Micro-Transactions, Major Implications

Back before Facebook became oversaturated with political arguments and scam pages, people actually played games there. Social network games, they were called. Even if you didn’t play Farmville or Mafia Wars, you’d still see your friends posting about them daily, if not hourly.
The mechanics of these games were simple and all you’d need was a browser running the latest Adobe Flash. The accessibility meant that as more people joined Facebook, more people would play those games.
The games were pretty straightforward. Players were given an open-ended task that encouraged self-created goals like build the biggest farm you can or be the most notorious mafia boss. But you were often limited by two types of resources, one that represented currency and another being some form of “energy”.
Use coins to buy seeds for your farm and plant those seeds using energy. Half a day later, you harvest your crops, get more coins and thus begins your addiction to social network games.
The true evil lies in the “social network” aspect of these games. The reason why you see your friends posting about these games isn’t just to beg for more coins and energy but to also say “hey look at my amazing virtual empire”. As you sit there and wonder how to one-up your friends who have 20 more virtual cows than you do, you’re greeted by a pop-up. “With just RM3.99, you can get 5,000 coins and 100 energy! Expand your farm!”
The business model was simple. Give players just enough for them to build a bit of progress but not to the point that they reach those self-created goals too quickly. You’re always offered two options. Wait for more free energy that the game gives you every 12 hours or so, or fork out a bit of cash to get those resources right now. “A bit” is the selling point. If at least 10% of the millions-sized player base paid a bit of their money, it would already result in a lot of revenue.
As how Dr. House might say in his TV show: “There, that’s the tumour.”
How It All Went Wrong

To put it succinctly, time is money and these developers propose that you can save a lot of time by paying a bit of money. In the formula of a social network game, this isn’t all too troubling. We’re logged in day in and day out on these social media platforms. Our primary motivation is to socialise. Perhaps I’m wrong but I’d assume that most people don’t just create Facebook accounts to play Farmville.
This means that when we run out of the resources required to keep playing those games, we go back to liking each others’ posts and sharing new pictures. So you don’t wanna pay for more gold and energy? No problem, just go and socialise for a few hours.
This is probably why those games had millions and millions of players that were made up of people who didn’t usually play games. The offer to buy in-game resources never seemed too pushy or appeared to be vital for enjoyment because waiting for those resources wasn’t the primary alternative.
Hell, some games encouraged you to convince your friends to join as new players and if you succeeded in doing so, you’d be rewarded with resources. The idea was that these were just time-wasters that enhanced your social media experience, not the other way around.

One extremely important detail I might have glossed over: these games are completely free.

You don’t need to pay a single cent to start building your crime empire in Mafia Wars. So the developers usually make money through two methods: selling you time-savers and showing you ads. This helps reinforce that notion of “it’s free so of course I shouldn’t expect much” and that’s a pretty acceptable sentiment for games designed with social media in mind. And well, beggars can’t be choosers.
Reading all this as someone who plays games on PC and consoles, you might be thinking “this definitely cannot and should not be applied in actual video games” but I’m pretty sure you already know that it is definitely being applied in actual video games and will continue to be applied in future video games.
Even some single players gamesÂ have apparently been designed to have deliberately tedious and boring segments so that the pay-to-save-time microtransactions look appealing.
Single-Player Transactions?

We play games because games are fun. Not just fun during the core gameplay segments but fun the whole way through. The recently released Spider-Man is a good example of a really fun game. Before you have fun punching bad guys, you’re having fun swinging to where the bad guys are. There’s no feeling of “oh man, I wish I could skip the swinging”.
The same can’t be said for another recently released game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The game is full of both fun and not-so-fun segments like grinding for experience and gear that’s needed to make you capable enough to complete the main missions.
It’s pretty well known at this point that the game feels deliberately designed to have a tedious amount of grindingÂ and surprise surprise, the game has time-savers that could be bought using real money. By the way, they’re literally called Time Savers in the game menu. Very subtle.
The truth is that this games-as-a-service business model is working out very very well for big name publishers. From 2012 to 2018, Activision Blizzard saw its market value grow from $10 billion to more than $60 billion. In the same time span, EA’s value grew from $4 billion to $33 billion. Combined, that’s a total growth of almost $80 billion. Don’t try to comprehend that amount of money, our brains simply aren’t made for it.
In capitalism, the only good colour is green. The black ink that signifies no growth but also no loss is still something to be avoided. Stagnation means you’re not growing and if you’re not growing, you’re not making more money than you did last time which is unacceptable!
If games-as-a-service is making a lot of money, then the logical conclusion is to keep enhancing that business model. Don’t know if you noticed but EA hasn’t really made a proper single player Star Wars game. No points for guessing why.
The future doesn’t look good. Publishers will do whatever they can to increase the significance of in-game purchases using real money. Games will be designed to be purposely boring, tedious, and even time-wasting so that those purchases are easier to justify. For multiplayer games, it might be even worse.
We’re already seeing pay-to-win models in AAA games like Destiny and Battlefront. It’s entirely possible to meet another player with better gear than you but who’s just as inexperienced if not even more so.
The Future Looks Bling, I Mean Bleak

When Bioware’s upcoming title Anthem was announced at E3 last year, it was to be “the start of a 10-year journey”. I’m not exactly sure what that means but I’m confident enough to assume that it implies that the publishers and developers want the game to keep making money for years and years after its release. I vaguely remember Destiny having the same ambition and well, that worked out perfectly.
The bottom line is that the giants of the gaming industry are just following the scent of money. There’s no need to say that greed will be the death of gaming because this is capitalism and in capitalism, “greedisgood” (cheat activated). Well, it’s definitely good for the publishers and sometimes, the developers too (Observe what happens to studios bought by EA) but for us, the players?
Only time, and money, will tell.


Cyberpunk 2077 Gets Delayed… Yet Again

CD Projekt Red has announced that Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed for the umpteenth time; it is now slated to release for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Google Stadia on 10 December 2020.
That’s about a month or so after its previous release date of 19 November 2020. The developer cites problems arising from having to prepare over apparently nine different versions of the game while working from home.
The developer also recently announced that Cyberpunk 2077 has gone gold, which means that the game is essentially done and ready to be distributed into physical discs. However, as they pointed out in their message on Twitter, that doesn’t necessarily mean that development stops on the game once that happens.

We have important news to share with you pic.twitter.com/qZUaD6IwmM— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) October 27, 2020

It looks like CD Projekt Red will have even more time to hire more influencers and streamers to hype up their game. Kidding aside, let’s hope that this is the final time that the game gets delayed.
Look at the bright side, November 2020 will already be a busy and packed month for gamers; what with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and a bunch of other major games coming out. A little breather would save everyone a bit of money and spare time.


We Won’t Be Playing Path Of Exile 2 Until 2021

There’s a reason why Grind Gear Games is cranking out more content for the first Path of Exile: because they’re not ready to release the beta version of the sequel yet.
The developer said that players won’t be getting a Path of Exile 2 beta this year. Instead, they’ll get it in 2021. While the company wanted to push out a playable version at the end of this year, the COVID-19 pandemic made them shift their plans a bit.
Here’s the official post in full detail:

“We have been focusing on keeping our leagues coming out as close to on time as possible, and this does mean some delays for the sequel. We are looking forward to our next announcement about its upcoming content, and we’ll keep piling on any technology improvements we can make into the existing Path of Exile client.”

On the plus side, there will be more expansions coming out for the first game. Right now, you can check out the Harvest expansion which was released on 19th June.


Overwatch 2 Concept Art Hints At Battle Pass, Guilds and Boss Fight Mode

Concept art for Overwatch 2 gave us a brief look at what the main menu could look like, with hints of a possible battle pass, player guilds and a new “Boss Fight” mode.
With its closed beta approaching soon, new official concept art for Overwatch 2 has provided some new crumbs of info for the anticipated sequel. The concept art was shared on Artstation from Jayson Kirby, former Overwatch UI Designer, which showed off how the game’s main menu could look like.

Eagle eyed fans noticed a battle pass tab at the bottom right corner of the menu, seemingly confirming the inclusion of the feature. This goes in line with former Overwatch game director, Jeff Kaplan’s past comments hinting at a battle pass for the sequel.

In another post from Kirby’s Artstation account, he shared a video of a possible guild card, with the guild named “Hanzo Mains”. The video showed off the player receiving an invite to join the guild, with the guild card popping up on screen. It looks like players will be able to create their own communities along with the addition of guild cards which will presumably be a new item drop from loot boxes when the sequel releases. Do take this with a grain of salt though, as Kirby labelled the video as animation test for a fictional guild card.

The biggest piece of info from the concept art however is from an animated video from Kirby again where he showed the menu navigation, going through the many options available. Among the many modes we can see, one labeled Boss Fight seemed to stand out, hinting at a possible boss gauntlet style PVE mode. Although the name sounds pretty simple so it could just be a placeholder for the actual mode or just something to fill out the spaces.
Whether or not these features make it into the final build of the game remains to be seen as plans could change in development.
In other Overwatch 2 news, have a look at the sequel’s new ping system revealed recently.


Undisputed Preview: A Return To Form For The Boxing Genre

Courtesy of PLAION, we were given the opportunity to get hands-on with Undisputed after it was released on Steam Early Access on 31 January.

Undisputed, a new professional boxing game by developer Steel City Interactive and Ten24 Media, may bring back the glory days of the boxing genre, which has been widely agreed upon to have ended with the 2011 game Fight Night Champion. The last time a truly outstanding boxing game was released was over twelve years ago, but now with Undisputed, players may see a return to form. The game boasts fluid fighter movements, which are more dynamic and realistic than in previous boxing games.
King Of The Ring

The controls in Undisputed offer an incredible amount of control over punches, blocks, and other moves. This means that the controls may not be intuitive at first, but with practice, players can master them. The game’s tutorial is an important part of learning the controls, so it’s recommended that players do not skip it.
Once players have completed the tutorial, they will be able to spar against a basic opponent and then access the game’s full roster of over 50 boxers, including Muhammed Ali and Jessica McCaskill. The boxers are locked to their respective weight classes, and fights have a different pace depending on the weight class of the fighters. Heavier fighters hit harder but have more health, while lighter fighters are more agile.
Boxer attributes differentiate each fighter, and Undisputed is remarkably detailed about each of its six core stats. Vitality governs the number of punches a fighter can take, and players must manage their heart rate and stamina to effectively throw punches. Strength, speed, and defence attributes also contribute to a fighter’s performance, and there are many sub-attributes that can individually affect a fighter’s performance. There’s even a perk system that changes the dynamics of the ring. For example, the Second Wind perk allows a fighter to punch 25% harder and use 25% less stamina after being knocked down.
Players can set up custom fights against the computer or against a friend in local head-to-head combat. Players can also create their own boxers, but this option was not available during the demo. The Career mode, which is planned to release during the early access release schedule, was also not available. The game’s longevity will depend on the quality of its ranked matchmaking mode, which was not available during the pre-early access press build.

It is to be expected that there will be bugs and problems during the launch of the Early Access version, but the developer has done an outstanding job so far. Steel City Interactive has been very open about the difficulties that players of Undisputed are facing. To clarify their efforts, they have created a Trello board that lists all known bugs and issues in the Early Access version and provides a roadmap for updates in 2023. This board provides boxing enthusiasts with all the information they need, and there is no need for speculation.
The developers are taking these issues seriously and are working to address them. The Trello board also has a section called “Fixed in next update” that will be filled with solutions as they become available.
Check out the list of acknowledged issues and bugs in Undisputed, which will be regularly updated to keep you informed of the current status of Steel City Interactive’s boxing game.

Unable to Connect Online – We believe this issue is caused by your computer’s clock not being properly synchronised. Please check your date and time settings on your PC and ensure time is synced.
Disabled Online Features – Some gameplay features that are available in offline play are not yet available in online play: clinch, fouls, and stance switching.
Players sometimes get stuck at 3 seconds during the match joining the countdown timer within online lobbies.
In the side select menu, switching to the AI vs AI fight and then back to a Player fight causes the second controller to be missing within side select.
In the game pause menu UI faintly remains within the settings menu.
Sometimes the second controller isn’t detected in the side select menu after completing a fight.
Fighter models sometimes fail to load in the Fighter Select menu if you return to Fighter Select midway through a match.
The game may incorrectly apply the wrong resolution when you launch it for the first time.
Players’ post-fight reward screen may incorrectly display their level as between 0 and 1 if an opponent quits mid-game online.
The game applies a loss to a player’s record when an opponent disconnects online. (FIXED)
Boxers’ hair appears too bright in certain venues on lower graphics. (FIXED)
The game displays Xbox UI regardless of which control the player is using.
Save by the Bell rule can cause the game to enter an infinite load screen.
Disconnections in the online play cause surrender issues.
On rare occasions, Players may match with fighters from other weight classes.
Save by the Bell rule can cause the game to enter an infinite load screen.

It may a bit too early to tell but overall, Undisputed has the potential to bring back the glory days of the boxing genre and offer players a truly outstanding professional boxing experience.
Undisputed is out now on PC via Steam Early Access.


Valkyrie Elysium Updates Now Available; Include Hilde’s Vengeance

New content for action RPG Valkyrie Elysium is available now for the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game.
The new update adds in Hilde’s Vengeance mode, The Seraphic Gate endgame content which features bosses and tough challenges on par with past Valkyrie titles, and two new difficulty modes.
The PC version will get all of these updates; it’ll be out via Steam on 11th November. Check out the trailer and official descriptions below:
Hilde’s Vengeance
Playing as Hilde has a different feel to the main campaign. She’s a very different kind of Valkyrie, with hard-hitting attacks, her signature halberd and a unique skill tree. She doesn’t have any Einherjar to bring into battle, but she does have four Shadow Servants, which can aid her in fights, as well as a wide selection of Divine Arts to equip.
Long story short, she’s amazing fun to play as – for anyone craving more of that incredible combat… enjoy!
Two New Difficulty Modes: Very Hard and Valkyrie
“Very Hard” is a new difficulty level that adds even more challenge to the game. You’ll have to use your skills and Einherjar carefully and exploit enemy weaknesses at every opportunity to make it through each battle unscathed.
But perhaps even that’s not enough. If you have the spirit of a true Valkyrie (or you’re just a glutton for punishment), you can take on “Valkyrie” mode. This is the truest test of your strategy, skills and reflexes—good luck!
Seraphic Gate
This new feature provides thrilling endgame content that will let you test your combat skills against waves of enemies—and against the clock.
You’ll ascend floor by floor, taking on different collections of foes, and some bosses with a fixed selection of skills, Einherjars, Divine Arts and items. Each time you move up a floor, your loadout will change—it’s up to you to work out how to use the tools at your disposal to triumph over each challenge.


HQ Trivia Mobile Game Co-Founder Colin Kroll Dies

Colin Kroll, who co-founded both the Trivia HQ mobile game and Vine app, was found dead in his home in New York City on December 16, Sunday. He was 35.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, NYPD sources said that the cause of death was apparently due to an overdose. However, official reports have yet to be released.
Kroll co-founded Vine with Rus Yusupov in 2012, but it was later acquired by Twitter before the app even launched. In 2017, they released the HQ Trivia mobile game for the iOS and Android. The interactive trivia quiz app takes the form of live shows hosted by many popular celebrities like comedian Scott Rogowsky, Jimmy Kimmel, and more.
Players could win money by participating in the daily live games in HQ Trivia if they correctly answer multiple-choice questions. Only 10 seconds are allocated to each question, which also increases in difficulty as the game goes on.
However, HQ Trivia has since waned in popularity, going from its peak of millions of concurrent players to currently pulling around hundreds of thousands for each game at best. A spinoff game, HQ Words, was also announced earlier in September 2018, with the game currently in semi-public beta at the time of writing.
Fellow HQ Trivia and Vine co-founder Rus Yusupov paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Kroll, who he refers to as his friend in his tweet on Sunday:

So sad to hear about the passing of my friend and co-founder Colin Kroll. My thoughts & prayers go out to his loved ones. I will forever remember him for his kind soul and big heart. He made the world and internet a better place. Rest in peace, brother.
â€” Rus (@rus) December 16, 2018


Final Fantasy VII Battle Royale Game Is Getting A Second Season

The mobile action game Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, which is basically Square Enix’s battle royale title with guns and swords, will be getting a second season.
Creative director Tetsuya Nomura revealed Season 2 of the battle royale game, which will arrive soon. New additions include new maps, the inclusion of a President’s Cup tournament, and a new class called the Dragoon.
In addition, the team behind the battle royale will be improving the quality of the game, as well as addressing problems of players stream sniping those who are broadcasting their gameplay. You can check out Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier right now on iOS and Android.


Scott Pilgrim Game Physical Editions Open Pre-Orders Next Week

Limited Run Games has announced that they will sell limited print physical editions of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game â€“ Complete Edition for PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
Pre-orders will begin on 11pm GMT+8 on 15 January 2021 and will last for six weeks.
Limited Run has three different versions of the physical edition: the Standard Edition, the Classic Edition, and the K.O. Edition. The latter two have additional custom boxes (the K.O. Editionâ€™s is a â€œhardshell roadie case boxâ€ that opens up to a pop-up scene of Scottâ€™s band rocking out), and both include a CD soundtrack, sticker sheet, and a folded map of the gameâ€™s overworld.
Here is an overview of each edition:
Standard Edition (US$34.99 or roughly RM141+) â€“ PS4, Nintendo Switch

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game â€“ Complete Edition physical game for Ps4 or Nintendo Switch.
Reversible cover sheet.
The Clash at Demonhead commemorative concert ticket.

Classic Edition (US$54.99 or roughly RM221+) â€“ PS4, Nintendo Switch

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game â€“ Complete Edition physical game for PS4 or Nintendo Switch.
Full-color instruction booklet.
Reversible cover sheet.
Deluxe plastic clamshell case with reversible coversheet.
Sticker sheet featuring art from the game.
Physical soundtrack CD featuring music by Anamanaguchi.
The Clash at Demonhead commemorative concert ticket.
Overworld map.

KO! Edition (US$139.99 or RM564+) â€“ PS4, Nintendo Switch

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game â€“ Complete Edition physical game for PS4 or Nintendo Switch.
Premium hard-shell roadie collectorâ€™s case box featuring working lights and sound. Opening the case turns on the lights and sound (music from Anamanaguchi) as well as revealing a pop-up scene of Sex Bob-omb.
Contents in the case can be accessed by lifting the concert stage.
Full-color instruction booklet.
Reversible covers.
The Clash at Demonhead commemorative concert ticket.
Deluxe Classic Edition clamshell case with reversible cover.
Hardcover Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game guide book.
CD and Cassette original soundtrack from Anamanaguchi.
Full-size wooden drum sticks featuring game art.
Three Sex Bob-omb guitar picks (one each of light, medium, and heavy gauges).
Scott Pilgrim loading screen enamel pin.
Premium high-gloss foil 7 Evil-Exes trading card set.
Two sticker sheets featuring art from the game.

Fans of Scott Pilgrim will be able to appreciate the myriad goodies that come with these physical editions. They simply scream retro, and you should probably grab the opportunity to pre-order as soon as possible. Remember, these are limited edition collectibles, and it was a miracle, to begin with, that Ubisoft even started selling the game again.
While pre-orders for PS4 and Nintendo Switch will open on 15 January 2021, Limited Run Games also plans to do a physical edition for Xbox One at a later unspecified date.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game â€“ Complete Edition will launch for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC via the Epic Games Store,Â Ubisoft Store, and Uplay, and Stadia on 14 January 2021.


The Fights Of Final Fantasy & How They Evolved

Need a quick summary of how Final Fantasy’s combat has evolved from turn-based to menu-heavy real-time battle? This video will give you a rundown from the first to the most current!

If you want a super-detailed version of Final Fantasy’s combat evolution, look no further than Kumikones’ retrospective. Here’s part 1 and part 2.


[Report] Overwatch 2 Logo Leaked Ahead Of Blizzcon 2019

Blizzcon 2019 will take place this coming weekend from 2 to 3 November 2019. We still don’t know what Blizzard has in store for this year’s edition of its biggest annual event, especially with the company still under fire for the recent incident where Hearthstone pro player Blitzchung was suspended and stripped of his prize money after being caught making pro-Hong Kong statements during a Blizzard-hosted tournament stream.
While rumours have been raging over the past year that Overwatch 2 is already in active development, this leak is the first time that we’ve seen what might potentially be actual proof that the sequel to 2016’s arena shooter exists.
Earlier today, Twitter user @OverwatchNaeri posted an image or screenshot that is claimed to be an authentic leak of the official Overwatch 2 logo. The image in question features Tracer next to same Overwatch logo from the first game, albeit with the numerical two (2) in orange and white accompanying it.

The exact source is not yet known, but a screenshot called “Overwatch 2” New Image has been uploaded.
âš ï¸ë£¨ë¨¸: ì˜¤ë²„ì›Œì¹˜2 ìŠ¤í¬ë¦°ìƒ· ìœ ì¶œ? pic.twitter.com/gEFiThjJp8
â€” Naeri x ë‚˜ì—ë¦¬ (@OverwatchNaeri) October 26, 2019

The same alleged Overwatch 2 logo also appears in a leaked Japanese Coca-Cola advertisement featuring Overwatch hero Genji. The supposed Coca-Cola X Overwatch 2 ad does look a bit suspect, though something like this would be considerably harder to fabricate compared to slapping Tracer and a made-up logo onto a white background.

Overwatch 2 Another leak has been disclosed. Coca-Cola X Overwatch 2 ads leaked in Japan.
âš ï¸Coca-Cola is already sponsoring the Overwatch League
ì¼ë³¸ì—ì„œ ì½”ì¹´ì½œë¼ ì˜¤ë²„ì›Œì¹˜2 ê´‘ê³ ê°€ ìœ ì¶œë˜ì—ˆìŠµë‹ˆë‹¤. pic.twitter.com/c1C1KVjgmz
â€” Naeri x ë‚˜ì—ë¦¬ (@OverwatchNaeri) October 27, 2019
It’s important to note that despite how realistic or authentic these Overwatch 2 logo images and ads look, they’re still leaks that could just ultimately turn out to be the work of someone with extremely good graphic design or photoshop skills.
However, with only one week to go before Blizzcon 2019 (and the surprisingly authentic-looking ad), it’s entirely possible that the Overwatch 2 logo you’re seeing in the leaks is actually the real deal. We’ll have to wait for official confirmation until the folks at Blizzard, which could happen at Blizzcon 2019.


Supernatural Narrative RPG Cabernet Trailer Shows First Look At Gameplay

Critically acclaimed indie studio Party for Introverts are today proud to announce their first full-length game, Cabernet – a supernatural narrative RPG set in a world of aristocratic vampires, launching on Steam in early 2024.
Master vampiric abilities, plan your next feast, and survive the night. In Cabernet, become the fledgling vampire Liza and immerse yourself in a visually stunning, thematically rich narrative that’s shaped by the choices you make and the relationships you forge.
Straddle the worlds of the living and the undead as you explore an atmospheric small town at the end of the 19th century and navigate a sophisticated story about social conflict, alcoholism, and corruption. Get to know this society’s human and supernatural inhabitants and decide who will be your next meal, interacting through dialogue and wrestling with moral choices that can have far-reaching consequences.

But beware – a vampire must decide their next move before the deadly Sunrise. Use the many vampiric powers at your disposal to stave off hunger, transforming into a bat, hypnotising your prey, or turning invisible. Will you drink just enough to survive, or be consumed by the thrill of the hunt?
Arseniy Klishin and Laura Gray of Party for Introverts, said:

“Creating Cabernet has allowed us to explore our undying love of vampiric lore and build a world with themes deeply important and personal to us, including ethics and morality, alcoholism, and attempting to find hope in seemingly hopeless times and places. We couldn’t be more excited to finally reveal our game to players.”

Cabernet is launching for PC on Steam in early 2024. Players wishing to find out more or wishlist Cabernet can sink their teeth into the game’s official Steam page.


Wasteland Remastered Is Bringing Original 1988 Experience To Current Gen

The original Wasteland was an open-world post-apocalyptic RPG developed by Interplay that was released in 1988, many years before many gamers of today were even born. Now InXile Entertainment, led by Interplay co-founder Brian Fargo, is bringing back the experience by remastering it for a new generation.
The original Wasteland later inspired the first-ever Fallout game, so it’s the grand-daddy of post-apocalyptic RPGs. Wasteland Remastered will arrive with completely overhauled graphics, sound, and expanded musical score.
In the game, players assume the role of Desert Ranger, a band of stalwart lawmen who are the only hope left in what was once the American southwest, and good peopleâ€™s last defence against hunger, sickness, ravaging raiders, and mutants.
Wasteland Remastered is slated to release for the Xbox One and PC on 25 February 2020.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6KF4xc-cd4&w=560&h=315]


Apex Legends Will Be Getting A Halloween Event

We have officially entered the spookiest month of the year so it’s only appropriate for us to prepare for the upcoming Halloween-themed events in gaming.
In a recent interview with Dexerto, the man behind Pathfinder’s voice Chris Edgerly has confirmed that a Halloween event for Apex Legends is coming soon. Edgerly said that he has already recorded lines for the event and there will be some new “creepy, scary, kick-ass designs” coming along in the event.

â€œThe Halloween event coming up is going to be simply amazing. I recorded some new stuff for a short for it, where Pathfinder has a much bigger role.â€
– Chris Edgerly, Pathfinder voice actor.
I’m not totally surprised by what Edgerly is saying since there have already been a few leaks that show off horror-themed skins and textures. The biggest one for me was that image of a Frankenstein-esque skin for Gibraltar.
From Reddit user u/dswillin.
Halloween starts on 31 October and games usually start rolling out their Halloween updates about a week ahead so I’d say it’s safe to expect Apex Legends‘ Halloween event to start in about two or three weeks.


Pakistan & The Philippines Are Your Top Two Tekken 7 Evo Japan Champions

One would assume the South Korean or Japanese players would at least be the finalists in Evo Japan 2019’s major Tekken 7 tournament. Pakistan’s Arslan_Ash and The Philippines’ AK ended up proving doubters and non-believers wrong with their display of technical know-how.
First up, we have Arslan_Ash fighting tooth and claw with Kazumi out of loser’s bracket against the many, MANY world-class Tekken 7 players in top 8. He had to take out Thailand’s Book (arguably an underdog in the Tekken scene), US’ JimmyJTran, and Japan’s Chikurin, and CherryBerryMango.

Meanwhile, AK was doing fine remaining at Winner’s Bracket, pushing down CherryBerryMango and JimmyJTran for the Pakistan player to finish them off.

AK even showed off a lot of risky reads with his blatant use of Shaheen’s hop kicks. This is the equivalent of a Daigo Umehara-patented Ume-Shoryu; big payoff that scares opponents, even bigger punish if it whiffs.

It was clear as day that Arslan_Ash was no slouch in the pro player Tekken 7 business. He had to fight 2 sets against AK in the Grand Finals. It wasn’t easy, but his patience against the really young Filipino player shows.
AK decided to go all-out with Paul, his other main pick. Paul is big on damage but is pretty slow. Clearly it didn’t pay off.

After a few good reads and punishes, we have ourselves a new Tekken 7 star: Pakistan’s Arslan_Ash.

Despite not winning the gold, Southeast Asian Tekken 7 players and fans should give a shoutout to both AK and Book for making it this far and bodying a lot of pros from Japan and South Korea doing so.Â Here are the top 8 players of this tournament:

Arslan_Ash
PBE_AK
CherryBerryMango
chukurin
DestinyTK
JimmyJTran
SAINT
Book


Korean Content Fans Will Have A Lot To Look Forward To On Disney+ Hotstar

Several of Korea’s biggest entertainment stars and creatives touched down in Singapore today to attend the Disney Content Showcase. Featuring announcements for over 50 titles, including an upcoming slate of movies and series from Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm and an expanding collection of APAC Originals for Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar, day one of the showcase delighted Korean drama and K-pop fans with exciting updates for over a dozen shows set to launch on Disney’s streaming service in the next year and beyond.
Hosted at Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands, some of the top talent from Big Bet, Connect, and the newly announced series Call It Love were on stage at the showcase to share details of what audiences can expect from the upcoming series.
With all episodes to launch on Disney+, Disney+ Hotstar and Hulu on 7 December 2022, Connect stars Jung Haein as Ha Dongsoo – a new type of immortal human known as a “connect”, who is kidnapped by a gang of organ harvesters determined to take his eyes. During the showcase, Korean stars Jung Haein, Ko Kyungpyo, Kim Hyejun and legendary Japanese director Miike Takashi made appearances on stage, sharing their excitement about the upcoming series with over 400 international press and partners in attendance.
Big Bet stars Lee Donghwi and Heo Sungtae, and director Kang Yunsung also made an appearance to promote this upcoming tale of a man who struggles to become a casino mogul but soon after hits rock bottom due to a chain of unfortunate events. Set to debut on Disney+, Disney+ Hotstar and Hulu on December 21, Big Bet also stars legendary Old Boy actor Choi Minsik in his first return to TV in 25 years.

Director Lee Kwangyoung and stars Kim Youngkwang and Lee Sungkyoung rounded out the Korean segment’s surprise appearances to officially announce their Korean drama Call It Love, which is set to launch on Disney+ Hotstar next year. Centered around the main protagonist, Woojoo, Call It Love follows her on a downward spiral after she discovers her father’s infidelity. Woojoo’s situation goes from bad to worse when her father unexpectedly dies and his mistress kicks her out of the family home, but while she plans her revenge, Woojoo begins to fall in love with a man who turns out to be the son of the woman who ruined her life.
Big Bet, Connect and Call it Love were just a few of the newly announced Korean series updates from today’s content showcase, including:
Moving: Starring Ryu Seungryong, Han Hyojoo and Zo Insung,?Moving?is based on a popular webtoon by Kang Full and tells the story of three teenagers who discover they’ve inherited unusual powers from their secret agent parents.
The Worst of Evil: Set in 1990s Korea,?The Worst of Evil?follows an investigative taskforce as their undercover officer, Park Joonmo, infiltrates a new criminal organization responsible for fuelling a drug trafficking triangle.?Starring Ji Changwook, Wi Hajun and Lim Semi, production is currently underway on this exciting new crime drama.
The Zone 2: Survival Mission: Following a breakout first season, veteran entertainers Yu Jaesuk, Lee Kwangsoo and Kwon Yuri return to The Zone for a second season of this beloved variety show that will challenge them to survive several everyday disaster scenarios.
Soundtrack # 2: Music enthusiasts Hyunseo and Suho met as a vocalist and keyboardist in a college band and fell in love, spending almost every day together for six years. However, once they graduated, the pressures of life began to build and the two eventually split. Four years after their breakup, fate brings them back together again, but will they be able to rekindle what they once had?
Shadow Detective Season 2: Directed by Han Donghwa, Lee Sungmin, Gyeong Sujin, and Lee Hakjoo return for another series of?Shadow Detective. With the stakes now higher than ever, will Detective Taekrok be able to solve his final case before it’s too late?
RACE: Written by acclaimed screenwriter Kim Roori and starring Lee Yeonhee, Moon Sori, Hong Jonghyun and Chung Yunho,?RACE?is about a mediocre employee who unleashes her potential after discovering she was hired at her top-tier publicity company for diversity reasons.
SUPER JUNIOR: THE LAST MAN STANDING: On November 6, 2005, a K-pop group, SUPER JUNIOR 05, made their debut. First leaving their mark on Asia, they rapidly grew, becoming SUPER JUNIOR, and amazed audiences across the world. In SUPER JUNIOR: THE LAST MAN STANDING, viewers are taken behind-the-scenes in a one-of-a-kind exploration of SUPER JUNIOR and its members, offering new insights into the modern K-pop industry.
NCT 127 The Lost Boys (Working Title): Documenting this popular Korean boyband on?their 2022-2023 World Tour across?North America, Korea, Japan and South East Asia,?NCT 127 The Lost Boys?will follow Mark, Johnny and Yuta in a series that will track the band’s growth and success over the years.
j-hope Solo Documentary (Working Title): Following pop star j-hope in the lead-up to his recently released solo album, this upcoming documentary features never-before-seen interviews with j-hope, a behind the scenes look at his solo album preparation process, his 2022 Lollapalooza performance and a unique look at the album’s listening party.
BTS MONUMENTS: BEYOND THE STAR: An exclusive Disney+ Hotstar original,?this music docu-series will chart the incredible journey of 21st century pop icons BTS. With unprecedented access to a vast library of music and footage over the past nine years, the series will feature the daily lives, thoughts and plans of BTS members, as they prepare for their second chapter.

Announced as part of the Disney Content Showcase, these Korean Originals were also revealed alongside a host of Japanese live-action and anime titles and Indonesian dramas as part of the Company’s ambitious plans to greenlight over 50 APAC Originals by 2023.


Ni no Kuni Goes Mobile; Out In Late 2020

Straight out of South Korean game expo G-Star, where the biggest F2P MMOs and mobile games are announced and will be out in English aÂ  year or two later, we get this doozy of an announcement:Â  a new Ni no Kuni game.
In aÂ  move that may anger some hardcoreÂ  JRPG players, Netmarble and Level-5 will be developing a Ni no Kuni game, subtitled Cross Worlds, for iOS and Android for the second half of 2020 in Japan. Before you take out your pitchforks, just checkÂ  it out (viaÂ  Gematsu):

This mobile RPG features 5 classes to play as, the opportunity to build your own kingdom, real-time hack and slash like Ni no Kuni 2, PvE quests, and some good ol’ fashionedÂ  PvP.
It’s made by the same development staff who did Lineage 2: Revolution, so at least the combat will be good. For a mobile game anyway; let’s not get ahead of ourselves.


Star Wars: The Top 10 Lightsaber Duels Of All Time

Star Wars celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2022. The franchise is still very much a pop-culture juggernaut in this day and age, as evident by the one-billion-dollar box office return of the disappointing Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker and the popularity of new Disney+ shows like The Book Of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian.
To celebrate this year’s May The 4th celebrations, I’m listing down my personal picks for the top ten Star Wars lightsaber duels of all time.
First, I’d like to clarify that these are my own choices as a lifelong Star Wars fan who have watched every movie, animated series and TV shows in the franchise (including some of the comics and books as well for good measure). I have also taken the liberty of only including canon lightsaber duels.
10. Rey & Finn Vs Kylo Ren In Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens

Despite what many veteran Star Wars fans (including me) may feel about the Sequel Trilogy as a whole, I would be remiss not to include at least one lightsaber duel from those films. Like it or not, it’s stil Star Wars canon. There are several reasons why I chose this from the entire Sequel Trilogy. For one thing, this lightsaber duel takes place in a snow-covered setting, which makes for one of the most visually-striking and unique locations for a lightsaber duel. Look at how the lightsabers interact with the snow, how their glow reflects off the snow.
Plus, this battle felt emotionally powerful coming off the death of Han Solo, and Finn’s turn wielding the lightsaber was a great moment that could have indicated potential of an exciting future (that both The Last Jedi and The Rise Of Skywalker squandered). I won’t lie, after more than a decade of no Star Wars feature films, this was an explosive finale. Sadly, this was the peak of the Sequel Trilogy and it would never reach this high again. It all went downhill from here.
9. Obi-Wan Kenobi & Asajj Ventress Vs Darth Maul & Savage Opress In Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 4 Episode 22 ‘Revenge’

Two-on-two lightsaber duels are often a sight to behold, and examples of complex choreography at work too. One of the best is the duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Asajj Ventress against Darth Maul and Savage Opress. This is also a rare occurrence when a good guy (Obi-Wan Kenobi) teams up with a bad guy (Asajj Ventress). Plus, this is the one and only time in Star Wars canon that you’ll see Obi-Wan Kenobi wielding a red lightsaber.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Obi-Wan battles Darth Maul and it won’t be the last time either. That honour goes to…
8. Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs Darth Maul In Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Episode 20 ‘Twin Suns’

As much as choreography is an important element in any lightsaber duel, some lightsaber duels don’t need any complex moves to be great. An example of that is this truly FINAL battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul. This is probably one of the shortest lightsaber duels in terms of duration and length. When this episode came out, we’ve already seen them go toe-to-toe many times across the Prequel Trilogy and The Clone Wars. but this ultimate showdown between them is the most epic and emotional for any longtime Star Wars fan. It’s also proof that animation can be just as dramatically powerful as the movies.
7. Ahsoka Tano Vs Darth Maul In Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 7 Episode 10 ‘The Phantom Apprentice’

The last lightsaber duel in Star Wars The Clone Wars is also one of its best. This is arguably Ahsoka Tano at her prime and most powerful, considering that she had just powered through an army of Mandalorians to get to Darth Maul in the first place. At this point, she’s no longer officially a Jedi, but her lightsaber skills is definitely still one of the best.
The great choreography in the duel was realized thanks to the motion capture performance Ray Park and Lauren Marie Kim, not to mention the amazing voice performances of Sam Witwer and Ashley Eckstein.
6. Darth Sidious Vs Darth Maul & Savage Oppress In Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 5 Episode 16 ‘The Lawless’

It’s not too often in Star Wars that we get an antagonist-on-antagonist lightsaber duel, but that’s exactly what we got with this one. This duel is also notable for showcasing the full lightsaber skills of Darth Sidious, which we’ve never seen before either in live-action or animation (not at this scale, anyway). He easily overpowers both Darth Maul and Savage Opress, even laughing maniacally throughout the duel. It was a moment every Star Wars would never forget, proving that Palpatine is capable of more than just spamming his Force Lightning all the time.
NEXT


Scott Pilgrim Vs The World The Game Complete Edition Is Coming In January 2021

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World The Game Complete EditionÂ will launch digitally for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC via theÂ Epic Games Store,Â Ubisoft Store, and Google Stadia on 14 January 2021.

https://www.facebook.com/ScottPilgrim/posts/10158794627774004

Players will rediscover the beloved 2D arcade-style beat â€™em up inspired by the iconic comic book series and movie, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
Your favourite characters will be playable, including Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, Knives Chau, Stephen Stills, and more. Level up and learn new awesome abilities, unlock secret items and modes, and summon powerful allies to defeat the League of Ramonaâ€™s Evil Exes.
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World The Game Complete Edition includes the remaster of Scott Pilgrim Vs The World The Game and its original DLCs: the Knives Chau and Wallace Wells Add-On Packs.
It was initially announced during Ubisoft Connect 2020 back in September 2020, alongside a bunch of other games.


Darksiders 3 Is Not The Sequel You Want In Your Joe Mad Games Collection

The first Darksiders is a lovely homage to The Legend of Zelda featuring demons, angels, and a fairy stand-in you can kill at the end of the game. Darksiders 2 is part Prince of Persia, part Devil May Cry, and it worked all the better for it thanks to its controls and aesthetics.
So what will the next Darksider 3 ape in terms of already-existing fads and established gameplay designs? Dark Souls, of course, because that’s what we need from a game with hyper action setpieces: enemies which can punish you hard if you opt the flashy route. And when we mean enemies, we mean hordes of them. We’re talking God of War numbers. To do that using a combat system that’s reliant on being godlike at duels, it’s a gamebreaker for many.
Anger Management

Some context: after War and Death did their stint in Darksiders and Darksiders 2 respectively, it’s now the third horseperson’s turn to have her adventure: the perpetually-angry Fury. While her bros like using swords and Zelda-inspired gadgets, she likes to use a sword whip called the Barb of Scorn. She even gets to unlock new secondary weapons called Hollows that extend and open up her playing style a bit.
That sounds good and all; many games like Ni-oh have emulated the Dark Souls formula and manages to add their spin on it. Darksiders 3? Not much. Everything here feels a bit uninspired and lacks the previous game’s “try hard” mentality which mostly works for the sum of their parts.
At the very least, developer Gunfire Games did away with the stamina meter so you can have Fury dodge to her heart’s content and getting a slow-motion flourish out of it (ala Breath of the Wild and Bayonetta’s Witch Time). The problem lies with the controls and design not in sync with one another.
The duel 3D targeting system in Darksiders 3 is fine and all but with the game throwing in more than two and three enemies at you, the game gets really, REALLY unwieldy. The lock-on and camera controls here are pretty bad, to the point where you can get hit really hard from an offscreen enemy or projectile.
And the enemies; most of them are HP sponges that can really hit you hard and make you lose quite a bit of progress. It’s not an issue in the late game though, but it’s worth mentioning that the grind with all of these control & camera problems can incite some, well, fury within yourself. And even if you master the frustration that is combat, tedium sets in because there’s no other highlight in level design and exploration here; we’ll get to that later.
The leveling up system here also feels a tad uninspired. You can get souls by killing enemies; you can cash them in via your old demon merchant friend Vulgrim to level up your health, strength, and arcane attributes. You can lose them mid-progress from one checkpoint to the next, but there’s no tension because you can bank whatever you amassed in a previous checkpoint. So really, go nuts and take more risks.
There is hope though: one-on-one boss fights here are pretty good. You really have to be on top of your game here when fighting the Seven Deadly Sin bosses once you’re all souled out.
Much Ado About Combat

And what of the platforming and non-combat segments of Darksiders 3? They definitely pale in comparison to the past two games, but on its own, they’re still pretty mundane and weak. If you like moving blocks (floating or grounded) and opening up secret passages with explosive bugs, you’ll love the majority of the game because that’s the majority of what you’ll be doing. The platforming even isn’t as exciting as the prequels.
Perhaps the biggest letdown here is that the apocalyptic landscape of the game isn’t even breathtaking. With such creative takes and liberties in Darksiders and Darksiders 2, you would think the third game would up the ante and add a lot more variety. Alas, you’ll be fighting and trudging along in repetitive environments and dark grimy subways. Lots of subways. And a slight case of dÃ©jÃ  vu too. That’s also not factoring in the technical issues the game has, like framerate drops, sound glitches, and crashes.
At least Fury and the bosses she fight look pretty badass still? When you have the table scrappings of Joe Madureira to work with, you’ll bound to have something decent character design-wise.
Follow The Leader?

If the Darksiders’ schtick is following what works and making an arguably better game out of it, why didn’t Darksiders III copy Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance instead? Why settle for a design like Dark Souls and Ni-oh when you have swathes of enemies to deal with that doesn’t complement the current controls and camera functions? Why didn’t the developers sort out what makes a Dark Souls-like game work and not put in thought into this sequel?
This Darksiders game does not do its predecessors justice. With a little more time and a lot more effort, the combat system can work well and flesh out Fury’s adventure a tad more. Perhaps even make the journey a lot more colourful. As it stands, you’re better off replaying the past games and wait for a discount.
Pros
-Some nice character designs.
-Decent one-on-one fights.
-Simple-yet-decent combat controls..
Cons
-…until you fight a horde of enemies. Frustrating camera and lock-on system that doesn’t work in multi-enemy context.
-Drab art style and level design.
-A number of technical issues.
FINAL RATING: 5/10


PS5 Gray Camouflage Collection Drops This October

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that the new PS5 Gray Camouflage Collection is coming sometime in fall 2022. The Gray Camouflage Collection features a matching set of accessories with the DualSense wireless controller, PS5 console covers for both the PS5 with the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive and the PS5 Digital Edition and Pulse 3D wireless headset.

The DualSense wireless controller and PS5 console covers will launch globally on 14 October 2022 in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam for S$107 / RM369 / ID$1,359,000 / TH$2,590 / PH$4,290 / VN$2,099,000 and S$79.9 / RM259 / ID$939,000 / TH$1,890 / PH$3,090 / VN$1,499,000 respectively, followed by the launch of the Pulse 3D wireless headset for S$149 / RM469 / ID$1,699,000 / TH$3,490 / PH$5,590 / VN$2,699,000 in December 2022.
The exact launch dates for the collection may vary by location, so be sure to check your local retailer for availability.


Wild Rift Patch 2.2a Adds New Champion Rammus & 120FPS Support

Riot Games has revealed the full patch notes for League Of Legends Wild Rift Patch 2.2a.
NEW CHAMPIONS
RAMMUS, THE ARMORDILLO

Idolized by many, dismissed by some, mystifying to all, the curious being Rammus is an enigma. Protected by a spiked shell, he inspires increasingly disparate theories on his origin wherever he goes; from demigod, to sacred oracle, to a mere beast transformed by magic. Whatever the truth may be, Rammus keeps his own counsel and stops for no one as he roams the Shuriman desert.
Rammus will be released on 22 April 2021 at 8.01am GMT+8.
NEW SKINS

Stargazer Camille
Stargazer Soraka
Stargazer Twisted Fate
Molten Rammus
Sweeper Rammus

All skins will be released throughout the patch. Future 2.2 skins will be released in subsequent patches.
NEW ACCESSORIES
You can earn or purchase accessories from a bunch of different sources. Please check the relevant page in-game for more information on how to get â€˜em!

Icons: Stargazer Endeavor, Stargazer Triumph
Emotes: Stargazer Pengu
Recalls: To The Stars, Cosmic Transcendence
Baubles: Stargazer

All accessories will be released throughout the patch.
NEW EVENTS
STARGAZER
To celebrate the launch of the debut â€œfirst-to-Wild Riftâ€ skinline, an ingame event introduces you to the world of the Stargazers: Camille, Twisted Fate and Soraka. Complete missions to unlock Blue Motes and accessories throughout the event, which runs until the end of April.

The Stargazer event will begin on 15 April 2021. More information available soon.
[IN TESTING] 120FPS SUPPORT
Weâ€™re slowly rolling out 120fps mode support to high-end devices. The 120fps setting is still in testingâ€”if you experience performance issues, please switch back to a fully supported frame rate.

Added the 120fps option to the following high-end devices: OnePlus 9 & OnePlus 9 Pro; Google Pixel 5; ASUS ROG Phone 2; Razer Phone 2.

CHAMPION CHANGES

ALISTAR
For a tanky supportive champ, Alistarâ€™s dealing too much damage, particularly to turrets. Using (2) Headbutt to attack turrets (did you know you could do that?) should be a bit more of a conscious choice.
(2) Headbutt

Damage: 55/130/205/280 â†’Â 50/120/190/260
Turret damage ratio: 150% â†’Â 75%

BLITZCRANK
Blitzcrank has been slightly underperforming for a while now, so weâ€™re reverting some of the nerfs he received last year. These changes, combined with the recent tank item update, should give him a healthier space in the support roster.
(1) Rocket Grab

Damage: 60/120/180/240 â†’Â 80/140/200/260

(2) Overdrive

Self-slow duration: 1.5s â†’Â 1s

CORKI
Corkiâ€™s mail route stops by the Rift a bit too often. Weâ€™re giving him a bit of a break between deliveries with the goal to give him and his opponents a bit of breathing room.
(P) Hextech Munitions

The Package arrival rate: 100s â†’Â 150s

DIANA
Dianaâ€™s weak across the board, so weâ€™re shifting some of the rank-up power from (3) Lunar Rush into (2) Pale Cascade alongside some general buffs. These changes will help her survive the laning phase and push her advantage when she gets ahead.
Base Stats

Base Health: 570 HP â†’Â 610 HP

(P) Moonsilver Blade

[NEW] After casting a spell, Diana gains 30% to 120% Attack Speed (based on level) for the next 3 attacks.

(1) Crescent Strike

Cooldown: 10/9/8/7s â†’Â 9/8/7/6s

(2) Pale Cascade

Cooldown: 14s â†’Â 13/11.5/10/8.5s

(3) Lunar Rush

[REMOVED] Bonus Attack Speed moved to (P) Moonsilver Blade

(Ult) Moonfall

Minimum base damage: 150/200/250 + 35% AP â†’Â 175/225/275 + 40% AP
Maximum base damage: 300/400/500 + 70% AP â†’Â 350/450/550 + 80% AP

DR. MUNDO
Mundo buy Sunfire Aegis. Mundo burn down entire jungle and enemy team. Mundo need time out.
Base Stats

Attack Damage: 64 â†’Â 58
Health: 690 HP â†’Â 650 HP
Armor: 45 â†’Â 40

(3) Masochism

Duration: 5s at all ranks â†’Â 3/3.5/4/4.5s

GALIO
Much like his iconic ultimate, Galio arrived with a bang and disrupted the meta significantly. Weâ€™re toning back his damage across the board, and shortening his (3) Justice Punch range based on feedback that it felt a little long.
Base Stats

Health: 610 HP â†’ 570 HP

(P) Colossal Smash

Cooldown: 5/4/3s at level 1/5/9 â†’Â 5/4.5/4s at level 1/5/9
Base damage: 15 to 225 (based on level) â†’Â 15 to 190 (based on level)

(1) Winds of War

Percent HP damage per AP ratio: 2% â†’Â 1.5%

(2) Shield of Durand

Cooldown: 15/14/13/12s â†’Â 18/17/16/15s
AP ratio: 60% â†’Â 45%

(3) Justice Punch

Dash range: 6.5 â†’Â 5.75

LEONA
Leonaâ€™s not quite shining as a crowd controlling support tank yet, so weâ€™re lowering the cooldowns of her core lockdown combo.
(1) Shield of Daybreak

Cooldown: 6s â†’Â 5s at all ranks

(3) Zenith Blade

Cooldown: 13/12/11/10s â†’Â 12/10/8/6s

PANTHEON
Weâ€™re happy with Pantheonâ€™s mini-rework from Patch 2.2, but he could still use a few more tools in his arsenal. These adjustments should help him maintain his ability to carry an early game lead into a W.
Base Stats

Attack Damage: 58 â†’Â 64
Attack Damage per level: 2.65 per level â†’Â 3.6 per level

(1) Comet Spear

Tap base damage: 55/100/145/190 â†’Â 70/110/150/190
Charge base damage: 55/100/145/190 â†’Â 70/110/150/190
Bonus AD ratio: 100% â†’Â 110%
Critical strike bonus AD ratio: 150% â†’Â 165%

SHYVANA
Shyvanaâ€™s got it all: tankiness, high damage, sheâ€™s a freakinâ€™ dragon. In the absence of Davion, weâ€™re cutting down her damage and health.
Base Stats

Health: 650 HP â†’Â 610 HP

(1) Twin Bite

Cooldown: 8/7/6/5s â†’Â 9/8/7/6s

(3) Flame Breath

Maximum on-hit HP damage ratio: 3.5% â†’Â 3%

TRISTANA
Weâ€™re cautiously buffing Tristana as sheâ€™s still not matching up to the rest of the marksman roster.
Base Stats

Attack Damage per level: 2.65 per level â†’Â 3.6 per level

(3) Explosive Charge

Cooldown: 16s at all ranks â†’Â 16/15/14/13s

VI
Vi has been a popular and reliable pick in high-level games, but on the strong side in regular play. These changes allow her to keep her reliable gank patterns, but at a slightly higher risk.
Base Stats

Armor: 35 â†’Â 30

(Ult) Assault and Battery

Cooldown: 85/65/45s â†’Â 95/75/55s

ITEM CHANGES
INFINITY ORB
Infinity Orb is providing too much value for its gold cost. Weâ€™re bumping its price up a smidgen to delay its purchase in snowbally games.

Total Cost: 2850g â†’Â 3150g

SUNFIRE AEGIS
While not being drastically overpowered (…except on Mundo lol), Sunfire Aegis is performing a bit too well. Taking it down a notch to add some more first-item choice for tanks.

Base Damage: 16 to 30 â†’Â 16 to 25
Bonus Damage HP Ratio: 1% â†’Â 0.8%

GLORIOUS ENCHANT
A glorious bugfix.

[BUGFIX] Fixed a bug where item cost displayed as 800g
Cost: 500g (unchanged)

GAME SYSTEM CHANGES
TURRETS
In competitive play, weâ€™re seeing a lot of early grouping, making the laning phase almost nonexistent in high-level matches. This is part of our effort to incrementally release systemic changes that maintain the laning phase for competitive games.

During the firstÂ 4 minutesÂ (previously 3 minutes), Solo (Baron) Lane and Mid Lane outer turrets gain 90 bonus Armor and Magic Resist.
During the firstÂ 4 minutesÂ (previously 3 minutes), all outer turrets gain additional defensive bonuses when multiple enemies are nearby:
2 champions in total: 10 Armor and Magic Resist
3 champions in total: 100 â†’Â 250 Armor and Magic Resist
4 champions in total: 200 â†’Â 300 Armor and Magic Resist
5 champions in total: 300 â†’Â 350 Armor and Magic Resist

FREE-TO-PLAY CHAMPION ROTATION
Apr 15 – Apr 21: Braum, Evelynn, Fizz, Galio, Graves, Jax, Kaiâ€™Sa, Lulu, Singed, Varus
Apr 22 – Apr 28: Alistar, Aurelion Sol, Corki, Dr. Mundo, Fiora, Shyvana, Soraka, Xayah, Xin Zhao, Ziggs
In other related news, Wild Rift will be featured as a medal game at the upcoming 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.


Red Dead Online Adds All 10 Legendary Bounties & More In Latest Update

The latest Red Dead Online update is here, bringing a bunch of new content for you budding cowboys and outlaws out there, especially now that the game has been available for the PC since 5 November 2019.
All 10 Legendary Bounties

Licensed bounty hunters on all platforms can now enjoy hunting down all 10 Legendary Bounties, including those on PC and Google Stadia. This includes everyone from bloodthirsty murderers like Barbarella Alcazar and The Owlhoot Family to violent recluses like The “Wolf Man” and swamp-dweller Philip Carlier.
All bounties will now reward 50 percent more cash and 25 percent more XP for both character and Bounty Hunter role progression.
For players who have yet to acquire a Bounty Hunter License, meet up with the Legendary Bounty Hunter in Rhodes to acquire one, at the cost of 15 Gold Bars or free for Twitch Prime Members who link their Twitch and Rockstar Games Social Club accounts.
New Clothing & Weekly Collection

Players can look forward to has new clothing items from The Wheeler, Rawson & Co. Catalogue, including the Covington Hat and additional tints of the Patterned Bandana for a limited time only.
If youâ€™ve missed out on any of the items that have released recently, fret not: a wide range of clothing from the past ten weeks are available once again for a limited time.
This week’s Featured Free Aim Series is Gun Rush, which pits players against each other in a free-for-all race for weapons and ammunition in an ever-shrinking game area. It is exactly as it sounds like, a Red Dead Redemption battle royale.
Collectors can also assemble the Foundation Collection by gathering the Feldspar Arrowhead, Endicott Diamond Earring and Emmeline Coral Earring, and return them to Madam Nazar for reward money.
Bonuses

In addition, licensed Bounty Hunters can take 25 percent off the retail price of the Bounty Wagon this week, while collectors can take advantage of a 25 percent discount on all items sold by Madam Nazar. Meanwhile, everything sold at the Fence is 25 percent off, as well.
PlayStation Plus members who play Red Dead Online before 25 November 2019 will receive the Page of Pentacles, Knight of Pentacles, Queen of Pentacles and King of Pentacles Tarot Cards, free of charge.
In the meantime, check outÂ our review ofÂ Red Dead Redemption 2Â here.


Rugby 22 Is Now Available On PC & Consoles

NACONÂ andÂ Eko Software have released a launch trailer for Rugby 22Â to celebrate its release today on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC (Steam).
New major national teams are entering the RUGBY license for the first time, including the Wallabies, the official Australian team, and the New Zealand All Blacks, famous both for their competitive record and for the aura that accompanies them. The latter, in addition to the French team, has been selected by the studio for the first step towards photogrammetry technology, allowing the players’ faces to be represented as faithfully as possible in the game.
A true simulation,Â Rugby 22Â offers players all the elements that make up modern rugby: recognized official teams, tactical changes before and during the match, pod play options, post-contact passing and combinations.Â All rugby fans will find the fundamentals of the sport in the game.
Good news for PlayStation and Xbox players: to ease the transition to the next generation consoles, a special offer has been put in place.Â Until 28 April 2022, purchasing and activating the PS4 version of the game will also unlock the PS5 version for free. The same goes forÂ the Xbox One version if you get it on the Microsoft Store, which will unlock the Xbox Series X/S version for free.
Rugby 22 features the vast majority of the major national teams, with their players and official jerseys: New Zealand, Australia, France, Fiji, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales, Japan and Georgia. You clay alone or in multiplayer, locally and online, through different modes to play with friends or let matchmaking find you an opponent!
In addition, you can create your own club in Career Mode, climb the ranks, build your dream team and compete with the best teams in the world, as well as enjoy an increasingly realistic rugby simulation with real tactical depth. this means either play as a pod, set your wing positions, define your defence, and make clever combinations to get the better of your opponent.
Rugby 22 also offers a real rugby experience with photogrammetry to represent the star players and animations that are as close as possible to the real players’ movements thanks to motion capture technology, all in the rugby style for an intense experience.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Hot Toys Unveils New Black Panther Wakanda Forever Figure

Hot Toys has announced a new Black Panther Wakanda Forever 1/6th scale collectible figure.
The highly-detailed figure is beautifully crafted based on the appearance of Black Panther in Black Panther Wakanda Forever, features an all-new masked head with mystical elements; a newly developed head sculpt and hair sculpture with impressive likeness; highly-poseable body structure; meticulously tailored Panther Habit suit with metallic silver, gold accent; a pair of vibranium gauntlets, a spear, interchangeable hands for fighting poses, and a figure stand.
Check out my spoiler-free review of Black Panther Wakanda Forever by heading over here.
Black Panther Wakanda Forever premieres in Malaysian cinemas on 10 November 2022.


Elden Ring Gets Major Buffs & Nerfs In Recent Big Update

It’s only a matter of time until the From Software RPG Elden Ring gets a major update following many, many speedruns with unintended power builds and quest chain eff-ups.
From Software recently issued a title update for Elden Ring. The Elden Ring Patch 1.03 features nerfs, buffs, questline fixes, and new NPC summons aplenty. Here are the highlights:

New quest phases for NPCs Diallos, Nephelili Loux, and Kenneth Haight added.
New NPC Jar-Bairn added in Jursburg.
Mimic’s Veil can now mimic a bunch of new objects.
Nerfs include Mimic Tear Ash summon (less damage and A.I nerf) and Hoarfrost Stomp Ash of War. The latter’s been seen in Elden Ring’s more famous speedruns as it does crazy Frost build-up and damage bursts, as well as being quick on its feet. Heh.
Decreased FP consumption for spells like Loretta’s Greatbow and Carian Greatsword.

The full Elden Ring patch notes v1.03 are below:
Additional Elements Added

Added a function to record an icon and the name of an NPC on the map when you encounter that NPC.
Added NPC Jar-Bairn.
Added new quest phases for the following NPCs: Diallos/ Nepheli Loux/ Kenneth Haight/ Gatekeeper Gostoc.
Added some summonable NPCs in multiple situations.
Increased the number of patterns of objects player can imitate when using Mimic’s Veil.
Added night background music for some open field area.

Bug fixes

Fixed a bug that prevented summoned NPCs from taking damage in some boss battles.
Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the player from obtaining item after boss battle.
Fixed a bug that causes dialogue to be skipped when talking to NPCs and using custom key configurations.
Fixed a bug that causes the player to freeze when riding.
Fixed a bug that causes arcane to scale incorrectly for some weapons.
In situation where the player cannot obtain more than 2 talisman pouches, added talisman pouch to Twin Maiden Husks shop line up.
Fixed a bug that prevented the user from warping to sites of grace from the map at the end of the game.
Fixed a bug that prevented the player from moving to the next area after the battle with the Fire Giant.
Fixed a bug which causes some weapons to have incorrect scaling after strengthening.
Fixed a bug which causes some weapons to not use stat scaling.
Fixed hang-ups in certain occasions.
Fixed a bug which incorrectly displays multiplayer area boundary when playing online.
Fixed a bug that allows player to activate Erdtree Greatshield’s weapon skill without absorbing an attack using a special combination of item and incantation.
Fixed a bug which causes Fire’s Deadly Sin incantation to have different effect.
Fixed a bug with the Ash of War, Determination and Royal Knight’s Resolve, where the damage buff will also apply to other weapons without that skill.
Adjusted the visual effect of Unseen Form spell.
Deleted the Ragged armor set from the game which was mistakenly obtainable in previous patch.
Fixed a bug that causes some hostile NPCs to drop Furlcalling Finger Remedy.
Fixed a bug that causes incorrect sound effect to play in some situations.
Fixed a bug which causes visual animation and hitboxes to not be displayed correctly on some maps.
Fixed bugs which causes incorrect visual and behavior for some enemies.
Fixed a bug that causes incorrect stat parameter for some armor.
Text fixes.
Other performance improvement and bug fixes.

Balance changes

Increased the drop rate of Smithing Stone for some enemies.
Added Smithing Stone to some early game shop line up.
Increased shield’s effectiveness.
Increased the damage for all offensive cracked pot items.
Increased the damage for the following items: Spark Aromatic/Poison Spraymist.
Increased the effect duration for the following items: Uplifting Aromatic/ Ironjar Aromatic.
Increased HP healing for Torrent when using the following items: Rowa Raisin/ Sweet Raisin/ Frozen Raisin
Reduced FP consumption and increased the damage of the following sorceries: Glintstone Cometshard/ Comet/ Night Comet
Increased the damage of the following sorceries: Gravity Well/ Collapsing Stars/ Crystal Barrage
Decreased FP consumption of the following sorceries: Star Shower/ Rock Blaster/ Gavel of Haima/ Founding Rain of Stars/ Stars of Ruin/Greatblade Phalanx/Magic Downpour/ Loretta’s Greatbow/ Loretta’s Mastery/ Carian Greatsword/ Carian Piercer/ Shard Spiral
Raised projectile speed and range of Great Glintstone Shard
Decreased Ash of War, Hoarfrost Stomp’s damage and increase cast time.
Increased Ash of War, Bloody Slash’s self-inflict damage while slightly lowering the damage and increasing the cast time.
Decreased weapon skill, Sword of Night and Flame’s damage.
Increased FP consumption and lower duration of Ash of War, Barricade Shield.
Changed FP consumption timing of Ash of War, Prelate’s Charge.
Decreased the damage of spirit summoned when using the item Mimic Tear Ash and changed the spirit’s behavior pattern.
Other enemy and weapon balance changes


Valorant Champions Tour APAC 2022: All You Need To Know

Calling all Valorant fans, get ready for the VCT Asia Pacific (APAC) 2022 season. After an explosive first year ofÂ  VALORANT esports, the VALORANT Champions Tour is back and bigger than ever. The VCTÂ  APAC circuit will feature more teams, higher stakes and an updated competitive schedule thatÂ  will keep you on your toes!Â
Valorant Champions Tour APAC 2022: NEWLY ADDED REGIONSÂ
South Asia and Oceania will now play alongside Southeast Asia markets in the APAC circuit, bringing the total number of participating regions to eight. This inclusion also means that players from South Asia and Oceania will now fall under the APAC residency rule and will no longer be counted as imports.Â Â
Total competitive markets include Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Asia, Oceania, Singapore/Malaysia and Taiwan/Hong Kong.Â Â
Valorant Champions Tour APAC 2022: COMPETITIVE FORMATÂ
The VCT 2022 season is structured around 3 global events, Masters 1, Masters 2 andÂ  Champions. From the APAC level, teams can expect to fight through a three-stage competitive format for the chance to compete at global events.Â

Local Challengers: Teams will participate in local-level tournaments for a chance to secure a seed at the Regional Playoffs.Â Â
Regional Playoffs: Teams that qualify for Playoffs will compete for Circuit Points. Those with high enough points will be invited to Global Events.Â
Global Events: These international events come with prestige, high prize pools and massive Circuit Point pools.

Valorant Champions Tour APAC 2022: SLOT ALLOCATIONÂ
Regional allocations are split across a 20-team competitive format. Seeds are determined by the size of the competitive player base in each region. Slot allocations by region are as follows:
Market: Seed

Thailand: 3
Philippines: 3
Indonesia: 3
Vietnam: 3
Singapore/Malaysia: 3
Taiwan/Hong Kong: 2
South Asia: 2
Oceania: 1

Valorant Champions Tour APAC 2022: REGISTRATIONÂ
Team registration in Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore/Malaysia andÂ  Taiwan/Hong Kong for the VCT APAC Challengers 2022 will happen on this registration platform.Â Â
South Asia and Oceania team registrations will take place on Nodwin Gaming and Let’s Play Live websites respectively.Â
Once registered, players will receive information about the upcoming Open Qualifiers from their local market operator.Â
Keep watching the PlayVALORANT.com website for the latest news and check in on the VALORANTesports.com website for schedule details.


New Pixar Trailer For Turning Red Is A-Mei-Zingly Adorable & Dorky

Pixar just dropped the official trailer for its new 3D animated film Turning Red, which is about an Asian 13-year old girl named Mei Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) who can transform into a giant red panda when she gets too excited. Or anxious. Which is basically almost every day in her life because being a teenager in the 90s has its own sets of issues and quirks.
It’s clearly a metaphor for teenagers hitting puberty, with a narrative nod on how Asian kids have to deal with living with tiger moms, which in this context is voiced by Sandra Oh. The film’s coming out on 11th March, 2022. Here’s the trailer, complete with boy band music which actually makes sense given the 90s boyband craze back in the day. Before the Koreans took over and all that.


Fall Guys Is Getting A Sonic Costume

Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Mediatonic have announced a collaboration with Sega in commemoration with the Japanese company’s 60th anniversary.
AÂ Sonic The Hedgehog-inspired costume is coming toÂ Fall Guys: Ultimate KnockoutÂ on 14 October 2020. It will be available for purchase via the in-game store for the price of 10 crowns, which is a pretty hefty price.
Check out the Fall Guys Sonic skin below (courtesy of Gematsu):

Fall Guys Ultimate KnockoutÂ Season 2 launches on 8 October 2020.

We're going live now:https://t.co/dcCNmqMatZWATCH FOR A SURPRISE!@SEGA @SEGA_Europe https://t.co/8qxHWXqZNi— Fall Guys… FREE FOR ALL! ? (@FallGuysGame) October 12, 2020


Final Fantasy XVI Is 95 Percent Complete, Release Date To Be Announced Later This Year

In an interview with Famitsu, Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida, lead director Hiroshi Takai, and creative director/lead scenario writer Kazutoyo Maehiro confirmed that the game is 95 percent complete. They also confirmed that the game will likely receive a proper release date later within this year (2022).
According to them, the developers are currently working on polishing the game; debugging it and fixing any major bugs. Perhaps we’ll get a release date during The Game Awards 2022 in December 2022? Fingers crossed.
Final Fantasy XVI is slated to launch for the PS5 as a timed exclusive sometime in summer 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


[Rumour] Resident Evil 3 Remake Dev Is Working On An Even Larger Remake Project

The Resident Evil 3 Remake is almost upon us, but it seems like one of the supporting studios who worked on the game is already developing its next major project, which is being described as an even larger Remake project based on a Capcom IP.
As originally reported by VGC, former Platinum Games CEO Tatsuya Minami appears in the credits for the Resident Evil 3 Remake as an executive producer for the game. However, the most interesting thing about that is that Minami is credited under his new studio, M-Two Inc.
While Minami’s M-Two Inc. merely contributed to the development of the Resident Evil 3 Remake, sources from VGC are reporting that the developer is already working on an even larger Remake project for Capcom.
If it does turn out to be true, what Remake project could potentially be ‘larger’ than the Resident Evil 3 Remake? There are multiple answers to that. Some gamers might say that it’s a Dino Crisis Remake or Reboot, while others could even say that it’ll a Resident Evil 4 Remake.
According to Youtuber and Yai Gameworks developer Ryan ‘Dusk Golem’ on Twitter, M-Two Inc.’s mysterious Remake project won’t be Dino Crisis or Resident Evil Code Veronica.

This will be Capcom’s 2022 game if all works out btw. I also will repeat this: It’s not Code Veronica remake.https://t.co/Yg5Gv921q6
â€” AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) March 30, 2020
All of this should be taken with a grain of salt for now, as Capcom has yet to announce anything official at the time of writing. Frankly, though, a new Onimusha game would be extremely great, especially with the current obsession for Soulsborne-like titles.
The last mainline title in the franchise was 2006’s Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams, so it’s definitely long overdue. You could also consider 2019’s Onimusha: Warlords remaster of the first instalment to be the latest title, but I definitely don’t.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m92n8ptaKA&w=560&h=315]


Persona 3 Music & Other Persona Soundtracks Added To Streaming Services

Sega and Atlus have announced that soundtracks from the various Persona games and concerts are now available for the first time on music streaming platforms such as Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify.
These include the following titles and live performances:

Persona 3 Portable
Persona 3 Dancing In Moonlight
Persona 5 Dancing In Starlight
Persona Dancing P3 Dancing & P5 Dancing Soundtracks
Persona Super Live 2017

Persona Dancing

These are the soundtracks of the Persona Dancing series, where you can enjoy Persona sounds remixed by gorgeous artists, including the Atlus Sound Team.

Persona 3 Dancing Streaming
Persona 5 Dancing Streaming
Persona 3 Dancing & Persona 5 Dancing Streaming

Persona 3 Portable

The Persona 3 Portable original soundtrack includes background music exclusive to the female protagonist of the game, with vocals from Mayumi Fujita. The long version of “Soul Phrase,” the opening for P3 Portable, is also included.

Persona 3 Portable Streaming

Persona Super Live 2017

The album for “Persona Super Live P-Sound Bomb!!!! 2017: Witness the Harbour’s Crime” held at Yokohama Arena is now available for streaming. The exclusively mixed “P_SB2017 Everyday Mix (Beneath the Mask/Signs Of Love/When The Moon’s Reaching Out Stars)” is also included.

Persona Super Live 2017 Streaming

Fans of the franchise don’t want to miss the awesome music, especially after playing the games.


Oshi no Ko Episode 1 Will Be A Modern Classic In Anime

Love can be expressed in many different ways, even if that means telling a few lies here and there. And when it comes to the cutthroat world of entertainment, lies can sometimes be the key to survival.
This is the main theme of the highly anticipated Oshi no Ko anime, which had one of the best premieres I’ve ever seen!

The premiere was so good that it felt like a full-length movie rather than just two episodes spliced together. The production was top-notch, from the direction to the character designs and sound. Every aspect of the show was flawless and kept me engaged from start to finish. The pacing was great too, with each character given enough time to tell their story and show their growth.
I do have a bit of a confession to make, the manga is one of my favourites of all time and Aka Akasaka is certainly in my top three mangakas. When episode 1 was released, I was excited to see how the story would be adapted. I wanted the series to be perfect, so I was watching closely for any missteps. But I have to say, I couldn’t find anything wrong with it! The premiere was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, and it had everything I was hoping for.

What makes me excited about Oshi no Ko is that it brings a fresh perspective to the idol genre. Aka Akasaka, the creator of the manga, added a unique twist by incorporating mystery and fantasy elements while shedding light on the industry’s dark side. The show reveals how the industry is governed by money, leading to the prevalence of lying and covering up scandals. It also educates viewers on how TV shows and casting work and how agencies push their talents to advertisers.
But Oshi no Ko is not just a show about the glitz and glam of the idol industry. It also focuses on what happens behind the scenes, exposing both the glory and horror of the business.
The show aims to humanize idols, showcasing their flaws and mistakes, and how these mistakes can have lasting consequences. This is why the line, “Idols are objects of worship. They sparkle through the magic of lies,” really resonates with me, as it makes me question whether the news about celebrities going on hiatus or taking a break is actually true or just a cover-up.
What I find brilliant about Oshi no Ko is that it challenges the common perception of the idol genre. It’s not just about charming personalities singing and dancing with a little bit of drama on the side. It’s far more complex and nuanced, which makes it a refreshing take on the whole genre.

True Tragedy

If you’re trying to avoid spoilers for Oshi no Ko’s premiere, now might be a good time to stop reading. But if you don’t mind knowing what’s up, then let’s talk about the show’s first half. It was clear right from the beginning that death was going to be a major theme, with Goro being murdered and Sarina on the brink of death. We’ve seen other idol shows like Idoly Pride, Selection Project, and Phantom of the Idol deal with the death of their own “legendary idols”, but Oshi no Ko takes things to a whole new level.
The show goes all out in portraying Ai’s death, even animating it in a stunningly beautiful way that pushes the limits of what animation can do.

I was fully expecting Ai’s death, but it still hit me hard. Even if you watched the scene on mute, the facial expressions of Ai, Aqua, and Ruby were animated with such precision that you could feel the heartbreak. The voice acting was also exceptional, with Rie Takahashi, Yumi Uchiyama, and Yurie Igoma delivering a heart-wrenching performance that had me in tears.
Takahashi, in particular, did an amazing job of portraying Ai’s carefree, happy-go-lucky nature, while also showing her softer side in the final moments. Uchiyama and Igoma were also fantastic, with Igoma, in particular, standing out despite being a rookie voice actress. And let’s not forget about Megumi Han, who had a brief but outstanding performance as Kana.

Anime of the Year?

Oshi no Ko is undoubtedly one of the most hyped anime of the year. In fact, it was voted as the most anticipated anime in numerous polls and snagged the top spot in its debut week. Its popularity is apparent, with it currently holding the top spot on MyAnimeList and its opening song’s music video hitting a million views on YouTube in just eight hours. Fans on Twitter can’t stop talking about it either. The premiere episode was undoubtedly amazing, but I understand that it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you’re not into idols or show business in general.
However, my biggest concern is that the premiere has set the bar too high, and future episodes may not live up to it. We’ve got ten more episodes to go, and if the quality starts to dwindle, it could end up being remembered as a one-hit-wonder. I hope that’s not the case, though. I’m rooting for Oshi no Ko to keep delivering the same level of quality that it did in the premiere, and if it does, it could very well become a modern classic in the anime world.
This might be nitpicking but my only other complaint is… Aqua’s hair as a teen. It looks NOTHING like how it does in the manga and although it’s the only issue I have, and that it’s a small one at that, I feel it changes his vibe completely. When I look at him, I don’t see the Hoshino Aquamarine that I know from the manga, but I digress.

Words cannot describe just how excited I am to see how they will adapt the rest of the series. I honestly haven’t been this hyped for an anime in a very long time. The premiere episode is available for streaming on Netflix and HIDIVE in North America and Europe.


[Rumour] Battlefield 6 Screenshots Leak Ahead Of Official Reveal

Images from Battlefield 6 have purportedly been leaked ahead of the game’s official reveal. These images depict big storms, a rocket ship, helicopters, beaches, and more.
As originally reported by VGC,Â these images, which you can seeÂ hereÂ andÂ here as AI upscaled versions, were posted on social media by Tom Henderson.
Henderson has previously published several Battlefield 6 reports in the past and now he has confirmed that these images are apparently real. These images also match the sketches Henderson drew of these very same scenes back in April 2021 that were from a teaser trailer slated to be released at some point in the future.
In his tweets, Henderson wrote:
“I’m not going to RT or share for obvious reasons…
But yes, the 2 #BATTLEFIELD images that have been leaked in the past hour are real.
I’m not sure why the leaker has decided to capture the exact same shots (although the heli shot is a few frames out) but the screen grabs where likely captured via zoom or something like that –
Which explains the low quality. We’re not long away now :)”

I'm not sure why the leaker has decided to capture the exact same shots (although the heli shot is a few frames out) but the screen grabs where likely captured via zoom or something like that – Which explains the low quality.
We're not long away now 🙂
— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) May 1, 2021

Battlefield 6 (or whatever its eventual title will be) is currently planned for a 2021 release, along with a confirmed mobile game that’s coming in 2022. This upcoming Battlefield will not only be the first in the franchise for next-gen consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but it will also be the first new entry since 2018’s Battlefield 5 or Battlefield V.
Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei.


Capcom Cup 2021 Cancelled Due To COVID-19

Sad news for fighting game fans: Capcom has cancelled its upcoming offline fighting game tournament for 2021.
Capcom Cup 2021 will not be happening this February due to rising COVID-19 cases. Instead, an online finale will be held instead. Here’s the official statement:
“With rising cases of COVID-19 including the Omicron variant causing uncertainty and complications globally, Capcom once again finds itself in the difficult position of having to cancel CAPCOM CUP. The team did not come to this decision lightly, as we know what CAPCOM CUP means to the community and the players who trained so diligently to qualify. The entire esports team offers our sincerest apologies. Please know we share your frustration, as we wanted nothing more than to have this event return in a big way, but the health and safety of the players and everyone involved is our highest priority.
The CAPCOM CUP VIII event, which was scheduled to be held in the United States in February 2022, will be cancelled. However, as an alternative, Capcom will produce an online season final event featuring the players who have won the right to participate in CAPCOM CUP VIII. Stay tuned for more information.
The Street Fighter League: World Championship 2021, a competition between the top two teams from the Street Fighter League” Pro-US 2021 and Street Fighter League: Pro-JP 2021, was scheduled to be held in February 2022 during CAPCOM CUP VIII. The Street Fighter League: World Championship 2021 will also be cancelled.”

Due to the rising cases of COVID-19 and after careful consideration, Capcom once again finds itself in the difficult position of having to cancel #CAPCOMCUP. We will be producing an online season final similar to last year. #CPT2021 #SFL2021 details following: pic.twitter.com/BwW8YqN9F4
— Capcom Fighters (@CapcomFighters) January 7, 2022

That sucks, but safety does come first, especially with the new COVID variant cases running amuck like a Blanka ball. Here are the Asian players who have qualified for this year’s Capcom Cup.

Infiltration
DingChunQiu
NL
Mago
Oswald
Daigo
Higuchi

We do know that Brazilian player Robinho will not be participating in all Capcom Pro Tour events (and possibly all fighting game tournaments) due to his alleged sexual assault claims he confessed to online during a fighting game Twitch stream.

Can't say I'm proud to contribute to the FGC with this translation, but here goes.?A bit of context to our viewers:Robinho is a Brazilian SFV proplayer that got qualified to the CPT.He was previously involved in a vaccination controversy, and now he brought this up mid-stream pic.twitter.com/SrFDd3sIpx
— Cruz (@CruzaderOnline) January 6, 2022

pic.twitter.com/2wehizbPmN
— Capcom Fighters (@CapcomFighters) January 7, 2022


Troublemaker Raise Your Gang Is Not The Indonesian Bully Game We Wanted

Platforms: PC
Genre: Beat-Em-Up, Adventure, Action RPG, School
It’s been almost two decades (!) since the release of Rockstar Games’ Bully game. However, perhaps due to the controversial nature of the game, the genre (action adventure or open-world beat-em-up games in school settings) hasn’t really sparked many copycats or clones like GTA has. Troublemaker Raise Your Gang from Indonesian developer Gamecom Team attempts to replicate the best of Bully with local flavour but does it succeed? Read on to find out.
School Fight

The best thing about Troublemaker Raise Your Gang is its unique and authentic Indonesian school setting, with the characters even speaking multiple Indonesian languages, from Bahasa Indonesia, Javanese, Sundanese and more. This reflects the diversity of the people living in Indonesia and it’s great that the characters in this game represent those demographics. It’s not every day that we get to see an Indonesian or Southeast Asian school setting in a game, so kudos to the developers for recreating that.
The overall plot in the game doesn’t make much sense, it’s your typical edgy and over-exaggerated Asian school drama. You know, like the ones you see in the Crow’s Zero franchise and Tokyo Revengers manga/anime from Japan, as well as the recent Malaysian hit series, Project High Council. You don’t really see this much in American school settings, but the school settings in Asia and Southeast Asia often depict these rowdy “gangster” students trying so hard to be cool and badass by fighting through school to show how tough they are without any concrete or logical reason. They just fight to be popular or stay at the top of the social food chain. That’s exactly how it is in Troublemaker Raise Your Gang.
Another praiseworthy aspect of Troublemaker Raise Your Gang is the unique local-style artwork used for the dialogue scenes and cutscenes. They’re somewhat inspired by JRPGs like the Persona series, but with Southeast Asian/Indonesian-style art that you see in local comics from the region. Too bad they couldn’t translate that into the in-engine visuals for the game itself, since everything looks decent (powered by Unreal Engine) but a bit too bland and unmemorable. Fortunately, the characters in the game are quite endearing and I grew to like them by the time the game ends.
You don’t care about the plot but you’re here to fight and beat up other school kids, right? Unfortunately, the weakness of this game is its combat and gameplay. Obviously, that’s bad, considering well, Troublemaker Raise Your Gang is a video game.
A For Effort

Seriously, you’re better off replaying Bully or any of the Yakuza/Like A Dragon games if you want to have fun with satisfying 3D brawler beat-em-up combat. That’s because you won’t find any in Troublemaker Raise Your Gang. From the tutorial in the beginning, the combat in Troublemaker Raise Your Gang already feels so janky, imprecise and unsatisfying. Why is that? Firstly, it’s too simplistic. There are no elaborate combos to execute. On an Xbox controller, you press X and A buttons for light and heavy attacks. The B button is to parry/counter, and that’s all I did from the beginning of the game to the very end (around five hours long).
Okay, sure, there are super moves you can unlock and unleash during combat, but due to how janky the combat feels, none of these feels as powerful as they should be. Also, they do so little damage that it boggles the mind why they’re meant to be super attacks at all, especially since you need to build up a meter before you can execute these so-called Sick Moves.
Still, that’s not the worst of it. Most 3D brawler beat-em-ups, including the aforementioned Bully and Yakuza games, feature the ability to grapple enemies and usually execute spectacular-looking attacks with them. You know, like in Bully, you can grapple enemies and throw them or interact with the environment (like tossing them in bins). Unfortunately, Troublemaker Raise Your Gang does NOT have the ability to grapple at all. The protagonist, Budi, can’t grapple. There’s no button to grapple.

All you can do is punch and kick and execute Sick Moves. That’s all the combat amounts to, so you can probably guess how extremely repetitive the game gets even after a few fights. If you add the jankiness and the fact that upgrades don’t noticeably do much to improve your character’s attacks (attacks do so little damage to bosses), it can get boring and frustratingly annoying just spamming A and X until the enemy is eventually defeated. Plus, parrying/countering enemy attacks feels so unresponsive that I found myself simply tapping the B button without caring for actually timing my presses like in other melee-heavy games.
Oh, and what is it with game developers and the urge to shoehorn in a forced stealth section in a game that doesn’t even feature stealth as an actual core gameplay mechanic? Troublemaker Raise Your Gang is guilty of that too, as on forced stealth section near the end of the game has me grabbing my head with frustration. Since the game doesn’t have any stealth mechanics, it’s almost impossible to properly gauge how far the enemies’ cone of detection is. This stealth section is the only part of the game where I actually experienced the game over screen. Several times.

Besides combat, there are rare sections in the game where you can free-roam around the school. And yeah, the game pretty much only features the same school setting for the majority of its playtime. During free roaming, you can talk to other students or play minigames. These minigames range from doing push-ups (by flicking the analogue sticks), card games, hide-and-seek games, and even one game that’s pretty much a Slenderman clone. The problem is that some of these are downright broken and unplayable. One minigame even forced me to exit and relaunch the game.
Last but not least, Troublemaker Raise Your Gang features horrible English translations/localizations. They get the message across well enough, but they often don’t make much sense, and there are Indonesian words sprinkled in from time to time. As a Malaysian, I could get the gist of what these translations mean but those not from Indonesia or Malaysia will probably find the English translations/localizations confusing, with grammatical mistakes and sentences that just sound unnatural when spoken aloud. Fair warning, there’s also strangely a ton of profanity. Almost every sentence has some kind of swear word in them, which is weird. I know high school kids sometimes cuss a lot but this is too much, almost Scarface-levels of comical.
Wasted Potential

Ultimately, while I’m sure the folks at Gamecom Team poured a lot of hard work into Troublemaker Raise Your Gang, it just isn’t a good game to actually play. It could have been a good game if the developers spent more time on making the core combat better and improving it, instead of focusing on whatever else they put resources into.
PROS

Unique and authentic Indonesian school setting and language.
Nice local art style.

CONS

Janky and unsatisfying combat.
No grappling moves in a 3D brawler.
Forced stealth section.
Upgrades don’t feel significant.
Bad English translations/localizations.

FINAL SCORE: 40/100
Troublemaker Raise Your Gang was reviewed on PC based on a review copy provided by the publisher. It is slated to launch for PC on 31 March 2023.


Ghost of Tsushima Has Sold 9.73 Million Copies On PlayStation Consoles

PlayStation and Sucker Punch has hit a couple of milestones with its epic open-world action-adventure samurai title Ghost of Tsushima.
The PS4 and PS5 game has hit 9.73 million copies in sales as of 3 July. This includes both the original game we reviewed and the Director’s Cut version. Other worthy stats include foxes being petted 75.18 million times, players spending 6,437.4 years on horseback, and 94.76 million hot springs being used in the game’s titular island.

This weekend marks two years since the release of #GhostOfTsushima! We are blown away by all of the support since then and so grateful for all of you! Thank you to everyone who has played and shared this journey with us!
Here are just some of the amazing stats since launch: pic.twitter.com/DMgzYGTih1
— Sucker Punch Productions ? Ghost of Tsushima (@SuckerPunchProd) July 15, 2022

This proves a good number of things: people will buy a console for a new game IP if it’s promising and has a talented team behind it. The game itself has received widespread appreciation in Japan, with the developers being named official ambassadors of the island of Tsushima. For more info on why Ghost of Tsushima deserves a full score on our site, head here for our review.