Hidemi Matsuzuka used to oversee Square Enix’s figure brand. These days he’s left the game maker and is running his own cafe.
from Kotaku https://ift.tt/2PnCs6l
Hidemi Matsuzuka used to oversee Square Enix’s figure brand. These days he’s left the game maker and is running his own cafe.
When you think of the Master Sword, putting on your shoes probably doesn’t come to mind.
If you have the slightest interest in business and technology, you’re bound to have come across the term “gamification”; a marketing method which has been growing in popularity since 2002. The concept is simple; gamification incorporates game elements into a non-game context, such as recycling, shopping, exercising or studying. By making the task more enjoyable, […]
The post Five Genius Ways to Use Gamification for Better Engagement appeared first on Daily Game.
Coming round to nearly the sixth anniversary of its launch, PlanetSide 2 is set to receive some brand new content in the form of an entire continent (that's right: not just some islands). Announced via Twitter today, PlanetSide 2's next continent will be called "Oshur". Longtime fans will know that this has actually been a part of Planetside's lore since launch, but is only now getting realized as a traversable land mass.
You can check out the quick teaser below which shows a work-in-progress build of the map. It's so beta that the water hasn't even been placed yet. A few threads over on the PlanetSide subreddit have been digging through the info and it seems "Oshur" will not only be putting emphasis on water but air travel. Sounds like quite the game changer.
There is no confirmed date yet, but the map will likely be released before the end of the year.
Read more...I've been on something of a point-and-click adventure game kick recently, and let me tell ya it's opened up my eyes to a whole new side of gaming I didn't have a ton of experience in. Focusing on great writing and fantastic stories, they offer up a great alternative to the hustle and bustle found in so many games these days.
Luckily, you can keep the adventure game engines churning, too, with a new copy of The Low Road from XGen Studios!
Read more...Nintendo giveth, and Nintendo taketh away. You could argue in this case the're giving us DLC for Super Mario Odyssey, but I'd say they're slowly ripping our soul asunder with these grotesque Broodal costumes.
In case you've been living under a rock and haven't seen anything Odyssey related, the Broodals are the sorta-kinda new Koopa Kids of this universe, flying around on a ship and generally causing havoc. They reminiscent of familial cartoon tropes like The Beagle Boys from DuckTales, complete with a Ma Beagle analog. Now there's plenty of fan art and general love for the Broodals, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were never heard from again.
If you are one of those people who loves to wear their skin, the new "Spewart" hat and suit are out this week in Mario Odyssey. The suit will run you 3,000 coins and the hat is 1,500. Enjoy!
Nintendo of America [Twitter]
Destructoid's very awesome web comments system, powered by Disqus, is rolling out a beta feature today that enables Facebook-style story reactions. The new widget will live right between the article, sandwiched above the comments... which is weird because you'd think it would appear in the comments. It is not part of the comments system per se, but it shares your existing Disqus profile. I have not enabled this on Destructoid. Not yet, anyway.
You can see what it looks like in action here. I don't want to turn it on and freak everyone out, so this is in part a fair warning and also a call to action: Let's fuck with the labels.
Read more...Stop the internet: Square Enix officially remade the most recent Shadow of the Tomb Raider ad using animals. Cats and dogs unite in this amazing adventure called "Shadow of the Cute Raider," which as luck would have it, is for charity.
Partnering with Microsoft, Square Enix is selling a custom Tomb Raider themed Xbox One on top of several autographed hardware bundles on behalf of the "Save Them All" initiative, of the Best Friends Animal Society, which finds homes for animals. Even if you're not a fan of the series it's worth bookmarking and checking out over the weekend.
Is it...cat picture time?
Read more...You really have to admire DC's commitment. They shoved a cinematic universe down our throats whether we wanted it or not, they are making no less than four new movies with the Joker in it, and now they are pushing their streaming service that seemingly no one wants.
Launching on September 15th, DC's new streaming service very slyly named DC Universe will play host to a lot of the old Saturday morning superhero cartoons we grew up as well as some *ahem* original content.
Read more...In the early '90s, games developer SNK were well known for filling the arcades with over-the-top, futuristic cyber-sports titles such as Super Baseball 2020, or rule-breaking, cartoonish titles like Soccer Brawl. But the developer did attempt a straight NFL-style title, Football Frenzy.
Launching in arcades and on the home Neo Geo platform in 1992, Football Frenzy attempted to translate the complex and lengthy sport to the arcade format. Football Frenzy should be praised for having some depth, featuring multiple offensive and defensive plays, as well as an in-game announcer and chunky sprites, but it just isn't much fun to play.
With sluggish controls movement, Football Frenzy is a bit of a fight, not helped by its casual speed and its weird "grappling" approach to tackles. In an arcade environment, when you're trying to capture a deep and complex sport, it's probably a better bet to just fill it with robots, or put land-mines and spike strips on the field.
Still, if you want to check it out, then Football Frenzy is available today as the latest in Hamster's ACA range of classic arcade titles. You can pick it up on PS4 in Japan and worldwide on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8.
Nintendo has peddled plenty of special editions for Zelda: Breath of the Wild, including an "Explorer's Edition" that came with a packed-in guide, and it seemed to work out so well that they're trying it for two other games.
Right now it seems like they're slated for a September 28 release and only in certain regions, but the company announced this week that they're going to be doing the exact same thing for Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2, with the Breath of the Wild pack seeing a re-release. They're called the "Traveler's," "Strategy," and "Explorer" guides respectively, and will launch as pack-ins for $59.99.
Given that Nintendo rarely, if ever, drops their prices on best-selling first party titles, getting an extra pack-in for the hell of it isn't bad.
Starter Pack [Amazon] Thanks Jeff!
Earlier this month we got the funky-fresh news that the two Persona Dancing titles, which launched in Japan earlier in 2018, would be two-stepping across the ocean for worldwide release before the year's end. A new trailer from Atlus features said games accompanied by their new English dub.
Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight feature the cast of their respective RPG adventures cutting a rug to remixes of some fantastic, if somewhat bemusing, tunes. Players will be able to take to the dance floor as some of their favourite characters in reflex-testing rhythm-action battles.
Both Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight are scheduled for release on PS4 and PS Vita on December 4. A special "Endless Night Collection" will also include a download code for 2015's Persona 4: Dancing All-Night, which is, at present, the only method of getting the entire trilogy on PS4.
Bad North is an RTS, with a touch of permadeath, that strips the typical genre conventions down to its most basic concepts. There aren’t any confusing menus or detailed stats to pour over. On paper, this is the perfect gateway drug for those who, like myself, have never truly dipped their toes into this stuff.
There isn’t much story outside of murdering the vast horde of oncoming Vikings and attempting to save as many of the homes that litter each island as you can. There’s no dialogue or even the slightest text crawl bombarding you with plot. People are trying to kill you and destroy your home. That’s all you need to know.
Read more...Fresh DLC and a long weekend make a winning combo for a free-play event. After launching Shadows Over Bogenhafen earlier this week, Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is now holding a free Steam weekend.
This is a first-person melee action game with a strong emphasis on co-op and a satisfying progression system for gear. You'll hack and slash through Skaven and Chaos hordes with a group of three other players (or the AI), trying your best to push through the meat grinder without getting picked off.
Basically, if you miss the Left 4 Dead format and you're open to new experiences, check it out.
Vermintide 2 - Free Weekend Begins! [Steam]
Capcom is banking hard on Mega Man 11, but thanks to a press conference from producer Kazuhiro Tsuchiya (and a translation from reddit user Chaos_LightDark Man), we know how much is at stake.
Speaking to the Chinese media, Tsuchiya stated that the goal of Mega Man 11 is to "create a new benchmark for Mega Man games for the next 10 years." It's a lofty goal for sure, and Tsuchiya is fixing to be the next Inafune -- or as I'll call him, the caretaker of Mega Man. October couldn't get here soon enough, as I really want to see how this all pans out.
As for the X series, the door is kind of open on that too. Tsuchiya responded to an inquiry about a new entry in the series by saying that they need to wrap up Mega Man 11 first, but feedback is paramount in determining where the series goes from here. He does not confirm the existence of Mega Man X9, but says that the "volume of voices" from their fans might influence the creation of the project. Capcom was quasi-hinting at the possibility of X9 just recently with the release of the two X collections.
This press conference is rather key because it cements that Tsuchiya is all-in on Mega Man. With the right care and attention we could see another decades-long run for the franchise, and not just in merch form.
Kazuhiro Tsuchiya [GNN via Rockman Corner]
Xbox Game Pass is set to receive a bunch of new titles for September and the clear standout is Quantum Break. While maybe not the best game it could be, Quantum Break's infusion of different media formats makes for a great time if you view it more as an interactive television show. I do wish the actual "episodes" featured the main character more, though.
If Remedy's eclectic mix of media isn't to your liking, you should be able to find something tantalizing in September's offerings. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a pretty damn big get and so is the Shadow Warrior reboot. If shooters aren't to your liking, a couple of platformers are also being added.
The full list is below along with the dates they will appear on the service.
Read more...Good Smile Company have opened pre-orders on the next Nendoroid in their Kingdom Hearts range. We've already had Sora revealed, so I guess one of the next logical steps his friend and rival Riku, the catalyst for most of the original Kingdom Hearts' narrative events.
Standing a typically Nendoroidian (oh yes) 100mm in height, Riku comes with two faceplates, which appear to be smug af and smugger af, forgoing the usual "grumpy" option that comes with a lot of Nendoroid releases. Riku is equipped with two Keyblades; Soul Eater and Oblivion, as well as the wooden sword from the 2002 classic's opening beach fight.
Riku is available to pre-order from the official Good Smile website right now, at a cost of ¥4,630, or a little over $40 USD, not including shipping or any customs charges. If you want to pick up a Sora to accompany him, then you can find the KH hero right here.
I'm still salty we never got a sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, the surprisingly decent third-person shooter from Relic that lets you clobber countless Orks. So many adaptations have come and gone since 2011, but I still hold it in high regard right up there with the Dawn of War series.
If you have no idea what I'm on about, you can check out the game for free. The Humble Store is giving out Space Marine for 48 hours. You have until September 1 at 10:00am Pacific to nab a PC copy.
Even if you're completely unfamiliar with Warhammer 40K, don't let that hold you back.
Legendary Japanese publisher Square Enix has announced a new partnership with Chinese investment company Tencent. This alliance has been made in order to improve and expedite the release of a new wave of AAA titles from new IPs.
The joint-venture between the two giants puts more coverage, manpower and, of course, cash into the creation, licensing and development of new titles, with a stronger global reach regarding marketing and licensing for future releases.
"Tencent Group and Square Enix Group share the vision of utilizing technology and creativity to deliver unprecedented entertainment experiences and services to a global audience," said Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda "This alliance will be a strong boost to Square Enix Group’s strategy to diversify our content offerings and expand access channels to a wider customer base."
Tencent are also understandably pleased with the new deal. "We have strong expectations for this strategic alliance with Square Enix Group," said Tencent Vice President Steven Ma. "The alliance will enable us to couple our broad range of internet service capabilities to Square Enix Group’s superb creativity, and provide our customers with unprecedented content experiences on a global basis."
Square Enix and Tencent enter into strategic alliance [Official]
Just last week, I was searching for an excuse to cover something, anything, about the upcoming Subnautica expansion. The survival game has been on my mind a lot lately, and while I'm too preoccupied with other stuff to want to replay it, I'd love to explore another underwater landscape.
Unknown Worlds has been posting work-in-progress odds and ends in recent months as part of its open development model, but nothing too substantial. Today, the studio spoke more about Subnautica: Below Zero, which will release as a standalone. It's set on an icy new region of the same planet.
"The concept of Below Zero is still developing," said the team. "We are keeping the core gameplay mechanics, such as base building and open-ended exploration. We are also exploring new ones, such as thermal management, and more voiced dialogue at the core of the plot. We're still in early stages and nothing is set in ice. These features may change prior to, and during, Early Access."
It's worth pointing out that Subnautica is still coming to PlayStation 4 as previously announced. In fact, a different team is handling the console ports, so they'll be unaffected by Below Zero.
If you've ever seen that "Frozen Seas" episode of Blue Planet, you know how eerie this will be.
Subnautica: Below Zero [Unknown Worlds]
Read more...The cool looking amiiibo three-pack for Shovel Knight, which was set to arrive with the King Knight expansion, has hopped around placeholder dates since 2017. Shovel Knight's last expansion, Specter of Torment, arrived over a year ago in March. Yacht Club Games has been toiling away at the King Knight add-on (King of Cards) and the Smash Bros minigame -- and instead of releasing them separately, they're doing it all in one go.
Announced today in a sort of kick-off for the PAX West weekend, the release date for the complete Shovel Knight experience originally promised in the March 2013 Kickstarter is April 9, 2019. Yep, Yacht Club will have effectively been working on this project for six years at the time of the release of the last set of expansions. If you're so inclined you can buy the Treasure Trove edition now for 25 bucks and get everything later, or opt for the "complete collection" for $40 down the line. The amiibo set will be out on the same day.
The wait between expansions may seem excessive, but Yacht Club really did this right. Instead of delaying the project for years on end and bungling communication efforts (hello Mighty No. 9), they released a stellar game and continued to build on it. Each expansion has been fantastic and when all is said and done we'll have a gigantic well-crafted platformer on our hands to play for the rest of our lives. At launch this thing was $15, and if you bought in then you got every future release for free.
That's a win.
Shovel Knight [Kickstarter via IGN]
Nintendo is getting a big win today in the form of The Messenger, a superb homage to Ninja Gaiden, which found its way onto the NES so many years ago (and eventually on the SNES in trilogy form).
Other Switch releases include Into the Breach, The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season, NeoGeo Crossed Swords, Bloxiq, Claws of Furry (you read that right), Fall of Light: Darkest Edition, Freedom Planet, God Wars The Complete Legend, Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle, Mini Metro, Moonfall Ultimate, Ninjin: Clash of Carrots, Phantaruk, Realpolitiks, Son of a Witch, The VideoKid, and Toy Stunt Bike: Tiptop's Trials.
I probably won't ever stop pointing out that there are no 3DS and Wii U releases week to week unless Nintendo shuts down either eShop completely.
Read more...It's you versus 99 other players. You're running out of air as the toxicity encloses around you. There's one spot on the extraction helicopter, and you'll do anything to secure it for yourself. And oh, the map is littered with mutants, wolves, and environmental hazards that care as little for you as you do for them.
Welcome to Fear the Wolves, the new battle royale with a twist from Vostok Games.
Read more...The Pan European Game Information board (PEGI) has announced plans to incorporate information labels on video game packaging to make it clear that said title contains in-game purchases. The new content descriptor will go alongside currently-implemented icons for content related to drugs, bad language, or violence.
"Purchase offers within games has become a broad phenomenon, and it is necessary to provide the same level of consumer information on both physical and digital releases," says PEGI MD Simon Little. "Considering that physical releases are an important part of the market, this was an important gap to fill... It's basic information, but that's what parents sometimes feel they are lacking."
The move comes at a time when aggression toward in-game purchases is starting to have an affect on some aspects of the gaming industry. EA's Star Wars Battlefront II controversy caused Walt Disney to step in themselves. While in Belgium, paid loot has been banned in popular titles such as Blizzard's Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm, as well the NBA2K series.
The new packaging icons are expected to be adapted towards the end of 2018. It is a positive motion, but whether the symbol will have any major effect on the stories of excessive in-game spending, or will lead to any changes in the practice itself, remains to be seen.
PEGI adds in-game warning to boxed titles [Gamesindustry.biz]
Releasing a game on a Nintendo platform is a completely different experience for all parties involved.
An overwhelming amount of studios have reported great success and a massive improvement of internal policies compared to the dark days of the Wii and the Wii U. Externally Nintendo seems to be embracing indie developers with greater access to dev kits (confirmed by many smaller studios) and promotions like the "Nindies Showcase" and "Highlight" streams. But not every developer is going to have the same great experience, and Robert Boyd, co-owner of Zeboyd Games, has shared their thoughts on the matter by way of the popular forum ResetEra.
Earlier this month Zeboyd released a Switch port for Cosmic Star Heroine, and it seems as if it did not go swimmingly. Boyd alleges that Nintendo didn't promote it enough, summing the situation up with the following statement (which has since been deleted): "We got an okay number of reviews, but yeah, we couldn't get Nintendo to mention the game anywhere. Real shame since even a retweet from Nintendo probably would have given us a big boost in visibility. I get that it was just a port, but after spending months getting stonewalled by Nintendo when we were trying to get permission to release on Switch, going "fine, we'll play by your rules" and getting a publisher so we could get approved, and still getting ignored by Nintendo when the game was done and set to release is highly frustrating."
Boyd further alleges that Nintendo did not fix the store page before launch despite requests to do so, and that the page was trailer-less and folks were unable to pre-order. Boyd has been relatively outspoken of platform holders for years, and previously criticized Microsoft's indie initiative, also citing low visibility as a critical part of the program's failures. Late last year Boyd also weighed in on their inability to obtain Switch development kits, adding that they were "tired of the runaround from Nintendo," a situation that has since changed. Indie development is often a costly and arduous task, and even proven studios that were founded all the way back in 2009 like Zeboyd are seemingly having a tough time.
A lot of this falls back onto Nintendo's recent shocking "we want 20-30 indie games on the Switch eShop every week" statement that will most certainly impact indie developers. It's a target they're essentially hitting right now (I track every eShop drop weekly, and they're consistently getting 20+ on the platform in the past several months), and the eShop interface is still painfully basic.
While it's easy to celebrate and cheer for the "Switch version sells 10 times more" success stories, it's also important to analyze the less successful tales and learn from them. Cosmic Star Heroine's failure to launch on Switch might not be all Nintendo's fault per se, but it's possibly indicative of some of Nintendo's growing pains as they attempt to accommodate third parties.
Werezompire [ResetEra via Nintendo Life]
You know how sometimes betas are glorified demos and sparingly betas? Well it looks like EA is treating the Battlefield V beta as a genuine article.
Just today EA and DICE have announced that Battlefield V will be delayed one month with a new launch date of November 20, 2018. DICE cites the "tens of thousands of players" for the change, who have played in various builds spanning the alphas, E3, and Gamescom. They further state that they have taken the "increased focus on squad play" suggestion to heart, and are revamping weapon handling, player friction, soldier visibility, and gameplay tempo. DICE says that these changes will be in effect during the open beta period that starts on September 6.
With Ubisoft taking breaks every other year with Assassin's Creed and major studios delaying big games like this instead of rushing them out the door, we've entered a new era of accountability. The PC version of Assassin's Creed Unity and the Xbox edition of Battlefield 4 really were a call to arms for the publishers, and as long as they get it right this delay for BFV is just fine.
An Update On Battlefield V [EA]
The beat goes on for Atlus and their marketing machine, pumping out character trailers for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS sequel Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. This new clip introduces Persona 5's tech-whiz Futaba Sakura.
One of the latter-day additions to The Phantom Thieves, Futaba is a young girl whose quiet and shy exterior hide an incredible I.Q. and a genuinely affecting backstory. A master of computer hacking and awkward conversation, Futaba has won the hearts of a huge number of Persona fans, even though she isn't Makoto, or that badass reporter who hangs out at the bar, or the well-shifty doctor.
I do get a real kick out of Futaba's Persona Q2 design, I'm really digging the fanged smile. Futaba joins fellow Persona superstars Junpei, Naoto, Morgana and Shinjiro in Atlus' ever-expanding list of character trailers. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth launches on Nintendo 3DS in Japan November 29.
As we know, another western release of an EDF game is happening. Earth Defense Force 2025, also known as Earth Defense Force 4, arrived on western shores in 2014. Four years later the follow-up will be released outside of Japan.
The aptly named Earth Defense Force 5 is set for a 2018 release later this year on PS4 with a deluxe edition in tow, and is up for pre-order on the PSN. That deluxe SKU will net you "all future DLC" and content like weapons, support arms, and missions. Speaking of EDF 5 will contain 100 missions across five difficulty settings and the most important part -- two player co-op via split-screen (four players are supported online).
EDF! EDF! EDF! As the saying goes.
Read more...Nicalis has announced a new release in the super-popular, super-sickly series The Binding of Isaac. A short, grim teaser announces the coming of The Binding of Isaac: Repentance.
There is no further information given to the project as to release date, platforms or even whether it is a standalone sequel, or an expansion. But we are told that it will be playable at PAX, which takes place between August 31 and September 3, so fans of the gooey indie-hit won't have long to wait to hear more about the grisly escapade.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is available now on PC, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS.
Electronic Arts has announced the opening of a tribute fund to benefit those affected by the senseless violence that took place in Jacksonville, Florida last weekend, where lives were lost as the result of horrific shooting incident during a Madden 19 tournament.
The publisher has put forward an initial donation of one million dollars to help the families of victims Elijah Clayton and Taylor Robertson, as well as others who were affected by the terrible events of that day. "We’ve all been deeply affected by what took place in Jacksonville," said CEO Andrew Wilson in a statement. "This is the first time we’ve had to confront something like this as an organization, and I believe the first time our gaming community has dealt with a tragedy of this nature. Please take time to support each other through this challenging time".
In addition to the Jacksonville fund, EA will be holding a live stream on Thursday, September 6. No further details as to what the live stream would entail were announced, but it is hoped that the event will help bring the community together through play, and no doubt encourage further donations toward the charity benefit.
EA's full statement about The Jacksonville Tribute can be read below.
Shan Qiao is a concept artist and illustrator who has worked for companies like Sony Santa Monica and Blizzard.
Tim Kitzrow, the original voice actor on NBA Jam, has been roped in by Valve to provide a commentary pack for DOTA 2.
There are many ways you can complete Super Mario 64, but playing with the rare and official N64 mouse has to rank as one of the worst.
Good Smile are back with another Overwatch Figma, this time of D.Va. There’s no mech, but it’s a Figma, you shouldn’t have been expecting one anyways.
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We see a lot of deals around the web over on Kinja Deals, but these were our ten favorites today.
Today on Highlight Reel we have For Honor kills, Vaporwave Shenmue glitches, Scum vitamin deficiencies, and much more!
Several eras ago—before algorithms came to dictate our every breath and Nazis re-infiltrated popular discourse via extremely uncreative and shitty memes—Twitter was alright. Now it’s a suckhole that eats negativity and barfs conflict. The developers of indie classic Sword & Sworcery don’t want anything to do with it…
The console port of Divinity: Original Sin 2, one of the greatest role-playing games ever made, is just about the best the developers could’ve done. It’s a solid port. It’s just not quite as perfect as the PC version.
Playing A Game of Thrones: The Board Game was one of the most intense experiences of my life—it remains the only board game I’ve ever stormed away from out of anger, sorry family. But if I thought that was an extreme Game of Thrones experience, I too know nothing, Jon Snow. Because there’s a new Song of Ice and Fire …
They say there’s no use crying over spilled milk, but what about spilled water? That, according to a contingent of Spider-Man fans, is worth a fuss of superheroic proportions.
One of the best things about Hollow Knight is how often it makes you feel like you’ve uncovered a secret. There was a huge chamber hidden behind that breakable wall, and you just happened to stumble on it. What other secrets might you have missed?
Last week’s Overwatch short starred fan favorite character D.Va and revealed a little bit about her personality. It also gave Overwatch fans a new character to swoon over: her squadmate, D.Mon.
Last week, the giant rift in Fortnite’s sky started spewing lightning until it finally dropped a glowing alien cube on the map. The cube has started moving and changing the landscape, encouraging players to sleuth out where it’s ultimately headed and what will happen when it gets there.
It’s been over a decade since the gaming label 2K stopped making football games to rival EA’s Madden series, but wouldn’t you know it: someone is throwing a football at the end of the trailer for 2K’s latest big basketball game. It’s there to be noticed.
When casual observers say that Kingdom Hearts is unlikely, they’re not wrong. Around the turn of the millennium, Disney was a media company coming off of its second “golden age,” immensely profitable, powerful, and self-possessed. Its image was paramount—so much so that in 1998, Disney pushed for changes to American…
Man, why did I waste two weeks questing through boring green hills for the Alliance when I could have been exploring dinosaur-infested swamps as a mighty Cowadin? Even in the middle of the Battle for Azeroth, the Horde have it good.
Back in the NES era, the late 80s and early 90s, there were two different types of games. Call them linear and non-linear. The linear games, like Super Mario Bros. and Ninja Gaiden, had you go through each level once and only once. The non-linear games, like Zelda and Metroid, allowed for backtracking and exploration.…