Prepare to return to a world of dinosaurs and adventure. That’s right, welcome back to Jurassic Park. Today, the renowned gaming and entertainment company, Stern Pinball, is happy to announce updates for their popular pinball machine, Jurassic Park. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park, Stern Pinball is bringing a whole host of new content to the existing versions of the game as well as a whole new edition. A press release delves into more details about the 30th-anniversary celebrations. Additionally, a gameplay trailer shows off what players can expect from the updated game.

The Jurassic Park pinball games are among Stern’s most popular pinball machines. Now, the company is breathing some extra heart-pumping action into the game. For the anniversary, Stern is applying a software update for all current versions of the game. This update allows players to enjoy the game with Co-Op Play, Team Play, and a 30^th Anniversary Insider Connected Quest. Co-Op involves players attempting to escape Isle Nublar in a collaborative effort, whereas Team Play allows players to challenge each other. 

Furthermore, as a special opportunity, Stern is offering a special 30th Anniversary Edition version of Jurassic Park Pinball Machine. The special editions of the machine feature a brand-new exterior art package, full-color mirrored backglass, and more. Additionally, a whole new line of Jurassic Park Pinball-themed merch is available for purchase. Of course, players can check out the new gameplay trailer for a glimpse of all the dino fuelled action. 

The new Stern Pinball Jurassic Park Special Editions and all other editions are available here. Of course, the Anniversary Edition costs $12,999 USD. 

SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE

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As far as Marvel antiheroes go, Venom is probably at the top of a lot of lists. The iconic symbiote is one of the most famous of Spiderman’s nemeses and often has his own crazy stories going on in the background. Luckily for gamers, now they can step into another of these stories. Today, Marvel and Stern Pinball have announced a new line of pinball games featuring none other than Venom. Inviting players to step into Venom’s chaotic world, the game introduces multiple characters from the Spiderman franchise and unique gameplay. A press release provides more details on the pinball game. Additionally, a new story trailer gives players a look at the characters of the game. 

The Venom Pinball game allows players to step into the role of the titular symbiote. Of course, he hasn’t come to the world alone. His arch-enemy Carnage is on a mission to summon Knull, the symbiote God. Venom must do anything in his power to stop Carnage and save the world. Luckily he won’t be alone. At the start of every game, players can select a different host for Venom to use. Importantly, this will change the way the pinball is played. Interestingly, players can select from over 20 iconic characters from Eddy Brock to Miles Morales, Gwen Stacey, and of course, Peter Parker. It’s up to the player to bash an interactive, custom-sculpted Carnage captive ball back into Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane. 

Importantly, players can check out the new story trailer for a step into Venom’s Marvel world. View the trailer below. 

The Stern Venom Pinball Game will be making its first appearance at Stern Pinball’s official booth (#3721) and at the Stern Pop-up Arcade at the Marriott Marquis, July 19 – 23^rd. Pricing for one of the 1000 available games ranges from $6999-$12999. 

SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE

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The world of arcade games is alive and well so it would seem. Or, undead and well? Today, Devolver Digital and Dodge Roll are pleased to announce that their hit dungeon crawler, Enter the Gungeon, is now a fully fledged arcade game. The arcade machine, Enter the Gungeon: House of the Gundead, is a project from the creators alongside Griffin Aerotech. Of course, together, the companies are bringing a fully built arcade cabinet to the world. A press release provides more info on the arcade cabinet. Additionally, a trailer shows off the cabinet in all its glory. 

Enter the Gungeon: House of the Gundead aims to capture the dungeon crawling aspects of the original now with the capabilities of the cabinet. For instance, players can expect ever-evolving series of procedurally generated floors. Of course, players will will have a full range of weapons, characters, and unlockables they have grown to love from the game. However, now fans will be able to experience the game with the cutting-edge Sinden Lightguns. 

The Lightguns introduce a whole new way to feel the game. Importantly, they feature weapon-based haptic feedback which can put any player in the game with full immersion. Additionally, the arcade cabinets feature a 2.1 sound system with a subwoofer in the cabinet to bring every bullet and explosion to players ears. Of course, fans can check out the new cabinet in the trailer for the game. Check it out below. 

Enter the Gungeon: House of the Gundead arcade cabinets are ready for shipment now. Importantly, the cabinets are available in houses and arcades in either pay-to-play or free-to-play modes. More information is available at the game’s website. 

SOURCE

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Little Orpheus is the latest game that is coming from the Chinese Room. The Chinese Room is known for making beautiful games, as well as stories that bring people in. These games include Dear Esther, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, among others.

But sadly, instead of releasing Little Orpheus as planned today, the game has been delayed, with no release date in sight. This last-minute update was not due to needing to clean the game up, nor was it due to staffing problems or the global situation. The game itself appears to be ready to go. But, with a certain other situation, Sumo Digitial, the British owners of the Chinese Room, have reconsidered releasing Little Orpheus for now.

While the game was originally released on Apple Arcade in 2020, Sumo Digital and the Chinese Room, having it on main consoles would not go well. For, well, while it is reportedly a charming side-scrolling game with vibrant colors and charming overall, the problem comes in the form of its story. For, well, Little Orpheus centers around a Soviet cosmonaut in 1962. Considering the Ukraine situation as of right now, it was decided that it would be best to hit a pause on releasing the game for now. As of right now, there is no word of when or if the game will be released on console.

pic.twitter.com/EeBDs6XS6c

— The Chinese Room (@ChineseRoom) March 1, 2022

Officially, the Chinese Room released on Twitter their reasons for not releasing their game: the content, intended to or not, maybe upsetting for players, and would rather not cause upset. The Chinese Room is not the first, nor will it be the last to delay, pause, or perhaps even cancel games due to the current situation. Whether we will get to play Little Orpheus in the future- we will have to see.

SOURCE

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35 years ago, Street Fighter made its debut in arcades across Japan. To commemorate an exciting milestone, The franchise’s Japanese Twitter account released some intriguing information. Alongside a new logo to celebrate the 35th anniversary, Capcom has teased the “future development” of Street Fighter. What this means exactly is unknown, but we can likely expect more information later this year.

The franchise’s 30th anniversary in 2017 saw a special release of its own. Capcom released the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, which featured all 12 arcade versions of the game. The Switch version also included an exclusive 13th version. Therefore, a similar anniversary collection may be in store for this birthday celebration.

However, only five years removed from the last collection may be too repetitive. With a significant anniversary this time around, Capcom is well-positioned to release more this time around to commemorate the series. The timing of the series’ latest game may also play a role.

Interestingly, the franchise’s most recent title Street Fighter V has seemingly wrapped up its content. Last year, the game’s final DLC character joined the fight. Capcom noted that this character Luke also represented the future of the franchise. This paves the way for a brand new entry in the series, likely centred around Luke.

So what this tease of “future development” exactly means could include a variety of things. What we do know is that Capcom wants to make this anniversary special, so fans of the experience should expect some exciting news later this year. What would you like to see most announced this year?

SOURCE

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After years of DLC content, Capcom have finally released their final character for Street Fighter V. Luke will be joining the fight alongside a trailer released today. Following Dan, Rose, Oro and Akira, Luke will be the final addition to the game.

Originally announced at Capcom’s Summer Update 2021, Luke is a completely new character in the Street Fighter universe. He is a brash shirtless kickboxer that fights with abandon rather than precision.

Luke utilizes a special V-System fighting style that is quite distinct from other fighters. Luke’s V-Timer will increase steadily over time. It also increases by dealing damage rather than taking damage. This will encourage players and their opponents to be much more aggressive with their play. You can learn more about his moveset and appearance in the below trailer.

The blond American boxer brings an offence-heavy playstyle to Street Fighter V that should be popular among players. Especially for players looking to play aggressively, Luke will be a welcome addition. His fighting style combines forward-moving physical attacks with long range projectiles. This will surely keep your opponents guessing. He also joins the Street Fighter tournament with several costumes available to players.

Either way, fans of the series better get used to the former military member. Capcom has confirmed that Luke will play a major part in the franchise going forward. So we will be seeing Luke play a key role in the next Street Fighter project when that is released. However, Capcom is not revealing much information about that next project, so we will have to wait for some time. What are your thoughts about this new fighter?

SOURCE

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Deathsmiles is a horizontal Shoot ‘Em Up arcade game by developer Cave, which first came out in 2007. Deathsmiles II came out in 2009. Both games were ported to Xbox 360 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Late this year, the two will be bundled together and re-released in Japan for Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, and in North America soon after, hopefully.

Strictly Limited Games has put together a Collector’s Edition for the bundle that is now available to be pre-ordered. It comes with a bunch of collector’s items and both games for either PS4 or Nintendo Switch.

In the Collector’s Edition, customers will get a reversible poster for Deathsmiles I and II, on each side, the soundtrack on-disc, an arcade flyer for the original game, a wall scroll of all the characters, a set of postcards, a set of character cards, an enamel pin of the logo, three marquee stickers, character stickers, a set of keychains, four acrylic standee dioramas, all in a collector’s box.

There are 2,200 copies of the Collector’s Edition available for 89.99€ or around $105 USD. Strictly Limited Games will ship these internationally sometime in March 2022.

If you like Shoot ‘Em Ups, but are un familiar with Deathsmiles, “Deathsmiles is CAVE’s bullet-hell shoot-’em-up where you take the role of one of four Angels to defend the magical land of Gilverado from an invasion by Hell itself! Team up with a friend, choose an angel, and eradicate this devilish assault across nine different game modes!” and “Deathsmiles 2 presents you more of the things that made the first one great, two new characters to play as and a new polygonal graphic style. Chase the evil Satan Claws, who killed your caretaker Count Dior on Christmas Eve, through a hellish winter wonderland!”

Deathsmiles I and II are available on PC, Xbox 360, and arcade, and will be coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in March 2022.

Will you go for the Collector’s Edition or the Standard Edition? Let us know in the comments below.

SOURCE

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The Last Campfire, a cozy puzzle game from No Man’s Sky creators, Hello Games, will officially make its way to Steam on October 7th. As part of the much-awaited Steam Next Fest, the devs have decided that they are going to release a playable demo for the game on October 1st.

“The Last Campfire was a labor of love for a small team at the studio,” Hello Games said in a press release. “We have been lucky to have really lovely reviews across the board, and a bunch of awards and nominations.”

At the moment, The Last Campfire can be played by its fans on PS4, Xbox One, Apple Arcade, Switch, and Epic Games Store, and it has been available on these aforementioned platforms since a year ago. With that said, The Last Campfire being available on Steam will not be the first time that PC users got the chance to enjoy what the title has to offer. “It seems to have struck an emotional chord with people as well,” added the devs. “Now, we are finally bringing it to Steam.”

Since The Last Campfire was made available to the gaming community, it has been greatly improved, especially following the update that the devs rolled out just this April. For starters, the update added 20% more puzzles, in addition to giving the players the option to replay any puzzles they want to repeat at any time.

Furthermore, The recent The Last Campfire also brought with it a variety of performance improvements, several advancements to its quality of life, a higher frame rate cap, as well as Mac support.

The Last Campfire was created by a three-person team within Hello Games. This makes a lot of sense, considering that majority of the devs are focused on further development for No Man’s Sky.

SOURCE

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The Apple Arcade subscription service offers unlimited access to a growing collection of over 200 games, and soon that number will include Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls. Originally released as a mobile title, this game allows players to step into the shoes of five fan-favorite protagonists from across the franchise’s long and storied history.

Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls features the series’ classic 2D action gameplay and multiple ways to progress through its 60 stages, which is great because the five playable characters have very different abilities. You can’t hold a dhampir or a magical girl to the same standards as a mere mortal, even a Belmont mortal.

In this game, players can take on the role of Alucard from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Simon Belmont from the original Castlevania, Maria Renard from Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, Charlotte Aulin from Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, and Shanoa from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. Each character boasts a different playstyle and a unique personality.

It may take you a bit to figure out whose playstyle works best for you, but honestly, that sounds like an excuse to play more of the game. And when famous series creators Ayami Kojima and Michiru Yamane worked on the art for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, any excuse to see more of the art is a good one.

According to the press release, the game will feature both daily and weekly missions, like many mobile games. The game will be available in 16 different languages including German, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, Brazilian Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, and Japanese.

Castlevania fans who missed out on Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls’ short-lived mobile release may want to check this out. Maybe they’ll finally release Soma Cruz as a playable character, too.

Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be coming to Apple Arcade soon.

What’s your favorite classic Castlevania game? Let us know down in the comments, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook.

Source: Press Release

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Today on COG Considers, let’s talk about video game movie adaptations. Yes, really. I know that video game movies usually suck, but after the success of Sonic the Hedgehog and The King of Fighters: Destiny actually being pretty awesome, it’s time to talk seriously about what other classic games really, really deserve to be adapted properly. Number one on my list used to be KOF, but that wish has been granted, so I’m falling back on my number two: Tekken, the dark and dramatic tale of the Mishima family and their inability to go five minutes without trying to murder each other. The intergenerational war between Heihachi Mishima, Kazuya Mishima, and Jin Kazama over control of the Mishima Zaibatsu–and the terrible power of the Devil Gene–is just begging to be turned into a movie or TV series. Horrific plot twists, compelling heroes turned equally compelling villains, a cycle of violence that threatens to drown the whole in bloodshed–these games have everything a good movie needs. So why don’t we have a good Tekken movie yet?

It’s not like nobody’s tried adapting the games to the screen, but all the existing Tekken films are pretty bad. The 1998 OVA Tekken: The Motion Picture tried adapting Tekken 1 and 2 and ended up with a poorly-paced, poorly-animated, and poorly-voice acted mess. Not only did it leave all the self-destructive charisma of the series’ first protagonist, Kazuya Mishima, at the door, it also changed the first game’s iconic twist ending to have Kazuya redeem himself after Heihachi’s defeat. Come on, guys, the entire series relies on Kazuya succumbing to his inner demons literally and figuratively. Where’s Tekken 3 supposed to come from if Kazuya doesn’t sink down to Heihachi’s level and become a villain in his own right? The 2009 Tekken live-action film is even worse, having basically no relation to the original games in terms of plot, theme, or aesthetic. The 2011 CGI film Tekken: Blood Vengeance is at least watchable, though it also has the least to do with the franchise’s central conflict–you know, until the surprisingly nice story of two superhuman schoolgirls investigating the Mishima Zaibatsu’s evil deeds gets thrown out the window in favor of a big, dumb fight scene that wrecks everything the first two-thirds of the movie built. At least Devil Jin looks cool.

Most fighting games run into problems during adaptation because they don’t have a clear protagonist or don’t have a clear plot (looking at you, Street Fighter), but Tekken is different. Not only do the games have enough story to fill an HBO series, they have a surprisingly heavy tone filled with murder, corporate corruption, and the scars of abuse. The result is a tale that shows how a hero can fall from grace, how good intentions can lead straight to hell, and how love and friendship can’t necessarily save anyone.

Also, giant international corporations are evil, but we already knew that.

The post We Desperately Need a Good Tekken Adaptation appeared first on COGconnected.

Earth Day is coming up, but how are you supposed to celebrate when we’re all supposed to stay indoors? The pandemic means that large gatherings outside are frowned upon, if not outright banned, and that means the big tree-planting efforts are hard to participate in. Though let’s be honest, most of us gamers were just going to donate money from the safety of our own homes anyway. Whatever the case, Shaw chose the perfect time to unveil a new Earth Day initiative: the Tree Spree Challenge. All you have to do is plant a tree in a game of your choice, screenshot it, and post the pic on social media with #ShawTreeSpree, and the internet giant will match it with a real tree.

Gamers, this is our moment! If you’ve ever wanted to give back to the planet, prove that you’re better at planting trees than anyone else, or just an excuse to decorate your Animal Crossing island, Minecraft homes, or Stardew Valley farmsteads, now is the time to do it. Flood Twitter with the evidence. Let’s get as many trees out there as possible. Last time, the challenge ended with a total of 4,000 trees, but we think you guys can leave that number in the dust.

The event’s call to action states that: “People can post a screenshot of their in-game tree on social using the hashtag #ShawTreeSpree, and Shaw will plant a tree in real life for them, too. The initiative will run until the end of Earth Month(April 30th) and is open to any game where you can plant a tree.”

How many games can you plant trees in, we wonder? Now is an excellent time to find out.

The Shaw Tree Spree Challenge will run from April 22nd (Earth Day) to April 30th, 2021.

How many trees did you plant? Let us know down in the comments, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook.

SOURCE: Press Release

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The game was announced through a blog post on the developer’s website, written by Jackbox Games’ Marketing Director, Brooke Hofer.

While the post doesn’t give a specific list of consoles the game will be released for, it does say “The Jackbox Party Pack 8 will be available on the same platforms that our prior packs are currently available on.” The most recent entry in the series, The Jackbox Party Pack 7, is available on PC (through Steam, and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 4, Xbox One (Xbox Series X Enhanced), Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Mac, Linux, and Android. So, it stands to reason that it will at the very least be released on all of these platforms as well.

According to Hofer, Jackbox Games will be ready to announce the first game in the pack sometime before the end of May, if not sooner. After that, the rest of the games will be announced over the coming months throughout the summer.

In a quick and quirky FAQ, Hofer addresses the question as to when the game will be released with the following response:

“Because we have an ambitious production cycle and release a new title every year, we often don’t know the release date until fairly soon before launch. Usually September! We promise that we’re not being cagey, we just have to make sure that we’re in good shape with our submission process across so many platforms first.”

You can see all future updates on The Jackbox Party Pack 8 on Jackbox Games social media channels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Of course, we’ll keep you updated here so make sure to keep an eye out on COGconnected as well: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

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Mojang and Play Mechanix have teamed up to create an arcade version of Minecraft Dungeons! The four-player dungeon crawler is getting its very own console later this year! Maybe this announcement could have come once arcades are no longer vectors for a deadly disease!

The blog post announcing this project ensures us that cabinets will be tested in arcades that follow local health guidelines in order to mitigate the risk of the ongoing pandemic. That’s great news, assuming everyone involved is being super careful. More than that, it seems like arcade attendance is just lower in general right now? Even without the plague going around?

On the other hand, taken in a vacuum, the Minecraft Dungeons Arcade machine looks pretty rad. Players can even collect physical cards that take the place of save files. Just like the old Initial D cabinets! If vaccination goes well, and you stay safe, and you find yourself in a place where you can play this machine without acute danger, then great! It honestly looks really fun. Or, if those conditions aren’t yet met, the original PC and console release is really good. You can read our review about it right here! The Minecraft Dungeons Arcade machine is coming sometime later this year.

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Mistwalker, the developer behind popular JRPGs like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story are working on a new title called Fantasian. The game is a turn-based JRPG featuring more than 150 beautifully handcrafted backgrounds made out of real-life dioramas.

Along with the unique art style, the game features music by legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu known for his work on the Final Fantasy series.

The game doesn’t just have a unique visual presentation, but will also use unique storytelling methods as players are able to find “memories, journal entries, and notes presented as miniature in-game novels” to further expand the game’s story and lore. It will also incorporate new battle mechanics such as the “Dimengeon Battle” mechanic which allows players to send enemies to another dimension to avoid battling them for the time being.

No release date has been given as of now but we do know that the game will release exclusively for Apple Arcade.

You read up on all the details surrounding Fantasian through the official description below:

“Fantasian by Mistwalker Corp. — From the creator of Final Fantasy, comes the next breathtaking adventure from industry legend Hironobu Sakaguchi. Fantasian is an exciting, new RPG set against a spectacular backdrop made from over 150 handmade dioramas that blends physical environments and 3D characters.

The tale begins in a realm governed by machines. Within this multi-dimensional universe, the balance of “Chaos and Order” becomes a key factor in the struggle for these realms and the machinations of the gods who wish to control them. Players will assume the role of protagonist, Leo, who awakens from a massive explosion only to find himself lost in a strange land with only one memory left to him. As players set out on a journey to reclaim Leo’s memories, they will unravel the mysteries of the bizarre mechanical infection slowly engulfing all that is known to mankind. The captivating story is written by Sakaguchi and is complimented by a sweeping soundtrack by celebrated Final Fantasy composer, Nobuo Uematsu.”

You can also check out the story and feature trailers below:

SOURCE

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Can you believe that it’s been 36 years since the original Ghosts ‘n Goblins game was released in arcades? Now whether you were playing video games then or not Capcom has resurrected the franchise with Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection that mixes all that nostalgia with brand new ways to play.

If you’re unfamiliar with the game it’s a side-scrolling platform title that’s the first in the Ghosts ‘n Goblins franchise. You’ll play as Arthur, a knight wearing polka dot boxer shorts, who has to save the princess who’s been taken to the Demon Realm. While this may be a well known trope of this gaming era the game itself is also difficult…like really difficult. In fact, the official website has this to say about it: “Its unyielding difficulty has been a defining characteristic of the series, and Resurrection pays respect to that legacy. You’ll die, and you’ll die again, but you’ll dust yourself off and get better with every attempt as you learn more about your foes and further craft your strategy. You’ll struggle, but you’ll also bask in glory once you do eventually emerge victorious.”

What’s new about this resurrected version of a popular classic arcade title? If you’re looking to learn a bit more about the gameplay or if it’s the game for you be sure to check out our video review below.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is out now on the Nintendo Switch. Did you play the original? Let us know what you think about the game in the comments below, or give us a shout on Facebook and Twitter. And for other video game reviews, as well as gameplay videos be sure to check out our Youtube channel. 

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Arcade1Up has been bringing back a parade of cabinet classics for a few years now. Players with a hefty hunk of cash burning a hole in their pockets can bring a little of that authentic arcade energy to their living rooms. Or their garage, or wherever one of these massive machines can actually fit. Soon, the 1983 classic Dragon’s Lair will be available as well.

Released way back in 1983, Dragon’s Lair is an interactive Don Bluth animated film famous for its difficulty. Survival required split-second reflexes and perfect timing, as well as loads of memorization skills. The upside was that the game was (and still is) totally gorgeous. Bluth’s animation is perfectly fluid, offering an unmatched graphics experience for the era. The cabinet even comes with Dragon’s Lair II: Time Warp, as well as Space Ace. It’s the complete Don Bluth arcade meal deal!

The cabinet isn’t out quite yet, but you can have Arcade1Up let you know when it’s available. They’ve also got a few more cabinets cooking, in case Dragon’s Lair doesn’t appeal to you. For example, the Killer Instinct cabinet has the original game, the sequel, the Battletoads arcade version, and even Battletoads/Double Dragon as a bonus! With enough liquid capital, you could pretty much build your own retro arcade!

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It’s all SNK news today. After a brief delay of their announcements, they hit us with four updates at once. We got our first trailer for King of Fighters XV, the reveal of two characters for Samurai Shodown Season Pass 3, the reveal of King of Fighters XIV Ultimate Edition, and then we went way back to the early 2000s for King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match, which is being ported to PS4. This is the remake of the King of Fighters 2002 arcade game that was ported to Dreamcast, PS2, and Xbox.

King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match boasts the largest roster of characters in the KoF series with a total of 66 playable fighters. SNK says that the gameplay has been rebalanced and graphics improved quite a bit from the original release. The fighting strategies have also been improved, but no details of how are given. Perhaps they are adjusted to fit with the more modern games’ playstyles. King of Fighters 2002 used a feature called MAX 2, which enabled players to use special moves more easily and unleash attacks that can only be used in MAX 2 mode. There will also be an online mode where players can participate in ranked, casual, and custom matches, which players can change the rules of.

As fun and exciting as new games are, there will always be an audience for the classics like this one. There is no solid release date, but SNK says that it is “coming soon”. King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match will be coming to PS4 hopefully in 2021.

Are you more excited for KoF 2002 UM or the more recent games? Let us know in the comments below.

SOURCE

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Long, long ago, in a time dubbed 1991, there was an arcade game called Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams. It was a side-scrolling shoot ’em up where the player controlled a young witch with her fairy companion. One blink of the eye later and it is 2021. Thirty years have passed and publisher Sega is celebrating Cotton’s 30th anniversary. In 2019, they announced that a port of Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams would be coming to PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS4 in the original 16:9 aspect ratio. This year, there will be a remake of the classic arcade game called Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams – Cotton Reboot!

There is a 30th anniversary website for the game, which is in Japanese, so forgive my vague description. There appear to be two components to this anniversary: one is a compact arcade machine and the other is the console remake game. The tiny arcade machine looks like the laptop version of a a cabinet. There is an arcade fightstick pad with a screen and speakers built into it, which obviously plays the first Cotton game. The remake is an updated version of the original with improved graphics, remastered music, and an overall glowup. It also has an option to play the arcade version if you want a trip back in time.

The remake will be debuting in Japan in February and we are hoping for a Western release at some point. We have already seen localized gameplay, but so far no release date for North America. Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams – Cotton Reboot! will be launching in Japan on February 15th for PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

Do you want to get your hands on this game in the West? Let us know in the comments below.

SOURCE

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About a month after a leaked retail listing, Capcom has officially revealed their upcoming mini retro console, the Retro Station. The company has launched an official website for the product, detailing the console’s features and included titles.

The retro console’s design includes a small CRT-style screen with an attached full-size joystick and buttons. The screen is a high quality 8 inch 4:3 LCD display, outputting a 1024*768 resolution. The Retro Station can also output HD quality video to a big screen via HDMI interface. It is notably inspired by Mega Man’s design with the site explaining the design ideas as:

“Spark from the MEGA MAN. The RETRO STATION comes from an elegant design which will recall you the old days and the best memory with MEGA MAN and STREET FIGHTER.”

The console will feature a couple of multiplayer options, at an additional cost. Players can pick up the Retro Station Fightstick to connect a second player to the Retro Station console, or they can pick up the PvP Dongle to connect two Retro Stations together wirelessly.

The console will feature 10 games from the Mega Man and Street Fighter franchises. Mega Man fans can look forward to Mega Man: The Power Battle, Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, Mega Man X, Mega Man Soccer and Rockman & Forte. All of which will be available in English, with the exception of Rockman & Forte which will be the original, untranslated Super Famicom version.

Street Fighter fans can look forward to Street Fighter II, Street Fighter II’: Champion Edition, Super Street Fighter II, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, and Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. 

The Retro Station is set to be released in March, 2021 in Japan, and is available for ¥21,780 which is about $210 USD or $270 CAD. What do you think? Does the Retro Station seem to be worth the price? Let us know down in the comments, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook.

Source

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You might not be familiar with the old Phillips CD-i Legend of Zelda games. There were three of them in total, and also they were horrendous. Like, ‘avert your eyes so they don’t melt out of your skull’ kind of bad. Well, someone has taken it upon themselves to shine up two of these absolute floaters. Both Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon are looking and sounding slightly better than they did before!

To be perfectly clear, this won’t magically make them playable, or good. But the two games are now more approachable than ever before. Especially since you’re presumably no longer tethered to the Phillips CD-i controllers! Field reports suggest that these were also just the absolute worst. But what if Nintendo hits this dev with the old takedown tango?

Okay but that would entail Nintendo acknowledging that these games, you know, exist. What force will be stronger? Nintendo’s need to protect their IP, or their desire to distance themselves from these awful, awful games? In case Nintendo’s lawyers are loosed from their frayed restraints, you can find the shined-up games in question here. There’s also a super brief trailer just below. I’m not exactly encouraging you to check these out (because they’re bad games!), but it is a fascinating piece of mostly lost gaming history.

SOURCE

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It’s a good year for Pac-Man. First, the beloved yellow semi-circle was added to Minecraft as DLC, then Pac-Man Mega Tunnel was released for the Stadia, and then Pac-Man became the second character added to the Comic-Con Museum Character Hall of Fame, right after Batman. Now, 40 years after the game’s original release, we are proud to announce that someone has beat the original Pac-Man absolutely perfectly at the most perfect time possible: on the weekend before Pac-Man‘s 40th anniversary!

When we say it was a perfect game of Pac-Man, we mean perfect–every dot eaten, every fruit consumed, every ghost devoured, all without dying even once. For most players, that’s impossible, but David Race is not most players. He’s the record holder for fastest perfect game of Pac-Man and a contender for the title of Best Pac-Man Player Ever. And no wonder. On November 20, 2020, at around 10:47PM PST, he became the first person to publically achieve such a victory on his twitch stream in front of an adoring and intimidated audience. It took him over 5 hours, but he did it. And on his first shot! That’s right, he did all of that in one go, with no warm-ups or retries. Now we’re getting intimidated.

For the first 21 boards, Race went out of his way to avoid using any “patterns” and he continued to break up his patterns afterward, presumably just to mix things up and keep himself from getting too bored. When you’re that good at Pac-Man, you probably need to give yourself handicaps just to make things interesting.

This achievement represents Race’s 10th perfect game of Pac-Man. Most players struggle to achieve one in their whole life.

Hats off to you, sir.

Have you ever played a perfect game of Pac-Man? Let us know down in the comments, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook.

SOURCE

The post Video Game Champion Celebrates Pac-Man’s 40th Anniversary With a Perfect Game of Pac-Man appeared first on COGconnected.

We all know that the entire gaming experience can be even better if you just have the perfect controller, headset, mouse etc. With the holiday season coming up quickly and we know just how hard it can be to try and find the very best accessories to boost your own gaming setup, or for those gamers in your life. We decided to take the thinking and searching out of the equation for you and have compiled an entire list of the very best accessories we’ve reviewed over the last year…plus a couple extras. Let’s get into it!

HVER PRO X Keyboard

“Overall, the HVER PRO X is worth the price of admission. You could definitely do a lot worse at this price, and the keyboard swings above its price point. After giving the keyboard a go for a decent amount of time, it was hard to feel that the keyboard had any serious cons to it. Over time, I feel like the HVER PRO X might shine even more when it comes to liquid-related accidents or even basic cleaning given its design.”

Perfect for: PC gamers

Budget: Under $100

Purchase HERE

HyperX QuadCast USB Condenser Gaming Microphone

This HyperX QuadCast gaming microphone is perfect for every aspiring PS4 or PC streamer or podcaster looking for a well-rounded quality mic for crisp and clear sound. Its anti-vibration shock mount ensures there aren’t any extra noises in the event you bump your desk while broadcasting and the convenient control dial allows for quick adjustments to your mic inputs. Oh and of course it looks amazing with its customizable RGB lighting and dynamic effects, all controllable through the HyperX NGENUITY software. Whatever you’re looking to say online, this mic is going to be a game changer!

Perfect for: Streamers

Budget: Under $150

Purchase HERE

Elite Series 2 Controller

“It’s quite clear Microsoft listened to the concerns raised about the original Elite controller. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 improves on the original in almost every conceivable way. Xbox has raised the bar yet again when it comes to delivering a high-end controller for those who take their Xbox One gaming seriously…[I]f you are looking for a premium controller and probably the best one you’ll ever use, it doesn’t get any better than the Elite Series 2.”

Perfect for: Serious Xbox One, Xbox Series X & PC gamers

Budget: Under $200

Purchase HERE

EPOS GSX 300 Gaming External Sound Card

“[T]he EPOS GSX 300 Gaming External Sound Card from EPOS Audio and Sennheiser is an absolutely incredible device. For those who want to get a serious upgrade in their PC’s audio output but aren’t the most confident in opening up their PC to perform circuit surgery, this plug and play option is fantastic. It has been the easiest device I have ever set up and the sound quality elevates even a mediocre to average headset to one of top-notch quality…I can’t imagine going back to using my PC’s audio port or plugging into a gamepad when I have something as stellar as this to let me fully experience gaming in the best way possible.”

Perfect for: PC gamers

Budget: Under $75

Purchase HERE

Click through to page 2 for even more gear…

The post Holiday 2020 Gear Guide: Best Accessories for PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch appeared first on COGconnected.

In July of 2019, DC’s iconic Super Hero, Batman was honored as the inaugural inductee into the Comic-Con Museum Character Hall of Fame. While most were likely expecting another comic book character to be this year’s Hall of Fame inductee, however, earlier this week the organization announced that they would be inducting their first video game character into the Character Hall of Fame. Fans replied to the organization’s announcement tweet with their guesses as to who it might be with characters like Minecraft‘s Steve, Crash Bandicoot, and Bigby Wolf. One reply even got it correct, guessing that the latest inductee to the Character Hall of Fame would be none other than the arcade classic, Pac-Man.

The Comic-Con Museum announced Pac-Man’s inauguration to the Character Hall of Fame on November 19. The character originally appeared in 1980 in the classic arcade game, Pac-Man. Throughout the past forty years, Pac-Man has appeared in more than 90 video game titles and has become a massive icon in popular culture–being considered one of the first mascots in the gaming industry. In the same vein as other iconic characters like Mario, Pac-Man’s games have transcended his original genre with titles fitting in every genre from 3D platformers, to racing and party games. Pac-Man has made appearances in other franchise’s titles such as Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart. The character has also made appearances in other mediums of popular culture like the Disney film’s Wreck-It Ralph and the documentary Video Games: The Movie.

The character is set to be inducted into the Comic-Con Museum Character Hall of Fame on December 17, 2020, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM PST.

What do you think about the fruit eating ghost hunter becoming the first video game character to be inducted into the Comic-Con Museum Character Hall of Fame? Let us know if the comments, on Twitter, or on Facebook.

Source Press Release

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During a recent statement to their investors, SEGA Sammy Holdings has confirmed that it’s sold its Japanese arcade business. A majority of this arcade business came from the SEGA entertainment arm of the company, as well as a big investment in an amusement company known as Genda. SEGA Sammy has sold 85.1% of its part of SEGA Entertainment to Genda, a Japanese firm focused on amusement rental while retaining a 14.9% stake in Sega Entertainment. SEGA recently released Yakuza: Like a Dragon which is available right now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PC.

While SEGA Sammy Holdings no longer holds a majority share in SEGA entertainment, the company retains a 14.9% stake in the company which means that SEGA fans should still expect a certain standard from the Japanese publisher. Genda is currently in the amusement rental business, but with this SEGA entertainment share exchange, Genda is looking to get into the arcade business in a big way. SEGA Sammy has cited the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the reason for selling the arcade arm of its business.

Fans in the west may not be familiar with SEGA arcades, but they’re extremely popular and common in Japan. While most games in these arcades come from SEGA Entertainment, the video games division of SEGA Entertainment has apparently been unaffected by this share exchange. Partly due to the decreased focus on SEGA Entertainment and the arcade branch, SEGA Sammy is expecting losses of around $191 million for the fiscal year. SEGA is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, but it looks like SEGA Sammy is hurting due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Are you shocked that SEGA is getting out of the arcade business? Let us know in the comments below!

SOURCE

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The latest game by developer Dodge Roll, Exit the Gungeon, is receiving a brand new update releasing this Friday. Exit the Gungeon: Hello to Arms will feature a variety of new content including new guns and items, a new Arsenal Mode, new Shop Hubs and of course, the Glocktopus. The Hello to Arms update releases this Friday, November 13th for Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, and PC along with the game’s launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One!

Exit the Gungeon is a sequel to the massively successful 2016 roguelike, Enter the Gungeon. Enter the Gungeon is a bullet hell dungeon crawler following a band of misfits who have to shoot, loot and roll their way through the Gungeon in hopes of finding it’s ultimate treasure–the gun that can kill the past. Exit the Gungeon is a small direct sequel following the Gungeoneers as they attempt to escape the dreaded Gungeon by ascending up the dangerous elevators to freedom. Of course, there will be plenty of enemies to face, guns to collect, and bosses to kill on the way up.

The all new arsenal Mode now lets you hold as many guns as you want, including the blessed gun, as well as providing you the ability to switch between them freely. The all new boss, the Glocktopus makes its long awaited arrival as the enemy was intended to be included in the game’s launch content. The terrifying gun-wielding mollusc was shown off in the game’s original trailer but unfortunately had to be cut from it’s initial release as the developers felt they would have to rush to get him to fit the game and that he deserved better than that. Now over a year later, he finally makes his debut.

The update’s name “Hello to Arms” is a nod to Enter the Gungeon’s last major update “Farewell to Arms”.

Source

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