Home Blog Page 3309

NBA® 2K16 Season Starts Today

0

NBA® 2K16 Season Starts Today 

Award-winning NBA 2K series sets new standard for sports simulation titles 

Sydney, Australia – September 29, 2015—2K today announced that NBA 2K16, the next iteration of the top-rated and top-selling NBA video game simulation series*, is now available for purchase at retail and online vendors in Australia and New Zealand. Continuing the success of one of the most dominant entertainment franchises over the last decade, NBA 2K16 will introduce the most dynamic and realistic gameplay yet, highlighted by an all-new MyCAREER experience titled ‘Livin’ Da Dream’ written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee.

NBA 2K16 is our most authentic and ambitious basketball simulation yet,” said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts. “With a title that releases annually, pushing the envelope of what is possible is our defining goal. We’ve included more content in 2K16 than ever before, and have created an experience that not only replicates life on the court, but off it as well.”

In collaboration with Spike Lee, NBA 2K16 also features three unique covers with NBA superstars Stephen Curry, James Harden and Anthony Davis, who were chosen to help celebrate this year’s launch and showcase new gameplay innovations including:

  • Livin’ Da Dream, A Spike Lee Joint: 2K and the legendary filmmaker Spike Lee closely collaborated to create NBA 2K’s most intense MyCAREER narrative to date, enabling gamers to #BeTheStory like never before;
  • Enhanced Gameplay: NBA 2K16’s innovative, new motion engine generates smarter, ultra-realistic movement plus new ball and rim physics, and player collisions, making it the most intense and authentic on-court experience to date;
  • Trio of Award-Winning Soundtrack Producers: Featuring 50 dynamic tracks across five playlists and exclusive cuts, DJ Khaled, DJ Mustard and DJ Premier produced 2K’s biggest and most diverse soundtrack ever;
  • MyPARK: Players can create a MyPARK street legacy at one of three newly enhanced parks and show off their game to the world in new live-streamed competitive events;
  • 2K Pro-Am: Featuring fully customizable teams and 5 vs. 5 tournaments livestreamed on NBA 2KTV, the new 2K Pro-Am mode allows players to join forces with friends to create the perfect squad all the way down to custom logos, uniforms and arenas;
  • Modern Legends: NBA 2K16 players can step onto the court with 12 new legendary teams, including some of the most epic squads from the past 15 years such as ’00-’01 Lakers, ’03-’04 Pistons, ’07-’08 Boston Celtics, and ’12-’13 Miami Heat;
  • MyNBA2K16: Available for iOS and Android devices, the companion app makes it easy to stay in touch with NBA 2K16 with new features and opportunities to earn Virtual Currency. MyNBA2K16 also includes the collectible NBA 2K card game, MyTEAM Mobile, which allows players to collect their favorite NBA player cards to challenge competitors in exhibition games, season tournaments and in-game special events, with more cards, stats and events than ever before.

Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K16 is rated “G” in Australia and New Zealand and is now available for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One and Xbox 360; and Windows PC. 

Follow @NBA2K on social media and look for the hashtag #BeTheStory for the latest NBA 2K16 news.

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

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 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 – 2015 Metacritic.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through August 2015.

“PlayStation” and “PS3” are registered trademarks. “PS4” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders. 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: our dependence on key management and product development personnel, our dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles, the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games, the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games, our ability to raise capital if needed and risks associated with international operations. Other important factors and information are contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, including the risks summarized in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2015, and the Company’s other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Ubisoft® BRINGS HOT SONGS AND QUIRKY FAVORITES to the party WITH THE FULL JUST DANCE® 2016 tracklist

0

Ubisoft® BRINGS HOT SONGS AND QUIRKY FAVORITES to the party WITH THE FULL JUST DANCE® 2016 tracklist 

Best-Selling Video Game Franchise Is Back Again with Songs like “Cool For The Summer” by Demi Lovato, “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez and “This Is How We Do” by Katy Perry

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — September 29, 2015 — Today, Ubisoft® unveiled the full tracklist for Just Dance® 2016, the latest installment in the best-selling* dance game franchise of all time. This year, the game includes more than 40 of the hottest songs, classic favourites and quirky tracks such as “Teacher” by Nick Jonas, “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea Ft. Charli XCX, “Lights” by Ellie Goulding and “No Control” by One Direction.

“Each year we strive to provide our fans and their families with a better tracklist and interactive game features than the year before, and Just Dance 2016 is a true testament to that,” said Geoffroy Sardin, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Ubisoft Europe Middle-East Asia. “Now that next-gen players can use their smartphones to play the game with the Just Dance Controller App, more people than ever before can dance to songs from the artists they know and love.”

Just Dance 2016 is coming to all motion-control gaming platforms, including Nintendo’s Wii™ and Wii U™ systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®3  computer entertainment system on October 20 in the US and October 22, 2015 in EMEA (October 23, 2015 in the UK). With the Just Dance Controller App, now available for Apple and Android devices** and soon to be available for Windows Phone devices, players on new-gen consoles can use their smartphone to play the game without any peripherals or added console cameras.

The new tracks unveiled for Just Dance 2016 include:

  • “Heartbeat Song” by Kelly Clarkson
  • “Teacher” by Nick Jonas
  • “Chiwawa” by Wanko Ni Mero Mero
  • “Copacabana” by Frankie Bostello
  • “This Is How We Do” by Katy Perry
  • “Drop The Mambo” by Diva Carmina
  • “Hit The Road Jack” by Charles Percy
  • “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” by The Girly Team
  • “Irish Meadow Dance” by O’Callaghan’s Orchestra
  • “Junto a Ti” From Disney’s “Violetta”
  • “Kaboom Pow” by Nikki Yanofsky
  • “Kool Kontact” by Glorious Black Belts
  • “You’re The One That I Want” From The Movie Grease
  • “The Choice Is Yours” by Darius Dante Van Dijk
  • “Under the Sea” From Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”
  • “When The Rain Begins To Fall” by Sky Trucking
  • “You Never Can Tell” by A. Caveman & The Backseats

Songs previously announced for the game include:

  • “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars
  • “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
  • “Animals” by Martin Garrix
  • “Hey Mama” by David Guetta Ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack
  • “Blame” by Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman
  • “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
  • “Want To Want Me” by Jason Derulo
  • “Gibberish” by MAX
  • “Hangover (BaBaBa)” by Buraka Som Sistema
  • “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
  • “Ievan Polkka” by Hatsune Miku
  • “Let’s Groove” by Equinox Stars
  • “William Tell Overture” by Rossini
  • “Balkan Blast Remix” by Angry Birds
  • Rabiosa” by Shakira Ft. El Cata
  • “Stuck On A Feeling” by Prince Royce
  • “Boys (Summertime Love)” by The Lemon Cubes
  • “Fun” by Pitbull Ft. Chris Brown
  • “Circus” by Britney Spears
  • “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea Ft. Charli XCX
  • “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez
  • “Cool For The Summer” by Demi Lovato
  • “Lights” by Ellie Goulding
  • “No Control” by One Direction
  • “I’m An Albatraoz” by AronChupa

For the latest information on Just Dance 2016 and details on the free demo available on new-gen consoles for players using the Just Dance Controller App, please visit: www.justdancegame.com. Follow Just Dance on Twitter.com/JustDanceGame and use hashtag #JustDance2016.

* Data from NPD Institute in NCSA and from GfK Institute in EMEA – April 2015
** The Controller App to use with the pre-launch demo is available for Apple and Android smartphones. Windows Phone app, available at launch, will only be compatible with the Xbox One version of Just Dance 2016.

 

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. Just Dance, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo trademarks and copyrights are properties of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

DAYBREAK GAMES CROWNS WINNERS OF THE INAUGURAL H1Z1 INVITATIONAL AT TWITCHCON

0

DAYBREAK GAMES CROWNS WINNERS OF THE INAUGURAL H1Z1 INVITATIONAL AT TWITCHCON

Ninja and MrGrimmmz Claim Top Prize Against Twitch’s Biggest Stars

SAN FRANCISCO – Sept. 28, 2015 – Daybreak Games has declared Twitch personalities Ninja and MrGrimmmz as the victors of its first-ever H1Z1 Invitational at TwitchCon this weekend. The two champions received $19,932 apiece, with the rest of the $173,320 overall prize pool distributed incrementally between the remaining top 10 finishers.

Tyler Blevins aka Ninja – a former Halo world champion – hails from Illinois and has been streaming games on Twitch for about three years, boasting over 100,000 followers. MrGrimmmz, from California, had logged more H1Z1 Battle Royale matches than any of the other participants in the last few months, with his viewers having watched him play more than 20,000 minutes of H1Z1.

The H1Z1 Invitational consisted of two standard Battle Royale matches, with half of the prize money split among the top 10 finishers of game one and the other half divided among the top 10 finishers of game two. With no repeats in the top 10, Ninja and MrGrimmmz faced different opponents in the final fight – Ninja overcame well-known League of Legends broadcaster Trick2g while MrGrimmmz won an exciting shotgun shootout with JoshOG. The H1Z1 Invitational was MrGrimmmz’s first tournament and Ninja’s first PC tournament.

The H1Z1 Invitational pitted more than 55 of Twitch’s most popular broadcasters, including LIRIK, Sodapoppin, summit1g, LegendaryLea, and Towelliee, against one another in PLAYERUNKNOWN’s Battle Royale, the nail-biting last-man-standing mode found in the zombie survival game H1Z1. They were joined by four players chosen from the H1Z1 community through Daybreak’s Road to TwitchCon competition. One player also earned a seat in the Invitational on-site, winning the Qualification Championship Battle Royale the day before the tournament.

The vast majority of the prize pool was fueled by community purchases of the H1Z1 Invitational Crate Key, which offered players exclusive in-game emotes, skins and more. Over 140,000 concurrent viewers tuned in to Twitch to watch the triumph and heartbreak of the H1Z1 Invitational unfold live.

For more information on the event, prize pool and individual participants, please visit www.h1z1.com/invitational.

About H1Z1 & Battle Royale

Enter a world that has been overrun by zombies and fellow survivors since the H1Z1 virus outbreak. Fight for your life against the infected and against the brutality of others as you attempt to live and see another day. Will you survive?

Created by PLAYERUNKNOWN, Battle Royale is the ultimate survival game-mode in H1Z1, where the most skilled players prove they have what it takes to be the last one standing.

H1Z1 is currently a Steam Early Access title. More information can be found on the official website at www.H1Z1.com, or the H1Z1 Steam page.

About Daybreak Game Company

Daybreak Game Company LLC is a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games and emergent gameplay. Best known for its blockbuster hits and franchises such as EverQuest®, EverQuest®II, PlanetSide®2, DC Universe™ Online,  H1Z1™, Landmark™ and the highly anticipated EverQuest Next™, Daybreak creates, develops and provides compelling online entertainment for a variety of platforms.

To learn more, visit www.DaybreakGameCompany.com.

Indie Gala Every Monday Bundle #79 Now Available

every-monday-bundle-sept-28

Did you know the record for most weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts is held by Elvis Presley at 79 weeks? Check out another rockin’ indie bundle this week with the Indie Gala Every Monday Bundle #79. This week’s theme is anime, with seven doujin themed games.

Pixel Puzzles 2: Anime – This jigsaw puzzle game comes with 25 puzzles ranging from simple 60 piece puzzles to brain melting 350 piece monsters.

Shan Gui – A visual novel set in the Purple Mountain in Nanjing, China.

super-galaxy-squadron-promo-art-001

Super Galaxy Squadron – A classic top down arcade shooter designed for gamers of all skill levels.

Don’Yoku – A pixel art-styled bullet hell shoot ’em up full of air pirates and mercenaries.

Riddled Corpses – A retro style arcade shooter with six characters, each with a unique fighting style.

diadra-empty-screenshot-001Diadra Empty – A free roaming shoot ’em up starring Nyalra and her dragon Minimi.

Nandeyanen!? – The 1st Sûtra – A shoot ’em up inspired by classic Japanese mythology.

For the first 24 hours of the sale, the bundle costs only $1.99. Grab your bundle at Indie Gala today!

Romero’s Aftermath Surpasses 300,000 Users In First Weekend of Open Beta 100,000 in first 24-hours

0

Romero’s Aftermath Surpasses 300,000 Users In First Weekend of Open Beta 100,000 in first 24-hours 

LOS ANGELES – September 29, 2015 – The only free-to-win massively multiplayer online (MMO) survival horror game, Romero’s Aftermath, surpassed more than 300,000 players in the first weekend of its launch into Open Beta on September 24. A collaboration between horror film director George C. Romero and independent video game publisher Free Reign Entertainment, Romero’s Aftermath is available for free by visiting and downloading from the game’s official website at https://www.willyousurvive.com/.

With a bevy of features, including crafting, base building, health management and more, Romero’s Aftermath goes beyond the norm of most survival horror games by providing gameplay for every type of player. As a free game, players don’t need to commit any money to try their luck at surviving the game’s massive open world that is filled with zombies, other survivalists, towns, deserts and forests.

“Since entering Closed Beta a few months ago, we received positive feedback from early players and with their help we built what we think is the most robust survival horror game to date,” said Adam Skidmore, Design Lead at Free Reign Entertainment. “There are a bevy of experiences in Aftermath and we think that contributed to the rapid influx of more than 100,000 users in the first 24-hours. It shows that Aftermath brings a freshness to the genre that the community was seeking.”

For more information on Romero’s Aftermath or to register for an account and play the game for free please visit https://www.willyousurvive.com/.

About Free Reign Entertainment

Founded in 2014 as a publishing arm of Arktos Entertainment Group, Free Reign is a PC games developer and publishing partner dedicated to creating immersive worlds and games heavily influenced by their community. The studio creates original IP, specializing in developing massive online games.

BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. ANNOUNCES A UNIQUE PIRATE ADVENTURE WITH ONE PIECE: BURNING BLOOD ON THE PLAYSTATION® 4, XBOX ONE, AND PLAYSTATION® VITA

0

BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. ANNOUNCES A UNIQUE PIRATE ADVENTURE WITH ONE PIECE: BURNING BLOOD ON THE PLAYSTATION® 4, XBOX ONE, AND PLAYSTATION® VITA

One Piece: Burning Blood Combines High Seas Hijinks and Extreme Fighting Action for an Entirely New One Piece Videogame Experience 

SAN JOSE, Calif., (September 28, 2015) — BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. the premier publisher of anime video games today announced a new entry in the fighting game genre with One Piece®: Burning Blood; coming to North America and Latin America in 2016 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PlayStation® Vita handheld entertainment system. One Piece: Burning Blood marks the debut of the One Piece video franchise on Xbox One platform.

Developed by Japan based video game developer Spike Chunsoft Co.,Ltd., One Piece: Burning Blood takes full advantage of the rich history of One Piece down to the finest details. Character expressions, elemental effects, and impact text come to life in this new game as if they were jumping off a manga page. Featuring all of the action, drama, and comedy from the world’s favorite pirate saga, One Piece: Burning Blood is all about style that will reheat fans’ nostalgia and pique the interest of curious new pirates.

One Piece: Burning Blood introduces an advanced battle system that replicates Devil Fruit abilities and Haki techniques in a true-to-series pirate free-for-all. Activated at will, these unique abilities can increase the player’s attack power, nullify incoming normal attacks, and more. Players must strategize how and when to use these special abilities to unleash their maximum fighting potential.

One Piece is an enduring manga and anime franchise that enjoys a huge fan base all over the world,” says Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “With One Piece: Burning Blood, we’re taking the franchise into new gameplay territory that’s sure to excite and challenge fans of the series.”

For more information about One Piece: Burning Blood please visit www.bandainamcoent.com/home.html or join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS

###

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 http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS

All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

©EIICHIRO ODA/SHUEISHA, TOEI ANIMATION.

License coordinated by FUNimation® Productions, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Press Release © 2015 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

Lego Dimensions is Available Now!

lego-dimensions-screenshot-13

After a long wait, Lego Dimensions is finally here. Warner Bros’ cross-franchise toys to life game has been hyped up for months and now the wait is over. With the world famous Lego franchise joining up with some pop culture icons like Homer Simpson, Marty McFly and The Doctor, what isn’t there to be excited for!

Lego Dimensions is available in-stores now on Xbox One, 360, PS4, PS3 and Wii U. If you are on the fence about Lego Dimensions but aren’t sure if it is in your budget, check out our extensive price guide here and make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the awesome Lego news as it becomes available.

Super Evil Megacorp Launches Vainglory Autumn Season 2015 with over USD 125.000 in Prizes!

0

Super Evil Megacorp Launches Vainglory Autumn Season 2015 with over USD 125.000 in Prizes!

San Mateo, Calif. – 28th September 2015 – Super Evil Megacorp, the developers of Vainglory, the hit MOBA perfected for touch screens, will begin its inaugural Autumn Season with update 1.9 launching on October 1 along with countless new features. The launch of Seasons introduces Teams and Guilds, meaning players of any level can socialize within Vainglory and compete for fun or for real prizes, totaling more than USD 125.000 this season. Update 1.9 also includes a new hero, Phinn, several new seasonally-themed skins and a limited time only map. Throughout the month of October, iOS players will have free access to hero Celeste, while hero Taka is available for free for Android players.

Autumn Season 2015

Beginning with this update, Vainglory will feature a seasonal competition structure. Autumn 2015 is the first season, which will last from early October until early January. All players have three months to earn the highest possible skill tier and other achievements to fill their Autumn 2015 trophy room, and at the end of each season, all trophies will appear in players’ Vainglory profiles. There will also be tons other limited edition content for players to enjoy each including seasonal maps, skins and more.

The Guild System

The Vainglory Guild system is designed to give players a supportive social system within the game and make it easier for them to find like-minded, reliable players to battle. All future Guild rewards will be based on dedication and participation. All players within a Guild must hail from the same server-region but can choose whether to be a public or invite-only team. Members can easily communicate with other Guild members through chat. Guilds can be formed by using Glory or ICE and in the beginning can include up to 20 members. By being active, Guilds can unlock the ability to add up to 50 members. Finally, Guilds can soon organize Vainglory Community Meets (VGC) with special support and swag from the Super Evil team. Stay tuned for more updates.

The Team System

The Team-system is made up of players who want to play competitively and can be set up using Glory or ICE with a maximum of six players from the same region. A helpful Team-only chat is available for easy communication and strategizing. Team members will have team tags when playing as a party that will show up in-game. Team skill tier will help determine tournament seed when signing up for regional Vainglory qualifiers.

New hero

The Autumn Season 2015 launch will include new hero, Phinn, who is an unstoppable tank that thrives on the defensive side. Phinn is able to absorb an immense amount of punishment, protecting teammates while they dish out damage to opponents. Petal and Celeste will have limited-edition skins that can be unlocked throughout update 1.9 and Krul Tier II and Taka Tier II skins will also be available. Finally, The Halcyon Fold will be completely updated with an Autumn themed map.

Autumn eSports Schedule-at-a-Glance:

  • The 1.9 Update that includes Seasons goes live October 1
  • In Europe and North America, the second Vainglory League Qualifier Tournament will begin November 1 with a prize pool totaling USD 15.000
  • The EU and NA Live Finals (eight teams from the qualifier tournaments) will be played in-person, with a prize pool of USD 30.000.
  • The Autumn Vainglory International Premier League (VIPL), with USD 80.000 in prize money, will begin in late November in Korea and run until the end of December. Similar tournaments and leagues will begin in other regions soon 

Vainglory is available for free for iOS devices through the Apple App Store, on Google Play for Android devices and the Amazon App Store.

About Super Evil Megacorp:

Super Evil Megacorp is a team of masters-at-their-craft game developers from companies including Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment and Rockstar Games. They strive to be the best home for core-gaming talent, committed to crafting unapologetically core 1,000+ hour gaming experiences for touch screens. The company’s first title Vainglory, an intense real-time multiplayer battle game perfected for touch, was selected as one the App Store’s Best Apps of 2014. Super Evil Megacorp has raised $41M in funding from backers including General Catalyst, Signia Venture Partners, CrossCut Ventures, Initial Capital, The Raine Group and ZhenFund. For more information, visit http://www.superevilmegacorp.com/ and http://www.vainglorygame.com/.

— Diese E-Mail und ihre Anhänge sind vertraulich und nur für den Empfänger bestimmt. Wenn Sie nicht der richtige Adressat sind oder diese Nachricht irrtümlich erhalten haben, informieren Sie bitte sofort den Absender und löschen Sie diese Nachricht. —
— This email and its attachments are confidential and for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error please notify the sender immediately and delete this message. —

Puchim@s! Petit Idolm@ster Season One Review

puchimas-petit-idolmaster-season-1-box-art
Puchim@s! Petit Idolm@ster Season One
Studio: Gathering
Publisher: FUNimation
Format: DVD
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Price: $19.99 – Available Here

Overview
Back in 2013 FUNimation surprised quite a few anime fans when they announced that they would be streaming the Puchim@s! Petit Idolm@ster anime adaptation. Not only have none of the core Idolm@ster games ever been released in the West, the anime adaptation of the second game was never licensed for release in any form. Although this meant having a fairly high barrier of entry, the Idolm@ster fans have always thrived in the West. Still, the company surprised fans even further by actually releasing the series on DVD and now that Puchim@s Season 1 has been released, is it worth it?

Story
The daily lives of the idols from 765 Production have always been quite busy since they became popular as an idol agency. Many of them spend most of their time traveling to different nations, though the chances of someone finding a mini version of someone they know on even the strangest trip would be impossible. That is of course unless you have a series such as Puchim@s: Petit Idolm@ster where that is the entire aspect of the show.

puchimas-petit-idolmaster-season-1-screenshot- (1)

What starts as a simple appearance with Ami and Mami bringing home one Puchidol as they are called quickly begins to expand throughout the course of the first season as every idol and even Ritsuko and Kotori end up with miniature versions of themselves. This series focuses entirely on the lives of these idols and the Puchidol versions of themselves as they go from one hilarious event to another.

Most of the first season focuses on the idols encountering new Puchidols and bringing them back to the office where they join the group while also showing off most of their unique abilities, often ones that tend to match the girls they are based off of such as Yukipo’s fondness for digging holes matching Yukiho’s shyness or Chibiki’s ability to summon animals of legend when crying matching Hibiki’s affinity with animals. These are far from the strangest abilities as some of the Puchidols can fly, teleport, or even act like Gremlins by multiplying when touched by water.

puchimas-petit-idolmaster-season-1-screenshot- (3)

It is worth noting that Puchim@s: Petit Idolm@ster was originally created as a net animation series that aired every weekday over the course of three months in Japan, with each episode only lasting around a minute. Since that wouldn’t work quite as well outside of the net, these shorts have been combined into slightly longer “Director’s Cut” versions that generally combine an entire mini-skit into one five or six minute episode.

This is far better than the original alternative that saw events take place over six different episodes though it is odd to say that the opening theme that was present in the original animation has been removed entirely from the series, outside of snippets sung by the idols in passing, and is not included on this release. A couple of OVA episodes that follow the idols and Puchidols on a quest given to them by the Producer does add in some extra time to the end of the release, though oddly enough only half of that OVA is actually included in Season 1 as the rest is part of Season 2 release.

puchimas-petit-idolmaster-season-1-screenshot- (4)

Now, I must say that those who aren’t fans of the Idolm@ster series or know very little about the characters, then this show is quite frankly not for you as it relies entirely on pre-existing knowledge about each girl’s personality and various traits for the vast majority of its humor. Every Puchidol is a chibi caricature of the girl they are based off of with and almost all of the comedy in the series revolves around these little creatures one way or another with plenty of hilarious antics that range from absolutely ridiculous situations, sight gags, the obsession some characters have with certain Puchidols, and much more.

As mentioned, the entire aspect of Puchim@s: Petit Idolm@ster leaves it as one that only fans would watch and that is likely for the best as this spin-off gives viewers plenty of time to enjoy an extremely cute and silly series that is about as light-hearted as they come while enjoying the humor that comes from the girls and Puchidols interacting with one another with no drama involved whatsoever unless it is also played for humor seconds later.

Visuals
As mentioned earlier, Puchim@s: Petit Idolm@ster is as light-hearted as they come and this is represented through the artwork as well. The series features plenty of bright colors and fairly simple representations of the core cast while the Puchidols remain cute chibis that have appearances that occasionally change depending on the season.

puchimas-petit-idolmaster-season-1-screenshot- (2)

A lot of the humor relies on visual gags and thankfully those are well-represented through the cute artwork which occasionally changes to being slightly more detailed for emphasis on a character’s reaction. It is also worth noting that there are plenty of little sound effects and other pieces of text that float around the screen and these have been given insert text translations by FUNimation, which is essential at times due to a few scenes where the Puchidols communicate with one another through said floating text.

Audio
Puchim@s: Petit Idolm@ster serves as one of the few FUNimation releases in recent memory that has been given a subtitle only release but considering the core cast of Japanese voice actors from the games have returned to reprise their roles and that the Puchidols only speak through small noises reminiscent of the idols they are based off of, this decision was for the best.

puchimas-petit-idolmaster-season-1-screenshot- (6)

There isn’t so much background music throughout the series as much as small tones and dramatic sound effects used for humor while there are three different ending themes used throughout the first season, all of which feature a certain number of the 765 Pro idols singing an enjoyably fluffy mini-song as a closing theme.

Extras
The release of Puchim@s Season 1 comes with three OVAs which are mixed into the rest of the anime shorts, except they are a bit longer than your average five minute short and also features clean versions of all three textless closing themes: “Ar*i*ga*to Yesterdays,” “Today With Me,” and “Maybe Tomorrow,” and trailers for other FUNimation releases.

Overall
Puchim@s: Petit Idolm@ster Season 1 never tries to be anything more than a fluffy comedy series. With simple cute designs and minimalistic animations this first season is one that appeals to fans of the core franchise which works out very well despite FUNimation’s odd decision of separating OVAs leaving this release feeling unfinished due to their placement after the “celebratory” final episode on this release. With this first season introducing all of the Puchidols and giving everyone a taste of the type of humor the series focuses on, it’ll be interesting to see how the second season will manage to deliver.

8-5-capsules-out-of-10
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED EXPANDS WITH THE OPENING OF TWO NEW BIOMES – SURVIVORS CLAIM NEW TERRITORY NOW

0

ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED EXPANDS WITH THE OPENING OF TWO NEW BIOMES – SURVIVORS CLAIM NEW TERRITORY NOW

Explore the Swamp and Snow Regions Now Open on the Island, With New Creatures the Beezlebufo Gigantic Frog, Dire Wolf, Megaloceros, and more!

The world of ARK: Survival Evolved is ever evolving and today the island expanded with two massive new biomes opening up – the “Swamp” and the “Snow” regions. These areas include new creatures and items appropriate for each extreme climate, and existing creatures have been moved into their new area-specific homes. Players who have not yet experienced the epic survivor-adventure that is ARK can now get it on the Humble Store for the the best limited-time sale price to date of $19.99 (33% off standard price).

Download the new ARK “Swamps and Snow Biomes” trailer HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMyB32Nv_2g

First, Survivors will encounter the “Swamp,” a fetid, hazy, waterlogged expanse filled with prehistoric snakes, gators, bugs, piranhas, and the all-new “Beezlebufo” gigantic frog, which players can ride to vault over obstacles with huge leaps. Poisonous plants abound in the Swamp, but trudging through the muck is worthwhile due to the unique plant life that can be harvested for advanced recipes.

Courageous Survivors can then head to the “Snow” zone, where they will need to quickly don bulky fur armor to insulate themselves from the subzero temperatures. But the cold weather is not the only thing that Survivors will need to watch out for in this Snow zone: vicious “Dire Wolves” roam wild acros these lands, looking for their next meal. However, when tamed, a Dire Wolf can serve as a powerful, incredibly fast mount, useful for hunting down the elegant Megaloceros “Stags” that also call this zone home. High quality resources are plentiful among the harsh natural beauty of the frozen wastes.

New Furniture items to decorate homes and bases in these new biomes is now available. Intrepid Survivors should rush to lay claim to these expanded territories before competing Tribes do. Good luck!

To join our tribe of growing ARK: Survival Evolved survivors, journey over to the Steam page for detailed feature list and weekly reveals of new dinosaur dossiers, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, visit the website at www.playark.com and watch us tame and train leviathan dinosaurs on Twitch.TV.