Someone's been watching all along

Last week saw Capcom release the newest episode of "Let's Play in Bio Village," the infectiously creepy-cute puppet show starring the villains of Resident Evil Village. This episode is par??ticularly special, as it features a guest appearance from another member of the horror sequ??el's Rogues' Gallery.

The episode begins with Big Sister Dimitrescu suggesting Moreau brush his teeth with a razor-sharp brush, with predictably messy results. While the edict of the entire show is that Resident Evil Village "is not scary," t?his latest gory happening proves too much for Angie, who admits to being terrified of the whole show. Dimitrescu and Heisenberg then question their recent, kind actions — embracing their dark side and giving in to their murderous intent.

Fortunately, just as things start to get a little chaotic, the gang are paid a visit by Mother Miranda, who informs them that she has been watching all along and that they are all doing a fine job of "not being scary." Thus, happiness is restored. The episode ends with a lengthy disclaimer comically informing viewers that Resident Evil Village may, in fact, be scary after all.

After Mother Miranda's confession that she had been "watching all along," I went back and re-watched past episodes ?and, true to her word, Miranda has been spying on her fellow villains, hidden?? in plain sight, which is a delightful touch. For example, here she is in Heisenberg's death machine. When you see it... you'll shit bricks.

Now that Resident Evil Village is out and in the hands of the players, and the fourth wall has been crossed on the puppet show, is this the end of the line for "Let's Play in Bio Village"? I hope not, as? while I understan??d a ridiculous amount of work goes into each episode — giving them a beautifully polished, slickly produced look — it would be a shame not to see our (non-scary) friends again. Time will tell.

Hai!

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The odds are against them... and that's just the way they like it

Next week sees perhaps the most bombastic crossover in gaming history. On May 20, Sylvester Stallone's John Rambo and Bruce Willis' Die Hard hero John McClane will step away from the silver screen to bring their respective brands of rat-a-tat-tat mayhem to Activision's Call of Duty franchise, joining the rosters of CoD: Black Ops, CoD: Mobile, and uber-popular battle royale release CoD: Warzone.

The Reganized 1980s saw a (literal) boom in action movies, as a staunchly conservative populace fell completely and utterly in love with solving the world's — or just the neighborhood's — problems at the barrel of an Uzi. While some of these films were dang awful, we also received an abundance of stone cold classics, with films such as RoboCop, Total Recall, and Commando as ridicu?lous and as?? entertaining today as they ever were.

I think the Call of Duty franchise is sitting on a veritable gold mine with its "'80s Action Stars" crossover event. Presented for your consideration are a further five stars of the decade taste forgot, without whom Call of Duty: Warzone will never, ever ?reach its full potential. No need to thank me??, Activision, just pay me the 1600 COD Points I purchased last month that never arrived in my account.

1) Pvt. Jenette Vasquez - Aliens (1986) - Jenette Goldstein

While Sigourney Weaver's star turn as Ellen Ripley is unquestionably one of the greatest screen roles of the 1980s, James Cameron's sci-fi sequel had more than its fair share of memorable characte??rs — from Bill Paxton's nervy Pvt. Hudson to Paul Reiser's sleazeball executive Carter Burke.

For myself and many fans, however, Jenette Goldstein's badass brick shithouse Pvt. Vasquez stole the show with her cold-as-ice look, fearless attitude, and that double-handed Smart Gun. Ready for war and nigh-on unstoppable, if Call of Duty characters had tiers, Vasquez would be in the S+.? When the shit hits the fan, you want her in your squad. LET'S ROOOOOCCCK!

(Fun fact: Goldstein also portrays John Connor's foster mom in Terminator 2: Judgement Day &m??dash; this still surprises movie fans everywhere, decades afte?r the latter film's release.)

2) Paul Kersey - Death Wish 3 (1985) - Charles Bronson

Perpetually bored-looking star Charles Bronson was 64 years old when he shot this second sequel in his iconic vigilante series. The advancing years posed no concern for sleazoid hack Michael Winner, who thrust an ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN into Bronson's tired hands and told him to get on with it. Vigilante Paul Kersey, now rocking a body count pushing triple-figures, would slip into the CoD universe with relative ease, having spat death from the barrel of a huge array of explosive weaponry in the Death Wish series' continuing war against working-class minorities crime. 

Scorestreaks would include frequent editing so he doesn't have to run very far, a rocket launcher wrapped in the American flag, and Martin Balsam as a neighbor who turns up to provide constant exposition. Co-op potential would see a second player following Kersey around, literally carrying the ammo for his machine gun for him. 

3) John Nada - They Live (1988) - Roddy Piper

Before the fine work of Dave Bautista (as well as some of Dwayne Johnson's latter roles) nobody gave pro-wrestlers any big screen props — with good-fucking-cause Santa With Muscles. But "Rowdy" Roddy Piper put in a great turn for John Carpenter's sci-fi horror/cultural satire They Live. Piper's down-and-out John Nada has the burden of insight, hav??ing discovered that Earth has been invaded by a disguised alien force, and must take proactive steps, mostly at the business end of a 12-gauge, to set the populace free from its unaware state of slavery.

Packed with famous witticisms and sporting great charisma, the late Roddy Piper would have been a fine addition to the Call of Duty universe. Melee strikes would activate six-minute fist-fights, and Nada's secondary weapon would be special sunglasses which ??allow him to see which players are using aimbots. (Spoilers: ?It's everybody).

4) Rambo Gizmo - Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) - As Himself

Remember when the adorable Mogwai from Joe Dante's comedy-horror donned a scarlet headband and started firing flaming arrows? You don't, because while we've all seen Gremlins multiple times, we've all only seen Gremlins 2 once (apart from Destructoid's own Occams... It's pretty much his?? favorite movie). Anyway, Rambo Gizmo has the Combat Bow Scorestreak as his primary weapon — complete with pencil and Wite-Out blueprint — and also has the electrical ammo mod as standard.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch is actually from 1990, not the '80s. But both Gizmo and Rambo are from the '80s. Also it's my list and, besides, you?? probably skipped to the comments ages ago.

5) Johnny 5 when he was a punk that one time - Short Circuit 2 (1988) - Some puppet

Johnny 5 is ALIVE. I don't like this movie. Ally Sheedy didn't come back: Strike One. And that bit where the mafia beat Johnny 5 half-to-death was really disturbing. Then Johnny adopts "Mexican Gangster" dialect, which is surprisingly only the second most racist element of this movie. Anyway, put him in Call of Duty or something, he can have a laser and can scream horribly when you kill him, traumatizing generations of children scant years after the frightening robot in Superman III... Actually, put her in CoD.

Honorable Mentions: Jack Burton (Big Trouble in Little China, 1986) Snake Plissken (Escape From New York, 1981), Lt. Gabriel Cash (Tango & Cash, 1989), Dean Proffitt (Overboard, 1987).

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Another bad day for Moreau

Today sees the launch of Capcom's fantastic horror-adventure, Resident Evil Village. Far more important, however, is the premiere of the second episode of the wonderful "Let's Play in Bio Village", the adorably grim puppet show starring the sequel's rogues' gallery.

Episode two sees Heisenberg hard at work on some kind of contraption that appears to have been designed for the sole purpose of turning man into mush. Moreau, kind soul that he is, wants to help Heisenberg out, with predictably gooey results. Having survived his slice 'n' dice escapades, and now wearing his internal organs externally, More?au rejoins the gang, but the death and destruction isn't quite over just yet...

...Ah, Moreau, will you ever win?

Sadly there are no new songs in this episode, and we still do not have English subtitles, but the delightful photography, cute sets, and polished production are all in full effect. These are truly delightful vid?eos, and I hope we see more from Big Sister Dimitrescu and the gang in the coming weeks and months. Angie and her constant "BLEEEEHH!" nature crack me up every single time. These puppets are pretty much my best (read: only) friends.

Resident Evil Village launches today on PlayStation, X?box and ??PC platforms.

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Hundreds of Fortnite players dial-in to vent their thoughts

The opening moments of the Epic vs. Apple antitrust suit were rendered amusingly farcical yesterday, after a public conference call failed to mute all of its listeners, leading to a chorus of Fortnite players dialling-in to sound off about the restrictions placed on their favorite b??attle royale title.

The conference call — implemented in many courtrooms — allows members of the public to log on and listen to proceedings live as they take place. But, as reported by The Verge, the court failed to mute all of yesterday's listeners, leading to over 200 participants simultaneously caterwauling that Fortnite remains unavailable on iPhone and iPad. Some listeners reportedly made the most of the?? opportunity, taking time out to advertise their YouTube and Twitch channels. You gotta hustle, I guess...

After about 15 minutes of technical fiddling, the line went silent. The case finally opened at Oakland Federal Court, San Francisco at 11:30 ET. The proceedings will run from Monday to Thursday and are expected to last for the majority of May. After just one day, information has already been made public regarding Fortnite's earnings, potential DLC plans, and the cost of running PC platform Epic Games Store. Unsurprisingly, the moneta??ry numbers pertaining to all of the above push wel?l into the billions.

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You might confuse this cartoon dog with the video game series

In one of many tales of panicking billionaires surfacing this morning, Blizzard Entertainment is seeking to block FOX Media from its registration of the term "Diablo" as it pertains to tie-in merchandise related to upcoming animated series HouseBroken.

The new cartoon features a dog that shares a?? name with Blizzard's hellish video game franchise, and as such the latter is concerned that FOX's trademarking of the name will cause confusion among audiences. FOX' recent application for "Diablo" specifically concerns the usage of the character's name on crockery, beverage holders, pet treats, doggie bowls, and other merchandise — which has gotten Blizzard execs reaching for the 'phone.

As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Blizzard argues that FOX's registration of "Diablo" in regards to HouseBroken merchandise comes into conflict with Blizzard's own Diablo trademark, which the developer/publisher has he??ld since it launched the hugely?? successful RPG series way back in 1996. Blizzard has requested that FOX' request, therefore, be rejected by the United States Patent Office.

"Members of the public will erroneously believe that [FOX's] goods offered under the 'Diablo' mark originate with, or are in some manner connected or associated with, or sponsored by, [Blizzard Entertainment], all to the harm of [Blizzard's] goodwill and reputation." reads part of Blizzard's notice of opposition, which was filed on April 25.

Blizzard is currently working on three new titles in the Diablo franchise: remaster Diablo II Resurrected, free-to-play mobile release Diablo Immortal, and highly anticipated mainline sequel Diablo IV. Meanwhile, HouseBroken will premiere on the FOX Network May 31.

Disclaimer: HouseBroken is not a Diablo spin-off.

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Marionettical Murderousness

[Update: Reposting this as it needs to brighten as many mornings as possible. Capcom has confirmed that a second episode of "Let's Play in Bio Village" will be released on May 7. Huzzah!]

It was originally an April Fools' joke, but nobody's laughing anymore. Capcom has released the first episode of its Resident Evil Village puppet show, which sees the villains of the upcoming horror title brought to life in unbelievably adorable ??fashion... It's... Something.

The creepy-cute show, which you can check out below, stars Heisenberg, Moreau, Angie, and — of course — the lovely Lady Dimitrescu. Packed with super-cute songs, literal buckets of gore, tinsel-based arterial spray, and a worryingly infectious spirit, this heart/brain-melting take on the Resident Evil universe may be among Capcom's best-ever campaigns. Despite the goofiness, it's really well lit, shot, and produced.

Come for the cuteness, stay for Lady D going ape?? with an axe.

Sad??ly, there are no English subtitles available as of this writing, but fans will still be able to enjoy the delightful musical numbers and overall silliness. I d?id! Twice! Whether this show is merely a one-off commercial remains to be seen — my Japanese is a little rusty — but here's hoping we'll be seeing more from The Handheld House of Dimitrescu soon. I love Angie's incessant raving!

Resident Evil Village launches May 7 on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Stadia platforms. A special Japanese launch stream will also take place on May 5. Don't forget this weekend will see a re-run of the recent demo, so be sure to check that out if you haven't.

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Have THEY gotten to you too?

Tripwire Interactive has released the first details for the previously announced DLC expansion to crazy, bloodthirsty "shaRkPG," Manteater. Coming at some point this summer, Maneater: Truth Quest will return to the waves for more over-the-?top boat-chomping action.

Following on from the events of the 2020 Shark-'em-up, Truth Quest will venture into the realm of internet conspiracies, as roving reporter Trip Westhaven investigates the growing rumors and theories surrounding the Naval Wildlife Organization. (4 life). Supported by an army of ViewTube followers - or "Questers" - Westhaven embarks upon a boat-rocking journe??y (literally) to uncover the clandes??tine government reports of  armored, toxic, and electrically powered sharks lurking in the deep blue.

"The team has been hard at work on Maneater: Truth Quest and we're excited to announce the first details on the downloadable content that so many fans have been asking for," said Tripwire creative director Sean McBride. "We're aiming to give players more of what they loved from the original Maneater, with the ability to grow bigger, explore an entirely new region off the coast of Port Clovis, and evolve further tools of destruction [...] we pick up where we left off an?d join Trip Westhaven and the shark's journey down the rabbit hole of conspiracy and military cover-ups as you eat, explore and evolve through these uncharted waters."

Maneater: Truth Quest will feature a brand new Evolution set, raising the XP cap to 40, increasing maximum shark size, and offering a selection of new organ evolutions - giving the array of evolved "hunt" creatures and the new "Uber" apex predator, you're going to need them, chum. If this wasn't hazardous enough, then new military adversaries will arrive to attack your shark pal by land, sea, and air, determined to fill you full of holes without the aid o??f any g??as canisters.

Additionally, two new modes are incoming in the form of a ring-based Time Trial challenge and a tail-whipping new mini-game called "Failure to Communicate." All of the above should provide hunters of the Blue Planet with more than enough content to ensure no Maneater fan goes hungry come the holiday-making season.

The Maneater: Truth Quest DLC will launch this summer on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms, priced at $15.99. A Nintendo Switch port of Maneater will launch May 25.

...And if you've tricked me, Tripwire, then you're gonna need a bigger boat.

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Sick Chick

It's been a minute since we heard from avian xtreme sports title SkateBird, which will see your local bird-box buddies take to four-wheeled decks and bust out some sweet-ass feathered flips, bro. But developer Glass Bottom Games has r??eturned with a brand new video, showcasing the absurd but fun-looking skater.

The new two-minute preview gives us a look at SkateBird's "Office," as our adorabl?e feathered friends take advantage of desktops, staplers, magazines, and other stationery (literally) items in order to pull off a sick run, racking up combos, points, and bonuses along the way.  The video is narrated by Glass Bottom G?ames' Xalavier Nelson Jr., who provides context for the amusing on-screen action.

SkateBird will feature a selection of suitably improvised stages, multiple customization options, a bevy of bird tricks, and a thoroughly wholesome and heartening storyline, which sees our tiny hero attempting to rekindle his human owner's love of skating once again. SkateBird will also allow players to ??import their own soundtracks, ensuring that your amazing runs are accompanied by?? some "lo-fi birb hop beats." It's definitely looking to be a perfect chill-out title after a hard day's nest-building.

SkateBird launches later in 2021 on PC, Xbox One, ??????????????????????????and Nintendo Switch.

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Dizzy Heights

Curve Digital's very silly platform title Human: Fall Flat has surpassed an incredible 25 million sales since its original release in 2016. The puzzle adventure initially launched on PC, before being port??ed to PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, and iOS and Android devices.

Entirely developed by a single developer, Tomas Sakalauskas, Human: Fall Flat tasks customizable hero "Bob" with picking their way through a series of cumbersome and highly hazardous environments, equi?pped only with typically human mobility traits and some hilariously exaggerated physics.

Bob jumps, climb??s, hangs, bounces, pushes, pulls, and, more often than not, tumbles their way through each stage, stumbling time and again but always getting back to their feet for one more round... I'd give anything for that resilience, frankly. An online mode was added to the game in 2017, allowing up to eight players to share the pain.

If you're not among the 25 million plus players to join Bob on his bumpy ride, then you can pick up Human: Fall Flat on the above listed platforms for ??just a f?ew dollars. Just watch your step.

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Six degrees of Fred Ward

In today's contest you can win a Blu-ray copy of Tremors from Arrow Video!

Usually I introduce this kind of stuff and try to take it seriously. You can probably find LOTS of evidence to the contrary, but shut up I don't care. I'm a Professional Internet Writer, damn it, DAD! I mean, readers!

Ahem. So today we're giving away Arrow Video's release of Tremors on Blu-ray, and instead of wasti??ng? your time telling you what the movie's about (it's a comedy/horror film where giant underground worms terrorize a small Nevada town) I'm going to waste your time telling you about why I chose this movie.

Again, you can find?? more about the movie elsewhere. Chances are if you're here, you already know about it. So I'm instead going to spin a ??yarn about how I've seen this (and its sequel) roughly 100 times.

Back in the summer of sixth grade, I had a TV in my room because I was mature and cool. At some point during the dog days of summer, I lost the remote to my TV while it was stuck on the USA Network. I guess they had just acquired the rights to air Tremors 1 and 2, so they did just that. All the time. Like, all fucking summer. In between airings of Monday Night Raw and reruns of Wings, they ??were s?pamming these movies hardcore. I couldn't change the channel!

Much like A Christmas Story I've never actually seen this movie in one sitting, front to back. But I've seen various bits of it en??ough times to be able to stitch it all together in my mind.

Wasn't that pointless?! Enter to win your copy by using the widget below. Click around and blah blah blah. Also hit up the new and improved Flixist to double your odds.

We have one copy of the film to give away; we'll draw winners next week. Since this is a physical prize, you must?? have a United States shipping address in order to win.

Check out Tremors and other great Blu-ray releases over at MVD Entertainment.

Dtoid Contest: Win Tremors on Blu-ra?y??, courtesy of Arrow Video

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Physical release on the way from Limited Run Games

Indie outfit Zeboyd Games has announced that its quirky 2019 RPG Cthulhu Saves Christmas will be ready to deck the halls on Nintendo Switch as soon as tomorrow, October 28. Zeboyd also added that a PS5 port was in the works and would be arriving on the ?next-gen platform "soon."

Cthulhu Saves Christmas - a prequel to 2010's Cthulhu Saves the World - sees the tentacled "Master of Insanity" team up with the Snow Maiden, Belsnickel, and Baba Yaga-chan on a quest to rescue Santa Claus from the villainous League of Christmas Evil. Battle a host of yuletide enemies while sharing the spirit of the season with your party members and increasing the strength of your "R'lyehtionships." Only Cthulhu can save Santa and ensure th??at the w?orld sees a holly jolly festive season.

The Switch edition of Cthulhu Saves Christmas will include an all-new New Game+ feature, which will be added to the PC edition as a free update in the future. This mode allows players who have completed the campaign to re-run the fun with new cutscenes and tougher enemies. Additionally, Limited Run Games has ??announced that it will press a physical release of th?e prequel for both PS5 and Nintendo Switch, with pre-orders set to go live on November 6.

Also, Cthulhu Saves Christmas on Switch & PS5 has a brand-new New Game+ mode. This will also be patched into the PC versions. //t.co/B1NVhps0Oh

— Zeboyd Games (@ZeboydGames) October 27, 2020

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'NOT a viable medical training tool'

UK developer Bossa is offering free copies of Surgeon Simulator 2 to all NHS staff members. And if you do work for that excellent organisation, all you need do is visit this website before October 22 and register your official NHS email address to receive a PC key for the wild 'n' gory se??????????????????????????quel.

"At Bossa, we've always envisioned Surgeon Simulator 2 as a valuable training tool for NHS workers to hone their healthcare skills!" said Bossa co-founder Henrique Olifiers. "The Surgeon Simulator 2 community is frankly rubbish at saving Bob, so we think our players n?eed to be shown how it's really don?e."

NHS registrar Dr. Idris Morgan takes a very di??fferent viewpoint.

"Surgeon Simulator 2 is absolutely NOT a viable medical training tool," stated Dr. Morgan, before adding "However, I do enjoy playing video games in my spare time and I'm confident medical professionals around the world will find Bossa's interpretation of medicine, and the possibility of five-second hea??rt-transplants, very amusi??ng."

In addition to offering free games, Bossa will be hosting a 24-hour charity speed-running event on October 15. The event, which aims to raise £1000 for the North Lincolnshire NHS Trust, will see a fully-quali?fied NHS surgeon, cardiologist,?? radiologist and IT specialist compete to perform a successful heart transplant in as quick a time as possible...

...in-game, I'm assuming.

Bossa makes Surgeon?? Simulator 2 free for NHS staff [Eurogamer]

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Boots Radical

If you're yet to check out Sectordub's charming and hilarious indie hit Pikuniku then you might be pleased to hear that it is currently available on PC, free-of-charge, via the Epic Games Store.

Originally released by Devolver Digital in January 2019, Pikuniku sees players guide an odd-looking armless fella - "Piku" - through a simplistic and colourful world, solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles with the aid of some lateral thinking and a swift kick in the backside. A co-operative multiplayer mode sees a friend step into the gangly legs of Piku's orange pal, Niku, with the duo using the teamwork to pick/kick their way through the game world.

Pikuniku re?ceived praise from both critics and fans for its lovable and amusing characters, quirky visual style, silly sense of humour and low-intensity gameplay. It's a short ride, but a cheerful one definitely wort?h taking, especially at the generous price of nothing.

Pikuniku is available now on PC and Nintendo Switch.

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Be the fingerer, not the fingeree

[Update: It's now sold out! Ya gotta win it now, y'a??ll!}

In today's contest you can win a Switch copy of Freedom Finger from Super Rare Games!

I fingered this game long ago in my now-dormant (but possibly ready to blow) weird games showcase, Getting Weird with Wes. And guess what, snitches?! It's back!

Super Rare Games did what no other company had the balls fingers to do and put Freedom Finger on a physical?? Switch cartridge. So we're giving it away, because? no one fingers like Destructoid!

Freedom Finger is a unique shmup where you pilot a giant hand through space, capable of fisting,?? fingering, and flicking those enemies away! Give those enemies a good, tight clench and use them as shields, or utilize their weapons against their enemies.? Show those jerks who's boss by jerkin' them around in this moderately inappropriate title featuring the voice talents of Nolan North, John DiMaggio, Eric Bauza, and Sam Riegel.

And gue?ss what else? Drab Majesty is on this soundtrack! I LOVE those guys, thanks to our very own Occams.

Super Rare Games' limited release of Freedom Finger comes with ?the usual SRG trappings, including:

• Fully assembled Nintendo Switch game with cartridge
• Interior art
• Full-colour manual
• Exclusive sticker
• 3 card trading card pack

Use the widget below to enter for your chance to wrap your phalanges around this super limited release. Finger that widget quickly though -- they're down to 10% st??ock at time of writing, so they're going fast!

We have one physical Switch copy of the game to give away; our winner will be drawn next Thursday. As this is shipping from SRG, anyone can win! No shipping restrictions exist on this one, so bring it on, Bulgaria. Be sure to hit up Nintendo Enthusiast to double your odds at winning.

Freedom Finger is available now from the master finger blasters at Super Rare Games.

Dtoid Contest: Win Freed?om Finge??r on Switch from Super Rare Games

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Pokemon Go

In de??lightfully weird news from Japan, Nintendo - along with Creatures Inc. and Game Freak - have applied for several new trademarks relating to the design and realisation of Pi!car!, whi?ch appears to be an environmentally sound, Pikachu-themed motor vehicle.

The new trademarks are for the "Pi!car!" name in both Japanese ?and English, as well as two cutesy visual designs based around Pokemon's lead critter (which you can see in the gallery below). The three trademarks fall? under the categories of "Vehicle" and "Education," but none of them appear tied to the development of any video games.

As reported by Japanese Nintendo, the Pi!car! project is a joint venture between The Pokemon Company and car manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation, seemingly wi??th the goal of producing a compact, petrol-free vehicle with a Pikachu theme. Whether this idea is to be realised as a mere concept car, or will actually made available to the public, remains to be seen...

...But boy howdy, do I w??anna see people driving Pikachu cars in? my neighbourhood.

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Take-a Bell

Developer House House - in collaboration with iam8bit and Skybound Games - has announced that a physical edition of 2019 hit Untitled Goose Game will be waddling onto PS4 and Nintendo Switch S??eptember? 29.

Untitled Goose Game will be made available in stores in standard retail format, but fans might want to visit the iam8bit store and bag the "Lovely Edition". This set features a beautiful hand-drawn map of the village, a "No Goose" sticker, and a 24-page faux-catalogue of the many items Goose intends to get beaky with. Best of all, this version features 100% recyclable packaging and non-toxic ink. The Lovely Edition is available to pre-order now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Finally, Dan Goulding's charming piano-based score - an adaptation of Claude Debussy’s Préludes - will also be released on "double groove" vinyl. Made from recycled materials, each disc will be a randomised colour, with a portion of each sale being donated to the Carbon Fund. Shipping later this year, you can pre-order the OST now for around $40 at the iam8bit store.

Untitled Goose Game is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox On??e, and Nintendo Switch.

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'Hi everybody!'

Anyone itching to get elbows-deep in viscera once again has only a scant month to wait. Bossa Studios' has announced that the disgustingly delightful Surgeon Simulator will be making its Grand-Guignol return on August 27, lau??nching on PC?? via Epic Games Store.

Surgeon Simulator 2 features all of the blood-soaked carnage that made ??the original 2013 release a huge indie smash, while adding a huge selection of new features including a deeper, fully-redesigned story mode, four-player co-op support (jeez, I can't even imagine), and new surgeries, tools, and puzzles with which to earn your next medical malpractice lawsuit.

Of particular note is the workshop-style "Creation Mode", which will offer budding Dr. Nicks and their pals the opportunity to cre?ate and share homegrown scenarios, sets, challenges, and physics-based mini-games. This goes beyond the realms of the operating table, as emphasised in the trailer above, which shows off a disco, a basketball court, and even a bowling alley. Curiouser and curiouser.

Surgeon Simulator 2 launches on PC via Epic Games Store August 27. Customers who pre-order the title will gain?? access to a closed beta, scheduled to run August 7-9.

Surgeon Simulator 2 is out at the end of August [Eurogamer]

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The Hero We Needed

The Future's Future is fucking ghost.

Dur??ing today's Devolver Direct presentation, PR Queen Nina Struthers regained control of the universe as we know it, throwing off the shackle??s of marketing madwoman "Linda" and finally putting an end to the consumer-consuming concept of The Future's Future.

In a star-studded presentation that included SIE's Shuhei Yoshida, Xbox's Phil Spencer, Geoff Keighley, FGC megastar SonicFox, Geralt of Rivia's bathtub, and My Uncle who Works at Nintendo, Devolver delivered what could be the climactic chapter of its arc of chaotic summer presentations. The conspiracy-filled storyline saw the indie publisher's head honchos finally rise up against the hype-hungry Linda, ultimately freeing Nina Struthers and allowing her to regain control of not just The Future's Future... but The Future.

I absolutely loved it. Great work all-round by the entire crew, especially given the production difficulties, (caused by the COVID-19 pandemic), that led to the presentation's initial delay. Oh, and shout-outs to the lil' Quantum Leap handheld device. I miss Ziggy.

Oh yeah, Devolver also showed off some vid?eo games. You can read all about them below:

• It's blood, blood (gallons of the stuff) in Shadow Warrior 3's first gameplay trailer

• Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout barges onto PS4 and PC August 4

• Now this picture of Phil Spencer and a? demon monster will show up in Google Images

• Carrion will leave a trail of blood across ??Switch, Xbox and PC on July 23

• It's no information and all trailer? in the newest Serious Sam 4 update

• Harpoon-based action game O??lija coming later this year to Switch and?? PC

• Exper??ience the nightm??are world of E3 in DevolverLand Expo

• Yes, that was a brief glimpse of No More Heroes 3 you saw in the stream credits

The post The Future’s Future was cancelled at today’s Devolver Direct appeared first on Destructoid.

Available on PC right now

Devolver Digital rounded off its wild Devolver Direct presentation with a goofy new game, satirising the marketing migraine that is the E3 experience. DevolverLand Expo is availab?le to play, free of charge, right now on PC via Steam.

Seemingly a psychedelic-nightmare-come-first-person-shooter, DevolverLand Expo lets you experience the perils and pitfalls of the E3 experience without the massive crowds, empty cans of energy drinks, and plethora of Drake's Cakes. So if you fancy Checking Another Look at some of the titles that appeared in this afternoon's presentation, head over to Steam and download DevolverLand Expo now.

Devolverland Expo is a first-person 'marketing simulator' set within an abandoned co??nvention center after the annual Devolver Digital game expo was mysteriously?? canceled.

Play the future’s future of video game marketing for free on @Steam!//t.co/xUpYs1CSnB pic.twitter.com/rXY4g48bQe

— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) July 11, 2020

The post Experience the n???????????????????????????ightmare world of E3 in DevolverLand Expo appeared first on Destructoid.

You'll never guess who it is...

Sega has released a third entry in its new series of "Sega Shiro" commercials, introducing fans worldwide to the new face of the Sega brand. When last we saw our retro-lovin' hero, he had been confronted in the schoolyard by the mysterious "Sega Hatan Shiro", who had arrived o?n Earth with the intention of destroying Sega itself.

In the two-m??inute epic, Sega Shiro attempts to fight off Sega Hatan Shiro, but the masked man is simply too powerful. It seems all the Master System 3D Glasses in the world wouldn't be e?nough to stop this guy. Undaunted, and with the power of a million unsold 32X units coursing through his veins, Sega Shiro tightens his Karate gi and successfully defeats Sega Hatan Shiro, knocking off his mysterious opponent's mask in the process.

In a shock (not really) twist, it is revealed that Sega Hatan Shiro was Segata Sanshiro all along. Segata stoically reveals that he had to return to Earth to be sure his son was both worthy and strong enough to protect the Sega name. Now fully convinced that the legendary brand is in good hands?, Segata asks his son to "fling him away," ?which he does, careening his father straight into outer space and right into Saturn - see what they did there?

Shiro then wakes up in his classroom, surrounded by his giggling ?pals. It looks like it was all a dream...

...OR WAS IT?

Despite the slight story, I really enjoyed this little trilogy. It's funny and wistful, and the fact that young actor Maito Fujioka is the actual son of Sega Segata performer Hiroshi Fujioka lends all the goofy actio??n a genuine air of sweetness and melancholy. Here's hoping we see more adventures from Sega's new protector in the future.

Sega Shiro video r??eveals enemy Sega Hatan Shiro's true identity [Gematsu]

The post B?ehol?d the cataclysmic confrontation of Sega Shiro and Sega Hatan Shiro appeared first on Destructoid.

Just the perfect blendship

NetherRealm Studios has released Aftermath, the new expansion to its bloodthirsty fighter Mortal Kombat 11. The paid DLC sees the arrival of three new characters - RoboCop, Fujin, and Sheeva - along with a five-chapter epilogue. Arriving alongside Aftermath is a new update - fre?e to all players? - adding several new stages, stage fatalities, some character tweaks, and the subject of this very article: Friendships.

Friendships - which made their debut back in 1993's Mortal Kombat II - are alternate finishing moves which substitute the blood and gore for a joyous or happy conclusion. They were originally added as a tongue-in-cheek jab at the huge governmental backlash the original Mortal Kombat received on launch, similar in tone to the Marge Simpson-approved Itchy & Scratchy episode, "Porch Pals." But Friendships took off, the fanbase loved them, and they returned in Mortal Kombat 3, now embedded in MK kulture.

Finally, after a long sabbatical, these fun finishers have returned to Mortal Kombat, and not a moment too soon. So enough of my wafflin'. Here are the inputs for every Friendship in MK 11. From Jax's epic sax solo and Liu Kang's klassic disco groove, to Sindel's tipsy wine mom shtick and Kitana'??s family reunion??.

Now get out there and b??e good to your fellow kombatant.

All inputs are for characters facing right. All inputs are mid-screen. Friendships can be performed at the end of any standard fight. However, in a Kompetitive Match, the player must win the final round witho?ut blocking in order to perform?? Friendship.

Klassic Mortal Kombat numeration is utilised below:
1 = Square/X
2 = Triangle/Y
3 = Cross/A
4 = Circle/B

Baraka:
Nailed It: Back, Forward, Down, Down, 1

Cassie Cage:
??Feeling Cute, Might Delete La?ter: Back, Forward, Down, Down, 1

Cetrion:
Serenity: Down, Down, Down, Down, 1

D'Vorah:
I Feel Pretty: Back, Forward, Down, Back, 2

Erron Black:
What the Duck?: Back, Forward, Down, Forward, 3

Frost:
Frostcapades: Forward, Back, Forward, Back, 3

Fujin:
Let's Go Fly a Kite: Back, Down, Back, Down, 2

Geras:
Beach Party: Back, Down, Back, Down, 4

Jacqui Briggs:
Wibbly Wobly Kronibop: Down, Down, Down, Down, 2

Jade:
I Want Kandy: Back, Down, Down, Down, 2

Jax:
Sexy Jax-A-Phone: Forward, Back, Down, Down, 2

Johnny Cage:
Dub Dub WB: Back, Forward, Back, Down, 2

Joker:
Come On Bats: Down, Down, Down, Down, 3

Kabal:
Bop It: Forward, Down, Back, Down, 1

Kano:
Kiss the Cook: Back, forward, Back, Forward, 2

Kitana:
Do You Want to Build a Shao Kahn?: Back, Down, Down?, Back, 3

Kollector:
One Man Band: Forward, Back, Down, Down, 2

Kotal Kahn:
G.T.L.: Down, Forward, Down, Back, 3

Kung Lao:
Kung-Ductor: Back, Forward, Back, Forward, 4

Liu Kang:
Shaolin Hustle: Forward, Down, Down, Forward, 2

Nightwolf:
Matokan Sideshow: Forward, Back, Forward, Down, 1

Noob Saibot:
Me and My Shadow: Down, Back, Down, Forward, 3

Raiden:
Earthreal?m's Got Talent: Down, Back, Forward, Down, 4

RoboCop:
Breakin' It Down: Back, Down, Forward, Down, 4

Scorpion:
Teddy-Ality: Forward, Back, Forward, Back, 4

Shang Tsung:
Rainbow Connection: Back, Back, Down, Forward, 4

Shao Kahn:
Winner, ?Winner, Outworld Dinner: Down??, Forward Down, Forward, 2

Sheeva:
Krystal Klear: Forward, Back, Down, Down, 1

Sindel:
Sweet Serenade: Back, Down, Down, Up, 3

Skarlet:
Masterpiece: Down, Down, Down, Down, 1

Sonya Blade:
Fetch, Good Drone: Down, Forward, Down, Down, 1

Spawn:
Hellish Desires: Back, Down, Forward, Down, 1

Sub-Zero:
Frosty Treats: Down, Down, Forward, Back, 1

Terminator:
Stuntman: Back, Down, Back, Down, 3

Mortal Kombat 11 is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

The post How to perform Friendship in Mortal Kombat 11 appeared first on Destructoid.

Funny Gaming Montage #2

That's right; we're back for round two! Instead of throwing fist bombs like we're right out of Punch-Out, we're throwing comedy...bombs? Screw it, here's another weekly video montage of dumb shit that ??makes us laug??h. Enjoy!

Hopefully, this is still bringing a smile to your day. If you have a funny clip you want to submit for future episodes, drop us an email at: submissions@enthusiastgaming.com

_{[??Note: All clips featured a?re with permission and credited in the video and on the YouTube description.]}

The post Animal Crossing funny moments and more! appeared first on Destructoid.

Remember the Sega Mega Drive klassic?

NetherRealm Studios continues to build hype toward Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, the paid DLC expansion launching for its gory fighting game next week. This newest trailer is a true clash of titans, as time-hopping cyborg assassin The Ter?minator takes on The Future of Law Enforcement, RoboCop.

The violent showdown is sure to stoke the nostalgia flames of older fans, who may remember Frank Miller's classic comic book series and subsequent tie-in video games of the early-'90s. Of course, it's the new boy who comes out on top in this particular encounter, thanks to a little help from ev??eryone's favourite model-city ruiner, ED-209.

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath launches on all platforms May 26, bringing with it an expanded story mode and three new kombatants: RoboCop, Fujin, and Sheeva. A free update - released the same day for all players - will add three new stages, stage fatalities, and Friendships to the mix.

Finally, at 13:00 PT / 16:00 ET today, NRS will broadcast a socially-distanced edition of its Kombat Kast stream, which will take a closer look at wind god Fujin. More importantly, a "meta-changing" mechanic will be revealed, hopefully one which improves MK 11's moment-to-moment gameplay. Please do something with Breakway, or Fatal Blow, ah'm beggin' ya.

Mortal Kombat 11 is available now on PS4, PC, Xb??ox One, and Nintendo Switch.

The post RoboCop vs. Termina??tor returns in latest Mortal Kombat: Aftermath trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

He's like the wind

NetherRealm Studios has released a short introductory trailer for Fujin, one of the three kombatants headed to Mortal Kombat 11 next week as part of its paid DLC expansion Aftermath.

Fujin made his series debut in 1997's awful platform adventure Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, where the wind god appeared as a then-unnamed boss character. The newly re-christened Fujin would then make his playable debut several months later, joining the roster for 3D fighter Mortal Kombat 4.

Fujin has since made his presence felt throughout the franchise, becoming a regular kombatant during the 3D era and making sporadic cameos in more recent entries. Aftermath will be Fujin's first playable appearance since 2006's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon and - as we can see from the b?rief trailer below - having control of the winds will prove handy in offering the warrior high mobility a?nd huge juggle potential.

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath arrives as a paid expansion on May 26, alongside a free update that will add three new stages, stage fatalities and Friendships to the base game. Mortal Kombat 11 is available n?ow ??on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Johnny Cage knows a great warrior when h??e sees one.

Meet Fujin. #MKAftermath pic.twitter.com/JlhQZCWHFq

— Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath (@MortalKombat) May 19, 2020

The post Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath’s Fujin breezes in like he owns the place appeared first on Destructoid.

And Sindel appreciates a fine Cabernet

NetherRealm Studios has released a fun trailer giving fans a peek at the range of "Friendships" headed to Mortal Kombat 11 at the end of May. The cute video features good times being had by the entire kast, and also includes a k??ameo from a beloved kombatant.

Among the goofy shenanigans featured in the montage are Sub Zero selling ice-cream, Jade playing pinata, and Arnie doing some sweet motorbike stunts. Long time fans will also enjoy the return of Liu Kang's disco dance, and an appearance from Raiden's long-forgotten protege, Kidd Thunder! But perhaps the best surprise sees Kitana playing "patty-cake" with her meddlesome sister Mileena, the single most ardently requested MK kharacter.

The who?le shebang is backed by Smash Mouth's cover of WAR's 1975 classic "Why Can't We Be Friends?", perhaps best known to younglings a??s Homer Simpson's entry music during his boxing endeavors. Showing off the Friendships is a little spoilery, but here they are if you want a sneak preview.

Friendships will arrive as part of a free update for Mortal Kombat 11 on May 28. The same day, Mortal Kombat: Aftermath will launch on all formats. This pai??d expansion adds three new kharacters (Sheeva, Fujin, and RoboCop) along with an extended story mode and a selection of klassic skins?.

Regarding Mileena, (who was my MK X main and I loved playing as), I think fans online are beyond jumping the gun by saying that this kameo "proves they've made a model and she's coming to MK 11." But I do think NRS would be nutso not to capitalise on the demand? for Outworld's favourite daughter.

Mortal Kombat 11 is available no??w on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Look who makes a kameo in the Mortal Kombat: Aftermath ‘Friendships’ trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

Watch out for gophers

Triband's great "Golf game for people who hate golf" - What the Golf? - is finally ready to tee off o?n Nintendo Switch. The loopy links will be available to download from the Nintendo eShop on May 21, priced at around $20.

Originally released on PC and Apple Arcade in September of 2019, What the Golf? is a silly and cartoonish take on the sport beloved by rich folk, '90s business guys, and irresponsible world leaders. Completely absurdist by design, What the Golf? tasks players with completing a series of barely-golfing-related courses, such as throwing a carpet down a bowling alley, helping a strongman pick up his weights, or sniping people atop a?? skyscraper, all made possible by the game's bizarre physics and (frightening) imagination. Wanna drive a car on the green? Go for it! Maybe take a horse diving instead? Sure!

An all-new Party Mode will feature all your favourite characters, like "Burger Bird" and "Toaster," and will allow two players to tackle courses simultaneously, which sounds like a recipe for disaster. The Nintendo Switch port has been optimised for the hybrid console, integrating its touch-screen and gyro controls. If you're dying to play a golf game that has as little do ??with golf as is humanly possible, then be sure to give this ridiculous title a look when it arrives late next week.

What the Golf? launches on Nintendo Switch May 21. It is available now on PC and Apple? Arcade.

The post The bizarre What the Golf? tees off on ??Nintendo Switch May ?21 appeared first on Destructoid.

'It's a Sega!'

Are you ready for the second exciting installment of the Sega Shiro story? Well, too bad because here it is. In this episode, we see the son of former Sega mascot Segata Sanshiro educating his classmates on the histo?ry of rad Sega products, including 1990's Game Gear, 1987's Master System 3D Glasses and, of course, 1995's Sega Saturn.

Things take a dark turn when we learn of the fate of his stoic father, apparently killed defending the planet from a nuclear missile. Having donned the Gi of the brand's former protector,? it is now up to young Sega Shiro to defend the Sega name. But who is the mysterious, mask-wearing "Sega Hatan Shiro??" who stands in his way?

There's a lot of fun stuff here. I loved seeing the 3D Glasses again, and there's some nice continuity from older commercials. My favourite bit is the gal mistaking the Game Gear for a Nintendo Switch. Thanks to a translation from Gematsu, we've discovered that "Ha?tan" means "Bankruptcy" in Japanese, so? looks like this masked stranger is bad news for our boy and his favourite publisher.

BUT WHO COULD IT BE? WHO?!

Sega Shiro video reveals secret past [Gematsu]

The post No, that’s not a Switch Sega Shiro is holding appeared first on Destructoid.

Shipping and handling included

Totally Reliable Delivery Service is one of those names that should be in scare quotes -- or at least half of it should. "Totally Reliable" Delivery Service is more accurate because hahaha nothing about this clumsy-ass bea??r is reliable at?? all.

There's a new contender in the ridiculous physics mayhem genre. Totally Reliable Delivery Service is all about getting a package from Point A to Point B and watching everything go off the rails in between. It's the open-world irreverence of Goat Simulator combined with the ragdoll awkwardness of Human: Fall Flat. Invo?king those t??wo names might mean it's destined for YouTube stardom.

You, however, aren't restricted to only watching. There are some pretty good options for playing Totally Reliable Delivery Service for free. For starters, it launched as free on the Epic Games Store through April 8; it's a forever-type deal too, not just for a limited time. It's also available as part of Xbox Game Pass. Lastly, the iOS and Android versions are also both free.

For anyone who doesn't have the means to get Totally Reliable Delivery Service for free (or who just wants to play elsewh?ere), it's on all the consoles too. T??he PS4, Switch, and Xbox One versions are all $15.

Totally Reliable Delivery Service [Epic Games Store]

The post Totally Reliable Delivery Service is like a Goat Simulator + Human: Fall Flat combo, and it’s free on Epic appeared first on Destructoid.

Let the fish puns commence

Following positive public feedback, Bossa Studios - creator of quirky titles such as Surgeon Simulator and I Am Bread - has announced its intentions to develop prototype title I Am Fish into a full game.

I Am Fish, like I Am Bread before it, is a meticulously controlled physics-based affair in which players must guide the titular trout (it's not a trout) from its domesticated bowl back to the ocean, using Marble Madness-style mechanics and smart, ad?aptive pathfinding to safely negotiate the environment. Should the bowl break, or the fish otherwise end up outta water, then the course is reset. The video below will quickly get you up to speed.

"What separated I Am Fish from its companions was the passion players had for their little fish’s journey and their enthusiasm about what a full game could be," said Bossa Studios co-founder Imre Jela of the fans'? enthusiasm. "We loved seeing all the clever tricks people used to complete the levels in ways we didn’t expect and we were swept away by all the tales of pain and joy that happened along the way."

As Bossa is currently beavering away at Surgeon Simulator 2, I Am Fish isn't expected to launch until sometime in 2021. But for now, the prototype can still be downloaded from the studio's official website.

The post I Am Fish prototype to be expan???????????????????????????ded into a full game in 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.

One more for the road (to Hell)

Switch owners will soon have the opportunity to get blammo in the underworld, as Night School Studios' acerbic adventure game Afterparty comes staggering onto the Ninte??ndo platform later this week.

Released on PS4, PC, and Xbox One back in October, Afterparty is the story of two friends, Lola and Milo, who find a fun night out interrupted by an unfortunate bout of de??ath. Now awaiting registration in the bowels of hell, our world-weary young heroes discover that they can actually escape their grim fate and get back above ground, but only provided they can out-drink the underworld's most notorious party animal: Satan.

Thus begins what is essentially one long night of bar-hopping, slurred conversation, cocktail-mixing, mini-game mastering and, surprisingly, a helluva lot of self-reflection. Afterparty is a very dialogue-hea??vy title, with almost persistent conversation as Milo and Lola meet the inhabitants of Hell, while in??trospectively wondering what led them to be consigned to the room downstairs in the first place.

I personally found Afterparty a mostly positive experience, featuring excellent performances, varying humour, and some smart and stylish ideas. The PS4 port initially suffered some gnarly technical issues, which hopefully won't be at play here in the Switch port. You can check out my full review right here.

Afterparty is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One and launches on Nintendo Switch March? 6.

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