Continuing its goal of ruining PC gaming for everybody except itself, Microsoft has announced that Games for Windows (generally accepted by everybody as a load of old shit) is getting a brand new Marketplace and a more user-friendly interface. Yeah, that’ll stop it being a totally unnecessary poor man’s Steam. Responding to user feedback, Microsoft has reduced the number of steps required to purchase products, and will also start accepting credit cards as well as Live Points....

Nearly 100 demos on the dashboard The Summer Game Fest is doing what it can to bring the spirit of video game conventions to the stuck-at-home public. Part of that is the Steam Game Festival which brought900-some demosto PC a few weeks ago. Later this month, Xbox gets in on the action. Microsoft has announced that it’s laying down the beach towel, setting up shop under a comically-big umbrella, spreading sunscreen across the bridge of its nose, and bringing some toys for everyone to play with....

Yesterday,Slayer Pinball Rocks HDhit the App Store. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a pinball game with a Slayer-themed table, featuring the music of Slayer. More specifically, it features music from the band’s latest albumWorld Painted Blood. Slayer’s Tom Araya will also yell at you, growling things like “balls of steel” as you begin your game and “neutralized” when you lose a ball. I’m told the game also features rhythm mini-games, but I’m really, really awful at pinball, and haven’t seen them yet....

Last Blade 2 rocks SNK used to be a powerhouse back in the day. The very first fighting game I can recall playing isn’tStreet Fighter, butKing of Fightersat a Fun Factory — I picked Andy Bogard and didn’t really like him, eventually gravitating to Terry. For years they pumped out hit after hit, and that includes the underratedLast Bladeseries. Now everyone can experience the greatness ofLast Blade 2on May 24, when it arrives on the PS4 and Vita platforms....

Video games win again The “Dragon Quest day” legend lives on forever. I remember hearing about it as a kid, and you probably have heard about it at times. The phenomenon whereDragon Questrelease days are either legislated by the Japanese government or are allotted “holidays” for people to take off during a release. It’s notexactlytrue, butDragon Questreleases have had interesting impacts on the cultural fabric of Japan. It was confirmed, years later,that Enix deliberately moved releases to Saturdays under public pressurebecause kids were skipping school for it....

Become master of the universe from a safe location Targem Games has taken to thePlayStation Blogto talk up itsPlanets Under Attack, which saw a console release today on PlayStation Network. It’s another one of those slimmed-down strategy games in the same vein asEufloria. There is something intrinsically satisfying about sending fleets off to distance planets from such a pulled-back perspective, so I hope this one turns out well. It’s certainly got a style of its own, but I didn’t get a real sense of how far the game goes....

One of the biggest complaints aboutPokemongames are that they’re all the same. Of course, we know that’s no more true than saying allStreet Fightergames are the same, or that allCall of Dutygames are the same. Just like with those two series, the surface details may be similar amongst the variousPokemongames, but the mechanics, the graphics, and most importantly, the weapons and characters (or in other words, the Pokemon) are different depending on which game you’re playing....

Ubisoft gave us the opportunity to get our hands on the Nintendo DS version ofPrince of Persia: The Fallen Kinga few weeks back, and it was pretty surprising. Not because the game was good or bad — I’ll withold my judgments until I get some more time with it. I was surprised because the game is controlled entirely using the stylus. Tapping the screen would move the adorable little super-deformed Prince, tapping would cause him to attack, tapping and holding would make him defend; tapping walls would make him hop on them....

It’s part of the Capcom Arcade Stadium Just a few days ago,Capcom Arcade Stadiumsurprise-dropped following a last-minute Nintendo Direct. The gist is that it includes bundles of old Capcom games, including stuff likeGhosts ‘n Goblins. See what I did there? That’s the one that’s free through today! As a reminder, you have until the end of the day to redeem your free copy of the classic maddening platformer. Here’s a full breakdown....

Rainbow Six Siege‘s 5v5 tactical-shooter gameplay is among the best in its genre. In any given match, gamers play as the Attackers and Defenders, taking turns to complete specific objectives on both sides. At the start of each match, players get to choose their Operators – characters who have different weapons and gadgets. Of course, not allRainbow Six SiegeOperators are created equal, though. There are 74 in total, 37 on each side, many of which are naturally more useful than others....

Do ittttttt Think of this as a public service announcement. SoSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s Piranha Plant fighter is set to debut in February. The thing is, it’s tied directly to a promotion and not linked to the Fighter’s (Season) Pass. So if you want it for free, you’ll need to register your copy before the end of the month. To do that, just insert your Smash cart, press start/+, go to the My Nintendo Rewards section, then register the game....

Chainsaw everything I don’t know about you, but when I think of a chainsaw incident, I think of Christian Bale dropping one down several flights and killing a woman inAmerican Psycho. Or maybethat sceneinScarface. Chainsaws are pretty horrible, really. Which is why they’re a great figurehead for a brand new, hand drawn, horror-themed 2D fighter.The Chainsaw Incidentcomes from Or1go and Crazy Piranha. Not much else to go on outside of this teaser trailer and mention of an impending Kickstarter campaign, but I love me some 2D animation, even if I am terrible at fighting games....

No… no there should not be Usually I try to leave these things open for debate for at least a sentence or two before giving my opinion, but there’s clearly a right answer here. WhileBlade Runner 2049is probably the best result to come out of a needless sequel since this whole needless sequel trend started, I don’t want another in any way, shape or form. I have absolutely no desire for aBlade Runnerseries or universe to be born, and I think the more that the studio uses it the more it will tarnish what already came....