Proper-sized mystery, now pocket-sized LAYTON’S MYSTERY JOURNEY™: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy, Available Now on Mobile Devices Worldwide

Download the Next Adventure in the LAYTON SERIES™ Today on iPhone, iPad and Android Devices for $15.99. Also coming to the Nintendo 3DS™ family of systems in October

Los Angeles, USA (July 20, 2017) – “The truth is stranger than fiction!” Global entertainment company LEVEL-5 abby Inc. today released LAYTON’S MYSTERY JOURNEY: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy to the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices for $15.99.

The first installment in the popular LAYTON SERIES in five years, LAYTON’S MYSTERY JOURNEY is a challenging puzzle adventure game providing a robust and full featured console experience on mobile devices. In celebration of the LAYTON SERIES’s 10th Anniversary LAYTON’S MYSTERY JOURNEY: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy can be downloaded now for $15.99 on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and on Google Play for Android devices.

Mystery lovers, brace yourselves! A rich and robust console game at its beginnings, the new LAYTON SERIES title is now pocket-sized. Forget classic mobile gaming experiences or time-killer mini-games with no depth, and step into a fantastic, mystery adventure unseen on a smartphone. For the first time, your favorite console game is now available on your mobile device, with the greatest number of puzzles to solve of any game of the LAYTON SERIES.  All console fans, do not worry, your favorite puzzle game will be on the way for the Nintendo 3DS™ family of systems too, as soon as October!

“Today is the beginning of a brand-new journey for millions of mobile gamers around the world as we debut the first new game in the LAYTON SERIES in five years on mobile devices first,” said Yukari Hayakawa, Chief Operation Officer at LEVEL-5 abby Inc. “Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy will provide longtime fans and those new to the series a delightful story, filled with charming characters and hundreds of challenging puzzles that they can play anywhere, anytime. We are proud to be a part of the Nintendo 3DS family of systems with the release of this game!”

Players will join Katrielle Layton on a mysterious adventure through the heart of London as she becomes embroiled in a casual, comical, and quizzical quest. You’ll be whisked around London’s famous landmarks, solving case after unlikely case, discovering clues and unraveling mysteries. The extraordinary puzzle solving adventure features the largest collection of puzzles in the franchise to date. Mini-games and customization options for the Layton Detective Agency and Katrielle’s outfit can be unlocked as players advance in the story.  With twelve intriguing cases, seven multi-millionaires, and one whopper of a conspiracy, the latest Layton installment will prove beyond a shadow of doubt that the truth IS stranger than fiction!

For more information on LAYTON’S MYSTERY JOURNEY: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy, please visit http://www.laytonseries.com/ and follow us on http://facebook.com/laytonseries, http://twitter.com/laytonseries, and http://instagram.com/laytonseries.

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About LEVEL-5 abby Inc.

Multimedia entertainment company LEVEL-5 abby Inc. produces and distributes engaging content for game and anime fans worldwide – enjoyed by children and adults alike. The company’s mission is to bring its cross-media content from Japan to fans globally, across all platforms and devices. LEVEL-5 abby is committed to maintaining its position at the forefront of where new technologies and great storytelling intersect. The company’s initial franchise, YO-KAI WATCH™, has appeared on television, games, toys, comics, music, and live entertainment. LEVEL-5 abby Inc.’s headquarters is in Santa Monica, California. To learn more, visit the company’s website at http://www.level5.co.jp/abby.

About LEVEL-5 Inc.

LEVEL-5 Inc. plans, creates, and markets video game software and produces mega-hit IPs targeting kids around the world. The company specializes in cross-media strategies and oversees corresponding counterparts (anime, toys, manga, etc.) for its titles.

The company’s flagship PROFESSOR LAYTON™ series has shipped over 15.5 million units worldwide, The Ni no Kuni™ series, featuring animations created the Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli, has sold over 1.5 million units worldwide and received numerous prominent game awards.

LEVEL-5’s cross-media titles include INAZUMA ELEVEN™, Little Battlers eXperience, and most recently YO-KAI WATCH™, which has sold over 13 million copies of its games worldwide.

While maintaining its foundation as a game company, LEVEL-5 Inc. continues to actively explore collaborations with other media as it strives to flourish as a world-class entertainment brand. To learn more, please visit http://www.level5.co.jp/abby

About Nintendo

The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U^™ and Wii^™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS^™ and Nintendo DS^™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System^™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.4 billion video games and more than 693 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy^™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi^™ and Nintendo DSi XL^™, Super NES^™, Nintendo 64^™, Nintendo GameCube^™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario^™, Donkey Kong^™, Metroid^™, Zelda^™ and Pokémon^™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

Nintendo trademarks and copyrights are properties of Nintendo.

BLACK DESERT’S MYSTIC CLASS GETS NEW TEASER TRAILER

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – July 20, 2017/ Kakao Games and PearlAbyss today have revealed a brand new teaser trailer that features the recently announced Mystic class. From the trailer it becomes clear that she is a martial arts expert, much like the already available Striker class, who was introduced to the game in May.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-AUBBd7vCk&feature=youtu.be

Lore
The Mystic came from a small village in Calpheon that was devastated during the war. She felt abandoned and lost the will to live. One day, a wise martial arts master appeared and took care of her and showed her a spark of hope for the future. Later they moved east together and began to live amongst the Oriental people.

The master saw a very powerful energy within her eyes and decided to train her in his ways. He found she had a strong mind that enabled her to stay calm and peaceful even under heavy pressure. It was difficult for the Mystic to settle in her new home. Oriental people discriminated her because of her blond hair and blue eyes. Additionally, locals became jealous of her highly advanced martial arts skills that she learned through all the hard training.

One day, the master introduced her to a man who was much like her with the same blond hair and blue eyes. Finally she had a sparring partner, both physically as well as mentally. She confided in him and trusted his thoughts and beliefs. However, after a while he suddenly left the village without saying a word. Saddened by his absence, she followed and embarked on a ship to find him.
Skills
This fast paced new class uses martial arts to bedazzle her foes. She is especially skilled in high kicks and uses a shoulder charge move to force her way through enemy ranks. Superfast punches will put anyone off-guard, while she is preparing to combo in something more powerful such as her surging punch moves. Her grace and beauty are matched only by her ferocity.

The new Mystic class will make her first appearance on Black Desert Online’s Korean service and will be released soon to other regions.

For the remainder of 2017, PearlAbyss is preparing a host of exciting free updates that will keep adventurers engaged. Black Desert Online will keep on giving. In the second half of 2017, players can look forward to the massive Kamasylvia Expansion, new world bosses, the co-op ‘horde’ mode, new siege war content and an exciting new PvP arena. The Mystic class will be the cherry on the cake once she completes her journey to the West.

WWE® TAP MANIA NOW AVAILABLE ON MOBILE DEVICES

SAN FRANCISCO, LONDON, and STAMFORD, CONN., 20th July, 2017 – SEGA Networks Inc. in partnership with WWE, today launched WWE Tap Mania, an action-packed mobile game that is now available worldwide* to download for free with in-app purchases on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play Store for Android devices. Developed by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based studio The Tap Lab, WWE Tap Mania features an expansive roster of past and present WWE Superstars facing off in the ring in high-octane live events and daily challenges.

In WWE Tap Mania, the action is immediate as players can get right into the ring; tapping to unleash signature moves on opponents, and collecting Superstar cards in order to assemble the ultimate team and take down the competition. Superstars can be levelled up to increase power and characters can be customised, allowing players to create signature moves that fit their own personal playstyle.

Included in the action are Legends and Superstars such as The Rock, John Cena, Triple H, Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Sasha Banks and The Miz, with play-by-play commentary by WWE announcers Michael Cole and Corey Graves.

#UnleashTheMania! Battle the best, build your team, and take on the world to top Leaderboards and become a WWE Champion today! Download WWE Tap Mania now from the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play Store for Android devices.

To stay up-to-date, follow WWE Tap Mania on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

WWE Tap Mania’s launch trailer is visible here

The iOS and Android versions of WWE Tap Mania are available to download here

*WWE Tap Mania is not currently available in Japan, Korea or Mainland China

About SEGA Networks, SEGA’s mobile division in the West:
SEGA’s mobile division in the West has its headquarters based in San Francisco with dedicated studios across North America and the UK. Focused on creating fun, compelling and engaging games, SEGA’s games feature iconic intellectual property as well as original innovative content for mobile and tablet devices. Since 2008, it has been a leader in the smartphone and tablet space and continues to be at the forefront of mobile gaming. SEGA’s mobile studios include Hardlight™ and Demiurge Studios™. For more information, visit www.mobile.sega.com.

About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide in 20 languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently available in more than 180 countries. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Tokyo.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/

The Gladiator Update for MIRAGE: ARCANE WARFARE Unleashes New Content Into The Arena

Bots, New Weapon, New Magic Abilities, New Maps and Localization of 12 Total Languages Included in First Big Post-Release Content Drop

TORONTO, CANADA, July 20, 2017— Mirage: Arcane Warfare, the skill-based multiplayer FPS from the creators of the popular first-person medieval melee slasher Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, is receiving its first big addition of new content since launching on Steam May 23. The Gladiator Update includes new weapons and new Arenas, and the addition of language localization, adding 10 new languages to bring the total up to 12. In addition to English and Russian, Mirage: Arcane Warfare is now also fully localized in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Portuguese Brazilian.

The Gladiator Update will also add a much-requested new feature with the implementation of bot-assisted servers. On select 6v6 and 3v3 maps and modes, AI opponents will be added or removed as players join or leave to keep the teams populated and even throughout the match.

Check out the new trailer for The Gladiator Update here:

The powerful Taurant class will have a new double-handed Greatsword to hack enemies to gibs with, with dozens of art variants to keep the visuals fresh. Other characters will receive new magic abilities to punish their enemies in battle with including:

• Alchemancer – Depth Charge: Release a flurry of explosions along the ground in front of you
• Vypress – Pincer: A brutal melee attack with a long wind-up that leads to a crushing blow on a single rival
• Vigilist – Surround Parry: Put up a magical armor barrier around you that stops all incoming attacks for the time it is active

Players can explore these new tools of chaos in two new Arena maps. Both Arena maps feature smaller areas for more intense 3 on 3 combat action:

• The Pit: Beware of the exploding geyser in the center of this map, a sunken pit under the blaze of a hot desert sun. Prisoners are thrown into this arena to fight to the death, for the entertainment of their captors
• Old Arena: Located high in remote mountains, battle in this crumbling, forsaken gladiatorial arena with a twist. Avoid falling through the collapsed floor or risk losing your limbs in a death trap of painful wooden scaffolding

Veteran players of Mirage: Arcane Warfare who have achieved higher rankings will also get their own special new content in The Gladiator Update. New armor variant unlocks will be available to those high-ranking players, with exclusive color gradients per team.

In Mirage: Arcane Warfare, the calm of a strange fantasy world is shattered by ruthless civil war. Warriors armed with steel and magic bring violence and death as they do battle across a fantastical Arabian and Persian-inspired setting of desert sands, market bazaars and grand palaces. Built using the powerful new capabilities of Unreal Engine 4, Mirage: Arcane Warfare presents visually stunning backdrops to some viscerally brutal multiplayer combat.

For the latest information on Mirage: Arcane Warfare, please visit @MirageGame on Twitter, on Facebook or go to MirageArcaneWarfare.com.

About Torn Banner Studios

Torn Banner Studios is a small indie games studio that makes BIG games. Based in Toronto Canada, Torn Banner Studios was founded in 2012 by a group of passionate game developers who are dedicated to creating powerful and unique games for a dedicated audience of fans. The nucleus of the team first came together from a group of modders who created a well-known Half-Life 2 mod called Age of Chivalry. Their first full game, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, was a critical and commercial success and has driven the dedicated team at Torn Banner to continue to develop great games and ongoing content for their passionate community of fans. For more information visit TornBanner.com or follow @TornBanner.

GIGANTIC OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES ON STEAM, ARC, WINDOWS 10 & XBOX ONE

Motiga’s Strategic Hero Shooter Offers Players Biggest Fight of Their Lives

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – July 20, 2017 – Today Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a leading publisher of free-to-play online games, and Motiga, Inc. announced Gigantic has officially launched on Steam, Arc, Xbox One and Windows 10. The free-to-play strategic hero shooter combines visually stunning heroes, diverse creature families to summon and massive Guardians to aid in epic battles for victory.

“We’re thrilled to welcome all players to the vibrant world of Gigantic,” said Chris Chung, CEO of Motiga. “The team has worked incredibly hard to develop an experience unlike any other. We hope you join us and the community of players who have fallen in love with the game and helped us throughout its development.”

Check out the Gigantic Launch Trailer: https://youtu.be/muLx0HxqWh0

Assets for Gigantic’s launch can be found here: https://perfectworld.box.com/v/GiganticOfficialLaunch

Gigantic launches with an exciting new update which introduces text chat, new packs and a brand-new, blade-wielding hero. Players can now access the game’s 19^th hero, Ramsay, a cunning heavy-hitter brandishing a seriously lethal blade. Ramsay is the first of many characters to join the game’s original diverse roster, with a new hero planned for release each month following launch.

In addition, Steam players who log in to the game and play a match will receive an exclusive Stone Relics skin for the jet pack pilot Beckett. Logging into Arc and playing a match will grant players a Lightning skin for the stealthy assassin Tripp, while Xbox One and Windows 10 players who do the same can get the Excelsior skin for the spinning cyclone of blades, Tyto the Swift.

Players looking to unlock even more for their Gigantic experience can purchase the Ultimate Pack for $29.99 to gain access to all 19 current heroes and any future heroes for life, along with unique skins, progression boosts, fortune cards and premium currency. Steam and Arc players purchasing the Ultimate Pack will also receive a free Starter Pack code to gift to a friend. As a thank you to supportive players, purchasers of the Founder’s Pack will be automatically upgraded to the Ultimate Pack.

Finally, Plays.tv has partnered with Gigantic to launch a Top-5 Plays contest starting today. All players can participate in the global contest and clip their best moments using Plays.tv to win gaming hardware and Steam gift cards.

Gigantic is a free-to-play strategic hero shooter developed by Motiga. Gorgeously rendered, light-hearted and charming, Gigantic is for all types of gamers, pitting teams of five heroes and their massive Guardians against each other in epic battles across a variety of maps. The game combines explosive combat with fast-paced teamwork, strategy and skill, as players must work together and fight relentlessly to defeat the opposing Guardian with spells, guns and swords.

For more information about Gigantic, please visit the official website: www.GoGigantic.com.

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ABOUT PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT INC.

Perfect World Entertainment is a leading North American online games publisher specializing in immersive free-to-play MMORPGs. Founded in 2008, Perfect World Entertainment has published a number of popular titles, including Swordsman, Blacklight Retribution, Forsaken World, PWI and Star Trek Online. The company works closely with its American development teams and partners, such as Cryptic Studios, developer of the highly acclaimed MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter, and Runic Games, developer of the hit Torchlight series, to provide unparalleled quality of service and game experiences to its players. A subsidiary of Perfect World Group, Perfect World Entertainment is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, please visit: www.perfectworld.com.

ABOUT MOTIGA

Motiga is an independent game studio based in Bellevue, Wash., that has been working on Gigantic since 2012. Motiga is dedicated to enabling passionate teams to create magical game experiences and do its part in helping the industry move forward.

CRYSTAL DYNAMICS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Award-Winning Studio Gives Back To the Community and Revisits its Extensive History 

SYDNEY, 20^TH July, 2017 –  This July marks the 25^th anniversary for Crystal Dynamics^®, the studio behind the critically acclaimed and world-famous TOMB RAIDER^® franchise which has sold over 58 million copies globally.  In celebration, the studio has organized a series of charitable events and activities that takes us on a trip down memory lane, commemorating Crystal’s 25 years of producing unforgettable experiences.

“The collaboration of our top industry talent all focused on creating ground-breaking, unprecedented gaming experiences is the engine that drives Crystal,” said Ron Rosenberg, Co-Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “We’re extremely proud of all that we’ve accomplished over the last twenty-five years, and, as we look to the future, we are excited to bring our passion and craftsmanship to even more games including the ‘Avengers’ project.”

Starting today, Square Enix® and Crystal Dynamics are offering an exclusive Crystal Dynamics 25^th Anniversary game bundle through GameChanger. Patrons who donate $25 or more will receive this exclusive PC bundle of 12 new and classic Crystal Dynamics games, including Tomb Raider, Lara Croft® and the Temple of Osiris™, Legacy of Kain™: Defiance, Project Snowblind™, and more. Funds raised will be given to GameChanger Charity and support their mission of bringing happiness and gaming to children facing life-threatening illnesses in hospitals around the world.

“This is a momentous milestone for Crystal Dynamics, one we’re delighted to share with gamers everywhere by using this time to give back to charities that move and inspire us,” said Scot Amos, Co-Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “Our studio is full of passionate creatives who shaped Lara Croft and Tomb Raider into iconic franchises. Our developers constantly give of themselves, pouring their heart and their art into each game. Now we are giving back in another way through this GameChanger campaign.”

“At Crystal Dynamics, we continually push ourselves to try and master the craft of storytelling through art, animation and innovation,” said Noah Hughes, Franchise Creative Director at Crystal Dynamics. “Our Crystal Dynamics 25^th Anniversary game bundle provides an awesome sampling of that creativity.  We’re confident that longtime fans as well as new players will jump at the opportunity to play all of this amazing history in a single download while contributing to children’s hospitals through our partnership with GameChanger.”

Last year’s hit Rise of the Tomb Raider^® 20 Year Celebration received over 100 awards and nominations and is one of the highest rated games on next generation systems.  The studio has developed and published more than 30 award-winning titles over its 25-year history, including Gex™, Legacy of Kain, and Tomb Raider. The studio is currently hard at work on the highly anticipated ‘Avengers’ project, which was announced earlier this year.

SANRIO AND BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT JOIN FORCES WITH NEW HELLO KITTY ♥ PAC-MAN MOBILE GAME AND MERCHANDISE

Pop Icon Hello Kitty and the First Video Game Hero to Chomp Tasty Dots and Pesky Ghosts, Debuting Collaboration at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2017

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (July 19, 2017) – Sanrio, Inc. and leading anime video game developer and publisher BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment today announce Hello Kitty ♥ PAC-MAN, a new collaboration featuring PAC-MAN, the world’s first video game hero, joining forces with supercute global pop icon, Hello Kitty. Developed by Sanrio, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment as a license program, the collaboration kicks-off on July 19th at Comic-Con International: San Diego with a Hello Kitty themed update to the PAC-MAN app available now as a free download on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Sanrio and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment will debut its limited-edition Hello Kitty ♥ PAC-MAN merchandise collection at Comic-Con International: San Diego.  Starting on July 20th, the collection will be available at the BAIT booth (#5146), — and will include t-shirts, caps, socks, tote bags, pins, and a Hello Kitty ♥ PAC-MAN collectible figure set. The design blends the classic arcade pixelated PAC-MAN look with the supercute iconography of Hello Kitty. BAIT will debut an additional version of the collectible figure set at Comic-Con International: New York in October 2017. Additional products will be available at specialty retailers this fall.

“Hello Kitty and PAC-MAN have both endeared themselves to pop culture fans around the world for decades, it’s about time that these two became best-friends,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “We look forward to celebrating this new friendship with fans at Comic-Con and have them experience the limited-time Hello Kitty update to the PAC-MAN app as they chomp dots, weave through corners, and avoid colorful ghosts.”

“Hello Kitty and PAC-MAN are global icons with a crossover fan base,” said Jill Koch, Sr. Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing at Sanrio, Inc. “Merging Hello Kitty into the pixelated world of PAC-MAN is a gift both for fans that grew up with the brands and new fans alike.”

The PAC-MAN mobile game, which is free to download and play, will feature Hello Kitty, along with special in-game integrations and themed levels, customized icons, and ghosts. The Hello Kitty content will be included as part of a free, limited-time update to PAC-MAN on Google Play and the Apple App Store, available to download now through August 19.

Visit the Sanrio booth (#4737) and BAIT booth (#5146) at Comic-Con International: San Diego for a free limited edition Hello Kitty ♥ PAC-MAN keychain, while supplies last!

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

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

About Sanrio®  
Sanrio is the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty®, who celebrated her 40th Anniversary in 2014. Home to many endearing characters including Chococat® My Melody®, Badtz-Maru® and Keroppi®, Sanrio was founded on the ‘small gift, big smile®’ philosophy – that a small gift can bring happiness and friendship to people of all ages. Since 1960, this philosophy has served as the inspiration for the broad spectrum of unique products and experiences.  Today, more than 50,000 Hello Kitty-branded items are available in over 130 countries and upwards of 15,000 U.S. retail locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and Sanrio boutique stores. For more information please visit www.sanrio.com and www.facebook.com/hellokitty.

XSEED Games Reveals Release Date for Trails of Cold Steel PC Version

Beginning of Critically Acclaimed ‘Trails’ Arc to be Primed and Polished for PC Gamers along with Over 5,000 New Lines of Voiceover Dialogue on August 2

Torrance, Calif. — July 19, 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 headed to Windows PC on August 2, 2017 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. 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 will make its debut on Windows PC with visual enhancements and over 5,000 new lines of English voiceover dialogue (approximately a 50% increase).

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 headed to Windows PC on August 2, 2017 with a launch week discount of 10% off the regular price of $39.99, €39.99, and £29.99. Peter “Durante” Thoman has been recruited to help optimize the game for PC, and fans can read what kind of technical hurdles he encountered in the first of his multiple guest blog posts detailing this game’s journey on XSEED’s blog at http://xseedgames.tumblr.com/post/163180020530/the-legend-of-heroes-trails-of-cold-steel-pc.

The game is now 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.

ITHRIVE GAMES AND CARNEGIE MELLON’S ETC PRESS PARTNER TO SHOWCASE THE USE OF VIDEO GAMES TO PRACTICE AND ENHANCE POSITIVE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS

Non-Profit iThrive Games Issues an Open Call for Essays and Research Studies to Highlight Positive Contributions of Video Games in Peer Reviewed Well Played Journal

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (July 19, 2017) – iThrive Games — a non-profit that partners with game developers, researchers and youth organizations to facilitate the positive use of video games to enhance social and emotional skills — is proud to announce a partnership with academic publisher Carnegie Mellon’s ETC Press for a special peer-reviewed issue of Well Played, the analytical video game journal. The two organizations have issued a call for contributors to submit in-depth essays on the various meanings, values and experiences provided by video games in their design and during play. Essays can be empirical or theoretical. Submissions will be curated by a team of highly respected game industry academics from around the United States.

iThrive Games specializes in the promotion of games as tools for emotional and social skill development in growing teens by practicing in-game positive psychology habits, such as growth mindset and empathy. The organization collaborates with game developers, tests games with teens and provides resources to foster teens thriving through gaming. iThrive Games’ vision for this special issue of Well Played is to encourage new scholarship in the area of game design that encourages personal growth and prosocial outcomes for adolescent gamers.

The Well Played journal gives academics and junior faculty a place to share their ideas, theories and analysis of the game industry and its works as a means of advancing knowledge in the field.  Contributors are encouraged to analyze sequences in a game in detail to illustrate and interpret how the various components of a game come together to create a fulfilling play experience unique to this medium.

Well Played journal essay submissions should be sent by September 1, 2017. Peer reviewers will assess all essays through a blind process and notify all authors of their submission status by November 1, 2017.

About iThrive Games

iThrive Games is a team of social and emotional learning experts, psychologists and game developers that work to produce meaningful games through collaborations with game studios as well as experts in teen development and positive psychology. The iThrive Games team embraces teens’ love of video games, and explores how great games can empower teens to discover and use their unique strengths, unlock their potential and take charge of their well-being. For more information about iThrive Games, please visit www.ithrivegames.org.

About ETC Press

The ETC Press is an academic and open-source publishing imprint out of Carnegie Mellon University that distributes its work in print, electronic and digital form. It represents an experiment and an evolution in publishing, bridging virtual and physical media to redefine the future of publication.

Well Played is a forum for in-depth readings of games that parse out the various meanings to be found in the experience of playing them. Contributors are encouraged to analyze sequences in a game in detail to illustrate and interpret how the various components of a game come together to create a fulfilling play experience unique to this medium. Follow Well Played on Twitter at @etcwellplayed to learn more.