198X Trailer Oozes Of Arcadey Nostalgia, Gets A Release Date

Hi-Bit Studios’ arcade mashup 198XÂ gets a release date and the trailer fires up all the arcade nostalgia stashed away in your inner ’80s gamer kid.
Check out the trailer below and prepare yourself to be hit with waves of nostalgia.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avbkptw6mSM]
Described as an ‘over-the-top arcade action meets coming-of-age drama’, the game features a bundle of ’80s-inspired games.
The game takes place in Suburbia, just by the city, in the 1980s. The game follows the story of ‘Kid’, an angsty teen stuck in the realm of growth between the teenager days and adulthood. The story kicks off when Kid finds an arcade where he finds new worlds and new meaning in video games. Every time Kid visits the arcade and plays a new game, he grows stronger, but also the line between reality and game begins to blur.
Hi-Bit Studio points out that, “198X is an arcade epic. A coming-of-age story told through multiple games and genres, worlds and characters. Experience the thrill of shooting, driving, jumping, fighting and role-playing â€“ combined with emotional, cinematic storytelling.”

“This is a love letter to the golden age of arcade games â€“ yet with a scope that was never possible in the actual 1980s.”

198XÂ is built upon five different arcade games that allow you to play a beat em’ up, a shoot em’ up, an RPG, a ninja game, and a racing game, within the game. The fully playable games are inspired by classic themes feature multiple stages, settings and mechanics that will invoke memories back to the golden age of arcade gaming.

198X will be available on the PlayStation 4 and PC on 20 June, while versions for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One will be coming soon. No pricing was announced, so we’ll be keeping tabs on that one too.


These Overwatch 2 PvE Skills Would Break PvP If They Were Included In The Latter

Blizzard finally announced Overwatch 2 earlier today, and we already know several details about the upcoming game, including the fact that it will introduce new progression system mechanics in the brand new PvE modes. These include a levelling system and new unique talents (skills/abilities) to unlock.
Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan has clarified in the post-announcement Overwatch: What’s Next stream that these new progression system mechanics will not be available in the game’s multiplayer PvP modes.
He also explained that the progression system mechanics shown so far in the trailers are anything but final, as the game is still in development, which means that they could very well change into something much different by the time the game eventually launches.
The reasoning behind that decision to omit the new progression system mechanics from the PvP modes is simple. Introducing levels and new talents into the mix would destroy the delicate line that’s required to maintain a fair and balanced multiplayer for everyone.
For example, let’s look at the list of talents that Tracer has access to and will unlock as she levels up. Each skill makes her considerably more powerful, which is the goal of the progression system in the first place (according to Kaplan).

It wouldn’t be fair if your Tracer is more powerful or has different abilities than the opposing team’s Tracer. This situation would throw any kind of established meta out the window, to the point of making any kind of meta impossible to achieve. The very concept of the meta would be meaningless if a progression system comes into play.
For instance, the Adaptive Reload talent automatically grants your Tracer a full clip every time you use any ability. By taking advantage of this talent, it essentially means that you’d never run out of ammo, making your Tracer ridiculously OP from the get-go.
Now, look at the Chain Reaction talent in action, killing a group of enemies in an instant.

Imagine the same thing happening in multiplayer PvP and you can see how talentsÂ would work all well and good in PvE modes where the enemies are just bots, but the same thing would break the game when applied in multiplayer PvP.
Hanzo has a similar talent to Tracer’s Chain Reaction called Sojiro’s Guidance. It allows any arrow that hits an enemy detected by Sonic Arrow will seek and pierce all other detected enemies. You can check out Hanzo’s Sojiro’s Guidance talent, and a few more noteworthy ones from the rest of the cast, in action below.

It’s ultimately a good thing that the new progression system mechanics will be limited to the PvE modes, and won’t be applied to the multiplayer PvP modes.
Overwatch 2 is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. However, no release window or date has been revealed, other than Kaplan repeatedly stating that development “is a long ways to go”.


Valve Reveals Dota 2 The International 2019 Dates

Valve has revealed the official dates for the upcoming Dota 2 The International 2019. TI9 will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China from 20 to 25 August 2019. This marks the first time in nine years of The International tournament that it is set to take place in Asia instead of somewhere in the US or Europe.
The Dota 2 official Twitter account announced the news earlier today when it also revealed that the tickets for The International 2019 will probably go on sale in the next few weeks or so.

The International 2019 will be taking place on August 20th through the 25th. We are still finalizing details that are required before tickets can go on sale, but we expect to be able to do that in a couple of weeks.
â€” DOTA 2 (@DOTA2) April 25, 2019
Only four teams have confirmed their place in the Dota 2 The International 2019, and that includes:

Virtus.pro
Team Secret
Vici Gaming
Evil Geniuses

There are still four Dota Pro Circuits remaining to confirm the other 12 Dota 2 teams who will participate in the upcoming tournament.

Dota PIT Minor 2019
22 to 28 April 2019
Split, Croatia
Prize pool: $300,000
Mars Dota 2 League DisneylandÂ® Paris Major
4 to 12 May 2019
Paris, France
Prize pool: $1,000,000
StarLadder Ukraine Minor
10 to 16 June 2019
Prize pool: $300,000
TBD, Ukraine
EPICENTER Major 2019
22 to 30 June 2019
Moscow, Russia
Prize pool: $1,000,000

Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for when the tickets for one of the world’s biggest sporting events finally go on sale in the coming weeks.


A New Crash Bandicoot Game Leaks, But It’s Not What You Think

It looks like a new Crash Bandicoot game is in the works, but it’s not the reboot or sequel we’ve always wanted. It’s an endless runner mobile game by developer King, best known for making the worldwide mobile sensation, Candy Crush.
As reported byÂ Eurogamer,Â @JumpButtonCBÂ andÂ @MotweraÂ on Twitter uncoveredÂ a listing (that has since been removed, at the time of writing), for a new Crash Bandicoot mobile title that comes with the taglines “Run, Jump and Slide” and “Build & Grow Your Base.”
It’s essentially Temple Run or Subway Surfers, but with the Crash Bandicoot franchise slapped on it.

CRASH BANDICOOT MOBILE GAME REVEALED
investigation by myself and @Motwera
This game can be signed up for NOW it seems.
The way the link was found was by searching the name on FB after previously being a fan of the FB page tied to the Brazilian ads.https://t.co/98Qq3jkJCZ pic.twitter.com/AE6bPek4rq
â€” JumpButton (@jumpbuttoncb) February 7, 2020

A description of the new Crash Bandicoot mobile game was available on Storemaven, an app store testing company, but have since been removed at the time of writing. We have a screenshot of it (thanks to Kotaku).

This new Crash Bandicoot mobile game might be one of the “remastered” and “reimagined” titles Activision promised for 2020, or maybe it’s the rumoured Crash Bandicoot game that was leaked last year. An endless runner would make sense for the insane marsupial, as that’s basically most of what he does in his iconic games.


BioShock 4 Job Listings Hint At Open World & RPG Sidequests

We previously reported back near the end of 2019 that 2K Games’ Cloud Chamber is actively working on a new BioShock game. However, we also said that the game would be at least several years away and no new information has come to light, until now.
Recently, the developer has listed several new job positions on its official website. The job descriptions seem to confirm at least two new details about the mysterious new BioShock game; it will be open world, as well as feature both primary and secondary RPG-like sidequests.
For instance, the description for the Senior Writer role states:
“Weâ€™re hoping to find someone who can weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open-world setting.
Brainstorm primary and secondary mission content with design.
Another job listing mentions that having experience developing games in Unreal Engine 4 experience is considered “strongly desired”. Interestingly, the AI Programmer role states that candidates will have to “collaborate with Design to create a vision for a meaningful AI urban crowd system” which means that this open-world will probably be heavily populated in a city setting.

The most recent game in the franchise was 2013â€™sÂ BioShock Infinite, which received a mixed reception due to its unfocused multiple-ending narratives and less-than-satisfying gunplay compared to its predecessors. Maybe we’ll learn more at the upcoming E3 2021, where Take-Two Interactive is confirmed to participate.


Infinity Ward Is Making The Next Call Of Duty Title

The Call Of Duty franchise is still an annual one, and the next title, the currently-untitled Call Of Duty 2022, will be helmed by Infinity Ward. The last title developed by them was 2019’s Call Of Duty Modern Warfare. This is normal, as Activision Blizzard rotates between three developers for each Call Of Duty game, which includes Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games as well.
The official Twitter account for Infinity Ward confirmed the news.

A new generation of Call of Duty is coming soon.
Stay frosty.
— Infinity Ward (@InfinityWard) February 3, 2022

However, no other details or information have been revealed. Call Of Duty 2022 will be the first in the franchise to be released after Microsoft announced that they have acquired Activision Blizzard just last month. This new title will likely still be multiplatform since they remain contractually obligated to do so by PlayStation for at least the next three games.


Capcom Pro Tour 2021 Asia South East’s Winner Is One Of Singapore’s Finest

The past weekend’s major Street Fighter 5 tournament boasts a lot of high-level Southeast Asia play, with some of Singapore and Malaysia’s finest contesting for the coveted spot to represent their nation(s) in the next Capcom Pro Tour.
The tournament featured notable players like Malaysia’s IAmChuan, Singapore’s Xian, and a good number of others. However, after the long bouts and close finishes, an unlikely winner has emerged: Singapore’s Oswald.
While Oswald has been in the Singapore fighting game scene and community for as long as Street Fighter IV has been around (or arguably longer), he has been in the “always the bridesmaid but never the bride” type of situation tournament-wise. Most of the time, it’s either Xian, Brandon, Bravery, or SKZ taking the top spot in major Asia tournaments. Today, his hard work and training have paid off as his triple threat selection of Balrog, Laura, and Poison (for those pesky Akuma matchups) has earned him a major win in his fighting game career.

Congrats to @OswaldAce for qualifying to Capcom Cup! This man has been a hidden gem with so many chars , great comeback from the reset ?? #CPT2021 pic.twitter.com/RUtpaEYelZ
— R?Z?R Xian (@XianMSG) November 7, 2021

Oswald has secured 1st place in the Capcom Pro Tour Southeast Asia tournament, beating renowned top player IAmChuan in a long reset bout. While IAmChuan’s Guile was in top form, Oswald stuck with his Balrog pick and made a few surprise comebacks and well-timed guesses to secure the win. It was definitely a close match; both players should be proud for fighting their hearts out.

Check out the top 8 tournament placement and matches below.
1. Oswald (Balrog, Laura, Poison)
2. Chuan (Guile)
3. SIN|Brandon (Akuma)
4. RSG|Bravery (Cammy, Sagat)
5. Vita (Vega, Balrog)
5. RZR|Xian (Seth)
7. uP|KiteOrca (E. Honda)
7. TGU|MindRPG (M. Bison)

Timestamps:
01:27:13 – Vita (Claw) vs KiteOrca (E. Honda)
 01:40:25 – MindRPG (Dictator) vs Bravery (Cammy)
 02:05:13 – Losers quarter-final 1
 02:17:19 – Losers quarter-final 2
 02:40:36 – Winners finals
 02:56:26 – Losers semi-finals
 03:18:25 – Losers finals
 03:30:59Â  -Grand Final


Final Fantasy VII Remake Save Editor Lets You Play As Red XIII

Good news, Final Fantasy VII Remake fans! You can play as guest character Red XIII, who appears late in the game as a guest character.
The bad news? Well, it’s not official and you’ll need some technical save modding knowhow. After all, Square Enix’s devs said that Red XIII’s inclusion is done late in the game, thus the guest status.
Still, if you’re curious as to how it would work, a fan named Xeeynamo did some “hacking” via an updated version of a Kingdom Hearts III Save Editor he did a while back. You can check it out for yourself below:

Because of his guest status, he cannot have his equipment changed and he only has regular attacks; thus, no skills, Materia, or Limit Breaks. Still, it’s a pretty cool precursor for things to come. Of course Final Fantasy VII Remake is going to have a sequel featuring playable versions of the lab rat doge, Yuffie, Cid Highwind, Vincent Valentine, and Cait Sith. It’s only a matter of time.


Deus Ex-Inspired Peripeteia Is Coming To Consoles

Amid a successful Kickstarter,Â independent developer Ninth ExodusÂ has announced a partnershipÂ with indie publisher Top Hat Studios, Inc.Â forÂ bringingÂ Peripeteia, a homage to games such asÂ System ShockÂ andÂ Deus Ex,Â to all major consoles.Â The game willÂ release on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch through Top Hat Studios, Inc., who will publish the console versions of the game.
PeripeteiaÂ is a new intellectual property created, designed, and wholly-owned by newcomers Ninth Exodus. Harkening back to the classic days of Ion Storm and Looking Glass Studios, the game is anÂ immersive simulation, action-stealth, Post-Sovietpunk RPG.
In the cold, dystopian post-soviet Polish Solidarity Republic, you step into the cybernetic shoes of â€œMarieâ€; a trained assassin, cyberized supersoldier, and now military surplus. Dumped onto the streets within a formerly closed city â€”a hollowed carcass of a now-dead and obsoleteÂ area of the Soviet Unionâ€” Marie finds herself among the myriad of mercenaries and teched-out former soldiers fighting for global powers circling like vultures overhead.
A Kickstarter campaign for the game is currently running, and those who are inclined to change the fate of the world in a dystopian, Slavic post-soviet hellhole,Â can reserve keys for the console platform of their choiceÂ through it. A stretch goal to receive a soundtrack from Ed Harrison of Neotokyo andÂ Deus ExÂ game is also available.
Controlling Marie, seeing through her eyesÂ immersed in this simulation, you will live an entire lifetime of experiences compounded into a single save file.Â Unlocking the hidden technology the old Union left behind, and the dark weapons of last resort they stood to unleash, is the goal of all who step foot in this cursed tomb. Decide to support your fellow Poles, who are burning through everything to ensure the survival of their new Solidarity Republic; betray those of your own blood to ensure the rise of the mysterious Second Union; or entertain the whispers of distant powers, who say nothing to you except tales of killings and unimaginable wealth. You will choose the fate of this world.
KEY FEATURES

Visceral ShootoutsÂ -Â PeripeteiaÂ abandons the notion that an ambitious game should compromise in clunky combat. Aim an arsenal of experimental Eastern weaponry down the sights and pull the trigger. Watch as bits of steel brains blast. A fine kill, agent!
Massive levelsÂ – Become lost in a myriad of crumbling brutalÂ dreamscapes. The concrete hive will become your home- and you will become its master through agile and intuitive movement. See that skyscraper over there? You sure can climb it.
Immersive GameplayÂ – Yes, you will be able to stack crates. And you will be able to throw them tooÂ as a weapon. That bottle over there? Toss it to distract the guard. Then go and play inventory tetris as every bullet, magazine, and box takeÂ up precious space.
An intense storyÂ – that you will tell. Living within the ruins of a fallen empire, you will interact with new powers, make new friends, then kill them. Your choices will have consequences for those who subvert, those who fight, those who preach, and those who murder. Through your actions, you will directly influence the fate of this derelict world, and the fate of those who wish to control it.
The best goddamn soundtrack youâ€™ve ever heardÂ – with original works from more than 6 artists (and the potential of Ed Harrison to join them),Â PeripeteiaÂ is an auditory heaven of mist, rain and tears. Each grimey, gritty second within Peri’s city is painted audibly with talented break and techno beats you need to pump blood through your veins.
The occasional slavic hardbass, as if the above wasnâ€™t enough.


Battleborn Is Shutting Down In 2021

Thus endeth the tragic life of online hero-based arena shooter Battleborn by Gearbox Software, as 2K Games announced that it will be shutting down the game’s servers permanently in January 2021. This news was revealed via the publisher’s official Twitter account and on its official website.

[1/3] Today we have begun the process of gradually sunsetting Battleborn. Starting February 24, 2020, you will no longer be able to purchase virtual currency for use in the game.
â€” Battleborn (@Battleborn) November 25, 2019
The process will gradually be implemented, as players will no longer be able to purchase the game’s premium virtual currency (Platinum) starting from 24 February 2020. However, they can still spend whatever remaining Platinum they still have until the servers eventually shut down in January 2021.
Nothing else in Battleborn will change until its scheduled shutdown, so players will still be able to play the game for about a year from now. Unfortunately, the game has already been removed from all digital storefronts at the time of writing, including Steam, PlayStation Store, and the Xbox Games Store.
2K claims that the reason why they’re shutting down Battleborn is to “focus their efforts and resources on other projects”. The game initially launched back in May 2016 for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, giving it several weeks’ worth of a head start over Blizzard’s Overwatch.
Battleborn went on to receive mixed reviews, with many critics calling out the game for being too complex and difficult for newcomers. The player base rapidly declined, as almost everyone compared the game to the arguably more newcomer-friendly Overwatch for their hero-based arena shooter fix (Blizzard also has a much larger marketing budget than 2K Games, so there’s also that).
The game then went free-to-play about a year later in June 2017, but that didn’t help the game much, as it was the same method 2K Games used for Turtle Rock Studios’ Evolve, and we all know what happened to that ill-fated game (it faded into obscurity before 2K Games pulled the plug and shut down its servers).
Battleborn‘s final content update arrived in October 2017, and it seemed like the game was destined to follow in the footsteps of Evolve before it. Fast-forward almost two years later to the present day and that’s exactly what’s happening as we speak.
Kudos to the folks at Gearbox Software for pouring their heart and soul into Battleborn, which essentially came at just the wrong time.


Netflix’s The Sandman Is A Promising Adaptation With More Hits Than Misses

The Sandman books from Neil Gaiman were indeed masterclasses in graphic novels and were mature-leveled stories with depth and ambition, making its author and its plethora of creative artists household names in comic books. They focus on the King of Dreams Morpheus and his family of cosmic power personifications, along with the mortals and otherworldly entities they interact and be in conflict with. Which is why Neil Gaiman for so long has been very, very protective of it when it comes to adapting the very abstract storytelling into real-life movie-slash-television form.
We’re now in the year of our lord 2022, and eventually all untouchable comic book properties will need to be adapted in some form and shape. The supposed first of these many untouchables, Watchmen, was made in movie form 13 years ago (and also has an HBO sequel). So it was only a matter of time until Dream, Death, and the Endless family get their silver screen debut.
Lo and behold, Netflix got their hands on The Sandman, and somehow convinced Neil Gaiman to lead, since it’s his baby. Did it work? For the most parts, yes.
Inception

The Sandman Netflix series is about Dream (Tom Sturridge) who ends up being trapped by a group of cultists who wanted power from the Endless. This then leads to years many passing by where people end up getting some form of sleeping sickness and Dream’s kingdom in tatters. How will he get free? And how will he fix this mess since he has his power items stolen by humans? And what other insane and creative predicaments will he have to deal with next?
For fans out there (myself including), the first 10 episodes of the show cover the Preludes and Nocturne arc and The Doll’s House arc, the latter involving a young girl named Rose Walker who is in search of her brother and somehow she can enter Dream’s realm with ease. To say that the source material’s storytelling being incredibly unconventional is putting it mildly; that’s not a knock against its quality but it would be hard to follow. Thankfully, the series goes on the straight and narrow despite many characters being thrown at us. Rest assured that a number of them will make more appearances.
Let’s focus on how the performances are: Tom Sturridge’s Dream captures the ruthless and cold nature of the character. You’re not supposed to root for the actions he take, and he’s honestly a dick throughout the season. But at the same time you see his rationale and also hope his ice-cold heart does melt a little bit, while learning a few bedside manners like his sister Death. His slight transformation from dour being to tolerable is believable; being a man trapped in a glass bauble for so long will do that to anyone, much less a demihuman with the cosmic power of dreams.

Speaking of Death, Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s portrayal does the character justice. It’s only for one episode (the one where Dream tags along with his sister while she’s working) but she does ooze charisma and balances out Dream’s edgelordness. Ditto Matthew The Raven (voiced by Patton Oswalt) who becomes the voice of reason for Dream for a good chunk of episodes. Dream’s attendant Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong) does a great job at being the king’s hand, putting Dream in his place at times. A pity that Stephen Fry’s Gilbert felt rather limited, because his boisterous and cheery attitude could have used more shared screentime with Rose Walker (Vanesu Samunyai), the main protagonist of the second half of the series who copes with all the weirdness and crazy stuff going around her. Jenna Coleman’s Johanna Constantine also makes her limited screentime work, being a detective dealing with the supernatural and comes with snappy comebacks and attitude.
The standout is Boyd Holbrook’s antagonist The Corinthian, as you find out why he loves being a bane to humanity as a construct from Dream’s kingdom, breaking free and enjoying the world’s carnal delights. The other antagonist of the season, John Dee, is also played creepily to a tee by David Thewlis. Being a person confined and also breaking free while having powers he shouldn’t have, he’s a good villain to bring the first half of the show to where it’s going. Of course, with that much focus, Lucifer’s role (Gwendoline Christie) does get a bit sidelined just by being in one episode. On the opposite spectrum is Mason Alexander Park’s Desire (Dream’s antagonistic sibling); for the short amount of screentime they have, they really steal the limelight with their mannerisms and alluring speeches.
Dream Country

My only beef with the series is definitely not the actors, who all played their part very well. Rather, I did wish that some major scenes and sequences were a bit more edgier and “meaty”. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I remember the book series being a lot more graphic, colourful, expression-filled, and brutal with some of its portrayal of violence, dream/nightmare sequences, and mature themes. I don’t expect The Boys level of extremities, but certain key bits in the show could use a bit more punch and visceral thrill, or at least some abstract and creative portrayal to stand out.
Instead, everything here looks like a slightly high-budgeted BBC miniseries for the most part; not quite muted but not quite saturated and fantastical, as well as dialogue and explanations taking precedence that do not sound natural. The second half of the show had children talking like they have dialogue out of a, well, M-rated comic book. If that’s what it’s going for, kudos to Neil Gaiman and the production crew. With that said, I do like some of the fantastical effects and pivotal scenes here, particularly the gargoyles, dreams, nightmares, and landscapes on tap here. And some of the climactic scenes wrapping up the Preludes and Nocturne arc and The Doll’s House arc certainly stand out.
I was honestly a bit worried how the Sandman adaptation might turn out given its development hell and behind-the-scene stories. Thankfully, the Netflix series is a good start to what hopefully will be a multi-season show spotlighting the Endless and the shenanigans that follow. It’s a great first effort for a seemingly untouchable-by-adaptation comic book story series, and while I do wish the show went all out took a few liberties, the fact that its narrative style is made “streamlined” for all audiences is the right path. And I’m glad that two of my favourite storylines in the earlier books are recreated well and organically in the episode “The Sound of Her Wings”.
The spirit of the book’s earlier stories is definitely deep within this show; enough to whet your appetite. Besides, any adaptation of Sandman that can make Mervyn Pumpkinhead be an adorably jaded stop-motion face scarecrow thing come to life convincingly can’t be all bad, right?

Final Score: 70/100


Yoodo Announces Affordable Arena Of Valor Data Add-On

Out of all the Malaysian telco companies, it seems that Yoodo is the most invested in building up an esports-friendly ecosystem in Malaysia and the Southeast Asian region. Known for their highly customisable data plans, Yoodo has launched yet another data add-on. This time, it’s specifically for Arena of Valor.
For just RM5 a month, Yoodo users can now get 20GB of data just for playing Arena of Valor. Players usually report that a single match of AoV will consume around 9MB of data. If that’s an accurate measurement then you can play at least 2,000 matches in a month using this data add-on. Don’t quote on me this, I’m just doing the Malaysian “agak-agak” thing.
For those of you who don’t play AoV, Yoodo also provides 20GB of data add-on for PUBG Mobile. The special thing about this add-on is that it is currently free of charge and will be free until the end of 2019. For more details on this, read here.


Here’s How You Can Watch The Persona Super Live 2019 Concert Online

If you fancy some Shoji Meguro Shin Megami Tensei musical goodness, you’ll be happy to know that Atlus will be livestreaming the annual Persona Super Live P-Sound Street concert on 24 and 25 April. Basically, the musical croonings from Persona 3, 4, and 5 will be performed live by their respective artists and singers, all under the compositing supervision of Shoji Meguro.
Watch the live streams on the Niconico/Twitter links below:
Day 1 Live Stream (24 April, 6pm GMT+8)
Day 2 Live Stream (25 April, 6pm GMT +8)
Persona Twitter account (both days, 6:30pm GMT+8)
Keep in mind that you can only watch the first 30 minutes of the stream if you have a Niconico Premium account. Alternatively, Facebook pages like Mayonaka Network will FB Live the stream; head here for more info on that.
Why would you tune into this? Apart from the balls-to-the-walls amazing musical arrangements and stage shows, we’ll also be getting the latest information on the upcoming Persona 5: The Royale JRPG and Persona 5 S on 24 and 25 April respectively. We’ll definitely be checking it out; stay tuned to Kakuchopurei for more Persona-laden news that you’ll definitely see coming, unlike the baddies in Mementos.


New SD Gundam Game Launches In SEA Today With New Trailer

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia has announced that SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays has launched in Southeast Asia today on 28 November 2019 for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC (via Steam). Both the original Japanese voiceover and English subtitles have been made available.
SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays features more than 30 works from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, letting players experience the stories of various original Gundam series through four universes.
In the game, new and powerful battle scenes are rendered in HD 3D graphics and dynamic cutscenes. Players can gather their favourite characters and Mobile Suits from various series to train, develop, and form their own unique team to participate in tactical RPG combat.
The trial version for SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays on the PS4 is available now for the following regions:

Singapore:Â https://store.playstation.com/en-sg/product/HP0700-CUSA17630_00-ENSDGGENECRRYSDM
Malaysia:Â https://store.playstation.com/en-my/product/HP0700-CUSA17630_00-ENSDGGENECRRYSDM
Indonesia:Â https://store.playstation.com/en-id/product/HP0700-CUSA17630_00-ENSDGGENECRRYSDM
Thailand:Â https://store.playstation.com/en-th/product/HP0700-CUSA17630_00-ENSDGGENECRRYSDM

Save data from the trial version can be transferred to the full version. In the meantime, check out the action-packed launch trailer for the game below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk1Ra_T6YBg&w=560&h=315]


Eximius: Seize the Frontline Gets New Battlesuits In Spring Update

Eximius: Seize the Frontline gets two new battlesuits and a slew of feature updates in the latest Spring patch. The Malaysian-based developers, Ammobox Studios, had a bit of a problem with their publisher but now they are coming back strong with this update.

The game looks and feels even better now, rivalling triple-A games such as Crysis. So, have a look at it as it is worth every penny.
New Battlesuits
The update introduces two new battlesuits for the Commander with new tactical abilities.

A New PvP Map
Academy is the new PvP map added into the game in the latest Spring update. It’s available in Online PvP and Offline Skirmish modes.

What Else?
Ammobox Studios has also updated the UI such as added new gameplay and objective related icons on both FPS and RTS and much more. They have also squished many bugs in the process of the update, so you can expect the game to be polished the next time you boot and update Eximius: Seize the Frontline.
For full patch notes, check out the page here.
Eximius: Seize the Frontline is available on PC via Steam and is priced at RM51. Go check them out and support our local devs!


Picturesque Indie Game Viewfinder Will Launch This July

Like perception and perspective puzzles? Then you’ll love developer Sad Owl Studios’ upcoming single-player adventure Viewfinder, which now has a release date and a sweet demo!
Publisher Thunderful Games announced that Viewfinder will be out on 18th July for PC and PlayStation 5. Furthermore, a demo is out now for you play and find out how tricky perspective puzzles can get.
Key features & trailer are below.
Features:

Reshape Reality: Beyond photographs, bring paintings, sketches, screenshots and postcards to life while reshaping the world.
Exploration is Learning: You will learn the secrets of the world, the reason why it exists, and the freedom to create. Explore multiple hub worlds that are all cohesive and encompass similar, but complex, differences.
Experience as Much as You Want: Viewfinder’s narrative is player driven and will be an approachable experience to someone who just wants to play and solve puzzles, and a rich well thought off world to a player who wants to learn more.


Control Foundation DLC Trailer Teases More Bizzare Content

Previously, Remedy Entertainment announced that Control is getting its Foundation DLC on 26 March 2020. Now the developer has unveiled a new trailer and more details about the upcoming expansion for one of my personal 2019 games of the year.
According to 505 Games Senior Brand Community Manager Antonela Pounder on PlayStation Blog, the Control Foundation DLC will focus on The Foundation, where the Astral Plane is colliding with reality.
Control protagonist and Federal Bureau of Control (FDC) director Jesse Faden must travel through the caverns of The Foundation to prevent the Astral Plane from consuming the Oldest House (FDC HQ).

If you remember, FDC Head of Operations Helen Marshall went missing during the main story and she may hold the answers to the mysteries surrounding this threat. In the Foundation DLC, players will learn more about her disappearance, and about the mysterious ethereal Board.
Keep in mind that players are required to have beaten the main story to access the Foundation DLC (via the Hotline Chamber in Central Executive). There will be both new main and side missions, which will amount to around four or five hours of gameplay.
Jesse will also be receiving a new supernatural ability called Shape, an upgrade to the Service Weapon called Fracture (which allows her to transform and shatter the Foundationâ€™s environments), and Shield Rush, an upgrade to the Shield ability that allows Jesse to charge at her enemies, knocking them back during combat.

A new enemy type will also be awaiting players, in the form of the Hiss Sharpened. This new Hiss-type will attack players with their melee pickaxe swings and in brutal numbers.
Last but not least, a free update will arrive alongside the Foundation DLC, improving map functionality, adding the option to reallocate Ability points using Essence at Control points, and other quality of life improvements.
In the meantime, check out the Control Foundation DLC trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHVUKgFG7_Q&w=560&h=315]


Sushi Wildlands Lets You Have Your Own Sushi Farm And Restaurant

One of the great things about attending an event like Level Up KL 2019 is that I get to see a lot of interesting ideas and concepts in new games being made by developers in the Southeast Asia region. One of the more cuter ones I got to check out was Sushi Wildlands.

Currently being developed by Singapore-based Mezmedia Studios, Sushi Wildlands puts you in the shoes of a young chef named Kaito. Your grandfather has passed down his sushi shop to you and now it’s now your turn to prove that you’ve got chops for the sushi business.
However, things aren’t as straightforward as they seem to be in. The world of Sushi Wildlands is populated by creatures known as Sushimon. You’ll have to hunt and capture these Sushimons for the ingredients to make your sushi dishes. The game is played in a first person perspective and it gives you a handgun called the Shoyu Gun as well as a katana. A bit of an overkill, if you ask me.

Now now, it might sound as if the game is taking a dark turn but don’t worry, no Sushimons will be harmed in your quest to become your village’s top sushi chef. You can put your captured Sushimons into your hand-built farm so that you can just harvest the ingredients that they… release from their bodies. Yeah, don’t let your customers know how you get these ingredients.
It’s pretty obvious that Sushi Wildlands is a game targeted towards younger audiences but there’s definitely appeal for gamers who just want a relaxing experience akin to Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley but with a sushi twist.
For now, there’s no specific release date yet but Mezmedia Studios expects to launch the game sometime in 2020. You can check out the game’s Steam store page here.


Nintendo Switch Can Now Pair Bluetooth Devices For Audio Output; Here’s How

The latest Nintendo Switch update now allows users to pull off what they’ve been begging for years: the ability to pair their Bluetooth devices for audio output.

Finally, everyone can now pair their sweet Bluetooth speakers to the Nintendo Switch. Now, you don’t have to rely on the Switch’s tiny console speakers to hear lush The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ambience or funky No More Heroes 3 music played alongside Beam Katana slashes & wrestling move pounding sounds.
Better 4 years late that f***ing never, right, Nintendo?Â Here’s how you can do so:

Turn on your Bluetooth audio device and set it to a searchable state or pairing mode.
From the Nintendo Switch HOME menu, open System Settings.
Make sure that no more than two wireless controllers are currently connected to your Nintendo Switch system.
Scroll down to Bluetooth Audio, then select Pair to search for any available Bluetooth audio devices in range.
Select your Bluetooth audio device’s name when it’s found.
Once connected, any audio that is played will be output through your Bluetooth device.

Some things to keep in mind though:

Up to two wireless controllers can connect to a Nintendo Switch system while using Bluetooth audio. You will not be able to pair additional wireless controllers until you disconnect the Bluetooth audio device.
Bluetooth microphones cannot be used.
You may experience audio latency depending on your Bluetooth device.
Only one Bluetooth audio device can be paired at a time, but up to 10 devices can be saved on a Nintendo Switch system.
Bluetooth audio will be disconnected during local communication, such as when starting a local wireless multiplayer game.


That Guy Who Played Johnny Cash & Commodus Is Going To Be The Joker

Joaquin Phoenix has been going places since his early movie career back in the early 80s. He’s renowned for his work in Gladiator as an evil Roman emperor, the main character in Walk The Line, and that one awkward geek who wanted to f- I mean date his OS in Her.
You can now add “Clown Prince of Crime” on his resume. Hollywood ReporterÂ confirmed (via CinemaBlend) that Joaquin Phoenix will be playing the Joker in his very own origin story, with the script penned both by Todd Philips and Scott Silver. Martin Scorsese will be producing the film. Woah.
Here’s the official movie description from Warner Bros.

An exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.

Also related: San Diego Comicon will also have a DC Movies showcase when the show floor is open from 19-22 July (PST). We might get more info regarding the new Joker origin film alongside new details on Wonder Woman 1984, Aquaman, and Shazam!. We might also get an explanation on why this film is in the works when there’s another DC Extended Universe tie-in Joker film starring Jared Leto.
We’ll get our answers somehow next week. Stay tuned to Kakuchopurei for more about the Joker this week.


Money Heist Korea Joint Economic Area Part 2 Premieres On Netflix Next Month

Our favourite gang will return this 9th December in Money Heist Korea Joint Economic Area Part 2. Part 1 of the series which premiered on June 24th topped the Global Non-English Top 10, debuting with 33.7M hours viewed.
The newly released teaser trailer shows the PROFESSOR (Yoo Ji-tae) and his gang of misfits struggling to safely escape with the money while committing to show the world who the real thief is. Numerous threats still lurk in front of them and the joint task force realises that there is an influential force aiding the heist team outside of the mint. When all seems bleak, a new character, SEOUL (Im Ji-yeon), that is unique to Money Heist Korea Joint Economic Area appears in front of the endangered heist team.

Money Heist Korea Joint Economic Area Part 2 will unravel the thrilling and breathtaking finale of the heist with PROFESSOR, the gang, and the new character this 9th December 2022, only on Netflix.
You can also check out my review of Money Heist Joint Economic Area Part 1.
Check out the teaser below:


Ken, Incineroar, & Pirahna Plant Are Your New Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters

Fight fire with fire, right? Nintendo finally revealed the last two characters of Super Smash Brost Ultimate as well as a bunch of new features. On with the show!
The Three(?) New Fighters
Ken (on the feature image above) is an echo fighter of Ryu. He’s different from Ryu: he’s faster, he has fiery Shoryukens, and he has more fancy kicks.

Incineroar is a grappler who hits hard and has high-risk-high-reward moves. His crazy moves let him get close and throws enemies, as well as unleash a high-priority Dark Lariat. He also has a move that summons the top rope and Irish whips enemies; if you time it right, you can either pull off a flip or a hard lariat.

Finally there’s the Pirahna Plant. He’s a new character in the game who can chomp enemies, shoots out spiked balls, and can even extend his reach further than usual. He can also transform into Pirahna Pete as a Final Smash, wreaking havoc on the battlefield. However, he’ll only be out on 12 February 2019. He is free for a limited time.
The Spirit Within
SSBU now has a potentially riveting single-player mode called World of Light that comes equipped with a huge collection mechanic. Long story short: you play as Kirby as you find all the Smash Bros cast, restore their spirits, and fight the main bad guys who happen to be floating gloves and giant four-winged…things.
You can use spirits to power up your collected fighters in different ways. What are spirits? They are basically buffs you can use for your characters in World of Light (and even in multiplayer). In reality it’s really a great way for Nintendo to add more characters in the game without overloading the main roster.
You can now collect all the Nintendo characters and use them to buff your heroes. Nintendo promises a LOT of spirits ranging from Metal Gear’s Hal Emmerich to even Tokyo Mirage Session’s Tsubasa Oribe.
Let’s break down the Spirit system:

Primary spirit gets support spirit slots; you can equip your spirits with tiny spirits to enhance the buffs your playable characters get.
You can get spirits by winning spirit battles which are special fights with customized properties and crazy challenges.
Examples of Spirit battles include fighting a volley of Gordos and King Dedede. Fight a giant Mega Man with Guts Man’s powers. Fight Chrom with Killing Edge in hand. Fight 3 Sonic the Hedgehogs with drills. Yeah it gets insane.
Spirits follow a simple rock, paper, scissors mechanic: Attack beats
If you’re not sure what spirits to use, you can press Y to auto-select the best spirit.

The best part about World of Light mode? This new kickass SSBU theme with lyrics.

New Trophies Abound
SSBU will now have 59 assist trophies like Virtua Fighter’s Akira, Street Fighter’s Guile, and Golden Sun’s Isaac. Here’s a list (via Singapore’s SmashG)

Yuri Kozukata (Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water)
Black Knight (Fire Emblem: Path or Radiances)
Thwomp (Mario Bros. Series)
Spring Man (ARMS)
Dr Wily (Megaman Series)
Flies & Hand (Mario Paint)
Tiki (Fire Emblem: Awakening)
Vince (Art Academy Series)
Guile (Street Fighter Series)
Akira (Virtua Fighter Series)
Isaac and Shadow return as assist trophies

A Lot More Multiplayer Modes For All Players
There’s tons for everyone whether you’re new to the game or a veteran. BeginnersÂ  & intermediate players can use Spectator Mode, form a team in 2-Player Team mode, Battle Arena mode where it’s a free-for-all with your own rules, Century Smash for smash-to-offscreen-happy players, and All-Star mode which is basically Endless mode in SSBU form.
Hardcore players have Elite Smash Mode for online play. All high-level Smash players, after earning a ton of Global Smash Power (the game’s ranking system; high GSP = better matches), will get to be here and compete for higher glory. The devs will take data from this mode and make tweaks accordingly for future updates.
More Amiibos Like Ridley, Ken, and Wolf
Can’t have too many of them, eh?

DLC Characters Post-Game
Nintendo will add in more fighters as paid DLC starting 2019. Sets of said new fighters will be sold: 1 character, 1 music, 1 stage for US$5.99. An SSBU Season Pass is also available: for US$24.99 you get 5 upcoming characters.Â It’ll take a year to finish all the DLC according to SSBU director Masahiro Sakurai.

The Fighters Pass purchase bonus includes Rex’s Xenoblade Chronicles 2 outfit for Mii Fighters. I guess that’s cool.
With all this information overload, it’s safe to say that I’ll definitely be buying Super Smash Bros Ultimate just for its World of Light mode. Time to collect me some sweet, sweet Spirits!


NCSoft Announces Project M, A New Interactive Movie Adventure Game With Multiple Endings

Fans of Detroit: Become Human and other interactive movie games should pay attention to NCSoft’s latest venture.
The South Korean company just announced a new game called Project M, which is an interactive movie game currently being made for consoles. No release date has been announced yet.
The game will have ever-changing storylines and endings depending on the player’s decision, much like the aforementioned Quantic Dream titles but made by a South Korean game-making company that doesn’t abuse its workers (as far as we know). The game features lifelike graphics, cinematic production, and detailed expressions and movements via NCSoft’s high-end technical capabilities. You can judge it for yourself by looking at the trailer below, which comes with English closed captioning.

The trailer above depicts a girl’s death and a man’s revenge, where he goes out of his way punching and shooting (read: quick time event-ing) his way through those responsible. The game runs in Unreal Engine 5 and utilizes motion capture and other in-house tech to make the characters show this much expression. Basically, Project M will be that interactive Korean drama you’ve always wanted your significant other to play. Or watch while you end up pressing the button prompts. In any case, it looks fun and action-packed.


Realme GT Master Edition Goes On Sale In Malaysia Next Week

realme Malaysia has announced the realme GT Master Edition in the market followed by its global launch during the realme Fan Festival 2021. The realme GT Master Edition is furnished with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor chip, 120Hz Super AMOLED Fullscreen, and supports 65W SuperDart Charge. realme fans will be able to purchase the long-awaited flagship series of realme smartphones lineup starting from 9 September via its official first sale on Lazada.
Tiffany Teh, Brand Director of realme Malaysia said:
â€œTwo weeks ago, we have just launched realme Book in Malaysia, and today we are thrilled to bring another product which many Malaysian fans have been waiting for, the realme GT Master Edition.
The realme GT Master Edition is the birth of another masterpiece through realmeâ€™s collaboration with Mr. Naoto Fukasawa.
This Master Edition of realme flagship smartphones is the first brand to introduce 3D vegan leather technology in the smartphone industry.
Fans can expect realme to continue its Dare to Leap spirit by developing and presenting more comprehensive devices and flagship experiences to them in the future.”

Award-winning Master Design by Naoto Fukasawa

The design of realme GT Master edition is inspired by the most representative thing in travel â€“ suitcases. Every time people open and close their suitcases, they will recall the story of their travels. Naoto Fukasawa extracts inspiration from life and amazes the industry with a new and interesting horizontal grid suitcase design on the smartphone that will arouse the urge of people to travel and explore. realme GT Master Edition also adopts a concave vegan leather process which is the industry’s unprecedented vegan leather design.Â
realme GT Master Edition offers two colour options: Voyager Grey and Daybreak Blue. The use of low saturation and high tolerance grey colour makes people feel comfortable and tranquil at a glance. realme used the most direct method – a 6-step ink printing process to achieve a delicate colour effect. The colour of daybreak used Japan’s patented PICSUSÂ®ï¸ technology – nano-laminate coating to give the phone a metallic shiny feel and enable it to refract holographic colours at different angles.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G Flagship Processor that adopts 6nm advanced process

The device undoubtedly brings a comprehensive and powerful performance experience as it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G flagship processor, adopting the current 6nm advanced process, four A78 architecture super cores, and the main frequency is up to 2.4GHz. realme GT Master Edition already supports the 90-frame mode of Honor of Kings.
Flagship Display

realme GT Master Editionâ€™s 6.43-inch display features the Samsung AMOLED Fullscreen. It supports a 120Hz screen refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling rate, and has 100% DCI-P3 wide colour display. It has rich colour expression, a narrower frame and lowers energy consumption.
4300mAh Battery Pairs Up with realme 65W SuperDart Charge

realme GT Master Edition has discovered 65W low-voltage high current flash charging and adopted a 3C-Certified dual-cell design, supporting a higher charging efficiency and making it safer to the users. VCVT intelligent tuning algorithm can intelligently adjust the voltage and current, finely adjust the unit and thus improve the charging efficiency along with reducing the unnecessary heat loss caused during charging.
Flagship Camera

realme GT Master Editionâ€™s camera is able to satisfy usersâ€™ photography needs as it is equipped with a 64MP primary camera, a 119Â° ultra-wide lens, and a 4cm macro lens. The 64MP professional camera can record perfectly from far to near, from day to night, and from portrait to landscape. On the front, the device features a 32MP selfie camera with a Sony IMX615 sensor, F2.45 aperture, 85-degree field of view (FOV), and 6560*4928 resolution.Â
This sensor allows better image quality with high resolution, enabling every selfie to be super sharp. realme introduces the exclusive and professional street photography mode in realme GT Master Edition after working with many professional street photographers to discuss the methods in creating emotive and storytelling street photography. The two characteristics of â€˜fastâ€™ and â€˜realâ€™ are the keys to developing this new mode that can quickly capture and reduce the interference of algorithms.Â
In terms of filters, photography enthusiasts will also be able to try out the new Street filter that provides a science of colour for street photography. realme simulates film effects based on Kodak, a century-old imaging brand, to provide a visual effect with strong colour contrast.Â
GT Mode On to Unleash The Greatest Performance

When GT Mode is on, the peak performance will be unleashed with maximum CPU, Ultra Reality Enhanced Picture Quality, Ultra-HD Visual Effects, Game quick launch, and 4D gaming vibration On. The Vapor Chamber Cooling System is efficient in reducing the temperature while keeping the phone in a high-performance state.Â
8GB RAM + 256GB ROM, Steps Advance with DRE Technology
Furthermore, the Advanced Dynamic RAM Expansion Technology (DRE) equipped in realme GT Master Edition can convert ROM into virtual RAM in order to multitask more smoothly. In regards to that, the device will expand its 8GB RAM with an additional 5GB virtual RAM. With the huge RAM size, users will not have to worry about lagging issues and assured super smooth daily use performance.
Product Availability

Product
Color
Sales Info

realme GT Master Edition
8GB + 128GB
RRP: RM1,499
Voyager Grey
Daybreak Blue
First Sale on 9th of September via realme Malaysiaâ€™s Lazada Flagship Store

Promotional Price: RM1,399
Only on 9.9 Sales
Link: https://bit.ly/gtme8128pr

realme GT Master Edition8GB + 256GB
RRP: RM1,699
Voyager Grey
Daybreak Blue
First Sale on 9th of September via All Authorized Stores and Lazada

Only on 9.9 Sales
Free Gift: realme Soundbar

worth RM129

Link: https://bit.ly/gtme8256pr

To find out more about realmeâ€™s events and promotion, you can follow their Facebook page and Instagram at @realmemalaysia.


Arslan Ash Wins EVO 2019 Tekken 7; Harada Announces Season 3

First, it was EVO Japan 2019. Now it’s the main event EVO; Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique” went through hell and high water to get to where he is today: 1st place at worldwide Tekken 7.
This latest championship is the latest in this player’s rising Tekken career. He stuck on with his Kazumi pick from start to finish, picking off his opponents patiently while only laying in the combos when it’s guaranteed.

These are your Tekken 7 top 8 EVO 2019 players.

VS|Arslan Ash (Kazumi, Geese)
ROX|Knee (Steve, Paul, Kazuya, Geese, Devil Jin)
RB|Anakin (JACK-7)
Yamasa|Take (Kazumi)
Yamasa|Nobi (Steve, Dragunov)
COOASGAMES|Noroma (Steve, JACK-7, Dragunov)
UYU|LowHigh (Law)
THY|Chikurin (Geese)

We should also bring up that comeback from Japan’s Take with his Kazumi against Noroma.
[videopress m7bNY8QR]

That’s not all! Katsuhiro Harada also announced a few things for Tekken 7, like Season 3 and its new characters – Tekken 6’s Zafina (now with Azazel powers) and new character Leroy Smith (with kung fu skillz).
[videopress 48EV11WY]


Apex Legends Leak Suggests New PVE Features

Infamous Apex Legends data miner That1MiningGuy has dug more cool content from the game’s files and this time, it could be the big feature that EA was hinting at in their recent quarterly financial report.
Season 2 introduced dragon-like creatures called flyers who hover around the map carrying around death boxes. Shoot the flyers and they drop the death box they’re holding.
That1MiningGuy discovered in-game files for two new flyers who have yet to make an appearance in matches however one of them has already appeared in the Season 2 announcement trailer.
The first file is on a familiar blue flyer that we saw in the Battle Charge trailer. Near the end of the trailer, we see Wattson getting attacked by the creature. This is why fans are speculating that the blue flyer might be introducing a PVE element.

The second file shows a never before seen yellow flyer aptly named French Fry according to the game files. It’s the only flyer to have a name of its own, perhaps an indication that it’ll be more than just another death box carrier.

For now, that’s all that the data miner has found and there’s still nothing confirmed or announced by Respawn Entertainment.
If it does turn out that PVE is coming for Apex Legends, it could be a serious boost to the game’s popularity since it’ll become a free-to-play AAA battle royale game with both PVE and PVP modes.
The pictures used in this article were taken from That1MiningGuy’s Twitter page.


Esports Gets Closer To The Olympics With The Virtual Series

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has partnered with five international sports federations and video game publishers to produce the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first Olympic-licensed event for virtual sports.
According to the official news statement, the event will take place between 13 May and 23 June 2021 May 13th, featuring virtual sports and esports across baseball, cycling, rowing, sailing, and motorsport. It will coincide with the start of the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Some of the titles selected for the event include Konami’s eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020 (for baseball), Zwift (for cycling), Virtual Regatta (for sailing), and Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo (for racing). However, it has yet to be revealed which title will be used for OVSâ€™ rowing event.
IOC President Thomas Bach said:
â€œThe Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to grow direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports.
Its conception is in line with Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the IOCâ€™s Digital Strategy.
It encourages sports participation and promotes the Olympic values, with a special focus on youth.â€
Perhaps this will finally help bring esports one step closer to being featured in the actual Olympics. It’s a good day for the further development of esports in the eyes of the world.


That Square Enix Avengers Games Is Delayed Until Late 2020

Remember that Crystal Dynamics Marvel’s Avengers game that looked like a simple action-adventure game featuring Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Captain America, and Kamala Khan until someone said it’s more than that? Well, it’s being delayed.
According to a website update (that’s been taken down), the Avengers game will be delayed until 4th September. The reason? The game needed a bit more fine-tuning and polishing, according to Crystal Dynamics Co-Heads of Studio Scot Amos & Ron Rosenberg.

It’s a pity, but at least it’s a few month’s delay just for a good fixer-upper. At least it’ll give the publishers and devs how to sync their marketing and promo for this title.


Here’s How Uncharted 3’s Famous Plane Scene Looks Like Next To The Live Action Version

The Uncharted movie was pretty much what you would expect from a by-the-numbers action movie with some decent scenes here and there. It also managed to recreate an iconic scene from the video game series, particular the plane setpiece in Uncharted 3.
Here’s how the 2011 action scene in the game and the 2022 movie version look side-by-side from this video we did. We had to edit bits of the 2022 movie just to match with the gameplay section.

As a bonus, here’s a scene featuring a cameo of the original Nathan Drake (Nolan North) meeting new Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) right after the plane scene above.

The Uncharted movie is streaming right now on selected streaming platforms. The digital & physical versions of Uncharted can be bought later this 26 April. For more on Uncharted, read our review of the film here.


Malaysia’s 3D Animation Scene Is Off To A Good Start In 2021…

Malaysia animation studio Monsta and Astro Shaw released a trailer of its upcoming sci-fi animation film Mechamato. And it’s looking pretty sweet action-wise; check it out below.

Mechamoto is about a kid named Amato who stumbles upon an alien destroyer bot named Mechabot who has the abilities to mechanized objects from backpacks to broomsticks. The two entities team up and bond over the course of the film and help save Amato’s hometown from otherworldly dangers, which is par on course for TV shows and animated films featuring kids and aliens. Except it’s in Bahasa Melayu, takes place in an undisclosed Malaysian city, and is animated in full force by a Malaysian studio who clearly take inspiration from old-school sci-fi anime and Western shows that are made to blatantly advertise toys.
The film will be out in 2021. As for the actual date, Monsta founder and CEO Nizam Abdul Razak said that the show’s release date will be decided and will be dependant on “market conditions and the COVID-19 case.” He also said that Monsta needs to discuss and finalize deals with partner Astro Shaw and cinema associates. Here’s hoping the whole of Malaysia’s cinema scene goes COVID-19-free so that it can experience the latest in locally-animated works.


Here’s How You Can Win A OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition

OnePlus Malaysia has announced that the OnePlus 12.12 Cyberpunk Mystery Box is coming soon and Malaysians will stand a chance to win the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 edition.
A total of only 1,000 mystery boxes priced at RM49 each will be available starting from 12 December 2020 at 12am exclusively at OnePlus Lazada Flagship Store.
All mystery boxes will have an RM50 OnePlus Lazada Storewide cash voucher and 50 out of 1000 mystery boxes will receive special gifts together with the voucher.
Â The 50 lucky boxes will have special gifts such as:
10 x OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition (China version)10 x OnePlus Buds (White)10 x OnePlus Warp Charge 65 Power Adapter10 x OnePlus Warp Charge Type-C to Type-C cable (150 cm)10 x OnePlus Type-C Bullets Earphones
In fact, you can already add the mystery box into your cart now. However, what this means is that only 10 units of the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Edition will be available for the entire country.
You’ll have to be very lucky to win the phone.
For more updates and details on productsâ€™ availability, stay tuned to the official OnePlus Malaysia Facebook page, Instagram account (@oneplus.msia) and https://www.oneplus.com/my.


PUBG Mobile Selected As Medal Event At The 2022 Asian Games

PUBG MOBILE, co-developed by Lightspeed and Quantum Studios of Tencent Games and KRAFTON, has been selected as one of the eight games that will be included in the official esports program for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. This is the first time PUBG MOBILE has been included as an event in the Asian Games.
The Asian Games will run from September 10th to September 25th 2022, with competitors playing the PUBG MOBILE Asian Games Version for their chance to win gold. The Asian Games is a multi-sport event thatâ€™s held every four years, in which Asiaâ€™s best athletes compete. Malaysians have competed in every edition since the 1954 games winning 63 golds, 101 silvers and 148 bronze medals. The event is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the second-largest event of its kind, after the Olympics.
The Asian Games first paved the way for esports representation with its inclusion as a demonstration sport in 2018. In 2020, and now 2022, esports is part of the official program and a medal event.
In this 19th Asian Games, PUBG MOBILE will join seven other games in the program: Arena of Valor Asian Games Version, DOTA 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, EA SPORTS FIFA branded soccer games, Hearthstone, League of Legends, and Street Fighter V. For more information and details on esports at the 2022 Asian Games, head on over here.
James Yang,Â Director of Global Esports, Tencent Games, said:

â€œItâ€™s an honour for PUBG MOBILE to be included in the 2022 Asian Games. Weâ€™re incredibly lucky to have a number of extremely talented players from several countries including Malaysia, and canâ€™t wait to see them compete as part of such a prestigious event. Fans of the game can look forward to exciting competition between the regionâ€™s best PUBG MOBILE players as theyâ€™re celebrated alongside the best athletes in Asia.â€

Minu Lee, the head of the PUBG MOBILE Strategic Marketing Department at KRAFTON, stated:

â€œIâ€™m glad that PUBG MOBILE is selected as the official medal event at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, which will be an opportunity for people from all over Asia to come together as one. I hope that fans and players will be able to unite through a new version of PUBGMOBILE, which we developed with PUBG IP specifically for the Asian Games.â€

As one of the largest and most accessible esports programs in the world, PUBG MOBILEâ€™sÂ esports circuit has seen massive growth in 2021 with 14 new leagues and a total prize pool of US$15,000,000 for the year, the highest in mobile esports history. The game is also popular in Malaysia as demonstrated by the success of the ongoing PUBG MOBILE PRO LEAGUE (PMPL MY/SG) now in its fourth season. PUBG MOBILEâ€™sÂ inclusion in the 2022 Asian Games shows its continued worldwide growth as one of the most popular mobile esports games, having recently surpassed over 1 billion downloads worldwide.
PUBG MOBILEÂ is available to download for free on theÂ App StoreÂ andÂ Google Play Store.


Streets Of Rage 4’s Music: We Have Words

Dotemu recently published a few tracks from its upcoming beat-em-up Streets of Rage 4. Here’s a video where we talk a bit about it, followed by some comparisons with the old games. You don’t want to miss this, retro gamers!

Like what you saw & heard? Subscribe to us on our YouTube channel, or follow us on Facebook. Or just comment on this page here!


Should We Believe in Bioware’s Promise of the Next Great Mass Effect Game?

Another N7 Day comes and goes. When once it meant a celebration of everything related to the Mass Effect franchise, now it only serves to remind fans of the good old days with the original trilogy.
Kudos to Bioware for releasing a special commemorative video for N7 Day 2018, which seemingly teases “the next great Mass Effect game.” After the disaster of Mass Effect Andromeda, why should we believe them?
The N7 Day 2018 video asks the question, “What does N7 mean to you?” It then proceeds to conjure nostalgic footage of Mass Effect memorabilia, as well as answers by fans and developers of the franchise. That’s all well and good, but what is there to celebrate with the Mass Effect brand currently in limbo?
After the reveal of an Xbox One X patch for Andromeda with better resolution and HDR lighting, Bioware General Manager Casey Hudson appears and states that N7 meansÂ â€œcoming into the studio every day, dreaming about what the next great Mass EffectÂ game will be,” before sipping from a mug adorned with one of Commander Shepard’s most iconic quotes, “I should go.”
This tease means to reassure fans that Bioware has not abandoned the franchise, that there’s hope for another great Mass Effect game in the future. I consider myself to be an optimist, and I would like to believe this very much.
However, until there’s concrete evidence that the developer is actively working towards revitalizing the franchise and making up for Andromeda, it’s hard to look at “the next great Mass Effect game” as anything other than an empty promise.
Perhaps Bioware could start making amends with a remaster of the Mass Effect trilogy. With the studio busy developing Anthem for the foreseeable future, I don’t see any possible Mass Effect revivals any time soon.
Besides the N7 Day 2018 video, Bioware has unveiled new N7-themed merchandise by JINX to commemorate its 11th anniversary, which you can check out here. There’s also some Mass Effect fan art and giveaway contests on the developer’s official Twitter and Facebook accounts.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjJcP-od8hw&w=560&h=315]


Super Dragon Ball Heroes Coming Soon In English; Features New Villain Who Looks Like “Twi’lek” Hit

Hope you aren’t sick of Dragon Ball games because there’s a new one coming out for Nintendo Switch and PC on 5th April; it’s called Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission.
This news came up during the Dragon Ball Super games showcase on the Bandai Namco Twitch stream this morning. The digital card game will feature hot card-fighting action of the 7v7 capacity, over 1,160 cards across 10 sets, and 350 characters to use and play as.
The game introduces a brand new villain name Sealas who looks like a gray and tentacled-haired version of Hit from Dragon Ball Super. He also has a staff so he’ll kick loads of ass with that.Â Check out the full trailer below:

Players expecting news on Dragon Ball FighterZ and Season 2 content during the Bandai Namco stream may be disappointed; that’s only coming out on 27th January after the final Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour tournament in Los Angeles. Needless to say, some folks were livid.


Warhammer 40K Darktide Will Be An Xbox Game Pass Day One Game

Do you know what a Left 4 Dead-inspired co-op shooter needs to stand out? A bit of gritty sci-fi laced into it. That’s the gist of the upcoming Warhammer 40K shooter, which is basically a spiritual sequel to the Warhammer: Vermintide series.
You play as one of the four agents of the Inquisition who are sent to the darkest parts of the galaxy to investigate dark cult-related going-ons. You can expect to do a lot of shooting, protecting, and support gunning down Orks and other popular Warhammer 40K monsters and freaks that are most likely inspired by that one James Cameron movie sequel about space marines and xenomorphs.
In addition to the game coming out for PC and consoles, Xbox has announced that the game will be out for Xbox Game Pass on Day One. So if you have a subscription to the service, you can play this co-op shooter right out of the gate.

Welcome to the Darktide. The all new Warhammer 40,000 game is coming to @XboxGamePass on day one!
Check it out: https://t.co/kS1apQZXfM | #WarhammerSkulls pic.twitter.com/z4z43eJ3mO
— Xbox (@Xbox) June 3, 2021

Check out the gameplay and game’s writer Dan Abnett feature below. He’s got a lot to say about the tabletop series.
“I love the universe as a whole, obviously. I’ve spent a lot of time there, so I love all the stuff to do with it. Obviously there are iconic elements like Space Marines that represent 40K in a nutshell, but I’ve always gravitated towards human characters because they seem to me to give the best place for a reader, or a player in this case, to relate to.
The human condition and that kind of stuff. Just a regular person who’s not augmented or empowered by Astartes gifts or anything like that. It’s something to identify with and to relate to, but also a great place from which to see the universe, because you are the smallest thing in it.”

Warhammer 40K Darktide will be out in 2021.


Tower Of Fantasy Coming To PS4 & PS5 This Summer

Big news from the PlayStation Showcase 2023, Tower of Fantasy, the open-world MMORPG by Perfect World Games, is coming to PS4 and PS5 this Summer. While we don’t have the exact release date just yet, we’ll make sure to keep you in the loop once the official announcement drops.
Tower of Fantasy takes you hundreds of years into the future. Earth has gone down the drain, and humanity has made a grand escape to a far-off planet called Aida. It’s on this new turf that the game unfolds, offering a shared open-world experience across different platforms. Get ready to dive into some serious action with players from all around the globe.

Behind the scenes, Hotta Studio has been hard at work developing this game, and Level Infinite is publishing it. Tower of Fantasy promises an immersive open world that’ll blow your mind, along with thrilling cooperative group missions and epic solo adventures. And here’s the best part: you get to customize your character however you want, thanks to the freeform character development system. Plus, there’s something called simulacrums that add a unique twist to the game. Oh, and don’t forget about the epic combat—switch weapons and gameplay styles on the fly to create your own kickass fighting style.
Excited yet? Well, wait no more! Check out the awesome trailer below to get a taste of what Tower of Fantasy has in store for you. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure!


Will E3 2020 Be Postponed?

Despite the confirmed absence of major companies like Sony, E3 is still one of the biggest and most highly-anticipated annual gaming events. However, with the world facing the Coronavirus outbreak and Los Angeles (where E3 is held) in a state of emergency, will E3 2020 still happen? Yes, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
In a statement given by the ESA, they said (via GamesIndustry.biz):

â€œWhile the ESA continues to plan for a safe and successful E3 show June 9-11, 2020 â€” we are monitoring and evaluating the situation daily.
Our E3 team and partners continue to monitor COVID-19 via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
We are actively assessing the latest information and will continue to develop measures to further reduce health risks at the show.â€

The ESAâ€™s latest statement comes after the Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency due to six additional cases of recent coronavirus infections in the state. According to the countyâ€™s health department, the new cases involved individuals who were â€œexposed to COVID-19 through close contacts.â€
Other major gaming-related events have already been postponed or cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak, including the Game Developers Conference 2020 and various esports competitions.
We’re still three months away from June 2020, so it remains possible that E3 2020 could still happen. Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for the latest updates.


13 Years Later, Mecha Game Hawken Gets A Reboot

The free-to-play mecha game Hawken came out in 2012 to decent reception, shutting down in 2018. Because the world needs more arcade-style mecha games, Hawken is coming back.
505 Games has announced Hawken Reborn, the reboot of the mecha game featuring what you loved about the game back in 2012: PvE mecha combat and mecha customization.
Hawken Reborn will be out for PC in Early Access form on 17 May. No console versions have been announced as of now. Check out the game’s full features and announcement video below.

A New Way to Play: Experience a brand new player-versus-environment experience in the Hawken universe as you fight through the dystopic lands of Illal against warring factions, greedy corporations, and even more deadly adversaries.
Visceral, High Octane Mech Combat: Experience moment-to-moment combat with highly mobile combat machines equipped with deadly weapons to dominate opponents and unique thrusters that enhance both ground and vertical mobility.
Patrol For Bounty Contracts: Take on special Radio Missions while on Patrol to earn scrip and resources to upgrade your Mech. Be careful though; the longer you’re out there, the harder your enemies will become. Grab what you can and get back to base – if your Mech goes down, it’s back to the Hangar with nothing but scraps.
Build Your Perfect War Machine: Construct military-grade mech models known as ‘Axes’ with an all-new blueprint and upgrade system featuring a deep progression of power-up options for weapons and key components.
Discover a Re-imagined World: Uncover never-before-seen regions of Illal as you fight head-to-head with the corporations and factions fighting over a vast, futuristic, open world filled with resources, forbidden zones, and enemies lurking around every corner.
Join an Evolving Narrative: Play a part in the next chapter of mech warfare in the Hawken universe with six opening missions to complete in this initial Arc. Venture out in your mech and fight alongside new characters to discover all new storylines hidden deep in Illal that will continue to evolve in the future.


Spider-Man No Way Home Andrew Garfield Gets Hot Toys Treatment

Hot Toys has announced the 1/6th scale figure of The Amazing Spider-Man based on The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Skillfully crafted based on Spider-Man/ Peter Parker’s screen appearance portrayed by Andrew Garfield in the movie, the figure features a Peter Parker head sculpt with stunning likeness, a masked head sculpt; a beautiful recreation of Spider-Man’s red and blue Classic Suit with black web impressions; highly-poseable body for his extreme acrobatic ability; accessories including spider-man mask, and assorted spider-web shooting effect parts.
There have previously been other Andrew Garfield Spider-Man Hot Toys in the past, including this one. Previously, there was also the Doc Ock Hot Toys.
If you’re looking for a non-spoiler review of Spider-Man No Way Home, you can head on over here. If you’ve watched the movie or don’t mind spoilers, check out my Spider-Man No Way Home breakdown and post-credits explanation article here.
https://www.facebook.com/hottoys/posts/pfbid0WWQoj7d8JmHTgrMN8ps6vE4iPLip62BkMhpceGPG2hvtVfmiV5YruZmYdu1LxoZzl


Final Fantasy Now Has An Auto Battler On Twitch & With Fake Betting

It’s common knowledge now in 2020 that Final Fantasy Tactics is a verified classic; great battle system, lovely customization with its Job System, and a detailed Shakesperean story for the ages (mangled by its localization in the PS1 days).
But you know what else? It’s also a modder’s favourite as the game has been hacked to provide tougher fights and challenges, like oh say nerfing Thundergod Cid and making some Zodiac boss battles tougher than they should.
The latest mod for Final Fantasy Tactics is now sort of cashing in (heh) on the trend of auto-battlers. Basically, players can now bet fake money in a series of fights between AI combatants, with the last person standing winning the pot for the betting man/woman.

It’s dubbed FFT Battleground and it’s available on Twitch. Let’s break down the process:

Once you enter as a viewer, you get a balance of 1000G tied to your Twitch account. You can bet on the outcome of each match with your fake money.
Generally, eight teams will go through a gauntlet to get a shot at the champion in a tournament series. Whoever wins the final match becomes the new champion for another set of tournament competitors to aim for.
Furthermore, you can even spend some of your fake money to choose a target combatant’s class. Whomever you bet on will earn experience that will net you new skills to apply to other fighters you bet on.

If you’ve played Salty Bet, it’s more or less an updated version of that but with noseless FF characters. Check out the AI fights below on this livestream. Be warned: it’s pretty dang fast!
Watch live video from FFTBattleground on www.twitch.tv
Note to Square Enix: after you’re done with FFVII Remake and Marvel’s Avengers, please make a Final Fantasy auto battler. Thanks!


Ballentine’s Teams Up With Gearbox For A Borderlands Mad Moxxi Whisky Special

2K Games and Gearbox, the folks behind the Borderlands series, is doing a collaboration with Scottish whisky company Ballentine’s for some Mad Moxxi drinking pleasure.
No, not the kind of pleasure the game’s incredibly suggestive bar owner Mad Moxxi usually doles out. Instead, the collaboration is promoting a limited time Moxxi’s Bar Edition whisky that will be available in real life and in whisky/alcohol-selling stores on a later date and time. For now, the drink will be promoted in-game via a series of missions and sidequests in Borderlands 3, each with its own limited-edition loot.
Basically endemic advertising in-game, but with a bunch of in-game rewards if you participate in the campaign. We’re not sure why a promotion like this is happening so late instead of earlier during its Season 1 days, but it’s happening. Then again, a Ballentine’s whisky promo in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, a game where drinking is prohibited in a way, wouldn’t fit in the context. Promo video below:

Here’s how the bottle will look like when it’s available. We’ll be sure to update this piece of news on whether it’ll be available in Southeast Asia.

I guess with this upcoming promotion, it’s a good time as any to revisit Borderlands 3 for a bit before a number of action RPG looter shooter fans head back to Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. For more on the latter, check out our review and guides.


“Iconic” RPG Gothic Is Getting A Remake

THQ Nordic has announced that Gothic, a German RPG that originally released back in 2001, is getting a remake. Main development on the game will begin as soon as their new Barcelona-based studio is set up.
The announcement comes after a positive reaction to last December’s Gothic Playable Teaser. According to THQ Nordic, feedback from players showed that over 90 percent of fans were interested in a remake of the “iconic” title.

The Gothic Playable Teaser has a ‘Mostly Positive’ user rating on Steam, although recent reviews are mixed. In contrast, 2010’s ArcaniA has ‘Mostly Positive’ recent reviews but a ‘Mixed’ overall user rating. Perhaps the most damning sign of ArcaniA‘s failure is its title: it was originally called ArcaniA: Gothic 4, but the Gothic name has now been stripped away from its title.
Meanwhile, the first three Gothic games continue to enjoy high ratings on Steam. We’ll wait and see if the Gothic remake can reach their heights, or at least avoid ArcaniA‘s fate.


Netflix’s Over The Moon Premieres Next Month

Directed by legendary animator Glen KeaneÂ (best known for some of the best Disney classics, like The Little Mermaid,Â Aladdin,Â Pocahontas,Â Tarzan, Beauty And The Beast, and Tangled), with Chinaâ€™s Pearl Studios,Â Netflix’s Over the MoonÂ finally has a release date: 23 October 2020.

The synopsis reads:

Fueled with determination and a passion for science, a bright young girl builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of a legendary Moon Goddess. There she ends up on an unexpected quest and discovers a whimsical land of fantastical creatures.Directed by animation legend Glen Keane, and produced by Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou, Over The Moon is an exhilarating musical adventure about moving forward, embracing the unexpected, and the power of imagination.The film stars Cathy Ang (Fei Fei), Phillipa Soo (Chang’e), Robert G. Chiu (Chin), Ken Jeong (Gobi), John Cho (Dad), Ruthie Ann Miles (Mom), Margaret Cho (Auntie Ling), Kimiko Glenn (Auntie Mei), Artt Butler (Uncle), and Sandra Oh (Mrs. Zhong).

The movie looks beautiful and very Disney-like, but with what seems to be the soul of a Pixar film. The last moments subvert the entire expectations of the viewer. While it begins with a grounded feel to it, the ending of the trailer is anything but, with aliens and (literally) out of this world visuals.

Letâ€™s hope this continues Netflixâ€™s winning streak with animated movies, which began with 2019â€™s Oscar-nominated Klaus.
In the meantime, check out the final trailer below.


A Long-Lost SNK VS Capcom Game Will Resurface Onto The Nintendo Switch This Month

How many of you have touched or played a Neo Geo Pocket Color back in 1999? No one? Just me?
In any case, one of the few Capcom and SNK team-up games is making its way in its original handheld form onto the Nintendo Switch. SNK VS Capcom: Match of the Millenium will be out on the Nintendo eShop this 17th February.

For those who don’t know, SNK vs Capcom Match of the Millenium is a 2v2 fighting game featuring the finest from Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury, and The King of Fighters. Created during the halcyon time when Capcom vs SNK existed, this underrated gem was created under a ton of hardware limitations, yet was just as enjoyable as its high-res VS cousins.
Besides, the game featured Last Blade’s Akari & Darkstalker’s BB Hood. You can’t go any deeper with these cuts, baby!


Sea of Stars Will Be Out Holiday 2022

Sea of Stars, the 2D turn-based RPG that’s inspired by Chrono Trigger and is the prequel to the hit 2D platformer The Messenger, has a release date.
The game will be out for consoles and PC in Holiday 2022, though it’s confirmed for Nintendo Switch and PC for now. Check out the new trailer below.

Here’s a message from developer Sabotage Studio regarding the release date:
“To clear all the potential confusion that could arise from different interpretations of the Winter 2022 / Holiday 2022 messaging, the target is to launch Sea of Stars roughly a year from now. The exact date will be announced sometime next year once we have a clear view of when the game will be as good as we can make it. As always, the only thing we will not compromise on is quality.”


Samsung Malaysia’s Odyssey OLED G8 Gaming Monitor Is Now Available For Pre-Order

Samsung Malaysia Electronics has introduced another premium addition to the gaming monitor line-up, the Odyssey OLED G8.
Unveiled globally at the IFA 2022 in Berlin, Germany, the Odyssey OLED G8 is the company’s first OLED gaming monitor and will be available in an ultra-thin, 34-inch form factor, delivering brilliant brightness on an OLED panel partnered with Quantum Dot Technology and packed full of premium gaming features including an incredibly low 0.1ms response time and 175Hz refresh rate.

Beginning with the front profile, the new 34-inch Odyssey OLED G8 is built to an ultra-slim thickness of 3.9mm at its thinnest part — the slimmest in its product category — and finished with a sleek, metal frame. The monitor requires no backlighting while delivering true RGB and true black for maximum colour accuracy and brightness without a colour filter. The lighting is controlled in pixels which can be expressed in black with a near-infinite contrast ratio.
The ultra-wide, QHD resolution (3,440 x 1,440) gaming monitor has a 21:9 aspect ratio with 100% colour volume and DCI-99.3% colour gamut for incredible visuals regardless of the game being played. This is enhanced by a million-to-one static contrast ratio to bring out the most subtle details for enhanced immersion and 1800R curvature for the perfect playing view.
Inside, the Odyssey OLED G8 is packed with gaming features to give any player a competitive edge. First, the OLED monitor is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black Certified, ensuring content will appear vivid and life-like with accurate colour and contrast reproduction. In addition to the rapid response time and refresh rate of the Odyssey OLED G8, which gives gamers lightning-quick response capabilities and real-world accuracy in a range of gaming environments, the monitor is further enhanced by AMD FreeSync Premium for smooth gameplay.
The Odyssey OLED G8 also enables users to experience the best of gaming, entertainment and lifestyle features all in one place. The display operates as a complete entertainment hub with the ability to stream content through Samsung’s Smart Hub, giving access to the latest shows on Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube and other leading OTT (over-the-top) service providers, even without a connection to a PC or mobile device. In addition, users can enjoy free live content without the need for downloads or sign-ups, made possible by Samsung TV Plus.
The integrated IoT hub allows the users to check all the IoT devices wirelessly connected to the monitor, while the SmartThings app allows users to monitor IoT devices throughout the house with ease. The app’s intuitive control panel can help monitor and adjust settings such as temperature and humidity.

The Odyssey OLED G8 also gives users comfort as they play their favourite games. A Height Adjustable Stand (HAS), as well as Tilt functionality, provides ergonomic efficiency which means any gamer can find the perfect position regardless of what they are playing, whether it be a racing game or an open-world fantasy adventure.

For further visual immersion, the display is equipped with the Odyssey portfolio’s well-known CoreSync & Core Lighting+ which has been upgraded for the Odyssey OLED G8. Found on the rear of the monitor, this advanced lighting technology matches the colours on-screen, bringing content to life with bright and vivid colours that create more memorable, immersive experiences. Moreover, the Odyssey OLED G8 is equipped with Micro HDMI (2.1), Mini DP (1.4) and USB-C ports for versatile connectivity, in addition to a 5W stereo speaker for crisp sound.
The Recommended Retail Price of Odyssey OLED G8 is:

Model Code
Description
Recommended Retail Price (RRP)

LS34BG850SEXXS
34’’ Odyssey OLED G8
RM7,599

In conjunction with the launch, Samsung fans who pre-order 34’’ Odyssey OLED G8 will receive a Soundbar HW-B4501 worth RM799. This exclusive deal is only valid from 10 until 20 November 2022. The 34’’ Odyssey OLED G8 will be available in Silver and can be purchased at Samsung Online Store, Lazada Samsung Brand Store and Shopee Samsung Brand Store.
To find out more about the New Odyssey OLED G8, please visit Samsung Online Store.


MSI Partners With University E-League For Valorant Esports Circuit In Malaysia

As part of its recently announced collegiate program in Southeast Asia, MSI has announced University e-League (UEL) as its partner in Malaysia.
The partnership marks the launch of the MGA UEL VALORANT Series brought to you by MSI, an esports circuit focused on the widely popular first-person shooter game; Valorant. Scheduled to take place from July to September 2021, registrations are now open for collegiate-level students to take part in the series.Â
The winner of the MGA UEL VALORANT Series will be set to represent Malaysia at the MSIâ€™s MGA University Championship, a Southeast Asian esports circuit participated by the best collegiate teams in the region including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam. The MGA University Championship will serve as the overall umbrella to the MGA UEL VALORANT Series in Malaysia while other participating countries will have their own independent competition to best serve their local player base.Â
MSI Malaysia Managing Director Henry Chung said:
â€œIt is our ultimate goal for Malaysia with the MGA UEL VALORANT Series to provide college and university students the opportunity to directly participate in the wonderful world of esports.
As a world leader in gaming, MSI is one of the most trusted names in gaming and esports.
We dedicate this competition series to support Southeast Asiaâ€™s most aspiring gamers and to give back to the community.â€
Apart from years of dedication to top-end gaming hardware, MSI has sponsored more than 20 esports teams worldwide and is the proud host of world-renowned gaming tournament MSI MGA (Masters Gaming Arena). At its core, the brand seizes every opportunity to engage and inspire gamers to realize their dreams through persistence, precision and performance.Â
University e-League Head Of Partnerships Yong-Chul Yun said:
“Sharing a universal passion for gaming, MSI have built a remarkable history and rapport with esports.
We are thrilled to partner with a world-renowned brand to be sharing a progressive vision for nurturing a healthy esports ecosystem from the ground up.
The MGA UEL VALORANT Series will be one to look forward to and together with MSI, we are excited to bring the action to student gamers and esports enthusiasts nationwide.â€Â
Registrations for the MGA UEL VALORANT Series brought to you by MSI are open until 13 July 2021 via the UEL website, while student gamers and collegiate esports enthusiasts across Malaysia are encouraged to take part. Competing for a prize pool of RM5,000, teams will go head-to-head in two stages of competition; Qualifiers and Grand Finals held between 17 July and 12 September 2021.Â
For further updates and information on the MGA UEL VALORANT Series brought to you by MSI, you can visitÂ @UeLMY on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/UeLMY/posts/309647170885018


Tekken 8 Closed Alpha Test Announced; Here’s How You Can Try It Out

Fighting game fans will get their chance to play Tekken 8 early, the next big Bandai Namco 3D fighting game. This may require you to buy a flight ticket to Japan though.
To do this, you need to register for the Tekken 7 tournament at EVO Japan 2023. You need to apply on a special site that will be out in February.
More details of the testing will come soon. While that’s great for fighting game fans who want to touch Tekken 8, they should not be dicks and purposely DQ the tournament just for the Tekken 8 closed alpha test. This wouldn’t be the last; the game is still in its early development, so there will be future moments for playtesting in other major worldwide fighting game tournaments featuring 3D fighters.
Tekken 8 will be out for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series. It features new mechanics like the Heat System, recoverable gauge (ala Tekken Tag Tournament 2), and a Special controller style toggle. The confirmed roster in the game includes Law, Paul Phoenix, King, Jin, Kazuya, Jun Kazama, JACK-8, Lars, and Nina Williams.