James Batchelor

Today is the last day of #BulletHeaveFest, a celebration of relentless action games where YOU drive the chaos.

Be sure to check out the full line-up -- including @TuataraGames.com's Let Them Come: Onslaught -- right here: store.steampowered.com/sale/BulletH...

I’m leaving MCV/DEVELOP in the new year, which means that I’m available for work!

If you need:

- Narrative / Game Design
- Screenwriting or Comic Scripts
- News
- Reviews
- Interviews
- Features
- Mock Reviews & Consultancy

… or anything else we offer over at hologramghost.com, please hit me up!

My son borrows/demands my phone on a daily basis so he can have battle music as he plays with his toys. No surprise, then, that he's completely derailed my Nintendo Music Review 2025 (I'm just surprised it's as low as 70 hours!)

Oh I do! And Scrat's Nutty Adventure is actually a pretty good game. Just not to the point where I want to pour 10+ hours into it every year for the past six years.

Wondering if there will ever be a year where my son doesn't completely derail my PlayStation Wrap-up (or, indeed, any console end-of-year stats).

At least I managed to keep his games out of the Top 2 this year

I shan't vote on my own company's post, but the Proton Lance is pretty cool - especially when fully upgraded!

We're never getting The Elder Scrolls 6, are we?

Definitely getting a sense of overwhelm. The various menus, skill trees and so on don't feel particularly intuitive. I wonder if I'd enjoy it more just exploring - doesn't feel like I've done much of that yet

Three hours into Where Winds Meet, mainly on main quests, and I'm in that weird position of not hating but not knowing if I like it enough to continue. It plays well, looks great, and I love that I can solo it - but it's not exciting me, and I wish it wasn't an MMO at heart.

an older man wearing a white shirt and a grey jacket looks at the camera ALT: an older man wearing a white shirt and a grey jacket looks at the camera

Right there with you

Funnily enough, this is how I learned about it! Just amazed the same concept keeps resurfacing (at least twice since 2003) as if it's a novel one. Also surprised Sony hasn't revived EyeToy!

Genuinely depressing how much this excites me

Trying to explain Superman to the kids. Said he's weak to only one thing, and they started guessing.

Daughter: "A bomb?" Us: No
Son: "Water? Us: No
Daughter: "Custard!"

Only just learned what a Nex Playground is (www.nexplayground.com). Wonder how many times the industry is going to go through these 'like EyeToy but new' moments?

And follow @digitalbandidos.bsky.social while you're at it. Makes my job a little easier!

And, as @ultrabrilliant.xyz said earlier, release the Nemesis patent! I want demogorgons (or enemies in other games) to remember me killing them / them killing me

The former B2B journalist in me is intrigued by this development, but unsure it means much for the AAA games industry

The consumer in me demands classic WB stuff (Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, etc) is quickly added to Netflix, and a Hogwarts Legacy-scale Stranger Things game

I suspect I'll be roping my children into playtesting a lot of games in the coming years 😜

You will never get that back

Still so tempted by Metroid Prime 4. Been itching for a new MP since 2007, the videos are so good, and the reviews are more positive than I expected - esp. @loganjplant.bsky.social's after his NVC discussion about the companions. How are people finding it?

🔫 The third Bullet Heaven Festival, hosted by Human Qube & Erabit Studios, has begun on Steam! 🔫

If you love this genre as much as the Bandidos do, check out this year's featured games below (and yes, naturally, it includes Let Them Come Onslaught)

store.steampowered.com/sale/BulletH...

I love this game. Really hope you all try it out.

I always learn so much from watching Thomas play

Happy #WishlistWednesday, amigos! What's the latest game you added to your list?

Don't forget! The @TuataraGames.com team will be sharing their secrets, tricks and tips for using Unreal Engine 5 during today's Epic For Indies: Office Hours at 12pm ET. Join in via the Unreal Engine Discord: discord.com/events/12806...

Soulstone Survivors Update 1.4: The Glacial Watcher is now live on PS5 and Xbox. Enter the solemn Peaks of Lament and grapple with new titan Aynixle, the Glacial Watcher. Forge new Legendary Weapons and mix up your builds with new power-ups.

Full details: store.steampowered.com/news/app/206...

UMAMI

Cosy 3D puzzle game about fitting wooden blocks together to create statues of delicious, towering food

[ PC / 2025 / @mimmox.bsky.social ]

mimmox.com

FROGGY HATES SNOW on Steam A survival roguelike where a frog digs through freezing snow, uncovers treasures, unlocks upgrades, and battles mystical creatures. Find the escape door — or defeat the final boss to survive.

"O the monsters outside are frightful
But this flamethrower's quite delightful
My warmth meter's running low
I hate snow, I hate snow, I hate snow"

Prepare for the chills & thrills of our upcoming survival roguelike Froggy Hates Snow. Play the demo today
🐸 store.steampowered.com/app/3232380/...

Sounds like you'd be better off with Prime Remastered. Haven't played it myself (yet), but the original had a structure and atmosphere all subsequent Primes never quite recreated for me

Curious to know how our friends at @TuataraGames.com created one of the most gruesome and best-looking games in the genre? Check out this Unreal Blog post by the team's Alex Underhill, who shares the secrets behind many of the game's coolest & bloodiest effects
www.unrealengine.com/en-US/tech-b...