Riot is no stranger to monetizing their games by frequently adding in cosmetics for players to show off during games. So it’s no surprise that Valorant has already released it’s first set of high dollar skins. Last week, Valorant released an Ultra Edition set (more on that later) called Elderflame. Check out the release video below for all the awesome visuals.
WTF is an Ultra Edition?
Valorant has five tiers of skins at varying price points. Select, Deluxe, Premium, Ultra, and Exclusive. As you’d imagine, the lowest tier is just pretty pattern skins that aren’t too involved and as you get higher on the list the guns/knives get prettier and include animations. (see below for the general prices per gun per tier)
As you can tell from the video, the Elderflame skins have a lot going on. Not only are their base models animated and have special sound effects, but you can use Radianite points to upgrade them to be more animated and change to different color dragons.
So, how much does this fancy set cost?
The Elderflame costs a whopping 9990 Valorant Points (VP), which translates into about $100. In the bundle you get the knife, card, spray, and title in addition to Frenzy, Judge, Vandal, and Operator gun skins. And spending money to buy VP to then buy Radianite Points to upgrade the skins with is just.. well it’s a lot. Probably another $100 if you wanted to upgrade them all, if not more.
And I hear you out there, “who pays $100 for cosmetics in a game?!” Obviously many people because I have run into quite a few dragon guns this week and based on how much I’ve seen CS:GO skins go for, and how much I’ve personally spent in other Riot games… well there are a lot of us out there who love to buy cosmetics to support the games we love.
And the skins keep coming!
Hot on the heels of the Elderflame set comes Oni and Sakura. Leaked earlier this week but now showing in the game after this morning’s update, are some gorgeous skins with Japanese themes: demons and cherry blossoms! As someone who loves everything Japanese, you can bet I’m hyped about the arrival of these beauties.
There’s no information yet about how they will be priced but I’m guessing they are the next set to be in the bundle shop when Elderflame leaves in a few hours. My guess is that they will be Premium Edition prices for the Oni items (due to the skin variants) and perhaps Deluxe Edition prices for the Sakura ones (as they are static).
Going forward
I’m curious to see what other designs Riot comes up with and extra curious to see what ends up being in that Exclusive Edition tier. I hope that those tie into fun events or eSports. Only time (and leaks) will tell! Time to get a side hustle cause these things are expensive and either my wallet or I am gonna cry!
The June Twitch clips are guaranteed to make you laugh until your sides hurt. Our community clipped epic moments from our 12 hour Sea of Thieves marathon, some Fortnite fun, and the time we all learned about the squat potty thanks to Animal Crossing.
Play together and hero up in Paw Patrol: Might Pups Save Adventure Bay
July 17, 2020
Outright Games, and Nickelodeon, today announced a brand-new video game, currently entitled “PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay”. The new game will launch November 6, 2020, on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC Digital.
Jax and Keeba nope out of talking about anything political or COVID related and bring you a break from the drama. Gaming chats cover the new Fortnite Season, The Last of Us 2, and Control from Remedy Games. Usually they cover news & hot topics but those are all hot garbage dumpster fires right now.
It seems like only a few months ago that Riot teased us with an upcoming shooter, only referred to as “Project A“. Since then Riot has made it a solid entry into the FPS market and dubbed it Valorant. The game is a tactical 5v5 shooter flaunting a good array of playable characters, a variety of play styles, and, in true Riot fashion, a beautiful art style. After a hyped beta season the game is ready for an early launch, worldwide, starting today!
How to Play the Game
When you load into Valorant you’ll have a starting group of agents to choose from. Each agent has their own set of abilities that make them unique and provide different advantages in the field. There are 11 total agents currently: Sage, Phoenix, Sova, Jett, Viper, Raze, Brimstone, Breach, Omen, Cypher, and the new addition, Reyna.
There are four maps: Bind, Split, Haven, and the new addition, Ascent. Each map is unique and gives different ways for the player to use their agents skills. There are a lot of interesting ways to do trick shots or really hinder enemy teams with certain skills in each map.
Everyone has access to the same equipment: 1 pistol, 1 automatic firearm, and 2 levels of armor. You also begin with your special ability. Everyone starts round 1 with the same amount of credits to purchase abilities and gear. Each round you earn more credits based on performance.
Each match of Valorant is up to 25 rounds long. You begin on either attackers (bomb planting) or defenders (defusing). The first half is 12 rounds, then you change sides. The first team to reach 13 wins is declared the winner of the match.
Every round has a 100 second timer in which to plant the bomb. Once the bomb is planted you have 45 seconds to defuse. That means a drawn out match can last close to an hour.
At the end of the match you’ll get to see a data rundown. Who got MVP, how your team did, and how well you did. You’ll also see what XP you earned and if you completed any daily objectives (extra XP tasks that change every 24 hours).
Don’t have time for an hour long game? The new Spike Rush mode speeds things up with added power ups, randomized weapon load-out, and a shorter duration. Be the first team to 4 wins!
Might just be a great way to get your bearings if you’re new!
Valorant’s Beta Period
Instead of following the usual route of emailing players beta invites, Riot pulled a genius move. Valorant beta access was awarded by linking your Riot account to your Twitch account and then watching someone stream the game with drops enabled. This move brought thousands of viewers out to streams and put Valorant on the radar for pretty much everyone on Twitch (of which there are millions).
I got my access a few days or so into the beta period after hardcore lurking in channels. I’ve been a “Riot Fangirl” since the beta of League of Legends, I’ve played every game they’ve made. So I wasn’t about to miss out on this one – which I’d been eagerly awaiting since “Project A” was revealed.
I’ve played a fair bit of Counter Strike, beginning with Source and then Global Offensive. Though the past few years I’ve only hopped in to play Arms Race, I enjoy the premise of the bomb plant/defusal mode. I just found it was lacking something to keep my attention.
Valorant filled the hole by making unique agents with abilities to use in the match. It brings added difficulty and raises the skill level in addition to making the game mode just more interesting. And I’m definitely not alone. Many others say they’ve fallen in love with Valorant way more than they ever liked CS:GO for this exact reason.
The beta period had several patches as well as a test of the competitive scene. There have been a few small tournaments and Riot’s teaming up with Twitch for a big one after Launch. Riot’s done a good job of breaking ground to lay a solid foundation for years of esports for the game.
While the game had bugs, like all games do, I had very little issues while playing Valorant. My machine is by no means top of the line (sorry grandpa but you’re 6 years old now), but it handled everything smoothly. I never had issues with lag and rarely any connection issues. Nothing that kept me from having fun with the game, technically at least – we’ll talk about the bad apples later on.
All in all, I think Valorant had a successful beta. I think they got a lot of feedback, were able to squash a lot of issues and bugs, and built hype for their game. There will be a period where everyone gets to learn the game before competitive opens up, almost like a beta 2.0.
I wish Riot a wonderful, smooth, server crash free launch!
Beginner Advice
For those just learning to play Valorant, I recommend picking up Sage, Phoenix, or Jett. In comparison to other agents, these four are easier to learn and each has skills that can get you out of a bind. Sage is a healer with a wall that can use to block off corridors and save yourself if needed. Phoenix has a blind and if he stands in his fire skills he heals. Jett has a dash skill that can be used to get out of close quarter fights or zoom across a vulnerable opening to gain cover, she also has smoke spheres to take away vision.
There are guide videos and articles you can use to get an idea of what each agent does but the best way to learn is by getting in a match and actually trying to use their skills. Take your time and stick with other teammates in the game when you’re new.
You’ll want to learn the layout of each map as well as learn what certain chokepoints are called. You’ll hear a lot of different names for these places that are not what they’re called on the map. Things like “heaven”, “hookah”, “showers”, etc. Over time you’ll start understanding what each is and be able to call out better to your team as well. Communication is key to a game like this. If you aren’t comfortable using your mic in-game, use the chat, or learn the built-in ping commands.
Another pointer is to pay attention to your econ, or economy – your credit spending on guns and abilities. Don’t just fling out and waste your abilities. And don’t just buy the most expensive gun you can every time or you’ll run out of money fast (unless you’re murdering everyone every round, in which case buy your favorite pew pew). Pay attention to what guns drop on the ground when someone dies. You can pick them up and use them!
Lastly, find a buddy. It’s pretty obvious, but team games are easier and funner when you’ve got a good team with you. If you don’t have friends to play with, try adding friendly players after a match. You’d be surprised how many people will accept the request and queue up with you!
See You in Game!
Valorant is Free-to-Play so there’s no excuse not to try it out! Sign up and download the client at PlayValorant.com.
When I was two weeks into New Horizons and didn’t yet have a vaulting pole while everyone else seemed to be growing turnips and creating whole islands full of tarantulas, I had to turn to the Internet to figure out why I couldn’t even cross streams of water.
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a fantastic little horror game based in H.P. Lovecraft’s worlds made by Cultic Games. It has beautiful artwork, tactical turn-based combat, and rich roleplay. So if you like games with spoopy feels and great gameplay, check it out!
Let’s Play!
Personally, I’ve never read any Lovecraft (*gasp* I know, I know…). But I love horror and fantasy so this game was right up my alley. Stygian starts with the creation of a character, you’ll get to customize attributes, class, name, etc. letting you make the game more your own. The town of Arkham is pulled into a new, shadow-filled place full of terror. You set out to investigate what is going on and do your best to survive.
There is a lot of story to be had in the game, with plentiful options and characters to have dialog with. You can take your time and explore every dark corner of the game. Better yet you can play it again with a different character set up to try and do things differently. All in all, it’s about 15-20 hours of gameplay each time, a happy medium between short and long.
If you know me, you know I loooove games with great artwork. This War of Mine, The Long Dark, League of Legends are some of my favorite games because of the gorgeous art styles each has. Stygian has definitely joined the ranks with its artwork.
Game Features
A hand-drawn 2D world that reflects the mood of Lovecraft and cosmic horror.
Quests and storylines which capture the iconic themes of Lovecraft. Take part in your favorite horror stories and shape their outcome according to your role-playing style.
Weirdest of companions will accompany you in your accursed journey. Lonely antediluvian of ‘The Outsider’, a dead WW1 soldier reanimated in the hands of Herbert West, a psychic narcissistic cat from Ulthar and many more will be among your eccentric cast of companions.
Sanity and the mental state of the character will have an influence on the dialog options. Mental conditions create benefits as well as hindrances. Sometimes being mad in a mad world helps!
Belief Systems determine how your characters handle the challenging reality around them and help regenerate lost sanity. Belief Systems also offer unique dialogue options thus extending the roleplaying possibilities that players can explore. A rational character gains sanity after completing research on a mythos creature while a divine believer gains sanity after converting a lost soul to the path of God.
A unique spell system which sometimes takes more than what it gives. The black magic of Stygian is very potent but will cost you your mind, health and sometimes your very soul. Being a master of the true occult is not like flinging colorful missiles from your fingertips.
Turn based strategic combat in beautiful 2D Heroes of Might and Magic-like perspective.
8 different archetypes with completely unique prologue stories and specialties to breathe life into the Lovecraftian archetypes.
The struggle is not for saving the world, that battle is lost already. Follow your personal goals for salvation or vendetta in a doomed world.
Now what?
I highly recommend checking out this game if you’re looking for an interesting story with solid mechanics. Why don’t you join the other people who’ve picked it up on Steam? Or if you would like to save some dough, head over to Fanatical and use my affiliate link!
This game was provided to me for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Teamfight Tactics, brought to you by the people at Riot Games, is an auto chess game that gained popularity on release and has fluctuated quite a bit since. Riot is of course known for its hit game, League of Legends, a MOBA game that attracts huge numbers in the esports scene. The lore surrounding the characters (or champions, as we call them) of LoL is massive and has enabled them to make a lot more content based on that world.
Riot has capitalized on letting their fanbase play different styles of games with the same champions they are familiar with. Each season, called a set, of Teamfight Tactics has a selection of champions with assigned attributes. This week, on March 18th, the newest set releases with the theme of Galaxies.
WTF is Auto Chess?
Auto chess, or auto battlers, are games where you choose units, place them, and they automatically fight against another team on a set board. You are one of 8 players, fighting each other in a mini-tournament style, losing points each time you lose a match until a winner emerges. To win against the other teams you’ll need to not only build a solid team but also keep an eye on what everyone else is building plus learn to use your money wisely.
So if you like strategy and can think quickly, you might enjoy playing any of the auto chess games. And if you like League of Legends you’ll enjoy Teamfight Tactics in particular.
How to Play Teamfight Tactics
This week marks the arrival of the next set (or season) of Teamfight Tactics. Each season has brought a new dynamic, changing out what champions are available and what type of items and skills they possess. Every champion has an Origin, a Class, and can carry 3 items or buffs. A champion costs 1 to 7 gold to buy. And each champion can be combined to make a higher tier version – 3 to make a tier 2 champion and 3 tier 2 champions to make a tier 3 (that’s 9 tier 1’s to make a tier 3). Higher tier champions have higher stats and do more damage.
If you put together champions with the same origin or class, you get extra buffs. Things like increased armor, chance to do more damage, or maybe get mana or spell power. In addition to combining traits, you’ll get items in carousels and PvE rounds that you combine to give your champions extra fighting power.
A wonderful cheat sheet for the new set by mobalytics
What’s Special About Set 3?
Each new set brings new origin set, changes out what champions are present, and even what skins those champions wear to fit their origin/class combo. On top of the usual changes, Set 3 brings some new mechanics to the game. Set 2 introduced “Elements” to the game where each match was either wind (dodge), water (mana), fire (attack speed), or earth (health) and each gave a different buff for champions placed in spaces that contained that element.
Set 3 introduces a new mechanic where each match will take you to a different Galaxy, with its own set of rules. Some of these are Neekoverse: where everyone starts with two Neeko’s help (an item that clones any champion). Another other is Lilac Nebula: where every champion in the first carousel of the game will have a value of four gold. (Side note: this mechanic will release with patch 10.7 to give players the chance to adjust to the new champion sets first.)
This new set also introduces a battle pass system that will allow players to earn cosmetics for our characters, called Little Legends. Needless to say, as someone who has a history of buying all the skins, I’m super hyped about this addition.
Should You Try TFT?
I’m a huge fan of the universe Riot’s created. I’ve played League of Legends since beta and up until a few years ago, I was one of those people who picked up and learned every new champ that came along (I fell off the bandwagon when I had my first kid). TFT had a lot of hype when it came out and then kinda died off, so I didn’t end up picking it up until Set 2 released. I climbed my way from Iron 1 to Platinum 3 and have definitely fallen in love with it.
If you like strategy games and are willing to put in the time to learn the mechanics of the game then I definitely think you should give it a go! Prepare yourself for Set 3 with the 10.6 patch notes and make use of great guides found on Mobalytics and LoLchess!
As a final side note: I’m really excited to see Riot finally branch out, first with Teamfight Tactics and now with Legends of Runeterra – their card game, as well as their upcoming forays into FPS and an animated series. Maybe we’ll even get a Runeterra movie some time, like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy have produced.
