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Deadly Eyes Crawls out to Blu-ray July 15th

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Like that picture above? It was 1982 when Deadly Eyes (aka Rats) was released, and it has of course been forgotten about by many – except those who still enjoy some fine, campy cinema. Scream Factory are bringing the movie to Blu-ray, and you can already pre-order from Shout! Factory‘s store by following this link.

Here is some information for those curious on just what this insane movie plot pertains to, as well as a couple special features found on the disc:

Grain contaminated with steroids produce large black rats that begin feeding on the citizens of Toronto. A college basketball coach (Sam Groom, The Baby Maker) teams up with a local health inspector (Sara Botsford, The Fog 2005) to uncover the source of the mysterious giant rats. When they discover that the rats are living in the subway, they try to prevent a new subway line from opening before all hell breaks loose underground. This is man’s last desperate, bloody battle to preserve the existence of the human race!

Special Features:

  • New interviews with actors Lisa Langlois, Lesleh Donaldson and Joseph Kelly, writer Charles Eglee, art director Ninkey Dalton, special effects artists Alan Apone and Alec Gillis.
  • TV Spot

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Deadly Eyes hits stores on July 15th, so keep your eyes peeled and large mouse-traps set. Don’t forget to also check into the also upcoming The Final Terror while you’re at it.

2014 J-Pop Summit reveals a packed line-up of artists and bands

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As we previously learned, 2014 J-Pop Summit Festival will be taking place on July 19th and 20th in San Francisco’s historic Japantown District and today a large number of singers and bands have been announced for the event, many of which fans of anime and J-Pop will likely be familiar with.

Up here I will simply mention who will be arriving as the full details about the artist and their appearance times can be found below. First we have the singer May’n who is best known for her work with anime and numerous other songs, the teen pop idol group Tokyo Girls’ Style, DAICHI, a special musical performance by Una, the U.S. debut of YANAKIKU, the hard rocking J-Rock band Pinky Doodle Poodle and the all girl punk rock trio The Akabane Vulgars.

Additional details including when each group will be performing as well as if tickets will be required can be found below:

May’n – Special Appearance AT UNION SQUARE ON Saturday, JULY 19th &

HeaDline Show at SLIM’S S.F. ON Sunday, JULY 20th

Japanese pop/rock/anime star May’n (pronounced “Main”)is known as the singing voice of Diva of the Galaxy Sheryl Nome from the blockbuster anime film, Macross Frontier, as well as many other popular anime series. Her powerful rock and pop vocal style has drawn critical acclaim and legions of fans. In addition to a very special appearance at J-Pop Live At Union Square, the 2014 J-Pop Summit Festival proudly presents a May’n Special Live Concert at the famous SF live venue, Slim’s (333 11th St., San Francisco, CA 94103) on Sunday, July 20th, at 8:00pm. Advance tickets are available along with special VIP show packages that include an exclusive artist meet-and-greet. (Quantities are limited) More details on the Slim’s show are available here.

Tokyo Girls’ Style – Two live shows On July 19th & July 20Th

Tokyo Girls’ Style is a massively popular Japanese teen idol vocal group and will make their U.S. debut at J-Pop Summit this year. The group will perform at J-Pop Live At Union Square on Saturday, July 19th, and also on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Sunday, July 20th. Tokyo Girls’ Style consists of 5 teenage girls whose funk and disco sounds infused with glossy urban appeal have garnered the group a massive following in Japan. Additional info is available here.

As part of the U.S. debut of Tokyo Girls’ Style, the J-Pop Summit Festival and the 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) will also present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Count Five to Dream of You, an inspiring feature film starring Tokyo Girls’ Style set in all-girls high school that captures the short-lived and unforgettable moments of adolescence. Also set to premiere is Kotodama – Spiritual Curse, a J-horror movie about a haunted school based on the bestselling book “Gakkou no Kwaidan,” in which members of Tokyo Girls’ Style play the leading roles. Both films will screen at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema following the group’s special appearance. Advance ticket sales start on June 3rd at the JFFSF website.

Daichi Two live shows On Saturday & Sunday July 19th & July 20Th

The 23-year-old Japanese human beat-box, DAICHI, taught himself his amazing vocal skill beginning at the young age of 10. Without using any instruments or machines, DAICHI can create more than 50 different sounds using only his voice, and moreover, can play rhythm beat and sing melody simultaneously. DAICHI is known internationally for his talents and he has opened for the likes of Boys II Men and collaborated with numerous singers, dancers, DJs and performers. DAICHI will perform at J-Pop Live At Union Square on Saturday, July 19th, and also on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Sunday, July 20th. Additional info is available here.

UNA Two live shows On Saturday & Sunday, July 19th & July 20Th

Una was formally a charismatic shop assistant in Harajuku and began her modeling career in 2010. It didn’t take her long to begin appearing regularly in numerous fashion magazines. With her beautiful looks and edgy fashion style Una represents a new type of model capable of expressing not only Kawaii style but also showcasing other cool aspects of Harajuku culture. Una also has a budding singing career and has performed with top artists including Katy Perry and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. She will appear at J-POP SUMMIT in support of her newest single, “BOOM BOOM BOOM,” and will participate in this year’s HARAJUKU KAWAii!! fashion events as well as perform at J-Pop Live At Union Square on Saturday, July 19th, and also on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Sunday, July 20th. Additional info is available here.

Yanakiku – Live Performance on Saturday, July 19th

YANAKIKU is a unique Japanese kimono cosplay duo consisting of members Yana and Kiku. In 2013, they performed for international audiences at Hyper Japan (London) and TIFFCOM (Japan) and have garnered a massive following for their costume and dance performances. YANAKIKU makes their U.S. debut at the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival and will perform on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Saturday, July 19th and participate in the Festival’s cosplay contest and events. The duo will also host a meet and greet session and have a selection of merchandise available for sale to attendees. Additional info is available here.

Pinky Doodle Poodle – Live performance on Sunday, July 20th

Pinky Doodle Poodle is a high energy, female fronted rock band from Tokyo that formed in 2008. The group features lead vocalist/bassist/guitarist Yuria, a successful Japanese anime singer often heard in popular video games in Japan as well as on solo records and with her band Honey Bee. Pinky Doodle Poodle just completed their first full-length record which was produced by Goo Goo Dolls member Robby Takac. The 10-song self-titled album, Pinky Doodle Poodle, was released worldwide in the spring of 2014 on Takac’s Good Charamel Records. Pinky Doodle Poodle will perform on Sunday, July 20th on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown. Additional info here.

The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass – Live Set On Saturday, July 19th

The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass is an all-girl punk rock trio from Tokyo and returns for their third consecutive concert appearance at J-Pop Summit. A favorite with Festival-goers, the band plays in support of their two newest releases “Proclamation” and “Live in Brooklyn.” Catch the Akabane Vulars on Strong Bypass on Saturday July 19th for a powerful live set on the Pagoda Main Stage. Additional info can be found here

A Story About My Uncle Can Be Purchased on Steam Now

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A Story About My Uncle is now available on Steam for $12.99.

The title is developed by Gone North Games and published by Coffee Stain Studios, the publishers responsible for Goat SimulatorA Story About My Uncle is a non-violent casual action title premised around a boy searching for his lost uncle, and instead finds a world that he would never have imagined. Movement in the game is really important, and using your grappling hooks to navigate your way through the colorful and mysterious levels is a huge part of the game. The graphics are based on the Unreal engine and looks amazing. The title was voted Game of the Year in the Swedish Game Awards 2012.

A Story About My Uncle is going to be available on Steam for the PC. You can check it out here, and make sure to watch the trailer below!

Free-to-Play BattleCry announced for 2015 release

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Today Bethesda has announced that a new game is currently being developed by BattleCry Studios for release in 2015 and as you might expect from the development team’s name, the game is called BattleCry. BattleCry is a free-to-play online game that centers around team-based combat where 32 player battles will unfold across numerous battlefields.

The game takes place in a world where gun powder has been banned since the dawn of the 20th century after a terrible war and now traditional warfare is a thing of the past. Instead all conflicts are settled through battles between the chosen elite of each sanctioned Warzone. Players will be able to choose their faction and progress through the ranks to unlock new abilities and better strategies. You can check out the game’s announcement trailer below and those who are attending E3 this year will be able to try out the game at Bethesda’s booth.

Doraemon merchandise license acquired by Viz Media

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As you probably have heard by now, or listened to us speak about it on our latest anime podcast, Doraemon is going to start being shown on North American television for the first time over this Summer on the Disney XD channel.

As such, Viz Media has some of their own news to share concerning Doraemon and it happens to pertain to the series’ merchandise. This means that Viz Media will be working to license and develop a new range of products for Doraemon in North America and Latin America. Currently no merchandise has been announced or detailed, but the company is planning on highlighting Doraemon at the Licensing Expo that takes place between June 17th to the 19th at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

XSEED to localize latest Harvest Moon title but with a new name

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You may remember that a new Harvest Moon called Harvest Moon: Tsunagaru Shin Tenchi was announced late last year and at the time, many gamers assumed that Natsume would be bringing the title to the West considering they have worked on the Harvest Moon series since it was created. However that is not going to be the case anymore as today XSEED Games has announced that they will be localizing the latest Harvest Moon game, but probably due to license issues with Natsume it will only be called Story of Seasons.

This localization change makes a lot of sense considering XSEED is owned by Marvelous AQL, the developers of the game. Yoshifumi Hashimoto, Head of Development at Marvelous AQL, stated in the announcement that “Story of Seasons represents a new chapter in our amazing tale. We are creating a new experience that will carry on the spirit of Bokujo Monogatari, and in doing so, will fulfill our loyal fans’ expectations and desires while ushering in a new generation of games to come.”

To go along with this localization announcement a number of new English screenshots for the game were released and you can check those out below. As for the game itself, it is currently set to be released in North America sometime later this year.

No Game No Life Episode 8 Impressions

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Cutey and a beast

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Episode 8: Fake End

Having learned last episode that their predecessor was not the fool he is proclaimed to be, Sora and Shiro have finally discovered what they need to challenge the Eastern Federation. Travelling to the Embassy with Steph and Jibril in tow, the siblings head towards their opponent with the most dangerous weapon they possess: a plan.

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Elementary, my dear Warbeast

So it would seem that Disboard is yet another fantasy world that is still held in the thralls of racism. What, you think we wouldn’t notice because they’re mythical creatures? You guessed wrong awesome anime series. I should note that this actually doesn’t anger me to any real degree, I just always find it interesting that fantasy shows can segregate their casts so much and still proclaim a functioning world. Get with the times you series’ set in the possible past. Anywho, more specifically this lack of racial compassion serves as yet another handicap for Imanity. It would seem that the Warbeasts still harbour palpable resentment towards Imanity due to a battle fought in the past…not an actual battle mind you, more of a race. A construction race to be specific. That’s right folks, apparently the leaders of not one but two races thought it wise to utilise their resources to build a bigger house than their neighbour. It’s actually kind of amazing how petty these races are…and dumb. Seriously, most of Disboard’s problems could be solved if the races just stopped being jerks to each other…though that’s true of any world isn’t it?

Anyway after rubbing down the leader of the Eastern Federation (not as creepy as it sounds), Sora and Shiro begin their mental attack on their new opponents. Raising every question from the last episode, the siblings systematically explain why the Eastern Federation act the way they do, despite the seeming lack of benefit. I mean, the actual game hasn’t even been chosen and Blank is already winning. How awesome is that? Very…the answer is very. But you may be wondering to yourself, “I thought the Warbeasts could read minds, how did they not see this glorious onslaught of logic coming?” Good question. It would seem that, in addition to being the most technologically advanced race in Disboard, the Warbeasts are liars. Conmen if you want to give them a little more credit. Apparently the whole “we can read your mind” shtick it nothing but a falsehood, a deception to fool the other Exceed into thinking that they are an untouchable opponent. Masters of the cold read, the Warbeasts pretend to scan an opponents mind when all they actually do is monitor body movement and functions. Still a nifty ability, but not to the degree everyone was led to believe. Between Imanity’s wit and the Warbeasts trickery, it’s interesting to see how each of the Exceed races carves out their niche for survival in the world of Disboard. It would seem that everyone is good at something. The trick is making your enemies think you’re better.

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Your move!

Despite all of Sora’s careful planning and tremendous display of deduction, it would seem that Imanity is just a little unhappy with the details of his bet with the Warbeasts. Starting his campaign for war by betting Steph’s panties, because this is an anime and that stuff still flies, Sora upped his wager by betting the lives of every single Imanity in Disboard…so just a little bit more valuable than something Steph seems to lose every second episode. Understandably enraged by this, we see just how quickly a group can turn against someone. The same people that stood behind Sora and Shiro heart and soul now stand with torches clamouring for their resignation. Bunch of ingrates. Though from any perspective other than the one we have as the audience, Sora seems like a straight up loon. Tough, once again, Steph should realise that there is method to his madness, as she once again internally questions Blank’s position on the throne. Seriously, they’re her friends and the smartest people in the world, they beat God for crying out loud. You’d think by now the girl who has witnessed them defy probability would have a little faith…though Sora does pretty much call Disboard a game. Which doesn’t inspire great amounts of confidence…damn geniuses, why are they always so hard to understand? That being said, I guess I can understand their position, since apparently losing a Race Piece is viewed as the “de facto death” of a species, reducing them to nothing more than animals in the eyes of the world. Mainly due to the fact that the Ten Pledges no longer apply to such a species, which is an interesting side effect if you ask me. Perhaps Sora wishes to rid Disboard of the limitation of the Ten Pledges, allowing the Exceed to define themselves by something other than their skill at games. That’s my theory at this point. Though rendering Disboard closer to Earth does seem to go against the sibling’s hatred of Eath’s society, so who knows what they’re up to. Unless defeating each race will place them under the banner of Imanity. One race bound together by the Ten Pledges. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what their true plan is…damn geniuses.

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Alone…

So with their plan underway and victory all but assured against the Warbeasts who believe themselves better video gamers than Blank, everything is looking up Imanity…right? Apparently heading off to collect the final piece needed for their victory over the Warbeasts, Sora shares a touching moment with Shiro…and then disappears. Separated from her brother, the world turns grey for Shiro, which is unbelievably sad. Poor girl. After an ending sequence that is just a little different than normal, we find Shiro waking up in her bed…alone. Huddled and crying in a corner, she asks Steph where her brother is, only to be met with two words that shake poor Shiro to her very core: “Who’s Brother?”

Check out more No Game No Life Impressions HERE.

Psycho-Pass video game announced for the Xbox One

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Not only has Mages announced Chaos;Child for the Xbox One but they have also announced that they will be making a game based off of the anime Psycho-Pass. At the moment only a few details were announced for the game but the most important detail is the fact that this game is going to have an original story with new protagonists.

Psycho-Pass will interact with smartphones and also make use of the Xbox One‘s Kinect sensor but at the time of the announcement no details as to how this will work were revealed. We previously reviewed the Psycho-Pass anime’s English review and said review can be found here.

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS ANNOUNCES BATTLECRY

BETHESDA SOFTWORKS ANNOUNCES BATTLECRY 

Fight for Power and Glory in BattleCry Studios’ 32-Player Online Team Action Game

May 29, 2014 (Sydney, AU) — Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced BATTLECRY™, an all-new multiplayer action combat game featuring fast-paced and frenetic 32-player battles under development at BattleCry Studios.

BATTLECRY is the first project for the studio since it was formed in 2012 with one goal: to create fun, high-quality online experiences for a connected world. Led by long-time industry veteran Rich Vogel, the team at BattleCry Studios is comprised of seasoned developers with decades of experience working on critically-acclaimed action and competitive multiplayer franchises. Together they have created BATTLECRY – a fun and accessible free-to-play gamethat amplifies team-based combat by combining visceral brutality, striking art direction and competitive multiplayer action to create a refreshingly new gameplay experience.

Step into a bold, expressive world envisioned by Viktor Antonov (Half-Life 2Dishonored) where gun powder has been banned following a cataclysmic world war at the dawn of the 20th century. Traditional warfare is now a relic of the past and all conflicts are settled head-on by elite teams of chosen warriors in sanctioned WarZones. Trained and bred for battle they face off for the glory of their nations.

Choose your faction and progress your warrior through the ranks. Each rank unlocks new abilities and effects allowing deep strategic builds for your warrior on every level. Risk life and limb as the powerful Royal Marines or the fearless Cossacks in imaginative WarZones each designed to combine positioning, spacing and verticality to redefine your core combat experience. Fight with transformative melee and ranged weapons that harness iron and energy and eviscerate your opponents with swords that transform into shields, bows that can punch an arrow straight through an armored skull or electrocute your foes with high powered blades crackling with electro-static energy.

“The BattleCry team is happy to unveil the game that bears our studio’s name,” said Rich Vogel, president and executive producer at BattleCry Studios. “We have been hard at work to create a fresh experience for gamers that brings together multiplayer action with visually stunning combat and are excited to share details about the game and have people play BATTLECRY in Bethesda’s booth at E3.”

The official announcement trailer can be seen today on BATTLECRY’official site:www.battlecrythegame.com.

The beta for BATTLECRY is set to begin in 2015 for PC.

About ZeniMax Media Inc.

ZeniMax Media is a privately owned media organization headquartered outside Washington, DC with international publishing offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Eindhoven, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Through its subsidiaries, ZeniMax Media creates and publishes original interactive entertainment content for consoles, the PC, and handheld/wireless devices.  ZeniMax Media divisions include Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane Studios, Tango Gameworks, MachineGames, Battlecry Studios, ZeniMax Europe Ltd., ZeniMax Asia K.K., ZeniMax Asia Pacific Limited and ZeniMax Online Studios.   For more information on ZeniMax Media, visit www.zenimax.com. 

About Bethesda Softworks

Bethesda Softworks, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, is a worldwide publisher of interactive entertainment software. Titles featured under the Bethesda label include such blockbuster franchises as The Elder Scrolls®, DOOM®, QUAKE®, Fallout®, Wolfenstein®, Dishonored®, Prey® and RAGE®.   For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethsoft.com.

About BattleCry Studios

BattleCry Studios, located in Austin, TX, brings together a group of seasoned developers with one goal: to create fun, AAA online global experiences for the connected world. Drawing on decades of experience from places like BioWare, Valve, 343 Studios, Treyarch, and more, BattleCry isn’t just a place where great games are created. It’s where designers, engineers, and artists work side by side to redefine a genre.

BATTLECRY, BattleCry Studios, The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda Game Studios, Dishonored, Arkane, The Evil Within, PsychoBreak, Tango, Tango Gameworks, MachineGames, Prey, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda, ZeniMax and their related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the United States and/or in other countries. Fallout is a registered trademark or trademark of Bethesda Softworks LLC in the United States and/or in other countries.  id, id Software, id Tech, DOOMQUAKEWolfenstein and RAGE are registered trademarks or trademarks of id Software LLC in the United States and/or in other countries.  Other product and company names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.

Farming Simulator Heads to 3DS and PS Vita

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Farm livin’ is the life for me

Having sold over 2 million copies worldwide, Farming Simulator is a rather unexpected hit within the gaming community. It is due to this success that Giants Software and Focus Home Interactive have announced that the harvest is going portable, with a 3DS and PS Vita version of the game on the horizon.

Confront the challenges of a 21st century farmer as you do your best to maintain a bevy of agricultural features. Raise livestock, grow crops and sell your produce to acquire new equipment, vehicles and fields. You may even decide to hire workers in your quest to improve your land and carve out a profit in a vast and colourful world.

In addition to its physical release, Farming Simulator 14 will be available for download on the Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Stor on June 5th in Europe and June 24th in the US.  Check out the screenshots below and get a little taste of the farmer life. Your tractor awaits.