New Behind the Scenes Developer Diary Videos for WRC 8 Released

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With just a few days before release, Bigben and KT Racing are pleased to share the latest glimpse behind the scenes of WRC 8, the official video game of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Through two Dev Diaries, KT Racing’s Art Director, Amaury Beyris, and Physics Designer, Jérémy Lolieux, shed some light on the game’s level design and physics.

In the first video on level design, Amaury Beyris details each step in the process of creating a rally. From referencing the database to achieve a 1:1 scale, to recreating landmarks, each detail is crucial for reproducing the look and feel of special stages and rallies. To increase player immersion, WRC 8 also includes the unique terrain features and weather conditions of each country, which realistically affects the driving, car set-up, tyre choice and much more.

In the second video, Jérémy Lolieux talks us through some of the major physics improvements in WRC 8 compared with the previous edition. After collaborating with Citroën Racing engineers and rally drivers, the developers were able to redesign and refine the physics engine for most aspects of the car: transmission, differentials, turbo, grip, suspensions and tyre behaviour, etc. By working all these elements into the game and creating more predictable driving behaviour, players can enjoy an ultra-realistic experience and more intuitive control of the car.

This is the most complete and authentic official WRC simulation ever made. New off-road physics for all surfaces, a completely redesigned Career Mode, extreme and dynamic weather conditions, 52 teams, 14 countries, over 100 special stages, weekly challenges and an eSports mode… Experience the most intense WRC yet!

WRC 8 will release on 5th September 2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC and in November on Nintendo Switch.

For More Information:

MARVEL’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition Out Now

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Just one week away from celebrating the one year anniversary of the release of Insomniac’s games ‘MARVEL’s Spider-Man PS4’ and today the Game of the Year Edition has been released for PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro.

Spider-Man PS4: Game of the Year Edition will get you the full game, as well as the entire Marvel’s Spider-Man: The City That Never Sleeps DLC Expansion – a three-chapter narrative to the game that tells its own spectacular, post-game story.

This game is incredible and a must for all comic book and Spider-Man fans. Grab it now if you have yet to webswing around New York!

MARVEL’s Spider-Man PS4: Game of the Year Edition is out now!

PS Plus Titles for September 2019 Announced

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The next lineup of PS Plus titles for September have been announced with Batman: Arkham Knight and Darksiders III and are your PlayStation Plus games for September!

Batman: Arkham Knight

Descend into the besieged streets of Arkham City as DC’s most-iconic crime-fighting crusader in Rocksteady’s neo-noir action adventure and explosive finale to the Arkham series.

Pull on the legendary black cowl and explore the vast, neon metropolis, grappling up walls and vaulting across rooftops, gliding between buildings, or tearing through the streets in the super-powered Batmobile.

Go up against some of the caped crusader’s most iconic enemies, including Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc and more, using brutal hand-to-hand combat and an array of gadgets to liberate the over-run city once and for all.

Darksiders III

A visceral hack-and-slash action adventure, Darksiders III places you in a dark fantasy world filled with diverse environments, dangerous foes, hidden secrets, and weapons and abilities to unlock.

Take on the role of Fury, the most unpredictable and enigmatic of the Four Horseman, as she returns to the scorched Earth to hunt down and destroy the Seven Deadly Sins. Track down each of the Seven Deadly Sins, slay their minions, and restore the balance between good and evil on Earth.

Let the apocalypse begin…

Both Batman: Arkham Knight and Darksiders III are available to download from PlayStation Store between September 3rd and September 30th for all fully subscribed PS Plus members.

JOKER – Final Trailer

Director Todd Phillips “Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study.

Arthur, who devotes himself to caring for his fragile mother, seeks out every father figure he’s never had, from wealthy businessman Thomas Wayne to TV host Murray Franklin. Caught in a cyclical existence teetering on the precipice of reality and madness, one bad decision brings about a chain reaction of escalating, ultimately deadly, events.

“Joker.” It will be in cinemas worldwide beginning October 2, 2019

Test Your Skill in World War Z’s FREE Proving Grounds Update

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Saber Interactive, in partnership with Focus Home Interactive, has released the free Proving Grounds Update for World War Z, the action-packed co-op shooter inspired by Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster film. The update features the Weekly Challenge mode, a separate playlist with unique gameplay modifiers (e.g., “all weapons are replaced with crossbows” or “players take damage if they’re too close to each other”) designed to dramatically change your play style and keep the struggle against the undead dangerous and exciting each week.

Completing the weekly challenge rewards players with anew currency that can be spent on character customization options like color schemes, headgear, backpack attachments and more. The update also includes a new Classic Battle Rifle, as well as a variety of game fixes and quality-of-life improvements.

Players can also now purchase the “Biohazard Bundle”DLC for $4.99, featuring three new weapon skins and a tomahawk axe.

The Proving Grounds Update rounds out the first season of free content for World War Z, which included the new “The Undead Sea” Tokyo mission and the six-skulls extreme difficulty setting for all chapters. Season two, coming soon, will add new PvE maps, survival mode, special zombie, gameplay updates, and even more skins.

World War Z is currently available digitally and at most major retailers on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as Windows PC via the Epic Games store.

For more information, visit http://wwzgame.com, and follow the game on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WWZGame, Twitter @WWZTheGame, and Instagram@WWZGame.

Watch The Surge 2 Combat Trailer

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The Surge 2 brings hardcore action-RPG combat to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 24 – less than a month to go! Depth, challenge, and choice of playstyle define the combat in The Surge 2, highlighted by Deck13 and Focus Home Interactive in today’s Combat Trailer. Start your path to mastering The Surge 2 by honing your skills in the original The Surge, available for free on Steam until August 29. The game and its DLCs can be purchased at up to 75% off until August 30.

In The Surge 2 you are thrust into Jericho City, a dystopian sci-fi megacity under quarantine, where several factions vie for dominance over the various districts. In this urban jungle, you will be hunted by everything from religious cultists to nanomonstrosities, so you must embrace the oldest law known to humankind – evolve to survive. When faced with an enemy, target specific parts of their body and slice off tech you need to upgrade your exo-rig.

The combat is intense. With 80 weapons to choose from, a directional parry system, dodge mechanics, drones, and a huge range of brutal execution moves, you can approach combat in the way that suits your playstyle. Charge in and pound your enemies into submission with punching gloves or sting like a bee using the spear.

Pre-orders are now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and come with the URBN Gear Pack,which includes a new armor set, two new weapons, and other cosmetics and equipment.

The Surge 2 releases September 24. The original The Surge is free to try until August 29 on Steam and can be purchased at up to 75% off until August 30.

Review: Honor 20 Pro Android Smartphone

It’s time to review Honor’s latest smartphone, the Honor 20 Pro.

Capture the wonder of your creativity with HONOR 20 PRO. A completely redesigned quad camera setup, packed with the latest photography and video technology. Allowing you to shoot professional-grade images in any lighting condition. Marvel at the all-new Dynamic Holographic design and HONOR FullView Display. You’ll never miss a moment with the all-day 4000mAh battery.

Specifications

OS Magic UI 2.1.0 (compatible with Android 9)
COLOR Phantom Black
DISPLAY 6.26’’all-view display, 2340p x 1080p 16.7M colors, 412 PPI Multi touch-sensitive screen
CHIPSET 7nm Kirin 980 AI Chipset with Dual-NPU
BATTERY 4,000mAh (typical value) all-day battery / 22.5W HONOR SuperCharge: 50% in 30 mins
CAMERA 32MP Selfie Camera • F/2.0 aperture • 3D Portrait Lighting / AI Camera / AI Ultra Clarity mode / AIS Super Night mode / AI Image Stabilization (AIS) / AI Color mode / Rear cameras: up to UHD 4K video recording, supported by EIS / Front camera: up to 1080P video recording, supported by EIS
STORAGE ROM: 256GB**/ RAM: 8GB**
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 2.4GHz: 802.11 b/g/n, MIMO Wi-Fi 5GHz: 802.11 a/n/ac Bluetooth BT5.0 USB 2.0 GPS/AGPS/Glonass/BeiDou/Galileo/QZSS
SIZE 154.60mm (L) x 73.97mm (W) x 8.44mm (D) / Approximately 182g (including battery)
FINGERPRINT YES
NFC YES
SENSOR Proximity sensor/ Digital compass /Ambient light sensor /Gravity sensor /Hall-sensor Gyroscope
OTHER 4G LTE TDD: B38/B40/B41(2545-2655MHz) 4G LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B18/B19/B20/B26/B28 3G WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B6/B8/B19 2G GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8

What’s in the box?

The box contains the 20 Pro, a cable and plug, a headphone adaptor and various paperwork.

A Closer Look

Using the Honor 20 Pro

Here are a selection of photos taken with some of the various photo options on the 20 Pro. The photos themselves look significantly better than they do here as the ones in this review has been optimised for the web.

Final Thoughts

The Honor 20 Pro has a 6.26 inch LCD display which is just beautiful, whilst it may not be OLED, it’s still very very good. The clarity is great and everything just jumps out at you from the screen and its a joy to look at. The screen gives you 1080×2340.

One of the standout features of the 20 Pro is the camera, or rather multiple cameras. There are four cameras on the rear of the 20 Pro and one on the front. The four cameras on the rear protrude out of the back so you can’t lay the phone down flat, but that shouldn’t really be an issue.

So those four cameras are a 16MP Super Wide Angle, a 48MP Standard, an 8MP Telephoto and a 2MP Macro, and they work incredibly well, including in low light and there is even a Super Night Mode for taking pictures late at night.

The main camera has the Sony IMX 586 chip and includes image stabilisation which is another useful feature if you are taking photos on the move.

The front camera is a 32MP selfie camera and takes great pictures too.

There is a fingerprint scanner on the side of the 20 Pro which works very well, it’s also the power button which makes things a little easier to use it. It was very quick to use it to open the phone.

Battery life on the 20 Pro is great, the 4000 mAh battery provides enough power to get through the day and then some!

Using Honor SuperCharge means you can get about 55% charge in around 30 minutes, which can be very useful!

There is no headphone jack on the 20 Pro, but there is an adaptor that comes in the box for connecting up your headphones to the phone. iPhone users have had to put up with this for a while now, so it’s not anything new and you soon get used it. A lot of people use Bluetooth headphones these days so this shouldn’t really cause much of an issue for most people.

Powered by a Kirin 980 AI chipset, GPU Turbo 3.0 gives you a full-frame gaming experience so if gaming on a smartphone is important to you, you wont be disappointed.

There is 256GB of onboard storage, however there isn’t any way to increase the storage with a microSD card as there just isn’t one on the phone – which is a shame.

The Honor 20 Pro is available now priced £549.99 and is available in Phantom Black or Phantom Blue. If you want a great smartphone with amazing cameras then look no further than the Honor 20 Pro.

You can learn more from the Honor website here.

WRECKFEST is Out Today for Consoles!

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Carnage is here! Wreckfest launches today for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Buckle up!

Expect epic crashes, neck-to-neck fights over the finish line and brand-new ways for metal to bend – These are the once-in-a-lifetime moments that can only be achieved in Wreckfest, with its true-to-life physics simulation crafted by legendary developer Bugbear, who also brought you FlatOut 1, 2 and Ultimate Carnage. Burn rubber and shred metal in the ultimate driving playground!

Featuring awesome Cars – Old, banged-up, patched-together cars that simply ooze style! From old American heavy-hitters to agile Europeans and fun Asians, you won’t find anything like this in other games.

Players will be able to make meaningful Customization – Change not only the look of your cars but also upgrade their body armour. Multiplayer – Wreck your friends online and take racing to the limit while chasing for demolition dominance!

Wreckfest is out now for consoles PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Watch the Full Dying Light 2 E3 and Gamescom Gameplay Trailer

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Techland has revealed the previously unreleased 26-minute Dying Light 2 gameplay video that brings back the exceptional ability and brutal combat gameplay, viciously evolving infected, and the next iteration of the day/night cycle.

Presented behind closed doors at E3 and Gamescom 2019, the video further showcases how player’s choices have far reaching consequences on both the narrative and the world around them that results in a playable sandbox that is 4x larger than the original Dying Light game.

https://youtu.be/uy6ne-fEsAw

Welcome to The City, a modern world plunged into a Dark Age – the last bastion of humanity, where factions fight for power, and regular people fight just to survive. Our protagonist, Aiden Caldwell, is forced to make difficult decisions under pressure, that will shape both the narrative and the world around you.

Dying Light 2 is scheduled to release in Spring 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One family of Consoles.

For more information, please visit: https://dyinglightgame.com/

Review: Disney’s The Lion King Mighty Roar Simba from Hasbro

With the recent cinema release of Disney’s The Lion King, Hasbro have released a number of toys, including the Might Roar Simba, and here is our review.

This FurReal Simba interactive soft toy embodies all of the fun, charm, and humour of The Lion King’s most iconic lion cub. Take him along on adventures, give him his treat, and be sure to give your Pride Lands pal lots of hugs!

What’s in the Box?

The box contains Simba, a grub for him to eat and some instructions.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

This Simba is from the 2019 version of Disney’s The Lion King and is brought to life by FurReal who have a great track record for making some very realistic toys.

Simba stands approximately 21.5cms high, and is 51cm wide, and 44.5 deep, for those of you interested – so he isn’t small! He also looks incredibly realistic.

Simba will do various things depending on what you are doing with him. You can pat him on the head and he will do something or say something. You can talk to him and he will react and you can roar at him, and he will react too. He moves his head, his eyes and even his tail, amongst other things. Your child will have hours of fun!

There are over 100 sound and motion combinations available, including directly from the film, so your child shouldn’t get bored!

Simba also responds when you feed him his special grub – well, who wouldn’t?

Simba requires 4x C LR14 batteries which are not included in the box, so make sure you have a set ready, in fact have two sets because you are going to need them as your child probably won’t want to stop playing with him.

Simba is great to play with and to cuddle, and is a lot of fun, your child (and you) won’t want to put him down or stop playing with him. This is definitely something you will want to consider adding to your Christmas list, but act fast as they are selling out!

Disney’s The Lion King Mighty Roar Simba from Hasbro is available now priced around £119.95 and is suitable for ages 4 and above, although Hasbro say above 36 months.

A Closer Look at the HEXBUG Scorpion

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With Christmas just 4 months away, we will be taking a closer look at some toys you might want to consider – here we look at the HEXBUG Scorpion.

Unsettle those around you with the scurrying Scorpion’s bouncing tail and free-swinging front claws. This mechanical bug rebounds off of walls and darts around the room in five unique colors.

Watch out for the motorized creepy crawly Scorpion! Scare your friends as it scuttles around the room, exploring every area it can get to. With the claws helping it ricochet off of walls and objects, and the realistic bouncing action of the tail, you’ll think it’s actually alive!

The Scorpion requires 3x LR-44 batteries, which are included in the box.

The Scorpion comes in a variety of different colours and will provide hours of fun, or scares!

The HEXBUG Scorpion is available now priced £10.99 and is aimed at ages 8 and above.

You can learn more from the HEXBUG website.

D23 Special Look Trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

D23 Expo has revealed a lot of news for the MARVEL MCU and especially MARVEL and Star Wars shows for the Disney+ series kicking off later in 2019 but over the weekend attention turned to Star Wars: Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker which is currently the final episode and film set in the Skywalker Saga.

To kick things off, here is the brand ‘D23 Expo Special Look’ trailer released today (26/08/19):

During the Lucasfilm panel at D23 Expo, both J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy came to the stage to introduce most of the cast of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”, who talked about the film some what before the revealed a new poster for the film as well as a sizzle reel of footage that only those at the panel were able to see until today.

It was also confirmed that footage of Carrie Fisher as Leia, filmed for The Last Jedi but was not used, has been utilised for this final saga film with Abrams saying that Leia will be the heart of the film.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be releasing in cinemas on December 19th 2019.

HONOR gears up for 2019 H2 at Gamescom 2019

HONOR, a leading smartphone brand, officially announced its new gaming strategy at Gamescom 2019. With a goal of advancing mobile gaming through technology, E-Sports & co-development, HONOR positions itself at the forefront of the mobile gaming industry by providing powerful gaming technology in its smartphones, innovative accessories, plans for e-sports, and unprecedented collaboration with developers.

Beyond Smartphone, Beyond Development, Beyond Gameplay

As a brand for the youth and the young at heart, HONOR will take its core gaming technology to the next level by focusing on three pillars: “Beyond Smartphone, Beyond Development, and Beyond Gaming”.

This comes weeks after the brand started to sell the HONOR 20 PRO globally, bringing to market a highly powerful device for gamers. With the Kirin 980 SoC at its core, a 4,000 mAh AI-powered battery,  8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the device has been described as a “gaming powerhouse” able to smoothly and comfortably play any demanding game.

The HONOR 20 PRO also includes GPU Turbo 3.0, a gaming optimisation technology increasing graphics, processing and energy efficiency of 30+ games. Titles such as Arena of Valor, PUBG and so on are able to perform comfortably at 60 FPS on the HONOR 20 PRO. The graphene cooling system supports a long-lasting and comfortable gameplay experience. 

Beyond Gameplay: HONOR GamePad

HONOR believes that gamers want more than a smartphone to support their gaming habits. In the second half of 2019, HONOR will start selling the HONOR GamePad in Western Europe. The accessory will add a physical controller experience to mobile gaming. The HONOR Gamepad has 6 buttons, connects to the handset via Bluetooth and provides an extra 400mAh battery supported by an USB-type-C connector to further extend gameplay time. The HONOR GamePad is compatible with any games that support Bluetooth control accessories. Button configuration is done in-app through the game itself.

HONOR Gamepad

Beyond Development: The HONOR View20 saw HONOR collaborate with gaming studios to develop motion-controlled sports games such as Fancy Skiing and Fancy Darts by making use of the TOF 3-D camera component, which also supports USB-to-HDMI connection for a better gaming experience. To support the creation of even more titles by developers, HONOR will collaborate with selected gaming studios, both Indie and established, and provide API access to allow them to develop games with such technology.

HONOR View20 Supports Motion-Controlled games through its TOF 3D Camera

Beyond Gameplay: HONOR will deliver a superior gaming experience for users by providing pre-installed games in the “Gaming Arena” folder that make the most out of the technology in its future handsets.

Mobile E-Sports opportunities to global gamers

Due to the fact that 18% of HONOR fans declare themselves gamers, HONOR is studying the possibility of entering the e-sports arena by partnering with renowned players and holding international-level competitions. More information will become available in the second half of 2019.

New Gameplay Video for Bee Simulator unveiled

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At gamescom, BIGBEN and Varsav Game Studios are delighted to unveil a new gameplay video for Bee Simulator. See how you can spend quality time with family or friends with the different game modes available: play collaboratively or competitively with up to four players.

See the world through the eyes of a bee in Bee Simulator! In a world inspired by iconic Central Park in New York, you play as a pollinator bee who has set up home with the rest of your colony in one of the park’s trees. Your life is turned upside down one day when humans decide to cut down your tree. The fate of your hive is thrust into your tiny hands.

With its multiple game modes and realistic open environment, Bee Simulator is the perfect family game. And as the studio worked with beekeepers during development, you can learn while having fun thanks to the suggestions and information shared throughout the game. From their means of communication and collecting pollen, to defending the hive from other insects and disease, the secret life of bees will no longer be a mystery.

Bee Simulator will be available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on 14 November 2019.

You an follow them on Twitter and YouTube.