Building a mini-ITX PC is no fun if it isn't a challenge. That's the conclusion I've come to after spending many moments pondering why I'm such a huge fan of mini-ITX systems. There are other factors, of course. Moving into a bigger house has meant having a bigger office and far less of a need to maximize desk or floor space by downsizing my PC. Nevertheless, my two main systems I've used since moving have both been mini-ITX.
February 11, 2024 Happy Lunar New Year! Another Year of the Dragon code has been added.
What are the new DBD codes? These freebie-granting DBD rewardscan actually be quite hard to keep up with since they arrive pretty regularly, which is no bad thing. We're never going to complain about in-game giveaways, and Dead by Daylight codes can give you anything from outfits to charms, and even Bloodpoints and Iridescent Shards.
Whether you want your favorite DBD killers to get a stylish new look, or you want to add to your survivors' wardrobes, be sure to redeem the codes below before it's too late. There may also be codes for Dead by Daylight Bloodpoints, Rift Fragments, and charms, so there are plenty of goodies to be had. Some of these Dead by Daylight codes are ongoing though, so you may have snapped them up already.
Shonen Jump manga series are icons, with stories like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, Spy x Family, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and others telling some of the best stories people can see in the medium. It's difficult, and perhaps impossible, to play favorites.So this week, we felt it'd be a good time to consider some of the titles we feel are the best of all time to us personally and recommend them to others.
While Yu Yu Hakusho is iconic and tremendously influential, I can't in good faith choose that over Hunter x Hunter. Hunter x Hunter is amazingly written, with so many great fights and interesting characters. The Chimera Ant Arc was, admittedly, ridiculously long. But the payoff? Oh my God. I've never read or felt something like that ever from a Shonen Jump manga and I probably never will again. That, for me, ranks it higher than other great series like Gintama. And before the One Piece fans mob me in the comments: yes, I'm sure One Piece has amazing story arcs too but I just can't get past Skypeia, okay? -- Stephanie
I'm going to go with a more recent release as a pick, even though it means I am ignoring yeeeeeeears of Shonen Jump history. I think Chainsaw Man is perhaps the best Shonen Jump manga. It's got tons of action, comedy, and drama in it, not to mention unexpected twists. There's incredible depth. The characters are relatable. I never know how the arcs are going to go. It's absolutely great. -- Jenni
My heart goes to My Hero Academia, which consistently brings me back to reading manga week after week better than any other series ever. It is the near-perfect blend of Marvel superheroes with classic Shonen Jump-style action and characters, with a little bit of something for everyone. This is a series that only gets better over time, as the shocking motivations and twists regarding both the heroes and villains are revealed. However, I will say I am at the point where I am ready for it to finally conclude. -- Cody
In Monopoly GO, the Retro Love milestone event has started, bringing an end to the Cupid's Cuties event. With even more goodies, you've got no time to lose. Also, you'll be given plenty of Hearts to help with the Valentines Partners event! Full list of Milestones and Rewards for Retro Love in Monopoly GO Below is a complete list of all the rewards for the Retro Love Milestone Event in Monopoly GO. Note that cash rewards vary from player to player, so I can't give any values. MilestonePoints RequiredRewards12580 Hearts220Green Sticker Pack34025 Free Rolls445100 Hearts515090 Free Rolls640Cash750150 Hearts855Green Sticker Pack96510 minutes of Cash Grab10375225 Free Rolls1160150 Hearts1275Cash1390Green Sticker Pack1480220 Hearts15100Cash16850475 Free Rolls17100250 Hearts18110Orange Sticker Pack191205 minutes of Cash Boost20115Cash211,300650 Free Rolls22150280 Hearts23200Cash24175Pink Sticker pack25200Cash262,000900 Free Rolls2730010 minutes of High Roll...
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Sunday, February 11, 2024 3:34 PM
Hey, remember Foamstars? The Square Enix shooter from Summer Game Fest last year that everyone joked was a Splatoon clone? Well, it's out now, and it turns out that "Splatoon clone" may have been a smidge too optimistic. Also, Team Green is going through it as we all wait on pins and needles to find out if Phil…
If you aren't excited for Death Stranding 2, you're probably at least curios. Hideo Kojima's next blockbuster project is sure to be even weirder and more distinct than its predecessor. Speaking of which, right now Death Stranding is on sale on Steam, creating a prime opportunity to try the original.
While Helldivers 2 does have microtransactions, the creative director at developer Arrowhead Game Studios has addressed how the team didn't want to make it pay-to-win, and how games need to "earn the right to monetize" if that's what they're going to try and do.
The perils of being popular. Helldivers 2 is one of the biggest games on PC and PlayStation 5 right now, and that's a double-edged sword for the developers. The success means their hard work has paid off, but on the flip side, there have been issues. A rather large blip happened sometime around Saturday, February 1o, and developer Arrowhead Studios has been quick to specify that repairs are underway - but they'll take time.
2015's Batman Arkham Knight has briefly overtaken Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League in concurrent player numbers, as Rocksteady and Warner Bros' live service game settles into the endgame grind ahead of Season 1. Arkham Knight did see a spike in players around Suicide Squad's release, but now it looks like it's managing to overtake the always-online game.
February 11, 2024: We're surfing the waves for new 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 all the active Blox Fruits codes prior to Update 21 in one place below.
Wanted Dead was a game that I really thought I'd fall in love with. Sporting vibrant, over the top gore, hybrid shooter-slasher combat, and a unique, cyberpunk Hong Kong setting, it felt like everything I wanted in a game and then some. Unfortunately, it released to middling reviews, and, while I completed it, I definitely felt the jank.
February 10, 2024: We've added new codes to our list of free dice links, and removed any that have expired.
How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The classic board game has made its way to a free-to-play format, and you'll be doing laps of the board collecting houses and hotels and completing a variety of multiplayer minigames along the way.
You can't get far in Monopoly Go without dice rolls, which you'll have a limited amount of to begin with. To earn more dice rolls, you'll need to log in daily to collect bonuses, invite your friends to the game, or progress further. If you don't want to spend your hard-earned money on more dice, you can use dice links for the board game instead. Now, let's run down all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today.
Sundays are for stretching your hip flexors, lest you get lower back pain. Let's breathe as we read the week's best writing about games and game-related things.
There are certain manga and manhwa series that have grown in popularity over the last few years, and the reincarnation genre is one of them. In these, typically the hero or heroine is reincarnated, aware of their past, and use that knowledge to move forward. With Yen Press'See You in My 19th Life, we get a story from Lee Hey that expresses the exhaustion of such a thing, as well as a reignited desire.
See You in My 19th Life actually begins with Juwon Yun's 18th reincarnation, rather than the 19th we're hearing about in the title of the manhwa. It sets the stage by showing the detachment that comes from living so many times and remembering each experience, as well as it making her rather well known for her maturity and intelligence. She seems fine with coasting through things, especially as this time she is a daughter in a wealthy family. However, when she's 12 she meets a spirited little boy named Seoha Mun, as her mother is friends with his terminally ill mother and she's brought to spend time with him in the hopes her maturity rubs off on him.
Things start off in a really adorable fashion, because Juwon comes across as somewhat jaded and disconnected. Meanwhile Seoha is a typical young boy who is precocious, smart, and dealing with the knowledge is mother is dying and he'll essentially be alone due to an absentee father. So seeing the relationship building between the two in the first part of the manhwa, until it reaches the point where they're important to each other, is absolutely captivating. The pacing is perfect.
So much so that it really hits hard when Juwon experiences the end of her 18th life. Spoilers aside, the events of that life leave her with a sense of purpose for her 19th. Jieum, formerly Juwon, is determined to get close to and meet Seoha once again. Which means the latter half of the manhwa shows just how helpful knowledge of reincarnation can help in a comic or manga such as this. We get insight into what she's done, how she did it, and the very beginnings of her plans to trigger her chance to see him again.
It also means a fascinating look at Seoha's life. After all, we're seeing his past connection to Juwon, what he does with himself when he's completely alone, and his eventual interactions with a woman determined to get close to him. Again, it often defies expectations for these sorts of series.
All in all, See You in My 19th Life starts out strong and feels quite different from some other reincarnation manhwa and manga I've read before. Juwon/Jieum has a different mindset and outlook than other heroines at the outset of the story, and seeing her focus and how she approaches things later really makes it compelling. Seoha's situation is also very heartfelt, and it makes you want to root for him.
Volume 1 of See You in My 19th Life is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 2 on April 23, 2024. The K-drama adaptation is available on Netflix.
What's up folks? Giveaway Of The Day is giving everyone the chance to win on Pearl Harbor: Fire on the Water. Read on for their offering. Pearl Harbor: Fire on the Water is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Pearl Harbor: Fire on the Water Exclusive offer from Giveaway of the Day and ToomkyGames! No third-party adv...
Both the English and Chinese versions of the Good Smile Company WonHobby 38 sites don't show any Nijisanji figures, while the Japanese version and social media account account for the new Nendoroids. Six of them were announced at the February 11, 2024 event in Japan.
Here's the gallery featuring the announcement images Good Smile Company shared in Japan.
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
Good Smile Company didn't make any statement online about this omission. The figure reveals are just absent from both sites and the US social media account. It is also worth noting that the WonHobby 36 site's English, Japanese, and Chinese versions all shared the Nijisanji Nendoroid of the Japanese branch Vtuber Hyakumantenbara Salome. Likewise, the WonHobby 35 site included the Kanae and Sasaki Saku ones.
This comes after a number of companies decided to stop selling Nijisanji merchandise after the termination of Selen Tatsuki. Anycolor noted it didn't expect her dismissal to affect its bottom line. Companies like Hyte and MofuMerch announced they would no longer work with or sell items based on Anycolor Vtubers.
As usual with the WonHobby 38 announcements, Good Smile Company showed a bunch of Hololive Vtuber figures. This time there was an Amane Kanata Pop Up Parade figure, Takane Lui and Kazama Iroha Nendoroids, and a Ninomae Ina'nis figure.
Some of these new figures appeared further along in development than others. For example, both the Lui and Iroha Hololive Nendoroids appeared as painted prototypes. Each one looked nearly completely done. The Iroha one also appeared holding a sword. Both are part of the Secret Society holoX generation in the Japanese branch.
Here's how those two Nendoroids are coming along:
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
As for the Pop Up Parade figure of Hololive Vtuber Kanata, it also seems to be ready to go. Like others in this line, it will stand at about 17-18 centimeters once released.
You can take a look at Kanata below:
Image via Good Smile Company
Finally, Ina'nis is the sole Hololive EN member to have a figure appear at the event. It also is the one that seems like it could take the longest to appear, as it only showed up as an unpainted prototype. Unlike the Nendoroid of her, none of her tentacles appeared in the initial photo.
Image via Good Smile Company
There's no release window yet for the figures of the Hololive Vtubers Amane Kanata, Kazama Iroha, Ninomae Ina'nis, and Takane Lui.
One of the more unexpected Nendoroid announcements from Good Smile Company at WonHobby 38 is that one of the shark from Jaws is in the work. It appeared as a painted prototype at the event.
There are honestly very few details about what this shark Nendoroid could look like. This is because the only photo shared is a recreation of the movie poster. It shows the shark rising out of the water, with waves around it, and its gaping mouth heading up. The initial image does show that it will come with a background image of a woman swimming in the water and the movie's logo at the top. It is known if there will also be a full shark Nendoroid to go with this, or what sorts of possible other face plates or accessories could be paired with it.
Here's the sole image of the upcoming Jaws figure Good Smile Company shared with us all at the event:
Image via Good Smile Company
It is quite common for pop culture Nendoroids to appear. For example, Good Smile Company announced one of Bruce Lee, the actor. Stan Lee ended up inspiring a figure too. Some other ones released not long ago include Back to the Future Nendoroids of Marty McFly and Doc Emmett Brown.
There's no release window just yet for the Jaws shark Nendoroid. It seems the movie isn't currently on any streaming services, but is available to buy from places like Amazon, Google Play, and Apple TV.
At WonHobby 38, Good Smile Company showed off Kirby Cafe Nendoroids of Kirby and Waddle Dee. However, these twofigures only show up on the Japanese version of the website, with the English version only showing the Pop Up Parade "Karby" version of Kirby as a car from Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
First, here's how the two Kirby Cafe figures look. Kirby is wearing a chef's hat and holding a large fork in the unpainted prototype. It also appears it will function like the other Nendoroids based on the character, which means magnets will be in his arms and legs to allow various poses. As for the Waddle Dee, it is holding a dish that looks like another sleeping Waddle Dee under a blanket. It also wears a hat and apron.
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
Given that these only appear on the Japanese site, it is possible that these sorts of items could perhaps be limited to the one region due to the actual cafes being open in Japan.
As for the Kirby and the Forgotten Land Pop Up Parade figure, it only showed up as an illustrated announcement. Here's the reveal noting it is on the way too.
Image via Good Smile Company
This comes on the heels of another Kirby Pop Up Parade figure. One of him riding a star will show up in 2024 too.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available for the Nintendo Switch. There's no release window yet for the Kirby Cafe Kirby and Waddle Dee Nendoroids or "Karby" Pop Up Parade figure.
Good Smile Company showed it still remembers the Nana anime and manga by announcing a Nendoroid of heroine Nana Osaki. It appeared at WonHobby 38 on February 11, 2024 in Japan.
This figure of Nana is still early in development. It only appeared as an unpainted prototype. However, the figure's pose suggested a more active design. In it, she's holding a microphone. The face plate used also makes it look like the Black Stones member is singing.
Here's a closer look at it.
Image via Good Smile Company
The announcement only mentioned the one Nana. It didn't show Nana Komatsu, so it is unknown if "Hachi" could also end up appearing eventually.
As a reminder, the Nana manga is unfinished. It went on hiatus when mangaka Ai Yazawa ended up being hospitalized and never returned. 21 volumes of it are available. However, while the series is unfinished, it did spawn live action adaptations, an anime, and a game.
There's no word yet on when the Nana Nendoroid of the manga and anime series' heroine Nana Osaki will be released.The anime is currently streaming on Hulu. Viz Media handles the manga, and it also picked up the prequel series Neighborhood Story.
At WonHobby 38, Good Smile Company showed off Street Fighter Chun-Li and Jamie figures. Both of them showed up as unpainted prototypes, suggesting it could be a while before they actually appear for sale.
The Jamie figure is the latest in the Street Fighter 6 Pop Up Parade line. That collection also includes standard Chun-Li and Juri models and Luke and Kimberly ones that only showed up in a collector's edition. He's wearing his standard costume and is in a pose that features him possibly walking toward the viewer. As with all Pop Up Parade figures, it will probably only be 17-18 centimeters tall.
Here's how that one is starting to shape up.
Image via Good Smile Company
As for the other Street Fighter Chun-Li one, it is going to be a standard scale figure. No particular entry is specified on its announcement page. She is wearing her standard costume and is in a calm pose designed to look like she is on standby waiting for a fight.
We can see how that might look in the first example picture below:
Image via Good Smile Company
Street Fighter 6 is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, as well as in arcades. There's no release window yet for either the Jamie or Chun-Li figures.
Among the WonHobby 38 reveals of figures were Good Smile Company announcements of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom figma based on Link, Ganondorf, and Zelda. All three are at various stages of development.
The one closest to being done is the Link figma. It appeared as a painted prototype. In it, he's wearing his blue champion's tunic, holding the iconic shield, and wielding the Master Sword. This is our first update on it since it was revealed at Anime Expo 2023 in July 2023.
Here's a closer look at how that's turning out:
Image via Good Smile Company
The Ganondorf isn't that far along, as that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom figma is still an unpainted prototype. His example photo does show he'll arrive wielding his sword.
We can take a peek at its progress below:
Image via Good Smile Company
Finally, the Zelda one isn't as far along as the other The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom figures. She only appeared in an announcement image confirming she is in development. It does seem she may also come with a Master Sword, if the initial art is any indication.
Here's how that looks:
Image via Good Smile Company
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available on the Nintendo Switch, and there's no release window for the figma figures of Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf.
At WonHobby 38, Good Smile Company showed off a Five Nights at Freddy's figure, highlighting its work on a Freddy Fazbear Nendoroid. It is rather far along in development, as it appeared as a painted prototype at the event.
This latest look only offered an initial example of what to expect from this take on Freddy. He's wearing a black top hat and bow tie for the figure. The animatronic is also holding a black and silver microphone. As only the one face plate appeared in the example photo, it is unknown if it could come with any jumpscare face plates or accessories.
Here's a closer look at how the figure is turning out so far:
Image via Good Smile Company
As a reminder, a new entry in the series in on the way. Mega Cat Studios is working on Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit, which is expected to appear on PCs in 2024. At the end of 2023, Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 appeared for VR headsets on PC and PSVR 2 in 2023 as well, with a Meta Quest version arriving in 2024. The Five Nights at Freddy's movie is streaming on Peacock.
There's no release window for the Five Nights at Freddy's Freddy Fazbear Nendoroid yet, though since the figure appeared as a painted prototype it is possible that pre-orders could open in the next few weeks.
At WonHobby 38, Good Smile Company shared that people will get to "marry" another Quintessential Quintuplets character, as a Yotsuba Nendoroid in a wedding gown is on the way. She joins a number of her sisters in a line of figures first announced back in November 2023.
The Yotsuba Nendoroid will be wearing a pearlescent wedding dress. It is a shorter one that comes to about her knees and has a halter top. She'll have a flower crown with white roses around her head and no veil. The one face plate shown in the example shows her smiling and blushing.
Here's a closer look at the upcoming Quintessential Quintuplets Nendoroid.
Image via Good Smile Company
There are only two figures left in this line, including Yotsuba. Itsuki also still hasn't shown up yet. However, orders already opened for Ichika, Nino, and Miku. All three of them are expected to appear outside Japan in Q4 2024. Given the Yotsuba figure appeared as a painted prototype at this event, it seems likely pre-orders for her could open soon and she could end up appearing either before 2024 ends or in early 2025.
There's no release window for the Yotsuba Quintessential Quintuplets Nendoroid of her ready to marry someone in a wedding dress. The anime series is streaming on Crunchyroll. Kodansha handles the manga.
While Good Smile Company still hasn't shown prototypes for the upcoming Yakuza figures, it did offer an update on the Like a Dragon Nendoroids at WonHobby 38. New art for the Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima, and Ichiban Kasuga figures appeared.
As a reminder, we already did know all three of these figures are on the way. Good Smile Company first brought them up in October 2023. The announcement came at WonFes 2023 Shanghai. However, at the time it only announced the three were in the works. The reveal included stock art of the character renders for Kiryu, Majima, and Kasuga.
What we're seeing now are the first indications of how the Like a Dragon Nendoroids of the classic Yakuza characters figures could actually look. The new announcements featured concept art for all characters. Kiryu is in his standard grey suit with red shirt. Majima has his snake skin shirt open, as usual. Kasuga's suggests he'll wear his red suit with white shirt and come with a barbed wire baseball bat as an accessory.
Here's the full gallery.
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
There's no release window for any of these three Nendoroids will be released. The most recent Yakuza game is Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Good Smile Company revealed four Persona 5 Royal figures at WonHobby 38, with one being a new Joker Nendoroid and the others being Panther, Noir, and Arsene Pop Up Parade figures. Joker is furthest along in development, as the other three were only just revealed.
First, here's the Joker Nendoroid, which is billed as a more casual School Uniform Version of the Persona 5 Royal protagonist. He's shown with a neutral, smiling expression in the prototype. One of his pose options will apparently allow him to hold his glasses in his hand, rather than wear them.
Image via Good Smile Company
Next, here are the teaser images revealing the Panther, Noir, and Arsene Pop Up Parade figures. Panther and Noir will both be standard size ones in this line. This means they'll be, at most, 18 centimeters tall. This also means they should be about ¥3,900/$31.99. Arsene will be a L Size figure. That means it will likely cost closer to $60 and be about seven inches tall.
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
Image via Good Smile Company
These join existing Pop Up Parade figures in the Persona 5 Royal line. Back in 2022, ones of Queen and Oracle were announced. Joker is already a part of the collection.
There are no release windows for any of these pieces of Persona 5 Royal merchandise yet. As the Joker school uniform Nendoroid appeared as an unpainted prototype and there were only just announcements for the other three, we should see it first. Persona 5 Royal is available on the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
What's up folks? Giveaway Of The Day is giving everyone the chance to win on Pearl Harbor: Fire on the Water. Read on for their offering. Pearl Harbor: Fire on the Water is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Pearl Harbor: Fire on the Water Exclusive offer from Giveaway of the Day and ToomkyGames! No third-party adv...
In Monopoly GO, the Retro Love milestone event has started, bringing an end to the Cupid's Cuties event. With even more goodies, you've got no time to lose. Also, you'll be given plenty of Hearts to help with the Valentines Partners event! Full list of Milestones and Rewards for Retro Love in Monopoly GO Below is a complete list of all the rewards for the Retro Love Milestone Event in Monopoly GO. Note that cash rewards vary from player to player, so I can't give any values. MilestonePoints RequiredRewards12580 Hearts220Green Sticker Pack34025 Free Rolls445100 Hearts515090 Free Rolls640Cash750150 Hearts855Green Sticker Pack96510 minutes of Cash Grab10375225 Free Rolls1160150 Hearts1275Cash1390Green Sticker Pack1480220 Hearts15100Cash16850475 Free Rolls17100250 Hearts18110Orange Sticker Pack191205 minutes of Cash Boost20115Cash211,300650 Free Rolls22150280 Hearts23200Cash24175Pink Sticker pack25200Cash262,000900 Free Rolls2730010 minutes of High Roll... 
