As of November 2nd, Sony has sold a whopping 80 million units of the PlayStation 3. This huge milestone being reach in its 7th year on the market demonstrates its consistent state of growth, according to Sony.
Many factors contributed to the strong, steady sales of the console, from the various versions of the console (the ‘Slim’ in 2009, ‘Super Slim’ in 2012 and “Azurite Blue” and “Garnet Red” colors in 2013), and price drops, such as when the 12GB flash memory version price was slashed in Europe, before being introduced in North America just this past August. Now operating in 59 countries around the world, the PSN multiplayer and digital entertainment service secured over 150 million cumulative registered accounts.
The PlayStation Plus membership service became available back in June of 2010 before the motion-controller known as PlayStation Move made its debut in September that very same year. Looking to the future, most industry experts expect one of the larger console booms in gaming history, and the PlayStation 4 is in good stead.
The ruins of Dubai is a character all its own in the tragic tale of Captain Walker and his crew. These relics of a modern age taken over by natural forces are more than simple set pieces to shoot guns in. Sands will shift and the tides of battle can turn on its whim putting you at the city’s mercy.
Digital Tribe is counting down the days on their Facebook page, bringing you information to get you in the Spec Ops mood. For some more insight into the game itself, check out the Behind the Lines videos below. There is a thin red line between hope and darkness.
UBISOFT® AND SQUARE ENIX PRODUCTS EXPAND JOINT COLLECTIBLES OFFERING
London (7 November, 2013) – Today, Ubisoft® and SQUARE ENIX® announced that a range of merchandise from each company is now available for fans to purchase in both Ubisoft’s Uplay® Shop and the Square Enix Store across EMEA territories. In addition, Square Enix Products is expanding the range of character collectible content based on Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed® franchise.
A selection of merchandise from the UbicollectiblesTM series, including Assassin’s Creed figurines and Rabbids® inspired EEERZTM vinyl toys, is now available via the Square Enix Store.
Four new Assassin’s Creed wall scrolls from Square Enix Products will be available in November, while new PLAY ARTS -KAI- action figures of Connor from Assassin’s Creed® 3 and Edward from Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag™ will be released in early 2014.
Meanwhile, in the Uplay Shop fans can now find selected Square Enix merchandise and character goods including PLAY ARTS® -KAI- action figures of Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, Lightning from FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 and Agent 47 from Hitman.
“We’re very happy to be able to announce this new cross-promotion as a part of our on-going partnership with Ubisoft,” said Shinji Hashimoto, Corporate Executive, Square Enix. “Ubisoft’s titles and characters are a perfect fit with the quality and craftsmanship of SQUARE ENIX PRODUCTS and we look forward to offering more in the future.”
“By adding Square Enix’s strong brands and high-quality merchandise to our Uplay Shop, we’re making it easier for videogame fans to find what they’re looking for no matter which company it comes from,” added Alain Corre, EMEA Executive Director at Ubisoft. “Plus, the new Assassin’s Creed character merchandise is a great asset to the brand, especially in conjunction with the release of the biggest Assassin’s Creed game ever!”
To visit the SQUARE ENIX PRODUCTS online store and to see the full range of available merchandise please visit: http://www.square-enix-shop.com
Ubisoft Ubicollectibles Official Facebook: www. facebook.com/ubicollectibles
About Ubisoft: Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 29 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2012-13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com
About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd., a part of the Square Enix Europe business unit, develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix Group. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 100 million units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST® which has sold over 62 million units worldwide and TOMB RAIDER® which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Square Enix’s merchandising division, known as “SQUARE ENIX PRODUCTS”, is a part of the company creating high-end collectable items from many of their key franchises including FINAL FANTASY, DRAGON QUEST, KINGDOM HEARTS and TOMB RAIDER.
The range of products produced by SQUARE ENIX has extended out from their in-house series, creating merchandise for a wide range of licenses and properties from the worlds of popular Video Game series, Movies and Comics including METAL GEAR SOLID, STREET FIGHTER, BATMAN and ASSASSIN’S CREED among many others.
CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, HITMAN, IO INTERACTIVE, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
South Australian Attorney General John Rau has requested that The Classification Review Board reconsider the rating of twelve MA15 rated games, despite none of the titles receiving any complaints from the public. The Attorney General raised concerns about Australia’s rating system in September, pointing out several titles that had received MA15 ratings in Australia but higher, adult ratings in Europe and the United States. Australia does have an adult R18+ rating, and Rau argues that it should be applied more stringently.
The Attorney General has imposed the review after consultation with the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM), which brought the games to Rau’s attention in September. The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association released a statement calling the review “costly and unwarranted”, noting that the Attorney General and ACCM had not accounted for inherent differences between the ratings systems of Australia and other countries, which could easily result in games being rated differently overseas.
Australia’s rating system is government led, whilst the United States and European rating systems being used as a benchmark by Rau are administered by the video game industry. Ron Curry, CEO of the IGEA, said, “Not only have these games already been examined against stringent guidelines, we also haven’t heard of any formal complaints made by parents or adults who think the video games are wrongly classified. The review is an unwarranted and costly exercise to satisfy a vocal yet unrepresentative minority,”
It is estimated that each review will cost $28,000, resulting in a $336,000 bill for the 12 video games from publishers such as SEGA, 2K Games, Activision, and UBISOFT. The titles to be reviewed are:
Alien Rage
Borderlands 2 Expansion Packs
Company of Heroes 2
Deadly Premonition: Director’s Cut
Deadpool
Fuse
Gears of War: Judgement
God Mode
Killer is Dead
Splinter Cell Blacklist
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct
Morphopolis: interactive art or point and click adventure?
Announcing the ambitious new game from Micro Macro
7th November 2013, Leamington Spa: Indie Studio Micro Macro launch their latest game for iOS, Android, Windows 8 & BlackBerry.
Initially inspired by games like Year Walk, Machinarium and The Tiny Bang Story, Morphopolis has been crafted by two architects, giving the game a strong visual aesthetic and unique gameplay perspective.
Micro Macro founder Dan Walters says “We love playing games like Device 6, they appeal to our inquisitive minds. With Morphopolis we wanted to create a game that we would enjoy playing, but also reflected our architectural training. We think the lessons we learnt apply just as much to the digital space as the physical one, and give us a unique voice in such a competitive genre.”
The beautiful art style uses intricate line drawings and ink wash techniques, that draw on the colouring style of 60s and 70s posters; blending the style of Martin Sharp with the work of illustrators like Edmund Dulac and Maxfield Parrish. This attention to detail creates a charming and magical world for the players to explore.
Game Artist Ceri Williams said “There has been a great deal of debate recently about whether games can be art. We believe that this runs much deeper than just aesthetic choices, but about how the experience makes the player feel. We have worked hard on how we combine the illustration style, specially composed music, and player interactions to create an immersive experience where players can lose themselves.”
Set for simultaneous release on: Windows 8, Android, iOS, Windows Phone 8, Blackberry and Kindle Fire, with a Steam version to follow (http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=168032747&searchtext=morphopolis). Morphopolis has been created over the past 10 months, by just two developers. Together they have had crafted more than 25 hidden object sets, 16 scenes, and many more mini puzzles for players to solve. Available from 7th November $3.99 for mobile versions and $9.99 for the multi-platform pack including desktop and android. Morphopolis will also be available for PC & Mac via mcro.org.
About Morphopolis
Morphopolis is a visually stunning point and click adventure which takes the player on a lucid and fantastical journey of transformation and discovery. Play the role of an aphid grub and embark on an epic adventure of metamorphosis. Explore and interact with beautifully illustrated scenes to find hidden objects and solve puzzles.
Morphopolis was the Design New Talent winner of the prestigious Association of Illustrators Awards. Following a month long exhibition at Somerset House in London the award show is now touring nationally.
Biographies
Dan Walters studied architecture for 6 years at Cardiff then later at Cambridge, but has always been passionate about game development, teaching himself to program at the age of 13. His passion for games eventually lead him to become a graphics programmer for an established developer. Dan devotes his spare time to developing innovative games under the banner of indie studio Micro Macro.
Ceri Williams is an architectural designer and illustrator based in London. In addition to working and teaching with Toh Shimazaki Architecture Ceri has completed installation projects for Virgin Records, The Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal College of Art alongside working part time with Asif Khan Studio. Morphopolis is his first video game project and he has been able to use the composition and spatial skills learnt in architecture to develop the game narrative and sequence of scenes.
Despite being very pleased when Sega brought a Hatsune Miku game to the West for the very first time in the form of Hatsune Miku Project Diva F, our review of this version can be found here, many gamers were still surprised by the fact and others were hoping that there would be some chance of getting the portable version of the game brought over as well.
Well that wish has been granted because today Sega has announced that they will be bringing Hatsune Miku Project Diva f, the Vita version of the game, to North America and Europe as a digital download. To commemorate the announcement the company released some new screenshots for the game as well as an announcement trailer, both of which can be found below.
Ubisoft have announced that Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has reached gold status for the Windows PC, Three editions of the game will be available from November 12th in Australia and New Zealand.
The Standard Edition will contain just the game and the Deluxe Edition will include bonus in game content. The Deluxe Edition comes with more customization items and a new adventure where you play Aveline as the main character.
The Uplay Deluxe Edition includes all bonuses from the deluxe edition plus an exclusive digital package distributed only from the Uplay Shop. Players who pre-order the Uplay edition will also get a 25% discount off a season pass. By itself the pass gives you 20% off the regular unit price of additional DLC, which will be released until March 2014. Click here to pre-order a season pass.
A special edition of the game will be available at the standard price and will include unlockable in game content only available at the game launch. If you want to have both physical and digital contents with the game, then you should check out the two collector’s editions of Black Flag.
Both the Buccaneer and the Skull editions come with a high quality art book, official sound track and 2 lithographs in protective envelopes. Buccaneer includes a figurine of Edward Kenway on the Jackdaws Crow’s Nest and the Skull edition will be contained in a jumbo collectors steel case.
Ubisoft and NVIDIA have also been collaborating to create a version of Black flags that offers more immersion; achieved through the use of God Rays, Horizon based Ambient Occlusion and temporal anti-aliasing. This is further explained by the Vice president of NVIDIAs Content and Technology, Tony Tamasi:
“We’ve integrated advanced, PC-specific technologies into the game to give mood and depth to scenes and bring buildings and landscapes to life. The end result is an unparalleled visual treat, and set to be an absolute PC blockbuster.”
Examples of NVIDIA technology used within Black Flags include God Rays, Horizon based Ambient Occlusion and temporal anti-aliasing. Because of this collab, NVIDIA is offering a free copy of Black Flag for those who purchase the following GeForce cards: GTX Titan, 780 Ti, 780, 770, 760, 660, 670, 680, and 690. More details can be found from the GeForce Website.
Capcom and Razer, two powerful forces in the world of video games, announced today that they will be working together to bring you a Street Fighter edition of Razer’s Goliathus mouse mat.
The mat will come in special packaging meant to appeal to not only PC gamers, but gamers in general as well as fans of the Street Fighter franchise.
Features of the mat include:
Advanced slick taut cloth weave for unbridled speed and effortless control
Pixel-precise targeting and tracking
Optimised for all mouse sensitivities and sensors
Anti-fraying stitched frame eliminates rough edges and long-term wear
Highly portable cloth-based design
Anti-slip rubber base
Available in four different sizes: small, medium, large, extended
The product will cost AUD $29.95 / NZD $34.95, and is available for order now at Razerzone.com.
Playstation®3 Sales Reach 80 Million Units Worldwide
The PS3® System Continues to Grow with more than 300 Software Titles Launching this Holiday Season Globally,Including “Gran Turismo 6”
Tokyo, November 6, 2013– Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that cumulative sales of the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system has reached a milestone of 80 million units*1 worldwide as of November 2, 2013. Now in its seventh year, the PS3 system has demonstrated continued growth and momentum.
The PS3 system has delivered high quality entertainment experiences since its launch and has continuously evolved through system software updates and by adding new features such as upscaling PlayStation® and PlayStation®2 games as well as DVD, DLNA client function and 3D stereoscopic games support. In February 2013, SCE released the PS3 system in new “Azurite Blue” and “Garnet Red” colors. In August 2013, the price of the PS3 with 12GB flash memory was reduced in Europe and it was introduced in North America. By offering a variety of products to meet various needs and lifestyles, the PS3 system has been well received by a wide range of gamers.
The PS3 system continues to gain strong support from 3rd party developers and publishers worldwide with the cumulative number of software titles released for the PS3 system reaching 4,332 worldwide*2. Among them are smash hit title, The Last of Us, which sold 3.4 million units in less than three weeks when it launched in June 2013*3, and the critically acclaimed title, Journey,that won six awards at the 13th annual Game Developers Choice Awards and became the first video game in Grammy Award history to be nominated for Best Score Soundtrack. More than 300 software titles are to be released from third party developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS) this holiday season*4 globally, including Gran Turismo®6 (GT6™), the latest installment to the wildly popular Gran Turismo franchise that has sold more than 70 million copies worldwide*5.
Furthermore, exciting blockbuster titles such as BEYOND: Two Souls™ (Sony Computer Entertainment), Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar Games, Inc), and Batman: Arkham Origins (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) have also gained high praise.
When the PS3 system was first released in Japan in November 2006 (Australia and New Zealand launch, March 2007), SCE also launched PSNSM, an online multiplayer gaming and digital entertainment service, which now operates in 59 countries around the world with more than 150 million cumulative registered accounts*6. Launched alongside the PS3 system and in conjunction with PSN, PlayStation®Store (PS Store) offers a variety of downloadable digital content where PS3 system owners can select from a global catalogue of more than 222,000 digital content options, including 72,000 game content*7.
In addition, the PlayStation®Plus (PS Plus) membership service became available in June 2010, providing access to exclusive discounts on PS Store, free games on PS platforms, demos and automatic system updates. The Instant Game Collection was added to PS Plus in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand in June 2012, enabling PS Plus members to enjoy popular titles from third-party developers and publishers, as well as SCE WWS, at no extra cost. SCE has also continued to enrich the PS Plus service in other countries and regions. For example in Japan, more titles have been added on “Free Play”, a service similar to “Instant Game Collection”, giving Japanese PS Plus members access to more than 150 games. *8
Since its introduction in September 2010, the PlayStation®Move motion controller has enabled users to play games intuitively while enhancing the interactive gameplay experience. Utilizing the power of the motion sensor, Wonderbook™, a peripheral that delivers the evolution of storytelling through the Augmented Reality (AR) technology via PlayStation®Eye, launched two titles globally in November 2012. Wonderbook: Book of Spells and Wonderbook: Diggs Nightcrawler*8 have been well received since their release. Exciting new titles such as Wonderbook: Book of Potions and Wonderbook: Walking With Dinosaurs will be released this holiday season*9 and SCE will introduce Wonderbook in Japan.
As the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system launches November 15, 2013 in North America and November 29, 2013 in Latin America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, SCE will continue to expand the PlayStation ecosystem, which includes the continual support of gaming and digital entertainment content on PS3 systems.
*1 Sell-in number
*2 As of September 30, 2013. Excluding download software titles.
*3 As of July 3,2013 including both Blu-ray Disc™ sell-in quantities and download version sales
*4 Total number of both Blu-ray Disc™ and download version that will be released from November 1 to December 31, 2013 in various regions. The title to be released will vary by regions.
*5 As of the end of March, 2013
*6 As of September 19, 2013
*7 As of October 31, 2013
*8 As of November 6, 2013
*9 The launching of these titles in Japan and the other Asian regions is yet to be determined.
Overview
Every now and then, a game seemingly comes from out of nowhere. Valdis Story: Abyssal City is just such a game, stalking its way out of the shadows to make a name for itself and its creators, indie developer Endless Fluff Games. How does it stand when put to the test, though? Is this Metroid-like action exploration platformer a heavenly affair or a hellish nightmare?
Story
Fourty years ago, the goddess Valdis was slain by her daughter, the dark goddess Myrgato. In the wake of the murder, Alagath, the goddess of light, has taken up arms and went to war with Myrgato. Perpetually fueled by the souls of humans to create angels and demons, the war has ravaged the human population. When Wyatt and his crew came to the world, they were quickly separated. Now, Wyatt must search for his companions as a much deeper plot is revealed.
Gameplay
The game’s website describes itself as a “side scrolling exploration platformer.” Much like the recent Blood of the Werewolf, it is a platformer, but folks who’ve been playing games for a while will probably recognize its playstyle more intimately by the term “Metroidvania.”
Valdis Story offers an enormous setting to explore. The overall world is made up of a tremendous set of rooms interlocked to create paths from one point to another. Many of the doors and obstacles you run across will be impossible to get through at first, and, as with most games of this nature, you’ll get some item or ability later that allows you to backtrack and pass through those doors. Behind many of them, alternate paths or even rare treasures can be hidden, making it worth your while to comb every inch of the world.
The overworld is broken up into several different major cohesive sections. Towns with shops and save points may be separated by dungeons, dangerous roads, and more. There’s a fantastic sense of variety placed in the different regions of the game, giving each locale a distinct flavor. This keeps the game interesting to explore from every angle and keeps you pressing to find the next cool thing.
One of the primary systems of the game and, arguably, one of the most satisfying, is the combat. Out of the gate, Wyatt can swing and slash his sword around, jump, block, and cast two types of magic. As the game progresses and you earn enough experience, you can unlock new skills and passive abilities (such as a higher combo string, increased health, and much more). Combat is fast and smooth, keeping you on your toes while providing a satisfying experience with a great variety enemies.
As you beat the brakes off your various foes, you’ll earn experience. With enough experience, you’ll be granted a “level up” with which you can increase one of four various stats as well as put points into those abilities previously mentioned. It provides a satisfying and tangible reward for all the slicing, dicing, and spell-casting you’re doing.
On top of stat customization, you can equip various weapons, armor, accessories, and even companions that you find as you explore the world. Much of armor is hidden away, requiring some of that special exploration unique to Metroidvania games. Many of the other pieces of equipment, like accessories, are created using items dropped from defeated foes.
On top of your run-of-the-mill enemies, Valdis Story is peppered with incredible boss battles. These present a finely tuned balance between puzzle solving, pattern recognition, and often, trial and error. Each big encounter provides a tough enough experience to punish you if you mess up, but they’re never so overwhelmingly difficult you’ll want to give up. Toppling these brutes can often result in some sort of permanent boost or a new form of magic to use in combat and world traversal, giving you both a satisfying victory and tangible reward for your efforts.
The narrative in Valdis Story is wonderfully told. The story is an epic tale of war between deities, and you’ve fallen right into the middle of it. There are no voiced lines, but there doesn’t need to be. The classic text-based back and forth between characters is both smartly written and entertaining, giving you the sense of being swept up in something truly grand.
I have only a single complaint I can levy against the game. The “down” button activates an ability that can dodge, skill cancel, and do a ground stomp if you’re in the air. This works great most of the time, but I’ve found that I am prone to accidentally pressing it when trying to maneuver some of the more complicated or precise platforming puzzles. This can cause some frustration, as you throw yourself down two floors trying to reach the next platform. I’ll also note that I did not experience this issue as much when playing with the keyboard (as I rarely hit the down arrow).
Visuals
The visual representation of Valdis Story is one of the richest I’ve seen in a 2D game, or any game for that matter, in quite some time. The colors are intense and vibrant, giving the world and its characters wonderful visual presence. Each of the character designs feel like they were pulled from a top-notch anime or manga artist and then further embellished. Character animations feel smooth as glass, lending further satisfaction to platforming and combat. I feel like I could look at this world all day and never grow bored.
Audio
The game’s soundtrack is just as strong as the other elements of the game. With over 30 tracks, there’s something here for every situation and they’re all well utilized. You may even find yourself tapping your foot along to the music on the downtimes. The sound effects are all appropriate, helping drive the action and immersion further without ever distracting from the overall experience.
Overall Valdis Story: Abyssal City is a fantastic game in virtually every aspect. A well executed story, big world to explore, and streamlined combat and progression mechanics provide a driving, immersive experience you won’t want to step away from. Beautiful, colorful world and character design and an immersive soundtrack further drive you into the conflict between the deity siblings. Valdis Story has won my heart as one of my favorite games of 2013. Everyone should experience what Endless Fluff Games has to offer.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
