Leading online retailer Ebuyer has joined forces with Make-A-Wish® UK as their official tech gaming partner.
Every day, the lives of 10 families in the UK are changed forever when a child is diagnosed with a serious illness. From that moment, childhood takes a backseat to medical appointments and worry.
When children with serious illness or life-limiting condition are referred to Make-A-Wish, they really do make a wish, and the charity does everything it can to make it come true. The charity, established in 1986, works with partners around the world to help fulfil those wishes.
Ebuyer E-Commerce Director Andy Roberts said, “We’re really excited about being the official tech partner of Make-A-Wish. They do such an incredible job creating life-changing wishes. Ebuyer is playing a small part by providing the tech that the children and young people wish for, yet this small gesture can make a huge difference to them and their families.”
The East Yorkshire based online retailer has over 6 million registered customers and supplies tech to consumers, businesses and educational establishments throughout the UK.
Make-A-Wish Corporate Partnerships Manager Gina Fuoco said: “Ebuyer has been helping us grant our gaming and tech wishes since August 2020. Their support came at a vital time – making 54 wishes a reality when so many had to be cancelled or postponed because of the pandemic.
“That included 21 wishes for PS5s which were like gold dust to obtain! Gaming enables young people to interact, improve their motor skills and have fun. It often creates a level playing field online that contrasts with a seriously ill child’s real life experience so these wishes have a long-term impact.
“Ebuyer’s support has also included gifts-in-kind worth £22,636 which is incredible. We are hugely grateful to Ebuyer and excited to grow our partnership to grant even more wishes together this year.”
Over the weekend, during a Pokémon Presents video presentation, Tsunekazu Ishihara—president and CEO of The Pokémon Company—announced Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus—new video games coming to the blockbuster series that spans 25 years.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl will launch in late 2021, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus will launch in early 2022. All three games will be available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch™ system.
In 2006, Trainers were introduced to the Sinnoh region with the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl on the Nintendo DS system. Players can once again visit the Sinnoh region in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, which are faithful remakes of two iconic Pokémon games. Pokémon Legends: Arceus will introduce fans to the Sinnoh region of old—before the existence of Pokémon Trainers and Pokémon Leagues. It’s in this long-gone era that players will embark on an entirely new adventure to create the region’s first Pokédex.
“Trainers caught their first Pokémon in 1996 and began an adventure that has lasted 25 years. Through eight regions, many different platforms, and countless Pokémon encounters, they have strived to be the very best,” said Mr. Ishihara. “We hope that fans of all ages will enjoy creating new memories while exploring the Sinnoh region in these new games.”
More details about the highly anticipated New Pokémon Snap game were also shared in the video presentation, in addition to information about special in-game events taking place in celebration of Pokémon’s 25th anniversary.
For more information about the Pokémon 25th anniversary celebration, please visit Pokemon.uk/25.
It’s time again to suit up and hit the frontlines of Geonosis with Delta Squad in the fight for the Republic of the Clone Wars!
Aspyr today announced the return of a Star Wars classic – Star Wars Republic Commando, the fan-favorite, first-person tactical shooter where players lead a team of clone commandos as they battle through increasingly difficult missions that take place throughout the legendary Clone Wars.
The game, brought back as a single player experience with modernized controls, arrives for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on April 6 for $14.99.
“Since its original launch in 2005, Republic Commando continues to be a fan-favorite Star Wars game. We’re honored to be able work with Lucasfilm Games to bring back this beloved moment in franchise history.” said Ted Staloch, Aspyr Co-founder.
Star Wars Republic Commando
Chaos has erupted throughout the galaxy. As leader of an elite squad of Republic Commandos, your mission is to infiltrate, dominate, and ultimately, annihilate the enemy. Boss, Fixer, Scorch, and Sev, better known as Delta Squad, are back! Your squad will follow your orders and your lead, working together as a team – instinctively, intelligently, instantly. Relive the legendary campaign.
Welcome to the Clone Wars: Chaos has erupted throughout the galaxy. As leader of an elite squad of Republic Commandos, your mission is to infiltrate, dominate, and ultimately annihilate the enemy.
Battle Relentless Enemies: Battle a variety of highly intelligent and deadly enemies—from brutal Trandoshan mercenaries to the flying insectoid warriors of Geonosis.
The Squad is Your Weapon: Your squad will follow your orders, performing complex commands and strategic maneuvers. You are their leader. They are your weapon.
Pre-orders start today for Nintendo Switch on the eShop LINK.
Star Wars Republic Commando launches April 6 on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4
Today, SQUARE ENIX LTD announced that Marvel’s Avengers launches on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles on March 18, 2021 alongside the second new playable Super Hero for the game: Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye, the unmatched archer with unerring precision.
Players who own the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version of the game can upgrade to the full next-gen version at no additional cost* and transfer their save game to keep their progress.
Clint Barton will bring his unique talents to the game’s roster as part of Marvel’s Avengers Operation: Hawkeye – Future Imperfect at no cost to owners of the core game on all platforms.
In addition to a new playable Super Hero and the new chapter in the game’s ongoing Avengers Initiative story, Marvel’s Avengers Operation: Hawkeye – Future Imperfect also introduces a powerful new villain: Maestro, a version of Hulk with Bruce Banner’s brains and the Hulk’s strengths and abilities, now driven mad in an apocalyptic future.
About Marvel’s Avengers on PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S version of Marvel’s Avengers offers higher framerates and enhanced visuals compared to current generation of consoles at up to 4K resolution on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and 1440p for Xbox Series S. The game utilizes the consoles’ built-in SSD for dramatically faster loading and streaming times and takes advantage of their graphics power and memory to deliver higher-resolution textures, farther draw distances for high-resolution models, improved heroics and armour destruction, and other enhancements that leverage the full might of these new consoles to make gamers truly feel like a Super Hero.
Players who transfer their profiles and save games to next-gen consoles continue the action right where they left off. In addition, cross-gen play is supported so PS5™ connect and play with their friends on PS4™ and Xbox Series X|S players can connect with their friends on Xbox One.
About Marvel’s Avengers Operation: Hawkeye– Future Imperfect
Future Imperfect’s story picks up in the wake of Clint Barton’s protégé Kate Bishop’s Operation, Taking AIM and can be played solo or with up to three friends to deliver the ultimate Super Hero experience. Players will learn more about Hawkeye’s quest to find Nick Fury, leader of SHIELD, who he believed could help stop the rise of AIM. What he uncovered instead was a dangerous new weapon being built by Scientist Supreme Monica Rappaccini that could change the fate of humanity. Along the way, Clint finds himself wrapped up in a time-bending experiment, journeying to a future Earth destroyed by cosmic forces and inhabited by Maestro, an older, twisted version of Hulk who is as smart as he is strong.
The lead-up to Future Imperfect began with Marvel’s Avengers Operation: Kate Bishop – Taking AIM, which launched on December 8, 2020. In Taking AIM, Kate Bishop, master archer and skilled gymnast, resurfaced after her investigation of Nick Fury’s disappearance following A-Day led to Hawkeye going missing as well. As she unravelled the mystery behind the sudden appearance of time-warping Tachyon Rifts, she uncovered a twisted new plan from AIM, which pushed her to work with the Avengers once again.
About Marvel’s Avengers
Marvel’s Avengers offers players a truly rich experience and combines the single player focused Reassemble story campaign with the ongoing Avengers Initiative’s War Zone missions, which take the Avengers around the world and beyond. Each mission in the Reassemble campaign is designed to showcase one or more hero’s unique abilities, while the Avengers Initiative missions can be played solo with your own custom AI team or with a group of up to four players** as any Hero in the player’s roster.
The narrative of Marvel’s Avengers will expand over time with the addition of new stories featuring new heroes, villains, mission types, regions, items, and more delivered to players at no additional cost once they own the core game. These stories move the entire Marvel’s Avengers narrative world forward on a multi-year arc, and all new missions are accessible to the entire roster of playable heroes.
Marvel’s Avengers is currently available on PlayStation®4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia and is rated PEGI 16.
*Free upgrade available only from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, or from Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S. Upgrade from PlayStation 4 disc version requires PlayStation 5 console with disc drive. Upgrade from Xbox One disc version requires Xbox Series X console. **Internet connection required. Your platform’s online multiplayer requirements will apply.
As part of RuneScape’s programme of 20th anniversary-themed content, the first instalment of ‘Once Upon A Time’, the living game’s multi-part anniversary storyline, launches in-game today.
Titled ‘Foreshadowing’, it begins a celebratory adventure that will run across the entire year and sees players journeying through the living game’s past, present and future as the story unravels.
In Once Upon A Time: Foreshadowing, players will meet both allies and antagonists who will establish the story’s themes and plot.
Players will encounter Relomia, emissary of the now deceased Sliske, as she attempts to find her place in a world without her idol and long-time players will recognise a few familiar faces as her adventure unfolds.
Completing Foreshadowing rewards players with a new kind of hat called ‘Relomia’s Party Hat’, paying tribute to the beloved and much sought-after party hat.
While RuneScape has already received more than 1,000 game and content updates in its two decades, 2021 is packed with 20th anniversary excitement and much more for both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape.
The Label’s annual Indie Showdown competition which celebrates indie game makers and honors excellence in the indie mobile game community is open through February 19, 2021.
Past winners include Levelhead by Butterscotch Shenanigans, What the Golf? by Triband, Mushroom 11 by Untame, Tiny Bubbles by Pine Street Codeworks, Old Man’s Journey by Broken Rules, and Bring You Home by Alike Studios.
Indie Showdown submissions will be judged not only on fun-factor, but on all aspects of the game’s craftsmanship – its design, technical, visual, and audio elements. With no cost to enter and cash prizes totaling $17,000, the world’s top mobile indie game makers are encouraged to submit today https://www.thelabel.game/indie-showdown.
“This is our sixth annual Indie Showdown and we’re excited to see what undiscovered games capture the judges’ attention and eventually land on the top charts,” said Mike Ouye, VP and General Manager, The Label. “While the year is just getting underway, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2021 when it comes to mobile games!”
The panel of judges will include the original Indie Showdown contest winner, Tim Garbos, Creative Director on What the Golf? as well as Itay Keren, founder of Untame Games and creator of Mushroom 11, and Joshua Babich, The Label’s Director of Product.
The top 10 games will be revealed on March 10, with winners announced shortly after. Prizes include: $10,000 for the grand first-place winner, $5,000 for the second place prize, and $2,000 for the third place winner.
Highlighted rules:
Pre-launch: Your game must not be launched worldwide.
Indie: You must not have a publisher or signed publishing agreement.
Gayming Magazine are thrilled to announce that The Gayming Awards presented by EA Games will be exclusively broadcast worldwide on Twitch at www.twitch.tv/gaymingmag/, February 24th 2021, 20:00 GMT.
The Gayming Awards aim to commemorate the achievements of the wider, global gaming industry and how they have championed LGBTQ people through the creative medium of video gaming.
Alongside this announcement, Gayming Magazine will also be welcoming several new sponsors for the 2021 Gayming Awards. Xbox, PlayStation, Hangar 13, Sold Out Games and Rocksteady will be joining the cohort of sponsors already partnered with the event.
Each award category will be represented by a different sponsor, the list you can find below:
Game of the Year – EA Games
Gayming Magazine Reader’s Award – PlayStation
Best LGBTQ Indie Game – Xbox
LGBTQ Streamer of the Year – Twitch
Industry Diversity Award – Square Enix
Authentic Representation Award – Green Man Gaming
Best LGBTQ Character – Rocksteady
Best LGBTQ Narrative – Hangar 13
On the Gayming Awards, Erin Wayne, Head of Community and Creator Marketing at Twitch, had the following to say: “Twitch is a place where people from all walks of life come together to share experiences and build community. The LGTBQIA+ community is one of the most passionate, welcoming, and engaging communities on Twitch and we are proud to support and recognize their achievements. We look forward to being the home for this year’s Gayming Awards, as well as presenting the award for the LGBTQ Streamer of the Year.”
Gayming Magazine has also revealed the official Gayming Awards 2021 t-shirt, made in collaboration with Seven Squared. Proceeds from the shirt will be going to the video games mental health charity Safe In Our World. The t-shirt is available now at this link.
Kim Parker-Adcock, trustee of Safe In Our World, had the following to say on the collaboration, “We’re delighted to see Gayming Magazine and Seven Squared’s collaboration to create the official Gayming Awards 2021 t-shirt – this will support Safe In Our World in our mission and allow us to keep making positive change within the industry and beyond.”
Critically-acclaimed queer comedian Suzi Ruffell will be hosting the evening, best known for her appearances on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Go 8 Bit and more. Suzi Ruffell has also had five sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival with stand-up shows racking up critical acclaim from reviewers and audiences alike.
Are you ready to boldly go where no game has gone before? You are? Excellent, because Thunderbox Entertainment are looking for intrepid space explorers to help them put the final coat of polish on their new game, The Captain is Dead!
If you reckon you’ve got what it takes to kick alien ass, fix a busted spaceship, and save your crazy crew, then be sure to join the beta for this intense, Dilithium-fuelled strategy that’s the perfect mash-up of board and video game.
The only prerequisite to join in, is any kind of computer or mobile device! If you’ve got one of those, then you’ll be able to play the game for free for an entire month – all you have to do is sign up, and then let the dev team know if you spot anything a little bit woo (as they say in the Orion Nebula).
And don’t beat about the binary star system… be sure to proceed at maximum warp, because spots on the beta are limited to a few hundred per platform!
Featuring next-gen visuals from the 90’s, a banging, synthwave soundtrack, better-than-average voice acting, and more lasers than a Skrillex gig, The Captain is Dead will be dropping out of warp on Steam, iOS and Android on February the 1st, 2021… but all you speedy space cadets can join the beta to start playing before anyone else, so sign up today!
HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology, Inc., today announced the release of HyperX SoloCastTM USB microphone for streamers and content creators.
SoloCast offers Plug N Play audio recording capability and a tap-to-mute feature that indicates the mute status when the red LED is flashing. Using a cardioid recording pattern, it provides a clear sound ideal for streamers, casters, students, and working from home.
SoloCast microphone offers an easy Plug N Play setup. It utilises a cardioid polar pattern that is more sensitive to sound sources directly in front of the microphone, making it great for in-game voice chat, streaming voice audio, and audio recordings for content creation.
“We are excited to expand our USB microphone line with the addition of HyperX SoloCast,” said Bianca Walter, Business Manager, HyperX EMEA. “We are always looking for new ways to deliver an amazing user experience, expanding our USB microphone lineup with our new SoloCast brings a different option to streamers and content creators.”
The SoloCast small size and rotatable stand with adjustable tilt positions gives it the ability to fit in small or tight places, such as under a monitor. The included mount adapter fits both 3/8” and 5/8” thread sizes and is compatible with most stands and boom arms.
The SoloCast microphone joins the HyperX microphone lineup with the recently launched QuadCast S microphone with RGB lighting. Both microphones are compatible with PC, PS4, and Mac® and works on major streaming platforms like Streamlabs OBS, OBS Studio, and XSplit and is certified by Discord and TeamSpeakTM.
Availability HyperX SoloCast USB microphone is available for €74.99 / £64.99 MSRP through HyperX’s Online Shop. For more information on the HyperX SoloCast USB microphone global availability, please visit the SoloCast USB microphone product page
Following the success of GGJ NEXT Online – the Global Game Jam event for younger participants that takes place each summer, and this year also moved to a digital format – GGJ Online is officially announced to take place January 27-31, 2021. Join thousands of hobbyist, student, and professional game developers from over 115 countries across the world online this January to celebrate creation, collaboration and togetherness despite being apart!
Additionally, Seattle video game industry veteran and champion for game development and climate science, Tim Cullings, joins Global Game Jam, Inc as Director of Operations, replacing Jo Summers who served as the GGJ Executive Producer for over three years. A Systems Engineer at Oculus and Founding Board Member for Seattle Indies, Cullings also helped found GUILD, a support group for indie game developer community organizers, as well as Games For Our Future, a multi-city game jam that brings together climate science researchers and game developers to make games about climate change related issues.
“We’ve been discussing GGJ Online with our community on social media for a few months already. Given the current global situation, it was really never an ‘if’, it was a ‘when’ and ‘how’,” said Kate Edwards, Executive Director of Global Game Jam. “The tenets of Global Game Jam – creativity, collaboration, inclusion and fun – are more important now than ever, and we are so excited to have Tim Cullings joining our staff. His extensive background in supporting indie developers and organizing charity game jam events for change will prove invaluable as we steer into the uncharted waters ahead.”
The Global Game Jam® (GGJ) is the world’s largest game creation event taking place around the globe, typically at physical locations. A “game jam” is essentially a hackathon focused on game development. It is the growth of an idea that in today’s heavily connected world, we could come together, be creative, share experiences and express ourselves in a multitude of ways using video games – it is very universal. The weekend stirs a global creative buzz in games, while at the same time exploring the process of development, be it programming, iterative design, narrative exploration or artistic expression. It is all condensed into a 48 hour development cycle. The GGJ encourages people with all kinds of backgrounds to participate and contribute to this global spread of game development and creativity.
For individuals interested in running a GGJ Online site, please click here to fill out the application.
The Train2Game Blog 