Category Archives: Consoles

Consoles, News

Atari is Releasing a Long-Lost Console Game that Resurfaced after 30 Years

Atari is coming out with “Save Mary,” the latest addition to their limited-edition Atari XP series featuring actual 2600 cartridges. These cartridges are newly produced in the United States using high-quality materials and rigorous manufacturing standards. Although “Save Mary” isn’t the first game to be rescued from the pile of cancelled late-stage 2600 games, it follows the release of “Mr. Run and Jump” earlier this year.

The gameplay of “Save Mary” revolves around constructing a platform for the character Mary to escape a flooding canyon. The game was highly anticipated during its development and even received praise from Atari founder Nolan Bushnell in a 1989 interview with Atarian, an Atari-focused magazine.

In the interview, Bushnell mentioned, “Then there’s one called ‘Saving [sic] Mary’ which I really like. It is the first game in which you rely on construction rather than destruction to save the princess. You build towers at the base of a river gorge to keep Mary out of the water, which is constantly rising. You have an unlimited supply of building materials, but you can lose a life by either squashing Mary with a piece of building material or building so slowly that you fail to get her out of the water and she drowns. The guilt you feel is tremendous.”

Interestingly, “Save Mary” has been available to the public as a ROM dump for many years since prototype cartridges were discovered in 1997.

Consoles, Gaming Accessories

Is It Safe To Use Skins On The Nintendo Switch?

Using skins on the Nintendo Switch should now be safe, despite past issues in 2017. Companies have become more aware of the problems with the finish on the plastics used and have developed adhesive mixtures that solve this problem. Even Dbrand, a skin manufacturer, has released several skins for the Switch that promise to leave no residue behind when removed.

However, it is still advisable to research the adhesive skins and the companies that produce them before purchasing and applying them to your console. Read customer reviews, both positive and negative, and check the item description to ensure that it explicitly states the skin is safe to remove. Be cautious of extremely low-priced products that may seem too good to be true. If you do remove a skin that leaves residue, make sure to clean your Switch using the recommended methods.

Consoles

How To Use Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons To Control Your Phone’s Camera

Person holding Joy-Con controllers Chesnot/Getty Images

It’s always convenient when the many portable devices we use on a daily basis interact with and complement each other. Fitness apps on a smartphone and a smart watch, for instance, are just one very logical and natural pairing. More outlandishly, though, the Nintendo Switch’s small but mighty Joy-Con controller can serve as a controller for something else: your smartphone’s camera.

If you’ve ever tried to use your camera’s timer feature and then rushed into a group shot, only to get questionable results, you’ll appreciate this rather obscure functionality of the Joy-Con. Here’s how it works.

In September 2021, Bluetooth audio was added to the Nintendo Switch for connecting headphones. However, months prior to that, a Reddit user named Byotan showcased the Bluetooth functionality that the system already had. It’s a niche feature but impressive nonetheless.

In Byotan’s demonstration, a single Joy-Con is used (via the “A” button) to activate the shutter of an Android phone’s camera, which is set up on a stand at a short distance. You can easily set this up for yourself too.

Android and Bluetooth Versatility Strikes Again

person taking photo smartphone Martin-dm/Getty Images

Here’s how to set up your Joy-Cons for remote photography on an Android device:

  1. Open your Android smartphone’s Bluetooth settings.

  2. Press the Sync button on your Joy-Con. It’s the small circular button between the SL and SR buttons. The indicator will quickly cycle through the player positions, indicating that the Joy-Con is searching for a Bluetooth device to pair to.

  3. On your smartphone, you should see either Joy-Con R or Joy-Con L (depending on whether you’re using the right or left Joy-Con) in the Available Devices list. Tap it, and your Android will start pairing with the Joy-Con automatically. If you’re connecting both Joy-Con, repeat this process for the second one.

  4. Open your smartphone’s camera app.

With the connection set up like this, pressing up on the D-Pad (left Joy-Con) or the A or B buttons (right Joy-Con) will take a photo on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, while pressing down on the D-Pad (left Joy-Con) or the X button (right Joy-Con) will close the camera app.

The specific functionality may vary depending on your device (for example, pressing A on the right Joy-Con will take a photo on a Pixel device), and the easiest way to utilize it is to configure the photo settings to your preferences using the app as usual first, and then experiment with the Joy-Con buttons afterwards. With their movement-tracking capabilities, the Joy-Cons are very capable little controllers.

Consoles

How To Transfer Screenshots From Your Nintendo Switch To Your Phone

Unlike many other devices, the Nintendo Switch doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app for transferring content. Instead, it uses a traditional method of creating a wireless connection. This may feel familiar if you’ve ever used a digital camera with wireless transfer support. Basically, the Nintendo Switch broadcasts its own wireless signal like a Wi-Fi hotspot, and your smartphone connects to it just like it would connect to a Wi-Fi network. This allows your phone to directly access the files you want to transfer. To begin the process, follow these steps:

  1. Turn on your Nintendo Switch.
  2. Go to the Home screen.
  3. Select Album from the list of icons below the game thumbnails.
  4. Press the A button to choose the screenshot you want to transfer.
  5. Press the A button again to open the Sharing and Editing menu.
  6. Scroll down and select Send to Smartphone.
  7. Select Only This One if you want to transfer only the selected screenshot.
  8. Select Send a Batch if you want to transfer multiple screenshots.

If you choose the Send a Batch option, you’ll be taken back to the Album app, where you’ll need to manually select each screenshot you want to transfer. Keep in mind that Nintendo allows up to 10 screenshots and one video to be transferred in a wireless batch. If you want to transfer more than that, you might want to consider using a flash drive or connecting your Nintendo Switch directly to a computer using a USB cable.

Consoles

What We Know About the Leaked New Xbox Series X Console

Recently, there has been a leak revealing some interesting details about the new Xbox Series X console. One of the most exciting findings is the introduction of the Xbox Universal Controller. Microsoft plans to make it the centerpiece of its gaming brand, allowing it to be used across various devices. While it bears a resemblance to the current controllers, there are a few notable changes.

The first noticeable difference is the two-tone design, which sets it apart from the standard design available now. It will also come with built-in support for Xbox Wireless 2 and Bluetooth 5.2. Additionally, the leaked documents indicate that the Xbox Universal Controller will feature haptic feedback, similar to the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller. It will also have modular thumbsticks for customization and a rechargeable battery pack.

The controller will have an accelerometer, allowing it to detect movement and turn on automatically when picked up. Moreover, its modular design aims to make repair and disassembly easier, making it a more durable controller. Furthermore, a dedicated app will provide users with a simple way to pair and sync the accessory with multiple devices.

Consoles

How To Get a Refund for PS5 Games on the PlayStation Store

If you meet certain criteria, such as owning a game for less than two weeks and not having downloaded or played it, you can request a refund for PS5 games on the PlayStation Store. However, even if you have played the game, you can still try for a refund, although it’s less likely that you’ll get your money back. It’s important to note that meeting the criteria does not guarantee a refund. If you’re ready to begin the refund process, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your PlayStation account on the official PlayStation Store website.

2. Go to the “Help” section and select “Contact Us.”

3. Choose the option for “Refunds” and select “Begin the refund process.”

4. Fill out the necessary information, including the game title, date of purchase, and reason for the refund request.

5. Submit the refund request and wait for a response from PlayStation support. They will review your request and decide whether or not to grant a refund.

It’s important to manage your expectations when it comes to refunds from PlayStation. While they famously offered refunds for “Cyberpunk 2077” when the game was removed from the store, this situation is not the norm. PlayStation is known for being one of the more challenging platforms to obtain a refund from. If you’re using the refund process as a way to test out a game before committing to it, be aware that obtaining a refund may not be easy.

If the game you purchased has widespread issues on the PS5 and is known to have trouble running, you may have a better chance at getting a refund. If a refund is granted, the money will be returned to your original payment method if possible; otherwise, it will be added to your PlayStation wallet.

Consoles, Gaming Accessories

How To Use Amiibo With Your Nintendo Switch

Amiibo figures have NFC chips built into their base, allowing them to be scanned by your Switch controller when they are nearby. The data on these chips is read, and if it’s compatible with the game you’re playing, you’ll unlock various content and features.Learn more.

The use of an Amiibo figure can vary depending on which character it represents and the game you’re playing. For example, if you’re playing “Splatoon 3” and scan a “Splatoon” series Amiibo, you can unlock special gear items that are otherwise unobtainable. If you’re playing “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” and scan a “Zelda” series Amiibo, you may receive helpful items or unique armor sets.

In certain games, like “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” you can also use Amiibo figures to save player data and preferences, transferring them to another Switch console. This feature is particularly useful when playing at a friend’s house.

The general rule for Amiibos is that if the character isn’t from the game you’re playing, the figure will either have no effect or a generic effect. For example, scanning a “Splatoon” Amiibo in “Tears of the Kingdom” would only yield some generic food items. While still helpful, it is not as exciting as unlocking game-specific content.

Consoles, News

Nintendo Switch Achieves Impressive Sales Milestone in the US

Nintendo’s success in sales is noteworthy for multiple reasons. The price of AAA video games has consistently risen since 2000, as stated by ArsTechnica. Additionally, Nintendo games tend to be quite expensive. Even remastered versions of old games like The Legend of Zelda: Skyward cost a hefty $60.

The “Switch Tax” is a well-known phenomenon within Nintendo’s gaming ecosystem. One argument is that developers must invest significant effort and resources to adapt their games for Nintendo’s platform, yet the company charges a premium for its first-party games, capitalizing on the nostalgia associated with franchises like Zelda and Mario. Despite these financial challenges, Nintendo games and Switch consoles continue to sell exceptionally well.

According to the Games Industry Biz, the Switch has maintained strong performance in 2023, thanks to the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, Nintendo benefits from a hardware cost advantage. The Switch Lite starts at only $199 and is ready to use at that price. Comparatively, the Xbox Series S starts at $249, but an additional expenditure is required for a screen to play games, while the PlayStation 5 starts at $400 for the digital-only version, also requiring extra purchases for peripherals.