Next Level Game Preservation – Lost Arcade Gem Comes to Life After 27 years

Stuttgart, Germany – June 4th 2020 – Strictly Limited Games and ININ Games are very excited to announce that the colorful game Clockwork Aquario will be released in 2020 – after being lost for 27 years.
 

The game will be published for current gaming platforms and will be available in limited physical editions, as well as digital. The release date is planned for later this year.

The development of Clockwork Aquario started in 1992 and is the last arcade game ever developed by the legendary company Westone. With its beautiful 2D graphics it was created to push the SEGA System 18 arcade hardware to its limits. Unfortunately, fighting games and 3D games were dominating the arcades at that time which led to the cancellation of Clockwork Aquario.

Originally designed by the chief publisher, and co-founder, of Westone, Ryuichi Nishizawa, Clockwork Aquario can be described as the swan song of a company that was part of an era with historic milestones such as the Wonder Boy / Monster World series.

As a company that is striving for the preservation of video games, it has also become a part of Strictly Limited Games’ mission to unearth unreleased games that are an essential part of the cultural video game heritage.

So, three years ago, Strictly Limited Games set out to find the whereabouts of “Tokeijikake no Aquario”, the Japanese title of Clockwork Aquario, and to bring the game back to life. 

ININ Games then joined in the endeavours to convince SEGA/LAT that Clockwork Aquario will finally see the light of day, by signing to create a digital release and making the game accessible to a wider audience.

Some parts (including sound, music and several graphics) were not recoverable from the source code, so the particular emphasis is placed on involving as many members of the original Westone team as possible in the project to be true to the game – from the chief programmer, Takanori Kurihara, to the musical genius, Shinichi Sakamoto, to Mr Wonder Boy himself, Ryuichi Nishizawa, who expressed his joy and excitement about seeing the title screen again after 27 years on Twitter.

Ryuichi Nishizawa also said: “Clockwork Aquario is a great piece of 2D art, into which the pixel artists put their hearts and souls. I would like to express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to those who have worked so hard to restore it.”

More information about the game will follow soon. If you want to be sure to stay up-to-date on the state of the game, please go to http://clockworkaquario.com/ and subscribe to the mailing list. 

About Strictly Limited Games 

Strictly Limited Games is a German publisher based near Stuttgart, specialized in releasing a curated selection of digital download-only games in exclusive collectable physical editions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Nintendo Switch. The company was founded in 2017 by Dennis Mendel, a former scholar for game studies and advisor at Fraunhofer Institute, and Benedict Braitsch. Both passionate collectors with a combined collection of over 7.000 digital and physical games for all console generations, their intention is to form an opposite pole to the current trend of digital-only releases. All collectors’ editions are available exclusively at Strictly Limited Games online store www.strictlylimitedgames.com.

About ININ Games

ININ Games focuses on the digital and physical publishing of high-quality, feel-good retro and arcade games. ININ Games brings retro games to life and creates the classics of the future. They are best known for “Bubble Bobble 4 Friends”, “Slaps and Beans” and “The Ninja Saviors – Return of the Warriors”. Numerous other milestones of classic gaming culture are in the planning and will be announced in the coming months. ININ Games is part of United Games Entertainment GmbH. For more information visit http://inin.games 

About Westone Bit Entertainment

With Wonder Boy, Westone created one of the most popular video game series of all time. It became synonymous with SEGA until SEGA created their own mascot character with the infamous Sonic the Hedgehog in the early 1990s.

Some of their best-known titles include Wonder Boy (1986), Wonder Boy in Monsterland (1987) or Wonder Boy III – The Dragon’s Trap (1989).

MY.GAMES and Booming Games thank their community with a warlord’s bounty of legendary perks, XP boosts, sales and events

Global publisher MY.GAMES and developer Booming Games proudly announce the first anniversary of their popular PC medieval war MMO with the Conqueror’s Blade Year One event, a 21-day celebration packed with epic bonuses, gifts, and sales for their passionate community. Starting today and lasting until June 25, players who log in to the game will be treated to exclusive Hero Attire, perks, XP gains, and other goodies as thanks for contributing to a massive first year for Conqueror’s Blade.

Booming Games has also released a special infographic highlighting various milestones as Conqueror’s Blade has grown and evolved with three seasons, an eleventh weapon class, new units and maps, and regular content updates!  

Conqueror’s Blade Year One will treat players to:

IN-GAME BOOSTS AND BONUSES

Players can enjoy 30% extra Bronze, Honour, Hero and Unit XP from matchmaking battles, no Unit Kit repairs, and a higher weekly Honour limit for the duration of the event! These added gains are sure to make war sieges extra profitable as players prepare for new adventures in the coming year.

DAILY LOGIN EVENT: GET A FREE HERO ATTIRE AND TITLE!

Players will get up to 15 days of free gifts for every day they log in to Conqueror’s Blade during the event! By logging-in on at least 15 of the days during the event, players can ensure that they claim all the available rewards including the coveted Paladin’s Hero Attire and an exclusive player title that await at the end of the event.

LOADING SCREEN CONTEST

For creative warlords, MY.GAMES is also hosting a special Loading Screen Contest. Players that submit their artwork before June 25 will be entered for a chance to see it featured in the game!

YEAR ONE SALES: MINOTAUR HERO ATTIRE, DISCOUNTS & MORE

Players can unlock the mythical Minotaur Hero Attire in limited-time bundles, enjoy a free Anniversary Banner and fireworks from MY.GAMES Market, save 25% on consumables and 10% on cosmetics, and shake up their warlord’s appearance with Hair Dye! A full selection of offers can be seen in the Year One Sales article.

Leading video game publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe, and developers Slightly Mad Studios, have today announced Project CARS 3, the next instalment in the Project CARSracing franchise. The game will be available for PlayStation^® 4, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM^® in 2020.

Your Ultimate Driver Journey from weekend warrior to racing legend with Project CARS 3 comes packed with over 200 elite-brand road and race-cars, and over 140 global circuits complete with 24-hour cycles and evocative all-4-season, all-weather racing.

Along with all the thrills, emotions, and fun from the vibrant world of motor racing that has always been a mainstay of the Project CARS franchise, Project CARS 3 brings a host of exciting new features to up both the fun factor and accessibility.

New to the best-seller franchise is an engaging and challenging Career Mode that will see drivers own their stable of exclusive machinery for the first time. Drivers will need to race hard to upgrade their cars with authentic performance parts that realistically affect handling and power as they battle their way up to the top of the racing world.

Also new to the franchise is a wide range of customisation options for cars, including wheels, tyres, rims, as well as personalisation options that will let players create their racing hero persona.

The seasoned racing game developers at Slightly Mad Studios have worked tirelessly to make Project CARS 3 the most accessible entry in the franchise’s history to cater for all drivers no matter their skill level. A completely redeveloped controller experience, fully scalable assists, a revamped model for even more convincing and fun handling, and a whole new, fun First Time User Experience will allow everyone—from franchise veterans to sim-racing pros to rookie drivers—to fully experience the authenticity of pure racing.

Along with a new emphasis on the visceral sense of speed coupled with intense crash effects, authentic car-contact and enhanced AI, Project CARS 3 is all set to continue the franchise’s authentic journey into the pounding heart of motor racing fun for everyone.

“It’s been quite a journey watching the Project CARS franchise go from strength to strength these last five years, and we’re delighted to finally lift the wrap on Project CARS 3,” said Ian Bell, founder and CEO, Slightly Mad Studios. “While realism and authenticity continue to be at the core of the franchise, we’ve added a host of new options to ensure that Project CARS 3 is also the most accessible game in the franchise’s history. We really couldn’t be more excited to show off our new Project CARS game to both fans of the franchise and those who are ready to experience racing at its very best.”

“We are excited to be able to show the latest title in our partnership with Slightly Mad Studios,” said Hervé Hoerdt, Senior Vice President Marketing, Digital, Content, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe. “Project CARS 3 offers a renewed approach that speaks to both newcomers and fans alike, with a fully customizable and authentic driving approach as well as a completely new Career Mode.”

The Project CARS franchise debuted in 2015 to critical praise and quickly went on to sell over 2 million units in its first year. The follow-up, 2017’s Project CARS 2, won the gamescom award for the Best Simulation Game. Now, with this third instalment, the team at Slightly Mad Studios continues in the tradition of delivering an authentic racing experience that allows players to create and live out their own ultimate driver journey.

For more information regarding titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.com, or follow us on
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU. Join the conversation on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU.

###

About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles, PC and mobile.  The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TEKKEN™, SOULCALIBUR™ and DARK SOULS™ as well as new franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™ and THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY.

For more information please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu

Press Release © 2020 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.

All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

ABOUT SLIGHTLY MAD STUDIOS
Slightly Mad Studios is the team behind the critically acclaimed GTR® series, Need For Speed® Shift™ & Shift 2 Unleashed® & the Project CARS Franchise. It has over 10 years of pedigree in racing games, and Project CARS represents the culmination of all that experience and heritage.
Keep up to date with Slightly Mad Studios by visiting their website: https://www.slightlymadstudios.com
Or on Social Media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/slightlymadteam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slightlymadstudios
Slightly Mad Studios is a Codemasters® company

ABOUT CODEMASTERS
Codemasters (AIM:CDM) is an award-winning British video game developer and publisher with over 30 years of heritage. The company specialises in high-quality racing games including DiRT, GRID, and the BAFTA award-winning official F1® series of videogames.
In November 2019 Codemasters acquired Slightly Mad Studios, creators and developers of award-winning IP including the Project CARS franchise.
For more information on Codemasters’ product portfolio, please visit www.codemasters.com. Join in the conversation with @codemasters on Twitter or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/codemasters.

HARRY POTTER MEETS PROFESSOR LAYTON IN THE LATEST TITLE FROM THE CREATORS OF “FARAWAY” AND “THE BIRDCAGE”

Zagreb, Croatia, June 3, 2020 — Developer Pine Studio, the company behind the well-received Faraway puzzle adventure series, has announced that its latest Harry Potter and Professor Layton-inspired title, “The Academy: The First Riddle,” will launch June 19 on PC and Mac via Steam, the App Store and Google Play. The game will arrive to Playstation 4, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch later this summer. 

“We’re huge fans of the Professor Layton series and its colorful puzzles,” says Pine Studio’s Boris Barbir. “We wanted to make a game that would allow players on all platforms to experience that thrill of getting a puzzle just right. We are big fans of Harry Potter, so the school is greatly inspired by Hogwarts, but it’s also inspired by the architecture of our city, Zagreb. Early on in development, it became clear that what we actually set off to achieve was to capture the essence of being a kid – the feeling that adventure lies around every corner.”

The game will place players in the shoes of Sam, a freshman at Arbor’s famed, yet mysterious, Academy. Over the course of this roughly 20-hour adventure, fans will sink their teeth into over 200 puzzles and riddles scattered across the campus. The puzzles will guide the players through the central story of the game and the mystery looming over the school. When fans aren’t busy unraveling the school’s past, they’ll be able to engage in a host of fun activities with an array of memorable characters.

The Academy: The First Riddle will launch June 19 on PC and Mac via Steam for $19.99, on Google Play, and the App Store for $9.99. The title will arrive to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch later this summer.

To keep up to date with all the latest information on The Academy: The First Riddle, please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, join our Discord, and visit our website.

About Pine Studio
Based in Zagreb, Croatia, Pine Studio aims to offer innovative and thought-provoking interactive entertainment across PC, Mac, consoles, and mobile platforms. From hardcore FPS platformers like SEUM: Speedrunners From Hell to puzzle adventure games like the Faraway series, Pine Studio’s work has reached nearly 30 million players worldwide. The developer’s latest title, The Academy, is set to arrive on PC, Mac, Google Play, and the App Store on June 19. The game will launch for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch later this summer. Visit http://pinestudio.com/ for more information.

Gear.Club Unlimited 2 takes its supercars to the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and adds a new motorsport campaign.

Sydney, June 4, 2020 – Microids and Eden Games are delighted to announce the upcoming release of Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Tracks Edition, available for the Nintendo Switch on August 27th. This new edition will include the renowned track from the 24 hours of Le Mans alongside some new legendary race cars! Gear.Club Unlimited – Tracks Edition will include all the content available in Gear.Club Unlimited 2 and will focus on a racing experience closer to a real motorsport competition: pit stops, tires, fuel management, and race strategy.

On top of the already available tracks, players will be able to take on the challenging circuit of the most prestigious racing event: the 24 hours of Le Mans! From the qualifying session to the race strategy, racers will have to perform in every compartment to finish on the podium.

Only the very best will have what it takes to finish first and win the legendary Ford GT40 MK I, winner of the 1968 and 1969 editions of Le Mans. No less than 4 other racing cars are joining Gear.Club Unlimited’s roster: Nissan GT-R LM Nismo, Porsche 919 Hybrid, Mercedes AMG GT3 and Bentley Continental GT3-R. Also note that 13 of the cars already present in GCU2 will get their “motorsport” version in this new edition.

Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Tracks Edition Content:

• All previously released Gear.Club Unlimited 2 content including the following DLCs: Packs Arrows, Checker, Hazard and Wings
• The DLCs Gear.Club Classics and Ace of the Road
• A brand new campaign
• 5 new tracks, including the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit
• 5 new cars built for motorsport and 13 cars prepared for the  «Endurance Championship» campaign
• A new time attack mode. Challenge the fastest racers in the world and get your name on the leader board! – Every combination track/car will have its very own leader board.

***

Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Tracks Edition will be released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in retail and on the Nintendo eShop on the 25^th of August 2020 in the US and on the 27^th of August in Europe!

The game will support subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, German, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese and traditional Chinese.

International League of Legends tournament Red Bull Solo Q arrives in Australia, offering fans an opportunity of a lifetime.

• Australian qualifiers will take place from June 19 – July 5 with the finals taking place on July 11
• The National Champion will secure a spot in the Chiefs Esports Club Academy
• The National Champion will journey on to the Red Bull Solo Q World Finals in Germany at the end of 2020.

Sydney, June 1. The official 1v1 League of Legends (LoL) tournament is coming to Australia for the first time as Red Bull Solo Q registrations open today. Last year, the competition ran in 29 countries – branded as Red Bull Player One – and saw 25,000 registrants battling for the title. This season, with Australia joining over 35 countries participating in the circuit, will we see an Aussie on the finals stage?

Red Bull Solo Q puts a twist on a typical League of Legends match, pitting player against player in a bracket of 1v1 duels. The first player to earn ‘First blood!’, destroy the opponents´ tower or reach a 100-minion score wins the duel. The Australian winner will earn a spot on the global stage at the Red Bull Solo Q World Finals in Frankfurt, Germany this December, along with an invitation to join The Chiefs Esports Club League of Legends Academy Program.

The Solo Q Australian Champion will join the Chiefs ESC Academy Program, where for three months they’ll receive fortnightly, one-on-one coaching sessions from the League of Legends Team Coach, Chris ‘Seeel’ Lee as well as a Chiefs team member. The program will aim to help bootcamp them in preparation for the Red Bull Solo Q World Finals.

As part of the partnership with League of Legends Global Esports Events, the winner of Red Bull Solo Q World Finals will get to experience the 2020 League of Legends All-Star Event firsthand! The champion will participate in the League’s annual year-end celebration alongside some of the game’s biggest esports athletes and streaming personalities, playing in special showcases and attending exclusive parties.

Top athletes and many more well-known faces from the LoL scene, including The Chiefs, will make special appearances throughout the tournament. You can catch the likes of Thien and Claire as they share some tips and tricks to help players level up their game ahead of the tournament. Red Bull also continues their collaboration with one of the most popular faces in the League of Legends community: sjokz, who will return as the global brand ambassador for Red Bull Solo Q.

Players who think they have what it takes can register from today at redbull.com/soloq, with qualifiers kicking off on June 19. Those who successfully climb through the qualification bracket will meet in the Regional Finals on July 11 to see who will represent Australia in the World Finals.

Visit redbull.com/soloq for more information, including format, rules and eligibility, and additional announcements!

How to participate

Australians looking to participate can register via the Red Bull Solo Q website here: www.redbull.com/soloq

Dates & Timings

Qualifiers

Day 1 – Friday June 19th
Day 2 – Saturday June 20th
Day 3 – Sunday June 21st
Day 4 – Friday June 26th
Day 5 – Saturday June 27th
Day 6 – Sunday June 28th
Day 7 – Saturday July 4th
Day 8 – Sunday July 5th

Finals

Finals – Saturday July 11th

About Red Bull Gaming / esports *

Red Bull gives you wings – in gaming and real life. We have built up personalities in gaming and hosted and supported esports events for a long time. Some of the most notable athletes promoted include streaming superstar Ninja, the 2019 Dota 2 world champions OG, and many more. We are partners with the League of Legends Global Esports Events and numerous regional leagues around the world, including the League of Legends European Championship (LEC), Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends (CBLOL), and League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). Apart from Red Bull Solo Q, we host tournaments – like the Red Bull Kumite – that gives world class players the chance to stand out. Explore the world behind the can and visit the hub on redbull.com/esports or redbull.com/gaming. Our hubs feature the latest trends in gaming, esports and lifestyle. It is a focal point for getting information about exciting upcoming Red Bull events, plus there is a section aimed at players in particular who want to improve their skills.

About Chiefs Esports Club

Founded in 2014, the Chiefs are the premier Esports & Gaming Entertainment club in Australia & New Zealand. Our teams compete on the world’s largest esport stages and our content creators entertain thousands of people online every single week.

Our academy program is designed to nurture up and coming talent within our region and get players into a competitive environment where they can grow both in and out of the game. Our developmental philosophy exists across all our titles where our core belief is developing and supporting the region’s next generation of esports stars.

More Red Bull Gaming / esports

Red Bull Solo Q Discord: https://discordapp.com/invite/redbullsoloq2020
Web:  https://redbull.com/gaming /  https://redbull.com/esports
Twitter: https://twitter.com/redbullgaming
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbullgaming/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBullGaming

Second Lap of Testing will Run from June 3 to June 10

KartRider: Drift, the free-to-play kart racing game, is gearing up for its second Closed Beta test via the Nexon Launcher, Steam, and Xbox One, including Xbox One X starting today at 4 p.m. PDT / 9 a.m. AEST.

KartRider: Drift will provide players with an abundance of never-before-seen content in its second lap of testing, including a wealth of new in-game enhancements such as a revamped User Interface, updated HUD elements, a contextual rear view mirror, and refined physics that significantly improve the racing experience.

Players will also be introduced to an all-new character, Diz and new tracks. Additionally, drifters can deck out their characters with a variety of colourful new skins and emotes, along with a robust set of kart customisations featuring an assortment of decals, paint jobs, wraps, and more for maximum personalisation.

Players can also test out new systems such as the Racing School mode where they can improve their racing skills, as well as the Racing Pass that provides a mixture of exciting unlocks for playing.

As a thank you to beta testers, KartRider: Drift will reward players with special daily login bonuses, including the Turbo Tortoise Kart, Bunny Buggy Kart, Simian Scrapper Kart, and Deuce Coupe Kart. Beta participants will also receive a White Cloud Balloon item at official launch.

KartRider: Drift’s Closed Beta will be available worldwide starting today at 4 p.m. PDT / 9 a.m. AEST on the Nexon Launcher, Steam, Xbox One, including Xbox One X, with the exception of Japan, and China on console. To see a full list of available regions, please follow this link.

For more information on KartRider: Drift, visit www.kartriderdrift.com or follow @KartRiderDrift on Twitter for the latest updates and information on contests and giveaways.

Social Media: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Discord / Official Site

About KartRider: Drift http://kartriderdrift.com

Launched in 2004, KartRider is a massively popular multiplayer racing franchise that boasts more than 300 million PC players. Making its debut to western audiences, KartRider: Drift takes inspiration from earlier iterations of the game, delivering competitive drift-fueled racing action, featuring different game modes, and deep character + kart customisation. Available completely for free on PC Steam, Xbox One, including Xbox One X, and Nexon Launcher (PC), KartRider: Drift offers cross-platform capabilities to challenge friends regardless of the platform they choose or where they are in the world.

About Nexon America Inc. http://www.nexon.com

Founded in 2005, Nexon America Inc. delivers outstanding free-to-play online game expertise and live game support, taking the strengths of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) and applying them for uniquely western audiences. Nexon America has consistently sustained iconic franchises such as MapleStory and Mabinogi for more than a decade, which have gone on to break records and captivate players. With new projects on the horizon, Nexon America maintains the pioneering and innovative spirit of its parent company, employing its player-first approach, while designing the best possible gameplay experiences for the western market. 

###