What Bioware Can Re-Learn From Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

About a year ago, Mass Effect Andromeda was released and it was almost universally regarded as one of the biggest disappointments of the year.
Three years before that, Dragon Age Inquisition came out and despite being critically acclaimed, the game was considered by many fans to be nowhere near as good as the first game of the series, Dragon Age Origins.
Both Andromeda and Inquisition still implemented the same beloved Bioware Formula. So why didnâ€™t they achieve the same kind of success?
Although the structure of these two latest games definitely resembled their
predecessors, there have been a few additions to and subtractions from the formula and
some of these changes have made the games worse.
However, it is perfectly possible for Bioware to recenter themselves and relearn from their past successes. I would suggest looking back at the first game that probably nailed the format of these games and became the structural blueprint for both the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series: Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR).
I want to focus only on two major aspects that I believe can make or break a
Bioware game: the linearity of its game design and the way it handles its protagonist.
Linearity
Both Andromeda and Inquisition boasted wide-open landscapes that would be
filled with hundreds of hours of content. The first major area of Inquisition, The
Hinterlands (map featured above), is claimed to be bigger than all the locations in
Dragon Age Origins combined.

However, all that surface was filled with cloned enemy mobs scattered here and there, NPCs giving cookie-cutter reasons why you should go somewhere and do something for them, and magical shards scattered around with unclear benefits for collecting them. There was also supposed to a war between mages and mage hunters but you could still find people having picnics.

KotOR was the antithesis of this. Every planet you visited had clear and easily
reached limits. The Dune Sea of Tatooine (area map below) was basically a big empty
desert. Upon entering the location, thereâ€™d be only a few points of interest. Closest to
you was what seemed to be a man trapped by four droids that were programmed to kill
him if he moved and when you approached him youâ€™d realise that he was a bounty
hunter you spoke to earlier.
You learn that he needs your help to get out of the sticky situation created by his wife. Look a bit further and you see a Sandcrawler, a gigantic mining vehicle and there seems to be smoke coming out of it so thereâ€™s definitely an interest to investigate. The message was clear. The desert was desolate and destructive.
Inquisitionâ€™s area map was full of markers while KotORâ€™s maps rarely had more
than 10. Less is more because less allows you to emphasize the important and
interesting things and Bioware seems to have forgotten this idea.
Andromeda and Inquisition outgrew their predecessors in size but still maintained a small-time approach to content. KotOR had less than half of what those games offered but what few that it did offer was more interesting and exciting.
Protagonist Control
One of the greatest appeals of not just Bioware games but RPGs, in general, is
the freedom to immerse yourself in a persona of your own creation. For me, the ultimate
factor that decides the quality of your immersion is the ability to make specific choices.
The appearance of your custom character means very little if you canâ€™t make them
behave the way you intend them to. Having a silent protagonist helps a lot. Not just
because it saves money and time on voice acting but also because it gives the dialogue
writers more freedom on how the character expresses and decides.

Unlike Andromeda and Inquisition, KotOR didnâ€™t have a voiced protagonist and
neither did it have a dialogue wheel. Both of these features helped in giving the player a
higher number of choices in how they would approach the situations in the game.
Wanted to play a good-guy Jedi who would help everyone in need but still try to be
pragmatic and careful so that you donâ€™t get used? Sure! KotOR allowed you to be
nuanced and detailed in crafting your heroâ€™s behaviour.
One good thing aboutits the dialogue wheel is that it’s simple. What Bioware does
to the dialogue wheel is that it connects choice-mood and position. In most cases, itâ€™s
top right for “nice-guy I wanna help everyone”, middle right for “neutral I donâ€™t wanna
offend anyone”, and bottom right for “I’m evil because evil is fun”.

In Andromeda and Inquisition, most of your dialogue choices boil down to these 3 options. All these options are voiced which becomes a problem when you encounter a situation where you sometimes want to respond like a nice guy and sometimes want to be a bit of a jerk. Thereâ€™s a clear dissonance in tone and character, makes your protagonist seem like they have a personality disorder.
The biggest problem isnâ€™t actually your character flip-flopping between tones. Itâ€™s
your character not exactly saying what you want them to say. As mentioned before,
the dialogue wheel is a thing of simplicity and in terms of clarity, it means youâ€™re given a
summary of what your character will say instead of each and every word that actually
comes out of their mouth.
Both Andromeda and Inquisition is guilty of this but Andromeda is infamous for it. Watch almost any review of the game and youâ€™ll often hear complaints about how the main character doesnâ€™t really say what you want him/her to say. This problem is nonexistent in KotOR because your dialogue options are spelt out in the entirety. Sure theyâ€™re not voice acted but hey, you get to express yourself as accurately as possible in a game where your choices matter.
Conclusion
Leonardo Da Vinci once said that art is never finished, just abandoned. Iâ€™d posit
that Bioware once mastered the art of their own game structure, their very own Bioware
Formula. However, they couldnâ€™t abandon their efforts to â€œgrowâ€ the structure and ended up adding more layers than necessary. Their two latest games are proof of this. In many ways, Andromeda and Inquisition were bigger than any of their predecessors and
absolutely massive when compared to KotOR, their spiritual grandfather.
And yet, KotOR still shines brighter when analysed and compared even after all these years. In gaming, bigger is rarely better. Transitioning from small corridors and
silent protagonists to wide open landscapes and voiced-acted heroes may sound
impressive in trailers and promotional materials.
In the actual games which unnecessarily span hundreds of hours, these selling points become nothing more than padding in between the actual fun and interesting portions of the game. Bioware should remember their own lesson from years past: itâ€™s better to have a 20-hour game with 20 hours worth of interesting content than a 100-hour game with 80 hours worth of boring and inconsequential fluff.


Mario X LEGO = New Interactive Sets For Children & More

Nintendo and LEGO are teaming up to release new Super Mario-themed sets that combine the traditional building blocks with digital technology. How? By replicating the iconic moments in the long-running platforming series.
The new Mario line of LEGO toys will build Mario courses out of LEGO blocks and pieces. Then you can play and interact with them using a special LEGO Mario minifig with LED displays and NFC-esque tech to interact with special bricks for coin-collecting and course progression.
Let this video show you what I mean:

Excited? I know I am, because if this succeeds, this means more LEGO opportunities to include other Nintendo franchises like Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, and Kirby. The sky’s the limit!


Microsoft Is Looking For Internet Bounty Hunters

Out here in the wild wild digital realm, there are some nasty bugs and vulnerabilities that need to be revealed and put down. If you’re interested in making a significant amount of money, then you might want to take a look at what Microsoft is offering, pardner.
Microsoft is currently working a new Edge browser that’s based on Chromium and they need your help to spot new problems that are unique to Edge-Chromium. The Beta Channel build of the browser can be downloaded for free here.

Submit a report that meets Microsoft’s criteria and you’ll be eligible to receive rewards ranging from US$1,000 to US$30,000. No, I didn’t put in an extra zero there, you can actually get thirty thousand dollars for reporting bugs. Of course, you’d need to spot a really problematic one to get that kind of reward.
You can read all the instructions, criteria, reward structures, and more information here.


New Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Screenshots Talks About Minigame & New Bosses

Square Enix just released a bunch of new screenshots and details for Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. Let’s start with combat.
The game’s combat relies on teamwork moves called synergized attacks. Yuffie’s partner Sonon can’t be controlled, but you can give him orders. He will also coordinate special attacks with Yuffie during fights. Pressing L2 when both character’s ATB is full will engage synergy buffs, which allow for team-up attacks. These moves stagger enemies, and we all know how important the stagger mechanic is in FFVII Remake, right?

Square Enix also revealed more details on the Fort Condor strategy minigame.Â Inspired by one of Shinraâ€™s military campaigns, itâ€™s a game of strategy in which two players deploy units to conquer their opponentâ€™s base and defend their own.

Hereâ€™s how it works:

First, you select the board, which determines the number of ATB charges and materia available to you. You can also set the units you wish to deploy.
You use ATB charges to deploy a unit. Once deployed, it will march toward your opponentâ€™s base and automatically engage any enemy units it encounters.
A unit is assigned one of three roles: vanguard, ranged, or defense. These determine which enemies it will be effective against.
Materia can be used to cast powerful spells. Timing matters as each orb can only be used once per match, so itâ€™s up to you to decide when is best to use it.

So yeah, it’s way more fleshed out than the FFVII original.
Thanks to Square Enix, we now know the name of the bandaged psycho in the trailer. His name is Nero, and he’s the younger brother of FF edgelord Weiss the Immaculate. He’s an elite within Shinra’s secret military group Deepground.

The mecha Shinra’s Director of Advanced Weaponry Scarlet is using is called Crimson Mare. Good to know that it supports her pair of ballistics.

Last but not least is the new Summon, Ramuh. According to co-director Naoki Hamaguchi, this lightning-based summon couldn’t make it in the final game so his team is remedying that in this update. Ramuh can summon a lance of lightning that deals damage to nearby enemies using Voltaic Lance. He also has the screen-clearing Judgment Bolt.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake item pack DLC will also be out with this release. It contains:

Summon Materia: Carbuncle
Summon Materia: Chocobo
Summon Materia: Cactuar
Armor: Midgar Bangle
Armor: Shinra Bangle
Armor: Corneoâ€™s Armlet
Accessory: Superstar Belt
Accessory: Mako Crystal

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will be out for PlayStation 5 on 10th June.


Harvest Moon Makers Natsume Opens Up Indie Program

Nothing like a longtime publisher/developer to help grow the indie scene with its franchise money, eh? Natsume, the folks behind Asia’s favourite farming series Harvest Moon, is opening up the Natsume Indie Program.
This new indie program will help independent developers to market and publish their games to a wider audience. The first game to test out whether Natsume has these kinds of chops? Cosmic Defenders by Tokyo-based studio Fiery Squirrel.

The game is a cute little 2D shooter who use the power of nature to stop chaotic aliens from taking over the world. The game emphasizes co-op play and it’s going to be out for Nintendo Switch in 2019.
Let’s hope this isn’t a one-off thing; publishers like Natsume have a lot of connections to help these little underfunded indie folks to reach more people.


Here’s How You Can Claim The Twitch Prime Apex Legends Wattson Skin

Twitch Prime Day is upon us, and Amazon Prime members can claim their first loot for Apex Legends Season 2; an exclusive Wattson skin. Players on all platforms can obtain exclusive content, but there are a couple of steps that need to be completed before they can do so.
Starting from today on 3 July 2019, players can get their hands on not only an exclusive skin for new hero Wattson but also for the new L-star weapon. Here’s what you need to do:

Sign into your Twitch account.
Link your Amazon Prime account to Twitch.
Link your Twitch account to EA (PC), PSN (PS4) or Xbox Live (Xbox One).
Claim Apex Legends loot on Twitch.

If you can’t find the loot you’re looking for, keep in mind that you will also receive a notification on the top right bar of the Twitch website (if you open it on your PC). All your Twitch Prime loot will be listed there.
The exclusive Wattson and L-star weapon skins will be available for around a month, so claim it as soon as possible. In the meantime, check out what they look like in the images below.

(Image Credit: Dexerto)


Apple Has “Blacklisted” Fortnite, According To Epic Games CEO

The lawsuit battle between Apple and Epic Games may be over, the war has surely begun. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said that Apple will blacklist Fortnite from its ecosystem until its appeals process makes the last judgment, following a ruling in the lawsuit.
Here’s a quote from Tim Sweeney’s recent Twitter post about Apple:
“Apple lied. Apple spent a year telling the world, the court, and the press theyâ€™d â€˜welcome Epicâ€™s return to the App Store if they agree to play by the same rules as everyone else.â€™ Epic agreed, and now Apple has reneged in another abuse of its monopoly power over a billion users.”

Apple lied. Apple spent a year telling the world, the court, and the press they’d "welcome Epic’s return to the App Store if they agree to play by the same rules as everyone else". Epic agreed, and now Apple has reneged in another abuse of its monopoly power over a billion users.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) September 22, 2021

Apple’s decision could keep Fortnite off iOS and Mac platforms for as long as five years. Epic Games may have appealed to the court’s ruling and promises to adhere to Apple’s guidelines if it gets its developer account back. As of now, Apple has declined the request to reinstate the developer program account. Here’s Apple’s statement:
“In light of this and other statements since the courtâ€™s decision, coupled with Epicâ€™s duplicitous conduct in the past, Apple has exercised its discretion not to reinstate Epicâ€™s developer program at this time. Furthermore, Apple will not consider any further requests for reinstatement until the district courtâ€™s judgement becomes final and nonappealable.”


PS5 Launch Title Godfall Combat Gameplay Footage Leaked

Back when the PS3 first came out, its biggest weakness was its embarrassingly small launch library. Sony learnt their lesson and did better with the PS4. With games like Godfall scheduled to release alongside the PS5, they have a chance of repeating that success.
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/2523100791241819/
Seeing as how the PS5 is still almost an entire year away from release, it’s not surprising that we haven’t seen much of what the console can do. The reveal trailer for Godfall only showed cinematics but fortunately, Redditor YeaQaurterDongIng got his hands on an unreleased trailer.
The above six-second snippet of gameplay comes from that trailer. It doesn’t show us much but at least now we know what the combat looks like. Instead of the fast-paced hack and slash nature of games like Devil May Cry, it seems to be going for a heavier approach resembling The Surge and Bloodborne.
Godfall is being marketed as a looter-slasher which basically means that it’s Destiny with swords and axes. It will support drop-in drop-out co-op for up to three players. While it’s the first confirmed PS5 game, it’s not a console exclusive. There will be a PC version.
Check out the reveal trailer here:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vX-257ns6g&w=560&h=315]


Malaysian Game Wins Big At The SEA Game Awards 2019

Level Up KL 2019 once again played host to the SEA Game Awards for the third time in a row, as the awards aim to recognize and celebrate the creativity, artistry and technical genius of the finest developers and games from the Southeast Asian region, as well as upholding creative and technical excellence in the SEA video game industry.
There were 10Â award categories focusing on different aspects, with game nominees hailing from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and more. The biggest winner of the night was GigaBash, a party brawler game developed by Malaysian studio Passion Republic.
Passion Republic’s GigaBash managed to sweep four (4) out of the 10 different categories. I personally had hands-on experience with an alpha build demo of the game, so I can attest to how awesome GigaBash is in terms of gameplay and production value.
GigaBash is an arena brawler featuring four players as giant monsters (and heroes) battling it out in cities and exotic places around the world. If you’ve ever played 2003’s War Of The Monsters or any of the myriad Godzilla games during the PS2 era, you’ll be familiar with its gameplay mechanics.
Currently still in development, GigaBash is slated to be released for the PS4 and PC sometime in Q4 2020.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13QjUXCOLcU&w=560&h=315]
The winners of each category are as follows:

BEST TECHNOLOGY

GigaBash by Passion Republic Games

BEST VISUAL ART

When the Past Was Around by Mojiken Studio

BEST GAME DESIGN

GigaBash by Passion Republic Games

BEST AUDIO

VALZ by Klappanome

BEST STORYTELLING

DeLight by DreamTree Studio

BEST INNOVATION

Retrograde Arena by Freemergency

BEST STUDENT GAME

Ano: Journeys Through Tattoos by CtrlD

RISING STAR AWARD

Retrograde Arena by Freemergency

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD

GigaBash by Passion Republic Games

GRAND JURY AWARD

GigaBash by Passion Republic Games

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the SEA Game Awards 2019. No matter who won, it’s great to see that the Southeast Asian games industry is developing at a rapid pace and holding its own with incredible new IPs of its own.
It won’t be long now until Southeast Asian developers are as well known as western and Japanese developers. Fingers crossed.


PlayStation VR 2 Sold More Than Original PSVR IN First 6 Weeks

It’s quite a week at Sony Interactive Entertainment.
PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2), the company’s latest virtual reality headset that costs as much as a PlayStation 5, has sold nearly 600,000 units in its first 6 weeks of release. According to its recent announcement, the PS VR2 sold more units than the original PSVR by an eight per cent difference.
In addition, Sony has announced its upcoming PS VR2 lineup:

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord
Beat Saber
Crossfire: Sierra Squad
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Synapse
Foglands
Green Hell VR
Behemoth

The peripheral came out on 22 February and we enjoyed it; price-wise, it was considered affordable given that other high-tier VR devices are beyond the RM3,000 range.
Check out our review of the PS VR2 and its flagship game Horizon: Call Of The Mountain here.


Malaysia’s Largest Street Fighter 6 Launch Party Is A Knockout Hit!

Last Sunday, the ATO Gaming Cafe in TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was brimming with excitement as the Street Fighter 6 Launch Party took place. The venue was transformed into a vibrant Street Fighter haven, with dazzling LEDs illuminating the room and captivating Street Fighter 6 banners.

The event drew a diverse crowd, featuring seasoned Street Fighter players and enthusiastic newcomers. Notable local players and popular streamers added a touch of stardom to the gathering, making it a truly memorable occasion.
The launch party featured a range of activities to cater to every fan’s interests. One exciting attraction was the booth showcasing keyboards and other PC equipment, allowing attendees to enhance their gaming setups. Additionally, a talented fighting stick modder group called Raretech was present, offering attendees the chance to customize their Fighting Sticks to their liking. This helps add a personal touch to their gaming experience and pro gaming aspirations.

To add to the excitement, a series of giveaways took place throughout the event. Participants had a chance to win a pair of high-quality earphones simply by purchasing something from the nearby café and using their receipt as a giveaway ticket. This ingenious idea ensured that attendees not only enjoyed the gaming extravaganza but also had a chance to walk away with some cool prizes.
In addition, there was also an arcade stick museum display (courtesy of Infinite Carnage founder Leon Soo), showcasing the many fighting tools from the way back until now in pristine condition. Even our custom Raretech joysticks (from Animangaki 2022) got the display treatment; it’s a lovely display that’s perfect for a venue that’s meant to celebrate the launch of a new fighting game era.

The Tournament

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the launch party was the tournament held by Infinite Carnage. 32 skilled players went head-to-head, showcasing their expertise and fighting spirit in intense matches. As the competition progressed, the tension grew, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats. The grand final was a spectacle to behold, with the two remaining fighters, Looi2211, a Chun-Li main, and Takawa, a Ryu main.
Looi2211 had come back through the lower bracket after being knocked down in the upper bracket quarterfinals by the eventual 2nd runner-up GigatonLT5, losing 2-1. Looi221 got his revenge in the lower bracket final where he knocked GigatonLT5 out of the tournament with a convincing 3-1 scoreline. Looi2211 went on to beat Takawa in the first best-of-5, 3-2, resetting the bracket, meaning he would need to beat Takawa once more to win the tournament. In a nail-biting Grand Final, the crowd erupted with applause and cheers, as Looi2211 secured the victory yet again with a close 3-2 scoreline, making the moment truly unforgettable.

For tournament prizes, GigatonLT5 received a PS5 copy of Street Fighter 6 as the 2nd runner-up. Takawa received a brand new PS5 controller as the 1st runner-up. And for the grand prize, Looi2211 received a new PlayStation fighting stick.
The overall atmosphere of the event was electric, as fans and enthusiasts came together to share their passion for the Street Fighter franchise. Laughter, friendly banter, and enthusiastic conversations filled the room, creating a sense of camaraderie among the attendees. The launch party successfully brought together a community of like-minded individuals, united by their love for the game.

While there were no exclusive announcements or reveals during the event, attendees had the opportunity to experience Street Fighter 6 firsthand. During the tournament’s break before the quarterfinals, everyone present was invited to play friendly matches against each other at the dedicated tournament stations. This allowed everyone in attendance to immerse themselves in the new game and engage in thrilling battles with fellow fans.
As the event came to a close, three lucky winners walked away with coveted earphones in the giveaway draw. The excitement and anticipation surrounding the announcement of the winners added an extra layer of thrill to the occasion.

The Street Fighter 6 Launch Party at ATO Gaming Cafe was an incredible celebration of gaming, fierce competition, and community. It provided an ideal platform for Street Fighter enthusiasts to connect, share their skills, and revel in the joy of the new game. With an electrifying atmosphere and unforgettable moments, the launch party undoubtedly left a lasting impression on all who attended, cementing the Street Fighter legacy in the hearts of fans in Kuala Lumpur.


Level Up KL 2019 Confirmed For Later This Year

Level Up KL 2019 has been confirmed and will take place in November 2019. Here’s when the Level Up KL conference and expo will be returning:

Business Days: 6 to 8 November 2019 at CCEC Bangsar KL
Public Days: 9 to 10 November 2019 at KL Convention Center

The first three days of the Level Up KL 2019 conference will feature top industry players from around the world, covering both business and technical facets of various games development platform such as mobile, PC and console, where attendees can sharpen their industry knowledge, explore new business models and get updates on the latest game development trends.
Meanwhile, the last two days of the Level Up KL 2019 expo will be open to the public, where attendees can discover the hottest companies from Southeast Asia showcasing the latest game development tools and services, including cutting-edge games and VR/AR tools providers, and facilitate new business opportunities.
This year’s conference will see over 50 speakers, more than 100 indie showcases, and more than 1000 expected attendees from the games industry, while the expo will feature 2 esports tournaments, showcase more than 200 games, and more than 20,000 expected public attendees.

Coming your way this November ’19#levelupkl #levelupmy pic.twitter.com/PQzrbe1Ben
â€” LEVELUPMY (@levelupmy) June 28, 2019
Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for future updates on Level Up KL 2019.


Tesla Launches Steam Integration

Your Tesla car is now a gaming rig, according to Tesla CEO and new Twitter owner Elon Musk.
The CEO said in July that the company was making progress in integrating Steam into Tesla cars. Now you can access the Steam store in the new Model S and X cars.
“Access the Steam store directly from your Tesla. Buy and play immersive games that have been verified on Steam Deck. With Steam’s cloud synchronization, resume your game from your Tesla or any Steam device. To access Steam, tap the Application Launcher > Arcade.”
The integration is currently in beta, and requires 16GB RAM as well as premium connectivity. The latter means you have to pay US$10 per month or US$100 per year. Steam integration also works with keyboard and mouse in Tesla vehicles, while also being retrofitted for 2021 and base model cars.

Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2022

We do wonder if adding a digital game store and playing games while you’re driving is wise. Then again, this is probably meant for backseat drivers and passengers.


Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue Launch Trailer Features A Lot Of Burning

Need a high octane platformer where you play a firefighter in 2D form? Look no further than Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue.Â
Firegirl is published by Thunderful Publishing and Dejima, and features 2D platforming with axes and firehoses that double as jetpacks, as well as roguelite elements. You’ll be rescuing folks and putting out fires in burning buildings, forests, and even moving trains. The handcrafted pixel-art style and 3D landscapes mix pretty well as your firefighter gal is on the move.
Check out the hot launch trailer below. Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue will be out on PC on 14th December, and on consoles in 2022.


Here’s How You Can Get The Apex Legends Forge Steel Cut Charm

Apex Legends Season 4 is almost here, and players can grab the latest Apex Legends Jimmy ‘Forge’ McCormick Steel Cut weapon charm. This is in remembrance of the character who was supposed to join the battle royale game in the upcoming season, but in a twisted turn of events, was assassinated and replaced by the droid Revenant.

The special Forge Steel Cut charm is designed after the massive gold medallion the now-deceased character wore around his neck. This is what Apex Legends players need to do to obtain the item:

First, head towards the Sorting Factory, which is located in the south of the World’s Edge map.
Near the Sorting Factory, you will find the massive Metroline Station, which was where the tragic interview between Forge and Outlands Television host Lisa Stone took place.
Look for the set where the incident took place on one of the platforms at Metroline Station, which still features its cameras and lighting equipment.
At the set, you will find a special orange death box.
Open the box and you will find the Forge Steel Cut weapon charm inside it.

Forge’s death by Revenant’s hands was recently leaked beforehand by data miners, which incurred the wrath of developers from Respawn Entertainment (read the full story here). In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmmNYDmvS2k&w=560&h=315]


Horizon: Forbidden West Director Teases Third Game

Players who finished Horizon: Forbidden West know that the Horizon storyline is far from over. Developers Guerilla Games set the stage for another game, and the game’s director has confirmed it in a recent review.
According to a VG247 interview, director Mathijs de Jong said the game’s narrative threads will be brought up in a sequel.
“…this game ends with another big cliffhanger, where we’re setting up some things for the next game once again.”
We can assure you that Horizon’s story is far from over and it got a little more complicated than usual, without spoiling anything. Horizon: Forbidden West is probably a big reason for players to pickup a PS5, assuming they can find one. For more on the recent sequel, check out our review and guide.


Mortal Kombat Legends Movie Gets A Brutal & Bloody New R-Rated Trailer

Warner Bros initially announced Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge back in January 2020, which will be the first of two planned animated movies. The upcoming movie has received a brand new Red Band Trailer, showcasing even more of the blood and gore we should be expecting.
The new trailer depicts extremely gratitude gore, swearing and cursing, as well as fights galore. Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge will explore Hanzo Hasashi AKA Scorpion’s backstory and the murder of his family.

His quest for vengeance will occur concurrently with the events of the original Mortal Kombat game, as he finds himself smack dab in the middle of antagonist Shao Khan’s quest to conquer Earthrealm and meeting Raiden’s chosen warriors: Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage.

Here’s the list of voice actors:

Patrick Seitz – Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
Joel McHale – Johnny Cage
Jennifer Carpenter – Sonya Blade
Jordan Rodrigues – Liu Kang
Steve Blum – Bi-Han / Sub-Zero
Artt Butler – Shang Tsung
Darin De Paul – Quan Chi
Robin Atkin Downes – Kano
Dave B. Mitchell – Raiden
Ike Amadi – Jackson “Jax” Briggs
Kevin Michael Richardson – Goro
Grey Griffin – Kitana, Satoshi Hasashi
Fred Tatasciore – Demon Torturer

Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge is slated to release on digital platforms on 12 April 2020, as well as Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD release on 28 April 2020. In the meantime, check out the bloody new Red Band Trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr8yW2YaPAw&w=560&h=315]


Baymax Is As Adorable & Endearing As Ever In This New Series

The most memorable thing from 2014’s Big Hero 6 by Walt Disney Animation Studios was Baymax. Ask most people who watched that movie, especially kids, and it’ll probably be Baymax (though some might say Aunt Cass or Tadashi Hamada, if you know what I mean). That is why a Baymax-focused series is actually a good idea. Baymax is notable for being the first-ever TV series to be produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Full Of Heart

The new Disney+ Hotstar Baymax series follows the loveable titular robot and his ongoing adventures outside the Big Hero 6 superhero team, working as a nurse around San Fransokyo. As such, you shouldn’t expect any of the Big Hero 6 members to show up with the sole exception of Hiro Hamada, and for good reason, this series really is focused on Baymax’s solo adventures. Each episode features a standalone story with Baymax usually helping out a specific individual or animal with their medical problems.
You don’t need to have watched the Big Hero 6 The Series spinoff animated series to enjoy this new Baymax series. However, some viewers might find the Baymax series to be unsatisfying because each episode is short but sweet; only 7 to 9 minutes each, and there are only six episodes in the first season. Yeah, you can pretty much finish the first season of Baymax in one sitting and in less than an hour.

Still, the Baymax series is worth watching despite being so brief. For instance, the first episode is reminiscent of Pixar’s Up, while another episode is about Baymax helping a girl experiencing her first menstruation. It’s refreshing to see an all-ages animated series tackling a topic and subject matter that some people would call uncomfortable or taboo. There ‘s even LGBT representation, and one episode even focuses on Aunt Cass (yeah, this is for all you Aunt Cass fans out there). Overall, I find the episodes to be fun, hilarious, touching, heartwarming and tugging the heartstrings.
Also, look out for the little post credit scenes featuring Hiro Hamada interacting with Baymax in each episode. Besides that, like I previously mentioned, none of the other Big Hero 6 members show up. However, fans of the movie will be glad to know that the original voice actors for Baymax (Scott Adsit) Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter) and Aunt Cass (Maya Rudolph) all return to reprise their roles. The highlight of the series, of course, is Baymax’s cute matter-of-fact attitude is impossible not to love.
Short But Sweet

The Baymax series is good fun for the entire family, and the only con is that it’s too short. You’ll probably finish the entire first season in one sitting, but it’s definitely worth checking out for the humour, heart and huggable rotund robot we all know and love as Baymax. A second season couldn’t come any sooner.
FINAL SCORE: 80/100
We received an early screener of Baymax courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. The first episode of Baymax is slated to premiere on 29 June 2022 on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, with new episodes every subsequent Wednesday.


Capcom Announces Free VR Mode for Resident Evil 4 Remake

Capcom is adding virtual reality (VR) support to the PlayStation 5 version of the upcoming Resident Evil 4 remake. The VR mode will be available as a free DLC for players who own the game on PS5 and PlayStation VR2.
A tweet from the official Resident Evil Twitter account confirmed that the VR mode is currently in development, and asked fans to look forward to more details in the future. This will be the first time Resident Evil 4 can be experienced in VR, and it’s sure to add a whole new level of terror to the classic survival horror game.
Resident Evil 4 is set to be released on 24 March for PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, and PC via Steam. The game is a highly anticipated remake of the original Resident Evil 4, which first came out in 2005. The remake features improved graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics, and will give both new and returning players an opportunity to experience the game like never before.

???????? RE:4??VR????PlayStation5/PlayStationVR2?????DLC????????????? https://t.co/Qqci7d49Ao
— ???????(????)?? (@BIO_OFFICIAL) February 22, 2023


Fortnite Now Has Wu-Tang Clan Items

The 90s East Coast rap and hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan are going to “Cause Da Ruckus” in Epic Games’ Fortnite.
One of this generation’s most influential rap group will have its outfits and brand as Fortnite items starting 24 April 8am GMT+8. Players will get to unlock and buy a variety of Wu-Tang Wear items like Outfits, Back Blings, Pickaxes, and more.
Here’s what you’re getting:
Throwback BG Outfit

Matching the Throwback BG Outfit are the WUWEAR Worldwide Back Bling (included with the Outfit) and the Neck Protector Pickaxe. The Back Bling is reactive to music, and the Pickaxe is reactive to hits. Both come with the Ruckus Red alt Style.
B.R.I.T.E. Outfit

Matching the B.R.I.T.E. Outfit are the Wu-Tang Represent Back Bling (included with the Outfit) and the Triumphant Tagger Pickaxe. The Back Bling is reactive to music, and the Pickaxe creates a trail of paint when you swing it. Both come with the Ruckus Red alt Style.
Wu-Tang Glider, Wrap, and Emote
These include:

Shimmy Surfer Glider: It’s nothing to mess with. (Comes with the Ruckus Red alt Style).
Wu Wrap: No mistaking it.
Wu-Tang is Forever Emote: Put your hands up.

https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/br-blog-wutangisforever-mp4-fe22c3274973.mp4
Emoticon, Spray, & Banner

At this point in time, you don’t need us to tell you that you can get Fortnite for free for PC and consoles; it’s already available on Epic Games Store if you’re already buying games from that digital store.


The Problem With Destiny 2

About three weeks after its release, I think I can safely say I’ve had enough of Destiny 2. I’m done. Count me out. I’m done.
Following several rants on Twitter about the game, some assumed I hated the Destiny franchise and anything related to it. It’s actually quite contrary. I love Bungie. Halo: Combat Evolved was my jam growing up which played a huge role to me loving video games, as well as me dipping my toes into games journalism. Kieron Gillen’s review of the game on PC Gamer pretty much made me want to write more. Write more like him.
Anyway, back to Destiny. I finished the main story of the first game despite the dead boring and pointless storyline. I stayed around hoping that they’d somehow hit a homerun that would justify the purchase of the game. I was left disappointed. More DLCs just for recycled gameplay? No thanks. The game overall, despite its brilliance with gunplay was bland. It was largely unimaginative, boring, dull – all of which was made worse by the grindy nature of the game from day one.
The Problem With Destiny 2
It’s pretty much Destiny 1.5 to be frank. I don’t think it deserves to be called a proper sequel. Let’s recall the first game.
The progression system was a farce and severely punishes those who do not have at least three hours to spare just to grind out in the game daily. But for each ‘hater’ of the game, you have possibly two lovers of it which leads to the development of the sequel, despite Bungie initially claiming that there will NOT be a sequel to Destiny. People are such forgetful beings.
Anyways, on to Destiny 2. The great marketing especially the one featuring Cayde 6 and the chicken sold me. Despite resisting pre-ordering the game as well as taking part in the betas, I somehow ended up buying the game on day one. Two hours in, I was somewhat glad they actually bothered to pour in some story into the game. At least there was something to fight for. So I thought.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWkpbPTpmE?start=59&w=560&h=315]
The mcguffin worked for the first few hours or so though, cuz as once you reach towards the end game, the squad we were led to assemble for the past few hours are suddenly deemed useless. I thought we were gonna fight this bad guy together!!!!! Boss fights while they are the best parts in Destiny 2, get really tiring and repetitive really quick. Bullet sponges bosses are still aplenty but if you, like me somehow managed to have a power level a few tiers above the required level for any particular mission, they are not that special. No special AI nor mechanism to throw you off-guard except for those pesky teleporting bits the Servitors do and some timed bombardment which actually give you tons of time to get out of the way. Oh the ones with extra shields? Just toss your Super at it, and a couple rockets. That’ll do the job.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MGuklrmm_U&w=560&h=315]
Strip away the 6/10 (at best) storyline of Destiny 2, you will find the same game as the first. The AI is terrible. They will exhibit some Halo-like mannerisms by ducking for cover and Â try to flank you but players can just run through them. Unless you find yourself in a very, very shitty position, it is hard to die in the hands of these goons. They can’t aim and the swarms just run straight into your crosshairs. The bosses try their best to be within a flick of your aim while the map area allows great movement for players who are blessed with differing types of mobility; something that very few enemies have.
“But it’s all about playing with your friends!”
Dude. If I want to play a repetitive game with my friends and actually have fun while doing so, I’d play Overwatch, TF2, CS:Go or anything else. Even better, for the same experience, you’d be better off picking up WarFrame which is free.
Destiny 2 is the biggest culprit of 2017 in misleading people in their marketing campaign. The game isn’t even a proper sequel. At best, it’s an expansion pack. Density 1.5 if you ask me. So here’s the last line, Bungie. Don’t stick the ‘2’ in it for the sake of it. Be clear, be frank and people will be much more forgiving towards you guys.
So here’s hoping for an improvement in the following months. You guys have a great thing here, Bungie. Don’t screw this up.


These Avengers Endgame Hot Toys Thor & Hulk Are Worthy To Be In Your Collection

Now that the dust has settled and Avengers Endgame has finally been released on home media, it’s safe to say that one of the most epic moments in the movie was seeing Thor wielding both Mjolnir and Stormbreaker in the fight against Thanos. You can soon relive that moment with the Hot Toys Avengers: Endgame 1/6th scale Thor Collectible Figure.
It’s crafted and detailed after the fat Thor of Avengers Endgame, complete with his new belly and beard, as well as specially-applied blue luminous reflective effects to depict Thor using his Thunder God powers as seen in the movie. However, it’s unfortunate that these effects don’t apply to his eyes too, which would have been cool.
Check out pictures of the 1/6th scale Thor Collectible Figure below, courtesy of the official Facebook page.

Meanwhile, the Avengers: Endgame 1/6th scale Hulk Collectible Figure is based on the Professor Hulk/Smart Hulk version. It also comes with the LED light-up Nano Gauntlet with two interchangeable hands, including a hand with highly-articulated fingers and a gestured hand with snapping fingers to recreate the iconic moment from the movie.
Other Hulk accessories include an electronic device, a pair of glasses, and a specially-designed figure stand with character backdrop. Check out pictures of the 1/6th scale Hulk Collectible Figure below, courtesy of the official Facebook page.


First Globe Esports Center Opens In The Philippines

Globe Telecom has launched its very first esports center (ESC) in the Philippines. The Globe ESC is located at Play Nation in UP Town Center, Quezon City, where it will bring local communities of gamers together.
The goal of the Globe’s Games and Esports program is to strengthen the grassroots level of esports in the country in cooperation with various fan communities. The company’s esports #PlayItRight advocacy campaign also emphasizes the importance of discipline, nutrition, physical wellness and cognitive development in esports.
Globe SVP and Head for Content Business Group Nikko Acosta said:

â€œThe ESC is an experience hub in which Filipino gamers and gaming enthusiasts can participate in competition, creation of live streaming content, and interaction with other members of different esports communities.
We want to bring together different communities of popular games like Arena of Valor (AOV), Rules of Survival (ROS), League of Legends and Tekken among others in one venue to upgrade their knowledge and gauge their skill levels with others through peer learning of new strategies and techniques.â€

Local esports personalities were invited to the Globe ESC’s official launch recently, including renowned streamers Rikki â€œRikuâ€ Quiapon and Theo â€œArctikunoâ€ Rodriguez, both of whom also hosted said event.
Globe ESC at Play Nation in UP Town Center offers mini-tournaments, gameplay, and fan meet-ups, as well as meet and greets with Team Liyab, Globe’s official professional esports team in partnership with Mineski. It is open to the public from now to 24 March 2019.


Elemental’s Director Peter Sohn On How His Own Romantic Experiences Inspired The Movie

Directed by Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur, Partly Cloudy short) and produced by Denise Ream (The Good Dinosaur, Cars 2), the is set in Element City, where fire, water, land and air residents live together. The story introduces a fire elemental named Ember, who is a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow water elemental named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. It features the voices of Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade, respectively.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar, we were lucky enough to interview Elemental director Peter Sohn. This article has been edited for clarity.
How did you collaborate with the screenwriters?
Peter Sohn: Elemental started off with a lot of personal stories growing up in New York City, but we started bringing in a lot of other help in terms of story artists, artists and then our screenwriters. Each aspect brought different pieces of the film together, what was interesting was we had to make our own cultures because I didn’t want fire to represent one culture that we knew like in our human world.
We wanted it to represent its own thing so that we wouldn’t be appropriating anything. We had to make that up so that took a lot of different artists to build that world. In terms of the Ember and Wade relationship, that was everything with the screenwriters and me really building up a truthful love story and a truthful story about culture clash and living in a place where you needed to assimilate or find a way to be a part of it.
What have you learnt from directing The Good Dinosaur that you’ve applied in Elemental?
Peter Sohn: It’s a great question. You know, what was interesting was that The Good Dinosaur wasn’t originally my idea, it was the original directors, who I love, trying to honour his original concept to the movie.
For Elemental, this was all from scratch from something that I had come up with, the drawings and everything. Trying to remain impartial to a personal story was a bit of a challenge.
A big lesson for me in The Good Dinosaur was that it wasn’t a personal thing for me, that story, but that allowed me to make a lot of quick decisions that were necessary. Here (for Elemental), I feel like, because it’s personal, I could get stubborn, like no, it has to be this way but for The Good Dinosaur, I keep pulling back and allow the movie to be its own thing, like a child. It wants to be something else, you know.
You’ve had several voice roles over the years, including as Sox the cat in Lightyear and Forrest Woodbush in The Good Dinosaur. Which do you like more, directing or voice acting?
Peter Sohn: I love filmmaking in all forms. I will say this, being a director offers you a vantage point to see a lot of amazing talent. You get to work from department to department and see artists give amazing work. I think my favourite part of the job is to just see amazing and passionate talent every day from hundreds of artists, and the passion that they give. And trying to honour that world, is my job in terms of making the film, but I think the best thing about it is the directing part of it.
We saw a preview of a scene from Elemental where Wade conjured a romantic rainbow for Ember. How did you come up with this idea?
Peter Sohn: In the beginning, I was doing a lot of drawings, one of the first things that I have storyboarded early on, almost five years ago that moment was boarded. But it was a list of what can fire and water do together. What can fire do by itself and what can water do by itself? It was a lot of fun research, like YouTube and Internet.
But then, take some of those ideas and drawing them out, it’s like, oh, they’re so opposite, but maybe this can be the first steps of where they begin to share their element. That’s how it started but it all started with just goofing around with drawings, trying to find moments that were shareable like that.
What can audiences expect from the relationship between Ember and Wade?
Peter Sohn: It’s an interesting question because it’s Ember’s story. What I mean by that is that it is about Ember and Wade, but it’s about how Wade is a mirror. What I loved about Wade as a water character is that he’s reflective. He’s emotional and he’s transparent, but in certain moments of light, he can be very reflective and that would help Ember understand who she is.
But without someone teaching her, I didn’t want a character who’s like, oh, you have to be this way. He’s just a safe place that water can be and in that reflection, Ember can begin to see another part of herself, that she didn’t see before.
It’s also vulnerable love, it’s a very raw and sort of fragile love that we’ve been trying to build and what that means. Meaning, Ember starts off very fiery and walled off, but how can water break through that and how can fire open up to that.
Elemental was inspired by your personal experiences growing up in New York, but do you have an actual anecdote that was used in the movie?
Peter Sohn: Yes, I married someone who wasn’t Korean. I married someone that was from California. My parents and my grandmother were like, you have to marry Korean. But I fell in love with another artist, we shared art together. But she wasn’t Korean and it created a lot of drama in our family. I remember taking my wife’s family to a Korean restaurant and they were not used to spicy food.
There’s a moment in the film where Wade has to try really fiery hot food and it was definitely taken directly from my experiences with mixing of cultures.
I assume that it’s usually really challenging to animate normal fire and water, but Elemental has living fire and water as characters. What was the most challenging aspect of bringing all that to life?
Peter Sohn: Trying to find a look that was appealing yet served those two purposes of feeling like it could burn, and be a source of light, and feel like fire. We tried making realistic fire and it was scary, like Balrog from The Lord Of The Rings. It was such a scary thing.
Then, we tried a much more two-dimensional look but it didn’t look hot. It didn’t feel like it was going to burn anything. And so, an artist named Daniel Lopez Munoz did a painting off of his iPhone, so he took his iPhone and recorded fire and he painted it over the fire and then he animated it and that was our first balance of like, oh, it can feel like heat but still have the features of a character that can be appealing.
That was the biggest challenge and the same with water. Those two characters still remain a challenge, we’ve got several more months to finish the film and water has become the hardest thing in the film.
What element do you think you are?
Peter Sohn: I am definitely a water character because I’m an emotional person. I am a sap, for sure. You know, like those Olympic commercials where they show like the mom taking the kid to the swimming class and then they’re older and they’re winning the Olympics, I cried my eyes out of those type of commercials. I’m just very emotional so I would consider myself a water person.


Cyberpunk 2077 Is Delayed Yet Again

For those hoping to play CD Projekt’s sci-fi RPG masterpiece this September, you’re in for a disappointment.
Cyberpunk 2077 is delayed according to the developers themselves on a recent tweet. At least the wait isn’t too long: the game will be out on 19th November instead. That’s a two-month wait from its original 17th September release date.
The reason? CD Projekt felt that the game still needs more improvements in balancing game mechanics, as well as more time in the bug-fixing department.

“Ready when it’s done” is not just a phrase we say because it sounds right, it’s something we live by even when we know we’ll take the heat for it. At the same time, we are fully aware that making such a decision costs us your trust and trading trust for additional time is one of the hardest decisions a game developer can make.
[…] A huge world means a huge number of things to iron out and we will spend the additional time doing exactly that.”

Welp, it’s only 2 months; no sense crying over a slight wait. QA and bug-fixing is really, really important, and the last thing you want is to have your customers do that for you on the actual launched title.


Liked Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch But Want More? Try These Interactive Games!

Netflix took the world by storm with Black Mirror’s “Bandersnatch” episode, introducing non-gamers and normal viewers alike to the interactive choose-your-own-adventure genre. While it may be groundbreaking in the realm of movies and television, games and books have long featured the interactive adventure format.
It’s too early to definitively state whether Netflix’s grand experiment with Black Mirror Bandersnatch can be described as a success or failure. However, it might spark the beginning of a bold new era for traditional entertainment mediums by encouraging creators and artists to be more experimental and innovative.
In the meantime, those who liked Black Mirror Bandersnatch and hungry for more of the same interactive branching story paths should check out the games listed below. While seasoned gamers would very likely already have known most of these titles, they’re still great games for those looking to explore the genre further.
Until Dawn (PS4)

Developed by Supermassive Games, this PS4 exclusive is an underrated gem. Though it’s ultimately more of a homage to the slasher and horror B-movies of yesteryear, it still feels very much close in tone with Black Mirror Bandersnatch (albeit without the ‘technology is bad’ angle).
Until Dawn features a group of teenagers consisting mostly of stereotypes we’ve seen from a million horror movies. That’s what makes the game fun, as the player’s choices ultimately decide who lives and who dies. Add a technological angle in there, and it’d probably make for a decent Black Mirror episode.
Have I mentioned that Until Dawn also features motion-capture performances of famous Hollywood stars like Mr. Robot’s Rami Malek, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Brett Dalton, and Hayden Panettiere? Yeah, that too.
Not for the faint of heart.
The Zero Escape Series (PC, PS4, 3DS)

Developed by Spike Chunsoft and Chime, the Zero Escape franchise are interactive adventure games featuring sci-fi and horror themes. There are three games to date; 2009’s Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, 2012’s Virtue’s Last Reward, and 2016’s Zero Time Dilemma.
Each game focuses on a group of nine individuals who are kidnapped by a masked person known as Zero. They are then forced to participate in a series of death games called the Nonary Game or the Decision Game. Imagine the Saw franchise reimagined in a more anime-influenced style, and Zero EscapeÂ games are the result.
The main theme explored by the Zero Escape games is the sense of morality, and what lines people would cross in order to survive or escape death. In fact, the Zero Escape games could probably be adapted into Black Mirror episodes with no alterations or changes required. They’d fit into the Black Mirror mould perfectly.
Getting some Saw vibes here.
Telltale’s The Walking Dead (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Android, iOS)

Developed by the now-defunct Telltale Games, The Walking Dead franchise consists of episodic interactive games, which are iconic for having revitalized the genre for games. It takes place in the same zombie-infested world of Robert Kirkman’s comics, albeit with original characters created exclusively for the games.
Players make crucial narrative decisions and actions which determine the fate of many characters in the game, with deaths as hard-hitting and shocking as those in Game of Thrones. Telltale’s The Walking Dead is also a tearjerker, and you’ll find yourself emotionally invested and caring for some of them, especially protagonist Clementine and Lee.
There are currently 3 complete seasons and an ongoing final season, as well as two spin-off seasons (one of which stars existing The Walking Dead comic book and TV character Michonne). I highly recommend The Walking Dead to newcomers of the genre, since it was also my first foray into the genre when it was initially released in 2012.
Most of these people won’t even survive past the first season.
Life Is Strange (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Android, iOS)

Developed by Dontnod Entertainment, this episodic interactive game may not be as much of a horror series as the previous two recommendations, but it boasts a unique time-rewind mechanic that gives a spin to the entire experience.
Starring an art student named Max Caulfield, players must investigate an incoming storm which threatens the local town, as well as the mysterious disappearance of another schoolgirl named Rachel Amber. It’s a blend of sci-fi (time travel and the butterfly effect) with trace elements of a horror thriller.
The time-rewind mechanic makes for compelling gameplay. While the story falters near the end (in my opinion), the heartwarming coming-of-age teenage plot is one that is worth playing through at least once. If you want more, there’s also the prequel Life Is Strange: Before The Storm and the currently-ongoing sequel, Life Is Strange 2.
Detroit: Become Human (PS4)

Developed by Quantic Dream, the plot of this interactive adventure game revolves around the perspectives of three different androids named Kara, Connor, and Marcus in a futuristic depiction of the city of Detroit. Featuring almost every android and artificial intelligence trope in the history of sci-fi, it wouldn’t be out of place for the setting of a Black Mirror episode.
It’s definitely one of the best-looking games I’ve ever laid eyes on, with some incredible performance-capture work and uncannily realistic facial animations. Despite some narrative gripes and plot holes, this ambitious game showcases the untapped potential of games as an entertainment medium.
The Wolf Among Us,Â Batman: The Telltale Series (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Android, iOS)
The Wolf Among Us
Both The Wolf Among Us and Batman: Telltale Series might not be what I would describe as something similar to Black Mirror Bandersnatch, but they’re two of the best interactive games nonetheless. Both games are based on comics: Vertigo Comics’ Fables for the former and DC Comics’ for the latter.
However, the good thing is that both games don’t require players to be familiar with the source material. The Wolf Among Us acts as a prequel to the comics while Batman: The Telltale Series features an exclusively refreshing and original take on the Dark Knight mythos.
Both of them also have a great plot and interesting cast of characters. If you’re looking for interactive games with different themes, look no further than these two games, which are highly-recommended in their own right. That’s not all as Batman: The Telltale Series is followed by a 2017/2018 sequel Batman: The Enemy Within, which explores the Joker like no movie or even comic has done before.
Batman: The Enemy Within


Who Needs Death Stranding On PC When You Have Walking Simulator?

After all the jokes about Death Stranding being a walking simulator, someone has actually gone ahead and made a Death Stranding-inspired game called… Walking Simulator.
The free-to-play game, which released on Steam a couple days ago, clearly evokes Hideo Kojima’s latest title with its insane stacking of parcels. There’s also snow and walking, but at some point, you also get access to a truck and a pair of rotors that can be attached to your backpack. Truly, a game to surpass Kojima.
As with all games of this nature, there are some silly bugs, as you can see in the trailer below.

The game’s description reads:

“The year is 2020, world war III and the coronavirus destroyed the civilized world. You are the last post carrier, tasked to get parcels from point A to B in the most barren and desolate places on earth.”

The current release is supposedly the “Beta of ACT 1 – Antarctica”, so I guess this isn’t the end of Walking Simulator.


Borderlands 3 Is Free This Whole Weekend

Borderlands 3 is free to play this whole weekend from 15th to 19th October.
The first-person shooter RPG hybrid with all the loot and tons of expansions is available as a free title for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Stadia. Here are the timings:

PC version (Steam): Starts on 15th October right now, ends on 19th October 1am
PlayStation (PS Plus Required): Starts on 15th October, ends on 18th October 12am
Xbox: Starts on 15th October, ends on 18th October 2pm
Stadia: Starts on 15th October, ends on 19th October 12am

To play the game, just search for the standard version of Borderlands 3 on your respective platform(s) of choice, then download and install it. While you’re at it, here are our favourite guns of part 3 that you should farm for during this free-to-play week.


This Is Your South East Asia Major 2018 Stream Schedule

Top image credit: Syed Adnan
Update: If you want the results & highlights, head here.
This coming weekend will be full of 1v1 high-level action. That’s right: the South East Asia Major 2018 fighting game tournament is back again, attracting fans and pro players in Southeast Asia to fly down to Singapore for GameStart Asia’s main event.
The official schedule is out and it’s looking jam-packed as usual since the event only runs two days. And as per usual this year, there is still no love for Marvel vs Capcom on the stream at all.
Do check out the info below. Good luck; you’ll be facing the best the world has to offer!
Notable Players Participating

Razer Xian
Cygames Daigo Umehara
Cygames Fuudo
Mous ProblemX (this year’s EVO 2018 SFV champion)
Gachikun
Echo Fox Justin Wong
Sonic Fox
Panda Global Infiltration
UYU NL
UYU Oil King
Team Liquid Nemo
StormKubo
Dogura
Mago
IAmChuan
Kazunoko
JeonDDing
NYChrisG
Moke

Day 1
Street Fighter V Top 16: 7pm to 11pm GMT+8 (twitch.tv/capcomfighters)
Tekken World Tour Top 16: 4pm to 6.30pm GMT+8 (twitch.tv/tekken)
Dragon Ball Fighter Z World Tour SG Stop: 4pm to 6.30pm GMT+8 (twitch.tv/dragonballfighterz)
SoulCalibur VI SEA Tournament Top 16 (twitch.tv/teamspooky)
Day 2
Street Fighter V Top 8: 6pm to 9.30pmÂ (twitch.tv/capcomfighters)
Tekken World Tour SG Stop Top 8: 9am to 11.30amÂ (twitch.tv/tekken)
Dragon Ball Fighter Z World Tour SG Stop Top 8: 12pm to 3pmÂ (twitch.tv/dragonballfighterz)
SoulCalibur VI SG Tournament Top 8: 3.30pm to 5.30pmÂ (twitch.tv/teamspooky)
BlazBlue Central Fiction 2/Guilty Gear Xrd REV2/BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle Top 8: 10am-6.30pm (twitch.tv/animeilluminati)

Pools Schedule
https://www.facebook.com/SEAsiaMajor/photos/a.1522075657863361/2136097093127878/?type=3
Brackets for SFV
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MS9Rz9uFdLTjQz0G1GbJXLrWV44YjJGma6wESHvCB94/edit#gid=0


Xbox Series’ Quick Resume Will Finally Show You Which Games Are Suspended

May’s Xbox Series update will introduce a much-requested addition to the Quick Resume feature, which allows you to continue from where you left off (one game or more) even after shutting off or suspending power to the console.
That addition is the ability to see what games you currently have suspended on your Xbox Series X or S. Being able to quickly jump in and out of different games is a noteworthy feature for the Xbox console, so having this new addition helps a lot. Previously, it wasn’t clear how many games you could juggle at once and the issue of unintentionally wiping out unsaved progress without knowing which games were taken out of the Quick Resume queue was prevalent.
Thankfully the May update will solve all that. You can organize games in your library with a tag that indicates Quick Resume support, as well as create a group that lists all games that are saved using Quick Resume (and pin it on your console’s dashboard). In addition, Quick Resume will act faster, so anything that shaves off the already-impressive seven seconds to switch between mid-game sessions is a plus in my book.
For more on Xbox Series, do check out our features.Â


What You Need To Know About The Outer Worlds, Obsidian’s Latest RPG

Obsidian Entertainment: a company known for breaking new ground with its slew of RPGs from Fallout 2 all the way to the fart-breaking South Park: The Stick of Truth. It’s also a company known for breaking its own games thanks to their potentially game-breaking bugs in their open-world offerings, usually patched out as time goes by.
With just a few weeks before its sci-fi epic The Outer Worlds come out, here’s a quick feature on what you can expect.
You’ll Be Main Questing Between Two Different Planets

Here’s the main plot: your character was on a ship transporting humans to the newly-formed Halcyon colony, a duo of planets on the edge of the galaxy. The ship got lost on the way, which means youâ€™ve been in cryosleep for 70 years. That should be too long for you to survive but somehow, a scientist has managed to awaken you, and he wants your help saving your fellow frozen travellers.
You can choose to help him or immediately turn him into the corporate authorities -the whole colony and everything in it is run and owned by various corporations- for a cash reward. You can even play both sides against each other. Or, you can just venture off and explore the world from the get-go. The main story is branching and will have multiple endingsâ€”the one you see will depend on the choices you make.
Most of the time, youâ€™ll be on the two main planets. One has been better terraformed and is more populated. The other is wilder, and home to more aggressive alien life. The best point of comparison here is with No Man’s Sky, except more structured and with Obsidian’s brand of sardonic humour. Like it’s emulating Futurama but with an R-rating tacked on.
Your Choices Will Matter In The Grand Scheme Of Things
You’ll definitely have one big choice on whether to side with Phineas Wells, the scientist who rescues you from 70 years of cryo-sleep, or The Board. That main choice will dictate which ending of The Outer Worlds you see, similar to Fallout: New Vegas’s big decision at the battle for Hoover Dam.
Other quest choices, co-director Leonard Boyarsky saidÂ will be reflected in a series of slides showing how your choices and approach to various quests impacted the future of the colony.
It sounds like your choicesÂ willÂ matter, but more on a minute-to-minute and quest-by-quest basis rather than as part of a grand web of permuted endings. Obsidian is known for its complex quests with various solutions and entry-points, which each have ways for the game to acknowledge your ingenuity (or lack of it), as Obsidian comically highlights in its announcement trailer from 2018.
It’s Not Quite Fallout New Vegas With A Space Skin Mod
The most common misconception here is that this game feels like an overblown mod of its 2010 title Fallout: New Vegas. Far from it; the shooting feels a little more refined and the V.A.T.S. system is replaced with a slow-down-time mechanic that lets you line up your attacks in a real-time manner.
Just watch this 20-minute gameplay footage from TGS 2019 so that you can get the hang of how this potentially 30-to40-hour game plays out.

Boyarsky said that the focus in The Outer Worlds is on reactivity and replayability.

“[B]ecause of our size and budget, those necessitate a smaller, more tightly-controlled game than a giant sandbox open world where you can run everywhere.”

So yeah; the game’s world is not as sprawling and as expansive as New Vegas, but a tad more focused and packed. Think Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II’s style of stage layout.
The Fighting Is Not Quite Like That Fallout Game Either…
Combat is first-person, and weapons will include pistols, laser rifles and sci-fi scythes as well as other melee weapons. You will be able to modify your weapons, upgrading them and picking different ammo types, such as bullets that deal elemental damage. You will also come across special “science weapons” with cool effects such as a shrink ray. Because when you think 50s sci-fi art deco trappings, you think shrink ray.
The Outer Worlds will also have a V.A.T.S.-style “tactical time dilation” mechanic that lets you slow time, and when you use it youâ€™ll be able to see more information about an enemy, such as their remaining health.
Itâ€™ll let you target individual body partsâ€”although unlike V.A.T.S., youâ€™ll always be aiming manually. Targeting individual body parts will trigger different effects on enemies. A headshot might trigger blindness and leg shots might slow them down.
Lastly, youâ€™ll have companions to help you out in combat. Theyâ€™ll each have different abilities, and you can issue them with basic instructions during firefights ala Mass Effect series.
In other words, a lot more real-time and more twitch-savvy than Fallout: New Vegas. That being said…
It Has Its Own “Yes Man”
Fallout New Vegas fans may remember a robot named Yes Man voiced by “Newsradio” Dave Foley. Well, that Obsidian archetype that won’t judge your poor choices will be making a comeback in the form of a ship AI called ADA. And your ship is called the Unreliable. Heh.
ADA is essentially a giant box with a little face on it and will react to the paths you choose you take when on Halcyon. Since she’s not a person, she would probably find your potentially evil acts of destruction amusing. Or your acts of kindness praiseworthy. Either way, she won’t backstab you unlike your other companions if you choose to take an extreme route in a moral path.
Your Companions Can Ditch You
You pick up companions on your travels, and theyâ€™ll all live on a spaceship that serves as your home base between missions. You can pick two to accompany you when you leave the ship. If you aren’t into the whole companion thing, there will be perks to help you play solo.
They will all have different motivations, which youâ€™ll be able to dig into during Mass Effect-style companion missions. If you do something they donâ€™t like, theyÂ might abandon your causeÂ entirely.
Each has a special ability and different expertise. As well as providing support during combat, theyâ€™ll interject in dialogue, and you can call on their skills when youâ€™re backed into a corner. You might ask a companion that has a quick tongue to handle a tricky negotiation, for example.
If you want to make the best use of your companions then instead of specialising your main character in stealth, combat or speech you can choose to be a “leader,” which is essentially a jack-of-all-trades. Playing as a leader, you’ll choose perks that enhance the abilities of your companions.
You’ll Have A Lot Of “Career Choices” Ahead Of You

Whether you favour brute force, the gift of the gab for speech checks, or stealth, you’ll have a lot of options on how to solve quests on Halcyon. Main quests have multiple steps and approaches; it’s up to you to pick which one suits your skillsets.
You have six main skillsâ€”strength, intelligence, so forthâ€”that you can dump points into, and each one goes up to 100. Those skills will directly affect what happens in the game. For example, melee weapons will have a damage range, and the higher your melee skill, the more damage youâ€™ll deal. Youâ€™ll be able to distribute your points to create different character archetypes, such as one that is good at sneaking, or a firearms expert.

Your skills will also impact what dialogue options youâ€™ll get to choose and, just like the creatorâ€™s previous games, you can choose a “dumb” dialogue option if you have the right stats, which should provide some comic relief.

For every 20 points you put into a skill, you get to pick a perk. Obsidian hasnâ€™t yet detailed what any of the perks will do, but it should be a chance to further customise your character to fit your playstyle.
One of the more unique things about The Outer Worlds is that you can pick up optional negative traits, called “flaws,” as you move about the world. These relate to specific events: if youâ€™re burned in a fire, for example, you might be given the option of becoming afraid of flames. Youâ€™ll be limited in how many flaws you can pick up, but every time you choose one, you also get to pick a perk to balance it out.
You can customise your characterâ€™s appearance, too, though the game is played first-person. Don’t worry: you’ll see yourself in the menu and if you let the game idle.
If You Favour Stealth, You Have Disguises
You can use a holographic shroud that makes you look like a factory worker, for instance. However, the hologram’s power drains as you move and you have to get through speech checks if it fizzles out. Tense, but probably rewarding in its own right.
All NPCs Can Be Killed

Unlike some RPGs, there aren’t any ‘essential’ NPCs in The Outer Worlds. If you see someone,Â you can kill them, even if they’re a quest-giver. There still be ways to acquire their quest, even if the quest-giver is deadâ€”maybe you can loot their body, or search their residence, or pick the lock of their safe.
Obsidian Is Not Sure If There Is A Pacifist Run In Outer Worlds
Co-devs Leonard Boyarsky and Tim Cain stated that they’re not sure if players are able to do a pure pacifist run in the game. Basically, that means finishing the game while not killing anyone or anything. Maybe they’re being coy?
The Game May Feature Mods
Obsidian is open to the idea of mods in The Outer Worlds, but that’s really up to its partner Epic Games. The team will have “further discussions” with the company in the future; there will not be a modkit at launch.
The PC Version Is An Epic Games Store Exclusive
The Steam version will be available a year after. Which means no Steam or PC achievements until then. Boo…
The Outer Worlds will be out 25th October for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.


[Rumour] Grand Theft Auto 6 Will Be Out In 2025; Includes Fortnite-Style Evolving Map

The next Grand Theft Auto game is on the far horizon it seems.
According to a Tom Henderson YouTube video (via GameSpot), Grand Theft Auto 6 might be set in a modern-day version of Vice City, which is conflicting with past reports that GTA 6 will be set in the 1980s. Henderson claimed that developer Rockstart gives its developers a ton of freedom when it comes to creating content for GTA Online, its current moneymaker for all parties on the Grand Theft Auto train.
Another chief reason for its 2025 release window is because Rockstar places greater emphasis on employee wellbeing thanks to reports of the company’s crunch work conditions when making Red Dead Redemption 2.
Furthermore, GTA 6 might feature a map that changes over time ala Fortnite’s end-of-season events that alter the playing field. The game may also feature multiple playable characters like GTA 5. The sequel will be coming out for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, though the company is waiting for more systems to be sold to maximize sales.

This is backed up by publisher Take-Two’s statement during a recent shareholder meeting which stated that GTA 6 isn’t going to come out in 2021. The fact that GTA 5 and GTA Online is making the company money means that Rockstar has the luxury to take its time with the sequel. Which is expected; GTA Online is still really popular up until now.


Resident Evil Movie Reboot Gets Official Title

The official title for the upcoming Resident Evil movie reboot has been revealed, and it’s Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City. This was revealed by director Johannes Roberts in an interview with IGN at SXSW 2021.
According to Roberts, Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City will be completely unrelated to the previous Resident Evil movie franchise helmed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
He said:
â€œObviously, there is the Resident Evil [film] franchise and this movie doesnâ€™t have anything to do with that.
Itâ€™s a whole separate origin story based in the roots of the and the world of horror.
Weâ€™re not [making a remake].
Weâ€™re going in a completely different [direction]…
It was a real pleasure to be given the reins of a new franchise, hopefully, that really is its own thing.â€
Set in the year 1998, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City will focus on the events of the aforementioned city under siege from infected zombies. Fans of the games will be happy to learn that both the mansion from the original Resident Evil and the police station from Resident Evil 2 will be featured in the movie.
The previously-announced cast includes:

Kaya Scodelario (Maze Runner) as Claire Redfield.
Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man And The Wasp) as Jill Valentine.
Robbie Amell (Upload) as Chris Redfield.
Tom Hopper (The Umbrella Academy) as Albert Wesker.
Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) as Leon S. Kennedy.
Neal McDonough (Yellowstone) as William Birkin.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is slated to premiere on 4 September 2021. However, no official trailer or poster has been released as of yet. If youâ€™re confused, this movie is separate and unconnected to the upcomingÂ Resident Evil Netflix animated movie.


Fall Guys Is Getting Hellish New Costumes

It looks like it’s going to get hotter in Fall Guys.
Doom Eternal skins are making their way to Fall Guys Ultimate Knockout as revealed in a new teaser trailer.
The costumes will be available from 12 January 2021. They will come in three different character variations, including Doomguy, Cacodemon, and Tyrant.Â
Previously-released skins include Sonic, Godzilla and more. What more collaborations will the folks at Mediatonic cook up next?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=aXWj_apjeHE


Ammobox Studios To Host Friendly Open Tournament at Digital N8tion

Ammobox Studios, the Malaysian developers responsible for Eximius: Seize The Frontline, will be hosting a friendly open tournament in conjunction with Digital N8tion on 31 March, Sunday.
The tournament features a cash prize pool of RM1000, with the winner bagging RM750 while the runner up gets RM250 for their efforts.
If you are interested in seeing our homegrown developer’s game in action, you can register here. Their Discord channel is also available if you prefer that way.
Details will be shared further on 27 March, Wednesday on the Dev Podcast.

We will be hosting a friendly open tournament in conjunction with #DigitalN8tion on Sunday, March 31st.
There will be a total cash prize pool of RM1000 up for grabs, with thanks from @MatchRoom.net
Tune in to our Dev Podcast this Wednesday @ 11am for more details.#indiegames pic.twitter.com/j6NISR0hky
â€” AmmoboxStudios (@ammoboxstudios) March 25, 2019

Digital N8tion is a 3-day event spanning from 29 March to 31 March, in which it highlights how the digital ecosystem is important in our daily lives. The event also attempts to expose how gaming can be a viable educational path and career prospects, such as game development and animation.
The event features many fun activities such as the Axis Esports League Season 1 Play-offs, which is a regional PlayStation league. The two games in question are:

ACL Call of Duty League Season 1 Finals
APL Pro Evolution Soccer Season 1 Finals

Digital N8tion also offers a digital expo highlighting major brands of the market such as AMD and their Ryzen lineup, Aorus by Gigabyte, AOC, Creative Labs, CoolerMaster and more.
The Rektnation League will also be present during the three-day stint. The tournaments available are:

The Cooler Master Reknation Rainbow 6 (R6) MY/SG Invitational.
Axis Esports Reknation Fighting Games Championship where contestants play 10 fighting games in an octagonal ring ala MMAs.

The Ar3na of Gamers will feature the Predator E3 Zone with appearances from Malaysian game developers. The aforementioned Ammobox Studios will also be in this slot. Our local higher institution, KDU, will make an appearance under the KDU Games Development & Creative Arts.


American Born Chinese Starring Michelle Yeoh Premieres This May On Disney+ Hotstar

Today, Disney+ Hotstar revealed the 24 May 2023 premiere date for the Disney+ Hotstar Original series “American Born Chinese,” a genre-hopping action-comedy from Disney Branded Television series produced by 20th Television.
Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, “American Born Chinese” tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods.?
The coming-of-age adventure features an all-star international cast, including Academy® Award and Golden Globe winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Ben Wang (“Chang Can Dunk”), two-time International Emmy Award nominee Yeo Yann Yann (“Wet Season”), Chin Han (“Mortal Kombat”), Daniel Wu (“Reminiscence”), former Taekwondo champion Jimmy Liu and Sydney Taylor (“Just Add Magic”). Academy® Award nominee Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) guest stars.
Emmy® Award-winning writer/producer Kelvin Yu (“Bob’s Burgers,” “Central Park”) serves as executive producer and showrunner. Destin Daniel Cretton (Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Short Term 12”) is set to direct and serves as executive producer, alongside Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan (both of “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and “Jumanji: The Next Level”), Erin O’Malley (“Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.”), Asher Goldstein (“Short Term 12,” “Just Mercy”) and Gene Luen Yang.??


How Black Ops 4’s Blackout Converted Me Into A Battle Royale Fan

I’ll say this right off the bat: prior to trying out Black Ops IIII’s very own battle royale mode “Blackout”, I wasn’tÃ‚Â  a fan of the genre or anything resembling it. Be it PUBG, Fortnite, god forbid even Rules of Survival.
While I do occasionally play these titles to check what’s new, I rarely stay around beyond that, instead hopping back to my go-to multiplayer shooter titles such as Overwatch, CoDWWII, World of Tanks and Warships as well as the hugely underappreciated Titanfall 2.
“But why not, Kenn?” you may ask?
In spite of their popularity, (dwindling if you want to specifically talk about PUBG) battle royale games currently available in the market aren’t finished products. There are too many flaws and imbalances plaguing them which, while make for good viewing on Twitch, does not serve anything towards the makings a good game.Ã‚Â These notions alone disqualifies current titles of this genre from being viable esports titles.

My main issue with PUBG is the broken gunplay. I’ll be frank: it’s horrendous. Too many variables and inconsistencies consigns this game dead in the water the second another developer come up with some solid shooting. I would be quaking in my boots if I was Bluehole right about now.
What about Fortnite? While it has taken the gaming world by storm, I just cannot get myself to enjoy playing something that look like a Borderlands ripoff. The fort building mechanics – while have paved a unique path for Epic Games’ take – are neither intuitive nor enjoyable as well which then leads to the highly questionable gunplay. Calling them broken would be an understatement.
So what’s with Blackout that changed me from a non-believer to a convinced converter? My answer is twofold.
[wpvideo Ojpog9zZ]
#1. Gunplay
First, it showcases the most solid gun play ever seen on any battle royale game in the market and this thing is still in beta! When we first heard Treyarch was going down the battle royale route with Black Ops 4, our second reaction (the first being ‘NOT ANOTHER BATTLE ROYALE!’) was that they better have some solid gun play if they were to topple Fortnite and PUBG.
And on that front, Treyarch delivered.
The decent variety of weapons adds a larger dimension to the gameplay as every one of them felt unique. The shots felt punchier and you can instantly notice the visual and audio differences when switching between guns sporting different bullet calibers.
Their effects are instantly noticeable and only after you see your health hit the low 20’s following a sniper rifle hit would you start to appreciate the little nuances and detail that can only come from developers who has got years and a shit ton of shooter games under their bandolier.
In other battle royale games, with Fortnite being the biggest culprit, the shotgun have taken over the meta with players resorting to close quarters combat no thanks to these overpowered weapons. More often than not are Fortnite matches being decided by a several bunny-hopping players peppering shotgun pellets – try selling that game to non-believers.

In Blackout, medium to long-ranged weapons receive equal love and attention as players who prefer these sort of weapons, or whose mechanical skill fit them are allowed to shine. This forces the battle royale veterans who prefer lurking around the perimeter, vouching for a close-quarters skirmish at the end of the round to be more direct in their approach paving way for a fun and engaging firefights.

Other various gadgets tied to Black Ops arsenal including the portable shield, razor wire, mesh trap and the remote control car add additional depth to one’s Blackout experience which separates it from other battle royale games currently plaguing the market. There isn’t any building mechanics but the gadgets somehow train players to think like their opponents, especially in setting up traps and playing mind games.
#2. The Battlefield In Question
Secondly, the map itself. We’ve played tons of matches on it and haven’t run out of things to do nor explore the whole map completely. Each new gameplay was a new experience and by inserting classic Black Ops maps along with the zombies element, Blackout offers a novel experience which distances itself from its rivals.
In the beta, players are given four different types of vehicles to get around – a quad bike, a truck, a helicopter and an inflatable speedboat allowing almost unlimited types of approach to the game.

Combine this with the revived emphasis on long-ranged weapons and you have the perfect recipe for unprecedented danger coming from every angle. Locales such as Fracking Tower, Factory and the Train Station are players’ favorites while the more careful ones opt for far-flung areas such as the lighthouse down south or estates up north.
In spite of meeting my demise in-game countless times – mostly due to my lack of awareness rather than mechanical skill, I’m surprised by how I kept returning to the game to try out a different approach each and every time.

Is this the game to break the PUBG and Fortnite duopoly of battle royale games? Not in its current state, where it is a fully-priced game.

Treyarch and Activision have found a great formula that will flip the battle royale scene upside down and if done correctly, claim the throne all for themselves. Come on Activision – you have a goldmine here. Think of the longrun and don’t get greedy. Release Blackout on a F2P model and watch your player base swell alongside your long-term profits.

Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII is set for release on PC, Xbox One and PS4 October 12 2018. Ditching the single-player mode altogether to focus on the multiplayer aspect of the game, those who purchase the game will gain access to the multiplayer, zombies and the battle royale mode ‘Blackout’.


Luminous Productions Of Forspoken Fame Will Be Merged Into Square Enix This May

Square Enix has announced that one of its subsidiaries, Luminous Productions, will be merged into Square Enix (via RPG Site).
The studio that recently made the action RPG Forspoken will no longer be its own entity starting 1st May 2023. Luminous Productions has its own statement about the upcoming merger via Twitter, saying that the company’s remaining tasks include addressing Forspoken’s performance and DLC In Tanta We Trust.

An Update from Luminous Productions pic.twitter.com/fbDENflRhj
— Luminous Productions (@LumiPro_EN) February 28, 2023

Square Enix said that the merger will bring the Luminous staff’s technical expertise in triple-A game development and engine development to the company’s other HD games. You can check out the full official announcement below from Square Enix themselves:
“SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD. (headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director Yosuke Matsuda; hereinafter the “Company”) announces that it will merge its wholly owned subsidiary Luminous Productions Co., Ltd. into its wholly owned subsidiary SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. effective Monday, May 1, 2023.
The merger is part of the Company’s efforts to further bolster the competitive prowess of the Group’s development studios, a goal set forth under its current medium-term business strategy. SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. has developed numerous AAA high-definition (HD) games and possesses a wealth of intellectual property (IP) and content. Luminous Productions Co., Ltd. is meanwhile equipped not only with AAA title development capabilities but also technical expertise in areas such as game engine development. Combining the two entities will further enhance the Group’s ability to develop HD games.”
This clearly has a lot to do with the reception for Forspoken. The game has received middling reviews, with myself dubbing the game as a mediocre offering, though it’s not a complete lost cause. Also, with mergers like these, don’t be too shocked if you see a number of ex-Luminous devs and programmers updating their LinkedIns and resumes.


Malaysian Indie Game Kabaret’s Updated Demo Is Out Now

Developed by Malaysian indie studio, Persona Theory Games, Kabaret’s demo is finally out so go give it a try!
The game’s plot centres around a character named Jebat who has been cursed into a monster. To break the curse, Jebat journeys into a realm called the “Alam Bunian” and seeks the help of the charismatic owner of Kabaret, known only as The Caretaker.
The Caretaker tasks Jebat with providing tasseomancy services to the dwellers of the Kabaret. And let me tell you, the dwellers are not your ordinary patrons. They’re all mythical creatures from Southeast Asian folklore and legends.
As Jebat listens to their unique stories and provides advice through tasseomancy, he gathers information on how to break his curse. Each creature’s story is unique and provides insight into the rich folklore of Southeast Asia.
Kabaret is not just a game, but an opportunity to learn about the fascinating creatures and stories from Southeast Asian culture. The game’s attention to detail in creating mythical creatures and their stories is impressive.
The game’s soundtrack is also noteworthy, as it creates an immersive atmosphere that complements the game’s storyline. The music sets the mood for each encounter, and it’s clear that the developers put a lot of thought into the sound design.

Key Features

Brew tea and speak to monsters from Southeast Asian folklore.
Play traditional Southeast Asian games.
Get to know characters inspired by actual myths and folklore from the region.
Featuring sounds of Hello Universe and Sambasunda Indonesia.


Here’s When You Can Join The Division 2 Open Beta

I dug The Division 2’s private beta session. Of course, the previous session was meant for those who pre-ordered the game. For those who want to check it out for free, you’re in luck!
Ubisoft is hosting a public beta session of the game from 1st to 4th March.Â  No doubt it’ll have the same features and missions from the private session, like:

A couple of main story missions with a few sidequests and control points to complete and liberate,
A sneak peek at the endgame featuring pre-made Level 30 characters andÂ  their respective loadouts,
A small section of the game to explore in, tailor-made for soldiers up to Level 7.

Initializing sequence: Open Beta coming for all players, March 1 – 4.
Details: >> https://t.co/xES28dQ9Ij pic.twitter.com/RCHEGJtwCY
— The Division 2 (@TheDivisionGame) February 12, 2019

To access the open beta, you’ll need to install the client via UPlay. So far, there’s no information on when players can pre-download the open beta, so you’ll have to stay tuned on the game’s beta page.
Did I forget to mention that we loved the private beta of the game? You should read all about it!


TGS 2018: RIP PS Vita, 2011-2019

Hope you still have your PS Vita and did not sell it off just yet; PlayStation announced that it will halt Vita production next year. Sad times indeed.
According to a Famitsu interview, Sony Interactive Entertainment senior vice president Hiroyuki Oda said there are currently no plans for a successor and no plans for a new handheld device.

“In Japan, we will manufacture PlayStation Vita until 2019. From there, shipping will end.”

Goodbye, PS Vita. We’ll never forget your awesome gaming contributions to the industry, and also be a cautionary tale that with great power comes great upscale costs. Without the Vita, we wouldn’t get to see the following:

Gravity Rush.
The adorable Tearaway.
Killzone: Mercenary. Even a Killzone game can be fun now and again.
Ys: Memories of Celceta
Great indie games that work on the Vita due to its super-clear OLED screen and compact design like Guacamelee, Lumines, and Don’t Starve.

Meanwhile, the homebrew scene is probably planning ways to preserve the device and its many ISOs.


Alienware Unveils New X and M Gaming Laptops For 2022

Alienware has recently announced new additions to their X-series and M-series gaming laptops, along with an array of other products that are CESÂ® 2022 Innovation Award Honorees.
First off is the Alienware x14 which is marketed to be their thinnest laptop to date, while still being a very powerful gaming machine. The X-series line is targeted towards users who prioritize mobility but also require the latest gaming technologies and the x14 is the latest in that line.
Under the hood, you can find the latest 12th Gen IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ H-series processors and Dellâ€™s exclusive thermal interface material, Element 31, in addition to IntelÂ® Arcâ„¢ Graphics or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 laptop GPU with 7-phase voltage regulation. On top of that, it uses Alienware Cryo-Tech cooling technology which optimizes thermal performance, to the largest Whr battery capacity on a 14â€ gaming laptop capable of over 11 hours of HD video playback.
The x14 is Alienware’s thinnest laptop to date.
For those of you who prefer powerful performance and bigger displays, however, look to the new M-series laptops in the Alienware m17 R5. The m17 is fitted with a whole lot of AMD â€“ AMD Ryzenâ„¢ 6000 Series processors, AMD Radeonâ„¢ RX graphics, AMD FreeSyncâ„¢ Premium technology, AMD SmartShift MAX, and AMD Smart Access Memoryâ„¢ technology.
An alternative to the m17 is the more mid-sized Alienware m15 R7, a 15-inch model available with either AMD Ryzenâ„¢ processors or 12th Gen Intel Core H-series processors now supporting the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-Series GPUs.
The M-series line is suited for those who value raw power above all else
Alienware also revealed a few other shiny looking gadgets, that on top of being new, were chosen as the CESÂ® 2022 Innovation Award Honorees:

Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3423DW) – Standing out as the worldâ€™s first Quantum Dot OLED gaming monitor.
Alienware Aurora Series R13 Gaming Desktop – Alienwareâ€™s first Cryo-tech enabled desktop.
Alienware Tri-Mode Wireless Gaming Headset (AW920H) – 15 minutes of fast-charge renders 6 hours of use and a full charge enables up to 55 hours of gameplay.
Alienware Tri-Mode Wireless Gaming Mouse (AW720M) – 26,000 DPI optical sensor and magnetic force keyplates, for next-gen high-level performance.

The availability and pricing of these products in Malaysia have yet to be announced, but we’re guessing it’s going to cost many customers an arm and a leg.
Those looking for a more casual product can look into Dellâ€™s XPS 13 Plus releasing March this year, touted as their most powerful but lightest laptop yet, inspired by the constantly moving but busy lifestyles of Gen Z. The XPS 13 combines a sleek, minimalist design with an impressive performance and includes a capacitive touch function row above the keyboard. Imagine the Mac Touch Bar, but with a cleaner, simplistic look.


Get Jumpy & Collect-ey With Togges This December

Collect-a-thon 3D platformer Togges will be out for PC and consoles on 7th December, according to publisher Thunderful Games and developer Regular Studio.
The game is made with love from 3D platformer fans, as you can tell from the feature image and the trailer below, showcasing jumping, platforming, collecting, and loads of abstract yet cute aesthetics peppered all over the game’s environment. And blocks with eyes. Coloured blocks with eyes.
Features & trailer below:

A unique game about spreading and stacking adorable cubes (a.k.a. Togges).
Classic Collect-A-Thon 3D platformer.
Amazing handcrafted worlds with beautiful art direction.
A non-linear game with dozens of content to explore and discover.
A wide variety of lovely characters and funny stories.
Emergent gameplay full of creative mechanics.
Incredible gameplay, fascinating worlds!
Beneath all the Stars, in the Bottom of the Cosmos there is an Endless Wall, keeping the known universe from the dangers of the unknown. In the formation of the constellations, the leaders of each domain must protect all the existence. This is the story of the Togges.


E3 2019: Link’s Awakening Will Be Out This Year; Lets You Build Dungeons

Last year, we were given a brief tease of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remake, because I highly doubt gamers of today can go back to the top-down Game Boy monochrome aesthetics.
Thankfully, fans and even curious action adventure connoisseurs who rather play the colourful remake won’t have to wait too long: the remake will be out 20th September this year for Nintendo Switch. We get to take a look at the many top-down and 2D side-scrolling segments of the game, but now with more tilt shifts and “miniature faking” style of presentation.

Not only will you get to play on Koholint Island and sort out dreamscapes, but you can also build your own dungeons via Chamber Dungeons. You can collect levels that you’ve visited in the main game, and then bring it to some creepy gravedigger who lets you arrange them on a template dungeon board.
You then explore and loot for stuff there. I’m not sure if you can share dungeon designs, or whether it’ll give you Super Mario Maker-level tools to tweak your dream underlevel; we’ll find out more in the near future.
Doesn’t matter: this is the kind of remake I can get behind, especially when it can introduce a lot more Nintendo fans who weren’t in tune with the 90s style of portable gaming back in the day.
Oh, and the game is getting its own Amiibo too, in the form of SD Link. Isn’t he adorable?