Fallout 4 Automatron DLC Achievements Revealed

Achievements for Fallout 4’s upcoming Automatron DLC expansion appear in the game’s list of achievements on Xbox One, indicating the DLC may drop soon.

Three weeks ago, Fallout 4 fans discovered leaked achievements for the upcoming Automatron expansion. That leak has now been substantiated, as the Xbox One version of the game has been updated to list the expansion’s five new achievements, which add a total of 100 Gamerscore to the game.

These newachievements consist of three story achievements, and two others that task players with experiencing the robot-building mechanics the expansion adds to the proceedings. Check out all five of the new achievements right here: Headhunting – Complete “Headhunting” Mechanical Menace – Complete “Mechanical Menace” Restoring Order – Complete “Restoring Order” Robot Hunter – Unlock 10 Robot Mods The Most Toys – Build 10 Robot Mods

Now that these achievements can be seen in the Xbox One version of Fallout 4 , it could be an indication that the Automatron expansion is due for release soon. So far, Bethesda has only said that the expansion will be available by the end of the month, so hopefully this means that fans can play Fallout 4 ‘s first expansion sooner rather than later.

With only five achievements though, some may be worried that the Automatron expansion isn’t adding a significant amount of content to Fallout 4 . After all, Bethesda raised the price of Fallout 4 ‘s season pass, which gave gamers the impression that even more substantial content would be added to the game than previously anticipated.

Having said that, if purchased separately from the season pass, the Automatron expansion only costs $9.99. This is relatively cheap, and seems to be reasonable enough for a few new story missions and the ability to build one’s own robot allies in Fallout 4 . Furthermore, later expansions for the game are said to be much larger, with the For Harbor expansion set to be the largest landmass add-onthat Bethesda has ever released for one of its games in the past.

Do you plan on purchasing the Automatron expansion for Fallout 4 ? Are you excited to build your own robots in the game? Do you think that it will be worth the price of admission? Leave us your thoughts on Fallout 4 ‘s Automatron expansion in the comments below.

Fallout 4: Automatron will be available this month for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: Game Informer

Fallout 4 Automatron DLC Introduces New Robot Companion

Just days ahead of the launch of Fallout 4′ s Automatron DLC expansion, Bethesda releases a new image of Ada, one of the DLC’s new customizable robot companions.

For those who have explored every inch of Fallout 4 ‘s Boston Commonwealth, there’s only a few more days to wait before the Automatron DLC expansion is launched. To drum up some anticipation forfans ahead of the March release date of Automatron , Bethesda has shared a new image from the DLC expansion.

Released on its Facebook page, this new image from Bethesda showcases Ada, one of the new robot companions from Automatron. Bethesda’s caption for the image states that players will be able customize Ada alongside the many robots featured in Automatron, something that’s bound to gel well with Fallout 4 ‘s already heavily-customizable base game.

Beyond getting a first look at Ada, no other details about the Sole Survivor’s upcoming robot companion has been released. With the reveal of Ada, eagle-eyed gamers will have noticed that Ada was one of the many robots briefly seen in the Automatron trailer.

Since the trailer seemingly indicates that players are approached by a female-voiced robot to hunt down Automatron ‘s new antagonist, The Mechanist, perhaps Ada is the one that gives players this new quest-line. Those who are curious at what Ada looks like, check out the image of Fallout 4 ‘s newest companion right here.

While Ada is a welcome addition to the Fallout universe, some fans are still worried about the lack of significant content being added by the Automatron expansion, especially if the DLC’s short list of achievementsis taken into account. Having said that, a new robotic companion other than Codsworthmay bring a new dimension of gameplay to Fallout 4, particularly for those who want to start another new game.

Hunting down The Mechanist will undoubtedly be fun, we’re just hoping that Ada will be more like the lovable Dogmeatrather than any of the other judgmental companionsin Fallout 4.

Fallout 4 ‘s Automatron DLC is scheduled for launch on March 22nd for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Source: Facebook(via GameSpot)

Fallout 4’ Will Let Players Craft Settlements, Customize Weapons, & More

‘Fallout 4’ Will Let Players Craft Settlements, Customize Weapons, & More
Seven years after Fallout 3 took the gaming world by storm, Bethesda is finally introducing the world to their much-anticipated follow-up, Fallout 4 .

. After Bethesda ended months of speculation by officially announcingthe game earlier this month, not only did Fallout 4 instantly rocket to the top of every gamer’s must-have list, but it was also guaranteed to be one of the star attractions at this week’s E3 2015conference.

Bethesda kicked things into gear tonight with a press conference featuring looks at the new Doom , Dishonored 2 , and, of course,. And there was much to reveal: the game opens before the bombs drop, features an extensive character creator, and the collector’s edition even comes with its very own Pip-Boy. But one of the biggest Fallout 4 bombshells Bethesda dropped in their press conference regarded crafting and customization — in short, there’s going to be a ton of it.

Borrowing a page from Minecraft , Fallout 4 will let players break down almost anything they find in the wasteland to get raw components to build homes, bases, even entire settlements. Bethesda showed off a real-time structure editor that featured tons of options, ranging from the materials used to construct the building to the decorations and amenities that building included. And to make sure Dogmeat isn’t left out in the cold, gamers can even build him a cozy doghouse.

Some players will likely be content just to build a kickass base where they can keep all their stuff, but Fallout 4 allows for bigger ambitions. Players can keep on building until they’ve got the makings of their very own town. Of course, towns need supplies and infrastructure, so players will have to plant food, provide water, and set up power generators. And power will be important, because the Wasteland is a dangerous place. Those generators can power turrets and an array of other defensive weaponry to keep players’ settlements safe from raiders — and, to paraphrase Field of Dreams , “If you build it, raiders will come.” So best be prepared to greet them with a flamethrower to the face.

But Fallout 4 ‘s crafting and customization isn’t limited to tweaking the protagonist’s lookor building him/her a sweet hometown. Fallout 4 will be channeling the Borderlands franchise with guns…lots and lots of guns. The game will feature around 50 base weapons, but those core weapons can be rebuilt and specialized with around 700 modifications . Want a “focused sniper laser rifle?” Gather the parts and build one.

The modifications, such as scopes and stocks, can be crafted using items found in the game world, in various combinations. So all that random junk that cluttered up the Wasteland in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas , like teddy bears and tin cans and and toy cars? Now it’ll actually serve a purpose, because it can make those baseline guns way more interesting.

And finally, as we suspected, Fallout 4 will let players customize their Power Armor in numerous ways. Gone are the days of stock Brotherhood of Steel looks – replaced with a fully customizable suite of options. Want to build Power Armor that has a jetpack? No one’s stopping you.

All in all, Fallout 4 is looking more and more like the game to beat in 2015. Fallout 3 swallowed up hundreds of hours for many players, and the sequel looks to improve on that already excellent game in every way. Howard was quick to clarify that the settlement building and customization won’t be mandatory to enjoy Fallout 4 , but for players who enjoy resource management and really digging in to make the game experience their own, it’s just another layer that’s sure to prove addictive.

Fallout 4 will be available later this yearfor PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Fallout 4 Guide: Where to Find Every Companion

Use this guide for Fallout 4 to discover the location of all 13 companions in the game, what perks they have to offer, and what needs to be done to recruit them.

There is plenty for players to do in Fallout 4 . They can pursue the main quest, focus on building settlements, explore the wasteland, and even recruit companions to their cause. These companions have varying personalities, skills, and perks that they bring to the table, so it is beneficial for players to seek out as many as they can.

In total, there are 13 companions that can be recruited in. This guide details the location of each one and what needs to be done to recruit them. Some of the companions have personal quests tied to them, and some can even be romanced, which will be noted below.

Cait

The Combat Zone’s importance is one of the things that was cut frombefore release, but players can still find the valuable companion Cait there. Before recruiting Cait, it is necessary to clear the Combat Zone area of the raiders that have infested the place, and then chat with her as well as the Combat Zone’s owner, Tommy Lonegan. By the end of the conversation, players are given the opportunity to recruit Cait as one of their companions.

Cait is more than capable in combat, and comes with the Trigger Rush perk once maximum affinity has been reached. To reach maximum affinity with Cait, players need to be somewhat devious on their adventures, which can be accomplished by stealing and killing on a semi-constant basis. For some strange reason, Cait also likes it when players fast-travel naked, so keep that in mind. Raising Cait’s affinity also gives players a chance to romance her, as well as unlocks her personal quest, “Benign Intervention.”

Codsworth

Codsworth is encountered very early on in the game, in Sanctuary Hills, and simply chatting with him is enough for recruitment. Raising his affinity for the player character isn’t quite as easy, but the quickest way to make Codsworth idolize the player is by creating as many armor and weapon mods as possible. Once Codsworth’s affinity for the player is at maximum level, the Robot Sympathy perk will be added to the player’s list of perks.

Curie

Curie is located in in Vault 81, and is acquired after the quest “Hole in the Wall.” While traveling with Curie, keep in mind that she likes seeing the player heal other characters with stimpaks, and doing so is the quickest way to raise her affinity for the player character. On the road to maximum affinity, Curie’s personal quest “Emergent Behavior” becomes available. Completing it and reaching maximum affinity with Curie earns players the Combat Medic perk…and also gives players a chance for some robot love.

Deacon

Deacon is a member of the Railroad, and as long as players don’t outright betray the Railroad for one of the factions that trigger Fallout 4 ‘s other endings, he will stick by the player’s side indefinitely. Deacon can’t be romanced and doesn’t have a personal quest tied to him, but he does have the Cloak & Dagger perk as a reward for reaching maximum affinity with him.

Dogmeat

Dogmeathas many uses beyond the usual combat support role that most of the companions play, such as sniffing out and retrieving helpful items for the player. In fact, thanks to a glitch, players can even use Dogmeat to obtain the powerful Cryolator weaponearly in the game.

Dogmeat himself is found at the Red Rocket garage, which is just outside of Sanctuary Hills. Simply speak with Dogmeat and he will become a loyal companion. Dogmeat has no personal quest and can’t be romanced (perhaps that’s a good thing), but he can still earn players a helpful perk in the form of the Attack Dog perk, which is unlocked by having a Charismalevel of 4.

Hancock

Hancock is one of the most ruthless ghouls that can be found in the Commonwealth. When players meet him, he is the mayor of Goodneighbor, and that is exactly where he can be found. By completing the side quest called “The Big Dig,” players can convince Hancock to put his mayoral duties on hold and join them in their adventures. Hancock can be romanced, and reaching maximum affinity with him will give players the Isodoped perk.

Nick Valentine

To recruit Nick Valentine, players should visit his detective agency in Diamond City, and then complete the subsequently gained quest “Getting a Clue.” An honorable gumshoe, Valentine prefers the player to make “good” decisions, and also enjoys it when the player hacks computers, so keep those things in mind when trying to reach maximum affinity with him. Besides maximum affinity, players also need to complete Valentine’s personal quest “Long Time Coming” in order to unlock his Close to Metal perk.

Paladin Danse

Paladin Danse of the Brotherhood of Steel can be found hanging out at the Cambridge Police Station. After meeting Paladin Danse, complete the quest “Call to Arms” for the Brotherhood, and he will be willing to journey with you through the wasteland. Danse’s Know Your Enemy perk will unlock once players complete the “Blind Betrayal” personal quest and raise his affinity to maximum. When trying to get Danse to maximum affinity, remember that he generally wants the player to treat people fairly, except when it pertains to synths and ghouls. Follow this advice and Danse will fall in love with the player character in no time.

Piper

Piper, the wasteland’s resident journalist, can be found shilling her newspaper Publick Occurrences in Diamond City. Piper can be recruited by completing the quest “Story of the Century,” and raising her to maximum affinity will unlock the helpful Gift of Gab perk, as well as give players the opportunity to romance her.

Preston Garvey

Preston Garvey, the man who had the honor of being the first Fallout 4 character in Fallout Shelter , is also one of the first companions players can recruit in the game. A prominent member of the Minutemen, Garvey looks to the player to liberate settlements across post-apocalyptic Boston after recruiting him by completing the quest “The First Step.” Garvey’s United We Stand perk as well as romance options can be unlocked by reaching maximum affinity with him.

Robert MacCready

Visitors of the seedy Third Rail establishment in Goodneighbor can find and pay Robert MacCready to be their companion-for-hire for a mere 250 caps. To earn MacCready’s affection, players should play the game with as evil a slant as possible, in addition to completing his personal quest “Long Road Ahead.” Reaching maximum affinity with MacCready and completing his personal quest will earn players the Killshot perk, as well as the chance to romance him.

Strong

Strong is the only super mutant that is available as a companion in all of Fallout 4 , and can be recruited after the quest “Curtain Call” at Trinity Tower. Strong can’t be romanced, but raising his affinity to maximum will unlock the Berserk perk for players. The fastest way to raise Strong’s affinity is by generally making decisions that fall under the “good” alignment, but being a super mutant, Strong also enjoys his fair share of violence as well.

X6-88

We’ve already established that players gain Deacon as a companion by siding with the Railroad, and Paladin Danse as a companion by joining the Brotherhood of Steel. To gain X6-88 as a companion, players must stay loyal to Fallout 4 ‘s third major faction, the mysterious Institute, and complete the quest “Mankind-Redefined.” Raising X6-88 to maximum affinity will unlock the Shield Harmonics perk, but it won’t give players the chance to romance him, which is understandable considering he is an Institute courser synth and all.

While that covers all 13 companions available in the core Fallout 4 game, more companions could potentially be on the way. Bethesda has a number of Fallout 4 expansion packsplanned, which are expected to add new quests, possibly new areas, and maybe even new companions as well. If new companions do indeed come to the game, stay tuned to Game Rant to discover how to find them, recruit them, and, if applicable, romance them.

Which Fallout 4 companion is your favorite? Which one do you like the least? Leave us a comment and get at us about Fallout 4 and the game’s 13 different companions in the comments below.

Fallout 4 is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: Fallout 4 Wikia, GameSpot

Fallout 4: Where to Find All the Unique Weapons

For the Lone Wanderers looking for the best combat gear in Fallout 4 , check out our guide on where to find all the unique weapons in Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic RPG.

There are a good many Fallout 4 fans who might simply choose to use console command cheatsin order to wield the best guns and gear that the game has to offer, but the most enjoyable way to experience Bethesda’s action-RPG is through scavenging and exploration. Of course, everyone gets stuck and frustrated from time to time, especially when we’re looking for a certain pistol, rifle, or in the case of Fallout 4 , a coveted energy weapon.

Thankfully, for those Wastelanders who are still roaming the Boston Commonwealthin search of their next favorite firearm or bludgeon, we’ve decided to put together a guide to assist in finding each and every one of the unique weapons that Bethesda’s retro-futuristic title has to offer. By our count, there are 44 in total—excluding legendaries—so for the sake neatness and organization, we’ve compiled them all alphabetically underneath the umbrella of their categories, starting with ballistics and ending with melee. So without further ado, spoilers are indeed inbound.

BALLISTIC WEAPONS
Deliverer

For those players who wish to remain stealthy during their exploits, the Deliverer, well, delivers in spades. For starters, the weapon improves upon the VATS combat systemby increasing the hit chance and costing 25% less Action Points. Plus, with its suppressor in place, the 10mm variant will provide those who use it with ample sneakiness as its shots are somewhat silenced, but accuracy at medium to long distances can be an issue due to its lack of a frame for a scope.

The Deliverer is rewarded to fans who complete The Railroad quest Tradecraft, and they can upgrade the sidearm in two ways. They can use crafts after acquiring the appropriate rank of the Gun Nut perk, or add on to the gun with purchases from the merchant and engineer Tinker Tom following the completion of the quests from the Weathervane Missions series.

Eddie’s Peace

Eddie’s Peace is without a doubt the perfect revolver for those who want a gun reminiscent of old-school gangsters and mob members, for not only does it use a play on words by referring to a firearm as a “piece”, it also packs quite the punch. The seemingly standard .44 pistol is certainly more than meets the eye, as it has a scope attached to the top of its frame, and dishes out 50% extra limb damage.

The handgun can be found on the former crime lord and current ghoul Eddie Winter after killing him. However, players should be careful in its acquisition, for just like his weapon of choice, the once-Mafioso is definitely a tough customer.

Justice

Nothing doles out the damage quite like the Fallout series’ combat shotguns, and with Justice being one of them, it positively serves up plenty of its namesake. And, of course, being a unique short-range shooter gives it an extra edge in battle, as it provides a chance to stagger on successful hits.

The only way that would-be Vault Dwellers can get Justice is by heading to the small town of Covenant. After getting in by sweet-talking the door guard, find Penny in the general goods store to purchase the shotgun. However, should the shopkeeper die for any reason throughout the game, the weapon is unobtainable.

Kellogg’s Pistol

As if it needed to be said, the mercenary known as Conrad Kellogg is one bad mama-jama, and a lot of that has to do with the potency of his signature six-shot magnum revolver. The gun definitely has a lot of power, as it’s able to kill most humanoids and Generation 2 synthswith 1 to 2 bullets. Also, its Relentless effect allows for Action Points to be refilled after critical strikes, making it even more formidable.

Fans can only get Kellogg’s Pistol after facing him in combat during the Reunions quest in Fort Hagen. The gun can be procured on or near the hired soldier’s body once players kill him, but it should be noted that this battle is not for the faint of heart.

Le Fusil Terribles

This French-named weapon is apparently a rough translation of a unique combat shotgun found in the title’s predecessor, Fallout 3 , as it directly translates to “The Terrible Rifle”. The correct term that should have been used is “fusil de chasse”, but perhaps it was a bit unwieldy for developers. Furthermore, “terribles” is in the plural, while the noun and the determiner are in the singular. With that being said, that’s enough grammar for now.

Players can find Le Fusil Terribles on top of a yellow wooden crate in the captain’s cabin after fighting through pirate Raiders in the coastal camp of Libertalia. The shotgun is laying on a box straight ahead from the quarters’ entrance next to a lit lantern, with +25% damage and limb damage intact. The weapon can also be discovered immediately after the cut-scene with X6-88 during the Synth Retention quest that’s a part of The Institute narrative.

Overseer’s Guardian

The Overseer’s Guardian is essentially a short-barreled combat rifle with the ability to shoot an additional projectile for every shot without using an extra bullet, and it comes equipped with a nifty night-vision scope. With that being said, it can be modified with all of the standard variations of a typical rifle of its ilk.

Fans can buy the Overseer’s Guardian from the merchant Alexis Combes as soon as they enter Vault 81. Really, the only deterrent keeping players from obtaining the gun might be its cost of 3936 bottle caps, which is pretty pricey when compared to other weapons in the game.

Reba II

Aside from sharing its name with the world renown country star, the Reba II is famous for being a powerful .50 caliber hunting rifle. Those lucky enough to obtain it will be privy to its effects of dealing 50% extra damage to bugs and Mirelurks.

The Reba II is located at the Rook family house in the town of Salem in a locked back room in the basement. Gamers can either nab the gun as a reward for helping Barney Rook—founder of the Salem Volunteer Militia—set up his turrets, by killing him in order to steal his key to the locked room, or by pick-pocketing the key after being invited into his house.

Silver Submachine Gun

Shinier than a normal firearm of its kind, the Silver Submachine Gun also has a darker colored wood for its handle in stock, making it easier for players to pick out amongst lookalikes. Other than that, however, there really are no additional advantages to having the weapon, as it has no special stats, properties, or mod slots.

At any rate, should fans wish to obtain the Silver Submachine Gun, they need to start The Silver Shroud quest, as it will be given to them upon its completion. The ghoul manning the Silver Shroud Radio Station named Kent Connolly will reward players with it after returning the Silver Submachine Gun prop to him.

Spray n’ Pray

In addition to its suppressor, recoil compensating stock, and large quick-eject drum, the Spray n’ Pray is a legendary submachine gun equipped with an extremely strong receiver. While the base version of this unique weapon is solid enough, it can be modded even further from the game’s Weapons Bench if folks wish to do so.

The Spray n’ Pray also has an Explosive Legendary Mod of which gives each shot a dealing of 15 points of A.O.E explosive damage on impact, and it would become even more potent should players build their Demolitions Expert perk. The weapon is extremely rare, but it can be found in the caches of random vendors. However, the best bet in getting it is to buy it from wandering merchant by the name of Cricket, who occasionally can be found in Bunker Hill, and just outside of Vault 81, Warwick Homestead, or Diamond City.

The Gainer

When in doubt, one of the best standbys in any video game is a sturdy pistol, and Fallout 4 ‘s The Gainer is definitely one of the strongest around. Not only does it have an attack of 76, but it also can set targets on fire for 15 points of additional damage.

The Gainer is relatively easy to find, and it has no prerequisites for players to use. The unique magnum can be found on the ground next to a skeleton after solving the Vitale Pumphouse number puzzle with the combination of 10-4-5-1.

The Last Minute

Coming with the Shielded Barrel, Capacitor Boosting Coil, Long Night Vision Scope, and Compensator mods already installed, the Last Minute is a Gauss rifle variant that is a sight to behold. On top of its base attack of 192, the unique weapon includes a legendary modification that causes 50% extra limb damage.

Gamers can purchase the gun from the Minutemen veteran Ronnie Shaw after completing the Old Guns quest. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that she will only sell items when standing outside of The Castle’s armory, so players will need to jump on buying it as soon as possible when she’s in position.

Tinker Tom Special

The sole drawback to owning the Tinker Tom Special hunting rifle is its 16.7 weight value. Other than that, this unique gun packs a wallop with a damage count of 99.

After taking part in the engineer and vendor Tinker Tom’s Weathervane Missions series to prove one of his harebrained theories, the weapons expert will sell the Tinker Tom Special at the Railroad HQ.

Wastelander’s Friend

Nothing’s better than having a pal on which one can rely, and the Wastelander’s Friend is just that. Compacted in a simple frame of a pre-modded 10mm pistol with a recon scope, this unique weapon deals 50% more limb damage than the average iteration, and can be modded with the Gun Nut perk for even better results.

Obtaining the Wastelander’s Friend is simple enough. For those looking for a reliable companion in the form of a sidearm to keep them company out in the harsh nuclear wilds, they can head over to the trader Deb at Bunker Hill and pick it up for 1776 caps.

Easter Eggs: 3 Video Games That Took Hidden Content To Historical Levels

Easter eggs have a long history in gaming, from the hidden credits in 1979’s Adventure to Hideo Kojima’s final jab at Konami in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes .

. Whether it’s just to pay tribute to beloved games of yore or to take a jab at an unethical publisher, game developers seem to love hiding secrets deep in their games almost as much as gamers love finding them.

Not all Easter eggs are mere references—these three Easter eggs go a step further, furthering the story or adding an additional dimension to the game that wasn’t there before. While many of these Easter eggs slipped under the radar for a long time, their discoveries led later developers to follow suit, hiding secret content deep in the code of some of our most beloved games.

Adventure Easter Egg Gives Credit Where Credit’s Due

Nowadays, we’re accustomed to seeing several minutes of post-game credits, but that wasn’t the case in the early days of gaming—Atari, one of the earliest producers of games for home use, didn’t credit the programmers and coders in their games.

Adventure was a game that seemed doomed from the start. Though it was inspired by the classic text adventure Colossal Cave Adventure , some of Atari’s heads believed it couldn’t be made into a successful adventure game. Determined to prove them wrong, Warren Robinett began designing a graphic game based on it anyway.

He finished and submitted the code to Atari shortly before departing the company. Robinett left the very first gaming Easter egg—a gray dot that, when moved to a certain area of the castle, makes a wall invisible and opens up a secret passage to a new room. The room contains the message, “Created by Warren Robinett,” earning the developer a place in gaming history despite Atari’s lack of inclination to recognize him.

Day of the Tentacle allowed you to play Maniac Mansion inside of it, making it one of the first games to include another game or other media inside of it.

Day of the Tentacle Easter Egg Maximizes the Game’s Meta Nature

LucasArts’ sequel to Maniac Mansion , Day of the Tentacle , contained numerous pop culture and history references, but that wasn’t the only secret buried in it—it was one of the first games to contain a fully playable game inside of another game.

As Bernard, players could enter Ed Edison’s room and boot up his computer, finding a completely playable version of the original Maniac Mansion inside of it. It’s a level of meta that runs through all of Tim Schafer’s work with LucasArts, including The Secret of Monkey Island —it makes no sense that the game would be included in the game, but it’s there anyway.

This Easter egg is one of the first of its kind, but many other games include secondary games inside of them, such as the ability to play classic Atari games in the Call of Duty series. Though it may not be a direct inspiration, The Darkness includes the full movie To Kill a Mockingbird , which Jackie can watch with his girlfriend in a rare moment of peace.

Chrono Trigger ‘s development team included commentary in one of the games’ multiple endings, one of the early developer commentary Easter Eggs.

Learn The Secrets of Time, Space, and Game Development in Chrono Trigger Easter Egg

Chrono Trigger was a hugely influential game for many reasons, including its use of multiple endings. While it wasn’t the first game to feature more than one potential ending, the radical differences between each ending set a precedent for later RPGs, many of which also feature a variety of endings depending on the players’ actions throughout the story.

One of these endings was only accessible after beating the game once, and provided a special treat for players who wanted to take another stab at the game. To get it, players had to defeat Lavos at the game’s beginning with a dramatically reduced party or defeat a double-powered Lavos at the Ocean Palace. Once those tasks were finished, players were treated to a secret level filled with Chrono Trigger ‘s developers, who could talk about the experience of making the games, tell jokes, or play pranks. After talking with them, you could visit another room that contained the game’s core team, who thanked you for playing and welcomed you into “the Dream Project.”

Including developer commentary isn’t necessarily a standard today, but many games do include it as a feature for players to better understand the development process. Chrono Trigger ‘s Easter eggs provide additional insight into the game, and include players and fans as an important part of a game’s success.

What are your favorite video game Easter eggs?

Easter Eggs: 3 Video Games That Took Hidden Content To Historical Levels

Easter eggs have a long history in gaming, from the hidden credits in 1979’s Adventure to Hideo Kojima’s final jab at Konami in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes .

. Whether it’s just to pay tribute to beloved games of yore or to take a jab at an unethical publisher, game developers seem to love hiding secrets deep in their games almost as much as gamers love finding them.

Not all Easter eggs are mere references—these three Easter eggs go a step further, furthering the story or adding an additional dimension to the game that wasn’t there before. While many of these Easter eggs slipped under the radar for a long time, their discoveries led later developers to follow suit, hiding secret content deep in the code of some of our most beloved games.

Adventure Easter Egg Gives Credit Where Credit’s Due

Nowadays, we’re accustomed to seeing several minutes of post-game credits, but that wasn’t the case in the early days of gaming—Atari, one of the earliest producers of games for home use, didn’t credit the programmers and coders in their games.

Adventure was a game that seemed doomed from the start. Though it was inspired by the classic text adventure Colossal Cave Adventure , some of Atari’s heads believed it couldn’t be made into a successful adventure game. Determined to prove them wrong, Warren Robinett began designing a graphic game based on it anyway.

He finished and submitted the code to Atari shortly before departing the company. Robinett left the very first gaming Easter egg—a gray dot that, when moved to a certain area of the castle, makes a wall invisible and opens up a secret passage to a new room. The room contains the message, “Created by Warren Robinett,” earning the developer a place in gaming history despite Atari’s lack of inclination to recognize him.

Day of the Tentacle allowed you to play Maniac Mansion inside of it, making it one of the first games to include another game or other media inside of it.

Day of the Tentacle Easter Egg Maximizes the Game’s Meta Nature

LucasArts’ sequel to Maniac Mansion , Day of the Tentacle , contained numerous pop culture and history references, but that wasn’t the only secret buried in it—it was one of the first games to contain a fully playable game inside of another game.

As Bernard, players could enter Ed Edison’s room and boot up his computer, finding a completely playable version of the original Maniac Mansion inside of it. It’s a level of meta that runs through all of Tim Schafer’s work with LucasArts, including The Secret of Monkey Island —it makes no sense that the game would be included in the game, but it’s there anyway.

This Easter egg is one of the first of its kind, but many other games include secondary games inside of them, such as the ability to play classic Atari games in the Call of Duty series. Though it may not be a direct inspiration, The Darkness includes the full movie To Kill a Mockingbird , which Jackie can watch with his girlfriend in a rare moment of peace.

Chrono Trigger ‘s development team included commentary in one of the games’ multiple endings, one of the early developer commentary Easter Eggs.

Learn The Secrets of Time, Space, and Game Development in Chrono Trigger Easter Egg

Chrono Trigger was a hugely influential game for many reasons, including its use of multiple endings. While it wasn’t the first game to feature more than one potential ending, the radical differences between each ending set a precedent for later RPGs, many of which also feature a variety of endings depending on the players’ actions throughout the story.

One of these endings was only accessible after beating the game once, and provided a special treat for players who wanted to take another stab at the game. To get it, players had to defeat Lavos at the game’s beginning with a dramatically reduced party or defeat a double-powered Lavos at the Ocean Palace. Once those tasks were finished, players were treated to a secret level filled with Chrono Trigger ‘s developers, who could talk about the experience of making the games, tell jokes, or play pranks. After talking with them, you could visit another room that contained the game’s core team, who thanked you for playing and welcomed you into “the Dream Project.”

Including developer commentary isn’t necessarily a standard today, but many games do include it as a feature for players to better understand the development process. Chrono Trigger ‘s Easter eggs provide additional insight into the game, and include players and fans as an important part of a game’s success.

What are your favorite video game Easter eggs?

Dark Souls 3 Gets A Release Date in North America

Those looking for a challenge in the gaming world know that From Software is the go-to studio.

Those looking for a challenge in the gaming world know that From Software is the go-to studio. The Dark Souls series is renowned for its unforgiving gameplay, and Bloodborne , its spiritual successor in many ways, falls under the same category of relentless punishment. With Bloodborne in the rearview mirror, however, players looking for their masochistic fixes have been eagerly anticipating their next visit to the Dark Souls universe.

That wait hasn’t been easy, either. After a tantalizing Gamescom presentation, gamers have been eager for news on a Dark Souls 3 release date. Although a leak made the rounds a few months ago that tagged the game for an early 2016 release, the details of exactly when that meant have remained a mystery. Until now.

From Software announced today thatfinally has a release date, and that players can expect to be mercilessly punished for their smallest mistakes in April 2016. The sequel promises to provide players with a brand new world filled to the brim with disturbing enemies and bleak, artistic landscapes.

As part of their journey, players will seek out the newly awakened Lords of Cinder in an attempt to unravel what caused the game’s apocalyptic environment. While the aesthetics of the series are definitely part of its winning formula, fans might be more interested to know what kind of mechanical changes From Software is making to its already deep and intuitive gameplay system.

For starters, Dark Souls 3 will include deeper ties to RPG elements, with several additions coming in the form of tools and in-game options that will allow players to customize their gameplay experience. This new focus on customization will bring Skills to the game, which add attack modifiers to each weapon type and provide prepared players with a tactical advantage in combat. However, From Software is leaving the choice of whether or not to play with these new abilities up to each individual gamer, so those looking for a “pure” Dark Souls experience will still have that option available to them.

However, given the ridiculous but impressive feats some players have attempted in the past – like trying to beat Dark Souls upside down– From Software clearly knows just what kind of gamer they’re marketing Dark Souls 3 towards. Gamers can still expect to be as frustrated as they are pleased by the newest Dark Souls entry, and we don’t believe they’d have it any other way.

Are you ready for a new Dark Souls game? How will you prepare for the newest entry? Let us know in the comments.

Dark Souls 3 releases for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in April 2016.

Time Travel Video Games: 4 Great Games To Take You On A Temporal Journey

Though many games feature time travel in some form, true time travel games—games that use time travel not just as a plot device, but as a mechanic—aren’t as common as you might think.

Though many games feature time travel in some form, true time travel games—games that use time travel not just as a plot device, but as a mechanic—aren’t as common as you might think. Despite being a popular trope in books, comics, and movies, time travel tends to take a backseat to other game mechanics, as it can be hard to execute thanks to a variety of rules and restrictionsin portraying it realistically.

But when time travel games do it right, they really do it right. Here are four of our favorite time travel games, in no particular order.

LucasArts’ Day of the Tentacle is a joke-filled journey through time, as player try to solve puzzles in different eras. Image Source: s@bre via Wikimedia Commons.

Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle Features Tricky Time Travel Puzzles

, the sequel to LucasArts’ Maniac Mansion , features Tim Schafer and Dave Grossman’s iconic senses of humor. It’s no surprise that it’s an off-the-wall adventure, as well as a clever use for time travel in a game—players switch between three characters who have been separated in time, using their different temporal locations to solve puzzles and defeat the maniacal Purple Tentacle.

Day of the Tentacle wouldn’t work without time travel—its puzzles are based around tricky time thinking, such as aging an item, traveling into different futures and retrieving objects for disguises, or changing the past to alter the present. That reliance on time travel to not only tell the story but actually create it is what makes Day of the Tentacle one of the greatest time travel games, as it shows how clever time travel puzzles can be.

Majora’s Mask is far from the only Zelda game to include time travel, but the reliance on rewinding and such a small period of time makes it unique among time travel games. Image Source: HylianKing via ZeldaWiki.

Stop A Disaster Just in Time in Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Though it’s certainly not the only Legend of Zelda game to use time travel,uses it a little differently than some of the others in the series. Majora’s Mask takes place over just three days, as Link aims to stop the moon from crashing into Clock Town and destroying the world. Using the Ocarina of Time, Link can rewind or fast-forward time to save his progress and start fresh with new items, but any people he encounters will have no memory of him and any puzzles cleared with be lost, as well as several other consequences.

Next: One of the Best Time Travel Games Ever