War Of The Visions: FFBE x Final Fantasy Tactics Collaboration Events Kicks Off

War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius has been out for almost a month now, and its highly-anticipated crossover with Final Fantasy Tactics has finally arrived. From now to 12 May 2020, players can jump into the free-to-play tactical turn-based strategy JRPG and obtain exclusive rewards/bonuses.
During the War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius x Final Fantasy Tactics collaboration event (that’s a mouthful), all players will be able to perform free x10 Summon from 22 April to 1 May 2020, with each one promising at least a Unit or Vision Card of MR rarity or better.

Let us hear your roars as the much-awaited collaboration with FINAL FANTASY TACTICS begins in #WOTVFFBE !
– New units: UR Orlandeau, UR Ramza, and MR Gaffgarion!
– Get free Visiore and up to 100 Free Summons from the collaborative events!
Check the in-game news for more details. pic.twitter.com/nad1jeMTaX
â€” WAR OF THE VISIONS FFBE (EN) (@wotvffbe) April 23, 2020
There are also new UR Units to collect as part of the crossover, including UR Orlandeau, UR Ramza, and MR Gaffgarion. Players can look forward to a login bonus, with daily rewards which include rare character enhancement materials and in-game currency.
In addition, various special quests will be running as well, where players will be able to earn special event medals to obtain character enhancement materials for UR Units Ramza, Orlandeau, and Gaffgarion.
A particularly-challenging quest called an Ex-Quest has also been added, which will reward players with the crafting recipe for Ramzaâ€™s sword, Nagnarok.
That’s not all, as the official Twitter account for War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius has announced that the game has been downloaded a whopping three million times, since its global launch in March 2020.

The Global version of #WOTVFFBE has been downloaded for more than three million timesâ€”a feat made possible by the community’s love and support!
Play now and join us as we celebrate this momentous occasion! Check the in-game news for more details!
Thank you for your support! pic.twitter.com/Ze5pSm95Rv
â€” WAR OF THE VISIONS FFBE (EN) (@wotvffbe) April 23, 2020
War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is now available for Android (Google Play Store) and iOS devices (Apple App Store).
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuWYzqi7Ni0&w=560&h=315]


Horizon Forbidden West Shows Off The Game’s Tribes In New Trailer

Horizon Forbidden West’s heroine Aloy will be busy working with and dealing with the game’s many tribes according to Sony Interactive Entertainment & Guerilla Games’ latest gameplay trailer.
She will be encountering tribes both strange and familiar according to the game’s narrative director Ben McCaw (via PlayStation Blog).
“From the border settlements of the Carja and Oseram, to the blighted fields of the Utaru in Plainsong, to the battle-worn Clan Lands of the Tenakth, new alliances and deadly enemies await.
Join us as we take a closer look at the denizens of the frontier, their lands, and their customsâ€”but do not expect to learn all their secrets. As Aloy will discover, the only way to unravel the mysteries of the Forbidden West is to explore it for yourself.”

Horizon Forbidden West will be out for PS5 and PS4 this 18th February.


Resident Evil 2 Remake Will Get PS1 ’98 Character Skins

You know what’s missing in the Resident Evil 2 Remake? No, it’s not the gore or the suspense, or the tension; far from it. It’s missing the 90s robotic-looking polygons. Thankfully, we might be getting our wish.

Players in Japan will be able to get the “98 Classic” costume for Leon and Claire in the Resident Evil 2 remake as part of a special Japanese promotion starting 25th January. For example, if you buy specially-marked PSN Point Cards, you’ll get the costume for free. Don’t fret: they’ll be made free for everyone on 22nd March.
There’s no word on whether it’ll be available outside of the PS4 version; I do hope otherwise because playing as blocky versions of our heroes in a 2019 high-res remake is just so off-kilter it deserves to be shared with the world.
Stay tuned for our RE2 review and guide in the near future.


Upcoming 2D Platformer Looks Beautiful But Resembles Cuphead Too Much

In the world of video games development, it’s very hard to find original ideas. That’s not entirely a bad thing. Taking inspiration from other successful games can potentially make your own game a lot more enjoyable. However, some developers take more than just inspiration.

Here's the trailer for our upcoming kickstarter campaign!#gamedev #indiegame pic.twitter.com/lWAJeULb3K
— Enchanted Portals (@PlayEnchanted) October 8, 2019

The developers of Enchanted Portals have aroused very mixed feelings inside me. They’re working on a game that wears the aesthetics of 1930s cartoons, similar to Cuphead. The character and enemy designs look great and the overall animation work is indeed beautiful. It’s very obvious that there are talented people working on this.
Once I got to see the gameplay, I felt a bit disappointed. It’s basically a one-to-one copy of Cuphead‘s 2D side-scrolling platformer gameplay. Why this saddens me is that it feels like they’ve got a bunch of skilled folks developing this game but they didn’t put in a lot of thought in the department of originality.
Aren’t they worried about being ignored due to sentiments of being considered just a clone or reskin of Cuphead? Perhaps the developers actually want people to think that. It’s definitely helping them get a lot of attention. We’ll have to wait and see if that attention is the good or bad kind.
The Kickstarter campaign for Enchanted Portals begins on 24 October 2019. The game is planned to be released on PC and Nintendo Switch. Check out the game’s Twitter page here.


What Comes After Is A New Game From One Of The Coffee Talk Devs

Earlier today, fahmitsu, a former Toge Productions employee and one of the developers who worked on the popular Indonesian game Coffee Talk, has announced a brand new game; What Comes After.
In collaboration with Indonesian indie developer/publisher Rolling Glory Jam, fahmitsu’s What Comes After is a side-scrolling adventure and a short heartwarming story about learning how to love yourself.
Players will help game protagonist Vivi in her journey on the train to the afterlife and back. Details are currently scarce, but What Comes After will feature:
A short heartwarming story that will stay in your heart and memory.A personal journey of learning how to love yourself.A tale filled with love and comedy.Colourful art to accompany your journey in the train not bound for the living.An easy to pick-up gameplay.

What Comes After is being developed byDesign & writing: @fahmitsuProduction & co-directing: @amatircrewCode: @igrirArt: @inyaaAudio: @Adhit_AndroidCo-writing: @strobunny With a beatiful cover art by @kroissan_!!Here's a phone wallpaper for the sake of Twitter algorithm! pic.twitter.com/hOoPSLVWhv— fahmi? | check pinned & wishlist our upcoming game (@fahmitsu) October 7, 2020

There’s no release date or window yet (as of now), but it’s coming to PC via Steam and Itch. In the meantime, you can check out some screenshots from the game below:


HBO GO & Warner TV January 2022: Our Picks & Highlights

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Iâ€™m sure you wonâ€™t want to waste time sifting through HBO GOâ€™s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming site updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so Iâ€™m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights forÂ HBO GO January 2022 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Euphoria Season 2 (10 January 2022)

Navigating teen life is difficult, and for 17-year-old Rue, the burdens of love, loss, and addiction are a heavy burden to bear. Set in the town of East Highland, where lives are closely intertwined, the second season continues to explore the challenges of growing up.
Created, written and directed by Sam Levinson, the drama series received three Primetime Emmy Awards for its first season, including Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series (Zendaya), Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Stars Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweenie and Jacob Elordi.
It premieres on Monday, 10 January 2022 at 11pm on HBO GOÂ and HBO (Astro Channel 411). Season 1 is also available on HBO GO)

Superman & Lois Season 2 (12 January 2022)

The Kents face marital and family struggles like any other, and tensions only rise when one of their twin sons shows signs of their fatherâ€™s Kryptonian powers. Despite moving back to Smallville, it remains to be seen how they will fare, even as new threats emerge while Superman struggles with his own abilities. Stars Tyler Hoechlin, Elizabeth Tulloch, Sofia Hasmik, Chrissy Beppo and Jenna Dewan.
It premieres on Wednesday, 12 January 2022 at 9pm on Warner TV (Astro Channel 712 / UnifiTV Channel 451).

Naomi (12 January 2022)

This DC drama follows Naomi, a teenaged girl, after a supernatural event that shakes her small northwestern hometown to the core. In her quest to uncover the truth behind this occurrence, what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes and lead her to the heights of the Multiverse. Stars Kaci Walfall, Cranston Johnson, Mary-Charles Jones and Alexander Wraith.
It premieres on Wednesday, 12 January 2022 at 9:50pm on Warner TV (Astro Channel 712 / UnifiTV Channel 451).

Peacemaker (13 January 2022)

Peacemaker, who made his first appearance in The Suicide Squad, gets to share his own backstory in this new series. Love him or hate him, Peacemaker is a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it. Written and directed by James Gunn, the series stars John Cena as Peacemaker, with Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Chukwudi Iwuji and Robert Patrick.
If you havenâ€™t already watched it, stream The Suicide Squad to catch up, and donâ€™t miss more great DC programmes, all on HBO GO.
It premieres on Thursday, 13 January 2022 on HBO GO.

The Gilded Age (25 January 2022)

From the creator of Downton Abbey comes a brand-new drama series, set in 1882 during the American Gilded Age. A period of immense economic change, it is marked by great conflict between the old ways and brand-new systems, and opportunities for huge fortunes to be made and lost.
Against the backdrop of this transformation, the series follows a young woman, Marian Brook. Moving from rural Pennsylvania to New York City after the death of her father, she starts a new life with her thoroughly old money aunts Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook. Stars Louisa Jacobson, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon and Carrie Coon.
It premieres on Tuesday, 25 January 2022 at 10am on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411).

Mortal Kombat (29 January 2022)

In this new cinematic adventure, the fearsome warrior Sub-Zero is sent to hunt down MMA fighter Cole Young, who bears the dragon mark. Fearing for his familyâ€™s safety, Cole appeals to Lord Raiden, an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm for aid and receives sanctuary at his temple. There, Cole trains with experienced warriors as he prepares to stand with Earthâ€™s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.
It premieres on Saturday, 29 January 2022 at 9pm on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411).

Those are just several selected highlights from next monthâ€™s offerings of new TV series and movies on HBO GO next month. Now you can plan your HBO GO watchlist for January 2022.


A New Ace Combat Game Is Coming From PokÃ©mon Developer

It’s a good time to be an Ace Combat fan. During the Ace Combat 25th anniversary retrospective program, Bandai Namco announced that a new Ace Combat game is currently in development via a joint collaboration with developer ILCA.
ILCA is best known for developing the upcoming PokÃ©mon Brilliant DiamondÂ &Â Shining Pearl, as well as working for other games such as the cinematics and environment production for Ace Combat 7 Skies Unknown and graphics co-development for Dragon Quest XI Echoes Of An Elusive Age.

In the video (translated via Gematsu), Ace Combat series producer Kazutoki Kono said:
â€œWeâ€™ve started work on a new project in the Ace Combat series.
Project Aces staff will of course continue to be involved in the development of this new project, but as we celebrate 25 years and three million copies sold, weâ€™ve come to understand we have many fans of all tastes.
Our small team canâ€™t handle it all alone, so weâ€™re looking to expand the Ace Combat team in a big way.
Thatâ€™s why we want to form a business alliance with ILCA, which will become more deeply involved in the Ace Combat series than ever before, and create a new Ace Combat.
We hope this opportunity will allow us to add even more staff to the Project Aces team.
More than anything, I hope fans are happy to know that the next game is underway.
With this new staff, weâ€™re creating a new Ace Combat; a new era. I donâ€™t know where weâ€™ll be in the next 25 years, but the Ace Combat series will continue, and to everyone who supports us and creates with me; I will continue to give it my all.â€
Unfortunately, it seems like it will be a while before we get more details about this project. Still, it’s good to know that the future of the Ace Combat franchise remains secure. We don’t really get many arcade flight sim combat games like these anymore.
In the meantime, you can check out my full review of Ace Combat 7 Skies Unknown here. Just yesterday, Bandai Namco also released a new update that added the following new fighters and skins into the game:
New Skins

Komatsu Special Marking 2017 Skin (F-15J)
6SQ 60th Anniversary Skin (F-2A)
301SQ F-4 Final Year 2020 Skin (F-4E Phantom II)

Additional Background Music for Multiplayer Mode

â€œMayhemâ€ (fromÂ Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War)
â€œGlacial Skiesâ€ (fromÂ Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War)
â€œRendezvousâ€ (fromÂ Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War)
â€œBlockadeâ€ (fromÂ Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies)
â€œTransparent Blueâ€ (fromÂ Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere)
â€œNaval Warfareâ€ (fromÂ Ace Combat: Assault Horizon)


Red Dead Redemption 2 PC Mods We Want To See

Rockstar recently released a new trailer for the PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2. With support for 4K resolution and unlimited framerates, there’s no doubt that even those who played the game on consoles will consider reliving Arthur Morgan’s journey in the not-so-wild Wild West this 5th November.
For people like me who didn’t particularly enjoy the “ride horse here, shoot people, ride horse back to mission giver” formula of the game, it’ll take more than just visual upgrades to convince me to get the PC version. I’ll only go back to being Dutch’s idiot if there are big changes to the game and what better way to bring big changes to a game than to mod the heck out of it.
So let me share with you guys what I’m expecting to see coming from the wacky and brilliant minds of the Rockstar modding community. I’ll split them into three categories: Model Swap, Quality Of Life, and Miscellaneous.
Model Swap
Play As Woody From Toy Story
I mean, he’s already in Sekiro. Image from IGN.
Look, you can’t call it a cowboy game if you don’t have the option of playing as the most famous toy cowboy in the world. I want to see Woody brave through all the harrowing and brutal offerings of the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 while his beautifully-painted brown eyes and unbreakable smile remain unchanged no matter the circumstances.
Perfect for a dishonourable playthrough.
Geralt With A Gun

When thinking of a horse-riding game protagonist that everyone loves, Geralt is the only other character I’d think of besides Arthur Morgan and John Marston. For maximum satisfaction, the mod should allow him to show two rifles on his back, so that we can roleplay the idea that one rifle is for humans and the other one is for monsters.
We use the latter to kill Dutch of course.
The Best Man To Rob Trains

Look, we need a Rockstar time travel crossover. It doesn’t have to make sense because most Rockstart games don’t make sense anyway. It just has to be fun and you know what would be fun? Carl frickin’ Johnson in Red Dead Redemption 2.
The icing on the cake should be getting a Dutch sound-alike to pull off a “All you had to do was follow the damn train, Carl!”
Quality of Life
No Minimap Navigation
Image from VGR.
One of the reasons why Red Dead Redemption 2 remains one of the most memorable a year later is thanks to how beautiful it looks. Unfortunately, it suffers the same exact problem that plagued The Witcher 3 when it comes to travelling from point A to point B. Players become overly dependent on the minimap and can’t appreciate the beautiful environments.
I’m hoping for a mod that puts something like GPS waypoints or makers into the 3D environment instead of on the minimap.
No Weapon Wheel
Image from US Gamer.
How many times must I tell you, game developers? Weapon wheels are for consoles! Some people might feel confident that Rockstar would ensure that weapons would be binded to individual keys for the PC version but look at the Grand Theft Auto V PC version. There’s a weapon wheel in there!
If Rockstar doesn’t do it right, I hope a modder will.
Miscellaneous
More Clothes!
Image from Just Push Start.
Imagine my disappointment when the final act of Red Dead Redemption 2 and discovered that the clothing options I had at that point were not much different compared to the ones I got on the first clothes-buying tutorial.
This game needs more clothes and I don’t care if it’s not going to be historically accurate. I want a full black suit for my man Morgan and let him go full John Wick in cowboy town.
Improved Wanted System
Image from US Gamer.
I don’t know if anyone else feels the same way but I thought the wanted system in Red Dead Redemption 2 felt somewhat unrealistic. In most situations where I’ve accrued a bounty, I find that I did everything I could to make sure I didn’t get a bounty and yet somehow somewhere somebody saw me sticking my hand in the cookie jar despite not being near a single soul near me.

I’m pretty sure I’ve got a lot of other mod ideas but I figured that it’s enough for me to just list down the ones I want most. What about you guys? Are there any mods you’d like to see in the PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2? Share with us on Twitter or Facebook!


A New Need of Speed Might Be Coming This November

The next installment to the Need for Speed series is reportedly coming later this year in November, after a two year hiatus.
The game will still be released this year in November, according to VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb on his Giant Bomb show, Grubbsnax. He also added that the game will focus support on current-gen consoles, being the PS5 and the Xbox Series X|S.
“If you are a Need for Speed fan who has bought a next-gen console, here’s some news; it’s next-gen only. They are shifting to next-gen only.”
The last NFS entry we got was Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered in 2020, with it being an even longer hiatus if you count Need for Speed Heat in 2019. In 2020, the franchise was handed back to Criterion Games after leaving the wheel to Ghost Games who developed the last four entries. NFS’ status was left in the air after needing to help DICE in developing Battlefield 2042.
EA COO Laura Miele originally claimed that the next Need for Speed will be released on the last generation of consoles, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but it seems plans have changed.
Grub also reported that the setting could be in Miami, which seems rather unlikely knowing NFS Heat’s setting of Palm City to be based on the magic city itself. He also failed to mention a PC version, but EA is known to support the platform through its Origin launcher and partnership with Steam through EA Play.
With the NFS series taking the backseat for the past few years, a new entry to stand up to Forza Horizon 5 is definitely bound to make a ruckus.


The International Electronic Sports Invitational Naraka Bladepoint Tournament Kicks Off Next Week

The International Electronic Sports (esports) Invitational Tournament sponsored by NetEase and its gaming program Top Clans, as part of the 2022 edition of the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week, will kick off on 28 November 2022. The tournament is the latest addition to the “Sports & Humanities” segment of the annual China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week.
The tournament will see players competing with one another in Naraka Bladepoint, a multi-player action-adventure game developed by NetEase Games. The title has accomplished a global sales volume of 10 million, with a sizeable chunk of it in Southeast Asia.
In early November 2022, a preliminary qualifying round is held online simultaneously in China and six ASEAN member countries – Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Cambodia. Over 2,000 e-sports enthusiasts tried their hand at the game against their regional peers.
Those who ace the qualifiers will gather in both online and offline forms for the invitational tournament, which has a prize pool totalling RMB 100,000. The Guiyang City of Guizhou Province will host the offline division of the tournament comprising Chinese players, while their fellow gamers from ASEAN countries will continue competing online.
In the meantime, an esports commentary contest for this tournament, targeted at college students from across China, will also take place. Held online, this contest will consist of preliminary, semi-final and final rounds. A total of eight contestants will be awarded for their mastery of the craft. It is supported by NetEase Games and its e-sports “NeXTalent Starlight” program, which offers e-sports talent recruitment, training and incubation.
Many of Guiyang’s famous tourist sites, such as Jiaxiu Pavilion, Qingyan Ancient Town and Yangming Meditation Site, will be integrated into the design of the virtual and physical studios of the event. During the tournament, gamers from both China and Southeast Asia will get to have a good view of this popular summer resort in China.


Crime Boss Rockay City Isn’t Worth Your Money Or Time

Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series X | S
Genre: First-person shooter
Crime Boss Rockay City is a game that wears many hats. It’s a first-person shooter that takes place in a digital city full of crime and celebrity cameos. Imagine being at a party where everyone’s trying to outdo each other with snappy one-liners, except nobody’s actually funny.
If that’s not your jam, there’s also a single-player mode where you try to take over the entire city. It’s like Payday, but with a lot more dying and restarting.
Crime Time is the multiplayer mode in the game that’s quick and fun but doesn’t have the same level of depth as Payday. Urban Legends is similar, but it has these little side stories that play out over a few missions. Unfortunately, neither mode really understands what made Payday great in the first place.
Crime Boss: Rockay City has a lot of stuff going on. But even though it tries to be a shooter, a roguelike, and a multiplayer game all at once, it never quite hits the mark. It’s like a pizza with too many toppings – you’re better off sticking with a classic.
The game’s biggest detriment

The biggest problem with Crime Boss: Rockay City is its lacklustre shooting mechanics. The weapons lack impact, and shooting baddies feels more like a chore than a thrill. Even worse, the guns are blandly designed, and the colours they come in are nonsensical.
As you progress through the game, the enemies do get harder, but it feels forced and artificial. The low-level gang members can only hope to get you with their numbers, while basic cops and security guards will just stand there and take it as you mow them down. But as the stakes are raised, you’ll eventually face off against S.W.A.T teams and heavily armoured juggernauts that can take a ton of punishment.
The whole thing feels like a missed opportunity. There’s potential for some exciting shootouts, but the lack of precision and the enemies’ lack of intelligence make the game a bit of a slog.
Cringe Writing

To make matters worse, Crime Boss: Rockay City fails at being a nostalgic throwback as well. The writing is filled with cliches, and the performances from the star-studded cast fall flat. Even Michael Rooker and Michael Madsen, who are typically captivating on-screen, can’t salvage the poor delivery and tired dialogue.
The game also struggles with misogyny. Vanilla Ice’s character, Hielo, can’t seem to decide how to refer to the women in his orbit, vacillating between treating them as property and calling them “Bitch” every few seconds. Unfortunately, he’s not the only character guilty of this, and the game’s attempt at capturing the ’90s zeitgeist falls flat.
To add to the disconnect, the weaponry in the game feels modern, with laser sights and other attachments that don’t quite fit the supposed ’90s setting. The music is also an odd mix, with Bomfunk MC’s “Freestyler” blasting from a boombox in one moment, and contemporary weaponry firing in the next. It all makes for a world that feels disjointed and resists immersion
So, remember how we talked about Crime Boss stealing a lot of ideas from Payday? Well, it does have a couple of unique features. In single-player mode, you play as Baker and complete heists to build up your own criminal empire. The money and loot you steal can be dumped into a pit to decorate your office and increase your prestige. You can also hire soldiers and upgrade your weapons to make your gang more powerful.

As you progress, you can level up and unlock perks for Baker and his team of middle managers, each with their own specialities. For example, Michael Rooker’s character Touchdown is focused on turf wars and can be upgraded to make attacking and defending easier. Other characters can help with recruiting new gang members or selling stolen goods.
You can also recruit AI heisters to join you on missions and level them up to make them more effective. This is especially useful for riskier missions because if your main character dies, your campaign is over, and you only get to keep the level-ups you’ve earned so far. With AI heisters, you can build up a gang that you can send on missions without risking your main character.
Despite its many flaws, Crime Boss manages to deliver an engaging experience with its mix of heists, territory battles, and story vignettes with a diverse cast of characters. However, the lacklustre shooting mechanics hold the game back from being truly enjoyable. It’s possible that the developers and publisher are aware of this, as the game is currently only available on the Epic Games Store with console releases planned for June.
For diehard Payday fans, the game’s issues may not be a dealbreaker, but for everyone else, there are better options for nostalgia and first-person shooters. Crime Boss: Rockay City can be found on the Epic Games Store, and we played it on PC.
Loading Simulator

Playing on my RTX 3060 laptop, I found myself waiting forever to load into levels with one day actually having me start and finish an entire movie all while in the same loading screen. Because of this exact reason, I had to Alt + F4 numerous times throughout my playthrough.
I also dealt with bugs when I initially booted up the game with a controller connected. Apparently, if a controller is connected when you boot the game up, if you want to switch to mouse and keyboard then you’ll have to restart the entire game.
Cash Out

All in all, Crime Boss: Rockay City is a game that falls short of its potential due to various issues. While the idea of building a criminal empire through heists and territory wars with a variety of characters is compelling, the poor gunplay and writing detract from the overall experience. Even the star-studded voice cast can’t save it from being a disappointment.
Despite its flaws, die-hard fans of the Payday series might still find some enjoyment in this game. However, for most players, there are better options available in the first-person shooter genre. Crime Boss: Rockay City is currently only available on the Epic Games Store, with console versions set to release in June.
In conclusion, Crime Boss: Rockay City fails to deliver on its potential and falls short of expectations. With a heavy focus on licensed music and celebrity voice actors, the game neglects important gameplay aspects such as shooting mechanics and writing. It’s a shame to see good ideas go to waste, and ultimately, Crime Boss: Rockay City is a disappointment.
Pros

Promising concept.
Baker’s Battle is pretty fun with its roguelike twist.
Young Michael Madsen

Cons

Lacklustre shooting mechanics.
Cramped levels.
Cringe writing.
Poor optimisation.

Final Score: 30/100


Puma Goes Nintendo With New Kicks

NintendoÂ and Puma have announced a new collaboration to celebrateÂ Super Marioâ€˜s 35th anniversary, with four pairs of themed trainers set for release on 27 November 2020.
The three main shoes are based on the three games in this yearâ€™sÂ Super Mario 3D All-StarsÂ collection. The â€˜Future Riderâ€™ is based onÂ Super Mario 64Â with a nod to the plumberâ€™s winged cap and also features the green grass and iconic brown blocks.

Puma also announced a â€˜Future Riderâ€™ that is decked out in classic NES colours, which is set for release on 4 December 2020.
Stay tuned on the official website here.


Ikaris Says An Iconic Avengers Line In New Eternals Teaser

We’re less than a month away from Marvel’s Eternals at this point, and Marvel Studios has released another new teaser trailer. While it uses mostly footage we’ve seen before, one brief scene does feature Richard Madden’s Ikaris saying one of the Avengers’ most iconic lines or catchphrases:
“Eternals assemble!”
The movie stars:

Angelina JolieÂ asÂ Thena: A fierce warriorÂ Eternal who can form any weapon out of cosmic energy, and develops a close bond with Gilgamesh over the centuries.
Richard MaddenÂ asÂ Ikaris: The tactical leader of the Eternals who can fly, project cosmic energy beams from his eyes, and has superhuman strength.
Kumail NanjianiÂ asÂ Kingo: An Eternal who can project cosmic energy projectiles from his hands.Â Enamoured with fame, Kingo becomes a popularÂ Bollywood film star to blend in on Earth.
Lauren Ridloff as Makkari: An Eternal who uses her cosmically powered super-speed to scout planets.Â She is the first deaf superhero in an MCU film and, as such, she is not affected by the sonic booms she creates.
Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos: An Eternal and an intelligent cosmic-powered inventor who secretly helps humanity progress technologically.
Salma Hayek as Ajak: The wise and spiritual leader of the Eternals, who has aided the advancement of human civilization and is able to use her abilities to heal. Ajak can communicate withÂ Celestials.
Lia McHughÂ asÂ Sprite: An Eternal who can project lifelike illusions. Sprite appears to be a 12-year-old child, but she is stronger and cleverer than she looks.
Don LeeÂ asÂ Gilgamesh: The strongest Eternal who can project an exoskeleton of cosmic energy. He becomes Thenaâ€™s partner in their exile from the other Eternals.
Kit HaringtonÂ asÂ Dane Whitman: A human warrior who wields aÂ mystical sword, who will later become the Black Knight.
Gemma Chan as Sersi: An empathetic Eternal with an affinity for humankind who can manipulate matter. She has been in love with Ikaris for centuries, and poses as a museum curator on Earth.
Barry Keoghan as Druig: An aloof Eternal who can use cosmic energy to control the minds of others. He becomes withdrawn from the other Eternals because he disagrees with their interactions with humankind.

Eternals is slated to premiere on 5 November 2021 in the US.
In the meantime, check out the teaser below, or head on over here for my breakdown of the previous latest trailer:


The Next Dragon Quest Game Will Be Out This September For PS4 &, Gasp, PC!

While most of us remember the Final Fantasy series as the de facto JRPG juggernaut, we should keep in mind that the Dragon Quest series is also up there in terms of recognition and size. Probably not in Southeast Asia and other English-speaking countries (before part IX came out for Nintendo’s handheld), but it still holds a place in many people’s hearts.
Good news for that minority: Square Enix recently announced that Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age will be out for PS4 and on PC. The latter platform is a monumental occasion for the series because it’s the first time one of the mothership titles is out in English for PC. So hooray, PC gamers! The game is scheduled to be out this September 4.
This version will come with a new Hard mode, camera mode, improved graphics, an overhauled UI, and the ability for your main characters to dash. The menu-driven combat still returns, though this time the battles are a little more active with your character moving around since you have the option to choose between free-form fighting and classic camera battle mode.
Check out the footage below for an overview of the game.

Do check out the lovely-looking opening film of the game as well. At the very least, it looks good in the aesthetics department. It might draw newbies in and make the series relevant outside of Japan like part IX did.

The game came out in Japan last year for the PS4 and 3DS. It sold 3 million copies since its release in the country alone because a Dragon Quest game release is considered a national celebration. Why do these games sell well in Japan instead of outside the world despite its remarkable calibre? That’s a story for another time, Kakuchopurei readers.


Phong Vu Buffalo and MEGA Esports Are Your SEA Reps For LoL’s Biggest Mid-Year Tournament

The Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is one of League of Legend‘s (LoL) highlight on its calendar. It happens to be the second largest international competition, just next to the World Championship itself. And this year’s tournament is going to be a doozy especially if you support regional.
Two teams from our neighbours are joining the tournament for the chance to strike gold. The teams are Phong VÅ© Buffalo from Vietnam and team MEGA from Thailand, and they will be facing big names such as SK Telecom T1 and Vega Squadron throughout the tournament.
With Phong Vu Buffalo bringing the Southeast Asian name, we’re surely going to root for them.
The tournament will have the Spring champs from multiple regional leagues coming from all over the world in the battle for glory. This year is extra special particularly because of the four most popular regions, North America, Europe, China, and Korea, are all sending their star squads.
When and Where?
The Season 9 MSI will be taking place in Vietnam and Taiwan. The play-in stage will run from 1 May to 7 MayÂ in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before moving to Hanoi for the main event group stage from 10 May to 14 May. The playoffs will take place in Taipei, from 17 May to 19 May.
The tournament will be streaming on Riot Games’ Twitch channel.
Watch live video from Riot Games on www.twitch.tv
Main Event Group Stage
The main event of the invitational will have six teams in the group stage with a double round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the playoffs.
Three teams are directly seeded into the group stage based on their regionâ€™s past results in international competition, with three more will qualify through the play-in stage.
Three teams have already qualified for the main event. They are;

G2 Esports â€“ LEC Champions
Invictus Gaming â€“ LPL Champions
SK Telecom T1 â€“ LCK Champions

Play-In Stage
The other three teams for the main event will qualify through a Play-In stage featuring 10 teams. The first round of the Play-In will have eight teams from the emerging regions. Two of them will advance to a secondÂ round featuring the champions of the LCS and LMS. Three of the round two teams will advance to the main event.
Round 2 teams

Team Liquid â€“ LCS Champions
Flash Wolves â€“ LMS Champions

Round 1 teams

1907 FenerbahÃ§e â€“ TCL Champions
Phong VÅ© Buffalo â€“ VCS Champions
Vega Squadron â€“ LCL Champions
MEGA â€“ LST Champions
Bombers â€“ OPL Champions
DetonatioN FM â€“ LJL Champions
INTZ e-Sports â€“ CBLOL Champions
Isarus Gaming â€“ LLA Champions

With big names like SK Telekom T1 and Team Liquid as well as our neighbours, Phong VÅ© Buffalo and MEGA, this Mid-Season Invitational might be one of the biggest and most interesting tournaments we’ve ever seen in League of Legends, mainly because we have two Southeast Asian teams facing off with other star teams in the Invitational.
Here’s us wishing Phong VÅ© Buffalo and MEGA the very best for their Mid-Season Invitational journey.


Pokemon Go Does Better Than Candy Crush Saga In First Three Years

Though it isn’t as talked about as it was during the first few weeks post-release, Pokemon Go is far from irrelevancy. Released on 6 July 2016, the game celebrated its third anniversary just last week, reaching an estimated US$2.65 billion in revenue (via Sensor Tower) in its first three years.
The mobile catch-em-all beat both Clash Royale and Candy Crush Saga which generated estimated revenues of US2.3 billion and US$1.8 billion respectively in their first three years.

Pokemon Go ranked No. 8 among all apps for worldwide revenue in June and so far has made US$395 million in 2019. That’s at least a 19% percent increase compared to last year’s first half.
All the figures above (including for other games mentioned) don’t include revenue from China since Pokemon Go hasn’t been released in that region. Despite that, the game is expected to pass US$3 billion before the end of this year.


The Xbox Game Pass Is 2020’s Best Console Exclusive

For more of the good stuff from 2020, head here.
It’s safe to say that the entire decade of entertainment is ruled by subscription services. Spotify. Netflix. Amazon Prime. Deezer. Even Disney is in on the action with the recent SEA push of its Disney Plus streaming service. Why sell their physical catalog when they can loan out a huge range of shows and music to watch and listen to per month? Toss in a free plan that lasts a few months before convincing people to fork over their credit card details for that sweet monthly charge.
Not only did customers get to expand their range and taste in films (via recommendations and curated content), but they also save space for their devices. With the decade’s technological advances for streaming, you can worry not about saving mp3s and mp4s onto your device; just stream it and enjoy it as long as your connection is decent.
It’s so successful, that Microsoft adopted the idea but made sure it fit with their framework of entertainment. The result? Xbox Game Pass, now at 15 million subscribers and still going. While the past few years of the Game Pass has been a work-in-progress, I personally feel that it came full circle in 2020. With a huge backlog of games and the option to use the service either on your Xbox One or PC, you are basically set for life games-wise. The US$15 monthly subscription fee (along with the free subscription incentive standard with similar services) does help.

It’s figuratively and literally a buffet of games, albeit in a digital form.

Even better, a service like Xbox Game Pass also allows more eyeballs onto indie games or the B-tier titles we’ve seen a lot of in the mid-2000s and late 2000s when the Xbox 360 and PS3 were butting heads. Most people wouldn’t go out of their way to buy a game like Dead Cells and A Plague’s Tale if it wasn’t waved in front of them as a free title. Sure, there are publications and word of mouth that help with the buzz, but after a year or so has passed? People will forget about it. A service like Xbox Game Pass will occasionally headline certain older titles for a bit, or at least be a recommendation for the Game Pass owner. And there’s the “Leaving Soon” column that reminds you that you might miss out on a free game if you aren’t fast enough to catch it.
As a result, you are incentivized to try it out; if the game is not your cup of tea, move on to the next title in the 100+ games catalogue it features. If you’re hooked, congrats: you’ve found a title to keep you entertained for a few weekends or so.

No matter what, you aren’t going to be US$60 shorter. Believe me, buying multiple games fresh off the shelves, especially for “premium” titles like a first-party Nintendo game that never devalues, gets very expensive fast.

If you fear that the Game Pass only has old games up for playing, you’re wrong on that count. The Xbox Game Pass lets you play titles that came out in 2020 or at least aren’t heard of until 2020: Doom Eternal, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Yoku’s Island Express, Ikenfell, Carto, Greedfall. The list goes on.

How did it come to this? Well, it basically took a gigantic failure and a good dose of humbling to make Xbox change its literal game plan. When the Xbox One flopped in 2014 onward, the company had to pivot their course. The PlayStation was already gaining more headway with the PS4 launch and subsequent E3 showings, which is why you see a lot of console war nonsense and s***posting mostly favouring Sony’s current-gen console and its games at the time.
There’s only one major flaw to the system, at least from our neck of the woods. If you live outside of the US, Singapore (which we are covering), and Europe, you might have a tough time subscribing it unless you have means to pay for stuff online internationally. Which I’m sure a lot of savvy people here reading the site can find workarounds for. But it does sting that up to this point, Microsoft and Xbox are still not giving official love to Southeast Asian regions.
Most of the Philippines, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Thai market will need to resort to third-party importing to get their Xbox Game Pass fix. Maybe said parallel import/grey market numbers are more than enough; maybe there isn’t much official demand. Maybe piracy is still a sore point in the Southeast Asian region. Who knows what their reasoning is? We can say that it is a missed opportunity to not give further Southeast Asian support, especially when you use the Xbox Game Pass as an amazing starting point to get gamers on-board the Xbox brand without any fuss.

Paying a small monthly fee for a 100 games you get to play without any drawbacks whatsoever, and having it installed onto your PC/console? It sure as hell beats paying US$60 or US$70 per game. This is especially with development costs going up to the point where companies feel justified adding an extra US$10 for next-gen games when they’re the same bloody title.

Just from these methods alone, Xbox has removed barriers to entry in the gaming hardware space, as well as the one in the software space. The company’s Xbox Series is still a factor, but the bigger and more important one is the Xbox ecosystem, heavily championed by this subscription. Just like how Netflix’s name is still prevalent despite the movies & shows it houses along with its in-house productions, so too is Xbox’s service with its own in-house titles (all the Halo and Fable games, Forza) and third-party companies like, oh say, Bethesda.Â

Like it or not, the Xbox Game Pass is an MVP of 2020, and will be a mainstay for the Xbox Series’ future in 2021 and beyond. I for one welcome this evolution with open arms.


Tetsuya Nomura Has Something To Say About The Kingdom Hearts 3 Leak

It’s hard to avoid early leaks of Kingdom Hearts III thanks to them pirates and people who leaked the early copy of their RPGs, presumably for review purposes. Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura and his team are aware of the issue, so here’s what he said regarding the leak via Twitter:
WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re aware that a small portion ofÃ‚Â Kingdom Hearts IIIÃ‚Â has been circulating online before its official release. We are also aware as to how this has all happened. WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re sorry to see this caused concern amongst our fans who are excited for the release.
The whole team has been working together since yesterday night (Japan time) to investigate what we can do to better this situation, but first we would like to ask that you do not share these videos.
The gameÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s epilogue and secret movie, which are the biggest spoilers in this game, are planned to be released at a later date just in case so they will not be shown before the gameÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s release.
We want everyone to be able to equally experience the full game after its release, so we ask for your continued support on this matter.
WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re also very grateful that our fans have been warning each other already about the spoilers. Thank you very much.
WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re one month out from the release. LetÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s enjoy the game together when it releases on January 29, 2019.
Classy response, for real. Please save your excitement of the game for yourselves until everyone’s played it for the next few months. The full message is below.

An important message for #KingdomHearts III from Director Tetsuya Nomura: pic.twitter.com/j9aVRFTS5B
— KINGDOM HEARTS (@KINGDOMHEARTS) December 16, 2018

Get your body ready for Kingdom Hearts 3 when it’s out 29 January, 2019. In the meantime, check out our preview here.


Spider-Man No Way Home LEGO Sets Reveal Interesting Details

Spider-Man No Way Home is slated to premiere at the end of this year on 17 December 2021, but we’ve heard next to nothing official about the upcoming movie, let alone a single trailer. Now, newly-revealed Spider-Man No Way Home LEGO sets might have revealed more about the movie than we expected.
However, let it be known that LEGO sets aren’t always accurate to the movies they’re supposed to portray. A lot of them sometimes don’t even feature in the actual movie itself. We’re still going to consider these spoilers because they might just turn out to be true, so this is your last chance to avoid spoilers.

Still here? Alrighty.
In the 76185 SPIDER-MAN AT THE SANCTUM WORKSHOP (official website), Spider-Man looks like he has a brand new suit. While we do know that Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will be playing a part in the upcoming movie, this situation is still bizarre.
We can see Spider-Man, Zendaya’s MJ, Doctor Strange and Wong fighting against what seems to be either a giant robotic Scorpion or a Spider-Slayer machine in the Sanctum Santorum. In the comics, the Spider-Slayer robots were constructed by Spencer Smythe to hunt down and kill Spider-Man, all with the financial backing of J. Jonah Jameson himself.
With J.K. Simmons already set to reprise his role as J. Jonah Jameson in the MCU, it’s certainly not impossible for Spider-Slayers to make an appearance, especially now that Mysterio has accused Spider-Man AKA Peter Parker of murdering him. Also, it could still just be a giant Scorpion, which is lamer in retrospect.
You can check out the LEGO set in question below:

Another LEGO set (that’s actually inspired more by Spider-Man Homecoming, as stated on the box, official website) features the return of the Vulture and a never-before-seen gold and black suit.

Recently, Andrew Garfield denied being involved with Spider-Man No Way Home. Guess we’ll have to see if he’s speaking the truth and if there’s any truth to the LEGO set above.


Scorn Will Haunt Us A Week Earlier

Originally slated for 21 October, the nightmare simulator that is Scorn’s release date has been brought forward to 14 October.
That’s right, developer Ebb Software and publisher Kepler Interactive have announced that their nightmarish hellscape of the game’s release date has been brought forward by a week and will be released on 14 October instead of 21 October.
Scorn takes players into an isolated, strange, dream-like world. Left unguided to fend for themselves, players must explore Scorn’s interconnected bio-labyrinth, learning its rules and mastering grotesque puzzles along the way as they come to understand their own predicament.
By uncovering secrets and gathering the strange bio-mechanical tools that seem to have been used by the civilization that previously called this world home, surviving might just be possible. Finding the truth, however, is an entirely different question.
Scorn will be available on Xbox Series X | S (day one with Xbox Game Pass) and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and GoG.


Here’s A List Of SEA Universities That Offer Game Development Courses

There are many gamers out there who dream of having a job in the video game industry. Of course, the road to getting a good job is preparing for it with the appropriate skills, knowledge and qualifications. To obtain all those, you’d need to study at a university, college or any Institutes Of Higher Learning (IHL). However, it’s not easy finding a university in Southeast Asia (SEA) that offers video game development courses for you to start your journey into the industry.
According to data provided by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation’s (MDEC) SEA Game Industry Report 2021: Insights In Industry report, there are many IHLs across SEA that not only offer game development courses but are also recommended by game companies themselves.
Check out the list below, divided into different countries (including Malaysia, Indonesia, Phillippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam):
Malaysia

Asia Pacific University of Technology &
Innovation (APU)
Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan
Kebangsaan (ASWARA)
Brickfields Asia College (BAC)
Clazroom College
Dasein Academy of Art
LimKokWing University
Multimedia University (MMU)
Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Perlis
Sunway University
Swinburne University of Technology
Sarawak Campus
UOW Malaysia KDU University College
The One Academy
Tunku Abdul Rahman University College
(TARUC)
Taylors University
UNDO Academy
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam
Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL)
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP)
Universiti Malaya (UM)
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
Universiti Teknologi of Malaysia (UTM)
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTH) Malaysia

Indonesia

Binus University (Universitas Bina Nusantara)
Bandung Institute of Technology (Institut
Teknologi Bandung)
Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN)
Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya
Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology
(ITS) (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nope member)

Phillippines

Ateneo de Naga University
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Manila
CIIT Philippines – Computer Science,
Multimedia Arts
Far Eastern University (FEU)
iAcademy

Singapore

DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore
FZD School of Design
Nanyang Polytechnic
Nanyang Technological University – NTU
Singapore
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Republic Polytechnic
Singapore University Malaof Technology and
Design (SUTD)

Thailand

Bangkok University
Chiang Mai University
Mahidol University (MU)
Silpakorn University
Thammasat University

Vietnam

SupÃ¬nfogame Rubicam

Several courses in game development include:

Game Design
Game Programming
Game Art
Post Processing
Game Development
Computer Science
Graphic & Multimedia Design
Environment Arts
Game Optimization
Unreal
Unity
3D design
3D Modelling
2D Animation Game Economy Design
Game Marketing & User Acquisition
Technical Artist
Networking Engineer
Specialist 2D/3D Artist
Creative Design
Game Production
Game Business
VFX Artist
Gamification
Digital Animation UI Designers
Multiplayer Games Programmer
3D Realistic Visual Animator
iOS Programmer
Game Data Analyst
Game Visual Effects
Artificial Intelligence
Systems Development
Concept Art

Further interesting titbits obtained from MDEC’s detailed report include the following important statistics:

The three most critical roles in game companies are programmers (27%), art (26%) and design (15%).
Less than 11% of women make up the majority of Southeast Asia companiesâ€™ workforce.
The average monthly salary across Southeast Asia for entry-level employees is at US$501 â€“ US$750.

For more details and the exact statistics, head on over here to read the full MDEC SEA Game Industry Report 2021: Insights In Industry report. If you’re looking for a place to start looking for jobs in the video games industry instead, you can check out our article on that here.


Shakedown: Hawaii Is Part Old-School GTA, Part Business Clicker

Platform(s): PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Top-Down Action Throwback With “Business Management”
Shakedown: Hawaii is an open-world top-down action game from Brian Provinciano, the man behind the much-lauded retro throwback Retro City Rampage. This pseudo-sequel of sorts takes the best, and worst, aspects of today’s gaming cliches and habits; specifically the addictive and mandatory attention-leecher aspects of a clicker game.
Paradise Lost?
The story is simple: run your criminal-slash-business empire through questionable means by offering protection rackets, devaluing land by torching it down, repoing cars, and sabotaging the competition. Also, being a dick in this version of Hawaii helps. Stealing cars, killing innocent bystanders for extra cash; nothing is sacred.
And then there’s the business aspects of the game, simplified down to “buy property if you have enough cash from your main job(s)”. As you play more of the game, you earn more money and up the value and daily revenue of your business. The more hours you spend playing the game, the bigger your empire grows.

Thankfully, this isn’t the case where you have to wait a single day for a paywall to reach its cooldown; you just need to keep doing the game’s short and punchy missions. At least about 24 hours or so to get to three million in-game. If only real life was as rewarding.
Punchy gameplay requires arcade-perfect controls, and thankfully Shakedown: Hawaii delivers that. You have a plethora of weapons to sort your destructive tendencies: grenades, SMGs, shotguns, and flamethrowers to name but a few.
Challenge-wise, you’re not going to die if your twitch reflexes are on the level of “getting through most of NES Contra with your default lives”. Even the more dramatic and tense of fights can be taken down without much thought due to the game’s generous save system and cookie-cutter enemy behaviour.
Grand Theft Adequate

Your tolerance of Shakedown: Hawaii’s clicker-baiting may be offset with the fact that the game handles its top-down action in a solid, breezy, and occasionally fun fashion. It will get old and mundane if you’re not gelling with the on-the-nose satire and aesthetics.
However, its mobile-esque method of grabbing your attention span and giving you some enrichment while your digital empire grows through carnage deserves a few hours of your time. And it’s only US$14.99; you don’t have much to lose from this throwback.
Pros
-Cute story about greed and crime.
-Fun action and solid controls.
-Charming and consistent aesthetics.
Cons
-So-so music.
-Game gets tiresome and old over time.
-Not that challenging.
FINAL SCORE: 60/100


Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris Confirmed For Nintendo Switch

Bandai Namco has recently announced the porting release of Sword Art Online for the Nintendo Switch. The title includes both the main game and the Apostle series #1 to #4 which were previously released as free updates. Players are now able to enjoy the RPG title with an expansive story on a handheld console.
Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris is based on the anime and novel series of the same name by Reki Kawahara which follows the adventures of the protagonist, Kirito, in the virtual world (run by next-gen gaming console) and the real world.

“Alicization” story arc takes place in the virtual world called the “Underworld”. The title faithfully follows the story up until the showdown with the final boss of the first half of the arc, The Administrator. The game then picks up Kirito’s adventures with his friends onwards, exploring an array of its own stories for players to immerse.
Follow Kirito and his allies, including new characters not seen in the novels nor anime, on more adventures, battles, and meaningful bonds in this much-beloved series. Check out the PV below, featuring the anime isekai RPG staples you know and love, but on the Nintendo Switch.

For more information, please visit the official website or official social media channels for more details. The websites are in Japanese, FYI:

Official website: https://al.sao-game.jp/special/nsw.php
Official Twitter account: https://twitter.com/sao_gameinfo


ESL One Returns To Malaysia This August

Malaysian Dota fans rejoice, as ESL One is coming back to Malaysia this August for the first time since 2018!
With the world finally opening up mean that us esports fans are finally able to go and experience LAN events once more. It’s safe to say that Malaysians are long overdue a Dota event as the last was ESL One Genting in 2018.
For those keen on attending, we’ve got you covered with all the details so far below:
DATE & VENUE

Date: 23–28 August
Venue: Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting, Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
Prize Pool: US$400,000
How To Buy Tickets: Available 10 July
Teams

To be updated.

Results

TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD

Group Draw
Group A

To be updated.

Group B

To be updated.

Schedule
Group Stage: 23–25 August
Playoffs: 26–28 August
Streams
To be updated.


Marvel’s Midnight Suns Delayed To Second Half Of 2022

2K Games and Firaxis have announced that it’s delaying Marvel’s Midnight Suns, the upcoming strategy RPG game that combines X-COM with card mechanics. And also the X-Men and some of Marvel’s finest.
Firaxis’ creative director Jake Solomon said that the game needed more work to be the best version of itself, so the company and its publishers are delaying the game to the second half of 2022, according to a Twitter post.
“We know many fans were looking forward to playing the game originally next spring, and this decision did not come lightly. We decided to push our launch because we need more time to make this the best game possible. We believe in our creative vision for Marvel’s Midnight Suns and want to do justice in delivering an unforgettable adventure set in the supernatural side of Marvel. These extra months will be used to add more story, cinematics, and overall polish and will be essential in helping us make our vision a reality.”

We have an important development update to share with our fans pic.twitter.com/ycNDCVtbwD
— Marvel's Midnight Suns (@midnightsuns) November 3, 2021

This seems like the wisest move, considering that March 2022 and the first half of the year by association is already really packed with new titles like Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Saints Row, Elden RIng, Dying Light 2, and more. As strong as the Marvel brand is, it’s easy for even high profile games to get lost in the shuffle. We’ll just have to wait a little longer for our superhero-filled tactics game featuring the new Ghost Rider.


Kakuchopurei’s Best Of 2019: Devil May Cry 5

After 11 years of waiting for a proper sequel, Capcom finally gave us the game we’ve all been waiting for. It isn’t just one of the best action games in 2019, it’s one of the action games ever made.

Everyone says that Devil May Cry V is a return to form for the series after the horrible detour that was DmC: Devil May Cry and they’re absolutely right. The fast-paced and stylish combat is polished to its absolute best, striking a great balance between simple basics and deep extended combos.
If you played Devil May Cry 4, then you probably hated all the backtracking that game forced you to trudge to. Thankfully, DMCV keeps the backtracking to a minimum. The addition of a third playable character, V, keeps things fresh thanks to his unique moveset.

The game runs on the RE Engine which makes it look really good and run just as well on both PC and consoles. In the sound department, players have nothing to worry about.

The usual mix of J-pop and demonic-sounding rock OST perfectly complements the satisfying sounds of gunfire and sword slashes.

Plus, its irreverent humour is on point. If you can’t enjoy combo-styling for that SSS-ranking followed up with a clip of Dante apeing the late King of Pop AND Bruce Lee when he gets a new weapon, you may need to reevaluate your definition of “fun”.
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/2470517092992331/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARASAm1qrFBGa5dKHT5fBWxGsnmnhslVQOV5iZjq0cWIAVAGDzVoMbD4AW6wxtT9ZvDg6WKk_sQ-1sF8eW-p7V9GMPB_5shnUgePG5NaUKOhqVdB7FjyPnq9un_jbZ2T6QxoImlWkmaBymF-rkdO2mmrpTNLi_d1Is69LF1tym6KsJ-ioBJs_mA0NGcwLkzt6S7CWLhklIO8u1_IYFJO2rKPRV5I7pav6ExVnUSe-DoY69lS8x8Yn8bGnQihFFDDyLJ8SnB48FflMM8rLe-l7Aqp_F24B9aXRCL26g1WPKX27WuuldjSmL_9icvyYkF9NdpfKK0ts4hXTBtM-pVwKByRRI1qXUCC-0z6IXz5&__tn__=-R


Super Robot Wars 30 To Get Ultraman & Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans DLC In Late 2021

Bandai Namco’s mecha crossover strategy RPG will be getting new mechas for players to toy with.
Super Robt Wars 30 will be getting a December DLC pack, title Downloadable Content #2, which includes Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans and Ultraman characters and mechas. Here’s the list:

Gundam Barbatos
Gusion Rebake
Mikazuki (pilot)
Akihiro (pilot)
Ultraman
Ultraman Seven
Ultraman Ace
Kyosuke (pilot)
Alteisen Riese
Excellen (pilot)
Weissritter

The DLC will also have the Super Robot Wars OG series mechas and pilots. Oh, and 13 additional Area Missions for fans to challenge themselves with.

Super Robot Wars 30 will be out for PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch on 28th October. The game’s DLC#1 pack will be out in November and will feature Sakura Wars mechas and pilots. In the meantime, check out this new gameplay video of the strategy RPG.


Overwatch 2: New Maps, Hero Missions & Updated Hero Designs

During BlizzConline 2021, Blizzard revealed more about the upcoming Overwatch 2, including new maps, more details about the Hero Missions co-op PvP mode, and even update designs for existing heroes. The last update we received about the sequel to 2016’s Overwatch was back in BlizzCon 2019.
Let’s see what’s new this time around….

New Rome And New York City Maps
Overwatch 2 Rome map.
We received our first look at two new Overwatch 2 maps; Rome and New York City. The Rome map will be the setting for one of the maps for Push mode, one of the new additions in Overwatch 2, while New York City was described as being “authentic” but with an Overwatch spin.
Overwatch 2 New York City map.
Overwatch 2 Hero Missions

Unlike the first Overwatch, Overwatch 2 will feature both PvP and PvE modes One big new feature is Hero Missions, which will be the game’s co-op PvE mode where players can level up heroes with RPG-like skill trees. According to Blizzard, there will apparently be hundreds of hero missions with a variety of enemy units, bosses, and updated versions of existing maps.
Players can also look forward to dynamic weather effects, including sandstorms, blizzards, and more, as well as dynamic shifts in the time of day. This will impact the game’s levels and environments, providing a different experience with each situation.

In addition, hero talents allow heroes to be played in various different ways, depending on the skill tree that a player picks. Check out an example of Soldier 76’s massive skill trees below:

Last but not least, there will be a bunch of new enemy types, including the Puller, who is reminiscent of the infamous Witch from the Left 4 Dead franchise.

Updated Hero Designs

Lastly, Blizzard also revealed the updated hero designs for several characters, including McCree, Reaper, Pharah and Widowmaker.

New Hero: Sojourn

What would an Overwatch game be without a new hero? During the Behind The Scenes video, Blizzard teased more gameplay of the new Overwatch 2 hero Sojourn. She’s a playable black woman who has a pretty sweet railgun and is meant for FPS players who are good with their aim (ala Widowmaker mains). Beyond that, there’s nothing else. Let’s hope they reveal her in a future character trailer.
You can watch the entire Behind the Scenes of Overwatch 2 video below:


Hololive VTuber Minato Aqua Will Star In A Game Of Her Own

VTubers are getting so popular to the point that they’ll be starring in their own games.
Minato Aqua will be leading the charge, as developer Entergram will develop and publish a console game starring the pink-haired VTuber who is known for her virtual maid persona and clumsiness. No specific console or platform has been announced yet; there’s even no release date set.
The news was announced during the VTuber’s One-Man Live 2022: Aqua Iro in Wonderland concert, which you can watch below if you’re into that sort of thing:

Given the VTuber’s love for singing catchy J-Pop songs and playing battle royale shooters like Apex Legends, perhaps the game she’ll be in will be a hybrid of both? I for one would love to see that combo work: think BPM – Bullets Per Minute but with anime, Vtuber maids, and J-Pop instead of valkyries and heavy metal.


New Company Of Heroes 3 Trailer Shows Off British Faction

Sega and Relic Entertainment have unveiled a new Company Of Heroes 3 featuring the British and their well-rounded repertoire. The Brits return fully revamped for single-player and multiplayer. Available as one of four factions at launch, the British are defensive powerhouses with plenty of depth for series newcomers and veterans alike.
Where the British command the most strength is their versatility in almost any combat scenario. With resilience (and a bit of stubbornness), their Pack Howitzer cannons, 4.2 Heavy Mortar cannons, and 6-Pounder Anti-Tank Gun can hold off the Germans in droves. An assortment of vehicles, like the Dingo Scout Car and the Humber armored car, can slice through enemy lines in the opening stages of combat.
A well-rounded fighting force isn’t complete without a number of Battlegroups: specialized units that each faction can call upon for specific tactics. The British can utilize the Nepali and Indian soldiers of the Gurkha, brandishing Thompson submachine or Bren light machine guns, making them deadly at close and long range.
Indian artillery rounds things out with explosive indirect firepower. These Battlegroups synergize with the core faction units, delivering the most strategically diverse Company of Heroes launch to date.
Company Of Heroes 3 is slated to release for PC on 23 February 2023. Get the Launch?Edition and?receive the Devil’s Brigade DLC pack featuring Legendary skins for Infantry, Vehicles, and other Legendary tier cosmetics.


Check Out The Last-Ever Xbox Game Pass Games With Gold For The Year

The Xbox Series X and S are new, but Xbox Game Pass games with Gold will still be a thing. Xbox just released the list of games with Gold for December 2020, the last month for this tumultuous year.
Here are the December Games with Gold:
Xbox X/S and Xbox One

The Raven RemasteredÂ (December 1-31)
Bleed 2Â (December 16-January 15)

Xbox 360 (compatible with newer consoles)

Saints Row: Gat out of HellÂ (December 1-15)
StackingÂ (December 16-31)

Do remember that you need to have Xbox Live Gold subscription to access these games on your Xbox Game Pass.


Sony PlayStation Partners With Discord

Sony Interactive Entertainment hasÂ announced a partnership with Discord to integrate the communication service with PlayStation Network starting from next year in 2022. PlayStation has also made a minority investment as part of Discordâ€™s Series H round.
In a blog post, Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan said:
â€œOur teams are already hard at work connecting Discord with your social and gaming experience on PlayStation Network.
Our goal is to bring the Discord and PlayStation experiences closer together on console and mobile starting early next year, allowing friends, groups, and communities to hang out, have fun, and communicate more easily while playing games together.
From our very first conversation with [Discord] co-founders Jason Citron and Stan Vishnevskiy, I was inspired by their lifelong love for gaming and our teamsâ€™ shared passion to help bring friends and communities together in new ways.
Empowering players to create communities and enjoy shared gaming experiences is at the heart of what we do, so we are beyond excited to start this journey with one of the worldâ€™s most popular communication services.â€
More information will be announced in the coming months.


God Of War Will Run At 60FPS On PS5, PS4 Saves Will Transfer

Sony Santa Monica has confirmed that 2018’s God Of War will run on the PS5 at a whopping 60FPS, making a near-perfect game even nearer to perfection. According to them, you can also just pick up from where you left off on the PS4, as saves will transfer to the PS5.
If that’s not enough, you can even play the older 2015’s God Of War III Remastered and transfer your saves from the PS4.
In case you missed it, we still donâ€™t know whenÂ the PS5 will be available in Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia, but we can already pre-order PS5 games if we want to.

You will also be able to transfer your God of War III Remastered saves to the #PS5!— Santa Monica Studio – God of War Ragnarök (@SonySantaMonica) October 26, 2020


Ex-Wild Arms & Shadow Hearts Creators Are Teaming Up In Mega Kickstarter Campaign

If you’re itching for a new Wild Arms or Shadow Hearts game in the next year or two, your prayers have been answered.
Wild Bunch Productions and Yukikaze, two new game developers consisting of ex-Wild Arms and Shadow Hearts series creators & developers respectively, are teaming up via Kickstarter. The two companies are launching a Double Kickstarter campaign for their respective games: Armed Fantasia: To The End of the Wilderness and Penny Blood.

In case you couldn’t tell by their names and artwork above, Armed Fantasia is the successor to Wild Arms while Penny Blood is for Shadow Hearts. Both games will share a mutual funding goal of US$750,000; this will ensure a PC release for each game. Stretch goals include current-gen ports (Xbox Series, PS5, latest Nintendo hardware). The Early Bird Combo pledge level will allow early backets to pledge for both titles at a discount.
That’s not all: the Kickstarter campaign will also use a “Combo Meter” that affects stretch goals across both games. If you pledge for one game, you not only add to that stretch goal meter but also the combo meter that fills up with support from both games. The more the Combo Meter builds up, the more content that is unlocked across both games.
Here’s an overview of each game:
Armed Fantasia

Armed Fantasia: To the End of the Wilderness tells a dramatic story that unfolds in a world hurtling towards destruction. Players take the role of a group of Pathfinders and, with trusted ARMs in hand, embark on a perilous journey across a sprawling Westernpunk wilderness.
In a far flung corner of this world lies the land of Londenium, where a young man named Ingram loses his grandfather; the final tether binding him to his hometown. With no other reason to stay, and in hopes of reconnecting with his childhood friend, Ingram sets out on a new adventure as a Pathfinder, a branch of adventurers that utilize the powerful ARM (Aether Reaction Maximizer) weaponry to dispose of Anomalies that ravage the land.
Ingram’s journey will lead him to cross destinies with many a new friend and foe, and become embroiled in a monumental battle that’ll strike through Londenium’s past and its future.
Armed Fantasia: To the End of the Wilderness allows players to experience the spirit of a large-scale party-based Japanese RPG adventure—crossing the great expanse and using their wits to overcome any obstacle in their path.
Featuring a gigantic World Map, players will race, leap, solve puzzles, and feel the momentum of crossing the land, sea and air in high-speed vehicles as they explore and follow the story. The World Map of Armed Fantasia will be packed with things for players to do, rendered with a unique look not seen in other titles.

Dungeon exploration focuses on utilizing each party member’s unique Gadget. Players must switch between Gadgets to solve obstacles standing in their way, embracing the sense of victory when they finally open a particularly tricky path. Traps and treasures lie in wait across both the World Map and its dungeons, requiring both the characters’ skills and the player’s wits to solve and escape in one piece.
Battles in Armed Fantasia: To the End of the Wilderness will be turn-based but maintain a quick tempo, based on the Cross Order Tactics system. Successive character actions play a key role in the Chain Order, and disruptive Force Breaks interrupt enemy turn order, creating engagements filled with tension and suspense that will push players to carefully consider their battle strategy.
“I was charmed by the fact that something like a Double Kickstarter could be a new option for game development, so I decided to lead a new team. But in order for us to pave our way forward, we need everyone’s support!” says lead game designer Akifumi Kaneko.
With a team of veteran creators from the Wild Arms series, Armed Fantasia: To the End of the Wilderness aims for an expansive Westernpunk RPG experience with a modern look… and whistling!

Penny Blood

Penny Blood presents a world twisted in gothic horror and nightmarish imagery rarely seen in Japanese RPGs. In Penny Blood, players follow the story of Matthew, an investigator who embarks on a dark international probe through the iconic Roaring Twenties, amassing allies and confronting trauma in a world twisted by cosmic horror, malice and mayhem.
Players will circumnavigate the globe, from the USA to Europe and Asia, and explore nations either recovering or basking in the wake of one of history’s bloodiest conflicts, oblivious to the turmoil that brews beneath the surface.
Penny Blood’s story begins with Matthew Farrell, a lone wolf private detective in New York working for the Bureau of Investigation. Despite hating the accursed powers he inherited from his father, he utilizes his fusion transformation abilities to hunt down monsters at the behest of the Bureau.
One day, Matthew is tasked with investigating a strange incident that occurred at a mental asylum in New York. After rushing to the asylum, he finds it teeming with grotesque, rampaging creatures. Utilizing his hidden power, Matthew manages to achieve a narrow victory.
In order to unearth the truth behind the bizarre incident, Matthew’s investigation will take him from America to the distant continent of Asia, including Japan and China, as well as to the far corners of Europe. Along the way, he will encounter those who fight for vengeance, those who seek to utilize the aberrant horrors for their own gain, and those who simply wish to destroy. Penny Blood tells the tale of a man who must become that which he seeks to vanquish.
Penny Blood’s overworld maps give a bird’s-eye view of cityscapes and towns that will teleport players to the 1920s, where they will experience the world as it was, unaware of the gruesome events soon to unfold.
From busy streets to haunting sanitariums, players will delve into carefully detailed field maps as they purchase items paramount to their quest, investigate supernatural happenings, and battle stygian monstrosities.
The easy to learn, difficult to master Psycho Sigil battle system combines traditional turn-based Japanese RPG strategy with twitch-trigger reaction time in order to maximize the potential of attacks, keeping players on their toes with every encounter. Players can embrace the darkness within by using Fusion to call upon the abyss and fight fire with fire, harnessing the power of the darkness to hurl demons back from whence they came.

Interactions with the demonic will affect the heroes’ Sanity Points. If players lose too many Sanity Points, their allies will succumb to madness, gaining strength and losing composure. However, that boost in power might be just what is needed to turn the tide in battle.
Returning to the helm as composer is Hirota Yoshitaka (of Shadows Hearts and Shadow Hearts: Covenant fame) to inject a sense of dread and eerie unease befitting of the atmosphere. And accompanying him is Akari Kaida of Breath of Fire 3, infusing a heavy dose of jazz into the Roaring Twenties setting.
“This is my second chance. Chances to make another game like this are rare, so please give me your support,” says lead game designer Matsuzo Machida.
With direction from Matsuzo Machida, character design by Miyako Kato and music and sound composed by Yoshitaka Hirota and Akari Kaida, Penny Blood promises to sink its claws into players as it revives the darker side of Japanese RPGs.


Here’s What You Need To Run Doom Eternal On PC [Update]

Doom Eternal is coming out later this 20th March, and it’s most likely going to be taxing on your PC if that’s the platform you’re playing on.
True enough, it will be if you want to run this beast of a game using the best settings. Here are the game’s system requirements for PC.
Minimum:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS:Â 64-bit Windows 7/64-Bit Windows 10
Processor:Â â€¯Intel Core i5 @ 3.3 GHz or better, or AMD Ryzen 3 @ 3.1 GHz or better
Memory:Â 8 GB RAM
Graphics:Â NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4GB), GTX 1060 (6GB), GTX 1650 (4GB) or AMD Radeon R9 290 (4GB)/RX 470 (4GB)
Storage:Â 50 GB available space
Additional Notes: (1080p / 60 FPS / Low Quality Settings)

Recommended:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS:Â 64-bit Windows 10
Processor:Â Intel Core i7-6700K or better, or AMD Ryzen 7 1800X or better
Memory:Â 16 GB RAM
Graphics:Â NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (8GB), RTX 2060 (8GB) or AMD Radeon RX Vega56 (8GB)
Storage:Â 50 GB available space
Additional Notes:Â (1440p / 60 FPS / High Quality Settings)

PC Ultra Nightmare:

OS:Â 64-bit Windows 10
Processor:Â Intel Core i9-9900K or better, or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or better
Memory:Â 16GB Â RAM
Graphics:Â Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (11GB)
Storage:Â 50 GB hard drive space

Long story short: if you bought a computer meant for video-editing this year that costs RM10k, chances are it may run Doom Eternal at 1400p and 60 frames per second. You can preorder the game right now if you’re up for some awesome arcade shooting.
Also, here’s a schedule on when Doom Eternal will unlock for PC gamers worldwide (via Steam):

In AU/NZ/Asia, Doom Eternal unlocks at 7:01AM Pacific Time on March 20 (12:01AM JST).
In Europe and rest-of-world, Doom Eternalunlocks at 4:01PM Pacific Time on March 20 (12:01AM GMT).
In North and South America, Doom Eternal unlocks at 9:01PM Pacific Time on March 20 (12:01AM EDT).


Modern Warfare II Season 1 Will Bring Back Shoot House & Shipment

Along with Warzone 2.0, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II’s Season 1 will also see the return of fan-favourite maps in Shoot House and Shipment.
Both maps are “reimagined” for Modern Warfare II, Activision said. These are smaller maps with a lot of action, especially Shipment, which is one of Call of Duty’s smallest maps.
Season 1 also adds a new battle pass, with an update. Players can now choose from different “sectors” of the pass, so they can choose to focus on progression toward specific items in whatever order they want. As usual, players can buy the battle pass outright as well.
In terms of new content, Season 1 adds four weapons and six total operators. One of the players is one of soccer’s “finest” players, this is likely a reference to Paul Pogba, Lionel Messi, or Neymar Jr., who were previously confirmed for Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0.
Additionally, Season 1 adds a new Spec Ops mission and the game’s first Raid. Activision said the raid will be narrative-focused as it continues the Modern Warfare II story in some capacity.
Finally, Season 1 for Modern Warfare II adds a new seasonal prestige system featuring more challenges and rewards, as well as the CDL Moshpit, which is a more competitive multiplayer mode. It is the precursor to Ranked play, which is coming in 2023.
For lots more on what’s new in Warzone 2.0, check out Activision’s full blog post.


Malaysian-made Ejen Ali-inspired MOBA Is Looking For Beta Testers

Listen up agents, I’ve got a new mission for you.
The folks over at Media Prima Digital and Common Extract are working on a new game called Agents’ Arena. It’s a 3v3 mobile MOBA where you can play as a number of the awesome characters from the Ejen Ali animated series.

The game is planned for a May 2020 release but the developers need your help. You can sign up to be a part of the closed beta testing program over at the Agents’ Arena official website.
In its current state, it seems that the game only has six playable characters including the main duo Agent Ali and Agent Alicia. If you attended Level Up KL 2019, you probably had a chance to test out the game’s 3v3 point-capture mode which is probably what you’ll be testing in the beta.
That’s all the details we have on this mission. However, I’m sure it’s more than enough for you skillful agents to get the job done. Good luck!


A 1MDB Scandal TV Series Is Coming From The House Of Cards Creator

The 1MDB corruption scandal remains unresolved and one of the biggest cases of fraud in history. Now, House Of Cards creator Beau Willimon and his producing partner Jordan Tappis are developing and producing a series based on Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, And The World, the bestselling non-fiction book about the 1MDB scandal.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter David Henry Hwang, a three-time Pulitzer finalist and playwright, will write and executive produce the project. They are also working together with SK Global, the co-financiers of Warner Bros.â€™ Crazy Rich Asians franchise.
Written by award-winning Wall Street Journal reporters Tom Wright and Bradley Hope and published in 2018 by Hachette Books, Billion Dollar Whale features an in-depth account of the 1MDB-laundering scandal which exposes a lot of dirty corruption amongst the wealthy and famous. The book focuses on the scandal’s alleged mastermind, who is now the international fugitive named Jho Low, and his adventures in Hollywood (financing Martin Scorseseâ€™s The Wolf Of Wall Street and being friends with Leonardo DiCaprio) and Wall Street (making Goldman Sachs millions while defrauding investors).
The 1MDB case remains under investigation by authorities in Malaysia, Singapore, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the U.S. Department of Justice. The amount of money involved is estimated at US$5 billion. The book has since become a New York Times bestseller, having sold more than half a million copies internationally, including over one hundred thousand copies in Asia where it remains a bestseller.
SK Globalâ€™s John Penotti, Charlie Corwin and Marcy Ross will serve as executive producers alongside Willimon and Tappis on the series. Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh will also be a producer.
In a statement, Willimon and Tappis said:
â€œAt Westward we are drawn to stories that reflect the complexity of the times we live in, centering on enigmatic and surprising characters. Weâ€™re also drawn to developing innovative ways to produce work in a quickly shifting entertainment landscape.
With David Henry Hwang at the helm, and SK Global at our side, this project allows us to do both. Itâ€™s hard to overstate the cultural impact of this story in Asia and around the world. Itâ€™s both a tale of financial greed and deceit, and a darkly comedic social satire.â€
However, it’s unclear on which network or streaming platform this series will premiere on. None of the cast has been announced, so it will likely be a while before we’re getting a definitive release date for this one.


Guess MapleStory 2 Isn’t Coming To Southeast Asia

3D isn’t always better than 2D. After releasing in the West in 2018, and in South Korea in 2015, MapleStory 2 is shutting down on May 27. Purchases made through the Nexon Launcher or Nexon website from December 11 last year (12am PST) to March 18 (8am PDT) will be fully reimbursed in Nexon’s NX currency.
It seems that the MMO sequel failed to live up to fans’ expectations, with the development team acknowledging that they wouldn’t be able to improve the game sufficiently despite their efforts. This also means that there’s a low chance of Asian publishers like Garena to distribute the game in Southeast Asia.
“We are forever grateful for your patience and dedication to MapleStory 2 as we tried to rework the game starting with Project New Leaf, but ultimately weâ€™ve decided that we will not be able to provide the type of service that would live up to your expectations,” they wrote in an announcement. “We took a hard look at the current state of the game and its future roadmap, and sadly reached the conclusion that it would be difficult to maintain long-term continuation of the game while remaining true to what made MapleStory 2 your MapleStory 2.”
As Gamasutra notes though, the original MapleStory from 2003 remains online.
With MapleStory 2 shutting down, it means that those in Asia won’t get to try the game themselves (except for those who’ve been using VPNs to do so all this while). While the 3D sequel must’ve been a real disappointment to meet such a fate, that’s still a bummer.


The Best Amazon Singapore Black Friday Sale Deals For Malaysians

For the first time ever, customers in Malaysia will be able to shop hundreds and thousands of incredible Black Friday deals on Amazon Singapore starting from Friday on 25 November 2022 at amazon.sg/blackfriday. Customers will now be able to shop epic deals on top brands and must-have items across books, toys, home, kitchen and more including Lego, Thermos, Hasbro and National Geographic.
In addition, Amazon Singapore is offering exciting deals from small and medium-sized businesses such as Table Matters, Armaggeddon, Redragon and more. Malaysian customers can also enjoy free delivery with a minimum spend of S$40 on eligible orders shipped by Amazon Singapore and Amazon US (know more).
Additionally, customers can view the product prices in their local currency – Malaysian Ringgit (RM) – by switching to their preferred currency of browsing on the Amazon Singapore website and App from the currency settings (know more).
Black Friday Top Deals Preview
Below is a sneak peek of the top deals available during Amazon Singapore’s Black Friday event, from 25 November through 28 November 2022, while supplies last. Specific product deals can be found below.

Amazon.sg

Buy 2 get 5% off or buy 3 get 10% off across items from Amazon International Store on Amazon.sg.

Beauty, Health & Personal Care –

Enjoy up to 60% off selected items from beauty, health & personal care category.
Buy 4 get 30% off selected items from beauty, health & personal care category.
Buy 3 get extra 25% off selected items from beauty, health & personal care category.

Toys –

Category deals:
Enjoy up to 60% off selected items from toys category.
Get S$25 off min. spend of S$80 across Hasbro items.
Product deals:
LEGO Classic 10698 Large Creative Brick Box.
Pokemon 25th Anniversary Celebrations Elite Trainer Box.

Books –

Category deals:
Enjoy up to 50% off selected items from books category.
Buy 2 get 35% off selected items from books category.
Product deals:
The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times (by Michelle Obama).
Klutz Lego Gear Bots Science/STEM Activity Kit.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why.

Household, Kitchen & Home Improvement

Category deals:
Get S$150 off S$15 across Tefal items.
Product deals:
THERMOS JDG-350C Mug with Handle and Lid, 0.35L, Black.
Joseph Joseph chopping Board & Knives.

In support of local brands and small businesses, Amazon Singapore will also be featuring special Black Friday promotions from brands such as Table Matters, Redragon and more.
Enjoy discounts on:

Table Matters CB10045 Crisscross Blue Rice Bowl, 4.5.
Armaggeddon TRON III (T3) Gaming PC Case, Black.
Redragon K585 DITI One-Handed RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.

Happy holidays to everyone!


Resident Evil 4 Remake Confirms PS4 Version, RE Showcase Coming Next Month

During the Capcom TGS 2022 live stream, Capcom confirmed that the Resident Evil 4 Remake will be receiving a PS4 version alongside its previously announced PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (Steam) versions on 24 March 2023.
Capcom also announced that it will host a Resident Evil Showcase live stream in October, where it will share more news.


Netflix’s He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe Reboot Drops Next Month

Netflix has announced that the He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe reboot will premiere on Netflix on 16 September 2021.
First things first, let me clarify that this is separate, unrelated and unconnected to Kevin Smith’s Masters Of The Universe Revelation (which came out last month and wasn’t so good). This is a completely brand new take on the franchise; a fresh new reboot and reimagining of the animated series with a CG style that actually looks dynamic.
The official synopsis for He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe reads (via Deadline):
In Eternia, the first planet of creation, a demonic tyrant rises: Skeletor!
With dark armies at his command, Skeletor is on the march, hell-bent on capturing Eterniaâ€™s kingdoms, and its ultimate prize â€“ Castle Grayskull, the ancient fortress of mystery said to contain the greatest power in the universe.
Itâ€™s up to He-Man, voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, and his brave squad of rookie heroes to stop Skeletor and restore the peace.
Both sides come armed with enchanted Power Weapons â€“ transforming them into Masters of the Primal Powers of the Universe.
Itâ€™s Master vs. Dark Master, He-Man vs. Skeletor â€“ fighting for control of Eternia, Castle Grayskull, and the fate of us all. In the end, who will become Master of the Universe?
In addition to Lowenthal, the voice cast includes:

David Kaye (Cringer/Battle Cat).
Grey Griffin (Evelyn/Evil-Lyn).
Antony Del Rio (Duncan/Man-at-Arms).
Kimberly Brooks (Teela/Eldress/Sorceress).
Trevor Devall (Râ€™Qazz/Beast Man).
Judy Alice Lee (Krass/Ram Maâ€™am).
Roger Craig Smith (Kronis/Trap-Jaw/General Dolos).
Fred Tatasciore (King Randor/Baddrah).
Ben Diskin (Skeletor/Prince Keldor).
Tom Kenny (Ork-0/RK Units).
Max Mitchell (Kitty).
Max Stubington (Young Adam).

Skeletor.
Ork-0.
The showrunner is Rob David (Masters of the Universe: Revelation), with executive producers with Frederic Soulie (Masters of the Universe: Revelation), Adam Bonnett (Masters of the Universe: Revelation) and Christopher Keenan (Masters of the Universe: Revelation). Jeff Matsuda (The Batman, TMNT) is a co-executive producer.
Susan Corbin (Masters of the Universe: Revelation) serves as producer. Bryan Q Miller (Arrow, Smallville, Sleepy Hollow) is the story editor and the writers are Heath Corson, Amanda Deibert, Keely MacDonald, Peter Binswanger, Lila Scott, Matt Drdek, Julie Benson, Shawna Benson.
He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe is produced by Mattel Television (Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams) with animation by House of Cool (Trollhunters) and CGCG (Star Wars: The Clone Wars).
That said, if you don’t like the new CG art style and visuals, keep in mind that She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power also didn’t have an appealing art style. However, it still managed to last five seasons on Netflix and stuck the landing so hard that it remains one of the best Netflix original animated series I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching
You can check out my review of She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power here if you’re still not convinced. If it’s anything like She-Ra, we’re in for a good time.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


World War 1 Has Never Looked As Cinematic As In The 1917 Movie Trailer

Sam Mendes is best known for directing the last two James Bond movies with 2012’s Skyfall and 2015’s Spectre, but now he’s dabbling into the gritty war movie genre with a movie simply titled 1917.
While the first trailer for 1917 is reminiscent of past iconic war movies like 1998’s Saving Private Ryan and 2017’s Dunkirk, it differentiates itself from those movies by focusing on a different seldom-explored era in human history: World War 1, also known by many as the Great War (before World War 2 erupted, that is.
In a way, World War 1 was grittier and ‘dirtier’ than World War 2. The politics were much more complex and not as clear cut as the world fighting against Nazis (and communism/fascism) in World War 1. Soldiers took shelter in muddy trenches for days, before charging to their deaths on an open battlefield.
On the other hand, why does the trailer look so good? That’s probably because 1917 was shot by legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins. He was responsible for the amazing cinematography in 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption, 2007’s No Country For Old Men, and 2017’s Blade Runner 2049.
1917 boasts a star-studded cast consisting of George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman,Â  Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Richard Madden. It is slated to premiere on 25 December 2019.
In the meantime, check out the intense and harrowing 1917 movie trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcmZN0Mbl04&w=560&h=315]


Battle Royale Fighting Game Rumbleverse Frog Splashes This August

Iron Galaxy’s pretty fun free-to-play brawler royale title Rumbleverse will be out for PC and consoles in launch form next month.
Rumbleverse will be out for Xbox Series, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PS4, and PC (Epic Games Store) on 11th August according to the developers and publisher Epic Games. The game’s Season One will start on 18 August.
To recap, Rumbleverse pits 40 players in a free-for-all that’s melee and fisticuffs-based. You can customize your fighter to equip a ton of unique items to stand out from the rest; in-game, you leap from rooftop to rooftop to smash crates and look for weapons and upgrades, then climb up the tallest tower to ground-pound anyone in your way.
Check out the launch date trailer featuring a bunch of streamers just being themselves: obnoxious with their wayanging.


Best Mobile Games to Play on The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a marvel of technology. When the smartphone industry widely adopted the flat, slab-like form roughly 12 years ago, many assumed that it was the end of the clamshell, flip phone form factor.
But thanks to the advancement of technology and breakthroughs in material science engineering, flip phones are back in fashion – and in a good way. If you are curious about what we thought of Samsung’s latest Z Flip model, you can check out our extensive review of the Z Flip 3 here.
Here are the best mobile games to take advantage of the Z Flip 3 unique form factor; titles that would benefit not only from a relatively elongated 6.7″ screen, but also from its lightweight build.
1. Call of Duty Mobile (Garena)
Mobile shooter games are almost 100% played on landscape mode and with a widescreen at your literal fingertips, allows much more screen real estate to look at. Gamers are able to fully capitalize from the in-game field-of-view (FOV) slider with the Flip 3’s wider screen.
The fact that the phone supports up to 120FPS is another advantage to anyone who takes their mobile CoD sessions seriously.

2. PUBG Mobile (Proxima Beta)
At the time of writing, PUBG Mobile is capped at 90FPS on select devices. However, that doesn’t mean you cannot future-proof your device for the day developers Proxima Beta opens up this option to everyone else. Just like CoD Mobile above, a wider screen equals more things to look at.
On-screen touch controls can now be placed further from the middle of the screen allowing unobstructed views for your next Chicken Dinner.

3. Mario Kart Tour (Nintendo)
There are tons of mobile racing games in the market but one of our favourites of the lot (to our own surprise) is Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour.
We’re not fans of gyro controls typically used in most racing games, so steering controls via finger swipes is fine by us. Also, the extra screen area on is definitely helpful during friendly (but intense) multiplayer races.
The extra vibrant colours synonymous with Mario games pop out really nicely here as well. You will not be disappointed.

4. World of Warships Blitz (Wargaming)
While the pace of this game isn’t as frenetic as CoD or PUBG mobile, we decided to list it here mostly due to the nature of the game is played and how an extra wide screen improves the experience. In World of Warships Blitz, you will, more often than not, find yourself staring at the horizon trying to detect enemy warships in a distance.
The wider-than-usual screen on the Z Flip 3 is again the star, improving, albeit slightly the details of other ships. Instead of the more squashed look we tend to get on phones sporting screens of more typical aspect-ratios, they appear much more true-to-form here.

5. Marvel Contest of Champions (Kabam)
Among a slew of fighting games available in the Google Play store, this one is our favourite. There’s something cathartic in collecting and assembling Marvel superheroes into my very own, custom Avengers setup. As well as watch them beat the living s**t out of one another on a wide handheld screen.
It is capped at 90FPS for now but do expect an upgrade once 120FPS gaming becomes a norm in the market.

6. Apex Legends Mobile (EA)
The game is still currently on early access and is only available to select territories and regions. However, the experience of Apex Legends Mobile is as close to its console and PC brethren you’d expect, save being on mobile.
Battle royale games are always played on these sprawling maps and the Z Flip 3 is more than capable of running Apex Legends Mobile on the highest setting. Add in the widescreen advantage and you will suddenly find yourselves at a slight, but fair advantage against the others.

Honorable Mentions
These mobile games feature 120FPS capabilities, though they’re not really my cup of tea. Still, you should try them out.

Arena of Valor (Garena)
Vainglory (Super Evil Megacorp)
Hitman Go (Square Enix)
Super Mario Run (Nintendo)
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius (Square Enix)
Real Racing 3 (EA)Â

The Samsung Z Flip 3 hits shelves September 22th 2021. You can find our review of the Z Flip 3 here.