Many have wondered just when to expect the next Dragon Age game would arrive and while EA didn’t have any news for those people today, they did have at least the official name for the game. Electronic Arts and BioWare have announced that the next game in the series will be named Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. No platforms or expected release window were detailed outside of stating that more info will be arriving later this year but the company did detail just who the Dread Wolf might be.
Solas, the Dread Wolf. Some say he might be an ancient Elven god, but some say not. Others say a betrayer of his people… or a savior who now seeks to rescue them at the cost of your world. His motives are inscrutable and his methods sometimes questionable, earning him a reputation as something of a trickster deity—a player of dark and dangerous games. Whether players are new to Dragon Age stories or have experienced them all, using Solas’s namesake no doubt suggests a spectrum of endless possibilities on where things may go.
What’s great about independent games is that they have more room to experiment. Card Shark is the perfect example of that; it’s a game that allows players to become master con-artists in playing cards. This is an interesting idea that hasn’t been done previously.
Nerial, the studio that created the game, is not new to experimental games. They have already worked on other games that also have unique concepts.
Story
The game is set during the 18th century before the French Revolution. The story follows an alternate version of French history. Most of the characters are based on real historical figures such as Diderot or d’Alembert, and all of the cities present in the game exist in real life.
Our hero is an ordinary young man living in a tavern. His only particularity is that he’s mute. After meeting the Comte de Saint-Germain, a known impostor, his life will change. The Compte will teach him a simple card cheating technique. But as the pair try to trick someone, they are discovered, leading to the hero’s caretaker’s death. He will then follow and live with the Comte, who will teach him more cheating techniques involving playing cards.
We follow the characters as they try to undercover the truth behind a royal conspiracy known as “the twelve bottles of milk.” The writing is not exactly where the game shines. The main characters are written well enough, but the story as a whole isn’t very engaging.
Gameplay
Card Shark is best enjoyed with a gamepad, the game says so itself, the gameplay is simple to understand but can sometimes be hard to master.
The different cheating techniques become more complex as the game progresses. It’s great because it gives players a real sense of progression when they’re able to achieve tricks that are harder to execute. The gameplay consists of minigames, some are purely time-based while others require more reflection to be executed correctly. It is incredibly satisfying to cheat successfully.
Explanations regarding the tricks are clear and easy to understand. If they need a reminder, players can read over them again at any time. When a new cheating technique is unlocked, players can practice them as much as they want to, to fully understand it.
Overall, the game tries its best to be accessible; even someone that isn’t familiar with cards can play the game, thanks to added explanations regarding suits and the different values of cards. The characters travel through France with the help of a map. Most of the time, multiple locations are available at the same time, meaning that players will not be stuck even if they don’t master a technique yet.
The challenge mostly comes from the suspicion meter our opponents have. Players have to be quick when they cheat, or the person they try to deceive will get more and more suspicious. At the beginning of each round, players have the possibility to pick how much money they want to bet. Still, they have to be careful because the opponent becomes warier as the amount increases.
There’s a minimum betting amount, and players can be left with 0 livres if they fail multiple times in a row. But in this case, there’s dedicated parts of the map where players can go if they need to make money. If the suspicion meter reaches the top, our character will either be jailed or killed. Fortunately, except at the highest difficulty level, death isn’t permanent.
A lot of effort went into the game to make it as accurate as possible. All of the cheating techniques are based on real-life card tricks.
Apart from playing cards, our hero will also take part in sword battles which also launch minigames. There’s a pattern to remember and execute on time.
Visuals
Even though the graphics are very simple and not very detailed, the art is charming. It was achieved via monoprints, a technique that consists in creating individual painting stamp marks and then putting them on top of one another.
Audio
The music has been made with historical accuracy in mind. It is memorable and fits perfectly with the game’s theme and scenes. Some tunes are melancholic, and others are joyful based on what happens in the context of the story. The sound effects are really convincing, especially those created for the cards, which sound very authentic.
Overall
Card Shark is an excellent example of how independent games can offer players a unique gaming experience. Its story is rather lackluster, and the minimalistic art style might not appeal to everyone, but the smooth, interesting gameplay and the one-of-a-kind concept make it a game worth playing.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Join us as we complete the tutorial and first few levels of Card Shark as we play our opponents better than we play your cards!
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Our adversaries tonight? An unscrupulous group of scoundrels and rogues, rumoured to possess an unlimited fund between them. If we stick to the strategies you’ve learnt, this will be a walkover.” – Comte de Saint-Germain
Card Shark Developer: Nerial Publisher: Devolver Digital Website: http://devolverdigital.com/ Platform: Windows Release Date: 3 Jun, 2022 Price: $19.99 USD
Recommended – “Card Shark’s premise is that it allows players to become masters at deception. Our hero will be able to deceive his competitors and gain a lot of money. Card Shark is a solid game with an unique concept.”
Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have announced that they will be releasing Game Freak’s Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet on November 18th with players being able to buy the game’s separately as per usual or purchase them together in one special package. The company also detailed a number of new elements to the games including revealing what will be exclusive to which versions of the game, showing off the legendary pokemon, revealing three new pokemon, and also announcing that for the first time ever this “open world RPG” will offer up to four players in multiplayer gaming..
The new Legendary Pokemon appearing in these titles, Koraidon and Miraidon, are on each cover of the retail version of the game and for the first time ever these games will feature a different professor depending on which game fans choose to play. Professor Sada, a female professor, will be found in Pokemon Scarlet while Pokemon Violet will feature the more familiar male professor in the form of Professor Sada. Regardless of which version players choose they will find themselves guided by the helpful Nemona.
The three new pokemon introduced this time is the ever popular electric rodent type, Pawmi, a hog pokemon named Lechonk, and a very familiar looking grass pokemon named Smoliv. The trailer and a large number of screenshots showing off these details and more can be found below.
We have known that Sonic Frontiers would be a far different take on the blue blur’s usual adventures but now we have a small look at just what to expect when the game arrives sometime this holiday. This footage found below, coming from an exclusive at IGN, features seven minutes of gameplay showing off Sonic exploring a strange island that he has been stranded on at the beginning of the game.
Sonic travels through a number of areas including exploring the ruins of a tower, ruins featuring strange unknown creatures, and makes use of some signature gameplay elements both for traversal and combat as he also takes on a few enemies. Currently Sega‘s Sonic Frontiers is set to be released later this year for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
The PlayStation Plus monthly games lineup for June is here! From Tuesday 7 June, players will get the chance to enjoy epic battles in recent titles God of War, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker and Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.
Let’s take a closer look at the games…
GOD OF WAR | PS4
Living as a man outside the shadow of the gods, Kratos must adapt to unfamiliar lands, unexpected threats, and a second chance at being a father. Together with his son Atreus, the pair will venture into the brutal Norse wilds and fight to fulfill a deeply personal quest. This staggering reimagining of God of War combines all the hallmarks of the iconic series – epic boss fights, fluid combat, and breathtaking scale – and fuses them with a powerful and moving narrative that re-establishes Kratos’ world.
NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER | PS4
The Naruto franchise goes 4 vs. 4, featuring team-based gameplay with 8 ninjas fighting simultaneously. Players cooperate as a team of four to compete against other teams online. Graphically, Shinobi Striker is also built from the ground up in a completely new graphic style. Lead your team and fight online to see who the best ninjas are.
NICKELODEON ALL-STAR BRAWL | PS4/PS5 Brawl it out as your favourite Nickelodeon characters in bombastic platform battles. With a power-packed cast of heroes from the Nickelodeon universe, face-off with all-stars from SpongeBob Squarepants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Loud House, Danny Phantom, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, The Wild Thornberrys, Hey Arnold!, Rugrats, and more to determine ultimate animation dominance. With unique move sets and attacks inspired by their personalities, each character has an individual style of play enabling endless action for Nickelodeon’s legion of fans.
Last chance to download May’s PlayStation Plus games
Be sure to add the following titles to your game library by Monday June 6: FIFA 22, Tribes of Midgard, Curse of the Dead Gods.
To learn more about the PlayStation Plus lineup for June, head to the PlayStation Blog.
With more than half of game players (52% ) agreeing that “my gaming identity is a better reflection of myself than my real-world identity,” video games are an important outlet that give players – especially those who are LGBTQIA+ – the option to be who they want to be.
Xbox is celebrating the LGBQTIA+ communities during Pride Month through multiple announcements, including:
Sharing how Xbox + Microsoft is giving back to the LGBTQIA+ community. In the last year alone, Microsoft has donated over $8M to organizations that support LGBTQIA+ communities.Today, Microsoft and Xbox announced an additional$170,000 donation to multiple LGBQTIA+ organizations, as well as the option for players to donate MS Rewards points to Mermaids, OutRight Action International, and National Center for Transgender Equality
Announcing that Tell Me Why will be free to download and play for the entire month of June. DONTNOD, the studio behind Tell Me Why will also be donating to Transgender Law Centerand Trans Lifeline, two non-profit organizations offering resources and support to trans, non-binary and genderqueer people, as well as hosting livestreams.
PARIS — June 1, 2022 —Auroch Digital and Focus Entertainment are pleased to lift the veil on a bloody and frenetic homage to the retro shooters of yore: Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun! Announced at Games Workshop’s Skulls Showcase and in development for a 2023 release on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC, this single-player FPS delivers a hardcore, sprite-based experience in the boots of the ultimate war machine: a Space Marine.
Experience a perfect blend of Warhammer 40,000 fun paired with the classic FPS gameplay, style and visuals of your favorite ‘90s retro shooters. Load up your Boltgun and plunge into action headfirst as a battle-hardened Space Marine on a perilous mission across the galaxy against the Chaos Space Marines and daemons of Chaos.
Unleash your devastating Space Marine arsenal as you blast through sprites, pixels and viscera in glorious, boomer shooter style. Run, jump and charge across huge levels to shoot, shred and slice the foulest heretics of the galaxy!
“We are delighted to be working on this fast-paced indie FPS alongside the talented Auroch Digital studio and our long-standing partner Games Workshop,” said Dessil Basmadjian, Chief Creative Officer at Focus Entertainment. “We are excited by Boltgun‘s skillful combination of iconic ‘90s style, the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and thrilling gameplay that is sure to delight all kinds of players.”
“Auroch Digital is proud to be working with Games Workshop again and Focus Entertainment on Boltgun. As a team of massive Warhammer 40,000 fans, this game has been brewing since 2018, and we’re so excited we can FINALLY shout about it from the rooftops! We can’t wait for players to get their hands on it and to see their reactions,” said Nina Adams, Operations Director at Auroch Digital.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is available to wishlist now on Steam.
PARIS – June 1, 2022 – Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive have released a new behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming third-person action game Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Revealed in yesterday’s Warhammer Skulls Showcase, the video introduces Saber Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits and Creative Director Oliver Hollis-Leick, flanked by Clive Standen, who portrays the fan-favorite Captain Titus. You’ll meet the team and discover new details about this high-octane experience, in development for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
This teaser offers a closer look at the passion, philosophy, and people helping to bring Space Marine 2 to life. As diehard fans of the franchise themselves, the development team is committed to delivering on the community’s expectations and excitement for the game.
You’ll also see actor Clive Standen (Vikings, Taken) at work, sharing insights on the challenging transformation process into the iconic Captain Titus. It’s just one element of many going into capturing the scale of a massive universe constantly at war, and within it, the cold efficiency of the Space Marines.
Sign up now as a Focus member to get the latest exclusive info and upcoming special offers for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and the whole Focus catalog.
World Premiere of the first cRPG based in the renowned universe announced at the Warhammer Skulls Showcase! Founder’s packs are available from today.
Nicosia, Cyprus – 1 June 2022. Award-winning studio Owlcat Games is thrilled to announce Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader – the first classic roleplaying game with turn-based combat in the legendary grim darkness of the far future of Warhammer 40,000, produced in close collaboration with Games Workshop to be released on PC and consoles. The World Premiere, including the first glimpse of gameplay, was announced at the Warhammer Skulls Showcase as part of the festival of video games. Players that are eager to get their hands on the early version of the game and contribute to the development can obtain exclusive Founder’s Packs that are available from Owlcat Studio’s website starting today.
Players will take on the role of a Rogue Trader, a scion of an ancient dynasty of daring privateers, that reign over their own merchant empire and explore the fringes of Imperial space with the blessing of the Emperor Himself. Thanks to their Warrant of Trade – the Rogue Trader is endowed with privileges and power beyond imagination as well as the task of expanding the borders of the Imperium. At their disposal is a gargantuan voidship of immense strength and innumerable personnel ready to follow any undertakings of the leader. Show your subjects mercy or disdain, stay faithful to the Emperor or consort with enemies of Mankind – every decision and every act of the Rogue Trader sends ripples throughout entire star systems, changing the in-game world and those who inhabit it.
The action will unfold in the Koronus Expanse, a dangerous and unexplored region on the far frontiers of the Imperium of Man. Many explorers have fallen victim to this dangerous place and never returned.
Remarkable and sophisticated companions are one of the pillars of cRPGs and Rogue Trader is no exception. A mighty Space Marine, a mercurial Aeldari Ranger, or even a courageous Sister of Battle armed with bolter and ardent prayers are just a few of the many characters that will join the Rogue Trader during your adventures.
“We’re really excited to open a new chapter in Owlcat Games history. Working on such a remarkable universe as Warhammer 40,000 is a great honour but also a responsibility and challenge for us as a team. The grim darkness of the 41st millennium is a harsh place of unbound evil, untold sacrifices and large-scale threats and challenges that perfectly transitions into an exciting roleplaying narrative that allows an exceptional freedom of in-game choice for the player,” said Oleg Shpilchevsky, Head of Owlcat Games. “We endeavor to bring to the game everything that fans of the cRPG genre love and expect: fateful decisions, non-linear stories, strong and diverse companion cast together with addictive and complex gaming systems to master.”
Starting today, fans can support the game and purchase one of the Founder’s Packs and become a part of the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. Those who decide to support the developers early will gain access to the Alpha and Beta versions of the game, help the team to shape the experience with their feedback, and receive a set of unique rewards and items available only to early supporters. The Founder’s Packs are available via owlcat.games’ website.
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 Games Workshop
Games Workshop Group PLC (LSE:GAW.L), based in Nottingham, UK, produces the best fantasy miniatures in the world. Games Workshop designs, manufactures, retails, and distributes its range of Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000 games, miniatures, novels and model kits through more than 523 of its own stores (branded Games Workshop or Warhammer), its own web store, and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. More information about Games Workshop and its other, related, brands and product ranges (including its publishing division ‘Black Library’ and its special resin miniatures studio ‘Forge World’) can be found at www.games-workshop.com
