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The Spinoff
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
What's so great about Dungeons & Dragons?
This Friday, The Spinoff launches Fury of the Small, a D&D narrative podcast. Today, one of the podcast's players remembers her first time at the table. I was in the thick of my Big Breakup. Anyone who has been through their own Big Breakup knows exactly what I mean. It's the one where it feels like life is leading one way and you're merrily skipping down the path then BAM. Life, whole new direction. Crying in strange places. Hallway. On the floor. In the bathroom. I think everyone has a breakup like that? Or maybe will? It's like a rite of passage. The one that changes you. My friends wrapped around me in ways I still to this day deeply appreciate. One of the true blessings of the end of that romantic love was the absolutely thunderous, deepening love I felt for my friends. There were movies (In the Mood for Love being one of them, which was a terrible choice after a breakup, but a stunning film all the same), drinking, retreats and then one friend suggested I join his… Dungeons and Dragons Campaign. Dungeon? Dragons? Campaign? Join? It's hard to remember the exact images it conjured for me but I had a sense I was about to put myself in a situation where I felt stupid, sweaty or irritated. Or worse – all three. I also had a feeling it was like some sort of real-life video game, and I am not a gamer. Not because I don't want to be, it just wasn't a part of my childhood. We weren't really even a TV household, so anything with a console felt way out of my scope. Like any good 90s kid I snuck in a few happy reps of Golden Eye and Prince of Persia at friends' houses, but even I knew that wasn't a well-balanced diet, so I didn't really have anything to lean on when entering this world. But, as is often the way after a breakup, I had a lot of energy for trying new things, a lot of spare time, and zero desire to be alone. My first character was named Contour. Super strong. Not very smart. Got bonus points whenever they went into a rage (post-breakup catharsis anyone?). Even in this fantasy realm, no character can be good at everything (humbling) so you sort of make trade-offs. Good at hiding and sneaking around but maybe not so good up close and personal in a fight. There is something poetic about the fact that, in my eyes at least, the game works best if you have a mix of characters who all have different skill sets and histories. Not super deep, I know, but it's still a nice thought. I made the character by chatting to my friend about the vibe I thought I might enjoy, using films, books, animation as a way to be like 'he's a bit like this or a bit like that' and then my (very helpful) friend helped me figure out what Class that character could be. There's lots of options: Fighter, Druid, Bard, Rogue etc. I get the sense some people do it differently, but saying 'I think I want to be part actual energy of rock, part Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy and part gentle shepherd' worked well for me. So. I'd created my character. Borrowed some dice. Then went to join the Campaign. My friend was the dungeon master (to my mind a combo of MC, the person who voices all the background extras and supporting actors in a film, a dad who's telling you a story, and tech support). Six of us sat around a table, my friend set up the world, narrator style. 'You're at the docks, you smell the salty sea spray…' I started meeting other characters and for the first time I shyly tried out my Contour voice and traits. Putting on a voice felt strange at first. I'm an actor so this is ridiculous, but somehow sitting around a table putting on a voice for no reason feels different, and not in a good way. Similarly, it's really the pits for me if I tell someone I'm an actor and they make a joke about wanting to see me do a monologue (no thank you). I don't like feeling like I need to put on a show in my downtime, BUT after a little while, as with most times hanging out with my friends, those feelings slipped away and I was babbling like a happy child, voice on, playing for fun. Then it was time to start rolling some dice. (We're really in the thick of the nerd stuff now.) Each time you want to do anything in the game – and I mean anything, the world is your oyster – you state what you want to do out loud. For example, 'I want to lift this boulder'. The DM then usually says something like 'well that's a strength check', because, well, it would take strength to do it. In front of you is a piece of paper (or laptop screen) which has all your character's skills written on it, things like Strength, Charisma, Performance, Deception and a number next to them representing how good you are at any one skill. In Dungeons & Dragons, most often you're rolling a 20-sided die. You combine what your character's natural ability is at something (maybe it's plus 2) with what's on the die (let's say 14). That means overall your character has a roll of 16 to try and lift the boulder. The Dungeon Master has a number, a fair one, in mind that you are trying to beat. Basically the higher the number the more likely you are to succeed and if you roll a 20 on the 20-sided die it's almost impossible for you to fail. If a friend in the game says 'I'm helping' – which is the equivalent of an '..and my axe!' – you might get extra pluses. Which is just lovely. That first proper game was a lot. Even so, there were enough moments of joy across that first 5-ish hour(!) game that made me very happy to be there. True silliness and creativity for no one but ourselves. In the game, through the form of smart storytelling it becomes clear there's a quest/objective. A wizard needs help finding an apple pie recipe. Why is the castle collapsing? Where is the dragon hiding? You know – relatable problems like that. And all the characters must work together to sort it out. Later that first night, my friend said something along the lines of, 'This will probably take a year or so to complete'. A YEAR? I mean who has a year! In what world would I still be sitting around a table playing an imaginary fantasy game in a YEAR. I'm sure you can see where this is going. I played that campaign, for not one, but TWO years. I sat around my friend's table through the seasons changing both outside (obviously) and also inside my friends' lives, eating snacks and rolling dice through the highs and lows. As the monthly catch-ups became a staple I realised I wanted more. I joined another campaign. I had two going at once. One finished, I added another. I played confident types, sneaky types, happy-go-lucky types, 'I cast a lot of magic spells' types. I'd create characters on a whim based on what I thought would be fun or a challenge and then spend the following months experimenting with this persona in the two-to-four hour games. I couldn't believe who I'd become. In hindsight, there were actually some big clues that I'd love it. I grew up on fantasy books. It's only now in my 30s I've finally admitted to myself that when I'm on the beach I don't want a rom com. I would much rather be reading Ursula K. Le Guin, Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones. It's the stone labyrinth mystery cave hidden under a cloak identity life for me. And then of course Carrie Fisher made me want to act. So yes, duh. Fantasy is for me. And this isn't even mentioning that my family loves all board, dice and card games (as I said, not a big TV family). So anything competitive you can play over a table is good. Even now my parents will still play at least two games of something on any given day (their current faves are Splendour and Yahtzee). There were things that did and still do make me nervous. Being slow. Fumbling dice. Not knowing what to do. And the voices… I love listening to other people, but it still takes me a good hour to sink in and I'm usually changing the voice for the first few games till I actually find something I like for the character. But there are other things that have taken me by surprise. I love the escapism. I love using my imagination. I love not looking at my phone. I love being in a room with dear friends for two hours laughing and not talking about work. Hell, I even love the snacks! Recently, it's become a delightful connection with my brother-in-law. As I was writing this I googled: What makes dungeons and dragons so popular. The internet replied with: What's so great about Dungeons and Dragons? Which if you ask me sounds a lot more salty than my original question, but the answers made sense nonetheless. D&D offers fun and educational benefits, including stress relief and mental health benefits. Breaking D&D rules can lead to memorable gameplay and encourage critical thinking. D&D can strengthen friendships and maintain connections, serving as more than just a game. I couldn't agree more. It's funny what you picture for yourself after a breakup. I'm not going to go into all the R-rated details of what I had in mind but suffice to say sitting around a table with sparkly dice yelling, 'Investigation check!! I want to investigate this goblin's cave!' was not it. Sure, D&D's not for everyone. In fact, I really thought it wasn't for me. Turns out I was wrong.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Nostalgia max: Prince of Persia remake is coming and it is a big deal for gamers in India
I've been playing AAA games for as long as I can remember, but the one that truly stayed with me is Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. Yes, this piece is about The Sands of Time, but like many fans, my journey didn't start in chronological order. For me, it all began in the late 90s, playing the original Prince of Persia on my uncle's old Windows computer. But it was not until many years later, in 2008, when I picked up The Two Thrones that properly got me hooked on the franchise. I had heard friends in school talk about Prince of Persia, and that's when I decided to get my own DVD from a nearby CD store — back when they were still the rage. A still from Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. (Image: Ubisoft) advertisementI didn't even realise at the time that The Two Thrones was the final game in a trilogy. I just knew it had great gameplay, a gripping story, and that cool voice of the Dark Prince constantly in your head. It was a gaming experience like no other. Soon after, I discovered The Sands of Time and Warrior Within, and then went back to play them then, lunch breaks at school often turned into animated discussions about who had reached where in the game. We didn't just talk about Prince of Persia, of course — it was NFS Most Wanted, GTA Vice City, Max Payne, and so many others. But, at the time, Prince of Persia stood out to me, just like it did for countless other Indian gamers at that time. advertisement Of the trilogy, The Sands of Time is arguably the most important. It set the tone — from time-rewind mechanics to sword fights, puzzles and wall runs. The atmosphere, music, and storytelling gave it a distinct personality, and even though The Two Thrones felt more polished, The Sands of Time is where the magic later experimented with a reboot in 2008 with a new art style and character. It wasn't bad, but it didn't have the same appeal. The Forgotten Sands, though, released in 2010, felt closer to the original trilogy, and visually, it was stunning for the time. A still from Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. (Image: Ubisoft) So when Ubisoft announced a remake of The Sands of Time in 2020, many fans were understandably excited. But what followed was a series of delays, so much so that some believed the project had been quietly to May 2025, Ubisoft has officially confirmed that the game is still on track, now set for a 2026 release. While details remain limited, reports suggest this won't be a simple remaster. The game is being rebuilt from the ground up, with improved animations, modern combat mechanics, and a fresh visual direction. There's even talk of casting a new actor of Persian origin as the Prince, replacing Yuri Lowenthal, who voiced the character in the original in the day, for gamers like me in India, Prince of Persia was the gold standard in the action-adventure genre, long before titles like Uncharted and Assassin's Creed took over. For many Indian gamers who grew up in the 2000s, it was one of the first truly cinematic gaming experiences on PC. It was accessible, memorable, and fun — the kind of game you'd lend to a friend, then ring them up to check if they'd crossed a certain makes me look forward to the coming remake. Now, I'm not expecting something massive or fancy. I just want the game to feel like the old Prince of Persia we gamers loved in our teens. The time rewind, the puzzles, the wall runs, the sword fights — those were the things that made The Sands of Time fun. I hope Ubisoft keeps all that, while giving us better graphics, smoother controls, and maybe a few small new things here and there. A still from the OG Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. (Image: Ubisoft) The Prince of Persia series meant a lot to many people like me who grew up playing these games. It helped define a generation of action-adventure games and introduced mechanics that were ahead of their time. It would be great if they not only brought back The Sands of Time, but also looked at the full trilogy. Maybe if this remake works out well, we'll get remakes of Warrior Within and The Two Thrones, too. That would be a dream. It's been a long wait, but if Ubisoft delivers, I'll be ready for another run through the story that started it all.
eNCA
15-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
'Assassin's Creed' no saviour for struggling Ubisoft
PARIS - A bumper release for the latest "Assassin's Creed" instalment did not save French video games giant Ubisoft from falling back into the red in its 2024-25 financial year. The company had won through to profitability in 2023-24 after a near half-billion-euro loss in the previous period. But a string of disappointing releases undermined this year's performance, with a net loss of 159 million euros ($178-million) on revenues of 1.9 billion -- down 17.5 percent year-on-year. Over the past 12 months, Ubisoft's would-be blockbuster "Star Wars Outlaws" fell short of sales expectations on release, while it cancelled multiplayer first-person shooter "XDefiant" for lack of players. "This year has been a challenging one for Ubisoft, with mixed dynamics across our portfolio, amid intense industry competition," chief executive Yves Guillemot said in a statement. Ubisoft's preferred performance indicator, so-called "net bookings" -- which excludes some deferred revenues -- also fell by more than 20 percent year-on-year, to 1.8 billion euros. The group expects the measure to hold steady in the coming 2025-26 financial year, during which it will release a new "Prince of Persia" game, strategy title "Anno 117: Pax Romana" and mobile versions of shooters "Rainbow Six" and "The Division". Disappointing shipments have been matched by a tumbling stock price. But in recent weeks the publisher's biggest money-spinner has been as dependable as ever, with "Assassin's Creed Shadows" winning over more than three million players with its story of medieval Japanese intrigue since its March 20 release. "Shadows" swiftly rose to become the second-best-selling game of the year so far in the United States, according to data from consultancy Circana.
Business Mayor
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Ubisoft says its Prince of Persia remake will finally arrive by early 2026
In Ubisoft's latest earnings release, the company reveals that it expects the Prince of Persia remake to be one of the games that will help its bottom line during the next fiscal year, FY2025-2026. Since Ubisoft's FY2024-2025 ended on March 31st, 2025, that means the new game will have to go on sale before March 31st, 2026. But that also means it could arrive any time now. We're already two months into FY2025-2026. I'd be surprised if we didn't get an announcement at the Summer Game Fest next month. Ubisoft suggests that its top games in FY2025-2026 will be Assassin's Creed Shadows and Siege X, but names Prince of Persia as one of the games that'll contribute alongside Anno 117: Pax Romana, Rainbow Six Mobile and The Division Resurgence . I'm eagerly awaiting the chance to try it, as the original is one of my top five favorite games of all time. I loved its storytelling, voice acting, incredible music, and its then-groundbreaking ability to rewind time. But I won't deny I'm a bit worried. The remake is far from the most-delayed game at Ubisoft, of course: I believe Beyond Good and Evil 2 currently holds the all-time record at over 15 years since it was first announced. Incidentally, the first BG&E game shipped just a month after Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time . READ SOURCE
The Verge
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Ubisoft says its Prince of Persia remake will finally arrive by early 2026
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake was originally supposed to arrive on January 21st, 2021. Since then, it's been delayed three times, got shipped to a different studio, reportedly started over from scratch, and may have lost the original writer and amazing performances of its English voice actor. But Ubisoft has revealed the game is finally on the way — and will go on sale before April 2026, as spotted by Insider Gaming. In Ubisoft's latest earnings release, the company reveals that it expects the Prince of Persia remake to be one of the games that will help its bottom line during the next fiscal year, FY2025-2026. Since Ubisoft's FY2024-2025 ended on March 31st, 2025, that means the new game will have to go on sale before March 31st, 2026. But that also means it could arrive any time now. We're already two months into FY2025-2026. I'd be surprised if we didn't get an announcement at the Summer Game Fest next month. Ubisoft suggests that its top games in FY2025-2026 will be Assassin's Creed Shadows and Siege X, but names Prince of Persia as one of the games that'll contribute alongside Anno 117: Pax Romana, Rainbow Six Mobile and The Division Resurgence. I'm eagerly awaiting the chance to try it, as the original is one of my top five favorite games of all time. I loved its storytelling, voice acting, incredible music, and its then-groundbreaking ability to rewind time. But I won't deny I'm a bit worried. Both Yuri Lowenthal — the Prince's iconic English-language voice actor — and Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner were attached to the remake when it was announced in 2020. (Lowenthal once suggested the remake was going to 'keep all of Jordan Mechner's brilliant writing' and thanked Ubisoft for not picking a 'younger, hotter actor' instead of him.) But after development moved to Ubisoft Montréal in 2022, it's not clear whether either is still involved. Here's hoping there was good reason to overhaul the game, unlike that other time a game company replaced Yuri Lowenthal's face!
