video games
10 Bands You Probably Discovered by Playing Guitar Hero
Crate Digging is a recurring feature in which we take a deep dive into a genre and turn up several albums or bands that all music fans should know about. As classic gaming series Guitar Hero turns 15 this week, we look at 10 bands a generation of fans likely learned about through gaming rather than crate digging. In the mid-to-late 2000s, the Guitar Hero series was the party game to own. Initially a partnership between publisher/hardware manufacturer RedOctane and developer Harmonix, the brand built upon the latter’s prior music-based projects — such as Frequency, Karaoke Revolution, and Amplitude — and other genre titans like Dance Dance Revolution, GuitarFreaks, Gitaroo Man, and PaRappa the Rapper. Essentially, players had to match button combinations and rhythmic cues to the arrangement...
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S Bring Spatial Audio to the Forefront of Gaming
With the Microsoft Xbox Series X and Series S releasing today and the Sony PlayStation 5 joining it in less than 48 hours, gamers are preparing to sink hundreds — if not thousands — of hours into the new hardware over the next handful of years. But while most of the headlines will focus on the 4K visuals, significantly increased framerates, and effectively nonexistent loading times, one of the major upgrades for audiophiles out there is the improvement in spatial audio — or 3D sound, as most marketing teams are phrasing it. In layman’s terms, what that means is effectively the next step up in tying sound sources to specific locations and directions. Although you may not get the full experience without a home theater “surround sound” kind of setup or a good pair of headphones (Astro’s new A...
HHW Gaming: ‘NBA 2K21’ Allowing Players To Hear 5 Songs Off 2 Chainz’s New Album For 24 Hours
Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K21 2 Chainz is set to drop his latest album, So Help Me God, and he is taking a very unconventional route that makes total sense to preview it to fans. Announced today (Nov.9), Visual Concepts announced its unique partnership with 2 Chainz to allow NBA 2K21 current-gen and next-gen players to listen to 5 songs off Dos Necklaces’ new album 24 hours from 12:01 a.m. ET – 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 12, ahead of its November 13 release date. The songs will live within the 2K Beats in-game playlist and will have you bopping your head as you navigate the game’s menus. Speaking on the partnership, 2 Chainz said in a statement: “I’m always looking at new ways to drop new music and connect with my fans. Premiering my music in NBA 2K21 is an incredible, e...
HHW Gaming: PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X Both Getting Solid Reviews From Critics
Source: Microsoft / Sony The next-generation of gaming is here. Now it’s time to see what the critics say about Sony and Microsoft’s new video game consoles. Our resident gamer already shared his two-cents on the Xbox Series X, pointing out that it successfully closes the gap between PC and console gaming once Thursday’s (Nov.5) embargo lifted. Friday (Nov. 6) was the PS5’s turn, and the reviews are pouring in. When it comes to both consoles, the consensus is very positive, with reviewers giving their honest opinions on why both the Xbox Series X and PS5 are solid entries into the next generation of gaming. We know many gamers have already made up their minds when it comes to picking which console they want to use to embark on their next-gen gaming journey, but there are still some people ...
MISSIO and More Headline Next Week on SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream
Don’t sleep through lunch or you may miss FELIN’s performance on SPIN’s Untitled Twitch Stream later today, but while this week has been stellar, we want to prepare you for what’s coming down the pipeline as well. Aside from catching this week’s videos on Twitch (or YouTube in the future), next week’s streams bring everything from concerts to DJ sets to some Call of Duty action live on your streaming device. You won’t want to miss performances from the likes of MISSIO, Niiko x SWAE, Charming Liars, or Field Medic, and Michigander is dropping right into the middle of the week with a little hangout and gaming session. As always, our Twitter and Instagram will both have more updates and reminders over the course of the week. Don’t forget you c...
HHW Gaming: The COVID-19 Pandemic Forces Sega To Sell Its Arcade Business
Source: Pola Damonte via Getty Images / Getty It should come as no surprise the arcade gaming industry has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the biggest names in the arcade game business, Sega, is officially taking its quarters and going home. Eurogamer is reporting that Sega Sammy Holdings Inc, the parent company of Sega Entertainment, has felt the sting of COVID-19, like many other companies that rely on human foot traffic. In a statement, the company revealed it has sold 85.1 percent of its Japanese arcade business to the amusement machine company Genda. Per Sega: “As Amusement Center Operations area in Entertainment Contents Business is strongly affected by COVID-19, utilization of facilities has declined remarkably, and a significant loss was recorded at 1Q of the fisca...
HHW Gaming Review: Microsoft Is Closing The Gap Between PC & Console Gaming With The Xbox Series X
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz It’s almost time to level-up (pun intended) to the next level of gaming, and Microsoft will be the first company to release its next-gen consoles, the Xbox Series S|X. I got the opportunity to play with the Series X ahead of its launch, and now it’s time to share my experience with the console. I must admit, I do a lot of my gaming on PS4, and I rarely gave my Xbox One S any attention, so it was like being in a foreign land for me once I powered up the Xbox Series X.BUT, once I pressed the power button, it didn’t take long for me to realize what kind of gaming experience that Micorosft is offering gamers who choose to game on consoles. The company is a mission bridging the gap between PC and console gaming. [embedded content] Design and Hardware Sour...
HHW Gaming: Sony Says Don’t Bother Going To Stores To Cop A PS5 On Launch Date
Source: Sony / PlayStation We are literally just days away from the launch of both PS5 and Xbox Series X. The thirst is still real for a PlayStation 5 following pre-order jig, and if you plan on hitting a physical store in hopes of getting a console, Sony has some news for you. In a blog post, Sony told gamers to stay home on the PS5’s launch date, November 12 (November 19, depending on what region you live in), because there will be no consoles being sold in-store. The company explains that its decision to keep sales strictly online only keeps gamers, retailers, and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Per Sony: “Hi, all – the launch of the PlayStation 5 console on November 12 (or November 19, depending on your region) is almost upon us! In the interest of keeping our gamers, retailer...
HHW Gaming: Mileena Takes A Bite Out The Competition In ‘Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate’ Gameplay Trailer
Source: WB Games / NetherRealm Studios Finally, we get to see Mileena in action, and her trailer doesn’t disappoint at all. Since Mortal Komat 11’s initial launch in March 2019, fans have been screaming at Ed Boon to bring back Mileena. Boon waited for the perfect moment to bring back the product of Shang Tsung’s diabolical cloning experiments, which is the arrival of next-gen consoles, the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Wednesday (Nov.4), our favorite hot girl, Megan Thee Stallion, brought Mileena to life in an MK 11 Ultimate sponsored social media post, pretty much hinting that Mileena’s gameplay trailer was on the way. As expected, Mileena’s fatal combination of speed, acrobatic prowess, and raw savagery complemented by her signature sai and sharp claws are on full display. Mileena’s sign...
HHW Gaming: ‘NBA 2K21’ Next-Gen Ditches The Neighborhood For The City
Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K21 The Visual Concepts team wasn’t kidding when they said NBA 2K21 nextgen is a completely new experience built from the ground up. Thanks to series of Courtside Reports, we have been methodically learning what to expect from NBA 2K21 next-gen. We learned about the innovations coming to player animation, collision, AI behavior, how the PS5’s new DualSense controller will work with the game, and so much more. We also got to see the game in action, showing off the new rail cam presentation, graphics and introducing the new color commentary team. It was recently revealed that NBA 2K21 will now allow players to create their own fully customizable WNBA player and experience a WNBA career on and off the court in the newThe W, The W Online, and MyWNBA modes. ...
Real Cosplay Sh*t: Megan Thee Stallion Teams Up ‘Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate’ To Celebrate Mileena’s Return
Source: Megan Thee Stallion / Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate If you didn’t know, Mileena is back, and WB Games and NetherRealm Studios teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion to celebrate the occasion. Megan Thee Stallion’s love for all things nerdy is no secret, so it should come as no surprise that she was down for this idea. The leader of the Hot Girls and anime fan dropped a video on her Instagram account, and in it, she is getting her cosplay on, dressed up as the deadly half Tarkatan blood and Edenian clone of Princess Kitana. While cheeked out, Megan is rocking Mileena’s drip and while holding her signature deadly twin sais. Megan even has the Mileena’s frightening Tarkatan grill. Mileena was announced alongside other Kombat Pack 2 DLC characters Rain and Rambo back in October. They...
Godfall and Composer Ben MacDougall Welcome PS5 Players to the Next Generation
Of all the titles releasing for the next-generation consoles next week, few have as much excitement and mystery built around them as Godfall. The title developed by Counterplay Games and published by Gearbox (who know a thing or two about revolutionary loot-based games given their history with the Borderlands series) was actually the first PlayStation 5 title to be announced, and it’s also one of the only new IPs launching among a lineup packed with familiar faces. A combat-heavy game set in an unknown fantasy universe, Godfall might face the biggest challenges of any launch week title compared to known commodities like Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty, Yakuza, Watch Dogs and Spider-Man — but it also has arguably the most room to impress unsuspecting gamers. As a brand new title with no pres...
