Polygon

One writer's travelogue from aboard the third annual Indie Train Jam

Runaway Train: Making my first game on a train

By Charlie Hall on Apr 06, 2016 04.06.16

We were sitting next to each other on a plastic bench. Robin Baumgarten, well-known indie developer, game jam veteran and the creator of Line Wobbler. Charlie Hall, writer at Polygon, an internet website. Outside the window, miles of Iowa farmland stretched out toward the horizon. Massive white windmills swept past us on either side as the train gathered speed. "Alright," he said in his charming German accent. "What about art? Have you ever done any 3D modeling? Animation?" "Never." There was a pause while Robin thought. "Do you," he asked, as gently as he could, "have any skills?" It wasn't the first time I'd mentioned to him that I was new to making games, but perhaps it hadn't quite sunk in until now. "Well," I said, "I'm a writer." "I see." Another pause. Robin seemed to...

You can now own a three-piece Pac-Man suit

By Michael McWhertor on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

There's no shortage of Pac-Man-related merchandise to own and wear, but the latest in officially licensed goods from Bandai Namco is a first. Novelty suit-maker OppoSuits now sells a three-piece Pac-Man suit, for when you need to express your love of classic video games in a more formal way. For just $109.99, you can own a matching blazer, suit and slacks emblazoned with an overall Pac-Man maze print. Sizes on OppoSuits' Pac-Man set range from 36-52, though the company notes that these are "slim fit" cuts and that the pants run a little long. (That means you might have to take your Pac-Man suit to your tailor, who might very well judge you.) OppoSuits doesn't come right out and say it, but given that their suits are machine washable — and most run about a hundred bucks — expect...

Issue 16

March 9, 2016

The making of PlayStation VR

By Matt Leone

Go behind the scenes with some of the key people behind Sony’s upcoming headset.

Hyper Light Drifter review

By Griffin McElroy on Apr 06, 2016 04.06.16

Hyper Light Drifter demands things from its players that few games are even willing to request. It's an exceedingly difficult game. It tosses roadblock after roadblock at its protagonist with no easy way out. Progress isn't promised in Hyper Light Drifter; it can't be earned by grinding or executing cheap strategies and exploits, only practice, practice, practice. But the mechanical difficulty, the tense, balletic, close-quarters battles that punctuate your exploration of the game's gorgeous setting, is a relatively small component of what Hyper Light Drifter demands. Its larger, more imposing request is how you have to interpret literally everything else that happens in the game. Learning how to swing a sword and dodge fatal attacks is easy enough — finding your place in a world...

Cutscene: Marvel's Black Panther is off to a promising start

By Julia Alexander on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

This week on Cutscene, Polygon's entertainment writers sit down to talk about why The Jungle Book is a must-see movie and discuss the first issue of Black Panther. Julia has some thoughts about what makes The Jungle Book the unique experience that it is — including the game changing use of CGI — and breaks down the film at length. Susana, Polygon's expert on everything comic book related, goes through the history of Black Panther as a series, why it's so vital to the Marvel universe and why she's excited Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing it. Some of this week's highlights include: Julia trying to pronounce the names of the animals in The Jungle Book Susana's take on the modern comic book industry Both writers trying their hardest not to swear ... and generally succeeding. Links...

Baldur's Gate studio responds to harassment over trans character

By Colin Campbell on Apr 06, 2016 04.06.16

Beamdog today released a statement to Polygon, following heated online criticism about Baldur's Gate expansion Siege of Dragonspear's inclusion of a trans woman and a one-line joke reference to reactionary culture group GamerGate. Polygon ran the full story about this affair yesterday. In the statement, Trent Oster, CEO of the Canadian developer, hit out at critics of the game who have harassed and insulted members of his staff, including writer Amber Scott. "We stand behind all our developers." "While we appreciate all feedback we receive from our fans, both positive as well as negative, some of the negative feedback has focused not on Siege of Dragonspear but on individual developers at Beamdog, to the point of online threats and harassment," he said. "I just want to make it...

Watch Mega Man producer Keiji Inafune make a Mario Maker stage

By Nick Robinson on Apr 06, 2016 04.06.16

Watch in 60 fps on YouTube | Subscribe to Polygon on YouTube When most folks hear the word "platformer," one of two classic game series inevitably pop into their head: Mario and Mega Man. ("Sonic" is also an acceptable answer, depending on your capacity for heartbreak.) In terms of names associated with Mega Man's history, there's few closer than Keiji Inafune, longtime series producer and the character artist responsible for helping turn the iconic Mega Man sprite into a character design recognized around the world. During a recent trip to Comcept's Tokyo headquarters, we introduced Inafune for the first time to Super Mario Maker, Nintendo's Mario stage creation tool released last year for the Wii U. After spending some time getting comfortable with the software, he created a level...

MLB The Show 16 dev apologizes for online issues, offers free items in return

By Samit Sarkar on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

MLB The Show 16 players have been dealing with some iffy servers since the game's launch 10 days ago, and developer Sony San Diego offered a public apology and a make-good for the issues today, along with a patch. Two of MLB 16's biggest additions are modes within Diamond Dynasty, a suite in which players build teams with virtual trading cards and can spend real money on new cards. Everything in Diamond Dynasty requires an internet connection, and doing anything in that online component — even simple activities like scrolling between entries in a list — requires a check-in with the game's servers. Must Read MLB The Show 16 review MLB 16's servers have been running at a molasses-slow pace, especially during prime-time hours, creating interminable...

Netflix to raise standard subscription prices next month

By Julia Alexander on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

Netflix announced on Friday that subscribers will see a two dollar increase to their standard subscription plans, according to Variety. Starting next month, subscribers will start to pay $9.99 a month for the standard option, which gives users concurrent streaming options and HD quality programming. For those that are only interested in using the service for one person at a time and don't care about the HD option, however, the company confirmed they can opt out of the upgrade and keep the $7.99 plan. A statement from the company issued to Variety stated that members who are impacted by the change will receive an email, giving them enough time to let them choose whether they want to opt out of the upgrade. The company previously announced at the beginning of the year that U.S....

Watch 100ft Robot Golf in action

By Colin Campbell on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

This is 100ft Robot Golf, which is coming out for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR later this year. Developed by Seattle-based team No Goblin, its name pretty much explains the whole game. Players control giant robots as they seek to make par, while destroying anything that gets in the way. No Goblin's previous game was Roundabout, a Crazy Taxi-style driving game featuring a constantly rotating limousine. Based on a playthrough at the Polygon offices earlier this week, 100ft Robot Golf looks strongest in competitive mode, with up to four players split-screening their way through the links. Strategies include attacking rival robots, throwing stuff down in their way and jumping in front of balls in flight. There are a variety of worlds including a city, seen in this video, as well as...

CoolGames Inc: Breeding Monster Trucks with Your Friends in Honk!

By Griffin McElroy on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

Here's the situation: Nick is in Japan for two weeks, and we forgot about CoolGames Inc. It happens to the best of us, folks, and we almost certainly are not the best of us. So, this morning — as in, a few hours ago — we got together early in Griffin's morning and late at Nick's night to produce two episodes in a row. These two episodes get wild. Here is the first one, in which Nick slams a Japanese Red Bull, and then collaborates on one of our absolute horniest games yet. Links to subscribe to CoolGames, Inc. in iTunes, your podcast player of choice or to download an MP3 are all a click away, tucked inside the buttons below today's episode. Theme song: "Social Science" by Maxo Want your game idea to be featured on a future episode of CoolGames Inc? The best bet is...

Review | More
Fallout 4
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Win
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
- Release Date: 2015-11-10
Review | More
Destiny: The Taken King
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360
- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Bungie
- Release Date: 2015-09-15
Review | More
Super Mario Maker
- Platforms: Wii U
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo EAD Group No. 4
- Release Date: 2015-09-11
Review | More
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Platforms: PS3, 360, Xbox One, PS4, Win
- Publisher: Konami
- Developer: Kojima Productions
- Release Date: 2015-09-01

All Games

Sen. Al Franken raises concerns over Oculus Rift privacy policy

By Allegra Frank on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

Senator Al Franken of Minnesota issued an open letter to Oculus yesterday, questioning the company on how and why it collects data from users of its Rift headset. "Oculus' creation of an immersive virtual reality experience is an exciting development, but it remains important to understand the extent to which Oculus may be collecting Americans personal information, including sensitive location data, and sharing that information with third parties," Franken wrote. This refers to the privacy policy included on the Oculus website, which details the various types of data collected by Rift users and the channels that have access to this information — such as third party sources. In a series of six questions addressed to Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe, Franken specifically brings up the Rift's...

How the UN used a video game to raise awareness for land mines

By Samit Sarkar on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

Instagram is a massively popular social network where hundreds of millions of people share photos and videos with the world. It's the platform of choice for shots of fancy meals, poorly lit bar scenes and cute animals. Now it can also be used to play a video game — albeit one that's hacked together. Earlier this week, the United Nations observed the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The annual event began a: decade ago, on April 4, 2006, as a way for the UN to highlight mine action: the effort to clear land mines and related explosive devices from countries around the globe; educate people about the dangers of such weapons; assist victims of land mines; advocate for a mine-free world; and destroy stockpiles of mines. The UN currently supports mine...

Ford's using Metal Gear Solid, and Snake's original voice actor, to advertise its cars

By Michael McWhertor on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

David Hayter is back as Solid Snake ... in a pair of Ford commercials. The latest ads in Ford's "Overdubs" series of YouTube spots — previous ads have used footage from shows like Captain Planet — features Solid Snake and Col. Roy Campbell in a dramatic codec conversation about the carmaker's Ford Focus SE and its gas mileage, which likely surpasses Metal Gear in EPA estimates. The Ford YouTube ad above, "A Codec Call to Remember," features the voices of Metal Gear Solid actors David Hayter and Paul Eiding discussing the "Practical Vehicular Action" of the Ford Focus while dropping no shortage of Metal Gear references. Another ad features Psycho Mantis trying to sell Solid Snake on a different Ford model, the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium. Mantis' mind-reading skills would be the envy of...

Active Discussions

These are the changes coming to The Division's Dark Zone (correction)

By Charlie Hall on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

The first batch of free content for Ubisoft's online shooter Tom Clancy's The Division lands April 12, and some of the biggest changes affect the hotly contested, player-vs-player area known as the Dark Zone. Yesterday the Ubisoft blog posted an interview with game director Petter Mannerfelt that describes what's new and what's changing. In the fiction of The Division, the Dark Zone is the area where New York's Joint Task Force has ceded control to the mobs of looters and rioters that plague the city. The lawless center of the game map is where players can team up to scavenge for the game's upper-tier loot and crafting materials, and it's about to get a lot more interesting. At regular intervals, Mannerfelt says, there will be an airdrop of supplies. Taking a page from games like Rust...

Spider-Man will get help from other Marvel superheroes in standalone film

By Julia Alexander on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

Spider-Man is set to make his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) this May, but it won't be the only time he teams up with members of the Avengers. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told Entertainment Weekly that Spider-Man will be joined by a few other superheroes when his standalone movie is released in 2017. Although Feige didn't say which superheroes would be joining the web-slinging teen, played by Tom Holland, he did mention that it was crucial they incorporated Spider-Man as much as they could into the MCU. Feige previously said they were exploring opportunities to have members of the MCU join the Sony production, and it looks like they've figured out how to do it. "He is in the universe now, and the fun of the universe is that characters go back and...

Pokémon's next giveaway offers up new, special versions of legendary birds

By Allegra Frank on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

The Pokémon Company is giving out download codes for rare breeds of three legendaries next month. Signing up for the Trainer Club newsletter will grant access to Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres — each with its hidden ability — starting in May. Those who aren't subscribed to the Trainer Club, which allows fans to check out the online trading card game, Pokémon Global Link and more, can do so until April 22 to qualify for the promotion. The issue containing the bird Pokémon will be sent to the Trainer Club mailing list sometime in May. Must Read Check out which mythical Pokémon you can download this month The download codes will be compatible with each of the Nintendo 3DS games (Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire) and offer versions of the monsters never before...

Destiny getting new PlayStation-exclusive gear with the game's April update

By Michael McWhertor on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

Bungie is giving Destiny players some new things to do and new loot to shoot for next week when the April update drops. But Destiny fans who have the PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 version of the game will get some gear that's exclusive to those platforms, Sony revealed on the PlayStation Blog. The PlayStation-exclusive items consist of a new exotic sniper rifle known as Zen Meteor. In addition to sporting some ornate filigree work on the gun's stock (and its scope), Zen Meteor can fire explosive rounds, thanks to the "Dynamite" and "With a Laser Beam" perks. It'll also catch on fire for some reason. A new Sparrow, Destiny's version of a Star Wars speeder bike, is also a PlayStation exclusive. It's called Velumbra, and is obtainable either from the...

Romancing SaGa 2 coming stateside for first time ever

By Allegra Frank on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

The Super Nintendo-era role-playing game Romancing SaGa 2 is coming stateside, according to the game's official Twitter. An English-language version of the game is currently in development on iOS and Android. Romancing SaGa 2's worldwide debut remains unscheduled. Japan received mobile ports of the game in late March; Square Enix also published the remastered release on PlayStation Vita. More information about the release will come later this month, according to the game's Twitter. In the meantime, it offered a first look at the game's English debut. We’ll announce further information within this month, so stay tuned! #romasaga2 pic.twitter.com/2a1MaHGrzq — ロマンシングサガ２公式 (@Romasaga2_PR) April 8, 2016 The RPG made its debut on Super Famicom in December 1993. Its predecessor,...

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Vox Media

Alan Wake DLC episodes are free on Xbox

By Allegra Frank on Apr 08, 2016 04.08.16

The expansion packs for Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake are now available for free on the Xbox Marketplace. Newcomers to the mystery adventure game, which recently became backward compatible with Xbox One, can pick up both "The Writer" and "The Signal" at no charge. When "The Signal" first launched in July 2010, it was available to owners of new copies of the game for free; for everyone else, it cost $20. "The Writer," which followed that October, cost $6.99 upon first release. Both are additional episodes building upon the story of Alan Wake. Alan Wake is available to download on Xbox Marketplace for $19.99. Recent buyers of Remedy's latest game Quantum Break, which launched on Xbox One and Windows PC this week, already have the complete Alan Wake experience. Copies of Quantum Break...

Mario Maker with Keiji Inafune

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Looking cool while dying in Hyper Light Drifter

Dyeing Shaq's Hair in Tomodachi Survivor

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