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PAX Commemorates 20th Anniversary, East Returns to Boston March 21-24, 2024

Philip Federico
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BOSTON – Nov. 13, 2023 – Show organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade reveal PAX East returns to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) from Thursday, March 21, to Sunday, March 24, 2024, for a big birthday bash celebrating the event series’ 20th anniversary. Badges will go on sale this Thursday, Nov. 16, at 1:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET.

From its humble beginnings in Bellevue in 2004, Penny Arcade Expo grew from a local event receiving a little over 3,000 attendees in its first iteration to an international series of events gathering millions of gaming fans across Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, and Melbourne. 

Over the past 20 years, PAX has witnessed the reveal of titles like Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft and Borderlands 3, delivered keynote speeches from industry legends including former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé and current Head of Microsoft Studios Matt Booty, massive esports tournaments featuring some of the world’s most popular games and content creators, marriage proposals, the coolest cosplays, and more.  

In traditional PAX fashion, East’s attendees can expect the East Coast’s largest gaming event to feature its usual showcase of new and upcoming releases including never-before-seen demos and announcements, dozens of panels covering wide-ranging topics, esports tournaments, vendors, community meet-ups, and a ton of festivities to celebrate PAX’s 20th Anniversary, including exclusive merch, epic giveaways, surprise collaborations, and more.

Exciting announcements revealing keynote speakers, exhibitors, and gaming partnerships will be announced soon. Badges for PAX East 2024 will be available for purchase starting Thursday, Nov. 16. Four-day badges will be available for $250, and single-day badges for $67. 

“As we start into the twentieth year of PAX, PAX East is sure to set things off in a spectacular fashion,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of Penny Arcade, Child’s Play, and PAX. “Years ago, we thought we’d never need a venue like Boston’s incredible BCEC. But gamers proved us wrong.” 

For more info, check out the PAX East website, and follow PAX on X (former Twitter), Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram. 

About PAX

PAX, or Penny Arcade Expo, is a festival for gamers to celebrate gaming culture. First held in Seattle in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year, with PAX Prime 2014 selling out of tickets in a matter of minutes. Connecting the world’s leading game publishers with their most avid and influential fans, PAX expanded with a second show in Boston in 2010, and a third in San Antonio in 2015, making it the three largest gaming shows in North America. The first international PAX was held in Melbourne, Australia in 2013. In 2017, Penny Arcade established PAX Unplugged, its first tabletop-focused show, held in Philadelphia.

About ReedPop

ReedPop is a boutique group within RX – one of the world’s leading events organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America and Europe, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, Eurogamer Expo (EGX), Star Trek Missions and more. In addition to organizing and managing events, ReedPop also runs and operates the Gamer Network and its portfolio of leading gaming websites including Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun and GamesIndustry.Biz. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion.

About Penny Arcade

Penny Arcade has been the world’s most popular webcomic for over 20 years, with over 3.5 million readers. Started in 1998 in the living room of Mike Krahulik & Jerry Holkins, it has grown into a media empire encompassing multiple beloved properties such as Lookouts, Automata, and beloved D&D live-play series Acquisitions Incorporated. Penny Arcade was responsible for the creation of Child’s Play, a gaming charity that has raised over $45 million dollars for children across the world. They are also the founders of PAX, the number one consumer gaming festival in North America, with hundreds of thousands of loyal visitors every year.

NETMARBLE RELEASES FINANCIAL EARNINGS FOR THIRD QUARTER OF 2023

Philip Federico
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LOS ANGELES – November 13, 2023 – Netmarble Corp, a leading developer and publisher of mobile games, reported $484.99 million in revenue and $18.79 million in EBITDA for the third quarter of 2023, an increase from the previous quarter. Overseas sales accounted for 83% ($400.42 million) of total global sales.

“Netmarble recorded strong performance in the third quarter, with recently launched titles Seven Knights Idle Adventure and Tower of God: New World demonstrating remarkable achievements,” said Young-sig Kwon, CEO of Netmarble. “We’re expecting this momentum to carry into the end of the year, and we’re also anticipating a further boost in performance in 2024, as we prepare to launch six new titles during the first half of the year.”

These new launches include Arthdal Chronicles: Three Factions, Solo Leveling: ARISE, Paragon: The Overprime, Raven 2, and King Arthur: Legend Rises, as well as the launch of Meta World: My City in Korea. Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds will also be launched in China. Netmarble will also showcase several upcoming titles at Korea’s annual G-STAR 2023 convention, starting November 16 in Busan, Korea, including The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, RF ONLINE NEXT, and DEMIS RE:BORN.

Netmarble’s Q3 financial results are as follows:

  • Cumulatively for 2023, Netmarble earned $1.41 billion in sales and $42.58 million in EBITDA. The company reported an operating loss of $67.15 million.
  • North America led revenues (47%) with diversification across other key territories as follows: Korea (17%), Europe (12%), Southeast Asia (10%), and Japan (6%), and other regions (8%).
  • Netmarble’s portfolio showed genre diversification across Casual Games (44%), RPG (35%), MMORPG (10%), and other genres (11%).
  • Top performing titles for the third quarter included: MARVEL Contest of Champions (10%) (Kabam), Jackpot World (9%), Cash Frenzy (8%), Lotsa Slots (8%), Seven Knights Idle Adventure (5%), Tower of God: New World (5%), and The Seven Deadly Sins: GRAND CROSS (5%).

A breakdown of the total financial earnings is below:

7/1/23 – 9/30/23 actualsYoY ChangesQoQ Changes
Total Sales$484.99 million-9.2%+4.5%
EBITDA$18.79 million+17.8%+126.9%
Operating Loss$16.83 million––
Net Loss$21.89 million––

For details on Netmarble’s quarterly performance and to listen to the earnings call, please visit the company’s Investor Relations page.

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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 Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and forthcoming PC games like Paragon: The Overprime. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

Anonymous;Code Review

Travis Bruno
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Anonymous;Code Review

Anonymous;Code

Developer: Mages
Publisher: Spike Chunsoft
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch (Reviewed)
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

The Science Adventure series of visual novels has always made for some rather interesting experiences. Best known for its incredibly popular Steins;Gate entry and subsequent follow-ups and spin-offs, most of the Science Adventure games have kept fans waiting as many titles in the series took quite some time to be localized officially in English but this time around Mages aren’t keeping fans of the franchise worldwide waiting. Although the original Japanese release was delayed a handful of times to be released last year, the English release of the sixth entry in the Science Adventure series has arrived in a year with Anonymous;Code. Offering yet another new mind-bending story of science fiction, does Anonymous;Code hold up with the rest of the franchise?

Story

Set in the fairly distant future of 2037 technology has continued to invade every aspect of life to the point that nearly everyone now has implanted BMI computers that allow them to be connected to the digital realm at all times. Reality itself is augmented with ads, news stories, people wearing costumes or completely different appearances, and of course AI is everywhere to the point that AI girlfriends and helpers have become commonplace. Pollon Takaoka and his friends in the hacker group Nakano Symphonies take advantage of this all digital future by taking on jobs that prey on the less fortunate and gullible so when Pollon’s boast about a girlfriend turns into an encounter with a real girl in need of help, he quickly finds himself willing to help her even with incredibly strange events and powerful military forces following her.

With Momo Aizaki now in his care, Pollon does his best to escape from her pursuers only to find his skills no match for their overwhelming force. That all changes however when a strange app appears in his BMI, one that works as a Save & Load mechanic that allows him to reload a previous save, starting from that point on to try and change the future. With this strange new ability, military forces beyond his comprehension, religion, AI, doomsday, and existentialism all clashing together over the course of this fairly short, by Science Adventure series standards anyway, visual novel in what becomes an incredible tale that stands as one of the best in the Science Adventure series following the ever-popular Steins;Gate and Chaos;Head Noah.

Going too far into detail about certain elements would easily spoil some of the major events and twists that happen throughout the course of the visual novel so we won’t discuss them much but it must be said that Anonymous;Code grabs a hold of the player’s attention and never lets up. This is partially due to the game never really taking a chance to breathe as the many “slice-of-life” elements found in other visual novels from the developer are mostly non-existent here. Along these same lines, this visual novel is as linear as they come, meaning that there are no branching paths or even alternate storylines to witness outside of a sudden bad end that sends players back to the main menu. 

This lack of fluff is something of a double-edge sword as it keeps players invested in the engrossing tail of twists, revelations, and deeply blended fantasy science with real world elements but losses out on player interaction and replayability. Along these same lines, a large amount of the characters that are introduced don’t really get too much of a chance to develop beyond the core cast. Those wanting to learn more about certain characters may find themselves left wanting entirely as even the game’s extensive glossary of terms and history doesn’t often delve into their backstories. Meaning what players see through the main route is unfortunately what they get. That being said the characters in Anonymous;Code are all quite interesting, especially the dynamics between Momo and Pollon. Being able to experience the complex technical ideas brought up by the story with these characters is a delight. This is helped of course by the fact that, for the first time ever in the series’ history, the game has also been released with an English dub to help bring the character’s to life.

Gameplay

Now while every game in the Science Adventure series has had its own unique take on a visual novel, with some offering different routes or interactions depending on properly timing certain viewed side-content or even incredibly obscure events that would be hard to uncover on your own, Anonymous;Code is a bit different thanks to the aforementioned Save & Load mechanic that Pollon obtains. Without going into detail about the plot implications of his power and its source, players will find that they actually share save slots with Pollon. Throughout the story Pollon will create save spots at certain times and players can then prompt him at any point by pulling up the load screen to reload a save and try to change fate. 

This mechanic is interesting in concept but also a bit flawed in execution. The reason for this is that Pollon will often straight up ignore or complain to the player when they prompt them to load to avoid a bad ending as the game will only do so on the exact line of dialogue it requires. This means that players can spend a lot of trial and error trying to trigger the proper way to continue the storyline simply because Pollon refuses to load, forcing the player to reload anyways once they hit the bad end and try again. 

Audio & Visuals

Anonymous;Code features some impressive presentation work with the character models appearing to be using Live2D mechanics to appear fluid while talking and mostly fluid whenever they happen to move on screen. There are a few stiffer animations here and there from adopting the Live2D portraits but they aren’t too noticeable in the long run compared to how impressive they look most of the time. The models themselves are nicely varied with an extensive amount of detail to most of them and while the game primarily makes use of standard visual novel presentation, it also often swaps to gorgeous looking CGs and even utilizes comic book style presentations for more action packed sequences or dramatic story moments. It is a little unfortunate that players cannot pull up the dialogue log during CG scenes though.

As mentioned before this release marks the first time in the Science Adventure series’ history that the game has been released in the West with an English dub. The voice actors for the game handle it impressively well with Max Mittelman handling Pollon and Anairis Quinones handling Momo. Of course, for those who prefer, the Japanese dub is also included. The background music features an excellent collection of tracks that do wonders to fill out the atmosphere of a scene. This works exceptionally well during the more tense moments, especially when involving the “Quests” that players eventually need to undertake in the storyline.

Overall

Anonymous;Code features a riveting story that moves at a brisk pace without much fluff to tell a sci-fi epic that constantly keeps players on their toes. While the lack of slice-of-life elements is a disappointment and its main mechanic is a little frustrating, the story told throughout this latest entry in the Science Adventure series certainly lives up to the franchise’s history, delivering a visual novel that will keep players engaged throughout with grand sci-fi concepts that will stick with players long through the ending..

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Discover TEKKEN 8 final launch character, Reina, the enigmatic Mishima Polytechnical School student

Philip Federico
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TEKKEN 8 initial roster is now complete with the announcement of Reina, the last launch character. Reina, the Purple Lightning, is using her lightning quick moves to overwhelm her opponents. She is surrounded by mystery as the only known fact about her is that she is a student at the Mishima Polytechnical School. She also seems to have a very particular interest in Jin, especially in fighting him.

The game’slaunch roster will count 32 characters with a storyline centered around the fight of Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima. Along those two characters, players will be able to play some fan-favourites like Paul Phoenix and Yoshimitsu, returning characters such as Jun Kazama and Raven, and the three brand-new additions: Azucena, Victor Chevalier and Reina. In TEKKEN 8, all characters’ models have been completely remade from the ground up, making the most of the latest generation of hardware and providing a better experience for players.

TEKKEN 8 will launch on 26 January 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, using the power of this generation of consoles to offer a visually stunning experience along with a vision promoting aggressiveness and spectacular battle action.

For more information onTEKKEN 8 and other products from Bandai Namco Europe, please visit: www.bandainamcoent.eu. Follow us on X at: https://twitter.com/TEKKEN.

PlayStation Portal remote player pre-orders available now

Philip Federico
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PlayStation Australia is delighted to announce that pre-orders for the PlayStation Portal remote player are now available for $329.95 AUD, with an official release on Friday, 2 February 2024. 

PlayStation Portal remote player brings the PS5 experience to the palm of your hand. It includes the key features of the DualSense wireless controller, including adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. The vibrant 8-inch LCD screen is capable of 1080p resolution at 60fps, providing a high-definition visual experience that’s expected from the high-quality games created by world-class developers. 

PlayStation Portal is the perfect device for gamers in households where they might need to share their living room TV or simply want to play PS5 games in another room of the house. PlayStation Portal will connect remotely to your PS5 over Wi-Fi, so you’ll be able to swiftly jump from playing on your PS5 to your PlayStation Portal. PlayStation Portal can play supported games that are installed on your PS5 console and use the Dualsense controller. It also includes a 3.5mm audio jack for wired audio. PS VR2 games, which require the headset, are not supported.

Check out this hands-on report of the PlayStation Portal remote player, Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, and Pulse Elite wireless headset here.

Keep up with the latest news from PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. 

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PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player can stream compatible games installed on your PS5 console. Requires broadband internet Wi-Fi with at least 5Mbps for use. For a better play experience, a high-speed connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended. A PS5 console and account for PlayStation Network is required. The PS5 console must be connected to a broadband internet connection, powered on fully or in Rest Mode, and it must be paired with your PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player.

Games that require a VR headset (PlayStation VR or PlayStation VR2) or additional peripherals (other than a DUALSHOCK 4, DualSense, or DualSense Edge wireless controller) are not compatible. 

Stay Cool with Operation Deep Freeze in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege on November 28

Philip Federico
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Year 8 Season 4 brings a Portuguese Operator, a new map, and Rainbow Six Siege Marketplace 

Sydney, Australia — November 13, 2023 — Today, Ubisoft revealed the final season of Rainbow Six Siege’s Year 8, Operation Deep Freeze, will launch on November 28. This season kicks into high gear, bringing a new Portuguese Operator, a new map, and more gameplay updates.  

Operation Deep Freeze sees new Defender Tubarão keep the competition hot. He stays cool-headed with his Zoto Canister gadget, which releases a freezing compound that will impair Operators movement and any other gadgets in its area of effect. Due to the “cold zone” left behind, any Operator footprints passing the area will be recorded. This gadget can disrupt both enemy and friendly gadgets, but with strategic placement, offers players an opportunity to regain control of a round. Tubarão is a two speed and two health Operator, with a loadout featuring an MPX or AR-15.50 as his primary weapon and a P226 MK 25 as his secondary weapon.  

Competition heats up this season with the new Ranked map Lair. Lair is the base of operations for Deimos, and the map is designed for players to experiment with different playstyles as they navigate its multiple entrances and three floors. Each floor has a distinct mood, and the exterior has unique entry points to all three floors. Just as Deimos created this facility to calculate his operations against Rainbow, players can strategize their navigation of Lair for success during matches. 

Player protection efforts continue to grow with a Reputation System update, providing more information on what impacts player standing. This season introduces the Grace Period phase where players will be onboarded, learn more about player standing, and give everyone a chance to improve their standing without any penalties before the Reputation System fully launches. This builds on the Commendation System, which allows players to commend each other after a match and rewards players with increased Alpha Pack drop rates. For more information on the Commendation System, please visit: RainbowSix.com/Commendations 

Starting November 12, players can go to https://rainbow6.com/marketplace/register  to register for a chance to access the Beta of the Rainbow Six Siege Marketplace to sell or buy in-game items with R6 Credits. Additionally, two new features arrive this season: Versus AI and Map Training. Versus AI will pitch players against AI defender bots that mimic real players, while Map Training is an innovative tool to learn and master maps. Map Training will launch with seven maps to start, including the brand-new Lair map.  For player comfort, the update will also add full controller remapping and controller deadzone customisation, including Lean Behavior, a big feature for controller players coming later this season. Also coming to Operation Deep Freeze is balancing for Operator Mira, major updates to the Frag grenade, and two new Elite skins.  

In partnership with the iconic Street Fighter franchise, two bundles featuring characters from Street Fighter™ 6 will land this season: Ying as Chun-Li and Grim as Ryu. Get ready to boot up and hit the streets! 

Rainbow Six Siege is now available to play on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, the Xbox One family of consoles, Xbox Series X | S, Windows PC, including on Steam, Ubisoft+, Ubisoft’s subscription service, and Amazon Luna*.  

For more information about Rainbow Six Siege, please visit: https://rainbow6.ubisoft.com.  

*Ubisoft+ on Luna requires account linking and a Multi-Access plan. Territorial restrictions apply.  

About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege    

Alongside a thriving professional esports scene and a community of over 80 million registered players, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege puts players in the middle of a fast-paced, ever-evolving multiplayer experience grounded in the selection of unique Operators. Using the right mix of tactics and destruction, Rainbow Six teams engage their enemies in sieges, where both sides have exclusive skills and gadgets at their disposal. Defenders prepare by transforming the environments around them into modern strongholds, while attackers use recon drones to gain intel for carefully planning their assault. With access to dozens of Operators inspired by real world counter-intelligence agents from around the globe, players can choose exactly how they want to approach each challenge they encounter. Through the constant addition of new Operators and maps that add to the depth of both strategy and combat, the unpredictability of each round of Rainbow Six Siege sets a new bar for intensity and competition in gaming.   

About Ubisoft   

Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2022–23 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1,739 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.  

© 2023 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Tom Clancy’s, Rainbow Six, the Soldier Icon, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.  

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name – Gameplay

Travis Bruno
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Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name – Gameplay

After leaving his past and name behind in an effort to save his loved ones it doesn’t take long until a new threat emerges that drags Kiryu back into the spotlight. With new threats emerging, Kiryu’s identity and family is at risk in Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

ERASE YOUR PAST TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: SEGA
Platform: Windows, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5|4
Release Date: 9 Nov, 2023
Price: $49.99 USD

Available here – https://gaiden.sega.com/

Summary:

Recommended – “Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is smaller than your average game in the series but still delivers an emotional punch of a story with plenty of great content to enjoy.”

Check out our review for Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name here!

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WarioWare: Move It! Review

Dustin Spencer
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WarioWare: Move It! Review

WarioWare: Move It!

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Switch
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $49.99 – Available Here

Overview

Where Mario is the normal mascot we all love, Wario is the black sheep of the Nintendo family that gives us a chuckle. WarioWare has been around for a couple of decades now, and is ready to show yet another appearance on the Switch with WarioWare: Move It!, which takes things back to motion control gimmickry with the Joy-Cons. Does Wario still have a bit of life in this aging franchise, or is it time for him to get back to basics? Let’s find out.

Story

The story here is about what you would expect from a WarioWare game, but still decent – nevertheless. In this installment, Wario wins a trip to “Caresaway Island” through a garlic burger contest, which begins a new adventure for our anti-hero and his posse of familiar faces from the series. A lot of chaos quickly ensues, which leads to Wario and company in getting to a bit of trouble and adventure as they learn about their new surroundings. That is really about as deep as it gets story-wise, but what here is serviceable and fun, as it still feels very true to those odd and quirky vibes we are used to. There is a pretty good look at faces from WarioWare this time around, along with little call-backs to older entries that fans should enjoy. Again – nothing too dramatic, but a little more interesting in terms of narrative than most entries we have seen to date.

Gameplay

I’m not going to lie, I am kind of over motion controls. While the gimmick was fun in the past, its really hard to get the willpower to dock the Switch and give things a go, as most titles have adapted to giving us an option for a choice between the styles. Move It! requires motion, so if that scares you away, you may be outside of the intended audience for this one. That said, what Wario does here is a lot of fun, and even though I had my reservations, I ended up being happy to experience what Move It! had to offer. 

The true gimmick here are poses, which the game slowly teaches you as you start out within either of the modes within. Players will take one Joy-Con and be asked to pose like a sumo wrestler, stretch their arms out, tilt their hands in specific positions, and so on – as preparation for the mini-game they will be going into. Once poses, the game has you use the pose for a completely different reason to quickly participate in micro-game that requires precise movement and action to succeed in. For the most part, the game nails execution as it nails the motion aspect perfectly. If you remember the Wii Motion Plus gimmickry for Wii Sports Resort and similar fare, its kind of like that- where rotating the controller and giving it precise alignment will be the goal of staying accurate, and its nice to see Nintendo dip their toe back into the water with such a forgotten feature of the platform.

The games themselves are largely varied and fun, with plenty of bizarre exercises to pull off, such as plucking nose-hair, running in an intense two second track meet, and so on – which add a layer of silliness to the entire affair. Even though lining up forms is the primary way to be successful, the game still has that urgent WarioWare flavor, making it quite an intense exercise that runs along the identity of the franchise to perfection. There is also a party mode of sorts, which attaches new gimmicks such as a corrupt board game and insane doctor physicals to the equation, adding a lot of fun to the multiplayer aspect. The game is just as WarioWare as you can get, and even though I would have liked to see some non-motion modes thrown in, it is nice to find a reason to indulge in the cleverly crafted controller, especially since it has been mostly neglected in most modern releases.

Audio

The audio is a blast here. The soundtrack is lively, and sets up the bizarre atmosphere well. This is also the last official appearance of Charles Martinet, who performs the titular character to perfection. There are just so many little bits and pieces that play well here, leading to a good time thanks to sound effects and tunes that keep the player rocking along as they aim to best their last scores. 

Visuals

The graphics are again, just fine. The 2D art is in full effect here, and even though some of the cutscenes go for the frame by frame animation style, no one should have any trouble laughing along to the brightly colored sprites as the perform absurdity before you throughout. I have always loved the bold outlines and distinct flare that WarioWare has had, and Move It! retains that charm to keep fans happy who are returning to the beloved namesake.

Overall

WarioWare: Move It! is a solid package through and through, and while it fails to innovate, it does remind us of how much fun motion can still be if done right. There are a ton of games and content filled to the brim here. Whether it be in a platformer or a title like this, Wario has always been the character that Nintendo try out new ideas for gimmicks, and that really is what this installment is all about. Move It! is a package that bundles together a ton of fun ideas for one last hoorah on the Switch, where players are sure to get a ton of fun with friends or going in solo alike. If you are looking for a fun night of nonsense, this romp may be your next best vacation from the norm.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

RACE THE FAMOUS LAS VEGAS STRIP CIRCUIT AND PLAY F1 23 FOR FREE NEXT WEEK

Philip Federico
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EA SPORTS™ Goes All-In at Vegas with Star-Studded Event, Driver Content, In-Game Challenges and Free Exclusive Items 

Redwood City, Calif. – November 10, 2023 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) presents a ‘Free to Play’ weekend* to celebrate the inaugural FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2023. F1® 23 has raised the stakes and prepared a series of activities and challenges in and outside the game for fans to enjoy. Players will be able to lay down rubber on the famous Las Vegas Strip, challenge Charles Leclerc’s fastest lap, unlock new #LasVegasGP-themed rewards, and more. Scuderia AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo, EA SPORTS Ambassador Max Verstappen and British boxing Champion Anthony Joshua also join in the fun and take on the boulevard on  F1® 23.  

From November 16th to November 20th**, players worldwide will have the opportunity to experience the dazzling Las Vegas Grand Prix Circuit™ and play F1® 23 for free on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam). Those racing in-game through the weekend will earn double XP across various game modes and other rewards. New players looking to purchase the game can also check out special price promotions of up to 60% off ordinary retail price⁂ from platform retailers during those dates, all in-game progress and unlocked content would be saved from the trial. 

Adding to the excitement, EA SPORTS will host a star-studded event at the HyperX Arena Las Vegas. The event will witness worlds collide as big names from sports, gaming, and beyond, come together to kick off the FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2023 weekend, tune in to the official Formula 1® Youtube channel on November 15 at 1 pm PT to watch it. The full list of athletes and talents taking part will be announced on November 13 on F1® 23’s social media channels.  

Daniel Ricciardo has shared his excitement ahead of the race and set the scene in a new video covering his first look at the new US circuit. On November 17, you will also get a sneak peek of how Max Verstappen is preparing for the new circuit as the three-time World Champion takes boxing superstar Anthony Joshua through the streets of Vegas in F1® 23. 

Watch Daniel Ricciardo’s First Look at the FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX below:

“Las Vegas is an iconic venue which takes in one of the most famous stretches of tarmac in the world,” said Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters. “I’ve loved watching the team build such a wonderful virtual recreation of the vibrance and energy of the Strip. We have been honoured to bring this new circuit to F1 23 for players everywhere to enjoy ahead of the real-world Grand Prix, and we hope everyone has as much fun as Daniel Ricciardo when they take on Sin City in-game this week”. 

Celebrations in F1® 23 will start ahead of the weekend for those eager to race the boulevard. From November 14 to 20, the game will feature several in-game events, including a new Las Vegas ‘Pro Challenge’ with Charles Leclerc† and an ‘F1® World’ Scenario Event with Lewis Hamilton. EA SPORTS will also offer a host of in-game items, developed in partnership with the Las Vegas Grand Prix, for free‡. To obtain these, players will need to log in daily to the game from November 16 to November 18 and check their inbox. 

Additionally, from November 20 to December 11‡, players can experience the thrill of racing Ferrari’s recently revealed Golden Era car livery, paying homage to the first “golden era” of Formula 1 in America. 

Join us in celebrating the spectacle of Formula 1® in Las Vegas, a full list of all the activities and experiences around Vegas happening on F1® 23 can be found here. 

For more information on F1® 23, an official game of the FIA Formula One World Championship™ available across PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and PC, via EA App, Epic Games Store, and Steam, follow Formula 1 game website and social channels. 

*Conditions and restrictions apply. See https://www.ea.com/games/f1/f1-23/free-weekend-disclaimers for details  

**Limited time Free Play Weekend. Free Play Weekend time is subject to change. Free Play Weekend starts on PlayStation and Xbox at 10:00pm UTC on November 15th, 2023 and ends 8:00pm UTC November 20th, 2023. Free Play Weekend starts on Steam at 6:00pm UTC on November 16th, 2023 and ends 6:00pm UTC November 20th, 2023. Internet connection, EA account, acceptance of EA User Agreement (terms.ea.com) and Privacy & Cookie Policy (privacy.ea.com) may be required to play. Access on console platforms may require a premium console account. Additional in-game content may be available for purchase and is available for continued use in the full game; purchased content will not be refunded upon completion of the Free Play Weekend. Free Play Weekend can be played once per EA account.  

⁂Offers may vary or change. See retailer site for details. 

†Log into F1 World and beat the time of the named driver in the Pro Challenge between November 14th and November 20th 2023.   

‡Requires F123 (sold separately) and all game updates.  

About Electronic Arts 

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. 

In fiscal year 2023, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.4 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS™ FC, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news. 

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFLand F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. 

West of Loathing Arrives in Physical Edition for the From Serenity Forge in Q1 2024 for Nintendo Switch

Philip Federico
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Available in extremely limited quantities, featuring a pristine, stunningly detailed art book

Boulder, Colo. (Nov. 10, 2023) – A sprawling, open world filled with mysteries, quests and puzzles. Dozens of unique characters with their own lives and backstories. Stick figures. Yes, all that and more is at your fingertips in the slapstick western RPG adventure West of Loathing, coming to Nintendo Switch in a new physical edition in Q1 2024 for $39.99 USD and $54.99 CAD (in Canada).

West of Loathing’s physical release will be available in extremely limited quantities from the Serenity Forge online store and Video Games Plus in Canada. Pre-order your copy while supplies last at https://store.serenityforge.com or https://videogamesplus.ca/products/west-of-loathing-switch 

West of Loathing’s new physical release also features a gorgeous artbook showcasing the painstaking work that went into bringing these hyper-realistic stick-figure characters to life. True art in the most powerful sense.

West of Loathing is a slapstick adventure RPG set in the famously black-and-white western frontier. Traverse snake-infested gulches, punch skeletons wearing cowboy hats, grapple with demon cows and investigate a wide variety of disgusting spittoons. Your quest will take you to various locales filled with friends, foes, more demon cows and dangerous situations you’ll have to talk your way out of or use your weirdly powerful stick fists to handle. No matter the path you take, West of Loathing will send you on a journey you won’t soon forget. Who could forget a demon cow?

Stay in the loop on all things Serenity Forge by visiting the team’s website and Twitter page. 

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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 Asymmetric Games

Asymmetric Games is a small independent studio based in San Francisco, and has been making award-winning comedic games for over two decades, most notably the Loathing series which started with the online browser-based sensation The Kingdom of Loathing and continued with 2017’s lauded West of Loathing which is currently available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and the Nintendo Switch.

About Video Games Plus Video Games Plus is Canada’s premier independent video game distributor. Starting from humble beginnings in 1993, 2023 marks our 30th anniversary in the gaming industry. Now operating out of our warehouse near Toronto, Ontario, we distribute to thousands of retailers and customers worldwide. With our established relationships among all of the major game publishers, our goal is to continue physical game preservation by continuing to provide exclusive reprint and publishing deals to customers world-wide!

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