Archive - 2019

TAITO Returns to Video Games with Two New Titles

Stuttgart, Germany; June 18th, 2019 – As already announced in 2018, the pioneer of the Japanese video game industry, TAITO Corporation, is returning to the market for console games after around ten years with well-known and new TAITO IPs. The first Western title from the game developer and publisher TAITO is a reboot of Ninja Warriors – a game which came onto the market for the Super Nintendo in 1994. Details on Ninja Warriors will be announced later.

The game will be released in North America and Europe by the German United Games GmbH, digitally and physically. The title will be marketed through Strictly Limited Games as limited editions and through the newly founded publishing label ININ as traditional retail and digital versions.

TAITO Corporation was founded 65 years ago and shaped video game history at the time. In the 1980s and 90s, TAITO enthused millions of players with megahits such as PUZZLE BOBBLE®, Rainbow Islands®, ARKANOID® and many other megasellers which enjoy cult status with gamers all over the world even today. In particular, SPACE INVADERS®, the company’s best known title, brought global fame to the game pioneer TAITO and took the international game market by storm. The famous characters from SPACE INVADERS® have since become the corporate characters of TAITO and represent a piece of pop culture which appears again and again, even outside of games. No matter if in Hollywood movies, advertising, fashion or art – the ironically designed extraterrestrial invaders draw attention everywhere.

“We are proud to work together with TAITO Corporation, which has been a legend in the Japanese game industry for many years. We look forward to and are convinced that this cooperation will be a great success,” says Helmut Schmitz, CEO, United Games.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne PS4 Beta Info

June 18, 2019 – Grab your thermals and hot drinks! Capcom today confirmed details for upcoming PlayStation®4 beta sessions, starting this week, for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, the highly anticipated massive expansion to Capcom’s best-selling title of all time, Monster Hunter: World. First-time hunters and established series fans can prepare for hunting season with a sneak peek at the upcoming content in Iceborne, including the chilly Hoarfrost Reach locale, new monster and new gameplay options.

The first Monster Hunter World: Iceborne beta will be available exclusively for PlayStation®Plus users from 3am PDT/11am BST on Friday, June 21 through 3am PDT/11am BST on Monday, June 24. A second beta will be available for all PS4™ users from 3am PDT/11am BST on Friday, June 28 through 3am PDT/11am BST on Monday, July 1. Preload options will be available a couple of days before each beta period begins. The Monster Hunter: World base game is not required to participate in the Iceborne beta.

The beta offers players three quest choices, including the beginner-friendly Great Jagras hunt from Monster Hunter: World for newcomers, the brand new horned brute wyvern Banbaro for an intermediate challenge or returning series favorite Tigrex for the fiercest of hunters. The beta will let players test out all 14 weapon types in any of the three quests and the training area. The weapons include new features plus there are new Slinger tool options such as the Clutch Claw grapple mechanic. Upon completing each quest for the first time, hunters can earn a total of three item packs containing helpful consumable items that will be available to use in the full version of the Iceborne expansion when it releases. With more monsters and game info to be revealed, this is just the tip of the Iceborne!

The full release of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne will be available on September 6, 2019 for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, globally on September 6th, 2019, with a PC release to follow in winter. The Monster Hunter: World base game is required for Iceborne and while players will be able to enjoy some of the gameplay options such as the Slinger and weapon updates right away, they must have completed the main story through Hunter Rank 16 in order to access the new Iceborne story and quests.

King of Fighters IV Crossover with Dead or Alive 6

Burlingame, Calif. – June 18, 2019 – KOEI TECMO America and Team NINJA announced the addition of the first two DLC characters entering the DEAD OR ALIVE 6 universe, THE KING OF FIGHTERS’ own Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond. The new characters are being offered as part of DOA6’s Season Pass 1, and will also be available for purchase individually for $7.99; with separate costume packs available for $2.99 per fighter. A special character and costume bundle will also be offered that includes both SNK favorites, complete with five outfits each for the discounted price of $15.99.

Mai Shiranui, known to KING OF FIGHTERS fans as “The Alluring Ninja,” is a kunoichi (female ninja) and the successor of the Shiranui style ninjutsu. The nimble fighter uses large fans as weapons, generating flames from attacks as she shows no mercy on opponents mesmerized by her flashy attire.

Joining Mai in DEAD OR ALIVE 6 is “The Ice Doll,” Kula Diamond. Diamond favors quick strikes and unexpected transitions to special attacks through the use of cancels. She has the power to utilize ice in her assaults, taking advantage of frozen opponents thanks to her ability to instantly freeze water particles in mid-air. A modified human created by the NESTS organization, Diamond’s conception has come with complications – including an odd addiction to candy and the fact that she appears much younger than her actual age.

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 is available now for the PlayStation 4 Computer Entertainment System, Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One, and digitally on Windows PC via Steam®. The title is Rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

For the latest information on the game, please visit the official website at https://www.teamninja-studio.com/doa6/us/. Also, be sure to Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DeadorAliveGame; and Follow us on Twitter @DOATEC_OFFICIAL.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers Gameplay Stream and Post Release Content

LOS ANGELES (June 17, 2019) – Leading up to the FINAL FANTASY® XIV: Shadowbringers™ launch on July 2, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida hosted a Letter from the Producer LIVE stream detailing updates coming with the latest expansion pack. A variety of new information and assets were revealed during the stream, including a new dungeon walkthrough video and post-launch content release information.

The newest gameplay footage clips in the Letter from the Producer LIVE #52 stream include a new dungeon walkthrough video, showcasing a number of dungeons included in Shadowbringers, as well as a first look at the Titania trial battle.

Additionally, details on other Shadowbringers content and the post-launch release schedule were announced:

  • Introduction of Shadowbringers’ Key Characters – Familiar allies such as Thancred and Y’shtola will join the Warrior of Light as they encounter new characters such as Ran’jit and Vauthry. Additional details on the key characters of Shadowbringers can be found here:https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/shadowbringers/story/
  • Updates to Crafting Classes – New actions and adjustments to current actions, major updates to the crafting UI, and easing requirements to unlock existing recipes.
  • Updates to Gathering Classes – New actions and traits for all classes, updates to the gathering log—including spawn time information and the ability to quickly add an alarm to remind players of spawning nodes, as well as easing requirements to unlock existing gathering points.
  • System-related Updates – Increase to the glamour dresser storage capacity, updates to the retainer and achievement UI, the addition of new tomestones and gatherer/crafter scrips, and much more.
  • Addition of New Worlds – The addition of the Spriggan World to the Chaos data center, and the addition of the Twintania World to the Light data center.
  • Post-Release Patch Schedule
    • July 16, 2019: Patch 5.01 – Launch of the normal difficulty high-level raid, Eden.
    • July 30, 2019: Patch 5.05 – Launch of the savage difficulty Eden raid and the new treasure hunt dungeon, Lyhe Ghiahl; release of the Allagan tomestone of Phantasmagoria currency.

Insurgency: Sandstorm Free Weekend and New Content

June 17, 2019 – Insurgency: Sandstorm, the smash-hit indie FPS from New World Interactive, is set to receive even more free content this month as players are invited to join the fight in the Steam Free Weekend from June 20th – June 24th. This is the perfect opportunity for newcomers to join the huge community of Insurgency: Sandstorm players, who already enjoy Insurgency’s signature style of immersive, team based, high lethality gameplay.

Today’s monster update includes new weapons, a remake of the classic Insurgency map ‘Ministry’, along with a zombie-inspired arcade mode called Frenzy. Update 1.3 is expected to go live at 3pm MT / 11pm CEST today.

Check out all this and more in the Free Weekend Trailer.

Other additions in today’s update include:

  • New weapons and attachments:
  • QBZ-03 Chinese assault rifle and TAR-21 MARS-style red dot optic for Insurgents
  • VHS-2 Croatian assault rifle and MRO “Micro Red Dot” optic for Security
  • Ministry – new indoor-focused map (remake of the Insurgency classic)

New World Interactive and Focus Home Interactive continue to be delighted with the response and community reception to Insurgency: Sandstorm so far. This upcoming content follows another large free content update in May which also featured a new map, customization options, a new hardcore cooperative game mode and more. New World Interactive has many more free content updates planned for the rest of this year and 2020, including modding support, game modes, maps, weapons, and more. Take a look at some of what’s due to arrive in the next six months in the recently announced Free Content Roadmap.

Play Insurgency: Sandstorm during the Steam Free Weekend, 10am (PT) Thursday June 20th to 10am Monday June 24th, with all this new content available free to all players. Insurgency: Sandstorm is out now on PC.

Universal Studios Announces Jurassic Cafe and Isla Nu-Bar

Universal City, CA, June 17, 2019 – Costa Rican-inspired cuisine and flavorful Tiki cocktails served at Jurassic Café and all-new tropical Isla Nu-bar add to the dynamic guest experience as part of Universal Studios Hollywood’s new mega attraction opening this summer, “Jurassic World—The Ride,” based on the JURASSIC WORLD blockbuster films.

Along with an array of souvenir collectible, limited edition and one-of-a-kind dimensional dinosaur sculptures from the Jurassic Outfitters store, guests can savor a piece of this exciting thrill ride even after they’ve gone home.

Borrowing its name from the fictitious Central American island in the JURASSIC WORLD movies, the stand-alone, open-air Isla Nu-bar, complete with a thatched roof, serves up tropical-themed Tiki cocktails in three collectible cups: Etched Tiki, Bamboo-styled Tiki and Tiki God.

Whether blended or made-to-order with fresh juices, every aromatic blended drink is adorned with a pineapple leaf and edible orchid flower. Flavorable beverages include Tropical Margarita, Piña Colada and Painkiller, along with island cocktails such as Tiki Tai, Bird of Paradise, Ti Peach, Rum Runner and Mai Tai.

With Universal Studios Hollywood’s Executive Chef Marie Grimm at the helm, the new Jurassic Café caters to a selection of Costa Rican-themed cuisine, inspired by the location of the JURASSIC WORLD movies. Mouth-watering menu items include Sweet Corn Cakes with Slow Roasted Mojo Pork or Spicy Mojo Jackfruit, Citrus Glazed Chicken, Fresh Roasted Red Snapper and Isla Burger. Tempting starters include savory Chorizo and Potato Empanadas, Crispy Lettuce Leaf Roll with Shrimp, Tropical Fruit Salad and Pomegranate Guacamole with plantain chips. All entrees will be accompanied by fresh green papaya salad and Costa Rica’s national dish, Gallo Pinto – traditional rice and beans.

The Jurassic Outfitters store will feature a variety of collectable merchandise to commemorate the ride’s opening, including a selection of exclusive items. From limited edition t-shirts and hats to drinkware, pins, amber stones and jewelry, Jurassic Outfitters will offer keepsake merchandise for every member of the family.

The shop will also carry a variety of custom-made, high-end collectible dinosaur sculptures and maquettes. These incredibly crafted statement pieces replicate the Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, Dilophosaurus, Styracosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus and Triceratops and range in price up to $1,000.

In addition to experiencing the exhilaration of the new thrill ride, guests will have the opportunity to become immortalized in one of the ride’s momentous scenes as they plunge down its treacherous 84-foot waterfall with the introduction of slo-mo video capture offered exclusively at “Jurassic World—The Ride.” The iconic moment will be available for purchase and received digitally for riders to share via their social media platforms so they assure their friends that they indeed survived the vicious dinosaurs. Keepsake digital images will also be available for purchase.

“Jurassic World—The Ride” features an original storyline that will take guests on a breathtaking excursion through the theme park as depicted in Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s film, JURASSIC WORLD. It will soar to new heights with the addition of iconic dinosaurs from the movie, including the colossal Indominus rex and the magnificent aquatic Mosasaurus in her natural habitat. The ride also features the stars of the JURASSIC WORLD films – Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong who reprise their roles as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing and Dr. Henry Wu.

The mega attraction captures the essence of the blockbuster movies and comes to life in collaboration with the award-winning and inspired minds at Universal Creative, the Academy Award®-winning special-effects visionaries at Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Universal Pictures and acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall.

When “Jurassic World—The Ride” opens this summer, guests will be welcomed to a dramatically reimagined space reflective of the hit films. A fresh entry statement, stonework landscaping, and a contemporary redesign of the iconic JURASSIC WORLD gates, illuminated with billowing flames, will create the framework for the all new aesthetics.

With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, the new California Neighbor Pass invites guests to experience 175 days of fun for $149 when purchased online. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

UNIQLO and Blizzard Launch New Apparel Line

IRVINE, Calif. – June 17, 2019 – Returning with a new line of exclusive apparel, today the fashion juggernaut UNIQLO launched the latest t-shirt line from the 2019 UNIQLO X Blizzard Entertainment Collection, featuring iconic imagery and characters from some of Blizzard’s fan-favorite properties including Overwatch®, World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone®, Diablo® III, Heroes of the Storm®, and StarCraft® II.

The newly released t-shirts are part of UNIQLO’s Spring/Summer 2019 UT collection and are available now globally, including at UNIQLO.com and UNIQLO’s US flagship stores.

UNIQLO’s Spring/Summer 2019 Blizzard Entertainment Collection Includes:

·         Overwatch – The world could always use more heroes! Suit up in four new Overwatch t-shirts, including shirts featuring South Korean MEKA pilot and esports superstar D.Va and Brazilian DJ Lúcio.

·         World of Warcraft – Declare your allegiance to the Alliance or champion the Horde in this set of shirts featuring the factions and heroes of World of Warcraft.

·         Diablo III – Level up your t-shirt collection with two fiery Diablo designs featuring Diablo, the Lord of Terror—legendary additions to any demon hunter’s wardrobe.

·         StarCraft II – Build and expand your t-shirt collection with two StarCraft II designs featuring the insignias of the Earth-born Terrans, psi-powered Protoss, and hive-minded Zerg.

·         Heroes of the Storm – Iconic heroes and villains from across Blizzard’s game universes unite in two new t-shirt designs featuring Heroes of the Storm.

·         Hearthstone – Play your cards right and add a brand-new Hearthstone t-shirt to your collection, featuring a design that evokes the spirit of a friendly, crackling tavern fire.

UNIQLO’s Spring/Summer 2019 Blizzard Entertainment Collection is available now for purchase while supplies last online at UNIQLO.com and retail locations in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, the EU, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Knott’s Berry Farm Summer Nights 2019 Review

Summer nights in Southern California are often times for outdoor concerts, fairs, and parties. The daytime heat can often stifle such things, so the relatively cooler evenings bristle with life. Knott’s Berry Farm has opted to take advantage of this and created the aptly named Knott’s Summer Nights event series. Knott’s Summer Nights allows guests to enjoy live bands, fun games, and special treats without any add-on ticket price. We got the opportunity to check out their media preview night last week and experience it all, first-hand. You can check out the full schedule of Summer Nights bands over at the Knott’s website.

Not knowing exactly what to expect from the park in this event, we arrived at our scheduled check-in time and entered the Calico Ghost Town region of the park. On the way, we looked over some of the Knott’s Summer Nights photo ops and signage, and then kept on forward. Ghost Town seemed relatively untouched, although Knott’s Ghost Town Alive event decorations is out in full force. If you haven’t checked out Ghost Town Alive before, I highly recommend it – but, I digress. We reached the Calico stage area and were treated to a fun sight: There were a plethora of seats and fire pits setup in front of the stage as well as special Knott’s Summer Nights food carts lining the walkways. The fact that Knott’s Berry Farm had the moxie to trust their guests with open flames was a gamble well-taken. Guests can roast marshmallows and make s’mores or just keep warm while enjoying the live music. During our visit, we saw a number of live bands grace the stage – each with its own style of music.

The food carts had various fair style foods – churros, ice cream sandwiches, and more. We tried several of the dishes and, overall, thought they were tasty. Knott’s does sell a tasting card that will give you samples of many dishes if you don’t want to pay per item. The park has various characters walking around interactive with guests and dancing in front of the stage to let people know it’s alright to do so. Of course, the rest of Knott’s Berry Farm is still up and running during the Knott’s Summer Nights event – so you can ride all your favorite attractions like the Calico Mine Ride, Ghostrider, etc. as well as dine at any of the park’s usual eateries.

Be sure to checkout the newly revamped Calico River Rapids ride during your visit. The new animatronics as well as interactive elements are a total hoot. Knott’s Berry Farm has created a fun and enjoyable event with Knott’s Summer Nights – especially for no added cost to the regular ticket price. Knott’s Summer Nights runs from June 7 to August 11, 2019. Ticket information and more can be found at Knott’s Berry Farm’s official website.

Photo Gallery

Code Vein E3 2019 Trailer and Release Date

June 12, 2019 – The final release date for CODE VEIN has been revealed by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today. The action-adventure title will be available in the Americas on September 27, 2019 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC.

The new CODE VEIN trailer highlights the thirst for vengeance the Revenants and Lost have against each other in a fight for survival against a crumbling world. The new trailer can be found at the following YouTube link:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4sqFOGDmxQ[/embedyt]

Venture into the land of CODE VEIN and uncover its secrets. Players will be able to craft their own unique character and customize their experience by equipping numerous weapons, items, Skills, and Gifts to accommodate their favorite combat style or gain a competitive advantage against impossible odds. Various A.I. controlled partners will also be on-hand to explore the interconnected world with their own specialized attributes and personalities.

CODE VEIN will be available for the PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, and PC later on September 27, 2019.

Wasteland 3 E3 2019 Trailer and Release Date

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – June 12, 2019 – inXile Entertainment, the studio led by Interplay founder and Wasteland co-creator Brian Fargo, and Deep Silver are pleased to announce that Wasteland 3 will be arriving in Spring 2020 on Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 4, Windows, Mac, and Linux.

The legendary series, which pioneered the post-apocalypse genre in video games, returns players to the role of Desert Rangers, lawmen in a post-nuclear world working to rebuild civilization from the ashes. Trading the dry, dusty heat of the American southwest for the frozen badlands of Colorado, Wasteland 3 features a number of chilling new locations where the Rangers will face hazards, engage in combat and receive an icy reception from the locals.

The Wasteland 3 E3 trailer provides a small look at the big things in store for Wasteland fans and can be viewed here:

In addition to narrative choices and the tactical turn-based combat that the series is known for, Wasteland 3 delivers brand new features, including a dynamic conversation system that highlights the weird and wild denizens of the Colorado Wasteland, an upgradable player vehicle, and the ability to play through the storyline cooperatively with a friend online.

According to inXile CEO Brian Fargo, “Wasteland 3 is a passion project for inXile and especially me. I directed the first Wasteland in 1988 and its sequel was one of the original great crowdfunding successes, and it’s a series we care deeply about. Thanks to our partnership with Deep Silver and Microsoft, we’re able to deliver the kind of deep, immersive experience that Wasteland fans want and expect.”