Home Blog Page 2619

KOEI TECMO EUROPE INTRODUCES NEW BATTLE PARTY AND LEVEL UP SYSTEM FOR NIGHTS OF AZURE 2: BRIDE OF THE NEW MOON

KOEI TECMO EUROPE INTRODUCES NEW BATTLE PARTY AND LEVEL UP SYSTEM FOR NIGHTS OF AZURE 2: BRIDE OF THE NEW MOON

Explore Treacherous Dungeons, Fight Alongside Your Most Trusted Allies, and Utilise the Quirky Abilities of Friendly Fiends to Get Out of a Tough Spot!

Hertfordshire, 8th August 2017 – KOEI TECMO Europe introduced today new details on the level up system and battle party mechanics in GUST Studios’ latest title, Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon. Slated for release on the 27th October 2017, Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon will be available for the Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC via Steam®.

In Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon, players will encounter a number of unique and dastardly fiends and will have to rely on their close bonds with their companions to emerge victorious.  The battle party will always be comprised of Aluche, the player’s character, an NPC of her choice, and up to two Servans. Each team member will bring a unique selection of skills to the equation, ranging from different fighting styles and weapons to the beautiful Lily Burst, a power-up that combines the extraordinary abilities of Aluche and her humanoid companion into one devastating blow.

Aluche’s Servan allies are also useful assets to the team, with their incredible Servan Actions, which can help turn the tide of battle in her favour! The invaluable Tricker types are able to gain an advantage by unleashing their elemental abilities, dealing critical status effects to their foes. One such Tricker is the mighty canine companion, Scharf, who sends electrified spheres onto the battlefield to paralyse and inflict lasting damage on enemies! Trickers can change form as they evolve, and can grow more powerful through Reincarnation, which drastically increases their stats, allowing them to access new types of attacks and unlock incredible abilities.

As for the player-controlled Aluche, she soon discovers that the blood of slain fiends can be used to heighten her body’s strength, and players are able to choose new abilities fitting their preferred play-style from a wide selection of varied combat styles!

KOEI TECMO Europe has released a compelling new trailer which will introduce the wild cast of characters that Aluche will meet along her journey. There is also a first look at the new character Eleanor Ernest, the lively and passionate chocolatier, and a fresh look at a familiar face: Christophorus, the mysterious pure-blooded demon who returns from Nights of Azure. Both will bring their unique talents to bear in effort to aid Aluche in her fight against the Moon Queen.

For more information on Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon, please visit the official website at www.koeitecmoeurope.com/nightsofazure2, like us on www.facebook.com/ateliergames and follow us on twitter @koeitecmoeurope.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive® and Ninja Gaiden®series. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. On April 1, 2009, KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD was established as a result of the TECMO, LTD. and KOEI Co., Ltd. merger. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com

JOIN THE CLASH WITH THE FOR HONOR®  FREE WEEKEND AUGUST 10 – 13 ON ALL PLATFORMS

JOIN THE CLASH WITH THE FOR HONOR®  FREE WEEKEND AUGUST 10 – 13 ON ALL PLATFORMS

Free Weekend Players Can Experience Full Campaign and Innovative Multiplayer Alongside Latest Gameplay Updates and “Shadow & Might” Content

SYDNEY, Australia — August 8, 2017 — Ubisoft® has announced that For Honor® will offer a free weekend across all platforms starting August 10. All players will have full access to the game’s content for the duration of the free weekend, including five intense multiplayer modes, a campaign playable solo or with a friend in online co-op, as well as the entire roster of diverse heroes and unique maps that have been updated over six months of gameplay changes.

New players will be able to pre-load the game starting August 9 on PlayStation 4 and Uplay. In conjunction with this free weekend, there will be discounts on For Honor’s Standard and Gold Editions on all digital stores. Additionally, players who purchase For Honor during the free weekend will see all their progress carry over. For all details on the For Honor free weekend, please visit www.forhonorgame.com/freeweekend.

Click below to view trailer.

The free weekend will lead into the launch of “Grudge & Glory”, For Honor’s third season and biggest update to date. Season Three starts on August 15 across all platforms and will bring new heroes, new maps, ranked play and a wealth of gameplay updates. All maps, ranked play and gameplay updates will be free for all players at the start of the season. The new heroes, the proud Highlander and the fearless Gladiator, will be available free for Season Pass holders on August 15, while all other players will be able to unlock them in-game on August 22 for 15,000 Steel.

This weekend will also see the finals of the For Honor Hero Series, the first international For Honor tournament organized in partnership with ESL®. For Honor fans and newcomers looking to get a glimpse at top-tier competitive play can tune into the For Honor Season 3 Live Event: Grudge & Glory Reveal on twitch.tv/forhonorgame on August 12 starting 8PM CEST to watch the best international players compete in a fierce 1v1 Duel tournament. Viewers will also have their first chance to witness exclusive live gameplay of the new Heroes and maps coming in Season 3.

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal in collaboration with other Ubisoft studios,* For Honor offers an engaging campaign and thrilling multiplayer modes. Players embody warriors of the three Great Factions – the bold Knights, the brutal Vikings and the deadly Samurai – fighting to the death on intense and believable melee battlefields. The Art of Battle, the game’s innovative combat system that puts players in total control of their warriors, allows them to utilize the unique skills and combat style of each hero to vanquish all enemies who stand in their way. For Honor will continue to grow and improve with a new season launching in November alongside plans to introduce dedicated servers further down the development schedule.

For more information about For Honor, please visit forhonorgame.com and please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ForHonorGame and on Twitter at twitter.com/ForHonorGame.

For the latest on For Honor and all Ubisoft games, please visit ubiblog.com.

*Associate Ubisoft studios are Quebec, Toronto and Blue Byte.

ABOUT ESL

ESL is the world’s largest esports company, leading the industry across the most popular video games with numerous online and offline competitions. It operates high profile, branded international and national leagues and tournaments such as the Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL One, ESL National Championships and other top tier stadium based events, as well as grassroots amateur cups, leagues and matchmaking systems. ESL covers a broad field of services in gaming technology, event management, advertising and television production, fully catering to the needs of the esports ecosystem. With offices in North America, Germany, Russia, France, Poland, Spain, China, and partners in many other countries, it has a truly global footprint (www.eslgaming.com).

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.

KONAMI becomes Official Video Gaming Partner of Valencia CF

KONAMI becomes Official Video Gaming Partner of Valencia CF

Sydney, 8th August 2017 – Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. has announced it has become the Official Video Gaming Partner of Spanish giants, Valencia CF. The agreement will see the club faithfully recreated within the publisher’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series and the pair will work across a series of complementary promotional activities.

The deal comes as KONAMI looks to strengthen its ties with the world’s best clubs for its PES series. Valencia CF is one of the most successful clubs in the Spanish league, with six titles, numerous domestic trophies, and European success in the UEFA Cup competition.

As Valencia CF’s Official Video Gaming Partner, KONAMI will work closely with the club to ensure their representation within the PES series is as close as possible. The agreement allows KONAMI to use the home, away and third kits in the forthcomingPES 2018 and the first-team squad will be perfectly created within the game. Player faces and individual skills will also be matched, while KONAMI and Valencia CF will also work together across a host of promotional activities.

The pair will launch a series of digital co-promotions throughout the year, with KONAMI contributing visuals from the game to assist in Valencia CF’s match day social media activities. With PES 2018 using the mantra “Where Legends are Made”, PES 2018 will also see KONAMI further expand its eSport interests. June 2017’s PES League World Final saw 16 players from around the globe gather to win a stunning $200,000 prize, and KONAMI will use Valencia CF’s iconic Mestalla stadium to host Pro Gaming competitions and other key events throughout the season.

Jorge García, Valencia CF Head of Marketing, Commercial and Fan Experience Area, said that he is “delighted with this partnership, as KONAMI are a worldwide partner who will help us to take the Club to millions and millions of gamers. We’re looking forward to seeing the spectacular images of our players in the new and future editions of the PES series.”

“Valencia is a club with a rich history, lots of legends and some exciting talent in the current roster,” commented Jonas Lygaard, Senior Director – Brand & Business Development for Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. “Valencia CF is loaded with history, home to great successes, and some of the world’s greatest players have come through the ranks here as well, with Mendieta, Kempes and Ayala to name a few. With the club looking ahead to pushing on in the 2017/18 season, we are honoured to have been chosen as Valencia CF’s Official Video Game Partner, and look forward to working closely to realise them in-game and seeing them compete for a top league position.”

PES 2018 will be released for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One™ on September 14th.The game will also be available via Steam in a version that has undergone substantial improvements in terms of aesthetics and content, ensuring the game enjoys parity with the current gen formats.

For more information, please visit: www.konami.com/wepes/2018/

To view the new trailer, please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8GvJgwIIpk

About Konami Group

KONAMI HOLDINGS CORPORATION was established in 1973, and became a holding company of the Konami Group on March 31, 2006. KONAMI HOLDINGS CORPORATION covers the fields of “Digital Entertainment Business”, “Health & Fitness Business”, “Gaming & Systems Business” and “Amusement Business”. KONAMI HOLDINGS CORPORATION went public on Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1988 and the London Stock Exchange in 1999. Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. is a wholly-owned subsidiary, responsible for popular franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Pro Evolution Soccer amongst other top sellers. Konami Group is also the manufacturer of the wildly popular Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, which has sold more than 25 billion cards worldwide. For more information concerning Konami Digital Entertainment and its products, please visit www.konami.com

Ubisoft® Invites Fans to Play with Its Biggest Gamescom Lineup Yet

Ubisoft® Invites Fans to Play with Its Biggest Gamescom Lineup Yet

Sydney, Australia — August 8, 2017 — Today, Ubisoft reveals its full lineup for Gamescom, the world’s largest consumer video game event, which takes place from August 22–26 in Cologne, Germany. Visitors will be able to play hands-on demos of Assassin’s Creed® Origins, Far Cry® 5, Mario + Rabbids® Kingdom Battle, South Park™: The Fractured But Whole™ and The Crew® 2 as well as compete against each other in For Honor® and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege.

Fan activities will be planned throughout the week at the Ubisoft booth (located in Hall 6.1, booth B020), including stage performances for Just Dance® 2018 and exclusive presentations, news, demos, trailers and giveaways. Visitors will also be able to buy Ubicollectibles items, including new Six Collection Chibi figurines, at the dedicated Ubisoft store which will be located hall 5.2 booth c-011.

The Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Pro League Season 2 Finals will be held at the Alpha Stage ESL Arena in Hall 9 during Gamescom. The semi-finals will take place on Friday, August 25, and the Season 2 finals will take place on Saturday, August 26. There will be broadcasts from 9:45 am to 8 pm CET (Saturday, 6:45 pm to Sunday, 5:00 am AEST), including matches, live showcases of new content, as well as developer and community panels.

Ubisoft will be rewarding some of its most dedicated fans, inviting 15 Star Players, chosen from Ubisoft Club members, to enjoy a VIP experience and the chance to meet and greet Ubisoft developers. In addition, anyone who plays games on the Ubisoft booth at Gamescom will receive exclusive in-game rewards for some Ubisoft titles and have the opportunity to spend time in the Ubisoft Lounge, located within the booth, for meet and greets, demos and discussions about games. For more on Ubisoft Club activities during Gamescom, please visit twitter.com/ubisoftclub.

“We are very excited to be able to put our diverse lineup in players’ hands in Europe, following the great reception it received at E3 in June,” said Alain Corre, EMEA Executive Director. “More than 300 pods, the most we’ve ever had at gamescom, will be set up for players to enjoy our new games and share their feedback with us. And by showcasing new content and competitive play in For Honor and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, as well as the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Pro League Season 2 finals for the latter, we’re happy to reassure fans that these titles are here to stay!”

For more about Ubisoft at Gamescom, visit ubisoft.com, https://www.youtube.com/ubisoft and blog.ubi.com.

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.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2015–2017 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, The Crew logo, Far Cry, the For Honor logo, Just Dance, Rabbids, Tom Clancy’s, Rainbow Six, the Soldier Icon, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Far Cry 5 based on Crytek’s original Far Cry directed by Cevat Yerli. South Park: The Fractured But Whole © 2017 South Park Digital Studios LLC. All Rights Reserved. South Park and all elements thereof © 2017 Comedy Partners. All Rights Reserved. Comedy Central, South Park and all related titles, logos, and characters are trademarks of Comedy Partners. Nintendo properties are licensed to Ubisoft Entertainment by Nintendo. SUPER MARIO characters © Nintendo.

COMPETE IN FIERCE, FAST-PACED COMBAT WITH GRAVITY-DEFYING FPS LAWBREAKERS, AVAILABLE NOW

COMPETE IN FIERCE, FAST-PACED COMBAT WITH GRAVITY-DEFYING FPS LAWBREAKERS, AVAILABLE NOW

Starting Today, Prove You’re Skilled AF on PC or PlayStation®4

LOS ANGELES – Aug. 8, 2017 – Testing the skills of the best first-person shooter (FPS) players, the highly anticipated, ultra-competitive new game from design legend Cliff Bleszinski and Boss Key Productions, LawBreakers launches today on PlayStation®4 and PC. The frenetic shooter brings unprecedented vertical combat, allowing players to deliver fatal blows from every direction utilizing innovative movement systems and combat abilities. Choose between nine dynamic roles, eight gravity-defying maps, and five buzzer-beating game modes in high-intensity multiplayer team-based battles that will challenge even the most skilled FPS player.

“From the beginning, we committed ourselves at Boss Key to find the fun first when making LawBreakers, and place gameplay ahead of everything else. Since then, we’ve worked to push the genre into a new direction, taking everything we’ve learned in the past to deliver a super fast FPS that challenges gamers to be their best and truly compete in gravity-defying combat,” said Cliff Bleszinski, co-founder and CEO, Boss Key Productions. “We’re thankful to all the fans that participated in the various alphas and betas we rolled out. We always strived to do “open development,” and found that being upfront and honest with our testing, along with no NDAs, provided invaluable, transparent feedback. Without this rapport, the game wouldn’t be what it is today – and we think we have something really special because of it.”

LawBreakers (ESRB-rated M) is launching simultaneously on PlayStation®4 and Steam today at a starting price point of just $29.99. All future, non-cosmetic content updates are included at this price.

“We’re very proud to be publishing the debut title for Boss Key Productions, one of the hottest new American game development studios,” said Jungsoo Lee, General Manager of Nexon America, the California-based publisher of LawBreakers. “We truly believe Cliff and team have developed something great, breathing fresh air into the multiplayer FPS genre and pushing it to a new level. The game is generating so much player excitement.”

For more information on LawBreakers, please visit: www.lawbreakers.com

To purchase LawBreakers on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/350280/LawBreakers/
To purchase LawBreakers on PS4: https://store.playstation.com/#!/en-us/games/lawbreakers/cid=UP2882-CUSA07348_00-LAWBREAKERS00001

Social Media Links
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawbreakers
Twitter: @LawBreakers
Twitch: www.twitch.tv/lawbreakers

About Boss Key Productions http://bosskey.com/, @bosskey
Boss Key Productions is a North Carolina videogame studio based in the heart of downtown Raleigh and focused on creating AAA games. Founded in 2014 by videogame legends Cliff Bleszinski and Arjan Brussee, Boss Key’s debut title, LawBreakers, is a team-based first-person shooter. Boss Key is represented by Ophir Lupu of United Talent Agency and attorney Wayne Kazan at Weintraub, Tobin, Chediak, Coleman and Grodin.LawBreakers™ copyright 2017 Boss Key Productions, Inc. LawBreakers is a trademark of Boss Key Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.

About Nexon America, Inc. http://www.nexon.net 
Nexon America is subsidiary of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO), a global leader in online games, with more than 100 live games operated across more than 190 countries. Nexon pioneered micro-transactions and the free-to-play business model, and is widely credited with unmatched global expertise in sophisticated live game operations, nurturing player communities, and for sustaining titles for years, even decades. Founded in Korea in 1994, the company is now headquartered in Japan and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In 2017, Nexon was placed on the Nikkei Stock Index 300.

LIGHT TRACER to Bring Magical Puzzle Platform Play to PlayStation®VR in September

LIGHT TRACER to Bring Magical Puzzle Platform Play to PlayStation®VR in September

Oasis Games Brings New Title to the West for PS VR, Transporting Players to an Enchanting Magical Tower

August 7, 2017 – Oasis Games Ltd, a leading independent Chinese publisher, today announced that its new Puzzle Platform VR game, LIGHT TRACER, will launch in the West this September for PlayStation®VR. In the indie-developed game, players will lead a princess to the top of an enigmatic, Babel-like tower to save her ailing people, using godlike powers and a Light Staff to guide the princess while manipulating objects to create a safe path for her.

LIGHT TRACER combines platform-style movement and clever puzzles with unique play mechanics and delightful artwork. In the game, the player controls a mysterious godlike entity who can wield a magical Light Staff in one hand while using its other hand to interact with the game world, helping the Princess reach the safety of the tower’s pinnacle. The Light Staff guides the Princess forward while the player manipulates the world to get a better view, interacts with object triggers and moves items to turn barriers into bridges. As the player progresses, the entity’s hidden relationship with the princess is gradually revealed.

“LIGHT TRACER brings a new style of platform game to PS VR players, offering a journey of challenging puzzles, colossal heights and artistic visuals,” said Alen Wu, Business Director at Oasis Games. “You’ll need both hands to save the Princess: one to guide her using your Light Staff and the other to spin and manipulate the mysterious tower to open a path to save her people from a tragic fate.”

The Princess’s journey comprises eight varied chapters ranging from ice to gravity puzzles to mechanical contraptions, and each level ends with a challenging boss fight requiring strategy as well as quick reflexes. Players will guide the Princess through action-platform stages with jumping, timing and enemies—but they must also engage with mind-bending puzzles in each level. Often the solution depends not only on your intellect, but also in the way you look at things!

FEATURES

·     A New Kind of VR Puzzle Platformer: Guide the Princess through platform-style challenges with jumps, enemies and precise timing requirements while manipulating the world and solving clever puzzles that depend on your point of view—literally!

·     The Powers of a God: Wield your powerful Light Staff in one hand while interacting with the world with the other to open a path upward
·     Enchanting Graphics: A compelling, almost toy-like world comes to life as you ascend the giant tower and interact with the Princess
·     Eight Unique Worlds: From Gravity World to Ice World to Mechanica World, each chapter offers new puzzles and challenges
·     A View to a Thrill: Grab and spin the tower for fresh perspectives that may unveil the answer to the riddles in front of you
·     Battle with Bosses: Each chapter ends with a unique boss fight where you must use both strategy and quick reflexes to overcome opponents like a rock giant or a sinister snowman

Developed by Void Dimensions and published by Oasis Games for PS VR, LIGHT TRACER will be available this September on the PlayStation®Store. This game has been rated “E for Everyone” by the ESRB.

Stay up to date on all of the console titles from Oasis Games by liking us on Facebook at fb.me/OasisGamesConsole and following on Twitter at OAS_Games and Instagram at @OasisGamesOfficial. Get more information on all Oasis Games titles here: www.oasgames.com.

About Oasis Games
Oasis Games Limited was established in 2011 and has become a top global interactive entertainment publisher. The company’s games have been translated into 16 different languages and published in more than 70 countries, reaching more than 100 million players. The company continues its pioneering presence as the first, and currently sole, strategic publishing partner of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) Shanghai for the global publishing market—uniquely positioning Oasis Games to bring high quality games to PC and console players worldwide. Its blockbuster online RPG, Legend Online, has attracted over 50 million players and Naruto Online, the award-winning RPG browser-based game of the Naruto franchise, has amassed a global following. The company launched a lineup of exciting Steam and PlayStation®VR games during the PS VR launch window and continues to launch strong new games for PC and console. For more information, please visit www.oasgames.com.

# # #

GungHo Online Entertainment America Inks Partnership with Signal Studios For Upcoming AAA Mobile Project

GungHo Online Entertainment America Inks Partnership with Signal Studios For Upcoming AAA Mobile Project

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Aug. 7, 2017 – GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc. (GOEA), today announced it has entered a partnership with Signal Studios to develop an all-new AAA mobile gaming experience. Signal Studios developed the action-strategy game Toy Soldiers and free-to-play title Ascend: Hand of Kul.

The partnership facilitates the company’s growth in the west following the launch of successful free-to-play titles such as mobile phenomenon Puzzle & Dragons and Grasshopper Manufacture’s hit hack-and-slash game, LET IT DIE for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.

“Our partnership with Signal Studios will add immense value to our company’s lineup of diverse and engaging experiences,” said Jun Iwasaki, CEO and President of GOEA. “Signal is among the most creative and passionate studios in the videogames industry and we look forward to collaborating with them.”

The relationship properly equips Signal Studios with the resources to nourish the company’s innovation and develop engrossing new experiences for mobile audiences across the globe.

“Partnering with GungHo is an exciting move for Signal and accelerates our vision of bringing a AAA mobile gaming experience to a global audience,” said D.R. Albright III, President & Creative Director at Signal Studios. “We believe GungHo’s leadership and experience in the industry will improve our accessibility to the market and help us reach new heights as a games studio.”

For information on GOEA, visit www.gunghoonline.com.

For more information on Signal Studios, visit www.signalstudios.net.

# # #

About GungHo Online Entertainment America

GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc. (GOEA) is a multiplatform publisher dedicated to delivering the best titles, content, and support for the online gaming community. Established in 2012 and led by former Square Enix and XSEED Games executive Jun Iwasaki, GOEA is the US subsidiary of GungHo Online Entertainment (GOE), an established Japanese publisher. GOEA’s content partners include leading developers Grasshopper Manufacture, Game Arts, Acquire, and Gravity, all of which are subsidiaries of GOE. GOEA publishes and distributes network-oriented games for console, handheld, mobile, tablet, and MMO-style games for PC. GOEA is located in El Segundo, CA. For more information, visit www.gunghoonline.com.

About Signal Studios

Signal Studios is an independent video game development company formed in early 2008 by DR Albright. Based in Kirkland, WA, Signal Studios is the creator of the popular games Toy Soldiers and Ascend: Hand of Kul. The company is currently working on multiple new IPs across current, next generation, and mobile platforms. For more information visit: www.signalstudios.net.

 

 

Cat Quest Review

Cat Quest

Developer: The Gentlebros
Publisher: PQube Limited
Format: PC (Reviewed)
Release Date: 8 Aug 2017
Price: $12.99USD – Available Here

Overview

I’m a simple man. I see “cat” in a title, I’m already interested. When it comes to games, that has not served me well so far. I can thank Greenlight’s quality check for that (or lack of any, to be honest). Asset flips, low effort games, broken games – most of them found a way to desecrate the holy order of felinity. Yet, every once in a while, we get a game that manages to save face for all the virtual cats out there. Cat Quest manages to do a lot of things right while keeping it all simple. Not to mention ridiculously cute.

Story

A relaxing fishing trip with your sister is interrupted by an evil cat antagonist (catagonist?) Drakoth who steals your sister, destroys the boat and throws you into the water. That last part is especially devastating if you’re a cat. Later you find yourself stranded in a world of Felingard and meet your new companion Spirry (think of him as a less annoying version of Navi from Legend of Zelda). Now you’re all set for a brand new mewenture!

Gameplay

Yes, a mewenture. The game is rich with cat puns but also play on words with real world locations, pop culture references and parodying a couple of things from Skyrim here and there.  Now, see that first screenshot above? The first time I took control of the game I figured it is a static type map so I clicked on the first nearby location. But to my amazement, the catracter (cat + character, original pun, do not steal!) swung his sword and I realized the world map is alive and interactive with me and everything else in it!

On our way to slay some dragons, defeat Drakoth and save our sister in the end, there are plenty of hurdles we must jump over in the process. In this cases, hurdles would be gaining a lot of experience, new equipment and weapons. There are two ways we can go on about it – slaying random monsters on the world map and solving side quests. The first approach is something I wouldn’t recommend. The more you wander away into the unknown, higher the chance you’ll stumble upon some overpowered monsters who will kill you in one hit. Patience and not rushing is the key here. Also, solving the average side quests will give you enough exp that you would earn otherwise by fighting random monsters for half an hour. Speaking of fights, Cat Quest has simple and exciting combat mechanic at the same time. All battles are done real time where you can cast spells while slashing them with your sword. Evading attacks by rolling is important too, since enemies won’t just stand there while you’re picking them off one by one. Their attack range and time is represented by a growing red circle underneath them, so you’ll know when it is the best moment to roll away to safety.

Visuals

If there is one word to describe Cat Quest with, it is the most obvious one: cute. Everything is cute. The monsters, the world map, even the equipment you put on your hero. I spent way too much time dressing up that kitty to balance between good & cute equipment I could put on him. Something simple as watching you kitty skipping around while running is strangely fulfilling. One thing that felt (and looked) monotonous is something you’d expect from most of the RPGs by now. The dungeons. After you pillage through a few, you start to see repeating visuals. At least you won’t spend too much time in them unless some side quest sends you there.

Audio

As for the music, it’s only there if you stop and look for it. Not much to find, though. One repeating audio background as you explore the world, a different tunes when you’re on a side quest or in a dungeon and that’s pretty much it. Nothing on that front that will stand out but at least it keeps the game from being completely mute. It is a shame since Cat Quest is a type of game that’s just begging for a memorable soundtrack.

Overall

There is a whole lot of content to be found behind this deceptively simple game. With over 50 dungeons to explore and 60 side quests to solve, it’s sure to keep you occupied for a while. Most of the work in the game went into an adorable art style and a meticulously crafted world and it shows on every skippity step you take. It has my honest recommendation for the sheer amount of cuteness and cat puns (what can I say, I’m weak to those).

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

ROKH Preview

ROKH

Developer: Nvizzio Creations , Darewise Entertainment
Publisher: Darewise Entertainment
Platform: Windows
Release Date: 16 May 207
Price: $24.99 USD – Available Here
ROKH is an open world survival game set on Mars. Players take on the role of an astronaut sent to the Red Planet after a series of nuclear blasts from the nuclear reactors destroy the planet’s settlements. With only the most basic supplies, players must scavenge and harvest resources from the planet to disable the out of control nuclear reactors and rebuild settlements for future colonization. The developers have built ROKH’s gameplay around the three pillars of crafting, survival, and exploration. The game is currently in alpha testing and is available through Steam Early Access.

In a market wildly oversaturated in survival games, it is hard to stand out. ROKH’s overarching story that ties the entire game together is likely one of the major features that will separate it from the rest of the pack. While the game is in alpha stages, players who explore the abandoned settlements will discover bits of writing left over by the now dead first wave settlers that tells tales from the last days before the nuclear blasts. I think it is a solid way to deliver a compelling story in an open world survival game.

ROKH builds its gameplay on three pillars: survival, exploration, and crafting. To start a game players choose a server to create a character on and select a viable drop zone in the top left corner of the map. They are dropped near a power station and some emergency supplies. The players are only given a few basic tools and parts to construct their first mining pick. The rest will be up to the player to scavenge and collect. The early game puts a lot of focus on exploration, as it is the only source of food, water, and oxygen until players can craft the requisite machinery to create a steady supply on their own.

As ROKH is set on a near future Mars, players have a few more things to worry about than the average survival game. Not only do players need to manage their health, hunger, and thirst, the space suit needs to be powered and players must maintain a steady supply of oxygen while keeping their radiation levels low. The increased number of survival needs provides an extra layer of challenge when it comes to building settlements and exploring long distances.

ROKH has a pretty beefy tech tree that will keep players busy for some time. There are lots of tools, building blocks, and machines to available to craft. Creating a sealed space is one of the first tasks for the budding colonist. An enclosed space can protect players from radiation if crafted from dense enough materials and can be pressurized with oxygen, allowing for players to save their oxygen tanks for adventuring outside. From there, players will jump into a world of tools and machines used to improve living spaces, provide the resources needed for survival, and manufacture items in bulk. I really like that tools can be crafted with optional parts to give the tool extra modifiers like increased durability or higher damage once more advanced tools are available.

There are different raw materials to scavenge on Mars. There are only a handful of in-game textures for harvestable material right now, so tracking down specific things for harvest takes a bit of memory work at this point. I like that the crafting system is very flexible about what raw materials it will accept. As long as the material meets minimum stat requirements, it will craft. On the flip side, repairing items can be a bit of a hassle as each component of the item needs to be repaired with whatever material it was crafted with. Alternatively, players can simple salvage damaged parts from broken tools and reuse the part later. The reuse philosophy fits well for the Martian setting, but I would have liked to see the game separate damaged parts from fresh ones by default, instead of putting them all in one stack. That way, players could have better control on what parts they plan on using for a new tool.

ROKH’s crafting experience needs a lot of work still as it is incredibly clunky. The crafting menu is scattered between individual tools held in the toolbelt. To craft a single simple tool from a raw material mined from the surface, players will need to equip and use two separate tools, each with its own crafting menu. More complex machinery can require three to four different tools to arrive at an end product. Making the system even more frustrating is the limitation to just five available slots in the toolbelt, forcing players to shuffle around items constantly. A much better system would be a single, unified menu that provides options based on the tools currently equipped on the belt. Additionally, increasing the toolbelt capacity to eight or even ten slots would go a long way as a quality of life enhancement.

The menus are awkward at times. There is no indication on the server browser as to what servers the player has characters on. Tools like the crowbar and the wrench will hold items in its crafting slot when the crafting menu is closed, instead of automatically returning the item to the inventory. Crafting multiple items requires everything to be done in a specific order, otherwise the game will spit out an error. Inventory management is simple right now and desperately needs an organize bag button to help clean up messy inventories.

Construction is a much better experience. The base construction material are tiles, which as its name suggests are small flat objects that create walls, floors, ceilings, and any other surface the player may need to build. These can be made from nearly anything, though the denser materials provide better protection from radiation. Putting down the first floor as it can be a little tricky to find the exact ground height. But once the first floor tile is laid down, building with tiles is very easy as everything snaps into place.

The controls in ROKH very much reflects its alpha testing status. Options are at the spartan side currently. Key bindings can be tweaked, but there is no option to modify the mouse options.

ROKH is clearly in its infancy and still has a long way to go before the game is ready for a full launch. The game’s emphasis on exploration with an overarching story to be discovered is an intriguing prospect. There are some good ideas floating around, but the user experience needs to be improved. Basic options for tweaking things like mouse sensitivity must be added soon. Menus need polishing to be more user friendly. The crafting system is in dire need of a rework due to its frustrating system of multiple tools and limited belt space. As with any early access title, the current state may not represent the end product when it is launched in twelve months time, but the current state of the game is not recommended for general play.

Bury me, my Love will be at Gamescom 2017

Bury me, my Love will be at Gamescom 2017

Paris, France, August 4th 2017 – Today, publisher Playdius and game developer The Pixel Hunt announced a publishing deal for the text-message-based game Bury me, my Love. Co-produced by ARTE and Figs and supported by the CNC, the game will be playable at the Gamescom 2017.

Bury me, my Love is a text-message-based game designed for handheld devices. It tells the story of Nour, a young Syrian woman who is leaving her homeland to find refuge in Europe. Majd, her husband, stayed back in Syria; through a messaging app, he is going to do his best to give her some directions so she can reach her destination safely.

Bury me, my Love is a “reality-inspired game,” a documented fiction which draws inspiration directly from real-world events. The original idea stems from an article written by Le Monde.fr journalist Lucie Soullier that tells the story of Dana, a young Syrian woman who fled her country and is now living in Germany.

“We are proud to work with The Pixel Hunt”, said Francis Ingrand, Plug In Digital & Playdius CEO. “The heart-warming relationship of the characters enclosed in a simple, yet beautifully designed game make of Bury me, my Love a wonderful experience”.

Bury me, my Love will be available in Q4 2017 on iOS and Android.