Julius

Ultimately I think it's an issue either way. I agree with you that the people in charge of VAR and their training/lack of ownership over issues is what needs to be improved, but after years of the Premier League consistently getting it wrong and seeing it used generally much more efficiently and accurately in other leagues/competitions, I think this being pushed forward isn't so much a commentary on the technology itself, but rather the people on charge of it. Teams voting against it, as I see it, aren't viewing against the technology, even if a byproduct of this being passed could be it being removed for the foreseeable future; they're effectively making it a vote of no confidence in the current referring leadership and VAR overseers. Because I do also think it's a big step backwards if it gets removed at this point, some of the nice QOL aspects people don't think about and a lot of the right decisions being made are being overlooked in essentially returning to a Wild West approach. Semi-automated offsides like you highlight are absolutely going to be beneficial as far as I'm concerned, and I would have also liked similar checks extended to corners in the future, because the amount of times I randomly tune in and watch a replay of a shot taking a slight but meaningful deflection off a defender, or being finger-tipped over or around woodwork by a goalkeeper, only to then see a goal kick awarded is insane. I'm in total agreement, but I think any retrospective vote would also have questions raised and be a bit of a mess too, for instance the 100 journalists who comprise the voting jury from the 100 highest-ranked nations in the world – are these then going to be the same journalists who would have voted in 2020? Do they still have the full context of that season in their memory outside of a highlights reel to jog their memory? If any nation has slipped out of the Top 100 since 2020, are they still allowed to have their journalist partake and vote, or would their replacement nation in the rankings have their journalist vote? I think you end up with at least one more additional asterisk based on how the vote would be handled. And so on. I totally agree with you, but I guess if nothing else the questions about the vote here aren't around the winner like they should be - the purpose of the vote ultimately is to find that winner - but rather the process and who then comes 2nd, 3rd, 4th...and so on. The other things I see as nice to have – but history will remember who won, and Lewa is absolutely owed that Ballon D'Or in fairness. It's not a serious question for them to entertain which could be why they would be keen to bypass it if they decide to make it happen. Now, how exactly that would track in a year where there were two or more frontrunners, like in the prime years of Messi vs Ronaldo? I'm not quite sure. But hopefully nothing serious enough ever happens again that France Football takes it on themselves to revolve the centre of the football awards universe around the potential early overreaction and subsequent cancellation of the weakest of the five major leagues in Europe

The Dune hype continues with Dune: Prophecy.

Codename Red has become Shadows and samurai, ninjas and Japan mean it might be my first Assassin's Creed...ever? Outside of a few sessions at friend's houses growing up. In fact, I don't think I've ever bought a AAA Ubisoft game before - for a few reasons - so to have Outlaws and Shadows just a few days apart...well, when it rains, it pours Should be a nice stop-gap during the wait for the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima if nothing else

First look at Joel and Ellie in S2: Well, Joel's hair is longer, but I can't say that Ellie looks much older here. I remember seeing some concerns a while back about how they'd age Ellie up for S2 and a few people said wardrobe and make-up would be big, and I'd say they were right; the giant puffy coat swallowing her up definitely doesn't make her look much older at all.

No vote took place, the award and everything it entails got cancelled when the remainder of the 19/20 Ligue 1 season was cancelled (and seasons in some other countries cut short) due to COVID . Everyone is in agreement that that year's award belongs to him, though now that you mention it, I would be curious to see if they formalised it with a vote or just went ahead and bypassed it on this occasion.

Super Mario Land, Alleyway, and Baseball are all making their way to the service as part of celebrations for the console's 35th anniversary.

France Football (the press behind the Ballon D'Or) are thinking of retroactively awarding Robert Lewandowski the award for 2020, following it's cancellation due to COVID and the cancellation of that Ligue 1 season. Source. This comes following an interview Lewa gave a few weeks back about still wanting the award. Would very much be deserved, for me it would be the most deserved given to a player that isn't Messi or Ronaldo during their era – and yes, as big a fan I am of him, Messi probably deserved it more than Modric back in 2018. Think it really says something that even Messi has come out in the past and said that Lewa deserved it that season. Would love to see it happen, and would make for a nice piece of trivia down the line!

Ooo, love things like this my $15 would get spread like... Zelda ($5) - haven't really talked about what I want exactly from the next Zelda at this point, but I think an open world a quarter the size of the land of Hyrule with a much heavier emphasis on setting, mechanics, traditional dungeons, and characters would be the way I'd go. While BOTW and TOTK both drew heavily from Princess Mononoke, I'd want something closer to the film's scale: a major hub town, a couple of smaller settlements maybe, dungeons and battles spotted about with forest and desert, but in a much more focused area to really saturate the goodness. I feel like shorter distances between points of interest tied with the mechanical ideas of BOTW/TOTK would allow for an interconnectivity between different locations that neither of those games ultimately offered. I'd want to feel like I'm having an impact, too, after the lack of that feeling going from BOTW to TOTK. Oh, and more prominent music, for sure. Donkey Kong ($4) - I don't know why but I just think there's so much that you can do with a 3D DK that modern Nintendo hasn't even attempted and which I'd love to see come to fruition. Fills the 3D platformer idea for me. Star Fox ($3) - do something - ANYTHING - new and interesting with the IP. Having not played any of them myself for any serious length of time, most Star Fox games look the same to me from the outside looking in, and I think it's just an IP ripe with so much potential both in and outside of gaming (rides, animated shows, etc.). Galaxy-wide lite-RPG with an upgradeable ship, ground and flight missions, maybe a lite-strategy mode for some easier large scale space warfare which you can hop into at a moment's notice. F-Zero ($2) - technical showpiece and Mario Kart stand-in while we're building up the install base. Rhythm Heaven ($1) - a quirky little rhythm game to give off the impression that Nintendo could revive any other smaller IP at a moment's notice...but then don't. Give them hope and not the reward, that's the genius of it

Athenian Rhapsody - a seemingly very silly RPG grabbing aspects from Pokémon, Earthbound and Undertale - releases today on all major platforms, including the Nintendo Switch. Been following it on Steam a while now but totally missed that it got a release date at ID@Xbox a few weeks ago. The game's Steam page currently seems to be the best place to find an elevator pitch for the game. @Glen-i wanted to make sure that this was somewhere on your radar if it wasn't already

It's been hilarious watching Bayern implode over the last few months, agreeing to have their manager step down at the end of the season despite being making it deep into the UCL, missing out on long-term prospects such as Alonso and Nagelsmann, seemingly getting denied by everyone and their mother for the treatment of their last couple of managers. Seriously now, just sign Mourinho. Give him a two-year contract and he'd clean up in Germany, especially with this squad, maybe just two or three signings (mainly on the wings). Also: it'd be funny

PlayStation have named Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino as their two new CEOs, effective as of 1st June 2024. Per gamesindustry.biz: And the official Sony press release: Both seem sensible picks to make the step up as leads in software (Hulst) and hardware (Nishino) respectively. I guess only time will tell if they have any real bearing on the direction PlayStation has been heading, as I know myself and others haven't been too keen on their output and focus over the last few years, but having a CEO in place dedicated to the hardware aspect does force one to wonder – is PlayStation seriously considering diving back into the hardware well and dredging something up besides a home console? And could this also signal renewed intent in supporting a VR platform moving forwards?

No problem at all, I'm happy to help Definitely don't want to scream the method from the rooftops because you can never be too cautious with the potential of Nintendo ninjas, but if anyone else has issues with the email (didn't receive it, the link is broken, didn't register interest ahead of today) feel free to @ me in here or drop me a message and I'll be happy to try to help

I'll drop you a message now Sam, I've just had a sneak peek and it seems like it'll still work as it's still showing availability on my end

No problem at all! I'm still surprised it worked

Just tested something which might work - sent you another line

Not sure if it'll work but I've dropped you a PM with the link fingers crossed!

Can confirm: Thanks for the heads-up H-o-T, didn't get the email notification for some reason, despite it sitting firmly at the top of my inbox currently in the queue... Update: there it is

Somehow, Tears of the Kingdom turns one year old today! To commemorate the occasion, Nintendo have released a stunning piece of artwork from one of my favourite moments of the game (link for a phone wallpaper!) And this follows the beautiful piece of art we got just a day before launch last year: Okay, so one year on – for those who have played TOTK, how are you feeling about it now? For me, I'll be honest, it does lack the freshness in the world and I was a bit letdown by the lack of story connectivity to BOTW and progression in Hyrule's various settlements, oh and, well, the UI/mountain of menus kind of suck. But, for me, just to ramble off some of my favourite aspects: there is a stronger emphasis in key moments on its music; I thought the bosses and temples were much improved (Colgera's theme and the Sky Temple hnnnnnnnng); the vertical expansion of the world offered so much more room for exploration; I much prefer the abilities to BOTW's for their accuracy and ambition allowing for a greater sense of sandbox-like creativity and more nuanced, individualised approaches; the treasure trove of secrets; I love the small army battles, the caves, the initial exploration of certain darker areas in the map, and oh...that ending. The final few fights and moments of TOTK's story, for me, are well up there with some of my favourites in gaming, period. It lives in my head rent-free. It was my GOTY last year, sneaking in there at the last second, and of the Zelda games that I have played to completion - which isn't a lot; it's Breath of the Wild, Ocarina of Time, Tears of the Kingdom and Link's Awakening - it is, by far and away, while not a perfect experience, my favourite Zelda experience. (and yes I need to play more Zelda games don't @ me we'll get to those others in due course)

Someone made a Star Wars mod for the game and it looks INCREDIBLE

I'm now super confused about what does and doesn't belong in the "Nintendo Switch Successor Announced" thread; is that not the de facto Switch 2/whatever thread now? Assigning the words "heavy-hitting" to anything Metroid related is kind of wild to me after Dread broke Metroid franchise sales records by selling 3 million units (which, while great for a bit of a series revival, is measly in the grand sum of Nintendo IP) and considering that we haven't had a meaningful update on Prime Remastered sales since it broke the 1 million units sold mark. It's still an incredibly niche franchise. I think the only way Prime 4 ends up a Switch 2 exclusive is if it's a technical showcase for the console which can't physically run on the OG Switch, which I don't think is impossible, because I'd say Metroid is one of the few IP Nintendo has where I do think it can be given a layer of polish to visually rival other modern AAA juggernauts. Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing, etc., they all look fantastic, but they don't offer the opportunity for a visual blitzing that Metroid does: I'm thinking particle effects; I'm thinking smoke, clouds, leathery alien skin, shiny metal, boots-on-the-ground dirt-on-the-visor; and I'm thinking...more particle effects Besides that argument, though - which I won't deny is, for me, the strongest one - I don't think software sales is a reason to consider making Prime 4 an exclusive game for the Switch 2. I really don't. Waving goodbye to an install base of 140+ million for a franchise as niche as Metroid is for anything other than technical reasons? I think it'd be wild to do if they genuinely have the option of bringing it to the OG Switch. I think how they handle Prime 4 will be really telling for how that potential cross-gen period might play out for the first couple of years of the Switch 2's life.

Grain of salt, blah blah blah, but PapaGenos (who was on top of the Prime Remastered shadowdrop and Mario vs Donkey Kong announcement) is hinting that a Legend of Zelda game with Zelda in the lead role is on its way: If you take the capital letters in the tweet: So, please be excited for Hyrule Warriors: Princess Zelda ~ Showtime! ft Cooking Mama

According to Deadline, Sigourney Weaver has signed onto The Mandalorian & Grogu in an as yet undisclosed role: She's totally playing Grogu, right?

Comunicado oficial: Mbappé is leaving PSG this summer. Not one mention of Nasser Al-Khelaifi the entire video, despite thanking everyone at PSG, in the entire city of Paris, and their mothers. Love it

Been in a Star Wars-heavy mood following the Celebration news and TPM viewing last weekend, so... I watched Tales of the Empire in one sitting on Sunday morning. Loved it. Both arcs felt meaningful and not at all stale, so I'd definitely give it the edge over Tales of the Jedi. Getting to see Thrawn and the Grand Inquisitor in TCW style was awesome, they looked PERFECT. Also have to highlight this: Been obvious they've been using matte paintings for a while in the animated series now, but taking this physical miniature and utilising it in an animated series like this is unreal - and just for one shot, too! Some seriously talented people out there! Also, not really spoiler-y considering who it involves I don't think, but for the first time EVER in this style we go beyond the realm of the prequel trilogy and it's subsequent years and then beyond the original trilogy and into the years between ROTJ and Mando/Ahsoka for the final episode focused on Morgan Elsbeth, for the first time I think really a clear hint that this team might be open to reusing this art style beyond it's original prequel era scope. I think with how much time has clearly been invested into it and the tools they use, a bit of tweaking aside to make things feel fresh in terms of proportions, I would love for them to use it for the next show, if only so we can kick on with it already! Really have my fingers crossed that it's not yet another show set between III and IV. I've been tired of that era being mined for years at this point... Anyways, we also got the official release of this OST, The Bad Batch S3's, as well as the OSTs for Rebels S3 and S4 - after years of waiting! Which means I finally get to listen back to some of my favourites in an official capacity Last night I re-watched Attack of the Clones. Meh. It contains the only scenes I can't go without cringing through in the series, it's a bit of a mess pacing-wise (okay, a lot of a mess pacing-wise), and well, yeah - up until Rise of Skywalker it was the weakest Star Wars for film for me, and now it's just second to it. Across the Stars deserved so much better than the romance that film served up considering that it's Williams at his best, and while there's a good bit of recycling going on from TPM, the use of Duel of the Fates while Anakin tracks down his mother, the new recording of the Trade Federation theme when unveiling the clone army (which might seem lazy but is a musical way to scream at the audience that Palps is behind both) and the Imperial March kicking into full swing at the end as the new Grand Army of the Republic is dispatched are the musical highlights for me. Oh, and the best detonation sound effect of any film, ever, during that asteroid chase sequence - Ben Burtt at his best! And, lastly, today I re-watched Revenge of the Sith. I haven't much new to say about it that I haven't before...except that this happened: (damn you Letterboxd and your "four favourites"!) I think Empire is objectively the best Star Wars film, and I think the only other film really in with a shout is A New Hope. To me you can take the Star Wars aspect of it aside and they're still two of the best films ever put to film. But - I've said it before, so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise - Revenge of the Sith is my absolute favourite Star Wars film. I can watch it over, and over, and over again; it has, in my opinion, by far and away the best single soundtrack of any Star Wars film; the best duel (sorry, Duel of the Fates); the immolation scene is one of the best-acted moments in the entire Saga; and the CGI still looks great 80% of the time today, as does much of the background art done for the film, which is some feat. That final shot you get of Naboo towards the end is otherworldly. Planning to revisit Solo for the first time (yup, I've only watched it once before!) this weekend, as well as go in to experience the glory of Rogue One once again I am in a VERY Star Wars-y mood, it's safe to say!