If you’re a fan of mobile gaming as a whole than I’m sure you’ll be familiar with the publisher Gameloft, well our friends over there at Gameloft have announced that they will be partnering up with the digital multimedia solutions company, MediaTek, to bring mobile gaming into the next generation in a very big way. This “collaboration”, so to speak, will utilize the full potential of a piece of hardware called the MT6592 Octa-Core which is a smartphone chip for Android Smartphones that uses…well…an eight-core processor. This processor is MediaTek’s “next big thing” and soon it’ll be the “next big thing” around the world.
Ludovic Blondel, Vice President OEM at Gameloft:
“We’re thrilled to continue our collaboration with MediaTek…This new octa-core system on a chip is focused on high performance and is one of the best mobile technologies on today’s market. We are delighted to showcase this innovative, high-end technology inModern Combat 5, one of our most awaited games of 2014.”
Gameloft’s next massive title, Modern Combat 5, will be specifically optimised for this particular chip and the team have already stated that the game will be incredibly realistic, fluid and will work at an extremely high level of performance of the likes in which you’ve never seen on a smartphone. Water distortion, shadowing and reflections will all be incredibly realistic and the action alongside the cinematics in this release will be visually outstanding.
Jeffrey Ju, General Manager of MediaTek Smartphone Business Unit:
“With the rapid development of mobile Internet applications and services, mobile gaming has become one of the leading value-added services for our customers and the best medium to experience the power of True Octa-Core with our MT6592 chip…Our partnership with Gameloft on Modern Combat 5 is a major breakthrough for the industry and gaming community, as we empower the ultimate gaming experience that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.”
The production of this game will be extremely gruelling over the coming months but, in the end, it will turn out to be a mobile gaming experience like nobody has ever seen before. Hopefully the dream of the two companies will come to fruition with this bringing mobile gaming very much up to speed. Fans of both of the companies and the Modern Combat series will be happy to not that, while no exact release date has been set, Gameloft has stated that they will try for a 2014 release wherein which all phones equipped with the MT6592 chip will be ready to play Modern Combat 5. It will be worth the wait.
The 2nd data pack for Konami‘s PES 2014 is now available to download, adding 800 likenesses, up-to-date transfers and squads, a new ‘Team Play’ lobby system, an 11 vs. 11 online mode, the ‘Master League Online’ competition and fresh, official kits and sponsored gear such as adidas boots for ‘Edit Mode’.
A trailer showcasing the new additions in action can be viewed embedded at the bottom of this article. Also supplementing this massive PES 2014 update is the launch of the myPES companion app for iOS users (Android version coming soon). myPES allows users to check and organise their match stats, and offers analysis of shots, possession, passing, and patterns of play that results in key data to be provided on your opposition in order to grant an advantage. Also, Groups can be created, facilitating community engagement. Users that do not have their consoles connected online will have the option to save their statistics through a QR code displayed after matches, which can be scanned using the app to synchronise results for future analysis.
Cowboy Bebop Box 1 & 2 [Complete Collection] Studio:Sunrise Publisher:Anime Ltd Format :Blu-Ray Release Date:Box 1 – 29th July 2013, Box 2 – 14th October 2013 Price:Box 1 – £24.82 Available Here, Box 2 – £25.24 Available Here
Overview
“Its been 15 years! Can’t you guys give me a break?”
In the western world there are very few anime that are renowned among the general populous. Asking your regular Joe Smith on the street which anime they know, would most likely result in a dismissive shrug and an unenthusiastic answer of a random Ghibli movie and maybe a big shōnen like Gundam or Dragonball Z. Ever since Akira was deemed too violent by the parents of disappointed 80’s kids and Urotsukidōji brought with it the blind misconception that all anime is full of graphic tentacle sex, the market has been dwarfed to the point where it is hard for publishers to stay afloat. The good news is though that those children who were starved of the dystopian, motorcycling action that they craved are now adults and in a world where anime is beginning to become more and more popular with the aid of streaming services and social media networks, they are bringing with them the titles that shaped their love for the medium and one of the most influential series of all is Cowboy Bebop. This oddly named series resonated with western audiences at the turn of the millennium moreso than anything that came before it and ushered in a new era for the genre right around the time that I became concious of what anime was. Why this series though? Well, let me tell you.
Flipping a poker chip in zero gravity … Badass
Story
The year is 2071, and humanity has been spread across the solar system following the devastating explosion of an interplanetary travel device called a hyperspace gate. Moving away from Earth was essential to preserve the population, but on their new home of Mars it has proven to be impossible for the government to control the escalating amount of criminal organisations and terrorist groups littered around the galaxy. This is where the bounty hunters step in. Hunting down targets with a large sum on their head, bounty hunters wander the stars, rounding up bad guys whenever they’re running low on funds.
The series follows the wild lives of the crew of the spaceship, Bebop made up of: cool, ex-criminal and combat expert, Spike Spiegel; former ISSP (Inter-Solar System Police) detective, Jet Black; pro con-woman, Faye Valentine; mischievous hacker extraordinaire Ed; and an experimental Welsh corgi “data dog” called Ein. Taking a fairly episodic format, each twenty minute adventure tends to revolve around either a new bounty hunt or a foray into the tragic backstories of the crew and how that led them to become a bounty hunter.
Lipstick smugglers, the worst kind of criminal
Cowboy Bebop is a breakneck thrill-ride of an anime that you can’t help but get swept away with. It manages to do more in an episode than most anime achieve in entire arcs and it does so with masterful pacing, in-depth character development, and storylines that are innovative and a joy to follow. The whole show just exudes coolness in every respect, from its stylish 60’s film noir feel, right down to the masterful soundtrack that I will cover later, and its suit wearing, effortlessly charming main character, Spike. How it manages to combine comedy and high velocity space fights with its frequently dark themes and emotional depth is seamless to the point where you don’t even notice a transition. This is because there is no need for it to explain itself at any point; aside from the pair of two part episodes, it never recaps, it never relies on flashbacks to previous episodes, it simply whisks you up in the action and doesn’t nurse you through it like so many other anime.
What Cowboy Bebop does so much better than its competitors is bridge so many genres so perfectly with such effortless finesse. By not focusing too heavily on any one element it manages to encapsulate action, adventure, comedy, sci-fi, western, and a myriad of other genres without ever feeling overbearing or going off track. Where Outlaw Star is very funny, it can lack severity. Where Space Battleship Yamato is very emotional, it can be too heavy for some audiences. Cowboy Bebop never tries to force the fact that it is funny and dramatic and yet still executes both vital aspects flawlessly giving it the natural, charming air that makes it so appealing to both teenagers and adults alike.
Spike Spiegel – DDR Legend
In this day and age where anime is churned out as if by a conveyor belt and diamonds in the rough are hard to come by, it is unbelievably refreshing to see an anime not adhere to archetypes as rigidly as modern shows tend to. Faye Valentine is troublesome for Spike and Jet, but since the show rarely focuses on romance she is never written as a generic tsundere or kuudere character and this gives the plot so much more freedom. Her actions are dictated by what is beneficial to the plot, not just a dictionary defined archetype that spits out reactions calculated by a brain-dead formula. The same can be said for Spike who despite a few typical ‘main character traits’ like his adoration of food, manages to remain impeccably cool. Underlying every character is a seriously tear-jerking backstory, even Ed who is essentially a comic relief character has walked a tragic path in the past . This brings a reality to the characters far greater than almost any other series I can think of and considering the fictitious, futuristic universe, that realism helps keep the whole show grounded.
Visuals
Bringing this series to Blu-Ray at first might sound strange considering that Cowboy Bebop first aired in 1998. In the past, I have reviewed other anime from that late 90’s that have been brought back in DVD format, but most of them have looked dated to the point where they are nigh on unwatchable. Cowboy Bebop was never going to suffer to that extent since it was absolutely gorgeous at its time of release, but having watched the DVD release previously I can say with 100% confidence that the Blu-Ray is a godsend for the series. Unlike the DVD release which was noticeably low resolution, the remastered Blu-Rays have had meticulous care and attention put into recreating the series so that it lives up to modern day standards. Sure, it’s no Bakemonogatari or Shingeki no Kyojin, but as Kill la Kill has proven, it isn’t all about the visuals as long as it has style and solid writing. Some of the inbetween animation has the original backgrounds and not every character motion is as fluid as I might like it to be, but compared to the animation quality of 1998, it looks astounding.
Gun CHECK, Kebab CHECK … Let’s do this
Audio
Every time Shinichirō Watanabe and Yōko Kanno get together something magical happens. 2012’s Sakamichi no Apollon is nothing short of a masterpiece and I still listen to its slick, smooth soundtrack as I stride around town with a spring in my step, reminiscing about all the times I cried and laughed with its perfectly written cast. What baffles me is that Cowboy Bebop’s soundtrack is just as good if not better. The iconic opening song ‘Tank’ ushering you into each episode with the line, “I think it’s time to blow this scene. Get everybody and the stuff together. Ok, three, two, one let’s jam,” followed by the blast of those powerful trumpets and the underlying jazzy walking bass line on the double bass is nothing short of spine-tingling. I get chills when I listen to that song and that is just the opening!
I was going to describe the rest of the tracks that you hear throughout Bebop as the diamonds adorning the crown, but for Bebop music is more than just an accompaniment, it is the soul that echoes through its very core. Without the shrill warbling of a blues harmonica, the raw power of a distant drum, or the pitch perfect vocals of a song threaded into a scene where most anime wouldn’t dare let music take centre stage, Cowboy Bebop would not be the same masterpiece that it is. Watanabe’s belief that, “music is the universal language,” is one that I share and Cowboy Bebop is a glorious testament to that belief.
“Lolis in zero gravity – Not one of my better ideas.”
Overall
Believe the hype. Cowboy Bebop is known worldwide for its mastery of the medium for more reasons than I could possibly squeeze into this review. It is about as flawless as an anime can get and it is rare that I ever end a review without a single negative comment. Even the box art is nice, I can’t even criticise that! It sits there looking cool and sophisticated from the spine and then BAM the colour erupts into your eyes the second you turn it over and that is exactly what Cowboy Bebop is, impeccably stylish, but with the action and excitement to back it up. Maybe the answer to ‘saving anime’ doesn’t lie in series that force themselves to be different. Maybe all it takes is a look to the past at a crew 58 years ahead of our time.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
We may see another game based on our favourite serial killer, The Ripper. The Slaughter, which is on Kickstarter looking for funds, goes back to an old-school style of game-play with a 2D point-and-click adventure. The game is described as Blue Velvet meets Monkey Island. With dark adult themes and an emphasis on character development, this game by Brainchild is sure to keep gamers enthralled.
The story starts as a serial killer is terrorizing the streets of Victorian London and private investigator Sydney Emerson has hit a new low between finding lost dogs and receiving alleyway beatings. A turn of events sees Sydney forgoing his selfish nature and thrusting himself into perilous and increasingly surreal situations that will see him walking the line between dreams and reality.
Explore the seedy streets of Victorian London, while players search the slums, taverns, opium dens and even Sydney’s dreams and hallucinations for leads. Meet a cast of interesting, insane and eccentrically British characters and hunt a killer while exploring the deeper human condition.
Through The Slaughter, Brainchild is seeking to create a game that doesn’t attempt to emulate a film or novel, but uses the combination of music, art, narrative, and interaction to create an unforgettable and unique experience.
Gameplay uses the aspects of point-and-click adventures in a creative way to create tricky yet logical puzzles and entertaining interactions. Little details in the dialogue were used to make the world seem alive, as character dialogue can be amusing, abstract, sombre or aggressive depending on their mood. The nature of Sydney’s conversation options will also change throughout the game as his state of mind deteriorates, the trauma he encounters having a realistic effect on his human interactions.
The Kickstarter campaign seeks to raise £8000, which upon passing, stretch goals will be revealed.
A little while back, we posted the first teaser trailer for the upcoming octane, video game to film adaptation; Need for Speed starring Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul. The trailer gave us a brief glimpse as to what we can expect from the film, but it wasn’t enough. Well today, the guys over at Touchstone Pictures have given us an even longer look at the street-racing flick.
Check out the video below, and let us know in the comments how you think the movie is shaping up. Will we finally have a great video game to movie adaptation, or will Need for Speed fall into last place in a race against The Fast & The Furious? We want to know what you think. As always, stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Need for Speed news as it becomes available.
Earlier this week, Sony celebrated the launch of the highly anticipated PS4. Today, they have put up the last teaser trailer for the hot property console. The trailer features shots of the console as well as an awesome sizzle reel for some of the upcoming games. Some of the games featured include: Need for Speed: Rivals, Killzone: Shadowfall, Infamous: Second Son, Watchdogs, Kingdom Hearts III and many more.
The PS4 is out now in America, and set for a November 29th launch here in Australia, so check out the console’s final trailer below and always remember to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Ps4 news as it becomes available.
Xbox One is almost here, and as we count down the final days before the console hits store shelves, Microsoft have given us a look at how the new iteration of Xbox Live will operate. Speaking to developers and producers from games like Killer Instinct, Ryse and Dead Rising 3, Microsoft have recorded a video that shows how various games will use the features like Smart Glass, cloud processing and online play.
You can check out the video below, and let us know in the comments whether or not you will be picking up the new console. As always, stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Xbox One news as it becomes available.
NEARLY HALF OF AMERICANS OLDER THAN 50 PLAY VIDEO GAMES Study shows card, tile, and puzzle games are a popular entertainment option
Washington, DC – November 18, 2013 – Forty-eight percent of adults age 50 and older say they play video games, according to new research released today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The report, “Gamers Over 50 Study: You’re Never Too Old to Play,” found that 80 percent of these gamers play video games on a weekly basis and 45 percent play on a daily basis.
“Video games are enjoyed by millions of consumers of all ages. The popularity of video games is expected given the innovation and sheer entertainment this industry offers,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. “Across all game platforms and genres, Americans age 50 and over are exercising their minds and bodies, connecting with family members, and having fun with video games.”
Additional report findings on gamers older than 50 include:
They prefer games that mimic traditional forms of play. Card/tile games (56 percent) and puzzle/logic games (52 percent) are the preferred genre among this group, followed by trivia, word, and board games (27 percent);
A majority (92 percent) play at home, and most game play is done during the evening hours (55 percent); and,
Among those with children living in their household, 63 percent say their children influence which games they buy, and 62 percent say their children help them learn about new games or game technology.
“These are extremely exciting results and really highlight that people of all ages play video games,” said Jason Allaire, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at North Carolina State University and co-director of the Gains Through Gaming Lab. “There is no longer a ‘stereotype game player,’ but instead a game player could be your grandparent, your boss, or even your professor. I suspect that the percentage of older adults playing video games will rise as Baby Boomers enter retirement, increasing the focus on positive effects of playing games.”
The NPD Group conducted the survey for ESA among a U.S. representative sample of approximately 1,800 gamers age 50 and older. Survey respondents said they play video games on at least one system or device, such as a smartphone, video game console, portable game console, computer, or other game system.
ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers, including conducting business and consumer research, providing legal and policy analysis and advocacy on First Amendment, intellectual property and technology/e-commerce issues, managing a global anti-piracy program, owning and operating E3, and representing video game industry interests in federal and state government relations. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com or follow us on Twitter: @RichatESA
Dementium II HD is well on its way to release since Digital Tribe Games has already has it available for preorder on Steam, but in the intervening time they have continued to put out the Behind the Scenes videos about the HD remake. The subject this time? The sounds and music of Dementium II HD and how they have been remastered.
With a lot of interesting information about the amount of sound that had to be recreated and how it was done the video does offer some unique insight. The end of the video of course though puts it in a much more fantastical light, showing the monsters from the game actually in a recording booth wanting to re-record their lines.
Those wanting to see how the audio has been redone for Dementium II HD can watch the Behind the Scenes Episode 3 embedded below. Dementium II HD is set to release December 17, 2013 for PC and January 2014 for Mac.
Anyone who has been dying to try out the upcoming free-to-play hack slash/ tower defense game, The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot now have a chance to sate their curiosity. Mighty Quest is coming to Steam’s Early Access program to allow players to join in on the closed beta via the Double O program, or (Original Opulencian).
This means that those that take part will receive not only beta access to the game, but bonuses like exclusive gear and special items to use, plus additional early access to new bosses and heroes. Ubisoft is looking forward to the feedback that they will be able to get through the Early Access and hoping to be able to improve it with that feedback.
Those wanting to check out what The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot has to offer can find its Early Access on Steam. Otherwise players can wait it out until the full free-to-play PC release.
