Month: November 2019

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Google Stadia Founder’s Edition Unboxing: Controller, Chromecast, And More

What’s In The Box?

Google Stadia’s official launch is only a few days away, and we’ve been busy behind the scenes putting the service, and Google’s Stadia Controller, to the test. While we aren’t yet ready to share our impressions of Google’s big push into cloud gaming, we can show you what the early-adopter package, AKA the Founder’s Edition bundle, will include.

These shipments will start arriving on doorsteps for pre-order customers next week. Google promises that Founder’s Edition packages, as long as those for customers who ordered the Premier Edition, will all arrive within two weeks–shipments are rolling out in the order that they were received.

First things first, let’s take a look at the box itself.

And What A Box It Is

Stadia Founder’s Edition ships in a big ol’ box–big enough to include a controller, a Chromecast Ultra, and other goodies.

But Wait, What’s That?

Ah, our inquisitiveness pays off! On the underside of the box, Google has imprinted a mission statement of sorts for Stadia as a whole: “One place for all the ways we play.” Sounds nice.

Anyways, let’s continue unboxin’!

There It Is!

Exclusive to customers who purchased the Founder’s Edition of Stadia, this dark-blue controller is the official device of Stadia, and will eventually be the key to utilizing many of the fancy bells and whistles Google first flaunted at GDC 2019. It’s equipped with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios, though at launch, Bluetooth is limited to use with the Chromecast Ultra only.

Dig A Little Deeper

Beneath the controller and the cardboard support holding it in place lies a USB-A-to-USB-C cable and a USB power adapter. The cable is useful for both charging the controller and connecting it to your PC for use with Stadia via a Chrome browser tab. (You can also use mouse and keyboard, or PS4 and Xbox controllers wirelessly, when playing in Chrome.)

And Then?

And under that cardboard divider lies the remainder of the contents: the Chromecast Ultra and its associated AC adapter.

Let’s Take A Closer Look

Here lies the Chromecast Ultra, the upgraded version of Google’s video streaming dongle, and the only means of playing Stadia games in 4K at launch–that resolution won’t be available on browser-based Stadia sessions until 2020. You can power it via a Micro USB cable and connect wirelessly to your local Wi-Fi network, but there’s a good reason why you might consider using the included power brick instead.

Get Connected

When it comes to streaming games from Google’s servers, signal bandwidth is a critical component of the relative quality you can expect. For a lot of us, that means a wired internet connection will be preferred over Wi-Fi. Because the Chromecast is so small, it’s not surprising to see the ethernet port end up on the power brick, though it certainly is an unusual solution. If you’re going this route, prepare for some potential rewiring around your TV.

Everything Included In The Stadia Founder’s Edition Package

Pictured above is every physical item included in the $130 Stadia Founder’s Edition, which is long since sold out. Unpictured: the buddy pass invite and a three-month subscription to Stadia Pro (normally $9.99 a month), the service required for 4K gameplay.

As mentioned before, this is just the start of our Google Stadia coverage. Come back next week for lots more, including our impressions of Google’s first major push into mainstream gaming.

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Pokemon Sword And Shield: Where To Catch Cool And Rare Pokemon

Pokemon Sword and Shield have finally arrived on Switch. While the games may not include every Pokemon in the series, they do feature a good mix of old favorites and new Gen 8 monsters, so you still have plenty of options to choose from when assembling your Pokemon team.

Where To Catch Certain Pokemon

Most monsters in Sword and Shield can be found roaming about the Wild Area, a sprawling open-world expanse that stretches across the Galar region. The Wild Area isn’t the only place you can encounter Pokemon, but it is home to the largest variety of them (some of which will actually be too strong for you to catch at first), making it the best place to look for new monsters.

As you explore the Wild Area, the weather will change dynamically, which will influence what Pokemon appear in the wild. You also need to keep in mind that you can only catch Pokemon of a certain level depending on how many badges you’ve collected, so you can’t capture every wild Pokemon you encounter.

Fortunately, this isn’t as restrictive as it sounds; you’ll still encounter plenty of monsters, including a bunch of old favorites very early on in your journey. Many can be found in various portions of the Wild Area, but your first chance to catch some will actually be in certain routes and other places. If you’re just getting started, here are some Pokemon you’ll likely want to add to your collection and where you can find them:

Pokemon Habitat
Eevee Route 4 (Outside Turffield)
Pikachu Route 4 (Outside Turffield)
Milcery Route 4 (Outside Turffield)
Sizzlipede Route 3
Gastly Watchtower Ruins (Wild Area)
Impidimp Glimwood Tangle
Galarian Ponyta Glimwood Tangle (Shield only)
Galarian Farfetch’d Bridge Field (Wild Area) (Sword only)

Rare And Fully Evolved Pokemon

As you progress through the adventure, you’ll also encounter rare and even fully evolved Pokemon in the wild. You’re guaranteed to run into some in certain parts of the Wild Area, but there may be only one of them at a time, so if you miss your chance to catch it, you’ll need to wait a while for it to spawn again–something to keep in mind before you challenge any fully evolved Pokemon you spot.

Fortunately, you can save right before you battle the monster and restart if you inadvertently knock it out (although to ensure a clean reset, you should disable autosaving in the options menu). These Pokemon’s habitats also won’t be listed in the Pokedex, so we’ve rounded up some rare Pokemon we’ve encountered and where they can be found:

Pokemon Habitat
Machamp Giant’s Mirror
Tyranitar Dusty Bowl (Shield only)
Gengar Dusty Bowl
Gyarados East Lake Axewell
Lucario North Lake Miloch
Vileplume Dappled Grove
Ludicolo Dappled Grove (Shield only)
Gallade Bridge Field
Dusknoir Stony Wilderness
Snorlax Motostoke River Bank
Conkeldurr Motostoke River Bank
Haxorus Axew’s Eye
Pangoro Rolling Fields
Ditto Lake of Outrage
Lapras North Lake Miloch, Lake of Outrage
Eevee evolutions Lake of Outrage (depends on weather)
Rotom Lake of Outrage

Pokemon Sword and Shield are available now on Nintendo Switch. You can read our thoughts on the games in our Pokemon Sword and Shield review. If you’re just getting started on your Galar journey, then be sure to check out our other Sword and Shield guides below for more helpful tips.

Pokemon Sword & Shield Guides

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Pokemon Sword And Shield: What Are Watts?

Pokemon Sword and Shield are out now on Nintendo Switch, marking the start of the series’ eighth generation. While the games very much follow in the footsteps of previous Pokemon titles, they also shake the formula up in some notable ways, introducing a slew of new features and items to the mix.

Among the new additions are Watts. As you explore the Wild Area, you’ll notice Max Raid dens scattered about the environment, and interacting with these will net you a number of Watts. So what exactly are Watts, and what are they used for?

What Are Watts?

Essentially, Watts are a secondary form of in-game currency in Sword and Shield. As previously mentioned, you’ll primarily earn them from Max Raid dens. If a den is glowing but isn’t currently hosting a Max Raid Battle, you’ll receive 50 Watts simply by interacting with it (this number will increase to 200 after you’ve cleared the main storyline). If a Max Raid Battle is occuring at the den, then you’ll receive 300 Watts (or 2,000 post-game) before participating in the battle. Watts can also be earned by battling or catching wild Pokemon that are glowing.

As you progress through the game, you can exchange Watts for items and services from certain NPCs around the Wild Area. For example, the Digging Duo near the Pokemon nursery in Bridge Field will excavate items for you for 500 Watts, and the items they can potentially dig up include evolutionary stones and other rare finds. You can also use Watts to upgrade your bike, extending how long you can dash with it, or purchase Technical Records–single-use teachable moves–from different Watt Traders around the Wild Area. These characters are dressed in League clothes, so they’ll be easy to spot while you’re out in the field.

Below, we’ve rounded up a list of the different characters in Sword and Shield who accept Watts and the services they provide, so you can easily keep track of where they’re located and what they sell. For more on the games, be sure to read our Pokemon Sword and Shield review.

Where To Spend Watts

  • Fisherwoman – Roaming around lakes
    • Sells various Pearls she fished up for 100 W
  • Watt Trader – Meetup Spot
    • Sells different Poke Balls, TRs, and Wishing Pieces
  • Watt Trader – Dappled Grove
    • Sells different Poke Balls, TRs, and Wishing Pieces
  • Watt Trader – East Lake Axewell
    • Sells different Poke Balls, TRs, and Wishing Pieces
  • Digging Duo – Bridge Field
    • Dig up evolutionary stones, fossilized items, and more for 500 W
  • Watt Trader – Hammerlock Hills
    • Sells different Poke Balls, TRs, and Wishing Pieces
  • Watt Trader – Giant’s Cap
    • Sells different Poke Balls, TRs, and Wishing Pieces
  • Watt Trader – Giant’s Seat
    • Sells different Poke Balls, TRs, and Wishing Pieces

Pokemon Sword & Shield Guides