The survival RPG releases in 2019 for the PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch® and PC – to coincide with the 20th Anniversary of the original TV show
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (July 30th, 2018) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is excited to announce Digimon Survive, a brand-new survival RPG coming to the Americas on PlayStation®4 Computer Entertainment system, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via STEAM®.
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Digimon anime, Digimon Survive presents an original adventure set in a mysterious world with characters designed by Uiti Ukumo, and music composed by the much-acclaimed Tomoki Miyoshi. Digimon Survive is a fresh new game with a unique timeline that does not correlate with other Digimon series, allowing the player to discover and learn about the Digimon world together with the characters.
In Digimon Survive, a group of teenagers led by Takuma Momozuka, get lost on a school camping trip and find themselves transported to a strange world of monsters and danger. As they fight their way back home through a 3D world of difficult decisions and deadly battles, players’ choices throughout the game will impact the evolution of their monster allies, and the final ending.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime-based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
As children, we all have heroes. Sure, we forget a few – but the lasting impression they can make on us for even a moment can go on to define our tastes and preferences for the rest of our lives. It only takes a single moment to create a memory, and when you have a full career that is viewed on a weekly basis for years by millions, you then can rest proud knowing that you have a legacy of your own, even if the weight of that said legacy may differ from your peers.
Brian Christopher was one of my heroes growing up. During the most successful era in wrestling history (the “Attitude” era), he served a pivotal role by becoming one third of the stable “Too Cool”, which today is known as one of the most entertaining and celebrated teams of the new millennium. Brian passed away today at the age of 46, and while the circumstances are anything but pleasant, he is certainly deserving of tribute for contributing to so many of those little memories that introduced the world to a new side of wrestling. Today, let’s take a look back at Christopher’s career and celebrate the man who made goggles a hip-hop fashion accessory.
This piece isn’t exactly biographical, as it is simply made up of my introduction to the man. You can go to Wikipedia to track the decent careers of Brian, Scotty, and so on, so instead of going down some historical timeline, I will simply share how I was introduced to Christopher through my own childhood. Sometime in 1997, I discovered WWE. I knew about wrestling and was a fan of the concept, but due to so many kids stating it was fake and so on, I stayed away and indulged in other things like Power Rangers and everything in-between. You know, those other kind of heroes. Anyway, once I finally took the plunge, I was hooked. I have always admired any kind of over-the-top programming, and during this timeframe, WWE was insane. We had Undertaker performing ceremonies in darkness, Mankind talking to rats in a boiler room, and men wearing golden spandex who looked back fondly on their movie careers. It was the era of characters, and there was literally a hero or villain for anyone to root for.
I have a lot of spotty memories of when I first saw Brian Christopher on television for the first time, but I do remember him being absurd in the best kind of way. He would wear these brightly color tights with checkered patterns on them, and would perform a diving leg drop that looked like it would take the head off of his opponent that he called the “Tennessee Jam”. Yes, instead of taking on the role of some clone from the world of pop culture, Christopher’s first gimmick on television was a loud southern boy with a bad attitude. He was spoiled, eccentric, and could perform high flying maneuvers with ease. That last part may not sound special to most, but in 1997 into 98, WWE didn’t really push smaller guys as Cruiserweights were more of a WCW feature, so having this kind of performer in a product that was now identifying itself as “entertainment” over sport was kind of a big deal. Add in an amazingly irritating cackle that would be shouted after nearly every damn move, and you have an amazing heel that was a joy to watch.
Christopher would enter and nearly win a tournament for the Light Heavyweight Championship, and have some awesome feuds with Taka Michinoku and Águila, all while his daddy cheered him on in the commentary booth. Yeah, WWE definitely made sure that we fans knew that Jerry “The King” Lawler was the father of Brian. They looked alike, talked alike, and even have somewhat similar styles in the ring, so you could definitely tell that the apple did not fall far from the tree. Even with a famous father constantly pushing his name, Christopher needed to break out from that shadow as his larger than life personality was simply getting too big for the same sort of gimmickry. For this, WWE aligned him with Scott Taylor, a man who had been with the company for years, but was mainly used to give guys a solid match or sell a new debut or gimmick from another talent to a crowd for the first time. The two had great tag-team chemistry in the ring, and became Too Much. At first, the duo were just your basic whiny heels. They would talk trash, act crazy, and get the fans riled before usually getting stomped, creating a huge pop for whichever face was doing the work. As the gimmick went on, the two became a bit more stylish and in sync with one another, and would tease an infatuation before Too Much would stop dead in its tracks in 99, when a quick repackaging would turn the music up and give the pair some focus.
Before we speak of sunglasses and such, I can say that I do not know the actual circumstances for the repackaging. I have heard Scotty speak in interviews and state that they didn’t feel happy with the direction the gimmick was going in, so they stood up for themselves and ended up being allowed to go their own creative course, so if you want an actual answer, that would probably be the best bet. At the end of the day Too Much were fine, but nothing compared to Too Cool. Now carrying boomboxes, donning shades, and dancing to some 90’s hip-hop, the newly branded Grand Master Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty relaunched as heels on Sunday Night Heat. Instead of that whole “are they or aren’t they” gimmickry from before, Too Cool simply smashed opponents with cheesey one liners, and embellished in a culture that they were not cut out for. That was the joke, and it was so damn entertaining. Add in a new dance move by the name of “The Worm” and turn these two face, and this tag team would quickly become one of the most featured duos of 1999.
What was interesting about this new branding is that so much of the Too Much characters applied to Scotty and Brian’s new characters, and fans seem to forget that. Some of the quirky dance moves, Brian’s cackle, and even King’s love of his not related but ever so proud of son would also transfer over with Too Cool, simply adding to the tag team’s charm. As the two became more known for dancing, WWE tried out an idea, sticking Rikishi with the duo, and from there – we saw the birth of the Too Cool we all know and love today. This trio could make arenas explode with pops by simply dancing at the end of each match. While their success resulted in merchandising, television spots, and so on, Too Cool would not go on forever. During 2000 and after capturing the tag team titles once, Rikishi would go down a different path as a heel, and leave the group laid out. With change comes a bit of tweaking, and the duo would continue on with a brand new theme song (“Turn it Up”), and would keep trekking forward until Scotty became sidelined due to a real life injury.
Grand Master Sexay began a campaign to find a new tag team partner for the time being. Enter Steve Blackman. This duo was a comedy pairing, with the whole opposites attract chemistry featured behind it. They would even go on to do the pre-show for Wrestlemania 17 against X-Factor, so while not nearly as endearing, Christopher still managed to keep his character relevant and entertaining. Just before the Invasion angle would hit hard, he was released due to an incident in 2001, turning Scotty into a singles competitor when he returned. There are some details of the situation, as Christopher was arrested, but again, this matter is in the past and simply serves as a bump in a solid timeline as it spelled the end of the first run of Too Cool. Over the next couple of years, the now branded Brian Lawler would do independents (most notably NWA-TNA) under his real name, acting as a heel with that same purple attire that he left WWE in. In 2004, Kane just was “heating up” with his new monster character. It was an episode of Raw I still remember very clearly. “TURN IT UP” would hit and out would come Grand Master Sexay, who lost quickly in a return match. This return ended with a release mere weeks later, with Sexay going back to independents for the rest of his career, outside of a brief stint in NXT with Scotty and a few reunion appearances here and there.
That kind of retreads the career, but the man himself is a different story. I get it, I am a fan. I only see one perspective, but two years ago I got to meet Brian and Scotty, my two heroes who I followed for years. I will state that out of the two, Scotty was always my favorite Superstar of all time, but Brian follows closely behind, so getting to talk to a person I admired so much was a big deal to myself. I even attended one of those pop-up Wrestlemania parties with the duo, and let me tell you that Brian was the life of the room. Talking to fans, taking goofy pictures, and just hamming it up the entire time, only leaving after everyone else exited. Sure, everyone knows a few of his issues of the past, but the guy I found in front of me was warm and fun, as if it was his personal job to put a smile on everyone’s face. Oh yeah, that laugh is not just a character thing, either. The man I met provided me countless stories and happy memories that day, and remains one of my most cherished encounters with a “celebrity” in general.
Brian Christopher Lawler was the definition of fun. He is what made Too Cool come together with a thumping heartbeat and even though he is talked about somewhat less in current circles, will forever be remembered as a loud and entertaining roster entry from such an important and redefining era. I have been doing a lot of remembering today. I remember sticking in WWF Attitude on the Playstation and always picking Brian Christopher for his over-the-top one-liners. I remember getting cheap notepads and trying to track Too Cool’s win loss record for almost a year straight before I got solid internet. I also remember being an adult and finding out that my Batman and Robin were just as awesome in real life as the vision I held in my head all these years, despite all of the trivial headlines that would tell me otherwise. Brian Christopher may have treaded shadows of his father and even with his former team mates throughout his career, but that is ok. Grand Master Sexay was over, held gold, made a name for himself, and brought smiles to faces every time he performed. For a wrestler or sports entertainer, there are not a lot of folks who can attest to that.
Today, the world loses its break-dancing, cackling southerner who was both Too Much and Too Cool in every sense. His family and friends should know that despite those shadows, there are those of us who will never forget about how much joy he brought. Modern fans get so caught up in their favorite talents that they almost riot if their favorites do not get enough air time, almost as if a legacy will be tarnished if there are not enough notches in one’s belt. They forget that it only takes a moment, and Brian’s legacy is that he was able to withstand time and still be remembered as one of the most entertaining Superstars of a generation for creating a ton of those little moments for all of us. I hope he is at peace, and I hope he knew he was and forever will be a hero and a legend in this industry to many.
SOUND THE DRUMS! TAIKO NO TATSUJIN COMES TO EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 launch on November 2nd 2018
The celebrated cult classic taiko drum rhythm series Taiko no Tatsujin arrives in Europe, with two new games announced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe.
Two new games,Taikono Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system will be available to buy from November 2nd 2018.
The hugely popular Japanese rhythm game comes to Europe for the first time, and features a wide variety of new songs, special crossover characters, and multiplayer capabilities that are sure to get players drumming to the hypnotic rhythm of taiko drums. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 each boast unique features that tailor the Taiko no Tatsujin experience to each specific platform for optimised gameplay.
Using the Joy-Con® controllers as drumsticks, Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® introduces motion-control play that uniquely replicates the popular arcade-style experience. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! also features 20 multiplayer rhythm-based mini-games that can be played by up to 4 players. Additionally, in the Rhythm Games Mode, players will be able to play as characters from classic Nintendo® games including Kirby from Kirby® and Squid from Splatoon® 2.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 plays to the spirited competitive side of Taiko with its Ranked Mode, enabling players to connect online and test their skills against Taiko players around the world. Players will also have the chance to unlock costumes, sound effects, and greetings for the Taiko no Tatsujin mascot, Don-chan, and play Guest Session with popular characters such as Heihachi from Tekken, Pac-Man® and Hello Kitty®.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system will be available from November 2nd, 2018.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles, PC and mobile. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TEKKEN™, SOULCALIBUR™, DARK SOULS™, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball, GALAGA™, RIDGE RACER™ and ACE COMBAT™. For more information please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu . All the BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment products are available on the official store https://store.bandainamcoent.eu
This brand-new Nintendo Labo kit contains materials to build a variety of customisable cardboard creations called Toy-Con, including a Car, a Submarine, a Plane, a Pedal, two Keys and more. Insert one of the assembled Keys into any of the vehicles to enjoy a variety of fun games and activities. Changing between vehicles while adventuring is easy – just remove the key from one and slot it into another to transform from an airplane pilot to a submarine captain.
Since its introduction in April, Nintendo Labo has inspired creative minds and playful hearts alike by providing the tools and technology to make fun DIY creations, play games with your creations, and discover how Nintendo Switch technology shapes ideas into reality*. Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit will unlock even more ways for family and friends to make, play and discover together, as they speed through races, battle cars equipped with extendable arms and explore a mysterious world. Each vehicle features its own controls and special moves and, with the second key, players can even invite a co-pilot along on their in-game journey. Real-world interactions with the Toy-Con creations instantly translate into in-game actions to create a truly immersive experience – from pulling the cord on the Car to pop a wheelie, pushing the button on the Submarine to launch a grappling hook, and more.
As with every Nintendo Labo kit, Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit includes its own unique Nintendo Switch software designed to work with the included Toy-Con building projects. Players can enjoy the fun of making each Toy-Con creation, playing immersive games with them, discovering how they work, and even inventing new ways to play. All materials needed to complete each Toy-Con creation are included – no glue, tape, or scissors required.
The possibilities of Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit can be expanded even further with Toy-Con Garage. This intuitive and interactive programming tool is included with every Nintendo Labo kit and features a simple, visual interface and handy tutorials designed for players of all ages. Toy-Con Garage encourages players to experiment with the Toy-Con creations they’ve built or craft their own original designs using handy household items like paper cups, stickers and ribbon. This mode introduces simple principles of technology, allowing players to combine various simple inputs and outputs to invent their own new ways to play. Use the Joy-Con to play guitar sounds, make the Joy-Con vibrate by pressing buttons or make explosion sounds by shaking them – with Toy-Con Garage, the possibilities of Nintendo Labo become almost limitless, and players of all ages can enjoy hours of inventing, tinkering, crafting, playing, and enriching fun.
Stay tuned to the Nintendo Labo website for more information about Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit.
To start making, playing and discovering right now, check out the Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit and Nintendo Labo: Robot Kit, which are available now. Plus, don’t forget the Nintendo Labo Creators Contest is accepting submissions from creative minds until 7th September, with a very special Nintendo Switch system available as a prize.
COWABUNGA! NICKELODEON’S REIMAGINED RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES BOWS MONDAY, OCTOBER 1.
Lena Headey, John Michael Higgins, Tom Kenny, Sam Richardson, Tim Simons, John Rotten Lydon and Rob Paulsen among guest stars lending voices to original villains in all-new original animated series.
Sydney, July 30, 2018 — The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are rising from their sewer lair this October for a new season on Nickelodeon. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a complete reimagining that follows the band of brothers as they encounter new allies and villains and discover a mystical world they never knew existed beneath the streets of New York City.
In the half-hour launch episode, “Mystic Mayhem,” the Turtles discover for the first time that they’re not the weirdest things in New York.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be available on Nickelodeon from Monday, 1st of October at 5pm AEST.
Fans can also catch the full first episode, in advance, on the Nick Play app, the Foxtel Kids app and Fetch catch up on Wednesday, 1st of August.
The 2D-animated series stars the voice talent of Omar Miller (Ballers) as Raph, a jagged-shelled snapping turtle; Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) as Leo, a red-eared slider turtle; Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) as Donnie, a soft-shell turtle; Brandon Mychal Smith (You’re The Worst) as Mikey, a box turtle; Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) as April O’Neil, a street savvy native New Yorker; Eric Bauza (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Splinter, father figure and sensei to the Turtles; and WWE Superstar John Cena as the villainous, Baron Draxum.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles follows the Turtles on all-new adventures as they master new powers, encounter absurd mutants and battle bizarre villains, each with their own motivations. Ranging from mystics, mutants and madmen, new creatures and villains emerge to take on Raph, Leo, Donnie and Mikey in battles across New York City. From the tallest skyscraper to the dankest sewer drain, the brothers learn to work together and navigate the perils of New York City and the hidden realms below in order to fulfill their destiny to become a team of heroes.
The line-up of guest stars voicing these new mutants and bizarre villains includes: Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) as Big Mama, a gigantic spider mutant; John Michael Higgins (Pitch Perfect) as Warren Stone, a former news anchor turned mutant earthworm; Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Albearto, a singing, birthday-loving rampaging robot; Sam Richardson and Tim Simons (Veep) as Huginn and Muninn, gargoyles who are never far from their master, Baron Draxum; John Rotten Lydon (Public Image Ltd ‘PiL’ and Sex Pistols) as Meat Sweats, a power-hungry mutant pig; Rhys Darby (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) as Hypno-Potamus, a mutant magician/hippo; and Jorge Gutierrez (El Tigre) as Ghostbear, a human pro-wrestler champion with a taste for cheating.
In addition, Rob Paulsen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Maurice LaMarche (Animaniacs) reunite behind the mic as Foot Lieutenant, the de-facto leader of the Foot Clan, and Foot Brute, the Foot Lieutenant’s right hand man.
The new 26-episode series is co-executive produced by Andy Suriano (character designer, Samurai Jack) and Ant Ward (supervising producer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) at Nickelodeon in Burbank. Veteran animation industry voice actor Rob Paulsen is voice directing the series.
Considered one of the most popular kids’ television programs of the 1980s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a classic, global property created in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It first debuted as a successful comic book series and then became a hit animated TV show, a live-action television series and later spawned four blockbuster theatrical releases. The property has also translated into a significant consumer products business—with toys apparel, home goods, video games, DVDs and more–that has generated billions of dollars at retail. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a top selling action figure and the franchise is a previous recipient of the Toy Industry Association’s top honor for Property of the Year at the TOTY Awards.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is available on Nickelodeon (Foxtel channel 701, Fetch channel 146) from Monday, 1st of October at 5pm AEST.
The brand new first episode is available, in advance, on the Nick Play app, the Foxtel Kids app and Fetch catch up on Wednesday, 1st of August.
Nickelodeon, now in its 22nd year in Australia and 39th globally, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon is one of the most globally recognized and widely distributed multimedia entertainment brands for kids and family, with 1.2 billion cumulative subscriptions in more than 500 million households across 170+ countries and territories, via more than 100+ locally programmed channels and branded blocks. Outside of the United States, Nickelodeon is part of Viacom International Media Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. ANNOUNCES TAIKO NO TATSUJIN: DRUM ‘N’ FUN! FOR NINTENDO SWITCH & TAIKO NO TATSUJIN: DRUM SESSION! FOR PLAYSTATION 4 AVAILABLE IN THE AMERICAS ON NOVEMBER 2nd, 2018
The Celebrated Cult Classic Taiko Drum Rhythm Arcade Game Officially Returns to the Americas on November 2nd, 2018!
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (July 27, 2018) – Leading videogame and interactive entertainment developer and publisher, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., announced today that Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system will be available in the Americas on November 2nd, 2018.
This popular Japanese rhythm game officially returns to the Americas and will feature a wide variety of new songs, special crossover characters, and multiplayer capabilities that are sure to get players drumming to the hypnotic rhythm of taiko drums. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 each have unique features that tailor the Taiko no Tatsujin experience to each specific platform for optimized gameplay.
Using the Joy-Con® controllers as drumsticks, Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® introduces motion-control play that replicates the popular arcade-style experience, enabling Nintendo Switch® players to fully take advantage of the platform’s unique capabilities. During Rhythm Mode, players will be able to use platform exclusive characters with power-ups from classic Nintendo® games such as Kirby from Kirby® and Squid from Splatoon® 2. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! also features 20 multiplayer rhythm-based mini-games that can be played by up to 4 players using additional controllers.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 plays to the spirited competitive side of Taiko with its Ranked Mode, enabling players to connect online and test their skills against Taiko players around the world through ghost data. Players will also have the chance to unlock costumes, sound effects, and greetings for the Taiko no Tatsujin mascot, Don-chan, and can play Guest Session with popular characters such as Hatsune Miku® and Hello Kitty®.
“We are excited to bring Taiko no Tatsujin back to the Western audience for an entire new generation of Taiko fans!” said Dennis Lee, Director of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “Nothing gets people moving and having fun like a great music game. Soon, fans will be able to enjoy this classic rhythm game with their friends at home and on the go!”
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! for Nintendo Switch® and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system will be available on November 2nd, 2018. For more information about Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun!, Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! or other titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., please visit; https://www.bandainamcoent.com, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.comor www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
FOR HONOR® SEASON VII: STORM AND FURY LAUNCHES AUGUST 2
For Honor Welcomes All Xbox One Players via Games with Gold Promotion in August
SYDNEY, Australia — July 27, 2018 — Ubisoft has announced that For Honor® Season VII: Storm and Fury, will be released simultaneously on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Windows PC on August 2. Launching as a free update, For Honor Season VII: Storm and Fury will continue the development teams’ commitment to implementing community feedback and will bring a brand new map, major Hero reworks, an updated Ranking System, and more. Newcomers on Xbox One who have Xbox Live Gold memberships will also be able to download For Honor for free as part of August’s Games with Gold starting August 16.
New content coming to For Honor in Season VII: Storm and Fury include:
New Map One new map, Secluded Keep, will expand the battlefield. Once the personal retreat of a pious Lord surrounded by water, it is now a highly disputed outpost. Secluded Keep will be available in Tribute, Skirmish, Elimination, Brawl, and Duel.
Major Hero Reworks In the wake of the recent Hero updates and feedback from players, For Honor will continue to improve and balance the current roster, as two Heroes – the Warden and Valkyrie – will receive major gameplay updates to improve the versatility and efficiency of their respective move sets.
Ranking System Update Introducing two new divisions in the Ranking System – Master and Grand Master, reserved for the fiercest warriors. Players will also be able to monitor their progress with the new Ranking Leaderboard. To focus the community on the new leaderboard and Master divisions, players will be able to join Ranked Duel matches outside Tournaments. Tournaments will instead be triggered on rotation, starting on a week-end basis.
Coinciding with the beginning of the new Season, For Honor will apply a permanent 30% discount to all battle outfits. For Honor will also launch a new Hero Trial offer available from August 2-9, which will give players the opportunity to try any Hero they do not own and buy them at a discounted Steel cost for a week.
Those looking for more details on For Honor Season VII: Storm and Fury can tune-in to For Honor’s Warrior’s Den livestream on August 2nd at 5:00pm AEST on twitch.tv/ForHonorGame and participate in Twitch Drops. Players are guaranteed one scavenger crate after a half hour of watching the stream and for every 10 minutes they will be entered for a chance to win 100,000 Steel*.
For newcomers looking to test their might on the battlefield, For Honor will be part of Xbox’s Games with Gold and will be available for free to download for Xbox Live Gold members from August 16 to September 15. Those looking to get a head start on the battlefield can purchase For Honor for up to 80% off on the Microsoft Store through July 30.
Following the introduction of dedicated servers and new training modes, For Honor will continue to grow with the release of the Marching Fire expansion on October 16, with the brand new Wu Lin faction joining the fray, a 4v4 castle siege mode “Breach”, unlimited PvE content and more.
Developed by Ubisoft Montreal in collaboration with other Ubisoft studios,** For Honor offers an engaging campaign and thrilling multiplayer modes. Players embody warriors of the three Great Factions – the bold Knights, the brutal Vikings and the deadly Samurai – fighting to the death on intense and believable melee battlefields. The Art of Battle, the game’s innovative combat system that puts players in total control of their warriors, allows them to utilize the unique skills and combat style of each hero to vanquish all enemies who stand in their way.
For more information about For Honor, please visit forhonorgame.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ForHonorGame and on Twitter at twitter.com/ForHonorGame.
For the latest about For Honor and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.
*Viewers must link their Twitch account with their Ubisoft account to participate in Twitch Drops. The Twitch Drop program is only available during “Live Stream” and not “Video on Demand.”
**Associate Ubisoft studios include Quebec, Toronto and Blue Byte. Additional development from Studio Gobo.
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 2017–18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.
Microsoft is going all out to make sure gamers with limited mobility can enjoy their favourite Xbox One games with the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Microsoft has revealed the easy to open packaging for the controller. Gamers with limited mobility tested and provided feedback on early prototypes, ensuring the box can be opened easily.
The packaging consists of two stages, a plain cardboard shipping box and the printed retail package. Difficult to use wist ties, blister packages, zip cords, and sharp cardboard edges have been ditched. Instead, both boxes rely heavily on generously sized pull handles to open the box, break seals, and pull out the contents.
Considering the the frustration of modern packaging for even able-bodied consumers, here’s to hoping some of Microsoft’s easy to open packaging ideas become standard in all packages.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller will launch in September for $99.99 USD/$129.99 AUD. Pre-orders are available now through the Microsoft Store.
LINEAGE 2: REVOLUTION CELEBRATES SUMMER WITH NEW IN-GAME SWIMSUIT COSTUMES AND EVENTS
Content updates and new in-game events arrive for players to enjoy during the summer season
LOS ANGELES – July 26, 2018 – Netmarble Corporation, the fastest-growing mobile game company worldwide, today launched a summer-themed update for its hit mobile MMORPG, Lineage 2: Revolution. Beginning today, players will be able to access new content, including swimsuit costumes and new in-game events in celebration of the summer.
Depending on their character type, players will be able to dress in a scuba helmet/tank combination for Human, a cute two-piece for White Elf, a rubber duck floatie for Dwarf, or an inflatable shark bodysuit for Dark Elf to jump in the pool and enjoy the hot summer sun.
Along with the new swim suit costumes, players will also be able to face off the Queen Ant’s Cave clan dungeon with “Very Hard” difficulty. Additionally, Class Transfer rewards are now enhanced and players will be able to receive Grade SR Exclusive Weapon Selection Box as a reward for transferring their classes.
The update also adds four new in-game events, which provide extensive rewards for players until August 8. The Check-In event allows players to log-in for seven days and receive items necessary for leveling up equipment, including a Grade SR Armor Selection Box by the end of the seven day period. Herald’s Love for Animal event provides players web content to acquire trackers that can be exchanged for various rewards. Furthermore, Aymel’s School-Monster Collector event allows players to collect Monster Cores to complete quests to receive grade-specific rewards and additional rewards depending on the total number of quests completed.
Additionally, entry level for the ‘Hell Difficulty’ for the Trials of Experience will be lowered from 220 to 190 during the event period, allowing more players to enter and earn the chance to receive extensive EXP rewards.
For more information on Lineage 2: Revolution, visit the game’s official website and Facebook page.
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About Netmarble Corporation
Netmarble Corporation strives to entertain audiences of all ages around the world by providing great mobile gaming experiences. Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble is the fastest-growing mobile game company and consistently ranks as a top mobile developer and publisher worldwide. With more than 4,000 employees, Netmarble has been producing and servicing some of the most successful mobile games including Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Everybody’s Marble, and Seven Knights. As a parent company to Kabam, a top mobile game developer in massively multiplayer free-to-play games, and the largest shareholder to Jam City, a leading casual social game developer, Netmarble has a strategic partnership with CJ E&M Corporation, Asia’s largest entertainment company, Tencent Holdings, Asia’s largest internet company, and NCsoft, a prominent MMORPG company. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com
Grimmwood full release dated for the beginning of August
Social Multiplayer RPG is leaving its Open Beta for a full release on August 2nd, 2018
Since the beginning of the Grimwood Open Beta in early May more than 20.000 players joined the villiages in the dark woods and fought together for their lives against merciless monsters, explored the surroundings, gathered resources and worked togehter to survive.
Based on the player’s feedback the additional “Blitz Mode” was added, where a day in-game lasts 15 minutes instead of 24 hours real time. So players are able to spend longer time periods in the woods – one day after another. The new mode and several more adjustments and changes unleashed the full potential of Grimmwood.
In Grimmwood, you defend your village together with up to 30 strangers in an ageless mystical forest. Fight against the merciless monster hordes that unleash their wrath at your shelter every night.
For survival, the whole village has to work together as a well organized team now, as the Blitz Mode will become quite difficult after a few days, so everyone has to know their tasks. But that’s exactly where the real fun starts, right? Just gather some friends and give it a try, it’s a complete new experience:
Social posts of Grimmwood’s moody assets are much appreciated, ideally including #Grimmwood, @GrimmwoodGame and @HeadupGames. Find more details about Grimmwood below and meet us at our official Discord channel.
About Grimmwood
You’re in a village in an ageless, mystical forest, together with up to 30 other strangers all of which are real, live players. Together you need to defend your village against the merciless monster hordes who unleash their wrath against your shelter every night. Use the daytime wisely to explore, gather resources, upgrade and repair. But to be able to do all that you have to eat, drink and rest, because every action in the game takes its toll on your stamina and sanity.
The Gameplay
Every night monsters attack your village. Use the daytime and your stamina points to explore the procedurally generated forest, find weapons and useful items, collect food and resources to upgrade and forficate the village. Share tasks and decisions with the other players and work together, because night by night the monsters attacks will become more fierce… And the village must survive at all costs!
The World
The world of Grimmwood is engulfed by a nameless 16th century war raging across the continent. The Villagers are common folk, refugees from the big cities who seek sanctuary in the depths of the ageless Forest. Many of them have lost their loved ones and all their belongings… everything but their will to live and see another day.
The Village
The village which the survivors have discovered deep in the Great Forest seems a lot older – probably even with by centuries. It is destitute of any signs of life – nothing to even hint on what might have happened to its former inhabitants.
The Monsters
The Great Forest is old and vast. There are things here never seen by any man… who lived to tell the tale. The villagers are not wanted here – they only disturb the natural order of things in this dark and secluded part of the world.
The Mystical Forces
A lot of things that happen in the Great Forest go beyond anything the villagers have ever experienced or have the capacity of understanding. Resurrection, mystical artefacts, herbs and potions with amazing effects on the human body – there’s a lot to be discovered, examined… and probably feared.
FEATURES • Against all Odds: Survive by turning a bunch of strangers into a sworn fellowship. • Every Game is a new Journey: Huge, procedurally generated hex grid forest map to explore – 600 tiles in size! • Choose your Path wisely: Every action costs stamina points of which you have only a limited number each day. • Continuous Asynchronous Multiplayer: Log in at any time during the real-time 24-hour day cycle to gear up with your fellow villagers and fortify the defenses or venture into the wild together. • Keep your Body and Soul in check: Sanity and condition systems which will directly and indirectly affect your efficiency and playstyle. • Strong Emphasis on Social Interaction: In-game Chat and Forum, where all key decisions are put up for discussion. • Permadeath, Roguelike Elements: Everything you bring with you to the next Village is your knowledge and your ingenuity. • Play by the Rules – or don’t: Vote to expel the Villagers who don’t contribute to the Village survival or simply try to ruin everybody’s experience.
About Headup Games
Headup Games is a hybrid games publishing and development company providing players worldwide with the best content in the independent gaming sector. Established in 2009, it is active on all major platforms such as consoles, mobile devices and PC, and was awarded as “Best Publisher” at the German Developers Awards in 2012, 2013 and 2017. With over 70 million customers served on mobile and further several million players on the PC and consoles, Headup Games is always looking to raise awareness and commercial success for developers thinking outside the box. More information can be found at www.headupgames.com.
About Big Moustache Games
Big Moustache Games is a small independent studio, situated in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. Making games is what most of us have done, or wanted to do for the better part of their lives. So for us – it’s a mission! A mission to save a dying breed, the true gamer. Because the games could be and should be much more than what they are today. And the true gamer deserves nothing less. More information can be found at www.bigmoustachegames.com.
That kind of retreads the career, but the man himself is a different story. I get it, I am a fan. I only see one perspective, but two years ago I got to meet Brian and Scotty, my two heroes who I followed for years. I will state that out of the two, Scotty was always my favorite Superstar of all time, but Brian follows closely behind, so getting to talk to a person I admired so much was a big deal to myself. I even attended one of those pop-up Wrestlemania parties with the duo, and let me tell you that Brian was the life of the room. Talking to fans, taking goofy pictures, and just hamming it up the entire time, only leaving after everyone else exited. Sure, everyone knows a few of his issues of the past, but the guy I found in front of me was warm and fun, as if it was his personal job to put a smile on everyone’s face. Oh yeah, that laugh is not just a character thing, either. The man I met provided me countless stories and happy memories that day, and remains one of my most cherished encounters with a “celebrity” in general.
