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The Adventure Begins Anew—World of Warcraft® Classic Is Now Live!

The Adventure Begins Anew—World of Warcraft® Classic Is Now Live!

All current World of Warcraft subscribers can start playing Classic today at no additional cost

WoW® Classic rings in the game’s 15th anniversary, with celebrations in Battle for Azeroth to follow in the coming months

SYDNEY, Australia—27 August, 2019—Grizzled veterans and hardy newcomers alike can now experience Azeroth as it was in its earliest days with World of Warcraft® Classic, which is live starting today and included at no additional cost as part of everyone’s WoW® subscription globally. World of Warcraft Classic has been a labour of love for Blizzard, and the result is an authentic re-creation of the pre-expansion game in its most feature-complete state, as it was during 2006’s “Drums of War” update (patch 1.12.0). Blizzard has continued to bring WoW Classic realms online around the world to accommodate the more than two million players who have created characters in anticipation of today’s launch, and will work to add more based on player population trends.

World of Warcraft®, which has been played by more than 140 million players over the past 15 years,* has evolved considerably across seven expansions, with numerous features, enhancements, and quality-of-life improvements. In many ways, World of Warcraft Classic is more unrelenting and demanding of self-direction from players than today’s version of the game. Bonds among the community are paramount—activities like raids and dungeon runs must be organised collectively by players on the same realm, with the toughest challenges requiring 40 coordinated and committed souls to surmount.

Classic’sAzeroth is equal parts wonder and hazard, and its trials will push players to their limits. The Alliance and the Horde, in the midst of outright war, are made to reckon with forces whose powers transcend their own brutal conflict—including some of the most iconic and love-hated of villains of the Warcraft® universe, like Ragnaros the Firelord and the Archlich Kel’Thuzad.

“It’s been a long time coming, but we’re overjoyed to welcome our friends new and old to classic Azeroth,” said J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment. “The community’s excitement is infectious and deeply motivating—it’s clear they’re as thrilled as we are to relive the World of Warcraft Classic experience. We look forward to rediscovering its wonders and challenges together with them, starting today.”

World of Warcraft Classic will continue to expand in the weeks and months following today’s launch, allowing players the opportunity to live through pivotal moments in Azeroth history previously lost to time. Among the host of features and activities set to be introduced to the game across six phases are iconic raids like Blackwing Lair, Zul’Gurub, and Naxxramas; player-versus-player battlegrounds like Warsong Gulch, Arathi Basin, and the classic version of Alterac Valley; and time-limited server-wide events like the Ahn’Qiraj War Effort, and the Scourge Invasion.

World of Warcraft 15th Anniversary In-Game Celebration

World of Warcraft Classic heralds WoW’s 15th anniversary, arriving ahead of celebrations planned for the coming months. The festivities will begin with an in-game event in World of Warcraft’s latest expansion, Battle for Azeroth, in which max-level players can participate in a special raid that brings together some of the mightiest raid bosses in WoW’s history. Players who complete the raid will be awarded the Obsidian Worldbreaker mount, inspired by the dreaded Dragon Aspect, Deathwing the Destroyer.

In addition, all Battle for Azeroth players who log in during the 15th anniversary event will earn limited-time bonuses, including a Lil’ Nefarian pet, a commemorative in-game achievement, and more. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Current World of Warcraft subscribers can access Classic right now through the Battle.net® desktop app.

For more information on World of Warcraft Classic, visit the official website at www.worldofwarcraft.com.

WRC 8, Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory and Bee Simulator will make their debut exclusively on the Epic Games Store

WRC 8, Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory and Bee Simulator will make their debut exclusively on the Epic Games Store

Lesquin, France, August 26, 2019 – Bigben has announced that the PC version of three of its year-end games will be making its launch debut exclusively on the Epic Games store: WRC 8 scheduled for release on September 5th, Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory which will be released on October 3rd, and Bee Simulator, which will be available on November 14th, 2019. The announcement is part of an exclusive one-year-deal.

We are very pleased to be reinforcing our Epic Games store offer with a variety of unique games from our catalogue. Our latest offer is comprised of three games that are very different from each other: Bee Simulator, a superb family game; Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory, a tactical CRPG brimming with dark humour; and WRC 8, the official simulation of the FIA World Rally Championship, which will also be the first rally game available on the Epic Games Store.”said Benoit Clerc, Head of Publishing at Bigben.

WRC 8 is the most complete and authentic official WRC simulation ever made. New off-road physics for all surfaces, a completely redesigned Career Mode, extreme and dynamic weather conditions, 52 teams, 14 countries, over 100 special stages, weekly challenges and an eSports mode… Experience the most intense WRC yet!

In Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory, control a team of four Troubleshooters of dubious loyalty, who (mostly) obey orders from Friend Computer, a paranoid and irrational artificial intelligence. Inspired by classic CRPGs, the game is the first official adaptation of the cult role-playing game.

See the world through the eyes of a bee in Bee Simulator! In a world inspired by iconic Central Park in New York, you play as a pollinator bee who has set up home in one of the park’s trees. Your life is turned upside down one day when humans decide to cut down your tree. The fate of your hive is thrust into your tiny hands.

Paranoia® & Copyright © 1984, 2016, 2019 by Eric Goldberg & Greg Costikyan. All Rights Reserved. Cyanide S.A., Authorized User.
Published by Bigben Interactive and developed by Black Shamrock and Cyanide Studio.

About Bigben
Bigben, a leading publisher of video games on PC and consoles, is known for its creativity and innovation. After its acquisition of four development studios (Cyanide, Eko, KT Racing and Spiders), which are all internationally recognized for their expertise in different genres, Bigben is strengthening its position as a developer and publisher of premium games and is aiming to become the world’s leading AA publisher. www.bigben.fr

About Epic Games
Founded in 1991, Epic Games is the creator of Fortnite, Unreal, Gears of War, Shadow Complex, and the Infinity Blade series of games. Epic’s Unreal Engine technology, which brings high-fidelity, interactive experiences to PC, console, mobile, AR, VR and the Web, is freely available at unrealengine.com. The Epic Games store offers a handpicked library of games, available at epicgames.com. Follow @EpicGames for updates.

About WRC Promoter GmbH
WRC Promoter GmbH is responsible for all commercial aspects of the FIA World Rally Championship, including TV production and the marketing of global media and sponsorship rights. The Promoter also has responsibility to increase the field of participants and to propose the venues that form the FIA WRC calendar. The World Rally Championship is the FIA’s premium rally series. WRC showcases authentic motorsport, high performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings ranging from the ice and snow of Scandinavia to the blistering heat of Mexico. Established in its current format in 1973, WRC participants battle for the drivers’ and manufacturers’ world titles at 14 rallies spanning 16 countries and five continents. Additional championship information can be found at www.wrc.com and www.wrcplus.com

About Paranoia creators
Greg Costikyan is a five-time winner of the Origins Award for Best Game of the Year and was inducted into the Adventure Gaming Hall of Fame in 1999. Eric Goldberg is a three-time winner of the Origins Award and the designer of MadMaze, the first online game to draw one million players.

About VARSAV Game Studios
VARSAV Game Studios is a game development studio from Poland founded in 2017. We develop and publish video games for PC and consoles. Our team is 40 young, talented specialists who have gained their experience in companies like: Bloober Team, CI Games, Flying Wild Hog, The Farm51 Group and Vivid Games. The studio’s key focus is to develop “games from a different perspective”, showing the player a unique perspective of the main character, previously unknown in other games.

Jet Kave Adventure – an action-packed Nintendo Switch™ exclusive 2.5D platformer will hit the console on September 17th!

Thaw out your inner caveman and get ready for the release of Jet Kave Adventure – a Stone-Fiction adventure-platformer launching exclusively for Nintendo Switch. Grab your trusty bone club, put on your best-fitting hide, fuel your jetpack, and carve September 17th, 2019 onto your stone wall.

August 26th, Cracow, Poland.  Face challenging bosses, soar across pitfalls, smash through rocky walls, and prove your worth to the tribe. Experience awesome set-pieces, clever secrets, and loads of prehistoric enemies to overcome. Pick up a jetpack left by a clumsy, yet highly dangerous alien invader and make your way through a world where the Stone Age meets Science-Fiction.

And if you’re heading to Seattle and would like to put your hands on the game at PAX West, you’ll be able to meet the developers in the WSCC, Level 6, Booth 7108 (Indie Games Poland).

ABOUT JET KAVE ADVENTURE:

Meet Kave! He’s the chief of his tribe – or rather, he was the chief until recently. Banished by his own people, he stumbles upon a jetpack. The device makes him the one and only caveman who can stand against the alien invader – an unpleasant guy from the sky who’s only too happy to trigger a disastrous volcanic eruption if it means repairing his spaceship. Thus begins Kave’s quest to save the island and prove his worth to the tribe!

JET KAVE ADVENTURE – MAIN FEATURES:

  • Save the island and Kave’s honor in a playful Stone-Fiction adventure
  • Jetpack through 36 colorful levels ridden with hazards and rich with secrets
  • Use your trusty club and alien jetpack to smack and whack 30 types of enemies
  • Show what you are made of in breakneck flight sequences and boss fights
  • Master the jet-fueled device to find collectibles and upgrade your gear
  • Put your skills to the ultimate test in Time, Collectible, and No Damage Challenges
  • Enjoy a 2.5D platform-adventure game tailor-made for Nintendo Switch!

Jet Kave Adventure is set for digital release on the Nintendo eShop on September 17th, 2019 at 19.99 EUR/USD.

More information about the game can be found on the official website, Facebook, and Twitter.

ANY WEAPON CAN BE MAGICAL WITH CITADEL: FORGED WITH FIRE’S SPELLCRAFTING SYSTEM

As a newly minted Wizard apprentice in Citadel: Forged With Fire, an essential skill to master is how to cast spells – but the arcane arts also teach you how to Spellcraft! What’s the difference? Any simpleton can cast a spell but spellcrafting takes someone with true power. Gather magical essences from the world, combine the elements and use them to enchant any weapon to aid you in combat, beast taming and resource harvesting. This is where a wizards true power comes from.

In Citadel: Forged With Fire spellcrafting is an essential part of gameplay, in which players will use powerful essences found around the world of Ignus to create a large variety of spells, then cast it onto your conduit of choice among a huge selection of mystic wands and staves, magically imbued axes, swords, maces and hammers, and enchanted gauntlets.

Citadel: Forged With Fire is currently available for pre-order and will launch worldwide to retailers and on digital platforms this Fall for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Steam PC, priced at $39.99. This magical experience is rated “T” (Blood, Violence) by the ESRB.

Band together with fellow wizards and learn to become a master sorcerer by following @PlayCitadel, ‘Like’ the arcane arts on Facebook and visit CitadelTheGame.com for more information.

Multiplayer Submarine Survival Sim Barotrauma Adds New Sub, Features and Items in “Saints & Sinners” Update

Multiplayer Submarine Survival Sim Barotrauma Adds New Sub, Features and Items in “Saints & Sinners” Update

HAMBURG, Germany Aug. 26, 2019 — Publisher Daedalic and indie developers FakeFish and Undertow Games today launched the first major content update for Barotrauma, the sci-fi horror multiplayer submarine survival simulation game. The “Saints & Sinners” update introduces a new karma mechanic, expands the traitor system and simplifies server hosting for players. It also adds a new submarine, items and several fixes and balance improvements for the game.

The new karma system is an optional, customizable feature for Barotrauma which helps moderate griefing by penalizing bad behavior like causing a meltdown or triggering spam filters. This mechanic should be invisible to players unless they begin intentionally griefing. Players with low karma may find themselves with unpleasant consequences and restrictions — for example, reduced movement speed, randomly inverting game controls, and being locked out of certain classes. If a player’s karma drops very low, they may even be kicked or banned from the server.

The hugely popular traitor system has also been enhanced with additional mission types, better objective randomization and detection of ‘off-task’ traitor griefing. The traitor system is completely optional and spices up missions with an extra layer of uncertainty. Is everyone on your crew really trying to help the ship — or are they double agents planning to dump your corpse in the ocean’s depths?

Additionally, the “Saints & Sinners” update implements the new Berilia stock submarine for up to 16 players. Crewmates can also now join servers via Steam friends list invites for easier server hosting, eliminating the need to forward manual ports or worry about router settings. New items have also found their way aboard, including six new weapons, two ammo types, more creature loot – and a new musical instrument!

Barotrauma is out now on Windows PC, Mac and Linux via Steam Early Access. For more information, visit https://barotraumagame.com.

Zenith, the Cyberpunk VR MMORPG for PC and VR, Receives Stellar Support and Breaks Kickstarter VR Records

Zenith, the Cyberpunk VR MMORPG for PC and VR, Receives Stellar Support and Breaks Kickstarter VR Records with 625% Funding… and Counting!

 Fan Appetite for Ramen VR’s Immersive Anime World Makes Campaign the Most Successful of any VR-tagged Kickstarter Project as Zenith Level Editor is Revealed for the Final Stretch Goal

SAN FRANCISCO – August 26, 2019 – Ramen VR, an indie VR studio that’s creating a unique VR metaverse, today celebrates its crowdfunding campaign for Zenith, a fantasy cyberpunk VR MMORPG for VR and PC. The goal was reached in four hours, and fans continue to show their support as the project was funded at over 625% level and counting, in less than two weeks, making it the most successful VR-tagged Kickstarter project. Over 1,600 backers have contributed with an average pledge of $96, showing the strong appeal of being able to play, socialize, and create your own unique experiences in the first cross-platform VR MMORPG.

Ramen VR has steadily been releasing the stretch goals details, and is now revealing the final goal of $250,000 which unlocks a “Zenith Level Editor” using Unity that allows the Zenith community to create and publish their own custom levels on the Zenith platform.

Additional data can be visualized in the new Zenith infographic released today by Ramen VR.

Inspired by anime and JRPG classics and reimagined as a dynamic living world with cross-play between VR platforms and PC, Zenith offers a futuristic universe in which players will fight, craft, explore, and live as they forge alliances and friendships in guilds and parties. In the game world, heroes are needed to venture forth to save Zenith from calamity. Characters who take up this challenge can participate in epic raids and world events or go solo to become a powerful leader whose deeds will be forever immortalized.

To date, the team has added five stretch goals including familiars, play vendors, and player housing, and Ramen VR has also announced that fan-favorite Emi Evans is collaborating to add her vocals to the project. Fans can access the game’s main theme track on SoundCloud.

Zenith is the brainchild of Andy Tsen and Lauren Frazier, co-founders of Ramen VR with a decade of experience at Unity, Google, and building startup companies. In addition to the game’s success in passing over $150,000 of crowdfunding, it has attracted investment from Y Combinator, the highly respected provider of seed funding for startups that has funded startups such as Airbnb, Dropbox, and Twitch.

 “We’re overwhelmed by the support our backers and community as we work together as co-creators to realize our shared vision for a cross-platform VR and PC living anime world,” said Andy Tsen, co-founder of Ramen VR. “Lauren and I, along with our small team of indie bandits look forward to continuing our development journey with everyone who has been so kind and supportive… to everyone, we say we will see you in Zenith soon!”

The Kickstarter campaign is continuing through September 26, 2019 and will help the team at Ramen VR further develop the epic adventure while sharing early benefits with fans who help create the dynamic world.

“Thank you and wow, is all I can say,” shares Lauren Frazier. “We wanted to involve our community and share Zenith’s progress early on, so with the voracious reception we’ve seen from backers, we’re able to do so which we’re beyond thrilled and humbled.”

For more information, please visit the Zenith Kickstarter page or visit https://www.zenithmmo.com. Keep in touch with us on Twitter @ZenithMMO, on Discord at https://discord.gg/uR7NNBS, and on Medium at https://medium.com/zenithvr/.

About Ramen VR

Ramen VR is an indie VR studio that’s creating the VR metaverse. Andy Tsen and Lauren Frazier started Ramen VR in 2019 after working together at established companies on previous projects. They have decades of combined experience at gaming and mobile startups as well as companies like Unity and Google. Funded by some of the world’s best investors and by Oculus, the team is focused on building Zenith, a VR MMORPG where millions of players can adventure together in a gorgeous, anime-inspired world. In August 2019, Zenith became the most successful VR-tagged project ever on Kickstarter with over 625% of its goal reached over its first week. Ramen VR had previously created Conjure Strike, which was a finalist for Unity Multiplayer and VR Game of the Year. The indie teams believe fun, online games can be life-changing experiences that let players realize their full potential. Ramen VR is driven by the belief to create a VR world where you can fulfill your wildest ambitions.

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SIX MASTERS 2020 ANNOUNCED AS THE FINALISTS FOR MELBOURNE ESPORTS OPEN ARE DECIDED

SIX MASTERS 2020 ANNOUNCED AS THE FINALISTS FOR MELBOURNE ESPORTS OPEN ARE DECIDED

The National Rainbow Six Tournament Will Commence With Split 1 in Early 2020

SYDNEY, Australia – 22nd August, 2019 – Today, Ubisoft announced that the Six Masters, the national Rainbow Six esports league for the ANZ region, will return in 2020 with the Six Masters 2020 Split 1 to commence early in the new year. The announcement comes in the lead up to the Six Masters 2019 Finals where eight of the best teams in the ANZ region will compete at the LAN Final event at Margaret Court Arena from Friday 30th August to Sunday 1st September as part of this year’s Melbourne Esports Open.

The eight finalist teams that will make their way to the finals at the Melbourne Esports Open are:

  • ACME Association
  • FNATIC
  • Fury Australia
  • Mindfreak
  • Oddity
  • Orgless
  • Rhythm
  • Team SiNister

As finalists of the Six Masters 2019, these eight teams automatically qualify for the Six Masters 2020 online group stage. More details about next year’s tournament will be announced in the months to come.

“The Six Masters is already a tremendous success for esports in the ANZ region and we’re excited to showcase everything the Rainbow Six scene has to offer at the Melbourne Esports Open this weekend,” says Matthew Tang, Group Head of Esports & Ecommerce at Ubisoft Australia.

“We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Six Masters in 2020 as well. We continue to amplify our investment in Rainbow Six esports in our region and this announcement demonstrates our commitment to supporting the players, organisations and fans who have shown so much passion for our scene over the past three years. We’ll be sharing more details in the coming months.”

The Six Masters 2019 Finals will commence with the first quarter final match livestreamed on Friday afternoon and conclude with the grand final on Sunday afternoon.

Friday, August 30 (Livestreamed):

  • ~5:00pm – Rhythm vs 0RGL3SS

Saturday, August 31 (MEO Day 1):

  • 10:00am – ACME vs Mindfreak
  • ~1:35pm – Sinister vs FURY
  • ~5:10pm – FNATIC vs Oddity

Sunday, September 1 (MEO Day 2):

  • 9:00am – Semi-Final #1
  • ~12:35pm – Semi-Final #2
  • ~4:10pm – Grand Final

The eight finalist teams will battle it out in single-elimination, best-of-3 matches for a share of the $50,000 AUD prize pool and the title of Six Masters 2019. The prize pool is split as per below:

1st:                        $20,000
2nd:                      $10,000
3rd-4th:                $4,000 each
5th-8th:                $2,000 each
9th-10th:              $1,000 each
11th-12th:              $500 each

Tickets to the Melbourne Esports Open 2019 are now available and can be purchased from the official website at melbourneesportsopen.com.au or ticketek.com.au.

The entire event will also be livestreamed on official Rainbow 6 ANZ channels below:

For more information about the Six Masters 2020 and all Rainbow Six esports please visit the official website and follow us at twitter.com/rainbow6anz.

To discuss sponsorship opportunities for the Six Masters 2020 program, please contact us.

About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege

Inspired by real-world counter-terrorist organisations, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege puts players in the middle of lethal close-quarter confrontations. For the first time in a Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six game, players will engage in sieges, a new style of assault where enemies have the means to transform their environments into modern strongholds while Rainbow Six teams lead the assault to breach the enemy’s position. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege gives players unprecedented control over their ability to fortify their position by reinforcing walls and floors, using barbed wire and deployable shields, laying mines and more, or to breach the enemies’ position using observation drones, setting charges, rappelling and more. The fast pace and uniqueness of each siege sets a new bar for intense firefights, strategic gameplay and competitive 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 2016–17 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,460 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

©2019 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Tom Clancy’s, Rainbow Six, The Soldier Icon, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Be Forever Bound by Blood (and Ink) at our Global Gears Ink Pop-Up Events

Be Forever Bound by Blood (and Ink) at our Global Gears Ink Pop-Up Events

Tattoos are a long-held tradition in the Gears of War world; from the famous Marcus Fenix tattoo in the game world, to the thousands of Crimson Omens, Lancers and COG tags out in the real world, we are constantly inspired, awed and humbled by the culture of permanent art our fans create.

Even more remarkable than the tattoos are “the stories they tell”; of devotion not just to the game but to family, friendships, memories and even marriages of people who met while playing online. This year, to honor our fans and celebrating the launch of Gears 5, we’re commemorating that meaning by bringing Gears Ink to our fans.

Gears Ink events will pop-up for one night only in LA, London, Berlin, Paris, Mexico City and Melbourne between September 4 and September 6. Fans in each city are invited to attend or tune in via a series of Xbox livestreams broadcast from each event.

Each Gears Ink event will feature some of the world’s greatest tattoo artists creating bespoke tattoos for some of the world’s biggest Gears fans, inspired by the Gears universe, their own unique style and culture of each location.

For more detail about each of the local events and to sign up to attend or get your very own Gears Ink, please head to the registration page and select the event you’re interested in – Register here.

If you’re unable to attend any of the events, you’ll also be able to check out what’s happening via a series of live streams from each event, including celebrities, gameplay and live Gears Ink tattoos. More details to come, stay tuned to Xbox on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information.

About Gears 5

From one of gaming’s most acclaimed sagas, Gears is bigger than ever, with five thrilling modes and the deepest campaign yet. With all-out war descending, Kait Diaz breaks away to uncover her connection to the enemy and discovers the true danger to Sera – herself.

Pre-order any digital edition of Gears 5 or pre-install Gears 5 with an active Xbox Game Pass membership before launch and receive the Terminator Dark Fate Character Pack, featuring Sarah Connor and the T-800 Endoskeleton, the Vector Lancer Skin and 7 days of Boost. (Character pack and skin require Xbox Live Gold on console, membership sold separately).

Catch Shantae on the Big Screen alongside Studio TRIGGER’s PROMARE!

Catch Shantae on the Big Screen alongside Studio TRIGGER’s PROMARE!

Studio TRIGGER’s first theatrical film will showcase the opening animation to
Shantae and the Seven Sirens.

8/25/2019 — Valencia, Calif. — Studio TRIGGER’s first theatrical film, PROMARE, arrives in theaters soon, and with it, a special treat for Shantae fans: the opening animation to Shantae and the Seven Sirens (also created by Studio TRIGGER)! Distributed by GKIDS, PROMARE will hit more than 700 screens nationwide on September 17 and 19 via a two-day engagement from Fathom Events, and the Shantae animation will run prior to the film.

The first feature-length film from the acclaimed Studio TRIGGER, creators of the hit series KILL la KILL and Little Witch Academia, and director Hiroyuki Imaishi (GURREN LAGANN, KILL la KILL), Promare uses a bold cel-shaded visual style to tell a blistering action-adventure story, and is the spiritual successor to many of director Imaishi’s former works. Thirty years have passed since the appearance of the Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings who destroyed half of the world with fire. When a new group of aggressive mutants calling themselves Mad Burnish appears, the epic battle between Galo Thymos, a new member of the anti-Burnish rescue team Burning Rescue, and Lio Fotia, the leader of Mad Burnish, begins. The trailer for PROMARE can be seen below:

Shantae and the Seven Sirens is the upcoming fifth game in WayForward’s critically acclaimed action-adventure-platformer series starring Shantae, a hair-whipping, belly-dancing, half-genie hero. The game’s opening animation is produced by Studio TRIGGER’s Naoko Tsutsumi (Little Witch Academia) and features an original musical composition by Mark Sparling with arrangement by Maddie Lim and vocals performed by Cristina Vee (Miraculous Ladybug). Since making its debut on July 5, 2019, the 30-second animated opening to the game (then known as Shantae 5) has been viewed more than 3.7 million times on YouTube and social media. Tickets for PROMARE can be purchased at https://gkidstickets.com/us/promare/?campaign=wayforward

About Wayforward

Based in Valencia, California, WayForward was founded in 1990 and has remained an independent game developer for 29 years. We are home to many talented individuals including programmers, environment artists, animators, modelers, illustrators, audio wizards, designers, and team leaders. With the new avenues for distributing games directly to fans we are finally able to make the games we have always wanted to.

About GKIDS

GKIDS is a producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored an astounding eleven Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016, My Life as a Zucchini in 2017, The Breadwinner in 2018, and Mirai in 2019. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections with titles Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others.  GKIDS also produces the ANIMATION IS FILM, an annual LA-based film festival. ANIMATION IS FILM embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of their work to the fullest range of expression of which medium is capable. www.gkids.com

© 2019 WayForward Technologies. Shantae and Shantae logo ™ BOZON.

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw Review

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw

Developer: Double Damage Games
Publisher: Double Damage Games
Platform: PC (Out now) Switch/PlayStation 4 (Coming Soon)
Release Date: 13 August 2019
Price: $29.99 USD – Available Here

Video Review

Overview

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is the prequel to the 2015 space sim Rebel Galaxy. Compared to the original title, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is a more traditional space sim that gives a gritty, blue collar spin to the long running genre. The game follows former outlaw Juno Markev as she returns to space on a quest to avenge the death of her husband.

Story

The game’s plot is a pretty standard affair. It’s simple, straight forward, and to the point. With such a large galaxy to explore, the main story isn’t necessarily central to the gameplay; however, it still serves as interesting content for those looking for a little more motivation or direction in a normally nebulous genre. The writing is well done. Information is usually offered up in a clear and understandable manner. Banter between characters is enjoyable and sprinkled with a good bit of wit. The only minor issue with the writing is the limited number of lines for minor NPCs. Since they are used often, they can be a little repetitive or slightly out of context.

Gameplay

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw breaks away with the original title’s naval barrage system in favour of one a little more familiar to the space sim genre. The game handles more like an arcade fighter jet title than a hard-core Newtonian space sim. While Rebel Galaxy Outlaw has many of the bells and whistles of more hard-core titles, a lot of mechanics have simplified options to get new players into the genre. The approach to mechanics reminds me a lot of the 2003 space sim Freelancer. For the more hardcore, more challenging options are available at the start that disables the aim and flight assists.

Combat feels great. Ships are built around an energy system. Weapons, engines, and shields all expend energy when in use, so success hinges on flying skill and energy management. Very skilled players can also adjust how much energy is directed to weapons, engines, and shields. For example, players can divert energy from weapons to engines when they need to catch up to a fleeing enemy or move it to shields when making an escape from a dangerous fight.

The aim and flight assist systems hit the right spot in terms of difficulty. Holding the left trigger will initiate flight assist and automatically fly the ship towards the selected target. Aim assist will provide a slightly more generous hit box and an icon suggesting where players should aim to hit a moving target.  There is enough assistance that players can just barely survive average difficulty encounters using the game’s assistance. Skilled players on the other hand will be able to tackle more difficult encounters because they are able to make tighter turns than the flight assist or execute more advanced flight maneuvers.

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw has all the bells and whistles in terms of side activities. While the campaign is good fun, it is incredibly easy to get lost in all the side missions, mining, gambling, and trading the game has to offer. The side missions are randomly generated missions that can be taken on at space stations. The missions offer a little bit of everything Rebel Galaxy Outlaw has to offer, like scouting dangerous new locations and hauling cargo across the galaxy while fighting off pirates.

The economy is well done. Pilots looking to operate legitimately have plenty of options for salvaging, mining, or purchasing goods to trade. Those looking to live on the dark side will have a tougher time, but the rewards match the risks. Many stations are willing to pay a premium for illegal goods, as long as players can avoid the police. The game offers a good amount of information for the players to help them keep track of prices and good deals without having to rely on pen and paper or an external spreadsheet.

There is a decent amount of ships and equipment to buy to keep players busy for hours. Each ship tier is a significant upgrade over the previous tier. There is a balanced mix of heavy merchant ships with lots of turrets and agile fighters with fast engines and plenty of guns. Ships don’t lose any value, so players are able to switch between freighters and fighters with ease. For those interested in decorating, the game offers an external program that handles a lot like popular image editing tools.  

The controls are well executed. It is definitely a title that should be played with a mouse and keyboard if there are no other options. A controller feels more fluid and natural. The only catch is Double Damage Games tried to cram a lot of different functions into a very limited number of keys. As a result, switching between locked targets feels clunky. Luckily, the game does come with HOTAS support and extensive binding options so players can find something that works for them.

The biggest issue with Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is the lack of tutorials. Considering the game is designed to get new players into the genre, the closest thing to a proper tutorial are random tips that will remind players of basic functions. A proper mission to teach players how to fly, fight, use the menus, and navigate around the galaxy would significantly ease the transition into the game.

Visuals

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw looks solid. The world is surprisingly bright considering the game’s gritty blue-collar style. The game has a slight cartoony look that suits Rebel Galaxy Outlaw well. The cut scenes are a real treat, offering Western-style animations that contrast nicely to the main game.

Audio

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw’s audio experience is very good. The sound effects are enjoyable. Dog fights quickly turn into a cacophony of lasers, explosions, and engine noises. The voice acting is good and is generally a step up from the previous title. The only issue that lingers is the lack of variety in small NPC lines. A handful of lines and actors appear repeatedly, and one of them in particular sounds like the same actor who plays Richter. The soundtrack is impressively large and varied in the tradition of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series. While it lacks a DJ providing the full radio experience, there’s some talented lesser known artists providing tracks spanning from country tunes to jazzy pieces.

While not really an issue, the game’s default volume is incredibly loud, especially when playing the game in the cockpit. I found myself dropping the volume to around half in the settings to match other games and to be able to hear people in Discord.

Overall

Double Damage Games has created the perfect gateway drug into the world of space sims. Rebel Galaxy Outlaw combines accessible mechanics with extremely polished gameplay and then wraps it all up in with an excellent presentation. While a proper tutorial is definitely on the post-launch to do list, every gamer vaguely interested in dogfighting or space sims should give Rebel Galaxy Outlaw a try.

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