Category: Uncategorized Page 1 of 2

Happy New Year’s, Everyone!

On January 1, 2019

It’s been a big year for me and the site alike. I’ve made some significant progress with my writing skills, my familiarity with the games industry, and all that jazz. And you, the reader, are a big reason why.

That’s right, I’m here to stroke your goat, as they say.

When I decided to become a professional freelance journalist, the first thing I did was start up TheLizardRock.com. It was a place where I could practice and publish my writing, establish a portfolio, and get a grip on the ways of internet content creation. For a big chunk of that time, I would consider 3 views a day lucky.

Since then, I’ve established more writing clients, I’ve improved my own writing skills, and I’ve meet some very helpful folks. And one of the most positive influences from that has been the people who read my posts.

TheLizardRock.com is one of the few places I actually see analytics for. All my other clients don’t share that info. So I’m left feeling like I’m talking to the vast nothing of space. But that’s not true here. I can see how I’m doing. I can tell that pieces like my Arizona Sunshine article (which isn’t even that good, lets be honest) has been getting a lot of search engine traffic. Not because of quality, but because I was addressing an issue that no one else seemed to.

One of my most viewed articles this year was The Animatronic, a post I made explaining and showing off a work in progress bot I had developed to play Five Nights at Freddy’s for me (still not finished, I know).

It’s been a great year, and I’m super grateful for your viewership. You dudes are the best, thank you. Here’s to looking at another good year!

New Website, Again!

By Branden

On October 22, 2018

In Uncategorized

Hello readers and people who came here out of a social obligation. I have an update to tell you about regarding TheLizardRock. As you may have noticed, the website layout has updated to something a bit more fluid But I’ll also be changing the way I’ll be posting.

Tuesday 8-21-18: Hat in Time DLC/Co-op/Switch Port, Sekiro’s Release Date, Twitch Prime Ad Changes, Life is Strange 2 Reveal Trailer

By Branden

On August 21, 2018

In Uncategorized

It’s a heavy news day! Lots to discuss. So here’s a rare, four-topic news post. Forgive me if they’re small segments.

A Hat in Time DLC, Co-op, Switch Port
FROM’s Sekiro’s Release Date
Twitch Prime Ad Changes
Life is Strange 2 Reveal Trailer

Two Hats in Time

Remember A Hat In Time, the adorable 3D platformer released not long ago? Developers Gears for Breakfast recently released an announcement trailer detailing their upcoming DLC. Titled “Seal the Deal,” it features a cruise ship run by adorable seals. They also announce a new game mode called Death Wish, which is like an extra difficult boss mode. They then announce a new co-op update is coming to the PC game on September 13. Lastly, they announce a Nintendo Switch version of the game, which will be “coming soon.” Perhaps we’ll have to make a Cozy Co-op episode about a Hat in Time soon.

Sekiro Release Date

According to a tweet by the game’s official Twitter, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has a release date! March 22 of next year. Originally in Japanese, the tweet roughly translates to the following.

‘”Sekiro: SHADOWS DIE TWICE” will be released simultaneously worldwide on Friday, March 22, 2019. I hope you’ll enjoy it.’

So hey, that’s cool. It’s not too far away when you think about it.

Twitch Prime, Now with Ads

When Amazon bought out Twitch, the popular live streaming service, they implemented a new special status called Twitch Prime. This was a free upgrade to Twitch users who also had Amazon Prime. It offered the same benefits as Twitch Turbo, an alternate upgrade service.

One of the features of Twitch Prime was ad-free viewing. There are quite a few ads on Twitch, so having a way to mitigate them without an ad blocker was quite appealing. Now Twitch has announced that Twitch Prime will no longer offer ad-free viewing, starting next month. Twitch Turbo will continue to offer the service, however. So those wanting ad-free viewing will have to add another nine dollars a month.

Frustrating, to say the least.

Life is Strange 2

At long last, we have a trailer for Life is Strange 2. Instead of me talking about it, since I don’t have much to say, how about I just post the video below?

That’s all for today, tune in tomorrow for more fun, flirty news. Otherwise, have a great day!

Taking a Couple-Day Break

By Branden

On August 9, 2018

In Uncategorized

Short announcement for y’all.

You may have noticed no news post yesterday. With direct commissions coming in and QuakeCon starting today, I’m going to be extra extra busy with clients. To help manage this increased workload, I’ll be taking today and tomorrow off from news reporting on the site here. I apologize for the inconvenience this may bring you, and I appreciate the understanding.

Sorry! I’ll be back Monday.

Wednesday 7-25-18: Overwatch’s Wrecking Ball,Guacamelee! 2 Release Date, Retro Commodore 64 Mini

By Branden

On July 25, 2018

In Uncategorized

Do you like announcements? Then today is a good day! Here’s the news.

Wrecking Ball is Available in Overwatch
Guacamelee! 2 Release Date Announced
The Retro Commodore 64 Mini is Coming to the States

Hammond is Here

You may recall a while ago, Blizzard announced that a new fighter was coming. He was Hammond the hamster, and he rolled around in a giant mechanical ball. Dubbed “Wrecking Ball,” the new character is now available for all players in standard games. Have fun!

Guacamelee! 2 Release Date

According to a recent announcement on the PlayStation YouTube (and presumably other places), The sequel to the popular Mexican food platformer will be released on August 21, 2018. Preorders are available now for those interested. I never got into the game, personally. So I can’t tell you much about it.

The Retro Commodore 64 Mini

Smaller versions of retro game consoles are all the rage lately. Nintendo really kickstarted it with the NES Mini. A while back, Europe was given a Retro Commodore 64 Mini product. It would receive average feedback, with such complaints as stiff controls and games lacking any staying power. Regardless, the console will be coming to the States on October 9 of this year. Estimated price is $80.

That’s all for today, folks. Thanks for reading. Tune in tomorrow for another news. Otherwise, have a great day!

Tuesday 6-26-18: Captain Spirit is Out, Fallout for Charity, and Mario Kart Labo

By Branden

On June 26, 2018

In Uncategorized

Long day yesterday, I almost overslept. Here’s the news.

Captain Spirit is Available
Fallout 76’s Country Roads for Charity
Nintendo Adds Mario Kart Support for Labo

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

If you tuned in to this year’s E3, you may have heard about Captain Spirit. The demo game follows 9-year-old Chris and his endless imagination, taking place in the Life is Strange universe. The single chapter game is not available on Steam. Your decisions in this will reportedly have an impact on when you play Life is Strange 2.

Fallout for Charity

When Fallout 76 was announced, it was to the tune of John Denver’s Country Roads. Since then, the cover has become the flagship tune for the game. Now Bethesda is taking the revitalized passion further. On July 4 (yep, Independence day), they will be releasing the cover on iTunes, where all the proceeds will be going to Habitat for Humanity. They’ve won my patronage, for sure. You can hear a segment of the song in the Fallout 76 E3 trailer.

Mario Kart Labo

Don’t you wish you could play Mario Kart with cardboard? Will if you own the Nintendo Labo, then you can! Nintendo recently announced that Mario Kart 8 for Nintendo Switch will support the Toy-Con Motorbike build from the Labo Variety Pack. Simply select the Labo option in the game menu. Up to 4 people can play this way, though each will need their own joycons and Labo builds.

Neat news day, let’s keep it up! Tune in tomorrow for the latest video game news. Or don’t, I’m not your keeper. Anyways, have a great day!

Monday 6-25-18: SGDQ, Bethedsa Sues Westworld, and Forza Horizon Roster Leak

By Branden

On June 25, 2018

In Uncategorized

Talk about a lazy weekend. Here’s the news.

Summer Games Done Quick Begins
Bethesda Sues Westworld Devs
Forza Horizon 4’s Car Roster Leaked

SGDQ 2018

Summer Games Done Quick, for those who don’t know, is an annual event where video game speed runners gather together to broadcast tons of various speed runs over the span of a few days. It’s a giant charity event, so expect to see frequent donations, all of which go toward Doctors Without Borders. It’s honestly a good time. A bunch of gaming nerds getting together to do something good for the world. I normally have the live stream going while I work. More information can be found at the GamesDoneQuick website.

Bethesda Dropping the Hammer

Some of you may have noticed that Westworld now has a mobile game. You may also have noticed that said game bears a striking resemblance to Fallout Shelter. This is because the studio hired to make Fallout Shelter is the same hired for the Westworld game. Bethesda is taking legal action against these developers, claiming it copied the code from Fallout Shelter.

While you can’t own a genre of video games, you CAN own the specific code needed to make a game. When this studio developed Fallout Shelter, they signed a contract stating that Bethesda owns all code made for the game. Bethesda now believes the developer re-used this code for development on Westworld. They’re so certain because they were able to replicate a camera glitch in Westworld that acts the exact same way as one from Fallout Shelter. If that isn’t the most Bethesda thing ever.

Forza Roster Leaked

Those who pre-ordered Forza Horizon 4 noticed that the game had downloaded some game files early. Puzzled by this, they dug into these files to see what they could find. The results were impressive. There appears to be a roster of over 450 vehicles listed for the game. This has sparked some discussion as to the limited presence of certain vehicles and brands (There’s like.. 3 Toyotas). The Forza Twitter has stated that the download is an error, and you are safe to delete them before the game properly downloads. You can find the full list of vehicles at this Reddit post by willbsn13. And can I say? My god these screenshots look nice.

Time to put the nose back to the grindstone, eh? Thank’s for tuning in. I hope all the new folk coming in from that Facebook ad are enjoying it. Feel free to provide feedback if something isn’t to you’re liking. Come back tomorrow for another news post. I’ll try to get another guest review up soon. Otherwise, have a great day!

Friday 6-22-18: Dead or Alive Xtreme Pulling Clothes, No More Friday the 13th DLC, and More Burnout-Style Games

By Branden

On June 22, 2018

In Uncategorized

It’s a mildly warm, moderately damp Friday, folks. Make of that what you will. Here’s the news.

Dead or Alive Xtreme Update Pulls Clothing
No More DLC for Friday the 13th
Burnout Devs Making Two New Games

Dead or Alive Extreme Venus Vacation

It started with beach volleyball, it evolved into casual and mildly erotic lounging on a vacation island, and eventually grew into something not even allowed in the United States. Dead or Alive Extreme Venus Vacation is the latest in the line of these games. With a new update, the game now includes clothes tugging. If you’re familiar with the franchise, then this is simply another Dead or Alive Extreme game. If you aren’t familiar, well you can watch the trailer.

Friday the 13th DLC

Do you recall the Friday the 13th game released last year? It was an asymmetrical horror action game where one player controls Jason while the 4 others are camp counselors. A while back, the game was experiencing some difficulties legally. A copyright lawsuit between the director of the original Friday the 13th movie, Sean Cunningham, and the film’s writer, Victor Miller had broken out, leaving the game in a rather stuck state. Recently developer head Wes Keltner made a statement regarding how this will affect future content for the game. He explained that while the dispute is active, they cant add ANYTHING to the game, copyrighted or otherwise. He also explained that when you put on hold for so long like this, starting back up again “when its over” is almost impossible. For these reasons, the studio will not be producing any more content for the game, and will only be providing bug fixes and server management. My sympathies for those who play the game.

Not More Burnout Games

Remember the crazy crashes and wreckage of Burnout? What if I told you that former Burnout creators Fiona Sperry and Alex Ward made their own company, Three Fields Entertainment, and plan to release two new games, both with a focus on crashing and chaos? Regardless of what you think, that’s already happening. The company has announced Danger Zone 2 and Dangerous Driving.

Danger Zone 2 is the sequel to the “Crash Zone” style game released years prior. This time, you’re busting your way into city streets. Dangerous Driving is an arcade racer featuring crashes, boosts, and other hectic ideas. More Info on these games as it becomes available.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading! I’ve been aching for this weekend, that’s for sure. Tune in Monday for more news. Otherwise, have a great day.

Thursday 6-21-18: No Xbox VR, Street Fighter Loot Boxes, and Pokemon Go Assault Case

By Branden

On June 21, 2018

In Uncategorized

I didn’t do news again. It’s been a lethargic week, honestly. But not today! Here’s the news.

Microsoft Moves Away from Xbox VR
Street Fighter 5 Gets Lootboxes
Men Beat up Another Over Pokemon Go

No Xbox VR

According to an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Microsoft’s chief marketing officer of gaming Mike Nichols says that the company has no specific plans to bring VR or Mixed Reality to the Xbox consoles. This is a touch surprising to me, as the PlayStation VR continues to be one of the most accessible and affordable VR options on the market, and sony is reaping in the benefits accordingly.

Street Fighter 5 Loot Boxes

A recent update to the popular fighting game adds a somewhat controversial feature: randomized loot. Menat, one of the playable characters, has started up a fortune shop, where players can spend 500 Fight Money, the in-game currency, and you get a reading. These readings award the player with randomized items. These items, including cosmetics, can only be used in single player game modes, so this will not affect multiplayer functionality. Why add this so late is beyond me.

Pokemon Go Assault

A 71-year-old man and his adult son beat up a Pokémon Go player in Kirkwood recently. According to bystanders, the victim had accused the pair of cheating at the game and threw a Gatorade bottle into their car. This prompted the two to exit the vehicle and assault the man, one holding him down while the other struck him repeatedly. The two are facing third-degree assault charges while the victim is being treated for his injuries. Jesus Christ people, can we not just play a game without being angry at each other? The victim shouldn’t have been, forgive my language, a dickhead. But the pair of men took it way too far attacking a dude.

That’s all for today. Check back tomorrow for another news segment thing probably. I have another guest review coming, just need to format it, so stay tuned for that. Otherwise, have a great day!

Tuesday 5-29-18: PUBG Sues Fortnite, Denuvo Vampyr, Battlepacks 5

By Branden

On May 29, 2018

In Uncategorized

It’s been a long week, and it’s only Tuesday. Here’s the news.

PUBG Sues Fortnite
Vampyr is Denuvo Free
Battlefield 5 Says “No More Battlepacks”

Legal Royale

The Korean Times recently reported that PUBG Corp., a division of Korean developer Bluehole, filed an injunction, alleging copyright infringement, with the Seoul Central District Court against Epic Games Korea over the similarities between PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Fortnite: Battle Royale. PUBG has a tendency to be sue-happy, and Fortnite is one of many, many battle royale games. To me, this seems like a greater stretch than they can hope for.

Denuvo Slayer

The highly anticipated RPG by the developers of Life is Strange is growing ever closer to launch. When asked about whether the game uses Denuvo, an infamous DRM software installation, the Vampyr Twitter responded confirming that they will not be. This is good to hear.

Battlepacks

There’s been talk going around about how Battlefield 5 says it won’t have randomized loot boxes. Given the history of EA, many people, myself included, don’t trust them. When questioned, the Battlefield Twitter stated that “There are no more Battlepacks. Instead, players will be able to choose their rewards directly or through rank up events.” While I’m happy the loot box idea is being forgotten, I remain cautious just the same.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading. Tune in tomorrow for more news. Otherwise, have a great day!

Thursday 2-8-18: Scrolls Servers and Far Cry Friends

By Branden

On February 8, 2018

In Uncategorized

Oofta, so much done today. I’m tired, and I still need to make a Gespacho. Here’s the news.

Scrolls Servers Shutting Down
Far Cry 5 Companions

The End of The Scroll

Remember Scrolls? It was that Mojang game that Bethesda filed a lawsuit over. The game’s official servers will be closing down soon. February 13, to be exact. To send it off, they will have a “play with devs” day on the 9th, and a community tournament on the 11th. You can find more details about all of this in their announcement post.

Far Cry Friends

Ubisoft released a new trailer for Far Cry 5, this time showing off some new character that will accompany the player. This is a new feature to the series, adding another customizable aspect to gameplay. People are excited, because one of the companions is, in fact, a dog. Check out the trailer here.

Thanks for reading. Not much happening today, maybe more tomorrow. Be sure to check back then for the news. Otherwise, have a great night!

Monday 1-8-18: DragonBall Specs, Fortnite Lag, MH Beta, Belgium, and GDQ.

By Branden

On January 9, 2018

In Uncategorized

So much weekend news! Jeeeez. Here’s everything from both today and the 2 days prior.

Dragonball FighterZ PC Specs Revealed
Epic Addresses Recent Fortnite Issues
Monster Hunter World Gets One Final Beta
Belgium Clarifies its Previous Lootbox Statement
Controversy with the GDQ Twitch Chat

Dragonball FighterZ Specs
Bandai Namco have announced the minimum and required specs for Dragonball FighterZ. They are as follows:
Minimum Requirements

Windows 7/8/10 (64bit OS)
AMD FX-4350, 4.2 GHz/Intel Core i5-3470, 3.20 GHz
4 GB RAM
Radeon HD 6870, 1GB/GeForce GTX 650 Ti, 1 GB
DirectX11
DirectX Compatible Soundcard/chipset

Recommended Requirements

Windows 7/8/10 (64bit OS)
AMD Ryzen 5 1400, 3.2GHz/Intel Core i7-3770, 3.40 GHz
8 GB RAM
Radeon HD 7870, 2GB/GeForce GTX 660, 2GB
DirectX11
DirectX Compatible Soundcard/chipset

This is for PC, if you hadn’t guessed.

Epic Explains Fortnite Issues
Recently there has been a technical vulnerability called Meltdown. This bug allowed you to access CPU processes one would otherwise not be allowed to access. When Epic updated their cloud software to protect themselves from the bug, it caused a huge spike in CPU usage. This has resulted in gameplay issues and login issues. Epic apologizes for the problems, and is working towards fixing it as soon as they can.

Yet Another Monster Hunter Beta
That’s right, another one. This one will be from January 18 at 6:00 PM PST until January 21 at 6:00 PM PST. Only PlayStation members will be able to participate. This is only a few days before the game’s console release of January 26. There will be new monsters in this beta session, including the game’s flagship monster, the Nergigante. I’m sold on this game at this point, though some early game time is certainly fine by me.

Capcom has also announced that one of the returning beasts to Monster Hunter World will be the Deviljho, the powerful monster known for eating its own severed tail.

Belgium Clarifies They’re Plans
Last year we heard that Belgium’s gaming commission is looking to ban loot boxes in video games because they are gambling. Recently they have clarified that they have not made an official conclusion, but that they are beginning investigation towards that concept. They are also looking into eSports betting. There will be more to report on this once the gaming commission reaches a conclusion.

GDQ Chat Causes Controversy
At This year’s GDQ, the organizers decided to set the official Twitch stream into Sub Only mode in order to reduce spam and make it easier to moderate. They stated that all sub earnings would be donated to charity. Regardless, people were unhappy they had to pay to chat, so people flooded over to account channels made purely with the intent of hosting GDQ and allowing users to chat as they want. Funny enough, one major host account, GDQ_Poverty, was flooded with hateful comments and remarks, resulting in the channel being banned. Its a big mess, you can read more about it in the news post I wrote here.

So… Much.. News…
Today was a rough day. My day job ran 2 hours longer than normal, and as you can see, lots of weekends news. Forgive me if my writing isn’t its strongest. I finished a new longform article about mobile apps that are video game styled life organizers, you can read about it here. Be sure to check back tomorrow for the latest news. Otherwise I’m writing to a brick wall. Otherwise, have a great night!