Nerdfleet
Issue #9 || 10th May 2024 || Friday
Hello, brilliant minds and curious souls!
I'm thrilled to present to you the 9th issue of NerdFleet. This edition is packed with the usual suspects: cutting-edge gaming updates and a thought-provoking game review.
Happy reading, and may your curiosity always be your compass.
Captain out. ✨
Fact of the week:
Tetris almost never made it to the West! The puzzle game we all know and love was originally developed by Alexey Pajitnov in the Soviet Union in 1984. Rights to the game were complex, and it took several companies battling it out to finally bring Tetris to home consoles and arcades worldwide. Luckily, their efforts paid off, and Tetris became a global phenomenon.
The Indie Station:
Inside: Echoes in the Silence
By: Abdul Ahad
Inside is a 2D puzzle game released in 2016 by the game-developing company Playdead, the same studio behind Limbo. Inside has been critically acclaimed and praised by gamers, critics, and enthusiasts. The game has been highly praised for its hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, thought-provoking narrative, and meticulously crafted puzzles.
The game takes place in a dark and mysterious dystopian world. The striking visual design and subtle storytelling make the game stand out in this genre. The protagonist is a young boy who navigates through complex puzzles and deadly environments. The color used in this game are muted and most of the game is painted in shades of grey. This game doesn’t have any dialogue or text. The storytelling of this game solely depends on the visuals and the environment design. And they do a damn well job at that. The audio design of this game amplifies the eerie nature of this game. It doesn’t have that much background ambient music, but every footstep, and breathing noise adds immersion to the atmosphere.
The puzzles of this game are physics-based. The game doesn’t tell what to do or how to do it, but every death is a lesson for the player. The player has to keep experimenting until the solution comes up. The puzzles keep getting harder and introduce new mechanics over time and the player needs to think out of the box to solve each puzzle and progress through the game.
Inside takes from 3 to 5 hours on average to complete the game. The ending of the game is mind-boggling and breaks all the barriers of natural events. The game’s true meaning is enigmatic and depends on the interpretation and the perspectives of the player.
Inside has a masterfully crafted game environment, and contains impressive visuals and audio design. Whether it’s the puzzles or the enemies, the game has a unique way of inflicting fear and the feeling of being lost and hopeless into the player’s mind. Inside is a game that pushes the boundaries of the medium and is a must-play for any gamer who craves a cerebral challenge or simply wants to be immersed in a deeply atmospheric world.
Pixelated Pursuits:
Capcom’s Record-breaking year: More to come
Capcom has hit a new high with 45.89 million game sales this fiscal year, up 21% in net sales and 18.1% in profit. Success is credited to Street Fighter 6 and Dragon’s Dogma 2, with sales of 3.3 million and 2.62 million units, respectively. Despite industry challenges, Capcom forecasts further growth and has rewarded shareholders after Dragon’s Dogma 2’s rapid sales. Anticipation builds for Monster Hunter Wilds and the potential release of Resident Evil 9.
V Rising’s Successful Full Release on Steam Draws Massive Player Count
The vampire-themed action RPG V Rising has officially completed its Early Access phase and made a sizzling debut on Steam. The game’s full release on May 8, 2024, saw a remarkable 24-hour peak of 78,164 players, as reported by SteamDB. Although this figure didn’t match the 150,000 peak during its Early Access launch, it represents a significant increase from the average daily player count of under 10,000.
Stunlock Studios, the game’s developer, had set the stage for this release back in March 2024, but the comprehensive 1.0 patch notes were only revealed alongside the game’s full launch.
V Rising is also slated for a PlayStation 5 release, with a tentative launch date sometime in 2024. The game immerses players in the role of a customizable vampire emerging from a centuries-long slumber, initially frail and thirsting for blood. What starts as a survival action experience akin to Diablo evolves into an expansive open-world adventure, complete with base-building, cooperative play, and competitive multiplayer elements.
[Source: IGN]
Nintendo Switch Discontinue X/Twitter Integration
Nintendo has announced that the Switch console will no longer support X/Twitter integration from June 10, 2024. This change will prevent users from sharing their gaming moments directly to X/Twitter from their devices. The move follows similar decisions by PlayStation and Xbox last year and comes in the wake of X/Twitter’s increased charges for API usage. While Nintendo has not specified the reason for this change, the cost for maintaining such integration could be a factor. Despite this, Nintendo’s partnership with X/Twitter remains strong, with both committed to enhancing the gaming experience on the platform.
Industry Stunned by Microsoft’s Closure of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks
The gaming community is in shock following Microsoft’s sudden shutdown of several studios, including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, known for their recent titles Redfall and Hi-Fi Rush. The closures, which were communicated to staff via email, have sparked widespread disappointment among developers and fans alike.
Arkane Lyon’s director, Dinga Bakaba, voiced his dismay on social media, urging corporate executives to remember the cultural value of video games and to support their creators, especially during challenging times. The sentiment was echoed across the industry, with many expressing concern over the impact on the affected employees and the future of gaming innovation.
Despite Microsoft’s financial success, with a reported 17% revenue increase and substantial profits, the decision to close these studios has raised questions about the company’s strategic direction and its effects on the industry’s landscape. The closures have also reignited discussions about the consequences of major acquisitions and the stability of jobs within the gaming sector.
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Authors: Abdul Ahad
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