Publisher Midwest Games makes a new addition to game night on PC
Green Bay, WI – April 24, 2024 – Floor is…What!?, the four-player party game with 50+ minigames from developer Pyramid Lake Games and publisher Midwest Games, brings family-friendly mayhem to Steam this fall.
Get ready for an epic competition where only the best of the best (or perhaps the most ruthless) will survive! Invoke unrelenting carnage across more than 50 minigames designed to test contestants’ patience, coordination, and of course, friendships – mwahaha! Competitors, ready those reflexes to go head-to-(bobble) head in a wide array of chaotic four-player challenges in both online and local multiplayer.
Say goodbye to Grandma as you push her into a deadly lava pit from your dungeon perch – haha nerd! Better luck next time to your roommate who got toasted by a falling bomb on the “relaxing” sandy beach. Put to rest that sibling rivalry as you best each opponent with snowballs to the face on slippery ski slopes. In Floor is…What!? you don’t need to be ashamed of how good mayhem feels.
Everyone’s welcome: simple controls, adjustable difficulty modes, and CPUs accommodate all skill levels. Test diabolical strategies in practice modes before hopping into competitive three vs. one, two vs. two, or total free-for-all matches. Don’t forget to submit your craziest character name for our fast-talking announcer to call out during the match!
Enter the arena as a mischievous bobble-head made from more than 200 different collectible components. Create hilarious characters with bear, duck, and dinosaur heads with matching or mismatching bodies. Add some serious style with funky hairstyles, facial hair, flashy accessories, and fun voice lines to torment taunt the competition. Rank up to unlock mystery toy boxes, collect new pieces, and assemble more entertaining contenders.
“We welcome all types of buddies, family members, skeletons, and dinosaurs to a ‘friendly,’ chaotic competition of wit and reflexes,” said Josh Garity, Studio Head of Pyramid Lake Games. “Challenge close pals, vicious rivals, or imaginary friends. We can’t wait to see the hijinks competitors create when the game is unleashed later this year!”
Floor is…What!? will be available on PC in Q4 2024, with support across more than 10 languages.
For more information, check out the game’s official Twitter, and please visit Midwest Games on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, join the community on Discord, and search #FloorisWhat!? on all social media platforms.
About Pyramid Lake Games
Pyramid Lake Games is a game design and development studio out of Wisconsin, focused on leveraging over 20 years of award-winning user experience and creative expertise to the gaming space.
For more information, visit Pyramid Lake Games on their official website, and follow the team @Pyramid_Lake on Twitter.
About Midwest Games
Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Midwest Games is a video game publisher focused on creating opportunities for the abundant talent across the Midwest and other underrepresented regions. Led by industry veterans and entertainment enthusiasts, Midwest Games believes that great games can come from anywhere. For more information, please visit www.midwestgames.com.
For more information, visit Midwest Games on LinkedIn, and follow the team @midwestgames_co on Instagram, @midwestgamesco onTwitter, on Discord, and @midwest_games on YouTube.
Valorware, the crafty indie studio founded by British dev Tom Au, is returning to the first game in the 9th Dawn saga with 9th Dawn Remake!
A full reimagining of the original 9th Dawn title, 9th Dawn Remake is filled with surprising upgrades such as 2.5D graphics, a first-person mode – and even 2-player local co-op, allowing friends to play through the entire game together.
9TH DAWN REMAKE – NEW FEATURES
New 2.5D graphics
Completely remade dungeons with bigger maps
Sprites cleaned and reworked with improved animation
Rewritten story and quests
Combat replaced with more fluid, action-based gameplay
First-person mode added
Two big mini-games included:
Fishing Survivors, a bullet-heaven fishing game
Deck Rock, a deck-building card game
In the comedic fishing mini-game Fishing Survivors, the amount of fish players defeat directly affects the fishing yield – making for a fun time with the fishies. Fishing Survivors also features a number of different missions to complete that are locked behind overworld map exploration – along with a couple of extra worm warriors to unlock.
Players can also enjoy Deck Rock – a deck-building card mini-game that was inspired by Slay the Spire and Roguebook. Taking control of medieval paper champions, players are tasked with beating game dungeons using the maps found in the main campaign. This turn-based strategy game provides countless hours of fun while players unlock all cards, level up paper champions, and complete dungeons.
DEVELOPER QUOTE
“The original 9th Dawn was my first finished game, after eight previous failed attempts at making an RPG – which is the reason it’s called 9th Dawn. Since it was my first game, the quality was fairly of-its-time and didn’t really capture my original vision. It also had its fair share of unresolved bugs! The state of the original 9th Dawn game has bothered me for years, and I always had plans to remake it. Now 12 years later – after many more game releases, including the successful 9th Dawn III – I was ready to take on the remake. I’ve finally managed to finish it and give it the love that it deserves.”
– Tom Au (Founder & Solo Developer, Valorware)
KEY FEATURES
Massive Open World: Explore more than 45 new hand-crafted dungeons – each brimming with deadly creatures and loot.
Design Your Build: Unlock spells and abilities, assign attribute points, and upgrade your equipment.
Raise Monster Pets: Hatch friendly creatures from eggs and raise them into powerful allies.
Side Quests: Aid the villages of Montelorne by partaking in a range of side quests.
Loot & Prizes: Collect a vast amount of loot and fill your collecting journals for rewards.
Craft the Best: Forge weapons, brew potions, and upgrade your weapons to become a champion!
Fishing Survivors Mini-Game: Take control of powerful worm warriors and survive deadly waves of enemy fish.
Deck Rock Mini-Game: Collect maps, level up your card champions, and create an epic deck.
Valorware is a UK-based game development and publishing company led by developer Tom Au that is focused on producing content-rich RPGs. In addition to 9th Dawn Remake, Valorware has released Valkyrie Champions, Throne Quest Deluxe, and the 9th Dawn series. To learn more about Valorware, please visit http://valorware.com.
Commits to 90% absolute reduction in emissions and 55% intensity reduction in indirect emissions as it transitions to clean renewable energy and incorporating recycled materials into products. All new product lines across three core PC categories of mice, keyboards and headsets to include up to 85% recycled materials in the base model.
IRVINE, Calif. – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, announced significant progress in its ambitious 10-year sustainability roadmap in commemoration of Earth Day 2024. Razer’s roadmap outlines a comprehensive set of goals focused on minimizing environmental impact across product lifecycles, operations, and supply chains. Razer also announced restructuring of its manufacturing lines to integrate up to 85 percent recycled materials across three core PC categories of mice, keyboards and headsets in the base models.
Razer’s target for a 1.5 degree Celsius reduction pathway means the company’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals are consistent with the ambitious goal of the Paris Climate Accord. The 2030 targets have been validated by Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) as aligned to the 1.5-degree Celsius pathway, demonstrating its leadership in driving real climate action that is aligned with the latest climate science. In addition, Razer furthers the agenda of forging a sustainable future for gaming through innovative breakthroughs and committed sustainability solutions by utilizing recycled materials in its products.
“By making recycled materials the standard across our entire PC peripheral portfolio and aligning with the Business Ambition for 1.5°C commitment, we are committed to using our platform to drive the positive change millions of gamers want for our planet,” said Kenneth Ng, Global Sustainability Lead at Razer. “The cumulative effect of incorporating recycled materials into a wider range of products significantly expands Razer’s positive impact on the environment. This is done in the hopes of empowering every player to make conscious choices for a more sustainable gaming experience.”
Razer has committed to the SBTi’s Business Ambition for 1.5 degree campaign and started company-wide emission reduction, encompassing all scopes of emissions, which is a testament to its commitment to tackling climate change across all operations and throughout their value chain. This ambitious move positions Razer among a dedicated group of global companies pushing towards a sustainable and equitable future. This commitment extends beyond aligning with international standards through a rigorous validation process, SBTi has confirmed the ambitious nature of Razer’s science-based targets, solidifying the brand’s leadership in driving real climate action.
Razer’s validated targets address emissions across its entire business, including anticipated growth. For operational emissions, Razer has set a staggering 90% target of absolute reduction in emissions from a 2019 baseline. Additionally, the brand aims for a 55% intensity reduction in indirect emissions within its upstream and downstream value chain by 2030, also measured against the 2019 baseline. To achieve these impactful goals, Razer is implementing a comprehensive strategy, including transitioning to clean renewable energy for all corporate offices, incorporating recycled materials into products, prioritizing less carbon-intensive transportation methods (like sea freight), and actively promoting participation in its takeback and recycling programs. Recognizing the importance of collaboration, Razer is actively engaging its supply chain, encouraging the use of recycled plastics, and establishing clear communication channels for data reporting and progress tracking.
Under the #GoGreenWithRazer banner, the Razer’s 10-year sustainability roadmap seeks to preserve nature and protect the environment – ensuring a cleaner, greener world for future generations to continue gaming in.
The incorporation of recycled materials across its entire PC peripheral suite is just one step in Razer’s ongoing sustainability journey. It is projected after one year of implementing engineering change in incorporating recycled materials, 65% of Razer’s annual shipped volume will comprise recycled materials. Razer has also gone beyond its own operations, actively leading industry-level sustainability efforts. This includes collaborating with suppliers who share the brand’s commitment, setting a new standard for responsible sourcing throughout the supply chain.
Backed by a strong gaming community equally passionate about a better future for our planet, Razer is dedicated to empower gamers to be part of the solution. By eliminating plastics from packaging, optimizing packaging size, minimalistic designs and utilizing FSC-certified paper with soy ink, Razer has continuously minimized its environmental footprint. Razer is also offering accessible recycling options and reward programs to incentivize responsible disposal of its products. Recycling options differ across markets.
For more information about the #GoGreenwithRazer 10-year sustainability roadmap, please visit https://www.razer.com/go-green.
ABOUT RAZER
Razer™ is the world’s leading lifestyle brand made For Gamers. By Gamers.
The triple-headed snake trademark of Razer is one of the most recognized logos in the global gaming and esports communities. With a fan base that spans every continent, Razer has designed and built the world’s largest gamer-focused ecosystem of hardware, software and services.
Razer’s award-winning hardware includes high-performance gaming peripherals and Blade gaming laptops.
With over 200 million users, Razer’s software platform includes Razer Synapse (an Internet of Things platform), Razer Chroma RGB (a proprietary RGB lighting technology system supporting thousands of devices and hundreds of games/apps), and Razer Cortex (a game optimizer and launcher).
Razer also offers payment services for gamers, youth, millennials and Gen Z, through Razer Gold – one of the world’s largest game payment services.
Razer is committed towards a sustainable future and is taking responsibility through its #GoGreenWithRazer movement. The brand aims to minimize environmental impact through its various initiatives, which includes using recycled materials, responsible design, and encouraging responsible product disposal.
Founded in 2005, Razer is dual headquartered in Irvine, California and Singapore, with regional headquarters in Hamburg and Shanghai and 19 offices worldwide.
Get the ball rolling (literally!) in dynamic local multiplayer for up to four players from Mindscape and Lakeview Games!
AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands – April 24, 2024 – Love to hang out with friends? Throwing a housewarming? Want to let off some steam? Whatever your motivation, Pool Party will be there to the rescue when it launches on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch on May 16, 2024!
Developed by Lakeview Games and published by Mindscape, Pool Party is a laugh-out-loud arcade game where up to four players can go head-to-head in chaotic physics-based sports and brawl modes. Fight to become the king of the party using your cat-like reflexes to take down the competition.
Watch the Pool Party Release Date Announcement Trailer below for Proof!
Dive into a wave of fun at the Pool Party resort, as you battle in game modes like free-for-all, football, pool and more! These pool balls aren’t just adorable – they’re also surprisingly agile, reaching ridiculous speeds as they roll and bounce around the arena! You’ll be amazed by the sheer power of a perfectly aimed kick, propelling a rival ball all over the place. So what are you waiting for? Gather your friends, grab a cue, and duke it out in chaotic physics-based party games in Pool Party!
Key Features
Enjoy chaotic physics-based sports and brawl games.
Battle with up to four players in local multiplayer – or play solo!
Add bots to fill out teams or practice your skills.
Easy to learn, hard to master – anyone can join the fun!
Master a variety of game modes like Pool, Idol, Sumo, and Free-for-All.
Pool Party’s physical edition for Nintendo Switch (code in box) and PlayStation 5 will hit shelves in Europe on launch day, with the North American release coming later on June 14.
For those who can’t get enough of a good time, Pool Party is heading to TwitchCon Europe! Mindscape is bringing the game to Rotterdam from June 29-30 in the Indie Game Zone, Booth 2206-IND.
Check out the first hour of Minishoot’ Adventures, where we explore and attempt to save colorful world riddled by Corruption, and dodge plenty of bullets in the meantime.
Fly into a charming handcrafted world and go on an adventure that mixes up open exploration with crispy twin-stick shooter action. Fight your way from the shiny overworld to the deepest caves, improve your ship and overcome the dungeons’ bosses to rescue your friends!
Minishoot’ Adventures Developer: SoulGame Studio Publisher: SoulGame Studio, IndieArk Platform: Windows Release Date: 3rd April, 2024 Price: $14.99 USD
Recommended – “Minishoot’ Adventures is a charming bullet hell shooter that successfully elevates the genres it takes inspiration from, earning it a solid recommendation.”
When someone hears about the developer SHIFT UP they likely either don’t know who they might be, or know exactly the type of developer the South Korean team is. The development team became known for their over-the-top Destiny Child mobile game that, despite being censored initially, was given a fully uncensored release after some time. Then the company brought out their second mobile game and kicked the jiggles up a notch with Project NIKKE. Primarily known for their mobile games that offered plenty of fan-service, it came as something of a surprise that the developer would be taking a step into the console market with Sony at the helm no less but here we are with Stellar Blade. There’s been plenty of talk about Eve”assets” and various costumes but now that Stellar Blade has arrived to deliver its own take on post-apocalyptic/future action, does it have more to bring to the table than a pretty face and SHIFT UP’s signature jiggle?
Story
Humanity has long been driven away from Earth after the powerful and seemingly endless creatures called Naytibas appeared and overran their defenses. Most of humanity has fled to a space colony by the bidding of the “Mother Sphere” in an attempt to keep humanity alive but that doesn’t mean that they have abandoned the planet. Eve is deployed as part of a special airborne squadrone in an effort to help eliminate the Naytibas to the best of their abilities and try to drive the monstrous creatures into extinction only for nearly their entire team to be eliminated before they barely reach the ground with the Naytiba forces quickly slaughtering most of the team members. Eve, despite the damage she’s received, manages to struggle to the end with the help of the best member of her squad, Tachy, only for Tachy to sacrifice herself in an attempt to keep Eve, and hope, alive.
Eve is rescued by the scavenger named Adam who helps her track down the nearby “Alpha Naytiba” and supports her with his drone only to rescue a long-waiting drop-squad member from three divisions prior, Lily. Lily, who serves as a mechanic and support unit, eagerly joins Eve as Adam reveals that humanity is still doing its best to eke out a living in the city of Xion and that their elder, named Orcal, might be able to help her accomplish her mission to slay the Master Naytiba in an effort to reclaim Earth, but he’ll need plenty of help from Eve to be able to point her in the right direction, the only problem is, the more Eve explores and experiences the world left behind and digs into the past, the stranger and darker things become.
Stellar Blade tackles a number of philosophical questions over the course of its roughly forty hour runtime (dependent on skill level and side-quest thoroughness of course) while also detailing the various origins of the Naytiba, why Earth is the way it is now, and much more. Anyone that happens to be a fan of science-fiction will likely be familiar with these elements but it must be said that Stellar Blade handles the way these elements are told incredibly well thanks to Eve being the naive “Angel” that has descended from the sky to save the remaining members of humanity but knows nothing about the world other than that she should kill Naytiba and the solid feed of information that continuously reveals new and darker elements of the intriguing narrative that is told throughout the game.
Some of this is hidden away either through side-quests that players will need to complete to unlock tidbits of information about the world, including it appears an entirely missable stage if players end up rushing, and inside journals or “memorysticks” that are found during exploration. This creates an entertaining and highly memorable plot that, despite maybe being a bit similar in theme to a certain Yoko Taro game, has more than enough legs to stand on its own. Combine this with the solid character interactions and the fact that the game actually offers a number of different ending options depending on player choice, including some that require extra effort be put in, and Stellar Blade tells a stellar story that really manages to stick the landing.
Gameplay
Stellar Blade may have an interesting storyline that will keep players going through a variety of locations and even revisit areas to try and complete side-quests that appear later in the game, taking advantage of the game’s feature that allows players to automatically return to the quest-giver once completed or making use of the pay-phone fast travel system but where the game truly shines is its combat system. It is worth noting right off the bat that despite having a pretty face Stellar Blade isn’t afraid to put Eve through the ringer.There are difficulty options available and even an assist of sorts for “Easy” mode that occasionally pulls up properly timed dodge or parry prompts but the game can be crushingly hard if players don’t take the game seriously. Players have a limited number of healing items that refill when resting at camps (though some extra potions can be carried and used, though these cost gold to replenish) though the ever familiar feature of having all standard enemies respawn when resting may make things difficult sometimes.
In combat Eve can unleash a number of combos mixing together light and heavy attacks in various combo chains with different animations and damage output though players will need to make sure that they are always on the move as the Naytiba rarely flinch from taking standard damage and will power through Eve’s attacks do deal out their own punishing attacks. This creates a sense that combat is almost always fast-paced feeling, even against individual enemies as stronger simple foes still can be a threat and properly timing a “Perfect Parry” rather than simply blocking or a “Perfect Dodge” other than avoiding an attack can lead players to dishing out the punishment instead, this includes even destroying an opponent in one blow if they happen to be parried enough. Along these same lines, players will eventually gain access to additional combat abilities such as Blink and Repulse, with Blink being an ability that allows Eve to snap behind a foe unleashing an undodgeable attack to punish them from behind or Repulse them by kicking them away to create some space and leave their weakness exposed. Oddly enough, despite pressing the timing exactly, it seemed like both Blink and Repulse only worked around three quarters of the time, the others either simply seeing Eve dodge normally or take the, often grappling, blow right to the face.
It must be said that, while standard enemies are often a delightful dance of death where players balance their skill against a set of normal foes, and the lesser mid-range bosses are a challenge that they can struggle to overcome, the main bosses of the game are absolutely outstanding. The first one players battle against barely holds a candle to any of the other major boss battles that players will find themselves taking part in throughout Stellar Blade and each one of these is not only incredibly challenging but feels amazingly rewarding once they’ve been overcome. Obviously, we cannot go into the specifics regarding these bosses to avoid spoilers but these combat encounters are some of the best players can ask for.
Besides Eve’s hair-accessory turned sword that is generally her main weapon, the drone that Adam pilots can be used as a handheld firearm with various upgrades allowing different types of ammo to be used, this can include firing a chargeable ray beam, shotgun shells, explosive rounds, standard slugs, and even mini-rockets. These may seem a bit less effective at times, especially since ammo must be gathered or bought, but targeting weakpoints with this can be quite effective and, since the game does feature a few areas that force players to only use the firearm, it is good to get used to the mechanic even if it isn’t the most exciting.
Back to the sword fighting, Eve has a number of skills that she can also use by building up a “Beta Meter” through standard fighting, perfect parrying, and perfect dodging, with these four skills offering useful effects of their own, such as firing off energy blades, crushing a single target, dealing sweeping damage to the area, or even focusing on crushing an enemy’s shield. Activating these Beta skills aren’t quite as easy as one might think unfortunately thanks to it requiring a trigger and face-button to be pushed and this is an issue in other areas as well. Swapping ammo types requires aiming the drone gun and holding down, leaving Eve open to attack, and even the eventual Rush Gauge that players unlock late in the game with its own set of unique abilities features the same similar mechanic that is a pain to use effectively in combat. Trying to do a bit too much with too few controls to work with. Of course, this doesn’t even touch upon a certain “overdrive” style mode that players can unleash that gives Eve a massive boost to her power and abilities that we won’t spoil the details about here.
As players battle it out against the Naytiba, complete side-quests, and solve little puzzles to gather collectables ranging from literal Cans that unlock additional item slots when players gather enough to the countless costumes players can dress Eve up with to more vital items like upgrade materials for Eve’s stat-affecting equipment, players will earn SP. These Skill Points can then be applied to obtain some of the aforementioned skills, though a few unlock naturally, and improve the effectiveness of other skills. It is worth noting that while players can use in-game items to reset their skill point distribution, playing through the title normally and completing nearly every side-quest saw my Eve unlocking every skill before a certain story point. As for the aforementioned gear, players can eventually unlock up to four gear slots that provide various boosts such as increased combo damage, reducing incoming melee damage, boosting Beta energy received, etc. Changing these up before a difficult fight can be vital, especially if a foe ends up being far too challenging. This is especially true when it comes to Exospines that are not only rarer but also provide a number of extra boosts even if it takes near the end of the game to actually unlock the second slot. Exospines can offer additional extra boosts such as boosting damage of firearms, combo damage, having critical damage radiate out to hit other enemies, increase the effect of healing items, and more.
All of this, including Eve’s “Tumblr” that serves to contain her refillable healing item, can be upgraded and often these come as a result of exploring the world and seeing everything that it has to offer. In an interesting sense, some of Stellar Blade’s more open world aspects and puzzles are designed to ensure that players actually have to commit to solving them properly. Need a code to open a locked door? Can’t even guess unless you’ve found the actual code. Have to catch a fish? Better find the proper bait and fishing area to actually do so. That being said, some of the world exploration could use a bit of extra work and most of this involves the platforming and climbing aspects. Not too far into the game Eve gains the ability to double-jump and, besides unlocking the ability to reach areas in previous areas that weren’t previously accessible, can be rather floaty at times. This means that there are times that a jump should have worked just fine and ended up with Eve slipping off the side to her death as fall damage is incredibly punishing in Stellar blade. Even climbing ledges or swinging on bars can sometimes send Eve jumping in a random direction for no strange reason.
It is also worth noting that, while not a major issue in and of itself, Stellar Blade shockingly lacks a New Game+ option. Considering the game features multiple endings, multiple costumes players have to actually put the work into to unlock, and missable side-quests, this comes as a surprising oversight for an action RPG such as this, especially since, beyond upgrading Eve’s blade and overall Exospine, going through old stages as a powered up Even isn’t as simple as one might expect.
Audio & Visuals
Now, one of the biggest talking points for many leading up to Stellar Blade was Eve and her character presentation and it is a real shame that this happens to be the case as the game is visually impressive. Yes, Eve does wear skin-tight costumes and even playing the game as intensively as we did we located outfits ranging from a bunny-girl swimsuit, a bikini, racing queen uniform, and others, most of these costumes are shockingly less-revealing than one might expect, including baggier clothing and a full body costume that anyone will struggle to find offensive. Sure, there are jiggle physics but they are realistic, ironically with some of the more supportive costumes seeming to keep things in place better, and some of the costumes can be quite “baring” but since they are completely cosmetic players can choose whatever option they feel like at the time, especially since the crafting material to make Nanosuits as they are called are completely separate from everything else. Players can also obtain various types of eye-glasses and earrings for Eve that are also strictly cosmetic. Both Adam, Lily, and the drone are also given a few extra costumes here and there though these are far rarer and don’t have to be crafted. It is also worth noting that there is still plenty of gore here and there including some cutscene gore occasionally as well as plenty of chunks of Naytibas flying apart when they are defeated in combat.
There is also quite a lot of variety when it comes to the various Naytiba that players do battle against. Some make frequent appearances even in other zones but almost every zone has their own unique set of Naytiba to battle against and tactics that players will need to employ to take them down. This includes some incredibly impressive looking boss-designs, with a few in particular being downright stunning in presentation. This means that players will rarely feel bored as they battle throughout these numerous new enemies types. Since Stellar Blade is set in a post-apocalyptic world it makes sense that most of what players will explore happens to be ruins, deserts, or a mix of the two but the game does a very solid job keeping things varied. There are smaller more streamlined stages that are separated by larger more open locations, where most side-quests take place though a few also do appear in the more linear ones as well. It is also nice to note that, both as rewards for completing these side-quests and simple exploration, there remain spots of beauty even amongst the rubble of civilization.
The English voice work throughout the game is handled quite well with Eve’s voice actress handling the role nicely as the naive “Angel”, especially during some of the bigger revelations, as well as the other two primary characters, Adam and Lily. The rest of the cast is also handled fairly well though are a bit less memorable. It is also a bit unfortunate to say that there is something of a missed opportunity to only have perfect parry and other combat sound effects play through the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller speaker when the drone and either Adam or Lily could also have spoken through it. As for the soundtrack, fans of vocal background music will find themselves in for quite a treat here in Stellar Blade. Not only does nearly every single stage, with the exception of a few dungeon-like locations and a bonus area, feature its own unique background music with a vocal track to support it, even the bigger action sequences feature incredible pieces of background music, making Stellar Blade’s original soundtrack one that fans will likely find themselves listening to long after completing the game.
Overall
Stellar Blade feels like it had an uphill battle against it thanks to Shift Up’s previous works and the general conversation surrounding Eve but not only has the developer proved that they can put out a console quality game, they can do a… stellar job at it. While perhaps not the most innovative, the story throughout Stellar Blade is an engrossing one that combined with its slick and challenging action combat is highly entertaining all wrapped together in a gorgeous looking package with plenty of fan-service and eye-candy that fans can enjoy if they so wish. It might have a few rough edges here and there and surprisingly lack a New Game+, but this serves as an impressive step into the console market for Shift Up and anyone sleeping on Stellar Blade is doing themselves a disservice.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Get behind the wheel of the most powerful all-terrain vehicles in this new immersive spin on the ultimate off-road driving experience, coming soon to Meta Quest
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – April 24, 2024 – Get ready to shift into gear and power through any challenge! Saber Interactive has announced MudRunner VR, coming soon to Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 2, and Meta Quest Pro. Developed and published by Saber, MudRunner VR is the ultimate off-road automotive experience brought to new life in VR. Jump in the driver’s seat and take charge of a range of incredible all-terrain vehicles on a daring adventure across extreme landscapes with only a map, your equipment, and your wits to guide you.
Drive eight mighty all-terrain vehicles, each with its own characteristics and attachable equipment, as you explore immense environments with total immersion in Story Mode and Free Play Mode. Complete a combination of objectives and deliveries while enduring extreme conditions across wild, untamed landscapes. Overcome muddy terrain, flowing rivers, and other obstacles that react realistically to the weight and movement of your vehicle. Let nothing stand in your way!
Perfect for both long-time series fans and newcomers alike, MudRunner VR captures the classic MudRunner experience in a new adventure designed specifically for Meta Quest. Vehicles, missions, maps and physics deliver an engaging first-person experience in VR, with new 3D models for trucks and environments. Players can interact with a variety of elements in the cockpit, and even step outside to attach the winch, refuel and more.
Key Features
The Ultimate Off-Road Experience Comes to VR: Enjoy the classic MudRunner experience with the unmatched feel and immersion of VR on Meta Quest.
Master Eight Powerful All-Terrain Vehicles: Get behind the wheel of eight unique, heavy-duty vehicles, each with its own distinct attributes and equipment as well as cosmetic variations.
Explore Vast, Untamed Environments: Adventure across immense sandbox landscapes while battling the harshest terrain and forces of nature.
Overcome Extreme Conditions & Get the Job Done: Complete a variety of perilous objectives and deliveries while fighting off the wild’s most hazardous dangers.
MudRunner VR is available to wishlist now on the Meta Store and will launch soon on Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 2, and Meta Quest Pro.
About Saber Interactive
Saber Interactive is a worldwide publisher and developer consisting of 13 studios in the Americas and Europe. Creating games for all major platforms based on original and licensed IPs, Saber’s titles include Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, Jurassic Park: Survival, World War Z, SnowRunner, and Expeditions: A MudRunner Game. Founded in 2001, Saber is known for two decades of development partnerships with AAA publishers, producing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Nintendo Switch, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Crysis Remastered, and many others. Learn more at https://saber.games.
24th April: London, UK: The video games mental health charity Safe In Our World is proud to announce the first Mental Health Game Dev Champions event, aimed at empowering gamers and developers to create intimate and personal video games based on lived experiences. Game Dev Champions is a worldwide event, encouraging entries from a variety of ages, skills, and diverse backgrounds.
Games are an amazing vehicle to express difficult and often emotional mental health journeys that people face every day. Through this initiative, and by sharing these experiences, Safe In Our World seeks to amplify the voices of the gaming community and enable players to experience an often silent struggle.
Watch the video announcement:
The event will be judged by a diverse industry panel, with winners receiving a selection of prizes, including Unity Pro licenses, but more importantly, will help gamers develop a career or deeper interest in video game development.
Sarah Sorrell, Charity Director, explains the theme of this first event “Safe In Our World was launched on the eve of the pandemic, arriving at a vital time to offer support for gamers. If there is one legacy that Covid-19 has left, it’s that perhaps people are now talking more about their mental health. That is the theme of this competition; to continue this vital conversation and encourage people to express what they went through and share their experience by making a game that means something to them”.
The event begins on the June 1st, with the development window open until October 31st, and judging of all entries complete by November 30th, 2024. Winners will be announced via a special live showcase in December. This event is possible thanks to the partners who have lent their support and resources, including Xbox, Unity, Intel, Outright Games, Devolver Digital, Sharkmob, FuturLab, PressEngine and Wired Productions.
About Safe In Our World
Safe In Our World is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1183344. A team of seasoned gaming veterans passionate about mental health brainstormed for over two years over ways they could make a difference. Launched on World Mental Health Day on October 10th, 2019, its aims are to raise awareness of mental health within the video games industry and to provide resources, signpost help, and drive change for everyone connected with the industry – from developers, publishers, and service providers to content creators and players. Its initial mission is to create an online destination where people can seek help, gain access to resources and information, and discover stories from real people within and surrounding the games industry, with more detailed policies available via the website. Safe In Our World is a worldwide hub accessible for anyone in need.
Oberhaching, Germany, April 24th 2024 – Developer Game Island and publisher Toplitz Productions are pleased to announce the playtest for their exciting first-person survival adventure game SERUM is now live on Steam for PC.
The playtest will run for a week, giving brave survivors another unique opportunity to provide developer Game Island with valuable feedback on the game and a great opportunity for players to explore two of the game’s biomes in an updated version as it prepares for launch on Steam early access in a matter of weeks.
With a thrilling narrative that drives the player forward under the pressure of time, SERUM will put players to the ultimate test as they seek out ways of surviving a brutal world and uncovering a deadly conspiracy. The playtest will give gamers a chance to delve into the game’s mechanics and explore different abilities and strategies through crafting and serum brewing.
“At this stage in the game’s development, player feedback is still as crucial as ever to optimize the player experience. Steam Next Fest was great as a platform to share what we’ve been working on these past few months and gain insights from the community in highlighting areas to tweak further. This latest playtest puts our latest enhancements through their paces, including the game’s new Serum brewing UI,” said Game Island CEO Michał Ojrzyński.
Players interested in joining the Serum playtest should apply for access through the game’s official Steam page. There, they will also be able to stay up to date with the latest news and updates, which reveal more about the world, crafting, and the macabre dangers that players will encounter in the game.
After accessing the playtest, players are invited to leave developer Game Island their constructive feedback via the game’s dedicated Discord channel here.
Serum will launch on PC early access at the end of Q2. Check out the exciting new SERUM playtest trailer below
About Toplitz Productions The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.
About Game Island S.A
Game Island S.A. was established in July 2020 as a subsidiary of The Dust S.A. Game Island specializes in the production of games for Steam and console platforms. Serum is the first major title in the Game Island S.A. portfolio and is currently under development. The game will be published globally by Toplitz Productions.
New Program, Arkadium for Developers, Led by Dan Butchko Offers 75% Revenue Share to Benefit Browser-Based-Game Developers
NEW YORK – April 24, 2024 – Arkadium, a leader in browser-based games (BBGs), shared that for the first time in its 20+ year history, it will open its platform and extensive distribution network to third party game developers. The company has announced the launch of Arkadium for Developers, a new robust program where game developers can submit their titles to Arkadium’s distribution network which reaches millions of players.The program’s developer-first approach will consist of an industry best 75% revenue sharing model to a curated portfolio of selected titles.
Arkadium aims to launch approximately 30 new games this year through its third party program, which will add a variety of new games and genres from around the world. A newly launched portal at https://developers.arkadium.com/ provides developers with a single destination to submit their titles for consideration. Arkadium for Developers aims to provide significant distribution to third party developers who join the platform.
With an active portfolio of 75 first party games, Arkadium titles are played by 18 million players monthly, resulting in 150 million unique game starts. Arkadium’s distribution network goes beyond a single URL as the company powers more than 300 game channels of some of the largest web destinations in the world, including The Washington Post, AARP, DailyMail and USA Today. Arkadium serves a global audience, with a majority of its players being based in North America and over 18 years old.
The company has hired industry veteran Dan Butchko as its first-ever Director of Developer Relations to lead all external development partnerships. In his role, Dan will work with developers around the world to build the future of BBGs alongside Arkadium’s growing catalogue of in-house games.
“I’m thrilled to join Arkadium as we build the future of browser-based games,” said Dan Butchko, Director of Developer Relations at Arkadium. “With its two decades of experience launching games for some of the world’s biggest websites, Arkadium is leveling up to become more than just a game studio – it is now a platform for developers around the world. This is just the beginning as we extend opportunities for external developers to join us and tap into the potential of this growing category of can’t-miss games.”
As games continue to dominate how audiences socialize and are entertained, Arkadium continues to gain traction as a destination for games that are playable on any device with a web browser, including smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers and even smart televisions.
“We’ve built Arkadium into a brand known for quality browser-based game experiences and are continuously creating new ways to offer more value to our audience,” said Kenny Rosenblatt, CEO and co-founder at Arkadium. “This new program enables us to offer a wider selection of games as we open our doors to external developers aspiring to reach our millions of amazing players.”
More news and announcements will be shared about BBGs as Arkadium continues to expand its business plans and portfolio of games.
About Arkadium
Arkadium is the ultimate destination for browser-based games (BBGs) featuring over 1,000 games including perennial favorites Mahjong Dimensions, Word Wipe and Jewel Shuffle. Millions of players enjoy games worldwide at Arkadium.com and also its wide distribution network including partnered sites USA Today, AARP, The Washington Post, and Microsoft. Founded in 2001 by husband and wife team, Kenny Rosenblatt and Jessica Rovello, Arkadium makes games you can feel good about. Its mission is to create and curate quality browser-based games that can be enjoyed by grown-ups anywhere, anytime. The company is headquartered in New York with a studio in Portugal and has been recognized as a ‘Best Place to Work’ by Inc. Magazine, Ad Age, Crain’s New York and more. To learn more, visit Arkadium.com.
