gaming

18 Aug 2023

HHW Gaming: ‘Madden NFL 24’ Sacked With Hilarious Bugs & Glitches

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Madden NFL 24

Source: EA Sports / Madden NFL 24

Most reviews for Madden NFL 24 have not arrived, but the game is already getting sacked by players who have had early access to the game.

Is Madden NFL 24 fumbling the ball already? The annual football video game franchise was already reportedly a “make or break” release for management, according to an Insider Gaming report, and it’s looking like the game is already letting some players down like Matt Ryan constantly did for Atlanta Falcons fans.

Type Madden NFL 24 in the X (formerly Twitter) search bar. In that case, you will be greeted with videos of insane glitches and what is becoming the usual dissatisfaction with the iconic sports video game.

In one clip, a player looks like he dies after celebrating a kick return for a touchdown.

In another hilarious video with the caption “MADDEN 24 JUST GOT RELEASED AND I ALREADY UNINSTALLED”, a player has his pass tipped, and it somehow bounces off the back of one of his offensive linemen leading to a pick 6.

In another video, a player can be seen spinning around in circles after his team scores a touchdown.

And this is supposed to be a more polished game this year.

What Are The Critics Saying?

As of this writing, there are only three reviews on Opencritic. Sam Watanuki of SVG gave Madden NFL 24 a 7 out of 10, writing, “Madden 24″ is an enjoyable, polished ride that will please newcomers and veterans alike, but it doesn’t necessarily deliver a transformative experience.”

XboxEra’s Genghis Husameddin gave the game a 6 out 10 writing in his review, “Madden NFL 24 is made for the returning fans,” adding, “But technical issues compounded with an unintuitive user experience and unhelpful tutorials make it difficult for someone new to the sport to really sink their teeth into American Football. Still, the core gameplay is solid and fun to play—I just wish it were easier to get to.”

So basically, it’s the same old Madden NFL.

Madden NFL 24 has a lot of making-up to do, especially after Madden NFL 23 players lost their connected franchise saves due to an update pushed out by EA Tiburon.

The game developer gave players a 50% discount to ensure no goodwill was strained. Based on these early reactions, it’s looking like Madden NFL 24 is more break than make.

We will be debating forever how to restore Madden to its championship form or if the NFL needs to let 2K get its hands on the NFL license, but as of right now, Madden NFL is all we got.

You can see more reactions to the latest installment in the Madden NFL franchise hit the gallery below.

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Photo: EA Sports / Madden NFL 24

2. Howling

3. Man wanted his money back.

4. What is this?

12.

15 Aug 2023

HHW Gaming: Netflix Is Testing Its Video Games Service On More Devices

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Netflix Is Bringing Its Video Games Service To More Devices

Source: Netflix / Netflix Games

Netflix continues its push to plant itself in the video games market firmly and is now testing its service on more devices.

Two years after the movie streaming giant announced its video games-driven initiative by launching mobile games on its service, Netflix says in a blog post that it will begin testing the service on TVs, PCs, and Macs.

“Our goal has always been to have a game for everyone, and we are working hard to meet members where they are with an accessible, smooth, and ubiquitous service. Today, we’re taking the first step in making games playable on every device where our members enjoy Netflix — TVs, computers, and mobile,” Netflix’s VP of Games, Mike Verdu, said in a blog post.

The blog post also notes that a limited beta test began rolling out to a small number of members in Canada and the UK on August 14 and on PCs and Macs through Netflix.com through supported browsers.

Two Games Will Be Available For Users To Test The Service

As for the games that will be available to play, Verdu says users will be able to play now Netflix Game Studio owned, Night School Studio’s Oxenfree, and Molehew’s Mining Adventure, which the streaming service describes as a “gem-mining arcade game.”

Users can use their smartphones as controllers when playing on TVs, while PC and Mac users can utilize their mouse and keyboards.

Verdu says the beta will serve as the steaming service’s way to work out the kinks as it continues to test its service and controller while improving the member experience.

Verdu notes the company’s initial partners, Amazon Fire TV Streaming Media Players, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, and Walmart ONN will all have devices that Games on TV will work on. New devices will be added, “on an ongoing basis.”

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Photo: Netflix / Netflix Games

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15 Aug 2023

HHW Gaming: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’ Will Be A Premium $70 Release

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'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II' Will Cost $70 At Launch

Source: Activision / Sledgehammer Games / Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

The next installment in the rebooted Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise has a date, and now we know how much it will cost.

Activision is slowly prepping COD fans for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III with teases of the title and recently a reveal trailer teasing the return of notorious villain Makarov and Verdansk location. Insider Gaming reports that Modern Warfare III will also be a premium $70 release when it launches, throwing cold water on the idea that the game will be on a DLC add-on for 2022’s Modern Warfare II.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=C_6J06wdgXY&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Notable Call of Duty reporter, CharlieIntel, confirmed the news from Activision that game will be a premium $70 release.

Per CharlieIntel:

Activision has confirmed that Modern Warfare III is a full premium release and will be priced at $70. There is no upgrade price, and it’s not an expansion. “As stated in numerous Activision Blizzard quarterly conference calls, Modern Warfare III is a premium release. It will be price accordingly at $70 USD,” an Activision spokesperson tells CharlieIntel.

In a follow-up post on X, formerly known as Twitter, CharlieIntel explained why Modern Warfare III is listed as an add-on on Steam, and that is due to all Call of Duty games being added to the Call of Duy HQ app.

Is Call of Duty’s Annual Release Strategy Here To Stay?

Activision’s current plans with Call of Duty are a deviation from the rumored strategy change in releasing Call of Duty games. In January 2022, there were rumblings that Activision would ditch the annual release model for the game after Call of Duty: Vanguard flopped.

It appears following the success of Modern Warfare II, Activision hit the pause button on that strategy and is still sticking with its annual release strategy with the Modern Warfare III coming on November 10.

We will have to see what Activision and Sledgehammer will have in store for us in just two days when the MWIII reveal goes down.

Keep it locked on HHW Gaming for all news on Modern Warfare III.

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Photo: Activision / Sledgehammer Games / Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

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14 Aug 2023

Samsung’s Curved Monitor ‘Brings Videos to Life’ & Is Currently 32% Off on Amazon

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If you work from home and/or are an avid gamer, the tech you use can impact how you get your work done. New tech isn’t cheap though, and you don’t always have a spare $200 to drop on a new computer monitor or laptop. Thankfully, there’s an Amazon deal on a new Samsung monitor you’ll want to race over to. The Samsung Curved Monitor is currently 32% off marking it down to $149.99 (regularly $219.99).

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Unlike traditional computer monitors, this curved design will help give you a wider view of graphics using a panoramic screen design. Gamers can enjoy a more immersive experience as the screen aims to curve around you. One reviewer even went as far as to say the digital display “brings videos to life” it’s so crisp.

Keep reading to shop the Samsung monitor deal below.

black curved monitor with screen saver

Amazon

Samsung Curved Computer Monitor

$149.99 $219.99 32% OFF

Save 32% on the Samsung Curved Computer Monitor and enjoy features such as a 27-inch screen that provides a panoramic view. It comes with “eye saver mode,” which will help reduce blue light emission and is made with a 3000:1 contrast ratio to bring you deep black and bright white shades when relevant. Looking to save energy? The model includes energy-saving mode to reduce how much output you’re using in a sitting.

Amazon has also given it a 4.6-star rating with over 15,000 shoppers rating it five-stars. One shopper has even described their gaming experience as “immaculate” since incorporating it into their computer setup as the video display is that good.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best speakers, Xbox deals and over-ear headphones.

04 Aug 2023

Sony Announces Price Reduction For PlayStation 5 Console

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PS5 Cover Plates & DualSense Controllers

Source: PlayStation

One of the most popular gaming systems ever has just become a bit more affordable. Sony has announced a price reduction for the PlayStation 5. 

As spotted on HypeBeast Sony has dropped the ticket on the PlayStation 5. While the savings are only about 50 dollars this marks the first price cut in the console’s history. Starting this week the PS5 is priced at $459.99 at GameStop; but Pro Members can get an extra discount of $23 dollars via their membership benefits. Additionally, the system is available at Monoprice for $449.99.

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This news comes to the gaming community as a welcomed surprised as inventory on the PlayStation 5 was very limited due to global chip shortage in 2020 and just started becoming more available at the beginning of 2023. Since its release  Sony estimates they have sold over 40 million units. The PS5 has been generally well received by critics for its performance and design. Additionally, the DualSense controllers are widely regarded as the best controller ever.

Back in May the Sony PlayStation 5 Project Q was announced as the consoles handheld counterpart. The Project Q features an 8 inch LCD HD screen and with DualSense controllers on each side. This device will allow users to stream their PlayStation 5 games while on the go. “Later this year, we will launch a dedicated device that enables you to stream any game from your PS5 console, using remote play over Wi-Fi,” said Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment said at the time of the announcement.

It is unclear if the PlayStation 5 will remain discounted or if other retailers will also sell the console at the new price. Currently several mass merchant chains including Target are still selling the system for $499.99.

Photo: Sony

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21 Jul 2023

HHW Gaming: Patrick Mahomes Is The Final NFL Superstar With A 99 Overall Rating In ‘Madden NFL 24’

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Super Bowl LVII - Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles

Source: Cooper Neill / Getty / Patrick Mahomes

If you had Patrick Mahomes joining Madden NFL 24’s 99 overall rating club, pat yourself on the back because you were absolutely correct.

Friday, EA announced that Patrick Mahomes is the final NFL superstar joining the 99 overall rating club in Madden NFL 24. This selection will be Mahomes third, tying him with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Shockingly Mahomes is the only quarterback joining the club, with Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow with a 95 rating.

Mahomes joins Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin, and his teammate’s favorite target Travis Kelce.

EA also released the full list of the top-rated Quarterbacks and Linebackers in the game.

Quarterbacks                                                                          Linebackers

  1. Patrick Mahomes 99                                                 1. Fred Warner 96
  2. Joe Burrow        95                                                    2. Roquan Smith 92
  3. Josh Allen           94                                                    3. Lavonte David 91
  4. Lamar Jackson   91                                                    4. Haason Reddick 90
  5. Jalen Hurts         88                                                    5. Demario Davis 90
  6. Justin Herbert   87                                                    6. Bobby Wagner 89
  7. Dak Prescott      87                                                    7. Matt Milano  88
  8. Aaron Rodgers  86                                                    8. Nick Bolton    87
  9. Kirk Cousins       84                                                    9. Tremaine Edmunds 87
  10. Tua Tagovailoa  83                                                    10. Shaquille Leonard 86

Jalen Hurts Should Be Very Upset

We’re shocked to see Jalen Hurts come in with an 88 rating, at Aaron Rodgers sitting at an 86 overall rating, falling out of the 90s club.

We won’t be surprised if actual NFL players look at these ratings in disgust and are mad that they did not get a 99 overall rating in Madden NFL 24.

Welp.

Madden NFL 24 arrives on August 15. ESPN and Madden NFL are releasing the full ratings in an hour-long special this Sunday, July 23, at 1 p.m. ET, hosted by Field Yates, Dan Orlovksy, Mina Kimes, and Louis Riddick.

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Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty

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20 Jul 2023

HHW Gaming: No Surprise, Chiefs’ Tight End Travis Kelce Is Back In The Madden 99 Overall Club

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Chiefs' Travis Kelce Earns 4th Madden 99 Overall Rating

Source: Christian Petersen / Getty / Travis Kelce

We called it, Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce is back in the Madden 99 Overall Rating club.

EA continues to roll out Madden NFL 24 ratings highlighting the highest-rated superstars by their dominant positions.

Travis Kelce is the latest player to have the honor of being in the Madden 99 Overall rating club, joining Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Rams All-Pro defensive lineman plus current record hold Aaron Donald and Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin, the first guard in the 99 club since Cowboys’ Larry Allen made in Madden 2003.

For Kelce, this is his fourth selection to the Madden 99 Club, and he currently holds the record for tight ends. Along with the Kelce news, EA also dropped the top 10 lists for highest-rated tight ends, including Kelce and cornerbacks in the game.

Cornerbacks                                                                            Tight Ends

  1. Jalen Ramsey     97                                                   1. Travis Kelce 99
  2. Jaire Alexander 95                                                      2. George Kittle 96
  3. Patrick Surtain II 94                                                    3. Mark Andrews 95
  4. Sauce Gardner  93                                                     4. T.J. Hockenson 90
  5. Marlon Humphrey 93                                                  5. Dallas Goedert 89
  6. Darius Slay          92                                                   6. Kyle Pitts 87
  7. Stephon Gilmore  91                                                    7. Darren Waller 86
  8. Marshon Lattimore 90                                                 8. Pat Freiermuth 85
  9. Tre’Davious White 90                                                  9. David Njoku   84
  10. Denzel Ward 88                                                         10. Evan Engram 84

The Top 10 Running Backs & Offensive Linemen

Yesterday, the company did the same with guards and running backs who surprisingly won’t have a representative in the Madden 99 Club, which adds to the current disrespect of the NFL running back. Browns running back Nick Chubb comes the closest with a 97 overall rating.

Running Backs                                                                        Offensive Linemen

  1. Nick Chubb        97                                                    1. Zack Martin 99
  2. Christian McCaffrey 96                                              2. Trent Williams 98
  3. Josh Jacobs        95                                                   3. Lane Johnson 98
  4. Derrick Henry    94                                                    4. Laremy Tunsil  95
  5. Saquon Barkley 93                                                    5. Chris Lindstrom 93
  6. Dalvin Cook       91                                                    6. Joel Bitonio 92
  7. Austin Ekeler     89                                                    7. Tristan Wirfs 92
  8. Jonathan Taylor 89                                                    8. Quenton Nelson 92
  9. Tony Pollard      88                                                    9. Jason Kelce 92
  10. Aaron Jones      88                                                  10. Andrew Thomas 92

Which Quarterbacks Will Land In Madden NFL 24’s 99 Club?

We believe EA is saving the best for last, which is quarterbacks, and again we think there is a good chance we might see two or maybe three QBs in the Madden 99 Overall club in Madden NFL 24.

Will Kelce’s teammate Patrick Mahomes make it again, will Madden NFL 24’s cover athlete Josh Allen or Eagles phenom Jalen Hurts earn their first 99 overall rating?

We shall see in the coming days.

Madden NFL 24 arrives on August 15.



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Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty

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10 Jul 2023

HHW Gaming: Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Game From New EA Studio Cliffhanger Games Confirmed

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'Black Panther' Game From EA/Cliffhanger Games Confirmed

Source: EA/ Cliffhanger Games / Black Panther

It’s official, de Bleck Pantha is getting his own standalone video game.

Wakanda Forever!

On the heels of the 57th anniversary of the Black Panther’s Marvel Comics’ debut, Monday, July 10, Cliffhanger Games, a new studio, is working on a third-person video game for the iconic superhero.

Reports of T’Challa’s standalone video game adventure first hit the internet in July 2022. Now we know the new triple-A development studio based in Seattle is up to delivering a Black Panther video game that will hopefully be up in the ranks with other Marvel video games like Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and criminally slept on Guardians of The Galaxy.

Per Marvel, the studio’s mission “is to build an expansive and reactive world that empowers players to experience what it is like to take on the mantle of Wakanda’s protector, the Black Panther.”

Development on the game will be led by Kevin Stephens (Monolith Productions), with a team full of talent who worked on popular titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Halo Infinite, God of War, Call of Duty, and others.

“We’re dedicated to delivering fans a definitive and authentic Black Panther experience, giving them more agency and control over their narrative than they have ever experienced in a story-driven video game. Wakanda is a rich Super Hero sandbox, and our mission is to develop an epic world for players who love Black Panther and want to explore the world of Wakanda as much as we do,” said Stephens.

Cliffhanger Games & Marvel Are Working Closely Together On Black Panther

When it comes to comic book IP, fans are demanding to please because they expect either the movies, original series, or games to meet the standards of the comics.

Smith ensures they will hit that mark, confirming Cliffhanger Games and Marvel have been working closely together on the game, stating “to ensure that we craft every aspect of Wakanda, its technology, its heroes, and our own original story with the attention to detail and authenticity that the world of Black Panther deserves.”

He continues, “It’s an incredibly rare opportunity to build a new team around the values of diversity, collaboration, and empowerment,” said Kevin. “We want our game to enable players to feel what it’s like to be worthy of the Black Panther mantle in unique, story-driven ways, and we want Cliffhanger Games to empower everyone on our team as we collaborate to bring this amazing world to life.”

Reception To The News

Unsurprisingly, fans are happy to hear about Black Panther officially getting a video game. Take that superhero fatigue. We got a taste of what it’s like to control King T’Challa in Crystal Dynamic’s disappointing Marvel’s Avengers in a well-received War For Wakanda expansion.

There is also the news of the mysterious Captain America and Black Panther video game.

If we have any concerns, we want to see all of the Black and Brown video game development talent working on this title, and it’s only fitting. Now when it comes to that, the pickings are slim. We know that we are not naive, but they are out there, and to see concerted effort would be very much appreciated.

So far, it looks like Cliffhanger Games is on the right track. Jercye Dianingana, a 3D Senior Environment Artist II at Cliffhanger Games, was happy to reveal he was working on the Black Panther game.

We love to see it because we are rooting for everyone Black. ALWAYS!

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

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Photo: EA/ Cliffhanger Games / Black Panther

2. Let’s gooooo

4. The deets

5. This better not be the case

6. We all are.

07 Jul 2023

NBA 2K24: How to Preorder the Kobe Bryant Edition of the New Game

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2K is celebrating its 25th anniversary by unveiling its latest edition of the popular NBA gaming series — and it’s officially available for preorder. The new NBA 2K24 will not only feature a slam dunk-worthy lineup of players to choose from, but comes in multiple covers, including two with the legendary Kobe Bryant on front, which you can collect.

Four editions of the game were made for consoles including PS5, PS4, Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch and PC. You can collect or choose between the Black Mamba version or Kobe Bryant edition of the game, which will feature past and current-gen versions of the game.

Pricing will defer depending on the console and version of the game you choose.

Keep reading to preorder the game and ensure you have a copy by the time it’s released.

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NBA 2K24 – Kobe Bryant Edition

$From $59.99

The Kobe Bryant edition will have you go back to the athlete’s early career days and work your way up to stardom level. Card-collecting mode has returned, which comes with hours of customizable options. The Kobe Bryant edition only comes with the base game with the option to purchase the past-gen or current-gen version of the game.

purple and yellow video game cover with photo of Kobe Bryant

GameStop

NBA 2K24 – Black Mamba Edition

$99.99

The Black Mamba version comes with the same base game as the Kobe Bryant edition, but will have additional bonuses including 100K VC, 15K MyTEAM points, 2K24 starting five draft box with three option packs, 10 box MyTEAM promo packs, a cover star sapphire card, on diamond shoe, 2-hour double XP coin and more.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom merch, tech deals from Walmart and over-ear headphones.

22 Jun 2023

Gaming Accessories: Nintendo’s New Pastel Switch Controllers Will Have You Playing in Style

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Nintendo wants you to kick off your summer gaming with some chic new pastel Switch Joy-Con controllers. The new accessories will be released June 30, but for those too excited to wait, you can preorder them on Amazon right now for $79.99.

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Not only will the colorful controllers pair well with Legend of Zelda merch, but it also expands your customization options. Whether you’re a fan of vibrant shades or want to sport some soft hues this season, the new colorway will give you just that. The new controlelrs comes in two color options: pastel purple and green or pastel yellow and pink.

It’s already garnered attention from Amazon, gaining the label of No. 1 new release for Nintendo Switch controllers. You can also snag it from other Nintendo retailers including Best Buy, GameStop and Target. With how popular Nintendo Switch is, we wouldn’t be surprised if the pastel controllers sell out quickly. To ensure it’s delivered to you the moment it’s released, preordering is typically the safest bet.

Keep reading to see how to preorder your own.

pastel purple and green Nintendo Switch Joy-Con with black wrist straps

Amazon

Click on the buy button to have the new pastel Joy-Con controllers delivered straight to you once June 30 hits. The graphics on your Nintendo Switch games don’t have to be the only colorful things you look at, and thanks to these soft shades, you can add some style to your gaming. It features the classic Joy-Con controllers, including advanced vibrations for the ultimate gaming experience and two black wrist straps to keep them secure.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best over-ear headphones, portable phone chargers and cameras for music videos.