Updated: Sep 14, 2024 10:53 am EDT (GMT -04:00)

Saturday, Sep 14, 2024

Counterfeit Game Ring Smashed

BBC News has details on a video game crime ring broken-up by Italian authorities that resulted in the seizure of counterfeit video games and consoles with a street value of over US$52 million (thanks brother19). The seized games "all from China" are reportedly now destroyed, and nine individuals face up to eight years in prison for trading in counterfeit goods. Word is the games were titles popular in the 1980s-90s, and the consoles were imitations of Nintendo, Sega, and Atari systems which "did not meet strict safety standards."

Around 12,000 consoles holding over 47 million pirated video games were seized by police, Alessandro Langella, head of the economic crime unit for Turin's financial police, told the AFP news agency.

The haul had an estimated value of €47.5m, Mr Langella said, a figure which includes the value of the consoles and hundreds of licenses for the pirated programs.

They were "all from China" and were imported to be sold in specialised shops or online, Mr Langella said.

StormEdge Storms Out

StormEdge is now available for Windows PC on GOG.com* and Steam, and this action/roguelike from Shieldbreaking Games and HypeTrain Digital is 10% off for the next two weeks. This recent gameplay trailer shows off fast-paced gameplay and retro pixel-art graphics. If you're still on the fence, there's a playable demo on Steam to see just how edgy this is. Here's more:
StormEdge is an Action-Roguelite where you have to balance your desire to use powerful skills with the risk of taking damage or putting yourself in a vulnerable position. Experiment and try new things!

You will take the role of one of the bravest and most talented mages who is forming StormEdge – a guild whose aim is to stop the elemental storms and save the world.
*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item. Continue here to read the full story.

Out of the Blue

The Hollywood Reporter has a story on Roland Emmerich, noting that he's getting ready to shop a Lawrence of Arabia remake. So take whatever complaints I would normally register about remaking a classic and amplify them quite a bit, since we're talking about Roland Emmerich. He is apparently oblivious to his oeuvre, as the director hopes "to do a little bit what Godfather II did." But since he is the creator of Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, it's more likely this will involve T.E. Lawrence trekking across the entire desert to save his son, or some side character winning World War I by heroically flying his Sopwith Camel into enemy HQ.

Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Brunch Link

Stories

Science

Media

Creature Features

Support the Site!

Established 1995. Over one-and-a-third billion visitors since 1997.

Friday, Sep 13, 2024 Scooby Doo Day

Edge of Sanity Released

Daedalic Entertainment and Vixa Games have launched Edge of Sanity, and this survival/horror game is available for Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, and Switch. The Windows edition comes with a 10% launch discount, and you can pick it up from the Epic Games Store, GOG.com,* and Steam. The demo is no longer available, but this post on Steam discussing the launch reminds everyone they can pick up in the full game where they left off if they played it, saying "your saves should move automatically." Here's the Release Trailer and here's more on the Eldritch horrors it depicts:
Edge of Sanity is a psychological survival horror game set in the unforgiving wilderness of Alaska featuring hand-crafted 2D art and intense atmosphere inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos.

You were part of a resupply team helping scientists working in the Alaskan field lab. Finding the site devoid of humanity, you stumble upon horrifying creatures and during the escape your group splits up. You barely made it out alive and managed to set up a provisional camp. It’s time to get to the bottom of what happened.
*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item. Continue here to read the full story.

Demos & Freebies

  • Animal Shelter 2: Prologue on Steam (Windows). "Welcome back to the heartwarming world of Animal Shelter 2: Prologue! Provide a loving home for every four-legged friend in need – play with them, pet them, even dress them up! Get to know them and find them a loving family. Play with your friends and manage your shelter together in co-op!"
  • REYNATIS on Steam (Windows). "Fantasy meets reality in Shibuya, Tokyo, where magic is something to be feared. In this action RPG, a young wizard seeks freedom through strength, and an officer seeks to control magic and restore order. When their paths cross, a darkness that will transform the world descends."

LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW RePOP Pops Out

LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW RePOP is now available for Windows and consoles, and PC gamers can pop over to Steam and pick this fighting game remake with a 10% launch discount. The Release Trailer (NSFW) is here with a look at the remastered craziness this brings. Here's word:
Lollipop Chainsaw, which sold 1.24 million copies worldwide, is back with the latest graphics!

The cheerleader Juliet, born into a family of zombie hunters, uses her trusty chainsaw to rip and tear through the undead! But now that RePOP adds speedier chainsaw action and auto-fire for her chainsaw blaster, the action never slows down till the very end! And it's not just the gameplay that's been improved, the visuals and soundtrack have been powered up too! Don't miss out on this unparalleled zombie hunting adventure!
Continue here to read the full story.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles DLC

The Fairy Queen's Labyrinth is now available for Windows on Steam and for consoles, adding a second DLC pack to That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles. So yeah, this carries the very Bandai Namco title That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles - The Fairy Queen's Labyrinth. The Introduction Trailer takes a look, and in case the paragraph-long title doesn't paint a complete picture, here are more details:
In “The Fairy Queen’s Labyrinth” DLC, Veldora joins the battle as a playable character. The DLC also introduces a new mode where players can explore the original labyrinth built by Demon Lord Ramiris alongside the revived Veldora, pushing their limits as they take on a 100-level dungeon packed with formidable monsters. Additionally, the DLC includes five new sub-quests and seven new buildings for players to experience the base game’s “Tempest Story” on a deeper level.

In addition to the DLC, fans can also purchase the Season Pass and Digital Deluxe Edition which includes more bonus content.
Continue here to read the full story.

Caravan SandWitch Released

Dear Villagers and Studio Plane Toast have released Caravan SandWitch for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Switch, and the PC edition of this narrative sci-fi game is on the Epic Games Store and Steam with a 10% launch discount. The Launch trailer shows off space campers, ziplines, talking frogs, and more, set to a haunting French theme song. Here's word:
The title sets the player in a Sci-Fi Provence-like world, driven by a mystery through your missing sister that unfolds with each step you take. Players will traverse a rich landscape in their evolving van, interacting with various inhabitants and uncovering the mysteries of Cigalo. With an emphasis on inclusivity and environmental themes, the life in Caravan Sandwitch is simple: no combat, no death, no timer, just you, your van, and the world.
Continue here to read the full story.

Hollowbody Released

Hollowbody is now available for Windows with a 10% launch discount on GOG.com* and Steam, kicking off a "tech-noir survival horror title" from solo developer Headware Games. The game's creepy environments and third-person gameplay are shown off in the PC Launch Trailer (NSFW), which also features the soundtrack which is available separately. Here's the pitch:
A dystopian love letter to survival horror, Hollowbody effortlessly evokes classic titles of yesteryear, while carving out its own distinct take on the genre. Grimy and abandoned urban locations sit toe-to-toe with an eye-catching futurist aesthetic, while a mysterious, tech-noir narrative will grip players as they explore a long abandoned British city.

Set in the near-future, players take control of Mica, an unlicensed black market shipper who will stop at nothing to find her missing partner. After her hover crashes deep within the exclusion zone, she is left alone and stranded with limited resources at her disposal. She will have to push her way through the zone, solve environmental puzzles, manage resources and fight for her life as she tries to find a way to escape beyond the wall.
*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item. Continue here to read the full story.

DUCKSIDE Beta

Developer/publisher tinyBuild announces September 25th is the Early Access launch date for DUCKSIDE, the fowl variation on the DayZ/RUST survival shooter formula. To make this has all its ducks in a row, one last beta session is underway. You can request access on Steam if you want a quack. The latest look at gameplay is in the Early Access Release Date Trailer. Here's word:
Over 10 million ducks get killed per year by featherless hunters, a statistic that would be much lower if ducks were combat trained. Enter DUCKSIDE, a persistent world survi-fowl game like DayZ or Rust… but you’re a duck, and so is everybody else.

Wake up at the quack of dawn and put those webbed feet to use or take flight across an expansive island, where valuable resources and egg-citing treasures await any lucky duckys fortunate enough to discover them.
Continue here to read the full story.

Morning Patches

↑ Official patches. ↓ Unofficial games, patches, and mods.

Morning Metaverse

Morning Audio Files

Out of the Blue

Happy Friday the 13th, I guess? Please observe all safety protocols regarding navigating around ladders, proper handling of mirrors, and stepping on cracks. On the other, hand, it seems like another solar flare (thanks Ant) is once again increasing the chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis much further south than usual, so skywatchers may be in luck.

Obituary: Bob Weatherwax, Trainer of Lassie and Other Celebrity Dogs, Dies at 83 - The New York Times. Thanks Devicer.

Lucky Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Breakfast Links

Science

Media

About That Ad Blocker
We see you're using an ad blocker. While we strive to make our ads behave, we understand your desire for peace and privacy. So please consider becoming a supporter to take advantage of the no ads version of Blue's News. This will help sustain our efforts to bring you the best in gaming and tech news without requiring you to see ads or suffer a guilty conscience. You'll even get a nifty forum badge that will be the envy of the neighborhood!
Support the Site!