Apr 16 2020
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The Steam Game Festival Summer Edition Will Fill the E3 Void this June

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Like all conventions, E3 was cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Geoff Keighley, host of the annual Game Awards, is hosting another event to help fill the void. The Steam Game Festival Summer Edition will run June 9 – 14, and feature several days of free demos of upcoming games.

“For the past few months I’ve thought a lot about new global and digital ways we could celebrate games the summer,” said Keighley on Twitter. “Today the announcement of the Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition is the first preview of what’s coming together. The Steam Game Festival will give you the chance to play demos of upcoming games from developers around the world. And you can do it for free from the comfort of your own home in these uncertain times.”

With conventions shutting down around the world, developers and publishers are discovering new challenges for marketing their games. Indie developers in particular relied on getting their games in the hands of convention attendees for positive word of mouth. The Steam Games Festival allows developers to submit their game demos, as well as an Artist Statement and optional live streaming events.

Keighley previously worked with Valve for the Steam Game Festival Spring Edition in March, as a response to GDC’s last-minute cancellation. The Spring Edition featured over 40 indie games with free demos.

The deadline for developer submissions is April 24, and demos must be submitted by May 15. Game submissions should have a tentative release date before next summer. Games that are already available via Steam Early Access are not included in the event. The Steam Game Festival Summer Edition begins June 9.

Feb 22 2019
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pokemon let's go

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee Free Demo on Nintendo eShop

Posted by | News, Switch | No Comments

Nintendo has released a free demo of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! It’s available now to download from the Nintendo eShop, and can be downloaded directly to your Switch from the website.

The demo version is limited to Viridian Forest, the first Pokémon catching area in the game. The demo randomly gives you either Pikachu or Eevee to start. From there you’re free to try out trainer battles and the new motion control catching. Unfortunately should you choose to purchase the full game, any progress you make in the demo will not be carried over.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee are triumphant 3D remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Blue (read our review). Huge overhauls have been made to the classic Pokémon formula, including seeing Pokémon in the wild, catching them via Pokémon GO-style pokéball throwing, and being able to swap Pokémon on the fly.

The Switch games also support Pokémon GO. After reaching a certain point in the adventure, you can send any Pokémon caught in the mobile game over to Let’s Go. It also supports kid-friendly two player simultaneous co-op, making it the best Pokémon game for families.

We were proud to name Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee Pixelkin’s Game of the Year in 2018. It’s rated E for Everyone.

Sep 07 2018
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mega man 11

Battle Block Man in Mega Man 11 Demo

Posted by | News, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One | No Comments

Capcom has released a free downloadable demo for their upcoming platformer Mega Man 11. The demo is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch. Mega Man 11 is launching on October 2.

The demo lets the Blue Bomber take on Block Man. Players will be able to choose from three different difficulty settings and explore the hand-drawn world of Mega Man 11. Mega Man will have access to the new Double Gear system and several boss weapons to take down Block Man.

A community challenge called “Bust Block Man” has also begun. Players can contribute by posting a picture of their victory over Block Man on social media using the hashtag #BustBlockMan. If enough players contribute, everyone who plays the demo will earn a set of single-use items that can be used in the full retail version of the game.

mega man 11

In other Mega Man 11 news, Capcom has also revealed a new robot master, Bounce Man. Bounce Man is smooth, round, pink, and stretchy. His level is Boing-Boing Park, which features springy walls and bouncing balls. Defeating Bounce Man gives Mega Man the Bounce Ball weapon, which fires three rubber balls that bounce around the battlefield before bursting into confetti.

Mega Man 11 is designed as an old school Mega Man experience with modern features and art. The new Double Gear system grants Mega Man new skills like slowing time and powering up his Mega Buster.

Mega Man 11 is launching on October 2 in both digital and retail forms for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and digitally on PC. It’s rated E10+ for Cartoon Violence.