ESL Is The Official Wild Rift Esports Partner In Malaysia & Thailand In 2021

ESL Gaming has announced that it will be operating the official League Of Legends Wild Rift esports tournaments in Malaysia and Thailand for 2021 and the official collegiate tournament in Thailand only, as the appointed partner of Riot Games Southeast Asia.
The official circuit will start in April 2021 with teams qualifying through an open qualifier system and competing over a period of three months for the title of the best team in their respective countries.
Each of the local champions will then move on to represent their country and compete in a Southeast Asia regional tournament.
ESL Gaming Asia-Pacific Japan Senior Vice President Nick Vanzetti said:
â€œThe mobile esports market in Southeast Asia continues to grow at breakneck speed and we are excited to have Wild Rift in Malaysia and Thailand for 2021. We are proud to expand our partnership with Riot Games with more titles and build up the Wild Rift esports ecosystem together with them in Malaysia and Thailand.â€
Riot Games Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau Head Of Esports Chris Tran said:
â€œWe are delighted that League of Legends: Wild Rift players and teams in Thailand and Malaysia will have a chance to showcase their talents on the local and regional stage. In partnership with ESL, we look forward to bringing an exciting year of new legacies and team rivalries to passionate mobile MOBA esports audiences across these key markets. Our collegiate tournaments in Thailand will also set the scene for up and coming MOBA competitors, with community-focused gaming experiences that everyone can enjoy.â€Â Â Â
ESL will also be running Wild Rift Open Cups on ESL Play in 2021 to provide additional opportunities for aspiring teams to compete. More information on 2021 Wild Rift esports will be released in the coming week.
Check out ESL Asia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates.
In the meantime, you can top up your League Of Legends Wild Rift Wild Cores easily at Codashop byÂ heading over to this link. In case you need some premium currency refilling to do.


Mario Kart Races Into Uniqlo Stores With New Clothing Lineup

Uniqlo has become one of the most popular clothing brands among gamers. It’s primarily because they’ve collaborated with companies like Capcom, Blizzard, and many others to produce awesome and affordable nerd apparel. This Christmas, we’re getting another Nintendo collaboration.

The Mario Kart franchise is making its Uniqlo debut in a clothing line called Mario Kart Friendship. The complete lineup features an assortment of t-shirts and hoodies. There’s no word on when these will arrive overseas as the Uniqlo website only states that they’ll be sold in Japanese Uniqlo stores starting from 23 December 2019.

Even if you are situated in Japan, do take note that all Mario Kart Friendship clothes are made for children. Unfortunately, no adult sizes are available for any of these t-shirts and hoodies. On the bright side, they’d make perfect Christmas gifts for the young’uns.

The t-shirts are priced at Â¥790 (~US$7) while the hoodies are priced at Â¥1,990 (~US$18). Check out the full catalog at the Uniqlo Japan website.
Thanks, SoraNews24.


KOF XV’s Best China Player Reveals New Season 2 Tier List

The King of Fighters XV is going really strong since its early 2022 debut, with the game now in its second season. With new established characters and a lot more time spent on it, it’s safe to say that these new rounds of KOF XV tier lists this year will be beneficial for the community.
Top KOF XV player (and the best overall KOF fighter in the world) Xiao Hai (via Twitter) has a ton of opinions about Season 2, in a form of a new tier list. It should be noted that Season 2 made a number of significant fighting mechanic changes such as increased recovery frames for most command grabs, power gauge accumulating during MAX mode, and counter throws not possible during normal attacks, command moves, and blowback recovery. This will affect certain characters who are used to Season 1’s mechanics.
With that said, here’s the tier list:
A+ Tier

Kyo Kusanagi, Luong, B.Jenet
Talk about new faces in a 3D-modeled KOF game! Kyo, Luong, and B.Jenet are getting the love this time around with the Season 2 buffs.
A Tier

Iori Yagami, Krohnen, Shermie
Iori and Shermie are out of tournament mediocrity thanks to their recent buffs and tweaks. Despite some tweaks, Krohnen will still dominate 2023.
A- Tier

Benimaru, K’, Ryo, Chizuru
K’ is back again in the upper echelons of a tier list. The rest of the characters are welcome surprises too, especially with Ryo and his new buffs to make him an arguably better pick than Robert.
B+ Tier

Shun’ei, Meitekun, Joe, Andy, Terry, Robert Garcia, Clarke, Gato, Blue Mary, Rock Howard, King of Dinosaurs, Ryuji Yamazaki, Ash, Isla, Kukri, Heidern, Elizabeth, Kula, Dolores, Mai Shiranui, Athena, Whip, King, Ralf, Yashiro, Yuri Sakazaki, Geese Howard, Orochi Chris, Orochi Yashiro, Nakoruru, Shingo
B Tier

Leona, Angel, Chris, Vanessa, Ramon, Billy Kane, Omega Rugal, Orochi Shermie, Haohmaru, Darlie Dagger
B- Tier

Maxima, Antonov
From the looks of the list, he doesn’t have any faith in the newcomers, but that may change over time. For the rest of the characters, we see Kyo, Iori, Shermie, and Luong climbing back up to relevance. Personally, it’s nice to see pirate queen B.Jenet get the improvements she deserves. I’m also happy that at least Joe and Athena are left in the “middle” part of the tier list and are still great as my go-to characters with all the numerous buffs going around. Overall, KOF XV’s new season is very, very balanced in spite of the huge roster.

China Xiaohai @Xiaohai_ posts the new tier list today. The patch is version. 1.63.At the middle class, we see a lot of characters. The balance becomes better and better. #KOFXV pic.twitter.com/gJIRq3HGNF
— GZDOJO-WEILI (@wangweili424) February 2, 2023


Indie Cooking Game Venba Delayed To Summer; Adds New Platforms

Narrative cooking game Venba will be out for additional platforms at the possible cost of a new release window.
The upcoming indie title that puts you in the role of an Indian mom with the ability to make great food will be out this Summer instead of this Spring according to developer Visai Games. Venba will be out for Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PlayStation 5 alongside its initial PC and Nintendo Switch versions.
Check out the trailer and features overview below:
Features

Cook authentic and delicious recipes handpicked from regional southern Indian cuisine.
Hold branching conversations and explore different narrative beats.
Beautiful visuals and animations.
Unique soundtrack inspired by Indian musicals.


The ESA Plans To Turn E3 2020 Into Something Similar To Gamescom

Gamesindustry.biz has acquired a pitch deck that showcases what the ESA plans to do with E3 next year. The main selling point is that E3 will be transformed into a “fan, media, and influencer festival” which is similar to other big games industry events such as Gamescom and ChinaJoy.
E3 2019 may have provided a lot of people good excuses to never attend the event in the future. It lacked presence from big names such as Sony, Activision, and Microsoft (mostly present at the Microsoft Theatre which is about 5 minutes away from the LACC). There was also that controversy of leaking the personal data of over 2,000 journalists.
Shifting the approach from business-to-business to consumer-friendly requires a revamping of the whole event and that’s what the ESA plans to do. One of the plans is to prepare “experience hubs” in the middle of usual exhibitor booths.

Utilisation of the “experience hubs” will focus more on creating “experiential events and PR moments” such as having a professional basketball player playing an NBA game in front of fans and Hollywood actors competing in game tournaments.
One particular word that stands out is “queuetainment” and it relates to two other major points. One, there will be systems to help manage wait times such as a proposed E3 smartphone app and premium passes sold at a higher price. Two, there will be constant marketing efforts aimed specifically towards people waiting in line.
There are two slides dedicated to the topic of “The Power of Social Good” which mostly details plans to amplify “E3’s social good brand”. They include actions such as having influencers who are passionate about issues such as gender equality and STEM. The main objective is to basically (re)establish a good branding for E3.

As someone who has never attended E3, the idea of the “E3 Digital Ticket” definitely sounds interesting. Implementation of these digital tickets will include features such as exhibitors providing codes to limited-time demos and the ability to purchase demo-bundles of games showcased on the floor.
Despite all the focus towards consumers, media will still be given priority as it’s proposed that the first day of the event will be open only to influencers, industry personnel, and media.
On paper, E3 2020 sounds it will be a more cheerful event that will have a lot more shouting and clapping than ever before. However, is it truly what the industry needs moving forward?
I’ve read that a lot of big name publishers and game companies find that having a presence at E3 no longer provides the same ROI that it did many years ago. Events such as Playstation Experience are more beneficial as companies don’t have to compete with each other for attention.
Playstation Experience SEA 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Of course, there’s also digital-only events such as Nintendo Direct which cost significantly less yet are able to generate just as much attention nowadays. With ideas like these, will changing E3 actually help in making it more attractive to game companies?
Personally, I don’t think so.
You can read the pitch deck here.


Dark And Darker Dev Denies Theft Accusations

Ironmace, the developers of Dark and Darker, have recently come under fire due to allegations that their game uses stolen assets and code. However, the studio has since refuted these claims on Discord, stating that everything in their game was created from scratch, with some assets being bought from the Unreal marketplace or designed in-house.

Check out the guide we did for Dark and Darker!
These accusations originally surfaced on This is Game, a Korean website, which reported that Ironmace had hired former Nexon employees who had been let go for disciplinary reasons. Apparently, these ex-staffers were utilizing materials they had worked on while at Nexon to build Dark and Darker, with the project P3 prototype from Nexon being used as a template for the game. Some of the images from Project P3 seem to have similarities to Dark and Darker’s design.

It’s worth noting that in 2021, Nexon shifted gears and started working on a new project, P7, which was more of a contemporary survival adventure. Around the same time, Ironmace was founded, with some of its members being former Nexon employees. However, according to Ironmace’s website, it doesn’t seem like they left Nexon on good terms.
Their website states that they’re “a merry band of veteran game developers disillusioned by the exploitative and greedy practices we once helped create.” They claim to be experts who have worked on some of Korea’s biggest hits, and have seen first-hand how companies “sell their soul for the easy payday.” They go on to express their disappointment in corporate game companies that prioritize profits over bringing joy to gamers.
It’s not uncommon for developers to leave big companies to pursue indie development, but the allegations of code and asset theft from Nexon definitely raises some eyebrows. The report also suggests that former Nexon employees who now work at Ironmace were caught attempting to steal code, resources, and development documents from the company.
Ironmace continues to deny all allegations of stolen assets and code, despite the recent reports. In a message on the Dark and Darker Discord, presumably written by CEO Terence Seung-ha, he stated that “ABSOLUTELY NO stolen assets or code were used to make our game.” Seung-ha went on to clarify that their code was built from scratch, and most of their assets were purchased from the Unreal marketplace. He claims that all other assets and game design documents were created in-house and that this has been audited by an outside agency. Seung-ha also pointed out that game genres cannot be copyrighted.

Furthermore, Seung-ha addressed a lawsuit mentioned in a separate This is Game report, stating that it is a “separate personal matter” filed against a single Ironmace employee and that no lawsuit has been filed against Ironmace.
However, the Korean news site YTN reports that Nexon did file a complaint against Dark and Darker under the “Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets Protection Act.” They alleged that CEO Park Mo and other employees stole information about a game they were working on while at Nexon. According to game industry commentator PlayerIGN, this case was initially filed in August 2022, but Nexon has requested a “deeper investigation” as Dark and Darker continues to grow in popularity. It’s unclear if this is the same action that Seung-ha was referring to.

NEXON filed a complaint on Dark and Darker on the basis of Unfair Competition & Trade Secrets Protection Act.
Claiming the devs stole info about an unreleased game they were in charge of after quitting the company.
The local police is now investigating Iron Mace CEO and others. pic.twitter.com/DHzLmTwZYS
— PlayerIGN (@PlayerIGN) February 20, 2023

Seung-ha speculated that the rumours of stolen assets and code were started by a “disgruntled third party,” but he did not offer any information about who that might be or why they would be doing so. Ironmace is currently trying to handle the situation privately, but Seung-ha stated that they will defend themselves against any legal action if necessary. Nexon has not released any public statements regarding the matter.


The PS5 DualShock 5 Controller May Be Using Biofeedback

Looks like the PS Vita’s Vitality Sensor feature will live on in the PlayStation 5.
According to a recent Sony patent (via Respawn First), the PS5’s DualShock 5 controller may feature sensors to gather biofeedback from the user’s hands during normal use. The sensor on both sides of the controller can track electrodermal activity and heart-rate, and can make adjustments in-game to tailor the user’s experience.

The patent lists the following

biofeedback information is used to select between one or more options presented in a piece of content without the user having to provide further input.
[provide] an immersive and highly interactive experience for players.
There is a desire in computer gaming to provide an immersive and highly interactive experience for players, so as to enhance the enjoyment of the player. This has become of particular interest with the increasing availability of head-mounted displays.
designed to work with Virtual Reality.

This sort of data can be cool for developers to use when making games on the console. But there’s going to be an issue regarding this info being stored by PlayStation and sold to third-parties. Guess we’ll find out more when the PS5 makes its presentation debut this year.
I can definitely tell you that biofeedback can help make future horror games tougher and tenser. Imagine if the controller were to detect a slow heartbeat coming out of you when you’re halfway running away from a monster. The game can provide more of a challenge and a few more jumpscares just to get your adrenaline pumping.


The 30 Best Games Of 2021: #8

For the next few days, we’ll be unveiling our 30 best games of 2021 bit by bit. Here’s number 8.Â
#8: Fuga – Melodies Of Steel

Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
We would never have thought a CyberConnect2 game, which is usually an anime license fighter title, would end up on our prestigious list. Honestly we never dream that a new entry in the company’s Tail Bronx series (Tail Concerto, Solatorobo) would even see the light of day. Yet through self-publishing perseverance, we have this lovely if depressing RPG about children and child soldiers on the run from the military in an oppressed war-torn world.
Of course, the motley crew of children do have an ace up their sleeves: a giant ancient tank named the Taranis that is powerful and requires a lot of manpower to run. And if the going gets tough, you even have the option to sacrifice any of the kids for a death-filled Kamehameha blast. The gameplay itself is fun and challenging, since you need to do one entire 20-minute run without any saves whatsoever filled with dangerous battles, limited time to bond with your teammates old and new so that they perform efficiently in a fight, and a depressing-yet-hopeful narrative that’s more heartfelt than subtle.
It’s a shame this CyberConnect2 gem is buried amidst many 2021 indie and mid-tier games; you owe it to yourself as an RPG fan to at least support more genuine efforts like Fuga: Melodies of Steel.


No Straight Roads’ Sayu Teams Up With Space Channel 5’s Ulala For A VR Special

Who knew fish could get funky?
No Straight Roads‘ iconic virtual idol mermaid thing Sayu is featured in music rhythm game Space Channel 5 VR in a special Sega & Metronomik collaboration.

Hey there, space cats! Sayu has joined Ulala in the "Dance in the Galaxy" collaboration with @Space_Channel5 !!#NoStraightRoads drew some inspiration from Space Channel 5 so it is a true privilege to be dancing alongside Ulala ?????? Left, right, PYUN!https://t.co/map3UE1mnc pic.twitter.com/CJDS9kYx8k
— No Straight Roads ? (@NoStraightRoads) November 13, 2020

Even Metronomik mentioned that No Straight Roads drew some inspiration from Space Channel 5, so the crossover does make sense. And yes, Sayu’s “ultimate” form also appears. Space Channel 5 VR is out now for PS4; PSVR required.
Also, we couldn’t help but push this out for you Sayu and Sega fans out there.


HBO GO May 2021: Our Picks & Highlights

Since everyone is (still mostly) staying home because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Iâ€™m sure you wonâ€™t want to waste time sifting through HBO GOâ€™s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming site updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so Iâ€™m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for HBO GOâ€™s May 2021 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Scoob! (1 May 2021)

Ever wondered how Scooby-Doo met and became best buds with Shaggy? Find out in Scoobyâ€™s first animated feature, which also reveals how they joined young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to form the famous Mystery Inc.
Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this global “dogpocalypse,” the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined. Stars Will Forte, Mark Wahlberg and Jason Isaacs.
You can check out my review of Scoob! here.
Scoob! will premiere on Saturday, 1 May 2021 at 9pm exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411 HD).

Arrow (1 May 2021)

Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow embarks on his most dangerous mission yet â€“ to protect the multiverse against the supremely powerful entity known as The Monitor, even if it may cost his life. Even as he returns to his friends in Starling City, he must decipher The Monitorâ€™s plans and confront the reality and purpose of his existence as the Green Arrow. Stars Stephen Amell, David Ramsey and Emily Bett Rickards.
All eight (8) seasons of Arrow will be available on HBO GO starting from 1 May 2021.
Swamp Thing (1 May 2021)

The small town of Marais, Louisiana, is stricken by a mysterious illness, prompting a visit from CDC investigator and former Marais native, Abby Arcane. At the hospital, she encounters biologist Alec Holland who believes the bizarre illness might be connected to his scientific work in the swamp for powerful businessman Avery Sunderland.
When Alec goes missing after investigating the unnatural experiments deep in the swamp, something else rises in his place, a mysterious creature born of the depths of the swampâ€™s mystical and terrifying secrets. Stars Crystal Reed, Andy Bean, Will Patton and Virginia Madsen.
The first and only season of Swamp Thing will be available on HBO GO starting from 1 May 2021.
DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow Season 6 (3 May 2021)

When heroes alone are not enough… the world needs legends. Setting history back on track, the Legends set out to save the world â€“ and their legacy. This time, it’s the familiar fun of the Legends time-travelling across historical events and encountering famous figures with an added shot of magical craziness. Stars Caity Lotz, Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Tala Ashe.
However, this won’t be available on HBO GO. DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow Season 6 premieres on the same day as the U.S every Monday from 3 May 2021 at 9pm on Warner TV (Astro Channel 712 HD / UnifiTV Channel 451). New episodes will premiere every Monday at the same time.

A Bunch Of Newly-Added DC Animated Movies (12 May 2021)

The following DC animated movies will be available on HBO GO starting from 12 May 2021:

DC Universe Animated Movies Available onÂ HBO GOÂ from 12 May

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part I
Batman: Death In The Family

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part II
Batman: Hush

Batman: Assault on Arkham
Wonder Woman: Bloodlines

Batman: The Killing Joke
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight

Oslo (30 May 2021)

Based on a true story, this HBO Original Film chronicles the story of negotiations between implacableÂ Enemies, from the secret back-channel talks to the unlikely friendships and quiet heroics of a small but committed group of Israelis, Palestinians and one Norwegian couple that led to the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords. Stars Ruth Wilson and Andrew Scott.
Oslo will premiere on Sunday, 30 May 2021 at 8am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411 HD).

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


Rick & Morty Partners With Adidas For A Sneaker Ad Featuring Mo Salah & Miedema

What do you get when you combine one of adult animation’s most popular duo and one of the world’s top football players? A pretty bizarre sneaker commercial.
Adult Swim’s Rick & Morty, a scifi show about a smart asshole scientist and his grandkid, teams up with sports shoe company Adidas for an ad featuring a new pair of alien green shoes called the Adidas X Speedportal which are available now. Check out the shoes below.

And to spice things up, they made a Rick & Morty animated version of world famous footballer Mo Salah from Liverpool who also captains the Egypt national team, and renowned female striker Vivianne Miedema from FA Women’s Super League Arsenal club/Netherlands national player. The ad runs for 1 minute and 30 seconds and is as Rick & Morty as it gets. I do wonder how Justin Roiland find all this free time to animate the upcoming season of the show, make a game featuring guns with faces, and do these commercials all at the same time.

The Adidas X Speedportal features speed-boosting for football boots, anti-slip silicone heel print, carbon fiber speedframe, and a US$280 price tag. You may have to check your local Adidas shop to see if it’s available.


Bandai Namco & NetherRealm Cuts Ties With This Controversial Esports Affiliate

Bandai Namco and NetherRealm Studios, the makers of Tekken 7 and Mortal Kombat 11 respectively, have publicly announced to not feature their games on future WePlay tournaments and esports events. Previously, both companies have hosted a lot of money in Tekken 7, SoulCalibur VI, and Mortal Kombat 11 tournaments the past month or so.

pic.twitter.com/QmLZgn2piO
— Bandai Namco Esports (@BNEesports) April 30, 2021

pic.twitter.com/ckWZZ2fZuC
— NetherRealm (@NetherRealm) April 30, 2021

WePlay responded, stating that it was shocked at these turn of events.

#SupportWUFL – Our response to NRS & Bandai pic.twitter.com/pmoUkdWTGN
— WUFL | #StandWithUkraine (@WePlayUFL) April 30, 2021

As you can tell, both companies are using the same template for their messaging, citing differences in “vision” & “professional standards”. Why did they sever ties with WePlay? After all, they managed to host its Ultimate Fighting League circuit with a nice total prize pool of US$150,000.
Well, the organization was recently infamous for its public relationship with controversial gambling site 1xBet. This was detailed in great detail by community organizer Josh “Icege” McWhorter.

Wow. Okay.
Uh… listen y'all, I know that in the FGC we are all about trying to secure the bag.
But make sure that bag isn't stolen first pls.
A thread as to why WePlay partnering with 1xBet is a PROBLEMhttps://t.co/UCUBikf95Y
/1
— Icege | ?? ?? Evo 2022 (@Icege) April 7, 2021

See, 1xBet was suspended from operating in the United Kingdom in 2019 for facilitating gambling on children’s sports in Kenya, advertising on illegal streaming sites, and promoting a “pornhub casino” with topless female dealers. Also, the company’s alleged owners were wanted by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation as of August 2020.
Here’s a statement on why WePlay wants to partner with 1xBet:
“The purpose of the WePlay Esports and 1xBet partnership is the expansion of the esports scene and the opportunities for everyone involved in it. We are aware of the fact that 1xBet does not operate in certain countries. 1xBet has assured us that the brand abides by all the relevant laws and regulations in every jurisdiction in which it operates.”
Perhaps WePlay’s ties with such an organization were the reason both game makers are pulling out of future WePlay esports tournaments. It’s not made known or clear, but it can’t be a mere coincidence.


Video Game’s Best Monsters & Fiends

Happy Halloween 2022, everyone!
While this year hasn’t been the best for outdoor activities and offline partying, there’s still cause for celebration for the spookiest time of the month. We’ve done our scariest moments in gaming history and our top Castlevania picks already, so what’s next?
Monsters, duh!
These are our favourite scary monsters in video game history. Whether they’re 8-bit or in full 3D glory circa 2000 and beyond, these freaks & ghouls scared the bejeesus out of us.
In no particular order, here they are!
Biggy Man (from Splatterhouse)

This creepshow may not look like much now, but back in 1988, he was every arcade gamer’s nightmare. See, Splatterhouse from Namco was a 2D action game quarter muncher, and the gruesome chainsaw hand-brandishing Biggy Man is meant to be a paywall. He will murder you super-quick in the third stage and require you to put in quarters until he is dead.
And the only reliable way to kill him? It’s with a shotgun. You actually get one at the start of stage 3, so the trick is to not use it until Biggy Man pops up at the end. It’s tougher than it sounds unless you’ve played this game a 100 times.
His 2010 equivalent in the decent-but-kinda-flawed Splatterhouse remake is pretty scary and memorable too. Unlike the arcade original, our main hero’s fight against Biggy Man is tiered hack-and-slash style. At least the monster’s allergy to buckshot is still consistent.

Stalker (from Dead Space 2)
The Dead Space series from then-Visceral Games are pretty awesome sci-fi horror titles, botched by the third game thanks to its renowned publisher EA’s cock-ups. Still, we give a toast to the game that introduced Necromorphs to the gaming lexicon.
These mutations and aberrations are already insidious and horrifying to look at and fight, but which ones in our collective experiences gave us nightmares? Is it Isaac’s dead girlfriend/apparition Nicole? Is it the exploding Necromorph babies?
Nope, it’s the Stalkers.

https://youtu.be/nf-gA8tLM1A

They freak you out with their undead bird-like call, their head pokes out unnervingly, they attack in groups and flank you always, and they deal huge damage super-quick if you’re not paying attention. Every fight with them is usually in an area with so many blind spots and crates; perfect for an alway-hiding group of undead jerks to pounce upon unsuspecting engineers named after sci-fi book authors.
The Witch (from Left 4 Dead)

Valve’s multiplayer shooter Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 remains one of the best online co-op gaming experiences. Nothing beats trying to shoot down and survive hordes of zombies. What makes these games even more memorable are the different types of zombies, and the most iconic one is the Witch.
What makes The Witch so special is how downright scary they are. No matter how many hours you’ve put into Left 4 Dead, the presence of a Witch will always terrify you. Why? You will always hear a Witch before they see one.
As you look for the source of the creepy wailing and sobbing of the Witch, shining your flashlight onto a Witch will make it immediately pounce on you with lightning speed. The only thing that can save you now are your teammates coming to rescue.

Clickers (from The Last Of Us)
In the world of The Last Of Us, the fungus infects hosts through spores or inflicting injuries (like biting or scratching) on other living things via their host bodies.
Unlike zombies, dead human beings can’t be infected or become hosts. What’s unique about the Cordyceps virus is that it can only infect living people. However, these people still die as a result of being infected, as the Cordyceps gradually replaces their body.
To protect themselves from infection through spores, humans wear gas masks, though spores or â€˜nestsâ€™ of spores can often only be found in enclosed places like the sewers or inside buildings.
As for examples of Infected, the most common types are the Runners, the first and weakest stage of Infected. However, the most iconic and popular type has to be the Clickers, who are named after the chilling clicking sound they make.
Clickers are blind (as grotesque mushrooms have sprouted from where their faces were), but they can locate prey using echolocation or sound vibrations. In the game, getting grabbed by a Clicker means instant death.
Check out one of the bigger Infected we faced in The Last Of Us Part 2:

Big Daddy (from BioShock)

The BioShock games were first-person immersive sims and shooters, but the heart of the story is essentially the atmospheric horror elements. No gamer will ever forget the first time that they faced a titanic Big Daddy with nothing but some guns and a few supernatural abilities.
In the game’s lore, the Big Daddies are always in the company of Little Sisters, who they protect with all their might. Even if you don’t see them coming, the menacing sound of their stomping will have you thinking twice before you go and face the Big Daddy.

Pyramid Head (from Silent Hill)

Pyramid Head was initially introduced in Silent Hill 2, and has become the franchise’s most popular monster ever since. The mystery of what he is makes him creepy, and carrying around that giant sword to kill players just adds to his terror. Also, the way he just drags it along is chilling.
He’s so popular that he has appeared in 2012’s Silent Hill Revelation movie adaptation and even other games like Dead By Daylight.

Nemesis (from Resident Evil 3)

Nemesis is the most iconic monster from the Resident Evil franchise, and for good reason. In the original Resident Evil 3, he is unkillable and disrupts the player at any time, adding a dynamic amount of fear into the game.
While the recent Resident Evil 3 Remake version of Nemesis is less scary and more predictable, he’s still the same scary gargantuan presence that makes the game memorable.

Deathclaw (from the Fallout series)

If there’s one enemy that you never want to face in the Fallout games, it’s the Deathclaws. Imagine our surprise when you could encounter them in Fallout New Vegas early on in the game if you venture to a certain part of the game. If you don’t heed the warnings of the miners or rangers, you’ll get a taste of what a pack of Deathclaws can do first-hand.
They’re fast, powerful and take a lot of damage to take down, not to mention how demonic they look.

Mimics (from Dark Souls)

The bane of every adventurer in fantasy worlds. The Dark Souls variant are scary because they deal a fuckton of damage up-close and they appear early in the game. The From Software aesthetic of this classic creature is also pretty horrifying.
How DOES it fit its legs, hands, and tongue all in that chest? Are they foldable pieces of flesh? Ugh…

Baby In The Sink (from P.T.)
When you play the PS4 P.T. demo for the first, you will come across a hugely unnerving image of a foetus in a sink. That’s still alive. Or at least resembles one.

Jesus….this is Stan Winston levels of creepy authenticity in digital form.
What it lacks in shock value (ala Lisa when you pick up that dial), it makes up for it with its unsettling animation and the fact that IT’S A DEFORMED BABY IN A SINK WRIGGLING ALL FREAKY-LIKE!

Cherub (from Doom 3)

What’s just as scary as a bloodied foetus in a sink? A flying, demonic, half-bodied infant.
Of all the monsters and ghouls in Doom 3, nothing – I mean nothing came close to the creepiness and eeriness of seeing a flock of Cherubs appear on your screen, just waiting to pounce at you and claw your eyes out.
The fact that they have velociraptor-like arms kind of magnified the fear factor tenfold. Or maybe fifteen.

Alma (from the F.E.A.R series)
F.E.A.R is a cult classic for many reasons. It was way ahead of its time at release, packed with awesome guns, dismemberment physics, bullet-time goodness and oh boy – a new take on video game jump scares.
Unlike the Cherub or most monsters and ghouls listed above, Alma does not actively go out to hurt you. In the first game, at least. In fact, she lingers about. And that’s what makes it most unsettling.
Playing F.E.A.R for the first time, and catching glimpses of her at the edge of your screen, or just missing her passing by that dark corridor you’re supposed to head into; the fear generated was from the unknown and frankly, is the worst kind of all.
Just when you were wondering where she’s gonna pop out from next, you pan your camera to see this:

This is scripted events in horror games done right.

Tonberry from Final Fantasy series

Don’t laugh. This seemingly innocent-looking green fellow has killed more party members with its slow movement and high damage stabbing attacks. Its Chef’s Knife attack will either deal massive damage or instant kill heroes, while it can counter attacks with Karma which deals damage depending on how many enemies the target hero has slain.
Got any creepy boogeymen and monsters that’s missing on our list? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, and on our brand-spanking new Discord channel!


Stadia Acquires Developer Of Journey To The Savage Planet

Announced earlier the year, Journey to the Savage Planet has been frequently compared to No Man’s Sky. The game is scheduled to be released on 28 January 2020 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Some new developments suggest that it’s coming to Stadia as well.

Google Stadia has acquired Typhoon Studios, the developer of Journey to the Savage Planet. Aside from that piece of news, there have been no announcements of new projects by the studio so it’s safe to assume they’re focused on bringing the game to Stadia.
Typhoon Studios is co-founded by Reid Schneider and Alex Hutchinson, former creative director of Assassin’s Creed III and Far Cry 4. The team will be joining the first Stadia Games and Entertainment studio based in Montreal and led by SÃ©bastien Puel.
Things aren’t exactly looking up for Google Stadia. The cloud-gaming platform had a very weak launch, creating a lot of skepticism for its 2020 roadmap. Buying new studios may help populate its game library but the main problems are found in the hardware itself.
Here’s hoping Typhoon Studios doesn’t lose its freedom to create games for other platforms. At this point, being relegated to only making Stadia exclusives doesn’t sound like a great idea.


Immortals: Fenyx Rising Guide – How To Be A Greek Hero, Ubisoft Style

We have to admit: Ubisoft’s Greek mythology funtime action-adventure game Immortals Fenyx Rising is a whole load of fun, even if it might be similar to Nintendo’s last Legend of Zelda game.
We won’t say it’s as challenging combat-wise, but it has a lot of creative and taxing puzzles that will test your grey matter, accompanied with a lush beautiful Golden Isle for our titular hero to explore and glide in.
There’s a lot to do on said “vacation” spot, but how should you start? What should you focus on? Never fear; we’re here to help you out with your personal Greek odyssey. Let’s start off with…
Beginner’s Guide
Here’s What Each Resource Is For & Where To Find Them
It can be daunting at first in Immortals Fenyx Rising, especially when you have about seven different resources to collect and keep tabs on. What does each of these resource even do?

You won’t even find out what these resources will do until you reach the Hall Of The Gods, which is around one or two hours into the game.
We’ve listed down each resource below, including what they’re for and where you can find them:
Ambrosia: To increase total Health (found in the open-world throughout the island).Yellow Adamantine Shards: To upgrade the carrying capacity of both the Potion’s Pouch and Apollo’s (found from looting chests and Yellow Shard Clusters).Blue Adamantine Shards: To upgrade weapons, armour and helmets. (found by defeating common enemies, looting chests, and Blue Shard Clusters).Red Adamantine Shards: To upgrade weapons (found from unique enemies, looting guarded chests and Red Shard clusters).Purple Adamantine Shards: To upgrade armour and helmets (from epic chests, night chests, and Purple Shard clusters).Zeus Lightning: To increase stamina (obtained by completing Vaults Of Tartaros).Coins of Charon: To upgrade skills and Godly Powers (obtained by completing Myth Challenges).
Don’t Forget To Take On Side Quests From Hermes’ Heroic Task Board

At the Hall Of The Gods, you can take on small side quests from Hermes’ Heroic Task Board. These quests usually involve tedious checklists like collecting certain amounts of something or killing a particular number of an enemy type.
However, they mostly consist of stuff you’re going to naturally perform in the course of your exploration, so it doesn’t hurt to check the Heroic Task Board once in a while and just picking up the quests.
Whether you actively strive to complete them is up to you, but doing so will net you extra resources and an additional rare resource called Elektrum, which is used to buy rare items from Hermes himself.
To Get Charon Coins Faster, Do The Lyre Challenges For Each Region
Each of these Mythic Challenges (which net you Charon Coins) will give you up to 8 coins each. Just visit all the small lyre locations, write down the notation order of each (using 1,2,3,and 4 since they are only 4 strings to work with), then Fast Travel to the Big Lyre and play them tunes for your hard-earned rewards!
Go For The Telekinesis Gathering Skill & Other Exploration-Savvy Perks

When you get your first few Charon Coins, you can use them to acquire skills via the Hall of Gods. So which skill should you get first?
Honestly, any skill that will make your farming and exploration easier at the get-go will help you out in the long run. So go for the following:
Telekinesis Gathering, which lets you collect resources at one go instead of one-by-one like in that one Nintendo Zelda game on Switch.Climb Leap, so you can scale cliffs faster. Consumes less stamina than regular climbing.Glide Boost, which lets you boost mid-air for less stamina
Clear out the First Island’s Secrets & Collectibles
Once you’re done with the starting island and you can fast travel to and fro to the Hall of Gods (an hour or so, give or take), you should explore every facet of the first island: Clashing Rocks. Getting all the Ambrosia, Charon Coins, and treasure here will give you a leg up in your journey.
Combat Skills? Focus On Sword & Arrow Direction
If you’re not sure where to focus on weapons-wise, just beef up your sword attacks and damage. It’s the fastest weapon you have, and you have access to a sword finisher that stuns heavy enemies.
There’s also an extra bow & arrow skill that lets you control your slow-motion Apollo’s Arrow better (ie: the Predator Arrow navigating skill from the Assassin’s Creed games). It’s called Precision Control and it is essential as a LOT of Immortals Fenyx Rising puzzles will require you to navigate arrows through loops. Lots and lots of loops & tiny holes.
NEXT: Video walkthroughs


Evos Esports SG Breaks Curse To Win MPL MY/SG S4

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) MY/SG Season 4 Playoffs has concluded this weekend (from 19 and 20 October 2019 at KL Live, Life Centre), with Singaporean team Evos Esports SGÂ emerging as the champions and bringing home a lion’s share of the total prize pool (US$50,000) with a whopping US$25,000 (RM104,000+).

In the two semi-final matches, TodakÂ defeated Evos Esports SG with a comfortable 2-0 win to grab a spot in the MPL MY/SG Season 4 Playoffs Grand Finals, while Axis Esports succumbed 2-1 to Singaporean team Resurgence.
Little Red Revenge
In an exciting turn of events, this resulted in an all-Singaporean lower-bracket match between Evos Esports SG and Resurgence, to determine not only who will be advancing to the MPL MY/SG Season 4 Playoffs Grand Finals, but also the Singapore representative for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship (M1).
Evos Esports SG proved to be the better Singaporean team of the two, dominating with a 2-0 win over Resurgence. Just like the MPL MY/SG Season 3 Playoffs Grand Finals, we were once again treated to another intense Malaysian/Singaporean showdown, but this time it’s between Todak and Evos Esports SG.

During the best-of-five Grand Finals, Evos Esports SG ultimately emerged victorious 3-2 after five gruelling and taxing matches against Todak, successfully breaking their Grand Finals curse (after losing to Geek Fam in the MPL MY/SG Season 3 Playoffs Grand Finals) and becoming the first Singaporean team to be the champions since IDNS SG back in Season 1.

Members of team Todak were inconsolable on stage, still reeling from their loss against Evos Esports SG.
Andrew ‘Potato’ Lim won the title of MPL MY/SG Season 4 MVP, winning US$1000 in prize money (and bragging rights).
Members of Evos Esports SG were all-smiles during the prize-giving ceremony.
Evos Esports SG proudly holds their trophy aloft.
The official team standings and placements are as follows:

1st â€“ EVOS Esports SG
2nd â€“ Todak
3rd â€“ Resurgence
4th â€“ Axis Esports
5th – Notorious Villains
6th – Geek Fam
7th – X-Pax X-assins
8th – Shopee Bosskurr

Two (2) Malaysian teams and one (1) Singaporean team will be representing their respective countries at the inaugural Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship (M1), which will take place from 15 to 17 November 2019 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Malaysian representatives areÂ Todak and Axis Esports, while the Singaporean representative isÂ Evos Esports SG. With a prize pool of US$250,000, they will be competing with 13 other teams from various countries, including:

The Philippines – Sunsparks and Onic PH (2)
Indonesia – To Be Confirmed (2)
Myanmar – To Be Confirmed (1)
Russia – Deus Vult (1)
United States – Team Gosu (1)
Turkey – Evil Esports (1)
Laos – Candy Comeback (1)
Japan – 10Second Gaming+ (1)
Brazil – Geo Esports (1)
Cambodia – Impunity KH (1)
Vietnam – VEC Fantasy Main (1)

In the meantime, head on over here to learn more about the price of the Mobile Legends World Championship (M1) tickets and where to purchase them. Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for all you Mobile Legends and esports news!


Young Justice Season 4 Gets Official Phantoms Subtitle

DYoung Justice Season 3, subtitled Outsiders, concluded its 26-episode run in August 2019 after premiering on DC Universe. Development on a fourth season was already underway in July 2019, as announced during San Diego Comic-Con 2019.
During the Young Justice panel at DC FanDome, we have finally received some details about the upcoming fourth season of the animated. Moderated by GameSpot‘s Chris E. Hayner, it was revealed that Young Justice Season 4 would be officially subtitled Phantoms.

The synopsis of Young Justice Season 4 remains a mystery, though the script reading during the panel hints that Connor Kent AKA Superboy (Nolan North) and Megan Morse AKA Miss Martian (Danica McKellar) will bid farewell to the rest of the team as they head off for a new adventure on their own.
That might indicate that those two characters will be mostly absent from the fourth season. What’s more, Roy Harper AKA Arsenal (Crispin Freeman) joins the team once again, after being invited by Artemis Clock (Stephanie Lemelin).
However, no release date or window for Young Justice Season 4 was announced during the panel.


V Rising Reveals Full Gameplay Trailer for Secrets of Gloomrot

Stunlock Studios have finally published the full gameplay trailer for the upcoming expansion for V Rising, “Secrets of Gloomrot”. The expansion happens to be the first major content update and is scheduled to be released on V Rising’s one year anniversary itself, May 17th. It will add a lot of new content for returning and new players including an improved castle building, expanded combat mechanics, and a significant amount of changes to the world map which will include the newest biome, Gloomrot.

WELCOME TO GLOOMROT
Gloomrot is one of the game’s larger regions which will offer an extensive new area to explore. Players will fight against mutated experiments and mechanical wonders spawned from the twisted imaginations of the Trancendum. Hunt the blood of the brilliantly insane to harness the power of lightning and enter a new age of technology. The update brings about a long list of improvements and quality of life changes alongside new content. The world of Vardoran has been revamped, offering players new points of interest to visit, visual updates, new items, and enemy types.
You can find full details about the upcoming update here.

This is the full gameplay trailer. Secrets of Gloomrot is set to be released May 17th.


Happy Lunar New Year 2020: Our Favourite(?) Rats & Mice In Gaming

As per the tradition of glorifying digital animals during Chinese New Year, it’s now time to list down our favourite mice and rats in video game history.
From the freaky to the cuddly and then back to disgusting because of the viruses they can carry, here are our top picks. Or bottom picks, depending on whether you like these creatures or not.
The Rats Of A Plague Tale: Innocence

Let’s start with the most obvious inclusion: the cursed rats that plague this game’s version of Medieval France. True, the two protagonists Amicia and Hugo lead the narrative as they survive through the plague and the inquisition order.
But after witnessing the game’s spine-chilling horde of tiny killers move and devour every living thing on sight, while also using them as puzzle-solvers in a way, you’ll instantly remember why many are freaked out by the rodents in the first place. Hats off to the devs who specifically animated and program these blighters.
Rattata, Raticate from PokÃ©mon

Let’s dive into something cuter since we got one of the most horrifying depictions of the rodent out of the way. Rattata and its evolved state Raticate are what you expect from a cock-fighting RPG like PokÃ©mon: a rat face with rat teeth and a rat-like disposition. As in it loves to pig out on cheese, nuts, fruits, and berries. And steal from unwary travellers.
Sherry from the Ultima series

A talking mouse in Ultima VI, she helps the Avatar and the party out in getting one of the game’s plot items through a mouse hole. She also pops up in Ultima VII as a helper in Lord British’s royal nursery, as well as offer advice to players in the bastardized Ultima: Rune of Virtue series. She’s one of the few instances of rats being helpful instead of antagonists in this list.
Quill from Moss

This pretty awesome adventure game features a cute female mouse named Quill whom you help in overthrowing the evil snake Sarffog and save her mouse uncle. She’s charming and smart, and one of the many good reasons why someone should make a Mouse Guard video game adaptation.
The Neeks from Donkey Kong Country 2

While harmless jumping fodder at first in the awesome SNES platformer, they can be…. well actually they’re pretty much fodder. They’re numerous and cute, but you’re better off just either rolling onto them or just stomping them.
Show Me More Disgusting Rodents, Please!


You Can Get Assassin’s Creed Syndicate For Free On Epic Store Soon

The Epic Games Store hasn’t won me over yet, but it’s certainly nice to receive freebie after freebie from them. Right now, we’ve got Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Aztez on offer. Later this week (21 February 2020 to be exact), they’re being swapped out for Faeria and Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.
Faeria is a strategic card game with a “unique living board”. It claims to have over 100 hours of gameplay, both solo and co-operative, which sounds really generous. It also says that you can get all of its 300 cards in less than half that time.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5IxFzyCU3I&w=560&h=315]
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is, well, an Assassin’s Creed game. The 2015 series entry features two playable characters, siblings JacobÂ andÂ Evie Frye, and is set in London as opposed to Unity‘s Paris. I haven’t played it, but it seems to be an improvement over Unity, judging by the Steam user reviews.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kGHHMc5dqE&w=560&h=315]


Genshin Impact Dragonspine-Inspired Live Music Stream Puts A Real-Life Waypoint On The Alps

Mihoyo launched a livestream featuring an elaborate light show with some music, as well as debut a real-life waypoint that’s like the version from the game. Except without the magic of teleportation, of course.
The Enchanting Journey of Snow and Stars livestream (which you can see below) cuts from lovely live musical performances and shots of the Alps with some gameplay footage of the game’s Dragonspine region. While the event lacked some free primogems for giveaway, it’s nice to know that Mihoyo and company can fly to exotic locations and host something as heartwarming as this with all the gacha money they earned.

For more Genshin Impact content, do check out our recent Enkonomiya guide and even our Dragonspine guide.


Remedy’s Control & The Psi-Ops Connection

From the moment that Remedy, makers of Max Payne and Quantum Break, revealed Control at E3 2018 gamers of a certain age were struck by the same thought; “Hey! This looks like Psi-Ops!”
“Hey! This looks like Psi-Ops!”
No, really. Hear me out.
Control sees the player… um… control Jesse Faden, the newest director of the Federal Bureau of Control, a secretive agency tasked with handling paranormal phenomena. Rather than taking on the administrative duties that a role as a director would imply, Jesse has to regain control (dammit!) of the bureau’s headquarters, The Oldest House, from an invading entity known as The Hiss.
While she has a funky morphing gun to help her clean house, the thing that got Psi-Ops players like me excited was the way she was flinging objects around the environment WITH THE POWER OF HER MIND!!

In the various gameplay and developer videos released by Remedy, the way Jesse plucks cabinets, vending machines and fire extinguishers out of the environment before hurling them at enemies, is incredibly reminiscent of Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, a PS2/original Xbox game from now-defunct Midway Games back in 2004. Psi-Ops used the Havok physics engine to upgrade a 3rd person action shooter with telepathic powers and is very fondly remembered by those who played it.
While waiting for Control’s release on 27th August, I decided to replay Psi-Ops to whet my appetite and see if my memories of it from 15 years ago (!) were accurate or if I was just looking at it through rose-tinted nostalgia glasses.
Here we go again
The REAL Nick Scryer
After a partially successful attempt to find a copy of the game on PC (see below), I dug deep into my own “oldest house” to dig out my original Xbox and get it working with my copy of Psi-Ops and soon found myself so engrossed I’d completed the first level before my Xbox died on me!
I found a game that holds up surprisingly well. Instantly the game felt familiar, although it took me a while to realise that I wasn’t getting any tutorial advice on using my psychic powers as I’d accidentally started a new game plus.
Stepping back into the shoes of psychic agent Nick Scryer, I had my mind wiped in order to infiltrate a psychic terrorist group known as “The Movement”. Looking like a perma-scowling Eminem circa Marshall Mathers EP, who decided to join the military instead of taking up rapping, Scryer controls from a standard 3rd person perspective, with the left stick controlling movement, right stick controlling the aiming reticule.
The real fun comes into play when you press the analog left trigger. Instead of aiming down sights, Nic telekinetically picks up any object (or person) he’s looking at with an unforgettable psychic hum. After dying a few times I remembered that the analog triggers were pressure sensitive, with the amount of pressure controlling how high the object was lifted.

This allows for far more complex motion than that of the graceless fling of the gravity gun in Half Life 2, which came out 5 months after Psi-Ops. Not only could Scryer manoeuvre objects easily through doors and around levels, but he could also stack them to provide cover or find hidden areas.
Try doing that with the Gravity Gun.

It’s always irked me that the Gravity Gun seemed to get far more praise for its physics back in the day than Psi-Ops. Scryer could also use those objects as cover against enemy fire, something Jesse doesn’t seem to need to rely on in Control, as she seems to have a distinct command for forming a shield around herself using nearby rubble.

With a flick of the analog stick and a quick release of the trigger, Scryer could toss crates and soldiers around levels at will. Despite my last saves being from 2005 there was still a tremendous joy to be had in picking up mostly harmless grunts and filling them full of lead before pitching them down corridors where they would rag doll into their comrades.
Fly,Â my pretties,Â fly!
So long buddy
While fun, Psi-Ops didn’t restrict players just to throwing things around like some telepathic toddler. As the game progresses Nic unlocks more of his abilities, from throwing fireballs (pyrokinesis) to siphoning psi energy and health from enemies (mind drain) and even taking control of some enemies to use as “Meat puppets”, to attack or achieve tasks in areas Scryer can’t reach, a power Jesse seem to have picked up as well.
Later levels introduced enemies you couldn’t use your powers on, so you had to start getting creative with whatever you could find lying around the place to take them out.

One of the most fun powers was one that players had to discover themselves; TK surfing. Realising you could stand on an object and then lift it with your telekinesis to fly over obstacles is one of those great “Eureka!” moments in gaming.

It’s one feeling that it looks like Control won’t offer as Jesse can straight up fly around levels, seemingly at will.
Nada (TK) Surf
Fly Me to the Moon
Even in my short time playing though Psi-Ops I found myself absorbed in the Metal Gear Solid influenced game design of 2004… until my Xbox died. After that, I could only play in 15-20 minute chunks once every few hours, so I had to cherry pick what I could re-examine.
Finishing off the first few levels, most of them were quite linear. However,Â  if there was a split in a corridor or a ladder that lead both up and down, you could be guaranteed that there would be health packs or psi energy restoring psi rejuvenators at one end, making you feel smart for searching them out.

Sometimes you might have to backtrack to use a key code or other information on an area you couldn’t reach before. The game teased out enough rewards at regular intervals to keep you playing.
It’s not quite Metroidvania-style, but for the time it was impressive and I admit I got stumped a couple of times playing now.

The Metal Gear influences weren’t just found in the gruff protagonist and military aesthetic. Psi-Ops also boasted a memorable roster of villains for Scryer to defeat. From fighting telepathically controlled statues, to throwing bomb-laden, mind controlled soldiers back at their master, each boss required a delicate balance of figuring out attack patterns, finding the right time to attack and then deciding the best weapon to use (usually throwing some object laying around the environment at a weak spot for massive damage).
It’s tremendously rewarding when you manage to figure out what you need to do and then manage to pull it off.
I remember you…
“Tanks” for the memories
Despite replaying all the bosses thanks to a handy boss fight mode I’d unlocked in 2005, the villain who always stuck with me the most was Edgar Barret. A huge man in a natty suit and purple tie Barret was only the second boss in the game.
While the fight starts with you telekinetically throwing objects at each other in a small room, the battle soon moves outside where Barret starts flinging shipping containers at you. this came as quite a shock after the tight confines of the previous levels. But once you figure out the space between the two of you, it’s not before you start catching Barret’s projectiles and throwing them back at him.
Solving these combat puzzles, facing bosses, TK surfing around the environment and finding secrets is why Psi-Ops is still remembered fondly. Another is that it ended on a cliff-hanger that was never followed up on! After defeating the final boss, a general who’s been trying to assemble a powerful Psi weapon by, once again, throwing something at him telekinetically (psychic balls this time), Scryer collects the McGuffin that the game was centred around and a collection of helicopters arrive, apparently to help.
Scryer takes one look and shouts “That’s no help! I remember everything now! Let’s get out of here” before attacking one of the choppers with his TK powers. The screen fades out to “To be continued”, although it never was.

For the remainder of the 2000s, Midway’s fortunes declined. This wasn’t helped when they were sued by writer William L. Crawford III who claimed the plot of the game was stolen from his script, also called “Psi-Ops”. The case was eventually dismissed but by 2009 Midway Games filed for bankruptcy with Warner Bros purchasing most of their assets (including Mortal Kombat and what became Netherealm Studios). While Mortal Kombat flourished at WB, there’s been no sign of Psi-Ops or Nick Scryer since.

Whether it’s intentional or not Remedy seems to be ticking a lot of boxes on the list of features that Psi-Ops fans would want in a sequel, spiritual or otherwise. A semi-open environment to explore with supposedly “wild bosses” to seek out seems like a natural development for the 15 years since Psi-Ops was released.
The advancements in PC and console power alone mean that there are probably scenes in Control that will have more in-game objects to manipulate telepathically than were included in all ofÂ Psi-Ops. The fact that those environments seem to bend and warp like something out of F.E.A.R, is only a bonus.
It may be missing that unmistakable hum when Scryer used his TK powers and TK surfing (as far as we know), but after 15 years we’ll take what we can get when Control comes out on August 27th.
Psi-Ops Sounds Awesome! How Do I Play It?

If you want to play Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, you’ll either need to jump through some hoops or find a PS2/Original Xbox copy of the game.
There is a PC version that can be found online. However, it only supports mouse and keyboard control scheme and needs some work to get working. This PC version is an old ad-supported version of the game that you can find by simply googling “psi ops download”.
While this may install, you will also need to seek out the “no intro fix” or to get it up and running correctly. As with any files you download from the internet make sure your anti-virus scans them before and after install to make sure that nothing untoward has been installed along with the game.


Spooky Horror Halloween Stuff To Watch On Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia

Halloween is right around the corner, and thereâ€™s no better way to get into the spooky spirit than to catch the best horror films and TV shows on Disney+ Hotstar.Â
While some thrive on the thrill of jump-scares and paranormal activities, others might enjoy just a little sprinkle of spook this Halloween season. Regardless of what your preference is, Disney+ Hotstar has a little something for everyone!Â
Here are seven must-watch films to kick off your Halloween movie marathon.Â Â
AMERICAN HORROR STORY SEASON 10: DOUBLE FEATUREÂ

Canâ€™t decide between government conspiracies, blood-thirsty vampires or alien babies? Get a little bit of everything on Season 10 of American Horror Story. Divided into two parts, this season will take you on a journey to the Red Tide, inspired by the true story of the Cape Cod Vampire, to the Death Valley, which may or may not involve an alien possession. Stream the series finale on October 29 when it premieres on Disney+ Hotstar.Â Â
THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 11Â

Halloween isnâ€™t complete without a zombie apocalypse! Picture this: You wake up from a coma to see a zombie at your doorstep, would you do to survive? Catch the final season of The Walking Dead on Disney+ Hotstar to get a glimpse into what a group of survivors would do as they attempt to maintain their humanity in the struggle to stay alive.Â Â
READY OR NOTÂ

Nothing is more terrifying than crazy in-laws â€“ and Ready or Not takes it up to the next level. The Le Domas family brings a new meaning to wedding night when Grace, a new bride, is forced to take part in a lethal game. With no shortage of blood and jump scares, Ready or Not is not for the fainthearted.Â
MUNAFIK

If possessions and ghosts are your thing, Malaysiaâ€™s very own Munafik is for you. The movie centres around Ustaz Adam, a medical practitioner who tragically lost his wife in an accident. At the height of his grief, he agrees to treat a depressed woman, but strange and unsettling things start to occur. This award-winning film is nothing short of terrifying, donâ€™t say we didnâ€™t warn you!Â
ADA HANTU

For skeptics of all things supernatural, Ada Hantu, another local blockbuster, is right up your alley. Watch all the twists and turns that happens when Aliff and his friends try to prove that ghosts arenâ€™t real â€“ all in an abandoned and haunted home previously occupied by the Japanese Army.Â
HOCUS POCUS

Whatâ€™s Halloween without witches? Based on The Witches by Roald Dahl, this animated film follows Max, who accidentally frees a coven of revengeful witches and now has to risk his life to protect his sister. Stream this Halloween classic with your family and friends when it premieres on Disney+ Hotstar on October 29.Â
LEGO STAR WARS: TERRIFYING TALESÂ

If youâ€™re looking to cozy up on Halloween night with the little ones, this Disney+ Original revolves around Poe and BB-8, as they are told three spooky tales about characters such as Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren, and Darth Maul.Â
Get into the Halloween spirit on Disney+ Hotstar here.
Malaysians can stream their favourite shows and films now by subscribing to the service directly at DisneyPlusHotstar.my or via the Disney+ Hotstar app on Android and iOS devices, for RM54.90 for three months.Â
Access Disney+ Hotstar on Astro at incredible deals. Astro Movies Pack customers (CH411 â€“ CH416) must activate via astro.com.my/Disney to immediately start streaming Disney+ Hotstar.


Ubisoft’s New F2P Game Roller Champions Launching 25 May

Ubisoft has announced that their new free-to-play game Roller Champions will launch on 25 May 2022.
The free-to-play, team PvP sports game will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X | S and PlayStation 5 (backward compatibility), as well as PC through the Ubisoft Store and will possess crossplay compatibility.
It was also announced that Roller Champions will also be available on the Nintendo Switch at a later date.

Roller Champions consist of two teams of three competing against each other by throwing the ball in the goal, the first to reach five points takes all.
But there’s a twist, the more laps you make around the elliptical arena, the more points you will get, provided your team maintains ball possession. Speed along the arena walls, use several tackling manoeuvres efficiently and work with your teammates to claim victory over your opponents and roll up to glory.
By winning matches and climbing the leaderboards, the doors of increasingly renowned stadiums and leagues will open, all the way up to the Elite Champions’ league (Ranked mode).

Players will also have the opportunity to gain fans, discover new maps, compete in time-limited game modes, and fully customize their Champion as they see fit. In addition to the many unlockable items, exclusive cosmetic rewards can be acquired with the Roller Pass each season.
Rollers Champions can be played alone with strangers or with friends, no matter the platform or console. Cross-progression is also available on all platforms.
There is also a social hub dubbed the Skatepark where players can meet up and practice, or simply enjoy minigames together.
So if you’re wallet is feeling a bit light, and you’re looking for a new competitive game to grind then be sure not to miss out as the game is free-to-play and will be available on 25 May on Xbox, Playstation and PC. To learn more you can visit their website.


[Rumour] Washington Overwatch 2 Team Is Trying To Sell Its Players Due To Lost Of Trust In Overwatch League

A major Overwatch 2 team is planning on leaving the Overwatch League.
According to a number of sources (via GG Recon) the team Washington Justice is currently decreasing its competitive cost as it has lost confidence in the Overwatch League due to its uncertain financial prospects. The organization plans to sell all of its OWL players to recoup its losses, at least before the 18th August deadline hits. This downsizing will also affect the team’s staff and management; no players, no reason to host and manage a team, right?
With the trade deadline looming close, this along with the uncertainty of finances may work against the team’s current players. This may make some of the team’s lineup undesirable trade targets, even with their buyouts lifted; this is due to their possible ineligibility to play in the upcoming fifth OWL season. Any player that is released from their OWL contract will receive a minimum of 30-days of their annualised salary upon contract termination as severance.
Is the OWL in trouble? Well, the league has failed to attract new sponsors past its existing partnerships with companies like Upper Deck and TeamSpeak, following the lawsuit Blizzard has been hammered with. In addition, the league’s exclusive streaming rights deal with YouTube is also coming up for renewal and the game’s viewership numbers only saw a moderate increase despite the beta spiking momentarily for a few days. The game’s esports future may seem a bit rocky given the circumstances.
Overwatch 2 will be out as a free-to-play game on 4 October.


Jeff Kaplan Releases Official Competitive Mode Player Distribution – We Now Know What’s Considered ‘Average’

Overwatch Lead Designer and Game Director, Jeff ‘Dad’ Kaplan last night released an interesting statistic related to players distribution for competitive Overwatch. Posting it on the Competitive Overwatch Forum, the data shows the breakdown of where everyone is in Competitive Play at the present time.

So what is considered average? Now we aren’t professional statisticians but based on the data, we know that over half (61% to be exact) of the player base are either Gold or below. This puts anyone on high-Gold players qualify as ‘average’ and anyone placedÂ higher than that as ‘above average’. Logic, right? Right?
When compared to Season 3’s breakdown, the numbers haven’t changed much, save for the minor changes on Platinum and lower. While the data does little to address the many issues plaguing the competitive mode scene; toxic behaviour, elo hell, leavers as well as unfair SR rewards, it does show that progression to the higher tiers has to be earned considering that less than 5% of the player population occupy the highest ranks.

How’s your Season 8 going? We started pretty bad considering that we finished Season 7 at 1860, having dropped from a high of 2300+. However, we managed to climb and currently sit at 2705 thanks to Moira. Our target is to hit the realms of 2800+ before Season 8 ends this weekend. Share us YOUR competitive Overwatch progress if you feel like it in the comments section below.


Check Out 7 Minutes Of Wild Hearts In Monster Hunting Action

Ever since EA and Koei Tecmo revealed its upcoming action game Wild Hearts, many are wondering how the game plays like. Yes, we know you’re going to say “like Monster Hunter”, but we’re talking in terms of movement, how combat flows, and how one deals with the Japan myth-inspired monsters in-game.
Well, EA has you covered. The company known for annual football roster updates has released 7 minutes of its upcoming action game into the wild.

“Watch as players in-game attempt to tame a world gone wild, hunting for the mighty Kemono, Kingtusk, first alone and then with co-op partners.
The brand-new trailer provides the deepest look yet at Karakuri, sophisticated mechanisms players craft to traverse the world and battle Kemono, demonstrating the flexible and creative hunting grounds of the game.
The majority of the gameplay takes place in the flowery terrain of Hanagasumi Hills, a Spring setting and one of WILD HEARTS’ four hunting grounds, each represented by a different season.”

Full video here. season and all:

Wild Hearts will be out on 17 February 2023 for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5.


The Little Witch Academia Game Is An Insult To Its Fans

Platforms: PS4, PC
Genre: Action, Beat-Em-Up, Licensed Tie-In
In case you couldn’t tell by my previous Netflix and anime writeups, I really, REALLY adore Little Witch Academia. From its humble Kickstarter beginnings to its culmination into a 26-episode anime that gives closure to many of its viewers and its Studio Trigger aficionados, the series is a lovely fantastical experience.
So when I heard that there was going to be a beat-em-up based on the franchise, I was elated. And when I played the game after 10 or so hours, I had to face the reality that games like these still have to follow the unprecedented rule that most license gaming tie-ins range between mediocre to flat-out shallow.
Take a guess at which category Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time falls under.
The Witchiest Tale

What’s the story about? It’s going to be summer vacation at Luna Nova Academy. Our trio of witches, the inept-but-enthusiastic Akko, the bookish Lotte, and the mushroom-loving lanky weirdo Suci are hyped for it. Thanks to Akko’s nosiness, however, she accidentally activates a magical time device and has to relive the day before the vacation starts. Essentially it’s Groundhog Day meets anime Harry Potter with an all-girl cast, and it’s up to Akko and her pals to solve the case.
The game itself is part adventure game and part side-scrolling beat-em-up. Both aspects look gorgeous and are animated fluidly in a 2D manner not unlike the anime series it’s based on. The music too is great since most of it is from the show. And the cast & characters are a hoot to watch as they interact and work their way around this unique time-looping situation. Again, this is the show’s strength.
Witchiest Curse
Unfortunately, this is where the good news end. Both gameplay modes of this witchy game are executed horribly.
The adventure & exploration bits are slow and plodding. For one, the map is unnecessarily convoluted. Luna Nova Academy is huge in-game and going from one point of the map to the other is a pain in the ass since you have to manually move your witch from point A to B.

There are way too many instances where you have to get something done first before activating certain checkpoints to complete your objective fast. Example: Akko usually has to talk to a number of people to get a quest done, only for them to direct her to other folks. Basically, you will encounter instances where you have to go to two to three separate characters to go to a far-off place from your original location.
Then it turns out you need to go to ANOTHER person or location because said location is either locked or needs an item to bypass. These quests aren’t thought out thoroughly and aren’t organic in their approaches. You also have to farm for random drops and even farm money to buy expensive items to complete certain main quests.
Bottom line: everything you do takes far longer than necessary.Â Why not (a) make the navigation menu-based and (b) put in some fast travel options that do not take up precious resources that you need to farm? Yes, even the fast travel system (and save points) will lead to you grinding for resources just to use and unlock respectively.
As it stands, what we get is an exercise in tedium as you go up and down, and left and right being the school’s gopher girl.
The Witchiest Whacking
If the meat of the game, the beat-em-up-and-RPG hybrid, was done well, then perhaps I can overlook the above. Unfortunately, it’s half-assed. You have seven characters to choose from: Akko, Lotte, Sucy, Amanda, Constanze, Jasminka, and Diana Cavendish. You can send three of them into the many sections of the Chamber of Time underneath Luna Nova.
They’re all unique in their own way: Constanze uses machines and a machine gun to fight, while Akko uses brute force because her magic level is pathetic.Â I’ll bite: the character selection is varied and fun, and there’s a cute RPG and item-equipping system that can customize each witch to the best of their abilities.
The game they’re on? Not so much.

Enemies are generally easy to dispatch because they only have a few attack patterns and don’t go beyond walking a straight line or towards the players. They only get tough if they hit really hard and if they have huge amounts of hit points. The hit collision detection is also unrefined; sometimes I get hit even if I’m far away from enemies by a fair distance without ever knowing why. But that’s fine because I can just plough through the rest of the game with ranged witches like Constanze and (if she’s levelled up proper) Diana.
Did I forget to mention that you can only level up the witches who are with you in the levels of the chamber? The others have to wait outside and not earn XP; 90s style gaming, everybody!
There’s also depth perception issues, which is a frickin’ no-no in these kinds of games You have to line your characters up properly next to your enemies to even attack them. We’re talking super-precise line-your-character-on-the-exact-same-plane-as-the-wafer-thin-enemy; there’s no leeway or nothing. It’s either you hit them at that exact hitbox or you don’t. As a result, you are encouraged to use ranged characters like Constanze and let your AI teammates go headfirst into danger, while lining up your attacks precisely while also not getting hit unfairly hard.
Your teammate AI is pretty aggressive and careless, but sometimes they won’t bother helping you especially in endurance-testing fights against the game’s dragons. They have NO idea what to do, when to heal, or even when to dodge or avoid an obviously-dangerous obstacle. Compare this to a game like Dragon Crown, a superior game made in 2013 and is of the same genre, and you can see the sheer incompetence in this title’s programming and gameplay.
The Worst Witch
The damning thing about Little Witch Academia: The Chamber of Time is that the story and characters are a delight to sit through and watch. It’s a shame that you have to suffer through the entire ordeal that is the rest of the game. Bandai Namco also has the gall to charge unwitting fans SG$69.90 for this witch of a title who deserves to have a bridge built out of her.
You’re better off watching Akko’s antics on Netflix than suffering through this pile of license travesty. Fans of the series deserve much, MUCH better.
Pros
-Faithful to the show in art, sound, and story.
-Character variety is a plus.
Cons
-Everything else.
FINAL RATING: 4/10


Xbox Is Releasing Its Own Fragrance Just For Australia/New Zealand

Body hygiene is pretty dang important, especially when you’re out there fraternizing with your peers or just going out in public for them gaming expos and PC bazaars. Microsoft and Xbox know this, which is why they’re releasing their own brand of “game themed” fragrances, body sprays, and shower gels.
In case you’re wondering, it doesn’t smell like a combination of Mountain Dew and Doritos. Nor does it smell of sadness due to the company’s not-so-hot Xbox One performance the past few years. Rather, it contains scents of kaffir lime, winter lemon, mint/sage, and more.
You know what? Let the official description sell it for you.

“Lynx Xbox is a fresh scent of pulsing green citrus, featuring top notes of kaffir lime and winter lemon, aromatic herbal middle notes of mint and sage, and woody bottom notes of patchouli and clearwood. Containing a range of natural essential oils, the Xbox Lynx range comes with a sleek new look and features a body spray, deodorant, and shower gel.”

Note the use of “sleek” and “pulsing” in the advertising; clearly this is marketed for gamers. Also for those not familiar with scent brands, Lynx is the other name for the famous “for men” scent brand Axe.
We’ve received no word on whether it’ll be out in Southeast Asia, specifically in Xbox-focused countries like Singapore. But it’s available in Australia and New Zealand this July. So it won’t be long for Aussie gamers to start smelling like every other Axe product out in the market.
Besides, Nivea and Old Spice are arguably better.


Vampire Survivors Gets New Bonus Stage And Mechanics

The hit roguelite bullet hell action game Vampire Survivors has received a new update today. It may be less content than usual, but the additions do matter still.
Here’s what you’re getting in the game’s 0.6.0 iteration:
New Content

1 bonus stage.
1 relic to access 2 minor gameplay mechanics.
2 new arcanas.
1 more rank for the Skip power-up.

Tweaks

Halved base duration of Shadow Pinion and Valkyrie Turner.
Shadow Pinion and Valkyrie Turner striking attack has a damage bonus depending on how long it has been “charged”.
Arcana XIX – Heart of Fire also affects Valkyrie Turner’s striking attack and Phiera Der Tuphello.
Every bonus point in Armor now also increases retaliatory damage by 10%. Retaliatory damage is currently inflicted by NO FUTURE and Arcana XIX.
Music and music mods can now be previewed in stage selection screen.
Rerolls can now be used to draft Arcanas.

Bugfixes

Unfortunately, due to one of the new game mechanics, the time has come to fix the Bone-stuck-in-the-boss glitch.
Tentative fix to items sometimes not levelling up near the end of a run.

That’s still a lot, since it’s coming from just one developer named Poncle. Vampire Survivors is out now and is worth US$3 on PC (Steam) and free on Xbox Game Pass. You should play it; it’s the best way to kill time outside of Elden Ring stuff.


Total War Creators To Make Card Game Spin-Off, Will Launch In China First

Creative Assembly said before that its recent Total War game was a hit in China, since a ton of gamers and players there make up a huge chunk of Total War: Three Kingdoms. It’s going to capitalize on its popularity by doing what most developers would do: make a card game and team up with an Asian bigwig publisher to sort the logistics/marketing/mass backend stuff.
Said company will be NetEase, whom you may know as the publishers of PUBG knockoff Rules of Survival and mobile RPG Onmyoji. They will be creating a collectible card game together with the team called Total War: Elysium. It will feature historical generals duking it out on the table and will be out in China as a timed exclusive. There’s no word on when it’ll be out worldwide but Creative Assembly said soon.
Based on the image, it’s like Hearthstone but with historical figures duking it out. This should make history buffs cream their pants a little.Â And as a bonus to all Chinese PC gamers, the team will be bringing all of its historical Total War games over to China for the very first time. Legally. So even if you’re not that hot and bothered with all this CCG stuff, you get to play the classic games that put Creative Assembly on the map.


Insidious The Red Door Trailer Teases The Final Chapter Of The Lambert Family

In Insidious: The Red Door, the horror franchise’s original cast returns for the final chapter of the Lambert family’s terrifying saga. To put their demons to rest once and for all, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and a college-aged Dalton (Ty Simpkins) must go deeper into The Further than ever before, facing their family’s dark past and a host of new and more horrifying terrors that lurk behind the red door.
The original cast from Insidious is back with Patrick Wilson (also making his directorial debut), Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne, and Andrew Astor. Also starring Sinclair Daniel and Hiam Abbass. Produced by Jason Blum, Oren Peli, James Wan and Leigh Whannell. The screenplay is written by Scott Teems from a story by Leigh Whannell, based on characters created by Leigh Whannell.
The first two Insidious movies were written by Leigh Whannell and directed by James Wan, centred on the Lambert family and their terrifying struggles deep within The Further. The most recent film in the franchise, Insidious The Last Key, was released back in 2018.
Insidious The Red Door premieres in cinemas on 7 July 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


Death Stranding Sales Are A “Success”: Hideo Kojima

It looks like Kojima Productions and its leader Hideo Kojima’s gamble with the weird and divisive has paid off.
The company’s sole title, Death Stranding, is considered a success. Here’s what Kojima had to say about the recent windfall in a Livedoor News interview(via Siliconera).

“Weâ€™ve already crossed the line where weâ€™re not losing any money and, including the return of development costs, itâ€™s a figure that I can say is a “success”. Weâ€™ll be releasing the PC version of Death StrandingÂ going forward, and weâ€™ve secured as much profit as possible in preparation for whatâ€™s next, so donâ€™t worry.”

When asked what’s next for Kojima Productions, he said that there are a lot of things moving under the surface despite his ideas being in the proposal stage. “However, quite recently a large game proposal of mine was rejected, so I’m feeling a bit annoyed. (laughs) Well, itâ€™s something that happens often in this industry”.
He also debunked the MGS and P.T. rights-buying rumour. “Ah yeah, those are completely fake. At the very least, I havenâ€™t heard of this at all. (laughs).”
Guess we’ll be seeing more from Kojima Productions in the next few years. Death Stranding will be out on PC this year. If you want to find out more about the game, check out our glowing review here.


[Report] Project Scarlett Next-Gen Xbox Is Only One Console

Many have speculated that Microsoft will be debuting not one, but multiple models of their next-gen Xbox console, currently codenamed Project Scarlett. This would be in line with the company’s strategy for this generation, with the release of the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and the Xbox One X.
However, Project Scarlett might turn out to be one console after all. In an interview with Business Insider, Xbox head Phil Spencer clarified his earlier statement from E3 2018, in which he said that there will be “multiple consoles” of the next-gen Xbox.
Spencer said:

â€œLast year we said consoles, and weâ€™ve shipped a console and weâ€™ve now detailed another console. I think thatâ€™s plural.â€

The console that he’s referring to as “shipped” was the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, which was actually just cheaper version of the Xbox One S without a physical disc drive. That console is still very much a current-gen machine, despite being released last year.
He continued:

â€œTechnically that is plural. Right now… weâ€™re focused on Project Scarlett and what we put on stage.â€

The expected release date of Project Scarlett is yet a while away, as it is slated to launch sometime in Holiday 2020. That means the company’s plans could still change from now until then, just as it must surely have changed in the past few years.
There’s no denying that Microsoft could have been considering to launch multiple consoles in the past, but have recently decided to go ahead and focus on one console instead.
In fact, the way that Microsoft presented Project Scarlett during the Xbox E3 2019 press conference seems to strongly support the notion that the next-gen Xbox console will be singular. This is corroborated by the way these people in the reveal trailer below are describing Project Scarlett.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ktN4bycj9s&w=560&h=315]


PokÃ©mon-Like MMO Temtem Comes To Steam Next Month

If you’re a long-time Pokemon fan, then you’ve probably wished for a Pokemon MMO ever since you first discovered online play. Well, I’m sorry to tell you that a Pokemon MMO is still nonexistent but the next best thing is just around the corner.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V0X31Ncwcg&w=560&h=315]
Madrid-based developer Crema has been working on an MMO that’s heavily inspired by Pokemon. It’s called Temtem and it’s going to be released for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Players will collect monsters called Temtems and can use them to battle and capture other Temtems or even battle other players in 2v2 fights.
PC users will be the first ones to be given the chance to try the game. Temtem enters early access on Steam starting from 21 January 2020. In early access, players can explore three islands, catch 76 Temtems, and play through a 20-hour campaign.

Temtem is being published by Humble Bundle so you can also get it through the Humble Bundle online store. Check out the game’s Steam store page here.


The Book Of Boba Fett Episode 4 Breakdown & Easter Eggs Explained

The fourth episode of The Book Of Boba FettÂ Season 1 is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
The Book Of Boba FettÂ finds legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand navigating the galaxyâ€™s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate.
It stars Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen. Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Robert Rodriguez, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson are the executive producers. Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck serve as co-executive producers, with John Bartnicki producing and John Hampian as co-producer. There will be seven episodes in the first season.
You can check out my previous breakdowns ofÂ The Book Of Boba Fett Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â and Episode 3 here.
In addition, you can check out my previous breakdowns ofÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Episode 1,Â Episode 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9 here.
If you havenâ€™t, you can check out my previous breakdowns and easter egg articles forÂ WandaVisionÂ Episode 1 and 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9.
ForÂ The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns forÂ Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â andÂ Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â andÂ Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns ofÂ LokiÂ episodes, check outÂ Episode 1 here,Â Episode 2 here,Â Episode 3 here,Â Episode 4 here,Â Episode 5 hereÂ andÂ Episode 6 here.

Boba Fett Saved Fennec Shand By Paying For Her Droid Modifications

The flashbacks have almost caught up to the present, as we see the moment Boba picks up and saves Fennec Shand (she was shot by Toro Calican in The Mandalorian Season 1 Episode 5 ‘The Gunslinger’). He brings her to a mod-parlor to repair her stomach using droid modifications, which is what is now keeping her alive.

The First-Ever Official Mention Of Slave 1’s New Name: Firespray

It turns out that Boba saved Fennec Shand to ask for her help in recovering his gunship, which is now known as Firespray. Disney made waves recently when they officially changed the name of Boba’s iconic Slave 1 gunship to Firespray.

He Uses The Firespray To Gain Revenge Against The Kintan Striders

The Firespray is back! Boba uses his Firespray to kill the Kintan Striders who destroyed his entire Tusken clan in the last episode.
He also uses it to find his lost Beskar Mandalorian armour in the Sarlacc Pit, but ends up not finding it but killing the Sarlacc Pit.
Fennec Uses A Seismic Charge To Kill The Sarlacc Pit

RIP Sarlacc Pit.
This is the same weapon used by Jango Fett against Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episode 2 Attack Of The Clones and by Din Djarin against an Imperial Tie Fighter in The Mandalorian Season 2 Episode 7 ‘The Believer’.

Another Cameo By Max Rebo And Figrin Dâ€™an

Any Star Wars worth his salt would recognize these two. Itâ€™s Max Rebo (the blue one) of the Max Rebo Band and Figrin Dâ€™an (the other one) of Figrin Dâ€™an And The Modal Nodes.
Max Rebo was previously last seen in Star Wars Episode VI Return Of The JediÂ while Figrin Dâ€™an was last seen inÂ Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope,Â but they also recently appeared in The Book Of Boba Fett Episode 1.
Boba Fett Hires Black Krrsantan For A Job

It looks like the Black Krrsantan is not off the picture yet. Boba has hired him for a “job”, and he’ll probably have a role in the war against the Pyke Syndicate.
Boba Fett Asks The Other Syndicates To Remain Neutral In His War Against The Pyke Syndicate

The war against the Pyke Syndicate grows nearer as Boba intimidates the other local syndicates into remaining neutral in the upcoming conflict.
The Mandalorian Theme Plays At The End Of Episode 4

Just before the episode ends, and after Fennec Shand says: “Credits can buy muscle, if you know where to look.”, we can hear the iconic The Mandalorian theme start playing in the background.
What does this mean? Will we see Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin AKA The Mandalorian appear in the last three episodes? We’ll have to wait and see. Until next time, excelsior!


[Rumour] Capcom To Set Up Shop In Red Dot Country Singapore

The folks behind Street Fighter and Resident Evil will be setting up a new branch in Singapore.
This report came from a LinkedIn page of one Ikuo Hirano, who is listed as the director for Capcom Singapore PTE LTD (via Nintendo Soup & various blogs). This page is backed up with a SGP Business Registry entry which stated that the office has been registered since April 2020.
The office’s activities include “wholesale of computer games” and “publishing of gaming software/applications”. There doesn’t seem to be anything indicating game development so far, so the Capcom Singapore branch might just be another arm for publishing. We’ll get more information when the company is ready to make a public announcement.
Southeast Asia has always been a prime location for major Western and Eastern studios to branch out. Ubisoft Singapore, Riot Games Singapore, Larian Studios in Malaysia, and PlayStation Studios Malaysia are good examples. Nintendo and Atlus are also following suite, opening up Southeast Asian Facebook pages to gauge consumer interest. Hopefully if it’s true, this could mean great news for Singaporeans and Southeast Asians to get closer with the house that makes Monster Hunter.


Yoshitaka Amano & Yuzo Koshiro Collab In Upcoming Anime Gibiate

During the Anime Expo 2019 closing ceremonies, Gibiate Project (a global IP development group) announced a new anime series titled Gibiate.
Final Fantasy franchise illustrator Yoshitaka Amano will design the original characters for the upcoming anime, while Resident Evil manga artist Naoki Serizawa will be designing the monsters. Ys composer Yuzo Koshiro will act as “Sound Creator” and the Yoshida Brothers are the musical artists.
Here’s the official description for Gibiate (via press release):

The Year is 2030 Japan.
A Virus outbreak has covered the earth.
Once infected, patients become monsters and changes the form depending on age, sex and nationality.
The virus is called â€œGibierâ€(wild game for many varieties).
A Edo era time traveling Samurai and Shinobi appear in the post apocalyptic ruins.
Helping a doctor who has dedicated his career for researching the cure for â€œGibierâ€, hordes of Gibier after them, outlaws who attack the travelers for food – everywhere you turn, danger is upon them!

Describe as the “ultimate survival action” story, Gibiate sounds like it’s set in a crazy post-apocalyptic setting with sprinkles of time-travel shenanigans and horrific monsters. Three of the main characters have been revealed:
Sensui Kanzaki

He is a samurai who traveled from the early Edo period.
Known as the â€˜Senningiriâ€™ (thousand men slasher), he has cut down numerous enemies during Sengoku period with his twin swords of Japanese katana and Western sword.
However, he has since vowed to stop killing.
Kathleen

She is Dr.Yoshinaga’s assistant, an optimistic half-blood girl who isn’t good at fighting, but she manages to save Sensui and Kenroku as they arrive in the modern world.
Kenroku Sanada

He is a ninja who traveled from the early Edo period with Sensui, cheerful and energetic, fighting against Gibias (monsters) with his bombs.
He’s also a blood relative to the Sanada Family, the Sengoku-daimyo of Shinano Domain.
Gibiate will premiere at Anime Expo 2020. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7XJO2egLy8&w=560&h=315]


This GameStart X Armaggeddon SG$30 Mouse Is Made For Ray Charles

The road to Hell is usually paved with good intentions. In this particular instance, this exclusive mouse is a hellish eyesore despite its intention to bolster’s Singapore’s top-notch gaming expo name further.
GameStart Asia and Singapore-based peripheral company Armaggeddon are collaborating to sell you this…mouse for the low, low price of SG$29.90.

https://www.facebook.com/GameStart.Asia/photos/a.699487240104743/1842590369127752/?type=3&permPage=1
This is the result of people without any design sense -probably marketing folks- who thought to themselves: “See those shiny colourful LED keyboards and mice Razer & Logitech has? Let’s add more horrid colour combos, put in some half-ass fissure cracks, make the mouse wheel obnoxiously flashy, and stick the GameStart logo in an awkward position!” Even unicorns who vomit rainbows would think this is a bit wee much.
The device will be out for sale at GameStart 2018 this 13th & 14th October. Gaming fans can put down their hard-earned money for pre-orders at the GameStart Asia merch booth at C3AFA Jakarta 2018, which is this weekend. So if you’re Singaporean, you have the privilege of “supporting local” with your wallet.
The mouse will be on sale only at official GameStart events. All GameStart 2018 VIP ticket holders will be getting one of these for free, though calling this a “gift” is just being polite. Much like how you have to call someone’s ugly baby “adorable” so that you don’t hurt their feelings.
Real Talk
We’re not judging how the mouse feels and controls at all. In fact, it may feel great and may give you more bang for your buck given Armaggeddon’s track record with their products and customer service. Make of that what you will.
But as far as first impressions go, this is not something you want to go along with your PC and monitor combo.Â Personally, I’d just use the two prominent colours of the GameStart Asia colours -blue and orange- and creatively use it on the mice’ body. Ditch the coloured wheel and whatever the hell that pattern is supposed to be. Since GameStart Asia’s going fantasy & medieval, why not use Renaissance/Middle Ages tapestry patterns?
It’s a few more months until GameStart Asia hits so hopefully, the two companies have enough time to turn things around.


Game Informer Australia Officially Shutting Down

Game Informer Australia will be shutting down following orders from EB Games to stop production. The Australian version of the long-running games magazine publication has published 113 issues since its launch over a decade ago in 2009.
As revealed by Game Informer Australia editor David Milner on Twitter, this is the result of the magazine’s owner, EB Games, making budget cuts due to the parent company Gamestop failing to procure a buyer in the past several months.
Milner clarified that Game Informer Australia was recently still selling well in the country, with readership up over 19 percent over the last year alone. Unfortunately, ad sales did not reflect the actual readership numbers.
Not only that, but Milner was quite an accomplished and critically-acclaimed writer as well, having won Best Gaming Journalist, Best Columnist, and Best Gaming Coverage at the local IT Journalism Awards.

I guess this goes here too. Thanks for everything. It’s been fun. â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/mvgkFg0cgK
â€” David Milner (@DaveMilbo) April 18, 2019
Australians will still be getting their monthly dose of Game Informer magazine, though it will be the American version from now on. Although that is small compensation for readers, we wish all the best to our fellow journalists who previously worked at Game Informer Australia in their future endeavors.
The featured image in this article was actually the most recent cover for Game Informer Australia featuring Remedy Entertainment’s Control (April 2019 Issue), which has now sadly turned out to be its very last.