Here Is The Price Of The ASUS ROG Ally In Malaysia

Last month, ASUS Malaysia officially announced that the handheld gaming device ASUS ROG Ally will be available in Malaysia starting sometime in July 2023. However, they did not reveal the price. Recently, they posted a puzzle with equations on Facebook, that if solved, will reveal the price of the ASUS ROG Ally.
After solving the puzzle, the price of the ASUS ROG Ally in Malaysia will apparently be RM3299.
Still, ASUS Malaysia will be holding an official live stream on 19 June 2023 at 8 pm GMT+8 to announce more details on the ASUS ROG Ally in Malaysia, so everything will be confirmed by then.
For specs, the ASUS ROG Ally features a 7-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD 1080p resolution, a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel cranks out up to 500 nits of brightness and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. It comes with two chipset versions – AMD’s new Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen Z1 Extreme chips. The Z1 model features a six-core Zen 4 CPU with twelve threads while the GPU side is covered by four RDNA 3 cores, while the Z1 Extreme model packs an eight-core Zen 4 CPU with sixteen threads and twelve RDNA 3 GPU cores with 24MB cache.
Both ROG Ally models feature 16GB LPDDR5 dual-channel memory and 256/512GB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD of the 2230 size, as well as a 40Wh battery pack and a 65W PD charger. In addition, the ASUS ROG Ally features an aluminium chassis and weighs 608 grams. The exact device dimensions are 280 x 111 x 21.2mm. It runs full-fledged Windows 11 Home with a special edition of Asus Armoury Crate on top.
The device can run Xbox Game Pass, as well as from any other major game launcher and game streaming services. As for controls, the ASUS ROG Ally offers two analogue thumb sticks with capacitive touch and RGB lighting, a D-pad, ABXY face buttons, left and right Hall Effect triggers and bumpers as well as two assignable grip buttons on the back. The screen is flanked by the command centre and view buttons on the left and menu and Armoury Crate buttons on the right.
Last but not least, the ASUS ROG Ally comes with a  Type-C combo port with support for USB 3.2 Gen2, and a port for connecting external GPUs as well as a microSD card slot that supports up to UHS-II cards and a headphone/mic combo jack. It also features dual-firing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio support, as well as Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.


Manage Your Own Pro Team In New Football Manager-Like League Of Legends Game

During the League Of Legends 10th Anniversary livestream, Riot Games announced the LoL Esports Manager, a new business management sim game akin to the Football Manager franchise. Players will assume the role of a team manager leading a top-tier professional League of Legends team.
The upcoming game will provide players with the authentic experience of what it takes to run a pro esports team through major decisions that include decisions like strategy selection, pre-match bans and picks, and winning the off-season by building the best team possible.
There will be two ways to play LoL Esports Manager, either by experiencing an esports story through the eyes of a single protagonist or competing against friends and other players through ranked play.
What makes LoL Esports Manager more than just another game is that a portion of the revenues from the sales of the title will go back to pro teams featured in the game. It is slated to release for the LPL (League Of Legends Pro League) sometime in 2020, with players from other leagues to be gradually added post-launch.


You Can Update Your PS5 Without Connecting To A PS5; Here’s How

Sony has announced that PS5 DualSense controller users can update the firmware in their controllers without connecting to a PlayStation 5.
Instead, they can use a PC for that via a firmware update app. However, you will need Windows 10 or Windows 11 to run the app and apply the updates.
You can follow the instructions here to do the update yourself; the installer is on this link. After you install the app, you can then connect your PS5 controller to the PC to apply it. Note that you can only update one controller at a time, with each of them needed to be connected individually. The application will alert users once the firmware update has been applied successfully. While the update is installed, you shouldn’t turn off your computer, but that’s a no-brainer at this point.
We’re guessing a number of you are having trouble looking for a PS5, but somehow ended up getting the PS5 DualSense controller just to prep. At least now you can update it with the best firmware without the console, which is still hard to find up to this day.


Samsung Galaxy A54 5G First Impression: Good mid-tier device, Great once you Consider the Price tag

The Samsung A54 5G smartphone, while considered to be the mid-tier option when compared to the market-leading, flagship S-models, does not perform as it should. In fact, it punches well above its weight once you consider what’s under the hood, its value proposition and most importantly, the price. All things considered, it has no business being this good.
Unlike the S-series of Samsung phones which are meant to represent the pinnacle of the brand’s offering for the calendar year, A-series devices sits firmly in ‘Goldilocks Zone’, delivering a good – at times, great- balance between cost and performance.
In the past, devices classified into this A-segment were easily distinguished from its more illustrious cousins by the outward design.
For example, in 2022, you can easily tell apart an S22 phone from its A-series family, the A53 5G. The distinct camera modules at the back are instant giveaways and while most budget conscious users aren’t really bothered with this differentiating factor, it may be a deal breaker for the more fashion and brand conscious.
The same cannot be said for 2023.

This year you will have a harder time telling apart the normal S-series devices from the A-series ones. Save for the different placements of the flash at the rear which we must add, very subtle. Simply eyeballing won’t cut it. Hey. I don’t know about you but if I get to look like a million bucks at the fraction of the cost, count me in.
On top of that ‘upgrade’ in looks, the A54 series seems to tick all the boxes for consumers who seek the best bang for the buck in their daily driver, or even as a reliable backup device.
The camera package on the A54 5G is no slouch either. The phone comes with a quad-camera setup and should satiate the needs of many, save for the most demanding smartphone photographers out there. Or your average tech-tuber.
Sure it lacks the mega processing and image quality as seen on the flagship S23 Ultra, but is still able to churn out respectable photographs which would easily put any flagship phone from a couple years back a run for their money.
The battery on the A54 5G is another definite win. With 5000 mAh baked in, this phone will easily last you a day and more. Coupled with a less demanding overall package, it is easy to see the A54 5G still drumming along, well after more illustrious and ‘higher end’ rivals bite the dust.
As if that’s not enough, the A54 5G has a feature that is the envy of many, if not all top-end smartphones. The ability to increase its storage with the micro SD slot. Hey Samsung. Can you please make expandable storage a standard feature for all of your top-end, S-segment models in the future?
Based on our brief moment with the A54 5G review unit so far, our first impression of the A54 5G is a stellar one. We had a hard time finding any glaring faults in it. We tried. We really did and for the sake of being nitpicky, it lacks the 3.5mm earphone jack which is synonymous with mid-tier smartphones. Then again, last year’s equivalent, the A53 5G didn’t come with one either.
Stay tuned for our full-on review of the A54 5G coming out in the upcoming days following more real-life usage experience. But for now, if you’re still on the fence and just cannot wait for the review to come out for you to make a decision, just get it. The positives greatly outweigh the negatives and considering its price – at RM1,899 – we can safely say it is one purchase you won’t regret.


MAGFest, The Best Video Game Music Festival In The World, Is Back Next January

The greatest video game music concert and expo in the world, MAGFest, is making an offline comeback early next year.
After a year-plus of dealing with the pandemic, certain countries are slowly allowing outdoor expos and festivals to operate. Super MAGFest will occur on 6th January through the 9th (PST) in 2022 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor in Washington, USA. The theme this time around is focused on Doom.
Originally there was supposed to be a virtual concert last year, but due to organisational politics and radical shifts from within, that’s been postponed indefinitely. While announcing the offline event is rad and all, the new organizers in MAGFest are aware about COVID-19 still being a thing, but they are prioritizing attendance safety and closely follow CDC guidelines. You can fill up a COVID safety survey here to make your voice heard.

Why focus on MAGFest? Because it’s a 24/7 video game expo that focuses on musical acts that cover video game music (and original music focused on games & pop culture), retro gaming, and everything else you expect from a video game expo minus the corporate shilling and sponsors obnoxiously plastered all over the venue. The Gaylord National Resort itself is massive, meaning there’s a LOT going on in-between panels and main concert staging areas; there are even people who set up their own jam areas & sessions.
Simply put, it’s 4 days of non-stop gaming, partying, positive energy, and culture celebrating which you cannot find anywhere else.
That’s Great, But…

While some parts of the world are slowly going back to normalcy, other places like Malaysia are still sorting things out while instilling travel bans and lockdowns until things go back to near-normalcy. There’s also the bit where travelling to the US is going to cost you an arm and a leg, even if you’re going on a budget.
Given the quality of most video game expos in Asia, I personally say it’s best to save up and plan a trip for one incredibly transcendent experience instead of going to a few mediocre ones nearby.
Thankfully, the MAGFest organizers are considering a virtual experience for many folks who are still wary about going out. I’ve seen the MAGWest livestream last year and while it doesn’t have the same energy as an offline concert, it still is pretty good to tune into and jive to. You may want to voice out your request for a virtual showcase here.
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Out this Week: October 22nd – 29th

We are finally here. The ‘golden week’ of games releases for this month. Tons of hyped-up games are hitting shelves this week so we decided to list five of the most anticipated titles gamers cannot wait to get their hands on. Shooters, action-adventure, a dancing game and even a contender to Breath of the Wild as Game of the Year? We really are spoilt for choice. Have a look:
Oct 24: Destiny 2 (PC)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWkpbPTpmE&w=560&h=315]
A case of ‘finally it’s here!’ for PC folks, Destiny 2 drops on the PC this 24th. An improvement in all aspects from the first game, PC players will finally get a dose of the epic RPG-MMO-Shooter hybrid which has been a PS4 exclusive til now.

Oct 24:Â Just Dance 2018 (PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, XBox 360, Wii, WiiU)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55VPB9qnhW8&w=560&h=315]

The go to dancing game if you ask us. One of the few games still supporting last-gen consoles shows Ubisoft’s continued dedication to the fanbase of this franchise.
Oct 27:Â Assassinâ€™s Creed: OriginsÂ (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGq7ZCth7QY&w=560&h=315]

Almost two years since the last Assassin’s Creed game, so our hopes are understandably high for this game which is set in ancient Egypt. The recent paywall for DLCs does leave a bitter aftertaste but if the game is that good, players will not mind paying for quality content. We have a good feeling about this.
Oct 27:Â Wolfenstein II: The New ColossusÂ (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHht8480cEo&w=560&h=315]

You get to shoot at Nazis. What is there not to like about this game? The premise sells for itself.

Oct 27:Â Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGQHQc_3ycE&w=560&h=315]

Up til now, our pick for 2017’s Game of the Year is by far, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But Super Mario Odyssey may stake a legit claim to that and with a very strong point to boot. The graphics look really good and the gameplay – from what we’ve seen so far – are brilliant. Only time will tell but we see another title worth picking up the Switch for.


The Game Awards Will Bombard Us With New Trailers & Reveals This December

The Geoff Keighley show returns!
The Game Awards will be back this year on 8th December PST/EST time. The trailer hype machine show disguised as a game awards show will be held in Los Angeles and will honour the best of the year in video games.
This year’s Game Awards will introduce a new category called Best Adaptation. It’s to recognize outstanding achievements in the adaptation of video game intellectual properties to a different medium. Something tells us that this is meant for this year’s best-selling video game movie: Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for this year and The Last of Us for next year. But hey, if there are any other feature film, streaming shows, podcasts, novels, and comic books being adapted this year from video games, those are fair game.
With that category, you can expect a bunch of movies based on video games popping up moreso than usual. The Game Awards will be on various platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, TikTok Live, Twitter, Facebook, and more.


What You Need To Know About Facebook Gaming In Malaysia

Just recently, Facebook Gaming hosted a private online media session talking about the platform’s new features and overview. In other words, it’s a quick reminder that (a) it’s still around, and (b) a ton of Malaysian and SEA gamers are using it.
We got a few takeaways from this short talk that’s chaired by Facebook Gaming Head of SEA/APAC Games Partnership Michael Rose and actress/streamer Yana Samsudin. So like the awesome people that we are, we’re divulging these protips to you.
Think of this news piece as an info piece as well as a quick guide on how to get into Facebook Gaming. You know, in case you need other streaming platforms apart from YouTube and Twitch.tv.
Sign up for Level Up

If you want to gain access to Facebook Gaming’s monetization initiatives (get ad revenue, receive “stars” from fans, etc.), sign up for the platform’s Level Up initiative. You need to make sure your page is eligible.
Here are the prerequisites:

Your page needs to be a “Gaming Video Creator” page.
Your gaming content needs at least 4 hours in the prior 14 days.
You need to at least stream gaming content for at least 2 days in the prior 14 days.
You need at least a 100 followers on your page.

Once you’re in the Level Up program, just keep at it and build up your community doing what you do if you want to upgrade to Partner status. Also, if you already have an established fan base but need to change your page to a Gaming Video Creator page, you can do that easy peasy.Â
Keep watch on trends, tournaments, & special events
Since Ramadan month is ongoing, Facebook Gaming is pushing a Global Ramadan initiative. This is where Malaysian & Indonesian game streamers on the FB platform are breaking fast online and in public via the #bukageng group. Also, there will be tournaments involving Facebook’s top games (we’ll get to that later).

Point is, Facebook Gaming may start doing more nation-specific initiatives like these to have Malaysian game streamers capitalize on its audience. Think of this as a way to tailor your streams and content towards festive events.
Facebook Gaming is supporting post-production & pre-recorded video game content
https://www.facebook.com/1217891358315277/videos/2950248288396222/
While the entire meeting was focused on game livestreams, Facebook Gaming did answer Kakuchopurei’s question on whether post-production content is viable for the Level Up program. The answer is “yes”; Facebook Gaming refers to these as VODs.
These vids have their own monetization features, though Facebook Gaming’s current focus is still on livestream. Content creators are recommended on publishing VODs and post-production work; Facebook Gaming will support this further down the line. Hope you’re handy with your video-editing tool of choice.
The top 5 games played on Facebook are what you expect

The titles are PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends, Grand Theft Auto V, PUBG Lite, and Dota 2. These are popular titles you may need to get good at, or at least be entertaining in if you want to at least get noticed.
Go ahead and stream other titles you like; your FFVII Remake, your Nioh 2 god tier run or whatever. But if you want to rake up the numbers, you may need to pander to the lowest common denominator when it comes to what you’re streaming.
https://www.facebook.com/1217891358315277/videos/236908674214887/
We know how you feel, hardcore gamers; you would thumb your nose at these “popular” titles.Â But think of it this way: if you’re already good in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and its Warzone mode, something like PUBG Mobile and Lite should be a cakewalk for you. The mechanics and controls are different, but the same rules of engagement and tactics still apply.
Top image credit: Ying Tze


Contra Rogue Corps Is This Year’s Biggest Disappointment To No One’s Surprise

Platforms: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Another Konami travesty to outsuck Contra Returns
It’s honestly easy to pick on a company like Konami these days, what with their past questionable decisions and the way they’re treating their game franchises as of late. Then again, they’re making more money from their pachinko and gym ventures, so it’s not like we’re making fun of a lesser company like how a kid uses a magnifying glass on an ant colony. That shoots mini-homing rockets.
The point I’m trying to make here is that you shouldn’t feel guilty calling Contra Rogue Corps the latest festering blight on gaming for this year, especially in a market where run-and-gun games like Blazing Chrome exist. Much like how it’s alright to “pick on” an Asian peripheral distributor because they are knowingly shipping low-class gaming gear to the lowest common denominator who do not know any better, it’s fine to sling mud at Konami’s revival-gone-wrong; an homage to the top-down and side-scrolling 2D shooters that adds a few new things that don’t make it worthy of the Contra name.
I’ll just break it down real quick because I don’t think this title is deserving of any essay-wide critique.

I’m perfectly fine with a top-down 3D action-style Contra game as long as it’s done right; hello Neo Contra.Â But whoever thought it was a good idea to add in an overheating-slash-cooldown mechanic in a run-and-gun style game must be condemned in a special circle of hell. Honestly, it’s really unheard of to not fire your gun and do nothing in a series where you need to be on the move and fire. Every. Single. Time.
Even if the overheat/cooldown meter is to make you switch to your secondary weapon, it’s a pretty stingy and slow system in a blistering fast-paced enemy-filling-screen 3D action game.
What I loved about past Contra games are the many varied challenges and bosses it throws at you that will keep you on your toes. In Contra Rogue Corps, it’s repetitive waves after waves of recycled enemies, bosses, and even levels. The only challenge here is staying awake for all of the game’s time.
There is multiplayer and PvP here that’s basically Konami’s take on Smash TV and Gauntlet, but I highly doubt I’ll find someone to play with online. There are better ways to spend your time with.
Trailers don’t do justice as to how ugly this game looks, but I can tell you that seeing it in motion makes even the PS1 3D Contra games look like Mona Lisas in comparison.
Yes, I am aware Nobuya Nakazato directed the game. He’s known for doing one of my favourite Konami games of all time: Rocket Knight Adventures. But he hasn’t done anything noteworthy for the past 10 years since Contra Rebirth (a stellar remake FYI). What the hell happened between then that made him produce, direct, and approve this mess?
The characters are probably the only redeeming things about this game. You have a woman who has a special sword stowed in her alien belly, and a panda bear who can run-and-gun with the best of them. The cast gives out that Saturday Morning Cartoon vibe, but with murky aesthetics. It’s all over the place, really.

Long story short: we should be thankful for the times Konami actually gave a s*** with Contra: Shattered Soldier, Neo Contra, and Hard Corps: Uprising. Heck, we’re cool with the company re-releasing the old arcade Contra games this year.
Because those are the only ways you can really get your 2D shooting groove on; you can’t get that with Contra Rogue Corps.Â Konami really needed to develop this game a bit more so that it’s a bit more focused. What we ended up is a mess with the best of intentions. Sorry, Nakazato-san, but it’s best you let the indies take over what you used to be good at.
Pros

Flashes of fun in its take in Contra.
Some good ideas in theory…

Cons

..which are counter-intuitive to the run-and-gun gameplay.
Slow, repetitive, and recycled gameplay
Terrible aesthetics.
Four-player co-op mode is lacklustre.

FINAL SCORE: 40/100


A Twisted Metal TV Series Is Coming From Deadpool & Cobra Kai Writers

Remember the Twisted Metal franchise? Many gamers grew up on the vehicular combat games during the PS1 and PS2 eras, but the series sadly stopped at the PS3 with 2012’s Twisted Metal. Thankfully, a live-action Twisted Metal TV series adaptation is officially in development at Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions.
According to Variety, the Twisted Metal TV series is described as an action-comedy, based on an original take by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the writers behind the Deadpool and Zombieland movies.
PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash said:
â€œTwisted Metal is one of the most beloved franchises from PlayStation.
We are thrilled to have such a great team working on bringing this iconic game to life for the fans.â€
The current synopsis for the Twisted Metal series is that it follows a motor-mouthed outsider who is offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a trigger-happy car thief, heâ€™ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown named who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck, whom fans of the game will know as Sweet Tooth.
Cobra Kai writer and producer Michael Jonathan Smith will write and executive produce the Twisted Metal TV series. Meanwhile, Will Arnett will executive produce via his Electric Avenue production company along with Marc Forman and Peter Principato of Artists First. Qizilbash and Carter Swan of PlayStation Productions will also executive produce alongside Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios.
The Twisted Metal TV series is the third major PlayStation property that Sony is adapting into a live-action movie or TV series after the upcoming Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland as the titular lead, and HBO’s The Last Of Us TV series starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, respectively.


Multiversus Open Beta Shuts Down This June; May Launch In Full On 2024

The currently-in-open-beta 2D platform fighting game Multiversus, which isn’t even out in Southeast Asia at all and cannot be played via VPN without a ban, will be shutting down its open beta phase later this year.
Multiversus’ open beta will shut down on 25 June, but will resurface with new content updates and features in 2024. Here’s the official statement from Warner Bros Interactive on why the open beta is shutting down.
“The MultiVersus Open Beta has been an important learning opportunity and a stepping stone to the next phase of the game. There is still a lot of work to do, and we have a clearer view on where we need to focus, specifically on the content cadence of new characters, maps and modes to provide more ways to enjoy the game, along with netcode and matchmaking improvements. We’ll also be reworking the progression system and looking at new ways for players to connect with friends in the game.
To do this the right way, we will be closing the MultiVersus Open Beta on June 25, 2023. As part of this process, we’ll be pausing updates and taking the game offline as we prepare for the launch of MultiVersus, which we are targeting for early 2024.”

MVPs, thank you for the support during Open Beta! The feedback and inspiration has been amazing. Open Beta will close on June 25 as we prepare for full launch in early 2024. #MultiVersus will be back better than ever with new content, features, modes & more when we return. pic.twitter.com/6NOCMRDBrp
— MultiVersus (@multiversus) March 27, 2023

This may anger some fans who paid money for the game, especially since most open betas for free-to-play titles just last for months on end and then launch properly. The fact that the game needs to shut down for months until early 2024 might raise some eyebrows, though if the developers need time to prep up for a big launch, we’ll just have to see it to believe it.


A Hatsune Miku x Tamagotchi Collab By Bandai Is Coming

Most of us are familiar with virtual pets like the beloved Bandai’s Tamagotchi. But instead of taking care of creatures, what about taking care of the international sensation, synthetic-voiced singer and pop star Hatsune Miku in the trinket pocket device?
Bandai has partnered up for another extraordinary collaboration with the one and only Vocaloid Hatsune Miku. If you are new to the two franchises, here’s a little rundown.
Tamagotchis are essentially virtual pets encapsulated in an egg-shaped pocket device. The franchise was popular in the ’90s and has regained traction recently thanks to collaborations and anniversary campaigns. Vocaloid’s Hatsune Miku, a virtual idol and pop singer using synthetic voice produced by Crypton Future Media, too gained a major fanbase among the otaku community in the past couple of decades. Just like Bandai Tamagotchi, Hatsune Miku is no stranger to merchandise collaborations on top of having a booming career through music production and live concerts with the use of holographic technology. But this is perhaps a unique feat even for the singing icon.
Slated to be released next year, Bandai has yet to set up a product page for the items and according to sources, it is currently only available as a preorder for the Japanese release. It seemingly will come in three shell versions; Cute Miku (turquoise and white), Cyber Miku (blue and white), and an exclusive and limited edition translucent Future Miku model.

Looking at the promotional teasers and photos, it also seems that other Vocaloid members; Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, Meiko, and Kaito, will be in the game for players to raise on top of raising Miku with 10 different looks!

Check out the video below for a better look.

What do you think of this iconic collaboration? Let us know what you think and if you’re planning to get them once it’s available to order! Head on over to our socials Twitter and Facebook to join the discussion.
Sources: (1), (2)


Overwatch League: London Spitfire Are Grand Final Champs After Lopsided Win Over Fusion

The London Spitfire finished the inaugural Overwatch League season the same way they started it – at the top of the mountain after stomping the hapless Philadelphia Fusion in the Grand Finals earlier this morning. Carrying a one-game lead heading into day two of the competition, many expected the Fusion to mount a serious comeback – a reverse sweep for the overall win even – but the Spitfire had several aces up their sleeves and had no plans in even allowing the Fusion a sliver of hope.
Fire Down Below
After surrendering the first game to the Fusion on Saturday, the Spitfire started day two in a much more convincing fashion as they stomped their opposition on Junkertown. It cannot get any more one-sided as the Spitfire outplayed, outmanoeuvred and bamboozled Philly resulting in a 53-25 kill ratio. After stopping their opponents at the last bend on Junkertown when defending, the Spitfire met little resistance as they marched towards the marker to seal a 1-0 win for the series.

The play of the map must definitely be Profit’s ridiculous 5K Dragon Strike which slammed the Fusion’s progress shut.

You’d think you’ll only see such move pulled off on Quickplay but the combination of Gesture’s Halt and Profit’s perfect timing ensured that they not only stymied Fusion’s desperate push, but also revealed their opponent’s hero swaps in Carpe, Eqo, Sado and Boombox.
Immediately following the 5K, Profit switched to Brigette who is the perfect counter to Fusion’s diving heroes (Tracer, Genji & Winston).
[wpvideo EdVhgfYM]
We discussed earlier how the Spitfire’s win conditions relied heavily on nullifying Fusion’s backline and that was exactly the case over these two days. On top of that, Carpe wasn’t allowed to run rampant as he is so used to in the past mostly due to Gesture and Fury’s effective dives which paved the way for their other teammates to capitalize on space.
On Lijiang Tower, the gulf between both teams were even more telling as none in Fusion finished the map with a positive KDR. They lost all six team fights and the kill ratio between both teams favored the Spitfire 28-12.

While Profit lit up the killfeed with his flashy kills, it was Fury did the heavy lifting in ensuring the Spitfire remained ahead of their opponents with his timely dives and finished the map with the highest player rating as per Winston’s Lab data.

[wpvideo TDyr52yp]
With one map away from a historic win, the Spitfire came against the biggest resistance over two days as the Fusion escorted the payload all the way to the end on King’s Row in overtime. Not to be outdone, Spitfire repeated the feat with over a minute to spare. The late resurgence and heroic acts by Carpe wasn’t enough to contain the Spitfire as Gesture popped off with his Reinhardt when it was their turn to attack.
It was a case of close but no cigar for the Fusion having encountered a Spitfire team who was at the peak of their powers. On other days, Fusion would have wiped the floor clean with their opponents but this Spitfire team was a different beast altogether.
[wpvideo iQb732X6]
It was just a formality at the end as the Spitfire cruised to capture the first tick on timebank round. They not only secured the map win, but the title as the first ever Grand Final champions of the Overwatch League as well.

Profit walked home as the Grand Finals MVP although we felt Fury would have been a better pick for it.

With that win, the London Spitfire walked home with a cool US$1 million in prize money while the runners-up, Philadelphia Fusion pockets ‘only’ US$400,000. This may be the end of the first season of the Overwatch League but rest assured more is in store for Season 2 as three other teams in three new cities – Atlanta, Paris and Guangzhou – have confirmed their participation next season.
To wrap everything up, the final Overwatch League playoff brackets are as follows:

It’s not the end for competitive Overwatch though, as the Contenders are well underway and the Overwatch World Cup kicks off in August. Be sure to keep it locked on to Kakuchopurei.com as we continue our pro Overwatch coverage going forward.


The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Surpasses 50 Million Sales

CD Projekt RED just dropped some big news in their latest financial report for the first quarter of 2023. Brace yourselves, because The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has officially sold over a whopping 50 million copies.
Yeah, you heard that right, 50 million! But hold on, that’s not all because when you take into account the entire Witcher series, including The Witcher, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the total sales skyrocket to a mind-blowing 75 million units!
That’s a whole lot of monster-slaying action right there. Looks like Geralt of Rivia’s adventures has really captured the hearts of gamers worldwide.

pic.twitter.com/Y0iG6zFiM3
— CD PROJEKT IR (@CDPROJEKTRED_IR) May 29, 2023


Streets of Rage 4 DLC Adds In Shiva As A Playable Character

Dotemu just announced the final playable character in the upcoming Streets of Rage 4 DLC dubbed Mr X Nightmare: Shiva.
Basically, he’s the previous boss character in past Streets of Rage titles, now made playable with his deadly martial arts moves. He’s also the only character in the game who can hit weapons back at people. The catch? He can’t use them in-game.
But that’s ok, because he has all of his past moves including his Final Crash dash attack. Check it out in action below.

While you’re at it, why not check out Estel and Max’s movesets below? It’s nice to see a heavy character like Max have combos, of all things!

Streets of Rage 4: Mr X Nightmare is coming soon for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.


Army Of The Dead’s Zack Snyder On His Cameo, Zombies & What’s Changed Since Dawn

Zack Snyder’s Army Of The Dead is releasing on Netflix on 21 May 2021. It’s basically a zombie heist movie, and Snyder isnâ€™t a stranger to zombie films, as he previously directed the 2004Â Dawn Of The DeadÂ remake, which was also his directorial debut.
The synopsis for Army Of The Dead reads:
â€œFollowing a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.â€
The cast includesÂ Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana De La Reguera, Theo Rossi, Matthias SchweighÃ¶fer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, Tig Notaro, RaÃºl Castillo, Huma Qureshi, Samantha Win, Richard CetroneÂ andÂ Michael Cassidy.
We managed to attend a virtual press conference with Zack Snyder himself, courtesy of Netflix Malaysia. Stay tuned for our review of the movie soon.
Q: It’s been a long time since Army Of The Dead was originally announced in 2007. Can you give us a glimpse into how the project ended up getting released?
A: Yeah, I came up with the idea for the story for Army Of The Dead right after Dawn Of The Dead, to be honest. Then, we kicked it around. It was written but I wasn’t going to direct it; we had another director. We couldn’t get the budget right and we talked about it again later on. Warner Bros didn’t want to do it.
Finally, I was talking with the guys at Netflix and I just mentioned it as an idea that I had. They were like; “That sounds amazing, so go do that!”. I said there was a script but I said I wanted to start it from scratch. It wasn’t really written for me to direct and if I’m the director, I really wanted to kind of write it myself.
So, I got Shay Hatten to partner with me and we wrote the script. And then we went right ahead and shot it. We wrote it pretty quick because I knew it really well. We went and shot it. When we finished it, Netflix was like, “This is great, let’ s go do it.” and so yeah, that’s how it got to where we are now.
Q: Was there a reason why you chose Las Vegas as the setting for Army Of The Dead?
A: Well, look, the best zombie movies have social commentary and I just felt like, with the casinos and humans, Las Vegas would make a good zombie origin area. It’s also a place with a lot of money.
ARMY OF THE DEAD (L to R) ZACK SNYDER (DIRECTOR,PRODUCER,WRITER), DEBORAH SNYDER (PRODUCER), WESLEY COLLER (PRODUCER) in ARMY OF THE DEAD. Cr. CLAY ENOS/NETFLIX Â© 2021
Q: How has the experience of shooting zombie films changed for you 17 years after Dawn Of The Dead?
A: For me, I guess the relationship between Army Of The Dead and Dawn Of The Dead, yes, the similarities. I feel like where I am right now and shooting the movie myself is really a completely different experience.
It was a really kind of a re-connection with cinema for me. You know, doing these giant superhero movies, you get further and further away from the camera. For me, just shooting the movie and operating, this incredible sort of re-connection is a joyous experience.
Though I had a great time doing Dawn Of The Dead, this was really kind of my favourite cinematic processes; the process of making the film was satisfying.
Q: What sets Army Of The Dead apart from other zombie movies?
A: Personally, a lot of things, but more than anything, when I did Dawn Of The Dead, it was based on another film and this (Army Of The Dead) is based on original IP so it’s really a chance for me to create a world, frankly.
I think that getting the chance to create this world from scratch was really fun and I think for the audience, they’re just going to sort of go into a zombie world they’ve never seen before.
ARMY OF THE DEAD (L to R) DAVE BAUTISTA as SCOTT WARD,ZACK SNYDER (DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER) in ARMY OF THE DEAD. Cr. CLAY ENOS/NETFLIX Â© 2021
Q: Do you have a cameo in Army Of The Dead?
A: Yes, you can certainly watch Army Of The Dead a hundred times over to find Zack Snyder and you will. You have to be super observant, it’s a very tricky moment but I’m there. I’m operating a camera and it’s in a mirror.
By the way, you have to be really careful to see it because it’s only two frames but it’s in there for sure. We were going to take it out but I told them to leave it, it’s good.
Q: With most people now consuming more content at home via TV than going to the cinema due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, did that change your philosophy or perception or process of creating films in any way?
A: You know, probably not and I’ll tell you why. I felt like when I decided to make Army Of The Dead, I knew it was going to be straight to the streaming service. There was no discussion, Netflix didn’t say, “Oh, maybe we’re releasing it in theatres too.” That’s only been a recent evolution for this film and I hope it’s just because they’re confident with the film and they just want people to see it in the theatre, which I’m very excited about.
But I did make it specifically for your TV. My approach to it was that I wanted to make a big giant movie for you regardless. Like you’re going to watch it on your TV. You’re basically watching a movie that, if it were up to me and in a normal world, you’d be seeing this on a big giant blockbuster worldwide theatrical opening but I said no, no, I want that quality of a movie but you’re getting it at home day one when it comes out.
ARMY OF THE DEAD (L to R) DEBORAH SNYDER (PRODUCER) and ZACK SNYDER (DIRECTOR, PRODUCER) Cr: Clay Enos/NETFLIX Â©2020
Q: The film centres around a father-daughter relationship. Can you share the inspiration behind that story and the soul of this movie?
A: The father-daughter relationship has always been the core of the movie. Frankly, it’s evolved quite a bit as I evolved. When I was writing those scenes between Kate Ward (Ella Purnell) and Scott Ward (Dave Bautista), my own experience with my own children plays a huge role. The catharsis and knowing that your children can hurt you with a word worse than anybody but they can also bring you joy, your greatest sorrow and your greatest pain can come from your children, your greatest highs and your greatest lows.
So, I just brought that sort of pain and joy to writing this relationship between Scott and Kate. There’s this great bit in the movie where Scott’s like, you’re not going with us on the thing and she’s like, okay, that’s cool, I won’t go, you’ll go, I’ll probably go in, I’ll die and that’s on you, so what do you want to do? And he’s like, are you serious?
Q: Where do you see the zombie genre going in the future?
A: Of course, I’m sure thousands of genius and creative people are thinking about zombie movies right now and they’re going to come up with amazing other iterations or stories or whatever that is set in ancient Rome or Napoleonic France or the future. Wherever those things happening, they’re going to be amazing. So, yes, always a fan and excited about whatever creative endeavours people are stirring up in their minds.
For me, I know where I want to take it and it’s pretty crazy, so you know, we’ll see.
ARMY OF THE DEAD (L to R) DAVE BAUTISTA as SCOTT WARD, ZACK SNYDER (DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER) in ARMY OF THE DEAD. Cr. CLAY ENOS/NETFLIX Â© 2021
Q: What do you think about which zombies are the scariest?
A: I think Zeus (the male leader of the zombie horde in Army Of The Dead) is pretty scary and also Athena. That’s the actress’ name who played the zombie queen and Spider who plays the zombie general who’s with the zombie queen when they come out.
Those guys are stunt people I’ve worked with for years and they’re amazing. Athena and I actually met on this movie, she was new. But Spider and Richard Cetrone, who played Zeus, have been in every movie I’ve made. He’s great. There’s a huge acting element to the performance that Rich gives as Zeus.
The interesting about them is that the zombies in Army Of The Dead represent an evolution and because they’re not ambitious. They are formidable, they have zombie tigers and horses. You clearly can’t beat them in a fight. They’re like wolves or lions. If all lions were like, let’s procreate or create an army and go out and conquer the world, lions would be problematic, they would probably do really good in that way.
But our alpha zombies are not really ambitious in that way because they kind of mind their own business. And it’s only when poked by us that they act out.
Q: What was the casting experience like?
A: I always had fun casting. In this movie, I really wanted a diverse cast, a cast that was globally representative. I really cast them individually, I didn’t look at them as a package yet. I’ll do that when the time comes. I wanted to nail each of them and see what happens. It’s exactly as you would if you get together a team of guys who take you to a zombie-infested Las Vegas and you’ll be like, okay, what is your skillset and I need you.
I was like doing that for the movie but then, when they come together as a group, there’s where as a group of individuals and they form a bond in the movie. Because I was with them, not in a tent looking at a TV screen, because I was operating the camera, and they were right there, I felt like somehow I was with them. That was the experience of making the movie. I’m with them on the journey and like the last guy on the team.
ARMY OF THE DEAD (Pictured) DAVE BAUTISTA as SCOTT WARD in ARMY OF THE DEAD. Cr. CLAY ENOS/NETFLIX Â© 2021
Q: How did you approach the humour in Army Of The Dead?
A: I credit that to a lot of the performers, especially Matthias SchweighÃ¶fer (who plays Ludwig Dieter). He did an amazing job as the safecracker. He brought this fun naivete to the group. We already shot with him a movie which he directed, a prequel to Army Of The Dead, where we learn about Dieter’s backstory and why he loves Gotterdammerung, the safe that we see in the movie, why he knows it. He’s fun and funny.
Shay and I were like, okay, what about this story for Dieter and we brainstorm it over the weekend and then we pitched it and they were like, it’s cool, and those guys went and shot it. Getting the humour right is getting the actor right most of the times, the tone. There was this particular tone that I was trying to maintain where you’re constantly on the edge where the movie doesn’t break.
As soon as the movie breaks, none of the stakes means anything. You’ll know it’s all fake. The trick is to keeping you in. Frankly, the comedy is like a little steam or pressure release so that they could put it back harder next time.
Q: Are there any other easter eggs in Army of The Dead?
A: There are a few easter eggs. There’s one in particular in one of the opening shots of the movie if you look carefully at it. I think it’s one of the first two or three shots in the movie. You’ll see something in the sky. Where do zombies come from? It’s probably Area 51, and so, there’s a relationship between. The dialogue among the guys in the truck is starting to tell that story a little bit. And then taking a deep dive into that concept in the movie. You’ll find more clues to that within the context of some of the zombies.
Wait until you see the anime prequel that tells the origin story of the zombie. You won’t be disappointed (hint: zombies in space). We’re drawing it right now.
ARMY OF THE DEAD – (L-R) RAÃ™L CASTILLO as MICKEY GUZMAN, ZACK SNYDER (DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER), NORA ARNEZEDER as LILLY (THE COYOTE) and ANA DE LA REGUERA as CRUZ in ARMY OF THE DEAD. Cr. CLAY ENOS/NETFLIX Â© 2021
Q: What do you want viewers to take away from Army Of The Dead?
A: I guess for me, you know, it depends on the viewer. The movie is sort of custom made for viewers of all kinds. If you want to watch the movie and just have fun for two hours and 28 minutes, then, by all means, that’s what the movie should be for you.
If you want to take a real deep dive into what zombies are mythological-ly to the human race and you want to write your Masters’ thesis about the zombie genre or how they socially represent holding up a mirror to ourselves, how we interact with casinos or all of the different ways that the mythological comes through the zombies. That’s fine too.
If you want to be political and you want to talk about the wall and the refugee camps and that whole other part of it, that’s also a movie for you. Or if you want to be excited about the heist part of it, they’re going to go get the money or the father-daughter relationship, that’s what I really want the movie to be. I really want it to bespoke to the viewer in that way.


We Learn More About Wraith’s Lore In Apex Legends’ Latest Short

The Apex Legends Voidwalker Themed Event begins today and Respawn has decided to start things off with a bang. A newly released Stories from the Outlands short film shows us what could be the origin story of Apex Legends‘ portal-creating champion Wraith.
The new short, titled Voidwalker, mostly takes place in an IMC Detention Facility. It begins with Wraith hacking into one of the facility’s computer terminals and consequently we’re shown details of Wraith’s true identity.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU_eip8IvQU&w=560&h=315]
It seems that Wraith’s real name is Renee Blasey and she originated from a planet called Typhon. She was being cruelly researched at the facility for the development of inter-dimensional phase technology, which explains a lot about her powers.
After being attacked by armed personnel, Wraith opens a portal and within it, we see her traveling in a pocket dimension where there exists multiple different versions of herself that are apparently from other dimensions.
If you’ve played as Wraith before then you’ll know that she hears voices which warn her whenever other hostile players are aiming at her or when there are traps nearby. We can now confirm that these voices come from the versions of herself who come from different dimensions.
While running away, Wraith then sees the version of herself that exists in the dimension she’s currently in, a Renee that hasn’t escaped the facility and is still being treated like a lab rat. This is the version of Wraith that we play as in the game.
The two Wraiths.
At the end of the short, both of them are cornered by Amer Singh, the lead scientist responsible for Wraith’s horrible experiences. Only the new Wraith manages to escape and she finds herself in… Kings Canyon, prior to the beginning of the Apex Games.
So now we know why Wraith hears voices and her intention of competing in the Apex Games.
Voidwalker is the second Stories from the Outlands short film, the first one was made to flesh out Wattson’s backstory. Judging by this pattern, could it be that the next short will be centered around the speculated upcoming legend Crypto?
The Voidwalker Themed Event starts today 3 September 2019 and lasts for two weeks until 17 September 2019. For more information on the new game mode and loot, read here.


The Best Thing About The Persona 4 Golden PC Port? The Graphics & Difficulty Options!

You don’t need me to tell you that Persona 4 Golden is one of the best JRPGs on the planet. It’s got a likeable cast of characters, a solid mystery and narrative, a great mix of dungeon-crawling combat and socializing power-up mechanics via visual novel choice bits, and a rockin’ soundtrack.
The fact that this 10-out-of-10 JRPG is available on PC right now on the cheap means that you have no excuse to miss out on a genre-defining title. Here are the two highlights of the PC port that I want to bring up because they help make an already-stellar title all the more enchanting.
A Lot Of PC Features, Graphical And Otherwise

A 2008-made game that was ported onto PS Vita in 2012 is going to look decent thanks to a defined art style, but will not impress fidelity-wise. Still, Atlus did their PC homework and at least gave PC users a few features to make it run at an unlimited frame rate and arbitrary resolution support. Here’s the rundown:

Graphics: Rendering scale – 25% increments all the way up to 200%, letting you run the game at lower than your display resolution, or supersample from a much higher res.
Graphics: Anisotropic filtering and Shadow quality – Very basic options here. Shadows have Low, Medium, High, while anisotropic filtering only has Low, High, and Off.
Graphics: Anti-aliasing – On or off only.
Display: Screen mode – Windowed, Fullscreen, Borderless
Display: Resolution – Configurable in fullscreen or windowed. Thanks to rendering scale, not much reason to choose a resolution other than native.
Display: V-Sync – On or Off. I did notice some screen tearing on a low-end system with it disabled. However, if you have a variable refresh rate monitor, you likely won’t need V-Sync.
Audio language: Choose between English and Japanese voices.
Keyboard: Customizable keybinds for each input

While it would be nice to see an option to select frame rates, the unlimited cap is still welcome. Also, the fast-forward button helps move things along super-fast if you just want to get to the day-spending and gameplay.

Difficulty-Tweaking
I’m not getting any younger, meaning that I can’t invest too much time in JRPGs. Yes, I like the challenge, but I cannot justify farming mobs for too little gold and experience points.
Which is why I’m glad Persona 4 Golden lets me retain the hardcore challenge of a Shin Megami Tensei game but gives me more rewards for completing them. See, you can adjust certain parameters separately in the options menu. You can tweak the damage you take, the damage you dish out, the EXP you can win, the money you earn, and the retries count in dungeons and battles.

Don’t like starting dungeons over? Just tweak the retries. Want to go hardcore and have time to spare? Just tweak the XP and money so you get less than usual.
Me? I still want to get tested OG Shin Megami style, but I rather just earn more XP and money for my troubles. Hell, if you want to “press A to win” instead, just drop everything to the simplest and most rewarding setting. No one’s judging you, especially if you’ve beaten the game back in 2008.


Shantae And The Seven Sirens Gets Four New Game Modes

2D search action game Shantae and the Seven Sirens, an arguably inferior sequel to past Shantae titles, is getting a bunch of new updates for free.
Dubbed the Spectacular Superstar update, this free DLC introduces four new modes which are available right now:

Definitive Mode â€“ A more challenging â€œdirectorâ€™s cutâ€ that features classic Shantae difficulty, with rebalanced item drops and magic consumption, as well as more-intense boss fights and new dialogue with the Sirens before each battle.
Full Deck Mode â€“ Definitive Mode with a twist. Start with all 50 Monster Cards to customize Shantaeâ€™s abilities to your liking.
Rule Breaker Mode â€“ Definitive Mode without limits. You can equip up to 50 Monster Cards at once to gain ultimate power.
Beginner Mode â€“ Definitive Mode made simple. This easy mode makes it impossible to lose! Perfect for newcomers or those who just want to explore the world and enjoy the story.
Legacy Mode â€“ Experience the game in its original, unaltered form, ala the original Shantae (perhaps?).

These new modes at least fixed the problem of the original Shantae and the Seven Sirens: it was too darn easy and the later powerups in the game are broken to the point of not making the game fun. So that’s great of developer WayForward to take that initiative.
Other free chances and enhancements include improved dialogue, additional map objectives and game hints (that you can toggle on and off), and a new Hula Costume that bumps up the difficulty of the game. The latter can only be acquired after beating the game once.
Shantae and the Seven Sirens is available now for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. A PS5 version is in development.


Be The Villains In Hearthstone’s Newest Expansion

Blizzard has announced that a new expansion is coming in Hearthstone next month. Villains are taking over in the new Rise Of Shadows expansion, which will launch on 9 April 2019. It will also mark the beginning of the digital card game’s very first year-long storyline, along with 135 new cards and several new mechanics to boot.
In the Rise Of Shadows expansion, Arch-Thief Rafaam is licking his wounds after his defeat at the hands of the League of Explorers when he realizes that he can’t achieve anything alone. He then sets out to recruit some of the greatest villains in all of Hearthstone to join the League of E.V.I.L., including King Togwaggle, Madam Lazul, Dr. Boom, and Hagatha the Witch.
That’s not all, as each villain will also have access to Lackeys, 1/1 minions with a variety of diabolical Battlecries. These Lackeys can then unleash Schemes, new spells that grow more powerful with each turn.
Blizzard Entertainment president J. Allen Brack said:

â€œHearthstone has a cast of fan-favorite villains, and itâ€™s a thrill to see them take center stage in Rise of Shadows. We canâ€™t wait for players to get in on the mayhem in this expansion, with a bunch of sinister new cards at their disposal.â€

In response to these new villains, a mysterious crime-fighting organization has popped up; the Defenders of Dalaran. These heroes can wield Twinspells, new spells that can generate a copy of themselves that can be cast again on a later turn.
Those who pre-purchase the Rise Of Shadows pack will receive different incentives. The 50-pack bundle includes a random Legendary and the Jewel of Lazul card back, while the 80-pack Mega Bundle includes a random golden Legendary and Jewel of Lazul card back, as well as a new playable Priest Hero, the mysterious Madam Lazul. They’re priced at $49.99 and $79.99, respectively.
In the meantime, check out the Hearthstone Rise Of Shadows cinematic trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRV4nooto6A&w=560&h=315]


Level Up Spacebar Event Is Getting A Huge VIP Appearance

Level Up KL is attempting something new this month with the LEVEL UP SPACEBAR and LEVEL UP PLAY-ONE online events. The organizers have revealed some of the guest speakers who will be gracing the business-focused Level Up Spacebar event, and it’s actually a returning VIP guest from last year’s event.
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) Worldwide Studios president and current SIE Head Of Indies Initiative Shuhei Yoshida will be one of two guest speakers (alongside SIE Global Account Director John Eternal) for the Global Self-Publishing For PlayStation segment of the event.

https://www.facebook.com/lvlupkualalumpur/posts/3124184857645012?__xts__[0]=68.ARDEtMaMPt4Skb2toKNg5_an2QThxzIUwNB6knb9in-eoWzP8_p3LmO2h3B1SWFEmY9msHPG89F_VmHqzvhHOGxkwLtukgCeIr1N2kF4GBEdXDMApbtwo7OVXnzG-MtWCtJIn3y3sKjcx3J8fWozsjCmnguSnQHJ_YktDgXzYWsVQk2mSCOfCXBPLqc_9u6KcB-DaAukHE7jsRT4c1vDplxxwT2fn1SkoEzvS2NX7E4_1ucquDD2F3HsIqkJhzEUlmCvCxXJKZrIauKhTJ3HuygGR4JMKUz0B79x-OzwYQqwvsYAI2dKEltE9mnvBE5Tm7vdNSBCH5h-wA_rO1MxvHH7M013T4pbpw&__tn__=-R
Last year, Yoshida also attended Level Up KL 2019 to officiate the announcement of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (SIE WWS Malaysia). It’s great to see the great man at this year’s event again as an esteemed guest.

LEVEL UP SPACEBAR will the first online edition of the Business Connection Programme (BCP) @ LEVEL UP KL, a 1:1 business meeting to connect the international game industry community with Malaysian game companies together to create new business connection and opportunities.
It will take place from 16 to 17 June 2020, consisting of two components: 1-on-1 business meetings held in a speed networking format, with 30 minutes meeting slots prescheduled via an online meeting platform, and sharing sessions featuring 5 to 6-panel sessions of industry leaders and influencers, revolving around the topic of overcoming business obstacles under the COVID-19 pandemic.


Activision Confirms Call of Duty: Mobile Is Here To Stay

Activision has confirmed that they will continue to support the game for the long run, despite rumours that it will be phased out to make way for Warzone Mobile. In an official statement, the company emphasized that COD Mobile is an important part of the entire Call of Duty franchise and its overall mobile strategy.

pic.twitter.com/VQug4fohAq
— Call of Duty: Mobile (@PlayCODMobile) March 13, 2023

They even promised a “robust roadmap of fresh new CODM content, activities, and updates”.
Interestingly, Microsoft also announced its plan to acquire Activision Blizzard and all of its franchises, including Call of Duty, last year. Microsoft stated that Call of Duty Mobile will be phased out over time when Warzone Mobile is released. However, Call of Duty Mobile will still operate in China, according to Microsoft, since the game is owned by Tencent.
So what can we expect in the future? It seems that Call of Duty Mobile and Warzone Mobile will coexist. While Warzone Mobile is focused on battle royale, Activision is hoping to offer a genuine Warzone experience with 120 online players, a huge map, vehicles, and mechanics like the Gulag, all on iOS and Android devices.
It’s worth noting that one of the main reasons Microsoft is so keen on acquiring Activision Blizzard is to get into the lucrative mobile game space. Activision has plans to create mobile games based on every single one of its many franchises, which would all become Microsoft properties if the deal goes through.


The Nintendo Switch Is Doing Pretty Darn Well…

Nintendo has published its latest financial report for last year that ended on 31 December 2019, revealing new sales milestones for the Nintendo Switch consoles and several titles. The Nintendo Switch has now officially sold 52.48 million units, overtaking the SNES’ 49.1 million units and becoming the companyâ€™s third best-selling home console of all time after the Nintendo Wii and NES.
PokÃ©mon Sword and Shield managed to sell over 16 million copies by 31 December 2019, which is a massive achievement considering that the game was derided by fans for its lack of past-generation PokÃ©mon and other issues. In comparison, PokÃ©mon Sun and Moon lifetime sales were 16.17 million, which Sword and Shield will likely surpass soon.
Meanwhile, check out all the other sales numbers for Nintendo Switch titles below:

Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 5.37 million
Super Mario Maker 2 – 5.04 million
The Legend of Zelda: Linkâ€™s Awakening – 4.19 million
Fire Emblem: Three Houses – 2.58 million
Ring Fit Adventure – 2.17 million
Astral Chain – 1.03 million
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 – 1.02 million

Some points to note: Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the highest-selling title of the series. Ditto Fire Emblem: Three Houses; it beats all the Game Boy Advance, Wii, DS, and 3DS entries.
There was no mention of a Nintendo Switch Pro in the financial report, though Nintendo did state the following:

“We will continue to convey the appeal of both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite hardware, and work to expand their installed base.
In addition to Nintendo-published titles like Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (January), PokÃ©mon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (March) and Animal Crossing: New Horizons (March), there are also a robust variety of appealing titles from other software publishers scheduled to be released.
We will work to keep the platform energized by continuously introducing attractive new titles in addition to the popular titles already released.”


E3 2018: The Other Cool Titles You Missed

You’ve seen the news and coverage about the big titles of E3 like that one Halo Infinite game and that one action game with Nero and his mechanical arm. But what about the smaller indie titles or the quirky games that were on the show floor? We’re going to miss out on a lot of them; it happens, right?
Have no fear: we’ve got that sorted for you. Here are the smaller and not-so-well-known titles announced during that festive period.
Gal Metal (Switch)
You play drums in a rhythm game specifically for the Nintendo Switch via Joy-Con controllers. The music you play? Heavy metal. The objective? Drive out the aliens who are invading Earth because it’s destroying their culture.
We got a video for that below. It’s good to see you again, Tak Fujii.

https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1457408377696906/
Ashen (Xbox One, PC)

Need more indie Dark Souls-like games? Then you should look forward to Ashen. What sets this one apart from the stamina-driven RPG it’s clearly taking inspiration from is its painted aesthetics and the fact that you have to make friends with other players and NPCs to get through its barren and unfriendly (albeit colourful) setting.
Children of Morta (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

If you’re craving for a roguelike, Children of Morta can satiate that hunger for you. At the very least, this game has enough new features to set it apart like a stamina gauge that you have to keep into account during combat, the ability to get souls to open up new benefits mid-dungeon, and the option to run a side family gig where you get access to permanent stat upgrades and better shop items.
There’s also co-op mode, so you and a bunch of friends can slay together while keeping the in-game family business alive.
Hamsterdam (Switch, iOS, Android)
Let’s not forget mobile games, guys and girls! Hamsterdam is a rhythm-based beat-em-up where you control a hamster who has to clear the town of other nasty vermin: weasels, rats, and so forth.

While you can start wailing on the touchscreen like mad to spam attacks, the most patient of players can wait until the hamster glows to unleash more damaging attacks, so there’s some slight depth to its gameplay. Perfect for short spurts of fighting, as it’s slated for a Q4 release this year.
Kids (PC, iOS)

Not so much a game as it is an interactive experience. All you do is move around white characters on a screen; they gather up in crowds and you have to lead them around through the magic of touchscreen tech. You get to do riveting crowd-control moves like making one big group move away so that a few others can pass by. The story is determined by your interactions, so we’re looking at another Monument Valley here. Only with literal white people. Out 2018.
Neo Cab (PC)

This visual novel made its debut at the PC Gamer Show 2018 and it’s sure to attract the games-as-story crowd. You pick up people as a Grab Share-esque driver and you find out their stories all set in the far future. You have a ton of dialogue choices to choose from that can affect the mood of the ride and even open up branching paths in the game’s overarching narrative.
A Plague Tale: Innocence (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

Rats! Lots of them. This game, set during the tumultuous time of the Black Death in Europe, is about a mother and son duo who have to escape a city filled with rabid rats. Honestly, just looking at these blighters moving in swarms and making that chittering sound can give you goosebumps.
Ooblets (PC, Xbox One)

Trust DoubleFine Productions to make something this cute and addictive. You’re a human who is stranded in a town filled with cutesy creatures called Ooblets. You have to grow and take care of them (like plants, mind you) and lead them around and integrate them into your daily town life like a psychedelic Stardew Valley.
Maneater (PC)

You play as a shark who eats people in a coastal town-slash-cityscape-slash-bayou-area. Based on the trailer above, we’re in for some carnivorous deep-sea diving and landshark-manifesting single player action. It’s brought to you by Tripwire, who are well-known for the Killing Floor PC games, so we can count on them to up the gore.
Indivisible (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch)

Need a combination of Valkyrie Profile with the artwork of Skullgirls? Look no further than this action JRPG from Lab Zero Games, where you control a young girl named Ajna who can use spirits to help her in her quest. Out 2019.
Tunic (Xbox One, PC)

If you want a cute Zelda-like game with a fox as the main star, Tunic is for you. Players can start slashing ghosts, breaking pots, and exploring cute environments when it’s out this 2018.
Wargroove (PC, Xbox One, PS4)

Part Advance Wars, part Fire Emblem, all old-school: this upcoming strategy game features 12 commanders to pick from, with each of them having a story of their own. Like its inspiration, commanders can give players special unique abilities that can either help bolster your troops or hinder the opposition.
Plus those pixelated and mega frame count on these animations and aesthetics: groovy! There’s also local and online competitive/co-op mode, so you can butt heads against one another or team up against the AI.
Treachery In Beatdown City (PC)

Need an 8-bit 2D beat-em-up? Well, there are tons of them on Steam alone, so what makes Treachery In Beatdown City different? For starters, this game behaves like an RPG where time stops once you land the first blow. You can connect your attacks with other linking techniques to get the most out of them.
Throws, heavy kicks, uppercuts: you can map them out and confirm them on the menu so that it all plays out like a ballet of fisticuffs that would make Chuck Norris and JCVD proud.
Super Meat Boy Forever (Xbox One, PC)

We saved the best for last: the return of Super Meat Boy. Arguably one of the fastest and most brutal platformers in existence, this sequel of sorts now makes our title character autorun. Which means that you have to worry about jumping, wall-jumping, punching, sliding, and adjusting your jump arcs on the fly. Obviously, it’s not as easy as it sounds as he will be dealing with a ton of obstacles and enemies in his path.
You might want to get a few extra controllers; something tells us that you’ll be breaking the one you have if you’re playing this for the first time and failing hard at it.


Bioware Teases Dragon Age 4 Reveal Next Month

It hasn’t been a very good year for Bioware, especially with the failure of its latest title, Anthem, earlier this year. However, 2019 also marks the 10th anniversary of the Dragon Age franchise, and the developer has hinted that it is set to reveal something new about the highly-anticipated Dragon Age 4.
Just like the Mass Effect franchise celebrates N7 Day on 7 November annually, Dragon Age fans celebrate Dragon 4ge Day on 4 December. It’s the perfect time for Bioware to officially reveal more details about the mysterious Dragon Age 4, which was initially confirmed to be in development at The Game Awards 2018 with a brief teaser trailer.

Today marks 10 years of Dragon Age! This year weâ€™re excited to join the communityâ€™s party on December 4th and celebrate a decade together in the world we all love. See you on 12/4 for Dragon 4ge Day!
â€” BioWare (@bioware) November 3, 2019
During EA’s recent quarterly earnings call last week, the publisher stated that the earliest possible release date for Dragon Age 4 is likely to be sometime in 2022. That’s probable, considering how early in development the project must still be. The last instalment in the franchise was 2014’s Dragon Age: Inquisition, which was over half a decade ago.
We’ll have to wait and see what Bioware has in store for Dragon Age fans on 4 December 2019. Until then, rewatch the Dragon Age 4 teaser trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw3lrXlti-8&w=560&h=315]


Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad Is Out Now On Android & iOS

Today, Ubisoft has announced that Tom Clancyâ€™s Elite Squad is available worldwide for iOS and Android devices.

Developed by Ubisoft Owlient, Tom Clancyâ€™s Elite Squad is a military mobile RPG featuring a cast legendary characters from the Tom Clancyâ€™s universe, including Caveira, Sam Fisher from the Splinter Cell franchise, El SueÃ±o, Montagne, Nomad and more.
Players will have access to 70 iconic characters along with countless weapons, gear pieces and unique abilities to upgrade and build the deadliest squad. As commander, players will lead their squad in dynamic 5×5 shooting battles on the most epic battlefields, including the Base of Operations from Tom Clancyâ€™s The Division and Valletta, Malta, from Tom Clancyâ€™s Splinter Cell Conviction.

Tom Clancyâ€™s Elite Squad includes a thrilling campaign mode, introducing a brand-new Tom Clancyâ€™s storyline where players will have to face a new threat to save the world. The campaign will feature multiple chapters, with a variety of unlockable soldiers and unique narrative scenes.
Along with the campaign, players can challenge other squads in the arena for intense PvP battles or even join forces in epic guild wars for an immersive and competitive experience.

You can download the game now for free on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Here’s How Much The PS5 May Cost [Update]

Update: According to an Amazon UK spokesperson, the pricing is “an error. It was priced as a dummy product with a dummy price”. Still, given the PS5’s US$450 manufacturing cost, that base price prediction may not be too far off.Â
Original story
It’s only a day or so away until Sony reveals the PlayStation 5 and its slew of games. And based on certain leaks, we may be able to pre-order it for a substantial amount of money.
According to a tweet from Wario64, the 1TB HDD model of the PS5 will cost you US$759. However, we also found out that the PS5 2TB model also costs the same, suggesting that the listings on Amazon are using placeholder prices.

PlayStation 5 2TB placeholder listing on Amazon UK says it's £599.99. No link posted to Amazon but someone was able to order it apparently https://t.co/f7QUdXsdGu pic.twitter.com/1SEEInbeHP
— Wario64 (@Wario64) June 10, 2020

PlayStation 5 2TB placeholder listing on Amazon UK says it's £599.99. No link posted to Amazon but someone was able to order it apparently https://t.co/f7QUdXsdGu pic.twitter.com/1SEEInbeHP
— Wario64 (@Wario64) June 10, 2020

Despite this, some people claim that they’re able to order the upcoming console via these links. One thing’s for sure: if that’s the base price and base model we’re working with, we may be seeing some uproar from PlayStation fans.
The brand was synonymous with competitive prices; the PS4 base price started at US$399 and did pretty well for itself against the Xbox One. Conversely, the PS3 was priced at US$499 and lost to the Xbox 360 in the first few years of its release back in 2006.
Hell, who could forget about how PlayStation dropped a megaton bomb of an announcement back in 1995 when it came to competitive pricing?

Yes, the COVID-19 will affect supply chain and production, and may have influenced the PS5’s supposed price to that much. But at the end of the day, first impressions and price tags matter.
Let’s hope this isn’t the norm and this piece of news be put to rest later tomorrow at 4am. At the very least, I can stop using the PS5 controller as feature images after that reveal.


NetEase Establishes New Game Studio Anchor Point Studios

A new game development studio called Anchor Point Studios has been established by NetEase, and it’s led by Paul Ehreth, the lead designer of Control. They’re based in Barcelona, Spain, with a secondary office in Seattle, USA, and will concentrate on making action-adventure games for both consoles and PCs.
Ehreth, who previously worked on Halo 4 and 5, is collaborating with a group that includes Pere Torrents, the former head of operations at Smilegate Barcelona (Crossfire). According to NetEase, the studio’s other developers have worked on well-known games like Ghost of Tsushima, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Division.
Anchor Point is looking for developers, technical artists, and designers for nearly 100 available jobs, either to work in their offices, remotely, or in a hybrid capacity. Ehreth, the founder of Anchor Point, stated that the studio’s objective is to create an adventure that will remain fresh and provide a distinct experience that will surprise people every time they play. He also expressed his appreciation to NetEase Games for allowing them the creative freedom and resources to build an interconnected world that will extend beyond games and reach into other media.
NetEase Games has also acquired SkyBox Labs, the co-developer of Halo and Minecraft, as well as other studios like Grasshopper Manufacture, the creators of No More Heroes, and Quantic Dream, the Paris-based studio behind Heavy Rain, Detroit: Become Human, and Beyond: Two Souls. They’ve also founded Nagoshi Studio, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NetEase Games, which was created by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi to focus on high-end titles primarily for consoles.


Demon Slayer Game Gets Nezuko Demon Form DLC This August

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s best girl is going to kick more but than usual.
Publisher Aniplex and developer CyberConnect2 have released a new DLC trailer for its 3D fighting game Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles. It spotlights the Advanced Demon Form of Nezuko Kamado. She’s all filled out, and not just with demon rage; she’s got some new moves that her original form is missing.

The Demon Slayer game is out right now. This DLC will be out mid-August.


Kojima Productions Confirms A New Game Is In Development

Hideo Kojima’s Kojima Productions has announced that they’re officially working on their next game, but revealed nothing else about the upcoming game; only that it’s in development.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Kojima Productions also announced that they were hiring and opening more job listings to work on their new game.

#KojimaProductions confirms a new project is in development and is looking to hire the best-in-class talent to work out of our Tokyo studio. For more information on the openings and requirements, please visit our website at https://t.co/jeTGnnwLAW pic.twitter.com/StLOrxTlhg— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) October 22, 2020
While Kojima Productions’ new game remains a mystery, they recently released the PC version of Death Stranding in July 2020. In the meantime, you canÂ head on over here for our review of the PS4 version ofÂ Death Stranding.


Psychonauts 2 Is Almost Finished, Slated For 2021

Double Fine, the game development company run by Tim Schafer that’s partnered with Xbox, just released a 9-minute video about the current state of its upcoming game Psychonauts 2. Long story short, it’s coming out soon.

How soon? Try 2021. Schafer explained that “all the levels are in the game” and the devs will be finishing and polishing it after they’re back from the holidays. The team has been making the most out of the “work-from-home” situation, with Schafer being an internal game streamer as he’s playing each build while other members of the team watch and comment on it. Also, the team won’t be crunching on the game, unlike its prequel.
“2020 was a dang strange time but Psychonauts 2 is doing well and will release next year.”
Apart from tweaks & polishing, the team will be working on cutscenes, end credits, front-end menu, and a post-game epilogue where players can explore the world after completing the story. So yeah, 2021 is off to a good start for 3D platforming fans.


The PUMA x Minecraft Collection Drops Later This Month

If you love adventures and blocks, then your year will start off on the right foot (or shoe) â€“ global sports brand PUMA and the popular video game Minecraft have come together to create an exciting drop, launching on 19 March 2022.
The PUMA x Minecraft streetwear collection features apparel and footwear for adventurers and explorers of all ages. References to beloved (and some feared) Minecraft mobs are featured on tees, hoodies, pants, and PUMAâ€™s most iconic shoe â€“ the Suede. The apparel features a sleek colour palette of white, grey, and black, and is adorned with colourful logos and characters. One highlight is the Minecraft ocelot, which is posed to replicate PUMAâ€™s original jumping cat.
PUMAâ€™s timeless style, the Suede, features a pixelated green, blue, and brown suede upper inspired by the plains â€“ one of Minecraftâ€™s most characteristic biomes, a double formstrip with printed graphics, co-branded tongue label, and additional branding on the heel. For kidsâ€™ footwear, in addition to the PUMA Suede, the RS-Z will be included in the collection.
To celebrate the launch of the drop, players can download a thrilling PUMA DLC where you can visit a virtual PUMA store to change your characterâ€™s skins, participate in three different races to collect exclusive trophies, and discover exciting surprises along the way. The PUMA DLC will be available starting on 8 February 2022 from the Minecraft Marketplace on the Minecraft Bedrock Edition.
The PUMA x Minecraft gaming ready collection will be available starting from 19 March 2022 on PUMA.com, at PUMA KLCC, PUMA Pavilion KL, PUMA Sunway Pyramid and PUMA Queensbay Mall, retailing for RM139 to RM519.â€‹


Raised By Wolves Season 2 Premieres On HBO GO Next Month

Raised By Wolves, a compelling sci-fi drama brought to life by visionary producer Ridley Scott (The Martian, Blade Runner), returns for a brand-new eight-episode second season, with two episodes premieringÂ Thursday, 3 February 2022Â exclusively onÂ HBO GO. Subsequent episodes debut every Thursday.
InÂ Raised By Wolves Season 2, Android partners Mother (Amanda Collin) and Father (Abubakar Salim), along with their family of six human children, join a newly formed atheistic colony in Kepler 22 bâ€™s mysterious tropical zone,Â only to find that navigating this strange new society is only the start of their troubles as Motherâ€™s â€œnatural childâ€ threatens to drive what little remains of the human race to extinction.
Other cast members include Travis Fimmel as Marcus, Niamh Algar as Sue and Kim Engelbrecht as Decima, with Winta McGrath, Jordan Loughran, Matias Varela, Felix Jamieson, Ethan Hazzard, Aasiya Shah, Ivy Wong, Peter Christoffersen, Selina Jones, Morgan Santo, James Harkness, and Jennifer Saayeng.
Raised By WolvesÂ is produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, with Scott, Aaron Guzikowski, David W. Zucker (â€œThe Man in the High Castleâ€), Jordan Sheehan (â€œThe Terrorâ€), Adam Kolbrenner (â€œPrisonersâ€) and Mark Huffam (â€œThe Martianâ€) serving as executive producers. The series was created by Guzikowski, acclaimed writer and visionary behind the highly lauded film â€œPrisoners.â€
Before Season 2 arrives, you can relive the complete first season of Raised By WolvesÂ onÂ HBO GO. You can subscribe to HBO GOÂ online atÂ https://www.hbogoasia.my/Â or the mobile app viaÂ App StoreÂ orÂ Play Store for RM23.30/month. Or access HBO GOÂ via Astro.Â HBOÂ GOÂ is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
In the meantime, check out my review of the first season here.
Check out the trailer below:


Driveclub Servers Will Shut Down In 2020

Driveclub, the PlayStation 4 exclusive racer, will have its servers shut down exactly next year on 31 March, 2020.
The game’s spinoffs, Driveclub VR and Driveclub Bikes, are slated to have their servers to shut down as well as all the DLCs removed from the PlayStation Store on 31 August 2019.
Owners of any of the games aforementioned will still be able to play the single-player mode when the server gets wiped, but all of the online features will be unavailable. It’s sad news to hear as Driveclub touted itself as a social game.
Here are the features available after the server shuts down:

The games will also be removed from the PlayStation Store. This would mean that the game will no longer be purchasable after 31 August this year. So, if anyone wants to keep or play Driveclub, you have to buy it before it gets pulled off the store.
Driveclub featured stunning graphics, such as realistic rain patterns on the windscreen and true-to-life details when it comes to the design of the cars. Even the sky was detailed meticulously using a technology called truSKy, the same engine used in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
However, the market for driving simulators on the PlayStation 4 is mostly dominated by more popularly known and established games like Gran Turismo Sport, or the Need For Speed series. Or if you want to talk about racing games on other platforms that are more noteworthy, the Forza series and its Horizon offshoots.


Here’s How You Can Get A Discount For The Samsung’s New Gaming Monitor

If you’re looking for a gaming monitor with a high refresh rate and response time, we have good news for you. To celebrate the arrival of the super ultrawide Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor in Malaysia, Samsung Electronics Malaysia (SME) has recently partnered with local gaming content creators and influencers to offer great discounts.
By following these content creators, fans could catch on special promo codes from their social media page to get a 30 percent discount worth over RM2,800 on the Odyssey Neo G9 until 31 December 2021. The monitor currently retails at RM9,499.
5 Malaysian Creators To Follow And Grab The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Promo Codes FromÂ

@yingtze
@ fancfreakz
@ officialjanuaryakg
@ mamajess520
@ aisakamiharu

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is a 49â€ 1000R curved-screen monitor, equipped with a cutting-edge Quantum Matrix HDR2000 panel. It offers an extremely fast 1ms response with G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro and a high 240hz refresh rate, in addition to a fully customizable Odyssey Infinity Core lighting to give gamers a great visual experience.
To find out more about Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, you can visit https://www.samsung.com/my/monitors/odyssey-gaming-monitor/. You can purchase the Samsung Online Store at https://www.samsung.com/my.


HBO GO & Cartoon Network December 2021: Our Picks & Highlights

Since everyone is (still mostly) staying home because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Iâ€™m sure you wonâ€™t want to waste time sifting through HBO GOâ€™s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming site updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so Iâ€™m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights forÂ HBO GO December 2021 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Dune (2 December 2021)

Oscar nominee Denis Villeneuve brings Frank Herbertâ€™s iconic novel to life, following the journey of Paul Atreides, destined to transform Arrakis, the most dangerous planet in the universe. Featuring breath-taking visual effects, it is an epic tale of power struggles amid a mythical landscape. Stars TimothÃ©e Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya.
Dune Part OneÂ turned out to be one of the best movies of 2021 and you can check out my full review of the movie byÂ heading over here. The movie has already garnered over US$366 million globally to date. Warner Bros hasÂ already greenlit a sequel, which is slated to arrive in 2023.
It premieres on Thursday, December 2 on HBO GO.

Mechamato (4 December 2021)

Mechamato is an awesome new cartoon with action and comedy thatâ€™s ready to power on to screens in Malaysia and around Asia on Saturday, 4 December 2021 at 3pm GMT+8 on Cartoon Network (Astro Channel 615 HD).
The star of the series is a boy named Amato who becomes the master of a destroyer robot called Mechabot with the ability to mechanize objects. Together they track down other robots that escaped from a prison ship that crash-landed on Earth. The show is created by Monsta, which is based in Cyberjaya in Malaysia and is actually a prequel to their previous animated series,Â BoBoiboy.
Courtesy of WarnerMedia Malaysia, we were lucky enough to participate in a roundtable interview with Monsta Chief Content Officer andÂ Mechamato showrunner Anas Abdul Aziz (above), as well as WarnerMedia Head Of Kids Asia Pacific Leslie Lee (below). Check out the full interview here.

Folklore Season 2

The HBO Asia Original horror anthology returns with a second season of myths and superstitions. Haunting tales from Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore, each masterfully brought to life by a local director and an ensemble cast, will send chills down viewersâ€™ backs.
Donâ€™t miss the final three episodes of this HBO Asia Original horror anthology, featuring fearful tales from the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. Each episode is helmed by a local director, namely Erik Matti, Billy Christian and Nicole Midori Woodford respectively. Alternatively, stay up all night and stream all episodes including Season 1 for a truly spooky experience!
Courtesy of HBO Asia, we were lucky enough to participate in a roundtable interview withÂ Folklore Season 2 showrunner Eric Khoo and Seiko Matsudo, who directed one of the episodes in Season 2 (check out more details and information on that episode below). Check out the full interview here.
New episodes premiere Sundays on 5, 12 and 19 December at 10pm GMT+8 on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411).

Tom & Jerry (11 December 2021)

Witness cat-and-mouse action on a whole new scale when Jerry moves into New York City’s finest hotel on the eve of “the wedding of the century”, forcing a desperate event planner to hire Tom to get rid of him. Naturally, chaos ensues, threatening to destroy her career, the wedding and even the hotel itself! Whatâ€™s more, a new threat emerges in the form of a diabolically ambitious staff member who conspires against all three of them, leading to the most unexpected course of action: working together to save the day. Also stars ChloÃ« Grace Moretz, Michael PeÃ±a, Ken Jeong, Rob Delaney and Colin Jost.
It premieres Saturday, December 11 at 9pm GMT+8 on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411).
GENSAN PUNCH (16 December 2021)

This HBO Asia Original is inspired by the true story of Naozumi Tsuchiyama, a Japanese man who dreams of becoming a professional boxer. Despite having a prosthetic leg and the odds stacked against him, he travels to the Philippines to pursue his ambition. Directed by Brillante Ma. Mendoza, the film premiered at the 26th Busan International Film Festival and won the prestigious Kim Jiseok Award. The Filipino Japanese film is in English, Japanese and Tagalog. Stars Japanese actor Shogen, Beauty Gonzalez, and Ronnie Lazaro.
It premieres Thursday, December 16 on HBO GO.

Chaos Walking (18 December 2021)
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In the not-too-distant future, Todd Hewitt discovers Viola, a mysterious girl who crash lands on his planet, where all the women have disappeared and the men are afflicted by “the Noise” – a force that puts all their thoughts on display. With Viola’s life threatened, Todd vows to protect her, and in doing so he will have to discover his own inner power and unlock the planet’s dark secrets. Stars Daisy Ridley, Tom Holland, Mads Mikkelsen, DemiÃ¡n Bichir, Cynthia Erivo, Nick Jonas, Kurt Sutter, and David Oyelowo.
It premieres Saturday, December 18 at 9pm GMT+8 on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411).

Promising Young Woman (24 December 2021)
Carey Mulligan stars as “Cassandra” in director Emerald Fennellâ€™s PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, a Focus Features release.Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features
In this Oscar-winning movie, Cassieâ€™s perfect existence hides a dark secret identity. On the surface, Cassie is a demure young lady but she is also wickedly smart and tantalizingly cunning, to which she uses to good effect in her secret double life. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past. Stars Carey Mulligan.
It premieres Friday, December 24 at on HBO GO.

Godzilla Vs Kong (25 December 2021)

Mythic adversaries Godzilla and Kong meet in a spectacular battle for the ages, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home, together with Jia, a young orphaned girl with whom he has formed a unique and powerful bond. However, they find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, cutting a swath of destruction across the globe. The confrontation between the two Titans, instigated by unseen forces, is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the Earth. Stars Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd, Millie Bobby Brown, and Rebecca Hall.
Check out my review of the movie here.
Premieres Saturday, December 25 at 9pm GMT+8 on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411).

Those are just several selected highlights from next monthâ€™s offerings of new TV series and movies on HBO GO next month. Now you can plan your HBO GO watchlist for December 2021.


Free-To-Play Football Sim Game Maximum Football Drops In Spring 2023

Ever wanted to try a football simulation game ala Madden NFL series without having to pay? Then developer Modus Studios Invictus has you sorted!
The oldest Hungarian game studio has announced its upcoming free-to-play football simulation, Maximum Football, which offers a premium experience to all players at no cost.

The simulation game features an endless level of customizations, creating your own logos, jerseys, helmets, an individual pieces of its sports equipment. Two game modes: Dynasty Mode which you can assume the role of a coach and build your very own league from scratch, whereas the Pro Season Mode lets you battle against 31 professional teams for the championship title. The best part? It has local and online multiplayer options for you and your friends to battle against each other or enjoy playing on the same team.
Maximum Football is slated to release on PC via Steam the next few months and release at a later date on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S following the Early Access period. You can add the game on your wishlist here.
In the meantime, check out the announcement trailer showcasing the stunning gameplay graphics and what to expect on your next football sim experience.


We’re Getting A VR Half-Life Game Starring Alyx [Update]

Update: The VR game is officially confirmed by Valve. News about it will be unveiled later this Friday, 2am GMT+8.

We’re excited to unveil Half-Life: Alyx, our flagship VR game, this Thursday at 10am Pacific Time.
Can’t wait to share it with all of you! pic.twitter.com/BupFCxSrTw
— Valve (@valvesoftware) November 18, 2019

Original story:
Half-Life fans still waiting for a definite conclusion to Half-Life 2: keep waiting. Instead,Â  you might be getting a VR game instead starring one of the game’s iconic characters Alyx.
According to a transcript of a leaked interview meant for The Game Awards 2019 onÂ  12th December, Valve will be releasing Half-Life: Alyx that will be the company’s flagship virtual reality game. The interview is betweenÂ  Game Awards creator GeoffÂ  Keighley, Team Fortress 2Â  co-developer Robin Walker, and an unnamed third person.

“March 2020.Â  Half-Life: Alyx comin’ out”, says Geoff in the interview. Here’s anotherÂ  quote that refers to theÂ  game’s playtesting and early builds:
“You can see their whole body– Respond to the situation. You know, panicking, dropping clips on the ground as they fumble their weapons ’cause a zombie’s in front of them, all these things, they’re just – it’s been really fun watching playtests.”

The leak is courtesy of the same sources who broke the news of Dota Underlords, so there’s a chance this rumour holds a bit of water.


Atelier Series Still Going Strong With New Entry: Atelier Lulua

The Atelier series is known for its calm and collective atmosphere, its strong female cast, and its penchant for having people use magic alchemy to create many things ranging from bread to bombs. In other words, there’s fun to be had if you don’t mind some anime fluff in your story.
Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Gust recently announced the next Atelier game called Atelier Lulua: The Alchemist of Arland. Here’s what we know about it:

You play the title character Lulua, the daughter of Atelier Rorona‘s Rorona. She has a best friend named Eva who is quiet but armed to the teeth with a bazooka/gatling gun. Yeah this series can get a bit weird.
This entry uses the patented synthesis, exploration, and battle elements from past Atelier games under the Arland timeline.
Players get to explore a much bigger Arland Republic. Fans of the Arland timeline will appreciate the many changes and lore updates here.
According to the producer Junzo Hosoi, “the story in this work has a wide mix of choices along with solid story points. Each personâ€™s journey leading up to the end of the game will be different.” Branching story paths and multiple endings, anyone?

The game will be out in 2019 for PS4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan. We’ll hear more news about the English version later.


Diablo 4 Will Bring Back The Paragon System, But With Some Changes

Blizzard’s year-end update for its upcoming action RPG Diablo 4 is up, and details the endgame.
According to the company, Diablo 4’s endgame will offer “more depth and replayability” than the Paragon system in Diablo 3, which most of us are playing right now for its latest Season. While Diablo 4’s endgame levelling up system is still called Paragon, there are major changes.
Once a player hits level 50, they’ll gain access to the Paragon Board, which uses tiles to enable certain specific power boosts and character customization. The process starts at the center of the board. As you gain Paragon levels, you get to choose which powerups you want on the tile. You can either go upwards or downwards all the way on the board. Some tiles are sockets for glyphs found in the game that offer different benefits when inserted into the board. Basically, it’s like Path of Exile’s grid system but for Diablo 4.

Once you reach the end of the board, you’ll find a gate tile that unlocks other Paragon Boards, which have their own powerups and tiles.
“Once your hero reaches a gate tile, youâ€™ll choose which new paragon board you would like to attach to at that location. The desired outcome is a personalized set of bonuses that will empower your hero and honor your dedication to their progression, that will remain fun to tweak and adjust over many playthroughs.”
Depending on which side of the fence you’re on, Diablo 4’s Paragon system is either complex or complicated. Either way, it’s definitely a little different than the last game’s more straightforward route. Diablo 4 will be out eventually, just not in 2022. In the meantime, enjoy the game’s latest videos below that detail how things die spectacularly.


Call of Duty: WWII’s Second DLC Set To Drop In April

The second Call of Duty: World War 2 downloadable content, ‘The War Machine’ is set to drop first on PlayStation 4 on April 11th.Â With the new DLC, developersÂ Â Sledgehammer Games introduces several new maps and play experiences designed to take all types of CoD:WW2 playersÂ to brand new, never explored theatres of war in video games.
A fan of Christopher Nolan’s epic Dunkirk? Then you’re in luck as this DLC takes you there. Also, travel to a secret German V-2 rocket facility and retrace the epicÂ  push the battle across continents and into Egypt in your standard PvP modes.

If you’re a fan of War Mode, then Operation Husky would be your pick of the lot as the game takes you to Sicily, Italy.Â In this new War mode, players will gather intel, transmit it to HQ, and then take to the skies to clear the area of enemy fighter planes in order to make way for Allied bombers.
Fans of the Zombies mode can hop intoÂ The Shadowed Throne. Here, they are dropped into the heart of Nazi Germany to confront Doktor Straubâ€™s monstrous army who are hellbent on purging his city of the Allied invaders.Â
Set to be available to players on the PS4 first, this is one DLC all CoDWW2 players do now want to miss.


Anno: Mutationem Gets Free Mysterious Game Console DLC That’s Basically Enter The Gungeon

Anno: Mutationem is shining the spotlight on the game’s side character Ayane.
The purple-haired handler in the game now gets her side story in the form of a free DLC called Mysterious Game Console. Here, she receives a package which ends up being an old gaming console where she plays a roguelike mini-game to help whoever is stuck inside.
Said minigame plays like a basic version of Enter The Gungeon, but does get tougher with each new area. Here are the DLC’s features.

Super lite roguelike mini game “Mysterious Game Console” – Enter the pixelated three-floors dungeon world, defeat the enemies, and bring back the trapped girl Noni.
New costume “Archaic Hazmat Suit” with new weapons
Story of Ayane’s childhood

The update is available right now for PC, with console versions to arrive at a later date. We’ve played a bit of it; while it’s a cute diversion, we did get stuck at one point (forcing a restart) so maybe its bugs aren’t ironed out completely.
Anno: Mutationem is out right now for PC and consoles. We enjoyed the indie title for its action and challenge, as well as humorous nonsense like the clip below.


Our Favourite Bunnies & Rabbits Of Video Games

Hello Good Friday weekend, which means in a few days we get to witness the celebration of the resurrection of one particular Jesus Christ. Or if you rather get to the nitty-gritty, it’s a pagan celebration featuring the Easter Bunny and a ton of chocolate effigies of eggs and lagomorphs.
After all, who doesn’t love bunnies? They’re cute and cuddly creatures sporting those floppy ears, wiggly little cotton tail and a cute snoot to boot. They’re the most innocent looking creatures out there. Then again, bunnies might not be so innocent, especially in gaming.
Which also means it’s time for us at Kakuchopurei to talk about our favourite bunnies. We’ve tackled resurrection last year, so let’s go for something more fluffy.
Ubisoft’s Rabbids

Let’s start with the most persistent motherf*****s in video game history. Ubisoft’s more noticeable mascots (sorry Rayman) debuted in Rayman Raving Rabbids, effectively outshining the limbless hero and since then spun off into different standalone rhythm games and a bunch of all-ages titles.
They even got in on an April’s Fool joke in a one-time For Honor event, meaning Ubisoft pulls these rascals out once in a while to troll people and remind them of their obnoxious punch-friendly faces.
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