STAR WARS™: FORCE ARENA GETS 14 NEW CHARACTERS AND STARKILLER BASE MAP

Introducing Finn, Poe, and others from Star Wars’ New Trilogy

SEOUL, Korea – Dec. 14, 2017 – Netmarble Games Corp., the fastest-growing mobile game company in Asia, and Lucasfilm Ltd,. released a new update for Star Wars™: Force Arena featuring characters and content from the newest generation of Star Wars films, also known as the New Trilogy. In addition to Rey and Kylo Ren from the last update, 14 new characters, including the charismatic Poe and the ex-Stormtrooper Finn, have been added. Other new characters include the loveable BB-8, Captain Phasma and General Hux. The new update will also add a map titled Starkiller Base, based off the mobile ice planet as depicted in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

In celebration of the the Last Jedi release, there will be limited time holiday sale of 30% bonus event for in-game crystals. Additionally, a special package including Rey and Kylo Ren will also be on sale.

“Poe, Finn, BB-8, and the others will widen the cast of characters that make the Star Wars universe what it is,” said Seungwon Lee, Chief Marketing Officer of Netmarble Games. “With these New Trilogy updates, we’re surely growing along with the universe and providing fans with the most accurate and up-to-date game experience.”

Star Wars™: Force Arena boasts more than 120 playable in-game cards, including new faces from the movie release, Star Wars™: Last Jedi™. Star Wars™: Force Arena is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play. For more information on the game, visit the official website at www.StarWarsForceArena.com.

Download Star Wars: Force Arena for your iOS device here.

Check out Star Wars: Force Arena on Android here.

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About Netmarble Games Corporation

Netmarble Games Corp. 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 Lineage2 Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Everybody’s Marble, and Seven Knights. As the largest shareholder to Jam City, a leading casual social game developer, and parent company to Kabam, a top mobile game developer in massively multiplayer free-to-play games, 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 www.netmarble.com.

About Lucasfilm Ltd.

Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California. Discover more online at www.lucasfilm.com.

ADVENTURE TIME: PIRATES OF THE ENCHIRIDION COMING IN 2018

An original Adventure Time story about pirates!

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe and Outright Games are pleased to announce that Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion will launch on PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™ and PC in 2018.

In this brand-new, hilarious Adventure Time story, gamers play as Finn, Jake, Marceline, and BMO to explore fan-favourite kingdoms, and meet the well-loved characters from Cartoon Network’s popular TV animation series. The game starts with a flooded Land of Ooo, in which familiar kingdoms are cut off from each other by rising waters. In their newly constructed boat (hold that thought*) Finn and Jake set sail to investigate what happened… During their adventures Finn and Jake will recruit friends to join their crew, jump into swashbuckling fights, interrogate characters for clues, and traverse the new and dangerous sea to locations across Ooo.

Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion Gameplay Features Include:

• Open-world exploration
• 3D visuals that match the art-style of the show
• Playable fan-favourite characters: Finn, Jake, BMO, and Marceline
• An original Adventure Time story
• Tactical combat
• Hero progression
• Pirates – “Shiver me timbers!”

*Hold That Thought

Outright Games will be holding a Name Our Boat competition starting tomorrow, 15^th December, to find a suitable moniker for Finn and Jake’s newly constructed vessel. #McBoatface, anyone? To find out more go to www.facebook.com/OutrightGames .

Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion is being developed by Climax Studios and will be distributed by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in 2018. For more information about the game and other products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.com, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU , or join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU .

About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.:

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

About Outright Games

Founded in 2016, and based in the UK and US, Outright Games is a family business making family entertainment. We are passionate about creating great games with quality licenses, as we understand the value of brands, and the relationships they share with consumers. We use our expertise to create high-quality video games, combined with our ability to distribute on a global scale. Wherever the Outright Games logo is found, you can feel assured that the game will be suitable and fun for the whole family to play together.

www.OutrightGames.com

About Cartoon Network:

Cartoon Network is Turner’s global entertainment brand and the # 1 animation network in the U.S., offering the best in original content for kids and families with such hits as, Adventure Time, The Powerpuff Girls, Steven Universe, We Bare Bears and The Amazing World of Gumball. Seen in 192 countries and over 400 million homes, Cartoon Network inspires the next generation of creators and innovators by engaging its audience at the intersection of creativity and technology. Its award-winning pro-social initiative, Stop Bullying: Speak Up is an acknowledged and often used resource for kids and adults looking for tools that can assist in dealing with the ongoing issue of bullying.

Cartoon Network is part of Turner, a Time Warner company is a global entertainment, sports and news company that creates premium content and delivers exceptional experiences to fans whenever and wherever they consume content. These efforts are fueled by data-driven insights and industry-leading technology. Turner owns and operates some of the most valuable brands in the world, including Adult Swim, Bleacher Report, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, CNN, ELEAGUE, FilmStruck, Great Big Story, HLN, iStreamPlanet, Super Deluxe, TBS, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), TNT, truTV and Turner Sports.

Life is Strange for iPhone and iPad is out now with exclusive new features

DONTNOD Entertainment’s critically acclaimed and award-winning episodic adventure, enhanced exclusively for iPhone and iPad, with Unreal Engine 4.

SYDNEY, 14^th December 2017 – Square Enix today announced that DONTNOD Entertainment’s award-winning, five-episode narrative-driven adventure Life is Strange is now available on iPhone and iPad, setting a new benchmark for the adventure genre on mobile.

This faithful adaptation of the original console game developed by Black Wing Foundation is now enhanced with Unreal Engine 4 and features full touch screen integration, as well as exclusive Life is Strange iMessage stickers and in-game photo-mode, ideal for fans and newcomers alike.

Key Features

• A beautifully written, modern adventure game.
• Rewind time to change the course of events.
• Multiple endings depending on the choices you make.
• Striking, hand-painted visuals.
• Distinct, licensed indie soundtrack featuring Alt-J, Foals, Angus & Julia Stone, Jose Gonzales and more.

Features Exclusive to Mobile

• Enhanced user interface for full touch screen integration.
• Life is Strange iMessage Stickers.
• Share your game progress on social media and compare your story choices with friends.
• An all-new Photo Mode allows you to take pictures, modify them with filters and share them easily.

App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/life-is-strange/id1180101534?mt=8

For more information about Life is Strange on mobile visit: www.lifeisstrange.com

Life is Strange official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LifeIsStrangeGame/

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LifeIsStrange

Learn more about Square Enix here: http://www.square-enix.com

And to learn more about DONTNOD Entertainment: http://dont-nod.com/en/

POKÉMON CRYSTAL COMING TO NINTENDO eSHOP FOR NINTENDO 3DS ON 26^TH JANUARY 2018

New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition releasing in Australia and New Zealand on 27^th January

15^th December, 2017 – When it launched in Japan 17 years ago, Pokémon Crystal introduced many new and exciting elements to the Pokémon franchise. An expanded version of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver, it was the first Pokémon game to allow players to choose between a male or female playable character, as well as being the first game to introduce animations during Pokémon battles. Pokémon Crystal is now coming to Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS family systems on 26^th January 2018 for AU$13 / NZ$17.

On the day it launches, Pokémon Crystal will also be compatible with Pokémon Bank, a paid service that lets players transfer select Pokémon from classic Pokémon games to the newest games in the series. With the addition of Pokémon Crystal to this service, it is now possible for players to bring Pokémon from all core games in the series to Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon.

In this version of Pokémon Crystal, players will also have the chance to encounter the mythical Pokémon Celebi in an event after completing the game. In the original version of Pokémon Crystal, Celebi could only be obtained by using a special accessory.

As with the Nintendo eShop editions of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver, Pokémon Crystal will take advantage of the wireless communication capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, allowing players to enjoy Link Trades and Link Battles with each other. With the Time Capsule feature, players can even trade and battle Pokémon from Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, which are also available on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS.

Fans will have the option to play their favourite compatible Pokémon games on a New Nintendo 2DS XL resembling the iconic Pokémon Pikachu, as the New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition will be released in Australia and New Zealand on 27^th January 2018 with a suggested retail price of AU$219.95. The system comes with a 4GB microSDHC memory card and a Nintendo 3DS AC adapter included in the box*.

Additional Links:
Nintendo Australia website: http://www.nintendo.com.au/
Nintendo Australia Twitter: https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZ
Nintendo Australia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NintendoAUNZ
Nintendo AU on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/nintendoau

Powerful Skills Revealed in New Extinction Trailer

Devs Detail Combat and Traversal Tactics Found in Extinction Skill Tree

Sydney, December 15, 2017 — Today, Iron Galaxy releases a new Extinction featurette narrated by Executive Producer of the game, Derek Neal. Extinction is due to release this coming Spring. In the new video, Derek gives us a look at some useful skills players can equip to quickly eradicate the massive Ravenii threatening the kingdom of Dolorum.

Choices matter in Extinction. It’s up to our hero, Avil, to use his powers to transport civilians to safety while also slaying his foes and completing other necessary objectives. Ground and air minions – known as Jackals and Vultures – each have to be dealt with in their own ways, but it’s the armoured Ravenii that require extra-special attention. One wrong move could mean death for the townspeople or destruction for the cities.

As seen in the Skills & Strategy video, there are a number of upgrades obtained through the game’s skill tree that will aid Avil tremendously, giving him an advantage over the many elite Ravenii he will battle. Some of these include the Rune Slowdown and Air Recovery abilities. One of the most important skills in the game, Rune Slowdown allows Avil to essentially freeze time, buying a few precious seconds to focus on a particularly difficult task. Air Recovery allows you to regain control when you fall or are knocked down, which will help you stay atop an ogre long enough to plan your next manoeuvre. This makes it a valuable skill to employ once you’ve successfully made contact with a Ravenii’s body.

Players will be able to cut down even the most well-armored opponent using these meaningful, skill-based combat tips. Learn more in the new trailer from Iron Galaxy, and look for the game in stores next year.

Extinction will be available on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC in Spring of 2018.

For more information:

• Head to Extinction.com
• Like the Facebook page
• Follow along on Twitter
• Watch the previous videos on YouTube

About Iron Galaxy

Located in Chicago and Orlando and founded in 2008, Iron Galaxy is a leading independent videogame development studio that focuses on tech outsourcing, porting and developing quality games. The company’s most notable products include Killer Instinct, Wreckateer, Divekick and Videoball. For more information, please visit www.irongalaxystudios.com.

About Maximum Games

Maximum Games ranks as a top 15 global video game publisher of interactive digital entertainment spanning all genres and supporting multi-platforms. The company’s mission is to provide a proven and strong hands-on approach to publishing, marketing and distribution. Established in 2009, the company is led by female entrepreneur Christina Seelye, a seasoned executive of digital consumer products and channel marketing. Under Seelye’s leadership, the company has been recognized with numerous awards such as “Fastest Growing Tech Company” by American Business Awards, and has made the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies for the past three years. Maximum Games has offices in both the US and UK, and continues to expand its scope of global publishing and distribution via direct reach and strategic partnerships. For more information on Maximum Games, visit the company’s website at http://www.maximumgames.com.

Harry Potter to Saw to Die Hard – the Highs and Lows of 30 Top Film Franchises

In new research, TotallyMoney looks at the major film franchises that have come to our screens over the years, to find how they’ve gone from strength to strength years…Or strength to slip-up.

Plenty of films make it to a sequel. Many even make it into a trilogy. But there are those that we see in the cinema year after year: fan favourites like Die Hard and Alien, generational updates like Rocky launching into Creed, and the ever-confusing titles of the Fast and Furious franchise.

But what does pumping out so many films around the same ideas and characters do for the series? A new interactive data explorer from TotallyMoney looks at the rises and falls in quality of some of the longest and most popular film franchises from the last 50 years, taking into account opening weekend box office takings, and both critical and public reviews.

Keep Rolling

The research includes films from different corners of the industry, ranging from horror films like Saw and Halloween to fun-for-all-the-family titles like Harry Potter and Shrek. 

One of the most surprising features was that the most popular film by opening weekend box office earnings in a series on average was the 8th, should the franchise make it that far. The average opening weekend for an eighth film was $97.5 million – compared to $45.2 million for the first film, and only $17.2 million for the 10th. 

In terms of specific films and their popularity, and taking into account the user scores on IMDb and the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, these were the top results:

1.     Indiana Jones – the general public on IMDb rate Harry Potter and Indiana Jones equally – a rating of 7.65/10 on average – but critics on Rotten Tomatoes put the Harrison Ford classic up over the wizarding world by 1.37%, making it the most popular series of all time.

2.     Harry Potter – having had the 20th anniversary of the first book’s publication this year, Harry Potter is now a venerable name in the film industry. The series earned an average rating of 84.63% Rotten Tomatoes, with its highest-rated film being the Deathly Hallows Part 2 at 96%.

3.     The Hunger Games – despite IMDb users marking it as peaking on the second film and going downhill from there, The Hunger Games took an average of effectively 7.38/10 (if the Rotten Tomatoes score is converted to a figure out of ten). In earnings, however, the average opening weekend for each film was the highest in the research, and over $13 million higher than the next most successful, Jurassic Park.

4.     Mission Impossible – defying a traditional belief that a sequel is never better than the original, Mission Impossible hit its top scores on the fourth and fifth films – Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation – with the former reaching 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, a higher score than 95% of the films included in the research.

5.     The Bourne Films – viewers weren’t keen on ditching Matt Damon in the Bourne Legacy, which scored only 56% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to 93% on the previous iteration in the series. But even bringing him back didn’t win any points: it scored even lower on Rotten Tomatoes and reached the same score as Legacy on IMDb, a disappointing 6.7.

The Biggest Film War: Users vs Critics

While for the most part where critics didn’t like a film, users agreed, there were a few films included in the research where professional review didn’t account for taste. In the cases where there was significant disagreement between film critics on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb users, it was almost always the case that the users enjoyed the film while critics rated it poorly – with the sole exception of Spy Kids, which the professionals gave nearly 4 points (out of 10) more than the users.

In the top ten for critical disagreement, the Saw series showed up three times, more than any other franchise – with fans giving far more points than critics to Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, Saw V, and Saw IV.

The top critical battle, however, was Underworld: Evolution – the second film in the Underworld series, it was panned by the critics at only 16%, lower than 90% of the scores in the research. But fans felt it warranted more than that, giving it a healthy 6.8/10 – 5.2 points higher than the critic score, when they’re converted to the same scale.

“Conventional wisdom has always said that sequels are rarely better than the original, but that doesn’t seem to be the case,” said Joe Gardiner, TotallyMoney’s Head of Brand and Communications, “Many of our favourite film series just get better and better, and the peak could come anywhere. We all have our favourite films – it’s hard to predict which will be a winner in the box office and in the reviews.”

To see the other stories – from start to finish – and see how franchises have risen and fallen from film to film, have a look at the interactive guide here or the infographic here.