Break Out of the Confines of Space and Time in XEL, an Adventure Available Now on PC; Coming to Nintendo Switch on 14th July
The Wait is Over! Jump Through Spacetime and Discover the Secrets Awaiting in the Mysterious, Lush World of XEL
Wiesbaden, Germany – 12th July 2022 – Today, award-winning indie publisher Assemble Entertainment and developer Tiny Roar are thrilled to announce the launch of sci-fi adventure XEL on PC, with the Nintendo Switch version launching on July 14th. A love letter to classic Zelda entries and other genre-defining top-down RPGs, XEL entices players to journey through the exotic landscape of a mysterious planet trapped in a seemingly never-ending cycle of peril.
Shipwrecked on an unfamiliar world, players take on the role of Reid, an unexpected heroine to the world she’s stranded on. Devoid of her past memories, Reid must traverse this strange planet, battling enemies and solving puzzling dungeons along the way. Partnered with her sassy companion Chap, Reid must unearth the secrets hiding in this forgotten world and reveal the connection she has to it, or else risk being trapped in the same pattern of destruction she is tasked with ending.
Behold the vibrant world of XEL in today’s launch trailer:
Key Features of XEL Include:
Old School Meets New School: Retro meets modern in a classic RPG gameplay style, and a well-crafted combat system comprised of different attacks, dodging, parrying, and clever gadgets
Adventure Through Space and Time: Explore the mysterious world of XEL and uncover its dark past, utilizing mind-bending time travel to unlock the secrets of the mysterious land
A Timeless Audiovisual Experience: Composed by Gidon Wolff, XEL offers a timeless soundtrack complemented by vibrant visuals, handcrafted by a passionate indie team
XEL is available now on Windows PC via Steam and GOG for £11.39 GBP/€14.99 EUR with a limited-time discount and will be available July 14th for Nintendo Switch for £17.09 GBP/€18.99 EUR with a limited-time 20% discount. The mystifying adventure will launch on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Playstation 4/5 later this year. A demo showcasing the first 30 minutes of the time-bending adventure is also available, including an exciting look into the first mini boss fight against the menacing “Overseer”. As an added bonus, interested players can discover more about the passion behind the epic sci fi-fantasy title and in-depth details in the latest XEL Devlog #4 ‘Level Design Philosophy’ on Steam.
Assemble also launched its quintessential “Save The World Edition” for £19.58 GBP/€24.99 EUR. This edition includes a digital artbook, full soundtrack, and digital comic drawn by artist Marvin Clifford telling the story of Chap, the plucky companion of protagonist Reid. Each sold Save The World Edition supports SeaWatch, a non-profit organization dedicated to sea rescues in the Mediterranean.
About Assemble Entertainment
Founded in 2016 and based in Wiesbaden, Germany, Assemble Entertainment is an independent games developer best known for the survival city-builder Endzone – A World Apart, that challenges players to survive and thrive following an environmental apocalypse, and the modernized Leisure Suit Larry series, featuring two new entries in the iconic decades-spanning saga.
Despite the company’s short history, Assemble Entertainment has won the German Developer Award twice — in 2020 and 2021— in the category “Best Publisher.” Assemble Entertainment organizes GermanDevDays, an annual conference held in Frankfurt, Germany since 2016 that attracts more than 1,100 attendees from across the German-speaking video game development industry. The event also includes the GermanDevDays Indie Award, where indie development teams across Germany can participate in varying categories to win a cash prize for their projects. The event is hosted by Stefan Marcinek, CEO and Founder of Assemble.
About Tiny Roar Founded in 2015, Tiny Roar is the result of a passion for videogames and an intense desire to create them. Rooted in the desire to deliver fun, polished games, the studio also highly values easily accessible game experiences, supporting their mission to provide entertainment to a multitude of platforms. While recognizing that developing video games is a tremendously enjoyable experience, Tiny Roar also prides themselves on perpetuating a healthy and friendly work environment, stating that it is the key to their success
FIFAe Finals 2022: Media information and opportunities
The FIFAe Finals 2022, taking place between July 14 – 30 in Copenhagen, Denmark, is the ultimate place this summer for the highest level of FIFA esports. Legacy is at the fingertips of the competitors as all three pinnacle events will be played over three consecutive weeks for the first time:
FIFAe World Cup 2022™ presented by EA SPORTS™: 14 – 17 July
FIFAe Club World Cup 2022™ presented by EA SPORTS™: 20 – 23 July
FIFAe Nations Cup 2022™ presented by EA SPORTS™: 27 – 30 July
A total prize pool for the event of USD 1.2 million awaits the winning players, clubs and nations, with additional prize money already being distributed throughout the qualification processes for all narratives. More information about qualified players are available here, nations here and clubs here.
Fans can watch the competition action unfold live on various platforms such as Twitch. You can find all live results on FIFA.GG. .
Media information
Should you wish to attend the FIFAe Finals 2022, media accreditation is available. Please email [email protected] with all of your details, including name and publication. The deadline for applying for accreditation is 20 July.
Once you have obtained accreditation, the ACR system will direct you to the ACR system on-site at the Finals, where you will be able to pick up your accreditation.
Media Entrance at 10am for days 1-3 of all competitions
Media Entrance at 2pm for final days of FIFAe World Cup and FIFAe Club World Cup
Media Entrance at 11am for final day of FIFAe Nations Cup
Mixed Zone
A remote and on-site mixed zone will be available to interview players throughout the entire competition. The virtual mixed zone will be available to journalists joining us remotely.
At the in-person mixed zone, players will walk through and there will be opportunities to speak to them during dedicated mixed zone times.
Other media opportunities
FIFA spokespeople will be on-site in the final week of the event and a media session will be held on Friday afternoon, 29 July. This media opportunity can be done remotely or in-person at the event. Additional interviews can be organized upon request.
Win an iPhone 13 Pro in giveaway launched to celebrate free-to-play title based on the epic story of the Saint Seiya manga series, available now
Beijing, China – July 12th, 2022 – Wanda Cinemas Games is pleased to announce that Saint Seiya: Legend of Justice available now on App Store and Google Play in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Saint Seiya: Legend of Justice is a free-to-play Idle RPG based on the popular Saint Seiya manga series. Faithfully adapted from the Saint Seiya series under the supervision of original writer Kurumada Masami and featuring top Japanese voice talent, Saint Seiya: Legend of Justice challenges you to take Seiya, Ikki, Shiryû, Hyôga and Shun into the sanctuary, take on the 12 gold knights, smash the Master’s conspiracy and save the goddess Athena!
Designed to be accessible, even for players with a busy schedule, this is the first Saint Seiya mobile title using the vertical format, allowing you to play the game with one hand. After its period in closed beta in Latin America in May and France in June, the game already has 2m pre-registered players, and is now featured by the AppStore and GooglePlay in many countries.
The Saint Seiya Facebook page is currently running a giveaway event to celebrate the launch of the game where you can win an iPhone 13 Pro (1 winner), a Gold Knight figure (3 winners), Draw 10x with Summon Stone (20 winners) or 1000 diamonds (30 winners). To enter, download Saint Seiya: Legend of Justice, upgrade to level 10 or above and take a screenshot. Upload your screenshot to the Facebook page, along with your game UID and a Saint Seiya slogan and share the post.
Players can also today enjoy the new CG film showcasing a spectacular battle between the Gold Knight and the Bronze Knight, released today via YouTube.
With 88 knights that can be assembled, it’s your job to build the strongest team possible, recruiting the likes of Phoenix Ikki, Dragon Shiryû, Virgo Shaka and Gemini Saga. With six elements, five types of Protector, attribute restraint and control skills, there are a host of intriguing tactical decisions that you have to consider to lead the perfect team.
About Wanda Cinemas Games Wanda Cinemas Games is committed to deliver high quality and authentic games based on global classic IP, and also developing games in cooperation with well-known developers. At present, we have cooperated with more than 20 classic IP models in various fields, including comics, manga, game, film, TV drama and literature, etc., and have announced more than 30 products under development.
Kingston Releases Latest Hardware-encrypted Storage Solutions and Versatile USB Drives for Mainstream and Enterprise Users
IronKey Vault Privacy 50 (VP50) and IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD (VP80ES) in the encrypted lineup for users looking for data security and protection
Kingston DataTraveler® microDuo™ 3C and Kingston DataTraveler® Micro USB Flash Drive for additional storage requirements to save memories and important data
Australia – July 12 2022 –Taking ahead its legacy of providing best in class portable storage solutions, Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced the release the two latest products in its encrypted lineup, IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD (VP80ES) and IronKey Vault Privacy 50 (VP50), perfect for enterprise users and content creators looking for data security. Kingston also expanded its DataTraveler® range by adding Kingston DataTraveler® microDuo™ 3C (DTDUO3CG3) and DataTraveler® Micro (DTMC3G2) USB Flash Drives, to provide mainstream users additional storage for their important files and memories.
Hardware-encrypted Storage Products for Data Security and Protection
Kinston IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD (VP80ES) marks Kingston’s first innovative OS-independent external SSD with touchscreen and hardware-encryption for data protection. Using IronKey VP80ES is as innate as unlocking a smartphone and simple drag & drop file transfers. Featuring an intuitive color touchscreen and FIPS 197 certified with XTS-AES 256-bit encryption, the drive is designed to protect data while also being user-friendly, ideal to safeguard against Brute Force attacks and BadUSB with digitally signed firmware for users from small-to-medium businesses (SMB) to content creators. Its military-grade security measures make it greatly superior over using the internet and Cloud services for securing important company information, documents, or high-res images and videos.
Along with its ease of use and hardware encryption, VP80ES offers additional features for data protection, like Multi-Password (Admin/User) Option with PIN/Passphrase modes and Configurable Password Rules. With Admin option, choose between numeric PIN or Passphrase modes, set Configurable Password Rules, or enable extended security options like maximum number of shared password attempts, minimum password length of 6-64 characters, alphanumeric password rules, auto-timeout to lock drive, randomize touch-screen layout and Secure-Erase to ensure maximum protection of your important files. The Admin password can be used to restore data and access should the User password be forgotten. For additional peace of mind, VP80ES’ Brute Force attack protection crypto-erases the drive if the Admin and User passwords are entered incorrectly 15 times1 in a row by default.
The external SSD is bundled with a neoprene travel case and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 adapter cables to easily connect to USB Type-C®2 or Type-A supporting computers and other devices, making it the perfect companion that enables portable productivity and convenience when you need secured data and content on-the-go.
The new encrypted USB drive, IronKey Vault Privacy 50 (VP50) comes with FIPS 197 certification and AES 256-bit hardware-encryption in XTS mode for data security. VP50 supports Admin, User, and One-Time Recovery passwords with Complex or Passphrase modes, and this multi-password option enhances the ability to recover access to data on the drive should one of the passwords be forgotten. The new passphrase mode gives users the ability to have a numeric PIN, sentence, list of words, or even lyrics from 10 to 64 characters long that’s unique, yet memorable to them.
Admin can also enable a User and a One-Time Recovery password or reset the User password to restore data access. In addition, VP50 protects against Brute Force attacks by locking out User or One-Time Recovery passwords upon 10 invalid entries in a row and crypto-erases the drive if the Admin password is entered incorrectly 10 times in a row. So, while data is lost, there’s no fear of a breach.
VP50 also protects against potential malware on untrusted systems, by both Admin and User setting Read-Only mode to write-protect the drive; additionally, the built-in virtual keyboard shields passwords from keyloggers or screen-loggers. Organizations can customize and configure VP50 with a Product ID (PID) for integration with standard Endpoint Management software to meet corporate IT and cybersecurity requirement through Kingston’s Customization Program. Small and Medium Businesses can take advantage of the Admin role to locally manage their drives, e.g. use Admin to configure or reset employee User or One-Time Recovery passwords, recover data access on locked drives, and comply with laws and regulations when forensics are required. VP50 is encrypted storage under the user’s physical control, making it superior to using the internet and Cloud services to safeguard important data.
New DataTraveler® USB Drives for Enhanced Data Storage Mobility
For mobile workers with various devices on hand, DataTraveler® microDuo™ 3C (DTDUO3CG3) offers dual interface that works with both newer USB Type-C®2 and traditional USB Type-A ports, while providing up to 256GB3 of extra storage. The eye-catching form factor offers convenient plug and play connectivity, with USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds of up to 200MB/s read4, allowing users to transfer files quickly between their smart phones, tablets, and computers. Whether it is for on-the-go (OTG5) work, travel or just out capturing the moments, the DT microDuo 3C is the perfect compact companion to backup and store more.
For those looking for a sleek and modern device to store and move their files, DataTraveler® Micro (DTMC3G2) is an ultra-small and lightweight USB drive, designed for convenient plug-and-stay storage that’s compatible with computers, printers, gaming consoles and more. It delivers USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds up to 200MB/s read6 and up to 256GB3 capacities to quickly transfer and store large files such as movies, music, games and photos. DT Micro incorporates a low-profile design with premium metal casing and built-in key loop to leave in USB ports without interference.
“As more and more people continue to work from home and outside of company firewalls, we want to provide products of user-friendly military-grade security for our customers as well as small and medium businesses to complement our existing encrypted solutions,” said Kingston. “We also want to empower our users with increased data storage mobility, and we believe the two new DataTraveler USB drives will give ease of carrying important data and memories anytime, anywhere.”
IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD is available in 480GB, 960GB, and 1920GB capacities and is backed by a limited three-year warranty; Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 50 is available in capacities from 8GB – 256GB and is backed by a limited five-year warranty, both products are supported with free technical support and legendary Kingston reliability. DataTraveler® microDuo™ 3C and DataTraveler® Micro USB drives are backed by a limited five-year warranty, with free technical support and legendary Kingston reliability.
IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD
Part Number
Capacity
IKVP80ES/480G
480GB IronKey VP80ES
IKVP80ES/960G
960GB IronKey VP80ES
IKVP80ES/1920G
1920GB IronKey VP80ES
Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD Features and Specifications:
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 1
Connector: Type-C
Package Includes: Neoprene travel case, USB 3.2 Gen 1 C-to-C cable,
USB 3.2 Gen 1 C-to-A cable
Capacities3: 480GB, 960GB, 1920GB
Speed: Up to 250MB/s read, 250MB/s write
Dimensions: 122.5 mm x 84.2 mm x 18.5 mm
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C
Storage Temperature: –20°C to 60°C
Compatibility: USB 3.0/USB 3.1/USB 3.2 Gen 1
Warrant/Support7: Limited 3-year warranty
Compatible with: OS-independent:
Microsoft Windows®, macOS®, Linux®, Chrome OS™ or any system that supports a USB mass storage device
IronKey Vault Privacy 50
Part Number
Capacity
IKVP50/8GB
8GB IronKey VP50
IKVP50/16GB
16GB IronKey VP50
IKVP50/32GB
32GB IronKey VP50
IKVP50/64GB
64GB IronKey VP50
IKVP50/128GB
128GB IronKey VP50
IKVP50/256GB
256GB IronKey VP50
Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 50 Features and Specifications:
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 1
Capacities3: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Connector: Type-A
Speed4:
USB 3.2 Gen 1
8GB – 128GB: 250MB/s read, 180MB/s write
256GB: 230MB/s read, 150MB/s write
USB 2.0
8GB – 256GB: 30MB/s read, 20MB/s write
Dimensions: 77.9 mm x 21.9 mm x 12.0 mm
Waterproof8: Up to 4 ft; IEC 60529 IPX8
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 60°C
Storage Temperature: -20°C to 85°C
Compatibility: USB 3.0/USB 3.1/USB 3.2 Gen 1
Warrant/Support: Limited 5-year warranty, free technical support
1 Brute Force attack protection crypto-erase adjustable from 10-30 password attempts
2 USB Type-C® and USB-C® are registered trademarks of USB Implementers Forum.
3 Some of the listed capacity on a flash storage device is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is less than what is listed on the products. For more information, go to Kingston’s Flash Memory Guide.
4 Speed may vary due to host hardware, software and usage.
5 Works with mobile devices supporting USB-C and On-The-Go (OTG) functionality.
6 Write up to 15x faster than standard USB 2.0 drives (4MB/s). Speed may vary due to host hardware, software and usage.
7 Limited 3-year warranty. See kingston.com/wa for details.
8 Product must be clean and dry before use and have the cap on
From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world’s largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com.
# # #
Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. Kingston FURY and the Kingston FURY logo are trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
A new branch of Tier III-X battlecruisers sail into the game, alongside a limited time Titans of Industry event, the second wave of refurbished U.S. destroyer models and changes to in-game economy, AI and user interfaces.
AUSTIN, TEXAS (July 11, 2022) — Wargaming, publisher and developer of the naval multiplayer free-to-play game World of Warships, is introducing its newest update, bringing with it a barrage of new British battlecruisers to Early Access, more improvements to U.S. destroyers models and a new limited time event. In addition to all this new content, Update 0.11.6 also sees a number of changes to in-game economy and the AI for bot ships, as well as improvements to the user interface.
Check out the video overview here.
New British Battlecruisers Drop Anchor Kicking off this update is an entirely new branch of Tier III to Tier X British battlecruisers arriving into Early Access. This dynamic range features ships equipped with powerful torpedoes and Repair Party consumable that helps regenerate HP lost in battle. From the iconic and historic Tier III Indefatigable and the Tier VI Renown as well as five new project ships with Tier VII Rooke, Tier VIII Hawke, Tier IX Duncan, Tier X St. Vincent, and Premium Tier VII Collingwood – several of which are accompanied with their own special camouflages. These ships are also equipped to take advantage of a wide array of consumables throughout the tiers, starting with Engine Boost at Tier V, all the way up to Defensive AA Fire at Tier VI and Specialized repair teams at Tier IX.
The Second Wave of U.S. Destroyer Models Changes Following the first instalment of U.S. destroyer model improvements that occurred in the previous update, an additional number of these ships are seeing revamps across the board. With adjustments to defense composition, HP distribution and the positioning of torpedo tubes and battery guns; Sims, Sims B, Sampson, Wickes, Clemson, Nicholas, and Farragut are all seeing a number of upgrades.
Titans of Industry Event Offers Unique Rewards A new timed event that comes as part of this update alongside a newly decorated London port is the “Titans of Industry” event, similar to “Aircraft Bureaus Rivalry,” “Battle of the Beasts” and “Clash of Courage” events that have come before. In “Titans of Industry” players choose between three British dockyards – Chatham, Elswick and Clydebank to support, with each yielding a different reward, a special commander, alongside British tokens that can be exchanged for several rewards including ships available in Early Access and permanent camouflages.
AI Updates, Economy, and Interface Changes Update 0.11.6 also sees refinements to AI of bots in the game, with improvements to movement and firing capabilities, as well as ability to use consumables in Training Battles. This update also kicks off an overhaul to how the in-game economy functions, simplifying management of economic bonuses and inventory display, alongside the separation of economic bonuses and camouflages from one another, allowing players to mount the camouflage they like, with the economic bonuses they prefer.
The interface also sees several changes, with containers now grouped by type and with information available about possible in-game items, and Spectator Mode interface after the sinking of the player sees enhancements alongside updates for the hotkeys and camera control hints.
About World of Warships World of Warships is a free, historical, online combat PC game from Wargaming. With its massive fleet of most iconic war vessels, including four different ship classes and strategically designed environment, World of Warships provides the ultimate naval warfare gaming experience, suitable for everyone. Thanks to its largest collection of historically accurate ships available to play, World of Warships prides itself as a digital ship museum and a focal point for naval history enthusiasts. New thematic content and innovative game modes are being added on a regular basis, providing a diverse and exciting gameplay to its broad player base.
One franchise – multiple platforms After the successful launch of World of Warships on PC, its unique gameplay and design has been adapted to bring free massive naval battles to other platforms with World of Warships: Legends available on PlayStation and Xbox and World of Warships Blitz on iOS and Android mobile devices. Official website: http://www.worldofwarships.com
About Wargaming
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 17 offices around the world, including studios in Chicago, Prague, Shanghai, Tokyo and Vilnius. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Our flagship products include the free-to-play hits World of Tanks, World of Warships and World of Tanks Blitz. Official website: wargaming.com
Bandai Namco Europe has released a faithful two-in-one remaster of the adventures of Klonoa with Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series,
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Klonoa franchise, the vibrant and joyful side-scrolling platform game is back with a graphic revamp for a new generation of players to discover and fans of the first hour to revisit. Leaning on the nostalgia and great memories of the series, the trailer brings back the song played in the 1991 commercial in Japan.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series features Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil, with an adjustable difficulty level and 2 players co-op option. A demo is now also available for consoles, including the first stages of the two games to give players a taste of the lively world of Klonoa.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series can be purchased alone or with a special bundle including a digital artbook, soundtrack, and in game hats and masks for Klonoa to wear on his adventures.
Follow the wind to the launch trailer here:
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is out now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Steam.
Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. is a leading global publisher and developer of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Bandai Namco Europe is producing intellectual property for a global audience and is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, PARK BEYOND™, and the upcoming UNKNOWN 9™ Awakening – developed by the recently acquired Reflector Entertainment based in Montreal, QC.
Bandai Namco Europe serves as the Headquarters of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe, which is known for creating and publishing many of the Toy & Entertainment industry’s top franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TAMAGOTCHI™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, DARK SOULS™ and the recently released ELDEN RING™.
MINNEAPOLIS — July 8, 2022 — Nickelodeon Kart Racers is set to return this fall with its third installment, rebuilt and re-imagined from the ground up, adding tons more content, new tracks including water sections with watercraft, new characters, massive customization options and character voiceovers. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway is coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in early October. Drift, slide and boost your way to the finish line on new and old tracks inspired by legendary Nickelodeon shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Avatar: The Last Airbender and more!
KEY FEATURES
Voice Acting: A fully voice-acted cast of over 40 characters.
Vast Customization: Pair Raphael with the Reptar mobile, change paint jobs and parts, and choose from over 90 crew members with unique abilities to enhance your racing.
New Challenges: Transform your kart or bike into watercraft to navigate all new water terrain and ride on intense slime-filled alternate paths on 36 different tracks, new and old.
Arena Mode: Face off directly with fellow racers in a mayhem-filled arena mode!
Play Together: Challenge your friends in split-screen local and online multiplayer.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway is available for pre-order at major retailers for $49.99. This title is developed by Bamtang Games and published by GameMill Entertainment.
Over the last decade first person horror games have been on the rise. Some of these initial titles happened to focus only on scaring players, occasionally offering some minor puzzles here and there, while later titles not only featured ways to fight against the various monsters that are roaming an area all while trying to offer something unique. Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel looks to try and do just that as this Brazilian developed title from Pulsatrix Studios takes first person horror and tries to put its own twist on things in a heavily puzzle focused game with a few interesting mechanics that try to hide its flaws.
Story
Players take on the role of a young journalist by the name of Roberto Lopes as he travels to the Brazilian countryside to investigate numerous rumors that have beep happening in the area. These rumors range from mysterious disappearances and supernatural sightings to the prolific activities of a long-running “cult-like” organization in the area. As such, with a tip from his friend Stephanie, players choose to stay at the St. Dinfna Hotel that is at the heart of these rumors.
After being ghosted by his friend and spending nearly a week spinning his wheels with no leads to go on, Roberto is about to leave when suddenly a strange portal appears inside of his bathroom and he awakens to find that not only has the room around him changed and now features a wide variety of strange objects, but the entire hotel has begun to fall apart around him as fire and rubble blocks off passages, strange monstrous creatures have begun to roam the halls, and ghostly apparitions appear and disappear with no warning. With very little to go on, Roberto must try and solve the various puzzles blocking his way towards finding some hint as to what has happened as well as surviving the night by escaping this horrific hotel.
Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel starts off fairly strong by introducing not only a strange mystery about what has happened to Roberto but also throwing a number of supernatural elements at players right away. The only problem is, these story elements only have small hints dropped here and there with little pay-off until the final third of the story that focuses on dumping as much info as possible on players is found either through text documents that players must find or through “memory” collectibles that can be viewed after beating the game and reveal more information about characters that players only end up hearing about or, in a few cases, have seen only one line of text mentioning up until that point.
It also doesn’t help that Roberto, who is the only major playable character outside of a few sequences, is an incredibly mundane main character. Perhaps due to poor translation or poor subtitling as we will mention later, Roberto comes off as a wooden character who, despite somehow facing down a horrific situation time and time again, has some of the most generic reactions and even worse actual character interactions the few times they happen throughout the roughly ten to twelve hour long story depending on how many puzzles stump players for a bit and how many optional ones they try and solve.
Gameplay
With the hotel in ruins, monsters in the halls, and a strange ghost-like girl wearing a gas mask, players must navigate their way in an entirely first person adventure. One of the first things that players find happens to be a camera with some rather unique properties that not only serves as one of the most enjoyable and interesting mechanics in Fobia, but also the key to solving numerous puzzles in the game. This camera allows players to not only see with night-vision, useful before finding a flashlight, but also into an alternate reality at the same time where things such as hidden clues, puzzle pieces, ammo, and various passages that players can walk through are all hidden from plain sight.
Of course any good survival horror also has to deal with the player’s ability to manage resources and making sure to scour an area is essential as supplies such as healing items and ammunition can be difficult to find if you aren’t careful. Combine this with a limited amount of inventory spaces that only expand when player’s locate pouches hidden in the world or locked away in safes/chests that require specific codes and keys and sparsely offered box storage and you have all the makings for some tense exploration. Or at least you would if most of the game’s enemies or few boss fights were challenging by any means.
While no melee weapon is offered, Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel will offer players four different firearms throughout the game, with one being harder to get than others and every weapon has its own generic upgrades such as reloading faster, dealing more damage, etc. that makes use of upgrade points players can find around the hotel. These upgrades can be used to upgrade the player’s camera as well but investing in weaponry is always a useful endeavor and makes the game’s simplistic combat even easier.
As mentioned before, Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel will pit players against some enemies but unfortunately they are incredibly generic and only come in two forms outside of the boss battles. These enemies are mutated giant bugs the size of a small dog that can crawl around the environment but ultimately either end up crawling inside the level geometry or vanishing entirely before immediately jumping on Roberto to deal small amounts of damage before immediately dying. Combine this with the fact that they often come in waves of two or three in a row and these bugs are more nuisances than any actual threat. The other opponent comes in the form of tall spiky humanoid monsters with glowing red orbs in their necks that can dash forward and swipe wildly to deal large amounts of damage. These foes are the most prominent but also suffer from glitches from time to time that see them either launching through solid walls or becoming stuck in objects.
With such poor combat on offer, it is great to note that Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel has managed to nail their puzzles rather well. There are many that range from scouring past documents or finding clues hidden in the environment to find the correct combination or passcode to bypass a lock to solving more complex puzzles that can be incredibly obtuse and require some really outside the box thinking to solve. Unfortunately many of these puzzles do require players to deal with a lot of backtracking so be prepared for this, as well as the fact that many of them are actually optional in nature so it is entirely possible to find two or three pieces only to never find the actual location they have to be used.
This method of keeping players guessing with puzzles is a unique challenge and does encourage repeated playthroughs as the title does offer New Game+ once players finish the title but it does have some bugs at the moment. This includes not being able to properly carry upgrades or other unlocked content forward into NG+ which is disappointing. It is also worth noting that while multiple playthroughs are encouraged to try and find everything, there is no actual way to skip previously seen cutscenes which can be a bit annoying.
Visuals & Audio
Now an element that can actually make or break a horror game is if it can actually be scary by any means and Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel manages to do that at least throughout its first half. The hotel’s layout, creepy imagery found through the camera lens, and the many supernatural happenings that players encounter are handled quite well to keep things feeling tense and provide a great sense of dread when first exploring areas. Unfortunately some of this tension is lost once players have cleared locations and are simply running around solving puzzles but it is still presented rather nicely albeit with a rather significant lack of enemy design variety.
It must be said that Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel has done an excellent job with crafting its spooky atmospheric noises and backdrop to help set the mood. This is good as the voice work, especially the English dub, is quite awful and as we mentioned before it is actually preferable to play the game in its native Brazilian-Portuguese instead as Roberto and the few other speaking roles sound at least a little better by comparison.
Overall
Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel feels like its at its best when it is offering players unique puzzles and challenges like many classic games have in the past and its more modern take on offering first person horror does work rather well at least while initially exploring areas. Unfortunately its lack of challenge when it comes to combat and enemy variety makes any enemy encounter a lackluster one. Thankfully the story is just interesting enough to make it through to the end, even if players have to deal with an incredibly generic lead character to do so.
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MARVEL FUTURE REVOLUTION ADDS NEW EPIC INVASION AND MIGHTY THOR COMPANION TO CELEBRATE MARVEL STUDIOS’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER
LOS ANGELES – July 8, 2022 – Netmarble and Marvel Entertainment’s first open world action RPG,MARVEL Future Revolution, has launched a new game update inspired by Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder. Players can experience the new Epic Invasion: The God Butcher and recruit Mighty Thor as a companion.
In Epic Invasion: The God Butcher, players will interact with characters from the highly-anticipated film Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder while attempting to rescue Thor, who is being held captive from the super villain Gorr. By completing each phase successfully, Thor regains his power before joining his trustworthy allies in the final battle against Gorr. Players will experience an epic boss battle alongside Thor, Miek, Korg, and Valkyrie. Those players who prove themselves worthy will be rewarded with the new Gorr-themed Special Battle Badge.
Players can now recruit the new Mighty Thor as a companion and utilize her skill, Thunder’s Fury. Mighty Thor charges lightning energy by spinning the Mjolnir while striking down opposing enemies. Lightning pierces through enemies and increases in damage as it bounces from one enemy to another. These electrocuted enemies will deal less damage as well. This is designed to effectively target multiple enemies, especially in content like Omega War that involves multiple targets.
To celebrate this new game update, a special “Mighty Omega Wheel” event is now available. Players can spin the wheel to recruit the new companion Mighty Thor just by playing the game. The “Thunder Fragment Craft” event is also available, which will allow players who play Epic Invasion: The God Butcher to receive 3★ Thor whose skills have been improved with this recent update.
Developed by Netmarble Monster, MARVEL Future Revolution is the second collaboration between Netmarble and Marvel Entertainment, and a successor to the long-running hit mobile gameMARVEL Future Fight, enjoyed by more than 120 million people worldwide. MARVEL Future Revolution is available now as a free download on the App Store and Google Play. For the latest news on MARVEL Future Revolution, please visit the official website (https://marvelfuturerevolution.com) and follow #MARVELFutureRevolution across all social channels:
ABOUT MARVEL Future Revolution
MARVEL Future Revolution is Marvel’s award-winning open world action RPG for mobile devices, featuring AAA-quality, 3D graphics in an original, high-stakes, adventure-driven storyline by well-known Marvel writer Marc Sumerak (Spider-Man, the Avengers and more). After numerous Earths converge in the multiverse to form an entirely new ‘Primary Earth’, players will join the newly formed ‘Omega Flight’ Super Hero team to serve as the last line of defense against a never-ending series of threats and nefarious Super Villains. With eight playable characters outfitted in iconic costumes from throughout the Marvel Universe, along with more than 400 million costume combinations per hero to choose from, players can meticulously personalize their ideal Super Heroes look while exploring archetypal locations in an open world of massive proportions.
Since launching in August 2021, MARVEL Future Revolution has been recognized by Apple as the 2021 ‘iPad Game of the Year,’ by Google Play as the ‘Best Competitive Game’ of 2021, and by The Game Awards – receiving a nomination for ‘Best Mobile Game’ in 2021.
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a top developer and publisher pushing the boundaries of the mobile gaming experience with highly innovative games including Marvel Future Revolution, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, Lineage 2: Revolution, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, Blade & Soul Revolution and Marvel Future Fight. As a parent company of Kabam, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble strives to entertain audiences around the world with a variety of mobile games based on its powerful franchises and collaborations with IP holders worldwide. More information can be found athttp://company.netmarble.com
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
Both The Oregon Trail Apple Arcade Game and The Oregon Trail StepTracker Apple Watch App Allow Players to Walk, Run, or Push the Length of the Oregon Trail
PARIS, FRANCE – July 8, 2022 – Gameloft, a leader in the creation and publishing of games, and HarperCollins Productions, are thrilled to announce an exciting new update to the smash hit, 2021 #1 most-downloaded Apple Arcade game, The Oregon Trail, integrating Apple’s Health App and launching The Oregon Trail: StepTracker Apple Watch app. Tied to a theme of “The Oregon Trail – In Real Life,” players can now use their iPhone or Apple Watch to more tangibly experience the actual steps of the Oregon Trail experience through their day-to-day life.
A trailer for the new “The Oregon Trail – In Real Life” content for The Oregon Trail can be found here:
In a first of its kind experience, players can load up The Oregon Trail on Apple Arcade and transform their daily walks and runs, or wheelchair pushes, into a westward journey across a digital United States. With the all-new The Oregon Trail: StepTracker app for Apple Watch, players can set their own pace, walking, running, or wheeling in a way that best suits their daily routine.
Players will find more than just a simple step tracker: other features include digital representations of real-world locations, statistics and progress data, daily summaries, avatar customization, in-game rewards, and more. Players can walk the full 2,000 miles of the Oregon Trail, with five journey legs, 64 locations, seven forts, 15 river crossings, and eight pony express stations, meaning there is a lot to see and do as they “journey” along the trail. The impressive graphics of The Oregon Trail are also front-and-center, with players able to see the animated environments change as they follow the trail from Independence to Oregon. If players walked 10,000 steps every day, it would take more than a year for players to complete this epic journey.
“By utilizing Apple Health, we can confidently say the original walking simulator branches out of being just a game, into a method for players to follow the path of The Oregon Trail with their own steps. We think it’s a great way for people to better understand those who made this journey, all while taking strides towards enhancing their own health and fitness,” said David MacMinn, Game Manager of Gameloft Brisbane.
Leader in the development and publishing of games, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, two of which are featured in the “Top 10 iOS Games by All-Time Worldwide Downloads” from App Annie. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Dragon Mania Legends, Modern Combat and Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including LEGO®, Universal, Illumination Entertainment, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Mattel®, Lamborghini® and Ferrari®. Gameloft distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs 3,600 people worldwide. Every month, 70 million unique users can be reached by advertisers in Gameloft games with Gameloft for brands, a leading B2B offering dedicated to brands and agencies. Gameloft is a Vivendi company.
About HarperCollins Productions
HarperCollins Productions is a production company with expertise across all media platforms. Operating within HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world, HarperCollins Productions is uniquely positioned to identify book properties with media potential while building a pipeline of original IP developed in-house. It produces TV, film, and interactive media, from conception through launch, handling marketing, product licensing, and promotions for HarperCollins’s major franchises, which include Carmen Sandiego® and The Oregon Trail®.
