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satoshi-mochida · 7 months ago

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Metaphor: ReFantazio ‘Awaken’ trailer; ‘ATLUS Exclusive’ introduces Archetype job system - Gematsu

Publisher ATLUS and developer Studio Zero have released the “Awaken” trailer and a second “ATLUS Exclusive” showcase video for Metaphor: ReFantazio.

During the showcase, Metaphor: ReFantazio director Katsura Hashino explains how Archetypes, or jobs, branch and evolve throughout the player’s journey. There are 14 basic Archetypes—such as the Magician, the Thief, the Seeker, and the Monk—which each have a lineage that expand to more Archetypes that unlock as the game progresses. In total, the game features more than 40 Archetypes, including the Masked Dancer, the Summoner, the Berserker and many more.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is due out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on October 11.

Watch the trailer and showcasee below, including a full transcript.

Awaken Trailer

English

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Japanese

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Atlus Exclusive 2 Showcase

English

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Japanese

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Transcripts:

Opening

Hello everyone, I’m Katsura Hashino, the director of Metaphor: ReFantazio. You may know some of my previous work, including Shin Megami Tensei III and Persona 3, 4, and 5. At Summer Game Fest held in Los Angeles, California, we announced there are 14 Archetype lineages, which amount to more than 40 Archetypes. Understanding the various Archetypes is crucial to mastering this title’s battle system. In this edition of the ATLUS Exclusive 2 Metaphor: ReFantazio Showcase, we will dive deeper into the different types of Archetypes and how to use them. For those who haven’t watched in our previous Showcase, we introduced the overall game flow. We will continue to reveal new content on Metaphor: ReFantazio on our ATLUS YouTube channel, so please be sure to subscribe. Let’s get started!

First, let’s review the battle system introduced in the previous live stream. Metaphor features a turn-based and action-oriented battle system where enemies of lower rank are defeated through real-time action, allowing you to proceed at a quick pace. In this innovative battle system, against higher ranked enemies, players can use the real-time action to enter turn-based combat with an advantage.

Metaphor incorporates tactical planning through action into its established systems, along with a high degree of party composition freedom through job changes. Central to this approach are the game’s new job types known as Archetypes, which players can equip to their protagonist. To prepare these Archetypes for the protagonist, it’s crucial to first introduce the facility known as the “Akademia.”

Akademia

In the early stages of the story, the protagonist gains access to a mysterious location called “Akademia.” As you can see, it’s a place adorned with a plethora of books, giving it the atmosphere of a sanctuary of knowledge.

The individual in Akademia has high hopes for the protagonist’s awakened Archetypes. He is well-versed in Archetype knowledge and will lend his support to the protagonist’s journey, helping him to awaken Archetypes.

Archetypes are managed in lineages such as this one, branching out as they are acquired during the journey. This is a game screen from the early stages of the story, so right now we only have access to the initial Archetypes with basic skills, but once you’re able to swap Archetypes, the real game strategy begins.

Details on how the protagonist comes to visit this place will be shared in detail in subsequent updates, so please look forward to it.

Now I’d like to introduce the types and characteristics of Archetypes, as well as details about the related battle system, including some that have not yet been revealed.

Archetype Lineage

In the last live stream, we introduced the different types of Archetypes, including some of the foundational ones.

The Versatile Seeker, who is a well-rounded Archetype; the Mage, who can exploit the enemy’s weak points with powerful magic; the Thief, skilled in abilities like robbery; the Brawler, who excels in physical attacks using their fists.

In terms of other initial Archetypes, we have the Warrior, who excels in sword attacks; the Knight, with outstanding defensive skills; the Healer, who specializes in recovery; the Commander, with skills related to formation and support; the Gunner, who can shoot from a distance; the Merchant, who can use money-related attacks; and the Faker, with tricky moves.

As the game progresses, players can unlock evolved Archetypes such as the Masked Dancer, whose skills and resistances can be fully changed with equipment; the Summoner, who is perceived as a highlight in job change games with its power to summon monsters; and the Berserker, who has tremendous destructive power.

There are 14 basic Archetype lineages, and when the variations of each Archetype are added up in total, there are more than 40 Archetypes available.

Each Archetype gains experience through battle and learns various skills. There’s a wide variety of skills with different attributes and ranges, such as buffs, recovery, and passive skills to improve abilities. Mastering these skills allows players to gain an advantage in battles. Furthermore, as Archetypes evolve through growth, players can advance to higher-tier Archetypes.

While the Archetypes like the ones introduced earlier are unlocked as the base Archetype of each lineage, progressing them through battle and strengthening bonds with supporters encountered on the journey is crucial. This system unlocks conditions for acquiring even more advanced Archetypes, providing substantial depth and party development for players to enjoy and experience.

For example, the Seeker, which first awakens for the protagonist, is a lineage in the Seeker category. And by deepening the bond with the supporter who controls this lineage, the character can evolve into the Magic Seeker, who wields powerful wind magic as well as reinforcement support and passives, and then onto Soul Hacker, who has powerful magic such as additional MP recovery effects and penetration resistance.

The Gunner, who can shoot from a distance, is a heroic figure in the ranged category, and can evolve into Sniper, who is good at all target attacks, and then onto Dragoon, who can trigger attacks with various magical attributes by deepening the bond with the supporter who controls this lineage.

Each Archetype variation is uniquely crafted with dedicated artwork and the appearance of each character changes based on the equipped Archetype, so I think you will enjoy the work very much.

Guest Artists

This title was created with the cooperation of guest creators, including Koda Kazuma for the background concept art, and Ikuto Yamashita for the gauntlet runner design.

The Archetype designs, boasting over 40 variations, are not only designed by Shigenori Soejima, who is in charge of character design for this title, but also by Yuji Himukai, the character designer for the Etrian Odyssey series, who is likely familiar to ATLUS fans. The Etrian Odyssey series is a dungeon-crawling RPG based on creating characters from a large number of jobs and organizing them into parties, and the fact that we have incorporated the ideas of the creator who has consistently been in charge of the design of the series is not only impressive, but also an appropriate element for the 35th anniversary title of the ATLUS brand, so please look forward to it as well.

Archetype Battle SYstem

In the last live stream, we explained the Archetype system that allows you to transform at any time during a battle and activate their skills, after entering a turn-based battle with the squad button. Today I would like to introduce the Archetype battle system in more detail.

Against higher ranked foes, players can stun enemies with fast action before engaging in advantageous squad turn-based battles. However, if attacked by enemies first, the turn-based battle will begin with a disadvantage. Players who prefer certainty in their attacks or struggle with action sequences should not try to take on the enemies through fast battle, but rather use the squad button to engage in turn-based combat. Depending on the situation, players are encouraged to adapt between high-risk high-reward combat and low-risk low-reward strategies.

The squad battle is a turn-based battle system adopted from Shin Megami Tensei III. In this system, the number of actions per turn is determined by the number of party members, and the number of actions increases if the enemy’s weak points are exploited. So, strategize your next move wisely. You can eliminate enemies unilaterally without giving them a turn. However, this system is a double-edged sword, since this also applies for the opponent. If enemy attacks exploit your party’s weaknesses, then your party’s turn may not come for a while, leading to challenging battles. Metaphor is an evolution of our command battle system that has been cultivated over the years, and its innovative Archetype system is unique to this title.

In command battles, players can change the party formation front and back, and each Archetype has its optimal position of strength. For example, the Mage can cast magic from the back row to compensate for its weak point, low defense, to some extent, maintaining its attack power. The Knight can withhold its attacks and attract enemy attacks from the back row, and therefore induce enemy attacks with minimal damage. The Gunner, who can use shooting is an Archetype that specializes in long-range attacks from the back row. The Commander can change the formation of all members with its skills, allowing each player to freely create their own strategy.

Synthesis

There is a special technique called Synthesis that differs from normal skills. Synthesis, which means integration in psychological terms, is a system that allows Archetypes to combine with other party members’ Archetypes. It can activate a special technique that is not available otherwise. To perform this skill, it consumes more than a normal action as it consumes an additional action from your ally’s turn as well. This technique is more powerful for that reason.

For example, while a Mage and Healer can only target a single enemy with their attack, with the use of synthesis, the target can be changed to all enemies. The Seeker’s main attack is wind magic. But by using synthesis, the seeker can use attacks with attributes that are normally unavailable to it, such as light or strike. In addition, Warriors are good at physical attacks. But if many of the same Archetype are placed in a party, the attack characteristics will naturally be skewed. However, the special Synthesis attack that can be unleashed by three Warriors can do a surprising amount of damage even in the early stages of the game.

This system is an important element of the strategy, and if used properly, it can eliminate the enemies all at once. The activation conditions change depending on the combination of the party, so it is a fun element to try out different configurations and discover new synthesis combinations.

Party Configuration

Moreover, the development team has worked hard to ensure that the diverse range of Archetypes remains engaging even in the later stages, allowing players to enjoy different compositions. We aimed for a balance to avoid a situation where players’ party compositions become similar as the game progresses, or where only certain Archetypes are used. When players change from one Archetype to another, they can inherit the skills they have already mastered to the new Archetype.

The command battle system not only includes action count strategies, but also formation tactics, special moves called Synthesis, and a skill inheritance system, providing numerous ways to creatively configure Archetype strategies in the party. While the party consists of four members initially, it can expand to seven as the story progresses. All members can equip any of the 40-plus Archetypes, so we hope players enjoy developing their unique strategies.

Fast Battle Actions

Now that we have explained how to use Archetypes in command battles, let’s discuss how Archetypes abilities come into play in other ways.

Weapons change depending on which Archetype is equipped, and this also affects the real-time action fast combat that can be used before entering turn-based squad battles. For example, the Seeker’s one-handed sword allows for quick, successive strikes to deal damage to enemies. Let’s change the Archetype of the protagonist to the Unlocked Warrior. You can change the Archetype of your party members as well from each tree, but the fast action is a move specific for the protagonist, so we want you to try out not only the command battles, but also the strategic action.

In the case of the Warrior’s Great Sword, its large swing delivers powerful blows, and while swinging it, the user is not susceptible to preemptive strikes from enemies. In the case of the Mage’s Staff, the attack range extends not only forward, but also around the user, making it effective in situations where the player is surrounded by multiple enemies. It can wipe out many monsters when outnumbered and outclassed.

Additionally, there are Archetypes that can use ranged weapons. The Faker can throw knives, and the Gunner uses a crossbow, allowing attacks from a safe distance. Enemies roaming the field also have various characteristics and weaknesses. For instance, you might use a Gunner with long distance attack range to take down flying foes. However, if you choose the protagonist’s Archetype focusing mainly on fast action, you will fight with that Archetype when you enter a squad battle. You cannot swap Archetypes in a squad battle, so it’s important to plan ahead of time.

We hope that everyone will enjoy the fast and squad combat.

Dungeon Progression

Let me also talk about the dungeons. There are various enemies in the dungeons. Many familiar creatures from fantasy worlds are recreated in a modern design. Some enemies that ambush you, some that hide underground, and some that appear in a groove. There are no dungeons that require a specific type of Archetype party, so please enjoy trying out various party strategies of your choice.

Although there are tough enemies and bosses that force you into battles. When this happens, the type of party you bring will affect the battle. Monsters called “Humans” are especially tricky to face, so beware. We think you will enjoy planning strategies for the battles ahead.

Moreover, the degree of freedom and party formation, and the fact that the difficulty level varies depending on which quest you conquer first, can affect the perceived difficulty of battles, and a slight error in judgment can be fatal in this battle. The difficulty of the game can be changed at any time, and by using the Retry feature, you’ll be able to return to the top of the battle and take on the challenge again with other strategies you might have thought of. So please rest assured that this game is made in a way that ensures all players can confidently take on the challenges.

Additionally, a Network feature allows players to view the party compositions used by other players who’ve cleared the same dungeon, available to view at any time. With the press of a button, you can instantly switch to those compositions, making it easier to adapt and strategize. I’m sure there are players who remember playing classic job change games based on the recommended information of specific party setups for certain dungeons. This Network feature is like a modern version of that kind of playstyle. Above all, we wanted players to be able to see firsthand how other players are progressing in the dungeon they are currently conquering, using their own party composition and ingenuity, even though it is a loosely connected aspect.

Summary

So, what did you think? In this video, we have introduced the various types and uses of Archetypes. We hope that even those who are unfamiliar with past ATLUS titles will be able to easily enjoy this fantasy RPG based on its unique job system, which is a staple in fantasy RPGs. We’ve added various unique features into Metaphor, from the system and volume to its visuals, and we hope that you will enjoy this fantasy RPG.

Metaphor is launching on October 11, 2024 and is open for pre-orders. Starting today, you can also pre-order the digital version. If you are interested in Metaphor, please be sure to pre-order or add to your wishlist. Those who pre-order will receive pre-order bonuses, including the “Archetype EXP Chest Set” and an “Adventurer’s Journey Pack.” Both in-game item sets are useful for battles and party development. They are great value downloadable contents that you can get just for pre-ordering, so please consider them.

Metaphor will be available in both standard and special editions for physical and digital formats. The development team has come together to create a Collector’s Edition that allows everyone to celebrate ATLUS’ 35th anniversary. The outer box is designed by Mr. Soejima, and the art book is truly gorgeous, including art from various guest artists. We hope you will have a copy on hand to enjoy.

In the digital 35th Anniversary History Book, you will find a timeline of past titles, introductions to major titles, and a conversation with a very special guest talking about what makes RPGs so much fun to play. Additionally, this edition is filled with congratulatory comments from various creators in the industry.

The digital soundtrack includes an all-time best album that looks back on the brand’s 35th anniversary. It is a fascinating musical journey that gives both old and new fans a sense of the history of ATLUS’ sound.

In addition, we have included a cloth world map of the United Kingdom of Euchronia, a set of pins representing the Homo Tenta monsters, a SteelBook with dedicated key art, a two-disc Metaphor: ReFantazio soundtrack composed by Shoji Meguro, a digital costume and battle background music set, and a sticker sheet of national flags, Archetype designs, and more. This is a limited edition, so if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please consider pre-ordering while supplies last.

Thank you for your continued support and excitement for Metaphor: ReFantazio. We hope you will enjoy these special items and look forward to seeing you in the next Showcase.

Closing

We are happy to hear that so many people were interested in the battle system in the last live stream. So finally, next time, we would like to introduce not only the gameplay, but also the world setting, characters, and story that we have been elaborating in our first attempt at a fantasy RPG. This is a work full of twists and turns, so please stay tuned for the next Exclusive.

Metaphor is planned to be released on October 11. Be sure to pre-order and add to your wishlist. Thank you very much for your time today.

#Metaphor: ReFantazio #Atlus #Studio Zero #RPG #Gematsu #Youtube

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lovebirdgames · 1 year ago

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Hope everyone is having a great summer! And to those of you in the trenches of band camp, I hope you are staying cool and hydrated!

Here are a few updates for how things are going. We've been chipping away at fixing a couple bugs such as the missing ending, the fact Poptart's CG only unlocks in the gallery in the bad ending, etc.

Progress is a bit slow since I had to save Hyrule from Ganondorf and now I have to raise a child on a farm, and very soon I will have to journey to a different planet on a rescue mission (don't you love video games). I also went to add in the missing ending and in true Taylor fashion crashed the whole menu, but Ross came and bailed me out.

Also: while going through voice lines to grab bloopers, my sister and I realized we missed a couple voice clips, a Tom and a Peter. Those rascals! I'll have to go back through the game at some point to program those in.

It's doubtful we'll get the updated game out this month, which has flown by. Otakon is looming and we need to start packing! Speaking of Otakon, this is my cosplay lineup. My dream is to meet a Band Camp Boyfriend fan in the wild one day. If you see me, please say hi.

I will give you a business card with Poptart or Tom on it.

Alex has a very cute Cadence cosplay, too. Maybe she will let me post a picture of her.

Alex and I have also been writing future blog posts, her on composing Band Camp Boyfriend's soundtrack, mine on the wonderful world of marketing. Keep an eye out for those on our website if that sounds interesting to you!

Finally, I mentioned in our June post about Visual Novel Fest and then saw Steam didn't want us to announce participation until like a week before...uhhh oops...I mean I didn't announce it, I just kind of mentioned it without any fanfare, right? Anyways we'll be streaming during the fest and we will have TWO SPECIAL GUESTS who were involved in the game. I will announce who closer to the date so keep an eye on our social media!

Okay that's all I got! Take care of yourselves, Bandits, and as always don't forget to leave a review on Steam or a rating on Itch.io if you enjoyed the game~ <3

#band camp boyfriend #update #indie game #otome #otakon

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thelensofyashunews · 4 months ago

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CASH COBAIN SHARES HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED SOPHOMORE LP PLAY CASH COBAIN + "ACT LIKE" VID

Fresh off being named a coveted Apple Up Next artist, a 2024 XXL Freshman, and Billboard Rookie of the Month, Cash Cobain has shared his highly-anticipated sophomore album Play Cash Cobain (via Giant Music) — with an accompanying music video for his long-awaited Pop Smoke tribute, "Act Like", which made its broadcast premiere on MTV Live, MTVU, MTV Biggest Pop, BET Jams and on the Paramount Times Square billboards. The release follows this week's profile of Cash on The New York Times Print Arts Section Cover, who hailed him as an artist that's "changing the sound of drill."

The momentum around this LP is at an all-time high following the release of his last single "Problem", a 15-person Slizzy mix bolstered by a prominent sample of Brooklyn newcomer Laila!'s viral hit "Not My Problem". The near-8 minute track boasted an insanely stacked lineup of features from the likes of Fabolous, Big Sean, Kenzo B, Lay Bankz, Luh Tyler, Anycia, Chow Lee, Kaliii, 6lack, Flo Milli, YN Jay, FLEE, Don Q and Rob49 –– calling back to a lost era of heavyweight-posse cuts of the 00's.

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The all-star guest list doesn't stop there on Play Cash Cobain –– with him grabbing marquee features like Quavo, Don Toliver, Laila!, & 4Batz & long-time collaborators Vontee The Singer and Payroll. The 19-track album is a direct result of the lightning-hot run he's been on this year –– with a majority of the LP being made only in the past 8 months following a flurry of late-nights at the club, romantic rondeaux, and the makings of his "Slizzy Summer."

The artwork is a nod to one of Cash's biggest influencers and collaborators -– Drake, who added his inscription and signature on a fan's phone case, completing the 'PlayCashCobain' theme he's maintained around this release. Topping it all off –– Cash also announced his debut headlining solo NYC show, at the historic, newly-reopened Brooklyn Paramount next month (tickets available HERE). This is the follow-up to his iconic 'Slizzy Fest' birthday show at Irving Plaza, a night that boasted a stacked lineup of NYC finest which led to it being unfortunately shut down, only for Cash to lead his fans to Union Square for an impromptu performance in the park (read Rolling Stone review). In the words of Cash:

“I’m feeling sexy, slizzy — I’m just happy to give y’all this music finally. Thank you to all my fans and supporters, I really appreciate you. Been working non-stop on this album and I’m just so excited to share 'Play Cash Cobain.' It’s a Slizzy Summer!”Last week, Cash had an electric pair of performances on Ice Spice's sold-out NYC dates, with Rolling Stone noting -– "Cash is one of the coolest artists in the game, boasting a signature sound replete with a dance that simulates a flowing ocean current. The young crowd ate it up...".

The hype has continued to explode, with Future & Metro Boomin bringing Cash out during their sold-out Brooklyn date and later that night, him linking up with Travis Scott in an impromptu DJ set. Play Cash Cobain serves as the exclamation point on a 2024 winning streak that includes the Ice Spice-assisted "Fisherrr" (feat. BaySwag) (40M Streams) remix, as well as a collab with J. Cole on “Grippy” (15M Streams), a new version of his 2023 track “Dunk Contest” (13M Streams), and a fan-favorite, "Rump Punch" (20M Streams).

With the success of Cobain’s smash singles, the Bronx superstar has skyrocketed to over 4M Monthly Listeners on Spotify and in the past year his streams have gone up 3,400% on Apple Music alone. Cobain has since hinted at collaborations with Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, Lil Yachty and more –– a sure sign that superstardom is soon to come. The rapper and producer also recently made his triumphant Billboard Hot 100 debut alongside Charlie Wilson on Don Toliver's single "Attitude"(100M Streams) [ read hisBillboard: 'Chartbreakers' feature], –– showcasing exactly why the outlet proclaimed, "The Summer of Slizzy is upon us".

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thessalian · 6 months ago

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Thess vs Preparation

Why does preparation have to be so damn painful?

Groceries arrived, and it was ... a lot, but it was well-planned. I have emergency calories - raisins, peanuts, some yoghurt-coated raspberry things I like because they were on sale. I have tinned fruit because the fresh stuff goes off so fast - peaches because cheap own-brand, and fruit cocktail because, again, on sale. After much searching, I found some soups that aren't thickened with wheat flour, and got some of that for when I'm too tired and sore to even move and too ragged to have an appetite. Fixings for smoothies and some breakfast cereal, because maybe skipping breakfast is a bad idea. That shit is important.

I also have menu plans. I found a recipe for gluten-free cereal bars, so I'll be making those. There's some cooked chicken in the freezer that will go into risotto, and that'll last me quite awhile. I also have plans for chicken stew and beef stew. Well, the chicken stew can be immediate but the beef will have to wait a little because a substitution by the grocery store means I have less beef than I needed. But that's okay, because when I go out to get more, I can also get fresh green pepper and courgette for the bolognaise I'm planning. Basically this month is going to be a lot of batch cooking and a lot of stuff going in the freezer. With the way this month's been, having a variety of stuff I can just put in the microwave feels like a good idea. If it keeps getting hotter, I won't feel much like cooking.

However, all of this preparation? OW. Putting it away is one thing, but I also had to do a little bit of a clear-out of the cupboards. Because they're a bit high and fairly deep, I have a hard time reaching to the back of them, so there was some stuff that needed to be binned. But of course, since I do have a hard time reaching to the back of the cupboards, that was also made of ow. I already hurt when I got up today but now, just ... ugh. Still, everything's all set up tidily, and all I need to do is take the stuff that needed binning out to the trash. That's not going to be fun either, but the trash needs to not be in the house.

Preparation is also expensive - the sticker shock on the grocery bill, even when budgeted for, and even when it is an overall savings, is painful. But then again, everything is expensive. At least I can arrange the budget to do that and afford to replace my ancient Blu-Ray / DVD player, which I got second-hand from the parentals ages ago. The old one works, more or less, but makes wonky noises if I try to play Blu-Rays in it, and half the stuff I want to get (as I rebuild my video library because I no longer trust the streaming services) are more easily available on Blu-Ray. Thus, new player. And possibly a little left over to make a bit more of a dent in my Steam wish list, given the Steam summer sale. (Because I need more games, right? Yeesh. Someone needs to keep me away from the Steam Next Fest next year; giving me access to demos is bad for my bank balance.)

Not that there aren't reasons to be cheerful. The groceries? I will be making things with all that. Soup - as well as my usual potato soup, I will be attempting sweet potato soup, because I have become quite the fan of sweet potatoes lately, and soup is good to have around. The stew and bolognaise and risotto. Cereal bars. I might even attempt brownies. I do enjoy making things. As for the new Blu-Ray / DVD player ... well, for those times when sitting in the desk chair is unthinkable, at least I'll have entertainment.

So ... it's worth it. I just have to remind myself that it's worth it. Otherwise, all the pain and expense and everything just gets depressing, and I can't afford to be depressed on top of everything else.

On another note: Scarlet Hollow. Hoooooooooboy. Glad I sprang for that one, I have to say, but ... creepy. Which is good - I like creepy.

#Thess cooks #Thess plays video games

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thedinanshiral · 7 months ago

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The time is nigh.

We´re nearly there. we got news this week.

Say goodbye to "Dreadwolf"

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is now Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and while the name change isn't horrible, insiders poking at it merely hours before BW got to reveal it was particularly annoying. Insiders are good to expose issues, harrassment and other bad practices in the industry, not spoiling game details barely a moment before official news! While we were all waiting for the Summer Games Fest on Friday, "insiders" spoiled the game would have a name change. Soon after BioWare confirmed this with a blog post, but i'll take a moment here to say this is a game many of us have been painfully waiting for ages, there's unimaginable anxiety and expectations involved on all sides and just when we're right around the corner some people popped up to stir a pot that doesn't need any more stirring, considering the dev history of this game i'm sure many people read these insiders' "i know something you don't tee hee" posts and streams and feared the worst, again. Completely unnecessary. Fortunately the news were rather inocuous but what insiders did at such a last moment was still annoying. They did the equivalent of telling an excited kid at Christmas that they got socks right before they got a chance to open their present, at least it feels like that.

Moving from that, many people feel the name could drop that "the" and be just Dragon Age: Veilguard. It'd follow the pattern of DA games having three-words titles (Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition), and personally i think it rolls off the tongue way better without "the" in the middle too. This name change brought with it the acronym issue, and a sad goodbye to all the DA:D jokes. Now people are deciding if it should be DA:V, DAtV, DAVG. Former DA dev and writer David Gaider has already expressed his wish we all just don't go for DAVG, one presumes because it's too close to his own name. DAD jokes are quickly being replaced by Dragon Age TV and Dave ones, and others about DAD going to get cigarrettes and never coming back. I'm already fond of DAV or simply Veilguard.

The name change is already applied to platforms like Stream and console stores, where it's been possible to add the unreleased game to the wishlist since the latest trailer from last year. This one is from the PS5 store:

As BW explains in their blog post, the name change follows a need to change the focus due to this story's particulars. Yes, Solas is an antagonist, a big bad wolf, he's the Dread Wolf! BUT he's not the only threat we'll face this time, there are others, possibly bigger and more urgent matters to deal with. The Veil is quite the protagonist in this game, seems it's the last barrier between Thedas and utter annihilation, and as BW says, "the Veil needs guarding". DAO had the Grey Wardens, DA2 had Hawke & friends, DAI had the Inquisition, and now DAV has the Veilguard, a group of individuals from various backgrounds tasked with guarding the Veil. Pretty straightforward.

Gameplay details

BW has so far revealed we'll meet 7 new companions from a variety of factions and backgrounds, that we could romance any of them and that got everyone excited.. but we can only take 2 at a time to join the party, and combat will include a wheel menu to pause and strategize. This detail has people anticipating combat this time around will be much more like Mass Effect, with only MC and two party members the player might not control but send commands to instead, while some think BG3 and its success may have influenced some decisions as well.

This comparison reminded me of Mass Effect Andromeda, a highly criticized game many threw under a bus quickly and undeservedly (yes, undeservedly) . While it had its flaws it was a good game and its combat was possibly the best ME combat to date, and i think BW may have taken that for DAV. The one redeeiming grace from their last released game before DAV could have very well served as a base for it.

As for the different factions our companions may come from, it has all been teased before in concept art and side media, namely the Tevinter Nights anthology where we were introduced to entirely new factions as well as shown old ones more in depth. Antivan Crows, Mortalitasi, Lords of Fortune to name possibly the most anticipated ones. And we know the action this time will move all over Thedas, exciting new locales like Antiva, Rivain, Tevinter, the Anderfells, Arlathan Forest..

Lore trove!

On top of all these exciting news, just think of the lore, THE LORE. If Solas is not the main threat, if as BW says there are other gods we'll have to deal with as the Veilguard, who are they? Are we finally getting a double Blight? Are those other gods the last two remaining Old Gods OR is it the remaining Evanuris pushing from the other side of the Veil? Just how many fronts will our party be fighting on to save the world? And what ancient mysteries will come to light as we explore northern Thedas? In The Missing comics we learned there are areas of Arlathan forest that are twisted in time and space, paths too dangerous to traverse where spirits may take control of you, and gods know what else is there, what long forgotten horrors are waiting in the shadows of a history very few may remember. Could one of our new companions be an ancient elf? Many questions and the imagination is flying so high and far ..

But i'd like to focus on a small detail. Remember this? The little red book. It's where my avatar comes from! Here's a bit more on that. I remember back then i quickly edited it trying to get a clearer image

The tower on the cover first reminded me back then of the figurines seen on the map in Inquisition, then the protagonist of what we now know is Veilguard was said to be named Rook (possibly a codename), so there it is. The Warden, Hawke, the Inquisitor and now (the) Rook. A chess piece in the Dread Wolf's board. I think that's what the mystery red book's cover is hinting at. So when i read we'll be getting 7 companions my mind went straight to chess. This game will be about strategy, moving the right pieces the right way, specially if we'll be fighting on multiple fronts. The protagonist Rook and 7 companions.

Also reminded me of Solas' banter with the Iron Bull where they were playing a chess match mentally on the go. Here's a great recap of it. I don't understand chess, never really got to fully learn it, but i appreciate its symbolic value and of course, this will be a race of wits.

Solas, the other gods, the politics, the manipulations and revelations, everything Thedas has to offer is getting closer by the minute. Today it's the Xbox Showcase, in a couple of hours, we're all counting on some kind of reveal after the SGF gave us nothing. I hope for a cinematic trailer and introduction of companions, maybe if i could be so greedy even a release date or the possibility to pre-order, or a date for it. If not, we still have Tuesday 11th for a confirmed and announced by BW 15 minutes long gameplay reveal.

A gameplay reveal, fiften minutes!! It's real, it's happening, we're going home.

#dragon age #dragon age veilguard #dragon age the veilguard #dragon age 4 #dav

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faefarm · 2 years ago

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The Fae Farm Hype Train Is Leaving the Station

The latest roundup of Fae Farm news and FAQ!

Hello Fae Friends!

We’ve had a ton of new announcements for Fae Farm the last month, beginning with the incredibly fun Summer Game Fest stream where we announced our Pre-Order window along with the September 8th release date! But wait, there’s more!

We also just unveiled the pre-order goodies you’ll be able to grab for players who pre-order Fae Farm! You'll be able to add the Cozy Cabin Variety Pack to your game once you’ve landed in Azoria’s shores.

While we’re riding this hype train, we wanted to take the time to answer some frequently asked questions about Fae Farm! If your question isn’t answered below, please feel free to send us an Ask and we’ll answer if we can!

Now let’s get down to it!

Let’s Talk Questions

What platforms will Fae Farm be on?

Fae Farm will be available on both the Nintendo Switch and on PC through Steam and Epic Game Store!

When will Fae Farm be available?

You can Fae Jump into Azoria beginning September 8, 2023!

Is Fae Farm digital-only or will physical versions be available?

Fae Farm will have a physical Nintendo Switch release and can be pre-ordered through major retailers. The game will be digitally available through the Nintendo eShop, Steam, and the Epic Game Store.

What languages is the game available in?

Fae Farm is playable in English, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain, Latin America), Chinese (Traditional, Simplified), Japanese and Korean.

Can players create their own character in Fae Farm?

Absolutely! Once you start up the game, you’ll be able to create your own unique character, choosing from a variety of body sizes and shapes, skin tones, hair, facial features, and pronouns. Once you’re in the game, you can continue to collect different outfits and dyes to further customize your Fae Farmer. You’ll even be able to unlock a mirror that allows you to change your appearance whenever you want!

Can players establish relationships?

What’s life without a little love? You’ll be able to befriend a number of denizens in the world of Azoria, and some of them will be romanceable too! Experience the joys of both romantic and platonic love and forge strong friendships as you progress through the game!

Is multiplayer required to enjoy Fae Farm?

While playing Fae Farm with friends is always great fun, it is fantastic to play solo too! You can build your homestead, tend to crops and animals, progress through the game, and even complete the epic experience solo! We want you to enjoy the game YOUR way.

Does Fae Farm have online or co-op gameplay?

Fae Farm can be enjoyed with friends and family either online, or locally via the ad-hoc wireless feature! You can invite anyone who owns the game to visit their homestead and help them grow their farm, traverse dungeons, and progress through the game together. Variety is the spice of life, so you’ll be able to have multiple save options for different playthroughs!

Next Stop: Summer Fun

We hope we’ve been able to shed a little more light on our upcoming game! Don’t worry, we’ll have tons of fun events coming up to keep you entertained until September 8th rolls around! If you want to play with wisps and the farm animals of Azoria, you can drop by our Instagram page!

Join us

#fae farm #cozy games #faefarm #nintendo switch #cozy pc #faefarmblog #illustration

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icharchivist · 1 year ago

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nonnie who knows next to nothing about gbf here

i got curious about the cosplay show fights u were talking about a while back and-

well the first result on yt is just belial aka crotch guy getting it on with sandalphon dude

nobody prepared me for this huh

also the random killing people in the audience???

HELLO THERE

And HELPP i think i know exactly the one fight you mean, i think we all absolutely lost our mind over this one (i even posted the video here)

Okay so basically the thing you need to know is that Granblue has a lot of festival in Japan. 3 of them are livestreamed for a few days (usually, the New Year Festival, the Anniversary Festival (in March) and the Summer Festival), and then the rest of the festival happen elsewhere and we just get to learn about it via pictures and videos and such.

The general festivals have cosplay shows in general, but i think the rest of the features from the livestreamed festival are heavily cut down, but, here's what to expect from a Livestreamed Festival

-Reproduction of sets from the game

-a coffeeshop selling goods themed after the game

-general merch -some gaming display

-Official Cosplayer roaming the convention hall. Those cosplayers are trained to look and behave like their characters, they're real pros

-Fashion show of those Cosplayer where they wear special outfits from special artworks

-Small fight shows. Those happens even in general festival. This is where we get those beauty:

-In the New Year Festival, we get a massive 1 hour long Cosplay show: In here all the major cosplayers get to replay some of the events that happened this year (and we replay wmtsb still because we love it). I also posted Marionette Stars' show (that amazes me bc seeing a cosplayer doing backflip is amazing me) and Strength to Wield (with subs!). The audio comes from the gamefiles, the cosplayers are lipsynching to the audio files.

for example here's a link to the 2023 livestream with a timestamp to the Cosplay show

-Interviews with 3D characters. There are boots you can visit with 3D characters. some streams come with general interviews:

or this

youtube

the 3D characters also end up talking to the seiyuu presenting the whole show it's a delight. last time Belial told Lowain's seiyuu he was down to fuck him. It was great.

-SEIYUU SHOWS.

So every big festival seiyuu meet up to talk about game news, and then they play games themed around events that happened this year, and if they win those games we get rewards in game

here pictured: Shirai Yusuke winning a round of Red Light Green Light

also redirecting you to when they had a "who does those man-tits belong to challenge" 1, 2, 3

they also discuss popularity polls and game stats

-Concerts from the Soundtrack people

-Seiyuu Concerts where they sing their own song or even do song swaps

-Hologram concerts:

youtube

-Backstage show for Merch presentation by seiyuu, and Seiyuu reacting to what's going on in the audience:

youtube

(if there's one videos in this post to watch it's this one it's so funny. mood.)

And so much more that i'm forgetting.

Honestly it's extremely impressive, i tune in to most of the fest when i can because it's just so damn cool (and then you end up having a parasocial relationship with seiyuu, not because they played your fav characters, but because they are silly. or because they feel your pain as granblue players. and also a parasocial relationship with the cosplayers)

So this is so impressive, i love the festivals so much.

And yeah, so, when the festival isn't livestreamed, generally it's mostly small cosplay show and it's where we try to go on twitter to scout for pictures of the small shows in questions.

But the big ones are always so cool.

the more you know. welcome to the great world of Granblue Festivals.

#ALSO SINCE I GOT YOU A WORD OF ADVICE:#if you can't play an event in granblue fantasy/can't read it #skip the event by clicking on the skip buttons in it. it will save the event in your journal for you to read later #this is my ultimate rookie advice you'll thank me on the long term #ANYWAY. THE MORE YOU KNOW.#ichareply #anonymous #ichafantalks gbf #long post for ts

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goombasa · 7 months ago

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A Casual Comparison in Formats for Gaming Presentations

Quick peek behind the curtain, I generally have several blog posts written in advance so that I don't have to worry about not having something written for each week and I can afford to miss a week every now and then. However, I'm actually making an exception this time since I really wanted to get my thoughts on this down while it's still relatively close to the events in question.

So last week at the time that this is being posted, we had the whole Summer Games Fest event, and there were a LOT of presentations this year. Not just some of the big names showing up again like Xbox and Ubisoft (Sony's State of Play was a week before the event and Nintendo, at least at this point, still hasn't announced when their Direct is taking place), and the returning PC Gaming and Future Games show, and a few very large games are even getting their very own spotlight directs, like Black Ops 6 and Dragon Age: Veilguard.

However, there were a LOT more shows that were much more independent game focused that weren't put on by a single corporate entity and that weren't covering massive studio releases; The Access-Ability direct, the Guerrilla Collective, the always terrifying and comedic Devolver Direct, the Wholesome Games direct, the Latin American and Women-Led Game showcases, there were so many of them this year.

And of course I went and watched them all, and my wishlist for upcoming releases has heavily ballooned as a result. With that being said, as I was watching all of these shows, I couldn't help but notice a very big difference from the way that they were handled. Granted, these differences, looking back, have pretty much been there the whole time, but I feel like the difference this was was far, far more staunch. Even at the very start, comparing the feeling, the pacing, and the way that games and devs were shown off during the Geurilla Collective compared to the main Summer Games Fest stream, it's rather amazing to see just how devoted to JUST games the former was compared to the latter. I'm not saying that every game was a banger, or that it was totally free of advertisement, but it was very much kept to a minimum, and the games were always front and center, the main attraction.

I compare that to the Summer Games Fest stream where, yes, they had a lot of really good announcements, but much like how the Awards of the Game Awards always felt sort of secondary, the games themselves felt more secondary compared to the brand or the prestige of the stage show. In that way, Summer Games Fest's main show feels like a direct continuation of E3, for better and for worse.

Again, I saw things during the show that I thought were definitely worth checking out, but compared to the absolute deluge of just rapid-fire new game announcements that a lot of the indie showcases were showing off, I found my attention slipping a lot more, just because there was a lot more talking, a lot more sponsorship spots, a lot more attention paid to the fact that it was a show on a stage. There was also a lot more in-person developer talk, which don't get me wrong, it's nice to hear from the devs themselves, but I think that's something that should come out as a supplement after the show is over. The Cozy Gaming Show and the Geurilla collective handled this, in my opinion, the best. There was plenty of dev talk, but it was presented over gameplay meant to demonstrate and enhance what is being told to us, rather than a cinematic or a very cut up and choreographed gameplay segment. It just gives me a much better idea of how a game would feel to play compared to a trailer that is made to get me hyped more than anything.

Maybe I'm just getting boring as the years go on, and I do like a bit of hype now and then, but I really prefer my game trailers to be more straightforward. No dev talk, just a clear indication of what sort of game it is, what it's about, and maybe a bit of intrigue to get me interested in its overarching story or characters. That's all.

I will actually give Microsoft credit for that (not for much else, though, we should still be holding their feet to the fire for how they bought up and then shuttered several studios because of bad deals THEY made). Their show this year was actually pretty good about putting the games front and center. Most of the trailers did still have a feeling of being a more idealized presentation of the games themselves, but all things considered, it was not nearly as bad as the future gaming show or the PC gaming show, where the host banter was especially bad this year. Nothing against the hosts themselves, just that the scripts they were working off of were absolutely insufferable, and there is nothing more uncomfortable and off putting to me than bad gaming banter.

All this being said, it's really a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things. We got HUNDREDS of games announced this year, far too many to reasonably play or even just try in a reasonable manner, but it is important to remember, first impressions tend to matter a lot, and if you want me to take a look at your game after it's been introduced to me, I want to know what I'm getting into.

It can be a very difficult balance to hit, this is true. You don't want to reveal too little, that's just a teaser. Revealing too much can be off-putting as well (Nintendo) because you rob players of the joy or surprise of discovering something for themselves. Again, I think a lot of these indie showcases definitely strike the best chord for that, and the fact that they go out of their way to cram just, so, SO MUCH into those shows is also a massive plus. Even the shorter indie showcases like the Women-Led showcase did a great job of primarily sticking to showing off as many games as they could, putting them in the most interesting light possible.

And at the very least, those shows always have the absolute best variety possible. If I had more time in my week, I would probably go out of my way to list every game I was interested in trying, I'd probably be writing a novella-sized list right now. I love the fact that independent developers are getting more and more of a spotlight and if the trends continue in the direction they have been, I'll be real happy to see things like the Geurilla Collective and Cozy Games direct becoming the standard in the future.

#Summer of Gaming #Indie Games #Video Games #Gaming Industry #Presentation Comparison

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