Time limits are a much maligned bit of game design. A single level with a race against time is fine, Halo's final warthog run or Call of Duty Modern Warfare's desperate fight through a nuclear silo. But turn that into a whole game? People still argue over The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask and Dead Rising. The creeping pressure is quite the stress, and finding a balance that still pays off people's potentially lengthy investment should they fail to meet certain actions in time is evidently not easy. Minit's solution is right there in the name and it's magic.
Minit has a time limit, at the end of which you will die and lose your progress through the game's world. Some things are kept but you'll be starting from the last bed you slept in. What makes it work? You're only sent back a mere minute in time. That sharp focus and tiny scale turns the time limit from just an obstacle and into a way to actively encourage the player. 60 seconds isn't much to lose and so instead of a frustration, it's a prompt to do things better, quicker and smarter next time. It pushes you to really engage with the world because, when every second counts, you've got to find every shortcut, every exploit and get very good at taking out or avoiding enemies. That self-imposed limit means the designers have to fill every space, every single screen with things to do as players will return again and again. Density over vastness.
This mechanic highlights so many of the problems in other game worlds, especially open worlds. Some games are so big, and yet we engage with such a small percentage of their space in a meaningful way. When time isn't an obstacle, why not have miles and miles of samey fields? "More is better" is such a common characteristic of big budget titles and the result is big spaces, filled with repetitive content and scarcely anything memorable. Our interactions with so many gaming worlds is passive. Even when they're pretty enough to make us stop and snap a screenshot we're still not learning them or unravelling them. They just want to get us to the next item on a checklist.

A first look at the 3rd expansion for Call of Duty: WWII.
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The latest Deals with Gold are now available. This week sees big discounts on a bunch of Telltale games, including Batman and Guardians of the Galaxy, the full list can be seen below. Xbox One Deals CONTENT TITLE CONTENT TYPE DISCOUNT NOTES 7 Days to Die Xbox One Game 50% Pub Sale ARK: Aberration Add-On 40% Spotlight Sale ARK: Scorched Earth Add-On 60% Spotlight Sale ARK: Survival Evolved Xbox One X Enhanced 60% Spotlight Sale ARK: Survival Evolved Explorer’s Edition Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale ARK: Survival Evolved Season Pass Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Back to the Future: The Game – 30th Anniversary Edition Xbox One Game 70% Pub Sale Batman: The Enemy Within – The Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) Xbox One Game 40% Pub Sale Batman: The Telltale Series – The Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) Xbox One Game 70% Pub Sale Diablo III: Eternal Collection* Xbox One X Enhanced 50% DWG Euro Fishing: Foundry Dock* Add-On 50% DWG Euro Fishing: Manor Farm Lake* Add-On 50% DWG Euro Fishing: Season Pass* Add-On 50% DWG Euro Fishing: Urban Edition* Xbox One X Enhanced 50% DWG Euro Fishing: Waldsee* Add-On 50% DWG Euro Fishing: Bergsee* Add-On 50% DWG Game of Thrones – The Complete First Season (Episodes 1-6) Xbox One Game 70% Pub Sale Goliath* Xbox One Game 50% DWG Hammerwatch* Xbox One Game 20% DWG INDIE BUNDLE: Shiness and Seasons after Fall* Xbox One Game 60% DWG Kerbal Space Program Enhanced Edition* Xbox One Game 30% DWG Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series – The Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) Xbox One Game 50% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – Adventure Pass (Additional Episodes 6-8) Add-On 70% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two – The Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) Xbox One Game 50% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Adventure (Episodes 1-8) Xbox One Game 70% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) Xbox One Game 70% Pub Sale Mount & Blade: Warband* Xbox One Game 60% DWG Spintires: MudRunner* Xbox One X Enhanced 50% DWG Tales from the Borderlands Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) Xbox One Game 70% Pub Sale The Minecraft: Story Mode Bundle Xbox One Game 50% Pub Sale The Telltale Batman Bundle Xbox One Game 25% Pub Sale The Telltale Mega Collection Xbox One Game 40% Pub Sale The Walking Dead: A New Frontier – The Complete Season (Episodes 1-5) Xbox One Game 60% Pub Sale The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries Xbox One Game 60% Pub Sale The Walking Dead: Season Two Xbox One Game 75% Pub Sale The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season Xbox One Game 75% Pub Sale The Wolf Among Us Xbox One Game 75% Pub Sale Tom Clancy The Division Let it Snow Pack Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy The Division Parade Pack Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division Last Stand Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division Season Pass Add-On 60% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division Streets of New York Outfit Bundle Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division Survival Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division Underground Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division – 1050 Premium Credits Pack Add-On 30% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division – 2400 Premium Credits Pack Add-On 30% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division – 4600 Premium Credits Pack Add-On 30% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division – 500 Premium Credits Pack Add-On 30% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division – 7200 Premium Credits Pack Add-On 30% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division – Frontline Outfit Pack Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division – Marine Forces Outfits Pack Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s The Division – Military Specialists Outfits Pack Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s  The Division – Sports Fan Outfit Pack Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Tom Clancy’s  The Division – Upper East Side Outfit Pack Add-On 50% Spotlight Sale Warhammer Bundle: Mordheim and Blood Bowl 2* Xbox One Game 60% DWG We Are The Dwarves* Xbox One Game 50% DWG World II: Hunting Boss* Xbox One Game 40% DWG *These offers are only valid for Xbox Live Gold members. Please note: prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by region.      Xbox 360 Deals CONTENT TITLE CONTENT TYPE DISCOUNT NOTES Back to the Future: The Game – 30th Anniversary Edition Games On Demand 70% Pub Sale Batman – The Telltale Series – Season Pass Add-On 70% Pub Sale Batman: The Telltale Series Add-On 70% Pub Sale Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Collection 1* Add-On 35% DWG Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Collection 2* Add-On 35% DWG Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Collection 3: Chaos Pack* Add-On 35% DWG Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Collection 4: Final Assault* Add-On 35% DWG Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3* Games On Demand 50% DWG Final Exam* Arcade 75% DWG Game of Thrones – Season Pass (Episodes 2-6) Add-On 70% Pub Sale Jurassic Park: The Game Games On Demand 80% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – Adventure Pass (Additional Episodes 6-8) Add-On 70% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Pass Add-On 70% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Pass Deluxe (Episodes 2-8) Add-On 70% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two Add-On 50% Pub Sale Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two – Season Pass Add-On 50% Pub Sale Poker Night 2 Arcade 80% Pub Sale RAW – Realms of Ancient War* Arcade 75% DWG Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space Arcade 80% Pub Sale Sam & Max Save the World Arcade 80% Pub Sale Tales from the Borderlands – Season Pass Add-On 70% Pub Sale The Quest for the Lost Eternia Shards Part 3* Add-On 70% DWG The Quest for the Lost Eternia Shards Part 4* Add-On 70% DWG The Walking Dead: Michonne – Ep. 1, In Too Deep Add-On 60% Pub Sale The Walking Dead: Michonne – Season Pass (Episodes 2-3) Add-On 60% Pub Sale The Walking Dead: Season Two – Season Pass Add-On 75% Pub Sale The Wolf Among Us – Season Pass Add-On 75% Pub Sale Tropico 3* Games On Demand 75% DWG Tropico 4 Modern Times* Add-On 75% DWG Tropico 4* Games On Demand 75% DWG Tropico 5 Epic Meltdown* Add-On 75% DWG Tropico 5 Espionage* Add-On 75% DWG Tropico 5 Hostile Takeover* Add-On 75% DWG Tropico 5 Paradise Lost* Add-On 75% DWG Tropico 5 Waterborne* Add-On 75% DWG Tropico 5* Games On Demand 75% DWG

Did you miss the PlayStation Briefing last night? Greg didn't, he covered the whole show. Check out the roundup below to find out what went on. Ellie kissed a girl and she liked it. New The Last of Us Part II footage To kick off Sony’s E3 2018 press conference, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II was shown, with a new cinematic furthering Ellie’s characterisation into the r...[Read More] Classic Black Ops maps coming to Black Ops III and 4 The four classic maps Jungle, Summit, Slums, and Firing Range are being remastered for Call of Duty Black Ops 4 and, surprisingly, also Black Ops III . Further ...[Read More] Ghost of Tsushima debut gameplay footage New footage was revealed of Sucker Punch’s Samurai adventure game Ghost of Tsushima. A beautiful field full of flora and fauna, followed by a dark forest and so...[Read More] Resident Evil 2 remake re-revealed Finally, after years of waiting we got to see something of the Resident Evil 2 remake. Pretty visuals, shots of Sherry, Ada, and Leon, zombies and a licker, I’m...[Read More] Trover Saves the Universe from Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland revealed Rick and Morty creator, Justin Roiland, brings us a new comedy sci-fi game for PSVR and PS4, Trover Saves the Universe, developed by Squanch Games, we see what ...[Read More] Death Stranding gameplay footage debut Sony have delivered on the gameplay footage we’ve all been waiting for, footage for Kojima Production’s Death Stranding. It looks gorgeous, eerie and confusing,...[Read More] New Spider-Man gameplay footage The Sony E3 2018 press conference delivered some more Spider-Man footage, revealing several classic villains will be involved in the adventure. And with the tit...[Read More] Control revealed A third-person action game with physics manipulation, possibly also some time manipulation, was shown off at the E3 2018 Sony press conference. A new title call...[Read More] Nioh 2 revealed Nioh 2 got a quick reveal teaser in the Sony E3 2018 press conference. A really quick teaser. I’m sure it’ll pop up online shortly, but as of yet no...[Read More]

The four classic maps Jungle, Summit, Slums, and Firing Range are being remastered for Call of Duty Black Ops 4 and, surprisingly, also Black Ops III . Further to that, Black Ops 3 will be available through PS Plus imminently as a dropped in extra game to the subscription service. Update: The trailer just hit the web. Enjoy:

Time limits are a much maligned bit of game design. A single level with a race against time is fine, Halo's final warthog run or Call of Duty Modern Warfare's desperate fight through a nuclear silo. But turn that into a whole game? People still argue over The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask and Dead Rising. The creeping pressure is quite the stress, and finding a balance that still pays off people's potentially lengthy investment should they fail to meet certain actions in time is evidently not easy. Minit's solution is right there in the name and it's magic.
Minit has a time limit, at the end of which you will die and lose your progress through the game's world. Some things are kept but you'll be starting from the last bed you slept in. What makes it work? You're only sent back a mere minute in time. That sharp focus and tiny scale turns the time limit from just an obstacle and into a way to actively encourage the player. 60 seconds isn't much to lose and so instead of a frustration, it's a prompt to do things better, quicker and smarter next time. It pushes you to really engage with the world because, when every second counts, you've got to find every shortcut, every exploit and get very good at taking out or avoiding enemies. That self-imposed limit means the designers have to fill every space, every single screen with things to do as players will return again and again. Density over vastness.
This mechanic highlights so many of the problems in other game worlds, especially open worlds. Some games are so big, and yet we engage with such a small percentage of their space in a meaningful way. When time isn't an obstacle, why not have miles and miles of samey fields? "More is better" is such a common characteristic of big budget titles and the result is big spaces, filled with repetitive content and scarcely anything memorable. Our interactions with so many gaming worlds is passive. Even when they're pretty enough to make us stop and snap a screenshot we're still not learning them or unravelling them. They just want to get us to the next item on a checklist.

- but it does have an egregious season pass.
The Black Ops Pass, as it's called, includes a bonus zombies experience available at launch, four additional zombies experiences, four exclusive Blackout (battle royale) characters and 12 multiplayer maps. Activision has yet to announce how much the Black Ops Pass will cost.
It's the 12 multiplayer maps part that has Call of Duty fans shaking their heads, as it means Activision's first-person shooter series continues to split its competitive-focused userbase between those who pay and those who don't.

Time limits are a much maligned bit of game design. A single level with a race against time is fine, Halo's final warthog run or Call of Duty Modern Warfare's desperate fight through a nuclear silo. But turn that into a whole game? People still argue over The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask and Dead Rising. The creeping pressure is quite the stress, and finding a balance that still pays off people's potentially lengthy investment should they fail to meet certain actions in time is evidently not easy. Minit's solution is right there in the name and it's magic.
Minit has a time limit, at the end of which you will die and lose your progress through the game's world. Some things are kept but you'll be starting from the last bed you slept in. What makes it work? You're only sent back a mere minute in time. That sharp focus and tiny scale turns the time limit from just an obstacle and into a way to actively encourage the player. 60 seconds isn't much to lose and so instead of a frustration, it's a prompt to do things better, quicker and smarter next time. It pushes you to really engage with the world because, when every second counts, you've got to find every shortcut, every exploit and get very good at taking out or avoiding enemies. That self-imposed limit means the designers have to fill every space, every single screen with things to do as players will return again and again. Density over vastness.
This mechanic highlights so many of the problems in other game worlds, especially open worlds. Some games are so big, and yet we engage with such a small percentage of their space in a meaningful way. When time isn't an obstacle, why not have miles and miles of samey fields? "More is better" is such a common characteristic of big budget titles and the result is big spaces, filled with repetitive content and scarcely anything memorable. Our interactions with so many gaming worlds is passive. Even when they're pretty enough to make us stop and snap a screenshot we're still not learning them or unravelling them. They just want to get us to the next item on a checklist.

- but it does have an egregious season pass.
The Black Ops Pass, as it's called, includes a bonus zombies experience available at launch, four additional zombies experiences, four exclusive Blackout (battle royale) characters and 12 multiplayer maps. Activision has yet to announce how much the Black Ops Pass will cost.
It's the 12 multiplayer maps part that has Call of Duty fans shaking their heads, as it means Activision's first-person shooter series continues to split its competitive-focused userbase between those who pay and those who don't.

Call of Duty: WW2 - United Front has some good moments with its Tortured Path Zombies campaign, but everything else is more of the same.