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TOUR DE FRANCE 2020 UNVEILS ITS TIME-TRIAL MODE

Lesquin, France, May 18, 2020 After revealing the new first-person camera and all teams available in the cycling simulation Tour de France 2020, NACON and Cyanide are pleased to unveil the new Time-Trial mode. This mode has been completely redesigned, something the developers have wanted to do for a long time after requests from players. The new mode features an actual time-trial stage of the real Tour de France, which has been delayed until the end of summer.

Achieving a good time in a time-trial stage requires excellent stamina management. Cyanide took this into account and included it in Tour de France 2020 with the ability to adopt a time-trial position: with your forearms resting on the bar extensions, you reduce air resistance and gain speed without increasing effort, at the expense of control of the bike. Watch out for tight turns, pick up speed by switching back to a classic stance and gain a few hundredths of a second to take first place!

With this time-trial position, you can also activate effort control. Adjust it correctly without overestimating your pace; otherwise you could end up exhausted too early.
In addition to the time-trial position, Tour de France 2020 lets you take an aerodynamic stance. Mostly useful while going down slopes, you’ll be able to rest a little and restore your stamina.

Multiple improvements and new features have been added to Tour de France 2020, including:

  • Liège-Bastogne-Liège (“The Old Lady”), a 266km race of steep climbs
  • A redesigned interface that provides better anticipation of the course and position of competitors
  • A deeper time-trial where posture and sprint management are crucial for success

A more realistic AI that grabs any attack opportunity

Tour de France 2020 will be available on June 4, 2020 on consoles (PlayStation®4 and Xbox One), and later on PC.

Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Discord and YouTube.About NACON
NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its 8 development studios, the publishing of AA video games, the design and distribution of premium gaming devices, NACON focuses 20 years of expertise at the service of players. This new unified business unit strengthens NACON’s position in the market, enables it to innovate by creating new unique competitive advantages and achieve its ambition to become one of the world’s leading players in gaming. https://www.nacongaming.com/

About Cyanide
Cyanide is a French video game development studio created in 2000 and based in Nanterre. It has two subsidiaries located in Montreal and Bordeaux. The studio is known for its sports games, such as the popular PC series Cycling Manager and its console version, Tour de France. Cyanide is also the author of Blood Bowl (Sport/Fantasy, 2009), the adaptation of the famous Games Workshop board game; Game of Thrones (RPG, 2012); Styx: Master of Shadows and the sequel Styx: Shards of Darkness (Infiltration, 2014/2017); and Call of Cthulhu, a game adapted from the tormented world of HP Lovecraft (investigative RPG, 2018). More information can be found at www.cyanide-studio.com

TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX® SIEGE REVEALS OPERATION STEEL WAVE

TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX® SIEGE REVEALS OPERATION STEEL WAVE

Discover Operators Ace and Melusi, and a map rework of House

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA — May 19th, 2020 — Today, during the remote livestream reveal, Ubisoft announced the full details of the second season of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege Year 5. Operation Steel Wave introduces Ace and Melusi, the new Operators from Norway and South Africa, in addition to an entire rework of the map House, and slew of gameplay changes.

Norwegian Attacker, Ace, and South African Defender, Melusi, are the two new Operators coming in Operation Steel Wave. As a part of the Norwegian Home Guard, Ace acquired a heroic reputation after being accepted into the Forsvarets Spesialkommando, on a joint UN operation in Somalia, Ace emerged saving Kali’s life. The offer to join NIGHTHAVEN swiftly followed. Ace is equipped with S.E.L.M.A., a throwable device that will stick to any vertical surface and slowly destroy up to 3 panels, one after the other. The S.E.L.M.A gadget can also be thrown at almost any defensive gadget and destroy it with its arms or water explosive.

Melusi signed up with the South African National Defence Force to broaden her skillset and fund her field ranger training. After an ambush left her badly wounded, she resigned from the military and – as the heart of the Inkaba Task Force Anti-Poaching Unit – began training local women in tracking, interception, and surveillance. Melusi is equipped with Banshee deployable electronic gadgets. It applies a slowing effect to any attackers that are in a direct line of sight. The Banshee can also be used as an intel gadget as it produces an identifiable sound when an attacker enters its range.

In addition to these two new Operators, players will be able to explore a reimagined map – House, which has been newly reworked. Its owner welcomed a newcomer in the family, leading to notable changes including expansions to the basement area, attic, and office tower. Additional changes can be experienced throughout the map, all with the intent of evolving the gameplay meta.

Additional game updates include the following:

  • Unified MMR
  • Amaru Buff
  • Proximity Alarm
  • Addition of Echo Elite set

The Test Server for Operation Steel Wave will go live on May 20th. The Test Server is an alternative version of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, allowing players to test upcoming gameplay features that will make their way into the main game itself. Since this is a testing environment, a consistent gameplay experience is not guaranteed on the Test Server. Players are invited to submit the issues they encounter on the Test Server on the R6 Fix platform: r6fix.ubi.com. The Test Server is exclusive to Windows PC.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, please visit: https://rainbow6.ubisoft.com.

About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Alongside a thriving professional esports scene and a community of over 60 million registered players, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege puts players in the middle of a fast-paced, ever-evolving multiplayer experience grounded in the selection of unique Operators. Using the right mix of tactics and destruction, Rainbow Six teams engage their enemies in sieges, where both sides have exclusive skills and gadgets at their disposal. Defenders prepare by transforming the environments around them into modern strongholds, while attackers use recon drones to gain intel for carefully planning their assault. With access to dozens of Operators inspired by real world counter-intelligence agents from around the globe, players can choose exactly how they want to approach each challenge they encounter. Through the constant addition of new Operators and maps that add to the depth of both strategy and combat, the unpredictability of each round of Rainbow Six Siege sets a new bar for intensity and competition in gaming.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, For Honor, Just Dance, Watch_Dogs, Tom Clancy’s video game series including Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six and The Division. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2019-20 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1,534 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2020 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered trademarks in the US and/or other countries

Private Division and European Space Agency Partner for New Kerbal Space Program Update

Private Division and European Space Agency Partner for New Kerbal Space Program Update

Free Shared Horizons update* launching July 1, 2020 to featurebiconic missions, additional spacecraft, and more

Sydney, Australia – May 19, 2020 – Private Division and Squad today announced a partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch a new Kerbal Space Program update, entitled Shared Horizons, which is planned to launch on PC on July 1, 2020. The update will also be available later this year on consoles. Shared Horizons celebrates ESA’s outstanding contribution to space exploration, and will be a free update* for all players of the critically acclaimed physics-based space simulation game.

Shared Horizons will also add two cornerstone missions led by Europe’s chief space organization, the landmark rocket Ariane 5, an ESA-themed space suit for Kerbals, new parts, and science experiments for players to conduct. The first new mission, BepiColombo, will recreate the ESA’s ongoing joined mission between the ESA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to Mercury. Players will attempt to reach orbit and land on Moho, the equivalent of Mercury in the Kerbal universe, while performing various scientific tasks from the actual ESA mission. Rosetta, the second new mission, will pay tribute to the successful landing on a Jupiter-family comet, an event that enabled the gathering of important data on the comet’s environment. Based upon historic ESA missions, the challenges provide an opportunity for players to experience these thrilling space discovery moments in Kerbal Space Program.

“We are excited to partner with the ESA to bring their actual missions and spacecraft to Kerbal Space Program for the first time,” said Michael Cook, Executive Producer at Private Division. “It is an honor to work hand-in-hand with such a world-class space organization, and we cannot wait for fans to experience these monumental missions with the Shared Horizons update.”

“Here at the European Space Agency, many of our engineers and scientists are very familiar with KSP,” said Günther Hasinger, Director of Science at ESA. “Both Rosetta and BepiColombo are highly complex missions that have specific challenges; however, each prove to be very rewarding for ESA and the global scientific community. Because of this, I am very happy that these ground-breaking science missions can be experienced on Kerbin as well as on Earth.”

The Kerbal Space Program: Shared Horizons update will be available for PC on July 1, 2020, with console releases planned for later this year. Kerbal Space Program is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more information on Kerbal Space Program, subscribe on YouTube, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, and visit www.KerbalSpaceProgram.com.  

Private Division is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO).  

* Free Shared Horizons update requires the Kerbal Space Program base game. Visit kerbalspaceprogram.com for the latest details.

About Kerbal Space Program 

In Kerbal Space Program, you take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble a fully functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics. Launch your Kerbal crew into orbit and beyond (while keeping them alive) to explore moons and planets in the Kerbol solar system, constructing bases and space stations to expand the reach of your expedition. 

Kerbal Space Program features three gameplay modes. In Science Mode, perform space experiments to unlock new technology and advance the knowledge of Kerbalkind. In Career Mode, also oversee every aspect of the space program, including construction, strategy, funding, upgrades, and more. In Sandbox, build any spacecraft you can think of, with all parts and technology in the game. 

About Kerbal Space Program Franchise

The original Kerbal Space Program, created and with on-going development by Squad, released on PC in April 2015* and has sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide. The title has been widely popular with the media and consumers alike, earning a Metacritic rating of 88** and a Steam user score of 93%***. Kerbal Space Program 2 is the sequel to the original game and the second in the series for the franchise. It is being developed by Private Division.

*Game became available through Steam Early Access in March 2013, and launched in April 2015.

About Squad 

Based in Mexico City, Squad are the developers of the critically acclaimed space simulation game, Kerbal Space Program. Comprised of an international team of talented, passionate and ambitious individuals that love video games, space, and science, they have reinvented themselves into full-time video game development. 

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia is an Associate Member. ESA has established formal cooperation with seven Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions. ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities. Today, it develops and launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space. ESA also has a strong applications programme developing services in Earth observation, navigation and telecommunications. Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int. 

About Private Division

Private Division is a developer-focused publisher that empowers independent studios to develop the games that they are passionate about creating, while providing the support that they need to make their titles critically and commercially successful on a global scale. The Label publishes the Kerbal Space Program franchise, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey from Panache Digital Games, The Outer Worlds from Obsidian Entertainment, and Disintegration from V1 Interactive, with future unannounced projects in development. Private Division is headquartered in New York City with offices in Seattle, Las Vegas, and Munich. For more information, please visit www.privatedivision.com.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products through our labels Rockstar Games, 2K, and Private Division, as well as Social Point, a leading developer of mobile games. Our products are designed for console systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: our dependence on key management and product development personnel, our dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles, the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games, the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games, and risks associated with international operations. Other important factors and information are contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarized in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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PREPARE FOR AN AMAZING PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE WITH THE PET COLLECTION MMORPG STONEAGE WORLD

PREPARE FOR AN AMAZING PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE WITH THE PET COLLECTION MMORPG STONEAGE WORLD

New Turn-Based mobile MMORPG Now Open for Pre-Registration on the App Store and Google Play

MAY 18, 2020 – LOS ANGELES – It’s time to go back to the Stone Age with Netmarble Corp, as the company announced it is introducing its internationally-known Stone Age IP to the West with the reveal of StoneAge World, a prehistoric turn-based pet collecting MMORPG for mobile devices. Rewards are now available for those that pre-register the game to download on the App Store and Google Play.

StoneAge World is a turn-based mobile reimagining of the internationally acclaimed Stone Age online RPG. In a world sent back to the prehistoric era, players take on the role of a “Trainer,” a powerful warrior in the land of Tectonika whose responsibility is to protect their land with the use of tamable Pets. Player trainers will have their hands full with over 250 pets to collect, tame and train, running the gamut from iconic prehistoric animals such as Dinosaurs and Wooly Mammoths to more domesticated beasts like Pigs and Wolves, as they explore and defend Tectonika against the threat of an up-and-coming Machine Civilization!

“In Korea, Stone Age originally started out as an online-only title. To date, the brand has grown to see over 200 million players for more than 20 years of collective service from a variety of different games, and we are thrilled to see this franchise come to global market as mobile MMORPG at long last,” said Joong Sun Chang, Executive Producer of Netmarble. “StoneAge World’s bestiary of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, combined with the game’s colorful visual aesthetic, is perfect for those seeking an online world of prehistoric locales filled with powerful creatures to raise and grow alongside with.”

Anyone that pre-registers StoneAge World between now and launch will receive the following prizes:

  • 1,000,000 Stones, StoneAge World’s main currency for those who pre-register at official website
  • 50,000 Shells, additional StoneAge World’s premium currency given for those who pre-register at App Store and Google Play

At pre-registration website, players can also look forward to celebratory events, including:

  • Pet Gift Event – Players will be sent one of attractive hatched pets at launch. By collecting tickets when logging into the official website, or by sharing event news on Facebook one a day, players can hatch new pets from eggs by using 5 tickets at once. Complete all tasks to receive 13 tickets at once
  • Mini-Game Event –Players who successfully capture a pet will get 10 event tickets

More information on StoneAge World can be found on the official website (https://stone.netmarble.com/en) and on the game’s official Facebook.

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About Netmarble Corporation
Netmarble Corporation strives to entertain audiences of all ages around the world by providing great mobile gaming experiences. Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble is one of the fastest-growing mobile game companies and consistently ranks as a top mobile developer and publisher worldwide. With more than 6,000 employees, Netmarble has been producing and servicing some of the most successful mobile games including Lineage 2: Revolution, Blade & Soul Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, BTS WORLD, Everybody’s Marble, and Seven Knights. As a parent company to Kabam, a top mobile game developer in massively multiplayer free-to-play games, the largest shareholder to Jam City, a leading casual social game developer and a major shareholder of BigHit Entertainment, a music production and artist management company, Netmarble has a strategic partnership with CJ ENM Corporation, Asia’s largest entertainment company, Tencent Holdings, Asia’s largest internet company, and NCsoft, a prominent MMORPG company. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com

SOLASTA: CROWN OF THE MAGISTER RELEASES NEW FEATURES TRAILER

French independent developer Tactical Adventures has released a new features trailer for its upcoming Tactical RPG Solasta: Crown of the Magister, the first look at new features and gameplay since its successful Kickstarter last summer. The trailer dives into the character creator to assemble a team of four heroes, outfitting and preparing them to explore the uncharted world of Solasta, and engage in highly tactical and vertical combat.

Enjoy a first look at how to create a fully customized party, by choosing among a wide range of races, classes and subclasses, background stories and abilities, to maximize synergies and potential while adventuring. Wizards of the Coast has granted Tactical Adventures a license to use the Dungeons & Dragons SRD 5.1 content and rules in Solasta: Crown of the Magister.

Solasta is a team-based adventure game where each character plays a critical role in the campaign and can be a hero. The dynamic and mysterious world features elements of verticality, allowing players to use their surroundings as an element of strategy. Players can position ranged characters on high vantage points or send their thief down into shafts and caverns to scope out what’s ahead. In Solasta, light is a tool to explore the depths and hollows of dungeons or can be used as a weapon against the creatures of the dark, but if players aren’t careful, it will give away the party’s position to nasty creatures bent on their demise.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister Features:

  • Verticality: Solasta is a three-dimensional world, rather than a series of flat maps. Locations can be explored by climbing walls, flying, teleporting, crawling through tunnels, finding secret passages, or falling through unstable ground, allowing the player to use the environment to take on encounters in multiple different ways.
  • Team Based Adventure: Players will have many options to choose races, classes, backgrounds, and can even roll for stats as they create their party. All members are essential – together you will adventure through Solasta as a group, where you must work together in pursuit of your quest.
  • Tactical CRPG: Each encounter can be handled in multiple ways. Will you use the high ground to strike your enemies from above as a Darkweaver Rogue, or shove your enemies into deep chasms as a Mountaineer Fighter? Your choices alone will determine the destiny of your party.
  • Light: Light will not only help to see your surroundings as you explore deep underground or in a dungeon. It can also be used as a weapon against the light-fearing creatures you will encounter along your journey. Careful, though – light can also give away your position.
  • Created by Tabletop Players: Tactical Adventures is a team of highly experienced Tabletop players and veteran game developers who are passionate about the genre, striving to create the best Tactical RPG video game

Stay up to date with Solasta: Crown of the Magister: visit the website, wishlist on Steam, follow on Twitter, Instagram, like on Facebook, watch on YouTube, and Twitch, and join the conversation on Discord or the official forums.
 

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Zengeon Announced for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Switch

PQube has announced that they will be working with developer IndieLeague Studio to bring their action RPG Zengeon to the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch sometime this year though those who want to can currently pick it up on PC. Zengeon is a roguelite style RPG inspired by Chinese culture and deities where players will uncover the mystical story by collecting Memory Fragments in levels that change every time they play.

There will be six playable characters, all of whom control a different Guardian Spirit with special abilities allowing players to pick a pair that best fits their playstyle while tackling the challenging and ever-changing stages in the hunt for Memory Fragments that can be tackled either solo or with up to three others online.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix Review

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $39.99 – Available Here

Overview

Nearly anyone who is familiar with Japanese pop culture has at least seen the green haired virtual idol Hatsune Miku even if they didn’t know who or what she exactly was. This popular Vocaloid has mainstreamed the digital forefront of her fellow Vocaloids throughout the years and has seen numerous games released over the course of the last decade but it has been a few years now since one was released. Now, her and a number of her pop star friends are making their first appearance on the Nintendo Switch in the form of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix. With a hundred and one songs, ten of which are brand new to the series, on offer, is this appearance on a new platform a successful one?

Gameplay

In many ways, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix feels similar to the 2017 release of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone as it moves away from setting up a storyline and instead presents players with a massive list of songs to choose from and play in rhythm mode, customization options for all of the Vocaloids (including the likes of the UTAU Kasane Teto and a number of “derivatives” such as Yowane Haku and Akita Ner), and a playlist option to create a set of the player’s favorite songs to play as music videos in a row, something that is always great for some background music.

One of the main differences with Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix is that there are now two different ways to play the rhythm game, the standard mode that everyone familiar with the series should be familiar with, and the new Mix Mode. Both modes are introduced to the player through a standard tutorial set to the signature “Ievan Polkka” as the various inputs are shown off before letting players jump into the deep end. 

The classic gameplay style sees players needing to use the four face buttons on the Switch, the shoulder buttons for slide notes, and the analog sticks for flicking to the right or left when necessary all to the rhythm set by the game and to match with the hollowed symbols that appear on the screen. These can range from simple button presses to having to hold a button down and dthe more accurate the press, the more points the player will earn all while a gorgeous music video plays in the background. Missing a note or hitting it too soon or after will drain the player’s health meter, that refills slowly when successfully hitting notes, and players can fail out of a song if their health manages to hit zero.

Of the one hundred and one songs that are available in the base game it is worth noting that, while they are all available on Normal, Hard, and Extreme, roughly twenty songs are not available on the Easy difficulty option so players will want to practice their skills a bit to prepare for the challenge here. There are options to play using a “No Fail” setting that prevents the player from losing a song but only through clearing a song properly will they be rewarded with “VP” which is used to purchase customization items and modules for the Vocaloid stars. It is also worth noting that, at least for series veterans who are used to seeing the PlayStation symbols and not Nintendo’s alphabetical buttons, there is an option to change the presentation of what players will need to press, perhaps alleviating some initial concerns about the switch to the new platform.

For those who want something a bit different from the norm, the Mix Mode is where the game can truly shine on its own. While not as difficult, Mix Mode changes things up by making use of the Nintendo Switch’s motion controls and Joy-Cons. This does mean that this mode cannot be played unless the console is either docked or set down with a kickstand which is a bit unfortunate but it makes it so players can hold the Joy-Cons in their left and right hands, holding them upright and tilting them to the left and right to reach their colored destination. Once here the player can press either of the top buttons on the Joy-Cons to successfully hit the notes, or hold for long notes. 

This mode does make most songs quite a bit easier to manage and in fact only offers three stages of difficulty: Easy, Normal, and Hard and all songs can be played in this mode right off of the bat on any difficulty, making the game more accessible to those who want to try it out. This is especially true thanks to just how accurate the motion controls are in Mix Mode and can really help Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix stand out for newcomers who may be a bit too daunted to try and tackle more difficult songs in the standard gameplay mode.

As mentioned before, players earn VP from completing songs using either gameplay method and this VP can then be used to purchase customization items for the Vocaloids. This includes everything from simple accessories that can be placed as the player wishes, to different hairstyles, to entirely different outfits (called Modules) that can then be worn for any song the player wishes. There are recommended outfits that can be purchased to match the theme of the song the player has chosen but it is entirely possible to take a swimsuit wearing Kasane Teto into a song performed by Rin or Hatsune Miku cosplaying as Sonic into a song meant for Luka.

Another aspect that is exclusive to the Switch here happens to be T-Shirt customization. Players are given a number of T-Shirt slots that can then be drawn on in any way the player wishes using either the game’s controls or through the touchpad/stylus for those who really want to get in-depth. Unfortunately there does not appear to be any way to share T-shirt designs with others or download a design someone else worked hard on, something that feels like a missed opportunity given the large Vocaloid fanbase.

Visuals & Audio

Every song in the game features a unique music video accompanying it and these videos range from standard presentations featuring the Vocaloids singing, dancing, or acting out a performance to match the theme of the song, there are also a number of 2D animations that are even more unique simply because of how well gorgeously drawn they are. For the most part, all returning songs feature the same style of presentation found in the previous entry to the series though the character models and costumes have been touched up a bit with a softer anime-style and the new songs feature a number of great animations as well and feature an aforementioned mix of different styles of presentation and once again players will find there are numerous Modules to dress their favorite characters in, ranging from song appropriate outfits, swimsuits, other characters, and cosplay from other Sega properties. It is unfortunate that, just like the previous release, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix forgoes attempting to translate the lyrics of the songs into English like they did a few years prior and instead presents the lyrics with romanized letters only and it is also worth noting that these lyrics do not appear while playing in Mix Mode.

As with any rhythm game the key aspect happens to be the songs that players can enjoy while actually playing the game and thankfully the one hundred and one songs on offer in Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix continue to feature some of the best hits that fans are familar with ranging from rock songs, pop tunes, up-beat tunes, and some that flat out defy being placed into a genre. These hits include the likes of “The World Is Mine,” “World’s End Dancehall,” “Blackjack,” “Tengaku,” and many more though it is a bit disappointing to see that a few familiar older songs are only available as separate DLC at launch. That being said, the numerous amount of songs available for players even in this base package is incredible and has something for nearly everyone.

Overall

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix lays out everything it has to offer right from the get-go as players immediately find themselves able to play through over a hundred of Sega’s handpicked Vocaloid songs through either the traditional rhythm game or through the more accessible but equally enjoyable Mix Mode as well as a customization option that unfortunately cannot be shared amongst the community. There may be a smaller selection of songs than what was previously released a few years ago for Future Tone but this large collection still features some of the best songs available as well as some brand new songs presented for the first time in a package that is not only great for Vocaloid fans but also for those who have waited to see a great rhythm game arrive on the Switch.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

GAME ON: SPECIAL, NEW EPISODE OF APPLE’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED COMEDY ‘MYTHIC QUEST: RAVEN’S BANQUET’ TO PREMIERE FRIDAY, MAY 22 EXCLUSIVELY ON APPLE TV+

‘Mythic Quest: Quarantine,’ Brings Ensemble Cast Together for New Installment Filmed Remotely on iPhone

Apple today announced that its critically hailed workplace comedy series, “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet,” will return Friday, May 22, with the debut of “Mythic Quest: Quarantine,” a special, new episode filmed entirely on iPhone.

“Mythic Quest: Quarantine” is a new, half-hour installment that finds the team behind the biggest multiplayer video game of all-time tasked with working from home. Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao) and Ian (Rob McElhenney) struggle with solitude, while Brad (Danny Pudi) and David (David Hornsby) start a charitable competition. Assistant Jo (Jessie Ennis) tries to explain video-conferencing to CW (F. Murray Abraham) with mixed results. To produce the episode, the cast and crew worked remotely in multiple locations across the country.

“Mythic Quest: Quarantine” is written by star, co-creator and executive producer Rob McElhenney, co-creator and executive producer Megan Ganz and executive producer and star David Hornsby; and, reunites the ensemble cast including McElhenney, Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham, Charlotte Nicdao, Danny Pudi, Imani Hakim, Ashly Burch, David Hornsby, Craig Mazin, Naomi Ekperigin, Caitlin McGee, Jessie Ennis and Humphrey Ker. 

“Lots of workplaces are figuring out this whole working-from-home thing, and the gaming industry is no different. Virtual meetings are a new and special kind of hell, so I think people will relate,” said Rob McElhenney. “Yes we’ve all had low points, but there have also been incredible moments of triumph and we wanted to celebrate that.”

“We needed to shoot this episode fast without sacrificing quality. Thankfully, we’re living in a time when everyone’s got a camera in their pocket. Having an iPhone coupled with the ingenuity of our crew, allowed us to make this unique piece of television in just days. We hope people enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.” 

Co-created by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Megan Ganz, “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet” follows a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game. The complete first season is now streaming globally on Apple TV+, and has already been picked up for a second season. Since its premiere, the comedy has been hailed by critics as “funny, heartfelt, clever, fast-paced, and unexpected” anchored by “one of comedy’s best new casts” and recognized as “one of the best new shows of 2020.”

“Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet” is executive produced by McElhenney and Day under their RCG banner; Michael Rotenberg and Nicholas Frenkel on behalf of 3Arts; and Jason Altman, Danielle Kreinik and Gérard Guillemot, for Ubisoft Film & Television. David Hornsby (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) and Megan Ganz (“Modern Family,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) also executive produce. The series is produced by Lionsgate, 3 Arts Entertainment and Ubisoft. 

https://apple-tv-plus-press.apple.com/en-US/originals/mythic-quest/

ABOUT APPLE TV+ 

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, as well as at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. The Apple TV app will be available on LG, Sony and VIZIO smart TVs later this year. For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. This special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device.* 

*One subscription per Family Sharing group. Plan automatically renews until cancelled. Restrictions and other terms apply; visit apple.com/ promo for more information.

Stolen Sax and a Surreal Slice: Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 Out Now

Cosmo D Studios’ IGF-Nominated Adventure Now Available via Steam & Itch.io; Download Demo Today

Brooklyn, NYC, United States May 15, 2020 Cosmo D Studios is pleased to announce that its surreal first-person adventure title, Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1,is now available for PC, Mac and Linux via Steam and Itch.io.

The IGF-nominated title is priced $9.99 – with a 10% discount during launch week – or available in a deluxe bundle alongside its hypnotic soundtrack for $12.99. A free playable demo is also available serving up a slice of weird and wonderful gameplay.

A spiritual successor to critically-acclaimed titles The Norwood Suite and Off-Peak, Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 sees players visit the unforgettable street corner of July Avenue and Yam Street, as they plot to obtain a saxophone from longtime pizza-maker (and former saxophonist) Caetano Grosso. This instrumental pursuit will set off a chain of events across the neighborhood, taking players deep into the hidden worlds and private lives of the people living there.

On the corner of July Avenue and Yam Street, all is not what it seems. What role will you play in a city’s fate? Head over to the Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1Steam or Itch.io store page and find out today.

Building on the momentum from developing and releasing The Norwood Suite, Cosmo D started work on Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 in Spring of 2018.

For more information on the weird and wonderful work of Cosmo D, please head over to the official website at cosmod.net.

About Cosmo D

Cosmo D is a game designer based in New York City with a background in cello performance and music composition. One rainy night in June 2013, he was struck by a car while crossing the street and found himself unable to play or make music for several months. While convalescing, he took it upon himself to learn the Unity Engine. The result was Off-Peak, released in 2015. A homage to Cosmo D’s home city of New York, as well as a commentary on the commodification of art and music in the urban space, Off-Peak gained a cult following, with hordes of press nods, let’s plays on YouTube, and a fanbase eagerly awaiting the follow-up. With assistance from NYU Game Center’s Incubator program, publisher Alliance Digital Media, as well as the New York game development scene at large, Cosmo D released a sequel, The Norwood Suite, in October 2017.

RUNE II UPDATE BRINGS NEW COMBAT FEATURES AND BRUTAL FINISHING ATTACKS

For a Gibby Good Time, Jump Into the Epic Games Store For Huge Discounts Off Standard and Special Edition Versions of RUNE II

The life of a reborn Viking gets better and better with RUNE II’s newest update! Building upon last week’s massive ‘Lazarus Update’ that redesigned major gameplay systems – as well as additional streamer and community feedback updates to optimize visual and sound quality – the new development team for RUNE II continues to listen to community feedback and deliver content to fans. New weapon combos, Combat Moves and satisfying finishing attacks bring an intensified level of visual savagery and carnage in RUNE II.

For a list of new features and improvements from this May 14 update, full patch notes can be found HERE: www.rune2.com/may14update/

To celebrate this newest update, RUNE II will be part of the the Epic Mega Sale on the Epic Game Store for the following editions :

  • Standard Edition: $20.99 (30% off, normally $29.99)
  • Berserker Rage: $25.19 (37% off, normally $39.99)
  • God Slayer: $29.99 (50% off, normally $59.99)

Watch the new RUNE II Lazarus Update Gameplay Montage video HERE

Loki has been a royal jerk and screwed up Midgard – you’ve been chosen to kick his ass out of Asgard for good. Alone or with friends, tear each enemy apart limb from limb in this chaotic, open-world saga, filled with brutal melee combat. Collect rare resources, locate divine artifacts and battle through the unique Ages of Ragnarok as you seek to craft the very sword used by Loki himself and destroy the trickster god with his own blade.

RUNE II is now available on the RUNE II website or on the Epic Games Store starting at $19.99. For keeping up on all things RUNE II, join the epic Viking war cry on Discord, read the latest update on our website, like us on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and follow us on Twitch and Twitter.


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