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NBA Team Apologizes After Pretending To Give Kid A PS5, Then Taking It Away

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NBA Team Apologizes After Pretending To Give Kid A PS5, Then Taking It Away


NBA team the Charlotte Hornets screwed up and is having to apologize after recently giving a young fan a PlayStation 5 console during a Christmas-themed halftime skit and then taking the console away after the cameras were turned off. The team is also gifting the fan a PS5 he can keep this time, too. 

On December 16, during a basketball game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Charlotte Hornets, young fans were brought onto the court to greet the cheerleaders and the team’s mascot. While on court, a woman read their Christmas letters to Santa and handed out gifts. One kid, who worked really hard to get good grades this year, wanted a PlayStation 5 console. And that’s what the kid got. You can see how happy he is in the video below. But that video also claims that after halftime, staff took away the PS5 and replaced it with a jersey.

Boston 25 explained that cheerleaders and other people involved in the halftime event were reportedly confused when staff took away the kid’s PS5 gift. Apparently, the child’s uncle, likely the adult in the grey and blue hoodie in the video above, knew ahead of time that the gift would be taken away and failed to share that info with his nephew.

As you might expect, a team worth billions cheaping out and taking away a kid’s Christmas gift after pretending to give it to him in front of cameras didn’t go over well online. People rightfully called out the team and its staff for the horrible prank, and within 24 hours the Hornets issued an apology.

On Tuesday, the team said its “on-court skit…missed the mark” and blamed it on “bad decision making and poor communication.”

“Simply put, we turned the ball over and we apologize. We have reached out to the family and are committed to not only making it right but to exceeding expectations,” said the team in a statement shared by reporter Nick Carboni.

“We will be providing the fan with the PS5 that he should have taken home last night along with a VIP experience to a future game. Our goal is and will remain to elevate the guest experience for every person that enters Spectrum Center, and to show our fans how much we appreciate their relentless support.”

And if you were wondering: The Hornets received karmic justice Monday night after taking away the kid’s PS5. The team went on to lose 121-108 to the Sixers.



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Parcel Corps Review | TheXboxHub

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Parcel Corps Review | TheXboxHub


In my home city of London, delivery drivers on mopeds and bicycles have become the dominant species. They weave through gridlocked traffic, seemingly unbound by the rules of the road, treating traffic lights and roundabouts as mere suggestions. They are the undisputed rulers of the urban jungle, working tirelessly to deliver packages with speed and efficiency. 

Parcel Corps Review 1
Parcel Corps – a nostalgic delivery

It’s no surprise, then, that a game has emerged capturing the essence of this fast-paced profession. Parcel Corps blends elements of Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio Future, offering fast-paced gameplay and vibrant, animation style visuals. But does it deliver the goods?

The game opens with an FMV intro that parodies live news broadcasts and introduces a charismatic, albeit legally distinct, Aussie media mogul. A self-aware tutorial guides you through the basics of BMX bike control, covering turning, accelerating, cornering, jumping, grinding, and performing wheelies. Practice routes within the training section help you hone your skills before hitting the city streets.

The narrative casts you as a delivery driver building a reputation and earning respect by completing deliveries and satisfying clients. You’ll encounter a colourful cast of characters, and the game’s lighthearted tone and witty dialogue create an enjoyable and often humorous experience. The writing effectively captures the quirks and challenges of courier life, evoking a sense of nostalgia for classic games with a similar focus on quirky characters and over-the-top action.

Parcel Corps Review 2Parcel Corps Review 2
Get delivering those parcels – however you can

The core gameplay loop of Parcel Corps involves navigating the city to pick up and deliver packages. Like Crazy Taxi, there’s a timer for each delivery, encouraging you to find the fastest routes while performing stunts and utilising shortcuts. You’ll jump over obstacles, grind on rails, and even scale walls and rooftops to shave precious seconds off your delivery time. Some clients offer unique challenges, such as multi-stop deliveries that test your efficiency and route optimisation skills.

While the gameplay is initially engaging and dynamic, Parcel Corps can become repetitive. The core loop of picking up and delivering packages, while punctuated by occasional challenges and stunt opportunities, might not hold the attention of players seeking greater variety. However, there are customisation options for your bike, allowing you to personalise its appearance and performance with earned currency.

The visuals are a highlight, employing a vibrant cel-shaded art style that brings the city to life. The environments are diverse and detailed, featuring a variety of urban landscapes, from bustling streets to serene parks. They are complemented by some character designs that are quirky and memorable, whilst the FMV cutscenes are well-produced, with energetic performances from the actors who seem to be having a ton of fun. The soundtrack is upbeat and complements the fast-paced gameplay.

Parcel Corps Review 3Parcel Corps Review 3
Enjoyable and fun, but repetitive

Parcel Corps is an enjoyable arcade-style experience with a nostalgic charm. Its sense of humour, engaging story, and accessible gameplay make it easy to pick up and play. The controls are intuitive, allowing you to perform impressive tricks and navigate the city with style.

There’s a chance that the repetitive gameplay loop might not appeal to everyone, but Parcel Corps is worth checking out for its unique blend of action, fun, and visual flair.

Parcel Corps Delivers Thrills to Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/parcel-corps-delivers-thrills-to-xbox-series-xs-ps5-and-pc/

Hop, grind, wallride – the latest Parcel Corps trailer is here! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/hop-grind-wallride-the-latest-parcel-corps-trailer-is-here/

Buy Parcel Corps on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/parcel-corps/9pdv9p81jr59



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Epic Games once again drastically buffed Fortnite XP

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Epic Games once again drastically buffed Fortnite XP


You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you’re reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here

Earning XP and leveling up in Fortnite has never been easier. Over the past few weeks, Epic Games has released many improvements that made the progression system faster. Thanks to this, it’s no longer necessary to grind to unlock all the Battle Pass rewards. Furthermore, we can now progress through each pass at the same time, which makes unlocking items a breeze.

While XP rates were great in the first week of Fortnite Chapter 6, Epic buffed them once again. The latest hotfix arrived on Tuesday and is now active in a couple of modes.

How much was Fortnite XP buffed with the latest update?

On Tuesday, Epic Games buffed XP by approximately 30%. This change affects Fortnite Creative and LEGO Fortnite Brick Life, as previous buffs affected other modes, such as Reload and Battle Royale. More specifically, the Fortnite developer buffed the XP gained from playtime. In the past, we were getting 2,300 XP per minute, and it was buffed to 3,000 XP per minute with the new update.

In other words, this means that it’s now possible to level up approximately three times per hour by just playing these two modes. If you perform any other actions, such as getting eliminations or winning a match, you can easily double or triple the amount of XP.

Fortnite XP
XP was buffed once again, making leveling much faster. Image by VideoGamer

Winterfest 2024 is set to come out this week and will bring limited-time quests. Combining these XP buffs and quests, you can complete every seasonal pass in no time. Considering that Chapter 6 – Season 1 ends in late February 2025, you have more than enough time to unlock every single reward from its Battle Pass, including extra styles.

If you want to level up even faster, make sure to check out our list of the best XP maps in Fortnite.


Three characters overlooking a vibrant, lush video game landscape with rivers, fields, and distant towns under a clear blue sky.Three characters overlooking a vibrant, lush video game landscape with rivers, fields, and distant towns under a clear blue sky.

Fortnite





Platform(s):
Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X


Genre(s):
Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter


9
VideoGamer



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Nexus Mods new cross-platform app v0.7.1 released finally supporting upgrades – better modding for Linux / Steam Deck

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Nexus Mods new cross-platform app v0.7.1 released finally supporting upgrades – better modding for Linux / Steam Deck


This is a big one! The new and still in development cross-platform Nexus Mods app that has Linux support just released version 0.7.1 and you no longer have to remove everything to update.

What this means is that it’s safe for a lot more people to jump in and start testing it, although game support is still limited to Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Stardew Valley and Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord for now. This release additionally expands the Linux support so Protontricks running via Flatpak is now supported.


Pictured – Nexus Mods App, Credit: Nexus Team

Some other bigger changes from this release include a facelift for the Load Order styling for Cyberpunk 2077 REDmods, the mod Collections feature also has a much improved flow and they say it’s “up to 25x faster than Vortex at installing collections (depending on your internet speed and hardware)”.

Even though the app now supports updates, they still say you need to remove any Collections this time “as they may not install properly”, which hopefully won’t be a problem from this release onwards.

Bug fixes in this release:



Fixed an issue counting the mods a user has installed when sending analytics.
Added a placeholder to the Games view when no games have been detected.
When enabling the Xbox Game Pass support option in settings, the app now correctly prompts a restart.
Fixed an issue where the first row of the Library/Installed Mods would sometimes be misaligned with the table headers (this was part of an Avalonia update).

Current known issues:



Stardew Valley (Native Linux version) is not detected when installed via Heroic Launcher on Linux. The Windows version of the game can be used instead until this issue is fixed.
When installing Collections that include bundled mods, it is not possible to fully download the collection due to a counting error. A fix for this is planned for the next release.
Bundled mods included with collections do not appear in the UI but are still applied to your game.
The success rating for collections is not showing the correct value.
The game version is not checked when adding a collection meaning you can install outdated mods without being warned.
The Library and Collections (WIP) pages are not filtered by game.
The “Switch View” option does not persist in the Library/Installed Mods view.
The “Load Order” heading toggle does not persist in the Load Order view.

You can download it for Linux (including Steam Deck) via the AppImage on the release page.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.



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All Team-Up Abilities in Marvel Rivals

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All Team-Up Abilities in Marvel Rivals


Marvel Rivals hero shooter includes various mechanics that are similar to other hero shooters. But there are also some unique mechanics that make this game a different one from the others. One such unique mechanic is Team-Up Ability. If you have ever played Marvel video games, then you will recognize this mechanic. The Team-Up Ability is focused on at least two characters to unleash a strong attack on an opponent. Building a team composition with at least a couple of Team-Up Abilities will increase your chances of winning. In this guide, we will be telling you all the Team-Up Abilities in Marvel Rivals so you can communicate with your allies and select the perfect composition for the match.

What are Team-Up Abilities in Marvel Rivals

Before, we list down all the Team-Up Abilities, let’s discuss what Team-Up Ability actually is. Team-up abilities are unique skills apart from every character’s active/passive skills. These unique skills become active when at least two certain heroes join the same team. Upon fulfilling the requirement of certain heroes for the Team-up abilities, you can get special attacks, enhanced movement speed, advanced healing powers, and more.

To build a Team-up ability, you need to keep in mind two things, the Leader and the Ally. The Leader is the main source for providing a unique skill to the Ally. However, both of these characters are exclusive for each Team-Up Ability in the game. Moreover, for certain Team-up abilities, there is more than one Ally character, but the Leader remains only one.

So, if you are trying to build a composition that contains Team-up abilities, make sure that your team has the Leader and the Allies.

All Team-Up Abilities in Marvel Rivals

Here are all the Team-Up Abilities in Marvel Rivals.

Ammo Overload

LeaderAllyLeader AbilityAlly AbilityRocket RacoonThe PunisherAmmo Invention Ability Type: Active Effect: Place an Ammo Overload device.Infinite Punishment Ability Type: Passive Effect: Enter the vicinity of the Ammo Overload device to gain infinite ammo and an increased firing rate.

Dimensional Shortcut

LeaderAllyLeader AbilityAlly AbilityMagikBlack PantherDisc Master Ability Type: Active Effect: Activate a Limbo Disk to use a portal.Wakandan Master Ability Type: Active Effect: Active a Limbo Disk to use a portal.

Metallic Chaos

LeaderAllyLeader AbilityAlly AbilityScarlet WitchMagnetoChaotic Bond Ability Type: Passive Effect: Infuse Chaos Energy into Magneto’s greatsword.Metallic Fusion Ability Type: Active Effect: Strike down enemies with a Chaos Energy-infused greatsword.

Voltaic Union

LeaderAllyLeader AbilityAlly AbilityThorStormThunderous Deity Ability Type: Passive Effect: Grant Storm an electrifying enhancement with Thorforce.Charged Gale Ability Type: Active Effect: Unleash a lightning barrage attack with the power of Thorforce.

Symbiote Bond

LeaderAlly 1Ally 2Leader AbilityAlly 1 AbilityAlly 2 AbilityVenomSpider-ManPeni ParkerTouch of Klyntar Ability Type: Passive Effect: Share the symbiote with Spider-Man and Peni Parker to give them new abilities.Suit Explosion Ability Type: Active Effect: Expel symbiote spikes from the suit to deal damage and push back enemies.  Armor Expulsion Ability Type: Active Effect: Expel symbiote spikes from the suit to deal damage and push back enemies.

Gamma Charge

LeaderAlly 1Ally 2Leader AbilityAlly 1 AbilityAlly 2 AbilityHulkIron ManDoctor StrangeGamma Boost Ability Type: Passive Effect: Charge Iron Man and Doctor Strange with Gamma Radiation.Gamma Overdrive Ability Type: Active Effect: Receive a gamma upgrade to Iron Man’s Armor Overdrive ability.Gamma Maelstrom Ability Type: Active Effect: Expel excess gamma energy with Doctor Strange’s Maelstrom of Madness ability.

Guardian Revival

LeaderAlly 1Ally 2Leader AbilityAlly 1 AbilityAlly 2 AbilityAdam WarlockMantisStar-LordSoul Perseverance Ability Type: Passive Effect: Enhance Mantis and Star-Lord’s rebirth power.Nature’s Soul Ability Type: Passive Effect: Mantis and Star-Lord’s rebirth power is increased.Leader’s Soul Ability Type: Passive Effect: Mantis and Star-Lord’s rebirth power is increased.

Planet X Pals

LeaderAlly 1Ally 2Leader AbilityAlly 1 AbilityAlly 2 AbilityGrootRocket RacoonJeff The Land SharkFriendly Shoulder Ability Type: Passive Effect: Piggy-back Rocket Racoon or Jeff The Land Shark on Groot’s shoulders.Old Friends Ability Type: Active Effect: Hop on Groot’s shoulders to receive damage reduction.New Friends Ability Type: Active Effect: Hop on Groot’s shoulders to receive damage reduction.

Chilling Charisma

LeaderAlly 1Ally 2Leader AbilityAlly 1 AbilityAlly 2 AbilityLuna SnowNamorJeff The Land SharkIcy Disco Ability Type: Passive Effect: Infuse Namor and Jeff The Land Shark with ice energyFrozen Spawn Ability Type: Active Effect: Summon a squid that shoots ice at enemies.Frozen Spitball Ability Type: Active Effect: Infuse projectile attacks with Luna Snow’s ice properties for a short period.

Ragnarok Rebirth

LeaderAlly 1Ally 2Leader AbilityAlly 1 AbilityAlly 2 AbilityHelaLokiThorQueen of Hel Ability Type: Passive Effect: Instantly resurrect Loki and Thor or grant them additional health, after dealing a final blow to an enemy.Laufeyson Reborn Ability Type: Passive Effect: Hela can instantly resurrect Loki or grant him additional health, after dealing a final blow to an enemy.Odinson Reborn Ability Type: Passive Effect: Hela can instantly resurrect Thor or grant him additional health, after dealing a final blow to an enemy.  

These are all the Team-Up Abilities for now in Marvel Rivals. More Team-up abilities will become available as new characters join the roster list in future updates.



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Marvel Rivals Winter Celebration event kicks off December 20th | TheSixthAxis

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Marvel Rivals Winter Celebration event kicks off December 20th | TheSixthAxis


NetEase Games and Marvel has announced that Marvel Rivals’ first seasonal event will be starting on December 20th, and it is called Winter Celebration. This event will add a new limited time 4v4 mode called Jeff’s Winter Splash Festival, where everyone plays as Jeff in what looks like a mode inspired by Splatoon.

Marvel Rivals Winter Celebration will allow all players to unlock items like the Jeff the Land Shark: Cuddly Fuzzlefin costume, nameplate, and spray by completing certain objectives. Other Winter themed costumes are going to be added to the Marvel Rivals too, though these cannot be unlocked for free by the looks of things. Groot, Rocket, Venom, and Magik are all getting these winter themed costumes.

Marvel Rivals Preview – A new, better Overwatch?

While we haven’t review Marvel Rivals, Nick did play it before release and in his preview wrote, “Right now, Marvel Rivals has the potential to take up a lot of my time. I’m gagging to play more and the 6th of December cannot come soon enough.”

Marvel Rivals did launch on December 6th, and it is living up to some of its potential as a multiplayer shooter. You can play it for free now.

Source: Press Release



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Top 10 best-selling video games in the UK in November 2024 – WholesGame

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Top 10 best-selling video games in the UK in November 2024 – WholesGame


November 2024 proved to be a challenging month for the UK video game industry, with sales figures highlighting significant declines compared to the previous year. Data from GSD reveals that just over three million video games were sold throughout the month—a dramatic 33% drop year-on-year. However, the numbers come with important context that helps explain the downturn.

The most notable factor impacting this year’s November performance is the absence of a major game release comparable to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which launched in November 2023. This year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 hit shelves earlier in October, removing a key sales driver from November’s figures. Additionally, the timing of Black Friday—which fell just outside the reporting window for this year’s November data—further skews comparisons. As a result, while November appears weak, December’s numbers are likely to show a corresponding rebound.

Despite these mitigating factors, Black Friday performance itself still fell short of expectations. During the week of Black Friday, approximately 1.53 million games were sold, marking an 8% decline compared to the same sales period in 2023. Although this figure is lower, it does suggest that consumer interest remains reasonably strong, albeit slightly diminished year-on-year.

Top Performers and New Releases: EA Struggles While Dragon Age Falters

Leading the charts once again in November is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, maintaining its dominance after a successful October launch. EA’s EA Sports FC 25 claims the second spot but experienced a noticeable decline compared to last year. November sales for EA’s flagship football title are down by 22%, while its Black Friday performance alone was also 20% behind that of 2023. These figures underline a slower year for one of gaming’s most consistent sellers.

The highest-ranked new entry for November is Dragon Age: The Veilguard, debuting at No.3. However, its early performance has been underwhelming. After four weeks on sale, the title ranks as the 12th fastest-selling game of 2024, falling behind competitors like Star Wars Outlaws (15% higher sales) and Dragon’s Dogma 2 (21% stronger). While Dragon Age edges out Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth by 1.5%, its launch trajectory suggests slower-than-expected momentum for EA’s anticipated RPG.

Another notable release, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, narrowly missed the Top 10, landing at No.11. Over its first three weeks, sales of the Mario RPG fell short compared to other recent Mario titles. Brothership performed 16% below Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (released in May) and trailed Super Mario RPG (November 2023) by 19%. It is important to note that these comparisons include only physical sales, as Nintendo continues to withhold digital data from industry reporting.

Console Sales Reflect Black Friday Shift; PS5 Pro Debuts Strong

On the hardware front, nearly 270,000 game consoles were sold across the UK in November, an impressive 85% increase over October. However, compared to November 2023, sales are down by a sharp 45%. Much like with game sales, this decline is largely due to the exclusion of Black Friday data in this year’s reporting window.

GfK insights suggest that Black Friday still delivered strong results for consoles, particularly for Sony’s PlayStation 5. The newly launched PS5 Pro proved to be a popular choice, accounting for 26% of all PS5 units sold during November. This strong start for the premium model underscores continued consumer demand for upgraded hardware despite economic pressures.

Accessories: DualSense Controllers Maintain Market Lead

The accessories market followed a similar trend, with 1.05 million units sold throughout November—a 58% increase from October but an 18% drop year-on-year. Once again, Black Friday’s absence from the November dataset distorts the comparison.

Sony’s DualSense controllers dominated the accessory charts, with the classic White variant leading sales and the Midnight Black edition closely following at No.2. A special release—the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition DualSense—also made a notable debut, securing the No.4 position.

Conclusion

While November 2024’s figures show a substantial drop in both software and hardware sales, the absence of Black Friday data and the lack of high-profile game releases played a significant role in shaping the results. Call of Duty continues to reign at the top, but titles like Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Mario & Luigi: Brothership highlight mixed fortunes for new releases. Strong hardware sales during Black Friday, particularly for the PS5 Pro, suggest that December’s figures may paint a more positive picture as the holiday season progresses.

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 62. EA Sports FC 253. Dragon Age: The Veilguard4. Hogwarts Legacy5. Grand Theft Auto 56. Super Mario Party Jamboree*7. Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered8. Nintendo Switch Sports*9. Super Mario Bros. Wonder*10. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe (Nintendo)*

*Digital sales excluded for Nintendo titles.



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Parallaxian – A cancelled C64/C128 game, gets an early build leak(?) via Quantum

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Parallaxian – A cancelled C64/C128 game, gets an early build leak(?) via Quantum


It was some time ago now that we mentioned Jonathan Woods ‘Parallaxian’; A stunning “next generation” shoot-em-up-bomb-em-up game for the Commodore 64, which sadly at the time never reach its £12,500 goal, even though it did reach a half way point. Well fast forward to this month however and if you were still keen to play this game, will be pleased to know that Quantum has released an early build of the game from March for you to try. Just be aware if you’re hoping for the full version however, “KODIAK64 discontinued the development of the game and stopped the activities on the Commodore 64”.

Here’s the latest from Quantum. “Quantum is back with a Christmas present for you. After the coder KODIAK64 discontinued the development of the game and stopped the activities on the Commodore 64, we decided to make the last build (from March 2023) available to the scene. We really hope that the coder will decide to continue developing the game. Enjoy the cool game preview now”.

Links :1) Source 2) Download



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Monkey Kong in New-York Switch Review

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Monkey Kong in New-York Switch Review


Pix Arts, I haven’t seen them in two years. The last game of theirs I reviewed was Mission Commando back in November of 2022. It was shit. Although, not all of their games were garbage. Sweet Sugar Candy I actually liked. This brings us to today, and their latest release Monkey Kong in New-York. Is it any good? Not really. Let’s watch a video of it in action:

As you can see, Monkey Kong in New-York is an auto runner. You are a gorilla running around in New York City avoiding rolling tires, barrier and other gorillas… and that’s about it. See how far you can run, and that’s it. There’s really nothing more to this game than what you see. Ok there is a magnet that attracts bananas to you… and you need to fill the banana meter in order to dash. But aside from those two things, there is nothing else here.

Monkey Kong in New-York is a bad game, but is a scam game? No. It is a legit game. Effort was put into this. It is just a bad game by a bad developer who has to bend the truth to get you to buy it.

Iconic New York Locations: Adventure through Central Park’s shaded paths, Harlem’s lively streets, the skyscrapers of Manhattan, and the bustling harbor with breathtaking views.

Banana Power-Ups: Collect golden bananas to unlock powers like super strength, helping you overcome new challenges and rivals.

Challenging Obstacles & Rivals: Face off against rival monkeys and dodge obstacles like swinging cranes, slippery docks, and barrels in your path.

Nothing in the above is technically a lie, just embellished. The screenshots are all legit. But it is still a crappy game. Monkey Kong in New-York gets a Not Recommended with a three back-end score.

Overall: Monkey Kong in New-York is functional. That’s all the good I can about it. Pix Arts can succeed if they actually try, they aren’t here.

Verdict: Not Recommended

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Release Date12/13/24Cost$4.99PublisherPix-ArtsESRB RatingE

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Is Dune: Prophecy gonna midi-chlorian us?

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Is Dune: Prophecy gonna midi-chlorian us?


Dune: Prophecy is a very complicated show. Sure, part of that is the fact that it has so many characters, plots, and counterplots commingling in each scene. But more straightforwardly, it’s just very difficult to explain to people whether or not I like this show. Put simply: Watching it feels like a chore, the line-to-line writing isn’t particularly fun, interesting, or engaging — and yet, for every thudding character or dull line, the show has also introduced a brief strand of plot or Dune universe-building that I can’t help but be fascinated with.

But the show can’t keep running on the fumes of these ideas forever, and with the season 1 finale approaching, it seems to me that there are two paths forward for Dune: Prophecy. And in fitting franchise fashion, only a narrow and complicated path will let it come out the other side clean.

[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for Dune: Prophecy season 1 episode 5.]

Image: HBO

The show’s future — or at least our indications of what it might be — all hinge on Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel). The first option, and the one I fear the show is moving toward, is the simple option that Desmond Hart is the proto-Kwisatz Haderach; the first glimpse the Bene Gesserit have of a male with supernatural abilities and the direct, stated inspiration for them to work toward a similarly powerful man that they can control instead.

This version of the show would be simple and clean, and way too pat for a world like Dune. If that’s all Desmond Hart really is, it would be incredibly easy to see how the rest of the show might fall into place. The war on Arrakis that episode 5 teases would see the Fremen claim victories thanks to the Bene Gesserit, and Mikaela (Shalom Brune-Franklin) would look on sadly as her people are fed a lie about Lisan al Gaib. The Sisterhood would learn to harness the Voice and be perfectly recognizable to fans of the Denis Villeneuve movies by the end of the show. In other words, Dune: Prophecy would be the Solo: A Star Wars Story of the Dune universe, a brief adventure that somehow completely explains the backstory of everyone involved, shrinking the universe and robbing it of its mystery in the process.

The other version of Desmond, and the show as a whole, is more messy. We’ll call it the midi-chlorians path. For this one, the show would need to stop connecting the dots. Let the reveal of Desmond’s shared Harkonnen and Atreides blood be a reveal purely for Tula and the audience, rather than something more significant to the universe. Sure, those two bloodlines have a role to play in the Bene Gesserit plan to create the Kwisatz Haderach, but that doesn’t have to be part of this show’s plot.

This would offer the chance for Dune: Prophecy’s season 1 finale to open the door to the larger, stranger parts of the Dune universe. It could show us the Spacing Guild and its bizarre Guild Navigators; it could open up the idea of a complex, massive war on Arrakis, and little hints of the kind of struggles that would force the Bene Gesserit to evolve into the clandestine organization we know them as when the series begins in earnest. Like The Phantom Menace’s one-off mention of midi-chlorians, what Dune: Prophecy needs now is world-building by unanswered and unanswerable questions, rather than by too-simple facts. If this season is all table setting for a weirder universe, then its clunkiness could be easy to forgive.

Obviously, midi-chlorians have a bit of a negative connotation for sci-fi fans as a betrayal of the elegant world-building of Star Wars’ original trilogy; Dune: Prophecy was never going to be that. What I’m saying is that at this point what we can really hope for is the ambition of Star Wars’ prequels, which constantly expanded its galaxy in ways both good and bad, instead of the tight corporate squeeze of Disney’s time with the series so far that has simply made it smaller and more tightly wound with every entry.

But to step away from all the Star Wars analogies: Dune is a series that’s always been at its best when it’s at its strangest and most ambitious. The original book is a masterpiece with one of the best and most interesting sci-fi worlds ever created. It isn’t well made because of how carefully connected all of its threads are, but rather because of the messiness that Frank Herbert left at its edges, little threads to be pulled at later whenever the fancy struck him.

And Dune: Prophecy, for all the boring scenes and too-important lines it’s had so far, is still in a place to create those wonderfully frayed edges in its first season. But to do that, the finale will have to be big and messy and ambitious in ways the show has only gestured at so far.



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