or autonomy, but they do place a premium on social interaction. Nintendo designs its games for families and those who want to have fun social experiences.
Skill and technical prowess will always be a key aspect of gaming. Wanting to win isn’t an inherently bad thing. But adding a little bit of luck can make each playthrough unique and give players of different skill levels a chance to compete–all of which place more emphasis on the “fun” and not the “win.”
Bangladesh fire: Emergency exits in Dhaka high-rise ‘were locked’
At least 25 people were killed in the fire that engulfed the tower block in Bangladesh on Thursday.
Insomniac Boss Believes Community Building Is Most Exciting Trend
Every parent that doubles as a gamer secretly wishes their own kids will one day pick up the controller and start going on their own epic adventures, and Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price is no exception. The experience has led Price to believe that expanding the overall community of game players, not console launches or any one technological advancement, is the industry’s most exciting trend.
On this month’s episode of IGN Unfiltered (see the full episode below), Price sat down with editor Ryan McCaffrey to talk about this experience, the tough lessons Insomniac learned from developing Marvel’s Spider-Man, and what Insomniac’s future holds.
Hanna: Season 1 Review
This is a (mostly) spoiler-free review of the first season of Hanna. All eight episodes are currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Over the past 5 years, there has been an influx of TV shows based on popular films: FX’s pulpy Fargo, YouTube’s hilarious Cobra Kai, and A&E’s creepy Bates Motel. All of the previously mentioned series are entertaining and worth checking out, but before you do, consider binging all eight episodes of Hanna on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, March 29. The streaming provider’s gamble to develop this show based on the 2011 film of the same name definitely paid off.
George Clooney calls for hotel boycott over Brunei LGBT laws
The actor urges a boycott after the country said homosexuality would soon be punishable by death.
WWE Wrestlemania 35: How To Stream On PC, PS4, And Xbox One
Wrestlemania, WWE’s biggest PPV of the year, is right around the corner, airing on Sunday, April 7. If you’re familiar with WWE, then you know there are multiple ways you can watch this event from your phone to TV to PC. Here’s a breakdown of the easiest ways for you to watch Wrestlemania.
The cheapest and easiest way to watch the PPV is through the WWE Network. While the network normally costs $10 a month and offers replays of past PPVs, weekly television events, and original content, new subscribers can sign up for one month free. So you can watch Wrestlemania without paying a dime, from the comfort of your own home. Just make sure to decide after the event whether or not you want to keep your subscription to the service.
Additionally, Wrestlemania is available through your cable or satellite provider. However, if you plan on doing that, be prepared to pay between $60-70 for the event. Why would you pay that much for the event? Well, internet service isn’t fast enough in some parts of the country to handle streaming the show.
If you are staying home and streaming the event, there are multiple ways to watch Wrestlemania through the WWE Network. The show can be accessed through phones, tablets, or through your PC, among other devices. Both iOS and Windows 10 have apps available and it is accessible through your web browser.
The WWE Network app is available on certain smart TVs as well as devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast. You can watch the network using your Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4 by downloading the app through its stores. Sorry Nintendo Switch users, but the WWE Network is not available on the console yet.
WWE Network App Links:
Wrestlemania 35 comes to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, April 7. The show’s start time is set at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET / 12 AM BST (April 8) with a Kickoff Show starting two hours prior. Check out our predictions, the full match card for the show, and the rumors leading to the event. Also, come back to GameSpot that day for live coverage of the event.
The Most Mind-Boggling TV Show Twists, Ranked
One of the biggest challenges for any TV writer is how to keep the audience coming back for more. This isn’t a problem that filmmakers have–sure, they have to get people in theater in the first place, but once they have your money, the deal is done. Television is different–shows continue week after week, season after season, and without a compulsive storyline, audiences will quickly look elsewhere. And never has this been more true than now, with so many shows appearing on so many different channels and services–how can TV creators keep their audience loyal and engaged?
The plot twist plays a valuable part in this. While the twist has long been a part of cinema, it played less of a part in TV until relatively recently. However, it is now is an essential weapon in the showrunner’s storytelling arsenal. A twist can take several forms. It can be a sudden reversal that changes everything we thought we knew about a storyline. It can be surprising character moment, where a character’s behavior dramatically changes the course of the show. Or it can literally be a short, sudden shock that leaves us hanging for the next episode or season.
JJ Abrams has played a major role in making the plot twist a vital part of modern TV storytelling. His shows Lost, Alias, and Fringe frequently used twists to advance both the story and characters; some were executed more successful than others, but there’s no denying that he helped create an expectation that modern TV mysteries and thrillers will deliver regular twists. As a result, it’s become harder to surprise an audience, leading to some pretty wild plot developments and revelations, as writers and showrunners try to stay one step ahead of their viewers.
So here is GameSpot’s list of the biggest twists ever to happen on TV. Be warned there are many spoilers ahead! Let’s twist again…
11. Fringe – Olivia is in a parallel universe
JJ Abrams and Alex Kurtzman’s inventive sci-fi show had many twists over the course over its five seasons, but few as effective as the end of Season 1. FBI agent Olivia finds herself in an office block in a parallel universe, and as the camera moves out of the building. we see that she is standing inside the World Trade Center, in a world where 9/11 never happened. It’s a visually stunning shot reminiscent of the final scene of the classic movie Planet of the Apes.
10. The Walking Dead – Carl has been bitten
The Walking Dead is not a show that has relied on big twists over the years–and when they do happen, it’s usually the death of much-loved characters. To be honest, a bigger twist would probably be a season finale where everyone survives. Nevertheless, Season 8’s final episode did contain a shocking revelation, when we learned that Carl had been bitten by a walker. Of all the characters in The Walking Dead, only Carl’s dad Rick seemed less likely to die, particularly since Carl had already lost his mom and his eye to zombies–and continued to survive in the comic books. But no, it was sadly time up for one of the longest running characters in the show.
9. Mr. Robot – Elliot is actually in prison
Mr. Robot is such a clever, multi-layered show that twists can be expected at any point. Season 1 had a couple of great ones, but the big twist in Season 2 is perhaps the most impressive, and admirably delivered mid-season rather than building up to the end. We discover that Elliot has been in prison for the entire season up to this point, and everything we’ve seen him do has been part of his life there. In retrospect, creator Sam Ishmail dropped plenty of clues along the way, but it was still a great twist. And in suitably meta-style, Elliot’s voice-over addresses his audience directly: “I’m sorry for not telling you everything. I needed this in order to get better. Please don’t be mad at me for too long.”
8. Alias – Sydney wakes up in Hong Kong
Alias is another twist-filled Abrams series, with every season delivering unexpected plot turns. The best is the cliffhanger right at the end of Season 2, when a terrified and confused Sydney wakes up in Hong Kong to discover that two years have gone by, and she has been presumed dead the whole time.
7. Battlestar Galactica – the Final Five are summoned
Ronald D. Moore’s reimagining of the late ’70s favorite Battlestar Galactica was as much a mystery as a sci-fi drama, and delivered numerous twists along the way. The biggest was the reveal of the Final Five, ancient humanoid Cylons whose identities were unknown to all–including themselves. Actually, it’s just four of them, but the manner in which they were revealed was stunningly realised. Four familiar characters that no one would suspect of being a Cylon–including Cylon-hater Tigh–are drawn together via subliminal music (Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower”) for a jaw-dropping reveal. “We’re Cylons, and we have been from the start.”
6. Lost – Jack’s flashbacks were yet to happen
Lost loved to tie itself in narrative knots, and even its biggest fans would admit that it got, er, lost in the twists and turns at times. But the scene in Season 3 in which it is revealed that what we presumed were a series of flashbacks involving Jack were in fact a flashforward to events yet to happen was a brilliantly staged moment that showed the ambition of the show at its best.
5. House of Cards – Zoe hits the tracks
House of Cards’ Frank Underwood was clearly a villain from the start, but it was the shocking twist in the opening episode of Season 2 that showed just how evil he was. In order to stop intrepid reporter Zoe Barnes from discovering his connection to the death of Pete Russo, Underwood pushes her in front of an oncoming subway train. Ouch.
4. St. Elsewhere – the whole show was a child’s fantasy
The climactic reveal in the final episode of the iconic ’80s hospital drama has remained one of the most infamous twists in TV history. After six seasons of tears, laughter, and engrossing character-based medical drama, we learned that the whole thing was an imagined fantasy in the mind of Tommy, the autistic son of Dr. Westphall. Known as the “Snowglobe ending,” this twist impressed some with its meta-commentary about the nature of storytelling and angered those who just saw it as a giant cop-out. Either way, it was a surprise no one saw coming.
3. Twin Peaks – Evil Cooper escapes from the Black Lodge
By the end of the original run of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s groundbreaking Twin Peaks, fans had learned to expect absolutely anything. But that didn’t stop the final moments of the final episode being any less effective. Cooper escapes from the Black Lodge but as we discover–as he smashes his head into a mirror and cackles “How’s Annie?” over and over–this isn’t really Cooper. It’s an evil doppelganger, and the real Coop is still stranded in the Lodge. To make things even worse, fans would have to wait another 25 years to find out happens next (thankfully, the wait was well worth it).
2. Haunting Of Hill House – Nell is the Bent-Neck Lady
Netflix’s brilliant haunted house epic was as interested in being a moving drama as a scary horror show, but showrunner Mike Flanagan also knew how to deliver some jaw-dropping twists. The biggest moment comes at the end of Episode 5, when we discover that the deformed ghost that has haunted poor Nell for decades is in fact Nell herself. It’s a terrifying and tragic revelation.
1. Game of Thrones – The Red Wedding
There are several potential contenders for this list from Game of Thrones–including Ned Stark’s beheading and the Viper’s mashed head–but ultimately nothing tops the Red Wedding. Potentially, the most talked about TV moment for years, the scene starts as a happy celebration of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey’s nuptials and ends with a horrendously violent bloodbath as the wedding party is set upon by Walder Frey’s men. Viewers who’d read the books knew it was coming, but even that couldn’t lessen the impact of this truly shocking sequence.