Monthly Archives: July 2019

Steam Unveils New ‘Interactive Recommender’

Steam Labs Unveils Interactive Recommender

Steam’s “Steam Labs” program has a few interesting new experiments for players to try out and offer their feedback on. Perhaps the biggest is the “Interactive Recommender” system. This Recommender has a neural network model, trained to recommend games based on a user’s playtime history, along with other data. Based on data from millions of users, and billions of play sessions, this will ultimately give results that capture the various play patterns of their users, across the Steam catalog.

Steam does not feed the model information about the games, but instead, the model learns about the games for itself during the training process. They do not use information about tags or review scores either. Reviews or tags do not affect results, so players that are review bombing games will not affect your interactive recommender. However, just because you play a lot of Beat Saber does not mean it will only offer up VR rhythm game s- the model has a different approach. Instead it looks at what games you play, and what games other people play, and makes informed suggestions based on other people playing games on Steam.

Steam Labs can be found here, where you can see the current active experiments: Micro Trailers (six-second trailer for every Steam game), Interactive Recommender, and Automatic Show (automated, daily half-hour show about Steam games). They welcome feedback, and that can be left here.

ARK: Survival Evolved Prepares for Free Expansion Map, Valguero to Drop in July

Studio Wildcard confirmed that their new expansion map for ARK: Survival Evolved, “Valguero” drops on console on July 19th, 2019. This update will add a 63 square kilometer area, with exotic biomes to explore. This update also adds an exciting, grumpy new dinosaur, the Deinonychus.  Similar to the raptor, it uses speed and agility to leap wall ledge to wall ledge as it seeks high vantage points to lie in wait for prey. This contentious beast is fearless and will hunt prey much larger than itself, latching onto a larger dinosaur’s back with its sickle-shaped claws as it starts to feed before its victim is even dead.

There are caves to explore, trenches to delve into, and ancient secrets from a time long-forgotten to uncover. Eight biomes in total will be on this map, and there’s a triple threat of boss challenges. A boss arena waits, where players do battle against a Megapithecus, Manticore, and Dragon in a triple-threat of violence. This will let players tackle end-game bosses in a whole new way.

Double-Kick Heroes Announces ‘Going Rogue’, Featuring Two New Modes

Double-Kick Heroes revealed a new update today from Headbang Club, which adds two awesome new modes to the game. “Auto Steering” will let players focus on nailing their notes, without having to steer the Gundillac. “Chill Mode” will let players experience the game without the threats, but all of the metal in the game still intact. If that’s not challenging enough, Headbang Club also added “Fury Road”, where players enter the fury road, and battle levels in what is known as “endless torment”. Daily Fury also lets players modify Sheila, and your weapons to gain perks, and loop the game.

In addition to this, Headbang Club also revealed the new tracks featured in their OST Volu 2:

“We’re really excited to share with you the new tracks featured in the Double Kick Heroes OST Vol 2!” David Elahee – Headbang Club “We have the incredible “Demon Demon” by the Fundamental Wisdom of Chaos, “Prepare to Meet Thy Doom” by the legendary Elmobo and more!”

Update Includes:

  • Added Chill Mode – now experience Double Kick Heroes without any threat

  • Added Fury Road – enter the fury road, battle levels in the endless torment and daily fury, modify Sheila and your weapons, gain perks and loop the game.

  • Added Partition Speed option, the game is too slow, let’s push speed to eleven!

  • Added Auto Steering. Does Steering Sheilah give you a headache? We got you covered, brother!

  • Release full OST Volume 2 on Steam, Itch and soon on YouTube.

  • A hella lotta fixes and more optimizing stuff.

  • Added Chapter 6 regular beta Access.

Ion Maiden Becomes Ion Fury, Launches in August on PC

Ion Maiden is an upcoming old-school FPS, developed by Voidpoint and published by 3D Realms/IC Entertainment, but due to potential legal issues (a two million dollar suit by Iron Maiden), they will rebrand. Now releasing as Ion Fury, it will leave Early Access on PC on August 15th, 2019. The Nintendo Switch, PLaystation 4 and Xbox dates will come later. There will also be a Big Box-style physical release on PC, which is available for pre-order.

“After careful consideration, we’ve decided to rename our first-person-shooter “Ion Maiden” to “Ion Fury,” said Mike Nielsen, CEO of 3D Realms. “A lot of thought went into this, but most importantly it would be a disservice to our loyal fanbase and the fantastic developers, to drag out a long lawsuit. The amazing gameplay, interactivity and pure fun, is what makes Ion Fury a great game. Not the title.”

Ion Fury is crated in Build, which was used for many of the 90s classics shooters, from Duke Nukem 3D, Blood, and Shadow Warrior, and Ion Fury will share that nostalgic look, with a more modern series of features and technology – auto-saves, improved physics, map interactivity, headshots, controller support, and so much more.

To celebrate the sheer madness of a modern shooter made in the Build engine, Shelly’s getting the Big Box she deserves. This edition includes a Bowling lBomb-shaped USB Drive, a poster, a keycard based on the ones Shelly finds in-game, a making-of booklet, a lanyard, and of course Ion Fury, all for $59.99. Ion Fury is also presently available in Steam’s Early Access Program in English, for 19.99. One week from today, the price will increase to 24.99, as the content has doubled in planned scope since the launch.

 

Disintegration Is a New Sci-Fi Shooter to be Fully Unveiled During Gamescom 2019

Disintegration Announcement

Disintegration was revealed today as a title that will be revealed during Gamescom 2019, from V1 Interactive, which is a studio co-founded by Marcus Lehto. Marcus Lehto is the former creative director at Bungie and the co-creator of Halo. Disintegration will be available in 2020’s calendar year, during Take-Two’s fiscal year 2021 (April 1st, 2020 through March 31st, 2021). Keep your eyes here for more information as it develops. Disintegration will be a sci-fi first-person shooter, though, so it should be right in Lehto’s wheelhouse.

“The opportunity to create not only a new game, but this entire studio has been exhilarating,” said Marcus Lehto, President and Game Director at V1 Interactive. “It is great to be able to share what this amazing team has been working on, and we can’t wait to introduce this new game that our team is building to the world next month.”

“We’re lucky enough to work with someone like Marcus, a gaming icon whose creativity has influenced an entire industry,” said Michael Worosz, Executive Vice President and Head of Private Division. “We’ve been with Marcus and the V1 Interactive team since the studio’s inception and have seen the organization grow its talent base throughout our partnership. As such, we have high confidence in Disintegration, and cannot wait to introduce it as another unique experience that further enhances the Private Division lineup.”

Killsquad Reveals Roadmap for Upcoming Content

Killsquad Content Roadmap

Novarama published their official roadmap for content in their upcoming co-op action RPG, Killsquad, which hits Steam Early Access on July 16th, 2019. This roadmap will show new features and content coming over the next six months. July 16th will start this first season, called “Revelation”. It will shed more light on the Killsquad universe as a whole, across four major content updates. This season will last until 2020 and will offer new game areas, factions, enemies, and so much more, as the game moves towards full release on PC/console in 2020. More information can be found here.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Reveals Monster Subspecies and More

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is the upcoming expansion to Monster Hunter: World and a new subspecies variation of monsters was revealed, as well as the new gathering hub, Seliana. Subspecies are twisted, extreme variations of monsters that will seriously increase the difficulty of encounters, and will require master-level hunting skills to conquer. Today’s trailer shows off one of these horrific new encounters, Glavenus, which joins Fulgur Anjanath and Ebony Odogaron. Glavenus will wield its sword-like tail to demolish hunters who are too careless.

As part of the cozy new Seliana home base in Hoarfrost Reach, a streamlined Gathering Hub offers a warm welcome for hunting parties with more centralized facilities and features. Built around an interactive hot spring, hunters and Palicoes can conveniently manage all the pre-hunt necessities in close proximity such as the Smithy to craft gear, resource center to manage bounties or botanical research to harvest items. “My Room” is also accessible and features new personalization options such as furniture, décor, and colors, with a post-launch update planned to allow other players to visit each other’s spaces.

A series first is coming to Iceborne, scaling balanced difficulty, which will adapt itself for a two-player team, if other players drop out, or if a duo sets out to tackle a quest with their Palicoes in the party. Palicoes will also receive upgraded gadgets, and some new options, like the Shieldspire Stooge. This is a mobile decoy that draws a monster’s attention. The Meowcano is a giant jar that launches fireballs, and they will also receive an enhanced Vigorwasp, that can even revive players immediately if they faint.