Penny Arcade’s popular live-play D&D series founded in 2008, Acquisitions Incorporated, rolled a natural 20 with its now closed Series 2 Kickstarter, exceeding its original goal by 170% for a whopping $424,478 earned in total! Having secured its Series 2 funding, this fantasy startup is ready to celebrate their 15th year of growth in style.
The successful funding of Series 2 will enable the pioneering live show to build upon its impressive legacy with bigger and more elaborate productions, highlighting the narrative prowess of dungeon-masters Jeremy Crawford, Lead Rules Designer of Dungeons and Dragons, and Series 1’s Chris Perkins, Senior Story Designer of Dungeons and Dragons.
As a pivotal trailblazer in the space, Acquisitions Incorporated paved the way for a new era of roleplay adventure podcasts, including household names like Critical Role and Dimension20. Now in its 15th year, its fandom and franchise have grown significantly to include annually anticipated live performances at Penny Arcade Expos (PAX), its own tabletop board games, and even an official D&D Sourcebook published in 2019.
“We’re basically a classic punk band getting the crew back together to show these kids how a real party’s supposed to go down, with more excessively nerdy fantasy stage designs, of course,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder, Penny Arcade. “Our entire cast is incredibly thankful to all of our backers and we can’t wait to make some magic for the world this summer.”
Acquisitions Incorporated: The Series 2 will star:
Jerry Holkins, co-founder of Penny Arcade and Acquisitions Inc.
Mike Krahulik, co-founder of Penny Arcade and Acquisitions Inc.
Jasmine Bhullar, Streamer and veteran of TTRPG live plays including Critical Role, Dimension20, and Penny Arcade’s Court of Cups
Anna Prosser, Producer, performing artist and mainstay in TTRPG actual plays including Acquisitions Incorporated and Dice Camera Action
More returning friends and special guests to be announced soon!
Acquisitions Incorporated: The Series 2 will kick off this September 2023. For further information, please visit Penny Arcade’s official website or follow Penny Arcade on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
At STAR WARS Celebration in London, Disney+ and Lucasfilm unveiled the thrilling teaser trailer for the highly anticipated Disney+ original series “Ahsoka,” starring Rosario Dawson in the title role. Set after the fall of the Empire, “Ahsoka” follows the former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. The teaser trailer and poster are available.
In addition to Dawson, “Ahsoka” stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla. The series is written by Dave Filoni, who executive produces alongside Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, and Carrie Beck. Karen Gilchrist is co-executive producer.
“Ahsoka” will debut exclusively on Disney+ in August 2023.
Publisher Kalypso Media and developer Gaming Minds Studios have today confirmed the release date for Railway Empire 2, the successor to the award-winning railway management simulator. It’s full steam ahead May 25, 2023, when aspiring train tycoons can step into the world of the railroad revolution. Railway Empire 2 will be released with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC and will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles (supported through Smart Delivery), PlayStation 4|5, and PC. The title will be released on Nintendo Switch™ later this year.
It’s the Industrial Revolution and you are tasked with taking over a small train company in the 19th century. Do you have what it takes to turn it into a railway empire of the ages? Railway Empire 2 builds upon all the best features of its predecessor and is bigger and better than ever before. Choose from sprawling maps across Europe or North America and grow your network with a selection of 60 historic locomotives. With expansive regional maps, improved track construction, and real-time terraforming, there’s no better time to unleash your inner conductor. Take on the 5-chapter campaign, 14 scenarios, free play, and construction modes, or team up with a fellow tycoon in the cooperative multiplayer mode for up to 4 players.*
Prepare for departure on May 25, 2023, when Railway Empire 2 will be released with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC and will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles (supported through Smart Delivery) and PlayStation 4|5. The title will be released on Nintendo Switch later this year.
Fulqrum Publishing and Terminist Arcade are thrilled to announce that HYPERVIOLENT, the gloriously violent, retro FPS launches into Early Access today via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com.
Inspired by classic 90s sprite-based shooters, HYPERVIOLENT strands players on a remote asteroid-based mining colony where an ancient evil is awakened by man’s excessive lust for power. Using an extensive array of weapons players must submit their inner-aggression; blasting and chopping their way through hordes of monstrous foes as they unravel a bloodsoaked, cosmic horror mystery.
Nearly endless gun and melee combinations entice players to take their VIOLENCE to the next level, however, careful resource management and a keen eye are key to survival, for enemies can – and will – ambush them when they least expect it.
At Early Access launch players can experience the first five levels loaded with tense sci-fi horror action; taking on ten varied enemy types and two demanding boss battles in brutal first-person combat, using 12 different weapons. As the Early Access campaign progresses, HYPERVIOLENT’s single-player will expand to add completely different gameplay experiences, and upon full release, the game will introduce Multiplayer support alongside various thrilling game modes.
Places, people, places! Filming is starting! Developer Odyssey Studios & publisher Assemble Entertainment are excited to announce that Moviehouse – The Film Studio Tycoon is available now on Windows PC and Mac OS. A classic premise brought to the modern day with incredible detail, Moviehouse – The Film Studio Tycoon lets you write, produce, and direct every aspect of whatever Hollywood blockbuster you can think of. You can pick up the game right now on Steam.
Starting from humble beginnings, the goal of Moviehouse – The Film Studio Tycoon is to create a film worthy of being shown in every theater across the world. Simple in theory, yet in-depth and challenging in execution. No one becomes a world renowned director overnight, so you’ll need to start with smaller projects and indie films. If successful, you’ll garner more attention, more praise, and most importantly, more money. More money means bigger productions, bigger productions mean more resources, which in turn leads to better movies.
Those that have worked on a major production know one thing: the devil is in the details. So in keeping with that idea, Moviehouse – The Film Studio Tycoon gives you absolute control over every last minute detail of your productions. Any seemingly small detail is yours to tweak to your liking. Budget on casting calls? Adjustable. Background shrubbery? Freely placeable. Early showing placements? Up to your keen eye for planning. The entirety of your set is at your fingertips.
Key Features of Moviehouse – The Film Studio Tycoon:
That’s Showbiz, Baby!: Compete in the glamorous Industry Awards showcase, vying for multiple titles including best feature film, and set your sights on winning the coveted golden clapper
The Tides of Change: As the decades pass, both your team and your equipment will improve. Starting off with a small amateur cast and rudimentary equipment, the studio and all those a part of it will mature and hone their skills, while new updates in technology and filming techniques grant the ability for better filmmaking!
Assemble the Dream Team: Hire directors and writers and build up their creative skills, nurturing their creative prowess. A good crew in itself can turn casual viewers into diehard fans!
Hit the Festival Circuit: Showcase your movie in film festivals to build buzz, gain accolades, and garner critical success
An Eye for Filmmaking: Make a spy flick, a romantic comedy, a bloody slasher, or something entirely different. You’ve got the film-making tools at your fingertips, so it’s all up to you!
Moviehouse – The Film Studio Tycoon is available now for PC and Mac and can be purchased now via Steam and GOG for $10.99 with a limited-time 10% discount.
Ukrainian developer Frogwares have released the launch trailer for Sherlock Holmes The Awakened ahead of the game’s release on 11 April 2023.
A young Sherlock Holmes and John Watson undertake their first case together, a chilling and psyche-shattering mystery that has them confront a secretive, Cthulhu-worshiping cult.
The story is a creative re-imagining of what traumatic and sanity-breaking experiences the young detectives could have endured at this crucial point in their relationship. Memories, secrets and scars that would go on the shape them into the famous yet flawed detective duo the worlds knows them for.
“I’m not sure if any one of us will ever release another game with so many memories and emotional baggage attached to it. This game came about as necessity to keep the studio alive during the war in Ukraine but it also gave us all a very strong purpose and a much-needed distraction from everything going on around us. What is next is already in the works now that we have proven to ourselves, we can keep going, despite the war.”
– Sergiy Oganesyan, Head of Publishing, Frogwares
The Awakened will be available on April 11, 2023 on PC, PS4, PS5, XB1, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.
Tomorrow, Ziggurat interactive is taking to the skies to bring back a classic flight sim! Megafortress Collection is the latest Retro First release and will be available on Steam and GOG! Get ready to take on challenging air assault missions in this collection that features the original Megafortress, plus its two expansions: Operation Sledgehammer and Operation Skymaster.
In the Megafortress Collection, players can jump into the cockpit of an experimental B-52 bomber that is nearly invisible to destroy heavily fortified enemy installations. Assume multiple roles, including Pilot, Navigator, Electronic Warfare Officer, and Offensive Weapons Officer while engaging in strategic air assaults on location in historic battlefronts around the world.
The two expansions add even more aviation fun in the form of 46 additional missions across the globe. These missions feature new enemy targets, including terrorist training camps, chemical weapons facilities, nuclear research plants, amphibious vessels and ships. In addition, the expansions feature new weapons including the CBU-95 FAE and Penguin MK 3 anti-ship missile, and new enemy defenses like the Chinese HQ-61 SAM system.
Megafortress Collection will be available tomorrow on Steam and GOG. For a limited time, pick it up for a 33% discounted price!
Bohemia Interactive is pleased to announce a brand new IP title called Silica – an RTS/FPS crossover game set on the fictional planet of Baltarus, located thousands of light years from Earth. In Silica, players can choose to play either as a Commander in RTS mode, or as an Infantry soldier who gets to control all units and vehicles along with their arsenal in FPS. Their mission on this seemingly barren planet is simple: locate and harvest Balterium, an element with a tremendous amount of untapped potential that can power up the human civilization for generations to come! Silica is the first title born in Bohemia Incubator – a new label of Bohemia Interactive aimed to help indie game makers develop and introduce their dream games to a global audience. Silica is entering Early Access on Steam soon.
Silica was mostly developed by a single dev – Martin “Dram” Melichárek. His name might sound familiar to fans of Bohemia Interactive games as he was the lead developer behind Take On Mars. His idea of creating Silica dates back to 2008. Now, thanks to Bohemia Incubator, his dream of releasing the game has finally come true.
The game will be available in Steam Early Access soon and will stay in early access for 9-12 months. Several major updates are already lined up throughout the year.
Command From Up High or Put Your Boots on the Ground
Silica is an immersive blend of first person shooter and real time strategy, each true to its respective genre. The game allows players the freedom of choice, without forcing them to play as both.
If you prefer sand-filled boots, bullets whizzing overhead, and menacing alien jaws closing in, the infantry role is for you. Not limited to merely foot-based soldiers, you can also take control of any available vehicles, including the colossal Harvester, the speedy Light Quad, or the insidious Siege Tank, just to name a few. Or, if chewing metal is your niche, then the hive-mind, insect-like aliens are your faction of choice. Shift your consciousness between creatures such as the stealthy Crab, the nimble Hunter, or the armored Goliath.
For those who’d rather command their forces from a distance, the esteemed role of Commander awaits you in the relative safety of orbit. Deploy Harvesters to silica crystal fields, hiding the valuable resources you’re after. Construct and place immense structures to produce and dispatch units that will dominate the battlefield.
Three Game Modes to Choose From
The game offers variety in terms of game modes. Strategy is the flagship game mode of Silica. In this mode, players battle for dominance by building, harvesting, and striking the enemy. Strategy mode seamlessly combines both RTS and FPS elements and is playable in any combination, up to a 3-way conflict between factions. Prospector mode acts as a tutorial for Silica. It is offered as an FPS, which can be played in single or multiplayer mode. Players start off near a landing pod and are tasked with exploring the area in search of a Balterium field. They will encounter enemy forces along the way and must complete all the objectives in order to make it out alive. The third mode – Arena – introduces a fun and crazy environment where players select their favorite unit and face off in an unbalanced FPS free-for-all.
Silica Features
First/third-person shooter with vehicles
6 unique locations
3 engaging game modes
Singleplayer and multiplayer options
5 infantry classes
11 distinct vehicles
8 alien creatures
AI control for both commander and units
Introducing Bohemia Incubator: A New Opportunity for Indie Game Devs
Historically, Bohemia Interactive has not only been associated with game development, but with publishing activities as well. Bohemia has successfully helped launch titles by smaller studios and indie developers which have gone on to gain success on the global market.
“In this respect, we are returning to our roots. We are transforming the existing Bohemia Incubator, which has so far served as a platform for our internal projects to investigate interesting concepts, implement new technologies, and develop games outside our main game series. But now, in its new form, we are also opening Bohemia Incubator to third-party developers who are working on interesting game projects but lack the necessary publishing and financial resources. To indie devs who want to join forces and enter the Bohemia Incubator, we can offer over 20 years of experience in game development and top-level know-how, as well as assistance with QA, marketing, and publishing. Eligible projects need to have reached the playable prototype stage at minimum,” says Marek Španěl, founder and CEO of Bohemia Interactive.
Bohemia Incubator aims to help cultivate the indie game dev scene primarily in the Czech Republic and help talented developers realize their dreams of proudly presenting their games to the world. Silica is the first title to be fully “born” in this new era of the Bohemia Incubator.
This year’s STAR WARS Celebration got off to a sensational start today in London with the stars and filmmakers of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” wowing the fans with the first look at the never-before-seen trailer and an extensive exclusive look at the film as well as the new poster. Appearing in person were cast members Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen, Director/Co-Writer James Mangold and Producer Kathleen Kennedy, with a message from star Harrison Ford, to reveal new details about the highly anticipated installment of the iconic franchise. The film, which will be Harrison Ford’s final Indiana Jones adventure, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 and opens in theaters on June 30. The trailer, poster and new images are available to download.
In Lucasfilm’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” Harrison Ford returns as the legendary hero archaeologist, starring along with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”), John Rhys-Davies (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”), Toby Jones (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”), Boyd Holbrook (“Logan”), Ethann Isidore (“Mortel”) and Mads Mikkelsen (“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”). Directed by James Mangold, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1981, has once again composed the score.
Gameloft, a leader in the creation and publishing of games, today announced the release of Disney Dreamlight Valley’s next free major content update for Early Access players, “Pride of the Valley,” which brings to the game a completely new realm along with Simba and Nala from Disney’s The Lion King. The free update also adds new story quests for some of Dreamlight Valley’s beloved Disney and Pixar residents, and a Star Path that celebrates Disney Parks’ fans with exclusive outfits, furniture, souvenirs, and even Disney Parks attractions.
A magical new door has opened in the Dream Castle, inviting players to discover a brand-new realm adventure and meet two iconic Disney characters – Simba and Nala. Beyond the new realm, players will help Simba and Nala settle into Valley life and embark on adventures that build upon this newfound friendship . In addition to exploring The Lion King Realm, players can embark on brand-new missions such as investigating a possible alien invasion with Buzz, helping Minnie solve a magical problem, and investigating Ursula and Mother Gothel’s mysterious meet-ups!
Along with all-new quests, this update’s Star Path season brings the magic of Disney Parks to the Valley. Complete Dreamlight Duties to unlock special Disney Parks themed rewards, including iconic attractions such as the Mad Tea Party and Pixar Pal-A-Round and new clothing and souvenirs to make the Valley an even more magical experience. Disney Dreamlight Valley’s social pages will host a unique Park-building milestone challenge for opportunities to earn additional in-game items such as balloons, rides, topiaries, and more!
Finally, to celebrate the arrival of spring, players in Disney Dreamlight Valley will also be able to take part in a special Eggstravaganza mini event from April 8th to the 29th! Players can collect all kinds of eggs, complete daily missions with WALL·E, and more to unlock exclusive cosmetics and rewards.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is available in Early Access with the purchase of a Founder’s Pack for Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), PlayStation®4 (PS4™), Xbox Series X,
Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles, and for PC on Steam, Epic Games Store, and The Microsoft Store, and for Mac on the Mac App Store
