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Nov 24, 10:00


Kotaku Friday, November 24, 2023 9:30 AM
    

Don't you hate it when your toaster gets an error, and pop-up ads start appearing? Same thing seems to have been happening with Assassin's Creed Odyssey this week, which Ubisoft is blaming on a "technical error," and they don't even have the terrible pun as an excuse.

Read more...


PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:50 AM
     Blox Fruits codes November 2023 – free XP and money

November 24, 2023: We had another look around for any potential Thanksgiving Blox Fruits codes.

What are the new Blox Fruits codes? We've compiled a regularly updated list of all Blox Fruits codes to redeem in-game freebies like XP boosts, free Beli, and stat resets for your pirate adventures. Need a boost to take on the increasingly tricky competition? We've got you covered.

Blox Fruits is one of the biggest Roblox games ever, thanks to its fun, anime-inspired pirate action. That said, it can be challenging to find new Blox Fruits codes, much like Anime Adventures codes, Blade Ball codes, and Anime Champions Simulator codes, but we've done the hard work and listed them all in one place below.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:33 AM
     Blade Ball codes November 2023 – free skins and spins

November 24, 2023: Check back tomorrow for a potentially huge Blade Ball code for the new update.

What are the new Blade Ball codes? Those who want to stand out while playing this dodgeball game can splash out on new weapons, skills, and even explosive effects. To get them, though, you need coins, and there are ways to instantly get a small amount of coins to roll the dice while getting a chance to open crates and maybe pull a rare sword skin. 

There are other similar games on the Roblox platform, so be sure to get all the latest Arm Wrestle Simulator codes to get yourself ripped or learn the secret of Berry Avenue codes if you'd rather live a calmer virtual life. Here are all the latest Blade Ball codes, how to enter them, and where to find more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:26 AM
     Berry Avenue codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: We added the Head Slime Berry Avenue code.

What are the new Berry Avenue codes? Rather than being a conventional Roblox game that uses tower defense, RPG, or shooting game-style mechanics, Berry Avenue is a playground where you can buy a house, work a job, or drive around without a care in the world looking fabulous.

However, you may have noticed that everyone else looks much more stylish than most Roblox experiences. Is this because of the time they spent playing the roleplay sandbox game or perhaps linked to how much they paid in real-world money? Well, allow us to dispel the myths and show you exactly how to enter Berry Avenue codes and the secret to getting more of them in the future. While you're here, you should know that we also keep lists of Blox Fruits codes, King Legacy codes, and Anime Adventures codes to get you some free items and rolls for those games.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:24 AM
     Bee Swarm Simulator codes November 2023

November 24, 2023 We rummaged around for any new Bee Swarm Simulator codes for Thanksgiving.

What are the active Bee Swarm Simulator codes? Whether you're in the market for some free items to help you get started farming honey, or you need that extra boost to your bee's effectiveness at collecting pollen, there's no quicker way to get your hive started than to redeem a whole bunch of codes. However, it's not always easy to know where to find ones that work.

So, if you want to give your little pollinators a helping hand, we have many tried and tested active Bee Swarm Simulator codes to redeem that give you valuable free items and boosts. We also have freebies for other popular Roblox games, including Blade Ball codes, Blox Fruits codes, and Murder Mystery 2 codes to help you get ahead.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:23 AM
     AUT codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: We had a look around for new Thanksgiving AUT codes.

What are the new AUT codes? If you're trying to get ahead of the competition in A Universal Time, we've collated all the latest codes for free skin crates. We'll also run you through exactly how to redeem all the active A Universal Time codes and where you can find more for the action-packed, anime-themed hit.

A Universal Time has been around for a while, but it's erupted in popularity recently following a major update. If you're searching high and low for further Roblox freebies, we also keep regularly updated lists of Blox Fruits codes, Project Slayers codes, and even Anime Adventures codes. Now, let's run through all the A Universal Time codes and the rewards they'll net you.

Continue reading AUT codes November 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:18 AM
     Arsenal codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: We checked for any Thanksgiving Arsenal codes.

How do you get Arsenal codes? The Roblox-based shooter has proven itself to be quite the popular experience, with teams taking shots at each other with machine guns, bazookas, and even flinging magic spells from books.

Take your gaming experience to the next level by redeeming Arsenal codes to gain exclusive skins and announcer voices. There are other Roblox shooting games out there, all with their own unlocks, so make sure you check out the best Da Hood codes for more. If you want to try something completely different like racing motorbikes, there are also Motorcycle Mayhem codes to redeem.

Continue reading Arsenal codes November 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:15 AM
     Anime Souls Simulator codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: A new Anime Souls Simulator code is in for update 37.

What are the new Anime Souls Simulator codes? Anime Souls Simulator tasks you with building your own army of powerful heroes, then imbuing their weapons with souls to take on fearsome bosses. You might find that the road to greatness is a little too long when you're first starting out, so we've tracked down the latest Anime Souls Simulator codes to help you grow in power faster than ever.

Our list of up-to-date Anime Souls Simulator codes delivers a treasure trove of free items straight to your inventory and various rolls and spins to help you swap out your weaker heroes. If you're partial to anime and manga-inspired games across the Roblox platform, we've also got the latest Anime Adventure codes, Slayers Unleashed codes, and even Ro Ghoul codes to help you stay one step ahead of your fellow Robloxians.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:17 AM
     Arm Wrestle Simulator codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: We looked around for new Arm Wrestle Simulator codes.

What are the new Arm Wrestle Simulator codes? This popular Roblox experience channels the simulator games of the past few years, rewarding your strenuous clicks with rapidly multiplying strength. Arm Wrestle codes can speed up the process exponentially, earning you the gains you need to bend everyone's elbows and slam even the beefiest of opponent's forearms onto the table. Keep up with all the latest codes before they expire, and you'll have a natural advantage over those who don't.

As we've already alluded to, Arm Wrestle Simulator takes the ideas of many other popular Roblox games to create one centered around a less violent form of settling your differences, without resorting to a boring game of rock, paper, scissors. For further freebies in other action-packed Roblox releases, be sure to grab the latest Blox Fruits codes, King Legacy codes, and Fruit Battlegrounds codes before they're gone.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:10 AM
     Anime Fighters Simulator codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: We've looked around for Thanksgiving Anime Fighters Simulator codes.

What are the new Anime Fighters Simulator codes? With the classic Roblox anime adventure getting a new lease of life in 2023, we've been hard at work testing codes to get you streaming through the latest update as soon as it drops. Even if you haven't played Anime Fighters Simulator in a while, the freebies on offer can quickly get you back to full strength or, if you're a veteran, send you hurtling further up the leaderboards.

While we wait for the next Anime Fighters Simulator update, consider checking out some of the best Roblox games for 2023. For a few noteworthy specifics and recommendations, you can't go wrong with Blox Fruits codes, Anime Adventures codes, and Shinobi Life 2 codes. They're hallmarks of the Roblox anime category. For another mishmash of your favorite characters, All Star Tower Defense codes are popular, too.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:07 AM
     Anime Dimensions codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: We looked around for any Thanksgiving Anime Dimensions codes.

What are the active Anime Dimensions codes? No doubt you're no stranger to Roblox's anime offerings, as there are loads of them out there. However, this one is a good option if you ever want to transform into the likes of Goku, Luffy, or Naruto and punch/Ki Blast/ninjitsu your way through hordes of enemies.

There are plenty of other anime-inspired games on the Roblox platform with redeemable codes for free in-game currency and more. This includes Anime Adventures codes, Project Slayers codes, and Kage Tycoon codes. For now, though, here are some Anime Dimensions codes that can get you free gems and boosts for your chosen fighter.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:05 AM
     Anime Champions Simulator codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: We added one new Anime Champions Simulator code for the holidays.

What are the latest Anime Champions Simulator codes? If you're new to this Roblox experience, you will want some bonus resources to give you a headstart. This includes diamonds, tokens, medals, and boosts to bolster your team and get them fighting more formidable opponents sooner.

So, if you want some up-to-date Anime Champions codes, we have a list of all the free stuff you can get right now. Alternatively, there are plenty of other anime Roblox games worthy of your attention that have their own set of codes, such as Blox Fruits codesFruit Battlegrounds codes, and Blade Ball codes which is currently the hottest game on the platform.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:01 AM
     Anime Ball codes November 2023 – Free spins and yen boosts

November 24, 2023: We had a look around for new Anime Ball codes.

What are the new Anime Ball codes? The latest contender to the throne of one of Roblox's best performing titles of 2023 is here, and it's putting up a fight. With multiple codes dropping almost every day and weekly updates still on the cards, now's the time to jump into a fresh new take on the genre if you're looking for a second chance.

Think you've missed the boat on the new and emerging Roblox genre of reflex-based sports games? The latest Blade Ball codes might have you thinking it's not too late. If you're looking for a more relaxed time, however, Fruit Battlegrounds codes or Shinobi Life 2 codes might be more up your alley.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 9:00 AM
     Anime Adventures codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: One new Anime Adventures code is in.

What are the new Anime Adventures codes? If you're starting out trying to defend your base, you will want to summon the most powerful heroes and villains based on the most popular anime of all time, such as One Piece, My Hero Academia, and Dragon Ball, to stop the evil forces from storming your base. But, of course, some are more powerful than others, so if you want to get the most out of the game's gacha system, you'll want tons of codes.

Anime Adventures is a tower defense anime game built inside Roblox, and you can earn gems to summon units by grinding through levels and completing daily missions. AA codes can help you get even more gems, which you can spend on getting the best units in the game. New codes are released with every update, so if you see the prompt for a new update, do check back to see if there are any that you've not redeemed yet. While you're here, you should know that we also keep lists of Blox Fruits codes, King Legacy codes, and All Star Tower Defense codes to get you more freebies.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 8:55 AM
     All Star Tower Defense codes November 2023

November 24, 2023: We had another look for new All Star Tower Defense codes.

What are the new All Star Tower Defense codes? Developer Top Down Games has struck gold with their smash-hit game, All Star Tower Defense, blending together tower defense gameplay with characters inspired by popular Japanese anime.

The first few missions of the tower defense game may seem easy, but it doesn't take long before your units start to struggle. That's where our Roblox guide comes in, allowing you to claim free Stardust and Gems to unlock powerful units in the free PC game. Not only does this guide cover the code redemption process, but we're also always looking for new ASTD codes, so keep this page bookmarked for any updates.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 8:03 AM
     Project Zomboid shows off exciting upgrades for long-awaited build 42

Project Zomboid is perhaps one of the most aptly named games I can think of. The beloved zombie survival sandbox game has been a labor of love for developer The Indie Stone since 2011, and celebrates ten years on Steam this month while still maintaining its early access status. Yet, it's clearly found success; with an impressive 94% 'very positive' Steam rating across more than 190,000 reviews in that time, the ambitious game has certainly found a loving audience, and now we've just been given a big update on what Project Zomboid build 42 looks like.


PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 7:54 AM
     Save $500 on Corsair gaming PC with an RTX 4070 and liquid cooled CPU

Normally our advice is to build your own PC because it can be both cheaper and more effective when you can pick your own components. However, this Black Friday, the Corsair Vengeance i7400 is $500 off and way too good to pass on.

Not only does the Corsair Vengeance i7400 contain one of the best graphics cards you can buy, but it's optimized for high-end gaming, and liquid-cooling for the CPU is the cherry on top. Better still, coming from Corsair you know the quality here is going to be held to a very high standard, so for $1,999.99, down from $2,499.99, this PC gaming tower is a steal.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Corsair HS80 Max headset review, Corsair M75 Air mouse review, Best gaming keyboard

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 7:53 AM
     Here's what was vaulted in Fortnite OG's week 4 update

Fortnite OG just removed a bunch of weapons as part of its week 4 update. This is the final major update to the ongoing throwback season, setting the game up for its final run of content before the new season drops.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map - key locations, Fortnite skins, All Fortnite Chapter 4 weapons

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 7:53 AM
     Get this lightning fast gaming SSD cheaper than ever for Black Friday

This is one of the best Black Friday gaming SSD deals we've seen. The Samsung 990 Pro, one of the fastest PCIe 4 drives on the market, is on sale for its lowest ever price. Snagging this SSD in the Black Friday sale is a great way to improve your gaming rig without costing the earth, especially if you haven't upgraded your storage recently.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Samsung 970 EVO 1TB review, Best SSD for gaming, Best gaming monitor

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 7:24 AM
     New Cities Skylines 2 mod stops jaywalking pedestrians causing traffic

Cities Skylines 2 mods are the perfect complement to the big technical fixes arriving right now. While Colossal Order and Paradox resolve some of the CS2 performance problems, and shift from weekly hotfixes to long-term patches, mods for Cities Skylines 2 help to address and balance some of the finer, fussier points of the new city builder. Lately, we've seen an influx of pedestrians in Cities Skylines 2, blocking up roads and causing traffic as they insist on ignoring subways and crossing, and jaywalking into the street. Now, a new CS2 mod attempts to fix pedestrian pathfinding, and stop your Cims from causing jams by crossing in unsafe areas.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines 2 review, Cities Skylines 2 roads, Cities Skylines 2 maps

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 7:57 AM
     Dark and Darker quests and seasonal rewards are here in latest wipe

Dark and Darker patch 2 is here. Previously teased by the team at Ironmace, the hardcore RPG now has a new quest system and seasonal rewards in the form of adventure titles. While the PvPvE dungeon crawler, blending the fantasy of games like The Elder Scrolls Skyrim and Dark Souls with the tense extraction gameplay of Escape from Tarkov and Call of Duty Warzone, is still yet to return to Steam, there's certainly a lot to look forward to in the latest Dark and Darker wipe.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dark and Darker release date, Dark and Darker system requirements, Dark and Darker classes guide

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 7:33 AM
     Best games like Minecraft 2023

What are the best games like Minecraft? Way back in 2010, a little game called Minecraft proved to be a revelation in video games, inspiring a whole generation of players and developers in the process. It's a blocky, sandbox world that essentially lets us create anything we like and share it with our friends. The cultural phenomenon sold millions of copies before Microsoft acquired developer Mojang Studios in 2014.

There's been a plethora of Minecraft clones over the years, doing their best to match one of the best PC games of all time, but few have really delivered the whole package like Minecraft does. Sometimes, though, you may only want part of the Minecraft experience, augmented with other aspects that make the Minecraft-like unique. That's where this guide to the best games like Minecraft comes in. All the games on this list are similar to Minecraft in some fashion, be they crafting games, building games, adventure games, or an altogether different part of what makes Minecraft our favorite blocky game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 7:32 AM
     The best games like Stardew Valley 2023

Looking for PC games like Stardew Valley? We can't think of much more enticing than the idea of simply leaving the world of work and offices behind and moving out to the country to do something simpler and more rewarding. This escapism is one of the things that makes Stardew Valley such an extraordinarily enjoyable game, so we've found some alternatives that are equally as indulgent.

Possibly one of the best PC games of recent years for it's cute combination of romance, relaxation, and retail, you'd be forgiven for wanting more games like Stardew Valley. There are different aspects to the games below, so none are direct clones: some are among the best management games, while others might be more focused on farming. They all have something in common with Stardew Valley, though, so you'll enjoy at least one or two.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Stardew Valley multiplayer, Stardew Valley realism, The best Stardew Valley mods

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 6:59 AM
     The Game Awards may have teased a new trailer from Kojima

The Game Awards could feature a new trailer from Hideo Kojima; or, well, that's what the GA's official X (formerly Twitter) account may have accidentally teased earlier this week. In a reply to a post from Hideo Kojima, showing mixing equipment, The Game Awards account responded with the 'eyes' emoji. This reply has since been deleted, sparking speculation of a new Kojima trailer set to arrive during TGA on December 7, 2023.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Death Stranding 2 revealed, Death Stranding 2 release date speculation, Hideo Kojima's making a VR game

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 6:40 AM
     MSI is giving away an unreal streaming starter kit, if you're lucky

If you've ever wanted to give streaming a go, but feel overwhelmed by what hardware is best up for the job, MSI is giving away a streaming starter kit to help get you started. This giveaway gives you the opportunity to get your hands on some hardware MSI hardware, including an Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card, or an MSI MAG 4K UHD gaming monitor, but you have to be quick to be in for a chance to win.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC review, MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Trio review, Best gaming motherboard

PCGamesN Friday, November 24, 2023 6:11 AM
     Toilet Tower Defense codes November 2023 – free coins and more

What are the new Toilet Tower Defense codes? A sweeping success when it comes to on-trend releases on the Roblox platform, one of the best ways to keep up (or get started) in this massively popular TD game is to keep on top of the various codes that come and go. Awarding valuable coins and other items, they're a great way to pull and upgrade the best units without spending a buck.

Known to bring in over 100k visitors even on the quietest of mid-week mornings, this Roblox game is only second to a few others. If you want to check out the competition, Blade Ball codes can help you cut through the rabble, Blox Fruits codes can get you the Beli you need for powerful fruits, and Tower Defense X codes can jumpstart your efforts in the newest trendy TD game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, November 24, 2023 9:00 AM
    

This week on the Electronic Wireless Show podcast we talk all things GTAVI augury, what with the community going bananas for secret GTAVI clues, and Rockstar finally announcing that they'll have a trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto arriving in December. Our predictions are in fact not as outlandish as you might think, although there are gorillas, obviously.

Alongside this we talk about the games we're playing right now (largely Darktide, it turns out), and dish up some recommendations. We also spent like a third of our recording time playing a deranged Age Of Empires 2-themed RPG using an abbreviated D20 system of Nate's devising, but don't worry, I edited it down quite a lot. Apologies for my poor mic quality!

You can listen above, or on on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, or Pocket Casts. You can find the RSS feed here, and you can discuss the episode on our Discord channel, which has a dedicated room for podcast chat.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, November 24, 2023 8:53 AM
    

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 is most at home tearing through 1440p games, it's a graphics card that can do a little bit of everything – even a spot of light 4K, and at a drastically lower price than the next GPU in the stack, the RTX 4070 Ti. Black Friday now provides the chance to grab one for even less, with good-quality partner cards having fallen as low as £550 in the UK and $515 in the US.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, November 24, 2023 7:46 AM
    

Earlier this week reports surfaced of players encountering in-game pop-up adverts for this year's Assassin's Creed: Mirage, while innocently trying to visit the map screen in Ubisoft's older open world stabathon Assassin's Creed: Odyssey.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, November 24, 2023 7:11 AM
    

Embracer Group's restructuring process is still in its "early stages", and as such, we can expect "more cancellations, potentially some more closures" and some possible "management buyouts", according to Phil Rogers, CEO of the operating group that includes Crystal Dynamics and other Western studios previously owned by Square Enix.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, November 24, 2023 6:42 AM
    

Since it actually is Black Friday now, we can probably rule out any further price cuts to the Samsung Pro Plus – king of the best Steam Deck microSD cards. No time like the present, then, to net yourself a top-quality storage extender for your Steam Deck or Steam Deck OLED.

It is of course possible to swap out the Deck's internal SSD for something bigger, and if it were a desktop PC, normally that would be the way to go. But replacing components in a tightly-designed, hyper-compacted machine like Valve's handheld is a far trickier business, and just doesn't have the same appeal when a fast microSD like the Pro Plus is right there. Now, you can get plenty of extra space, an incomparably easier "installation," and performance that still comes remarkably close to NVMe SSD level, all for up to £38 off.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, November 24, 2023 5:47 AM
    

What a charmed life the WD Black SN850X leads, if you don't count how its existence is spent almost entirely locked inside a hot, dark box. Not only is it the overall best SSD for gaming, but it's also arguably the single brightest highlight of this year's Black Friday storage sales, with the spacious 1TB model down to £65 in the UK. Its US deal price of $80 also represents a sizeable $50 saving.

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Twinfinite Friday, November 24, 2023 9:00 AM
    
They definitely fooled us all at some point.

Siliconera Friday, November 24, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Interview: Preparing Star Ocean The Second Story R for New Platforms

Star Ocean The Second Story, despite being a sequel, marked the first exposure to a series that blended sci-fi sensibilities and fantasy elements to the world. To get a better idea of what the process of preparing Star Ocean The Second Story R looked like for new audiences and platforms, Siliconera spoke to Square Enix Producer Kei Komaki and Gemdrops Development Producer and Director Yuichiro Kitao about the game.

Jenni Lada: How did the Star Ocean The Second Story R project get started?

Kei Komaki: This title was made in parallel with the development of Star Ocean: The Divine Force, to align with the 25th anniversary of Star Ocean The Second Story.

Star Ocean The Second Story R was initially planned as a remaster, but the direction of the project changed after meeting with the development team from Gemdrops and seeing a certain piece of illustration. The illustration had a unique characteristic where it had the nostalgic 2D pixel art and a modern 3D environment coexisting with one another. We believed that this had the potential to portray the visuals that players back in the day envisioned in their mind, so after witnessing this illustration, the project kicked off anew as a remake title. 

Star Ocean The Second Story R will be on more platforms, compared to First Departure R. What led to the increased range? Did this make the production process more difficult?

Komaki: Star Ocean 2 has been a particularly popular title from the series, and we've received a lot of requests for a remake since before the development of this project. Our priority and focus are to create an environment that allows a wide array of audiences, which includes original fans and also the JRPG fans that are newcomers to the series, to experience this title.

In regard to the multi-platform aspect, Gemdrops, which handled the development for this title, were well versed with the game engine so we were able to fine tune elements such as the visuals, effects, audios and how the battle feels, to achieve near identical experiences across multiple platforms. We were also able to roll out the demos with almost no difference between platforms, so we believe that players will get to fully understand the appeal of this game through the platform of their choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEr4V0dvnVo&ab_channel=SquareEnix

What kinds of assets and original development content did you have available when preparing Star Ocean The Second Story R?
Yuichiro Kitao: Since the materials that we had for the past title was from 25 years ago, they were not in a complete state and only contained fragments of information. Because of this, we had to compile the relevant documents and materials as we played through the original PS1 release and the PSP release. At the same time, we also analyzed the materials from the original release and repurposed contents. There were few existing designs and concept art to begin with, so a considerable amount was newly created or made upon referencing information digested from our playthroughs of the Star Ocean titles. 

What led to pursuing this design direction for the overworld area and town's updated graphics?
Kitao: Taking the memories and experiences that have been cultivated within the minds of those that played the PS1 version and the PSP version, and reproducing them in a modern style, was the general concept for this title. However, the goal wasn't to take a purely realistic approach, but to retain the memories and experiences from that time and merge them with modern technologies. This is how we achieved this title's fusion of pixel art characters and 3D backgrounds that apply a special shader. 

The Assault Action and Break abilities are new to Star Ocean The Second Story R. What led to both being implemented in-game?

Kitao: The battles from the original release were already considered plenty enjoyable back then, but in bringing it to the modern era, we did want to improve the pace a bit for certain areas and introduce strategic elements tailored for the modern players in a way that didn't hinder the system from the original release. As a result, we were able to develop mechanics such as "Assault Actions" and "Breaks."

Another goal with the Assault Action system was to further establish this title as a character driven game by making players feel that they're fighting alongside with even more party members and reinforcing that "feel". Thanks to Square Enix's support, we were also able to collaborate with past STAR OCEAN titles and had its protagonists make guest appearances, so we believe that the fans of the series will be happy with this system. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl3AuAVC8Ss&ab_channel=SquareEnix

How did you work on balancing to ensure the new battle mechanics didn't break the combat system?

Kitao: Essentially, it boils down to just repeating the test play and adjustments over and over again. In addition to that, to ensure that we weren't bound to the mechanics and parameters from past releases, we rebuilt the graphics, codes, and parameters from scratch.

Additionally, the "enjoyment" felt and gained from the battles in the previous releases were something that the game designers and engineers sensed directly from their own experiences, so I'd say those feelings contributed to the development for this title when we adjusted the finer details.

There's new Japanese voice acting for Star Ocean The Second Story R characters in this release. How difficult was it to get voice actors back for these performances?

Komaki: Reaching out to the cast members that provided the Japanese voicework for the PS1 version was not a challenge in itself. All of them are still actively voice acting, and they were all very excited to reprise their roles and deliver their performances to fans again. 

The problem was that the volume of the story was just enormous. Yuji Ueda and Aya Hisakawa – who voiced the protagonists Claude and Rena and have voiced other popular characters in anime like Brock from Pokémon and Sailor Mercury from Sailor Moon, respectively – had a large number of dialogues. Although we didn't have to record every day, it took about 3 months in total to record all of their lines.

Now that the Star Ocean series is seeing a resurgence in popularity, what sorts of projects based on the property would you like to see next?

Komaki: There isn't a particular project that we can talk about right now, but during the MCM Comic Con, I did have a conversation with Gemdrops' Yuichiro Kitao in the waiting room and talked about how we were both interested in working on a new project together. We're also aware that there are vast sagas in the Star Ocean series that are yet to be told, so please do play Star Ocean The Second Story R and share your thoughts and feedback with Square Enix. That voice will surely lead to potential opportunities that bring about a new hero to the galaxy.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is on the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. The game can also immediately be found on the PlayStation and PSP worldwide and the PS3, PS4, and Vita in Japan.

The post Interview: Preparing Star Ocean The Second Story R for New Platforms appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, November 24, 2023 9:33 AM
     How to Get Black Cape in Blox FruitsYou don't just have to use the fruits to fight with in Blox Fruits, as there are a range of swords and melee weaponry to get you through. Here are the best ones that you need to use. The best swords in Blox Fruits, ranked Below is a list of the best swords that you can use in Blox Fruits. I have made this ranking from community opinions and knowledge, so is a reflection of current opinion. Note that this list is subject to change as more swords get added and as stats get tweaked and changed. This list is not ordered, as different players will prefer different playstyles, so experiment and choose your favorite! I will not be taking the two swords that you need to pay real money for. All the following swords can be obtained in-game for free. Spikey Trident Image via Gamer Robot Inc. The Spikey Trident is a legendary sword that allows for good mobility and range. Its two moves allow you to stun enemies and pull enemies clos...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, November 24, 2023 9:00 AM
     The Legend Of Zelda Tears Of The KingdomIf exploring The Depths, flying across the Sky Islands, and walking across all Hyrules have left you wanting more, then no worries! Here are 10 games that you will certainly enjoy if you liked The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Image: Nintendo Well, if we are going to talk about games that are like Tears of the Kingdom, we might as well include its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. Although it is set in the same Hyrule and lacks the Sky Islands and The Depths, I can assure you that BoTW feels like a different game. It has aged quite well and some even prefer this Zelda installment more than Tears of the Kingdom. I just say that it is a different game that will make you appreciate ToTK a lot more, and vice versa. Death Stranding Image: Kojima Productions Perhaps this entry will be the most controversial of the bunch due to the game's polarizing nature. The truth is that, while this game may ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, November 24, 2023 8:00 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy: How to find Shiny beastsIf Hogwarts Legacy has made an impression on one of the lives of the people you care about, then why not get them a gift that will remind them of their Wizarding World adventure? It'll soon be the season of giving, and if you're in a rut thinking about what to give that one Hogwarts Legacy fan, then look no further than this list. The best gifts for Hogwarts Legacy lovers Below is a list of items that would be perfect for any fans of Hogwarts Legacy that you want to gift this festive season. I'll be honest, about half the list is tied to the houses of Hogwarts, but that was definitely one of the biggest pulls to the game, so now they can live their Hogwarts fantasy in real life. House Jumpers Image via Kanifato I found these great House Jumpers for a more casual gift that can be worn on most occasions. Comfy and snuggly, it'll help get them in the mood for a warm drink and a visit to their favorite world. You don'...

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Friday, November 24, 2023 6:44 AM
     Cryptozoic Entertainmen has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to launch a Kickstarter campaign for the "Adventure Time Card Wars 10th Anniversary". The campaign, which commemorates a decade since the game's release, has already seen a remarkable response, with $547,342 pledged of its $80,000 goal, and still 21 days left until it ends …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Friday, November 24, 2023 6:37 AM
     Free League Publishing has just announced a spectacular Black Friday Sale, offering a rare opportunity for RPG enthusiasts to dive into their diverse and immersive game worlds. The sale, featuring discounts of up to 50%, includes a selection of their core RPG books and starter sets, inviting players to embark on a variety of adventures, …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Friday, November 24, 2023 6:24 AM
     "Imaria: The Pillars of Power" is currently live on Kickstarter and rapidly surpassing its funding goal, this 5e setting and module book has garnered over $15,685, exceeding its initial target of $8,757. "Imaria: The Pillars of Power" is not just another addition to the realm of 5e games; it's a 400+ page tome introducing novel …

WGB, Home of AWESOME Reviews Friday, November 24, 2023 6:57 AM
     The French developer/publisher Ubisoft appears to be experimenting with pop-up ads in one of its older Assassin's Creed games, at least according to a video posted by Reddit user triddel24.