Month: September 2024

Buckle up, the developer of Cruelty Squad is making a game about thoughtcrime cops with mechs-

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Creator Consumer Softproducts is back, folks, with a creatively upsetting and extremely intriguing idea for another hybrid FPS and Immersive Sim: Psycho Patrol R, a game that has you as a mech-piloting cop with some kind of almost-surely-upsetting superpowers.

Like Cruelty Squad, this is an immersive sim, and will emphasize “a wide variety of routes and approaches,” but Psycho Patrol R will be set in an open world and emphasize a lot more interacting with NPCs. I expect it’ll have much the same kind of weird systems going on as well. Screenshots show meters for things like Health, Radiation, Fatigue, Heat, Occlusion, and Orgone, of all things. I expect that it’s going to be a lot to deal with.

“Psycho Patrol R is a mecha FPS hybrid policing and punishment simulator set in the decayed state of Pan-Europa. You play as an officer of the European Federal Police, a V-Stalker pilot of Psycho Patrol, a special unit tasked with solving mental crime, among other things,” says Consumer Softproducts, the business name for solo developer Ville Kallio.

Consumer Softproducts’ previous game, Cruelty Squad, caused a real stir here at PC Gamer when it released in 2021. Reviewer…

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Audacity now has a free AI-powered noise suppressor but the machine isn’t going to replace a sound engineer anytime soon-

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Audacity has become the absolute go-to recommendation when it comes to free audio recording software for your PC, and while it’s an easy program to start recording with, the built in noise reduction in particular has always been a bit of a bugbear of mine. It’s often prone to introducing a lot of digital artifacts into the signal in an effort to get rid of background noise, so when I heard that there was now a new free suite of AI tools based on OpenVINO, including an AI noise suppressor to play with, I had to give them a try.

OpenVINO is an open-source toolkit that’s built for running machine learning on Intel desktop and cloud platforms, and these tools have been built by Intel within the platform for Audacity (via CDM). 

Beyond the AI noise suppression tool for podcasts, there’s also a “Music Generation” tool designed to generate music from a prompt, or based on existing music, and also a “Music Style Remix” feature that can split a song into its component parts.

It’s the noise suppressor in particular that caught my interest as I’ve had some previous experience engineering a podcast or two, and I always sought to use expensive VST plugins for backgroun…

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Arrowhead’s new CEO says the studio ‘knew it would be impossible’ to keep up with Helldivers 2’s demand for new content, is now focussed on adjusting ‘so that in the long term we can make more and better stuff’-

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Following months spent reacting to Helldivers 2’s unexpectedly huge success, developer Arrowhead Game Studios recently appointed a new CEO, Shams Jorjani, to replace Johan Pilestedt as part of broader structural changes to the company. Now, Jorjani has taken to reddit to introduce himself to the Helldivers 2 community, and outline the direction for the company going forward.

After providing a rundown of his history in the industry (12 years working for Paradox, and a relationship with Arrowhead that stretches back to the original Magicka), Jorjani provides a four-point plan for the future of Arrowhead. The first of these explains the reasoning behind his appointment in the first instance, which is “all about getting Pilen [Jorjani’s nickname for Pilestedt] closer to the games.” While Pilestedt is no longer CEO, he remains the company’s chief creative officer and chairman. Jorjani explains this role means “making new games/prototypes, having more time to play Helldivers, work[ing] closer to Micke [Eriksson] our excellent Game Director and the many other designers/devs we have.”

The second point is to maintain Arrowhead’s relationship with Sony and improve Helldivers 2…

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Saints Row gets major update that overhauls pretty much everything including combat-

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Saints Row certainly has its fans, enough so that the once-dormant series recently got a full reboot. It didn’t quite live up to expectations, and there was a slight sense that despite being delayed it had still maybe come in a little too hot. Perhaps that was the case, because the new patch is a whopper.

Arriving May 9, the patch promises a huge bunch of quality of life improvements, new features, and bug fixes. The update will add the new district of Sunshine Springs, a sprawling resort area, as well as a Selfie Mode, an emote wheel, major changes to combat, and changes to missions throughout the game. Notably, the game’s development was shifted over to Gearbox Software post-launch so this really does feel like a bit of triage.

“We heard a lot of feedback about the amount of damage needed to down enemies,” writes the developers, “and we agreed. Combatant health has been dramatically reduced.  This change, combined with several aim and engagement improvements, increases the pace of combat and reduces the ammo starvation.”

The game’s also changed how enemy dodges work, and adjusted the time players get to interrupt call-ins for reinforcements, which was ap…

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The 2023 Steam Spring Sale is live-

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The first day of spring, according to Google, is March 20. I find that hard to believe because it’s only four days away, and when I look out my window I see snow. Lots and lots of snow. “Spring,” my ass. But it must be true, because Valve says so: The 2023 Steam Spring Sale is now underway.

Are you surprised? You should not be. Unlike the years of long ago, when the start of a Steam sale was a paroxysm of surprise and excitement, Valve is fully transparent about Steam sale dates these days: We’ve got a full list of all the upcoming Steam sale dates in 2023, from the big seasonal blowouts to the smaller, themed events like the SHMUP Fest coming in September.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. The 2023 Steam Spring Sale features deep discounts across every genre you care to name, several of which can be seen in trailer above:

  • Against the Storm
  • No Man’s Sky
  • RimWorld
  • Kena: Bridge of Spirits
  • Astlibra Revision
  • Bendy and the Dark Revival
  • Deep Rock Galactic
  • Dying Light 2: Stay Human<…
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Crowdfunding website Fig is no more-

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Video game crowdfunding platform Fig, which helped to fund the development of games like Psychonauts 2 and Homeworld 3, is no longer online.

As reported by RPS, the news was shared by Double Fine and Blackbird Interactive, who issued updates shortly before the website’s shutdown. “We’ve been informed that the Fig website is going to be brought offline on Sunday, May 28th,” wrote Double Fine’s community manager Harper Jay on the Psychonauts 2 Fig page, adding “that means we’re going to have to shift our communications to a different hub.” Likewise, Homeworld 3’s publisher Gearbox published a similar post on its official website, stating “We are committed to continuing to provide you with consistent updates and visibility into Homeworld 3 through alternative channels.”

It appears both studios were given little warning about Fig’s imminent shutdown. Jay notes in their update that the revelation was “a bit of a surprise to us too!” while Gearbox’s post states that the company “recognize[s] that this news is sudden”. Regarding outstanding backer rewards, both studios reassured Fig backers that they would be contacted about these by email.

Originally launched in 2015…

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Streets of Rogue 2’s dizzying open world sandbox will debut in early access this August-

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The open world sequel to indie hit Streets of Rogue is coming to Steam early access on August 14.

Announced in 2022, Streets of Rogue 2 multiplied the size of the original game’s procedurally generated levels by 10,000—yes, 10,000—and has stuffed everything in one big open world. There are no loading screens; just one big world that reacts to whatever you want to do in it.

That was the appeal of the first game: a sandbox for getting into trouble and seeing how the game world reacts. Developer Matt Dabrowski compares Streets of Rogue 2 to classic immersive sims like Deus Ex and complex world building games like Dwarf Fortress. You play as all kinds of people, including scientists, hackers, and ninjas, as you run around and poke things until they inevitably catch on fire, explode, or cause a zombie outbreak.

When it gets too loud, you can chill out Stardew-style and build a farm or a house now, too. Streets of Rogue 2 is a big bucket of activities that Dabrowski hopes will keep you playing it over and over again. In the trailer at the PC Gaming Show, I spotted vehicular combat, seaside building, a craftable “Bear Burger”, and a player defendi…

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Digital Eclipse is remaking the original Wizardry, and you can play it right now-

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Surprise! Like a dual-wielding rogue pouncing from the shadows, Digital Eclipse has simultaneously revealed and launched a remake of the original Wizardry.

To afford the game its full title, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was one of the first computer RPGs, and the first to feature party-based play. Released in 1981,Wizardry spawned a series ran for twenty years, with the final entry thus far, Wizardry 8, releasing back in 2001.

In a press release, Digital Eclipse explains the remake has been in development for two years, and is “built directly on top of the original Apple II game’s code.” While structurally faithful, the remake is nonetheless a full overhaul, with completely modernised visual presentation, a redesigned interface, a new method of party management, and changes to navigation, spellcasting, and combat.

To be clear, the game is launching into Early Access rather than as a finished product. On the game’s Steam page, Digital Eclipse states “the entire core of the game is playable” and that the Early Access period will focus primarily on “additional environment and object textures, audio elements, and character animations”. Alo…

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Today’s Wordle hint and answer #780- Tuesday, August 8-

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Guarantee yourself a quick and easy Wordle win—just scroll or click your way straight to today’s answer and then bask in your glorious victory. If you’d rather just get a little help, you’re in luck, because there’s a fresh clue for the August 8 (780) puzzle waiting below, next to a selection of general tips and tricks.

Phew, that was close. I finally found myself on the right track about halfway down today’s board, only to then get utterly stuck, every guess as incorrect as the last. Thankfully I took the time to carefully mull over the few letters I had remaining, and scraped by with today’s Wordle answer on the final line.

Today’s Wordle hint

A Wordle hint for Tuesday, August 8

Someone who chooses to deliberately upset or harm another person could be described as today’s answer. This deeply negative behaviour can occur at any age and in any social environment. 

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Is there a double letter in today’s Wordle? 

Yes, a letter is used twice in today’s puzzle. 

Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day 

Looking to extend your Wordle winning streak? Perhaps you’ve just …

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Wordle hint and answer #646- Monday, March 27-

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However you’d like to play today’s Wordle, you’ll find hints and tips below designed to help. We’ve got general advice for newcomers looking to improve their daily game, today’s answer in big, bold letters if you’re struggling, and a helpful clue written just for the March 27 (646) game.

For a few guesses, today’s Wordle looked like it might be unsalvageable, just a messy scramble of yellows and one green that made no sense—until it all did. It was something of a relief to see the Wordle answer pop up immediately after that classic “lightbulb” moment. 

Wordle hint

A Wordle hint for Monday, March 27

You might not want to think about animal excrement while solving your Wordle, but I’m afraid you’ll have to today. This particular term is used specifically for bird and bat poo, and contains three different vowels. 

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Is there a double letter in today’s Wordle? 

No letters are used twice in today’s puzzle. 

Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day 

If you’ve decided to play Wordle but you’re not sure where to start, I’ll help set you on the path to your f…

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Wordle hint and answer #610- Sunday, February 19-

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Scroll down our help-filled Wordle page and read today’s freshly prepared clue, click straight through to February 19 (610)’s answer, or stay a while and improve your daily Wordle game as a whole with our guides, tips, and hints.

I’d been struggling with a few yellows and one awkward green today—they just didn’t seem to make any sense. Things were really looking grim until a desperate guess with an often avoided letter turned things around just in time.

Wordle hint

A Wordle hint for Sunday, February 19

The word you’re looking for today describes a small and often shed-like building people use to sell newspapers, snacks, and drinks. It can also refer to small freestanding computer screens found in doctor’s surgeries, museums, and other similar places, designed to either automate a signing-in procedure or offer general visitor information. 

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Is there a double letter in today’s Wordle? 

Yes, there is a double letter in today’s puzzle. 

Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day 

Anyone can pick up and play Wordle, but if you want to do it well and make all of your gue…

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Wordle today- Hint and answer #925 for Sunday, December 31-

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Finish your Wordle year with a guaranteed win, however you want to go about it. Keep on scrolling and you’ll find general tips for your daily guesses, as well as a clue just for the December 31 (925) game and of course today’s Wordle answer if you’d rather cut to the chase. Whatever happens, you’re celebrating today.

Oh, that was embarrassing. Not so much the guessing itself, but the way I managed to waste an entire row thanks to a typo. It’s my own fault—my brain was so excited it forgot to properly engage my fingers first, and I had to suffer the sight of a guess I already knew was wrong throw away a whole row. I won’t make that mistake again. Well, not tomorrow, anyway. Maybe.

Wordle today: A hint

Wordle today: A hint for Sunday, December 31

Thinking of tastes and flavours will help you win today’s Wordle. The answer today is the opposite of sweet; a savoury sensation that’s always welcome on chips and fries. 

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Is there a double letter in Wordle today? 

No, there is no double letter in today’s puzzle. 

Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day 

Anyone can pick …

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WoW Classic is doing Cataclysm because the fans, against all odds, are actually here for it- ‘We got the survey data back, and it wasn’t bad’-

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World of Warcraft’s Cataclysm expansion was… divisive. In the case of the Barrens, it was literally divisive—cleaving the once-beloved levelling zone in two. A landslide of other changes to old world content meant that, while The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King were pretty well-received, Cataclysm is the red-headed stepchild of Warcraft’s earlier history—and that’s to say nothing of its endgame content and patch cycle.

But, according to an interview by PCGamesN with executive producer Holly Longdale, the prospect of going back to Cataclysm isn’t as unpopular as you might think. “Much like many players, [we] were like ‘Oh, God, are they gonna do Cataclysm?’ And we were like ‘why don’t we just ask?’ … Then we got the survey data back, and it wasn’t bad.”

Longdale feels—like the player base, apparently—that most of Cataclysm’s bitter reception came from some secondary factors, admitting that their first swing at the bat “could have been better.” Which implies that, in the same vein as Classic’s Season of Discovery, changes are on the table.

For example, Cataclysm Classic will play out over th…

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We’re riding shotgun with Pacific Drive to give away a free copy of the game and a carload of great gear-

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Everyone loves taking a road trip. Hop in the car, step on the gas, and head toward the horizon. In driving survival game Pacific Drive it’s not quite that simple thanks to bizarre and deadly anomalies that are lurking along the road—but as you’re speeding through the hazardous exclusion zone, this giveaway will make your drive a lot smoother.

Buckle up, because we’ve partnered with Pacific Drive to have some awesome stuff driven to your house. One lucky winner will get a whole trunkload of cool Pacific Drive gear, like a free key for the game on Steam, a shiny red toolbox, a mechanic’s shirt with a customized name tag, a dashboard bobblehead, and of course an air freshener and bumper sticker. And more! Here’s what you could win:

🎮 A redeemable Steam key for a copy of Pacific Drive
🧰 Vintage red mechanic’s toolbox branded with Pacific Drive and in-world stickers
👔 Mechanic shirt (with optional customized name tag)
🚗 Car on display stand with light up LED logo
🐧 Wobbly Malcolm bobble head
🚘 1x Bumper sticker
🌲 1x Air freshener
📓 Series of booklets and flyers about the g…

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