Super Jump: Microsoft Studio’s Jorg Neumann & Joseph Stanten On Crackdown 3

2007 was a glorious year for the Xbox brand. Not only did the third Halo game made its mark later that year and finished the fight, it was also blessed with a little-known game from David Jones, the man who started Grand Theft Auto before the Houser brothers made it their own. It was called Crackdown, it was exclusive to the Xbox, and it started the wave of open world super-hero action games from that year until now.
inFamous, PROTOTYPE, Saints Row IV. Each of them owes their fantastical flights of fancy to the DNA laid out by then-functional Realtime Worlds.
A shame that it couldn’t follow up with its sequel. The less said about it, the better.
It seems that with Crackdown 3, third time might be a charm. Granted, it’s taken them quite a while since its 2014 announcement, but new developers Sumo Digital are close to the finish line. So what took them so long? And what’s with the numerous delays? And with other open world super-hero-themed action games like Marvel’s Spider-Man ruling the roost, is there still a place for the Xbox exclusive that started it all?
Up In The Air

Long story short: it was the Microsoft-branded Azure cloud computing aspect of the game that took the most time and incurred the most delays in the game’s release schedule, according to Head of Production at Microsoft Studios Publishing Jorg Neumann and the game’s Creative Director Joseph Stanten.
The one perennial feature that defines Crackdown 3 is Wrecking Zone, an online multiplayer mode where Agents fight each other in a completely destructible city in a variety of objectives. Think Red Faction: Guerilla levels of teardown but for 2019. Destruction is rendered through cloud computing so it won’t tax your console or operating system. “It was a dream,” Jorg said before he paused to reflect on his next few lines,” and then you just have to break down all the problems you’ll run into.”
He said that not only does the team want to make the best Crackdown game for fans, but wants to make the cloud computing tech and dream come true as well.

“Obviously that was the harder dream to achieve. Having done this for 2 and a half years, there’s machine learning, that takes things forward, then there’s cloud computing. This will literally liberate things that we barely even understood yet.
“This is the first step; we’re using this tech for cloud destruction. But there are all sorts of other things you can do with this simulation and get it down to an infinite amount of clients if you want.”

Joseph stated that the cloud computing was all scaled down to the game’s design. “The choices all went to design. There are no real technical constraints. We could have made Wrecking Zone a lot larger or wider or even increase the player count. We went through the whole process of iteration and design to decide what the whole experience should really be [for the final game]. But like Jorg said, it’s just the first step. It’s a huge amount of technology just sitting there to use with Azure.”
A Place In The Skies

Make no mistake: based on what I’ve experienced, Crackdown 3 is looking solid and sharp. Some bullet points to take note:

The road from a scrawny agent to a buffed-up one-man army like in the first game is still fun, based on the single-player campaign so far.
Your agent’s jet booster makes him/her do a quick air dash upwards so you can get some leverage or even do some crazy tricks while jumping from building to building.
Your agent can lock onto targets whether it’s for the main campaign or for Wrecking Zone. Precision aiming and twitch shooting isn’t the key to success here; it’s rather more on movement, environmental awareness, and map traversal. Finding out the shortcuts to a chokepoint or even leading your target onto a spot prime for artillery fire will net you more wins.
If you’re getting locked on, your agent will have a red line of sight aimed at him/her. You can break it by, well, running and dodging out of the way. Again, traversal and movement is key.

All in all, Crackdown 3 seems to be doing fine in the whole “chaos and destruction” bit; you’ll be seeing our detailed review in the near future. However, in terms of standing apart from the rest and being that system seller, it’s got a quite a fight ahead since we’re living in a world where the Marvel’s Spider-Man game exists. Joseph was a bit more focused on making a great Crackdown game, and then modernizing it for this generation.

“Crackdown has a certain DNA and a certain feel. One of the things that make Crackdown special is the action platforming aspect of it. It’s a 3rd person lock-on action platformer. It’s incredibly vertical and has an insane player levelling curve.”

“At the beginning of the game you can leap up one story and throw an oil drum. Near the end of the game, you can leap up skyscrapers and literally throw tanks at troops and mechs that pop out from the sky. [When you get more powerful] enemy factions will throw a lot in your way. Mole machines will drill out of the ground and pour out enemy troops.”
Joseph emphasized further that the game’s modern A.I retaliation system – a system that summons enemies to your location if you aggravate a mob boss’ territory and the boss himself- will be a huge challenge for players to overcome. “[We] look at the landscape of today’s open world games and pick features and good design ideas that help embellish the experience to make it even better. ”
Joseph even cited some major design similarities between Crackdown and 2017’s Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

“Zelda’s a very different game, don’t get me wrong. But one thing that’s special about this Zelda is that when you walk out of that opening room, you can see the main boss and the tower at the far-off distance. If you choose to, you can walk straight up there and go right after the toughest boss in the game.”
“And the game goes “sure, great, we’ll just follow on right behind you and tell the story as you go on forward.” Crackdown works the exact same modern way. As soon as you enter the city, there are no more loads, totally non-linear. It’s up to you which path you want to take within the city. And if you want to go straight for the main boss straight away: it’s going to be a challenge, but no one’s stopping you. “

“Crackdown 3 is over-the-top fun; it’s action and freedom first. That’s what makes it special.”
Crackdown 3 will be out for Xbox One and PC this 15th February. On a related note, Joseph and Jorg said that there are no announcements for post-release content.


Director Of Splinter Cell Remake Departs From Ubisoft

David Grivel, the director of the Splinter Cell remake that Ubisoft has been working on has unfortunately departed from the company.
Grivel announced his departure on his LinkedIn page (via VGC), where he said that after 11 years at Ubisoft, “it is now time for me to go on a new adventure.”

“11 years is a long time and summing it up in one post is quasi-impossible but I must say, I’ve been lucky,” Grivel wrote. “Lucky to work with so many great people over the years. Made so many friends.
“From Ubisoft Paris (Ghost Recon Future Soldier), to Ubisoft Toronto (Splinter Cell Blacklist, Assassin’s Creed Unity, Far Cry Primal, 5, 6 and Splinter Cell Remake), I’ve had the opportunity to work on many franchises that I love as a gamer.”
Grivel is only one man, and studio employees—even those in leadership positions—move around with some regularity. Even so, the reaction to the news was not overly positive.
“Well, that doesn’t bode well, a lot of the problems with Conviction was the troubled development. Here’s hoping they beat the odds.”
– AceRojo
“First there’s some serious issues with Prince of Persia Remake and now this project starts having problems as well.,” budyll66 added. “Oh, well… aha, it’s Ubisoft!”
“I always try to be cautiously optimistic, and in the case of this remake that’s been the approach I’ve taken so far, but I’ve still had very little faith in the first place after being burned way too many times by Ubisoft and now, what little faith I have left is getting shaky lol. Still gonna try and be open-minded but it gets harder to do when you’ve seen warning signs like this a lot in the past.”
– Revenant_XV
The Splinter Cell remake is presumably still a long way off, and a recent job listing made clear that the remake is not going to be a note-for-note do-over, but rather a ground-up rebuild that maintains “the spirit and themes of the original game while exploring our characters and the world to make them more authentic and believable.” That sounds like a properly substantial challenge for a game director, but Ubisoft said that Grivel’s departure won’t slow things down.
PC Gamer reported that they spoke a spokesperson over at Ubisoft who stated “We can confirm that David Grivel has left Ubisoft and wish to thank him for his contributions, his departure will not impact the game’s development.”


Castlevania Season 3 Is Finally Releasing Next Month

Last November, Netflix Nordic made an error by revealing Castlevania Season 3 release date to be in December 2019. However, now it’s official, as Netflix has announced that Castlevania Season 3 will be making its highly-anticipated return on 5 March 2020.
Castlevania Season 3 will be even longer than previous seasons, consisting of 10 episodes. Besides that, not much has been revealed about the upcoming season, other than a new poster, which you can check out below.

Netflix promises “more mystery, murder, mayhem, and vampires than ever” for Castlevania Season 3. Interestingly, the poster spotlights returning heroes Alucard (James Callis), Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage) and Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso), as well as implies that Carmilla (Jaime Murray) will replace Dracula as the main antagonist. The poster also features a new character who might be Rinaldo Gandolfi, who is an alchemist introduced in 2003’s Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.


Lawsuit Hits Nintendo Over Switch Joy-Con Drifting Issue

One of the most common problems plaguing Nintendo Switch owners since the hybrid console first launched back in 2017 is Joy-Con drifting. What that refers to is the phenomenon of the analog Joy-Con stick registering movement input even when the player isn’t even touching it.
When that happens, it will cause the player’s character in the game to move on its accord. In first-person games like Doom and Wolfenstein 2, this would make the camera move to the side on its own, which is where the term Joy-Con ‘drifting’ originated from. This issue is frustrating many Nintendo Switch owners, as it interferes with gameplay.
American law firm Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith (CSK&D) is the one filing the lawsuit against Nintendo, on behalf of its plaintiff Ryan Davis, who reported that his Nintendo Switch (which was purchased in July 2017) encountered the Joy-Con drift problem after only eleven months (via GamesIndustry.biz).
Davis then sent his malfunctioning Joy-Con to Nintendo for repair under its warranty, but his refurbished controller then experienced the same issue after just three months. To make matters worse, another set of Joy-Cons owned by Davis also suffered the same problem after 13 months.
CSK&D is currently looking for other Nintendo Switch owners afflicted with Joy-Con drifting to come forward and join the lawsuit. If you’re a U.S. citizen and suffering from Joy-Con drifting, you can submit your details in a form at the firm’s official website here.
The official filed lawsuit reads:

CSK&D has filed a class action lawsuit against Nintendo of America, Inc. (â€œNintendoâ€) for claims relating to alleged defects in the Joy-Con controllers that are part of Nintendo Switch gaming consoles.
The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleges that the joysticks on Joy-Con controllers are defective, leading users to experience drift issues.
Specifically, the complaint alleges that the joystick on the Joy-Con controllers will automatically register movement when the joystick is not being controlled by the user and interfere with gameplay.
The complaint, filed on behalf of purchasers of Switches and Joy-Con controllers, brings claims under various consumer protection statutes as well as various warranty and common law claims.


Overwatch Accounts Are Merging; Overwatch 2 Cross-Progression Is Going To Be A Reality

When Overwatch 2 launches this October, the Blizzard PvP hero shooter will include both cross-play and cross-progression across all of its platforms.
Starting right now, Overwatch players can now merge their accounts across the PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch; this means they can bring their cosmetics, credits, and gameplay statistics into one unified Blizzard account.
The FAQ that Blizzard handily put out states what is required to merge multiple accounts:

A Battle.net account, which goes without saying,
A requirement for cross-play in Overwatch since 2021,
Figure out which credits, Overwatch League tokens, achievements, and skill ratings will carry over. In most cases, they either add up or pick the highest number associated with a specific stat.

A couple of catches though: players can only merge one account per platform. If you have multiple PC accounts on one console, you have to choose which one to merge with your unified Battle.net account. Overwatch League tokens purchased on Nintendo Switch will not be merged into a unified account and will remain on that platform.
Check out the full FAQ here. Overwatch 2 will be out on 4th October.


Red Dawn: We Speak With Crimson Star’s Creator About Comics & Singapore

Ryan Mennen is an anomaly in Singapore society. Rather than confine himself to the norms of the country’s expectations, he would rather make comics. And he is doing just that, albeit in a part-time method.
Still, he is close to keeping the comic-making dream alive while still doing his best in maintaining relevancy while also helping out the country’s generation of comic book creators and artists.Â In a country not renowned for its support of the arts for the sake of art, we get to see a glimmer of creative hope in the likes of Mennen’s upcoming series Crimson Star.
The comic book series is set in Singapore, features a Singaporean superhero, and is created by an all-Singapore creative team who know their Batmen from their Spider-Men, clones included. Its target? Comic-book lovers and folks who like the glory days of 70s, 80s, and 90s superhero comics, unashamed of their goofy-in-real-life heritage.
Here’s the full transcript of the interview (I’m KKP) where we talk about his upcoming comic series, his comic book thoughts, Singapore, and the Singapore comic book/comic convention:
KKP: Why do Crimson Star in Singapore?Â
Ryan: Part of being with Crimson Star is that we want to get as many local artists on board to give them an opportunity to be published, or noticed, or get them some exposure.

For every three issues, we cycle to a new team. A new penciler, a new inker, or colourist. We get to promote them to the local art scene; let people see them. We have got these comic book talents here in Singapore and we’re working on an original title and so on.

KKP:Â How many issues are we talking about here?Â
Ryan: Not to get too much ahead of myself but I’ve planned 65 issues which in comic book terms isÂ five years worth of stories. We would have probably drawn the line somewhere. I don’t want to drag the season for too long.
KKP: Why the rotating artists per story arc routine?
Ryan:Â I’m going a bit Grant Morrison on it. Every three issues is a new story.
Together, a full year will tell a larger story, of course, but every three issues your minor arcs are settled. It’s an opportunity to bring on a new artist and maybe have the story depicted in a different style.
It’s a great way of featuring artists but also a great way to appeal to an audience that may not be reading comics yet, here in Singapore because to the casual fan or to the person who just doesn’t read comics, they will only one idea of how comic looks like.

Maybe this might be a way to tell them, “No, there is a very large variety of art styles that go behind comic book-creating.”

KKP: Of course. Funny you also mention that Grant Morrison– Would you consider him as one of your influences when it comes to writing or you had many others?
Ryan: I definitely have many influences when it comes to writing but Grant Morrison– Recently, even artist or a writer has worked substantially on Superman, chances are they are on my list of inspirations. In the case of Grant Morrison, All-Star Superman was a very large influence on Crimson Star, actually. The idea of being the best you can at all points in time.
With Crimson Star, it’s actually kind of the other way around because he comes from a world where superheroes are commonplace but he lives in quiet Singapore and he appreciates quiet Singapore for being quiet. He actually wants to maintain the quiet and safe feel that he never has but the thing is that’s just not going to happen.

All-Star Superman is always about a character being at his best, a character who’s a trained hero, with lots of experience. In fact, Crimson Star is an inverse of that. It’s about a guy who is just becoming a hero and he’s doing it with a mentality of already being reluctant to be a hero. A reverse All-Star Superman if you will.

KKP: Yes, I can definitely see that like the inverse thing where the superhero is only– A Crimson Star is only going to make noise when he feels that something’s being pushed, is it?
Ryan: Yes, kind of. I guess, it puts him in a whole new view of superheroes. Every superhero since Superman is either a vestige and extraction, an abstraction or an inversion. I guess the other vestiges would be Thor, Captain Marvel, Gladiator.
Then you got other characters just sort of extractions or an abstract idea. I would say Spiderman is an abstraction of Superman. The ideas of being an orphan and you know, “With great power must come greater responsibility?”
KKP: Yes. A man trying to be a god per se.
Ryan: Yes, kind of. In Superman’s case, it’s a god trying to be a man. It’s always there. Of course, the most famous inversion of Superman, I guess, would be Batman.
KKP: Of course, a man who happens to be rich trying to be a god.
Ryan: Yes, in many ways, to many villains, Batman is the devil made real. They are a superstitious and cowardlyÂ bunch.

KKP: Crimson Star and Superman should be in that position where he’s a man, not trying to be the opposite or a god presiding in his life and then stepping up to help his home turf out.Â
Ryan: The Crimson Star universe has been filled with superheroes. In this fictional universe, the first superhero appeared during World War 1 and the world has become filled with them over the last 60 years. In that sense when he becomes Crimson Star, he doesn’t really see it as a very big deal to have powers because the world is so chock-full of them already.
Having lived in New York for a short while before moving back to Singapore, the character is so used to looking up in the sky and seeing a boy, a plane, and a man flying. It wasn’t really a big deal to him. If anything, the bigger deal is that he shares the ideology that superheroes are potential nuisances. It can’t be a coincidence that a superhero appears and then over the next 10 years of his career, a whole bunch of masked freaks pop up.
KKP: …Your wannabes, and also your greenhorn do-gooders…
Ryan: Yes, I know all sidekicks come with the best of intentions. There’s a reason why they say that–
KKP: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Ryan: Yes! With Crimson Star, I don’t think we’ll ever see him in a position where he’s a god trying to be a man or a man trying to be a god but rather a man who believes that no matter the situation, no matter the circumstances, and no matter the tights you wear, you’re still a man.
Once you get a little bit too big for your britches, that’s how you get stuff like flying through buildings, wrecking Metropolis, and then making out with Lois Lane.

KKP: You’ve been in Singapore your whole life, you were born and from the country itself. Now, is there anything that you’ve learned through your life and times in Singapore that kind of want to bring in to Crimson Star or anything that happens in history in Singapore that you want to infuse in this tale?
Ryan: Crimson Star is set in 1988, as I said, it’s a five-year series and it will actually end on the cusp of ’93.
KKP: Why that specific period?
Ryan: That’s when the history comes in because that was kind of a transition period for Singapore. We went from being a very modern port/fishing village to becoming this incredibly urbanized city. Within this space of less than a decade, we became the New York of Asia. That definitely had an impact on Singapore. That’s kind of why there’s such a large disparity between say, children born in the ’80s and children born in the ’90s.
Children born even as late as ’88 like myself; we’re still a bit like “kampung”Â kids, we still have that neighbourhood feeling inside. Then you’ve got kids that were born not even 10 years later and they’re living in some cool digital world and stuff. It’s such a small gap in terms of time but a very large disparity in terms of psychology.
That’s what I wanted to see through the eyes of people and characters during the era of Singapore. Of course, Singaporeans, I think, in general, we like things to stay the way they are.
KKP: You wanted to play it safe, you want to keep the status quo in a way.
Ryan: One of my favourite analogies is that, regardless of the small floods and small twisters offshore and stuff happening, we still treat the country like we are impervious from natural disasters. We’ve had tremors but nobody talks about the risk of earthquakes.
No one’s actually living in a fear because I think, it’s a very Singaporean thing where we deal with a problem when itÂ is right up in our faces. It’s still 1965.

In many ways that’s actually kind of a nice way to live, as opposed to always having to look over your shoulder and see whether there’s a volcano erupting or something. I like it and I think, it’s something that it’s worth immortalizing in our literature.

KKP: Of course. Especially, when you write it in the guise of a superhero comic book. Not really social commentary. More like, this was the way things were back in the era of Singapore.
Ryan: Yes. And instead of natural disasters, here, they’ve got a very global issue that’s coming to our shores, which is superheroes. Do we really want it? We’ve not had it. We have peace, now having some guy clad in red armour flying around, what does this mean for us?
KKP: When this issue starts with Issue 1, Issue 2, people already know who Crimson Star is in Singapore or is he kept hidden for now? Try not to spoil it.
Ryan: Yes, sure [laughs]. Thanos demands my silence as well.
One of my priorities for Crimson Star is to capture the tone of comics from the ’80s. What I liked about it was, a lot of comics back then always started out with a very clear point of an origin story.
Crimson Star will feature the same style of narrative. We’re not going to see him as Crimson Star for a few issues. We’re going to see him as the person that he is, as a man that he is. That’s very important because we need to understand who the man is underneath the costume.
KKP: Before all the crazy things happen.
Ryan: Yes, exactly. It’s the way like the basic hero movies even like Superman 1. He had a good hour of Clark Kent. I’m a big fan of Batman Begins, we had a good hour of Bruce Wayne to deal with.
KKP: Even the Superman: The Animated series does this. The first four episodes all buildup to Clark Kent being Superman.
Ryan: Like the Bruce Timm animated series right? For Batman, they created a slightly-different origin story in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. There were the flashbacks and stuff, and there was also his old school vehicle pre-Batmobile. I always thought it would be really hilarious to see him drive that because it’s easier.
KKP:Â Speaking of Bat-iterations, have you watched Batman Ninja? It’s nuts.
Ryan: No, I have not actually. Most of my time to watch stuff has been occupied by Infinity War [chuckles]. I’ve seen it twice.

KKP: I think Avengers: Infinity War’s balancing act is done well. What are your thoughts as a seasoned comic book writer?
Ryan: I’ve always had an issue with how the Russos have been doing the Captain America movies, Winter Soldier and Civil War. By the end of the movie, no matter how many characters are brought into the plot and stuff, it always just comes down to two people.
It is a very great way of writing a story, if it is about two people but with Civil War, for example, it’s a lot more than just Tony and Cap but they made it about Tony and Cap which is a smart way of avoiding the problem of having 12 people sitting down and arguing.
I had concerns that that would become a play with Infinity War because you can’t bring it down to just two people in Infinity War. Sure, even if you wanted to and Thanos is one of them, who’s going to be the other?

If you have Tony versus Thanos, everyone else is going to say Tony is not that much of a Cosmic Hero. If you had Cap, everyone’s going to laugh and say, no way Cap survives against Thanos. I would possibly say Cap beats Thanos but that’s because I’m biased.

KKP: [laughs] Character never truly dies in comics.
Ryan: What they did do in the end is that they turned a relative story structure weakness into a strength. Instead of the movie coming down to just being about two people by the end of it, they broke the movie up into clusters of two to three people in different locations.
KKP: It’s still one guy who gets focused the most, it’s still Thanos.
Ryan: Yes, exactly and that’s the best part because they did this multi-narratedÂ structure and then they weaved through a singular story and that’s Thanos’ journey. It’s great because, for a guy that we’ve seen all so few times, I was actually very underwhelmedÂ by his first appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy. I thought–
KKP: Yes, he was on his throne. And we’re all thinking, “Will he ever get out of the throne?”
Ryan: I was disappointed very much with how he appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy. Infinity WarÂ salvaged a lot of things.
KKP: That was good, although it’s kind of sad that he won’t beÂ travelling on his throne like in the comics.

Ryan: Somethings have to be changed and if it means losing the “Thanos Copter” or having him getting arrested by the NYPD. I’m fine with losing some of that absurd stuff.

KKP:Â Plus the whole committing genocide just to appease one girl when chocolatesÂ or flowers would suffice.
Ryan: I’m guessing DeathÂ is not big on chocolate or flowers.
KKP: You never know.
Ryan: Maybe dark chocolates. Like, really dark chocolate.

KKP: The bitter stuff. Anyway, coming back to like influences and stuff, obviously you’re busy writing your own comic.
What comics do you read to take you back to your creative space? Which ones take you back to your zen moment before you go back to the grind?
Ryan:Â Very early one in the game, that was one thing I told myself, I would never stop reading no matter how much I could write. In terms of current stuff, because that’s slightly fewer, I generally read trade paperbacks.Â I don’t generally have the time to read them monthly.

A constant influence however in terms of my writing is– I really like what they’re doing with Superman and Green Lantern in the DC Rebirth right now. I’m enjoying that.

KKP: The one where New 52 Superman died and the other Superman came into this same universe…
Ryan: The Convergence Superman which is the pre-New 52Â Superman. Yes, he’s back. The two Supermen merged and that’s the new– [chuckles] Comics. What are you going to do about it?
Green Lantern’s good. I’m really enjoying the Green Lanterns, which is the one with Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz. That’s a different story, Trinity which is written drama, featuring my favourite artist Francis Manapul.
Earlier on in terms of inspiration, in terms of as you said, remembering why it is I’m in this business, I always go back to Mark Waid’s Birthright. My entire influence of how an origins story should look like is from Birthright. John Byrne’s Man of Steel to a smaller extent and definitely Batman Year One.
But Superman: Birthright’s always been very definitive to me. I’m going to have to get back on Invincible soon because it’s finally over.
KKP: It’s finished. You got to catch it. That’s a masterclass in doing a long-spanning superhero series from start to finish.Â
Ryan: I agree. I love Invincible so much because it’s very clear that government influence was a lot of influence of Nightwing in there. HeÂ is my second favourite DC hero, so it’s a joy to read that.
KKP: Now he’s a detective, right?
Ryan: I do need to catch up quite a bit on that wing. I would say things I would definitely go back to would be Birthright, Kingdom Come.
KKP: Yes, Kingdom Come.
Ryan: That’s makes me sound a lot like a Mark Waid fanboy because the other one I’m always reading is Irredeemable.
KKP:Â Also by Mark Waid.
Ryan:Â All three are Mark Waid’s babies.Â I’ve always watched my favourite run on X-Men which is Astonishing X-Men.
KKP: Okay, that’s the one I kind of missed out on. I think it was after Grant Morrison’s Run, right?
After much comic book talk…
KKP: Now, with this comic coming up which is Crimson Star. Thatâ€™s around the middle of May? End of May?
Ryan:Â Weâ€™ve got the Ashcan Edition by the end of May. Weâ€™re going to have a bit of a book launch for that but the main series should be out in October.

ThisÂ gives us the time we need to make sure thereâ€™s a public awareness of this thing and hopefully that people see it, and the shells of shocks they actually know. That’s a new single very superior. Whether or not they pick it up I do not know. As long as they know what it is.

KKP: Personally this is something that you have to plan ahead and pace out the waiting in-between issues.Â
Ryan: Definitely. I think if thereâ€™s anything being a comic book fan has taught me is that waiting is essential. Patience is a really worthy thing. I still remember reading how Hal Jordan’s return in Green Lantern Rebirth. We had to wait about four years forÂ Blackest Night.Â We think itâ€™s something that Iâ€™m pretty sure Iâ€™ve learned my lesson in.
KKP: What do you think about the comic buying group here and all the comic cons that have been happening in Singapore where thereâ€™s a huge emphasis on toys?
Ryan: Is there a huge emphasis on toys?
KKP: I’ve noticed, yes.
Ryan: Iâ€™ll be honest. I donâ€™t consider that. I think, however, that there’s a huge emphasis on collectables.
At least, the people who are into toy exclusives. At that cost, I am pretty sure they are not taking two other figures and knocking them against each other and playing with them [laughs].
What I would say is that we don’t have true comic book conventions. But there are a lot of anime conventions and manga conventions.

Which is great! Unfortunately, it’s starting to do this thing where: to the person who doesn’t know the difference, it feels like there’s a saturation of comic book conventions when in truth, we don’t have one. I mean, STGCC is a joke.

KKP: Yes. That’s exactly the thing. That’s why I mention some of the things earlier. That feels more like a toy convention, not a comic–
Ryan: I don’t even think it’s a toy convention. Just because you have toy collectibles there it doesn’t mean it’s a toy convention.
KKP: A bunch of statues here and some busts there.
Ryan: Exactly! I mean that’s basically, except it’s not affordable to the common man. It’s a thousand dollars statue. I think it’s great but I would never sacrifice a paycheck for that. Not unless my paycheck was Tony Stark’s.

KKP: Yes. You compare that to something like San Diego comic con. It’s rather been around longer but there’s always going to be a floor at the bottom where your average joes or people who buy comic 50 cents can get their fix.
Ryan: Exactly. Which is why I feel the honesty at STGCC has filled the community in Singapore about two years now. Because for two years now, we’ve already had a comic book store in STGCC.
KKP: There are still artist’s alleys and people lining up for folks like Tom King.Â
Ryan: Yes. You have that. Which is good because you get to meet them. Meeting artist is part of the experience. Getting good deals, meeting other fans. Chitchatting over going through bags and shoe boxes. I think that’s the other end of it. We had Comic Odyssey from the Philippines, over the last two years, I think. They have been stable.
I have to say that if you are of a convention that brands itself Singaporean and you don’t have a single Singaporean comic book shop, be embarrassed. They have Kinokuniya which is great because, well, the store itself has a ton of good discounts that are still ongoing.

That’s not even somewhat during STGCC. I think it’s at the end of the day we don’t have a comic book convention in Singapore. We just don’t. We won’t have conventions that pretends to care about the comic book community in Singapore but no. We couldn’t give a shit as long as the– What’s it now? $20?

KKP: I think so.
Ryan: Yes. It’s already SG$750 for an artist is to set up a slip of a table.
KKP: Holy s***.
Ryan: Yes, I wish, to put it politely, it fucks off. I liked it when conventions are done in the little open space area outside Suntec. They have booths being sold for $50. Sure, you didn’t have Phil Noto or Tom Taylor but you did have somebody who was thriving to enter the industry, who cannot afford a table.

My first time in STGCC was in 2010. We had to rent an SG$3,000 booth. That’s fine, you see, because it was three days. I am from a company. My company has money, but a SG$750 booth for an artist who’s trying to make it in the industry? Definitely not.
KKP: It better be a damn good table for indies.Â
Ryan: Yes, that’s asshole already right there. I’m perfectly aware that this is on the record. Yes, I’ve never really been private about my thoughts about STGCC.

Honestly, I would encourage people in the industry to speak out about this. Stop thinking the invites. Stop letting them suck you up. I stuck up to you. If you feel that they are doing something that’s unjust to the small man, to the small guy, fight it. I’m never going to be in the STGCC as long as they are charging SG$750 for a small booth.

They could offer me a free booth and all I give a shit. I don’t want to be a place that is trampling on the little guy. As I once said there’s no comic con in Singapore right now. Even I’ve been travelling to Malaysia for a couple of them.
KKP:Â You mean Comic Fiesta?
Ryan: No, there’s one in August in Johor. I can’t remember the name, but I remember it having aÂ very strong presence of Western-styled artists.

They do like those really cool ones where they just need a ATM and a shopping center and they host their mini-convention or sale there.Â It’s pretty cool stuff. It’s not about whether they’ve got more talents like in STGCCÂ and all that but it just comes down to the fact that they seem to be legitimately trying to help the artist.

KKP: Which is good.
Ryan: Yes, which is honestly everything that a comic con should be. If you’re going to charge so much of money, bring down RDJ, then we’ll talk. Bring down RDJ to do a panel, unveil exclusive Avengers footage here in Singapore, then we’ll talk about $700 booths but until then let’s not pretend we’re in New York.
KKP:Â I guess one way to actually improve the scene is toÂ follow Malaysia’s example. Even the Philippines show a better example of fandom and fan support than Singapore.
Ryan:Â TheÂ Philippines has got two conventions, one’s in July, one just ended in March.
KKP: You went for those right, did you?
Ryan: I went for the press event for the one that was in March but that’s January, I’ll probably be going for the July one if the schedule permits. I think it should.
KKP:Â It’s a good opportunity to promote your comics too.
Ryan: It’s my first time in a convention, I think I’ll like to go as a fan.
KKP: Okay, fair enough.
Ryan: They did bring out some pretty good guests, they had Tyler Hoechlin last year and I loved him as Superman in Supergirl, so if they’re going to bring out someone like Henry Cavill or something, I won’t be in my booth then, I’m going to be queuing up. Wouldn’t be the most responsible thing for me to do right now.
After a ton of reminiscing about San Diego Comicon 2007 when you can get weekend tickets on the day itself…
KKP:Â Let’s cap it off. Is there any advice you wish to impart to rising stars and budding artists in Singapore.

Ryan: Well, just do it. This is my fourth, fifth, maybe my thousandth time but I’ve still not made it.
I’m not going to really say that my advice counts but I’m going to say this: no one succeeded without trying.

Crimson Star will be out in October. Meanwhile, you can get more details about acquiring issue 0.5 on their Facebook page.Â


Nvidia Launches Cloud Gaming Service GeForce Now, But No Support In Asia Yet

After being in beta for several years (since 2017), Nvidia is finally launching its cloud gaming service GeForce Now. Unlike the (dead on arrival) Google Stadia, GeForce Now doesn’t offer a console-like experience with its own exclusive lineup of games.
Nvidia’s GeForce Now connects with Steam, Epic Games Store, GoG, or Blizzard Battle.net accounts so players can play games that they have already purchased on those third-party digital platforms. These games can then be played on any PC, MacOS, or Android device if they have the app installed.
However, GeForce Now isn’t free, as it costs US$5 (or roughly RM20+) per month to access the Founders Edition, which allows players to receive up to six hours of gameplay at a time, ray tracing support, and priority access. There’s also a free account option available, though players will be limited to one-hour sessions at a time and subject to queues if the server is too busy.
As for now, GeForce Now won’t be available everywhere in the world, as players have to located somewhere near a data centre to reduce latency for playable games. There are currently nine data centres in the US, five in Europe, one in Korea and two in Japan. However, it’s not supported yet in other parts of the world and Asia, including Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia.
Nvidia recommends 50Mbps for the best possible experience, 30Mbps for 1080p60, and 15Mbps for 720p60. However, according to Gizmodo, those speeds don’t really guarantee good performance. It looks like all these cloud gaming services tend to suffer from the same problems.


Marvel Future Revolution Is Now Open For Pre-Registration On Mobile

Global mobile game publisherÂ Netmarble Corp. andÂ Marvel EntertainmentÂ have announced global pre-registration is now live forÂ MARVEL Future Revolution, an upcoming open-world action RPG featuring Marvel superheroes for mobile devices on iOS and Android.
Starring an array of world-famous charactersÂ and featuring an original storyline and AAA-quality 3D graphics, MARVEL Future Revolution will immerse players in a gorgeous open world jam-packed with high-stakes action as they serve as the first line of defence to save the universe.
MARVEL Future Revolution begins when numerous Earths converge in the multiverse to form an entirely new â€˜Primary Earthâ€™ filled with unique zones and missions to explore, such as the high-tech New Stark City, the dangerous Hydra Empire, the wild and rugged Sakaar, and many more.

As agents of the newly formed â€˜Omega Flightâ€™ Super Hero team, players will work together to battle an onslaught of Super-Villains and defend the â€˜Primary Earthâ€™ from a never-ending series of threats. Eight playable Super Heroes, including Captain America, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Star-Lord, and Storm, will be outfitted in an extensive collection of iconic costumes from throughout the Marvel Universe, with a tremendous selection of more than 400 million costume combinations per hero to choose from.Â
Netmarble US President Simon Sim said:
â€œWorking with a world-class IP like Marvel has enabled us to roll out unparalleled mobile gaming experiences over the years, and MARVEL Future Revolution will catapult franchise fans to an entirely new level.
The game promises a fun and engaging experience for Marvel diehards and casual mobile gamers alike, offering unique action RPG gameplay on a massive scale.â€

Utilizing the Squad System, MARVEL Future Revolution players will have the opportunity to level up and play as new characters. Theyâ€™ll also be able to flex their Super Hero skills in various PvP (Player versus Player) modes, ranging from 1v1 matches up to 10v10 matches between high-level players. As players progress, multiplayer content will unlock, including Blitz, Special Operation, Raids, and more.
Marvel Games Creative VP Bill Rosemann said:
â€œFrom the gleaming spires of New Stark City to the shadowed alleyways of Hydra Empire, players around the globe will be thrilled with the vast vistas waiting for them to explore in the wild open world crafted by our friends at Netmarble.
Whether youâ€™re soaring through the skies as Storm or barreling through enemies as Captain America, players can live out their Super Hero dreams on an unprecedented scale filled with all the action, drama, humor, and fun that fans expect from Marvel.â€
Marvel Games Product Development Director Danny Khoo said:
â€œOur ongoing collaboration with Netmarble has allowed us to bring the expansive worlds, exciting characters, and fan-favourite stories from the Marvel Universe to mobile gamers seamlessly.
We are ecstatic to bring this revolutionary mobile game to fans around the world and canâ€™t wait for everyone to experience it!â€Â
Check out 8 minutes worth of gameplay below:

Fans can tune in to the world premiere of live gameplay today at 8am GMT+8 via Marvelâ€™s YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Twitch accounts.
Developed by Netmarble Monster, MARVEL Future Revolution is the second collaboration between Netmarble and Marvel Entertainment, and a successor to the long-running hit mobile game MARVEL Future Fight, enjoyed by more than 120 million people worldwide.
MARVEL Future Revolution will be available for iOS and Android devices as a free-to-play game in the second half of this year. Global pre-registration is now open via the App Store and Google Play. Pledge to join the â€™Omega Flightâ€™ now to receive a variety of rewards at launch.
For the latest news onÂ MARVEL Future Revolution, please visit the official website and follow #MARVELFutureRevolution across all social channels:

Facebook: Marvel Future Revolution
Twitter: MarvelFutureRev
Instagram: marvelfuturerevolution
YouTube: Marvel Future Revolution

[videopress Ai0aVgVD]


Korean MMO Elyon Launches In SEA Next Month

Elyon, the popular MMORPG game is coming to Southeast Asia in July 2022. Developed by South Korean developer Bluehole Inc. and published by PlayPark, the game features high-octane action, dynamic combat, and the freedom of character builds in a vibrant steampunk fantasy world. Players will get to dive into the land of Harth to join the battle between the realms of Vulpin and Ontari.
Bluehole Inc. is best known for Tera, and the wildly successful PUBG, which marked the start of the battle royale genre. Elyon has met with great reception from players, which has led to the expansion of their server networks to SEA through PlayPark.
In a press release, Apol Dionglay, Chief Publishing Officer of PlayPark, said:
“We are excited to bring Elyon to the fans in Southeast Asia, and players can look forward to a variety of content updates with many different classes to be released in the future!
Stay tuned for more news, and see you in Harth soon!”

Set in the land of Harth, Elyon is about the Vulpin and Ontari, two dominating factions fighting for control over the territories. Combining immersive graphics, open-world exploration, and a customizable skill system for class abilities, Elyon allows players to play and fight according to their playstyle. Augment your formidable powers with runestones and mana awakening to create a character unique to your playstyle, ready for the challenges Elyon has to offer for players both new to MMOs or hardened veterans.
Elyon’s pre-registration is now open. Players stand to win awesome prizes that include an Asus ROG Strix G15 gaming laptop, a Razer Black Widow V3 gaming keyboard, a Razer Kraken V3 gaming headset, and a Razer Basilisk V3 gaming mouse by simply pre-registering. Additional in-game rewards will be available for all who take part when the pre-registration milestones are met.

A closed beta test (CBT) is scheduled from 22 to 26 June 2022 to let players try out the Warlord, Mystic, Elementalist, Assassin, and Gunner classes and explore the extensive character builds and customisations through engaging PVE and PVP content. The CBT will give players a chance to provide feedback and improve the game experience.
Check out the Elyon system requirements below:

The Elyon SEA servers will officially launch in July 2022, along with two new classes – Slayer and Archer.


Monster Hunter Rise Switch Skills Guide: The Best Swaps For Your Regular Attacks

Ever feel like your regular attacks could use more oomph in Monster Hunter Rise? Not a fan of the regular Greatsword default attack and want a better alternative that’s more fitting to your playstyle? Then Monster Hunter Rise’s new Switch Skill mechanic is for you.
Basically, you will unlock the ability to switch out certain regular attacks and Silkbind Attacks at will while you’re on your monster hunting journey. This allows for more flexibility when you’re fighting and when you’re teamed up with a group so you can contribute better. Most importantly, this mechanic gives you more choices for weapons you already enjoy using. It also lets you try out other alternate weapons via new skills and basic moves that may fit your play style.
Just some caveats though:

Only one Silkbind attack can be switched out. For example, you can swap between two Silkbind attacks. Obviously you can’t use both at the same time.
You can swap out regular moves.

How To Get The Switch Skills Option & Movesets

Switch Skills aren’t available at the start of the game. You need to play through the story to get them all. Talk to Master Utsushi when you see his prompt on the map.
To unlock the first set, you need to reach Village Quest 3-Stars or Hub Quest 2-Stars.
To unlock the second set, create or upgrade a total of 5 unique weapons of the same weapon type.
To unlock the third set, complete the set of quests unlocked from Hub 4-star.

Switch Skill List
Great Sword

Adamant Charged Slash: Switchable with Hunting Edge. This skill uses a Wirebug to dash forward, and deliver a Strong Charged Slash. This move has knockback protection as you dash forth.
This is a very good replacement if you do not like using Hunting Edge, a staple in the MonHun series.Â Wirebug Gauge recovery speed: Medium. Wirebug Cost: 1.
Guard Tackle: Switchable with Tackle. This is a forward-dashing attack using your flat side of the blade. It’s more cumbersome than the regular tackle, but allows you to guard while you’re doing the move.
Long Sword
Silkbind Sakura Slash: Can be switched from Soaring Kick. You perform a whirlwind-like attack, dashing past the target with a Wirebug. Fast moves are always welcome for Hunters using big weapons, so this is a decent alternative.
Your Spirit Gauge increases by 1. Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Slow. Wirebug cost: 1.
Drawn Double Slash: A drawn attack that unleashes two attacks in a row. While moving forward, you can absorb attacks. This move can be comboed to go straight to Spirit Blade II.
Sword & Shield
Drill Slash Combo: Can be switched from Hard Basher Combo. A derivative of the Shield Slam that converts Thrust to a Drill Slash. It’s a multi-hit attack with great potential when combined with an elemental weapon.
Sliding Slash: Can be switched from Advancing Slash. A sliding attack that slashes the target twice. This move has high reach but no ability to turn. Allows for follow up jumping attack.
Dual Blades
Demon Flight: Can be switched from Demon Flurry Rush. An attack performed by slamming down both blades. A successful hit vaults you into the air, slicing your target as you spin upwards. Effective against monsters with weak points from high above.
Feral Beast Mode: Can be switched from Demon Mode. This is a more offensive version of Demon Mode, where you switch to an attack-focused stance, dealing slashing attacks when dodging.
Tower Vault: Can be switched from Piercing Bind. This move launches a Wirebug upwards and pulls you into the air. It does not deal any damage, but allows you to execute aerial combos with the Dual Blades.
Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Fast. Wirebug Cost: 1.
Lance
Shield Charge: Can be switched from Dash Attack. A charging attack with the shield up. Can only dash for a limited amount of time while fending off attacks with the shield. Crashing into a monster deals shield-based blunt damage.
Insta-Block: Can be switched from Guard. It’s a parry: time your guard just before a monster hits you to follow-up with a Cross Slash. Great for countering right after blocking.
Gunlance
Ground Splitter: Can be switched from Hail Cutter. Scrapes the ground while slashing upwards. Increases shell, Wyrmstake Shot, and Wyvern Fire damage temporarily.
Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Slow. Wirebug Cost: 1.
Blast Dash: Can be switched from Charged Shelling. Gives you a forward movement when attacking. Aims the Gunlance backwards then launches forward to close in the target. You can use Blast Dash again while hurtling if you time it right.
Hammer
Water Strike: Can be switched from Side Smash. Attack that allows you to absorb an enemy attack. Perform before getting hit to negate the damage. Can be followed-up by an upswing hammer attack.
Charge Switch -Courage: Can be switched from Charge Switch – Strength. This move decreases charging levels, and allows you to follow from one charge into another quicker than usual.
Dash Breaker: Can be switched from Silkbind Spinning Bludgeon. A forward rush move using Wirebugs. Enemy attack damage is negated while launching forward!
Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Fast. Wirebug Cost: 1.
Hunting Horn

Melody Mode – Echo: Can be switched from Melody Mode – Performance. An action that affects invigorating melodies. Generates a melody effect from the Staff using zR, while boosting your own abilities. A mode focused on applying various melody effects.
Bead of Resonance: Can be switched from Earthshaker. Places a Wirebug cocoon on the ground. If the same hunter generates melody effects, the effect also appears around the cocoon, as does a Sonic Wave that damages monsters near it. You can only place one cocoon at a time.
Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Medium. Wirebug Cost: 2.
Switch Axe
Forward Overhead Slash: Can be switched from Forward Slash. A lunging attack where you wind up the axe and smash it down. Difficult to pull off but delivers good damage. A subsequent Sword Mode attack will turn into a Double Slash.
Soaring Wyvern Blade: Can be switched from Invincible Gambit. This move launches you in the air while ending with a Forward Slash in midair. If Forward Slash connects, an explosion occurs.
Wirebug Recovery Speed: Medium. Wirebug Cost: 1
Charge Blade
Condensed Spinning Slash: Can be switched from Condensed Element Slash. Activates the Element Regeneration system while charging. The shield rotates and acts as a spinning saw blade. Switches the weapon to Axe mode and turns energy into phials.
Counter Morph Slash: Can be switched from Morph Slash. This is a more defense-focused switching attack with a longer blocking effect. If successful, the follow-up Element Discharge Slash’s damage increases. Ideal for more defensive players who want the power of a Charge Blade.
Insect Glaive
Advancing Roundslash: Can be switched from Leaping Slash. You spin like a top and lunge forward. You can use the force of the spin to jump up; only works if you have momentum while spinning.
Tetraseal Slash: Can be switched from Tornado Slash. Delivers four strikes on the spot. One of the attacks is hit with the handle’s seal, which can lure in Powder Kinsects. With Red Extract loaded, perform a Leaping Slash and press A.
Light Bowgun
Quickstep Evade: Can be switched from Forward Dodge. Quick evasive maneuver when your Light Bowgun is drawn. The distance covered is shorter, but requires less time to recover. Ammo fired immediately after this deals increased damage.
Fanning Maneuver: Can be switched from Fanning Vault. Uses the Wirebug to quickly flank either left or right. Your attack power is increased temporarily.
Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Fast. Wirebug Cost: 1
Heavy Bowgun
Tackle: Can be switched from Melee Attack. A shoulder check move. Â Prevents flinching and knockback, but still allow significant damage. Only use this for weak attacks that may knock you back!
Healing Mech-Wyvernsnipe: Can be switched from Mech-Wyvernsnipe. Fires a specialized shot, different depending on the weapon. Has its own gauge, and replenishes over time. Regular Wyvernheart and Wyvernsnipe deals less damage but can heal the hunter.
Bow
Dodgebolt: Can be switched from Charging Sidestep. A spinning evade move that doubles as an attack. Making it a near-miss can fill up the charge level considerably. Allows you to move forward, backwards, left, or right.
Aerial Aim: Can be switched from Focus Shot. An action for firing arrows by jumping straight up with a Wirebug. Particularly damaging shots can be fired from midair. A close-range attack using an arrow can also be aimed directly underneath you.
Wirebug Gauge Recovery Speed: Medium. Wirebug Cost: 1.


Call Of Duty Modern Warfare Season 4 Update To Add 200-Player Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone is about to get so extremely large that it’s going to be like a real warzone out there. Activision and Infinity Ward have confirmed that Verdansk will soon be able to hold up to 200 players in Battle Royale Quads, which is a major increase from its previous 150 player maximum.

The “Season Four Reloaded” update will arrive on 29 June 2020 at 11pm PDT or on 30 June 2020 at 2pm GMT+8 in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia. That also includes a new season roadmap, along with new gear like the Spotter Scope. According to the official blog, the size of the update will be around 22GB to 30GB.

Call Of Duty Warzone should also be on the lookout for Supply Run Contracts. Upon activation, you and your squad (if applicable) will be directed to a nearby Buy Station; reaching it within the time limit will net you a discount on Buy Station purchases.

Players can also find one of the airdropped care packages to become the Juggernaut and use the mini-gun to attack enemies and vehicles. Once a Juggernaut is sent to the Gulag, a new Juggernaut care package will drop on the map, so do your best to capture the suit and take on any squad that stands in your way.

Also, there will be a new locale to deploy to; Cheshire Park. Located in urban London, England, Cheshire Park is a picturesque garden and conservatory where Operators will battle from door to door or through the central flora-filled areaâ€‹.

Introduced nearly a decade ago, Team Defender returns to Modern Warfare as a fast-paced objective game mode that puts a twist on the traditional Capture the Flag formula.

Instead of both teams defending their respective flags, there is only one flag for a squad member to capture and hold onto. A squad earns a point for every second that one of their members holds onto this flag, which means defending the carrier is a must for victory.

Other than needing the flag to earn points, attackers will want to down the carrier for points, which will lead to games where both squads will frantically attempt to wrest control of the flag until the very last second in this pulse-pounding Multiplayer experience.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N8VDutRs_U&w=560&h=315]


V Rising Sold Over 1 Million Copies In Its First Week

Even in Early Access mode, a vampire action RPG with survival elements is sure to win hearts and minds.
V Rising, made by Stunlock Studios, has sold 1+ million copies on its first week on PC (Steam). The game itself features players as vampires surviving in an open world in action RPG form, be it in solo or co-op mode, with the latter being able to support up to 50 players. As a vampire you feed on blood to gain powers while hiding from sunlight and daytime, as well as build your castle and fort to survive.

If you want to jump in and sink your teeth in a seemingly-solid action RPG with many survival and crafting elements, you can check it out here.


All PlayStation 3 Games Ever Released Can Now Boot Up On PC…

Many gamers and like-minded retro folks strongly believe in the preservation of old video games through emulation. So it’s good to know that a certain PS3 emulator has finally come a long way since its 2011 journey.
The RPCS3 emulator, which emulates PS3 games, can now boot up every single available PS3 game released on the PlayStation console (via Kotaku). The PRSC3 team mentioned yesterday that there are now zero games that do not boot in the emulator. While that doesn’t mean all PS3 games are completely playable on the emulator, it is a worthy milestone to announce.

We're delighted to announce that RPCS3 now has a total of ZERO games in the Nothing status!This means that all known games and applications at least boot on the emulator, with no on-going regressions that prevent games from booting.We look forward to emptying out Loadable too! pic.twitter.com/fE1iDpAvQo
— RPCS3 (@rpcs3) October 20, 2021

To reiterate, over 2,000 games are marked as “playable” on the emulator. On a related note, PlayStation is planning on bringing some of its exclusives on the PC, with 2018’s fine-as-heck action title God of War being the latest.


Ghost Of Tsushima Looks Like The Assassin’s Creed Japan We Deserve

The latest State Of Play live stream has unveiled almost 18 minutes worth of gameplay footage for Sucker Punch‘s highly-anticipated Ghost Of Tsushima. The new Ghost Of Tsushima gameplay trailer features a closer look at exploration, combat, and customization options in the upcoming game.
Ghost Of Tsushima Exploration

In Ghost Of Tsushima, players can use the Guiding Wind mechanic to find their way to the next location (which they have marked on the map), as a literal gust of wind will appear to guide the player to where they need to go. Besides that, players can also use visual cues in the game itself, such as a stack of smoke in the distance.

Meanwhile, certain animals like birds and foxes could lead players to important locations like shrines, which also acts as fast travel spots. Interesting locations include abandoned buildings where players can scavenge for resources and items.

Ghost Of Tsushima Combat

There are two approaches to combat in Ghost Of Tsushima. The first is the way of the Samurai, where players can meet enemies head-on and engage in honourable one-on-one lethal standoffs. Players can also use the bow in combat, as well as parry the attacks of enemies (even reflect arrows) for openings to counter-attack.
What’s interesting is that Ghost Of Tsushima also features the ability to change combat stances, which will be very familiar to fans of Team Ninja’s Nioh franchise. Certain combat stances will inflict more damage against specific enemy types, lending complexity to combat.

The other approach is considered less honourable (for some reason) and referred to as the way of the Ghost. Players use stealth, distracting enemies with throwable objects and quietly assassinating them. If you’re discovered, players can resort to smoke bombs or even kunai for quick instant kills.

Some enemies might even fear the player so much that they’re paralyzed by fear, leaving them vulnerable to the player’s attacks. Similar to From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there’s also a grappling hook mechanic in Ghost Of Tsushima.

Other Ghost Of Tsushima Features

In Ghost Of Tsushima, players can equip different Charms to activate different buffs, as well as use Technique Points to upgrade and learn new skills. Armour isn’t simply cosmetic, as each of them has its own advantages.
The new gameplay trailer also confirms that Ghost Of Tsushima will feature a Japanese voice track option and a photo mode, as well as a setting for a black-and-white cinematic mode to emulate the visual look of classic Samurai movies and give the game an Akira Kurosawa flavour.

That’s all we know about Ghost Of Tsushima so far. It is slated to release exclusively for the PS4 on 17 July 2020. For the Malaysian prices and details on the different editions of the game, head on over here.
In the meantime, check out the new gameplay trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur0pQblaZcE&w=560&h=315]


Bojack Horseman Finally Wraps Up Its 6-Year Run

“Life’s a bitch and then you die, right?”
“Sometimes. Sometimes life’s a bitch and you keep living.”

It’s indeed an end of an era as one of Netflix’s longest-running animated drama comedy Bojack Horseman, a show about a former child star who copes with alcoholism and depression, is coming to a close. It’s a sort-of nihilistic show covered up with bouts of surrealistic and pun-filled humour set in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals live together.
The second half of Bojack Horseman’s sixth and final season ended on an expected yet satisfying note. Well, as conclusive as you can get with a self-destructive character trying to steer his course in life just right but unable to erase his past.
Just when you think the titular horse-person’s life (voiced by Will Arnett in his best role since LEGO Batman) is going to turn out alright with his new teaching job, well it doesn’t. Investigative journalists who talk like they’re from the 40s are trying to rifle through Bojack’s past misdeeds. Does it blow up in his face? Will he meet an untimely end like most folks in this alternate version of Hollywood and Los Angeles?

Well, yes and no. I won’t go into further detail because I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself, but generally it’s what you would realistically expect from someone as half-remorseful as Bojack.
You feel for the guy, and yet you don’t because he ends up reverting back to his ways. For 6 long seasons, he tries to make up for the crappy things he’s done, but it just reels it back and he has to go down kicking and screaming. And he also ends up going into a major void and mind relapse in the show’s penultimate episode “The View from Halfway Down”. Here, he meets some old friends but not in the way you expect.

It’s quite a shocker of an episode and is one of the many reasons why the show is heralded as a pinnacle of drama and comedy. It doesn’t pull its punches.

The show also splits the spotlight with its other characters like former-journalist-and-now-struggling writer Diane (Alison Brie in her best work since Community and Glow) and how she’s coping with living in Chicago with her new bison boyfriend Guy (Lakeith Stanfield). And Princess Caroline (Amy Sedaris) as she still works out a way to balance her work-life and porcupine baby. And Todd (Aaron Paul) and how he’s trying to reconnect with his parents using his patented dumbass schemes. And Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins) as he comes to terms that his upcoming marriage with a new person is a sham.
I’m really going to miss this series, come to think of it. It continues to blend its absurd premise and comedic setups alongside how one faces his demons and coming to grips with the end.

Season-wise, Bojack Horseman neither takes the schmaltzy path nor goes the incredibly dark and depressing route. It deftly balances itself halfway between the two and sticks the eventual landing.

As a whole series, it starts strong, paces back and forth at medium speed with spikes of drama, and ends the way you expect for such an amoral yet sympathetic character who used to be in the limelight and aims to climb back up while caving to his vices. It’s about as realistic a climax as you can get for a show that emulates real-life drama and the people wrapped up in it.
Except with talking animals. Hey, if all it takes to stand out is to do this while creating compelling narratives, then bring in more Hollywoo shenanigans, I say.
Would a spin-off in the world of the horseman work in the long run? It may dilute the series and what it stands for, but I’m open-minded with more options. But for now, six seasons is more than enough for fans to get newbies to start horsin’ around.


Tekken 8 Confirmed

The latest PlayStation State of Play livestream starts off with a bang, courtesy of Bandai Namco.
The company has officially announced Tekken 8, the next 3D fighting game entry in the franchise. The short trailer showcases the game’s engine in action, pitting Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima against each other, devil powers and all.

The fighting title will be out for PlayStation 5; no other consoles have been confirmed at this point in writing.
Tekken 8 was teased back at EVO 2022.


Ragnarok X Next Generation Concludes Fan Story Campaign In SEA

Right after the game’s pre-registration reaching 1.5 million in SEA, Ragnarok X Next Generation concluded the #ROXMyStory campaign on its official fan pages on 2 June 2021. Among all the participants across SEA, a player from the Philippines was eventually voted the Grand Champion and received a total prize of US$800.
Touched by his moving stories, players recalled their time spent in Midgard, the world where they fought unbeatable bosses, formed lifelong friendships, and chased their dreams of becoming the mightiest adventurer ever.

The campaign called for veteran Ragnarok IP players to share their most treasured memories and moments from the historic online game through the Ragnarok X Next Generation official fan pages. The best story from each week was crowned the Week Champion and rewarded with a special prize, while the final weekâ€™s Grand Champion was decided by player voting.
Stories were shared of battle-forged friendships formed on the sacred battlefields of the Guildwars; thrilling adventures through perilous dungeons, facing down godlike bosses with lifelong friends; fateful encounters with fellow adventurers that some ultimately blossom into love. With millions of loyal players throughout its decades-long history, there is no shortage of memories to share in the world of Midgard.
Illustrated by: Jaman Dulu dalam Gambar
In Ragnarok X Next Generation, players can continue their stories with all their friends and go back to the good old days. Spend time chatting with old friends, reunite the guild and feel the excitement of challenging unbeatable bosses once again.
Players can also get married and hold a big wedding ceremony with all their friends in attendance. Players who reach a certain level of favour can get married by signing a contract and completing special quests. After marriage, the two players will get special skills, titles, and customized looks.

The game also features memorable social activities such as the Motion System, designed to allow maximum communication between players through various facial expressions and fun poses, which can also be used to create wonderful photos with the camera system.
There is also a dedicated spot located in the South Gate area designed for social activities – the Amusement Park, with plenty of fun rides like the merry-go-round, roller coaster, and Ferris wheel, which players can enjoy together while chatting with friends.Â

You can pre-register today through the App Store (link) and Google Play Store (link). You can also pre-register on the pre-registration website (link) and invite your friends for extra opportunities to play the Gacha Machine and win various in-game items, including Zeny, Crystals, Basic Headgear Blueprint Gift Box, permanent mount, and more.
Ragnarok X Next Generation is slated to launch on Android and iOS devices on 18 June 2021.


The Samsung Galaxy S23 Series Launches In Malaysia This Friday

Samsung Malaysia has announced that the pre-order collection for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series will begin on 17 February 2023 onwards. Customers who have pre-ordered the Galaxy S23 series will be among the first to experience Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone.
Galaxy S23 Series Launch Promotion
You can get the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and receive a free Galaxy Watch5 (40mm) worth RM1,099 with your purchase from 24 February to 31 March 2023.
You can also enjoy up to 30 percent off purchase-with-purchase on selected Samsung Accessories, Galaxy Tablets, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds Series and Samsung Care+. You can also trade in your device and receive an instant rebate of up to RM6,00.

Participating Models

Colours
Online Exclusive Colours
Recommended Retail Price (RM)
Launch Promotion

Galaxy S23 Ultra (512GB)

Green
Phantom Black
Lavender
Cream
Graphite
Sky Blue
Lime
Red
RM6,199
Receive a free Galaxy Watch5 (40mm) worth RM1,099

Galaxy S23 Ultra (256GB)

Green
Phantom Black
Lavender
Cream
Graphite
Sky Blue
Lime
Red

RM5,699

Galaxy S23+ (512GB)

Cream
Phantom Black
Green
Lavender
Graphite
Lime

RM5,199

Galaxy S23+ (256GB)
Cream
Phantom Black
Green
Lavender
Graphite
Lime

RM4,699

Galaxy S23 (256GB)

Cream
Phantom Black
Green
Lavender
Graphite
Lime

RM4,199

Galaxy S23 (128GB)
Cream
Phantom Black
Green
Lavender
Graphite
Lime

RM3,899

Last Call For Galaxy S23 Series 4 Pre-Order
There are only a few more days until the pre-order promotion ends on 23 February 2023. If you’d like to enjoy bigger storage, get an upgrade of Double Storage for the same price worth up to RM500 when you place your orders now.
You can also pre-order at Samsung Malaysia’s official website to receive an RM400 e-voucher. If you pre-order at Samsung Experience Stores or Samsung Authorised Partner, you can receive Samsung Accessories worth up to RM458. Visit the websites below for more information:

Pre-order website: https://www.samsung.com/my/offer/mobile/galaxy-preorder-2023/
Galaxy S23 Ultra: https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-s23-ultra/buy/
Galaxy S23+ | Samsung Galaxy S23: https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-s23/buy/

In the meantime, head on over here to find out how you can save a ton when purchasing your new Samsung Galaxy S23 device.


Ranking The Mega Man X Games From Xcellent To Xcrement

The Blue Bomber himself, Mega Man, is the de facto Capcom mascot back in the late 80s when 2D platformers were all the rage. The titular original series was groundbreaking stuff. ItsÂ pick-any-order stage selection process was novel, its weapon-stealing mechanic was innovative, and its challenge level was brutal yet fair.
Its spin-off SNES series Mega Man X basically cranked the formula up to 11 and made things faster and better. 16-bit lush colourful graphics. Creative levels that span larger from a vertical aspect, each with its own secrets. New tools like X-Armor pieces that power up your abilities significantly. The wall-climb and dash that speeds up gameplay and is integral in navigating the game’s treacherousÂ obstacles. A rocking soundtrack. An overarching narrative where robots called reploidsÂ live alongside humans and are warring against each other.
These are the key factors that made the Mega Man X a revered franchise for fans across the world since the 90s. Well, most of them anyway. Just like the original Mega Man, some titles lost the plot halfway.
So in lieu of the recent Mega Man X Legacy Collection announcement, we are ranking every Mega Man X title from the absolute bottom tier to the best of the best. Of course, being the self-proclaimed resident Mega Man historian on this site, it is my utmost responsibility to tell you which Mega Man X game is top tier and which one deserves to die in a garbage fire alongside Mighty No. 9 and all that Kickstarter money it burnt away.
#12. Mega Man X7 (PS2)

Let’s start with the bottom of the Mega barrel. Mega Man X7 is a garbage fire of a game. Its switch to a 3D mode is unnecessary and doesn’t add anything; it actually made platforming segments worse. Its auto-aiming system makes the game brain-dead easy to the point where you can just button mash your blasts to victory. Plus, Zero’s sword swing is pretty useless here; the game is terribly balanced and favours long-ranged play.
On the plus side, the idea of introducing a new protagonist Axl is interesting, and the main antagonist Red looks cool. Beyond that, there isn’t much to redeem this hot mess.
#11. Mega Man X-Treme (Game Boy)

This Gameboy Color game is mediocre at best. Players control X as they fight 4 bosses from Mega Man X1 and 4 others from Mega Man X2; a remix of the first two games, basically. If you are curious to see how an X game looks like in NES graphics, look no further than this curious relic.
#10. Mega Man X6 (PS One)

The first game to not have Keiji Inafune involved in is broken. There are literal segments where you can get stuck on a level and have to restart and go back to the select screen. The game’s balance is uneven -there is a boss whose projectiles can be destroyed with your regular shots. Yet at the same time, there are stages that are nigh-impossible to get through with just your regular weapons, like Blazing Heatnix’s “donuts of doom” segment.
Having said that, there are some good things to say about this broken platformer though. Some of the levels have some interesting backdrops and gimmicks, the new Blade Armor and Ninja Armor X can collect are pretty cool and super-useful, and the penultimate boss fight with Gate is a good balance of challenge and fun. All in all, you could do worse than a game that tries to shove in a Europe tribute in one of its stages.

Fun fact: All the 8 Mavericks you fight here are former creations of Gate’s research facility before they were scrapped out of spite by his former colleagues, which also include Alia. You’re basically paying for the sins of your current mission handler who may have homicidal tendencies.
#9. Mega Man X-Treme 2 (Game Boy)

This Gameboy Color game is also mediocre, but at least it tries to spice things up with two different playstyles. With a mixture of X1, X2, and X3 stages and bosses remixed for the small Game Boy screen, the devs did an admirable job cramming everything in while also putting in some new additions to make the stages seem a little fresh.
Fun fact: this game features Maverick Hunter handler Iris in her debut role in the game’s timeline, before she defected to her brother Colonel’s side during the Repliforce incident in Mega Man X4.
#8. Mega Man X3 (SNES, PlayStation)

Mega Man X3 is the definition of “everything and the kitchen sink”. The game has a lot of power-ups, a lot of Ride Armors, and a lot more fights since you have three sub-bosses to deal with. You even get to play as Zero for a bit. However, it just feels more like padding and doesn’t equate to good level design. The stages here are lukewarm at best, the bosses are not that varied, and playing as Zero is not as different as playing as X save for the Z-saber charge move. Not the worst entry, but probably the most standard one of the lot.
Fun fact: If you have to play the definitive version of MMX3, play the PlayStation version. Sure there’s load time, but the music is much better in retrospect.

#7. Mega Man X5 (PS One)

This fifth game was supposed to be the final X game before the series branched out to Mega Man Zero, but it wasn’t to be as Capcom wanted to milk the franchise for all of its worth during the early 2000s.
X5 had new ideas like a time limit that dictates what ending or path you will take if you don’t defeat the eight Mavericks in time. X also has a new armour system where he needs to collect pieces for the whole thing to work, instead of having individual pieces giving the power-up. And best of all, this is the first Mega Man X game where the characters can duck and crouch.
Okay, even with that little addition, the game itself is fun and adds in that air of finality before the next Mega Man spin-off. It may not be completely groundbreaking, but it’s a nice footnote in Mega Man history.
Fun fact: We know that Mega Man X has excellent music, but goddamn that X vs. Zero theme is godlike.

#6. Mega Man X Command Mission (PS2, Xbox, GameCube)

Who knew that the lone spin-off of a spin-off of a platformer would be better than most of its contemporary brethren? During the heat of the PS2 JRPG craze, Capcom decided to put a turn-based combat spin onto Mega Man X. Thus, we get Mega Man X Command Mission.
The game proved that its universe can expand beyond the “destroy Sigma’s evil plan” story, with new reploids who join your party and the plot that deals with other Mavericks. The battle system is addictive and full of replayability; you’re actually looking forward to more battles as you delve deeper into the game and as you recruit more Maverick hunters and support reploids with different playstyles. Who knew that a welcome break from platforming could do the Mega Man X series justice?
Fun fact: Spider is “Redips” backwards. You’re not even trying, Capcom.
#5. Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (PSP)

A darn good remake on the PSP if we say so ourselves. It switches up the armour power-ups, it arranged the last four stages in a good order, the 3D graphics are good, the OST remixes are (mostly) sublime, and there’s a new mode where you can play as Vile and see his side of the battlefield and story.
It doesn’t really supercede the original recipe, but it sure as hell is a good reinterpretation of it.
Fun fact: The Day of Sigma OVA, which is a prelude to Maverick Hunter X that you can see below, retcons the status of reploid fatherÂ Dr. Cain.

#4. Mega Man X8 (PS2)

After the disappointment that was X7, Capcom decided to go back to basics. They made the latest Mega Man X game 3D in the parts that mattered: the graphics,Â  and create a 2D action platformer where you can switch between characters mid-battle.
The level gimmicks are innovative, with highlights include a satellite facility with VR test rooms, a gravity-flipping stage, and a stage dedicated to the awesomeness that is the Mega Man X Ride Armor. X, Zero, and Axl have very distinct playstyles; you will need at least master two of them to take advantage of the game’s tag-team mechanic.
The best part is that each of the 8 Maverick bosses you fight go into a rage mode where they’re invincible for a few seconds while they’re pulling off their ultimate move. This means you can’t just kill them quickly using a weapon they’re weak against, oh no. You have to tough it out and dodge them with your reflexes. This is a welcome challenge in a series known for letting you bulldoze through bosses with the right weapon.
All in all, this entry reminds us why we loved the SNES games while also adding a new coat of paint onto it.
Fun Fact: This is the first mothership Mega Man X title which does not feature Sigma as the main villain and final boss. Also, there’s a huge emphasis on rock music & electric guitar in this entry.
#3. Mega Man X4 (PS One, Sega Saturn)

“What are we fighting for?!?” The English VO is infamous for poorly-delivered lines like these, but that’s the only bad thing we can say about this PS debut of X and Zero. You get two different playstyles with X and Zero, you get a challenging 2D action platforming game with a lot of tricky level gimmicks and even a well-thought-out jet speeder stage, and you have two different narratives to go through.
While X’s story is typical, Zero’s plotline shines in this entry. We get to see his backstory fleshed out a bit more here. In fact, I think everyone likes this Mega Man X game more because everybody’s favourite blonde sword-wielder gets his moment in the spotlight. Sure, his segments are tougher due to the range of his blade but it’s worth the effort.
Fun fact: Almost all the bosses you fight here are part of an army formerly loyal to protecting humans and aiding Maverick Hunters before being branded as traitors due to a traitorous act of one member (Magma Dragoon). Hope you feel good slaughtering those Repliforce soldiers and veterans!
#2. Mega Man X2 (SNES)

In retrospect, Mega Man X2 is an extension of Mega Man X, but that doesn’t make it a lesser game, far from it. All of MMX2’s level design is tight, with secrets worth chasing – if you want to save yourself from a tough fight against Zero later in the game. You also get the air dash, arguably one of the more important skills you need to get through in the X games. It’s a simple addition but that adds more to the game’s levels and layout.
Sometimes, the little touches can go a long way. Compared to the kitchen sink method of X3, this sequel is actually a better follow-up in retrospect.
Fun fact: The Opening Stage music for MMX2 is arguably better than MMX1’s Opening ~Highway Stage music. Just do a quick YouTube search and you’ll find more covers for the former than the latter.
#1. Mega Man X (SNES)

11 entries and not one of them match or even succeeded the breadth and conciseness of the original SNES classic. While Mega Man X4 and X2 were close, they are not as precisely-designed as Mega Man X. The first stage is a masterclass of how to teach players the ropes, while the rest of the 8 main stages and the final four do what they need to do: make sure you know the ropes so that the game can test you at the very end.
Coupled with a great soundtrack and lovely graphics, Mega Man X is a classic that is still yet to be rivalled and replicated by its sequels and even its former creators who are off doing spiritual successors.
Fun fact: Anyone who tells you that they prefer any other MMX game than the first game is a goddamn liar. Except when it’s MMX2. Or MMX4. Then maybe they’re just a bit wonky in the head.


Animal Crossing Will Get Official Makeup Line

Nintendo has announced that it will be collaborating with cosmetics brand ColourPop to create a makeup collection inspired by its hit simulation game Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
The collection features four powder palettes themed after the characters in the game from Isabelle to Tom Nook. ColourPop is known for pop culture makeup collaborations like its Disney princesses line, The Mandalorian, and Sailor Moon.

Featuring fun shades inspired by the island paradise life, the @ColourPopCo x Animal Crossing: New Horizons makeup collection adds some new hues to your look on 1/28! #ColourPopxAnimalCrossing??: https://t.co/KT70wQfwLu pic.twitter.com/JvKvDAidkK
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 15, 2021

Players will get their new hues on 28th January worldwide.


[Report] We Are Definitely, DEFINITELY Getting A Resident Evil 3 REmake

Resident Evil fans: you’re definitely getting a REmake of part 3 featuring everybody’s favourite S.T.A.R.-loving buddy, the Nemesis.
According to console stat tracker Gamstat.com, the tool uncovered official-looking PSN Store artwork for the upcoming REmake. The game will also be out for PC and Xbox One if the last game is of any indication.

I do wonder if protagonist Jill Valentine will retain her skirt from the PS1 game. Something tells me that this game may make its debut at this year’s Jump Fiesta. Or at this year’s Game Awards. It’s anybody’s guess at this point.
That Was Quick….
….especially since the Resident Evil 2 REmake came out early this year. Well, you have to keep in mind that RE3 was supposed to be a spin-off featuring a new character before Capcom decided to shove in Jill Valentine in all of this.
Old-school players and RE aficionados should already know that Resident Evil 3: Nemesis reuses most of RE2’s assets, but created a kind of cat-and-mouse gameplay in its survival horror trappings. So it makes sense to not only reuse a lot of the RE2 REmake’s assets but also publish and develop this game in a shorter amount of time.
It’s not a complete copypasta job though; the Nemesis in this version will most likely have new attacks, brandish its own set of heavy weapons, and be even more of a persistent threat than Mr. X.
Just one special request: I would like a special hardcore mode in this RE3 where both Mr. X AND the Nemesis are pursuing you in Raccoon City.


Team Seoul Adds Three New Faces to Overwatch League Squad

Lunatic-Hai a.k.a Team Seoul yesterday showed off their newly expanded their squad in preparation for Overwatch League via the addition of three new faces – former Flash Lux DPSÂ Byung-sunÂ “Fleta”Â Kim, former Laser Kittenz DPSÂ Sang-beomÂ “Munchkin”Â Byeon and former Cloud9 flexÂ Jae-moÂ “xepheR”Â Koo – against Miraculous Youngsters at the inter-nation invitational Seoul Cup OGN SuperMatch.
Subbing out Esca and Zumba in favor of granting Fleta and Xepher their debuts, Lunatic-Hai started poorly as they went down 0-2 vs their Chinese opponents which filled the chat window with suggestions that LH are washed up following their early exit at APEX S4. And just like that, Lunatic-Hai woke up with a full capture on Horizon to claw back into contention. They instantly picked up on the momentum and fan support which was clearly on their side and tied the score with phenomenal plays led by Whoru on Pharah who probably played his match of the season on Dorado.

The deciding match on King’s Row was literally game of inches as Lunatic-Hai completed their reverse sweep by denying Miraculous Youngsters a chance for overtime with a superb hold on the last point. The 3-2 win booked them a place in the final against their arch-nemesis and APEX Season 3 losing finalists, Cloud9 KongDoo. Sharing the fate of being knocked out of APEX Season 4 by GC Busan, LH and C9KD will be competing in the Overwatch League come January and this was indeed a grudge match you don’t want to miss.

A quick takeaway from the Lunatic-Hai vs Miraculous Youngster match would be that the LH team is back on its grove regardless of the result against Cloud9KongDoo. The depth of the roster is now even scarier and we fear for EsCa’s spot in the starting team considering very impressive displays by Whoru and Fleta. Curious case we’d like to point out also is thatÂ LeeÂ “Whoru”Â Seung Joon isn’t officially yet in Team Seoul’s roster and it would be very curious to not see him make the final squad. Munchkin’s addition adds the much needed firepower to the Lunatic-Hai team who while always appear dominant, leaves a lot to be desired on the DPS side of things.
You can catch the epic showdown between Lunatic-Hai and Cloud9KongDoo here via Twitch


It’s Official: Video Games Will Save Us From The Pandemic…

In Malaysia, we’re already in the second week of our one-month self-quarantine in accordance with the Government’s Movement Control Order mandate. Many of us have been working from home and doing whatever we can to pass the time, including playing video games, of course.
Your family members or housemates may be berating you for gaming too much during this time, but don’t worry, playing video games while staying at home to prevent the Coronavirus COVID-19 virus from spreading is, in fact, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
We’re not making stuff up, it’s true. On Saturday (28 March 2020), several prominent companies from the games industry are working with the WHO to launch a new initiative titled #PlayApartTogether to promote gaming as a safe and healthy medium of entertainment while practising social distancing.
These include publishers and developers such as:

Activision Blizzard
Amazon Appstore
Big Fish Games
Dirtybit
Glu Mobile
Jam City
Kabam
Maysalward
Playtika
Pocket Gems
Riot Games
SciPlay
Snap Games
Twitch
Unity
Wooga
YouTube Gaming
Zynga

As part of WHO’s #PlayApartTogether initiative, these big players in the games industry will bring special events, exclusives, activities, rewards and inspiration to some of their games.
These efforts include:

Zynga will make more content available free in mobile game Dawn of Titans and will make a free BMW Z04 available in CSR Racing 2 if players from around the world complete over 250 million races across the next two weeks.

Dirtybit will give Fun Run 3 players additional rewards for completing quests.

Pocket Gems will add new features in its interactive storytelling app Episode and RTS game War Dragons.

Meanwhile, Unity is giving away three free months of its Unity Learn Premium game development platform. According to the blog post, the program provided by Unity includes courses, tutorials, live sessions, and a virtual class teaching the art of coding.
In addition, Riot Games is offering a free online game design curriculum for middle school and high school students.

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS! Did you know we have a free game design curriculum for middle and high schoolers? These lesson plans are built for a classroom, but we bet they’d be great at home. All you need is internet and a printer! Check them out here: https://t.co/v2OG1Vi7Fj pic.twitter.com/Z1UU73R5Ii
â€” Riot Games (@riotgames) March 27, 2020
WHO US ambassador Ray Chambers said in a tweet:

Weâ€™re at a crucial moment in defining outcomes of this pandemic. Games industry companies have a global audience – we encourage all to #PlayApartTogether. More physical distancing + other measures will help to flatten the curve + save lives. https://t.co/QhX0ssN0lH
â€” Ray Chambers (@RaymondChambers) March 28, 2020
Riot Games CEO also said in a tweet:

Physical distancing shouldn’t mean social isolation! Let’s stay physically apart to help flatten the curve and #PlayApartTogether to help power through this crisis. We can save the world, for real this time! Let’s beat this COVID-19 boss battle together @WHO
â€” nicolo (@niiicolo) March 28, 2020
This move is a welcome one from the WHO; the very same WHO that previously classified gaming disorder or addiction as an officially-recognized disease/disorder in 2018 (which was challenged by parties representing the games industry).
All we can say is keep on keeping on, fellow gamers. Game on!


Zelda & Nintendo Veteran To Work On New Open World Adventure Game With Papergames

Chinese game company Papergames has a brand new addition: Nintendo’s Kentaro Tominaga.
According to Kantan Games consultancy CEO Dr Serkan Toto, Tominaga will be working on an open-world take on the mobile dress-up game Love Nikki. It’ll be called Infinity Nikki, a cross-platform open-world dress-up adventure game. Tominaga is a veteran and is involved with the Zelda franchise, most notably The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. His first role was working as assistant director on The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in 2002.

Yet another Japanese high-profile game industry figure poached by a Chinese studio.
Trailer for his new game: https://t.co/ImKoYnZqoV
Release date TBA.
— Dr. Serkan Toto / Kantan Games Inc. (@serkantoto) November 30, 2022

This is the latest example of notable Japanese developers jumping ship to Chinese game companies. These include Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi leaving Sega to work in new studio owned by NetEase Games.


The Batman Drops On HBO GO Malaysia Next Week

If you missed The Batman in cinemas last month, don’t worry, because the Dark Knight is coming for Vengeance on HBO GO next week on 18 April 2022. HBO Asia made the announcement earlier today, which is a pleasant surprise. Soon, you’ll be able to catch Matt Reeves’ and Robert Pattinson’ amazing take on the World’s Best Detective from the comfort of your own homes.
The Batman will be available to stream on HBO GO in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand starting from 18 April 2022.

Vengeance will descend on HBO GO this Apr 18. #TheBatman
Subscribe to 3-month special price plans here: https://t.co/hOEysIkSo0 pic.twitter.com/r5SfH9nCtX
— HBO Asia (@HBOAsia) April 11, 2022

In the meantime, you can head on over here for my breakdown of the movie’s ending and post-credits, as well as what to expect from a potential sequel., or check out Barry Keoghan’s Joker in all his glory here.
You can subscribe to HBO GO online at https://www.hbogoasia.my/ or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store for as low as RM23.30/month. You can also access HBO GO via Astro. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.


Dark And Darker Guide: Tips & Tricks To Get Through This Unforgiving FPS

Dark and Darker is this year’s up-and-coming PvPvE first-person action game that’s all the rave online. You play as one of the few fantasy classes as you go through dungeons solo or with friends. Said dungeon is filled with traps and powerful foes, with your starting point being random as you find your way to the Blue Portal.
Collect as much loot as you can, but if you die, you lose it all. Also, the playing area gradually shrinks and you also have to deal with other players who want to escape alive too, and probably want to take your loot for themselves.
Here are some tips for this battle royale-like dungeon crawler that’s part Elder Scrolls combat and part Fortnite-but-melee-weapons.

Dark And Darker Starter Guide

Pick A Class; Learn Their Strengths & Weaknesses
Dark and Darker features classic RPG characters to pick from and they come with either melee or ranged attacks, dealing either physical or magical damage.
Fighter, Barbarian, and Rogue are melee characters.
Cleric combines melee with magical attacks.
Wizards and Ranger are ranged attackers; the former deals magic damage while the latter deals physical damage.
If you’re new to Dark and Darker, go for the Fighter class as he’s straightforward to use and well-balanced.
Choose The Right Perks And Skills
You can choose a passive ability called a perk and two active skills to use (press Q and E to trigger them). When you’re in the lobby, choose the Class tab to find the Perk and Skill menu. If you’re going for Fighter, for example, you should use Second Wind. Generally, you want to pick abilities that heal and increase damage for a short bit.
Know Your Maps
There are two maps to choose from: The Forgotten Castle and The Goblin Caves. The Forgotten Castle allows groups of one to three players; the Goblin Caves allow solo players only. The “High Roller” version of the Forgotten Castle has better loot but comes with an entrance fee.
If you’re new, just start with The Forgotten Castle first before trying out the others.
Know Your Weapons
The weapons you use in the game have different attack animations and reach. Find time to familiarize yourself with them. Some of them even have alternate swing via right click on the mouse.

Dark and Darker Intermediate Guide

Learn How To Tackle Mobs
Here are some tips on fighting the enemies of Dark and Darker while taking as little damage as possible.

Dodge the Skeleton’s sword swings by staying a safe distance away until after their attack animation completes. Do the W and S forward-and-back key dance in other words.
Some Skeleton Archers fire two arrows in rapid succession, so be careful.
Take care to dodge the Mage’s spells. They have a protective spell that they cast automatically (on itself and on its pals) if you get too close to them.
Spiders often come from spawners, which look like ceramic pots lying on their side. You’ll need to destroy the pot to stop more spiders from appearing. Aim down to hit them; try jumping on a chest and crouching to attack them from a safe distance.
Flying skulls’ eyes will glow gold while they are preparing to swoop at you. They don’t have much HP, so try to dispatch them quickly in this time.
If you get close to a Mummy, it will release a cloud of green noxious gas which deals damage over time. It disperses over time, but watch out as it moves forward a bit.
Look out for floating ghost creatures called Wraiths. They are strong and hit hard. They usually stay aggro’ed to the last enemy that hit them; it’s a perfect creature to distract enemy players.
Champions (skeletons with horned helmets and shields) can be difficult to tackle alone. Kite them with ranged attacks instead.
Red skeletons/red-eyed mobs are Elite mobs, which means they do more damage and are more difficult to kill.
Mobs with black eyes are Nightmare mobs, which are even more powerful than Elite mobs.
When in doubt, always aim for the head. Headshots deal more damage to opponents.

Know When To Engage
Don’t blindly rush into fights unless you want to lose all your loot quickly. You have to consider the situation in front of you before going in. However, don’t take too long and take it slow as the safe circle does get smaller. Taking down mobs quick mean you can loot faster and hopefully avoid other enemy players.
If you aggro’ed a mob, you can leave the room and close the door to lock them in, letting other enemy players deal with them.
Go Dark, Or Brighten Up The Place
The game’s title isn’t just about the aesthetics, but it’s also practically-dubbed. See, the Rogue and Wizard have invisibility skills that work well in dark areas. Put out torches in an area, and then camp and wait for enemy players so you can ambush them. However, you need to remove potions from your utility slot since they glow in the dark.
On the flip side, if you’re a melee character, you can use torches to light up particular areas, revealing sneaky rogues and wizards.
This guide is still under development. Be sure to check back periodically for more updates!


Aksiz.com joins LEAP 2023 As Official Media Partner for Malay Content

Some folks have taken a leap of faith (heh) with us. And now we have our first Official Media Partner (Bahasa Melayu) for LEAP 2023!

Our friends at Amanz media, via their video games news portal in Bahasa Melayu, Aksiz.com are now part of Liga Esports Antara Parlimen (LEAP 2023).
As described by their CEO, Ikhwan “Tekong” Nazri, Aksiz is a modern entertainment portal which covers gaming, pop culture and streaming. Easily one of the leading independent Malay content-creating teams in Malaysia, having Aksiz on board will be crucial in helping us get the message of LEAP beyond the English-speaking demographic.
LEAP is an esports initiative aiming to reach as many aspiring esports enthusiasts in Malaysia so we definitely do not want to create an entry barrier to it. Kakuchopurei.com has partnered with Aksiz.com many times in the past, so this collaboration is pretty much a given considering our respective histories. Through this partnership, Aksiz.com will help us disseminate official information about LEAP 2023 more effectively.
To know more about LEAP 2023 and potential partnerships and sponsorship opportunities, check out the landing page here.