DISCOVER THE MAGIC BEHIND NI NO KUNI II: REVENANT KINGDOM
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe revealed today through a documentary presenting how Akihiro Hino,Yoshiyuki Momose, and Takafumi Koukami gave life to the incredible characters of Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM!
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
I finally purchased a HTC Vive over the holidays. Starting it for the first time and standing on the edge of a crevasse is something that needs to be experienced. It is astounding that we have reached this point when only 5 years ago, Grand Theft Auto V came out and was seen as the pinnacle of gaming.
VR has opened up an entirely new world for developers to explore. From Valves The Lab, a Portal themed romp through virtual reality showing its capacity for beautiful vistas and mini-games, to VRchat, an experience I can only equate to the hay day of second life.
I was convinced by a friend to download the free PC VR chat room program. When first booting it up I was introduced to a tutorial. It calibrated my height, let me discover the mechanics of the game, from shooting to drawing, and then I was asked to choose an avatar. With it being a Unity application, I was able to upload my own avatar, a high-res model of Captain Picard from Star Trek. I selected a server, one called “Ronald McDonald heaven” and off I went.
I was not prepared for the hell I was about to be dropped into.
When the game loaded up I saw a giant red ramp in front of me, with signs beckoning me to the top to see “The holy one”. Using my Vive controllers’ touch pad, I was able to walk around and go up the ramp. Halfway up I began to see some sort of ritual being conducted around a Ronald McDonald. Multiple anime girl and crude knuckles avatars interspersed with the occasional Reaper from Overwatch and Sasuke from Naruto, and a cross between a man and an ice cream.
I was invited to stand in front of a very well rendered statue of Ronald McDonald, covered in cheese burgers, and pray to “find de way”. I stood there in awe, which they took as disobeying their “holy one” and was then berated by these odd avatars. They pretended to spit on me and used some terms that should not be repeated. I very quickly quit VRchat and put my Vive down, just taking a moment to absorb what I had just witnessed.
This shows both the good and the bad with giving players too much freedom. In a world where any player can create and share their worlds and avatars, it creates these situations. Situations where everyone is in on the joke and having fun, but if someone doesn’t understand or appreciate the joke, people are quick to ridicule them. The inherent problem with this freedom, is that trolls flock to these programs.
Internet trolls love to ruin peoples experiences for their own and others amusement, and create situations that make others uncomfortable. VRchat has started gaining a reputation as a program where people go to do racist impressions or creepily hang around anyone with an anime avatar.
My opinion on VRchat is that it is an interesting experiment. It is giving people a view into the mindset of trolls, and how they will put a lot of effort into something if it means ruining it for someone else.
But in this ruining of other people’s fun, a community has grown. Players meeting other players, bonding over shared memes, and talking to each other outside of the game.
Internet trolls will always be around, trying to ruin the fun of others, but they can also be seen as innovators and community creators. Without the trolls, VRchat would not be talked about as much, nor would Second Life. They also wouldn’t give players with stranger senses of humour a feeling of belonging.
Trolls don’t need to be seen as a plague on gaming, but a necessary evil for people to bond with or against. Even though I was ridiculed online by this community, I can see the joke for what it is, just something goofy that people are having fun with.
Fans of Paragonhave long feared Epic’s runaway hit Fortnite would spell the death of their favourite MOBA. Unfortunately, their fears have come true. Today, Epic Games announced they are pulling the plug on Paragon on April 26, 2018. While Epic cited an inability to create a strong enough player base to continue development in their official shutdown announcement, Epic posted an announcement on reddit two weeks ago admitting Fortnite’s success was a large part of the discussion about Paragon’s future.
As a show of good will to Paragon’s dedicated fans, Epic has chosen to offer a full refund for any Paragon purchases. The refund offer is available for purchases made on any platform Paragon is available on. While Epic is not issuing automatic refunds to all buyers, gamers can manually request a refund here.
RISING STAR GAMES AND CRESCENT MARKETING TO BRING HELLO KITTY KRUISERS TONintendo Switch™ IN SPRING 2018
The Colorful and Cute Arcade Racing Game Will Arrive in the USA, Across Europe and Beyond as Physical and Digital Retail Releases LOS ANGELES, CA – January 25, 2018 – Start your engines, Hello Kitty fans! Videogame publisher Rising Star Games today announced that Hello Kitty and all her Sanrio friends are coming to the Nintendo Switch™ console in the fast and fun multiplayer arcade karting game Hello Kitty Kruisers.
Take to the starting grid with Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends as they race on land, over water and even through the air. Will anyone pip Hello Kitty to the podium? Race in single-player or with up to three friends, and unlock new outfits and vehicles for your favorite characters. You can even challenge your racing skills in the super-exciting Adventure mode!
“We’re continually honored to enjoy a close partnership with Sanrio in order to bring Hello Kitty videogame titles both to fans and to new audiences,” said Martin Defries, President of Rising Star Games. “Hello Kitty inspires happiness, friendship and sharing across the world and we’re humbled and excited to be an ongoing part of spreading smiles around the globe.”
Hello Kitty Kruisers is published by Rising Star Games and will be exclusively distributed in the USA, Canada and Latin America by Crescent Marketing Inc. The title will be available for Nintendo Switch™ at selected physical retailers in the USA and across Europe in Spring 2018. For more information follow Rising Star Games on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or visit the official Rising Star Games website.
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ABOUT RISING STAR GAMES
Rising Star Games is a privately held video games publisher with a global reach. With operating offices in Europe and USA the company publishes video game entertainment across all gaming platforms from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and via Steam. With decades of combined experience and a genuine passion for interactive entertainment, Rising Star Games is proud of its ever-expanding and enormously diverse catalogue of over 130 titles. www.risingstargames.com
ABOUT CRESCENT MARKETING
Trusted and established since 1989, Crescent Marketing Inc. is an accredited full-service wholesaler and promoter of video games software, carrying the largest assortment of titles on every game console released to date. With over 25 years of industry knowledge, Crescent Marketing successfully delivers market-driven brand and product strategies for clients and partners alike. For more information about our distribution, advertising, and promotional services please visit www.crescentmarketinginc.com.
BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FIGHTING GAME, DRAGON BALL FighterZ, OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES IN THE AMERICAS TODAY
A New Age of Fighting Game Action and Video Game Martial Artistry Set to Begin
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (January 26, 2018) – Leading anime video game developer and publisher BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced the launch of DRAGON BALL® FighterZ in the Americas for the Xbox One, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and PCs via STEAM®. As the official Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2017 award winner for Best Fighting Game, DRAGON BALL FighterZ is the definitive DRAGON BALL fighting game experience combining classic 2D fighting game dynamics with characters from the renowned DRAGON BALL universe, one of the most popular and iconic anime franchises around the world.
Developed by Arc System Works, a celebrated developer of 2D style fighting games; DRAGON BALL FighterZ delivers explosive graphics and over-the-top gameplay combining classic 2D fighting visuals with advanced 3D character models that look and feel as if they are ripped straight out of the DRAGON BALL anime series. The game is already gaining critical acclaim with GameSpot.com giving DRAGON BALL FighterZ a 9/10 saying “FighterZ is complex and distinct enough to be enjoyed by fighting game competitors, but there’s no question that it’s been designed to tap into the hearts of Dragon Ball’s most dedicated fans…” While IGN.com scores DRAGON BALL FighterZ with an 8.5/10 saying “FighterZ is fast, fluid, and cerebral.”
DRAGON BALL FighterZ gives fans the opportunity to take their favorite DRAGON BALL characters into battle and bring to bear some of the most famous moves from the DRAGON BALL universe such as Goku’s “Kamehameha”, Vegeta’s “Big Bang Attack”, and Frieza’s “Death Ball”. Featuring 3 vs. 3 battle mechanics, players assemble their teams and take to the field-of-battle to experience eye-popping fights that are sure to wow any fighting game aficionado. DRAGON BALL FighterZ debuts an original character – Android 21 – whose creation was supervised by DRAGON BALL creator, Akira Toriyama. The game also features a unique storyline, dynamically told through animated cut-scenes. With its cast of fan-favorite characters, players will surely train and master more than one fighter and style, delivering richer gameplay and motivation to take down the competition.
“DRAGON BALL FighterZ has been a pleasure to work on since we announced the game at the Microsoft E3 press conference last year. Throughout the year, we’ve received nothing but high praise, support, and excitement from media and fans alike; the energy surrounding this title is definitely over 9000!” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “Now that the game is in the hands of players, we’re looking forward to seeing both fighting game and DRAGON BALL anime fans battle for bragging rights in DRAGON BALL FighterZ.”
DRAGON BALL FighterZ is available now in the Americas for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 system, and PCs via STEAM with a MSRP of $59.99. For more information regarding DRAGON BALL FighterZ 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 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.comor www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
With Attack on Titan 2 players will be able to do more than just explore small field bases and venture out to slay Titans. With a new “Town Life” system players can take their custom created character and explore life inside the walls and interact with various characters from the original series. This includes talking with them, giving them gifts, changing their outfits, and even training with them to enhance their abilities.
Most of this content is shown off in a new video from Koei Tecmo, found below, and as for the game itself, Attack on Titan 2 is set to be released on the PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC in North America and Europe on March 20th.
Sony has announced that they are planning on releasing God of War for the PlayStation 4 on April 20th and to accompany this announcement the company has also released a brand new story trailer as well as some pre-order information bonuses. Those who pre-order any copy of the game will be given three special legendary shield skills as a bonus while those who pre-order from GameStop or EB Games will also be given a “Luck of Ages” XP Boost that will increase the player’s XP gain, “Hacksilver” gain, and the ability to trigger various perks.
As for the story trailer, you can check it out as well as a handful of new screenshots showing off what God of War will have to offer in this darker world focused on discovery and exploration while facing off against a new pantheon of creatures, monsters, and gods.
With Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings set to be released in a couple of months for the Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4Koei Tecmo has released a new batch of screenshots, a trailer, and new information regarding the combat system and what has been enhanced since the past game. For the first time in the series’ history players will be able to synthesize items while in battle for immediate use through Battle Mix and Extra Mix, with each opening up a range of new strategic options.
Battle Mix will allow players to craft special recipes that will enhance weaponry or cause a drastic change to the battlefield conditions; players stuck in a tight spot with an icy foe could imbue their weapon with fire or even melt away the ice on the battlefield to give themselves the ideal advantage. As for Extra Mix, players will use pre-synthesized items – heightening their abilities and even adding new characteristics in ways which were previously impossible. In the case of the ever-useful Bomb item, which can be used to attack a group of enemies during combat, Extra Mix allows for the creation of the Enormous Bomb with a wider attack radius and a much deadlier blow.
With Dragon Ball FighterZ launching today in North America and Europe Bandai Namco has released a launch trailer for the game as well as screenshots and a video focusing on the brand new character, Android 21 who undergoes something of a surprising change when she becomes a playable character.
As described by the company, Android 21 is an important character in the game’s story mode and is mysterious scientist known for having the same knowledge as the Androids creator Dr. Gero. Connected with Android 16 her background is quite vague. When entering combat she undergoes a drastic transformation and is capable of draining an opponent’s energy and copying some of their attacks. You can check out the videos below and be ready to pick up the game for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC today.
Australian gaming machine maker Aristocrat Leisure announced their purchase of Seattle-based mobile game developer Big Fish Games (Age of Enigma: The Secret of the Sixth Ghost) for $990 million USD cash from Churchill Downs. Reuters is reporting Aristocrat Leisure is funding the deal with $100 million in cash and a $890 million loan.
The purchase expands Aristocrat Leisure’s digital portfolio after the company purchased Plarium (Vikings: War of Clans) in 2017.
Our Take
Aristocrat Leisure has made it clear they are looking to diversify their business by expanding into digital casinos and mobile gaming. The purchase seems to be a good fit for Aristocrat Leisure. Big Fish Games’ previous owners was a gambling company, and Big Fish Games’ casino titles are among their most popular games.
Aristocrat Leisure’s expansion into mobile games will likely provide them a steady source of income thanks to the profitable nature of microtransactions in mobile titles. The Australian company is not alone in noticing the profitable nature of microtransactions, as major publishers spent 2017 trying to implement microtransactions in their AAA titles.
