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Vader Immortal
Star Wars is making another leap into the VR world with Vader Immortal. The biggest VR Star Wars to date, Vader Immortal will take the player to the castle of the Sith Lord, on the volcanic planet Mustafar. At the very least, you'll get to grab a lightsaber in a possible face-off with Darth Vader himself. Vader Immortal launch on the Oculus Quest sometime in 2019.
Cyberpunk 2077
Game developer CD PROJEKT RED made their name with 2015's high fantasy Witcher 3 RPG. With their latest game, they're going from the past to the future. Cyberpunk 2077 takes the Cyberpunk 2020 tabletop game 57 years forward in Night City. The game hints at a massive open world with possible similar elements to Rockstar's GTA games. It'll be a while before you can get your hands on it but they did just release this 48-minute walkthrough.
Pinball Isn't As Random As It Seems
Every pinball machine has similar features, but no two pinball machines are alike. Flippers, bumpers, and gravity combine to make for a game of randomness and chance — but it isn't as random as it looks. Vox digs deep into the theory of pinball to show how randomness isn't really a feature and how to dramatically increase your score.
Red Dead Redemption 2
By 1899, the West had nearly been won. The age of outlaws was coming to a close, and the law was out to break what few gangs remained. A robbery gone wrong forces Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang to make a run for it across the country, pillaging their way to a last stand against the Feds and bounty hunters. Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 makes its long-awaited debut October 26, 2018 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Madden 19
Chris Redd, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Dicky recount the greatest playcall in Madden history. Executed by Will, the legendary play was so impressive it led to a Quavo song, a 30 for 30, and an episode of Spongebob Squarepants. Madden 19 is available August 10, 2018.
The Physics of Racing Games
Racing games bring the excitement of pushing cars that you'll never own around tracks and streets to the comfort and safety of your living room. While you're distracted by the flashy graphics and sounds effects, there is a lot of math going on in the background. Real Engineering went to Red Bull Ring in Austria to hang out with Ubisoft software engineers and learn how they bring a real-life level of handling to their racing games.
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Casper Wave
The result of three years of research and millions of data points, the Casper Wave is a breakthrough in mattress design. Underneath its handsome exterior, you'll find the new, proprietary Natural Geometry System. It uses five layers of foam to mimic the natural contours of your body at 36 specific points, adjusting naturally to your shoulders and hips without sacrificing support, and keeping your spine properly aligned. Like the original, it uses open-cell foams to keep you cool at night. Designed and assembled in the USA.
Presented by Casper.
![Chomps Snack Sticks]( "Chomps Snack Sticks")
Chomps Snack Sticks
Beef sticks found in convenience stores are tempting, but the junk that is mixed into the recipe should be enough to keep you away. Chomps takes a different approach. Their pro-protein, anti-junk sticks taste great and are made from grass-fed beef to keep you fueled up when you need it most. Each stick is gluten-free and contains no sugar, GMOs, soy, or dairy and are perfect for stashing in your travel bag for a healthy snack on-the-go. They're also Keto friendly, certified Paleo, and available in four delicious flavors: Original Beef, Hoppin' Jalapeno Beef, Original Turkey or Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt Venison.
Presented by Chomps Snack Sticks.-
Anthem
BioWare took home the award for Best Action Game from the 2018 E3 conference with its first new IP in 20 years Anthem. Now, instead of cinematics and descriptions, BioWare has released a 20-minute gameplay demo. The demo details the inner workings of combat, travel, customization, loot, and multiplayer systems, giving a good idea of what to expect when the game releases in early 2019.
The Last of Us Part II
After five years, The Last of Us sequel has finally arrived. The first gameplay trailer for the Naughty Dog survival series debuted at Sony's E3 event and revealed the return of a more grown-up Ellie and Joel as well as some new characters as they enjoy a community party. But don't let the opening full you, things get violent fast.
Death Stranding
Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding has had one of the strangest, fascinating, most confusing build-ups in the history of video games. The previous teasers focused on a baby and some sort of invisible enemies, and with the release of the E3 trailer, the picture hasn't exactly gotten any clearer. The game looks to feature some of Kojima's trademark gameplay aspects, but the storyline seems as bizarre as ever. Whatever it is, Death Stranding is sure to be huge.
DOOM Eternal
Grab your shotgun and prepare for an epic war against the forces of Hell itself — the sequel to 2016's DOOM reboot is coming. id Software dropped the trailer for latest in the DOOM franchise at the 2018 E3 conference, and it looks like a stunner. Expect to see a host of familiar enemies along with some new gameplay mechanics, according to id.
Halo Infinite
It's brief, but it's there: The best-loved character in the Halo universe is returning with Halo Infinite. While it's more of a demo of the new Slipspace game engine, this glimpse at the next Halo shows a surprisingly peaceful setting that will no doubt get shattered in the first few minutes of gameplay. The design also hints at a return to the original Halo art style and a Master Cheif-centric story. No other details are available but expect more to come out soon.
Fallout 76
Happy Reclamation Day, Vault Dweller. It's 2102, the fallout has settled, and it's time to rebuild society. Bethesda's latest entry in the Fallout series is a prequel to all of the other releases and is their biggest one yet. The story will unfold in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia as the first group of survivors emerge to discover a dystopian wasteland. The game is scheduled for release November 14, 2018, but until then, keep your Pip-Boy at the ready.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
It's that time of year again — time for the annual Call of Duty reveal. The series has taken some knocks over the years for being repetitive, but Black Ops 4 looks to have added some interesting features into the multiplayer game. For actual gameplay footage, check out this Black Ops 4 playlist, until the game releases on October 12, 2018.
Evolution of Game Controllers
The controller has been a staple of gaming since the Magnavox Odyssey 100 shipped in 1972. Since then, we've seen paddles, joysticks, an explosion of buttons, trackpads, and controllers with no wires at all. 4096 breaks down the evolution of the game controller, starting with modern-day hardware and going back in time to the 70s.
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Hims ED Pack
Erectile dysfunction isn't on the short list of conversation starters for most guys. But since it affects 40% of men by the age of 40, it's more common than you might think. Thanks to science there can be a solution. hims is a one-stop shop for men's wellness and offers treatment plans that are backed by science and have been prescribed by doctors for over 20 years. It can work and hims makes it easy by shipping directly to your door. No more awkward doctor's office waiting rooms or long pharmacy lines. Get started online today for only $5.
Presented by hims.
Casper Mattress
When Casper entered the mattress market a few years ago, they changed the mattress industry. And now, after 30 engineering improvements and nearly half a million happy customers, the Casper mattress is more breathable and comfortable than ever. Each mattress is made of multiple layers of foam, including one for support and pressure relief, and one to make sure you sleep cool and comfortable. It's all wrapped up in a durable woven cover, and shipped right to your door in a box that's easy to maneuver into even the smallest homes or apartments. You get 100 nights to try it out and can return it for free if you're not satisfied.
Presented by Casper.
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The History of Nintendo
Nintendo has been gaming for over 127 years. Starting with playing cards, the company got a boost in early years by being the favored card of the yakuza, before branching into hotels, taxis, and instant rice. Those experiments were short-lived, and a manufacturing line manager inadvertently gave the company a new direction that took it back to its roots in games.
Saving Lost Video Games
Frank Cifaldi is on a mission — a mission to save lost video games from disappearing forever. He founded Video Game History Foundation and not only saves games from the trash heap of history, but also the packaging, manuals, and culture of games from the past.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Burnout Paradise was one of the best arcade racers around. Full drifts, wrecks, and flashy sports cars, it's easily the best in the Burnout franchise. Now you cam relive the glory days with Burnout Paradise Remastered, at 60 FPS, 4k resolution, and all eight DLCs.
Shaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn
It's been nearly 25 years since we last got to go Shaq diesel on some zombies. And to be honest, it really wasn't that great. But Shaq is back, in a 21-century beat 'em up that's a remake of a game you didn't even know you wanted to be remade. Shaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn is coming to PlayStation 4 spring 2018.
Super Mario Bros. Hardest Level
If you were going to guess what the hardest, most frustrating level in the original Super Mario Bros. was, no one would say level 4-2 — unless you were one of the world's elite Super Mario Bros. speedrunners. For such a simple level, there's a lot of technique involved. From pixel-perfect jumps to glitches that are humanly impossible to exploit, speedrunners can potentially shave seconds off their time. Summoning Salt has the history of 4-2 and all the ingenious ways speedrunners have figured out to beat the clock.
God of War
The eighth game in the God of War franchise, titled simply as God of War, is on track for an April 2018 release. While the first three titles were landmarks in the action-RPG genre, God of War is aimed at being far more RPG-like. Kratos has moved north to a time when the gods of the Norsemen walked the earth, so be ready for a heavy dose of Norse mythology and weapon choices.
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Aliens: The Ride
It's a movie franchise begging for a roller coaster — Aliens. There have been rumors and reports of stalled projects over the years, but nothing has ever been built. Hin Nya did us all a virtual favor by creating his own Aliens-themed coaster in the Planet Coaster game.
Death Stranding
It's been a year since we last heard from Hideo Kojima and his monumental epic Death Stranding. The third trailer for the game is here and things have only gotten even more surreal. The baby-in-a-bottle is back, as is Norman Reedus, along with some terrifying monsters. And something about explosions. Whatever is happening, it will be hard not to play and finally find out.
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The Voice of Mortal Kombat
In order to find the man behind the famous dialogue of Mortal Kombat, you need to go upstairs to the pinball department. Steve Ritchie designs pinball machines — more of them than anyone in history — and downstairs, Mortal Kombat was being developed. When the devs needed a sinister voice for the announcer, they knew just who to ask.
Last of Us Part II
Ellie and Joel are back in the post-apocalyptic setting of the first game — along with a few new characters. The brutal scene depicts a narrow escape and leaves you hanging with something lurking in the dark outside the light of the fire, and no answers as to what's coming next. Last of Us Part II will release sometime in 2018.
Mortal Kombat Scorpion Motion Capture
Get over here — for ten minutes of Scorpion motion capture footage from the first Mortal Kombat. The movements are a slower than in the game, and for some reason, it's absolutely hilarious to watch. From losing costume pieces to the famous Scorpion hook move, this is a great piece of gaming history.
The Three-Decade Dungeons & Dragons Campaign
Playing Dungeons & Dragons takes dedication, imagination, and time — sometimes lots of it. But Robert Wardhaugh's campaign makes others look like a 30-second TV commercial. He's been playing the same campaign since he was 14 — over 35 years ago.
Gaming Behind the Berlin Wall
As the personal computer and video game revolution swept the West during the COld War 80s, something similar was happening in the Soviet Bloc countries of the East. Sharing software and purchasing hardware was easy for anyone west of the Berlin Wall, but scarcity and government regulations made it much more difficult on the other side. Here's how gaming was done and the lengths programmers went to to make it happen.
How to Make a Pinball Machine
Stern Pinball has been making pinball machines for a long time — back to the 1930s and the founding of arcade game giant Williams. Stern makes some of the biggest themed pinball games in the world, with machines featuring properties like Ghost Busters, Star Wars , and bands like AC/DC and Kiss. The A.V. Club went inside the Stern factory to see what it takes to turn over 3,500 parts into the best game in the world.
