Tag: Microsoft

Nintendo Switch 4.00 Updates adds Wireless Headset and GameCube Controller Support

The new Nintendo Switch Updated 4.00 added new features 30-second video capture abilities and save data transfer into other Nintendo Switches. An unannounced feature that was recently added was wireless headset support. Currently, it is USB-C only. Simply plug the USB into the Nintendo Switch and it’ll work. nintendo switch usb headset mode

You can even adjust the audio on the home pause screen. This is may have been a response to the negative feedback Nintendo received from their previous application which forced players to use their smartphone app. This would drain the battery of your phone. It is great to hear Nintendo responding to fan outcry for better functionality on the Switch.

The 4.00 update also added GameCube controller support. If you still own the Wii U adaptor, you can use it on the Switch. However, you can’t access the home menu. All buttons have the same functions as a regular Switch controller but don’t have the ZL or Minus button functions. Whether this means Smash Bros. game is coming remains unknown as Nintendo has not stated a re-release of any of the Smash series games for Nintendo Switch.

 

Now they just have to produce more Switches and SNES Classics and Holiday 2017 will be a huge success for Nintendo in comparison to Microsoft and Sony.

Sources:

The Verge

Polygon

Reddit

Video Game Voice Actor Strike: What is it?

The 340-day strike for The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached an end. A tentative agreement has been made between the voice actors and 11 Video game companies: Activision, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and more. The strike began on October 21st, 2016. SAG-AFTRA was striking for four issues: Transparency on voice acting contracts, prevent stress on extensive vocal sessions, stunt coordinators available for on hand performance capture studios, and bonus pay depending on sales of the game.

  • Not every voice actor knows what game their voices will be in. Often, voice actors are contracted for a specific role, sent to a recording studio, and then given a script. This is more relevant on actors playing small characters or NPC’s.
  • Voice acting sessions can become quite straining on vocal cords depending on the role. Grunts, screams, and battle lines session can become strenuous and taxing. Some actors claimed they were forced to shout for hours which can cause permanent damage to vocal cords.
  • Some voice actors are requesting to perform certain stunts for performance captures in the game. To save money, most companies will not hire professional stunt actors for roles but rather have their on-hand voice actors perform the action.
  • The biggest issues were the request for bonus pay based on video game sales. The original request from SAG-AFTRA was a full day’s pay for each 500,000 units sold. Certain games sell extremely well but voice actors are not compensated for their “efforts in improving sales.”

Not everything was achieved but so far SAG-AFTRA is considering the negotiation to be a big step forward. An alternative form of payment was agreed upon but not based on sales of the game. Voice actors will receive a  bonus of $75 for their first session and end up with a total bonus of $21,000 for 10 sessions. 

“This is an important advance in this critical industry space. We secured a number of gains including for the first time, a secondary payment structure which was one of the members’ key concerns,” said SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris. “The bonus payments we have now are significantly larger now than what we had 11 months ago. The existence of additional payments beyond your session fee is in the video game world for good, both in our high-budget and independent promulgated agreements” said Keythe Farley, chair of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee”

Voice actors will also receive more transparency from Video game studios. They will know the project code names, the genre, whether it is a sequel or part of a previous IP or if it is a recurring role. 

“Members are also protected by the disclosure of whether they will be required to use unusual terminology, profanity or racial slurs, whether there will be content of a sexual or violent nature and whether stunts will be required,” said chief contracts officer Roy Rodriguez.

The contract also contains an “employer commitment” regarding issues of long video recording sessions. The agreement isn’t finished. SAG-AFTRA’s national board will review the contract at its next meeting in October.

Arguments against the Strike:

SAG-AFTRA doesn’t represent every video game voice actor. They make up 25% of the industries voice acting talent. 40% of the top-selling games don’t even use SAG-AFTRA voice actors.

Sources:

Eurogamer

Endgadget

Polygon

Halo PC Fan Game lives!

Most fangames don’t make it. Fan projects involving IP’s like the Metroid 2 remake, Chrono Trigger, Pokemon Uranium, Bid for Power, Shadow Moses, and more are never released. Often, Video Game companies will send a Cease and Desist to the creators to inform them to stop the release of the fan game or face legal actions. They’ll usually send it after the fangame is nearly finished. Fan games are usually created based on communities’ desires for a remake or a new entry in a series that has changed. Despite fan outcry, most fangame developers have their project stopped before they can release them to long awaiting fans due to Video Game companies lawyers. Mostly because they didn’t listen to the wise words of Woolie Madden. (Sarcastic, video game companies have every right to send a cease and desist).

However, a fan project named Installation 01, a fan made Halo game, will aim to bring Halo Multiplayer to PC gamers. I personally love the Halo Trilogy and Reach. The developers have spoken closely with Microsoft and have operated under their rules. Every asset is created from scratch and not taken from any of the Halo series. Thanks to close conversations as well as agreeing to not earn a single dollar, donation, or profit from Installation 01 has kept the fan project alive.

The project leader, Church, stated “Through these interactions, we have been ensured that Installation 01 is not under imminent legal threat, provided we remain non-commercial in nature and scope and continue to follow Microsoft’s Game Content Usage Rules to the letter.

We are now able to say with certainty that Installation 01 will never be accepting donations. We also will not be selling i01 or Halo related merchandise. This is to keep a respectful distance between us and Microsoft’s intellectual property. It is also important to note that these rules and assurances from 343 are specific to Installation 01 as a project, and should not be interpreted to apply elsewhere. Through ongoing communication with 343 Industries we hope that we, as a fan project, can continue to be a positive driving force within the Halo community.”

I’ve spent countless hours with my cousins and friends playing the multiplayer and story mode. However, we stopped playing after Reach and we weren’t interested in buying a Xbox One just to play Halo 4. But having an old school Halo game on the PC is giving me the itch to play some more! You can watch the cinematic trailer down below.

Source: Eurogamer

installation01.org/

E3 Wrap Up

E3 2017 is officially over. With so many trailers and gameplay videos out there already, I am only going to write about games that I am looking forward to. I will post an article soon about all the games coming out in 2017 so come back soon!

Assassin’s Creed Origins: After taking a year off to create a full game, Origins is the new title in the Assassin’s Creed series. It will take place in Egypt and you can see through the skies with a hawk! There is a big emphasis on the new weapon: a bow. Melee combat looks more interesting than the previous series. It will be released October 27, 2017. If you pre-order it, you get a bonus DLC.

Anthem: A new Space RPG from Bioware. It looks amazing and it is a 3rd person shooter with customization mech suits. There seems to be an emphasis on Co-Op and is meant to be a rival to Destiny. There’s plenty of space animals and exploration. Visual impressive and something to look forward to.

Dragon Ball Z Fighter: Capcom take notes! This is how a fighting game should look! Dragon Ball Z Fighter is made by Arc System Games who makes the Guilty Gear and Blazblue fighting game series. They are specialist in anime fighters and using 2D – 3D animation look amazing. A 3v3 fighter. So far, the only characters are Goku, Vegeta, Teen Gohan, Buu, Cell, and Frieza. Environments are destructive based on certain moves and deflections similar to the anime itself.

The Evil Within 2: Another game with an American environment. Not much was shown about the game but the Main Character will need to go back into his insane mind to find his daughter.

Kirby: The new Kirby will have a bigger focus on multiplayer. You can create allies by absorbing your enemies and using them to combine your absorbed abilities. You can also play with 4 Kirbys at once!

Metro Exodus: The 3rd entry in the Post-Apocolpytic first person shooter. This will be an open world game. There are a ton of rats and dark environments. Resources are rare and survival is 1st priority.

A Way Out: A Co-Op focused game regarding two guys trying to break out of prison. This game has cut scenes where the players have to agree on certain choices. The story revolves around them breaking out of prison and accepting their past.

Mario Odyssey: Mario’s hat possesses people? It does and the environment looks beautiful. Plenty of 3D platforming and fun based on what I see in trailers. Some of the environments are realistic which is a strange twist. There are still fun worlds that are very Mario-y if that’s a word.