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SPRING BEGINS ANEW WITH RETURN TO POPOLOCROIS: A STORY OF SEASONS FAIRYTALE, NOW AVAILABLE ON NINTENDO 3DS

SPRING BEGINS ANEW WITH RETURN TO POPOLOCROIS: A STORY OF SEASONS FAIRYTALENOW AVAILABLE ON NINTENDO 3DS

Return to the Golden Age of RPGs with a Farm-Fresh Adventure from the Creative Masterminds Behind PopoloCrois and STORY OF SEASONS, Featuring a Heartwarming, Standalone Narrative

Torrance, Calif.—March 1, 2016—XSEED Games, the independent-minded console publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today announced that its farming-flavored turn-based RPG, Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale, is now available in North America exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS™ family of systems. Produced by creative masterminds Yohsuke Tamori (creator of PopoloCrois Story) and Yoshifumi Hashimoto (longtime producer of the Bokujo Monogatari/STORY OF SEASONS and Rune Factory franchises), this comprehensive crossover features classically-styled RPG gameplay and game-spanning life simulation elements that both veterans and newcomers to either series will equally enjoy. Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale also marks the return of the PopoloCrois series to the West after a 10 year hiatus.

“In teaming up with Hashimoto-san and STORY OF SEASONS we’ve created a world teeming with life, and I feel that the world of PopoloCrois is now even more captivating as a result,” said Yohsuke Tamori, creator of the PopoloCrois franchise. “I want people to know that heartwarming traditional RPGs are still being created, and I hope that Return to PopoloCrois finds its way into the hearts of overseas audiences who will pass down the PopoloCrois series to a new generation.”

“Tamori-san’s charming world of PopoloCrois couldn’t have been a more natural fit for STORY OF SEASONS,” said Yoshifumi Hashimoto, longtime producer of the Bokujo Monogatari (now known as STORY OF SEASONS in the West) and Rune Factory series of games. “Both franchises aim to produce colorful, heartfelt experiences about life and the power of friendship, and with Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale I believe we’ve cultivated a delightful balance that adds to each’s legacy.”

Based on the Japanese PopoloCrois Story comic book series, and featuring elements from the wildly successful Bokujo Monogatari farming and life simulation series now known as STORY OF SEASONS in the West, Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale hearkens back to the golden age of RPGs with its tactical, turn-based combat and towns full of interesting NPCs who contribute to a heartwarming narrative about friendship, forgiveness, and the bounty of the earth. Fans can get a taste of the original PopoloCrois Story comic book series in English for the very first time at the game’s official website, located at http://www.returntopopolocrois.com/.

Ample farming and life simulation elements are also on offer à la STORY OF SEASONS, including real-time crop-raising, bug-catching, rock-quarrying, item synthesis, and relationship forging. Players can collect over 600 items and undertake nearly 100 quests throughout the game, supplementing its 25+ hour main story with nearly unlimited potential for replayability. StreetPass™ features are also present, allowing players to connect with one another and earn bonus items through treasure-hunting.

Published by XSEED Games in North America, Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale is now available exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS™ family of systems, both physically at retailers and digitally via the Nintendo eShop, at a suggested retail price of $39.99. The game has been rated “E10+ for Everyone 10 and up” by the ESRB.

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

 

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER TAKES PLAYERS ON ‘A MYSTIC TRIP’ WITH NEW GAME TRAILER

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER TAKES PLAYERS ON ‘A MYSTIC TRIP’ WITH NEW GAME TRAILER

Lesquin, France – March 1, 2016 – Bigben Interactive, videogame publisher and distributor, and the development studio Frogwares are today pleased to unveil the mystical CGI trailer for Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter, the adventure game that will be released May 27 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC.

“What led young Katelyn to 221B Baker Street? Could she have discovered the dark truth about her family? Who is the charming clairvoyant that has moved in to 221C? Is there room for séances and occult rituals in the bastion of logic and rationalism?” For the first time in his prestigious career, the most illustrious of detectives must fight not to reveal a secret, but to keep one…

This cinematic trailer named ‘A Mystic Trip’ was created by UNIT Image production house, who has received numerous awards for the excellence of their CGI films and trailers.

Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter, eighth in the videogame series created by Frogwares, is a unique adventure game that blends exploration, investigation and action for a breath-taking and fantastic playing experience. You play as the master detective himself, plunged against his will into a fantastic adventure brimming with intense action sequences for an interactive experience that is more immersive than ever. The mysteries follow one after the other, the clues pile up, trails intersect, the hypotheses contradict… Will you be able to guide Sherlock Holmes to the incredible final revelation?

View the new trailer HERE: youtu.be/NF_d44z2k5w

For the latest information about the Sherlock Holmes games: www.sherlockholmes-games.com

For more information about Bigben Interactive and their video games, visit www.bigben.eu, ‘Like’ them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, and visit their YouTube page.

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ABOUT BIGBEN INTERACTIVE

Bigben Interactive is a European designer and distributor of accessories for video games consoles, smartphones and tablets, a creator of audio products and a well-known video game publisher. With the boom in the market for mobile phone equipment and the changes in the video game market, the group, recognized for its creativity and innovation, has set itself the objective of becoming a European leader in multimedia accessories.

Bigben Interactive has published the WRC video game series since 2013 and in 2014, after signing a major partnership with the French Ligue Nationale de Rugby, published the first official rugby simulation TOP 14/PRO D2.

ABOUT FROGWARES

Frogwares is an independent videogame development studio based in Dublin and Kiev. Since 2000, the studio has become renowned for its vast catalogue of games, ranging from RTS to action-adventure games. Frogwares’ games are available on major game platforms, including the latest generation consoles, and are often compared in quality to many AAA titles. The developer’s cutting-edge Sherlock Holmes games are also a registered trademark of the studio.

For more information, please visit www.frogwares.com

RECLAIM THE LAST MAHARAJA’S THRONE IN NEW ADD-ON CONTENT FOR ASSASSIN’S CREED SYNDICATE

RECLAIM THE LAST MAHARAJA’S THRONE IN NEW ADD-ON CONTENT FOR ASSASSIN’S CREED SYNDICATE

JOIN JACOB AND EVIE FRYE IN A NEW 10 MISSION STORY ARC 

THE LAST MAHARAJA TRAILER: YOUTUBE

 London, UK — March 1, 2016 — Today, Ubisoft® announced that The Last Maharaja add-on content for Assassin’s Creed® Syndicate is now available on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.

Twin Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye join Duleep Singh as he fights to reclaim his birthright as the last Maharaja in this entirely new story for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. In his quest to reclaim his heritage, Duleep, with the help of the Frye twins, will take on the Templars while testing his friendship with the queen.

The Last Maharaja is available as part of the Season Pass, which includes: Jack the Ripper, A Long Night Season Pass exclusive mission, the Streets of London gameplay pack, two top-tier sets of gear and weapons, and an exclusive XP boost. The Last Maharaja is also included in the Gold Edition of the game and is available for purchase separately.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and The Last Maharaja downloadable content, please visit assassinscreed.com.

For the latest on all Ubisoft games, please visit ubiblog.com.

 

About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2014–15 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,464 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2015 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

A TIMELESS CELEBI APPEARS FOR THE POKÉMON 20TH CELEBRATION

A TIMELESS CELEBI APPEARS FOR THE POKÉMON 20TH CELEBRATION

London, 1 March 2016— Pokémon is celebrating 20 years, and a second Mythical Pokémon is joining the party—Celebi! First distributed to Pokémon Gold andPokémon Silver for the Game Boy Color, the Mythical Pokémon Celebi is once again available for a limited time via Nintendo Network.

Available until March 24, players of the Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon X, or Pokémon Y video games can receive Celebi and add this Psychic- and Grass-type Mythical Pokémon to their party. This powerful Lv. 100 Celebi knows the moves Confusion, Recover, Heal Bell, and Safeguard—moves Celebi originally knew when it made its debut—and it also comes with the Ability Natural Cure.

Pokémon TCG fans can also celebrate with the brand-new Pokémon TCG: Mythical Pokémon Collection—Celebi which will be available from 14 March. The collection includes a special Celebi promo card and a pin of the Mythical Pokémon. It also contains two Pokémon TCG: Generations booster packs and a Pokémon TCG Online code card.

The celebration continues with a special digitally remastered version of the fourth Pokémon movie, Pokémon 4Ever. Strange forces surround the Mythical Pokémon Celebi, and Ash must discover their secrets in this full-length feature film available on Pokémon TV from 7 March.

More details, including how to receive Celebi in your game, can be found athttp://www.pokemon20.com/en-gb/mythical.html#mar . Fans visiting the site throughout the year will find information about monthly Mythical Pokémon character distributions, retail events, special products, messages from some of Pokémon’s biggest fans, and the free Pokémon Photo Booth app, available now on the App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pokemon-photo-booth/id1084024173 and coming soon to Google Play.

Pokémon. Twenty Years. Train OnTM.
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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, 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 4.3 billion video games and more than 692 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.

Dark Souls III Preview

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Ever since Demon’s Souls hit the PlayStation 3 in 2009, developers From Software have redefined what it means to be an RPG. With its dark, desolate atmosphere, engaging and varied combat, and downright brutal difficulty Demon’s Souls was a whole new look at the genre. Two years later, it’s spiritual successor Dark Souls managed to refine the Souls formula and create a game that was lauded by critics and players everywhere. In an era of games that hold player’s hands, Dark Souls became the benchmark for games that were difficult while still being fair. Dark Souls II toned back the difficulty ever so slightly and was met its a bit more of a mixed reception but either way was still an excellent addition to the Souls franchise.

Now we come to 2016 and Dark Souls III is a scant six weeks away from release and I got to take a trip down to Namco headquarters to try out the first two hours of the upcoming game. Sure I have gotten to play some demo sections of the game at events like the EB Expo and last year’s Network Beta Test, but now I got to sit down, pick up a controller and play through the game from the beginning. And boy was I ready.

From the moment I stepped into the game and picked my character class (a pyromancer, as a throwback to my very first Dark Souls play through). Everything felt so natural that it was like I had played it all before. From Software have definitely found a gameplay style that works for them and while there are some nuances and new additions to the formula, it is all like second nature for fans at this point.

My favourite new addition to the gameplay is the Blue Estus Flasks. Their name escapes me at the moment but they are effectively Estus Flasks for your magic gauge. Instead of limiting the number of times a player can cast each spell that they have equipped there is instead a blue magic bar (akin to the one in Demon’s Souls). These blue Estus flasks restore magic in much the same way that the orange ones have always done for your health. A cool little twist to this is that you can assign your Estus flasks as you like, so for example if you have 5 flasks you can have 3 health and 2 magic, or if you are not a magic user you can set all five to only restore health. This is such a small change but one that really lets the player get in and build their character to suit their play style.

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As for the game itself, there isn’t much to say other than “this is definitely Dark Souls” like its predecessors, Dark Souls III is all about learning patterns and pathways and moving through them in the best way possible. One wrong step and you find yourself set ablaze by a giant black dragon, but time it just right and you can use the dragon’s fire to a horde of enemies and take a shortcut through a particularly difficult area.

I also got to face down three bosses during my brief time with the game. I will admit that the humanoid, “giant soldier” bosses of Dark a Souls II were a bit dull and repetitive, but in the first two hours of DSIII you will face a giant undead soldier (ok that one isn’t exciting), a frosty hulking beast clad in iron armour, and a giant tree who’s weak spot are pustules protruding from between its legs. The variety in design as well as the fights themselves and how different they all were really grabbed my attention and was definitely a stand out for me.

I just want to talk for a minute about the aesthetics of Dark Souls III. Now anybody who had played the previous games in the Souls series will be able to tell you that while they look absolutely gorgeous at a glance, when you really focus on the details they are not the prettiest games out there. Well the same is true for the latest instalment, with some textures looking muddy and muted. However while it may not be winning any awards for lifelike visuals, Dark Souls III absolutely oozes atmosphere and character out of every crack, crevice, broken door and decaying staircase. At this point in the series’ lifespan they have managed to absolutely nail the dark medieval fantasy horror setting. Undead enemies with their stretched skin and sunken eyes will no doubt haunt my nightmares for months to come, while hounds from hell look like they are going to leap out of the screen and rip me limb from limb. I really felt engrossed in the game in ways that very few other titles can achieve.

Not only does the game ooze atmosphere but playing on a PlayStation 4, it ran at such a smooth rate that I barely noticed any slowdown or graphical hiccups. This is exactly what you want from a game that relies so heavily on precision and perfect timing, and while later areas might suffer from frame rate drops, if the section I played was an indication of the full game then we have very little to worry about.

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Fans who have spent the last 12 months playing Bloodborne will find some familiar territory in the Undead Settlement area where ghoulish farmers and villagers lash out at you with farm equipment and basic tools. The designs in this area look like they would fit right at home on the outskirts of Yharnam as they prepare to slay any wayward hunter that wanders through. The aesthetic similarities almost feels like an Easter egg and one that definitely works in the game’s favour.
Although I only got a short two hours with Dark Souls III, I am already hooked. This game definitely feels like a huge step forward for the franchise and manages to keep the core gameplay while splicing elements of the other two titles and weaving in a few of its own for good measure.

I for one cannot wait for the full game’s release on April 16th. So if you can’t wait to die over and over again then make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers.

Classic RPG, AdventureQuest Evolves into 3D Cross Platform MMO, AdventureQuest 3D

Classic RPG, AdventureQuest Evolves into 3D Cross Platform MMO, AdventureQuest 3D

 Artix Entertainment Announces Upcoming Launch of Inspired Re-imagining of one of the most popular  Free-to-Play Online Games in History

Lutz, Florida-March 1, 2016- Artix Entertainment announced today they will be launching

AdventureQuest 3D (AQ3D) in October 2016 after a tremendously successful Kickstarter effort that raised more than double the target goal. Designed by many of the original AdventureQuest
developers including lead designer, Adam Bohn, AdventureQuest 3D will be a true cross-platform MMO that will allow players to play on the same account from their PC, iOS or Android device.  AdventureQuest 3D will have an open beta test in July 2016.  More information about joining the open beta can be found at: www.aq3d.com

The original AdventureQuest had its humble origins in October 2002 as a single player Flash RPG launched on Battleon.com. Over the past 14 years, AdventureQuest has seen over 65 million registered users enter through its virtual gates – essentially more people than the entire population of a medium-sized European country (such as Italy), or two large US states glued together (such as California and Texas… not that would ever happen). The AdventureQuest continues to be one of the most updated games in existence, with new stories and quests added every week since its launch -800 new content releases as of today.

 
Thanks for the History, But Tell Me About AdventureQuest 3D

AdventureQuest 3D is a cross-platform massively multiplayer online roleplaying game from the creators of the legendary AdventureQuest game series.  Featuring fully explorable beautifully rendered 3D environments and fast-paced real-time combat, AQ3D is also characterized by the same epic high adventure punctuated with unexpected comedy found in the original AdventureQuest.

AdventureQuest 3D Key Features Include

True cross-platform game play (PC/Mac/Android/Apple iOS… and more to come)

  • Persistent online world
  • Real-time combat
  • PvP Arena
  • Chat and Emotes
  • Multi-class system
  • Weapon and item fusion
  • Party, Solo, Two-player, and large group adventures
  • Summon/teleport for friends
  • “Sidekick” your friends to your level
  • Self-cleaning game (mobile) to free up space on your mobile device
  • Ever evolving world and storyline through regular updates (It’s kind of our thing)

 “AdventureQuest 3D is more than a jump spinning vorpal punch of nostalgia,” commented Adam Bohn, CEO of Artix Entertainment and Project Lead for AQ3D. “It solves one of the biggest problems with current gen MMORPGs. If you are like me, you now spend as much time on your phone as you used to on your gaming rig. If I am going to commit to a major game, it has to be a REAL game, and I would really like to login and play MY character with my friends no matter what device I am on. As a true-cross platform game, AdventureQuest 3D will change the way we play together.  This is the reason the team and I are as excited to play the game as we are to work on it. If I am visiting a buddy’s house and she/he is playing on their desktop, I can pull out my phone and effortlessly be battling next to them in game with just a few taps. We can raid a Dragon’s lair under the dinner table, on the TV, or at the coffee shop. Devices are powerful enough now that we can deliver the same experience across phones, tablets, and computers-and our on-joining epic and joke-laced content releases will always keep the game fresh and interesting. “

 

About Artix Entertainment

Artix Entertainment is an innovative and fun independent video game studio which has been developing and publishing RPG & MMORPG games to its audience of 200+ Million registered players since 2002. Popular titles include AdventureQuest Worlds, AdventureQuest, DragonFable, Epicduel, BattleGems and the newly released BioBeasts.

Visit www.Artix.com for more information.

TAKE DOWN YOUR ENEMIES FROM AFAR WITH THE NINJA IN SADAME

TAKE DOWN YOUR ENEMIES FROM AFAR WITH THE NINJA IN SADAME

The deadliness of the Japanese ninja is legendary – masters of stealth, the victims of ninjas would often never even see or hear the fatal ranged attack until it was far too late. In Rising Star Japan’s Sadame (www.sadamegame.com/us), the recently released action/RPG title for the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS™ family systems, gamers can choose the Ninja character class and carry out the same attacks from a distance.

As one of four playable characters, the Ninja is best viewed as the ranged or archer character archetype in the gaming world. Ninjas excel at mid to long range combat, utilizing the sickle & chain and shuriken to deal death from afar. The ninja is also a master at setting traps for enemies, and has extremely quick on-field movement to get the edge on her opponents.

The Ninja, as well as the previously revealed Samurai and Rogue and the soon-to-be-showcased fourth character class, features its own unique play style and will feature items and upgrades exclusive to that class. The story of Sadame and the gamer’s encounters along the main quest will vary depending on the character class chosen as well.

Take a look at the Ninja’s skills in the trailer for Sadame: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZtPdbCc37U

Set in an alternate version of the historical Sengoku, or Warring States, Period in ancient Japan that saw a near constant amount of war and political upheaval, Sadame is a frenetic and imaginative hack-and-slash action/adventure title for the Nintendo 3DS that will have players fight wave after hellish wave of demonic enemies and huge, daunting bosses. Skillfully defeat the evil hordes in front of you with a variety of combos and moves to gain experience – level up your character, improve your weapons and armor, and strengthen yourself to take on the fearsome final foes once and for all!

Sadame is now available for just $14.99

ESCAPE FROM TARKOV: DEVELOPER DIARY #2 REVEALED

ESCAPE FROM TARKOV: DEVELOPER DIARY #2 REVEALED

Battlestate Games, the creators of hardcore online shooter Escape from Tarkov, today revealed the second in its ongoing series of developer diaries, this one dedicated to the creation of 3D in-game assets and how they are bringing “hardcore realism” to life. The developers describe the process of creating a rich and devastating world – from architectural elements to weapons and characters.

New!! Watch the second Escape from Tarkov developer diary HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUwNFRGD-dA

*** Unless you are an expert Russian speaker, be sure to turn “on closed captioning” and choose “English” in the settings for English subtitles. ***

View the first Escape from Tarkov Developer Diary HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJfcaCmMy7c

Did you miss Escape from Tarkov’s kickass announcement trailer? Watch it now HERE: www.youtu.be/IPlnHe9l34E

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore online game that combines FPS/TPS with RPG elements. The game events unfold in the sealed off Russian city of Tarkov, which has become a scene of a local conflict between two private military companies. As a hazardous environment combat simulator, the game uses multiple system modules for ultimately immersive gameplay and a complete feeling of reality. The closed beta-testing of Escape from Tarkov is planned for 2016. Interested in testing your mettle? Sign up now for the Beta on the official game Website at: www.escapefromtarkov.com/.

To stay up to date on current development be sure to follow Battlestate Games on Twitter and “Like” the game on Facebook.

Roccat Ryos MK FX Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

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Roccat Ryos MK FX Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Manufacturer
: Roccat
Platform: Windows
Price: $169.99 USD / $319.95 AUD – Available Here

Video Review

The Roccat Ryos MK FX is the latest iteration in Roccat’s popular line of mechanical keyboards. The Roccat Ryos MK FX is their first mechanical keyboard to feature per-key RGB lighting and the new Roccat Swarm software. The keyboard comes in the classic Roccat keyboard layout with Cherry MX Brown switches.

The Roccat Ryos MK FX is packed in a large box that is quite the unboxing. Nestled inside the main packaging is an elegant inner box that is the polar opposite in style to the loud outer box clearly designed to call out to gamers from the computer store shelf. The chest like-box opens up to reveal the Roccat Ryos MK FX, safely bundled in a plastic bag and plenty of plastic film to prevent scratches. The first thing that drew my attention was the incredibly thick braided cable attached to the keyboard. As usual, Roccat has been thoughtful enough to include a Velcro cable tie to help bring order to the chaotic disaster of cables that snake out of the back of most computers. At the end of the beefy cable sprouts two 3.5mm audio cables for the headphone and microphone output on the keyboard and two USB plugs daisy chained together. It would appear the second USB plug is used in the case a single USB port cannot push out enough power to run the keyboard, as my keyboard chugged away happily with only one USB plug connected.

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The keyboard itself is very hefty. The body is all plastic, but the keyboard is weighty enough to not move around on a desk when pushed. I am very pleased to find five generously sized rubber feet at the bottom of the keyboard, as I find larger size tends to slip less and stay attached to the keyboard better in the long run. For those who prefer their keyboards at an angle, the two foldable feet are capped with rubber stoppers to ensure stability. On the bottom of the keyboard are several channels for cable management. The channels are large enough to fit an average sized USB cables, but there is nothing to really hold the cables in place when the keyboard is lifted.

The top of the keyboard is a mix of matte plastic, a classy ring of shiny plastic, and a dotted surface to give a little texture to the plastic. Roccat advertises the keyboard as smudge-proof and it lives up to the advertisement quite well. I really can’t commit a crime and expect to get away with it because the combination of oily skin and sweaty hands has a tendency to leave clear as day fingerprints absolutely everywhere. The keyboard does a great job of resisting all but the worst smudges, which is quite the accomplishment.

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With keyboard manufacturers trying out new mechanical switches or making their own versions of the ever popular Cherry MX switches, it is nice to see Roccat is sticking with the tried and true Cherry MX Browns. Unlike some of the other Ryos keyboards, the Roccat Ryos MK FX only comes in Cherry MX Brown, which is considered to be one of the best switches for gamers. While I personally prefer the lighter touch of Cherry MX Reds, Browns are a good balance as they are quieter than the chattery Blue switches and require enough pressure to prevent accidental key presses, while still being soft enough to allow for quick double taps.  One of the bonuses of using such a popular switch is the wide variety of aftermarket keycaps available for Cherry MX switches.

The keyboard uses per-key RGB LEDs. The LEDs are very bright and can be clearly seen in well lit rooms. My only complaint is that the colour transition is not the smoothest thing in the world. Using the right lighting effect can hide the sudden jumps when the LED changes colours, but when the keyboard is set to stay lit and simply cycle through colours the transitions are really obvious.

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Roccat makes one of my favourite keyboard layouts. They start with a classic keyboard layout, then add a row of five macro keys to the left side of the keyboard and three more mouse-like buttons just below the space bar. My utmost favourite part is the fact Roccat has drop-kicked the caps lock key by default in favour for their Easy-Shift[+] functionality that essentially doubles all of the possible key combinations on the keyboard. Of course, if you absolutely love to cruise control while shouting on the internet, the caps lock functionality can be reassigned using the keyboard software.

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Roccat is slowly transitioning their software to the unified Roccat Swarm software suite. I have complained in the past about my dislike for the old system that required installation of separate software for different Roccat peripherals. Roccat Swarm is a step in the right direction. The suite is intended to manage all of Roccat’s peripherals, while providing extra functionality through a mobile app. Currently, the base software is only available on Windows and the only mobile platform currently supported is Android.  It is clear that the suite is still in development. The Windows software is stable for the most part, but I did encounter the odd crash. The macro manager is very powerful, giving users a lot more control versus the built in macro record function on the keyboard.  On the flip side, I find the controls to be a little awkward. I don’t like the fact pressing enter immediately creates a new macro and delete removes the current delay, as it seems counter-intuitive when editing delay times. I am very happy to see a lot of pre-loaded macros for a large variety of titles, though the list is starting to look a little dated. The software is loaded with a variety of lighting effects. As a bonus, it provides power users with a lot of granular options and can support Alienware’s AlienFX API out of the box.

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The mobile functionality is clearly in the earliest of stages. The Android app doesn’t actually support the keyboard at this time, as it is still branded for the Roccat Nyth mouse. Even more disappointing is the fact the Android app is still separate from Roccat’s Power-Grid application. Roccat has a good start and some excellent ideas with the new Swarm software, but they really need to hide the mobile software until development is complete, integrate Power-Grid software into Swarm, and do some final polish. If they can pull this off, they will definitely have one of most well rounded and feature rich software suites on the market.

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To me, the Roccat Ryos MK FX is an interesting case. On the surface, it seems like a minor incremental upgrade from the Roccat Ryos MK Pro that adds RGB lighting and removes the USB 2.0 hub. It is the type of minor incremental upgrade that usually draws a cooler response versus the hype of a brand new product launch. Not a bad thing, considering Roccat is building on top of a fantastic keyboard design that is easily recommended to anyone in the market for a gaming keyboard. At the same time, the Roccat Ryos MK FX comes right as Roccat is completely revamping their software from the ground up with Roccat Swarm, something that deserves a lot of interest. The computer side of Swarm is already a solid product that needs a little bit of final polish; however, the mobile half of the software is not even ready, let alone ready for prime time as advertised. With hope, Roccat will finish up development over the next few months, integrate the Power-Grid software into Swarm, and put in some final polish to power the very solid Roccat Ryos MK FX keyboard with one of the most well rounded software suites out there for a gaming peripheral.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Indie Gala Every Monday Bundle #100 Now Available

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It’s a big one! We’ve hit 100 Every Monday Bundles and to celebrate, Indie Gala and Capsule Computers have teamed up with Black Shell Media for a special anniversary bundle. For the next two weeks, people can snag ten indie games and once DLC for a minimum purchase of $1.99.

Gamers who pay at least $1.00 will receive:

Belladonna – A gothic point and click adventure game about a corpse rising from the dead in hopes of discovering why she died and was brought back to life.

Hordelicious – A semi-hardcore wave based arena shooter with lovely minimalist pixel art and more than 45 weapons to shoot.

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Proto Raider – A single screen puzzle platformer done entirely in old school ASCII artwork.

For a minimum price of $1.99, buyers will also receive:

Raining Blobs – A fast paced arcade puzzler inspired games like Super Puzzle Fighter and Pochi and Nyaa.

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Super Ubie Island REMIX – An adorable platformer inspired by Super Mario World.

Ladra – A stealth action adventure built with RPG Maker that encourages agility and stealth over combat and violence.

Rogue State – The revolution was a stunning success! The monarchy is gone and now the hardest part is here, creating a stable nation while several factions, including your own brother, conspire against you.

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This Book Is A Dungeon – A dark adult-themed dungeon crawler with light RPG elements.

CMYW – A four player survival co-op shooter inspired by arcade shooters of yesteryears.

Protoshift – A twitch based arcade game inspired by Super Hexagon. This game comes with the OST DLC!

For the first 24 hours of the sale, the entire bundle is only $1.99, so be sure to snag the bundle at Indie Gala before price goes up.