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Innovative Voice-controlled Thriller
Unknown Number is coming to Steam in 2022 

Join a group of eco-warriors and use your voice to thwart a corporate conspiracy in this unique First Person Talker

London, United Kingdom – January 26th, 2022 – Indie studio godolphin games are excited to announce that their Voice-Controlled Interactive Adventure game, Unknown Number, is coming to Steam, with a full release planned by Q2 2022. This announcement is accompanied by a new Gameplay trailer showing off cryptic puzzles and high-pressure choices. 

Answer the call from Amanda and Ethan, two eco-warriors conducting a daring heist on an abandoned oil rig. Discover a thrilling adventure filled with danger, corruption and political intrigue.
 
Talk, sing, whisper, and shout your way through an immersive audio-rich experience that uses voice commands for just about everything.

“Voice control is everywhere. And it’s not just Siri and Alexa. These days, even our cars seem desperate to talk to us. But where is voice control in the world of games?” says Creative Director, Thomas Keane. “With Unknown Number, we wanted to create a game that fully explored voice as a core gameplay mechanic. And what better starting point than a mysterious phone call? A phone call that might just save the world… but only if you’ve got the gift of the gab.”

Described as a “First Person Talker,” Unknown Number defies the usual restrictions of Adventure games and brings a whole new life to the genre with its unique Voice-Control mechanics. Using cutting edge voice recognition technology, players can enjoy total immersion in this high-octane audio blockbuster, featuring a full cast of professional voice actors, creative sound design and engaging FMV. 

And of course – like any great heist movie – the plot has more twists and turns than an offshore oil drill.

In this genre-defying thriller, use your voice to…

  • SOLVE complex puzzles to unlock treasure vaults
  • NAVIGATE a maze-like oil rig under serious time pressure
  • IMPERSONATE high-profile oil execs on conference calls
  • TRICK henchman into abandoning their guard posts
  • JOIN a burgeoning underground eco-movement
  • MAKE crucial moral decisions that impact the story
  • TELL knock-knock jokes… and maybe even SAVE the world

More information on Unknown Number:
Add Unknown Number to your Steam wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1692340/Unknown_Number_A_First_Person_Talker/

About godolphin games
godolphin games is a new indie studio devoted to exploring unlikely gameplay mechanics. It brings together award-winning talent from the worlds of games, film, and even pop music. Unknown Number is their first game, coming to PC in 2022.

Mary Skelter Finale Review

Mary Skelter Finale

Developers: Compile Heart, Idea Factory
Publisher: Idea Factory International
Platforms: PlayStation 4 (Reviewed), Switch
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $49.99 – Available Here

Overview

When it comes to Compile Heart most fans of the developer tend to think of their more light-hearted games or the Neptunia series but even though the company has dabbled in some darker titles in the past when Mary Skelter: Nightmares was released it caught many by surprise. The dungeon crawler featured a dire storyline with some rather disturbing events tied together with solid gameplay elements and plenty of customization. Not only did Mary Skelter: Nightmares manage to see success four years ago, it even saw a sequel that seemingly wrapped things up but now the story will come to a close with Mary Skelter Finale. The question is, has the series managed to hold itself together through a third release and pull off a satisfying conclusion?.

Story

When it comes to telling a conclusion to a series of lengthy RPGs, it may be difficult to jump right in should the player never have touched the first two entries but Mary Skelter Finale is prepared for that. The game comes with the storyline for both of the original games in visual novel style format allowing players who may have never seen the game’s before a way to catch up on everything or give longtime fans a chance to refresh their memories of what happened last or see something they may have missed. It is worth noting that these story recaps are incredibly lengthy as it features almost every major scene and even bonus scenes as well so trying to catch up will take many hours.

Following the events of the previous game, Mary Skelter Finale continues the story  with Jack and the Blood Maidens by his side, finally escaping the hellish underground prison that they have been living in and traveling to the surface. Unfortunately when they arrive they find that the surface is anything but safe and is instead even worse than what they previously have known as a harsh red sky, piles of bodies, and a jail larger than the one they previously resided are the first things they see. It isn’t long before many of the surviving civilians and side-characters start falling to the sadistic weaponry of those behind the killing, a powerful new threat known as Massacre Pink. With no apparent reason the new girls seek to retrieve Alice while slaughtering everyone else and it is only through the last ditch effort of one of their allies that the group manages to survive.

The only problem is, not only does it appear that the teleportation used to escape managed to place the survivors once again inside of a new jail, but the massive group of allies has been separated from one another. Wounded and separated from one another in unknown areas, Jack and the rest must fight to survive against the Nightmares once again. When it comes to telling a cohesive story in a lengthy dungeon crawler such as this, the Mary Skelter series has handled itself rather well throughout the previous two games but unfortunately Mary Skelter Finale falters in this regard. 

Not only does it often introduce a number of twists and plot points that feel off-the-wall even for this series, the long time it takes between events to actually take place does the game few favors even with the focus on separation allowing for a number of new interactions and character developments to take place. That being said, despite the gaps between major events and the lack of many meaningful reveals compared to previous entries, Mary Skelter Finale does manage to tell a solid enough story and even gives fans a little extra content thanks to some bonus free DLC.

Gameplay

As one would expect in the third entry in a series, little has changed in the way that Mary Skelter Finale plays outside of a key detail that we will go into later. Players will still traverse through a wide array of dungeons in first person while battling against enemies in turn-based combat, avoiding traps and other dungeon hazards, and of course running away from Nightmares. Blood being spilled in battle remains a strong factor as the Blood Maidens can enter a frenzied state called “Blood Skelter” when too much is splattered on them, giving the fighter a massive power boost at the cost of the Maiden becoming uncontrollable and possibly attacking allies. In similar fashion Jack and a number of others can use special weaponry to remove stress and blood build up to relieve anyone driven into a frenzy.

The main difference in Mary Skelter Finale from previous entries is the fact that the massive amount of characters that are fighting to survive their new jail are now separated into several different groups. This element was dabbled with a bit in the second entry but it comes full swing in Mary Skelter Finale to the point that it actually ends up being a bit problematic as a result. While the game features a number of handy features such as alerting players when to swap to a different party in a separate area of the dungeon in order to progress or unlock something, especially since only certain characters can deal with certain dungeon obstacles, there ends up being far too much padding here as a result, dragging the game’s story down even if it gives players plenty of chances to see everything Mary Skelter Finale‘s combat and customization brings to the table.

Every character that the player will bring into combat is customizable to a rather extreme extent as each character will have multiple jobs available that players can then choose to learn certain skills with permanently, allowing for players to really power up certain characters that happen to be their favorites or choose to grind should the need arise. In fact, there is even an item zapping system that allows for the transferring of equipment between parties so players will always have options available to them though this system will also regularly be used to transfer items from one team to another in an effort to unlock the way forward.

Visuals & Audio

The Mary Skelter series has always reveled in having a unique art style that blends horror aesthetics with an anime style and that remains true in Mary Skelter Finale. Characters will have their own highly detailed “Live 2D” styled portraits during visual novel scenes and portraits that will change depending on the job that they are currently fighting with while enemies and the dungeons themselves are portrayed in 3D. The enemy variety is quite high for a dungeon crawler and, while some dungeon areas make excessive use of certain gimmicks to the point of annoyance, the dungeons themselves are unique enough looking to remain fresh countless hours in. It is also worth noting that fanservice does remain throughout the game with the frenzied state of the Blood Maidens stripping them down as well as plenty of CGs and character designs with that element in mind but it has been scaled back this time and kept fairly tame, especially compared to the first two games. That said, the bonus free DLC does feature plenty of fan-service for those looking for a little something extra.

One element that Mary Skelter Finale continues to shine at is providing an excellent soundtrack to accompany all elements of exploration and combat. There is a rather surprising amount of variety here when it comes to music, to the poitn that some tracks feature a number of unique blends of instruments as well. Traveling through a dungeon has fitting exploration music that immediately kicks into an intense track once players enter combat. It is also worth noting that Mary Skelter Finale offers both the original Japanese voice track as well as a freshly recorded English dub that appears to retain all of the original voice actors from previous entries.

Overall

Mary Skelter Finale is a dungeon crawler where it often feels like everything is coming together nicely only for these moments to be dragged down by a number of poor gameplay design decisions or the incredibly slow story progression. Newly introduced characters, different interactions between team members, and some plot points are interesting to see but having it all unravel at such a poor pace due to excessive padding that even solid combat cannot help is a disappointment in what still is a solid enough ending to this trilogy.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

ANIME RPG BLUE ARCHIVE RECEIVES ANTICIPATED MAJOR MAIN STORY UPDATE AND MORE

The long-awaited Vol. 3: Eden Treaty: Chapter 1 is introduced as well as new Total Assault raid content and Make-Up Work Club characters

SEOUL – Jan. 26, 2022 – Hit mobile anime RPG Blue Archive received a massive content update, including the highly anticipated first chapter of Vol. 3 of the main story: “Eden Treaty: Ch. 1 Make-Up Work Club, Here We Go!” The update also introduces two characters from the Make-Up Work Club, Azusa and Hanako, as well as new Total Assault raid content and the fearsome boss “Hieronymus.”

The Eden Treaty arch centers around the Trinity General School’s Make-Up Work Club and will consist of three chapters, with Chapter 1 kicking off the story with episodes one through nine. Players will get to know Azusa, a transfer student whose explosive skills inflict lethal levels of damage, and Hanako, whose specializes in recovery of allies and increased party defense.

In addition, players can now face off against a deadly new boss in the Total Assault raid content: Hieronymus. The update also includes a special feature that allows players to heal Relic using Healer characters to de-buff the boss. Experienced players looking for a challenge can also select the newest difficulty level: Extreme.  

Also included in the update, the 14th chapter to Missions as well as Tier 5 for Amulet, Wristwatch, and Necklace equipment have been added. Lesson content has been expanded to Rank 12, and 40 new emotes that can be used in the community content have been added.

Nexon is awarding 1,200 Pyroxene to all players in celebration of the new main story update. Also, players can participate in the Special Make-Up Work Celebration Login Event starting today through Feb. 22 for the chance to earn a Trinity-Style Fountain (3★ Furniture), 720 Pyroxenes, Artifact Choice Tickets, Normal Tech Notes Choice Tickets and more.

Developed by NAT GAMES, Blue Archive follows a group of adventurous schoolgirls as they navigate romance, school clubs, academic events – and the occasional battle with rival schools. Players will take on the role of the students’ teacher and guide them as they investigate incidents throughout the city.

Blue Archive is available on Android and iOS devices in 237 countries and supports multiple languages including English, Korean, Thai and Chinese (traditional).

Players can find more information on the Official Website and follow the Blue Archive social media pages for the latest news and updates:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EN.BlueArchive
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EN_BlueArchive
Discord: discord.gg/bluearchiveglobal
Forum: https://m.nexon.com/forum/551

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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NEW STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN GAMEPLAY AND CUTSCENES SHOWCASED DURING ANNIVERSARY LIVESTREAM

Iconic Northern Bridge Scene from FINAL FANTASY I Recreated for this Alternate Retelling of the Classic RPG’s Story

LOS ANGELES (December 20, 2021)  In celebration of the anniversary of the original FINAL FANTASY’s release, SQUARE ENIX® showcased new gameplay and cutscenes for STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN™, highlighting the connection between the upcoming action RPG and the first title in the FINAL FANTASY series.

Tiamat from the Original FINAL FANTASY will Present a Challenge to Players

The latest gameplay footage was headlined by the iconic northern bridge scene from the original FINAL FANTASY recreated for FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN—the game offers and alternate retelling of the beloved classic, shedding light on the dark origins of Garland through the journey of protagonist Jack and his comrades. Legendary FINAL FANTASY developers Hironobu Sakaguchi (Mistwalker Corporation CEO) and Akitoshi Kawazu shared their thoughts on the links between these two titles:

“Garland, who is defeated at the beginning of the story, is reborn 2000 years in the past as Chaos where he continues to rule over darkness, but is once again bested by the Warriors of Light… I created this endless cycle in the story because it was the first game in the series, and even though it is a pixel art RPG, I thought that by giving the story such layers, it wouldn’t just be viewed as some kind of “toy,” and we could elevate it to an authentic form of entertainment. That was the reason behind this decision. I think the same can be said for the scene when the player crosses the northern bridge, and the title and opening story text are shown on screen.” 

Hironobu Sakaguchi (Mistwalker Corporation CEO)

“The story of FF Origin is told through the eyes of Garland. It’s quite exciting to see this story depicted through the villain’s perspective. I’m interested to see what kind of emotional impact
that the story of this game might have on players this time around.
 
“As far as what happens to Garland… People who played the original FINAL FANTASY
already know his fate, but I hope people will find appreciation in how this title portrays him.
 
“So that’s what happened!?” “I’m almost in tears!”
 
“These are the kinds of emotions I look forward to seeing from our players.” 

Akitoshi Kawazu (Square Enix)

The latest cutscene can be viewed here.

The livestream also showcased STRANGERS OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN gameplay, which has seen new adjustments and additions based on player feedback following the release of the second TRIAL VERSION. Numerous gameplay elements, including basic and advanced jobs, abilities, equipment, and multiplayer were highlighted through a number of new gameplay videos.

Astos from the Western Keep Awaits the Coming of Jack and his Allies

STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN will be available on PS5™, PS4™ Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via the Epic Games Store on 18th March 2022. The title is currently available for pre-order—more details can be found here: https://www.square-enix-games.com/sopffo
 
Related Links:
Official Website: https://na.finalfantasy.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FinalFantasy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/FinalFantasy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FinalFantasy/
#FinalFantasy #StrangerOfParadise #FinalFantasyOrigin
 
About FINAL FANTASY
Since the release of FINAL FANTASY in 1987, this unique RPG series continues to showcase the spectacular visuals, highly imaginative worlds and rich stories leading the industry and earning the highest accolades from users around the world. Titles of the series have so far achieved a cumulative shipment of over 130 million units worldwide.
 
About STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN™
STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN™ is a new action RPG by Square Enix Ltd. in collaboration with Team NINJA from KOEI TECMO GAMES, that brings a bold, new vision to the FINAL FANTASY® series. Jack and his allies, Ash and Jed, burn with the resolve to defeat Chaos as they throw open the gates to the Chaos Shrine. Yet doubts remain – are they truly the Warriors of Light the prophecy foretold? Step into a world of dark fantasy and revel in the exhilarating action – packed battles.
 
About KOEI TECMO GAMES
KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. is a subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO GAMES consists of six development brands creating innovative and iconic game series extending across a wide range of genres: KOU SHIBUSAWA, ω-Force, Team NINJA, Gust, Ruby Party, and midas. Signature series include ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS, NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION, Winning Post, DYNASTY WARRIORS, SAMURAI WARRIORS, Toukiden, Nioh, NINJA GAIDEN, DEAD OR ALIVE, Atelier Ryza, BLUE REFLECTION, Angelique, and La Corda d’Oro.
 
For more information: www.koeitecmo.co.jp/e/
 
About Team NINJA
Team NINJA is one of KOEI TECMO GAMES’ six brands, with development teams specializing in creating hardcore action games. Their most famous series include: NINJA GAIDEN, DEAD OR ALIVE and Nioh, and the team consistently develops new titles that receive praise from all around the world.
About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with 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 164 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 83 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

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© KOEI TECMO GAMES/SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
CHARACTER DESIGN: TETSUYA NOMURA
LOGO ILLUSTRATION: ©2021 YOSHITAKA AMANO
FINAL FANTASY, the STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN logo, CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, EIDOS MONTREAL, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. “PlayStation,” “PS4” and “PS5” are a registered trademark or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Cyberstone Fighter Aztech Forgotten Gods Launches to PC, Consoles March 10

Chihuahua, Mexico — Jan. 25, 2022 — Aztech Forgotten Gods, the Latine-Futurism cyberstone colossus fighter from award-winning Mulaka developers Lienzo, soars onto Steam and the Epic Games Store for Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on Thursday, March 10th.

Guide Achtli, a cybernetically enhanced warrior, on a quest to save Tenochtitlan, her home and the crown of the Aztec Empire. For centuries, the Aztec people and their city have thrived away from European interference, leading to unprecedented technological advancements. Now, something strange stirs, and the awakening of an unfamiliar enemy threatens the very survival of the Mesoamerican metropolis.

Armed with Lightkeeper, a powerful prosthetic arm powered by a mysterious energy, Achtli must stand tall against fearsome foes. Harness Lightkeeper’s latent abilities to leap into action, delivering shattering blows to gods seeking to wipe out her beloved city. Use Lightkeeper to propel Achtli across Tenochtitlan, zooming past floating buildings, grinding brightly lit railings, and bringing her close to pummel colossi standing in her way before hammering them with rocket-powered strikes.

Engage in action-packed combat blending mobility and precision timing during intense showdowns. Master aerial maneuvers to out-position, flank, and strike critical weaknesses to turn the tide of combat in Achtli’s favor. Embrace the power of Lightkeeper to become a guardian of Tenochtitlan and the Aztec people.

Aztech Forgotten Gods is a celebration of our cultural heritage that combines action, heart, and more,” said Guillermo Vizcaino, Head of PR & Marketing and Lead Writer, Lienzo. “Bringing Tenochtitlan and Achtli’s story to life has been our studio’s most rewarding project and we cannot wait to share Aztech Forgotten Gods with the world on March 10, 2022!”

Aztech Forgotten Gods will launch on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 10, 2022, with English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Russian language support.

For more information, please visit the official website and follow Lienzo on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and join the community on Discord.

About Lienzo

Founded in Chihuahua, Mexico, Lienzo’s founders dreamt up an oasis for creative minds. To represent their desire to follow creative visions instead of choosing the industries their surroundings dictated, they named their studio after the Spanish word for “canvas.”

In 2018, Lienzo released Mulaka, which earned several critical awards, including Game Informer’s Best Indies of PAX West 2017 and IGN’s Favorite Games of Nindies@Night 2017.

For more information on Lienzo, please visit their official website.

LIFE IS STRANGE REMASTERED COLLECTION 5 MINUTE CLIP

SYDNEY (January 26, 2022) – SQUARE ENIX® presents a 5-minute sneak peak of the upcoming Life is Strange™ Remastered Collection, which contains enhanced versions of the first two games in the award-winning series. Featuring updated character models, improved motion capture and more, players will be able to experience legendary leads, Max and Chloe, like never before on Google Stadia, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, GeForce Now, and PC Steam.

Watch the Life is Strange™ Remastered Collection first official gameplay video

Improvements visible in this clip are:

  • Now rendering in native 4K in Unreal 4, with a rebuilt lighting pipeline.
  • New and updated 4K-ready character models with increased polycounts and additional bones are visible throughout
  • All character models frrreature more emotive and expressive animation, more natural hair physics, and updated tears, injuries, and more.
  • Max’s tears and expressions are more detailed with updated facial SFX
  • Nathan and Chloe’s facial expressions and eyelines have been revamped
  • New lipsync animation throughout.
  • New and updated scenic materials for reflectivity and texture.
  • Updated models and materials for key props, eg the bucket in the bathroom

The Life is Strange Remastered Collection is available digitally on Google Stadia, PlayStation 4®, Xbox One, GeForce Now, PC Steam on February 1 2022. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will also be compatible with the next-gen PlayStation 5, and XBOX SERIES X|S. The Nintendo Switch version will be available at a later date.

Purchasers of the Life is Strange: True Colors Ultimate Edition will also receive the Life is Strange Remastered Collection.

$5 Million in Funding Secured by Apogee, House of Max Payne, Duke Nukem, Wolfenstein, and More

$5 Million in Funding Secured by Apogee, House of Max Payne, Duke Nukem, Wolfenstein, and More

eWTP Tech Innovation Fund invests heavily in the future of gameplay-first indie development

DALLAS — January 25, 2022 — Apogee Entertainment, the legendary developer-publisher behind Duke NukemPrey (2006)Max PayneWolfenstein 3DCommander Keen, and many more, today announces the company has accepted $5 million in external financing—the first outside investment in Apogee’s history.

eWTP Tech Innovation Fund’s $5 million investment in Apogee comes on the heels of the original indie game publisher’s public resurgence in March 2021, when founder and industry luminary Scott Miller rejoined the company he started in his parents’ home in 1987. A creative powerhouse that mentored id Software, Remedy Entertainment, and so many others, Apogee’s 2021 resurrection saw several successful game launches, like sci-fi survival adventure Residual from OrangePixel, and even more signings, including the open-world epic Elements (starring Patricia Summersett of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) and Turbo Overkill, a frenetic first-person shooter from the acclaimed creator of DOOM II mod Total Chaos.

eWTP shares Apogee’s vision for an industry future where undiscovered indie talent is found, elevated, and rewarded for simply giving consumers great games—complete, polished, and purely fun. Their investment will accelerate Apogee’s growth, allow the hiring of additional management and production staff, and make possible the signing of several new games and developers spanning the globe.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled by this investment in our future success. I’m especially glad to have met Partner CY Chen and VP of Business Development Jack Sorensen, both of whom impressed us deeply with their understanding of our profession and business goals,” said Scott Miller. “Partnering with eWTP has us excited for the rocket ride ahead, on which we’ll discover and bring even more games to the world.”

“We really love Apogee’s proven track record of discovering new indie studios and nurturing their international success,” said CY, a veteran of the gaming industry and Electronic Arts China who helped pioneer online gaming in China. “We’re honored to support their mission to find undiscovered talent and help create evergreen hits that can remain successful for decades.”

Quantum Tech Partners, longtime advisors to Apogee Software, consulted on the partnership with eWTP Tech Innovation Fund. “Congratulations to Apogee and eWTP on the completion of this transaction. Quantum Tech Partners was very proud to exclusively advise Scott and Terry at Apogee on this partnership,” said Jim Perkins, Founder and Partner at QTP. “I’ve worked with Scott for decades, supporting independent developers worldwide. Scott’s talent is unmatched when it comes to finding and supporting visionary game developers and bringing their games to market.”

The resurrection continues in 2022 with the multi-platform releases of ElementsTurbo Overkill, hand-drawn dungeon-diving roguelike Below the Stone, and narrative-driven survival shooter DEAD FURY. Get the latest from Apogee Entertainment on its official website or follow the legends on TwitterFacebookInstagram, and Discord.

About Apogee Entertainment

Apogee Software’s pioneering journey began in 1987, when Scott Miller decided to split his new game, Kingdom of Kroz, into three episodes, with the first episode available as free shareware. The “Apogee model” of distribution revolutionized PC gaming at the time and catapulted Apogee Software to global renown. As an indie publisher, Apogee (and it’s later incarnation, 3D Realms) would introduce the world to id Software, Remedy Entertainment, Parallax Software, and other video game superstars in the making. As a developer, Apogee would innovate and inspire in equal measure, creating treasured characters and franchises like Duke NukemShadow Warrior, and Prey en route to earning over a billion dollars in commercial revenue.

The new Apogee Entertainment, with founder Scott Miller and longtime partner Terry Nagy at the helm, will empower today’s incredibly talented indie developers, paving the way for their global success with innovative ideas, cutting-edge marketing, and the same fearlessness that changed the industry.

About eWTP Tech Innovation Fund

eWTP Tech Innovation Fund was established in May 2018 as the first fund originating from China that positions itself for globalization. Alibaba Group and Ant Financial Group are cornerstone investors of the fund. The size of the first funding is $600 million USD.  

eWTP focuses on markets around the world that have high growth potential within industries that revolve around technological innovation and improvement in the quality of consumption. eWTP focuses on technological innovation and development of businesses in regions of the Belt and Road Initiative.    

KAKAO GAMES MAKES MAJOR PLAY IN WESTERN MARKETS WITH 20 MILLION INVESTMENT IN FROST GIANT STUDIOS

Amsterdam, The Netherlands — January 25, 2022 —  In keeping with their increasing global profile and ambitious growth strategy, Korean game publisher Kakao Games is eager to announce a 20 million USD strategic investment from Kakao Games Europe B.V. in American independent game developer Frost Giant Studios.

Founded in 2020 by industry veterans Tim Morten and Tim Campbell, Frost Giant Studios is currently at work developing their first real-time strategy (RTS) game, further details of which are expected to be announced later this year.

The game industry mainstays have had their hand in a number of the best-selling PC game franchises of all time, with Tim Morten (Frost Giant CEO and Production Director) having acted as Production Director for StarCraft II, and Tim Campbell (Frost Giant Game Director and President) working as Lead Campaign Designer for WarCraft III, amongst their various high-profile accomplishments.  

“The team at Frost Giant Studio have already proven they have strong development capabilities, creating beloved RTS hits in the global market in the past,” says Kakao Games CEO Kyehyun Cho. “We look forward to seeing them present their first game as a studio, and will actively work together to showcase good work through our close partnership.”

Frost Giant Studios CEO Tim Morten notes, “Kakao Games is a Publisher recognized in both the Korean and global markets; we are very happy to be working together. With their support, we’ll do our best to present a next-gen RTS game that can be enjoyed by players worldwide.”

In addition to this investment, Kakao Games overall continues to expand its lineup with promising and skilled domestic (Korean) and international dev studios, including Ocean Drive Studio, Second Dive, NINEARK, Reality MagiQ, and more.

About Frost Giant Studios, Inc.

Frost Giant Studios was founded in 2020 by games industry veterans Tim Morten and Tim Campbell to embark on a singular mission: build the next great PC real-time strategy (RTS) game! Frost Giant has attracted a team of experienced developers who helped create some of the most acclaimed and commercially successful games in history. Together, they are carrying forward the legacy of epic storytelling, innovative co-op gameplay, and celebrated esports that make RTS both fun to play and engrossing to watch. Headquartered in Irvine, California, and including its remotely-based talent from around the world, Frost Giant Studios is committed to a work environment built on collaboration, inclusion, and mutual respect. For more information, visit Frostgiant.com.

About Kakao Games Founded in 2016, Kakao Games is a leading publisher of online and mobile games, responsible for releasing titles including Pearl Abyss’ Black Desert Online (serviced in North America and Europe until early 2021), KRAFTON’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (serviced in Korea), Kong Studios’ Guardian Tales (serviced in North America, Europe, Latin America and Oceania), Moonlight Sculptor (serviced in North America and Europe) MMORPG Elyon (serviced in North America, Europe and Oceania) and ArcheAge (serviced in North America, Europe and Oceania).  

WORKSHOP SIMULATOR to launch on PC and Consoles on 10 March 2022

Cut, sand, polish, paint and assemble thousands of items in Intermarum’s nostalgic restoration title

Opole, Poland – 25 January 2022 – Polish developer Intermarum today announced their highly-detailed restoration title, Workshop Simulator, will launch on PC, Xbox and PlayStation on 10 March. Players will craft and restore vintage toys, tools, furniture, and works of art using true-to-life tools and technical craft, while exploring a warmly nostalgic tale of family history and the stories of days gone by that are locked inside some of our most cherished possessions. 

Workshop Simulator offers players a cosy retreat with a nostalgic and creative experience focused on restoring vintage items through disassembling, cleaning, sanding, and painting – or to express their own creativity through brand-new creations. The rewarding nature of tools and craft is complemented by a heartwarming story about lessons in patience and generosity across generations.

Workshop Simulator features: 

A detailed and authentic workshop 
Hammers, drills, paints and machinery are re-created in rich visual and physical detail. Workshop Simulator allows players to repair and refurbish items using a range of restoration techniques and mechanics with authentic tools and specialist equipment unlocked through gameplay.   

A heartwarming and nostalgic story 
An innocent request from your grandmother and a visit to an abandoned workshop leads to a nostalgic trip down memory lane, exploring your family’s history through the treasures passed down between generations. 

Countless vintage items to build, repair and restore 
Feel the joy of turning old into new. Take intricate vintage items and give them a second life with tactile restoration techniques. Sand, polish, paint and assemble everyday objects to turn them into their own small work of arts. Sell your works to fund better tools and more restoration opportunities. 

“There’s something about restoring items and toys which taps into a sense of nostalgia, creativity, and, warmth,” said Marcin Książek, Creative & Art Director at Intermarum. “This is turn breathes new life into items which may have otherwise been discarded. It’s a hard thing to capture in a videogame, but we feel we’ve got pretty close with Workshop Simulator and we hope that players will love what we have created for them and enjoy tinkering and restoring items so that they shine.”

Workshop Simulator launches on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation on 10 March 2022. To find out more about Workshop Simulator, visit the official Facebook and Twitter pages. 

About Intermarum: 
Intermarum is an indie game development studio, founded in 2010 in the cozy and beautiful city of Opole, located in the south of Poland – the silence and peace give us the strength to do our work in truly beautiful and quiet surroundings, letting our creativity flow freely. Since then, we created games taking the best from many genres, but at the same time making them unique with fresh ideas – we try to make our dreams a reality through dedicated work and a free flow of creativity. Our hardened developers are working each day to deliver the best gaming experiences we can give. 

THE CHINESE ROOM PRESENTS LITTLE ORPHEUS, COMING TO PC AND CONSOLES ON 1 MARCH 

Play the award-winning narrative adventure from the master storytellers behind Dear Esther and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch

Leamington Spa – 25 January 2022: Developers The Chinese Room and publishers Secret Mode today announced the multi-award-winning Little Orpheus is coming to console and PC on 1 March 2022. Players can experience this technicolour side-scrolling adventure on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam, Epic Games Store and Nintendo Switch.

See the Release Date Announce Trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP6S9FbrZ-E

The year is 1962 and NASA is trying to put a man on the moon. In a remote corner of Siberia, a Soviet cosmonaut is heading in the other direction. Comrade Ivan Ivanovich is dropped into an extinct volcano in his exploration capsule, Little Orpheus, to explore the centre of the Earth. He promptly vanishes. Three years later he emerges claiming to have saved the world.

Join Comrade Ivanovich as he explores lost civilizations, undersea kingdoms, prehistoric jungles and lands beyond imagination. Little Orpheus is a side-scrolling adventure game for casual players and seasoned adventure fans alike, inspired by classic movies like Flash Gordon, Sinbad and The Land that Time Forgot.

This definitive edition of the multi-award-winning Apple Arcade hit from master storytellers The Chinese Room is rebuilt and remastered for the big screen with hi-res textures, new moves, new animations, and enhanced graphics and effects. Little Orpheus for PC and consoles also features the bonus ninth episode – A Rush of Onion to the Head – and the Lost Recordings Mode from the original game. 

“Bringing such a beloved, award winning and acclaimed title to our PC and Console fans is something Secret Mode are super-excited to be involved in,” said James Schall, Director of Publishing at Secret Mode. “Incredible craft and ingenuity of storytelling is the DNA of The Chinese Room. We can’t wait to hear and read what players think!”

Players who pre-order or purchase the game on Steam in the first two weeks of launch will also receive the Ivor-award nominated soundtrack by BAFTA-winning composer Jessica Curry and Jim Fowler for free.

For more information, visit LittleOrpheus.com.

Follow Secret Mode on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Secret Mode
Greetings from The Bunker! Secret Mode is the newly founded publishing wing of the award-winning Sumo Group Plc. Our goal is to publish internally developed projects from any of our 11 game development studios across the UK, US, Europe, and India, as well as third party independent game developers. We believe that games are for everyone, and that creativity has no limits. We believe quality and fun are everything.