Political Activist Platformer Super Bernie
World Campaigns on Steam Today
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – 10
Mar. 2020 –Super Bernie
World, an electoral
activism platformer rendered in classic NES style with nostalgic chiptunes from
Gamedevs for Bernie and publisher Kitsune Games, is now doing its part for the American
people for free on Steam for Windows and in your browser on Itch.io.
Take on MAGAmbas, Mitch Troopas, ICE Bullets and Tiki Torchers with the power of positive change. Campaign through 12 states and go up against two notable senators, a congressman and the president of the United States himself. With power-ups like Vermont cheddar cheese to embiggen him, red roses for tossing and the symbolic “Not Me, Us” raised fist firing him up with invincibility, Bernie will help achieve the dreams of millions of 8-bit Americans.
Learn more about
Sanders’ policy platform in cutscenes at the start of each world. Look up how
to support his campaign with time or money right from Super Bernie World’s
main menu. Help Bernie inside the game and out in the real world to collect
enough votes across the United States and win the presidency in November.
“We wanted to do our
part and educate people about what a Bernie Sanders presidency could do for our
nation, and as game developers, this seemed the natural way for us to do it,”
said Emma Maassen, President of Kitsune Games, “We feel his policies are the
best way forward for not just us, but our communities including LGBTQ+ and
other marginalized groups. Accessible health care, living wages, less student
debt and fighting climate change are critical to increased quality of life for
us all.”
Game Devs for Bernie
is a collective of 8 professional game developers with more than 50 years of
combined experience who believe Bernie Sanders is the best path forward for the
United States of America. Game Devs for Bernie is not affiliated with the
Bernie Sanders campaign for president.
About Kitsune Games
Kitsune Games is an
inclusive indie video game development microstudio led by Emma ‘Eniko’ Maassen
and James Yarrow. Set apart by its queer founder, the studio strives to make
the world a better place by offering quality entertainment with representation
of people from all walks of life.
Paper Beast: A Dreamlike Odyssey Comes to
PlayStation VR 24 March
Dive into this odyssey in virtual reality, born
from Eric Chahi’s imagination (Another World, From Dust).
9 March 2020 –
Montpellier, France – Independent
studio Pixel Reef has announced Paper Beast, the poetic journey through a blossoming
virtual world by renowned game designer Eric Chahi, will release 24 March for PlayStation VR.
The new game from Chahi,
the creative mind behind Another World, Heart of Darkness and From
Dust, is a dreamlike odyssey through a wild, simulated ecosystem. In this
strange, uncharted world, form delicate bonds with fascinating and exotic
creatures, solve environmental puzzles, and unfold the mysteries of a land born
from long-lost Internet data.
Created from the ground
up for virtual reality, Paper Beast invites intrepid explorers to
understand this dreamlike world through the real-time consequences they create.
In adventure mode, collaborate with fascinating wildlife and shape the
environment to overcome obstacles or resolve puzzles, with everything from
weather and terrain deformation to the way animals respond fully simulated.
The almost-infinite play
space of the sandbox mode approximates a god game experience, where
experimentation and ecosystem play a major role. The player can sculpt the
terrain, play with the weather, and interact with creatures and plants. All
consequences are calculated in real-time by the deep physics engine that powers
Paper Beast.
Paper Beast unfurls its virtual world for PlayStation VR 24
March. More details can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Pixel Reef website. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive the
latest news about Paper Beast.
Paper Beast’s mood-fitting original soundtrack, which
oscillates between ambient and punk rock, is available for pre-order on Bandcamp and in double vinyl
edition on G4F Records store.
About Pixel Reef
Founded by renowned game
designer Eric Chahi (Another World, Heart of Darkness, From
Dust), Pixel Reef aims to create immersive indie games with a poetic touch.
The independent studio sees itself as an atoll, a happy place ripe for creative
exploration. Bringing years of experience, Eric and his team are currently
working on Paper Beast, a visually stunning game of exploration set
to be released on “PlayStation VR” in 2020. More details can be found on the Pixel Reef website.
Games of chance and adventures await Ryo in the
‘Big Merry Cruise’ DLC
Larkspur, Calif. (March
9, 2020) – Deep Silver and Ys Net
Inc. today announced the release date for the third Shenmue III DLC – Big
Merry Cruise – will become available on March 17, 2020. Big Merry Cruise
will be available to purchase digitally on the PlayStation Store and the Epic
Game Store for $3.99. Users who have already purchased the Complete DLC
Collection will see the Big Merry Cruise DLC become available to them
for free upon release.
In Big Merry Cruise,
a new cruise ship has arrived in the Niaowu Harbor. There’s no better way to
relax than with some gambling and adventure on a luxurious cruise ship. Various
types of entertainment can be enjoyed, as well as participating in challenge
missions which can only be played while on board. Ryo also has the chance to
gain new outfits that can be obtained by clearing mini-quests encountered in
this final DLC offering.*
The stakes are high, but
so are the rewards.
Shenmue III:
Journey deep into rural
China as you take on the role of Ryo Hazuki, a Japanese teenager hellbent on
finding his father’s killer. A story of adventure, mystery, friendship, martial
arts, and ultimately – revenge.
*You must have reached
Niaowu or have save data on which the game has been cleared to play.
###
About Deep Silver
Deep Silver develops and
distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to
captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game
worlds. Deep Silver works with its partners to achieve a maximum of success
while maintaining the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the
customer desires.
Deep Silver has
published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the
open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island,
and the grim post-apocalyptic future of the Metro series. Upcoming highlights
from Deep Silver include Dead Island 2. Deep Silver also owns the development
studios Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs
in Hamburg, Germany, Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA, and
Warhorse Studios based in Prague, Czech Republic. For more information please
visit www.deepsilver.com.
Koch Media is a leading
producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (games, films and
software). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution
extend throughout Europe, North America and Australia. The Koch Media group has
more than 20 years of experience in the digital media business, and has risen
to become the number one publishing partner in Europe. It has also formed
strategic alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Bethesda,
Capcom, Codemasters, Kaspersky Labs, Konami, Koei Tecmo, Milestone, Sega,
Square Enix, etc. in various European countries. With Headquarter in Höfen,
Austria Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria,
Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux, Australia, Czech
Republic and the United States.
All product titles,
publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks,
registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All
rights reserved.
About Yu Suzuki
Yu Suzuki joined Sega
Enterprises Inc. (currently, Sega Games) in 1983, and produced many big hit
games as a programmer, director and producer. His unique and creative
works influenced the game industry in technology, art and culture, and his
attitude to produce with the heart of a pioneer is well respected by many top
creators beyond the game industry. He received the “Computer World
Smithsonian Award” from the Smithsonian Consortium in 1998 and received the
Hall of Fame award at the AIAS Summit in 2003 as recognition of his
contribution to the games industry. His body of work includes, “Hang-on,”
“Space Harrier,” the “Virtua Fighter” series, and many more.
About Ys Net Inc.
Ys Net Inc. was
established in 2008 in Tokyo as an independent firm for Yu Suzuki to lead game
software planning, production, and development. It expanded its development
studio in 2015 along with the start of the Shenmue III project.
“PlayStation” is a
registered trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.Guinness World Records™ is a registered
trademark of Guinness World Records Limited.
NARUTO X
BORUTO NINJATRIBES BRINGS GENERATIONS OF NARUTO LORE AND
BATTLES TO WEB BROWSERS FOR PC AND MAC
Take Part
in NARUTO’S High-Velocity Shinobi Combat Experience and Get a Head-Start with
Launch Bonuses
Santa Clara, Calif., (March 9, 2020) – Leading
interactive entertainment publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
Inc. has launched NARUTO X BORUTO NINJA TRIBESfor PC and
Mac browsers in US, Canada, and Japan. NARUTO X BORUTO NINJA TRIBESis
a brand-new team-based battle game set in the universe of the iconic anime
series.Aspiring shinobi can now test themselves against fan-favorite
characters spanning multiple generations of NARUTO lore from here. (https://go.enza.fun/nxbnt/)
Combat in NARUTO X BORUTO NINJA TRIBES features
devastating offensive attacks, defensive actions along with overwhelming duo
and trio attacks unique to each character combination, all rendered in
high-quality 2D visuals. Players can try all available combinations by compiling
teams composed of such legendary shinobi as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura of the
original Team 7 as well as their next-generation counterparts Boruto, Sarada,
and Mitsuki.
To commemorate the launch of NARUTO X BORUTO NINJA TRIBESon browsers, players who log-in and complete the tutorial now will get
instant access to Naruto Uzumaki Seventh Hokage “The Power to Protect” and
a x10 character Summons ticket. A special in-game event will give players an
even greater head start with the chance to gain SR Naruto from the NARUTO
SHIPPUDEN series along with added bonus materials. Lastly, to celebrate
surpassing the milestone of 180,000 pre-registrations for NARUTO X BORUTO
NINJA TRIBES worldwide, every player who pre-registered will receive
3,500 Shinobi Coins (equivalent to 14 Summons) as well as 500 Shinobi Exchange
Coins which can be used to access new characters.
Crunchyroll Games, the interactive division from the world’s most
popular anime destination, will support as launch partner for the browser
version in North America. Players in this region who are interested in watching
the anime will be able to access the series and game directly from
Crunchyroll.com. They can link their Crunchyroll accounts to the game now from here. (https://go.enza.fun/nxbcr/)
From the moment Two Point Studios revealed their first game, Two Point Hospital, longtime fans of simulation and management games had to instantly think of one game, Theme Hospital. Featuring a similar presentation and focus on being a bit of a comedic hospital management sim rather than a serious one, Two Point Hospital is even following the same release style of the Theme Hospital, as it was first released on PC and later ported to a console and now here we are with Two Point Hospital doing the same thing. So now that this unique game that hearkens back to a classic has made its way to consoles, did it successfully survive the trip?
Story
Now while there is no real story in Two Point Hospital we must mention that the comedy for this hospital simulator is spot on. Humor exists in nearly every aspect of the game, ranging from the craziness of the diseases that must be treated as well as how they are treated, such as having “lightheaded” patients have a light bulb taken off their neck and replaced with normal head, to the random traits that the staff can possess. Even some of the locations that players are introduced to have their own humorous little backstories about what players can expect in that location though perhaps the best part comes from the radio DJ that interjects every so often with a joke or humorous sponsor as well as the deadpan delivery of the hospital’s announcements over the speaker system.
Gameplay
Introduction to Two Point Hospital is a fairly simple affair as the first couple of hospitals that players are given to manage provide a suitable tutorial for many of the standard gameplay mechanics. Players will have access to nearly every aspect of hospital management as they will be able to hire all of the staff, of which there are doctors, nurses, assistants, and janitors, as well as build the various facilities needed to properly diagnose and treat a patient while also making sure everyone stays happy at the same time.
A patient’s journey through the hospital is quickly introduced as a reception desk helps admit them to the hospital where they will then visit the General Physician’s (GP) office who will then either diagnose them completely if they happen to suffer from an easy illness or be sent on through to numerous other diagnosis rooms that range from simply a few extra exams, runs on a treadmill, or even fluid tests until their illness can be diagnosed and they are then ushered forth for a hopeful cure. Nearly all of this journey is handled directly by the staff that the player hires for the hospital and it is up to the player to make sure everything is running as smooth as possible.
Nearly every hospital begins with an empty floor plan that the player will then fill with various rooms that all have a specific purpose. All rooms have a minimum size requirement and feature a specific item or three but once fulfilled a single room can be as large and filled with as many decorations as the player sees fit. In fact, there are even some bonuses that come with having large furnished rooms as staff assigned to that room will be happier at work and some items can even help boost diagnosis and treatment percentages.
It is interesting to note that while there are not many positions that players will need to hire for each of the four job types has a special set of skills and unique traits that can vary wildly from employee to employee and occasionally this can dictate the specialties that that character can take on. For example, a psychiatry skill is required to be a psychiatrist as a doctor or researcher for the research room and a janitor needs to be skilled at hunting down ghosts if they want to capture the ghost of a patient that died in the hospital. These are the more significant examples as these skills often provide simpler bonuses such as improved diagnosis or treatment, better stamina, and more while the traits range from making an employee grumpy who frustrates those around him or a green-thumb that waters plants when not busy.
One of the biggest challenges that the player will face in Two Point Hospital is the juggling act between making money and fulfilling the needs of the hospital. Staff will want promotions with increased wages the longer they remain employed and may threaten to quit if they are paid to little, bathrooms and vending machines must be scattered throughout to make sure patients and staff have access to the necessities though if they actually use them properly is often a flip of the coin thanks to some odd AI from time to time. Even things such as keeping the hospital warm or cool enough while making sure that everyone has a place to sit while hopefully staring at nice decorations will factor in to how long a patient may be willing to wait before storming off or potentially dying.
While playing through a hospital stage players will be given an initial set of tasks and then the ability to earn up to three stars in each location alongside a number of smaller dismissable tasks that come from management and staff. Earning the first star unlocks the ability to move to a new location but players can unlock additional items for their hospital as well as “Kudosh” to unlock special items, ranging from fancier vending machines to extra equipment for diagnosis rooms as they please which can make a few smaller tasks a bit easier.
As mentioned before, the initial couple of hospitals that players are assigned serve as introductions to many mechanics while the later hospitals all have special oddities that provide new challenges. These can range from frequent earthquakes that damage equipment, to only being able to hire doctors and nurses fresh out of med school with no skills, to even having a pandemic run through the hospital that infects patients who may already have another disease already. These little nuances help keep the game feeling fresh and add a bit of extra challenge to the game that can occasionally feel a bit too easy at times depending on how well the player gets the hang of the various quirks and requirements for that stage, though even then there is always the chance for things to swing south, especially in regards to patients who can, despite being properly diagnosed and treated, can still die at no fault of the player making for some occasionally frustrating RNG.
The biggest part of any PC release on consoles, especially a management game like this, is how well it makes the transition of being a mouse and keyboard game to one that can only be controlled with a controller and thankfully Two Point Hospital makes that transition quite well. Menus are easy to navigate with a single button press and it is even possible to copy an already built room and place an exact replica down if more of that specific facility is required which is a nice touch. The only issue that does come up often is being able to pinpoint an exact staff member or item as the cursor will often highlight numerous things at a time. Thankfully players can pause time when they want to if things end up spiraling out of control and require such direct input.
Visuals & Audio
The designs of the various human characters that walk around feel quite similar to Nick Park’s Wallace and Gromit style of presentation as characters are rounded and stylized in such a manner that their humorous diseases don’t look out of place. The world itself is a fairly standard run of the mill design and unfortunately a number of rooms that don’t feature odd disease curing equipment are very basic looking as well though players can decorate them with some odd decorations once unlocked, though even these are mostly simple and predictable as well which is a bit of a disappointment.
The soundtrack for the game features a nice collection of background music all handled by a humorous radio DJ that, alongside the female voice of the hospital’s announcements and narrator for new stages, is the only real dialogue in the game. These voices are handled quite well with both the DJ’s delivery and the deadpan nature of the announcements helping deliver an extra dose of humor on top of this hospital sim.
Overall
With such a fondly remembered simulator serving as its inspiration, Two Point Hospital manages to live up to expectations by delivering not only satisfyingly addictive gameplay loop of treatment and management but also one that is filled with a unique brand of humor that fans had hoped for. Add to that the fact that, for the most part, the transition to the Xbox One keeps an easy to use and understand interface and you have a great hospital management simulator that doesn’t take itself seriously and is all the better for it.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
When a developer has access to numerous titles filled with popular characters, especially those taken from history books and mythology, it only makes sense that a crossover brawler is within reach and over the years Koei Tecmo has taken advantage of this fact with their Warriors Orochi series. Two years ago they released Warriors Orochi 4 and brought Norse mythology into the mix of Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors, plus a few other titles and now they are revisiting that game in the form of Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate. Coming as both an upgrade to the original and its own standalone version, is this enhanced version worth delving into?
Story
It is interesting to note that although Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate does take and expand upon the core story of the game, it is for still very much the same storyline where the Greek god Zeus found himself entertained by the battles that he witnessed throughout the previous game that saw the various warriors team up to defeat Orochi and has crafted a number of special Ouroboros Bracelets that have thrown the two worlds into flux once again.
The bulk of the brand new storyline content in Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate falls at the end of the game’s original story but those who haven’t played through the campaign, or simply want to do so again, will find that the developers have also spent a bit of time trying to flesh out various events that happened in earlier parts of the story as well. This means that a few of the slightly confusing and glossed over events that occurred earlier in the game now have a bit more detail which is a nice touch. Those looking for the new storyline will need to have completed the base game first however, as mentioned before, it takes place where the original storyline came to an end and adds three new chapters to the mix.
This brings the rather lengthy campaign to an even greater level as it brings with it some new mythological beings that players the various warriors will have to contend with. It is also worth noting that, despite some parts of the original campaign being fleshed out and these three chapters continuing to tell a grand perplexing, story that can be rather absurd at times, it still ends up leaving a few more popular characters by the wayside and continues to focus on only a select few fighters. Plus, those who are looking forward to seeing some rather unique fighters added to the game in the form of crossover fighters will be disappointed to see that only three crossover fighters join the roster in Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate in the form of Ryu Hayabusa, Joan of Arc, and Achilles while the other four fighters, bringing the grand total of new warriors up to seven, are gods and deities.
Gameplay
Those looking for a more in-depth gameplay mechanics of Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate will find that it remains almost entirely the same as the original release and can be found here. What Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate does add to the table is a slew of new end-game content that, once again, remains mostly locked until the campaign is completed. This content includes a pair of challenges that allow players to rank themselves against others to see how quickly they can slay 1,000 enemies or break certain items in what is probably the weakest addition and the far stronger added bit of content, the Infinity Mode.
This mode sees the player picking three fighters that they will take as a team, as per usual, into a series of twelve towers that follow the zodiac signs. Each of these towers features five floors that have a special mission that needs to be completed to clear it and these missions run the gambit of slaying a number of enemies, finding items, or slaying a specific foe. Every part of these towers is timed and players will need to take their strongest characters to get through them, especially since the map is only unveiled through exploration instead of entirely at the start. This mode allows players to test their skills as well as power up their fighters to an even greater extent as the experience points obtained from fighting in the tower and the materials dropped can craft the best gear in the game.
That being said, longtime players of these types of games will quickly find that these challenges are a bit too basic at times and even too easy as high powered characters can make short work of even some of the more difficult fights. Of course if players really want to power up their favorite warriors, they now can do so as max level characters can now have their levels returned to 1 where they keep a bit of their previous strength and can be powered up even stronger than before. This process can be done ten times per character and can create a ridiculous squad of fighters should the player choose to really boost their favorites but once again the most challenging of end-game modes isn’t really that difficult.
Visuals & Audio
Considering the original game was released only two years ago on the same platforms as this one, there hasn’t been a noticeable change in any of the returning character models and stages. That isn’t a bad thing as these designs are not only familiar with fans of the series and decently detailed but the blended environments in some stages remain a blast to play through. The new characters that have been added to the game feature some very flashy moves that fit the game’s style perfectly and the additional story content is presented in the same manner as previous story scenes.
The soundtrack features a mix of background music spread across games throughout the series as well as a few standard generic tracks that really don’t stand out too much while the Japanese voice work is fitting, albeit a bit odd at times given the Western gods featured in the game, and this remains true with both newcomers and returning guest characters retaining their Japanese voice actors.
Overall
Those who have yet to play the original will find that Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate offers a ton of content to play through in what remains a highly entertaining musou game that sees players slashing through thousands of enemies on a battlefield as a team of three characters taken from different game series and mythology. With an expanded story that takes things to yet another level of ridiculousness and an Infinity Mode that is a bit too easy but a solid enough way to grind for materials and levels, there is plenty to enjoy here. That being said, those who have already found themselves completing the original game may find that this new content isn’t quite worth the upgrade unless they really want to dive into grinding their favorite characters some more.
Paradox Interactive chooses Koch Media for the physical distribution of
Empire of Sin
SYDNEY – March 6th, 2020 – Paradox Interactive and Koch Media today
announced that both companies extend their existing partnership to bring Romero
Games’ Empire of Sin to retail markets. Koch Media is fully responsible
for the physical distribution in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the US. Empire
of Sin is a character-driven strategy game developed by Romero Games and
Lead Designer Brenda Romero (Jagged Alliance). Empire of Sin will be
available at launch at selected retailers for PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and
Nintendo Switch, and digitally for Windows PC and Mac via Steam.
In Empire of Sin, players build their own
ruthless criminal empire as one of 14 distinct bosses vying to run the seedy
underworld of organized crime in the city. With randomly generated starting
conditions, players will have to adapt to survive and do whatever it takes to
outsmart, out-gun, and outlast their opponents.
About Empire of Sin
Empire of Sin, the strategy game from Romero Games and
Paradox Interactive, puts you at the heart of the ruthless criminal underworld
of 1920s Prohibition-era Chicago. It’s up to you to hustle, charm, and
intimidate your way to the top of the pile and do whatever it takes to stay
there. This character-driven game puts players smack dab in the glitz and
glamor of the roaring 20s all while having them work behind the scenes in the
gritty underbelly of organized crime.
Features:
Build A Crime Empire: Raise your criminal empire from the ground
up by establishing rackets in your neighbourhood (be it speakeasies,
breweries, brothels, union skimming, protection rackets, or casinos) and
recruiting a team of loyal mobsters to make your mark on the streets. Once
you make a name for yourself, expand your influence by taking over rival
territory and adding more ventures to your repertoire.
Explore a Living, Breathing City: Take to the streets of vibrant 1920s Chicago
and its distinct neighbourhoods, such as Little Italy or West Loop, with
real historical landmarks and events. Interact with a full cast of over 60
living, breathing characters with backgrounds that inform how they react
to what you or other characters do. Each recruitable character has traits
and relationships that significantly affect gameplay and vice versa.
Schmooze, coerce, seduce, threaten, or kill them to get your way.
Defend and Expand Territory: If it comes to blows, hypothetically of
course, and your posse needs to send a message, face off in brutal
turn-based combat. Recruit your goons strategically to build a strong
chemistry within your crew to maximize combat damage and help secure your
hold on the city.
Wield Your Influence: Make and break alliances, bribe cops, and
trade on the black market to gain an edge and expand the influence of your
crime family. But always keep your enemies close and ensure you have a
mole on the inside and eyes everywhere.
Dominate the Neighbourhood: Whether you make it to the top with
violence, business smarts, or city-wide notoriety, there are a number of
ways to become King or Queen of Chicago. With various starting conditions
and constantly changing crew dynamics, no two playthroughs will ever be
the same.
Paradox Interactive is a leading global publisher of strategy games for
PC and console. The company has developed and published a world-renowned
catalog stretching back to 1999, with players hailing from all around the
world.
The publisher’s steadily-growing portfolio includes firmly established
franchises such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis, Crusader
Kings, Hearts of Iron, and Stellaris series created by Paradox
Development Studio, the Age of Wonders series created by Triumph
Studios, as well as award-winning titles such as Cities: Skylines, Pillars
of Eternity, and more from a network of partner studios. Paradox is the
owner of the World of Darkness IPs and is publishing Vampire: The
Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. Today, over four million people play a Paradox
game each month, and the number of registered Paradox users is over twelve
million.
Paradox’s head offices are located in Stockholm, Sweden. Our development
studios are located in Stockholm, Malmö and Umeå, Sweden, in Delft, The
Netherlands, in Seattle, Washington, and in Berkeley, California. We share a
passion for gaming and gamers, and our goal is to provide deep and challenging
games with hours of gameplay and endless variety to our ever-growing community.
For more information, please visit our forums and follow us
on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Comet sighted!
About Koch Media
Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital
entertainment products (games, films and software). The company’s own
publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe,
North America and Australia. The Koch Media group has more than 20 years of
experience in the digital media business, and has risen to become the number
one publishing partner in Europe. It has also formed strategic alliances with
numerous games and software publishers: Bethesda, Capcom, Codemasters,
Kaspersky Labs, Konami, Koei Tecmo, Milestone, Sega, Square Enix, etc. in
various European countries. With Headquarter in Höfen, Austria Koch Media owns
branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the
Nordic regions, Benelux, Australia, Czech Republic and the United States.
Make-A-Wish® Kid William Floyd Joins NBA® 2K20 Rosteras First Authentically Scanned and Playable Fan inBasketball Video Game Series’ History
Publishing label and nonprofit organization partner to deliver once-in-a-lifetime experience for 15-year-old from Georgia
Sydney, Australia – March 3, 2020 – 2K has announced that Make-A-Wish® kid, William Floyd, a 15-year-old from Georgia with a rare genetic disorder causing severe muscle weakness and heart problems, is the first non-NBA athlete in the popular basketball video game series’ history to be authentically scanned and earn a spot on an NBA® 2K playable roster. Available for download beginning today on the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, as well as PlayStation®4 system, Windows PC and Nintendo Switch™, William’s NBA® 2K20 player model may be found within Quick Game mode as a free agent for players to include on their teams of choice, as well as through new MyCAREER and MyLEAGUE rosters.
Make-A-Wish sent William and his family from Georgia
to 2K’s headquarters in Novato, California, to grant his wish to visit the home
of NBA 2K; however, he was unaware that in addition to his unforgettable
tour, 2K planned to professionally scan
his likeness – just as they had with his favorite NBA stars – and create him as
a playable roster member in NBA 2K20 and make him accessible to
millions of players around the world to add to their teams.
“When we learned about William’s wish to visit 2K, the
whole team was thrilled,” said Ronnie Singh, also known as Ronnie 2K. “Learning
about his journey was really humbling, and we wanted to find a way to make
William’s wish come true in the biggest way possible. We couldn’t think of a
better way to do that than bringing his passion to life in-game and giving
millions of NBA 2K fans around the world the chance to enjoy
William’s player model.”
Much like today’s biggest NBA stars, William’s NBA
2K experience began at the 2K Motion Capture Studio, where 140 motion
capture cameras caught his every move. William then had his likeness recreated
in incredible detail by 146 Pixelgun cameras, each capturing every grimace and
grin, and all to help authentically bring his player model to life.
“Each player does a dance move or a celebration before
he gets on the court,” William explained. “So, I got one of those, too. I got
to create it.”
William also talked to the NBA 2K
marketing and video capture teams, and the development team at Visual Concepts.
Armed with a list of ideas for the game, William gave his input in potential
cover athletes, game modes, and features that he would love to see in the
future.
William was 18 months old when he went into heart
failure and was diagnosed with a genetic disorder that causes muscle weakness
and heart problems. His medical condition does not allow him to play sports
like other children his age, but NBA 2K allows him to stay
competitive in sports virtually. William’s wish helped him during his treatment
by giving him something to look forward to in the future. In addition, he is
now eager to explore employment opportunities with 2K when he is older.
“The cool thing is that 2K took what could have been a
great wish and brought it to a level that we never expected,” says William’s
mom, Julie. “They treated him – and all of us – like royalty and were so
interested in everything William had to offer them. It was absolutely
unbelievable.”
All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the
property of their respective holders.
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.
About 2K
Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes global
interactive entertainment for console and handheld gaming systems, personal
computers and mobile devices, with product availability including physical
retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development
studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games,
31st Union and Cloud Chamber. 2K’s portfolio currently includes the
renowned BioShock®, Borderlands™, Mafia and XCOM®
franchises; NBA® 2K, the global phenomenon and highest rated* annual
sports title for the current console generation; the critically acclaimed Sid
Meier’s Civilization® series; the popular WWE® 2K and WWE®
SuperCard franchises, as well as emerging properties NBA® 2K Playgrounds
2, Carnival Games and more. Additional information about 2K and its
products may be found at 2k.com.
About Make-A-Wish®
Make-A-Wish® creates life-changing wishes for children
with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child’s wish
to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey.
Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and
emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Make-A-Wish is the
world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in
every community in the United States and in 50 countries worldwide. For more
information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.
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 http://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.
HBO TEAMS UP WITH CRAIG MAZIN AND NEIL DRUCKMANN TO DEVELOP SERIES
ADAPTATION OF AWARD-WINNING VIDEO GAME “THE LAST OF US,”
WITH MAZIN AND DRUCKMANN SET TO WRITE AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCE
——–
Carolyn
Strauss And Evan Wells Also Executive Produce
——–
Co-Production
With Sony Pictures Television In Association With PlayStation Productions
LOS
ANGELES, March 5, 2020 – Neil Druckmann
(WGA and BAFTA Award-winning writer and director) and Craig Mazin (Emmy®,
Golden Globe and WGA Award-winner for HBO’s “Chernobyl”) will develop an
HBO series adaptation of the award-winning video game “The Last of Us,” it was
announced today by HBO programming president Casey Bloys.
Druckmann and
Mazin will write and executive produce; Carolyn Strauss (Emmy®-winner
for HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and “Chernobyl”) also executive produces
along with Evan Wells (President of Naughty Dog). The project is a
co-production with Sony Pictures Television and in association with
PlayStation Productions. THE LAST OF US is the first television series
from PlayStation Productions.
Based on the
critically acclaimed video game “The Last of Us,” developed by Naughty Dog
exclusively for the PlayStation® platforms, the story
takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a
hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an
oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal,
heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse across the U.S. and depend on
each other for survival. The HBO series will cover the events of the
original game, which was written by Druckmann, with the possibility of
additional content based on the forthcoming game sequel, “The Last of Us
Part II,” which will release on May 29, 2020.
“This is
an incredibly exciting opportunity for us to partner with Craig, Neil, Carolyn
and teams at Sony, Naughty Dog and PlayStation to bring the virtual world of
this acclaimed game to life,” said Casey Bloys.
“Neil
Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game
medium, and ‘The Last of Us’ is his magnum opus,” said Craig Mazin.
“Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of
mine for years, and I’m so honored to do it in partnership with Neil.”
“From the
first time I sat down to talk with Craig I was equally blown away by his
approach to narrative and his love and deep understanding of ‘The Last of
Us,’” said Neil Druckmann. “With ‘Chernobyl,’ Craig and HBO created a
tense, harrowing, emotional masterpiece. I couldn’t think of better partners to
bring the story of ‘The Last of Us’ to life as a television show. I’m
beyond excited to collaborate with them.”
“This is a
true thrill for us at Sony Pictures Television. ‘The Last of Us’ is a
brilliant achievement in storytelling and character development, and we are
lucky to have the opportunity to work with this team to adapt it,” said Chris
Parnell, co-President of Sony Pictures Television Studios. “This is the
first of many shows we intend to develop with our friends at PlayStation
Productions.”
The Reds are Coming
to World of Warships: Legends!
A New Update with Russian Navy Cruisers, a New Campaign “War and Peace,”
and Early Access to Russian Destroyers
March 6 - World of
Warships: Legends announces a new nation coming into the game! On March 9,
players will be able to immerse themselves in a wave of new Russian naval
content. This update brings Russian cruisers into the game, a new
campaign to go along with them, and a preview of the upcoming Russian
destroyers. The Reds are coming in force to stake their claim in the seas
of World of Warships: Legends.
The seven new Russian & Soviet Cruisers
rely on powerful flat-shooting guns to punish enemy vessels from a safe
distance. Keeping this range is important for any daring Russian navy captains,
as these ships can be quite vulnerable in mid-ranged engagements! However, at
higher tiers these cruisers have the tools for intrepid players to stay
safe—fast, short-ranged torpedoes and Radar at higher tiers. This gives them
the ability to foil the plans of stealthy destroyers trying to counter them.
Players will find that these Soviet cruisers offer immense potential for
racking up damage—as long as they
avoid taking too much of a beating.
The new campaign, “War and Peace,” fits
in nicely with the Red Fleet’s cruisers. At the end of this 95-level campaign
lies the Mikhail Kutuzov, a highly capable Russian cruiser that saw service
throughout the Cold War. In World of Warships: Legends, this Cold War
challenger pairs the outstanding performance of Russian cruiser guns with Smoke
Generator and Sonar consumables. This means that the Mikhail Kutuzov can
stealthily bombard enemies at ease by creating temporary concealment. On the
way through “War and Peace,” players will earn a pile of consumables,
equipment, and more. There are even a few chances to get one of the early
access Russian destroyers throughout.
The Russian destroyers in early access range
from tier III to tier VI and are true gunboats. These destroyers, such as the
brilliant Tier V Gnevny, really shine in gunnery duels where they can use
their firepower to batter lone cruisers, whittle down battleships, and utterly
demolish enemy destroyers! Their fast but
short-ranged torpedoes are best used in an ambush to deal devastating blows on
unsuspecting enemies. Players can get the chance to play them early through
the new Soviet Containers, a few of these containers are also available in the
War and Peace campaign!
Six new esteemed commanders represent the new
nation. They cover a large section of Imperial Russian and Soviet naval history
from the Russo-Turkish war into the Cold War. These commanders bring new
inspirations and abilities to enhance player’s ships and make their new Russian
fleet the best it can be. Stepan Makarov, as a shiny example, brings his
lusciously bearded visage to command and improve your Russian Navy cruisers.
Not to mention, something entirely different is
on the horizon for the April Fool’s celebrations, but keep it quack… ahem,
quiet!
####
About World of Warships: Legends
Experience epic naval action in World of
Warships: Legends, a massively multiplayer online game where you can master the
seas in history’s greatest warships! Recruit legendary commanders from maritime
history, upgrade your vessels and stake your claim to naval supremacy with or
against players around the world in thrilling and immersive battles.
World of Warships: Legends brings the online
naval action loved by millions to home consoles for the very first time,
alongside a host of content and features exclusive to the console experience.
Wargaming is an award-winning online game
developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998,
Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with
4500+ employees and offices spread all over the world. Over 200 million players
enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship
products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the
strategic naval action game World of Warships.
