Kaser Focus: Gamescom; bogus bids; again to highschool

Most weeks, I solely have one or two issues about which to vomit my opinion in this column. But hell, loads went down this week, so that you’re all getting one thing above your quota, as a result of it’s Friday and Mike and Dean have their backs turned.

We’ll begin out with Gamescom, since that took up the majority of the week. It’s been a rush of some fascinating titles, with my favourite being the charmingly gothic Lies of P. The “biggest” announcement, arguably, is the reveal that Dead Island 2 is actual and really popping out. I’m ambivalent about this — frankly, the sport was extra amusing as a ghost than the true factor. But it’s additionally good to definitively tick the field on such a legendary piece of vaporware. Also it isn’t Gamescom a lot as Gamescom-adjacent, however I loved the sneak peek at Harvestella, which could simply be my new cozy recreation.

Meanwhile, Sony’s upping the worth of the PlayStation 5 in a number of markets — prefer it wasn’t already onerous sufficient to put palms on them, what with all of the scalpers and resellers doing the identical factor. I’m of the opinion that Sony wouldn’t do that except it was in dire straits, as a result of the backlash simply wouldn’t be value it in any other case. I don’t approve, however I do see it as Sony flinging themselves on the upright sword, because it have been. If something, this information is making me eyeball Microsoft and Nintendo — who’ve each publicly acknowledged they aren’t elevating their console costs — and say, “. . . yet.”

And now, a brief interlude…

Just to clear my conscience, I’ll inform you all that, just like Fire Emblem Warriors, there’s one other recreation on my evaluation slate that I spent too lengthy taking part in and forgot I needed to truly sit down and evaluation: Two-Point Campus. I promise this isn’t going to grow to be a factor. But at this level, it makes extra sense to speak about it right here than to offer it a full-on evaluation — largely as a result of it’s onerous for me to think about something to say that doesn’t additionally apply to Two-Point Hospital. That’s not a diss, by the best way. Were I to offer the sport a rating, it’d be a strong 3.5 out of 5. It’s a good sim recreation with a particular, foolish fashion.

One strong improve to the sequel is the summer season break. So a lot of Two-Point’s modus operandi is the Tetris-like room preparations, however Campus provides customers the prospect to take summers, when the scholars filter, to rearrange issues to their coronary heart’s content material. Campus’s humor is far the identical as Hospital’s — largely innocent, however with somewhat chunk of satire behind it. Whether greater training is as worthy of derision because the for-profit healthcare trade, I depart for the person participant to determine — I don’t discover it fairly as entertaining, however these items are subjective. This opinion may additionally be coloured by the truth that the little B-grade pillbugs in my college stored getting hung up on factors in empty hallways as a result of their pathing failed.

Back to your present

I used to be initially going to finish the article with that mini-review, however after this morning, I really feel the necessity to touch upon the now-debunked story about Amazon placing in a suggestion for Electronic Arts. The supposed acquisition was as a result of be introduced in the present day, however it’s virtually the weekend now and *crickets*. I’m undecided what it says concerning the present local weather that this story sounds believable — properly, nearly. I nonetheless put Embracer down as extra possible than Amazon.

In private information, I purchased Saints Row and am presently taking part in it. I’m undecided whether or not or not I’ll evaluation it, however I’ve to see whether or not or not the detrimental (and sometimes optimistic) chatter I’ve heard is justified. Also, I’ve an excessive amount of historical past with the collection to not play the brand new title. If nothing else, I’ll simply rant about it right here if I really feel the necessity to vent my spleen a bit. I might additionally wish to as soon as once more remind everybody that the Wii U and 3DS eShops will shortly lower off entry to eShop playing cards — which means after August 29, there’s no means so as to add cash to your accounts. If nothing else, at the least deal with yourselves to Bravely Default. That was a beautiful recreation.

What to play this week:

What’s new:

• Saints Row
• Midnight Fight Express
• F1 Manager 2022
• Fallen Legion Revenants
• Islets
• SD Gundam Battle Alliance
• Soul Hackers 2
• Are You Smarter Than a fifth Grader?
• I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
• Train Life: A Railway Simulator
• The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation

New on subscription companies:

• Exapunks (Xbox Game Pass)
• Opus: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition (Xbox Game Pass)
• Destiny 2 (GeForce Now)
• Guild Wars 2 (GeForce Now)
• Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 (GeForce Now)
• Century: Age of Ashes (GeForce Now)
• Coromon (GeForce Now)
• Dark Deity (GeForce Now)
• Hypercharge: Unboxed (GeForce Now)
• Last Call BBS (GeForce Now)
• Plague Inc: Evolved (GeForce Now)
• Rebel Inc: Escalation (GeForce Now)
• Love You to Bits+ (Apple Arcade)