Polygon Minimap

Here's what we're covering today in your daily audio tour through the world of video games, related technologies and pop culture like comics, movies and TV.

### THE BIG STORIES

- Metal Gear Online PC leaves beta, officially launches (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/19/10789750/metal-gear-online-pc-official-launch-date)

- Microsoft acquires teachers' version of Minecraft, will launch Minecraft: Education Edition (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/19/10789532/minecraftedu-teachers-edition-minecraft-microsoft-education-edition)

- New features in Xbox One Preview hint at what's to come later (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/19/10790270/xbox-one-dashboard-new-features-preview)

- Voice of NCAA Football game rips former player whose lawsuit ended the series (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/19/10788858/ncaa-football-cancelled-kirk-herbstreit-ed-obannon)

- Rise of the Tomb Raider director departs for Infinity Ward (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/16/10779994/rise-of-the-tomb-raider-director-departs-for-infinity-ward)

- Rise of the Tomb Raider's Baba Yaga DLC launches next week (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/19/10788120/rise-of-the-tomb-raider-dlc-baba-yaga-release-date)

- Supreme Court will hear Xbox 360 disc-scratching case (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/16/10779014/xbox-360-disc-scratching-lawsuit-supreme-court-class-action)r

### THE BEST OF THE REST

- Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster review (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/19/10787542/resident-evil-0-hd-remaster-review-xbox-one-ps4-playstation-4-pc-360-3-ps3)

- Here are the Polygon team's five most anticipated games for 2016 (http://www.polygon.com/features/2016/1/19/10776102/most-anticipated-games-of-2016)

### BECOME A MINIMAPPER

We'd love to count you as a daily Minimap listener. You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you like with these handy links:

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Here's what we're covering today in your daily audio tour through the world of video games, related technologies and pop culture like comics, movies and TV.

### THE BIG STORIES

- Call of Duty surpasses 250 million games sold worldwide (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10773162/call-of-duty-surpasses-250-million-games-sold-worldwide)

- You can download John Romero's first new Doom level in 21 years right now (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/15/10776094/john-romero-doom-level-free-download)

- The Force Awakens' Poe is getting his own comic and it looks great (http://www.polygon.com/comics/2016/1/14/10772346/star-wars-marvel-poe-dameron-comic)

- The Division's long-delayed beta kicks off Jan. 28 (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/15/10775242/the-division-beta-release-date-xbox-one-ps4-pc)

- Pokkén Tournament launches in North America in March (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/15/10775136/pokken-tournament-release-date-north-america)

- Arrow, The Flash and more may be pulled from Netflix in new CW deal (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10772694/arrow-the-flash-and-more-may-be-pulled-from-netflix-in-new-cw-deal)

### THE BEST OF THE REST

- The complete guide to virtual reality in 2016 (so far) (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/15/10772026/virtual-reality-guide-oculus-google-cardboard-gear-vr)

- Best mechanical keyboards Updated: January 2016 (http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/23/7372837/mechanical-keyboards)

- Oxenfree review (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/15/10774358/oxenfree-review-xbox-one-pc)

- King's Quest: Rubble Without a Cause review (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/15/10772542/kings-quest-chapter-2-review-xbox-one-ps4-pc)

- Let's see what else Shovel Knight can scan through in Griffin's amiibo Corner (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/15/10775512/griffins-amiibo-corner-shovel-knight)

- First teaser for Fuller House has arrived (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/15/10775976/first-teaser-for-fuller-house-has-arrived)

Here's what we're covering today in your daily audio tour through the world of video games, related technologies and pop culture like comics, movies and TV.

### THE BIG STORIES

- Hitman changes release structure again, now 'fully episodic' (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10770628/hitman-dlc-fully-episodic)

- Hearthstone dev opens up about content updates and improving communication (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10769580/hearthstone-ben-brode-content-updates-blizzard-video)

- Netflix to shut d own proxy and 'unblocker' services (http://www.polygon.com/polygon_entries/preview/10534433)

- Xbox Live members can test out EA Access for free next week (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10771710/xbox-live-ea-access-free-trial)

- Gaming Kickstarters raised $144.4M in 2015, 62 percent more than 2014 (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10768490/kickstarter-games-stats-2015-tabletop-video)

### THE BEST OF THE REST

- We made a livestream, ignored the press and created a successful indie game launch (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10767458/we-made-a-livestream-ignored-the-press-and-created-a-successful-indie)

- Humble Bundle's latest collects FMV favorites for cheap (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10769810/humble-bundles-weekly-bundle-fmv)

- Monster Factory: Using Black Desert Online's powerful customization tools for pure evil (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/14/10768682/monster-factory-black-desert-online-bart-simpson)

### BECOME A MINIMAPPER

We'd love to count you as a daily Minimap listener. You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you like with these handy links we've corralled for you:

- iTunes (http://itunes.com/minimap)

- Your podcast player of choice with RSS (http://feeds.feedburner.com/PolygonMinimapDaily)

- SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/polygon-minimap)

- Polygon (http://polygon.com/minimap)

Here's what we're covering today in your daily audio tour through the world of video games, related technologies and pop culture like comics, movies and TV.

### THE BIG STORIES

- Desert Bus 2.0 coming to Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR, Penn Jillette says (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10756876/desert-bus-2-vr-oculus-rift-playstation-vr-penn-jillette)

- Activision hires longtime Tarantino producer to co-lead TV and film division (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/13/10759200/activision-blizzard-studios-hires-producer-stacey-sher)

- Marvel's 'Dead No More' teases a major character returning to life (http://www.polygon.com/comics/2016/1/12/10758062/marvel-dead-no-more-character-back-to-life-death-comics)

- Square Enix cancels Hitman pre-orders on PlayStation Store, says 'don't panic' (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/13/10763540/hitman-ps4-pre-order-canceled-square-enix)

### THE BEST OF THE REST

- Best gaming mice (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10749026/best-gaming-mouse-2016)

- Don't let the game fool you (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10236186/dont-let-the-game-fool-you-disney-infiity-and-skylanders-are-the-best)

- Touring the living remains of an 11-year-old MMO (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/13/10756650/everquest-2-weekend-free-to-play-mmo-sony-online-entertainment-daybreak)

We'd love to count you as a daily Minimap listener. You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you like with these handy links we've corralled for you:

- iTunes (http://itunes.com/minimap)

- Your podcast player of choice with RSS (http://feeds.feedburner.com/PolygonMinimapDaily)

- SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/polygon-minimap)

- Polygon (http://polygon.com/minimap)

Here's what we're covering today in your daily audio tour through the world of video games, related technologies and pop culture like comics, movies and TV.

### THE BIG STORIES

- Pokémon celebrates its 20th anniversary with a New Nintendo 3DS bundle this February (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10754140/pokemon-new-nintendo-3ds-red-blue-yellow)

- Psychonauts 2 takes place mere hours after the first game (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10751654/psychonauts-2-plot-details-tim-schafer-reddit)

- Report: Steam Winter Sale grossed twice as much as Summer Sale (update) (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10750106/steamspy-steam-winter-sale-2015-data)

- Amazon Prime members now get 20 percent off game pre-orders and new releases (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10754962/amazon-prime-deal-pre-orders-new-releases)

- Sony's attempt to trademark 'Let's Play' is refused by the U.S. (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10754130/lets-play-trademark-sony)

- Homefront: The Revolution coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC in May (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10752330/homefront-2-release-date)

### THE BEST OF THE REST

- Best gaming mice (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10749026/best-gaming-mouse-2016)

- Don't let the game fool you (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/12/10236186/dont-let-the-game-fool-you-disney-infiity-and-skylanders-are-the-best)

- Bloodborne player beats the game without dodging (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10751898/bloodborne-player-beats-the-game-without-dodging)

We'd love to count you as a daily Minimap listener. You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you like with these handy links we've corralled for you:

- iTunes (http://itunes.com/minimap)

- Your podcast player of choice with RSS (http://feeds.feedburner.com/PolygonMinimapDaily)

- SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/polygon-minimap)

- Polygon (http://polygon.com/minimap)

Here's what we're covering today in your daily audio tour through the world of video games, related technologies and pop culture like comics, movies and TV.

### THE BIG STORIES

- Awesome Games Done Quick 2016 calls time (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/10/10745254/awesome-games-done-quick-2016-calls-time)

- Palmer Luckey: Virtual Boy 'hurt' the VR industry (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10749208/palmer-luckey-virtual-boy-nintendo-vr-reddit)

- HTC Vive pre-orders begin on Feb. 29 (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10748848/htc-vive-pre-orders-begin-on-feb-29)

- Shovel Knight's amiibo can be scanned through the box (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/10/10745612/shovel-knights-amiibo-can-be-scanned-through-the-box)

- Iconic musician and actor David Bowie dies at 69 (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10747756/iconic-musician-and-actor-david-bowie-dies-at-69)

### THE BEST OF THE REST

- How do you create a gaming PC aimed at esports? (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10749548/revolt-2-esports-gaming)

- David Bowie saved me from becoming invisible (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10748752/david-bowie-saved-me-from-becoming-invisible)

- Revisit all of Frank Underwood's murders in new House of Cards trailer (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/11/10748880/revisit-all-of-frank-underwoods-murders-in-new-house-of-cards-trailer)

- See two new teaser trailers for Batman v Superman (http://www.polygon.com/2016/1/10/10744464/see-two-new-teaser-trailers-for-batman-v-superman)

We'd love to count you as a daily Minimap listener. You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you like with these handy links we've corralled for you:

- iTunes: http://itunes.com/minimap

- Your podcast player of choice: http://feeds.feedburner.com/PolygonMinimapDaily

- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/polygon-minimap

- Polygon: http://polygon.com/minimap

Neko Atsume is a strange game to describe. It's a strange game to play. And it's the game that, more than any other, Polygon reporter Allegra Frank thought about when she looked back on 2015. Today on Polygon Minimap: Worldmap Edition, we focus on a weird game. Or at least that's what we thought we were going to do. We got a lot more.

It's funny how these things work sometimes. You start talking about Neko Atsume, and before you know it, you're discovering important truths about video games — about why we play them, about when we play the, about why even those that might turn a recent college graduate into a self-described "crazy cat lady" wind up staying with us months later.

We'd love to count you as a daily Minimap listener. You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you like with these handy links we've corralled for you:

- iTunes: http://itunes.com/minimap

- Your podcast player of choice: http://feeds.feedburner.com/PolygonMinimapDaily

- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/polygon-minimap

- Polygon: http://polygon.com/minimap

In 2015, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times for Metal Gear. Charles Dickens wrote that (we think), and he was right: It was a weird year for Hideo Kojima, Konami and the Metal Gear franchise.

Throughout the year, there were whispers and rumors that things had gone awry between the man who created the stealthy franchise and the company where he'd worked for three decades. It was difficult to see those rumors reflected when Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain arrived in September to critical acclaim. The game even earned a top spot (http://is.gd/BUMKjN) in Polygon's 2015 Game of the Year list.

But by mid-December, we learned the truth: Kojima and Konami were no longer partners. What the heck happened?

Senior reporter Samit Sarkar dove into years worth of news stories to recount the relationship's devolution (http://is.gd/u4VjLN). And today, he's our very special guest on an episode of our Minimap podcast to talk about the bitter breakup.

Welcome to Polygon Minimap: Worldmap Edition, a roundtable discussion about the most interesting stories in gaming, entertainment and pop culture. In today's episode, you'll hear Samit and your host Dave Tach trace the relationship back decades and help make a long and complicated story easy to understand.

We'd love to count you as a daily Minimap listener. You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you like with these handy links we've corralled for you:

- iTunes: http://itunes.com/minimap

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- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/polygon-minimap

- Polygon: http://polygon.com/minimap

You’ve heard about Destiny. How could you not?

Stories about Bungie’s first-person shooter/massively multiplayer online role-playing game were a constant in 2015’s news stream, including on Minimap. Why? Because Destiny is a fascinating and popular game that’s in a constant state of evolution, and players crave information.

Popular as it may be, though, Destiny is also a game that even its most devoted players consider to be flawed in some fundamental ways.

This year was huge year for Destiny, bringing changes that made the game better than its ever been. Here at the end of 2015, Destiny is not the same game it was at the beginning of the year. And that trend shows every indication of continuing in 2016 and beyond. But it’s still a work in progress.

In this episode, we’ve assembled our largest panel ever to discuss Destiny. Our panelists have logged nearly 2,000 hours of playtime, but it’s not a discussion designed for Destiny enthusiasts. Instead, it’s about figuring Destiny out. Why is the game so popular? What pulls so many in? What keeps players coming back? Our discussion answers those questions and plenty more, including those about the game’s problematic past and what the future may hold.

Welcome to Polygon Minimap: Worldmap Edition, a roundtable discussion about the most interesting stories in gaming, entertainment and pop culture. Press play to hear Jake Lear, Griffin McElroy, Mike McWhertor, Jeff Ramos, Samit Sarkar and your host Dave Tach discuss Bungie’s fascinating shooter.

Find out more about Minimap — and subscribe to get every episode free of charge as soon as it's released — at http://www.polygon.com/minimap

Welcome to Polygon Minimap: Worldmap Edition, a roundtable discussion about the most interesting gaming, entertainment and pop culture news of the day.

Today, Owen Good joins the roster to talk about the year in sports video games — and it's not just a discussion for sports game enthusiasts, either. The discussion spans everything from baseball to basketball, football to soccer, hockey to the biggest story of the year, Rocket League, and why Owen's second-favorite RPG of 2015 was a baseball game.