Ghostrunner 2 Is Coming In 2023 For Next-Gen Consoles & PC

The first Ghostrunner originally launched in 2020 and the sequel was later confirmed in 2021. However, during the PlayStation Showcase 2023, 505 Games and One More Level have confirmed that Ghostrunner 2 will launch for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC sometime in 2023.
Ghostrunner 2 explores the world of Ghostrunner, with the player visiting more places, not only Dharma Tower. The game’s story takes place one year after the events of the first game. The people of Dharma Tower are rebuilding, commerce begins to flow, and there is hope for the future. However, with the Keymaster dead, a power vacuum develops with deadlier enemies looking to conquer Dharma tower.
The new dialogue system allows diving deeper into the lore and plot of GR2. Jack can interact with NPCs that are his friends from the Climbers faction. Plus, there is now a central HQ base of operations where Jack can take a break from missions.
With enhanced gameplay mechanics, more levels to explore, and epic boss fights, Ghostrunner 2 promises to be an exciting and thrilling adventure. With the new skills and powerful Ultimate abilities, players can be more creative during encounters and make the most demanding encounters more accessible. For instance, players can now defend against projectiles and attacks using the block feature, with each attack having its own cost in stamina. Additionally, there are new skills, such as Shadow, which allows Jack to trick enemies by leaving his copy on the casting spot and entering cloak mode.
Level design is more versatile, and most of the arenas have multiple ways that can be played. There are many new enemy types, some of the old ones are also redone to fit the new gameplay better, giving players more freedom in choosing how to defeat the most challenging foes. Cybervoids sections offer more freedom and fun, as movement is non-limited as it was in Ghostrunner, and there are sometimes combat sections to provide a good intermission from regular levels.
One of the most exciting new features of Ghostrunner 2 is the addition of the motorbike. Some levels that feature the motorbike are far more complex and open world than typical Ghostrunner levels. This means that you’ll have to use your wits and your skills to navigate through these levels, and you’ll have to always be on your toes.
The game progression system has been overhauled, allowing players to experiment in various ways. The interactive environment also includes exploding barrels, destructible walls, and more, which can be used by the player. The game now offers more ways to play, not just the campaign. This means that you can climb on the leaderboards and compete against your friends in new and exciting ways.
Check out our review of the original Ghostrunner here.


E3 2019: Roller Champions Is Ubisoft’s Answer To Rocket League

During its E3 2019 press conference, Ubisoft officially announced the previously-leaked Roller Champions, a free-to-play multiplayer online roller derby game where players go up against each other in 3v3 matches to keep possession of the ball and score while roller skating.
Roller Champions is very much Ubisoft’s answer to Psyonix’s popular car soccer game Rocket League. In Roller Champions, the longer players hold onto the ball and the more laps they run, the more points they will receive when they toss it through the ring and score.
The first team to score five points, or whoever has the most points at the end of a 7-minute match, will be declared the winner of that match. Since the game is free-to-play, it will likely follow a monetization system similar to that of Overwatch, with the purchase of cosmetic items.
Roller Champions is slated to release for the PC sometime in 2020, but players can already try out a demo of the game from today to 14 June 2019. In the meantime, check out the gameplay trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdyq9I1HZo&w=560&h=315]


BioWare Gives Update On Dragon Age 4 & Mass Effect 4

BioWare is currently working on Mass Effect 4 and Dragon Age 4; and they’ve given an update on both games. The developer shared this new information as part of their new BioWare Community Update blog post series, where they will share new insight about game development and more.
In the blog post, BioWare technical director Maciej Kurowski said:
Gary (he/him) recently shared a State of BioWare post highlighting some of the folks who will be leading the Dragon Age team: Corinne Busche (she/her) as game director, Mac Walters (he/him) as production director, and Benoit Houle (he/him) as director of product development.
In addition to this talented group, we want to (re)introduce you to two more people working on the game who you should know: John Epler (he/him) and Maciej Kurowski (he/him), who have both been working on the next Dragon Age game since its early days of development.
Maciej, the Dragon Age franchise’s technical director, joined BioWare almost six years ago and has spent over 13 years in the industry. John’s been at BioWare for close to 15 years; he’s worked on multiple BioWare titles and took on the role of creative director for Dragon Age last year.
For more about John and Maciej after you learn a bit about them here (as well as lots of other folks on the Dragon Age team), be sure to keep an eye out for our upcoming Developer Stories blog series, starting this week!
As for Mass Effect 4, BioWare also confirmed that the game is in early development, and that they’re also working on Star Wars The Old Republic. They said:
We’re working on more than just Dragon Age, too. Our team is continuing to work on Star Wars: The Old Republic and its recent Legacy of the Sith expansion, so be sure to check out the SWTOR website for more details about what’s coming! There’s also the next game in the Mass Effect universe, which is now early in development. It’s going to be a while before we can talk about it in more detail, but we can’t wait to show you what we’re working on!


ILLEGEAR Celebrates Halloween With Some Cool Deals At Their Store

Custom gaming gear specialists ILLEGEAR are running a special promotion to celebrate Halloween, offering special dealsÂ worth up to RM577 in terms of upgrades when your purchase selected machines from their store.
Among the deals on offer include a free 1TB Toshiba SSHD and Professional Color Calibration upgrades (worth about RM148) when you purchase a ILLEGEAR RAVEN,Â  or a free 16GB DDR4 2400Mhz RAM, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, and Professional Color Calibration upgrades worth RM567 when you purchase an ILLEGEAR S5X.

For more info and a full list of laptops and gear included in the promotion, head over toÂ store.illegear.comÂ . Offer valid while stocks last or until 2nd November 2017.


Call Of Duty NEXT & Modern Warfare II Beta Dates Confirmed For Next Month

After the incredible conclusion to the Call of Duty League 2022 Season’s Championship on Sunday, 7 August, an equally impressive amount of information dropped at Champs during the show announced the dates where you can learn more about Call of Duty’s future, as well as the dates for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Open Beta.
The announcement at Champs revealed the forthcoming Call of Duty Next. This is an era-defining franchise event showcasing the immediate future of Call of Duty, broadcast on 15 September — that’s 16 September for Asia-Pacific residents.
Presented by Infinity Ward, and featuring robust information drops detailing innovations, live gameplay, and a whole lot more, expect to learn the following:

What the imminent future of Call Of Duty will look like, including many more details regarding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, information on Warzone 2.0, and more on the mobile version of Call of Duty: Warzone (also known as Project Aurora).
A full Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Multiplayer reveal.
A multitude of your favourite streamers at the event, playing the games in real-time.
More information and surprises

If you missed the opportunity to obtain a code during Champs, make sure to keep an eye open for more opportunities to receive Early Access Beta Code drops!
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE II BETA DATES

Ready to experience the future of CoD Multiplayer combat before the launch of Modern Warfare II on 28 October 2022? Then prepare yourself for the Open Beta. The MWII Open Beta will be free across all platforms, with players who pre-ordered digitally, at retail or received Beta codes gaining early access.
Note that Beta codes are tied to your Activision account, and are platform agnostic, meaning you can access the Beta on your hardware of choice.
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Beta is split into two playable Weekends, and early access is available for those with either digital or retail pre-orders:
WEEKEND 1: PLAYSTATION
The first Beta weekend is available on PS4 and PS5 and is scheduled to run from Saturday, 17 September at 1:00 AM (GMT+8) to Tuesday, 20 September. This weekend is for PS4 and PS5 players only. You are able to access the Beta without requiring the PlayStation Plus subscription service.
PlayStation Early Access: Those who pre-ordered the game on PS4 or PS5, or received a Beta code, can begin playing the beta on Saturday, 17 September at 1:00 AM (GMT+8).
PlayStation Open Beta: The rest of the weekend, from Monday, 19 September at 1:00 AM (GMT+8) to Tuesday, 20 September, is accessible to all PlayStation players regardless of pre-order status. PlayStation players can now experience the impressive amount of Beta content available in Modern Warfare II and unlock rewards available in-game at launch.
WEEKEND 2: ALL PLATFORMS (CROSSPLAY)
 The second Beta weekend is available on all console platforms and PC and is scheduled to run from Friday, 23 September at 1:00 AM (GMT+8) to Monday, 26 September. Crossplay will be activated allowing you to party up with friends and the greater community, no matter what hardware they play on.
PS4 and PS5: No matter whether you pre-ordered the game or not, Weekend 2 is a free Open Beta for all PS4 and PS5 owners.
Xbox and PC Early Access: Those who pre-ordered the game for Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, or pre-purchased for PC via Blizzard Battle.net or Steam, can begin playing the Beta on Friday, 23 September at 1:00 AM (GMT+8). Xbox Live Gold is required for Xbox players, and PC players are required to have a Battle.net or Steam account.
Xbox and PC Open Beta: The rest of the weekend, from Sunday, 25 September at 1:00 AM (GMT+8) to Monday, 26 September, is accessible to Xbox and PC players regardless of pre-order status. The entire community can now experience the impressive amount of Beta content available in Modern Warfare II, unlock rewards available in-game at launch, and play together.
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE II BETA
The Modern Warfare II Beta is set to feature a robust multiplayer experience going beyond the Core 6v6 experience with a variety of meticulously designed maps of various sizes, and an equally impressive set of Modes, Progression experiences, and other aspects that will be more thoroughly revealed at Call of Duty: Next. In addition, at Champs, we revealed a flythrough of Marina Bay Grand Prix, where combat occurs within the main infield of an urban race circuit, one of the 6v6 Multiplayer maps confirmed for the Beta.
With a number of in-game rewards available for simply playing the Beta (that are available at the launch of MWII if you own the game), and a host of other innovations and surprises, expect an unparalleled intel drop at the Next event.
In addition to a variety of in-game rewards, players who pre-ordered Modern Warfare II will be able to utilise the following rewards during the Beta:

All four of the Red Team 141 Operators – Ghost, Farah, Price, and Soap – each wearing a special masked outfit.
The FJX Cinder Weapon Vault.

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE II PRE-ORDER
Pre-orders for physical disc versions of the PS4 Cross-gen Edition and PS5 Standard Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will begin on Thursday, 25 August (APAC Time) at all PlayStation Authorised Dealers and Sony Stores. Purchase either version to experience Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II first on PlayStation.
Pricing is as follows:

Rp 1,025,000
RM 291
?3,490
SG$93.90
THB 2,322
VND 1,799,000

Find out the nearest PlayStation Authorised Dealers and Sony Stores here: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
INTEL DROPS
Between now and the Next event, Modern Warfare II lead developers Infinity Ward is set to pull back the curtain on aspects of developing the game, giving you unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the innovations coming to the game. This series of intel drops will appear on IW’s Studio Channels with the first episode dropping soon. Be sure to follow Infinity Ward on Twitter, and check the Call of Duty Blog and Infinity Ward blog for more information.
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE II PRE-ORDER BONUSES

 As well as gaining early access to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Open Beta on your platform of choice, there’s free content you can use right now in Call of Duty: Vanguard and Warzone, as well as content available in Modern Warfare II at launch, just for pre-ordering the game. For a full rundown, check out this blog. Here’s a quick list of what you can claim:
Pre-order Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II to receive:

Access to the full game and Open Beta Early Access.
Final Judgement Bundle: Immediate access to the Legendary “Deathknell” Operator Skin and the Legendary “Bloodthirsty” Weapon Blueprint for use in Call of Duty: Vanguard and Warzone.

 Pre-order the Vault Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II to receive:

All previously listed rewards.
Red Team 141: Four playable Multiplayer Operators — Ghost, Farah, Price, and Soap — each wearing a special masked outfit, which will be available during the Open Beta
FJX Cinder Weapon Vault: We plan to share more details on this and the new Gunsmith at Call of Duty: Next, which will also be available during the Open Beta.
Season One Battle Pass and 50 Tier Skips: If you purchase the Vault Edition after Season One, the free Battle Pass and Tier Skips apply to the current season.
Ghost Legacy Pack: 20+ free items celebrating the Task Force 141 icon, for Modern Warfare® (2019) and Warzone, unlocked upon pre-purchase.

On a related note, the upcoming Modern Warfare II multiplayer will feature Singapore as a battleground, specifically the Marina Bay Grand Prix flythrough. So if you have that one dream of doing a killshot in front of many wrecked F1 cars, you have your wish granted either in the upcoming beta or when the game comes out in full on 28 October.


SDCC 2019: Kevin Smith’s Jay And Silent Bob Reboot Gets First Trailer

Despite featuring the word ‘reboot’ in its title, Jay And Silent Bob Reboot is actually a sequel to 2001’s Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, and the eighth overall movie in Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse shared cinematic universe (it’s like the MCU but with Kevin Smith movies instead).
Jay And Silent Bob Reboot follow the two protagonists Jay and Silent Bob travel across the United States in an attempt to prevent the live-action adaptation reboot of their comic book property Bluntman and Chronic from being made.
Along the way, they’ll meet familiar faces from the View Askewniverse. The movie boasts a star-studded cast that includes the following actors and actresses:

Jason Mewes as Jay/Chronic
Kevin Smith as Silent Bob/Bluntman and himself
Harley Quinn Smith as Millennium Falcon, Jay’s estranged daughter, and a member of the girl gang
Aparna Brielle as Jihad, a member of the girl gang
Shannon Elizabeth as Justice
Brian O’Halloran as Dante Hicks
Jason Lee as Brodie Bruce
Joey Lauren Adams as Alyssa Jones
Jennifer Schwalbach as Missy
Treshelle Edmond as Soapy, a member of the girl gang
Alice Wen as Shan Yu, a member of the girl gang
Craig Robinson as judge
Joe Manganiello as bailiff #1
Jordan Monsanto as bailiff #2
Frankie Shaw as a prosecutor
Justin Long as Jay and Silent Bobâ€™s lawyer
Jason Biggs as himself
James Van Der Beek as himself
Donnell Rawlings as a captain
David Dastmalchian as a SWAT officer
Kate Micucci as Mooby’s clerk
Diedrich Bader as Gordon, a relentless security guard
Joseph D. Reitman as Bluntman & Chronic assistant director
Melissa Benoist as herself/female Chronic
Chris Wood as himself
Val Kilmer as himself/Bluntman
Ben Affleck as Holden McNeil
Matt Damon as Shawn Oran
Ralph Garman
Grant Gustin
Tom Cavanagh
Method Man
Redman
Chris Jericho
Fred Armisen
Marc Bernardin
Nicolas Cage
Molly Shannon
Scott Mosier
Rosario Dawson
Chris Hemsworth
Adam Brody
Dan Fogler
Tommy Chong
Brian Quinn
Karrueche Tran
Robert Kirkman

Fans should prepare for a geekfest of epic proportions. Jay And Silent Bob Reboot is slated to release on 15 October 2019. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHI_TemTawM&w=560&h=315]


Magic The Gathering Hatsune Miku Collaboration Teased

Magic The Gathering (MTG) will soon be collaborating with an unexpected IP, none other than Hatsune Miku. Yes, that famous Hatsune Miku, the Vocaloid virtual idol from Japan. The official French Wizards Of The Coast Twitter account revealed the news earlier today.
The tweet features an image of Hatsune Miku on an MTG pack, Kamigawa Neon Dynasty. This latest expansion will feature the return to the Japanese-inspired MTG world of Kamigawa, which was last seen in the 33rd, 34th, and 35th expansions. The new expansion is set 1,200 years in the future, with what seems to be a cyberpunk aesthetic.

On vous avoue tout, demain, vers 15h. pic.twitter.com/5CYO0fdMPP
— Magic France (@wizards_magicFR) February 2, 2022

More details and information will be revealed tomorrow on 4 February 2022 at 10pm GMT+8. This won’t be the first time that Magic The Gathering has collaborated with another IP. Previously, they have worked together with the Godzilla franchise with kaiju cards, The Walking Dead, My Little Pony and others (check out the full list here).


Steam Regional Pricing Gets Price Hike & Inflation In Southeast Asia

Valve’s popular digital distribution store Steam has refreshed its price suggestions as of late (via Steam db).
To sum it up, these price suggestions determine how a title is priced outside of the US and other first-party Steam regions, be it a 0.99 title or a US$59.99 triple-A game. Just keep in mind the following countries are not affected by this inflation:

CIS – U.S. Dollar
Costa Rican Colon
Israeli New Shekel
Kuwaiti Dinar
Singapore Dollar
South Asia – USD
U.A.E. Dirham

Here is the price inflation for Southeast Asian countries for the commonly-used price tiers:

US$0.99

Currency
Old
New
Diff

Indonesian Rupiah
Rp 8499
Rp 9699
+14%

US$9.99

Currency
Old
New
Diff

Indonesian Rupiah
Rp 69999
Rp 90999
+30%

Malaysian Ringgit
RM23.50
RM26.75
+14%

Philippine Peso
?289.95
?335.00
+16%

Thai Baht
?189.00
?220.00
+16%

Vietnamese Dong
120000?
142000?
+18%

US$14.99

Currency
Old
New
Diff

Indonesian Rupiah
Rp 95999
Rp 130999
+36%

Malaysian Ringgit
RM32.00
RM38.50
+20%

Philippine Peso
?389.95
?485.00
+24%

Thai Baht
?239.00
?315.00
+32%

Vietnamese Dong
165000?
205000?
+24%

US$24.99

Currency
Old
New
Diff

Indonesian Rupiah
Rp 119999
Rp 206999
+73%

Malaysian Ringgit
RM44.00
RM61.00
+39%

Philippine Peso
?549.95
?765.00
+39%

Thai Baht
?319.00
?495.00
+55%

Vietnamese Dong
220000?
321000?
+46%

US$29.99

Currency
Old
New
Diff

Indonesian Rupiah
Rp 139999
Rp 245999
+76%

Malaysian Ringgit
RM51.00
RM72.00
+41%

Philippine Peso
?649.95
?910.00
+40%

Thai Baht
?379.00
?590.00
+56%

Vietnamese Dong
250000?
385000?
+54%

US$59.99

Currency
Old
New
Diff

Indonesian Rupiah
Rp 249999
Rp 449999
+80%

Malaysian Ringgit
RM95.00
RM133.00
+40%

Philippine Peso
?1219.95
?1670.00
+37%

Thai Baht
?699.00
?1100.00
+57%

Vietnamese Dong
480000?
705000?
+47%

Our takeaways:

The price inflation hits harder past the US$24.99 mark, so don’t be surprised if all your favourite upcoming indie games from Southeast Asia are at the US$19.99 threshold.
Indonesia gets a crazy markup in US$24.99 titles and beyond.
Malaysia is getting a 20-40% price hike in digital titles.


LeBron James Teams Up With PlayStation To Bring A Custom Controller & Console Cover

PlayStation is always up for a creative challenge, especially when it comes to teaming up with people who redefine what it means to play and live life without limits. And that’s exactly why they’re excited to announce their new PlayStation Playmakers program. You can learn more about it by clicking here.
But what’s really got everyone buzzing is the limited edition PlayStation 5 console cover and DualSense wireless controller that were designed in collaboration with sports icon, philanthropist, entrepreneur (and part-time God of War), LeBron James, who is also a PlayStation Playmaker. These special accessories, which feature elements inspired by LeBron’s love for gaming and community, will only be available for a limited time in select countries worldwide.

LeBron himself co-designed the PS5 console cover and DualSense wireless controller, infusing personal imagery and adages that have been meaningful throughout his life’s journey. He even shared some thoughts on what the collaboration means to him:
“It’s still crazy to think a kid from Akron who grew up playing games is getting to create something like this. Designing a console cover and controller with PlayStation that gives a nod to my I Promise students and where we come from is a pretty cool thing. I hope it’s something that continues to inspire everyone who touches it, and that they have a little fun finding meaning in every detail.”
– LeBron James

It’s clear that LeBron’s impact goes beyond the basketball court, as he continues to inspire people around the world with his extraordinary efforts to lift his community. So it’s no surprise that PlayStation is thrilled to have him as their first-ever collaborator for limited-edition PlayStation products. And based on the design he created, which showcases his passions for gaming and community, we’re sure PlayStation fans will love it too!
If you’re interested in preordering these exclusive accessories, keep an eye out on direct.playstation.com later this year.


Check Out This Figma Of Sekiro’s Wolf

Max Factory just revealed the painted prototype of its latest Figma creation: Sekiro (or Wolf) from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The company is showcasing a ton of their upcoming action figure series in this year’s Wonder Festival 2020, including a bunch of other licensed characters like Splatoon 2’s Off The Hook duo Pearl and Marina, and a few Fate: Stay Night characters in racing gear.
You could say they’ve been dying to do this. Sorry, I just had to.

On a related note, Max Factory also revealed its huge Nendoroid lineup for 2020 and beyond, but the one that warms the cockles of my cold black heart is this Nendoroid Amaterasu from Capcom/Studio Clover masterpiece game Okami.

Aww…..


Star Wars Andor Episode 9 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

The ninth episode of Star Wars Andor is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. I’ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you haven’t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, now’s your chance to stop reading.
Check out my spoiler-free review of Andor here.
The Andor series will explore a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It’s an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
Diego Luna returns as Cassian Andor and is joined by cast members Genevieve O’Reilly (who will portray a young Mon Mothma), Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough and Kyle Soller. The executive producers are Kathleen Kennedy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna and Michelle Rejwan. Tony Gilroy is the creator and showrunner.
In the meantime, check out my interview with Andor actors Kyle Soller and Denise Gough by heading over here for the written article, or you can watch the entire interview below:

Check out my breakdown of the first three episodes of Andor, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7 and Episode 8 here.
Check out my breakdown of Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 1 and 2, Episode 3, Episode 4 and Episode 5 here.
You can check out my previous breakdowns of The Book Of Boba Fett Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6 and Episode 7 here.

A New Torture Method

Dr. Gorst (Joshua James) has developed an audio torture technique that uses the recorded death cries of Dizonites, a species the Empire slaughtered for resisting them, especially the cries of the species’ children.
That’s extremely dark, even for a genocidal fascist empire.
The Galactic Senate Again

We’ve previously never seen much of the Galactic Senate during the reign of the Empire. That’s because Emperor Palpatine officially dissolved the Imperial Senate immediately before the Battle Of Yavin, which takes place in Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope. Here, we see Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) speaking, but no one pays attention to her and is instead speaking amongst themselves.
This shows how useless the Galactic Imperial Senate was, and how it was all just for show, with all of the power in the hands of the Emperor.
This is the second time we’re seeing the Galactic Senate after Episode 6.
Vel Is Mon Mothma’s Cousin

Rebel Vel Sartha turns out to be the cousin of Mon Mothma.
Only three episodes left in this season. Until the next one, excelsior!


Disney Delays Doctor Strange In Multiverse Of The Madness & Other Marvel Movies

Disney has announced that several Marvel Studios movies and others have been delayed from their initial release dates. These include many Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
Check them out below (via Variety):

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness â€“ Delayed from 25 March 2022 to 6 May 2022.
Thor Love And Thunder – Delayed from 6 May 2022 to 8 July 2022.
Black Panther Wakanda Forever – Delayed from 8 July 2022 to 11 November 2022.
Indiana Jones 5 – Delayed from 29 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.
The Marvels – Delayed from 11 November 2022 to 17 February 2023.
Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania – Delayed from 17 February 2023 to 28 July 2023.
Untitled Marvel Movie – Moved forward from 10 November 2023 to 3 November 2023.

It’s currently unclear why Disney is delaying some of these future MCU movies months after their initial release dates. I speculate that perhaps they’re saving the first few months of 2022 to shine the spotlight on several more Disney+ series like Ms Marvel, Moon Knight and She-Hulk.
Before Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) will be playing a prominent role in Spider-Man No Way Home in December 2021. Perhaps something big will happen in that movie that will affect the MCU moving forward and Marvel Studios wanted to give us time to accept it? Who knows at this point.
Benedict Cumberbatch also reprised his role in Marvel’s What If…? as a variant of Doctor Strange called Doctor Strange Supreme. Perhaps we’ll see more of him in the future? Fingers crossed.

You can check out my previous breakdown ofÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Episode 1,Â Episode 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7Â andÂ Episode 8 here.
If you havenâ€™t, you can check out my previous breakdown and easter egg articles forÂ WandaVisionÂ Episode 1 and 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9.
ForÂ The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns forÂ Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â andÂ Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â andÂ Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns ofÂ LokiÂ episodes, check outÂ Episode 1 here,Â Episode 2 here,Â Episode 3 here,Â Episode 4 here,Â Episode 5 hereÂ andÂ Episode 6 here.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, we were recently lucky enough to participate in a roundtable interview withÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â Executive ProducerÂ Brad Winderbaum, Head WriterÂ AC Bradley, and DirectorÂ Bryan Andrews. You can check out that interview byÂ heading over here.
Recently, we also interviewedÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â EditorsÂ Graham Fisher and Joel Fisher, Animation SupervisorÂ Stephan Franck, and Head of Visual Development and Character DesignÂ Ryan Meinerding. You can check out that interview byÂ heading over here.


Crystal Dynamics Will End Support For Marvel Avengers This Year

Much like how some doctors pull the plug on a terminal patient because they’re beyond recovery, so too has Crystal Dynamics with Marvel’s Avengers.
The game developer has announced it will end support for the Square Enix game later this year. The company will publish its final update on 31 March, 2023 and end all official support on 30 September, 2023. At least the single-player and multi-player gameplayer will continue to be available.
“To our amazing community, after two-and-a-half years and introducing twelve of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, following Update 2.8 on March 31, 2023, we will no longer add new content or features to Marvel’s Avengers.
Even after official support ceases on September 30, 2023, both single- and multi-player gameplay will continue to be available.
Update 2.7, which added the Winter Soldier Hero and Cloning Lab Omega-Level Threat, is the last new content to be added to the game. No new cosmetics are coming to the Marketplace, and all final balance updates will occur in Update 2.8 in March.
Along with the end of development, we’ll also be turning off the cosmetics Marketplace. When Update 2.8 launches on March 31, 2023, Credits will no longer be purchasable and all remaining Credit balances will be converted into in-game resources to aid ongoing adventures.”

An important announcement about the future of Marvel's Avengers: https://t.co/hTmenK6wmJ pic.twitter.com/JVZNNDNzZy
— Marvel's Avengers (@PlayAvengers) January 20, 2023

At least it had a good three-year run. Marvel’s Avengers came out on September 2020 for PC and consoles to middling reviews.


VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – FunPlus Phoenix Get A Rematch Against Fnatic

FunPlus Phoenix keeps their hopes alive as they eliminate DRX to secure Top 4 and will go on to have a rematch against Fnatic.
DO CHECK OUT OUR SCHEDULE STAGE 2 MASTERS SCHEDULE
This match within itself was also a rematch from the group stage. FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) had lost 1–2 against DRX previously. So going into this match, the FPX boys were hungry for revenge.
For DRX, unfortunately yet again fall out of the tournament at the 5th-6th spot. Although the Korean side had hoped to make it further this tournament, unfortunately, their efforts were in vain as FPX took the series 2–0.

SLOW START FOR DRX
In the first half of Map 1, Ascent was pretty even as both teams took rounds intermittently and the score at the half was tied at 6–6. DRX managed to take the second pistol round and the succeeding round but the squad was quickly discouraged as FPX went on to take six straight rounds following this. FPX were able to close out the map 13–9 meaning they would now play DRX’s map pick of Fracture.

Divine play. ? @staxVLRT#VALORANTMasters | ? https://t.co/MDpRTZqCFp pic.twitter.com/9Bh6AqtHLl
— VALORANT Champions Tour KR (@valesports_kr) July 18, 2022

A monumental factor to FPX’s win over DRX was their ability to shut down DRX’s main Chamber player Yu “BuZz“ Byung-chul who drastically underperformed throughout Map 1. Only amounting to six kills and no first bloods.
FALSE CONFIDENCE?
DRX were extremely confident going into this map as they previously dismantled OpTic Gaming 13–4 the day prior. But things didn’t quite go as expected. After both teams took two rounds each, it was in round 5 that FPX put the pedal to the metal and went on a seven-round win streak only losing the final round of the half, making the score 9–3.

3. More. Rounds. @FPX_Esports | #VALORANTMasters pic.twitter.com/Kxy599jYMz
— VALORANT Champions Tour ?? (@ValorantEsports) July 18, 2022

With the last round won, you’d think that DRX would have reset their composure even if it was just by a little. As they won the initial two rounds of the second half, everything began to crumble as the Korean side would lose all momentum and FPX would win four rounds in a row to close the series out.
FPX NOT DONE

FunPlus Phoenix is far from done as they are set to versus fellow European squad Fnatic once again. The Europeans had previously met in their initial playoff matches, with Fnatic reigning supreme. Will FPX let that happen again? Well, we’ll find out on 23 July at 2:00 AM (GMT+8) when both teams will fight for their spot in the Top 3 in front of a live audience.

For more VCT 2022 action, head over to our full schedule and livestream feature page.


This Is Your BlizzCon 2018 Schedule In Southeast Asian Time

Another year, another kickass BlizzCon. Last year’s festivities was pretty awesome, so this year shouldn’t be any different.
Blizzard’s pretty good at keeping secrets so there won’t be much leaked right now until the opening itself.Â Here’s the BlizzCon 2018 schedule from the official websiteÂ in Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines time (GMT+8). We list down what we want to see & watch.
First off, you can watch it on the following links.

Official site -Â https://blizzcon.com/watch
Twitch.tv – https://go.twitch.tv/blizzard
YouTube page – https://www.youtube.com/blizzard

3rd November, Saturday (GMT +8)
Opening Ceremony
Time: 2am-3am
What happens: BlizzCon opens. Fun stuff happens. The CEOs & founders (the ones who are still around) make merry & talk about how awesome Blizzard and their fans are. There’s also a chance that we may get a WarCraft III Remastered announcement.
Diablo: What’s Next
Time: 3.30am-4.15am
What’s it about? News about Diablo III and maybe Diablo IV. Or maybe just new Diablo stuff like the animated series. Or maybe new Amiibos for the Switch version of Diablo III.

Overwatch: What’s Next
Time: 4.30am – 5.15.am
What’s it about? News about Overwatch content, be it a bunch of new characters, new maps, new modes, or even a new event.
Hearthstone: What’s Next
Time: 5.30am – 6.15am
What’s it about? Probably a new expansion, new tournament league, and new dungeon events for Blizzard’s big casual moneymaker.
World of Warcraft: What’s Next
Time: 6.30am – 7.15am

https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/464580433950388/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCiGt6Pt96P8K87WYq85KhHBYmDjum0lT95qM955u4WzGg9llExg8sZ4G44R-UqfSBjcC8FGwKtSvyjT5ndlzSrKLEqUyH_W_15XExFNqU2D3aI6iOX6JqwYZKFsKgZYfj9aDYQ268jWJrzRae7bYe-6LFo8ojosmu_p_UwoYYV6dCMxaDpx2kPZr5tEl3SyvpZ0-d3miWeodUhOg&__tn__=H-R
What’s it about? The online MMORPG juggernaut is set to have new stuff coming following the Battle for Azeroth expansion. We’re going to find out more about said content this Saturday morning.
Overwatch World Cup 2018 Semi & Quarter Finals
Time: 3.15am – 11.15am
What’s it about? The top 8 world teams of Overwatch duke it out. Right now, it’s US vs UK, South Korea vs Australia, China vs Finland, and France vs Canada.
Hearthstone Global Games 2018
Time: 3.15am – 12.30pm
What’s it about? The best Hearthstone players from all over the world will compete to win the top prize. Goes on from Saturday to Sunday.
Country fights in this tournament include China vs New Zealand, Spain vs Hong Kong, Bulgaria vs Brazil, and Norway vs Singapore. Go Singapore!
StarCraft II WCS Global Finals 2018
Time: 3.30am – 9.30am
What’s it about? The best SC2 players duke it out for bragging rights and part of the US$700,000 prize pool. Players of this bout include: Maru, sOs, SpeCial, Stats, Rogue, Ty, Dark, and Serral.
KSL vs ASL – StarCraft Remastered Edition Exhibition

Time: 9.30am – 11.15am
What’s it about? Two of the most legendary StarCraft leagues and its players, Last and Rain respectively, will fight the heck out of each other in this exhibition match featuring the remastered first game.
4th November, Sunday (GMT +8)
All the esports stuff and finals happen here.
Heroes of the Storm: Deep Dive
Time: 1am – 1.45am
What’s it about? The devs of Heroes of the Storm talk about the game and will host a Q&A panel.
Overwatch Semifinals & Finals
Time: 12.30am – 9.30am
What’s it about? The last few teams of Overwatch World Cup will fight this Sunday morning.
Heroes of the Storm HGC Finals
Time: 12.30am -10.15am
What’s it about? The best Heroes of the Storm teams are duking it out for worldwide supremacy. The fights are as follows: Gen.G vs TheOne, HeroesHearth Esports vs Team Liquid, Team Dignitas vs Tempo Storm, and Miracle vs Tempest.
StarCraft II WCS Global Finals 2018
Time: 5am – 11am
WoW Arena World Championships Finals
Time: 9.15am – 10.45am
Hearthstone Global Games Semifinals and Finals
Time: 12.45am – 6.15am
StarCraft II WCS Global Finals
Time: 5am – 11am
Closing Festivities
Time: 10.30am – 1pm
What’s it about? Train, Lindsey Stirling, and Kristian Nairn will be performing to cap off BlizzCon 2018. It’ll be hella sweet!


The CHAM Drinkers Will Stream Warlander Tonight; Here’s How To Catch Them

Malaysian Twitch streaming group and Kakuchopurei pals The CHAM Drinkers will be hosting a special four-person multiplayer session. The game of choice? Toylogic’s new online PvP game Warlander.
Warlander is about two warring teams fighting against each other in an epic castle-sieging, spellslinging, and sword-clashing fight to the death, or at least whoever earns the most points for their respective Blue and Red teams. Unlike other multiplayer games, this PvP title features 2 and 5 Army Battle game modes, a MOBA-like symmetrical map, a knock-out style gameplay of a Battle Royale, and a smooth blend of 3rd person hack-and-slash and ranged combat. It’s a combination of elements we love about a multiplayer PvP game, all rolled in one medieval fantasy setting!
The CHAM Drinkers Monteamon, Thalmeezy, Itshufabo, and Sporesan will be streaming on the following date/time:
Date: 12th November
Time: 10pm (GMT+8)

Links/Stream

In collaboration with @Kakuchopurei, The CHAM Drinkers will be checking out the open beta for Warlander, a new hack and slash multiplayer game! ????
Catch @Monteamonn, @Thalmeezy, @TheHeraSays & @ItsHuFaBo this Saturday at 10PM (GMT+8) on Twitch ? pic.twitter.com/uhMBh69kJW
— The CHAM Drinkers (@ChamDrinkers) November 9, 2022

Monteamon
Thalmeezy
?
Itshufabo
Sporesan


BlizzConline 2021: All The Opening Ceremony Announcements

BlizzCon 2021, or BlizzConline 2021 (as it’s now called), has officially begun. The digital event’s one-hour opening ceremony was chock full of announcements and reveals, including:
Blizzard Arcade Collection

Three of Blizzard Entertainmentâ€™s earliest games; The Lost Vikings,Â Blackthorne, andÂ Rock N Roll Racing; are being re-released on consoles and PC today. The Blizzard Arcade Collection is now available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
The Blizzard Arcade Collection costs US$19.99, but itâ€™s also included as part of Blizzardâ€™s Celebration CollectionÂ on PCÂ and The Blizzard 30-Year Celebration Collection on console â€” and includes Original Editions and Definitive Editions of each game. Enhancements include custom key mappings and the option to rewind gameplay up to 10 seconds.

World Of Warcraft Shadowlands Chains Of Domination

World Of Warcraft’s next big update was just announced during BlizzCon 2021, and it’s titled World Of Warcraft Shadowlands Chains Of Domination.
The trailer for Chains of Domination reveals more about Anduin’s fate, as well as what Sylvanas and her mysterious benefactor, The Jailer, have been up to. Chains Of Domination will feature a new 10-boss raid, a new 8-boss mega-dungeon, a new area of the Maw to explore, an improved Covenant system and give players more ways to power up their Soulbinds and earn cool cosmetic armour sets themed after their Covenant.

World Of Warcraft Classic Burning Crusade

World Of Warcraft‘s first-ever expansion, The Burning Crusade, is getting a Classic remastered version.
The Burning Crusade Classic is a set of servers that will let players explore beyond the Dark Portal into the apocalyptic Outlands just like it was in 2007. WoW Classic players will be able to level up to a new cap of 70 while exploring familiar zones like Hellfire Peninsula and Zangarmarsh.
There will also be a ton of “new” features like flying mounts, jewel crafting, the Draenei and Blood Elf races, and the ability to play as a shaman or paladin regardless of your faction. It will also be included as part of a normal WoW subscription, and players will have the choice of whether or not they want their Classic characters to progress into the Burning Crusade or stay at level 60 in vanilla WoW Classic.

World Of Warcraft Burning Crusade Classic is coming sometime later in 2021.

Hearthstone Forged In The Barrens

Blizzard has revealed a new set for Hearthstone, called Forged in the Barrens.

Forged in the Barrens will feature 10 cards representing Legendary Mercenaries to recruit, a new Core set of 235 cards that will replace the current Classic and Basic sets, as well as 135 new cards.

Diablo IV: Rogue Class Returns

The original Diablo featured the bow-wielding Rogue class, but she didn’t reappear by name in Diablo II or Diablo III.
Over 24 years later, she’s returning in the upcoming Diablo IV, joining the previously-announced Barbarian, Sorceress, and Druid.
Speaking with PC Gamer, Diablo IV game director Luis Barriga said (about the Rogue class):

“You dash forward, hit everything in your way.
It’s not the most damaging ability, but because you move so much with it, it’s a very versatile ability.
It lets you reposition, it lets you enter combat, it lets you wait for the enemies to do their big attack and then move in, and then get out of the way.”

Diablo II Resurrected

Diablo II Resurrected is slated to launch on consoles and PC sometime later in 2021, with a single-player beta available in a few months.
Speaking with Polygon, Diablo executive producer Rod Fergusson described the game as a remaster and not a remake:

â€œThis isnâ€™t a remake.
Weâ€™re not reverse-engineering it; weâ€™re not rebuilding it and trying to make it look and sound like [Diablo II].
This is [Diablo II].
Itâ€™s right there, underneath the surface.
The entire simulation, the engine for this game, that lifeblood of this game, is [Diablo II] right underneath.
So thereâ€™s a toggle switch, a legacy toggle, that when you press the button, youâ€™ll see behind the curtains, and there is Diablo II in 2D sprites running right there, and you can play the way that you played 20 years ago.â€

You can watch all the scheduled events for the next two days live on Blizzard’s official YouTube channel here. Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for the latest news and updates!


Did A Major Game News Site Just Endorsed PS5 Scalping?

It’s tough to get a brand-new PlayStation 5 right now, what with waves of shipment being sold since December 2020. As such, scalpers are making a killing off of selling their PS5s to get more money than the initial retail price point, which is all kinds of scummy.
What I did not expect was a renowned and large video games news and reviews site to give a platform to said retailers who stoop to such methods. That’s what happened on 1st March at 2:29pm when SEA branch of the major video game news site published an interview with an infamous PS5 reseller in the Philippines: Zeebee Manila.
In the interview, Zeebee Manila said it has sold more than 200 PS5 units and are selling it to resellers at a price of P60,000/US$1234 (and has gone down to P43,000/US$884.50 since). That is considered a steal, especially for resellers who want to make a bit of extra exploitation money during the PS5 shortage period (which is still ongoing). As to whether the issues of scalping from resellers is a concern, they had this to say:

“As per resellers, we are no longer concerned about how theyâ€™re going to sell the items. Itâ€™s not our business anymore as to how they sell them and for how much.”

Zeebee Manila said it gave everyone the same price regardless if they’re regular customers or resellers. As to how they got their stock, they said that they just “plain buy and sellers who want to accommodate people who are willing to pay – even at higher than suggested retail price”. Zeebee Manila claims to get its stock from Japan.
Zeebee Manila has also posted a boosted picture on its Facebook page on 25th December of last year, to celebrate the fact that it has PS5 consoles for sale. Anybody can see that this is a post meant to create buzz, even if it’s the negative and anger-inducing kind of buzz.

To quote what it said:

“[B]ad publicity is still good publicity. People know we are legit, overpricing is only their issue. Bashers are not our target market after all.”

Keep in mind that Zeebee Manila has outside businesses, including restaurants, vehicle and motorcycle buy-and-sell shops, and cryptocurrency according to the interview. Add to the fact that it has done this before with Nintendo Switches when it first launched back in 2017, and you can see why they’re notorious.
If we’re being fair, this is just business on Zeebee Manila’s side. They saw an opportunity, they bought up as many PS5s as they can, and sell them to whoever is willing while making little profit. It is, however, ethically wrong since they don’t care how resellers jack up the price as long as they unload its stock and are possibly taking in a loss that can be recuperated from their outside businesses.

And to have a big video game news site of international renown giving Zeebee Manila a platform to talk about its practices and how remorseless they can be? This means that the news site is inadvertently validating scalping enablers and in a sick way, legitimizing the practice of reselling a luxury console for an exorbitant price while it’s at an all-time demand during a point of scarcity.
Of course, if the interview is meant to legitimize Zeebee Manila for the sake of getting the clicks similar to a Mortal Kombat movie piece inquiring about a missing Chun-Li, then congratulations, I guess…
The PS5 is not going onto the hands of gamers via Zeebee Manila; it is instead going to the hands of resellers making a profit from hapless desperate folks who want the console if the many, MANY pictures on the company’s Facebook page featuring guys with more than one PS5 consoles is of any indication.

That’s the keyword here: luxury. The PS5 is not a necessity, as great as it is as a next-gen console. And it sure as heck isn’t worth paying high prices to scalpers for. Nothing is worth humouring a scalper who preys on people’s FOMO behaviour.
In fact, we do wonder if the international peers of the news site actually know about this interview piece. Last we heard, the Southeast Asian branch is running on a paid license and has some level of freedom for its content, so this could have been a huge oversight. Nonetheless, the article is out in public for 6 hours at this point in writing. If a video game site is truly a portal for gamers first and foremost, supporting console scalpers through these kinds of interviews is the last thing it should be doing.


A Gamer’s Guide To Covid-19 Coronavirus

It’s rather sad that the current Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic is affecting the games and entertainment industry and its various trade shows/events. Even with that, we as responsible human beings need to do our part in keeping clean and preventing the spread of this disease in our own manageable way.
Sure, some of us don’t really go outside that often except to get food/snack supplies or even new titles. And even for that, we have delivery systems in place. But even then you need some fresh air and outside interaction, you still need to be wary that there’s an epidemic going on and you may catch it.
Here are some basic tips to survive this current environment, especially if you’re a gamer.
#1. Wash your hands

This one’s pretty important: use some form of alcohol-based sanitization when you’re handling or sharing controllers/smartphones/other game-related devices, particularly if it’s someone else’s.
It’s also pretty important to wash your hands after shaking hands with someone; there’s a chance you can get infected if the same hands you used end up touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
#2. Wear masks, but don’t hoard them

Whenever you can, you should wear protective surgical masks like the ones above (N95) to not only shield yourself from the possibly-tainted air but also to prevent yourself from coughing and possibly spreading something out there.
There’s always going to be a limited supply of masks in most pharmacies around the country thanks to people buying ahead of time and hoarding them. Please don’t do that; buy only what you need for yourself and your family. Think of the other folks who need these masks more than you.
#3. Get your info from the CDC website…

…and other medically-licensed sources you know. In other words, don’t spread misinformation and don’t believe everything you hear.
This should go without saying too: do not get your info from Facebook posts and Twitter. Instead, get them from an official and verified source. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is generally your go-to website for all things disease-related.
Do not take pictures of empty store shelves and post them up online; this may cause unnecessary panic. Don’t share online articles that are obviously meant to induce fear. We know you readers are smart and won’t resort to this sort of thing, but others might.
Some people out there are impressionable and can get panicked easily by just skimming a headline and not reading the rest of these stories. Be that awesome person and tell them to stop that nonsense and be rational.
For those in Malaysia, you can head on over to the official Ministry Of Health Twitter account (see below) for all the verified coronavirus information in the country,

Update on the #COVIDãƒ¼19 current situation in Malaysia,
Mar 6, 2020.
28 new cases were reported in Malaysia, today.
The total number of cases in Malaysia so far is 83 with 23 have been recovered and discharged.
Read official statement MOH Malaysia. ðŸ‘‡ pic.twitter.com/erNYgIKKAo
â€” KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) March 6, 2020
#4. Don’t be racist
The coronavirus isn’t race-related, so don’t use that to justify your potential xenophobic-laden words just because the virus originated from a village in China.
Think about it: it could have happened anywhere else. Don’t be a dick about it. In fact, don’t be racist, like, ever.
#5. Expect your favourite events & gatherings to be postponed/cancelled

Each country is doing its best to contain the virus via quarantines and isolations. Which would lead to your favourite expo or event for the next few months possibly postponed or cancelled.
Event organizers may lose out, but it’s usually better in the long run lest they have one of their events being a centrepoint for a possible coronavirus outbreak.
#6. Don’t make coronavirus YouTube vids for the sake of money…
…because you can’t. YouTube will shut off ads on videos if they even talk about sensitive subjects like the virus. Recent examples have proved that the best of intentions will probably demonetize you.
So if you’re doing it for some side-change, you won’t get jack. But if you want to just for health awareness reasons, then go ahead.
#7. Be considerate while also protecting yourself

Washing in the name of…
On this occasion it's best you do what they tell ya pic.twitter.com/unDdBh1HDh
— Rage Against The Machine ? (@RATM) March 9, 2020

Be mindful of physical contact when in public spaces. Also when it comes to weekly video game gatherings with your pals, wear a mask and bring hand sanitizers just to be on the safe side.
Some public gatherings are giving out free health screenings at the entrance, so be sure not to be a jerk and cut through without proper checks.
And if you feel even a tad bit flu-ish, don’t take the chance and stay home for the day. You may either get infected, or end up infecting others. The plus point to all this? You can resume gaming online, or replay your favourite single-player game from start to finish. Your gaming library and console/PC isn’t infected with the coronavirus, right?


Korean MMORPG Bless Unleashed Is Coming To PC In 2021

If you’ve heard of Bless Online, Bless Unleashed is a reboot of that MMORPG from the same Korean developer Round8 Studio. The free-to-play game is slated to release on PC via Steam sometime in early 2021, after launching on the Xbox One earlier this year in March 2020.

According to the game’s Steam page, players can look forward to the following in Bless Unleashed:

Vast and diverse landscapes teeming with life await you: From the peaceful and beautiful forests of the Ribus Federation to the treacherous Uncharted Regions, immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes.
The more you explore in Bless Unleashed, the more stories you’ll encounter and experience.
With the world still recovering from the disaster caused by the humans, the otherworldly Daimon, dwells for a chance to strike again.
Endure, and persevere through the destructions and massacres committed by the long-time conspirators and defend yourself from their threats with the support of the gods.
Team up with your friends to eliminate threats lurking in perilous dungeons and participate in breathtaking battles with powerful Field Bosses.

Mix and match between five unique classes and four distinct races in the World of Lumios to create a character worthy of receiving the blessings from the gods.
Enhance equipment obtained during your adventures to amplify and unleash your true powers.
Challenge the quests of Bless Unleashed with your friends or form deep bonds with adventurers during your exploration while forging new allies and raise up a mighty guild.
Explore treacherous dungeons or push your skills to its limit against others on the PVP Battlefield.

Here are the system requirements:
MINIMUM

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: 64-bit Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
Processor: intel core i5-4430/ AMD FX-6300
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 960 2GB / AMD Radeon R7 370 2GB
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 50 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

RECOMMENDED

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: 64-bit Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 4GB
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 50 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

In the meantime, check out the trailer below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytkxOG8Qv8c&w=560&h=315]


Apex Legends Rises To Top Of Steam Charts

It’s only been a week since Apex Legends launched on Steam on 4 November 2020, and it’s already one of the most-played games on Valve’s digital platform.
According to statistics provided by Steam Charts, Apex Legends is the fourth most-played game on Steam with a concurrent peak of 116,558 players (at the time of writing).
Respawn Entertainment’s battle royale is only behind three other games; including Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Dota 2, and PUBG. It’s an impressive feat for a game that’s been out on EA Origin since February 2019.
In other recent news, Apex Legends also launched Season 7 alongside its launch on Steam, introducing a new playable Legend named Horizon and more.


Why The Eternals Is Marvel’s Biggest Risk Yet

Last weekend, Marvel Studios finally unveiled its full slate for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Phase Four, which will kick off with Black Widow on 1 May 2020. Of all five movies revealed, The Eternals is arguably the riskiest. Heck, it’s probably the riskiest MCU movie since 2014’s Guardians Of The Galaxy.
Prior to its release, many journalists were predicting Guardians Of The Galaxy to be Marvel’s first flop, considering how obscure the property was even amongst comic book fans. They were ultimately proven wrong when the movie managed to end its run with an impressive US$773.3 million.
The Eternals could be said to be in the same boat as Guardians Of The Galaxy was. Both are based on source material that the general audience has never heard of, and one even comic book readers have little knowledge about. Both of them are cosmic in nature, featuring strange characters out in the depths of space.
However, compared to Guardians Of The Galaxy, The Eternals has a relatively-unknown director attached to the project. ChloÃ© Zhao only has a few indie flicks to her name while GOTG director James Gunn was already making a name with movies like Slither, Super, Scooby-Doo, and Dawn Of The Dead.
Advantage: Star Power
Image Credits: ComicBook.com
An advantage that both movies share is in sheer star power. The Eternals boasts an ensemble cast of veteran A-listers like Angeline Jolie and Salma Hayek, as well as Game Of Thrones star Richard Madden, stand-up comedian Kumail Nanjiani and Train To Busan star Don Lee.
That international mix of actors and actresses will definitely attract both young and old audiences, even if they don’t understand what the heck the movie is about. While a star-studded cast doesn’t guarantee a movie’s success (Universal’s The Mummy in 2017, X-Men: Dark Phoenix in 2019, etc.), it will at least pique the interest of people who don’t care who The Eternals are.
The fact that Marvel Studios is capitalizing on the casting for this movie isn’t strange, but it’s actually the sensible and logical marketing choice for a movie like this. Why would normal audiences care about a Marvel movie with no Avengers or popular superheroes in it?
Disadvantage: Obscure Source Material

In the comics, The Eternals were created by the late legend Jack Kirby in 1976. A race of space gods called the Celestials (who you may have noticed in a flashback in 2014’s GOTG) arrived on Earth millennia ago and experimented on humanity, thereby creating two offshoots: the Eternals (who look like humans) and the Deviants (who look like disfigured monsters).
The Eternals can best be described as what humans would call â€˜godsâ€™, or rather â€˜godsâ€™ in the way that Marvelâ€™s Asgardians are also regarded as â€˜godsâ€™. Some of these Eternals are actually based on and inspired by existing mythologies like Greek and Mesopotamian, so you might recognize several of their names, like Gilgamesh and Thena (based on Athena).
A Celestial (creator of The Eternals) as seen in 2014’s GOTG.
Fun fact: Thanos himself is a member of the Deviants, and his parents and brother were members of the Eternals. That’s probably how they’re connecting the MCU dots in the upcoming movie, by associating Thanos with the story.
In all my years of reading comics, I’ve probably come across The Eternals once or maybe twice. Marvel Comics have essentially ignored the property for decades because the reality is that even the House of Ideas has no clue how to make these race of space gods remotely interesting. They’re essentially a cheap facsimile of DC Comics’ New Gods anyway.
The entire race of Eternals was unceremoniously killed off in the most recent relaunch of the Avengers comics, as Iron Man and Doctor Strange discovered that they have all committed suicide after discovering a horrible secret about their Celestial origins. Marvel Comics’ decision to do this doesn’t exactly instill much confidence in the property’s value in the eyes of fans.
Yep, they’re all dead.
Will The Eternals Be The MCU’s First Real Flop?

The MCU is so ingrained in popular culture that it’s almost impossible to imagine that a Marvel movie can flop or bomb. If even movies like GOTG and Ant-Man can garner huge box office returns (and with the MCU still riding high on Avengers Endgame), The Eternals will likely be another massive hit.
The Eternals movie can work if it’s promoted as a cross between Guardians Of The Galaxy and Thor, which is what the movie will probably turn out to be like if any of their previous cosmic-themed movies are any indication.
General audiences may not be prepared for a high-concept and more cerebral science fiction story set in the MCU, so I don’t think that Marvel Studios will be going that particular route, though they should really start easing them into it with The Eternals. That would pave the way for more cosmic stuff like the Fantastic Four to enter the MCU.
It certainly seems like nothing can currently halt the juggernaut that is Marvel Studios, but a lot can happen in a year’s time. People’s reactions to the first eventual trailer for The Eternals will tell us much about how the movie will perform. Until then, the MCU can do no wrong.
In case you missed it, head on over here for all the highlights of Kakuchopurei’s San Diego Comic-Con 2019 coverage.


Revisit Game Of Thrones Before Season 8 Arrives With The New HBO GoT Pass

The TV series event of the decade is almost upon us, as the release date for Game of Thrones Season 8 looms closer and closer. Some of you may want to refresh yourself on the complex history of the series before the final season, but there’s now an easy way for you to do that.
The HBO Game of Thrones Pass is now available to purchase for all Malaysians, allowing them to watch not only the previous 7 seasons of Game of Thrones but also other HBO Originals like Westworld, True Detective, Silicon Valley, and Sharp Objects. Subscribers also gain access to other non-HBO shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as an entire library of blockbuster movies.
Best of all, all seven seasons of Game of Thrones available on the HBO Game of Thrones Pass are uncensored, which means that all the blood, gore, swearing, and nudity remain intact. No more will you have to suffer from cuts or censorship disrupting your good time.
What’s interesting about the HBO Game of Thrones Pass is that even non-Astro users can subscribe for the special pass. For both Astro and non-Astro users, it comes with a 30 or 60-day option with a starting price of RM26.50.
The HBO Game of Thrones Pass will be available to purchase from now until 31 May 2019. Here’s how:

For Astro users (non-Movies Pack): Via CH 200, online, and Astro GO
For non-Astro users: Via NJOI Now and online

The first episode ofÂ Game of ThronesÂ Season 8 will debut at the same time as the U.S. at 9am on Monday, 15 April 2019, with a same-day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO (Astro Ch 411 / 431 HD), Astro On Demand, Astro GO, and NJOI Now.
In the meantime, check outÂ my breakdown of the latestÂ Game of ThronesÂ Season 8 trailer here, or rewatch it below to tide you over until the new season eventually arrives.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR4PJn8b8I&w=560&h=315]


Genshin Impact Publisher Is Suing Discord To Discover Leaker Identity

Genshin Impact leaks are unfortunately commonplace online and on Discord, which is why the game’s publisher Cognosphere is going after one leaker in particular.
That target is Ubatcha (via TorrentFreak), a renowned leaker who has 465,000 followers on Twitter, a reliable source on Genshin Impact leak subreddits, and also one of the main admins for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Discord server, a renowned spot for Genshin Impact leaks and reveals housing 272,000+ members.
Lawyers representing Cognosphere (as HoYoverse/Mihoyo) have filed a DMCA subpoena demanding that Discord provides the real identity of Ubatcha. They are asking Discord to “disclose the identity, including the name(s), address(es), telephone number(s), and email address(es) of the user Ubatcha#2719, who is responsible for posting infringing content”.
This latest legal action came up after a massive Genshin Impact leak happened, revealing up to nine months of updates planned for the game. While Ubatcha disavowed it publicly, Cognosphere is adamant about getting the user’s real identity via the Discord lawsuit.


1,000-player Battle Royale Game Is Cancelled Due To Developer Bankruptcy

In this age of Fornite and PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds, it’s hard for game companies to not get caught up in the battle royale craze. We’ve seen big titles like Call of Duty and even Fallout adopt a battle royale mode of their own regardless whether or not such a feature fits the setting of the games.
Developer Automaton Games had an idea that could’ve potentially shook up the battle royale scene. They were developing a 1000-player battle royale game titled Mavericks: Proving Grounds. You heard me right, a battle royale game with a thousand players on a single map.

Unfortunately, the game is no longer being developed. As of 30 July 2019, the company went bankrupt. According to PC Gamer, the game received a new patch and began a new alpha testing session just a week ago. That’s pretty sad because it means the developers were still working hard in hopes that the game was going to be eventually released.
At the bottom of Automaton’s website is stated:

“Please be advised that due to insufficient funding, the development of the Mavericks: Proving Grounds game has now ceased. The joint administrators are in the process of licensing the Deceit game so there will be no change in the live operation and provision of this game.”

At this point, there’s very little hope that the game will see the light of day. It definitely would’ve been a game-changer.


The Next Magic: The Gathering Set Features Crime Families, Art Deco, & Noir

Remember that old 2000s RPG Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura that featured fantasy mobster enemies and some art deco influences? The next Magic: The Gathering card game expansion may be drawing inspiration from that and other similar titles.
Wizards of the Coast has announced the new Magic: The Gathering set called Streets of New Capenna, and it’s drawing from tales of gangster, noir, and 40s crime novels and serials. But with magic and demons. The set features five demon crime families fighting over control of a resource called Halo.  They come with their respective assigned mana colours:

Brokers (green, white, blue): demonic lawyers who specialize in erasing memories.
Obscura (black, white, blue): blackmailers, deceivers, and masters of illusions.
Maestros (blue, black, red): old-money gangsters made up of mostly vampires.
Riveteers (black, red, green): made up of construction workers who are tough and gruff; relies on brute force and intimidation.
Cabaretti (red, green, white): cultist druid partiers, high-class center of attention in the city.

New mechanics in the set include:

Casualty, which gives spells and optional additional cost of sacrificing creatures with appropriate power,
Alliance, where players are rewarded with buffs and bonuses for filling up their side of the board with creatures.
Shield counters. If a creature with shield counters take damage or is about to be destroyed, you can instead negate the damage/destroy effect by removing a shield counter. Removal cards like Swords to Ploughshare can bypass Shield Counters though.
Blitz, which  allows players to cast creatures for an alternate cost and give it haste, but they die at the end of that turn.
Connive, which allows players to draw and then discard cards; the nonland cards you discard can power up your creatures with +1/+1 counters.

The set will be spoiled card by card from now until its release on 29th April. The set will be out on MTG Arena on 28 April, with prerelease events happening on 22 April. In the meantime, do check out the cards below.


Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Trailer Shows How Screwed Harley Quinn & Co. Are

Rounding up this morning’s DC Fandome is a first look at Rocksteady’s latest action-adventure project, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League.
The trailer below shows the Suicide Squad hanging around and doing their trade: killing and surviving while helping the government out with dirty jobs. The lineup here consist of Harley Quinn (with baseball bat & grappling hook), Captain Boomerang, Deadshot (now with a jetpack), and King Shark (who brandishes a minigun and machetes).

And true to the title, the Suicide Squad are tasked by big boss Amanda Waller to kill the Justice League. Why? Because they’re probably brainwashed by Brainiac from the looks of the trailer (played to the tune of Outkast’s “B.O.B”), which also showed Superman killing a guy and staring down at the Suicide Squad. That’s probably not going to end well.

The game boasts four different playstyles, from the gunplay to the melee action that made the Batman Arkham series popular. The setting will be in Metropolis, tattered and broken down thanks to Brainiac. There’s no gameplay so far, but the trailer seems to channel a lot of teamwork stuff and single-player open-world gameplay.
And yes, this Suicide tale will take place in the same universe as the Batman: Arkham series. Some quotes from Rocksteady creative director Sefton Hill:

“Suicide Squad is a unique new franchise for gaming and we’ve been able to put our own spin on it and create something special. When you’re creating a game you’re creating a universe and you want to build it with real heart and soul inside it.”

The game will be out 2022 for PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5.


Marvel’s Loki Season 2 & Echo TV Series Get Release Dates, Coming to Disney+ Later This Year

In a surprise move, Marvel Studios has announced the release dates for both Loki Season 2 and Echo Season 1. They are both coming to Disney+ Hotstar later this year.
All episodes of Echo Season 1 will premiere on Disney+ on 29 November 2023, which marks a first for any Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series. Previous series have all premiered new episodes on a weekly basis.
The series centres around Maya Lopez, a deaf Native American superhero who has the talent to imitate any opponent’s fighting style. Alaqua Cox is playing Maya and was introduced during Hawkeye Season 1. Maya, in the comics, has also run in the circles of Daredevil, Moon Knight and the Avengers. It also stars Zahn McClarnon, Vincent D’Onofrio, Charlie Cox, Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Cody Lightning and Graham Greene.
Meanwhile, Loki Season 2 will premiere on Disney+ on 6 October 2023. However, this will follow the conventional weekly model.
However, the next MCU series will still be Marvel’s Secret Invasion, which premieres on Disney+ Hotstar on 21 June 2023.
Speaking at Disney Upfront, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said (about Echo):
“In Hawkeye, fans were first introduced to Maya Lopez, a character played by Alaqua Cox. She will return to get her revenge in Echo, a limited drama from an incredible team of indigenous writers, directors and cast members. And in a first for us all episodes will drop on November 29.”
In the meantime, check out the Secret Invasion featurette below:


Call Of Duty Mobile Steel Legion Pass Starts Today With New Characters & Weapons

The Steel Legion Pass has arrived in Call of Duty: Mobile, bringing new game modes, a new map, and rewards, as well as two epic Call of Duty characters; David Mason, the protagonist of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2, and Reaper, an experimental war robot with sophisticated combat skills.
Battle Pass

In Steel Legion, players can earn a new functional weapon; the GKS. Originally in Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4, the GKS is an SMG that leans towards assault rifle metrics, offering reliable damage and above-average range.
At Tier 25, players can earn a new Killstreak; the Shock RC. This remote-controlled car will shock and stun enemies on contact, so they can finish them off. Players can earn the RC Shock by getting 350 points in a match, once it is selected as one of your Killstreaks.

In addition, players can also earn Weapon XP cards, camos for various gear and equipment, and in-game Credits, as well as look forward to a new map called Meltdown.
Reaper & David Mason

Robotic operator Reaper kicks off the Premium Pass at Tier 1, while classic character David Mason can be found at Tier 12 in the Steel Legion Premium Pass.
Players can also look forward to Steel Legion â€˜Magmacombâ€™ weapons, which come with fiery red embers that signal how devastatingly powerful they are. They can be found throughout the Premium Pass at Tier 1 for the M4, Tier 20 for the M21 EBR, and Tier 30 for the AK-117.
2v2 Showdown

Call of Duty: Mobile ushers in a new limited-time mode with 2v2 Showdown. A squad of two players face off against another duo in single-elimination matches. They will be given loadouts at random that will change every two matches. To win a game, they must win six matches.
If a squad doesn’t manage to eliminate two enemy players within the time limit (or the match goes into â€˜overtimeâ€™), a flag will spawn, usually in the middle of the map. They can then win by either taking down the enemy or capturing the flag. If the flag isnâ€™t captured nor the enemy defeated, the team with the most health wins.
To make things more interesting, there is no health regeneration in 2v2 Showdown.
20v20 Battle Royale Warfare Mode

The 20v20 Battle Royale mode, Warfare, returns as a limited-time mode in Call Of Duty: Mobile. However, now players can experience the mode in a first-person perspective to give you even greater vision to scope out and take down your foes.
In addition, two new weapons can now be found in Battle Royale; the HS2126 shotgun and the UL736 LMG.
Man-O-War And Ranked Mode

A new Season also means new Seasonal Ranks and rewards in Ranked Mode. Available in both Multiplayer and Battle Royale, Ranked Mode features tiered rewards that players can earn as they advance up the ranks.
Players can earn the Man-O-War in Multiplayer Ranked Mode and the Epic soldier, Ruin, in Battle Royale Ranked Mode.
The Man-O-War is a high damage assault rifle with a slower rate of fire with a lot of versatility and adaptability for various combat situations., which can be earned once players reach Rank Master 1 in Multiplayer Ranked Mode.
In the meantime, check out the new trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC7aQwqQlEk&w=560&h=315]


Game of Thrones Spoiler Talk With BuzzPOP! Season 8, Episode 1

Date with dragons, white walker art piece, and staredowns oh my!
Kenn, BuzzPOP’s Nik, and Mr Toffee talk about the premiere episode of the final season, spoilers and all.

We also added in a few “memes” to keep the mood light.


Like A Dragon: Ishin – How To Earn Money Quick

In any Yakuza/Like A Dragon game from Sega, money makes the world go round, even in the 1860s era of Japan.
Like A Dragon: Ishin features a ton of items you would want to purchase, like weapons and upgrades to said weapons. You can also buy better soldiers for your squad who provide better passive skills, not to mention other expenses like your villa.
How To Earn Money In Like A Dragon: Ishin
The most dependable way to earn money in Like A Dragon: Ishin is to plant a garden at a villa and improve it as early in the game as possible. This is essential if you plan on just beelining through the main campaign.

You get your garden after acquiring Royma’s Villa in the main story, which is only a small patch of soil. You can expand its size using Virtue and increase the vegetable variety for planting and growing.
Getting a Superior Scarecrow is also paramount so that you don’t lose crops so much while you’re out questing. You can earn Virtue by regularly harvesting crops and using them to cook food in your villa.
If you have a steady amount of crops and vegetables, you can take on customer orders (activated by using the desk in your villa). You field orders for basic vegetables, but you’ll eventually produce and sell superior crops if you keep this up. Superior crops yield more mon. This system is similar like Rune Factory and Harvestella, but in the Like A Dragon universe.
If you fulfil certain orders, you get rewards that can boost your farm like Fertilizer. Fertilizer is important to your farm as you can grow crops quicker; you can manually get them for 500 mon from the Manure Merchant in the edges of the main street through Rakunai.
More Money-Earning Methods In Like A Dragon: Ishin

You can also gain mon by defeating enemies and random battles in the city, and also sell items enemies drop. Sometimes they drop plates that you can sell for good amounts of mon.
If you have a lot of Virtue, you can persuade the Shinto Priest in Northwest Rakunai’s shrine to offer up his Platinum Plate.


Call Of Duty Mobile Garena Masters II Returns This Month

Call Of Duty Mobile (CODM) Garena Masters II is back with a bang. Titled Garena Masters II – Redemption, the challengers are back for another shot at glory and prove that they have what it takes to stand at the pinnacle of Call Of Duty Mobile esports.
The qualifiers, which took place last weekend on 30 April and 1 May, saw 9 teams from The Philippines and 3 teams from Singapore and Malaysia joining the top 4 finalists from the CODM Garena Masters – Blacklist Ultimate, ALMGHTY, Mamba Lowkings, and Smart Omega – in the running for the championship title.
Starting 6 May 2022, the 16 teams will compete in the region’s largest CODM tournament for a part of the US$25,000 prize pool and the championship title. Teams will face off in new battlegrounds, including Hacienda and Slums, with the exclusion of Crossfire and Hackney Yard.

Teams participating in the Group Stage:

 Blacklist Ultimate (PH)
 Mamba Lowkings (PH)
 Smart Omega (PH)
 C8 Stealth (PH)
 C8 Jeux (PH)
 VI T2P (PH)
 LF Organization (PH)
 Tyrant Esports (PH)
 C8 United (PH)
 Mamba Corinthians (PH)
 C8 Legacy (PH)
 Warlord Esports Destra (PH)
 Huntsmen (MY)
 NV Doctors (MY)
 ALMGHTY (SG)
 Gaijin Rogue (SG)

Schedule (GMT+8):

 Group Stage: 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, and 22 May, 5PM – 11PM
 Playoffs: 28 and 29 May, 3PM – 11PM

Format:

 Group Stage: Best-of-3 Double Round-Robin (Map Wins)
 Playoffs: Best-of-5 Double Elimination

Beyond the amazing live action, fans and players can also stand to win attractive in-game items  and rewards while watching the matches. The Call Of Duty Mobile Garena Masters will be broadcast on the following channels:

Facebook (Esports): https://facebook.com/GarenaCODMEsports
Facebook (SG/MY): https://facebook.com/codm
Facebook (PH): https://www.facebook.com/garenacodmPH
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/garenacallofdutymobile
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/codmgarenaesports

Under a searing desert sun, competing factions in Call Of Duty Mobile  – Garena race to claim a fallen spy satellite, while contending with the real enemy, Mother  Nature.
Call Of Duty Mobile – Garena is thrilled to bring yet another immersive gameplay experience for players with the latest season – Wild Dogs! Set in the theme of ancient Egypt, Wild Dogs will  transport players back in time filled with arid plains on the horizon.
This season will see further enhancements to the Call Of Duty Mobile multiplayer experience with the addition of new maps such as the ‘Satellite’ and ‘Khandor Hideout’. Players can also get  their hands on the new weapons including ‘Koshka’ and ‘Gamon Grenade’ for free!
The newly-added Ground War mode across both multiplayer and battle royale – featuring a 12v12  gameplay with bigger maps and multiple control points – is bound to bring players a thrilling new  experience in Wild Dogs. Sandstorms are also set to arrive in the battle royale mode in Season 4, where players have to brave through the storm as they comb the map for treasures.
Along with the new content, players can unlock the Premium Battle Pass this season to enjoy  premium items such as epic characters, new operators and new weapons! New items such as the slow fire bolt action sniper rifle, Koshka, will be released this season.
The thrilling new Tournament Mode has officially launched in Season 4! The new mode will run for two seasons, granting players more time to battle and earn themselves more amazing rewards, such as the limited-edition Red Sprite collector Epic camouflages and many more!
Further in-game enhancements and optimizations await players in S4: Wild Dogs. Beyond new game optimizations that will ensure smoother performance across modes, weapons, and more, players can also look forward to immersing themselves in a whole new gaming experience decked in the latest Wild Dogs-themed ensemble!.


SEA Games 2019 Esports Live Update: Day 6 Results

It’s the last day of the SEA Games 2019 Esports event, with only Tekken 7 left. At this point of typing, StarCraft 2 is done and over with.
Let’s see who came out on top today:
StarCraft 2

The Philippines vs Singapore (4-1)

Tekken 7

The Philippines vs Thailand (2-3)

Heartiest congratulations to The Philippines’ EnDerr for winning the gold medal for StarCraft 2. Singapore’s Blysk won silver while Vietnam’s MeomaikA won the bronze.

Congratulations as well to Thailand’s Book for winning the gold medal in Tekken 7; The Philippines’ AK brought home the silver medal.
Here is the current medal tally:
Gold
The Philippines (3), Thailand (2), Malaysia (1)
Silver
Thailand (2), Indonesia (2), Singapore (1)
Bronze
Malaysia (1), Singapore (1), Vietnam (3), Philippines (1)
Watch the live stream below (via Razer).

Top image credit: Joebert Yu


Japan Ranks Its Favourite Final Fantasy Games For 2022

Ever wonder what the best Final Fantasy games are in existence? Ask that question and you’re bound to start a fight online and offline. Japan recently voiced out its favourite Final Fantasy games, and you won’t be shocked at the results.
Yahoo! Japan held a poll asking the nation’s favourite Final Fantasy game from a pool of 28,000+ applicants (via @aitaikimochi). Here it is; try not to act too shocked.

Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy XI
Final Fantasy III

The most important Final Fantasy came out on top, with the best Final Fantasy game at second place because these kinds of ranking lists are popularity contests to an extent. Still, second place is better than nothing; Final Fantasy XIII and XII are nowhere in sight in the top 10.
Final Fantasy X has its slew of great characters and story, as well as the hella expansive Sphere Grid levelling system and the way it showcased the power of the PS2 back in the day. As such, being in a top three on such a list is no slouch since part X is very influential and is considered a great entry point into the FF series.
The Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster is out now for PC, iOS, and Android; you should go check that out since that’s clearly the best game of the lot. For the correct ranking of Final Fantasy games from actual experts in the JRPG field, head here.Â


Marvel’s What If…? Crew Discusses Key Elements In Character Designs

The fourth episode of Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? features fan-favourite characters, including Peggy Carter, Tâ€™Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer and Brad Winderbaum as an executive producer, explores hypothetical stories in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It focuses on non-canonical stories like what happens if Peggy Carter became Captain Britain and if Tâ€™Challa/Black Panther was abducted by the Ravagers instead of Peter Quill/Star-Lord.
You can check out my previous breakdown of Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Episode 1 here, Episode 2 here, Episode 3 here. and Episode 4 here.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, we were also recently lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in a roundtable interview with Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Executive Producer Brad Winderbaum, Head Writer AC Bradley, and Director Bryan Andrews. You can check out that interview by heading over here.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, we were lucky enough to participate in a roundtable interview with Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Editors Graham Fisher and Joel Fisher, Animation Supervisor Stephan Franck, and Head of Visual Development and Character Design Ryan Meinerding. This interview has been edited for clarity.
What was it like to work together again with AC Bradley on Marvel’s What If…? after working with her on Trollhunters and 3Below: Tales Of Arcadia?
Graham Fisher: It was pure pleasure. She is a brilliant writer that brings a lot of heart to her scripts. So my favourite episodes on Trollhunters, which is of course the Guillermo Del Toro show. Some of her episodes were my favourites and it wasn’t her episode entirely; it was her scene, some of my favourite moments.
So, when she called and said, “I’m over at this thing for Marvel and they love what I did on those (Trollhunters, etc.). So you know, we were all excited to work together again.
Marvel’s What If…? is your first MCU project. What’s different about the experience of working on something like the MCU compared to your past projects?
Joel Fisher: That’s a great question. Past projects aside, basically what I would say about Marvel Studios is that it’s filled with incredibly kind, compassionate and intelligent people and storytellers. It’s pretty phenomenal having this immense back catalogue of stories that have been, you know, some of the biggest films of all time.
Is there a giant ego behind it all? No, there isn’t. There are just these beautiful, kind people. They’re just enjoying what they do and trying to serve the fans. It’s been an immense privilege working with them in that way, but also an incredible learning experience.
(Center L-R): Bucky Barnes, Captain Carter/Peggy Carter, Dum Dum Dugan and the Howling Commandos in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IFâ€¦? exclusively on Disney+. Â©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Were there any episodes or ideas you had to scrap for whatever reasons?
Graham Fisher: There are so many more ideas. The ideas are limitless. The writers, in conjunction with the studio and our director and executive producer Bryan Andrews, and of course, Brad Winderbaum, all pitched a list of ideas to Kevin Feige and he would basically cherry-pick which stories to tell, for now.
Joel Fisher: But even beyond that, beyond the story side, it’s also interesting how Bryan Andrews, our director, has boarded up the biggest and best Marvel movies and their scenes. See, he has this grab bag. Not only is there this immense set of stories, he also has all these incredible action setpieces that either didn’t make it to one movie or another or that he’s boarded and thought about.
And he’s like, “Ooo, there’s this thing, this incredible thing that this person does to this thing!”. And you go through his grab bag of ideas and you go like, that’s amazing, that’s amazing, I can’t believe, where did that come from. So, yeah, there’s the story grab bag of potential but there’s also all the incredible action that we can continue building on as well in the future.
Stephan Franck: There was nothing that we couldn’t do or any sort of weird rules or anything like that. You know, there’s only so many episodes in a season and there’s a lot of ideas, so there are other ideas that I can’t talk about because maybe we’ll use them later. But you know, so far the idea is really to revisit some crucial and integral moments of the MCU, of those movies and find those forks in the road that would lead to a different direction, a different choice being made, a different happenstance. It would mean something deep for our understanding of this character and how they understand themselves.
Do you have any favourite episodes from the first season of Marvel’s What If…? that you enjoyed the most, and can you tell us why without spoilers?
Joel Fisher: I think this week’s (Marvel’s What If…? Episode 4 featuring Doctor Strange Supreme) is one of them for me, personally. But there’s also a pretty funny one coming up later in the season that I really, really enjoyed working on. They’re all great, that’s the thing, for whatever mood you’re in.
Graham Fisher: Episode 2 is probably one of my favourites. It just started off with so many great ideas, it’s such a funny episode but also so heartfelt. I think it’s also got that fun sort of heist genre going on too. That, I had a lot of fun working on. But there are a lot more flavours coming your way. It’s gonna be great!
Stephan Franck: I love them all because they’re all great at finding their own way. They’re like my children, I love all my children, you know. I’m interested in seeing which one you will like most because I know those things, I’m so close to all of them. Seeing which one resonated the most with people when the season is over will be a great treat for us.
Tâ€™Challa/Star-Lord in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IFâ€¦? exclusively on Disney+. Â©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
How did you decide on the unique 2.5D animation style of What If in the first place?
Stephan Franck: We went for a look that would pull together the comic book influences that are in the DNA of these stories and our massive love of movie and cinema filmmaking, and to try and bring this together and elevate this for animation that’s not seen before, so that’s why wen went to this style of classic illustration like J. C. Leyendecker and all that stuff, which brings a taste of sophistication into the mix that we thought was kind of wonderful, new and exciting.
Would you ever go for perhaps a different animation style for special episodes in the future?
Stephan Franck: I don’t want to spoil anything, but I think what we’re trying to do is to tell the story in the most powerful way possible and the most affecting way possible. That’s the beauty of Marvel’s What If…?, there’s no sense of “this is allowed, this is not allowed”. We’re just trying to explore these characters in ways you’ve never seen before and present their world in ways you’ve never seen before. We’ll do whatever it takes.
What can you tell us about the advantages of animation over live-action?
Stephan Franck: I think it’s a different point of view. There are beautiful photo portraits of people, there are beautiful painting portraits of people, they’re all valid and they’re all see-through. I think art is seeing past the literal and getting to the truth of something. Every medium is its own kind of poetry and sees the truth in a different way. I think that is the beauty of all this stuff.
Animation will bring out certain emotions in ways that I couldn’t even verbalise what they are. Again, it’s just like a painted portrait, there are great photographers and there are great painters. Both of them see different things and say different things about the world. It’s all about points of view on the world and seeing how it’s all different, as well as seeing how it’s all the same.
(Center): Queen General Ramonda in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IFâ€¦? exclusively on Disney+. Â©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
What went into the process of designing each of these characters, like Captain Carter and Doctor Strange Supreme, since they’re not based on anything from the comics?
Ryan Meinerding: Essentially, we have an embarrassment of riches in the MCU. Looking at the MCU, we have a lot of cool stuff to base our design direction and design themes on. Essentially, we were looking at the MCU quite a bit. That first episode with Captain America And The First Avenger, starting with Peggy has been such an amazing character and finding ways to turn her into a hero.
Essentially, we’re dealing with variations and versions of some of the design themes that we worked into the Captain America costumes. Realistically, we’re just trying to find a look that makes her feel as powerful of a character as she really is.
Specifically, with Doctor Strange, it’s one of the fun parts of this show. The main timeline of the MCU that everyone knows and how Doctor Strange looks in the live-action films is a really strong starting point. And because that sort of What If…? scenario takes us on a very specific route, having that sort of version to start with and a place we know we’re going to go with him being evil means that we have some really fun things to bounce off of.
That type of design direction from a person who works in film and who works in creating characters and designs for storytelling means that I have so many great; those are the type of things that feel decisive and that I can really sink my teeth into.
To say, If I’m going to do 10 different versions of an evil Strange, what is he going to look like? How can I make them different and how can I show them and get notes from the director and say, you know, this is one I’m excited about. What do you guys think and help them pick one that’s the one that they go with.
To say, very succinctly, it’s an embarrassment of riches to start with the MCU as a design starting point and then, to create What If…? scenarios just goes down very compelling roads that you can base so many great ideas on.
Have doing designs for What If…? changed how you design future characters in the MCU moving forward?
Ryan Meinerding: One of the fun components of doing animation design is designing the whole character. You design the face, you design the head, the body proportions. I had a lot of fun doing that for some of the digital characters we do for the live-action films, like Thanos and the Hulk.
Hulk/Bruce Banner in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IFâ€¦? exclusively on Disney+. Â©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
In terms of taking anything forward (from animation), I’d like to think so. I’d like to think that the idea of being able to work on design silhouettes and being really iconic with the shapes we’re going for means that I can try and bring some of that into the live-action world.
Realistically, a lot of the same way that I look at the live-action stuff is the same way that we looked at the What If…? stuff. It may not change that much, but I think I have a more broad understanding of character and a more broad understanding of the possibilities where we can go with the animated things.
But also, I think the thing for me to take forward is really maybe the same thing that the audience would be able to take forward, is seeing these characters in a different light and going through different paths enriches your understanding of each character a little bit more so that the next time we get to work on Doctor Strange or the next time we get to work on any of the characters, that you really have a better understanding of who they really are and how to represent them visually.

In the meantime, you can also check out our spoiler-free review of the first three episodes of Marvel’s What If…? here. New episodes of Marvel’s What If…? premiere every Wednesday at 3 pm GMT+8 on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia.