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Articles by Fran Soto
Tu workflow con IA necesita algo más que generar código
Encuentra el cuello de botella, haz que la verificación sea repetible y elige herramientas de IA que ayuden a que los cambios útiles lleguen a los clientes. En los primeros días de la IA, cuando todavía no teníamos estas herramientas como Cursor, Claude Code o Codex, recuerdo que copiaba y pegaba código en una interfaz de chat web y obtenía los snippets de código para usarlos en mi editor. Por aquel entonces no sabía cuánto podíamos confiar en la IA o no.
The Evolution of Software Engineering Productivity
This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Blitzy. The Future of the Agentic SDLC Blitzy is the first autonomous software development platform with infinite code context, enabling Fortune 500 companies to ship 5x faster from Figma design to production code. While individual developer tools like co-pilots struggle with context and only autocomplete code, Blitzy is engineered specifically for enterprise scale codebases.
Review: Crymachina
What makes us human? Is it our physical bodies? Is it our consciousness and mental capacities? Some ideologies and philosophies bring up the idea that a “soul” is what truly makes us human. What happens if humanity uploads its collective consciousness to avoid mass extinction and leaves the reconstruction to Artificially Intelligent entities? Is the creation of a human by robots still a human?
New Final Fantasy XIV DPS Job Unveiled for Dawntrail
The London Final Fantasy Fan Fest has kicked off this morning with an impressive keynote speech that has finally unveiled one of the two jobs expected for the upcoming Dawntrail expansion. A few months ago during the Las Vegas Fan Fest, players around the world were teased a bit of information that there would be two new jobs added with the inclusion of the new expansion.
FFXIV Patch 6.5: Growing Light Arrives Next Week
Warriors of Light should prepare themselves for new Final Fantasy XIV content arriving next week. In a live Letter from the Producer during the recent Tokyo Game Show, Director Naoki Yoshida has unveiled details for what to expect in Patch 6.5. A brand new trailer offers players a look at upcoming adventures that set the tone for the latest story content. Growing Light sets the stage for Dawntrail and will not only introduce new scenario quests, but also brings a plethora of new content to enjoy.
Review: Moonstone Island
Ah, we’ve awoken and it’s another beautiful day on the island. Today is a special day, because we’re finally ready to begin our journey to become the very best that ever was…in alchemy. We’re going to be the best alchemist ever. Welcome to the world of Moonstone Island, where we’ll spend a year away from home living a rigorous life while collecting monsters to house inside a pocket dimension. Yep. Pocket monsters. Well, they’re actually spirits so it’s different.
Review: Super Bomberman R 2
The lovable Bomberman Bots are back for a new adventure with Super Bomberman R 2. Taking place in the same universe as its predecessor, but featuring an all new story, players join White Bomber and his siblings as they fight to save the universe from being demolished by a mysterious force known as Lugian. This organization controls a Death Star-esque ship, known as the Black Moon, that has wrought destruction upon numerous planets in search of a rare resource.
Checking the Score: Sea of Stars' OST is Smartly Inspired for a Nostalgic Feel
While many point to how lifelike the next blockbuster action title is or how gorgeous an artistic indie darling is when it comes to evaluating a game, these visuals would lose their impact without a stirring soundtrack to score them. From the chip-tunes of Super Mario Bros to the Gregorian chants of Halo, video game music brings players closer to immersion and fantasy.
Review: Nour: Play with Your Food
Growing up in a particularly strict household, dinner time was always considered an important affair. From a young age I was taught how to set a table with all its dressings and how to place cutlery in its “proper” positions. No, we weren’t having anyone over for dinner — this was just how things were. My mother neatly cut out a placement chart for the dining table she found in a Better Homes and Gardens issue and taped that to the inside of our pantry door.
Sonic Superstars Unveils Funky, New Level Music
While the upcoming Sonic Superstars is still a little over a month away, Sega has revealed new level music to give fans a taste of what’s to come. Sonic the Hedgehog has always been known to bring fresh sounds from a myriad of genres that give life to gameplay — funk, rock, dance, ambient and more have always found their way into Sonic titles.
TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Game Announced for 2024
The hit animated Paramount Pictures feature film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, has brought the beloved heroes-in-a-half-shell to a new generation. Considered one of the most popular kids’ franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a monolith of pop culture and has spawned countless movies, shows, video games, comics and more across the last forty years.
Japanese Snack Brand Koikeya Celebrates FFXIV's Ten Year Anniversary
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a decade since Final Fantasy XIV launched and grew to become one of the most successful MMOs of all time. For those of us around in the early days, it’s no secret the game was in rough shape. So much so, that developers basically nuked the 1.0 product and spun the “great reset” as an important piece of lore instead.
Hyper Light Breaker Prepares for Steam Early Access in 2024
Hyper Light fans rejoice, as developer Heart Machine’s follow-up adventure to Hyper Light Drifter gears itself up for Steam Early Access next year. Originally announced for 2023, recent developments with the title require a bit of delay. While not a direct sequel to the first Hyper Light title, this new adventure plans to touch upon details from its predecessor while expanding the lore of the world to be bigger than before.
Checking the Score: The Baldur's Gate 3 OST Feels Overly-Familiar
While many point to how lifelike the next blockbuster action title is or how gorgeous an artistic indie darling is when it comes to evaluating a game, these visuals would lose their impact without a stirring soundtrack to score them. From the chip-tunes of Super Mario Bros to the Gregorian chants of Halo, video game music brings players closer to immersion and fantasy.
Checking the Score: Tears of the Kingdom Takes a Macabre Shift with its OST
While many point to how lifelike the next blockbuster action title is or how gorgeous an artistic indie darling is when it comes to evaluating a game, these visuals would lose their impact without a stirring soundtrack to score them. From the chip-tunes of Super Mario Bros to the Gregorian chants of Halo, video game music brings players closer to immersion and fantasy.
Review: Aliens: Dark Descent
Through the squelching din we searched every corner of the room with our flashlights. There, wrapped up in webby bio-matter, was a cocooned human survivor. Cutting them free showed no signs of infection, but our time crunch was bearing down on us as multiple movement signatures dotted the map in real time. Do we try to outrun them and stay hidden while carrying a survivor or do we hunker down and hope the threats pass just meters away from us on the other side of the closed door?
Checking the Score: We Love Katamari's Rerolled Sound
While many point to how lifelike the next blockbuster action title is or how gorgeous an artistic indie darling is when it comes to evaluating a game, these
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective Rises Again with Remastered Version
Capcom graces us all by brushing off one of its beloved IPs for a new generation. From the creator of the Ace Attorney series, Shu Takumi, comes a funky light-hearted puzzler about death and fate. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective arrived on the scene for Nintendo DS back in 2010. With the well-deserved popularity of the Ace Attorney Trilogy making its appearance on current generation consoles, it’s a real treat to see another hit title come back to life.
Review: We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie
Is Katamari Damacy really that fun? That always seemed to be the age-old question regarding Namco’s ridiculously-eccentric sleeper hit. The way Katamari exploded in underground popularity led to the franchise’s continued success, and subsequent sequels. With a resurgence of the original Katamari title in 2018 with Katamari Damacy Reroll, the series is back to continue its oddball streak with a remaster of the sequel: We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie.
TOTK | Lightning Temple Walkthrough Guide - Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Introduction To The Lightning Temple The Lightning Temple is one of the 4 main temples in Zelda: TOTK. This guide will cover everything you need to know, from top to bottom, to unveil and clear the Lightning Temple and everything in it. [See the Wind Temple Walkthrough Here] After making it through the scorching desert and assisting Gerudo Town with the impending Gibdo threat, some temporary stability now allows for time to solve the puzzling mural found underneath Gerudo Town.
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Brings New Story Trailer, Release Date
Two unlikely allies team up for one unforgettable journey. The fight to free Hinomoto is about to erupt in Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless. To challenge the tyrannical Demmodore Opener and his Demonic Magistrates, protagonists Fuji and Pirilika must gather seven powerful weapons of legend. Can their uneasy alliance overcome the threats ahead? To answer fans’ burning questions, NIS will be hosting an AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the director of Disgaea 7, Shunsuke Minowa, on June 7 at 1:00PM PDT.
Square Enix Announces Vibrant Online Multiplayer Shooter FOAMSTARS
Revealed as part of the PlayStation Showcase digital livestream today, Square Enix announced a new four-on-four online shooter for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The announcement trailer showcases a variety of the title’s colorful characters engaging in foam-to-foam combat in battle arenas. In FOAMSTARS, foam is the ultimate resource. It can be used to create slippery surfaces that players can use to surf around the arena at high speed.
Miasma Chronicles Seeps its Way to Release
The fate of the world is in our hands. Miasma Chronicles, the tactical turn-based RPG from the teams at The Bearded Ladies and 505 Games is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Join Elvis and Diggs as they journey through a savage “New America”, searching for hope, purpose and answers they may not want to hear. Everything Elvis and company knows has been overturned as a deadly Miasma has spread through the country — bringing a slew of dangerous enemies along with it.
New Lords of the Fallen Unveils Release Date, Gameplay
A vast world awaits in an all-new, dark fantasy ARPG: Lords of the Fallen. With the title’s original release in 2014, this new iteration will take place within the same universe and serve as a refresh for the series. Showing of fast-paced, souls-like combat, Lords of the Fallen asks players to take up the mantle of one of the Fabled Dark Crusaders to embark on an epic quest to overthrow Adyr, the demon King.
Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten Receives Gameplay Trailer, Release Date
Join Oshtor as he journeys to discover the secrets surrounding his father’s mysterious death. The world of Monochrome Mobius is full of secrets and unknown dangers. The turn-based JRPG offers various biomes to explore. Destroy enemies in combat alongside your comrades using the Action Ring turn order. Choosing careful attacks, like staggering, can bump enemies back in the turn order. Then, unleash the Overzeal to turn the tides of battle in your favor by accelerating your own turn.
The Outlast Trials Brings 'Co-Optional' Suffering to Early Access
The Murkoff Corporation demands our attendance in a series of…therapies…that will prepare us for a glorious rebirth. From developer/publisher Red Barrels comes a third entry into the Outlast franchise: The Outlast Trials. Serving as a prequel to the first two games, The Outlast Trials releases to Steam Early Access after six years of development.
Checking the Score: Crab Champions Blossoms from "Crab Rave" Party Aesthetic
If you’ve been plugged into internet culture at all in the last five years, you may remember the crustacean party that virally swept social media. Back in 2018, we collectively lost our minds at the ridiculous adorableness of hundreds of crabs raving on a beach. What started as EDM musician Noisestorm’s joke idea eventually led to a viral sensation that went as far as receiving a Certified Gold Single for 500,000 copies sold.
Black Finger JET Emerges from Run&Gun's Greatest Creators
A brand new title from the run & gun genre’s most notable creators has been announced. With a legendary line-up of experience from Metal Slug to R-Type, Black Finger JET is poised to make its mark in the genre. A teaser trailer shows off some of the title’s art, along with a funky noir opening that sets the tone for the project. The side-scrolling run & gun is developed by KOHACHI STUDIO Co. and is based on the good old 8-way aiming gun action.
Crusader Kings III Releases Hefty Tours & Tournaments Expansion
It’s a big world out there and spending an eternity behind the walls of the castle is no way to live. See and experience the wide world through new activities in the Crusader Kings III with the brand new Tours & Tournaments Chapter II expansion. Travel the length of your realm. Host a tournament that will live forever in the memories of all that compete. Relieve stress with falconry hunts, or show your prowess by hunting legendary beasts.
Layers of Fear to Debut Revamped Demo Next Week
As the release date for Layers of Fear (2023) draws closer, Bloober Team and Anshar Studios are giving players a special sneak peek into the world of terror that awaits them. To celebrate the upcoming release, the PC demo will be available on Steam starting May 15 until May 22. The short demo will allow players to jump into the first few minutes of the game and experience its opening cinematic video, which introduces the story of the Writer, the game’s final protagonist.
Fumi Games Teases Retro Animated Film Noir FPS
Move over Steamboat Willy, detective John Mouston is on a mission with guns blazing. Mouse, the gritty jazz-fueled shooter with retro rubber hose animation style, teases a brand new trailer showing off some core gameplay components. Players will need to battle their way through a corrupt city full of crooks and danger in a film noir setting. Still very much in development, Fumi Games shows off some very slick style in various weapon choices, interactive environments and possible set-pieces.
Suletta Lands in SD Gundam Battle Alliance DLC
The multiplayer Gundam action-RPG receives a new DLC pack featuring the main protagonist of the franchise’s latest series: The Witch from Mercury. This update brings pilot Suletta and her Gundam Aerial to SD Gundam Battle Alliance, along with additional expansion mech parts. A new release trailer shows off the Aerial and its sharp-shooter kit. The paid DLC also offers Gundam Game Collaboration Background Music from across different titles like Battle Operation 2 and Gundam U.C. Engage.
Review: Darkest Dungeon II
The creaking of stagecoach wheels rumbled along the dimly lit road as we sat quietly contemplating our bold decisions to venture towards the eldritch unknown. Some were swapping stories, others were stewing in their resentment about our current predicament. One thing was certain: we need to ready ourselves for the dangerous expedition ahead as we face the uncompromising retribution of the Darkest Dungeon II.
Remnants of the Rift Jumps to Steam Early Access
What if closure was at the end of another dimension? Prepare to dive into the retro-futuristic action roguelite Remnants of the Rift to search for answers. As a dimension-diving mercenary, protagonist Morgan must ride the frequencies between worlds to discover the secrets of a new reality. Play, pause and plan in this real-time action game. Remnants of the Rift is a tactics game that allows players to use mods and equipment to enhance their preferred style of play and overcome interdimensional foes.
Path of Titans Teases Night Stalker Update for May
Path of Titans, a dinosaur MMO survival game, is teasing its latest update coming next week. The Night Stalker update sees darker night cycles with the introduction of mechanics changes, dinosaur remodels, new customizations and more. This new addition should entice those who enjoy group fights against apex predators for a less oppressive experience. Additional bug fixes and balance changes will also grace this new content, but will be revealed in full when the update launches on May 10.
Welcome Back Shadowman with the Darque Legacy Reveal Trailer
It’s not every day we see a beloved Valiant Comics character appear in media, but it’s a welcome surprise to see Shadowman back in action with Blowfish Studios’ revealed horror game trailer. For the newly interested readers: Shadowman became Valiant Comics flagship title when the publisher launched in 1992. Serving as a main recurring character in the Valiant universe, the last game we saw with our titular hero was a release for PlayStation2 in 2002 (Shadow Man: 2econd Coming).
Explore a Surreal Post-Human World in After Us
Give life on Earth a second chance in a touching story about sacrifice and hop. Play as Gaia, the Spirit of Life, and navigate platforming environments in an abstract world to salvage the souls of extinct animals. Revive these creatures after learning their final fate: the last whale harpooned, the final eagle caged, the last deer hunted down and more, while you survive encounters with dangerous, oil-covered Devourers.
Planet of Lana Puzzle Adventure Shares Official Release Date
A young girl and her loyal friend embark on a rescue mission through a colorful world full of cold machines and unfamiliar creatures. From Thunderful Publishing comes an epic sci-fi saga that stretches across centuries and galaxies. Players will find themselves on a planet that used to be a place of undisturbed balance between human, nature and animal — but has now becomes something else entirely.
Vampire Survivors Fights its Way to the Small Screen
After tasting delicious victory by winning two BAFTA’s and headlining Vampire Survivors’ DLC releases with a fancy animated trailer, developer poncle confirms the acclaimed comedic-gothic horror game is coming to small screen. Vampire Survivors is getting its very own animated show by Sonic movie producer Dmitri Johnson, and John Wick writer/creator Derek Kolstad. The show will be created by media company Story Kitchen alongside developer poncle.
Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon Surprises with Gameplay Trailer, Release Date
The long wait is over for faithful fans as Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon finally unveils gameplay alongside the title’s official release date. FromSoftware’s paramount IP returns after a decade with new tricks up its sleeve. A new trailer shows off gameplay capabilities as mechs confront each other in a series of battles. From what we can see, it appears a new plot and setting will grace the title as a players must navigate the remote planet of Rubicon 3.
Stop Your Grinnin' and Drop Your Linen for Aliens: Dark Descent
Pre-orders for Aliens: Dark Descent are now open with a thrilling new trailer, featuring an original Alien story. Mostly cinematic, the trailer still gives us a look at the title’s gameplay. The strategic, real-time, squad-based action is set in the Alien universe. Fans of the series will be treated to iconic Xenomorphs and brand new threats. A range of tactical abilities come into play to recruit, level up and command a squad of Colonial Marines.
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Reveals Character Trailer
Disgaea returns from the netherworld this coming Fall 2023. In preparation, NIS America has released a character trailer to show off a new cast of protagonists with localized production. Meet Fuji, Pirilika and the rest of these misfits as they learn a few lessons about honor and redemption. They may not be the best heroes, but their intertwining destinies guide the way.
Review: Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp
The year was 2001 and an all-time great console had just released to a hungry market. The Game Boy Advance was poised to set new records after the Game Boy Color boomed for a decade after introduction. Featuring a bigger screen size, extended battery life and enhanced picture resolution, it would be an exciting time to see what new games would grace the handheld scene. For fans of tactical gameplay, a new title appeared on the horizon that would pave the way for turn-based strategy titles.
Devinder the Cryptid Hunter Joins the Fray in New Redfall Hero Trailer
With Redfall’s release just a couple weeks away, we’re treated to a new Hero Trailer featuring a cryptozoologist on a mission to prove himself. Devinder Crousley wants to show the world that the things imagined can actually be real. An aspiring inventor, Dev is armed with weapons of his own creation. As an important figure in the cryptozoology world, much to his dear old parents’ dismay, Devinder is excited to gather data about the vampire apocalypse phenomenon.
Wild Hearts' Second April Update Introduces New Volatile Kemono, Now Live
The latest free post-launch content update for EA Originals and KOEI TECMO’s hunting game is now live. Introducing a new breed of Volatile Kemono, the Deathhaze Gloombeak, hunters must face the fowl-inspired beast before its toxins take over and destroy Akikure Canyon. After a successful battle, hunters will not only receive the glorious title of “Deathhaze Exorciser”, but will also unlock a new Toxic Shock talisman skill to damage the health of poisoned Kemono.
Ninja Simulation Katana-Ra: Shinobi Rising Releases Next Week
Katana-Ra: Shinobi Rising looks to bring genuine ninja simulation to a Japanese-inspired cyberpunk universe. In Shinobi Rising players assume the role of a young shinobi who is tasked with unraveling a murder mystery and finding the perpetrator responsible for the death of an innocent child heiress. Players have a time limit of eight hours, during which they must decide whether to use stealth, engage in combat, or face a most glorious death.
The Centennial Case Sleuths its Way from Consoles to Mobile
Square Enix announced that The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story, the immersive live-action mystery-adventure game originally released on consoles, will debut next week on mobile devices via the Apple and Google Play Stores. In this haunting murder mystery directed by Koichiro Ito (Metal Gear Solid V) and produced by Junichi Ehara (NieR: Automata), players step into the shoes of mystery writer Haruka Kagami.
KarmaZoo Relishes in its Chaos and Cooperation
It’s often said that death is a feature, not a bug. When we think about death in video games, we may think of something ending. Death can mark the end of a run that was going well. Death means possibly having to start from a previous locati — oh no, when was the last save? Depending on what you’re playing, death can mean significant setbacks. But yes, this is where we come in to say that so much can be gained from death as well.
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