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Frontier Announces Jurassic World Evolution™

Philip Federico
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Frontier Announces Jurassic World Evolution™

Players Will Be Able to Build Their Own Jurassic World™ Park in the New PC and Console Game Launching Summer 2018
Cambridge, UK — August 20, 2017 — Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) today announced its new game, Jurassic World Evolution, and revealed the first trailer. Based on Universal Pictures’ iconic film franchise and created in collaboration with Universal Brand Development, the game expands on the official Jurassic World mythology and puts players in charge of cinema’s greatest tourist destination – where they will have the opportunity to create and manage their own Jurassic World. Launching in summer 2018, Jurassic World Evolution will be coming to PC, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system.

“As long-time fans of the entire Jurassic series we’re thrilled to be putting players in charge of their own Jurassic World,” said Frontier’s Chief Creative Officer, Jonny Watts. “We’re excited to bring over fifteen years of management, simulation, and creature development expertise to a destination and franchise that remains an inspiration to us.”

Jurassic World Evolution evolves players’ relationship with the Jurassic World film franchise, placing them in control of operations on the legendary island of Isla Nublar and the surrounding islands of the Muertes Archipelago. Players will build their own Jurassic World as they bioengineer new dinosaur breeds and construct attractions, containment and research facilities. Every choice leads to a different path and spectacular challenges arise when ‘life finds a way.’

The game is scheduled to release next summer and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom will be in theatres June 2018.

Follow Jurassic World Evolution on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. For the logo and trailer, visit Frontier.co.uk/Press.

About Jurassic World

With all of the wonder, adventure and thrills synonymous with one of the most popular and successful franchises in cinema history, this all-new motion-picture event sees the return of favorite characters and dinosaurs—along with new breeds more awe-inspiring and terrifying than ever before.  Welcome to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return alongside executive producers Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.  Pratt and Howard are joined by co-stars James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda,
Toby Jones, Rafe Spall, while Jake Johnson, BD Wong and Jeff Goldblum reprise their roles.

Directed by J.A. Bayona (The Impossible), the epic action-adventure is written by Jurassic World’s director, Trevorrow, and its co-writer, Derek Connolly.  Producers Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley once again partner with Spielberg and Trevorrow in leading the team of filmmakers for this stunning installment.  Belén Atienza joins the team as a producer.  www.jurassicworld.com

About Frontier Developments

Frontier Developments is the studio behind Elite Dangerous, LostWinds and Planet Coaster, founded in 1994 by games industry veteran David Braben. Frontier’s development strengths are immersive and fun gameplay design with unparalleled artistic quality, all enabled by its cutting-edge in-house COBRA game development technology and a talent for getting the best out of hardware and UI.

Elite Dangerous is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Planet Coaster is available now for PC. Other Frontier titles include RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, Thrillville, LostWinds, Kinectimals, Kinect Disneyland Adventures, Zoo Tycoon, Tales from Deep Space and ScreamRide.

About Universal Brand Development

Universal Brand Development globally drives expansion of the company’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Along with franchise brand management, Universal Brand Development’s core businesses include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, and Live Entertainment based on the company’s extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal cable and television. Universal Brand Development is a business segment of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA).

© 2017 Frontier Developments, plc. All rights reserved. Frontier, Cobra, Frontier Developments and the Frontier Developments and Cobra logo(s) are trademarks or registered trademarks of Frontier Developments, plc.

© 2017 Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.   Jurassic World, Jurassic World Evolution and their respective logos are trademarks and copyrights of Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.  Licensed by Universal Studios.  All Rights Reserved.

BLUEHOLE, INC AND MICROSOFT ANNOUNCE EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP FOR PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS

Philip Federico
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BLUEHOLE, INC AND MICROSOFT ANNOUNCE EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP FOR PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS
From Gamescom 2017, PUBG to be Published by Microsoft on Xbox One

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – August 20, 2017 – From Gamescom 2017 – Bluehole, Inc., announced today that PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG), the first standalone Battle Royale game with more than eight million units sold on Steam, will be published by Microsoft on Xbox One. Through this partnership, Microsoft will help accelerate console development and maintain quality across all platforms. Bluehole, Inc. will maintain full development and creative control of PUBG, continuing to bring the best Battle Royale experience.

“Our goal is to deliver the best Battle Royale experience to a global audience and our partnership with Microsoft will allow us to do just that,” said Chang Han Kim, VP of Bluehole, Inc and Executive Producer for PUBG. “This partnership with Microsoft will accelerate the development and delivery of PUBG to console players around the world as we utilize their vast resources and impressive technical, sales and marketing expertise.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to be working with the team at Bluehole to bring Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds exclusively to our players on Xbox One this year,” said Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox. “We’ve been huge fans since the very earliest days, and worked hard to bring the game successfully to our E3 briefing. The announcement of our publishing the game on console today is an evolution of the strong partnership we’ve been building over many months.”

A last-man-standing shooter, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS is the ultimate life and death fight, as it drops players on a realistic 8 x 8 km island with visuals that showcase Unreal Engine 4’s capabilities. Starting with nothing, gamers must fight to locate weapons, vehicles and supplies as they strive to be the lone survivor.

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS is now available on Steam Early Access and is launching exclusively on Xbox One as part of the Xbox Game Preview program in late 2017, with the final version launching in early 2018 across the Xbox One family of devices.

To learn more about PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS, please visit www.playbattlegrounds.com, ‘Like’ it on Facebook, and follow its development on Twitter @PUBATTLEGROUNDS for all the latest updates and news from the team.

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS – Not Just a Game. This is Battle Royale.
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ABOUT BLUEHOLE
Founded in 2007 and based in Korea, Bluehole, Inc. is the developer of the popular action MMORPG, TERA, which has attracted over 25 million registered users worldwide. TERA is live in seven different territories including North America, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Europe and Russia and has reached the #1 spot on Steam’s MMORPG charts. Having achieved high standards and worldwide recognition for its online roleplaying games, the studio has also expanded into the mobile gaming market. Bluehole’s first non-MMO title, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS, has sold more than eight million units since its Early Access launch on March 23, 2017. PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS is fully developed and published by Bluehole worldwide. For more information, visit www.bluehole.net/en.

Escape from Tarkov Preview

Jamie Laike Tsui
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Escape from Tarkov Preview

Escape from Tarkov

Developer: Battlestate Games
Publisher: Battlestate Games
Platform: Windows

Escape from Tarkov is a highly realistic FPS with RPG elements set in the fictional city of Tarkov. The game is currently in closed beta, with guaranteed beta invitations going out to those who have pre-ordered the game. I had a chance to check out the latest closed beta build that introduced a swath of balancing changes, the new Shoreline map, and a new economic system.

Set in an alternate version of Russia, the fictional city of Tarkov has been shut down and sealed after a massive conflict breaks out between UN peacekeepers, Russian troops, and two private military companies. In Escape from Tarkov, players take on the role of mercenaries employed by USEC, the private military company hired by the shadowy multinational corporation Terra Group, or BEAR, a private military company started by the Russian government to investigate the dealings of Terra Group. To survive, players will need to scavenge enough equipment and weapons to escape the city of Tarkov while the streets are filled with bloodthirsty scavengers and desperate mercenaries. While the full launch will include a full story mode, the story elements in the closed beta is limited to the text messages players will receive from the variety of fences and merchants in Tarkov.

Escape from Tarkov’s closed beta is a little different from the run of the mill survival game. Instead of permanently sitting in one giant map, players participate in individual raids set in different areas of Tarkov. Players first need to choose the equipment they will take into the zone with them. New to the closed beta is the ability to insure their items for a small fee. If the player happens to die in the area, any item that is not looted by another player will be returned to them after a set amount of time. Players will then be spawned near a set spawn area and must make their way to one of the designated escape zones. If the player can escape the zone successfully, they will be able to keep all the items they bring out with them in their inventory. In the final game, players will raid each area in the city in a set order so they can unlock a free roam mode.

Each zone is rated by difficulty and the ideal party size for the zone. Escape from Tarkov is designed for teams of three to eight players, which makes solo play quite challenging. Currently, Customs is the only zone that is designed for single players. During the testing period, an offline mode is available that lowers the difficulty level for single players, but no progression is saved. It is a good place for new players to experiment and learn the ropes of the game, but it is clearly not the long-term solution Battlestate Games has in mind.

Escape from Tarkov is a highly realistic shooter in the same vein as the ArmA series. Damage is ruthlessly high and is affected by both the type of ammunition fired and any armour worn in the area. For example, shooting an enemy in an armoured area with an AP round will grant damage bonuses, while hitting an unarmoured bonus will be less effective than a normal bullet. The weapon mod system offers endless options for weapons, rivaling Tom Clancy games for the sheer number of scopes, suppressors, and muzzle brakes available for bolting onto weapons. It is as if the only weapon mod missing in Escape from Tarkov is the coffee machine.

The game’s control scheme is nearly as complex as ArmA titles, too. While most players will be able to do quite a bit with the standard FPS control scheme, players will need to learn how to use some of the more advanced keys to get the most out of the game. Escape from Tarkov offers an incredibly fine level of control when it comes to movement. Players can dial in the exact movement speed to stay as quiet as possible, then break out into a dead sprint for cover when ambushed. Since cover is literally the difference between life and death, the game even offers the same level of control over how far to peek out behind cover, exposing the player as little as possible in a gun fight.

Escape from Tarkov uses an RPG style inventory and skill system. The inventory uses a series of bag slots and menus for navigation. It is easy to get a hang of, but desperately needs some inventory management functions like auto-sorting. The skill system will be familiar to anyone who has played The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, as players earn skills by practicing them in the field. Battlestate Games is throwing in a twist by having skills slowly degrade over time if the skill is not practiced.

 

 

The game is a niche title, especially in its current state. Navigating through the city of Tarkov is quite challenging at the moment as the map is barebones and the compass is still on the developers to do list. Since the karma system has yet to be implemented, the game is pretty much running on a kill on sight policy. Escape from Tarkov’s learning curve is extremely high. New players will have to spend time playing the game in offline mode and possibly relying on guides online to memorize important landmarks, raid exits, and spawn points before they can make some serious progress. The Scav mode gives players a little breathing room to explore the city while online. Players spawn in as a randomly geared scavenger in game and can keep anything they can grab if they escape successfully from the area. The only problem is players must wait an hour between Scav runs. The AI are ruthless right now, with sharp vision and some impressive aim. Making stupid mistakes like running out of cover or staying too long in one spot is punished without mercy.

The audio/visual presentation is very good right now. The gunfire sounds incredible. I can’t count how many times I nearly leapt out of my seat with shock and fear when the quiet peace of the Russian country side was suddenly interrupted with gunfire. The graphics are solid, with excellent textures and models. Most of the animations are good, though some of the hand animations look very unnatural. Probably the worst offender is the odd angle the wrist contorts in when trying to open drawers.

Currently, Escape from Tarkov is a niche FPS that will really cater to the hardcore shooter sim fan. The game is unforgiving to new players, and the need to memorize maps only makes it all the more challenging. Gun nuts will be enamoured with Escape from Tarkov’s weapon mechanics. The game is still early in development, so it will be interesting to see how Battlestate Games will adjust the game’s balance and learning curve over the next several major updates.   

A Cerebral Wonderland: Playmind’s Nightmare World “The Inner Friend” Plans Worldwide Premier At Gamescom

Philip Federico
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A Cerebral Wonderland: Playmind’s Nightmare World “The Inner Friend” Plans Worldwide Premier At Gamescom

Studio’s Debut To Hit Cologne from 22nd to 26th of August In The Indie Arena Booth [Hall 10.1 Booth A-20]

London, U.K. — August 21 , 2017 — Playmind, a gaming and digital media studio with over 15 years of experience, is proud to announce its presence at Gamescom 2017 with the studio’s first game, The Inner Friend for PS4, Xbox One, PC and VR.

Throwing players into an Alice in Wonderland type world where dreams and nightmares are intertwined, The Inner Friend takes place inside the physical realisation of a subconscious universe. Players are led through this 3D world by a myserious Shadow, acting as a witness to his childhood memories, collecting each one to rebuild what was once a safe haven.

Together, the player and the Shadow descend always deeper, unraveling a rich but wordless story, but every journey has to end. What secrets hide in its darkest corners?

“The game will see players descend into an eerie world made of scattered memories and unresolved traumas,” offered Playmind founder Emmanuel Sévigny. “By exploring a nightmarish landscape, they’ll come face to face with their childhood fears.

“The Inner Friend inhabits a rich visual environment, supported by an immersive soundscape, and cinematic music that promotes immersion and deep emotional moments. Intenionally dark, scary, and mysterious at times, the environments are surrealist representations of memories and fears. Movement, imagery, and music are the key means of communication the player’s got to interact with the Shadow, their guide throughout this descent.”

The Inner Friend is the first game by Canadian outfit Playmind, which was first formed in 2002. Since then, founder Emmanuel Sévigny has been creating state of the art AR,VR and interactive installations as well as digital environments and event-based games.

Sévigny first started work on The Inner Friend two years ago, building on his experience developing event-based games and interactions for advertising, museums, events, world fairs and performances.

The Inner Friend will hit PS4, Xbox One, PC and VR in  2018.

About Playmind

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 been specializing 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.

For more information visit http://theinnerfriend.com/ or follow at: https://www.facebook.com/theinnerfriend/ and on Twitter https://twitter.com/playmind

Latest The Evil Within 2 Trailer Focuses on Stefano’s Twisted Mind

Jamie Laike Tsui
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Latest The Evil Within 2 Trailer Focuses on Stefano’s Twisted Mind

Bethesda has released a brand new story trailer that gives one of The Evil Within 2’s main villain a little more flesh, so to speak. Stefano Valentini is a former war photographer who has become obsessed with capturing images of people at the moment of their death. In his twisted mind, it creates the most open and beautiful images. Shunned and hunted for his crimes in the real world, Stefano is now in STEM and seeks to use Lily to take over the new world and satisfy his lust for beauty. As previously announced, Stefano has shaped the horrors in Union and his work can be found in galleries and the very monsters Sebastian will encounter.

The Evil Within 2 is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows on Friday the 13th, October 2017.

https://youtu.be/-Qph67Nv93s

Deep Silver to Publish Shenmue III on PC and PlayStation 4

Jamie Laike Tsui
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Deep Silver to Publish Shenmue III on PC and PlayStation 4

The hotly anticipated Shenmue III’s Kickstarter pulled in over six million dollars in 2015 and development has been slowly chugging along since. Ys Net has announced that they will be partnering with Deep Silver to publish the game on PlayStation 4 and PC. The game is currently scheduled to launch in the second half of 2018, almost a full year behind schedule. While the exact details of the partnership remain under wraps, partnering with a major publisher like Deep Silver will definitely smooth the release of physical copies of Shenmue III for PC and PlayStation 4.

For those heading out to Gamescom 2017, Director Yu Suzuki will be at the Meet and Greet at Hall 9.1 Stand B011/C010 on Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 PM and on Thursday from 12:30-1:30 PM.

ALLIANCE DIGITAL MEDIA TO LAUNCH COSMO D’S SURREAL ADVENTURE GAME THE NORWOOD SUITE FOR WINDOWS PC ON OCT. 2

Philip Federico
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ALLIANCE DIGITAL MEDIA TO LAUNCH COSMO D’S SURREAL ADVENTURE GAME THE NORWOOD SUITE FOR WINDOWS PC ON OCT. 2

NEW YORK – Aug. 18, 2017 – Alliance Digital Media has announced it will publish indie developer Cosmo D’s latest offbeat adventure game, The Norwood Suite, on Windows PC on Oct. 2 via Steam, GOG.com and itch.io for $9.99.

Set in the same dreamlike universe as Cosmo D’s debut cult-hit, Off-Peak, The Norwood Suite takes players to the secluded Hotel Norwood on a simple package delivery that quickly unfolds into something much more. Filled with bizarre characters and objects, this mysterious resort is a dense, open-ended world teeming with hidden passages and secrets to discover.

Peer into the lives of the hotel’s guests and staff, explore and interact with surprises behind every door, and piece together a non-linear narrative that rewards your curiosity. The Norwood Suite features surreal art design, as well as an original atmospheric score, composed by Cosmo D, that’s integrated directly into the game world.

For the latest updates as The Norwood Suite nears, visit https://cosmoddd.itch.io/the-norwood-suite, and follow Cosmo D on Twitter (@Cosmoddd).

About Alliance Digital Media

It’s a golden age for games – but harder than ever for independent developers to thrive. Alliance Digital Media exists to disrupt this trend. We believe that great games are good business. From publishing, marketing, PR and influencer outreach services to financing and development support, we give exceptional game makers the organization, expertise and retail muscle necessary to succeed. www.AllianceDigitalMedia.com

About Cosmo D

Cosmo D is a game designer based in New York City with a background in cello performance and music composition. One rainy night in June 2013, he was struck by a car while crossing the street and found himself unable to play or make music for several months. While convalescing, he took it upon himself to learn the Unity Engine. The result was Off-Peak, released in 2015. A homage to Cosmo D’s home city of New York, as well as a commentary on the commodification of art and music in urban space, Off-Peak gained a cult following, with hordes of press nods, let’s plays on YouTube, and a fanbase eagerly awaiting the follow-up.

With assistance from NYU Game Center’s Incubator program, publisher Alliance Digital Media, as well as the New York game development scene at large, Cosmo D is now ready to release the follow-up, The Norwood Suite.

SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET TO BRING THIRD-PERSON SHOOTER ACTION AND ROLE-PLAYING GAME DEPTH TO BELOVED ANIME GAME SERIES

Philip Federico
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SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET TO BRING THIRD-PERSON SHOOTER ACTION AND ROLE-PLAYING GAME DEPTH TO BELOVED ANIME GAME SERIES

New Installment in Action RPG Series to Feature Shooter Gameplay for the First Time, Arriving on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PCs via STEAM in Early 2018

Santa Clara, Calif., (August 18, 2017) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., the premier publisher of anime video games today, announces Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, the newest entry in the Action Role-Playing Game (RPG) series based on the popular anime franchise Sword Art Online. For the first time in series history, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet introduces third-person shooter action along with the RPG gameplay that fans know and love. The title will be available in early 2018 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and for the first time on Xbox One, and PCs via STEAM®.

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet brings an exciting twist to the popular action RPG series by adding third-person shooter elements into the game, forming a unique hybrid shooter/RPG/action title that balances gun and sword play with skill and gadget combat to create a new dynamic experience. Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet will feature an engrossing, original story supervised by Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara, that takes players into the world of “Gun Gale Online,” from the popular Sword Art Online II season of the series. Players will be able to dive right into the immersive landscape developed by Dimps, and enjoy robust environments and textures powered by Unreal Engine 4. Using agile double jumps, air dashes, wall-to-wall repelling, and quick weapon swapping, players will engage in brisk platforming and shooting gameplay as they embark on epic adventures. Rounding out the package, full multiplayer cooperative and competitive modes will let two to eight players collaborate and compete against one another online.

“For the first time in the history of the franchise, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet presents the compelling universe of the Sword Art Online series with exciting new third-person shooter action, creating a unique experience that truly stands out in the series,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “The Sword Art Online universe continues to grow in popularity among audiences in the Americas and its evolution has provided us with a great canvas from which to develop new and exciting experiences for Sword Art Online and RPG fans to enjoy.”

For more information on BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. game titles and products, please visit http://www.bandainamcoent.com/ or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or join the conversation on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com, www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 – Hero in Residence Review

Travis Bruno
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Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 – Hero in Residence Review

Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 – Hero in Residence

Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Platforms: Xbox One (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, PC, iOS, Android
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $4.99 – Available Here

Overview

Even with the high popularity of the series as a whole, the nature of Minecraft as a game had many wondering if an episodic series set in a Minecraft world could be successful. It didn’t take long though for the first season to get an entire expansion that continued the journey of the characters past the initial ending and less than a year after the final episode of the first season was released we now have a second season. With Minecraft: Story Mode’s second season kicking things off with “Hero in Residence” does the story manage to pick up successfully with a new journey for our heroes?

Story

In an effort to quickly bring newcomers to the series up to speed Hero in Residence begins with Lukas giving players a recap of the key events that took place during the first five episodes of the original story with some minor tidbits included for the “adventure” part of the first season. This is handled smoothly thanks to the fact that in the time since the first season has ended, Lukas has begun to write books about their adventures while the rest of the cast has settled into their own roles. Jesse has become the leader of Beacontown, a place where residents are free to express themselves with their builds, while Alex and Olivia have taken up residence as lead members in Boom Town and Redstonia, and Ivor continues his travels through the world portals.

In fact, we learn quickly that thanks to their larger roles, the gang has mostly drifted apart in the time since the Witherstorm and portal jumping adventure with only Petra continuing to act like her old self. One of the first major actions that players are given in the episode comes down to time management as, being the leader of Beacontown, Jesse has the option of interacting with numerous residents, including past YouTube presences and other side-characters, as they prepare for an annual celebration or keeping a promise with Petra to meet up with her in the mines in prompt fashion.

Upon completing this little meeting and taking part in an impromptu quest, Jesse and Petra end up finding a strange new treasure that leads the pair of them directly into the path of danger once again as they try to figure out exactly what the artifact is and why, at least for Jesse, it keeps whispering his name while not coming off of his hand. This leads to an entirely new adventure starting for Jesse with both fresh and familiar faces joining for this part of the episode as a boastful adventurer who is a bit too full of himself to stack up in reality, and a villager of all things who is even treated handled differently than the rest of the cast thanks to his NPC style origins by having him speak in an unknown language and talk of ancient legends.

Telltale Games has managed to successfully kickstart this story by focusing just enough on past adventures and giving players a glimpse at the world that the group has built in their time between seasons. With new characters to learn about, a new (self-proclaimed) rival that can easily end up being a friend or a foe in the future, and enough intrigue into the current loyalties of past characters players will always be wondering what to expect. Especially when it comes to the story that unfolds throughout this first episode as not only does this artifact awaken a new sentient threat, it happens to be one that has the potential to be far more destructive than anything that Jesse has encountered before.

Of course all of this drama and story development doesn’t get in the way of the comedy that the series is known for. There are plenty of jokes to be made throughout the episode, especially in regards to Jesse’s rusty skills and potentially cocky attitude depending on your dialogue choices. It is worth noting that while this season does serve as a fairly fresh start for newcomers, returning fans will catch plenty of references to past events, including armor designs, familiar faces, and more to give loyal fans something a bit extra to look forward to.

Gameplay

In various ways Telltale Games has refined the gameplay elements in Minecraft: Story Mode, though the exploration elements, quick time events, and dialogue system remains mostly untouched. The biggest changes come in the form of fighting scenes where players are more mobile in combat, able to perform dodge rolls and manage a stamina bar while attacking enemies. There is even a building section where the game gives you the freedom to design a statue of your own choice with around thirty of each color of clay block.

This is something that will be pleasing to longtime fans of Minecraft and doesn’t hold those interested in the story down much as you can design anything you feel like, even if it happens to be just a blob in the hopes of continuing the story. It is worth noting that there are some technical issues that appear here and there in this episode as some lines of dialogue are shown in subtitle but never actually spoken and there are a number of lip sync problems that crop up in certain scenes.

Visuals & Audio

Thanks to this new season taking players to numerous brand new locations players will be in for quite a treat when you explore various areas. Each new city is splendidly designed while even the underwater areas and dungeons you travel through feature a unique look that always keeps things interesting, especially the new characters have unique outfits.

It is worth noting that although the majority of the voice cast has returned to take on their roles this time around, the voice actress for Olivia has been changed in this season, though considering her current appearance level it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. As for the rest of the cast, they fit their roles perfectly, especially in the case of the veteran adventurer who matches the role perfectly as he rambles about past travels in unknown lands.

Overall

Rather than focusing too heavily on past events Minecraft: Story Mode’s second season starts strong with Hero in Residence forging a new path with just enough familiarity to keep fans of the series satisfied while also being attractive to newcomers. With a familiar face, an interesting batch of new characters, and a colossal threat that is filled with mystery, the second season starts off strong with only a few small hiccups along the way.

BURN RUBBER IN THE CREW® 2’S AMERICAN OPEN WORLD WITH EXCLUSIVE* HARLEY-DAVIDSON® MOTORCYCLES

Philip Federico
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BURN RUBBER IN THE CREW® 2’S AMERICAN OPEN WORLD WITH EXCLUSIVE* HARLEY-DAVIDSON® MOTORCYCLES

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — August 18, 2017 — Ubisoft® and Harley-Davidson® have announced that players will be able to cruise the open highways of America in The Crew® 2 with several exclusive* Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. The collaboration joins Harley-Davidson’s legacy of speed and supremacy in American motorsports with the motor spirit culture celebrated in The Crew 2, the newest iteration in the revolutionary open-world driving franchise The Crew.

First to appear in the game is a Harley-Davidson® Iron 883™ motorcycle, with bare-knuckle minimalism and garage-built style. The Iron 883 is a nimble urban machine that kicks asphalt. Additional models will be integrated over time for The Crew 2 players to pick up their favourite Harley-Davidson® motorcycle and shine in a near limitless world built for motorsports. Celebrated as a historic American brand, Harley-Davidson® motorcycles echo The Crew 2’s vision to bring players the ultimate US motorsports spirit experience.

“We are thrilled to partner with Harley-Davidson® in The Crew 2. Harley-Davidson® is a legendary, global brand, deeply rooted in American culture,” said Ahmed Boukhelifa, Ivory Tower Studio Managing Director. “The partnership was a natural fit as Harley-Davidson® represents the same thirst for unrestrained exploration and the American passion for all things motorized that has inspired our vision for The Crew 2.”

“Harley-Davidson® has a storied past of celebrating the American spirit, freedom and love of the open road. For almost 115 years, our customers have explored American cities and roadways with our motorcycles. With the launch of The Crew 2 we hope to inspire more people, young and older, to engage in the sport of motorcycling” said Heather Malenshek, Vice President Global Marketing & Brand for Harley-Davidson® Motor Company.

More than two years after the launch of The Crew, Ivory Tower, a Ubisoft studio based in Lyon (France)**, returns with a sequel that lets players experience the thrill of the American motorsports spirit inside a fully redesigned USA. The Crew® 2 takes the game experience beyond driving. Fans test their skills, solo or with friends, in non-stop competition and exploration, featuring a variety of cars, bikes, boats, and planes, to become the greatest champion of all motorsports.

The Crew 2 will be released worldwide early 2018 for PlayStation®4 Pro computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Xbox One X and Windows PC. Players can sign up right now for The Crew 2 Beta, and a chance to play early here: http://thecrewgame.com/beta

For the latest news on The Crew® and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit www.ubiblog.com. For more information about The Crew® 2, please visit http://thecrewgame.com/ and please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecrewgame/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TheCrewGame or hashtag #TheCrew2.

*exclusive to the racing category for one year
**Associate studios are Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Shanghai, Massive, a Ubisoft studio 

ABOUT UBISOFT

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2016-17 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,460 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.

ABOUT HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Since 1903, Harley-Davidson Motor Company has fulfilled dreams of personal freedom with cruiser, touring and custom motorcycles, riding experiences and events, and a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, general merchandise, riding gear and apparel. For more information, visit www.h-d.com.

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