NIS America has announced that they are planning on releasing Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited in North America on August 12th while gamers in Europe have to wait a few weeks extra to pick up the game on August 29th. In both regions the game will be available for both physical purchase and digital download. To go along with this announcement a number of new Japanese screenshots for the title were released and can be found below.
Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited features the same story as Disgaea 4 but with a slew of new story elements, new characters, new spells and job-specific techniques, and new music, as well as all of the DLC from the PlayStation 3 version of Disgaea 4.
Today Atlus USA has announced that, as many of us would expect, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax will cost $59.99 when it is released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in North America later this year in the fall season. To go along with this announcement and the fact that the game is now available for pre-order from a number of different retailers the publisher also released a number of new screenshots for the game which can be found below.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax takes place after the events of the first Persona 4 Arena where numerous characters from Persona 3 and 4 fight against one another to discover the mastermind behind the P-1 Climax. With the addition of new characters such as Junpei Ieori, Yukari Takeba, and the newly playable Rise Kujikawa already expanding the roster and shadow type characters, what more could be revealed before the game’s full release?
Today Microsoft and 343 Industries have announced the next installment in the Halo series as Halo 5: Guardians. The game is set to be released exclusively for the Xbox One and is set to be released sometime in the fall of 2015. This is the first game in the Halo series to be released on the Xbox One and 343 Industries is taking their time to make sure that this game will be everything it can be. To do this the developers are aiming for a game that will run at 60 fps with an entirely new engine that will showcase what the new console is capable of.
To go along with this announcement some teaser art for the game was released which can be found below and Bonnie Ross, 343 Industries’ general manager, mentioned that more information will be revealed at the June 9th Xbox E3 press conference and that fans of the Halo series should be “excited about the special plans in store.”
COSMIC DJ DROPS THE NEEDLE ON STEAM EARLY ACCESS – Galactic Beats for Terrestrial Gamers, Because Those Big Headphones Are Universally Sexy –
Austin, TX – May 16, 2014 — Today marks an historic day on Steam Early Access, as Intergalactic Corgis have become a reality. Living room DJ legends Devolver Digital and Gl33k announce today that the psychedelic sound design game Cosmic DJ is now on heavy rotation on Steam Early Access [http://store.steampowered.com/app/297110/]. Music fans of all skill levels can hone their musical ability using an intuitive tap-based sequencer and the precision grid sequencer, then share those epic anthems with the world. Featuring an interstellar campaign mode, you’ll traverse the galaxy on six adventures to repair the “Jamtennas” – only you, the ‘Cosmic DJ of Legend’ can bring musical harmony back to the galaxy.
Composed of overly attractive industry veterans and one pretty awesome corgi, Austin-based Gl33k has been one of the top sound design studios in the video game industry for nearly a decade. Cosmic DJ is their first foray into game development, using their talents for creating music and impeccable sound design as a way to let less-skilled musicians create sequences and beats with ease.
“Through rigorous testing and quality assurance processes we can confirm that the beats created in Cosmic DJ will make them panties and/or boxer shorts drop,” noted Devolver Digital CFO Fork Parker.
Cosmic DJ is available now via Steam Early Access, the Humble Store, and other digital download services for with a 10% discount off the final $5.99 price. Follow development of Cosmic DJ via @CosmicDJGame on Twitter as well as the official Steam game forums.
New area,La Boca del Diablo, and daily challenges introduced
London, UK — May 16, 2014 — Today Ubisoft® announced that Assassin’s Creed® Pirates, part of the award-winning Assassin’s Creed® franchise, will receive its third major update. This free update is available to download now in the App Store and the Google Play Store.
For brave captains willing to veer far from the safety of commercial routes, a new area, La Boca del Diablo, is available for exploration. This mysterious island is full of dark legends and tales of recent horrors. Learn about the secrets of the island through a new story mission and further explore the Devil’s Mouth through side missions where players seek new treasures and diaries to unlock secrets about La Buse’s missing treasure.
The update also includes new daily challenges that give players the opportunity to complete three challenges a day such as collecting books, sinking Merchant ships or completing Assassination missions to earn gold. Three difficulty levels are available for each challenge, which pay-out players based on the difficulty of each mission.
For more information on Assassin’s Creed Pirates, please visit:
Initially launched in 2007, the first five Assassin’s Creed games have sold more than 55 million units worldwide, and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series ever. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into other entertainment experiences including comic books, mobile games, novels, as well as a feature-length movie currently in development.
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 and Far Cry. 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 2013-14 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,007 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
London – 16th May 2014 – One-of-a-kind independent developer Alan Zucconi and UK independent publisher Mastertronic today announced a myriad of new updates to gravity simulator 0RBITALIS, currently available on Steam Early Access.
Updated features to further enrich the celestial experience include friend leaderboards and histograms to let players compare score distribution at a glance. Quality settings and zoom effects have also been refined to create a more streamlined experience, and there are new ambient soundtracks from Doseone. Think you’ve mastered your orbit? Ten new levels have now been added to increase the challenge!
Alan Zucconi said: “It’s hard to describe the amount of positive feedback I’ve had from the community so far. Seeing people playing for days, trying to achieve a stable orbit, has been the biggest reward for me. This is why the update brings new features such as friends leaderboards and histograms.”
“I also showed the game to the developers of Kerbal Space Program, resulting in a secret level which reproduces the Kerbol System,” continued Alan. “The update also features homages to other big indie titles such as Robin Arnott’s SoundSelf. I am looking forward to hearing the players’ feedback and I really can’t wait for the next update.”
Stuart Morton, Producer at Mastertronic, added: “0RBITALIS has been going down a storm with the thousands of people who have so far picked it up and this update by Alan is the result of their feedback. The Steam Early Access community is a great help for developers and I have no doubt 0RBITALIS will continue to improve.”
0RBITALIS is a simulation that blends physics perfection with gaming, available now on Steam Early Access for PC.
Join the conversation now: #0rbitalis @Mastertronic @AlanZucconi @doseonetweets
About Alan Zucconi
Alan Zucconi is a passionate independent developer, awarded as one of Develop’s ‘30 Under 30’. He started his career to fully explore his creativity, designing experimental gameplays and interactive experiences. His upcoming titles include the time travel platformer ‘Still Time’ and the gravity simulator ‘0RBITALIS’. Ask him for a biscuit.
About Doseone
Adam Drucker, better known by his stage name Doseone, is an American rapper, producer, poet and artist. He is a co-founder of the indie hip hop record label Anticon. He has also been a member of numerous groups including Deep Puddle Dynamics, Greenthink, Clouddead, Themselves, Subtle and 13 & God.
About Mastertronic
Mastertronic is a multi-platform independent games publisher working with independent games developers making games that we want to play ourselves. We love games, games developers and gamers.
Overview What is there left for the shonen genre to cover? Having explored a vast array of genres and subject matter, the shonen genre now finds itself commonly retreading familiar territory, with new ground rarely being stamped out. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic however bucks this trend with its unique setting, intriguing plot and deep characterization.
While Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic clearly bares allusions to tales such as Arabian Nights, it feels entirely fresh and new in the context of a shonen anime. The writing is superbly detailed, unexpected, engaging and even at times genuinely moving. Magi comes out of the gates hitting hard and just doesn’t stop swinging. This may very well be the freshest shonen series in quite some time and its all the more exciting for it.
Story Set in an Arabian Nights styled world, Magi focuses on a young boy named Aladdin who bares a great power in the form of a Djinn. Aladdin is a bit of a wanderer and manages to find himself entangled in all manner of conflicts. His carefree attitude is however juxtaposed with a wisdom that far surpasses his years. That wisdom is what makes his such a dangerous element in the mix with Magi and he gives off a Gon Freeccs (Hunter x Hunter) kind of vibe, with a gentle exterior in contrast with a darkened interior. As a matter of fact Aladdin the character represents the juxtaposition that is the series itself.
From the outside looking in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is a playful adventure tale, at its core though Magi is a deeply dark story detailing the worst of humanity’s sins and the harsh realities of slavery. It is a stark comparison and a reminder that what you see isn’t always what you get and that is a good thing.
As far as the story itself, Magi is rather unpredictable, just when you think it is going in one direction is throws a spanner in the works and things go down a path that you would never have thought even existed. It is the kind of story-telling you just cannot anticipate and that is a large part of its power. While it is said that a level of predictability can be a positive step towards giving the audience the things they want to see, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic gives them things they didn’t know that they wanted and then some.
This first part of Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic blasts through the early-goings of the manga at light-speed, a creative decision from A-1 Pictures that may frustrate fans of the manga, however it ultimately comes off as an exercise in cutting the fat. Unnecessary elements are trimmed and small cutaway scenes are omitted. What this results in is a series that sticks to the important stuff and keeps pushing forward with little moment to catch it’s breath. It makes for an exciting ride but one can’t help but feel like the series needs to slow down for a moment and let what is happening soak in a little.
Fresh and innovative, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic marks a revival of the shonen anime genre that has been building up steam over the past couple years and it looks fit and ready to carry the flag of the new guard of shonen.
Visuals and Audio Aesthetics are key to the setting and atmosphere of Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic and A-1 Pictures pull it off wonderfully. While there were reports of some questionable animation during its initial television broadcast in Japan, the series has been polished finely and the kinks have been ironed out for this excellent release. The animation is fluid and the art style is instantly memorable, it is familiar yet simultaneously brand new, a contrast on top of contrasts in this series that is encompassed by them.
The audio aspects of Magi are superb to say the least, the incidental music is stunning and the moods those tracks can whip up are tangible. The opening theme for the series is also worth noting, it is electric and sets the pace and tone for each episode with the deftest of ease. This release also happens to feature dual audio, with an English dub alongside the original Japanese audio track. The English dub is very well produced and features some solid voice work across the board.
Extras This collected release of the first half of Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is a phenomenal effort from Madman Entertainment. Included are a plethora of bonus content that make it well worth the asking price. Bundled inside the package is a special art book featuring some spectacular art from the series as well as a comprehensive episode guide that details each episode featured on the release. Also featured as on disc content is clean opening and ending themes as well as trailers. It all rounds out an all round excellent release for the series. The question is, how can Madman top this for collection 2?
Overall As one of the forerunners of the shonen anime revival, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic rewrites the book on shonen with its innovative take on the genre. It breaks all the rules you’ve come to know from the genre and does it well. The series is light-hearted yet tragic, adventurous yet dangerous and full of hope yet in despair. It is an anime of contrasts, one thing leads to another and that thing leads to something else and in the world of Magi, it is never what you’d expect.
Unpredictable, edgy and in many ways epic, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic redefines what anime fans know about the shonen genre all the while paving a path alongside groundbreaking shonen anime like Hunter x Hunter and Attack on Titan. This is a must watch series for all real shonen fans. It is a brand new day for shonen and Magi is the sun shining over it.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Cyanide Studio and Focus Home Interactive have revealed the first screenshots for the upcoming Pro Cycling Manager 2014 and Tour de France 2014. A host of new features have also been included to guarantee an even more immersive and addictive gameplay experience in the world of professional cycling.
Enter one of the most renowned cycling competitions in the world and pedal through the English countryside, London roads, northern France, mountain ranges and eventually finishing on the Champs Elysees. New rider animations, dynamic descent gameplay and a more realistic environment all serve to give you the closest experience to cycling you can get without putting on lycra. The extra Pro Team mode will also allow you to compete over several seasons and upgrade your team by recruiting the top champions to ensure that you win the coveted maillot jaune.
Pro Cycling Manager 2014 takes a step into the realm of sports management, allowing players to head one of 75 pro teams throughout a cycling season. This edition offers a new batch of features from its predecessor off-race management options (R&D, financial management, sponsor relations), a more dynamic transfer market and a brand new interface packed with features, such as consecutive orders and race tactics. And all of this in meticulously detailed graphics, what more could a sports manager ask for?
Tour de France 2014 will be cycling into your game rotation on PS3, PS4 and Xbox 360 later this year, whilst Pro Cycling Manager 2014 races onto PC. Check out the screenshots below and get a little sneak peek of all the bicycle action. Tres bien!
Grab Your Guns!
“Jagged Alliance: Flashback” Launches on Steam Early Access
Full Control Launches Steam Early Access and Rolls Out New Trailer for the next Installment of the Classic Turn Based Strategy Franchise
Copenhagen, Denmark — May 16th, 2014 — Danish developer Full Control announced today that Jagged Alliance: Flashbackhas launched on Steam Early Access. Besides being able to influence the development of the game at an early stage, the game includes an editor that gives users the opportunity to build their own campaigns, as well as distributing mods through Steam Workshop. Originally funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign in May 2013, where it received over $350,000 from backers Jagged Alliance: Flashbackhas been in development since June 2013 and is due for full commercial launch in late 2014.
“The launch of Jagged Alliance: Flashback on Steam Early Access is a significant milestone in our vision to bring back the beloved turn-based franchise to its roots”, said Thomas Lund, CEO of Full Control. “We’re excited to launch the game on Steam Early Access and can’t wait to see what the Jagged Alliance community will build with the Editor”.
The Early Access version will include a small island to conquer and explore, turn-based combat and a few dialogues and quests. The combat system makes use of diverse cover, true line of sight calculations and different stances to provide a deep tactical experience for the player. Additional features will be added to the game throughout the Early Access phase.
A unique mix of deep turn-based tactics, role-playing and squad management, Jagged Alliance: Flashback is set on the fictional Caribbean Island of San Hermanos in the late 1980’s.
An elected president – “The Prince”, uses his military forces to halt a rebellious group attempting to overthrow his regime. Powerless against his organised military forces, the leader of the rebellion is arrested and the insurgents quickly dissolve. Arriving on San Hermanos, the players first mission is to help the rebel leader escape from prison, before things take a turn for the worse.
Jagged Alliance was first released in 1994 and is still counted as one the best turn-based strategy games of its time. After the release of the refined Jagged Alliance 2 in 1999 over time the series became a classic never forgotten by its fans. The franchise received a reboot in 2010 with Jagged Alliance – Back in Action, which received mixed reactions from the community and press after its departure from turn-based action gameplay. Full Control plan to reset the franchise with the launch of Jagged Alliance: Flashback through Kickstarter.
About Full Control
Full Control is a small independent studio based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Over the years they have specialized in the genre of turn-based strategy games and have several productions in their portfolio, including the upcoming project, “Jagged Alliance: Flashback” and the recently released, “Space Hulk”, a turn-based videogame adaptation of the hugely popular Warhammer 40k boardgame.
MangaGamer has announced today that they will soon be selling an original PC English visual novel called Sakura Spirit in the All-Ages section of their website. This safe for work visual novel is developed by Winged Cloud and MangaGamer has revealed that they will be selling the game through their website and that anyone who purchases the game from them will not only be given a DRM free copy of the game for download but also a Steam key. To top that off, the game which will sell at a price of $9.95 at release in late June can now be pre-ordered at a discounted price of $7.46.
Sakura Spirit follows the rising judo star Gushiken Takahiro who is going to have a match in two weeks that will make or break his career as the winner will be signed up to be a young national athlete for Japan. While determined, he is nervous about the fight and at the suggestion of his friends he visits a shrine to wish for success only to pass out after donating to the shrine and waking up in an ancient looking world where he stumbles upon two girls with weapons chasing after two fox girls. A few CGs from the game as well as a trailer for the title can be found below.
