Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse is being revived by Sega, and has seen some attention during E3. This title, which is headed to the Playstation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and PC this summer is a complete re-imagining of the Genesis classic, and is looking stellar thus far.
Today, Sega released three new screenshots for the game – and while it is just a tease, these shots are enough to get us excited. At this moment, check out the synopsis below along with the three images, and stay tuned as more info for Castle of Illusion should come forth during the coming months.
Now that the dust is settling over E3 2013 in Los Angeles, the official channel for Call of Duty has posted high quality versions of the footage we saw during the event.
Call of Duty: Ghosts is set to be released on November 5 for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U and PC, with the Xbox One and PS4 versions available at a later date.
That’s right, for the first time in Forza Motorsport history players will be able to drive over-wheel cars, including past and present grand prix racing cars as well as cars from the IZOD IndyCar Series. This is certainly great news for Forza Motorsport fans looking for some fresh new cars to get behind the wheel of in Forza Motorsport 5.
Turn 10 Studios have promised more information on open-wheel cars in Forza Motorsport 5 over the coming months leading up to its release at launch on the Xbox One. So with that, stay tuned for more information on Forza Motorsport 5.
New screens have come out from E3 2013 of Activision and High Moon Studios‘ Deadpool video game. You can check out a gallery of them at the bottom of this article, just above the newest, hilarious video of Deadpool visiting Marvel HQ, which we have embedded as well.
The “Merc with a Mouth” also wrote us his own fact-sheet for his starring video game vehicle. He insists we share the following list of features, verbatim…otherwise he’ll break through the fourth wall and force-feed us enough chimichangas that we’d burst! We’re a bit doubtful though…he would definitely want them for himself. Maybe we’ll just give Wolverine a call…
MY KEY FEATURES OF ME:
§ You Get to Play ME – DEADPOOL! Bored after years of stealing the show as part of an ensemble cast, I’m finally delivering what all my loyal fans have asked for – nay, DEMANDED – an entire video game featuring me and what I want to do…or what I want you to do to me…no, wait, as me. That includes appearances by some of my X-MEN friends – Not ‘cuz I need help (I don’t), but ‘cuz Marvel paid me to (wink). I might have made a few changes so you see things like I do. (You can thank me later, Psylocke.)
So Many Shiny Toys, So Little Time! No video game of mine would be complete without a lot of shiny new guns (bang!), blades (poke!), explosives (boom), duct tape (quack!) and a buttload of other things for me to play with! To capture all of my good sides, I made High Moon Studios make a third-person action game – and yes, my bottom is my best side.
An All-New Full Frontal Pictorial Story About Me! My Marvel writing hostage buddy Daniel Way (Secret Invasion, Dark Reign) and I have been through many life-changing things together, including visits to a lot of authentic taco stands. (Free life lesson: If it’s hot going in, it’ll be HOT coming out!) Daniel has put together a story that shows off my specialness like never before!
Fourth Wall…Schmourth Wall!!! – I like breaking walls, especially the fourth one! Why play a game about me when we can’t even talk to each other? I like you. Don’t you like me? Let’s get married. Why are you ignoring me? FINE!!! I’m breaking up with you! I miss you so much. Let’s get back together. Hold me…(and that was just a taste…).
Did I Mention This is a DEADPOOL Video Game? This is a DEADPOOL video game! That means you get to enjoy over-the-top-poop-your-pants action, smokin’ hot babes and tacos! Not necessarily all together or in that order. (What about that time when…?) Hey! NOT SAFE FOR WORK.
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt Blu-ray Collection (Purple Edition) Studio: Gainax Publisher: Madman Format:DVD, Blu-ray (reviewed) Release Date: May 22, 2013 Price: $59.95 – Available Here
Overview
Do you ever notice how sterile most anime feel? Sure we have grown accustomed to the boundless harem and ecchi that’s featured in every season, but it’s all done in a “clean” fashion as the girls are almost always pure maidens at heart. Even the perverted ones have at least some traits deemed as desirable in society. Enter Panty & Stocking, a show with no holds barred as it casts a light on the nastier side.
Here are two female leads with the most undesirable of attitudes mixed with doses of rampant sex, toilet humour and copious amounts of foul language. Wrapped in a uniquely Western art-style, Panty & Stocking grabbed the attention of viewers and raised a few eyebrows when it aired in 2010. So let’s see how it fares in its transition to home video with this feature-filled Purple Edition.
Story The viewer gets thrown into the daily exploits of Panty and Stocking, the Anarchy Sisters, who happen to be two angels deported from above and forced to get rid of pesky ghosts in Daten City, a place between Heaven and Earth. That is, if their boss Garterbelt can get them off their lazy rear ends to do any work! Once they get into gear they do things a little differently. Panty removes her panties to materialise a pistol, while Stocking slides off her…stocking for a katana. Awesome? Yes.
When they eliminate a ghost they’re rewarded by dropped Heaven Coins which, once enough are collected, can bring their halos back. Judging by their behaviour though, they seem pretty much beyond redemption. You’ll soon realise Panty & Stocking doesn’t hold back. Stocking eats sweets in the morning (shock, horror!) while Panty preys on men for sex in almost every episode. Faeces, farts, body fluids – everything. They somehow managed to fit every taboo topic you normally don’t find in anime. If you think it’s impossible to insert a lewd pun in every line for half an episode, think again.
Panty & Stocking should be enjoyed for the antics and interaction between the two girls, as each ghost fight plays out as a pretty cool shonen-esque battle but they’re not intended as the highlight of each episode. Some can be bland, and fairly short, while others are exhilarating as a fight evolves on multiple stages. The dialogue and constant bickering between the two is a riot, though, and often precedes every villain encounter with hilarious results.
The dialogue is one of the strong points of the story here. Swear words and vocal etiquette aside, it’s very witty with play-on-words and crude humour abounds.
Visuals The first thing you’ll notice, and will perhaps be confused about, is the animation style of Panty & Stocking. Borrowing from Western cartoon techniques in the vein of Powerpuff Girls, Panty & Stocking is almost a shocking departure from the usual anime we see. However it’s all done in a way that complements the abrasive and fun nature of the show.
Occasionally their art designs change completely to a traditional, attractive anime with gratuitous fan service to boot.
Backgrounds are simple yet creative and the two sisters are drawn in an often ugly way that puts more focus on their flaws. In an age where every anime does its best to make characters look pretty, such basic animation is pretty refreshing to see.
Things can get ridiculously awesome when fights and high-speed chases tear through your screen and you have no idea what’s going on anymore. It’s all a huge amount of fun if you go with the flow.
Audio
The sound design is also inspired by Western cartoons, with minimal ambient and background audio in order to bring the crazy dialogue into your face. The villains truly sound like maniacal after-school TV characters.
The music isn’t something you really notice in Panty & Stocking. You do get some funky beats, a pretty awesome transformation song and a pleasant ending theme, though. English dub fans will be glad to know this is a series that excels in our language, thanks in-part to the Western animation and the skilled voice actors. Those who prefer Japanese subtitles should give the dub a go, as it just feels so natural with Panty & Stocking.
Extras
Madman’s release of Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt happens to be the “Purple Edition”, brimming with plenty of on-disc extras. To break it down, we have: the Sanitary Box OVAs, Sit Down with Panty & Stocking, Ghost Explosion Collection and Documentary, Talk Live Animated At Loft/Plus One, Making of Lingerie Scene, Outtakes, Textless Songs and, finally, promotional videos and trailers.
Phew! A few of these are really welcome, such as the OVAs which are animated shorts designed to be tacked on after each episode. If you’ve already seen and loved the show, it’s worth getting this set for the uncensored cut and all these extras alone! Other than that, it’s a two-disc release in a standard box typical of Madman’s releases.
Overall Panty & Stocking isn’t for everyone, and it’s certainly not what I would normally watch. But if you’re itching for a wild, untamed and whacky anime this is definitely it. This is an anime for adults wanting a politically incorrect experience and should be applauded for having the guts to conquer the stereotypical “perverted” anime genre with its sheer obscenity.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Powered by the new EA Sports Ignite engine, EA is looking to set the bar for character likeness in a fighting game with EA Sports UFC – the first trailer of which can be seen here – and have released three fresh renders right out of E3 2013 (keep in mind, these are all pre-alpha).
The first is of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon “Bones” Jones (seen above). Here’s a little biography:
When Jon ‘Bones’ Jones beat Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua to win the UFC Light Heavywieght Championship, he became the youngest champion in UFC history. Five title defenses later, Jones is one of the biggest stars in the UFC and we’re proud to welcome him to the EA SPORTS UFC Fighter Roster.
Second is UFC Lightweight Champion, Benson “Smooth” Henderson. He, along with Jon Jones and UFC President Dana White, appeared on stage during the EA Press Conference to introduce the game. His background:
From Colorado Springs, Colorado with a record of 18-2-0, we’re excited to have UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson be one of the first fighters revealed for the EA SPORTS UFC Fighter Roster. Named the UFC’s 2012 Fighter of the Year, Henderson is one of the most exciting fighters in all of MMA.
And finally, we have the legend Chuck “Iceman” Liddell. A UFC Hall of Famer and fan favorite for his aggressive, stand-up style.
The epitome of a UFC ‘Hall of famer’, Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell has the second most career knockouts in UFC history, behind only Anderson Silva. Liddell held the Light Heavyweight Championship from April 2005 to May 2007 and is largely considered to be the greatest fighter in that weight class of all-time. We’re honored to have a legend like Chuck Liddell join the EA SPORTS UFC Fighter Roster.
I think you’ll agree that the models look great, but the true test is seeing them in real, in-game action. Hopefully we witness some gameplay soon. Stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all future updates of EA Sports UFC.
To celebrate the imminent release of the action blockbuster WORLD WAR Z, we’ve got a great competition for all our Capsule Computers readers. Read on for details.
United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt), traverses the world in a race against time to stop a pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself.
10 lucky entrants will win an in-season double pass to the film as well as an awesome poster! All you have to do to enter is answer the following question in the comments section below:
Besides an underground bunker, where would be the safest place to hide out during an Apocalypse?
We’re looking for the most creative/funny answers, BUT, if you can give a serious response that is well justified, we’ll be equally impressed. REMEMBER to leave a valid email address in the ’email’ input box when choosing a name to comment with. Those who login to Disqus with their Facebook accounts need not do so. Winners will be chosen and notified on June 19th.
**SPECIAL NOTE**
This competition is open to AU residents only.
WORLD WAR Z, rated M, will be ONLY AT THE MOVIES JUNE 20. Check out the international trailer found below. For further information on the film, visit www.WorldWarZ.com.au. Join the conversation on Twitter with #WorldWarZ. And ‘Like’ the Facebook.com/WorldWarZAU page.
Japanese Businessmen and women will be able to purchase Evangelion themed clothing and accessories all throughout this month, allowing them to show off their interest for the anime around their workplace in style.
Japanese clothing company Haruyama have collaborated with Evangelion to create a special event store located on the second floor of Atre Akihabara 1 in Japan. Haruyama used Eva 3.0 as inspiration for the business shirts, ties, cuff links and handkerchiefs that are currently on sale, and will continue to be until the 23rd of June. The store will be open for seven days between the hours of 10:00 am – 9:00 pm.
The two stripe shirts and blouses are designed around the first, second and third Eva units; with the colors of each represented Eva shown on the inside of the collar and cuffs. The cuff links and ties also use color to represent the characters from the movie, rather than showing the characters on the actual items.
The clothes and accessories have successfully combined the Eva themes with the business style aesthetic; the average person would not see them as anime related clothing, but rather a neatly designed piece of office wear. Click here to check out the Haruyama X Evangelion online store.
The Third Evangelion movie, You Can (Not) Redo, will be licensed in North America by Funimation.
NeocoreGames happily announced today that The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing will continue with a part two in the series. This Diablo doppelganger gained much praise from game reviewers for being a refreshing gothic-noir action RPG at a consumer friendly low price. NeocoreGames adds that previous adventurers will be able to import their saved characters to The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II or start fresh with a new Van Helsing. Viktor Juhász, narrative designer at NeocoreGames, had the following to say:
“In the first game it all seemed so simple. Defeat the mad scientist, free the land and ride into the sunset, but sometimes the fall of a villain only opens the way to more sinister foes.”
Check out our review of The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing (here). For more information regarding the newly announced Van Helsing title, follow NeocoreGames’ DevBlog, Facebook, or Twitter.
The free-to-play MMORPG title – Neverwinter – has seen a growing community since its open beta in April while reaching towards its official launch date on June 20th. Capsule Computers was able to reach the development team at Cryptic Studios to gain further knowledge regarding the expanding MMORPG.
Question 1: What is your name and position, and how have you contributed to Neverwinter?
My name is Lindsay Haven and I’m a Systems Designer on Neverwinter. I’ve been working on Neverwinter for over 3 years now and have contributed to many of the aspects of the combat systems as well as overhead systems such as companions, fusing, and invocation to name a few.
Question 2: If I were completely new to Dungeons & Dragons, how would you explain Neverwinter to me as an appealing game to play?
Neverwinter is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing game. That means that there is a heavy emphasis on social interaction with other players and building your own unique character in game. Since Neverwinter is based on the Dungeons & Dragons IP it’s a fantasy based game with Elves and Dwarves, magic and sword fighting, and Dragons and other mythical monsters.
Question 3: With many online role-playing games available, how does Neverwinter stand out from the rest?
Neverwinter is easy to check out and try. All the content, from minimum to maximum level, is free-to-play and the game is free to download. This means that there is no cost to play Neverwinter. Although many games are going free-to-play sometime after their initial launch, Neverwinter was built as a free-to-play from the ground up. This makes for a smoother player experience. Additionally, Neverwinter’s combat is action based. This means that players are dodging and blocking attacks from monsters, which is then combined with a simplified classic MMO power rotation. This makes combat in Neverwinter more engaging than the typical MMO or online role-playing game.
Question 4: Can you explain the licensing process in making this game a reality considering an already licensed Wizards of the Coast product – Dungeons & Dragons Online? Was it hard to establish a need for a fresh MMO?
In terms of adding a new MMO to the market, we felt that there was a lot of space in the free-to-play (and free-to-download) game space. As for a new Dungeons & Dragons game, well, most of us were pretty excited about being able to work on that, and it was something that Wizards of the Coast was pushing for as well. I think all parties involved never doubted this game had potential in the market as it is now.
Question 5: So far the races have been identified as elves, half-elves, dwarves, half-orcs, halflings, tieflings, and humans. With the coming release of the drow elves as a playable race, will Neverwinter acquire more races? Perhaps through a payment option?
There will absolutely be more playable races coming to Neverwinter. We aren’t quite sure if they will be monetized or not. Though I think we will be making that decision soon, so keep an eye out for new races on our website.
Question 6: Classes are a bit few in number at the initial release of the open beta. Can we expect more free classes to generate new characters or will they need to be purchased? Any hints to what new classes may be in the making?
We are currently working on new classes. I can’t say what classes we are working on, but I can say that we are looking at the most popular class in D&D history and listening to the Neverwinter community. We have room to expand in that direction because there are a lot of classes available to us through the Dungeons & Dragons lore. At this time we don’t plan on charging players for playable classes.
Question 7: As noted in one of the title’s latest trailers, Gauntlgrym may be a traversable area. What has Perfect World Entertainment and Cryptic Studios done to ensure the legitimacy – lore and books – of environments such as the ancient primordial forge?
We are always looking for ways to integrate IP story into Neverwinter. For Gauntlgrym we have taken the areas directly from the the Neverwinter Campaign Setting book and getting approvals through Wizards of the Coast on the content. Gauntlgrym is a very big place; the main focus at the launch of this zone is the Iron Tabernacle area (including an ancient dwarven armory and crypts), but we may be doing other areas like the primordial forge at a later time.
Question 8: I have completed R. A. Salvatore’s “The Last Threshold” recently and became immediately excited in playing a relatable story. Are you able to identify if the stories intersect – and if so, is the MMORPG a prelude into “The Sundering?
We can’t really answer that at this time other than we’re working with Wizards of the Coast on incorporating the evolution of the Forgotten Realms into the ongoing Neverwinter game.
Question 9: How far is Neverwinter willing to go? The name seems to localize the title in the immediate area in Faerun. Beyond the Underdark, can we expect expansions to led us into the deserts of Calimport or into the heavy winters of the Ten Towns?
The Sword Coast is a fairly big place and there is a lot we have yet to explore, so we’re going to focus on that for now. We have no current plans to go beyond the Sword Coast, but that may change in the future.
Question 10: I realize I have laid the questions on pretty thick. Lastly, I would like to ask you what you have enjoyed most about your experience with Neverwinter, and why is that experience that prominent in your mind?
It’s been very exciting to be able to bring to life two of my passions in a single game. Working with Wizards of the Coast to develop an exciting and immersive digital game has probably been a once in a life time experience, though I look forward to more experiences like it. And then building an MMO that’s been well received is very exciting. Both of these experiences have changed the way that I approach game development and creativity because both Wizards of the Coast and an active, mostly positive, game community makes a big difference in the collaboration and direction of the game.
That concludes the interview with Systems Designer Lindsay Haven. Neverwinter seems to be only gaining ground in the PC free-to-play market and will be an automatic guilty pleasure for those that adore the Forgotten Realms. From what we have gathered here, future classes will potentially be part of the free-to-play package. Certain races in the future may become attainable though whether or not they will be free is up in the air. And we can be sure that Neverwinter will expand to the boundaries of the Sword Coast with only considerations to stretch further. You can rush to the city of Neverwinter’s aid too by clicking (here).
