Game On: Malaysia Takes The Lead As The Game Industry Gears For The Next Decade Of Disruption

This special feature is brought to you by Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) CEO Surina Shukri.Â
As Industry Revolution 4.0 continues to gain traction across various industries, itâ€™s easy to forget that the creatives are the ones in the driverâ€™s seat. While it has many applications, the word refers to the currently explosive and highly dedicated creative content industry. Malaysia, since its heyday as an outsourcing destination for animated works in the late 80s to producing award-winning IPs like Project Saladin, is now primed to lead the game development sector.
It has come very far since things kicked-off more than 15 years ago when Malaysia embarked on this exciting adventure. The end-goal: to become Southeast Asiaâ€™s game development hub.
What did it take for Malaysia to become this regional game development powerhouse? It isnâ€™t just about having AAA studios opening branches here or watching local indie productions scale up to become globally recognisable. There is also a growing ecosystem that encompasses education, financing, and strong support from both public and private sectors. All these come together to create a thriving and self-sustaining marketplace.
If anything, the interest in this fast-accelerating industry is still growing and continues to produce even more far-reaching results. Of the many origin stories that gave birth to this exciting industry, one of the more critical ones that most will bring up is the Intellectual Property Creatorsâ€™ Challenge (IPCC).
Gaming to Go
When MDEC first put together the IPCC, it knew from the get-go that this will be a long-term effort. While the early years saw animators and comic artists â€“ both breaking new grounds on the digital front â€“ taking part, there was a handful of bright-eyed talents who wanted to make games. Even long-time creative veterans were keen to join in on the action.
It was these teams that later formed the first-generation Made-in-Malaysia game developers: Kurechii, Ace Ed-Ventures, and Appxplore among others. They came up with innovative concepts that challenged the industry norms of the time. Instead of targeting hardcore gamers or consumers who have been playing games, thee Malaysian studios focused on the casual and mobile games space. Their efforts paid off in the years to come as they produced multiple award-winning entries.
These talents and their wonderful works wowed the world, earning new accolades for Malaysia. That was enough to convince AAA game studios to seriously consider investing in Malaysia and tapping into the countryâ€™s raw market potential in game development. The first few included Codemasters and Streamline Studios. Their commitment got the ball rolling as interest in non-related parties grew.
As Streamline Studios Founder and CEO, Alexander Fernandez, puts it: â€œWe are seeing more international recognition across the games industry, from Malaysian-made titles (that took home top marks on Google Play and Apple App stores) and (having other) services being provided by the nationâ€™s external development companies. Overall, games have become an incredible vehicle for Malaysiaâ€™s economic development. In the coming years, our industry will continue to grow and become more inclusive of various opportunities outside of the games space.â€
With interest in game development, and now the videogames marketplace, growing at a rapid pace, new indie studios have quickly popped up. Even outsourcing efforts, which stepped away from the limelight for a time, gained massive traction as locally established content studios have built a name for themselves. Among the top few that are leading this effort are Passion Republic and Lemon Sky, both being highly recognised for their works in AAA games like Uncharted 4, Street Fighter V, and StarCraft.

Level Up Efforts
Is Malaysia back on the right track? By the looks of it, it seems to be. These days, more and more games studios are opening up in Malaysia â€“ be it indie or pure outsourcing. While this is all good, I would like to see these studios work on their own AAA titles. It is a timely consideration seeing as next-gen game console rollouts are right around the corner.
Of course, Malaysiaâ€™s mobile games sector reached this milestone many times over. This is all thanks to the ongoing efforts of Malaysiaâ€™s indie game studios. Even with its multiple industry accolades, they are still creating new ground-breaking achievements for the country. Beyond earning top ratings in the mobile app stores, other major wins include discovering new ways to make mobile and casual games educational, innovating the idle game genre, and expanding narrative-driven mobile games.
While all these efforts from the government and private sector have helped to grow Malaysiaâ€™s game development industry, there is more to be done. Talent development is still a necessity and now there is a new aspect to pursue: esports. That leads to the question: whatâ€™s next for Malaysia?
For the 2H2019, there is plenty to look forward to! First, there is the ongoing Digital Content Creators Challenge, a revamp of the IPCC. It only has two main focuses: animation and digital games. Winners of either category will get a substantial cash grant â€“ RM700,000 is up for grabs â€“ to produce a pilot episode for the animation or create a commercial-ready game. The 5th edition of LEVEL UP KL comes right after and will feature, for the first time, a public event called LEVEL UP Play. There are also workshops being organised at Malaysiaâ€™s videogames incubator hub, LEVEL UP Inc, that create opportunities for attendees to learn, network, and explore collaborative ideas.
As is, the game development sector and the videogames industry are expected to continue with its phenomenal growth. Its influence into the music and movie businesses is also expanding, reinforcing the notion that videogames will become a global multimedia juggernaut. Malaysia looks set to be a significant contributor as it rapidly establishes itself to become Southeast Asiaâ€™s acknowledged game development hub.


New Mandalorian Trailer Teases Return Of Classic Clone Wars Enemy

We’re only two weeks away from the debut of the first live-action Star Wars series in history and Disney has unveiled a brand new trailer for the upcoming series, which is slated to premiere on 12 November 2019.
We get to see a lot more of Pedro Pascal’s mysterious The Mandalorian character in this new trailer, as he gets to show off his bounty hunter and gunslinging skills. That’s not even mentioning the fact that he even speaks for the first time in this trailer, saying “Yeah, good.” in response to Werner Herzog’s equally-mysterious character.
I also noticed something noteworthy about the titular Mandalorian protagonist. Near the one-minute mark in the trailer, as he exits a building to an outside swarming with stormtroopers, he doesn’t bother with searching for cover or evading the enemy blaster shots.
In fact, one blaster shot hit him directly in the left shoulder pad and the Mandalorian barely flinched, shrugging it off like it was nothing. Perhaps he’s wearing an armour coated in chromium, which is the same material on Captain Phasma’s armor that made it capable of deflecting weak or normal blaster shots.

In addition, a brief shot at the 1:06 minute mark shows a split-second glimpse of the official return of a classic enemy from The Clone Wars era, the B2 Super Battle Droids once deployed by the Confederacy of Independent Systems or the Separatists. This could either be a flashback or that the antagonists in The Mandalorian are salvaging old war weapons from The Clone Wars era.

This is great news for Star Wars fans, as it looks like The Mandalorian will be mining from all over the canon instead of just relying on the original trilogy or sequel trilogy for content. As a self-proclaimed fan of the prequel trilogy, I’m extremely excited.
The Mandalorian stars:

Narcosâ€™ Pedro Pascal as The Mandalorian.
Gina Carano as Cara Dune; aÂ former Rebel Shock Trooper-turned-mercenary who fought in the civil war for the Rebel Alliance.
Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon; a former governor under the Empire whose life changed after the Rebels destroyed the second Death Star.
Carl Weathers as Greef Carga; the leader of a bounty hunter guild who hires the Mandalorian to track a valuable asset.
Taika Waititi as the voice of IG-11; an innocent and naive droid companion of The Mandalorian who does not know sarcasm or how to lie.

Check out the badass new trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmI7WKrAtqs&w=560&h=315]


Nintendo Announce Party Game Sequel “Everybody 1-2-Switch!”

Nintendo has revealed the sequel to their local multiplayer party game, “Everybody 1-2-Switch!” for the Nintendo Switch, due to launch on 30th June.
It’s essentially a new party game from the Big N, focusing more on multiplayer and quick-play titles for parties and other occasions involving friends and festive moments.
An official overview of the game was given via Nintendo.com:
“Wanna party? Break out the Nintendo Switch system and laugh it up at your next game night!
Mix up your next get-together with the Everybody 1-2-Switch! game. Grab some Joy-Con controllers or smart devices for team-based games that are easy to set up and feature everything from balloons to aliens, and more! People at your next party can get moving and show off their teamwork in this multiplayer mashup.
A mix of games and modes to keep you on your toes! Use Joy-Con controllers or smart devices, team up, and let the games begin. Split into teams and see which group can win a certain number of games first. Many games have several variations that change up the rules or add extra challenge!”


What To Expect From Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers

Atlus has finally revealed what exactly Persona 5 S is and unfortunately, it’s not what everyone thinks it would be. It’s not a downsized version of Persona 5 for the Nintendo Switch, nor is it a full PC port of the 2017 hit JRPG.
Koei Tecmo is joining forces with Atlus, and you know what that means: Musou Time!
Persona 5 S is Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers, a hack-and-slash action game with gameplay similar to that of Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors franchise. The first trailer for the game was unveiled during the Persona concert.
The trailer doesn’t reveal much, though it does show several seconds of actual gameplay footage featuring Joker fighting what looks like hundreds of Shadows at one time, which is a staple of the musou hack and slash genre.
What will make Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers different than the Dynasty Warriors games is that players will be able to summon Personas, which can be seen in the trailer as Joker summons Arsene to unleash a devastating attack. However, it remains to be seen how many playable Personas and characters will be in the game.

Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers is being developed for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch. No release date or release window has been revealed as of yet. We’ll probably have to wait until 9 May 2019 to learn more about this game and Persona 5 Royal, which was officially revealed just yesterday (check out details in the full story here).
In the meantime, check out the trailer for Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyaRQnfQ9Dg&w=560&h=315]


Ace Combat 7 Celebrates Franchise’s 25th Anniversary With New Skins

We waited more than a decade forÂ Ace Combat 7: Skies UnknownÂ and it was totally worth it, turning out to beÂ one of the best games of 2019Â (check out my full review here). It looks like a lot of gamers thought so too, as the sales for the game have already exceeded two million copies worldwide.
The franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary this year in 2020. The first entry in the combat flight simulator series; simply titledÂ Ace Combat, launched for the original PlayStation on 30 June in 1995 in Japan.
Bandai Namco will release a 25th-anniversary update forÂ Ace Combat 7 Skies UnknownÂ on 20 August 2020.
The free update will add three aircraft skins from the â€œU.S. Skin Series.â€
The following three skins will be added:
â€œJolly Rogers Skinâ€ for F-14D Super Tomcatâ€œPatriot Skinâ€ for F-16C Fighting Falconâ€œRed Devils Skinâ€ for F/A-18F Super Hornet

Ace Combat 7 Skies UnknownÂ is available now for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC viaÂ Steam.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below.


Razer To Deliver Online Cloud Clubbing Experience Soon

We’ve heard of classes and work being done remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Razer is taking things to the next level with “cloud clubbingÂ “.
The gaming peripheral company is teaming up with live-streaming platform Bigo Live and nightclub Zouk for this. Basically, there’ll be closed-door sets played at Zouk, and Razer will stream them on their Bigo Live channel. Their Bigo ID is “Razer”, FYI.

“During the set, viewers will be able to interact with the DJs via the live stream chat, as well as utilize Bigo Liveâ€™s functions such as sending virtual gifts with Razer Gold or Razer Silver,” Razer said. “A portion of any proceeds accumulated will be donated to the Singapore government to support the fight against COVID-19.”
They added, “Through cloud clubbing, Razer and its partners aim to keep spirits high by reminding the public that social interactions are a key support system to get through these difficult times.”
There’s also something for gamers, as there will be hourly giveaways ofÂ  Razer Kraken & Bonus Razer Gold, and the top livestream contributor will get a Razer Hammerhead True Wireless. The first session will be held on 27 March, Friday at 8pm, with future dates being announced later.
It’s a noble and creative idea for sure, but I have to confess that my reaction to this is a “huh?” rather than a non-sarcastic “wow”, though the giveaways are neat, I suppose. Guess we’ll see if Razer’s endeavour succeeds in “Revolutionizing the party scene in Southeast Asia” in a couple of days.


KKP & BuzzPOP! Talk About Avengers: Endgame (SPOILERS)

The Russo Brothers declared today as open season for spoilers and memes, so let’s release this spoiler discussion video to talk about Avengers. And stuff.


A Heckaton Of People Played Valorant’s Closed Beta Every Day

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Riot’s hot stuff team-based shooter had a lot of players and hours in its closed beta. So naturally comes the flexing: Riot claims that on average, nearly three million people played the beta daily.
Here are the rest of the numbers broken down:

Twitch views for the game are at a staggering 470 million hours. Guess a LOT of people like watching others play a team-based shooter that’s part CS:GO and part Overwatch.
34 million of those hours were just for a single day.
The game also garnered 1.7 million viewers in total. For comparison’s sake, CS:GO broke 1 million concurrent users this year.

These numbers are impressive, but at the end of the day, a game’s multiplayer and online worth is its staying power. While Valorant is still a wee baby in comparison with the eight-year-old CS:GO, Riot has proved itself to making games and maintaining their lifespan amidst the bickering fandom via League of Legends.


SEA Games Tekken 7 Thai Champion Wins First EVO With Controversial Pick

Work and fight hard, and you’ll eventually be the world’s best. That’s what Nopparut Book Hempamorn, one of Southeast Asia’s top Tekken 7 players, did time and again, proving himself to the world.
Just recently, the Thailand Iron Fist warrior placed first in a gruelling top 8 in EVO Japan 2020’s Tekken 7 tournament. Granted, this bout isn’t part of the Bandai Namco-sanctioned Tekken World Tour, but it was still a landmark victory for the Thai fighter.
[wpvideo Rui2xUkF]
[wpvideo TpcxsWEd]
As strong as his grand finals opponent Mikio is with his punishes and defense via his main Julia, he still came out short.

We do need to point out the Asian elephant in the room: the reason it’s a tense top 8 is because 7 of the players (including Book) were using Season 3’s latest top tier addition to the roster: Wing Chun user Leroy Smith.

For those not well-versed with Tekken 7 lately, Leroy Smith has a number of great moves to put him in the top spot. He has counters, he has long-ranged attacks, and he can get huge damage off of easy and light confirms in a game where jabs are paramount to winning matches & footsie games.
Suffice to say, he’s a handful to deal with even with the world’s finest.
It’s still a little early and people don’t know fully know the matchup against the new guy just yet. And I’m not saying Book’s victory isn’t well-earned, far from it. He deserves it since his big win in last year’s SEA Games Esports Tekken 7 bout; the pro has been training hard for a long while since Tekken 7’s arcade debut.
But when you have the world’s best Tekken 7 players & commentators voicing this out on the public space…

Last year evo japan championLost to leroy outLast year evo japan 2ndLost to leroy outLast year evo japan 3rdLost to leroy out pic.twitter.com/WoYi4wyE4c
— DONUTS USG | Rangchu (????) (@rangchu123) January 25, 2020

Winning streaks of Tekken:2017 JDCR = Dragnov 2018 Knee = Steve (Mostly)Early 2019 Ash = Kazumi & GeeseLate 2019 Awais & Atif = Akuma2020 = Leroy
All in all, the stronger the character; the better chances of winning. So, It's basically about the game design.
— Arslan Ash (@ArslanAsh95) January 25, 2020

[wpvideo qSl7uztq]
…perhaps Bandai Namco may need to start doing some tweaks to its meal ticket post-EVO Japan 2020.
Here is the full top 8 for EVO Japan 2020’s Tekken 7 tournament.
1. Talon|Book (Leroy)
2. ITO|Mikio (Julia)
3. COOASGAMES|Noroma (Leroy, Steve)
4. EQNX|Ulsan (Kazumi, Bob, Leroy)
5. Liquid|Gen (Leroy, Shaheen)
5. THY|Chikurin (Leroy)
7. Masa (Leroy)
7. Zeugal (Leroy)


Tactics Ogre Is Getting A Remake According To This Leak

A listing for the yet-to-be-announced Tactics Ogre: Reborn has appeared on the PlayStation Store. Clearly the link isn’t working now since it was a mistake, but the pics are out (via Gematsu).
The now-defunct page has the remake’s background artwork, portrait artwork, and logo.

Square Enix previously trademarked the game’s title back in March, which means it’s only a matter of time before the series gets a remake in 2022 and beyond. No other platforms have been confirmed release-wise.
Tactics Ogre is a politically-charged and in-depth strategy RPG series from renowned RPG developer Yasumi Matsuno and his team at Quest. As you all know, Quest’s key members Yasumi Matsuno, Hiroshi Minagawa, and Akihiko Yoshida left Quest to join Square Enix, meaning the latter owns the IP eventually since they ended up dissolving Quest into the company. As Square Enix is known for going back to the well with its classics, Tactics Ogre is the next in line for this train of thought.


Six Stack: The Dallas Fuel Remedy

Dallas Fuel is a team in crisis. They have the worst public perception in the Overwatch League no thanks to xQc’s shenanigans (more recently Taimou) and performance-wise, are spiralling out of control. They are only spared the ‘second-worst team in the league’ tag by having a better league record than the Florida Mayhem who are rapidly improving. The Fuel are on a slide and unless something drastic is done, won’t be stopping the rot anytime soon as they next face Boston Uprising and Philadelphia Fusion in Week 4.

Today on Six Stack, we analyze the six issues plaguing the Dallas Fuel and how they should be remedied. This comes swiftly following Felix ‘xQc’ Lengyel’s release from the team and we feel these suggestions will help correct the course of Dallas Fuel’s faltering season.
1. Identify Their Main Tank to Replace xQc
Ah they finally did it. We aren’t doubting xQc’s skill, as he is one of the most talented Winston players in the league – probably among the top 5 even. With an Overwatch World Cup runners-up medal in hand, the world is his oyster and signing up to the Fuel was a match made in heaven. The Fuel needed an aggressive, mobile tank to team up with Mickie, as Cocco was more of a traditional sort.
But xQc turned out to be an unwanted distraction – even when he’s not playing. A team with a player who received multiple fines and suspensions even before mid-season won’t be winning games nor be attracting any commercial partners. You can be the most skilful player in the league but everything amounts to naught if you’re suspended most of the time. Pro players are paid to win games; not attract negative press to his team.
Not only that – xQc’s antics seem to have affected the Fuel on the business end as well as to date, only have one notable commercial partner – Jack in the Box – and they aren’t even an endemic sponsor. In comparison, the Seoul Dynasty has got Razer and Nighthawk while London Spitfire is with Logitech. Is it just down to bad timing or sponsors are actively avoiding from partnering with this highly combustible brand?

At present, xQc is like the Mario Balotelli of the pro-Overwatch scene. A very talented individual severely in need of professional guidance. Like Super Mario, he himself is his own worst enemy and if he (xQc) is ever to return to the pro scene, would be wise to sort himself before again, make a mess of things. We sincerely hope he recover from this ordeal and bounce back like a nano-boosted Winston ulting.
2. Improve the Coaching StaffÂ
In other team sports, when a team underperforms, the first heads to roll are the coaches. While the players are the one slogging it out in the field, the coaches are responsible in coming up with strategies for the players to carry out and we fail to see it in Dallas Fuel. The easiest example was against the Los Angeles Valiant on Hanamura. The Fuel were attacking and they tried to pull off their standard ‘capture the high ground and let AKM do his Soldier 76 thing’.
It didn’t work the first time. It didn’t work til the round ended. They lost. No attempt to tweak the approaches whatsoever. Hold up. This is an Overwatch League team we are talking about. Not a Contenders or Challengers team.
Other OWL teams would have switched to plans B, C or even D in that instance yet the Fuel coaching staff were devoid of such response. They were rigid throughout and we aren’t sure why this issue which was prevalent during Stage 1 carries on well into Stage 2. While they have signed some really talented players such as AKM and Rascal, they remain predictable in their matches and have won their games by sheer mechanical skill rather than better tactics. We aren’t calling for KyKy’s firing – far from that – But we believe the team would benefit with extra help that would do wonders for the team. Former London Spitfire coach, Bishop is available, so is ex-LA Valiant coach, Henry ‘Cuddles’ Coxall so perhaps the Fuel would be wise to look into these options.
3. Let Seagull Play
Out of the five games the Fuel have won so far, Seagull featured in three of them. OK fine, those matches weren’t exactly against top-tier teams but a win is a win. He’s proven to be a good omen for his team and the fact that he has a deep hero pool should benefit a team what’s trying to vary their approach in games. While AKM is a better Soldier, Seagull’s ability to flex and competently play multitude heroes such as Pharah, Junkrat, Genji and even Mei adds layers to Fuel’s playbook. We understand that he’s been training on D.Va so that would be another addition to his already impressive list.
With the record Dallas Fuel are sitting on, how worse can it get, right? Might as well experiment for next stage, or season even instead of carrying on with failed methods. Having a player such as Seagull on the bench isn’t helping anyone.
Of course playing Seagull alone does not guarantee a win but it does make the Fuel more flexible at team fights. Sub him in between rounds or maps to throw the opponents’ plans off-course. Any form of adjustment from the opposition increases your team’s chance for success.

4. Zig When Everyone Else Is Zagging
Like it or not, there’s are trends in the Overwatch League which are meta-induced. Be it the rise in Mercy picks or the return of the dive meta. Dallas Fuel would be wise to realize that none of these suit them with this current roster. The recent results speak for themselves. Their heyday as EnVyUs was based on them playing around a meticulous, slow and patient approach which isn’t en vogue nowadays. The team shifted away from their identity and now found themselves been caught off-guard by more flexible teams with players whose skillset are more tailored to aggressive engagements.
The solution? Adapt. Adjust. And be the trendsetter instead of trying to play catch up. Forcing their players to play a specific way which clearly does not suit them is akin to forcing Stoke City to play tiki-taka football ala Barcelona. It ain’t gonna work.
5. Set An Identity – And Stick With ItÂ
You may wonder what we meant with this fifth point. It’s pretty straight forward, really. Figure out what they are all about and stick with it. For example, the Fusion are an aggressive, dive-first team with ShaDowBurn and Carpe on the vanguard supported by the rest; the Outlaws are more defensive and disciplined – similar to the OG EnVy; NYXL and Dynasty rely on their strong tank and support core allowing room for their DPS players to impose themselves onto the enemies while Boston Uprising are experimental in their approaches. Contrary to popular belief, a team can be flexible without sacrificing its identity.
Case example, NYXL. In Stage 1, Saebyeolbe tend to duel with the enemy Tracer in games and to counter this, some teams responded by focusing hard on him. NYXL’s response? In Stage 2 matches, Saebyeolbe’s focus shifted to the supports and to date, is yet to be effectively countered by the opposition. Another example are the Shanghai Dragons. While they are yet to win a match, they’ve been impressive in defeat – even stealing a map from the Dynasty with their Triple Tank approach.
6. Start Rebuilding for Season 2. Now
All the remedies listed above culminates to point #6 which is for the Fuel to start focusing on Season 2 of the Overwatch League. They started the season bad enough that the only way for them to sneak into the overall playoff is by relying on several teams to collapse in a spectacular manner – which is highly unlikely to happen.
Each game from now on should be a step towards rebuilding not only the squad, but also the brand. A post-season run – if it comes by – should be treated as a bonus but make no mistake about it; this is not going to be Dallas Fuel’s season. They have so many areas to work on that it would take a miracle for them to finish Season 1 above 8th place – let alone making it to the playoffs. Approach a game at a time while gradually improve the squad from ground up.


Kakuchopurei’s Final Fantasy VII Remake Spoilercast Featuring Malaysia’s Finest

It’s the end of April, which means that a number of weeks have passed to talk about Final Fantasy VII Remake and its slew of spoilers and revelations. You did finish it, right?
In this special Kakuchopurei video podcast feature, we have a chat with a few of Malaysia’s finest game journalists, content creators, and all-around renowned gamers to talk in-depth about the game. We have GameAxis/Hardware Zone’s Tim Augustin, Twitch streamer and former Team Overwatch Malaysia community lead Sun San, Gamer Matters’ Meck, and our own freelancer Kumikones.
This is a spoiler-filled discussion about FFVII Remake so we’ll put this here.

Timestamp:
03:29 – E3 2015 reveal
14:30 – FFVII Remake expectations; were they met?
16:54 – Goddamn Hell House
20:30 – Wall Market shenanigans
28:02 – Shinra HQ: Stairs or elevator?
32:30 – Ending, Sephiroth, timelines
49:36 – The future of Final Fantasy VII Remake + Music
58:23 – Last-minute wrap-ups


SoundScape: The Best Video Game Soundtracks & Music Of 2021

2021 kinda sucked thanks to COVID-19 and a bunch of other world events and government-related nonsense. But what didn’t suck were the games and their plethora of music.
Last year, we were blessed with the best video game music the industry has to offer.Â Here’s a feature video on our favourite tracks and OSTs of 2021.

Wait, where the hell is all the Square Enix music that kicked ass? Due to avoiding future copyright claims and strikes, we’ve instead listed our top Square Enix music picks of 2021 below.
Our Top Square Enix Picks That Aren’t On The Video
Nier Replicant ver. 1.22

There are a few new tracks in the Nier remake in 2021; the new version of Kaine’s battle theme during the Ending E segment is just beautiful.
Neo: The World Ends With You

I’m surprised this game’s music didn’t make it on any official 2021 list. The modern hip-hop and contemporary urban OST represents the city culture of the game while keeping things fresh and unique.
Actraiser: Renaissance

Yuzo Koshiro has done more than good in taking his old Actraiser SNES music and remastering it for this remake, while also adding in some new verses. While also making a new theme for the extra stage as well as making an SNES synth version of it.

This is why he’s a legend in the music-making business, people!
Bravely Default 2

Revo comes back to score this traditional-as-heck JRPG. The distinctive four character themes and their respective leitmotifs peppered throughout the story, the rockin’ battle tracks, and overall old-school-yet-new vibes it emanates; all of it combines into a magical experience, to say the least.
The Ones We Didn’t Get To Add For Some Reason
Loop Hero

Apologies from our end; this OST is definitely noteworthy for those who like the old-school style PC soundtracks in their CRPGs.


Hogwarts Legacy All Spells List: The Best Spells To Use In Combat

In the new action-adventure title Hogwarts Legacy, you can cast a bunch of awesome spells as a fifth-year student. Just enough to make you a combat-ready wizard/witch.
But which spell is the best in the game? Which ones will you be using the most? This guide is sure to answer all those questions.
Disclaimer: all inputs will be using the Xbox controller.
Allocating Your Spells

You can map 4 spells in the four spell slots provided. You will have to switch between them a lot as you have 23 (out of 31 spells) to use and map out. To allocate them while in-game, just press the right d-pad, then pick a spell. Then hold Right Trigger and press any of the face buttons (X,Y,A,B) to map the spell to a button of your choice.
How To Learn New Spells
Easy: just go through the main story missions, attend classes, and complete assignments. You will need to complete assignments to earn spells from specific teachers if you wish to progress through the main story anyway.
Full Spells List

 Spell Name
 Spell Effect
 How To Learn
 Requirements

Basic spell
Fires a bolt of magic for a small amount of damage.
Taught by Professor Fig during the tutorial.

Protego
Your block button. Grants a temporary shield to deflect yellow attacks.
Already learned.

Stupefy
Stuns opponent after you block with Protego.
Already learned.

Lumos
Lights up the surrounding area.
Taught by Professor Fig during the tutorial.

Revelio
Reveals nearby objects
Taught by Professor Fig during the tutorial.

Accio
Pull items or enemies towards you. Force pull, essentially.
Taught by Professor Rowen in the first Charms class.
Beat the tutorial.

Levioso
Levitates objects and enemies.
Taught by Professor Hecat in the first Defence Against The Dark Arts class.
Beat the tutorial.

Repairo
Repairs destroyed objects.
Professor Rowen’s assignment, right after you finish your first two classes.
Collect the flying pages near the broken statue and in the Defence Against the Dark Arts tower. They’re all nearby the area Professor Rowen is in.

Ancient Magic
Deals massive damage to enemies or neutralizes them. Uses one Ancient Magic bar. Level 1 Super, basically.
Automatically during Troll attack in Hogsmeade

Ancient Magic Throw
Throws nearby object at enemy. You need to aim.
Automatically during Troll attack in Hogsmeade

Incendio
Sets fire to items or enemies. Can only be used up close.

Disillusionment
Blend into surroundings, making it harder for enemies to see you.
Sebastian Sallow during the Restricted Section story quest.

Petrificus Totalus

Expelliarmus
Disarms enemies. Also damages them. Very handy against wand and weapon enemies.
Professor Hecat’s Assignment 2.
-Successfully avoid enemy attacks by dodge rolling 10 times.
-Cast Incendio on 5 enemies.

Depulso
Repel objects and enemies with significant force.
Professor Sharp’s Assignment 1.
-Acquire and use a Focus potion.
-Acquire Maxima and Edurus potions, then use them simultaneously.

Confringo
Launches a fireball at an enemy.
From Sebastian Sallow during the In The Shadow of the Undercroft story quest.

Diffindo
Slashes objects and enemies for big damage.
Professor Sharp’s Assignment 2.
-Acquire and use an Invisibility potion.
-Acquire and use a Thunderbrew potion against enemies.

Wingardium Levisosa
Levitates and controls an object in the air.
Professor Garlick’s Assignment 1
-Acquire and use a Venomous Tentacula.
-Acquire and use a Mandrake on multiple enemies simultaneously.

Glacius
Freezes an enemy on the spot.
Madam Kogawa’s Assignment 1
-Pop 5 balloons over Hogsmeade Station.
-Pop 5 balloons around the Quidditch pitch.

Alohomora
Unlocks locked doors and chests in Hogwarts Legacy.
From Gladwin Moon during the Caretaker’s Lunar Lament story quest.
Spell level can be upgraded by finding Demiguise Statues and handing over the moons to Gladwin Moon.

Descendo
Slams enemies into the ground with force.
Professor Onai’s Assignment 1.
-Collect a Troll Boey.
-Cast Depulso on a levitated enemy.

Flippendo
Flips objects and enemies upwards and backwards.
Professor Garlick’s Assignment 2
-Grow and harvest a Fluxseed.
-Acquire all three combat plants and use them simultaneously.

Transformation
Transforms objects and enemies into other objects.
Professor Weasley’s assignments (after the Fire and Vice main quest)
-Collect the field page guide in the Underground Harbour.
-Collect the field page guide from the Book on Intermediate Transfiguration.

Bombarda
Deals heavy damage to a target on impact; causes an explosion to destroy heavy objects and damage nearby foes.
Professor Howin’s assignment
-Acquire a giant purple toad with the Nab-Sack.
-Acquire a Diricawl with the Nab-Sack.

Avada Kedavra
Kills enemies instantly.
From Sebastian Sallow during a side mission In The Shadow of the Relic.

Crucio
Causes damage over time to an enemy.
From Sebastian Sallow during a side mission In The Shadow of the Relic.

Imperio
Temporarily causes an opponent to become an ally.
From Sebastian Sallow during a side mission In The Shadow of the Relic.

Best Hogwarts Legacy Spells For Combat

All spells in Hogwarts Legacy are good, but some of them get better Talent Point upgrades than others. These include the following:
Accio – When upgraded, you can drag multiple opponents to you at the same time. It’s also good to have a spell that drags enemies to you and are automatically stunned.
Descendo -When enemies are in the air, you can use this spell to slam them to the ground for massive damage. Use this in tandem with Accio. Also great against flying enemies who are usually fast and annoying.
Expelliarmus – Best against wizards/witches with wands and goblins with weapons; you’ll fight a lot of these enemies through the course of the main quest.
Confringo – When upgraded, this useful fireball spell will become a multi-fireball spell when it hits with the initial fireball, which then homes onto enemies.
What About Avada Kedavra?
Avada Kedavra is a popular spell in the Harry Potter universe, but obviously, it needs to be balanced out in a game like Hogwarts Legacy. The infamous spell can kill lower-level enemies instantly, but it has a massive cooldown time. Potions in Hogwarts Legacy can reduce these quickly.
For more Hogwarts Legacy news and guides, head here.


Star Wars Episode 9 Tie-In Comic Respects Admiral Ackbar More Than The Last Jedi Did

Marvel is currently publishing Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Allegiance, which is a miniseries meant to bridge the events of 2017’s Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi and the upcoming Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of The Skywalker.
The second issue of the four-issue miniseries recently came out, and it’s clear that tie-in comic is already respecting and paying tribute to Admiral Ackbar more than The Last Jedi ever did. The military commander is one of the most legendary characters in the Star Wars franchise, best known for his iconic line, “It’s a trap!” in 1983’s Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi.
However, that didn’t stop director Rian Johnson and the writers of The Last Jedi from killing him unceremoniously (and off-screen at that), without even sparing just a minute for a line or two to even acknowledge the death of such a beloved character in the movie’s 152-minute runtime.
Fans were understandably mad over this (and that’s not even mentioning The Last Jedi‘s other problematic faults). This sentiment was even echoed by Ackbar actors Tom Kane (see video below) and Mark Adair Rios, as well as The Last Jedi movie editor Bob Ducsay.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1cSrSuy0qE&w=560&h=315]
Disney and Lucasfilm have already started to remedy that mistake by paying a proper tribute and goodbye to Admiral Ackbar in the Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Allegiance miniseries.
In the second issue, General Leia Organa, Rey, Rose Tico, and C3-PO travels to late Admiral Ackbar’s home planet, Mon Cala, to ask for assistance in the war against the First Order. However, they are met with scorn and hostility by the Mon Calamari, who blame the Resistance for Admiral Ackbar’s death and have grown weary from decades of war with the Empire.
The only Mon Calamari who greeted them warmly was none other than Admiral Ackbar’s son, named Aftab. He brings General Leia Organa to a local shrine/monument in remembrance of the deceased Admiral Ackbar. She then recounts her last memories of Admiral Ackbar, saying that she wished they could have brought his body home.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of SkywalkerÂ is slated to release on 20 December 2019. In the meantime, re-watch the most recent trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n1T3HxHd7Y&w=560&h=315]


F1 2018 Is A Revved-Up Expansion of Last Year’s Entry

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Racing, F1 Simulator
Codemasters churn out yet another instalment in its line of annual F1 racing simulator games. F1 2018 has arrived, but does it improve on its predecessor in any way?
I’m glad to say that it probably does in many ways, but unfortunately most of these improvements would go over the heads of many layman gamers who aren’t hardcore fans of Formula One or racing simulators.
Hardcore Racers Need Only Apply
Let’s clear this out of the way first. There’s a major difference between racing simulators and racing games. The former specifically targets racing fans who are well-versed in all the details and mechanics of the sport involved, while the latter is for casual gamers who are just looking to enjoy the thrill of driving virtual cars without worrying about burning out their tires and having to change them in the middle of a fast and furious race.
I confess that I’m part of the latter and it’s clear that I’m not part of the game’s intended demographic of players, seeing as F1 2018 is primarily a racing simulator. As such, I reviewed this game from the perspective of a non-racing fan, as well as a gamer who attempted to play this game as if it is a racing game instead of a racing simulator.
Just like F1 2017, which I had the pleasure of reviewing last year, I had to experience F1 2018 with full assists during gameplay. There’s a bunch of settings, and I had no choice but to choose the lowest, which is labelled as “Beginner.” At that setting, the game automatically activated the brakes for me while driving, and it takes a lot of control from me as the player.
The problem is that only racing fans would have the slightest idea of what Traction Control, or any of the other buzzwords, mean. As someone who is used to playing more arcadey racing games like the Need for Speed or Burnout franchises, it is extremely difficult for me to get used to the game’s steep learning curve.

Improved Career Mode With RPG Elements
Despite the game’s inaccessibility for casual gamers, I’m sure that F1 racing fans would appreciate the authenticity that F1 2018 is striving for. Immersing themselves in the position of a professional F1 driver has never been this accurate to the real thing. For instance, I played the Career mode, which boasts of new features like a new contract system and team morale which acts as a big factor in your budding career as an F1 driver.
I chose Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport (Malaysia represent!) as my brand and my teammate was none other than Lewis Hamilton. Needless to say, I embarrassed myself during the early practice runs, where Hamilton achieved best laps while I was dead last.
One thing I did like in F1 2018‘s Career mode was influencing team morale and renegotiating my contract. Post-race interviews played like the real thing, as I was bombarded with questions from the media in press conferences. My answers could either affect my R&D team positively or negatively, and I enjoy having a certain degree of choice in any game I play. I could actually bad-mouth my team and blame them for “problems” with my car (although it was actually due to my atrocious driving skills).
It’s fun that I was given a choice to do so, which sorts of feel like an RPG element tacked into a racing game. But considering that it’s a game, no player would purposely sabotage their own car like that, which seems counter-productive.

Days of Thunder
One aspect that Codemasters have certainly outdone themselves in is the graphics in F1 2018. Dynamic weather options work extremely well in this game, just like they did in F1 2017 last year. Playing at different times of day will yield unique shadow and lighting effects. The cars in the game look like they’re painstakingly rendered, while the backgrounds often feel like an afterthought, considering how dull they are.
For my fellow Malaysians, I have some grave news indeed. I already pointed out last year that F1 2017 would be the last time that an F1 game will feature our prized Sepang International Circuit. The aforementioned circuit has been removed in F1 2018 since the Malaysian Grand Prix 2017 was to be our last such event, and that from then on the Sepang International Circuit will no longer hold Formula One races.
Still, we can be proud of the fact thatÂ our nation was historically the second Asian country after Japan to ever host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

As a conclusion, playing the game like a normal racing game proved to be an unsatisfying endeavour. F1 2018 is clearly geared towards the most dedicated F1 and racing simulator fans, leaving casual racing game fans like me struggling to understand the game’s mechanics. At the very least, Codemasters has certainly delivered another authentic F1 racing game with an improved Career mode and great graphics.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2QyfYupUGQ&w=560&h=315]
Pros

Stunning graphics and visual quality
Improved Career mode with welcome RPG elements
Authentic F1 experience for hardcore fans

Cons

The steep learning curve might prove inaccessible for casual racing game fans
Feels like an expansion of F1 2017

Final Rating: 70/100
F1 2018 was released for the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and iOS on August 24, 2018. An Android version of the game will also be available soon, although an official release date has yet to be announced.

Reviewed on the PlayStation 4 Pro and review code courtesy of Ubisoft (Singapore).


Silent Hill Returns, But As A Dead By Daylight Crossover

Asymmetrical multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight is getting a guest character courtesy of Konami: Silent Hill’s Pyramid Head.
This new Dead by Daylight crossover will feature Pyramid Head as a monster, Midwich Elementary School as a new map, and Cheryl Mason as a new survivor. I’ll say this: it’s a step-up from a pachinko game.

The official description is below,
“Midwich Elementary School is the scene of unspeakable horrors. Any sense of the innocence that once marked these halls is gone. In its place: stained walls, rusted chains, hanging cadavers and a sense that things have gone horribly wrong.”
…followed by a quote from Behaviour Interactive game director Mathieu CÃ´tÃ©:
“Silent Hill is such an iconic video game license and to add it to our legendary roster of horror is truly an honour. We hope players will have as much fun discovering this Chapter as we had in making it.”
The crossover will go live on 16th June. Are you excited, Silent Hill fans who are still waiting on for that PlayStation rumour to come true?


New Rick And Morty Season 5 Trailer Adds Killer Turkeys & More Voltron

A new Rick And Morty Season 5 trailer has teased even more of what to expect from the upcoming new season. It has everything from killer turkeys, a horny Namor/Aquaman parody character to our first full look at the show’s homage of the iconic Volton mecha.
However, just like the previously revealed trailer, the new one doesnâ€™t reveal much in terms of plot or the answer to any lingering questions from Season 4.

Rick And Morty Season 4 ended in May 2020 (which is just over a year ago), and weâ€™ve been waiting for more of their intergalactic shenanigans ever since. Thankfully, the wait for new seasons has been much shorter recently, compared to the two years between Seasons 3 and 4, as well as between Seasons 4 and 5.
Rick And Morty Season 5 is slated to premiere on 20 June 2021.
In the meantime, check out the new trailer below:


Beat Saber Now Lets You Toss A Coin To Your Witcher

Are you also suffering from the condition where you find yourself singing or humming to the tune of Toss A Coin To Your Witcher? You’re not alone. The Witcher Netflix series has taken over the world and now you can bring the fun over to Beat Saber.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOPZ_o2sR_8&w=560&h=315]
The song is now available in Beat Saber and as you can see the video above, it looks pretty dang fun. Not only can you groove to the beat of Jaskier’s voice but you’ll also role-play as a musical Witcher with your two swords. Instead of killing monsters, you’re just… killing it.
If you haven’t started watching The Witcher, you should. If you already have and now you’re itching to (re)play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, then you should read our beginner’s guide before you venture out on another adventure.


Hogwarts Legacy Will Feature Three Different Graphical Modes, Including VRR Support

Warner Bros. Games and Avalanche Software have revealed the graphical modes for Hogwarts Legacy that will be available for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game when it launches on 10 February 2023.
Players can choose between a Performance Mode that targets 1080P 60FPS and a Fidelity Mode that aims for 4K 30FPS. There will also be a graphical mode for players who have Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)-supported TVs or monitors.
This week also saw the reveal of several voice actors in Hogwarts Legacy, including Simon Pegg as Phineas Nigellus Black, the man regarded as the worst headmaster in the history of Hogwarts. Not only that but the PC spec requirements of the game were also revealed.
Hogwarts Legacy is launching for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam on 10 February 2023, followed by PS4 and Xbox One on 4 April 2023, and Nintendo Switch on 25 July 2023.


PUBG Cuts Ties With India’s Tencent: What’s Next?

Last week, the government of India officially banned over 118 Chinese apps, including (most notably) PUBG Mobile. Now, in an attempt to salvage the game’s presence in the country, South Korean developer PUBG Corporation has announced that Tencent will no longer be the publisher for the mobile battle royale game in India.
For the past several years, Tencent has been publishing and distributing PUBG Mobile in India, but now the developer will be taking over the publishing rights in the country. However, it’s currently unclear how this will affect their relationship with Tencent, considering that Tencent is still the publisher of PUBG Mobile in the rest of the world.
To make things even more complicated, Tencent is more than just a publisher. Several of its internal studios like LightSpeed & Quantum and Timi Studios are involved in the development of PUBG Mobile-related content.
In an official statement on their official website, PUBG Corporation said:
In light of recent developments, PUBG Corporation has made the decision to no longer authorize the PUBG MOBILE franchise to Tencent Games in India. Moving forward, PUBG Corporation will take on all publishing responsibilities within the country. As the company explores ways to provide its own PUBG experience for India in the near future, it is committed to doing so by sustaining a localized and healthy gameplay environment for its fans.
The conflict and tensions between India and China continue to escalate, negatively impacting almost everything, including the games industry. India was one of the top markets for PUBG Mobile, having over 40 million active users in the country, according to TechCrunch.
As of now, PUBG Mobile is still banned in India. It remains to be seen if PUBG Corporation’s move will ultimately change the situation.


Microsoft Raises Xbox Series X/S First-Party Games To US$70 In 2023

Microsoft Xbox is now joining Sony PlayStation and other game companies as they have announced that the price of first-party titles on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will be increased from US$60 to US$70 starting in 2023.
This will include upcoming 2023 games like Forza Motorsport, Redfall, and Starfield. However, console prices remain the same for now.
Speaking to IGN, a Microsoft spokesperson said:
“This price reflects the content, scale, and technical complexity of these titles. As with all games developed by our teams at Xbox, they will also be available with Game Pass the same day they launch.”
This is not a surprising move, considering that Xbox head Phil Spencer has previously warned that they wouldn’t be able to maintain their prices for long. Perhaps we’ll even see console and Xbox Game Pass prices increase in the future, but for now, that won’t be happening yet. Meanwhile, Sony has been selling first-party PS5 games for US$70 or RM300+ since its launch in 2020.


Malaysia-Made No Straight Roads Is Coming To Nintendo Switch & Xbox One

To the surprise of gamers everywhere, Malaysian developer Metronomik has announced that No Straight Roads is slated to release for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One, alongside the originally-announced platforms of PS4 and PC (exclusively on Epic Games Store) on 30 June 2020.
According to the official Twitter account for No Straight Roads, the Collector’s Edition of the game will also be available for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One, alongside the PS4.
However, the game is not yet ‘live’ on digital storefronts (except the PC on Epic Games Store) at the time of writing. On the Epic Games Store, itâ€™s priced at US$18.99 (or roughly RM82+).

No Straight Roads is coming to Nintendo Switch & Xbox One on June 30, the same day as PS4 & PC!
Here’s a 10 second sneak peek of our rockin’ new gameplay trailer! #NSR ðŸŽ¸
Watch the full trailer here: https://t.co/ZsUHP9HWTV pic.twitter.com/vbMF4yK4W9
â€” No Straight Roads ðŸŽ§ (@NoStraightRoads) May 14, 2020
The No Straight RoadsÂ Collectorâ€™s Edition, which includes the following additional exclusive items:

A 10-track vinyl record featuring an awesome selection of tracks from the gameâ€™s OST.
A 64-page The Art ofÂ No Straight RoadsÂ artbook featuring never-before-seen artwork.
A set of collectibleÂ No Straight RoadsÂ drumsticks, so you can jam out to NSRâ€™s music at home.

In addition, the Nintendo Switch version of No Straight Roads will feature an exclusive Assist Mode, which lets an additional local co-op player take control of the Elliegator, a secret assistant who helps players in battle by picking up items, transforming props & offering bonuses during gameplay.
No Straight RoadsÂ is an action-adventure game that mashes together rhythm-infused combat with a vibrant offbeat world and a killer soundtrack. Although music plays a central role in the game, itâ€™s not a conventional rhythm-action game. However, listening to the music can be critical to mastering the combat.
What this means is that enemies will attack according to the beat of the music. Players can then attack, parry, jump and move freely in third-person perspective while listening out for special cues to dodge enemy attacks.
The game pits two passionate indie rock band members, Mayday and Zuke, against EDM empire NSR, whose tight grip on Vinyl City is smothering the expression of other music genres. Playing as Mayday and Zuke, itâ€™s up to you to lead the musical revolution in Vinyl City and take the fight back against NSRâ€™s musical megastars.
Itâ€™s sort of like the plot ofÂ Trolls World Tour, but with rock being the good guys instead. According Wan Hazmer, Metronomik has been working with famous artists likeÂ James Landino, Andy Tunstall, Funk Fiction, Masahiro â€œGodspeedâ€ Aoki, Az Samad, Clyde, and the gameâ€™s own music director Falk Au Yeong.
In the meantime, check out the latest trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyePkulLBH0&w=560&h=315]
You can also check out our exclusive interviewsÂ with Wan Hazmer himself when we visited Metronomik last year in the two videos below, as he discusses what itâ€™s like to be a Malaysian-based studio making a major title like this, what he learned when he was working with Square Enix, and more.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCQ3EfvClM4&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhb9Vslhf78&w=560&h=315]


Discord Ups Live Streaming And Screen Share Limit Due To Covid-19

The disruption caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus has been incredibly noticeable, with numerous gaming events and life in general being heavily affected by it. In light of the latter, Discord has decided to do a little something to make things a bit easier for us.
For “the next few months”, Discord will be increasing their Go Live streaming and screen share limit from 10 to 50 people. “We know a lot of you around the world are currently using Discord to keep in touch and perform daily tasks from keeping up with classes to working from home,” they wrote. “We want to help make your world a little less stressful.”

An update from us regarding COVID-19: pic.twitter.com/gKUXvvsqrs
— Discord (@discord) March 11, 2020

Go Live is a feature that allows you to stream to others in a server voice channel. While I’m not sure how that’d help with work and classes, the buffed-up screen share function could definitely be useful. A Discord representative even told PC Gamer that some educators on Twitter have talked about using Discord as “a solution for remote teaching”.
The Covid-19 situation has shown how online platforms are being used to make up for the absence of live events and physical meetings. While Discord says that the increased numbers will be maintained “while it’s most critically needed” and notes that streams with large numbers of people might create issues, it’s nice to see them doing something good in these times.


Here’s What To Expect From Level Up KL 2019

Malaysiaâ€™s biggest gaming convention will be returning next month in less than two weeks.Â Level Up KL 2019Â is set to take place at the following:

Business Days: 6 to 8 November 2019 at CCEC Bangsar KL
Public Days: 9 to 10 November 2019 at KL Convention Center

The first three days of the Level Up KL 2019 conference will be closed to private business and professionals. However,Â the last two days will be open to the public, where attendees can discover the hottest companies from Southeast Asia showcasing the latest games and services, esports, concerts/performances, guest stars, and more.
Hereâ€™s what you can look forward to at the upcoming event during the two public days:
Esports

The Predator League 2020 Malaysia Dota 2 Finals will take place during both days of Level Up KL, where the top 16 teams across Malaysia battle it out for the right to representÂ the country to compete in the Asia Pacific Predator League 2020 in Manila, Philippines!
Concert

The Video Game Orchestra concert will be happening on 9 November 2019 at the KL Convention Centre, where attendees can experience the live performances and renditions of the original soundtracks and incredible game music such as Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Cytus, Sonic the Hedgehog, No Straight Roads, Re: Legend and more.
You can purchase the tickets here for either normal (RM108) or including Meet And Greet privileges (RM208).
Cosplay Competition

Level Up will be holding its first-ever Cosplay Competition at this year’s event. It’s open to everyone, and you can register here. Enter and you might win not only bragging rights but also cash prizes as well as an extra 50 percent bonus for those who cosplay as video game characters.

Try Out Featured Games
Attendees will be able to get hands-on experience by trying out featured local games, some of which have yet to be released.
No Straight Roads by Metronomik

No Straight Roads is a rythym-based music action-adventure platformer from Wan Hazmer’s Metronomik. It is slate to release for the PS4 and PC (Epic Games Store exclusive) in early 2020.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffd7WJ_ZJOo&w=560&h=315]
Re:Legend by Magnus Games Studio

Re:LegendÂ is a cross between an RPG with management and simulation mechanics Ã  la Square Enixâ€™sÂ Dragon Quest BuildersÂ franchise.Â Check out our review hereÂ to find out more about the game and how it actually feels to play. Itâ€™s currently available to purchase for RM49 onÂ Steam.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDDsMjjwmcg&w=560&h=315]
GigaBash by Passion Republic

GigaBash is an arena brawler featuring giant monsters (and heroes) battling it out in cities and exotic places around the world. Fight with up to four players in local competitive couch play, control unique giants inspired by classic monster films, and cause mayhem in fully destructible arenas.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13QjUXCOLcU&w=560&h=315]
Bake ‘N Switch by Streamline Games

Bake â€˜N Switch is a couch co-op and PVP game where strange, adorable dough creatures are sacrificed to Guardians of Dough. Work as a team (up to 4 players) or sabotage each other to punch, combine, and bake the doughs before time runs out.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfH6EutBryk&w=560&h=315]
Special Guests
Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios (7 November)

The folks who are responsible for the PC CRPG renaissance via the Divinity Original Sin games (and also on Baldur’s Gate 3) are being represented by their CEO in Malaysia. Hear CEO Swen Vincke talk about how to make lasting IP content, particularly their Divinity series.
Hideo Minaba, President of CyDesignation (10 November )

Gamers, especially JRPG fans, can look forward to meeting the video game director maestro in the flesh. Thatâ€™s right,Â the president of CyDesignation and legendary art director behind theÂ Granblue FantasyÂ franchise will be there at Level Up 2019 to regale you with his presence.
Minaba has also been involved in many major titles such as Shadowverse, Rage of Bahamut, NieR: Automata, multiple Final Fantasy titles (V, VI, and XII) and many more.
Wan Hazmer (9 and 10 November)

Local gamers will surely know who Wan Hazmer is. He’s an icon in the local games industry, having worked as a lead game designer on Final Fantasy XV at Square Enix in the past and founding his own games studio Metronomik with a game already on its way in the form of No Straight Roads.
Ying Tze (9 and 10 November)

She’s a famous cosplayer in Malaysia, on top of being a beloved game personality and streamer who has worked with the top brands of the game industry.
Josette (9 and 10 November)

She is known as Malaysia’s Alita with a split image akin to the popular character – Le Josette! Sheâ€™s the adorable yet fiery gaming personality and streamer, handpicked by Tier One and proudly representing ASUS ROG, HyperX and DIGI.
Rikka Blurhound (9 and 10 November)

She boasts over 8 years of cosplay competitor experience, as well as being competition judges for both local and foreign cosplay competitions since 2017. She was also a competitor in World Cosplay Summit Malaysia 2019.
Sally Dorasnow (9 and 10 November)

This sweet cosplayer is known for having at least half a dozen maid cafe appearances to her name, to the point that her popularity led to collaborations with Uniqlo for the launch of their Boku no Hero Academia and Pokemon tees earlier in 2019.
Sushii (9 and 10 November)

She has been cosplaying since 2013 and invited to numerous events all across Malaysia over the years.
Luna Lorrain

Having started her journey as an ACG performer in 2016, Luna has taken the Malaysian ACG scene by storm with her energetic performances and electrifying energy on stage.

Head on over to theÂ official website hereÂ to purchase tickets for Level Up KL 2019. TheÂ one-day ticket is priced at RM10, whileÂ the two-day ticket costs just RM20.
This yearâ€™s conference will see overÂ 50 speakers, more than 100 indie showcases, and more than 1000 expected attendees from the games industry, while the expo will featureÂ 2 esports tournaments, showcase more than 200 games, and more than 20,000 expected public attendees.


[Rumour] PS5 Digital Edition May Cost Lower Than US$400; Here’s Why

We’re only a couple of days away from Sony’s next PlayStation 5 event. Hopefully, the company will announce prices for its upcoming next-gen console instead of focusing purely on games; the wait is indeed killing a lot of folks.
And apparently PlayStation may be killing it business-wise. Bloomberg sources are stating the company has reduced its previous PS5 forecast by 4 million, down to around 11 million for this fiscal year (March 2021). Why? It’s because of the console’s chipset shortage due to the pandemic. Production ran as low as 50 percent, and if there aren’t enough CPUs to put inside the PS5 cases, there won’t be more PS5s in time for the holidays.
How does that tie in with the headline? Well, there are predictions from experts like Bloomberg analyst Masahiro Wakasugi that this chip shortage, and COVID-19 conditions worldwide, might make the company change up their pricing for the better. Price targeting for the PS5 will be as low as US$450 for the disc driver version and US$400 or less for the digital version. This is going in line with Xbox’s next-gen competitive pricing which is US$499 for the Series X and US$299 for the Series X version.
The next-gen console pricings are getting pretty aggressive, in other words. Which one will you be getting first: the PS5 or Xbox Series X? Let us know!


Hastr0 Retires Envy Brand For OpTic

GreenWall fans rejoice! OpTic’s Hector “HECZ” Rodrigues announced on his podcast with Envy Gaming’s Chief Gaming Officer Mike “Hastr0” Rufail that Envy is being absorbed into OpTic Gaming.
Previously under NRG Esports, OpTic Gaming was bought out by Envy Gaming as a part of a merger deal between the two conglomerates forging the Call of Duty League team OpTic Texas.

Envy is an extremely storied organisation that was founded in 2007 as a competitive Call of Duty team originally known as Team EnVyUs. The brand has since expanded into games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rocket League, League of Legends, Gears of War, Halo and VALORANT.
It’s pretty safe to say that Envy is one of the most established esports organisations in the world. And after over a decade of success, Hastr0 has finally decided to put the Envy name to rest.
This also solidifies the end of the “eClassico” a term used for whenever Envy and OpTic went head-to-head. These two organisations have one of the longest lasting rivalries in all of esports and although with the merger, there was still a possibility the Envy name being used as an Academy team name, this marks the nail in the coffin.
So Long #BoysInBlue
Since the merger in November 2021, a couple of Envy’s rosters have switched name over to the OpTic handle such as their Halo and VALORANT teams. But now all rosters previously under Envy will now compete under the OpTic name with the exception of the Dallas Fuel in the Overwatch League. The reasoning behind this is that Hastr0 firmly believes that the Dallas Fuel brand is just too “engrained in the Overwatch community.”
Hastr0 has mentioned the possible use of the Envy IP in the future but as of right now there are no plans as he believes that this is the right move to help the organisation “survive” and eliminate any confusion for potential investors or sponsors.
“When we merged our companies together we had this thought of taking both of our brands and do things with them and continue to do the same things we have always done but continue to grow them.
We still own the brand and could still potentially do something in the future if we want to but it just made so much more sense to me to put all of our resources into OpTic because that’s where we are really going to grow our business and that’s a fact.”
– Mike “Hastr0” Rufail, Chief Gaming Officer at OpTic Gaming
Hastr0 went onto Twitter to thank all the fans that have supported both him and the brand he had spearheaded throughout the years.

So, I am proud and elated for what @Envy will rest as. It is legendary and solidified in the esports history books and nothing can change that. Now, I'm going to lay these bricks every day for you and I hope you all guide me on the way. Let's get after it @OpTic. #GreenWall baby.
— Mike Rufail (@hastr0) June 27, 2022

ROCKET LEAGUE SKINS & CS:GO RETURN?
With Envy’s Rocket League team adopting the OpTic name, Hastr0 teased the possibility of Rocket League skins coming to the game.
“Those OpTic cars look fire too. The cars are going to be in the game and they look sick.”
– Mike “Hastr0” Rufail, Chief Gaming Officer at OpTic Gaming
A possible return to the CS:GO scene was also hinted.
“Taking the Optic brand into new territory is something we are looking at and maybe potentially taking some of these other games like Counterstrike. we both miss it.”
– Mike “Hastr0” Rufail, Chief Gaming Officer at OpTic Gaming
Envy was there first out of the two organisations to dip their toes into other titles such as CS:GO all the way back in 2015 when they acquired French powerhouse Team LDLC. They would later disband in 2021. OpTic on the other hand had a very short stint in CS:GO, originally starting with a North American roster, and replacing them with a Danish roster until they disbanded in 2019.


[Rumour] Borderlands 3 Vault Hunters May Be Getting A Fourth Skill Tree

There are rumours and going-ons that Borderlands 3 may be receiving a fourth skill tree. Turns out that it may be arriving pretty soon.
According to dataminer DelusionPhantom and chancehugs, they seem to have found assets that lead up to new skill trees for each of the Vault Hunters. If you click on those links and Imgur links, the new skills are in purple colour.
Here’s the breakdown:
Fl4k: His new action skill is called Gravity Trap. The pet that comes with this tree is a Loader Bot. One of the skills in this tree is an attack command override move that allows them to summon all their pets to the field.
Moze: Her new action skill is called the Iron Cub, which is a mini-version of the Iron Bear that acts like a drone rather than a mech she rides in. Think of it as a longer-lasting Auto Bear that uses her Action Skill anointments easily.
Zane: His new skill is a Shoulder Cannon, a one-time use skill that acts like Fl4k’s Rakk Attack skill. This means he can utilize Action Skill End anointments.
Amara: Her new skill is called Phasetrance. Unfortunately, little is uncovered and revealed about this new ability. Our guess is that it will open up a Radiation elemental option.
These sounds more in line with what the Borderlands 3 directors wanted to do instead of creating new Vault Hunters. Previously, they’ve mentioned that in past titles, no one used the additional Vault Hunters, so this is their way of changing things up. Personally, these new action skills can help open up new avenues for innovative builds, provided they’re true.
There’s no set date for these new action skills and fourth skill tree at this point in time. If you want to find out more about the state of Borderlands 3, check out the video below.


[Report] Apex Legends Will Get A Huge Update Soon

The birds are singing, the rivers are flowing, and the Apex Legends dataminers continue to find more stuff hidden within the game’s files. Recent leaks are suggesting that a big update is coming to the game very soon because there might a ton of new weapons and items being introduced into the game.
According to a report by Dexerto, this new batch of leaked content contains a collection of possible upcoming weapons, equipment, and even a… spider?

We’ve seen the gigantic walkers and the dragon-like flyers but now spiders might be making their way into the game. The datamined model of the spider shows that it has six legs and six spikes coming out of its head which might suggest that it could be an enemy type that will attack players. Other leaks suggest that it will even have the ability to spit out a toxic mist.

Another interesting find is the ‘proximity detonator’ which has “C4” clearly written on its model. Could it be that we’re finally getting planted explosives in Apex Legends and be able to bamboozle Octane players into running towards their own deaths? I sure hope so because that would be a great addition to the game.

There’s even a file labeled ‘plasma turret’. So far, there’s never been a player-controlled turret put into Apex Legends and I honestly don’t think they have ever hinted at adding those into the game but this is a leak we’re talking about so there’s a high chance it won’t become a thing but if it does, it will definitely change the way the game is played.
These are definitely some interesting finds with some of them hinting at big changes to the gameplay. However, leaks are meant to be taken with a barrel of salt and skepticism so you Octane players don’t have to worry too much about running into any C4 explosives. Yet.
Check out other cool stuff found in the leaks:
Bolo Sword
Caber Shot (Thrown)
Combat Knife
Data Knife
Drone Attack
Drone Frag
Fireteam Drop Pod
Grenade Indicator / Frag Sentry
Grunt Helmet
Loot Compass
Pilot Helmet
Projectile Rocket Launcher
Screwdriver (for Octane?)
Sentry Shield
Tablet Mini
Worker Drone

All images are from Reddit user @sradgirl555.


Capcom Has Locked Down Street Fighter 5’s New Characters

Capcom has officially announced that its new additions to Street Fighter 5 are confirmed and already been decided.
The news came out recently on the game’s official website (via EventHubs), stating that Season 5 will feature 5 (V) new characters that are already decided and are currently being developed. The company will share more information about the upcoming content during the summer.
So who might pop up in the final season of Street Fighter 5? Maybe these guys will, based on the polls and fan requests:


Ragnarok Origin Adds New Guild League & Social Gameplay Features

Ragnarok Origin, a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by South Korean developer Gravity, has announced the much-anticipated launch of their dynamic Guild League features.
Guilds have quickly become the most sought-after feature in Ragnarok Origin, providing an immersive and engaging platform for players to connect and forge lasting friendships. Recognizing the significance of this pivotal aspect, Gravity has poured its expertise into designing an unparalleled Guild gameplay experience. Boasting a plethora of gameplay options tailored to meet players’ diverse demands, the new Guild features will help Ragnarok Origin guilds to redefine social interaction within the game.
Guild features have been designed to enhance guild play and specifically tailored to meet the preferences and differing play styles of individual players including catering to casual, Player versus Environment (PVE) and Player versus Player (PVP) oriented players. Key elements include:
Guild Feasts – held every night at 10 pm (GMT+8), the Guild Feast serves as a delightful gathering where guild members can engage in various enjoyable social activities to build camaraderie. These include:

Cooking contests
Cream battles
Mysterious quests

All of these provide various rewards and titles to participating guild members and are intended to provide guilds with a fantastic opportunity to come together, relax, and bond after a hard day of adventuring.
Space-Time Anomaly
This event, held every Tuesday and Saturday at 10.30 pm (GMT+8), is designed to appeal to PVE-oriented players. The gameplay consists of individual players challenging boss creatures with four of their pets. Each challenge generates a score based on the performance of the player and their pets versus.
At the end of the event, individual rewards are distributed to players based on their score and the ranking they achieved within the guild but, in addition, more prizes are awarded based on the total guild score.
This event incentivizes all members of the guild to participate and help each other do well for the greater good of the Guild and themselves. Guild masters will need to motivate their members and will also have access to various buffs which, used strategically, can assist guild members to achieve better scores, thus benefiting the entire guild.
Guild Expedition
This guild event has been designed to appeal to PvP-oriented players seeking more excitement and thrills and happens every Thursday and Sunday at 10.30 pm (GMT+8). The Guild Expedition features five different maps, each corresponding to a different boss (MVP) offering varying rewards. This allows guilds to choose which boss to attack based on their needs.
In the event, guilds will be competing directly against one another to do the most damage to the MVP, but to add some complexity and strategy to the competition, the map also spawns a clone of the MVP – which is identical to the real MVP in every way, except that the clone possesses less HP. Guilds will need to scout and attack both the MVP and its clone to ascertain which one should be the primary target, all the while fending off players from a rival guild which will be trying to do the same thing.
Various other elements need to be factored in, including the ability of guild masters to purchase and apply buffs to their members, including increasing damage done, reducing damage taken, and increasing healing received. The teams that apply the smartest combination of strategy and tactics will be the most successful and rewarded.
Guilds will be ranked based on their achievements in the various guild events. In addition to the prizes outlined for each event, there will be other prestigious awards on offer including the Odin Cup, Thor Cup, Loki Cup, and Valkyrie Cup.
For detailed game guides and exclusive updates, eager players are encouraged to stay tuned to the official Ragnarok Origin website. Stay connected and join the vibrant discussions by following us on Facebook and joining our Discord community.
Facebook SEA?https://bit.ly/3Jg9bsC
Discord: https://bit.ly/43ZYd2k
Apple Store Google Play: https://bit.ly/3qLl7Mz


FIFA 23 Team Of The Year Nominees Announced

EA SPORTS has released the official list of nominees for the coveted Team of the Year (TOTY). The shortlist includes the best players from across the globe, with fans having their say on who deserves a spot in the prestigious TOTY XI.
The shortlist includes a variety of players across football, including familiar names like Ballon D’or winners Luka Modri?, Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi, while also featuring young stars such as Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Aurelien Tchouameni. Players who also emerged as stars for their country in the 2022 World Cup have found their way onto the list, including standout Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and CDM Sofyan Amrabat.
Fans can see more information on TOTY here, as well as vote for their favourite teams at https://www.ea.com/toty
Voting begins on 11 January 2023 at 12am GMT+8 and closes Tuesday, 17 January 2023 at 4pm GMT+8. You can take the time to evaluate who you believe is worthy of making the final TOTY roster, which will be unveiled on Thursday, 19 January 2023.
FIFA 23 is developed by EA Vancouver and EA Romania and is available worldwide on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Team of the Year will also come to FIFA Mobile beginning on 2 February 2023.
Full List of TOTY Nominees:

GOALKEEPERS

Thibaut Courtois
Gregor Kobel
Mike Maignan
Alisson

Ederson
Wojciech Szcz?sny
Kevin Trapp
Yassine Bounou
Hugo Lloris

Emilino Martínez

DEFENDERS

Marcos Acuña
Marquinhos
Cristiano Biraghi

João Cancelo
Jonathan Clauss
Thiago Silva
Alphonso Davies
Jeremie Frimpong

Éder Militão
Rúben Dias
Grimaldo
Achraf Hakimi
Theo Hernández

Reece James
Kalidou Koulibaly
Nicolás Otamendi
Gleison Bremer
Niklas Süle

Fikayo Tomori
Kieran Trippier
Virgil van Dijk
Joško Gvardiol
Jules Koundé

Cristian Romero
Dayot Upamecano

MIDFIELDERS

Nicolò Barella
Jude Bellingham

Steven Berghuis
Marcelo Brozovi?
Bernardo Silva
Kevin De Bruyne
Moussa Diaby

Nabil Fekir
Seko Fofana
Pedri
Vincenzo Grifo
Rodri

Daichi Kamada
Joshua Kimmich
Filip Kosti?
Toni Kroos
Merino

Sergej Milinkovi?-Savi?
Luka Modri?
Martin Ødegaard
Parejo
Lorenzo Pellegrini

Declan Rice
Bukayo Saka
Aurélien Tchouaméni
Sandro Tonali
Federico Valverde

Casemiro
Sofyan Amrabat
Bruno Fernandes
Ritsu Doan
Enzo Fernández

Ivan Periši?
Adrian Rabiot

ATTACKER

Iago Aspas
Wissam Ben Yedder

Karim Benzema
Rafael Leão
Neymar Jr.
Vinicius Jr.
Ousmane Dembélé

João Félix
Gabriel Jesus
Phil Foden
Cody Gakpo
Erling Haaland

Borja Iglesias
Ciro Immobile
Harry Kane
Randal Kolo Muani
Dejan Kulusevski

Robert Lewandowski
Sadio Mané
Lautaro Martínez
Kylian Mbappé
Lionel Messi

Christopher Nkunku
Darwin Núñez
Victor Osimhen
Mohammed Salah
Heung Min Son

Martin Terrier
Dušan Vlahovi?
Olivier Giroud
Antoine Griezmann


Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 8 Will Be Its Last

Sorry, Brooklyn Nine-Nine fans.
NBC has announced that they have postponed the return of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and confirmed that the upcoming Season 8 will be the sitcom’s final one.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 8 was originally slated to premiere in 2020, but showrunner Dan Goor decided to scrap the season and write new episodes in light of George Floyd’s death by police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Now it’s been revealed that Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 8 will only have 10 episodes and is slated to premiere sometime in 2022 on the streaming service Peacock. It’s currently unclear if all the cast members will be returning for the final season, but for now, we should expect the likes of Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Joel McKinnon Miller and Dirk Blocker.
In a statement (via Deadline), Goor said:
“IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m so thankful to NBC and Universal Television for allowing us to give these characters and our fans the ending they deserve.
When Mike Schur and I first pitched the pilot episode to Andy [Samberg], he said, Ã¢â‚¬ËœIÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m in, but I think the only way to tell this story is over exactly 153 episodes,Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ which was crazy because that was exactly the number Mike and I had envisioned.”
I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with this amazing cast and crew for eight seasons.
They are not only among the most talented people in the business, they are all good human beings who have become a family.
But most of all, I feel lucky that we have had the best fans in the world. Fans who literally saved us from cancellation.
Fans who fill us with joy.
Ending the show was a difficult decision, but ultimately, we felt it was the best way to honor the characters, the story and our viewers.
I know some people will be disappointed itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s ending so soon, but honestly, IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m grateful it lasted this long.


No Straight Roads Delayed To “Later In The Summer”

One of this year’s most-anticipated indie-developed action titles No Straight Roads is getting delayed, much to the disappointment of many here in sunny ol’ Malaysia.
The Metronomik-developed title, previously scheduled for 30th June, will only be available “later in the summer” for PC (via Epic Games), PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The main culprit? Who else: COVID-19 pandemic and logistic issues that follow. The game’s new release date will be announced in the near future.
Here’s the full announcement video from game director Wan Hazmer (followed by a transcript):
https://www.facebook.com/NoStraightRoads/posts/260114732018317?__cft__[0]=AZXcb15_l7hUGnVk9lN55H1-AZLb4a4IqOI-TtwoM8uh0NHly8bY4-6q-XPTdeZqehU2IEQc37s_M_zzvxPpvM0FKIHKHaySYRHACpm9EAROCdq7CWoyJUiDT72WwrjbskSmiw2XPEzL_AVYnJyaXsku2q0JyljVu9E_WBN_MCkf1_SBERGC44bHaUj4wFD59AExHZJS3wkkgeuXIquZXjStRRIeV3cLb6LQCL20YjeB-uehHXA_OCEwSC4bDM6quWA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-y-R

“Like you, we were very excited for the June 30 release ofÂ No Straight Roads, especially now that we were able to tell everyone thatÂ we are releasing the game on major platforms. However, based on recent information, due to the complications that arose from the global pandemic that weâ€™re facing today, weâ€™ve had to make the heartbreaking decision to delay the release of the game until later in the summer.
We know that is going to disappoint a lot of you who canâ€™t wait to play the game next month. However, we are trying our best to make the delay short. And we are trying our best to get the game in your hands as soon as possible. Now you will see the release date listed at retailer sites as of August 31, but that is just a placeholder date. Once we have some information on the release date, then we will let you know immediately.
From all of us at Metronomik, we thank you for your patience and support. We saw your reactions to our recent trailers, and you are fantasticâ€”your fan art, your tweets, your YouTube commentsâ€”we value every one of them. Which is why I find this news to be very unfortunate. So Iâ€™m terribly sorry for this delay. We canâ€™t wait for you to play the game later this summer, but until then stay safe and healthy. Thank you.
â€”Wan Hazmer, Game Director“

This does suck, and it doesn’t help that COVID-19 is putting a damper on a lot of other developer and game release plans. Still, we do hope this game eventually comes out in 2020 to give this year in game releases that patented “Malaysian Sensation” touch.
In the meantime, check out our interview with Metronomik below.


Overwatch 2 Beta PvP Tier List: The Best Heroes In The Current Build

The Overwatch 2 beta is available to play right now, provided you can get in. And already we have some winners and losers in the game’s tier list.
We’ve played a lot of games the past few days and also checked out a ton of opinions from pro players and the Twitter space. Based on a lot of feedback and analysis, here is the tier list so far. Just keep in mind that all this will change in the final version of the game, which is lord-knows-when, so enjoy the power curve while you can.
If you need a breakdown on character changes, head here.
DPS/Damage Heroes
S Tier: Soldier 76, Genji

The easiest and beginner-friendly character of Overwatch is clearly outperforming in the DPS role in part 2. Soldier 76 deals great damage, can self-heal, and moves pretty fast thanks to the DPS role buffs, meaning you can flank Tanks and Support easily with this guy.
Genji is top tier for sure, but requires expert play like in the first game. He’s best at the hit-and-run playstyle while going in for the kill with his Ultimate. The DPS role speed buff really, REALLY helps Genji players be even more of a hazard to deal with than before.
A Tier: Mei, Sombra, Tracer, Widowmaker
Mei and the rest have some reworks that are welcome. While Mei cannot freeze, her slow effect with her Cryo weapons are applied instantaneously, which is a boon when dealing with, well, any hero within range.
Sombra is a bigger threat than before since her invisibility doesn’t really go away, her Hack can reveal enemies, and her Ultimate deals damage. Tracer has high survivability and mobility, but requires her to push forward and be more in the frontlines unlike someone like Soldier 76.
Widowmaker is the ultimate backseat DPS; just find a nice spot to camp at and fire away. See a Tank? Blast away. Just don’t miss the headshots.
B Tier: Sojourn, Hanzo, Reaper, Ash, Torbjorn, Cassidy
Sojourn, the face of Overwatch 2, really needs the buffs from Soldier 76 and other DPS characters above her. While it’s great that she has a LMB/RMB alternating fire, savvy players are better off just using Widowmaker for game-breaking hitscan shots.
The rest of DPS heroes are fine and aren’t affected too much by the DPS passive buffs.
C Tier: Echo, Junkrat, Pharah, Bastion, Symmetra
These characters are relegated to niche picks: if you’re comfortable with them, you’ll be fine. However, the S to B Tier characters can be used to counterpick them depending on their roles.
Tank Heroes
S Tier: Orisa

Orisa’s rework is really the best she has experienced. Her more offensive capabilities make her push forward and feel more like a proper Tank than even Reinhardt. Don’t act too shocked if you see an enemy team winning games or giving your team a hard time with a proper Orisa, Javelin Pushbacks, random Spear hitscan shots, and all.
A Tier: Sigma, Doomfist, DVa
While it’s great that Sigma and DVa are enjoying their Tank role buffs and kits being mostly untouched, Doomfist is benefiting from his new role. You can still play him as a DPS, sort of; while not really having the same damage output, the additional health and power block basically makes him a bigger threat than usual.
B Tier: Winston, Wrecking Ball, Reinhardt, Zarya
Doomfist basically replaces Winston. The rest of the cast are solid especially if you’re familiar with how they play like Reinhardt and Zarya.
C Tier: Roadhog
Poor Roadhog, relegated to the bottom while every other Tank gets a rework or buff that complements their kit and abilities.
Support Heroes
S Tier: Lucio, Moira, Brigitte

The Support passive abilities have really bumped up a few heroes in the high tier spot. Lucio and Moira benefit from this greatly, and their healing/damage playstyles do complement this. Lucio can do hit-and-runs when needed, then come back quick to the party for some healing. He has high survivability and mobility.
Moira’s healing/damage kit and Ultimate can deal with DPS heroes who come in too close to the team. She also triggers the Support passive when she’s in Fade, so that’s always a plus.
Brigitte is the beta’s sleeper pick because her Support passive can trigger with her barrier; apparently this counts as being out of combat, so she regenerates health and armour. In a 1v1 situation, she can hold her own with her buffs to Shield Bash, provided she stays in the backline. Just think of her as a way to deal with flanking DPS heroes who are trying to pick off your supports.
A Tier: Mercy, Ana
Mercy has Resurrection, which is useful for Tanks in the game since they’re more effective at pushing forward now. Ana is still a solid pick though you’ll need to be good with your aim and your grenade throws as she’s considered an expert character to use, balancing between healing and combat duties.
B Tier: Baptiste, Zenyatta
These two are niche picks: if you’re comfortable with them in part 1, you should have no issues with them in part 2. Just keep in mind that the rest of the Supports are benefitting more from the reworks and buffs than these two.


PlayStation Asia Plus Members Will Get These Free Games This May

May is coming soon, and with it are new PlayStation games you can play for free.Â Here are the PlayStation Plus free monthly games for Southeast Asian members this May 2021.
Wreckfest (PS5)

If you miss destruction-heavy racing games like the FlatOut and Destruction Derby series, this multiplayer racing game will sate that mechanical bloodlust. As far as niche racing games go, it’s one of the better ones since it has great physics and controls, a good amount of modes, and is a blast with multiple people.
Battlefield V (PS4)

Probably one of the more divisive Battlefield games that came out during launch. Hopefully having the game free for PS4 and PS5 shooter fans means it’ll get more players jumping on board, especially with news of new Battlefield games being announced later in 2021.
Coffee Talk (PS4)

One of our favourite visual novels of 2020 is out for free on PS4 for PS Plus members. Features an enriching storyline of a coffee barista listening to many stories from interesting patrons in a fantasy-slash-modern world, as well as an amazing soundtrack. Plus, the game’s gorgeous 2D sprite work will stand the test the time.


Here’s Your First Look at Wargaming’s ARPG Pagan Online Gameplay

Publisher Wargaming and developer Mad Head Games have revealed our first glimpse of the gameplay in its upcoming action RPG hack-and-slash PC game, Pagan Online.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaR9nyIo8rc&w=560&h=315]
It certainly looks a lot like a cross between ARPGs like Diablo and MOBAs like Dota 2. The three characters unleashing mayhem and flashy special abilities in the Pagan OnlineÂ gameplay teaser trailer are Anya, Istok, and Marco. Anya is the female character with the whip while Istok is the huge tanky guy with the enormous hammer. Marco is the one wielding an ax as his weapon of choice.
â€œWith Pagan Online weâ€™ve worked hard to deliver a fast-paced and intense combat system thatâ€™s easy to pick up but difficult to master,â€ said Uros Banjesevic, Co-founder and Creative Director of Mad Head Games. â€œWe took inspiration from MOBAs to create unique characters with specific skills and specialties, and when you put them into this type of combat system you end up with a family of fighters that do different things well in different scenarios.â€
Additionally, there will also be a focus on collecting loot, as well as experimentation with different combinations of skill boosts and buffs to accommodate your unique playstyle. Pagan OnlineÂ also features multiple game modes and difficulties, as well as a lengthy single-player mode which will be constantly updated with episodic content expansions called â€œBattle Chaptersâ€.
I appreciate the fact that the UI seems to be minimalist in nature, making the screen cleaner and easier on the eyes, especially with all the frantic action onscreen. The mini-map is also tucked in the top-right corner of the screen, without being obstructive or annoyingly placed.
Sign up to participate in the pre-launch tests ‘Trials’ by heading over to the official website here.


SingTel & Razer To Host Giant New SEA Esports Tournament With US$300k Prize Pool

Major Singapore telecommunications company SingTel and peripheral company Razer -that sometimes dub itself a Singaporean company when needed- are joining forces with a bunch of others to host a new Southeast Asian Esports tournament. It’s called the PvP Esports Championship and it will be featuring the following games:

Dota 2

Arena of Valor

Hearthstone

The tournament will be held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from 5 to 7 October, with a prize pool of US$300,000.Â Razer will be supplying the hardware for the tournament as well as S$100,000 worth of prizes separate from the pool. Other partners in this bold new venture include MET, Blizzard, Garena, Secret Lab, Aftershock, and the Singapore Tourism Board. I should also mention that Blizzard will be sponsoring the prize pool for the Hearthstone event, adding more money to the already-lucrative US$300k+.
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1487729227998154/
About The Selection Of Games…
I guess many of you are wondering about a few things? Where’s Mobile Legends, arguably the biggest mobile MOBA in Southeast Asia? Where is Overwatch? Where is game X and Y that has huge competitive value? The answer is simple: this is the first-ever tournament they’re doing and SingTel believes that the three games are a “good start”.
The tournament series is not a one-off affair, meaning that the game roster may change with the next tournament and the one after that. SingTel claims that this will be the first “multi-regional” and “multi-partner” esports event set in Singapore and they plan to fill up the location with a 1,000+ people per day tuning in physically.
We might disagree with that statement since Southeast Asia Major did it first with the “multi-regional” and “multi-partner” angle from all across the world – I know this because I was there. But still, it’s been aeons since Singapore had anything this multi-layered for esports that’s being backed up by folks like Razer, Garena, and Blizzard. Guess Razer’s for something other than upmarking their gaming peripherals after all.


PlayStation Stars Loyalty Program Is Now Available In Asia

The PlayStation Stars rewards program is now available in Asia (including Malaysia) as of 29 September 2022. It will launch on 5 October 2022 in North and South America, and on 13 October 2022 in Europe and Australia. It was originally announced back in July 2022.
The full PlayStation Stars experience will be accessible through PlayStation App on iOS and Android. Users can also join the program via PlayStation.com. It will be expanded to console devices in the future.
According to PlayStation Blog, PlayStation Stars is free to join. You’ll only need to have an adult account for PlayStation Network and accept the program’s Terms of Service. While you will earn certain benefits for being a PlayStation Plus member, a PlayStation Plus membership is not required to join PlayStation Stars. The full PlayStation Stars experience is accessible through the PlayStation App on iOS and Android. You can also join PlayStation Stars via playstation.com.
With PlayStation Stars, you earn rewards by completing a variety of campaigns and activities. The “Monthly Check-In” campaign simply requires you to play any game to receive a reward. Other campaigns will ask you to earn specific trophies, or even be among one of the first players to platinum a blockbuster title in their country/region. One of our first campaigns is called “Hit Play/1994” where members who correctly launch games that match song-based clues receive a special collectible.
There are two types of rewards – loyalty points and digital collectibles. Points can be redeemed in a catalogue that may include PSN wallet funds, exclusive digital collectibles and select PlayStation Store products. As an additional benefit, PlayStation Plus members enrolled in PlayStation Stars automatically earn points for purchases on PlayStation Store.
Digital collectibles are beautifully rendered, digital representations of things that PlayStation fans enjoy, including figurines of beloved and iconic characters from games and other forms of entertainment, as well as cherished devices that tap into Sony’s history of innovation. There will be new collectibles to earn regularly, ultra-rare collectibles to strive for, or something surprising to collect just for fun.
The digital collectibles you earn or acquire can be arranged on a display case within the PlayStation App.  You can also set the display case to be viewed by others, if you choose.
At launch, by simply joining, all members will receive the Star Gazer Telescope. There will also be Punto the gondolier from Ape Escape 2, PocketStation, Toro and Kuro celebrating, and more, as some of the first digital collectables for members to earn or acquire.
Your points balance can be found on PlayStation App under your Player Profile / PlayStation Stars Points History. Points can be used to redeem items in your Rewards Catalog, which may include digital collectibles, games, or digital PSN wallet funds. To redeem your points, go to PlayStation App > Player Profile > Playstation Stars > Rewards Catalog.
A PlayStation Plus membership is not required to join PlayStation Stars. However, as a PlayStation Plus member, if you join PlayStation Stars you can earn points for purchases on PlayStation Store, including each subscription payment for your PlayStation Plus membership. Please note PSN wallet top ups are not eligible for earning PlayStation Stars points.
PlayStation Stars will have four status levels that reflect the milestones you reach.  They are based on the number of non-common trophies earned for gameplay as well as full game purchases from the PlayStation Store. The higher your level is, the more perks and benefits you can get.


PlayStation Pats Themselves On The Back With Latest God Of War Video

Sony Santa Monica‘s phenomenal God of War was released on 20 April 2019 and went on to garner universal critical acclaim. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the PS4 exclusive, PlayStation recently released a video to thank everything who tagged along on Kratos and Atreus’ journey.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_MuTMcSaGY&w=560&h=315]
As a token of their appreciation, Sony Santa Monica has released a new God of War dynamic theme featuring Kratos and Atreus on a boat overlooking Jormungandr in the serene Lake of Nine. While that is already available on the PlayStation Store today, a new set of PS4 God of War avatars will be made available on 17 April 2019.

Both of these gifts by the folks at Sony Santa Monica will be free to every PS4 user regardless of whether they own God of War or not. The game has since won many Game of the Year awards; most recently at the Game Developers Choice (GDC) awards and the Independent Games Festival (IGF) awards.