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June 2, 2016

Stockholm – June 2 2016 – Might and Delight are excited and pleased to finally reveal details of their first project as a publisher – Pan-Pan.

The adventure title sees Might and Delight partner with independent developer Emil Berner (Spelkraft) to bring his labour of love to PC and Mac later this year.

“Working with Emil to fully realize his vision of Pan-Pan has been an absolute joy for the entire studio and goes a long way to highlighting what we are trying to build here. We’re a relatively small outfit that believes in a spirit of collaboration. Also having based in-house as part of the collective has been a massive boost for the entire studio,” said Vic Bassey, COO at Might and Delight.

Pan-Pan is an open plain adventure that expands on the concept of environmental narrative storytelling with puzzle solving and exploration elements at its core. It’s adorable, cute supported with an equally enchanting soundtrack. It’s a game Emil believes only a studio like Might and Delight understands and emphasizes his decision to partner with them.

“A look at Might and Delights portfolio tells you all you need to know. From Pid to the Shelter series, they have shown an ability to tell small, but weighty stories with charm and heart. Pan-Pan encompasses all those elements and to be honest it just felt right,” added Emil Berner.

“We’re not so much a publisher, but a partner across the board on both a personal and professional level”, concluded Vic Bassey.

Pan-Pan will be supported with a series of developer diaries featuring Emil expanding on his vision for the game in the coming months and is slated for an August 2016 release on PC and Mac.

LEGENDARY POKÉMON UNVEILED FOR POKÉMON SUN AND POKÉMON MOON

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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June 2, 2016

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LEGENDARY POKÉMON UNVEILED FOR POKÉMON SUN AND POKÉMON MOON

Details revealed for Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala

London, United Kingdom – June 2, 2016 – The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo today introduced the Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala that can be found in Pokémon Sun andPokémon Moon. The latest generation of Pokémon video games will launch in Europe on November 23, exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. In addition to the details about these powerful Pokémon, new characters in the game and new features were also revealed.

The two legendary Pokémon that appear on the packaging of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon play a crucial role in the story. Solgaleo and Lunala hold the key to the adventure that can be found in these highly anticipated games.

Name: Solgaleo
Category: Sunne Pokémon
Height: 11′02″
Weight: 507.1 lbs.
Type: Psychic/Steel
Ability: Full Metal Body

Honoured as an emissary of the sun since ancient times, Solgaleo is referred to with reverence as “the beast that devours the sun.” Solgaleo’s body holds a vast amount of energy, and it shines with light when it is active. It has a flowing mane with a remarkable resemblance to the sun. Its signature move is Sunsteel Strike, an attack that charges at an opponent with the force of a meteor, disregarding the target’s Ability. Solgaleo’s Ability is Full Metal Body, a new Ability that no previous Pokémon has had. With the Full Metal Body Ability, a Pokémon’s stats will not be lowered by the effects of an opponent’s moves or Ability.

Name: Lunala
Category: Moone Pokémon
Height: 13′01″
Weight: 264.6 lbs.
Type: Psychic/Ghost
Ability: Shadow Shield

Since ancient times, Lunala has been honoured as an emissary of the moon. Referred to with reverence as “the beast that calls the moon,” Lunala is constantly absorbing light and converting it into energy. With its wings spread to absorb the surrounding light and glittering like the crescent moon, it resembles a beautiful night sky. Lunala’s signature Moongeist Beam attack releases an ominous beam of light that disregards the target’s Ability.
Lunala’s Ability is Shadow Shield, a new Ability that no previous Pokémon has had. With the Shadow Shield Ability, a Pokémon will take less damage from an attack that lands when the Pokémon has full HP.

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon take place in the Alola region, which centres around four tropical islands and one artificial island. Many Pokémon that have never been seen before inhabit the lush islands of the Alola region. The story begins right after the main character moves to the Alola region. After choosing to play as a hero or heroine, players can customize their character’s name and appearance. No sooner have they arrived than their adventures begin to unfold, and they meet many fascinating people as they travel through the region.

Professor Kukui is the Alola region’s Pokémon professor. The professor is passionate about his research into Pokémon moves and has sometimes taken direct hits from Pokémon if there was something to be learned from it. Sporting a white lab coat, Professor Kukui has his own unique style.

Lillie is a mysterious girl who assists the professor. This young girl is about the same age as the player’s character and is Professor Kukui’s assistant. She’s not fond of making Pokémon fight in battles, but she loves reading and has read a great number of books. Lillie will play an important role in the story of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon.

Hau is a Pokémon-loving young boy with a big appetite. He is the same age as the player’s character. Hau becomes one of the main character’s first friends. He has a real weakness for malasadas, a famous treat in the Alola region, and is always in search of malasada shops. Hau is a big-hearted boy who really loves Pokémon.

The Pokédex is a convenient tool that records information about the Pokémon that players see and catch during their adventure. In Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, Professor Kukui provides a special Pokédex known as the Rotom Pokédex. It is inhabited by Rotom, a Pokémon with the power to reside in various electronic appliances. The Rotom Pokédex does much more than record Pokémon info—it has its own personality. Besides showing the player’s current location and their next destination, the Rotom Pokédex also provides advice on where to go next, based on the conversations players have with other characters.

In Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, a QR Scanner function allows players to see information about Pokémon when they scan QR Code patterns. By scanning in special QR Code patterns, fans can register Pokémon of the Alola region to their Pokédex and find out where they live. If they scan in the QR Code for a Pokémon that they haven’t yet caught, players can check its habitat and search it out.

A new trailer that showcases the Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala and new gameplay in action can be found here:

For more information, please visit www.Pokemon.co.uk/SunMoon

About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk .

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, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family 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, Wii, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems including New Nintendo 3DS™, New Nintendo 3DS XL™, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL™, Nintendo 2DS™, as well as Nintendo DS™, Nintendo DSi™, Nintendo DSi XL™, Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ 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 Europe, based in Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in Europe.

BAME in Games network launched to attract more diverse talent to the games industry

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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June 2, 2016

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BAME in Games network launched to attract more diverse talent to the games industry

London, Thursday 2 June 2016: The United Kingdom games industry today launches an advocacy group to encourage more diverse talent to work in the games and wider entertainment industry. The group will manage a professional network to encourage discussion and collaboration on diversity and make available speakers for conferences and events.

The network is free to join and open to everyone interested in the entertainment sector at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/BAME-in-Games-8459302/about .

Creative Skillset’s Employment Census 2015 for games and other Creative Media sectors published in March showed that the representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups remains disappointingly low at 4.0% down from 4.7% in 2012. The UK average for BAME employment across all industries is 30% in London and 10% nationally.

David Smith, Founder of Women in Games and now BAME in Games, explained “We would like to provide some focus on the talent that the games industry is failing to attract. Games and the wider entertainment industry should attract the very best from all backgrounds. We want to nurture more talent from minority groups. We can also do more to promote the benefits of a diverse workforce.”
The first Chair of the group is Kish Hirani who has worked at the BBC, THQ, Microsoft and most recently, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. He is supported by two vice chairs, Tanya Laird of Digital Jam and Adam Campbell of Hopster.

Kish Hirani, Chair of BAME in Games commented “Diversity brings so many advantages. It makes creative sense. It makes business sense. And games creators can truly represent the diversity of those who play games. Help us build a network that makes the games industry a place that attracts talented people from all walks of life. We want everyone in games to join us in any capacity they feel comfortable, starting with simply joining our professional network on LinkedIn.”

About BAME in Games
BAME in Games is an advocacy or special interest group that exists to encourage more diverse talent to work in the games and the wider entertainment industry. The group will manage a professional network to encourage discussion and collaboration on diversity and make available speakers for conferences and events. The network is free to join and open to everyone interested in the entertainment sector athttps://www.linkedin.com/groups/BAME-in-Games-8459302/about

The group also exists to nurture and promote the benefits of diversity and hiring talent from minority groups generally within games and entertainment.
An advisory group lead by a part time Chair and Deputy Chairs, meeting every 3 months, will provide a clear point of contact for companies and organisations seeking to promote ethnic diversity in the games and entertainment sectors.

There are Cyborgs in the Pyramid – Go Get ‘Em in the New Warface Special Operation, Anubis

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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June 2, 2016

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There are Cyborgs in the Pyramid – Go Get ‘Em in the New Warface Special Operation, Anubis

Blow up a sub, neutralize a missile base, and destroy a secret cyborg factory in the latest Special Operation to launch on Crytek’s free online shooter

Frankfurt am Main (Germany) June 2, 2016 – A futuristic threat is buried within an ancient pyramid in Anubis, the expansive new Special Operation coming to Crytek’s free-to-play online shooter, Warface, today.

Anubis – named after the god of death himself – is an epic three stage co-op mission set in Eastern Africa, where players must battle hard, smart, and as a team. Gamers must work through a network of bases, culminating in an assault on a pyramid, to disrupt Blackwood’s villainous operations.

The action comes thick and fast from the moment the team is inserted into the landing zone, where enemies are at the gate of a missile facility. After infiltrating the complex and disabling the control room, defended by deadly automatic turrets, players must repel assaults from all sides as they battle through a canyon to reach a heavily fortified dry dock. Then it’s time to blow up a Blackwood submarine. Once this objective is completed, players take the fight to the heart of Anubis’ pyramid which houses a clandestine cyborg factory. Gamers must disable the facility and then survive waves of relentless attacks as a sandstorm engulfs the battlefield before extraction.

The new Special Operation’s three diverse stages require players to combine the strengths of the game’s four different classes to take on and eliminate a wide range of enemies. Gamers must adapt their tactics for each stage, from clearing out buildings at close-quarters to holding a defensive line in the face of marauding cyborgs, if they are to complete this action-packed new mission.

Anubis is the latest co-op Special Operation to launch for Warface. New maps, missions, weapons, items, weapon skins, and challenges are regularly added to the game as Warface evolves to serve its ever-growing community.

Watch the new trailer for Special Operation Anubis now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmC2pzAe9_c and sign up to play Warface for free at www.warface.com .

PRESS ONLY
YouTube Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmC2pzAe9_c

About Warface
Warface is a team-based shooter loaded with cooperative and competitive action, stacks of game modes, and a wealth of weapons for players to get their hands on. Gamers can choose to play as Riflemen, Medics, Snipers, or Engineers as they work together and attempt to uproot the Blackwood military faction in Co-op play or choose their side and lock horns with fellow players in PVP battles. Download the game from warface.com or via Steam today —completely for free.

About Crytek
Crytek is an independent videogame developer, publisher and technology provider with headquarters in Frankfurt am Main (Germany) and seven other studios around the world. Established in 1999, Crytek has created multiple award-winning titles, including the original Far Cry, the Crysis series, Ryse: Son of Rome and Warface. All of Crytek’s games are developed using CRYENGINE, the company’s cutting-edge 3D game technology, which is also the first choice of other leading developers and licensees when creating games for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, and Android. Crytek’s ongoing growth in the games-as-a-service market has extended the company’s reach as they continue to deliver top quality interactive experiences to players through self-publishing platforms online.
For more information visit www.crytek.com and www.cryengine.com .

Techland Officially Becomes a Global Video Game Publisher

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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June 2, 2016

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Techland Officially Becomes a Global Video Game Publisher

The Polish Developer who brought us Dying Light expands into the world of international publishing

June 2^nd, 2016 – Wroclaw, Poland/ Techland, the Poland-based company best known as the developer of many fan-favorite games including Dying Light, Dead Island, and the Call of Juarez series, is proud to announce its move into the international publishing market.
With over twenty years of experience not only as a developer but also video game distributor and publisher in Central and Eastern Europe, Techland has decided to go global as Techland Publishing.

Techland’s CEO Paweł Marchewka:
“As a developer, we have worked with many renowned publishers in the past so we know first-hand what makes these kinds of collaborations efficient and satisfying for both parties. After the successful promotional campaigns for Dying Light and Dying Light: The Following, led by our own dedicated team, we believe this is the perfect time to use everything we’ve learned and help other developers.

We believe in a flexible and open publishing philosophy, based on respect for the players. We will encourage and financially support developers through investing in bold, unconventional games with great entertainment value.

Our goal is to release 2 major multiplatform titles, and 4 in digital distribution each year. We’re already scanning the market for opportunities and we’ll announce the first game to be released under Techland Publishing soon.”

Hanayamata Complete Series Review

K. Roberts

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June 2, 2016

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HaNaYaMaTa Complete Series
Studio: Madhouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Format: DVD (reviewed)
Release Date: May 4, 2016
Price: $59.95 AUD (Available Here)

Overview

Naru Sekiya is a 14-year-old middle school student. She is a wholly unremarkable person who is almost exclusively interested in fairy tales. One day, she meets her own ‘fairy’ and asks her to take her to another world. The ‘fairy’, a North American named Hana N. Fountainstand, decides to fulfil Naru’s wish and introduces her to the world of yosakoi. Although Naru is shy, nervous and occasionally clumsy, her friendship with Hana helps her grow into a caring friend and gives her a new purpose in life.

Story

Yosakoi is not often the main subject of an anime or manga series. It may be depicted briefly during cultural festivals, but there are relatively few anime or manga series that are focused on dancing of any kind. In the case of this anime adaptation, the end goal is for the members of the yosakoi club to participate in the Hanairo Festival. However, HaNaYaMaTa is not all about yosakoi. It is just as much about a shy and easily embarrassed girl who spends the majority of her time with her best friend Yaya Sasame, as well as the easily excitable foreign student Hana. In a way, the series is almost like a Japanese dating simulator. There are five girls each with their own problems that all have to be resolved by the protagonist. The only difference is that one of the five girls, Naru, happens to also be the protagonist of this ‘dating sim’. After she becomes friends with Hana, she learns more about friendship and encouragement. Hana and Naru eventually work together to form a yosakoi club at their middle school, although they face an unrealistic amount of adversity from those around them at school.

Hana is the one who helps Naru with her problem, which is a reasonably realistic problem for one to have. Unfortunately, the problems that the other characters have are unnecessarily melodramatic. Yaya has been strongly attached to her best friend Naru since they were children. She likes being the person Naru runs to whenever she has a problem, so she ends up becoming rather jealous of Hana and hostile towards Naru after Hana and Naru become friends. This eventually leads to a big fight between Naru and Yaya. Some harsh words are said, the two eventually make up after they tell each other how they really feel and everyone moves on to the next problem. It would be better if Yaya was not a completely archetypal tsundere, and if there was more originality in the series. Her problem and the way she deals with it is contrived. Some of the girls are able to act like they are in middle school, however. It can be realistic when it wants to, even if it often chooses not to for the sake of presenting an annoyingly melodramatic story.

There are more problems with this series that need to be mentioned. Some scenes are completely and utterly pointless, such as the five minutes spent on having some of the girls think that they need to go on a diet. This diversion goes nowhere and serves no purpose. It does not even seem to be there to comment on the fact that young girls often feel the need to go on a diet when they are in fact perfectly healthy. Hana’s North American mother appears towards the end of the series, creating the most contrived melodrama in the entire series. The members of the yosakoi club face plenty of hindrances, but none so ridiculous as Hana’s mother finally appearing only to tell Hana to leave Japan almost immediately. Her mother tries to make it seem like she has been thinking about things very seriously, but she clearly did not put much thought into how Hana might feel about leaving Japan in a matter of just a couple of days with no warning. The other major problem is the student council president, Machi. Machi appears in the opening animation as a member of the yosakoi club, yet she plays the role of antagonist for more than half of these 12 episodes. Her problems are resolved, as are the problems of every other character, but it is extremely unusual for a main character to only be given a proper personality and a major role in the final few episodes. This may very well be nothing more than a side effect of the anime being an adaptation of only a part of what is currently a seven-volume manga series, but it does not work well either way.

Visuals

Hanayamata is stunning right from the very first moment. From the falling of the cherry blossoms to the choreography of the yosakoi, there are few dull moments in this series in terms of its visuals. One thing that Madhouse’s animation team is particularly skilled at is the use of colour to make things stand out. Brightness and darkness are both used effectively, as is the use of glowing effects, but what really sets this series apart from most other modern anime series on the market is the use of vivid colours and imagery. The backgrounds are so beautiful that they almost cease being backgrounds at all, standing out so much that they are just as incredible to look at as the dancing. Madhouse has always been one of Japan’s best animation studios, and the animation alone make this series worth watching. There is one problem with the animation, however, and an extremely major one at that. Still images are often used in the dance sequences instead of actual animation. Considering that the series is focused on a yosakoi club, there ought to have been a lot more animation in its most important scenes.

Audio

Most of the voice actors in the English dub give convincing performances, but Monica Rial was a strange choice for Yaya. Yaya in the English audio track sounds as if she is the one from New Jersey, not Hana. The background music is fantastic and the opening and ending songs are both memorable. Rarely does an anime series feature a soundtrack that is almost entirely great to listen to.

Extras

On-disc extras are limited to the textless opening and ending animation. The regular textless opening and ending animation are included on the first disc, while a slightly different version of the ending animation is included on the third disc.

Overall

Hanayamata may be a short adaptation of an ongoing manga series, but it can be entertaining at times. Whether it is because of Hana’s near-constant state of excitement, the somewhat realistic character development or the yosakoi dancing, there is rarely a dull moment in this series. It is moving, touching and generally beautiful when it wants to be. It has a few inappropriate sexual references and a few scenes that are frustrating to have to sit through, but it continually offers a range of important values and moral points for viewers to think about. It is somewhat of a shame that the anime adaptation only ran for twelve episodes and that the original manga series is not available in English, but this does have a sense of completeness. It has a clear beginning, middle and end, and although that end is just the beginning for the Yuihama Yosakoi Club, it might be worth watching whether you are interested in yosakoi or not.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Author’s Note: The original score provided for this review was incorrect, and has been updated by the author to reflect Capsule Computers’ ongoing commitment to providing reliable reviews for its readers.

What FUNimation Is Releasing in June 2016

K. Roberts

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June 2, 2016

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What FUNimation Is Releasing in June 2016

FUNimation Entertainment is releasing several anime titles this month. The following list details all of those releases.

June 7, 2016:

Fairy Tail Part Twenty – DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack. This set features episodes 227-239. On-disc extras include: “Guild Pride: Fairy Tail”, episode commentaries, the textless opening and ending animations, the U.S. trailer and trailers.
Gonna be the Twin-Tail!! Complete Series – DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack. On-disc extras include episode commentaries, the textless opening and ending animations, the U.S. trailer and trailers.
Psycho-Pass The Movie – DVD / DVD and Blu-ray. On-disc extras include commentary, the Japanese trailer, the U.S. trailer and trailers.
Shonen Hollywood -Holly Stage for 49- Season One – DVD.
The Boy and the Beast – DVD / DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack. On-disc extras include the original teaser, the Japanese trailers, the U.S. trailers and trailers.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time – Standard and The Hosoda Collection Collector’s Edition DVD and Blu-ray Combo Packs.
Yona of the Dawn Part One – DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack. On-disc extras include episode commentaries, promotional videos, TV spots, the textless animation for the opening song “Akatsukino Yona”, the textless animation for the ending song “Yoru”, the U.S. trailer and trailers.

June 14, 2016:

Dark Matter Season One – DVD / Blu-ray.

June 28, 2016:

One Piece Collection Sixteen – DVD. On-disc extras include: episode commentaries, “In the Galley with the Straw Hats”, “Villains and Fishmen: A Peek Behind the Curtain”, the textless opening animation and trailers.
Selector Spread Wixoss Season Two – DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack. On-disc extras include episode commentaries, promotional videos, TV spots, the textless animation for the opening song “world’s end, girls’ rondo”, the textless animation for the ending song “Undo -Asu e no Kioku-“, the U.S. trailer and trailers.
Yurikuma Arashi Complete Series DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack. On-disc extras include episode commentaries, promotional videos, TV spots, the textless animation for the opening song “Ano Mori de Matteru“, the textless animation for the ending song “TERRITORY“, the U.S. trailer and trailers.

These releases are still available for pre-order.

What Sentai Filmworks Is Releasing in June 2016

K. Roberts

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June 2, 2016

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What Sentai Filmworks Is Releasing in June 2016

Sentai Filmworks is releasing a variety of anime titles on home video in North America this month. This list details all of those releases.

June 7, 2016:

Medaka Box Complete Collection. This will be released on DVD and Blu-ray with dual audio options. On-disc extras include the Jump Festa promo, teasers, home video spots and the textless opening and ending animation.
Wake Up, Girls! The Movie. This will be released on DVD and Blu-ray with Japanese audio and English Subtitles.

June 14, 2016:

Bodacious Space Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace. This will be released on DVD and Blu-ray with dual audio options. On-disc extras include the Japanese promotional videos and the textless opening and ending animation.
Love Stage!! Complete Collection. This will be released on DVD and Blu-ray with Japanese audio and English subtitles. On-disc extras include the Japanese promotional videos, character bumpers, Japanese disc promos and the textless opening and ending animation.
Rozen Maiden Complete Collection Sentai Selects Edition. This will be released on DVD with dual audio options. On-disc extras include the textless opening and ending animation.

June 21, 2016:

And Yet the Town Moves Complete Collection. This will be released on Blu-ray for the first time in North America with Japanese audio and English subtitles. On-disc extras include the textless opening and ending animation.
Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons Collection 1. This will be released on DVD and Blu-ray with dual language options. On-disc extras include: “Special Interview by Momoka”, commercials and the textless opening and ending animation.

June 28, 2016:

Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: Wild Dance of Kyoto Theatrical Version, Chapter 1. This will be released on DVD and Blu-ray with dual language options. On-disc extras include the Japanese trailers.

These titles are still available for pre-order.

Candidate Crunch Launches to Boost Voter Engagement with a Fun Twist

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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June 2, 2016

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Candidate Crunch Launches to Boost Voter Engagement with a Fun Twist

In Partnership with Rock the Vote and DoSomething.org, New Mobile Game from Urthworx Invites Players to Save or Crush Presidential Candidates while Providing Essential Voting Tools

NEW YORK, NY – June 2, 2016 – Over 180 million Americans play mobile games, but fewer than 126 million voted in the last presidential election*. Recognizing the opportunity to mobilize voters through the massively popular platform of mobile gaming, Urthworx, a leading creator of impact entertainment, today announced it has launched Candidate Crunch. It’s a mobile game that’s as wacky and unpredictable as the presidential election and a powerful first-of-its-kind voter engagement vehicle. In this irreverent and nonpartisan app, presidential candidates get saved from, or crushed by, hilariously absurd objects falling from the sky—donkeys, elephants, the Statue of Liberty, the Roswell UFO and, yes… even the kitchen sink! But it’s not only fun, it also serves an important purpose. Throughout the app, players get access to easy-to-use civic engagement tools, including online voter registration, a polling place locator and an interactive forum to learn about the candidates’ policy positions. Candidate Crunch is out now as a free download on the App Store and Google Play.

“Gaming is a powerful untapped tool to foster social change. When we saw that more Americans play mobile games than vote in presidential elections, we decided to create Candidate Crunch. It’s an experiment to see whether an entertaining mobile game can drive meaningful engagement, particularly among new and hard-to-reach voters,” said Michael Fox, Chief Impact Officer of Urthworx and the game’s Producer/Creative Director.

Candidate Crunch is being launched in partnership with DoSomething.org and Rock the Vote. DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the world for young people and social change with 5.3 million members. Its members tackle volunteer campaigns that impact every cause, including poverty, discrimination and the environment. Ten percent of Urthworx’s revenue from the game will be donated to the organization to support its election initiatives.

What makes Candidate Crunch truly unique are its civic engagement elements. The app features Election Central, the only one-stop-shop for everything a voter needs to get ready for the election. Powered by Rock the Vote, Election Central features easy-to-use tools including online registration, a polling place locator and push notifications about important election events and deadlines. There’s also a trivia feature with fun, interesting and actionable election-related questions. And, for the general election, the app will add an interactive forum where you can learn about the candidates’ policy positions.

Candidate Crunch stars all your favorite current and former candidates and features crazy collectible characters like SuperTrump, Goth Hillary, Headbanger Bernie, Count Cruz, Martian Carson and, of course, Little Marco. At launch, the game focuses on the primary race. When the final Democratic and Republican candidates are nominated at the conventions, the app will update to a one-on-one battle for the general election.

Developed by Urthworx, and published in partnership with Tilting Point, Candidate Crunch is out now on the App Store and Google Play as a free download with in-game purchase options. For more information, visit urthworx.com. Follow us on Twitter and Vimeo.

*Mobile gaming figures according to eMarketer, Feb 2016; voting figures from Bipartisan Policy Center.

NBA Superstar Paul George Graces Cover of NBA® 2K17, Early Tip-Off on September 16

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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June 2, 2016

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NBA Superstar Paul George Graces Cover of NBA® 2K17, Early Tip-Off on September 16

Three-time NBA All-Star and one of NBA 2K’s most passionate gamers caps remarkable comeback season by ascending to the forefront of acclaimed franchise

Sydney, Australia – June 2, 2016 – 2K today announced Indiana Pacers All-Star shooting guard Paul George as cover athlete of NBA 2K17, the next iteration of the top-rated and top-selling NBA video game simulation series*, which will be available on September 20. The selection of George marks his first solo appearance on the cover of NBA 2K, paralleling his explosive return to the court, during which he averaged a career-best 23.1 points per game during the 2015-16 NBA regular season.

“I have been playing NBA 2K as long as I can remember, and to be honoured as cover athlete of NBA 2K17 is a blessing and vote of confidence that my hard work on and off the court has paid off,” said Paul George, who also led his team to a 2015-2016 NBA playoff berth. “I’m excited to partner with 2K and hope to help take the franchise to the next level”.

Long known as one of NBA 2K’s most passionate gamers, George has an extensive history with 2K, having served as the cover star of MyNBA2K16’s Companion app, and as guest commentator at the NBA 2K16 Road to the Finals $250,000 championship which occurred on June 1. As part of his global partnership with 2K, George will also serve as the cover athlete for NBA 2K Online in China.

“Each year the NBA 2K franchise continues to grow, but our focus has always been about creating an experience that resonates with our most passionate fans,” said Alfie Brody, vice president of marketing for NBA 2K. “Paul is a natural fit for the cover and a true embodiment of what we represent and bring to the table for gamers and basketball fans alike.”

To celebrate, 2K today also revealed the Early Tip-Off date for NBA 2K17. Beginning today, fans can pre-order NBA 2K17 at participating retail and online vendors, to receive their copy beginning on Friday, September 16, along with in-game digital content, including:

5,000 Virtual Currency;
MyTEAM Bundle (includes 3 packs with guaranteed Paul George Free Agent card);
And, more to be revealed at a future date.

The NBA 2K17 Standard Edition will be available in both digital and physical formats for AUD$99.95/NZD$109.95 on PlayStation^®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. NBA 2K17 Standard Edition will also be available in both digital and physical formats for AUD$79.95/NZD$89.95 on PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360. NBA 2K17 Standard Edition will also be available for download on the Windows PC platform.

2K previously announced that the NBA 2K17 Kobe Bryant Legend Edition, celebrating the storied career of the recently retired Lakers icon, will be available in digital and physical formats for AUD$119.95/NZD$129.95 on PlayStation^®4 system and Xbox One.

Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K17 is not yet rated in Australia and New Zealand.

Follow @NBA2K on social media and look for the hashtag #ThisIsNotAGame for the latest NBA 2K17 news.

*According to 2008 – 2016 Metacritic.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through April 2016.

2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

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About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. The Company develops and publishes products through its two wholly-owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K. Our products are designed for console systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment globally for console systems, handheld gaming systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, which are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, sports, casual, and family entertainment. The 2K label has some of the most talented development studios in the world today, including Firaxis Games, Visual Concepts, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games and 2K China. 2K’s stable of high quality titles includes the critically acclaimed BioShock®, Borderlands™, and XCOM® franchises, the beloved Sid Meier’s Civilization series, the innovative Evolve™, the genre-fusing hero-shooter Battleborn®, the popular WWE 2K franchise and NBA 2K, the #1 rated and #1 selling basketball franchise*. 2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). For more information, please visit www.2k.com.

*According to 2008 – 2016 Metacritic.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through April 2016.

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