LOS ANGELES – JULY 9, 2024 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, has announced a new update for its collectible RPG, Tower of God: New World. A new teammate will be available for players to experience, along with several events.
SSR [Mad Dog] Varagarv (Purple Element, Tank, Fisherman) has been added to the roster of playable teammates. As one of the Mad Dogs created by the FUG Slayer Baylord Yama, Varagarv was born through a process called Blood Fusion where powerful blood from two or more bloodlines is injected into a person to grant them extraordinary power. He is the strongest of the E-Rank Regulars who cast a barrier that deal damage to enemies who destroy it.
Several events are now available through July 17 to welcome the new teammate, including:
[Mad Dog] Varagarv Check-in Event: Players can obtain SSR Soulstones (x60) and Suspendiums (x2000) simply by logging into the game for 14 days during the event period.
[Mad Dog] Varagarv Boost Missions: Players who have gained [Mad Dog] Varagarv and cleared all Growth Missions can receive SSR [Mad Dog] Varagarv three times and one SSR Teammate Selection Chest.
The latest update also features a brand-new Event Boss Battle. Players can challenge [Lightning Pill] Khun Ran through July 17 and obtain various rewards such as Suspendiums, Data Shards and more. Additionally, the Tower of Alliances has been updated, opening a competitive field for players to match against another Alliance until July 13.
Tower of God: New World is now inviting players to pre-register for its 1-year anniversary celebration. Players who pre-register for the anniversary will receive SSR+ [Healing Flame] Yihwa Yeon.
In Tower of God: New World, players can take control of fan-favorite characters to ascend the Tower. Join Twenty-Fifth Bam – and more than 100 characters – as he fights his way through the Tower in gorgeous 3D animation that will make players feel like they have stepped into an anime world. Players will experience fast-paced battle mechanics while utilizing a unique Slot System that powers up a particular “slot” instead of a specific character.
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling: ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
Boulder, Colo. (July 9, 2024) – Serenity Forge (Doki Doki Literature Club Plus, LISA: Definitive Edition) and Lifeless Worlds today reported lift-off on the mysterious adventure Lifeless Moon as it journeys to landing on Xbox, PlayStation and Epic Games Store. Today’s launch was accompanied by a trailer showcasing the adventure ahead:
Lifeless Moon is a stunning 3D platformer that takes you on a captivating journey to the moon during an Apollo-era mission. Explore eerie yet mesmerizing landscapes that blur the line between reality and the unknown, leaving you to deduce your true location in the universe. Mysteries await on the barren surface of the moon, unlocking secrets that will help you find the truth and survive.
As you retrace the steps of the explorers who came before you, understanding the traumas they faced may hold the key to your return home. Solve riddles, decipher clues and master innovative technologies as you begin to perceive your new reality on a grander scale. Players will encounter strange phenomena and channel their extraordinary powers to unravel the mystery and uncover the truth.
Lifeless Moon is the spiritual successor to Lifeless Planet which sprang from cult-hit to almost ten million players over the course of its lifetime.
Keep up with Lifeless Moon by following Lifeless Worlds on Twitter, YouTube and checking out the official website.
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About Serenity Forge
Based in Boulder, Colorado, video game development and publishing studio Serenity Forge prides themselves on the care and dedication they put into their work, creating meaningful games that challenge the way you think. Firm believers in the artistic, cultural, and educational power of video games, Serenity Forge aims to craft unique interactive experiences to broaden players’ horizons and expand their perspectives.
About Lifeless Worlds Studio
With its cold, dark winters, Alaska turned out to be a great place to hunker inside behind a glowing computer screen and develop indie games. Hiking the mountains and glaciers of the “great land” also provided inspiration for alien landscapes in developer David Board’s first title, Lifeless Planet. But really the story of Lifeless Worlds Studio began back in the early 1980s on a Commodore VIC-20. Board took to programming and computer art on that little machine with 5KB of memory and he never looked back. In his day job, Board develops science education apps for museums and science centers, and that passion for sharing science influences the themes and content of his games. In 2014, David moved to the Seattle area with his wife and two husky mix dogs. Lifeless Moon is his second major game.
Deathbound, The First Ever Party-Based Soulslike, Launches for Consoles and PC This Summer – Transform between fallen warriors when one-of-a-kind party-based soulslike Deathbound launches worldwide on August 8th
July 9th, 2024 – Tate Multimedia and Trialforge Studio are excited to announce that Deathbound, the dynamic single-player party-based soulslike, will launch for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on August 8th. Form alliances with fallen warriors using the innovative 4-hero party system and band together to defeat appalling creatures and enemies.
Deathbound is a party-based soulslike set in a harsh world where Faith clashes with Science. You cannot survive alone; instead, you must refuse Death and embrace Ziêminal by bonding with fallen warriors encountered on your journey. Using a dynamic 4-hero party system, seamlessly transform between characters mid-combat to ensure survival. Success hinges on working together with your comrades, each possessing their own skills, combat techniques, and backstory.
The dynamics between these characters significantly impact gameplay, leading to different outcomes and status effects depending on your actions. For instance, aligning characters from the Church of Death and Cult of Life – two opposing factions within the vessel – will cause conflict and result in consequential combat effects. Alternatively, pairing fallen warriors with similar beliefs can lead to powerful combat buffs, perfect for taking down relentless foes along the way.
Despite their differences, the fallen must unite in combat. By charging a shared sync meter during battles, you can unleash a devastating Morphstrike combining the party’s strength, crucial for overcoming deadly adversaries.
Brazilian-based developer Trialforge Studio is a small, 20-person team working on this ambitious take on the soulslike genre. The studio, making waves in the Brazilian indie scene, aims to deliver a high-quality experience with Deathbound at an approachable price of $29.99 USD / 29.99 EUR.
Key Features:
The Essence – Gain the skills, memories and identities of fallen warriors throughout the world. Combine their unique personalities and combat styles and switch between them seamlessly.
Party System – The essences you absorb form your party. Deathbound features a robust party system that allows you to craft a playstyle through talent trees. Switch between fallen warriors to harness their skills and abilities. Each party member’s affiliation in life will affect their synergy in death.
Dynamic Morphing – Unleash the combined powers of fallen warriors with devastating Morphstrikes. Utilize different attack styles to pull off powerful combinations and finishing blows to defeat all who oppose you.
Brutal World – Ziêminal is a world that mixes a technological past and a medieval present, home to diverse cultures. The city of Akratya is rich in lore and dangers. Explore a city falling into ruin under the shadow of a grand crusade. With its imposing brutalist architecture and melding of technology, it’s a city bound for oblivion.
Unforgiving Monsters and Bosses – Face challenging enemies crafted to push you to your limits. Their very nature is based on the five stages of grief, with each new encounter commanding the attention of any soul who dares face them.
Deathbound launches simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store on August 8th, 2024. Those eager to experience binding may do so right now with a demo available on Steam.
About Trialforge Studio
Trialforge Studio is a Brazilian-based game development studio guided by challenge and quality. Focused on delivering a unique and memorable game experience that moves players, inspiring growth and transformation.
About Tate Multimedia
Tate Multimedia is a Poland-based independent developer and game publisher. Creator of the legendary Kao the Kangaroo, well-known Urban Trial Series, and award-winning Steel Rats.
When it comes to FromSoftware DLC, the team rarely misses as they can take advantage of the already well-established mechanics to make new mini-DLC locations feel interesting while not taking too much away from the base game. The question is, how exactly would the team handle the DLC for Elden Ring, a massive game that is set in an open world that is already brimming with things to discover, areas to explore, optional bosses and dungeons to conquer, and much more. In fact, players could spend over a hundred hours in Elden Ring and still find something new if they are exploring naturally.
So, with such an amazing wealth of content already on offer in an open world of massive size, it would take quite a feat to bring out a piece of DLC that would manage to hit the same heights of the base game, but it is clear that FromSoftware was up to the challenge even if it took them a bit over two years to do it. So now with Shadow of the Erdtree dropping in a massive amount of new content in all shapes and sizes, is this DLC everything fans could hope for both from Fromsoftware and Elden Ring?
Story
Now it is worth noting that we will go into some minor spoilers here at least for the base game as the only way to access the DLC is actually a decent chunk into Elden Ring. That being said, here it goes. Players must first have eliminated the powerful Starscourge Radahn boss as well as made their way to a hidden away area that was previously not used for anything besides a seemingly optional boss fight against Mohg, Lord of Blood. It turns out now however, that Mohg is far from optional when it comes to taking on the DLC, as his defeat is required to access the cocoon he was protecting, a cocoon containing what appeared to be the kidnapped and missing god Miquella. Interacting with this cocoon brings players to the Lands Between where they find themselves quickly drawn into its mysteries as they join a number of other mysterious warriors from across different factions all trying to solve the strange land they have found themselves in, and perhaps gain power as a result.
From thereon the player’s journey through the Realm of Shadow is one of intrigue waiting to be unraveled. Most of what players learn of Miquella’s goals and intentions for the world comes from talking to those loyal to the man, speaking to them as they progress down the path Miquella has walked as he discarded parts of himself in search of godhood and discovering extra bits of lore hidden away in item descriptions or around the areas themselves. Similarly, a lot of the little side elements involving brand new monsters hidden away in unique looking dungeons or storylines involving characters that players can come across and either fight alongside, or in some cases betray, are handled the same way. This is true to form for Elden Ring and makes each newly discovered area or item something players will be eager to explore and read about, especially in regards to the true nature of Miquella and what players may have learned about him, the lengths he is willing to go to to truly achieve his goal, and of course, his twisted family that players have dealt with throughout most of Elden Ring’s core story.
It does mean however that it is entirely possible to flounder about a bit when it comes to actually approaching certain story elements, especially if players happen to “break” a questline for a character by unintentionally going too far or defeating a boss or mid-boss before discovering the character themselves thanks to the game’s open world nature and how hidden away some characters and side-stories can be. This makes exploration paramount, especially in the Realm of Shadow as this is perhaps the most intricately designed land in the entire game and easily half of the map can be treated as optional. Of course, since Elden Ring offers numerous options to New Game+ and Shadow of the Erdtree remains readily available as long as players still defeat Mohg, they can always revisit should they manage to miss something the first time through, even if it means enemies get stronger every time.
Gameplay
FromSoftware really knows how to set the tone when it comes to entering into a brand new location. As players arrive into the brand new area they find themselves within a haunted looking graveyard with a vast landmass spanning before them and multiple paths to take. Taking the path towards the obvious map location like they’ve done countless times before only to see a brand new enemy type come whirling down from atop a grave-site, dishing out tons of damage with an aggressive attack pattern that mounts up bleeding status with every strike until it kills you. And it most likely will. This can be either due to someone just returning to the game after two years of being away, or most likely because Shadow of the Erdtree is ready for nearly any type of higher level build players may be bringing into it, maxed out weaponry and favorite set of armor included.
Players will quickly find that nearly everything in this DLC is ready to dish out tons of damage and, if players don’t explore and take advantage of a brand new mechanic, they’ll likely suffer as a result. This new mechanic comes in the form of “Scaduetree Fragments” and “Revered Spirit Ashes.” These both work similar to the Golden Seeds that players need to upgrade their Flask as in players will need to have more of each every time they want to apply an upgrade. The Scaduetree Fragments provide a permanent blessing to the player’s character and boost how much damage they can dish out and take with every blessing while the Ashes increase the health of Torrent as well as the stats of any summon ashes the players wish to use, be it the reliable Mimic Tear or even the unconventional ones. This is a rather genius way to still ensure a steep difficulty curve while giving players the opportunity to strengthen themselves enough through exploration should they truly find themselves up against a brick wall. The reason for this is that while some of these blessing items are locked behind certain progression blockers, many are laying just scattered around the open world or even being carried by a zombified peasant carrying a pot on its head. Thus, exploration is once again a key factor here to being able to remain in the fight.
This is especially true when it comes to actually exploring in this game. See that village down there with something mysterious looking in it? You’ll end up down there somehow, just need to find the right path or even make a leap of faith. Delve even deeper than that and there’s far more to be found below the ground itself, as well as above it as even the sky isn’t the limit when it comes to the Realm of Shadow and what players will find as they travel through it. Yes, some of this can be incredibly confusing, especially since more than ever some locations are hidden away and paths to optional locations are less obvious than before but the rewards for doing so are often quite worth it. Even Spiritsprings return and can shoot Torrent skyward to hidden paths or locations or help players land safely but now some are also sealed, with players needing to track down their sealing stones to uncover them.
All of this exploration and battling for survival around the Realm of Shadow will reward players with quite a large amount of new gear to make use of and FromSoftware has done their best to make some of these weapons as appealing as possible, including offering entirely new types of weaponry as well as finally making some fighting styles completely viable options now compared to what was previous on offer. This even includes larger and better versions of some of the base game’s weaponry, though the real surprises come from some of the new types of weapons as mentioned before. These come in the form of throwable long-range weapons that return to the user’s hand or even potion bottles that dish out damage without actually having a limited use. Many of these weapons allow for players to use a fighting style that can now be used at a bit of a distance, something that may be appealing now for some given how aggressive enemies are in this DLC, and always players can attune their gear to certain elements to best fit what stat it’s damage can scale off of. Along these weapons are also some massive weapons that put even some of the bigger weapons to shame, new faster blades that have unique stances, and of course even new Ashes of War to equip to some of the weapons to spice things up even further.
Having all of these new tools at the player’s fingertips may seem like a daunting endeavor, especially if they have a favorite weapon already maxed out or pushing their weight limit, but the DLC offers plenty of ways to fix that. Not only does it offer plenty of wonderful looking new armor and useful talismans for those looking to really change their look or fix a possible limitation they have or (especially in regards to a certain boss) elemental weakness, it also provides a wealth of upgrade materials. Players that take their time to explore the many side-dungeons, hidden away locations, and even the nooks and crannies of the legacy dungeons will find that there is plenty of upgrade material available to take one or two new favorite weapons to max, especially if they were careful to start with. Of course, speaking of materials, there are also plenty of new consumables that players can craft, including incredibly powerful but very limited explosives that require taking down specific and challenging foes we won’t spoil here to create.
Now, earlier we mentioned that all enemies really like to hit hard and new enemies especially tend to take a more aggressive fighting style compared to older enemy types that appear in the DLC, and that is especially true for the bosses in Shadow of the Erdtreee. While we won’t go into specifics of any of these bosses, even the mini-bosses and side ones since they can be just as shocking and unpredictable, it must be said that every encounter here is as memorable as fans can hope for and many are as frustratingly challenging too. Most bosses are incredibly aggressive to the point that players may often feel like they are being pushed back by sheer attack number alone, let alone trying to dodge or block to the best of their ability.
Of course, summons, co-op, and spirit ashes help alleviate some of this pressure but players will always need to be in for a dynamic fight, especially against some bosses that throw out entirely new move-sets past a certain health point. It’s quite clear that the boss encounters have been dialed up past the maximum here to try and bring players to their knees and even when players manage to eke out a victory, it might just feel like pure luck. In fact, one boss saw me never truly figure out how to dodge one of its attack patterns fully, instead having to rely on magic damage resistance and being at full health to survive the incoming barrage and this was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how players may need to change up their style or gear to take down a boss but thankfully, as mentioned before, there are even more ways to do so, now more than ever before as this DLC takes everything that Elden Ring did so well and builds upon it to deliver something truly impressive.
Audio & Visuals
As mentioned before, the Realm of Shadow is a fairly packed land and while there may be areas that still stretch fairly wide without much going on, there are also locations with layers upon more layers, seeing players needing to traverse some extremely unpredictable routes to see everything that the DLC has to offer. The design of the locations is highly varied, especially in regards to some areas that we won’t spoil here but take a wild twist on what players have come to expect from Elden Ring‘s land design. Some foes do appear to be simply recycled or re-skinned but there are a large number of new foes as well that really stand out and boss design is stellar throughout. Oddly enough, the same cannot be said about the game’s performance. While we never did experience any slowdown throughout the DLC, the amount of pop-in in the environment is shockingly high to the point that there were times that some details never loaded until the next run through. It is also worth noting that the game did crash to Home multiple times throughout the DLC, though this primarily happened in late-game locations.
It must be said that while Elden Ring‘s OST was already top notch, once again Shadow of the Erdtree takes things to the next level. Whenever players pass through a fog gate or enter an area where they know a boss fight is about to kick off, they will be treated to some absolutely wonderful background music that is as exceptional as it is chilling to know how hard of a battle players have ahead of them. The voice work throughout the game from the NPCs is also handled quite well, especially with regards to the more plot relevant characters that players meet multiple times along the critical path.
Overall
How does a developer manage to create DLC to an open world game that has already received some of the highest levels of praise around? By sticking true to that base formula and building upon it by offering a wealth of new locations for players to explore, new foes to struggle against, and plenty of new weaponry and other tools to use in that struggle for survival, especially against some of the most aggressive bosses FromSoft has ever developed. That being said, there is something to be said about the level of familiarity that the Shadow of the Erdtree has to the core game as well as its performance issues but these do little to take away from what is easily a must have expansion to an already great game and something any fan of Elden Ring should pick up.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The Wacky Dungeon of Naheulbeuk is Available Now on Consoles! Joystick mashing or keyboard clicking, it doesn’t matter as long as the dungeon is running!
Montpellier, France, July 9th, 2024 – Artefacts Studio and Dear Villagers are proud to announce that their diabolical dungeon management sim, Naheulbeuk’s Dungeon Master, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. This eagerly awaited release brings the zany, chaotic, and hilarious world of Naheulbeuk to console players, allowing them to build and manage the most dreadful dungeon of all time. Available today on PlayStation, Xbox & Switch. The console release of Naheulbeuk’s Dungeon Master promises to deliver the same wacky and immersive experience that has captivated PC players. Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike can look forward to diving into this chaotic and humorous heroic fantasy universe.
Key Features of Naheulbeuk’s Dungeon Master:
Create and Customize Your Dungeon: In a perfect blend of the Evil Genius series and the all-time classic Dungeon Keeper, players can design their own unique dungeon filled with traps, treasures, and a variety of zany challenges.
Manage Minions and Resources: Oversee your crafting minions to produce tools, weapons, and resources, ensuring you amass piles of gold coins. Keep your minions happy to prevent annoying strikes.
Boost Your Dungeon’s Prestige: Decorate your corridors with precious treasures and relics to climb the ranks of the most prestigious dungeons.
Defend and Raid: Level up your guards to defend your dungeon against invaders or send them to raid your competitors.
Raise Your Tripe Adviser Rating: Create a must-see tavern to attract visitors and boost your income, making your dungeon the talk of the town.
More About Naheulbeuk’s Dungeon Master:
Prepare to unleash your inner dungeon master and join the chaos on July 9, 2024, when Naheulbeuk’s Dungeon Master makes its grand debut on consoles!
Founded in 2003, Artefacts Studio is today one of the major independent players in the French video game industry, with a team of 50 experienced employees. Based in the heart of Lyon, the studio develops and markets video games worldwide for PC and consoles.
Based in the South of France, in sunny Montpellier, we are a boutique publishing label composed of a team of twenty people. Open-minded and versatile, Dear Villagers offers handcrafted marketing and production guidance. Our mission: We tell memorable stories through memorable games.
Stack the Deck This Summer With This Card-Carrying Roguelike Adventure
Bristol, United Kingdom — July 9, 2024 | Yogscast Games, in partnership with New Zealand-based developer Purple Moss Collectors, is thrilled to announce the official release date for the card-flipping, risk-taking roguelike deckbuilder, Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, hitting the tables on August 8.
The blackjack-themed roguelike landed a winning hand at Steam Next Fest in June, featuring as one of the festival’s top 25 most played demos – now boasting over 120K wishlists and counting on Steam ahead of the innovative deckbuilder’s official release.
What’s more, the team is delighted to share an all-new teaser trailer where players can watch as the stakes get raised in this gritty adventure, and every hand could be their last.
In Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, players build powerful decks to take on the greedy upper echelons of capitalist business baddies exploiting the local gamblers. Come launch, players will be able to choose from a collection of over 300 cards, with each round demanding new and improved strategies in order to bag the jackpot.
Be sure to go all in and wishlist Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers on Steam today!
About Yogscast Games
Yogscast Games was established in 2017, with a simple goal: to work with small teams to develop and publish games which are as fun to watch as they are to play. Its most recent releases have included poker-powered deckbuilding game ‘Aces & Adventures’, the wickedly amoral ‘Trolley Problem, Inc.’ and the wildly successful restaurant management roguelike ‘PlateUp!’.
About Purple Moss Collectors
Purple Moss Collectors is a tiny game studio from New Zealand, making weird and wonderful replayable games. We are currently developing a blackjack roguelike deck-builder called Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers.
The sweetest Songs are those that tell of broken hearts
Zaprešić, Croatia, July 9th, 2024 – Ocean Media and TuttiFrutti Interactive are excited to announce that Darkarta: A Broken Heart Quest Collector’s Edition is now available on the Nintendo Switch. Embark on a dire, thrilling quest of unraveling the dark past of Mary.
Watch the launch trailer:
Mary would have never imagined that fate could wipe away the peaceful serenity of her life. Learn more about Mary’s past by solving puzzles and exploring unforeseen sites. Would you help her discover the secret that dates to 3700 years ago!
Darkarta: A Broken Heart Quest Collector’s Edition main features:
A mother’s epic frantic journey in search of her lost daughter, to the lost civilization of the Indus Valley – An untold saga of true love.
Explore “unforeseen” environments and original puzzles.
Bonus Chapter “Rising of the Phoenix”
Prequel Comic Book, Mom’s diary pages
30 Nostalgic memory collectables
36 Hall of Fame Medals
28 Morphing Objects
Replay Mini Games, Hidden Object Puzzles and Cut-scenes
About TuttiFrutti Interactive:
Tuttifrutti Interactive is an award-winning premium game developer studio, and has a multi-talented in-house team! The company has skyrocketed in the gaming world with a bang, making it a hub for gaming modules of premium quality Art/Animation/ Cross-platform Development/ Testing services and delivered in record time!
Uncover secrets, solve puzzles, and survive encounters with various monsters in this retro-inspired top-down adventure
9 JULY 2024 – Prepare for a nostalgic retro-styled adventure as Veritus, a colorful, pixelated game that echoes the top-down adventure classics, is set to launch on Steam on July 22, 2024.
Developed by Colorgrave, this game invites players to delve into the dark chambers of the god of shadows, Veritus, and uncover the mysteries hidden within his castle. It’s a direct sequel to their “Very Positive”-rated Prodigal, but doesn’t require players to have experienced the first part of the story.
Check the Veritus Release Date Trailer:
Get a taste of a classic Adventure-RPG with a fast-paced twist. Use your trusty pickaxe, lasso, and magical god-hand to overcome obstacles. Face bosses, each with their own themes, unique mechanics and even additional phases to put your skills to the test. And explore countless rooms that all feel connected, like small parts of a larger picture.
Veritus will launch on Steam at a low price of just $7 USD (regional prices will vary).
“Modern-day games using retro stylings isn’t anything new, but there’s a big difference between mimicking a style and understanding it. Colorgrave may have a fondness for the GBC, but they also recognize what made games on that portable work.” – GoNintendo
About the game
Veritus is a colorful adventure with the pixel-perfect aesthetic of a Game Boy Color title. Journey into the dark chambers of the god of shadows, Veritus, and uncover the secrets hidden within his castle.
Face monsters and mysteries lurking around every corner as you collect resources and equipment to survive. Prepare to leave camp, navigate the castle’s lonely halls, and reveal the secrets dwelling within the throne room.
Key Features
Explore the castle: Discover the mysteries of the god of shadows. Navigate the treacherous corridors and chambers of Veritus’ forgotten castle and find key fragments to unlock secrets within the throne room.
Puzzles & Combat: Overcome numerous dangers lurking in every corner of the castle’s hallowed walls. Use the weapons and tools at your disposal to defeat monsters and decipher puzzles that hinder your quest.
REGROUP: Set up camps in safe havens deep within the castle. Prepare for each adventure by equipping a variety of weapons and tools, going on expeditions with companions, and resting after each encounter.
About Colorgrave
Colorgrave is a small indie game company, passionate about crafting high-quality adventures. They focus on essential elements that make games iconic, creating immersive and detailed experiences and empowering players to explore at their own pace, with vibrant worlds full of hidden secrets.
Originally a book-writing venture by novelist Joseph Hughes, Colorgrave became a game development company in April 2020. Emphasizing detailed storytelling and rich lore, they have released Prodigal and Curse Crackers, and are working on Veritus, a continuation of Prodigal. Their dynamic team is dedicated to delivering captivating and immersive games.
Innovation at Sony Interactive Entertainment is a pursuit that takes many forms and is often successful when done in coordination with valued partners. Different minds bring different ideas. The customizable and adaptive Access Controller, is one such example of harnessing innovation by providing a platform for persons with disabilities and forging our own path forward on challenges that require unique, flexible solutions. The controller is part of a wider ambition to ensure our products and services are accessible, to remove barriers for our diverse playing community.
In 2021, Sony Interactive’s Future Technology Group (FTG) was introduced as a dedicated entity for discovering, exploring, and ingraining fresh ideas across the organization and, by extension, the gaming industry. As part of FTG, I’m proud to discuss an undergraduate student collaboration to bring immersive play experiences to broader audiences via the recently released Access Controller, and an example of how we are continually developing our approach to innovation and using our creativity and technology to inspire change.
Swinburne University & The Design Factory
Lucy Hattersley is the Academic Development Manager at Sony Interactive Entertainment and is responsible for the academic research program in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This involves cultivating and maintaining relationships within the academic space and collaborating on projects that have reciprocal benefits. Essentially, the lines are blurred between academia and industry. The two tend to have very different approaches — the former being more blue-sky and theoretical, whereas the latter is more applied — and mixing the two can create magical results. One of the latest ventures sought to expand the capabilities of the Access Controller by uniting diverse groups for a common cause, which has seen some exciting results so far.
The FTG’s formation allows SIE to seek out solutions in new, unprecedented ways. With the FTG looking at SIE from within, they’ve identified an opportunity to discover and invest in external support for fresh ideas and inspiration while attending the Compass Tech Summit in Budapest. It was there that SIE met the Swinburne University of Technology, based in Melbourne, Australia, to discuss applied innovation. This project hit several sweet spots, resonating with Sony Interactive’s deep-rooted approach to creating cutting-edge technology. It is also an example of how global this initiative was even from the beginning – starting in Budapest and ending in Australia.
In further talks with Swinburne, FTG discovered several things that made for the ideal partnership: similar ethos, very well-equipped laboratories with things like 3D printers and prototype rooms, and a long-time host to the Design Factory, a global network of innovation hubs. Swinburne has had experience running similar projects, and having the ability to give students an industrial problem to apply their studies and findings to benefit their real-world experience. It was truly a great fit from the start.
Fresh Ideas & Diversity of Thought
Once the project was underway, FTG established support and access for researchers, along with the project goals and extensive background. Of course, a key first step was supplying Access Controllers to pull apart or “hack.” The support FTG was able to provide included presentations by colleagues from teams at Sony Interactive responsible for design, sustainability, and accessibility. The controller was designed with input from several teams to cover a multitude of physical limitations, but FTG’s ultimate goal for this project was exploring new possibilities — what else could it do?
One result FTG saw explored the idea of using the Access Controller as a fidget toy, which could be helpful for someone with dyspraxia or hyperactivity. Applications among the group also commonly focused on music, something very close to Melbourne, a city with a thriving music scene. That led to experimentation with applications as musical instruments, including a particularly intriguing exploration of whether a DJ could use the Access Controller to create and perform a set. Sony Group is far-reaching in entertainment and this example creates a possible crossover with the Sony Music division. There’s so much room for similar bursts of innovation across all Sony divisions.
These applications are the tip of the iceberg and suggest future invitations to innovate. Through the new relationship with Design Lab, FTG have the ability to present the same scenarios and support to students in Brazil or Switzerland, where cultural influences on things like learning or tactile elements like gestures or non-verbal communication influence Access Controller use and application. What does it look like to expand on a global scale? In turn, how can FTG improve at Sony Interactive to extend similar projects in scope and reach?
Projects such as the Access Controller initiative with Swinburne are conducted with longevity in mind. Currently, FTG have partnerships that are a few years long, some with PhD candidates and graduates. FTG is also looking at options to give the team longitudinal data up to seven or ten years in duration, potentially integrating professors or other tenured educators. The team are always asking if the approach could use any tweaking or changes, from how they deliver the presentations such as the ones in Swinburne (individually and piece-meal, or in one consolidated, lengthier presentation), to the non-verbal communication with students (eye contact, rate of speaking, etc.) As mentioned, it’s FTG’s responsibility to ensure both academia and industry can work effectively, and blurring the lines between the two has resulted in some promising outcomes so far. As the team pursues innovation, it’s imperative to push the boundaries, not only in the results, but how they achieve them.
Putting It All Together
The opportunity to visit Swinburne, meeting both local and international students with distinct backgrounds and lived experiences, was incredible for the FTG team. Students receive inspiration for their work from all over. Many from family, enlisting grandparents and much younger relatives to explore the Access Controller for the first time, in real-time — from assumptions on how it worked, to generate additional ideas on what it could do. It was illuminating and inspired a lot of thought about other ways SIE can innovate, how FTG can collaborate, and how they all can collectively unearth a range of possibilities from perspectives not often given the spotlight.
SIE has always been a group of trailblazers at heart, even before FTG existed, with innovation branching into all segments of their work. This collaboration with Swinburne was a crucial new step to see what ways future trailblazers can pioneer new thought using their groundbreaking products, platforms, and applications.
The information below is sourced from the SIE.Blog, but has been provided in-full for ease of access.
LOS ANGELES – JULY 8, 2024 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, has launched a new update for SEVEN KNIGHTS IDLE ADVENTURE to celebrate the Month of Seven Knights (Month of 7K). The latest update features a variety of in-game events that offers exclusive rewards for players.
SEVEN KNIGHTS IDLE ADVENTURE kicks off the celebration of the Month of 7K with a number of limited time events running through July 31, including:
Month of 7K! Full of Rubies Check-In: Log in for seven days during the event period and receive Rubies. 7,700 Rubies will be given to players until the sixth day they check in, and players will obtain 77,700 Rubies on the seventh day.
Month of 7K! Appreciation Special Check-In: Check in for 14 days and receive the Month of 7K Appreciation Chests. These are filled with Legendary Hero Summon Tickets 3 (x7) and Stage Clear Legendary Hero Chests. The Stage Clear Legendary Hero Chest offers up to 70 Legendary Hero Summon Tickets 3. Players who log in and play for fourteen days in a row will be rewarded with the Legendary Hero Summon Tickets 3 (x777).
Month of 7K! New Welcome Check-In: New players of SEVEN KNIGHTS IDLE ADVENTURE can earn a total of 77,777 Normal Hero Summon tickets by simply logging in the game and playing for seven days. They will get the Month of 7K New Welcome Chest on Day 1, which contains Hero Summon Tickets, and the Month of 7K New Welcome Chest 2.
Month of 7K! Welcome Back Check-In: Those who return to the game during the event period will receive Seven Knights All Hero Summon Tickets (x7), Four Lords All Hero Summon Tickets (x4), and a Four Lords of Old All Hero Summon Ticket by checking in the game for seven days.
Based on their flagship franchise and the successor to the original Seven Knights game, SEVEN KNIGHTS IDLE ADVENTURE has been reimagined as an idle RPG. Developed with low capacity and low specification devices in mind with a guiding principle of easy playability, players will experience an expanded storyline with previously untold episodes of the original Seven Knights heroes. Collect and nurture returning fan-favorites who have been reborn as cute SD characters.
As an official continuation of Seven Knights, a game enjoyed by 60 million players globally, SEVEN KNIGHTS IDLE ADVENTURE will be an exciting addition for fans looking to learn more and interact with their favorite heroes with a low time investment.
For more information on SEVEN KNIGHTS IDLE ADVENTURE, please be sure to stay tuned to the official brand website for future updates. The game will continue to introduce many more heroes and modes in the coming months.
About Netmarble Corporation
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling: ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
