Home Blog Page 2270

HEAVE HO FLINGS ONTO NINTENDO SWITCH AND PC TODAY

Philip Federico
-
0

HEAVE HO FLINGS ONTO NINTENDO SWITCH AND PC TODAY

PARIS – August 29, 2019 – Independent developer Le Cartel and tight-gripped game label Devolver Digital have launched the physics-based local multiplayer game Heave Ho on Nintendo Switch and PC. Heave Ho has been hailed as the leading contender for 2019’s LMPGOTY [Local Multiplayer Game of the Year] by nearly everyone, except for that one dude Leonard who – honestly – sucks at games anyway.

Heave Ho tasks up to four players with a simple goal – don’t fall to your death. Players will use their own two hands and the outstretched grip of their friends to grapple across each level on their way to victory. Grab one another’s hands, climb across dangling bodies, and swing your pals to safety in a wobbly, dangly mass of limbs.

Customize your character with all manner of stylish accessories and zany accouterment in a vain attempt to remember who you are and which of your hands is the only thing between you and the plummet of doom.

Heave Ho is playable at PAX West all weekend on a 20-foot 4K screen and at the launch party in Paris that, well, you weren’t invited to anyway. Awkward.

Follow @LeCartelStudio on Twitter to catch the latest on Heave Ho and maybe make a friend along the way too.

Heave Ho – Store Links
Nintendo eShop: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/heave-ho-switch/
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/905340/Heave_Ho/

# # #

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan Review

Travis Bruno
-
0
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan Review

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan

Developer: Supermassive Games
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Platforms: Xbox One (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date: August 30, 2019
Price: $29.99 USD – Available Here $39.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Crafting a horror story can be quite a difficult task since people are afraid of different things and the genre itself can be flooded with certain types of horror and this is especially true when it comes to trying to craft a horror adventure game. Supermassive Games has already proven themselves capable of performing such a feat however as their 2015 release of Until Dawn delivered a great experience with numerous variables. Now the company has returned with what will be a series of games combined under The Dark Pictures anthology with the first one being Man of Medan.

Story

The sea hides many mysteries beneath the waves and although many of these secrets may remain hidden to the world, young thrillseekers with a sense for adventure are more than willing to dive into the depths and root around. Such is the case with The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan where four twenty-somethings have chartered a boat in the South Pacific to do some deep sea diving. There is Alex, who is athletic, intelligent, and is Julia’s boyfriend while Julia herself is similarly intelligent and happens to be quite rich. Alongside this pair are Alex’s nerdy brother Brad and Julia’s jokester brother Conrad. Joining these four is the captain of their chartered vessel Fliss, a girl with a no-nonsense attitude that is willing to bend the rules a bit.

After diving into the wreckage of a never before found bomber from World War II the group finds coordinates pointing towards potential treasure but it doesn’t take long before local pirates decide that their vessel is a prime target and take the group hostage. Finding this same map, the pirates force the group to travel to the location only to find a massive freighter shipwrecked back after the war. Forced onto the dilapidated ship, it doesn’t take long before the group finds themselves fearing far worse than the knives and firearm in the pirates’ possession.

Now while we won’t go into too much detail about what that exact threat is, as it is up to the player to learn the truth, it makes for quite an interesting experience, especially since Man of Medan is meant to be played through at least a few times. This is primarily due to the fact that depending on your choices, as well as how good you are at quick time events, things can change drastically from session to session. There is very little illusion of choice when it comes to Man of Medan as mostly all of the bigger decisions in the game will play a role in how things play out for our five characters, Selecting one option may end up resulting in nothing happening or some slight damage to a character model while another may end with death for that character and any subsequent sections either having them missing, be missing entirely, or vary wildly due to their pivotal role.

Occasionally there will still be some developments that will happen outside of player control which is a bit disappointing, especially where keeping some information hidden can be vital only for it to be spewed out in a later scene when not controlling that character. Along those same lines the game does favor a few quick time events too heavily where one mistake led to a character death and the fate of the rest of the cast coming down to a series of prompts later on. Of course this level of seriousness does mean that players should be ready at all times for a quick time event to play a major role in the story even though some don’t feature any major consequences if failed.

As a whole though Man of Medan‘s story can feel a bit short, being around six hours for my first run through, but considering the high variability of the scenes, some of which are only accessible due to certain choices, and the deaths that can await your five characters, this shorter length isn’t much of an issue, especially since subsequent playthroughs don’t allow you to skip dialogue in any form. Thankfully though the story does come together quite nicely as the five characters are a bit tropey for the horror genre but fit together well with meaningful interactions happening between them and some sporting some very obvious flaws that help make them feel more human and realistic. This allows a more gripping narrative to be told and although some knowledge after your first playthrough will make some subsequent ones a bit more straightforward, actually knowing what you do helps reveal far more the second time around.

Gameplay

Those who have played Supermassive Games’ horror game Until Dawn will find themselves right at home with most of what The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan has to offer in terms of gameplay as very little has been modified though a few things have been added in. Players will still walk around various environments, usually small corridors that can be a bit repetitive due to the shipwreck setting, examining items that they find in the environment whether they be pieces of paper, corpses, books, or random items, partaking in quick time events, and making dialogue choices with the right analog stick. The exploration is simple enough though the slow walking speed, and only slightly faster speed when pressing the shoulder button, could use a bit of an increase and it is interesting to note that while most areas are linear, there are little secrets and some tidbits that may not occur if you don’t explore certain locations. Of course these have smaller consequences but having to deal with a new event suddenly where nothing previously occurred makes subsequent playthroughs interesting.

Quick time events make a hefty return here as players will need to complete numerous ones that range from simply pressing a series of buttons, or targeting a specific area quickly enough, to mashing (or holding if you choose) a button, or taking part in the newly refined “keep calm” mini-game. This system replaces the previous “don’t move” mechanic that would often be a problem in Until Dawn and requires the player to match their button presses with heart beat icons that scroll across the screen. This makes for a more intriguing and interactive sequence, especially when the character you are playing as starts to panic due to the threat growing closer to them. Dialogue remains similar in nature as players have two vocal choices and a new choice to simply say nothing at all. Some choices are presented with either a logical brain icon in the background while others feature a heart that focuses on guts, though actually relying on those icons doesn’t play too heavily of a role in the game.

These choices can often play a heavy role into the various branching paths that the story can progress down. As mentioned earlier, it is entirely possible to have characters die numerous times throughout a story and you never quite know when a failed prompt or bad choice may lead to one of the characters’ untimely demise. There are various collectibles located throughout the game in the form of pictures that either show a possible future or a possible death for a character in the game. These may give you a bit of a forewarning as to what may happen in the future and more than a few times these scenes may not even happen depending on the choices you’ve made so far.

In a rather interesting fashion, players will find that Man of Medan has more than a solo story mode to play through should they choose. There are also a pair of multiplayer modes to keep things feeling a bit fresh. One of these is local and allows for up to five people to pass the controller between each other and make various decisions for their selected characters. This “Movie Night” allows for some unique feeling moments as the fate of various characters as well as how their choices may affect the story are out of a single person’s hands while the other mode is Shared Story. This one happens to feel the best of the two as it sees the player joining a friend to play through the story together with different scenes happening at the same time or extended in some cases depending on what is going on. The game will still switch between characters as the story progresses and seeing how things play out makes for a fun and exciting mode, especially since players can see new scenes that aren’t always available in the single player mode.

That being said, Man of Medan isn’t without its flaws and most of these happen to come down to the game engine. For the most part the game runs smoothly enough but more than a few times throughout the game scenes would hitch and slow to a crawl, with the worst happening more than once just after finishing a mini-game only to have the scene after jutter so badly it barely played before changing scenes. Dialogue can also occasionally occur during loading screens or slip from the mouth flaps of the characters leading to them talking with no movement or talking with no sound.

Visuals & Audio

Supermassive Games has made sure that most of their presentation here is top notch. The character animations as well as the models are extremely well detailed with all of the characters having a unique feeling to them and a couple of them you may even recognize. This is especially true for the enigmatic Curator that appears from time to time in the story to check in on the player as his design and air of superiority comes across excellently here. It is a bit disappointing to say that the shipwreck itself makes for an unfortunately bland feeling area after a while though this is mostly due to the fact that it has to be a rusted out ship with very little room for variation.

The sound designs are perfectly handled for a horror game such as this and the voice work is similarly perfect here, though the characters may sound a bit dumb from time to time to fit in with standard horror tropes. The background music is great at creating a tension filled atmosphere and players will be delighted to hear that the developers have returned with a new cover of “A Conversation with Death” as the intro for the game.

Overall

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan may not feature the most innovative horror story but it does deliver a solid and spooky enough story that makes the best of its camera angles to unnerve the player and provide plenty of scares all while building up the tension as to what may possibly happen next to our struggling survivors. Featuring extensive branching paths that can alter the story depending on your choices as well as who manages to stay alive makes Man of Medan a game rife with possibilities and numerous playthroughs. If only there were the ability to skip through dialogue a bit or speed things up a little to make subsequent run throughs a bit quicker and fewer issues with the game’s engine.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Deliverance Review

Mateja Simovic
-
0
Deliverance Review

Deliverance

Studios: Elmer Productions
Publisher: Warner Bros
Platforms: Cinema
Release Date: Out Now

Deliverance is a film I learnt about during my youth as a film which was uniquely confronting. Although my friends and I would quote some of the lines or imitate the sound of a banjo to each other with a certain degree of humour, it always had a certain mystique of taboo for me in how it would approach sexual assault. I’d avoided watching it but when I was given the opportunity to go see it on the big screen, I decided it was time to finally give the piece a watch and find out how I would fair with it.

With all that in mind, I grabbed my compound bow and headed down to George Street Cinemas for their In the House screening of Deliverance. Was it worth the notoriety I ascribed it in my youth? Read on and find out.

Story

A group of four friends decide to embark on a canoe trip together down a remote Georgia river in order to enjoy the wilderness before it’s flooded by the building of a dam. The party’s led by experienced outdoorsmen Lewis Medlock (Burt Reynolds) and Ed Gentry (Jon Voight) who are bringing along newbies Bobby Trippe and Drew Ballinger. The group get their first taste of danger canoeing down the river when navigating the white water rapids of the river but they are able to overcome them. Things take a turn for the worse when two mountain men take Ed and Bobby hostage. What follows will change their lives forever as they deal with the fallout of cruelty inflicted upon them and wrestle with their own humanity.

There’s not too much I can say about the film’s script in that there really isn’t much dialogue to examined in the first place. The screenplay does explore questions of nature versus civilisation, survivalism and the nature of man in the first act but it largely gets overshadowed by the action of the second and third acts. It is an interesting form of storytelling which focuses on showing us the true nature of our protagonists through their actions which directly undermines and is in conflict with some elements of their dialogue. It’s nice to see that contrast between what a character says they believe and how they’ll actually behave when things get to the crunch.

One thing I was a bit unsure about was the film’s unusual pacing. There is a lot of negative space in the film which works to heighten the tension really well but it can occasionally drag out a bit too long. The action can be quite fast and energetic but there are also periods where it’s an extended sequences such as when Ed is climbing a cliff over an afternoon and evening. The sequence is long but the shots vary in length so that you really get a sense of exhaustion with the accomplishment… but this can also be alienating. If the action isn’t drawing you in for these sequences, you’re going to feel quite alienated. 

Where this gets particularly pronounced is in the infamous sexual assault scene that has earned this film its infamy. The way the scene is shot and directed gives a particular degree of raw brutality to the act even if a significant amount of it isn’t actually depicted on the screen. My companion for the screening commented on how understated the scene was and how with restrained visual direction and no music which ends up making the sequence even more confronting. The naturalistic style really sells the reality of the scene and with little to break you away from it, there’s nowhere to escape as you sit and face it. If this subject matter is something you would have difficulty with, I cannot recommend seeing this film at all.

Visuals

The big draw for the film was the breathtaking cinematography which showcases the North American wilderness with clear love and awe. There’s a lot of wide shots of the rugged wilderness which really gives a sense of the vast (relatively) untouched wilderness that our protagonists travel through. It’s shot in a naturalistic style to convey the beauty of this part of the United States. There are some sequences where the film plays with colour grading to the extent that it almost appears surreal to see such bright colours on the screen in juxtaposition to everything else but otherwise it’s all played fairly straight; no tricks or flashy special effects.

Audio

The only piece of non-diegetic music that played during select moments throughout the film was a refrain from the duelling banjos piece at the start of the film. This reinforces the strong naturalistic tone for most of the film where the only things that exist in the soundscape are tied to what you can see on the screen. This isn’t to say that the film is silent with the sound of moving water being an almost constant throughout the runtime; it’s just that there isn’t any music in the background directing you in how you should react to what’s on screen. This has a strangely unsettling effect as you end up with nothing in the experience giving you a reprieve from the action.

Conclusion

Overall, I did enjoy my time with this film and am glad to have seen it on the big screen. The script is limited in dialogue but rich in characterisation and juxtaposition while also not holding back any punches when dealing with the subject of sexual assault. The visuals are largely naturalistic in tone for realism’s sake but do play with a surrealist colour palette. The film’s soundscape is largely devoid of any non-diegetic music which works to keep you squarely in the film’s grip. This is a confronting experience to say the least and although I appreciate that I have seen it, I doubt any or many of you would be interested in revisiting it for multiple viewings. I’d recommend it for anyone who’s interested but warn that it’s not an experience for the faint of heart.

For other films which In The House is screening, feel free to check out their schedule for the next season here.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

LEAGUE OF WONDERLAND

Philip Federico
-
0

“Let’s settle this in 2 minutes!” is this new mobile RTS’s core

TOKYO, 29 August 2019 – Today, SEGA announced the official launch dates of LEAGUE OF WONDERLAND, a brand new real-time-strategy game for iOS and Android devices. LEAGUE OF WONDERLAND brings to mobile the expertise of SEGA’s arcade game WONDERLAND WARS, which launched in Japan in 2015 and is planned for a launch on 30th September 2019.

LEAGUE OF WONDERLAND is set in a world where well-known fairytales, myths and historical characters are battling against each other after their original stories have concluded. The player wields a deck of 8 cards, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. They need to destroy their opponent’s towers within the time limit of 2 minutes to achieve victory. Should they attack, defend or sacrifice their units? Thinking fast is the only way to victory!

2 minutes of fast-paced 1-on-1 strategic battles
Experience 2 minute battles with intensely fast-paced and strategic moves! The rules are simple: the first player to destroys 2 out of 3 of their opponent’s towers first wins! Minions, special towers, map gimmicks, and a variety of unique elements create a new style of real-time strategy game.

Play to your audience!
Use the Viewer to watch other players battle in real-time! Bet on the winner in the viewer and win in-game rewards.

Draw your way to victory with “Draw Shots”
“Draw Shots” are skills that are activated by drawing on your screen. Effects vary from piercing and area attacks to buffs and debuffs. When and where to use them? That’s all up to you!

Strike “Draw Shot” first to “BREAK” your opponent!
Player can block your opponent’s “Draw Shot” by striking your “Draw Shot” first.

Open beta tests are currently being held in Indonesia, Philippines and Canada. Starting 30 August 2019, additional Open beta tests are being held in India, Singapore, Brazil, Vietnam, Mexico and Russia.

The game will launch in English and Japanese languages globally on 30 September 2019 in the following countries: USA, Canada, Brazil, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain and a total of more than 100 other countries and regions.

To celebrate the upcoming release of “LEAGUE OF WONDERLAND”, all players will receive the following in-game rewards:

1. 1000 gold & 100 crystal
2. Hero card “Great Sage Monkey” *rewarded upon reaching D1 league
3. Hero card “Queen of Hearts” *rewarded upon reaching D2 league
4. Hero card ”Moon Goddess Artemis” *rewarded upon reaching D3 league
5. Hero card “Peter the Kid” *rewarded upon reaching C league

1. 1000 gold & 100 crystal
2. Hero card “Great Sage Monkey” *rewarded upon reaching D1 league
3. Hero card “Queen of Hearts” *rewarded upon reaching D2 league
4. Hero card ”Moon Goddess Artemis” *rewarded upon reaching D3 league
5. Hero card “Peter the Kid” *rewarded upon reaching C league

The pre-registration campaign is still underway with more milestone rewards to be unlocked. Players should visit these sites and pre-register now:

App Store Pre-Order – https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1453501895
Google Play Pre-Registration – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sega.low

To find out more about “LEAGUE OF WONDERLAND”, visit the official website and official Facebook page:
Official website: https://leagueofwonderland.sega.com/
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/leagueofwonderland.official.en

＃＃＃

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. Announces Open Beta Date for Action MMORPG Bless Unleashed

Philip Federico
-
0

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced the open beta date for its upcoming free-to-play title, Bless Unleashed. Starting November 7, 2019 and lasting until November 21, 2019 players can participate in the upcoming open beta exclusively on Xbox One.

Intended to give an introduction to the goals of the final game, players can choose from a myriad of different classes and races as they hone their skills on their journey to save the world of Lumios from a dark and mysterious threat. Play solo or dive deep into dungeons and raids with a team of friends to take on fearsome enemies that will challenge even the mightiest of warriors. In this open beta, players can truly experience the world of Bless Unleashed as they challenge the gods, survive against all odds, and make them pray.  

For more information about the upcoming open beta please visit:
https://blessunleashed.com/news/a-letter-from-the-head-of-development

Bless Unleashed takes place in an untamed world with a rich backstory created with hardcore MMO players in mind. With deep combo-driven mechanics, player customization, and cooperative (PvE) and competitive (PvP) multiplayer, there is an endless amount of content and gameplay possibilities to keep players engaged. Developed using Unreal Engine 4, Bless Unleashed brings unparalleled visuals to a fully realized fantasy world, offering one of the most stunning MMORPGs produced for console users. Players adventure across an open persistent world where mythical beasts roam the land and player vs. player battles can take place at any time.

For more information about Bless Unleashed, please visit…

The official Bless Unleashed website: https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/bless-unleashed
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
Join the conversation on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS

Go-karting Game Renzo Racer Leaves Early Access on Steam Today

Philip Federico
-
0

Go-karting Game Renzo Racer Leaves Early Access on Steam Today

Throttle Mashing, Missile Blasting, Kart Smashing Fun!

Mazatlan, Mexico –August 29, 2019– For lovers of cartoonish kart racing games, award-winning independent studio EnsenaSoft releases the Full Version of Renzo Racer on Steam today.

Renzo Racer is a go-kart racing game which propels players into a world of magic and color. Select your driver from a roaster of 16 animals and race for the cup on 20 tracks as you get the edge on the competition with whacky power-ups.

“Renzo Racer will challenge your maneuverability and driving skills” says Samuel DenHartog, CEO at EnsenaSoft. “Plow through destructible objects, jump off ramps and watch out for scattered rocks, fallen trees, black ice and oil slicks”. The Full Version of Renzo Racer includes new power-ups, a new Tournament mode and local multiplayer. The game is also available on the Windows Store (desktop only), and it supports VR on HTC Viveport and Steam.

Features

  • Fast And Furious Racing Action
  • 16 Comical Drivers With Special Skills
  • 20 Challenging Race Tracks
  • Race Karts Or Boats
  • Destructible Objects
  • Obstacles & Surprises

Additional Information

About EnsenaSoft
EnsenaSoft is an award-winning game developer and publisher founded in Mazatlán, Mexico in 2009, and consists of a talented group of designers, artists, programmers (and musicians from around the world) all committed to creating high-quality digital games content across all major gaming platforms and technologies. With a portfolio spanning hundreds of released titles, it is our continued promise to produce entertaining digital games to audiences of all ages and gaming preferences.

UTILISE FAST-PACED NEW BATTLE STRATEGIES IN ATELIER RYZA: EVER DARKNESS & THE SECRET HIDEOUT

Philip Federico
-
0

UTILISE FAST-PACED NEW BATTLE STRATEGIES IN ATELIER RYZA: EVER DARKNESS & THE SECRET HIDEOUT

Synthesise Wondrous New Gathering Spots and Share Your Discoveries with Fellow Alchemists

Hertfordshire, 29th August 2019 – Today, KOEI TECMO Europe and GUST Studios unveiled exciting new gameplay details to their upcoming title Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout. Not only will aspiring alchemists find a revamped battle system as they set out on their journey with teenage tomboy Ryza and her mischievous group of friends, but they will also be able to obtain special new gathering locations to explore and share.

Throughout their search for adventure, Ryza and her party will discover exotic new locations – including those they’ve made themselves. In Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout players can obtain special bottles, which can be combined with other items in the game’s synthesis system to create an abundance of new gathering locations overflowing with raw materials. Depending on which ingredients are used in the synthesis process, the environment can drastically change. For example: Plant Essence can create a fantastical forest area; while a Bomb can create a dangerous volcanic field overflowing with lava. Once the environment is created, a unique four-character password is attached to the area, which can then be shown off and shared with friends or across social media – enabling other gamers to explore the exact same area.

Inhabiting these breath-taking locations, though, are creatures and enemies Ryza and her friends will need to fight. Using a newly revamped Real-Time Tactical Battle system, battles will now progress even while character actions are being chosen. In Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout, performing skills, critical attacks, or using abilities outside of the player’s turn through the Quick Actions technique will drain the player’s Action Points. These points are shared between all party members, so it’s extremely important to use them strategically in battle to gain the upper hand. As the AP gauge is filled, players will also increase their in-battle level known as Tactics Level. The higher the Tactics Level a party gains, the more powerful attacks they can use, also enabling special combos to be performed.

Throughout battle, party members will also be able to give Action Orders to other members of their party. These orders will ask the player to perform specific actions such as “perform a physical attack.” If the order is followed, the character which gave it will perform a follow-up attack with a powerful skill – and this ability doesn’t consume any AP; allowing players to use them at will to deliver strong blows to help defeat even the most ruthless of enemies.

To showcase these exciting new gameplay features, and Ryza’s grand adventure, KOEI TECMO Europe released a spell-binding new game trailer today. A further batch of fresh screenshots were also released to give players a greater idea of the exciting new battle strategies they can utilise in the heat of battle.

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is slated to launch on the 1st November 2019 for the Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC via Steam®; for more information be sure to check out our official website http://www.koeitecmoeurope.com/ryza/, Like us on www.facebook.com/ateliergames, and Follow us on Twitter @koeitecmoeurope.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting entertainment title Dead or Alive. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout ©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout and GUST are trademarks or registered trademarks of KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. The KT logo is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

Deathtrap Dungeon – the debut Interactive Fiction title from Branching Narrative

Philip Federico
-
0

Starring Eddie Marsan, UK developer announces its bespoke Interactive Fiction take on the Fighting Fantasy gamebook classic

Part story, part game, this is Interactive Fiction where YOU become the hero!
29 August 2019 (London, UK)… Branching Narrative today announced its first gaming title: a new take on Deathtrap Dungeon, the classic Fighting Fantasy gamebook by Ian Livingstone. Showcasing the company’s new Interactive Fiction engine, the game stars British actor Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan, Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs and Shaw, Deadpool 2), who will act as narrator and guide in a high-quality interactive video production that faithfully recreates the beloved fantasy book.

Deathtrap Dungeon, arguably the most popular book in the Fighting Fantasy series, was originally released in 1984 and challenges the player to survive the Trial of Champions that takes place in the labyrinth of Fang, full of fiendish traps and deadly creatures set by the devious Baron Sukumvit.

Branching Narrative’s Deathtrap Dungeon will be delivered as a video stream that prompts the user to make choices and direct the flow, offering enhanced gameplay over other recent high-profile ‘interactive movie’ offerings, fully utilising the mechanics from the book.

Matt Spall, Branching Narrative, said:
“Our innovative take on Deathtrap Dungeon is a choice-based adventure, presented as an interactive video storybook with the fantastic Eddie Marsan narrating the story and guiding players as they find their way through Baron Sukumvit’s treacherous corridors of power.”
 
Ian Livingstone said:
“Deathtrap Dungeon has consistently been a fan favourite, so I am excited about the approach that Branching Narrative is taking in bringing my book to a new generation of players in a new format. Eddie Marsan is brilliant, and with the storytelling being an interactive rather than passive experience, this ain’t no Jackanory!”
 
Eddie Marsan said:
“It’s an exciting challenge to guide Deathtrap Dungeon adventurers, both new and experienced, as they take on the perils of the deadly Trial of Champions.”
Fighting Fantasy fans will be able to meet the Branching Narrative team and see an early prototype of Deathtrap Dungeon at Fighting Fantasy Fest 3, taking place Saturday 31 August at the University of West London.

Deathtrap Dungeon is due for release on PC, Mac and Mobile later this year, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the book’s original publication, with other formats including console to follow in 2020.

About Fighting Fantasy
Fighting Fantasy is a series of ground-breaking and best-selling gamebooks created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone which began with the publication of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain in 1982. Blending branching narrative storytelling and a dice-based role-playing system, the series has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. The books are currently published by Scholastic UK who have reissued the classic titles as well as commissioning new titles including Ian Livingstone’s new book Assassins of Allansia being published in September 2019.

About Branching Narrative
Formed in 2019 by Games Industry veterans Mark Ripley and Matt Spall, Branching Narrative is a brand new business concentrating on building interactive experiences around branching video. Working with both existing and new authors the company will develop and release a slate of titles not only for entertainment, but is also considering potential uses for the engine in education, medicine and training.

XPG to Unveil World’s First 4D Gaming Mouse and New Mera Edition Gaming Gear at IFA Berlin 2019

Philip Federico
-
0

XPG to Unveil World’s First 4D Gaming Mouse and New Mera Edition Gaming Gear at IFA Berlin 2019

Taipei, Taiwan – August 29, 2019 – XPG – XTREME PERFORMANCE GEAR, a provider of high-performance products for gamers, Esports pros, and tech enthusiasts is pleased to announce that it will be showcasing its latest products at IFA Berlin 2019. The products on show will include its new 4D gaming mouse, Mera Edition gaming peripherals, and GAMMIX S50 solid state drive (SSD). Visit XPG at IFA Berlin 2019 (Sep 06 – Sep 11, 2019) at the Messe Berlin, stand 107, hall 12.

XPG Headshot Gaming Mouse – Get a Grip on the 4D Revolution

The XPG HEADSHOT is a truly revolutionary, disruptive and innovative take on the gaming mouse. Standing at the crossroads of two major megatrends, AI and 4D printing, the XPG HEADSHOT brings together intelligence, an ultra-light form factor, and a versatile lattice structure to deliver the ultimate gaming mouse. Leveraging an AI algorithm, the XPG HEADSHOT can be personalized based on the preferences and characteristics of individual users such as grip, hand size, surface finish, and customized design elements such as logos.

“The XPG HEADSHOT is the embodiment of our commitment to achieving a relentlessly fine-tuned and insanely ergonomic experience,” said Luca Di Fiore, Director of Products and R&D at XPG. “From day one, we have sought out ways to accommodate both Esports professionals’ needs with tech enthusiasts wants to create a mouse that is an extension and reflection of who they are.”

XPG Mera Edition Gaming Peripherals – Rethinking Gaming Gear   

XPG will show off a new series of gaming peripherals that challenge the hyper-masculine preconceptions of what gaming gear should be. Based on a new XPG brand characteristic, XPG applied a fearless spirit into the products through a warm and audacious color. The new color is a stark contrast to the darker and edgier shades found on most gaming peripherals today. With an eye for breaking the mold and acknowledging that gamers are not a homogenous demographic, XPG is rolling out a full range of Mera Edition gear including headsets, mousepads, mice, keyboards and chassis. 

“With Mera Edition products, XPG is making a statement about what it means to be a gamer,” said Alex Yin General Manager & Chief Gaming Officer at XPG. “And that statement is that gamers are individuals that don’t necessarily need to conform to preconceived ideas what a gamer is, and should be fearless and adventurous in expressing themselves.”

XPG GAMMIX S50 SSD – Made for Gamers, PC Enthusiasts, Overclockers, and Graphics Professionals

Sporting the latest PCIe Gen4x4 interface, the GAMMIX S50 supports the NVMe standard to deliver sustained read/write speeds of up to 5000/4400MB per second and random read/write of up to 750K/750K IOPS, offering speeds that are up to ten times faster than a SATA SSD. What’s more, with 3D Flash memory in combination with SLC caching, it offers a leap forward in capacity, efficiency, and durability. With support for the M.2 2280 specification, the S50 supports the latest Intel® and AMD platforms and is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0. These capabilities make the S50 ideally suited for gamers, PC enthusiasts, overclockers, and graphics professionals.

Visit the XPG Booth to See its Latest Products and the XPG Orb

Visit XPG at IFA Berlin 2019 (Sep 06 – Sep 11, 2019) at the Messe Berlin, stand 107, hall 12. Visitors to the XPG booth will witness all of the latest XPG gaming products in addition to those already mentioned above. What’s more, visitors will get to see an impressive structure known as the XPG Orb, which took three thousand hours to build and consists of three hundred individual parts. Inside the XPG Orb, visitors will be able to experience the extreme performance of its latest products.  

XPG has recently expanded its product offering, including XPG PRECOG headsets, XPG BATTLEGROUND mousepads, XPG SUMMONER keyboards, XPG BATTLECRUISER and XPG INVADER PC chassis, XPG LEVANTE water cooling systems, and CORE REACTOR power supply units, now all available worldwide.

###

About XPG – XTREME PERFORMANCE GEAR

XPG was established by ADATA with the aim of providing high-performance products to gamers, esports pros, and tech enthusiasts. XPG is committed to develop products that help users achieve extreme performance, therefore we work closely with the gaming and esports community to gather insight into the real needs of users and incorporate them into our hardware.  XPG provides a full range of product lines from components to peripherals to all gamers; the  products ensure the highest standards of stability and reliability along with the sheer cool designs that have earned several prestigious international awards. Beyond product performance, XPG plays an active part in sponsoring events and esports team globally, and most importantly, we aim to deliver extreme gaming experiences to make every moment exciting and enduring.

SPYRO REIGNITED TRILOGY BRINGS THE HEAT TO NINTENDO SWITCH AND STEAM THIS SEPTEMBER!

Philip Federico
-
0

SPYRO REIGNITED TRILOGY BRINGS THE HEAT TO NINTENDO SWITCH AND STEAM THIS SEPTEMBER!

Lead Developer Toys for Bob Celebrates New Platforms Arrival with a Special Live Stream for Fans on Sept. 4

The Beloved Purple Dragon Celebrates The New Platforms Launch By Also Debuting In The Next Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Grand Prix!

August 29, 2019 – Spyro is spreading his wings this year by giving fans more ways to experience the fun of Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy. The remastered videogame that made gamers fall in love with “the purple dragon from the ‘90s” all over again lands on Nintendo Switch™ and PC via Steam worldwide on September 3. Already available on PlayStation® 4 and Xbox One, this September will mark the very first time that all three original games – Spyro™ the Dragon, Spyro™ 2: Ripto’s Rage! and Spyro™: Year of the Dragon – will be playable on these new platforms with the Spyro Reignited Trilogy.

No matter how you like to play, Spyro has players covered. Gamers looking for an on-the-go gaming experience can take Spyro Reignited Trilogy with them on their next adventure via the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. The remastered trilogy also gives players on PC via Steam something to look forward to this year with the ability to play with up to 4K graphics and uncapped framerate capability on supporting systems.

To celebrate Spyro’s 21 years of saving the Dragon Realms with a remastered twist, lead developer Toys For Bob is inviting fans to tune in to a special live stream on Games Done Quick’s Twitch Channel at 3 a.m. AEST on Sept. 4. During the stream, fans will get a dragon’s-eye view into how the studio is commemorating the launch of the game on these two platforms and how players can join in on the fun.

The Spyro Reignited Trilogy features the memorable and exciting gameplay that fans will remember from the ‘90s but in beautiful, HD graphics. The trilogy features over 100 levels, enhanced reward sequences, Spyro’s crew of eccentric pals (including Sparx the Dragonfly, Hunter, Sheila, Agent 9 and Sgt. Byrd) and much more! The trilogy also provides players an enhanced experience with beautifully rendered environments, enhanced controls and awe-inspiring cinematics for added flare in these epic adventures.

As if that wasn’t enough excitement, Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), is bringing two videogame icons together in a big way when Spyro joins the race in Crash™ Team Racing Nitro-Fueled’s Spyro & Friends Grand Prix that’s set to go liveon August 30th.* Available for no additional charge to those who have purchased the main game, the Spyro & Friends Grand Prix is giving the iconic purple dragon a licence to crash the CTR party for the first time.

In the Spyro & Friends Grand Prix, players can burn rubber and cruise through “Spyro Circuit,” the all-new Spyro-themed track while collecting gems, dodging firework bundles and (of course) flying by sheep. Spyro won’t be venturing into this alone, the purple speedster will be joined by Hunter and Gnasty Gnorc as playable characters with Sparx joining in the fun as a protection mask akin to Aku Aku on the Spyro Circuit track. The Spyro & Friends Grand Prix will also come packed with other hot content that players can earn when connected to the internet, such as fresh new rides with the Spyromobile, Gnasty Ride and Dragonfly, as well as other new Pit Stop items including the amazing new Gem Paint Jobs and element-themed wheels, the Viking Polar Skin, the Orc Big Norm skin and more!

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is firing up on new platforms: Nintendo Switch™ (Toys for Bob) and PC (Iron Galaxy) via Steam starting on September 3 for the suggested retail price of $69.95. Beenox’s Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled and Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled – Nitros Oxide Edition (digital deluxe) are now available on PlayStation® 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch™ worldwide for the suggested retail price of $69.95 and $99.95, respectively. The amount of epic Spyro challenges and journeys from both games is enough to provide fans hours upon hours of fun. For more information about Spyro Reignited Trilogy (@SpyroTheDragon) and Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (@CrashBandicoot) check out each games’ Twitter, Facebook and Instagram profiles.

*Grand Prix content and timing subject to change.

About Activision

Headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., Activision is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world and is a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), an S&P 500 company.  More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com or by following @Activision.

###

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements with respect to the expected release dates, features and functionality of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

© 2019 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, SPYRO, SPYRO THE DRAGON, CRASH, CRASH TEAM RACING and CRASH BANDICOOT are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

1...2,2692,2702,271...6,775Page 2,270 of 6,775