HUMAN HEAD STUDIOS ANNOUNCES OPEN-WORLD VIKING RPG RUNE: RAGNAROK FOR PC
MADISON, Wis. (Aug. 28, 2017) – Human Head Studios has revealed Rune: Ragnarok, a sandbox, open-world RPG set in a dangerous Norse universe during the end of days. A highly anticipated follow-up to Rune, the team’s hit action-adventure game, Rune: Ragnarok places players in the middle of an epic battle where gods, beasts, and the last remaining humans struggle to survive.
By pledging allegiance to one of the Norse gods, players gain favor and special abilities to aid them as they raid enemy villages, fight the undead in brutal melee combat, sail to new lands, and craft powerful weapons to complete the goals of their god and conclude Ragnarok.
From Project Director Chris Rhinehart: “After seventeen years, we are thrilled to finally announce a new Rune game. In the spirit of the original, Rune: Ragnarok has intense and brutal combat in a world steeped in Norse mythology. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve created.”
https://youtu.be/1bViPhnt9Rk
Development of Rune: Ragnarok is being funded by ESDF Management, a video game production and finance company.
“Rune: Ragnarok is the first video game we’ve committed to financing. We’re incredibly excited to support the vision that our partners at Human Head Studios have offered for long-time fans and newcomers to Rune alike,” said ESDF Managing Partner, Matt Candler.
Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, Human Head Studios is an independent studio with more than 20 years of experience designing and developing commercial video games. Having worked on almost two dozen projects, the studio is best known for its critically acclaimed, award-winning titles Rune and Prey. Human Head has also contributed to the development of mega hits Bioshock Infinite, World of Tanks, and Batman: Arkham Origins. The studio is currently hard at work on multiple projects for PC and next-gen consoles. For more information, visit www.humanhead.com.
About ESDF Management
ESDF Management is a California-based video game production and finance company, led by a veteran team with experience in fundraising, development, and marketing. Backed by some of the best partners and investors in the industry, ESDF is focused on working with top creative talent to make fun, high-quality games and world-class intellectual property. For more information, visit https://esdfmgt.com.
Time Recoil Launching for Xbox One on September 15th with Preorder Available Now
Tampere, Finland, August 28th 2017 – Time Recoil, the latest action game by 10tons Ltd, is now available for preorder on Xbox One via the ID@Xbox self publishing program. The game’s list price is $13.99 USD, and a 20% preorder discount is in place. The game will be released on September 19th.
”PC gamers have played Time Recoil for a couple of weeks now, and it’s been great hearing everyone say the game reminds them of Hotline Miami, SUPERHOT, and/or Mr. Shifty. Each of those great games inspired Time Recoil in some way, while we obviously have tons of experience in top-down shooters.” says Sampo Töyssy, Vice CEO of 10tons and Time Recoil team lead.
Time Recoil is an explosive slow motion top-down shooter. The player is given a super power: Kill to slow time. Killing triggers time slowdown, and additional kills extend the slowdown period and charge a special move. The more the player is able to kill, the more powerful the special move becomes, all the way to full time freeze.
Time Recoil is a story of rebellion and revenge. The player is a member of a rebel organization fighting against a mad scientist dicator, Mr. Time. The rebels use a time machine to travel through time to locate and eventually kill Mr. Time – before he finds the rebels and destroys them.
Features:
Kill to slow time – every enemy you kill will grant you more time in slow motion.
Earn special moves: The longer your kill-combo, the more powerful your ability.
Travel into the past with wormholes and finally kill Mr. Time!
Try to earn all the stars and climb the leaderboards in Time Attack mode.
EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18 Delivers Madden Like Players Have Never Seen Before
Longshot Story Mode and Frostbite Debut Mark a Year of Firsts for the Franchise
SYDNEY, Australia – August 28, 2017 – Last weekend Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) launched EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18, providing fans a deeper Madden NFL experience than any previous edition of the storied franchise. Madden NFL 18 touts a long list of new enhancements including its debut on the celebrated Frostbite™ gaming engine, and features such as the first-ever story mode “Longshot™” and exciting new ways to team up and play with friends in MUT Squads. This year’s title truly has something for everyone.
It’s fitting that five-time Super Bowl Champion and widely considered “G.O.A.T.” Tom Brady serves as the cover star of both the G.O.A.T. Edition of Madden NFL 18, released earlier this week and the standard edition, launching today. The game has stacked up rave reviews and praise from fans and the gaming community, with Sports Illustrated hailing Madden NFL 18 as “The best in a generation,” and GameSpot calling it “A terrific football game.”
Fans new to the Madden NFL franchise, as well as those who enjoy a movie-like story, can check out “Longshot,” the franchise’s first-ever campaign mode. Longshot takes players through an emotional, immersive and cinematic gameplay experience where players will determine the fate of Devin Wade, a forgotten NFL prospect, on his journey to the Draft—on and off the field. The brand-new mode features branching dialogue, high school and 7v7 football play, and new gameplay mechanics. It also features recognisable, big name Hollywood talent like Oscar® award winner, Mahershala Ali, and Friday Night Lights star, Scott Porter. IGN calls Longshot “Fantastic,” while also commenting that it “Has me glued to my TV.”
“With Madden NFL 18, old fans, new fans and casual fans alike will all find something that appeals to them in this year’s edition of the game,” said Madden NFL 18 Executive Producer, Seann Graddy. “Every year we try to push Madden NFL further than we did the year before and this year with Tom Brady on the cover who has embodied the Longshot story in his career, Frostbite, MUT Squads, new gameplay mechanics and more, we’re giving fans the greatest NFL gaming experience ever.”
With the transition to Frostbite, EA’s proprietary gaming engine, Madden NFL 18 delivers the most photorealistic visuals in Madden NFL to date. From stunning cityscape views, stadium exteriors, player details, lighting and exciting player run-outs, players will feel like they’re in a real NFL broadcast every time they play.
Fans looking for a competitive team experience will enjoy MUT Squads, which brings online teamplay to Madden NFL 18 via Madden Ultimate Team™. Players can combine rosters to create the best lineups of current NFL stars and legends, choose their role and team with up to two other players to conquer the gridiron. In addition, new gameplay mechanics bring a richer on-field experience with more accessibility and added control, making it fun to play any position.
Additional new features include Play Now Live, where players can play the best real-world NFL matchups throughout the season and continue their season in Franchise mode with updated rosters and records. Madden NFL 18 also features three new game styles; Arcade, Simulation, and Competitive. Game styles lets players decide their gameplay experience and customise the game just the way they like.
Those who like to play on the go can get their football fix as well with EA SPORTS Madden NFL Mobile, which recently launched its fourth season. Madden NFL Mobile features its biggest update ever, including competitive tournaments, player leveling, enhanced visuals, and its first-ever story mode. Madden NFL Mobile is free-to-download* and is available on the App Store and Google Play.
Madden NFL 18 is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon and is available now for Xbox One and PlayStation®4 EA SPORTS Madden NFL Mobile is free-to-download* and is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
EA Access members receive a 10 percent discount when they purchase a digital version of the Madden NFL 18 on Xbox Live.**
All player participation has been facilitated by NFL Players Inc., the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
The EA SPORTS brand is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. The EA SPORTS studios create connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through videogames, including Madden NFL football, EA SPORTS FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR® golf, SSX™ and EA SPORTS UFC®.
For more information about EA SPORTS games, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit http://www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 300 million registered players around the world.
In fiscal year 2017, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.8 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognised for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Star Wars™ Battlefront™, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.
EA SPORTS, Longshot, Frostbite, The Sims, Dragon Age, Plants vs. Zombies, SSX, Battlefield and Battlefield 4 are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. and its subsidiaries. John Madden, NFL, NHL, NBA, PGA TOUR, UFC and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
Xbox and Xbox One are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
RELIVE A CLASSIC ADVENTURE IN SECRET OF MANA REMADE WITH UPDATED VISUALS AND SOUND
Experience the Legendary Tale in Full 3D in February 2018
SYDNEY, 28th August, 2017 – Square Enix Ltd., have announced that the classic action RPG adventure Secret of Mana® will return for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®Vita and STEAM on 15th February 2018.
In Secret of Mana, the memorable and fan-favourite adventure of Randi, Primm and Popoi is reborn with revamped 3D visuals and upgraded gameplay to bring new life to the much-loved volume in the Mana series for both returning and new players alike.
Originally released in 1993 and widely regarded as one of the greatest RPGs of all time, Secret of Mana invites players on an action-packed adventure taking on the role Randi, along with his two companions, Primm and Popoi, as they battle a perilous empire to reclaim the magical power of Mana and bring the world back to order.
Whilst faithfully retelling the beloved story of Randi, Primm and Popoi, Secret of Mana will also include a host of new features and exciting updates for players to enjoy, including:
Audio Updates – including a newly arranged musical score and voiced characters
3D Graphics – revamped visuals for the entire game; a vivid, Mana-filled world rebuilt in 3D for the first time
Upgraded Gameplay – the original system has been reworked in an effort to realise a modern action-RPG with improved gameplay
Dialog scenes added – several core scenes from the original story now newly visualized in-game
Secret of Mana will be available digitally for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®Vita and STEAM on 15th February 2018. Those who pre-order on the PlayStation® Store will receive special character costumes (Moogle Suit for Randi, Primm and Popoi, Tiger Two-Piece for Primm and Tiger Suit for Randi and Popoi) as well as a selection of character avatars.
Those who pre-purchase the game and purchase the Day 1 Edition, which will be available until 1 week after the launch on STEAM, will receive the three character costumes as well as a custom downloadable wallpaper.
Now and then, a combination of extra assets and a little elbow grease can create a fantastic side experience for fans of a finished franchise, as some seem to respect spin-offs even more than the original adaptations they were based on. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy attempts to capitalize on the success of A Thief’s End, taking what was essentially built for Nathan Drake and lending it to the familiar and loved characters Chloe and Nadine. Yes, it’s an old yet new cast for the namesake, but does this fresh installment manage to entertain? Let’s find out.
Story
The story for The Lost Legacy on paper is actually really decent. The player sets off as Chloe Frazer, who has enlisted the help of Nadine Ross in order to find the Tusk of Ganesh in a lost city of India. While the mission would surely bring wealth to the two, Frazer sees this as a way to finally redeem her father, who was absolutely obsessed with finding the rarity – while Ross has her own motives that are mainly financially driven. Add in a new baddie by the name of Asav, and you have the gist of the story for this title.
Though the game isn’t nearly as long as the rest of the franchise, it does bring out the best of the characters included. The best that is, before being buried by the first three or four chapters of the game that are seriously so boring and stale – the player could fall asleep. I hate saying that as the last half is exceptional when it comes to storytelling – but I felt so disinterested and tired before the story finally took a spike that I seriously was convinced this title was made by another developer entirely. Sure, Chloe and Nadine try to get over that boring hump with some dialogue while the player is driving around a semi-open map, but it does little to create any excitement or attachment for the experience happening that some players could lose interest after an hour or two if they are not satisfied quickly.
You can’t just say the words “Nathan Drake” or “Treasure” and expect fans to stay with you if nothing is going on. Now that being said, this title does shift gears and become the Uncharted we know and love after a bit of drudge, but I feel like this could have been a much richer and fulfilling experience if there was no downtime involved overall.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is brilliant. If you are used to the franchise, you should be able to adapt quickly as Chloe plays almost no different than Drake, with Nadine acting as an extra set of hands that only come into play when needed. Yes, this is a missed opportunity to add co-op (much like Resident Evil 5), but since everything plays fluid and fine here, there really isn’t a lot to complain about as if it isn’t broke, well – you know.
Players start out playing a linear map that leads to some exciting chases and scenes, right before being dumped into a zone where they must search for tokens in order to solve puzzles and access a secret city. The game then opens up to a large map, and has the player drive from tower to tower, fiddling with puzzles until one large temple opens itself up. During this portion, there is a lot of familiar platforming, but there is also a hefty sense of boredom as this world you stick around in for a hunk of time is lifeless and dull. I think it’s funny that two areas in the latter half of the game have more immersion and mystique than a whole over world that never offers much reward for actually exploring. Often, exploration is punished as only specific areas are climbable – living the player restricted and bumbling if they attempt to indulge in such a beautiful locale.
It wasn’t just a lack of narrative that made this so drab for me, it was the feeling that I was doing side quest junk that was just inserted to lengthen the game as a whole. Maybe that is just a personal feeling only I will share, but since I am reviewing the game – I have to bring up why I felt so disappointed during the first bit of my experience. Moving back into the positives, there is almost non-stop action during the last half of the game and the execution is nearly flawless. While not a lot of gameplay will feel new, the level of polish and shine that come though when Uncharted is a more focused product is top of the line, as the streamlined combat and gun battles were meant to take place in a linear world. Uncharted just seems to be one of those series that needs to stay within the boundaries that make it so great as if it breaks away, it becomes a lesser product as a result. It is like adding a Pikachu to Schindler’s List. Sure, it still is Pokemon, but it will never fit.
Overall, the latter half makes up for my own issues with the first half of the game, as from around chapter five on, the combat is fluid, the game goes fast, and there is so much fun to be had that one will not regret their check with these two divine heroines.
Visuals and Audio
Visually, this world looks incredible. That should come as no surprise to many, as this game is an extension of sorts to Uncharted 4 – which is hands down one of the best looking games of this generation. It is really nice seeing the small details of wet clothes, dirt, and mud applied to the character models to give them a more realistic gruff, and Chloe’s own admiration with the world kind of shows how visually appealing the brightly colored fauna is in terms of eye candy for the player.
As far as sound goes, the voice acting is absolutely superb. Two actresses have returned to lend their talent yet again, and aside from some filler script at the start, I can say that the passion each put into these ladies will have the player hooked on Nadine and Chloe throughout. The music is a bit forgettable but fitting – aside from one beautiful score that involves a slow, gentle ride on an elephant, which is one of the finest scenes in the game, period.
Overall
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is an awesome addition to the franchise. The big deal here is that there is a bit of a slump before you take off running and that the price tag is a bit steep for what essentially feels like a DLC pack with a new character. With that said, there still is a lot of meat on the bone here, with treasure to find, a great story to experience, and moments that will assist fans in building a better perspective for two females that I would be happy to see again. For The Lost Legacy, I would be proud to tell Naughty Dog that I would love another helping, but with a little less filler and a lot more of what makes this such an important series in Sony’s library.
GRAND PIRATE ADVENTURES AWAIT AS ONE PIECE®: UNLIMITED WORLD RED DELUXE EDITION LAUNCHES FOR PLAYSTATION 4 SYSTEM AND STEAM
Set Sail with Your Favorite Straw Hat Pirates in a Fully Re-Mastered Adventure
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (August 25, 2017) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., the leading publisher and developer of interactive anime entertainment, has released ONE PIECE®: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PCs via STEAM®. Sail the high seas with Monkey D. Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat pirates in this action-adventure title remastered for the current generation of consoles with 1080p resolution*, higher frame rate, and over 40 pieces of DLC included to create the most definitive One Piece Unlimited World Red experience yet. ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition will also be available digitally for the Nintendo Switch on September 29, 2017.
The ONE PIECE franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and is the best selling manga of all time, with over 400 million volumes sold to date due to its cast of stellar characters and riveting storylines. ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition brings that level of quality to the video game realm with a game-exclusive storyline and original characters designed by Eiichiro Oda, the creator of ONE PIECE.
In ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition, players will join the Straw Hat pirate crew as they set their sights for the Forgotten Island with their new mysterious raccoon friend Pato. After landing on the island the Straw Hat pirates are kidnapped by The Red Count; a powerful pirate who escaped the depths of Impel Down, an infamous underwater maximum-security prison for the most dangerous criminals the world has seen. Luffy must explore the Forgotten Island, accept quests from residents, and take on enemies as he attempts to save his kidnapped friends. Console players will be able to use local co-op mode to enjoy the main story with a friend or battle bosses together in Battle Coliseum. Players will be able to select from a large roster of popular ONE PIECE characters, each with their own unique attacks which fans of the show will instantly recognize.
“We are excited to have ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red make its way to the current generation of video game consoles and PCs,” said Randy Le, Associate Brand Manager at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition provides a treasure trove of content for gamers seeking an exhilarating action-adventure game.”
ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and carries a MSRP of $39.99. For more information regarding ONE PIECE: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition and additional titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., please visit https://www.bandainamcoent.com, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or join the conversation at https://twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
*720p screen resolution when in handheld mode for Nintendo Switch
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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.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM LEGACY BRINGS TOGETHER NARUTO VIDEO GAME SERIES IN AN EPIC COMPILATION AVAILABLE TODAY
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 1, 2, 3/Full Burst, and 4 ROAD TO BORUTO Available as a Compilation or Separately on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and STEAM on PC
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (August 25, 2017) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.’s NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™: Ultimate Ninja® STORM Legacy is available now as a full retail package including an artbook, SteelBook® case and an anime Blue-ray disc for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One in the Americas (excluding Brazil) for $79.99. A digital version is available for download on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and STEAM® for $69.99. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM Legacy includes all four titles from the Ultimate Ninja STORM series, spanning the NARUTO and SHIPPUDEN storylines. The individual titles in the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM series can also be purchased separately through the digital stores on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and STEAM for PC.
With NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™: Ultimate Ninja® STORM Legacy, players will experience all of the titles in the series, which has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide. The collection includes NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 Full Burst as a remastered set and available for current generation consoles for the very first time. The three remastered titles, as well as the included NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 ROAD TO BORUTO will include all of the major downloadable content offered throughout the series, giving fans the entire NARUTO SHIPPUDEN storyline in one package. The set will also include an exclusive SteelBook® case, NARUTO art book, and bonus NARUTO anime Blue-ray disc at participating retailers for the PlayStation 4 system and Xbox One, making this the perfect addition for any fan of the NARUTO series.
The digital versions of each Ultimate Ninja STORM title can be purchased separately, with NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM Trilogy available for $39.99, and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 1-3 available for $19.99 each.
“Since the first game was released in 2008, the Ultimate Ninja STORM franchise has kept anime fans enthralled with the intense combat, deep gameplay, and visual spectacle that developer CyberConnect2 delivered to each title,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “The legacy collection provides loyal fans an opportunity to rediscover the magic of the entire series with cool collectible items. New fans can now experience all four major releases of the series for the first time in all its remastered glory!”
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.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
Parisian indie developers Deimos Games has released their single player space sim Helium Rainon Steam Early Access today. The game will be instantly familiar to fans of old school space sims. Players are given a giant universe to explore and can make their mark through exploration, trading, space-station construction, and combat. The universe features a realistic economy that reacts to every destroyed freighter and change in supply. There are 12 playable ships with localized damage models, each with its own set of upgrades. Helium Rain features Newtonian physics and fast paced combat.
Deimos Games is currently estimating the game will be on Steam Early Access for six months. The developer is focusing on a community oriented development process, with a public bug tracker on their website and the game’s source code on GitHub. Currently, the game is a fully playable sandbox mode, but new content and features are still planned before the game is launched.
GAMEMILL ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES RAPALA FISHING PRO SERIES FOR PLAYSTATION®4 AND XBOX ONE
The #1 fishing brand in the world will soon be available on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One with authentic equipment, top locations and true-to-life fish that will keep you casting for days!
MINNEAPOLIS – Aug. 24, 2017 – GameMill Entertainment has revealed Rapala Fishing Pro Series, a new game coming Oct. 24, 2017, for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. Compete in a variety of tournaments across North America to build your reputation and become the next Rapala Pro Angler!
An authentic experience featuring real lakes and officially licensed Rapala equipment, Rapala Fishing Pro Series takes players on the hunt for dozens of the sport’s top fish species. Navigate six sprawling environments with GPS, track fish with the fish finder, and master what lures and tackle work best to land your trophy fish! Use your winnings to purchase top-line equipment, including new boats, reels, poles, apparel, lures and lines.
Rapala Fishing Pro Series delivers a destination fishing adventure with picturesque views of North America’s top lakes both above and below water camera viewpoints. Explore each living environment by boat, choose where to cast your line and complete a variety of challenges to take your career further. There’s also a Free Fishing mode for pick-up-and-play gaming, as well as global leaderboards and daily online challenges to compete toward.
About GameMill Entertainment
GameMill Entertainment, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a third-party publisher of casual games for the mass market consumer. Development platforms include PC, Nintendo handhelds and consoles including Nintendo 3DS™, Wii™ and Switch™, Microsoft consoles including Xbox One® and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, XBLA, Microsoft Games On Demand for Xbox One® and Xbox 360®, and Sony consoles including PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment systems, PlayStation Network™, and mobile and tablet devices. With development across the globe, GameMill is a source of entertaining and fun games for all ages. For more information, please visit: www.game-mill.com.
About Concrete Software
Concrete Software, Inc. has been developing rock-solid games™ since 2003 on platforms that include Xbox One®, PlayStation®4, PC, AR/VR devices, and mobile. Award-winning games include PBA® Bowling Challenge, Rapala® Fishing – Daily Catch, Arctic Cat® Extreme Snowmobile Racing, and many more. For more information on Concrete Software, please visit concretesoftware.com or facebook.com/ConcreteSoftware.
About Rapala
Rapala was unofficially founded in 1936 when Lauri Rapala invented the Rapala fishing lure. Rapala has grown from humble beginnings to become a market leader in the fishing tackle industry. The brand’s functionality and high quality are known by fishermen worldwide. Rapala maintains its strict standards of craftsmanship while delivering its fishing products to anglers in more than 130 countries. For more information on Rapala, please visit www.rapala.com or www.facebook.com/RapalaUSA or www.instagram.com/rapalausa
SUMTHING ELSE MUSIC WORKS TO RELEASE SOUNDTRACKFORARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED
Pre-Orders Available for Video Game Music Composed by Gareth Coker and Performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London
Album releases worldwide on digital & streaming platforms August 29
New York, August 24, 2017 – Sumthing Else Music Works, the premier record label dedicated to releasing video game soundtracks, and independent game developer, Studio Wildcard, are proud to present the epic orchestral soundtrack to the definitive open-world dinosaur survival-adventure game, ARK: Survival Evolved. Composed by Gareth Coker (Minecraft, Ori and the Blind Forest), the official soundtrack album will be released August 29 via digital and streaming outlets worldwide through Sumthing Else Music Works https://www.sumthing.com.
“Gareth’s mind-blowing sense of melody and uncanny expertise at reinforcing specific themes and emotions through his music helped shape the identity of ARK: Survival Evolved from the very beginning,” said Jesse Rapczak, Co-Founder and Co-Creative Director of Studio Wildcard. “Starting with that iconic main theme written for our first announcement trailer, Gareth continued to deliver a huge and varied score that brought to life every part of the game, be it the beach, the mountains, the jungles, the desert, the caves, the EPIC boss battles and even the out-of-this-world science-fiction climax of ARK’s End Game. The score was so good, that we had no choice but to send Gareth to Abbey Road to record the entire thing with the 93-piece Philharmonia Orchestra!”
After graduating in composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London, English-born composer Gareth Coker traveled the world extensively to study music from different countries, including Japan, before completing the film scoring program at the University of Southern California. This multi-cultural background has enabled Coker to draw upon numerous musical influences that have shaped his rich and versatile musical sound and he has continued to develop a compositional style focusing on memorable, melodically-driven themes and motifs, combined with unique, and unconventional soundscapes. This approach, and his ability to apply it in a way that always serves to enhance the story earned him the attention of Moon Studios, which led to a highly successful collaboration on the acclaimed game Ori and the Blind Forest. Coker’s universally critically acclaimed soundtrack for Ori and the Blind Forest was honored with several prestigious awards, including the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences award for Outstanding Music Composition and SXSW Gaming Award for Excellence in Musical Score, and his success in the field led to him being awarded recognition as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) for his significant contribution to the music profession.
For his latest musical journey and collaboration with Studio Wildcard on ARK: Survival Evolved, Gareth Coker explains, “The scope and size of the score of ARK: Survival Evolved, whilst intimidating, has pushed me to write in ways I didn’t know I was capable of. And to cap it all off, with a gargantuan 3-day recording session in London with the amazing Philharmonia Orchestra really helped glue the entire score together. For the two years I’ve been working on the game, I’ve been able to see the lightning in a bottle that Studio Wildcard captured, and watch it blossom and grow on Twitch and YouTube throughout the early access program, into the monster it has become today. I can’t wait to revisit the Island and beyond with more music for the upcoming expansions to the game!”
Powered by Unreal Engine 4, ARK: Survival Evolved takes on the survival genre with a unique blend of emergent multiplayer cooperation and competition. Players awake stranded and starving on the beach of a mysterious island among a herd of other confused humans. On ARK, they must then hunt, harvest, craft, research technology, and build shelters to protect against scorching days, freezing nights, volatile weather systems, dangerous wildlife, and potential enemies. Tame, train, ride and breed one of 100 amazing dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts, including gargantuan creatures on a scale never before seen in video games! Fly a Pteranodon squadron over the snow-capped mountains, race through the deep jungle with your pack of trained Raptors, tromp through a fortified enemy base along a convoy of gigantic Brontosaurus, or chase down prey on the back of a raging T-Rex.
ARK: Survival Evolved will launch worldwide in retail stores and on digital platforms on August 29, 2017, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam PC. Visit www.playark.com for more dino-tastic news.
ABOUT SUMTHING ELSE MUSIC WORKS
Since its creation in the late 1990s by the world-renowned songwriter, musician and record producer, Nile Rodgers, Sumthing Else Music Works has become the acknowledged industry leader in licensing and distributing video game soundtracks. Possessing full in-house services worldwide, from retail marketing and sales through physical and digital distribution, Sumthing is partnered with the world’s leading video game developers and publishers including BioWare, Bungie, Capcom, Crystal Dynamics, Crytek, Deep Silver, Double Fine, Eidos-Montreal, Epic Games, Gearbox Software, Konami, Microsoft, Sega, Sony, Square-Enix and Ubisoft. Their catalog of titles includes the best-selling video game soundtrack of all time, Halo 2: Volume One, as well as many award-winning and critically acclaimed titles including: Resident Evil 7 biohazard, Eagle Flight, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Gears of War 4, Assassin’s Creed series, WildStar, TRON RUN/r, Far Cry Primal, The Division, Grim Fandango, Broken Age, Bloodborne, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Fantasia: Music Evolved, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Infamous: Second Son, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Dead Rising 3, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Company of Heroes 2, Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Dragon’s Dogma, Jet Set Radio, Journey, Borderlands 2, Darksiders II, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Gears of War 3, Warhammer 40,000:Space Marine, Alan Wake, Halo: Reach, Fable III, God of War III, Uncharted 2, Halo 3: ODST, Dark Void, Borderlands, InFamous, Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV, Halo Wars, Halo Trilogy, Gears of War 2, Fable II, Crysis, Advent Rising, Fable, Gears of War, Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 Volume Two, Halo 3, Hitman: Blood Money, Hitman: Contracts, Jade Empire, Kameo: Elements of Power, Mass Effect, Red Steel, Freedom Fighters and many others. Sumthing Else Music Works and Sumthing Distribution logos are copyright of their respective companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
ABOUT STUDIO WILDCARD
Studio Wildcard was co-founded in 2014 by industry veteran Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak, former Technical Art Director at Microsoft Game Studios, with the mission of bringing AAA quality to ambitious indie productions that are designed for core gamers. With combined 25 years of industry experience across multiple independent and studio-backed titles, Jeremy and Jesse have teamed up with other veteran developers for Seattle, WA-based and Gainesville, FL-based development studios that also include distributed team members across multiple continents. Wherever talented, driven developers may reside, Studio Wildcard intends to seek out and work with them!
