Nerdfleet
Nerdfleet
Issue #7 || 26th April 2024 || Friday
Greetings, enthusiasts! ☀️ Beat the heat with a fresh dose of gaming news! This week, from Stellar Blade’s uncensored debut worldwide to Valve’s change of policy, we've got a whirlwind of gaming news and a book recommendation for the bookworms!
Stay Cool & Game On!
Divine Discourse:
Bioshock: A Timeless Journey into the Dystopian World
By: Rafid Arefin
The world of gaming has evolved rapidly in the past decade, with new titles boasting ever-more impressive graphics and mechanics. But even in this era where AAA games have modern and cutting-edge graphics, some old games still captivate gamers across generations and are worth playing. Yes, we are talking about the Bioshock franchise, one of the greatest classics ever produced in the history of the gaming industry.
So far, Bioshock is a trilogy comprising the following games:
BioShock (2007): Plunge into the 1960s underwater city of Rapture, a failed utopia where genetic experimentation has gone wrong.
BioShock 2 (2010): Return to Rapture, this time as a Big Daddy, exploring the city’s haunting past.
BioShock Infinite (2013): Ascend to the floating city of Columbia in 1912, where political conflicts and quantum physics mysteries collide.
Reasons Bioshock is still appealing to the gamers:
A unique blend of genres: Bioshock games seamlessly blend elements of first-person shooting with role-playing, creating an immersive experience. Here, every decision of yours will matter and might change the outcome of the game. You will shoot splicers (genetically distorted humans) in Bioshock, but you will also be able to wield plasmids (genetic powers) that shoot fire, electricity, etc. In Bioshock Infinite, you will have vigors instead of plasmids. BioShock 2 flips the script, letting you play as a Big Daddy, a giant protector of the series' most tragic figures: Little Sisters. The enemies can be outsmarted with your hacking abilities too. Overall, Bioshock gives you the feeling that you are much more powerful than just a mere shooter, and the games themselves are much more than just shooting games.
Timeless stories & philosophical exploration: Beyond shooting, each Bioshock game offers a rich narrative that explores themes of ideology, free will, and the consequences of devastating ambitions. Inspired by the works of Ayn Rand, George Orwell, and other visionaries, BioShock delves into concepts like objectivism, total utilitarianism, and American exceptionalism. If you are interested in reading about different ideologies and philosophical perspectives, the game will surely intrigue you. The city of Rapture, the dystopian utopia where everything has gone wrong or the floating city of Columbia, which grapples with racism and religious extremism, the Bioshock series will spark thoughts and discussions in your mind and challenge your morality and decisions.
Atmospheric worlds: The art deco architecture of Rapture and the vibrant skies of Columbia will surely amuse gamers, to this day. The soaring beauty of Columbia with semi-realistic and semi-cartoonish in Bioshock Infinite is amazing, even compared to the modern graphics. Overall, the art deco visuals of the Bioshock games are successfully able to keep your eyes running around while playing the games.
Despite being released over a decade ago, the BioShock franchise can fascinate gamers even today. Moreover, the rumor of a new Bioshock game is flying around for a while. So, whether you're a newcomer to the series or a seasoned veteran, dive into the depths of Rapture or soar to the skies of Columbia—because the world of BioShock awaits, ready to challenge and enthrall you all.
Lost in Parchments:
Fourth Wing: New milestone in the Fantasy Genre
By: Abdul Ahad
The “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros has been critically acclaimed by book lovers and enthusiasts alike. Published on May 2nd, 2023, It has already reached #1 on the New York times bestseller and is on its way to becoming a masterpiece.
Fourth Wing is the debut novel in The Empyrean series. The story is of a twenty-year-old girl named Violet Sorrengail who was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
The agenda of Bagsiath War College goes- there are only two ways out: Graduate or Die. But bonding with dragons is not possible being fragile. But Violet has her wits to outsmart most cadets and navigate complex relationships. The war grows deadly every day and Violet finds out a terrible secret that the leadership is hiding.
The “Fourth Wing” is a blend of romance, fantasy, adventure, and brutality in a world of dragons and magic.
"Fourth Wing will have your heart pounding from beginning to end... A fantasy as you've never read before." - #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout[1]
"Kapow, what a story! Fourth Wing gives you gutsy young heroines and sexy bad boys living in a world where no one—not even the mightiest dragon—is safe. This is sharp, bold, and delicious storytelling!" - Rachel Howzell Hall, New York Times bestselling author[2].
[1] Fourth Wing : Yarros, Rebecca: Amazon.ca: Bookss
[2] Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, 1): Yarros, Rebecca: 9781649374042: Amazon.com: Books
Pixelated Pursuits:
Fallout Sees 5 Million Player Spike; Thanks to TV Show
Throughout time, video game-adapted TV series have struggled to win over gamers. But The Last of Us TV series set a new bar for the adapted TV series genre, which created some pressure for the recently released Fallout TV series.
After the premiere of the series, the Fallout video game franchise has observed a massive increase in player counts. According to Bethesda’s official tweet, Nearly 5 million players logged in a fallout game in a single day. Fallout 76, which is a multiplayer game of this franchise has had around 1 million players logged in a single day, although the specific player number has not been revealed. The reason behind this surge in numbers could be the nostalgia the audience felt while watching the show. Being reminded of the rich lore and vast wasteland, the gamers had no choice but to return to the game!
Japan's video game ratings board, CERO, is under fire from EA Japan
EA Japan has criticized CERO for allowing the upcoming game Stellar Blade to be released uncensored while refusing to rate (effectively banning) EA's Dead Space remake. '“Both games feature violence and gore”, with Dead Space being rejected for featuring severed body parts and organs. Stellar Blade, having similar content, received a CERO D (17+) rating. Shaun Noguchi, the manager of EA Japan has questioned CERO's decision and highlighted the inconsistency of the rating system and recommended the game. CERO's rating standards are now being questioned because of this situation making gamers wonder how seemingly similar content receives different ratings.
Steam Tightens Refund Policy for Early Access Games
Valve has updated the Steam refund policy to close a loophole. It allowed players to play a game for several hours through advanced access and then receive a full refund at launch.
According to IGN,
“Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, for example, launched on February 2, 2024, but those who paid an additional $30 for the Deluxe Edition could play it three days earlier. It’s this three-day period Steam now brands Advanced Access. 2K's TopSpin 2K25, whose costlier Deluxe Edition and Grand Slam Edition let owners play ahead of the official April 25 release date, carries this new Advanced Access label.”
You can still refund the game within 14 days in the new policy, but any playtime will be counted. If the playtime reaches a 2-hour margin, the refund will be invalid. However, pre-purchasing a game that is non-playable before launch will allow players to refund before the release date of the game. Games that provide early access before launch will be labeled “Advanced Access”.
Xbox Gaming: Big Acquisition, Big Questions
Microsoft's gaming revenue soared 51% this quarter, but a closer look reveals a key driver: the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Growth Inflated by Acquisition: Most of the growth (55 points) comes from Activision Blizzard, not organic Xbox sales.
Content & Services See Similar Trend: Content and services revenue jumped 62%, but 61 points are from Activision Blizzard.
Hardware Sales Down: Console sales were unaffected by the acquisition and are down 31% year-over-year.
While the acquisition boosts Microsoft's muscle, future success hinges on Xbox's ability to drive organic growth beyond Activision Blizzard [Source 1]. The company projects similar trends for the next quarter, with continued reliance on the acquisition for significant growth.
Blizzard's cancellation of BlizzCon 2024 coincides with Xbox's recent layoffs, raising questions about the integration process.
[Source: IGN]
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Authors: Abdul Ahad || Rafid Arefin
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