The G Spot: Your Goto Destination for all Things That Are Android Gaming

As the July issue was going to press, several blockbuster game announcements flew in over the transom and plopped down onto my desk. Therefore, I’ll begin this article for the August issue with a summarized update regarding each of these major events. These significant events include: the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) landing in Los Angeles; Google releasing a Stadia update; and the first ‘real’ public sighting of the upcoming AMD Ryzen™ V1000-equipped portable gaming PC.

On with the show, right? Except this year’s convention wasn’t really like other E3 conventions. Why? Because Sony was a no-show. Yup, the Playstation maker wasn’t in attendance at this, the 25th Electronic Entertainment Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California. Considering that E3 is the self-proclaimed ‘world premier event’ for computer and video games and related products, the absence of Sony was a major story for an event that would rather concentrate on promoting new and upcoming video game releases.

Figure 1 - Sony didn’t attend E3 2019
Figure 1 - Sony didn’t attend E3 2019

Thankfully, Nintendo, Microsoft, Square Enix, and a raft of other companies had enough powerhouse announcements to make up for Sony’s rather conspicuous absence—you know, the elephant in the room nobody wanted to talk about, but did. Talk, that is.

Scrolling through the huge list of upcoming game releases announced at E3 2019, there was one Android-related title that should interest ODROID users: Commander Keen from Bethesda is coming to green machines later this year.

Google Stadia is Almost ‘Readia’

Also scheduled for arrival later this year will be the Google game streaming service known as Stadia. In an announcement two days prior to E3 2019, Google’s Stadia head honcho, Phil Harrison, informed gamers that Stadia will cost $9.99 per month for unlimited game streaming. You’ll be able to play these games at 4K resolution at speeds up to 60 frames per second (fps), and annoy the neighbors with 5.1 surround sound. Furthermore, these Stadia games will be available on both Chromecast Ultra TVs and inside Chrome browsers for both laptop and desktop computers. The only supported smart devices are Google Pixel phones.

There is a special ‘Founder’s Edition’ package featuring ultimate Stadia access, an exclusive game controller, a Google Chromecast Ultra dongle, and more goodies at the Google online purchase price of $129. This is a pre-order package that will ship in November 2019.

https://store.google.com/us/product/stadia_founders_edition?hl=en-US

Gamer SMACH

Die-hard gamers are dying for the upcoming release of SMACH Z, a portable gaming PC that resembles a Sony PSP on steroids. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $500K, the SMACH Z was actually seen and played by some lucky gamers at E3 2019.

Figure 2 - A lucky few at E3 2019 were able to play an upcoming DOOM game title on the soon-to-be-released SMACH Z handheld gaming PC
Figure 2 - A lucky few at E3 2019 were able to play an upcoming DOOM game title on the soon-to-be-released SMACH Z handheld gaming PC

https://youtu.be/g68bH2E8B3g

And Finally

Designed in conjunction with WB Games (Portkey Games) and Niantic, the release of the new augmented reality (AR) title Harry Potter: Wizards Unite has seen some serious downloads from the Google Play Store. In a concept is similar to Pokemon: Go (also developed by Niantic), Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is a wizardly game title that is fully supported by Harry’s creator, J.K. Rowling. Best of all, Wizards Unite is a free download.

Figure 3 - Prepare for hordes of wizard wannabes running through parks with smart phones in hand this summer
Figure 3 - Prepare for hordes of wizard wannabes running through parks with smart phones in hand this summer

Android Game Picks for the Dog Days of Summer

Jurassic World Alive - FREE Farm Punks - FREE Harry Potter: Wizards Unite - FREE Talion - FREE Toy Story Drop - FREE

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