#all styles $24.99

[supreme-leader-stoat]

Ray Ban Sunglasses Official Charity Event!

The official charity event of Ray-ban sunglasses, all styles of glasses are only $24.99!

$249.90 $24.99

Only One Day!!

Click link to buy now!

www.rbrckastl.com

Ray-Ban Official Website

[linuxgamenews]

Dwarf Fortress: Get Started with Adventure Mode

Adventure Mode free expansion announced for Dwarf Fortress the colony sim game on Linux, Steam Deck, and Windows PC. Thanks to the imaginative team at Bay 12 Games for their amazing work. Available for all players on Steam, itch, and Humble Store. Let's talk about Dwarf Fortress and its latest expansion, Adventure Mode. Made by Bay 12, winner of the 2023 D.I.C.E Strategy / Simulation Game of the Year. That's a big deal in the gaming community. In April 2024, they're also adding a free expansion to the versions on Steam and Itch for Linux and Steam Deck. So, what's this Adventure Mode all about? It takes place in world where you can be whoever you want and do almost anything. That's what the upcoming expansion offers. Similar to an RPG where you create your character and explore a huge, detailed world. You can either continue the world you've built in Fortress Mode or start a new adventure in a brand new world. One of the best updates in Adventure Mode is how characters look. Now, every dwarf will have a face that shows their unique style, from their clothes to their hairstyle, even down to the scars from their battles. This is all thanks to some impressive pixel art from the Bay 12 artists. But that's not all. The expansion also bringing in something really unique: conversations. You'll also be able to talk with other characters, making friends (or maybe enemies) along the way. These talks can add a lot of depth to the stories you create in the game. The world map in Adventure Mode is also getting an upgrade. It'll be easier to see important stuff like roads, towns, and houses. This makes exploring and finding your way around a lot more straightforward.

Dwarf Fortress - Adventure Mode Announcement Trailer

Now, let's talk about combat. It's getting a big upgrade, especially wrestling moves. If you've never been much into grappling before, this might change your mind. Combat will be more engaging, whether you're fighting alone or leading a group in tactical mode. Adventure Mode is a playground for your imagination. You can write a poem and recite it in a tavern, join a group of warriors to help a village, or even rob a tomb and get cursed by a mummy. Since the possibilities are endless. While all this is happening, the team at Bay 12 is also working on improving Fortress Mode. They will announce the exact release date for Adventure Mode. And there's more! Dwarf Fortress is getting a new look with the help of artists like Michał “Mayday” Madej and Jacob "Ironhand" Bowman, Carolyn Jong, and Neoriceisgood. They're creating amazing pixel art. Plus, there's going to be a 15-track soundtrack by Dabu, Simon Swerwer, and Águeda Macias. Including songs in the Dwarvish language. What's unique about the gameplay is that it's not just about the shapes and structures. It's also about a whole world that feels alive, with its own history, personalities, creatures, and cultures. It's a place where you can spend countless hours exploring and creating. So, that's Dwarf Fortress and the new Adventure Mode. It's more than just a colony sim game; it's a whole universe waiting for you to dive in and create your own adventures. Available for players on Steam, priced at $26.99 USD / £22.49 / 26,09€ with the 10% discount. Regularly priced on itch (with a Steam key) and Humble Store. Priced at $29.99 USD / £24.99 / 28,99€. While offering support for Linux, Steam Deck, and Windows PC.

[thecursedprince]

Wicked Singing Dolls & Nessarose Doll

Price: $24.99

Highlights

Enter the land of Oz with Wicked Nessarose fashion doll!

Inspired by Universal Pictures’ Wicked, the fierce young sister wears her iconic dress with puff sleeves and red stitching detail, plus her jeweled slippers!

Nessarose doll comes with her golden wheelchair featuring rolling wheels and beautiful ornate details!

Just like in the movie, Nessarose has brown, curly hair and flexibility at the torso, elbows, wrists, and knees for endless styling and posing!

Highlighting the magic of sisterhood and friendship, Wicked dolls make an inspiring gift for kids to play out their biggest dreams!

Fans can collect their favorite characters to recreate scenes and make up their own storylines and adventures. Each sold separately, subject to availability

Description

Inspired by Universal Pictures’ Wicked, the Nessarose fashion doll captures the heart of sisterhood from the movie! Nessarose doll features her manual, golden wheelchair with ornate details throughout and wears a removable outfit with detailed texture prints and red trim, accessorized with classic, jeweled slippers. With flexibility at the torso, elbows, wrists, and knees, Nessarose has the character’s true-to-movie details and her brown, curly hair. Fans will want to collect all the dolls from the land of Oz! Each sold separately, subject to availability. Dolls cannot stand alone. Colors and decorations may vary.

Highlights

Inspired by Universal Pictures’ Wicked, the singing Glinda fashion doll brings the music to life!

Sing “Popular” along with Glinda -- press the button to hear one 15-second clip, then press it again to hear a second 15-second clip

Glinda doll wears a soft, removable, pink ombre dress with puff sleeves and features her long blonde hair -- use her hair clip accessories to create even more Glinda-fied styles and looks!

Highlighting the magic of sisterhood and friendship, Wicked dolls make an inspiring gift for kids to play out their biggest dreams!

Fans can collect their favorite characters to recreate scenes and make up their own storylines and adventures. Each sold separately, subject to availability

Description

The most popular girl in Oz is here, and she’s ready to sing! Inspired by Universal Pictures’ Wicked, the singing Glinda fashion doll captures the lovable, memorable moment from the film. Press the button and sing along with clips of her iconic song, “Popular”. The kind-hearted character wears a removable, soft pink gown accessorized with hairclips and shoes. Her long, blonde hair completes the movie look for endless styling fun! Glinda doll makes a charming gift for fans who will want to sing along. Dolls cannot stand alone. Colors and decorations may vary.

Highlights

Inspired by Universal Pictures’ Wicked, the singing Elphaba fashion doll brings the musical to life!

Sing “Defying Gravity” along with Elphaba -- press the button to hear one 15-second clip, then press it again to hear a second 15-second clip

Elphaba doll wears a soft, removable dress and features her green skin and black braided hair for endless styling!

Highlighting the magic of sisterhood and friendship, Wicked dolls make an inspiring gift for kids to play out their biggest dreams!

Fans can collect their favorite characters to recreate scenes and make up their own storylines and adventures. Each sold separately, subject to availability

Description

Sing along with Elphaba! Inspired by Universal Pictures’ Wicked, the singing Elphaba fashion doll captures the heart of empowerment and defying the odds. Press the button to hear clips from her iconic song, “Defying Gravity”. The Shiz University student wears a removable, soft black gown accessorized with her signature pointed hat and chunky heeled shoes. Long, braided hair and her green skin complete the movie-inspired look. Elphaba doll makes a musical gift for fans of the musical, who will want to sing along. Dolls cannot stand alone. Colors and decorations may vary.

[merakisphere]

Introducing our new DIY Fidget Flower Kit! | Ships April 17th, 2023

With this starter set kit, you can assemble and put together 1 3D Fidget Flower of your colour of choice. 

This DIY kit provides you all the materials (and tools), you need to make your very own convertible 3D wire flower from start to finish. Just scan the QR code on the card included, and follow along my complete tutorial video of how to complete this project. (available soon)

Included in the kit:

Prepared arches with looped ends (30pcs)

Your choice of 3 beaded ring styles (2 pcs)

22 gauge banding wire (10pcs)

Optional Add-On: 5'' craft pliers for assembly (1pcs)

Meraki Sphere sticker

Pre Order Here | Pre-order exclusive price $24.99 (valid until April 16th)

[demifiendrsa]

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered - Announce Trailer

Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG) on February 14, 2025 for $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99.

Title logo

Key visual

Screenshots

About

Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered will bring the “Darkness Trilogy” of beloved, globe-trotting Tomb Raider adventures, originally developed by Core Design, to modern platforms with a variety of improvements for players to relive or experience for the very first time.

Discover remastered visuals that bring new life to environments, characters, and artifacts, with the option to toggle between classic and modern graphics on the fly! Choose between new modern controls inspired by later entries in the series for smoother movement and camera capability, or opt for the original tank-style controls. Photo Mode is also back with all poses from Tomb Raider I-II-III Remastered included, along with brand-new ones to commemorate the adventure! Players will also find quality-of-life updates like boss health bars, plus new trophies and achievements* nodding to iconic moments from the series.

Included Game Titles

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999) – Lara Croft uncovers the lost tomb of the Egyptian God Set, unwittingly unleashing him and fulfilling an ancient prophecy—one that plunges mankind into darkness. Pursued at every turn by her arch-rival, the unscrupulous archaeologist Werner Von Croy, Lara embarks on a journey of discovery across Egypt, where she must overcome the most ingenious puzzles and infernal traps ever devised while facing terrifying evil from beyond the grave.

Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) – Following the events of The Last Revelation, Lara Croft is buried in an Egyptian tomb and presumed dead. At her memorial, those closest to her reminisce about secrets from her past. Travel back and experience Lara’s untold adventures, introducing new gameplay mechanics like stealth and tightrope balancing!

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness – Accused of murder, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run, uncovering a sinister conspiracy involving alchemical experiments and the search for ancient artifacts. It’s up to Lara to stop this unholy alliance from unleashing its incredible powers on the world.

Key Features

See the Classic and Remastered Visuals – Play with the original polygonal models or swap to the remastered graphics at any time.

Travel the Globe – Follow Lara Croft around iconic locales including Cairo, Rome, Paris, and many more.

Experience Lara’s Darkest Adventures – Uncover the secrets of Lara Croft’s past and shed light on the mystery of her disappearance.

[harveyguilleniconodelamoda]

GalaxyCon Raleigh

Last weekend I was lucky enough to attend days 2-4 of GalaxyCon Raleigh, and meet Harvey in person! I'll write more about that on my personal blog, but here I want to write up Harvey's outfits for the weekend, for three reasons:

I love his con style and how he's always wearing clothes that seem comfy but are also stylish.

I finally found the source for one of his fabulous shirts and I'm excited!

I may have contributed an accessory to his outfit on Saturday (I'm fine I'm totally normal about this).

Without further ado, let's start with Saturday!

Saturday

Harvey arrived at the autograph tables on Saturday sporting a red stadium jersey, much like this one from EPTM USA.

This boxy-fit jersey is a heavyweight polyester mesh and has loose, short sleeves and a crew neck. It comes in sizes up to 2XL (60-inch chest measurement) and is regularly priced at $40 (currently on sale for $30).

He styled this with a black tank-top underneath the jersey, his black overalls, black sneakers, an LA Dodgers cap worn backwards, and a silver aluminum tab choker necklace with a heart pendant. Harvey explained that the necklace was made of recycled materials, and was a handmade gift from a friend.

The Dodgers cap appears to be part of the New Era 59Fifty fitted field series. The 59Fifty website describes the brand as "the originator of the true fitted New Era's flagship style and an icon in sport and street culture. It is worn on the field of play by athletes worldwide." You can find similar caps on the 59Fifty site, in prices ranging from $41 to $99, or this specific cap is available from several sellers on eBay.

The sneakers really intrigue me, because they're another example of the specificity of Harvey's accessories. The sneakers are black lace-up high tops with an oversized tongue, black soles, and a side snap buckled strap at the ankle. I have been able to find sneakers with three or four of those traits. I have yet to find an exact match to all of them, but I plan to keep looking! I may do a separate post on Harvey's casual footwear, actually.

Lastly, if you saw Harvey early at autographs, you might have noticed a new addition to his outfit later in the day: a stack of iridescent blue-black beaded bracelets with silver letters. These are friendship bracelets I made and brought to the autograph table, and I was extremely touched that Harvey not only put them on immediately there at the table, but wore them for the rest of the day and even posted them on his Instagram stories a couple of days later.

The silver letters on each bracelet spell out one of the names of Harvey's character from Blue Beetle: José Francisco Morales Rivera De La Cruz. The name on each bracelet is bracketed by cylindrical mood beads which change color with body temperature. Harvey revealed in his Instagram story that he added the De La Cruz onto the end of the scene, and director Angel Manuel Soto chose to keep it in. Harvey shares many fans' headcanon that Guillermo and the Doctor are related!

Sunday

On Sunday Harvey arrived to photo ops wearing a brightly-colored floral shirt that, if you follow his social media, you may have seen a few times before!

This Camicia comoda con stampa a fiori vivace (Comfortable Shirt with lively flower print) is a lightweight 100% viscose button-up from ASOS DESIGN Italy. It comes in sizes up to 4XL (54-56-inch chest), and is currently on sale for 21.24€ (originally retailed for 24.99€).

Harvey styled this with black shorts, black platform lace-up ankle boots, and his Heart of the Ocean replica necklace (a Titanic reference that might set your head spinning if you've ordered the @wwcitszine Volume 4--and if you haven't, you should!). He was also sporting another colorful stack of friendship bracelets, though I unfortunately don't know the details on those!

Heart of the Ocean replicas can be found many places online. I'm partial to these Etsy offerings, all under $50:

Titanic Necklace from BruarCards, $26.79

Heart of the Ocean Prop Replica from ReelArtTreasures, $39.99

I've talked shorts before, but I'm partial to these Old Navy Slim Built-In Flex Rotation Chino Shorts in color Black Jack. They have an 8-inch inseam and are available in up to size 54W. Currently on sale for $13.49!

I'm still looking for the boots. Look for that footwear post coming (hopefully) soon!

[postgamecontent]

Nintendo Switch Weekly Round-Up for the Week Ending September 28, 2024

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the Nintendo Switch Weekly Round-Up for the week ending September 28, 2024. This has been a busy week for new releases, with a handful of obvious attention-grabbers and a lot of weird and interesting smaller games. I've included as many as I could fit, and I hope this helps you separate the cool junk from the boring junk. Let's check out this week in the world of Switch!

Select New Releases

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom ($59.99)

A brand-new top-down Zelda game, this time featuring… Zelda?! Wow! Link has gone missing, and Princess Zelda is going to flex her magical power to save him and the rest of Hyrule. She has some help from a fairy named Tri and a magical artifact called the Tri Rod, the latter of which opens up all kinds of fun-looking mechanics. I might do a review of this one, in case anyone needs a review of something like this. You probably have already decided if you want it or not, though.

EA Sports FC 25 Standard Edition ($59.99)

It's the latest edition of EA Sports' long-running series of soccer/football games, and I'm not going to disrespect either of us by pretending I know what's new here or even what makes one of these good or bad. Consider this a notice that it is now available for general purchase on Switch, no more and no less.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed ($59.99)

Warren Spector's much-hyped Mickey game gets remade for the Nintendo Switch with this release. I haven't played the remake yet, but the original game was decent enough. If nothing else, this gives me the chance to remind everyone that Disney traded play-by-play commentator Al Michaels' contract to NBCUniversal to acquire Oswald the Lucky Rabbit for use in this game. And, you know, elsewhere. But the first use was in this game, and that's really funny to me. Anyway, try the demo and see how it sits with you.

Iron Meat ($19.99)

Hailed by folks with numerous conflicts of interest with the publisher as "better than Contra" and by others as "a pretty good run-and-gun", Iron Meat is another solid entry in a genre that has seen a decent amount of love in recent years on the platform. Is it better than Blazing Chrome? Better than Operation Galuga? Does it matter? If you enjoy games like these, stop comparing flavors and dig in! You never know when winter is coming for any given genre.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 ($39.99)

Sure, why not more World Brothers? Look, this isn't the Earth Defense Force some people would ideally want to see on Switch, but this is what we've got. And it's fine for what it is. Very much in line with the first World Brothers in design and performance, so if you liked that game on Switch then you're all set here. Similarly, if you found the technical sacrifices were too much in the original game, you won't have a better time with this one.

Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition ($24.99)

Why would you buy Worms Armageddon for twenty-five buckeroos when you can get W.M.D. for six dollars during its very regular sales? The addition of the Game Boy Color version of the game probably won't be much of a pot sweetener for many, but this being a stealth Digital Eclipse Gold Master entry might. Yes, you get that timeline hotness! You don't even have to like the game, so long as you have an interest in gaming history. I can vouch for that, because I hate this game but I think this is a neat release that could have been even better as a full-blown Worms collection.

Cash Cow DX ($5.99)

Moo-ve over, Donut Dodo. There's a new retro-style arcade action game in town, and it's ready to milk you out of your six bucks. This game comes from the developer of Donut Dodo and has a lot of the same qualities to it. You're running around each stage trying to grab all the cash while avoiding enemies. Very enjoyable stuff. Feel free to have a look at the review I posted yesterday, if you haven't already seen it.

REYNATIS ($59.99)

Oh, it's FuRyu time again. I suspect we've got the usual FuRyu experience on our hands here. Which is to say, a rather middling game hobbled by its low budget with a few glimmers of greatness that might be enough to satisfy a few players. This one is an action-RPG, and the famous names that have been affixed to lure in the blissfully ignorant are scenario writer Kazushige Nojima (Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey) and composer Yoko Shimomura (Code Name: Viper). This game is not very good at all. I might write up a review to explain why, if I have the time. No one brought their best here, but it's FuRyu, so what do you expect?

3 Minutes to Midnight ($24.99)

It's never encouraging when you see that registered trademark name on a title. It suggest a certain set of priorities that are sometimes at odds with a quality creative endeavor. Fortunately, this bucks that assumption by being a rather decent point-and-click adventure game. It's one aimed at the more hardcore fans of the genre, as it is quite lengthy and involved, but there's nothing wrong with that. If you're a fan of the genre, this is worth investigating.

Go Mecha Ball ($19.99)

Add another twin-stick roguelite to the pile. We've got tons of these, so what's this one's gimmick? Basically, you can ball up Samus Aran style and roll around at high speeds. You can get a bunch of weapons, abilities, and upgrades to help you on your way, which is more or less how these things go. There's something here, but I don't know that the spark of potential properly ignites. Not bad, but I wouldn't rush out and buy it or anything.

Exographer ($19.99)

An exploratory adventure that sees you on a rescue mission on an alien planet. You'll explore levels, investigate an extinct civilization, and earn new powers that will help you reach previous inaccessible areas. There are puzzles to solve, and you'll have to make use of your special camera to figure things out. This game is really pushing science as its selling point, so we'll have to see if that results in an enjoyable game or not.

Lets castle ($13.99)

I've retained the exact title from the eShop here, and believe me, I also find it a little irritating. This is a relatively low-pressure game where you have to build a castle from given parts. You'll occasionally get specific orders from the Queen and will need to build to her specifications. I like the pixel art, at least.

Ahro ($11.99)

Okay, get this. Ahro is a side-scroller with a simplified yet stylish look, and it's a metaphor for mental health issues. Anxiety and panic disorder, to be specific. The gameplay gimmick is that you can release your spirit to explore and collect goobers. I'm kind of tired of this kind of thing by now, but perhaps you're feeling more fresh about the idea.

Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports ($49.99)

Oh no, it's Game Mill. Don't expect too much. You get four sports here, including Basketball, Soccer, Golf, and Tennis. Up to four players can join in via local multiplayer, and there are nine playable Looney Tunes characters. I'm sure it's at least as competent as some of the sports games we see around the ten dollar price point on the eShop. If you really love the Looney Tunes, don't let me stop you.

Murder Is Game Over: Deal Killer ($4.99)

I guess these must be going well for Ratalaika. Another mystery for Detective Guy and his dog to solve, this time concerning the murder of an executive of a video game publisher. I choose not to read anything into that. You don't have to have played the previous games to enjoy this one, so feel free to jump in if you're interested.

Luna-3X ($9.99)

An off-beat game about a pair of heroes trying to save as many creatures as they can before the world ends in seven days. They do that, of course, by having one play the tamborine while dangling from a fishing rod held by the other. You can play alone, but this one is built for two players. One person controls the fishing rod while the other plays their instrument in rhythm to lure the creatures in. Charming and quite unique.

Arcade Archives Blast Off ($7.99)

You would think that a 1989 release from Namco in a well-worn genre that also serves as a follow-up of sorts, albeit in name only, to Bosconian would be a safe bet. Alas, Blast Off is a rather dull example of the vertical shoot 'em up genre. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone except those are basically buying every Arcade Archives game or every shoot 'em up. A really rare total miss from this publisher, but history is history. Hamster isn't just in it to reissue the hits.

JALECOlle Famicom Ver. Bio Warrior DAN The Increaser War ($7.99)

The Earth is on the brink of total ruin, and only a time traveling bio warrior named Dan can save us! City Connection packed in a lot of extras for this one, including a new map screen, quick weapon switching, and a number of other UI improvements. The game is also fully translated into English, so that's nice. I'm really appreciating these releases so far.

Night Slashers: Remake ($9.99)

I like Night Slashers as much as the next Data East fan, but even I wouldn't have had it near the head of the list for a remake. Nevertheless, here we are. Night Slashers in a very clean, modern graphical style that is probably trying to evoke Streets of Rage 4 but not quite getting there. Still, the price is right and it's as gory and goofy a time as ever, now with support for four players. I gave my thoughts on this one yesterday in my review, so do check that out if you haven't already.

Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles ($24.99)

Hey, it's another one of these Slay The Spire/Darkest Dungeon deckbuilding turn-based roguelite things. As you can guess from the name, you'll be playing with dice in this one. It seems to have reviewed rather well on PC, and I imagine there are many Switch owners who will appreciate it as well.

The Holy Gosh Darn ($19.99)

A time traveling narrative action-adventure, with four different worlds to explore across space and time. You'll have to engage in some time shenanigans to solve the puzzles and move the story forward. I feel like this has some real potential, but I haven't had a chance to try out the demo for it yet. But hey, the demo is indeed right there. Give it a shot and see if you like it.

Bloomtown: A Different Story ($24.99)

This is a turn-based RPG with a 1960s Americana theme, and that's enough to help it stand out a little right off the hop. There's monster taming, some life sim bits, and a mystery involving two very different sides of one small town. Naturally, it's up to some kids to save the day. Early reviews on this have been positive, if not excessively so. If you're keen on the premise, you might want to look into it further.

Silver Axe - The Honest Elf ($18.99)

Another Metroidvania-style adventure for the pile. This one has a nice look to it and it's not outright terrible or anything, but in a genre this competitive I don't think it has what it takes to really stand out. It's just a bit too floaty, and the map designs don't have a nice flow to them. You might feel differently, though.

revive of the moon ($19.99)

I suppose it is almost October, isn't it? Here's a zombie action game supervised by Japanese comedian Hidetaka Kano. It's not the fanciest of dinners, but there is a certain charm to its straightforward approach. The writing is a little better than you would expect, too. I'm not very interested in zombie stuff anymore, but if I were? This might be something I'd go for.

Creepy Tale: Some Other Place ($9.99)

This little series has clearly found its audience. This is the fourth game in the series, and it tells its own little self-contained story within the fairy tale world and aesthetic that Creepy Tale is known for. Anyway, the usual business. Solve puzzles, follow the story, immerse yourself in the atmosphere. I've never been able to get into any of these, but I can at least see the appeal.

Beyond Galaxyland ($17.99)

A sci-fi RPG about a human high-schooler named Doug who, along with his guinea pig Boom Boom, narrowly escapes the destruction of Earth. Now residing in a zoo-like collection of planets called Galaxyland, Doug embarks on a quest to try to set things right. He'll meet an odd cast of characters along the way, of course. This game fits a lot of things in, including puzzles, platforming, turn-based battles, and a creature-capturing mechanic for good measure. So far reviews seem relatively good, and I'm looking forward to checking it out when I have a hot minute.

Resope! ($2.99)

It's always fun to find really low-priced games that serve as a good distraction for an evening, and Resope! is certainly one of those. There are sushi pieces trapped between wood blocks, and you need to free them. You do that by igniting the wood blocks, letting the sushi drop to the bottom. Make combos for a higher score, as one does in this kind of thing. There are a couple of extra modes here but the main one is fairly short, so be aware of that before you buy.

Anarkade ($14.99)

This genre of game feels like it has dropped off a high cliff in terms of popularity, but you still see the odd one release now and then. It's a 2D multiplayer arena shooter for up to four players, either local or online. Nothing particularly special about this one as far as I can tell, but it seems well-made for what it is.

Food Boy ($11.99)

It's like Paper Boy, except you're tossing pizzas at customers instead of newspapers. Run down any angry customers, and try to make a solid buck. Watch out for the many obstacles that will get in your way, of course. I'd rather have Paper Boy, but WB Games seems shy about sharing their old toys these days. That leaves an opportunity for games like this one, I suppose.

That's all for this week, friends. We'll be back next Saturday with another Round-Up as we make our way into October and the many games that will come with it. As ever, I will plug both my Patreon (where you can find lots of cool exclusive articles) and my Ko-Fi (tips help me run this blog). There, plugged. I hope you have a super Saturday, and as always, thanks for reading!

[satoshi-mochida]

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble announced for Switch - Gematsu

From Gematsu

SEGA has announced Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble for Switch. It will launch on June 25, 2024.

Here is an overview of the game, via SEGA:

About

For the first time in the series’ history, up to 16 players from around the world can now battle it out online across multiple game modes! Be the first to the finish line in Race, grab the falling bananas in Banana Hunt, team up to take down robots in Robot Smash, and more. Hungry for even more? Grab your favorite bunch and slip into a wonderfully crafted story in an a-peel-ing new Adventure mode. Journey through 200 all-new stages, featuring support for up to 4 players in local or online play! With over 300 ways to customize your character and their Monkey Ball, along with a new Spin Dash technique, you can bounce, tilt, roll, and now dash past the competition in style as you aim to become Top Banana!

Key Features

Experience thrilling gameplay that is easy to pick up and play yet challenging and fulfilling to master.

Go bananas with your favorite bunch and drop into online multiplayer​​ for up to 16 players or local multiplayer for up to 4 players!

Slip into a wonderfully crafted story either locally or online in the all-new Adventure mode, where you will journey through 200 newly crafted stages either in four-player cooperative play or solo.

Show off your style by customizing your character with over 300 fashionable items to choose from.

Use the new Spin Dash technique to sprint past rivals or create new shortcuts to victory!

Digital Deluxe Edition

Those who purchase the Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble Digital Deluxe Edition ($69.99 MSRP) on the Nintendo eShop will receive the following:

The Standard Edition of the game

The SEGA Pass, a DLC pack that includes SIX additional playable characters from iconic SEGA franchises, along with a bundle of bonus SEGA-themed customization items!

Digital Standard Edition

A Digital Standard edition of the game ($49.99 MSRP) is also available to pre-order. Furthermore, the SEGA Pass will be available separately for $24.99, so those who choose the Digital Deluxe Edition will save on the bundle! More details on the pass will be revealed in the coming months, so please stay tuned.

Physical “Legendary Banana” Edition

A physical Legendary Banana Edition ($49.99 MSRP) is also now available to pre-order at major retailers! This version includes:

The Standard Edition of the game

An O-Sleeve (slipcover) for the box

40-page physical artbook

Reversible cover

In addition, those who pre-order any of the digital or physical editions of the game will also receive a special in-game Banana Costume as a customization item!

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

English

[fearsmagazine]

GOTHIC LIFE: The Essential Guide To Macabre Style by Aurelio Voltaire coming Aug. 20th, 2024, from Epic Ink.

Revamp the mundane to the macabre and embrace the goth lifestyle with this all-inclusive guide.

The New York Times–dubbed “Martha Stewart for Macabre Homemakers,” Aurelio Voltaire, presents the definitive guide to revamping your sanctuary to match your eerie vibe.

Are you ready to embrace your dark side? In Gothic Life (Epic Life | August 20, 2024 | $24.99), Aurelio Voltaire shows you how to do just that, using the expertise honed as founder and host of the show Gothic Homemaking and years of stop-motion animation work to take you on a journey to goth-hood. From DIY design projects to helpful haunted hosting tips and tricks, with this step-by-step reference, you’ll transform your domain to capture your spooky essence with lessons on: o The history and mindset of goths, including gothic icons from Vincent Price to Tim Burton to Wednesday Addams o Enchanting home décor, making use of spooky color palettes (beyond black!) and all the bats and gargoyles your gothic heart could want o A gothic dinner party menu featuring the likes of squid ink linguini and charcoal ice cream o Holiday and party prep to celebrate Halloween and beyond

Whether you are looking for new ways to express your inner goth year-round or seeking brilliantly haunting ideas for your next Halloween bash, Gothic Life reveals the secrets to unleashing your inner goth and transforming the mundane to the macabre.

Born in Havana and raised in New Jersey, Aurelio Voltaire’s boyhood fascination with horror movies blossomed into a teenage taste for the moody music of British rock bands including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, and the Cure. Aurelio worked for years in stop-motion animation, a career that led to gigs with MTV, Nickelodeon, and Syfy, and to becoming an instructor at the School of Visual Arts from 1996 to 2019. As a musician, he is a songwriter whose music can best be described as a collection of murder ballads, and tongue-in-cheek exercises in the macabre. He is the author of the books Paint It Black: A Guide to Gothic Homemaking and What is Goth: Music, Makeup, Attitude, Apparel, Dance, and General Skullduggery. Aurelio lives in the East Village, NY and regularly streams his YouTube show, Gothic Homemaking.

[fiftytwotwentyfour]

Puzzle 6:

I Expect You To Die 2

The Spy And The Liar

Created by Schell Games

Puzzle Classification: Digital Escape Room; VR Escape Room

Price: $24.99 (I purchased the "I Expect You To Die Bundle, 3 Games, making each individual game ~ $20.83 before tax)

Review:

That's Right! I am already back with the EOD and I'm cleaning up Zoraxis Scum.

And Well...

The First Installment of I Expect You To Die lives forever on a pedestal. I still gush over the game and the story. Even after beating the game - I still go back and play around to unearth little nuggets that I missed.

When it came to the sequel... I personally felt a little let down but it's still... The Game is Pizza - Yep, It's Pizza, ya know - even though it's kinda bad its still kinda good.

Things I Liked:

The Storyline. For the Main Character and the Villain

There were some very cool game mechanics. I would love to mention them but I also don't want to spoil anything.

The Art Style and Time Period/Setting

Things I Didn't Like:

This being a stationary game - not just you the player, but your in-game character is stationary as well - I thought it was difficult to see items and objects which where meant to be interacted with - they felt oddly far away. I constantly caught myself squinting inside my VR headset and saying... "Is that something?"

I also didnt care for the dark backgrounds/lighting - I understand it provides ambiance, but again made things difficult to find. Most of delays in solving were based on me literally not being able to see something.

I also felt during certain puzzles a lot of problem solving heavily relied on the narrator's directions - listening for step-by-step instructions - rather than figuring out the sequences yourself based on clues and your own logical reasoning.

Some parts got to be really long winded especially when it came to the "subcontracted" voice acting.

Some other odd things to note - I was hyper aware of how many times I died/failed a mission this go around - and truthfully - it really wasn't all that much compared to the first game - maybe 2-3 times tops per level - about 12-15 per the whole game. This sounds like a good thing, right? Actually - it took some of fun out of the game. I found myself hoping I would just die so I could discover something - I was averaging 18 mins on level completions.

Alas, even though my Cons outnumber my Pros - I just love the concept of this game and I still look forward to playing the 3rd Installment.

*photos/screenshots courtesy of Schell Games/I Expect You To Die*

Completion Time: 4hr59min01sec42ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

Nothing Once Downloaded

Personal Rating: 7/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 6/6

[dragon-snoots-a-boopin]

Legacy United deluxe class Cyberverse Universe Chromia. Maybe it's my eyes but I just don't see the Cyberverse styling here at all. It doesn't help that Hasbro was lazy, again, and just threw a Chromia head on a different colored Animated Universe Prowl body and did absolutely nothing to make this look distinctly Chromia at all. This is just another lazy, low effort repaint/remold to me. Chromia has a price of $24.99 with an approximate release date of April 1st 2024.

[deramin2]

Playing Raji: An Ancient Epic again and I'm so blown away at how it blends ancient storytelling mediums with modern videogames to tell a Hindi epic fantasy story.

It's a Indian game about a brother (Golu) and sister (Raji) who are orphaned and perform as acrobats with in a carnival. When Golu and other children are kidnapped by demons, Raji chases after to rescue him. Sure it's helped by the deities Goddess Durga and Lord Vishnu who also serve as narrators.

The cut scenes are all done in the style of traditional Indian shadow puppetry with Durga and Vishnu telling the story. The game design is based on pahari paintings with architecture designs inspired by medieval Rajasthan.

Along the way are status and reliefs of mythological figures that you can look closer at and hear/read who they are and briefly what they are known for.

There are also mural series with symbolic depictions of story elements. You can examine them and as Vishnu tells story, the figures are highlighted to show who or what each is in the same way a teacher would point to them. It's a super cool way to be introduced to the mythology.

Because she's an acrobat, Raji's fight style revolves around tumbling to avoid damage between attacks. Combat is mostly about figuring out the gimmick of the enemy to dodge them and effectively damage them. The main challenge is getting your hands to do it. You get up to 4 different weapons through the game that favor different fighting styles and you can quickly switch weapons to vary within a fight.

The puzzles aren't very challenging (most are clearly not intended to be), but they do serve to tell the story and highlight specific elements. The disk puzzles reveal Raji's past memories. There cursed tree rotating puzzles symbolize dispelling the evil. They're another way of using traditional art styles to bring the tale to life.

There are also platform challenges where you put your acrobatics (and maneuvering abilities) to the test. Again these aren't particularly hard if you're competent but I personally fail and die frequently doing them and it's just one click below being frustrating for me. I know I CAN do them, I just have to not get turned around.

They're are easy, normal, and hard game settings on Switch, plus story mode (no combat) and one hit kill modes on different platforms so you can really set your experience. It's about 10-12 hours of game play, so long enough to really get into it, but short enough that it won't consume your life. There really isn't any filler. It's a mostly railroaded story with locked perspective telling a specific series of events. It's meant to feel like you're at the feet of a master storyteller telling a well known epic. But that's brought alive with the technology of videogames in a wonderful way.

Do note that you NEED a controller to play this game. The mouse and keyboard controls are much harder and clearly secondary. The controller has aim assist and the mouse and keyboard don't (but it's almost harder to aim manually on the mouse and keyboard). The attacks don't have a good hand feel on mouse and keyboard but a great feel on the controller. I actually bought a controller for my desktop to play it. I'm playing it again on the Switch now and it feels better. Playing it on a TV also really helps you feel the sheer scale of the architecture.

The soundtrack is really cool and never gets old. It really captures the meditative feeling of exploration or the intensity of battle using traditional Indian styles and instruments.

It's currently 66% off on Steam until August 10 for $8.49. Normally $24.99 on all platforms. There's also a demo that lets you play the first level. WELL worth the money.

This is a wonderful indie game with a lot of heart and it's incredibly refreshing to see fantasy that isn't European at all. It's very firmly an Indian story about Indian mythology told using Indian story telling arts reimagined for a more interactive medium. Still hoping one day we get a sequel the door was left open for.

[linuxgamenews]

Linux and Beyond: PartTimeIndie's Update for School of Magic

School of Magic update for the hack and slash dungeon crawler game coming to Linux and Windows PC. Developer PartTimeIndie's exceptional talents have made a big impact. Available to try now on Steam. So, let's dive into what's cooking with PartTimeIndie's latest update for School of Magic. It's all due to a solo studio. Launching this update is a big change, showing just how far a single developer can push the boundaries.

...my current plan is to try to port the game to Linux once I am closer to release.

Exciting news, PartTimeIndie, our beloved solo game developer, is steadily mastering the ins and outs of Linux. Juggling the hats of both a developer and a learner, the focus remains unwavering on wrapping up the game. A native build is on the horizon for the launch. Now, lets talk about the changes, such as the visual upgrades, card art, and NPCs that talk back to you! This update isn't just a minor polish; it's a major leap for School of Magic. What's behind these changes, Chat GPT for crafting stories, Elevenlabs for AI voices, and Adobe Firefly for those eye-catching images. It's a tech trio that also works its wizardry for a deeper experience.

School of Magic - GG Bavaria Trailer for the update

But hey, it's not all about looks. The update brings in some neat features to spice up the School of Magic gameplay. New elite enemies to challenge your skills, handy save and load options during runs (finally!). Plus a revamped progression system that adds more depth. Plus, the overall polish and performance tweaks mean a smoother ride through the magical world. Speaking of the world, this School of Magic update is all about getting your hands dirty with spellcasting. You're up against orcs, skeletons, and some bizarre creatures. Every spell and move counts, and it's all about smart choices and strategic thinking. The title makes you think on your feet, blending your spells into a powerhouse strategy. While every new spell is a decision point - does it fit with your style, or will it be a dud? It's this mix of strategy and on-the-fly thinking that keeps you hooked. You can see how far the title has come. There's an "old_version" branch and a Demo Branch to compare. It's an impressive change. You can play the Demo now on Linux via Proton. School of Magic hack and slash dungeon crawler is set for a Q2 2025 release, and the update shows its shaping up to be a standout title. For anyone who like a good challenge, strategic gameplay, and a world that pulls you right in, keep your eyes on this one. It's proof that solo devs can create something extraordinary. Due to arrive on both Linux and Windows PC via Steam. Priced at $24.99 USD / £19.49 / 22,99€.

[thecursedprince]

Oz Dust Glinda Doll

Price: $24.99

Highlights

Step into the land of Oz with Wicked Glinda fashion doll!

Inspired by Universal Pictures’ Wicked, Glinda doll wears her iconic ombre-pink removable dress with ruffle details, heels, and clutch

Just like in the movie, she features her long, blonde hair with hairclips for styling, along with flexibility at the torso, elbows, wrists and knees for play and display!

Highlighting the magic of sisterhood and friendship, Wicked dolls make an inspiring gift for kids to play out their biggest dreams!

Fans can collect their favorite characters to recreate scenes and make up their own storylines and adventures. Each sold separately, subject to availability

Description

The most popular girl in Oz is here! Inspired by Universal Pictures’ Wicked, the Glinda fashion doll captures the heart of sisterhood from the movie. Dressed in her removable true-to-movie fashion with clutch bag, necklace, and hairclips, Glinda can strike dynamic poses with flexibility at the torso, elbows, wrists, and knees. She also features the character’s long, blonde hair to accessorize and style. Fans will want to collect all dolls from the land of Oz! Each sold separately, subject to availability. Dolls cannot stand alone. Colors and decorations may vary.

[hyperswitchation]

The Survivalists Overview

Price: 24.99 reg, 26.99 deluxe, 2.99 DLC Genre: survival simulator Age Rating: 7+

--

My rating: 10/10

Features of the Game

cooking/recipes: yes

crafting: yes

sleeping to jump time: yes

damage jumping off of high ledges: N/A (no ledges to jump off of)

different biomes: yes

pets/creatures: yes (monkeys)

ability to run/move quicker: yes (for use of energy)

energy auto-replenish: yes

energy/health replenish with food: yes

online play: yes

I gave The Survivalists a 10/10 because I literally cannot think of a single thing about the game itself that is frustrating for me. The style may not be for everyone, as it is a blast to the past with over simplistic style, but I adore the art style. The monkeys are absolutely precious.

There are monkeys you are able to adopt by either saving them from captors or giving them items they're craving. They start to follow you around and will protect you or do your crafts for you or gather ingredients you need for you. They will basically do anything you wish for them to do.

The monkeys are my personal favorite feature of the game, but there is honestly so much to love about this game.

There are easy islands you can stick to if you just want to play a casual survival game or there are more difficult islands you can go to in order to challenge yourself if you're like me and like to be challenged in a game. There are biomes with land that will burn or freeze you if you stand on them for too long.

There are all kinds of animals and beings that will attack you, so there is fighting involved, but you can also starve to death if you wait too long to eat.

Survival games have quickly become my favorite genre to play and this game is on my top 3 list for favorite survival games on the Switch. I recommend this game to anyone that loves simple but captivating gameplay.

[demifiendrsa]

GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Season Pass 3 Playable Character #1 [Johnny] Trailer

Japanese version

Season Pass 3 DLC character Johnny will launch on August 24, 2023 alongside the Season 3 update.

Latest details

Johnny ($6.99 / 880 yen)

Ease of Use: ★★★✩✩

Severs all with an unseen strike. Natural-born gambler.

Leader of the Jellyfish Pirates. He is a master of the Hirofumi Style of swordsmanship. He’s a world-class outlaw but lives by the mantra, “Help the weak and sprain the strong,” which has made him popular among the masses.

Johnny is an easy-going guy who’s always ready to kick back, but when the going gets tough, he’s undoubtedly the man for the job. No matter how grim the situation, he never loses his cool and is often there to break the tension with a clever joke. He rescues children orphaned from war (women only) and brings them aboard his ship. He loves the members of the Jellyfish Pirates like his own family and has often told them he puts their safety before his own life.

Season Pass 3 ($24.99 / 2,750 yen)

Includes the following content:

Playable Character: Johnny (August 24)

Playable Character: ??? (2023)

Playable Character: ??? (2024)

Playable Character: ??? (2024)

Additional Battle Stage #1

Additional Battle Stage #2

Season 3 Characters Additional Colors

Season 3 Characters Extra Colors #13 to #15

Season 3 Update (free)

New Special Moves – Added to six of 15 initial roster characters. More characters to come in later updates.

New Offensive Mechanic – Wild Assault: Perform a lunging attack to the front. Available to all characters. Properties vary depending on the character.

New Defensive Mechanic – Deflect Shield: Can block any attack. Including overheads, lows, and projectiles. Available to all characters.