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CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE RECKONING DLC PACK NOW AVAILABLE ON PLAYSTATION AND PC

CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE RECKONING DLC PACK NOW AVAILABLE ON PLAYSTATION AND PC 

 

Sydney, Australia – September 4, 2015 – Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare Reckoning, the fourth and final DLC pack for Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PC.  Reckoning features four new multiplayer maps, the return of the Exo Grapple playlist and the epic conclusion to Exo Zombies, as players engage across four unique locations from a freezing ice shelf in the Arctic to Liberty Island in New York.

  • Overload: With a grand view of downtown New Baghdad, the map’s multiple levels and long perimeter site-lines highlight medium to long-range combat.
  • Quarantine: The speed picks up in this medium sized map with its tight corners and open areas.  The combination allows for any style of gameplay.
  • Fracture: Search this map’s large combat areas, cradled on the shelf of a glacier, to take refuge behind wind turbines and heavy equipment.
  • Swarm: In this small to medium sized map, take position in war-scarred storefronts that provide plenty of cover over the streets of Seoul, South Korea, or flank the enemy through close quarter interiors in the centre of the map.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Reckoning also brings fans Descent, the dramatic conclusion of the Exo Zombies saga.  Descent takes players to a remote ocean Atlas survival facility as they encounter new “fused” Exo Zombie enemies, and have at their disposal the Trident Reflected Energy Weapon.  The final episode also unveils the fate of our protagonists – John Malkovich (In the Line of Fire, RED, Burn After Reading), Bill Paxton (Aliens, Titanic, Edge of Tomorrow), Rose McGowan (Planet Terror, Scream), Jon Bernthal (Fury, The Wolf of Wall Street) and Bruce Campbell (Burn Notice, Bubba Ho-Tep), who have found themselves in a harrowing situation as they attempt to discover the true cause of the global pandemic and the terrible secret that Atlas has been hiding.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Reckoning is available from today for a

suggested retail price of $19.95. The Reckoning DLC Pack is also included in Call of

Duty: Advanced Warfare’s DLC Season Pass*, featuring all four DLC Packs, as part of

the discounted bundle.** The title is rated MA15+ for Strong Violence by the Australian Classification Board.

*Downloadable content in the Season Pass may be sold separately.  If you purchase the DLC Season Pass, do not also purchase these standalone DLC Map Packs, as you will be charged for them.  DLC Season Pass and DLC Map Packs may not be available on all platforms or in all territories.  Pricing and release dates may vary by platform. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare game required; sold separately. 

**Based on DLC Season Pass suggested retail price of $64.95 and four DLC Map Packs at a suggested retail price of $19.95 each.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

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ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, and CALL OF DUTY ADVANCED WARFARE are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc.  All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

 

TRAVEL AT STELLAR VELOCITY IN ROCKET JUMPING TINERTIA, AVAILABLE NOW ON STEAM

TRAVEL AT STELLAR VELOCITY IN ROCKET JUMPING TINERTIA, AVAILABLE NOW ON STEAM

Dynamic Action-Platformer Features Rocket Launchers, Speed Runs and More Launching at 20% Off — Watch New Launch Trailer

Burbank, CASeptember 3, 2015 – New indie studio Candescent Games, Inc. and design partner Section Studios, along with indie games partner Reverb Triple XP, are proud to announce their dynamic action-platformer Tinertia will officially leave Early Access and launch on Steam today. Tinertia is an explosive action-platformer built on the premise of Quake-style, rocket-powered physics, fueled with Sonic-like speed through each of the vibrant, ever-changing levels that delivers the perfect balance between twitchy gameplay and skill-based fun.

In Tinertia, gamers play as Weldon, the inauspicious robot who is equipped with a powerful rocket launcher that enables players to propel themselves through a kaleidoscopic series of challenging industrial environments. Weldon is stranded on a planet controlled by the evil ARC that has identified him as a threat and is now prepared to destroy him at any cost. Geared for the streaming generation with easy to pick-up but tough-to-master mechanics, Tinertia challenges gamers to harness the power of rocket-jumping. Players will control the momentum, rhythm and speed of Weldon to launch him over deadly obstacles, outrun robo-bosses, and ultimately escape off the planet. With more exciting features planned including cool skins, and new ghosts, Tinertia blows-up the standard game model of platformers with its innovation and fresh approach.

“Tinertia is an addictive, surprising and challenging platformer that we’re proud to bring to gamers and put our name behind,” said Vilas Tewari, CEO and programmer, Candescent Games, Inc. “This is a tremendous milestone for our company and we’re going to continue listening to our community and add new features so gamers who dive into Tinertia will always have a fresh, surprising and fun experience.”

The premise of Tinertia is simple in design, but unique from other action-platformers – Weldon’s powerful rocket arm is capable of blasting him at manic speeds, but precise enough to deftly maneuver around deadly obstacles. Featuring infinite rockets, players can chain their shots to leap huge gaps, or rapidly ascend vertical barriers.  Whether players furiously fire rockets to blaze across a level, or take their time and methodically plot their course – it’s all fluid and perfectly contained within Tinertia’s tightly honed control scheme.

Tinertia Key Features:

  • No Jump Button: Master the physics-based gameplay to control Weldon using his rocket launcher to achieve accelerated speeds and an infinite supply of ammo to propel him from puzzle to platform.
  • Seven Environments, 65+ Levels: Travel across seven differing environments and more than 65 levels to help Weldon reach the planet’s surface and escape the ARC.
  • Ultimate Challenges:
    • ​Speed Runs: Challenge your best time with devastatingly fast runs through each level.
    • Rocket Challenges:  Earn par for each level using a limited number of rockets.
    • Boss Rush: Square off against Tinertia’s menacing bosses with only one life to defeat them all.  The ultimate rocket-jumping challenge.
  • Dynamic Replay Camera System: This ability delivers the dramatic camera angles of every amazing run replay with enhanced zoom, camera speed options, and fixed angle features.

Tinertia is available on Steam at 20% off for $11.99 and is in development for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program. For more information on Candescent Games, Inc., check out the official Website, follow the dev team on Twitter, and “Like” the game on Facebook.

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ABOUT CANDESCENT GAMES, INC.

A video game startup based in Burbank, California, Candescent Games, Inc. was founded in 2011 by CEO, Vilas Tewari. With a strong background in PC game development, the team’s prior experience includes MMOs, virtual worlds, and social games. The launch of Tinertia marks Candescent Games’ aspirations of becoming an independent developer in the PC and console gaming space.

ABOUT SECTION STUDIOS

Founded by an experienced production strategist and industry creative veterans, Section Studios has built a team of experts to deliver solutions at all levels of game development. Specializing in creative game development and art solutions, its team of 50 core members hails from AAA companies such as SCE Santa Monica Studio, Nexon, Pandemic, Spark, THQ, Dreamworks, and more.

ABOUT REVERB TRIPLE XP

Reverb Triple XP provides a spectrum of services customized to focus on the needs of indie game developers.  Triple XP titles stand out with excellent gameplay, creative design, and that elusive fun factor. Once identified, Reverb’s team of game industry veterans partner with the indie dev team, fully understand the game by actually playing it and provide world class marketing, PR, social, production and distribution services that are fitting for games of the highest quality. A cornerstone of the programs is that the developer retains creative control and ownership of its intellectual property as well as receiving a custom solution tailored to their exact needs.  Each year, only a handful of titles are chosen to be in Reverb Triple XP, prioritizing quality over quantity.

COMPANY OF HEROES 2: THE BRITISH FORCES IS OUT NOW!

COMPANY OF HEROES 2: THE BRITISH FORCES IS OUT NOW!

New Standalone Multiplayer Expansion for the Ultimate World War II Real-Time-Strategy Platform is Available Now! 

LONDON & LOS ANGELES – Sept 3, 2015 – SEGA® Europe Ltd, SEGA® of America and Relic Entertainment™ have announced today that Company of Heroes™ 2: The British Forces is out now for PC Digital Download on Steam and via the online SEGA Store priced at $12.99/£9.99/€12.99. The standalone multiplayer expansion for Company of Heroes 2 features the British Forces as an all-new faction, including 15 new units, up to six new commanders (three in the base game and three via the War Spoils loot dropping system) and a total of eight new multiplayer maps.

The British Forces adds a new dynamic to the Company of Heroes 2 battlefield by giving players the ability to combine powerful, coordinated attacks across two distinct combat styles – the ‘Hammer’, an aggressive, mobile approach; or the ‘Anvil’, a deliberate but highly potent defensive approach. With the addition of the British army, Company of Heroes 2 is one of the most comprehensive World War II RTS games available, with a thriving online community and over 10,000,000 online matches played since launch.

“We’re delighted to be able to launch Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces for our existing fan base and as an entry point for new players,” said Greg Wilson, Producer on Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces. “This standalone release serves as a great addition to the existing factions in Company of Heroes 2 and  comes after 6 months of thorough improvements to the base game that have been warmly received by the community – from a comprehensive balance overhaul to new modding tools, a dedicated modding wiki and an in-game modding hub and in-game store to improve content discovery .”

Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces is out now as a PC Digital Download via Steam and the online SEGA Store. Please visit www.companyofheroes.com for more information and www.sega-press.com for assets.

About Relic Entertainment Inc.

Relic Entertainment, Inc. is a SEGA owned studio located in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 1997, Relic is an award winning studio, known for critically-acclaimed titles like Homeworld™, Company of Heroes and the Dawn of War™ series as well as other genre-defining real-time strategy titles.

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:

SEGA Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s website is located at www.sega.com

About SEGA® of America, Inc.:

SEGA of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  SEGA of America’s website is located at www.sega.com

Knights of Pen & Paper 2 Rolls Out New Expansion

Knights of Pen & Paper 2 Rolls Out New Expansion

New Class, Areas, and Quests Join the Party in “Fist of +1 Fury”
STOCKHOLM — Sep. 3, 2015 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher and developer with class to spare, today released an expansion for Knights of Pen & Paper 2, the turn-based RPG party simulator for iOS and Android devices. Knights of Pen & Paper 2, a masterwork item from developer KYY Games, now allows players (who are playing as players) to take on a new story-based series of quests in “Fist of +1 Fury,” an expansion filled with new monsters, loot, and meta-humor themed around a region to the Far East of Paperos. Including a new Monk character class, a new dungeon, and absurdly large piles of new loot, the expansion campaign is available today for $1.99 as an in-game purchase.

 

Knights of Pen & Paper 2 offers players the chance to play as both players and GM in a party of RPG enthusiasts, and guide them through the dicey matter of successfully completing an exciting tabletop campaign. In the newly available expansion, Fist of +1 Fury, players can take on a new campaign in a world full of mystic monks, talking pandas, and mystic panda monks who can talk. A new monk class for player characters will allow players a new way to handle their encounters with masters of sober kung fu, and battle against the Oni Lord in pursuit of loot.

Knights of Pen & Paper 2 is available for iOS and Android devices here:

For more information about Knights of Pen & Paper 2, visit www.knightsofpenandpaper.com.

Known as ‘Raven’ in Korea, Netmarble Confirms New Name, EVILBANE, for Highly Anticipated Action RPG Set for Release Later This Year

Known as ‘Raven’ in Korea, Netmarble Confirms New Name, EVILBANE, for Highly Anticipated Action RPG Set for Release Later This Year 

Largest South Korean Game Company Readies for Western Launch of #1 Korean Mobile Game

Revealing Official Website and Title Details

September 3, 2015 – SAN FRANCISCO – Netmarble US, Inc., the newly formed North American gaming branch of the leading South Korean mobile game publisher, Netmarble Games Corp. (“Netmarble”), today announced the #1 Korean mobile game, the action RPG known as ‘Raven’ in South Korea, will arrive for the worldwide market on iOS and Android later this year as Evilbane. The company also announced the new Evilbane website is live today, bringing players action-packed trailers and game information such as unique features, characters and story. Gamers can also sign up on the website for exclusive information on Evilbane features and upcoming events. The stunning new cinematic trailer can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/ljXv86wOa74.

Evilbane is a blockbuster action mobile RPG with epic content and stunning graphics created over three years of intense development. In the game, players can choose to explore the world as a balanced Human, fast-attacking Elf assassin or Vango berserker. The five game play modes include the epic Scenario mode, a 150-stage Adventure mode, Raid mode, 1v1 Arena mode and Guild multiplayer matches. With thousands of different items and equipment to collect and smooth virtual controls, Evilbane delivers a high quality, console-style experience for mobile devices.

Known as ‘Raven’ in the Korean market, Evilbane launched in Korea in March 2015 and within days dominated the #1 grossing spots on the Apple App Store and Google Play store. Evilbane is now one of the fastest-growing RPGs in Korea, boasting record high 1 million DAU (Daily Active Users) and 5 million downloads.

“We are excited to reveal Evilbane to the world through the game’s official homepage,” said Seungwon Lee, President of Overseas at Netmarble Games Corp. “Based on Evilbane‘s outstanding performance as the top mobile game in Korea and Netmarble’s commitment to quality global service, mobile gamers around the world have a new action RPG to look forward to playing when it launches later this year.”

The game is developed by Netmarble’s studios, NetmarbleST and NetmarbleNeo, and will be free-to-download with optional in game purchases. Visit http://evilbane.netmarble.com to learn more about Evilbane and to sign up to receive future updates.

About Netmarble Games Corporation

Netmarble Games Corp. strives to enrich people’s lives by providing great games to global audiences. Based in Seoul, Korea, Netmarble Games Corp. has produced some of the most successful mobile games such as Marvel Future Fight, Raven, Seven Knights, Everyone’s Marble, and Monster Taming. The company has more than 2,500 employees worldwide, numerous studios and consistently ranks as a top developer and publisher in Asia and globally. Netmarble Games Corp. has a strategic partnership with CJ E&M Corporation, Asia’s largest entertainment company, Tencent Holdings, Asia’s largest internet company, and NCsoft, a prominent MMO company, as company shareholders. The company is the largest shareholder to SGN, a leading casual game developer. More information can be found at www.netmarble.com.

KOEI TECMO DETAILS PRE-PURCHASE AND PRE-ORDER BONUS CONTENT FOR UPCOMING CHARACTER-FOCUSED EPIC SAMURAI WARRIORS 4-II

KOEI TECMO DETAILS PRE-PURCHASE AND PRE-ORDER BONUS CONTENT FOR UPCOMING CHARACTER-FOCUSED EPIC SAMURAI WARRIORS 4-II

BURLINGAME, Calif. – September 3rd, 2015 – KOEI TECMO America announced today a series of bonus downloadable content items available to those who pre-purchase Samurai Warriors 4-II on PC via Steam®, and to those who pre-order the game for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system through select retailers. Specifically, the pre-purchase period on Steam® starts from September 1st and will last until September 28th. During that time, early purchasers on Steam® will enjoy a 10% discount and will also receive two bonus sets packed with additional content:

  • The first is a robust set of 18 classic Samurai Warriors costumes for a variety of characters (including fan-favorites like Yukimura Sanada, Nobunaga Oda, Tadakatsu Honda, Okuni, and Oichi).
  • The second includes four special horses, complete with impressive suits of armor, allowing the player to choose the mount they will charge onto the battlefield with!

Separately, customers who pre-order Samurai Warriors 4-II for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system through Amazon, Best Buy, or GameStop will receive a set of four bonus costumes for some of the most celebrated lady warriors: Naotora Ii, Lady Hayakawa, No-hime, and Koshōshō. Digital pre-orders through the PlayStation®Network will receive a brand new and exclusive dress ensemble for Naotora Ii!

Samurai Warriors 4-II is a hero-focused saga that casts a spotlight on the samurai that shaped the Sengoku era and tells their stories through 13 exciting new chapters. These chapters revolve around nine characters introduced in Samurai Warriors 4, three fan-favorites from previous titles, and a brand new addition to the samurai roster.

Published by KOEI TECMO America, Samurai Warriors 4-II will release on September 29th, 2015 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and digitally on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, and on PC via Steam®. This title has been rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

For more Samurai Warriors 4-II news, please visit the official website at http://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/sw4-2, Like KOEI TECMO America on Facebook at www.facebook.com/koeitecmous, and follow KOEI TECMO America on Twitter @KoeiTecmoUS.

 

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 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

DOVETAIL GAMES FISHING ENTERS LAUNCH PHASE

DOVETAIL GAMES FISHING ENTERS LAUNCH PHASE 

Big ambitions from a small team to create the best fishing experience ever 

CHATHAM, Kent – Sept. 3, 2015 – Dovetail Games, the multi-award-winning developer and publisher of a range of simulation games, today announced that Dovetail Games Fishing will be moving out of Steam’s Early Access program as it enters its launch phase, with the game scheduled to release in late October 2015.

Built with Unreal Engine 4®, Dovetail Games Fishing is a new breed of outdoor sport simulation that faithfully depicts the real-world competitive and recreational angling experience. Players will need to choose the right tools for the job at hand to locate, attract and land their wily prey.

On Sept. 8, 2015, the game will no longer be available in Steam Early Access, but players wishing to continue playing and giving feedback about the game will be able to access it via a closed beta.

The game has been in Steam Early Access since early November 2014, going through seven distinct development phases. Development Director Darren Potter said, “It’s been a new and eye-opening experience for us to take this game through the Early Access process. The feedback we have received from players has been instrumental in helping us to shape the game design and gameplay, although we have learnt the importance of being very focused in the information we ask for. Whilst it’s impossible to integrate every single request we’ve received, we hope that the final game we have created meets our consumers’ high standards.”

“As we move into the launch phase, we think we have developed a great recipe for creating the best fishing experience ever,” added Jon Rissik, SVP & General Manager at Dovetail Games. “A highly experienced team with a great pedigree has developed the game; we’ve used Unreal Engine 4, the most cutting-edge technology on the market, and we’ve worked with a range of leading fishing equipment manufacturers to integrate the very best and latest equipment for an authentic experience. All while watching our fans play the game and listening to what they think about it. We are confident that this is going to be a highly playable and immensely enjoyable fishing experience.”

Dovetail Games Fishing will be available via Steam in late October 2015. The closed beta will be available starting Sept. 8 for anyone that has the Early Access version. Instructions will be provided at the time on how to access it.

For the latest news and developments, please visit dtgfishing.com or follow along on Dovetail Games’ Twitter and Dovetail Games’ Facebook.

Zombi Review

Zombi
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Xbox One, PC, Playstation 4 (Reviewed)
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Price: 19.99 Buy Here

Overview
Zombi doesn’t need any introduction as Ubisoft have introduced it before under the name of ZombiU. Yes folks, this is a port of the launch title that had a bit of a fan following – as has made its way to other platforms after Ubisoft decided to give the title another chance in another market. Personally, I was not a fan of the idea of porting the game as the original was kind of one of the charmers for the Wii U at the start – but money talks and thus we get this title on more platforms. How does it stand on its own legs? Let’s find out.

Gameplay
Not a thing has changed with the story of Zombi, and that is a good thing. For those who haven’t quite grasped the concept or simply didn’t get a chance to play the Wii U, the objective is to due the duties of “The Prepper” without dying in London – with of course the whole zombie apocalypse occurring. It is an interesting story with quite a few twists and turns, but the way that it blends into gameplay makes it quite brilliant. Everytime the player dies, they are dead for good. The Prepper sets another follower to fetch your tools and pick up where you left off. Its as simple as that- yet very enjoyable.

The combat itself mainly relies on a mix between melee and random weapons (including the usual lot of guns and such) with a limited supply of ammunition at hand during the game. Players also have a flashlight, as this is a very dark experience that requires you to find your way in darkness in order to progress without dying. Now, I didn’t have much of a problem with the Wii U gamepad being a flashlight- but I know that was a bit of an inconvenience to some. Well – in Zombi, you don’t get that option for obvious reason and instead of being vulnerable holding the gamepad up – zombies simply are alerted faster while using the light. It is a so-so tradeoff that lacks the originality and clever design of the original, but most will be able to look past that shortcoming in general and still enjoy the core product. The transfer is fluid and smooth and even though that roughness has carried over with the controls just a tad, like its Nintendo born cousin – it is very forgivable.

Another new addition are a couple of melee weapons, a shovel and a nailed bat. We only got one of these during the first version which was a cricket bat, but these two fit right in and offer their own perks for use that definitely made me use them more often when in trouble. This is a game all about survival so I almost feel like these extras kind of made the game a bit easier even though it has been a couple years since I played through ZombiU- and even with that slight critque I can easily say I was swallowed by the atmosphere that Zombi has retained. It can be extremely alarming to be walking down a corridor and even see one lone zombie in this game as you only live once. It is not a pleasure at all to die and even though the story doesn’t reset, time is still something you will learn to value the more you die. It is a cycle that is robust and enjoyable – and one that for the valued price is certainly worth giving a go to those who have been craving playing the genre on a newer console.


On a sour note, the multiplayer that kind of brought the game replay value is gone. No online, no bonus modes, just the plot and the chance to go through the game on several occasions. I know, I know, this is understandable as the price doesn’t quite meet the budget and the developers would have to be creative and make it work – but why bother porting this if all of the ideas that made it semi-interesting are left on the older platform. Take that as you will.

Visuals
ZombiU looked good on the Wii U. As I said, this is a dark game and the visuals are just as crisp here as they were on that platform. That being said, how about a bit of polish? Even with discounted ports we usually see a coat of polish added to at least the models – and I could not spot one graphical difference. I understand the price difference at launch, but to see very little effort go into making these zombies pop a platform that was far more powerful – well, that was disheartening.

Audio
The audio in Zombi is also well done, but again – that is nothing new. The isolation truly sets in due to the silent atmosphere and shrieking foes. The voice acting of The Prepper is also well done, and I must say that while the soundtrack is hauntingly brilliant overall. I wish there was something extra, a few remixed tracks or even bonus collectible tapes that some developers throw in just for fun, but sadly, Zombi comes rather bare bones in this package.

Overall
Zombi is ZombiU without the gimmickry. The game is great, the concept is fantastic and made the original a cult classic, but this version that has been “updated” for modern consoles is far from definitive. This is a title you should own on whichever platform you own, but skip if you have a Wii U. There is no reason to own it twice and no reason to take a second look unless you truly just want to give Ubisoft your money for the same ice cream with one less scoop.

6-5-capsules-out-of-10

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Review

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3
Developer: Tecmo Koei, Omega Force
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Platforms: PS3, PS4 (Reviewed), PC
Release Date: August 28th, 2015
Price: AUD$99.95 – Available Here | US$59.99 – Available Here

Overview
One-Piece is probably the biggest manga series ever released. It has sold more copies than any other, and is widely acclaimed for its art style, characters and storytelling. With all that in mind, it isn’t a shock that it also has a tonne of licensed games for players to re-enact the adventures of the Straw Hat Crew on their home consoles. The latest in line of these games is One-Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 and brings the frantic combat of the Pirate Warriors series across to the new generation of consoles for the first time. With such a highly regarded series making its debut on another console, the question remains; does this fly the One-Piece flag proudly or should it be made to walk the plank?

Story
It seems to me that there is almost a trope amongst anime and manga-based games where their jobe is to recap the story, progressing slightly further with each instalment. The same is true of the One Piece: Pirate Warriors series as a whole, with this instalment being no exception. Starting at the beginning of the Straw Hat Crew’s journey and bringing players all the way through to the arc that is currently going on in the manga.

Now I’ll be real here; I gave up One Piece before the “time skip” happened and it is one of those shows that I have been meaning to get back to, and Pirate Warriors 3 has convinced me that I definitely should. However, if you are an avid fan of the series (either the games, the anime OR the manga) then retreading this same ground over again will likely be more tedious for you.

Gameplay
Like the rest of the Pirate Warriors series, PW3 is a Dynasty Warriors inspired brawler that has you picking your character, and mashing your way through wave after wave (after wave, after wave) of enemies who stand in your path. Combat is simple, relying on you using a mixture of weak, strong and special attacks in order to clear out the enemies as quickly as possible.

To me the player vs army combat styling of Pirate Warriors or Dynasty Warriors can grow boring and repetitive over time, and Pirate Warriors 3 is no exception to this. With each character only having a few moves, and the same special animations being played over and over, I found myself growing tired of the game quicker than I would have liked. To break up this monotony, there are over 37 different characters to play as, and since each has their own unique move-set and special attacks, this can lengthen the time it takes for the game to get boring.

Gameplay itself is broken up into two different modes; Legeny Log and Dream Log. Legend Log is the game’s story mode and runs you through the entire campaign of the mangs from the very beginning. You are given set characters to play as and missions to complete that follow the adventures of the Straw Hat Crew right up until a recent point in the manga, meaning there is quite a lot of gameplay here – considering the manga has been out since 1997.

Dream Log on the other hand is a more arcade-style version of the game, where you are free to pick from any number of the game’s characters and play through a series of missions with no real overarching plot. I feel that the freedom you get in Dream Log makes the game feel a tad more fun compared to its structured counterpart, and the fact that playing through this mode unlocks some seriously powerful fighters helps out a lot.

Like most Dynasty Warriors games, PW3 has a ranking system at the end of each mission to show you how well you did. This encourages you to replay levels more than once in order to perfect your skills and get that illusive S ranking.

Interestingly enough, Pirate Warriors 3 also features local co-op for you and a buddy to join up and absolutely devastate the unknowing masses of pirates. There is something really satisfying about teaming up with someone next to you an working together to tear through an entire army of people. It is a bit of a power trip to be honest and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to take on again.

Visuals & Audio
Pirate Warriors 3’s presentation is a mixed bag to say the least. When I first loaded up the game and watched some of its intro cinematics I was absolutely blown away by how crisp, clear and frankly beautiful everything looked. However my awe was not long for this world, as the game itself showed a marked downgrade in the visuals department.

While not an ugly game by any stretch, Pirate Warriors 3 features sections where textures would look blurry, pop in, and I saw more than a fair share of jagged lines and out of place pixels. I found myself thinking that this game looks like an older game that has had a HD patch placed over the top and ported to a new console generation. This is probably not too unreasonable because (although I didn’t know this at the time of playing) the game was developed for both PS4 and PS3 at the same time.

The audio is… Well I’m not quite sure because all of the audio is in Japanese. While I’m sure anime enthusiasts out there wont have a problem with this, I would have liked the option to play the game with a full English voice cast. That being said however, the music is absolutely phenomenal in this game and not only fits in perfectly with the One Piece universe but with its upbeat, high intensity style, could fit in as pump-up music just about anywhere.

Overall
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with One-Piece: Pirate Warriors 3. As somebody who had let the seriesfall away from him years ago, it was great to play through the events of the anime/manga over the span of a couple hours (and to skip all that annoying filler). The game isn’t perfect however, as the Dynasty Warriors styled gameplay can quickly grow repetitive and the fact that it recaps the story from the very beginning is sure to give some players out there a level of frustration.  That being said however, all you have to do is ask yourself these two questions; “Do I like Dynasty Warriors?” and “Do I like One-Piece?” If the answer to either of these is yes then this is definitely something that you should pick up.

8-0-capsules-out-of-10

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Expert Online Games Development Team Forms New Studio, Partners with Nexon America

Expert Online Games Development Team Forms New Studio, Partners with Nexon America

Nexon to Publish the First Title from Dallas Dickinson’s Newly-Founded QC Games

TOKYO – Sept. 2, 2015 – NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO), a worldwide leader in online games, today announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Nexon America Inc. (“Nexon America”) has entered into a strategic partnership with QC Games, a new development studio led by videogame industry veteran Dallas Dickinson. Nexon America has acquired the exclusive worldwide publishing and marketing rights to QC Games’ first project, an unannounced multiplayer online action game. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

QC Games joins a growing stable of Western companies partnering with Nexon as part of its ongoing strategy to expand globally and deliver the highest quality online experiences. This announcement follows on last week’s reveal of the first game from another Nexon America partner, Cliff Bleszinski’s Boss Key Productions, which announced details of its upcoming first-person shooter LawBreakers during PAX Prime. Nexon also recently announced a game development and publishing agreement with Electronic Arts to bring a PC online version of the critically acclaimed first-person shooter game Titanfall™ to players in Asia.

“This agreement marks another milestone in growing our business in key markets, leveraging both the talents of our developer partners and our own knowledge of online games to provide AAA experiences that are customized for global tastes and audiences,” said Owen Mahoney, president and chief executive officer, Nexon. “Dallas and the team of veterans he’s building at QC Games have played a part in creating some of the world’s most successful games, and we’re looking forward to helping them bring another hit title to market.”

Dickinson, who has been making online games for nearly 20 years, was the senior producer on classic titles including Planetside, Shadow Realms and Star Wars: Galaxies, but is best-known for his work on Star Wars: The Old Republic where he served as director of production at Bioware Austin. He’s begun assembling an all-star team at QC Games, which includes:

  • Gabe Amatangelo, creative director and chief creative officer (most recently the creative director of Shadow Realms, prior work includes Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dark Age of Camelot, Warhammer Online, Dragon Age: Inquisition)
  • Brian Matt, technical director and chief technology officer (Wolfenstein: Tides of War, Doom 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Shadow Realms)
  • Jason Rotan, chief operating officer (previously launched and maintained a wide range of AAA titles in multiple genres with companies including NC Soft, EA and Bioware)
  • Pat Ditterline, senior engineer (Dark Age of Camelot, Warhammer Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic)
  • Stefan Lednicky, senior engineer (a long-time Bioware veteran who has worked on titles including Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Shadow Realms and Star Wars: The Old Republic)
  • Marcus Hays, senior engineer (Titan Quest franchise, The Sims, Dragon Age)
  • Pedro Toledo, art director (Star Wars: The Old Republic, Shadow Realms, Dragon Age, RockBand, Fable 2)

“Having the freedom to bring our vision to life is paramount to me and my team, and working with Nexon America provides us creative control as well as deep support from a partner who understands the online market better than anyone else,” said Dallas Dickinson, president and chief executive officer, QC Games. “Our goal as a studio is to create the highest quality games possible, and I feel this partnership, along with the first-class team who has joined me so far at QC Games, will make that a reality.”

QC Games is currently accepting resumes via [email protected] for professionals interested in working with the company on its first game.

Social Media Pages

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qcgames

Twitter: @QCGameDev

Instagram: https://instagram.com/qc_games

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qc-games-inc

About NEXON Co., Ltd.  http://company.nexon.co.jp/

NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO) is a worldwide leader in free-to-play online games. Founded in Korea in 1994, Nexon developed one of the world’s first graphics-based massively multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is free, and users have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their experience. Nexon currently services nearly 150 titles in more than 150 countries. The Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

About QC Games www.qcgamedev.com

QC Games Inc. is an Austin-based developer of online games. Founded by industry veterans in 2015, QC Games is focused on building AAA online experiences for gamers. QC Games’ mission is to combine proprietary technology, world-class creative talent and best-in-class methodologies to develop great games for the world to enjoy.