The Alola region shines on Pokémon Shuffle and Pokémon Shuffle Mobile with new stages and more Pokémon.
Keep puzzling in Pokémon Shuffle for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems and Pokémon Shuffle Mobile with new stages featuring Pokémon from the Alola region. And for a limited time, special stages will provide the chance to get Alola’s first partner Pokémon. Play Litten’s special stage until May 9, Popplio’s special stage from May 9 through May 23, and Rowlet’s special stage from May 23 through June 6 to try to capture these cool Pokémon.
Also, be sure to log in to your game between May 2 and May 30 to get a special gift—Alolan Vulpix will join your collection!
ARMOR GAMES STUDIOS RELEASES THOMAS BRUSH’S SURREAL PUZZLE ADVENTURE GAME PINSTRIPE ON WINDOWS PC, MAC AND LINUX
Experience a father’s desperate descent into Hell in this haunting journey from the mind of Thomas Brush
IRVINE, Calif. – April 25, 2017 – Armor Games Studios has released Thomas Brush’s surreally atmospheric puzzle adventure game Pinstripe on Windows PC, Mac and Linux for $14.99 via Steam, GOG.com and Twitch. Players can grab the title with a 10% off discount during the first week of its launch.
Pinstripe follows an ex-minister’s emotional journey through Hell in search of his kidnapped daughter. As players descend further into the chilling reaches of the underworld alongside their trusty canine companion, they’ll encounter strange creatures, thoughtful puzzles, and the mysterious Mr. Pinstripe, a shadowy nemesis who may hold the secrets of the past.
Pinstripe is the creation of Atmos Games, the label of independent developer Thomas Brush, best-known for cult hits like Coma and Skinny. Brush designed, wrote and programmed every aspect of the game by himself over half a decade. “As someone raised in the South, the concepts of Hell and morality are pretty much in my blood,” said Brush. “Pinstripe pulls from those themes to explore the afterlife and the meaning of salvation. It’s a very personal story for me, and I hope it will resonate with others.”
Inspired by classics like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline and Alice in Wonderland, Pinstripe’s bold artwork strikes a tone between darkly somber and eerily comical, with colorful designs that bring Hell’s otherworldly environments and inhabitants to life. This balance between light and dark is complemented by an evocative orchestral score composed by Brush himself.
Pinstripe is available in seven languages and is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB. For more information, visit www.PinstripeGame.com.
About Thomas Brush and Atmos Games
Atmos Games is Thomas Brush, creator of the award-winning independent adventure games Coma and Skinny. Follow this one-man studio at www.atmosgames.com and @AtmosGames on Twitter.
About Armor Games Studios
Armor Games Studios is a developer and publisher of Steam, mobile and web browser games. Starting from humble beginnings as a Flash game portal, in recent years the company has branched out to other platforms, spreading joy to gamers of all types. For more information, visit www.armorgamesstudios.com, and follow the company on Facebook and @ArmorGames on Twitter.
Jam City and FoxNext Games Announce the Worldwide Release of FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game
FAMILY GUY Fans Everywhere Now Have a New Reason to Party!
Los Angeles, April 25, 2017 — In its fourth collaboration with FoxNext Games, today Jam City announces the worldwide launch of FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game, a hilarious and boundary-pushing twist on the match-3 genre featuring characters and humor fans have grown to love over the past 18 years. FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game is available to download for free through the App Store and Google Play worldwide.
Created in close partnership with the Family Guy Production team, FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game, gives anyone with a mobile device access into the town of Quahog to follow Peter around in his booze truck. The puzzle-based game gives players a chance to interact with everyone’s favorite characters from the FAMILY GUY universe.
“We absolutely love the FAMILY GUY brand — the rebellious, in-your-face dialogue and positioning of the show,” said Josh Yguado, Co-Founder and President and COO of Jam City. “Many popular mobile games are sweet, straightforward, and vanilla. With FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game, we wanted to take this opportunity to create a mobile game that is much edgier, louder, takes risks and is made for adults.”
The First Story Driven Puzzle Game for Adults
FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game is not your typical match-3 game. Gameplay experience includes:
Introducing new audiences to the genre through Family Guy’s shocking humor, content, and storyline. Match choices reveal entertaining in-game character animation.
Endless fodder for fans. New content added weekly, featuring regular episode tie-ins that introduce storylines, hijinks, and debauchery from the show into the game.
Out-of-the-box game modes. Serve drinks to Peter Griffin and the cast, battle the Giant Chicken in epic Boss Fights, and much more.
“Another freakin’ mobile game? I think we all feared this was coming,” said Rick Phillips, EVP, FoxNext Games. “There’s no better way to turn match-3 on its head than bringing the gang from Quahog into the mix.”
Jam City has made a science out of turning some of Hollywood’s largest entertainment franchises into hit mobile games. The mobile gaming publisher is the creator of 6 of the Top 100 highest grossing games played in the United States across both iPhone and Android devices.
FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game is available for free from the App Store on iPhone, at (http://jamcity.me/AFMGiOS), on Google Play at (http://jamcity.me/AFMGgp) and available via all major app stores worldwide. The game is translated in 14 languages for players to enjoy around the world. For a limited-time only, players who download FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game will receive a special in-game gift.
About Jam City Jam City is a Los Angeles-based mobile game publisher with global reach. Created in 2010 by former MySpace co-founders Chris DeWolfe, Aber Whitcomb, and former Twentieth Century Fox executive Josh Yguado, Jam City is the creator of 6 of the Top 100 highest grossing games across Apple’s and Google’s US app stores. Its portfolio of titles–which includes Cookie Jam, Panda Pop, Genies & Gems, Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff and Marvel Avengers Academy–has been downloaded more than 800 million times and is regularly played by more than 50 million people per month. Jam City has studios in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and Buenos Aires.
About FoxNext Games
FoxNext Games, a division of the FoxNext group, produces award-winning games based on Twentieth Century Fox’s globally-recognized film and television properties. FoxNext Games brings triple-A quality and enjoyment to millions of players every day with games including ALIEN™ ISOLATION, ANGRY BIRDS™ RIO, THE SIMPSONS™ TAPPED OUT, FAMILY GUY: THE QUEST FOR STUFF, ANIMATION THROWDOWN: THE QUEST FOR CARDS, SUGAR SMASH: THE BOOK OF LIFE and many more.
Following recent announcements from Bandai Namco, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 DLC Pack 3 is now available to download and like the past DLC packs it also comes with a free update for everyone that includes a number of changes, new costumes and new attacks. Below is a break down what’s included in the free patch and what is part of the paid DLC pack.
Free Patch – Released April 25th
5 New Costumes
Magetta’s Suit (from the Unvierse 6 arc of Super)
Bujin’s Outfit (from Dragon Ball Z Movie 9 with Bojack)
Kogu’s Outfit (from Dragon Ball Z Movie 9 with Bojack)
Paragus’ Outfit (Broly’s father from Dragon Ball Z Movie 8)
Angol’s Clothes (even I had to look this one up, the henchmen that work for Paragus from Dragon Ball Z Movie 8)
Great Priest’s Clothes (from Dragon Ball Super, most noticably the Universe Survival arc)
Camo Bikini (most likely worn by Bulma at some point)
7 New Accessories
Bujin’s Turban
Kogu’s Bandana
Frieza’s Head (Final Form)
Mecha Frieza’s Head
Great Priest’s Ring
Gas Mask
Angol’s Helmet
Once completed, Expert Missions can now be accessed from a new portal in the Time Machine Plaza where you accept Paralell Quests from.
A number of balances have been applied to old attacks as well. Most notable changes are to Death Beam and Big Bang Attack super moves.
Level Cap raised to 95.
Paid DLC Pack 3 – Released April 25th
3 New Characters
Bojack (Base form only)
Super Saiyan Rose Goku Black
Zamasu
4 New Costumes
Mai’s Outfit (from Future Trunks arc of Super)
Trunk’s Outfit (from Future Trunks arc of Super)
Zamasu’s Outfit
Goku Black’s Outfit
5 Additional Skills – 4 moves from Bojack being your mentor and the Super Saiyan Rose Black Kamehameha.
3 new Paralell Quests
5 new Super Souls
2 new emotes
You can check out the trailer for the third DLC pack below. DLC Pack 4 will most likely be the last pack to release for the game before the developers begin work on the inevitable sequel. The fourth pack will bring us Merged Zamasu and Super Saiyan Blue Vegito, most likely alongside some story missions and a new stage. For our full review of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 please follow the link.
UPDATE: After some further research it seems that the following skills will most likely show up in the TP shop on the weekend, free for all users:
Supers:
Aura Slide
Divine Retribution
Sudden Death Beam
Ultimates:
Divien Lasso
Super Black Kamehameha
In addition, Bandai Namco’s Facebook page has released an upcoming schedule of events for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. In this was confirmation that the fourth DLC pack will be coming in June.
UNIFY CHINA IN NEW WAYS WITH THE FAME AND STRATEGYEXPANSION PACK FOR ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS XIII
Xbox One Version Makes its Debut alongside Extensive Expansion Offering New Strategy Mechanics, Event Editor and More, Available on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Steam®
Hertfordshire, 25th April 2017 – KOEI TECMO Europe today proudly announced the release of Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII: Fame and Strategy Expansion Pack, an extensive content expansion for the historically-inspired strategy epic set in second century China, alongside a new trailer. With this week’s launch of the Fame and Strategy Expansion Pack, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII makes its debut on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and is now available exclusively as a digital bundle with its just-launched DLC. This bundle package is also available on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and on Windows PC via Steam® for those who do not yet own Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII: Fame and Strategy Expansion Pack introduces new mechanics to the series that allow for greater strategic possibilities and additional options for diplomacy, nobility and warfare in the fight to unify China. One of these additions is the Fame System, wherein players work towards receiving bonuses for their characters by completing achievements, which range from battlefield objectives to peacefully resolving disputes. Players can also earn a Prestige title for their character through the Fame System, which will unlock new actions based on their Prestige level and ultimately shape life as an officer.
Also, arriving with the new expansion is the War Council, which is held before engaging in battle. With this feature, Generals are able to choose which Officers will follow them into combat and which strategies they will apply to outsmart their opponent. Furthermore, players will now be able to create their own scenarios with the Event Editor. This tool allows unique narratives to be crafted within second century China and offers full control over when Events take place, which officers are affected and whether there will be multiple outcomes.
Celebrating the series’ 30th anniversary and marking its return to the west after an eight-year hiatus, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII tells the tale of a collapsing dynasty and the emergence of power-hungry factions, setting the scene for a complex chessboard on which players can follow and influence the fateful events leading to the unification of 2nd century China. Blending deeply strategic gameplay with historically-accurate warfare, players can climb the proverbial leadership ladder as one of 700 historical characters during a turbulent era of political instability, large-scale conflict, and human drama.
Cities can be built and developed; alliances can be fostered or broken; armies can be mustered and deployed. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII prides itself on offering a wide range of options for conflict resolution including a robust army composition selection, while special care has been taken to incorporate diplomacy and personal relationships, giving the player an extra incentive to build a stable and loyal network of friends and allies.
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
The names that are almost synonymous with the word “Hollywood” are Lucas, Bay, Tarantino, and Spielberg to name a few. Spielberg in particular has a fascination with exploring interactions with alien subjects… as in, literal aliens. From his earlier work with Close Encounters of the Third Kind to his most recent Indianna Jones instalment, he has a philia for all things xenos. E.T. The Extraterrestrial fits into his passions quite well and is an unusual combination of a science fiction children’s film. After phoning home, I waltzed on down to the In the House screening of the film to see how this classic by maestro of the cinematic medium faired on the big screen.
The MCs for the evening were Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis and David ‘Quinny’ Quinn. After playing ‘rock, paper, scissors’ with the entire audience, a hallmark of the In the House experience, the two shared some interesting trivia about the film. The thing that stuck out in my memory was the fact that Spielberg came up with the idea for E.T. while wandering off the set of Raiders of the Lost Ark and reminiscing in the Tunisian desert. Apparently, his original concept of an alien befriending a young boy was one he developed in his youth as a way to deal with the divorce of his parents. I feel the relationship of E.T. and Elliot in the film takes on a new dimension when you factor in that even before this film was made, E.T. was already helping someone with their pain.
Story
The film starts us off with a group of aliens exploring a wooded area of rural America before being interrupted by a search party of men. The aliens leave in haste but leave one of their own behind who escapes the search party and runs to hide in the suburbs of a nearby city. Meanwhile, in a house in the suburbs, Elliott (Henry Thomas) encounters the alien in the shed in his backyard, who he names E.T. After a misstep or two, both Elliott and the alien become friends. The pair must work together to help ET get home and escape the attentions of the adults who wish to stop him for their own ends.
The story is simple enough to follow without too much complexity or ambiguity. Everything’s pretty straightforward and it works to reinforce the sense of childlike simplicity with which Elliot approaches E.T. There is no real examination or reflection of E.T. as anything other than a really cool friend to have and play with by pretty much all of the young characters in this film. The one exception to this is Elliot’s mother, Mary (Dee Wallace), who we see at multiple times during the film going through the emotional turmoil of a difficult divorce.
The main crux of the film is the relationship between Elliot and E.T. and the film asks a lot of its child star to make its entire concept work. Luckily, Thomas is able to deliver and we really get the sense of connection and love between the human and alien characters. He’s also not, thankfully, an insufferable character which speaks to the strength of the screenwriter who has worked to create a personality who is both likeable but distinctly childlike. Elliot is naïve and goodhearted but not an idiot, as so often screenwriters imagine children to be (and which can drain the charm out of them fast).
The simplicity of this film’s interpretation of the events and characters is incredibly straightforward and makes it a film wholly suitable for a younger audience… however, this can also make things a bit slow in parts. I mean, it pains me to say it but I was honestly a little bit bored at points in the film. Everything is so straightforward that it really just couldn’t hold my attention. It wasn’t enough for me to wish that the XCOM project finally make an explosive entrance and take E.T. in for questioning but I was certainly yearning for some of the meatier fair of Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It’s not something which will ruin a first watch of the film or for younger audiences but it left me wishing for more.
Visuals
The cinematography in so much of the film is absolutely beautiful. The night time shots of the shed in the first act of the film are beautifully composed with the humdrum of a suburban backyard taking on a beautiful but menacing form as the light spills out through the doorway. Another aspect you’ll notice is that much of the film’s shots are filmed from a low angle. It works to replicate the feeling of looking up at adults when you’re a young child and I feel it works well to put us in the mindset of Elliot.
A lot of Spielberg’s work is absolutely timeless movie magic that will continue to surprise and delight film goers for generations to come but the same can’t be said of the special effects. Don’t get me wrong, the E.T. puppetry and animatronics still look great and hold their own against today’s CGI but some of the other special effects hasn’t aged well. In particular, scenes where characters or things fly really doesn’t hold as well as other parts. It may be somewhat jarring for modern audiences, but I’m willing to bet that kids are going to be too enamoured by the story of children and their alien friend to really care.
Audio
The film is brilliantly scored by Spielberg collaborator John Williams who is an expert at working a symphonic score. Williams creates a soundscape which is wonderfully captures and highlights the mood of the film’s emotional beats. When we first meet E.T., it’s tense as we don’t yet know what to make of the alien creature but quickly Williams turned everything around. The soundtrack takes on a lighter tone with plenty of strings to carry the them and ultimately crescendo during the film’s iconic chase with horns and percussion. It’s a showcase in how classic film scores can stand the test of time.
Overall
So overall, I very much enjoyed this film and was happy to see it on the big screen. The story sells itself on our childlike desire to connect with others and the chemistry between our protagonists in undeniably charming. The cinematography is breathtaking although some of the special effects may not have aged gracefully in the face of modern day CGI. The soundtrack is an exemplar of classic Hollywood film scoring with work that stands the test of time. It was a fine film to watch and I’m glad to have been invited along to come see it.
Kudos to In the House for screening such a classic!
For other films which In The House is screening, feel free to check out their schedule here. Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Human: Fall Flat From Curve Digital andTomas Sakalauskas To Hit PlayStation®4 May 9 and Xbox One May 12
Pre-Order The Cult Sensation For Console Starting Today And Receive A Bonus Game For Free
[LONDON – April 25, 2017] Console gamers don’t have long to wait for their turn with the physics-defying and rule-breaking hilarity of cult hit puzzle game Human: Fall Flat now that developer Tomas Sakalauskas and publisher Curve Digital announce the May 9th release on PlayStation 4 and in gorgeous 4K resolution on PlayStation 4 Pro. Then on May 12thHuman: Fall Flat releases on Xbox One, while also bringing all new content to the Steam version. Starting today people can pre-order Human: Fall Flat for $14.99 on either console and receive popular adventure game Manual Samuel for free. In addition to Manual Samuel, PlayStation 4 players will also receive a dynamic theme.
Launching on console and updating on Steam with additional content, brand new puzzles and a bespoke customization option, Human: Fall Flat has players escape surreal dreamscapes by solving open-ended puzzles while struggling with intentionally unsteady controls that result in hysterical clumsiness and potentially endless falling.
After releasing on Steam last year to considerable praise, Human: Fall Flat became a YouTube phenomenon, garnering more than 100 million cumulative views thanks to the game’s hilarious gameplay that had people discover their own solutions to overcome obstacles and “work” together as best they can to solve the puzzles in co-op mode.
“At Curve Digital we like to provide people with an amazing value for their pre-order purchases and the Human: Fall Flat console pre-order continues this company philosophy,” said Jason Perkins, Managing Director at Curve Digital. “Human: Fall Flat and Manual Samuel have both earn massive praise from the community and by pre-ordering Human: Fall Flat on console people get two amazing games for the price of one. In addition PS4 users will also receive a dynamic theme developed by Truant Pixel.”
Playing as Bob, players have complete control over his arms and movement. At first, this can make it challenging to traverse this beautiful yet deadly world. However, players who learn to master Bob’s movement will be rewarded with a wealth of opportunities to break the rules and beat the challenging puzzles that block their path. Bob can pull stuff. He can push stuff. He can kick stuff. He can carry stuff. He can climb stuff. He can break stuff. And he can use stuff on other stuff to make even more stuff happen. It’s all up to you – want to open that mysterious door? Or would you rather see how far you can throw a speaker set out that window?
For more information on Human: Fall Flat’s console versions, please visit the game’s website, or Curve Digital’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
About Curve Digital
Curve Digital is the leading publishers of independent video games on PC and consoles in the world. Working with high profile developers such as The Chinese Room (Dear Esther), The Molasses Flood (The Flame in the Flood) and Bithell Games (Thomas Was Alone), Curve helps individuals, small teams and established studios bring their games to a larger audience.
About Tomas Sakalauskas
Tomas Sakalauskas’s studio No Brakes Games is a small indie developer established in 2012 and based in Vilnius, Lithuania. Focusing on fresh game mechanics, the studio creates offbeat gaming experiences such Human: Fall Flat and Pocket Sheep.
THE ULTIMATE SAILING SIMULATOR: SAILAWAY IS NOW AVAILABLE ON STEAM
Sailaway gives players the most realistic digital sailing experience to date with an online, persistent world, stunning detail, real-time weather data and more
LONDON – April 25th, 2017 – New and experienced sailors alike are able to take to the high seas with Sailaway today– the ultimate sailing simulator that brings the world’s oceans to the comfort of your home. Published by new independent games publisher, The Irregular Corporation and developed by OrbCreation, the ultimate sailing simulator is coming this spring on PC and Mac for £29.99 / $39.99 / €36.99 – http://store.steampowered.com/app/552920/.
OrbCreation has recreated the oceans of the planet with unparalleled accuracy with a detailed world map: In Sailaway, making a trip across the Pacific takes months, just as it would on a real boat. With a persistent online world, adjust your settings and your boat will continue to sail even if you aren’t online. Receive updates via email as your boat continues its progress, but don’t forget to check in often – with real-time weather data pulled from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conditions can change in just a few hours.
Choose from three types of ultra-detailed boats, a 38′ Cruiser, a Mini-Transat or a 45′ Classic Yacht – all accurately modelled with comprehensive controls and set a course for adventure. Featuring accurately modelled waves and water colour based on your location (waves and wave behaviour differs from ocean to ocean!), and accurately modelled day and night sky, Sailaway is the most advanced sailing simulator on the market.
With a range of difficulty settings, Sailaway allows for adjustments for even the most novice players to blossom into fully fledged sailors, while providing advanced features to challenge seasoned lifelong captains.
The developers at Orbcreation also understand the world’s oceans can be a lonely place, so they have designed an in-game real-time global, local and group chat which will allow you to communicate freely with other sailors to organize your own voyages or pass on sailing tips. These features also allow you to invite others onto your boat to help tackle the voyage ahead – and if you fancy some friendly competition, Sailaway includes options to create your own races with start/finish lines. Reign as master of the wind with online leaderboards and challenge one another for the top spot.
With an established fanbase, Sailaway plans to utilize Steam Early Access to continue to shape the game’s difficulty curves and take input on boats, tutorials, challenges, events and community features. More content is planned for the game and players are encouraged to give feedback.
Sailaway is the debut game developed by the Dutch studio OrbCreation which is owned by Richard Knol, a sailor without his own boat, whose biggest dream is to one day sail around the world! Sailaway is the result of 2 years development combining Richard’s passion for sailing and his keen eye for authenticity.
The Irregular Corporation is a newly formed publisher, focused on releasing specialized games for unique communities. Based in Soho, London and founded by industry veterans, we aim to bring gaming to new audiences.
The classic Nintendo DS tower defense game Lock’s Questis getting a remastered edition. THQ Nordic has delayed the release slightly, which will now launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows on May 30th. The graphics and soundtrack have been upgraded for the remaster, including high definition GUI art and soundtrack. The controls have been changed to support mouse and keyboard or controllers. Gameplay has also been revamped with changes to the progression system and new Antonia Defense Battles.
Lock’s Quest follows the 75 days of war between the Kingdom Force and the Clockwork Army. After the Clockwork Army invades Lock’s village, Lock joins the war effort to lead the Kingdom Force’s defenses. Players will be able to place a variety of towers, traps, and helpers to battle the Clockwork Army and then lead from the front as Lock uses his Special and Super Attacks.
What is new is old, and what is old is new! Activision has confirmed that the rumours flying around that the next Call of Dutytitle would in fact return to the franchise’s World War II roots. Entitled simply as Call of Duty: WWII, the series is coming full circle after exploring most major conflicts since WWII and modern day and several near future possibilities.
Details about the game’s release will be revealed on April 26 at 10am PDT/April 27 at 3am AEST during a live stream with developers Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey. Interested viewers can head over to the official Call of Dutyweb page to sign up for the livestream and find out more info.
