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FARMCON 22 PROGRAM: TWO NEW PRODUCTS AND NUMEROUS UPDATES FOR FARMING SIMULATOR 22

FARMCON 22 PROGRAM: TWO NEW PRODUCTS AND NUMEROUS UPDATES FOR FARMING SIMULATOR 22

News and premieres at FarmCon: Publisher and developer GIANTS Software uses its annual community event for numerous announcements around Farming Simulator 22. FarmCon 22 will take place as a hybrid event from July 21st to 24th. The event starts with an international stream on the official Twitch channel on Thursday evening at 8pm CEST, followed by a weekend of face-to-face meetings directly at John Deere in Mannheim, Germany.

Updates, Insider Knowledge and New Announcements
GIANTS Software is using July 21st as a kickoff event and appetizer for the FarmCon weekend: In the approximately two-hour stream, the developers will show the progress of their current work and give an overview of what fans can still expect this year. Thursday night’s show highlights:

  • First look at Platinum Expansion featuring various machines and new map Silverrun Forest 
  • Unveiling of two new packs, both yet announced products coming later this year
  • Feature on modding
  • A look across the pond to Kubota in the USA
  • Retrospective on the topic of Precision Farming 

Stage Program from Mannheim in Stream
From 10am CEST the FarmCon will start live from the John Deere Forum in Mannheim on July 23rd. GIANTS Software expects more than 700 guests, who can look forward to much more detailed lectures and presentations of the topics touched on Thursday. GIANTS Software will simultaneously translate the predominantly German-language stage program and thus transport the fascination of FarmCon out into the world via the official Twitch channel.

In addition to insights into the Platinum Expansion and the two newly announced packs, fans can expect a Baling Royale competition in which participants virtually stack bales against the clock, the personal meeting with GIANTS Software employees from all four branches, and a panel of two German content creators.

“The anticipation for FarmCon is growing daily – we have so much new stuff in store and can’t wait to share our fruits of labor with our community” said Boris Stefan, Head of Publishing at GIANTS Software. “Besides the product news for Farming Simulator 22, I’m most looking forward to the personal conversations in a familiar atmosphere.”

FarmCon is the official and annual community event for modders, developers and players of the Farming Simulator series. Since 2016, fans have been gathering at FarmCon to interact with GIANTS Software and like-minded gamers.

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AboutGIANTS Software
GIANTS Software is an international video game developer and publisher from Switzerland established in 2004 and known worldwide for creating the popular Farming Simulator series. The team with offices in Switzerland (Zurich), Germany (Erlangen), USA (Chicago) and Czech Republic (Brno) is very committed to maintain close contact to the agricultural industry and to engage with the community. For more information, please visit giants-software.com.

About Farming Simulator
Since 2008, over 30 million units of Farming Simulator have been sold worldwide. The game series has been released on all popular platforms including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs since then. From the start, the team enabled users to create mods with the company’s own GIANTS Engine. With the Farming Simulator League (FSL), the series introduced a competitive esports mode in 2019 – with teams competing in professional tournaments and many acclaimed brands and sponsors on board. More information available at farming-simulator.com.

© 2022 Published and developed by GIANTS Software GmbH. GIANTS Software and its logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of GIANTS Software GmbH. All manufacturers, agricultural machinery, agricultural equipment, names, brands and associated imagery featured in this game in some cases include trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners. The agricultural machines and equipment in this game may be different from the actual machines in shapes, colours and performance. © 2022 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. “PlayStation”, “PS5” and “PS4”, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, the Xbox Sphere mark, the Series X logo, Series S logo, Series X|S logo, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X|S are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Stadia, the S logo, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. “Mac” is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. All rights reserved. All other names, trademarks and logos are property of their respective owners.

POWERWASH SIMULATOR IS NOW AVAILABLE *DING!*

Instant Satisfaction Guaranteed as POWERWASH SIMULATOR
Cleans Up on Xbox, Game Pass and PC

LONDON (JULY 14, 2022) – Square Enix Collective® and FuturLab® are excited to announce that POWERWASH SIMULATOR is out now and ready for clean up! POWERWASH SIMULATOR is available with Game Pass for PC and console, for purchase on Xbox Series® X|S, Xbox One®, and Windows 10, and a full release on Steam® following a successful Early Access period.

Watch the release trailer here!

POWERWASH SIMULATOR is the super soothing simulator game that puts the power of relaxation into the hands of the player. Take a clean break from the real world and follow your powerwashing destiny. Equipped with power washer in hand and unlocking new tools and upgrades to help clean more efficiently along the way – no dirt is too tough for you to handle!

Everything isn’t as it seems in the town of Muckingham: an active volcano smoulders nearby, the mayor’s cat is missing, and things are extremely dirty. For all its oddities, Muckingham scrubs up quite nicely… thanks to you! The residents have noticed too, and soon your PowerWash business will be booming.

As you blast away every speck of grime that covers Muckingham, you’ll uncover secrets hidden in the dirt and objects of each level, as well as receive messages from clients that reveal the untold stories of the places you visit – from humble homes to ancient architecture. You know what they say, it all comes out in the wash.

“We are thrilled to bring the opportunity to relax, unwind and get creative to millions of players with the launch of POWERWASH SIMULATOR” said FuturLab COO Chris Mehers.

“There’s really nothing quite as satisfying as blasting the dirt off to reveal the unique environments within POWERWASH SIMULATOR. We are excited to add even more content to the game in the future.” Added James Marsden, Founder and Co-CEO of FuturLab.

From casual clean freaks to dedicated detailers, everyone can pick up and play to feel immersed – relaxation, satisfaction – guaranteed. But this is just the start of your power washing career as Square Enix Collective® and FuturLab® are excited to further expand the game with regular updates and much more to come!

About FuturLab
FuturLab is a boutique, award-winning game studio based in Brighton, UK. FuturLab has developed and published remarkable games on PC and console since 2003. The game studio is best known for Velocity 2X, Tiny Trax, Mini-Mech Mayhem and Peaky Blinders: Mastermind and is currently working on the highly anticipated PowerWash Simulator.
 
About Square Enix Collective®
Square Enix Collective® is a London-based division of Square Enix Ltd. The Collective programme was launched in 2014 to assist indie game developers build community awareness for hundreds of games pitches and has helped teams to raise in excess of $1.2 million via Kickstarter campaigns. Collective has now published and distributed a range of indie titles since April 2016 and is on the look-out for great new projects and talented teams to work with globally – whether it’s publishing support for a development that’s already funded, or investment to help the creation of a game.
 
About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal®. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 168 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 84 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
 
More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

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CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, EIDOS MONTREAL, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE, the SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE logo, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies.

“Steam” is a trademark and/or registered trademark of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners

Journey behind the helmet visor as F1 Manager 2022’s behind the scenes series brings this year’s grid to life

Featuring F1® drivers Zhou Guanyu and Alexander Albon, prospective Team Principals are invited for a first-look at how Frontier has brought the visual detail of Formula 1® to life in F1® Manager 2022.

Cambridge, UK – July 14, 2022 Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV, ‘Frontier’) today revealed their second behind-the-scenes video for F1® Manager 2022, the major new officially licenced F1® management simulation game. F1® Manager 2022 will launch on August 30 (August 25 for players who pre-order*) on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation® 5, Xbox One, PlayStation® 4, Steam and the Epic Games Store. 

WATCH THE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO HERE:  

In ‘Episode 2 – People Power’, Frontier CEO and Founder, David Braben, and Art Director, Matt Dickinson, discussing Frontier’s commitment to deliver a truly authentic Formula 1® experience in F1®  Manager 2022. In the game, players will take charge of their chosen 2022 F1® constructor, creating their ultimate driver pairing, choosing from the full roster of 2022 F1®, F2™ and F3™ drivers.

In exclusive footage, players can delve into the in-depth process of capturing drivers for the game as they join two of Frontier’s facial scan capture sessions, featuring Williams Racing driver, Alexander Albon and Alfa Romeo F1® Team ORLEN’s Zhou Guanyu. An impressive 200 camera lenses work to create intricate 3D facial models, bringing each driver to life in-game in breath-taking detail. Each driver also has a data profile, created using a wealth of real historical data points, in order to accurately reflect their behaviours and driving style. 

This commitment to realism is shared across the entirety of F1® Manager 2022. Working closely with Formula 1®, the development team have been able to access a vast archive of historical data and broadcast footage, in order to create an immersive simulation experience which is true-to-life.  Prospective Team Principals will be able to use authentic data to guide their decisions, reacting to realistic tyre degradation, changing weather conditions, and safety car and red flag incidents.   

Players should keep one ear to their team radio for future behind the scenes content and further news on F1® Manager 2022 ahead of launch.  

F1® Manager 2022 launches on August 30 on PC, PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation® 4 and Xbox One for a suggested retail price of £44.99/$54.99/€54.99. Players looking to get ahead of the grid will be able to pre-order the game digitally and experience F1® Manager 2022 a full five days early from August 25*. The game will also be available in physical format for PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation® 4 and Xbox One for a suggested retail price of £44.99/$54.99/€54.99.

*Early access and discount is exclusively available to those pre-ordering digitally. On PlayStation platforms, players must be a PlayStation Plus subscriber to receive the 10% pre-order discount.

For more news and information about F1® Manager 2022:

Website: https://www.f1manager.com

About FrontierFrontier is a leading independent developer and publisher of videos founded in 1994 by David Braben, co-author of the iconic Elite game. Based in Cambridge, Frontier primarily uses its proprietary COBRA game development technology to create innovative genre-leading games for personal computers and videogame consoles. As well as self-publishing internally developed games, Frontier also publishes games developed by carefully selected partner studios under its Frontier Foundry games label.

About F1 Manager 2022
Drive every decision in the officially licenced F1® Manager 2022. Players will select their team and be the boss with the full 2022 roster of drivers and key staff. As Team Principal, it’s on their shoulders to take control and compete in the world’s most prestigious motorsport, delivered with unparalleled authenticity and broadcast-quality presentation.

About F1®
Formula 1® racing began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition, as well as the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1® and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.

Formula 1® is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group tracking stock. 

The F1 logo, F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved. 

JOIN THE CRUSADE! PATHFINDER: WRATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS COMES TO CONSOLES ON 29 SEPTEMBER

Third premium DLC coming to PC on 11 August 2022

Cyprus, Nicosia 14 July 2022: Owlcat Games and Prime Matter are pleased to announce that the multi award-winning, critically-acclaimed Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is coming to consoles on 29 September 2022. 

The epic RPG will be available on both physical and digital formats for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S via backward compatibility); as well as Nintendo Switch via the Cloud.

The Enhanced Edition of Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous will become the standard version for the console release, and also will be available for all PC owners of the game on 29 September for free. 

The Treasure of the Midnight Isles DLCIn addition to the eagerly-anticipated console announcement, Owlcat Games also confirmed that The Treasure of the Midnight Isles—the third premium DLC for Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous—will launch 11 August 2022. The islands—scattered across the dark abyssal ocean—hide treasures untold (and horrors unspeakable). Board the grim cursed ship and venture into the unknown to find your fortune… or demise.

  • Explore the vast archipelago full of treasures and dangers in a stand-alone rogue-like mode, or as a part of the main campaign
  • Try out different builds and party compositions, taking advantage of the enormous variety of the Pathfinder role-playing system – including the mythic paths
  • Death is just a setback! If a party perishes, its progress can still help you in subsequent playthroughs
  • Equip new magic weapons, put new magic potions and scrolls on your belt, and challenge both old and new enemies
  • Discover the secret of the ship that takes you on your journeys – and the truth about the ultimate treasure you’re seeking

Prepare for your trip to the Midnight Isles with a 50% discount for Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous in the Epic Games Store Summer Sale. Also, the Mythic Edition and Commander Edition are available at a 45% discount. The Epic Games Store Summer Sale starts today and ends 28 July 2022.

About Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

Embark on a journey to a realm overrun by demons in an epic RPG from the creators of the critically acclaimed Pathfinder: Kingmaker, and based on Paizo Publishing’s tabletop Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Explore the nature of good and evil, learn the true cost of power, and rise as a Mythic Hero capable of deeds beyond mortal expectations.

The realm of Sarkoris was destroyed when Areelu Vorlesh, a scholar and practitioner of forbidden magics, opened a rift to the abyssal planes of existence, and hordes of demons invaded the world of Golarion. Led by the evil Demon Lords Deskari and Baphomet, the abyssal forces crushed all who stood against them, turning Sarkoris into a demon‑infested land now known as the Worldwound. Join the Crusade against the demonic invasion and rise as a new hero wielding unimaginable powers in this classic cRPG. The fate of this world lies in your hands.

About Owlcat Games

Owlcat Games is a team of developers united by a love of RPGs. From our beginnings as a small group of games industry veterans obsessed with the idea of making our dream games a reality, we have grown into a truly international company, with our headquarters in Cyprus and more than 120 employees spread across offices in various countries. We are continuing to expand and take on new hires from around the world, and we also get together every week to play tabletop games in the office and on Roll20 online.

About META Publishing

META Publishing is a rising video game label powered by industry veterans and gaming enthusiasts worldwide. We do not only publish games but create unique relations between the game and the players. With love and passion for games, we cater to developers’ needs and help them make each game shine!

About Prime Matter

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Prime Matter is the premium gaming label dedicated to delivering a range of diverse and immersive games from amazing game development talent all around the globe. Working across projects of all styles, scopes and sizes, single-player, co-op to live ops, from producing to publishing, from ambitious teams taking their first step that need full support without compromising their dream to larger established successful studios searching that next step in the global market and building of brands. Prime Matter looks to lead through creativity, expression and passion, with games that will grip and enchant with enthralling story-telling, winning an audience with its incredible moments and larger-than-life experiences. Prime Matter is a proud member of the Koch Media Group.

About Paizo

Paizo Inc. is one of the world’s leading hobby game publishers. Since 2002, millions of players have joined the goblin army by playing the Pathfinder® and Starfinder® roleplaying games across tabletops, at conventions, at their favorite local game store, and digitally on virtual tabletops. Paizo.com is an online retail hobby destination for millions of gamers that carries the latest products from top hobby game publishers. Players also find accessories, like dice and maps, miniatures, T-shirts, goblin plush toys, and the newest releases to quickly replenish those adventuring supplies for the next dungeon run.

KARTRIDER RUSH+ ROLLS OUT SEASON 14 WYLDWOOD UPDATE

KARTRIDER RUSH+ ROLLS OUT SEASON 14 WYLDWOOD UPDATE

Special legendary karts, new player mode and player events kick off this month

SEOUL – July 14, 2022 – Fans of the fun mobile racing game KartRider Rush+can play the game’s Season 14 “Wyldwood” update starting today. The new season will take players to “Wyldwood,” the forest of dreams. Legendary karts will be released including hybrid kart “Scary Bear” and speed kart “Tiger.”  New themed racers will take the track too including “Wolf Bazzi” and “Deer Dao.” Plus, thrilling “Wyldwood” themed tracks such as “Rickety Bridge (Wyldwood)” will be released, challenging racers to weave their way through wild obstacles to win first place.

Watch ‘Wyldwood’ Breaking News

Season 14’s highlight kart “Plasma GT” was recently revealed on Nexon’s official YouTube channel, showcasing its thrilling speed and explosive energy.

Season 14 ‘Wyldwood’ Trailer:

Nexon also unveiled new game mode “Simulation Mode” where players can assemble their dream team and compete with other players. It requires strategic decisions as players allocate appropriate karts and characters for each position.

Plasma GT Trailer:

In celebration of the update, player events will be added that will offer many rewards. Players can obtain “300 Batteries” for free when they participate in five multiplayer races every week until Sunday, Aug. 7. Additionally, players can exchange “Wyldwood Guardian,” and Epic graded kart “Minekart(perm)” and more upon collecting Wyldwood Shard after completing various missions until Thursday, Aug. 18.

You can get more detailed information on KartRider Rush+ and the new “Wyldwood” season on the official website.

About NEXON Co. Ltd.
Founded in 1994, NEXON Co., Ltd. (Nexon) (3659.TO) is a company engaged in the production, development and operation of online games and Virtual Worlds. First listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2011, Nexon was placed on JPX400 in 2015 and added to the Nikkei Stock Index 300 in 2017. In 2020, Nexon was added to the Nikkei 225. Nexon currently has more than 50 live games on multiple platforms including mobile and available in more than 190 countries. Major game franchises include MapleStory, KartRider and Dungeon&Fighter.

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Fish Like a Pixel Pro With the Bassmaster Fishing 2022 “Pixel Pro Pack” Cosmetic DLC, Now Available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox Consoles

Dovetail Games, developer and publisher of authentic sports simulation titles, released the “Pixel Pro Pack” for Bassmaster® Fishing 2022, launching on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One/Xbox One X, and Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The “Pixel Pro Pack” is now available for owners of the “Retro Cosmetic Season Pass”, available for a MSRP of $10.99/€9.99/£7.99, and includes both the “Synthwave Cosmetic Pack” released in June as well as the upcoming “Throwback B.A.S.S.® Pack” releasing in August. Separately, the “Pixel Pro Pack” is available for $5.99/€4.99/£3.99 individually and will be available to non-Season Pass holders on July 21.

Anglers can now sport their favorite Bassmaster® Elite Series™ Pro Anglers, such as cover star Scott Martin, on their clothing with a host of retro items such as the Pixel Pro T-Shirt, bucket hat and pants. Two tiers of Mastery challenges will have anglers conquer unique tasks on the water to unlock the brand-new Pixel Pro Sneakers to complete their look. To complement their new outfit, an original boat wrap featuring the full lineup of Bassmaster® Elite Series™ Pro Anglers, pixel art inspired Bassmaster® Fishing 2022 logo, and emissive light up strips has been added to amaze and dazzle their fellow anglers.

“Retro Cosmetic Pack Season Pass” owners can also look forward to the release of the Throwback B.A.S.S.® Pack in August, bringing the old school B.A.S.S.® look to the game. The Pack will introduce a variety of vintage Bassmaster® designs and badge patches spanning the groovy 70’s, radical 80’s, and extreme 90’s. The publisher will reveal additional details about the final DLC bundle when it launches in August.

Bassmaster® Fishing 2022 was released on Oct. 28, 2021, in North America and Europe on the PS5™, PS4™ system, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One/Xbox One X, Windows PC via Steam, and Xbox Game Pass. The game is also now available on Nintendo Switch™ via the Bassmaster® Fishing 2022 – Super Deluxe Edition, which released on June 23, 2022. The game is rated “E for Everyone” by the ESRB. For regular updates on additional content coming post-launch, please visit www.bassmasterthegame.com.

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Community-Driven Football Management Simulator Soccer Manager Elite Rebrands As Soccerverse 

Community-Driven Football Management Simulator Soccer Manager Elite Rebrands As Soccerverse 

Freshly Unveiled Brand Adds Gaming Industry Veteran Andrew Gore To The Organization

London, UK – 14th July 2022 – London-based Soccer Manager Elite (SME), a Xaya blockchain-based massive multiplayer online soccer management game, has rebranded itself as Soccerverse, which will be developed under a separate legal entity titled Soccerverse Ltd. Soccerverse has added games industry veteran Andrew Gore to the team as part of its latest initiative.

Soccerverse is part football management game run in an entirely decentralized format on the blockchain and also a DeFi-oriented game where clubs and players form DAOs and fractionalized NFTs for participating gamers to hold shares. With those shares, gamers can propose and vote for club managers and player agents. 

With the new brand and legal entity, the team behind Soccerverse will be developing, guiding, and promoting the game in cooperation with its userbase and is currently focused on completing a fresh browser-based user interface for desktop, mobile, and tablet computers. Scheduled for late July, the launch of Beta 4 will see the game move from the Xaya blockchain onto the Polygon blockchain, where it will gain access to a large ecosystem of potential users. 

Commenting on the latest changes, Xaya Creative Lead and Soccerverse Co-Founder Andrew Colosimo notes, “What we’ve created with SME is lightyears ahead of what most people think of when it comes to blockchain games. Soccer Manager Elite simply doesn’t reflect what it is, or where we’re planning for it to go. Soccerverse is a much more suitable name.”  

Joining this fresh effort is Andrew Gore, an experienced veteran with over 20 years in the industry. Andrew commands over 20 years of industry experience developing video games and football management games, including titles such as FIFA, Need for Speed, Soccer Manager Worlds, the Soccer Manager series, and many others. Moreover, the company plans to engage in further talent acquisition over the coming months.

Per Andrew Gore, “I am excited to be rebuilding a decades-old battle-proven multiplayer manager game onto the blockchain and having the opportunity to do so with the blockchain gaming pioneers at Xaya.” Soccerverse’s Colosimo concludes, “We’re extremely excited to partner with Andy. You really couldn’t find anyone better. He’s the top expert in this field, and we’re fortunate to have him.” 

For more information and to view the current version of Soccerverse, visit the official website at https://soccerverse.io

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About Xaya

Xaya is a blockchain agnostic platform and SDK for creating fully decentralized, censorship-resistant, permissionless, and serverless video games and decentralized applications (dApps). It is fully open-source and free to use. 

About Soccerverse Ltd

Soccerverse Ltd. is dedicated to developing and promoting the Soccerverse blockchain game that was formerly known as Soccer Manager Elite (SME). This massive multiplayer online soccer management game is a community-driven project that leverages decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) to deliver gamers a unique, immersive experience.

From Amiga Demoscene to Your PC – the Retro Roots of VergeWorld

14 JULY 2022, WARSAW, POLAND – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Developers of the upcoming combat racer VergeWorld have shared a new Steam update about the retro beginnings of their game. You can see how the original fan-made Amiga demoscene project grew into a full-scale indie production coming to PC later this year

Arek Kwaśny wanted to fulfill the childhood dream of creating an Amiga game, a retro sci-fi project inspired by the likes of Rescue on Fractalus and After Burner. He began prototyping his sci-fi adventure game in Unity back in 2018 and later coded it into a working prototype for Amiga 1200.

After this demo, the developers from Bad Bones joined the project and started to push both the Amiga and Sega Genesis hardware to their limits. The game itself evolved from a static space opera into a more dynamic combat racer with story elements. By 2020, the team felt they could do more and appeal to a wider crowd, so they got back to working in Unity and started making a full-scale PC version. They redesigned and expanded every aspect of the game by adding roguelite mechanics, PSX-style 3D visuals, and more.

More details about the development and evolution of VergeWorld from the Amiga prototype to the current PC version can be found in the developer’s latest update on Steam. Both Amiga and Sega Genesis prototypes are also available to download and play for free, and the PC version has a playable demo on Steam.

VergeWorld will release on Steam and other PC storefronts in the fall of 2022. Console versions are planned for the future as well.


VergeWorld on Steam

Full development update on Steam

VergeWorld retro prototype (Amiga, Sega Genesis)

About Bad Bones

Established in 2017, Bad Bones is a small team of ambitious and experienced individuals who worked on games like the Amiga classic Cytadela, Sniper: Ghost Warrior, and The Witcher: Monster Slayer. Their aim is to combine elements of retro and modern games into a completely new fun and unique experience.


About Retrovibe

Retrovibe is a publisher that aims to unlock next levels of fun by delivering new indie games with a retro heart. It was established in 2021 by a group of experienced games industry professionals.

Apico Review

Apico

Developer: TNgineers
Publisher: Whitethorn Games
Platform: Switch, Windows PC (Reviewed)
Release Date: 20 May 2022 (Windows PC), 7 July 2022 (Switch)
Price:  $19.99 USD/$28.95 AUD – Available Here

Video Review

Overview

Apico is a bee keeping game inspired by the mod Forestry for Minecraft. Players will step into the beekeepers suit to raise and crossbreed bees, discover long lost species, and rejuvenate the wild bee population.

Story

Apico follows the classic story set out by the Harvest Moon franchise where the player returns to the family business to bring it back from ruin. This time, it just happens to be bees. Lots of bees. The writing isn’t particularly deep as the relationship with other characters are transactional at best. What is there is decent, just be prepared for endless bee puns.

Gameplay

At its heart, Apico is a Mendelian genetic simulator mixed with a casual sandbox game. The pacing is relaxed as players are free to progress at their own pace. The player’s goal is to collect all the species of bees and plants available in the game by crossbreeding bees, who will then cross pollinate flowers and potentially produce hybrid seeds. The sandbox mechanics are very simple, allowing players to build and customize their own structures and harvest a small handful of resources needed to support beekeeping.

The game’s learning curve is not too steep. The game is very generous with hints and tips on what to do. Instead of forcing players to blindly experiment until they get the right combo, Apico is more concerned about having the player create the ideal circumstances to give themselves the highest chance for success. This means getting the right flowers, bee traits, and environment. I like this approach as it fits the game’s relaxed mentality well and cuts down on a lot of frustration.

There’s something joyous and a little addicting about playing Apico. Once I got a hang of crossbreeding bees with good stats and ideal traits and then churning out clones in my hives, I quickly found myself spiraling down a rabbit hole full of Punnett squares in the age-old quest to collect absolutely everything.

The gameplay loop is tactile, striking a good balance between realism and enjoyable gameplay. I love how machines need some sort of physical input from the player to run. Even the late game machines still require some input, even though it is significantly less work for the amount of outputted material. It goes a long way to impart a little bit of realism to the game.

The user experience is good, though there are a few areas that could use quality of life improvements. The mouse and keyboard controls offer a desktop like experience with multiple pop-up windows. Crafting menus are smart enough to pull items out of already open boxes, and it’s a pure joy to be working through multiple machines and boxes without having to run around and open each one at a time to shift around materials. It’s a UI layout that I hope catches on in more games. On the other hand, the sorting system isn’t the smartest thing in the world when multiple windows are open. It would be nice to get a more context aware sort system. For example, having the game automatically move a bee to the correct bee species box when multiple boxes are open would be a huge quality of life improvement.

The user experience is still very good, albeit more standard, for controller users. Things are a bit more stripped down in comparison which makes it a great alternative for players who find themselves a little overwhelmed by windows.

My biggest issue with the user experience is the lack of a UI zoom function. With a 1440 monitor, the text and the game graphics are a touch small. The ability to at least zoom in the UI by 50% would be a great addition.

The developers are taking a page from their Minecraft mod roots by providing a robust set of modding tools for players. While there’s already a decent amount of content in Apico, the growing list of mods offering new content and quality of life features stretches out the game’s life nicely.

Visuals

Apico offers a great visual style that has a cute, yet slightly serious aesthetic. The rounded square style and the more restrained colour palette gives the game a distinct flair. Almost all the bee species can be differentiated with a quick look, but a few could have their colour differences exaggerated a bit more, like the Verge and Forest bees.

Audio

The audio experience is relaxing. The sound effects are solid and very serviceable. The music is an enjoyable accompaniment that matches the laid-back pace of the game, but it only kicks in occasionally. There is an in-game jukebox with different records that can be purchased, but I would have liked to see an option to increase or decrease the regularity of when the default music kicks in.

Overall

While there isn’t much of a story, Apico delivers addictive gameplay that sneakily teaches players the basics of Mendelian genetics while they create the perfect bee habitat. There are some quality-of-life features that could be addressed, but these are the fixes that would turn a good game into a great one. Combined with the enjoyable audio-visual experience and growing mod scene, Apico is a solid indie game for people looking to relax and scratch that 100% collection impulse at their own pace.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Legends of Kingdom Rush Review

Legends of Kingdom Rush

Developer: Ironhide Game Studio
Publisher: Ironhide Game Studio
Platform: Mac, Windows
Release Date: 14 July 2022
Price:  $14.99 USD/$21.50 AUD – Available Here

Video Review

Overview

Ironhide Game Studio is continuing to branch out into new genres with their new rogue-lite tactical RPG Legends of Kingdom Rush. The new game brings back fan favourite characters the Kingdom Rush franchise for a humorous adventure to save the kingdom from an evil bent on destruction.

Story

Legends of Kingdom Rush is a little light on story like many rogue-lite titles. The plot is pushed forward by short comic-style cutscenes at the beginning of a run and smaller in-game chats ahead of combat. The writing is lighthearted and is heavily salted with some intentionally bad jokes. The bulk of the content is the narrative events that can happen during a run. Everything is well written, fun, and never takes itself too seriously.

Gameplay

Character progression is somewhere between a rogue-like and a rogue-lite. While characters do not get significantly more powerful as they’re used, they do unlock level two and three abilities to be used in battle. There is a cap on how powerful a character can get though, as each character is limited to one ability per tier. Once the first level three ability is unlocked, players are simply benefiting from flexibility. The flexibility is helpful though as players only select three out of four party members: one hero and two adventurers. The fourth and final adventurer will be randomly selected early in the run. Characters always start from level one at the beginning of each run and level up anew each time.

The character ability design is enjoyable. Each character has a clear theme, and many have interesting combo opportunities with other characters. Several characters also have creative and unique mechanics. Bruxa is probably my favourite as she stores the souls of fallen enemies in battle and spend the souls to beef up her abilities.

Legends of Kingdom Rush features turn based strategic combat, similar to games like XCOM. It’s extremely simple, forgoing a lot of common mechanics like side attacks in favour of a stripped-down experience that is easier to learn. The developer is likely trying to make an easy to learn, hard to master type game, but it is ruined by the poor game balance.  Player ranged units can be easily one shot by the more powerful enemy ranged units. Matters are made worse by the fact units who die in battle are revived with one less point of maximum health that can only be cured with an item. The game’s low movement speed slows down the game’s pacing significantly, especially for melee characters. Players are incentivized to simply stand their ground and let enemies come towards them while the player pokes at the enemy with their ranged units while the melee wait in reserve. A big part in solving the balancing issue will be to increase the amount of health the player has and scaling everything accordingly. This will give the developers a chance to do punishing amounts of damage but have more opportunity to prevent untimely one-shot kills. Another may be increasing the movement speed of melee units to three to allow them to close the gap more effectively.

The map design is a mixed bag. The boss fights are made well. The mechanics are creative, and the multi-stage battles are great fun. On the other hand, there are quite a few duds as well. An example is the Yeti mini-boss fight in the mountains. Players are usually relying on a bit of luck so the three yetis will clump close enough to the two explosive barrels that they’ll be able to do enough damage to kill one yeti so another can be crowd controlled safely.

It is clear the game was designed with tablet touch screens in mind as everything is controlled with a single mouse button click. There are some keyboard shortcuts to initiate a bound ability, but it still requires a mouse click to confirm the shortcut. It’s not much faster than using the mouse to do the exact same thing. To make matters worse, the confirm action button on the UI is not very responsive, as I ran into multiple occasions were trying to click the button resulted in the mouse clicking through the button and onto the tile underneath. The game is also in desperate need of a fast forward button so players can zip through often long enemy turns.

The UI is inconsistent. The close screen buttons are found in a variety of different locations depending on the menu. System menus use the traditional X at the top right corner. The hero menus have them in different locations on the bottom right of the screen, and most infuriatingly places a tutorial menu where the close window button traditionally sits.

Visuals

Legends of Kingdom Rush uses the same art style as their previous titles. It’s cute, lighthearted, and colourful.

Audio

The audio experience is good. The sound effects are solid. The music is an enjoyable accompaniment.  The voice acting is decent, but the quantity is extremely limited. An extra two or three lines per friendly unit would help.

Overall

Legends of Kingdom Rush is an unbalanced disappointment. The turtle-style tactics become dull quickly and are only interrupted by the odd final boss fight. While the character, audio, and visual design is enjoyable, the mediocre user experience hamstrings the game. Unless the developers are able to pull off a major rebalancing of the game, it’s hard to recommend Legends of Kingdom Rush to anyone other than die hard fans of the franchise.

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