The UK Government must respond to a petition concerning the use of Loot Boxes as gambling in video games after it gained significant public support.
The online petition has accrued over 10,000 signatures – the minimum needed to ensure a government response – since it started.
Titled “Adapt gambling laws to include gambling in video games which target children”, the appeal is asking for a reform in UK gambling law to include in-game mechanics like Loot Boxes, which “are targeted at children and vulnerable adults”
“While not currently considers
gambling by law they do copy many traits to make them as addictive and can lead to real money being lost/earned. Gambling in video games mostly involves ‘loot boxes’ where players use virtual currency (often bought with real money) to earn in-game items often worth less than what they paid (sometimes more)”
As truly delightful as the Super NES Classic is, any retro enthusiast will tell you nothing beats playing games on original hardware. While the emulation on the Super NES Classic is top-notch, it doesn’t quite capture the authenticity playing genuine carts on actual hardware affords.
The Super Nt bridges the gap between the convenience of the Super NES Classic and the authenticity of playing on original hardware. Unlike the Classic or RetroPi solutions, the Super Nt uses a field programmable gate array to reproduce the hardware of the SNES, rather than use software to emulate it.
Outputting an original Super NES to HDMI takes a bit of extra hardware, but the Super Nt outputs through HDMI with “lag-free, zero signal degradation video,” according to manufacturer Analogue.
The NES Classic and SNES Classic are two great products that make it easy to revisit some of the best games from Nintendo’s past, but when you consider the hundreds of other games that didn’t make the cut, the selection begins to look a little slim. If you want to take the plunge and invest in vintage cartridges instead, you have two hardware options to consider: wrestle with old Nintendo consoles or look to third-party recreations.
Not all aftermarket systems are created equal, especially when Seattle-based Analogue is in the discussion. The company is highly regarded among classic game collectors who want the best experience possible when playing old games on modern displays, and it’s just opened pre-orders for its next boutique console: the Super Nintendo-based Super Nt, coming in February 2018. At $190.00 (available for order worldwide), it’s not cheap, but that’s because Analogue aims to provide the best experience possible and has made a significant investment to ensure that it can redefine the standards by which all other SNES systems are measured.
The Super Nt will be sold in four different color schemes.
Kevin Horton is a renowned engineer with an eye towards classic video games, and he’s been working at Analogue full-time for the last 14 months developing what was previously thought to be a far-off achievement: a 100% accurate FPGA-based SNES. FPGAs are physically programmable circuits that can mimic hardware and, when handled correctly, can provide a more accurate approximation of classic systems (like the Super Nintendo) compared to traditional software emulation. It was previously known that a few hobbyists had made some progress on creating a Super Nintendo on an FPGA, but nothing approaching total accuracy or even commercial distribution. Because of this, Analogue’s announcement is an exciting surprise if you’re the sort of person interested in having the best gear available, in this case when it comes to playing 16-bit Nintendo games.
In simpler terms: Analogue promises that any Super Nintendo game you throw at the Super Nt, from any region around the world, will work on modern TVs without any flaws or finicky technical hurdles. But if you want to dig into the settings to adjust various aspects of visual and audible experience, there are plenty of options waiting to be tinkered with. By all appearances, the only feature missing from the Super NT that was present on the excellent NT Mini is a versatile analog video connection. While useful for purists who prefer the old glow of a CRT, this is apparently a little-used feature that was shaved off to reduce the cost of the system.
The other cost-cutting measure was the move from a milled aluminum chassis to an all-plastic design. In addition to lowering the entry point–the lowest ever for an Analogue console–this also means the Super Nt can be produced in various color schemes. The company has also partnered with 8bitdo, maker of high-quality wireless controllers for classic systems, to ship each Super Nt with matching controllers made custom for Analogue’s new console.
We’ve yet to test Analogue’s claims first-hand, but our experience with its CMVS Neo Geo and NT Mini NES have us convinced that the Super NT is worth looking forward to. For a more in-depth look into Analogue’s handiwork, check out our full review of the impressive Nt Mini.
Marvel Entertainment has released a new trailer for Black Panther, providing a look at the wonders of Wakanda. The trailer also sets up T’Challa as the new king of the hidden nation, and shows Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, an exile seeking to overthrow Wakanda’s rightful monarch.
The impressive trailer is packed with plenty of superhero action and a fair bit of burgeoning turmoil, all set–appropriately–to a bombastic version of Gil Scott Heron’s “The Revolution Shall Not Be Televised,” with some voice samples from Long Beach rapper Vince Staples. Check it out above.
Last year, Boseman, who plays T’Challa, suggested that the movie will adopt a different tone to many of the other movies in the Marvel universe. “For me, most of the time the darker superhero movies are the ones that I gravitate towards, that I love the most,” he said. “I’m glad that the tone of [Black Panther] may be a little grittier.
“I just wanted to establish that from the beginning, that that’s what we were doing,” he continued, referring to the character’s first appearance in this year’s Captain America: Civil War. “That that’s what I intend to do. I feel like we’ll end up in a place that I’ve always wanted to be when I look at superhero movies. Those are the ones I like the most. It’s exciting to do that.”
After unveiling a surprise Switch port of Doom during a recent Direct presentation, Nintendo has now revealed when you’ll be able to play the portable version. Doom will launch for Nintendo Switch on November 10 this year.
The company had previously given a “Holiday 2017” release window, choosing not to reveal a specific date. Thankfully, we now know exactly when we’ll be able to shoot monsters in hell while on the go. In addition, Nintendo has posted a new video about the port–take a look at the developer interview below.
Doom first launched on PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2016. Our critic, Peter Brown, awarded the game an 8/10 in our full Doom review. “The loud and chaotic campaign is Doom’s strongest component,” he wrote. “It’s straightforward and simple, but it serves its purpose: to thrust you into increasingly dire scenarios fueled by rage and the spirit of heavy metal.
“Many shooters chase the thrill Doom delivers, but few are as potent in their execution. It captures the essence of what made the classic Doom games touchstones of their day, and translates it to suit modern palates with impressively rendered hellscapes and a steady influx of tantalizing upgrades. Doom is the product of a tradition as old as shooters, and while it’s not the model to follow in every case, modern shooters could learn a thing or two from Doom’s honed and unadulterated identity.”
Pokemon Go‘s roster of creatures may be about to grow even larger. A datamine arising from a recent update has suggested the mobile game may receive Generation 3 monsters in an upcoming Halloween event.
The image below shows some Ghost-type Gen 3 Pokemon in a spooky setting, leading some to conclude they’ll be added in the event. Although Gen 3 critters have not yet been officially confirmed for Pokemon Go by developer Niantic or the Pokemon Company, the latter has stated an event is coming with “plenty of good stuff” included. A Niantic representative told GameSpot the company has nothing new to share at this time.
In addition to the image, the datamine apparently uncovered sounds for all species up to #386 (Deoxys, the final Pokemon found in Generation 3), a new Gen 3 badge, Halloween music (including the famously spooky Lavender Town theme), and other files pertaining to the Halloween event. GameSpot has reached out to Niantic’s representatives for comment.
Pokemon seen in the image include Duskull, Dusclops, Shuppet, Banette, and Sableye. All of these are Ghost-type, so it would make sense for them to be introduced at Halloween. It’s unclear whether more Gen 3 Pokemon will be added at the same time: Gen 2 Pokemon were added in stages, and a few still haven’t made their way into the game.
Interestingly, the image also appears to show a trainer wearing a Mimikyu hat–Mimikyu being a Generation 7 Pokemon and the image being the first time Pokemon Go has included content from a generation currently unavailable in-game.
The Halloween event might not have been revealed yet, but another is currently ongoing. Until October 25, the best AR photos taken in-game have the chance of winning some cool prizes. Finally, Pokemon Go’s Legendary Dogs have switched location. This time, players in the Americas will have a chance to catch the Fire-type Entei; the Water-type Suicune has moved to Europe and Africa; and the Electric-type Raikou can be found in the Asia-Pacific region. The three Pokemon will remain in their current location until October 31; on that date, the Legendaries will rotate to their final region, where they’ll be available until November 30.
What other creatures from Hoenn and Pokemon Ruby / Sapphire would you like to see added to Pokemon Go? Let us know in the comments below!
