Just over six years ago, GTA Online unveiled the Diamond Casino & Resort, a lavish gambling den for players to waste away their hard-earned cash with every pull of the slot machine lever, but it wasn't all risk and reward. Every day you log in, you earn a guaranteed, no strings attached, $1,000 visitor bonus, which you can either immediately splash on a game of chance, or pocket for a rainy day.
Driving the Warthog in Halo all by yourself works just fine if you are trying to enjoy a nice, leisurely cruise around the installation, but if you are trying to take down an enemy stronghold it sure helps to have a support partner manning the turret. The Warthog has room for three for a reason… it was designed for cooperation across multiple different functions. A stationary player in the turret is a sitting duck who won’t get very far on their own, and a lone driver without support will quickly find themselves stranded behind enemy lines, sitting next to a useless flaming pile of metal that no longer resembles a vehicle. Operated individually, the turret is exposed to enemy fire and the driver is ineffective at advancing the objective, but when partnered together they are unstoppable.
There are no “lone wolves” in the body of Christ, and seeking to accomplish His purposes without working in tandem with the rest of the body will leave us feeling alone, overwhelmed, frustrated, and ineffective. Some are called to minister with words or songs, others will use their platforms to share those messages, and the entire body will put those words into action in their daily lives to truly advance the cause of Christ on this planet. Let’s each operate in our God-given roles with excellence and gratitude today… every role is essential, and none work without each other.
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 12:4-6b
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8
For the most part, I pick the games I am going to run by, as the kids today say, vibes. It has always been instinctual. I hear about a game, the right ones set off my Spidey Sense, and I am hooked. That has been my method for the last 43 years. At different points during those years, I have thought to myself, “perhaps there are no more interesting games to play”, only to find time and time again something that I was excited to bring to the table.
Last week, I thought I had hit rock bottom. For the first time in 43 years, I struggled to find a game to bring to the table. One of my game groups reorganized, and I lost a few players, so I was looking for a game to offer up, and my list was empty; the well was dry. I spent several nights wandering my PDF collection and scrolling through DriveThruRPG looking for something that would vibe, that would create that spark. Nothing. I started to worry that perhaps this was the end, no more games to interest me.
I then did what I often do when I get stuck on a problem, and started to break the problem down into parts I could name, so that I could try to get some kind of control over what was going on. I learned some things about that “vibe”.. Oh, and I found a game too.
My attraction to certain games had to be a combination of different factors. When it comes to understanding the larger parts of what makes up a game, I think that Jason Pitre did best with their Four Structures. Read the article for details, but in a nutshell, the four structures are:
When I looked back at past games I have been excited about, I can identify which structures excited me the most. Some games may be just one thing, and others may be multiples, with the best fits being all four structures. When I think about Forbidden Lands, my initial attraction was through the System, because of its rules for travel. For Night’s Black Agents, it was a combination of System (Gumshoe) and Setting (Jason Bourne vs Vampires). For Blades in the Dark, it was the Situation (doing jobs), more than the setting or system. While initially, I liked Underground’s Setting, what really got me was the Subtext of when all you have been trained for is war, how else can you solve any problems?
Those are broad categories. It is entirely possible to like things in a more granular way. My interest in Forbidden Lands was for just one subsystem, not the entire mechanics of the game. There is a point of diminishing returns in granularity; it would be hard for me to be excited to get a game to the table just because I think one character class is interesting. For me, there needs to be a preponderance of interest in one of the Structures for me to connect.
Another thing I observed upon reflection was that the more I connected with one Structure, the less I needed to for the others. I really don’t love the setting of Blades in the Dark, it’s ok. But I really like the Situation of a gang doing jobs to raise their status in the underworld.
Also, if one structure supports another, that is a multiplier for me. In the case of Night’s Black Agents, the Setting and Situation are superbly supported by the System. That is to say, there are rules for all the parts of the Setting and Situation (investigations, combat, chases, vampires, etc). Specifically, I want the System to reinforce the Setting, Situation, Subtext, or all of them. I find that when the System is not tightly coupled to the other structures, it makes it less appealing to me.
Thinking about the four structures and games I enjoyed in the past gave me a framework for looking at games and trying to understand why I was not finding anything I vibed with. While scrolling through lists of games, I now found myself saying things like, “I have played that system before”, “I don’t like to run fantasy”, “What do the characters do in this game?” It made looking at games more ordered, less vibes, and now more formulaic.
During this exploration, I began to uncover two other factors in play. I love to run things I have not run before. I love the novelty of things. I rarely play the same game twice; I would rather play something totally new than run something I have played before. At the same time, I do have favorite game systems, because they are predictable. I like the feel of a PbtA system, and I have recently grown more comfortable with Forged in the Dark games.
As I thought about these two factors in conjunction with the four structures, I realized that there was some nuance. Not every structure had to be novel, but they could not all be predictable. At least one structure had to be novel. Also, I found I get hesitant if everything is novel, meaning I like something to be predictable. For instance, a system could be totally novel if the setting (or genre – a component of setting) were predictable.
This added information about novelty and predictability provided some nuance to my searches, but more importantly, I was finally able to articulate what I was looking for, for this group for this game.
I wanted a predictable system. Where I am right now, I did not want to take on learning a new system. But I need some novelty, which eliminates replaying any past games. The game I was looking for was going to be a system I am comfortable with, but a setting and/or situation that was novel.
This made searching much more efficient. I was now able to eliminate systems I was not comfortable with and games I had played in the systems with which I was familiar. Quickly, a short list of candidates popped up, and within a day, I settled on the game I wanted to try:
Transit by Fiddleback Productions.
Transit is a PbtA game. Very predictable for me. I knew I would have no problem learning the System and being comfortable running it. The general Setting is SciFi, which is also familiar to me, but the characters take the form of AIs embedded into spaceships; a novel Situation! This was a solid combination for me. A System that I was comfortable running, in a general Setting that I am comfortable running and am well versed in its tropes, but a very novel kind of story to tell. I have not, in my 43 years, run a game where the characters were spaceships.
Just like that, I was excited to get this game to the table. The drought was ended, and the age-old question of “are there no more games I am interested in?” was staved off for another day.
The alchemy of why we like games is complex and contains many factors. By giving some of those factors names, we are able to create language for why we are intrigued by and turned off by games. In that naming, we give ourselves the power to move from instinct to rationalization. We no longer have to wander, hoping something will fall in our laps, but rather we can create a set of search parameters and hone in on candidates.
What structures attract you to games? What roles do novelty and predictability play for you? Do you like them in certain structures or not in others?
The killing of US citizen Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis has sparked a major political controversy, with the Trump administration moving quickly to shape the narrative around the incident. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and award-winning poet, was shot and killed during an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Almost immediately after the shooting, senior administration officials publicly described Good as a violent aggressor. Statements from the Department of Homeland Security and the White House alleged that she attempted to run over officers with her vehicle and framed the incident as an act of domestic terrorism, despite no investigation having yet taken place.
According to The Guardian, those claims were echoed at the highest levels of government, with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both asserting that Good intentionally attacked law enforcement. The comments drew swift backlash from Minnesota officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who sharply rejected the federal narrative and demanded accountability from DHS.
Local Democratic leaders continued to criticize the administration’s response as video evidence became public. Governor Tim Walz said multiple claims made by federal officials were “verifiably false,” while Democratic leaders argued the rush to judgment appeared politically motivated rather than fact-based.
Video footage shows Good reversing her vehicle to allow an ICE vehicle to pass before agents approached her car. As the vehicle began to move forward, an officer walked into its path and was lightly brushed as it passed. The officer remained on his feet and appeared uninjured before firing multiple shots at the vehicle.
Federal officials had claimed that multiple officers were injured during the encounter, but no video evidence supports that assertion. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara later confirmed that when he arrived on the scene, he was informed that only Good had been injured.
President Trump also circulated slowed-down video footage presented as evidence of imminent danger, though viewing the clip at normal speed shows the officer was not knocked down or visibly harmed. Footage from the aftermath shows the officer calmly walking away from the scene, further undermining claims that he had been seriously injured.
Additional commentary from conservative media figures targeted Good’s personal life, while political analysts noted that the administration’s statements appeared disconnected from the available evidence. Governor Walz said that a full accounting of Good’s life and the circumstances of her death would come with time, emphasizing that she should be seen as a person rather than a political symbol.
The incident has added to Trump’s mounting political complications, coming as Senate Republicans are already uneasy after he recently blindsided them by urging “flexibility” on the Hyde Amendment during high-stakes health care negotiations.
Billie Eilish has publicly criticized the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after an officer fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis earlier this week. The artist posted a series of messages on her Instagram Story, responding to the incident and urging her followers to take the situation seriously.
The shooting took place during a federal immigration enforcement operation when 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was killed by an ICE officer. Federal officials said the agent acted in self-defense, but local leaders and witnesses have challenged that account.
In her social posts, Eilish re-shared graphics labeling ICE a “federally funded and supported terrorist group,” accused the agency of tearing families apart and harming innocent people, and called for its abolition. According to Billboard, she also encouraged people to contact members of Congress to demand accountability for the officer involved in the shooting.
“ICE IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED AND SUPPORTED TERRORIST GROUP UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THAT HAS DONE NOTHING TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER,” one of the graphics Eilish shared read.
The singer also shared a post calling for ICE to be abolished. It listed 32 people who reportedly died in ICE custody last year. Another post urged Americans to call their Congress representatives to demand ICE be defunded and for the officer who shot Good to be arrested and charged right away.
Billie Eilish condemns ICE in new Instagram reposts:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 9, 2026
“ICE IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED AND SUPPORTED TERRORIST GROUP UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THAT HAS DONE NOTHING TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER.” pic.twitter.com/XnqfdwDHQH
ICE’s actions under President Donald Trump have caused major controversy since he took office. But the backlash reached new heights this week after the Minneapolis shooting. The Department of Homeland Security, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance claimed Good tried to run over agents with her car before the shooting. They said the officer acted in self-defense.
However, video footage shows Good was actually driving in the opposite direction. The widely shared video contradicts the official claims about what happened. The Trump administration has also been targeting narco-terrorists in new operations that have raised concerns among critics.
Trump watched the shooting video in the Oval Office with a New York Times reporter present. He struggled to explain what occurred. “It’s a terrible scene,” Trump said, according to the newspaper. “I think it’s horrible to watch. I hate to see it.”
Eilish has consistently opposed Trump’s policies and endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Before Friday, the nine-time Grammy winner had also shared posts criticizing ICE raids happening in her home city of Los Angeles. Recent military actions have also drawn comparisons, with officials comparing certain groups to terror organizations as strike-related casualties continue rising.
Minnesota’s state investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has been effectively shut down because the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department have refused to cooperate with local authorities. This is a truly awful development for anyone who wants accountability, because it means the state won’t have any say in determining if a crime was committed.
As reported by AP News, Governor Tim Walz immediately demanded that Minnesota be allowed to take part in the process, and it would be “very difficult for Minnesotans” to accept that an investigation excluding the state could possibly be fair. Drew Evans, who heads the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, echoed that frustration. He stated they simply “cannot meet the investigative standards that Minnesota law and the public demands” without full access to evidence, witnesses, and collected information.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, however, has maintained that the state has absolutely no jurisdiction in this matter. This deadly encounter occurred on the second day of what the Trump administration is calling the biggest immigration enforcement operation ever. The crackdown focused on the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, involving more than 2,000 officers. Secretary Noem reported that the operation has already resulted in over 1,500 arrests.
Federal officials, including President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary Noem, have repeatedly characterized the Minneapolis shooting as an act of self-defense. They’ve suggested that Ms. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, used her vehicle as a weapon to attack the officer who shot her, essentially casting her as the villain. Vice President Vance suggested that the shooting was justified and that Ms. Good was a “victim of left-wing ideology.”
Local officials are having none of that narrative. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey flatly rejected the federal characterization, saying video recordings show the self-defense argument is “garbage.” The video evidence captured by several bystanders shows an officer approaching Ms. Good’s SUV, which was stopped in the middle of the road, demanding she open the door and grabbing the handle.
“Is Killer Kristi welcome in New York?” The day after the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis, Kristi Noem was met with protests outside her press conference. @danmadler reports. https://t.co/MuVQUWhvUk
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) January 8, 2026
As the Honda Pilot began to pull forward, a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle pulled his weapon and immediately fired at least two shots at close range, jumping back as the car moved toward him. It isn’t clear from the recordings if the vehicle actually made contact with the officer. After the shooting, the SUV sped into two parked cars before finally crashing to a stop.
The federal agent involved has been identified in records as Jonathan Ross, an Iraq War veteran who has served for nearly two decades in the Border Patrol and ICE. Secretary Noem hasn’t publicly named him, but a Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed that her description of the officer’s injury last summer refers to an incident in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Court documents identify the officer in that case as Ross. During that previous event, Ross got his arm stuck in a window after a driver fled an immigration arrest. Ross was dragged and fired his Taser, and a jury later found the driver guilty of assaulting a federal officer.
A shooting involving federal agents in Portland, Oregon, left two people injured, immediately following a similar deadly incident in Minneapolis and prompting local officials to demand a halt to all federal immigration operations, as per ABC News. The chaotic incident involved agents from Customs and Border Protection who were reportedly conducting a targeted stop in the city.
Federal officials were quick to release their version of events. The Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, confirmed the agents were part of an operation dubbed “Operation Oregon.” They were targeting a vehicle carrying two individuals allegedly affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, specifically naming the passenger as the primary target. According to the DHS statement, when agents identified themselves, the driver “weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents.”
This is a seriously concerning escalation. The driver, who was not the initial target of the operation, was driving a red Toyota when they allegedly tried to flee the scene. After the shooting occurred, the two people who were shot drove themselves about three miles from the initial location, near Southeast Main Street, to an apartment complex before calling for help.
Just like how Minneapolis mayor slammed the official narrative of the fatal shooting, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson did not mince words when addressing the situation, making it crystal clear that local government is highly skeptical of the federal narrative. “We know what the federal government says happened here,” Mayor Wilson told reporters. “There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time is long past.”
He immediately called for a pause on all immigration enforcement operations in the city, stating, “We are calling on ICE to halt all operations in Portland until a full and independent investigation can take place. Our community deserves answers.”
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 7, 2026
“Our administration is going to stop at nothing to seek accountability and justice. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the investigation.”
This isn’t getting buried. The state is moving. pic.twitter.com/jHK2G1taNa
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek echoed that demand for immediate federal cooperation and transparency. She emphasized that the state’s priority is a complete investigation, not more detentions. “My message to the federal government is this: We demand transparency,” Governor Kotek said. “We demand your cooperation with Portland Police and the Multnomah County DA, because we need to investigate this incident efficiently and effectively so we can rebuild trust with our nation’s government.”
Adding to the official pushback, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced that his office was opening an investigation. The Oregon Department of Justice investigation will specifically look at whether any federal officers acted outside the scope of their lawful authority during the encounter, including reviewing video evidence and witness interviews.
Mayor Wilson called the incident “deeply troubling” and urged residents to respond with calm, not violence. “Portland does not respond to violence with violence,” he reminded the community. “We respond with clarity, unity, and a commitment to justice. We must stand together to protect Portland.”
As much as a good battery life is going to be a high priority when it comes to buying a wireless gaming mouse, sometimes the need to nestle your rodent neatly in its own dock and go "aww look, it's sleeping" will quickly knock battery life off the top of that list. And while gaming mouse docks are often disregarded as a novelty or even a gimmick, it's hard to deny their practicality. I mean, plugging in? In 2025? Why waste my energy on something so tedious?
Thankfully, the MSI Versa Pro Wireless gaming mouse and Mouse Dock Pro are all about the path of least resistance. Since the world is now moving into some strange, AI-fuelled Edo period I'm betting the use of gaming mouse docks will start to see a resurgence, too. Alright, better prep yourself for further laziness productivity rants as we get into why the MSI Versa Pro Wireless and Mouse Dock Pro is quickly becoming my new favorite gaming accessory duo.
Aside from the huge, lit-up logo and RGB-studded side panels there's a certain sleek simplicity to the Versa Pro and Mouse Dock Pro. Granted they sit closer to that modern gamery aesthetic than the distinguished retro vibe of the 8BitDo Retro R8, for example, and only coming in black it alienates the more gaudy peripheral enjoyers out there, but I can appreciate the restraint having tested so many pro FPS mice covered in weird holes and the like.
The Versa Pro's silhouette is reminiscent of a chunkier, more cohesive-looking Logitech G502 Hero, and it's clear MSI has taken a heap of inspiration from it as one of the best mice on the market.
Buttons: 15 (13 programmable)
Connectivity: USB Type-C to USB Type-A (2.0), 2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth
Sensor: PixArt PAW-3395 Optical Sensor
Max DPI: 26,000
Polling rate: 1,000 Hz
Battery life: 80 hrs
Size: 129 x 80 x 44 mm / 5 x 3.1 x 1.7 in
Weight: 97 g / 3.4 oz
Cable: 2x2 m, braided
Features: Infinite scroll, RGB lighting, grip texturing, ergonomic thumbrest
Price: $110 / £99
MSI has opted for a broad curve in its approach to ergonomics that allows the hand to sit flatter. The lightly-recessed diamond grip side panels and comfy thumbrest gently cradle my thumb, while giving me something to hang onto that isn't silicone. Not that I'm averse to silicone grips—they do work. Just more often than not they're the first thing to go on a gaming mouse. The omission here indicates a longer shelf life.
Durability isn't something MSI has overlooked either. The chassis takes a good hard squeeze without flinching, and the Omron optical switches MSI has opted for are rated at a 70-million-click lifespan, so it should last a while unless you start yeeting it across the room.
Of the many, many buttons on the MSI Versa Pro most are blessed with that swift and satisfying click you want from a gaming mouse. All bar one: the infinite scroll switch. Don't get me wrong, I am an infinite scroll stan until the end times—this being a scroll wheel that can freewheel—but as it wobbles under my fingertip there's something a little more Fisher-Price about that specific button than the rest.
Still, the sheer number of buttons included is something MSI should take pride in. I'm talking four-way scroll wheel, three thumb buttons, two up top beside the standard left and right clickers, and even a DPI shifter on the bottom. All these are available to program as you see fit, which really adds to the productivity and convenience factors for FPS gamers and MMO players, or anyone else taken by the need to macro.
All that programming happens through the MSI Center software which, as is tradition for gaming accessories, is one of the worst things about the whole package. The barrier to entry is huge. In order for the Versa Pro to even show up in the software, MSI needed to grill me about the exact date, location, and store of purchase, along with the product serial number, before it would acknowledge the existence of a mouse at all. No, I don't want to upload an invoice, thanks. I just want to check my polling rate.
✅ You want to cover all your bases for less: Bar the software downfalls, the MSI Versa Pro does everything you expect from a wireless gaming mouse without compromising on the important stuff of adding unnecessary frills.
✅ You're a practical gamer: Macros tied to every millimeter of your mouse is a productivity dream. It means you can access your map and inventory without moving your hand away from your WASD keys.
❌ You detest the standard gamer aesthetic: The MSI Versa Pro is sleek, but having been in the industry for half a decade it's not the most outstanding look I've spied for a gaming mouse.
❌ You're a bigtime FPS gamer: The Versa Pro caters to a certain kind of gamer that doesn't mind a bit of heft to their gear. It's heavier than a lot of pro FPS mice out there, and that will likely be an issue for some.
I passed the inquisition, but MSI Center still bugs me with the odd popup advertising Norton 360—for which the only options are install now and snooze—but the software interface itself is intuitive, and the act of creating and assigning macros is incredibly easy.
Insofar as accuracy goes, all the tests came back with steady arcs and minimal discrepancies. The main thing is that it's accurate, and while it doesn't have the ridiculous polling rate of its dock-paired twin Razer Viper V3 Pro, most gamers just don't need it. Besides, it's features like 8K polling that really mess with battery life.
The lightbars flanking the scroll wheel started to flash red at around 30% to indicate a low battery, with the RGB flicking off automatically to give me a few hours to get to a save point and pop the Versa Pro back onto its cute little magnetic plinth. All in all, it kept going with RGB on for around 24 hours before I had to charge up. While that's not even close to the lightless Viper V3's 95 hours at 1,000 polling, 80 hours sans RGB isn't the worst battery life I've encountered. Plus, you can charge as you play easily since the docking station also has a USB port for easy access.
If you're not concerned about wireless tech, the Logitech G502 X does all this with the addition of a swappable sniper button and for less cash. Super serious gamers might consider the Deathadder V4 Pro instead, but often these flashy wireless gaming mice with docks are far too expensive to warrant the frills. If you want to cover your bases without going overkill, you could do a heck of a lot worse than the MSI Versa Pro and Dock around the $100 mark.
One of the things I love about Blades in the Dark is that it has a mechanism for creating background events for your campaign. During Downtime (though I do this after a session), you roll to see how various factions make progress (or not) on their goals. Mechanically, this is a series of Fortune rolls that advance various project clocks for each faction. The result of this is that while the characters are off doing their own things, the factions in the city also progress with their agendas and goals. Mechanisms like this give a campaign a life of its own. So let’s talk about it.
Let’s start with a definition: a background event is a narrative element that occurs without the direct intervention of the PCs. It can take many forms, such as actions of individual NPCs, groups, or even natural events. Background events can take place in one-shots and campaigns, and they can take place during stories or between stories.
Background Events have a few effects in the game:
Several games have this built into their mechanics. Dungeon World uses Signs & Portents, and the Forged in the Dark games have the Faction Downtime actions. Even if a game does not have specific mechanics for it, they can be done narratively in any game, by just making up some news and events and conveying them to the players.
Here is a model for a mechanized version of background events, if your game does not have a mechanism for this. This draws heavily upon both Dungeon World and Forged in the Dark:
First, come up with some groups or individuals that are up to something.
Second, for each group or individual, give them a goal and some arbitrary steps they would take to accomplish that goal. Here we are building a clock.
Third, decide what interval you want to update these clocks. A good starting interval is between stories.
Fourth, at the specified interval, decide if the clock advances and how much. You can just decide this for yourself, or you can assign some dice to determine this effect. Perhaps roll a d6 and advance the clock that many ticks.
Fifth, convey the outcomes of some or all of the clocks to the characters during the session.
Regardless of whether you arbitrarily create background events or use a mechanism for creating them, the most important part is that you convey their progress to the characters. Like character backgrounds that are written down and not discussed at the table, creating background events and keeping them to yourself does nothing to enhance your game. The events you create have to reach the characters to create the effects above.
For your game, you need to think of how news and information are conveyed. If you are playing a modern supers game, information and news are nearly instantaneous. It will be livestreamed or posted to social media before traditional news can report it. If you are playing a SciFi game where news has to travel great distances but is limited to the speed of light, then perhaps couriers jump from system to system in their FTL ships with news. News is dependent on the arrival of couriers. This will change how the news reaches the players; there could be delays or bundles of news.
Give thought to how news travels in your setting and what constraints or features will be created in your game. The most important consideration is timing. If you want the characters to potentially act on some background events, then the information needs to arrive at them with time to react; otherwise, they will receive the news of the event and write it off because it will take too long to intervene.
Once you work out how the information of the background events reaches the characters, take a moment and think of how narratively you can present the information. The least interesting way to do this is a GM to player data dump, where the GM just tells the players several events going on, “From around town you hear the following… blah, blah, blah”.
The more interesting approach is to present the information in the context of how the characters would receive it. This can be solely narrative (the GM just saying things) or it could be a post or handout (for the more creative types). In a modern game, you might put the information in the form of social media posts. In a Roaring 20s game, this could be done as a radio broadcast or a newspaper front page. If you have an NPC that could present the events, they could come in and do it in character.
In my Blades in the Dark game, the crew has an information network of newsies who gather rumors and events while selling newspapers throughout the city. The head of the newsies, Red, comes to the crew’s HQ and presents a briefing to the players. For this, I write out the events in Red’s voice, and during the Free Play phase of the game, we do a scene where Red is reporting to the crew.
Background events are a great way to make a campaign feel more alive and can foreshadow events or create dramatic decisions for the characters. You can create these arbitrarily or using a mechanical approach. If you do use background events, give thought to how the information reaches your players, and when you do present it, think of a creative way to deliver the news.
Do you use background events in your games? How do you create and track them? What’s the most challenging way information has had to reach your players? What is your favorite method to present the information?
When it comes to live service games with a heavy multiplayer focus, there's always a choice that developers have to make when it comes to their audience. Do you cater to your casual audience, which will likely be huge, but have a more consistent drop off as the game becomes more stale, or do you cater to your more dedicated audience and lean into the more competitive elements of your game?
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
I’m on Observation Duty 8 – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Observe. Report. Survive the night. Monitor the surveillance system for anomalies and report them to survive the night. Use your sharp eyes and keen attention to detail to detect supernatural anomalies ranging from subtle environmental changes to eerie and unsettling otherworldly intruders. Can you survive the night shift, or will you succumb to paranoia…? I’m on Observation Duty 8 is the most ambitious title yet in the original viral franchise that ignited a trend in spot-the-difference horror games that have been loved by players and streamed for millions by legendary content creators.
Primal Fray – November 24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Primal Fray is a turn-based strategy roguelite. Combat takes place on a procedurally generated hex based flying islands. You will use your units to outmaneuver and kill enemy troops. Choose between multiple heroes. Use their unique talents to conquer the Rift and learn more about their stories entangled with dark and ominous Ironclad Corp.
A.I.L.A – November 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
A.I.L.A is a first-person horror game set in a near-future filled with immersive technology. Play as the sole game tester for a revolutionary new fictional AI. Survive intense horror experiences that prey on your deepest fears as the lines between virtual and reality begin to blur…
Compadrone: Land Wars – November 25
Year 2352, humanity is exploring the exoplanets for the expansion of its stellar empire. It comes as no surprise that we encounter alien adversaries – some easy to conquer, others far more advanced and harder to subjugate. To assist in the conquest, a dedicated fleet of fighter drones called Compadrones – or ‘compadre’ drones were created to serve as the ultimate vanguard of our attack forces. Compadrone: Land Wars is a family-friendly top-down roguelite arena shooter with elements of tower defense gameplay in which you play as a drone sent to fight off aliens on an exoplanet.
Delivery of Us – November 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
In Delivery of Us, you guide a clever carrier pigeon on a mission to deliver every letter across the city’s rooftops. Plan each route carefully, because every move counts. Once the counter hits zero, the delivery fails. This relaxing logic and movement-based puzzle game combines smooth mechanics, strategic planning, and calm visuals. Each level challenges you to find the most efficient path to every mailbox while avoiding walls, hazards, and obstacles along the way.
Kill it with Fire! – November 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
You are the Exterminator on a crusade against the spider horde taking over the multiverse. Blast through the story campaign solo or with friends via online co-op for up to 4 players or jump into a frenetic Humans vs Spiders PvP mode for some laughs and screams.
Mudness Offroad & Buried Alive – November 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Mudness Offroad & Buried Alive Bundle delivers a gripping mix of harsh survival and demanding terrain navigation. One tests your endurance in nature’s toughest environments, the other your will to escape the unthinkable. This bundle is made for those who never back down — whether battling nature or facing their deepest fears.
Project Motor Racing – November 25
Project Motor Racing ignites all the passion, beauty, and intensity of professional motorsport. Race across eras in 70 meticulously recreated cars across 13 iconic classes and 28 global layouts.
Brotherhood – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
They are billions. You are alone. An ominous brotherhood of religious fanatics perform experiments on humans in their top-secret scientific complex. An ancient prison hidden deep in the Swiss mountains houses hundreds of test subjects whose bodies are mutilated in an effort to produce a new biological species of superhuman. You are one of them, but unlike other test subjects, your body is immune to mutagens. For you, it’s not poison anymore, rather a source of power that makes your body nearly indestructible. Steal the weapon and obliterate them.
Dude, Where Is My Beer? – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Can you find a normal beer in a world of conspicuously flavoured craft beer, and solve the mystery of the elusive, missing pilsner, using nostalgic interface from the golden age of adventure games? Talk to West Coast IPA and American Black Ale drinking hipsters and solve beer related puzzles at different stages of drunkenness; explore locations like a sports bar, a microbrewery, a dive bar and a rock bar in the city of Oslo, in your quest of finding a pilsner.
King’s Justice – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Embark on a thrilling platforming quest across 10 handcrafted levels filled with deadly traps, diverse enemies, and escalating challenges. With an estimated playtime of 30–60 minutes, casual players will enjoy fast-paced action and precision gameplay.
Knight’s Quest – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Embark on a heroic journey in Knight’s Quest, a 2D platformer set in a world consumed by darkness. Play as a valiant knight determined to reclaim ancient ruins and defeat monstrous foes. Can you restore light to a shattered realm?
Poko’s Arctic Quest – November 26
Join Poko on a frosty and challenging adventure! Winter is coming, and the little penguin Poko needs to gather enough fish to survive the cold! Use your logic and planning to push blocks, open paths, and collect all the fish across 30 carefully designed levels inspired by classic puzzle games.
Schildmaid MX – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Schildmaid MX is a fresh and frenetic side-scrolling 2D shoot ’em up in which you pick 1 of 3 ferocious fighter spacecraft to wreak havoc on the invasion fleet that threatens your planet. Embark on multiple attack runs and strike fear into the hearts of your enemy. The best pilots are immortalized on the online leaderboards!
Space Frontier – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
A classic space shooter reborn! Pilot your ship on an epic journey through the cosmos, facing hordes of space pirates across 13 intense levels. Defeat enemies to collect upgrade orbs and spend them in the shop to evolve your ship with more damage, extra life, and insane speed. Face colossal bosses in battles that demand strategy and razor-sharp reflexes. Every victory brings you closer to interstellar glory!
Traverse through the surreal world suspended somewhere between dream and emotion on a touching journey through grief, guilt, and healing, as you search for your lost sister, Lulu. Solve puzzles, recover lost memories, face your deepest fears and regrets… And don’t be afraid to take the leap forward.
Delivery Driver Massacre – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Step into a first-person horror experience inspired by classic 80s slashers. A routine job becomes a night of terror as you explore an eerie suburban home hiding sinister secrets. Solve puzzles, find tools to escape, and outsmart a ruthless killer who’s always one step behind you. Grimy VHS visuals, haunting ambience, and shocking moments bring old-school horror to life in a new way.
Garten of Banban 8: Anti Devil – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
You were tricked by your friends. After the latest events, you’ll need to delve deeper into the mysterious establishment of Banban’s Kindergarten. Now, you’re completely on your own – your friends are either dead or against you… From now on, you’ll only meet new enemies, who will make sure you never feel alone. Be careful – in Banban’s Kindergarten, they are lurking in every corner, waiting for you.
Quick Whiskers – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Get ready to jump, dash, and glide with Quick Whiskers, a pixel-art platformer where every move counts! Take control of a nimble cat and venture through 30 challenging levels across two unique biomes: the peaceful park and the bustling city. Your mission is simple but full of action: collect food cans and reach a cozy bed to rest.
Snake.io – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Develop your skills, try to survive as much as you can and become the biggest snake. You start as a small snake, get bigger by eating other snakes who try to do the same. You have to attack wisely but defend skillfully. How long can you survive?
Star Ores Inc. – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Star Ores Inc. is an intergalactic mining adventure that catapults you onto an abandoned space station in the middle of space. As a freshly minted entrepreneur, you begin your career in a world full of ores, machines, and galactic possibilities. Dig through massive asteroids and extract rare minerals, which you refine into valuable high-tech products. With the help of specialized robots, conveyor systems, and automated machinery, you build an efficient production chain — from raw material extraction to sales.
Street Racer Collection (QUByte Classics) – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Combining the speed of an arcade racer with the brawling of a fighting game, this cult classic made its mark with its originality and its own dose of chaos and personality. Race on tracks filled with obstacles and crazy settings (from Mount Rushmore to Transylvania), use special moves to knock out your rivals, and explore modes that go far beyond traditional racing.
Take control of your spacecraft and dive into a cosmic odyssey where speed, precision, and exploration collide. Navigate surreal, gravity-defying landscapes filled with twisting asteroid rings and radiant celestial structures. With every level, push your reflexes to the limit as you dodge obstacles, collect vital energy cores, and uncover hidden mysteries of deep space. Only the sharpest pilots will survive the challenge — are you ready to conquer the cosmos?
Bee Simulator: The Hive – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
See the world through the eyes of a bee! Explore a world inspired by Central Park as you gather pollen, evade threats, and build your own thriving beehive. This edition combines the original Bee Simulator with The Hive expansion, introducing new mechanics, game modes, and fresh as a spring pollen content—all in one buzzing adventure, perfect for players of all ages.
BucketCrusher – November 28
Xbox Play Anywhere
Will you manage to completely destroy the wall until not a single brick is left standing? Immerse yourself in the most satisfying casual game where you tear down walls brick by brick using a circular saw! Push the bricks into your BucketCrusher to convert them into cash, but watch out because you can run out of fuel!
El Coco – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
El Coco is a 3D action roguelike that plunges you into a world of dreams, broken memories, and living nightmares. Descend into The Uncertain, a place as strange as it is dangerous, and fight to recover what you’ve lost—if you can trust your guide.
Emoji Battlefield – Origins – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Emoji Battlefield – Origins throws you into a chaotic, rogue-like first-person shooter where emojis aren’t just harmless faces — they’re deadly enemies. Start each run by customizing your experience with unique modifiers: crank up the difficulty, make every emoji wear a ridiculous hat, or turn on bouncing mode for hilarious chaos. Then pick your unlocked arena — from The Bouncy Castle to Candy World or even outer space — each with its own hazards and interactive traps.
Habitat Shapes – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Enjoy the relaxing puzzle of Habitat Shapes by organizing spaces for three animal families – mammals, birds, and reptiles – using Fence/Wall pieces to keep them separated. Watch out: different families cannot touch, and any attempt triggers a funny “fight cloud,” sending the last piece back to the conveyor.
In Keypybara, prepare for a classic 2D platforming experience with precise and responsive controls. You must navigate carefully handcrafted levels (each one a single, challenging “room”) filled with deadly traps. Your mission is clear: collect the key to unlock the exit. To do this, you will need to push boxes and dodge spikes. With instant respawn and 30 unique stages that progressively increase the challenge, the game offers an addictive, smooth, and rewarding gameplay loop with every obstacle overcome.
Red Pippy – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Red Pippy is a charming 2D pixel art platformer that follows the journey of a little red bird in pursuit of its biggest dream: learning to fly! With each level, Pippy learns new skills as he navigates vibrant and perilous environments, jumping across platforms and overcoming obstacles that bring him closer to his ultimate goal. Will he prove that he’s ready to conquer the skies?
Wild West: Hidden Objects – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Step into the Cyber Wild West! Take on the role of a sharp-eyed detective in a world where the Wild West collides with high-tech cyberpunk. Welcome to Red Hook, a mysterious frontier town ruled by circuits and secrets. But trouble is brewing… The town treasury has been stolen. The sheriff? Kidnapped. Now it’s up to you to crack the case.
The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 24 to 28 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Session zero is packed. Like, really packed, with so many things to do and consider and take care of. There’s establishing the style/theme/tone of the game. Discussing safety tools. Establishing a genre to experience. Determining which system to use. Figuring out what setting to romp around in. Collaborating on character creation. Maybe even some shared world building between the players and the GM. Actually making characters. Perhaps an intro scene where the story is set and getting ready to roll before the campaign launches into orbit.
Yeah. It’s lots. Maybe too much.
However, I’m going to pile onto the stack a few more items that I think could be handled offline after session zero to help the GM really hone the campaign’s blade to razor sharpness. This can be handled via Google Forms, emails, Discord, Slack, or whatever communications methods your group uses between sessions.
Here we go!
Break the fourth wall here. Don’t think about character concerns, but what do you as a player want out of the campaign? Do you want to skulk around alleys? Maybe save a nation? Maybe be the big damn hero to rescue people of lesser abilities? Do you want to shoot between the stars, or delve deep underground? Do you want to level fast to see how the higher tiers of play run? Do you want to roll in the gold and spend as you please? What do you want out of the game? There is no wrong answer here.
Why do you want what you want? This question is more important than actually stating goals for game play. Letting the GM peek into your brain to see why you want to accomplish certain goals will help the GM facilitate those goals more easily… and probably with a great deal more fun.
Now it’s time to delve into your character’s inner self and figure out what you want your character to accomplish as you roll through the campaign. Riches? Fame? Infamy? Revenge? Redemption? Do you want to find your long lost father and reunite with him? Do you want your hard-working mother to never have to punch the clock again? Cure a disease that plagues your hometown?
When developing goals for your character, try to come up with a short-term and a long-term goal. Make them achievable within the framework of the game/setting/group. Most of all make them matter to your character (and maybe the world at large), and have fun with them!
Here we go again. I’m beating the “motivation drum.” If your character doesn’t have a reason to accomplish the goal, they’ll give up on it at the first sign of trouble or when the smallest challenge presents itself. If your character has a core reason to get out there and do the thing, they’ll go do the thing!
This (and the next few areas) come from a combined player/character perspective. Think of yourself and your character as a melded entity when venturing through these next few areas.
What events or scenarios do you want to encounter? Why? Do you want high seas danger? Maybe you’ve never swung from a chandelier while rescuing a princess during a ball and that’s on your bucket list. Maybe you’ve never actually gotten to level 23 of Undermountain beneath Waterdeep, and you really want to get there (once properly leveled up and equipped). Never owned a starship? Cool. Let’s do that! Want to command an army on the field of battle? Sure. Let’s go for it!
Are there locations in your setting that you’ve never gone to? Maybe you’re playing in Forgotten Realms, but you’ve never been to the ruined nation of Netheril. Time to head north and go explore. Want to fly a spaceship through a black hole and see what the GM imagines is on the other side? Yeah. Set course for the center of the Milky Way Galaxy and see what’s there.
Caveat: Newer players may not know what they don’t know, so they may need some guidance on this front. On the other side, veteran players may think they’ve seen it all, but there’s no way they have. They may need some nudges to get them going on the creative side of this question.
Like with locales in your setting, there are innumerable NPCs to meet and greet and debate and fall in love with and hate with a passion. Give your GM some ideas on who (or what) you might like to encounter in the setting in a non-combat situation. This can greatly assist the GM in world building. You don’t have to go super detailed into this. Something as simple as, “I want to haggle with a spaceport junk seller who has a gambling problem,” will work beautifully. There are numerous hooks just in that one quote that any skilled GM can hang onto and run with.
Never fought a dragon? (WHAT?!?! You need to fight at least one dragon in your career as a gamer!) How about a mind-flayer or a beholder? Those are great challenges even for a higher-powered set of characters. Want to kill a lich and successfully destroy its phylactery? Yeah. Send that to the GM as something you’d like to experience. Have you ever had to cleanse a small village of a doppelganger infestation? What? No? Propose that to the GM as an idea, and let them run with it! You never know what cool stuff your idea will implant into the GM’s brain.
As I said at the start, this is not session zero material, but something to take offline. If your GM puts time and effort into posing these questions, answer them. Don’t forget to answer or fully ignore the questions. If the GM is asking about this kind of material, then they truly do care what you have to say. Don’t consider it a waste of time. Consider it your contribution to the story arcs, campaign setting, and general campaign material the GM will pluck from to formulate future sessions.
With more than 117 million units sold, it’s clear that Sony’s PS4 was a very successful console. It has naturally amassed a vast wealth of both first-party and third-party releases, and this list runs down 20 of the best games it has to offer in no particular order.
God of War
There aren’t many games that are able to deliver a stunning experience in such a smooth manner as Sony Santa Monica was able to do with the 2018 reboot. This story sets the protagonist in a new setting; new boss fights and outstanding level design. It’s both fresh and recognizable at the same time, and the new combat and the camera on offer also embodies the spirit of modern third person game while making it more intentional. The 2018 reboot is definitely one of the best games on the PS4, and is a great starting point for newcomers.
Halo Reach, Bungie’s final “swan song” in the Halo universe, was a prequel that set up the entire Halo conflict through the eyes of a brave fireteam of Spartans named “Noble Team”. As each member of the squad lived up to their name and paid the ultimate price in service of their mission, it slowly became clear that none of us were going to survive the events of Reach… but we WERE going to shape the future. As the game built to its powerful, inevitable crescendo, the pain in our journey all finally made sense… our sacrifice preserved the life of the one and only Master Chief, the Spartan who would go on to finish this fight one day. We didn’t win this battle, but our faithful obedience won the war.
Our struggles in life serve eternal purposes that aren’t always going to be immediately obvious to us while we’re going through them, and many will not reveal their full impact until after our time on this planet has reached its’ conclusion. But if we will obediently yield our lives to the unique challenges our Master has called us to, we’ll find the meaning behind our mission. We are each one part of a sacrificial relay race, carrying the baton as far as we can during our leg of the race before passing it on to the next teammate until the circle is complete… and reaching tomorrow’s souls is paved through the sacrifices of today.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
EA and Battlefield Studios didn't just deliver a solid multiplayer experience that players know the Battlefield series for in Battlefield 6. Battlefield Studios has also come up with its response to Call of Duty: Warzone with a new free-to-play battle royale mode called Battlefield REDSEC. After years of battle royale modes being extremely popular, there's a lot that should already be second-nature to anyone jumping into Battlefield REDSEC, like keeping track of your ammo, making sure to find armor, and staying with your squad to have the best chance of staying alive. All of those general tips apply to Battlefield […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/how-to/battlefield-redsec-guide-battlefield-6-tips-and-tricks/
Bandai Namco shared a new My Hero Academia: All’s Justice trailer that is split between looks at three gameplay modes from the anime and manga-inspired game and offers commentary about them from Producer Aoba Miyazaki. It highlights how the game will work, while also going over some of its different versions, features, and bonuses.
Things start with overview gameplay footage that focuses on the My Hero Academia: All’s Justice modes. The first to come up is Team Up Mission. That is more of an “open world” mode in which all of the U-A students will fight enemies around the city. The narration suggests we might be able to pick up additional fights and quests by interacting with people we encounter as we explore. The Archives Battle part of the game came up second, and that focuses on the fights from the My Hero Academia anime and manga. This focuses on first-hand experience of the matches we know about. The last part is an actual Story Mode that covers The Final War storyline.
At about the 1:55 mark of the over 12 minute video, Producer Aoba Miyazaki’s portion starts. That started with a peek at the different editions, highlighting that Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions and their bonuses. After that, there are closer looks at the Team Up Mission, Archives Battle, and Story Mode in My Hero Academia: All’s Justice in further detail with Miyazaki’s commentary.Here’s the new My Hero Academia: All’s Justice trailer on YouTube that shows examples of the gameplay modes that we’ll see in the game.
Here’s the new My Hero Academia: All’s Justice trailer on YouTube that shows examples of the gameplay modes that we’ll see in the game.
My Hero Academia: All’s Justice will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 6, 2026.
The post My Hero Academia: All’s Justice Gameplay Modes Shared appeared first on Siliconera.
