Warhammer®: End Times Vermintide™ Hacks, Slashes and Shoots onto Steam with Base and Collector’s Edition Pre-Order, Windows PC Release on October 23rd, 2015
Fatshark’s Rat-Busting Co-operative Action Adventure to Launch on PC, Pre-Order Details Announced
Stockholm, Sweden – September 24th, 2015 – Independent developer Fatshark announced today that Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, the co-operative action first person shooter and melee combat adventure set in the End Times of the iconic Warhammer Fantasy universe, will launch on Steam for Windows PC on October 23rd and is now available in pre-order in a Standard and Collector’s edition. To secure your pre-order please visit the Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide Steam page: store.steampowered.com/app/235540/
“We are so excited to announce that co-op fans can join the heroes of Ubersreik in the fight against the invasion of Skaven this October”, said Martin Wahlund, CEO of Fatshark. “This is by far our most ambitious game yet, and a huge passion project for everyone on the team. We can’t wait to share our work with everyone and look forward to hearing what you all think of Vermintidecome October!”
By pre-ordering the Base or Collector’s Edition through Steam, players will get 10% off either the Base or Collector’s Editions and a Beta Key that will provide beta access to Vermintide prior to its commercial full launch. The base edition of Vermintide will be available for $29.99 / €27.99 / £22.99 and the Collector’s edition for $44.99 / €39.99 / £33.99 that will include the official Soundtrack by award-winning composer Jesper Kyd, wallpapers, an Ubersreik Map, behind the Scenes pack containing all developer diaries and exclusive in-game items including 5 Exclusive Hats (1 for each Hero) and 2 Prestige Trinkets.
In Vermintide, the city of Ubersreik is under siege as players select from a band of five heroes with different play-styles and abilities, all equipped with unique gear and personalities. Working together cooperatively, players must use their individual attributes to survive an apocalyptic invasion from hordes of relentless, power hungry Skaven, across a range of environments stretching from the top of the Magnus Tower to the bowels of the Under Empire. Vermintide is scheduled for release in Q1 2016, for the Xbox One, all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program, and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.
In the run up to the release of Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, Fatshark will undertake a series of closed and open beta tests. To sign up please visit: www.vermintide.com/#front-page-2
Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and established in 2004 independent developer Fatshark is comprised of a team of over 50 experienced games developers, who strive to create compelling interactive experiences. The team have previously developed titles including Lead and Gold, Krater and War of the Roses, as well the upcoming game Warhammer®: End Times Vermintide™. For more information, visit www.fatsharkgames.com
The Escapists The Walking Dead Gets Xbox One and PC release date Wakefield, UK – 24th September 2015 – Games industry veteran and independent games label Team17 is excited to announce that they will be unleashing The Escapists The Walking Dead worldwide on Xbox One and PC on the 30th September.
The Escapists The Walking Dead merges the gameplay and aesthetics of the smash-hit, indie game The Escapists with the universe and characters of the worldwide phenomenon that is The Walking Dead. Team17, working in close collaboration with Skybound Entertainment, have taken the very best of both worlds, featuring panels, dialogue and the story of the award-winning comic series recreated in the charming 8-bit pixel art stylings of The Escapists.
Daniel Murray, President of Skybound Interactive said “The Escapists The Walking Dead is a creative monsterpiece. We believe fans of great games in general will be delighted to play this unique interpretation of Robert’s graphic novel. Team17 shares our belief in empowering independent creators. This game embodies that spirit to a tee.”
In The Escapists The Walking Dead players will take on the role of iconic protagonist Rick Grimes, who must lead and protect a band of survivors featuring many of the original comic book cast. Rick and the survivors must secure, survive and escape a number of dangerous environments which faithfully follows the narrative timeline of the hit comic.
Team17’s Marketing and Commercial Director added, “After the huge success of the original The Escapists, we really wanted to expand the brand and take it in different directions. Teaming up with Skybound Entertainment is an amazing start to building a strong indie gaming franchise and we are incredibly pleased to be part of their growing The Walking Dead brand”.
The Escapists The Walking Dead features:
5 levels following the timeline of the award-winning comic including Harrison Memorial Hospital, Greene Family Farm, Meriwether Correctional Facility, Woodbury and Alexandria
Comic book panels and dialogue taken from the hit comic series and faithfully recreated in 8bit style
Weapons including craftable upgrades and iconic weapons such as Michonne’s Katana
Characters from the hit series. Play as Rick Grimes alongside a cast of iconic survivors from the comic including Carl, Lori, Glenn, Hershel, Maggie, Dale, Tyreese, Michonne, Abraham and Gabriel, all faithfully re-created in charming pixel art style
Crafting system. Choosing from over 250 materials, you’ll need to craft more than 70 different items to keep your survivors safe including tools like cutters and shovels and weapons such as the modified pistol and rifle.
24 bonus collectibles to find
Leaderboards and Achievements
The Escapists The Walking Dead will be available to download for Xbox One via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program and PC on the 30th September for £12.99 / $17.99 / 14,99 €, on PC and £14.99 / $19.99 / 17,99 € for console.
To keep up to date with all the information on The Escapists please visit www.team17.com , like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
In 2010, The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman saw an opportunity to start a company that would nurture creators and give them resources to produce content while retaining creative control of their properties. Partnering with long-time collaborator, and fellow executive producer of The Walking Dead David Alpert, Skybound Entertainment was born. Skybound has properties across television, film, interactive, and beyond. The company also creates a wide range of merchandise, including its first tabletop card game Superfight, apparel, board games, and action figures.
About Team17 Digital Ltd
Founded in 1990, Team17 Digital Limited is a leading independent developer and publishing label headquartered in West Yorkshire (UK). Team17 publishes games for PC, console, mobile and handheld devices and other digital platforms. Visit www.team17.com for more info.
It hasn’t been long since the release of Pokemon XY-Ancient Origins, but the Pokemon Trading Card Games newest forthcoming expansion has been announced. The new set will be called XY: BREAKthrough and will feature an all new mechanic titled Break Evolution as well as 160 brand new cards. The set will hit store shelves starting from November 4th.
· New BREAK Evolution game mechanic—When a Pokémon evolves into a Pokémon BREAK, it gets an HP boost and a new attack or Ability, but it also gets to keep its existing attacks! Pokémon BREAK cards have a landscape design, unique foil pattern, and uniquely rendered art.
· 6 new Pokémon BREAK including Chesnaught BREAK and Zoroark BREAK
· 8 new Pokémon-EX including 4 new Mega Evolution Pokémon, plus 20 Trainer cards, including 2 full-art rare Ultra Trainer cards
· Booster packs—Packs of 10 additional cards selected from the expansion will be available.
· Two new theme decks—These 60-card preconstructed decks are designed to introduce players to the Pokémon TCG by enabling them to play right away. Each will include 59 standard cards and 1 special foil card.
As with all the latest releases in the card game, theme decks and booster packs include an in-pack code card that unlocks virtual cards from the BREAKthrough expansion for play in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online at www.pokemon.co.uk/tcgo . This online version of the Pokémon TCG is also now available on iPad via the Apple App Store. Key features of the set include:
The Pokemon Trading Card Game has remained a staple part of the Pokemon franchise for Nintendo, shipping more than 21.5 billion cards to 74 countries around the world since its debut in 1996.
Overview Although the initial release of The Familiar of Zero left the series abandoned in the West, Sentai Filmworks’ acquisition of all four seasons has seen the series thrive over the past year. While the second season spent time expanding the world and building up a bit of Saito and Louise’s relationship, it felt like in the end very little had actually changed. Now with the company releasing the third season of the series, The Familiar of Zero: Rondo of Princesses to audiences in the West where does the series go from here?
Story Those who have not watched either the first season or Knight of the Twin Moons will be dealing with a handful of missed details and world building in this season since it takes place only a few days after the events that transpired during the final episode of the second season.
For those who may have forgotten, at the end of the last season it appeared that the newlyweds Louise and Saito would be heading towards a terrible end as Saito remained behind to face off against an army of Albion soldiers in order to buy time for Louise and Queen Henrietta to escape safely. Despite dying to the forces, he managed to return to life through unknown means and it is here that Rondo of Princesses picks up.
Life for Saito and Louise has returned to normal after returning to Tristain Academy but it appears that, perhaps due to his death, the ruins marking him as Louise’s familiar have faded away and with it his powers as Gandalfr. Unfortunately for those who would like to see how things would go without Saito being magically bound to Louise, something Siesta actually begins to aim for, this issue quickly becomes resolved shortly after heading out to find the “fairy” that resurrected Saito and coming under attack from Sheffield once again.
As one would expect, Saito quickly finds the fairy who turns out to be the well-endowed woman named Tiffania, a half-elf who has been living in isolation due to fears about her race. This does play a role which will be mentioned in a bit but after being given the rank of chevalier by the Queen, Saito’s life only grows far more complicated as Siesta is assigned as his personal maid and Tiffania joins the academy. All the while, darkness begins to move in a neighboring country with Sheffield’s new master revealing his intentions, one of which just so happens to include a soft-spoken friend, and will put Louise and Saito’s potential happiness at risk.
The Familiar of Zero: Rondo of Princesses follows a fairly standard formula with very few issues lasting for very long before being resolved, usually in the same episode, and the main issue playing in the background and rising up only occasionally to remind viewers that there is still danger in the world targeting Louise despite the land no longer in a constant state of war. This means that while there are still plenty of sub-plots that appear in the meantime, most of the season is spent either placing the characters in funny situations or playing the “will they or won’t they” game with Saito and Louise’s relationship.
As mentioned earlier, few aspects are actually delved into regarding the characters with issues such as Saito’s status as a familiar and Louise’s concerns about summoning a new one resolving themselves in two episodes and even the harsh racism facing Tiffania once her secret is revealed only becoming an issue for half an episode before being resolved and never mentioned again around the school. Even the various developments that seem like they will occur between Saito and Louise generally are negated thanks to her always jumping to the worst conclusion and lashing out violently whenever Saito finds himself accidentally with another girl in some form.
Despite there being plenty of times that things seem to return back to the status quo, it does become a bit clear throughout the course of this season that Louise is willing to at least believe some elements of what Saito is saying, though more often than not viewers will be feeling sorry for Saito as the running joke of Louise’s explosions starts to wear thin. Thankfully there are still plenty of new gags brought on by introducing Tiffania and the jealousy that she causes in other girls, the return of all of the core side-characters, such as Guiche, who were previously non-existent due to the war, as well as the addition of a certain unexpected character near the end of the series, and of course all of the ecchi moments that usually see Louise being the butt of a joke.
Thankfully, despite the series still feeling like it is attempting to hold onto a status quo, there does feel like there is some progression this season. This is thanks to the return of a certain character whose death hit hard last season and also to Tabitha, a character who rarely stood out unless someone needed to fly, being given quite a bit of focus near the end as we learn not only about her past but also about her family situation which helps her stand out, especially in regards to Saito, and gives meaning towards the events that unfold at the end other than Louise and Saito facing off against Sheffield once more.
Visuals Although produced by the same studio as the past two seasons, Rondo of Princesses appears to benefit from being a year fresher than its predecessor as the series’ artwork appears to be far cleaner in this release than in the past with the colorful series appearing quite vibrant without any of the fuzziness that plagued the second season. The character designs remain the same and Tiffania serves as a nice addition to the core cast with her usually unique outfits.
It is worth noting that the fan-service element has been given quite a boost in this season over the past few. This of course includes Tiffania, who appears to feature the largest bust of the cast with plenty of focus being placed on her chest both for comedic jealousy and to get Saito into trouble. There are plenty of instances where the female cast will be cosplaying in some form, though it comes under the guise of stealth, or with Siesta attempting to seduce the slightly more available Saito.
Audio Similar to the second season, Rondo of Princesses has been released with only the original Japanese voice track. Fans of the series will appreciate that the voice actors have remained the same throughout the series with Rie Kugimiya handling Louise perfectly still while new characters are voiced fittingly, especially with Tiffania’s soft-spoken nature coming off very well.
The soundtrack is fairly standard at this point and doesn’t really stand out, though a small vocal insert song is included this time which is something of a nice touch. The opening and ending themes continue to have something of a running theme, with “You’re the One” by Ichiko being an exciting opening and “Gomen” by Rie Kugimiya being softer and gives us a glimpse at Louise’s softer side.
Extras The Familiar of Zero: Rondo of Princesses features a few of the expected special features such as a clean version of the opening and ending theme as well as trailers for other Sentai Filmworks releases but this time it also includes a bonus OVA episode.
This OVA features plenty of fan-service as it sees the characters venture to the beach and, humorously enough, has most of the cast wearing swimsuits that practically cover their entire bodies. Of course, given how many things have managed to make their way into the fantasy land from the modern world, a number of swimsuits and bikinis have managed to appear as well allowing for the headmaster and the rest of the boys to trick the girls. The whole experience doesn’t have much impact but does contain a lot of fan-service without damaging the main storyline and also has quite a few humorous punchlines mixed in.
Overall Although The Familiar of Zero: Rondo of Princesses still feels rather light for a series that is already on its third season, this time around there does feel like some actual progression has been made between Saito and Lousie plus Siesta starts acting far more aggressive and the introduction of Tiffania adds some extra spice to the mix to keep things fresh. The rest of the cast benefits from some focused character development and although many of the running jokes are still familiar, with a few starting to wear thin, the majority of the humor remains enjoyable though with the next season being the last; it will be interesting to see how things wrap up.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Media Molecule is one of those companies that seems to just churn out great games like its nobodies business. Most well renowned for the Little Big Planet franchise, they have shown that they are more than a one trick pony when they created the incredible Tearaway for the PS Vita. Well the gang are back again with Tearaway Unfolded – a sort of enhanced port of the original game for the PlayStation 4. With High def visuals, new gameplay elements and new hardware to take advantage of, is Tearaway Unfolded one of those ports that colours inside the lines, or does it rip the pages apart and fold them into something amazing?
Story
Much like the original game, the protagonist Iota or Atoi (depending on who you pick) needs to deliver an important message to the deity in the sun. Now, the messenger trope has been used a lot in video games but Tearaway does something that to step outside of the norm; the deity in the sun is You, as in the player character yourself.
One of the game’s most unique storytelling features is to have the player be a part of the story. NPCs and the chosen protagonist will be aware of you, and even reference you directly. Outside of cheesy wall-breaking comedy games, I can’t really think of a game that directly references the player as an active part of the game world.
Gameplay
Those who played the original Tearaway on the PS Vita will feel right at home with this new iteration of the game. Tearaway Unfolded is at its core a platformer with some puzzle solving elements thrown in. Now I have been a platformer player since I was a child and ai am happy to admit that Tearaway sits up there in terms of fun and playability, but it does have two glaring weaknesses that I feel really holds it back.
The first of these issues is that the game handles incredibly floaty. Jumps are slow and linger in the air, and your character feels weightless. This might very well be a design choice considering the papercraft setting, but I still feel that it results in gameplay that just doesn’t lack the tightness in controls that I like from my platformers.
The other aspect of the game that really holds it back for me is the combat. Tearaway Unfolded is filled with flat, uniniteresting and unfun combat scenarios against waves of enemies. The original game had a few of these but the amount has been amped up to an incredible amount here. The middle especially feels chock-full of these encounters and it really drags down the game as a whole. I for one can’t help but wonder if the extra combat challenges weren’t added by the developers as a way for them to lengthen the time it takes to compelte the game. Eitherway, if Tearaway Unfolded features less combat scenarios it would be a much, much better game.
One thing that really stuck out to me about Tearaway Unfolded was how completely it utilised the Playstation 4 hardware. Media Molecule went above and beyond to ensure that even the most irrelevant of functions serves a purpose here. The touch pad is used to create gusts of wind, hit drum skins, and to even draw objects which you can then place into the world (more on this in a little bit). Even the controller’s light bar is shone at the television screen to light up dark rooms. Seeing this level of hardware integration into a game is something that is usually reserved for Nintendo-produced titles and I was really impressed to see the Media Molecule’s understanding of their platform expressed to thoroughly.
There are numerous sections in the game where the player will be challenged to draw something on their controller’s touch-pad in order to have that item placed into the world. However as you could imagine, the touch pad is a little small for drawing pictures and I know that I personally got frustrated a few times when my finger accidentally went off the pad a little early and the game thought that I was finished my creation. Thankfully, the hardware utilisation stretches even beyond the PS4 itself, as the PlayStation app can be used to give you an even larger canvas to work on. Having my iPad on my lap while I play video games is not something I typically enjoy, but here it just seems to natural and well-serving.
Visuals & Audio
As you can probably guess from the game’s title, Tearaway Unfolded looks like it has been made by a kindergarten class who are playing with arts and crafts, and I say that with a huge smile on my face. Each aspect of the game looks like it has been cut and folded from pieces of paper. The papercraft world of Tearaway was one of the most striking visual styles of the PS Vita and now thanks to the PS4 it has been taken to a whole other level.
I want to stress that everything looks this way. Tearaway Unfolded has one of the most unified and consistent art styles that I have seen in a video game. From the foreground to the far-off horizon, everything looks unified and this consistent look and feel really helps you get sucked into this wonderful world.
Overall
Before playing Tearaway Unfolded I had never really given the Tearaway franchise a chance, so after I was done with the game I went and tracked down a copy of the original game for PS Vita. In a day and age where very second game fells like it is a re-release or a port of a game from another platform, I was curious as to how much was really different between the two. Well I can say with a fair degree of certainty that if this is what remakes are going to be from now on then I am all aboard! While a lot of the game has remained relatively unchanged, there is just so much that is new in the Unfolded edition of the game. Tearaway Unfolded definitely feels like a sequel to the original rather than a re-release, and while it doesn’t always manage to hit the right notes, this is by no means a game to be scrunched up and thrown away.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book will mark the first time that the series has ventured onto the PlayStation 4 when it is released in Japan on November 19th alongside the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions and despite being a little under two months from release, Gust and Koei Tecmo have decided to share the game’s opening video.
The minute and a half long opening video features the soft themed music that the series has been known for and also includes many of the friends that will join Sophie in her adventures. At the time of this writing Atelier Sophie has not been confirmed for release in the West.
Continuing with their series of humorous trailers for Fallout 4, Bethesda has released a new video focusing on introducing the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. mechanics, which stand for strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck. We have already seen what strength can do for players as well as how perception can help players avoid danger, take out enemies, and sneak around easier.
This time around the focus is spent on Endurance where you can see plenty of humorous slides below and possibly learn about some important gameplay details that will be included in Fallout 4such as the return of eating, drinking, and even cannibalism in an apocalyptic wasteland.
Lego Dimensions is a game that should definitely be a lot of people’s radar. Warner Bros’ foray into the toys to life genre of gaming is shaping up to be a massive hit. Combining the world beloved Lego toys with some of the world’s most exciting and interesting film and television characters, adding a dash of that awesome TT Games magic and packing it with a voice cast that any Hollywood producer would kill for is definitely something to get excited about.
Many of the game’s trailers have focused on an actor or character receiving a mysterious box of Lego. Well now that strange, magical box has been dropped on Lego Movie and Mad Men star Alison Brie’s dressing room doorstep. Check out the trailer below to see what happens when Alison and Unikitty come face to face, and make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the awesome Lego news as it becomes available.
BECOME THE STAR OF THE FASHION WORLD IN NINTENDO PRESENTS: NEW STYLE BOUTIQUE 2 – FASHION FORWARD FOR NINTENDO 3DS ON NOVEMBER 21
Manage a successful boutique in a bustling city and take on varied new jobs – style clients’ hair, apply their make-up, design clothes, and hit the catwalk
September 24, 2015 – Coming exclusively to Nintendo 3DS family systems on November 21, Nintendo presents: New Style Boutique 2 – Fashion Forward gives players the opportunity to rise to the top of the fashion world as the manager of their very own boutique. The fun goes far beyond the shop floor, as players can also let their creativity loose in four additional roles: hair stylist, make-up artist, model, and designer.
This third instalment in the fashion simulation series lets budding fashionistas run their very own chic boutique in the bustling Beaumonde City, home to hundreds of colourful personalities. Characters visit the shop and describe what they’re looking for, and it’s up to the player to pick out the perfect look, choosing from 19,000 items like casual dresses, eye-catching t-shirts, and those all-important accessories including bags and earrings. Make the right recommendation and the customer will leave thrilled, sure to spread the word!
On top of the thousands of in-game items with which to style customers, there are special pieces that can only be unlocked by tapping compatible amiibo during gameplay*, including Peach’s Princess Crown, Mario’s M-Hat and Yoshi’s Egg Hooded Jacket. New items will also be available to download after the game’s launch, while regular online themed contests will challenge stylists to show off their very best outfits. Couture connoisseurs can even organise their own contests for other players to join – perfect for finding inspiration and comparing ensembles.
In addition to the fun shop management gameplay of previous titles, four exciting new professions await dedicated followers of fashion, with the freedom to switch between them whenever they like:
Hair stylist and make-up artist: Styling clients goes far beyond clothes, with a huge range of make-up looks to apply at the beautician’s and countless creative hairstyles to delight customers at the hair salon.
Designer: Imaginative style enthusiasts can build their very own fashion house by designing a unique clothing and accessories line. Fashion labels are always on the lookout for up-and-coming designers, and often commission new items to complement their existing collection – a great opportunity to get noticed and spread the word about the boutique.
Model: Players can also show off their sartorial savvy as a model for in-game brands, each with its own vision and needs. It’s all about pairing the right outfit with flawless hair and make-up, then bringing it all together with the perfect pose. Images from photo shoots might even appear on billboards and advertisements around the city for everyone to admire!
Lastly, a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the fashion world awaits at Caprice Chalet. Here, anyone with a taste for decorating can transform the rooms of a dollhouse into anything from a relaxing bedroom to a trendy boutique, then share them online or with other players met via StreetPass.
Nintendo presents: New Style Boutique 2 – Fashion Forward will be available in Australia and New Zealand from November 21, exclusively for Nintendo 3DS family systems. On the same day, a set of elegant white Cover Plates for New Nintendo 3DS consoles will also be available.
* The Nintendo NFC Reader / Writer accessory, available from October 3, is required to use amiibo on Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL and Nintendo 2DS systems.
Siren Visual’s website has just been updated with new product information for Nagi no Asukara (A Lull in the Sea). The second half of the series will be released on DVD on November 20, 2015, and the standard edition Blu-ray release of the complete series will be released on the same date. The sets have a suggested retail price of $44.95 AUD and $79.95 AUD respectively. Part 1 of Nagi no Asukara was released in Australia just this Tuesday, the 22nd of September.
In addition, the release dates for some of Siren Visual’s other releases have been updated. The complete first series of Nodame Cantabile is now scheduled to be released on DVD with dual audio and English subtitles on October 5, 2015, as is the box and DVD box-set of Naoki Urasawa’s Monster.
