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The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel Launches on Windows PC Alongside Shiny New Trailer

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel Launches on Windows PC Alongside Shiny New Trailer

Beginning of Critically Acclaimed ‘Trails’ Arc Primed and Polished for PC Gamers with Help from Peter “Durante” Thoman along with Over 5,000 Brand New Lines of Voiceover Dialogue

Torrance, Calif. — August 2, 2017 — XSEED Games, the independent-minded console publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today announced that The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, the start of a new story arc in developer Nihon Falcom’s acclaimed series of role-playing games, is now available on Windows PC via Steam, GOG.com, and the Humble Store by Humble Bundle with a launch week discount of 10% off the regular price of $39.99, €39.99, and £29.99. To further celebrate the occasion, a variety of DLC packs to help players get a head-start containing bonus sepith, accessories, monster ingredients, healing items, and Zeram powders and capsules will be free for the first 2 weeks after launch. Originally released in North America to wide acclaim in 2015 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel makes its debut on Windows PC with visual enhancements and over 5,000 new lines of English voiceover dialogue (approximately a 50% increase).

“On behalf of our talented team at XSEED Games, I’m pleased to introduce another remarkable Nihon Falcom JRPG to PC gamers,” said Ken Berry, Executive Vice President at Marvelous USA. “Fans will be happy to know that we’re hard at work to bring more Japanese gems to PC, including Trails of Cold Steel II. In addition, it’s been a pleasure to work with an esteemed member of the PC community on this title to ensure a top quality experience.”

“When XSEED approached me about contributing to their in-progress The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel port, I was immediately excited about the prospect,” said Peter “Durante” Thoman. “The Trails in the Sky series features some of my favorite JRPGs on PC, so I looked forward to making this later game in the franchise the best it can be on PC.”

Popular PC community modder Peter “Durante” Thoman has helped optimize the game for its PC release, and fans can read what kind of technical hurdles he encountered in the third and final of his multiple guest blog posts detailing this game’s journey on XSEED’s blog at http://xseedgames.tumblr.com/.

About The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel builds on Nihon Falcom’s beloved Trails franchise, improving on the series’ formula while delivering an expertly told, standalone narrative that both series fans and newcomers alike will enjoy. Taking place on the same continent as fan-favorite Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel further explores Erebonia and gives players a chance to delve deep into the inner political conflicts of this oft-mentioned and powerful empire. Players take on the role of elite military students at a time of great turmoil, who enjoy school life as they bond with fellow students to earn new abilities in battle, and then utilize those abilities via tactical turn-based combat. In between skirmishes, players can upgrade their party members with the “ARCUS” system – a streamlined version of the classic “Orbment” magic system from previous titles – allowing for greater access to abilities and quicker customization.

Developed by Nihon Falcom and published on Windows PC worldwide by XSEED Games, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is now available on Windows PC with a launch week discount of 10% off the regular price of $39.99, €39.99, and £29.99, with bonus DLC items free for the first two weeks. The game is also available for PS3™ and “PSVita” systems in both digital and physical formats, and the digital “PSVita” system release is compatible with PlayStation®TV. This title has been rated “T for Teen” in North America on PS3 and “PSVita” by the ESRB. The Windows PC release has not been rated. For more information on The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel please visit the official website at www.trailsofcoldsteel.com/cs1/.

For more information on XSEED Games products, please visit www.xseedgames.com. Fans can also follow XSEED Games on Facebook at www.facebook.com/XSEEDGames and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/XSEEDGames.

©Nihon Falcom Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Licensed to and published by XSEED Games / Marvelous USA, Inc.

 

Viking Survival RPG Valnir Rok to Make a Debut at Gamescom

Independent game developer Encurio GmbH has joined forces with Reverb Triple XP publisher to work on Valnir Rok, a Viking-themed online RPG. Set on a mystical Nordic island, the game will pit you against the harsh environment, ferocious beasts and other players. Aside from being hostile, the island is also filled with valuable loot, so there will be a lot of hidden caves and forgotten ruins to explore.

To not make it all about slaughtering other inhabitants, Valnir Rok will offer other interesting features such as forming clans, fighting against opposing ones, placing bounties on other players, as well as building and expanding village structures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzNUa7PI9kk

If you happen to be anywhere near Cologne in Germany later this month, then I have more good news for you. You can skip Steam’s Early Access queue and try out the playable demo of Valnir Rok at Gamescom.

“It’s the dream of every passionate gamer to make games and we take our first big step in making the dream into reality with the announcement of Valnir Rok,” says Sebastian Rahmel, Game Director at Encurio GmbH. “We love Vikings and survival games so it was natural for us to pursue our vision of a Viking survival roleplaying game. Our development team is very passionate about the project and we’re all looking forward to debuting the game at Gamescom 2017.”

Gamescom opens on August 22 and runs through to August 26 so make sure to visit their booth. If that’s not an option for you, then the next best thing is to follow the progress of the game through Twitter, Facebook and via their official website at www.valnir.net

RAZER LAUNCHES THE BLACKWIDOW TOURNAMENT EDITION CHROMA V2 KEYBOARD FOR COMPETITIVE GAMING

RAZER LAUNCHES THE BLACKWIDOW TOURNAMENT EDITION CHROMA V2 KEYBOARD FOR COMPETITIVE GAMING

The Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition Chroma V2 introduces Razer’s new Instant Trigger Technology, enabling the industry’s fastest response rate for a gaming keyboard

IRVINE, (Calif.) – Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the launch of the Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition (TE) Chroma V2, the gaming keyboard of choice for esports players.

The Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma V2 is the compact mechanical gaming keyboard built for competitive gamers looking for rapid reaction speeds. The new keyboard boasts Razer’s new Instant Trigger Technology (ITT), enabling industry-leading response times within a gaming keyboard. Upon actuation of a single key, Razer’s ITT cancels any delay between key actuations to provide rapid response from your keyboard to your system.

The Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma V2 offers users the choice between Razer’s multi-award winning mechanical Green, Orange or Yellow switches. Designed without a tactile bump or click, the Razer Yellow switches are silent and rapid to meet the demands of fast-paced first person shooter (FPS) and online multiplayer battle arena (MOBA) type games. With an unmatched response rate, Razer Yellow switches offer a 1.2mm actuation point, is 40 percent faster than standard mechanical key switches, and has been tested under the most intense gaming sessions to ensure a lifespan of up to 80 million keystrokes.

“Gamers rely on their gear to react and respond as fast as they do no matter the situation, from landing a headshot to combining ultimate abilities as a team,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, and CEO. “Timing is critical. The BlackWidow TE Chroma V2’s Instant Trigger Technology works hand-in-hand with our Yellow switches, setting the bar for the industry’s fastest response rating on a keyboard with the ultimate combination of hardware and software.”

Designed for portability, the Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma V2 keyboard includes a compact, tenkeyless layout, and detachable USB braided cable. A new magnetic ergonomic wrist rest is also offered for extreme comfort while gaming and is detachable for maximum portability.

The Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma V2 features individually backlit keys that are powered by Razer Chroma™ technology, which unlocks customizable lighting features that can be synced across devices. Gamers can choose from 16.8 million colors and a variety of effects. Custom settings can be created using the Razer Synapse software platform and shared with millions of other Razer software users via the Razer Chroma Workshop. In-game Razer Chroma lighting profiles are also integrated into popular game titles, including “Overwatch” and “Call of Duty.”
The Razer BlackWidow Chroma TE V2 is available for order now from RazerStore.com.

For more information, please visit razerzone.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-blackwidow-tournament-edition-chroma-v2

Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma V2

Price:
AU$239.95/ NZ$259.95

Availability:
Razerzone.com – Available Now
Worldwide – August 2017

Product features:

  • Razer™ Mechanical Switches with 50 g actuation force (Green)
  • Razer™ Mechanical Switches with 45 g actuation force (Orange / Yellow)
  • 80 million keystroke life span
  • Detachable braided USB cable
  • Razer Chroma™ customizable backlighting with 16.8 million color options
  • Ergonomic magnetic and detachable wrist rest
  • New Instant Trigger Technology
  • Inter-device synchronization

ABOUT RAZER:

Razer™ is the world’s leading lifestyle brand for gamers.

The triple-headed snake logo trademark of Razer is one of the most recognized icons in the global gaming community, and the company has a fan base that spans every continent. Razer has designed and built the world’s largest independent gamer ecosystem of hardware, software and services with over 35 million users.

Razer’s award-winning products include hardware such as high-performance gaming peripherals (for the PC and console platforms), the Razer Blade line of gaming laptops; software such as Razer Cortex (a game optimizer and launcher); and services such as Razer zGold (a virtual credit service and payment engine for gamers). The company additionally provides audio-visual certification through its subsidiary THX Ltd.

The company has a global footprint with 9 offices worldwide and is recognized as the leading gaming brand in the US, Europe and China.

Founded in 2005 and dual-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore, Razer is backed by institutional investors such as IDG-Accel, Intel Capital, Digital Grid and Horizons Ventures.

X-MORPH™: DEFENSE – SET TO LAUNCH AUGUST 30TH ON PC, XBOX ONE & PLAYSTATION 4

X-MORPH™: DEFENSE – SET TO LAUNCH AUGUST 30TH ON PC, XBOX ONE & PLAYSTATION 4

SZCZECIN, POLAND – August 1, 2017 – EXOR Studios is proud to announce that X-Morph: Defense will launch on August 30th. The game will release simultaneously on Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows 10 for $19.99. X-Morph: Defense is a unique twin-stick shooter, tower defense hybrid. Unprecedented destruction of fully dynamic environments provides a never seen before level of tower defense freedom. Watch this new release date announcement trailer and witness Earth’s destruction.

X-Morph: Defense Announcement Trailer:

X-Morph: Defense is available for pre-order on the Xbox One for $17.99 (10% off):

https://www.microsoft.com/store/p/x-morph-defense/bxb5dm2cf32m

The PlayStation 4 Asian version of the game ( Japanese/Korean/Traditional Chinese ) is going to be published in Asia in cooperation with Marvelous Inc.

About X-Morph: Defense:

You are the X-Morph – an alien species that invades Earth to harvest its resources and terraform the surface. Strategize in the build mode by carefully selecting various types of alien towers or throw yourself right into the heat of the battle. Build mazes for incoming enemies in an environment that provides exceptional planning freedom. Tear down buildings and collapse bridges to support your defense or to simply indulge in a spectacle of unprecedented destruction. Possess a range of unique alien weapons and use defense strategies like you’ve never seen before in this genre.

Key Features:

TOWER DEFENSE
– Build your towers anywhere on the map.
– Destroy obstacles, collapse buildings and bridges to change enemy paths.
– Connect towers with laser fences that block enemy movement.
– Smart enemies – there are no predefined enemy paths. Enemies adapt to the changing battlefield and your tower placement, making the challenge a lot more interesting.
– Advanced tower types – different kinds of enemies require different defense strategies. Build advanced towers to counter special enemies.

SHOOTER

– Don’t wait for your enemies – engage them directly with the X-Morph fighter.
– Morph into four distinct fighter forms, each one with a different weapon and special ability.

HUMAN MECHA

– Fight huge, building size, mechanical war machines. Each boss fight is unique and heavily influences the gameplay environment. Entire cities will be destroyed.

SPLIT SCREEN CO-OP

– Fend off the human threat with a friend at your side.

SINGLE PLAYER AND COOP STORY CAMPAIGNS

– take over the Earth by invading locations all around the globe including South Africa, Russia, USA, Japan, China, Britain, Argentina and other countries
– upgrade your towers and abilities throughout the course of the story campaign
– the entire story campaign is available in coop mode
– coop missions include additional enemy waves that create a new gameplay experience
– three difficulty modes

TECHNOLOGY

– X-Morph: Defense is powered by EXOR Studios’ proprietary Schmetterling game engine.
– Dynamic building destruction system. Every building in the game can be destroyed piece by piece. Realistic physics simulation makes every destruction scenario unique.
– PhysX by NVIDIA.

About EXOR Studios™

EXOR Studios is an independent game development company founded in August 2007 and based in Szczecin, Poland. It is known for its work on the popular zombie smashing hit – Zombie Driver and the award winning and critically acclaimed Source Engine Mod – D.I.P.R.I.P.

For further information and review codes, please contact us at [email protected]. For more information about X-Morph: Defense visit:

http://www.xmorphdefense.com
https://twitter.com/EXORStudios
https://www.facebook.com/exorstudios
http://store.steampowered.com/app/408410/XMorph_Defense/

©2017 EXOR Studios, the EXOR Studios logo, X-Morph, and the X-Morph logo are trademarks or registered trademarks in the United States, European Union and other countries. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

 

Get Ready To Brave The Hidden Dangers Of The Yggdrasil With Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond The Myth

Get Ready To Brave The Hidden Dangers Of The Yggdrasil With Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond The Myth

Watch How The Protective Dragoon Can Shield Your Party In The New Trailer!

They say that whoever reaches the top of the colossal Yggdrasil will have their greatest wish fulfilled. So what’s so hard about hiking up a tree? Well, besides being a gigantic labyrinth, the Yggdrasil is home to many nightmarish creepy crawlies and terrifying FOEs just waiting for a tasty treat to come waltzing by. But don’t let that dampen your adventurous spirit because Etrian Odyssey V contains a treasure that will strengthen your resolve!
Pre-order Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond The Myth to secure a magnificent 24-Page Art Book – Featuring beautiful character art and concept sketches by the illustrious Yuji Himukai. The unique explorers that will fill up your party are a wonder to behold. Check out the Glam Shot here.

And that’s not all! Learn about the armor-clad Dragoon in our new trailer. One of the four classes for the Earthlain race, the Dragoon is all about soaking up damage and dishing out the heavy artillery with their hand cannon. They’ll need to rely on protecting the party from various attacks with different guard stances and is the first line of defence against all the hostile creatures roaming around the Yggdrasil. As Dragoons level up, they can choose between a Master form that emphasizes strong defence or one that focuses on offensive capabilities.

Watch the Dragoon in action below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B61mGuIrz0&feature=youtu.be 

The Bufu Boyz are back and ready to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Etrian series!  ATLUS’ own Will and EJ will be streaming various Etrian games every Saturday at 8:00 AM AEST. This will all lead to the EOV streaming event happening on September 15. Tune into the ATLUS Twitch Channel and help them navigate perilous dungeons!

Oh, and the full website is now live! Check it out here

Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth Features

  • A Choose-your-own-odyssey Feel – Starting with the creation of your party to exploring the uncharted labyrinth of the Yggdrasil Tree, Beyond the Myth is all about choosing how your own adventure unfolds. Test your survival skills by wisely navigating the winding floors of Yggdrasil, using shrewd tactics when battling gruesome beasts, making the right decisions during various “scenarios,” and more. To meet these challenges, the home base city of Iorys is ready for all your buying/selling, recruiting, and information-gathering needs!
  • Gameplay Fit for a True Pathfinder – It wouldn’t be an Etrian Odyssey game without the life-or-death need to map your progress. For those new to the series, the bottom screen of the 3DS displays a top-down, tile-based map that must be filled out while dungeon crawling. Players can use the map to mark the locations of treasures, doors, enemies, environmental obstructions, and more. Expect the unexpected at every turn–and then make a note on the map so it’s not so unexpected next time!
  • Epic Turn-based Battles – There’s a reason why no one has ever reached the top of Yggdrasil. Dangerous creatures and utterly terrifying FOEs–high-level mini-bosses, for you newcomers–roam the labyrinth on every floor and prepare to test your mettle with challenging turn-based battles. Proper planning is a must and balancing strong party composition is absolutely crucial for success. You’ll need the right team to unleash Union Attacks and level the playing field!
  • Expanded Character Creation and Customization – With four unique races, 10 distinct classes, more customization options than any previous game in the franchise, and a streamlined skill tree/class advancement, you can shape a party to whatever your heart desires.
  • A Magical Art Style and Score – Longtime series illustrator Yuji Himukai and renowned composer Yuzo Koshiro return to add their signature magic to the art and music in the game.


Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth
will release spring 2017 for the Nintendo 3DS™ system and will be priced at $59.95. For more information please visit the website.

Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth Key Facts 
Platforms:                          Nintendo 3DS™
Release:                            Spring 2017
Developer:                          ATLUS
Genre:                              RPG
Players:                            Singleplayer
Age Rating:                         PG
R.R.P:                              59.95
Languages:                          English (Voice and text)

Samsung Australia launches its most advanced 4K player

Samsung Australia launches its most advanced 4K player

The ultimate in picture quality, connectivity, and ease-of-use

SYDNEY, Australia, August 2, 2017 – Samsung Electronics Australia is excited to announce the launch of its most advanced 4K UHD Blu-ray player, combining the very best in picture quality with new levels of connectivity and functionality.

The Samsung UBD-M9500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player raises the bar for the Australian home cinema experience. With high dynamic range (HDR) support delivering stunning contrast and deeply detailed images on HDR-capable TVs, while an expanded colour spectrum features twice the colour range of most standard Blu-ray players, Samsung’s new UHD Blu-ray player enables Australians to experience their favourite TV shows and movies as they were intended.[i]

The addition of content-streaming to mobile devices, Bluetooth® wireless audio for private viewing, and the ability to enjoy 360-degree photos and videos on a large screen make the UBD-M9500 a truly innovative and easy-to-use entertainment hub.[ii]

Furthermore, the UBD-M9500 offers seamless and complete integration with compatible Samsung TVs through the mutual use of Samsung’s UI platform. This is designed to deliver a superior usability experience, with simple and easy navigation, control across multiple devices with the One Remote, and automatic setup of HDR and audio outputs.

“Samsung always strives to surpass the expectations of our Australian customers and deliver the best home cinema experience possible,” said Carl Rose – Vice President, Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics Australia.

“By combining the stunning picture quality of 4K and HDR with the innovative functionality of wireless mobile streaming, 360-degree content playback, Private Cinema Mode’s Bluetooth audio streaming, and the seamless integration provided by our UI platform, the UBD-M9500 is much more than just a 4K disc player – it’s the perfect companion to Samsung’s TV range.”

Key UBD-M9500 features include:

  • The ultimate picture: With HDR support, the UBD-M9500 is designed to deliver an exceptional Ultra HD experience on Samsung’s HDR-capable QLED TVs, offering sharper contrast, higher brightness levels and deeper blacks compared to non-HDR-capable TVs.i
  • Breathtaking colour: The UBD-M9500 offers twice the colour range and up to 64 times the colour expression of standard Blu-ray players, delivering a stunningly vivid picture every time.
  • Content unchained: Australians can now stream content from their 4K UHD Blu-ray player to their compatible mobile device, even if the TV is off or being used to access another content source.ii
  • 360-degree content playback: Using a TV to view 360-degree photos and videos from Gear 360 and YouTube 360 has never been easier, thanks to the UDB-M9500 and its easy-navigation One Remote.[iii]
  • A little privacy: Thanks to Private Cinema Mode, Australians can now enjoy their favourite TV shows and movies without disturbing their family by streaming audio to a Bluetooth headset.[iv]
  • Complete integration with Samsung TVs: With the UI platform running across both the UDB-M9500 and Samsung’s TV range, Australians can now experience the ultimate in easy-navigation usability.

Samsung is also launching the UBD-M8500, featuring Ultra HD and HDR picture quality, as well as the expanded colour spectrum compared to non-UHD-capable Blu-ray players. The player also offers the same complete integration with Samsung TVs as the UBD-M9500, along with the seamless Smart Hub and One Remote user interface.[v]

Pricing and availability

The UBD-M9500 and UDB-M8500 are now available from selected retailers.

UBD-M9500: RRP $599 (inclusive of GST)

UBD-M8500: RRP $449 (inclusive of GST)

###

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies.

The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

[i] Available only on UHD content. To view in 4K UHD, 4K UHD content and a 4K UHD compatible TV are required. UHD quality may vary depending on the content source, TV model and size. Picture quality of upscaled content may vary depending on source content. Picture quality of low resolution video will not reach UHD quality.

[ii] Internet connection and Bluetooth-compatible devices required. Data and other charges may apply.

[iii] Gear VR sold separately. Gear 360º content must be converted on a compatible Galaxy phone or PC application.

[iv] Compatible Bluetooth headset required. Sold separately.

[v] Internet connection required. Data and other charges may apply.

Build the Car of Your Dreams in the Forza Motorsport 7 Garage

Build the Car of Your Dreams in the Forza Motorsport 7 Garage

Welcome to week three of the Forza Motorsport 7 Garage, our weekly look at the 700+ cars coming to the game at launch. A huge part of any Forza game is the chance to express yourself – whether you love painting cars with gorgeous liveries or creating custom builds and tunes that can transform a good car into a great one. This week, in addition to announcing a massive collection of Japanese vehicles – 77 in total – we’re also turning the spotlight on the body customization options available to players in Forza Motorsport 7.

For the first time in the Forza Motorsport series, we’re bringing wide-body kits to a number of cars in Forza Motorsport 7. A select number of kits are completely bespoke and designed in-house here at Turn 10; from underground-inspired designs to aero-enhanced kits modelled after professional motorsport. In addition, numerous body-kit options from Forza Horizon 3 will also be available in Forza Motorsport 7, including Upgrade Heroes like the Nissan S14 and the 240SX SE announced today.

Wheel options will be abundant in Forza Motorsport 7. In addition to bringing over a number of the new-entry wheels from Forza Horizon 3, we’re adding a selection of new race-inspired. Whether you’re building your favourite car for yourself or you want to establish your reputation as a master in the Forza Motorsport 7 tuning scene by sharing your masterpiece on the Auction House, now you’ll have more options than ever to build the cars of your dreams.

2016 Honda Civic Type R

For car fans, seeing the letter “R” on a car usually means something special. In the case of the Civic Type R, “R” means “racing,” as in race-bred. Honda didn’t just slap some logos and some wheels on this specification either. That “R” may as well also stand for “ridiculous” horsepower – as in more than 300hp. Take one look at the sleek and aggressive aero kit and the “R” can easily stand for “radical.” From the torque-steer limiting dual-axis strut suspension, to the mechanical front differential and the Brembo brakes, this Civic Type R is just what Honda fans, and Forza fans, have been waiting for.

2017 Acura NSX

The new Acura NSX may be a hybrid, but it’s a hybrid supercar – a mid-engine, all-wheel-drive, twin-turbo hybrid slice of pure performance perfection. With around 600hp from its combined 3.5-liter V6 and three electric motors driving all four wheels, you have a balanced and capable car that can compete with other supercars nearly ten times its price. There are nine gears to work your way through as you pass 60 mph in just over three seconds and torque-vectoring to smooth you through the curves. For decades “NSX” has been synonymous with serious performance; lucky for us, the 2017 NSX more than measures up to its famous name.

Here’s a look at the cars we’re announcing this week. As always, stay tuned to ForzaMotorsport.net for the full list of Forza Motorsport 7 cars revealed to date.

2001 Acura Integra Type-R
2002 Acura RSX Type-S
2017 Acura NSX
1970 Honda S800
1984 Honda Civic CRX Mugen
1986 Honda Civic Si
1991 Honda CR-X SiR
1992 Honda NSX-R
1994 Honda Prelude Si
1997 Honda Civic Type R
2000 Honda Prelude Type SH
2004 Honda Civic Type-R
2005 Honda NSX-R
2007 Honda Civic Type-R
2009 Honda S2000 CR
2014 Honda Civic Si
2016 Honda Civic Type R
2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe
2012 Infiniti IPL G Coupe
2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge
2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept
1972 Mazda Cosmo 110S Series II
1973 Mazda RX-3
1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990 Mazda Savanna RX-7
1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997 Mazda RX-7
2005 Mazda Mazdaspeed MX-5
2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3
2010 Mazda MX-5 Super20
2011 Mazda RX-8 R3
2013 Mazda MX-5
2013 Mazda MX-5 Cup
2016 Mazda MX-5
1988 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R
1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
1997 Mitsubishi GTO
1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR
2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR
1970 Datsun 510
1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
1973 Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-R
1987 Nissan Skyline GTS-R (R31)
1992 Nissan Silvia CLUB K’s
1993 Nissan 240SX SE
1993 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
1994 Nissan Fairlady Z Version S Twin Turbo
1994 Nissan Silvia K’s
1995 Nissan NISMO GT-R LM
1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
1998 Nissan R390
1998 Nissan Silvia K’s Aero
2000 Nissan Silvia Spec-R
2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II
2003 Nissan Fairlady Z
2010 Nissan 370Z
2012 Nissan GT-R Black Edition
2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS
2015 Nissan IDx NISMO
2016 Nissan Titan Warrior Concept
2017 Nissan GT-R
1980 SUBARU BRAT GL
1990 SUBARU Legacy RS
1996 Subaru SVX
1998 SUBARU Impreza 22B STi
2004 SUBARU Impreza WRX STi
2005 SUBARU Impreza WRX STI
2005 SUBARU Legacy B4 2.0 GT
2008 SUBARU Impreza WRX STi
2011 SUBARU WRX STI
2013 SUBARU BRZ
2015 SUBARU WRX STI
2007 Toyota Hilux Arctic Trucks AT38

Stardew Valley Multiplayer Support Coming in Early 2018

This is not a dream. I repeat, this is not a dream. tccoxon, one of the developers at Chucklefish who was handed the reigns of Stardew Valley’s multiplayer support by ConcernedApe released a lengthy post today detailing the highly anticipated update. To initiate co-op, players will need to have Robin build up to three cabins on the farm to house farmhands on the property. Players can then be invited into the game as farmhands via Steam or their console of choice.  The farmhands can do everything except decide when to sleep, when to begin/end festivals, and choose sides for major plot decisions. While Chucklefish have made plans for player to player and farmhand to NPC marriages in game, they announced that local multiplayer, split-screen multiplayer, and PVP are not in the cards at the moment.

tccoxon also took a little time to discuss why the update has taken so long to release. Much like the universal Java Minecraft mod support that has been in the works for ages, tccoxon has run into similar issues of trying to build an engine on a plane that is already flying at 30,000 feet. The game was not originally coded with multiplayer in mind, which means tccoxon and fellow developer Eric have had to rewrite thousands of lines of codes to synchronize the multiplayer games over the internet, optimize connections, add the farmhands, and polish everything to a shine.

While tccoxon has opted to not provide a solid release date, the multiplayer update is scheduled to launch early next year. PC will receive the update first, followed by Switch, then the other consoles.

Minecraft Better Together Cross Platform Beta Test Live on Windows 10, Android

Minecraft is one of the essential social titles in any gamers library. Microsoft recently announced that they are making it easier to play with friends with the Better Together update that would create a cross platform multiplayer or all console, mobile, and Windows 10 versions of Minecraft. The update will be free to all existing owners of Minecraft on Windows 10 and mobile. Those who own Minecraft: Xbox One Edition and Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition will get copies of the new cross-platform ready Minecraft for free on release.

Microsoft is rolling out the first beta builds of the Better Together update for Windows 10 and Android today. Windows 10 owners will need to download the Xbox Insider Hub app in the Store to access the Insider content area and the Minecraft beta. Android owners will have to join the beta using Google Play’s beta program. Full instructions can be found at the official Minecraft site.

Servers are currently not enabled for the beta. Additionally, Xbox One owners will get their beta in the coming days.

Redeemer Review

Redeemer

Developer: Sobaka Studio
Publisher: Gambitious
Platform: PC
Release Date: 1 August 2017
Price: $14.99 USD/$16.99 AUD – Available Here

Video Review

Overview

Redeemer is a top down brawler starring Vasily, a former elite mercenary who has turned away from his blood-soaked career in favour of meditation at a monastery at the top of a mountain. Vasily’s peaceful quest for balance in his life is shattered when the monastery is attacked by the cybernetics weapons manufacturer he once worked for who is now bent on bringing Vasily back in the fold. Players will help Vasily battle his way back to redemption by punching, kicking, and shooting his way through hordes of enemies both human and previously human.

Story

Redeemer’s story sounds very much like it came from a cheesy film. The premise is shallow, but is just enough of an excuse for our hero to kick some serious ass. The plot lurches along, jumping from place to place in fits and starts. The story is difficult to follow as major plot points are introduced from nowhere and things are generally poorly explained. The writer seems to be trying to make an effort to create a serious story for Vasily, but they end up falling into well worn tropes and terrible one liners. The dialogue is ranges from decent to downright awful. The script for enemy units seems to have missed the attention of an editor who speaks English fluently as some lines are simply nonsensical. Additionally, enemy units could have used several extra lines of dialogue as it seems like each unit has two lines that gets repeated ad nauseum.

Gameplay

Redeemer is a top down brawler with some elements of a top down shooter. Vasily can punch, kick, and disarm his opponents. He can also counter parry enemy attacks, do stealth kills, use both ranged and melee weapons, and perform executions on weakened enemies and those near environmental traps. Enemies consists of a mixture of humans and mutants. Each tier of unit has its own special attack or ability. Human units also can come armed with a variety of weapons that can be either disarmed or picked up from the ground for later use. Mutants on the other hand can have their limbs ripped from their sockets and used as a melee weapon.

Redeemer’s melee combat reminds me a bit of the Batman Arkham franchise due to its heavy use of the counter mechanic. Vasily’s health only regenerates to the first 25% and enemies hit hard, thus players will need to counter, dodge, and block most of the incoming damage if they plan on surviving. Much like Arkham, an attacking enemy will flash red to signal players that its time to counter. Upon counter, Vasily will immediately stop whatever he is doing and counter the incoming attack. Between the combination attacks of punches and kicks, players can create a reasonably smooth flow of melee combat.

Things fall a bit flat when ranged weapons come into play. For the exception of the pistol, the ranged weapons are quite overpowered. Firearms heavy levels end up becoming a tedious game of leapfrog where player shoots down enemies with the biggest gun, grabs their weapon, and jumps to the next pack. Trying to engage these packs in melee combat by disarming and then brawling simply takes too much time and health.

The controls are okay. I found the game responded very well, which made countering incoming attacks feel natural. On the other hand, I am not a huge fan of the game’s control scheme as it feels very bloated. The disarm/pick up/use button probably could have been coupled with the throw item/execute button to cut down on the number of buttons players need to reach for. To disarm an enemy with a weapon, players have to be in firearms mode to trigger the disarm, which breaks up the flow of melee combat. Heavy attacks feel utterly pointless for the most part due to how long they need to be charged up. To make it all worse, the controller only has one layout. Mouse and keyboard users are a little luckier and can bind keys freely.

The checkpoint system was a minor irritation for me. The game has checkpoints in each level, but each checkpoint is temporary. If the player accidentally exits to menu upon death and tries to return to the level, they are sent back to the beginning of the level. There is no warning or prompt about losing progress. Considering there are only two options in the death menu, I did accidentally find my way back to the main menu a couple of times while button mashing a little too furiously.

Redeemer’s gameplay is overall pretty dull. The boss fights are uninspired. The stealth mechanics are extremely simple. The level design is linear with a few poorly designed areas. For example, a bridge has destructible railings on one end where it is possible to roll off the edge to Vasily’s death. Another early area has water on the ground which significantly bogs down combat and then compounds the problem by making it a firearms heavy area. The enemy layout is very similar, which makes the game feel very repetitive for the most part. The blocking enemies break the flow of combat as there is no good way to deal with them on the player’s terms besides charging up a heavy attack. A throw or guard break that could be triggered instantly would have gone a long way to solve the problem.

Visuals

Redeemer’s art style is very nice. The in-game style is a slightly exaggerated style that goes over the top with all the blood and gore. The cutscenes boast a great comic book art style. The textures look good, and the animations are solid. The game’s technical performance is where Redeemer seems to falter a little. Some areas seem to stutter, though the frame rate appears to maintain a steady pace. Also, the game appears to be capped at 60 FPS. It isn’t the dreaded 30 FPS cap, but no cap at all is always preferable.

Audio

Redeemer features an average audio experience. The sound effects are good. The soundtrack is decent, if a bit generic. The voice acting is a bit of a mixed bag. Vasily’s voice actor does a good enough job, but the actors who play the enemies are just downright awful.

Overall

Redeemer is a pretty dull brawler at the end of the day. The story is poorly written, and the dialogue is downright awful. The audio/visual presentation is decent by and large, but the controls could have been tightened up a bit. Fans of top down brawlers might enjoy its Arkham-esque gameplay, but it’s repetitive gameplay and overpowered firearms makes it hard to recommend to most gamers.

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