XSEED GAMES TURNS UP THE HEAT WITH GAMEPLAY TRAILER FOR NITROPLUS BLASTERZ: HEROINES INFINITE DUEL

Battle System Detailed as the Game’s Dangerous Damsels Strut Their Stuff for Upcoming PS4™ and PS3™ Launch on February 2, 2016

Torrance, Calif. – January 14,2016 – XSEED Games, the independent-minded console publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today released a new trailer showcasing gameplay mechanics from its upcoming 2D crossover fighter, Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel, which will release in North America on February 2, 2016, for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems. Expertly developed by the studio behind the Arcana Heart series of 2D fighting games, EXAMU, Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel features satisfyingly intense and balanced fighting action sure to delight players of all skill levels. The game’s intuitive battle system is on full display in this latest trailer, complete with detailed descriptions and action-packed sequences that show off the fiery fury of the game’s femme fighters.

After selecting a main character, players will duke it out while charging up the abilities of their two chosen Partners, who – once called into the fight – will contribute with battle damage and various other effects. As the combatants exchange blows, their Power Gauge builds at the bottom of the screen. Filling this gauge meter by meter, up to a maximum of three, the players will then gain access to devastating abilities, including character-specific super moves and a massively powerful “Lethal Blaze” attack that deals incredible damage but costs all three meters.

The trailer also details the game’s innovative “Blast” system, which provides players with the option to use one of three special tide-turning maneuvers once per round, such as creating distance between the player character and her opponent, breaking an opponent’s combo, and extending a player’s combo beyond normal limits. Additionally, a player’s health and meters both begin regenerating once the Blast state has been activated.

Between easy-to-execute combos, cinematic cut-ins on “Lethal Blaze” attacks that run the gamut from awe-inspiring to adorable, and assist mechanics that allow for up to six on-screen characters at a time, the development team at EXAMU ensures that combat in Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel stays fast and flashy. The game is populated by numerous heroines from the visual novel company Nitroplus’ rich collection of IPs, including playable characters Ein, Mora, Ruili, Al Azif, Saya, Ignis, Anna, Muramasa the 3rd, Kibanohara Ethica, Saber, and Ouka, as well as fan favorite mascot character Super Sonico, who will be playable in Nitroplus Blasterz for the very first time via this console release. Players can also test how their skills stack up online against other network players, with full cross-play compatibility on offer between PS4™ and PS3™ system players.

As a way to thank early adopters and patient fans, XSEED Games will be offering the game’s two DLC characters Homura (from the SENRAN KAGURA series) and Aino Heart (from the Arcana Heart series) free of charge on the PlayStation®Store for the first four weeks following their respective release dates. Starting March 1, Homura and Aino Heart will be available for $5.99 each or as a bundle for $9.99.

Slated for publication by XSEED Games, Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel will be available in North America on February 2, 2016, exclusively for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 systems.  The game carries a suggested retail price of $39.99 on the PS4™ system for both the physical and digital release, while the PS3™ system version will be released exclusively on the PlayStation®Store at $29.99. This title has been rated “T for Teen” 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.

KOEI TECMO AMERICA ANNOUNCES PC RELEASE VIA STEAM® FOR ARSLAN: THE WARRIORS OF LEGEND 

Bonus Original Scenarios and New Playable Characters Also Revealed; Showcased in New Trailer and Character Videos 

BURLINGAME, Calif.—January 14, 2016—KOEI TECMO America announced today that its upcoming tactical action title based on the hit anime series The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, will receive a PC release via Steam®. The PC version of Arslan: The Warriors of Legend will launch alongside the game’s release for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, as well as for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, on February 9, 2016. 

KOEI TECMO also detailed early purchase bonus content for those who purchase Arslan: The Warriors of Legend within the game’s first month of sale. Specifically, gamers will be able to download ‘Conflict at Gujarat Fortress’ and ‘Battle for the Title,’ two new original scenarios for the game’s Free Mode. Both scenarios offer players the possibility to unlock some very special Limited Skill Cards, which will give them an extra edge in battle!

KOEI TECMO also announced that Arslan: The Warriors of Legend will include an array of bonus scenarios that fans of The Heroic Legend of Arslan are bound to love! These extra scenarios are based on episodes of the original novels and manga, but were never part of the animated series. These scenarios gradually become unlocked via the Story mode and can be played in the Free Mode of the game, allowing players to become increasingly more familiar with the series’ history and playable characters.

Additionally, KOEI TECMO announced three more playable characters that will join Arslan in his effort to free the capital and reclaim his throne: Tus, a quiet officer of the Parsian army and chain martial arts expert, Isfan, the younger brother of a Cavalry General who is also known as the ‘one raised by wolves,’ and the fearless Zaravant, a Shield and Spear wielding knight of great strength. All three characters make their way to the city of Peshawar after Arslan declares his intention to expel Lusitanian oppression, and join his group in the fight to end the occupation of the capital.

Arslan: The Warriors of Legend is slated to release across America for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, on February 9, 2016. It will also be simultaneously available digitally for PC via Steam® and for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Arslan: The Warriors of Legend has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.

For more news and information on Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, please visit the official website at http://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/arslan, Like KOEI TECMO America on Facebook at www.facebook.com/koeitecmous, and become part of the #KTfamily by following KOEI TECMO America on Twitter at @KoeiTecmoUS.

About Arslan: The Warriors Of Legend

Originally written as a novel series in the late 1980’s, The Heroic Legend of Arslan has been adapted to manga and anime numerous times, with the most prominent being the 2013 release of a manga series by famed illustrator Hiromu Arakawa (the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist). It tells the story of the young crown prince of Pars, Arslan, as he is forced out of his kingdom when his father, the king, is betrayed and defeated and his domain conquered. Arslan and his few companions must reassemble an army and fight against overwhelming odds to regain his throne and liberate his kingdom. Through his exploits he reaches emotional maturity, while the series also tackles underlying issues of slavery, religious fanaticism, betrayal, and humanity.

The game adaptation of this magnificent story seamlessly blends the fast paced tactical action gameplay indicative of the Warriors franchise with a stunningly engaging narrative. Using cel-shaded graphics and basing all character design on the anime series The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Arslan: The Warriors of Legend delivers a gaming experience designed to fully immerse the player into Arslan’s universe!

ABOUT KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP.

KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Burlingame, California. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive®, Ninja Gaiden®, Tecmo Bowl®, and Fatal Frame® series.

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

©2015-2016 KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. The KT logo is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

©2015 Hiromu Arakawa, Yoshiki Tanaka・KODANSHA/ “LEGEND OF ARSLAN” Project Committee,MBS. All Rights Reserved. Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. AND WEBZEN ONNET ANNOUNCE BRAND NEW GOLFING EXPERIENCE, WINNING PUTT

Free-To-Play Multiplayer Golf Game Goes into Open Beta; Set To Launch Later This Year

SANTA CLARA, Calif., – Jan. 14, 2016 – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. (BNEA) and Webzen Onnet today announced Winning Putt, a free-to-play, multiplayer PC title now available in Open Beta and launching later this year. Winning Putt is the ultimate multiplayer sport game that is ideal for both PC gamers and golf enthusiasts looking for a sporting experience that goes beyond the typical round of golf.

Winning Putt rewards players who think outside the green, bringing fun and innovative gameplay elements to the sport. Clubs can be enchanted to hit farther! Players can create guilds to unlock perks such as special golfer’s lounge! Winning Putt allows players to drive their own experience with their friends or for solo play.

“BANDAI NAMCO is invested in continuing to broaden our catalogue of games, and want to create gaming experiences for players of all types,” said In Joon Hwang, Director, Digital Games at BNEA. “Winning Putt is a totally different type of game for us, and we are honored to work together with Webzen Onnet, who has over a decade’s worth of experience in creating fun and realistic golfing experiences. Together we are developing a game that pushes the boundaries of a typical golf game and gives the player more control than ever.”

Winning Putt delivers immersive gameplay only imaginable in a virtual world. Every rewarding moment of the sport can be experienced as players begin as a novice golfer and build their skill and level up as they continue to advance their golfing career. As players work their way through a variety of courses, their game improves with every stroke, unlocking new skills and earning resources that make it possible to acquire new gear.

With upgraded gear, characters gain new abilities, such as the capability to see the wind, sense the slope of a green and add boosts to their swing to overcome obstacles on the course. Gamers can further their career by competing in tournaments and even qualify for the annual grand championship for the ultimate bragging rights.

Customization is key in Winning Putt, and players have access to a number of ways to personalize and change the looks and playstyles of their golfer. Choose Power or Accuracy classes to learn unique skills and gain stats to best compliment a player’s gameplay style. Characters can also be outfitted with clubs, accessories and clothing items integrated to improve their game. Clubs can be customized even further through enchantments and fitting for longer drives or more accurate shots.

Open beta for Winning Putt begins with a number of fun features already included in the game. Seven courses are available to choose from with more coming at launch and beyond. Players have a number of ways to interact with their friends and other gamers. Players can set up their own foursome match or challenge other golfers in betting rounds and wager in-game currency. Golfers can even compete against another player’s data in a challenge round to receive rewards.

Winning Putt goes into Open Beta today and launches later this year. To sign up for Open Beta and learn more about Winning Putt, visit www.winningputtgame.com. To join the conversation about Winning Putt, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and register for our email newsletter on our website. For more information about BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment  America Inc.’s other products, go to:  http://www.bandainamcoent.com/home.html

About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content — including all major video game consoles, iOS, mobile and online. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA®, RIDGE RACER® and ACE COMBAT®. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

About WEBZEN ONNET Co., Ltd.

WEBZEN ONNET Co., Ltd. is the company that has been developing and publishing network based entertainment contents on worldwide basis. The company has its expertise in developing PC and mobile golf games. One of the well-known titles is Shot Online which has been loved by millions of golf fans and gamers over the world since it was first published in 2004. WEBZEN ONNET has jumped into the limelight once again with the next title, Winning Putt, developed based on one of the finest game engines, CryEngine 3 in combination of the upgraded physics engine with its know-how accumulated over 10 years. This new title will take your game experience to the next level. For more information, please visit our homepage at www.onnet.com.

©2015 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. All rights reserved.

AN EPIC ROLE-PLAYING ADVENTURE AWAITS IN BRAVELY SECOND: END LAYER, COMING TO NINTENDO 3DS ON FEBRUARY 27

New trailer and demo announced for upcoming sequel to the critically acclaimed RPG, Bravely Default

14^th January, 2016 – Epic RPG Bravely Second: End Layer comes to Nintendo 3DS family systems in Australia and New Zealand on February 27. Building on the critically acclaimed Bravely Default, the sequel offers both newcomers and returning fans a vast role-playing adventure, filled with deeply strategic combat, unforgettable characters and much more.

Bravely Second is the latest addition to the stellar line-up of varied RPGs on Nintendo 3DS family systems, joining titles like Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and recent release Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. It also kicks off a landmark year that will see Fire Emblem Fates, Hyrule Warriors: Legends, and both DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past and DRAGON QUEST VIII: Journey of the Cursed King all reach Australia and New Zealand before the year is out.

The story begins when the evil Kaiser Oblivion abducts Agnès Oblige, the heroine of Bravely Default, and her bodyguard Yew Geneolgia pledges to rescue her from the kaiser’s Skyhold, an impregnable fortress floating high over Eternia. Along the way, Yew will need to team up with Magnolia Arch and other new faces, plus a few returning heroes like Edea Lee and Tiz Arrior, to survive foreboding dungeons and conquer fearsome enemies.
Bravely Default’s innovative Brave and Default tactical battle system returns with even deeper layers of strategy. As before, players must balance risk and reward in turn-based battles: characters can make multiple moves in one turn, but this leaves them unable to move in subsequent turns. One new feature in Bravely Second lets players put their skill and their nerve to the ultimate test: after winning a battle in a single turn, brave warriors can immediately start another, more difficult encounter for the chance to earn increasing rewards. Chaining these battles together is a swift way to level up characters and jobs, but defeat means losing everything earned during those battles, so discretion should always be the better part of valour.

To conquer these tougher battles and devastatingly powerful enemies, players will need to make good use of the 30 character classes, known as jobs, to equip their characters with the skills necessary to survive. As characters gain job experience by battling, they learn new skills and abilities, giving players totally new tactical possibilities. For example, the new Patissier enfeebles foes with delicious desserts, while the Catmancer uses a deep understanding of felines to increase the team’s abilities and find useful items.

Upon its launch on February 27, the game will be available as a Deluxe Collector’s Edition including an Original Soundtrack CD, Agnès Mini Figurine* and a Deluxe Artbook of around 250 pages (SRP AU$169.95). The game will also be available solus and as a downloadable version from Nintendo eShop. A pre-launch demo focusing on the Three Cavaliers – Yew Geneolgia, Janne Angard, and Nikolai Nikolanikov – will act as a prelude to the adventure, and even allow players to unlock rewards in the full version of the game, depending on their progress in the demo. The demo will be available in Nintendo eShop on February 12.

With a vast world to explore, a deep tactical battle system to master and much more, Bravely Second: End Layer will kick off a great year of RPGs on Nintendo 3DS family systems when it launches across Australia and New Zealand on February 27.

Additional Links:

Nintendo Australia website: http://www.nintendo.com.au
Nintendo Australia Twitter: https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZ
Nintendo Australia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NintendoAUNZ
Nintendo AU on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/nintendoau

HI-REZ STUDIOS CELEBRATES THE FINALE OF THE 2016 SMITE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY XBOX ONE

Epsilon eSports Claims $500,000 Grand Prize With 3-0 Win Over Enemy In The SMITE PC World Championship To Close Season 2 Of SMITE

EnVyUs Vanquishes Cognitive Gaming 3-0 In The Debut SMITE Xbox One Invitational

ATLANTA – Jan. 13, 2016 – Hi-Rez Studios has closed the books on the SMITE World Championship presented by Xbox One (SWC), thus bringing to a conclusion Season 2 of the action MOBA game. The world’s top SMITE teams from North America, Europe, China, Latin America, Brazil, and, for the first time, Oceania converged on Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre for a four-day battle of wits and reflexes. Playing before a sold-out audience and millions more watching online, Europe’s Epsilon eSports defeated North America’s Enemy 3-0 in the Grand Finals of the SMITE PC World Championship to claim $500,000 and the immortal title of SMITE World Champions.

The SWC was also host to the premiere of the SMITE Xbox One Invitational, drawing the four top teams from the platform’s rising competitive scene to fight for a prize pool of $150,000. In the final series, Team EnVyUs emerged victorious over Cognitive Gaming 3-0, taking home the highest honors and $75,000.

Hi-Rez Studios capped the prize pool for the PC World Championship at $1 million in order to distribute a greater share of winnings at tournaments throughout the season; in total, more than $2 million in crowd-sourced prizes were awarded to SMITE players in the past year of competitive play. For a full breakdown of the results from the 2016 SWC, please visit http://swc.smitegame.com.

During the SWC, Hi-Rez Studios introduced the Japanese Pantheon, a new cast of upcoming gods, skins and items inspired by Japanese mythology. The first of these mighty deities, Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun, is already playable on PC and will come to Xbox One in late February. Amaterasu’s arrival begins a multi-week event called Rising Sun, which will include many Japanese-themed skins, such as Kaiju Sobek and Harajuku Neith. The company also announced a new 3v3 Joust League and 3v3 Joust map for Season 3.

Season 3 of SMITE is already gearing up on PC and Xbox One. For more information, please visit www.smitegame.com, and follow the title on Facebook and Twitter.

About SMITE

SMITE is the online Battleground of the Gods, a mythology-themed action game for PC and Xbox One. Since launching in Europe and North America in March 2014, SMITE has quickly established itself as one of the Top 3 games in the rapidly growing MOBA genre, with over 13 million players. Themed around gods of mythology and offering a third-person camera and more game modes than any other leading game in its genre, the game provides a unique, action-packed experience that puts the player in the thick of the action. SMITE is free-to-play on both PC and Xbox One.

About Hi-Rez Studios

Atlanta-based Hi-Rez Studios was established in 2005 to create exceptional online interactive entertainment, and is now one of the largest video game studios in the Southeast United States. Its games include the squad-based shooter Global Agenda, the critically acclaimed Tribes: Ascend and SMITE, the Battleground of the Gods. Hi-Rez Studios also has two new games: Paladins, a fantasy FPS with progression using collectible cards currently in closed beta testing for PC, and Jetpack Fighter, a swipe-to-attack, high-speed platformer with gear progression. www.HiRezStudios.com.