Author - Jerry Paxton

Toy Soldiers HD Coming to Nintendo Switch

It’s time to deploy your machine guns, artillery, mortars, flamethrowers and more. The first wave of enemy toys are closing fast and bringing down a rain of bullets. Protect your tox box at all costs and watch out for those toy Robots, they are killers!

Toy Soldiers HD, a neo-classic mash-up of tower defense, FPS action, and 3rd-person top-down strategy, comes to Nintendo Switch on August 5, 2022. The digital embodiment of childhood imaginary battles with your best friend in your bedroom, the game offers single player fun and multiplayer goodness armed with army miniatures, classic sci-fi robots and spaceships, and more toys from our old school toy boxes.

Unlike many tower defense games where you build your defenses and watch the action unfold, Toy Soldiers HD gives you the unique ability to instantly pop in and out of the battlefield from both third-person top-down strategic perspective and overhead first-person POV shooter perspective. Watch the battle play out as you build, upgrade, and repair your defenses or jump directly into the action.

Control fearsome armored vehicles and tanks with explosive firepower as you win the war and earn your upgrades for the next thrilling battle on the road to victory!

Take to the skies and rain down fire from above, take out enemy bombers or earn your victory in exciting dogfights as you pilot the first airborne war machines.

A much-loved classic, overhauled and upgraded for a new generation. Toy Soldiers HD contains the original game, all DLC including some out-of-this-world new enemies to take on and some wacky new experimental levels. Toy Soldiers HD is currently digitally available on Xbox One (playable on Xbox Series X I S), Steam, and PlayStation 4 (playable on PS5).

Solasta: Crown of the Magister Out Now on XBOX Game Pass

Tactical Adventures’ award-winning, team-based tactical fantasy cRPG, Solasta: Crown of the Magister, is now available on Game Pass for Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One.

Following its release on PC and Mac, it’s time now for Xbox gamers to prepare to think in three dimensions in an epic team adventure that stays true to the tabletop experience. The dynamic and mysterious world features elements of verticality, allowing players to use their surroundings as an element of strategy. Solasta: Crown of the Magister has been optimized for the Xbox family of consoles, featuring a redesigned interface, control pad integration and the ability to play in co-op online, allowing cross-play with PC or cross-platform with other Xbox versions.

The Xbox version also makes available the community dungeons created in Solasta’s Dungeon Maker PC tool and uploaded on Mod.io for console players to download, for free, both in single player and multiplayer.

As well as the Solasta: Crown of the Magister base game, all previously released DLCs are also now available on the Xbox Store (additional purchase necessary). The Primal Calling DLC features a new Half-Orc ancestry, two additional Barbarian and Druid classes, and an original two-hour “Wanderer” quest. The Lost Valley DLC campaign delivers an entirely new 20-hour+ story arc that runs parallel with the original Crown of the Magister campaign that players can jump right into at level 1.

Want to play DLC content in multiplayer with friends who don’t have it? Not a problem. Tactical Adventures’ DLC philosophy is that all users will be able to play DLC content for free as long as the host has it installed.

An Epic Team Adventure
Discover the shattered world of Solasta: explore ruins and dungeons for legendary treasures, learn the truth of an age-old cataclysm – and stop it from happening again. Create your very own party of adventurers with our Character Creation Tool in the classic tabletop RPG tradition.

Discover a Mysterious & Dynamic World
Delve into long forgotten dungeons to unearth ancient artifacts. Fight monsters in squad-level, turn-based, tactical combat. Solasta’s dynamic environment offers some interesting tactical options.

Prepare to Think in Three Dimensions
The dungeons in Solasta are more than flat game-boards. Climb, jump, or fly around obstacles. Evade or surprise foes from above or below. Push them into chasms or drop things on their heads. Position yourself on high grounds to start the fight with an advantage.

True to the Tabletop
Wizards of the Coast granted Tactical Adventures a license to use the Dungeons & Dragons SRD 5.1 content and ruleset furthering the vision of making the most faithful video game adaptation with the Tabletop ruleset!

For more information on Solasta: Crown of the Magister visit the website, Steam page, GOG page, Microsoft Store, or Humble store. Players can also follow on Twitter, Instagram, like on Facebook, watch on YouTube and Twitch, and join the conversation on Discord or the official forums.

House Corrino Coming to Dune: Spice Wars

Dune: Spice Wars, the 4X real-time strategy game set on Dune, is set to expand once again following the major Multiplayer Update. Publisher Funcom and developer Shiro Games now reveal a brand-new faction coming to the game: The Imperial House Corrino, rulers of the Known Universe for the last ten millennia. This update will follow the Multiplayer Update as the second major milestone in the Early Access Roadmap.

The Houses on Dune have become unruly, so the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV is bringing his feared Sardaukar to remind them of his dominion. While he holds a lot of power, he must also preserve certain essential relationships, most crucially with the Spacing Guild.

Playing as House Corrino, players will experience a very different kind of economy to balance. Tip the scales of spice in your favor by receiving spice taxes or bribes from other factions while paying the Spacing Guild’s fees to maintain interstellar travel at affordable rates and hold the empire together.

By the emperor’s side stand his loyal councilors, each of whom lends unique benefits, be it on the battlefield, in the Landsraad politics, for raw production, or otherwise.

As with previous updates, this one will also include a series of other improvements and minor features. Plenty more details will be revealed about the Imperial House Corrino at Gamescom, including the full list of councilors, unique units, and more.

Dune: Spice Wars is currently 20% off on Steam. Play with or against your friends to see who the desert claims first.

Hollyland Unveils Lark M1 Wireless Mic System

Hollyland, the manufacturer well known for professional video and audio devices, has launched a new wireless lavalier microphone system with a tiny body and charging case, the Lark M1. The lightweight Lark M1 features Hollyland’s exclusive, innovative HearClear noise cancellation technology, plus hi-fi sound quality, 650ft (200m) line-of-sight range, and superior cost performance. This system is perfect for video production, outdoor shooting, live streaming, vlogging, interviews, Podcasting, and remote conference. Two packages are available, solo and duo, for diverse user demands. The Lark M1 is of great interest to entry-level users, because it makes professional quality so affordable. For users requiring clear audio recording in noisy environments, with high portability and long battery duration, this new microphone is an excellent choice.

Professional sound, professional range
Lark M1’s omnidirectional microphones convey rich, detailed speech, at up to 48kHz/16bit. HearClear noise cancellation filters out ambient sounds so voices become even clearer – but can always be turned off with one click to accurately reproduce natural sounds. The Lark M1’s stable, interference-free frequency hopping technology has a range of up to 650ft (200m).

Huge battery life for all-day availability
The compact portable charging case charges and protects transmitters and receiver, providing up to 8 hours runtime for each transmit and receive unit, and up to 20 hours of continuous operating time. Full recharge time is 1.5 hours.

Light, compact, comfortable and beautiful
The charging case weighs only 80g, the receiver just 17.5g, and the transmitters only 11.8g. The transmitter is smaller than a typical USB flash drive. The charging case is about the same size as a regular mouse and can be held in the user’s hand. Curved-edge ergonomics and matte UV-painted surfaces are comfortable to wear, and acoustic performance is optimized by the sleek metal mesh-textured skin.

Automatically adapts to all scenarios
The Lark M1’s powerful self-adaptive audio processing algorithm always achieves professional results. Intelligent device identification switches between mobile and camera modes without tedious manual adjustment, though manual control is available if required.

Availability and pricing
Hollyland’s Lark M1 is available at: https://amzn.to/3a1NOgq

Recommended retail price: $149

Shout! Factory Announces KAMEN RIDER KUUGA: THE COMPLETE SERIES

In continued celebration of the landmark series’ 50th anniversary, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Toei Company Ltd., is proud to present a special Kamen Rider collection, KAMEN RIDER KUUGA: THE COMPLETE SERIES on national home entertainment shelves in September 20, 2022. Available for the first time in North America, this long-awaited 7-Disc Blu-ray set contains all 49 action-packed episodes from the original Japanese master and features separate subtitle tracks (Japanese only subtitle track and Japanese + Grongi language translation). KAMEN RIDER KUUGA: THE COMPLETE SERIES is a must-have for loyal fans and pop-culture collectors. Pre-order is available now at ShoutFactory.com. Fans who order KAMEN RIDER KUUGA: THE COMPLETE SERIES from Shout! Factory will also receive a poster, while supplies last.

Originally premiering in 1971, the long-running Japanese television series Kamen Rider follows the exploits of a masked, motorcycle-riding hero who fights the forces of evil. The number one kids’ program in Japan for almost 50 years, Kamen Rider has proved to be beloved through multiple series iterations and generations of fans and Riders.

KAMEN RIDER KUUGA | Synopsis

KAMEN RIDER KUUGA premiered in Japan in 2000 and was the first installment in the franchise’s televised run in the Heisei Era.

When a group of archaeologists uncovers the tomb of a legendary warrior, they unearth Kuuga’s belt, accidentally releasing an ancient race of monsters called the Grongi, bent on destroying humanity. Enter Yusuke Godai, a modern-day guy-next-door, who learns he is telepathically linked to the mysterious stone belt. With its power, he transforms into the legendary warrior known as Kuuga, humanity’s only defense against the murderous Grongi monsters.

MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE Announcement Trailer

Leading video game publisher and developer Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today announced MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE, a free-to-play online multiplayer Battle Royale game based on the popular anime series. The game was revealed at the Bandai Namco “Summer Showcase” panel at Anime Expo® 2022 in Los Angeles, where the company also announced pre-registrations are now open for a Closed Beta Test on PlayStation®4 running August 18-21. Developed by BYKING, the studio behind the MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE series, MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE is coming to PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™, and PC via Steam®.

In MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE, players will join one of eight three-player teams as Heroes or Villains as they battle on expansive citywide maps. By controlling classic My Hero characters, fans can make the most of their Quirks to attack enemies and cooperate with their team to survive fights. Players can also contribute to their team’s victory by rescuing or intimidating civilians on the field to obtain powerful items that can determine the outcome of the battle.

“The world of My Hero and its colorful cast of Heroes, Villains, and their Quirks provide the perfect setting for a fun and frenzied free-to-play Battle Royale experience that remains faithful to the series’ themes and strengths,” said Aoba Miyazaki, Producer at Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. “We’re eager to share our take on team-based Heroes vs. Villains gameplay through our first Closed Beta test, and we can’t wait to work with the community to make MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE a thrilling Battle Royale experience for fans and players of online multiplayer games.”

MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE’s upcoming PlayStation 4 Closed Beta will run in two phases:

  • Phase 1: Starts on Aug. 17 at 7:00 p.m. PT, and ends on Aug. 18 at 3:00 a.m. PT
  • Phase 2: Starts on Aug. 18 at 7:00 p.m. PT and ends on Aug. 21 at 11:00 a.m. PT

For more information and to sign up for the Closed Beta Test, please visit the game’s official page at http://bandainam.co/mhur-cbt

For press only, static assets are available at the Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. press room at www.bneapressroom.com; a library of video trailers ready for embedding are available on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/c/BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica.

For information on this title and other products from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., please visit www.bandainamcoent.com. Join the conversation on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS, check us out live on Twitch at https://twitch.tv/bandainamcous, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

Stuntfest – World Tour Announcement Trailer

Hands firmly gripping the steering wheel, tensed muscles, sharpened senses, the adrenaline kicking in – Ready, set, EJECT! THQ Nordic’s next stunt brings players back on the track and in the air with the traveling action sports game Stuntfest – World Tour Developed by Pow Wow Entertainment, Stuntfest – World Tour is coming to PC later this year.

Stuntfest – World Tour combines racing, crashing, and destruction with a unique aimed ejection mechanism. 18 players compete against each other in an elimination-based stunt show through various nerve-wrecking game modes. The goal? To shine on stage and become the winner of the festival! Characters turn into living bullets, ejected out of the vehicles, and catapulted hundreds of meters through the air. The players maintain control when maneuvering their character while hurtling over vast distances and after crashing through huge obstacles. Up in the air, the players can take advantage of quirky gadgets to reach secret shortcuts and turn the tables at the last second. And the best part: Recover after a high jump and dive back into the next vehicle on the road!

Need a break from the action? Meet up and fool around in the Stuntfest – World Tour arena, a vast festival area where you can flex your reflexes and surround yourself with other kindred stunt buddies. Use the pit in the backstage area to upgrade and customize your car or character and become the next champion of the insane Stuntshow tournament!

CD PROJEKT RED Celebrates 20th Anniversary

On July 1st, 2022, CD PROJEKT RED celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades since the studio entered the video game development scene and began work on the first entry into The Witcher series of games.

After seeing success in the realms of video game distribution and localization, CD PROJEKT turned its attention to the development of its own game which led to the creation of CD PROJEKT RED, a video game development studio, and official announcement of that fact on July 1st, 2002.

In the twenty years since, CD PROJEKT RED has become a global industry name. The Witcher series of games — highlighted by 2015’s critically acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — has sold over 65 million copies, with development on an all new mainline The Witcher game having recently been announced, as well. Cyberpunk 2077, the studio’s latest release, has also become a globally recognized franchise, spawning its own anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created in collaboration with Studio Trigger and premiering on Netflix in September 2022. Currently CDPR is also working on the expansion for the game, to be released in 2023.

Looking back on the past 20 years, Head of Studio Adam Badowski said:

When we started CD PROJEKT RED, we didn’t know what you can and can’t do in the video game industry. We were rebels from the get-go, and we had to learn everything ourselves. That gave us the freedom to develop our games our way, and that distinct and personal approach has formed the core of our DNA — which you can see has shaped our games. These last twenty years have been exciting and fruitful for us, unpredictably so, and we are extremely proud of our achievements and the fact that we can constantly count on the support of our community. That in particular is something we all cherish here, and it is with this positivity and optimism we head into our twenty-first year and beyond.

The studio is focusing much of its anniversary celebrations around its passionate community. CD PROJEKT RED has held a close relationship with players since day one, and it is thanks to their support over the years that the studio is where it is today. Gamers have always been at the core of CDPR’s work and mission statement, and the recently announced 20th anniversary celebrations are the studio’s way of sharing this special occasion with its equally special community.

To that end, the studio has launched its own 20th anniversary website which invites community members to share their own memories of CD PROJEKT RED and its games via photographs, screenshots, artwork — and more. Gamers can upload their memories to the Birthday Gallery, and share this momentous milestone with both the studio and community members from all around the world.

Over the next few months, regular streams of CD PROJEKT RED games will be hosted on the 20th anniversary website, with studio members taking the audience on trips down memory lane every Wednesday, starting from July 6th. Visitors to the website will also be able to learn studio trivia, take part in challenges — and win prizes — and more.

For more information on CD PROJEKT RED and its 20th anniversary celebrations, follow the oficial Twitter & Facebook accounts, and visit 20yearsof.cdprojektred.com.

Midsummer Scream Unveils Official App and Web Schedule

Midsummer Scream, returning July 29-31 at the Long Beach Convention Center, has just released their schedule of nearly 100 panels and presentations via a brand new app available for both Apple and Android devices.

The app, developed by FanGuru/Eventology Solutions, allows guests to create their own schedule – an essential tool to make the most of an event that spans over 250,000 square feet, several stages and performance spaces, and 350 exhibitor booths.

Newly added and still unannounced panel and presentations include:

  • A one-hour discussion with The Walking Dead’s Executive Producer and special effects makeup legend Greg Nicotero led by LeeAnna Vamp on Friday, July 29.
  • A “keynote” presentation on the history of Halloween and haunted attractions from experts Lisa Morton and Ted Dougherty on Saturday, July 30.
  • A look at how songs are selected for inclusion in horror film and TV projects from a lineup of professional musicians and music supervisors at the panel “Spooky Music In Visual Media presented by LVCRFT” on Saturday, July 30.
  • A special sneak peek of the trailer for SPIRIT HALLOWEEN: THE MOVIE presented by screenwriter Billie Bates on Sunday, July 31.
  • An all-star lineup of horror screenwriters, including SCREAM creator Kevin Williamson, discussing “Making Horror Fun Again” in a panel curated by Fangoria on Sunday, July 31.

The Midsummer Scream app includes a showfloor map and guide to finding and highlighting favorite vendors, celebrities meeting with fans for autographs, plus more features to be rolled out.

A desktop friendly, web version of the full Midsummer Scream program is also available here.

The Midsummer Scream app can be downloaded by searching for “Midsummer Scream” on your mobile device’s app store or through the following links:

For iPhones download on the App Store.
For Android devices download at Google Play.

Stellaris: Console Edition Getting Aquatics Species Pack

Paradox Interactive, a developer and publisher of immersive games, today announced that the Aquatics Species Pack will release for Stellaris: Console Edition on August 25, 2022. Included in the Fifth Expansion Pass for Stellaris: Console Edition alongside the Nemesis expansion and, in the near future, the Overlord expansion, Aquatics will be available this summer for players on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. All players who have already purchased the Expansion Pass will be able to download Aquatics the day it is released.

The Aquatics Species Pack allows players to embrace the life of a seafaring civilization as they sail the open expanses of the galaxy. Dive into Stellaris with a sea of new choices, and discover new life where one least expects it. Let a wave of new customizable options for player empires crash into Stellaris, with a treasure trove of new species portraits, ship set, origins and more.

In all, the Aquatics Species Pack includes:

  • New origins:
    • Here be Dragons!: An ancient, intelligent, thousand year old sage-like blue dragon is orbiting your home world. She protects, but also demands – is she a guardian or threat? Perhaps both….
    • Ocean Paradise: Aquatic species have mastered the water elements and are now ready to harvest the rewards that a life on the sea brings. Gives players a larger home world, as well as happier schools that grow faster!
  • New trait: Aquatic: These species are adapted to live on ocean worlds but less so on others. Choose carefully when beginning your voyage!
  • New Civic: Anglers: Visit the agriculture districts to reap the spoils of the ocean: fresh seafood and rare pearls, a valuable consumer good.
  • New Ascension perk: Hydrocentric: Aquatic species have developed cheaper and faster methods of modifying their environments, by either terraforming planets into oceanic worlds or making them bigger by harvesting water from other worlds.
  • New ship set with a sleek look, designed to help you yacht your way through space.
  • New Aquatics Dragon: A new, majestic space dragon will now grace the stars.
  • New AdvisorSail the stars alongside the Seafarer advisor voice, inspired by high-seas adventure fiction.
  • 15 new aquatics portraits