LEVEL-5 INTERNATIONAL AMERICA RELEASES COMEDIAN YOSHIYUKI HIRAI’S WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE FOR NINTENDO 3DS™ IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

Press Releases

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February 20, 2014

LEVEL-5 INTERNATIONAL AMERICA RELEASES COMEDIAN YOSHIYUKI HIRAI’S WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE FOR NINTENDO 3DS™ IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

Final Game in GUILD Series Makes Global Debut Sale on Previous eShop Titles Continues Until February 23

LOS ANGELES, CA (FEBRUARY 20, 2014) – Globally renowned Japanese game companyLEVEL-5, best known for the critically acclaimed PROFESSOR LAYTON and NI NO KUNI, has released WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE, a comedic tribute to classic RPGs, in Europe and North America via Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS™.

WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE was created by comedian Yoshiyuki Hirai whose well-known passion for and intimate knowledge of games and comics have led him to a variety of multimedia opportunities, including his current stint as a comic book artist. Before his rise to stardom as a comedian, Hirai wished to become a game creator, and WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE marks the debut of that dream. The game was initially released only in Japan as part of the four-game compilation GUILD01, and is the last of the four titles to be released on the Nintendo eShop in Europe and North America.

“It’s an incredible honour to have my title represent the conclusion of the GUILD series in the West,” said Yoshiyuki Hirai, creator of WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE. “The core of this game is ‘I’m forging and renting weapons to heroes. Will they be able to bring peace to the world with the weapons I’ve made?!’ Each hero has their own backstory and personal reasons for their quests which means that you need to think carefully about renting out your weapons… but what if you fail to do so? You’ll find out! The contrast between the seriousness of weapon-forging and the eccentric characters is sure to make you laugh, and maybe even stir up some sentiment. I hope you enjoy the game!”

About WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE:

WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE gives players a different perspective on classic RPGs by putting them in the shoes of Yuhan, a young apprentice in an unconventional weapon shop inside an RPG. Players will forge weapons in rhythm game fashion, rent them out to a hodgepodge of quirky heroes, and follow their quests on the Grindcast adventure stream. A hero’s success or failure depends on the quality and selection of the player’s weapon – a true masterpiece might end up saving the world!

WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE is now available in Europe and North America in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS™ for $7.99 / €7.99 / ₤7.19.

More information about WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE can be found online athttp://level5ia.com/blackbox/weapon-shop-de-omasse/.
*Title is available in English only.

GUILD SERIES Nintendo eSHOP SALE ENDS SOON
All previously released games from the GUILD series, featuring masterworks by a variety of respected game creators with unique and innovative artistic visions, are currently on sale in the Nintendo eShop and will remain available at a promotional price of $2.99/€2.99/￡2.69 until February 23.

Campaign period:
Continues through February 23, 2014

Region:
All European and North American regions where GUILD titles are currently available

Price:
$2.99/€2.99/￡2.69 per title

Applicable titles:
AERO PORTER (by Yoot Saito)
CRIMSON SHROUD (by Yasumi Matsuno)
LIBERATION MAIDEN (by SUDA51)
THE STARSHIP DAMREY (by Kazuya Asano & Takemaru Abiko)
BUGS vs. TANKS! (by Keiji Inafune)
ATTACK OF THE FRIDAY MONSTERS! A TOKYO TALE (by Kaz Ayabe)

ABOUT LEVEL-5
LEVEL-5 Inc. plans, creates, and markets videogame software in Japan. The company’s flagship PROFESSOR LAYTON series has shipped over 15.0 million units worldwide, while the mega-hit INAZUMA ELEVEN series has shipped approximately 7.0 million units worldwide_e. The Little Battlers eXperience animated series, based on the hugely successful games of the same name, will soon make its western debut in Europe and the Americas. The company recently released Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch for North America and Europe, featuring animations by the Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli, and music by Joe Hisaishi. In September 2010, LEVEL-5 Inc. opened an office in Santa Monica, California. While maintaining its base as a game company, LEVEL-5 Inc. continues to actively explore collaborations with other media, as it strives to become a world-class entertainment brand. More information on LEVEL-5 Inc. can be found athttp://www.level5ia.com and http://www.level5.co.jp/.

WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE
©2014 LEVEL-5 Inc.
Nintendo 3DS is a trademark of Nintendo. © 2011 Nintendo.
All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Team17 reveals a new cellmate, The Escapists

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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February 20, 2014

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Team17 reveals a new cellmate, The Escapists

Team17 has announced the second title making parole under its third-party publishing banner will be the indie prison break PC game, The Escapists, created by Mouldy Toof Studios.

“To have Team17, a company with decades of experience, see potential in The Escapists and be fully behind it is fantastic. I’m looking forward to working alongside them!” said Chris Davis, owner at Mouldy Toof Studios.

Debbie Bestwick, Team17’s Managing Director added, “The Escapists is a hilarious and truly captivating game that I personally backed on Kickstarter and have followed from the start. It’s one of the funniest games I’ve played for a long time, it constantly brings those laugh out loud moments from everyone who plays it. I’m delighted Chris has decided to become part of the program we are offering to fellow indie developers to help bring their games to market.”

The Escapists is a time management prison escape game that gives you the ‘freedom’ to live the life of a prison inmate, ultimately plotting and pulling off a daring escape!

To escape you’ll have to work around the strict prison schedule as best you can to avoid any unwanted attention from the guards. Craft weapons and tools from everyday objects you will find, or steal, around the prison but beware of cell shakedowns! All that stands between you and your freedom is a perfectly executed escape plan.

The Escapists was greenlit by Steam within just 96 hours of its application last year and is scheduled for release later in 2014.

The Escapists will be hands-on at EGX Rezzed, along with Light by Just A Pixel and other unannounced Team17 titles. EGX Rezzed takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from the 28th to 30th March. You can keep up to date with Team17’s EGX Rezzed plans by following them on Twitter @Team17Ltd.

About Team17’s publishing options

Let Team17 help you realise your game’s full potential, contact Team17 on [email protected]. Team17 will work with you directly to create tailor-made packages designed around your individual needs. These can include a wide range of professional services from funding, lifecycle management, brand building, audience cross-promotion, PR, marketing, localisation, QA and much more!

About The Escapists:
The Escapists. Developed by Mouldy Toof Studios. © 2014. Published by Team17. Team17 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Team17 Digital Limited. All other trademarks, copyrights and logos are property of their respective owners.

About Team17 Digital Ltd:
Founded in 1990, Team17 Digital Limited is a leading independent developer and digital publisher headquartered in West Yorkshire (UK). Team17 publishes games for PC, console, mobile and handheld devices and other digital platforms. Visit www.team17.com for more info.

Weather Chum By Claude Turcot

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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February 20, 2014

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Weather Chum By Claude Turcot

View More By This Developer

Open iTunes to buy and download apps.

View In iTunes

This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad

$0.99
Category: Weather
Released: Feb 19, 2014
Version: 1.0.1
Size: 36.6 MB
Language: English
Seller: Claude Turcot
© 2014 Bluzeg

Rated 4+

Compatibility: Requires iOS 5.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Description

WEATHER GOT YOU DOWN ? THERE’S A CHUM TO BRING YOU UP!

Join Carl and his dog Twister on a wild meteorological adventure as they react humorously based on your current weather conditions, time and locations.

Light rain, brutal thunderstorms, moon phases, sun’s position, wind, snow, all part of Weather Chum’s creative canvas with realistic sound effects.

You’ll also have the opportunity to share actual weather conditions with your Facebook friends! Through a screenshot depicting Carl or Twister in your chosen scenery, you’ll make our heroes speak through you, comic-book style !

Featured in Weather Chum:
– Actual and 7 day-forecast;
– Sunrise and sunset times, wind speed and direction, humidity levels, “feels like” temperature as well as probability of precipitations;
– Fahrenheit or Celsius setting;
– Choose the location where you are (via GPS) and/or up to 3 other cities from anywhere in the world;
– Simple help screen;
– An optional purchase will unlock Twister the dog as well as the mountain scenery;

Application’s languages:
French and English

Weather information’s languages:
French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Italian, German, Romanian, Finnish, Dutch, Bulgarian, Chinese Traditional, Turkish, Czech, Polish, Vietnamese, Macedonian and Slovak

This application requires an Internet connection. Data transfer rates may apply.
Also, the device’s localisation service must be activated to approximately determine your location.

…More

Weather Chum Support

Screenshots

iPhone iPad

Earth Defense Force 2025’s Launch Trailer asks you to Save the Buildings

Dustin Spencer

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February 20, 2014

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Earth Defense Force 2025’s Launch Trailer asks you to Save the Buildings

Earth Defense Force has always been one franchise that never took itself seriously – and gained a huge cult following because of it. D3 Publisher are bringing back more of the Sandlot favorite with Earth Defense Force 2025, which brings more of everything full circle, including the polished gameplay.

This frantic title’s launch trailer asks us to save the one casualty we all forget about, and that is the buildings that get in the way. Yes, its campy – but oddly amazing in its own unique way. Check out the leveling clip below, and you can pick up Earth Defense Force 2025 today for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Sales Not too Hot in Japan

Dustin Spencer

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February 20, 2014

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I hate bad news, and I am sure Nintendo hate it just as much. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze first week numbers are in for Japan, and sold 35,000 during its first week on shelves. While these numbers are not the worst Nintendo have seen, they are not too great compared to the Wii predecessor – which sold 163,000 during its first week on shelves.

Now I think Donkey Kong has more appeal in the west, so that is where the promise lies with this title as it honestly looks top notch in quality. Before Wii U doom and gloom clouds roll in, we can also remember that the Wii’s install base was much higher when it released late into the console’s life (while also remembering that the game released weeks ahead in the west), and that we are still in the first year and a half for the follow-up platform. It will be interesting to see how Retro Studios move from here in Japan after these sales, but we can only hope things go up for our favorite ape.

Another Case Solved By Chillingo Ltd

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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February 20, 2014

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Another Case Solved By Chillingo Ltd

View More By This Developer

Open iTunes to buy and download apps.

View In iTunes

This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad

Free
Category: Games
Released: Feb 20, 2014
Version: 1.0
Size: 41.7 MB
Languages: English, Polish
Seller: Chillingo Ltd
© Ars Thanea

Rated 4+

Compatibility: Requires iOS 5.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad Wi-Fi (3rd generation), iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (3rd generation), iPad Wi-Fi (4th generation), iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (4th generation), iPad mini Wi-Fi, iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini with Retina display, iPad mini with Retina display Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPod touch (4th generation), and iPod touch (5th generation). This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Description

Become a famous detective and get to the bottom of a curious candy conspiracy in Another Case Solved, the latest game from the makers of Puzzle Craft.

This app offers in-app purchases. You may disable in-app purchasing using your device settings. See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4213 for more info.

This city is clamping down on candy cravings by outlawing sweet snacks! Solve a series of quirky cases by gathering clues, tracking down witnesses, and questioning suspects to reveal the truth behind this city’s sugarcoated secret.

This is a case too sweet to turn down!

Awesome Features
• Create your own personalized detective and customize their look with outfits, props, and more.
• Match clues, identify suspects, track down hidden items – Another Case Solved features multiple styles of gameplay to keep detectives on their toes.
• Tons of story-driven cases to keep you hooked into this sugary sweet mystery.
• Take on minor cases in your spare time to keep yourself in business.
• Transform your humble office into a vibrant workplace with new furniture that will increase your detective skills.
• Join the Detective Club and share your progress and achievements with friends via Facebook.

Visit the Chillingo room on the App Store to see more of our great games: appstore.com/chillingo

Terms of Service: http://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC/
Privacy and Cookie Policy: http://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBPRIVACY/US/en/PC/
Game EULA: http://tos.ea.com/legalapp/mobileeula/US/en/OTHER/
Visit http://www.chillingo.com/about/game-faqs/ for assistance or inquiries.

EA may retire online features and services after 30-days notice per e-mail (if available) and posted on www.ea.com/1/service-updates.

Important Consumer Information. This app: Requires acceptance of EA’s Privacy & Cookie Policy, TOS and EULA; contains advertisments for EA and it’s partners; collects data through the use of third party analytics technology (see Privacy and Cookie Policy for details); contains direct links to the Internet and social networking sites intended for an audience over 13.

…More

Chillingo Ltd Web Site Another Case Solved Support Application License Agreement

Screenshots

iPhone iPad

New screenshots and character information released for Demon Gaze

Travis Bruno

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February 20, 2014

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Today NIS America has released a new batch of screenshots for Demon Gaze and this time around they are focusing on introducing us to a few of the characters that we will be encountering and working with when the game is released on April 22nd in North America and April 25th in Europe.

In these screenshots we are introduced to the following characters, whose descriptions come from NIS America itself:

Lezerem Rantile – A frivolous elf who runs the item shop. He can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble — or in his clothes once he’s drunk.

Kukure – The self-proclaimed stylist at the inn. He looks like a child, but is actually a full grown Migmy. He’s picky when it comes to the female body, especially the posterior.

Fran Pendoll – The beautiful, young manager of the Dragon Princess Inn who’s somewhat of a tightwad, though she says she’s it’s because she’s working on a mission.

Lancelorna Beowulf – She’s got an Evil Eye, similar to the main character. After retiring as a mercenary for mysterious reasons, she now looks after the main character.

Prometh – A mysterious mortician girl who lives in the inn’s basement. She loves herself some skulls!

Pinay – A Ney girl with boundless energy who lives at the Dragon Princess Inn. She also might have another side to her…

Ragnarok Odyssey Ace release date officially announced

Travis Bruno

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February 20, 2014

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While XSEED Games had previously announced an early 2014 release window for Ragnarok Odyssey Ace, various placeholder dates have come and gone, leaving fans of the game to wonder exactly when the title would be hitting North America. Well today the company has announced that Ragnarok Odyssey Ace will be released on April 1st for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.

The PlayStation 3 version will cost $39.99 both physically and digitally while the Vita version will be similarly priced, but will come with a soundtrack CD containing 25 songs. To go along with this announcement a new trailer and a few new screenshots for the game were released and can be found below.

Another Case Solved Review

Frank Inglese

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February 20, 2014

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Another Case Solved
Developer: Ars Thanea Games
Publisher: Chillingo
Platforms: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (Reviewed)
Release Date: 20th February 2014
Price: Free (With In-App Purchases) – Available Here

Overview

In the days where simple puzzle games like “Candy Crush” and “Bejewelled” reign supreme over mobile devices, one game stands to separate itself from the pack and take its rightful place on the throne! Well maybe that was a little bit overboard but there’s nothing wrong with being a bit “flashy” at times. In all seriousness though; “Another Case Solved” is a game, developed by Ars Thanea Games (AT Games) and published by Chillingo (a juggernaut in the mobile games industry), that has you solving cases in an odd but extremely fun manner I can only really compare to that of a game like “Candy Crush”. It takes the idea of a simple puzzle game and gives it depth but…is depth in a puzzle game always good?

Story

“Another Case Solved” puts players into the shoes of a personal investigator/freelance detective that is just starting out his/her career in a town that has recently abolished sugar, it’s not something I always say but I believe using the quote; “Simpsons did it!” is entirely justified. You’re tasked with building up your professional reputation while taking on any cases you can just get a bit more money. The good thing about the story is that it doesn’t entirely focus on the whole “candy abolition” storyline, instead it focuses on a mix between menial jobs and full blown detective work.

It basically gives players a reason to actually continue playing but it doesn’t force them into unnecessary story, you can easily ignore what characters say and still finish cases just as easy as you would have if you read what they have to say. It has a story that justifies playing the game but it has a gameplay type that doesn’t necessarily need a story to play so it both covers its own butt and cancels itself out, take it whichever way you see fit.

Gameplay

As I mentioned in the paragraphs above; “Another Case Solved” plays a lot like a typical puzzle game wherein which you must match up three or more of the same icon to get points, the difference between those ones and this one is that “Another Case Solved” actually gives you a reason to play the game rather than just scoring more points. Seeing as you follow the story of a detective, you’re given cases to solve but you solve these by actually completing levels of puzzles. The gameplay is quite similar to how a game like “Pokemon Trozei” would be played; you’re essentially just playing a simple puzzle game but you actually have a purpose, in “Pokemon Trozei” you’re whittling down the enemy Pokemon’s health, in this game you’re working to solve cases.

There are more aspects to this game than just the matching up of symbols, there are side games or mini-games to play during larger cases like identifying a perpetrator or investigating a suspects residence, there’s actually a fair bit to do throughout. The gameplay even has players dealing with a great deal of customisation and levelling up both personal characters and the abilities they can use in-game, while I didn’t necessarily use them because I played the title with a more “casual” mentality, I can honestly see a lot of people getting down and dirty with the levelling system and the abilities it has to offer.

Visuals

When it comes to visuals throughout “Another Case Solved” I wouldn’t say they were absolutely perfect or that they were ground-breaking in any way but they were damn nice. Fact is; it never really needed to have incredible graphics or anything because it was simply a puzzle game so an abundance of unnecessary visual effects would have been…well, unnecessary. Unfortunately it did seem flat at times and the customisable features were mostly ugly, that goes for the people you come into contact with as well.

Some visual features of the game felt, more or less, rushed but it was definitely made up for by a lot of the other visuals. The really good thing about this game is that nothing looked or felt out of place which should be something every game would have mastered by now but you’d be surprised at the amount of mobile or iOS games that have visuals that don’t quite fit. Thought the screen did sometimes fill cluttered at least everything on those screens belonged there. While this game did nothing to blow me away it also didn’t do anything that would make me hate what it looked like, there are a little things here and there but not every title can be perfect.

Audio

It’s safe to say that the game captured that old-school, detective, semi-noire vibe quite well. The game isn’t exactly set in present times so to assume that it would be filled with modern-sounding music would be to make an uneducated guess. It’s filled with a lot of, I assume, nostalgia-inducing tones and sounds of which you’d probably hear in a more light-hearted version of “LA Noire”. While it is a detective story and it is set in a city riddled with crimes it doesn’t entirely have a dark soundtrack, it’s actually quite light-hearted and fitting. All the sound effects are great and match their visuals which, as I mentioned above, is something you’d assume every video game has mastered but, once again, you’d be surprised.

There’s minimal voice-acting in “Another Case Solved” but the voice-acting that is there is actually damn good, I will give credit to it despite it being a small aspect because if it was the inverse I would be taking points away. One thing that is incredibly annoying is the games advertisement system where, instead of just flashing ads at you, it comes in the form of a phone in your office that continues to ring until you tap it to look at the ad. That was probably the most annoying auditory aspect of the game and although it only every happened when you were at the office, it still good quite frustrating.

Overall

It really is how I defined it earlier on: a game similar to a great deal of puzzle games floating around but one that actually gives you an actual reason to play it. It’s fantastic on so many levels but there are a few small things that make it, let’s say, less than perfect but most people will be able to overlook those small things to be able to fully enjoy the game.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Ender’s Game Coming to Home Media April 4

Zac Elawar

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February 20, 2014

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Icon Home Entertainment is bringing Gavin Hood’s spectacular sci-fi-action film Ender’s Game to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital on April 4. The San Francisco Chronicle called the movie – based on the extremely popular novel of the same name by Orson Scott Card – “an absorbing and thought-provoking spectacle”.

Starring Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Indiana Jones), Asa Buttefield (Hugo, Wolfman), Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler’s List), Viola Davis (The Help, Doubt), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, Signs) and Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, Romeo and Juliet), Ender’s Game opened at number one at the U.S. box office back in November. It sees Butterfield play Ender Wiggin, “a shy, strategically brilliant boy, has been chosen to defend Earth from an ever-present hostile threat.” With thrilling visuals, emotional content (respect to Bruce Lee) and plenty of action, Ender’s Game is a great motion pictures for people of all ages.

Keep it locked to Capsule Computers as we review the Blu-ray edition of Ender’s Game closer to release.