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Wargaming and Mad Head Games Bring Legend, Loot, and Lore to the Action RPG Genre with Pagan Online

Philip Federico
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Wargaming and Mad Head Games Bring Legend, Loot, and Lore to the Action RPG Genre with Pagan Online

Expect endless action coated in dark pre-Christian mythology in PC hack-and-slash from World of Tanks publisher and talented Serbian developers

November 9, 2018 — Wargaming has announced Pagan Online, an intense aRPG of pre-biblical proportions that pits players against hordes of savage enemies and ancient vengeful gods, from the developers at Mad Head Games. In Pagan Online, players will battle through a demonic dystopia based on pre-Christian mythology in a game that is equal parts brutal, manic, and mystical. The game will launch on PC in 2019, and registration for pre-launch tests known as Trials is now open at pagan-online.com.

Pagan Online is a new take on hack-and-slash aRPGs, featuring challenging and fast-paced combat, powerful combatants, endless gear, and tons of gory glory. Following in the footsteps of classic dungeon crawlers while tearing down and reinventing gameplay into a MOBA-style combat experience, this game will have MOBA players begging for one more run and RPG disciples wondering what just hit them.

“Mad Head Games are passionate, talented, and have a ‘go broke’ mentality to do whatever it takes to make their game as awesome as it can be,” said Jacob Beucler, Product Director, Wargaming. “We’ve taken Mad Head under our wing because this mentality reminds us of the early days at Wargaming when we put everything we had on the line to launch World of Tanks. Pagan Online is one of Wargaming’s most exciting opportunities yet—we’re helping bring these devs’ passion and skill to PC gamers everywhere.”

“With Pagan Online we’ve modernized how combat in a top-down action RPG works, taking cues from MOBAs to create something that’s fast-paced, overwhelming with enemies, and super challenging,” said Uros Banjesevic, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Mad Head Games. “It’s a thrill to finally be able to share this game, the product of our blood, sweat, and tears, with the world!”

In Pagan Online, players will engage in intense and strategic sessions of carnage across a variety of environments. Missions are highly replayable, with numerous game modes and difficulty levels on top of a lengthy single player mode that will be continuously updated with episodic content expansions called “Battle Chapters”. Whether players are interested in mowing down enemies with ease, testing their mettle with brutally maleficent mayhem, or competing with friends for bragging rights, Pagan Online offers a sadistic spectrum of challenges to overcome.

Follow Pagan Online on social media to be the first to get the latest updates:

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About Wargaming

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Founded in 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 4500+ employees and more than 20 offices globally. Over 200 million players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the strategic naval action game World of Warships.

About Mad Head Games

Mad Head Games is one of the pioneers of game development in Serbia. Founded in 2011, it quickly grew to become an industry leader, blazing the trail for all up-and-coming domestic game developers. The company is known for its innovative approach to casual adventure games, and after years of consecutive successes, it is expanding into new genres.

POWER RANGERS: ALL-STARS RPG AVAILABLE NOW

Philip Federico
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POWER RANGERS: ALL-STARS RPG AVAILABLE NOW

Protect life on Earth from generations of evil adversaries in the nostalgia-fueled Power Rangers: All-Stars for iPhone and Android

Seoul – Nov. 7, 2018 – Players around the world can now join the fight against evil and play as fan-favorite heroes in Power Rangers: All-Stars, the first Power Rangers franchise mobile RPG from NEXON Korea Corporation, subsidiary of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO), a worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games, in partnership with Hasbro. The highly-anticipated mobile game is available now for iPhone and Android.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viltF688c8I&feature=youtu.be

Power Rangers: All-Stars is a roundhouse kick of action as players collect, build and control Ranger teams from across time, space and dimension! The game bundles ten world-renowned Power Rangers eras, from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to Power Rangers RPM, into a premier role-playing game (RPG) experience.

Players will experiment with diverse Rangers and abilities to create the ultimate team of champions to thwart extraterrestrial scum and villainy. The Power Rangers: All-Stars gameplay features include:

  • Endless Strategy – A large roster of playable Rangers and unique abilities lead to a massive array of skill combinations to keep the gameplay fresh;
  • Intense 5v5 Battles – Players can recruit and deploy unique Ranger teams to battle against players from around the world;
  • Challenging Missions – Select teams of Rangers to engage in tough Daily Missions and Dimensional Explorations that require meticulous planning and proactive strategic maneuvers;
  • Unique Player Development System – Research mode allows players to find rare items by testing enemies with different kinds of Rangers.
  • Seamless Gameplay – Tight controls and precision tactics keep Power Rangers All-Stars interesting; traditional ‘grinding’ gameplay need not apply;
  • Impressive Visuals – Stunning graphics and visual effects reimagine fan-favorite Rangers and abilities as never seen before;
  • Megazords – Collect 5 Rangers per series to unlock awesome new Megazord abilities;
  • Alliance Raids – Team-up with friends via the clan system to form Alliances and compete in both Alliance Raids and daily dungeons;
  • Gritty Dungeons – Explore limited dimensional rifts and obtain crystal, gold, and character pieces to summon and grow your Rangers;
  • Global Launch Events – All players can participate in multiple launch-day events to earn unique prizes and rewards, such as:
    • Power Event 1 – All players can receive rewards for achieving 1M registrations. The rewards include:
      • Mighty Morphin RED Ranger Piece x 30
      • Gold x 300,000
    • Power Event 2 – All players can receive Crystal x 500 for achieving 1,000 Facebook shares on the Power Rangers: All Stars page.

Power Rangers: All-Stars is free-to-play and rated E for Everyone (ESRB). It is available today worldwide. Additional information for members of the press:

About NEXON Co. Ltd.
NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO) is a worldwide leader in free-to-play online and mobile games. Founded in Korea in 1994, Nexon developed one of the world’s first graphics-based massively multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is free, and users have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their experience. Nexon currently services nearly 100 titles in more than 190 countries. The Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. Through its entertainment labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 5 on the 2018 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past seven years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro) and Instagram (@Hasbro).

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Disgaea 1 Complete Review

Travis Bruno
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Disgaea 1 Complete Review

Disgaea 1 Complete

Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Publisher: NIS America
Platforms: Switch (Reviewed), PlayStation 4
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $49.99 USD – Available Here $89.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Whether you’ve played Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, its eventual direct sequel, numerous follow up games, and various spin-offs you’ve likely seen Etna or a Prinny in some form over the years. That is just how prolific the Disgaea franchise has been since it originally was released in 2002 and although many fans of the SPRG franchise have likely played the later games in the series, there are many who have likely never revisited the game that started it all despite it being re-released on various platforms up to a decade ago. Thankfully with NIS America bringing Disgaea 1 Complete to current consoles it is the perfect time to rectify that if you can stand some of the more archaic elements of the game.

Story

Those who have played the original game or its various re-releases through the years will see that Disgaea 1 Complete doesn’t really add anything new to the story mode other than the Etna Mode that has been offered in other versions but for those who have yet to play the game, the story follows the demon Laharl who has been slumbering for two years in the Netherworld. Over this time his father, King Krichevskoy, has passed away and the Netherworld has gone even crazier with no Overlord running things. As such, Laharl is awoken by Etna, a female demon with ulterior motives, who claims to be his vassal and informs him about the events that have transpired during his time asleep.

With Laharl awoken, the pair begin to venture forth in an attempt to reclaim Laharl’s throne, eventually meeting a young angel in training named Flonne who joins their group in an attempt to see if Laharl can learn to love others. Now anyone familiar with the series should know what to expect but for newcomers this may seem like a dark and bloody sounding tale and while it is true that there are plenty of darker and serious scenes scattered throughout Disgaea 1 Complete the actual storyline takes itself far less seriously.

Instead there is plenty of ridiculous humor and events that take place throughout the game as players encounter various strange enemies that end up becoming allies in various forms. The core cast of characters are incredibly charming and there is a reason why so many have remained mainstays throughout the series and beyond it as well. This ensures that no matter how long it may take you to complete this incredibly lengthy game you’ll find yourself enjoying the story, especially if you happen to enjoy random humor and strange events happening that completely set this series apart from your standard RPG story.

Gameplay

In many ways Disgaea 1 Complete still plays similar to even the most recent titles in the series as players can still eventually spend hours grinding away at the item world and being able to deal massive levels of damage as you make your way to the coveted 9,999 level. Players will find themselves using their base as the main hub of the game where they will be able to interact with other characters, purchase equipment, and even pass bills through the Dark Assembly to modify elements of the game such as increasing the quality of gear in shops and more.

Battles still take place on a standard SRPG style isometric grid where players will be able to move their units around and deal damage to the opponent during their turn with each of the different characters having special skills that can be used during combat. Positioning your characters to take advantage of possible flashy combo attacks is always a blast especially with how odd some of these combinations can get. In fact, many of these character and monster classes can eventually learn other abilities through the Mentor system where some characters can learn abilities from their Pupils and make themselves quite powerful in the long run.

Of course players can still make use of the time honored Disgaea tradition of picking up and throwing enemies and allies alike as well as making use of the Geo Panels and Geo Blocks to apply various effects to the stage and the floor that units are standing on. These panels can offer various buffs as well as negative status ailments making managing them just as much of a vital feature to keep an eye on during difficult battles as defeating the enemies.

Taking advantage of these features as well as the ability to reach insane levels has always helped set this series apart and even in Disgaea 1 Complete these features remain the same, especially in post-game dungeons where the real grinding begins to take place as you try to unlock special units only available once the game has been completed or delve deep into the Item World to improve your gear. That being said, this grind can take a lot out of a player especially since Disgaea 1 Complete doesn’t feature any of the various improvements or new systems implemented in its sequels.

Combat features such as losing a turn after a foe has been defeated by another character return alongside other smaller elements that have been improved over the years, all elements of Magichange and Tower Attacks are removed, and even basic streamlining features that helped smooth out certain elements have not been implemented into this release. As such players should expect not too much more than improved visuals as they return to Disgaea 1 Complete, something that will please purists but may frustrate others who have grown familiar with the elements of more recent titles and newcomers.

Visuals & Audio

While nearly every element of Disgaea 1 Complete remains the same as in the various re-releases through the years, the game does feature an incredibly impressive graphical upgrade. Laharl, Etna, Flonne, and all the rest have been given brand new HD sprites that look as great as the most recent entries in the series with touched up character portraits to make sure that everything looks as gorgeous as possible here. The various stages are still randomly generated for the most part and these block textures have also been reworked to look as great as the sprites, giving battles a completely overhauled look.

The soundtrack found in Disgaea 1 Complete is filled with memorable background music and other tracks that will delight longtime fans of the series and NIS America has made it possible to choose between either the English voice track or the Japanese voice track depending on your preference.

Overall

Disgaea 1 Complete feels like a bit of a mixed bag as it offers everything that a fan of the franchise will love such as the original cast of characters that started it all, graphical improvements that put it mostly on par with current releases, and the ability to mostly bring together a team to fit your playstyle but it also lags behind thanks to it feeling like it is pretty much only an HD release with little else done to set it apart from any of the past re-releases. That being said, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue for those familiar with the series, especially with the Switch version allowing for a perfect way to play a stage or two on the go and get some grinding in, but this does mean that this release is likely only for the more hardcore fans of the franchise.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

DRAGON QUEST XI: ECHOES OF AN ELUSIVE AGE SHIPS OVER 4 MILLION COPIES GLOBALLY

Philip Federico
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DRAGON QUEST XI: ECHOES OF AN ELUSIVE AGE SHIPS OVER 4 MILLION COPIES GLOBALLY

SYDNEY, 8th November 2018 – Square Enix Ltd., today announced that following the release of DRAGON QUEST® XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age™ in the West this September, the global shipment and digital sales across all platforms has now exceeded four million.

The beloved game and the perfect entry-point for franchise newcomers has received critical acclaim around the world for its finely tuned and accessible strategic combat system, bright and beautiful graphics, charming characters, and an enchanting story.

DRAGON QUEST series creator and game designer, Yuji Horii, commented:

I was truly delighted when I heard the news that DRAGON QUEST XI had exceeded four million sales worldwide. Back when I created the first DRAGON QUEST game, over thirty years ago, I could not possibly have dreamed that it would become a series that would cross the seas and be played by people all around the world. This is the eleventh numbered DRAGON QUEST title, and in depicting a ‘hero’s tale,’ also represents a new beginning for the series.

When I think that there are now over four million of these heroes all around the world, and each one has gone on their own individual adventure, it reminds me how glad I am we made the game. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the people who played DRAGON QUEST XI, both the fans of the previous games and the new fans who started with this one. Thank you all.

In DRAGON QUEST XI, long-time fans and new players alike can experience the captivating tale of a hunted hero as he travels on a journey with an endearing cast of loyal companions to unravel the mystery of his fate. From the reliable partner-in-crime Erik to the fearless young mage Veronica, along with the laid-back healer Serena, entertainer extraordinaire Sylvando, noble martial artist Jade, and mysterious old man Rab—together, they join the hero on a grand adventure through the world of Erdrea.

DRAGON QUEST XI: Echoes of An Elusive Age is available now for PlayStation®4 system and STEAM. All those who purchase the game will also receive the Trodain Bandana and Trodain Togs from DRAGON QUEST VIII: Journey of the Cursed King® in their inventories at the start of the game. To view the DRAGON QUEST VIII costume in action, please visit: https://youtu.be/UxpplLuN43E

Related Links:

Official Homepage: www.dq11.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DragonQuest
Twitter: @DragonQuest

GRIS ARRIVES ON NINTENDO SWITCH AND PC DECEMBER 13

Philip Federico
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GRIS ARRIVES ON NINTENDO SWITCH AND PC DECEMBER 13

– Coming to Nintendo Switch and PC in December –

Barcelona – Nomada Studio and Devolver Digital have announced GRIS, a serene and evocative narrative experience, will release on Nintendo Switch and PC on Dec. 13 at $16.99.

Free of danger, frustration or death, players will explore a meticulously designed world brought to life with delicate art, detailed animation, and an elegant original score. Through the game light puzzles, platforming sequences, and optional skill-based challenges will reveal themselves as more of GRIS’ world becomes accessible.

GRIS is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality. As the story unfolds, GRIS will grow emotionally and see her world in a different way, revealing new paths to explore using her new abilities.

Based in Barcelona, Nomada Studio is composed of experienced developers and artists outside of video games with disciplines in illustration, painting, and graphic design. Featuring art from noted artist Conrad Roset and the music of Berlinist, GRIS is their debut title as a team.

Follow @nomadastudiobcn and visit nomada.studio for more news and information on the game.

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WRECK AND RIDE TO SAVE THE WORLD IN MOTORBIKE COMBAT RACER ‘STEEL RATS™’ LAUNCHING TODAY ON PLAYSTATION®4 AND PC

Philip Federico
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WRECK AND RIDE TO SAVE THE WORLD IN MOTORBIKE COMBAT RACER ‘STEEL RATS™’ LAUNCHING TODAY ON PLAYSTATION®4 AND PC

IT’S BIKERS VERSUS DEADLY JUNK ROBOTS IN BRAND-NEW LAUNCH TRAILER

London, November 7, 2018 – The alien junk robot invasion has begun and only you as part of the Steel Rats™ a ride or die, hi-tech biker gang can stop them. Today Tate Multimedia are revved up and ready to ride as Steel Rats, the long-awaited motorbike combat action game, launches on PlayStation®4 and PC. Alongside the game’s release, a brand-new launch trailer has been unleashed, and an Xbox One version of Steel Rats is also coming soon.

A visceral and groundbreaking evolution of the 2.5D action-arcade genre, Steel Rats fuses destructive, octane-fuelled, motorbike combat and death-defying stunt gameplay, all set in a visually stylised, retro-future world. Switch between four unique and upgradeable characters as you wreak havoc and defend your city from an invading armada of junk robots.

There are also only 24 hours left to bid in a very unique charity auction for the one-of-a-kind ‘Steel Rats: Super Turbo Ultimate Wreck & Ride Collector’s Edition’, which contains a full size 9-foot metal junk robot from the game with proceeds going to four charities from across the globe, including Special Effect, Make a Wish, AbleGamers and Gaming Aid: http://bit.ly/SteelRatsEbayAuction

Steel Rats can be purchased from the PlayStation®Store as the base game at $19.99 or the Deluxe Edition at $23.99, which includes the main game, a PlayStation®4 theme, the soundtrack and five PlayStation avatars. The soundtrack can also be purchased separately for $4.99

Steel Rats can be purchased from Steam as the base game at $19.99 and the soundtrack is also available separately for $4.99.

Download now on Steam: http://bit.ly/steelratssteam
And GOG.com: http://bit.ly/SteelRatsGoG

About Steel Rats:
A visceral and groundbreaking evolution of the 2.5D action-arcade genre, Steel Rats fuses destructive, octane-fuelled, motorbike combat and death-defying stunt gameplay, all set in a visually stylised, retro-future world. Switch between four unique and upgradeable characters as you wreak havoc and defend your city from an invading armada of junk robots.

Steel Rats is already lighting up the 2018 awards scene with eight nominations and one win for ‘Best Gameplay’ at the Game Connection Awards, a nomination for ‘Best Indie Game’ at the Digital Dragons Indie Showcase and winner of ‘Best Gameplay’ at Pixel Heaven in Poland earlier this month. The game has been touring the convention circuit over the past year, having been at EGX Rezzed, PAX East, Pixel Heaven, Gamescom, PAX West and most recently Tokyo Game Show, sometimes even playable on a giant 9-foot-tall robot demo station.

Steam page: http://bit.ly/steelratssteam
Official Steel Rats website: http://steelratsgame.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteelRatsGame/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsVeronicaVance
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZzXCAYz3-CfiO635GGPCQ
Discord: https://discord.gg/4tVMJxv

About Tate Multimedia:
Tate Multimedia S.A. is an independent games developer and publisher based in Poland (Warsaw-HQ), with successful operations that have spanned across Europe, North America, Japan and China since the year 2000.

The studio operates according to the “house of ideas” model on an everyday basis, which means no idea is off the table allowing developers to have the creative freedom to continually seek new, daring, and even risky projects, with a team of almost 40 creative professionals.

Beside the already announced ‘Urban Trial Playground’, Tate Multimedia also announced another game for 2018: Steel Rats – a 2,5D platform combat racing game set in a retro futuristic environment, to be released on PC, PlayStation® 4, and Xbox One®.

http://www.tatemultimedia.com/en/home/
http://www.facebook.com/TateMultimedia
http://www.youtube.com/user/TateMultimedia

About Special Effect:
SpecialEffect is an award-winning charity that helps people with disabilities to benefit from the fun, rehabilitation and therapy of video games. They support people of all ages through assessments, equipment loans and equipment modifications.

https://www.specialeffect.org.uk/

About AbleGamers:
The AbleGamers Foundation, also known as AbleGamers Charity, is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit public charity that aims to improve the overall quality of life for those with disabilities through the power of video games.

Video games allow individuals with disabilities to experience situations that may be difficult or limited in the real world, provide social networking opportunities to maintain mental and emotional health, and participate in one of the world’s largest pastimes.

https://ablegamers.org/

About Gaming Aid:
Gaming Aid is a non-profit charity organisation within the Gaming-Industry who wants to do something good. Together with players and developers Gaming-Aid wants to support persons and their families in need.

Gaming-Aid is calling the millions of players all over the world, producers, publishers, developers and salespersons: “Let’s do something good together!”

https://gaming-aid.de/en/

About Make a Wish:
Make-A-Wish® France – Transforming lives, one wish at a time.

Founded in 2005, Make-A-Wish® France is a non-profit association that is affiliated to the Make-A-Wish® International foundation, an NGO that is recognised by the United Nations.

For more than 10 years, Make-A-Wish France has been granting the wishes of 3-17 years old children who suffer from critical illnesses. Wishes are tailored to every child’s personality and bring hope, joy, courage to all family members.

Wishes are carried out by our volunteers, all of whom embody the values of Make-A-Wish France, with a focus on supporting and respecting families and their privacy.

About The Ride Again Workshop:
Ride Again Workshop is a group of multi-skilled enthusiasts who focus on prop making, concept art, graphic design and product creation. We engage in projects from the earliest stages of technical analysis and creative design through to manufacturing. We prototype models and build full scale projects from concept through to delivery. From our team you will get prop model, 2D/3D graphic design, press packs and more.

We hope to help you realize project of any scale, single or multiple item. Feel free to contact us at www.ride-again.com

DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 TRIAL HEADING TO CONSOLE NEXT WEEK

Philip Federico
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DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 TRIAL HEADING TO CONSOLE NEXT WEEK

Explore China and Battle Enemies in an Open-World Adventure

Hertfordshire, 7th November 2018 – KOEI TECMO Europe is excited that DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 Trial, a new version of the popular franchise, is set for a European release on the 14th November 2018 for the PlayStation®4 Computer Entertainment System, 21st November 2018 for the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and available now digitally on PC via Steam®.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 Trial enables fans to choose up to three characters from the roster of 90 total playable characters in a small sampling of DYNASTY WARRIORS 9’s story mode as they set off to explore the open-world of China; with the fate of the Han Dynasty hanging in the balance. Online co-op will also be available for gamers to test out alongside other Trial members, or players who already own the full game; allowing them to experience the exhilarating the exhilarating action of this historic adventure.

In addition, a new DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 Season Pass was recently announced, granting players a variety of additional weapons, costumes, scenarios, and a plethora of useful materials – including various types of coins; a book of Musou; and exploding arrows.

For more information about the DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 Trial please visit the official site at www.koeitecmoeurope.com/dw9, Like www.facebook.com/koeitecmogames, 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

DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 ©2018 KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. DYNASTY WARRIORS 9 is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. The KT logo is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

HKBU and Tencent break world record for fast and accurate AI training

Philip Federico
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HKBU and Tencent break world record for fast and accurate AI training

Researchers at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have partnered with a team from Tencent Machine Learning to create a new technique for training Artificial Intelligence (AI) machines faster than ever before, while maintaining accuracy.

During the experiment the team succeeded in training two popular deep neural networks called AlexNet and ResNet-50 in just 4 minutes and 6.6 minutes respectively. Previously the fastest time was 11 minutes for AlexNet and 15 minutes for ResNet-50.

AlexNet and ResNet-50 are deep neural networks built on ImageNet, a large-scale dataset for visual recognition. Once trained, the system was able to recognise and label an object in a given photo. The result is significantly faster than previous records and outperforms all other existing systems.

Machine learning is a set of mathematical approaches which enables computers to “learn” from data, without explicitly being programmed by humans. The resulting algorithms can then be applied to a variety of data and visual recognition tasks used in AI.

The HKBU team is comprised of Professor Chu Xiaowen and PhD student Shi Shaohuai from the Department of Computer Science.

Professor Chu said: “We have proposed a new optimised training method that significantly improves the best output without losing accuracy. In AI training, researchers strive to train their networks faster, but this can lead to a decrease in accuracy. As a result, training machine-learning models at high speed while maintaining accuracy and precision is a vital goal for scientists.”

Professor Chu said the time required to train AI machines is affected by both computing time and communication time. The research team attained breakthroughs in both aspects to create this record-breaking achievement.

This included adopting a simpler computational method, known as FP16, to replace the more traditional one, FP32, making computation much faster without losing accuracy. As communication time is affected by the size of data blocks, the team came up with a communication technique named “tensor fusion”, which combines smaller pieces of data into larger ones, optimising the transmission pattern and thereby improving the efficiency of communication during AI training.

This new technique can be adopted in large-scale image classification, and it can also be applied to other AI applications, including machine translation; natural language processing (NLP) to enhance interactions between human language and computers; medical imaging analysis; and online multiplayer battle games.

THE EPIC JOURNEY OF ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED CULMINATES IN “EXTINCTION” AS EXPANSION PACK LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE TODAY ON STEAM

Philip Federico
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THE EPIC JOURNEY OF ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED CULMINATES IN “EXTINCTION” AS EXPANSION PACK LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE TODAY ON STEAM

Survivors Return to Earth With Corrupted Dinosaurs, Rideable Gasbags and Massive Titans Roaming the Land!

REDMOND, WA – NOVEMBER 6, 2018 – Studio Wildcard today launched its third expansion pack for the dinosaur survival action-adventure ARK: Survival Evolved.  Available today on Steam, ARK: Extinction is an entirely new map that promises to deliver the long-awaited climax to the ARK storyline, returning to where the story began and now ends: on Earth itself! Visit the ruined world that’s rampant with Element-corrupted creatures, scour the land for Orbital Supply Drops, tame exotic creatures, and build a Mek powerful enough to defeat the colossal, tameable Titans dominating the landscape.

Tame a Mek then Take on a Corrupted T-Rex!

Haven’t yet explored the thrilling world of ARK? Jump into the adventure today during ARK’s Free Week on Steam, where the base game ARK: Survival Evolved is available to play for free now – Sunday, Nov 11th, paired with massive discounts to own ARK and its other expansion packs, Scorched Earth and Aberration.

ARK: Extinction will be available for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One starting November 13th.

ARK: Extinction Key Features

  • With new mutated creatures to tame, players will have to rely on Extinction’s latest additions and use them in battle in order to stay alive and reap the rewards.
  • As a veteran survivor who has conquered all previous obstacles, the ultimate challenge awaits: take on and TAME the massive roaming Titans, dungeon dwelling bosses that are powerful enough to make even the mightiest T-Rex whimper! Gather your friends, all of your dinos, and your entire arsenal of weapons if you want to survive and complete the ARK cycle to save Earth’s future.
  • Launch through the air and leap great distances with air-inhaling Gasbags, freeze your enemies into icy statues with the majestic flying Snow Owl, unleash a barrage of spiny projectiles with the Velonasaur, and discover many more fantastic new creatures among the ruins of Earth!
  • Store creatures in your inventory with Cryopods, capture them into small cubes then pop them out from your inventory unexpectedly at enemies, send your items back to home base using the new aerial item balloons, cross giant chasms with the extendable Tek Bridge, along with an arsenal of all-new items and weapons to aid your survival.
  • Venture into the harsh Wasteland to intercept Orbital Supply Drops, filled with gear and resources – but watch out! Element-corrupted dinosaurs will try to stop you in this team-based defense challenge.
  • The all new map has a long abandoned Metropolis to explore, humanity’s last bastion, now overgrown and decayed but still under surveillance by a protective force of Scouts and Enforcers.
  • Proto-ARKs, prototype areas built as early simulations of the three predominant ecosystems: the Crater Forest, the Desert and the Tundra.
  • Build and pilot advanced Meks loaded with customizable weaponry to take on the toughest enemies, including the gigantic End Boss guarding the ultimate secret of the ARK!

ARK: Extinction colossal creatures will have Pacific Rim fans salivating.

ARK: Extinction is available today on Steam as a standalone expansion pack ($19.99) and as part of the ARK: Explorer’s Edition (Game + Season Pass), joining the desert-themed Scorched Earth and the underground, derelict biome Aberration, in continuing to unravel the mysteries in this final chapter of ARK’s story.

For the latest updates follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, visit the Website at playark.com and watch us tame and train leviathan dinosaurs on Twitch.TV.

ARK: Survival Evolved is rated “T” for Teen (Violence, Blood, Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol) by the ESRB.

Feel like riding a dinosaur? Join the ARK growing band of survivors in the community forums HERE: https://survivetheark.com/forums/

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ABOUT STUDIO WILDCARD
Studio Wildcard was co-founded in 2014 by industry veteran Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak, former Technical Art Director at Microsoft Game Studios, with the mission of bringing AAA quality to ambitious indie productions that are designed for core gamers. With combined 25 years of industry experience across multiple independent and studio-backed titles, Jeremy and Jesse have teamed up with other veteran developers for Seattle, WA-based and Gainesville, FL-based development studios that also include distributed team members across multiple continents. Wherever talented, driven developers may reside, Studio Wildcard intends to seek out and work with them!

DISCOVER A WONDERFUL WORLD OF ADVENTURE IN WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY MAXIMA TODAY

Philip Federico
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DISCOVER A WONDERFUL WORLD OF ADVENTURE IN WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY MAXIMA TODAY

 SYDNEY, 6th November 2018 –   Square Enix Ltd., today welcomes new adventurers to discover the magical world of Grymoire in WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY® MAXIMA, which is now available on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, STEAM and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.

WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY MAXIMA is an enhanced version of the beloved 2016 RPG WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY, complete with a host of new and exciting features. Using the Avatar Change System, players can transform into legendary FINAL FANTASY heroes such as Cloud (FINAL FANTASY VII), Yuna (FINAL FANTASY X), Noctis (FINAL FANTASY XV) and many more. Additional Mirages (monsters), champions (characters), side quests, boss battles, mini-games and more await players in the game, including the option to carry over progress after finishing the story into a new save game to overcome the challenging new Nightmare difficulty mode.

WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY MAXIMA is now available digitally for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Additionally, the new content of WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY MAXIMA is available on PlayStation®4 or STEAM as downloadable content.

Related Links:
Official Homepage: www.worldoffinalfantasy.com
Official Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/FinalFantasy
Official Twitter: @FinalFantasy
Official Instagram: @FinalFantasy
Official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/FinalFantasyOfficial
FINAL FANTASY Portal Site: https://eu.finalfantasy.com/

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