CD Projekt Red, besides being the development powerhouse behind The Witcher series of games, also runs GOG.com (formerly known as Good Old Games), a digital distribution platform that prides itself on providing all of its games without controversial DRM. Unfortunately for them, Microsoft reaffirmed their stance of an always-online, publisher and console dictated DRM, and CEO Marcin Iwiński had a few choice words to say about that:

There are people who don’t mind the DRM protection and will pick Xbox One as their platform of choice. We can’t punish them. Again, we always stress the fact that we’re against DRM, but in the market system it’s the clients who make the final decision. As developers, we need to create best content we can and make it available for as many players as possible.

It should be noted that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt does not yet have an announced publisher, so only time will tell if the PlayStation 4 version will feature any third-party DRM. Iwiński has stressed that if players demand a DRM-free version, the only way to guarantee it at this time is to get the PC version.

We’ll keep you posted on any new developments as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt approaches its 2014 release date.

The post CD Projekt RED CEO Vocally Against Xbox One’s DRM Policy appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

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This Summer, gamers will get to relive the NES classic DuckTales, complete with voice acting, high definition graphics, and redone versions of the classic 8-bit themes you know and love. All this nostalgia can be yours for around $14.99 on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and various PC digital distribution services (including Steam, Impulse, GamersGate, Origin, and Green Man Gaming. The Wii U eShop version will retail at $15 even.

If you haven’t yet seen what the new game will look like, IGN has provided some footage of the Transylvania and Amazon levels, which you can find below.

DuckTales releases this Summer.

[Capcom Unity]

The post DuckTales Remake Confirmed for PC, Wii U, PSN, and XBLA appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Creator Derek Yu has revealed that the enhanced version of his freeware classic that hit Xbox Live Arcade nearly a year ago will be coming back to the PC via digital download on Steam, GOG, and the Humble Store. For those who have only played Spelunky Classic (and if you haven’t, do it now), the biggest changes to this version are multiplayer (co-op and deathmatch style) up to four players, enhanced graphics, and a level editor.

If you would rather experience Spelunky on something a little more Sony, the game will also be receiving a release on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. Just be careful with the Vita, though, as this game can get frustratingly hard.

Spelunky will hit PC, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita this Summer.

The post Spelunky Returning to PC appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

After an unceremonious “firing” by Sony Pictures Television resulted in a less than stellar fourth season and a number of cast and crew leaving the show (including Chevy Chase, but his reasons are likely unrelated), Dan Harmon has officially accepted an offer to come back as showrunner for season five, which he confirmed on his Twitter account:

RT @dpeanutbutter: @danharmon GIVE US A STRAIGHT ANSWER! ~ Yes yes yes!I’m back I’m back I’m back.You can thank @joelmchale.

— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) June 1, 2013

Our fingers are crossed that the series will be able to return to its former glory.

The post Dan Harmon Returning to ‘Community’ appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II – The Battle for Doldrey

Director: Toshiyuki Kubooka
Animation Production: Studio 4°C
Publisher: Viz Media
Release Date: August 6th, 2013 (DVD/Blu-ray)

Reviewer was provided a Neon Alley account by Viz Media

If you recall my previous review of the first Berserk movie, I called a lot of attention to the director’s decision to have most of the high-action scenes animated in awkward CGI. On this second go-around, the CGI has returned with a vengeance, as the titular Battle for Doldrey takes up a good portion of the film’s runtime. Thankfully, Studio 4°C put more effort this time around on the “sword-fodder” army by adding a number of cover up accessories to make them look more varied. Got two soldiers with the same character model standing near each other? Add an eyepatch!

Going into this second film, I was more than a little worried. While the first film had its share of dark moments, this would be the film where the most cuts were made from the Berserk anime series. I’m proud (and frankly, a little uncomfortable) that Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II pulled all the stops to ensure that the manga was properly adapted this time around. As the middle film to a three-part arc, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II succeeds on all accounts to build up hype for the epic conclusion.

Unfortunately, there is still a long time to wait before Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II – The Battle for Doldrey‘s August 8th release date, so I’ve kept this review as spoiler-free as possible. Expect a more in-depth review in time for the final release.

The post It Came from Japan – Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II (Spoiler-Free Mini-Review) appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Very little information is out for the working titled Tales of Symphonia Chronicles, but what we do know is that the game features a high-definition graphical remastering and additional content. The Japanese release is also known to feature remixed versions of the theme songs, but it is not yet known if these remixes will be featured throughout all releases. The official announcement can be found below:

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles releases on October 10th, with international releases (including North America, Europe, and Australia) planned for early 2014.

The post PlayStation 3 Getting HD Tales of Symphonia Remaster appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Sweet Blue Flowers (Aoi Hana)

Director: Ken’ichi Kasai
Animation Production: J.C. Staff
Publisher: Lucky Penny Entertainment
Price: $39.99

Given the focus on high school romance between students of two all-girls academies in Japan, I’ve seen this show dismissed throughout as a “lesbian anime”. However, having watched the series in its entirety, classifying the series under the broad spectrum of yuri would do the series a great injustice.

Sweet Blue Flowers is the story of high school love, life, and loss through the eyes of two reacquainted childhood friends, Fumi and Akira. Akira still sees Fumi as the tall, shy but emotional girl she swore to protect 10 years ago, she is taken by surprise when her best friend comes out to her. While she doesn’t quite know how to feel about this confession, she tries her best to be as supportive as possible as Fumi explores her newly awakened sexuality, discovering her own along the way.

Where Sweet Blue Flowers succeeds is in how believable the entire story is. This is not a story to go into expecting a heavily dramatized adventure into homoeroticism. This is teenaged love at its purest form; innocent, yet obsessive attempts to get the “love of your life” to not only notice you, but not to make a complete fool of yourself around them.

That being said, when I completed Sweet Blue Flowers, I wasn’t left wanting more. Even at a condensed 11 episodes, the series is as barebones as the DVDs it was printed on. Realism doesn’t always make for the most compelling television watching experience, and Sweet Blue Flowers is no exception. While our characters do grow and learn throughout the series, this is made completely underwhelming by the series’ sluggish pace.

In spite of all its faults, Sweet Blue Flowers is a light-hearted romance that won’t leave you questioning its characters’ sanity throughout. Just be sure to spread your viewings over a few days if you want to stay awake enough to enjoy it.

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF

RightStuf
Amazon

Lucky Penny Entertainment has graciously provided Sweet Blue Flowers in its entirety on YouTube. The playlist can be found here.

The post It Came from Japan – Sweet Blue Flowers appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

For those who don’t remember Shadow Warrior, I don’t blame you. The game came out a year after 3D Realms’ immensely popular Duke Nukem 3D, and used an updated version of the same engine. In fact, the game’s protagonist Lo Wang is practically an Asian Duke Nukem himself, down to the one-liners and crude innuendo. Couple this with the controversy regarding racial stereotyping, and Shadow Warrior didn’t hit very many households.

Devolver Digital, the publisher behind the upcoming reboot of the same name,  would like to change all this by offering the original game at no charge. This wasn’t completely on their own accord, as they had originally planned to offer Steam keys for a limited time only via their Facebook page. However, hackers had a different idea, breaking into the app and stealing all the keys. Following the hack, the publisher posted this on their Twitter account:

Looks like people are loving Shadow Warrior Classic (1997) so we’ll just keep it F2P forever. Enjoy, retweet, and follow for more news!

— Shadow Warrior (@_ShadowWarrior) May 29, 2013

Download Shadow Warrior Classic on Steam

The post Shadow Warrior Free on Steam appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

What it does have, however, is a style long thought lost in the Sonic franchise. While many might look at this trailer and see Super Mario Galaxy ripoff, I’m taken back to a simpler time back when the Sega Saturn was a viable competitor to the Sony PlayStation. You see, originally the Saturn was set to have an exclusive original Sonic title, complete with the “definitely made in the 90′s” name of Sonic X-Treme. Sadly, the game never saw the light of day…

Until now, it seems. Sonic: Lost World gives me hope that the “first 3D Sonic game that never was” may actually be on its way now. Watch the trailer below and judge for yourself:

Will the game suck? Probably, given the company’s recent track record, but little Ryan will always hope for a return to glory for the series. We shall see when the game releases later this year on Wii U and 3DS.

The post Sonic: Lost World Trailer Shows Off Some Familiar Features appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Human Centipede 3 has been promised to include a 500-person centipede this time around, and a recent casting call found on Backstage seems to give away just how they’re going to pull it off. While the listing is now removed from the site (sorry, these coveted roles needed to be filled by May 16th), I’ve managed to find a copy of the form and have posted it below:

HUMAN CENTIPEDE 3
Theatrical, Non-Union Posted: 4/24/2013
Category Feature Film
Union Status Non-Union
Rate 64.00/8

PRISON INMATES (NON UNION) / Non-Union / “HUMAN CENTIPEDE 3″ / Background / Male / All Ethnicities / 18-65

HUMAN CENTIPEDE 3, a horror film, is looking for gentlemen of all ages, sizes, and ethnicities to play PRISON INMATES starting THURSDAY – MAY 16 in LOS ANGELES. These prisoners will work up to 13 DAYS between MAY 16 and JUNE 6. We will be shooting at a number of actual PRISONS in the LA area. Applicants can be expected to engage in regular prisoner activities like RIOTING, SCREAMING, and FIGHTING. However, this is a HUMAN CENTIPEDE movie. THERE WILL BE SOME SCENES TOWARDS THE END OF THE SHOOT REQUIRING PRISONERS TO BE PART OF THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE. Actors will be fully clothed, but will be asked to pose on their hands and knees rear end to mouth. Please do not apply if uncomfortable with this process. Show is NON UNION. Rate is 64.00/8 + Mileage on some far away prison shoot days.

Rate: 64.00/8

Shoot Date: 5/16/2013

Role Added 5/8/2013 7:29 PM

Now that you’ve wiped the tears from your eyes, The Human Centipede 3 (Final Sequence) is set to make you question everything about your life later this year.

The post Human Centipede 3 Casting Call Reveals Crucial Plot Details appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Sound of the Sky (Sora no Woto)

Director: Mamoru Kanbe
Animation Production: A-1 Pictures
Publisher: Nozomi Entertainment
Price: $39.99

Reviewer was provided a DVD review copy by Right Stuf.

Sound of the Sky is the story of the 1121st Platoon of the Helvetian Army, an all-female troop comprised of a paltry 5 members sworn to protect the border of the town of Seize. Problem is, the border they’re guarding stares directly into miles upon miles of No Man’s Land, making boredom their most likely battle.

Kanata Sorami is the newest recruit to the practically useless squad, only joining the military due to her desire to learn the bugle. K-On! fans might find this premise (and the main characters) vaguely familiar, but I assure you that this is where the comparisons end. Despite a light-hearted, slice-of-life tone, Sound of the Sky takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where war had greatly reduced the world’s population. As a result, technology has regressed to World War II standards, despite laser technologies and mecha being the norm prior.

Sound of the Sky is an absolute marvel to experience. Although the series is confined to a DVD-only release, animation is vivid and colorful, consisting of an impressive amount of detail usually reserved for a full-length film. The writing is also at cinematic standards, resulting in phenomenal pacing and scenes that go on for just the right amount of time. Every soldier in the 1121st Platoon is given a great deal of backstory and personality, which makes the struggles they face in the second act of the series all the more heartbreaking.

Japanese audio is the only option for Sound of the Sky, but don’t let that deter you dubbing fans. The show actually features three languages prominently: Japanese, French, and German. In a land still torn by war, the subtitle requirement is essential to the story, as there are walls in communication between the two engaging armies. Dubbing would be a disservice to this atmospheric tension.

In my short career reviewing the world of Japanese animation, Sound of the Sky is a hidden gem that needs not only to be watched, but needs to be experienced by all. Don’t let this series slip under your radar.

Judge for yourself: RightStuf

Nozomi Entertainment has graciously uploaded the first two episodes of Sound of the Sky on YouTube. The episodes can be found here.

The post It Came from Japan – Sound of the Sky appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Just in time for Summer and only two months late from its original planned release date, Tommo and SNK Playmore are releasing fifteen new game for the console on June 25, in the form of 5 volumes. The volumes are as such:

• Classics Volume 1: Sengoku, Metal Slug 2, Top Hunter
  
• Classics Volume 2: Samurai Shodown 3, Savage Reign, Super Sidekicks 3
• Classics Volume 3: The King of Fighters ’96, Blazing Star, Kizuna Encounter
• Classics Volume 4: Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Shock Troopers, World Heroes 2 Jet
• Classics Volume 5: The Last Blade, Blue’s Journey, Art of Fighting 3

Each individual pack will cost $24.99, but those planning on buying three or more volumes may want to opt for the NeoGeo X Mega Pack Volume 1, which contains all 15 games and costs $79.99. Each release includes an upgraded firmware, meant to solve initial gripes with the NeoGeo X’s less than perfect video and sound replication. Also included is a “Rocket Cable”, which allows fast charging without the docking station.

The post NeoGeo X Finally Gets More Games Next Month appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Nintendo

3DS

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D – 5/24
Fast & Furious: Showdown – 5/21

Wii U

Fast & Furious: Showdown
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes – 5/21
Resident Evil: Revelations – 5/21

PC

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger – 5/22
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing – 5/22
Resident Evil: Revelations – 5/21

Sony

PlayStation 3

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger – 5/22
Fast & Furious: Showdown
Resident Evil: Revelations – 5/21

Xbox 360

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger – 5/22
Fast & Furious: Showdown
Resident Evil: Revelations – 5/21

The post Gaming this Week: Week of 5/19/2013 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Daisuki, a new anime streaming website, may have launched on Wednesday to an already congested market, but they already have an interesting strategy to make it your watching site of choice. For starters, Daisuki was created to be an aggregation website of sorts that not only plans to work with the anime companies directly, but plans to work together with existing anime streaming sites. Instead of trying to take licenses from companies like Funimation and Crunchyroll, Daisuki wants to be a one-stop shop to all the shows you want to watch, complete with proper subtitles.

Daisuki is co-owned by such big anime companies as Aniplex, NAS, Sunrise, TMS Entertainment, and Toei, as well as two large Japanese advertisers Asatsu-DK and Dentsu (in case you were wondering how they were going to pay for all this).

Daisuki is available for free, but there are future plans to include the option to buy certain premium shows. There are also plans to include access for mobile devices, but currently only works for computers with current browsers and Flash support. There is no mention of region restrictions outside of Japan, but we are unable to confirm worldwide access at this time.

[Source: Daisuki]

The post Daisuki Joins the Legal Anime Streaming Market appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

PC

Metro: Last Light – 5/14

Sony

PlayStation 3

DUST 514 – 5/14
Metro: Last Light – 5/14

Xbox 360

Metro: Last Light – 5/14

The post Gaming this Week: Week of 5/12/2013 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Thanks to both strong premiere numbers and a high viewer retention rate, SyFy has ordered a 13-episode second season of the post-apocalyptic series midway through the airing of its first. The second season is set to start filming in August for an early 2014 return. This is also great news for players of Trion Worlds’ MMO tie-in of the same name, as it guarantees at least a year more of cross-promotional content. The official release is below:

To date, the game has garnered more than 1 million registered accounts while making gaming history as the first online open world shooter to launch on three platforms simultaneously.  As the collaboration between show and game continue into a second season, players will have the opportunity to further influence the world of Defiance.

Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Caprica, Hellcats) resumes his role as executive producer and showrunner. Smallville’s Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin return as executive producers for season two and Michael Taylor serves as consulting producer.

Bringing the rich world of Defiance to life has been an incredible team effort. We couldn’t ask for better partners than Kevin Murphy, his amazing cast and crew, and Trion Worlds,” said Mark Stern, President of Original Content for Syfy and Co-Head of Original Content for UCP. “We can’t wait to see where they take us in the second season.”

Set in the near future, Defiance features an exotically transformed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races.  In this somewhat unknown and unpredictable landscape, the richly diverse, newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully.  Each week, viewers follow an immersive character drama set in the boom-town of Defiance, which sits atop the ruins of St. Louis, Missouri, while in the game, players will experience the new frontier of the San Francisco Bay area.

The audience for its April 15 premiere was the second largest series premiere in the network’s history among adults 18-49, making it the biggest in nearly nine years in that coveted demographic, based on Live +7 Data. The premiere also delivered almost 4 million viewers (3,834,000) and has quickly become Syfy’s highest-rated original series this year in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.  It has also received unprecedented attention as a transmedia event in partnership with Trion Worlds’ MMO game. Airing Mondays at 9pm, Defiance stars Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran, Jaime Murray, Graham Greene and Mia Kirshner.

You can expect that WatchPlayRead will continue to cover both the TV show and the game, as both are quickly becoming office favorites.

The post Defiance Second Season Assured appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Hyakko

Director: Michio Fukuda
Animation Production: Nippon Animation
Publisher: Lucky Penny Entertainment
Price: $39.99 (DVD)

Reviewer was provided a DVD review copy by Right Stuf

Hyakko is the misadventures of four private school girls as they try to survive their freshman year. Each girl has their own unique personalities: Torako is a troublemaker who never travels the beaten path, Tatsuki is the over-privileged daughter of a corporate president, Suzume has the appetite of a sumo wrestler, and Ayumi is shy, yet very popular with the teenage boys (keep in mind what’s popular in the mind of a pubescent boy).

The humor in Hyakko might not be quite at the level of the schoolyard comedy of Nichijou (My Ordinary Life) or Azumanga Daioh, but you’ll should still find yourself entertained. The series rarely treads new grounds, having most of its jokes center around extreme overreaction and perverted intentions; common plot devices in slice-of-life comedy animes.

If this is your first romp in the realm of slice-of-life animes, you could do much, much worse than Hyakko. For the rest of you, the series should peak your interest, but don’t expect something memorable. If you’re still on the fence, Lucky Penny Entertainment has graciously put the first two episodes on YouTube for free. The debut episode can be found below:

The post It Came from Japan – Hyakko appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Paper, Please is no meager “spot the error” game with a communism theme. Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged at as you’re forced to detain an old married woman because her husband accidentally took one of her forms with him through the checkpoint, or when you learn that by following protocol, you’ve doomed someone to a life of sex slavery. You’ve got to feed your family, right?

The beta release of Papers, Please is available for free on PC and Mac platforms on the developer’s website. Though this is a beta, I have yet to notice any game breaking bugs. Just be warned that the endgame has not been completed yet, and the game will end rather abruptly.

Lucas Pope has also given players a chance to be included in the final game as an immigrant. Just fill out the provided form and come up with your best Slavic-sounding name, and you may make an appearance in the final version.

The post It Came from Obscurity – Papers, Please appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Your favorite Natzi killing adventure is returning.
Bethesda Softworks announced this morning that they will be publishing a new title in the long lasting Wolfenstein franchise, titled Wolfenstein: The New Order. Sweden-based developer MachineGames, whose key team members previously worked on The Chronicles of Riddick games and The Darkness, will be at the helm for this franchise “reimagining” that takes place in an alternate reality 1960′s.

Wolfenstein: The New Order has a tenative release timeframe of Q4 2013 on PC and “next gen consoles”, just in time for a visit from Sinterklaas. We’ll report more information on the game as it is revealed.

The post Mein Gott. Wolfenstein: The New Order Announced appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Shadows of the Eternals is not a sure thing, however. As the teaser trailer below states, development studio Precursor Games needs financial help to make this project happen, and will be starting a crowdfunding campaign Monday for fans to contribute whatever they can.

Details on the game are very scarce right now, as the official website only features a counter and the standard social media links, but we suspect more information will come as soon as the crowdfunding launches. Until then, feel free to drool over IGN’s teaser trailer:

The post ‘Shadow of the Eternals’ To Be Spiritual Successor of ‘Eternal Darkness’ appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

PC

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon – 5/1
Fez – 5/1
Ragnarok Online 2 – 5/1
Zeno Clash II – 4/30

Sony

PlayStation 3

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut – 4/30
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon – 4/30

PlayStation Vita

Soul Sacrifice – 4/30

Xbox 360

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon – 5/1

The post Gaming this Week: Week of 4/28/2013 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

This review sponsored by cheeseburgers.

Tiger & Bunny, Set 1
Director: Keiichi Satou
Animation Production: Sunrise
Publisher: Viz Media
Price: $54.97 (Blu-ray) $44.82 (DVD)

Reviewer was provided a DVD review copy by Viz Media.

Tiger & Bunny is far from your typical story of good vs. evil. For starters, superheroes are commonplace enough to require an academy to train them all, whether their superpowers are useful or not. Secondly, superheroes no longer have to hold secondary jobs where they can leave unexpectedly at a moment’s notice just to have bread on their tables and roofs over their heads.

In this world, fighting crime is only a small part of the job of the superhero, which the series calls NEXTs. They also have sponsors to appease, catchphrases to uphold, and points to obtain. You see, while a hero can go out saving every kitten from a tree and arresting pursenappers, the networks will award big points for more dangerous feats. Good luck getting Fluffy back if there is a armed robbery down the road.

Tiger is a washed up veteran who knows how to get the job done, regardless of how much property is damaged and how low his ratings get. Unfortunately, his sponsor doesn’t share the same sentiment and pairs him with Barnaby Brooks Jr. (whom he nicknames “Bunny” for the ridiculous ears on his super suit), a rookie with an identical superpower. When activated, both Tiger and Bunny can increase their strength exponentially for a few minutes time, after which they need a lengthy recharge period.

Tiger & Bunny, Set 1 includes the first 13 episodes of the series in both its original Japanese and a new English dub, originally exclusive to the 24-hour streaming service Neon Alley (REVIEW). I’m happy to report that Tiger & Bunny features an incredibly strong and eccentric cast of English dub regulars, such as Kari Wahlgreen, Wally Wingert, and Yuri Lowenthal, churning out great performances all around. Since the NEXTs are basically walking billboards with muscles, colors in this series really pop, even in the DVD release.

If I had one complaint about this release, it would be the lack of a surround sound experience. Both the English and Japanese audio tracks are presented in 2.0 stereo sound, but the fast pace action and often explosive powers would have really benefited from the improved audio mix.

Despite the audio qualms and a relatively barebones disc release, Tiger & Bunny, Set 1 is deviation from the norm that is both fun and funny. That said, I cannot wait until the next set to find out how the series will conclude.

Judge for yourself: DVD | Blu-ray

The post It Came from Japan – Tiger & Bunny, Set 1 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

On Tuesday, May 21st at 10am PST (an agonizing 26 days from the time of this posting), Microsoft will be holding a press event at their Redmond, Washington building to, as Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb puts it, “mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV, and entertainment.” Either they’re planning to announce their entry in the “next-generation” console lineup, or setting us up for the trolling of a century.

Microsoft will be streaming the event globally via Xbox.com and Xbox Live, but North Americans with Spike TV can watch the events unfold there as well.

What features would sell you on the next Xbox? Tell us in the comments below, or join us in the forum discussion on our new forums at Giant Tanuki!

The post Microsoft Hyping Up a Big Xbox Announcement appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Unity, however, will not be hurting on browser development, as many popular websites (including Facebook) have partnered with Unity to support the Unity Web Player on their platforms. Since mobile devices are already well underway in their efforts of dropping Flash support, Unity has picked up some of the slack by licensing development software for both Android and iOS devices.

Unity is available free for hobbyists and small-scale indie developers.

[Unity3D Blog]

The post Unity3D Friendzones Flash appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Side Quest originally started as an ambitious film project by X-Strike Studios in 2003, the upstate New York film company known for  such examples of “video game movies done right” as River City Rumble, Project Snake, and Nth Mile (and regulars at MagFest). Unfortunately, like Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, the production was plagued with issues, resulting in its cancellation four years later.

The story, however, still begged to be told. In 2012, a fan by the name of Steffan Harris (known affectionately as “Black Chad”) saw the potential of Side Quest and began collaborating with the film’s writer Juese Cutler to turn the former film into a full-blown RPG. Now, in 2013, Side Quest is finally ready to start production…but they need your help.

To make this vision a reality, they need to raise $3,000. This is the bare minimum required to purchase the necessary software, hardware, licensing, and outsourced art and music assets, leaving little in the way for  unexpected expenses. Side Quest is planned for release on both PC and Xbox 360 (via the Xbox Live Indie Games service). At this time, they just under two-thirds of the way to their goal with 24 days remaining. The perks for contributing to this project range from acknowledgement in the credits ($5 level), to becoming an NPC in the game (starting at the $100 levell), all the way to a week in a Edinburgh, Scotland bed-and-breakfast and the chance to see the project take shape ($700 level).

Contributions to this project can be made on the official Indiegogo page.

The post What Was Once an Affectionate RPG Parody Film is Now a Video Game…With Your Help appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

The county sheriff gave statement to the press:

“Our efforts to make Orangeburg safe will not stop. We are and will continue to investigate the criminals in our community and make arrests.”

Ending with the beyond corny one-liner

“You may be looking for a high score, but what you’ll get is game over!”

It is currently unknown if the arrested was rushing home to order Pizza Hut on his Xbox 360.

The post Have You Ever Played Pac-Man…ON WEED? appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Publisher Bethesda Softworks has released some new screenshots for the upcoming debut horror title from Shinji Mikami’s (of Resident Evil fame) development company Tango Gameworks, The Evil Within, via the game’s official Tumblr site. Shinji Mikami’s last horror title was Shadows of the Damned, which received critical acclaim, but suffered from low sales.

If the below screenshots are an accurate depiction of what is to come, The Evil Within at least has my money.
(click for full-size image)

The Evil Within will be released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and “next generation consoles” in 2014. More information on the game can be found on its official website.

(Screenshots courtesy of The Evil Within’s Tumblr)

The post Here Are Some Screenshots of Bethesda’s Newly Announced ‘The Evil Within’ appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Starting today, Xbox Live accounts around the United States will be able to skip the tiring social interaction of the phone and the long distance walk over to the computer and order a Stuffed Crust Meat Lovers pizza from the safety of their own couches.

You don’t even have to lift a finger to get that fifth order of hot wings, as along with controller and motion navigation, users can utilize the Kinect’s voice commands to complete their order. Facebook integration is also included, in case you want to share with the world the indigestion you are about to receive.

Xbox users who download the app and place an order before May 6 will get 15% off their first order, which should be enough to add cheese onto those breadsticks.

(Photo courtesy of Pizza Hut, who will likely never advertise on WatchPlayRead after this)

The post Pizza Hut: Coming to Xbox 360 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Comedy Central has revealed today that they’ve decided to not renew Futurama for another season, effectively cancelling the show. The show is no stranger to rejection, as showrunner David X. Cohen has been ready for the inevitable many times now, planning the past few seasons of the show (and even the movies) in such a way to act as a series finale in its uncertain future.

Thankfully, for fans, Futurama still has 13 episodes to go in this season, which Cohen has stated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly would be their “best last season ever.

As for the show’s return on another network, I believe Connie Francis said it best:

If it takes forever I will wait for you
For a thousand summers I will wait for you

The post R.I.P. Futurama…Again appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Photo courtesy of PlayStation.Blog

Unlike Atelier Totori‘s release on the PlayStation Vita, we at least caught this bit of news before the game came out. Guilty Gear is a name that all fighting game fans should be very familiar with, even if it’s just for it’s “more confusing than Street Fighter” naming structure. The game we’re receiving this time is, and it’s a mouthful, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R (or, if you’re a true sadist, GGXXACPR), the third iteration of the fifth version of the third Guilty Gear game, Guilty Gear XX: The Midnight Carnival.

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R is a download-exclusive release for the system, and features re-balanced characters and movesets, making previously “banned from tournament” secret characters like Justice and Kliff on equal playing fields with the rest of the cast. Those wondering how the previous 4:3 game will work on the widescreen Vita screen need not worry, as Arc System Works has kept the game in its original aspect ratio, padding the sides out with stylized artwork.

Unconfirmed sources are reporting the game at $14.99, but we’ve reached out to Arc System Works to verify this information and will report our findings as they come in.

The post Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R Coming to US Vita Tomorrow appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Nintendo

3DS

LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins – 4/21

PC

Dead Island: Riptide – 4/25
Don’t Starve – 4/23
Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine – 4/24
Poker Night 2
StarDrive – 4/26
Star Trek: The Video Game – 4/23

Sega Dreamcast

Sturmwind – 4/24

Sony

PlayStation 3

Dead Island: Riptide – 4/25
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen – 4/23
Star Trek: The Video Game – 4/23

PlayStation Portable

Black Rock Shooter: The Game – 4/23

Xbox 360

Dead Island: Riptide – 4/25
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen – 4/23
Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine – 4/24
Star Trek: The Video Game – 4/23

The post Gaming this Week: Week of 4/21/2013 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Continuing this weekend’s pattern of musical The All-Nighter posts comes “Tom R. Toe”, a simple song about a eyeless farmer and his love for a certain lycopene rich fruit.

Pleasant dreams!

The post The All-Nighter appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gTCdxWbEXZY

Pleasant dreams!

The post The All-Nighter appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Let’s face it, the Syfy channel has been long due for a win since the ending of Battlestar Galactica. After watching last night’s premiere of Defiance, I wholeheartedly believe that they’ve done just that.

Defiance takes place on a near future Earth, which is now inhabited by both humans and an alien collective known as Votan, who after many years of racial tension have decided to put down arms and work towards a common goal. You see, in 2030 an orbiting fleet of Votan called the Ark exploded, killing millions and destroying much of the planet’s flora and fauna.

Our main characters Josh Nolan and his adoptive Irathient (a warrior race in the Votan) daughter Irisa are arkhunters, nomads who travel around the world scavenging Arkfalls for valuable parts, trying to make enough money to get to Antarctica, which our heroes believe to be paradise in this post-apocalyptic world. Along the way, they find themselves in city of Defiance (formerly St. Louis), named after a group of fighters who kept the town safe, a group that Nolan was a part of years ago. The town has once again found itself in danger of falling, and the duo have to make the tough decision to either fight once again, or take the next roller to Antarctica

Where Defiance really succeeds is in the characters. While many shows focus their writing muscle on the main characters, Defiance has created a large cast full of unique personalities, all with different hopes, dreams, and behavior quirks. There was a particular recurring doctor character in this episode that consistently had me laughing my ass off.

The special effects, however, require a little bit of forgiveness. This isn’t Hollywood money they have to work with in this two hour program. Hell, it’s probably not even a Syfy original movie budget. Thankfully, Defiance is really a show about the characters, keeping the grandiose action-filled CG effects to a minimum in the pilot.

Defiance may be a bit rough around the edges, but it has enough charm to keep me anticipating the rest of the season. I highly recommend checking it out for yourself if you haven’t so already.

The post Defiance: Pilot – Episode Review appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

We’re proud to announce today that WatchPlayRead, your go-to source for all things geekery, has expanded its outreach in the world of social networking with a little popular pinboard site called Pinterest.

Not only will you see some of your favorite articles ready for the repinning on the website, but you’ll be able to see some of the media and geek paraphernalia that has us ready to thrust open our wallets and spew forth money in their directions. Be sure to follow us on pinterest.com/watchplayread as we take this new and exciting journey.

The post WatchPlayRead, Now With Karate Chop Pinterest Action appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Nintendo

3DS

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner – 4/16

Wii

Pandora’s Tower – 4/15

Wii U

Injustice: Gods Among Us – 4/16

PC

Papo & Yo – 4/18

Sony

PlayStation 3

Injustice: Gods Among Us – 4/16

Xbox 360

Injustice: Gods Among Us – 4/16

The post Gaming this Week: Week of 4/14/2013 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Back in 1992, a company by the name of Delphine Software International brought into this world a digital masterpiece unlike anything seen before. Flashback (or Flashback: The Quest for Identity as it was known in the United States) mixed a brilliant story (written by lead designer Paul Cuisset), beautiful backdrops, and rotoscoped animation and managed to fit it all on a handful of floppy discs (later cartridges, as the game received a Super Nintendo and Genesis release a mere year afterwards).

Then a sequel was made, called Fade to Black, which did just that to any future of the franchise.

Until now, that is, as Paul Cuisset (fresh off the critically panned Amy) has returned to the game that made him a gaming legend in the form of Flashback HD. This remake is said to respect the original spirit of the game, while at the same time adding the features that technology limitations prevented back in 1992.

Put down your pitchforks and watch the reveal trailer of Flashback HD.

Flashback HD is currently slated for an XBLA and PlayStation Network release later this year.

The post Flashback Getting a Remake on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has officially announced the next entry in the highly regarded Arkham series of games, keeping their short-term tradition of a new Batman game every two years. This time, however, the story will move back rather than forward, as Batman: Arkham Origins takes place several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, even before Batman faced many of his most formidable foes. That’s right, Batman is an amateur this time, hardly the seemingly unstoppable creature of the night we’ve grown to kick ass with in the past two entries.

Rocksteady Studios will not be joining us on this new adventure, as the reigns of the franchise have been moved to WB Games Montréal. Worry not, dear Batman fans, as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment claims the same technology will be used, with improvements to match the evolution of the series.

Also announced was Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, a 2.5D companion game exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita handheld consoles. This game will be developed by Armature Studios, the same studio that brought us the Vita port of Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection.

Both games will be released worldwide on October 25, 2013 so fans only need to wait another 6 months to get their next Batman fix. Batman: Arkham Origins will receive a simultaneous release for the PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U. You can find more information on the game as it’s revealed on http://www.batmanarkhamorigins.com/

The post New “Arkham” Game Announced; Coming This Year appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

While pledging a chunk of money to DC’s Indiegogo campaign won’t result in a super-secret project coming to fruition, all the proceeds will go We Can Be Heroes, DC Entertainment’s non-profit charity to fight the hunger problem in the Horn of Africa. Pledge prizes donated to the cause include the following:

• 5 Batman digital comic downloads ($10 level)
• Batman/Superman #1 with exclusive ‘We Can Be Heroes’ variant cover ($25 level)
• 1 year print subscription to Batman/Superman, Batman, or Detective Comics ($30 level)
• Batman/Superman #1 variant cover as a T-shirt ($40 level)
• Batman: Earth One, Vol. 1 signed and sketched by writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank ($50 level)
• Batman: Earth One ‘We Can Be Heroes’ variant lithograph ($75 level)
• Xbox 360 copy of Batman: Arkham City signed by Rocksteady Studios’ founder, Sefton Hill ($100 level)
• Xbox 360 copy of Injustice: Gods Among Us, Battle Edition signed by Mortal Kombat legend Ed Boon ($250 level)
• All-expenses trip to Comic-Con with Geoff Johns and Gary Frank ($10,000 level)

The campaign blew through its original $50,000 goal and is now shooting for $100,000, adding more prizes as a result. With 43 days left until the end of the campaign, I’d say this goal is a safe bet. Donate what you can to the Indiegogo campaign and help DC Comics make a difference in millions of lives.

The post DC Comics Brings Its “We Can Be Heroes” Campaign to Indiegogo appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

After 31 years in the game industry, LucasArts has shut down internal development, effectively dooming the company to a licensing its properties out to other developers. This sudden closure has resulted the cancellation of both Star Wars: First Assault and Star Wars 1313, unless another company shows interest in either title. Around 150 LucasArts employees have lost their jobs as a result.

LucasArts’ impact on the industry will not be forgotten, from pioneering the adventure game industry with the SCUMM engine (the technology behind The Secret of Monkey Island, Maniac Mansion, and Sam & Max Hit the Road to name a few) to its “actually good” film-licensed games. The last official title published by LucasArts was the critically luke-warm Kinect Star Wars.

We wish all the former LucasArts employees the best in their future endeavors.

The post RIP LucasArts: 1982-2013 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

!!!, which is pronounced as a series of Bushman click sounds, is a dance-punk band that makes buying their albums a living hell. Their name makes searching for them online a practice in futility (unless you search for the onomatopoetic Chk Chk Chk), and your incessant clicking will likely confuse your brick-and-motor music store employee.

Their music, however, is well worth the trouble. Not convinced? Well give “One Girl/One Boy”, the newest single off the upcoming Thri!!!er, a listen. Whether you like it or not, you’ll be dancing by the end of it.

!!! has also announced a world tour to promote Thri!!!er, keeping the band busy through August. Check for your favorite venues below:

APRIL
24 Paris, FR @ La Machine du Moulin Rouge
25 Nantes, FR @ Stereolux
26 Lille, FR @ L’Aeronef
27 Bourges, FR @ Le Printemps de Bourges
28 Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks
29 Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg

MAY
2 Budapest, HU @ A38 tickets
3 Vienna, AU @ Donau Festival
4 Berlin, DE @ Gretchen
5 Nijmegen, NL @ Dutch Liberation Festival
6 Brussels, BE @ Chapiteau Botanique
7 London, UK @ Village Underground
10-12 Camber Sands, UK @ All Tomorrow’s Parties
16 Cambridge, MA @The Sinclair *
17 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
18 Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
19 Durham, NC @ Motorco *
20 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *
22 Atlanta, GA @ Earl %
23 Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree %
24 New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s %
25 Austin, TX @ Mohawk (Outdoor Stage) %
26 El Paso, TX @ The Lowbrow Palace %
27 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress ^
28 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ^
29 San Diego, CA @ Casbah ^
30 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw
31 Sacramento, CA @ Cesar Chavez Park

JUNE
1 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre ^
3 Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar ^
4 Vancouver, BC @ Fortune Sound Club ^
7 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café *
8 Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge *
9 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *
10 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
11 Montreal, QC @ Le Belmont *
12 Burlington, VT @ Signal Kitchen *
13 Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall *
14 Hamden, CT @ Spaceland Ballroom
15 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *

JULY
20 Lisbon, PT @ Super Bock Super Rock
26 Benidorm, ES @ Low Cost Festival
27 San Sebastian, ES @ Jazzaldia

AUGUST
15 St Malo, FR @ Route du Rock

With:
*Sinkane
%Shockwave Riderz
^White Arrows

Thri!!!er releases April 29 and 30th in the UK and US, respectively.

The post !!! Releases New Single “One Girl/One Boy”; Immediately Becomes “My Jam” appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Pleasant dreams!

The post The All-Nighter appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Though Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan may not be the most recognized title over in the United States, Japan has ran the series for 5 years in the mega-popular Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine. Nura‘s titular character is a middle-schooler with a secret: at night he transforms into a yōkai (a supernatural demon), destined to continue his family legacy and become the next in line to lead his clan. But Nura is an atypical yōkai (and arguably a typical teenager) who wants to embrace his human form, even as clan tensions begin to rise.

On April 2nd, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan will at long last receive a proper physical release, featuring not only the original Japanese version, but the star-studded English dub formerly exclusive to Viz Media’s 24-hour streaming service Neon Alley (REVIEW), featuring the voice talents of Kyle Hebert, Grant George, Mela Lee, and Darrel Guilbeau. While this first release is only the first 13 episodes of the first season of the anime, the set appears to tell, the entirety of the Gyuki Arc, so put your fears at rest about having the set leaving you in the middle of an arc cliffhanger until the next release.

The first set will receive both a Blu-ray and DVD release at the price of $44.82 and $54.97, respectively. Those too impatient to wait 5 days for the release (or those wishing to continue as they wait for the next set to come out) will be glad to note that Viz Media has the entire subtitled version available on VizAnime and the dubbed version airs regularly on Neon Alley.

The post Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Finally Receiving a Physical U.S. Release appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

As you may have noticed, WatchPlayRead doesn’t look quite right. We’re working on that.

Turns out that with our growing popularity, the servers that house WPR are taking quite the beating. To avoid having the dreaded plug pulled on us, we’re working tireless to tighten up the WatchPlayRead experience to a level that is sure to make everyone happy.

Just bear with us for a little bit.

The post Pardon our Dust. We’re Improving the WPR Experience. appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Nintendo

3DS

Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon – 3/24
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity – 3/24

PC

BioShock Infinite – 3/26
Slender: The Arrival – 3/26

Sony

PlayStation 3

Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel – 3/26
BioShock Infinite – 3/26
Terraria – 3/27
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 – 3/26

Xbox 360

Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel – 3/26
BioShock Infinite – 3/26
Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection – 3/26
Terraria – 3/27
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 – 3/26

The post Gaming this Week: Week of 3/24/2013 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Don’t watch tonight’s The All-Nighter if you only plan to stay up for a few minutes. This video clocks in at nearly 53 minutes long, and once you start, you’re going to want to sit through the entire thing. Here is ODDSAC, a descent into madness “visual album” by the experiment psychedelic band Animal Collective.

Pleasant dreams!

The post The All-Nighter appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Pleasant dreams!

The post The All-Nighter appeared first on WatchPlayRead.

Nintendo

Wii U

LEGO City Undercover – 3/18
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate – 3/19
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct – 3/19

3DS

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate – 3/19

PC

Resident Evil 6 – 3/22
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct – 3/19

Sony

PlayStation 3

Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory – 3/21
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct – 3/19

PlayStation Vita

Dead or Alive 5 Plus – 3/19

Xbox 360

Gears of War: Judgment – 3/19
The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct – 3/19

The post Gaming this Week: Week of 3/17/2013 appeared first on WatchPlayRead.