Satire is Just as Important as Pride within the Games Industry

Our next Heroes of the Storm patch has just hit the Public Test Realm and will be available for playtesting. As always, if you encounter any bugs during your PTR play sessions, please stop by the PTR Bug Report forum to let us know about your experien <img src="https://freestocks.org/fs/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/neglected_jade_plant_coming_back_to_life_2-1024x683.jpg"; style="max-width:420px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;" alt="" />Microsoft completed its takeover of Blizzard in October 2023 – right around when these Heroes of the Storm updates began again. While there has been no solid evidence proving a correlation between these two events, fans of the game still hope it could be some indication that Microsoft has plans to revive Heroes of the Storm . While doing so would be a popular and timely decision among the community, players shouldn’t get their hopes up unless Blizzard makes an official announcement about such a development. In the meantime, it seems like fans can take solace in the fact that Heroes of the Storm isn’t truly going away any time s The update also squashed quite a few bugs in Blizzard’s MOBA. Beyond some pathing problems with experience globes, visual effects for rooting, and the interaction between crowd control reduction and gradual slowing effects, nearly three dozen heroes had issues resolved pertaining to their abilities and tale Heroes Brawl, initially introduced as Arena Mode, was a Heroes of the Storm <a href="http://kannikar.net/News/overwatch-gaming-blog/">SLG Game DLC</a> mode introduced in 2016 that featured weekly rotating challenges with drastic changes to the game. Inspired by Hearthstone ’s Tavern Brawls, Heroes Brawls introduced unique map layouts, alternative objectives, and zany rulesets, such as an all-Nova Ghost Protocol sniper duel, action-packed Arena versions of several battlefields, and the Escape from Braxis PvE mission. Unfortunately, due to the popularity of single-lane maps, and the difficulty of maintaining the mode, Heroes Brawl was permanently replaced by ARAM – All Random, All Mid – in 2 In July 2022, Heroes of the Storm officially entered maintenance mode , formally discontinuing any new content from being added to the game. Since then, Blizzard has periodically updated Heroes of the Storm in the form of balance patches, bug fixes, and other similar twe Now, it seems like another such update is on the way. Blizzard revealed a set of patch notes for hero balance and bug fixes that is available to play on the Heroes of the Storm PTR right now. Historically, these updates usually come between three and five weeks before they are implemented into the actual <a href="https://thewholeof.co.uk/profile/JeanNepean">SLG game tips</a>, meaning players can expect these changes to go live in about a mo If you can go out of your way to make something (that could be deduced as) rather bonkers -- knowing full well when and where to walk that perilous line between genuine and forced humour -- you can at least walk away knowing players will credit you with falling into the "they made it even though they didn’t have to" sub-section. And believe me, alongside "surprisingly addictive" mini-games, 2D backgrounds and actual reflective mirrors, humour is another opportune asset that can go a long, long way to appreciating what said game actually stood for at the given time. Away from the regular check-list on what specifically to critique. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a game that's entirely, unapologetically dry, perhaps perceived initially as far from comedy as one can get -- narratively or otherwise. But, ironically, this is why a "one last thing"-type of satire or bit on the side, works far better than when it's already wrestling for attention amidst a game that not for one second takes itself seriously and is instead its own fuel for fun and folly. Even if it is for the intent to promote something else entirely (video game-related or not) I will commend any developer who’s willing, for example, to throw together the good guys, the bad guys and the in-between guys into some surreal comedy skit-meets-daily life send-off to a game’s campaign . Heroes of the Storm has officially rolled out the first update of 2025, featuring some balance changes, bug fixes, and the return of Brawl Mode. Players can enjoy these special game modes on a rotating, biweekly basis in Heroes of the Storm right now, starting with the Lunar Rocket Racing minig Besides the size of this update, the rate at which this Heroes of the Storm update arrived is particularly noteworthy. Since they resumed in 2022, most of these updates have had two to three months between them, and about a month between the patch's arrival on the Public Test Realm and the live release. Not only did this patch arrive faster than usual – less than two months after the last Heroes of the Storm update – but it also came the same month as it hit the PTR. While this could mean nothing, Heroes of the Storm ’s 10-year anniversary is on June 2, leading many fans to wonder if the increased attention could herald something big in store for the MOBA's big milest Rather, there’s a more pressing issue that has become increasingly more important as we enter (or instead, have already entered) a new era of video games that evolves from out its infancy as but a mere medium or a hobby…and transforms into an industry, a business. And that’s self-awareness; the notion that, perfectly fine as it is to show pride, professionalism and posterity as a creator/director/manager/whoever (be it for consumers, audiences or share-holders alike) it’s just as important to take your eye just that little bit out of the epicentre and look beyond the stained-glass windows to your splendid ivory towers. To see how the industry might be perceived-come-translated across to the community. No matter the intensity. Oh yes…there are obviously so many other matters to attend to such as…perhaps…not treating consumer bases like docile piggybanks; not deliberately miscuing information; not letting every nit-picking, social media-sappy, correctness-avid serial complainer dictate the who, what, when & why of your games.