Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Teaser Trailer Breakdown

I guess the cat’s out of the bag. Marvel has officially released the Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness teaser trailer, which was originally included as the second post-credits scene for the recently-released Spider-Man No Way Home. That was definitely faster than expected.
Well, I already analysed the Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness teaser in my Spider-Man No Way Home breakdown article, but if you still want to avoid spoilers for that movie, keep on reading for my breakdown of only the Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness teaser trailer below.
Marvel’s What If…? Connection And Doctor Strange Supreme

The trailer begins with a live-action version of what happened inÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â Episode 4. If you donâ€™t remember, a Doctor Strange variant destroyed his own universe by going back in time and changing the Absolute Point (a fixed point in a timeline). This Doctor Strange variant also absorbed dark magic and beings to become powerful.
Heâ€™s not entirely evil though, as he helped to defeat Infinity Ultron, Killmonger and Arnim Zola in their attempt to conquer the multiverse. At the end of Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â Season 1, he was in charge of keeping the pocket dimension containing Killmonger and Arnim Zola safe to keep them from escaping.
Is this the same Doctor Strange Supreme from Marvel’s What If…? or is this a different Doctor Strange variant? Perhaps an even more powerful or darker version?

Doctor Strange Is Marrying Christine Palmer?

This scene is weird because Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) hasn’t been mentioned or seen since 2016’s Doctor Strange. We have no idea if Stephen is even still in a romantic relationship with her. That is why this scene might be featuring a variant of Doctor Strange and Christine Palmer, or it might be the MCU version for all we know. Who knows?
The Branches Of Yggdrasil And Huginn/Muninn?

This might be a stretch, since this might just turn out to be a normal bird. However, that looks a bit like one of Odin’s ravens, either Huginn or Muninn. They’ve actually been seen in several MCU movies, including 2010’s Thor and others. Plus, the branch it’s sitting on might be one of the branches of Yggdrasil, the tree of life connecting the nine realms in Norse mythology.
Our First Look At America Chavez

In theÂ Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness teaser, we also catch a glimpse of America Chavez (or Miss America, but she rarely goes by that superhero name). Who is she? Well, she will be played by actress Xochitl Gomez, and the upcoming movie will be her MCU debut. In the comics, America Chavez is from the Utopian Parallel, a reality that is out of time and in the presence of the being known as the Demiurge (who Wandaâ€™s son, William â€˜Billyâ€™ Kaplan, is destined to become).
She later joins the Young Avengers, along with Kate Bishop and others. She is super strong and she can fly, but what makes her unique is that she can open star-shaped portals to other universes, which means that she can easily traverse the multiverse, something that even Doctor Strange finds hard to do.

Wong Gets Captured By Someone Or Something

Ever since the events ofÂ Avengers Endgame, weâ€™ve seen Wong play a more active role while weâ€™ve seen relatively little of Doctor Strange. We saw Wong inÂ Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, taking charge of the Abominationâ€™s training and then the investigation of the origins of the Ten Rings. Now we know why he was the one doing all that and not Doctor Strange.
InÂ Spider-Man No Way Home, Doctor Strange himself confirms that he is no longer the Sorcerer Supreme, due to the fact that he was gone for five years after the Blip/Thanos Snap. As a result, Wong apparently officially replaced him and is now the Sorcerer Supreme. There have been several occasions in the comics where Doctor Strange momentarily or temporarily loses his title as Sorcerer Supreme, so this isnâ€™t exactly completely unprecedented. Stephen could always regain the title in the future, perhaps as soon as Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
Doctor Strange Asks Wanda For Help

In theÂ Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of MadnessÂ trailer, we see Doctor Strange asking Wanda for help with the multiverse. Perhaps to fight against Shuma-Gorath, since the MCU version of Wanda hasÂ already been confirmedÂ to be a user of chaos magic.
The last time we saw Wanda was inÂ WandaVisionÂ Episode 9, with Wanda somewhere in a remote location near the mountains (Wundagore Mountain?), sitting on a porch sipping a drink before we see an astral projection of the real Wanda who is reading the Darkhold. We then hear the sounds of her children screaming for her help.
However, in the trailer, she looks more â€˜normalâ€™ and less unstable. Doctor Strange does mention â€˜Westviewâ€™ when he says that what he needs help with has nothing to do with that, which means that he does know what transpired inÂ WandaVision.
It’s interesting to keep in mind that she might even turn out to be a potential villain. Maybe the multiverse is finally her way to bring her children (Tommy and Billy) back to life. If that happens, we might be getting to Avengers The Children’s Crusade in the near future (it’s not a coincidence, since Kang The Conqueror is the antagonist of that story.

Baron Mordo Is Back

Last but not least, Karl Mordo finally returns as he makes an appearance in the trailer. The last time we saw him was in 2016â€™s Doctor Strange, where he vowed to hunt down all magicians and sorcerers who practice unnatural magic. According to him, Doctor Strange is one of those people. However, itâ€™s weird that itâ€™s taken him this long to go after Doctor Strange.
In the trailer, he says this to Doctor Strange:
â€œI hope you understand the greatest threat to our universe is you.â€
Thatâ€™s actually when the trailer ends with the MCUâ€™s Doctor Strange meeting the aforementioned Doctor Strange Supreme (see above) fromÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â series.
Shuma-Gorath Has Arrived

Shuma-Gorath is an ancient force of chaos, the immortal, nigh-invincible, and godlike ruler of nearly a hundred alternate universes, capable of energy projection, shapeshifting, teleportation, levitation, altering reality, and sympathetic magic, among many other feats.
He is one of the Old Ones (or Many-Angled Ones), so heâ€™s basically like Cthulhu from Lovecraftian lore. He even looks the part with one eye and tentacles.
However, inÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â Episode 1, we only see the tentacles and no eye so the monster is not confirmed to be Shuma-Gorath. Still, it could very well be. What else could it be? An octopus?
Plus, Shuma-Gorath isÂ one of several villains that I predictÂ could potentially be in 2022â€™sÂ Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

What Will Happen InÂ Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness?

Obviously, thereâ€™s too little and too early to say too much about what will happen inÂ Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. It is slated to release on 6 May 2022, so we still have a while yet before it comes out. Marvel will probably still have a few cards up their sleeve to reveal before and leading up toÂ Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
Weâ€™ll probably be getting a few more Disney+ series before that movie, includingÂ Moon Knight,Â She-Hulk,Â Ms. MarvelÂ and more. All I can say for now is that itâ€™s a damned good time to be a comic book fan, and Iâ€™ll be there with you guys for everything Marvel-related.
We already have a few potential villains to look forward to, including Doctor Strange Supreme, Shuma-Gorath, Mordo, and maybe even Wanda herself.
Until then, Excelsior!
Check out the teaser trailer below:


Steam Stats From 2018 Show That China & South Korea May Be Valve’s Focus

The latest Steam 2018 year in review stats from Valve is out and its numbers are growing bigger than ever. Here’s the first part:

There are 47 million daily active users on the platform.
There are 90 million monthly active users.
The platform peaked at 18.5 million concurrent users.
There are at least 1.6 million new purchasers per month.

What does this have to do with the headline about China and South Korea? That’s where we get to the next part of the stats.
Here is the Steam worldwide player base represented in a colourful graph chart. Note how far behind Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, etc.) is in volume when compared to Asia (China, South Korea). All we can say is that China and South Korea is really big. In fact, the player base in Asia is slightly smaller than the North American and Western European chunk of the chart.
What about Japan, you may ask? Hah! Time and again, Japan’s PC market is pretty niche; it only counts as a fraction to Asian playerbase numbers when compared to China and South Korea’s PC and internet cafe culture, and VPNs.

Furthermore, Valve’s future plans include partnering with Perfect World to bring Steam onshore into China, legally. And they’re planning on doing a Steam PC Cafe Program where players can experience the joys of Steam in hundreds of thousands of PC cafes worldwide. No prize for guessing which Asian countries have a high PC cafe gaming rate; we do wonder if this will apply towards Southeast Asia where the LAN culture is still prevalent.
Miscellaneous

A lot of people love playing Steam games on a, surprise, surprise, Xbox 360 and Xbox One controller. Probably due to the fact that it’s easy to read on PC than a PS4 controller.

Steam humble brags that it has delivered 15.39 exabytes of data to Steam customers. One exabyte equals one billion gigabytes.

Other future plans for Steam include


Persona 3 & 4 Are Coming To PlayStation Too

Atlus has announced that Persona 5 Royal will launch for PS5 and PC via Steam alongside its recently announced Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Windows PC versions on 21 October 2022.
They also announced that Persona 4 Golden will come to PS4, and Persona 3 Portable to PS4 and PC via Steam alongside their Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Window PC releases sometime in 2023.

https://t.co/is8Lk3KNjz ? #P25th pic.twitter.com/20z4C31KRZ
— Official ATLUS West (@Atlus_West) June 15, 2022


Company Of Heroes 3 Gets Console Edition This May

Sega and Relic Entertainment plan to get ambitious with its real-time strategy World War 2 game; by putting it in the hands of console players.
The Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5 versions of Company Of Heroes 3 will be out on 30 May. Both physical and digital versions will have their respective pre-orders up and open on 25 April. This will be the first time the company will bring the RTS series onto consoles.
Company Of Heroes 3 is available right now on PC. Check out our review here.


Black Knight Director Reveals The Origins Of The English Name For The Korean Netflix Series

Courtesy of Netflix Malaysia, we were lucky enough to participate in a Black Knight press conference featuring cast members Kim Woo-bin, Song Seung-heon, Kang You-seok, and Esom, as well as director Cho Ui-Seok.
During the press conference, director Cho Ui-Seok was asked about the origins of the name, “Black Knight”.
He said:
“So, in the daytime, these deliverymen, they deliver oxygen and supplies to the people, but at night, they come together as the so-called Black Knight. They are refugee-turned-deliverymen, and they come together, and they try to protect and deliver necessities to the refugees.
You know, it’s good to think of them as a group of knights who are deliverymen by day and actual black knights by night.”

In another question, he also answered why he decided to direct his first-ever series with Black Knight:
“Firstly, when I read the webtoon, the original webtoon, I really loved the universe that was built and there’s the existence of hunters that the deliverymen have to fight against in order to deliver the daily necessities. I loved that setup in the storyline and I spoke to the original creator and we actually adapted quite a lot of it for screenplay and the original writer was very open to that happening, so thankfully, we were able to create the show.”
The series follows the journey of refugee Sa-wol, and the legendary deliveryman 5-8, as he takes on the all-powerful Cheonmyeong Group in a dystopian portrayal of Korea devastated by severe air pollution, making it uninhabitable without an oxygen mask.
Black Knight premieres worldwide on 12 May 2023, only on Netflix.


Realme 2 & Realme C1 Phone Review(s): The Hardy Boyz of Smartphones

We currently live in a weird juncture when it comes to mobile tech whence while devices sporting mid to high end specs become more ubiquitous, the prices of these gadgets seem to have risen as well. The Apples and Samsungs of the world are to be blamed here, as these brands painted an illusion that price equates to quality.
While that point does hold water to a certain degree, the folks at Oppo decided to throw the formbooks out of the window and in comes Realme. Just like the Hardy Boyz during WWE’s Attitude Era, both phones may appear lightweight but do pack a punch when put alongside other heavyweights in the market.
A sub-brand of Chinese-based telecommunications company Oppo before separating themselves as an independent entity earlier this year, two of the company’s first four offerings are worth looking at and are in our sights for today’s review.
The Look, Feel and What’s Underneath the Hood
For the past couple of weeks or so, we have in our hand the Realme 2 (R2) and the C1. Let’s be frank, yes? – Both phones look very identical to one another and sport a very similar silhouette to Apple’s iPhone X. Released a month apart (R2 in August, C1 in September), they sport same dimensions (156.20 x 75.60 x 8.20mm), weighs about 170g and comes with a 4230mAh battery capacity.
This means both devices feel great in the hand and while it ticks all the boxes with their bright and wide screens, does feel a tad plasticky. Then again, these are sub-MYR1000 phones we are talking about here. And once you take that point into consideration, feels like a bargain of a purchase.
But being in the lower end of the price point does not mean these phones are slouches. Both are decently powered by Snapdragon 450 1.8GHz octa-core processors and boasts expandable storage of up to 256GB via microSD. Although the Realme 2 has got a higher RAM & base storage (3GB RAM & 32 GB storage vs 2GB RAM & 16GB storage), these differences are hardly noticeable during our daily usages and it is safe to say, negligible.
In the hand, both feel premium for their price point and we believe it’s mostly due to the manufacturer’s decision to include glass backs for both models. The phones feel durable enough in hand yet still act as fingerprint magnets to our annoyance.Â However, quoting Zack of JerryRigEverything, “Glass is glass” and we fear for their durability once dropped, even from waist high. Thankfully, Realme included rubber cases with each unit purchased.
Performance
As daily drivers, the decent-sized batteries both phones come with would take you through the day, and we don’t see any need to lug around an extra battery pack – unless you are a super heavy user. The phones, however, tends to get hot when playing graphically-demanding games – and while we do not see a jarring drop in performance e.g lag or frame drops, the heat generated may be a bother to some.Â So do take note if you intend to use them for mobile gaming marathons.
We tested PUBG and Real Racing 3 on both models and didn’t encounter any issues apart from sound-related grievances.Â Both models come with speakers at the bottom of the chassis so don’t expect extraordinary audio performances when it comes to playing movies or YouTube videos on them. Speaking of videos, both sport 6.2-inch screens with a 19:9 ratio. Not the best out there, but does the job in delivering crisp images.
You get 3.5mm headphone jacks (yay!) on both models so if you’re looking to use it for PUBG, get your headsets on – it’s almost impossible to call out directions if you solely rely on the phone’s loudspeakers.
Another major bummer is the manufacturer’s decision to go with micro USB instead of the more current USB-C. For those who are so used with rapid charge, you’d be disappointed here but then again, considering both models would last you a day, – we see an average of 20% of battery left by the day’s end – you’d find yourself charging them overnight in most cases anyway.
Snappy Snap
Camera-wise, the R2 is a wee bit beefier of the two as it comes with a dual camera setup on the rear with 13-megapixel (f/2.2, 1.12-micron) + 2-megapixel (f/2.4, 1.75-micron) vs a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel setup on the C1.Â For selfies, the 5-megapixel camera of the C1 is dwarfed by the 8-megapixel front-facing camera of the R2.
Picture quality for both phones are decent and we can’t say much apart from that both serve their respective purposes in perfect lighting conditions but their qualities dip significantly once you take it to less favorable conditions. Here we compare the snaps taken on the R2 and C1 compared to a Pixel 2XL.

				Pixel 2 XL

				Realme 2

				Realme C1

While photos on both the R2 and C1 appear to be a tad overexposed, their overall performances are decent when it comes to point-and-shoot and snapping pics of landscapes and general subjects. Do note that the photos above are merely comparisons with the Pixel 2XL, which is considered to be one of the best camera phones in the market right now.
One over the Other?
To the uninitiated, both phones are very similar but once you get your hands on them, they are two separate devices with distinct features. For a start, the C1 is on a lower price point compared to the R2. Justifying this gap are several main drawbacks which include lesser RAM, smaller in-built storage and the lack of a physical finger print scanner on the back of the device. The C1 does come with a facial recognition feature for security purposes and we have to applaud on how responsive they are.
The same can be said on the same feature on the R2. Whether it’s the facial unlocking feature or its finger print scanner on the back, there’s almost no delay in unlocking the R2 which in return belie the market value of this device.
While the build quality of both phones leave a lot to be desired, the built-in software is almost on par with other phones that are a few thousand ringgits more expensive and that alone makes them great options for those in the hunt for a sub-MYR1k smartphone.
Final Verdict

Both phones are good: plain and simple. Right off the bat, we’d recommend them. If we are to judge both phones purely on their specs alone compared to other makes in the market, we’d probably give rate both of them around the sixes or sevens out of a ten scale.
However, once we take into account the retail prices of these phones, we can’t help but bump the score up to the high eights to nines. They are simply the best bargain phones you can get in the market at the moment. Value-wise, both are hard to beat.
The Realme 2 retails from MYR 599 for a 3GB RAM + 32GB storage and can be purchased now from most major retailers. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind skipping the finger print scanner,Â RealmeÂ C1 first sale will be taking place on Lazada starting 10am on 22 November 2018 at a special promotional price of RM 399 (Regular retail price is RM 449).


We Talk To Toge Productions About Game Dev Life In Indonesia

Is Indonesia’s gaming dev scene on the rise? Kakuchopurei talks to Toge Productions’ Kris Antoni about the resurgence of Indonesian-made games as of late, whether it’s a fluke or a reality.

Time Stamps:
1:02 – Indonesia’s game development scene
7:00 – WFH
9:37 – Coffee Talk
12:48 – Toge Production’s relationship with Mojiken Studios
7:48 – Kriegsfront Tactics status
19:58 – What makes Toge Productions stand out?
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Skullgirls Gets Webtoon Series This November

Skullgirls, the 2D fighting game from Hidden Variable Studios that’s a cult favourite and also started the path to championship fighting game dominance for SonicFox, is getting animated.
The long-time Western-made 2D fighting game will have its own webtoon, launching next Friday on 18 November. The webtoon will feature stories from the Skullgirls universe ranging from the main fighters (like Parasoul and Ms. Fortune) to even the side characters. Starting on 18 November, there will be a new chapter available every week.

The official Skullgirls Webtoon is launching NEXT FRIDAY (11/18) with new chapters available every week!
Thank you to writer @MikeExner3, and artists @Wiirdo & @pasteldot for their tireless efforts bringing stories from the Skullgirls universe to life!#webtoon #skullgirls pic.twitter.com/ZpynEITZCS
— Skullgirls (@Skullgirls) November 12, 2022

No viewing platform has been announced yet, so just keep an eye on the Skullgirls Twitter page and YouTube page if you wish to see any updates for the webtoon series. The series was announced back in 2019; not much has been heard about its progress up until now.


[Rumour] Like A Dragon Gaiden Starring Kazuma Kiryu Will Be Out This November

This one’s possibly a Summer Games Festival 2023 announcement that may have prematurely leaked.
The next Yakuza/Like A Dragon game, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased his Name will be out for PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC this 9th November. This is according to a recent PlayStation Store listing that went up too early (via tracking website PSDeals). New features include new and old areas to explore and have fun in like Sotenbori, Yokohama, and the mysterious Castle, as well as two fighting styles for hero Kazuma Kiryu to use: Yakuza and Agent. Yakuza style is what Kiryu has been doing for the past 6 games: ass-kicking and beatdowns aplenty with fists, kicks, and environmental objects. Agent style focuses on speed and precision, as well as high-tech gadgets like electrified bind wires that stun enemies and send them flying.
Here’s the official synopsis of the gaiden game:
“Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding.
Under the codename “Joryu,” Kiryu embarks on a gripping action narrative with bone-shattering combat in vibrant locations filled with exciting characters and activities.”
It seems like the side story game is going for a secret agent and spy thriller vibe this time around. Check out the pics below if you think I’m making this stuff up.


Apex Legends Hits 70 Million Players In Less Than A Year, Says EA

Electronic Arts CEO and dudebro fistbump in human form Andrew Wilson said the company had an “excellent second quarter” in today’s earnings release for the company. The games that made them enjoy their success as a conglomerate include FIFA Ultimate Team, Madden Ultimate Team, and The Sims 4.
Oh, and also Respawn’s Apex Legends which has now achieved a total of 70 million players. Which was the main highlight of the story here; a free-to-play battle royale team-based shooter from the guys who made the equally-awesome Titanfall games getting the massive player count they deserve.
Some stats:

FIFA Ultimate Team‘s unique player count increased 22 percent year-over-year.
Madden Ultimate Team player count rose up 19 percent.
The Sims 4‘s monthly average player total is growing and is up more than 40 percent year-over-year.

The takeaway here is that EA will be doubling down on live games. COO and CFOÂ  Blake Jorgensen said the following:
“The strong results this quarter illustrate the power of our live services and our core franchises. Strength in Ultimate Team, The Sims 4, and FIFA Online drove live services performance above our expectations.
Looking ahead, we are doubling down on live services combined with our core franchises. Weâ€™re investing in games that people play for longer and engage with much more deeply. This focus will continue to drive growth and profitability for the company through the remainder of this year and beyond.”
Guess we’ll be seeing more FIFA Ultimate Teams and Apex Legends DLC and microtransactions in 2020 and beyond, eh?


Teamfight Tactics Drops On Mobile This March

Riot Games has announced that the popular League of Legends Auto Chess spinoff title will be released on mobile phones sometime in March 2020 (with a version for tablets slated for later). However, several few lucky gamers will receive the opportunity to get their hands on Teamfight Tactics a bit earlier, thanks to a short closed beta that the developer will roll out in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, other games can still pre-register on the Google Play Store while iOS users will have to do so here. According to the blog post, the mobile version of Teamfight Tactics will still mostly look and feel like the same game on PC, as it will be a cross-platform game with shared inventories, progression, and rank.

However, to optimize the game on mobile, there are several differences in terms of UI compared to the PC version. It will feature a dedicated items inventory panel and the in-game Champion Shop can be opened and closed with a touch. Unfortunately, in-game chat on mobile will not be supported as of yet.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrFfpFHsryw&w=560&h=315]


New PES2018 Update Drops 16th November

The new patch file for PES2018 drops this 16th November with an array of improvements as well as inclusion of David Beckham in MyClub mode. According to the game’s official website, the new patch will address issues including COM defensive aggression, goalkeepers’ reaction and defensive AI tweaks. On top of the minor work on the game engine and AI, cosmetic improvements are also abound such as 1000 new thumbnail photos, over 40 player face updates, licensed kits, boots and two stadiums.

Players like Philippe Coutinho, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Andre Silva all get new updated in-game looks while Arsenal fans will be delighted to see The Emirates Stadium finally making an official appearance in the game, thanks to the recently sealed agreement between the club and PES2018.
Data Pack 2.0 and the new PES2018 update drops this November 16th 2017.


Naraka Bladepoint Is Coming To PS5 & Going Free-To-Play Next Week

NetEase has announced at today’s Naraka Fest event that Naraka Bladepoint, an up to 60-player PVP mythical melee battle royale game, will adopt a free-to-play model and be available on PS5 starting on 13 July 2023. The game will also be cross-platform accessible on all systems. This major announcement comes as Naraka Bladepoint celebrates its second anniversary and crosses the 20 million unique player mark.
Naraka Bladepoint will also introduce a host of new content, features and updates including:

Capture the Spirit Well: A 12v12 gang wars battle that allows players to capture locations to earn points
New Dual Halberds Weapon: Combines a spear and a dagger into one. It can stab straight and also strike horizontally with the ability to lock other weapons
Justice Chamber updates to Guild Mode: Position and more features will be added to the current guild system
New Hero – Tessa: Tessa is a 1000-year-old fox demon, who can charm her enemies and capture their souls
Veteran rewards: Players who previously purchased the game will receive in-game gold equivalent to what edition they currently possess and more
PlayStation 5 player-exclusive items
Anniversary in-game events and rewards
Collaboration with Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (based on a famous Chinese painting)
3D Lobby: Players can grapple around and explore while queuing
New season skin theme: Classic of Mountains and Seas and the god of four seasons
XGP Benefits: Players with a NARAKA account via Xbox Game Pass will be automatically upgraded from the Standard Edition to the new Deluxe Edition containing in-game rewards

Naraka Bladepoint is also available on PC, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Game Pass.


Fortnite Is Getting God Of War’s Kratos Skin

Fortnite Season 5 has begun, and it looks like the battle royale game will be getting a skin based on God Of War‘s Kratos.
The Fortnite Kratos skin was leaked by Twitter user @hypex via an image, which you can check out below:

Kratos will be a skin soon! (Reposted for a better image) pic.twitter.com/S6lgYMcGJR— HYPEX (@HYPEX) December 2, 2020

Just moments later, the official PlayStation account confirmed the Fortnite God Of War Kratos skin via an audio recording by Fortnite character Agent Jones.
He says:
â€œThe next guy youâ€™re picking up has literally vanquished multiple gods, with his bare hands, in a fit of uncontrollable rage.â€
Well, that certainly describes Kratos in a nutshell.

Incoming audio transmission from @FortniteGame ? pic.twitter.com/SdpmU7OmkM— PlayStation (@PlayStation) December 2, 2020

The Fortnite Kratos skin looks like the 2018 PS4 version, but it’s currently unclear if Epic Games will offer it as an item shop purchase or as a challenge reward.


The Makers Of Hitman Are Creating An Online Fantasy RPG

After releasing Hitman: World of Assassination, what’s next for IO Interactive? Easy: a fantasy game.
IO Interactive announced that it’s making an online fantasy RPG based on a new intellectual property. Right now, it’s codenamed “Project Fantasy”. Here is the company’s full statement post-Hitman:
“It has now been a decade since we first imagined creating a new “World of Assassination” for our HITMAN games. Seven years ago, we launched that world in its infancy and nurtured it to grow to comprise three full games, exciting new game modes, many additional locations, and extra targets. And more importantly, it has allowed us to build a bond with our community that has supported us ever since. We have gone from a strong vision, through a lot of unforeseen events, to the ever-expanding world with freedom of approach in its core that we have today.
Now we are sharing with all of you, that we are embarking on a new adventure! One that expands our creativity, our capabilities, and in some sense our identity. We are building a new world, a new intellectual property—an online fantasy RPG. A world and a game built from the core to entertain players and expand for many years to come. It feels familiar, yet at the same time IO Interactive is going on a journey unlike any we have been on before.”
The company is currently looking for staff for this project. Positions include:

Senior combat designer
Senior gameplay animator
Senior game producer
Lead gameplay animator
Senior project manager

Here is more from IO Interactive about why they’re doing an online fantasy title.
“For many, this journey is also a deeply personal one that began long before we started making games for a living—and it started with the fantasy genre. From the Fighting Fantasy books compelling you to choose your path, alone, against wizards, lizards, and thief kings. To the togetherness, camaraderie, agony, and delight found around the tabletop. For some it meant taking the role of a game master: Part storyteller, part AI opponent, part guide, part villain. For everyone around that table it meant creativity, imagination, building a world together, and a shared goal in creating a great game experience.
This idea—that a diverse group of individuals with different skills and strengths can work together and become more than the sum of their parts—is what inspires us. It inspires the fantasy world we are building—and it inspires how we build it. IO Interactive now spans multiple distinct studios, from Copenhagen and Malmo in the north to warm Barcelona in the south. All studios take part in making all our games, including this new endeavor. People from all over the world with diverse personalities and skillsets are coming together to forge a new beginning.
This is just the start of our journey into this new world we are making. We hope you sense the warmth, the danger, the togetherness, and the heart we put into it… And if you do, we would be honoured if you join us.”
For more insight on IO Interactive and their new project’s journey, check out the developer diary vids below.

We do wonder if they’ll bring in Jesper Kyd to do audio and music.


You Can Now Pre-Order LEGO BD-1 From Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order

During Star Wars Celebration 2022, LEGO announced the a LEGO version of the BD-1 droid from 2019’s Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order. It costs US$99.99 (roughly RM437+) and is set to release on 1 August 2022. It’s now up for preorder at LEGO retailers and on the LEGO official website.
Standing at 12.5 inches tall, it comes with 1,062 pieces. It also includes posable joints and a head that can be tilted back, forward and sideways, plus a compartment for stim canister elements.
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order was a major success, having sold more than 10 million units worldwide. However, EA is now no longer the only publisher to have video game rights to the franchise. Ubisoft is also making its own game, Quantic Dream recently announced Star Wars Eclipse and there’s also the Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic remake by Aspyr Media.
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order is available now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Check out our full review of Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order here to find out why we named it one of the best games of 2019. The sequel, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, is coming out sometime in 2023.


Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Guide: The Best Skills & Tactics To Make History/Herstory

This feature is still under development.Â Also, this guide is powered by Dell Alienware’s gaming laptop line. PC version of the game, of course.Â
While we’re still sorting out our final verdict for Ubisoft’s latest historical jaunt, we’ve at least played a dozen hours or so of this fine, fine open-world RPG. Despite its similarities to CD Projekt’s Witcher 3 by a tad, even right down to the level up jingle with the choir, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is still fun in a Greek Fire-filled barrel.
So here are a few basic tips to get you going and enjoying Ancient Greece during theÂ Peloponnesian War.
Take Your Time
Ancient Greece is huge! Ubisoft said that the map is three times larger than Assassin’s Creed Origins’ version of ancient Egypt. You’ll also be using your ship a lot and travel back and forth assuming you haven’t unlocked fast travel points in various locations yet.
Get ready to immerse yourself into killing, stealthing, tomb raiding, ruins pilfering, army faffing, and level upping. This game will have you doing lots of activities and get you to finish up sidequests with interesting tales and most importantly, awesome loot to power up your Alexios/Kassandra.
Set The Game To Exploration Mode
Because of the huge map, it’s more fun not to have stuff being pointed out at you and being guided by a bunch of messy cursors to get your mission done. At the start of the game, just pick Exploration Mode when prompted to. You’ll thank us later.
Do The Side Quests
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey boasts a ton of sidequests, be it Character quests, World quests, or even the standard ones from random bystanders and ancient Greek figures. Apart from the romancing bit from some of them, you can earn better loot than usual that’s usually on par with your level. We still used Duris’ Sword during our time in the 13+level range.
Make Your Life Easier With Meditation
Back in Assassin’s Creed Origins, you have to purchase a skill called meditate which lets you change the time of day with a press & hold of a button. In AC Odyssey, it’s given to you from the get-go. This skill is handy to use before infiltrating forts, since enemies are more likely to be asleep and less aware at night.
Do Conquest Battles
These Spartan vs Athens large-scale battles are a test of attrition and time. You need to reduce the opposing faction’s bar before your faction’s bar drops to zero. All you have to do is look for the captains, thin out the army, then wait until the cutscene featuring the big bad pops up, then you kill him.
Your reward for dropping their bar to zero is epic level gear, which is always useful if you want to pimp out your hero stats-wise.
Loot War Supplies Before Burning Them Down
The missions leading up to Conquest Battles require you to burn war supplies in enemy camps and forts. But before destroying these boxes, make sure to loot them first to obtain some sweet materials like olive tree branches and so forth.
Parry, Parry, Parry
You can deflect arrows and parry attacks by pressing both top shoulder buttons (Left and Right Bumper for PC/Xbox One, L1 and R1 for PS4). Not only do you block that attack but you can counterattack with a move of your own. This isn’t Dark Souls/Bloodborne/Ni-oh levels of finesse; the parry animation is lenient and you can dodge roll out of it.
Practice Your Perfect Dodges
Perfect Dodges lets you slow down time so you can move in and counterattack. You can do this by dodging exactly when an enemy’s attack is about a few frames close to you. Practice this as much as you can; it’ll be invaluable especially in the conquest sections where your winning army may lose its war points and you need to squeeze out extra time from these perfect dodges.
Concerning Skill Points…

Just like in Assassin’s Creed Origins, you can level up your main character and get skill points to fill up the patented skill tree. Here’s our recommendation:
-Go for Stealth & Warrior first. You’ll be in many situations where you need to sneak in and kill things, and also initiate a Spartan/Athens war climate which requires brute force.
-The Spartan Kick is kinda cool AND practical. First, it pushes enemies off of ledges, and it also deals non-fatal damage to your target which is good if you plan on recruiting generals and high-ranked soldiers into your ship crew.
-Shield Breaker is useful since you’ll be fighting a LOT of Spartan and Athenian soldiers with shields. Your charged Heavy attack is fine and all, but sometimes you just want to pull off a Captain America-esque maneuver and leave your foes defenseless.
-Rush Assassination lets you pull off a quick Assassination move from a good distance while still keeping you invisible.
-Spend at least one skill point on the Predator Shot skill. Having a guided arrow that you can control is super-useful in making trick shots or just making sure your arrow does a critical hit.
-It’s hard to get back health unless you run away, so pick Second Wind as a secondary healing skill.
How To Kill The Kalydonian Boar
Perhaps one of the earliest walls of difficulty you’ll come across, this side mission opens up once you talk and flirt with Daphnae, a Daughter of Artemis. The mission? Hunt down and kill legendary beasts. The Kalydonian Boar is just a few blocks away from Daphnae’s location, so one would think that you should tackle that first, right?
Turns out that this boar is a pretty tough mother to defeat early-on in the game. Here are a few general tips:

Equip a good spear. Whether it’s epic or legendary, a spear can give you a good reach, can swipe the mini-boars he summons halfway in the fight, and is not as slow as the heavier weapons.
Get Second Wind on the Warrior Skill Tree. You may need to recover health from time to time since this fight is sorta like an MMO fight: it’ll take a while and you will somehow lose quite a bit of life since he hits like a semi.
When the mini-boars/bacon appear, kill them first. We cannot stress this early enough. Don’t be a hero/heroine and think you can take down the big boar first. The mini-boars are equally dangerous. Just slash them when they run up-close and head-shot them via bow and arrows when they’re in mid-range.

How To Kick Butt In Ship Battles

Upgrade Your Hull First
Ship battles are about outlasting the enemy, so upgrade your hull as much as you can to survive longer and equip more lieutenants.
Get Fire Arrows ASAP
You don’t need to upgrade your fire brazier to max, but at least get a few levels into that ship upgrade tree first. Fire arrows is like poison damage for enemy ships: they have damage over time effects that eat away other ships.
Alternate Spears And Arrows
Your abilities are on a cooldown, which means that you canâ€™t just spam the same attack over and over. Alternate between arrow and spear shots; this isn’t a shmup where the fastest fingers win. Keep doing sustained damage and tough it out; we did ask you to upgrade your hull first, right? Keep an eye on your cooldowns so you know what to fire when fighting ships.
Keep Your Distance…
Just like any game with ranged weapons, play it smart and just keep your distance. Just go in close only if (i) you can ram and one-hit KO the ship in front of you, and (ii) if you’re ready to board it to get loot and max ship health refills. Funny thing: no other ship will attack you if you board a KO’ed ship, so take your time when you’ve already boarded.
…And Play Defensively
Just because your upgraded ship hull has a lot of HP, that doesn’t mean you should take unnecessary damage. Press your left bumper buttons (or L1) to brace and mitigate damage from enemy attacks.
Target Weakpoints
If you see a glowing section on your enemyâ€™s ship, thatâ€™s a weakpoint. Shoot it down; aim your best weapons at that glowing location. You will do extra damage and sink a ship faster that way. To make them pop up frequently, either ram them or use fire arrows.
Recruit The Best Lieutenants
AC Odyssey lets you knock out enemies the non-lethal and let you recruit them. The best guys to recruit? The tougher Purple/Gold-labeled enemies like polemarchs, captains, and the big guy who uses fire clubs/poison clubs. Use your eagle Ikaros and scout out the best guys and gals to recruit to the good ship Alexios/Kassandra.
As an aside, find recruits who can boost your ship weapon skills. Say you want to buff up your ramming skills; just find a polemarch who can boost your ramming stats.
Go For The Easy Kill
Every time you board a ship and take out its crew, youâ€™ll restore your own shipâ€™s health. Weaken the easiest enemies and withstand their attacks and then take them out when theyâ€™re vulnerable. If theyâ€™re hanging out with other ships, try to draw them away so you can take them out one at a time. Itâ€™ll make fights against blockades easier and give you the health you need to take on larger ships.
Start Combat On Your Terms
You can see enemies much sooner than they perceive you. Use that as a chance to open up with a ramming attack or sustained volley to do big damage and start with an advantage.
When In Doubt, Swim
If a tough ship has you down and youâ€™re feeling really confident in your melee combat skills, leap off your ship before you are detected and simply swim over to the enemy vessel. Climb aboard and if you can handle the crew single-handedly, you can avoid difficult ship battles altogether.
Fight Dirty
You donâ€™t need to actually kill everyone to successfully complete a boarding action. All you need to do is clear the deck of the ship. In other words, go 300 on the enemy ship: use your Spartan Kick and other knock-back abilities to send the toughest enemies plummeting into the ocean below.
Choices & Consequences Guide (via Gamer Heroes)
Throughout AC Odyssey you’ll be given decisions to pick that can alter the course of your gaming experience. Here are some of the outcomes for these moments.
Spoiler alert, of course.

Release or Kill Cyclop’s Men
The first choice you have in the game has to do with the Cyclops thugs that attack you at your house.
Kill ThemÂ â€“ If you kill them there is no one to report back to the Cyclops and nothing else really happens.
If You Let Them LiveÂ â€“ They will ambush you down the road with two other allies. You get a little bit of loot and some extra EXP this way.
Make Duris Pay or Leave Duris Alone
Make Duris Pay â€“ To make Duris pay you have two choices, kill him or break some of his vases. If you break two of his vases he will pay you and tell you to leave him alone. I tried to kill him as well but NPCs got involved and it turned into a blood bath. Duris just knelt down and paid me without me interacting with him and I couldnâ€™t kill him after that. I got paid for both methods though.
Donâ€™t Make Duris Pay â€“ If you tell the merchant that double is too much and then spare him from the debt, he will give you a rare sword, Durisâ€™s Sword.
Hungry Gods
I Hear Your PrayerÂ â€“ You can give the woman some money at her house to help her out if you want. You will get bonus EXP and a +2% warrior damage engraving.
â€¦Â â€“ You ignore the woman and leave her to her fate.
The Blood Fever
Defend VillagersÂ â€“ If you kill the priest and his guards the villagers will leave. Phoibe will get a friend but the result of letting the sickness spread will kill many more.
Leave VillagersÂ â€“ You leave and get your EXP. Phoibe will see you do this and call you out on it but the sickness wonâ€™t spread.
First Do No Harm
As soon as you get to this quest you get a choice.
No Need To Be AngryÂ â€“ The woman will leave and Sostratos will help you out.
Back OffÂ â€“ If you threaten the woman, you find out she is a priestess of Hera. Sostratos will be happy and help you out as well.
Itâ€™t up to you if you want to charge him or not. When you meet with Hippokrates, the choices donâ€™t matter. You get hired for a job whether you like it or not.
Family Dinner
This quest is found in the Sanctuary Of Delphi. It has to do with someone you killed way back on the first island.
I Killed You BrotherÂ â€“ The man says there will be a bounty on your head soon.
Maybe Your Brother Left TownÂ â€“ The man knows you are lying and says there will be a bounty on your head soon.
The Cyclops Told Me He Had Bigger Plans For HimÂ â€“ If you pick this option, he will believe you and give you another quest. Drop of the letter to the manâ€™s wife to complete the quest.
Pythia Interrogation
Iâ€™m The One You should Be Afraid OfÂ â€“ Alexios grabs her neck threatens to kill her if she lies. She will tell you what you need to know, and then you leave without killing her. She will tell you Apollo will harm you for this.
Please I need To KnowÂ â€“ You get the same answers but without the threat of violence. She will also say May Apollo protect you this time.
Left For Dead
This quest is found in the Sanctuary Of Delphi. It has to do with someone you killed way back on the first island.
I Killed ElpenorÂ â€“ If you choose this option, the man says you will pay. He will late put a bounty on your head for telling the truth.
Losing Your Family Can Be Very HardÂ â€“ If you choose this option, the man will ask for some help killing bandits. You get paid and get some leather for helping him out.
I Didnâ€™t Know HimÂ â€“ If you lie to him, he will also ask for your help with some bandits.
Cultist Meeting
This is a story quest where you deal with the Cultists. You canâ€™t mess up here, itâ€™s all story related so feel free to choose what you want.
I Will Make The OfferingÂ â€“ If you choose this option, you cut your hand for the cult. Both options result in you cutting your hand.
I Will Not Make The OfferingÂ â€“ If you choose this option, you will say that you pass. You canâ€™t actually pass though, this isnâ€™t a real choice.
Choice 2
This is a pointless choice.
MotherÂ â€“ The man says youâ€™re wrong.
FatherÂ â€“ The woman says youâ€™re wrong.
NeitherÂ â€“ They both think you are wrong.
Choice 3
This one has to do with a cowardly cultist.
I Donâ€™t KnowÂ â€“ If you say I donâ€™t know, then more choices will open. If you do it, you burn the coward and get info from him. If you have the cultist do it, he will think you are a coward but you still get info.
I Wonâ€™t Do ItÂ â€“
Choice 4
You can try to touch the artifact if you want.
I Want To Touch ItÂ â€“ The other cultist will slap your hand away and ask if you have lost your mind.
Back AwayÂ â€“ You back away, the cultists wonâ€™t let you touch it anyways.
Choice 5
After you leave the cave you will speak to Herodotos again. Any choice you make her doesnâ€™t matter, they all end up saying the same thing.
Sibling Choice
This quest is found in the Sanctuary Of Delphi. It has to do with someone you killed way back on the first island. There are a lot of choices, but there are only two that actually matter.
I Killed NikolaosÂ â€“ If you choose this option, and she will go on about friendship bring the answer.
I Never Found NikolaosÂ â€“ If you lie to your sibling she will get upset. They will say that you think friendship is the answer, and it will lead to you saying you are taking down the cult.
Choice 2
At the end you have to choose how you react to your sibling.
Not Before I Hurt YouÂ â€“ You push her, she punches you and she leaves.
Youâ€™re Still My SisterÂ â€“ You try to hug your sibling and they say â€œDonâ€™t Touch Me.â€ The end result is them leaving.
Iâ€™m goingÂ â€“ You both leave.


Celebrate The Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Adaptation With These Steam Deals

The 14th of February is the day of love. Not just for your significant other or family, but also for a certain blue hedgehog whose movie recently came out and is seemingly better than Mario’s live-action outing. Sega’s capitalizing on that love with Steam deals for the weekend.
From today onwards until 22nd February, all Sonic games on Steam will receive a massive discount. These range from the sublime tribute Sonic Mania (RM28.90) to the underrated Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (RM9.50). You can also buy the huge-as-heck Ultimate Bundle for RM182.59.
Personally, I’d go for the aforementioned two games along with Sonic Generations and Sonic 2. Everything else is optional, but you do you. But avoid Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic Spinball, Sonic 4, and the Sonic Adventure entries. The latter clearly did not age well, even with that awesome Crush 40 song.


Solo’s Darth Maul Hot Toys Is Here For Revenge

The only good thing about 2017’s Solo: A Star Wars Story is that it included a surprise cameo by none other than Darth Maul himself. It was unexpected and especially shocking for fans of the franchise who didn’t keep up with the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series.
Hot Toys has announcedÂ a new 1/6th scale Darth Maul collectible figure from Solo: A Star Wars Story. Unlike the Darth Maul everyone knows from Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Solo’s version of the character has robotic legs but that doesn’t make him any less deadly.
Approximately 29 cm tall, the Hot Toys Darth Maul figure comes with his iconic double-sided red lightsaber, capable of LED-lighting. Its face is so incredibly-detailed that you can basically recognize Ray Park’s face structure underneath the red and black skin.
Check out the 1/6th scale Darth Maul collectible figure from Solo: A Star Wars Story below.

It’s currently available for pre-order at a price of RM979 for a limited time on Toy Garden. It is expected to release sometime in the fourth quarter of 2020.


Alienware m15 R3 Is A Step Up In the Right Direction

I have always equated gaming laptops to supercars. You know, the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and to a certain extent, (stupidly) souped-up Perodua Myvis. And just like supercars, gaming laptops tend to be expensive, loud, flashy in almost every aspect, not the most practical for use as a daily driver but man do they smoke other pleb rides when put through their paces.
“But Kenn, which supercar would you equate the Alienware m15 R3 with?”, you may (or may not) ask. Well, read on to find out.
Out of the box, this year’s variant does not veer off from last year’s iteration. In fact, if you put them side by side, casual users would probably have a hard time telling them apart. Then again, can you blame Alienware for sticking to it? I dig the slimmer, sleeker look of this chassis and while they are still far off from the silhouette of a Macbook for example, is easily among the thinner options when it comes to gaming laptops out there.
I also appreciate Dell’s decision to go with the soft-touch, matte finish instead of the garish gloss route which their gaming laptop rivals tend to opt for. I’m happy to report that this m15 R3 is not far off from the inconspicuousness of a ThinkPad, and once you switch off the glowy Alienware logo on the outer panel, you easily blend in with the business crowd when working from a cafe, for example.

Beneath The Chassis
Under the hood, this baby packs a punch. Legit punch. The machine loaned to us for review came with these specs:

Intel Core i7-10750H 6 x 2.6 – 5 GHz, Comet Lake-H;
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super;
32GB RAM ;Â
144hz, 15.6 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 display;
1TB SSD

Weighing slightly above 2kg on its own, the laptop also comes bundled with a chunky power brick which should tip the scales just over the 3kg. You would have a relatively easier time lugging this laptop about compared to other makes, but as it goes with typical gaming laptops, we recommend to pack the power brick and charging cable along if you plan to work for longer than 4-hours or so.
Despite its size, the m15 comes with all the ports you’ll need including three Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1, one of which with Powershare technology, a ThunderboltTM 3 Port, Alienware Graphics Amplifier, HDMI 2.0b with HDCP 2.2 Output, a Mini-Display Port 1.4 output, Audio Out 1/8″ port, a microSD 5.1 and a UHS-II HD312 Card Reader1.
Needless to say, games released in 2020 would run buttery smooth on this. Load times are almost instantaneous and cranking up the performance to the maximum hardly rattle this beast, save for the cooling fan noise which is a small trade-off considering everything else packed into it. It improved from last year’s iteration but just a smidge.

Booting up Total War: Three Kingdoms and setting it up to the max turned the machine into a mini heater, putting the fan to work but with minimal to no change in overall performance. Do note that I’m being nitpicky here as I found very little issues with this version of the m15.

Speaking of sound, we do not recommend relying solely on the in-built speakers, as they are modest at best. A headset is a must. Perhaps Dell should consider bundling up future gaming laptops with a gaming headset. Just a suggestion.
As someone who typically adds an external mechanical keyboard to gaming laptops I review, I have to single out the brilliant in-built keyboard of the m15 R3. By far, it’s one of the best laptop keyboards I’ve used to date, only bested by the one on my Thinkpad. It has a solid, clicky feel with distinct travel which leaves other gaming laptops’ keyboard performance far behind.
Lenovo Thinkpad T480 (Top); Alienware m15 R3 (Bottom)
As usual, you get the typical Alienware custom control software to customize the lighting of your machine. While you have the choice of going incognito in public thanks to the muted outer shell of the m15 R3, RGB nuts would be glad to know that they can go all out thanks to a limitless combination of lighting colours presented.
You would come to realize by now, us at Kakuchopurei focuses more on the day-to-day experience when reviewing gaming items. So if you’re looking for those statistical performance numbers, we recommend checking out outlets like PCMag or Dave Lee’s Youtube for example.Â  You ain’t going to find it here.
Third Verse, Different From The First
So going back to that question I assumed you’d ask me earlier: “Which supercar I’d equate the Alienware m15 R3 with?”
Coincidentally sharing a similar model number, it is easily a Porsche 911 GT3. Both are sexy beasts in their own right, sporting distinct looks yet distinguishable from their illustrious predecessors. They tick all the right boxes when it comes to serving their purpose, while also offering something extra for other ‘normal’ tasks such as standard office work, watching movies and being an all-in-one, balanced, portable work/ gaming rig.
Those who prefer a wider screen may opt for the M17 variant, which sports a 17.3-inch screen, with the most expensive option being an UHD with Tobi eye-tracking feature. Both size variants comes in two colors; Lunar Light or Dark Side, with the latter being my preferred choice. While we were furnished with the model sporting the RYX2070 Super card, you have the option of going all out with the RTXTM 2080 SUPER 8GB GDDR6 with Max-Q Design, which is the top of the line option for either model.
Starting at just a few ringgits shy of RM10,000, the Alienware m15/17 R3 models sit comfortably at the tippy top of the gaming laptop hierarchy. Definitely one of the classiest and sharpest-looking gaming laptops available in the market, my only gripe is that like the Porsche, this is a machine that very few would be able to afford, let alone, enjoy.
Pros

A noteworthy upgrade from last year’s already brilliant machine.
Great keyboard.
Improved fan.
Design that oozes “sexy”.

Cons

Still disgustingly expensive.

Final Score: 80/100


This Battlefield V Easter Egg Will Give You Crabs

You have to hand it to DICE for putting in weird easter egg nonsense in their Battlefield games. Battlefield 1 featured a release date via a locked door and a puddle that hides giant sharks. What does part V feature to continue this tradition?
Crabs. Specifically in Wake Island, which happens to be the series’ most iconic map.
Part V’s version hides a morse code secret with coordinates that lead to a spot featuring dancing eight-legged red crustaceans. The kind that walks sideways.

At this point in typing, there are 527 people who hate this video. What is wrong with this world? Anyway, here’s how you can find this oddity that comes with a sweet tropical remix of the Battlefield theme (via jackfrags & Gamesradar):

Go to the plaque thanking longtime players for joining the fight at Wake Island once again near the D flag (it also lists the Battlefield games Wake has appeared in, which is a lot of them).
You need to go around the map and find crabs that click at you and burrow into the ground when you approach them, rather than skittering away. These crabs will reappear by the plaque.
Head back to the plaque after you’ve found five crabs and you’ll see them standing in a circle around a set of headphones.
Pick up the headphones, head to the nearby bunker at D, and stand near the communications terminal inside.
You should hear Morse code, which when translated, will give you coordinates. These coordinates are real-life ones for the real Wake Island, so use Google Maps to give you a clue to where to go next.
Head to that part of the map and look around for a vinyl record. Check underwater if you have to.
Take the record back to the plaque – which also sprouted a gramophone along with the headphones – and it will play the iconic Battlefield 1942 theme.
You’ll now need to go get more coordinates, another record, and repeat the process until you find the area around the plaque is covered with crabs.
Play the final record and the ultimate crustacean dance party will begin, featuring pyrotechnics and lots of adorable pincer waving.

Have fun!


[Report] Shin Megami Tensei V Is Coming Out This November

The long-awaited fifth numbered entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series is coming out later this year.
According to an official SMT Japanese website update that was premature (via Persona Central), Shin Megami Tensei V will be out on 11th November. While the site itself is Japanese (thus this means a Japanese release), developer Atlus has stated to have a worldwide release for the title. This means that English versions of Shin Megami Tensei V will be out closer to the November release. Or if we’re lucky, that could be the worldwide release date.
The website also details more backstory and content for Shin Megami Tensei V. Let’s break it down:

The game’s main character is a high school student living an ordinary life, when all of sudden he/she wanders into another world called Da’ath. He/she fuses with a mysterious person and becomes a Naobino, a forbidden entity who now locks horns with gods and demons.
The game will feature over 200 demons. Most of them will be newly-drawn by the game’s character designer Masayuki Doi.
The RPG title will retain the demon-recruiting and fusion system just like in past games. You’ll need to find demons for your party, fuse existing ones to make powerful ones, and use their abilities.
There’s going to be a limited edition “Forbidden Naobino Box” in addition to the standard version. The limited-edition will contain “plenty of demons and music that embody Shin Megami Tensei V”. Probably translates to OST CD and in-game cosmetics, as well as a Naobino figurine for collectors.

Guess we’ll have to wait for more info on the game at Nintendo’s E3 2021 Direct livestream later this month.


Overwatch Goes Free To Play For A Short Time So You Can Try Out The New Event

Blizzard recently unveils Overwatch‘s new event, Storm Rising, and to celebrate that, the game has gone free-to-play from today until 23 April.

The free trial offers all the heroes, including Overwatch‘s 30th hero Baptiste, as well as all 27 maps of the game. Players will be able to level up and collect loot and keep any progress made during the trial if players decide to purchase the game on the same Blizzard account or console.
To make matters more exciting, the game is on sale until 29 April. From the Blizzard online store, you can grab Overwatch‘s standard PC edition for 24% off for US$14.99 (RM62) or the legendary PC edition for 51% off for US$19.99 (RM82).
If you already have the game, you can upgrade your standard edition to the legendary edition for 78% off the usual price which will net you some bonus skins.
This flash sale, as well as the free trial, is all thanks to the game’s latest PvE event, Storm Rising, in which Tracer, Genji, Winston and Mercy travels to Cuba to capture the Omnic Talon boss Maximilien before he disappears again.


Ticketing Sales For MLBB Pro League Malaysia Season 11 Go Live Today

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League is coming to Malaysia and tickets are finally up for grabs! The best part? The prices have been reduced to just RM10 in the spirit of Malaysia Madani’s “Harga Rahmah”.
Hurry and snag your tickets at https://www.ticket2u.com.my/event/30195 before they sell out.
The Regular Season will be taking place at Stadium Juara and can hold up to 300 people. You’ll also be able to purchase exclusive merchandise from the MPLMY teams and their partners and sponsors, so don’t forget to bring some extra cash! There will even be food and drinks available at the F&B stall within the vicinity. And let’s not forget about the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Community Hero booths where you can join in on some fun activities.
This season, MPL MY Season 11 is taking things up a notch by providing greater offline and online experiences for fans. For those who have purchased tickets, lucky viewers will have the opportunity to meet and greet their favourite teams and possibly even win skins worth up to 899 diamonds! For online viewers, you can join in on the conversation during the live streaming of the matches on platforms like YouTube and Facebook and even win some rewards.
But that’s not all! The draft picks and match predictions have also been revamped to get fans more involved. The draft predictions will provide tips on how to combine drafts for better gameplay. And during the livestream, there will be player highlights to celebrate certain milestones or achievements. This is a great opportunity to learn more about your favourite players and cheer them on – including where they’re from and some historical background.
Don’t miss out on all the excitement MPL MY Season 11 has to offer!


Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare And Warzone To Up Their Anti-Cheater Game

Infinity Ward is implementing new measures to handle cheaters in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone, with two features in particular standing out.

pic.twitter.com/sfnpJ9uwoQ
— Infinity Ward (@InfinityWard) April 22, 2020

The first is that with the updated matchmaking system, suspected cheaters will be matched with other suspected cheaters. So if you wanted such players to get a taste of their own medicine, you’ve got your wish.
The second is that if a player you reported gets banned, you’ll get in-game confirmation. A sense of closure and satisfaction from knowing that the cheater you reported got banned? Yes please.
These features are coming this week. Meanwhile, a feature that lets you report players during Killcam or Spectate modes will be “coming soon”.

The battle royale mode for 2019’s Call of Duty, ‘Warzone’ is free to play. Find out what we thought of it here.


The Woman King Delayed To February 2023 In Malaysia

Sony Pictures Malaysia has announced that The Woman King will now premiere in Malaysian cinemas in February 2023. The historical epic war action drama was previously slated to premiere on 6 October 2022.
It is based on the true story of the Dahomey Amazons, who were a Fon all-female military regiment of the Kingdom of Dahomey which existed until 1904 when they finally fell to French colonial powers.
The synopsis reads:
The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen.
Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.
Some things are worth fighting for…
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Story by Maria Bello. Screenplay by Dana Stevens and Gina Prince-Bythewood. Produced by Cathy Schulman, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Maria Bello. Peter McAleese serves as executive producer. The film also stars Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and John Boyega.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Forza Horizon 5’s Vroom Vroom Sounds Will Be Ray Traced

Forza Horizon 5 for Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC will have ray traced audio and much more improved engine sounds according to its developer Playground Games.
We already know that the game’s new locale and gameplay will be expanded upon, but I didn’t think that the game’s sounds and car audio will be given this much special care. Forza Horizon 5 will be getting 320 new car recordings in addition to what was already recorded in the last game. The audio will be ray traced, run at 90fps, and will be played in real-time if you make a change or apply an upgrade to your engine.
What does it mean by ray traced audio? It means vehicle sounds will dynamically change based on the surrounding environment thanks to “thousands of little audio files” to react precisely to how the player is driving. And it’s all happening at 90fps.Â Let this video from Playground Games demonstrate:

What’s that distant sound I hear? Probably all the car nuts worldwide busting a nut in their pants hearing how godlike the car sounds and engines are this time around. It’s good that Playground Games are acknowledging the feedback regarding Forza Horizon 4’s “piss poor engine sounds” and are doing something with it in part 5. It’s coming out this 9th November.


Free Weekend Returns For Call of Duty

Players can look forward to Call Of Duty Modern Warfare Multiplayer for free starting from 1am GMT+8 on 8 August 2020 until 1am GMT+8 on 13 August 2020.
This action-packed free access period gives free-to-play Call Of Duty Warzone players access to new Multiplayer content that recently debuted in Season Five, including two new maps; Suldal Harbor and Petrov Oil Rig.
The moshpit will offer deathmatch modes like:

Team Deathmatch; a race to rack up 75 kills.
Kill Confirmed, a 65-kill win condition where kills are only counted when they are confirmed by picking up enemy dog tags.
Domination; where points are earned by holding objectives and the first to 200 wins.
Hardpoint; where points are earned by holding a single rotating objective and the first to 250 wins.

The Multiplayer Playlist will feature the following maps:
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â SuldalÂ Harbor
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Petrov Oil Rig
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Shoot House
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Shipment
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Cheshire Park
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Rust
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Scrapyard
As an extra incentive for players, Infinity Ward has activated a triple feed from 1am GMT+8 on 8 August 2020 to 1am GMT+ on 11 August 2020.
Players will earn Double XP, Double Weapon XP, and Double Battle Pass system tier progression in every Multiplayer match to advance up the tiers and level up their Operator and weapons.


The Slam Dunk Movie Shoots The Hoop In 2022

Earlier this year, original Slam Dunk manga creator Takehiko Inoue announced that an animated Slam Dunk movie is in the works. Several months later and now, it is now confirmed that the Slam Dunk anime movie will arrive sometime in fall 2022.

???SLAM DUNK?(??????)?#2022???? ???#SLAMDUNK #SLAMDUNKMOVIE pic.twitter.com/eODslBBTTJ
— ???THE FIRST SLAM DUNK??? (@movie_slamdunk) August 13, 2021

According to Anime News Network, Inoue himself will be the director and writing the script at Toei Animation. Among the listed staff members are:

Character designer/animation director Yasuyuki Ebara (Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress)
Technical director Katsuhiko Kitada (Attack on Titan episodes, Major: YÅ«jÅ no Winning Shot),
Technical director Naoki Miyahara (Digimon Adventure, Popin Q),
Technical director Toshio ÅŒhashi (LayereD Stories 0).
Technical director YÅ« Kamatani (Looking for Magical DoReMi, Precure Super Stars!).
Sound director Yota Tsuruoka.

However, the movie’s official title has yet to be revealed.

You can head on over here forÂ the officialÂ Slam Dunk movie website. The original Slam Dunk manga and anime (by Toei Animation) ran from 1993 to 1996.
Slam Dunk is one of the most popular manga/anime of all time and is probably somewhat responsible for making basketball more popular in Asian countries, where football/soccer is generally more widely played.


ASUS ROG Announces Strix SCAR & Strix G Gaming Laptops

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced the Strix SCAR and Strix G, returning in 2022 with all-new hardware. These two gaming laptops come equipped with brand new Intel, AMD and NVIDIA components, along with the introduction of DDR5 memory.
The ROG Strix SCAR is ready to take Windows 11 gaming by storm. Powered by an Intel Core i9-12900H CPU and paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX Laptop GPU with a 150 W max TGP, this machine is designed to keep gamers on top of the leaderboard. Next-generation DDR5 RAM clocked to 4800 MHz and a PCIeÂ® Gen 4×4 SSD keep the machine feeling responsive and snappy even during intensive tasks.
A dedicated MUX Switch helps to reduce latency and further increase performance when gaming by creating a more efficient path from the GPU to the display. The 2022 Strix SCARâ€™s Direct GPU mode provides an average performance boost of 15 percent, with up to 43 percent in select titles. Gamers can put the laptop back into a hybrid mode when battery life is of utmost importance.
The Strix G15 and G17 are powered by up to an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU at 150 W with Dynamic Boost for similarly high-end horsepower. Powerful components need powerful cooling, so ROG has further improved on its Intelligent Cooling suite of enhancements.

Both the Strix SCAR and Strix G use liquid metal on the CPU for improved heat transfer, but the Strix SCAR has been updated to use Thermal Grizzlyâ€™s latest and greatest Conductonaut Extreme solution. This high-end thermal compound lowers temperatures by up to 15Â° C compared to traditional thermal pastes, delivering higher sustained boost clocks and preventing the fans from ramping up as quickly for reduced noise levels.
The 84-blade Arc Flow Fans use variable thickness blades on all 2022 Strix laptops to improve airflow while reducing turbulence and noise. Up to four exhaust vents allow for plenty of ventilation, and anti-dust tunnels eject dust from the system to prevent buildup over time. And ROGâ€™s 0 dB Ambient Cooling turns the fans off entirely during light workloads in Silent mode, for a truly noiseless experience.
At 1080p resolution, the Strix SCAR 17 offers a panel with a blazing 360 Hz refresh rate, which is faster than even most competitive desktop gaming monitors, bolstered by a 3 ms response time. Dolby Vision HDR and Adaptive-Sync round out the specs on this impressive IPS display. At QHD resolution, the SCAR has made a monumental generational leap, up from 165 Hz to a 240 Hz refresh rate, with the added clarity of more pixels. The Strix G17 features the same high-performance FHD 360 Hz and QHD 240 Hz panel options as the Strix SCAR, and the Strix G15 offers up to FHD 300 Hz and 165 Hz display options.
In addition, all 2022 ROG Strix laptops include Dolby Atmos support as well as Hi-Res audio support for headphones, ensuring gamers hear their music exactly as the artist intended. To futureproof the I/O, one of the USB Type-A ports has been updated to USB Type-C, ensuring the port selection will be relevant for years to come. The 2022 Strix SCAR supports bleeding-edge Thunderbolt 4 for blazing-fast file transfer speeds across compatible devices.

Per-key RGB unlocks millions of lighting combinations, which can be synced to other ROG peripherals with Aura Sync software. Whether keeping it simple with a preset lighting profile or creating a one-of-a-kind work with Aura Creator, the SCAR is ready. Bezel glow underneath the display and synchronization with ROGâ€™s â€œFearless Eyeâ€ on the lid allows gamers to customize the look of this cutting-edge machine exactly how they prefer.
Customization doesnâ€™t end with just lighting control. The Armor Cap on the rear of the Strix SCAR is also removable, with three unique colours bundled with the machine. Gamers can create their own unique design or download a custom model to 3D print their own as well, to let the world know just who they are.
The Strix G15 and G17 offer three distinct colour options: the subtle Eclipse Gray, the bold Volt Green, and Electro Punk. The G15 and G17 share the per-key RGB lighting with the Strix SCAR, which can be further customized via Aura Sync.
They will be available to purchase starting from March 2022.
You can purchase the new ASUS ROG Strix SCAR and Strix G series of laptops at the links below:

https://my.rog.gg/Strix-Scar-15-PC-IMAGE
https://my.rog.gg/Strix-Scar-15-NBP
https://my.rog.gg/Strix-Scar-15-BRIGHTSTAR
https://my.rog.gg/Strix-Scar-15-TMT
https://my.rog.gg/Strix-Scar-15-EIT


Will Bungie Make A Non-Destiny Game? Perhaps…

When you think Bungie these days, you think “Destiny 2”, “Destiny 2 expansion on the Moon”, and “Activision casualty”. And maybe “Halo”, “Marathon”, and “Oni”.
Will the company that popularized console shooters do something other than their loot-and-shoot multiplayer game? Signs seem to point at “yes” but only after six years, according to its CEO Pete Parsons on an IGN interview.
He said that “[Destiny 2 Shadowkeep and New Light will be] a really bright shining spot on our ability to bring products to the marketplace and customers” as an independent company, which in turn is helping the studio pursues its goal of becoming “one of the world’s best entertainment companies” by 2025.

“By 2025 we have a pretty specific path to make sure we transform Destiny and that we have other franchises within the marketplace.
I think the long-term vision of Bungie would be, we have worlds like Destiny that are great places to go and build friendships in. And we begin to introduce new worlds that people care a lot about.”

Granted, it’s quite a wait and plans can change, but it’s possible that Bungie has been planning for this post-Destiny. Don’t forget: the company received a US$100 million investment from Chinese gaming company Netease for “global, multi-franchise entertainment studio” expansion purposes. They also filed for a trademark on a “computer game software” called Matter. And split with Activision and are striking it out on their own.
Speaking of which, Destiny 2 and its expansions are now available on Steam.


John Wick 4 Trailer Teases Return Of Baba Yaga & More Intense Action

Lionsgate Movies has released the first full trailer for John Wick 4.
The synopsis reads:
??John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
John Wick Chapter 4 premieres on 24 March 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


Diablo 4 Gaming Peripherals Collection Lets You Conquer Sanctuary In Style

To celebrate the release of Diablo 4 on 6 June 2023, Blizzard Entertainment, SteelSeries, and KontrolFreek have teamed up to create a set of Diablo-themed gaming accessories.
The Diablo IV collection includes an Aerox 5 wireless gaming mouse, a Qck heavy XXL mousepad, an Arctis Nova 7 wireless gaming headset, and SteelSeries artisan keycaps. If you’re planning to play the game on consoles, don’t fret as the collection features thumbsticks and thumbsticks collector’s edition for hardcore fans.
These accessories are themed after items or equipment from Diablo 4, which is to say extremely cursed and awesome. They have vibrant colours, symbols, brimstone schemes and veins covering them. Moreover, if you purchase either the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, the Aerox 5 Wireless, or the Thumbsticks Collector’s Edition, you’ll get an exclusive in-game mount trophy, exclusive just for this collection!
MOUNT TROPHY “BOUND FAITH’ COSMETIC ITEM

THE FULL LIST OF DIABLO IV COLLECTION
AEROX 5 WIRELESS: DIABLO® IV EDITION

Designed for speed and precision, this sleek and badass mouse weighs 76 grams, making it perfect for RPG, MMO, FPS, MOBA, Battle Royale, and other fast-paced games. Features ergonomic 9-button programmable layout with 5 quick-action side buttons and unique up/down flick switch. It has AquaBarrier technology, which shields the mouse from water splashes, dust, dirt, and other substances so you don’t have to play it safe or even change your playstyle.
The mouse even comes with Brilliant PrismSync lighting with 16.8 million beautifully crisp colours in 10 zones. Fans who purchase the Aerox 5 wireless will get a free Diablo IV in-game mount trophy, “Bound Faith”.
The cost of the limited edition mouse is USd159.99/RM737.15. You can purchase the gaming mouse over here.
QCK HEAVY XXL: DIABLO® IV EDITION

When it comes to gaming comfort, having a quality mousepad makes all the difference, and this mousepad won’t let you down as it has a thick, non-slip rubber base that eliminates unwanted movement. Designed with exclusive QcK micro-woven cloth, optimized for low and high CPI tracking movements, durable and washable for easy maintenance. The size of the mousepad is 900 mm x 400 mm x 4 mm.
The Diablo IV mousepad collection costs USD49.99/RM230.33. You can purchase the mousepad here
ARCTIS NOVA 7 WIRELESS: DIABLO® IV EDITION

Designed for all platforms, this limited-edition gaming headset is compatible with PCs, mobiles, and consoles. It features the Nova Acoustic System for superior audio quality, an immersive 360-degree spatial audio system, and a first-in-gaming Parametric EQ. Moreover, its design with simultaneous wireless (2.4GHz and Bluetooth) allows game and mobile audio mixing usage. The AI-Powered noise-cancelling mic uses Sonar ClearCast AI algorithms to silence ambient sounds or teammate noise, with ChatMix Dial on headset. The headset has a multi-platform USB-C dongle that works with PCs, Macs, PlayStations, Switches, Meta Quest 2, and mobile devices.
In terms of battery life, the headset can withstand 38-hour battery life with USB-C fast charging, bringing 6 hours of use after 15 minutes of charging. Players can expect long hours of comfort with its ComfortMAX system for an adjustable fit coupled with a PVD-coated steel headband. It gets better. Players can attune their sound with audio presets in Sonar software, created by Blizzard audio engineers. Not to forget, purchasing this wireless headset will get a free Diablo IV in-game mount trophy, “Bound Faith”.
The price for the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless is USD219.99/RM1013.60, you can buy it here.
ARTISAN KEYCAP: DIABLO IV® EDITION

Isn’t it hellishly gorgeous? Inspired by Diablo 4’s hell gate, this limited keycap is one of 2,160 uniquely numbered keycaps for players to grab. It’s compatible with Mx Stem mechanical keyboard. There isn’t much that the keycap can offer except for its limited design and intricate art detail.
The Artisan Keycap Diablo IV collection costs USD79.99/RM368.55. You can buy it here.
PERFORMANCE THUMBSTICKS®: DIABLO® IV EDITION

Play with style and high-precision performance with the Diablo IV thumbsticks edition. The low-rise left stick increases the surface area to enhance grip and control. The low-rise right stick increases the attack and combo accuracy of your device controller. It is made of a proprietary laser-etched rubber material that provides extra grip and comfort. The thumbsticks are compatible with PlayStation and Xbox controllers.
The prize of the Performance Thumbsticks Diablo IV collection is USD21.99/RM101.32. Head over here to purchase.
THUMBSTICKS®: DIABLO® IV COLLECTOR’S EDITION

In terms of the material and thumbsticks performance, its similar to the Performance Thumbsticks, however, as an added bonus, players will get a limited edition metal Heroes Cube case, a pair of black and bloody red colour design thumbsticks, and free in-game mount trophy, “Bound Faith”.
The collector’s edition is priced at USD29.99/RM138.18. Head over here to purchase.
Since these are licensed versions of already premium accessories, they are more expensive and limited in stock, so it’s now or never if you wish to grab one of them or the whole collection.
if you want to watch more awesomeness of Diablo 4 ahead of its release, watch the live-action trailer directed by Oscar winner down below. Stay tuned for our full review of Diablo 4 on Kakuchopurei!


New Nintendo Switch OLED Model Will Be Out Before 2021 Ends

Nintendo’s worst-kept secret may be out in a few months time, according to sources close to Bloomberg.
The heavily-rumoured new version of the Nintendo Switch will be out either in September or October. Manufacturing of the new OLED-powered model will reportedly start as soon as July, with a major announcement happening before the week of E3, 12th of June.
The announcement will definitely have third-party companies showing off their games on the new hardware. This version of the Nintendo Switch will be more powerful, using new tech from Nvidia that works with DLSS technology and allowing 4K output to a TV. The 7-inch display will be made of OLED, straight out of Samsung.
Will COVID-19 hamper sales and manufacturing? Well, Nintendo suppliers have said that they are confident in fulfilling orders despite chip and component shortage.
“Production lines are better prepared for the potential component shake-up and the parts Nintendo is using are subject to less competition than those in its rivalsâ€™ more powerful consoles. [Having said that], the companyâ€™s ability to meet consumer demand wonâ€™t be guaranteed.”
Guess we’ll have to wait these next few weeks to see if the rumours are true.


Kakuchopurei’s Best of 2019: Cadence Of Hyrule

Music is always the weapon, especially in the peppy EDM-esque world of Cadence of Hyrule.
Essentially a heavily-modified Crypt of the Necrodancer, a top-down roguelike with awesome rhythm music gameplay, this Nintendo collaboration arguably improves the existing formula. How? By making it a more open-ended adventure where you can tackle whichever dungeon you want with not much consequence or rush. Hyrule is your EDM-laden background.

Even the game’s music is slowly massaging your earbuds with smooth remixes of the time-tested Hyrule overworld theme. It’s telling you to relax, to just do it. Or just charge. Either way, there’s a lot of tunes to suit the mood.
You even have three distinct playstyles, from Link’s defensive gameplay to Zelda’s more offensive style. And if you rather play as Cadence from the previous Crypt games, there’s that too.
While it’s not as punishing as Crypt of the Necrodancer (at least until you access the game’s “new game+”), that’s not the game’s intent. Oh no; it’s to advertise the fact that Nintendo will always open its doors to developers for collaborations, assuming they have the same mindset. It’s rare, but such is the price of genius at least where developer Brace Yourself Games is concerned.


Good News for You Dragon Quest XI Fans out There…

Good news for all you Dragon Quest 11 fans out there, as the game has proven to be an incredible success for Square Enix. The developer announced that total worldwide shipments and digital sales for Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age have exceeded four million units.
According to the press release, this impressive milestone includes both the Japanese and international versions of the JRPG. More than half of that number comes from sales in Japan, where the long-running franchise has always been a national phenomenon.
However, this bodes well for international fans as well, as Square Enix recently revealed that Dragon Quest XI needs to sell well enough outside of Japan to justify localizations of future Dragon Quest installments. I’d say four million worldwide would be good enough, especially with an upcoming Dragon Quest XI Nintendo Switch port that will surely boost sales even further.
I even called Dragon Quest XI the “best JRPG of the current games generation.” Head on over here for my review of the game, and why it managed to perfect the JRPG genre despite its lack of any true innovation.
Besides that, 2018 is also the 20th anniversary of the Dragon Quest Monsters franchise. Think of Dragon Quest Monsters as a spinoff series where it plays more like a PokÃ©mon version of Dragon Quest, where players capture and raise iconic monsters like Slimes.
To celebrate this occasion, Square Enix has announced a brand new Dragon Quest Monsters game for consoles, starring younger versions of Dragon Quest XI characters Erik and his sister, Mia. This will be the first DQ Monsters game to be developed for consoles since the PS1.
This announcement may mean a thriving future for the Dragon Quest franchise as a whole, which means the possibility of more major releases in international regions. It’s great that more non-Japanese gamers are finally noticing the JRPG franchise, after a whopping three decades where only a handful of titles have even been released outside of Japan.
Here’s a first look at Akira Toriyama’s illustrations of Erik and Mia for the upcoming Dragon Quest Monsters game. (Via Game’s Talk)


Overwatch League Power Rankings â€“ Stage 1, Week 4

1. LONDON SPITFIRE â€“ S1W4 vs Dynasty (4-0); Dragons (4-0). Season Record: 7-1
Last Week: 3 (UP 2)Â

The former boys of GC Busan showed everyone that they’ve got the blueprint to dominate over the former Lunatic-Hai setup as they steamrolled over the season’s favorites, Seoul Dynasty in Stage 1’s biggest match to date. Definitely the top dogs at the moment and has pretty much secured their place in Stage 1 Title Match round. However, they do face a tough Week 5 ahead with Outlaws and NYXL patiently waiting.
2. New York Excelsior â€“ S1W4 vs Dragons (4-0); Fuel (3-1) – Season Record 7-1
Last Week: 2 (Unchanged)

Delivered as expected, NYXL ensured they didn’t slip during a week where their closest rivals – either Seoul and London – were guaranteed to lose a match. However, they have tendencies to drop sets in their matches, only notching two 4-0 games so far in Stage 1. By comparison, Outlaws so far have won four matches with the 4-0 scoreline, while Uprising, three. While a win is a win at the end of the day, they may rue these dropped sets come end of season considering how tightly contested the league has turned out to be in recent weeks. The match against Spitfire next week will decide who rest at the top of the league come end of Stage 1.
3. SEOUL DYNASTY â€“Â S1W4 vs Spitfire (0-4); Outlaws (3-2). Season Record: 6-2
Last Week: 1 (Down 2)
Â
Pipped by Excelsior and totally swept aside by Spitfire, many believe that the Dynasty are finally figured out. While NYXL pose a more formidable DPS lineup, the London Spitfire crew are definitely Dynasty’s boogey team; again haunting them with a clean sweep. The former boys Lunatic-Hai now have lost three games in a row to the former crew of GC Busan which dates back to APEX Season 4. Outlaws pushed Dynasty to the edge but their overall quality was the deciding factor at the end. Ryujehong’s absence in their loss to Spitfire was apparently for tactical reasons and this team looked much more solid with their captain within the mix. But honestly, we feel there’s a bigger picture at play here, as Dynasty are already looking at Stage 1’s title matches which in theory, should pit them again against NYXL and Spitfire. Dynasty close their Stage 1 with highly winnable matches against Valiant and Shock.
4. Boston Uprising â€“ S1W4 vs Gladiators (4-0); Valiant (4-0). Season Record: 5-3
Last Week 7 (UP 3)

Definitely on the rise, the Uprising did an impressive, double 4-0 against Los Angeles teams in Week 4 and is by far the surprise team of the season. This is no longer a team that should be taken lightly and Dreamkazper is easily one of the top DPS players in the league at the moment. They face Fusion and Outlaws in Week 5 – both matches that would decide which team deserve the title of ‘The Best in the West’ for Stage 1.
5. Houston Outlaws â€“ S1W4 vs Shock (3-1); Dynasty (2-3). Season Record: 5-3
Last Week: 6 (UP 1)

Not only did the Outlaws’ streak of consecutive 4-0 wins came to an end during their win over the Shock, they missed out on a golden opportunity to pile more misery onto the vulnerable Seoul Dynasty while at the same time grab an important win to secure third place in the standings. While many assumed the match was a close affair considering it went to a tie-breaker map, only two Outlaws players had a positive KDR vs Dynasty and were totally outmatched in every category (as per Winston’s Lab).

Their loss to the Dynasty pretty much closed any chance of them making it to the Title Match weekend as they next face Spitfire and Uprising – two really hard matches in Week 5 and we don’t see them coming out victorious in any of these two matches.
6. Los Angeles Valiant â€“ S1W4 vs Fusion (4-0); Uprising (0-4). Season Record: 5-3
Last Week: 4 (Down 2)

While their loss to the Uprising may came off as a shock to some, we sort of saw it coming as the team started to look very predictable during the weeks leading to it. The over-reliance on Soon and Agilities to carry the team was severely punished in their match against the Uprising and they now face an uphill battle vs Dynasty who appear to have regained stability after back-to-back losses against NYXL and Spitfire. A loss to Seoul is expected; so is a win against the Dragons in Week 5 which cements their spot in the middle of the pack.
7. Philadelphia Fusion â€“ S1W4 vs Valiant (0-4); Fuel (4-0). Season Record: 5-3
Last Week: 6 (Down 1)

They bounced back from their loss to Valiant with an empathic 4-0 win over the Fuel but that wasn’t enough to stop them from sliding in the Power Rankings this week. However, they do possess enough talent in the team to keep them poking into the Top-6 now and then and would require some significant personnel buffs during the break to help them remain amongst the top-6 in the league.
8. Los Angeles Gladiators â€“ S1W4 vs Mayhem (3-1); Uprising (0-4). Season Record: 3-5
Last Week: 8 (Unchanged)

At present, it would require huge, as in YUUUUUUGE upsets at either ends of the table to dislodge the Gladiators from this position. Only combinations of spectacular meltdown of the teams above them, turn of fortunes for teams below them coupled with Gladiators pulling off unexpected results will see them move from this position which we feel perfectly reflect this team’s relative position in the league.
9. San Francisco Shock â€“ S1W4 vs Outlaws (1-3); Mayhem (4-0). Season Record: 3-5
Last Week: 10 (Up 1)

They are playing well despite their losses and fans can expect massive improvements from the team once Super and Sinatraa joins. Yes. We kept reminding of their absence every week – but how could we not – this is a team that was built with these two players in mind. While Babybay and Danteh are competent in their positions for the timebeing, Sinatraa and Super would improve the team by several notches, sending them at least a couple spots up. Although they expectedly won 4-0 over the Mayhem, breaking the Outlaws’ 18-map winning streak was easily their highlight of the week. They have a great chance of climbing up the league and Power Rankings next week as they face the Gladiators.
10. Dallas Fuel â€“ S1W4 vs Fusion (0-4); Excelsior (1-3). Season Record: 1-7
Last Week: 9 (Down 1)

Since their 3-0 win over the Shock in Week 3, the Dallas Fuel has gone on a 3-10 map record over three games, including a tie-breaker 2-3 loss to the Uprising. While the recruitment of French DPS player DylanÂ â€œaKmâ€Â Bignet significantly raise the team’s overall skill ceiling, we feel that they are still lacking in areas that matter most in this meta; Support and Tanks.
Chipshajen is more of a Mercy main and with her recent nerf coming into effect in Stage 2, it would be mental for him to stick with her. In Custa, Fuel have one of the best Moira players in the league but the current roster doesn’t seem capable of pulling off the quad-Tank strategy which has been gaining popularity in recent weeks. Cocco looked like a B-tier tank player once he isn’t on Reinhardt while Taimou’s Roadhog tends to be outgunned early in most team fights due to lack of support up front. Seagull is more of a flex DPS while Mickie’s D.va plays are several metas behind everyone else. And let’s not start with xQc. Who knows when he’ll be banned next. Fuel would be wise to use the remaining matches to experiment with new strats rather than grinding for a win using approaches which are clearly ineffective.

11. Florida Mayhem â€“ S1W4 vs Gladiators (1-3); Uprising (0-4). Season Record: 1-7
Last Week 11 (Unchanged)

The Mayhem sits in a position we expected of them since the start of the season. Uninspiring and unimaginative. The addition of Zappis come Stage 2 should add a semblance of variety to the team but I wouldn’t rely on them to produce any shocks throughout the season, save for their creative team entrances.
12. Shanghai Dragons â€“ S1W4 vs Excelsior (0-4); Spitfire (0-4). Season Record: 0-8
Last Week 12 (Unchanged)

Definitely more stable as the weeks go by but still, the weakest team of the lot by a considerable distance. Expect them to occupy this slot for the majority of the season.

Summary:Â
Biggest Mover: Boston Uprising (Up 3)
Biggest Improvement: Boston Uprising (Up 3)
Should Be Higher By End of Next Week: Houston Outlaws, San Francisco Shock
They Are That High? Iâ€™m Expecting them to Drop Next Week:Â Boston Uprising
Letâ€™s agree to disagree aye? Iâ€™m pretty sure you have your own Power Rankings in your mind and Iâ€™m expecting them to be a tad different that what we presented above. Tell us how youâ€™d rank the teams in the comments section below.


Former Paradox Interactive CEO Slam Digital Platform’s 70/30 Revenue Split

Remember when we talked about Steam’s 70/30 revenue split (alongside other digital platforms)? Valve isn’t going to change that anytime soon for the developers, indie or otherwise, and that’s irking a lot of people up to now.
People like former Paradox Interactive CEO and current executive chairman Fredrik Wester, for instance. He said during a Gamelab Barcelona panel (via GamesIndustry.biz) that the 70/30 split from companies like Valve is outrageous and deserves to stay in the past. At the same time, he praises Epic Games Store’s more generous 88/12 split.
“I think the platform holders are taking too much money,” Fredrik said. “[Back then, physical copies] cost a lot of money [to distribute]. [Digital platforms] doesn’t cost anything. So Epic has done a great job for the whole industry, because you get 88 percent. Fantastic move. Thank you very much.”
He also mentioned on Twitter that he isn’t calling out Steam specifically; he’s just miffed at the split itself.

And while we're discussing the fairness of revenue splits; who can blame developers going Epic Exclusive if given a great revenue split + guarantee. We're not planning to do any exclusives but jeez, show some understanding for those who do.
— Fredrik Wester (@TheWesterFront) July 1, 2019

“Ask yourself ‘Why do they choose to go exclusive?’ and I’ll give you a hint: it’s not to f*** up your life and force you to use multiple launchers”. Words to live by.