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Darbian Breaks The New Super Mario Brothers Speedrun World Record At 4:57

New world record speedrunner Darbian has completed his goal of getting the new best time for Super Mario Brothers at 4:57.260. The video is linked above and you need to watch it. As he continues with the last few levels you can tell he knows he is doing well when he starts getting nervous. The nerves don't sink him as he elegantly speeds by Bowser to save the Princess to fame and glory.

So what will Darbian do now that he has broken the world record? Disneyland?

"I have reached my potential in this category - I'm done! My quest is over."

Solid work.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 04/15/2016 at 02:27pm

Very cool! I love his reaction. I'm a little confused, though. The time on his counter says 4:57.41, but the title of the video says 4:57.260. Where is the missing .15? How long has he been at this?

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/15/2016 at 05:50pm

That was great :)

Travis Admin wrote on 04/15/2016 at 08:54pm

I was coming to post this with the same question as scrypt-- the timing seems off. The time on the clock still beats the previous record. Maybe they know something we don't.

But yeah seriously. This is amazing. I was reading that this may be literally the fastest anyone can achieve without tools.

I love the idea of putting a heart rate monitor on speedrun streams. I kinda wish I had a heart rate monitor HUD for gaming achievements.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 04/16/2016 at 12:07am

I was totally not even paying attention to the heart rate monitor! That makes it even more exciting to watch. Very cool idea, indeed!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/16/2016 at 04:02am

I didn't notice the monitor either. Goes from a nice even 80 to well over 170! Awesome. I wonder what he uses to do that?

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Get A Special Look At The New Whispers Of The Old Gods Cards In An Upcoming Livestream

http://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/blog_header/v2/V2ZG2N7KCREO1460484208179.jpg

If you must consume every detail of Hearthstone news then you should tune in to an upcoming Blizzard Twitch livestream. Ben Brode will be around to talk about some of the new cards as well as, hopefully the expansion release date. If the rumored April 26th date is correct then this might be all the information we've been looking for.

"The Old Gods will soon begin their invasion of the tavern, and we’re compelled choosing of our own free will to show off more of the ominous (and super fun) cards they’ll be bringing with them!

Join Lead Designer Ben Brode and Hearthstone master caster Dan “Frodan” Chou on April 21 at 10AM PDT for what promises to be a thrilling series of... Read All

Watch Dave Grossman And Tim Schafer play "Day of the Tentacle"

Recently Double Fine released Day of the Tentacle special Edition that spruces up this classic game to be played on modern systems. If you are interested in reliving the fun of the old game through the original creators playing it, you are now in luck as you can watch Grossman and Schafer play through the whole game from memory in a bit over 3 hours.

You're Welcome!

Trigger Warning: Previously Recorded Review Stardew Valley

I've still not played the game, but I enjoyed Rich and Jack's discussion of it. Spoiler alert: They're not crazy about it lol

StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops Mission Pack I Review

Right before the launch of the final chapter of StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void Blizzard let us know that they were planning a set of 9 new DLC missions. The missions feature Nova, a Terran Ghost and a smaller scale StarCraft II story than the epic grandeur of the previous StarCraft games. Like many I pre-ordered the Nova missions and looked forward to playing the new game. StarCraft II is a very popular online multiplayer game and eSport but my focus as a player is solely around the single player campaigns. For whatever reason, Blizzard decided to split up the DLC into three packs numbering three maps each. I don't particularly love this release strategy but I like... Read All Right before the launch of the final chapter of StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void Blizzard let us know that they were planning a set of 9 new DLC missions. The missions feature Nova, a Terran Ghost and a smaller scale StarCraft II story than the epic grandeur of the previous StarCraft games. Like many I pre-ordered the Nova missions and looked forward to playing the new game. StarCraft II is a very popular online multiplayer game and eSport but my focus as a player is solely around the single player campaigns. For whatever reason, Blizzard decided to split up the DLC into three packs numbering three maps each. I don't particularly love this release strategy but I like getting a new game to play at a faster pack so it's not the worst thing around.

The game starts with Nova waking up in a place she has no memory of. She gets a message from a mysterious friend saying she is in danger and after a series of quick thinking on her part in conjunction with the friend on the outside she escapes. I won't go into much more detail on the story to avoid spoilers but it's classic Blizzard storytelling. The game feels like a proper StarCraft II set of missions just at a smaller scale. I enjoy this very much as one gripe I had with StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void was that they were trying so hard for a grand scale that those epic moments all seemed to run into each other such that it destroyed most of the tension.

As I was playing the first mission of Nova Covert Ops I was very impressed as it is a visual feast to behold. The gameplay and music is what you would expect from playing previous StarCraft games and I didn't notice anything new there. Each mission is broken up into two parts each and both propel the narrative forward in different ways. In the first level Nova escapes the science facility in a Hero mission similar to the handful of missions in previous games focusing on abilities and dungeon crawling. The second part of the first level is a fun and unique mission where Nova is on a speeder bike and needs to avoid other vehicles as she escapes. It's a fun mission that highlights what kinds of creative stuff you can make with the StarCraft II map editor. Each mission is book ended with an in game rendered cut scene and they are as good as you would expect from any Blizzard game.

Like any StarCraft II game the missions start small in scale and slowly work up in scope and complexity. That said, by the third mission I was having to juggle multiple things at once and it felt a bit harder to manage that previous StarCraft II campaigns. I really enjoyed some of the unique aspects of the mission and hope to see more of this diversity in the remaining three packs. If I had to pick some gripes with Nova Covert Ops i'd say that i'd rather Blizzard have released all the packs at once. That said, it's nice to get content as it comes and i'd prefer this over waiting a year. Another critique I have is that after only three missions i'm not as invested into the story as i'd like to be. With previous StarCraft campaigns you could continue on all the way to the end and somewhere around the fourth or fifth mission I was hooked. After three missions the game barely gets time to get moving before it's over. So I guess my biggest complaint is that I was left wanting more.

Potions: A Curious Tale Is a Unique New Adventure Game On Kickstarter

Back this on Kickstarter!

Being part of the Portland Indie Game scene is great in that you can meet really interesting developers working on unique projects. Last year I met Renee and played an early build of Potions: A Curious Tale and was really impressed with it. Potions is an adventure game where you explore the vast forest and search for ingredients for your brews. For me, Potions is a fun game in that when I played it I couldn't stop collecting items and progressing through the forest. The lack of focusing on combat was shockingly refreshing and it made the world feel more alive. Fighting is such a staple of any modern adventure game that not focusing on it felt strange and surprisingly... Read All

Lady Liadrin And The Story Of Why I Played My Undead Warlock To Level 20

Currently there are 4 alternate heroes you can play in Hearthstone. If you want to customize your hero experience and stand out a bit the heroes are a nice option. Since I am a free to play Hearthstone user I haven't bought any of the new heroes though I enjoy matches where my opponent is using them. Recently Blizzard released a new Lady Liadrin hero for Paladin and this one was unique in that to unlock her all you needed to do was get to level 20 in World of Warcraft.

"Players who level a World of Warcraft character to level 20 will earn a new Achievement, Fledgling Hero of Warcraft, that will unlock Liadrin for use in Hearthstone. No World of Warcraft subscription is... Read All

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 04/11/2016 at 05:22am

I was playing Ark recently and mentioned in global chat that I've never played WoW. The person was surprised. That said, even though I haven't been playing Hearthstone, when I found out about this bonus, I was a bit tempted. I'm still a little tempted as I might get back into the game.

Right away, I think you nailed why I might not enjoy WoW so much. I'm used to solo gaming, single player mode, etc. I played Ragnarok Online with friends and it was fun (except I hated that other people would steal my loot that dropped from enemies I killed). I played FFXI, but I started off so far away from my friends that we never met up. That game was definitely not for solo gamers. I did play a little bit of Guild Wars 2 (obviously), but I never really saw my fellow Cheerful Ghosts and I was on my own pretty much.

Right now, I'm playing Ark: Survival Evolved on an official server. I wouldn't really call it an MMORPG, but I mean it's very similar. The maximum amount of people that can play on a server at a time is 70 and the one I play on is often about half full. I enjoy it much more than I thought I would and I'm really glad I'm still playing.

Anyway, thanks for letting us know about your WoW experience! I hope the new Hearthstone unlock that you got is cool.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/11/2016 at 04:57pm

It's been 8-9 years since I was really playing WoW, but for me it was mostly a single player game. I had a buddy help run me through the beginning, and then I had some friends come and go as I played. I actually made a few friends through the game that I'm still friends with on Facebook.

Talking with Jon as he's played a bit has kinda made me want to go back and experience the game a bit. Would anyone else here be interested in a WoW free run to level 20? (Lol, right after I said I normally played the game on my own) Maybe I'll start up an event if people are interested :)

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 04/11/2016 at 07:00pm

When Jon mentioned he was starting this, I thought about joining him. However, Ark has a firm hold on me. I could possibly take some time away, but I don't know.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/11/2016 at 07:42pm

Ok, I have Greg down as a definite "yes" ;)

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/11/2016 at 07:42pm

I wonder if we could get a group together and dedicate a Saturday, how far could we get in just one day?

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 04/12/2016 at 01:42am

Hahaha I'd say it's a definite "I don't know." Are you talking about starting out from the beginning? Are you wanting to do it for the Hearthstone bonus? I might jump in Hearthstone again, but probably not until I watch Jon's Dailies videos.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/12/2016 at 01:48am

A bit of info on jumping in with only the Starter Edition. Because of spamming and gold traders and such you can't friend anyone in game. You also can't message anyone. So if you want to meet up or chat you will have to do it in an outside program and simply find each other by hand on the server.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/12/2016 at 04:30pm

You can't even friend people in the game? I remember that free accounts couldn't send/receive gold/items, but now they can't even talk to others? That sucks.

JaBo wrote on 04/12/2016 at 11:44pm

That's crazy. I played WoW when it released. Preordered game. I played dark age of Camelot (another mmorpg) for years and half my guild was going to WoW. I wasn't alone, we leveled up decently. I even did some pvp during the free trial. But, I never tried past the 4 week free trial. In fact, I let my brother play the final week of the game.

It's crazy to me that they grabbed the market so forcefully and took off. I played a star wars mmo (before kotor3) 3 times as long and that game flopped.

That said. I'm thinking of doing quest to get the hearthstone unlock too. I've paid for all the others. Should probably get this one.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/13/2016 at 11:19pm

> It's crazy to me that they grabbed the market so forcefully and took off.

I have some friends that have been hooked by it, but like you I don't see the appeal for myself. It just doesn't click.

> That said. I'm thinking of doing quest to get the hearthstone unlock too. I've paid for all the others. Should probably get this one.

After playing with her for about a week now I can say my time was well spent in WoW unlocking her. Curious when they are adding other heroes and if I can play StarCraft or Heroes of the Storm to unlock them?

JaBo wrote on 04/27/2016 at 01:33am

I'm pretty annoyed with the ios exclusive $5 mage hero... I use Android and couldn't get it

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/27/2016 at 05:26am

> I'm pretty annoyed with the ios exclusive $5 mage hero... I use Android and couldn't get it

Yeah, exclusives are not great for that reason. Sometimes when companies mean "exclusive" they don't mean forever, so maybe he will come back for everyone at some point?

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Hearthstone Dailies For Ghosts: Episode VII Too Many Portals + Reno Dragon Paladin

Hello Ghosts,

In this episode of Hearthstone Dailies for Ghosts I play a couple matches of Too Many Portals Tavern Brawl. The cool thing about this brawl is the thing I also dislike the most about this brawl in it's focus on random chance. That said, I luck out and do quite well in each match.

I wrap things up with a handful of matches playing with my brand new Reno Jackson Dragon Paladin deck. It's a very odd deck I haven't seen get much play and it has done shocking well in each matchup i've used it in. But how good is this deck? The only way to know is to watch!

FFXV Release Date: 9/30/16

Recently, I finished reading the cover story in the latest Game Informer, which is about Final Fantasy XV. I've known about it's development for a long time, it was originally called Final Fantasy Versus XIII. It's been in development for 10 years now and has undergone many changes, not just by name.

The Square-Enix team working on FFXV realized that while FF became an epic franchise, which has been pretty influential in our current games, some of the fanfare of the series has dwindled. Many fans of the series seem to prefer VII the most and also seem to view the series as going downhill from there. This doesn't apply to all of us though. FFVIII is my personal... Read All Recently, I finished reading the cover story in the latest Game Informer, which is about Final Fantasy XV. I've known about it's development for a long time, it was originally called Final Fantasy Versus XIII. It's been in development for 10 years now and has undergone many changes, not just by name.

The Square-Enix team working on FFXV realized that while FF became an epic franchise, which has been pretty influential in our current games, some of the fanfare of the series has dwindled. Many fans of the series seem to prefer VII the most and also seem to view the series as going downhill from there. This doesn't apply to all of us though. FFVIII is my personal favorite, although I also really enjoyed IX and X (including X-2). Unfortunately, for me, that's when the series began to dwindle.

FFXI is a game that I didn't get into until a very long time after it's release. However, it is a MMORPG and requires a monthly subscription fee. It also isn't much of a game for one who's used to playing solo, like me. I liked XII and XIII, but for some reason they don't feel as epically awesome as many of the other FF games.

However, it looks like FFXV will change that. From what I've read, it sounds like it's going to be really good. I just hope it lives up to those expectations. The trailer looks really awesome, too! So, I think this is definitely something I want to get into.

However, I don't have a PS4 or Xbox One. A PC version may come eventually. So, I'm thinking that this could be a great reason to get a PS4. Although, something I saw seemed to show the game performs better on the Xbox One. FFVII: Remake is also in development and I think would probably be another good reason to get a PS4. Another Kingdom Hearts sequel is expected, too. That's something else I'm looking forward to.

So, what do you think of FFXV? Do you think it's a good reason to finally get a PS4 (or Xbox One)? Let me know what you think!

Here's a link about the game, although it only scratches the surface of what I read in the magazine:
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/04/06/revealing-final-fantasy-xvs-opening-gameplay.aspx

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/08/2016 at 02:28am

This looks really rad. I don't know if I can yet justify buying a PS4 or an Xbox One yet though.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/08/2016 at 03:59am

I think it looks and sounds great, but that's where the question of whether or not to get one of those consoles comes in. I can think of 3 games coming for the PS4 that I think I'd be interested in playing (all three I mentioned in this post). Other than that, I don't know, honestly. I still have some games for my PS3 I haven't finished or played through entirely. However, I still use it as a Blu-Ray player (and I rarely buy any new Blu-Rays) and I use it to watch YouTube and Amazon video on my TV. So, I have to ask myself if this game (or the others I mentioned) is really worth it. Frankly, I'm not entirely sure. I've gotten so used to PC gaming since I got this new PC a few years ago and thus I don't hardly play console games. Even when I've tried, I've felt physically uncomfortable doing so. Plus, what if the game turns out to be a bust? That would suck. So, there's a lot to weigh here and it definitely has some risk associated with it. I guess we'll see.

Thanks for the comment, Adam!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/10/2016 at 02:54am

More info regarding DLC, PC version, and frame rate: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-15-director-talks-dlc-pc-version-fra/1100-6438686/

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First Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Trailer Drops - A Darker Take On Star Wars?

Rogue One: A Star Wars story has been in production since 2013 and today we received the first proper trailer. The movie comes out this December 16th and from the trailer, I can't wait. Unlike the early trailers for The Force Awakens Rogue One features some character information and the basic plot of the film. Jyn Erso seems to be taken into custody by the Rebel Alliance and asked to join a special team to help steal the plans for the Empires ultimate weapon...

*spoiler alert for Episode IV A New Hope*

... The original death star. Since Rogue One is before A New Hope this film chronicles the Rebel Alliance and it's attempts to steal the Death Star readout used the by... Read All

Travis Admin wrote on 04/07/2016 at 01:19pm

omg omg omg omg I'm trying not to get too hyped, but this looks fantastic. This is the kind of tone needed for that time period. They at least got the marketing way right for it.

I would have liked to have seen more characters, but the ones we did see were compelling. The new actor for Mon Mothma really pulls it off. I find it interesting that we saw Mon Mothma for like 4 minutes total in the original trilogy but she's become so important to the non-movie canon.

Anyway, overall: STOKED.

Travis Admin wrote on 04/07/2016 at 01:31pm

A further note: I'm hyped for this more than I would be because of non-movie canon. I've been watching the beginning of the rebellion in Star Wars: Rebels. I've read about Ciena Ree's rise in the empire, and Thane Kyrell's disillusionment when he realizes what the Death Star is. I've read about Tarkin working his way up in the ranks, and meeting and working with Darth Vader. He was the only one smart enough to realize that Vader == Anakin. I've read about Vader's motivations in the Vader comics, realizing that he didn't just lose Anakin entirely when he put on the suit, understanding why he's doing what he's doing.

And now this movie is kinda the culmination of all of those. It feels like the canon has been setting this movie up without feeling like it's setting anything up.

Now the question is whether it works.

Travis Admin wrote on 04/07/2016 at 01:33pm

Although I still feel a bit salty because IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE KYLE KATARN WHO STOLE THE DEATH STAR PLANS.

That's my only problem with taking the EU out of canon: Kyle.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/07/2016 at 02:08pm

This looks very rad, and I totally look forward to seeing it! But I was incredibly distracted by the siren. My mind instantly pictured Jar Jar yelling into a bullhorn lol. I hope they change up that sound :)
Other than that, I can't wait.
I am a little worried that it won't feel as climatic, as the entire time watching the movie we know that the plans do get stolen.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 04/07/2016 at 09:04pm

Another December Star Wars movie, so soon? Nice!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/07/2016 at 09:20pm

December from now on will be known as Star Wars Month

(sorry Jesus)

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/08/2016 at 04:53pm

> The new actor for Mon Mothma really pulls it off. I find it interesting that we saw Mon Mothma for like 4 minutes total in the original trilogy but she's become so important to the non-movie canon.

The actress playing Mon Mothma, Genevieve O'Reilly is actually the same one that played her in Episode III Revenge of the Sith. So it's cool they used her again!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/08/2016 at 04:53pm

> December from now on will be known as Star Wars Month.

Yeah. Last year we didn't have a Christmas as much as a STAR WARS!!!!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/08/2016 at 05:47pm

This is a fun little article I ran into :)

http://www.hitfix.com/harpy/mon-mothma-actress-gets-the-last-laugh-after-being-cut-from-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith

Travis Admin wrote on 04/08/2016 at 06:57pm

I don't even remember Mon Mothma in Revenge of the Sith... Oh I started typing before reading Adam's comment. She wasn't there after all, even though she kinda was!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/08/2016 at 06:57pm

That's where I remember her from. Back in the day watching the deleted scene on the DVD! I knew she wasn't in the final cut though. Nice to see her come back.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/08/2016 at 07:49pm

I feel a little guilty because I had no idea who Mon Mothma was, even after seeing the new trailer, so I had to google her. That's how I found the deleted scene and article :)

Travis Admin wrote on 04/08/2016 at 09:45pm

She was also in the OT, very briefly, and has become kind of a fan favorite. She's in tons of books and such. I've always wondered what about her inspired that kind of non-movie inclusion.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/08/2016 at 10:51pm

Star Wars The Force Awakens Alternate HISHE
https://youtu.be/tU6uaEcpjug
Random funniness :)

Travis Admin wrote on 04/09/2016 at 04:53am

The Vulcan (not sure if Spock or Sarek) was a great addition :D

scrypt Supporter wrote on 04/09/2016 at 09:47pm

As a figurehead, Mon Mothma is Galadriel-level imposing. Plus, that name "Mothma". It's just the coolest name for a leader.

That Rogue One trailer is absolutely amazing. I would almost pay money for the trailer alone. It's too much! We went for so long without good Star Wars movies, and now we're getting rained on by Hurricane Mickey. It's crazy!

Travis Admin wrote on 04/09/2016 at 10:36pm

> Hurricane Mickey

I love this.

But yeah, we still haven't seen the movie so we don't know it's good. I'm trying not to get my hopes up. But it looks SO good.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/10/2016 at 02:45am

I agree scrypt, we are. I honestly didn't think Disney would make Star Wars amazing again but holy smokes George was right about handing it over to them.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 04/10/2016 at 02:46am

I also think Kathleen Kennedy had a ton to do with it, she is in charge of LucasFilm and doing a really outstanding job. JJ, Johnson and Gareth Edwards. I've always thought a Han Solo stand alone film would be bad, but I am thinking it might be really good.

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