Axios Gaming: The importance of a good character creator

Plus: The best graphics we've ever seen | Tuesday, June 08, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Malwarebytes Small Business Solutions   Axios Gaming By Megan Farokhmanesh and Stephen Totilo ·Jun 08, 2021 Welcome back to pre-E3 with Megan and Stephen. Today's newsletter is 952 words, a 4-minute read.     1 big thing: The need for good character creators E3's character creator. Screenshot: Entertainment Software Association   The character creator built into the official E3 portal for this year's event is a reminder of how important it is to be able to personalize avatars in the gaming space. Why it matters: The biggest gaming show of the year is going all-digital this year, and registered participants are being asked to identify themselves through a very narrow set of criteria. The big picture: Character creators raise a larger question of who gets to be included in the games space, and people need to have options that accurately represent them. This includes everything from hairstyles and skin tone to gender expression and accessibility. Lack of options in representation happens often in video games. Given the E3 portal's gamification of the event with trophies and daily goals, this feels like another instance of that. An essay from Bobby K. on Can I Play That? explores through games like "Miitopia" and "The Sims," which don't allow players to represent their physical disabilities, meaning players "cannot see in our virtual versions of ourselves what we can in our physical selves." BioWare's recent trilogy remaster, "Mass Effect Legendary Edition," attempted to fix its poor creation choices for non-white players by adding more options like hairstyles. What they're saying: The response to the creator has generally been bemusement, but a few criticisms stand out above the rest. Kotaku writer Ash Parrish points out that "once again, a character creator neglects the wider range of kinkier hairstyles beyond the simple afro, and the one that's there is pretty ugly." The Gamer's Jade King tweeted that "the E3 portal only has 'he/him' pronouns on the notifications system and nothing on the user end to change it — so being misgendered with my hot new announcements is fun." The bottom line: PC Gamer described the portal as "a shockingly barebones, ill-conceived website for what's supposed to be the biggest show in the calendar."     2. The best-looking graphics we've ever seen Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. GIF: Sony Interactive Entertainment Sony's latest first-party game, "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart," is a showcase for graphics on the new generation of consoles, even if what you do in it isn't nearly as head-turning. Here at Axios Gaming, we've played several hours of the game, and it's really spectacular to see. It doesn't play all that differently than some of the recent "Ratchet & Clanks," a series that dates back to the PS2. The game is nevertheless receiving rave reviews. The Washington Post calls it a "masterpiece." Why it matters: Sony hopes that "Rift Apart," following April's well-received PS5 exclusive "Returnal," will continue the narrative established during the PS4's heyday that picking a PlayStation console guarantees the customer a flow of unmatchable games. Before Sony burnished its rep, rival Nintendo was best known as the console-maker with the reliable river of brilliant exclusives. Microsoft's Xbox business lags, selling customers on its impressive service offerings, such as Game Pass, while stocking up on game studios in the hopes of someday becoming as consistent a hitmaker as its competition.     3. A successful leap The three big personalities who left the popular podcast-centric gaming outlet Giant Bomb last month revealed their new project yesterday, a podcast-centric gaming outlet called Nextlander. The new operation swiftly drew in over 9,300 paying members on the crowdfunding platform Patreon, at minimum $5/month subscriptions. The big picture: For people who already have big followings, quitting one's employer-backed job for the freedom of working directly for a paying public, often works out well. Between the lines: Nextlander founders Vinny Caravella, Alex Navarro, and Brad Shoemaker built names for themselves over a decade ago at then-CNET-owned GameSpot, before leaving with Jeff Gerstmann to form independently run Giant Bomb. Multiple acquisitions of Giant Bomb later, the three, without Gerstmann, have gone independent again. "I mean I'm a pessimist, so I always keep my expectations low, but this was waaaaay beyond anything I'd imagined for day one," Navarro wrote on Twitter yesterday. "All the thanks in the world to everyone supporting us."     A message from Malwarebytes Small Business Solutions Malwarebytes secures small businesses from hackers     Malwarebytes offers cybersecurity options for businesses of all sizes. What this means: Choose from top-rated easy-to-use Next Gen AV for teams or centrally managed cloud-based Endpoint Protection & Endpoint Detection and Response, all including phone support. Check it out.     4. A gaming handheld for 2021 A prototype of a new Playdate game from indie developer Lucas Pope. GIF: Playdate Playdate, a small gaming device that's more or less a Game Boy built for modern times, will cost $179, with pre-orders starting in July, the system's creators announced today. Why it matters: Dedicated portable gaming devices have faded away as mobile phone gaming has grown, but Playdate's makers hope that a retro black-and-white handheld with some modern quirks can find an audience. The Playdate's signature feature is a crank that can be used to help control games. But its most intriguing offering is a seasonal gaming subscription, free to system purchasers, that will dole out two new games a week.     5. E3 Day -4 Another day, another E3 event announced: Capcom's June 14 (5:30pm ET) showcase will feature news about four games, the final two of which are already out: "The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles" "Monster Hunter Stories 2" "Monster Hunter Rise " "Resident Evil Village" In other E3 news, Ubisoft says that the recently-announced "Division: Heartland" and the repeatedly-delayed "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake" will not be at the company's Saturday showcase. "Sands of Time" is now slated for release next year.     6. Worthy of your attention 🎉 The best moments in E3 history. (Luke Plunkett, Kotaku) 🕵️ The secret levels of "Tetris Effect." (Tetris) ⌨️ Obituary: John Wilson, founder of legendary text adventure publisher Zenobi Software (Ian Highton, Eurogamer)     7. 1 green thing Image: Devolver Digital   A lot of loud, violent video games will be announced this week, so let's hear it for something a bit different. The screenshot above is from "Terra Nil," an upcoming game from development studio Free Lives that works as sort of a reverse "Sim City." (Watch the trailer.) From the game's official description: "Begin with the water system, slowly purify the soil, and cultivate pioneer greenery ... restore biodiversity, fix the climate, introduce wildlife, and finally recycle all the structures you used to get there, leaving the environment pristine."     A message from Malwarebytes Small Business Solutions Malwarebytes secures small businesses from hackers     Malwarebytes offers cybersecurity options for businesses of all sizes. What this means: Choose from top-rated easy-to-use Next Gen AV for teams or centrally managed cloud-based Endpoint Protection & Endpoint Detection and Response, all including phone support. Check it out.   Got a tip? A story you want us to cover? Email us at megan.farokhmanesh@axios.com or stephen.totilo@axios.com. 🐦 Find us on Twitter: @megan_nicolett / @stephentotilo 🎁 If you refer new subscribers to Axios Gaming, you can get free Axios swag! Follow the link here to get started. Like this style and format? Request access to Axios HQ The tool and templates you need for more engaging team updates.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: