Cinematic science-fiction third-person action adventure game Aphelion will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and …

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Don’t Nod has revealed a brand-new gameplay trailer for Aphelion during the Convergence Showcase, offering players a five-minute deep dive into its upcoming third-person action-adventure. Set to launch in Spring 2026, Aphelion promises a tense sci-fi journey to the far edge of the solar system. A Closer Look at Persephone The new footage highlights what […]

Publisher Fireshine Games and developer Janson RAD have announced a release date for Gunboat God, their new and chaotic sidescrolling shooter. Gunboat God is set to launch on April 13th for Windows PC (via Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PS5. The console ports were announced today, and a demo is out now. Here’s a rundown on […]

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Final Fantasy X is one of my personal favorites in the franchise for many different reasons, but the awareness level of Tidus, the game’s protagonist, is NOT one of those reasons. Throughout the game, it became obvious to every character EXCEPT for him that he was not who or where he thought he was, but rather than accept the truth of what was right in front of his eyes he continued along in a blissfully oblivious state until his reality could no longer be ignored. While Tidus still ultimately served his purpose to sacrificially save the world despite despite the ramifications this held for him personally, he could’ve saved himself a lot of heartache along the way if he had simply been willing to open up his eyes to the truth.

While there are many forms of deception that I’ve grappled with in my life, the most dangerous and costly has been self-deception. My stubborn refusal to follow the Lord’s clearly stated will for me because it was inconvenient for me to accept at the time has always ended badly and caused so much unnecessary pain. While I won’t always like or appreciate the mirror His Word holds up to my face, He challenges our thoughts and motives to reveal truth and prevent future pain. Let’s open our eyes to His guidance for us that we might prefer to ignore… His unpopular answers are for both our present as well as our eternal good.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”. 1 Corinthians 3:18-19

He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Isaiah 44:20

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Like most game series that have survived from their original 8-bit NES incarnations into the modern era of photo-realistic graphics, Final Fantasy has come a VERY long way. When this franchise first started in all of its original pixel-based glory, nobody would have ever imagined it would grow over the years and transform into some of the most graphically impressive games of each console generation. But while the dream was always there, the graphical capabilities of the hardware didn’t exist to fully realize that vision until now… and now that the technology has finally caught up with the imagination of the team, we get to experience these stories in all of the fullness of the design team’s intentions.

The Lord places dreams and desires in our hearts for us to fulfill them, but there is still a growing period we must experience before His vision will reach fruition. Just as Joseph grew his character and his leadership skills in his roles as a servant and a prisoner before he was elevated to his destiny as second in command of Egypt, the Lord builds each of us up slowly… not because He is testing us, but because He is TRAINING us. His plan for us requires our “hardware” to catch up to our calling, so let’s embrace each challenge we face as a part of growing into His larger destiny for us. These small beginnings have big endings.

I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. Exodus 23:29-30

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10a

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While most traditional role-playing games tend to utilize a “party” system that involves an eclectic cast of characters, the Final Fantasy series has certainly demonstrated some exceptional range. From brooding protagonists like Cloud who had little to say to enthusiastic lead characters like Tidus who can’t seem to keep a single thought private, each game is filled with a selection of classic RPG archetypes like a soldier or a healer as well as a few unique choices like a robot cat or a big red lion. But this incredible diversity is one of the franchise’s greatest strengths, understanding that we don’t need copies of each character in our party. We need each of them to be exactly who they are, combining their unique gifts and skill sets together to deliver the victory as a team.

The body of Christ is full of an equally unique cast of characters, with each of us gifted in specific ways so we can serve Him in different capacities on this mission field. Just as a Final Fantasy party isn’t complete without each member serving a complimentary role that supports the needs of the squad, our differences are what the Lord uses to grow our ability to reach others and complete our mission. Let’s work together with respect for each others calling and gifts, even if some serve Him in a different manner than us. We are all part of one body, united by Christ to reach the world.

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 1 Corinthians 12:15-18

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There are a handful of moments in gaming history that are forever etched in my memory for being undeniably shocking and painfully unforgettable… and (spoiler alert) the sudden ending of Aerith’s journey at the conclusion of disc one in Final Fantasy VII stands as one of the most prominent. While this is hardly the first time (or the last time) that I experienced a gaming character “moving on”, this one hit especially hard because of how unnecessary it felt at the time. But despite my disappointment at this unwanted plot twist, there were still two more discs left to complete… while this action couldn’t be prevented or undone, after respectfully mourning her loss it was time for me to move forward in hope and finish the story. 

Throughout our lives, we will all be faced with tragic events that threaten to steal our hope, break our spirits, and stall our journey. And while it is right for us to pause and mourn these losses, they don’t represent the conclusion of our story… just the end of this “disc”. As King David found when he was praying through a heartbreaking tragedy of his own, our loving Father sees and catches every tear that we cry… and even though He doesn’t always intervene the way we would prefer or reverse what has happened, the Lord has at least two more discs of content for us as well as an ending that will make this all worth it.

You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? Psalm 56:8

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

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After the well-received adventures of the grittier and brooding protagonists of Final Fantasy VII (Cloud) and Final Fantasy VIII (Squall), the developers of Final Fantasy IX went in an entirely different creative direction for the next game in the series. The story of Zidane and his crew felt like a throwback to the games from the cartridge-based Nintendo era both in tone as well as in art style. While the initial reactions to this shift was mixed, FFIX provided fans with the perfect breath of fresh air for the Final Fantasy franchise as it transitioned into the PlayStation 2 era. It may not have felt like a logical progression for the series at that time, but it was exactly what was needed.

The ways that the Lord chooses to answer our prayers in life will rarely fit into a predictable pattern. Even when Jesus performed healings for those who were afflicted with blindness or born lame, He chose to perform each of those miracles in ways that were customized to the individual recipient… and to this day He still responds to our requests based on the specific needs of each of His unique children. Instead of expecting Him to answer our prayers in the same way that He has for others or in a manner that makes sense to us, let’s accept that the Lord may choose to respond to our situation in a different way… one we didn’t know we needed until His work is completed.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”. Isaiah 55:8-9

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15

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The Final Fantasy franchise is one of the longest-running gaming series in history, and while there are a handful of stories that have received a spin-off or a proper prequel/sequel, most of the games have very little in common with each other… at least on the surface. Almost every game in this collection features their own specific protagonist, takes place on different planets, and even have unique styles of gameplay. But they also share many similarities despite their unconnected plots, as each tends to feature some sort of “mana” to power special abilities, many include a “Cid” somewhere, and the story usually involves an eclectic cast of characters coming together to save their world. They are all part of one “family” of games, even if they each tell separate stories.

When reading the Bible it can be challenging to balance the wisdom and beauty of the Psalms and Proverbs with the bitterness and heartache of Ecclesiastes and Jeremiah. But the truth is that ALL of Scripture is inspired by the Lord, and that includes the parts that we don’t like or fully understand. Each story is part of an intricate tapestry… a series of books and letters written by multiple people that may seem to have little in common, but all of which share the same Author. And when they are combined together, they form one timeless love letter from our Savior to us all.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:27

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My favorite part of the Kingdom Hearts franchise has always been the incredible diversity of all of the characters that make it up. Gaming icons such as Cloud Strife and Auron from the Final Fantasy series battle alongside Disney’s Donald and Goofy… all while exploring levels based on films featuring cinematic icons like Jack Sparrow or Tron. But this incredible mix of complicated protagonists and larger-than-life cartoon characters works because they’re all serving the same story in different ways… saving the world takes a team who understands that the things that make each of them unique and different from each other is what gives this team its strength.

We’re all called to serve the same Lord, but we will each serve Him in different ways… and the uniqueness of our calling and purpose means it will look different for every one of us. The diverse ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus meant that one of them lived off of locusts and honey in the desert while the other ate and drank with those He was sent to save… each of them served the same kingdom in different ways based on the specific calling they were given by the Father. Rather than expect every member of this team to follow Christ in an identical manner, let’s embrace the way we’ve been gifted to serve Him… as a kingdom of unique hearts joined together as one.

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon.” The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” But wisdom is justified by her children. Matthew 11:18-19

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. Romans 12:4-5a

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While Kingdom Hearts is a fairly linear gaming experience, it doesn’t mean that every item that our missions require or each character we are tasked with helping are easily discovered… many are only revealed when we are forced off of our preferred path and into an area that we never intended to explore. While these moments may seem like an undesired time-wasting detour at first, they are often the places where I discovered something that I didn’t even know I should be searching for. Whether it was a valuable item that changed the way I played the game or a path to helping someone I didn’t know was there, these unwanted diversions helped to push Sora to places he wouldn’t have reached any other way.

We will all face unwanted detours in life, but these inconvenient situations are often used by the Lord to advance His kingdom in ways that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Many times, these are the paths that He uses to guide us to our destiny the same way Joseph found in his journey from prison to prince, and other times these diversions are actually a divine intersection to reach one singular soul for Christ like Paul and the repentant jailer. If we allow Him to open our eyes to the possibilities beyond our present discomfort, we will find that He truly does work out all things for good… according to His purposes, not ours.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20

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Who remembers the first big decision we all had to make in Kingdom Hearts… making the choice between taking the sword, the shield, or the staff?  At such an early stage of the game, I didn’t feel prepared to make a decision that could have long-lasting ramifications on how I played the game. But that wasn’t the last choice I had to make… along the way, I made decisions about how to level up my party, which items to equip, and the order I took on challenges. Some were the right call for me and my style of play, and others were choices I’d later regret. Either way, the game would reveal if these were wise or foolish choices… and I was the one who’d have to deal with the fallout. All of us play the same game, but how we get to our ending is a unique story… no two play-throughs are identical.

It’s easy to be critical of the way others play the game of life, and judging how our fellow servants follow Christ (even with the best of intentions) is far above our pay grade. How do we know what choices others felt forced to make before they fully understood that decision? And how do we know what they had to give up in exchange? We will all start in different places, serve the Lord in different ways, and follow different paths to His endgame, so let’s resist the urge to judge. That is the fatal first step into self-righteousness. 

There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? James 4:12

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. Romans 14:10-13

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In Kingdom Hearts, I have often found that it is the intentional choices I make BEFORE a mission to prepare for it that determines how it winds up playing out. From deciding how to invest the skill points that I’ve acquired to which items I equip before entering into battle, I either set Sora and his pals up for success or unintentionally increase the degree of difficulty. A wise explorer takes the time to thoughtfully allocate their “XP” to critical skills and equip their very best gear before entering into areas that could potentially require them, and taking on the challenges of the game poorly equipped or under-prepared always ends with reloading a previous save to try again. We don’t always know what’s coming, but we should always be prepared and equipped for anything.

All of us will face some real-world battles today, and how we choose to prepare for them BEFORE they happen is the key to experiencing victory over these challenges. Let’s start our day out by putting our armor on… intentionally absorbing the Lord’s words into our hearts ensures we are fully equipped for whatever challenges we will face, and taking time to prayerfully seek His guidance before every decision we make opens us up to applying the “XP” of His divine wisdom. Let’s suit up… the Lord wouldn’t have provided us with all of this armor if we weren’t going to need it today.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13

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The ace Luxtorpeda project has expanded, and now it makes it real easy to install the popular MGSHDFix pack for various Metal Gear games on Linux / Steam Deck.

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Wccftech recently attended a remote press presentation in which French developer DON'T NOD (Life is Strange, Vampyr, Banishers: Ghost of New Eden, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage) unveiled an extended preview of Aphelion, their upcoming sci-fi narrative-driven adventure game, showcasing two early chapters that introduced the game's hostile alien world and the mechanics that will define the experience. The presentation was led by Dimitri Weideli, executive producer, and Florent Guillaume, creative director, who walked us through gameplay and then answered some questions. In this article: A Desperate Mission Gone Wrong Set in 2062, Aphelion tells the story of astronauts Ariane […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/dont-nod-aphelion-preview-alien-isolation-inspired-sci-fi-adventure/

Back in 2023, a (slightly) more innocent time before Microsoft ravaged its games studios with layoffs and made itself into a BDS priority target, Blizzard held a competition: To promote Diablo IV’s second season, it raffled off a PC "infused with real human blood in its liquid cooling" as part of a blood drive seeking 666 quarts of the red goop that keeps us all alive. I was desperate to know more. How much blood? Whose blood? Can blood reliably and sustainably cool a PC? And, again, whose blood?

At the time, answers proved elusive. Blizzard PR failed to reply to my requests for additional details, and a person I reached out to at Corsair – an expert, albeit not with regard to this particular PC – did not seem interested in discussing the infernal blood engine’s more theoretical aspects. So, dejected, I called off the hunt. But then, last week, via the replies to a Bluesky post by freelance writer (and occasional Aftermath contributor) Jay Castello, I learned that the winner of the competition had semi-recently surfaced on Reddit. Once again, the game was afoot. 

I Won The Blood PC (Yes, The One From Season 2) AMA!
by u/Storms888 in diablo4

Turns out, Blizzard’s diabolical blood PC went to a streamer who goes by the handle Storms888. He received it at the tail end of November 2023, and – despite or perhaps because of the blood – it’s still going strong.  

“The PC is virtually perfect,” Storms888 told Aftermath. “I haven't seen any drops in performance since the day I got it. … It’s incredible for streaming/recording. Right now I've been streaming Battlefield 6 at ultra settings with easily over 200+ [frames per second].”

Unsurprisingly, given that pure, thick, coagulation-prone blood seems like it’d be an awful coolant, there’s probably some smoke and mirrors happening here.

“It appears that the coolant is mostly regular standard coolant and that they had added red blood cells inside of it,” said Storms888. “They did not specify what the ratio was, but it's dark red.”

Whose blood, though? Sadly, that, much like blood, is unclear. 

"There is not [information about who exactly the blood came from]," Storms888 said. "There was a donor slip that specifically said it was a confirmed blood sample/donation, but that was all."

But OK, say something goes wrong, or the blood-tinged coolant loses its luster, as all things do with time? Don’t worry: Blizzard thought of that.

“[Blizzard] did not specify any need to replace it,” said Storms888, “although they did give me a replacement vial/bottle of blood. ... This did leak a ton though. I had to put the bottle in a separate bag.”

For reasons that probably should be obvious by now, upgrading the blood PC is out of the question.

“I have not upgraded it,” said Storms888, “and yes, the custom nature of it does play a role. I don't want to change any aspect of it for the novelty factor – would love to give this to my future kids some day – as well as the technical limitations, since the CPU and GPU have custom water blocks mounted on them, and I'm not experienced with messing with those.”

But Storms888 also doesn’t think he’ll need to start thinking about buying a boring, bloodless PC any time soon.

“I will keep using it until a [Nvidia] 4090 [graphics card] and [Intel] 14900k [processor] are no longer serviceable for modern games. So I assume at least for the next 7-10 years,” he joked. “Overall I am still shocked to this day that I won it. The majority of my life I've had absolutely terrible computers. … This genuinely has been a life-changing experience, and it's opened up so many doors for me professionally with streaming.”

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