Games
Underwater Horror Game 'Murky Divers' Launches in Full on December 12
2024-12-08
For aquatic horror game enthusiasts, the wait for their next deep-sea adventure is about to end. After six months in Early Access development, Embers and Oro Interactive are set to bring Murky Divers out of Steam's Early Access and launch it in full on December 12. This 1.0 release holds exciting new features such as the introduction of fresh creatures, a new playable biome, and more. And as the holiday season approaches, a Christmas theme with free-to-keep cosmetics will add to the excitement.

Dive into the Depths with Murky Divers

New Creatures and Biome

In the upcoming 1.0 release of Murky Divers, players will be greeted by a host of new creatures that inhabit the ocean depths. These mysterious beings add an extra layer of horror and challenge to the gameplay. Alongside the new creatures, a brand new playable biome will be available, offering a different environment and set of challenges for players to explore. It's a world of underwater horror waiting to be discovered.

The addition of these new elements ensures that players will never get bored with Murky Divers. Each dive into the new biome will present unique encounters with the strange creatures that call it home. It's a chance to test your skills and courage as you navigate through this uncharted territory.

Team Coordination and Sub Navigation

In Murky Divers, players form an 8-person team and embark on a journey to the bottom of the ocean. Team coordination is key as you navigate your sub through the treacherous waters. Using sonar and stations, you must "see" and pilot your sub to the abandoned labs where the corpses are located. It's a delicate balance between teamwork and individual skill.

Once at the wrecks, the real work begins. Stepping out of the sub, you'll need to extract the dead bodies and bring them back to the sub for destruction. This requires precise coordination and communication within the team. Every member plays a vital role in ensuring the success of the mission.

Upgrades and Enhancements

After surviving the dangerous missions in Murky Divers, players can use their hard-earned credits to purchase items, upgrades, and modules. These additions can greatly enhance your chances on the next expedition. Equip items like Agent NUTS, the shopping cart, or the scooter to make your job a little easier.

You can also upgrade with see-through vision, body part detectors, or a grappling hook. These enhancements give you an edge in the dark and dangerous depths of the ocean. Along with upgrading your suit, you can enhance your sub with modules for greater depth, bigger fishing nets, and more. It's all about becoming a more capable and prepared diver.

With over 350,000 players worldwide, Murky Divers has gained a significant following. The developers are grateful for the support and are constantly working to improve the game based on player feedback. As they continue to shape the game into something truly special, players can look forward to more updates and exciting adventures.

The Entire itch.io Site Down Due to Funko's Brand Protection Software
2024-12-09
Itch.io, a renowned platform for indie creations, found itself in a rather unexpected predicament. The entire website was taken offline, and the finger was pointed directly at toy manufacturer Funko. According to a thread on its official X account, itch.io alleges that a "bogus phishing report" led to the site's shutdown. Funko, it claims, was using 'brand protection software' that, through AI, flagged a disputed page and filed a false report with itch.io's domain registrar. Instead of verifying the situation, the registrar brought down the entire site.

Transparency and Quick Action

For transparency's sake, itch.io took the disputed page down as soon as they received the notice. They believe it's not worth fighting such issues. However, the registrar's automated system likely kicked in and disabled the domain without properly checking the removal. This incident has left the creators of over 1 million indie-created products, including indie games, RPGs, comics, and music, in a bind.

Impact on Indie Creators

The longer the site remains down, the more severe the problem becomes for these indie creators. While the downtime means they can no longer sell or distribute their products, the DRM-free nature of the downloads ensures that those who have already purchased and installed indie games from itch.io can continue to use them without any glitches. It's a double-edged sword for them, as they await the resolution of this issue.

Servers Are Still There

Itch.io has confirmed to a user on X that their servers "are still there." This gives hope to the indie community that the site will be back up and running soon. But until the issue is fully resolved, the site and its extensive collection of indie creations will remain inaccessible. The fate of these indie projects hangs in the balance as they wait for the restoration of itch.io.
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Final Fantasy 14 Mobile's Initial Gameplay Footage Is Neat
2024-12-09
The footage of Final Fantasy 14 Mobile, initially uploaded by a verified account on the Chinese video sharing site Bilibili, showcases brief snippets of the game's nine initial jobs. These jobs include Warrior, Paladin, Bard, Black Mage, Summoner, Monk, Dragoon, Scholar, and White Mage, all performing basic combat actions against random mobs. Even though the adventurers seem to be at a low level compared to the characters commonly used in Final Fantasy 14 nowadays, the user interface remains clean and uncluttered, which is quite an achievement for a touchscreen-based game. Some eagle-eyed players have even noticed a few unique animations.

Development by LightSpeed Studios

Final Fantasy 14 Mobile is being developed by LightSpeed Studios, a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Tencent Holdings. This studio is renowned for its work on PUBG Mobile. In November 2024, Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki Yoshida introduced the game, explaining that the mobile version is optimized for the more casual play style typical of the platform.Yoshida mentioned that although there was a strong desire to develop a mobile version, they almost gave up due to the perceived difficulty. However, they provided challenging feedback to the development team, and the developers always responded sincerely. This dedication became the deciding factor in moving forward with the mobile version. Despite the difficulties faced during the development process, they have succeeded in creating an outstanding mobile version.

Gameplay and User Interface

The gameplay of Final Fantasy 14 Mobile offers a diverse range of jobs, each with its own unique set of skills and combat styles. For example, the Warrior is known for its brute strength and close combat abilities, while the Bard can provide support and buffs to the team with their musical skills. The user interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, allowing players to focus on the action rather than getting distracted by complex menus. The clean and uncluttered layout makes it accessible for both novice and experienced players.Moreover, the attention to detail in the animations is remarkable. Even in the basic combat actions against random mobs, players can notice the fluidity and precision of the animations. This adds to the overall immersive experience of the game and makes it stand out among other mobile games.

Release and Global Launch

Final Fantasy 14 Mobile does not have a specific release date yet, but it is expected to launch in China first before going global. This strategic approach allows the developers to fine-tune the game based on the Chinese market and then expand its reach to a wider audience. The anticipation for the game's launch is high among Final Fantasy fans, and it is expected to be a significant addition to the mobile gaming landscape.In conclusion, Final Fantasy 14 Mobile shows great promise with its initial gameplay and development. The combination of unique jobs, intuitive user interface, and attention to detail makes it a game worth looking forward to. As it prepares to launch in China and then globally, players are eager to experience the world of Final Fantasy on their mobile devices.
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