Nintendo Teams Up With Convergent Systems To Open Two Official Singapore Stores

Convergent Systems, a Singapore company known for distributing PC hardware and peripherals, are now in the Nintendo console distribution business. The company has officially announced that it will be launching not one, but two official Nintendo stores.

Not physical stores, mind you, but on e-commerce platforms Shopee (on 8th October) and Lazada (16th October). In addition, the Shopee store is now open and will be taking pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch OLED model.
This begs the question: is Maxsoft still around? Yes, since it has this Lazada pre-order for the Nintendo Switch OLED model still active. So far, the company has yet to make any official announcement about their status change with Nintendo, so it’s safe to say that it’s still around distributing Nintendo products for the Southeast Asia region, Singapore included. It’s just that the Red Dot nation will not be subjected to insanely-priced forced bundles that are akin to scalper prices; competition between distributors will do that to you.


Shredder Is Coming To Call Of Duty

Call of Duty just dropped a teaser vid confirming that Shredder will be a playable character in Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0.
If you’re a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you know Shredder as the big baddie, but he’s not exactly known for his love of firearms. Still, a cross-promotion is a cross-promotion.

A new evil will rise ??? pic.twitter.com/jA5f7ogAbp
— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) March 8, 2023

From what we know about past celebrity Operators like Snoop Dogg, Rambo and John McClane, Shredder will probably come as part of a purchasable Operator Bundle, complete with his own voice lines and challenges. There may even be some Shredder (or TMNT) themed cosmetics thrown in. Not sure who will be voicing him, but the most recent Shredder voice actor was Hoon Lee in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Just a heads up: the new Seth Rogen-produced TMNT movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, released its cast list recently and Shredder ain’t in it. However, the cast is still pretty impressive, with names like Rogen, Jackie Chan, John Cena, Ice Cube, and Post Malone attached. The movie comes out in August, and it has a pretty distinctive art style that doesn’t look much like the teaser vid above. Long story short, we don’t know much about the Shredder situation yet, but we do know that the skin will be available on March 21.
The TMNT universe has a history of colliding with video games, with characters appearing in everything from Injustice 2 to Smite. Last year’s Shredder’s Revenge was especially awesome, with our reviewer describing it as a “heartfelt, engaging reprise of a classic”.


Xbox Monthly Active Users Hit Past 120 Million

Microsoft said that its Xbox and Xbox Game Pass service has attracted a record 120 million monthly active users during the quarter that ended in December 2022.
This was announced during Microsoft’s second-quarter earnings call this week via CEO Satya Nadella, adding that Xbox saw “new highs for Game Pass” during that period of time. The company attributed the success to the new Game Pass partners they made like Riot Games, who run and own League of Legends and Valorant.
“In gaming, we continued to pursue our ambition to give players more choice, to play great games wherever, whenever and however they want.
We saw new highs for Game Pass subscriptions, game streaming hours and monthly active devices. And monthly active users surpassed a record 120 million during the quarter.
We continue to invest to add value to Game Pass. This quarter we partnered with Riot Games to make the company’s PC and mobile games, along with premium content, available to subscribers.
And finally, we are energised by our upcoming line-up of triple-A launches including exciting new titles from ZeniMax and Xbox Game Studios, and we’ll be sharing details and gameplay at our showcase tomorrow.”
On a related note, Microsoft will host an Xbox and Bethesda developer direct livestream tomorrow at 4am. Stay tuned to Kakuchopurei for details on that.


Hogwarts Legacy: How To Upgrade Gear & Get The Best Traits

In Hogwarts Legacy, you’ll be collecting a ton of loot and gear from chests, enemies, and dungeon-running. Enemies will get tougher as you explore further from Hogwarts, so your gear needs to be in shape with the best stats and traits.
The effectiveness of your gear can be upgraded in the game; you will need to create a particular tool in the Room of Requirement which is accessible after 6 hours via main quest content.
How To Upgrade Gear & Add Traits

You need to conjure the Enchanted Loom in the Room of Requirement. Thankfully this is a main quest so you will not miss it: just complete the quest “The Elf, the Nab-Sack, and the Loom”.
To conjure the Enchanted Loom during the quest, you need eight Moonstone; just look for crystalline nodes when you’re outdoors and blast them to collect Moonstone. It’ll only take a few minutes.
Once conjured, just interact with it to access the upgrade menu. Gear in Hogwarts Legacy comes with a primary offense stat, or a defense stat. The Enchanted Loom adds one secondary stat and apply specific traits to your gear. To add them, you need the required resources which increase the higher the upgrade level (like beast materials you can get from treating your beasts & pets right). These buffs and traits are useful as they add either damage buffs or boost effectiveness against certain enemies like poachers and trolls.
Hogwarts Legacy Best Traits For Your Gear
Here’s a list of traits you should aim for:

Offense Traits
Explanation

Herbology III
?Increases the damage of all plants.
?Best used for a playstyle that focuses on using plants in combat.

Concentration III
?Increases the damage of all Damage spells.
?Best used for players that use Expelliarmus or when dealing with enemies that are weak to Incendio and Confringo such as spiders and Inferi.

Control III
?Increases the damage of Ancient Magic Throw.
?Excellent for greatly reducing an enemy’s health or for breaking shields.

Unforgivable III
?Increases the damage dealt to cursed targets.
?Best used for a playstyle using Unforgivable Curses and has talent points in Dark Arts.

Defense Trait
Explanation

Protego Shielding III
?Decreases the damage taken from Dark wizards.
?Best used when fighting against regular Dark wizards and Infamous Foes.

Anti-Venom III
?Decreases the damage taken from spiders.
?You will encounter various spiders in small spaces as part of the main story quest, so it is best to equip this trait when going inside dungeons and tombs.

Goblin-Silver Resistance III
?Decreases the damage taken from goblins.
?Most of the enemies you encounter in main story quests are goblins, so it is recommended to equip this trait to reduce damage.


Horizon Zero Dawn PC Version Confirmed, Steam Page Already Up

PlayStation has finally confirmed the PC version of Guerilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn. The news was announced via PlayStation Blog in an interview with Worldwide Studios Head Hermen Hulst.
Hulst said that Horizon Zero Dawn on PC will launch sometime in Summer 2020, confirming that more information will be coming from new studio directors Michiel van der Leeuw, JB van Beek, and Angie Smets in the near future.
The official Steam page for Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition is already up, which you can check out here. It doesn’t reveal many details yet, including its pricing and specs requirements, but that will all be likely be added soon.
If you’re a Sony PlayStation fanboy, don’t worry. On the subject of whether more PlayStation exclusives will be releasing on PC, Hulst said:

“I think itâ€™s important that we stay open to new ideas of how to introduce more people to PlayStation, and show people maybe what theyâ€™ve been missing out on.
And to maybe put a few minds at ease, releasing one first-party AAA title to PC doesnâ€™t necessarily mean that every game now will come to PC.
In my mind, Horizon Zero Dawn was just a great fit in this particular instance.
We donâ€™t have plans for day and date [PC releases], and we remain 100% committed to dedicated hardware.”

This confirmation comes after rumours were rife that a PC version of Horizon Zero Dawn was all but confirmed earlier this year. Now the PC Master Race can also enjoy one of the best PS4 exclusives ever made, likely with a superior version of the game.


The Rock’s Black Adam Movie Adds An Obscure DC Hero

DC Comics have announced more details about the upcoming Black Adam movie starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as the titular supervillain. Jaume Collet-Serra will act as the director, while Noah Centineo (best known for starring in Netflix’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before) is joining the cast as a pretty obscure DC hero.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Centineo will play Atom Smasher, a character who can control his molecular structure to manipulate his size and strength. Basically, he has the ability to go big, much like how Ant-Man became a giant in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. In the comics, he’s mostly part of the Justice Society.

You might recognize the DC hero from the Justice League animated series in the 2000s, or even from the iconic Kingdom Come graphic novel. However, this won’t be the first live-action version of Atom Smasher, as the character has previously appeared in an episode of The CWâ€™s The Flash, played by Adam Copeland.

Not much else has been revealed about the Black Adam movie, but it is still slated to premiere on 22 December 2021.


Yokohama Anime Capsule Hotel Transform Into Airsoft Battle Arena For Air-Based Shootouts

Yokohama’s New City, a capsule hotel known for its samurai period and anime art motifs, has seen better days since the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year. The hotel has gone out of business a few months ago.

??????????????????????????????@Newcity_machi ??????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/kt7NsFhioi
— ????????? GET?City (@get_at_city) May 31, 2021

Instead, the hotel is now an airsoft venue for airsoft enthusiasts. The hotel itself is in good shape with its utilities intact, meaning that airsoft players and competitors will not be wading in debris like in other airsoft venues (via SoraNews24).

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??????5/8.9???13??20?????????
?????????????????????????????????????(???)#??????? #?????????GET pic.twitter.com/LWM2VwssuW
— ????????? GET?City (@get_at_city) May 5, 2021

In fact, players can use the building’s still-functioning security cameras and P.A. systems for their airsoft games.

?????????????????????w #??? #??????? #?????????GET pic.twitter.com/ajLQeCOSZq
— ????????? GET?City (@get_at_city) May 4, 2021

Hotel owner Yori Fujii said that he’s excited for the new opportunity this presents, even though he wasn’t expecting the reception to be this popular. He managed to get this all sorted thanks to the airsoft-themed bar Get@City.
“New City was always a capsule hotel where we wanted to try new things, like capsules with anime, samurai, and ninja themesâ€¦Iâ€™ll be happy as long as the New City building can be a place for new challenges.”
He plans on hosting haunted houses and offering the venue for photoshoots in the near future. If you plan to get your airsoft game on in a hotel setting, you can head to the location below if you’re in Japan.
New City / ãƒ‹ãƒ¥ãƒ¼ã‚·ãƒ†ã‚£ãƒ¼
Address: Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Fukutomicho Nishidori 53
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Sony Hikes Up PS5 Prices In Malaysia & The Rest Of The World

Bad news for gamers, as Sony has announced that the price for the PS5 has officially increased.
According to PlayStation Blog, the reason for this PS5 price hike is because of “high global inflation rates”.
Here are the PS5 prices for countries in the Southeast Asian region:

Singapore

PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – SGD 799
PS5 Digital Edition – SGD 669

Malaysia

PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – MYR 2,499
PS5 Digital Edition – MYR 2,069

Indonesia

PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – IDR 9,699,000
PS5 Digital Edition – IDR 8,199,000

Thailand

PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – THB 18,690
PS5 Digital Edition – THB 15,690

Philippines

PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – PHP 30,790

Vietnam

PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – VND 15,990,000


10 Signs Your Partner Is Cheating On You – Lessons From Catherine: Full Body

Platform: PS4
Genre: Cheating simulator by day, 3D block-climbing puzzler by night.
Admit it. No matter how much you love and trust your romantic partner, you’ve at least had a few paranoid thoughts of them cheating on you. It’s perfectly understandable and nothing to be ashamed about, my friend. We live in the age of constant Internet access and free dating apps. To be paranoid is to be cautious.
If you’re seeking to quell those worries, then you’ve come to read the right article, buddy! As a love expert who has successfully balanced two relationships at once, I can give some S-rank advice on how to detect an unfaithful partner. If you can’t detect any more than 3 of these, your partner is most definitely loyal!
Let’s start with some of the basics:
1. They Act Very Sheepish Around You
Here you can see a man being sheepish. Note the horns, not the polka dot boxers.
To be sheepish is to be embarrassed or uncomfortable, so if your partner starts exhibiting these behaviours around you, something is up. It’s not confirmed that they’re cheating but something is definitely up, dude.

Common symptoms of being sheepish include sweating bullets, eyes darting around as if looking for blocks to climb when trapped in a nightmare, and refusing to meet you at nearby cafes out of fear of bumping into their other lover.

Remember, if they’re sheepish, they’re… umm… cheatish!
2. They Get Your Name Wrong
From left: Catherine, Qatherine, and Katherine. Ask your partner to pronounce their names. If they say they all sound the same, they’re probably a cheater.
This is more a male thing so ladies, listen well. In normal circumstances, people often mistake names that are similar to each other. For example, it’s hard to blame people who incorrectly shuffle the names Catherine, Katherine, and Qatherine.
I have no idea how that last one is even an actual name. But it is.
So if your significant other is texting you and he/she suddenly blurts out another name where yours should be, you better get to the bottom of this curious case of mistaken identity. If they say that’s just the name of a friend, fact- check their ass.
3. When You’re Doing Well In Life, They Block Your Progress
Here we see Vincent just a few blocks away from victory. What’s stopping him? I don’t know but my instincts tell me it isn’t his faithful partner.
For most of us born in the middle class and lower, life is mostly a struggle against the fear of being lonely and poor. With a crapton of effort pleasing capitalists and after numerous life-changing sacrifices, you might just be able to level up and live a bit more comfortably.

Now imagine having a lover who looks at your grind and thinks “I’m gonna make it harder for you just because it’s fun”. Crazy, right? Well, people who cheat ARE crazy. When you’re doing better in life, you’ll want to spend more leisure time with your lover.

The more time you want to spend with them, the less time they have with that other person. Stay woke.
Â 4. Constantly Replying Texts That Aren’t From You
Dangerous content.
Face it, honey. If they’re constantly on their phone texting someone, it’s not their family or friends. Only a lover would demand that kind of attention.
Major red flags include grinning at their phone screen (probably just received a naughty picture) or going to the toilet after getting a text (probably just received an extremely naughty picture).
5. Not Letting You Hang Out With Your Friends
Hang out with your friends often so they can help you decide whether you’re actually onto something or just being paranoid.
When you’ve formed the right circle of friends, you’ll find yourself surrounded with trustworthy people who always want the best for you. So what happens when they suspect that you’re being cheated on? They let you know!
And that’s exactly what your unfaithful partner doesn’t want to happen. It would really complicate things if your friends starting pointing out all their strange behaviour which would consequently prompt you to start asking questions or investigating.
As men usually say, it’s important to be able to “crack open a cold one with the boys”.
6. They Play The UNO Reverse Card A Lot
This is the kind of reaction you’d probably have when they pull this move on you.
Here’s what I mean by that. When we first start suspecting that our partner is cheating, our first course of action is to start asking questions that might lead us to some form of certainty.
A smart cheater uses this as an opportunity to flip the tables. No, not literally. They’ll blame you for being overly paranoid and infer that you’re asking all these questions because you’re the one who’s cheating.
They want you to second guess yourself, make you feel guilty for having the gall to suspect them of being unfaithful.
7. Asking Questions About The Future Of The Relationship
Questions like this.
When a cheater realises that their other relationship is more enjoyable or they simply have grown bored of you, they’ll want to break up with you. In an attempt to avoid the messiness of the “I got caught cheating” break up, they’ll try to slowly crawl towards a more understandable way of parting ways.
This may seem like the best-case scenario in an event like this but remember that being the one who decides to leave is always better than being the one who gets left. So if you start seeing them trying to soften the blow with questions like “Where is this relationship going?” and the such, get ready to attack first!
8. Not Letting You Come Over Anymore
If you do a surprise visit while they’re cheating in the comforts of their own home, this is the kind of expression you’ll see.
If your partner lives alone, more often than not that’s the place used as their den of unlawful desires. So if they suddenly start frequently preventing you from visiting, even to just hang out and play block puzzle games, they probably have someone else coming over often.
If they’re smart, they’ll start making up excuses such as their doing a lifestyle change which will still allow you to visit only on certain days. On the other days, he/she is having their other partner over.
9. They Constantly Have Nightmares Full of Sheep And Block Towers

Okay, I need you to stay with me on this because we’re about to get psychological.
You see, dreams are not mere fantasies of the mind. They’re often the manifestations of our latent thoughts that cannot be expressed in the real world. If your partner tells you about constantly having dreams/nightmares where they have to climb towers made out of blocks. What happens when they don’t climb? They fall to their death or get consumed by a monster of some sorts.

The confusing cascade of blocks signifies the rough path of life they’ve chosen when they decided to cheat on you. If they fail, it means they get caught (the monster is a mental manifestation of you, the person who might catch them).
If they manage to climb to the top, their cheating remains a secret.

Oh, and the sheep? Back to my first point, of course!
10. Padding Conversations With Useless And Boring Facts
“Here is some trivia about wine” he says as he attempts to distract you from the fact that he was sleeping with another woman last night. Shameless.
The number one thing a cheater does to avoid talking about cheating (a topic that will make them sweat) is to simply talk about something else. Due to the constant sense of cautiousness, they don’t have much time to think up of interesting topics so they blurt out random facts.
Let’s say you’re drinking wine while you’re on a date with them. Maybe there’s a TV nearby presenting a news report about a man who’s been murdered by a jealous spouse. Just before you can bring up the topic, your partner goes “Here’s an interesting fact about wine”.
You drink red wine, they raise a red flag.
That brings us to the end of this list, so let’s recap!
The main takeaway should be that Catherine: Full Body teaches us a lot about how cheaters behave and how we can be wise enough to sniff out their lies. Sharpen your senses by overcoming the block puzzles and navigate through your love life by following your heart.
Remember, I said heart, not crotch.
Is Full Body worthy of a revisit for fans who played the first game? Most definitely not. Your longing for debauchery will not be sated by the game’s new romance option who is wedged into the plot for no good reason. However, those who have always wanted to try the game but missed out last time should definitely give this one a look.
Pros

Block puzzles levels are challenging, fun to figure out.
Dialogue with most characters is fun to listen to.
The symbolism and metaphors are quite clever.
Game doesn’t feel too long or too short.

Cons

Vincent is often annoyingly passive, unnecessarily dragging the plot.
Anime cutscenes look low quality compared to everything else.
Most characters in the game are one-dimensional and lack depth.
Plot twist can be seen from a mile away.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100


How Does The Division 2 Stacks Up Against Destiny 2, Anthem, & Warframe?

In a world where live-service games are popular, it’s hard not to compare each of the games against one another. Moreover, the market for such games is almost saturated. So, each of the products in the market should have a unique selling proposition.
So, recently I peeled off from my daily dose of Destiny 2 to dive in the military looter shooter world of Tom Clancy’s The Division 2.
Simply put, the game rocks my socks off. It’s a beautifully perfect game that cured my fanaticism of Destiny 2. It also made me wonder if it’s better than any of the other loot-and-shoot games out so far.

A quick word about The Division 2: right off the bat, the game is fun to pick up and play. It’s a refreshing looter shooter in a stale, overpopulated market. Why? because the game works at launch.
This might sound daft, but hear me out: live-service games are infamous for being unfinished at launch, be it from content, or mechanics, or even cosmetics. From stellar quality-of-life (QoL) improvements to satisfying gunplay to beautiful post-apocalyptic Washington D.C., it seems like The Division 2 is the best looter shooter right now.
Let’s see how Ubisoft’s latest fare against its competitors.
Division 2 vs Destiny 2
Before I begin the comparison, let me tell you that I’m an avid Destiny 2 and I play Destiny 2 religiously every day without a miss.
However, make no mistake, I am totally aware of the blaring issues plaguing Destiny 2.
One of the most important aspects of a ‘looter shooter’ is the ‘shooter’ part of the game. What makes a good looter-shooter, is the shooting. Unfortunately, the guns in Destiny 2 are known to be compared to a peashooter. There’s no ‘oomph’ behind each shot.
Auto Rifles feel like they aren’t doing much damage even though the rifles spew a huge number of bullets in a short period of time. Even Scout Rifles, the Destiny 2 equivalent of a semi-auto combat rifle, doesn’t pack a punch.
This leaves only the Hand Cannon to be a viable weapon which actually feels like its impactful. Unfortunately, this breeds the issue of a stale meta being enforced by having 7 Exotic Hand Cannons as attainable loot in-game. For context, we have only 4 Exotic Scout Rifles in-game.
Even exotic weaponry feels useless most of the time, save for a few prized Exotics.
Literally the most useless Exotic weapon, the Fighting Lion.
This leads to the next issue, the ‘looter’ portion of the game. Exotic weapons and armour are mostly underwhelming. They confer little to no significant perks. Take the Mechaneer’s Tricksleeves Exotic Hunter armour, it simply shaves off a few seconds to a Sidearm reload speed. For context, a Sidearm reload speed is already fast, that’s before realising that a Sidearm is simply worthless. That perk is not Exotic armour worthy, that’s trash.
Yes, some armour looks ravishing even though the perks are novel, such as the Warlock exclusive, Wings of Sacred Dawn, which gives you the ability to float on mid-air whenever you aim, making you a brightly glowing, stationary airborne target.
You’re a majestic, magical angel.

The Division 2 handles loot perfectly fine, with each weapon packing its own heat, being effective in different situations yet feeling powerful in any shootout.

I have seen the end game weapons and the Signature Weapons are very, very potent. That’s how a gun should feel like: powerful.
However, let’s be reminded that we must be fair and cannot directly compare The Division 2 which was recently released to Destiny 2 that was released two years ago, undergoing multiple fixes and upgrades over the years.
But then again this only strengthens my point that The Division 2 is better at release.
Another issue I’m afraid that I have to address is the lack of streamlined QoL in Destiny 2. I applaud the bulk delete feature in The DivisionÂ 2. It shows that the developers truly understand the struggle of deleting multiple trash items in one fell swoop. I remember spending at least half an hour just dismantling my vault of legendary items just to clear the excessive useless items hoarded over time.
Look at all that crap. That’s an hours worth of holding Square.
Winner: The Division 2, but only by a slight margin.
Bungie’s Destiny 2 is a great game, it truly is, but that is only after two years of improvements. The Division 2 got it right the moment it saw sunlight, and I believe the game can only get better in the future.
Destiny 2 missed so many no-brainer decisions such as the bulk delete feature, powerful weapons and many more. For what reason? I would never know.
Division 2 vs Anthem
Oh my dear lord, what happened to you, BioWare. If The Division 2 is on the good, praised side of the spectrum, Anthem lies on the exact opposite end of it. Anthem was, and is still a problematic game. Be it from the mechanics, or the loot, or the game breaking (and console-breaking) bugs that lie within the game.
[videopress ZwjvKBdc]

The only attraction factor I see within Anthem is the Iron Man-esque flying suits. It’s practically Iron Man simulator, except that it has more bugs than the Amazon forest.

Another thing that I think Anthem got in its favour is the stunning graphics. Anthem is like that high school crush, she has all the looks and that sweet smile, but that’s about it.
The game’s combat system isn’t a solid conversation topic. There’s nothing outstanding about Anthem, as compared to the streamlined and seamless world of The Division 2.
Where Anthem has a million loading screens just to get into another loading screen, The Division 2 has close to none. Imagine how seamless the experience is, I simply need to walk into a mission area, complete the mission, then walk out into the open world, not a single loading screen in sight. That’s perfect, textbook unbroken flow of gameplay right there.
Well, I don’t think I have much to say about Anthem other than it is one heckuva mess right now and nothing interesting.
Winner: The Division 2, by a long shot.
This one is a clear victory, nothing can compare to the sheer disappointment of Anthem right now.
Division 2 vs Warframe
Warframe, one of the best free-to-play looter shooters out there. With strong developer support and a massive and alive community that makes this a fun game to pick up anytime on Steam, PS4 or the Nintendo Switch. You can swing by the subreddit to ask a question and expect a speedy answer.

There’s massive content waiting to be discovered especially after the Fortuna update. Then again, The Division 2 is still waiting for its 8-man raid coming soon, and more.

But with a free-to-play game, there will be certain microtransactions. Take, for example, crafting. You can speed up crafting by spending some real-world cash.
However, there is one thing I’m sure that’s missing from The Division 2, and that is Fashion Frame. Check this beauty out:
A purdy Garuda frame
The Division 2 is great in a lot of ways. Yes, we are still waiting for new content,Â but the base content that we have now is already vast. Not to mention, the power curve is just nice for hardcore grinders and casual players alike.
WarframeÂ has a lot to offer after years and years worth of updates, and the community is a healthy one, something you don’t usually see in these types of games. The power fantasy is clear, and the customisations are only limited by your imagination and money.
Winner: Tie.
What got Warframe this tie with Ubisoft’s game is its endless customisation and number of playable frames with its tons of abilities. That’s the perfect space ninja formula. This is something The Division 2 and its SHD Tech and Skill upgrades balance out the equation, offering tons of abilities, but only without the huge cosmetic potential. I wouldn’t expect The Division 2Â to have massive cosmetic flexibility, because it’s a military-based shooter, and soldiers don’t wear pink Syndanas to battle.

With all that out of the way, I urge fans of looter shooters to give it The Division 2 a try. It is worth your effort and you’ll be handsomely rewarded with one of the most satisfying games of 2019, I mean, just look at our review score, even the public beta was fun.
Trust me, put your Anthem and Destiny 2 aside for a few days, you’ll thank me for it.
Picture courtesy of Ubisoft, Bungie and u/pacading.


Gaming, Gambling, and Gacha

“They’re not lootboxes, they’re surprise mechanics,” – Kerry Hopkins, EA’s VP of legal and government affairs.
Jim Sterling recently released a video on how the predatory nature of video game monetization has resulted in dangerously unhealthy habits. Out of many issues, the video highlights how lootboxes are turning the games we love into traps of gambling addiction.
It’s Not Easy

One of the major problems surrounding gambling addiction is that it cannot be attributed to any specific ingested substance. A lot of people dismiss unhealthy behaviours such as gambling and shopping addiction because it’s easier to blame individuals for their lack of discipline.

It’s never that simple. Like how alcohol and drug addiction often require medical intervention, it’s the same for these cases.

It’s hard to imagine anyone would ever want someone to be afflicted with a form of addiction. It’s something that destroys lives and ruins relationships.
However, there are companies that benefit from addictive behaviour and thus they deliberately include addictive elements into their products and/or services. This is becoming the modus operandi of many game companies throughout the world.

Torulf JernstrÃ¶m, CEO of mobile game company Tribeflame, gave a talk titled “Let’s Go Whaling” at Pocket Gamer Connects 2016. The 20-minute session detailed the various methods used to pressure players into purchasing in-game items and time-savers. The best part is that Torulf even mentions that he’d prefer to overlook the morality of his actions and advice.
The aforementioned talk uses the term “whales” to describe players who spend incredulous amounts of real money for in-game benefits. The common perception is that these whales are simply rich kids with access to their parents’ credit cards but of course, this isn’t entirely true.
Gambling addicts trying to find escapism through video games are just one of the many groups preyed on by these companies.
Shady Tactics

Not too long ago, there was also the issue of kids being bullied and ostracised for not spending money on games. Those who didn’t purchase any paid skins in Fortnite were called “defaults” by their peers at school. This utilisation of herd mentality to pressure players into spending money is also a part of Torulf‘s methodology.
Unfortunately, the future doesn’t paint a pretty picture for those of us hoping that the presence of lootboxes and pay-to-win boosters will be reduced. Mobile gaming is expected to remain as the largest global games market at least for the next 3 years, according to a report by Newzoo.
Since most mobile games depend on monetization through pay-to-win and gacha mechanics, companies making console and PC games will want to adopt the same business philosophy.
On The Flip Side

The problem here is that mobile games are often free-to-play. You don’t have to purchase the game to play it. The same can’t be said about most AAA console and PC games. Most of these titles cost around RM179 brand new. By being designed to accommodate lootboxes and other pay-to-win features, players are pressured to spend more money on these games in order to work around the time-wasters and other forms of artificial lengthening.
One bright spot of hope that surfaces is that several governments around the world are taking note of these developments. Regulation and legislation of lootboxes and other forms of monetization are being reviewed in countries such as China, Japan, the UK, the U.S., and many others. We do hope that this issue gets the regulation it deserves or at least some semblance of control.


Fantasy Strike Tier List And Tips: How To Get Good In This F2P Fighting Game

This guide will be updated periodically; we’re still playing it and figuring it out.Â
Fantasy Strike, a 2D fighting game on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS4, has recently adopted the free-to-play model: the game’s matchmaking, online, tutorial, practice, and current roster are available for all to play for no charge.
As such, the game has been seeing a lot more reception and playtime than usual, and deservedly so. Fantasy Strike removes the execution barrier that’s (in)famous for its genre but preserves its nuances and complexities. You move forward and backwards, jump with a button, and pull off attacks with three separate buttons (plus a throw and Super move button).
At the same time, tactics such as footsies, zoning, mixups, and counterattacks/throw punishes are used to win matches. Less fiddling with controls, more focus on mindgames and reactions. The fact that it’s made by a company led by former Street Fighter 2 developer Dave Sirlin speaks volumes about the quality and design of the title.
We decided to craft up a guide that features tips not present in the game’s tutorial. Do that segment first, then check out the rest of the guide to up your game.
Tips & Tricks
Get Used To Yomi Counters and Jumping Using A Separate Button
Fantasy Strike’s streamlined controls mean that even fighting game veterans will need to acclimatize to its new control scheme.
To do a Yomi Counter, don’t press anything and don’t hold any direction on your d-pad. Just let go of the controls for a brief second and let your opponent throw you. You’ll instantly do a counter move that damages your opponent and net you a full Super meter.
Play The Tutorial, Then Practice Every Character
Fantasy Strike removes input complications and execution barriers in fighting games, which means you have a lot of time to practice and figure out each of the main cast in the game. Everyone plays differently from the grappler Midori to the rushdown Tits McGee fighting game archetype Valerie.
If you want to get far in Casual and Ranked mode, you’ll need to understand how everyone plays and sort out their strengths and weaknesses. You’ll not only realize how punishable Onimaru is after his attacks, but also how Geiger is the ultimate stonewall. And also why the next page’s tier list makes sense.
Let’s now do character-specific tips.
When Using Valerie, Use Her Air Super More

It opens up a ton of mixup potential. Once you pull off her color wheel Air Super, you can either (i) jump + B, (ii) do B rekkas and end with a crossup or front attack, or (iii) do nothing and wait for a whiff. Either one of these is the right answer depending on how your opponent reacts. To get to this point, you may need to start fishing for throws from your opponent to get that sweet Yomi Counter bonus.
Setsuki’s Jump+C Can Cancel To A Jump+A Attack

Setsuki’s Jump+C isn’t just a nice getaway tool. You can cancel it to do a 2-hit combo air attack that lands either at the front or the back of your opponent. It’s essentially one more useful mixup tool to keep your opponent guessing, or even bait them to do an uppercut.
Don’t Forget About Jaina’s Divekick

Remember when we said earlier to “get used to not doing inputs and holding directions for a fraction of a second” for Yomi Counters? Jaina’s offensive toolset is the reason why.
While you should still use projectiles and space properly using this red-clad bow-and-arrow lady (and use the occasional B invincible uppercut and Jump Super), do not forget that she can go offensive when needed. Use her divekick to close space or even go super-close, because chances are your opponent will mash a throw out.
That’s when you do nothing for a free Yomi Counter and meter, leading to more Jump Super arrow shenanigans and keep-away nonsense.
Grave Has A Simple Mixup After Throw

While Grave is classified as a zoner, don’t count out his offensive capabilities. After you land a back throw, immediately jump. Then either go for a front jump kick or jump B for a simple crossup. Simple, yet effective.
Also, use his Jump C wind power-up whenever you can. His fireballs are buffed temporarily and are great to keep your opponent away.
Use Rook’s Jump C For Plenty Of Mixup Opportunities

Once you score a knockdown with Rook, your opponent is pretty much DOA if you play your cards right. You can either Jump A for a simple body splash mixup followed up with A. Or do a Jump C in front of them; this earthshaker ground pound move is pretty hard to react to.
Or you can go for a ground C if your opponent is known to do simple ground wakeup moves. The possibilities are endless. To score the actual knockdown though? That’s the tough part you have to figure on your own. My advice? His ground B has armour and makes him travel forward a tad, while doing regular Jump C stuns your opponent as you keep walking forward. Slowly.
Use Midori’s Super To Get Past Fireball Traps

Midori is an effective grappler, but he will have trouble getting up-close, especially against zoners. If you see either Grave or Jaina throw out a fireball, just use Super. Then in his Midori dragon form, do his flying forward grab since it has armour to power through it.
Getting meter for Super can be tricky, which is why you need to use Midori’s parries to build it up quicker.
NEXT: Fantasy Strike Tier List


Midway Is Such Garbage That You’re Better Off Watching A WW2 Documentary

What distinguishes war movies from war documentaries? A lot of things. War movies often add fluff and shine like tales of heroism or romance to historical events, which can be seen in movies like 2001’s Pearl Harbor or 2017’s Dunkirk. They are exciting and intense, none of which can be used to describe Roland Emmerich’s Midway.
War, What Is It Good For?
MID_D55_17469.NEF
Where do I even begin? Midway is supposed to tell the thrilling true story of the US Navy sailors and aviators persevered through the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, before the iconic Battle of Midway itself, which was a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II leading to the eventual surrender of Japan.
I was prepared for a grittier and more authentic take on Pearl Harbor and the Battle Of Midway, though I didn’t actually expect anything from Emmerich, the master of early 2000s disaster movies. His movies are often explosive CGI-fests with characters who exhibit little to no real development.

Despite the US$100 million production budget, the CGI used in Midway looks like remnants of the early 2000s, with movies like Independence Day and 2012 coming to mind.
They’re so clearly unconvincing that it’s hard to take any of the battle scenes seriously when you could practically see the green-screen effects bursting at the seams.

Midway is more than two hours long (138 minutes),Â  but it ultimately feels closer to double that runtime.Â  I rarely check out the time while watching a movie, but I did with this movie on account of how utterly boring it is. I was surprised to find that barely an hour has passed when it felt more like an eternity.

A war movie requires a certain sense of urgency to push the plot along, but Midway lacks any of that.
The movie just drags along at a frustratingly slow and stilted pace, with no buildup whatsoever.
It feels like you’re stuck in a moment in time, but instead of attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion, you’re left witnessing dodgy CGI and emotionless performances from actors who look like they’re there to cash in an effortless paycheck.

Absolutely Nothing

Midway boasts an ensemble cast featuring the likes of Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Woody Harrelson, and many more. Unfortunately, it fails to capitalize on the massive mountain of talent it has at its disposal with a weak-ass script. None of the actors looks like they want to put in even an ounce of effort into their performances.
Who can blame them? The script is corny at times, and downright embarrassing most of the times. The only actor who looks like they took their role seriously is Ed Skrein as war hero Lieutenant Richard “Dick” Best. He is essentially the main protagonist of the movie and does decently with the material that he has.

However, with the rest of the cast looking like they’d rather be anywhere else but there filming Midway, the movie loses any and all emotional value.
I didn’t care for any of the characters in the movie, even as they died and sacrificed themselves for the war effort.
Something that should have evoked feelings of inspirations and a myriad of other emotions, instead of left me there feeling absolutely nothing.

For a war movie, which often lives and dies by its heroes (unsung or otherwise), Midway has failed to make viewers connect with the characters. I feel like a documentary would’ve done a much better job in making me care about these historical figures and what they did in the war.
Time To Tune Into The History Channel

The worst crime that Midway committed was the fact that I almost fell asleep during the climax, which is when the movie’s depiction of the famed Battle Of Midway actually took place. The somewhat subpar dogfights are marred by the bad CGI, making me lose interest quickly during scenes when I should have been invested in.
The cinematic recreation of such a pivotal moment in World War 2 shouldn’t have made me bored out of my mind. I couldn’t wait for the movie to finish even one hour into it. Say what you want about Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor but at least I could finish watching that without feeling like robbed me of my precious time.
Please, do yourself a favour and just watch a World War 2 documentary on the History Channel or Netflix. Rest assured that you’ll have a far more entertaining time than watching Midway.
FINAL SCORE: 20/100
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9laReRAYFk&w=560&h=315]
We received a preview screening courtesy of TGV Cinemas. Midway premieres in Malaysian cinemas on 7 November 2019.


Shigeru Miyamoto: There Will Be More Nintendo Movies Coming

The Super Mario Bros. Movie came out on 6th April in most of the world, and despite many critics being middling about the film, audiences flat-out loved it. As a result, the film drew in US$725 million for the past two weeks worldwide, with the film finally out in Malaysia on the 20th April (followed by an epic TGV launch party launched by Kakuchopurei).
Following the huge success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie, Mario creator and one of Nintendo’s lead designers Shigeru Miyamoto said officially that there is “no doubt” that he will make another film based on Nintendo franchises (via Nihon Keizai Shimbun; thanks, My Nintendo News). He said in the interview that movie adaptations are one of the main pillars in the game business, and he regarded Nintendo as a talent office that aims to grow by utilizing various intellectual properties (IP) the company has made throughout its many years in the video game industry.
Which Nintendo IPs Should Be Made Into Films Post-Mario?

We have a few ideas.

A live-action Metroid film, a PG-13 sci-fi horror show with vibes from Ridley Scott’s Alien.
A Kirby movie where the main hero Kirby doesn’t speak a word of dialogue, filled with loads of colours.
A Kid Icarus film; a Greek mythology action cartoon. Hey, it was already in the Mario film in game form, right? The Kid Icarus: Uprising story was pretty good, so why not adapt that?
Luigi’s Mansion spin-off movie. Charlie Day’s Luigi was great, but we want more cowardly Luigi action.
A Donkey Kong Country spin-off movie. Despite what many people say, Seth Rogen does draw in a crowd and it’ll be great to see a film expand upon the Kong family (Diddy, Dixie, and Chunky, who are already in the Super Mario Bros. movie) fighting against new enemies like the Kremling army ruled by one King K.Rool.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to Nintendo movies, since the company has way too many IPs that can rise from their obscurity graves. Or just need more of a cinematic popularity boost!


Remedy Partners With Tencent Co-Op Multiplayer Title, Vanguard

Remedy Entertainment, the company behind games like Control and Alan Wake, has signed a global development, license, and distribution agreement with Chinese giant Tencent for a new co-operative multiplayer game that is currently codenamed Vanguard.
According to the press release,Â Remedy Entertainment will publish the game worldwide, while Tencent will localize and publish the game for selected Asian markets, as well as also develop and publish a mobile version of the game.
Remedy Entertainment CEO Tero Virtala said:
â€œVanguard marks Remedyâ€™s first entry into Games-as-a-Service business model, executed by our top tier team of free-to-play experts. We are building something new and exciting for co-operative multiplayer space, on top of Remedyâ€™s strengths.
Expanding our capabilities to take on publishing responsibilities is the next step in the development of our company.
We are excited for this long-term partnership with Tencent and with confidence can say that it is an excellent fit in supporting Vanguardâ€™s ambitious plans. Vanguard is a global opportunity, and Tencent can support Remedy internationally, and lead the operations in Asia and the mobile markets.â€
Not much is known about Vanguard yet, except that it will be a free-to-play, co-operative PvE shooter that combines Remedyâ€™s narrative expertise and action gameplay into an immersive multiplayer experience. Based on an original IP, the game is being developed with the Unreal Engine for PC and console platforms with a AAA budget.
Remedy Entertainment also recently announced Alan Wake 2 at The Game Awards 2021. Control was originally launched for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Games Store in August 2019, followed by PC via Steam in August 2020. We namedÂ ControlÂ one of the best games of 2019. You can also check outÂ our review of the game here.


New DICE Job Listings Hint At Major Next-Gen Effort

EA DICE is the studio responsible for franchises like Battlefield, the new Star Wars Battlefront, and Mirror’s Edge. They recently updated their official website with loads of new job listings, which begs the question: Why is EA DICE going on such a huge hiring spree?
It’s easy to see why. The next generation of gaming is going to kick off later this year with the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and DICE will is likely gearing up for it with a brand new Battlefield game of some kind. DICE’s last major title was 2018’s Battlefield V, so the developer must have something up its sleeves in the near future.

DICE is hiring:
Artists
Animators
TA
Designer
Producers
Development Directors
UI
Quality Analysts
Data Analysts
HR
Managers
Engineers
Interns
…
We’re hiring a lot ok?
Check it out:https://t.co/ttI2DKMu8J#gamejobs #gamedevjobs pic.twitter.com/2Q0o2hpE31
â€” JD (@JanDavidHassel) February 7, 2020
Most of the new job listings are for the EA DICE headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, but there are also some openings for their LA branch as well. This includes major roles like Development Director, Senior 3D Artist, Senior UI Artist, and more.
Some of these jobs tease new advancements like weather effects, ray tracing tech, and more. With a new Call Of Duty game coming out this year, I’m sure that DICE doesn’t want to miss out on another year with a new Battlefield instalment. Battlefield V focused on World War 2, but a Battlefield VI could always go back to modern warfare.


Delve Into Viking History With The Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Podcast

Ubisoft has announced that all the episodes from the Echoes of Valhalla podcast documentary series are now available on Spotify.
Echoes Of Valhalla invites listeners with a deep dive into Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla’s historical era and setting. It features a captivating story with insights from great Viking experts.Â
Listeners will relive the epic adventures of Scandinavian warriors invading England, with a podcast that feels more like a documentary, showcasing the different aspects of Viking society. These include military strategy, shipbuilding, and the role of women.Â
The Echoes of Valhalla podcast series is divided into five episodes of 15 minutes each. The immersive audio historical documentary series will feature comedians, well-known experts and reconstructed scenes:
Episode 1 : The Sons of the Great NorthEpisode 2 : Dragon of the SeasEpisode 3 : Thorâ€™s HammerEpisode 4 : Birth of an EmpireEpisode 5 : the Dawn of a New Era
You can start listening to Echoes Of Valhalla below.

Assassinâ€™s Creed ValhallaÂ is slated to launch on 10 November 2020 for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS4, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on PC. However, it will only release for the PS5 on 12 November 2020.


Watch The Sonic The Hedgehog Prototype In Action!

YouTube channel Hidden Palace has revealed the first-ever playthrough of the Sonic The Hedgehog prototype for the Sega Megadrive/Genesis.
So what makes this version different than the final release of the game? Well, this prototype has:

The ball that was in screenshot previews of Sonic The Hedgehog back in the 90s.
Unused enemies and assets, like the Pink flowers in Green Hill Zone and UFOs in Marble Zone.
Sparkling Zone and Clock Work Zone, which were renamed and redesigned as Spring Yard Zone and Scrap Yard Zone.
No ending or credits. It’s a prototype: the game will bring you to the start screen if you reach past Star Light Zone.

You can read more about the prototype here. It’s great stuff if you’re into retro gaming back in the early 90s!


My Hero Ultra Impact Mobile Game Kicks Off Pre-Registration

Bandai Namco has announced that My Hero Ultra Impact is now available for pre-registration on the App Store and Google Play Store. It’s a new mobile game based on the extremely popular My Hero Academia manga and anime.
The English version is a direct translation of the current Japanese version of My Hero Ultra Impact, which has already surpassed three million downloads since its release in May 2021. With the release, the English version of My Hero Ultra Impact will be fully up to date with the Japanese version of the game, including characters, features and events (though there may be some differences between versions). This means that players will gain access to a broad variety of content immediately.
When the game eventually launches, all players will receive Hero Gems as an in-game reward. The Hero Gem reward will rise according to the number of preregistered users, up to a maximum of 500 (enough for a 10x Recruits reward).
In My Hero Ultra Impact, players can experience a 3v3 battle system using quirks of characters from the source material. In the PvP Ultra Arena, you can build special teams of the heroes and villains you’ve trained, and pit them against other players’ teams to see who comes out on top.
There will also be a story mode, which begins with the meeting of the main character, Izuku Midoriya, and the Number One Hero, All Might. Fans can look forward to recreating the attack on USJ, the U.A. Sports Festival, the League of Villains and the Shie Hassaikai.
You can pre-register for My Hero Ultra ImpactÂ at the links below:

App Store
https://apps.apple.com/app/id1548871462?mt=8
Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bandainamcoent.hiroacawwus


Valorant Champions Tour 2022: North American Last Chance Qualifier – China’s EDward Gaming Qualify For Champions

China will finally show what they got as their top seed, EDward Gaming secures the last East Asian slot at Valorant Champions in September.
With high hopes that they will be able to obtain visas allowing the team to go to Istanbul, the roster will be Haodong “Haodong” Guo, Donghao “Life” Qu, Shunzhi “CHICHOO” Wan, Senxu “nobody” Wang and Yongkang “ZmjjKK” Zheng. Following them will be their coaching staff in Shijun “Muggle” Tang and former Taiwanese Overwatch player, Wen-Hsin “AfteR” Lo.

EDward Gaming‘s road to Champions was clean, to say the least, having not dropped a single map the entire tournament. In their first match, they faced On Sla2ers where they dismantled them and send the Korean squad into the lower bracket 2–0.
The Japanese side in REJECT would be EDG’s next opponent. EDG dominated Map 1 on Fracture 13–3. REJECT managed to bounce back in Game 2 bringing it close but no cigar with the final scoreline being 13–11.
In the upper bracket final, the Chinese powerhouse would go on to face the tournament favourites in Northeption, a team that just came back from competing at VCT Masters 2 in Copenhagen. Game 1 was on Ascent which EDG took 13–8. The main talking point was Game 2 where the Japanese side gave EDG a run for their money as they push Bind into long overtime but EDG managed to close out the map 21–19.
After being sent into the lower bracket finals, Northeption would be knocked out by none other than EDG’s very first opponent, On Sla2ers meaning that the Koreans would get a chance at getting revenge on the eventual winners. After being annihilated in Game 1 on Fracture, 13–4, On Sla2ers almost managed to take Game 2, Haven but fell short 11–13. With EDG at map point but it had seemed that EDG had a firm grasp on the momentum and closed out Game 3, Split 13–9 solidifying their spot at Valorant Champions.
This will be the first international event a Chinese team will play so analysts and fans alike look forward to seeing how the Chinese deal with the rest of the world, or how the rest of the world will deal with Chinese Valorant.


Arcane: League of Legends Netflix Series Gets Renewed For Second Season

The League of Legends animated series has been seeing a lot of praise and success thanks to its story, its fleshing out of MOBA characters, and lovely art direction and animation. So much so that the show is getting a follow-up.
Netflix and Riot Games have confirmed that its hit animated event series will be returning for a second season. Arcane co-creators Christian Linke and Alex Yee said the following:
“We’re beyond happy about the positive response to Arcane’s first season and are working hard with the creative wizards at Riot and Fortiche to deliver our second installment.”
Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, and Katie Leung will be reprising their roles as Vi, Jinx, and Caitlyn respectively.Â No release window has been announced yet. For more Arcane, check out our interviews with the creators and the VOs of Jinx and Caitlyn respectively.


The Video Game Dads That Are Currently Celebrating Father’s Day

Just like moms in video games, dads in video games are pretty important. In fact, dad-and-offspring is a sub-genre of sorts that is all the rage these past few years if games like God of War, Dishonored, and The Witcher 3 are of any indication.
Here are our favourite Father’s Day posts featuring video game dads from yesterday to today, since it’s still Father’s Day on the other side of the world.

Happy Father’s Day from everyone at Santa Monica Studio! ?? pic.twitter.com/8goZucigg3
— Santa Monica Studio – God of War Ragnarök (@SonySantaMonica) June 20, 2021

We’ll start with the obvious one: Kratos. He’s done a lot of bloody violent stuff back then when he was a Greek God, but he turn into a father that Atreus needs through the course of the journey. He dishes out tough love, but it’s necessary since the world they’re in is brutal and unforgiving. Read more about that here.

Happy #FathersDay! ? pic.twitter.com/9ljHbMkcqD
— The Witcher (@witchergame) June 20, 2021

The Witcher 3 wouldn’t be a memorable and heartfelt narrative without the story of Geralt of Rivia and his adopted daughter Ciri.

Empress Emily Kaldwin, seen here spending quality time with Corvo to wish him & everyone out there a happy #FathersDay ! pic.twitter.com/evIP4iUHz4
— Bethesda (@bethesda) June 20, 2021

Dishonored and Dishonored 2 showcases the “like father, like daughter” trope with super-assassin Corvo and his daughter Emily Caldwell.

The ancient traditions of #FathersDay have not changed all that much since the age of classical antiquity pic.twitter.com/V9PWpuiXYZ
— Supergiant Games (@SupergiantGames) June 20, 2021

One of last year’s Games of the Year is about a son named Zagreus trying to escape the Underworld to see his mom. His major obstacle is his dad Hades who eventually warms up to him, so it’s rather fitting that the two can bond over Underworld fishing.


Peter Jackson Was Ghosted By Amazon’s Lord Of The Rings Series

One does not simply offer to send Peter Jackson a Lord of the Rings TV show script and leave the man hanging.
The Oscar-winning director of the LOTR and The Hobbit trilogies said he was promised to be sent scripts from the Lord of the Rings: Rings Of Power TV series and get him on-board. Amazon never contacted him again (via Hollywood Reporter).
“They asked me if I wanted to be involved — [writer-producer Fran Walsh] and I — and I said, ‘That’s an impossible question to answer without seeing a script’. So they said, ‘As soon as we get the first couple of scripts, we’ll send them to you.’ And the scripts never showed up. That’s the last thing I heard, which is fine. No complaints at all.”
Despite this, Jackson will still watch the LOTR TV series.
“I’ll be watching it. I’m not the sort of guy who wishes ill will. Filmmaking is hard enough. If somebody makes a good film or TV show, it’s something to celebrate. The one thing I am looking forward to is actually seeing it as a perfectly neutral viewer. [Amazon is] betting the farm on Tolkien.”
It seems like they are, given the show’s massive half-billion US dollar budget. What did Amazon say to all this? Here’s the official comment:
“In pursuing the rights for our show, we were obligated to keep the series distinct and separate from the films. We have the utmost respect for Peter Jackson and The Lord of The Rings films and are thrilled that he is looking forward to watching The Rings of Power.”
The backstory behind this is legally tricky. As much as the Rings of Power showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are fans of the LOTR movie adaptations and Peter Jackson, they and Amazon have legal concerns about keeping the films and TV show separate since the former is owned by Warner Bros.
The TV show also had tons of executive changes, with ex-genre of programming Sharon Tal Yguado departing the company in 2019; she was the one who advocated luring Peter Jackson to the project. The J.R.R. Tolkien estate were against having Jackson on board, as Christopher Tolkien slammed the trilogy for “eviscerating” his father’s books. And somehow the estate is fine with the US$250 million they got from Amazon just for the LOTR rights alone for this:

The LOTR: The Rings of Power Amazon TV show will be out on 2nd September.


This Renegade Video Game Company Will Not Do NFTs

In what could be a common-sense statement made bold, PlatinumGames said it will not be interested in NFTs, or non-fungible tokens.
According to a recent Videogame Chronicles interview, CEO Atsushi Inaba was pretty blunt with his comments on NFTs.
“I understand itâ€™s a hot topic right now, and itâ€™s really starting to gain momentum, but the way that itâ€™s gained momentum has been focused on profitability for the company, but with no positive impact on the creators or the users in any sense. So thatâ€™s frustrating to see happening.
But how does it benefit the user or the creator? If I want to spend my time on something, I want it to benefit making good games.
As content gets more and more digital, I do think that NFT as a concept will gain more importance, but I think that the early adopters are just seeing it as a way to profit as much as possible. Thatâ€™s not something Iâ€™m interested in being part of, to be honest.”
Game designer and second-in-command Hideki Kamiya was also pretty blunt with his words:
“I have zero interest in this subject. It doesnâ€™t have any benefit for users at the moment. In the future, if itâ€™s expanded in a way that has a positive side for users, then maybe Iâ€™ll start to be interested in what they do with it. But Iâ€™m not seeing that at the moment.
[Regarding Konami pursuing NFTs], if it smells like money, Konamiâ€™s going to be there in a heartbeat!”
That last sentence was his thoughts about whether he was surprised that Konami is on the NFT trend. He wasn’t. On a related note, PlatinumGames’ next title Sol Cresta will be out this month.


The 30 Best Games Of 2021: #12

Every day from late December 2021 to mid-January 2022, we’ll be revealing our top 30 games of 2021 bit by bit. Here’s number 12!
#12: Halo Infinite

Platforms: Xbox Series, Xbox One, PC
Let’s be honest. 343 Industries and Xbox Studios’ newest 2021 shooter game starring some guy in green armour isn’t going to sell you on its plot and narrative alone, which feels like they have conveniently ignored what they established in Halo 4 and Halo 5.Â  It sure as hell isn’t going to sell you on its story missions which takes place in the many grey futuristic corridors that even put past Halo Library stage copy-pasta scenarios to shame. Unless you’re a hardcore fan of the franchise, that is.
Rather, Halo Infinite’s selling point is the single-player open field campaign where you can traipse across the map with your Grappleshot (the game’s grappling hook tool), experiment with creative solutions to take down Covenant Banished outposts with your arsenal of firepower and skills, and then repeat the process but with different approaches in the rest of Zeta Halo’s expanse. And let’s not forget the game’s free-to-play multiplayer which is easily the most accessible yet most fun we’ve had in years, thanks to a respectable selection of arsenal backed by a solid list of distinct and colourful maps.
Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel Â Halo,Â 343 instead slapped on some fancy alloy rims to along with some runflats. And boy did it worked.
Sure they hit a minor speed bump at the start no thanks to the grindy nature of its battle pass progression system but 343 Industries did the right thing – listening to their player base and improving it over time. In a year where Call of Duty released ANOTHER World War 2 themed installment and Battlefield doing Battlefield things – pulling off yet another disastrous launch – Halo Infinite is this year’s sole saving grace when it comes to competitive, FPS multiplayer.


Borderlands 3 Maurice Black Market Location â€“ Week 3

Another week, another new location for Borderland 3’s teleporting vending machine featuring high-tier loot.
Here’s where you can find this week’s Maurice Black Market vending machine. It’s at Lectra City (where you fight Killavolt to farm for Monarchs), just nearby Moxsy’s Bar. You cannot miss it.

Here are the guns you can buy from the vendor:

Faisor Assault Rifle
Bitch SMG
Ginormous Bangarang XL Pistol

You can ignore the Bitch; just get the Faisor and Bangarang.


Watch A Ton Of Utawarerumono ZAN 2 Gameplay Here

Publisher Aquaplus and developer Tamsoft just released new gameplay for its upcoming action game spin-off for its hit adult visual novel franchise Utawarerumono, a title that is pretty tough to enunciate and pronounce. Which is pretty rich coming from us, but whatever.
Utawarerumono ZAN 2 will be out for PS4 and PS5 for Japan on 22nd July. The game is part hack-and-slash 3D action game ala Dynasty/Samurai Warriors, but with a brighter anime palette and more furries. See, Utawarerumono is set in a mythical world where humans and beastfolk try to live in harmony. The main plot revolving around a dude named Haku who has a mansion keeping fugitive female beastfolk safe from outside forces.
The sequel to Utawarerumono ZAN features a new evolved battle system, three player co-op online play, new scenarios based on the Mask of Truth story arc, and fresh boss fights and dungeon areas. Check out the new gameplay below.


Sifu Sales Top 1 Million Units

Sloclap announced that it has sold 1 million units of its hit action kungfu game Sifu in its first three weeks of release.
The indie developer also announced a few more stats:

Over 10 million hours have been played.
More than 45 percent of players have completed the challenging second level of the game.
Over 150,000 players have already mastered kung fu enough to beat Yang, the gameâ€™s main antagonist.

Here’s the official statement from Sloclap’s executive producer Pierre Tarno:
“We are thrilled by the reception ofÂ Sifu from both fans and press alike. We set out to create an authentic, kung fu action game that paid homage to our favourite kung fu films. Weâ€™re thankful for our fans around the world but we are especially humbled by the incredible reception the game has had in China.
Our internal metric of success was how well the game was received there and knowing that fans in China are the largest segment of our sales outside of North America and the positive reviews from Chinese critics means a lot to us.”

Sifu came out for PlayStation 5, PS4, and PC (Epic Games Store) on 8th February, with a physical release due on 3 May. For more Sifu, check out our review and guide.


KKP Best Of 2020: Game #28

Click here for the rest of the 2020 GOTYs so far. Here are numbers 30 and 29.Â
#28. The Last Of Us Part 2 (PS4)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/lZ8E6lEFw94

The Last Of Us Part 2 remains one of the most divisive games of 2020, in case you’ve been living under a rock and away from Twitter and the interwebs. However, I think the game comes close to being a worthy successor to 2013’s The Last Of Us.
You can read my 4000-word piece on the matter here for more details, but I still think that The Last Of Us Part 2 accomplished something extraordinary with its narrative. It’s more than simply a cycle of violence perpetually repeating itself, as both protagonists/antagonists Ellie and Abby are mirrors of each other.
The toxicity of pain and hate (from the death of their loves ones) caused them to push away their living loved ones and lose them in the process. Those who bothered to play the game until the end will understand that The Last Of Part 2 is ultimately about breaking the cycle of violence and overcoming hate.
As for the gameplay, The Last Of Us Part 2 features an improved and smoother combat system, albeit one that doesn’t do much to innovate from its predecessor.

You’ll like The Last of Us Part 2 if you enjoyed the same satisfying and polished mechanics from the first game. But really: you’re here to witness how two characters aren’t so far apart; how they’re the same coin but on different and violent sides.


Sony Pulls PS Now Gift Cards, May Signal The Arrival Of PS Game Pass

UK store retailers have been asked to remove PlayStation Now subscription cards from their stores by 21 January 2022. In a statement to IGN, PlayStation said:
â€œGlobally, we are moving from PlayStation Now Gift cards to focus on our current cash denomination PlayStation gift cards, which can be redeemed for PlayStation Now.â€
While that’s PlayStation’s official statement on the matter, we can’t help but wonder if this move also means that Sony is closer to announcing their own Game Pass-like service. In December 2021, a Bloomberg report claimed that Sony Interactive Entertainment will introduce a new service code-named Spartacus, which will offer a catalogue of modern and classic games for a monthly fee.
The source even says that Sony will phase out PlayStation Now, which is what’s already slowly happening right now. The PlayStation Spartacus Game Pass-like service is expected to launch in Spring 2022, with different prices for different tiers. We’ll have to wait to see if there’s any truth to all that, but 2022 will likely be a big year for the games industry as a whole as the next-gen consoles start making their mark.


Does The PS5 DualSense Controller Have A Headphone Jack?

Yesterday, Sony PlayStation finally unveiled the official PS5 DualSense controller, confirming several new features about the new next-gen controller. However, the company didn’t explicitly mention anything about whether an important and frequently-used feature from the PS4’s DualShock 4 will be returning;
The 3.5mm headphone audio jack.

In the official images seen so far, it does look like a visible audio jack is there at the bottom of the controller, but it could also possibly be something else.
PlayStation product manager Toshimasa Aoki has confirmed on his personal Twitter account that:
Yes, the PS5 DualSense controller does indeed have an audio jack.

Still have an audio jack so you can plug in your own headsets like DS4
â€” Toshimasa Aoki (@toshimasa_aoki) April 8, 2020
You may be asking, why is the headphone jack so important when the PS5 DualSense controller already has a built-in microphone? Well, it allows players to plug a compatible gaming headset into their controller, so they’re not forced to buy new and expensive wireless ones.
The fact that the PS5 DualSense controller has an audio jack means that players can probably continue to use their existing gaming headsets with the PS5, especially since Sony is hyping the next-gen console’s immersive Tempest 3D audio so much.
While we’re still waiting to hear if this new 3D audio tech on the PS5 will work on all headsets or earphones, at least for now, gamers can be safely-assured that they will still be able to plug in headsets into the new PS5 DualSense controllers later this year.
In the meantime,Â head on over here to check out all our other PS5-related news and feature articles.


World Of Dragon Nest Guide – How To Bump Up Your Attack Rating

After so many years, the devs of Dragon Nest has figured out how to cram its action RPG into the mobile space. And it’s pretty fun!
Gone are the days of repetitive dungeon-crawling and gender-locked classes: now you have a (kinda) open-world setting to deal with, alongside dual-wielding, male and female roles, and a new fifth class just for this game. But the one major change that the game takes from other online titles these days is a number system that determines your power level: Combat Power.
Before we dive down that proverbial mutant duck hole, some bonus tips for this mobile RPG!

Farm in Main Quests and Dungeons whenever you can, so you can get the skill points, exp., and extra gold.
Participate in Nests so you can get rare loot.

We done? Let’s get to the meat of this guide…
What The Heck Is Combat Power?
CP for short, this value is basically your power level that determines how strong your character is. It also is a prerequisite for dungeons; if you have a good amount of CP, you can tackle certain areas just fine.
So how do you bump up this number and eventually get better at the game? You have a number of ways to do so.

#1. Level Up
This is the most basic way to increase your CP. You just need to level up to increase your Combat Power. There are multiple ways to increase your experience and level up. These include finishing the main quests, and side quests. Currently, the main source of EXP for leveling is going inside the special EXP dungeon.
#2. Equip Better Gear
Equipment or gears is one of the most essential items needed in the game and one of the main sources of your Combat Power. You can obtain gears by crafting them, finishing quests, buying them from the market, and participating in nests where they randomly drop from time to time.
#3. Craft Higher-Tier Gear
You can craft higher tier gears in the production menu. Gears with higher rarity give higher Combat Points so be sure to take your time to gather the necessary materials to craft them. As you level up and finish crafting gears, higher tier equipment will be unlocked which will give you more CP.

#4. Bump Up Your Skill Level
Leveling up your skills not only increases your CP, but it also boosts the skill effects whether it be more damage, faster cooldown, and so on. As you level up, a more powerful set of skills will be unlocked. They are separated into 3 types; active, chain, and ultimate. Each weapon has a set of these 3 types, all of which you can level up.
#5. Complete Missions In Your Quests
There is a special Missions tab in the game where you can complete a set of tasks. This can range from doing basic actions like dodging, to advanced player skills like countering and combo counts. Once you finish a mission, theyâ€™ll give you rewards that usually increase your character stats, and this, in turn, increases your CP.

#6. Get A Mount
Mounts have their own CP boosting properties. You need to equip your desired mount first for the stat bonuses to take effect. The higher the level and the tier of the mount is, the more CP boost it gives. Giving them mount food will increase their level. Mounts can be evolved after reaching their maximum level. You can also get new mounts by purchasing them in the premium shop.
#7. Get To Smelting
Smelting is split into 4 options, the basic is Power where you can use unwanted gears and crystals to increase your stats and thus increasing your CP. Crystals give a higher success rate than gears. You can obtain them by doing missions, progress the storyline, participating in dungeons, and finishing nests.
The Enhance Gear is basically just that, increasing the level of your gear.
#8. Shove Dragon Jade Into Your Gear
Dragon Jades can be compared to gems that you embed in your gears. There are three types of Dragon Jade: Weapon, Armor, and Accessory Jades. Inserting a jade to its corresponding gear will increase your CP. You can further increase it by upgrading your Jade and awakening them.
Awakening a Jade will grant you bonus stats and increased CP. You can acquire them in Nest Hell in the dungeon menu.
#9. Bring Along A Pet
Pets are your loyal companions throughout the game. Not only will they give you bonus stats when they accompany you, but they also boost the cuteness factor of your overall aesthetics as well. Additionally, pets can be â€œbredâ€ with other playerâ€™s pets to grant them additional bonus stats and effects.
#10. Equip A Fancy Title
You can receive special titles by accomplishing certain tasks divided into normal, colosseum, the garden of time, and production titles. Each title gives a certain bonus effect but when equipped but not all of them increase your CP. An example of this is the production titles where instead of increasing your Cap, they give bonus effects when you craft something, like faster crafting time, fewer materials to use, and so on.
Normal titles give you stats boosts and can be used in PvE including dungeons and Nests, Colosseum titles give bonuses when you are participating in PvP modes, Garden of Time titles gives bonuses when youâ€™re inside the garden, and production titles give you extra effects when crafting.

#11. Buy A Costume
And here lies one of the few methods World of Dragon Nest earns its real money: costumes. These outfits not only add more CP to your number, but also makes you stand out from your online peers. Keep in mind that you need diamonds to buy these exclusive items, and diamonds cost you actual real-person money.
You’re not forced to buy them; in fact, you can farm enough diamonds from your previous activities (ala Missions) to buy at least one you like. But if you want more CP, this one option’s open for you.


Here Are The Hong Kong Prices For Xbox Series X & S

Microsoft previouslyÂ announced the official prices for both the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S. The Singaporean prices for the next-gen consoles were revealed, as well as most recently the Malaysian prices.
According to video game analyst Daniel Ahmad, the prices for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series in Hong Kong are “pretty much in line” with the US prices. In Hong Kong, they will still be releasing on 10 November 2020 at the following prices:
Xbox Series S:Â HKD2,280
Xbox Series X:Â HKD3,880

Xbox next gen pricing for Hong Kong is pretty much in line with the West.Xbox Series X – HKD 3,880 / USD 500Xbox Series S – HKD 2,280 / USD 294Releasing on Nov 10. No Mainland China release or pricing announced yet. pic.twitter.com/9Jhg2yY9fH— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) September 9, 2020

However, it remains to be seen how much the next-gen Xbox consoles will cost in mainland China, or when they will launch in the country, for that matter.
Here are the official technical specifications and comparisons between the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S (via Xbox):
Xbox Series XXbox Series SCPU8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz3.6GHz w/ SMT Enabled8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.6GHz3.4GHz w/ SMT EnbledGPUAMD RDNA 2 GPU52 CUs @ 1.825GHzAMD RDNA 2 GPU20 CUs @ 1.565GHzGPU Power12.5 TFLOPS4 TFLOPSSystem on a Chip (SoC)Custom 7nm Enhanced SoCCustom 7nm Enhanced SoCRAM16GB GDDR6 RAM10GB @ 560 GB/s6GB @ 336 GB/s10GB GDDR6 RAM8GB @ 224GB/s2GB @ 56GB/sPerformance Target4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS1440p @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPSStorage1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVME SSD2.4GB/sec uncompressed4.8GB/sec compressed512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVME SSD2.4GB/sec uncompressed4.8GB/sec compressedExpandable Storage1TB Expansion Card(matches internal storage exactly)1TB Expansion Card(matches internal storage exactly)Backward CompatibilityThousands of Xbox One and backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox Games available atl aunch. Xbox One gaming accessories are backward-compatible as well.Thousands of Xbox One and backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox Games available atl aunch. Xbox One gaming accessories are backward-compatible as well.Disc Drive4K UHD Blu-rayDigital OnlyDisplay OutHDMI 2.1HDMI 2.1MSRP$499 USD$299 USD


Japanese Crime Drama My Family Launches Next Week On Disney+ Hotstar

My Family is an exciting new Japanese crime thriller starring the award-winning Kazunari Ninomiya, and Mikako Tabe, which will begin streaming this 10-episode series from 25 May 2022 on Disney+ Hotstar.
When startup founder and CEO Atsuto Narusawa finds incredible success, fame and fortune with the launch of his company’s popular online video game, he is surprised to discover he feels lost. Feeling empty and emotionally distant from his family, things go from bad to worse when his daughter is suddenly kidnapped and the police who were assigned to help make a grave error that puts everyone at further risk. Pushed to the limit and unsure of what to do, Atsuto works together with his wife to circumvent the police, pursuing the kidnappers and throwing everything they have into saving their beloved daughter.

Starring Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima, Killing for the Prosecution, Ansatsu Kyôshitsu) as disillusioned CEO Atsuto Narusawa and Mikako Tabe (Piece of Cake, Watashi no Kaseifu Nagisa-San) as his wife Michiru Narusawa, My Family is the latest Japanese series to be announced as part of Disney’s ever-growing 2022 APAC content slate.
Fans of quality Japanese storytelling can also look forward to the recently announced return of the Black Rock Shooter anime franchise when Black Rock Shooter Dawn Fall debuts on Disney+ Hotstar from 25 May 2022, as well as the upcoming winter release of Gannibal, a nail-biting live-action adaptation of the hit manga series about dark and mysterious disappearances in a remote Japanese village.
You can stream the thrilling 10-part crime suspense series, My Family, on Disney+ Hotstar from 25 May 2022.
Check out screenshots from My Family below:


Left Alive, Square Enix’s Front Mission Spin-Off, Gets March 2019 Release Date

Wanzer, I mean wonder no more as the Front Mission action game you’ve all been waiting desperately for will be out next year.
Left Alive, which is a far cry from the turn-based mecha-heavy strategy game the Front Mission series is known for, will be out 5th March 2019 for PC and PlayStation 4. To be fair, this isn’t the first time the Wanzer-focused series went real-time action on us fans. We had Front Mission Series – Gun Hazard (SNES) and Front Mission Evolved (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) to cater to our inner Wanzer mecha action cravings.
At the very least, Left Alive will have top-tier talent behind it: director Toshifumi Nabeshima is responsible for Chromehounds and the Armored Core series, while Metal Gear character designer Yoji Shinkawa and Xenoblade Chronicles X/MS Gundam 00 mech designer Takayuki Yanase will be handling the main aesthetics & meat of the game.
Check out the latest trailer below. While we’re on the subject, Toshifumi Nabeshima and producer Shinji Hashimoto will be popping by The Philippines for the Electronic Sports & Gaming Summit 2018 gaming expo for a Left Alive-related presentation. Score one for SEA!


Screenplay to Gameplay: Submissions Open for the First Esports & Gaming Short Film Festival

Esports Insider (ESI), a global B2B esports and media company, is launching the world’s first esports & gaming short film festival. The festival will be held during ESI London on Friday, October 20th, at the prestigious BAFTA 195 Piccadilly venue. The event aims to highlight the positive impact of video games and esports through the art of film, with a £10,000 cash prize pool sponsored by non-profit partner ESG Gaming.
If you think you got what it takes, submissions are now open for the ESI Film Festival. It’s a good time to illustrate just how meaningful and big of an impact video games and esports have had in people’s lives. Gaming and esports offers a new form of entertainment, creativity and a platform for expression. The deadline for all entries is Friday 1st September 2023. The winners will be announced at the film festival on the evening of Friday 20th October, in which the top three placed films will be showcased for the first time.

Advisory Board and Non-Profit Partner
The advisory board for the festival will feature Gina Jackson OBE, who is a highly experienced individual in addressing the talent shortage in the gaming industry. ESG Gaming has been confirmed as a non-profit partner for the event, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and positive experience for all participants and stakeholders in the digital entertainment sectors. They prioritize collaboration with individuals from diverse backgrounds across the entertainment industry to gather insights for research, product development, and evaluation. The complete lineup of judges, advisory board members, and partners will be announced soon.
Prize Pool and Submission Details
The £10,000 prize pool, courtesy of non-profit partner ESG Gaming, is split as follows:

1st Place – £5,000

2nd Place – £3,000

3rd Place – £2,000

Submissions can be made via the ESI entry form here.
All submissions must have a maximum run time of 20 minutes, and can be any style or film type (e.g. documentary, animation, comedy, action). Submissions can be from individuals, groups (e.g university societies, friends, colleagues), or companies, and all lead participants must be aged 18 or over.
All submitted films will undergo evaluation based on various criteria, including originality, creativity, plot development, pacing, structural coherence, character portrayal, cinematography, and overall entertainment value. Additionally, the effectiveness of the film’s message and the filmmaker’s ability to engage and connect with the audience will be taken into consideration during the judging process.Further submission information and criteria, including submission specs, can be found here.
All those interested in applying for judge, advisory board or partner positions, please fill out this form.
The ESI Film Festival
The ESI Film Festival is an integral component of the renowned ESI London, the largest B2B esports event worldwide. This exciting event will be held at Wembley’s BOXPARK on October 19th and 20th, providing attendees with two immersive days of in-depth discussions and exploration of the esports industry.
Tickets for the ESI Film Festival are through invitation only. Tickets for ESI London can be purchased here.


Spy Classroom Anime Premieres Early January 2023

The production team for the upcoming Spy Classroom anime series has revealed the main visual and official trailer, showcasing the in-training spies. The trailer also features Nonoc’s opening theme song “Tomoshibi”. The anime series will premiere on 5 January 2023.

The announced staff includes Keiichirou Kawaguchi (Higurashi: When They Cry) as the director, Shinichi Inozume (Platinum End) as the series screenwriter, and Sumie Kinoshita (Idoly Pride) as the character designer. Studio feel will be in charge of the animation production for the entire series.
Furthermore, the voice casts of Spy Classroom are Yuuichirou Umehara as Klaus, Sora Amamiya as Lily, Nao Touyama as Sibylla, Aoi Yuuki as Monica, Miku Itou as Grete, Sumire Uesaka as Thea, Ayane Sakura as Sara, and Tomori Kusunoki as Annette.
The anime series will be available to stream in English on HIDIVE and describes the synopsis as:
“Conflict-ravaged nations now deploy covert operatives instead of missiles. Lily is recruited into spy-training… but her practical skills are absolutely abysmal. Desperate to pass, she leaps at the chance to join the mysterious “Tomoshibi” team. Too bad the team is filled with even more hopeless spies. Together they must conquer the Impassible Mission and best their genius instructor, but the true purpose behind their classroom is more harrowing than they can imagine… Based on the spy thriller light novel series written by Takemachi and illustrated by Tomari, the anime adaptation is directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi, written by Shinichi Inotsume, and produced by studio feel.”
Spy Classroom’s original light novels were first published on 18 January 2020 and are written by Takemachi and illustrated by Tomari. Kadokawa’s Fujimi Fantasia Bunko label has released eight main volumes and three short story collections as of October 2022. Furthermore, the light novels were also awarded the 32nd Fantasia Bunko and inspired several manga adaptions.
Check out the new trailer below:


Indie Game Stray Is The Cat’s Pyjamas

Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PS4, PS5
Genre: Adventure game where you control a pussy…cat
Most games these days put you in a power fantasy kind of role, be it a soldier who knows his way with an AK-47 to even a knight or vagabond warrior powering through a dark fantasy hellhole. But what about being put in the paws of a cat who knows jack about the world it’s in and just wants to explore and get back to its kitty paradise?
That’s pretty much the objective of developer BlueTwelve Studio’s newest indie adventure title Stray, where you play an orange cat who ends up in a dead civilization run by robots. No special powers, no crazy abilities, nothing: just a cat who is agile and runs real fast, as well as jump real high. And can meow on command with a button press. And finds places to sleep at. And scratch carpets and furniture with reckless abandon.
And you know what? All that and more warrants Stray as one of this year’s finest indie titles.
Biscuit-Making

Part of Stray’s charm is its soundtrack and art style: it’s mysterious, enchanting, and alluring all at once. As a curious cat, you explore the long-buried civilization built by robots, presumably, as you find out its history and its downfall; you can clearly see from the trailers that the place your kitty protagonist is exploring has seen better days.
Of course, cats cannot talk, so the game gives you a talking flying robot buddy in the form of B-12 whom you activate after the first few chapters. B-12 is the support character who talks to the robots, scans memories to give you insight on what’s up with the city and its history, and also activate switches. That latter bit is handy as the game will throw a bunch of puzzles for you to progress.
The game is no catwalk to a straight line; you have to figure out the best path to take and the spots to climb, jump, and cling onto to get from point A to B, as well as carry batteries with your mouth to power up switches and barriers to open. Your robot companion can turn on and off certain generators and gates to help with certain puzzles and prevent hazards from killing off kitty. And since the cat can’t fight proper, you’ll have to resort to flight when confronting the game’s antagonists. These puzzles and conundrums aren’t incredibly hard or taxing, though they can get tricky if you don’t scan your surroundings enough.
View post on imgur.com

The game knows when to balance between breezy cat simulation bits and adventure puzzle sections with its chapters. Some chapters require you to just take it easy and explore the cityscape you’re in, talking to robot bystanders and gathering clues on how to proceed. What I love about Stray is that it doesn’t hold your hand at all and demands you push your curiosity forward in your first playthrough. It did take me a while to figure out some of the environmental puzzles, particularly the later chapters involving a cityscape environment and the bits with the underground sewer network and pipelines all glossed in foreboding red lighting. To mention way more than that is going into spoiler territory; you need to play Stray blind to get wrapped up and immersed in whatever adventure that unfolds.
The 12 chapters are pretty meaty for an adventure game, with a few segments ripe for exploration and taking place in city areas. You will be compelled to explore every nook and crannie to unlock B12’s memories, or just do cat-like things and take in the sights and sounds.
Cat Call

Even with its length -I finished it in about 5 hours with some faffing about- there’s a little bit of replayability in Stray that will make you hunt those trophies and Steam achievements down thanks to revisitable chapters. Getting everything will at least will take you less than 10 hours tops.
Will you forget your “brief” experience though? Definitely not; even it feels like the novelty of playing an agile cat in a dystopian setting is clearly there, BlueTwelve and Annapurna Interactive aren’t just banking on that alone. Stray succeeds because it’s an engrossing adventure title with atmosphere, well-made aesthetics, a cool but not quite on-the-nose plot about a crumbled society trying to break out of its self-made chains, and some great adventure gaming gameplay that mixes puzzles with cat grace action. And the whole package is made for cat people & lovers in mind.
Stray is the game that made me shift my perspective a tad; you don’t need a game to be filled with reflexes gymnastics to be the best. Sometimes all it takes is a perfectly-executed narrative, appropriate aesthetics, and a few environmental challenges in-between to win me over. A wombo combo of indie pleasures, if you will.
While Elden Ring and TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge take my top spots of 2022 in the gameplay department, Stray finally broke down my jaded walls of gaming perspectives and catered to my story and adventure-experience sensibilities. In any case, it at least deserves a spot in people’s top 5 titles of this year.
Besides, you can even get an achievement if you spend some time catnapping;that’s staying in character from start to finish and unabashed about the fact that you’re controlling a cat who yearns for escape. What’s seriously not to love about that?
Pros

The best adventure game where you play as a regular cat.
B-12’s story and overall world’s lore is well-crafted.
Great puzzles & adventure bits.
Sublime graphics and music.
Some worthy replayability for an indie story-driven game.

Cons

Can be short.

Final Score: 90/100
Review copy given by Annapurna Interactive.


Here’s Why Xbox Did Not Reveal Much At The Game Awards 2022

You may have noticed that The Game Awards 2022 yesterday morning was missing a key first-party company: Xbox. Or at least, the company has been low-key about its participation.
The company did not make any major game announcements because they’re saving their load for 2023, according to Xbox marketing lead Aaron Greenberg. He tweeted online to reassure fans that they have a lot planned for next year.
“We have a lot planned to show and share about an incredibly exciting year ahead for 2023. Appreciate folks are eager to learn and see more. Timing is always key, but don’t worry you will not have to wait too long for what’s next from us.”

We have a lot planned to show and share about an incredibly exciting year ahead for 2023. Appreciate folks are eager to learn and see more. Timing is always key, but don’t worry you will not have to wait too long for what’s next from us. ??? https://t.co/d1dca2i2Nt
— Aaron Greenberg ??????U (@aarongreenberg) December 9, 2022

In related news, Microsoft said that it is ready to present its case in court after the US Federal Trade Commission launched a lawsuit to present the company’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.


Mega Man Roguelike Game 30XX Is Coming To Early Access This February

After showing off a bit of gameplay during a Steam sale event last year, developer Battery Staple Games is going all out with its 2D platforming roguelike 30XX this year.
30XX, which is basically the developer’s love letter to the Mega Man and Mega Man X series, is coming to early access on Steam (PC) this 17th February. This version of the game will feature the same beautiful pixel graphics, chiptune-inspired tunes, and a Maker Mode for players to design their own levels. The game also features both a roguelite and classic game modes, as well as co-op gameplay.
We had a go at the game last year; it’s what every Mega Man fan dreams of in their 2D pixel-based action platformer. Challenging level design, on-the-fly weapon usage, and bosses with tricky patterns to figure out; the roguelite bits where your weapons and power-ups are via luck of the draw help spice things up a tad. Check out the action below.


Horizon Forbidden West PS4 Page Updated; The PS5 Upgrade Is Indeed Free

Sony has updated the PlayStation Store page for the PS4 version of Horizon Forbidden West.
Basically, you can now upgrade the PS4 copy of the game to the PS5 version for free. If you want to save some money, you can try buying the PS4 version of the game on your PS5, then do the free upgrade when the game is ready. PlayStation did state that the upgrade was free, but it wasn’t listed on the store until recently.

Last year, Sony said that it was impossible to upgrade from the PS4 version to the PS5 version. However, that decision was overturned due to backlash from the community.
Going forward, however, future cross-gen first-party games will carry a US$10 upgrade fee. These include the upcoming Gran Turismo 7 and God of War: Ragnarok.