Gait Games

I don’t see Sony going back on their plans to embrace a discless PlayStation future, but I do wonder if they realised just how many of us would continue to talk about it for as long as we have. Even RPS got involved, and us PC lot had to abandon discs a millenia ago! And now Sega, former physical media producers themselves, have wandered into the conversation, even throwing a bone to the computer preferring collective that we all are.

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### The Surprising Find of Famicom Units in a Love Hotel

For many years, Nintendo has carefully nurtured a family-friendly reputation, guaranteeing that its games and consoles remain accessible and appropriate for gamers of all generations. Yet, an astonishing revelation has surfaced from Japan, merging the worlds of gaming heritage and a rather risqué setting. A Nintendo historian, Orochi, or the Famicom Archivist, has discovered an extraordinary assortment of commercial-grade Famicom units still operational within the premises of a love hotel.

#### A Fascinating Inquiry

Orochi undertook a covert investigation at this particular love hotel, where it was observed that nearly every room (with one exception) featured a fully working Famicom unit. After testing these devices, Orochi described a delightfully nostalgic experience, with almost all games operating flawlessly, despite the drawbacks of utilizing an LCD screen, which rendered the Zapper peripheral ineffective. This finding is especially noteworthy since the Famicombox, a commercial iteration of the original Famicom introduced by Nintendo in 1986, was originally designed for hotels and resorts, allowing customers to play games for a fee.

#### The Famicombox: A Concise Overview

The Famicombox shares a resemblance with the NES, functioning as a pay-to-play system where individuals could initiate gaming sessions through various means such as keys, surcharges, or coins. Travelers from the ’90s and early 2000s might remember encountering similar arrangements in hotel rooms, providing the opportunity to play classic games like *Super Punch-Out!!* for a nominal fee. Surprisingly, operational Famicombox units are exceedingly uncommon, making the find within the love hotel even more intriguing.

#### A Subtle Venue

To elude unwanted attention, Orochi chose not to reveal the name or location of the love hotel. Such establishments are prevalent in Japan and cater to various purposes, frequently serving couples in search of privacy beyond their own households. While the sex work sector remains largely unregulated in Japan, these hotels have gained a reputation for providing discreet and temporary accommodations. The existence of Famicomboxes within these rooms raises captivating questions regarding the overlap of gaming culture and adult entertainment.

#### Speculations and Theories

The love hotel discovery reignites long-held rumors concerning former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi’s alleged involvement in managing similar venues during the 1960s. These assertions primarily originate from a single mention in David Sheff’s book *Game Over*, yet Orochi’s investigation found no concrete evidence to substantiate this story. While the correlation remains speculative, it highlights the layered and rich history of Nintendo, a company that has evolved from humble origins to a widely recognized name.

#### Safeguarding a Cultural Piece

When asked about the variety of games available in the love hotel, Orochi humorously remarked that their capacity for such exploration was no longer what it once was. Nevertheless, Orochi conveyed a wish to preserve this fragment of Japanese subculture, underscoring the importance of these Famicom units as both a historical artifact and a testament to the lasting allure of video games.

In summary, the discovery of Famicom units in a love hotel presents a fascinating narrative that underscores the unexpected intersections between diverse facets of culture in Japan. As this historian continues to peel back the layers of gaming history, it becomes evident that even in the most unlikely locales, the legacy of brands like Nintendo endures.

Poor Thick as Thieves. When it was revealed over two years ago it had some promise, or at the very least an interesting mechanical premise in that it was a multiplayer immersive sim where everyone would be competing for the same loot. This got downgraded earlier this year ahead of its launch to just solo or co-op play, a real shame but hey ho, how many co-op imsims are there anyway? Sadly, the game has clearly not done well, as a number of layoffs have taken place at developer OtherSide Entertainment following its launch. But at the very least, what’s left of the studio has some positive news: it won’t become unplayable.

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At the beginning of July 2023, the gaming sector was jolted by news of considerable layoffs at Xbox-owned studios, impacting around 3,200 workers. Among those affected was Bethesda, a well-known developer recognized for its celebrated series, such as “The Elder Scrolls.” In the wake of the layoffs, multiple employees at Bethesda communicated concerns to IGN regarding the potential consequences for the development of “The Elder Scrolls 6,” indicating that the job cuts could have a “significant and cascading impact” on the progress of the game. Nevertheless, Bethesda promptly countered these assertions, stating that the restructuring—characterized by some as the “most substantial restructure in Xbox history”—would not modify their roadmap for the eagerly awaited title.

This clarification originated from Bethesda through a message with content creator MrMattyPlays, who relayed the company’s position in a video on July 22. When approached about the speculations surrounding potential delays for “The Elder Scrolls 6,” Bethesda verified that their planned timeline would remain unaffected. This declaration raised eyebrows considering the extent of the recent layoffs, which notably encompassed roughly 440 employees directly connected to Bethesda and its parent company, Zenimax.

Skeptics of Bethesda’s positive outlook have highlighted that the studio has been actively announcing several new projects, including four upcoming “Fallout” titles, with reports indicating that “Fallout 5” is already in pre-production. This surge of announcements, contrasted with the significant layoffs, has intensified skepticism concerning the company’s assertions of stability in development schedules for their other franchises.

Compounding the situation, the team responsible for “The Elder Scrolls Online” has already signaled that their future updates would be influenced by the layoffs, recognizing alterations in their previously established development plans. This inconsistency in messaging elicits doubts about the broader repercussions of the workforce reductions on Bethesda’s game development capabilities.

Furthermore, Bethesda confirmed that it is actively pursuing “optimizations” for the remastered version of “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.” The studio clarified that recent revelations regarding their plans were not imposed by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma but rather arose from their intention to improve communication with fans. They mentioned that they have been considering a change in how they convey information about their projects, seeking to provide a clearer overall perspective on their studio’s direction.

Despite Bethesda’s assurances, the context of the layoffs and the timing of their new project announcements have nurtured a sense of uncertainty among fans and industry analysts. Many are confronting the reality that substantial job losses frequently align with shifts in development momentum, creating an uncertain atmosphere surrounding the anticipated “The Elder Scrolls 6” and other Bethesda initiatives.

In conclusion, while Bethesda asserts that their development roadmap for “The Elder Scrolls 6” remains unchanged by the recent layoffs, the wider implications of these cuts—and the contrast of launching new projects amid restructuring—paint a picture that is challenging for some to accept at face value. The upcoming months are likely to illuminate the actual consequences of these layoffs on Bethesda’s future pursuits.

Finally, a Final Fantasy 14 job made specifically for the type of person who likes to dual wield shields in Dark Souls! The latest FF14 fan festival is taking place, and with that has come a suite of announcements, including a reveal at one of the two new jobs coming as part of the next expansion, Evercold.

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**The Overlooked Voice of Donkey Kong by Charles Martinet: A Look into Gaming Legacy**

Up until 2023, Charles Martinet served as the celebrated voice for various beloved Nintendo figures, such as Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi. His career began at trade events, where he enlivened these characters through live performances, before advancements in technology enabled his voice to be incorporated directly into video games. Nonetheless, Martinet’s link to another Nintendo legend, Donkey Kong, remains relatively obscure. Recently, the Video Game History Foundation revealed a distinctive collection that sheds light on how Martinet’s interpretation of the charming ape might have sounded.

In this extraordinary footage, Martinet’s rendition of Donkey Kong encapsulates a lively and spirited persona. “Ohhhhh baby, I’m back and I’m proud,” he proclaims, engaging the audience with a captivating charm. This whimsical style echoes his dynamic portrayal of Mario and hints at an intriguing alternative perspective on the character, one that embraces the theatrics of live performances.

Nintendo’s choice to use grunts and other sound effects for Donkey Kong instead of adopting this more vocal approach aligns with the studio’s vision for the character. Nevertheless, Martinet’s energetic voice at trade events—similar to his performances for Mario—demonstrates his knack for captivating audiences. His “Real Time Mario” presentations exemplify how he leveraged his talent to draw attention even before Mario 64 solidified his legacy in gaming.

This footage originates from retail representative Anthony Parisi, who has put together over a dozen hours of edited material from 1990s trade shows, including CES and E3, highlighting unreleased games and industry conversations. Parisi’s contribution to the Video Game History Foundation enables the public to engage with these historical instances and obtain insights into the development of the video game industry.

The collection not only showcases Martinet’s contributions but also emphasizes landmark moments in gaming, such as the reveal of the Sony PlayStation and unforgettable happenings such as the dance team from Killer Instinct. It offers a thorough examination of the initial versions of significant titles, including Mario 64, Tomb Raider, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Furthermore, it features clips from numerous unreleased games, like Earthbound 64 and Twelve Tales: Conker 64, underscoring the creative aspirations of developers during that period.

As video game marketing has evolved, with a greater dependence on direct-to-consumer platforms like Nintendo Direct, there is a nostalgic allure to the vibrant and dramatic marketing strategies of yesteryear. While some may contend that such methods can appear outdated, they symbolize an era when publishers engaged audiences with unmatched zeal. The historical perspective provided by Parisi’s collection serves not just to amuse but also to remind us of the rich culture that accompanied the ascent of video games as a widespread cultural phenomenon.

In summary, the legacy of Charles Martinet and his possible vocal contributions to Donkey Kong presents an intriguing view into a parallel narrative of character evolution in gaming. As the industry progresses, understanding the past enriches the future, allowing both creators and audiences to cherish the art and dedication that infuses video game storytelling.

The open beta for Sony and Arc System Works’ *Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls* launched on PlayStation 5 and PC yesterday, with PS5 players generally having a favorable experience with this new *Marvel vs. Capcom*-like fighter, although their gameplay was hindered by issues related to the PlayStation Network. On the other hand, Steam users have encountered significant performance challenges, especially concerning the game’s CPU usage.

A multitude of posts on platforms such as X and Reddit highlight performance issues regarding *Marvel Tōkon*’s open beta on PC. Numerous complaints have been aimed at the various Sony sub-services that start up when the game is launched. While some might contend that such problems are to be anticipated in an open beta, the game’s official launch is less than two weeks away on August 6.

Testing on a configuration with a Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, RTX 4080 graphics card, and 64GB of RAM showed that even at medium settings, *Marvel Tōkon* placed high demands on the CPU, frequently using over 95% of its resources and up to 5,000MB of RAM. Several instances of the PlayStation PC SDK Runtime application opened, adding to the game’s resource usage, though their effect was minimal.

Players observed that letting the game run for around 30 minutes significantly alleviated CPU load, possibly suggesting that shader compilation during startup is a factor in the initial performance difficulties. However, online matches continued to be problematic, with CPU usage again peaking at about 90%, raising concerns about potential issues related to the game’s anti-cheat system.

In light of these difficulties, some speculate that this could be a temporary tactic to hinder data mining, yet the crucial question remains whether the development team can rectify these performance issues prior to the official launch. Recognizing the ongoing challenges, the development team has reached out via social media to address performance feedback and ensure players that they are looking into solutions.

For those anticipating the release of *Marvel Tōkon* on PC, it might be prudent to postpone purchasing until after reviews and player impressions are available.

Video games have emerged as a prominent highlight at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, markedly more than in past iterations, with a plethora of panels, booths, and cosplayers adding vibrancy to the event. An especially noteworthy panel, “Marvel’s Wolverine: Deep Cuts,” was held in Hall H, offering insights from Insomniac Games on their forthcoming PS5 exclusive, *Marvel’s Wolverine*. Moderated by Naomi Kyle, the panel included essential team members such as creative director Marcus Smith, Wolverine director Mike Daly, narrative director Walt Williams, project director Jess Reiner-Reed, executive producer Eric Monacelli, along with voice actors Liam McIntyre (Wolverine) and Krizia Bajos (Jean Grey), who all engaged in discussions about the game prior to its release on September 24.

The session started with the premiere of the new story trailer, giving a closer look at Insomniac’s vision of the character. Mike Daly characterized Wolverine as “cynical” and “candid,” mentioning that he maintains distance from people due to his awareness of his perilous nature and a wish to evade emotional suffering. This portrayal suggests a nuanced relationship with Jean Grey, a recurring theme in Wolverine’s saga.

Situated in Earth-1048, the same realm as Insomniac’s *Spider-Man* titles, the narrative of *Wolverine* begins three years after Logan takes on the Wolverine identity, at a time when mutants still operate covertly and the X-Men have yet to assemble. Familiar characters from the X-Men comics, such as Sabretooth, Mystique, and Bolivar Trask, will make appearances, enriching the story’s backdrop.

Logan’s quest is focused on uncovering his fragmented memories, particularly related to his period with Team X, a special operations unit established by Nathaniel Essex, also referred to as Mister Sinister. The game is accompanied by a prequel comic released by Marvel, written by narrative director Walt Williams, which outlines crucial events leading to the game’s plot.

Gameplay is characterized as “animalistic,” reflecting Logan’s primal inclinations. Liam McIntyre, the voice behind Logan, noted he studied animal behavior to embody the character’s fierceness, asserting that the motion capture team significantly aided his portrayal.

A central emotional arc in the story is the romance between Jean Grey and Wolverine. As Jean seeks out other mutants, her bond with Logan evolves, described by Krizia Bajos as a “cosmic connection.” The extent of their relationship in the game is yet to be fully revealed.

Music is pivotal in establishing the atmosphere, with significant contributions from Emmy Award-winning composer David Fleming. Attendees received a sneak peek of the game’s main theme, named “Logan,” along with the announcement of a complimentary *Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls* Wolverine skin available on the day of release.

The panel wrapped up with the team sharing their aspirations for players to feel empowered while embodying Wolverine, suggesting that the gameplay experience will define the essence of being the legendary mutant.

**Blizzard Terminates QA Developer Amid Cheating Scandal in World of Warcraft**

Blizzard Entertainment has enacted strict measures against a senior QA developer following a recent inquiry that uncovered the individual had aided players in cheating within a Mythic dungeon in *World of Warcraft*. The studio confirmed the developer’s dismissal after an extensive review of the situation, which underscored the inappropriate use of an internal spell not available to typical players.

In an official statement issued by Blizzard, the company elaborated on how a group of five was able to conquer a Mythic dungeon under unusual circumstances facilitated by the developer’s use of an insta-kill spell. This spell is generally designated for developers to conduct valid testing and perform urgent corrections in the live game setting. Blizzard stressed that such tools are strictly forbidden from being used outside of their designated development functions.

The statement noted that the misconduct was limited to a single Blizzard employee, asserting: “This employee is no longer with the company effective immediately. We are also pursuing actions against the player accounts that were involved in this breach.” The company reassured players that each instance of internal spell usage is tracked and logged, further reinforcing their dedication to preserving fairness and integrity in the game.

Player feedback on social media has predominantly been positive regarding Blizzard’s quick response to the situation. Numerous players have expressed support for the druid tank in the raid who highlighted the misconduct by sharing combat logs that exposed the occurrence. According to reports from fellow players, this tank was oblivious to the developer’s interference and had entered the group as a random participant.

Despite the favorable reactions, some community members voiced concerns over the language used in Blizzard’s statement, particularly the focus on “the actions of a single employee.” This phrasing has led to speculation about the possibility of prior instances of unauthorized tool usage that may have gone undetected previously. Critics propose that if one employee could manipulate their access in this way, it brings into question whether similar violations may have occurred undetected before this event. However, no concrete evidence has been provided to back this assertion, nor has clarity been offered regarding any repercussions faced by other involved players.

Blizzard’s prompt and transparent handling of the cheating scandal reflects their ongoing commitment to uphold the integrity of *World of Warcraft*. As the gaming community reflects on this incident, players are left contemplating the broader implications of game integrity and monitoring practices, while also recognizing the difficulties in maintaining fairness in intricate online environments.

**Indications of a Halo 2 Remake in Halo: Campaign Evolved**

Halo: Campaign Evolved, which has just launched for early access to those who chose the special edition, might be hinting at the forthcoming creation of a remake of the cherished sequel, Halo 2. This hypothesis is backed by two notable hints revealed at the end of the game, one being explicit while the other is more nuanced.

Upon finishing Halo: Campaign Evolved on its highest difficulty, Legendary, players unlock a distinctive ending cutscene featuring the legendary character Sergeant Johnson. In this clip, Sgt. Johnson is seen unwinding on a beach while observing the original game’s Legendary ending taking place. As the ring in the distance begins to detonate, he gets ready to board a Pelican aircraft. Before he leaves, he looks at the camera and offers a playful wink to fans by saying, “See you in the sequel.” This straightforward reference leaves little uncertainty about the likelihood of a continuation in the series.

The second, less direct hint can be seen in a post-credits scene that occurs after the game’s conclusion, which is viewable on any difficulty level. In this section, 343 Guilty Spark is shown moving through space toward a gas giant that features a facility hanging from a cable. For players acquainted with Halo 2, this scene clearly echoes the early moments from that game. It sets the stage for significant events involving the Heretic, suggesting that the narrative groundwork for a Halo 2 remake is being established.

Beyond these hints, Halo: Campaign Evolved weaves in elements and features reminiscent of Halo 2 throughout its gameplay. Prominently, multiple weapons, such as the SMG, are present, along with new mechanics like the Master Chief’s ability to board and take control of vehicles, a gameplay aspect first introduced in Halo 2. Furthermore, the appearance of Brutes in the bonus missions serves as another homage to the sequel, indicating that the developers may be reusing assets from Halo 2.

With all these components combined—both clear and subtle pointers, in addition to the integration of nostalgic elements from Halo 2—it is conceivable that Halo Studios (previously 343 Industries) is indeed preparing for a remake of Halo 2.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is now accessible on PS5, Xbox, and PC for early access participants, with a complete launch planned for July 28 for the wider gaming audience. As fans eagerly look forward to the possible confirmation of a Halo 2 remake, the hints within Campaign Evolved have certainly ignited excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead in the Halo universe.