SPIKE CHUNSOFT Announces STEINS;GATE ELITE, PixelJunk Monsters 2, Zanki Zero: Last Beginning, 428: Shibuya Scramble, and Fire Pro Wrestling World for the West at GDC 2018
Update: In case you didn’t receive it earlier, here it is!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 23, 2018 – New global publisher Spike Chunsoft, Inc. is excited to reveal their 2018 lineup for North America and Europe!
First, put on your Tiki masks and practice your spiritual dances! Spike Chunsoft is thrilled to bring the tower defense favorite PixelJunk™ Monsters 2 to the PlayStation®4,Nintendo Switch™, and Steam® for North America and Europe on May 25 for $14.99! The game will be released digitally on all three platforms.
From Spike Chunsoft’s partnership with MAGES. Inc. comes STEINS;GATE ELITE, which will be available on the PlayStation 4 system, Nintendo Switch, and Steam! Preorders are now available at your local retailer, and the game will be released physically and digitally in 2018.
Spike Chunsoft is proud to announce the next game from the creators of the Danganronpa series, survival RPG Zanki Zero: Last Beginning for the PlayStation 4 system and Steam in North America and Europe! The game will be released physically and digitally. Release timing coming soon.
Next, the acclaimed visual novel adventure 428: Shibuya Scramble™ is coming to the PlayStation 4 system and Steam for North America and Europe this summer 2018! The game will be released digitally and physically, and preorders are now available at your local retailer.
Finally, get ready to grapple! Spike Chunsoft brings the classic wrestling simulation Fire Pro Wrestling World™ to the PlayStation 4 system for North America and Europe this summer 2018! The game will be released digitally and physically, and preorders are now available at your local retailer.
About Spike Chunsoft, Inc.
Established in December 2017, Spike Chunsoft, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd. Located in Long Beach, California, Spike Chunsoft, Inc. serves as a base of operations to localize and publish titles from its parent company for the Western market. More information about the company can be found at www.spike-chunsoft.com
About Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Spike Chunsoft is an established video game publisher, developer and localization company based in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 2012 between industry veterans Spike and Chunsoft, the company is known for cult hit franchises such as Danganronpa and Zero Escape, and is responsible for launching titles across consoles, PC and mobile for some of the most popular series in the industry. More information about the company can be found at: https://www.spike-chunsoft.co.jp/company_e/information.html.
Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles on Steam (Windows/Linux/OS X) is NOW AVAILABLE for $4.99 MSRP with an additional 10% discount during launch week. This release covers the first story chapter and includes the Battle Mode minigame. Additional story chapters and more Battle Mode content will be added in the coming year as separate DLC. A Season Pass is also available for players who purchase this title now and want to gain access to the complete experience later on at a discount.
Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles Complete Edition is also available which includes the first chapter and all subsequent DLC chapters as they are released. Purchase the Complete Edition to get the entire experience at a discount compared to purchasing chapters separately.
Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles will also be released on Xbox One soon. The Xbox One version will feature significant graphics and performance improvements over Outbreak: The New Nightmare which is also available on Xbox One now.
In addition, ALL games in the Outbreak series (Outbreak, Outbreak: The New Nightmare & Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles) now support Linux and OS X. Titles that support co-op also feature cross-platform multiplayer across these operating systems.
Overview
Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles is an episodic unforgiving survival horror experience that takes place within the Outbreak universe. Death lurks behind each door as you fight to survive with the limited supplies at your disposal. Search rooms thoroughly and make the right choice when to fight – or flee – from the monstrosities. Featuring classic hardcore survival horror gameplay in a directed single-player experience, you’ll need to stay on your toes to stay alive. You have a limited inventory and you’ll need to leverage supply caches to store your equipment for use later. Saving your game is also highly restrictive and you’ll need to locate the means to record your progress as you explore. Camera angles are fixed and the player has the option of using old school tank controls or a modern control scheme. Lydia’s adventure is just the beginning… can you survive the chronicles and determine the fate of the other survivors?
Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles is heavily inspired by the classic survival horror genre, including titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. The Outbreak series was created by a solo indie-developer with a strong passion for survival horror. Each game features brutal difficulty, strict inventory management, diverse environments and terrifying enemies.
About the Game
As the city burns and the countryside is engulfed by the epidemic, you’re now alone and forced to live with this new reality. Monstrous beasts and disfigured remnants roam freely with their numbers increasing rapidly. Scattered and separated from your fellow survivors, you’ve fled into a large manor estate to escape the relentless horde. Your only goal now is survival. Explore the manor, locate supplies and find a way to wake from this nightmare. But somehow… you know your fate is already sealed.
Key Features
Episodic:New chapters available over time. Buy only what you want to play.
Story Mode:Survive through a classic single-player survival horror experience.
Battle Mode:Tough as nails action mode where you scrounge and fight to reach the exit.
Cinematic:Experience your last moments through fixed cameras and beautiful environments.
Explore:Search rooms and read logs to find keys and solve puzzles to survive.
Fight or Flee:Engage threats directly or run away to safety in another room.
Classic:True hardcore classic survival horror with a limited inventory and deadly foes.
Progress:Saving is limited and restricted. Find floppy disks to record your progress.
Storage:Manage your limited inventory by finding and storing items in caches.
Difficult:Play across multiple difficulty modes, including the one hit kill Nightmares mode.
Defense:Utilize numerous firearms and melee weapons against the undead.
Alone:Play solo even without an internet connection.
Controller:Customizable gamepad, mouse and keyboard controls.
Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles has full controller support on Steam and is designed for Xbox One and Xbox 360 controllers. In addition, the Steam release features fully customizable mouse, keyboard and gamepad controls.
Pricing & Availability
Steam
Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles is now available on Steam for a $4.99 MSRP! During the launch period, there will be a 10% discount on the title. In addition, there are bundles that include this game and other titles in the Outbreak series at a discount.
About Dead Drop Studios LLC
Connecticut-based indie studio Dead Drop Studios LLC creates survival horror games inspired by hardcore, unforgiving gameplay mechanics. The studio’s first title, Outbreak, returns to the roots of survival horror while adding a multiplayer co-op twist. Their second title, Outbreak: The New Nightmare, features new high definition 3D graphics and much more. Their latest title, Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles, features a horrifying single-player survival horror nightmare. Dead Drop Studios hopes to revitalize the genre and gather support for more ambitious projects. To learn more, please visit http://www.deaddropstudios.com/.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero “Ultimate Day One Edition” Sashays onto Nintendo Switch in North America on May 8
Preorder the ‘Definitive’ Version of Crowdfunded Indie Darling with All Post-Launch DLC, Bonus Art Book, and More!
Torrance, Calif. — April 2, 2018 — XSEED Games, the independent-minded publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today announced that the hit crowdfunded action platformer developed by WayForward, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, will receive a limited “Ultimate Day One Edition” physical release for Nintendo Switch on May 8, available at select retailers throughout North America at an MSRP of $39.99. The Nintendo Switch exclusive “Ultimate Day One Edition” physical release includes the game’s groovy 30-song ‘Risky Beats’ soundtrack on CD, a gorgeous new 100-page art book (96 interior pages + 4 page cover), and plenty of company for Shantae with the ‘Pirate Queen’s Quest’, ‘Costume Mode’, and ‘Friends Mode’ DLC all included right on the Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition game card packed in the box.
Don a fancy hat, trade magic for good old-fashioned weapons and tools, and play the role of the bodacious (and ambiguously evil) buccaneer Risky Boots with the Pirate Queen’s Quest DLC. Having successfully stolen the powerful Dynamo from Shantae’s uncle, Risky Boots must now traverse the game to uncover the five mysterious components needed to upgrade the machine and bend Sequin Land to her will in this all-new adventure!
The “Ultimate Edition” also includes the Costume Mode and Friends Mode DLC, because no dance party is complete without friends and costumes! Friends Mode takes Shantae’s pals Sky, Bolo, and Rottytops into her nightmare where they must find and save her from certain doom. Shantae’s wardrobe gets expanded with the Costume Mode DLC, which provides three new arcade-style adventures for her to shimmy her way through in style. Stick to the shadows as Ninja Shantae, soak in the sun as Beach Shantae, or lay down the law as the Mighty Switch Force-inspired Officer Shantae in these arresting new arcade adventures!
About Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Following three highly successful releases with Shantae, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge, and Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero reacquaints players with the cast of Shantae in style. The magical world of Sequin Land is more vibrant than ever with true high-definition graphics that retain the charm of the original 2D hand-drawn sprites the series is known for. Shantae, the spirited young half-genie, must once again defend Scuttle Town from the pirate captain and self-proclaimed Queen of the Seven Seas, Risky Boots, who plots to steal a newly discovered limitless source of power.
Shantae has previously protected her hometown from all forms of evil including steam-powered pirates, undead evildoers, and militaristic madmen, and is ready to take on Risky Boots with her trademark Hair Whip attack and Belly Dance moves, which give her the power to transform into eight different creatures. Non-stop action with immersive 2.5D environments and a new relic system give novice and expert players alike a uniquely tailored platforming experience. All of Sequin Land becomes a fully explorable world — after conquering massive bosses, the Arcade-style action stages can be revisited to discover new items and secrets based on new abilities Shantae has gained in later areas.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is developed by WayForward for Xbox One, PC, PS4™, “PS Vita”, Wii U™, and Nintendo Switch. XSEED Games has previously published the “Risky Beats” physical editions, each packaged with the ‘Risky Beats’ soundtrack CD, as well as the digital “PS Vita” release. The Shantae: Half-Genie Hero “Ultimate Day One Edition” retail release for Nintendo Switch will come packaged with the same ‘Risky Beats’ CD soundtrack and a new 96-page art book together with the “Ultimate Edition” of the game containing all DLC, and will release on May 8 at an MSRP of $39.99. Digital versions of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition will be published by WayForward, and will be available for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam for Windows PC. Priced at $29.99 USD, these versions feature the same in-game content, but do not include the ‘Risky Beats’ CD soundtrack or art book.
More information on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero can be found at www.shantaehgh.com. This title has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB with the descriptors of Cartoon Violence and Suggestive Themes. PQube will be publishing the physical version in Europe, and more information can be found on their website at http://www.pqube.co.uk/.
For more information on XSEED Games products, please visit www.xseedgames.com. Fans can also follow XSEED Games on Facebook, on Twitter, and via their localization blogs on Tumblr.
XSEED Games is the independent-minded publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marvelous Inc., which is a publicly-traded company listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Formed in 2004 and located in Torrance, California, XSEED Games publishes interactive entertainment content for PC and consoles from the Marvelous portfolio as well as from a wide variety of third-party partners. Whether it’s Marvelous properties such as STORY OF SEASONS (Bokujo Monogatari), SENRAN KAGURA, and Rune Factory, or third-party titles such as the Corpse Party, AKIBA’S TRIP, and The Legend of Heroes: Trails series, XSEED Games has grown its reputation among gamers with its critically acclaimed localizations and commitment to fans, remaining ever dedicated to its “indie spirit, player-first” approach.
About WayForward:
Based in Valencia, California, WayForward was founded in 1990 and has remained an independent game developer for 25 years. We are home to many talented individuals including programmers, environment artists, animators, modelers, illustrators, audio wizards, designers, and team leaders. With the new avenues for distributing games directly to fans we are finally able to make the games we have always wanted to.
After gamers were given a fresh taste of playing as a pirate five years ago, many wondered just when we would see a larger developer produce a title focused solely as playing as a scoundrel on the seas. Then Rare revealed that they were working on Sea of Thieves, a multiplayer game focused on giving players a chance to team up with friends and others to sail a vessel through treacherous oceans seeking gold and glory. Now that this game has finally made it to release, is it worth trying to become a legendary pirate?
Gameplay
After spending quite a bit of time working with the pirate creation randomizer to try and find one that fits your fancy, players will immediately be dropped into the open world of Sea of Thieves with plenty to learn as this game prefers to let players learn how everything in their inventory works through trial and error rather than force them to deal with a variety of tutorials. Many of these things are self explanatory such as cannon balls being used in cannons, planks for repairing your ship, bananas to “kronch” and restore health, while a few others have some secondary mechanics included that will help players solve riddles and face off against everything else in the world.
Once you set sail on a vessel of your choosing, be it a solo adventure or paired with another player on an agile sloop or attempting to take on controlling the larger and stronger, albeit more difficult to maneuver, galleon with a full crew of three to four players, the entire ocean is your playground. Sailing through the waves and working together with your crew make this title a magical feeling experience at times as each member takes on various tasks, be it using the map to help navigate to the next island location, keeping an eye out for rocks, land, and other vessels in the crow’s nest, steering the ship, or angling the sails to best catch the wind, everyone can play a part on a vessel.
Some of this magic is lost however if you happen to play solo or end up joining a crew who isn’t willing to talk with everyone else. While Sea of Thieves does provide plenty of in-game text options to communicate things such as directions, warnings, and even found objectives this game is at its best when everyone is willing to play together. In fact players can even self-manage if they feel like a crew member is attempting to ruin a voyage by voting them into the brig, though this can also be used to target unknowing players joining a random crew.
That being said, the journey upon the waves can lead to numerous surprises and adventures. Players can take voyages from three different clients located at each outpost, with the Merchants focusing on catching animals found on various islands in cages and delivering them to a specific port within a period of time, the Gold Hoarders eager to find buried treasure that mostly involves solving riddles or finding where the “X” on the map is located on an island, and the Order of Souls that pits the players against a horde of skeleton pirates who have been cursed to walk the earth with a handful of forms that all have various strengths and weaknesses to exploit while fighting them.
These voyages are simply the beginning of your journey though as your trip may lead to numerous discoveries along the way. Flocks of seagulls can hover over shipwrecks containing various treasures that can be sold to each faction, with gold and silver cups and trinkets as well as boxes of spices and silks also being available to sell at the Gold Hoarders and Merchants specifically. There may even be glints of light seen on an island leading to a message in a bottle that can lead to a random mission from any of the three missions, some of which are a bit more random than others such as having to deliver a gunpowder barrel or fill up a crate with a specific item.
Of course no voyage would be complete without danger and there is plenty to be worried about when sailing on the waves. Sailing into a vicious storm can not only send your compass spinning, forcing players to navigate by landmark alone and work directly with their navigator while others will need to focus on bailing water that fills the bottom of the boat due to heavy rainfall and patch up holes in the boat that are ripped open by the rough waves. That isn’t all however as other players can be more than ready to send you to the bottom of the ocean in the hope of taking any treasure you might have on board. Ship to ship combat works great and can really reward inventive players who take advantage of a “hand-break” style system that allows the use of the anchor to make sharp turns allowing you to get a quicker line with your cannons to try and sink the opposing ship. You can even load yourself into a cannon and fire yourself onto another ship if you feel risky or want to try and steal resources or flat out steal the ship and try to ram it into rocks if you go unnoticed.
That being said, the way that the game’s death system and even respawning ships work does make some of the game’s combat a bit of a chore. When killed players are given a small amount of time to wait on a ghostly vessel before respawning on their ship while sunken ships are respawned only a few islands away with all of their resources restored. This can lead to some battles being an annoying war of attrition as others can simply wear down more prepared vessels simply by throwing themselves after them again and again, something that can be rather troublesome when focusing on the game’s biggest in-game event, Stronghold Raids. These long battles can last for quite some time and are extremely rewarding for those who complete it but as mentioned before, can be far more trouble than they might be worth for some.
The main focus of Sea of Thieves happens to be completing voyages for the three main factions by completing their voyages that tend to get a bit longer and usually more rewarding the higher your reputation is with them. Unfortunately there really isn’t too much beyond that and even the rewards for ranking up with these factions is rather basic in nature. Currently the only thing players can spend money on happen to be different clothing for their pirate to wear, new sails or hull designs for their ship or even an ornament on their prow, and different looking weapons. Unfortunately the weapons are all skins of the same three types of firearms meaning that one blunderbuss will perform the same as another and the fanciest “Eye of Reach” sniper rifle will work the same as the one with a cracked lens players get at the start.
Even the land combat can be rather repetitive after a while as players are only given three firearms, a standard pistol, the blunderbuss that works as a shotgun, and the aforementioned sniper, to accompany their cutlass. Fighting with a cutlass lacks impact while players can only hold a few rounds at a time and must seek out ammo crates to reload. The skeletons you battle against can be a bit different at times since, as mentioned before, they can come in a variety of flavors such as having to reveal them with a lantern, rust their armor with water, or keeping them out of water to avoid them powering up, but thanks to the aforementioned combat issues these can be a bit boring after some time. Even the wildlife is fairly tame with snakes only being able to spit venom at players and sharks only being dangerous if you happen to be caught unaware or out of ammo.
Of course the Kraken can also be an issue but this threat is few and far between. In fact, even sailing off the map is treated as nothing more than a minor issue that the game will simply force you out of even if you manage to keep yourself afloat. Rather than forcing players to constantly struggle with a ship not meant for such seas the title will eventually just flat out spawn your crew and your ship at a new island.
These issues may tarnish the game but Sea of Thieves is at its best when played with friends and messing around on the open seas. Whether it is playing a random tune on some instruments or drinking to the point of vomiting all over one another all while trying to control the boat as best you can without running ashore, this game is at its best in small voyage doses to avoid being worn out by the current lack of depth found in these seas.
Visuals & Audio
The first impression that players may get of Sea of Thieves may not be the greatest as the randomly generated pirates that you will need to spend time circulating through often don’t end up being the best looking bunch but once you step foot outside of the tavern and see the sea and all of the islands there are to explore, you’ll be immediately impressed with just how impressive the game can look with its cartoonish art style.
Thanks to a combination of great sound effects portraying the groans and creaks of a ship that is being piloted by a crew all handling sails as well as steering and the gorgeous looking oceans that can go from calm seas to raging waves with a wide array of colors and temperaments in between the two, players will get immediately immersed with the feeling of sailing these seas. It is worth noting that the amount of songs available for players to actually play in the game is rather small and the lack of “sea shanty” style music is disappointing, though it is a nice touch that playing music while drunk does make it sound worse.
Overall
The repetition of some voyages and the long grind may be a damper on what is a rather fun experience in Sea of Thieves. Sailing the seas with your friends and even random players who want to cooperate makes for an engaging and highly enjoyable experience that can lead to numerous random adventures that quickly outshine some of the problems that tarnish this game. With the potential for new content being added and a sea full of new possibilities that could be included, there is a lot of hope for Sea of Thieves but be prepared for a grind.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
SUPER LEAGUE GAMING LAUNCHES SUPERLEAGUETV, PREMIER DIGITAL NETWORK FOR AMATEUR ESPORTS, ON TWITCH
Channel Blending Live Competitive Gameplay and Original Programming Debuts April 2
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – April 2, 2018 – Super League Gaming, the world’s leading platform for amateur esports athletes to play like the pros, is lifting the curtain on a new digital channel, SuperLeagueTV. Debuting on Twitch, SuperLeagueTV is the first ever network dedicated to amateur esports and competitive amateur players. Initial programming will include top tier gameplay from Super League’s City Champs tournaments, as well as the most compelling storylines that emerge from among the thousands of individual and team-vs-team competitions happening throughout the year within Super League’s League of Legends and Minecraft events.
Broadcasting from Ultimate Media Ventures, Super League Gaming’s Huntington Beach-based production partner, SuperLeagueTV will offer commentary and analysis during hotly contested matches and original programming that shines a light on the increasing number of people who are making competitive video gaming their sport of choice. Beginning this week with Super League Gaming’s League of Legends City Champs season, the channel will feature known shoutcasters and other esports influencers, including play-by-play from Alexander “Opal” Archumbault, and color commentary by Alex “Mad_Magical” Whieldon.
“Super League Gaming is a player-first company. SuperLeagueTV is a player-first network,” said Matt Edelman, Chief Commercial Officer of Super League Gaming. “We are creating a channel dedicated to the massive community of amateur gamers seeking opportunities to play their sport in a trusted, competitive environment where they also can create lasting real-world connections. SuperLeagueTV is a natural extension of our core value proposition.”
SuperLeagueTV’s launch lineup will consist of multiple nights of gameplay taking place in heated City-vs-City battles within movie theaters across the country. Woven into the programming will be pre- and post-match content, including player interviews and City Club profiles, all of which will be available on SuperLeague_TV via Twitch. Additional content and distribution announcements will be made throughout the year.
Coming on the heels of Super League’s recent four-city expansion to Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Washington D.C, and Philadelphia, SuperLeagueTV’s launch continues Super League’s 2018 momentum as the top esports brand for amateur gamers. New strategic, brand and game publisher partnerships will be announced soon.
Super League Gaming (www.SuperLeague.com) is the world’s premier platform for amateur gamers to experience their sport like the pros. Through sixteen City Clubs organized into four regions throughout the country, gamers of all ages and skill levels play on teams in both local and national competitions that blend in-person and digital gameplay. Super League Gaming operates leagues in partnership with the publishers of top-tier games such as League of Legends and Minecraft, with each Super League season culminating in its signature nationwide City Champs tournaments.
DESCEND INTO A WORLD OF NIGHTMARES TO SAVE THE CHILD WITHIN IN PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR GAME THE INNERFRIEND
Canadian Indie Studio PLAYMIND Lifts the Veil on their First Game with Release Date Reveal and PAX East 2018 Debut in Boston, Massachusetts
MONTREAL, CANADA (APRIL 2, 2018) – Independent game developer and interactive digital media studio PLAYMIND is excited to reveal today their premier psychological horror The InnerFriend, announced for release on Windows PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One this September. The InnerFriend unlocks the doorway to the subconscious, inviting players to conquer their childhood fears in an emotional and narrative-driven experience to save the child within from nightmares come to life. Unlike traditional horror games, The InnerFriend relies on atmosphere to create tension and tells a unique story about seeing the world through the eyes of an innocent child.
The InnerFriend is a surrealist representation of memories and fears inspired by the works of psychologist Carl Jung, the concept of katabasis — the descent into one’s own self, 80s horror pop culture staples such as Poltergeist and the filmography of Stanley Kubrick. The game explores complex emotional themes and the childhood psychology surrounding coping mechanisms to overcome traumatic experiences. The InnerFriend’s lead designer and writer Sabrina Calvo is an award-winning author and child educator.
Led by a mysterious Shadow, journey through a surreal world inspired by the psychology of childhood fears like the fear of abandonment and the fear of hospitals, which manifest themselves as nightmares. Dive into a subconscious universe to relive the Shadow’s childhood memories, collecting various artifacts to bring back to the Bedroom and slowly rebuilding it as a protective safe haven. As you journey deeper into the subconscious, the gruesome materialized beings that inhabit this world draw ever closer as they fight to protect their very existence – imagined, yet quite powerfully manifested. Can you save the inner child and decipher the mystery?
“The idea for The InnerFriend has been in my head for decades now so I’m thrilled to see it finally coming to life,” said Emmanuel Sévigny, founder of PLAYMIND. “Although we’ve all had very different pasts and childhoods, our experiences — particularly our fears and nightmares — are actually quite similar in a way. I’m eager to see how The InnerFriend will resonate with people from different backgrounds once they finally get a chance to check out the game for themselves.”
The InnerFriend features a rich and abstract visual environment supported by an immersive ambient soundscape and a cinematic soundtrack that enhances immersion and storytelling. Movement, imagery and music are the main ways for the player to interact with the Shadow, their guide throughout the descent into the uncharted parts of the subconscious mind. There are many obstacles and puzzles to solve, themed after childhood games but made far more sinister.
PLAYMIND will be in attendance at PAX East 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) from April 5 – April 8, 2018 with an exclusive two-part demo of The InnerFriend. Attendees can go hands-on with the game and conquer their fears in Booth #17115.
PLAYMIND is a gaming and digital media studio that has an accurate perception of the ever-changing digital culture. For more than 15 years, PLAYMIND has specialized in the design and development of digital media. The studio combines strategic analysis and prototypes using cutting edge technologies to create strong immersive experiences. PLAYMIND focuses on mobile, VR, AR, console and event-based video games, on digital interactions and immersive environments for advertising, museums, events, world fairs and performances. PLAYMIND is developing its first original IP game called The InnerFriend, planned to be released September 2018 on Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For more information, please visit http://playmind.com.
This was a film I had not originally intended to see; I’d been unmoved by the trailers and didn’t really get much from the press releases and articles leading up to it’s release. I ended up going due to the fact that I had free time rather than any inclination beyond that as I’m not the biggest fan of horror beyond those in the genre which are considered classics. I was expecting a thoughtless popcorn monster horror film… and I’ve never been more glad to have been proven wrong.
Story
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has largely met it’s end at the hands of otherworldly monsters who hunt only by sound. In this world we follow Lee (John Krasinski) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) Abbott as they do their best to raise their children, Marcus (Millicent Simmonds) and Regan (Noah Jupe), in the aftermath of the loss of their third child. As well as doing their best to survive in a world where making noise could equal death, the situation is further complicated by the fact that Evelyn is pregnant and is expecting a child soon. Will the Abbott’s be able to bring a new and boisterous baby safely into this world or will their efforts simply put the family into greater peril?
The central and standout point of this film is the fact that most of the action and dialogue is conducted with as little sound as possible. I was very impressed by the performances of the entire cast and especially for the non-deaf actors performing through American Sign Language. Although the actors weren’t speaking for most of the film, for well established diegetic reasons, they were still able to give us a sense of their character’s personality and emotional depth regardless. It’s no small feat when an actor is tasked with performing in a language which isn’t their native tongue but (from the perspective of a non-deaf individual) I think they did an admirable job in imbuing their gestures with emotion and tonality… but if someone who is fluent in American Sign Language finds my assessment lacking, then I am happy to be corrected and welcome their contribution in the comments below.
A lot of this film rests upon whether or not you can follow along with it’s central conceit. Sure, monsters that hunt by sound are a novel idea but are perhaps not necessarily one which stand up to a significant amount of scrutiny (at least in terms of the amount of havoc they’re implied to have caused. The film does go to present the limitations and strengths of these creatures as visually as possible as the characters cannot discuss diegetically what exactly they know of these otherworldly beings. As a pure writing exercise, this film’s script worked very well with playing within the soundless constraints it set itself and I have to say that I’m very impressed overall with the quality of the writing save for some select elements…
A gripe which my companion for the screening pointed out is that some of the (spoken) dialogue in the film is ironically the least believable. The conversation in particular is between Lee and Marcus which features some dialogue which I’d describe as “on-the-nose”. Perhaps Krasinski was worried that they wouldn’t be able to get some of the subtext implied and thus needed to make it more overt. The film doesn’t suffer to greatly from this but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a director’s cut which gets released without this particular exchange making an appearance.
Visuals
The visuals of this film play around with some interesting set designs, cinematography, and lighting choices. The film plays around with post-apocalyptic aesthetics in a rural setting with plenty of shots of fields, abandoned farmhouses, forests and rivers. The cinematography presents these as quite idyllic and with the human structures generally being the most unsettling aspect of the landscape due to their general disrepair. Similarly, the film makes use of interesting light design as a method for the characters to communicate non-audibly to each other as they use coloured lights in the place of yelling. It’s a novel solution to the problems of the setting and leads to some interesting set design as we see the farmstead covered in Christmas lights. There’s obviously a lot of thought that has been put into the design of the film as a result of the auditory limitations placed upon it by the story.
Audio
From the premise and central feature of the story, you’d be correct in assuming that sound would play an important part in this film and you can see that special care has been devoted to the sound design. So much of this film is done in oppressive silence and that lack of noise works to only build the tension more for when the film final lets loose the auditory shocks. Although this does predispose it to what would be categorised jump scares; for moments when there is nothing on the screen in terms of monsters, we still feel the ever present danger of what it would be like living in their midst. It creates an unsettlingly sparse soundscape which makes itself anxiety inducing.
Overall
Overall, I very much enjoyed my stressed out time with this film and although it’s not truly an existential, terror-inducing horror flick like so many others in the genre but it stands out for what it does and does it well. The story is very well crafted save for a few missteps but with compelling performances by the entire cast all the same. The visuals and sound design are similarly well thought out to account for the auditory limitations the film sets on itself and does so with great effect. This is a film which often shines with brilliance and works to make something unique out of it’s concept rather just use it as a gimmick. I have no trouble recommending this film to any horror fans and cinephiles in general; this is a great film and you should definitely give it a watch! Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Ubisoft is taking the latest iteration of the Far Cry series to the United States in a small town in Montana. The Project at Eden’s Gate cult has violently taken over the valley, forcing the locals to convert at gun point. In this open world shooter, players will take on the role of a rookie deputy who must unite the locals and fight back against the cult.
Story
Far Cry 5’s rural United States setting and the religious overtones create rich waters for socio-political commentary on the state of American life and religion. While Far Cry 5 manages to get a few hilarious parodies and the odd thought provoking moment, the writers never properly explore those rich waters. Instead, they opt for a safer, mass market-friendly plot that emphasizes an us versus the crazy cultists battle. The plot makes for a decent action title, but there are times where the cult’s decisions make little sense other than to give some extra screen time to flesh out the Seed family, the leaders of Eden’s Gate.
Far Cry 5’s AI companions provide some opportunity for players to spend some quality time with the NPCs. Outside of the introductory missions, each character is fleshed out with the conversations they have with each other and comments they make to the player. While there are nine main AI companions, there are technically only six that have spoken lines. With six different characters, the lines are rather limited. As a result, serious characters like Grace and Jess are easily eclipsed by comedic relief companions like Hurk and Adelaide. It’s simply easier to create comedy with such limited parameters than deep characters that players should feel connected with. However, I’m not particularly surprised by the game’s strong comedic showing, as I’ve always felt that the writing for Far Cry 3 and onwards has always been at its best in the lighter moments.
Gameplay
Far Cry 5 is an open world first person shooter with a strong emphasis on exploration. The game offers a lot of flexibility for players to approach the game using stealth, run and gun tactics, or anything in between. Far Cry 5 uses the same stealth system as the previous open world titles. It hits the right difficulty level for mass market appeal, providing enough of a challenge to be rewarding without being punishing. The stealth system is also fast paced enough that it transitions into action sequences smoothly in case enemies are alerted to the player’s presence.
The level design is excellent. The game’s sprawling map is separated into three zones set in a valley. The area is filled with all types of buildings and locations one would expect from a small town in rural United States with a few extra surprises. The world feels busy and occupied, though not nearly as alive as Far Cry 4. I think the difference in setting is a major factor, as it was common to see people tend fields outside of towns in Far Cry 4, while players are more likely to come across the odd hunter or camper in the bush in Far Cry 5. The story missions are well designed, encouraging players to at least sample a little of everything the game has to offer. The side activities offer a nice variety, from relaxing fishing to assisting the resistance by battling the cult.
The progression system is mostly freeform. Players are given a list of perks organized into three categories. Most can be purchased right away, while some need specific missions or previous perks to be unlocked. Perk points are earned by collecting magazines throughout the world, completing challenges, or playing arcade mode. The perk selection covers a wide range of playstyles, quality of life enhancements, and abilities designed to help players earn more money. Unlike the traditional levelling system found in the arcade mode, the main game’s progression is more active in nature that forces players to dabble in everything the game has to offer. Players who prefer to stick with one playstyle and only focus on main missions will find it hard to acquire enough perk points to flesh out their build.
Far Cry 5’s arcade mode harks back to the golden age of modding. The game ships with a separate map and mission editor for content creators to craft missions for singleplayer and co-op play or maps for multiplayer matches. Players can then visit any arcade unit in game or via the main menu to try out a plethora of user created content.
Far Cry 5 introduces micro-transactions to the game, offering silver bars as an alternative to dollars for purchasing weapons, vehicles, and clothing. I find the overall money drop rate is on par with previous Far Cry games. While the NPCs in Far Cry 5 are not the most generous source of money, hunting has been overhauled to be more profitable as pelts are no longer used to upgrade bags and are only sold for profit. Prepper stashes and secret areas usually provide a welcome infusion of cash for those willing to explore. Additionally, silver bars can be found in safes around the map and as rewards for weekly challenges in arcade mode.
Probably the easiest source of controversy will be the special weapons that are available for purchase the start of the game for silver bars or at a much higher dollar price. While these weapons are no different from their regular counterparts statistically, a few special weapons are available long before their regular counterparts are unlocked. I see little issue with this as I found weapons to be generally well balanced. Later weapons tend to feel like they are designed for different playstyles, rather than completely replacing previous weapons.
The PC port quality is solid. Ubisoft has provided players with extensive graphic customization options for the game. Far Cry 5 also supports PC-specific features like FOV adjustment, uncapped FPS, and ultrawide support. One minor annoyance is that Far Cry 5 directly adjusts the volume of the microphone in Windows, instead of adjusting the volume of the microphone in game. The mouse and keyboard controls are very good. The only problem I ran into was fishing using a mouse. Fighting the fish requires players to move the rod in the opposite direction. Unlike an analog stick that continuously inputs a direction when held down, mouse movement stops when the mouse stops moving. Players are then forced to continuously swipe in the desired direction to tire the fish.
Visuals
Far Cry 5’s visual experience is excellent. The UI is incredibly refined, displaying a compass and a few important icons at all times, then subtly fading in important information like ammunition as necessary. The subtility gives the game an immersive feeling, letting players enjoy the rugged beauty of rural Montana. As usual with recent Far Cry games, there are sections involving hallucination and intoxication. Ubisoft does an excellent job portraying the effect through the soft highs and the terrifying lows.
Audio
The audio experience in Far Cry 5 is top notch. The voice acting is generally excellent, though there are the odd character that misses the mark. The sound effects are solid. The soundtrack is probably the best part of Far Cry 5’s audio. The instrumental tracks are fantastic, mixing elements of rock, American folk, and traditional video game fare. The Project at Eden’s Gate hymns are incredibly catchy. Given the cult context, I felt a little creeped out when I caught myself humming a few of Far Cry 5’s hymns long after I turned off my PC for the day.
Overall
Far Cry 5 is an excellent addition to the franchise. While the writing is a bit weak due to its shallow nature, the audio/visual presentation is exactly what is expected from a major title, and the soundtrack deserves a special mention. The gameplay continues to be solid. Far Cry 5 takes an already excellent open world experience and tightens up the collection and levelling systems. The new arcade mode gives the game a ton of replayability and an outlet for budding map makers and level designers to hone their craft.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
GATHER ON THE GO: FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE ANNOUNCES NEW APP, ‘GO’ (GATHERING OUTDOORS)
New technology transforms real-world locations into gathering nodes and players’ smartphones into harvesting tools
1st April 2018 – Players of the critically-acclaimed FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online have a whole new challenge to look forward to with today’s announcement of the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online GO app.
GO, an abbreviation of Gathering Outdoors, quite literally adds a whole new dimension to the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online experience by allowing players to go outside and harvest natural resources from Eorzea™ in the real world. These can then be used to craft items and gear in-game.
“It’s about freedom”, says Haimirich Fischer, VP of Innovation at SQUARE ENIX®, “We wanted to empower over 10 million players to be able to gather wherever they want, whenever they want, without the restriction of their PC or consoles. By bridging the digital and physical worlds, FINAL FANTASY XIV Online GO creates that freedom and fosters social interaction between the members of our amazing community.”
By downloading the app, players will benefit from the combination of Square Enix’s cutting-edge software and their smartphone’s own geo-location capabilities, as they are notified about harvesting nodes and natural resources in their area. When they get close enough to the node they tap their screen for a chance to harvest the resource, exactly like they would in-game.
Alongside the app, a unique accessory will be available for use in conjunction with players’ smartphones called the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online GO Harvesting Stick.
The Harvesting Stick turns a player’s smartphone into a miner’s hammer, botanist’s axe or fisher’s rod, allowing them to swing their phone in the real world like they would in-game to harvest resources. The Harvesting Stick also boosts a player’s harvesting success rate to 100%.
When speaking about FINAL FANTASY XIV Online GO and the Harvesting Stick, Adalberta Gardner, Lead Designer at Amajina Apps said, “This is the most immersive MMORPG experience for players of all levels and a must-have accessory for every gathering enthusiast.”
For more information about FINAL FANTASY XIV Online GO, and to see the app in action, please visit www.finalfantasyxivonlinego.com
The FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Free Trial allows new players to join the millions of adventurers in the realm of Eorzea. The free trial allows anyone to access all available content up to level 35 (including PvP content), create up to eight playable characters, and experience the different playable races, classes, and jobs with no restrictions on playtime. New players who wish to experience the free trial may register here: http://sqex.to/FFXIV_FreeTrial.
All editions of FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, including the FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood expansion, may be purchased through the Square Enix Online Store here: http://sqex.to/FFXIVStore
About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics®, and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 130 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 71 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 58 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Sorry if you were expecting a misleading, sensationalized headline that would pull you in more, but there is a reason for that and we will touch up on it in a moment. First, we need to go back a bit. Thirty years ago, ABC introduced audiences across the country to Roseanne, a sitcom focusing on a blue collar family living in Lanford, Illinois – right in the center of the United States. Roseanne followed Roseanne and Dan Conner as they raised their three children in a low budget world. While the premise of the sitcom had been done before, we had never seen a female lead in such a strong position on television. For the first time, the husband was simply the chipper spouse, and the wife was the lead, holding down the ship and doing everything necessary for general survival in a society that simply favored those with a larger bankroll.
Roseanne was able to not only get hard-working mothers to watch every week, but also show kids that they were not alone in the struggle of simply growing up. It was a show that taught us important lessons such as acceptance, understanding, and most of all – perseverance. Personally, as someone who grew up in a similar financial situation, I think this little show made it feel normal for myself to see these situations unfold on television. You know, kids trying alcohol, parents using foul language, drugs, sex, and so on? That thing called reality. Never had it felt more real, and that is what made Roseanne special. No matter how complicated or shitty the Conner family had it, they still managed to make us laugh, cry, and stand silent as we related to their joy and pain. As I have said before in prior pieces about Roseanne, it was smart television that could appeal to the lowest common denominator without sacrificing its intelligence. There really is no other way to put it in my eyes.
Fast forward nearly thirty years later and we hear rumblings of a reboot. I immediately was extremely against it. I know, it is just a sitcom, blah blah. After seeing Fuller House lean on its past and Girl Meets World literally shove past characters in just for an audible hurrah however, I did not want this show touched touched. I do not care what anyone thinks, Roseanne had one of the most eloquent and meaningful endings in television history. I spoke about it here in the past, and I will always defend it. Erasing that to bring Dan back from the dead and push this ensemble back onto television just did not seem like a good idea. I finally started to accept the idea of it all like most of the audience, and then I found out that not only is Dan back, but Roseanne – the same damn woman who had the first same-sex kiss on screen in a primetime sitcom, the same woman who redefined the television mother with her wit and vulgarity, was now a Trump supporter.
I do not hide it. I am a liberal, or at least left leaning on most issues. I dislike Donald Trump, I dislike his decisions, dishonesty, and lack of intellect, and I dislike every single thing he stands for, including the whole pop culture persona we knew years before, when he was just a mogul who had a catchphrase. To see someone who ended their sitcom with such a strong statement about self-worth now sell out to such simple ideals hurt my own image of her, until I actually saw Roseanne speak about why she made the decision. Without pulling up the quote, she stated that she did this to show that we can absolutely disagree with our family members and still love them. That we can have different views and stand behind them, and still gather around like we always did before and laugh. I kind of got silent after that, and got a bit excited. That is the Roseanne I knew. The one I grew up watching. Despite the fact that I do not agree with her real life persona on Twitter (which while still very much Roseanne, has definitely been confusing to follow with some of the out-there theories and ramblings), I still felt connected to her writing style and wit that she so boldly applied long ago.
So then the show premieres, I wait to watch it a day later as I utilize a streaming service, and I see terrible reviews.
“WHY YOU SHOULD NOT WATCH ROSEANNE”, or “I LAUGHED AT ROSEANNE BUT I WILL NOT BE TUNING IT AGAIN”. I also see articles like “TRUMP’S AMERICA WELCOMES ROSEANNE BACK” and “MAKING TELEVISION GREAT AGAIN!”
I sighed a bit. I mean, this was expected as half of the promotion for this reboot was laced in political chatter. I also see a screenshot of Jackie in a “Nasty Woman” tank top with a vagina hat. I remember just staring at the screen when I saw that, and questioning if I was going to tune in at all. I mean, if I want to see such strong political fighting, I can just go to Facebook. From early perception, it was like Roseanne was inserting all of her current views into her character and poking fun at the side she did not favor at the sake of her family’s expense. Honestly, it looked stupid and made me cringe a bit, but I finally sat down and gave it a chance – and it was wonderful.
The reboot of Roseanne literally handles the end of the original show with quick finesse, adding simplistic explanations for all of the “but how” statements, and manages to feel like we, as the audience are just watching a brand new episode. It literally feels as if the show never left the air, and that is something I have never seen a reboot accomplish so fast. The set is the same (although a bit brighter), the characters are the same (yet more aged and worn), but the charm is there. That strong message of both independence and togetherness still keeps this sitcom centered, while introducing us to new characters that do nothing but add new material for us to chew on all of these years later. The first episode in the one hour premiere does focus a lot on politics. This must have been the screener that the press received and exploded over, as Jackie and Roseanne start the reboot at odds, holding past grudges because of the 2016 election. With that however we learn that Roseanne is mainly just stubborn, unable to speak for her choices as she made her decision out of disgust for the opposite candidate, and Jackie seems to have taken to the left simply to rebel against her sister. You can translate it any other way, but that is how I saw it, and it worked.
Those overtones just complimented the same exact chemistry we had seen in the past with Roseanne and Jackie, and if you focused on the political messages too hard, you were not getting any of the entertainment that the family as a whole expel throughout. My own side that I voted with has painted Roseanne out to be some sort of new age, Trump-supporting Nazi sympathizer, and has now dug up random quotes and controversies in order to attempt to bury her successful return because they are suddenly upset that this large figure is poking fun of them. On the other side, those who fall right are acting like Roseanne is suddenly a goddess for conservatives, painting her as this right-wing woman who stands up to those nasty liberals. For my friends on the left, if you watched the past show and not just clips on Buzzfeed, you will know that while her character made a choice in the election – her values are mostly still intact and are visible in plain sight, inside and beyond her own character. Based off the first two episodes, her same ideals, intelligence, and wit are coated with her crazy and loud exterior and continue to be the very fabric that makes Roseanne such a fascinating and relatable character.
For those on the right, did you even watch past the first scene? This show is soaked in acceptance, pride, and all of those things that many of you call sin. Just because your President congratulated Miss Barr, did you seriously think this was for only you? No, it was for everyone. For families, for past fans, for people who want to laugh. If you ask me, Roseanne Barr is sitting back, laughing her ass off because both sides have covered this show with the exact same over-the-top presence that is seen on screen. Can we not see ourselves, now ripping each other to shreds over a reunion arc for a classic television show? Roseanne is right, people are funny – and this writing absolutely captured our current political climate to a tee by doing barely anything, as everyone who has covered or commented on it have lost their damn minds, forgetting this is entertainment and we should just be glad it’s good. It is so ironic, but when you look between the lines, the message is so clear – and I can hear that cackling laugh in my head as such headstrong entities bash heads over something that is allowing us to chuckle at how silly we all are.
Roseanne’s reboot has seven episodes left of her return, and everyone is still invited. Forget about what you heard her say on Twitter or saw her do years ago that was wrong. She is a comedian, and just like Griffin, Godfrey, and just about every other notable comic from the era, she does and will always do controversial things. As a viewer then and now, I still see why this sitcom has such a hold on its audience, as this family is Roseanne’s realistic view from a writer’s standpoint of modern America, and I personally think it is time to stop arguing and enjoy one last, long ride through Lanford. This time though, lets check the baggage at the door.
Overall
