Time to transform and roll out! Today the guys over at Paramount Pictures have given us a brand new trailer for their upcoming epic; Transformers: Age of Extinction. This latest poster shows off the film’s protagonist Cade, played by Mark Wahlberg. Judging from the poster alone, Cade already looks darker and more serious than Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBouf) from the previous films.
Check out the new poster below and remember that Transformers: Age of Extinction will be hitting theaters June 26th and is headlined by some killer talent. Joining Wahlberg are the likes of Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Sophia Myles, TJ Miller, Han Geng and Li Bingbing, and it looks like it will be the biggest and hopefully the best movie in the Transformers Saga. So for all the Transformers news as it becomes available, make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers.
Majesco Entertainment Company has recently announced that Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends will be available for the Nintendo 3DS this spring. The game will feature plenty of different features that will surely entice fans of Cooking Mama and fans of the prior title, Gardening Mama.
Use the stylus to plant seeds and care for them as you try to take care of your garden.
Grow a variety of different plants, up to 50+ unique plants are available.
Trade points for different decorations that you can use in your custom garden.
Different activities allow you different experiences every time you play.
Protect your plant from viruses and bugs.
For more information on this title, check out their site here. In addition, check out the screenshots that they’ve released to see what’s in store in this exciting new title.
Overview
With the release of Shadowrun Returns a little over half a year ago, the promise of more content set in the rich cyberpunk universe was tantalizing. With the toolset released for the community, the Shadowrun universe was sure to grow. Now, developers Harebrained Schemes have released their first official expansion. How does Dragonfall hold up, though? Is it sitting on a horde of gold or was it shot out of the sky?
Story
You are a shadowrunner. You’ve lived under the radar, earning your keep by taking on the sorts of tasks law-abiding citizens couldn’t even imagine. Set during the same time period as Shadowrun Returns, Dragonfall takes you out of cyberpunk Seattle and drops you into Berlin, Germany.
An old friend and fellow shadowrunner, Monika Schafer, pulls you onto her team. On your first run with the new team – a run that was supposed to be easy money – something goes horribly wrong. Monika, an expert decker, jacks into the computer system of a door below Harfeld Manor when she suffers a terrible biofeedback from the defenses in the door. With her dying breath, she utters the phrase “Feuerschwinge” and passes away. Now, you’ve got to discover what happened to Monika, earn the respect of her team, and uncover a plot that goes much deeper than any shadowrunner has ever been.
Gameplay
Fans of Shadowrun Returns will immediately feel at home in the warm glow of neon lights and computer screens. If you haven’t played Shadowrun Returns (which you definitely should) you’re in for a fantastic treat (minus a few bugs).
Harebrained Schemes has outdone themselves with the first expansion. Dragonfall continues what is shaping up to be a legacy of excellent stories with fantastic storytelling. The story itself is full of intrigue, fantasy, and action. Beyond that, the storytelling is excellent. There is an attention to detail given in Dragonfall that few games on the market can boast. The game delivers some great payoffs to If you spend any time at all with this game, you’ll be completely sucked in.
Along with the storytelling, I found the characters to be deep and interesting, contributing to the experience whether through conversations between missions or in combat, bringing their unique skills to bear. The team in Berlin boasts a wide array of unique individuals from the veteran shaman Dietrich to the hard-nosed, militaristic troll Eiger, to the emotionally detached medic, Glory, and more. They all have personality, helping further immerse you in the story and world.
For veterans of Returns, Dragonfall‘s combat remains largely unchanged, and that’s perfectly fine. For the uninitiated, Shadowrun‘s combat is a strategic turn-based system, allowing you to set up and handle each encounter with an addictive air of tactical prowess. You’ll be able to position your runners, take cover, shoot, cast magic, and more. It’s not meant for run-and-gun gamers as it can take some time to orchestrate everything, but the payoff of a battle won will always call you back for more. In terms of character class and progression, much is still around from Returns, offering the same classes and karma upgrade paths as before. It’s familiar – nothing groundbreaking – but why try to fix what already operates at the top of its class?
On top of a finely crafted story, the sheer amount of new content in Dragonfall makes it worth the purchase. New classes of weaponry like sniper rifles, grenade launchers, and tasers make their way into the game. There’s also a bevy of new character portraits to bring the world to life, several new enemies to fight, and more. RPG fans everywhere will find a lot of bang for their buck here.
Visuals & Audio
Visually, not much has changed since Returns. Dragonfall features quite a few new character portraits and gear options, as previously mentioned, but the overarching aesthetic remains the same. Cities are bathed in an eye-catching neon glow. The dark, grungy streets of Kreuzbasar and its surrounding landscape are constant reminders that the world is a broken, decaying place. Character models carry no more fidelity than they did before, though a few new enemies give you something new and interesting to look at. All of that said, Shadowrun: Dragonfall is still an excellent looking isometric RPG with a lot to satisfy your eye-candy sweet tooth.
Dragonfall boasts a great cyber-punk soundtrack. Composed by Marshall Parker and Sam Powell, who were involved with the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Shadowrun titles, the music does a great job of setting the mood and driving the action. The game’s sound effects also do an excellent job conveying the on-screen world, packing a punch with each gunshot or spell cast.
Overall
I found Dragonfall to be a top-notch follow-up to one of my favorite games of 2013. It boasts a great story, accentuated by excellent storytelling and deep characters. Combat is both cognitively satisfying and visceral, delivering an addictive system you’ll look forward to. There are a few bugs, but they’re insignificant compared to the strength of its offerings. If you don’t have Shadowrun Returns yet, it’s easily worth the price of admission. If you do, Dragonfall is a must-have. Overall, Shadowrun: Dragonfall is a finely crafted RPG experience, showing that Harebrained Schemes knows its audience and continues to hone their craft.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
On Tap in Austin:Devolver Digital Turns Up the Heat at South by SouthWest with Jaw-Dropping Indie Games, Indie Cinema Premieres and a Film Distribution Panel Discussion from the Future
– Go hands on with the anticipated Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, catch a worldwide premiere for the remarkable professional gaming documentary “Good Game” and Hear Why Digital Distribution is the Future of Your Indie Film with Devolver Digital at SXSW –
AUSTIN—MARCH 3, 2014 –– Devilishly handsome Austin-based independent games and film publisher and distributor Devolver Digital is going big at South by SouthWest next week with an incredible array of indie games demos, independent films and an in-depth panel featuring the best minds from the games and independent film industries. The panel focuses on the future of indie film distribution, “Can Digital Game Publishing Show Us the Way?” on Tuesday, March 11 at 12:30pm in Room 15 at the Austin Convention Center.
The hotly anticipated PC game Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will be showcased in Devolver Digital’s indie gaming Array of Spectacularness from Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 16 at booth 145 in the Austin Convention Center. Additionally, attendees can get their hands on Vlambeer’s LUFTRAUSERS, andget bro-y with Broforce and glimpse the complex moral-dilemmas in the upcoming Gods Will Be Watching.
Devolver Films commemorates its first birthday on March 11 with a kickass celebration and the free worldwide premiere of its latest indie documentary, ‘Good Game’ at the Seekret Theater at 7pm. ‘Good Game’ follows the notorious professional Starcraft 2 team, Evil Geniuses, and goes behind the scenes in the ruthless world of competitive gaming.
Since forming at SXSW one year ago, Devolver Digital’s film distribution arm has already seen the release of more than 50 independent films across multiple genres. The team invites SXSW attendees, fellow filmmakers, indie film fans and gamers to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ with them on the infamous RVIP Lounge and Karaoke Bus on Monday, March 10, from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. In addition to drinks, karaoke and general debauchery, Devolver will hold a special screening for one of its most critically-praised films, Let’s Ruin it With Babies, which was lauded by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Marie Claire Magazine and more that night at a super secret location to be revealed at a later time.
Mike Wilson, co-founder of Devolver Digital said, “One year of distributing great indie films is something to celebrate. We’re fortunate to work with such amazing people every day, and we’re looking forward to bringing more of these passion projects—whether they’re games or films—to bigger audiences.”
Wilson is set to speak about digital distribution for independent game developers and filmmakers on the panel “Can Digital Game Publishing Show Us the Way?” on Tuesday, March 11 at 12:30pm in Room 15 at the Austin Convention Center. Joining him on the panel is Director of Business Development at online direct-to-fan distribution platform VHX Adam Klaff, Portal and Portal 2 Designer Mike Morasky, Co-founder of the Humble Bundle John Graham, and Stephanie Tinsley Schopp, principal at the boutique PR consultancy Tinsley-PR.
About the Devolver Digital Interactive Pavilion of Spectacularness:
· Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number follows 2012’s critical hit and commercial success Hotline Miami with more carnage, distinct visuals and a pulsing soundtrack, all wrapped up in a story that blurs the line between fiction and reality.
· In LUFTRAUSERS, developer Vlambeer marries aerial dog-fighting with a classic arcade style that’s makes being a fighter pilot feel truly badass.
· The highly-anticipated Gods Will Be Watching from developer Deconstructeampromises sweaty palms and furrowed brows as players point and click their way through puzzles that make them confront tough ethical choices.
· In the run-and-gun, side-scrolling action game Broforce, developer Free Live Games introduces a hyper-masculine group of commanders who fight terrorists and free prisoners of war, in the dudeliest way possible.
To schedule a time to meet up with Devolver at SXSW, please hit up Stephanie Tinsley Schopp, [email protected].
Recently, independent developer Nowhere Studios announced that their puzzle platformer title Monochromawill be launching this April through Steam for the PC, Mac, and Linux.
Monochroma follows a boy and his brother after they witness a crime committed by an evil corporation. The game utilizes the the brothers working together to save the world from this evil corporation. The game is set in the 1950’s during a heavy period of upheavals and protest. The game was inspired by past classics such as Heart of Darkness, Abe’s Oddysee, and other titles. The game acquired a lot of its funding from Kickstarter, finishing its campaign in July 2013.
Make sure to keep an eye out for this exciting title. To find more information, check out their site here.
Today, game publishing giant Activision announced a pre-order bonus for their upcoming title, The Amazing Spider-Man 2available exclusively at GameStop.
Players who pre-order the upcoming Spider-Man game from GameStop will get the “Web Threads Suit Pack.” This is a DLC bundle that includes four sharp-looking super-powered suits for Peter Parker’s alter ego on the game’s launch day. The four suits include:
The cutting-edge designed, red and gold Iron Spider Suit
The stellar, blue and white Cosmic Spider-Man Suit
The all-consuming Venom-like Black Suit
The pulp-style Spider-Man Noir Suit
Click on the image for full-size.
The game will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, 3DS, and PC on April 29, 2014. For more information, you can check out their official page here.
Communication seems to be a pretty common problem in families and such is definitely the case in this make-shift family of Yato, Hiyori and Yukine. It can verge on frustration at times even. Why can’t Yato just be frank with Yukine? Why can’t they just sit down and talk things through? Perhaps they are both too proud to put their feelings out there, but I think it runs deeper than that.
I think that Yato understands Yukine’s situation quite well, as evidenced by him saying “He is at a difficult dangerous age and he is stuck there forever.” This speaks leaps and bounds about Yukine and the dynamic between the characters. Yato is the father who understands his son but not enough to be able to get on the some page as him. That is the problem these two are currently faced with.
This episode is center stage for the Yato and Yukine situation. Yato and Yukine travel to Hiyori’s school to help a victim of bullying. Yato’s solution to the problem is somewhat questionable, but when has any of his decisions not been? He gives the victim two box cutters and tells him to do whatever he thinks is right with them. The kid threatens the bully but gives him one of the cutters so that he could atleast defend himself. Interestingly the kid doesn’t cross the line and instead simply walks away from it, not before causing the bully the piss his pants of course.
While all of this is going on, Yukine is lamenting over his lost life and lack of any real friends. He ventures around the school grounds and grows increasingly envious of all the happy kids going about their lives. We see that his recent bout of theft may not be purely just that, but it is underscored by Yukine’s core desire. That desire being to have something or someone in his life (or death if you’re talking particulars). But no matter what he does he can’t, he is detached from the world, permanently so. This is tragic and even though Yukine is somewhat painted in a negative light here. But I can’t help but sympathize with his plight.
Much faster than anticipated, the foretold ‘death’ of Yato looks to be quickly approaching. After Yukine flips out and smashes a bunch of windows at the school, Yato is overcome with blight. Hiyori turns into her spirit form and is accidentally blighted herself. Yukine turns up in time to witness it, shocked by what he sees. When Hiyori tells him it is his fault, it clearly cuts deep. Yukine falls even further into the darkness now and it is hard to know how much farther he has to fall.
Hiyori takes Yato to Kofuku as instructed but it confronted with a somewhat difficult situation. Daikoku uses a borderline to keep them out, rejecting them entrance and assistance. Yato is on the brink of death and the only two people in the world gods that even seemed to give a rat’s ass about him have turned their backs on the stray god. Where does this leave Yato? What happens when a God dies? It is intriguing territory and I’m interested to see Noragami approach it. I don’t follow the manga so I’m not sure what is anime original and what is source material at this point, but colour me curious as to where things go from here.
A moment I have neglected to mention thus far, but one that is quite important as we move forward is the confrontation between Kofuku and Bishamon. Bishamon inquires as to where Kofuku’s allegiances lie, she then threatens Bishamon that a storm will come her way if anything where to happen to Yato. So why is it that she and Daikoku reject Yato in the episode’s final moments? He is on the brink of death and things are looking dire. With nowhere left to turn, the stray god has reached his tether, will he live through this or will he wander off to the other side?
KickStarter have proven themselves to be quite a sucessful crowdfunding platform and now they have the bank to prove it as the site has drawn in over $1,000,000,000 dollars in pledges that go towards funding the large variety of projects people have started. KickStarter began operations on April 28, 2009 and has since exploded in popularity, helping to fund all types of projects from movies, public murals and games to new inventions such as the Oculus Rift. Even big time developers have jumped onto the KickStarter train with people such as Keiji Inafune (creator of MegaMan) relying on fan support to create his new MegaMan based project Mighty No. 9.
Over half of the billion dollars was donated in the last year alone with two thirds of the funding coming from the States. To celebrate the milestone the team at Kickstarter have created some cool infographics detailing exactly how they made it to the big billion, follow this link if you want to see it for yourself.
As with most popular franchise it’s of no surprise when a spin off is made, with one of the most popular choices being a pinball game. With the immense popularity of PopcapsPlants vs. Zombies series it was of no surprise to see this happen once again and now Mac and PC users will be able to join in the fun as Plants vs. Zombies Pinball will finally be coming to those platforms after being made available on consoles some time ago. Created by the masters of virtual pinball, Zen Studios, Plants vs. Zombies Pinball challenges players to repel the Zombie invasion by growing your plants and collecting sunlight.
This table can be purchased as DLC for Pinball FX 2 or Zen Pinball 2 on a wide range of platforms already including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Xbox LIVE Arcade, Wii U. The table will be available as DLC for Pinball FX 2 on Steam and for Zen Pinball 2 on Mac from March 6th. Pricing for the Mac App Store comes in at $2.99 so we expect the game to cost a similar price on Steam when those versions release. You can check out the trailer for the table below. Watch it, there’s a zombie trying to play pinball.
Things just keep plunging deeper and deeper into that abyss in Noragami.
With this episode it is pretty much a lock at this point that we are heading towards a head-on collision of an ending. All the pieces are moving and it is only a matter of time before someone gets checkmate. Judging by the way this episode ends, this game of chess may have just gotten a third participant, coming in to twist the rules of the game as we know it and potentially be the catalyst that causes all the elements to collide.
The story just keeps taking sharp turns, never knowing what it is around the corner but some how what’s around the corner isn’t too shocking, but never disappointing on the same page. Hiyori has been caught out by Bishamon’s right hand man Kazuma and he seems to be a bit more switched on to things than first thought. While he is completely loyal to Bishamon, he knows that Yato isn’t such a bad guy, even going so far to say that he “owes Yato a great deal”. These conflicted feelings undoubtedly will bring Kazuma and Bishamon into conflict eventually. It is just a matter of which way the coin will drop.
Perhaps most interesting is the insight Kazuma gives regarding the blight Yato has accrued thanks to Yukine’s mounting misdeeds. We learn that if Yukine is not kept in check, eventually the blight will overcome Yato and ultimately kill him. This is bad news for Yato, but it only makes things more interesting in regards to his relationship with Yukine. He comes off as a stern father figure rather than a merciless god that we have seen in previous weeks.
It goes without saying that Yukine doesn’t like being used the way he has been and it does make me wonder if that has to do with that suppressed past life as a human being. I’m betting it does. Regardless of all that Yato and Yukine need to get on the same page again. So what will be the spark to ignite that? Well I have a feeling it will be Hiyori. She seems to be the only one who can really crack Yato and that much was true in this episode. This girl has some kind of power over this god, what exactly that is however is up to debate at this point.
One of the quieter moments of the episode, but one that holds great importance to filling in the blanks with this story, is Hiyori’s meeting with the God of Learning. She is there on a simple inquiry regarding Yukine’s whereabouts, but what she uncovers is deeply insightful to the world between the near and far shore. He tells her that Yukine was there looking for a job, but he rejected the young boy on the grounds that if he accepted him he would become a ‘Nora’, a dirty kind of regalia that has many users, or put more plainly, a deadset whore of a regalia. We have already met one ‘Nora’ and it has been hinted at that Yato once used her. These types of regalia are generally detested in this world and considered to be tainted.
So where does this leave us as we head into the final straight of episodes? Well it is hard to say, with the introduction of the mystery man at the end of the episode, one has got to figure that the anime is going for an original ending. Hopefully it would at least leave things open for a second season. If I was a betting man, I’d have to say that we are building towards a battle between the Gods and Noras of the world. For now that is all just thoughts based on the 5 second appearance of a mysterious character at the very end of the episode. But it seems like a substantial enough collision point for this final stretch. The question now is, who will survive to coming crash?
