Rockstar Games Shows Off ‘GTA Trilogy’ Enhancements

October 22, 2021 Jamal Michel

Earlier this month, Rockstar Games announced that Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition was dropping on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Rockstar Games Launcher. The long awaited remastered collection of some of Grand Theft Auto‘s most iconic titles is finally within reach, and today Rockstar Games shared more details about the trilogy coming November 11.

Gaming, Video Games1 Comment

‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ to Introduce New Features in Final Free Update

October 16, 2021October 16, 2021 Jamal Michel

Remember Animal Crossing: New Horizons, that one cozy game that blew up in popularity during the pandemic? Well, it’s set to release one last free update with tons of newer and cuter features for islanders to play around with. After months of mini and seasonal updates that added different content to ACNH, players will finally get their hands on new items, meet new villagers, and explore new activities on their island.

Gaming, Mobile Games2 Comments

New Shiny Pokémon are Now Live in ‘Pokémon GO’ Halloween Event

October 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

It’s the most wonderful time of year again, and by that I mean the amazing new shiny Pokémon that come out during Niantic’s Halloween Event for Pokémon GO. This year’s festivities stretch a full two weeks, from today to October 31. Each week is themed after different Halloween related Pokémon affairs, with the first week being “Creepy Companions” and the next, “Ghoulish Pals.” As is the custom for most POGO events, Niantic is highlighting the bond we share with our Pocket Monsters and the good times associated with the season.

Gaming, Video Games2 Comments

Shiny Zacian and Zamazenta for ‘Pokémon Sword’ and ‘Shield’ Comes with a Twist

October 13, 2021October 13, 2021 Jamal Michel

PokéBeach, the popular fan site and gathering place for all things Pokémon news and rumors, recently announced that GameStop will soon be distributing codes for shiny versions of the legendary Galar Pokémon Zamazenta (Pokémon Shield) and Zacian (Pokémon Sword). Japan and South Korea were the first regions to get their hands on distributions of the shiny Pokémon and now the codes are making their way west. The first distribution, said to be for Zamazenta, will reportedly take place October 22.

Gaming, Video Games

Rockstar Games Announces ‘Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition’

October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 Jamal Michel

It’s not GTA 6 news but it is significant gaming news nonetheless. Today, Rockstar Games announced that the long awaited (and long rumored) Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is coming later this month to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and the Rockstar Games Launcher on PC.

Gaming, Video Games

Sora’s ‘Smash Bros.’ Reveal Proves it’s Sakurai’s World and We’re Just Living In It

October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 Jamal Michel

Masahiro Sakurai, the designer, creator, and ruler of all things Super Smash Bros., has at last revealed the final character to join the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster. After months of speculation, hoards of Reddit posts, and countless Twitter threads, Smash players finally got to say hello to Sora in all his polygonal glory. Sakurai made the announcement during today’s special Smash Bros. presentation called ‘Mr. Sakurai Presents.’ The one-man hype train has ushered in some of the most memorable moments and reveals in the history of Smash, and it’s no surprise he again brought the internet to its knees with today’s presentation.

Gaming, Interview, Video Games

NOC Interview: Quintin Smith of People Make Games on “Roblox Exploitation”

September 6, 2021 Jamal Michel

Like many games finding a surge in popularity at the height of the pandemic, Roblox has amassed a following that could rival the likes of Fortnite with its appeal to younger audiences. However, after weeks of careful research, Quintin Smith, journalist and presenter at People Make Games, discovered that Roblox frequently, and unflinchingly, exploits young video game developers on its platform.

Interview, Video Games

DevTalks: Deana Galbraith and Barbara Sotolongo of Captilight Games Studio

August 22, 2021August 28, 2021 Jamal Michel

The Nerds of Color loves us some indie games and our latest DevTalk is with a studio that looks to capture Japanese culture in organic and mesmerizing ways. Path of Kami by Captilight Games Studio is a heartwarming story about family, mortality, and culture. In it, you play as the spirit of a wolf, Kazeyo, who has passed away and sets off on an adventure to navigate trials of the Mortal World.

Gaming, Video Games

Nintendo Indie World Showcase Live Updates!

August 10, 2021August 16, 2021 Jamal Michel

Today Nintendo announced a 20 minute presentation on loads of great indie titles on the Nintendo Switch. The live presentation will take place August 11 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET and The Nerds of Color blog has you covered with live updates here!

Gaming, Video Games1 Comment

‘Pokémon UNITE’ Reveals First Major Update

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021 Jamal Michel

The Pokémon MOBA on Nintendo Switch, Pokémon UNITE, is set to receive its first and most impactful update since its release. The game’s official Twitter page tweeted yesterday that the update would be rolling out Wednesday, August 4 12AM PDT/ 7:00 UTC, with significant balancing changes at the heart of the update.

Gaming, Video Games

Summer Got You Down? These Upcoming Feel Good Video Games Will Lift Your Spirits

August 1, 2021August 1, 2021 Jamal Michel

What if Tony Hawk was actually a bird? What kind of game choices would you make playing as a postwoman in the ‘80s? Could you use your emotions to help guide a quartet in a forest? The summer has been overwhelming for the most part for many of us — from mounting pandemic concerns, to even more polarizing political conversations, it’s easy to quickly find yourself doom-scrolling for hours into the night. Thankfully, video games like Skatebird and The Forest Quartet exist to help ease our minds out of the hubbub of the real world and into the vibes of a video game experience that really feels good.

Gaming, Interview, Video Games1 Comment

Flightless Studios Talks New Indie Game ‘Doomsday Vault’ on the Nintendo Switch

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 Jamal Michel

The New Zealand indie game development studio Flightless has been hard at work expanding their library of thoughtful and rich games that combine a unique experience with an imaginative atmosphere. John O’Reilly, its co-founder and creative director, said that the studio came into the indie development landscape after working on commercial projects the last few years and realized their talents could be applied to making video games as well. O’Reilly and co-founder Greg Harding, who also works as Flightless’s technical director, have made it a point to bring their passion projects to life, with titles like Element and Doomsday Vault.

Gaming, Video Games

Nintendo Updates: Switch OLED Model Pre-Orders Go Live and More

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

Pre-orders for the the Nintendo Switch OLED Model are live July 15 at 12PM PT, with the console dropping October 8. Despite the news, many fans and gamers have continued to call out the OLED Model for features they feel should have been included in the original Switch, from the new ethernet port, to the more durable kickstand.

Gaming, Video Games1 Comment

‘Pokémon UNITE’ Official Release Date + New Roster Addition, Zeraora

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

The amazing new multiplayer online battle arena Pokémon UNITE has finally announced its official release date. July 21 the game will be dropping on Nintendo Switch and fans are understandably stoked for the new brawler. With over 20 Pokémon available to choose from, the announcement also came with a new roster addition, the Electric-type Mythical Pokémon Zereora.

Tech, Video Games

New OLED Model Nintendo Switch Launches in October

July 6, 2021July 6, 2021 Jamal Michel

After the rumor mill about a new Nintendo Switch console reached new heights, Nintendo announced today the new Switch (OLED model) with a brilliant 7-inch OLED screen is launching October 8. The new model will also feature a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port and 64GB of internal storage. Rumors have been mounting for months that the new console would in fact be the Switch 2 but it’s clear Nintendo is going in a different direction until then.

Animation, Gaming

Appreciating the Diversity of Late-Generation ‘Pokémon’

June 28, 2021June 29, 2021 Jamal Michel

When I first caught sight of Pokémon Neo Genesis cards being sold on the Home Shopping Network as a kid, I almost took my mother’s credit card and picked up the phone to put in a few hundred orders. I remember on one such occasion using the spare change from a trip to the gas station to buy a single booster pack. I came home with a gallon of milk and yet another holographic Machamp, all while receiving the admonition I knew was waiting for me at home.

Gaming, Video Games1 Comment

‘Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin’ Demo Showcases the Franchise’s Best Parts

June 27, 2021June 27, 2021 Jamal Michel

A free demo of Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is available now in the Nintendo eShop ahead of the game’s July 9 release date. The game, a sequel to its 2016 predecessor on the Nintendo 3DS and mobile devices, features some of the most unique stories built into the world of Monster Hunter.

Gaming, Video Games

More ‘Pokémon UNITE’ Details + Hands-On Gameplay Footage

June 24, 2021June 28, 2021 Jamal Michel

Pokémon UNITE, TiMi Studios and The Pokémon Company’s free-to-play, multiplayer online battle arena video game for Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch, is set to release in July and the details continue to showcase what a unique title it’s set to be. The game’s beta, released in Japan, runs from June 24 to 26 and allows players the opportunity to experiment with the game’s mechanics hands-on.

Origins, Video Games

After 25 Years and Zero Games Played, My Father Remains the Ultimate Gamer

June 20, 2021March 11, 2022 Jamal Michel

The other day, my father noticed one of the PC games I was playing and was pretty stunned — not just at the graphics but the overall presentation of gaming today. Growing up, the computer in our home was mostly used for homework, school projects, and of course, Math Blaster. I don’t know that my father knows how deep the rabbit hole of PC gaming goes, or its history, but he remains one of the single most significant figures in introducing video games to me.

Gaming, Video Games1 Comment

‘Pokémon UNITE’ Finally Gets a Release Date As Nintendo Shows Off More In-Game Details

June 17, 2021June 17, 2021 Jamal Michel

A year ago at Pokémon Presents, we got an amazing first-look at a Pokémon themed multiplayer online battle arena, Pokémon UNITE, a MOBA in the same vein as League of Legends and Smite where teams face off against each other for control of various resources over the course of a given match. In Pokémon UNITE, “players will compete in Unite Battles, where they form teams of five and compete against each other to see who can score the most points before time runs out.”

Conventions, Video Games

Nintendo Rocks the House at E3 2021 With a Heap of New Announcements

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021 Jamal Michel

During Nintendo’s nearly 40-minute E3 2021 presentation, viewers got a look at a huge selection of new titles, forthcoming, DLC, and surprise announcements that sent social media into an understandable frenzy.

Conventions, Tech, Video Games2 Comments

E3 2021 Press Conference Live Updates!

June 11, 2021June 21, 2021 Jamal Michel

This year, The Nerds of Color has got your back on everything E3! Be sure you’re tuned in on Twitch, YouTube, or wherever else you plan to watch the online press conferences, and keep our tab open to catch live updates.

Reviews, Video Games

Flight School Studio’s ‘Stonefly’ is a Must-Play Indie Game

June 2, 2021June 3, 2021 Jamal Michel

This week, the folks at Flight School Studios and MWM Interactive released their indie mech title, Stonefly. The adventure game is a chill yet wholly beautifully exploration of legacy, resource gathering and mech building, as players follow Annika Stonefly in her search for her father’s stolen rig. After a late-night excursion, Annika mistakenly leaves the garage door storing the mech wide open, leaving it victim to a theft that launches our main character on her journey through dangerous and captivating flora and fauna.