The third weeklyIndie Gala bundle is now available! Buyers can snag six great indie titles for one low price. Five of the titles are redeemable on Steam, with the remaining title redeemable on Desura. For the first 24 hours, buyers can receive the following title for $1.89:
Crystal Story II– A turn-based RPG inspired by JRPGs which features randomized dungeons, mini-games, and a flexible class system. Be sure to vote for the game on Steam Greenlight.
Tobe’s Vertical Adventure – A classic platformer featuring 64 levels of gameplay, two playable characters, and co-op mode, all presented in retro 16-bit graphics.
C-Rush – Artnumeris’ retro shooter re-imagined for a modern audience will pit players against hordes of plasma insects bent on destroying humanity. Players will man a multi-seater gunship that is armed with a variety of different weapons, each with a different style of gameplay.
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project– Hail to the king, baby! Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II are re-imagiend as retro 2-d side scrolling shooters in this game by Sunstorm Interactive and 3D Realms.
A Valley Without Wind– A 2d side scroller that features procedurally generated levels and plenty of quests to complete. Players will battle against the Overlord and create their own civilization, while gaining new powers and recruiting survivors to your cause.
A Valley Without Wind II– Take on the role of a budding mage looking to take down Demonaica by turning its own powers against it. The game is both a 2d retro platformer and a turn based strategy game. Players will guide their resistance army in the turn based mode, then take to the field in the platforming mode.
After the first 24 hours of the sale ends, the price for the Every Monday Bundle #3 will rise to $2.99. Snag your copy before the price increase at Indie Gala.
Space Noir, the latest title from developers N-Fusion and publishers Unity Games, has just revealed a gameplay walkthrough trailer, detailing some of the features of this exciting Sci-fi adventure/action game.
You will take on the role of Hal Markham, a bounty hunter who explores the vast depths of space as he battles intergalactic renegades to uncover the secrets of a conspiracy that involves a character who could control the future of humanity. Combat is both on- and off-world, and with his one and only companion, his ship Al-Rhonda, he tries to solve this mystery that’s affected his whole life.
The game will be available this summer of 2014 on the Windows PC and tablet. Check out the video below to see what the game will be like.
Goat Simulator has seen perhaps more of its fair share of publicity lately, but it seems the developers are willing to support their product as they today announced they would be releasing patch 1.1, with a release date set for around the middle of May. The new patch adds some fan requested features such as local splitscreen multiplayer, a new map to explore that will be roughly the same size as the already featured map, new playable goats, additional achievements and more.
“A lot of people have been asking for DLC with new maps for Goat Simulator, but we would feel bad charging people for DLC content when people can just download new stuff for free from the Steam Workshop, so we decided to do a free update instead.” – said Armin Ibrisagic, game designer for Goat Simualator.
It looks like Goat Simualtor will be popular with the modding community, with a Shrek mod recently becoming available allowing you to roam around as the friendly ogre. You can purchase Goat Simualtor for PC from Steam by following the link, or check out the games interesting launch trailer and try to figure out which games trailer was being spoofed!
Calling All Girls! Agent Delta Needs Your Help in SMART Adventures Mission Math Mobile Adventure Game
Download unique STEM education game for $4.99 from Amazon Appstore, Google Play, and iPad App Store
WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 7, 2014 – Kata Enterprises, Inc., an emerging developer of math edutainment for girls, has released a major update for their flagship game, SMART Adventures Mission Math. This educational game designed to get girls ages 9+ excited about math and STEM fields can now be played on Kindle Fire and other Android tablets, as well as on iPad. Plus, the updated version is localized in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, and Dutch — so girls all over the world can join the fun!
SMART Adventures Mission Math is a one-of-a-kind game conceived by Emily Clarke, who struggled with math in grade school, and her mom Kathryn Clarke, an engineer. In this mystery adventure game, Space Station Prime is in chaos: the computers are down, the science labs are a mess, and the communication system is barely functioning. Is foul play involved? Playing as Agent Delta’s assistant Junior Agent Star, girls get to choose what their character looks like, use math skills to repair the labs, and question suspects to figure out “whodunit.”
SMART Adventures Mission Math is a rare video game that puts girls in the starring role, presenting positive female role models and giving girls the freedom to explore and learn. Each of the sabotaged labs has fun puzzles that challenge players’ math skills in fractions, decimals, bar graphs, factors, multiples, and more — all in a cool, playful, and pressure-free environment that girls love. While kids agree that math has never been so much fun, parents will appreciate that SMART Adventures Mission Math is safe and secure with no ads, in-app purchases, or links to outside websites.
Upon its initial iPad release (under its original title Mission: MATH…Sabotage at the Space Station), the game received four stars from USA Today and was recommended by GeekDad. App review site Family Friendly Apps praised the game for “focus[ing] on girls the right way, not with dumbed-down stereotypes” and called it “one of the best examples of an educational game that’s fun to play while being packed with awesome STEM education content.”
SMART Adventures Mission Math can be downloaded for $4.99 from the following stores:
The S.M.A.R.T. Adventures series of educational games allows girls to celebrate who they are and what they can achieve. Designed specifically for girls, S.M.A.R.T. Adventures games utilize innovative techniques to help players attain math, science, and technology literacy and to instill confidence in girls of all ages and stages of education. Each story-based adventure includes an exciting mystery to solve and characters our players can relate to, which motivates players to keep playing while practicing their skills.
The S.M.A.R.T. Adventures series is created by Kata Enterprises — a privately held educational game development company that seeks to empower girls to become self-assured and educated in math, science, and technology — and developed in collaboration with game development studio Engine Software. Learn more about S.M.A.R.T. Adventures at http://www.smartadventuresgames.com.
BROFORCE DELIVERS FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY TO STEAM EARLY ACCESS
– A Pre-Emptive Strike on Your Summer –
Cape Town, South Africa – The world stands united as the hyper-explosive Broforce from developer Free Lives makes a pre-emptive strike on gamers worldwide with its unilateral invasion of Steam Early Access. Freedom-loving gamers can grab that latest version of Broforce on PC and Mac for $14.99 from both Steam and Humble via broforcegame.com.
Broforce brings the shock and awe as gamers across the globe take control of an under-funded, over-powered paramilitary organization dealing exclusively in excessive force. Stroke your MURDER-BONER™with up to four friends, locally and online, in non-stop, explosive run ‘n’ gun action and eliminate the terrorist forces that threaten our way of life. Adapt your tactics as you select bros from a massive roster of true 80’s and 90s action heroes, each with unique weapons and abilities. Set off incredible chain reactions of fire, napalm and limbs in the name of freedom. Then, as the dust settles, face off against each other in one of many competitive modes. Finally gain closure by answering important life questions that have been keeping you up at night: who would win in a flex-off between the Brominator and Brobocop?
The latest update to Broforce delivers a devastating payload of fun with new gameplay tricks like the Tactical Backflip, new white-knuckle missions, and the fearless Ripbro – the first female addition to the Broforce team. Broforce fans will be able to follow progress and receive updates each month before the game’s late summer launch as new missions, locations, modes, and bros are added through development.
“The team is excited to join forces with our fans over the next few months of Broforce development and get feedback on how they want to see the game grow and expand,” said Evan Greenwood, Director at Free Lives.
Follow development of Broforce via freelives.net or on Twitter @Free_Lives if you think you can handle the intensity, bro.
FLAT EARTH GAMES BUILDS TOWNCRAFT FOR iPHONE AND MAC
With an Extraordinary Level of New Content, Gamers Can Now Craft, Build, Explore and More This Spring
Sydney, Australia – April 7, 2014 – Flat Earth Games, the Australian development studio that launched the successful crafting-building-exploration game TownCraft last fall on iPad, has unveiled its newest construction –TownCraft will arrive on iPhone and Mac this spring and will update the current iPad version. The new game adds a whole new level of depth and challenge and an impressive volume of new content, including four new levels, 30 new resources, new building types and structures, 44 new quests, and much more.
“We are excited and delighted to bring the TownCraft experience to the iPhone and Mac players,” said Leigh Harris, Lead Designer. “Players around the world have provided superb feedback, letting us know they genuinely appreciate the Zen-like approach to game design, huge amount of content we’ve been adding and the lack of in-app purchases. We believe players will love the expansive world and the depth of gameplay in our new version of TownCraft.”
TownCraft is an addictive, relaxing, and non-violent crafting and city-building game, set in medieval times; players are alone in the wilderness and must start a new town to be the toast of the kingdoms. Gamers begin by crafting the most basic of tools, tying a sharpened stone to a small piece of wood as a hatchet, but before long the town will be teeming and with travellers from all across the land. They’ll buy wares at the local shops, come to check out the sights, have some food and drink at the tavern players build. They’ll come looking to trade, work, fish, farm, forage, hire, fire, and explore the bizarre and distinctive world of TownCraft.
Key Features in TownCraft
Play a new world every time – no two worlds will ever be the same thanks to procedurally generated maps!
Players will test their skills at crafting, with hundreds of different objects to create.
Gamers can build bridges, jetties, workshops and windmills in the effort to create a fully functioning and self-sufficient town.
Players will order around muck-ridden peasants, who will manage their gold mines, stone quarries, crop fields, lakes, shops and taverns.
Users will play in a world with a real-time day and night cycle – workers will wake up, go to work, hit the tavern to meet some passing travellers later at night, and then get some shut-eye again.
Gamers can explore each new world and unearth countless resources, from cotton to canary eggs, gold to grapes, wheat to wax and stone to silver.
Players will follow an off-beat story as kingdoms vie for control.
TownCraft is produced with the support of Screen Australia, and is currently available on iPad on the APP Store for $4.99 (with no in-app purchases); it will be out on iPhone and the Mac this spring. For more information, keep in touch with Flat Earth Games on their Website www.flatearthgames.com.au, ‘like’ them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter @fegames.
Anime distribution site Daisuki has announced that, in partnership with Aniplex of America, it is adding a few new series to its simulcast line up. The Irregular at Magic High School and Mekakucity Actors are set to premiere on April 6th and 13th respectively, with Nanana’s Buried Treasure and Mushi-shi set to release a month after their initial Japanese broadcast.
Magic–A century has passed since this concept has been recognized as a formal technology instead of the product of the occult or folklore. The season is spring and it is time for a brand new school year. At the National Magic University First Affiliate High School, A.K.A Magic High School, students are divided into two distinct groups according to their academic performances. The “Bloom,” who demonstrate the highest grades and are enrolled in the “First Course,” and the “Weed,” who have poor academic records and are enrolled in the “Second Course.”
This spring, a very peculiar brother and sister enroll as new students. The brother is an underachiever with some deficiencies and enrolls as a “Weed,” while his younger sister is an honor student, who enrolls as a “Bloom.” The brother, with a somewhat philosophical expression, and the younger sister who holds feelings a little stronger than sibling love for him… Ever since these two have entered through the gates of this prestigious school, the calm campus was beginning to change…
The incidents which occurred on August 14th and 15th bring a group of young boys and girls together… They are members of a group they call themselves the “Mekakushi Dan” (Blindfold Organization) and each member possesses a strange power involving their eyes. Will the members of this peculiar organization be able to solve the mysteries behind these incidents and see the truth?
“I’m going to build a place where young people can challenge to reach any of their dreams!”
The 7 genius students, known as the GREAT 7, launched a project to construct an artificial island called Nanae Island to realize their leader, Nanana Ryugajo’s peculiar idea. 12 years later, with a total population of 100,000 people with as much as 80% of those inhabitants being students, Nanae Island has successfully become prosperous as a special student zone. One of the island’s newest residents was Jugo Yama–a high school student who had just transferred to the island after being disowned by his father. One day, Jugo finds in his own apartment the earth-bound spirit of the late Nanana Ryugajo, who was murdered by someone 10 years ago! Jugo’s plan of living alone was suddenly thwarted by this strange roommate.
The original novel “Nanana’s Buried Treasure” won the Grand Prize of the 13th Entertainment Awards, which was the first Grand Prize in eight years. This anime series features the adventures and challenges of Jugo Yama as he searches through the historic ruins of Nanae Island for the great treasures, A.K.A “Nanana’s Collection,” along with the extraordinary characters he meets along the way. The mysterious puzzles of the ruins! The excitement of the treasure hunt! The strategic maneuvers and battles of thought and reason between the characters! Nanana’s Buried Treasure is an adventure you won’t want to miss!
They existed long before anyone can remember. They are simple and strange in nature, not resembling any other plant or animal in this world. In ancient times, people revered these bizarre creatures and called them “Mushi.” People once again began to believe in the existence of these “Mushi” when they began affecting their lives in inexplicable ways. The one who connects the world of “Mushi” to the world of humans—they were called the “Mushi-shi.” All life exists not to hinder others in this world. They are simply there to live as they were meant to.
All four titles will be available for free and with English subtitles in the US, Canada, Central America, South America and South Africa. So sit back and enjoy these rather eclectic additions to the Daisuki line up. Anime comes in all shapes and sizes. Isn’t it awesome?
Madman has announced that the highly anticipated sci-fi epic, Knights of Sidonia has been added to their ever expanding list of acquisitions and is set to premiere exclusively in the Screening Room. Based on the manga written by Nihei Tsutomu, Knights of Sidonia takes place 1000 years after an alien race known as the Gauna have decimated the solar system. Despite the unbelievable damage, a small portion of the human race has managed to survive thanks to an enormous spaceship called Sidonia. Ever since, this final facet of resistance has worked tirelessly to maintain and defend the remnants of humanity.
Featuring stellar animation by multi-award winning studio Polygon Pictures (Transformers Prime, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Tron: Uprising), Knights of Sidonia opts for CGI visuals, rather than the more traditional 2D animation. Rather suiting for a science fiction anime set far in the future.
Tanikaze Nagate is a young boy who has recently been accepted into a school for Guardian pilot trainees, where he also makes his first interactions with people other than his grandfather. During their first assignment, Nagate and his friends encounter a Gauna for the first time in a hundred years. This is where the battle for humanity’s survival starts.
So jump into the Screening Room on April 11th and watch the first stream of this sci-fi epic. Presented in it’s original Japanese format with English subtitles, the series is also set to receive and English dub in July. Guess that means you’ll just have to watch it twice.
*UPDATE*
To all who received our media announcement yesterday, or at Supanova Gold Coast over the weekend regarding KNIGHTS OF SIDONIA – Madman are disappointed to advise that the previously announced simulcast for this series has been cancelled.
We sincerely apologise to fans for any inconvenience this may cause.
Not content with resting on their laurels after the recent successes of their games, The Pokémon Company International joined in on the MIPTV festivities by announcing its newest feature-length animated film: Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction.
Once again finding themselves wrapped up in an epic quest, Ash and Co. must help the Legendary Pokemon Diancie as it embarks on a journey to unlock its true potential. Seeking the Legendary Xerneas for help, the situation becomes a little more complicated when Team Rocket, a thief and a ninja all attempt to interfere. If that wasn’t enough, a parent and child stumble upon a cocoon where the one said to have once eradicated all life in the Kalos region is said to slumber. The Destruction Pokemon: Yveltal.
In addition to the 16th film, Pokémon is also expanding its Video On Demand offerings. Fans in all Netflix territories have enjoyed classic Pokémon anime seasons and movies since content launched in March, Hulu watchers joined the fun in February (in the US at least). In addition to the Pokemon TV app released for iOS, you won’t be hard pressed to find some of your favourite episodes. Fans in Russia will also be able to enjoy a slew of new Pokemon content, as free-to-air broadcaster 2X2 is set to add Pokemon the Series: XY to its roster this September. But fear not Pokefans of the world, as this is merely the tip of the Avalugg. CITV (UK), Gulli (France), K2 (Italy), YEP! (Germany), Clan TV (Spain), TV4 (Sweden), TV2 (Norway), VT4 and Club RTL (Belgium), Disney XD (Europe), Cartoon Network (US,/Australia/New Zealand/Latin America), Eleven (Australia), etv (South Africa and YTV (Canada) all broadcast the episodes as well. Whew.
So no matter where on this big planet you call home, you can be darn sure that you can watch Pokemon in one form or another. The world of Pokemon is vast and ever expanding…isn’t that awesome?
Overview Deadman Wonderland was first introduced to the majority of its Western audience thanks to an anime adaptation that began airing in English back in 2012. However this was only a sample of the story and one that readers who have already looked picked up the first volume of the Deadman Wonderland will know is missing numerous characters. Now after the events of the last volume, how will the story of Deadman Wonderland continue in volume 2?
Story As with any review of a following volume, it is worth noting that there will be spoilers for the first volume to follow. Anyways, to recap a bit Ganta Igarashi has been sentenced to death and placed in the bizarre prison named Deadman Wonderland for the crime of murdering all of his classmates. However he has been framed by this crime by the ‘Red Man,’ a being capable of mass destruction and after the events of the first volume we learn that Ganta was given a special power called a ‘Branch of Sin’ after his run in with this mysterious enemy.
After coming face to face with the Red Man once more and displaying his power, Ganta awakens in the hospital after passing out and suffering from anemia. With Shiro by his side, he is temporarily able to rest, but this does not last for long as the head of the prison’s security Makina saw Ganta use his powers and unleashes a powerful robot named Necro Macro to either retrieve him or kill him.
Before Ganta must run for his life, he hears rumors about Cell Block G where the Red Man is supposed to be housed and as such that is his goal. In part because of the uncaring machine chasing them down, Ganta, Shiro, and Yo manage to come across a large door labeled G. Once the machine catches up to them the true nature of Deadman Wonderland as well as a few hints Ganta’s abilities are revealed.
With the nature of Deadman Wonderland revealed and Ganta now placed in Block G, he must face off against other “Deadmen” like himself who are capable of using their blood as weapons in duels where the prize for the victor is a large amount of prison currency and a lifesaving piece of candy but the price of losing is extremely high.
Now while the first volume revealed how sinister life in Deadman Wonderland is by setting the tone and detailing the rules of the prison, this second volume takes advantage of that build up and begins to move at a very fast pace. Very little time is spent sitting around as each chapter follows Ganta and the rest as they are either running for their lives or in later chapters Ganta battling against a fellow Branch of Sin user.
There are some new details about the prison revealed in every chapter when things slow down as we learn the name the prison has given to the Red Man as well as some details concerning the power structure in the prison, with a decrepit Governor having complete control but letting the Warden Tamaki do as he wishes by orchestrating matches between Deadmen and continuing his research of their conditions and simply murdering people for his own amusement.
By the end of Deadman Wonderland Volume 2 a whole new layer of story has been revealed to readers and a major cliffhanger and more questions are raised in the last few pages of this action heavy volume. As for the whole ‘missed content’ of the anime, there are a number of characters, including new Deadmen, introduced and additional plot elements added into the manga to make it somewhat familiar to those who may have seen the anime but definitely worth picking up for the definitive story.
Artwork Kazuma Kondou’s art throughout this volume is very impressive despite the limitations that a series set in a prison provides. The character designs for the new characters introduced in this volume are impressive looking and memorable and all of the returning characters are nicely drawn as well. The standout examples of the artwork in this volume are Shiro’s expressions as well as how impressive the Branch of Sin battles appear on the pages.
It is worth noting however that although some pieces see quite a lot of detail and there are a few two page spreads featuring impressive artwork, a large number of panels feature either completely white or black backgrounds which is an unfortunate limitation of the setting. Also this is not a series for those who are afraid of gore as there are a few pages with detailed drawings of evisceration and torture. A quick mention also goes for Viz’s translation of this volume, which for the most part is superb and doesn’t damage the art in any way, but does feature an odd sounding translation of Senji’s Branch of Sin being called “Crow Crow” which could be a misprint or simply a strange translation.
Extra Content With this release of Deadman Wonderland Volume 2 readers are greeted with a color page right off the bat involving Ganta having a nightmare which is then followed by a two page color spread showing Shiro, Ganta, Makina, Yo, and Tamaki behind bars. Outside of this the end of the volume features two pages showing off the blueprints of the Necro Macro in a comedic fashion which is then followed by four one page comedy shorts that help lighten the tone a bit.
Overall Deadman Wonderland Volume 2 takes advantage of the world building from the first volume and dives headfirst into the numerous secrets that lay within the depths of the prison. However with every question that is answered two more appear in its place and to top that off, the amount of action spikes heavily in this release making volume 2 quite a page turner as readers will not want to put it down until they see what happens next. With a final scene only raising more questions and a large number of new characters just introduced, it will be interesting to see where the story will go from here.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
