Tagged: PC

Drattzy Games Provides Update on “Alterium Shift” Amid Significant Company Changes

Drattzy Games LLC, the indie studio behind retro-inspired JRPGs, has released a crucial update on the development of their highly-anticipated game, Alterium Shift. The announcement addresses recent internal changes and reaffirms the studio’s commitment to delivering a top-quality gaming experience.

Current Status and Challenges

The studio acknowledged the delay in their project timeline. Originally aiming for a full release shortly after the Early Access launch in July 2023, they have now encountered several unanticipated challenges. Feedback from Early Access revealed critical features that necessitated a reassessment of the development focus, resulting in a delay.

Major Change in Publishing Partnership

In a noteworthy shift, Drattzy Games and their publisher ended their agreement amicably as of July 2024. This decision, influenced by ongoing discussions since early 2024, has impacted the game’s timeline and development focus. The studio expressed gratitude towards their former publisher and wished them success in future projects.

Implications and Moving Forward

The termination of the publishing partnership has several implications:

  1. Project Delay: The full version of Alterium Shift will not release this year as initially planned. However, a significant content update aiming for 75% completion is expected by the end of the year.
  2. Localization Removal: Localization, previously handled by the publisher, has been temporarily removed. Drattzy Games is actively seeking solutions to reinstate this feature.
  3. Development Focus: With all responsibilities now on their shoulders, the studio asks for patience as they refine their roadmap and manage all aspects of the project internally.

Future Plans and Community Engagement

Drattzy Games plans to share a high-level roadmap with the community, highlighting tentative timelines and upcoming features. They also announced their participation in upcoming events, including 2D Con in Minnesota and PAX West in Seattle, where they will provide more updates post-event.

Team Commitment

Despite recent setbacks, Drattzy Games states that it, is committed to Alterium Shift. The studio assures fans of frequent and transparent updates, appreciating the community’s support and feedback.

About Drattzy Games

Drattzy Games is an indie studio known for retro-inspired games with rich storytelling. Founded by Mottzy and DrassRay, the studio merges classic aesthetics with modern gameplay mechanics, exemplified in their latest project, Alterium Shift.

About Alterium Shift

Alterium Shift is a JRPG inspired by classic SNES-era games, featuring a unique 2.5D visual style, branching storylines, and dynamic quests. For more information, visit alteriumshift.com.

MONSTER JAM® Release Date Revealed

MONSTER JAM® Release Date Revealed – August 29, 2024. Early Access available from August 26, 2024

Following last month’s announcement in the Xbox Partner Preview showcase, Milestone and Feld Motor Sports, Inc. have today revealed Monster Jam® Showdown key art and release date. The brand-new official Monster Jam video game will be available on August 29, 2024, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Early Access will unlock on August 26, 2024.

Grave Digger® and Megalodon®, two of the most fan-favorite trucks, have been chosen to introduce the newest entry in Milestone’s catalog. The black and green wrecking machine with its spooky-themed design and the powerful predator from pre-historic oceans are featured in a high-octane chase across Colorado‘s breathtaking landscapes, conveying all the four-wheeled frenzy action awaiting fans worldwide. Importantly, Colorado is only one of the three original environments inspired by the American great outdoors where players will be unleashing all the power of the 66* official Monster Jam trucks they will find. In fact, beyond experiencing the official competitions in all three categories of stadium locations inspired by real venues, Monster Jam Showdown will take players to race also in Death Valley and Alaska, offering a vast arcade package with a total of 10 different game modes featured.

Monster Jam Showdown will be released on all major gaming platforms on August 29, 2024, with Early Access available from August 26, 2024.

For more information, please visit https://monsterjamvideogame.com/
*40 trucks will be included in the base game and 26 will be available through free or premium DLCs.

About Milestone
Founded in Milan in 1996, Milestone S.r.l. is one of the leading and longest-established racing game developers in the world. The 290+ people team is responsible for hit series like MotoGP™, MXGP, and Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame, the acclaimed Hot Wheels™ Unleashed, as well as own IPs RIDE and Gravel. For more information please visit https://milestone.it/

About PLAION
PLAION is a dynamic and diversified business in the global entertainment sector, masterfully crafting franchises that captivate audiences worldwide. Boasting a vast network of eight game development studios, sixteen regional publishing offices, three game publishing labels including Deep Silver, and PLAION PICTURES as an independent film publisher and distributor, the company extends its influence with merchandise production and expansive distribution capabilities across the globe.

Founded nearly three decades ago, PLAION has firmly established itself within the entertainment arena. With a diverse range of services and solutions, PLAION stands as the premier publishing partner for console and PC games across both physical and digital channels. Moreover, its strong foothold in the Virtual Reality (VR) domain highlights the company’s commitment to varied gaming experiences.

PLAION is an Embracer Group company.

Planet Mojo Metaverse Begins Private Playtests for Launch Title Mojo Melee

Players will battle in multiplayer pre-alpha testing of the autochess title’s PvP gameplay.

  • Initial Mojo Melee playtests will be open to Planet Mojo NFT holders.
  • Feedback from the playtests will help Planet Mojo’s developers refine all facets of Mojo Melee’s player experience.
  • Premint Campaign begins today for a free “VIP Playtest Pass” NFT that will grant additional gamers access to playtests in September.

 Planet Mojo, the hotly anticipated Web3 gaming metaverse developed by Mystic Moose, will kick off pre-alpha playtests for their first title, Mojo Melee. Early supporters will be able to participate in scheduled live playtests throughout the rest of August. Mojo Melee is Planet Mojo’s first game in its mythical metaverse, in which players control teams consisting of magical creatures called Mojos and a range of Champions with diverse abilities to go head-to-head in a new autochess title, a type of chess-like strategy game.
 
The pre-alpha playtests for Mojo Melee will be organized in an 8-player, PvP format and introduce the game’s core mechanics. Playtesters will be able to select from pre-configured teams that each include a Mojo, 4 Champions, and 2 SpellStones that enable Mojos to channel offensive or defensive magical abilities.

Two to three sessions per week will be organized for Mojo Melee’s pre-alpha playtesters pitting players head-to-head in fast-paced matches. Each session will last for 45 to 60 minutes and involve multiple matches. The pre-alpha playtesting will be conducted in Mojo Melee’s WebGL build, meaning it will only be available through web browsers, on desktops. Mobile and downloadable versions are in the works.
 
Planet Mojo is recruiting a cohort of playtesters from existing Mojo NFT holders. In addition, a Premint Campaign to distribute “VIP Playtest Pass” NFTs is launching today. Passholders will be able to participate in live playtest sessions in the upcoming weeks.
 
“We are incredibly excited to let our community be the first to playtest our pre-alpha build of Mojo Melee. The autochess genre has been gaining traction over the past three years, and we’re pushing the envelope by introducing fresh concepts in the Web3 context. As a project that is always open to hearing from our supporters, we can’t wait to receive feedback from our players so that Mojo Melee can be fine-tuned for the best possible experience,” said Mike Levine, CEO and Founder of Mystic Moose.
 
Planet Mojo has quickly gained traction to become one of the top followed Web3 games. A range of organic campaigns have attracted a diverse and active audience that includes 88,700+ Twitter followers and a community of 69,500+ Discord members.
 
Additional details about Mojo Melee’s playtests will be released on Planet Mojo’s TwitterDiscord, and Telegram.
 
About Planet Mojo
Planet Mojo is a Web3 gaming metaverse being built by Mystic Moose. Set on a rich, mysterious alien world, players will compete using their NFT-based customized teams in a suite of player-versus-player (PvP), play-and-earn games and esports tournaments, including a debut autochess title. Visit www.planetmojo.io to find out more.
 
About Mystic Moose
Mystic Moose is a decentralized independent development studio comprised of game industry veterans from LucasArts, EA, Activision, and HappyGiant. The company is backed by industry leaders, including Animoca Brands, Courtside Ventures, Republic, Sfermion, and Alameda. Mystic Moose is headquartered in moose-filled Conway, MA.
 
Join the Planet Mojo Community
Twitter: twitter.com/WeArePlanetMojo
Discord: discord.gg/PlanetMojo
Telegram: t.me/planetmojochat
Medium: medium.com/planet-mojo-blog
YouTube: bit.ly/mojo_youtube

Dial M for Mozart: Baroque Murder Mystery “Mozart Requiem” Launches This Fall

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: famous Baroque composer, integral figure in the history of music – and murderer? That’s the question on everyone’s mind after the renowned musician becomes entangled in a deadly plot in Mozart Requiem, which GS2 Games is bringing to PlayStationⓇ 4 and Switch™ physical and digital and digitally to PC September 6, 2022.

Prague 1788. Mozart, nearing the peak of his career, prepares for the glorious debut of his Don Giovanni in the heart of the Golden City when the unthinkable happens. Sinister forces plot to dethrone Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor and Mozart’s patron, and plunge the realm into chaos. Suspicion soon falls upon Mozart himself, who must turn his prodigious intellect away from music and devote his genius to unravelling the deadly conspiracy that has the city in its grasp. Caught between a war of powers and occult ceremonies, you will have only one mission: to save the Emperor. Will you be up to the task?

“For years we wanted to put together a fun adventure game that brought Mozart’s amazing talents to console,” said Manny Granillo, Executive Director at HR GAMES. “MOZART REQUIEM brings back the classic adventure style that we all enjoyed and combined it with a thrilling mystery to unravel.”

Mozart Requiem deftly weaves fiction and historical fact, bringing its opulent vision of Prague to life with careful attention to detail and modeling it on extant 18th century maps of city. While this particular calamity didn’t occur during Joseph II’s reign, Mozart, his contemporaries, and other key events that unfold are also drawn from historical records.

Key features

  • The renowned Baroque city of Prague, accurately modeled on period maps
  • Characters, personalities and intrigue drawn from historical records
  • Dozens of mind-bending puzzles to solve
  • Unmatched musical soundtrack by Mozart
  • An unparalleled adventure with murder, conspiracy, and secret societies 

For more information, visit the game’s website at gs2games.com/mozart-requiem.

About HR GAMES
HR GAMES is the publishing arm of Hoplite Research, LLC. As a developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment software, Hoplite Research, LLC is currently celebrating its 21st year in Entertainment, Research & Design. Hoplite Research, LLC management creates intellectual property and games through technology, innovation, and design on console, online, arcade, PC, Mac, and mobile devices.

About GS2 Games
GS2 Games is a licensed PlayStation® and Nintendo Switch™ publisher and distributor of video games all across the globe. Founded in 2019 by industry veteran Len Ciciretto, the independent company seeks to bring a wide range of games for all ages to market. https://gs2games.com

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© 2008-2022 FINANCIERE DE LOISIRS ©2022 Hoplite Research, LLC MOZART REQUIEM is a trademark of Hoplite Research, LLC. All rights reserved. Published under license by GS2 Games, Inc 

1950s LA Tycoon Management Game, City Block Builder, is Available Now on Steam Early Access 

Create your own slice of Tinseltown heaven!

Tentworks Interactive has release its multi-business management game, City Block Builder, on Steam Early Access and via Xsolla today. Finally, you can construct the Tinseltown empire of their dreams!  

City Block Builder is a mashup of deep tycoon management games with large-scale city building elements. Set in Los Angeles during the 1950s, the game puts you in the shoes of a young, budding entrepreneur who is determined to build their own business empire. Fresh off the victory of WWII, Los Angeles is the pop culture capital of the world. With the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, designer shops, and the finest cuisine money can buy, all under a canopy of clear blue skies, the City of Angels represents the “American Dream” at its most ideal.

City Block Builder – Vlog with Concept Artists

As the owner of several establishments, it’s up to you to make every decision, both large and small, about how your enterprise operates. Choose which tiles, wallpapers, and furniture to decorate with. Set the cuisines and menu items for your restaurant. Hire and fire staff. Nobody said building an empire was going to be easy!

The full version of City Block Builder will allow you to erect all manner of trades from cinema theatres, to bowling alleys, to jazz clubs, to drive-in theaters, parlors and more. This Early Access launch focuses entirely on the restaurant building portion of the game, but new businesses will be added as free updates between now and the full launch. A future update will add cinemas, allowing you to decide what movies to show and when, as well as the Story/Campaign Mode. 

City Block Builder lets you micromanage each business down to every detail, from its layout, to its lighting, to ensuring the entrance makes optimal use of foot traffic in your bustling borough! City Block Builder encourages players to find creative solutions to complex problems. Setting up the L.A.’s entertainment hub has never been so immersive!    

Each detail of City Block Builder is brought to life in glorious detail through hand-drawn art paying homage to the incredible culture of the era. Movies, posters, comic books, and advertisements capture the look and feel of the 1950s with their bold, technicolor palette, dapper outfits, and neat slogans. Even the foliage has been extensively researched to be accurate to the time, changing dynamically with the seasons.

While City Block Builder’s campaign mode will take you from rags to riches as you micro and macro manage each monetary decision, there will also be a Sandbox Mode offering full freedom to create the Los Angeles of your dreams with no expense spared! Every decision you make will set you on a different path giving different players varying outcomes.

“With City Block Builder we aim to make an extremely in-depth empire builder that’s still accessible to anyone with an interest in the golden age of Hollywood,” said Jay Basani, CEO of Tentworks Interactive. “This Early Access launch is only the beginning, as we have so many more businesses coming to the game over the next several months. As an independent game developer based in India, we want to show off our homeland’s talent on a global scale.”

For a more in-depth look at City Block Builder, Tentworks has released a new vlog post showcasing the game’s rich feature set below:  

Add City Block Builder to your Steam Wishlist: 
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1191800/City_Block_Builder/
For more information about City Block Builder visit: https://www.tentworks.io/

About Tentworks Interactive 
Founded in 2018 by Jay Basani in Bangalore, India, Tentworks Interactive is a rag tag crew of passionate developers specializing in tycoon and strategy games, with the goal of making India a serious contender on the world stage of video game development with its high quality titles. Having expanded to opening a second branch in California, Tentworks is working on its most ambitious enterprise yet with the 1950s LA empire-building tycoon game City Block Builder

LEGO® Bricktales Coming to Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and PC in Q4 2022

A charming new LEGO® adventure comes to console and PC later this year

In collaboration with the LEGO GroupThunderful are delighted to reveal the platforms that the anticipated LEGO® Bricktales will be releasing on. The new digital adventure from the developers behind the Bridge Constructor series will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in Q4 2022.

In LEGO Bricktales, journey across 5 different LEGO themed biomes and use an intuitive new brick-by-brick building mechanic to solve puzzles and bring your solutions to life. From purely aesthetic creations, such as market stands and music boxes, up to functional physics-based puzzles like building cranes and gyrocopters, LEGO Bricktales offers a host of challenges and quests to test your imagination and building skills.  

Through the deepest jungle, sun-drenched deserts, a bustling city corner, a towering medieval castle and tropical Caribbean islands, you’ll be treated to delightful environments packed full of secrets, challenges and fun characters.

In each diorama, there are LEGO Minifigures who need your help, as well as the opportunity to unlock new skills for your good deeds. While exploring these colorful environments, you will discover a variety of construction spots with their own sets of bricks – it’s up to you to figure out a unique build that will work. Whether you’re being asked to put on your designer hat and build a throne fit for a king or testing your engineering skills to build a bridge that will get a digger across a river, how you construct your builds and meet the challenges you’re being offered is up to you! 

“We know that LEGO fans across the world will be incredibly excited to get their hands on LEGO Bricktales,” said Dieter Schoeller, Vice-President of Production at Thunderful. “That’s why it’s so great to be able to announce that the game is coming to such a wide-range of platforms. Across PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC, we are ensuring that as many people as possible are able to play and enjoy this title and its intuitive brick-by-brick building mechanic.” 

LEGO Bricktales on Steam: https://s.team/a/1898290/

Thunderful
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thunderfulgames
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thunderfulgames
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thunderfulgames

About Thunderful
Thunderful Group is a group of companies that develops, publishes and invests in games as well as distributes Nintendo products, games, game accessories and toys. Founded in 2017 Thunderful Games is one of the two business segments in Thunderful Group, the other being Thunderful Distribution. Over the last few years Thunderful Games has, organically and via acquisitions, grown into a global organization with eight development studios and over 300 employees. Besides the award-winning internal development pipeline, Thunderful Games also publishes a large number of third-party titles and invests in external game projects.

About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO® bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine. The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well”. Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. However, its products are now sold in more than 140 countries worldwide. For more information: www.LEGO.com.  

Paintbucket Games Announces the Arrival of “The Darkest Files”

In this historical investigation game set in the immediate postwar period, players expose the crimes of the Nazi era and ensure justice.

Berlin-based developer studio Paintbucket Games announces the arrival of “The Darkest Files,” the spiritual successor of their award-winning Nazi resistance game “Through the Darkest of Times.” The game is currently under development and is expected to be released in 2023 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. A demo version will be available to play at this year’s gamescom in the Indie Arena.
 
In “The Darkest Files,” players take on the role of Esther Katz, a young prosecutor living in West Germany in the 1950s. She is part of the team around the Frankfurt Attorney General Fritz Bauer. As Esther, players investigate crimes committed by former Nazi officials, collect evidence, question witnesses and ultimately bring the perpetrators to justice. The game leads players on a gripping, emotional journey through the crimes and dark times of the Nazi era.

“After Through the Darkest of Times, we decided to stay in the realm of history for one of our next games — especially since current events continue to concern us deeply. We decided to move chronologically to the period after World War II, when many former Nazis were still active in high-ranking posiitions all over West Germany,” explains Jörg Friedrich of Paintbucket Games. “Fritz Bauer and his team did immensely important work during this difficult time by pressing charges against numerous criminals and publicly trying them for their crimes. Through their work, they made a lasting impact on how Germans understand the National Socialist period and the Holocaust and helped create the social consensus of: “Never again!” We want to give our players a view into this difficult and fascinating work with The Darkest Files.”
 
Some features of The Darkest Files:

  • Players search investigative files from the Nazi era for clues, and interrogate relatives, witnesses, and suspects to find out the truth.
  • Players draw conclusions, evaluate evidence, and reconstruct the crime in real time.
  • Players interview witnesses and suspects, diving into the statements in immersive-mode to better understand the actions of the perpetrators and uncover any clues and contradictions.
  • Then, players discuss their findings with their team of investigative experts in order to build an air-tight case.
  • Players must determine and press the correct charges and have the criminals arrested.
  • Finally, they need to convince the judiciary to reveal the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Historical Background
With a team of young prosecutors without ties to the old regime, Frankfurt Attorney General Fritz Bauer founded a taskforce to investigate Nazi-era crimes and to prosecute the perpetrators. He became known, among other things, for being instrumental in the search for Adolf Eichmann, one of the central organizers of the Holocaust, and for prosecuting the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials in the 1960s.
“Nothing belongs to the past, everything is still present and can become the future again.” – Fritz Bauer
 
In “Through the Darkest of Times,” the spiritual predecessor of “The Darkest Files,” players lead a small anti-Nazi resistance group in Berlin. The game was nominated for numerous awards, including in the “Game for Impact” category at “The Games Awards,” as well as winning the German
Developer Award 2020 for “Best Indie Game” and “Best Serious Game,” among others.
 
Paintbucket Games will also show The Darkest Files at this year’s gamescom from August 24 – 28. In the Indie Arena in hall 10.2.
 
The Darkest Files can already be wishlisted on Steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2058730/The_Darkest_Files/
 
More Information about The Darkest Files is available here https://paintbucket.de/en/game/the-darkest-files