The Nintendo eShop constantly rolls out different themed sales to delight and surprise audiences and fans from around the world. The last two that we saw were a Link/Legend Of Zelda sale and a Megaman sale, well this time around it’s Nintendo’s favourite Italian plumber Mario. Both the Wii U and the 3DS get access to the sales so it’s fair on either end, the only difference is the games that are up for grabs on the consoles.
There will be four titles on the Wii U and four titles on the 3DS, two of which are present on both systems, so no matter what console you have I’m sure you’ll find something that you’ll enjoy and for cheap too! The sale isn’t going to be running for long, it will last from now until the 5th of December but after that, from the 5th until the 12th, Donkey Kong will be taking the spotlight and we’ll be seeing his games on sale. The image you see below correctly identifies what is up for sale for the Wii U and 3DS over the next few days:
PS Vita owners of Rayman Legends have another reason to celebrate today. Ubisoft has announced that the new patch for Rayman Legends contains 28 new Invasion Levels. Players will need to avoid enemies and traps in the new levels under the pressure of time. The content patch also raises the amount of Teensies to rescue to 700.
Ubisoft Montpellier’s Rayman Legends is a platformer and follow up to the 2011 platformer Rayman Origins. Players will run, jump and free Teensies on more than 120 levels. The game supports up to four players at a time. Rayman Legends is available for PS Vita, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Windows.
The PlayStation 4 has finally been released in Australia and it seems as though the next gen console did so with a bang! Across Australia last night over 321 stores opened their doors up at midnight to allow the masses to grab their brand-new system and to join in with the elation and celebration that comes with the launch of a new console.
It has already been stated that this launch has double that of Sony’s last console launch, that being the PlayStation 3, and Merchandising Director Shane Stockwell had this to say: “This was one of the biggest console launches of all time, and was twice the size of the Playstation 3 launch we saw in 2007. Demand for the Playstation 4 is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, and we are currently taking preorders for shipments in early 2014.” It seems as though this generation of gaming is hitting harder than ever, excitement levels are high and that’s the way it should be.
Debra McGrath who is the National Brand, Engagement and Events Manager was present at an EB Games in Liverpool last night where she stated:
“The atmosphere onsite was electric. It’s awesome to see the entire community come together to get involved and celebrate, particularly those who’ve never witnessed a console launch. Thousands of fans came out last night to witness and be a part of the beginning of a new generation, for both technology and the games community.”
“The passionate customers that showed up to our launches last night have had their PS4 preorder since before July this year – in some cases the preorders were placed so long ago that our EB World program didn’t even exist. The first pre-order for the next PlayStation was put down way back on the 5th of July, 2011 – this just demonstrates how much these fans love the Sony brand. We wanted to make sure we looked after them, and helped make their night memorable”
The only unfortunate thing is that, if you were unable to obtain a PlayStation 4 through pre-order or just luck than you’ll be waiting until a fair time into 2014 before you can get your hands on one, luckily enough EB Games are able to confirm a position for you in 2014 to be able to get your console by going through a simple process that is similar to pre-ordering, so get in their now to secure your spot. For those like me who still haven’t gotten a PlayStation 4, not only do we have several pictures of an EB Games midnight release but we also have an Official Video from Sony regarding the PlayStation 4’s PlayStation Plus launch. Watch and enjoy!
PlayStation 4 Launches: more than double the size of Playstation 3
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – November 29, 2013. EB Games is celebrating a hugely successful launch of the PlayStation 4 console, with over 321 stores opening their doors at midnight for customers.
Shane Stockwell, Merchandising Director, stated that the launch of the Playstation 4 has surpassed the size of the Playstation 3 by more than double. ““This was one of the biggest console launches of all time, and was twice the size of the Playstation 3 launch we saw in 2007. Demand for the Playstation 4 is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, and we are currently taking preorders for shipments in early 2014.”
Debra McGrath, National Brand, Engagement & Events Manager attended the Official EB Store Launch at Liverpool last night and stated, “The atmosphere onsite was electric. It’s awesome to see the entire community come together to get involved and celebrate, particularly those who’ve never witnessed a console launch. Thousands of fans came out last night to witness and be a part of the beginning of a new generation, for both technology and the games community.”
“The passionate customers that showed up to our launches last night have had their PS4 preorder since before July this year – in some cases the preorders were placed so long ago that our EB World program didn’t even exist,” said McGrath. “The first preorder for the next Playstation was put down way back on the 5th of July, 2011 – this just demonstrates how much these fans love the Sony brand. We wanted to make sure we looked after them, and helped make their night memorable”
Customers who have not yet secured a PlayStation 4 are able to confirm a position in a queue for 2014 in any EB Games store and online at www.ebgames.com.au.
Welcome back for this week’s iOS Game Suggestions. If you missed last week’s, or are new to the suggestions, click on the link below and check out what cool games you should be picking up for your iOS device along with the introduction on how the suggestions work. (suggestions 1 has how it all works)
A great week on iTunes! As always, it started slow and but ended with a bang! There are many must-buy games this week in all departments, FREE, 99c and over 99c. This week I’ve suggested a total of 18 great quality titles. Make sure you check them all especially… Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, Icycle: On Thin Ice, Galaxy On Fire – Alliances, Kiwi & Me, Inner World, Skulls Of The Shogun, just to name a few.
Break down below :
6 – FREE Games
5 – $0.99c Games
7 – Over $0.99c Games
As always for this week’s suggestions are all new titles that you should take a look at and consider spending your hard earned iTunes cash / time on. Well the Free games just below certainly should all be given a shot as they won’t cost you anything!
For The Cheapskates – FREE GAMES
Galaxy On Fire – Alliances – Price : FREE – Publisher –Fishlabs (Galaxy on Fire – Alliances puts you in the role of an up-and-coming Commander of the Terrans, Nivelians or Vossk. Determined to claim and conquer a hitherto uncharted part of the galaxy known as the Shroud Nebula, you will set out to seek fame and fortune beyond the final frontier. Starting your operations from within your private home system, you will soon breach into a vivid galaxy with over 400,000 individual planets and challenge thousands of players in an epic quest for space dominion.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Jetbee – Ready, set… GO! – Price : FREE – Publisher –Bulkypix (You can play alone or against up to eight participants in more than 20 courses on wild multiplayer modes! Get your rivals out of your way catching and using special items placed on the courses: Speed boost flowers, poison grenades, M’Fly the bodyguard fly,… ) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Kiwi & Me – Price : FREE – Publisher –Beeline Interactive (Meet Kiwi, a magical creature who’s a little bit bird, a little bit plant, and a whole lotta’ cute! Kiwi’s mother has gone missing, and Kiwi needs your help to find her again. Help Kiwi navigate forests, mountains, desert, and more by switching, mixing, and matching your way through colorful puzzles to find the things Kiwi will need to complete the journey. Get to know Kiwi and watch your new friend grow up before your eyes.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Adventure Town – Price : FREE – Publisher –Supersolid (HEROES WANTED! Our once magnificent town has been destroyed by terrifying monsters and bone-chilling beasts! Please help us return our town to its former glory, and we will reward you handsomely. Place tempting new shops and houses in the town to attract mighty heroes in search of adventure, then customize the heroes and make them the greatest fighting legends in history! Only YOU can make our world great once more and save us from the evil forces of darkness!) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
OMG: TD! – Price : FREE – Publisher – Yodo1 Games(Play the action-packed defense game where you command the Greek gods themselves! Blast hordes of monsters with elemental magic, call legendary heroes to your aid, and summon your gods to wreak havoc across the battlefield!) on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Stampede Run – Price : FREE – Publisher –Zynga (Single player mode is here! Charge through the streets of Spain – dodge bulls on your own or challenge your friends, you choose! Complete achievements to earn new boosts and power your way up the leaderboards. The bulls are ready to run anywhere you go, with offline play now available.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
For The Bargain Hunters – 99c Games
Plague Inc – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Ndemic Creations (Can you infect the world? Plague Inc. is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation. Your pathogen has just infected ‘Patient Zero’. Now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself. Brilliantly executed with innovative gameplay and built from the ground up for iPhone & iPad, Plague Inc. evolves the strategy genre and pushes mobile gaming (and you) to new levels. It’s You vs. the world – only the strongest can survive! ) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Icycle: On Thin Ice – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Chillingo (Games and art become one in the masterfully crafted and visually stunning Icycle: On Thin Ice. Play as the cold naked hero Dennis, and pedal, jump and glide through each beautiful but deadly post-apocalyptic frozen wonderland.) runs on iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
Numerity – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Zedarus Entertainment (Discover what is hidden in a clutter of numbers! Find and highlight the correct numerals until they form a distinctive image. Challenge and develop your concentration, math, and memory skills! Share images you’ve found with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Skateboard Slam – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Zynga (Ready…Set…Slam! Face off against friends or tear into single player challenges in this high-flying, high-octane skateboarding race. Trick your way around obstacles and traps through four exotic worlds to reach the finish line first!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Darklings – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – MildMania (Darklings is an epic endless adventure through magical worlds. Experience unique gesture driven gameplay blended with awesome noire artwork carrying the touch based games to a whole new level. Join Lum to purge the Darklings. Save the stars, save the world. Darkness is coming!.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
For The Millionaires – All games over $0.99
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years – Price : $16.99 – Publisher – Square Enix (With a full 3-D remake, FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS can now be played as never before. Take part in the epic sequel that unfolds nearly two decades after the events of FINAL FANTASY IV. Classic characters make their return alongside several new heroes, such as Ceodore, son of Cecil and Rosa.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
MULE Returns– Price : $4.99 – Publisher – Comma 8 Studios (MULE is a ridiculously fun and addictive strategy game that combines real-time and turn-based styles as you battle for land and resources on a newly colonized planet. The game is easy to grasp but provides great depth of game-play.) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
Puzzle Coaster– Price : $1.99 – Publisher – Marvelous Games (Who hasn’t wanted to design the PERFECT roller coaster? Puzzle Coaster puts YOU in control – and you’ll need to use the right pieces of track to build just the right coaster that both thrills the passengers and collects all the coins along the way. Your coaster kit will include a variety of crazy pieces including loop-de-loops, cannon blasters and super springs. Just like your favourite ride, things start off pretty mellow but get exciting real fast – you will need your thinking cap on to complete all 63 brain-busting levels!) runs iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
Wrath Of Psychobos – Ben 10 Omniverse – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Cartoon Network (Use Ben’s alien powers and Rook’s Proto-Tool weapons to take down the evil genius Dr. Psychobos in a GIGANTIC BEN 10 ADVENTURE! Explore the galaxy and battle tons of bad guys in Wrath of Psychobos!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
The Inner World – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Headup Games (Robert is a novice, a bit clueless, but with a heart of gold. He lives a peaceful life as a court musician in Asposia’s largest wind monastery. Contrary to the laws of physics, Asposia is an enormous, hollow space surrounded by an infinite expanse of earth. The world’s air is provided through three wind fountains, but as one wind fountain after the other petered out and the wind gods came to Asposia, all of the sudden Robert found him in the middle of a whirlwind.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Skulls Of The Shogun – Price : $4.99 – Publisher – 17-Bit. (Crush your enemies and eat their skulls! Skulls of the Shogun is a fast-paced turn-based strategy game, supercharged with fighting-game flare and double-stuffed with a serious sense of humor! Enter the Samurai Afterlife and join forces with undead warriors, magical monks, and mighty mustachioed samurai generals!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
The Mysterious Cities Of Gold: Secret Paths [Director’s Cut]– Price : $11.99 – Publisher – Ynnis Interactive (Play Esteban, Zia and Tao through numerous tricky levels full of puzzles, traps and infiltration phases in a wide variety of diverse gorgeous settings. Explore every nook and cranny of China, and escape Zarès’ hostile men, searching for the local City of Gold. ) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
There you have it folks these games should keep you busy for quite some time well until next week at least. I’ll be back next week for another dose of iOS goodness, in the meantime if you would also like to suggest your own suggestions, please feel free to share them in the comments section below or in the iOS forum section on the site here.
Batman™: Arkham Origins – New DLC Packs Available Today
Available today from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are three all-new pieces of DLC for Batman™: Arkham Origins – Infinite Earths Skins Pack, Black Mask Challenge Pack and Online Supply Drop #1.
Batman™: Arkham Origins Infinite Earths Skins Pack
The Batman” Arkham Origins Infinite Earths Skins Pack is now available on the PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE online entertainment network from Microsoft and Steam for £3.99, and on Nintendo eShop for £3.19. Players who have purchased the Batman: Arkham Origins Season Pass and are connected to the Internet will have instant access to the content that can be used in challenges maps, as well as the single-player campaign upon completion of the main story and in multiplayer for players that reach Level 2.
The pack contains six bonus skins based on a variety of classic comic books and modern storylines pulled from the comics:
· Earth 2 Dark Knight
· Long Halloween Batman™
· Batman™: Dark Knight of the Round Table
· Thrillkiller Batman™
· Earth 2 Batman™
· Classic Tim Drake Robin (available in multiplayer mode only on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC)
** Please note that Season Pass owners do not need to purchase this DLC pack, as all new content is already included in the Pass.
Batman™: Arkham Origins Black Mask Challenge Pack
Available on the PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE online entertainment network from Microsoft, Nintendo eShop and Steam for £1.59, the Black Mask Challenge pack allows players to take on Gotham’s most dangerous crime lordin two all new challenge maps: Lot Full and Hidden Facility. All players can defend the city as Batman, and those who own the Deathstroke Challenge Pack can also choose to play as Deathstroke in this new challenge map pack.
Batman™: Arkham Origins Online Supply Drop #1
Available on PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE online entertainment network from Microsoft and Steam for £2.39, the Online Supply Drop #1 DLC offers additional multiplayer content: two additional clothing items with game enhancing features for Bane and The Joker; the all-new Sawn-Off Shotgun; and extra weapon progression bonuses and skins.
About Batman: Arkham Origins
Developed by WB Games Montréal, Batman: Arkham Origins is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game features an expanded Gotham City and showcases a young and unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight. As the story unfolds, players will meet many important characters for the first time and forge key relationships. The online multiplayer mode is developed by Splash Damage.
Batman: Arkham Origins is the next installment in the blockbuster Batman: Arkhamvideogame franchise and is available now for the Xbox 360®, PS3™, the Wii U™ system, and Windows PC. The game is now available worldwide along with Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate™ for Nintendo 3DS™ handheld system and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system.
Bounce your way to victory with Papa Pear Saga on mobile – the latest cross-platform game from the makers of Candy Crush Saga
King’s super wacky puzzler launches on iOS and Android
28 November 2013, London & New York: Ready, steady, bounce! King, the world’s leading casual games company and creator of the critically-acclaimed Candy Crush Saga, has announced that its hugely popular Facebook game Papa Pear Saga is now available on iOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch) and Android devices.
Papa Pear Saga, the next game in a series of hits from King, is free-to-play and launches on mobile with 120 exciting levels across eight episodes. The mobile version of the game seamlessly synchronises with Facebook so players can progress, unlock new levels and access leaderboards across multiple platforms. And, like all King games, it’s perfectly ‘snackable’ so can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.
So, crash-helmets on, goggles at the ready, and prepare to be transported to a wonderfully wacky world of fruity pegs, acorns and crazy chillies! Papa Pear Sagachallenges players to skillfully fire Papa Pear shots into a selection of barrels, while evading a tricky maze of obstacles. Making each Papa Pear shot count is vital as players are challenged to hit as many objects as they can throughout the course of each level to generate further points within the game.
“Papa Pear Saga has been phenomenally successful on Facebook where it is currently played by nearly 15 million people each month (AppData Nov 13),” says Tommy Palm, Games Guru at King. “It’s a game that’s instantly playable and, like everything we do, has been designed to bring a smile to people’s faces. Candy CrushSaga may continue to be one of the most successful games on mobile platforms, however we’re keen to offer our players even more ways to have fun on their mobiles and we can’t wait to see the reaction to Papa Pear Saga.”
Papa Pear saga is available to download for free now on iOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch) and on Google Play for Android.
-ENDS-
About King:
King is the world leader in cross-platform, bite-sized games, with more than 1 billion gameplays per day globally. King offers 150 exclusive games in 14 languages through mobile, Facebook and the website www.king.com. The company has offices in Barcelona, Bucharest, London, Malta, Malmo, San Francisco and Stockholm. For more information, visit http://about.king.com.
Ubisoft has been introducing expert guitarists to Rocksmith 2014 Edition to get their reactions on the guitar-teaching software.
Earlier this month, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal – lead guitarists of Guns N’ Roses – explored its innovative new features and modes, such as Session Mode, Riff Repeater and more.
Ron gave his feedback on the experience, stating;
For such a complex game that covers so many things it was very easy to just start right up. You didn’t leave any stone unturned as far as what matters.
You can check out his video interview embedded below. Rocksmith 2014 Edition is out now for the Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Mac. Read our review here.
It seems that video games will not be condemned to be passed off as an insignificant entertainment. We are now seeing many and new interesting projects is being taken up to include video gaming in to the culture of arts and technology.
One of the new projects which aims to appreciate the artwork of video games with self-explanatory title ‘Video Games in Museums’. It looks to discover ways of displaying and understanding game designs and artwork in a museum exhibit. This effort is by the partnership of Abertay University and the V&A museum in London as well as popular game creators such as Microsoft and Sony.
The goal is to help shape the future of video game innovation and academic and gaming partners will take part in a series of workshops starting in Spring 2014 till Autumn 2015 at the V&A.
Kieran Long, Senior Curator of Contemporary Architecture, Design and Digital at V&A had this to say:
“This is a unique opportunity to work side by side with industry leaders to present their work in a unique light. The V&A is a museum concerned with creativity and process, and here we have the opportunity to research one of the most prolific and urgent design disciplines.”
The exposure of the design decisions made by a range of creative games designers will hopefully encourage innovative ideas for video game display and acquisition which will go beyond a currently passive ‘off the shelf’ approach.
Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine Part 2 Studio: TMS Entertainment Publisher: Hanabee Format: DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Release Date: November 20th, 2013 Price:$59.99 – Available Here
Overview Lupin the Third is the story of the world’s greatest thief, but The Woman Called Fujiko Mine isn’t his story. No, this is most definitely the story of the cunning seductress Fujiko Mine, an embodiment of mystery who bares a truth so cold it burns. With Part 2 of Hanabee’s collected releases of Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine the femme fatale comes face to face with the truth behind her cold eyes, the darkness that broke her, the circumstances that made her into Fujiko Mine. It is a climax to savour for an unforgettable journey into the heart of this iconic character that is the woman called Fujiko Mine.
Story
Picking up where Part 1 left off, Fujiko is quickly becoming thrust back into the harsh darkness of her past. We come to see how she became the woman she did and the ways in which she became broken. Slowly but surely the past that continues to rear its ugly head begins to send Fujiko off the rails and she becomes more and more unhinged.
While the early goings of this series were all about the thrill of adventure and the crazy life that Fujiko Mine leads. That adventure was always underpinned with a notion that freedom comes with sacrifice. Until now what sacrifice Fujiko had to make had been kept hidden. With this final stretch of episodes all has become illuminated and we see the true pains of what one must give up in order to be truly free. Fujiko had to lose herself, lose her future, lose her childhood, lose all control of who she wanted to be in the world, all in the name of being free. Well in the end Fujiko was never free, she was caged by her past in a way that she could hardly comprehend. The torture of days gone by had worn her out, all that remained was a shell of a girl that could have been and with these final episodes we see Fujiko take that girl back.
What we see here isn’t a story about being free, but a journey for identity. Fujiko Mine was but a name, it isn’t until she confronts the demons of her past and deals with the pain that she had bottled up in her heart that she can truly begin life as her own person. Free from the chains of past hurt, she can now be whoever she wants to be and live however she wants to live. Fujiko is free, not an artificial sense of freedom, a genuine kind.
At the heart of it all The Woman Called Fujiko Mine is a tale of identity. For Fujiko, regaining control of who she is and can be makes her free. Her past no longer has a hold of her and the identity that was ingrained into her since she was a child is now not something that is so set in cement, she is free. Not only do we see Fujiko go through this journey but the entire cast of characters does in one way or another, the through line for all of them is their mutual connection with the broken woman Fujiko Mine.
It is thought-provoking and with these final few episodes it is incredibly dark. Diving into the deepest darkest innards of the world of Lupin, The Woman Called Fujiko Mine is one of the most compelling anime series in quite some time. The series concludes in grand fashion with a finale to remember. There is a way for us all to be free, it’s just that sometimes getting there we just have to go the long way around.
Visuals and Audio
Continuing the trend set in Part 1, The Woman Called Fujiko Mine Part 2 features some truly unforgettable aesthetics. With a dark tone set and grayed palette, the visuals perfectly capture the dark nature of the story with striking imagery that will stay with you long after viewing. The more explicit nature of Part 1 is somewhat toned down in this second half of the series, however that is hardly an issue as the explicit imagery is not essential to the plot nor is it inessential. As for the animation, TMS Entertainment continue to impress with fluid sakuga animation being commonplace in this part.
The score is superb for this second part with the despair of Fujiko being captured perfectly with gutwrenching tracks timed with the finest of precision. Both the English and Japanese language audio featured on this release are stunning in every regard, with knockout performances in both dub tracks.
Extras
Hanabee Entertainment has done a brilliant job with this combo pack release of Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine Part 2. Once again that have gone above and beyond the call of duty, with a special packaging release in a hardcover book featuring a lovely artbook and information section detailing featured episodes and characters. On top of that one of the artwork pages is a lovely pop-out image that is very nicely designed. As for on disc extras, Hanabee have packaged in clean opening and ending themes.
Overall Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine is simply an anime series that must be experienced. Whether you have experience with the Lupin the Third franchise or not, this is absolutely essential anime viewing. It features a complex and rich narrative oozing with flair that gets darker and darker the further it progresses, culminating in what is one of the most satisfying conclusions to an anime series in a very long time.
This is an anime that will make you think, make you laugh, make you cry and take you on an adventure you will never forget. Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine is a journey all anime fans must take. It is an anime series we will no doubt be talking about for years to come.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
