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The First GTA6 trailer dropped – here’s what I’m thinking

A few thoughts on the GTA6 trailer from Rockstar Games

The first GTA6 trailer, courtesy of Rockstar Games

Reflecting on the three generations that have passed since the iconic GTA: Vice City, it’s not just the expansive scope of the city that captivates but the remarkable quality of the character models that truly stands out. The evolution from the original 3D portrayal of Florida’s gem to the present is nothing short of astounding, especially considering the passage of over two decades.

I know the game is maybe 2+ years away still, but GTA 6 emerges as a true frontrunner, not only in terms of technical advancements but also in the realm of artistry. The photorealistic rendering of skin and hair, coupled with the breathtakingly lifelike animation, represents a colossal leap forward. This first trailer effortlessly dispels any lingering doubts about the prolonged gap since the last major GTA release. The sheer dedication, evident in the form of relentless effort, resources, and investment poured into this game, is nothing short of staggering.

It becomes clear that the wait has been well worth it, given the unprecedented level of detail and craftsmanship that GTA 6 will bring to the gaming landscape.

NFTs and Video Games – a short-lived idea for 2022 / 2023?

NFTs…. Love them or hate them? I hate them, personally.

Polygon ran an interesting read just recently: unfortunately for studios salivating at the idea of getting in on the crypto action in 2022, players largely revolted against it. Most plans for NFT integration were a disaster. And NFT controversies in the gaming world were so big this year that it even became a subplot of the Apple TV show Mythic Quest this season.

But it wasn’t just gamers who rejected crypto this year. The crypto market itself also went bust. The promised Web3 revolution that much of Silicon Valley was manically chattering about in 2022 not only never arrived, it actually collapsed into a speculative puff of smoke, thanks to a series of major economic crashes. And the world of blockchain technology, in general, is looking so grim that investors are, yet again, wondering if the entire space is over for good.

Read more: https://www.polygon.com/23521430/nft-video-games-crypto-failed-decentraland-axie-infinity

Bad Microtransactions, controversial Patch and Downtime make Gran Tourismo 7 the players’ least Feavoured Game on Metacritic

Should that have been its real title?

It is quite a shame, really. Gran Tourismo 7 now is the least favoured game based on user reviews on metacritic, standing at a 2.2/10 (as of 20 March 2022).

The vast majority of the game’s user reviews were posted on or after March 17, when developer Polyphony Digital released a controversial patch reducing payouts from the game’s races, thus making it harder to unlock new cars without spending on microtransactions. It is worth nothing that some of Gran Turismo 7’s cars cost as much as eight times what they did on Gran Turismo Sport, if purchased using real money, or 20+h of grinding.

Gran Tourismo 7 was also offline for more than 30 hours between the 17th and 18th, which made it nearly unplayable due to the significant amount of content it requires an internet connection to access.

This is the new Battlefield 2042 Ultimate Edition cover

Doesn’t it look grand?!

You can now pre-order the game on:

An up-to-date Video Games Release Calendar 2020

So I did a thing. I created a Games Release Calendar in GCal and .ics format, since I could not find a decent up-to-date one which listed games from PC, PS, XBO, Switch and Stadia.

Data is sourced from Gamesradar, Gameinformer and other sources. It is updated until early September, and I will add more regularly. Enjoy, please let me know what you think!

Link: https://www.alexanderrehm.com/calendar

Royal Mail celebrates the joy of gaming with 12 new game-inspired stamps

Royal Mail has issued a set of 12 new stamps celebrating “the joy of gaming with pioneering and influential UK-designed games from the 1980s and 90s”.

Developed in conjunction with video game industry representatives and UK games industry trade body Ukie, the set includes four stamps presented in a “Miniature-Sheet”, that “chart the evolution of the iconic Tomb Raider game and its archaeologist adventurer, Lara Croft”, as well as eight further stamps celebrating other notable British franchises, including Elite, Dizzy, Populous, Lemmings, Micro Machines, Sensible Soccer, Wipeout, and Worms.

Happy 25 years, PlayStation!

Did you know that the PlayStation logo, designed by Manabu Sakamoto, went through over a dozen iterations before it became the iconic version we’re familiar with today?