Thursday, November 27, 2014

Marvel Puzzle, Freedom Wars, The Fall, Rollers of the Realm, Penny Dreadful  

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Happy thanksgiving! And if you don’t celebrate it, happy Thursday!

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Games: Gonna start tonight off with a quick update on Marvel Puzzle Quest.

Rocket Raccoon and Groot were recently released as part of a week-long PVE event, and if you missed out on that, you still have a chance to grab them in the PVP event featuring new Daken which is happening right now. 


(Side note: I'm really sick of constantly seeing X-Force Wolverine in the top ranks of PVP these days, but hey, I'm hanging in there.)

While that PVP is going on, the current PVE is a brand new thing for Puzzle Quest: This is the first time ever that the top 50 winners will get a four-star hero! Who’s the prize? The badass female Thor. If you had a chance to play with her when she was a "loaner" a while ago, then you know how powerful she is, not to mention she comes with the all-new "charge" mechanic which increases the number of action points you get from a match.


I think it's great that the devs are giving more people a chance to get some of these four-star characters. Coming in first place is really tough and stressful, not to mention how much time it takes. Shooting for top fifty instead of first is a big improvement in terms of opening it up for these characters.



In other games news, I just started playing The Fall on WiiU tonight. (It’s also on PC).

I heard about it originally on the Experience Points Podcast (Hi Scott! Hi Jorge!) and then I saw a few people talking about it afterwards. It doesn't seem like very many people are aware of it, but they should be.


In this game, the player takes control of a robotic combat suit. The human inside has been knocked unconscious and is in need of medical aid, so it's up to the suit to act autonomously and get him to a doctor.

It boils down to being 2D with some combat elements and a big focus on puzzles of the kind where one item needs to be brought to a specific place in order to progress. What's notable about it is how much time and attention the developer has given to the premise and the writing. Certain functions of the suit are unavailable until the occupant is in mortal danger, so the player must willfully put themselves in harm’s way in order to override the safeties. It's an interesting play off of the laws of robotics and what constitutes a ‘correct’ action for an AI in a difficult circumstance.

I've heard it's pretty short if you don't get stuck (and I will get stuck, I am the world's worst at these kinds of puzzles) but I'm definitely into it so far.



I talked about Freedom Wars in the last blog update, and I've still been playing it in fits and starts. I have to say, it may be a bit of a cliché, but this is one of those games at genuinely gets better as it goes on.

At the beginning, the game throws way too much story at the player, and it's not exactly gripping stuff. Lots of dull cutscenes, lots of loading, lots of being told to walk from place to place with little reason behind it. Once you get past all that, the combat starts rolling and the real game starts to unfold.


It's a pretty cool thing to hit the battlefield with seven AI teammates and watch the whole squad go to work, opening fire on enemies and doing all sorts of combat maneuvers against giant bio-mechanoids and enemy combatants.

More options become unlocked as the player goes on, and once the weapon upgrade system becomes familiar, then some cool features start popping up, like adding element types to weapons, and so on.

It's fast, the action has a great feel while jumping between gunplay, melee and grappling hook, and there's lots of variety in the mission types. The story isn't doing much for me, but the gameplay’s good enough to make me want to see it through to the end. In fact, I’d say this one is solid enough to warrant a sequel on PS4… With better graphics, a larger online base of players to team up with/fight against, and more content added, this one seems like it’d be a winner.



A couple of days ago, I gave Rollers of the Realm a shot. It's a recent release from Atlus, combining fantasy RPG elements with a pinball structure. I love these kinds of mash-ups (pinball mash-ups especially) and the first hour or two were pretty great. Lots of cool ideas on display, and pretty fun to play. 


However, once I got a little further in (about halfway or so?) I started seeing some serious problems with the level design… Gaps between the flippers are too big, and there's too many ways for the ball to get shot down into the gutter without a player being able to do anything. Worse, I saw my ball pass completely through the flippers multiple times, get hung up on geometry, and the enemies on the board take forever to kill.

The game just doesn't feel tuned enough, honestly. I absolutely love the concept but it’s too undercooked. I hope that the developers will go back and try to tweak their work a little bit to make it more fun, it seems a shame to get so close to something great and then fall short in the polish and balance department.



TV: It kind of caught us by surprise, but the wife and I recently caught up on a lot of the series we've been watching, so to not have a TV backlog was a strange feeling. This gave us the chance to look at the enormous wishlist of stuff that we want to watch someday, and we selected Penny Dreadful, a Showtime original series produced in conjunction with Britain's Sky.


I didn't know much about it beforehand except that it was some sort of Gothic urban fantasy, and that I had heard a few friends speak of it in a positive way. The series is set in England right about the time that Jack the Ripper was doing his dirty deeds, but there’s a strong supernatural slant to things… One of the characters is a reinterpretation of Dr. Frankenstein working on his experiments, there’s a woman who seems to be communicating with a demon, and they hire a sharpshooter who was traveling through Europe in a Wild West show.

The first episode concerns an Egyptian-style vampire roaming the underworld of London, and I have to say, the series did not hold back when it came to the blood and gore. In particular, one scene in the vampire’s lair was truly horrific -- even though I knew this was a cable TV show, I was still a bit shocked.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the series, but so far it's a thumbs up.


https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif

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Persona Q has launched! Here are the videos and DLC info! 

Persona Q DLC Pricing and Roll-out Schedule: 
Sub-Personas - These additional sub-Personas will show up in the Persona Compendium after purchasing and can be summoned once for free. 
11/25 - Kaguya - Free
12/2 - Orpheus Telos - Free
12/2 - Magatsu Izanagi - $1.99
12/2 - Thanatos - $1.99

Navigator Voices - Change the voice of the Labyrinth and Battle navigators to any of the voices below! The dialogue differs per voice and is adapted to voice's personality. 
12/9 - Margaret - $2.99 
12/9 - Elizabeth - $2.99
12/9 - Theodore - $2.99
12/16 - Marie - $2.99
12/16 - Nanako - $2.99

To help you out in the labyrinths, here are some of the game's systems explained in video format! 

Boost -- When you exploit an enemy's weakness or get a crit, characters get the Boost ability, which reduces the HP or SP cost of their abilities to zero for one turn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vifYVl-pyT8 

Group Attacks -- Characters have a chance to do a follow-up attack after normal attacks. Plus, if you get enough people in your party boosted, you can launch an all-out-attack! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyXHsPN_yOU 

Summoning Personas -- The bread and butter of combat in Persona Q is from Personas and sub-Personas. Making sure the abilities complement the people in your party is crucial to victory! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJyY5Olzwrk 

Strolls -- Persona Q isn't all about fighting! Between battles, you can walk around the school with other characters and learn more about them. 

And if you missed it, here's the archive of our Persona Q stream on Twitch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1wS9SNoHdI Watch how even our lead QA can have an FOE sneak up on him. (See? You're not the only one.) 

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505 Games and Rebellion has announced the availability of even more free and paid Sniper Elite 3 downloadable content (DLC) for console.   It is out now on Playstation 4 and will be coming to other platforms shortly.

 All for FREE:
         A new single-player mode
         A new co-op mission
         A new multi-player mode
         Three multi-player maps

Invest In Your Weaponry
         International Camouflage Rifles pack ($2.99)
         U.S. Camouflage Rifles pack ($2.99)

Get the lay of the land. Following are details about the new free content:

 The Shooting Range Mode (Single-Player  Mode):  
Watch out Nazis!   FPS players can test their mettle as an elite sniper with 20 different firearms, including all the DLC weapons as well as four unique shooting challenges, plus dedicated rifle, pistol and SMG ranges. 

Twilight Strike (Co-Op  Mission):
Steady!  Team up with a trusted Operative to draw the Germans out of Tobruk and retake the town under the cover of darkness. With more open level design, more choices, optional hidden objectives and new achievements; this could be the best Overwatch mission yet.

Capture The Flag (Multiplayer Mode):
Capture the Flag has returned to the Sniper Elite series, offering players an objective focused mode with more speed and teamwork based gameplay.

Fracture, Night Watch & Outpost Canyon (Multiplayer Maps):
The three free new multiplayer maps challenge players to navigate and survive some of the fiercest landscapes in North Africa.    ‘Fracture’ take place amongst a secret weapons factory built across a jungle chasm has been deserted for some time, abandoned to the snipers.   An abandoned supply line high in the windswept Atlas Mountains, ‘Outpost Canyon’s’ rolling landscape and level flow encourages snipers to think carefully about their surroundings, and use the foliage and natural cover to seek out new sniping opportunities.   ‘Night Watch’ is one of the most challenging maps in the series.  Taking players to an oasis shrouded in darkness, the ruins of an old town turned into a makeshift camp for enemy troops.

Strengthen Your Arsenal:
The International Camouflage Rifles pack and the U.S. Camouflage Rifles pack are tuned to lethal perfection and encased in a new camouflage livery. These new weapon packs give Sniper Elite 3 players access to deadly new variants of three fan-favorite rifles from America and around the globe – accessible across all multiplayer, single player and co-op game modes.  The International Camouflage Rifles pack and U.S. Camouflage Rifles packs are available now on PSN for Playstation 4 $2.99 each and will be coming to other platforms shortly.

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Digital Extremes continues to set the example for AAA quality in Free-to-Play with the release of an extensive new update for its hit sci-fi action game, Warframe.  The new console update titled ‘Archwing’ gives players a whole new way to play Warframe and will be released Thursday, Nov. 20th at 1 PM EST.  Players will also notice a distinct new look to Warframe upon download.

Putting the ‘space’ in ‘space ninja’, new Archwing technology allows players to fly freely through space without the use of a ship. The update also includes colossal new weapons to accompany Archwing, new player Quests to deepen the lore of the game, challenging new enemies, Syndicates – a new reputation system, the release of a new Warframe – Limbo, and much more.

As Warframe continues to expand so does its legions of players recently surpassing 12 million registered users worldwide on all platforms.  It is the most downloaded game on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and has had a strong presence on the Xbox One since the game’s release on the console in early September.

Warframe has seen an incredible evolution since its Closed Beta release on PC two years ago.  With over 16 major content updates and 270+ hotfixes over those two years, Warframe is possibly the most community-driven, development-focused AAA game available today. As the game has grown and changed, it’s only natural the Warframe brand follow suit. Today, an updated clean, new look and feel to the Warframe brand can be experienced on Warframe.com and in-game with a newly designed game launcher and refreshed logo to accompany the Archwing update.

Additional highlights of this impressive update include:

ARCHWING – Take Warframe’s high-energy, skilled ninja combat into the depths of space in the new game mode that puts the ‘space’ into space ninjas!  Archwing technology allowing for space combat sans spacecraft, contains unique new weapons and abilities to unleash against the enemy.   

NEW QUESTS – Two new quests expand the Warframe universe.  Unlock the new Archwing technology along with the new Warframe in a set of interlinked missions. 

NEW REPUTATION SYSTEM – Represent one of six Syndicates to unique rewards as your reputation increases! Wear your Syndicate’s Sigil with pride in missions to earn reputation and proclaim your loyalty.

NEW WARFRAME – Bring honor to the Solar System with a magician-like Warframe whose hat wields exceptional powers including displacing enemies into other dimensions and more.

NEW WEAPONS -- Devastate opponents with the OPTICOR, a powerful new laser cannon.  Bludgeon enemies with the HALIKAR, a jet-powered throwing mace that always returns to its master.

NEW TILESET – Explore the Corpus Ice Planet!

NEW CUSTOMIZATIONS – Adorn your Warframe with intricate body art with all-new Sigils.   Customize your Archwing with Mods and colors. Give your Soma a new look with the Huntsman Soma Weapon Skin!

NEW ENEMIES – New types of enemies equipped to fly in space present new challenges in Archwing combat.  The Grineer have also emerged with a new enemy to tame your pet Kubrow.

The Archwing update will be released on November 20 at 1 PM EST, in the meantime, new players can prepare for the update by downloading Warframe for free in the PSN Store or Xbox Marketplace.

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NIS America is happy to announce that the Criminal Girls: Invite Only will be available physically and digitally in North America on February 3, 2015, and Europe on February 6, 2015! This game will be compatible with Playstation®TV. From the much adored 2010 Playstation®Portable title Criminal Girls, which was only released in Japan, developers have re-mastered the title with a host of brand new content exclusively for the Playstation®Vita. Explore the depths of Hell as you lead a female gang of delinquents on their quest to absolve themselves of their sins and be reborn on Earth.

About the game:
Seven delinquents, seven sins, and only one way out. Just hired for a new, mysterious job, you soon discover that this isn’t your normal prison gig. You’ve been entrusted with the care of a crew of girls whose sins have damned their souls to Hell and an eternity of punishment... Their only hope of salvation is for you to recognize their unique histories, and to guide them along the path to redemption. Navigate through the four trials of the Redemption Program, and motivate your crew of delinquents to learn the skills to redeem themselves.

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Friday, November 14, 2014

Taking a minute to catch my breath! And update!  

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It's been aaaaaages since the last update... I hate going so long between posts, but it's been tough to find the time! Fortunately, I had a few minutes tonight, so let's get this puppy up to speed...

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First up, here are some links you might have missed.

>Podcast Episode 119, featuring @Shoinan, @RichardNaik, @EddieInzauto and @ApricotSushi. Topics include Hatoful Boyfriend, Monster Hunter 4, the Oculus Rift, and a bunch of other stuff.

>@MikeSuskie's review of Sunset Overdrive 

>My review of Lords of the Fallen

>@JimB_85's review of Costume Quest 2 


>My review of Frozen Synapse Prime

>@MikeSuskie's review of Alien: Isolation

>@ApricotSushi's review of X-Blaze: Code Embryo

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So, what else has been taking up my time? I'm glad you asked! 

Between editing reviews and doing all of the normal day-to-day stuff, I've been putting a lot of time into Persona Q: Shadows of the Labyrinth on 3DS. I mentioned it last time and I still haven't finished -- long game is long. 

SO CHIBI

Anyway, the review embargo doesn't drop until 11/20 (five days before release) so I still can't share any review-type thoughts, but as far as non-review impressions go,  it strikes me as a masterpiece born from a group of creators who are expert at their craft. It is immaculately polished, full of incredibly smart design choices, and a perfect interpretation of the source material.

...Basically, it's really, really f****** good.  Like, amazingly superb-good. 

I probably shouldn't say much more at this point, except to suggest that if you are at all a fan of Persona 3, Persona 4, or Etrian Odyssey, this is an absolute must-have. Don't say I didn't tell you so.

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Otherwise, I've found myself spending a good amount of time with Freedom Wars on Vita. I had heard it described as a quasi-Monster Hunter, but after putting a couple of hours in, I don't think it feels very similar at all. There are big monsters and other such broad strokes to be sure, but the core is something else altogether. 

SO GRAPPLE-SHOOTY

From the start, it grabbed me with an intense dedication to its concept that the player is a prisoner in a future dystopian state. All of the menus, the way the player unlocks options, the world design... it's all so focused and serious that I can't help but admire it. 

In terms of combat, it doesn't have the incredible tightness of MH (what does, really?) but it has a grappling hook that's quite fun to use, and a hybridized third-person action feel with a lot of PVP overtones.  It's a good dose of run-and-gun with some melee tossed in, and a bunch of grapple-here, grapple there. I dig it!

On the other hand, the game kneecaps itself hard at the beginning by making players slog through an interminable string of tedious story sequences and too much back-and-forthing in the overcomplicated hub world for no real purpose. It'd also a bit cryptic about how weapons and upgrades work, and a little more clarity overall wouldn't be unwelcome. 

Oh, and a PROTIP? I highly recommend switching to the Technical control scheme ASAP.

Anyway, despite the rocky start  it seems pretty neat so far... Good style, a cool world and motifs, and it feels different enough from MH to be its own thing without suffering from a comparison. It's early days yet, but I'm eager to see more. 


So Sony released a new firmware patch that should (should!) fix the save-data wiping that hit me in Skylanders: Trap Team. Gotta be honest, though... Despite being such a big Skylanders fan, I lost a lot of enthusiasm for the game after having my progress corrupted three separate times. 

SO CHOPPY

I should really press on and get back into it, but I rarely ever replay games in general, so having to re-do the first half of the adventure has basically sucked all of the appeal out of it. I mean, and that's assuming the data won't be wiped again... I dunno. We'll see.

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The @MarvelPuzzle train keeps right on rolling along. The newest addition to the cast is everyone's favorite shapeshifting mutant, Mystique. 

SO SHIFTY

My own Mysti is still too low-level to be much use at the moment, but the buffed loaner character in the recent PVE event showed some great potential. I plan to max out Colossus and Blade first, but I'm guessing she's going to be a real killer once people start bringing her into play, full-strength. 


*************PR/NEWS/INFO**************


Yesterday, Valkyria Chronicles released for PC via digital download, and during its first 24 hours on sale blew all forecasts and predictions out of the water. The award-winning Strategy RPG, originally released in 2008 for PlayStation®3, forced its way to the top of the Steam download charts, beating a host of brand new games to reach number one. 

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fans for their support in the phenomenal success of this launch,” said John Clark, Senior Vice President of Commercial Publishing for SEGA Europe, “We’re also delighted at the response from the Steam community which indicates that newcomers to the series are finding it as enchanting and engaging as those who have played it before.” 

To see what  the critics are saying about Valkyria Chronicles for PC, have a look at PC Gamer’s in-depth analysis of the port here:http://www.pcgamer.com/valkyria-chronicles-pc-port-analysis-durantes-verdict 


For more information on Valkyria Chronicles, log on to http://store.steampowered.com/app/294860/.

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Indie developer Untame has unveiled two preorder bundles for their upcoming puzzle platformer Mushroom 11, which will release for PC, Mac, and Linux in early 2015. All preorder customers get immediate access to the game's first level, which until now has only been playable at gaming shows such as PAX and GDC. More details: http://www.mushroom11.com

First conceived at NYU's 2012 Global Game Jam, Mushroom 11 is a game about destruction. In this unusual puzzle platformer, you guide an amorphous organism that can only move by destroying its own cells. Detached cells immediately regrow elsewhere on the creature, so you can expand and contract, change shape, and even split yourself freely while traveling through a desolate, post-apocalyptic world that tests your logic skills as well as your reflexes. Mushroom 11's cerebral gameplay is set to beautiful and electrifying tracks licensed from The Future Sound of London, the 1990s supergroup that arguably invented ambient music.

See how Mushroom 11 looks, sounds, and plays in this recent gameplay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tftdhHxvJKY

Starting today, Mushroom 11 can be preordered for PC, Mac, or Linux.

Mushroom 11 is backed by Indie Fund and has been recognized as an IGF Excellence in Design finalist, an EGX Leftfield Collection pick, and a PAX 10 selection, among many other honors and nominations. Joystiq has characterized Mushroom 11 as "easy to play and hard to look away [from]," while Rock Paper Shotgun recently called it, "Fascinating, eerily beautiful ... one to watch very closely indeed."

To learn more about Mushroom 11 or join the mailing list for future game announcements, please visit http://www.mushroom11.com.

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Frima today announced that couch co-op platformer Chariot is now available on Steam, following its PlayStation 4 and Xbox One releases earlier this fall. In Chariot, a princess and her fiancé venture deep into the royal catacombs to find a final resting place worthy of His Majesty. Featuring stunning environments and a wealth of challenges along the ride, Chariot tests players’ wits and teamwork in order to survive their perilous journey. Chariot is a finalist for eight awards, including Game of the Year, at The Canadian Videogame Awards being held November 21.
 
Download Chariot for Steam here: 
http://store.steampowered.com/app/319450/
 
Prepare for your adventure with Chariot’s 
trailer, and view the developer diary for an inside look into the game’s creation.
 
In Chariot, players guide the King’s funeral casket through richly colored landscapes by using physics-based mechanics, such as swinging, riding, pulling and pushing. At times, you’re collecting jewels at high speeds down steep ramps, and a moment later, you’re carefully traversing treacherous cliffs. Alone or with a friend, Chariot offers the thrill ride of an afterlife!
 
Chariot is available for $14.99 on Steam, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, with a Wii U release date to be revealed soon. On Steam, Chariot is optimized for controller use, but keyboard controls have also been implemented. Chariot’s mesmerizing soundtrack is also available for $3.99 or bundled with the game for $17.99.

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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

The PS4 Firmware Poops Itself, Persona Q Impressions, and More!  

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Games: Not much to report tonight… I had planned on putting in some time with all of the things I'm juggling for review right now, but since Sony updated their firmware last week, I've been having serious problems with the PS4 and I don't dare turn it on.

The only thing NOT on this poster? Working PS4 firmware.
It started when I put my console into sleep mode for the first time in a while. I usually turn it all the way off, but I had a big download and I wanted to get it done overnight. When I got up, I noticed that it didn't turn off automatically, and after some investigation, discovered that the unit would not turn off no matter what. My only choice was to unplug it and I thought that was the extent of the problem, but I had another surprise coming…

Later that day I was making good progress in Skylanders: Trap Team (which is fantastic, by the way) when out of the blue, my data randomly corrupted and I lost my entire save. Since I'm working on the review for that game, that was more than a bit upsetting, but it's a great game and quite fun to play with the family, so we chalked it up to a random unlucky occurrence and started a new file, only to have that one corrupt five or ten minutes after starting.

Any working firmware in there?

I've never heard of anyone having data stability problems with Skylanders, so after some more investigation, everything pointed towards the firmware update. I soon started hearing stories of other people who were having similar data corruption, games freezing, or other technical problems.

Don't drop me, I've got the firmware in my pocket!

Up until this point, I would say that Sony has been doing just about everything right with the PS4, but this is an incredibly serious issue. I haven't heard any official announcements regarding this, and I have no idea when the fix is coming. There's no way I'm going to turn the console back on to play any of my other review games because I can't afford to have more save files corrupt,  so all of my productivity is pretty much blown at the moment – Chariot, Trap Team and Lords of the Fallen were what I was working on, and I had hoped to have some updates on those for you here at Coffeecola, but c’est la vie…



On the plus side, this unfortunate clusterfuck has freed up quite a bit of time for Persona Q: Shadows of the Labyrinth on 3DS. I’m playing review code still under embargo at the moment, but I'm guessing that sharing some general impressions are okay… and my general impressions are that this game is completely awesome.

So awesome!!

The way the systems of Persona and Etrian Odyssey have been combined is incredibly brilliant, and the game feels quite true to both series without either one getting the shaft. The art is great, the story bits have been great, the music is great, and it shows polish in every aspect. As I said, these are brief impressions and this is not at all a review, but I've been nothing but impressed with this game so far.

If you have any interest in Persona, Etrian, or just in good games, you would do yourself a big favor by pre-ordering this one ASAP… If the rest of the game is as good as what I've seen so far, this is going to be a very easy review to write.



In mobile news, Marvel Puzzle Quest is just getting better and better. The developers have just made a change to the game where every Alliance can now have up to 20 members for no additional charge, and the most recent character addition to the game, Blade, is fantastic. 


I don't have mine maxed out yet, but he's already more than pulling his weight in the current PVP, and I'm guessing that when he is at the peak of his powers, he's going to be a real monster. Good, good stuff.



Play this!

That's it for now, I suppose. Hopefully Sony will get on top of this firmware situation and turn things around soon… Oh, and in the PR section below is some info for the PC version of Valkyria Chronicles, which is a faaaaaaaantastic game. If you missed it on PS3, you know what to do. 


**********PR/NEWS/INFO**********


Costume Quest 2 is the sequel to the Halloween hit Costume Quest and features all the humor, style and fun of the original with all new outfits, a brand new story and time travel! Team up with trick or treating twins Wren and Reynold as they set out to save October’s most hallowed day from Dr. Orel White, a misunderstood dentist dedicated to a world free of cavities, candy and Halloween.

Track the Dentist and his Time Wizard associate through three expansive timescapes and get things back to normal. Updated combat streamlines the process, while adding new features like Battle Cards and Persistent Health which can be replenished at one of the many Water Fountains sprinkled in the levels. While checkpoints are plentiful to keep the action moving, players can equip the Candy Corn costume to add a little more challenge to their quest! (And get a super sweet trophy, to boot!)

Costume Quest 2 is rated E10+ and will be available today on Xbox 360 and Xbox One at only $14.99 through the on the Xbox Live online entertainment network for Xbox One and Xbox 360 games worldwide. The Wii U version is planned to launch on 10/30 in North America and Europe.  www.costumequest2.com

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The battle for shinobi supremacy in Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus continues this week as two familiar faces join the fray. But first, what's everyone wearing this week? Here are all the new clothes and accessories available today on the North American PlayStation®Store:

Happy Halloween - This underworldly underwear is yours at no cost - except perhaps your soul.

Second-Rate Axe - Not the best axe around, but hey, it's only $0.49.

Balloon Set - When your battles need a little more bouncy cheer, pick up this bundle of two colored balloons for $0.49.

Heart Chocolate Set - Show your affection for your opponents with a bundle of three chocolate boxes, all for $0.99.

Business Suit - Show your serious side with this professional attire for $1.99. And don't worry about how many buttons to button; it'll be a moot point soon.
  
Nurse Set - Put on this classic nurse outfit and matching hat for $2.49, and then ask your opponents where it hurts.

Sexy Maid - Wrap yourself in this lovely lace for $1.99, and keep the place as clean or dirty as you like.

Racing Outfit - Get your blood coursing with this black vinyl getup for $1.99. Flaming hoops not included.

Dress and Hat Set - An elegant sun dress with matching hat for $2.49. Perfect for outings in the park. Almost as perfect for ninja brawls.

Costume Set 2 - A $5.99 bundle that includes the Business Suit, Racing Outfit, Sexy Maid, Dress and Hat Set, and Nurse Set.
  

And finally, here they are:

Daidōji - The Hanzō girls' supreme upperclasswoman takes center stage in her own playable adventure. Not only does she get her own storyline in the Hanzō National Academy's "Shinobi Girl's Heart" section, and not only does she become playable in multiplayer with all the customization options of any other girl in the Dressing Room, but her ambitions don't stop with SHINOVI VERSUS. Pick her up, and she'll follow you to Bon Appetit!, where she'll give you an even more outrageous storyline to play through, as well as a fearsomely challenging song to attempt. All that for $3.99.

Rin - Not to be outdone by her rival Daidōji, Rin steps up in VERSUS as well, offering her own storyline in the Hebijo Clandestine Girls' Academy's "Shinobi Girl's Heart" section. She's playable and customizable in multiplayer, and like Daidōji, picking her up will bring her into Bon Appetit! as well, complete with her own storyline and boss music. (One caveat: Since Rin fights for Hebijo, she only carries over into Bon Appetit! if you also have the "Gessen x Hebijo" Expansion for that game.) She's yours for $3.99.

Character Set - If you think you can handle them both, pick up Rin and Daidōji together for just $5.99.
  
For more information please visit our official website at http://www.hanzonationalacademy.com/sksv/ or check out our official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/XSEEDSenranKagura

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Woojer, a consumer electronics startup, announced the launch of a matchbox-sized wearable subwoofer that lets users physically feel sound by translating audio signals into tactile sensation. The first such compact device on the market, Woojer was designed by a rock concert audio engineer to provide an immersive experience for users’ favorite music, games and movies. After successfully concluding a Kickstarter campaign in late 2013 – which closed with over 1,700 supporters and $140,000 – the device is now being shipped to backers of the campaign, and is for sale at www.woojer.com.

Woojer is worn on the body, and connects between any audio source and headphones. The patent-pending technology transforms the audio input into a tactile vibration, which can be felt but not heard, to make the body feel as though it is being exposed to loud acoustics. The resulting sensation adds a new, deep dimension to many types of media – one that is felt from the inside out. Make movies come alive like surround sound never could – instead of ramping up the volume, physically feel every explosion and helicopter landing. Emulate the sensory input of sound for the deaf and hard of hearing communities

Product Details
Woojer Price (one unit): $99.00
Woojer Extreme Price (two units): $179.00
Dimensions: 41mm x 29mm x 68mm
Weight: 73 grams
Hardware features: Adjustable vibration level, on-off switch, Micro USB Charger, rechargeable lithium ion battery, chest magnet, belt clip.
Compatible with standard 3.5 mm audio jacks
Additional Accessories: Carrying Case, T-shirt, Sport strap
Colors: Black, White, Red, Green
For more information, or to buy Woojer, please visit www.woojer.com.

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In the words of series’ favorite, Aika Thompson, “we’re just getting warmed up!” If you saw the news on twitter on Monday night, which saw ‘Valkyria Chronicles™’ trending worldwide, you’ll know that some eagle-eyed reporters spotted Valkyria Chronicles listed for PC on PEGI’s website. Well, we were going to tell you all about it tomorrow, but we have all the details for pre-ordering and content available at launch right here, right now.

In Valkyria Chronicles, for those who don’t know, players embark on an epic adventure through beautiful environments and battle legions of troops to save the small country of Gallia from total destruction. Valkyria Chronicles is set in a fictitious continent reminiscent of 1930s Europe on the verge of a great war. The game follows Welkin and his fellow soldiers of the Federation’s 7th Platoon that are fighting against the Empire, who is intent on unifying the continent under its power. The emergence of the “Valkyria”- an ancient race with special powers thought to exist only in legends, turns the tide of the war and the Federation’s ability to win and a hope for a better future hangs in the balance.

This Strategy RPG was a critical success, garnering a whopping 86% on Metacritic and even earned a Guinness World Record in 2010 for being the best Strategy RPG on PS3. Valkyria Chronicles will launch for Windows PC via Digital Download on November 11, 2014 and will come bundled with all the DLC that was available for the original PlayStation 3 game including:
         Hard EX Mode (harder versions of skirmish missions in the main game)
         Edy’s Mission “Enter the Edy Detachment” (a side story campaign)
         Selveria’s Mission “Behind Her Blue Flame” (a side story campaign)
         Challenge of the Edy Detachment (six challenge missions)

So you can pre-order now and pick up this award winning, critically acclaimed strategy RPG that’s so good it announced itself, for£14.99/€19.99/$19.99 from selected digital retail partners.

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