Lebron James Is Banned From World’s Biggest Fighting Game Tournament

Organizers at EVO 2022, this year’s biggest fighting game tournament, have announced that LeBron James is banned from the tournament. At least, the version of the famous basketball player in the 2D platformer fighting game MultiVersus; not the actual real sports athlete.
In addition to this cartoon version of the four-time NBA championship winner, Iron Giant and other characters released after the start of MultiVersus’ open beta will not be allowed in the EVO 2022 MultiVersus Open Beta tournament. This is subject to change at the sole discretion of Warner Bros. and developer Player First Games. The ban is due to the listed characters being recent and not thoroughly played and tested publicly, meaning they could have exploits not even the developers would know about. Banning brand-new characters in a fighting game, especially when they’re out a few days before a big tournament, is common practice to ensure fairness.
Of course, the headline has spawned a lot of people on Twitter bemused at the fact that the basketball star is banned from a fighting game tournament.

it's kinda hilarious to see the sentence "Lebron James is banned for EVO"
— Susie – Multiversus Leaks (@multiversusie) August 4, 2022

I can't belive LeBron James is banned from Evo
— Kybosh @ Peak Fiction (@Kybosh42) August 4, 2022

I thought you meant the irl LeBron James was banned from going to Evo, I was confused for a second
— PeteSauce The AwsomeSauce (@PeteSauceToon) August 4, 2022

OK, now I absolutely want to see the real LeBron James go to EVO, enter the MultiVersus tournament, & cause mass confusion. https://t.co/J8KZ9aDY9b
— George J. Horvath (@LandofObscusion) August 4, 2022

So is Lebron James banned at EVO just as a character or like if Lebron just wants to watch a tournament live he can't get in?
— GuiNRedS – Red Star (@guinreds) August 4, 2022

You know what’s not funny for many? MultiVersus’ open beta still being blocked in Malaysia, Singapore, The Philippines, and the rest of Southeast Asia. If you want to watch the MultiVersus tournament sans Lebron James, head to our EVO 2022 feature.


[Report] We’re Getting A BioShock Sequel, I Guess…

So yeah, we’re getting a BioShock 4,Â  a sequel to a game that wasn’t supposed to have direct sequels to begin because of the way part 1 and BioShock Infinite was written.
Moving on: so there’s a bit of evidence concerning that BioShock rumour via 2K Games and Take-Two Interactive’s quarterly earningsÂ  report last week. The latter’s CEO StraussÂ  Zelnick said that the publisher currently has the “strongest development pipeline in history”, with fans of its games expecting sequels of their big franchises anytime soon.
On that same week,Â  there’s a new 2K job listing about an End Game Design Lead position in Novato, California. TheÂ  positionÂ  is looking to “build a post-narrative set of systems, quests, and player progression that gives our fanatic fangirls and fanboys more content to experience on an ongoing, live-service basis.”

That’s the same location of the 2K Parkside studio that was reportedly making the next BioShock game (via Kotaku). Which also means that we’re getting a sequel to BioShockÂ  Infinite that will be, sigh,Â  taking the live games services route ala Destiny 2 and TheÂ  Division 2. To add substance to that rumour, a BioShock Reddit forum put together aÂ  list of names and developers working at the Novato-based studio.
So will the game be out in time for the next-gen Xbox Scarlet and PS5 release windows? Who knows; we’ll only find out from 2K Games next year.
So?
In any case, do we really need a new BioShock? Last I checked,Â BioShock 2Â  wasn’t even that good in retrospect, and live service games in the wrong hands will lead to titles like AnthemÂ and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. The Burial At Sea DLC for BioShock Infinite is arguably the shittiest way to end the series ifÂ  I’m being perfectly frank.
Let’s also not forget how radically different BioShock Infinite turned out since 2008.Â  The game we got was still fun, but all those multiple scenarios and endings would have sounded like a more grand title in retrospect.

It’ll take a miracle to salvage whatever narrative integrity the series has left, so hopefully, the new Parkside studio team are up to the task.


Lance Reddick Will Be Featured In Future Destiny Content

Bungie has confirmed that the recently deceased actor Lance Reddick, who voices Commander Zavala in the Destiny series, will be appearing and featured in future Destiny content.
In a recent Bungie blog post, the company plans to honour his presence through his performances which were recorded way ahead of time prior to his death.
“As an actor, musician, gamer, and family man, the passion Lance brought to the things he loved was reflected in the eyes and hearts of all who loved him.
For now, we will honor his presence through his performances yet to come in the game, and in the memories that will last us a lifetime. We are deeply saddened by his passing but so thankful for the time we spent together, and our thoughts are with his friends and loved ones.”


Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid Brings 3v3 Sentai Fighting This April On PS4

Prepare to scream “GO GO POWER RANGERS!” until you’re out of breath as we tell you this brand of good news. Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid will be out for PlayStation 4 on 2nd April.

The catch? It’ll be in US PlayStation stores, so you better get your US PSN account up to snuff if you want in on this 3v3 Power Rangers action. If you’re a fan of sentai shows or just love the Saban version of Power Rangers, here’s the roster to pique your interest:

Red Mighty Morphin Ranger
Green Mighty Morphin Ranger
Yellow Megaforce Ranger
Lord Drakkon
Kat from Power Rangers SPD
Ranger Slayer
Goldar
Mastodon Sentry
Magna Defender

In case that isn’t enough, your Super moves here let you summon your Megazords to decimate your opponents.
And Now For The Obligatory Fighting Game Season Pass
Nothing is free, of course. In addition to the US$19.99 you’ll be paying for the game, you will also need to buy a Season 1 Pass that gives you three extra characters who will be out at a later time. Then again, you’re not paying full price for a fighting game, so hooray!


Ghostwire: Tokyo PC System Requirements States A Ton Of RAM

Ghostwire: Tokyo is coming out on 25th March for PS5 and PC.
As such, Tango Gameworks and Bethesda released the PC requirements for the upcoming game. Let’s just say you’ll need a ton of RAM to run this beast of a game (via the game’s Steam page).
Minimum PC System Requirements
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen 5 2600
RAM: 12GB
GPU: NVidia GeForce GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT
VRAM: 6GB+
Storage: 20GB SSD
Recommended PC System Requirements
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700
RAM: 16GB
GPU: NVidia GeForce GTX 1080, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
VRAM: 6GB+
Storage: 20GB SSD
We’re guessing the pretty high requirements is due to the game having to show off its raytracing on the PS5 version, so any version on the PC needs to keep to that level of quality on the console versions. In any case, you may need to upgrade your PC for Ghostwire: Tokyo if you plan on busting some ghosts on the master race platform.


Ubisoft Extends Spring Sale; Here Are Our Top Five Picks

It looks like Ubisoft has extended their Spring Sale to 8 April 2020 instead of letting it end on 25 March 2020. This means more time to get those discounted games, of which there are many. Here are five recommendations to make it a bit easier to decide what to get.
Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway (RM8.75)

Squad-based tactical shooter. While you’ll be in first-person mode usually, making use of the third-person cover system and the different squads at your command is essential for victory.
Rainbow Six Siege (RM28)

Tactical shooter of the competitive multiplayer sort. Takes Counter-Strike‘s hostage and bomb defusal modes and throws in unique Operators, destructible environments, and buildings to lay siege to or defend.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (RM68.97)

Not everyone is a fan of the new Assassin’s Creed games’ shift to action RPG. If you don’t mind that, there’s a massive Grecian open world to get lost in.
Far Cry 3 (RM28)

I can’t be recommending Far Cry 2 all the time, so here’s Far Cry 3, because it’s cheaper than parts 4 and 5. Scripted and linear story missions aside, you’ll be spending your time conquering the open world’s outposts with stealth or a loud approach, and hunt animals for crafting materials.
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (RM11.90)

It’s old, but it’s a classic that did a better job of wowing critics than the more recent Blacklist. While Conviction and Blacklist went for a more action-focused approach, Chaos Theory has a greater focus on sticking to the shadows.


New Arcade Naval Combat Simulator Waves Of Steel Launching In February 2023

Waves of Steel launched in Early Access on Steam on 21 July 2021 but is set to leave Early Access next year on 6 February 2023 where it will be available on Steam followed by Xbox Series X | S at a later date.
Developed and published by TMA Games, Waves of Steel is a fast and accessible naval combat simulator that is currently in Early Access on PC. In the game, you can build your ultimate warship, and use it to fight off hordes of enemy ships, planes, and submarines, as well as ludicrous enemy superweapons like a flying battleship and a gun made out of a volcano.

With this announcement, TMA Games also announced what’s to be expected with the update that comes with the official launch of the game. The upcoming content in version 1.0 of Waves of Steel pits naval captains against the “Gale Barrier Ultimate Weapon,” a transforming warship that pays homage to classic anime mecha franchises. Once it’s been sent to the scrap heap, confront the overwhelming power of “The Biggest Gun”, which needs to be seen to be believed, and things continue to escalate from there.

Customize cruisers to blast through the high seas against an eclectic cast of maniacal supervillains and their unconventional naval weaponry. Support Captain Quinn on a mission to save planet Earth from the mysterious armadas of Jörmungandr. Progress through more than 30 missions full of traditional and outlandish challenges to earn new tech and equipment. Build a bigger and better battleship, a match for every deranged superweapon that these antagonists can dream up.
Equip each ship from a selection of over 400 different parts, including massive naval artillery, torpedo launchers, anti-aircraft guns, lasers and railguns, plasma lances, giant sawblades, and more. Skillfully use game-changing superpowers like an invulnerable energy shield, ramming drill, time-stopping bubble, and yes, a kickflip, among many, many others. Bring flair to the fight with an in-depth cosmetic editor offering endless paint jobs, alternate-universe flag designs, decals, lights, and more audacious adornments.
Take advantage of a wealth of accessibility options. Rebind controls, adjust HUD colours, change the game speed and difficulty, and even configure any and every weapon to acquire targets and fire automatically. Waves of Steel strives to allow everyone to express themselves while enjoying over-the-top destructive naval combat.

In a press release, the founder of TMA Games, Chris Weisiger said:
“It has been so hard to keep my mouth shut about these last missions. They really embody what I like most about Waves of Steel: fast-paced naval action that goes in completely ridiculous directions. There’s one more surprise waiting for you once you finish those final boss fights. Alongside all the minigames, bonus missions, and other secret content, we’re delivering an incredibly over-the-top experience next year!”


Meta To Feature Xbox Cloud Gaming; Also Buys Three New Game Companies

Microsoft has announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming is going to be on the Meta platform.
The announcement was made during the Meta Connect 2022 livestream.

“Xbox Cloud Gaming enables you to stream hundreds of high-quality games to a range of devices—and that will include Meta Quest 2 in the future.
When Xbox Cloud Gaming launches on the Meta Quest Store, you’ll be able to hook up an Xbox controller to your headset and play console games from the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library on a massive 2D screen, like having a private movie theater available at all times.
No date yet, but we hope to share more on this as soon as possible.”

In related news, Meta also acquired game development studios Camouflaj, Armature, and Twisted Pixel for an undisclosed amount.
Camouflaj is a studio formed by ex-Metal Gear Solid producer Ryan Payton and previously made adventure game Republique. Armature is formed by ex-Metroid Prime key members from Retro Studios, and recently made the Resident Evil 4 VR port. Twisted Pixel is a game studio known for esoteric titles like The Maw, ‘Splosion Man, Wilson’s Heart, and Path of the Warrior.


The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 Premieres On Prime Video In July

Prime Video Malaysia has released a new trailer for The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2. It will premiere with three episodes on Friday, 14 July 2023, with new episodes following weekly until the season finale on Friday, 18 August 2023.
Belly used to count down the days until she could return to Cousins Beach, but with Conrad and Jeremiah fighting over her heart and the return of Susannah’s cancer, she’s not sure summer will ever be the same. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future of Susannah’s beloved house, Belly has to rally the gang to come together—and to decide once and for all where her heart lies.
Season Two of The Summer I Turned Pretty is led by showrunners Jenny Han and Sarah Kucserka. Han, Kucserka, Karen Rosenfelt, and Gabrielle Stanton serve as executive producers, along with Hope Hartman, Mads Hansen, and Paul Lee for wiip. The series is a co-production of Amazon Studios and wiip.
Jenny Han is the No. 1 New York Times best-selling author of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Summer I Turned Pretty series. Her books have been published in more than 30 languages. For television, she created two new series based on her books—Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, which she executive produces and co-showruns, and the Netflix series XO, Kitty, a spinoff of the To All the Boys universe, which she also executive produces and co-showruns. For film, she executive produced all three films in Netflix’s global hit To All the Boys trilogy. Han lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Check out the trailer below:


PUBG Mobile To Add Tesla Cars In New Update

PUBG Mobile has announced its partnership with one of the most advanced and forward-thinking automotive brands, TESLA. Details of the partnership are set to release this month as part of the upcoming Version 1.5 update. The collaboration will unite two world-famous brands that would showcase their cutting-edge technologies.
TESLA is one of the few brand names who is known for its ground-breaking car designs. Since 2003, they have brought electric vehicles into the mainstream. Some of the iconic vehicles on their line-up includes Tesla Model S, the premium sedan, Model X, their highest performing SUV which has ever been created.
Jenny Zhuang, PUBG MOBILE Marketing Manager SEA said:
â€œThe cutting-edge design at TESLA makes it a perfect partner for PUBG Mobile.
A game which consistently adds new and innovative gameplay whether itâ€™s the sound driven Hundred Rhythms game mode or the Runic Power mode that offers players special powers in their fight to become the final survivor on the maps of Erangel.
We hope this new partnership will take our cross border collaboration to the next level, provide more elements and bring more enthusiasm towards the game.â€

PUBG Mobile players and fans are able to pre-register for the new version of PUBG Mobile 1.5 here where users can claim one free permanent outfit as soon as the new update drops. Delivering a wide variety of exclusive content in-game, this latest and anticipated update will be arriving sometime in July 2021.


This Is The Malaysian Stranger Things Fan Art Picked By Netflix

Netflix is celebrating theÂ upcoming premiere of Stranger Things Season 3 by choosing unique fan art from 18 artists around the world to interpret the 18 earlier episodes of the 80s sci-fi series’ past two seasons in their own creative perspectives.
One of those 18 artists is Malaysia’s very own Lyn-Hui Ong from Penang. She created a fan art based on the Stranger Things Season 2 Chapter Two: ‘Trick or Treat, Freak’ episode in her own style.
Lyn-Hui Ong is a graphic designer and childrenâ€™s book illustrator raised in Penang, Malaysia. The graduate of Advertising and graphic design is also the co-founder of ForReal Studio, where she works with different publishers such as Hinkler Books and Odonata Books.
Besides commissioned works, she creates and shares fan art of her favorite movies and shows, illustrations of cats, and comics with the goal of educating people on how to deal with grief on her Instagram account. She strongly believes that “no dream is too big”.
Her Stranger Things fan art was recently featured on the official Stranger Things Instagram and Facebook accounts. You can also check it out on her own personal Instagram account here, or feast your eyes on it below.

Stranger Things Season 3 premieres on Netflix on 4 July 2019. In the meantime, check out the final trailer in the article here.


Game Of Thrones Episode 3 Images Offer First Look At Battle Of Winterfell

HBO AsiaÂ has released the official pre-air images forÂ Game of ThronesÂ Season 8 Episode 3. Next week’s episode will mark the halfway point of the series’ final season, and will finally show us the long-awaited (fan-coined) Battle of Winterfell.
Here are Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen overlooking the impending battlefield for the epic battle to come.

Here’s Jon looking at something in fear. The Night King riding White Walker Viserion, maybe?

Brienne of Tarth guarding the left flank of the allied army, alongside Jaime Lannister.

Check out more pre-air images from the upcoming third episode of Game Of Thrones‘ final season in the gallery below.

A new episode ofÂ Game of ThronesÂ Season 8 will air at the same time as the U.S. at 9am GMT+8 every Monday with a same-day encore at 10pm GMT+8, exclusively on HBO (Astro Ch 411 / 431 HD), Astro On Demand, Astro GO, and NJOI Now.
In the meantime, watch the trailer below as well as all ourÂ Game of ThronesÂ interviews and coverage here, or watch us discuss the second episode of the final season with our friends at BuzzpopÂ here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI9A0WBb5XU&w=560&h=315]


The Lumines & Rez Guys Are Taking A Stab At Tetris

Heads up for you puzzle game fans and music enthusiasts. Tetsuya Mizuguchi and the creators of Rez and Lumines are back with a new game: the Tetris Effect.
From the looks of this announcement, we already know that:

Music, pretty colours, and synaesthesia will be involved.
The game will be out this Fall 2018 for PS4.
It will have a PSVR option, so if you want to be more immersed in the already trance-inducing world of a Tetsuya Mizuguchi game, go nuts.

Check out the awesome announcement trailer below.


Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2023 Playoffs In KL This Weekend

The regular season of Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2023 will culminate in the highly anticipated playoffs taking place on 18 – 19 March 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The playoffs will see the top two teams from each league – Hi5 and T2 from the East Asia League, MYS and RISE from the Southeast Asia League, and Marcos Gaming and Revenant Esports from the India League – battle it out for a piece of the US$86,000 prize pool.
The first day of the playoffs will feature a best-of-3, single round-robin format, where the six teams are split into two groups – Group A and Group B. The last team on each group will be eliminated going into the semi-finals, which will see the leading team from Group A battle it out with the runner-up from Group B and vice versa. The finals will feature the last two teams in a best-of-5 format, with the victorious team taking home the first-place prize allocation of US$30,000.
Livestreaming of the matches will commence on 18 March 2023, 12:00 p.m. MYT (GMT+8). Pokémon UNITE fans who wish to attend the playoffs in person at Battle Arena Malaysia, Jaya Shopping Centre, may sign up here. Those who register early stand a chance to walk away with limited edition Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League merchandise.
As Marketing Partner, ONE Esports, a subsidiary of Group ONE Holdings (ONE), has been producing exclusive content and comprehensive coverage of the tournament and will continue to do so for the playoffs. ONE Esports is distributing the tournament content across its website, oneesports.gg and ONE Esports’ live-streaming channels, AfreecaTV, Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube in English, Bahasa Indonesia and Thai. Also, official co-streamers for the event have been hosting watch parties, providing on-the-spot commentary in English, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese Mandarin, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, and Thai to engage with the Pokémon UNITE community.
For more information, visit the official website of Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2023.
Country Breakdown By Team

Team

Country

Hi5

Taiwan

T2

Japan

MYS

Malaysia

RISE

Indonesia

Marcos Gaming

India

Revenant Gaming

India

Prize Pool Distribution

Regular Season

Playoffs

1st place

US$5,000

US$30,000

2nd place

US$2,500
US$15,000

3rd place
US$1,000

US$7,500

4th place

US$5,000

5th place

US$1,500

Pokémon UNITE World Championship 2023
Pokémon UNITE World Championship 2023 is the final event of the 2023 Pokémon UNITE Championship Series. The World Championships will see the best players compete for a prize pool of US$500,000 in Yokohama, Japan.
The Asia Qualifiers will be held in five regions monthly from April to June. The top teams from each qualifier will advance to the regional representative rounds in June. Subsequently, the teams that emerge victorious in the regional representative rounds will proceed to compete in Pokémon UNITE World Championship 2023.
Registration for the qualifiers in April starts 10 March – 12 April 2023. For details on tournament rules and how to participate, please refer to the official website.
See below for a breakdown of countries in each region.
Japanese Region: Japan
Korean Region: Korea
APAC-EAST Region: Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Taiwan
APAC-WEST Region: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand
Indian Region: India


The Most Important News From X018 This Weekend

We’ll admit: not many of us would want to waste their precious Sundays to stay up for this Xbox livestream. But hey, we do it so you don’t have to. Here are the best announcements from this weekend’s X018 event.
Obsidian Entertainment Joins Microsoft’s Internal Studio Group

Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, Compulsion Games, and Playground Games will be joined by another notable indie game studio: Obsidian Entertainment. Yep, the same folks who did the Pillars of Eternity series and Fallout: New Vegas will be making RPGs for the company for Xbox One and PC.
We’re not sure how this will affect Obsidian’s upcoming RPG that’s being led by Fallout co-creators Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky and in development at Take-Two’s Private Division label.
Crackdown 3 Comes Out Mid-February

The action open world game finally, finally has a release date: 13 February 2019.Granted it’s a long shot from the release date we wanted, but it’s better than nothing. Also, the first Crackdown is free right now. Go get it: it’s an awesome game for its time.
Sea of Thieves Gets PvP Mode

Again, a long shot from what we wanted. Rare announces a new PvP mode called The Arena and puts players into matches in a race to find treasure. The mode features a queue on demand option, a new tavern area for arena combat players, and a new trading company.
Best of all, playing Arena will still lead you to the path toward Pirate Legend. Out early next year; we wonder if it’ll hold a candle to Skull & Bones.
Devil May Cry 5 Gets Void Mode

It’s basically training mode but for Devil May Cry. Try out your new tools, skills, and weapons in this on-the-fly option.
New DLC Stages For Shadow of the Tomb Raider

First one’s called The Forge, and you can tackle this either solo or co-op. You’ll be getting 6 other DLC tombs/adventures in the near future. Out 13 November; you can also get the season pass so you can get the other 6 in a bundle.
Forza Horizon 4 Gets GymkhanaTEN Vehicles

More Forza Horizon 4 Hoonigan cars to get your blood pumping.
Xbox Gets Official Keyboard & Mouse Support Next Week
The games that will be using this feature is Fortnite and Warframe. Free for Deluxe and Ultimate Edition owners, the 1977 Ford F150 Hoonitruck and 1991 Ford Escort Cosworth Group A vehicles are out now. The others on the trailer above will be out on 16 November, 23 November, and 7 December.
Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy Joins Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program

Available 13th November so you can relive this trilogy all over again. To sum it up: FFXIII was lacking, FFXIII-2 was alright but had an anti-climax, and Lightning Returns FFXIII was a grand open world experiment.
More Xbox Game Pass Games
You’ll be getting the following: Hellblade – Senua’s Sacrifice, Pathologic 2, Agents of Mayhem, MXGP3, Thomas Was Alone, Void Bastards, Mutant Year Zero, Thief of Thieves, the two Ori games, Supermarket Shriek, Aftercharge, The Good Life, & Secret Neighbor.Â Hooray, we guess…
Black Friday Deals For Xbox Products

US$100 dollars off of Xbox consoles, with the original Xbox One at US$399.99? We’ll have to find out if this is a worldwide deal or not, but still: nice one. The deals will last from 16 to 26 November.
Metro Exodus Gets Spartan Edition
Just like every other triple-A game, Metro Exodus is getting its super special edition. You get:

a 10.5-inch resin statue of Artyom standing behind a door with a mutant trying to get in.
“Artyom Memories” Collectible Postcards
Authentic Spartan Order dog tag and patches
Gigantic metal-sealed canister

Right now, you can only order this exclusively from the official website metrothegame.com. Metro Exodus comes out 22 February of 2019.


Check Out Sony’s Tokyo Game Show 2019 Lineup

There’s a ton of great PS4 games that are scheduled to come out from this month to mid-2020. The Tokyo Game Show 2019 is the perfect opportunity for Sony to showcase those tittles and more.
Check out what Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia will be bringing to TGS this year:
PlayStation 4 Titles

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (Atlus) â€“ Trailer
AI: The Somnium Files (Spike Chunsoft) â€“ Trailer
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout (Koei Tecmo) â€“ Trailer
Biped (Next Studios) â€“ Trailer
Borderlands 3 (Take-Two Interactive Japan) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (SIE) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Code Vein (Bandai Namco) â€“ Trailer
Concrete Genie (SIE) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Contra: Rogue Corps (Konami) â€“ Trailer
Control (Marvelous) â€“ Trailer
Cyberpunk 2077 (Spike Chunsoft) â€“ Trailer
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan (Bandai Namco) â€“ Trailer
Death Stranding (SIE) â€“ Trailer
Destiny 2: Shadowkeep (SIE) â€“ Trailer
Digimon Survive (Bandai Namco) â€“ Trailer
Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition (Spike Chunsoft) â€“ Trailer
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (Bandai Namco) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Dreams (SIE) â€“ Trailer
eFootball PES 2020 (Konami) â€“ Playable, Trailer
FIFA 20 (EA) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition (Square Enix) â€“ Trailer
Fortnite (Epic Games) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Genshin Impact (Mihoyo) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Ghost Recon: Breakpoint (Ubisoft) â€“ Trailer
Ghost of Tsushima (SIE) â€“ Trailer (Update: Old Trailer)
Granblue Fantasy: Versus (Cygames) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Gungrave G.O.R.E. (Iggymob) â€“ Trailer
Inazuma Eleven Ares (Level-5) â€“ Trailer
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Infinite Combate (Mages) (also on PS Vita) â€“ Trailer
Little Nightmares II (Bandai Namco) â€“ Trailer
Marvelâ€™s Avengers (Square Enix) â€“ Trailer
MediEvil (SIE) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Mega Man Zero / ZX Legacy Collection (Capcom) â€“ Trailer
Monkey King: Hero is Back (SIE) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (Capcom) â€“ Trailer
Need for Speed: Heat (EA) â€“ Trailer
New Guilty Gear (Arc System Works) â€“ Trailer
Nioh 2 (Koei Tecmo) â€“ Playable, Trailer
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 (Bandai Namco) â€“ Playable, Trailer
One-Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows (Bandai Namco) â€“ Trailer
Persona 5 Royal (Atlus) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Project Resistance (Capcom) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Project Sakura Wars (Sega) â€“ Playable, Trailer
ReadySet Heroes (SIE) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV (Koei Tecmo) â€“ Trailer
Romancing SaGa 3 (Square Enix) (also on PS Vita) â€“ Trailer
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (Marvelous) â€“ Trailer
SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays (Bandai Namco) â€“ Trailer
Shenmue III (Koch Media / Deep Silver) â€“ Trailer
Star Ocean: First Departure R (Square Enix) â€“ Trailer
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orrder (EA) â€“ Trailer
Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris (Bandai Namco) â€“ Trailer
Tales of Arise (Bandai Namco) â€“ Trailer
Trials of Mana (Square Enix) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Watch Dogs: Legion (Ubisoft) â€“ Trailer
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Sega) â€“ Playable, Trailer

PlayStation VR Titles

Concrete Genie (SIE) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Deemo Reborn (Unties) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Marvelâ€™s Iron Man VR (SIE) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Hatsune Miku VR (Degica Games) â€“ Playable, Trailer
Sairento VR (Initiative Media) â€“ Trailer
Stumper (Thirteenth Floor Corporation) â€“ Trailer
Throw Anything (Visual Light) â€“ Playable, Trailer

PlayStation Presents Live Show at TGS 2019 Titles
SIE Japan Asia will be live streaming the stage events for these games on YouTube and Twitch. A full schedule of the presentation will be announced later.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (SIE)
Death Stranding (SIE)
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (Bandai Namco)
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)
Gran Turismo Sport (SIE)
Nioh 2 (Koei Tecmo)
Project Resistance (Capcom)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Sega)

For more information, check out SIE Japan Asia’s TGS 2019 official website here.


Nier Automata Anime Gets An Official Soundtrack Release This April

If you love the previous 5 episodes of the Nier Automata anime adaptation, you probably dig the soundtrack that came with it. And Square Enix knows this.
The company announced that the original sountrack for the anime is available for pre-ordering right now on the Japanese Square Enix online store. The OST costs US$20 (2,750 yen online) and will be out on 26 April in Japan. The album includes 15 new music tracks for the anime and a number of rearranged tracks from the video game.
The album also features a booklet with liner notes from Nier series composer Keiichi Okabe and MONACA studio Keigo Hozoku, alongside producer Kuniyuki Takahashi and animation director Ryoji Masuyama.

?NieR:Automata Ver1.1a??????????????????????????????+????????15????????????????????????????????????????????????4???????????????#??? #????????https://t.co/6tg0hnDTZD pic.twitter.com/VAtXIJYBSM
— ??????????? e-STORE (@SQEX_eSTORE) February 27, 2023

No international release for the OST has been confirmed or announced at this point in writing. Meanwhile, do check out our latest comparison video of Nier Automata episode 5. Nier Automata Ver1.1a is currently showing on Amazon Prime worldwide.
Nier Automata anime episode 5 show & game comparisons side by side


Peacemaker Is A Loud & Bloody Party With John Cena At His Best

Peacemaker is the first series to spin-off from any of the DCEU movies. In this case, last year’s incredible The Suicide Squad by James Gunn. Just like the movie it spun from, this series is R-rated and unabashedly so. The only HBO Max DC Comics show to have taken full advantage of its R-rating has been Doom Patrol, but now we finally have another to add to that list.
Peace Sells, But Who’s Buying?

Despite being a spin-off of 2021’s The Suicide Squad, the biggest advantage of Peacemaker over its rivals over at Disney+ and Marvel Studios is its nonchalant approach to continuity. Sure, there are the occasional easter egg or reference, but there’s not much existing baggage here, so you can pretty much just jump in straight away even without having watched The Suicide Squad. Though it’s highly recommended that you do beforehand since it’s also available on HBO GO/HBO Max and it’s a great superhero film.
Speaking of The Suicide Squad, you can expect all the signatures of director/writer James Gunn here. His great choice of music? Check. A bunch of characters dancing just for the heck of it. Check. Gore and violence. Check. Raunchy no-holds-barred humour and comedy with some drama and good character development thrown in for good measure. Check. It’s essentially more of what we got with The Suicide Squad, but obviously on a smaller and more personal scale.

The focus is on Christopher Smith AKA Peacemaker (John Cena), as well as two returning characters from The Suicide Squad (Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt and Steve Agee’s John Economos) and several new ones as well. The first season consists of eight episodes, seven of which were provided by HBO for the purpose of this review. With more time and fewer characters, John Cena’s Peacemaker gets the spotlight and development that he deserves. And goodness gracious, John Cena oozes leading man charisma and amazing comedic timing.
It’s his interactions with his teammates that provide the heart and laughs, including the previously mentioned returning characters as well as Chukwudi Iwuji as the stoic and serious team leader Clemson Murn, Danielle Brooks’s Leota Adebayo, who is essentially the newbie in the group, and Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante, who is perfect super fodder for Cena’s character.
Together, their relationship dynamics and back-and-forth banter is similar to what we’ve seen in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and Guardians Of The Galaxy films, but it benefits even further from the increased amount of time afforded by the format of an episodic series.
Can You Put A Price On Peace?

Of course, the best parts of Peacemaker has to do with the performances of John Cena and the rest of the cast, and how they juggle humour and drama so well. There are more than just jokes and gags here, as the series also delves into the trauma suffered by Peacemaker not only during the events of The Suicide Squad, but also his childhood (which is related to his father Auggie Smith, played by Robert Patrick).
This series is a strong showcase for John Cena’s acting chops, who conveys emotional depth with what is probably one of his most moving performances to date.
However, Peacemaker does suffer from several issues that bring it down as well. It starts off really strong but gets a bit draggy and unfocused halfway through the series. The antagonists aren’t really as engaging or interesting as the protagonists, and they feel much like an afterthought. I’d even say they’re something we’ve all seen before, which means that things get a little too predictable. I won’t spoil anything (and I don’t plan to in this entire review), but I would have appreciated more surprises or at least something new in this genre space.

Each episode has a post-credits scene but they’re more like additional gags and bloopers. In fact, the series doesn’t do much to connect to the DCEU, so fans of the movies might be a little disappointed. Peacemaker doesn’t bother with setting up future stuff like the Disney+ Marvel shows do, since Gunn’s focus is on the story and characters told in the here and now.
Hopefully, we’ll get more seasons down the road. John Cena and the rest of the cast definitely deserves it. So, once again, if you’re a fan of James Gunn’s trademark humour and style (lots of music and violence), as well as John Cena’s performance as Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, you’re in for a damn good time.
Final Score: 80/100
We received early screeners of seven episodes of Peacemaker Season 1 courtesy of WarnerMedia. Peacemaker is slated to premiere with its first three episodes on 13 January 2022.


Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Hits First Major Production Bump

Avatar: The Last AirbenderÂ creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are no longer working on Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the iconic animated series.
The creators announced their departure earlier today, sparking further concern among fans who were already sceptical with the project since it was initially announced two years ago.
DiMartinoâ€™s blog post seems to have confirmed those fears, as he stated:

“And who knows?
Netflixâ€™s live-action adaptation of Avatar has the potential to be good.
It might turn out to be a show many of you end up enjoying.
But what I can be certain about is that whatever version ends up on-screen, it will not be what Bryan and I had envisioned or intended to make.”

Both DiMartino and Konietzko cited creative differences as the reason why they have left the project.
Dimartino also stated:

â€œWhen Bryan and I signed on to the project in 2018, we were hired as executive producers and showrunners.
In a joint announcement for the series, Netflix said that it was committed to honoring our vision for this retelling and to supporting us on creating the series.
And we expressed how excited we were for the opportunity to be at the helm.
Unfortunately, things did not go as we had hoped.â€

Speaking with The Verge, a Netflix representative said (in response):

â€œWe have complete respect and admiration for Michael and Bryan and the story that they created in the Avatar animated series.
Although they have chosen to depart the live action project, we are confident in the creative team and their adaptation.â€

Sorry, Avatar fans, signs are pointing to another flop. Time will only tell if Netflix’s live-action adaptation will be as bad as M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 movie adaptation.


Demon Slayer Fighting Game Showcases Adventure Mode & Mugen Train Arc

A new trailer for Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Hinokami Chronicles showcases the game’s Adventure Mode, and features scenes from the “Mugen Train” arc of the story, as seen in the Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie Mugen Train movie (which is available now on Netflix).
The companies also confirmed that six playable demons will join the roster via a series of three free post-launch updates, with two demons per update. The PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC versions will receive a 60 FPS performance mode via a future update.
Sega Asia’s description of the game reads:
Become the Demon Slayer, Tanjiro Kamado, to fight off the demons threatening humanity in order to turn his sister Nezuko, who has become a demon, back into a human, as well as to avenge the death of his family by hunting down the demon who killed them.
The game will feature a story mode that will allow fans to relive the story of the first television anime. A battle mode will let players play as different characters. Confirmed playable characters include: Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke Hashibira, Giyu Tomioka, Sakonji Urokodaki, Sabito, Makomo, Shinobu KochÅ, KyÅjurÅ Rengoku, Tanjiro Kamado (using Hinokami Kagura), and Murata.
Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Hinokami Chronicles is slated to release for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on 15 October 2021. Check out the trailer below:


Tom Hanks Heads Back To World War 2 In Greyhound Trailer

Over two decades after he saved Private Ryan, Tom Hanks is returning to World War 2 with his latest movie, Greyhound, which he also wrote.
Inspired by real events (probably referring to the Battle of the Atlantic), the movie follows a convoy of Allied ships who are hunted by Nazi U-boats while en route to England. Tom Hanks plays the first-time captain of a U.S. destroyer, Ernest Krause.
The CGI is noticeable in the trailer at times, but the greyish colours of the naval scenes help to lessen their obviousness and emphasize the bleak situation faced by the Allies as well. There’s also a bit of a horror vibe to the U-boats, which adds to the intensity.
While there was a real US Navy soldier called Ernest Krause who served during the Spanish-American War, this Krause is a fictional character who originated in the book The Good Shepherd, on which Greyhound is based.
Greyhound is scheduled to release on 12 June 2020.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyzxu26-Wqk&w=560&h=315]


Horizon Zero Dawn’s Guerilla Games Is Cooking Up A Multiplayer Project

Guerilla Games, the great minds behind marvellous games such as Killzone and the critically-acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn, is coming up with their next game and it is focused on multiplayer.
The studio has recently been growing to a strong 300-400 person workforce, which implies that they’re working on a new multiplayer project. Last year, Guerilla Games hired Simon Larouche, the Game Director of Rainbow 6 Siege, who is now the Game Director for an unannounced title down at Guerilla.
He recently tweeted the following:

Sooo, it begins! Come work with us 😉 We need a #JAVA expert… https://t.co/ecFQahtmkN and while we are on this subject, this might trigger some interests and tickle your Java-Senses: https://t.co/4Pt7dk8oU8
â€” slarouche (@slarouche) April 11, 2019
The tweet implies that development of the unannounced title has gone full swing. Even the tweet discusses about the multiplayer aspect of Killzone. Guerilla is also searching for new members of the team and their job listing strongly indicates that it will be a multiplayer game, as well as the Killzone reference.

Whatever it is, I hope it’s going to be as great as Horizon Zero Dawn was, and it still is. Guerilla has a knack of pulling off great games.


Malaysia’s Lemon Sky Announces Involvement In Ubisoft’s The Settlers New Allies

Malaysia’s Lemon Sky Studios (Lemon Sky) has announced their involvement in creating art for Ubisoft’s city-building RTS The Settlers New Allies.
The multi-faction game sparked ideas within the team with a creative brief that took on specific art styles as themes. Close to one hundred buildings seen within the game were modelled by the Lemon Sky team, shaped skillfully while maintaining distinctive styles for each theme.
Ken Foong, Chief Creative Officer & Chief Operating Officer at Lemon Sky Studios, said:
“We are extremely proud to say that Lemon Sky had a hand in the making of The Settlers: New Allies. Many of us here are a part of their loyal following of fans since it was first created back in 1993 and we couldn’t be happier for Ubisoft on the release of their latest reboot. We look forward to many more collaborations with them in the future.”
A combination of innovative imagination, efficient execution and not to mention the amazing working relationship with Ubisoft were key factors in the success of the artwork that went into the project.
Cheng-Fei Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Lemon Sky Studios, said:
“The support and guidance from the team at Ubisoft is a great example of what a constructive partnership can do in terms of nurturing the creative and art aspect of game creation. We thank Ubisoft for this amazing opportunity and we look forward to building more building-games together!”
Cheng-Fei Wong CEO of LSS and Ken Foong CCO & COO of LSS
The Settlers: New Allies was released on 17 February 2023 after a 13-year wait since the release of The Settlers 7. Lemon Sky was previously involved in several projects with major game developers/publishers in the past. These include Hi-Fi Rush, Bluepoint Games’ Demon’s Souls, Square Enix’s Marvel’s Avengers, Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us Part II, Capcom’s Resident Evil 3 Remake, Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Remake and Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart.


Rage 2 To Feature NBA Jam Commentary, Swear To God

Nope, this isn’t a late April Fools joke. Id Software and Avalanche Studio’s open-world shooter Rage 2, that’s set in a colourful post-apocalyptic world, will feature NBA Jam’s Tim Kitzrow’s voice.
Why? I don’t know, but he’ll be providing celebratory quips as you kill enemies left, right, and centre. If you’re a fan of NBA Jam, Tim is known for classic lines like “boomshakalaka”. He’ll be saying these kinds of lines if you pre-order the game and enter a cheat code.

The quips can get old after a while, but at least you can turn it off whenever. Rage 2 releases 14 May. Check out our coverage of the game here.Â


Virtuos Kuala Lumpur Officially Launches Its Malaysian Studio Today

Virtuos, a leading global video game development company, has announced the official launch of its studio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Virtuos Kuala Lumpur delivers full game development, engineering, and art production services to some of the world’s biggest game developers and publishers. It is part of Virtuos’ global network of studios, which has contributed to iconic games including Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty, Demon’s Souls, Final Fantasy, Horizon Forbidden West, and Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond for Meta Quest 2.
Helmed by Mufizal Mokhtar as General Manager, Virtuos Kuala Lumpur was founded by a team that includes veteran AAA game developers with over 20 years of experience each, and who have returned home to launch the studio. The team comprises Boon Yan Toh as Studio Operations Director, Ian Ng Siong Yoong as Studio Production Director, Noorazhar Mohd Noor as Senior Lead Artist, and Johaness Reuben as Technical Art Director. Since the studio’s soft launch in early 2021, its team has grown to 90 employees.
Mufizal said:
“I am pleased to return home to build Virtuos Kuala Lumpur alongside some of my closest friends and pioneers in the industry. We are excited to play an active part in Malaysia’s game development industry and the growth of its digital ecosystem. Thanks to the support of the Malaysian Government and our global Virtuos network, we look forward to welcoming the best talent to our multicultural team and making games better, together.”

The launch of Virtuos Kuala Lumpur will be a significant addition to Malaysia’s fast-developing video games sector. In collaboration with the Malaysian government, Virtuos will focus on further expansion and the training of new talent.
Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman, CEO of MIDA, said:

“The exponential growth of the global gaming industry has been remarkable as this industry presents many opportunities and a huge potential for growth. The establishment of a Virtuos studio in Malaysia is in line with our efforts to attract creative quality investments, which contribute to a rich and diverse digital media sector and create high-value job opportunities, allowing many young talent to pursue their passion for gaming by making a global impact with fun, creative and original IP conceptualized and developed in Malaysia.
With the global gaming revenue projected to reach US$219.90 billion in 2022, continuous technological advancements in the gaming industry are significantly leveling up the way games are created and improving the overall gaming experience for the users. MIDA will continue to play an active role in promoting the gaming industry which will contribute to a sustainable digital ecosystem and position Malaysia atop the list of digital nations. We want to assure companies such as Virtuos that Malaysia can be your home, and we stand ready to support the growth of this industry.”

Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC, said:

“MDEC would like to congratulate Virtuos on their expansion to Malaysia. As a globally-renowned video game development company, their presence is evidence of the nation’s vibrant creative digital content ecosystem, and further proof of our role as the regional hub of choice. Virtuos’ commitment towards developing digital talent and creating high-value job opportunities is aligned to the goals of Malaysia Digital. MDEC is looking forward to collaborating closely with Virtuos in supporting their future endeavours”.

Gilles Langourieux, CEO of Virtuos, said:

“With the launch of Virtuos Kuala Lumpur, we are excited to contribute to Malaysia’s digitalization and growth as a regional game development hub. We have ambitions to grow our local headcount to 300 by the end of 2025, and become one of Malaysia’s top studios that deliver full-cycle game development expertise and quality projects for our partners worldwide.”

Strategically located between Virtuos’ Singapore headquarters and its largest Asian studios in China and Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur is a natural expansion for Virtuos worldwide. The expansion also builds upon Virtuos’ launches in Lyon and Montreal, as well as its acquisitions of Glass Egg in Ho Chi Minh City and Volmi in Ukraine this year.
We attended the official launch of Virtuos Kuala Lumpur, so check out what the studio looks like in our photos below:


Comic Covers Reveal First Look At Birds Of Prey Main Cast

Warner Bros has yet to release a full trailer for Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn). However, DC Comics has announced three trade paperbacks that will collect past run of comics for the three main characters in the upcoming movie.
The covers for these trade paperbacks (via comicbook.com) feature the three main characters of the Birds Of Prey movie, which includes Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), and Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). We can finally see the full costume of each character in their full glory, thanks to cover artist Tula Lotay.
Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell)
Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie)
Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)
It seems like the Birds Of Prey movie versions of these three characters will be sporting costume far removed from their comic book counterparts. They all look glitzy and wearing bling, which I guess is in line with the movie’s weird tone.
Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) is slated to release on 7 February 2020. In the meantime, check out the leaked teaser trailer for the upcoming movie below.


LEAP 2023: An Important Announcement

Recently, Kakuchopurei has announced a breakthrough in amateur esports: LEAP 2023 or Liga Esports Antara Parlimen 2023. Basically, LEAP 2023 is an initiative to raise a new generation of esports athletes in Malaysia by making them compete under the constituency they’re in.
We’re sure a number of you are wondering about the status of the esports circuit. Well, we’re happy to announce that it is still ongoing, featuring games such as FIFA 23, Mobile Legends, and Gigabash*.
However, due to future scheduling conflicts involving the leads of the two announced constituencies – MPs for Bangi and Setiawangsa– we will have to reschedule the event for June. Actual dates will be confirmed within the next few months.
This is good news when looking at the bigger picture. Not only does this allow us more time to prepare, but also potentially increase the number of participating constituencies. That means more players to play and participate in! So if you would like to have your parliament constituent be part of LEAP, comment down below, and let your local MPs know as well!
Also, if you’ve been paying attention, you notice that we took out Street Fighter 5 in the pool of games. That’s because we will be replacing it with Street Fighter 6* instead!

We aim to be among, if not the first nationwide amateur esports tournament to debut Street Fighter 6 in a competitive setting in Asia!
We look forward to seeing you compete and partake in one of Malaysia’s most open and accepting esports circuits for everyone. For more on LEAP 2023’s structure and objective, head here. For future updates, visit our website and Facebook page. Because esports grassroots matter!

*in case of any technical difficulties & on-ground event issues, we reserve the right to change the titles for the tournament


Michelle Yeoh Joins The Cast Of Disney+’s American Born Chinese

Disney Branded Television has announced casting for the upcoming Disney+ Hotstar original series American Born Chinese, the genre-hopping action-comedy based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang.
The cast features talented international stars like our very own Michelle Yeoh from Malaysia, Ben Wang (MacGyver), Yeo Yann Yann (Wet Season), Chin Han (Mortal Kombat), Daniel Wu (Reminiscence), Ke Huy Quan (Finding ‘Ohana), former Taekwondo champion Jim Liu and Sydney Taylor (Just Add Magic).
A Disney Branded Television series, American Born Chinese is produced by 20th Television and will begin production later this month in Los Angeles.
American Born Chinese tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods. The action-packed coming-of-age adventure explores identity, culture, and family.
Cast breakdown is as follows:

Michelle YeohÂ as “Guanyin,”Â an unassuming auntie,Â who helps her nephew Wei-Chen navigate the challenges of American high school while maintaining her secret identity as the all-powerful Buddhist bodhisattva of Compassion.
Ben WangÂ as “Jin Wang,”Â anÂ American teen whose parents immigrated from Taiwan, who is struggling to carve out exactly who heâ€™s supposed to be socially and culturally.
Yeo Yann YannÂ as Jin’s mom, “Christine Wang,”Â a strong-willed, opinionated woman with a sly wit, who loves her family deeply.
Chin HanÂ as Jin’s father, “Simon Wang,”Â a hard-working, devoted father and husband who is bumping up against the â€œbamboo ceilingâ€ at his job.
Daniel WuÂ as Sun Wukong “The Monkey King,” the legendary, all-powerful god of the Chinese epic Journey to the West, who enters our world in search of his son.
Ke Huy QuanÂ as “Freddy Wong,” a fictional characterÂ from a popular mid-1990s sitcom.
Jim LiuÂ as Jin’s confident friend “Wei-Chen,” a teen who has just arrived in the United States, whose sweet demeanor belies the deeper mystery of his true identity.
Sydney TaylorÂ as “Amelia,”Â a friendly â€œAll-Americanâ€ girl who is Jin’s classmate and crush.

Kelvin Yu (Bob’s Burgers) serves as executive producer and showrunner. Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is set to direct and serves as executive producer, alongside Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan (both of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. for Disney+, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level), Erin O’Malley (Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.), Asher Goldstein (Short Term 12) and Gene Luen Yang.

Top, From Left: Michelle Yeoh, Ben Wang, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han.
Bottom, From Left: Daniel Wu,Â Ke Huy Quan, Jim Liu, Sydney Taylor.


Pokemon World Championships 2023 To Take Place In Japan

The 2022 Pokemon World Championships has ended, and the Pokemon Company has already announced the location of next year’s event. For the first time in the history of esports, the Pokemon World Championships will take place in Japan in 2023.
The 2022 Pokemon World Championships involved five titles (Pokemon Sword, Pokemon Shield, Pokemon TCG, Pokemon GO and Pokemon Unite) and a new video revealed next year’s location. The video begins with an 8-bit Vermillion City before the unveiling of Yokohama, Japan. For those who don’t know, Vermillion City is actually based on Yokohama, Japan, so this is a treat for fans of the franchise.
This marks the first time that the event will be in Japan. Previous events have all been in the US, with the exception of this year’s event, which took place in London, UK.

Now announcing the destination for #PokemonWorlds 2023… pic.twitter.com/A30tFZoybW
— Play Pokémon (@playpokemon) August 21, 2022


I-No Will Be In Guilty Gear Strive; Insta-Kills Teased

The 15th character of Guilty Gear Strive is finally announced (via the Japan Fighting Game Roundtable part 2). It’s the servant of GG’s main antagonist That Man, I-No. Check her out in action, featuring her revised classic outfit and her goshdarn mixups and guitar attacks.

What’s pretty interesting about the trailer is the last bit at the end that looks like an Instant-Kill Finisher move, a staple in the Guilty Gear series. Oh, and a 2v1 mode featuring Ky Kiske and Sol Badguy teaming up against one of That Man’s prominent servants. Run those speculations, fans!
The 15-person roster is just the beginning: Arc System Works will add in new characters via Season Passes if the past games they’ve made are of any indication. Guilty Gear Strive will be out 6th April for PS4, PS5, and PC. Check out our thoughts on the open beta in the meantime.


Agile Aces: Capcom Teases Latest Bow And Insect Glaive Combos For Iceborne Expansion

We’re seeing more and more Monster Hunter World: IceborneÂ updates this week, and now the agile weapons get the limelight.
The versatile ranged weapon, Bow and the aerial maestro, Insect Glaive, gets new moves for the upcoming expansion. Here are the new moves for the more technical weapons.
Insect Glaive
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPVi0tvp5aE]
Bow
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaNT9B6j6Hg]
The Insect Glaive gets an updated Kinsect mechanic that allows you to extract multiple essences from a monster, shortening the time for extract farming. The weapon also gets a new plummeting stab which looks definitely cool. Not to mention the awesome mounting twirl attack.
The Bow gets a short-range blast of damage after a string of combos. This is useful when the monster is too close for comfort. It also gets a new melee mounting attack like the other weapons.
We’ve also covered bladed weapons, blunt weapons, the lances, and the technical weapons.
Anyways, the only weapons that haven’t been revealed are the Light Bowgun and the Heavy Bowgun. I’ll be waiting for those to pop up and see what Capcom has in store for us.


Want To Host An Apex Legends Tournament? Here Are The Official Guidelines

Hosting events is no walk in the park. You have tons of stuff to keep in mind the venue, the schedule, the audience, and much more. But the least remembered thing on the list is the legal grounds. For example, did you know an organiser was sued for using the Fortnite brand?
Previous tournaments include Apex Legends’ first-ever tournament hosted by T1 and FACEIT, and DrDisrespect’s Code Red tournament. Well, if you’re interested in hosting a local Apex Legends tournaments for your pals or the local computer club, do not worry as EA has laid out the ground rules for such tournaments.

To avoid legal matters EA has laid down a list of guidelines to avoid any violation of legal grounds.
Here’s an itemization of guidelines as stipulated by EA;
Not For Commercial Profits
You may not use Apex LegendsÂ to generate revenue except as expressly permitted by these guidelines. EA understands that the running and management of your tournament may require you to incur certain costs, but your monetisation plans should aim at covering such costs, not to generate a commercial profit.
Well, EA has said it, no pocketing the money, unless you want a lengthy chat with their lawyers.
No EA Trademarks or Affiliation
You may not use EA artwork, logos or trademarks (including game logo treatments, or the name Electronic Arts, EA or Respawn Entertainment) to promote your tournament or tournament website, and you may not otherwise suggest that your tournament or tournament website is endorsed or approved by or affiliated with EA in any way.
However, it is allowed to state that the tournament is run using a specific EA game title. And you must include a clear and conspicuous disclaimer along the lines of; â€œThis tournament is not affiliated with or sponsored by Electronic ArtsÂ Inc..â€
Compliance with our terms
You and your tournament, and any users of our games in connection with your tournament, must comply with theÂ EA User AgreementÂ (including its Rules of Conduct) and any applicable EA rules or end-user terms.
Hey, you’ve read the User Agreement when you registered your account, right?
Prohibited Sponsors

Your tournament may not be sponsored by companies that sell or promote any products or services related to the following:
(1)Â Â Sexually explicit materials, or online dating;
(2)Â Â Alcohol, tobacco or medical substances or devices;
(3)Â Â Weapons or explosives;
(4)Â Â Tattoos or body branding services;
(5)Â Â Gambling, wagering or lottery (including fantasy sports sites);
(6)Â Â Political ads or otherwise promoting a political agenda; or
(7)Â Â Any product or service that is inconsistent with the assigned toÂ Apex LegendsÂ age rating for the country in which the tournament is held (e.g. a toy targeting children in Germany where the game is rated 18+)

EA keeping it family friendly.
Streaming
The total revenue generated from any streaming of your tournament, in the aggregate across any and all media and channels, may not exceed $10,000 USD (or its equivalent in local currency). You may not, and may not permit anyone, to broadcast your tournament on TV.
Again, no huge profits allowed from the accumulated streaming, and no TV is allowed to broadcast the game.
Prizing
Prize pools must be fixed in advance of the expected tournament start date and may not depend on any participantâ€™s or spectatorâ€™s actions or contributions. The total cash (or cash value) for your prize pool for all events in a calendar year may not exceed $10,000 USD (RM41,330).
Fee
You may charge a small entry fee of no more than $20 USD (RM82) for each participant. In any case, the entry fee must be solely to help offset the cost of organising your tournament.
EA is seen to accentuate that no profit-making is allowed here. Except when covering the cost of the event.
Crowdfunding

Any and all contributions from crowdfunding must go directly to the prize pool and/or the tournamentâ€™s participants. Any additional prizing is subject to the dollar limits above.

Hey, I’m happy EA released a guideline to host an Apex Legends tournament. I’m all for community events like this, and these guidelines have clear much of the grey area organisers commonly face.
If any potential organisers have a question regarding these guidelines and the topics they cover, including proposals for larger live event executions, EA has provided a convenient email for you to reach.
Full details can be found on the guidelines page here.


Assassin’s Creed Odyssey The Fate Of Atlantis Episode 1 Is Now Live

Assassinâ€™s Creed Odyssey The Fate Of Atlantis Episode 1 ‘Fields Of Elysium’ is now live across all platforms, for players on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. While those of us in Southeast Asia received it later than the rest of the world, I can confirm that it’s now available to download.
However, keep in mind that PS4 players will have to download the update manually by heading into the PlayStation Store.
InÂ Fields of Elysium, players will travel to a paradise populated by fallen warriors and those who were good during their lifetimes, encountering the mighty Isu. The first episode of TheÂ Fate of AtlantisÂ will also introduce the following:

New factions
New legendary weapons and gear

The biggest new additions are the all-new Ability enhancements, which modify existing abilities to change their function, giving players the opportunity to customize their playstyles even further. These include the following:

Ares Bull ChargeÂ is part of the Warrior branch of the skill tree and will summon a projectile that takes the form of a bull charging forward. The projectile knocks down any enemy it hits and pierces through them.
Ares Madness,Â also part of the Warrior branch of the skill tree, will allow players to have a new fighting set that overpowers their enemies for a short period of time.
Might of ArtemisÂ is part of the Hunter branch of the skill tree. Enemies, when hit by the stun, automatically take critical damage from any subsequent melee attack for the duration of the stun.
Kronos Time WarpÂ is part of the Assassin branch of the skill tree. This ability will grant each headshot additional slow-down time and higher damage, which is perfect for fighting enemies.

Players will have two options on how to start playingÂ TheÂ Fate of Atlantis:

After completing the main game, players will have to complete the questline Between Two Worlds, the mythological main game story arc, and Heir of Memories, the Lost Tales of Greece questline that is available after completing the former questline. Finally, they must have reached character level 28 or above.
For those who havenâ€™t completed all of the above: There will be a shortcut, where players will enter Greece level 52 with preset Abilities and resources enabling them to start their adventure into the afterlife with the Lost Tales of Greece questline Heir of Memories. They will also have the opportunity to choose their hero. However, unlike the first option, the playersâ€™ progression using the shortcut will not carry over to the main game save, and they will not be able to obtain achievements.

The second and third episode,Â Torment of Hades, andÂ Judgment of Atlantis, respectively, will be released sometime in mid-2019. Check out the trailer below for a glimpse of what awaits players in the first episode of the second story DLC to hit Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpqGo1TMuLk&w=560&h=315]


Harley Quinn Season 3 To Focus On Harley & Ivy’s Relationship

The second season of the amazing R-rated Harley Quinn animated series concluded its 13-episode run in June 2020. During the Harley Quinn DC FanDome panel, the cast and crew revealed what would happen in a potential Season 3.
Voice actors Kaley Cuoco (Harley), Lake Bell (Poison Ivy), Ron Funches (Killer Shark), Matt Oberg (Kite-Man), and Alan Tudyk (Clayface, Joker) joined executive producers Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, and Dean Lorey alongside supervising producer Jennifer Coyle in the panel.
Halpern said:
“We want to focus on Harley and Ivy’s relationship. I’m less interested in if the Joker gets a new girlfriend than I am like ‘Let’s explore this relationship that we’ve spent two seasons building.'”
However, on the subject of whether Season 3 would happen, Coyle could only respond with “I hope so”. That doesn’t sound good, as Harley Quinn has not yet been officially renewed for a third season at this point in time.


We’re Getting A Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid Video Game Next Year

Fans of maids, culture, and slice of life anime, unite! You’ll be getting a video game adaptation of one of Kyoko Animation’s most popular series.
Publisher Bushiroad and developer Kaminari Games have announced a shoot-em-up title called Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath for PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The game will launch in Spring 2022 in both Japanese and English versions. The game’s fanservice reaches far beyond local shores, naturally.
What’s the game about? Bushiroad said the game lets you “fly, shoot, and punch in this exhilarating shooter” (probably) using dragon maid humanoids Tohru, Kanna, Elma, Lucoa, Fafnir, and Ilulu. Floatation devices and all.

Get more information on the game at its official website.


Astronimo Lets You Build Your Own Interstellar Community

Thunderful and Coatsink have announced their upcoming interstellar platforming adventure, Astronimo, which will be launching on Steam later in 2023. You can sign up for the technical beta now, which begins today and until 27 February 2023.
Astronimo is a cooperative construction platform puzzler that takes you, and up to three others, out of this world and into a vast solar system, providing expansive creation tools to stretch the bounds of your imagination as you work out how to get back home together. Wave. Play Music. Be a dog in space.
While mining for minerals in the vast reaches of the galaxy, four Hypergiant Inc employees crash-land on a small uncharted planet and become hopelessly stranded there. In the hopes of reuniting with their fleet, players must help them to scour every inch of the planetary surface in search of valuable resources to solve puzzles in creative and unique ways, then build a shuttle and fuel it to launch back into space.
Astronimo takes platforming and customisation to the interstellar medium and beyond with its quirky, fun-filled campaign. Chart an entire galaxy that features three full planets with more than 20 hours of content and discoveries aplenty. Early Access will begin with one planet with an additional two planets being rolled out on the road to full release.
You can even take things a step further with customisation that stretches the bounds of your imagination on the Community Moon from day one. The Community Moon gives players tools to populate a planet and Garage Mode makes crafting the unimaginable easy with the use of drag, drop and distribute tools. Share your unique creations on Steam Workshop for the Astronimo community to see.
Jimmy Whitemore, Lead Programmer at Coatsink, said:
“We hope you have as much fun playing Astronimo as we’ve had building it. We are bursting to see what crazy contraptions and marvellous worlds you can build!”
Check out the trailer below:


Kakuchopurei’s Best Of 2019: Borderlands 3

From humble beginnings to running a publication as head of content, I do owe my path in games writing and criticism to the Borderlands franchise, at least the mothership titles.
Starting off with my 2008-2009 stint on GameAxis with the first game…

…to my 2012 GameSpot work and scoring an exclusive with Randy Pitchford who was probably still gettingextra funds for part 2 when this interview was conducted…

…this series has been pretty close to me. And that also includes the Pre-Sequel and Tales from The Borderlands.

Why mention all of this? Because I’m relieved to tell you that part 3 lives up to the hype and expectations.
Mostly.

It does so by sticking to its guns and relishing in its fun yet chaotic setting and design.Â True, its promising narrative dropped the ball and its development studio’s CEO is a hotbed for controversy.

But when all is said and done, Borderlands 3 is just a damn fine game with great shooting, awesome loot and weapon types, a lovely bunch of enemies and levels to shoot up, explore, and drive through, and still looks and sounds lovely. Plus, how can you not have fun controlling a homicidal robot who controls skaggs and rakk using SMGs that act as flamethrowers and shotguns that play a guitar riff when shot?

Long story short, the king has truly returned.


Kakuchopurei Best 30 Games Of 2022: #1

For the rest of the list, head here. For #2, head here.
#1. Elden Ring (PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One, PC)

As I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone, Elden Ring makes the top of our list. By now, you already know what this game is about and what makes it so great. But to us, it’s so much more.
In Elden Ring, exploration is a key aspect of the game. It is an RPG that emphasizes role-playing to the point where the player feels like they are a stranger in a strange land, just like their avatar. The game provides basic controls and some mechanics in the tutorial but does not offer a quest log, a mini-map with icons, or on-screen overlays to guide the player.
Instead, the player must learn about the game by decoding oblique item descriptions within the game or by seeking information from online communities. Death is not necessarily something to be avoided, but rather a necessary step on the path to understanding the game. This may seem intimidating at first, but the experience of making progress in Elden Ring is ultimately rewarding because it feels earned. Like a true Souls game should.


Here’s 20 Minutes Of Elden Ring Gameplay

From Software has unveiled a brand new 15-minute gameplay footage video of Elden Ring.
According to the live stream, players will be able to visit checkpoints called Sites Of Grace, which serves as a resting place. There will also be random boss encounters in the game, and players can fight from their mounts (as well as even cast spells while on horseback).
Oh, and you can also now crouch and jump (which was already in Sekiro Shadows Die Twice).

Elden Ring also features a map, parts of which can be unlocked by getting map fragments. Players canÂ use markers to customize the map.

There will also be an item crafting mechanic in Elden Ring.

During combat, players can use summons in fights. Those used to Dark Souls and previous From Software games will be happy to learn that online co-op, PVP and invasions will all be available in the game.

Elden Ring will feature dungeons with treasures and bosses. Players will be given more freedom than ever before, with multiple layers to dungeons offering multiple ways to approach your target.

Elden Ring is releasing on 25 February 2022 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
In the meantime, check out the 15-minute gameplay footage below:

In addition, Bandai Namco showed off the Collector’s Edition for the game, featuring the game’s soundtrack, a huge 40-page artbook and a 23cm statue of Malenia. And the game of course; we have to make that distinction since certain Collector’s Edition do not have the game for some silly reason.


Red Dead Online Players Are Getting Attacked By Spooky Skeleton

Remember when games had unexplainable urban legends and scary stuff like the ghost car or bigfoot in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas? Now Red Dead Online players are experiencing an undead nightmare (Red Dead Redemption reference right there) of their own, thanks to some pesky hackers.
Multiple users on Reddit have reported getting attacked and ambushed by bizarre two-headed skeletons. According to them, these spooky skeletons blinks into existence out of nowhere (probably the void where dead games go to die) and attempt to immediately pursue down players relentlessly before pounding them with punches.

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/GargantuanImmediateAnglerfish-mobile.mp4
These skeletons also seem to be invulnerable to any weapon but the majority of reports have come from the PC version of the game, making it even more likely that the skeletons are the work of hackers.
The 3D model for the two-headed skeleton actually already exists in the game. Players may have encountered the remains of a carnival’s star attraction, apparently the victim of a tragic accident, located in Beecherâ€™s Hope during their single-player campaign.
Rockstar Games will probably do something to fix this soon, but for now, players can enjoy an urban legend come to life in Red Dead Online. It also looks like someone made a mod of the two-headed skeleton not too long ago. Hmm…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxJliK1XVXg&w=560&h=315]


Singapore To Host Diablo 4 Pre-Beta Community Gathering

Activision Blizzard has announced a Southeast Asia gathering for Diablo fans on the Diablo news page at Battle.net.
The Diablo 4 community in Singapore be hosting a Diablo 4 pre-beta community gathering called the Convergence this Saturday 11 March.

Here are the details.
Diablo 4 Pre-Beta Community Gathering Event Details
Date: Saturday, 11 March 2023
Time: 7pm
Address: Sens Dining, Level 2, 243 Holland Avenue Singapore 278977 (Nearest MRT Station: Holland Village)
Organiser: Diablo IV Singapore & Malaysia community founder (https://tinyurl.com/divsgmy)
You can sign up here if you happen to be in the neighbourhood. There will be food and beverage (at your own expense), with a Japanese 3-course meal set for S$30, along with Diablo 4-themed cocktails. While the event is free to join, the seats are limited. So register early if you haven’t!


Remember When Ubisoft Singapore Remade Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time?

With a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles beat-em-up title coming from DotEmu and Tribute Games, as well as a collection featuring the best TMNT titles made by Konami back in the 90s, it seems like Turtle Power may be making a comeback of sorts in 2022. It makes most of us forget about some of the stumbles the franchise has taken in its multiple forms, be it the Nickelodeon reboot’s subpar action titles to the messes that are TMNT: Out Of The Shadows and that one TMNT brawler from PlatinumGames.
And then there’s the misguided remake of the second TMNT arcade game: Turtles In Time. It was far from the worst TMNT game out there in retrospect, but it wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire especially among fans of the original titles. The visuals weren’t as colourful as the original arcade and SNES titles, the gameplay felt outdated even for beat-em-up standards, and the lack of jump-in play was pretty disappointing given the plethora of other couch co-op games available in that HD era of gaming.

So what went wrong? Did anything go right? Regardless, it was a historical stepping stone for one Ubisoft Singapore, one of the earlier offshoots of the famous French company that birthed Rayman and Ezio Auditore.
Shell-Lacking
There were a number of people we approached regarding the TMNT remake, but so far only one person was available to talk about the experience and making of the title: ex-Ubisoft Singapore Lead Game Designer May Ling Tan. She said the project to remake the classic TMNT title started in late 2008 and eventually shipped in mid-2009.
“It was definitely less than a year’s worth of production. While I was in Singapore working on TMNT I was an intermediate game designer. It was my first job at pretty much a AAA company because before that I was making games in Malaysia for a bunch of different smaller size studios.”
The back-and-forth process between Ubisoft and Konami in terms of making the game was arduous, especially since May Ling only had a small team to get the game out. They had nine months to work on the game, in time for the 2008 and 2009’s Xbox Summer of Arcade game release fiesta which was the indie gaming rage back in the Xbox 360 heyday.
“So we formed the team then it was super small. I was employee number 39 and I think at its peak during production, we were a maximum of 50 people. Yeah 50 people, including QA and different support staff. Studios from around so we have people who are giving us editorial feedback as well. So they were based in Paris.
We had a few who were, I think they were helping us with a lot of the legality with Konami in terms of using a lot of the assets with the original game so you know 50 at it.
[TMNT Turtles In Time Reshelled] was to coincide with what Xbox had back then, which was the summer of arcade, which was their program to kind of highlight a bunch of different games for their summer release on the Xbox back in the days. So TMNT became one of the titles that were slated to be released as part of the summer of arcade slate of games.”

Was it really a remake through Ubisoft’s lens? According to May Ling, it was.
“There were things that we were trying to keep with the original, we tried to embody as much as possible the spirit of the game, but there were a lot of things that, you know, when, when we were working on the title, we took a bit of creative liberty with, we wanted to, you know, introduce a slightly different feel to the combat. The art direction was clearly the one that was you know, most different because we took a more 3d, highly kind of, reconceptualized idea of what the turtles would look like.
The original being, you know, almost fully 2d and a bit more flat and cartoony, which coincided with the look of its time, but you know, knowing that we wanted to take it to have a new take on the gameplay wanted to have a new take on the title again, for its release, we thought that this new updated look would be something that would be appealing for the fans.”
And then there was the game’s 3D art style, which wasn’t as colourful as the 90s arcade original, or even the SNES version. May Ling said that this was more of an artistic call than anything else.
“There was, you know, room for us that we wanted to creatively explore how this would look like with an updated 3D look. I think even with his 3D look right, like it was very stylized in a way it had a very almost painterly, like quality to the graphics, which you know, to give credit for the art direction that we took was something that feels very new at that point in time.
So yeah, I think it was a risk that the team kind of took going with the art direction but it opened up new areas for us to explore with gameplay as well so overall for a new team that was coming together working together for the very first time having this bit of leeway to kind of stretch our creativity and not just do a remaster gave us that kind of like opportunity I’d say to learn to work with each other to learn to push each other’s creative boundaries and come up with something hopefully still true to its core.”
The game’s graphics and gameplay were hand-to-hand with each other, as the 3D graphics of the remake meant the game had to be turned into an eight-directional beat-em-up title instead of the original 2D method. Hence: the remake. And many players and reviewers took issue with the mix of drab graphics and not-quite-deep gameplay that feels like an unnecessary change. It was definitely a lesson May Ling took to heart in the future of her career.
“It was definitely a risky call on our part. I know now, you know, many, many years later as a game designer that the few things that we should have worked on more were to focus a lot more on user testing, and do a lot more playthroughs of our games with people outside of the team. There was something that, you know, many of us were completely inexperienced that and, in hindsight, we could have really improved the combat for that game had we run more exhaustive play sessions, and not just played that the game a lot just within the team, right, because at the end of the day, we are not the best judge of our work.
We’re making games for a larger audience and that was something that, you know, if I could turn back time to do I would have been, I would have scrutinized the gameplay a lot more and run a lot more tests until we nail the combat to the quality that we wanted to ship with. Time has taught me that usability testing is a lot more efficient than relying on the teams to figure out problems themselves.”
Shell-Shocked

There was the music for the remake, which was subpar. There was a good reason for that: Ubisoft couldn’t use the original Konami tracks due to the legality of the contract that the company owned.
“We found out that we had to rewrite a lot of the audio tracks for the game. We did not cover the ability to reuse the original tracks for the game. So we had to, under very short notice, rewrite a lot of the tracks ourselves. So that included, you know, hiring new composers to redo the tracks, ensuring that the new tracks were layered into each of the games and the levels and the combat in a very short amount of time. So that was like one of the big hiccups I remember running into the project.”
Apart from that, the game’s other hurdle was multiplayer. The Ubisoft SG team had to make it work in time for 2009’s launch.
“It was our first time working with Xbox and there were a lot of requirements that we had to comply with to ensure that multiplayer was working properly. And I think for a lot of teams that work with multiplayer projects, they can tell you that you know, things like basic replication is a huge challenge.
The ability to support plug and play with a controller so one of the few things that we wanted to do is allow anyone to you know, just plug in a controller and drop-in into the game and be able to join in in the game we ran into a lot of problems there largely in part due to our inexperience of never having done that before. That was quite a bit of a hold-up and I think that was probably the largest delay that we faced shipping the project I think we were supposed to ship in nine months.”
Raising Shell

The question remains as to why Ubisoft didn’t get a senior team to work on the TMNT title. To be fair, Ubisoft had their hands full with the Assassin’s Creed, Prince of Persia, and Avatar(?) games they’re working on.
“I couldn’t tell you, to be honest,” said May Ling. “I wasn’t part of that decision-making process there will probably be at the studio level but I can see why that was given to the Ubisoft Singapore studio at that point in time. We had a brand new team that was being assembled who had never worked together, who came from different parts of the region in Southeast Asia and working on this project would have given us the perfect opportunity to really learn the processes, the workflow, the tools available in a brand new studio, that would, you know, both work as a learning ramp, but also a way to kind of set us up for success.”
Yes, the game was critically panned back in 2009, but it didn’t demoralize the devs involved. May Ling added that her team did all they could what with the limited time frame and legal issues. At the very least, Ubisoft SG management was understanding of the team’s challenges, which is a far cry from what the company stood for as of recent memory.
“There were bad reviews from people who were disappointed, for sure. Because, as with any game that, you know, has strong roots in nostalgia. It’s definitely challenging to try to live up to those strong emotions that people had with the original title. But I think, for what it was worth, I mean, it was a team that tried their best to their ability and I think I personally was happy with the outcome given that you know, we face what we face, right?”
Like, it was a young team. We’re trying to work together trying to put something kinda original out not just to re-skin.”
On the flip side, shipping TMNT: Turtles In Time Reshelled meant that May Ling and her Ubisoft Singapore team rose to prominence in their game design careers. After all, they completed the work handed to them, proved that they’re more than capable in delivering, and were given more Ubisoft projects from here on out.
“It’s infinitely more difficult to come up with something brand new to come up with a brand new IP with a team that had never worked with each other before, then to work with something that feels a bit more familiar had, you know, a lot of guardrails to ensure that everyone was focused and pushed in the right direction.
So in terms of ensuring that we were set up for success, this was definitely the project that really helped bring us all together, because the goal with the studio wasn’t just to, you know, remake a bunch of existing games, but to really be a strong presence in the region, and to be able to be strong partners to some of the larger scale, triple-A projects that we’re going to be coming down the road.”
May Ling and her team’s experience finishing the game was a great stepping stone experience-wise, and she stayed on with Ubisoft for 10 years before moving on with Warner Bros Games, EA, Google Stadia, and finally Bungie in April 2021. If there’s anything we learn in video game development, is that one “failure” does not mean the end of one’s career or progress in the game-making industry ladder.
“I believe that the success of [shipping and completing] TMNT: Turtles in Time Reshelled and the ability of the team to ship something together, kind of put us and them in a better position to be able to be, for example, a supporting studio for the many, many Assassin’s Creed that would come after and the studio also went on to release you know, Ghost Recon Phantoms few years later, all of this was built on the backs and on the success of assembling a curve like a well-oiled team through TMNT.”
“TMNT became our training wheels to set up the studio and to work together. We had a lot of great memories of working on this project together, given the fact that we were brought together from different parts of Southeast Asia. We also had people coming in from France, we had people coming in from Montreal, so there were just a lot of you know, new things that we had to learn about each other about each other’s culture and work styles.
That this project kind of like forged the relationship between all of us and helped us build that that much-needed trust with each other that you know, it’s something that I still remember and I carry with me for even until now it was a very exciting time in the studio and in the region for sure.”
Image credit: World of Longplays


Naughty Dog Gives Statement On The Last Of Us Multiplayer Game & Teases A Brand New Single-Player Experience

After being silent since January 2023 and having been absent during the recent PlayStation Showcase 2023 earlier this week, Naughty Dog has finally given an official update and statement.
In their latest official statement (via Twitter), Naughty Dog asks for “more time” to work on the development of the The Last Of Us multiplayer game. Surprisingly, they also confirmed that they are currently working on a “brand new single-player experience”, which they “look forward to sharing more soon”.
The full statement reads:
The Last of Us fans,
We know many of you have been looking forward to hearing more about our The Last of Us multiplayer game. We’re incredibly proud of the job our studio has done thus far, but as development has continued, we’ve realized what is best for the game is to give it more time.
Our team will continue to work on the project, as well as our other games in development, including a brand new single-player experience; we look forward to sharing more soon.
We’re grateful to our fantastic community for your support thank you for your passion for our games, it continues to drive us.

pic.twitter.com/DOeO8ZHSlh
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) May 26, 2023

In other related content, courtesy of HBO Asia, we were also lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in interviews with Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, Merle Dandridge and Gabriel Luna. You can also check out our spoiler-free review of the entire season by heading over here.
It’s been a big year for Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us franchise, with Season 1 of HBO’s The Last Of Us now available and The Last Of Us Part 1 launching on PC in March 2023.


The Grandfather Of Grand Turismo On His New Game & Its Esports Pedigree

*This article originally appeared on Spout360.comÂ
We met Kazunori Yamauchi a.k.a the â€œGrandfather of Gran Turismoâ€ at the recent PlayStation Experience Southeast Asia this August and talked about the upcoming racing entry Gran Turismo Sport. First announced at Paris Game Week in 2015, tons of question surround the title from its nomenclature, technical specs and its direction to a relationship with the automotive industry as a whole.
Hammered in throughout his presentations following the gameâ€™s announcement,Â  Yamauchi-san was like a proud dad boasting that GT Sports is currently the only game title in the world that supports 4K, 60fps, and HDR wide color â€“ definitely a big deal â€“ which when experienced in person, really blurs the line between real life and video games.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcNjarLGcoA&w=560&h=315]
But just like cars, cool exterior and a monster engine under the hood arenâ€™t enough to justify a carâ€™s purchase. It takes more than that. The longevity, pedigree, and most of all, the connection it makes with you as a driver are what counts the most. And when you convert those yardsticks to video games & esports speak, nothing speaks closer to a racing car video game fan than Polyphony Digitalâ€™s latest offering: Gran Turismo Sport.
Tight Chicane Or AÂ Long Straight Coming Up?
When asked about the future of Gran Turismo considering the technological climate, automotive advancement and the rise of electric cars, Yamauchi-san gave a simple yet poignant point petrol heads may soon come to discover.Â  Just like how some video games serve as a canvas retelling and reimagining how things happened a couple centuries back, the Gran Turismo titles may end up serving the same purpose for motorheads in a very near future.
â€œGran Turismo has always grown together with the automotive society and will evolve together with it, regardless of its direction â€“ even if it is heading towards electric cars and such.â€ Yamauchi-san chimed.
â€œBut perhaps there may come a time â€“ maybe 20 years in the future â€“ where you can only hear the sounds of combustion engines from Gran Turismo; thatâ€™s the only place in the world you can only hear it,â€ Â he added.

As almost all of Yamauchi-sanâ€™s presentations go, it was tech-fest of him showing off how far the Polyphony Digital dev team go in pushing the boundaries of current gen consoles. Some may perceive it to be boring and borderline obsessive but if you look closely at how meticulous he is even during a presentation rehearsed a hundred times over, presented over and over again, youâ€™ll see a man who loves and cherish his craft. Down to the screws and bolts details, scratches and dinks â€“ the focus put into the game is mind boggling. Which begs a question: is there any moreÂ that can be added?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxKTBRcVROw&w=560&h=315]
â€œThe tracks and the cars in Gran Turismo (Sport) are designed to cater not only to the next generation console but perhapsÂ the generation after that,â€ he said in a confident manner. â€œWe do not know what their (next gen consoles) specs are, butÂ we are confident that the game can run on 8K.â€
Of Future-Proofing and Hitting Technological Peak
Needless to say, Gran Turismo Sport will showcase what the PS4 Pro is able to do but that does not spell the end of progress as Yamauchi-san puts it.
â€œSpeaking about the advancement of video game consoles; when we moved from PS1 to PS2, the difference in processing power was about a hundred times to the previous generation. In comparison,Â the jump from the PS4 to the PS4 Pro was about twice so the rate of advancement is much narrower now compared to the past.â€

â€œVideo games have reached a point similar to other forms of entertainment such as movies and music and is at the peak of their technological levels. What that entails now is that the creativity being put into the game takes a much more important role and focus during development.Â  Being in this situation brings in possibilities that the creativity going into the game now is much, much greater than in the past.â€
Competitive Gran Turismo & The FIA Relationship â€“ From Tracks To Thumbs
Gran Turismo currently has a running collaboration with motorsport governing body â€“ the FÃ©dÃ©ration Internationale de lâ€™Automobile (FIA) â€“ which grants virtual licenses allowing players to undertake virtual skill classes and compete in virtual, FIA-sanctioned tournaments such as the Virtual Cup.
â€œGran Turismo now has a very close relationship with many car manufacturers in the world, and we kind of undertook the â€˜sexier sideâ€™ within the automotive industryÂ  â€“ similar to the role in our partnership with the FIA. We serve as the design and innovation facility â€“ the initial idea when the FIA came to us, was to help them in redesigning the next 100 years in motorsportsâ€.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW_VWFVTMFQ&w=560&h=315]
â€œThe Virtual License program was my idea which I proposed to the FIA. Initially, they werenâ€™t sure if it would work but over time after multiple workshops, more automotive clubs all over the world showed interest in this program so the situation is ever changing and in this respect, it was beyond the expectations of the FIA.â€
However, not all countries are part of the virtual/digital license program which leads to the question: why not, when and will we ever get it?
â€œFor example, the JAF â€“ Japanese Automobile Federation â€“ is not on the list; so arenâ€™t the German ADAC. Most of these governing bodies, despite them being present for over a century, are mostly still governed by folks who are not ready to embrace the newer, modern approach [like esports]. After numerous FIA conferences and workshops as well as discussions with them, I find that while there is a lot of interest shown, the decision-making process takes time. This is a gradual process.â€

â€œBut seeing 29 countries already showing interest in something as radical as this was actually quite surprising to me. I was quite surprised that countries like the UK and Australia who have a long history of motorsport were also interested in it from the start,â€Â he added.
As esports go, other budding games titles, genres, and sports would be wise to take a leaf or two out of Gran Turismoâ€™s playbook in not only organizing and sanctioning such virtual tournaments but alsoÂ conferring real-life acknowledgments to achievements, skill and promoting grassroots development. The sooner the masses realize esports isnâ€™t just confined to MOBAs and shooters, the sooner will e-athletes gain the praise and recognition they truly deserve and GT Sports may very well be at the vanguard in pushing this idea out.
GT Sport Releases October 17, 2017, exclusively on the PS4.