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FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES REVEALS SCHEDULE FOR BIGGEST EA SPORTS TOURNAMENT EVER

FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES REVEALS SCHEDULE FOR BIGGEST EA SPORTS TOURNAMENT EVER

Fans Can Watch on FUTChampions.com/LIVE – Players to Compete for a Combined Prize Pool of More Than $1 Million

Sydney, Australia. – January 27, 2017 – Today Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced the schedule for the EA SPORTS™ FIFA Ultimate Team™ Championship Series* (UTC), a run of six regional qualifiers and one final event to be broadcast on FUTChampions.com/Live. Competitors in EA SPORTS UTC will have an opportunity to compete for their share of the $1.3 million (USD) combined tournament prize pool. The action begins on February 4, 2017 with the first Season One Ultimate Team Champion European Regional Final live from Paris. Europe’s best players will go head-to-head for a chance to qualify for the Ultimate Team Championship Finals in Berlin later this year. Subsequent Season One Tournaments will take place in Sydney and Miami, and those interested in taking their shot in Season Two can learn more about qualifying here. Players may also be competing for an invitation to the FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Final in London this August.

Season One Regional Finals
Paris – Feb 4
Sydney – Feb 11
Miami – Feb 19

Season Two Regional Finals
Vancouver – April 8
Singapore – April 22
Madrid – May 6

Ultimate Team Championship Finals
Berlin – May 20

FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Final
London – August

Players qualified for the Ultimate Team Championship Series through Weekend Qualifying Tournaments in the popular FUT Champions mode in EA SPORTS FIFA 17 and Regional Premier Qualifier tournaments around the world.

“Since the launch of FIFA 17, more than six million players have competed in FUT Champions and more than 2,000 players have competed in the qualifying tournaments,” said FIFA Competitive Gaming Commissioner, Brent Koning. “Now the top players from around the world are ready to show that they are the best in the game.”

Each Regional Final will showcase 16 players on each console (Xbox One and PlayStation 4), playing a combination of round-robin and bracket-style elimination matches to determine the divisional winners. The divisional champs will then faceoff in a two-leg finale across both platforms to determine the inter-divisional winner.

Those watching the tournaments via livestream will be treated to expert commentary and analysis from Joe Miller and Leigh Smith (Deman). Miller is a longtime veteran in the booth, having worked numerous tournaments and multiple franchises over the course of his career. Smith is a renowned Twitch streamer and shoutcaster with a rich EA SPORTS FIFA history.

The top 16 players from Season One and the top 16 players from Season Two will meet in Berlin on May 20, 2017 for the chance to become Champion of the Ultimate Team Championship Series and take home their share of the $400,000 (USD) prize purse.

EA SPORTS FIFA 17 is developed by EA Vancouver and is available now on Origin™ for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Xbox 360®, and PlayStation®3 consoles. The game is rated G by the Australian Classification Board.

*Qualification for the EA SPORTS FIFA 17 Ultimate Team Championship Series is only available to eligible players on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. No other platforms and consoles are supported for qualification. Residence in eligible countries required. See OFFICIAL RULES for full details at www.futchampions.com.

Fans can learn more about new features to FIFA 17 by visiting FIFA 17’s website, and also by becoming an EA SPORTS FIFA Insider (http://easports.com/fifa).

Join the EA SPORTS FIFA community at Facebook and on Instagram. Follow us on Twitter @easportsfifa and use the hashtag #FIFA17. EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through videogames, including Madden NFL football, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS UFC®.

PREPARE TO FIGHT THROUGH AN ALIEN INFESTED SPACE STATION WHEN PREY® LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE MAY 5, 2017

PREPARE TO FIGHT THROUGH AN ALIEN INFESTED SPACE STATION WHEN PREY® LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE MAY 5, 2017

 

January 26, 2017 (Sydney, Australia) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced Prey  will release worldwide on Friday, May 5, 2017 for the Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and PC. Prey is the highly-anticipated first-person sci-fi action game from Arkane® Studios – creators of the award-winning Dishonored series which includes the 2012 ‘Game of the Year’ and the critically-acclaimed follow-up, Dishonored 2.

When you awaken aboard Talos I, an immense space station orbiting the moon in the year 2032, you find yourself as the key subject of an experiment meant to alter humanity forever – but things have gone terribly wrong. The space station has been overrun by hostile aliens and you are now being hunted. As you dig into the dark secrets of Talos I and your own past, you must survive using the tools found on the station, your wits, weapons, and mind-bending abilities to defeat the Typhon alien.

Fans who pre-order Prey will receive the exclusive Cosmonaut Shotgun Pack. The pre-order bonus consists of Morgan Yu’s family heirloom Margrave shotgun and tools to fight threats aboard Talos I including: three Neuromods players can spend to acquire new abilities, two Medkits, a Fabrication plan to create the Shotgun and Ammo, a starter kit for building tools and weapons, and a unique upgrade to help players preserve their limited resources.

For more information about the game please visit www.prey.com.

About ZeniMax Media Inc.

ZeniMax Media is a privately owned media organization headquartered outside Washington DC with international publishing offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Eindhoven, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Sydney. Through its subsidiaries, ZeniMax Media creates and publishes original interactive entertainment content for consoles, the PC, and handheld/wireless devices.  ZeniMax Media divisions include Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane Studios, Tango Gameworks, MachineGames, BattleCry Studios, ZeniMax Online Studios, ZeniMax Europe Ltd., ZeniMax Asia K.K., ZeniMax Asia Pacific Limited, and ZeniMax Australia Pty Ltd. For more information on ZeniMax Media, visit www.zenimax.com.

About Bethesda Softworks

Bethesda Softworks, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, is a worldwide publisher of interactive entertainment software. Titles featured under the Bethesda label include such blockbuster franchises as The Elder Scrolls®, DOOM®, QUAKE®, Fallout®, Wolfenstein®, Dishonored®, The Evil WithinTM, Prey® and RAGE®.  For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethsoft.com.

About Arkane Studios

Arkane Studios – with offices in Lyon, France and Austin, Texas – was founded in 1999 and has earned an enviable reputation for creating distinctive games with detailed, immersive worlds. The award-winning development team is known for the innovative first-person action series, Dishonored, which includes the 2012 ‘Game of the Year’ and its sequel, Dishonored 2, which released in November 2016 to critical-acclaim and earned over 180 ‘Best of 2016 Awards’ including ‘Best Action-Adventure Game’ at The Game Awards 2016. Arkane Studios will release Prey, its next highly-anticipated game, on May 5, 2017.

Dishonored, Arkane, The Elder Scrolls, Skyrim, Bethesda Game Studios, The Evil Within, PsychoBreak, Tango, Tango Gameworks,  Battlecry Studios, MachineGames, Prey, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda, ZeniMax and their related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the United States and/or in other countries. Fallout and its related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Bethesda Softworks LLC in the United States and/or in other countries. id, id Software, id Tech, DOOM, QUAKE, Wolfenstein, RAGE and their related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of id Software LLC in the United States and/or in other countries. Other product and company names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.

Become One With the Rifle Using These Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Tactics

Become One With the Rifle Using These Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Tactics

New Gameplay Video Shows Hot Tips in Action

Sydney, 27th January 2017 – Today, CI Games presents the first in a two-part series of videos on sniper tactics for Sniper Ghost Warrior 3. In this gameplay video, players will learn more about scope calibration, positioning, and the drone itself.

Watch part 1 of the Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Sniper Tactics video

In the main story of Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, the player takes on the role of Jonathan North, an American Marine dropped into the Republic of Georgia to accomplish a highly classified Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) mission. But, his personal mission is to find his kidnapped brother.

Standing in his way are enemy Separatists that are currently destabilizing the country. It’s up to Jon to accomplish his mission, discover the whereabouts of his brother and to take down any foes looking to stop him using the following sniper tactics:

Scope Calibration

Check the distance to your target and set the elevation on your scope accordingly to compensate for bullet drop. Check the wind indicator as well as the wind influences whether the bullet will drift to the left or right. When all is set, exhale and take the shot.

Positioning

Take advantage of Jon’s surroundings to maximize his effectiveness in an area. Use the environment to reduce weapon sway while aiming. Crouching and lying down also reduces weapon sway. Sniper bullets are strong and can penetrate multiple targets if lined up correctly, and special sniper bullets can even penetrate walls and other barriers.

The Drone

Recon is critical to planning your mission prior to infiltration of an area. The drone can locate and mark enemies, sabotage objects and enemy devices. A simple flyover of the area can expose weak points in the enemy encampment allowing Jon to take out his enemies with deadly precision.

 

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is story of brotherhood, patriotism, and betrayal in the most complete sniper experience ever released. Take the role of an American sniper named Jonathan North, who drops into enemy territory in northern Georgia as the country is dissolving into a bloody civil war. Explore large open-world maps with dynamic weather conditions, and a day and night cycle that impacts play and player decision-making. Customize weapons, equipment, accessories, vehicles, and a drone, and utilize the three pillars of gameplay to your liking: Sniper, Ghost, and Warrior.

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 will launch on PC, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One on April 4, 2017.

To learn more about CI Games and Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, visit:

CI Games website: www.cigames.com
Sniper Ghost Warrior 3:  www.sgw3.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SniperGhostWarrior
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SGW3Game

 

About CI Games

CI Games is an international developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products with sales in more than 50 countries. Headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, CI Games was established in 2002 and has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2007.

CI Games’ global operations distinguish it as one of the most dynamic development companies in the industry, with development and distribution offices in Poland, United States, Germany & Canada. CI Games portfolio includes the best-selling Sniper Ghost Warrior franchise with over 5 million copies sold worldwide. The company is currently working on a number of high profile, multiplatform games including Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 and the action RPG Lords of the Fallen 2. For more information on CI Games please visit: www.cigames.com.

Miss Hokusai Review

Miss Hokusai

Studio: Production I.G
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Platforms: DVD (reviewed) / Blu-ray
Release Date: January 11, 2017
Price: DVD $34.95 – Available Here / Blu-ray $39.95 – Available Here

Overview

Katsushika Hokusai is a highly regarded painter who would go on to paint some of the world’s most famous paintings. In 1814, Hokusai’s daughter O-Ei is living with him and often helps finish his paintings. O-Ei even takes on the jobs that he does not want to do himself. She wants to improve her painting skills, and also wants to figure out what to do about her romantic feelings for a certain male acquaintance. She cares deeply about her younger sister O-Nao, who was born blind and later falls ill. O-Ei acts as the messenger who connects her mother and O-Nao to her father and tries to keep her disjointed family together.

Story

It is rare for an anime film to be presented as a series of mostly disconnected vignettes like this one is, but it is not unheard of. The decision to use such a style does make sense considering that this is more of a slice-of-life story than a biography. There is an underlying narrative in Miss Hokusai, albeit one that only surfaces infrequently until the latter parts of the film. The continuity between the vignettes is O-Nao. Her father is reluctant to visit her, which upsets O-Ei to the point where she directly berates her father over it. The relationship between O-Nao and Hokusai comes to a powerful climax near the end of the film, one that was unexpected due to the little that is known about the historical figure of O-Nao. According to director Keiichi Hara, O-Nao does not appear in the majority of Sugiura’s original manga Sarusuberi, on which this film is based. Hara created new scenes involving O-Nao to enhance the narrative, and his additions are effective at introducing a strong level of emotional engagement. This narrative may not be the main feature of the film, but without it, the disconnected vignettes would not have been quite as engaging on their own.

One problem that some viewers may have with the vignettes is that many of them depict O-Ei trying to learn something but then fail to show the results of her effort. For example, when she is told that her erotic artwork lacks sensuality, she visits a brothel to try to discover what her art is lacking. While her purpose is implicit enough to make sense, this scene does not ultimately help develop her character. The same problem occurs on multiple occasions, and yet it is only at the end of the film that she appears to have improved her painting skills at all. The underlying narrative could not have been emphasized more than it was for this film to work according to Hara’s vision, but O-Ei’s lack of meaningful development means that many scenes could be removed without negatively impacting on the film at all. Fortunately, the truth is rarely stretched to the point of being unbelievable. The vignettes feel like they did actually happen, except for the supernatural elements, which, like the aforementioned brothel scene, are presented in more of a matter-of-fact way than anything else.

Aside from the narrative style, the main element of this award-winning film that stands out is Hara’s depiction of a strong female protagonist, even if she is not shown to develop any further as a character. She does not take any disrespect from anyone, and is a highly skilled painter who can match and even surpass her father’s skill. She is dedicated to improving, and does not believe that marriage is something she wants to be a part of. The film also presents female sexuality in a way that is completely unexpected for a film set in the nineteenth century. In the aforementioned scene when O-Ei visits a brothel to learn about sensuality, no one has anything against O-Ei being there. It is unclear if Hara’s intention with this scene is to demonstrate that female sexuality and/or homosexuality are normal, but that is the effect it has. It is rare to see a film presenting such a strong-willed female protagonist; O-Ei is one of the few female characters in anime who could be a genuinely positive role model for girls.

Visuals

It cannot be overstated just how effective the art style and the animation are. The character designs are detailed and animated in a way that makes Japanese history and culture almost come to life. Some of the women that O-Ei encounters have a stylised look to them. Their design evokes the art style of the period while still looking familiar and realistic. The backgrounds are highly detailed as well, to the point where they could be photo-realistic recreations of Edo-era Japan. The depictions of Hokusai’s artwork are also incredible, allowing the viewer to see why this modest painter is so highly regarded.

The animation goes a long way in helping the backgrounds come to life. There is minimal use of CGI, and the little that is present is made to blend in with the traditional animation. Keiichi Hara was specific about animating the most difficult scene in the film by hand. Said scene involves both a moving character and a moving background, and it took one animator three months to complete this 37-second scene due to its complexity. The result is exceptional, and it demonstrates that human movement and moving backgrounds look so much more impressive when animated using the traditional method. There are supernatural elements sprinkled throughout the film, although they are more incidental than anything else. They are drawn and animated fantastically, adding a level of depth to the story.

Audio

The soundtrack is the only jarring component of the film. A variety of musical styles are utilised for the soundtrack, and the end result is mostly a beautiful selection of orchestral and traditional Japanese music. What stands out for the wrong reason is the rock music, which is most noticeable at the beginning and end of the film. In about 30 seconds, it starts sounding like a lame Hollywood film from the 2000s. Hara states in an interview that he chose to include rock music in order to set this film apart from other historical pieces and to let viewers know that this is not a simple historical drama. The idea itself is perfectly reasonable, and the rock pieces themselves are not bad, but they feel extremely out-of-place in this film. Fortunately, the voice acting is excellent; Anne Watanabe gives a standout performance as the tough but often disinterested O-Ei. The actors are known for live-action work, and they make these characters sound much more realistic than they might have otherwise. The English dub is not included with this release, but French audio and subtitles are.

Extras

The “Making of” documentary, footage from the interview with director Keiichi Hara at Scotland Loves Anime 2015 and the film’s English-subtitled trailer are included on the extras-only disc. There are well over two hours of content on this disc, and they provide a fascinating insight into the unusual production of this film. The “Making of” documentary explains a lot about the creative decisions made for this film.

Overall

Keiichi Hara’s presentation of vignettes about O-Ei’s life as a painter and his own additions to the story are as powerful as they are engaging. The film demonstrates that traditional animation still has a place in the 21st century, even if it does take significantly longer to draw a scene by hand than it does to produce it using 3DCG technology. Miss Hokusai stands out as a unique historical story, and it proves that Hara could become one of the big names in the world of anime films. There are no samurai in this Edo-era story, just a strong female protagonist who is a talented painter that often goes uncredited for her work. If more details about O-Ei’s life are discovered, it would be fantastic to see Hara return to direct a sequel of this film.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Asmodee Digital Releases Award-Winning Board Game “Potion Explosion” on iOS and Android

Asmodee Digital Releases Award-Winning Board Game “Potion Explosion” on iOS and Android

Become a master at the Horribilorum Sorcery Academy with strategic marble-matching game, Potion Explosion

Paris, January 26, 2017 – Asmodee Digital, an international publisher and distributor of digital games, today announced the release of Potion Explosion for mobile devices on Google Play and the App Store. Developed by Studio Clangore and created by Horrible Games, Potion Explosion refreshes the traditional tile-matching game mechanic by adding unique strategic and inventory management elements in a whimsical atmosphere. Players are tasked with creating magic potions, whose abilities can be used during play to provide special techniques for completing additional potions. The player who assembles the most valuable potions and combinations wins.

Enter Professor Albedus Humblescore’s classroom and compete against other potion making apprentices to become an honor student of the Horribilorum Sorcery Academy by developing your inner wizard skills. Learn how to master the art of making complex and valuable potions using spellbinding ingredients such as unicorn tears, dragon smoke, ogre mucus and fairy dandruff. Manage your laboratory apparatus and apply the right dosage to your test tubes and flasks to design the ultimate potions whose abilities will help you grow into a master potions student. Gather your resources in the dispenser, and compete with ingenuity to collide ingredient marbles of the same color to trigger explosions! The more identical marbles collide, the more ingredients are collected through chain reactions to cook up your magic potions. Combine the correct ingredients to create stunning potions such as the Elixir of Blind Love, the Potion of Prismatic Joy, or the Sands of Time. You can also drink potions and benefit from their magical effects to collect more ingredients, or steal directly from a rival’s pool.

“The team at Asmodee Digital and Studio Clangore has been hard at work for the past seven months to develop the mobile version of Potion Explosion in collaboration with Horrible Games,” says Remi Hanesse, Asmodee Digital Product Manager. “It is an honor to finally deliver Potion Explosion for everyone to play anytime, anywhere.”

Powered by Asmodee Digital technology, offering both a single and multiplayer mode (local and online for up to 4 players), Potion Explosion delivers an original and captivating symbol recognition play experience in a fantasy world environment. Players must use their talent to win skill tokens by mastering a particular potion several times or by proving their skills at preparing a variety of potions. Garner the most skill tokens to win the game and become a Potion Master! Follow the tutorial to learn the secrets of potions and revise your exam before you begin your careful blend of mixtures. Don’t panic if you’re new to wizardry, once in the classroom, players can ask for a little help from Professor Humblescore.

Price and availability

Potion Explosion is available now on the App Store and Google Play store for $4.99

Discover the visuals of Potion Explosion here: http://bit.ly/2j6bg0m

View the Potion Explosion trailer here

About Asmodee Digital

Asmodee Digital, a fully owned subsidiary of the Asmodee Group, is an international publisher and distributor of digital games. Asmodee Digital manages the conception, publishing, marketing and distribution of board and card games on the app stores of Apple, Google, Steam and Amazon. Asmodee Digital designs and publishes games not only for the Asmodee Group (Asmodee Editions, Days of Wonder, Fantasy Flight Games) but also for third party publishers. The Asmodee Digital catalogue includes best-selling digital games such as Ticket to Ride, Splendor, Small World 2, Mysterium and digital versions of many other well-known board games.

About Studio Clangore
Studio Clangore (www.studioclangore.com) is an independent developer based in Monza, Italy. Founded by the team behind the award-winning game “Magnifico – Da Vinci’s Art of War”, Studio Clangore consists of four industry veterans committed to the design of unique and exhilarating experiences, play after play.

About Horrible Games
Horrible Games is an Italian publisher of board games, known for the award-winning titles Dungeon Fighter, Steam Park, Co-Mix, Potion Explosion and Raise Your Goblet. Horrible Games has the will to bring players fun games that are also simple and frantic, providing originality and entertainment thanks to the mechanics of the gameplay. Their motto remains “Something horrible is on the way!”. CMON Limited is the publisher of the Potion Explosion board game in English speaking countries.

DiRT® 4™ CRASHES ONTO CONSOLES ON JUNE 6: BIGGER, BOLDER & BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE

DiRT® 4™ CRASHES ONTO CONSOLES ON JUNE 6: BIGGER, BOLDER & BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE

THE MULTI-MILLION BEST-SELLING OFF-ROAD FRANCHISE RETURNS WITH BUGGIES, TRUCKS, RALLY, RALLYCROSS AND A GAME CHANGER FOR RACING 

Larkspur, Calif. – January 26, 2017 – Codemasters & Deep Silver today announced that DiRT® 4™ will fearlessly race to the PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one entertainment system from Microsoft,  and Windows PC on June 6, 2017. Hot on the heels of 2016’s critically and commercially successful DiRT Rally®, DiRT 4 takes the passion and authenticity of off-road racing to the next level and also reintroduces gamers to white knuckle truck and buggy racing in Landrush. You can watch the announcement trailer now at http://www.dirt4game.com

DiRT 4 sports an all-new system called Your Stage; an innovative rally route creation tool that allows you to produce a near infinite number of unique stages at the touch of a button. Choosing your location and setting the route parameters , Your Stage does the hard work to create a unique rally stage that you can race, share with your friends and then challenge them to beat your time. Your Stage allows experienced rally players to create longer, more technical routes, whilst newcomers can create simpler shorter routes as they hone their skills. 

Globally renowned for delivering premium quality, authentic and fun racing games, Codemasters is once more bringing its talent and experience to the world of off-road driving. With DiRT 4, the team have sought to combine the levels of thrill and realism from last year’s DiRT Rally with the fearless excitement, accessibility and adrenalin-fuelled contests previously seen in its critically acclaimed prequels DiRT 2 and DiRT 3. 

Featuring classic rally racing that continues to build on the foundations set by the Colin McRae Rally games, the bruising contests from the official FIA World Rallycross Championship, the crazy battles of racing trucks and buggies, and the outrageous fun of open events in Joyride, players will face the challenges from as far apart as Australia, Spain and California in a truly global sport. 

DiRT 4 challenges you to “Be Fearless” by capturing the thrill, emotion and passion of off-road racing. It recreates the heady mix of adrenalin and fear that comes from powering around a blind bend and the rush you feel going for a last ditch overtake when there’s not enough room on the final lap of a race. Off-road racing is about more than perfect cornering, it’s about heart-pounding, split-section decision making where bravery brings reward. 

Key Features:

• OVER 50 OF THE MOST BREATH-TAKING OFF-ROAD CARS EVER BUILT – Including Ford Fiesta R5, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI, Subaru WRX STI NR4 and Audi Sport quattro S1 E2

• 5 INCREDIBLE RALLY LOCATIONS WITH MILLIONS OF ROUTES – Australia, Spain, Michigan, Sweden & Wales

• THE OFFICIAL GAME OF THE FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP – Race at Montalegre, Lohéac Bretagne, Hell, Holjes & Lydden Hill in a multitude of different series

• LANDRUSH – Short-course dirt track racing in Pro Buggies, Pro-2 Trucks, Pro-4 Trucks and Crosskart vehicles in California, Nevada and Mexico

• JOYRIDE – Laptime challenges, smash challenges, free-play area and send challenges to friends

• DiRT ACADEMY – Taking place at the DirtFish Rally School in Washington, USA, learn the skills, techniques and practice to become the best!

• CAREER MODE – create your driver, compete across the disciplines, gain sponsors and build your team with clear goals and rewards

• COMPETITIVE GAMING – Daily, weekly and month-long challenges against fellow players from around the world

• NEXT GENERATION OF RACENET – Live ladder, leagues and tournaments, cross-platform leaderboards, enhanced CREST telemetry system

• TUNING – Tweak your set-up based on vehicle, track and weather conditions to best suit your racing style

• DAMAGE & REPAIRS – Wear and tear is faithfully recreated with an improved and realistic damage model. Damage can be repaired by hiring engineers to work in the team’s Service Area between stages but with a finite amount of time available. 

Keep up with all the news and follow updates from the studio on Facebook and Twitter. 

# # #  

ABOUT CODEMASTERS:

Codemasters, the award winning video game developer and publisher, has a 30 year heritage. With titles distributed globally, Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of driving and racing entertainment games including DiRT, GRID and the official BAFTA award-winning FORMULA 1 series of videogames. The company is fully controlled by Reliance Big Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL). For more information on Codemasters’ product portfolio, please visit www.codemasters.com. Join in the conversation with @codemasters on Twitter or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/codemasters.

Marvel Entertainment and SQUARE ENIX team up for multi-year, multi-game creative partnership

Marvel Entertainment and SQUARE ENIX team up for multi-year, multi-game creative partnership

Original Blockbuster Games in Development at Award-Winning Square Enix Studios Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal

GLENDALE, Calif. & TOKYO, JAPAN (January 26, 2017) – Marvel Entertainment and SQUARE ENIX® today announced a new multi-year, multi-game licensing agreement to develop and publish original games based on beloved Marvel Super Heroes, beginning with The Avengers. This newly established partnership pairs the creative minds at Marvel and Square Enix for one of the most powerful alliances in interactive entertainment. The first blockbuster game is being crafted by Crystal Dynamics®, developers of the award winning TOMB RAIDER® series, in collaboration with Eidos-Montréal, the home of the critically acclaimed and award-winning DEUS EX game series.

The Avengers project is being designed for gamers worldwide and will be packed with all the characters, environments, and iconic moments that have thrilled longtime fans of the franchise. Featuring a completely original story, it will introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come. More details on The Avengers project and other games will be announced in 2018.

The world premiere teaser trailer of The Avengers project can be seen here.

“By partnering with Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal, we are now working with two of the industry’s most talented and respected game development studios to bring Marvel stories to life in ways our fans have never experienced,“ said Jay Ong, Senior Vice President, Games & Innovation, Marvel Entertainment. “The Avengers project is a perfect example of how Marvel is making games a key part of the landscape for Marvel storytelling, alongside comics, television and film. We can only do this by matching our greatest Super Heroes with the world’s top developers, such as the creative minds at Square Enix.”

“Marvel’s diverse, innovative universe has created millions of longtime fans, including all of us,” said Phil Rogers, CEO, Square Enix Americas and Europe. “It’s exciting to bring together Square Enix’s award-winning development studios with Marvel’s extraordinary storytellers to establish a new entertainment powerhouse.  This collaboration of passion and talent will craft epic, imaginative experiences allowing gamers to live out their Super Hero dreams like never before.”

Crystal Dynamics is the studio behind the critically acclaimed and world-famous TOMB RAIDER franchise, which has sold over 48 million copies worldwide. With over 30 video game titles released and hundreds of awards, the heroine Lara Croft has been a cultural icon for 20 years and has made an indelible mark on virtually every facet of entertainment. The most recent release, Rise of the Tomb Raider®, has received over 100 awards and nominations and is one of the highest rated games on next generation systems.

Eidos-Montréal is the award-winning studio behind the relaunch of the DEUS EX series. In 2011, the studio made its mark with the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution®. Its sequel, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided™, was released in 2016 and received more than 100 awards and nominations.

About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics®, and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 115 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 68 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 48 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at http://www.na.square-enix.com . For more information on Crystal Dynamics, please visit http://www.crystald.com , their Twitter account, or their LinkedIn page. For more information about Eidos-Montreal, please visit https://eidosmontreal.com/, their Twitter account, or their LinkedIn page.

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2017 MARVEL

SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, the CRYSTAL DYNAMICS logo, EIDOS-MONTREAL, the EIDOS-MONTREAL logo, TOMB RAIDER, RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER, LARA CROFT, DEUS EX, DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION, DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED, IO INTERACTIVE, TAITO, FINAL FANTASY, DRAGON QUEST and SPACE INVADERS are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies.

SCOPELY AND WWE® LAUNCH WWE CHAMPIONS ON MOBILE DEVICES

SCOPELY AND WWE® LAUNCH WWE CHAMPIONS ON MOBILE DEVICES

Players Can Now Build Their WWE Superstar Dream Team to Face Off in the Ring; WWE Champions Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play

LOS ANGELES – Jan. 26, 2017 – Scopely, the leading touchscreen entertainment network, and global entertainment company WWE have launched WWE Champions, the fast paced puzzle RPG, which is now available as a free download on iOS and Android devices.

In the game, players build up their fantasy roster across generations of WWE Superstars and Legends to face off in the ring. WWE fans can customize their individual dream team of champions, ranging from 100 different Superstars and Legends spanning 40 years of WWE history, upgrade their skills and special abilities and ultimately customize their signature finishing moves.

“Together with WWE, we have built a mobile experience that captures the intensity and personality  of the world of WWE spanning generations of Superstars and Legends,” said Tim O’Brien, Chief Revenue Officer, Scopely. “WWE Champions is packed with unlimited hours of gameplay to entertain both WWE fans and mobile gamers. Scopely has a unique ability to bring a diverse range of entertainment and game brands to mobile gamers as long lasting experiences, and we are excited to introduce another flagship with WWE Champions.

WWE Champions brings together WWE fans across mobile devices to battle for reputation, power and bragging rights in 1-on-1 and tag team matches. The action changes daily in WWE Champions, with weekly bouts that recreate Raw and SmackDown battles, monthly pay-per-view events, and the ability to recruit up-and-coming Superstars.

“WWE is constantly looking for new ways to engage our passionate fan base,” said Casey Collins, WWE Executive Vice President, Consumer Products. “Scopely’s roster of successful and authentic branded game experiences made them the perfect partner to help bring in new WWE fans by creating a mobile experience that will appeal to consumers around the world.”

WWE Champions joins Scopely’s Hall of Fame of mobile games based on beloved entertainment brands. Scopely’s The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, YAHTZEE With Buddies and Wheel of Fortune Free Play continue to rank in the Top Games charts on both iOS and Android.

WWE Champions is available to download for free on iOS and Android here: http://bit.ly/2k0ED3S

About Scopely

Scopely is the leading touchscreen entertainment network. With a network of more than 100 million users and seven consecutive #1 titles including Walking Dead: Road To Survival, YAHTZEE! With Buddies, and Wheel of Fortune Free Play, Scopely has built the central monetization and distribution platform to publish genre-defining hit games for casual and core gamers, working with the some of the best development partners in the world. Scopely’s success is fueled by market leading skills in game design, live services, marketing, analytics, business development, ads and more from top gaming and entertainment talent. In July 2016, Scopely closed a Series B funding round of $55 million to scale the business and execute on the company’s catalog of mobile game titles across original and globally celebrated entertainment properties. In December 2015, Deloitte named Scopely the #2 fastest-growing technology company in North America. To learn more, please visit www.scopely.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 25 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/.

Fingersoft’s Hill Climb Racing 2 Surpasses 40 Million Downloads

Fingersoft’s Hill Climb Racing 2 Surpasses 40 Million Downloads

Content update adds new challenges, a new vehicle and more

OULU, Finland Jan. 26, 2017 – Independent game developer Fingersoft is pleased to confirm that physics-based racer Hill Climb Racing 2 has followed in its predecessor’s tire tracks by gaining 40 million installs in less than two months. Launched at the end of November 2016, Hill Climb Racing 2 has topped the charts globally since launch, reaching the number one position in the racing category in 121 countries and in the overall games section in 64 countries. Players have reviewed Hill Climb Racing 2 in the App Store and Google Play over one million times, with an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars in the Google Play store and 4.7 stars rating in the App Store.

As part of Fingersoft’s commitment to continue supporting Hill Climb Racing 2 post-launch, today sees new content available to the game’s global player base. The update introduces four new cups to the multiplayer game, a big badass Super Diesel Truck and new driver outfits. In addition to the numerous racing environments in the game, the players can now compete in four new themed race cups: the Winter Cup, the It’s Mine! Cup, the Tunnels Cup and the More Mines Cup.

Hill Climb Racing 2 is a sequel to the original Hill Climb Racing, which to date has amassed over half a billion downloads. Building on the original, Hill Climb Racing 2 adds asynchronous online multiplayer, playable over 30 unique stages. Players can compete in 16 different challenging cups to gain ranks and unlock new levels, challenge friends to compete in races, or try to best the world’s top race times on the leaderboards.

About Fingersoft

Fingersoft is a Finnish game developer and publisher focusing on fun-filled content for mobile devices. The company is famous for its hit mobile game Hill Climb Racing, which has over half a billion downloads globally. Together with Hill Climb Racing and other popular apps and games, such as Benji Bananas, Fail Hard, and Make More!, Fingersoft’s products are installed close to one million times a day. The company launched a sequel, Hill Climb Racing 2, in November 2016. Fingersoft’s products are available for iOS, Android, Windows devices and Amazon Kindle devices.

http://www.fingersoft.net
https://www.facebook.com/Fingersoft
Twitter: @Fingersoft

NEW SYNTHESIS FEATURES AND PREORDER BONUSES REVEALED FOR ATELIER FIRIS: THE ALCHEMIST AND THE MYSTERIOUS JOURNEY

NEW SYNTHESIS FEATURES AND PREORDER BONUSES REVEALED FOR ATELIER FIRIS: THE ALCHEMIST AND THE MYSTERIOUS JOURNEY

Craft Oversized Items On the Go to Overcome New Obstacles in the Latest Alchemist RPG from the Beloved ‘Atelier’ Series, Headed to PlayStation®4, PlayStation®Vita and Steam®

Hertfordshire, 26th January 2017 – KOEI TECMO Europe today revealed additional details regarding the Synthesis gameplay system and pre-order bonuses for the latest title from the long-running Atelier series, Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey. The game is slated to release on the 10th March 2017 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system and on Windows PC via Steam.

Synthesis is an integral aspect of each Atelier title, and in turn, each alchemist’s adventure! Throughout her unusual journey, Firis will devise handy new recipes as she explores the vast land, encounters new companions, and discovers new materials. To match her wanderlust lifestyle, Firis’s Atelier takes the form of a portable Atelier Tent that enables her to synthesise wherever she may please. The Atelier Tent can even be personalised with a variety of keepsakes from her adventures, making it feel like her second home!

The Synthesis system in Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey features exciting new additions to suit its newly nomadic nature. For example, Mass Synthesis allows Firis to create large items to overcome obstacles in her path, such as building a bridge to cross a river, or a boat to cruise across a lake. Deciding what to build not only changes the appearance and accessibility of various locations, but can also affect the course of the story! Furthermore, the effectiveness of items can be amplified with the use of special Catalysts, which grant bonuses and provide greater perks to the end result.

Finally, Koei Tecmo revealed today the bonuses available to those who pre-order Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey. Specifically, two adorable costumes which give Firis useful bonuses will be offered with all pre-orders. The Resort Vacation costume increases the chances of finding high quality materials for use in synthesis, whilst the Wonderland outfit decreases the time it takes for synthesis and fast travelling between landmarks!

A batch of new assets was released today offering a first look at the Atelier Tent system and introducing a delightful cast of characters including Angriff Dahlmann, an aged and hearty mercenary, and a set of alchemists; the highly skilled Ren Breitner, the carefree Norbert Classen and the clumsy Dion Maier. A new trailer was also released and can be viewed here.

For more information on Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey, please visit the official website at www.koeitecmoeurope.com/firis, like us on www.facebook.com/ateliergames and follow us on twitter @koeitecmoeurope.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

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

©2016 KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved. Atelier Firis and GUST are registered trademarks or trademarks of KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. The KT logo is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.