Video Games
TouchArcade is closing
This is a post I’ve known about for some time, but that doesn’t make it any easier to write down. After over 16 years, TouchArcade will likely be closing its doors and going out of business. There could also be an extra post here and there in the approaching weeks as we attempt to honor any previously agreed-upon commitments and likewise prepare a correct farewell post, but for now, our normal day-to-day operations have ceased. The reason we’re closing is probably not surprising: Money.
Many of you who’ve been following TouchArcade for some time are well aware that we now have struggled financially for a few years, and truthfully, I believe it is a miracle that we now have managed to survive this long. The truth is that a web site like ours simply doesn’t generate profits anymore. To our own detriment, we now have resisted things like obnoxious, intrusive ads, blatant clickbait headlines, or ethically questionable sponsorships, that are unfortunately the sorts of things that also generate profits on the web today.
There are many other reasons which have contributed to us getting so far, but I’d reasonably not go into details now. TouchArcade has been an establishment for tens of millions of individuals for the past 16 years, and I’ve been working full time for the past 14+ years. A solid third of my life. In some ways, it’s like one in all my children, and it is very hard to say goodbye to it. I’d really reasonably deal with all the good times we have had, than dwell on the things we will not change.
Also, as a person with a wife and two young children, a mortgage and all that adult fun, this is the tip of my life, and despite the fact that they’re technically “freelancers”, so are the opposite two individuals who were at the center of TouchArcade, Shaun Musgrave and Mikhail Madnani. Which brings me to my next point…
HIRE US!
The job market isn’t great anywhere, and finding a brand new job is tough, especially within the gaming industry. If you’re reading this and wish some very capable gaming industry veterans like us, please reach out to us.
Jared Nelson – That’s me! Of course, I actually have over 14 years of experience working in the course of the mobile gaming boom at TouchArcade. Writing, editing, managing staff, traveling to conventions. I’ve done all of it. I even have a reasonably diverse work history prior to TouchArcade, including management positions, which I believe gives me a extremely well-rounded skill set. You can reach me at LinkedIn or via email at jared (at) toucharcade (dot) com.
Shaun Musgrave – Shaun has been with TouchArcade for somewhat over 11 years, but has been in skilled gaming media for over 25 years. He is by far one of the crucial talented writers I actually have ever met, and if we wanted a review of an enormous, necessary game and needed it on very tight deadlines, Shaun was at all times reliable. He also uses his vast, almost uncanny knowledge of video game history to seek out interesting angles to write down about games that only he could find. Shaun lives in Japan and is fluent in each Japanese and English, which also makes him an important candidate for localization work. Contact him at muzkind (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Mikhail Madnani – As a member of TouchArcade for over 7 years, Mikhail is the workhorse of our team. Publishing most of what you see every day, our website wouldn’t have been capable of run for so long as it has without Mikhail’s contributions. An expert at sniffing out interesting news and publishing it in a timely manner, but additionally capable of create huge features like in-depth interviews and multiplatform reviews. His header images stuffed with coffee are also legendary. If you wish someone who can reliably and consistently publish video game related content, I can’t recommend Mikhail enough. Contact him at hello (at) failgunner (dot) com.
What will occur now?
If there’s a silver lining to all of this, it’s that for the foreseeable future, all the content ever published on TouchArcade will remain online and accessible to everyone. Over 33,000 articles published, including over 4,000 game reviews, not to say all of our annual Best Of content and Game of the Year picks. Hopefully, all of this content will continue to exist in the long run for reference and to easily look back on and see how drastically the mobile gaming landscape has modified over the past decade and a half.
We hope to proceed our podcast, The TouchArcade Show, which recently celebrated its 600th (!) episode. A number of co-hosts have come and gone over the course of the podcast (shout out to Brand and Mike!), but Eli Hodapp and I actually have been a relentless presence on the show because the starting, and it’s truthfully crazy that we’ve spent over 13 years of our lives putting out an hour-long podcast (almost) every week.
So it’s possible you’ll be wondering, our Patreon. Our Patreon support has been by far the most important contributor to TouchArcade’s existence since we launched in June 2015, almost a decade ago. Our thoughts are to redirect Patreon donations to support the podcast, and possibly the occasional post or special feature written by the team here. Maybe a random “SwitchArcade” or a review of a very high-profile mobile game launch. Maybe we could even squeeze in a Game of the Year this yr? It’s only a germ of an idea for now, but it surely can be pretty cool to see TouchArcade continue to exist, even on this small way.
Regardless of how this ends, I will likely be clearly changing the wording of our Patreon to state that it is not about supporting the web site, and if people determine to stop donating, that is completely comprehensible. If persons are giving us money every month, I need to be completely transparent about where it is going. Either way, search for more news on this in the approaching weeks, and on the very least be certain you follow us as a free member on our Patreon to not sleep thus far. If you’ve gotten any questions or concerns, you possibly can contact me at suggestions (at) toucharcade (dot) com or leave a comment below.
Well, I believe that is it. Speaking on behalf of all of us who’ve helped run TouchArcade over the past 16 years—from co-founders Arnold Kim and Blake Patterson to our first full-time worker and future editor-in-chief Eli Hodappa, and the handfuls of other writers and freelancers who’ve helped make TouchArcade what it is—we just wish to sincerely thanks for reading our site, listening to our podcast, or attending one in all our events. It was an absolute pleasure to have such a beautiful audience that appreciated what we did, and we’ll all be ceaselessly grateful for the time we got to spend together.
Video Games
The 10 best Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on Nintendo Switch and 5 we’d like to see – SwitchArcade Special
In our next dive into retro gaming on the Switch, we’ll return to 1989. And then to 1998. We’re back to the old monochrome beast and its colourful successor: the Game Boy and Game Kolor Boy. While there is a big choice of games from these handheld devices available within the Nintendo Switch Online app, we’ll as an alternative take a take a look at those games that dare to exist within the wilds of the Switch eShop. Here we have now ten of our favourite games, plus five more games we’d like to see. Of course, in no particular order. Time to play loud!
Shantae ($9.99)
Once upon a time, true scarcity, which might cost tons of of dollars to obtain in any legal form, is now quite available in digital form. This game is far more difficult than its sequels, but it surely takes advantage of the Game Boy Color hardware in a variety of interesting ways, giving the platforming a bit greater than your average Game Boy hop-and-bop. Wow, I have never seen the term “hop-and-bop” in about twenty-five years. Oh well. : It’s quite fun.
DX World Tour ($19.99)
Here’s one other game that, until recently, was officially playable quite a bit. is an interesting platformer from Sunsoft that gives a brief but enjoyable experience. This version of the sport offers full colorization and at the identical time includes quite a lot of additions which might be value delving into. It’s the right way to play out this quirky, charming story.
Final Fantasy Legend II – SaGa Final Fantasy Legend Collection ($19.99)
It’s time to delve into the compilations and we’ll start with the one which covers all Game Boy games: . You’ll find all three games within the series here, and they’re all really good portable RPGs. I’m picking an honorable mention here, just because I feel it is the best of the three. It has a variety of the weird mechanics that make games so interesting, but it surely feels more comprehensive and accessible than the primary game. Probably the best turn-based RPG game on the pre-system.
Final Fantasy Adventure – Mana Collection ($39.99)
Along with the games comes the sport that began the long-running series. As such, you will find him in two Super NES sequels. I’ll repeat: all games value playing. This motion RPG was an amazing alternative to the superb system game, with a quick pace and a surprisingly ambitious plot. It has been remade several times, but nothing resembles the unique.
TMNT III: Radical Rescue – TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection ($39.99)
Konami has created some great games for the Game Boy and has made several of them available of their various collections. it includes all three original Game Boy games and I feel all of them have their merits. However, an open-ended, pseudo-Metroidvania is the best selection. Lots of motion as you’d expect, however the added layers of exploring the world, rescuing your brothers, and finding all of the upgrades make this game really engaging.
Operation C – Contra Anniversary Collection ($19.99)
After a somewhat lukewarm attempt at bringing the sport to the Game Boy by , you’d think there was little hope that the tense run-and-gun motion would survive the change. Surprisingly, it turned out to be truly amazing. Sure, you’ll be able to’t play with one other player. Strictly a solo thing. But it’s fast, fun and difficult in the way in which you would like a game to be. Perhaps there was hope for Konami’s motion platformers on mobile devices in spite of everything!
Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge – Castlevania Anniversary Collection ($19.99)
How does this relate to the announcement? Yep, after mostly combating the primary Game Boy game, Konami turned things around in an enormous way with Belmont’s Revenge. It’s a wonderful game that easily lives up to its home console entries, even when it could’t outdo them. Considering it had some not-so-great games, it’s possible that many players skipped this game considering it could be the identical. If you have not played it yet, here’s a convenient way to achieve this.
Ninja JaJaMaru: Big World Adventure – Ninja JaJaMaru: Retro Collection ($14.99)
is certainly not the best game within the bunch, but I feel it’s a very important representation of a number of the more odd titles which have populated the library around big publisher releases. A whole lot of work has also gone into this reissue. It has a brand new location and has been recolored, giving it a pleasant shine to a game which may not have made it to the highest of anyone’s list for such effort. Although that is the one Game Boy game, this collection is overall interesting.
Extreme Sports ($9.99)
WayForward’s most famous, completely original Game Boy Color property is in fact , but it surely’s no slouch either. Basically, a set of sports mini-games combined with an open world is a lot better than it needs to be. The graphics are good, the gameplay is great for a fast binge, and those that want to finish all the things completely will find a troublesome challenge ahead of them.
The Rescue of Princess Blobette – Retro Boy and His Blobette Collection ($9.99)
(*5*)
Another game that is here more for its unique feel, it does a fairly good job of bringing the house computer-style adventure gameplay of the NES original to the small screen. In some respects, it’s a more refined game than its predecessor, released in a more compact and dynamic form. If you like games that require thought due to occasional moments of opacity, you may like this one.
And… 5 Game Boy and Game Boy Color games that we’d like to see on Switch
Batman: The Video Game
Yeah, it’s somewhat weird that Batman uses guns throughout an early Game Boy motion game. But it is also weird that Keaton’s Batman enjoys murdering villains, so let’s just call it an indication of the times. The necessary thing is that that is one other truly great game from Sunsoft, and despite the fact that I do know the possibilities of any of those games based on the flicks being released are close to zero, I won’t ever stop asking.
Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal
I generally avoid games that I feel might come to Nintendo Switch Online sooner or later, which suggests most of Nintendo’s first-party games are not any longer available. I hope I’m unsuitable about this, but something tells me that while spin-offs will likely proceed to come to the subscription service, mainstream games won’t. Therefore, I’m formally requesting the chance to purchase and play these wonderful Game Boy RPGs on my Switch.
Gradius: Interstellar Attack
I used to be hesitant to include this or something excellent, but finally we have now the Switch to scratch that itch while it only exists in Game Boy form. For a platform whose display ought to be terrible in shooters, the Game Boy had some excellent platforms. This was Konami’s second kick on the can for Gradius on the platform, and while the primary one was okay, this one really got everyone going. Honestly, I just need a Konami-style collection and more. If that happens, this game ought to be there.
Metal Gear Solid
I’m starting to realize there’s a variety of Konami in this text. In any case, this might be the best third-party Game Boy Color exclusive. Almost all the things that was great about PlayStation was one way or the other squeezed into this completely original adventure. This game completely blew me away on the time with this fidelity, and it still impresses me today. Yes, a lot of the template was developed in MSX2, but it surely’s cool to see something like this on the Game Boy Color. Maybe this may appear in the following collection?
Dragon warrior monsters
it spawned many imitators, but truthfully, it had monster catching elements before it appeared within the mainline games. So . We forgive you, King. is one in every of the higher Game Boy games inspired by the corporate’s success, and I feel it could be great to see it on Switch. And what? It is offered on Switch, but only in Japan. Come on, Square Enix. Just throw a Western ROM within the box and help some fans out!
And that is the list, friends. Are there any Game Boy or Game Boy Color games that you just like on Switch? Would you like to see something? Have your say within the comments and tell us what you’re thinking that! It’s all the time interesting to hear other people’s opinions on this topic. As all the time, thanks for reading!
Video Games
3 things I wish Pokémon TCG Pocket would steal from Marvel Snap
launched this week on iPhone and Android, and it is a surprisingly crisp and streamlined version of the cardboard game after years of really bad alternatives. it’s mainly a license to print money, however it does an ideal job of showcasing what people love concerning the game – the cards themselves – and getting a lot of the other stuff out of the way in which. Still, as an enormous fan of Marvel Snap, I’d love for the mobile game to steal a couple of things from the 2022 comic book phenomenon Second Dinner.
(*3*)
For the past two days, I’ve spent most of my idle moments on my smartphone gaming somewhat than scrolling through Twitter or consuming AI-slop on Instagramwhich is precisely what I expect from a superb, on a regular basis mobile game. All the currencies and sub-economies designed to get you to spend money on a game that would otherwise be free are a bit convoluted and difficult to parse, however the battles are fun and opening virtual booster packs by slicing through packs with the flick of a finger is a surprisingly effective simulation the pure joy of doing it in real life.
However, I’m not as obsessive about Marvel Snap as I am with Marvel Snap yet, and I think there are three reasons for that. The first is the match length. Battles with Marvel Snap pass quickly, making it relatively easy to begin the subsequent game no matter what’s happening around you. he’s a bit more involved. Players have a complete timer of 20 minutes, with the countdown starting at over 60 seconds on individual turns. The clock isn’t milked, but matches can still feel a bit drawn out as players stack benches and increase the ability of their Pokémon. More than once, after ending a match, I thought: “It was fun, but do I really have time for another one?”
The second thing that is holding me back a bit is the match rewards. In addition to small matches, it also offers sensible progression based on acquiring additional cards to level them up and earn points that might be spent on acquiring recent ones. This is a clever twist on the normal RNG booster pack formula. , as an adaptation of an existing card game, doesn’t offer the identical luxury. Unfortunately, as things currently stand, the one reward for winning matches are small amounts of XP that contribute to your overall level. Picking it up gives you extra rewards, but none of them are very clear. As a result, ending matches feels a bit anticlimactic somewhat than supplying you with that dose of dopamine that makes you immediately wish to play one other match.
Finally, the cards themselves. Beyond constructing your collection, Marvel Snap has a secondary goal: acquiring, sometimes through outright purchase, cool alternative card art in your favorite decks. It provides something different to strive for, in addition to a technique to express your particular taste for a well-liked deck type. It runs into trouble again since it relies on existing card art, and while there are multiple versions of among the unlockable cards, there aren’t a lot of them and there is not any real technique to directly pursue them. If you open the package and receive the complete graphic variant, great! If not, well, wait for the subsequent random pull.
It’s still early days, and it otherwise holds up quite well, actually higher than every other digital version of a card game I’ve played prior to now. There’s just one set of cards to gather in the mean time, and there is not much for the eyes to enjoy within the paid in-game store. I’m sure every part will change soon, but for now the sport hasn’t fully brought back the magic of my beginnings in . Maybe that is for one of the best. I finally needed to delete this game from my phone since it was taking on an excessive amount of of my free time.
Video Games
“Genshin Impact” 5.0 pre-install update is now available, a new trailer has been released
HoYovers has pre-assembly has began for the predominant (free) version 5.0 update “Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn” for supported platforms. If you have not been following the sport currently, version 5.0 introduces a sixth nation: Natlan, new characters like Mualani, replays for Raiden Shogun, and far more. The update will launch on August 28 for mobile, PC, PS5 and PS4, with the sport coming to Xbox Series X in November. The first banner in version 5.0 includes: Mualani, Kachina and Kaedehara Kazuha, while banner 2: Kinich and Raiden Shogun This update may even bring updated graphics. Read about it here. Watch the new Kachina trailer below:
You can pre-install it by tapping the resource pack button before installing. The download size is 2.67 GB for iOS and roughly 16 GB for PC. If you would like to play and do not have it yet, you’ll be able to download it at no cost within the App Store for iOS Here and on Google Play for Android Here. The PC version is available on the official website Here and Epic Games Store. If you are playing on iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5 or later, you’ll be able to play with PS5 and Xbox Series X|S controllers. At launch, we named it Game of the Week and named it Game of the Year for 2020. I also described it as among the finest iOS games you’ll be able to play with a controller. What do you consider version 5.0 thus far?
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