LEAP 2023 Season 1 Grand Finals: Here’s How You Can Tune In

One of this year’s most-hyped amateur league tournaments focused on Malaysian constituencies is coming to a grand close.
LEAP (Liga Esports Antara Parliament) 2023 Season 1 has seen some willing up-and-coming gamers and would-be players duking it out in Mobile Legends, Gigabash, FIFA 23, and Street Fighter 6. Here’s a quick recap of the preliminaries:
Setiawangsa

Date: Saturday, 10 June 2023
Time: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Venue: TGV AEON AU2, G77, AEON AU2 Shopping Centre, 6, Jalan Taman Setiawangsa, 37/56, AU2, Taman Keramat, 54200 Kuala Lumpur
Total Contenders: 66 registered players
The teams/players representing LEAP 2023 Setiawangsa in FIFA 23, GigaBash, Street Fighter 6, and MLBB, ranking from preliminary winner to runner-up.

FIFA 23 qualified players: Ahmad Farid bin Abdul Aziz & Putera Sufrie Nizam bin Subardron.
GigaBash qualified players: Muhammad Nur Aiman bin Nordin & Mohamad Khairulazam.
Street Fighter 6 qualified players: Syed Ariff Syah bin Syed & Abdul Razak bin Noh.
MLBB qualified teams: Team Shafiq Zulkipli & Team Safwan Haiman.

Meet the teams representing #LEAP2023 Setiawangsa in FIFA 23, GigaBash, Street Fighter 6, and MLBB.
Each team showed their dedication & skills to qualify for the Grand Final this 24 June.#LigaEsportsAntaraParlimen #EsportsMalaysia pic.twitter.com/zn6jFsVap1
— Kakuchopurei (@Kakuchopurei) June 10, 2023

The first-ever LEAP 2023 event was a huge win! With esports players of all ages and skill levels gathering under one roof. The MP of Setiawangsa, YB Nik Nazmi officiated the launch of LEAP Season 1 Setiawangsa Preliminaries. He even got the chance to play Street Fighter 6 with our CEO, Kenn Leandre.

Our very first ever #LEAP event was a huge W ? , with esports players from all ages and skill levels gathering under one roof.
Thank you to @TGVCinemas for the huge venue, our gaming friends, and the Setiawangsa community in the incredible support for LEAP??
Next stop, Bangi! pic.twitter.com/2AKfHHn4R1
— Kakuchopurei (@Kakuchopurei) June 10, 2023

Each Setiawangsa player showed their dedication & skills against each other in earning a spot for the LEAP Season 1 Grand Finals, representing the Setiawangsa constituency.
Bangi

Date: Saturday, 17 June 2023
Time: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Venue: EVO Mall, Kompleks EVO, Jalan Medan 2D, Seksyen 9, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor
Total Contenders: 84 registered players
The teams/players representing LEAP 2023 Bangi in FIFA 23, GigaBash, Street Fighter 6, and MLBB.

FIFA 23 qualified players: Mohd Farhan Fahmy bin Mohd Helmy & Muhammad Danial bin Mohd Zaki.
GigaBash qualified players: Tengku Saifuddeen bin Tengku Noor Ashraf & Muhamad Alham Zuhri.
Street Fighter 6 qualified players: Hezraat Ridzuan bin Rusli & Muhammad Amirul bin Ahmadin.
MLBB qualified teams: Team HAQ & Team Eren.

Check out the teams representing #LEAP2023 Bangi in FIFA 23, Street Fighter 6, GigaBash and MLBB out of over 80 candidates.
Just 4 days remain until Setiawangsa & Bangi finally face off in the first-ever LEAP Grand Finals ?? pic.twitter.com/DnFz1fjsGM
— Kakuchopurei (@Kakuchopurei) June 20, 2023

It was an even larger turnout at the Bangi Preliminary #LEAP2023 tournament ?
Huge shoutout to @Evo_Mall for the large venue, our friends especially @themagicrainMY and @CheapremeBrand, and the awesome Bangi community for the incredible support for LEAP! pic.twitter.com/mHWT3aPMsO
— Kakuchopurei (@Kakuchopurei) June 20, 2023

The second event was an even larger turnout at the Bangi Preliminary LEAP 2023 tournament. Fans and gamers gathered together under one roof sharing the same passion for esports. MP of Bangi, Syahredzan Johan officiated the event and showed his support for the Bangi players who attended. He also played Street Fighter 6 with our CEO and Content Director.
We had the privileged to interview YB Syahredzan Johan on his thoughts about the esports scene in Malaysia & gaming in general.
Grand Finals Information
Congratulations to the top players of the tournament. They will be representing their respective factions in the grand finals that will take place at ATO Gaming Cafe, TTDI.

For more updates on LEAP, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Free entry for visitors to witness the epic showdown between Setiawangsa and Bangi. We hope to see you there!


It’s Official: Chengdu Hunters Are Part of Overwatch League Now

Last week, the Chengdu Hunters revealed their name, logo, and team colours on Twitter, before promptly removing it soon after. Earlier today, the official Overwatch League Twitter account did the same thing. Less than an hour ago (at the time of writing), the Chengdu Hunters Twitter account re-emerged and posted what seems to be the official introduction to the team at last.
The Chengdu Hunters wear the mighty colours of black and yellow, with a fierce panda as part of their official logo. The reason for why they chose a panda might be due to the fact that the Chengdu province of China is home to the Giant Panda. It is also where the first-ever breeding center for Giant Pandas was initially founded and established in 1987.
Not much has been revealed about the new Overwatch League team as of now, besides our first look at Tracer and Genji donning the Chengdu Hunter’s official colours. In the meantime, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for more details and information on all things Overwatch League!

The Chengdu Hunters persevere.
Weâ€™re determined to achieve victory.
Join the hunt. #LetsGoHunt pic.twitter.com/f0kZFD1WBN
â€” Chengdu Hunters (@ChengduHunters) November 12, 2018


Something Awful Founder Richard “Lowtax” Kyanka Is Dead

Richard “Lowtax” Kyanka, the founder of Something Awful and key figure in the modern internet culture since the early 2000s or so, has died. He was 45.
The news was brought up by Something Awful forum administrator Fragmaster, a personal friend of Lowtax (via Vice’s Motherboard). Lowtax tragically committed suicide on 9th November. Here’s the post & video:
“I guess I should preface this by saying this isn’t a joke especially since I’m posting for like the first time in 10 years or something, but I got the bad news today directly from Rich’s family. Lowtax has passed away. I didn’t ask for details. I don’t know details.
I don’t know what the current opinion of Rich here is. Not here to answer questions, I’m sharing the news. I really hate to share this news. But there you go. Goonspeed golden manbaby 555s 2 heaven.”

The video is a more detailed tribute to Lowtax and his contribution to pop culture and internet culture, as well as encouraging people to donate to a GoFundMe to support Lowtax’s daughter. Whether Lowtax and Something Awful’s is good or bad is up to every different individual to decide, but you cannot deny the massive influence the two had on the internet.
A Quick History Lesson
Originally started off as a venting site for Lowtax’s stint with GameSpy regarding Quake 2 coverage, Something Awful popped up in 1999 and eventually morphed into a comedy site. The site gave birth to popular memes and internet humour pieces such as “All your base are belong to us”, the Slender Man urban legend, and weekly Photoshop Phridays.

Most importantly, Something Awful started the Let’s Play video trend which YouTube and Twitch are currently profiting off on their respective services as we speak. The site is also a launchpad for comedy groups like Mega64.

Of course, there was a bad side to Lowtax. Domestic violence accusations involving him surfaced in 2020 and the way he handled it on the forums made him a hated figure on the Something Awful forums. He sold the forums to longtime admin Jeffrey of YOSPOS; Lowtax’s account was banned six months later. Here are a bunch of quotes that sum up Lowtax perfectly:
“It’s like lowtax definitely belongs on the Mt Rushmore of the internet, but also he would be wearing a confederate general’s uniform and then be immediately dynamited.” -Something Awful poster Breetai
Couldn’t have put it better myself. You will be missed, Lowtax.
Suicide is no joke. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, contact Befrienders (Malaysia), Samaritans of Singapore (Singapore), and Therapy Route (Philippines). For a list outside these regions, head here.


You Can Now Follow Spider-Man No Way Home’s Daily Bugle On TikTok

With less than a month to go until Spider-Man No Way Home, it looks like Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures are ramping up the marketing and promotion for the upcoming movie. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of the Daily Bugle (which was first introduced in 2019’s Spider-Man Far From Home), now has a real-life TikTok account.
You can find it on TikTok by the name @TheDailyBugleOfficial. The description for the account teases “breaking news on Spider-Man you canâ€™t get anywhere else”. Despite that, I don’t think we can expect to see big spoilers like a possible Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield reveal.
The TikTok account’s first few posts are of intern Betty Brant (Angourie Rice reprising her role) announcing her new position at publication and another that features J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) calling out Spider-Man as the “spider-menace”. In addition, you can also download a Daily Bugle reporter pack available via a link on the account to gain access to your own TikTok Daily Bugle background.

 @thedailybugleofficial
Hi TikTok ? Welcome to The Daily Bugle! Follow us for breaking news on Spider-Man you can’t get anywhere else.
 ? SpiderMan No Way Home in theaters December 17 – The Daily Bugle

Directed by Jon Watts (who also directed 2017â€™sÂ Spider-Man HomecomingÂ and 2019â€™sÂ Spider-Man Far From Home),Â Spider-Man No Way HomeÂ is slated to premiere on 16 December 2021.


Playdate Is A New Handheld Console Made In Malaysia

The Playdate is a new handheld gaming console reminiscent of the original Nintendo Game Boy by Panic Inc., a company responsible for publishing Campo Santo’s Firewatch game and several MacOS software.
Panic’s new handheld comes in a little yellow package with a black and white screen, a quaint d-pad, two face buttons, and a pause button, as well as Bluetooth capability and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Introducing Playdate, a new handheld gaming system from Panic.
It fits in your pocket. It’s got a black and white screen. It includes a season of brand-new games from amazing creators. Oh andâ€¦ there’s a crank???? https://t.co/WiIPUkpjSq
Yes. A threadâ€¦ pic.twitter.com/47BwSOtiiP
â€” Playdate (@playdate) May 22, 2019
What distinguishes the Playdate from other handheld consoles is that it features a cute gimmick in the form of a tiny crank, which puts a unique and fun spin on the way games are going to be played on the device.
It will also boast games developed exclusively for the console from the likes of indie devs such as Keita Takahashi (Katamari Damacy), Bennett Foddy (Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy), Shaun Inman, Zach Gage, and many others.
The Playdate will launch with a three-month season pass of sorts, with Season One slated to arrive with 12 exclusive games. One of those games has already been revealed, and it’s Crankin’s Time Travel Adventure by Keita Takahashi, in which players assume the role of stickman Crankin’ whoÂ controls the flow of time to get to his date with Crankette.
However, the most interesting part of it all is that the new console is actually made at a factory in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. This fact was confirmed by Panic’s own David Hayden on Twitter.

Yes, in Sungai Petani! Our production consultant recommended a factory he works with there, and they’re a great fit for this project. We’ve visited a number of times over the last year and have totally fallen in love with Malaysia. Wonderful people! Incredible food!
â€” Dave Hayden (@davehayden) May 25, 2019
According to the official website, the Playdate is slated to launch sometime in early 2020 at a price of $149 USD or RM642. Panic has yet to confirm if the new console will be shipped worldwide or only in selected regions.


ComicsLordâ€™s Top 10 Games Of 2019

2018 was a tough year to beat for gaming, but 2019 did alright in my book. Another year of great games come and goes as the current games generation nears its end and beckons the next generation.
Without rambling even further, here are my top ten games of 2019:
#10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The Soulsborne genre of games have never been my cup of tea, but Sekiro Shadows Die Twice has managed to convert me into a fan. It’s one of the best action games to come out recently, as the refreshing parry-focused gameplay made for a thrilling yet extremely harrowing experience.
This game may not be for everyone (especially those looking for simply ‘fun’ titles to play through), but it’s the best at giving players the opportunity to prove their gamer cred, providing one of the most satisfying experiences if they “git gud”.
#9. Devil May Cry V

Capcom continues its current renaissance with Devil May Cry V, which is one of the best instalments in the franchise yet. The fast-paced and stylish combat returns with a vengeance, with some of the series’ smoothest action gameplay to date.
While the story is predictable, players don’t really come to Devil May Cry V for its narrative. The gameplay alone carries the game, and there’s also the crazy amount of replayability as players try to pull flashier combos as either Dante, Nero, or even newcomer V.
#8. The Outer Worlds

Western RPG maestros Obsidian Entertainment makes a triumphant return with one of their best titles yet. The Outer Worlds is bursting with excellent writing and massive amounts of personality, which is sorely lacking these days.
Despite the clear budgetary limitations, the developer has managed to create a game that encourages role-play. Players can talk their way through, sneak into places or go guns blazing; it’s ultimately up to them.
#7. GreedFall

With the fall from grace of former Western RPG masters like Bioware and Bethesda, who is there to pick up the torch from where they left behind? Along came Spiders to help bring life back to a genre once populated by the likes of Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and The Elder Scrolls, with their most ambitious effort yet, GreedFall.
GreedFall may suffer from bugs, glitches, and janky combat, but all of that is circumvented by other elements like the great narrative, choice-driven dialogue options, and more. Itâ€™s not perfect, but developer Spiders can only grow better from here on out, and their next game might just be the equal of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Mass Effect 2.
#6. Total War: Three Kingdoms

Last year (in 2018), Total War Saga Thrones of Britannia was in my top ten. Now, the latest major instalment in the Total War franchise graces my list once again. This is the first time that the folks at Creative Assembly ventured into an Asian setting since 2011’s Total War Shogun 2.
Learning from the two Total War Warhammer titles, the developer has inserted more fantastical and epic elements into Total War Three Kingdoms, spicing up the franchise’s classic blend of RTS strategy and turn-based micromanagement. The visuals are probably the best and most stylized in the entire franchise to date.
#5. Kingdom Hearts 3

Kingdom Hearts 3 is the Avengers Endgame of the long-running Kingdom Hearts franchise, the long-awaited conclusion to what is now known as the Xehanort Saga or Dark Seeker Saga (similar to how the nine Star Wars movies is collectively referred to as the Skywalker Saga).
Personally, Kingdom Hearts 3 delivered what it promised, despite ending in yet another cliffhanger of sorts. It provided closure to many of the characters in the franchise and featured the most polished combat yet (if you disregard the flashy but unnecessary Attractions mechanic).
#4. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown successfully revived a genre long-lost in the steady stream of mindless battle royales and MOBAs saturating the market; the arcade flight sim. Itâ€™s been a whopping 12 years since the last major instalment in the Ace Combat franchise.
This game is essentially Konamiâ€™s Metal Gear but with fighter jets and the same melodramatic political war themes contained in a convoluted and confusing plot. Oh, and donâ€™t forget the threat of ominous-sounding weapons of mass destruction.
#3. Resident Evil 2 Remake

I was never much of a Resident Evil fan, but the Resident Evil 2 Remake is a brilliant instalment that derives the best elements from my favourite game in the franchise (Resident Evil 4). Remade from the ground up using the excellent RE Engine, the result is a glorious return to the survival horror roots, revitalizing the genre for modern gaming.
The Resident Evil 2 Remake is also perfectly-paced, with a steady and thrilling momentum during gameplay that urges players to be cautious and keep moving, lest they get pounced by a Licker or Mr X lurking around the corner.
#2. Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order

After years of mediocrity and middling games, the Star Wars franchise has recovered its groove thanks to Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order. While the game doesn’t do anything new, it takes the best of everything from other games (Soulsborne combat, Uncharted platforming, etc.) for an authentic single-player Star Wars video game experience.
With all its easter eggs and references from all eras of the franchise (Original, Prequel and even Sequel Trilogies), this game is what fans of the franchise have been waiting for in years.
#1. Control

Remedy Entertainment’s Control arrived without much fanfare, and it might be the most underrated game of the year. It looked like a typical third-person shooter at first glance, but the trippy and bizarre science fiction elements combined with the phenomenal physics-based gameplay made for the most unique gaming experience in 2019.
Control is a game that needs to be experienced in order to fully comprehend its bizarro bonkers world and physics-defying gameplay. If anything, it’s our first taste of what to expect from next-gen gaming, and the future is looking good.
2020 And Beyond
2020 looks like itâ€™s going to be a game-changer of a year for the games industry, with a plethora of major game releases like Cyberpunk 2077, The Last Of Us Part 2 and more, alongside the incoming arrival of next-gen consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
I look forward to delving more into all things gaming in 2020, as we gear up for the exciting and unlimited prospects of a new gaming generation on the horizon.


Tekken 8 Trailer Features The Return Of Jin Kazama’s Mom

Bandai Namco showed off new gameplay of its upcoming 3D fighting game Tekken 8.
The trailer showed off returning cast members Paul Phoenix, Jack, Marshall Law, King, and Jun Kazama. The latter hasn’t appeared in a canon Tekken game since Tekken 2; she did appear in the Tekken Tag games as Unknown and as herself, but that isn’t story canon.
Tekken 8 will be out for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. No release date has been announced yet.


Hideaki Anno Is Creating A Cinematic Universe Filled With Kaijus & Robots

To which we say: f*** yes.
Hideaki Anno, the director who ended mecha existential series Neon Evangelion Genesis not once but twice on pretty high notes (or low if we’re talking about the first ending), is teaming up with other studios to create the Shin Japan Heroes Universe.
This upcoming collaboration will feature properties from not just Anno’s Studio Khara, but also from Toei, Toho, and Tsuburaya Productions. The banner below is all you need to see who is teaming up and crossing over in the world of Japanese cinema in the future.

More information will be revealed in the future, at least according to one of the collaborators, Tsuburaya Productions.
How did this come about? Well, Tsuburaya Productions have worked with Toei and Toho on Ultraman, Kamen Raider, and Godzilla for the show’s numerous special effects. In 2016, Hideaki Anno did Shin Godzilla, which was a different take on the legendary kaiju franchise. It worked out really well, to the point that Anno decided to revisit the Evangelion series in movie form.
Naturally, all four of these megapowers decide to just make a cinematic universe using these well-known properties. It’s a long time coming, with many fans of sci-fi and tokusatsu pop culture cinema clearly excited for the future of this.


Sony Is Charging Developers US$25,000 For PlayStation Store Visibility; Indie Support Team Understaffed?

Are companies like Sony PlayStation really nickel and diming indie developers and small-time folks for all of their worth just for visibility? According to one such third-party publisher, they are.
A Twitter thread by Neon Doctrine’s Iain Garner talks about the frustration of publishing games on a major games console, specifically one that doesn’t feature a Game Pass. He stated that the only way to guarantee a game to get featured on the platform holder’s storefront, which may be the PS Store, is to “spend a very reasonable minimum of US$25,000” along with 30% of the game’s subsequent earnings.
He went on to state the following issues regarding the platform holder’s lack of support, store presences, and launch discounts when releasing titles on the platform.
“Platform X gives developers no ability to manage their games.Â In order to get promotion, you must jump through hoops, beg and plead for any level of promotion. And a blog is not as good as they think it is. If Platform X doesnâ€™t like your game, no fanfare no feature, no love.
Wishlists have no effect, so all your personal marketing means nothing to Platform X. All that matters is their evaluation. How is this evaluation done? Dunno, they don’t share that, nor will they share the value they ascribe to my game.
So before you launch, you need to:
1. Develop the game for Platform X.
2. Get through their incredibly difficult lotcheck spread over 3 generations of backend software.
3. Submit a Platform X specific trailer.
4. Write a Platform X Blog [.]
5. Submit multiple forms for social media.
Oh for 3 and 4 you need to go through an account manager, when asked how to get an account manager, we were told “I’m not sure, they are assigned by resources”. And as we now know, there’s no way to know what resource level you have been assigned.”

OK. I am mad enough to burn some bridges. Because honestly, what's the point of a bridge that I am not allowed to cross.
So here is a thread about Platform X. I will not be defining Platform X but it's the operator of a very successful console and does not have Games Pass! pic.twitter.com/OJ2ZJz9BNy
— Iain Garner (@NeonIain) June 30, 2021

He also alleged that even launching the game with a discounted price requires the console owner’s approval, which is “very limited”. All of this can be bypassed with just spending a minimum of US$25,000 (via Kotaku), with this amount possibly going as high as US$200,000 according to sources close to us. While Iain did not mention the platform names, all signs seem to point that these deals are Sony PlayStation-related.
Business As Usual?
This does explain why the indie scene on PlayStation is less celebrated when compared to Nintendo Switch and Xbox, but some extra context is pretty important.
Platforms like Nintendo Switch features 30 games per week while Steam sees about 50 games per day. Getting eyeballs for a new launch is tough for game publishers with tons of decent games going unnoticed every week or month. This also means that platform holders like Xbox and PlayStation offer a choice to give an upcoming game more attention than usual with a fee; in this case the US$25,000 and 30% of earnings.
Naturally, marketing expenditure is inevitable -it’s just business for big platform holders- although to be fair some alternate solutions like improved non-AI curation or prominent display of certain genres would help in the long run. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that many independent developers and publishers cannot afford this payment scheme.
These problems also hint that Sony’s indie developer support team is severely understaffed. Sony has made it clear before that it will be prioritizing big blockbuster games, which usually come at the expense of smaller dev teams, which is the clear opposite of how the PS4 was positioned prior to the next-gen upgrade. After all, the PS4 was the market leader partly because it was wooing indie devs off rival competitors and smartphones.
This won’t be the end of the many stories from developers and publishers like Iain Garner on how frustrating it is to get their game(s) noticed at launch.


Ms. Marvel Episode 5 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

The fifth episode of Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. l’ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you haven’t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, now’s your chance to stop reading.
Marvel Studios’ “Ms. Marvel” is a new, original series that introduces Kamala Khan, a Muslim American teenager growing up in Jersey City. An avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, Kamala is a Super Hero megafan with an oversized imagination, particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel. Yet? Kamala feels like she doesn’t fit in at school and sometimes even at home, that is, until she gets superpowers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Life gets better with superpowers, right?
Check out my breakdown of Ms. Marvel Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4 here.
Also, check out my breakdowns of Moon Knight Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6 here.
You can check out my previous breakdowns of Hawkeye Episodes 1 and 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here and Episode 5. and Episode 6 here.
In addition, you can check out my previous breakdowns of Marvel’s What If? Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 and Episode 9 here.
If you haven’t, you can check out my previous breakdowns and easter egg articles for WandaVision Episode 1 and 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 and Episode 9.
For The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns for Episode 1, Episode 2 and Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns of Loki episodes, check out Episode 1 here, Episode 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here, Episode 5 here and Episode 6 here.

Meeting Kamala’s Great Grandfather, Hasan

This episode begins with the first meeting between Aisha, Kamala’s great-grandmother, and Hasan, Kamala’s great-grandfather, in 1942. They met, fell in love and raised a family together.
Najma Killed Aisha

Now we know what happened to Aisha all those years ago. Aisha tells Hasan and Sana to go ahead but she gets stabbed by Najma for not going along with their “plans”.
It Was Kamala Who Saved Her Own Grandmother, Sana, In The Past

The power of the bangle brought Kamala to the past and it turns out that it was meant to be her to save her own grandmother, Sana, in the past. She used her powers to save Sana, which is why her Kamala’s grandmother remembers the magical “stars”.
This is basically a causal loop. A causal loop is a paradox of time travel that occurs when a future event is the cause of a past event, which in turn is the cause of the future event. Both events can exist, but their origin cannot be determined. For example, Sana wouldn’t have been saved if it wasn’t for Kamala travelling to the past, but Kamala wouldn’t have existed in the first place if Sana wasn’t saved. That’s time travel for you.
Najma Sacrifices Herself To Close The Veil But Kamran Gets His Noor Powers In The Process

Najma dies in the process of closing The Veil, but Kamran somehow gains powers as a result, unlocking Noor powers. It’s unclear what the MCU version of his powers will be.
In the comics, Kamran is an Inhuman (Kamala is also an Inhuman in the comics) who has the power to emit and store a glowing bioluminescent energy, as well as expel this energy as a shock or transfer it into an object, which causes it to glow and explode.

Also, Muneeba finds out that Kamala is “Light Girl” AKA “Night Light”.
Kamala Gets Her Signature And Iconic Red Scarf From Red Dagger In The MCU

In the comics, it was always just part of her costume. In the MCU, it’s Red Dagger who gives Kamala the red scarf, which will be a signature and iconic part of her eventual full costume later.

Also, Muneeba finds Kamala’s broken earring/bracelet or whatever and it forms the symbol of Ms. Marvel.

Damage Control Blows Up The Circle Q With Bruno & Kamran In It, Kamran’s Powers Look Identical To Kamala’s

Damage Control discovers Kamran hiding in Bruno’s home at the Circle Q. I’m pretty sure they survived but we’re going to have wait until next week’s episode to find out. Also, Kamran uses his powers for the first time and it looks essentially identical to Kamala’s, only that the hard light constructs are a different colour.
We only have one episode left and that’s the finale for this season. Until then, excelsior.


The Y: The Last Man TV Show Was So Bad, It Got Cancelled Before Its First Season Finished

Y: The Last Man, the TV show/online series adaptation of the legendary comic book series by Brian K. Vaughan, has been cancelled by FX on Hulu, according to show executive producer Eliza Clark via Twitter.
The official statement said that the show will not have a Season 2 on Hulu, but does not hold ill will towards FX and Hulu.
“We have learned that we will not be moving forward with FX on Hulu for Season 2 ofÂ Y: The Last Man. I have never in my life been more committed to a story, and there is so much left to tellâ€¦ We donâ€™t want it to end.
FX has been an amazing partner. We have loved working with them, and weâ€™re sadÂ Y: The Last Man is not going forward at FX on Hulu. But we know that someone else is going to be very lucky to have this team and this story. I never experienced the remarkable solidarity of this many talented people. We are committed to finding Y its next home. #YLivesOn.”

My statement on Y: THE LAST MAN and Season 2. pic.twitter.com/rFtb6pXu5i
— Eliza Clark (@TheElizaClark) October 17, 2021

In worldwide distribution terms, Y: The Last Man will not continue on in Malaysia’s Disney+ Hotstar channel since that’s where it has aired, unless it’s picked up by any studio willing to fund the diverse-splattered project. Perhaps Netflix in its infinite wisdom and pretty accurate adaptations of animated and comic book works may sort out the adventures of Yorick (Ben Schnetzer), his pet monkey, and the women who enrichen/ruin his life in a post-apocalyptic world.
The adaptation of Y: The Last Man has been in the works since 2015 following multiple film incarnations. In the meantime, why not read the entire Y: The Last Man series in its original comic book form? Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s writer-and-art combo still holds up to this day.


David Beckham To Design Exclusive FIFA 22 Ultimate Team Kit

Electronic Arts have announced that eSoccer Aid for UNICEF, an online FIFA 22 tournament, will be returning for its second year on 30 September 2021 for a star-studded game, with all proceeds donated to UNICEF.
Hosted in partnership with Twitch; Twitch Rivals: eSoccer Aid for UNICEF ft. FIFA 22 will see footballers, celebrities, creators and competitive gamers battling it out in a 2v2 tournament on the eve of the global launch of FIFA 22. The broadcast will be available to view onÂ TwitchÂ and participating names will be announced nearer the time.
The virtual game of football will follow Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2021, the worldâ€™s biggest celebrity football match, due to take place at Etihad Stadium, Manchester on 4 September 2021, and broadcast live on ITV and STV.
As part of the partnership, EA will be donating to UNICEF, whose work has transformed the lives of millions of children all over the world. The donation is part of several initiatives being put in place by EA SPORTS this year to support UNICEF programmes, aimed at giving equal opportunities to every child.
David Beckham, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, said:

â€œPlaying for England is one of my greatest achievements and itâ€™s amazing to think my debut was 25 years ago. Itâ€™sÂ beenÂ great workingÂ with EA SPORTSÂ and Reuben to co-design a FIFA Ultimate Team kit to celebrate that momentÂ andÂ raise vital funds for UNICEF.â€

This week marks 25 years since Beckham made his England debut vs. Moldova andÂ to further support the partnership with EA SPORTS, David Beckham has co-designed a bespoke FIFA Ultimate Teamâ„¢ (FUT) kit, celebrating this very moment.
The exclusive FUT kit was co-designed with artist Reuben Dangoor and will be available inÂ FIFA 22Â worldwide only via Twitch Rivals: eSoccer Aid for UNICEF ft. FIFA 22.Â FIFA 22Â players will be able to unlock and access the kit by tuning in to the broadcast viaÂ Twitch.

Reuben Dangoor said:

â€œIt was an honour to work with a true icon of English football and help bring this kit to life. We wanted to celebrate his love of the national team by featuring three lions on the kit and it was important to commemorate the number â€˜7â€™, in tribute to the shirt number that is so synonymous with David. Weâ€™re delighted with the design!â€.

David Jackson, VP of EA SPORTSÂ FIFA Brand, said:

â€œOurÂ aimÂ isÂ to bring the world together through play, soÂ we wereÂ delighted to bring back eSoccer Aid forÂ UNICEF forÂ another year and help support such an important initiative. Plus, eSoccer AidÂ for UNICEFÂ provides a great platform for our players to get someÂ early FIFA competitiveÂ training in, whilst helping to raise funds.â€
â€œFIFA 22 isÂ poweredÂ byÂ football, soÂ as weÂ continueÂ to workÂ withÂ one of the most decorated footballers that England has ever produced inÂ David Beckham, weâ€™re committed to doing so in aÂ meaningful andÂ powerful way through ourÂ support ofÂ UNICEF.Â We hope our players enjoy the tournament and love the exclusive FUT kit as much as we all do!â€

UNICEF UK Ambassador and Soccer Aid for UNICEF Co-Founder, Robbie Williams, said:

â€œWe are thrilled to continue working with EA SPORTS. It was great to partner for the inaugural eSoccer Aid for UNICEF last year and we were grateful to the FIFA community rallying behind us to help raise funds for our cause. This year promises to be bigger and better, with viewers able to unlock the new FUT kit from one of the nationâ€™s greatest ever footballers in David Beckham â€“ so we hope you enjoy and that Team England can make it two wins in a row!â€.

Shane Horgan, Director of Strategic Development, Soccer Aid Productions, said:

â€œeSoccer Aid for UNICEF was a tremendous success last year and weâ€™re delighted to be working with EA SPORTS again, for FIFA 22. Weâ€™re extremely grateful for the money that we managed to raise in 2020 and the donation that EA SPORTS has already made this year.â€

FIFA players across the globe will have the chance to play as David Beckham following the release ofÂ FIFA 22. For the third year running, a Soccer Aid World XI FC team will be available in the game with Beckham joining the star-studded squad.
The following players will make up the Soccer Aid World XI FC team:

Goalkeepers: Peter Schmeichel, Edwin van der Sar and Jens Lehmann.
Defenders:Â Marcel Desailly, Franco Baresi, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Roberto Carlos and Fabio Cannavaro.
Midfielders:Â Ruud Gullit, LuÃs Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Clarence Seedorf, Roy Keane, Robert PirÃ¨s, Paul Scholes, Joe Cole, David Ginola, Juan SebastiÃ¡n Veron, Lothar MatthÃ¤us, Claude MakÃ©lÃ©lÃ©, David Beckham and Michael Essien.
Forwards: Gianfranco Zola, Diego Maradona, Alan Shearer, Ian Rush, Henrik Larsson, Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes, HernÃ¡n Crespo, Robbie Keane, Alessandro Del Piero, Eric Cantona, Andriy Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, Michael Owen, Patrick Kluivert and PelÃ©.

The Soccer Aid World XI FC team is playable in the Kick-Off mode withinÂ FIFA 22Â and features some of the biggest names who have taken part in the celebrity-charity football match.
Robbie Williams continued:Â

â€œWe are always looking to spread our message to new audiences, so it has been brilliant to see a Soccer Aid World XI FC in FIFA over the last two editions of the game. Iâ€™m buzzing that David Beckham and Wayne Rooney have joined the fold â€“ so I hope FIFA fans enjoy playing with them too. I canâ€™t wait to get my hands on the game now!â€

FIFA 22Â is developed by EA Vancouver and EA Romania and is available worldwide on 1 October 2021, on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Origin and Steam, Stadia, PS4 and Xbox One. The FIFA 22 Legacy Edition will be available on Nintendo Switch.


Here Are Your Top 5 Most-Banned League of Legends Champions; Yasuo’s In It

Yasuo the Unforgiven. No one likes fighting against him because of his annoying MOBA skills and kits like his Wind Wall that blocks all sorts of projectiles. At the same time, he’s also a popular character pick because of said kit.
So it comes to no surprise that the latest League of Graphs infographic (via Dotesports)Â regarding patch 6.15 that the champion is the most popular hero with a sizeable banrate. He comes with a 32.07% popularity ranking, a 51.56% winrate, and a 43.59% banrate.
Let’s break down the top 5 in the infographic:

The top 5 champions in LoL, apart from Yasuo who ranks high, are Ashe, Lee Sin, Ezreal, and Vayne. As someone who defaults to Ashe since she’s the easiest champion to use, this ranking makes helluva sense. She’s kinda like the Ryu of the game.
The top 5 champions with the highest winrate are Sona, Amumu, Skarner, Sejuani, and Sion.
The top 5 banned characters are Zed, Yasuo, Darius, Hecarim, and Leblanc. Yasuo is renowned for being in the top 5 of this list since November 2012 in Patch 5.22.
Why is Yasuo a top pick in the ban list? Most players in lower elos do not know how to deal with the champion. He’s pretty strong in lane and has kits that can wreak havoc upon newbies, assuming a player knows his way around the swordmaster.
Conversely, a player who does not know how to use Yasuo will be a burden to the team as he needs minions and proper use of his skills to be effective.

Either way, most players opt to ban the guy just to be safe. Check out the full graph below.


The Evangelion Rebuild Movies Are Currently Free To Watch, But…

If you were bummed about Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0‘s second postponement, here’s some good news: the first three Evangelion Rebuild movies are currently free to watch on YouTube, and legally too.
You can also watch them on the EVA-EXTRA app, and the official website says that audio commentaries are on the way too (thanks for the translation, Anime News Network). The movies will be available on EVA-EXTRA till 30 April, while the YouTube uploads will be around till 29 April.

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— ?????????? (@evangelion_co) April 20, 2020

This good news comes with a caveat though: there are no English subtitles. Studio Khara said on Twitter that this couldn’t be done for “various reasons”, which is understandable, but it does pose a bit of a barrier for those who don’t know Japanese or aren’t sufficiently fluent in it. If you don’t mind that, this is definitely one heck of an offer.
The Evangelion Rebuild movies are a remake or retelling of the 1995 Neon Genesis Evangelion series, although I’ve seen fan theories that they could be somewhat connected to the original. Evangelion 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone was released in 2007 and came across as a modern compilation of the series’ first few episodes. 2009’s Evangelion 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance had many familiar elements but also introduced notable changes, while 2012’s Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo was completely uncharted territory.
The YouTube uploads are the Blu-Ray releases, from what I gather, hence the different numberings.

Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0Â was originally meant to release in 2015, but was delayed due to director Hideaki Anno working on Shin Godzilla. It was then due for a 27 June 2020 release in Japan, until the COVID-19 pandemic caused it to be postponed to a currently undecided date.
As for the original series and its own movies, you can watch them on Netflix.


Loki Season 2 Will Not See The Return Of Director Kate Herron

Loki Season 1 has officially ended its run on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, but a second season has already been confirmed at the end of the first season’s final episode. Unfortunately, one of the driving forces behind the series will not be returning for the next season; namely Loki director Kate Herron.
Speaking with Deadline, Herron said:
â€œIâ€™m not returning.
I always planned to be just on for this, and to be honest, Season 2 wasnâ€™t in the; thatâ€™s something that just came out, and Iâ€™m so excited.
Iâ€™m really happy to watch it as a fan next season, but I just think Iâ€™m proud of what we did here and Iâ€™ve given it my all.
Iâ€™m working on some other stuff yet to be announced.â€
What’s curious is that it sounds like not even Kate really knew that Loki would be getting a second season until recently. Does that mean it was only ever meant to be a single season? Perhaps we’ll learn more about what to expect from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole when we finally get to watch Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings in September, Eternals in November, and Spider-Man No Way Home in December.
In the meantime, you can check out my breakdowns of all the Loki Season 1 episodes here; Episode 1,Â Episode 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â and Episode 6.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, I was also lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in roundtable interviews with LokiÂ Costume Designer Christine WadaÂ andÂ LokiÂ Production Designer Kasra Farahani.


Dead Cells: Return To Castlevania Walkthrough – How To Access Dracula’s Castle

Dead Cells: Return To Castlevania DLC is out now for all platforms that have Dead Cells, and it’s a fun ride if you want more roguelike search action gameplay with tight controls and a love letter to Konami’s best franchise that isn’t Metal Gear or Silent Hill.
Just like the main game it’s on, the Dead Cells Castlevania DLC requires you to go through a few hoops here and there to play its special stages. Here’s a quick guide on how to access the levels you paid for.
Dead Cells: Return To Castlevania Walkthrough
Dead Cells: Return To Castlevania follows the structure of the maze-like biome system of the main game: you have to find a specific point in the Prisoner’s Quarters (the starting area) to start. Here’s a step-by-step method on how to access the Castlevania biomes.

-Find Richter Belmont in the Prisoner’s Quarters. He should appear once the Prisoner’s Quarters biome has the hanging flasks present. Go through the door.
-You know you’re going to the Castlevania biomes if you see Shanoa from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia helping you with your permanent powerups instead of the main Dead Cells shopkeeper.

-Go through the door and play through the Castle’s Outskirts level. This level is a typical stage with mobs and loot spawns, and some simple platforming puzzles involving a main elevator. Enjoy the Vampire Killer/Beginning rendition playing in the background while also keeping an eye out for easter eggs.
-You will interact with Alucard before you exit the level.
-Finish the biome, then you’ll go to Dracula’s Castle. This one’s a bit of a maze as there are multiple secrets. Proceed through Dracula’s Castle and finish the biome. Go through the Master’s Keep passageway.
-Go through the path, get your upgrades. As soon as you exit, you’ll be dragged down by Death at his Defiled Necropolis arena. Defeat him since he’s the boss.
-Once he’s beaten, talk to Alucard. he’ll tell you to go to the next level. Either finish the run or continue on; you cannot progress anymore for now in the Castlevania DLC.
-Once you start a new run, go talk to Alucard in the Prisoner’s Quarters. Go through the usual Dead Cells run until you beat the Time Keeper, the Clock Room boss.
-After that fight, you’ll meet Alucard again. Head to Dracula’s Castle. The stage is a little tougher since Dracula will occasionally appear to either throw attacks at you or flip the room upside down.
-In this run, you’ll need a special key to unlock the exit. To get this key, you need to fight the sub-boss Medusa in Dracula’s Castle.

-After getting the key, take the door to Master’s Keep. Get ready for a two-stage battle against Dracula. Once you’ve beaten him in both forms, you’ve completed the DLC. Congratulations.
From now on after seeing the credits with a pretty awesome arrangement of Lost Painting, you can go to the Castlevania DLC after the Prisoner’s Quarters (Castle’s Outskirts > Dracula’s Castle > Defiled Necropolis) or after the Time Keeper boss (Dracula’s Castle > Master’s Keep)


Sugar Gliders Are Cute And Can Fly, Become One In This Free Game Demo

In Malaysia, I often hear conversations about Sugar Gliders in the tones of business and trade. People here seem to love buying and selling the cute little animals for some reason. Well, probably because there’s good money in it.
But what does it feel like to be a Sugar Glider? Not like the ones in a cage being traded by your shifty friends but the free ones! Sugar Gliders in their natural habitat, sugaring and gliding away their lives.
Well, wonder no longer because the developers of Away: The Survival Series are here to fulfill your Sugar Gliding dreams.

Scheduled for a 2020 release, the game is described as:

“an animal-based adventure for PC & PS4 that brings nature documentaries to life. Play as the tiny Sugar Glider as you embark on a breathtaking journey into the wild.”

A free demo intended to showcase gameplay as the Sugar Glider is now available for free download on the game’s official website. It’s also stated that there are a few easter eggs hidden in the demo and if you find them, you’ll be able to play as other animals.
So what are you waiting for? Get gliding!


The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild 2 Delayed To 2023

Nintendo has announced that The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild sequel has been delayed from its previously planned 2022 release window to spring 2023. It is still slated for the Nintendo Switch. The game was originally announced during E3 2019.
In a new video, The Legend Of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma spoke on the delay:
“Hello. I’m Eiji Aonuma, producer of the Legend of Zelda series. I have an update to share on the launch timing of the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
We previously announced that we were aiming for a 2022 release for this game. However, we have decided to extend our development time a bit and change the release to spring 2023.
For those of you who have been looking forward to a release this year, we apologize.
As previously announced, the adventure in this sequel will take place not just on the ground as in the previous game, but also in the skies above. However, the expanded world goes beyond that, and there will be an even wider variety of features you can enjoy, including new encounters and new gameplay elements.
In order to make this game’s experience something special, the entire development team is continuing to work diligently on this game, so please wait a little longer.
That’s all for today’s announcement.
Thank you.”
Check out the video below:


PUBG Mobile Welcomes Ramadan With Malaysian Food-Inspired In-Game Items

In honour of Ramadan, PUBG Mobile has released a new in-game set and machete inspired by our favourite Malaysian dishes. Starting on 23 March, players can get their hands on the Nasi Lemak Suit, Nasi Lemak Hat, Nasi Lemak Glasses and the Roti John Machete in the Redeem Shop using Ocean Crystals.
The Nasi Lemak Set is modelled after the beloved Malaysian dish and includes a Banana Leaf Jacket, Coconut Rice T-shirt, Ikan Bilis Necklace, and Peanut Bracelet. The Nasi Lemak Hat is particularly cool, resembling a typical nasi lemak packet with a Fried Egg, Spicy Sambal and Ayam Goreng Berempah.
The Nasi Lemak Glasses even have lenses made of cucumber slices for added effect! And don’t forget about the Roti John Machete – it’s designed to look like the famous omelette sandwich, complete with Bread Loaf, Onions, Cabbage, Ground Meat, Eggs and Sauce toppings all wrapped up with a paper handle.
Nasi Lemak Set includes:

Nasi Lemak Suit comprising of a Banana Leaf Jacket, Coconut Rice T-shirt, Ikan Bilis Necklace, and Peanut Bracelet

Nasi Lemak Hat with all the embellishments of a typical nasi lemak packet with a Fried Egg as the base, topped with Spicy Sambal and Ayam Goreng Berempah; and

Nasi Lemak Glasses with lenses made of cucumber slices to keep your character looking cool

But wait, there’s more! From 23–29 March, players can participate in the time-limited in-game event, Nasi Lemak – Tapau All!, to complete special Ramadan missions and redeem the full Nasi Lemak Set for free. It’s PUBG Mobile’s 5th-anniversary celebration, Malaysian-style, so don’t miss out on these special food item drops for your character.


Peter Pan & Wendy Movie Gets First Trailer, Drops On Disney+ This April

Disney+ Hotstar has unveiled the first trailer for the upcoming Peter Pan & Wendy movie, which will premiere on the streaming service on 28 April 2023.
It’s a live-action reimagining of the J.M. Barrie novel and the 1953 animated classic, directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight, Pete’s Dragon). The movie introduces Wendy Darling, a young girl afraid to leave her childhood home behind, who meets Peter Pan, a boy who refuses to grow up. Alongside her brothers and a tiny fairy, Tinker Bell, she travels with Peter to the magical world of Neverland. There, she encounters an evil pirate captain, Captain Hook, and embarks on a thrilling and dangerous adventure that will change her life forever.
The movie stars

Jude Law (“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”)
Alexander Molony (“The Reluctant Landlord”), Ever Anderson (“Resident Evil: The Final Chapter”)
Yara Shahidi (“Grown-ish”)
Alyssa Wapanatâhk
Joshua Pickering (“A Discovery of Witches”)
Jacobi Jupe, Molly Parker (“House of Cards”)
Alan Tudyk (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”)
Jim Gaffigan (“The Jim Gaffigan Show”)

Check out the trailer below:


Genshin Impact Ver 3.5 Walkthrough

Genshin Impact just released its new 3.5 update, and it features a ton of Sumeru-related quests involving key story bits and a new Hangout event for you thirsty folks out there.
Here are the video guides we’ve created for each of these new story quests in the game. Keep in mind that these are full walkthroughs, so spoilers are imminent.

Genshin Impact ver 3.5 Archon Quest “Caribert”
This storyline pits you, the Traveller, in a quest to find out more about your missing brother. The quest also involves returning Mondstadt characters Kaeya and Dainsleif to an extent. The questline is pretty linear, and takes place in a different part of Sumeru.

Genshin Impact ver 3.5 Dehya Story Quest
This quest lets you try out new character Dehya and takes you all across Sumeru and its desert ruins. It also fleshes out Dehya’s backstory and why she’s the way she is.

Genshin Impact Faruzan Hangout Event Full Walkthrough & All Endings
This month’s new Hangout Event is focused on the Sumeran researcher Faruzan. There are quite a good number of endings in this hangout; do check the timestamps to find out how to unlock them and sort out the dialogue tree leading to said endings.

Faruzan Hangout Ending 1 “Stories of the Past”
An Akademic Problem route
• Let’s help her resolve her current problem first.
• Tell me more about that Haravatat course…
Doing Paperwork Sure Is Tough! route
• So we’ve got teaching methods sorted out.
• There might be people out there who will.
• There might be people out there who will.
• I think it’s because such names are ”fancy”…
Finding Teaching Material Sure Is Tough!
•I’m afraid not.
Being a Classic Sure Is Tough!
• It doesn’t matter if it’s a classic or a fad. What matters is that you like it..
• Perhaps ”Analysis of Popular Literature” might do the trick?
Faruzan Hangout Ending 2 “Start Over”
An Akademic Problem route
• Let’s think of some way to get her to Pardis Dhyai
A Greater Problem route
• Pick whatever; there are no important choices here.
The Ruin Wanderer route
• Pick whatever; there are no important choices here.
Thoughts That Wandered For A Century route
• Read all letters on the floor.
Time To Decide route
• Tell The Whole Truth
Faruzan Hangout Ending 3 “Welcome Home, Faruzan!”
Same as Ending #2, but at the Time To Decide route, pick “Keep Tamimi a secret…”.
Faruzan Hangout Ending 4 “Knowledge Is Wealth!”
An Akademic Problem route
• Let’s help her resolve her current problem first.
• Let’s hear what this Kshahrewar collaborative project is about…
Toys and how To Play With Them route
• 127 steps
Question and Answer Time route
•Try to be accurate and detailed?
Faruzan Hangout Ending 5 “The Gardener & The Nursery)
Same as Ending #4, but at the Question and Answer Time route, pick “Try to keep it simple and fun?”


We Talk To Miasma Chronicles’ Lee Varley About The Upcoming Strategy RPG

America’s done effed up in the world of Miasma Chronicles. In this upcoming strategy RPG from Bearded Ladies and 505 Games, you play as brothers Elvis and Diggs (the latter being a robot) as they figure out the mysterious behind the titular miasma, the glove Elvis received that can control the anomaly, and also survive together as a family.
If it’s anything like The Bearded Ladies’ past effort Mutant Year Zero, we’re in for quite a unique and fun ride. We managed to catch up with game director Lee Varley about the ins and outs of the upcoming strategy title and how it’s a little different from the company’s past efforts.

How will this strategy game be different from Mutant Year Zero?
More RPG, of course! Miasma Chronicles will have a larger narrative focus, heavily inspired by old-school role-playing games. Go on a classical adventure where two brothers uncover the truth of who they are, make new friends and free America from the grip of the First Family.
We also promise more tactics! We have a much improved tactical engine which incorporates a new “Rage System” where kills can unlock massive critical damage. We also have a new “Golf Bag” skill deck system where you can earn and configure skills at will, and also super Miasma powers that can be upgraded with mysterious chips.
What are the story themes of Miasma Chronicles?
Family is the main theme. What is family really? And what does it mean to have one?
We also touch on the issue of rampant consumerism and our ignorance of relying on large corporations selling us solutions to our environmental problems. If we don’t take personal responsibility and leave it to big companies to sell us solutions, where will it get us?

How long will it take to finish Miasma Chronicles?
Internally, we are seeing about 30 to 40 hours for the main quest. Maybe more with all the side quests as well.
How will the titular Miasma work in the game itself from a mechanics standpoint?
The Miasma is a mysterious force that now exists in the world of Miasma Chronicles. It can be beautiful or destructive. It’s neither evil nor good; a bit like Mother Nature of the past.
A long time ago a group known as the “Editors” wielded special gloves that could interact with the Miasma, they helped humankind live in harmony with it. Discovering the fate of the Editors and the secret of the glove is key in Miasma Chronicles’ plot.
In the game, Elvis has possession of an Editor Glove. With it, Miasma can be “healed”, and “calmed down” if you will. The glove grants special access to the Miasma, allowing super skills to be used. With the use of upgrade chips, this access to the Miasma can be tweaked even further for greater tactical effect.
How big will the game’s party size be?
You will start the game with Elvis and Diggs, and find three more playable heroes on the way ( Jade and Mason confirmed for now).

Will there be multiplayer, or will this be a story-focused title?
It’s a single-player story-focused title.
Finally, will there be post-release DLC for Miasma Chronicles?
It’s still unknown at this point in time. We believe we will have an answer to this once the game has been released and we can assess the performance of the game.
Miasma Chronicles will be out for PC on 23 May.


Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Celebrates Launch With A Sweet Fly Me To The Moon Cover

Square Enix has collaborated with singer Sia for a special Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker launch video.
Since the company is so into its own fantasy music, it seems appropriate for them to team up with singer Sia for a rendition of the famous classic tune from Evangelion Megumi Hayashibara Kaye Ballard “Fly Me To The Moon”. It’s pretty cool, it incorporates the FF prelude from the start really well, and has a bunch of nice Warriors of Light visuals going on, collecting all the special bits in the FFXIV storyline.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker will be out on 7th December, but its Early Access period is available now. How can you tell if you can access the expansion early? Find out on the official website here. Once you log in, scroll down to see if the FFXIV: Endwalker Early Access column has a circle. If it does, you’re in!


People-Shepherding Puzzle Game Humanity Launches This May

Every dog has its day, and that day of saving humans is now.
Action-puzzle game Humanity, where you play as a Shiba Inu tasked to save mankind and shepherd hordes of them to a safe zone through platforms and mad obstacles, will be out for PS5, PS4, and PC on 16 May.
In Humanity, you control a glowing Shiba Inu, placing commands on the ground for a giant marching horde of people to follow. Make them turn, jump, float through the air, swim, climb, etc., all to reach the goal (or goals) in each stage. The game gradually introduces these mechanics and more, combining them with each other and new elements to ramp up the challenge the further you go.
The game’s creators are Yugo Nakamura of tha.jp fame and Tetsuya “Rez” Mizuguchi, so you know this puzzle game is all shades of unique and crazy. There are some VR head-tracking capabilities in-game, but that’s all optional. To celebrate the insanity, the release date announcement video came chock-filled with gaming advertisements of the PS1 and PS2 era; the kind that’s just straight-up bonkers even in its native country.


DC FanDome: Young Justice Season 4 First Two Episodes Are Out Now

HBO Max has released a new trailer for Young Justice Season 4 during DC FanDome 2021.
The first 2 episodes are now available on HBO Max. New episodes will release every Thursday.
Check out the trailer below:


Will The Rise Of Skywalker Save The Sequel Trilogy?

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker should have been the Chosen One, bringing balance to the Sequel Trilogy.
It should have been the sweeping grand emotional payoff that fans have been waiting for. Everything from 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope to 2017’s Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi has been leading to this, for better and for worse, and by the Force…
What we ended up getting instead is a complete and utter disappointment.
In The Shadow Of The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi infuriated many fans of the franchise when it broke established lore, disrespecting the history of the franchise by focusing on subversion and deconstruction instead of actually being a good movie.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker is burdened with repairing the mistakes of its predecessor. Director J.J. Abrams seems so hell-bent on undoing what Rian Johnson did that he doesn’t have the time and space to do anything else.
Even if you’re the type to disregard or don’t care much about Star Wars lore, this movie is a messy and convoluted mess filled with overly-convenient plot devices.

The Rise Of Skywalker essentially ignores most of what happened in The Last Jedi. J.J. Abrams tries to salvage the Sequel Trilogy by shoehorning brand new ideas and reveals into its two-hour-plus runtime.

Imagine the events of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame happening in just one movie. That’s Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker in a nutshell.

This results in a silly and incoherent plot that progresses way too fast, spitting out revelation after revelation without any room to breath. This is all an attempt to distract viewers from stopping to think about what just happened on-screen, at which point they will realise that nothing makes sense; even within the context of a fictional universe like Star Wars.
This is all the more frustrating and insulting for ardent fans of Star Wars who have been following the franchise for four decades. Whatever few fanservice moments there are in Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker feels tacked-on and cheap, like they were derived from a piece of fan-fiction.
The Force Is Not With Us

Though it tugged my heartstrings to see Carrie Fisher’s Leia for one last time, everyone else felt like they were going on autopilot, with several exceptions.

We spent almost three movies witnessing the dynamics and interactions between Luke, Han, and Leia, which is part of the reason why they remain iconic, legendary and beloved even today.
In comparison, it’s ridiculous how we’re only getting to see the three main protagonists; Rey, Finn, and Poe, together in Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker. Let that sink in.

It’s a little bit too late to explore and do the same with the Sequel Trilogy trio now that it’s already the third and final film. Like I previously mentioned, that’s the main problem with this movie. Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker feels like two movies’ worth of material crammed into one, which makes for little space for any meaningful development.
Anthony Daniels’ C-3PO is definitely a highlight of the movie. With the Old Trilogy trio pretty much gone, we only have him and Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian to bank our nostalgic feelings on. Sure, it’s no secret that Ian McDiarmid is returning as Emperor Palpatine, but the movie lacks the gravitas brought by the presence of Harrison Ford’s Han Solo and Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker in the previous two movies.

Every Star Wars movie has at least one lightsaber duel that is iconic or memorable. Even Star Wars The Last Jedi had the thrilling scene with Rey and Kylo Ren teaming up to take on Snoke’s reddish Praetorian Guards.
Unfortunately, there are none whatsoever in Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker. Zilch, nada, zero.

We do have Rey duelling with Kylo Ren on top of a ship platform in the scene featured in the trailers (the one with the raging seas around them), but that sequence is weak, uninspired and forgettable, lacking any emotional weight. Can we even call this a proper Star Wars movie without a decent lightsaber duel?
New Hope? More Like “No Hope”

Say what you want about the Prequel Trilogy, but at least it had iconic moments interspersed throughout. The Sequel Trilogy peaked with 2015’s Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens, and it all went downhill from there.
Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker is one of the worst movies in the franchise. From now on, Star Wars in other media like The Mandalorian and Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order will have to keep the torch of hope burning bright. That is, until the next inevitable Star Wars movie comes out in a few years.
Final Score: 40/100
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker is now showing in Malaysian cinemas.


Granblue Fantasy Versus Reveals Final Season 1 Character; Season 2 & OST Dates Announced

Fancy playing as a tanned sword-and-shield lady warrior who commands small dragons? Well, you’re in luck as Granblue Fantasy Versus’ final Season 1 character has been revealed, gameplay and all.
Meet Zooey, who looks like a mid-to-close ranged combatant who relies on some mixups and setplay tools to get in (ie: setting up traps and making them guess with additional moves). She uses her flying dragons as harassers so that she can get in while her opponent is in blockstun.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering how she reacts to Ladiva’s Skybound Art, here’s a screencap. Personally, it’s a tie between her and Charlotta.

That’s not the only good news though; players will also be getting a brand new stage and new lobby avatars alongside Zooey’s release. GBVS’ RPG mode will also get five new chapters coming this summer, as well as five more in 2021.
In addition, Arc System Works also announced the Season 2 character pass release period: Fall 2020. So far, we know Belial (the other big bad in RPG mode) will be playable; the five other characters have yet to be revealed.
As a cherry on top, the game’s official soundtrack will be released on 17th June. As we said on our GBVS review, the OST is pretty awesome as it features the works of Octopath Traveler’s Yasunori Nishiki and in-house band Stella Magna.


Crash Team Rumble Set For 20 June With Closed Beta 20–24 April

Crash Team Rumble, is the latest four-versus-four team-based online multiplayer game set in the wacky world of Crash Bandicoot. The game will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, and Xbox One on 20 June, but lucky players can get early access through a closed beta test from 20–24 April. Pre-order the game to be a part of the beta.
In Crash Team Rumble, you’ll be able to play as popular characters like Coco, Crash, Dingodile, Neo Cortex, and Tawna across three different maps. The game has two editions – the standard edition for US$29.99 and the deluxe edition for US$39.99. The standard edition comes with a copy of the game and a Premium Battle Pass for the first season.
The deluxe edition includes all of the standard edition content plus a Premium Battle Bass for Season 2, a 25-tier instant unlock for Season 1, and a “Digital Proto Pack” featuring cool Blocky skins and other equipable items.
To win in Crash Team Rumble, you’ll need to work together with your team to slide, smash, bump, and bash your way to victory. Collect Wumpa fruit and deposit it in your drop-off zone while defending your opponent’s drop zone.
With cross-platform play and tons of strategic gameplay elements, this game is sure to bring hilarious and thrilling team-based action to players. So, gear up for an exciting adventure with your friends and get ready to rumble in the Crash Bandicoot universe!


After A Decade, ESGS Is The First Southeast Asian Expo To Feature Nintendo As A Major Exhibitor…

Update: We kinda goofed, since Games Convention Asia 2008 was the first games expo to feature Nintendo. The headline & article is edited to reflect that. Apologies!
Whenever you think Nintendo, you think “classic”,Â  “childhood”, “retro”, and “fun”. Pair that up with Southeast Asia distributor Maxsoft and sometimes you have to take the bad with the good.
For this instance, we’ll settle for “good enough”: Philippines game expo ESGS (short for “Esports and Gaming Summit”) is welcoming Nintendo as one of its official major exhibitors. Specifically, it’s “Nintendo Switch brought by Maxsoft”.
https://www.facebook.com/ESGSPhilippines/photos/a.262889607228519/1196588587191945/?type=3&permPage=1
According to Gariath Concepts managing partner/business dev Joebert Yu, Maxsoft will be showcasing new and upcoming Nintendo games at their booth. The titles will be revealed closer to the event date from 25th to 27th October.
It’s been 10 years since Maxsoft made itself a major exhibitor in a Southeast Asian event since Games Convention Asia 2008Â (ie: the one with Peter Molyneux). That’s 10+ years ago; how time flies!
Still, to secure the Nintendo name like this after years of staying quiet on Southeast Asian shores is considered a big win for a Southeast Asian video game expo organizer. Until some other event has any trump cards up its sleeve, ESGS holds that distinction in being the first.
Having said that, gamers may want to be cautiously optimistic as Maxsoft’s name is all over this.


Scream 6 Trailer Teases Ghostface With A Shotgun & The Return Of Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby

United International Pictures has unveiled a new trailer for the upcoming Scream VI or Scream 6.
Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter. In Scream 6, Melissa Barrera (“Sam Carpenter”), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy Meeks-Martin”), Mason Gooding (“Chad Meeks-Martin”), Jenna Ortega (“Tara Carpenter”), Hayden Panettiere (“Kirby Reed”) and Courteney Cox (“Gale Weathers”) return to their roles in the franchise alongside Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving.

In the picture above, Hayden Panettiere reprises her role as Kirby from 2011’s Scream 4. The one key character missing from Scream 6 is Neve Campbell, best known for playing the series’ previous protagonist and final girl, Sidney Prescott.
Scream 6 premieres in cinemas on 9 March 2023. In the meantime, check out our review of Scream 5 here.
Check out the trailer below:


Tekken World Tour 2020 Tokyo Event Postponed Due To Coronavirus

The Coronavirus events-claiming & postponement continues. Bandai Namco announced online that the Tokyo Tekken Masters event of the Tekken World Tour is being delayed. The tournament will be delayed to a “later date in 2020”.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which has had global health implications, Tokyo #TEKKEN Masters has been postponed.
For more information please visit the official TEKKEN World Tour website here:https://t.co/EGRQZozO43 pic.twitter.com/gZe42UtGjk
— Bandai Namco US (@BandaiNamcoUS) March 2, 2020

Before all this, the tournament was supposed to be held during the 4th-5th April weekend. Official statement below:

“Due to the highly dynamic nature surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which has had global health implications, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. will take every possible consideration into account prior to rescheduling the Tokyo TEKKEN Masters Tournament. Our goal and focus is to provide safe and healthy conditions for all of our tournaments to take place.”

On a related note, the tournament organizer for EVO 2020 said online that it will not cancel or postpone its mothership event. While it’s too soon to tell, we do hope that the Coronavirus epidemic has subsided after half the year has come and gone.
https://twitter.com/MrWiz/status/1234591826583011328


The Legendary Justice League Snyder Cut Will Debut On HBO Max Next Year

After years of tireless campaigning by dedicated fans and crew from around the world for the release of Zack Snyder‘s original vision of the 2017 Justice League movie, the legendary director’s cut (or Snyder Cut) of the movie will finally see the light of day after a whopping four years.
Zack Snyder announced the news himself (via press release) during a Q&A session after a live stream viewing session of 2013’s Man Of Steel with a shocking appearance by none other than Superman actor Henry Cavill.
The Justice League Snyder Cut (or Zack Snyder’s Director’s Cut of Justice League) will launch on the upcoming HBO Max streaming service sometime in 2021.

In an official statement, Snyder said:

“I want to thank HBO Max and Warner Brothers for this brave gesture of supporting artists and allowing their true visions to be realized.
Also a special thank you to all of those involved in the SnyderCut movement for making this a reality.”

Back in 2016, Snyder had to step away from post-production and editing of Justice League due to the sudden tragic loss of his daughter. Warner Bros. then hired Joss Whedon to finish the job, but this resulted in reshoots and a major departure from Snyder’s original vision of the movie.
Whedon’s version of Justice League ultimately generated over US$650 million worldwide and is currently sitting at a 40 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Ever since then, the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut global movement has continuously rallied for the Snyder’s full version of the Justice League.
In the meantime, you can check out my original review of the Justice League ‘Joss Whedon’ edition here.


Hades’ Zagreus Nendoroid Is Now Open For Pre-Order

Good Smile Company originally announced the Hades Zagreus Nendoroid back in September 2021, but now it is finally available to pre-order for Â¥5,500 (or roughly RM200+) on the official website. It is expected to release sometime in October 2022.
The Nendoroid version of Hades’ Zagreus has been carefully recreated from Cerberus head to fiery toe, and comes with two face plates: a standard expression and a slightly more roguish grin. He also comes with a bloodstone and two of the infernal arms: Stygius, the Blade of the Underworld and Aegis, the Shield of Chaos. Also included is a bottle of nectar for Zagreus to give to his friends whether they’re in the Greek pantheon or the Nendoroid series.
Hades the game is now available for PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. We named it one of Kakuchopureiâ€™s best games of 2020; so it’s a must-play. It’s also currently having a sale for the PC version at a whopping 35 percent off, so grab the opportunity.
Check out the Hades Zagreus Nendoroid below:


E3 2018: All Hail The “Potato” Shooter That Is Insurgency: Sandstorm

In a gaming field already oversaturated by triple-A military shooters, online shooters, and upcoming shooters, we get this “gem” called Insurgency: Sandstorm. Just take a look to see why I used an ingredient for french fries to describe this piece of entertainment.

Here’s the official description:
“Insurgency: Sandstorm is New World Interactiveâ€™s reborn, improved, and expanded sequel to indie multiplayer FPS hit Insurgency, coming in 2019 to PlayStation 4.
Insurgency: Sandstorm is a game of team-based tactics and objective-oriented gameplay in a fictional, contemporary Middle Eastern conflict, complete with player versus player, competitive matchmaking and co-operative game modes versus AI.”
Wait there was a first Insurgency game? Did anyone even ask for this? All I see is a HUD-less co-op shooter that really isn’t separating itself from the rest of the other shooters out there. Unless you include actual sandstorms and/or Darude in the mix, this is just going to be a forgettable bundle of indifference that will drown with the other 2019 games out the….
Wait a sec…

Oh, THAT Insurgency! The one that aims to be a faster-paced ARMA type of indie shooter where everyone dies really, REALLY fast if they play the game like a COD or a Halo. Generally, it’s like a Full Spectrum Warrior or America’s Army but for 2014.
Which begs the question, in the season full of triple-A announcements, why does the sequel’s trailer look a little, err, lacklustre?
I’m not saying change up the entire game since it’s going for the realistic-if-simple aesthetics. I’m just saying that you need to stand out and do some guerilla marketing and top-notch video-editing to get your realistic shooter message across.
Seriously, that Darude song would make all the difference.


Apex Legends Season 7 Ascension Adds New Map, New Legend & The Trident

Respawn Entertainment has announced the upcoming new content for Apex Legends Season 7. This includes a new map, a new playable Legend and the Trident.
The backstory behind the new season reads:
Nearly a century ago, Dr. Mary Somers was hired to solve a cataclysmic energy crisis. Her search for answers would take her to the edge of the universe. Before Mary left Olympus, she promised her son sheâ€™d return. But was it a promise sheâ€™d be able to keep?
New Map: Olympus
The name of the new map is Olympus and it’s described as “a beautiful, lush city in the clouds”.
New Legend: Horizon

Horizon is a brilliant astrophysicist who escaped a black hole and aims to use her newfound mastery of gravity to keep a promise.
The Trident

The Trident is a vehicle that can transport your entire party across the new Olympus map.
Besides that, Apex Legends will also make its debut on Steam with Season 7, as well as introduce Clubs, over 100 new exclusive items with the Ascension Battle Pass, and a new Ranked Season, of course.
Apex Legends Season 7 Ascension is slated to launch for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 4 November 2020. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Here’s How To Participate In Destiny 2’s Game2Give Charity Event

Starting from 24 October to 10 November 2019, Bungie will be hosting their inaugural charity event, Game2Give, in Destiny 2. You can take part by either do a fundraising stream or be becoming a viewer of one of those streams. There are in-game exclusive rewards for both streamers and viewers.
For those of you who plan to just watch the streams, you can get the rewards just by making donations. Here are the rewards you can get according to the amount you donate:
US$10 – New Mist Blossoms Emblem
US$50 – New Mist Blossoms Emblem and Gilded Shell Exotic Ghost
US$100 – All of the above plus submitting your name to win more prizes from the Bungie Prize Pool which includes the Destiny 2 soundtrack on vinyl, two Guardian figures, and more.
The new Mist Blossoms Emblem.
Streamers will be rewarded based on the amount of funds they can raise. Here’s what streamers can get at each of the fundraising milestone outlined by Bungie:
US$500 – New Mist Blossoms Emblem, Gilded Shell Exotic Ghost, and 10% discount to Bungie store (limited to first 100 people who reach the milestone).
US$1,000 – Previous milestone rewards plus Physical Vinyl Gilded Shell Exotic Ghost and chance to win Bungie studio tour.
US$2,500 – Previous milestone rewards plus Game2Give Mousepad and chance to win Palladium Boots.
US$5,000 – Previous milestone rewards plus limited edition Game2Give Meta Threads jersey and chance to win airfare and hotel for a trip and tour of Bungie Studios and meeting the team.
Top 50 overall fundraisers – Previous milestone rewards plus Game2Give Destiny 2-themed Prize Pack and VoltEdge TX70 wireless headset.
Top 3 overall fundraisers – Previous milestone rewards plus airfare and hotel for a trip to Gaming Community Expo (GCX) 2020.
Prizes in the Bungie Prize Pool.
On 29 October 2019 at 12PM PDT, Bungie will be doing a 24-hour Festival of the Lost streaming marathon with other popular content creators. The team clarifies that 100% of the donations go directly to the charities and prizes will be redeemable after the event begins.


HBO’s The Nevers Looks Like Bridgerton Meets The X-Men

Created and executive produced by Joss Whedon (of The Avengers and Firefly fame), HBOâ€™s new drama series The Nevers will debut in April 2021 with six-episodes on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411 HD).
The Nevers takes place in a fictional Victorian London, where women start to suddenly manifest magical abilities. It sounds like Marvel’s mutants in a science fiction fantasy superhero setting, and it frankly sounds like a good time. It’s worth pointing out that Whedon has since left the project, with Philippa Goslett replacing him as showrunner.

The synopsis reads:

In the last years of Victoriaâ€™s reign, London is beset by the â€œTouchedâ€: people â€“ mostly women â€“ who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities â€“ some charming, some very disturbing.
Among them are Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant young inventor.
They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces ofâ€¦ well, pretty much all the forces â€“ to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place.

The ensemble cast also includes Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amy Manson, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Zackary Momoh, Elizabeth Berrington, Kiran Sawar, Anna Devlin, Viola Prettejohn, Ella Smith, Nick Frost and Ben Chaplin.
The NeversÂ is also executive produced by Bernadette Caulfield, Ilene S. Landress, Doug Petrie, Jane Espenson and Philippa Goslett.


Overwatch League Live Postseason Events Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Delta Variant Issues

Turns out COVID-19 and its delta variant still does not care about your live events. As such, the Overwatch League announced today that its live postseason events will be cancelled.
Instead, the events will be replaced by a Hawaii-based postseason model, just like the ones used during the 2021 season. Blizzard will be using Hawaii and its University of Hawai’i, Manao facilities for Western teams to play on a fair ping with their East region counterparts. The league has used this for previous tournament cycles this year.
Here’s the official statement:
“We are no longer confident that all of [the teams] would be able to travel to the United States with their full rosters.”

An update on #OWL2021 postseason. pic.twitter.com/yUNQyT2rKd
— Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) August 26, 2021

Overwatch League’s regional play-ins begin on 4th September, with the global playoff bracket kicking off on 16th September. These dates may change in the future.


This Franchise Led To Record Profits For Capcom

Capcom has announced a record profit during the fiscal year which ended on 31 March 2021. According to the report, the companyâ€™s core digital contents business drove profitability with growth in sales of major new titles and titles in addition to greater digital distribution.
For the year ended March 31, 2021, consolidated net sales were 95,308 million yen (up 16.8 percent from the previous fiscal year), operating income was 34,596 million yen (up 51.6 percent from the previous fiscal year), ordinary income was 34,845 million yen (up 51.8 percent from the previous fiscal year), and net income attributable to the owners of the parent was 24,923 million yen (up 56.3 percent from the previous fiscal year). Operating income grew for the eighth consecutive year.
This was all thanks to the new series title Monster Hunter Rise (for Nintendo Switch), which delivered strong sales of
over 5 million units worldwide to date following its release in March 2021 while Resident Evil 3 Remake (for PS4, Xbox One and PC) also saw favourable growth, reaching 3.9 million units shipped.
Meanwhile, high-margin catalog titles demonstrated their long product lives and drove up profits, including the continued growth of Monster Hunter World Iceborne (for PS4, Xbox One and PC), which was released in the previous fiscal
year, and Resident Evil 2 Remake (for PS4, Xbox One and PC), released prior to the previous fiscal year. Further,
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition (for PS5, Xbox Series X|S) also performed well on next-generation platforms.
In Mobile Contents, in addition to the launch of Rockman X Dive (for Android, iOS) in Japan, licensing revenue
from the alliance title Street Fighter Duel (for Android, iOS) in China contributed to profits. The resulting net sales were 75,300 million yen (up 25.6 percent from the previous fiscal year) and operating income was 37,002 million yen (up 53.1 percent from the previous fiscal year).


What We Know About The Newly-Launched European Esports Federation

A new organization centred on Europe’s esports scene has leapt out of Brussels, Belgium. Launched just a few days ago on February 21, Esports Europe – The European Esports Federation (EEF) purportedly represents “100 million gamers”.
Here’s what we’ve gathered about them so far.
Their Goals and Values
In addition to their claim of representing over 100 million gamers, the EEF brings together various national associations (23) and esports stakeholders (three) from across Europe, as well as esport teams and players of varying skills. The organization’s aim, according to their website, is to develop a “unified representation, a strong vision for digital communities and a platform for its member to develop esports even further”.
The EEF also hopes to create a healthy and effective esports scene, saying that it will promote “conscious, responsible, sustainable, inclusive, healthy and value-based development”. In addition, they noted that the organization shares the European Union’s “values of solidarity and freedom”.
“Like no other sports movement, esports is benefitting from an open Europe in a free and peaceful world”, they wrote.
Who’s Involved?

Five names were revealed on the EEF’s website. Aside from first President Hans Jagnow from Germany and Vice President Karol CagÃ¡Åˆ from Slovakia, they were board members Emin Antonyan from Russia, Ido Brosh from Israel, and Alper Ã–zdemir from Turkey.
Israel’s representation seems odd given that it is a Middle Eastern country, but without delving into the full history of things, it’s worth noting that Israel is also competing in the UEFA European Qualifiers.
As for who these people are, Jagnow is also the president of eSport-Bund Deutschland (ESBD), the German esports federation. In September 2019, the organization welcomed the German government’s plans to allow non-EU esports athletes to enter the country under the same rules for sports athletes.
“The draft of the new regulation is good for the players, teams and the German esports location. International tournaments and leagues hosted in Germany would have a significant advantage”, Jagnow had said. “After we had a first step in the right direction with last year’s ruling providing short-term sports visa for esports athletes up to 90 days, this would now bring us complete equality of esports and sports in terms of visa law in Germany.”
Meanwhile, CagÃ¡Åˆ is also the president of the Slovak E-sport Association. According to a 2019 interview in game-centric scientific journal Acta Ludogica, the then-24-year-old was elected to the post in November 2018. He had helped to establish the organization, and is also a partner for Yvents, an event agency that hosted “the two biggest esports events in Slovakia”.
In the interview, CagÃ¡Åˆ told Acta Ludogica that people had doubts about his association at first. “But luckily right now, the official organisers who host tournaments and do have legal form, are by a large margin members of the Slovak Esports Association,” he revealed. “Now even almost all teams that have legal form are members as well.”
For Antonyan,Â an article by the Esports Observer names him as “the secretary general and chairman of the executive board for the Russian Esports Federation”. The article wrote that he was “in favor of esports complementing sports and vice versa”. “What I am saying is that we are not competing; we should take the best from each other and work for the good of fans and athletes,” Antonyan was quoted as saying.
According to Antonyan’s LinkedIn page, he is also the CEO of ESforce Holding. It is the parent company of esports team Virtus.Pro.
Brosh is the Israeli Esports Association’s president and was elected as a board member of the International Esports Federation last December, according to his Instagram post. When it was announced that Israel would host the 12th Esports World Championship, Brosh told Ynet that “we’ve been working on it for six months, collaborating with the Maccabi Sports Organization, the Prime Minister’s Office and Eilat municipality. After seven years of trying, Israel will finally host the most important gaming competition in the world”.Â In the same article, he also addressed the issue the venue presented in regards to countries like Iran and Indonesia.
Finally, Ã–zdemir is the chairman of the Turkish Esports Federation. In an interview with Daily Sabah, he said that “we want to make Turkey the centre of esports in the world. This sector has great potential throughout the world.

“For instance, League of Legends finals are just below the NFL’s Superbowl in ratings, which is the most viewed sports competition in the world. So, we thought why not Turkey?”

Similar Organizations
The EEF isn’t the only such organization to have emerged recently. Nico Besombes, an associate professor in Sport Sciences from the University of Paris, tweeted that the last few months saw the forming of ISFE Esports and the Global Esports Federation.

The last few months have seen several unifying bodies for esports emerge: #ISFEEsports & @GE_Federation in particular.Today, it's a gathering at the European level that is emerging: @esportsineurope!On this occasion, I updated the census of all the (inter)national initiatives! https://t.co/gREoiYhXhq pic.twitter.com/nM4JUt0v05
— Nico Besombes (@NicoBesombes) February 20, 2020

The ISFE, which represents “the interests of video game publishers in Europe” and is also based in Brussels, announced ISFE Esports last September. As reported by Esports Insider, its principal members include notable names like “Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, EA, Supercell, Twitch, Riot Games, Epic Games, ESL, and Ukie”.
Meanwhile, the Global Esports Federation launched with Tencent as its founding global partner. It proclaimed to be the “first-ever global governing body for the esports ecosystem of athletes, sports organisations, commercial partners, and other constituents, guided by the values of sport and the principle of harnessing technology and innovation for good”. One of its five objectives was to “create, develop, and stage the annual flagship Global Esports Games, with the first Games to be staged in 2020”.
The EEF’s Partners

The EEF doesn’t have a written list of partners provided, but its website shows the logos of multiple brands. These include ESL, ESforce Holding, the British Esports Association, the Hungarian Esports Federation, Esports Association Polska, the Belarusian Esports Federation, and more.
In Closing…
While we can’t say that we’re familiar with the names involved with the EEF, their respective backgrounds definitely show that they have interest and experience in the esports field at least. We’ll keep an eye out for what the organization does next and whether it’d turn into a recognizable esports name in the future… or not.


2023’s First PlayStation State Of Play Is Happening This Friday

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that a new PlayStation State Of Play presentation will take place this Friday on 24 February 2023 at 5am GMT+8. It will be live-streamed on YouTube and Twitch.
According to PlayStation Blog Japan, the entire presentation will be 45 minutes long, including 15 minutes showcasing gameplay and new information from the upcoming Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League, which is slated to release on 26 May 2023.
In total, there will be 16 titles featured in the presentation across PS4, PS5 and PS VR2.
The previous PlayStation State Of Play was back in September 2022.
Stay tuned for our coverage!


Quantum Error Story Teaser Features Firefighting & Cosmic Horror, We Think

TeamKill Media has released a new story teaser for its upcoming horror FPS title Quantum Error.
All gameplay footage on the trailer below is on a PlayStation 5 running in Unreal Engine 5. Here’s an overview of the game, which features firefighters and cosmic horrors unfathomable.
“When the Monad Quantum Research Facility—30 miles off the shore of California—is attacked by an unknown entity, engulfing the complex in flames and putting it into a full containment lock-down, a distress call is sent for mutual aid to the Garboa Fire Department in San Francisco, California.
Fire Chief Sturgis answers the call and sends you—Captain Jacob Thomas—your partner Shane Costa and a crew by helicopter to the Monad Facility.
Your mission is simple: save as many lives from the burning complex as possible and get out. However, what starts as a rescue mission quickly plummets into darkness, when you arrive and find that things are not as they appear.”

Quantum Error will be out for PS5, Xbox Series, and PS4 in 2022.


Paper Rex Are Crowned The Kings Of VCT Pacific

In an epic showdown, Paper Rex emerged victorious as the first-ever VCT Pacific League champions, defeating DRX in a nail-biting 3-2 grand final clash.
The Singaporean-based esports organisation showed incredible resilience, executing an impressive comeback to overthrow their Korean adversaries.

We are the CHAMPIONS of #VCTPacific ?
GGWP & thank you for the fight @DRX_VS ??
Thank you everyone for the support this season! #WGAMING
Fracture: 6-13Ascent: 14-16Lotus: 13-3Pearl: 13-8Bind: 13-6 pic.twitter.com/j6ovF2MblS
— Paper Rex (@pprxteam) May 28, 2023

Not only did Paper Rex (PRX) secure the coveted grand prize of US$100,000, but they also claimed the top seed in VCT Pacific for Masters Tokyo, set to take place from 11–25 June.
Fueling their grand final triumph was the outstanding performance of Ilya “something” Petrov, who joined PRX midway through the season. something’s exceptional 95/64/25 KDA series earned him the title of match MVP.

The baddest Jett and Reyna of the #WGaming squad.@smthlikeyou11 is the #VCTPacific Finals MVP! pic.twitter.com/9Wwb01fTwE
— VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific (@vctpacific) May 28, 2023

Both teams had crossed paths before in the upper bracket final, where PRX dominated with a decisive 2-0 victory. DRX fought their way to the grand final after a gruelling 3-2 win against T1 in the lower bracket final. Here’s a breakdown of the exhilarating grand final clash:

Nail-biting Grand Finals
PRX stumbled in the initial round, suffering a convincing 13-6 loss on Fracture. DRX displayed remarkable precision and tactical prowess, establishing a commanding 9-3 lead at halftime. Rb and stax from DRX effectively countered PRX’s early aggression, catching them off guard. Zest sealed the deal for DRX, disrupting PRX’s attacking momentum. This experienced DRX player denied f0rsakeN‘s Neon from crucial positions on the map and played a key role in thwarting PRX’s advances.

DRX dominates PRX in their own map pick ?
? https://t.co/h4MPtwXkRl#VCTPacific pic.twitter.com/HaZZQWtrSU
— VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific (@vctpacific) May 28, 2023

DRX further extended their advantage with a hard-fought 16-14 victory on their map pick, Ascent. Zest, Rb, and BuZz delivered clutch performances, securing crucial rounds that propelled DRX to a 2-0 series lead.

BUZZ WITH AN INSANE ACE IN TRIPLE OVERTIME ?
? https://t.co/h4MPtwXkRl@Buzz_kr | #VCTPacific pic.twitter.com/YdWifUhDLH
— VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific (@vctpacific) May 28, 2023

Facing a dire situation, PRX rallied back with a stunning 13-3 triumph in the third game. They gained a significant advantage on Lotus, a map that DRX had consistently avoided throughout the VCT Pacific League. PRX’s early first-blood kills set the stage for their remarkable comeback.
Jinggg‘s strategic use of Raze’s Paint Shell grenade prevented DRX from accessing A rubble on Lotus, isolating them and making them easy targets for PRX’s relentless assault.

Paper Rex got it done fast in Lotus ?
? https://t.co/h4MPtwXkRl#VCTPacific pic.twitter.com/ot8JXMGNIr
— VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific (@vctpacific) May 28, 2023

The momentum continued to shift in PRX’s favor during the fourth map, Pearl. Despite benching their long-time in-game leader, Benkai, PRX made brilliant mid-round calls that shattered DRX’s defense.
With an 8-4 lead at halftime, PRX charged forward, ultimately clinching an impressive 13-8 victory on Pearl, levelling the series 2-2. Notably, it was also the first time DRX tasted defeat on Pearl, as pointed out by shoutcaster Achilios.

WHAT @smthlikeyou11??? ?
? https://t.co/h4MPtwXkRl#VCTPacific pic.twitter.com/zYzwbTQ7KR
— VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific (@vctpacific) May 28, 2023

Seizing the opportunity, PRX carried their momentum into Bind, the decisive fifth map. This time, d4v41 unleashed his skills, wreaking havoc in the early rounds with a flawless 10 KDA on Skye.
PRX refused to let up, securing a commanding 9-3 lead at halftime. They dismantled DRX’s strategies with calculated pushes led by something.
Whenever PRX stormed either site, DRX found themselves helpless against their relentless onslaught. Ultimately, PRX emerged triumphant, dominating Bind with a resounding 13-6 victory.

With their remarkable run in the VCT Pacific, Paper Rex has firmly established themselves as the region’s top team. All eyes will be on them as they head to Japan for Masters Tokyo, where they will face off against the best teams from international leagues.


EVOS Esports Thailand Are Your Wild Rift Summer Super Cup 2021 Champions

The League of Legends: Wild Rift SEA Icon Series Summer Super Cup 2021 is over and done with. The winner is EVOS Esports Thailand, who has beaten Taiwan’s ONE Team in a 3-2 grand finals showdown on Sunday, 27th June.

Both EVOS Esports TH and ONE Team have outlasted and beaten the other best SEA Wild Rift teams to reach the finals. During the tournament’s group stage, EVOS Esports dominated Group A with a 5-1 streak, while ONE Team managed a 4-2 record in Group C.
EVOS Esports TH claims the grand prize of US$25,000 and the title of best Wild Rift regional team in Southeast Asia. ONE Team takes home US$19,000 for placing second. You can catch the epic online battle below:


Terminator Resistance Nails Tone But Looks Like A Far Cry Clone

Reef Entertainment previously announced Terminator Resistance, a new single-player first-person shooter featuring an original story operating on licenses from the first two Terminator movies, 1984’s The Terminator and 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and will presumably be canon.
The developer has released two new gameplay trailers for the upcoming game, one of which is barely more than a minute long while the other is close to 10 minutes in length. The 10-minute-long trailer gives us a glimpse into the opening level of Terminator Resistance, and here’s what I think of it.
While the visuals do look decent for what seems to be just a mid-budget licensed game, it seems like the developers did put some necessary work into nailing the bleak and dreary tone of the Future War as seen in the movies (albeit the physics looking like it lacks weight). It remains to be seen if that translates to the overall atmosphere as well.
However, Terminator Resistance‘s gameplay looks generic, sort of like a Far Cry clone. It just reminds me of how 2013’s Far Cry Blood Dragon explored a similar setting with gameplay that looked more fun and exciting. That said, the idea of going up against actual T-800s has me giddy, as these were not shown in the trailers.
Terminator ResistanceÂ is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One and PC onÂ 15 November 2019Â (in Australia and Europe) and 10Â December 2019Â in the US. In the meantime, check out both of the trailers below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjGq4C3PMWU&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxK70Q2RQSk&w=560&h=315]