This week’s Deal of the Week title goes to GOG.com’s #nodrm gaming sale. Every day brings more massive sales of DRM free games. The quality of sale is equal to Steam’s legendary Summer Sales, so be sure to check it out.
This is the last weekend to purchase indie games at a great discount at the Amazon Indie Store. Each purchase comes with three free games!
Bossa Studios collaborated with Valve to create a new trailer advertising Surgeon Simulator 2013‘s new update, making the game the latest Team Fortress 2 crossover. Players will now be able to operate on The Heavy as The Medic. The update is free for all owners of the game on Steam.
Surgeon Simulator 2013 sprang from a small game developed in the 48 hour Global Indie Game Jam in January. The first game quickly spread across the internet like wildfire, becoming the Global Indie Jam’s most popular title. In April, Bossa Studios released a full game for $9.99 on Steam. The 2013 version features additional operations, the Ambulance mode difficulty, and new visuals. Surgeon Simulator 2013 is available on Linux, Mac, and Windows.
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 17 great quality titles. Make sure you check them all especially… XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Home – a Unique Horror Adventure, Puzzle Pirates Eden to Green, Where’s My Mickey, Gloomy Hollow just to name a few.
Break down below :
8 – FREE Games
4 – $0.99c Games
5 – 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
MASTERABBOTT’S FREE GAME PICK OF THE WEEK!
Puzzle Pirates – Price : FREE – Publisher – SEGA (Puzzle Together on the High Seas! Hoist your anchor and prepare to puzzle–join Puzzle Pirates and become part of a thriving pirate world! Puzzle with crews of other players to loot and pillage! Customize your garb, home and ship! Adventure in a vast world filled with pirates, treasure and puzzles!) on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Monsters Invade: Oz – Price : FREE – Publisher –LittleBox (Capture, Collect and Battle over 100 unique monsters! Only you can stop the Wicked Witch and save the world of Oz! Remove her wicked spell and train the monsters under her control. Explore six worlds to discover and battle over 100 monsters. Use your expert fighting skills to gain new attacks, level up, evolve and more. Complete quests to gain power and bring peace to the land.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Kingdom Conquest II – Price : FREE – Publisher –SEGA (Kingdom Conquest II is an epic free-to-play strategy game blending the best of card battling, strategy, MMORPGs, and 3D action to deliver an addictive fantasy game.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Arcane Empires – Price : FREE – Publisher –Kabam (Join thousands worldwide in the hottest new strategy game by Kabam! Friendship and alliance awaits you in the world of Arcane Empires! In the midst of a brutal civil war, you and your countrymen have at last secured your independence from the merciless Korassian Empire. The weakened imperial forces, led by Prince Dessen, attempt to regain control of the realm and enslave the population. Build up your city to protect your people and your freedom!) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Destiny Defense: Angel or Devil 2 – Price : FREE – Publisher –Morisoft (120 amazing levels to beat across impressive 8 chapters. 8 powerful bosses / 12 different units each side (Angel,Devil) Special commander unit: each side has the commander unit and you can control the commander to win the battle. Gorgeous graphics make you experience the real numerous battle fields.) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Kingdom Clash – Price : FREE – Publisher – FireMocha(Vanquish your enemies and expand your Kingdom in this FREE strategy game! Lead your armies against other players and defeat the evil forces of the Iron Swarm. Rule your Kingdom, build your armies, and defend your Stronghold with unique weaponry!) on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Leaping Legend – Price : FREE – Publisher –Everplay (Leaping Legend is a fast-paced arcade styled endless climber where your goal is to reach for glory by climbing, leaping, and surviving for as long as possible! Dodge obstacles like a champion or die trying. The choice is yours! Encounter not-so-unfamiliar heroes and enemies, avoid taking arrows to the knee, and prove that YOLO is a myth!) runs on iPad & iPhone. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
Eden to Green – Price : FREE – Publisher – Zynga (The machines have invaded the beautiful planet of Eden!
Alien machines have come to steal the natural resources of Eden. They’ve all but completely destroyed Eden and there are only a small handful of plants and trees left alive. Euphoria, the natural energy of Eden needed for life to survive is dwindling fast.) on iPhone & iPad. GET IT NOW FOR FREE
For The Bargain Hunters – 99c Games
Gloomy Hollow – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Chillingo (Welcome to Gloomy Hollow, a haunted home for lost souls out in the outback of the Underworld. Lead a misfit trio on an epic quest to defeat the Underworld’s beasts and fiends to turn this troubled town back into the lively limbo it once was.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Where’s My Mickey – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Disney (Where’s My Mickey? introduces a whole new world of life-like physics-based gameplay with stimulating weather mechanics and humorous animations. Immerse yourself in the ultimate mobile gaming experience as you watch funny episodes while solving challenging puzzles! Tap, swipe, and swirl to help Mickey collect water and complete each story. Every drop counts!) runs on iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
Monster University – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Disney (Let the scary out in 2 exciting mini games based on the Disney•Pixar film “Monsters University,” and prove you’re the ultimate scarer! Prep for more Scare Games to come in future updates!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Icebreakers: A Viking Voyage – Price : $0.99 – Publisher – Rovio Stars (An icy wind has swept the Vikings away, leaving them stranded throughout the land and surrounded by trolls, deadly traps, dangerous enemies, and worst of all… troll snot! Now it’s up to you to save them! Use your icebreaking skills to solve puzzles and cut your way through ice, rope, cannons, explosives, slime and… err… chickens to get your clan back safely to the Viking longboat!) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
For The Millionaires – All games over $0.99
MasterAbbott’s over 99c Pick Of The Week!
XCOM: Enemy Unknown – Price : $20.99 – Publisher – 2K Games (Threatened by an unknown enemy, Earth’s governments unite to form an elite paramilitary organization, known as XCOM. As the commander of XCOM, you must create a fully operational base, research alien technologies, plan combat missions, and lead your soldiers in fierce battles against a terrifying alien invasion. The decisions you make will affect the fate of humanity. You are our last hope.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
Home – a Unique Horror Adventure – Price : $2.99 – Publisher – Benjamin Rivers (Home is a unique horror adventure set in a beautifully-realized pixel world. It’s a murder mystery with a twist—because you decide what ultimately happens. Awakened by an oncoming storm, you open your eyes to discover yourself in a strange, dark room—tucked away in a house that’s not yours. As you play the game, it changes—subtly, almost imperceptibly—to reflect your perspective. It’s a horror game unlike any other, and as you’ll discover, its truths are entirely subjective.) runs on iPhone & iPad. BUY NOW
PLAY-DOH Create ABCs– Price : $7.49 – Publisher – Playdate Digital (Learn your ABCs using ‘virtual’ PLAY-DOH modeling compound with this delightfully interactive educational app! PLAY-DOH Create ABCs application is designed to help children develop the essential skills required for reading and writing. Using this app, children will learn to: recognize letters, write letters using proper stroke order and associate letters with sounds.) runs on iPad. BUY NOW
Pilot Brothers 2– Price : $1.99 – Publisher – G5 Entertainment (Solve a particularly hairy case with Brother Chief and Brother Colleague! The Pilot Brothers’ cat Arsenic has been kidnapped by Experimental Chef Sumo! Now the famed duo must track down Arsenic before he’s served with French fries.) runs iPad & iPhone. BUY NOW
Rivals for Catan – Price : $4.49 – Publisher – USM (This exciting Catan card game challenges you to rule a realm on Catan. Construct cities and settlements, build ships and roads, and hire heroes to outplay your opponents!) 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.
PayDay 2 is counting down the days to its August release with an explosive live action web series. Today marked the release of the second episode featuring the four man heist crew.
Episode one left off with the First World Bank heist going wrong with a firefight against the Washington DC SWAT team. Episode two covers the teams daring escape from the bank. The episode is full of violent gunplay, intense firefights, and a thrilling conclusion.
PayDay 2 is a first person shooter where players will take on heists with friends online. The game is slated for a full retail release on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 in August.
Gaming Tribe and Mass Luminosity have recently teamed up with AMD Gaming, Cooler Master, Kingston HyperX Technology, XFX Technology, CyberPowerPC, Tt eSPORTS and GIGABYTE to bring players worldwide one of the most awesome PC giveaways of all time…
One lucky grand prize winner will receive a gaming rig worthy of the gods themselves, expertly crafted by CyberPowerPCand equipped with a host of big name tech which includes a beastly XFX CPU. The rig and bundled accessories have an estimated value of $3,900.
Five equally privileged runners up will each received an AMD ‘Never Settle Reloaded’ game bundle which includes Crysis 3, BioShock Infinite, Tomb Raider and DmC. Each bundle has a total value of $230.
Want to get yourself in on this amazing global giveaway? Register an account on the Gaming Tribesite to get started.
It seems like Play-Doh is finally ready to get into the educational gaming market, the first time in the 55 years the brand has existed. With Hasbro and PlayDate Digital working together Play-Doh has arrived onto mobile with Play-Doh Create ABCs.
Specifically designed as a learning aid for children, Play-Doh Create ABCs was developed with the help of Dr. Michael Cohen, an expert in preschool education. The game is designed to help teach letters and sound matching three modes of play:
• Write & Craft: every successful letter made transforms into an exciting reward. When a child completes a letter, they get the chance to craft their own a reward out of ‘virtual’ Play-Doh and save it in their personal ‘Create & Share’ Zone.
• Create & Share: in this mode, children can enjoy all the colorful, animated objects they’ve created by building their own custom pictures. Parents can easily share them with family and friends using the Send to Camera function!
• Letter Matching: the Match button allows kids to enjoy matching letters and pictures. By grouping letters with objects that start with the same sound, the game reinforces initial letter sounds.
With the ability to make separate profiles for each child and reports for the parent to check their progress, Play-Doh Create ABCs provides tools to ensure children are using the app to the full potential. Those wanting to check the app for themselves can download it for $2.99 on iPhone or iPad from the iTunes App Store.
While Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers had already been confirmed for PS3 in Japan, it seemed doubtful that the game would be seeing any sort of a Western release, but it seems that Namco Bandai Games America has been paying attention to where Saint Seiya is being followed, which is why the game will be seeing a release in Mexico, Latin America, and Brazil.
Mexico and Latin America will see the game released as Los Caballeros Del Zodiaco Soldados Valientes with localized Spanish subtitles, with Brazil seeing it released as Os Cavaleiros Do Zodiaco Bravos Soldados with localized Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. In addition to this Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers will also be releasing throughout Europe.
Fans of the show should be pleased to know that playable characters will include those from the Sanctuary, Poseidon and Hades arcs, while facing against enemies one-on-one following the anime storylines. Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers will also include combos and special moves straight out of the show, as well as leveling and improving their healths, strength, and Cosmos Power Gauge. The game will also feature online matches in the form of versus and ranking.
Those interested can check out Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers trailer that was also released embedded below. Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers is currently set to come out this Fall exclusively for PS3 in Japan, Europe, and South America.
The next set of DLC for Injustice: Gods Among Us is on its way with a release of July and while last time it was focused on bringing fan favorite Mortal Kombat character Scorpion to the fight, this time if comes in the form of a is a new skin for Superman and his foe from the movie Man of Steel. Yes, General Zod will be lending his skills to the arena as he faces off against the other DC characters.
To better show off the Man of Steel skin for Superman and General Zod’s new look, thanks to NetherRealm Studios‘ take on the character, NetherRealm and publisher Warner Bros. have released a gameplay trailer pitting the new Superman and Zod against each other.
Players can watch the trailer embedded below to see General Zod and Man of Steel Superman in action before the DLC hits Injustice: Gods Among Us on July 2nd. General Zod will be priced at 400 MS Point on Xbox 360 or €4.99 (£3.99) for PS3, while the Man of Steel skin will only cost 80 MS Points on Xbox 360 or €2.99 (£2.39) for PS3. Check out our review of Injustice Gods Among UsHERE.
Kiki’s Delivery Service Studio: Studio Ghibli Publisher: Madman Entertainment Format: DVD, Blu-Ray (Reviewed) Release Date:May 22, 2013 Price:$39.95 – Available Here
Overview: Kiki’s Delivery Service has finally received the Blu-Ray treatment, following suit of other titles in the legendary Studio Ghibli film library. Much like many of those other Studio Ghibli titles, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a coming-of-age tale that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. There is a certain universality that is unique to Studio Ghibli and that is heavily present here in Kiki’s Delivery Service. It’s a story of the adventure of a lifetime, the search for identity and independence.
Story: There comes a time in a young girl’s life where they begin to long for independence they want to grow up, often quicker than they really should. Kiki wants to be independent and in turn wants to grow up. It is common for young girls to feel this way. For one reason or another they are all too eager to mature often forgetting what it means to be a kid in the process.
The film revolves around young witch named Kiki as she sets on a journey of self-discovery. Over the course of the film she encounters different struggles and a colourful cast of characters all the while gaining independence, identity and a true home. It is as Ghibli a story as it gets, but it isn’t without its flaws.
Kiki’s Delivery Service is really a mixed bag for the most part, but the sum of its parts make up for the scatter-shot style of the plot. At it’s core it is a very simple story about breaking free and discovering who you are, but the layers on top of that can somewhat confuse the message a little bit, making it somewhat murky in the process. Kiki seeks independence and through that she finds her identity and through that she comes of age and through that she discovers what truly matters to her. It’s too much piled on top of one another, giving less importance to each point. Thankfully Kiki is a strong enough character backed by the superb direction of Hayao Miyazaki, which ultimately gives Kiki’s Delivery Service the glue to bring all of its pieces together to make a sublime film that is every bit as fun as it is touching.
The genuine sweetness at the heart of Kiki’s Delivery Service is what makes it so great. It is a sweetness that even few Ghibli films accomplish, it transcends the middling issues with the film, pushing it to greater heights thematically and emotionally. It may not be the best Ghibli film, but it is an incredible anime film to say the very least. It is hard not be swept up in Kiki’s journey and even harder not to fall in love with this heart-filled film.
Visuals and Audio: This is a great example of the importance of Blu-Ray to anime. Kiki’s Delivery Service looks absolutely stunning on the Blu-Ray format, further amplifying the already phenomenal aesthetics of the film. Studio Ghibli are known for their gorgeous visual work in the anime medium and Kiki’s Delivery Service remains one of the studio’s best outings to date. The sprawling seaside landscapes paired with the classic Ghibli character designs is a winning combination to say the least. It could even be argued that if it weren’t for Kiki’s Delivery Service’s inspired setting, we would not have gotten the seaside Ponyo film from Ghibli. This certainly feels like a precursor to that film at times.
Kiki’s Delivery Service also notably features a brilliantly composed soundtrack from Joe Hisaishi, the man behind many of Ghibli’s other great soundtracks. While Kiki’s Delivery Service does feel rather quiet in comparison to the more grandiose Ghibli music style, it builds a slow burning atmosphere that has major dividends in regards to what it adds to the overall experience. This particular release features the English dub alongside the original Japanese audio, both of which are brilliant.
Extras: This is without a shadow of a doubt the definitive release of Kiki’s Delivery Service. Madman Entertainment have packaged more special features into this Blu-Ray than you can poke a stick at. Included in this incredible release are a plethora of featurettes, behind the scenes vignettes, storyboards, trailers, infographics and much much more. There is honestly more content than you could ever hope for in a home video release and Madman deserve all the praise they can get for making this release happen.
Overall: Kiki’s Delivery Service is a classic anime film by all counts. Nearing 25 years since it first premiered, this is a timeless film that is every bit as good today as it was in 1989. They say the greatest films are the ones that never grow old, Kiki’s Delivery Service is young forever. There is a certain magic to this film that can only come from Studio Ghbili and it is one that has made it so that this film hasn’t aged a day in all these years, it is just as moving and just as fun as it ever was.
The Blu-Ray treatment was a long-time coming for Kiki’s Delivery Service and Madman Entertainment have truly crafted the definitive release of this movie. There is no better release on the market, it is that simple. If you are looking to pick up this film, look no further than this excellent Blu-Ray release. This is the release to own and for the sheer amount of content on disc, this one is a real steal.
There is something so heart-warming about Kiki’s Delivery Service that makes it such a great film to watch. It is that inner Ghibli sweetness that makes you feel, even just for a moment, that the magic on screen is real. Kiki’s Delivery Service is a magical film that will have you utterly bewitched from start to finish.
Kiki’s Delivery Service is a reminder of the magic of movies and the wonders of anime. It will cast a spell on you that you won’t soon forget.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
In 2014, writer and illustrator George Pérez will be celebrating 40 years of professional experience in the comic book industry. On June 21st 2013, Supanova Sydney kicked off with an intimate MasterClass led by Pérez exclusively for those with a Supa-Fan Pass. For those unaware of his work, Pérez has worked on Avengers, Wonder Woman and even co-created The New Teen Titans. Sporting an awesome M&M’s shirt, Pérez wasn’t shy of telling everyone he had never taken an art class and wasn’t even sure what he was going to do, but the result regardless was a very entertaining and informative illustration class focusing on how he likes to tell stories with visuals.
Firstly, he took suggestions from the audience to draw his first page. This resulted in drawing a story of an airforce combat, ending with a horse being ejected out of plane…for some reason. Pérez was open enough to admit he hates drawing planes and when he once had to draw horses for an Avengers story when he wasn’t used to drawing them. He did so anyways to challenge himself, stating that if an actor can’t ride a horse he will learn to do so for the film or the actor will lose his job. Pérez came across as a man who enjoys stepping out of his comfort zone in regards to illustration, as he knows it will often lead to improvement. He stated “If I’m cursing at a writer when I see the script I’ll be a better artist. The more I hate you, the more I’ll love you.”
Sketches of this plane story concluded with a cliffhanger, stating he feels every page should end with a panel to motivate the reader to want to turn to the next page. It also shifted focus on the pilots, focusing on the human element of the story. This prompted an audience member to ask how an artist would go around doing so with a character like Iron Man who has his face hidden. Pérez than began to scribble out an Iron Man page, showing the audience that the human element and emotion is all within the body language. He said some artists decide to try and put emotion into the helmet but he said that’s a “cheap” way of conveying emotion as a helmet doesn’t have feelings.
All this talk about body language moved the conversation towards facial features. He said every great character has their own noticeable silhouette and began to demonstrate by drawing the silhouettes of Superman, Green Lantern and Captain Marvel. He said every character should be unique and even demonstrated by showing the way he draws specific ears. He then drew the ears of Captain America, Hawkeye and Superman just to prove how important such a small detail can be. He even went as far to say that when drawing the Teen Titans he would often draw them all with shaved heads, just to make sure he got their facial features accurate. Pérez made note that these facial features is some aspiring comic book illustrators actually lack. While many try to be creative and put their own spin onto some characters, they can lack the smaller aspects that make the character who they are. He said in these situations he would be looking through someone’s portfolio where he’d recognise the costumes but not the characters.
After this and quick Q&A, George Pérez concluded the MasterClass by handing out the sketches he had just made to members of the audience. With such great attention to detail it’s easy to see how Pérez is such an influential figure in the comic book world, and this MasterClass really showcased is amazing talent. This informative and entertaining appearance will not be final appearance at Sydney Supernova 2013, as he will also be appearing this Sunday to give a seminar entitled George Pérez: From Avengers to Teen Titans at 2:20pm.
