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Star Wars Games That Are Missing – Where Are These Games?

Jakejames Lugo
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Star Wars Games That Are Missing – Where Are These Games?

Fans of Star Wars have a lot of new content to check out in 2023. With the release of new seasons for shows like The Mandalorian and The Bad Batch, and even more incoming, has some good things going on. But in addition to that, fans of a galaxy far, far away have the release of EA’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in April to look forward to when the game is out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. And yet, that’s not the only Star Wars game that has been in development for some time with little to no information for a while. If we’re getting more Star Wars games in the nearby future, what are they and where have they been?

For a long time, Electronic Arts had the license to make new Star Wars games exclusively, shutting out other studios from making their own games. With that coming to an end, developers at various companies now have the ability to tackle Star Wars in new and interesting ways, if they are able to release them. Some games fans were eagerly anticipating have either gone completely silent or were canceled before progression on them could be made. Luckily, not every Star Wars game that has gone missing in recent years is down and out. So here are a few of the new Star Wars games that were announced or shown in some capacity a while back, but have not shown up since. We sense a disturbance in the force…

Star Wars Eclipse – Quantic Dream

From the makers of Heavy Rain and Detroit Become Human comes a Star Wars game set in the era of the High Republic. Quantic Dream has been working on Star Wars Eclipse for a long time, with many twists and turns that have been reported on in many outlets since its first official reveal during the Game Awards with a trailer. The game was said to have many gameplay aspects that harkened back to some of the studio’s previous hits, such as branching narratives and a heavy emphasis on character interactions. At the same time, a lot of chatter about combat and a multiplayer component was rumored or mentioned in various capacities, without much confirmation or clarification from Quantic Dream themselves.

Ever since fans were given a glimpse of the game in that trailer, a lot of chatter about troubles at the studio and a deafening silence has put doubt into everyone’s minds. The trailer shown did have many familiar sights that Star Wars fans were excited about, including shots of Yoda at the Jedi Temple and starships that echoed some of the technology seen during the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

In addition, the showcase of different alien races and species gave the impression that we would see a bustling world where the story took place, with the hopes of Quantic Dream’s signature attention to detail being at the forefront. While leaks and reports of the game had details about what the story might be, not much has been said officially since then. How this game will take form, and when it will finally release, is anyone’s guess at this point.

Star Wars Hunters – Zynga

A while back we got a look at the upcoming multiplayer combat game Star Wars Hunters, set for release on iOS/Android and Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, while the game has been shown in multiple places with gameplay on display it hasn’t been released for any platform just yet. The official website has a timeframe of 2023 for the game to come out, but no definitive date has been revealed.

Star Wars Hunters borrows gameplay elements from titles like Overwatch and Apex Legends, where you play as a chosen hero and battle in team-based matches. Players can expect the usual Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag game modes, with a few other arena modes that aim to be competitive. The cast of heroes has been revealed for a while and has a wide range of characters to choose from including a dark side assassin, Jedi droid, jawa scavengers, bounty hunters, and more. The game takes place on the planet Vespaara located in the Outer Rim and has a bunch of environments where battles happen. Star Wars Hunters has pre-registration open now and a soft launch going on now, but still listed for official launch in 2023.

Ubisoft’s Open-World Untitled Star Wars Game

Announced over social media back in 2022, Ubisoft has been hard at work on a new Star Wars game that is said to be open-world. The game is being headed by Massive Entertainment, the same team who made Tom Clancey’s The Division 2 and the upcoming Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora for 2023. In collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm Games, Massive is looking to create a story-drive open-world game set in the Star Wars galaxy. The project itself has been given the code name Snowdrop since it was first revealed that it had been in development.

No concrete details about the gameplay or story have been revealed by Ubisoft or Massive Entertainment. Many have speculated that the game would share similar characteristics to the studio’s previous titles, most notably The Division 2. Could this be a game where you play as a team of characters? It’s anybody’s guess as of now. However, Ubisoft Creative Director Julian Gerighty posted about the game on Twitter saying “2023 is going to be a huge year for them” with #MassiveStarWars included. The tweet also had an image of the Star Wars logo from the announcement of the game’s development prior.

Julian then followed up the tweet afterward with a small statement after the tweet was shared around everything saying, “This seems to have sparked quite some interest! To be clear, I meant that 2023 will be huge for our teams building our game (which you could be a part of!).” When and where we’ll hear about this game next is unknown.

Respawn’s Two Untitled Star Wars Games

While Respawn Entertainment is releasing Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on April 28th, it’s not the only game that has been in development for them. The studio actually has two other games that fans should get excited about, a new first-person shooter and a strategy game. The first game is being led by Respawn game director Peter Hirschmann and was first revealed in January 2023. What is interesting is that postings about the project on LinkedIn have possibly revealed that the game is heavily inspired by classic Star Wars FPS titles like the Jedi Knight trilogy (Dark Forces and Dark Forces 2). Could this be the game that finally brings fan-favorite character Kyle Katarn into the new Star Wars canon? Or are going to get something entirely new inspired by the classics? No release date from either Respawn or Electronic Arts was given, nor has one been rumored since the announcement.

The second Star Wars game from the studio is a strategy game being made in collaboration with Bit Reactor, a studio known for making strategy games. In the past, they were best known for working on titles like XCOM, Civilization, Elder Scrolls Online, and the Gears of War franchise. Their forte is strategy games so it would make sense for Respawn to team up with them in making this new Star Wars game, but other details about the game have since been unknown. The project is being led by Greg Foertsch, a games industry veteran who has done work on series such as Sid Meir’s Civilizations and Alpha Centauri. We still don’t have a release date or window, but the project could be very early in development, so don’t expect to see it for a while.

Amy Hennig and Skydance New Media Star Wars Game

One of the best writers in the games industry is industry veteran Amy Hennig, who has done work on popular games like Uncharted, The Legacy of Kain, and many others. Amy is currently working on writing the story for an action-adventure Star Wars game with Skydance Media. The project is still very early on and hasn’t had a full reveal since its original announcement.

For those who don’t know, Amy Hennig prior to this was working with Visceral Games on another untitled Star Wars game back in 2017 that was canceled by Electronic Arts. The project was codenamed Project Ragtag and part of a demo build for E3 2016 was shared online. While the demo had a good reception, various problems behind the scenes at the studio led to the cancelation of the game and eventually the disbanding of Visceral Games.

Skydance New Media is known for previous titles like The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, as well as Archangel and PWND. They worked on those games before they underwent changes in management and became Skydance New Media. No details about release date, platforms, or game specifics have been revealed or reported on since Amy Hennig’s involvement with the project. While there could be a possibility of more information about the game to come out in the months or years ahead, possibly at events like E3 or Star Wars Celebration, we might not be hearing or seeing the game in any significant way for a very long time.

Knights of the Old Republic Remake – Aspyr and Saber Interactive

The announcement of a full remake of Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic got many Star Wars fans excited. One of the best role-playing games and Star Wars stories is being remade for modern consoles? Sounds like a completely epic win. However, it quickly became apparent that things weren’t progressing as smoothly as many hoped, with Aspyr seemingly being shaken up after a progress check on the game’s development. Since then, various outlets have reported that the remake for Knights of the Old Republic was shelved and possibly given over to Saber Interactive to restart development.

Originally when the game was being made by Aspyr Media, the game was going to be a full remake of the original KOTOR. Many of the characters and story beats were said to be in place, with minor changes made here and there. The gameplay on the other hand was unclear if major changes were going to be made to make the combat and exploration more in line with modern releases. Many players have said that the combat in Knights of the Old Republic was the weaker part of the experience, and wasn’t opposed to seeing it be improved in some way. Outside of an announcement trailer shown during a 2021 PlayStation Showcase, which featured Revan igniting his lightsaber, little to no other details were given about the game. This was right up until news broke out about Aspyr being removed from the project by parent company Embracer Group and things changing at the studio.

At this point, it’s said that Saber Interactive has been assigned to make the game, with a number of outlets reporting that they had been helping out Aspyr for weeks prior to the big changes. One quote passed around stated the changes were done to “ensure the quality bar is where we need it to be for the title”. Will we see Knights of the Old Republic Remake again any time soon? Nobody knows for sure. Though speculation about it is grim, it doesn’t seem like the project has been canceled just yet. We may get to see Revan, Bastila Shan, and the rest of the Knights of the Old Republic cast remade in modern-day graphics someday.

What Star Wars games are you looking forward to seeing? Are you hoping to get some major Star Wars game announcements in the nearby future? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Mezco Adds Gwen Stacy’s Ghost-Spider To The One:12

Mike Phalin
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Mezco Adds Gwen Stacy’s Ghost-Spider To The One:12

Another hero from the Spider-Verse has made their way to Mezco’s One:12 Collective. The next 6″ tall premium action figure is Earth-65’s Gwen Stacy, also known as Ghost-Spider.

Much like the One:12 Collective’s Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider comes with many accessories and interchangeable parts. She will have four different portraits, including an unmasked head. Ghost-Spider has only a few web effects pieces, unfortunately. Instead, she has two alternate hands with shooting webs and a single web line.

Gwen Stacy also comes with a pink multiverse portal effect. However, it does not look like the portal connects to the Ghost-Spider-themed base. Hopefully, that thing will be able to stand on its own.

Mezco chose to go with a comic-book-accurate appearance for Gwen Stacy’s face. Thankfully, too. I may be in the minority here, but I found her Into The Spider-Verse face to look like Alfred E. Neuman. It’s the gap between the teeth and the way her nose is shaped. Trust me, once you notice it, it’s hard not to think of MAD Magazine’s icon.

One:12 Collective Ghost Spider
Photo Credit: Mezco
One:12 Collective Ghost Spider
Photo Credit: Mezco
One:12 Collective Ghost Spider
Photo Credit: Mezco
One:12 Collective Ghost Spider
Photo Credit: Mezco
One:12 Collective Ghost Spider
Photo Credit: Mezco
One:12 Collective Ghost Spider
Photo Credit: Mezco

“In an alternate universe dubbed Earth-65, Gwen Stacy is the famous wall-crawler who was bitten by the infamous radioactive spider instead of Peter Parker. Influenced by her father’s moral code, Gwen uses her great powers responsibly to protect New York and the Web of Life!”

  • Four (4) head portraits
  • Hand painted authentic detailing
  • Approximately 16cm tall
  • Twelve (12) interchangeable hands
    • One (1) pair of fists (L&R)
    • One (1) pair of web-holding hands (L&R)
    • One (1) pair of holding hands (L&R)
    • One (1) pair of posing hands (L&R)
    • Two (2) pairs of web-shooting hands (L&R)
  • Fitted, hooded body suit with cobweb detailing
  • Dimensional travel watch (non-removable)
  • Sneakers
  • One (1) multiverse portal FX
  • One (1) Ghost-Spider mask (can be held)
  • One (1) Spider Sense FX
  • One (1) cell phone
  • One (1) notebook
  • One (1) backpack with storage
  • One (1) posable web line
  • Two (2) web lines (affixed to hands)
  • One (1) One:12 Collective display base with logo
  • One (1) One:12 Collective adjustable display post
[Source: Mezco]

Review: John Wick: Chapter 4 – Dancing with Gun Play

Jakejames Lugo
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Review: John Wick: Chapter 4 – Dancing with Gun Play

There are standard action movies that try to wow us with their spectacle and cool moves, and then there’s the John Wick series. Those who love seeing crazy action scenes, gun fights that feel like watching violent ballet, and a cool sense of sophisticated style hold the John Wick movies in high regard. And things don’t slow down for anything in the fourth and final film of the series, both figuratively and literally. John Wick: Chapter 4 is an awesome movie that takes everything we love about the previous three films and gives it an extra shot of espresso while arming it up with every kind of awesome weapon you can think of. This is undeniably a must-see action movie that will catch you by surprise.

The plot of John Wick: Chapter 4 picks up right after the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, with Keanu Reeves as John Wick preparing for war with the assassin world’s rulers, The Table. Given a brand new black suit, pistol, and a direction for who to kill next; John Wick travels to new locations evading a countless number of bad guys. Searching for a way to end his involvement with the assassin world, John come across old allies and new foes that push his body to the absolute limit, then goes even further. In the process, we get to meet new assassins that work for and stand beside The Table, including Donnie Yen’s Caine, Shamier Anderson as Tracker, and Hiroyuki Sanada as the Osaka Continental’s manager Shimazu. It’s a long road of bodies left on the ground wherever John Wick goes, with an incredible amount of high-stakes action and a climax that is both shocking and fitting for the series.

Everyone is bringing their a-game skills with every action sequence that plays out on screen. Keanu Reeves looks awesome as the Baba Yaga on the run and battling waves of bad guys. If you thought John Wick was brutal in the last film, Chapter 4 will shatter your perception of what you think brutal is. The fights are fantastic in every way, from the cinematography to the hard-hitting sounds and burst of gunfire. In addition, many of these fights go for a longer time than you might expect, with a few instances that feel like things are coming to a close only to surprise you with even more. One action sequence is an overhead shot of a building we see John Wick taking down a group of bad guys with a shotgun that uses dragon breath ammo, and it is awesome. The best part is that the momentum and high quality of each engagement John Wick gets into never lets up. It’s a constant stream of epic sequences.

But even in the quieter moments of the film, John Wick: Chapter 4 does a lot of good world-building and presents other parts of the assassin world we haven’t seen before. A standout scene in Germany with Scott Adkins as the assassin boss Killa gives us a great, seedy underground club with a Mexican standoff between multiple characters, followed by an amazing gunfight that acts as the appetizer for the rest of the film. There are multiple scenes that feel very similar with varying characters either interacting with John Wick or giving more setup for the climax. While it’s debatable that some of the scenes bring down the momentum of the film overall, they don’t take away from the bigger sequences that make the film exciting to watch. They are completely overshadowed by more fights, shocking surprises, and cool-looking shots that do not disappoint whatsoever.

Some of the characters we know from the previous John Wick films are handled with reverence and taste, with a few surprising moments that many fans won’t see coming. Ian McShane as Winston gives us a lot of great dialogue and remains our guide into this assassin world, explaining the rules and important details that become very relevant in many parts of the movie. His relationship with John Wick is strong and very much in line with previous films but with higher stakes this time around. Lance Reddick has a smaller part in this final installment, with only a few big scenes he was part of.

While the actor’s passing was a shock to everyone, his character of Charon is given solid material to work with that ends in a shocking twist that sparks later parts of the story. His character was a well-liked one in previous films, and it’s great to see it handled with reverence and make sense within the world of these films. This is accented by the movie itself being dedicated to the late actor.

The rest of the cast all get their good moments where it counts, even those who aren’t fighting with someone. The Bowery King, played by Lawrence Fishburne, has plenty of smart lines and jokes with greater meaning. Natalia Tena as Katia has a small part of the story that gives John Wick something he needs to set up the final confrontation that is complimented by a side quest we get to see play out in full, leading to one of the best action sequences in the movie. And the daughter of Shimazu named Akira, played by Rin Sawayama, gets a cool fight at the earlier parts of the movie and stinger towards the very end.

And if you wanted to see a master action movie star at work, Donnie Yen is in incredible form in this movie. His fights are spectacular, his dialogue with everyone is interesting, and his big moments in multiple places are some of his best work. Fans of action movies will have so much fun spotting a few nods to the actor’s previous films that are littered throughout but will love how they’re implemented in cool and exciting ways that don’t feel cheesy or lame.

The good surprise of the cast comes from Shamier Anderson as Tracker, whose scenes are a joy to watch and will hit you harder than some of the punches being thrown. His interaction with his dog companion and how he fights to look great, with a few really good moments with John Wick that will catch everyone off guard. But even more so is how he gets to interact or come across nearly everyone in the story, but not in a cheap or shallow way that doesn’t feel important. How his involvement with this world is shown is very unique and different from the rest of the cast, leading to some great payoffs by the time the final battle comes to a close. All we’ll say is that someone definitely gets their well-deserved biting.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a movie you need to see right now. The action is exciting and over-the-top with how crazy things can get, with a story that feels like a solid conclusion to the series. There are a lot of incredible setups and payoffs that continuously deliver an amazing movie-watching experience that few other films hope to achieve. One can argue about certain parts that make the movie imperfect, but none of that is enough to wipe away how much of a fun ride it is to watch John Wick: Chapter 4 from start to finish. It may not be over for this world of assassins full of rules and consequences, but nobody would be disappointed if it went out on a high note like this. This movie is awesome.

Are you going to see John Wick: Chapter 4? Have you gotten to watch all of the movies in the John Wick series? Post your thoughts below in the comment section and tell us what you think!

Activision Blizzard Is Failing Its Own 2025 Diversity Quota

Mike Phalin
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Activision Blizzard Is Failing Its Own 2025 Diversity Quota

Activision Blizzard’s push to increase the number of women and non-binary employees isn’t going so well. The gaming company, which may soon be part of Microsoft, has the lofty goal of diversifying 35% of its workforce by 2025.

As of December 2022, women made up 25%, and non-binary individuals were 1%, according to CNBC. In an official Activision Blizzard blog post, Chief DE&I Officer Kristen Hines showed off data indicating the recruitment numbers weren’t great. The company appeared only to be able to retain mostly white employees in 2022:

Activision Blizzard
Graph Credit: Activision Blizzard Substack
Activision Blizzard
Graph Credit: Activision Blizzard Substack

Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard’s CEO, should spend more time fixing the existing culture in the company that has led to unrest and several lawsuits. This could be why women either don’t want to work there or quit within 12 months.

The Warcraft and Call of Duty icons should work with local technical schools to create onboarding programs similar to the one I was in in the late 1990s. Then, thanks to what was called the DICE program, I had a job doing what I was majoring in before I graduated.

From my experience hiring for large corporations, trying to reach a specific goal regarding immutable qualities is counter-productive. People will naturally flock to the jobs they want. Considering the labor shortage lately, Activision Blizzard should focus on hiring the best people and not worry about a quota.

However, Hines’s position depends on the company’s need for a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. Even if Activision Blizzard were to reach some fantasy nirvana where the company was made up equally of every type of person imaginable, she would still need to justify her position or be out of a job. Hence, the goalpost will always be moved.

The downside to this quota is the eventual concessions Activision Blizzard will make to meet an arbitrary number. This could mean putting people less qualified into positions to make it look like progress is being made. Ultimately, customers will have to suffer with the end results.

[Source: CNBC]

Rom-Com Anime ‘The Dangers in My Heart’ Is Headed To HiDive

Jacob Airey
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Rom-Com Anime ‘The Dangers in My Heart’ Is Headed To HiDive

The slice-of-life romantic comedy anime ‘The Dangers in My Heart’ was announced by the Japanese animation studio Shin-Ei Animation for release in April 2023. At the 2022 Anime NY convention Sentai Filmworks announced that they had acquired the license to release in the United States, but recently unveiled they will debut it on the HiDive streaming service.

“We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured this is no April Fools’ joke; we would never play with your heart like that,” HiDive said on their website, adding it will stream on April 1st.

You can watch the trailer below:

Directed by Hiroaki Akagi, the anime is written by Jukki Hanada, character designs are being done by Masato Katsumata, and Kensuke Ushio is on board as the composer.

The voice cast includes:

  • Kyotaro Ichikawa voiced by Shun Horie
  • Anna Yamada voiced by Hina Yōmiya
  • Chihiro Kobayashi voiced by Ayaka Asai
  • Moeko Sekine voiced by Megumi Han
  • Serina Yoshida voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki
  • Shō Adachi voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto
  • Kenta Kanzaki voiced by Gen Satō
  • Chikara Ōta voiced by Jun Fukushima
  • Honoka Hara voiced by Aki Toyosaki
  • Kana Ichikawa voiced by Yukari Tamura
  • Haruya Nanjō voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki

Wikipedia describes the synopsis as follows,

“Kyotaro Ichikawa is a disgruntled loner student who fantasizes about murdering his popular classmates, often reading a murder encyclopedia and learning about human anatomy, with the class idol, Anna Yamada, being his prime target. However, when he observes that Anna is rather quirky in her own way, and when she becomes increasingly friendly towards Kyotaro, he gradually warms up to her and they start to become closer.”

The anime is based on a 2018 manga series created by Norio Sakurai and released by the Japanese publisher Akita Shoten who serializes it in their ‘Manga Cross’ magazine. Seven Seas Entertainment releases it in North America.

Sports Anime ‘Aim For The Ace: The Movie’ Is Arriving On Blu-Ray

Jacob Airey
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Sports Anime ‘Aim For The Ace: The Movie’ Is Arriving On Blu-Ray

Discotek Media is bringing the 1979 sports anime ‘Aim For The Ace: The Movie’ on Blu-ray in the spring of this year. Directed by Osamu Dezaki, the movie is a follow-up to an anime that was based on the manga by Sumika Yamamoto. It will have high definition picture and feature the original Japanese audio with English subtitles.

The planned release date will be May 30th, 2023, though you can pre-order it on the Right Stuf Anime website.

They also released the images of the Blu-ray box set:

Originally released on September 8, 1979, the movie was produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha who also handled the production of the television series.

Wikipedia describes the synopsis as follows,

“The story is about Hiromi Oka, a high school girl who struggles to become good at tennis. While attending Nishi, Hiromi begins playing tennis after becoming fascinated by Reika Ryūzaki, an older girl who is the best player on the team and is nicknamed “Madame Butterfly” owing to her grace on the tennis court. The team gets a new coach, Jin Munakata, who sees potential in Hiromi and trains her to become a great tennis player.

Hiromi struggles to overcome her mental weakness. Later, she falls in love with another tennis player, Takayuki Tōdō, but coach Munakata tells her not to get too involved and that she should forget him and work on her tennis skills. Hiromi often loses confidence in her playing abilities, but with the support of her coach and her friends she overcomes her anxiety. By training herself to become a better player, Hiromi grows into a mentally stronger person. Her enthusiasm, her love of tennis and the support from people around her helps her to become one of the best players in the world.”

The movie was previously released on Blu-ray on September 26, 2008, and re-released on July 22, 2016.

Crunchyroll Announces Huge Spring Anime Slate

Jacob Airey
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Crunchyroll Announces Huge Spring Anime Slate

The anime streaming service Crunchyroll is expanding its library with some huge announcements for their spring slate. They are not only adding brand new series for their subscribers but some fan favorites are getting renewed or relaunched for these entries. The anime includes paranormal sagas, mechs, sports dramas, and historical fiction all coming to the app.

Crunchyroll provided the list on their website which includes:

Mashle: Magic and Muscles

Releasing on April 7, 2023, this one asks, “Who needs magic when you are Mash Burnedead, a young man with the ultimate power of muscles!” As of the writing of this article, there is no English dub announcement for this series.

Dr. Stone: A New World

Coming April 6, 2023, it follows “Senku and the Kingdom of Science sail to new lands to uncover more scientific secrets!”

Hell’s Paradise

Arriving on April 1, 2023, the story tells of “a group of criminals and executioners are sent to a remote island to retrieve the ‘Elixir of Life.'”

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury (Season 2)

Streaming on April 9, 2023, we see “Suletta and Miorine continue their journey to uncover the secrets of the Gundam Aerial.”

Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You (Season 2)

Debuting on April 7, 2023, “Nasa and Tsukasa’s newlywed life continues in new episodes of TONIKAWA!”

The Ancient Magus Bride (Season 2)

Premiering April 6, 2023, “Chise receives an invitation to “The College,” a secret society of mages to learn the depths of magic.”

Vinland Saga (Season 2)

“When Thorfinn loses it all, he must find his new purpose for living in a strange new land.”

Birdie Wing: Golf Girl’s Story (Season 2)

Releasing on April 7, 2023 this show explains that- “The golfing girls come back for another round in a brand new season of BIRDIE WING!”

KonoSuba: An Explosion In This Magical World

The spin-off arrives on April 5, 2023, saying, “Megumin stars in her own explosive new KONOSUBA spin-off series!”

From isekai to crime to science fiction, Crunchyroll is aggressively expanding its library for anime fans in North America and beyond.

Sentai Announces April 2023 Anime Home Video Release Slate

Jacob Airey
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Sentai Announces April 2023 Anime Home Video Release Slate

Sentai Filmworks is bringing four new hit anime series to blu-ray for a home video release. From survival dramas to sci-fi to magic to quirky comedy, fans are going to receive three titles with English dubs while one will be available in its original Japanese audio with English subtitles. All of these anime are available on the HiDive streaming service.

They revealed their list on the Sentai website:

Gate

Available on April 25, 2023, “The nightmare descends on Tokyo’s prestigious Ginza shopping district without warning as a dimensional gateway opens, unleashing an army of monsters and armored men upon the panicking crowds! One man, though, is slightly better prepared than anyone else: Yoji Itami, a Defense Force reservist and a rabid comic and sci-fi fan who’s seen this scenario played out in countless fantasies. That’s just enough edge to help rally the police and first responders, turning back the invasion! And for his quick actions, he’s rewarded with a promotion, restoration to active duty, and thrown right back into the fire with the vanguard team charged with exploring beyond the portal! But even as he’s facing off against elves, beast men, and other fantastic creatures, the worst danger of all is lurking behind him, on the human side of the GATE!”

Ya Boy Kongming!

Released on April 18, 2025, ” In the year 234, a dying Zhuge Kongming’s thoughts wander over his life as one of China’s greatest military strategists and statesmen, wondering what might have been had he been born in less turbulent times. Inexplicably, Kongming finds himself in a younger body in a very strange land! But why has a master of feudal diplomacy and the art of war been brought to modern Japan? He seems overqualified for flipping burgers, but then destiny calls in the entrancing voice of aspiring singer Eiko Tsukimi. Learning of her troubles in becoming a professional, Kongming’s quest is secured: applying his formidable craft, intellect, and bag of ancient Chinese secrets to the task of making Eiko a star! Pity now the executives of the Japanese music industry, for they are but mere men, and they face the promotional assault of a legend reborn: YA BOY KONGMING”

To Love Ru

Available for purchase on April 11, 2023, “Statistically, bathrooms are the room where accidents are most likely to occur, but even so, who could ever anticipate the odds of an alien princess splashing down from space while you’re in the bathtub? Yet, as astronomically small as the chances are, that’s exactly where Rito Yuki is, rub-a-dub-dubbing and thinking of the girl he secretly adores, when the alignment of the planets, a slight misunderstanding of intergalactic etiquette, and an unfortunate placement of hands all combine to change the course of interstellar history! Because now Rito is married to the very sexy but also devil-tailed Princess Lala of Planet Deviluke, and rival suitors, rogue assassins, and Lala’s even more devilish royal father are only the first of the many titanic trials this literally star-crossed young couple will have to face in this astounding multi-series complete collection of TO LOVE RU!”

Fantasista Dolls

Coming April 4, 2023, “At the age of 14, Uzume Uno is an excellent card player who has already won a major tournament. Perhaps that’s why fate has chosen to deliver a very special deck of cards to Uzume’s hands; a deck that can summon, equip and control five artificial warriors known as Fantasista Dolls! And this is not a game played for fun against other masters. There is a great danger approaching that only the Fantasistas can deal with, a danger that threatens the Earth and everyone on it. And Uzume is far from ready to play her part. Now she must push herself to the utmost, honing her skills and abilities to their sharpest edge, even as other Card Masters challenge for dominance. Because this magical card game is all too real, and she’s playing for our future in FANTASISTA DOLL!”

‘Fantasista Dolls’ is only available in Japanese though English subtitles will be available as well.

 

This Fan-Made ‘War of the Worlds’ Game Looks Interesting

Mike Phalin
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This Fan-Made ‘War of the Worlds’ Game Looks Interesting

Fans of Universal’s 2005 War of the Worlds adaptation have been working on an open-world horror survival game for some time. This past week, the team uploaded a new 4K gameplay video and addressed some of the potential copyright issues that have been looming. The 25-minute video shows the Martian tripods roaming the Earth, player interactions with NPCs, and some weapon inventory footage.

Like a lot of other survival games on Steam, players need to manage various meters, like hydration, hunger, health, and sleep. Being on the run from Martians that want to eat you and use your blood to feed the red weeds will probably take a lot out of you. However, there appears to be some form of combat against the invaders and other humans.

If you’re familiar with the film, the Tripods have a shield that cannot be brought down by conventional weapons, not even the military’s. It’s unclear when you’ll be able to take the fight to the Martians. Perhaps after they start to suffer from the common cold, like in the movie? A majority of the firearms combat will probably be against the aliens once they’ve left their war machines, would be my guess.

For a preview of the survival gameplay aspect, check out the video below.

The team behind the game did give some forethought to the possibility that Universal may go after them for using the Tripod designs from the 2005 film:

“We know most of you are all fans of the look of the tripod’s in the movie and should we need to change it for our own imagining, we wanted to make sure the tripod still gave off the same biomechanical aquatic three legged hooded machine feel and that it could still use the same rig and animations as the movie accurate model. This will end up saving hundreds of development hours from needing to re-rig and reanimate an entirely different machine. It will use most of the same animations and be based on the same AI. The switch between either or will be as simple as flipping a switch. There are many unique differences between the designs that differentiate it enough from the movie’s design to avoid issues.”

I have no doubt that the studio will slap them with a cease and desist. Would you reconsider purchasing the game if the tripods didn’t look like the film versions? Let us know below.

There’s no date yet, but you can keep up with the game’s progress via Discord. As of now, there are over 2,000 active users.

Here are the expected system specs for War of the Worlds:

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM:

    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    • OS: Windows 10
    • Processor: Intel Core i3 or Equivalent
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: 1060 mini 3GB or higher
    • DirectX: Version 10
    • Storage: 42 GB available space
    • Additional Notes: SSD highly recommended to improve load times.

RECOMMENDED:

    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    • OS: Windows 10
    • Processor: Intel Core i5 or Equivalent
    • Memory: 16 GB RAM
    • Graphics: Nvidia GTX 970 or Equivalent
    • DirectX: Version 10
    • Storage: 42 GB available space
    • Additional Notes: SSD highly recommended to improve load times.

If you prefer your open-world games to be more fantastical, check out our Hogwarts Legacy review.

New Wave Toys Reveals Ghosts ‘N Goblins & Ghouls ‘N Ghosts Cabinets

Mike Phalin
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New Wave Toys Reveals Ghosts ‘N Goblins & Ghouls ‘N Ghosts Cabinets

Ghosts ‘n Goblins and Ghouls ‘n Ghosts are New Wave Toys’ latest 1:6 scale arcade machine replicas! The classic Capcom series will also host several new features in the Replicade line of mini-cabinets.

Both cabinets capture much of the same stuff seen in the full-size originals, but now with even more accuracy! In addition, New Wave Toys has added a working coin-op feature. Insert the mini-coins, and the machine registers them as credits! Inside each GnG machine is a coin collection box, and a faux power cable has been added.

New Wave Toys is also creating a unique CRT effect with these two cabinets. Called CRT-FX 2.0, the new lens has “a reduced curvature plus added an anti-reflection surface coating to reduce distortion, glare & ambient light reflections.”

Both cabinets can be ordered as a pair for $311.99, and they’re expected to ship out by Halloween 2023. The Replicade machines are also available individually for $159.99 apiece.

New Wave Toys Replicades
Photo Credit: New Wave Toys
New Wave Toys Replicades
Photo Credit: New Wave Toys
New Wave Toys Replicades
Photo Credit: New Wave Toys
New Wave Toys Replicades
Photo Credit: New Wave Toys
New Wave Toys Replicades
Photo Credit: New Wave Toys
  • Replica Ghosts’ n Goblins and Ghouls’ n Ghosts HS1 arcade machines in 1/6 scale (12inch)
  • Plays both Ghosts’ n Goblins + Ghouls’ n Ghosts arcade ROMs
  • NEW! Coin Op Feature (Insert mini coins to add credits)
  • NEW! CRT-FX2.0 with Reflection Reduction Tech
  • Arcade Operator’s Menu with customizable dip switch and cabinet settings
  • Miniaturized control panel featuring Micro-Micro Switch ball-top joystick
  • Plug ‘n Play HDTV and USB controller connectivity
  • Hand crafted cabinet from traditional materials including wood, metal and plastic
  • Illuminated marquee and cabinet accents
  • RepliCade signature amplified mono audio reproduction with volume control and pad lock prop
  • High-resolution cabinet art reproduction on quality 3M vinyl overlays
  • Diecast metal coin doors with lower cash box storage compartment
  • High score saving with non-volatile memory
  • Built-in, high-capacity rechargeable battery
  • Premium LCD color screen 4:3 aspect ratio (horizontal orientation)
  • Officially licensed by Capcom
  • 100-Day New Wave Factory Warranty

This announcement is a huge step up from the previous Q*Bert release. No offense to the little orange buy, but Ghosts’ n Goblins and Ghouls’ n Ghosts are far more fun to play.

[Source: New Wave Toys]
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