Humble Bundle is partnering with 29 indie developers to raise money for RRPCA Australia, WIRES, and the World Wildlife Fund. All three charities will be using the money to support rehabilitation efforts for the wildlife affected by the Australian bushfires.
With Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot releasing tomorrow in the West, what better way to look back at Goku’s various battles than with Vegeta who has been there for nearly all of them, partially as an opponent and also as an ally.
This two minute trailer from Bandai Namco, found below, features Vegeta’s English voice actor thinking back and showing off a number of key battles and events that take place throughout Dragon Ball Z all set to a number of very familiar sounding pieces of background music. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will be released tomorrow January 17th in the West for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
While Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix may have originally hoped to have Marvel’s Avengers released on May 15th the company has announced that that will no longer be the case. Instead the company has stated that they are now hoping to have Marvel’s Avengers released on the Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, and even the Google Stadia on September 4th.
The reason for the delay, according to Crystal Dynamics co-heads of studio Scot Amos and Ron Rosenberg are so that the company can “bring you our vision for Marvel’s Avengers, we committed to delivering an original story-driven campaign, engaging co-op, and compelling content for years to come. To that end, we will spend this additional development time focusing on fine tuning and polishing the game to the high standards our fans expect and deserve.”
If you’ve been paying attention to the release dates for games this year, then you’ll likely notice that March is a rather insane month when it comes to high profile releases and while many expected delays, for the most part nothing has changed. Well now the first delay has been revealed and the victim this time is Final Fantasy VII Remake as Square Enix has pushed the PlayStation 4 timed exclusive from its previous release date of March 3rd to April 10th, still placing it in a rather packed month of games.
Square Enix released the above statement from the game’s producer Yoshinori Kitase where they apologize for the game’s delay, stating that they want to apply some extra polish to the game before release.
As many know, while Resident Evil 2 had the terrifying Mr. X to worry about, Jill Valentine had her own stalking threat throughout Resident Evil 3 and this new trailer from Capcom puts plenty of spotlight on this S.T.A.R.S. hunting monstrosity. Also shown in the trailer is some footage featuring Carlos Oliviera and some members from his team, with longtime players likely remembering at least a few of these sequences though the appearance of a flamethrower is certainly a new addition.
The trailer can be found below alongside a number of new screenshots for the game Resident Evil 3 is currently set to be released on April 3rd for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
With Doom Eternal now releasing a little over two months from now id Software and Bethesda Softworks have opted to release the second official trailer for the game that gives players not only a sampling of what to expect in the game’s story but also a better look a the Doom Slayer himself alongside some action packed gameplay.
You can check out the trailer below and can keep an eye out for Doom Eternal when it is released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and even the Stadia on March 20th with a Switch version coming at a later date and it is worth noting that all pre-orders of the game net players a digital version of Doom 64 which will be released on the same day as the main game.
Throughout the years we have seen many versions of Steins;Gate arrive in the West and most recently Spike Chunsoft has even brought the Nintendo Switch version of the darker sequel Steins;Gate 0 to the Nintendo Switch after releasing it on other platforms years prior. However alongside this darker release the company also brought a game that fans in the West have never been able to play that is far more comedic and light-hearted in nature, even compared to the original game. Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace has finally made its way to English audiences and embraces the more comedic side of the story by focusing on giving players the chance to experience the game as a romantic visual novel rather than a drama. So with plenty of popular characters that fans have known for years now given their own routes, is Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace a worthwhile spin-off?
Story
Although Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace is quite different from the original and 0, it still relies on the player already having previous knowledge about the series to best enjoy. This is primarily due to the fact that, as a romance game, players will be watching the story unfold around their favorite characters and knowing what happens in the series is mostly required for the best experience here. That being said, this version doesn’t have as much of a barrier to entry primarily due to being more comedy and character oriented rather than focusing on world threatening plots and dark twists.
Okabe Rintaro may suffer from some extreme delusions of grandeur but if it is one thing that his Future Gadget Lab has managed to accomplish, it is creating a way to manipulate the past through D-Mails, text messages that can be sent to the past to change the future. Generally only Rintaro is able to recognize that the world has shifted due to the groups’ actions but this time around things are different. Not only does he find himself in the middle of a party where the lab members are unveiling a slew of odd gadgets that they have been working on that Rintaro doesn’t remember but also the “official lab mems” now include a variety of other characters that he doesn’t remember letting join.
Like many visual novels, especially ones focused around dating, Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace features a lengthy and very enjoyable common route that sees Rintaro, and the player, experiencing a number of events that appear quite different from the normal timeline, including the creation of bracelets that tie Rintaro and Kurisu together or risk electrocution if they argue or get too far away from one another. This strange turn of events gets the ball rolling on the numerous comedic events and back and forth banter between characters fans have come to love through the core series.
This focus on humor and character interaction is at its best here and when players make their choice to go down any of the multiple story routes available, the chosen girl will be given even more time to shine, giving fans of the series a chance to see just how things end up between Rintaro and the various girls around him. The actual choices to enter a route are as simple as one may expect in dating visual novel so players won’t need to worry too much about complex choices outside of one specific route that does take a bit extra to obtain.
It is worth noting that there really is no high stakes drama to be found in Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace as the shocking twists that saw the original’s goofy antics turn serious don’t exist here, instead players will find comedy and romance as the main goal here. This may divide some fans but those looking for more of their favorite characters will be pleased with what is on offer here, especially when it comes to a few routes in particular that truly shine apart from the rest. We won’t say who exactly, but two of these characters’ routes are an extraordinary read and will certainly delight any fan of the series.
Gameplay
In many ways Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace still plays similar to the original release with players having access to Rintaro’s cell phone during all conversations in the game. The cell phone can be accessed at any time during dialogue and players can even respond to various text messages they receive from characters within a certain period of time. As mentioned before, the actual choices players make that play a role in the game’s routes are mostly simple in nature so don’t expect too much complexity here.
The TIPS section once again makes an appearance and allows players to read up on various phrases and science terms that are spoken by the characters in the game. These range from being tidbits of info about real items and locations to internet slang to completely fictional science and objects created in the game’s universe.
Visuals & Audio
Returning fans of the series will be delighted to hear that the art style remains the same here as many of the character portraits are as detailed as before, though they may simply be re-used from the original release, but alongside these standard character portraits comes a slew of new CGs that appear throughout the story all matching the same quality fans have come to expect from the series. These include various ones that appear throughout the common route to ones that are only unlocked on specific romantic paths so players will need to play through a few times to unlock everything. That being said, the UI does seem to have been given only the briefest of thoughts in this version as it is kept to a bare minimum, even on the menu screen.
Once again all of the original Japanese voice actors have reprised their roles here in this spin-off which is presented with Japanese voice over only and as far as the soundtrack goes, there are a few tracks that appear to be re-used from the core game but a number of new tracks have been added into the fold as well to better match some of the themes of this spin-off.
Overall
Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace may not have the twists that the series is known for but what it does have is the same quality of writing that fans have come to expect from the series. This does mean that the game is a bit simpler as a whole but it is also one that lets fans see some of their favorite characters in a mostly brand new story that is filled with signature comedy and helps expand upon some characters more than they ever were before, especially in the case of a few outstanding character routes.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
THE ROAD TO SIX INVITATIONAL IN-GAME EVENT IS BACK IN
TOM CLANCY’S® RAINBOW SIX SIEGE
The first full Battle Pass, linked to Road to S.I.
2020, is also coming and will support the Six Invitational prize pool
Sydney, Australia – January 16, 2019 – Today, Ubisoft® announced that the Road to S.I. in-game event is back in Tom Clancy’s® Rainbow Six Siege on a brand-new map – Stadium. The event will take place every weekend (from Friday to Monday) from January 16th to the end of the Six Invitational – Rainbow Six’s premiere esports event on February 16th. The event will also come with the first full Battle Pass for Rainbow Six Siege, which will contribute to the Six Invitational prize pool.
During this event, Operators will try
to prove who’s the best on a new map: Stadium, made especially for this
competition. On Stadium, walls of bulletproof glass create new situations where
you can see your opponents without being able to engage. Matches will be played
in Bomb mode with a Pick & Ban phase, 3-minute rounds on a 3-round
rotation. All operators will be unlocked and available for all players on this
playlist and six of the Competitors will be automatically equipped with their
Road to S.I. gear: Blitz, Caveira, Hibana, Mozzie, Sledge, and Thermite.
For the
duration of the event, the Road to S.I. 2020 Battle Pass will be available with
one Free track and one Premium track. With 35 tiers on both tracks, the Battle
Pass contains a total of 48 unlockable rewards for competitors, including the
exclusive customisation items available in the Road to S.I. game mode. The
Premium pass will be available for 1200 R6 Credits and the Premium Bundle that unlocks
the Premium pass plus the first 12 tiers can be purchased for 2400 R6 Credits,
though each tier can be unlocked by either playing the game or for 180 R6
Credits.
30% of
revenue will go to the Six Invitational prize pool up to $3,000,000 USD. Any
surplus will be redistributed across other official Rainbow Six esports
programs. More than just a tournament, the Six Invitational gathers all fans,
joining in celebrating the community with friends and the extended Siege
family. The event will feature developer exclusive panels, fan artists,
cosplayers and renowned content creators from the community.
Alongside a thriving professional esports scene and a community of over
50 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, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. 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 2018-19 fiscal year Ubisoft generated Net Bookings of €2,029 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.
Royal Navy
set to rule the waves with new British heavy cruisers
Ships
deploy into World of Warships early access with new British Cruisers event bringing
new Directives, British Tokens and Random Bundles
January 16, 2020 – The mighty Royal Navy has expanded in World of Warships today with the deployment of a new series of British heavy cruisers. The new ships come as part of a new British Cruisers event, introducing British Tokens, new Directives and Random Bundles, which is going live with today’s update 0.9.0.
Wargaming will also be celebrating the upcoming Lunar New Year
with exciting new content, including new Pan-Asian ships, as well as rolling
out a new season of Clan battles season in the later stages of the update
cycle.
The
new British Cruisers event allows players to unlock four new heavy cruisers in
Tiers V-VIII by spending British Tokens, a new temporary resource, to obtain
random bundles in the Armory. The new ships are the Hawkins (Tier V),
Devonshire (Tier VI), Surrey (Tier VII), Albemarle (Tier VIII) and come
equipped with the regal Victorian White permanent camouflage.
The
new British heavy cruisers come with considerable amount of firepower which
they utilise best at medium ranges. Also equipped with torpedoes, the cruisers’
survivability is considerable thanks to its strong armour distribution and
effective Repair party. The British tokens may be obtained from Daily shipments
or for completing Daily Missions and the four new Directives.
The
second part of update 0.9.0 will bring Lunar New Year celebration to World of
Warships with a theme from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
In celebration, three new Pan-Asian ships will be making their debut bringing
with them unique commanders, flags, patches and permanent camouflages.
A
select number of ships have been upgraded to premium status, allowing them to
earn more credits for their owners once unlocked. These are the ARP Kongo, ARP
Kirishima, ARP Haruna, ARP Hiei, ARP Myoko, ARP Nachi, ARP Ashigara, ARP Haguro
and ARP Takao, as well as Southern Dragon and Eastern Dragon. Lastly, a new
season of Clan battles will be introduced letting players take part in 7v7
battles on Tier X ships for the chance to win steel and other
rewards.
Further details on the
Update 0.9.0. or to sign up to World of Warships for free, head here.
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About World of Warships
World of Warships is a free, historical, online combat game from Wargaming.
Command a massive naval fleet featuring some of history’s most iconic war
vessels, level up important tech modules and prepare to dominate the oceans in World
of Warships. With four classes of ships, myriad upgrades, and strategically
designed environments, the action never ends and every match is a unique
experience. World of Warships brings players endless hours of strategy,
tactical gameplay and pulse-pounding combat!
About Wargaming
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 naval combat
game World of Warships. The company’s dedicated unit, Wargaming Mobile,
is forging collaborations to deliver new mobile experiences alongside their
in-house game development.
LARKSPUR, Calif. (Jan 15, 2020) – Today Deep Silver and Ys Net announce the release date for their first Shenmue III DLC, Battle Rally. The Battle Rally DLC pack offers fresh gaming activities with a race unlike any other as contestants engage in head to head battles while racing their way through the course.
In a series first, Shenmue III players will have the chance to step into the shoes of another protagonist. In addition to playing as the hero of our story, Ryo Hazuki, players can also choose to play as the treasure-seeking Wuying Ren or as Ryo’s sparring partner, Wei Zhen; making her first appearance in Shenmue III. Cross the finish line in first place to win some truly awesome items.
To up the stakes and win even more fantastic items players can simultaneously search for character Bailu’s official mascot, Bailu-chan. Find as many Bailu-chans as possible to get a leg up on your opponents during the race.
The Shenmue III Battle Rally DLC pack will be available on Jan 21, 2020. The DLC will be available as a digital download through the PlayStation™ Store and Epic Games Store for $7.99 USD. Users who purchased the Complete DLC Collection of Shenmue III will see the DLC being available automatically on day of release.
###
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 and Saints Row V. 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 (software, games and films). 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
pioneer is well respected by many top creators beyond game industry. He
received “Computer World Smithsonian Award from the Smithsonian Consortium in
1998 and received Hall of Fame award at the AIAS Summit in 2003 as recognition
of his contribution to the game industry. His master pieces of works
include “Hung-on”, “Space Harrier” and “Virtua Figher” 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, producing, and development. It
expanded development studio in 2015 along with start of Shenmue III project.
