Do you ever turn on the news and feel like you’re living in some sort of post-apocalyptic hellscape? Does it seem like humans have gone completely nuts? Maybe they’ve just been replaced by horribly malfunctioning robots.
In the upcoming Speaking Simulator game, you play a robot who’s trying to manipulate his artificial tongue and lips so he can fit in with humans. And if you feel like never sleeping again, you can watch this trailer to see what that looks like.
What are your first impressions of this game other than the need to kill it with fire?
To play the game, you’ll use your mouse to control the robot’s lips while the keyboard controls the tongue. As long as you play it correctly, the humans in the game will have no idea about your true identity. Screw up and your eyes and ears will pop out of your face.
SETTING UP TWITTER FOR REAL HUMAN CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL BE ENJOYABLE AND STIMULATING FOR MY PHYSICAL FLESH BRAIN. pic.twitter.com/um5Hu2bEfc
We can give Affable Games some points for originality, but then we need to deduct all the points because this is liquid nightmare fuel being mainlined into our cerebellums.
If you feel like playing this nightmare, you’ll get your shot early next summer. May God have mercy on our souls.
Your old shoebox of NES games could hold a fortune? Check our list to see if you’ve got a rare gem.
So, you’ve got some cash to burn? You could spend it on the classic luxury items: nice champagne, a new car, gold jewelry… or an NES cartridge. Surprisingly enough, these relics of a bygone era can cost a pretty penny, with some examples running into the tens of thousands of dollars. If an NES cartridge is more your idea of high luxury than bespoke suits, read on.
A sequel to the original Bubble Bobble, the second game in the series was produced for both NES and Gameboy. As they were developed entirely separately from each other, the NES and Gameboy versions have totally different plots and gameplay elements. The NES version, in particular, has become something of a collector’s item and has sold for up to $600.
9. Bonk’s Adventure
Bonk’s Adventure Cover
Bonk’s Adventure is the first game in the long-running Bonk series. Originally released in 1989, the latest iteration was a Wii U port released in 2016. Bonk, the title character, is an iconically bald infant caveman battling against hordes of dinosaurs. Though you can still play the game on the Wii U, the original cartridge for the NES is quite a bit rarer, and will set you back $850.
8. Power Blade 2
Power Blade 2 Cover
Released in 1992, Power Blade 2 is an ode to retro sci-fi in the vein of Terminator and Demolition Man. It follows a suitably burly action hero employed by the U.S. Department of Defense as he fights to destroy a prototype android that has fallen into the hands of an evil organization. If this sounds like the game for you, get your checkbook ready: the cartridge has been known to sell for around $1,000.
If you don’t feel like spending a grandon Power Blade, why not go for a classic? Back in 1993, Nintendo held a weekend competition to promote the release of the new StarFox game. Held at around 2,000 locations around the United States on the last weekend of April, the cartridge was given out as a reward for competitors, and is one of the actual cartridges used during the event. Originally listed at $45 dollars back in 1993, this competition cartridge now goes for $1,000.
6. The Jetsons: Cogswell’s Caper
The Jetsons: Cogswell’s Caper Cover
A Jetsons tie-in game, Cogswell’s Caper was well received, with a 73% rating in EGM’s January 1993 issue. This didn’t translate to physical sales, however, and the game did poorly at launch. The game itself is known for its high difficulty, and will certainly provide a challenge to any who can get their hands on a cartridge. Cartridges alone will sell for $1200, but gamers with an in-box cartridge could net an even higher price.
5. The Flintstones: The Surprise at Dinosaur Peak!
The Flintstones: The Surprise at Dinosaur Peak Cover
A Flintstones tie-in game, this 1994 title is exceedingly rare. No copies were ever released to stores for purchase. If you wanted to get your hands on a copy, you had to rent it from the now-extinct rental giant Blockbuster. After Blockbuster fell to the sands of time, copies began circulating online for purchase… but because they’re so rare, you should expect to shell out a pretty penny: a copy will cost you at least $1200.
Everything we know so far about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Like the Star Fox cartridge above, this version of Donkey Kong Country was a competition exclusive. Similar to the standard game, this cartridge originally saw use in the 1994 Nintendo PowerFest competition. It was later used again for the Blockbuster World Video Game Championship. This Blockbuster-era relic can still be found, but Donkey Kong fans should be prepared to drop some serious cash for a copy. Most run somewhere in the $2000 range, but some copies have climbed as high as $3000.
3. Little Samson
Little Samson Cover
Little Samson was a Megaman clone from industry giant Taito. Despite being well received, it was doomed for a short shelf life. It originally hit shelves in 1992 during the waning days of the NES’s popularity. Gamers were moving on to the shiny new SNES, and as a result, Little Samson didn’t sell well. Few copies were made as a result of lack of sales, but Taito’s business blunder could be worth a pretty penny to some. Original, in-box copies will sell for $3,000 or more.
2. Nintendo World Championships Cartridge (1990)
Nintendo World Championships 1990 Cover
This deceptively plain-looking cover graces what is, in reality, a Holy Grail of NES games. The 1990 Nintendo World Championships cartridge housed tie trials of some of the era’s most popular games, from Super Mario Bros. to Tetris. Only 26 copies were ever made, and were only available via a contest in Nintendo Power magazine. If you were one of the lucky few to net yourself a cartridge, you can take that right to the bank. Cartridges have sold for a shocking $30,000 to the right buyer.
1. Stadium Events
Stadium Events Cover
Stadium Events is easily one of the most collectible NES games of all time. Originally sold with a floor pad periphery known as the “Bandai Family Fun Fitness” pad, the game was recalled shortly after launch to rebrand the pad as the much-snappier sounding “Power Pad.” Because of this recall, it’s the crown jewel of collectors everywhere. Loose, the copy can sell for $10,000. In its box, it’ll climb to $20,000. Don’t blink, though… last year, a mint condition, sealed-in-box cartridge sold at auction for a jaw-dropping $41,977 dollars. That’s a pretty penny for a manufacturer’s mistake!
Got old NES cartridges collecting dust in the attic? It might be time to take a closer look at them. They might be worth a fair bit more than you think. Who needs luxury items when you’ve got video games?
Fallout 76 has a genius way to deal with in-game jerks.
Griefing. Griefing never changes.
Since the dawn of man, there have always been people who get their kicks out of ruining games for others. Today, things are no different. Griefers run amok in basically every popular online game. They’ll burn down your painstakingly built house in Minecraft, feed the enemy team in League of Legends, and shoot the ball into their own goal in Rocket League. They’re annoying and can ruin the game for people who want to play the way the developers designed.
In Fallout 76, Bethesda’s first foray into multiplayer for the Fallout franchise, steps have already been taken to discourage griefing. In a post-post-apocalyptic world filled with super mutants and raiders, the last thing you want to worry about is some angry 12-year-old troll.
At QuakeCon 2018, Fallout 76 game director Todd Howard discussed how the game was balancing PVP combat with griefing. He described how he wanted there to be some element of danger coming from other players because it fits the theme and world of Fallout. However, the game isn’t designed for players to just massacre each other on sight, a la DayZ.
If a player attacks you out of nowhere, the damage is severely reduced. Howard compares this initial reduced attack to lightly slapping a stranger in a bar to see if they want to fight (an action we HIGHLY recommend you don’t do in real life). If the player who was attacked accepts the fight, then both players will start dealing full damage to each other.
Even though unprovoked attacks do reduced damage, they are still able to kill players. A player who kills another in this way doesn’t gain any experience points or caps from their corpse. The attacking player is then labeled as a “Wanted Murderer.” This player is then marked on the map with a large bounty on their head, alerting every player in the vicinity.
No weapons or armor are lost upon death, though you do lose any collected crafting materials. If you truly do not want to join in the PVP experience you can turn it off entirely. Additionally, if a player keeps following you and harassing you, there are built-in options to block or ignore them.
Griefers, raiders, and everyone in between can join the battle when the Fallout 76 beta releases on October 23 on Xbox One. PC and PS4 players can join in a week later on October 29.
RDR2 looks insane. Take a closer look at what we know now.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is around the corner. Due to release on October 26, Rockstar is still revealing a steady stream of new details about the game. Early Monday, a new gameplay trailer was released showcasing more of the game world and the revamped combat system. Check out the trailer below, and read on to find out more about the game’s first-person mode and heists.
Revamped Combat
Arthur on horseback
This gameplay trailer is mostly showcasing the game’s new combat systems. From the very first moment, we see Arthur engaging in a fistfight on board a moving train before jumping onto the roof of a boxcar. The traversal and situational hand-to-hand here looks very reminiscent of the Uncharted series. Rockstar has been teasing a new hand-to-hand system in previous trailers, and though we haven’t gotten technical details of how this will play, it seems that Arthur has a lot more moves at his disposal than John Marston.
Gunplay has also been revamped. It seems certain at this point that Rockstar is porting over the firearm mechanics from Max Payne 3. Notably, we see Arthur dual wielding, first with a pair of pistols, and then with a six-shooter in one hand and a sawed-off shotgun in the other. Just as in Max Payne 3, it seems players will be able to mix and match one-handed firearms in various dual-wielding combos. Two pistols, two shotguns, one of each… the choice is up to you. Also as in Max Payne, Arthur will only be able to carry one long gun at a time, such as a full-length rifle or shotgun.
The Dead Eye system is also getting an upgrade, again seemingly taking cues from Max Payne. It seems more fluid than in the first game, and will now highlight enemy’s critical points. Hearts, brains, and organs are all highlighted in red when the world slows down for Dead Eye. It’ll be even easier to pick targets with the new First Person mode, a feature carried over from GTA V. With the new feature, you’ll be able to see and experience the world quite literally through Arthur’s eyes.
Everything we learned from the Red Dead 2 gameplay trailer
Some familiar activities are returning from the first Red Dead: gambling is back with card games like Poker and Five Finger Filet. You’ll also be able to hold up stores, wagons, and passers-by. They’re old standards that have been made much richer by the game’s revamped interaction system. Will you talk your way into money? Pull your gun? Shoot your target? It’s entirely up to the player how to handle any given situation.
However, this new trailer confirms that heists will be coming to Red Dead. The crowning jewel of GTA 5, players will be able to rob everything from banks to trains in grand robberies with your fellow gang members. How heists actually work is still unclear, but it isn’t a stretch to imagine that Rockstar will be taking cues from GTA 5’s heist mechanics. This would include set up missions, picking your crew, planning your approach and escape… if this system is carried over, it could mean some pretty exciting new gameplay for Red Dead 2.
Day-to-day activities are also given new emphasis. As Arthur, you’ll be able to perform seemingly mundane day to day tasks such as choosing your outfit, eating, bathing, and shaving. Knowing Rockstar, however, it seems safe to assume that these tasks aren’t just throwaway. The trailer hints that whether you perform these tasks – or not- will have tangible effects on the game.
As with the first gameplay trailer, Rockstar is playing up the rich, expansive world. Of particular note is the fluid way you’ll be able to experience it, seamlessly moving from one activity to another. Though it isn’t explicitly stated, ambient encounters seem to be key to this. They seem to be a bit more involved than simply saving passers-by from animals or getting ambushed by outlaws.
We already know that the Notoriety system of the first Red Dead will be returning. This means players will receive bonuses based on their actions in the game world. Certain bonuses are only available for honorable players, others for players behaving badly. It remains to be seen what those bonuses are, but in the first game included unique horses, outfits, and buffs to certain mechanics and stats.
NPCs will also remember how you behave, and that’ll inform how they interact with you. The worse you behave, the more likely it is that you’ll have bounty hunters sent after, and NPCs will also be leery. Overall, it seems like a lot more RPG elements are being included in this outing.
It seems like Rockstar is pulling out all the stops for Red Dead 2, incorporating some of the best features of their most recent games into one over-the-top package. Red Dead 2 comes out on October 26, and is currently available for pre-order.
It looks as though social media companies are finally getting a grip on how to properly use ads. Instead of just playing 15- to 30-second clips that we’re forced to watch, Snapchat is one of the first in a wave of apps that could possibly make our ad experience a little less painful, and dare we say, enjoyable.
Before the introduction of Snapchat’s Ads Manager last year, if you wanted to post an ad you would have to go through one of Snapchat’s partners to do it. Now, advertisers are able to use the Ads Manager to create their entire ad in the app with features like its cool video editing software, choosing the audience that they would like to target, and seeing the results all in one place.
Recently, Snapchat added a few more updates to what you’re able to do with Ads Manager:
Shoppable Snap Ads: users can simply tap on the product being advertised to see more information. You’ll be taken to the advertiser’s website to buy, but remain in the Snapchat app.
Product catalogs: retailers can upload their entire product line at one time, and the ads manager will create an ad automatically.
Snap Pixel: companies can specifically see products or information that a customer has viewed or searched on their site to make for easier merchandise targeting. This information is made into lists that can be used for later reference, like which areas of a website are most popular, and which areas people don’t like as much.
Snap Partners: a whopping 40+ new marketing agencies have partnered with Snapchat to work with advertisers to better help them create great ads that users will actually want to see.
With all these new Snapchat improvements, advertisers are already starting to see an increase not only with their revenue, but with the quality of communication with their customers as well.
We like that instead of looking at an ad about an unrelated app for home design, we can see an ad those new shoes that we wanted, and buy them from the app while we wait to get back to serving our impatient cooking game customers. Early holiday shopping, anyone?
Gmail has tons of features you may not know about. Here are four of our favorites.
Gmail offers a ton of features for its users, and Google is continually improving them or adding new ones. Plenty of Gmail features are simply functions you’d expect — like having the option to customize your tabs or create multiple inboxes. However, there are some other things you can do in Gmail that aren’t so widely known.
4 Gmail hacks you probably don’t know about
1. Boomerang for Gmail
If you haven’t used Gmail with Boomerang, you haven’t really used Gmail. Seriously, this is a really cool add-on that can save you a ton of time and hassle — especially if you have any kind of business or side hustle going on.
Boomerang is Chrome extension for Gmail. Install it and you’ll be able to schedule your emails to be sent out at any time. You can also have an email re-sent to you. This second feature is great for those important emails you just don’t have time to deal with right now. Simply tell Gmail to send it again later, and you can go about your business without the risk of forgetting to come back to it.
2. Quick unsubscribe
You know how you normally have to go through this whole process when you want to unsubscribe from someone’s email list? Often you need to click through to some external site, where you have to explain why you’re leaving (and often endure some passive-aggressive chiding for your decision to unsubscribe). No more! Gmail lets you cut and run without all the drama. As soon as you get said unwanted email, click on the sender’s name and then select “unsubscribe.” Done and done.
Ever send an email and immediately wish you could take it back? You can actually do that with Gmail. Set this up by going into your “Settings” and selecting “Enable Undo.” Now, whenever you send an email, you’ll have an “Undo” button that lets you cancel the whole thing out. You’ll have a very short window to retrieve the offending email (generally no more than 30 seconds), but still — it’s practically time travel.
4. Using Gmail offline
What? Checking your emails without an internet connection? Yes, that’s a thing. You can even respond to them (your responses won’t actually be sent until you’re back online, though). However, this doesn’t happen automatically. Access the offline section of your Gmail settings and select “enable offline mail.” You’ll need the latest version of both Chrome and Gmail to do this. Before recent updates, this feature was only available through a Chrome extension.
Are you ready to battle Darth Vader in VR? Check out this amazing new game trailer.
Star Wars fans, rejoice. Players are about to get a look at Darth Vader from a totally unique angle: virtual reality. Gamers will be able to get up close and personal with the Sith Lord in a freshly announced ILMxLAB game dubbed Vader Immortal. Check out the new trailer!
Though not much information about the game’s plot or gameplay has been released as of yet, ILMxLAB has released a few key details in a blog post on their official site. The game, which will apparently be released episodically, will be released for the Oculus Quest at some point in 2019.
Vader Immortal will be a flagship title for the as-yet-unreleased device. The Quest, which is shipping at a $399 price point, can be purchased alongside Vader Immortal or as a standalone. ILMxLAB has a proven track record of bringing the Star Wars world to virtual reality, previously releasing VR and AR experiences like Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire and Trials on Tatooine.
Vader Immortal will be set in the period between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope,” and will take place in Vader’s lava-bound fortress which was first revealed in “Rogue One.” Story details are sparse, but the series will span three episodes. Players will be taking on a third-party role as they go up against Vader in his fortress, but it’s still unclear if players will get to don that trademark armor themselves at some point.
What is clear is that players will be wielding a lightsaber as they navigate the fortress. There’s a lot of narrative potential for players taking on the role of an unknown third party… experiencing a tense hunt through the fortress’s corridors, hearing Vader’s trademark breathing echo through the walls as he stalks his prey is a terrifying and electrifying prospect. Adding to the atmosphere is what certainly sounds like James Earl Jones returning to voice the iconic role… or at least a spot-on voice double.
More details will doubtless become clear as the Oculus Quest approaches launch, but what’s been revealed so far is sure to leave any Star Wars fan salivating.
Looking for a safer way to surf the web? Check out the new Tor browser
The Tor Browser is well known for being one of the most private browsers out there. Its main gimmick is its ability to prevent sites from gathering information through its browser. By doing this it becomes one of the most secure ways to use the internet. Currently, there is no mobile browser that has the same level of encryption ability as the Tor Browser for desktops. However, that is about to change with Tor’s newest release.
Previously, Tor had an app for both of the main operating systems: Onion Browser for iOS, and Orfox for Android. Each of these allowed for Tor connectivity but did not feature the same level of privacy that Tor does. In an effort to bring that privacy to mobile devices, Tor has released an alpha version of its service for Android.
Tor stated that their main reason for doing this is to bring Tor’s privacy features to other parts of the world, some of which only have access to the internet through mobile devices. By creating a secure browser for these mobile devices, citizens of these countries don’t have to fear unsecured sites as often as they currently do.
With the full release of Tor Browser coming to Android sometime in early 2019, Tor has announced that it will stop Orfox services once browser leaves its testing phase. The alpha is currently available for free download.
Having trouble measuring things to see if they’ll fit in your new place? Throw away that old measuring tape (if you can find it) because we’ve got the perfect app for you.
When Apple rolled out the iOS 12 update recently, there were a lot of new updates. It’s supposed to be faster with a quicker response time across apps and search engines, with the apps moving a whopping 40% faster according to the announcement page. You won’t miss the chance to capture that funny face your cute niece makes because the swipe to camera function has sped up by 70%. Facetime calls can have up to 32 people talking at the same time, and the group audio works on the Apple Watch and Homepod. These are just a few of a ton of cool new features iPhone users have now.
We have no idea where our physical tape measure is anymore, but Apple has it covered with the Measure app. Working as a built-in tape measure, the app uses augmented reality to act as a ruler along with your phone camera.
You can measure one side of an object in a straight line, or you can get the entire square footage. If the measurement doesn’t seem quite right, you can just tap the ‘clear’ button and start again from the beginning. Along with length and width, you can also use the level function so you can make sure that you hang your family photos straight.
While Measure is pretty cool if you want to know if you can add another band poster to your wall, it’s not quite accurate enough to use if you wanted to use it for a big DIY project where you need exact measurements. When we measured a book, the app was around two to three centimeters short.
The Measure app is pretty awesome, so give it a try. Even though your roommate swears that it’ll be fine, at least you won’t have guess to see if your couch will fit through your front door.
Note: the Measure app is only available on iPhone SE, iPhone 6s or later, iPad (5th Generation or later), or iPad Pro.
Need help finding the streetlight spotlights? Here’s a map!
A new season in Fortnite means new weekly challenges. The challenges for Season 6 Week 1 are, for the most part, fairly straightforward… with one glaring exception. One of the weekly challenges tasks players with dancing under 7 “Streetlight Spotlights” which are scattered across the Battle Royale map.
With no further explanation, it can be quite a task to hunt down these Streetlight Spotlights, especially with no indication as to where they might be or what they look like. Don’t worry: Softonic has tracked down each of the Streetlight Spotlights. Simply find the spotlight, stand in the pool of light, and use a dance emote to fulfill the challenge.
Pleasant Park
Pleasant Park Streetlight Spotlight
This spotlight is located on the northwestern edge of Pleasant Park, somewhat hidden behind a row of houses. As with all Streetlight Spotlights, it’s a normal looking streetlight loaded up with a cluster of white speakers.
Tilted Towers
Tilted Towers Streetlight Spotlight 1
Tilted Towers is home to two Spotlights. The first is located at the most southeastern corner of the city, on the corner where two streets meet.
Tilted Towers Streetlight Spotlight 2
From the location of the first Spotlight, head due northwest on a diagonal to find Tilted’s second Streetlight Spotlight, also located on a street corner next to a large tree.
Greasy Grove’s spotlight is located almost dead center in the town, in the parking lot outside the Durr Burger.
Flush Factory
Flush Factory Streetlight Spotlight
The spotlight at Flush Factory isn’t actually in the factory itself: it’s located in the cluster of warehouses and industrial buildings to the north. Look for it on a street corner near the center of the buildings.
Fatal Fields
Fatal Fields Streetlight Spotlight
You’ll find Fatal Fields’ Spotlight on the northern edge of the farm, just past the corn fields in front of this long stable.
Tomato Temple
Tomato Temple Streetlight Spotlight
The spotlight at Tomato Temple is tricky to find. You’ll have to head into the underground tunnel on the road that leads into town. In the middle of the tunnel, look up to find the Streetlight Spotlight located within.
Retail Row
Retail Row Streetlight Spotlight
Retail Row’s spotlight is located on a street corner near the border where the residential houses meet the shopping area.
Risky Reels
Risky Reels Streetlight Spotlight
The Streetlight Spotlight at Risky Reels is located smack in the middle of the drive-in’s entrance, just outside the ticket booth.
Truck Stop
Truck Stop Streetlight Spotlight
This truck stop is an unmarked location in the desert area located on the southeast corner of the map. The truck stop can be found just east of Lucky Landing, and the spotlight is out front next to the main road.
Junkyard
Junkyard Streetlight Spotlight
Just to the south of Paradise Palms is an unmarked junkyard that’s home to this Streetlight Spotlight.
Mansion
Mansion Streetlight Spotlight
The superhero mansion on the east side of the map is the location for this Spotlight. You’ll find it at the gatehouse at the end of the mansion’s driveway.
Lazy Links
Lazy Links Streetlight Spotlight
This spotlight is hard to miss. You’ll find it in the middle of the parking lot outside Lazy Links.
Soccer Stadium
Soccer Stadium Streetlight Spotlight
To the west of Tilted Towers is a large unmarked location housing an indoor soccer stadium. This Streetlight spotlight can be found at the intersection outside the stadium.
All of the Streetlight Spotlights are marked on the map below. Get out there and get dancing!
