Dan Goad
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Gaming, film, TV, theatre
Actor, gamer, classics PhD, mythology consultant, podcaster and journalist. Words at @thedigitalfix, @DailyStarGames & @thegamerwebsite
Articles by Dan Goad
How Dan Goad is championing Men’s Mental Health
[Inspiring & Reflective Music] FOOTAGE: We open on a Video title How Dan Goad is championing Men’s Mental Health at Telstra. FOOTAGE: Dan is seated at his desk, wearing a Telstra jumper with a Movember flag behind him on the wall. DAN: I'm Dan Goad. DAN: I'm currently on secondment in Field Access Networks as a Designer, but I normally spend my day-to-day as a Field Technician, within Field Services.
Ultimate Team Accounts For Nearly A Third Of EA's Net Revenue
Everyone likes to complain about loot boxes, but EA’s recent SEC Filing (pdf) demonstrates why they’re here to stay for now. EA earned a massive $1.62 billion from Ultimate Team modes in games such as FIFA and Madden in the 2021 fiscal year. This represents 29% of their total net revenue of $5.6 billion. Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad broke down the annual revenue for the mode, showing how lucrative it has become in just six years.
Handheld Gaming PC Rumoured To Be Close To Release At Valve
A change in Steam’s code could add weight to the ongoing rumours that Valve has been developing a handheld gaming PC. The code change was spotted by SteamDB operator Pavel Djundik. Ars Technica are additionally claiming that “multiple sources” have confirmed the handheld’s existence. The code makes reference to a device called a “SteamPal”. Other references include “SteamPal Games”, “quick access menu”, and “power menu”.
Overwatch 2 Updates, Including Five Players Per Team In PvP
Blizzard has announced a bunch of changes and updates to be expected in Overwatch 2. The most significant amongst them is that PvP matches will now be 5v5 instead of the first game’s 6v6. The change will manifest through dropping one of the tank roles from the set team makeup, meaning there will be two damage, two support, and a single tank. This is to change the focus of the tank away from protecting the team to more “in-your-face battling”.
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown Coming To PS4 Next Week
Sega today announced that a remake of Virtua Fighter 5 is coming exclusively to PS4. It will release digitally on 1 June as part of Sega’s 60th-anniversary celebrations. The announcement and trailer were released via IGN. The game has also been rumoured as one of the free PS Plus games for June, according to Spanish website Areajugones (link in Spanish). It’s currently unknown whether the release is related to the Virtua Fighter esports project teased last September.
AbleGamers And Logitech G To Launch Disabled Esports League
Following the success of last year’s one-off Adaptive Esports Invitational, Logitech G is to host the world’s first ongoing esports competition for disabled gamers. As with the Invitational, Logitech G is again partnering with charity AbleGamers. The Adaptive Esports Tournament will be played on Rocket League and is open for any gamers with disabilities to enter. AbleGamers was founded in 2004 with the aim of improving accessibility in gaming for people with disabilities.
Total War: Rome Remastered Review PC PC - Exploding Barrels
When it was first released in 2004, Rome: Total War was a milestone in strategy gaming. While the previous games in the series had their fans, Rome really put Total War on the gaming map and laid the foundations for what the series would later become. The influence of the original cannot be understated. This is particularly true of the Barbarian Invasion expansion, which introduced horde and religious conversion mechanics that remain part of the series to this day.
Disco Elysium - The Final Cut Review
So, you need to get into the harbour, but a two-metre tall racist blocks your way. Perhaps there is another way in? Or maybe you can talk him round, perhaps by discussing his politics? Or maybe you can get lucky and take him out with a quick punch? This is just one of the many problems to solve in ZA/UM’s Disco Elysium, and all of them have multiple solutions.
Gears Of War: Every COG Tag Location
Gears of War tells the story of Marcus Fenix and his fight for humanity's survival against the relentless Locust. The game is full to the brim of heroism, tragedy, shotguns to the face, and chainsaws to the neck. Humanity's death toll is high, but you can pay your respects to those they've lost by picking up mementos from fallen comrades, in the form of COG tags. The tags can usually be found near a Crimson Omen, the Gears of War logo.
Mass Effect Andromeda: Everything You Need To Know About The Kett
The Mass Effect games are filled with many weird and wonderful creatures, and Mass Effect: Andromeda is no exception. Whilst the developers did not get to include as many new races as they would have liked, they did introduce us to the Angara and the Kett. The Kett are the first race encountered in the game, and they are immediately hostile, killing and injuring several members of the Andromeda Initiative.
Fallout 4: 10 Unpopular Opinions (According To Reddit)
The Fallout series is hugely popular and Fallout 4 was generally well-received (at least compared to what came after), but that doesn't mean everyone agrees on everything about it. There are so many ways to play and choices to make that no two playthroughs will be that similar. Who's the best companion? Which faction should you side with? Which are the best perks? On Reddit, you'll see thousands of posts discussing these topics and more.
The 10 Most Graphically Demanding Android And Mobile Games
Mobile gaming just keeps growing, and there is a lot more to it than Candy Crush. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has given everyone a lot more time on their hands, and those hands have often been used to play mobile games, which are now the most popular form of gaming (whether you like it or not). Some of the biggest franchises in the world are thriving on handheld devices, and developers are pushing the technical capabilities of phones and tablets to their limits.
Mass Effect Andromeda: Every Remnant Decryption Puzzle And How To Solve Them
As you explore the planets of Mass Effect Andromeda, you'll come across locked technology left by the Remnant, a synthetic race native to the Andromeda galaxy. These locks take the form of puzzles, and they hide vital items to aid in the Andromeda Initiative's mission. The puzzles are in the form of a 4x4 or 5x5 grid of glyphs. Blue glyphs can be moved, while red glyphs are stuck in place.
Mass Effect: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Urdnot Wrex
The Mass Effect games have an extensive cast of colourful and intriguing characters. Everybody has their favourite, but many people's favorite is the Krogan Battlemaster Urdnot Wrex. Armed with a hefty shotgun and biotic powers, Wrex is a one-alien wrecking machine and an asset to Shepard's squad in the first game. We recently named him as one of our ten most beloved companions and, although he doesn't return as a full-time squadmate, his presence can be felt throughout the series.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey: How To Get The Pilgrim Set
For fans of stealth in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, no armor is as useful as the Pilgrim Set, and here's how to find it. Email There are hundreds of armor sets in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and one of the best is the Pilgrim Set. It's a classic assassin outfit, featuring the traditional hood, and the white with the red trim color scheme. It can also be seen on the statue that comes with the Kassandra Edition of the game.
Everything You Need To Know About Skyrim Together
Though The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a fantastic experience on its own, the Skyrim Together mod hopes to make it a delightful co-op venture. Email 2021 will be ten years since the release of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, one of the most popular games of all time. Still being released on new platforms to this day, right now there are thousands of people exploring the epic open-world of Bethesda's masterpiece. But one thing the vanilla Skyrim experience didn't do was allow them to play with friends.
Gears 5: Everything You Need To Know About Sera
The planet of Sera is the setting for the Gears of War franchise. It's the home of humanity, the Locust and the Swarm. Gears 5 focuses on the Swarm War, but this is just one event in the history of the planet. Sera boasts thousands of years of rich history that players haven't experienced first-hand in the games. Every new game adds a few more details to the world and there is still plenty to explore about the COG (formerly including the iconic Marcus Fenix), the Locust and the planet itself.
Cobra Kai: Season Three Review
Coming in the middle of a sea of bland sequels and reboots that didn't understand why the original was popular, Cobra Kai was a breath of fresh air. Not only did it get why The Karate Kid was a cultural milestone, but it understood how you can't just repeat that and rely on nostalgia to sell the product. The way it took a step back and thought realistically about how these characters might have evolved in the decades since, should be the template that every long-awaited sequel follows.
The TDF Top 10 - Angel
We started our weekly TDF Top 10 with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, now we're heading back to the Buffyverse to count off the top 10 episodes from spinoff show Angel. Spin-offs are a hit and miss affair, and attempting one from a cult phenomenon like Buffy The Vampire Slayer must have been a daunting task. But Joss Whedon’s masterstroke was knowing who and what to bring across from Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
Warrior Nun: Season One Review
Netflix’s latest action show comes with a title that is going to get it noticed. Very loosely based on the Canadian manga-style comic Warrior Nun Areala, the series follows Ava Silva, a teenage girl who finds herself to be the latest in a long line of warrior women with the power to battle demons. Suddenly she is being pressured by a shady organisation to fulfil her duties, when she just wants to party and meet boys. So far, so Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The Almost Gone Review
Reviewed on PC Also available on Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch Pre-release accolades can be both a blessing and a curse, and The Almost Gone is a small game that has grabbed some big attention. Highlighted by plenty of outlets when it demoed at Gamescom, and with a whole host of awards already under its belt, does it live up to the expectations? I’m happy to say that for me, it certainly does. The game sees you in the role of a young girl trapped between life and death.
The TDF Top 10 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
In a new series of features for The Digital Fix, our team of writers are selecting the 10 greatest episodes / two-parters from a whole host of TV shows. Kicking things off, we head to Sunnydale and we run down the top 10 from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s been 23 years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered on our TV screens, and still to this day many people (including me) hold it up as the pinnacle of genre television.
Aeronautica Imperialis: Flight Command
Reviewed on PC You could never accuse Games Workshop of wasting their IP when it comes to video games, since they manage to release a shockingly large number of titles based on virtually every table-top game at their disposal. Their latest release, Aeronautica Imperialis: Flight Command, is based on the 2007 spin-off from Warhammer 40,000. You’ll take command of a group of Imperial or Orc aircraft, battling for air supremacy in turn-based combat.
Shogun 2 Available to Download For Free From Today
Platforms: PC To make staying at home in the current pandemic a little easier, Sega is giving away Total War: Shogun 2 for free. It will be available on Steam from 18.00 BST / 10.00 PT on Monday 27th April until 1st May. A statement from Sega states: "The past few weeks have presented unimaginable challenges to many of us, but the remarkable collective effort being made by the global community to overcome this moment of adversity has been truly inspirational.
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Early Access: First Impressions
Very long development cycles seem to be a regular thing these days, and Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is the latest long-anticipated sequel. The first game in the series, Mount & Blade, released in 2008 and was followed by the standalone expansion Mount & Blade: Warband in 2010. Turkish developer TaleWorlds announced Bannerlord in 2012, and last week it finally released into early access. It's been the largest Steam release so far in 2020, so should you join the crowds or wait for the full release?
Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders Review
Reviewed on PC The Kingdom Under Fire series has largely stood alone in gaming history. Combining third person hack and slash in the manner of Dynasty Warriors with a unit based RTS, the original four games in the series were released in the 2000s to great critical acclaim.
The Suicide of the Rachel Foster Game Review
Reviewed on PC Also available on Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One The Suicide of Rachel Foster is the latest game from One-O-One games. Departing wildly from their previous titles such as Fury Road Survivors and VR Ping Pong Pro, this new game is a first person exploration game where you take on the role of Nicole, who returns to her family hotel after the death of her father.
Through the Darkest of Times Game Review
The Second World War is a reliable setting for video games, and Nazis are reliable enemies, but few attempt to portray the reality of life away from the battlefield during that time period. Through the Darkest of Times aims to do just that, putting players in control of a resistance movement in Nazi-controlled Berlin. The first noticeable element of the game are the visuals, with a muted palette of greys occasionally broken up by highlights of colour, such as the red in the Nazi flags.
Time Loops and the End of the World: Analysing Outer Wilds
Just a heads up, the last section of this article contains spoilers for Outer Wilds. You can safely read up to the spoiler warning, but don’t read beyond that if you plan to play the game. You really need to experience Outer Wilds firsthand, so please don’t ruin it for yourself! Last week saw the PS4 release of Outer Wilds, the first game from independent developer Mobius Digital.
EGX 2019 - Our Indie Picks, Part One
EGX 2019 was another fantastic showcase for both AAA and independent games alike. In our first article covering the show, we are going to be picking out some of our highlights from amongst the indie games. NB. as these games are still in development, platforms are subject to change. Unto the End – Steam, PS4, Xbox One, Switch Inspired by Dark Souls, The Witness and Mike Tyson Punch Out, Unto the End is an upcoming game from husband and wife team 2 Ton Studios.
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition - Switch | Review
This will be a short review, since Ori and the Blind Forest needs very little introduction. Originally released on Xbox One and PC in 2015, it’s a sign of the growing relationship between Microsoft and Nintendo that this now comes to the Switch. If you haven’t had the means to play it before, you’re in for a real treat. Right from the first scene, Ori and the Blind Forest packs an emotional punch; if you’re the sort of person who cries at Disney films then have a box of tissues ready.
Nintendo Switch Lite Impressions
The Switch Lite was a surprise announcement back in July. A dedicated handheld version with a smaller screen, no dock and no removable Joy-Cons, you’d be forgiven for asking what the point of it is. Yes, this is a Switch that no longer switches. To add to the portability, the Lite is smaller across the board. The screen is now 5.5” compared to the original 6.2” and the console is 20 grams lighter.
GreedFall - PS4 l Review
Within 15 minutes of starting GreedFall I was given the choice of helping an alchemist escape the city of Serene, or arresting him. He had been unfairly forced out of his position at the University, and had dedicated his life to curing the mystical plague that was sweeping the city. To achieve this he was selling his experimental cures to the unsuspecting population, under the promise that they would cure every ailment (with the exception of the plague).
Erica - PS4 | Review
Last week at Gamescom Sony surprise launched Erica, a live action interactive mystery story. Developed by British studio FlavourWorks, the game follows the titular character as she uncovers the mystery behind the death of her father, and how it relates to Delphi House, the mental health facility he founded. Full motion video (FMV) games fell out of favour in the 90s, but with Netflix’s Bandersnatch and Sam Barlow’s Telling Lies bringing the genre back, is Erica another success?
Ancestors Legacy - PS4 | Review
Real time strategy doesn’t get a lot of love on consoles. In fact, other than Halo Wars 2 it’s a struggle to name an RTS on current generation consoles. Polish studio Destructive Creations are aiming to tap into that market by porting their Steam hit Ancestors Legacy to PS4 and Xbox One. The game originally launched to solid reviews and even a few awards, so has it got what it takes to make an impact on consoles? Ancestors Legacy definitely leans into classic RTS games.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order - Nintendo Switch | Review
At what point is a sequel no longer a sequel? Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order releases ten years after the last game in the series, with a new developer and new publisher. Having played the remastered versions of the originals when they came out only three years ago, I’m genuinely surprised at how much this game feels like a close sequel. The Black Order almost slavishly reproduces the gameplay of those originals – the good, bad, and the ugly.
New Star Manager - PS4 | Review
It seems to be the trend recently to port free-to-play mobile games to home consoles. This started with Angry Birds and has become more and more common, with varying degrees of success. New Star Manager first released on mobile in 2018, then Steam, Switch, and now PS4. At a time when mobile gaming is a bit of a taboo word, and football games are dominated by FIFA and Football Manager, it will be interesting to see whether New Star Manager can make an impact on all those platforms.
Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered - Nintendo Switch | Review
It’s almost a year to the day since we reviewed Red Faction: Guerilla Re-Mars-tered (that name makes me groan every time) on PS4, and this week it comes to Switch. When they were originally released the Red Faction games set a new bar for destructible environments, but does Guerilla still have the same impact today, particularly on the Nintendo console? Guerilla is a straight graphical remaster of the original game, without no new or changed content, and as a result it definitely shows its age.
Another Sight - Nintendo Switch | Review
There aren’t many video game studios in Italy, so it was interesting for me to see what this game from Lunar Great Wall Studios was like. Based in Milan, the studio only opened its doors in 2016, and Another Sight is its first game. Released originally for PC in 2018, the Switch port arrives this week. It’s a 2.5D exploration and puzzle game with a twist and there is much to recommend here, with the game alternating between beautiful, haunting, and frustrating.
The Relevance of E3 - An Annual Question
Every year we have the same conversation, so now the dust has settled it seems entirely appropriate to have it again. Is E3 still relevant? Our general consensus on last week’s E3 podcast was that a few standout moments aside, E3 was fairly unexciting.
Warlocks 2: God Slayers - Nintendo Switch | Review
Warlocks 2: God Slayers is a new pixel art brawler RPG from Frozen District. The previous game in the series, Warlocks vs Shadows, was never ported to a Nintendo console, appearing instead on PS$, Xbox and PC. The sequel arrives on Switch first, with a Steam release due in July and PS4 and Xbox releases to be confirmed. The game combines aspects of brawlers, RPGs and metroidvanias, and is entering a crowded market, filled with popular titles like Guacamelee, Dead Cells and Hollow Knight.
Red Siren: Space Defense - Nintendo Switch | Review
Red Siren: Space Defense is a 2018 mobile game that has recently been ported to Switch. Mobile ports have had mixed fortunes on Nintendo’s console, so it will be interesting to see how this one fares. In a wartorn future, players take control of a battleship from Red Siren combat squad, tasked with protecting humanity’s scant resources from raiders. Its mobile roots are evident in the simplicity of gameplay, combining twin-stick shooting with elements of tower defense.
Hell is Other Demons - Nintendo Switch | Review
Nostalgia is a powerful tool, and Swedish indie studio Cuddle Monster Games are aiming to harness that with their first game, Hell is Other Demons. With a retro 8-bit style and Bulletstorm gameplay, it fits in well with the Switch’s library of NES and other retro titles. What is clear from the start is that the game looks great. 8-bit pixel art has rarely looked better, the simplicity of the neon colours against the darker backgrounds making for some striking visuals.
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