ARCHEAGE WELCOMES PIONEERING PLAYERS TO THE GREAT PRAIRIE OF THE WEST REGION
SBK22 Is Here! The Historical Franchise Returns With a Next-Generation Two-Wheels Lifelike Gameplay Experience
Drive every decision. F1 Manager 2022 races on to PC and Console on August 30
FIFA diversifies its gaming rights and launches new non-sim football games alongside EA SPORTS franchise
Kakao Games Opens up Dysterra for Global Beta
Konami Announces eFootball™ 2022 UPDATE (version 1.0.0) Available now Worldwide
KONAMI REVEALS NEW PvP MULTIPLAYER MYSTERY SIMULATION GAME ‘CRIMESIGHT’ TO RELEASE APRIL 14TH
The Pizza Eating Crime-Fighters are Back with KONAMI’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection
Feel Your Way Through AVICII Invector: Encore Edition, Available Today for Meta Quest 2
The Tiger is Out! Green Man Gaming’s Lunar Sale Starts Today
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The legacy of Tim Bergling Continues with AVICII Invector: Encore Edition Coming to Meta Quest 2 on 27 January 2022
Global video games publishing label Wired Productions and award-winning indie studio Hello There Games are proud to announce that 2022 will start in pulse-pounding fashion as AVICII Invector: Encore Edition comes to Meta Quest 2 on January 27, 2022. In loving memory of Swedish DJ Tim Bergling, most famously known by his professional name, AVICII, Hello There Games and Tim’s father, Klas Bergling, continue Tim’s vision of bringing new ways to experience his music, with AVICII Invector: Encore Edition. Featuring 35 chart topping tracks such as Peace of Mind, Freak and S.O.S, AVICII Invector brings the futuristic rhythm action gameplay into a VR version for Meta Quest 2 which is available to Wishlist now. All music royalties from each copy of the game sold will go to the Tim Bergling Foundation, which advocates for the recognition of suicide as a global health emergency and actively works to remove the stigma attached to suicide and mental health issues. “When Tim and I first started talking about Invector, he was actually sent an early prototype VR headset. He was fascinated by the technology and the opportunities it created.” Said Oskar Eklund, the CEO of Hello There Games, “Working with Tim’s father, Klas, to finish this project has been an emotional process for the whole team. We still grieve for Tim, but we came together knowing this was a project he was very passionate about and hope his fans can continue to celebrate and remember AVICII for the light that he was.” “At Wired, we are all about celebrating the art, music, and developers behind each release. AVICII Invector, in many ways, is our perfect match.” Said Leo Zullo, Managing Director, Wired Productions. “Bringing AVICII Invector to VR has been a labour of love, one that will immerse fans and Meta Quest gamers alike in an unforgettable virtual reality experience. An experience which, I hope, will continue to celebrate Tim’s music and legacy for years to come.” AVICII Invector: Encore Edition Features: 35 hit anthems from the phenomenal talent of late superstar AVICII. SEVEN mesmerising worlds wrapped in a magnificent musical experience viewable in VR. Turn up the volume and set yourself a challenge across FOUR complexity levels. Lay down your high score and rise up the Global Leaderboards. Explore a pure-hearted narrative journey set against the globally celebrated works of AVICII. In addition, the release of AVICII Invector: Encore Edition on Meta Quest 2 see’s the start of a partnership between Wired Productions and Meta to bring new and existing IPs to the VR platform, with The Last Worker and Tin Hearts also coming to Meta Quest 2 in 2022. AVICII Invector: Encore Edition launches on Meta Quest 2 on January 27, 2022 and is available to Wishlist now via Meta Quest. For more information, visit https://wiredproductions.com/games/
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KARTRIDER: DRIFT Closed Beta Starts Today
The next entry in Nexon’s phenomenally successful KartRider racing franchise is here! Cross-platform sensation, the free-to-play KartRider: Drift, will launch its Closed Beta at 4pm Pacific today, ending on December 15th at 5am Pacific. Access to the KartRider: Drift Closed Beta is available for PC on Nexon’s launcher and Steam, in addition to being available to console players on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. Gearing up to deliver new thrills in the beloved Nexon racing franchise, KartRider: Drift offers unparalleled character and kart customization. Karts can be tailored as never before, allowing players to transform their rides to reflect their inner racing persona. To help make sure your ride represents who you are on the track, customizable options in the game range from player-created kart skins to unique character costumes. Players can fine-tune these elements, tinkering to create the ultimate kart straight away. KartRider: Drift offers players the fastest drift-fueled racing experience with stunning graphics delivered via Unreal® Engine 4, created from the ground up for dynamic, online gameplay. Challenge your friends regardless of what platform they play on and enjoy no barriers with no pay walls or pay-to-win racing elements. There’s still time to get in on the racing fun! To register for closed beta access, visit the official KartRider: Drift site. https://kartdrift.nexon.com/Main/CBT3 (Korean Only)
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VRJAM Metaverse Launch
VRJAM, the UK's leading creator of live music experiences in virtual reality, today teased the launch of the VRJAM platform, a revolutionary new metaverse events platform and NFT creation solution. To bring the VRJAM metaverse platform to life, VRJAM has partnered with market leading NFT software developer Enjin.io to launch a rich virtual reality world that offers a host of new solutions for artists to render and monetize their music and live shows in amazing new ways using NFT’s, blockchain and immersive technology. The VRJAM platform promises to open up completely new ways for both fans and artist to experience live music events and represents the next step in the evolution of live music. Ownership of this virtual world will be shared by a guild of globally recognised artists and record labels who will cooperate to create value and define new possibilities for music inside the metaverse. VRJAM’s metaverse platform offers solutions for true live performance using technology that is years ahead of other similar platforms. It provides unsurpassed user experience and offers fans, artists and labels an array of unique features; - A persistent ‘always on’ virtual world with an array of live events happening every day. - A platform for the creation and rendering of revolutionary new types of NFTs - A space for direct to fan engagement and the creation of fan experience events, from DJ lessons to private gigs - A digital solution to empower music venues to exist in the metaverse - A platform for the distribution and monetization of recorded music by labels and publishers - Powered by a native in game cryptocurrency, VRJAM Coin. At the heart of the VRJAM metaverse platform is a blockchain based trading and finance system, VRJAM Coin. This revolutionary new cryptocurrency will create ways for both artists and fans to earn money inside the metaverse and promises to create entirely new business models for artists, venues and labels at a time when their traditional ways of making money have been turned upside down by the Covid 19 pandemic. The VRJAM cryptocurrency is backed by investment from 5 of the world's leading blockchain specialist investment and venture capital firms, demonstrating the exciting potential of VRJAM's tech. The opportunity to invest in the VRJAM token sale is open now, prospective investors can apply to join via the VRJAM website; www.vrjlive.com/metaverse Fans and artists who want to be a part of the next step in the evolution of live music should head to the VRJAM website and join the VRJAM community to get access to exclusive offers, free cryptocurrency and amazing music. www.vrjlive.com/community
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ARK: Survival Evolved Turkey Trial 5 Starts Today
The annual Turkey Trial is here once again! Studio Wildcard invites players to join them in ARK: Survival Evolved for this year’s annual Turkey Trial 5 event. Available today Tuesday, November 23, through Tuesday, December 7, survivors can hunt for unforgiving “Super-Turkeys” and harvest wishbones to gain new chibis, a new turkey costume, event-themed emotes, and brand new "Ugly" sweaters! Hasten over to any of the ARK: Survival Evolved maps to experience all the Turkey Day festivities, as well as witness the DodoRex Tribute and gather Wishbones. The Turkey Trial 5 event features increased rates for XP, harvesting, taming, breeding and more across all official servers, so the feast will be bountiful for all! For a limited time, Survivors can collect all the Thanksgiving candy, Pilgrim Hats and holiday-themed emotes, as well as new ones, including: Brand New Chibis: Deinonychus Chibi, Kaprosuchus Chibi, Onyc Chibi, Tek Raptor Chibi, Gigantopithecus Chieftain Chibi Autumnal Cosmetic Items: A New Turkey Costume and three new Ugly Sweater designs, including Foliage Friends, Turkey Target and a Dodo's Revenge Sweater! Studio Wildcard continues to develop huge, free updates and themed events for ARK: Survival Evolved, including the upcoming free maps Lost Island, coming December 14, 2021, and the Nordic style, cold-weather Fjodur, coming in June 2022. Both maps will introduce three new creatures and hundreds of hours of gameplay to the ARK universe! For the latest updates join the ARK Survivor’s conversation on Discord, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, visit the Website at playark.com and watch us tame ‘n train leviathan dinosaurs on Twitch.TV
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Aura Kingdom is Flying High with ‘Sky Riders’ Release
gamigo asks Aura Kingdom players to hold on tight because its latest patch – Sky Riders – is going to take them on a memorable flight filled with new Sky Tower floors, dungeons, events, and much more. Aura Kingdom’s Sky Riders patch takes off with players battling through five new Sky Tower floors (56-60), each featuring their own story, challenges, and rewards. Once players reach a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, they can unfasten their safety belts and battle through four new dungeons: Eidolon Story Dungeon: Tsubaki Nightmare Realm (Party) Nightmare - Ancient Cliff Temple (Solo) Demon King Fantasies X - Battle of Ambition Entering their descent, players can look forward to participating in the Sky Tower Drop Event, the Guild Eidolon Spawn Event, and the Christmas Letter Collection Event. For the upcoming holiday season, players can participate in a number of in-game activities – such as archeology and cooking – to collect the letters C-A-N-D-Y. Once their CANDY is earned, players can exchange them for several in-game rewards including panels, buffs, and more. For more information, please visit the following links: Website: https://aurakingdom.aeriagames.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuraKingdom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuraKingdom YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AuraKingdomAeria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurakingdom
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Kakao Games Delivers Nostalgia-Tinged Trailer as ArcheAge Account Transfer Website Goes Live
The player account transition for renowned MMORPG ArcheAge, developed by XL Games and soon-to-be published by Kakao Games, has officially begun. Released in 2014, ArcheAge features a vast open sandbox environment, offering deep customization of skills and experiences set across the mystical world of Erenor. From trading on the high seas, tending a humble farm, being an adventurous rogue and much more, each player’s experience is wholly unique. Kakao Games will take the reins as publisher for ArcheAge in North America, Europe and Oceania from current publisher Gamigo, who serviced the game in those regions the previous seven years. The official service changeover will occur the 2nd of December, 2021. Account transfer will require visiting Gamigo’s Glyph gaming platform to obtain a data transfer code. Once done, users can access the newly launched Kakao Games transfer website to create a Kakao Games account (if they haven’t already) and enter the transfer code to complete the process. Existing players who complete the above will receive the following rewards: Astra Wings x1 Wrapped Firetalon Ostrich x1 Wrapped Brilliant Hiram Guardian Weapon: Epic x4 Wrapped Brilliant Hiram Guardian Armor: Epic x7 Epherium Cloak Crate x1 Noryette Ring (Heroic) x2 Noryette Earring (Heroic) x2 Proven Warrior Necklace Box x1 Bound Serendipity Stone x4 Icon Swap Certificate x3 These rewards will arrive December 2nd alongside new ArcheAge updates, including the Black Thorn Prison instance, the long-awaited debut of Guild Housing, and a brand-new skillset. Details on all three will be available in coming weeks via Kakao Games social channels. Finally, in celebration of this transfer of service milestone, Kakao Games has released the full-length version of its teaser trailer celebrating thrilling moments throughout the history of ArcheAge, honoring its valued fans and casting an eye toward the future.
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Space Invaders Cubed Coming on The WOWCube (R) Platform
Cubios Inc., the creator of the WOWCube ® entertainment system, and TAITO CORPORATION (TAITO), the creator of the SPACE INVADERS video game, signed a license agreement. It gives Cubios Inc. a license to use all trademarks, copyrights, themes, gameplay, images, audio clips associated with one of the most well-known and lovable video games in the world — the SPACE INVADERS. And the Cubios’ team immediately started to create the SPACE INVADERS CUBED, a new version of the video game exclusively available on the WOWCube® entertainment system. Katsuhiko Iwaki, President and Representative Director, TAITO CORPORATION comments: "We are happy to partner with Cubios Inc. and think that WOWCube is a unique device that could be the next big thing. We're sure that SPACE INVADERS CUBED will find a lot of fans". The WOWCube ® entertainment system is a one-of-a-kind device in the shape of a cube made of 8 connected cubic modules. Each module is a separate device, with three high-resolution screens and a CPU inside. In the coming summer, the company will start a pre-order campaign and ship the devices to the first buyers throughout the end of this year. At the moment, Cubios Inc. is working on more than 30 different games, including arcade games, puzzles, logic and strategy games, educational apps with gamification, and many more for casual and more skillful players of all ages. The WOWCube ® entertainment system will be delivered with several games pre-installed, and a sure hit among them will be the SPACE INVADERS CUBED. Ilya Osipov, the president and a founder of Cubios Inc., comments: "I’m a huge fan of the SPACE INVADERS arcade game. It was one of the first games I played when I was the age of my son. I love everything about it — the graphics, sounds, entertainment, and absorbing gameplay. Our unique WOWCube ® device along with this fascinating game with a long history of success is a winning combo. I'm very sure that our users will appreciate playing this arcade game with its nostalgic charm and the new interpretation on their futuristic devices, and enjoy hours of fun and entertainment." Game development for the cube is a sophisticated process as the device has unique 3D geometry and hardware. Each game made for the WOWCube ® entertainment system, even a familiar one, adds a new dimension of perception towards the gameplay, and makes it even more fun and rewarding to progress level by level. In the original version of the SPACE INVADERS, a user must destroy the enemy Invaders avoiding enemy fire by controlling their own ship. With the SPACE INVADERS CUBED version, the playing field is all over the cube, on all six sides of the device. The player interacts with the game by turning and tilting the cube. The user's ship is moving following the position of the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope. When the spacecraft is right opposite to the enemy, it starts to shoot automatically. By turning the cube, the user acquires the power to send an Invader's ship to a remote corner of the universe many parsecs away. And when the player is ready, they can bring their spacecraft to that place and deal with the Invader. In this way, the player can split the enemy's fleet and shoot the Invaders one by one. The cubed version of SPACE INVADERS may involve the user's strategic thinking and cognitive skills, making the gaming process more absorbing and rewarding.
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Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector charges onto Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation on December 2
Slitherine (Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach and Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon) and Black Lab Games (Battlestar Galactica Deadlock and Starhammer) are pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed turn-based strategy title set in Games Workshop’s world-renowned grimdark universe: Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector will launch on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and Games for Windows on December 2. That’s not all: the game will be available Day One for Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is the definitive battle-scale turn-based strategy title that takes players to the battlefields of the 41st Millennium in an epic single-player campaign that explores the aftermath of the Devastation of Baal. Sergeant Carleon and his allies must purge the Tyranid infestation on Baal Secundus, and preserve the honour of the noble Blood Angels. The gripping campaign also introduces the mighty Primaris Marines for the first time. The console version features full achievement and trophy support, in addition to an updated UI and brand new control scheme specifically designed for consoles, giving players full tactical control when commanding the Blood Angel Space Marines in bone-rattling and soul-crushing skirmishes against the Tyranids. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector will be expanded over the coming months via DLC which will introduce new factions, maps and modes. The first two packs will launch on December 2 for both Console and PC, adding new elite units to the game. The Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Blood Angels Elite DLC gives players access to Assault Terminators and Sanguinary Guard. Assault Terminators feature a game-changing Deep Strike ability, while The Sanguinary Guard can quickly traverse the battlefield using their Jump Pack and can be equipped with a variety of ranged and melee weapon options. The Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Tyranid Elites DLC adds the Broodlord and Hive Guard. The Broodlord are superior melee warriors with a natural ability for disrupting the minds of nearby prey, whereas the Hive Guard offers deadly ranged attacks, wrapped in a heavy armour of lumbering carapace. For an exclusive first look at a new, upcoming faction that will be added to the game in 2022, please tune in to the Slitherine Home of the Wargamers Live + event taking place on the 14 December. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector was positively received by critics and gamers alike, and currently holds a Very Positive rating on Steam with over 1,400 reviews. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector will be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and Games for Windows on December 2. It is available to purchase now for PC.
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Sociable Soccer PC & console release date confirmed
Kiss Publishing Limited (KPL), in association with developer Tower Studios, will release Sociable Soccer for PC and console in Q2 2022, following the title’s huge success on Apple Arcade. The game, designed by Sensible Soccer creator Jon Hare, will be made available by KPL globally for Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 4/5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X/S, in addition to a full Steam release. Sociable Soccer was originally released in 2019 via Apple Arcade for iOS, where it has built up a huge following of fans for its fast, arcade-style, intuitive gameplay, complete with multiplayer head-to-heads and collectible player cards. The highly anticipated console and PC versions of the game will offer the same great player experiences and more, including: Enhanced graphics and animations Enhanced gameplay, strategy & AI Collectible legend players per club Challenges and battle pass system Improved PVP matchmaking & customisable difficulty Update to all 1,000 teams & 30,000 players for 21/22 season Meanwhile, gamers who bought the previously available Early Access version on Steam in 2017 will get a new Steam code from KPL on release. KPL Head of Publishing Darryl Still offered: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with Jon Hare and Tower Studios to bring Sociable Soccer to PC and console platforms. The game has been a huge success on mobile and we can’t wait to introduce it to new audiences around the world.” Tower Studios CEO Jon Hare said: “Sociable Soccer has been a labour of love since we first started working on the game as a PC title in 2015. With the game firmly established on Apple Arcade we’ve found the perfect partner in KPL to take it to Steam, Switch, PlayStation and Xbox. We’ve always thought of Sociable Soccer as an organic football franchise – and it’s going to be growing more over the next few years." More information about Sociable Soccer can be found here: https://sociablesoccer.com
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Team17 reveals new games and release dates at gamescom
Team17 has confirmed a series of release dates and games at gamescom. Revealed during the Future Games Show was Trepang2, a fast-paced horror first-person shooter heading to Steam in 2022; further highlights included confirmation that adventure roguelike Crown Trick is launching on 7th September for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One, adding to its current availability on Nintendo Switch™ and Steam; the indie games label also revealed kooky culinary adventure Epic Chef would be arriving in November together with dwaven mining sim Hammerting, which is full launching onto PC on 16th November. The announcement continued a flurry of news from Team17, which this week also announced it has added Australian studio Drop Bear Bytes’ isometic role-playing game Broken Roads to its 2022 release schedule alongside Stormind Games’ Batora: Lost Haven. Today’s reveal also confirmed two titles – Honey, I Joined A Cult and The Unliving – will be launching into Steam Early Access on 14th September and 26th October respectively. Also featured was online strategic World War II shooter Hell Let Loose, which will be expanding onto new-generation platforms this autumn, adding to its recent launch on PC. The announcements were made days after the recent launch of Navegante Games’ platformer, Greak: Memories of Azur, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC and Nintendo Switch. [Team17 Presents… full list] Greak: Memories of Azur – Navegante Games – Out Now Sheltered 2 – Unicube Games – Coming 21st September 2021 Crown Trick – Next Studios – Out Now (PC & Nintendo Switch), Coming 7th September 2021 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) Honey, I Joined A Cult – Sole Survivor Games – Steam Early Access, 14th September 2021 The Unliving – RocketBrush Studio – Steam Early Access, 26th October 2021 Hammerting – Warpzone Studios – Coming 16th November 2021 Epic Chef – Infinigon Games – Coming November 2021 Hell Let Loose – Black Matter – Out Now (PC), Coming Soon 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) Batora: Lost Haven – Stormind Games – Coming 2022 Broken Roads – Drop Bear Bytes – Coming 2022 Trepang2 – Trepang Studios – Coming 2022
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Fintropolis uses Minecraft to teach students about money - Over 1M Downloads in First 25 Days
In the summer of 2019, Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) gave four interns from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) a challenge: devise a way to teach middle school kids about money so they can be prepared to lead financially healthy lives. On August 2nd Ally launched their answer to that challenge – Fintropolis, allyfintropolis.com/, a new world in the megahit video game Minecraft, designed to teach financial concepts. Fintropolis is available for both Minecraft and Minecraft: Education Edition. To date, the world has been downloaded over 1M times! Financial literacy rates in the U.S. have been dropping since 2009. Less than one-third of adults ages 18-54 can answer basic questions related to personal finance, creating urgency for new approaches to early financial education. This critical issue became the focus of four interns hired through Ally’s 2019 Moguls in the Making, www.ally.com/moguls, student pitch competition: Erin Martin from Alabama A&M, Earl Perry and Keishon Smith from Florida A&M, and DeMari Tyner from North Carolina A&T. After research and field study, the four created the concept and design for Fintropolis, which Ally then brought to market. “Students who don’t learn how to handle money and make smart financial choices will have a tougher time throughout their lives,” said Smith, who was hired by Ally after he graduated. “Ally challenged us to find a solution, so we dug in and did our homework. We quickly realized to get middle schoolers to pay attention and learn, we had to make it fun and hands-on. I played Minecraft throughout school and knew how much kids of all backgrounds loved it. When we tested our concept on students, I wasn’t surprised to see how quickly they took to it.” Martin, Perry, Smith and Tyner worked with Ally’s concept development lab, TM Studio, and video game developer, Blockworks, to create Fintropolis. As players explore the Fintropolis world, they learn about earning money, paying taxes, budgeting, building credit and managing debt, as well as investing. They also are introduced to different careers and how early financial decisions can impact their futures. Minecraft: Education Edition also comes with lesson plans to connect the money concepts in Fintropolis to the classroom curriculum. Minecraft users can access Fintropolis for free. Watch this brief video at www.allyfintropolis.com to tour Fintropolis. “When Erin, Earl, Keishon and DeMari presented their idea, we knew then and there we had to pursue it,” said Diane Morais, president, Consumer and Commercial Banking at Ally Bank. “We have been experimenting with fun, interactive games as a powerful way to teach financial lessons and saw this as a possible cornerstone in that strategy. Now, Fintropolis has the potential to give millions of students the knowledge and confidence needed to make better money decisions, which can affect their lives in profound ways.” Ally’s Executive Director of Customer Strategy and Innovation Emily Shallal added, “The entire journey to launch Fintropolis demonstrates how injecting diverse experiences and perspectives leads to innovative and impactful problem solving. If we want to promote financial and social inclusion, it starts by bringing a wider spectrum of people to the creation table.” [From Detroit to Fintropolis] The four intern creators of Fintropolis first met in Detroit as competitors at the 2019 Moguls in the Making, a business pitch competition hosted by Ally, entertainer Big Sean’s The Sean Anderson Foundation and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The annual weekend-long competition helps young, up-and-coming entrepreneurs from HBCUs bring their ideas to life. Fifty HBCU students are selected from a pool of more than 500 applicants, grouped into collaborative teams, and mentored by coaches from Ally and other industry leaders. The goal: develop and pitch a business plan that furthers economic mobility and enhances financial and social inclusion. Impressed by Martin, Perry, Smith and Tyner’s creative thinking and presentation skills during the competition, Ally invited the four to join its TM Studio team as interns for the summer. Using a human-centered design methodology, the students conducted in-person and phone interviews with middle school teachers, parents, principals and students. Their primary and secondary research confirmed their solutions had to be fun, and preferably game-based, to drive engagement. The result was Fintropolis. “They came up with a boss solution,” Big Sean said. “Fintropolis is just one example of what HBCU students can do when given the resources and platform to support their dreams.” The 2021 Moguls in the Making competition will take place on Sept. 16 – 19. Students from ten HBCUs will compete for scholarships and Ally internships. [Bringing the lessons full-circle] In conjunction with the launch of Fintropolis, Martin, Perry, Smith and Tyner are returning to their own middle schools in Florida, North Carolina and Michigan to demonstrate the world in Minecraft they helped create and share lessons they learned along their journey from middle schooler to “Mogul” to financial education innovator. In addition to visiting with the students and teachers, the four each will present a $10,000 donation to their schools from Ally to support critical technology and curriculum needs. Three of the interns – Tyner, Smith and Perry - have been hired by Ally as full-time employees. Tyner works as a data analytics analyst while Smith is a technology operations associate analyst and Perry is a quality assurance analyst. Martin was a Marketing intern with Ally this summer after finishing her junior year.
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Homebrew Pinball Wizards highlighted at Pinball Expo 2021
There has been a revolution in the world of pinball in recent years. The reason is the emergence of a new generation of individual designers who are creating unique machines for themselves and close friends. And what might be seen as a hobby has actually resulted in a number of these “home brew” wizards transitioning their careers into becoming full time pinball designers, programmers, artists and engineers at the major manufacturers across the globe. Among the highlights of this year’s Pinball Expo 2021 will be a record breaking number of enthusiasts showing off their personally created games. The handmade games, the vast majority of them built from scratch, have been gaining steady prominence at the annual show over the past several years. At present, show organizers expect more than 20 hobbyists displaying their handiwork. “What has been coined “home brew” games have been gaining in popularity every year,” said Rob Berk, Pinball Expo’s founder. “I believe it has to do with the overall increased interest in pinball but also the availability of some new technologies which provide tools for actually programming the games. There is plenty of romance surrounding the older games and these hobbyists are trying to capture some of that for themselves.“ The games, as Berk pointed out, are not as difficult to fabricate as might be imagined. Old time electro-mechanical pinballs included an enormous amount of wiring and circuitry to control playfield targets and scoring. Today, not only has the circuitry been much reduced but a thriving after market for the industry includes a full range of flippers, drop targets, ramps, and other playfield components. Aaron Davis, a home brew pin enthusiast from Seattle, sees the trend as an offshoot of the maker and maker space community. “I started getting into it around 2013, but it’s been steadily growing since then,” Davis explained. “It’s a diverse community, but you have guys who designed systems to land the Rover on Mars and build rides for Disney getting into it. The desire to build and create things is strong in so many of us.” As Davis explained, the themes of the home brew pins range from something called “fan pins“ paying homage to such classic video game themes as Sonic the Hedgehog, to movies like the Nightmare Before Christmas, and even more personal themes. The pins, which can take a year or more to complete, are unique in that they require multiple disciplines, including electronics, coding, art, music, wood working, and basic mechanical engineering knowledge. Davis has also turned the hobby into a cottage industry, founding the company Fast Pinball. Together with his partner, Dave Beecher, he designed and markets a brand of circuit boards for the hobbyist market. “Anything you see on the playfield, our products can control it,” he said. As Davis also noted, an offshoot of the home brew systems is a small group of players who rebuild machines with better play features. Some of the popular games from the past were rushed to market, fell short in terms of rules or gameplay, or simply require a modernization. And we are seeing the results of these efforts in increasing numbers. For enthusiasts attending Pinball Expo, the home brew games represents a value added bonus. Although there are more pinball companies today than at any time in the recent history, the hobbyists games offer a look into a niche that is not often on display outside of a family rec room or website.
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Taito’s Space Invaders Invincible Collection (Switch) Out Today
One of the most influential video games in history, Space Invaders, is making a comeback to the living rooms! The Space Invaders Invincible Collection includes 11 games of the popular franchise, covering 40 years of Space Invaders history. ININ Games and TAITO are very happy to announce that the digital version of Space Invaders Invincible Collection is out for Nintendo Switch TODAY! Even 40 years after its first release, TAITO’s legendary arcade game never fails to amaze fans all around the world with its bright colors, catchy gameplay, and superior music. [Grab the collection today!] Space Invaders Invincible Collection includes: ● Space Invaders (1978, Arcade) – b/w ● Space Invaders (1978, Arcade) – color ● Space Invaders Part II (1979, Arcade) ● Lunar Rescue (1979, Arcade) ● Space Cyclone (1980, Arcade) ● Majestic Twelve: The Space Invaders Part IV (1990, Arcade) ● Super Space Invaders ’91 (1990, Arcade) ● Space Invaders DX (1994, Arcade) ● Space Invaders Extreme (2008) ● Space Invaders Gigamax 4 SE (2018) Also included as additional download: ● Arkanoid vs Space Invaders (2016) Grab your Switch and fasten your seatbelt - we’re dashing right down memory lane. For more information about the game, visit https://www.iningames.com/games/space-invaders-invincible-collection/ [Limited Edition with Special Offerings] In addition to the digital retail versions, there are three premium limited editions available, exclusively at Strictly Limited Games. The Limited Edition comes individually numbered and includes a pin. With the Collector’s Edition fans get a cool Arcade PCB Box, 2 soundtrack CDs, an official book, acrylic artcards and more. The Ultra Collector’s Edition additionally contains a commemorative coin, an invader standee and an awesome Space Invaders Invincible board game.
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'ABRACADABREW' Launches October 14 on Steam
Miju Games announce its 1-4 player potion-brewing memory game Abracadabrew is now available on Steam for $11.99. Abracadabrew is a fun and chaotic, memory based, local couch co-op game for 1 to 4 players. Cooperate with your friends while using your memory skills to brew as many potions as you can before dawn. Gather ingredients hidden across the place, communicate and stay focused to unlock new brain-racking potions combinations! Features • Fun, intense and chaotic potion brewing -- start with simple recipes and over time challenge your memory skills to master more complex concoctions! • Play single-player or together with up to 4-player local couch co-op multiplayer -- or try online multiplayer with Steam Remote Play or Parsec! • Battle spooky/scary monsters and unlock 20 different characters across dozens of randomly generated levels -- each session different from the last! • Leaderboards support! • Magic, potions, witches, bat wings and spider webs! Family friendly, but still challenging. Abracadabrew is available on Windows and Mac platforms.
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Black Desert Online turns up the volume with new Compose and Play feature
Kakao Games and Pearl Abyss announced the arrival of a musical new feature: compose and play. This week also sees the beginning of highly lucrative login event and the publisher is also announcing changes coming to the game packages being sold for Black Desert Online. The new Compose and Play feature will allow players to create intricate musical compositions using a robust editor. While players can compose music on any character, true to her musical inclinations, players will have to use the Shai class to play their composition. With guitar, flute and drums at their disposal; composers can create multiple tracks of music with a variety of sounds to create a rich musical masterpiece. Compositions can vary in BPM, time signature and amount of instruments played and can easily be shared with other players. After unlocking Shai’s unique ‘Talent’ at level 56, players can further improve their musical skills. It’s also possible to form an ensemble of multiple Shai characters playing their instruments and compositions together. In addition to the Compose and Play feature, a new login event started that can yield players with up to $100 in premium items. By logging in every day they can earn, among other things, a wizard mini pet, a special service maid, and a very convenient buff called The Book of Old Moon. The event started this Wednesday and will run up until June 3rd. On a special minisite, a full rundown of the event and other seasonal promotions can be found. The publisher also shared an upcoming revamp of the game packages of Black Desert Online. After 4 years on the market, the items contained in the bundles will be updated to better reflect the current state of the game and provide better value to new players joining the hit MMORPG. More information on the contents of the new packages was shared on the official Black Desert Online website.
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Black Desert Online Starts Wildlife Charity Drive and Gifts Players an Epic Set of Gear
Kakao Games and Pearl Abyss announced the start of the second part of Black Desert Online’s fourth anniversary celebrations. This week sees the start of a special charity drive for wildlife conservation and additionally, players can now start amassing powerful items during a new event. The ‘Save the Wildlife’ charity event sees players taking part in an in-game event in which their contribution will help build towards a sizeable donation to the World Wide Fund for Nature. More information can be found on a special website that was created for this event. This week also sees the start of the highly anticipated ‘Suppressed Boss Gear’ event. This event rewards players with powerful weapons and armor, perfect for players that want to jump right into high-end activities on offer in the hit-MMORPG. To receive the powerful weapons, players will just have to reach certain level milestones. From level 56 to 58, each level will see the player being rewarded with a strong weapon for their character. For the armor pieces, players will have to complete a series of challenges, such as slaying monsters or defeating summoned bosses. Players interested in Black Desert Online can sign up for the 7-day free trial via the Black Desert Online official website, where they can also learn more about game updates and events.
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ARK: Genesis Now Available on PC, Xbox One, and PS4
Today Studio Wildcard unlocked the next chapter in the saga of ARK: Survival Evolved with the release of ARK: Genesis - Part 1. Expanding the ARK storyline with all-new mission-based gameplay, ARK: Genesis leads Survivors through beautiful yet lethal new worlds filled with exotic creatures, craftable items, and weapons unlike anything seen before on the ARK! In the massive ARK: Genesis - Part 1 expansion, Survivors wake up within a virtual simulation accompanied by the strangely familiar ‘HLN-A’ companion. Together they must overcome the simulation’s rigorous tests and only by fighting, building, taming, and exploring this new world will Survivors uncover the secrets behind this forbidding place. Only the toughest and smartest Survivors will pass all of the simulation’s grueling challenges. The ARK: Genesis Part 1 expansion pack is available to download now as part of the ARK: Genesis Season Pass for Steam on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 for $34.99. The ARK: Genesis Season Pass delivers two new huge expansion packs (Part 1 available today and Part 2 releasing Winter 2020) and the exclusive in-game robotic AI companion called ‘HLN-A’ who guides Survivors with voice navigation and narrative throughout this enduring ARK challenge.
