Companies Partner to Deliver “Atari® Flashback Classics” and “RollerCoaster Tycoon®” Series Software to All Major Consoles in 2018

PRESS RELEASE  UPDATED: NOV 7, 2018 08:14 PST

LOS ANGELES, November 7, 2018 (Newswire.com) – AtGames® Digital Media Inc., a leader in interactive entertainment products, in partnership with Atari®, today announced their complete line-up of exciting software titles for modern consoles. These titles include “Atari® Flashback Classics” Vol. 1 – Vol. 3 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Microsoft Xbox One, “RollerCoaster Tycoon Joyride” for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and enhanced for PlayStation®VR, “Atari® Flashback Classics” for Nintendo Switch, and “RollerCoaster Tycoon® Adventures” for Nintendo Switch. All releases will be available at major U.S. and Canadian retailers this holiday season.

“Atari has an incredible library of classic arcade and home games,” says Dr. Ping-Kang Hsiung, CEO of AtGames. “It’s a true pleasure to bring so many of these all-time classics, including the popular ‘RollerCoaster Tycoon’ franchise, to today’s console gamers.”

Joining “Atari Flashback Classics” Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 this year is Vol. 3, which brings 50 more legendary arcade and home games to PS4 and Xbox One consoles. In addition to more Atari arcade and Atari 2600 console classics like “Atari Basketball” and “Canyon Bomber,” Vol. 3 includes hit titles from M Network, like “Astroblast” and “Dark Cavern,” and a selection of games from the Atari 5200 SuperSystem console, like “Centipede®” and “Star Raiders.” All three volumes together total 150 amazing games. For some online fun, you can check out virgin casino online, where you can get some great promotions.

In “RollerCoaster Tycoon Joyride” for PlayStation 4, players are challenged to build and ride breathtaking roller coasters in thrilling environments with an easy-to-use coaster builder. In a twist on the coaster experience, riders can now shoot down fast-moving targets as they soar through the sky to reach the top of the leaderboards. “RollerCoaster Tycoon Joyride” is enhanced for PSVR, marking a first for the beloved series.

“Atari Flashback Classics” for Nintendo Switch features a stunning selection of 150 of the best Atari arcade, Atari 2600 console, and Atari 5200 SuperSystem console games ever made. This expansive collection represents the first time all of these games have been brought together at one time and takes full advantage of the Switch’s versatile feature-set. It’s the history of Atari for play at home or on-the-go!

“RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures” for Nintendo Switch lets gamers take a trip to the ultimate theme park by building the biggest, wildest, and most thrilling rides ever. Can you make money in this volatile business? Can you become a true rollercoaster tycoon? Only time will tell. Well-designed gameplay mechanics, appealing graphics, and high replay value make this a must-have title for Switch owners.

“Atari Flashback Classics” vol. 1 – 3 for PS4 and Xbox One retail for $19.99 each. “RollerCoaster Tycoon Joyride” retails for PS4 and PSVR retails for $29.99. Atari Flashback Classics for Nintendo Switch retails for $39.99. RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures for Nintendo Switch retails for $49.99.

About AtGames

AtGames Digital Media Inc. (http://www.atgames.net) is a leader in innovative consumer-oriented interactive entertainment products. The company leverages the latest technology to develop and publish its best-selling classic videogame products for worldwide distribution. AtGames is based in Los Angeles, with international offices in Taipei and Shenzhen.

 About Atari

Atari is an interactive entertainment company. As an iconic brand that transcends generations and audiences, the company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like “Asteroids®,” “Centipede®,” “Missile Command®,” “Pong®” and “RollerCoaster Tycoon®.” Atari has offices in New York and Paris. Visit us online at www.Atari.com.

Media Contact
pr@atgames.net

Source: AtGames Digital Media Inc.

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AtGames® Announces 2018 Line-Up of Atari® Branded Consoles and Handheld Products

Company to Deliver a Diverse Line-up of Atari® Branded High Definition HDMI-based Console and Handheld Products in 2018

PRESS RELEASE  UPDATED: OCT 24, 2018 08:03 PDT

LOS ANGELES, October 24, 2018 (Newswire.com) –  AtGames® Digital Media Inc., a leader in interactive entertainment products, today announced their complete line-up of Atari® branded console and handheld products. This diverse line-up of products includes three exciting entries in the Blast! Family Fun series of HDMI dongle and wireless controller bundles, Atari Flashback® 9 and 9 Gold consoles, and the latest version of the Atari Flashback® Portable. These new hardware products, like the Virgin Games promo code 2019, will be available at major U.S. and Canadian retailers this holiday season.

“Atari’s exceptional range of classic home video games has always felt at home on AtGames’ products,” says Dr. Ping-Kang Hsiung, CEO of AtGames. “For 2018, we’ve introduced an impressive line-up of six new Atari-branded products, so families everywhere can more easily enjoy playing these legendary hits in the form factor of their choosing.”

The Blast! family of Atari-branded products includes the Atari Flashback® Blast! Vol. 1 and Atari Flashback® Blast! Vol. 2, which both come with a USB-powered HDMI dongle that plugs directly into your TV, and an ergonomic six button wireless gamepad. The Atari Flashback® Blast! Vol. 3 swaps the wireless gamepad for a pair of wireless game paddles, which are specially optimized for its selection of classic paddle and ball games. Additional wireless controllers are available for purchase so the fun can be shared with friends and family.

Atari Flashback® Blast! Vol. 1 features 20 Atari 2600 classics like Centipede®, Millipede®, and Yars’ Revenge®. Atari Flashback® Blast! Vol. 2 features 20 Atari 2600 classics like Adventure, Asteroids®, and Missile Command®. Atari Flashback® Blast! Vol. 3. features 20 Atari 2600 paddle-based classics like Breakout®, Pong®, and Warlords®.

The Atari Flashback® 9 features 110 Atari 2600 classics and favorites like Frogger, Gyruss and Jungle Hunt, high definition HDMI output, and two wired joystick controllers modeled after the originals. The Atari Flashback® 9 Gold features 120 Atari 2600 classics and favorites like BurgerTime and Space Invaders, high definition HDMI output, and two wireless joystick controllers modeled after the originals. Optional wired paddle controllers, exclusively designed for use with the Atari Flashback® 9-series, are available for even more authentic play of the included paddle-based games.

The Atari Flashback® Portable returns in 2018 with new features and an amazing selection of 80 Atari 2600 classics and favorites, including Dig Dug, Pac-Man, and Tutankham. A built-in, rechargeable battery means the on-the-go fun never has to end. Games can be played on the portable’s built-in, high-resolution 2.8” display, or on a TV via optional cable.

Every Atari-branded AtGames product includes an intuitive menu system, save and resume game functionality, and the ability to rewind a game in progress to recover from a play misstep.

All Atari-branded AtGames console and handheld products retail for $19.99 – $69.99.

About AtGames

AtGames Digital Media Inc. (http://www.atgames.net) is a leader in innovative consumer-oriented interactive entertainment products. The company leverages the latest technology to develop and publish its best-selling classic videogame products for worldwide distribution. AtGames is based in Los Angeles, with international offices in Taipei and Shenzhen.

 About Atari

Atari is an interactive entertainment company. As an iconic brand that transcends generations and audiences, the company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong® and RollerCoaster Tycoon.® Atari has offices in New York and Paris. Visit us online at www.Atari.com.

 Media Contact
pr@atgames.net

Source: AtGames Digital Media Inc.

The post AtGames Announces 2018 Line-up of Atari-branded Consoles and Handheld Products! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Microsoft has the Xbox One and Sony has the PlayStation 4.  Both of these are constantly changing and both have received a modern look with a slimmer design, many new features and of course great new games.  Xbox one has entertainment apps and gamers can enjoy Xbox and Xbox 360 games and the PS4 has consistently bought out exclusive games and a console that is very easy to use.  Both of these have a wide and varied range of games and for many gamers the decision when choosing a console is a difficult one.

Games

PS4 and Xbox One feature some of the best games of this generation, such as Monster Hunter: World, Doom, Resident Evil 7, Shovel Knight, Inside and Rocket League for the Xbox One fans.  Xbox One also has excellent first party games like Halo 5 and Sunset Overdrive and the very popular shooter game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds can only be played on Xbox One.  Most of the sports games are compatible with both consoles but exclusive to PS4 is the Show series.  PS4 has come out with games like Uncharted 4, Zero Dawn and many other exclusives. PS4 has more fighting games like Street Fighter V and Revelator 2 while Xbox fans can exclusively enjoy Killer Instinct.  2018 Brings with it new games for both PS4 and Xbox One. Neither console offers easy access to casino no deposit games, but they make up for it in many ways.

Backwards Compatibility

Gamers will not necessarily need the Xbox One to play Microsoft’s popular first party games as many of them can be played on Xbox One and Windows 10 thanks to Play Anywhere.  For gamers who have Xbox 360 games it would be a good step up to buy the Xbox One.  Over 400 of the Xbox 360 games can be played on the Xbox One and even some of the 2001 Xbox games are compatible. PS4 gamers can also enjoy older games, but at a cost.  There are a few PS2 games which can be played on the new PS4, but for around $15 per game.  PS4 is compatible with PS3 games by way of PlayStation Now where gamers can stream titles directly from the cloud for a monthly or annual fee.

Microsoft on the other hand using Xbox Game Pass allows gamers access to more than 100 Xbox One and 360 games which can be downloaded for a small fee.

Specifications

Both have slim attractive designs and both are easily transportable.  The latest PS4 is a bit smaller but not does not have an input for gaming headsets.  The PS4 Pro is a bit bigger while the Xbox One X is slimmer than the Xbox One S.  Both consoles come with 500GB of storage space and both can easily connect an external hard drive if more space is needed.  The PS4 has the option of putting in a SATA drive.  The Xbox One controller pad has textured grips while the DualShock 4 is ergonomically designed with a reactive light bar and touchpad.  The PS4 controller will also support a micro USB charger while Xbox One will either require batteries or a charging kit.  The PS4 headset supports VR while Xbox One does not.

Xbox One X

Both consoles have their good and bad points, but ultimately it does often come down to which brand a gamer is more loyal to, and what experience they are expecting from their consoles.

The post Choosing between Xbox and PlayStation appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Classic Arcade:

Atari Baseball (Arcade)
Atari Basketball (Arcade)
Atari Football (Arcade)
Atari Soccer (Arcade)
Avalanche (Arcade)
Canyon Bomber (Arcade)
Destroyer (Arcade)
Dominos (Arcade)
Fire Truck / Smokey Joe (Arcade)
Maze Invaders (Arcade)
Monte Carlo (Arcade)
Pool Shark (Arcade)
Super Bug (Arcade)

Atari 2600:

Adventure II (2600)
Air Raiders (2600)
Aquaventure (2600)
Armor Ambush (2600)
Astroblast (2600)
Dark Cavern (2600)
Frog Pond (2600)
Frogs and Flies (2600)
Holey Moley (2600)
International Soccer (2600)
MotoRodeo (2600)
Saboteur (2600)
Sea Battle 2600)
Sky Diver (2600)
Space Attack (2600)
Star Strike (2600)
Super Challenge Baseball (2600)
Super Challenge Football (2600)
Sword Fight (2600)
Wizard (2600)
Yars’ Return (2600)

Atari 5200:

Asteroids (5200)
Centipede (5200)
Countermeasure (5200)
Final Legacy (5200)
Micro-gammon (5200)
Millipede (5200)
Miniature Golf (5200)
Missile Command (5200)
Realsports Baseball (5200)
Realsports Basketball (5200)
Realsports Football (5200)
Realsports Tennis (5200)
Realsports Volleyball (5200)
Star Raiders (5200)
Super Breakout (5200)
Xari Arena (5200)

The post Atari Flashback Classics: Volume 3 (2018) (PS4, Xbox One) – The Official Game List appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

We now see computers as a normal part of everyday life, and with time the power and capabilities of the machines have improved drastically, as have the games available for us to play on them!

We’ve seen arcade games, shooter games, exploration games, and even space themed casino’s getting in on the action.

So, now we’re in 2018, what are the 5 best examples where the world of video games and the realms of space have collided in our entertainment systems?

1. Alien: Isolation – Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PC/Mac.

Alien: Isolation has really impressed us. A genuinely terrifying horror shooter game, which wins us over with crisp graphics, emitting a fusion of clarity and grittiness that we really enjoy, and a soundtrack that actually won it a BAFTA Games Award for Audio Achievement in 2015.

The game boasts a lengthy and involving story line, whilst the smart AI ensures that the game remains beautifully unpredictable throughout. 

2. No Man’s Sky – Available on: PS4, PC.

When No Man’s Sky was released in 2016, it impressed us both with its playability and concept; but, following several updates, the game in 2018 is truly set out to be a wonder. No Man’s Sky is a space exploration, adventure, and survival game all wrapped in to one. It made headlines on the run up to its release, as its environment is AI generated as the user plays, allowing a truly ever-explorable universe, full of new planets with new atmospheres, environments, and make-up. 

3. Destiny 2 – Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC.

Destiny 2 was released on the 6^th September 2017, following the mass success of the first iteration in the series. It builds on the first release with even more pristine graphics and a crazy, multi-player, shoot ‘em up action, that many other titles would be envious of! 

4. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC.

The first Call of Duty game was released way back in 2003 and whilst future releases of the franchise were received well, they were upgrades on the same formula. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare brings a fresh perspective from a space-side position. This one stands out for a great story and graphics that made our jaws drop. 

5. Doom – Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC.

The first ever Doom was released as shareware in December of 1993 as an MS-DOS PC game. From that first ever release with its blocky graphics, the series has morphed into the beautiful beast we have in 2018! The graphics have (thankfully) seen an enormous overhaul along the way and this game features life-like monsters, beautiful graphics, and a nostalgia that make this game a true gem!

If you’ve played all of the above and you’re looking for something fresh and thrilling to try, we’d recommend you check out the Eve series in the CCP Publisher Sale, where you can currently get up to 50% off with our link.

The post Top 5 Video Games Set In Space appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

1. Xbox One X (Best for Graphics): It features some of the most powerful tech in gaming systems today. It has the most powerful display with the highest sense of realism from a current gaming console. It contains 6 trillion floating point operations per second with 326GB/s and 12GB GDDR RAM, which gives it the most graphical horsepower in rendering native 4K HD graphics at 60 frames/second. All Xbox One games are compatible and can run better on Xbox One X. Microsoft continues to bring enhanced original Xbox and Xbox 360 backward compatible games to the system too. 

2. PlayStation 4 Pro 1Tb Console (Most popular): Sony’s PlayStation 4 has captured 62 percent of the market with close to 64 million sold Worldwide. Its latest model, PlayStation 4 Pro, is an updated version and even more powerful and robust. It features higher frame rates for its PS4 games, many to 60 frames/second with video streaming and 4K HD gaming, as well as twice the GPU power of a standard PS4. PS4’s huge library of 1648 games can all be played with this Pro version, many with enhancements. The features like playing Blu-ray discs, its multimedia functionality, streaming TV, music, and more with downloadable games and dedicated apps on its PlayStation store makes the system popular. 

3. Nintendo Switch (Best for Mobility): Initially, Nintendo Switch was marketed as a mobile gaming system that could be played on your TV at home as well as it could be carried along wherever you go. This innovative console makes it an easy play-on-the-go console as well as its split screen options helps you play with friends. The Nintendo Switch has partnered with more than 50 third party publishers for developing its future games. The Switch makes for a great system for parties with its mobile snap-off joy-con controllers. Once removed from its docking station, it acts like a tablet with its own dedicated screen that can be shared with others via split-screen multiplayer games.

4. Xbox 360 E console (Best Value): Under $200, Xbox 360 E is one of the best value gaming consoles that comes with a wireless controller, built-in Wi-Fi, and one month of Xbox Live Gold (online multiplayer and online premium service for shopping). It holds a 4GB hard drive, which is expandable up to 500GB with an add-on media hard drive. It features over 1200 Xbox 360 games in its library (and is compatible with select Xbox games), on-demand HD movies, TV streaming, as well as a built-in DVD player so that gamers never get bored. This model is an updated version of its former incarnation and is well-established in every aspect from reliability to price, and assures a long life to come as a complete budget console. 

5. Nintendo 3DS XL (Best Handheld Console): The dual-screen portable handheld system in Nintendo 3DS XL console boasts real 3D capabilities, a library of over 1224 games, and is backward compatible with Nintendo DS games. From its 8-bit handheld Gameboy System, Nintendo has developed the line to its current robust and powerful face-tracking, 3D-capable, Wi-Fi enabled Nintendo 3DS XL system. It can play local and online multiplayer, so that you can play with other 3DS owners in your neighbourhood or around the world. It measures 1.5*7.1*5.1 inches, weighs 1.1 pounds, and comes in various unique colours.

You could buy these gaming consoles for a reasonable price at Couponobox.com. It offers you coupon codes on anything that you purchase online in the US, and a wide range of brands and products to choose from. So why wait? Start gaming and have fun!

The post Top 5 Gaming Consoles You Should Try Now! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Of course, Sony haven’t always got everything right with the PlayStation (with this example of a presentation issue perhaps one of the funnier failures that they have overseen). In addition, it should be mentioned that some gamers are now looking at retro consoles, like the soon-to-be-released Atari console (the first in over 20 years), for their dose of console fun. However, there is no doubting the sheer might of the PS4 in 2017, and one of the many reasons behind this boom has been PlayStation Plus.

A Charge but a Benefit

On the PS3 and the PS Vita, playing online games was a free experience but the PS4 has seen a change in model to something similar to Xbox Live Gold. However, while the Xbox model had won some plaudits, it was largely seen as only being worth buying if you wanted to play online games and largely being a bit of an empty shell otherwise (Microsoft in turn eventually followed the PlayStation Plus model of free monthly games). In contrast to this, PlayStation Plus has delivered not only online multiplayer gaming but has also shown by its recent releases that it has started to feed out decent quality free games to those who choose to subscribe to it.

IMAGE SOURCE: Flickr.com

Indeed, the recent release in November saw not only a varied range of games, but also a hugely nostalgia-inducing retro game in the form of a Worms game. Worms Battlegrounds not only includes some of the classic elements of the Worms franchise, such as the Holy Hand Grenade, but the inclusion of the game and the chance to play through either single or multi-player options allows gamers the chance to move away from the world of the most popular current games. This proves that those who use PlayStation Plus don’t just need to be committed gamers, but anyone who enjoys casual gaming.

Bringing Some Horror in a New Reality

While the bonus of Worms has of course gone down well (despite the fact that the game itself isn’t viewed brilliantly on Metacritic, where it scores only 62), the real bonus for those who received the November games was the chance to try out the release of the virtual reality-requiring Until Dawn: Rush of Blood game.

The release of this game has seen the horror genre receive even more accolades, building on recent successes that have included a range of online casino brands like Betway Casino that celebrate Halloween and other horror-related themes, and a range of exciting horror games being released for gamers that include the bringing to life of H.P. Lovecraft’s most famous story, the Call of Cathulu. This game has been developed by Cyanide Studio, whilst the release of Days Gone from Bend Studio is set to bring gamers some fun (if you can call it that!) in a post-zombie apocalypse.

IMAGE SOURCE: Flickr.com

The world of horror games is clearly in the ascendency, but it is unclear if this will transfer to the world of smartphones, one of the biggest areas of growth in the world of gaming as a whole, and one that the PlayStation market needs to be able to stay up with. One of the ways that PlayStation are doing this is through the embracing of virtual reality technology, something that Until Dawn: Rush of Blood highlights.

Bringing the Virtual World to Life

Having sold over a million units, it is arguable that the PS VR innovation has seen a degree of success, but the truth of the matter is that the sales have highlighted rather a sluggish start to its shelf-life, compared to the world of augmented reality (which shot to fame with Pokémon Go, having enjoyed over 100 million downloads on the Google Play store alone by the end of August 2017).

These stats are clearly hugely contrasting and hint that people are not yet flocking to virtual reality gaming. It is, therefore, no surprise that PlayStation might start to use PlayStation Plus as a way to help promote this form of gaming, encouraging virtual reality to emerge from taking its first baby steps to become a fully-fledged member of the gaming world.

What More to Come?

The innovative side to PlayStation doesn’t just stop at PlayStation Plus. The PlayStation team has been intelligent and forward-thinking in other areas too, including the investment in eSports, a trend recently echoed by Jennifer Lopez, who has been part of a group who have invested $15 million in this area. With the sport increasing in popularity with each passing month, and with eSports being screened on the BBC, the PlayStation Plus store is just one avenue for PlayStation to help boost its standing in the world of gaming.

It seems clear that the PlayStation team is not just taking your money for online gaming for pure profit, but are actually trying to give a decent return to their customers when it comes to PlayStation Plus.

The post PlayStation Plus: How Are PlayStations Using This Feature? appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Microsoft’s Xbox One X.

First off, every 4K TV supports 4K resolution, which is 3840 pixels × 2160 lines. Compare that to standard HDTVs that support 1080p resolution, which is 1920 pixels x 1080 lines (some smaller TVs still only do 720p resolution, which is 1280 pixels x 720 lines). Obviously, a 4K TV has a nice resolution bump, but, although still beautiful, can sometimes be hard to notice with even the largest televisions considering how far many of us sit from our displays.

Resolution is not the only piece of the puzzle, however. At its simplest, HDR, which stands for High Dynamic Range, is a way to achieve a far greater color gamut than we’ve previously been used to. Many people – including me – claim that HDR is more important than the resolution bump, for instance, making colors pop and bringing out amazing details in shadows. In fact, you can have 1080p HDR content that looks spectacular. Both the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro have support for 4K HDR games and video.

Sony’s PS4 Pro

Unfortunately, not every 4K TV – particularly older 4K TVs or today’s less expensive 4K TVs – support HDR (side note, Dolby Vision is a proprietary HDR-like standard that is even better, but not as widely supported, but is always paired with HDR for the best of both worlds). That means when you break out your shiny new Xbox One X or PS4 Pro and it tests your TV’s feature-set, there will be a lot of non-resolution checkboxes that are crossed out.

As for me, I have an older Vizio 4K TV in our master bedroom that only has 4K resolution. That’s not that important because it’s mostly used for watching a little late night TV before falling asleep. Over the summer, after a good bit of research, I bought a new family room TV, an LG, that supports 4K and HDR/Dolby Vision (and paired it with a good Bose surround sound system; sound is also an important factor with today’s media, and even our master bedroom TV has a decent sound bar). Since we’re now cord cutters, I paired it off with an Apple TV 4K, which supports HDR/Dolby Vision. With such perspective, I can understand why people might be frustrated that their primary 4K TV doesn’t support the wider color gamut.

The LG 75SJ8570 supports both HDR and Dolby Vision

An important final point, of course, is that, as with the slow transition from standard definition TV (SDTV) to HDTV, you specifically need content designed for 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision to take advantage of it. While many Xbox One X and PS4 Pro games support improved resolution and/or color gamut, many others don’t. The same thing with streaming video and even Blu-Rays, i.e., you specifically need a service and/or content that is clearly labeled as supporting 4K/HDR (and, among consoles, only the Xbox One S and X support 4K/HDR Blu-Rays).

So, what do you do if you have a TV that doesn’t support the latest and great standards? The good news is is that consoles like the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro provide other performance benefits outside of resolution or color. This can take the form of things like improved frame rate or dynamic resolution scaling. It’s not ideal if you were counting on your TV to fully support the latest and greatest technology, but obviously not a total loss.

The post In the simplest terms, what your TV needs to take advantage of Xbox One X and PS4 Pro appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

1) The Evil Within 2 (October 13)

The first Evil Within game released back in 2014 delivered some truly amazing moments of survival horror, but just lacked in a couple of areas that prevented it becoming a true classic. That being said, this Bethesda-published game did enough to convince them to make another attempt. Early previews at E3 left horror fans drooling like a herd of zombies. The graphics and much-enhanced gaming interface look set to make this third person trip through hell much more fluid, and hey, it’ll be handily released in time for Halloween!

2) Assassins Creed: Origins (October 27)

Hands up, yeah, we did say we weren’t doing franchises in this preview but we’ll make an exception for very good reasons. This tenth major installment of the franchise finally takes the story to long-awaited ancient Egypt, and as ever looks set to be just as beautiful as ever. However, there is one reason why this episode is set to really determine the future course of the franchise. After apparently years of development, the Assassin’s combat system has been entirely overhauled. One of the long-standing criticisms of AC has always been the repetitive button-tapping nature of combat — this edition puts the player firmly in control of attacks, blocks, parries, and of course dirty tricks. It’ll sink or swim on these improvements, but either way, we can’t wait!

3: Middle Earth: Shadow of War (October 10)

We were expecting this to have been released during the summer, but Warner Interactive pushed the date back a couple of months to iron out some glitches. By the looks of things, it should be worth the wait, as this fantasy third world roleplaying game sets the player out to cause all sorts of hassle for Lord Sauron and his legions. While there’s no doubt the storyline will be epic, there are certain parts of the gameplay dynamic that are also being eagerly anticipated. Dynamic weather and a day/night cycle that actually affects the story, the idea is to make this a far more in-depth adventure game rather than a standard LOTR hack and slasher.

4) Call of Duty: WW2 (November 3)

Let’s face it, the COD games have really not quite hit the grade in recent years. Plenty of long-term fans have been clamoring for ages in demanding a fresh retake of the WW2 battle experience, but with the advantage of cutting edge modern gaming power. Finally, their wish has been granted, and, while the format may sound familiar with the player assuming various Allied personas as they wage their way towards the Rhine, the combat system has been thoroughly revamped. Lying prone will no longer cut it against enemy artillery – players now have to dive for cover, and we’re promised a much more brutal experience than the early games that bred the series success.

5) Project Cars 2 (September 22)

It wouldn’t be winter without a new top-quality racing game, and by early previews, PC2 is set to be the real deal. Featuring pretty much all of the major brands in this edition, the game stands out from the crowd in promising to deliver full VR compatibility as well as being designed specifically with E-sports in mind. While we’re sure the game will be great, this is big news as it shows how VR is likely going to become a major factor in how people enjoy immersive games such as racing sims. The E-sports angle is also particularly interesting and demonstrates how quickly that industry continues to develop.

So there’s a mere handful of the many great games we can look forward to playing at the back end of 2017. There are plenty of other familiar faces, and some games which may just make it this year but more likely will be held back until 2018. Either way, there’s plenty to be getting on with for the time being!

The post Upcoming Games In 2017 That You Cannot Afford To Miss! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

As of now, on the top of my furniture unit, I have the center sound bar, cable box, Xbox One S, PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4 Pro), and Nintendo Switch. The Switch in its dock fits neatly behind the sound bar, while the oversized cable box sits in its only available orientation, horizontal. That left me to stack my Xbox One S on top of my PS4 Pro.

Unfortunately, doing this type of stacking seemed to cause the PS4 Pro to overheat; the center top of its case appears to be a heat transfer point. With the Xbox One S on top, there was no way for this heat to naturally dissipate and/or stay under control. The solution was to place both of those consoles in a vertical position.

The Xbox One S stand in action.

The DOUBI Vertical Stand for Xbox One S is a simple stand that clicks into place on the bottom of the console. While indeed simple, it’s effective, and it has a reasonable low price to match.

The PS4 Pro stand in action.

The Younik PS4 Pro Vertical Stand is similarly a simple stand that encloses the bottom of its console. It’s a little bigger than its Xbox One S counterpart, but then the PS4 Pro is slightly larger and has an angled shape that requires a different type of accommodation. Regardless, it too is effective with a reasonable low price to match.

Living side-by-side in harmony.

It’s hard to muster much enthusiasm for products that are so simple, but it would be disingenuous to ignore the fact that they solve a very real problem without breaking the bank. You can pay a lot more for other vertical stands that are frankly over-engineered.

The post Review: Vertical Stands for PS4 Pro and Xbox One S appeared first on Armchair Arcade.