Netflix’s Narnia Reboot Hires Coco Writer As Creative Architect

Did anyone else remember that Netflix bought the rights to all of CS Lewis’ Chronicles Of Narnia books and are planning to make a rebooted movie/TV franchise? Well, I’m here to remind everyone of that, because the streaming giant has just posted a new update for their Narnia plans.
In a post on Twitter, Netflix announced that Pixar’s Coco co-writer Matthew Aldrich will serve as the creative architect, overseeing the development of all films and shows adapted from Chronicles Of Narnia.


Bayonetta Original Voice Actor Finally Explains Why She Isn’t In Bayonetta 3 [Update]

[Update: 19/10/22] Added Bloomberg sources that dispute the claims in the payment story below.
Sources in a Bloomberg report have disputed claims from Hellena Taylor. PlatinumGames intended to rehire Taylor last summer for at least five sessions, with each paying US$3,000 to US$4,000 for four hours in the studio. This brings the payment to US$15,000, representing a significant increase on Taylor’s fee for the second game.
According to PlatinumGames, Hellena asked for a six-figure sum as well as residuals on the game. She denied this, as well as stated on Videogames Chronicle that the aforementioned offer was “categorically untrue”.
Original story published on 15 October.
If you’ve seen the Bayonetta 3 trailers, you notice that the voice actress for the titular hair-raising witch is a different person. It’s not original actress Hellena Taylor but long-time VO Jennifer Hale (of Mass Effect and Totally Spies fame).
A lot of people speculated whether her exclusion was either meant to be a secret bonus where she’ll guest-star as one of the Bayonettas in the new game (which deals with multiple versions of the witch), or it was contractual reasons. Well, Hellena Taylor has taken to Twitter to speak out about why she isn’t back.
Long story short, she was only offered a US$4,000 buyout for the entire VO work for the whole game. For someone with 7-and-a-half years of high-level voice actor experience, this was insulting to the actress. She instead implores fans to boycott the game and instead give money to charity.

“The Bayonetta franchise made an approximated $450 million, and that’s not including merchandise.
As an actor I trained for a total of seven and a half years – three years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts with voice coach Barbara Berkery, and four and a half years with the legendary Larry Moss in Los Angeles.
And what did they think this was worth? What did they offer to pay me? The final offer to do the whole game – as a buyout, flat rate – was four thousand US dollars.
This is an insult to me, the amount of time that I took to work on my talent, and everything that I have given to this game and the fans.
I didn’t want the world; I didn’t ask for too much. I was just asking for a decent dignified living wage. What they did was legal, but it was immoral.
I decided to [speak out] to stand up in solidarity with people all over the world who do not get paid properly for their talents.
[…] This is not right, not acceptable. It impacts mental health. I suffered from depression and anxiety. I worried that I was going to be on the streets. That terrified me so much, that once I was suicidal.”

Part 2. #PlatinumGames #Nintendo #Bayonetta #Bayonetta3 #Bayonutters #Boycott #NintendoEurope #NintendoAmerica #NintendoJapan pic.twitter.com/iiaiVp1lyn
— Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) October 15, 2022

It should be noted that she spoke out despite the non-disclosure agreement she signed regarding this. It’s also uncertain how long her part is in the third game, as that can determine how fair the final offer is or not.. We’ll be sure to update this story once more info drops; Nintendo and PlatinumGames have yet to respond to this.
Update #1 [12:09am, 16/10/2022]: PlatinumGames vice president Hideki Kamiya has responded to Taylor’s claims, calling them false.

Update #2 [16/10/2022]: A now-deleted tweet from an ex-PlatinumGames producer who worked on Bayonetta 3 reads:
“I’m so incredibly disappointed. The Bayonetta team did not deserve what happened to them today. I don’t believe that is the full story. At all. And I hate that all the internet knows how to do is retweet. I love Hellena. I love the team. But what happened today is shameful.”
Update #3 [1:36am, 17/10/2022]: Hideki Kamiya’s Twitter account is now gone following the earlier statement calling these allegations false (via Nibel).

It appears Hideki Kamiya's Twitter account is now gone pic.twitter.com/PQ7WpgLx9g
— Nibel (@Nibellion) October 16, 2022


LG UltraGear Is League Of Legends European Championship Official Gaming Monitor Partner

LG Electronics (LG) has announced its participation as the Official Display Partner of the League Of Legends European Championship (LEC) for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The agreement allows LG UltraGear gaming monitors to take centre stage at the global competition to deliver ultra-smooth, ultra-responsive gameplay when the season kicks off on 14 January 2022.
Founded as the professional tournament for League Of Legends organized by Riot Games in Europe, LEC is a competition in which ten skilled teams of five players each compete for supremacy in â€œLeague,â€ the multiplayer battle arena hit that continues to be enormously popular ever since its launch in 2009. Throughout the tournament, LG will also be the sponsor of segments such as Replays and the must-see Match of the Week.Â
The new two-year partnership with LEC is expected to help LG further expand its already considerable presence in the global esports scene. The LG UltraGear brandâ€™s strong relationship with the gaming community was built up over the years through active engagement and cutting-edge products that address the needs of real gamers.
Thanks to LGâ€™s display technologies that prioritize lightning-quick response time, accurate colors and superb contrast, LG UltraGear monitors have become a favorite with serious gamers everywhere, offering the 4K resolution display and Nano IPS technology with 1ms Gray-to-Gray (GTG) response time.
Seo Young-jae, head of the IT business unit of LG Electronics Business Solutions Company, said:
â€œWe are thrilled to be playing such a pivotal role in one of the worldâ€™s most popular esports competitions. We look forward to seeing our monitors put through their paces by LECâ€™s top players so we can keep delivering products that meet the needs of the most demanding gamers.â€
Fans from around the world can keep up with all the action, including game broadcasts and up-to-date schedule information, at lolesports.com. You can also follow the official Twitter account UltraGearGaming to take part in a social media event to win prizes including UltraGear products.


HBO’s The Last Of Us Finds Its Henry & Sam

HBO’s The Last of Us has officially cast the roles of Henry and Sam. If you don’t remember their names, they’re the two brothers from the original The Last Of Us game.
According to IGN, Henry will be played by Lamar Johnson, while his younger brother, Sam, will be portrayed by Keivonn Woodard. Besides that, they also reported that Graham Greene and Elaine Miles will guest star as Marlon and Florence, who are two brand new characters being added to the HBO series.
In the The Last Of Us game, Joel and Ellie meet Henry and Sam in Pittsburgh, where they work together to survive, where Henry was played by Brandon Scott while Sam was played by Nadji Jeter.
However, in HBO’s The Last Of Us, Joel and Ellie will meet Henry and Sam in Kansas City, and they’re described as “hiding from a revolutionary movement seeking vengeance”.
Meanwhile, the new characters, Marlon and Florence, are described as “a married couple surviving alone in the wilderness of post-apocalyptic Wyoming.”
So far, the rest of the cast includes:

Pedro Pascal – Joel Miller
Bella Ramsey – Ellie
Gabriel Luna – Tommy Miller
Merle Dandridge – Marlene
Nico Parker – Sarah Miller
Jeffrey Pierce – Perry
Murray Bartlett – Frank
Con O’ Neill – Bill

HBO’s The Last Of Us will be written and executive produced by Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and the original game director Neil Druckmann. It will be co-produced by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, and Naughty Dog. No release date or window has been announced as of yet.
Druckmann has previously said that there will be changes and deviations from how it originally happened in the game. You can find the full details of his quote by heading over here.
The Last Of Us Part 2 is out now for the PS4. In the meantime, check out my full spoiler-free review of the game here, or head on over here for a guide and tips for the game. If you’ve already played the game, then I suggest checking out my 4000-word spoilerific article on why the hate for the game isn’t justified.


Here’s Our First Look At Netflix’s Sandman Adaptation & Morpheus

During Netflix’s TUDUM global event, we get our first look at the Netflix live-action adaptation of Sandman. And it does look rather epic.
The teaser is introduced by Sandman creator Neil Gaiman and the actor for Morpheus/Dream, Tom Sturridge, who are assuring fans that the adaptation is in good hands. In the teaser, we get to see Roderick Burgess (played by Charles Dance) summon one of the Endless in a key scene from the books, accidentally summoning Dream (played by Tom Sturridge) instead of Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste).

The voice-over at the tail end of the teaser is from Boyd Holbrook who plays The Corithian. You be the judge whether the look and feel for the show is right or not. There’s no release date for the series as of yet though.


Digital Tax Comes To PS Store Malaysia In 2020

In place of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Malaysian government is implementing the Sales and Services Tax (SST). This has affected the prices for services such as Netflix, Spotify, and even purchases on Steam. The PlayStation Store joins the list next week.
All games will see a 6% price hike starting on the first day of 2020.
The official PlayStation Malaysia website has just posted an announcement regarding the SST price update. Starting from 1 January 2020 on 8AM (MYT), the 6% digital tax will be applied to any purchasable items and subscription services.
Do note that the prices updates will only be implemented on the PlayStation Store during 4 January to 6 January 2020. Prior to that, users might see price differences between what’s displayed on the store page and on the checkout page. The correct amount is shown on the checkout page.
There are two exceptions. PlayStation Plus subscription costs will not have price updates “at this timing” and there will be SST applied to users topping up their PlayStation Store wallets.
Protip: PS Plus subscriptions stack. Even if you already have a live PS Plus subscription, it’s recommended to buy another three months or a year’s worth if it’s on sale. There’s a strong possibility it will be taxed in the future, similar to subscription plans like Netflix and Spotify.
The PlayStation Store holiday sale is still ongoing. It ends on 5 January 2020 so there’s still plenty of time to take advantage of those discounts before the new digital tax is applied. Get shopping!


Genshin Impact Tighnari & Zhongli Banners Doing Very Well

It’s said that having likeable pretty boys as your high-valued gachas in your anime RPG free-to-play title is just as sound a money-winning strategy as using hot anime waifus. HoYoverse did this for its RPG Genshin Impact recently, and it’s paying dividends.
According to tracking site GenshinLab which uses revenue data from the App Store in China, the Genshin Impact 3.0 character gacha banner featuring new character Tighnari and legacy character Zhongli (for the fourth time) has garnered US$13,961,126 during its first week. That’s from 24 August, by the by. For reference, Raiden Shogun’s first release banner made US$25,605,658 in its first seven days on 8th March 2021. While boobie sword lady still sits on top, US$13+ million is nothing to sneeze at.
With more characters coming soon in the Genshin Impact version 3.1 update featuring Cyno, Nilou, and Candace, those numbers are only going to head upward as players will be struggling to gacha either of the three, or all of them. For more on the 3.0 update, check out our guide.


The Best 5 Halloween Games of 2022

What better way to celebrate Halloween, the 31st of October, than immersing yourself in horror titles this year? After several hands-on experiences with some of the latest games delving in this genre, here are our top 5 picks for 2022.
For more Halloween Horror experiences, check out our previous features about the scariest gaming moments and horrific monsters in gaming.
1.Signalis
Released Date: 27 October, 2022
Genre: Survival Horror, Retro, Puzzle, Action
Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X
A new sci-fi survival horror game from developer rose-engine (aka Barbara Wittmann and Yuri Stern), Signalis is a third-person horror shooter with top-down, fixed camera angles and interactive puzzles similar to the early Resident Evil franchise.
Its distinctive aesthetics and visual design, which were influenced by 32-bit games, set it apart from other horror games. If you’re into horror and sci-fi genres, this might be up your alley.

2.Simulacra 3
Released Date: 25 October, 2022
Genre:  Puzzle, Interactive, Horror, Found-Phone
Platforms: PC

Kaigan Games and publisher Neon Doctrine made their third chapter critically acclaimed phone horror series, Simulacra 3. Solve mysteries within the town of Stonecreek with journalist Ruby Myers.
You’ll get to experience the gameplay in real-time, as well as react to video calls in real-time. If you’re feeling the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ vibe with a twist of horror, you can never go wrong with Simulacra 3.

3.Scorn
Released Date: 14 October, 2022
Genre:  First-Person, Survival Horror, FPS, Biopunk, Horror, H.R. Giger
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S

Feeling like jumping straight to an artistic-yet-disgusting-looking Hell? Scorn is the way it is! Dive into a nightmarish world fuelled with distorted yet amusing figures, and explore different interconnected regions in a non-linear fashion. Scorn focuses more on the puzzles and atmosphere than actual combat. There are no instructions, tips, waypoints, maps, or tutorials at all. What you need is a huge amount of focus and a high level of patience, to begin with.

4.Phasmaphobia
Released Date: 18 September, 2020
Genre:  Indie, Survival Horror, Adventure, Action, Puzzle
Platforms: PC via Steam

Get together with your friends playing as Paranormal Investigators in Phasmophobia on late Halloween night. At any rate, you can investigate creepy locations solo or with up to 4 players in a single session. Once missions are completed, you will be rewarded with in-game cash to purchase gears. We’re talking about the real deal; EMF detectors, smudge sticks, and much more. The game elements will surprises you each time you load up. It’ll be hard to get bored with this one.
While not exactly a 2022 game, this multiplayer title still gets a crowd going with its simple-yet-addictive PvE gameplay.

5.Ghostwire Tokyo
Released Date: 25 March, 2022
Genre:  Indie, Survival Horror, Adventure, Action, Puzzle
Platforms: Playstation 5, PC via Steam

Wanted to get away from the clichés of most horror games setting? The abandoned suburban house with limited space to explore? Ghostwire Tokyo has you smacked right in the City of Tokyo, all alone to explore the vast empty map. The interesting part is the varieties of yokais aka Japanese ghosts and collectibles referencing certain iconic Japanese horror films. There are only six chapters in the game’s story, and each subsequent chapter is shorter than the last. Highly recommended for those who are into chill gameplay and appreciation of flashy visuals and aesthetics.


Fires At Midnight Is A Bold Erotic Fever Dream With Malaysian Spice

Platform: PC (On Steam)
Genre: Malaysian-made visual novel sexytime
The 90s was a weird time for many of us, especially near the end as we entered the new millennium, heralding the arrival of new technological marvels like the Internet as well as fears of the world ending. The latter is much very real in the alternate reality of Fires At Midnight, the new interactive narrative game from Malaysia-based indie developer Persona Theory Games.
First and foremost, let me clarify that Fires At Midnight is certainly not for those under 18 or sensitive folks in general. It features not only nudity and adult language but also mature themes like suicide and sexual assault that may act as unpleasant triggers. Players shouldn’t expect a feel-good or conventional romantic visual novel.
This is a brave and bold title that is not afraid to explore controversial subject matter.
Burn, Baby. Burn

In Fires At Midnight, players experience the final few days leading to the arrival of the year 2000 from the viewpoints of a couple; a struggling photographer named Yun and a tortured artist named Chitra. You start the game with Yun, spending the first half of the game as him, before spending the same events through the perspective of Chitra in the second half.
In this alternate reality, the world has been ravaged by a pandemic that makes people spontaneously combust if they have sexual intercourse without “love”. That’s right; if a couple isn’t in love, they will mysteriously burn to death. That’s the bizarro world that Yun and Chitra have been thrust into.
Most of the game actually takes place on 30 December 1999 and 31 December 1999, but you’ll be peeling a lot of the shared history between Yun and Chitra during flashbacks ranging from the moment when they started becoming a couple and other moments in between, including even from their childhood.

The climax of the game takes place when the clock strikes midnight to mark the new millennium; where every action and dialogue choice that players have made as both Yun and Chitra throughout the duration of the game will ultimately determine which of the three endings that they receive.
My first playthrough took me a little under two hours to complete, which means that players will require at least around six hours or so to experience all three endings.

While that does encourage replayability, the dark subject matter explored in this game probably means that you’ll need a breather between every playthrough. Sure, you could binge three playthroughs at once, but the game takes a mental toll on you. This isn’t some harmless Japanese ecchi visual novel you can simply jack off to, but one that’s meant to be taken seriously.
The core gameplay in Fires At Midnight works like a usual visual novel, as players decide the actions and dialogue choices of their characters to move the story along. However, what distinguishes this game from all the rest in the same genre is its â€œSecond Layerâ€ mechanic, which allows players to see the objects in the game’s world from each specific characterâ€™s point of view.

What makes “Second Layer” a special and memorable mechanic is that it often depicts and/or indicates either Yun or Chitra’s mental state at any given moment, as well as how they truly feel about a given object or subject on-screen in the world.
An example of this from an earlier part of the game (without spoiling anything) is during a scene set in a diner/bar between Yun and Chitra.

In this example, I was controlling Yun and viewing everything from his perspective when a waitress came to take their orders. How the “Second Layer” mechanic works is that your mouse cursor is sort of like a magnifying glass. When I moved the cursor over to the waitress’ torso/body, I could see inside her shirt and therefore the bra inside.

Does this mean Yun has x-ray vision or something? Is this that kind of power fantasy visual novel where the game serves to satisfy the player’s every perverted desire? Of course not. Without spoiling any plot details, the fact that Yun’s “Second Layer” is seeing the bra inside the waitress’ shirt seems to be an early sign of the character’s ongoing struggle with suppressing his sexual urges in a world where acting on them means not only destroying his relationship with Chitra but also death by fire.
Still, I’d like to stress that that is just my interpretation of the meaning behind that specific instance of the “Second Layer” mechanic. It’s integral to the game’s narrative, as you strive to understand the secret backstories and complex psychological states driving both Yun and Chitra, which is where the fun of the game lies. Not much is just explicitly stated, so it’s up to the player to interpret these subtle and oft-hidden “Second Layer” clues.
Back To The 90s With A Malaysian Twist

Besides the “Second Layer” mechanic, the other core mechanic in Fires At Midnight is clicking on certain glowing objects, which will then trigger flashbacks to certain moments or days. That doesn’t sound particularly engaging or unique, especially in an interactive visual novel game like this. However, it’s actually much, much better in execution, as this is where many of the 90s references come in.
Despite being born in 1994, I still consider myself a 90s kid; lucky enough to have experienced some of what it had to offer. As such, I could appreciate the labours of love and tributes to the 90s featured in Fires At Midnight.

An early example of this in the game is when (as Yun), the player boots up a computer with what is a faithful recreation of the Windows 98 OS.
I triggered flashbacks by interacting with the applications available on this clone of Windows 98. To my pleasant surprise, I recognise some of these apps, though their names were changed to avoid copyright, trademark and licensing issues.

One is clearly based on the music player Winamp, another on Internet Explorer (which is still available now but no one even uses it anymore, so the point still stands; back then it was the only browser, no Chrome or Firefox) and another on the game Minesweeper. They have hilariously been altered to Winarm, Internet Sexplorer, and Bombsweeper, respectively.

However, the biggest highlight has to be the Earth Raider game, which is actually a playable minigame in Fires At Midnight. Older gamers will know that it’s based on the iconic arcade games; Taito’s Space Invaders and Namco’s Galaga.
Earth Raider plays almost exactly like those games, but instead of alien ships, my enemies were moving genitals (penises, vulvas, and breasts), which weirdly reminded me of the Leisure Suit Larry games (think of that what you will).

The developers even inserted a funny 90s gag where pornographic pictures refused to load properly, resulting in only half of the picture showing up on your computer. I love all these 90s references and easter eggs, but they’ll probably leave anyone born after the year 2000 scratching their heads in confusion (which is apt considering the game is set right at the turn of the new millennium). Moot point anyway, since they won’t even be old enough to play this game.

As for the Malaysian twist I keep mentioning, yes, Persona Theory Games consist of many proud Malaysians and what proud Malaysian wouldn’t want to include references to our great country. Since the game is set in Kuala Lumpur, that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. I love how these are integrated into the game naturally. For instance, we get a character saying “tapau nasi lemak” (takeaway nasi lemak) as well as that same character wearing a sarong while sleeping.

Other examples of Malaysian flavour in the game include movie tickets written in Malay and hearing the familiar jingle of the recycling lorry in the background, with the familiar local sound of the driver yelling “paper lama sao kao po chi” to invite anyone willing to sell their old newspapers and books/magazines. You don’t get any more Malaysian than that and nasi lemak.
Not For The Faint Of Heart

There’s a reason why I’ve avoided discussing the specifics of the story or what Yun and Chitra are really like. All of that should be best discovered and experienced by players when playing Fires At Midnight, instead of me spoiling it here. However, I will still touch a bit on why this game is particularly hard-hitting in that department.
Along the way of getting to know Yun and Chitra, you’ll encounter stories and subject matter exploring racism, corruption, and sexual assaults, as well as mental health issues like depression and suicidal tendencies from trauma. The way these are depicted in the game may hit too close to home for certain players, especially those in Malaysia (and for anyone else afflicted by the same problems in the rest of the world).
It’s also worth pointing out that while Fires At Midnight isn’t really a horror game per se, I have to warn you that the game does feature horror elements that are disturbing. Horror fans will definitely appreciate these, but normal gamers might not if the general indication to 2017’s Doki Doki Literature Club! was any indication.
A Stellar First Effort

Seeing as this is Persona Theory Games’ first full title, it’s incredible to see a Malaysian-based indie developer releasing such a bold game, not afraid of inviting controversies by tackling adult subject matter that most other games would shy from. I’m not really much of a visual novel genre fan myself, but Fires At Midnight is a title that should be played and experienced.
Malaysians and those who grew up in the 90s would likely enjoy this Fires At Midnight the most. Despite being only two hours long for a single playthrough, the multiple endings and hidden “Second Layer” clues will have players coming back for more. As far as visual novels go, this 2020 title hits most of the right spicy notes.
Pros

Explores controversial subject matters via two interesting perspectives.
A lot of 90s references, Malaysian flavour, and easter eggs.
Multiple endings for replayability.
“Second Layer” mechanic for hidden and subtle clues.

Cons

Only two hours long.
Not everyone can appreciate its many references.
Contains adult subject matter that may upset, offend, or trigger certain people.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100
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Fires At Midnight was reviewed on an Acer Predator Triton 500 via a review copy courtesy of Persona Theory Games.


Hot Toys Unleashes Green Goblin From Spider-Man No Way Home

Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn AKA the Green Goblin made his surprising return from the early Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies along with some classic villains after Peter Parker and Doctor Strange inadvertently open up the door to the multiverse.
Further expanding on the Spider-Man No Way Home collectible series, Hot Toys has announced both the standard and the Deluxe Version of a 1/6th scale Green Goblin collectible figure that will spread fear among your display.
Masterfully crafted based on Green Goblinâ€™s appearance in Spider-Man No Way Home, the highly-detailed figure features a newly developed head sculpt of the renowned actor Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn with impressive likeness, a newly crafted green goblin helmet; skillfully tailored costume with armoured pieces painted in metallic green colour; his signature pumpkin bombs, and a dynamic figure stand.
Whatâ€™s more, the Deluxe Edition includes a Goblin Glider in one-sixth scale with the most up-to-date details in the movie, LED light-up design and articulated function.
If youâ€™re looking for a non-spoiler review, you canÂ head on over here. If youâ€™ve watched the movie or donâ€™t mind spoilers, check outÂ myÂ Spider-Man No Way HomeÂ breakdown and post-credits explanation article here.


Ratchet & Clank Is Getting A 60 FPS PS5 Update

Insomniac Games’ 2016 Ratchet & Clank game will receive a patch for the PS5 to add support for 60 FPS gameplay. The game is currently still available for everyone (on both PS4 and PS5) to download for free until 31 March 2021 as part of the returning PlayStation At Home initiative.
The Ratchet & Clank 60 FPS PS5 update will arrive sometime in April 2021.

Ratchet & Clank (2016) will be playable in 60 FPS on PS5 after a new update in April! As part of the Play at Home campaign, download the game for free now through 3/31. #RatchetPS4https://t.co/Iw6CMNByFU pic.twitter.com/VEFiW3IMWK
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) March 29, 2021

Nine other games are also available for free as part of Play at Home including Abzu, Enter the Gungeon, Rez Infinite, Subnautica, The Witness, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Moss, Thumper, and Paper Beast for PlayStation VR. Unlike Ratchet & Clank, these games will be available until 22 April 2021. Meanwhile, Horizon Zero Dawn will be available for free between 19 April and 14 May 2021.
This is a great strategy by Sony and Insomniac to hype up the upcomingÂ Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, which is slated to launch exclusively for the PS5 on 11 June 2021.


Here’s How You Can Join The Mario Kart Tour Android Beta

Nintendo has announced that it will be hosting a Mario Kart Tour closed beta test for Android devices from 22 May to 4 June 2019. Not much is known about the game, but it has been delayed several times although it was supposed to release earlier this year.
Players can start applying for the Mario Kart Tour Android Closed Beta starting from 23 April to 7 May 2019. A Nintendo account registered to a Gmail email address is required to apply for the closed beta test, which is free for anyone to sign up for.
Chosen participants will be notified by email on 19 May 2019. Unfortunately, the Mario Kart Tour Android Closed Beta will be limited to Japan and the US for now. Players will also need a device with at least Android 4.4 or later and 1.5 GB of RAM or more.
Save data from the Mario Kart Tour Android Closed Beta cannot be transferred to the full version when it eventually releases. In-game app purchases will also be disabled during the closed beta. Head on over to the official website here to start applying now.


Line War is an Indie RTS Focused On The Big Picture, And It’s Freaking Cool!

Generals donâ€™t control individual units on the battlefield. They command an entire battlefield with a single command. This idea of a macro RTS has been attempted before with mixed results. Line War from Swedish indie outfit, Studio Centurion is the latest of the big picture RTS.

Line War touts itself as a â€˜newâ€™ RTS. Not one thatâ€™s just contented to rehash the same old formula in the pursuit to fulfil some nostalgic aspiration. The main thing with Line War is the way you control your unitsâ€¦ or units. Just by drawing a line you instruct them where to go, and set up a frontline.
Read more on Frags of War.


Mortal Kombat 1 Online Stress Test Confirmed This June; Open For Registration

Warner Bros. Games has confirmed that Mortal Kombat 1 is preparing to try out one of the first online stress tests next week.
The Online Stress Test will support 1 vs. 1 online multiplayer and a limited single-player Klassic Towers mode against AI opponents. According to the website, the Online Stress Test is not a Beta. The purpose of it is to deliberately stress their online infrastructure and identify potential issues ahead of the game’s release. Furthermore, it is unrelated to the Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta, dropped in August 2023.
Mortal Kombat 1’s first Online Stress Test will take place on 23 June at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BST / 5pm CEST / 11pm MYT. It will end on the same time on 26 June 2023. The session will be available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S only. Unfortunately, Nintendo Switch and PC platforms will not be included in this Online Stress Test.

Don't hold back. The #MK1 online server stress test will go live from June 23 – June 26. Invites will be emailed to selected players on June 21.
For more questions: https://t.co/lL8BdCvtdV pic.twitter.com/GPl4HcJXwd
— Mortal Kombat 30 (@MortalKombat) June 14, 2023

Players are still able to register for a chance to participate, and random invites will be distributed to selected players on 21 June. The Mortal Kombat Support website states that registrations are only eligible for players based in North America, Latin America, Brazil and Europe.
Luckily, we can still watch the Online Stress Test action as those with access are allowed to stream and create video content. On the other hand, players who pre-order the game for PS5 or Xbox Series X/S will receive access to the beta test, taking place this August.
Announced last month and set for release on 19 September, Mortal Kombat 1 is a reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise. It ushers in a new era with improved fighting system, game modes, and fatalities that are just too good to be true.
Watch the official announcement trailer below.


A History Of Guilty Gear’s Baiken & Her Ever-Growing Boobs

Guilty Gear Strive fans are no doubt excited about getting another character in the roster: series fan favourite Baiken. Fans have gone on record saying that if Baiken doesn’t show up in a Guilty Gear game, they won’t buy the title. This is in spite the fact that they probably won’t use her in both regular and tournament play.
And it’s easy to see why she is a fan favourite: her unique one-armed sword fighting style, her brash swagger, and her well-endowed stature. Don’t believe us? Look at the videos below:

How did it come to this? Well, all signs point at her Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 appearance where her top lady bits -sticking onto her “loose” samurai garb like velcro- are just an important part of her identity as her eyepatch and missing arm. Her sweep animation is clear proof of this as her funbags cushion her fall.

It wasn’t always like this though. Her very first appearance as a secret character in the first Guilty Gear back in 1998. She’s basically Rurouni Kenshin’s Kenshin Himura but female, one-armed, and missing an eye, complete with loose kimono garb. But she looks like a regular human woman and not the anime waifu caricature we see today.

You’ll start seeing an evolution of the character in Guilty Gear X in 2000, Guilty Gear XX/Accent Core in 2002, and Guilty Gear Isuka onward. There’s nothing major here, but you can tell that her female traits are a bit more pronounced in each GG game since X, particularly her ponytail being a bit longer and flared-up.

Like we said earlier, her Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 design is where things are taken up to eleven. Or beyond an F cup in this case. And of course, that bit expanded in the new GG Strive trailers you see as of late. She also dons a new kimono -tatters and all-along with a bigger ponytail, some shoulderpads, and a more pronounced tassel on her waist.
It’s clear as day that it’s still sticking to the same design as past GG games, but it’s way more round and exaggerated to the point of comedy.

Her design does remind me of Bleach’s Kukaku Shiba: one-armed, brash, and top-heavy too.

Though to be fair, games like SoulCalibur VI are equally as guilty in maintaining their female cast to be as top-heavy as possible; hello Taki, Sophitia, and Ivy Valentine. The latter has seen some fancy outfits and growth spurt throughout the series, so props for the team for being creative at least.
At least one thing is clear: developer Arc System Works is catering to its demographic and aren’t practising self-restraint anytime soon. Baiken will be out in Guilty Gear Strive on 28 January.

Update: if you prefer a less gutter talk-filled commentary on Baiken as a viable character in GG Strive, these pro player videos should sort you out. All I can say is this:

Air Tatami is going to be very annoying to deal with.
The tether mechanic means that Baiken has you locked onto mid-range, so unless you have a character who has mid-ranged footsie power, the ball is in-between Baiken’s court.


Vancouver Titans Outlast Shock to Win Stage 1 Playoff Finals

It took seven maps and everything they could muster for newcomers to the Overwatch League, the Vancouver Titans to fend off the San Francisco Shock en route to winning the Stage 1 Playoff Finals early this morning.
Consisting mostly of players formerly of Korean Contenders Season 2 Champions, RunAway, the Titans who went unbeaten throughout Stage 1 faced their toughest foe yet as the Shock rose to the occasion to produce one of the most memorable series this season so far. The standout for the Shock surely is their main tank, Super, who went blow for blow against his counterpart, Bumper in all of the seven maps played.
It was a back and forth affair as the Shock took a *cough* shock lead by winning on Nepal. The Titans’ epic defence on Numbani evened up the score for them to set up the tone for the evening. Both teams continued to trade maps with convincing team fight wins on Anubis and Dorado for a 2-2 score after four maps played.

On Ilios, the Titans had the perfect opportunity to take the lead in the series for the first time. However, an epic comeback led by Sinatraa brought the Shock within one map win away from capturing the overall win. Score: Shock leads 3-2.
With the possibility of sixth seed Shock overcoming the top-seeded Titans coming true, the Titans dug deep in the remaining maps to show everyone what they are truly made of.
With the never-give-up RunAway spirit coursing through their veins, an epic Titans comeback is always on the cards and they did just that. On King’s Row, the Titans stopped the Shock just short off finishing the map and in return, escorted the payload to set up a final showdown on Rialto.

Shock was on offense first and were pretty stoked to complete their first push with one minute in the bank. In retaliation, the Titans also completed their push but now, in record time. Timebank round saw the Shock again, stopped short off their objective; this time, a few meters away from the first checkpoint. With a ton of time in their pocket, the victory round for the Titans saw them march towards the marker almost uncontested, capturing it with about two minutes to spare.
It was an even sweeter win for the Titans’ coach, Harsha who coached the San Francisco Shock last season before moving to the Titans.

The win sees them walk home with US$200,000, while runners-up San Francisco Shock get half that amount. Losing semi-finalists Philadelphia Fusion and Seoul Dynasty got US$50,000 each while losing quarter-finalists, Atlanta Reign, Boston Uprising, NYXL, and Toronto Defiant each got US$25,000.
The Overwatch League will take a ten-day break between now and 5th April. After that, Stage 2 will commence, hopefully with a new meta.


Grim Guardians: Demon Purge Endings Guide – How To Unlock All Of Them

The new search action Castlevania-style action game Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is a lovingly-made side story to the Gal Gun series. You play as sisters Maya and Shinobu (from Gal Gun 2) as they fight demons to rescue their friends from a dark dimension that’s shaped like a giant castle not unlike Castlevania’s Dracula’s abode.
Just like most ambitious search action games paying tribute to Konami’s legacy title, there are multiple endings. Here’s how you can unlock them.
Normal Ending

To get this ending, just beat the game as normal; fight the bosses, go through each of the final stages until the end. During the dialogue scenes with Adult Korone, just pick the first options out of the three.
True Ending

This ending requires you to create the Dimension Device for Chiru. You have to collect all three parts for her in various areas of the castle you’re stuck in. Start at the Base, then the white doors for each area will unlock.
The first Device part is in the Mysterious Cave. You’ll have to use the penguin origami to freeze the lava so that you can access certain areas.
The second Device part is in the Library. You have to use the Mines to blow up certain spots to reveal secret entrances leading to the Device part.
The third Device part is in the Castle’s Peak to the top left side. Check out the video guide from ZeroWingX below for help.

After you collect all the parts, exit the game and load the save file. You’ll return to the Base automatically. Talk to Chiru and give her the three parts. Head to Castle’s Peak as usual and keep fighting through the game until you reach Adult Kurona.
During the dialogue parts with Adult Kurona for both her forms, pick the second option always. This will trigger the conditions for the True Ending. Defeat her, and enjoy the ending.
Doki Doki Ending

In true Gal Gun fashion, you can end the bad guy’s domination plans using the power of love.
To unlock this ending, you need to rescue every girl in the game AND locate every “pantsu rift” in each area of the game. As there is no in-game tracker for this, this will take you a number of hours to sort out. Also, you can only do this after you acquire the Base location and all white doors are opened.
Once this is done, go fight Adult Korone in the last stage. When you initiate a dialogue with her for both her forms, pick the last option that involves “the power of love”. Once you defeat her, get ready to re-enact a Gal Gun scene where you bring Adult Korone to her knees.


The Game Awards 2019’s Player’s Voice Lets You Vote Your Favourite Game

Sad that your game isn’t on the Game Awards Geoff Keighley 2019 Show? Don’t worry, because the folks behind the show are giving players a chance to vote for their game.
The Game Awards just opened up the Player’s Voice section, where you can vote for your nominee every day and find out who wins when the show airs later this week. The voting process will go on for three days until a winner is declared.
You can vote for three of the following games.

Apex Legends
Astral Chain
Beat Saber
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Control
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Death Stranding
Devil May Cry 5
Destiny 2
Disco Elysium
Final Fantasy XIV
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fortnite
Gears 5
Grand Theft Auto Online
League of Legends
Mortal Kombat 11
Resident Evil 2
Sekiro
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Outer Worlds
Untitled Goose Game
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Yes, you can only vote up to three games. No, you cannot vote Fire Emblem: Three Houses three times. But hey, it’s second place so far, just below Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at this time of writing.

Right now, you have less than 15 hours left to vote. Hopefully, that’s enough time for you to make the right choice and vote for an actual game that doesn’t involve 40 hours of walking and deliveries.


[Leak] Warzone 2 Set To Release Mid-November 2022

According to Charlie Intel, Warzone 2’s release date has been leaked via what is reportedly an internal Activision document.
First posted to the r/classicwow subreddit, the document reportedly lists Activision Blizzard‘s release schedule for the remainder of the year, including Warzone 2. According to the document, Warzone 2.0, which is listed internally as COD Warzone 2, will launch on November 16. That’s the same day as PlayStation‘s big Christmas game, God of War Ragnarok.
It’s worth noting that the document lists Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II as “Cortez”, which is the game’s internal codename. It also lists the launch time as 27 October at 9:00 PM (EST). The document also seemingly reveals the “pre-purchase” date for Diablo 4, Blizzard‘s next entry in the RPG franchise, which will seemingly coincide with The Game Awards.
The publisher confirmed in April that a new free-to-play Warzone experience was being built from the ground up alongside Modern Warfare II, led by developer Infinity Ward.

Breaking: An internal document image has leaked revealing Warzone 2 launch date as November 16th
Image shared on r/classicwow Reddit pic.twitter.com/JUe3fx1G0M
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) August 16, 2022

Featuring “a new sandbox mode and the brand-new playspace”, Warzone 2.0 will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and PC via Battle.net and Steam.
Try Hard Guides recently published an image that’s claimed to reveal Warzone 2’s main map, including all of its points of interest and several notable features, such as a significant body of water in which players can swim.


Stranger Things 3 Made Me Miss An Era I Never Lived In All Over Again

It’s been two years since the previous season of Stranger Things debuted on Netflix, and I have to admit; I don’t remember much from that second season. Most of what I fondly remember about the series is from the brilliant first season.
Fortunately, Stranger Things Season 3 feels more like an improved version of the first season’s formula, making this the best season yet. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still more of the same 80s nostalgia, charming cast of characters, and silly story beats, but those are the reasons why we’re even watching this show in the first place.
Return To Form

Part of why Stranger Things 3 is a return to form for the series is that it doesn’t suffer from the curse of the Netflix bloat problem. At 8 episodes long (just like the first season), it doesn’t drag too long, unlike the 10 to 13 episodes of other Netflix series.
Despite being just one episode longer (with 9 episodes), season 2 felt like a slog by comparison (it even had one or two filler episodes). There’s no filler to worry about here. I’m someone who usually abhors binge-watching, but I actually finished Stranger Things 3 in one sitting without feeling too fatigued.
The trademark 80s tropes and references make a triumphant return in Stranger Things 3 – not to say that there weren’t any in season 2, but I can’t even recall what they were. What makes this series unique is that you don’t really need to have grown up in the 80s to fully appreciate it all, though some of the throwbacks will still likely fly over your head.

I love the fact that Stranger Things 3 manages to pay homage to more great sci-fi classics. For example, the monsters (the Mind-Flayer and his Flayers) this time are clearly inspired by 1982’s The Thing and 1978’s Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.

Meanwhile, the new Russian villains include a guy named Grigori (Andrey Ivchenko) who looks eerily similar to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s original T-800 from 1984’s The Terminator. He even acts, moves and somewhat talks like him too. Perhaps they should hire him for the next Terminator movie.
Ridiculous Oversimplified Plot

Like I mentioned before, no one is actually watching Stranger Things for its sophisticated and complex plot. The series is meant to feature schlocky and familiar story beats from the 80s, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that the world-building could be better.

The Duffer Brothers (creators of Stranger Things) have always focused on their cast of characters instead of truly developing the plot in any meaningful way.
Three seasons in, and we know nothing else about the Upside Down other than the fact that it’s home to Lovecraftian monsters like the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer.

No one even explains why they want to enter this other dimension so much, other than just them being evil government types and ‘evil Russians’. I guess that’s all part of the package, being a product that reflects the 80s.
The Gang Is Back But Not Always Together

All of the gang is here in Stranger Things 3 nut weirdly enough, my personal highlight for this season wasn’t even Mike, Eleven, or anyone you would expect. Instead, it’s the bromance between Gaten Matarazzo’s Dustin and Joe Keery’s Steve, as well as their interplay with newcomer Maya Hawke’s Robin.
These three work so well together that I would actually watch a spinoff featuring just them hanging out in the mall. Other highlight characters of this season include David Harbour’s Jim Hopper and Winona Ryder’s Joyce Byers.
My favourite new trio of the season.
In fact, Stranger Things 3‘s main plotline can be divided into four separate groups with their own B-plots: the main kids (Mike, Will, Eleven, etc.), the trio (Steve, Dustin, and new girl Robin), the adventures of Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers, and the budding investigative duo of Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers.
The dynamic Hopper-Byers duo.
It’s a bizarre choice for the cast to be kept separated for almost the entire season, but circumstances are a lot different in Stranger Things 3, as the gang are technically teenagers and young adults now.

They’re not kids anymore; they’re now facing the all the perils of growing up, including relationship issues and job problems.

We smell a case!
It makes for compelling character development, especially for those who have been here with the Stranger Things cast from the very beginning.
Fun 80s Ride With Emotion And Gusto
Stranger Things 3 ends on a sombre and hopeful note, with an emotionally-devastating moment rivalling that of Avengers Endgame‘s ‘I love you 3000.” In Marvel-like fashion, Netflix has also included a post-credits scene, which hints at a possible season four in the future.
The series will always be known for its charming and lovable cast, as well as a unique sense of humour that stems from 80s nostalgia and aesthetics. Stranger Things brings a smile to my face and a warm fuzzy feeling in my gut, making me miss an era I never even lived in or experienced.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100
Stranger Thing Season 3 is now available on Netflix.


JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle Adds DLC Character Keicho Nijimura

Bandai Namco and developer CyberConnect2 have announced a new character in its ever-expanding 2D fighting game based on the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle will add Okuyasu’s brother, Keicho Nijimura (Book 4: Diamond Is Unbreakable), into the game as DLC. This is part of the game’s sole Season Pass. His Stand is called Bad Company and it’s a miniature army summon with tons of firepower at its disposal.

There’s no release date yet; check out the teaser below.

As of right now, the other DLC characters in the Season Pass are Risotto Nero (Book 5: Vento Aureo) and Rudol no Stroheim (Book 2: Battle Tendency).


Wizards Of The Coast Bans 7 Racist Magic: The Gathering Cards

Wizards of the Coast, best known for that Magic: The Gathering card game that titles like Hearthstone get inspiration from, is apologizing for the racist cards it has published for the past few decades.
You know, cards like these…

Yikes.
Anyway, the above three and four others will be removed from competitive play and from the game’s official card index. Here’s the list:

Invoke Prejudice
Cleanse
Stone-Throwing Devils
Pradesh Gypsies
Jihad
Imprison
Crusade

Not only will they be banned from all tournament sanctioned play, their art wilil be removed from Wizard’s official card index site Gatherer. They’ll be replaced with this box of the following text:

“We have removed this card image from our database due to its racist depiction, text, or combination thereof. Racism in any form is unacceptable and has no place in our games, nor anywhere else.”

Why do this now instead of a couple of years back? Because like most big companies, they’re doing it to make a political statement to coincide with the recent tragedies and Black Lives Matter protests/riots that follow.
While Wizards of the Coast are doing their best in being proactive about this, it does reek of convenient PR stuntwork especially when the company could have fixed its mono-White control stance. I do not mean the deck type: read this recent open letter (among many others)on how Wizard works behind the scenes when it comes to diversity hires.


Overwatch Halloween Terror 2020 Event Kicks Off Tomorrow

Halloween Terror is returning toÂ OverwatchÂ on 13 October 2020. It will run until 3 November 2020, so there will be plenty of time for players to join in the spooky fun.

Ooh… Scary!Overwatch Halloween Terror begins on October 13! pic.twitter.com/3fFvG7Y4Vi— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) October 10, 2020

Players can look forward toÂ new skins, sprays, and player icons, which can be seen in the trailer posted on the official Overwatch Twitter account. We can see D.Va, Sombra, Sigma, Brigitte, and Echo getting new cosmetics.


Sakura Wars To Receive Instant Saves In Big Day One Patch

After 20 years, Sakura Wars will be the first game in the franchise to receive a localized English version. The last Sakura Wars title was 2005’s Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love for the PS2. We’re only about a month away from the worldwide release of the upcoming game on 28 April 2020, and Sega has already confirmed a big day one update.
Sakura Wars will receive its 1.01 patch on launch day, the same update which initially launched for the Japanese version of the game earlier on 18 March 2020. Here’s what players can expect from the day one patch:

The ability to lock-on in combat.
The ability to save or load wherever or whenever in the game.
New controls.
Conversation logs.
Removal of Share restrictions, which means that players can now share screenshots and gameplay videos.

The Sakura Wars 1.01 update will also add character Sakura Amamiyaâ€™s Spiricle Fighter: Mugen from the Shin Sakura Wars The Animation anime. This mecha can be used for her missions in the battle simulator Ikusa-chan.
Sakura Amamiyaâ€™s Spiricle Fighter: Mugen.
In the meantime, check out the latest Sakura Wars trailer featuring different possible relationships in the game below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQKPUWoajvs&w=560&h=315]


Overwatch 2 & Diablo IV Are Not Coming In 2021

During the company’s fourth-quarter financial results conference call, Activision Blizzard CFO and president of emerging businesses Dennis M. Durkin confirmed that Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV will not launch in 2021.Â He also confirmed that we’re getting a new Call Of Duty title in 2021
Here are some of the highlights from the meeting (via Gematsu):

â€œWe have a substantial opportunity to continue migrating the community of Call Of Duty Black Ops Cold War as well as another strong premium Call Of DutyÂ release planned for Q4 in 2021.â€

â€œWe expect Blizzardâ€™s net bookings to grow, given the momentum inÂ World Of WarcraftÂ and the other initiatives we have in the business. Our outlook does not includeÂ Diablo IVÂ orÂ Overwatch 2Â launching in 2021. And whileÂ Diablo ImmortalÂ is progressing well and we anticipate its launch later this year, we donâ€™t have any material contribution from the title in our outlook presently.â€

â€œOur pipeline has never been stronger, and as we look beyond 2021 and plan for 2022, we are looking forward to delivering some of the most eagerly anticipated content in the industry. In addition to our regular cadence of content acrossÂ Call Of Duty,Â World Of Warcraft, andÂ Candy Crush, we expect Blizzard to release major new titles across console, PC, and mobile, contributing to another step change in financial performance for the company next year.â€

â€œAcross our three biggest franchises (Call Of Duty,Â World Of Warcraft, andÂ Candy Crush), we have great momentum. And we have a few other things up our sleeve in terms of remastered content that weâ€™ll unveil in due course, which should provide further opportunity for us this year. And, as [Activision Blizzard president and chief operating officer] Daniel [Alegre] mentioned, and we sort of mentioned throughout our remarks, all of this incremental opportunity is digital, which should allow us to continue to grow our margin as we did when we set record margins last year. So we should be able to build upon that.â€

While this does somewhat dampers expectations for BlizzConline 2021 taking place later this month, perhaps we’ll learn more about these games that will tide us over for the rest of the year and onwards. Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV are currently in development for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.


Call of Duty Developer Opens New Studio In UK

To continue its global expansion, Call of Duty developers Sledgehammer Games will be expanding beyond its Austin, Texas location.
The company will be opening a new studio in Guildford, United Kingdom, as part of its efforts to continue its global operations. Previously, Sledgehammer has opened a studio in Melbourne, Australia, and another studio in Toronto, Canada. Here’s the official press release statement from COO Andy Wilson regarding the expansion:
“In light of that success, we are focused on growing our team by going to places where we believe there is great talent. Iâ€™m just really excited to bring our studio brand to the UK, along with the incredible franchise we get to work on. Itâ€™s another opportunity to do our own small part to grow the industry, in a place where thereâ€™s a huge number of talented developers.
As we have done in our other locations, we will be looking to build partnerships with schools and universities to help nurture and grow the next generation of talent. Itâ€™s not just about finding people who already work in the industry, itâ€™s about providing pathways for those who are looking to get in. I remember that daunting feeling very well and it makes me happy to be providing opportunity, especially as we emerge from a historic pandemic.”
The company is currently hiring for Art, Design, Engineering, and Production positions for the new office.


The PS5 Backwards Compatibility Dream Is Still On Track

Sony has been pretty tight-lipped on whether the PS5 will have full or partial backwards compatibility for previous generations. However, the company recently re-iterated that they’re hard at work trying to ensure as many as 4000 PS4 titles will be playable on the PS5.
Speaking with CNET, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan said:

“We said that the PS5 has been designed to play PS4 games.
We’re going through the process with the publishers and developers testing that rather exhaustive library of over 4,000 games.
We’re happy with the progress that’s been made.”

However, he doesn’t specify or mention how many of those 4000 PS4 titles will be playable at launch. Still, this is good news for PlayStation fans as a whole. In the meantime, head on over here to check out all our other PS5-related news and feature articles.


Earth Defense Force 5 Dropping In Summer

Finally we are able to understand why we are shooting at these aliens in the first place.
Sony Interactive Entertainment Hong Kong Limited Limited Singapore Branch (SIES) today announced that the â€œEARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5â€ by D3 PUBLISHER, which is currently only available in Japanese will be available in traditional Chinese, Korean and English versions for the PlayStation 4 andÂ will be released this summer. When? Well the presser we received only said summer; which narrows it to between June and September. Helpful? Hardly. But come on – ain’t it great to at least know that the days of make-belief and pretending that we understand the EDF plot is almost over?Â
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_R0_nL5zDE&w=560&h=315]
The latest title in the EARTH DEFENSE FORCE series, expect a brand new depiction of humanity’s fight against alien invaders from outer space (duh).Â Â With four soldier classes and over 1,000 types of weapons to choose from, EDF5 will come with over 100 missions -Â  a franchise record.Â  As if that’s not enough, additional mission pack released earlier in Japan will become available for these three new languages as well.
All missions support multiplayer gameplay for up to 4 players and features offline split-screen co-op. So that’s one more reason for you to invest on a huge-ass TV screen.Â
On top of that news, to help you prepare yourself for EDF5, the PlayStation store is offering up to 70% discount on Earth Defense Force 4.1. This limited offer ends on the 18th of April. So grab that offer while you can – if you’re into the EDF franchise.
Meanwhile, we will be pestering the good folks who sent us the presser for the exact date of EDF5’s release, so stay tuned.


Apex Legends Emergence Trailer To Premiere During EA Play Live Tonight

EA and Respawn Entertainment have revealed that the Apex Legends Emergence Launch Trailer will premiere at the upcoming EA Play Live live stream later tonight.
Fans can also look forward to an exclusive Apex Legends weapon charm via Twitch Drops. The new season will also introduce a new LMG called Rampage, more Worldâ€™s Edge map changes, a ranked mode for Arenas, and more.
We will learn more about the new Legend named Seer and Apex Legends Emergence during EA Play LiveÂ at 1am GMT+8 on 23 July 2021.
In the meantime, check out the Apex Legends | Stories from the Outlands â€“ â€œMetamorphosisâ€ trailer below:


Holocure 0.5 Update Now Live; Here Is What’s New In This Version

The 2D roguelite action game Holocure, which is like Vampire Survivors but with a strafe button and has Hololive characters, has received a new 0.5 update.
The 0.5 update features 9 new Hololive Vtuber characters to play as (via Reddit):

Akai Haato,
Yozora Mel
Natsuiro Matsuri
Aki Rosenthal
Oozora Subaru
Yuzuki Choco
Nakiri Ayame
Minato Aqua
Murasaki Shion

The update also features 9 new main weapons & Special Attacks:
Weapons

Matsuri Ebifrion
Haato RED HEART
Aki Twintails
Mel Bite
Subaru Baseball Ball
Aqua Broom
Choco Syringe
Shion Magic
Ayame twin Katanas : Rakshasa and Asura

Special Attacks

Banpire
Matsuri Taiko Drum
Haato/Haachama Swap
Aki Roses
Subaru Speaker
Kusogakick
Choco sexiness
Ayame Demon
Aqua NEKO

Gameplay-wise, characters will get new sub-weapons, 4 new items, 1 new Super Item, and 27 new skills. We’ll update this piece when we get the full info.

For a full list of items and how to unlock them, head here.
Other additions include:
New Game Modes

Two New Stages; one of them is inspired by “??? Halloween Night”.
New Game Mode: this mode requires you to kill 5,000 enemies in a restricted Arena.

New Mechanics

Randomized weapon stats and enchants.
Oshi “Following Level” system; this gives your existing characters bonuses so they’re stronger and more fun to play as with each playthrough. As you continue to play your favorite idol more, their Following Level may increase to “Fan”, up to “Oshi”! When an idol raises their Following Level, they may gain benefits in-game, such as starting with skills already levelled!
Mouse-Aiming.

gamers, we hear you pic.twitter.com/CLoyWX8ran
— Kay Yu (@kaynimatic) October 24, 2022

You can play Holocure right now on PC; just download it here. For more info, check out our guide.


Street Fighter 5 Definitive Update Adds New Combos, Balances, And Cel-Shading

In a surprise announcement, Capcom will be adding a “Definitive Update” to Street Fighter 5, the 2016 2D fighting game that only got better after its subpar launch.
This new update will be the game’s final batch of major balance changes. These include new expanded combo routes for characters like Ibuki, Alex, Menat, Juri, and Ryu, as well as new graphics filters: cel-shaded and pixel. The update will also add in new Cap-James remixes in matches, including the funky Dan theme that played a few months back.

Fighting game content creator HiFight has broken down the changes and new combo routes in a quick video below. God bless these fighting game superfans and their timeliness.

The update will be out on 29th March.


NFS Heat Now Playable With Steering Wheel

Need for Speed Heat might not be everyone’s cup of tea but most people (including me) will agree that it’s probably the best Need for Speed game in recent years. Ghost Games has just dropped a new update which adds a bunch of interesting features.

The major announcement here is that you’ll finally be able to play the game using a steering wheel. Before you get excited, do note that the developers have only confirmed a few models to be completely compatible and they are:

Thrustmaster T300RS (PS4, PC*)
Thrustmaster TX (Xbox, PC*)
Thrustmaster T150 (PS4, PC*)
Thrustmaster TMX (Xbox, PC*)
Logitech G29 (PS4, PC*)
Logitech G920 (Xbox, PC*)
Fanatec CSL Elite Racing Wheel (PS4, PC*, XB1)

If the steering that you own is not listed, you’ll just have to try plugging it in and see if it works. It’s stated in the announcement that “a few others might work” which isn’t exactly the most helpful statement but it should give you hope.

Other additions in the update include a chat wheel that will allow you to easily communicate with friends and other racers you meet online. This was obviously added to mitigate the issue of having to use voice chat to communicate effectively.
As expected of EA, microtransactions are also part of this update in the form of something called “Keys to the Map“. Basically, you’ll be able to use real-world money to reveal the locations of collectibles and activities on the map. It’s just one of those time-saver features.
Of course, there are also a bunch of quality of life improvements and you can read about them and everything else introduced in the patch here.


Under The Waves Receives August 2023 Release Date

Under the Waves, the deep-sea exploration narrative game finally has a release date and is set for 29 August on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The release date was announced in a brand new trailer showcasing some gameplay and more of the narrative story that was shown at this year’s Summer Game Fest.
Revealed at last year’s Gamescom’s Opening Night Live show, Under the Waves is a new narrative-driven adventure game brought to us by publishers Quantic Dream and developer Parallel Studio.
This will be Quantic Dream’s third game since they decided to expand their business model back in 2019. That’s when they made a deal with NetEase and shifted gears into multi-platform development and self-publishing. And let me tell you, their previous publishing projects were pretty cool too. They brought us Jo-Mei’s Sea of Solitude: Director’s Cut and Dustborn from Red Thread Games.


E3 2018: Our Rapid Roundup Of EA Play

So we stayed up late (or woke up early – whichever of the two that sounds more appealing) today to catch the first of many E3 2018 press conferences, the one by Electronic Arts. Yes. The folks in desperate need of a 180-degree turnaround considering how their reputation nosedived in 2017. How was it? Well, read on. We will summarize it for you.
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1445808012190276/
Uphill Task For Everyone
What’s Good Games co-founder Andrea Rene was the host for the night and although she tried her best to work up the crowd, they seem dead; probably the dead-est of E3 crowd I’ve ever seen. Everyone’s definitely not hyped up, probably still seething from EA’s conduct in 2017 and she’s got a huge task at hand.
Opening Gambit
The hype reel focused mainly on Battlefield V and Anthem, which included an augmented reality gambit. Pretty impressive but gimmicky more than anything else. Also, the monster reminded us so much of the Goliath from Turtle Rock’s failed 4v1 monster hunt game Evolve.
BattleRoyaleField V
They jumped straight into the meat of things with Battlefield V. Since the game was unveiled a few weeks back, not much new news was revealed, except for the expected Battle Royale mode which was greeted with faint “yays” in the crowd. Everyone’s gonna be a paratrooper and scrounge from the battlefield. Not novel, but if we were Bluehole (PUBG) and Epic Games (Fortnite), we’d be quaking in our pants. Hardly any gameplay shown as well so that’s a bummer.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWVtV59mczk&w=560&h=315]
FIFA Secures A Huge LicenseÂ
Next up is probably the toilet-break session for many – FIFA talk. In short, EA Sports pulled a huge move over Konami by snagging up the UEFA Champions League license for FIFA 19. Not much gameplay – again – save for cinematics and hype reels and we know that the game is set to hit Sept 28th 2018. The devs also announced that FIFA 18 which features a special, free World Cup mode will be available for free for a limited time.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX0AV6yxyrQ&w=560&h=315]
EA Remembers PC
EA announced Origin Access Premiere, a subscription service whereÂ PC players can enjoy new titles at launch for a monthly price. They also revealed that Madden NFL 19 is returning to the PC after a decade’s absence.
Respawn’s Star Wars Project
After the most excruciating ten minutes or so filled with sales and marketing drivel for EA Sports’ yearly sports franchise, Andrea shifted the focus to Respawn Entertainment founder, Vince Zampella in the crowd, who in the lowest-key of announcements, revealed that his studio is working on a Star Wars game calledÂ Star Wars:Â Jedi Fallen Order which takes place between Episode III and Episode IV – after the Jedi purge.
Vince seemed to be winging it and even looked high throughout the conversation. Partied early, Vince? This one got us mildly excited although we wished he’d announce Titanfall 3 instead. NEXT!
Still flogging the dead horse called Star Wars, they gave details on upcoming content for Battlefront II based on Solo: A Star Wars Story which will be free.Â An apologetic EA and Dice representative acknowledged the gameâ€™s less-than-spectacular state yet assured that bright days are coming.Â In an attempt to satiate the Star Wars fans and win back some brownie points, EA is taking the game to the Clone Wars era, with new playable heroes and villains including General Grievous and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But where’s my Ahsoka Tano?!
And come on – although we know the game is set to come out next year; not even a peep? No trailer? Title typeface? Teaser image? No?
EA’s Highlight of the Night
Funnily enough, in spite of all the huge franchises being displayed, the two most captivating games were Unravel Two and Sea of Solitude. Unravel Two brings a new twist to the highly engaging game, and is available right now while Sea of Solitude explores mental health and self-discovery; both games delivered by nervous yet genuine developers who just by looking at them, you know that they gave their heart and soul in the creation of their respective games.
The brief gameplay demo of Unravel Two was underwhelming, to say the least – something we felt best saved for closed-door sessions.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2TmLrTl6gs&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWY76dNvXyo&w=560&h=315]
EA Resumes Normal Programming
NBA Live. Yawn. Madden 19. Yawn. Next.
A New Low
What’s worse than having two shoutcasters for mobile games narrate a Clash Royale-like mobile game to a hall filled with a disinterested crowd? Announcing that the beloved franchise Command and Conquer is going mobile, that’s what. In contention with the WWE-style title belt lugging Madden champion slot for the worst segment of the show,Â Command and Conquer: Rivals was a waste of time for some, and an unwanted announcement for almost everyone.
We are withholding our verdict of the game until we actually try it – but we felt that they could have unveiled it in a different stage and used the allocated time for other worthy projects.
AnthemÂ … Ahem
EA closed the show with their biggest title at this E3, DestEAnEA a.k.a Anthem. Different, unique classes? Check. Customizable armor, skill and weapons? Check. An open-world for you to explore alone or with friends? Check.
Everything unveiled about Anthem spells ‘Destiny clone’ and while we aren’t shooting it down before it even takes off, felt that EA missed a huge opportunity to justify that their game is unique from the likes of Destiny, Warframe and even Borderlands.
Show us some gameplay man! Instead, we were dished with poorly edited gameplay footage which shows nothing as of how the final game is to be played. If you edit out all the labels and symbols and show it to a Destiny 2 player and tell them that this is the new DLC, we are certain that they would immediately believe you.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFwylDNpgFc&w=560&h=315]
Final Verdict
EA’s E32018 Conference was a dud. They had so many opportunities to redeem themselves yet they took the opposite direction every time; save for Unravel Two and Sea of Solitude. Take those two out, the only other newsworthy stuff coming out would be Respawn’s new Star Wars game and Anthem.
Neither sent our excitement levels past the 60% mark. You dropped the ball, EA.
Score: 3/10.Â Abysmal


The Last Guardian VR Demo Now Available for Download

Sony PlayStation (Singapore) today revealed that ‘The Last Guardian VR DEMO’ is now available for free on PlayStation Store. First shown at the recent PlayStation Experience 2017, players get to relive the first moments of meeting Trico via the demo.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyt95Y5M_38?start=62&w=560&h=315]
If you think handling real life animals was a chore, you have not met Trico yet. What better way to revisit that frustrating experience of trying to get a giant eagle-dog to follow your instructions than a VR version of it yeh?
Of course you will require the PlayStation VR unit to play it, which should be available at a discounted price moreover with the holiday season creeping up.


DC FanDome: Gotham Knights Trailer Unveils First Look At Court Of Owls’ Talons

During DC FanDome 2021, Warner Bros Games Montreal has revealed a new story trailer for Gotham Knights, which will launch for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC sometime in 2022.
The trailer unveils our first look at the Penguin, and the game’s main antagonists in the form of the Court Of Owls’ immortal Talons.
Check out the trailer below:


E3 2019: Surprise! Final Fantasy VIII Remastered Is Actually Coming Very Soon

What a pleasant surprise! The best Final Fantasy, which is Final Fantasy VIII, is getting remastered, after many years of being slept on, and it is coming real soon this year, just in time for its 20th anniversary since its original release back in 1999.
If you’ve been following the development of this title, you’ll know that the game was often looked upon when talking about remasters. There was no FFVIII remake while other titles in the series had their own, such as Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2. This is because Squaresoft lost this source code for the game. Meaning it was lost forever in time, but thank the heavens above! Final Fantasy VIII Remake is finally real!
The game won’t instantly convert players to RPG-believers, but fans of the title are loving every bit of this one.
The E3 reveal trailer showcases our first look at the game. Here’s the trailer if you missed it!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpx2Z2CCjPs]
Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the game features the original MIDI music which is a treat to many fans of the title, since the only relevant copy, the Steam edition, uses a weird remake of music. In other words, the Steam version doesn’t capture the essence of composer Nobuo Uematsu’s magical pieces. The remastered version hits the right notes.
The game also gets an extensive graphical update, featuring sharper visuals and better textures. I’m not expecting 4K visuals but this one stays true to its source material while looking in place in today’s graphical prowess.
Don’t expect the game to be entirely revamped as the Final Fantasy VII Remake will be, but expect a modest polishing of the 1999 title.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam this year. No exact release date revealed yet so far.


Reverse City Builder Terra Nil Will Be Out End Of March

Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Free Lives has announced the release date of its reverse-city building simulation title Terra Nil.
The eco-friendly and savvy simulation will be out on 28 March for PC, mobile (iOS, Android), and Netflix. Pre-orders for the game will receive a free upgrade to the Deluxe Edition of the title, which adds the soundtrack and digital art book. Furthermore, a portion of Terra Nil’s profits will be donated to the Endangered Wildlife Trust.
“From the very beginning of development we’ve wanted Terra Nil to be able to have a real-world impact,” said co-creator and lead designer Sam Alfred in a press release. “After much searching, we found the perfect partner to make this happen in the Endangered Wildlife Trust. Free Lives will be donating a portion of the profits of each sale of Terra Nil on Steam to the Endangered Wildlife Trust to help them in their efforts to preserve and restore ecosystems in the real world.”
We enjoyed our time with the Terra Nil demo last year; it was a great mix of a chill meditative experience and a building puzzle simulation where you not only build and make lakes, but also raze forests to create ash for the earth, as well as recycle whatever’s left. The full game will have four regions to unlock and unlockable alternate levels to find and open up.


Singapore’s Secretlab Unleashes Wildfire-Hot Game of Thrones Gaming Chairs

Secretlab and HBO are teaming up to bring you these sweet-looking Game of Thrones-themed chairs for your pop-culturing watching needs.

The chairs come in three designs based on the show’s factions: Stark, Lannister, and Targaryen. Other features include Secretlab’s PRIME PU leather for its surfaces, 4D armrests, and full-length backrest recline.Â You can pick between the OMEGA and TITAN models; they cost S$469 (RM1,383) and S$549 (RM1,619) respectively.
Personally, I’m loving the Stark and Lannister designs. While the rightmost chair isn’t really my jam (the red dragon, in particular, looks garish), the other chairs are tailor-made in a classy and regal fashion.
Or maybe I’m not a fan of House Targaryen’s recent military decisions in the last episode. Who knows?

As someone who has tested these chairs in previous outlets before Kakuchopurei, these bad boys are pretty dang comfortable. They’re also solid & stiff enough to sort out your posture when gaming for insanely long hours. There’s a sex joke in there somewhere for you degenerates reading this.
The online store can ship these nifty buttwarmers to Malaysia, Singapore, and selected countries.Â And it’s in limited quantities too, so you better hurry!
Image credit: Secretlab


Sons Of The Forest Weapons Guide (Early Access Version)

Sons Of The Forest is a survival game, meaning you’ll need weapons to get through the dangers of the game.
From the cannibals to even Sluggy and John 2.0, you’ll need guns. There’s a lot more in store arsenal-wise in this game than in the prequel The Forest, though you can just grab a nearby blunt object or even a severed limb if you’re out of ammo. Which will happen.
Sons Of The Forest offers more modern gameplay mechanics like a 3D printer that helps you craft, but nothing beats having a good weapon by your side. These are the weapons you can access in the Early Access build of Sons Of The Forest.
Sons Of The Forest Weapons List (Subject To Change)

Bone
Cattle prod
Chainsaw
Climbing Axe
Axe
Crafted bomb
Crafted club
Crossbow
Fireman’s axe
Flare
Guitar
Katana
Knife
Machete
Molotov
Pistol
Revolver
Rock
Severed arm
Severed leg
Shotgun
Shovel
Stick
Spear
Taser

Best Weapons To Use In Sons Of The Forest
Axe
The crafted Axe makes a return from The Forest, and is just as handy as ever. You can kill things with it and chop down trees. You will need a better weapon as you progress through the story, but it’s still a handy melee weapon when you’re in a pinch.
Cattle Prod
Good for knocking back cannibals to make them prone.
Pistol
One of the only ranged weapons you can get early on, you can craft the pistol by finding all of its parts scattered all across the map.
Shotgun
Packs a punch like any shotgun, but ammo is limited. Best to save it for big encounters.’
Severed Limbs
We weren’t kidding when we said this earlier: enemy body parts can be used as makeshift melee weapons against enemies if you’re out of ammo. Limbs, skulls, heads: nothing is sacred if you want to stay alive.


Ex-DCEU Flash Directors To Make Saving Throw For D&D Movie

Roll for initiative, Dungeons & Dragons movie rights.
Directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who were supposedly going to direct the Flash standalone film before their exit, will be the dungeon masters for a possible Dungeons & Dragons big-screen revival (via Variety). The duo will be replacing Chris McKay on this future Paramount-distributed film. Their previous works include the co-written script for Spider-Man: Homecoming and directorial work for Game Night and National Lampoon’s Vacation sequel.
The D&D movie project will be one of the first projects to go into production for Hasbro’s AllSpark Pictures. The studio aims to become an industry rival to Marvel Studios. Hopefully, these talks end up a critical hit instead of a critical miss, much like the last D&D film back in 2000.

Never again.


Time Bandits, Omen, & Tron Actor David Warner Has Died

David Warner, an actor who has starred in films like Titanic, Omen, and Tron, has died. He was 80.
The actor passed away in Denville Hall due to a cancer-related illness. He is survived by his partner Lisa Bowerman, his son Luke and daughter-in-law Sarah, good friend Jane Spencer Prior, first wife Harriet Evans, and “his many gold dust friends”.
His family shared the news with “overwhelmingly heavy heart(s)”.
“Over the past 18 months he approached his diagnosis with a characteristic grace and dignity. He will be missed hugely by us, his family and friends, and remembered as a kind-hearted, generous and compassionate man, partner and father, whose legacy of extraordinary work has touched the lives of so many over the years. We are heartbroken.”
David Warner was known for his villainous roles in Thirty Nine Steps and the cult classic movie Time Bandits.

He also had a slew of memorable roles like playing Bob Cratchit in the 1984 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Kenneth Branagh’s father in Wallander. Other shows he has been in include Penny Dreadful, Doctor Who, and the original Twin Peaks. He was also the voice of the memorable Batman: The Animated Series villain Ra’s Al Ghul.

Rest in peace, David Warner, and thanks for the acting and VO memories!


Sega Promises Monthly Sonic The Hedgehog News In 2020

2020 is going to be the year of the comeback for Sonic The Hedgehog. Not only is the Sega mascot getting his own movie next month, but Sega have also announced a new campaign that will run throughout 2020, where they will be revealing Sonic The Hedgehog news on the 20th of every month.
This month it’s the announcement of the campaign itself, but starting from next month in February 2020, Sega will be announcing something new related to Sonic The Hedgehog. While it hasn’t been clarified, this may include more than just video games and other media as well, such as comics and the upcoming movie.
In celebration of the new Sonic campaign, Sega has released new PC and mobile Sonic wallpapers, as well as a bunch of new icons for social media. You can download these from the official website here, which is also where the monthly Sonic news will be posted every month.
The most recent Sonic game to be released was Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 for the Nintendo Switch, which launched in November 2019. Perhaps we’ll be getting more Sonic games in 2020.


Activision Blizzard Mobile Revenue Eclipses Their Console & PC Business

A lot of developers are gearing up for the next generation of gaming this year, and that includes Activision Blizzard. However, it seems like they’ll probably be changing their business strategy soon if their revenue results are any indication. The company now derives the majority of its revenue from mobile.
According to the NASDAQ Stock Market, mobile platform sales make up close to 35 percent of the Activision Blizzardâ€™s total revenues with roughly US$2.3 billion in sales, and it will likely continue to grow in the near future. In comparison, consoles and PC only accounted for US$1.92 billion and US$1.72 billion, respectively.
This is largely thanks to their acquisition of King in 2016, the developer of popular mobile games like Candy Crush, as well as revenue from recent titles like Call Of Duty Mobile. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said (via Gamasutra):

â€œUsing Call of Duty as an example, with the introduction of Call of Duty: Mobile, we grew our player base from 40 million to 100 million players in less than a year.
We expect significant growth in the Call of Duty franchise in 2020 as compared to 2019, as a result of this and from other unannounced Call of Duty initiatives.”

It seems like the rumour that King is currently working on a Crash Bandicoot mobile game for Activision Blizzard is becoming more and more probable every day. The gaming industry is a rapidly-changing machine, and it’s not a surprise for companies to alter their business strategies in an instant.


Remembering Vertigo: The Top Ten Best Comics From DC’s Adult Brand

After almost three decades of adult-themed comics, DC Comics is shutting down its Vertigo imprint, which will be absorbed into DC Black Label, one of three new age-appropriate labels.
Launching way back in 1993, the Vertigo Comics imprint was best known for publishing comic books and graphic novels without the content restrictions of mainstream comics, providing comic book writers and artists an avenue to go all the way with their ideas, no matter how mature or unconventional they were.
The legacy of Vertigo will continue on, with many of its titles now considered to be iconic classics and nominated for or won Eisner Awards (the Oscars/Grammy equivalent in the comics industry) in the course of its run. Here are ten of the best titles published from the imprint in the past 23 years:
10. iZombie

While iZombie is relatively new in the Vertigo’s long-running lineup of comics, writer Chris Roberson teamed up with phenomenal artist Mike Allred for a series that subverted common tropes of zombies (and the horror genre at large) in pop culture in smart and funny ways.
It’s basically about a girl named Gwen Dylan, who is a zombie. She needs to eat brains to avoid going full-on zombie, so it’s a good thing that she works as a gravedigger. What’s not so good for her is that she partly inherits the behaviour and memories of the person whose brain she eats.
There’s a currently ongoing TV series adaptation of iZombie, which is pretty decent considering the CW essentially turned it into a crime procedural and changed almost everything from the source material. Still, the best part of the TV series is watching protagonist Olivia Moore becoming a different person every time she eats someone’s brain.
9. Doom Patrol/Swamp Thing/Animal Man

Doom Patrol, Swamp Thing, and Animal Man are now part of the main DC Comics universe but things were different about 20 years ago. These IPs were struggling to fit in the main canon, so they were then published under the Vertigo imprint to allow creators to go wild with these titles.
Alan Moore started his influential Saga Of The Swamp Thing run while Grant Morrison went totally bonkers and bizarre with both Doom Patrol and Animal Man. These legends almost single-handedly shaped these previously-unpopular IPs into some of the most celebrated in comics history, and all of this started at Vertigo.
8. Transmetropolitan

Written by none other than Warren Ellis, Transmetropolitan is a comic book starring gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem, who dedicates himself to fighting the extremely corrupt government of a future U.S. in a cyberpunk transhumanist dystopian setting.
This book is political satire at its best, and the what’s disturbingly scary about it all is how it remains as relevant as ever in today’s political climate (the U.S. under the Trump administration) as it was back in the era when it was being published from 1997 to 2002.
Check it out if you want to see what the future will be like if things continue as they are now. Yikes.
7. The Invisibles

This is the comic that was so wacky and trippy that writer Grant Morrison actually claimed that the story for The Invisibles was narrated to him by aliens after he was abducted during a trip to Kathmandu. Welcome to the 90s, folks.
The Invisibles is about a group of dysfunctional heroes with weird abilities (one of whom is transgender and another is a Buddha-to-be), who fight against threats to humanity’s natural progress, including interdimensional alien gods, time-travelling shenanigans, and AIDS. No, really.
6. V For Vendetta

One of the most influential graphic novels of all time, V For Vendetta is a timeless classic written by Alan Moore, depicting a dystopian near-future version of the United Kingdom controlled by a fascist, white-supremacist and homophobic government who imprisons dissenters in concentration camps. Sound familiar?

The protagonist V, an anarchist revolutionary rebel, is so iconic that his depiction of wearing the Guy Fawkes mask is so iconic that it has influenced real-life events as it is now widely used as a symbol of revolution and protest against oppression.
Not to mention the excellent movie adaptation starring Hugo Weaving as V and Natalie Portman as his protege Evey Hammond, which remains one of the best comic book movies to this day. If you haven’t watched it, it’s even available on Netflix right now.
5. Y: The Last Man

Y: The Last Man isn’t your typical post-apocalyptic story. This was the comic book that made Brian K. Vaughan the celebrated writer he is today. It’s got everything from mystery and romance to horror and social commentary.
Set in a post-apocalyptic setting where aÂ mysterious plague has wiped out the male population of Earth, wannabe street magician Yorick Brown is literally the last man in the world. He goes on a journey to find his girlfriend, encountering allies and enemies along the way.

Every issue (sixty in all) of Y: The Last Man is an event in itself, and will leave you wanting for the next one. After years of being stuck in development hell, a TV series adaptation is set to premiere sometime in 2020, starring the likes of Barry Keoghan and Imogen Poots.
4. Preacher

Written by Garth Ennis and the late legendary artist Steve Dillion (may he rest in peace), Preacher isn’t a comic for the easily-offended or those with religious sensitivities. It challenged religious themes in a way that no other comic has done before or since.
Preacher follows protagonist Jesse Custer, a disillusioned small-town preacher whose body becomes host to Genesis, the offspring of a demon and an angel (who is very much God’s equal). He then goes on a journey to find the one true God and demand answers.

The blasphemy and ultra-violence make for an outrageously-fun experience, one filled with secret organizations, vampires, and a disfigured character named Arseface. Preacher is one of the few comic books I never thought could possibly be adapted into live-action, but the folks at AMC managed to do it, and it’s currently four seasons in.
3. Sandman

Neil Gaiman’s Sandman is one of the most epic and iconic fantasy comic books out ever. It was also the flagship title of the imprint and is still a literary achievement in the comic book medium the likes of which warrants its own deep mythology.
Sandman follows the saga of Morpheus or Dream of the Endless, one of seven siblings who embody different aspects of the universe, and his journey in a new world much changed after his escape from a long imprisonment.

Multiple spinoffs were created based on Sandman, the prominent of which was Lucifer. The latter has now been adapted into a TV series which although altered from its source material in the same way iZombie was, is still a decent and highly-recommended watch.
2. Fable

Fable is one of the longest-running and best-selling titles in the Vertigo lineup, and for good reason. After more than 110 series from 2002 to 2015 and countless spinoffs, the mythology of Fable is as deep and rich as any other universe in literature and comics, winning over a whopping 14 Eisner Awards across its run.

The premise is so simple yet extremely brilliant, as it features various characters we know and love from fairy tales and folklore in a modern and contemporary setting. It asks the question of what if fairy tale characters are living amongst us in secret.
Telltale Games’ The Wolf Among Us acts as a prequel to the Fable universe and remains one of the best interactive narrative adventure games ever made. If you like narrative-heavy games, do yourself a favour and pick up this game, before proceeding to check out the source material.
1. Hellblazer

The chain-smoking British master of the dark arts (Hellblazer protagonist) John Constantine is already a popular character in pop culture, having featured in 2005’s Constantine starring Keanu Reeves and in his own TV series starring born-for-the-role Welsh actor Matt Ryan.
Before Preacher came along, Garth Ennis made his mark by featuring supernatural and religious themes in Hellblazer, as John Constantine tricks and lies his way through scores of demons and satanic beings.

Hellblazer had social commentary, as well as horror and fantasy elements. Although he’s now permanently inducted into the mainstream DC universe, Constantine continues to be the same old magician/detective who is charming yet destructive to everyone around him.
(Feature Image Credit: DeviantArt user SniperCorpse)

There you go, folks, There were many more iconic titles published by Vertigo Comics in its almost three-decade lifespan. Let us know what your favourite Vertigo title was in the comments below.


New Doom Eternal Trailer Looks Hellishly Good

Publisher Bethesda Softworks and developer id Software have released a second trailer for the highly-anticipated Doom Eternal ahead of its launch in two months. The new trailer showcases new gameplay footage and an actual narrative of sorts in its single-player campaign (which wasn’t in the first game).
The story is just there to provide an excuse for Doom Slayer or Doom Guy to shoot and shred demons with shotguns, rocket launchers, and fists. There are also new enemies, like the Marauder and Gladiator. However, the highlight of the video is the new laser sword Crucible in action.
After being delayed from its original release date of November 2019, Doom Eternal is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 20 March 2020, with a Nintendo Switch version to follow suit on a later unspecified date.
Pre-orders for all versions will include a download code for Doom 64, which will be releasing on the same day as Doom Eternal. In the meantime, check out the awesome new trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkklG9MA0vM&w=560&h=315]


Definite Pick-Ups From PlayStation Malaysia’s 2019 Holiday Sale

Tis’ the season to be jolly! Christmas is just a few weeks away and the holiday season is upon us. This means that holiday sales for Christmas gifts are also upon us! For us Malaysian gamers out here, Sony has something quite incredible for us.

Starting from today untilÂ 5 January 2020, Sony Interactive Entertainment is having an Incredible Deals sale for a variety of PS4 products. There are some really good deals here but if you’re feeling on the fence or confused about what to get, worry not.
Here’s what we recommend getting and why:
PlayStation 4 1TB MEGA PACK (RM999)

This one is a no-brainer for you folks who haven’t jumped on board the PS4 train or are thinking of a gift for a loved one who’s a gamer. What really makes this an awesome deal is the collection of games you’re getting on top of the free 3 months PS Plus membership.
You’ll be getting the second-best open world experience in this generation (Red Dead Redemption 2 wins this one) in Grand Theft Auto V. God of War is one of our favourite action adventure game of all time thanks to satisfying combat and great characters while Horizon Zero Dawn is another essential PS4 exclusive that’s breathtakingly beautiful and really fun to play.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition (RM79)

When people say that Marvel’s Spider-Man is the best Spider-Man game they’ve ever played, you should believe them. The swinging mechanics are done so well that some of us still drop into the game just to swing around the city of New York. Yori Lowenthal does a great job at voicing the webhead, sometimes to the point of making some of us shed tears.
With signs hinting at a next-gen sequel in the works, it’s a great time to jump into the game and get hyped for whatever is coming next. The GOTY Edition includes all the DLCs story missions released in The City That Never Sleeps.
Death Stranding (RM169)

We didn’t exactly give Death Stranding a glowing review heaping it with praise. However, it’s one of those games that you simply have to try out for yourself. The main gameplay formula of simply completing deliveries via walking, biking, or driving might not strike the fancy of some folks. Those of you looking for something different and more relaxing in the AAA games market should definitely check it out.
Concrete Genie (RM79)
Concrete Genie_20191004170453
If you’re looking for a game that’s more appropriate for younger players, Concrete Genie is a good choice. The game’s story leans on the serious side of things but it handles themes and topics that younger audiences can relate to. It also helps that it’s all portrayed in very detailed and colourful graphics.

The holidays is always a great time to be a gamer or a friend of one. There are a lot of other deals out there but Sony’s Incredible Deals is surely one of the best ones here in Malaysia.
If you’re interested in purchasing anything from the Incredible Deals sale, just head on over to any PlayStation authorised dealers, Sony Stores, and Sony Centres.


PUBG Mobile Reveals More New Content With Lionel Messi

PUBG MOBILE has revealed 20 brand new Lionel Messi-themed items coming to the game. The legendary footballer makes his debut in PUBG MOBILE along with a collection of special outfits and items that will help players unleash their power and energy on the battleground.
Players will be able to become legends themselves in a number of Captain Messi outfits, as well as accessories with new ornaments, parachutes, pans and more. The Messi Football Icon range includes a new themed set, cover, backpack, helmet, pan, PP-19 Bizon, Mini14, MK47, AKM, ornament and grenade.
Next comes the Messi Super Legend items including a set, hat, mask and parachute. Finally, the Messi Collaboration items include a set, plane finish, hoverboard, dacia and ornament. Players can also still get their hands on the exclusive PUBG MOBILE X Messi Collaboration Jersey via the invitation-sharing event, but hurry as this will only be available for a limited time.
Lionel Messi said:
“It’s so exciting to see PUBG MOBILE reveal the items we’ve been working on together, I can’t wait to see players using our amazing new outfits. It’s been a great experience working with PUBG MOBILE, and I’m really proud of the work this partnership has achieved – I’m looking forward to getting on the battlefield and using these items myself!”
Vincent Wang, Head of PUBG MOBILE Publishing, Tencent Games, said:
“Messi has been a pleasure to collaborate with, and it’s an honour to be able to immortalise him in PUBG MOBILE. This is a huge moment for PUBG MOBILE players and football fans alike, and I hope everyone enjoys unleashing their power with these truly special in-game items.”
You can download PUBG MOBILE for free on the App Store and Google Play Store.