TGO Daily | October 21, 2020 | Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Loses Another Designer
It feels like The Sims is an eternal presence that will be with us for a long time to come. While its been essentially the same game since 2000, people continue to flock to it, and EA continues to pump out expensive expansion packs that people will happily buy.
I’m not criticizing it. If it works, it works. There’s much worse monetization models out there. Honestly, I’m just happy that a developer can say “you know what I want? A Japanese mountain.” And the fanbase says “bring it on.”
Make sure you peek the end of this newsletter for a special TGO project :)
Until tomorrow,
Adrian
In The News
Narrative Designer Leaves Hardsuit Labs
Senior narrative designer Cara Ellison has left the Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 team. According to sources from Paradox, she left of her own volition. She has since moved to League of Geeks (Armello) with the same job title.
Ellison’s departure in a vacuum perhaps wouldn’t be too much cause for concern, but this news comes following the firings of Brian Mitsoda (lead narrative designer and figurehead) and Ka’ai Cluney (creative director). At the time, Mitsoda mentioned that the firing was a surprise. Bloodlines 2 was also delayed into 2021, after being slated for a 2020 release.
Staff turnaround (let alone Mitsoda of all people), paired with delays, is usually an indication of troubled development. Exercise caution when considering whether or not to pick up the game when it eventually releases.
Halo: MCC Gets Optimized For Series X/S
Halo Infinite may be missing from the Series X launch lineup, but that doesn’t mean Halo is totally gone. Xbox announced today that the Halo: Master Chief Collection will be fully optimized for next-gen consoles, and it will launch one week after the new consoles.
They say the games will hit 120FPS on the campaign and multiplayer, and 4K resolution (on the Series X). It will also have split-screen improvements, adjustable field-of-view, and full cross-play.
It’s a free upgrade for anyone who owns the game already on the One, and to Game Pass owners. As of now the collection contains Halo 1 through 4 (including ODST and Reach). PC players only have up to ODST, but should have them all by the end of the year.
The Sims 4 Adding “Snowy Escape” Pack
The Sims 4 has revealed its tenth and newest expansion pack titled “Snowy Escape.” It sets itself in a Japanese inspired mountain range, which lets you participate in some extreme sports like skiing and rock climbing. They’ve brought resort-like activities, like sitting in a bathhouse, and other explorative options, like going through a bamboo forest.
The other major feature of the expansion is the introduction of Lifestyles and Sentiments. The Lifestyle feature crops up as a reaction to how Sims act, allowing their behaviours to change based on “lived experience.” Sentiments will further explore how Sims can feel different about shared experiences, which will impact relationships.
Alongside it all is the introduction of new clothing and furniture items, which appropriately reflect the winter and Japanese themes that have been established.
Also In The News
More From TGO
Today, I released probably my favourite project that I've ever created for TGO. It’s a one-off show that I’m calling TGO Roundtable. I invited three super cool people to talk about an awesome game called Hades.
It’s 60 minutes long, and is suitable for experienced Hades players, or those who have never played it! We take a deep dive into what makes the game so great, and why people should be checking it out.
Kato and I were joined by Ben and Crimson — you may recognize them from the Discord server. If you check it out, please let me know what you think! It’s also available on the podcast feed :)
Say Hello!
That’s all for today :) If you want to get in touch, you can always reply to this email. You can also DM me on Twitter, or come join the community on Discord (it’s awesome)!
This newsletter is a companion/alternative to a mini-podcast I produce. The show is archived on Youtube, with most people listening on Amazon Alexa devices — but it’s also available on all podcast hosts.