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happy melon
Nov.3,2023
Challenging the limits of humanity? "Slave Simulator" sparks outrage in Brazil! The game called "Slave Simulator" created by the Malaysian studio Magnus Games was launched on the Google Play Store on April 20. According to its description, "Slave Simulator" is a management simulation game that allows players to "buy and sell" slaves. Players have the choice to become a rich and cruel slave owner or a hero who abolishes slavery. Although the game offers the opportunity to play as both a tyrant and a liberator, most of its content is focused on portraying the slave owners. In the game, players can trade and buy and sell slaves, and there are three types of slaves available for players to command: "workers," "gladiators," and "prostitutes," each with specific values on the virtual market that continually change. During the game, players need to prevent slave revolts or escapes, improve their income and accumulate wealth by training and trading slaves, and even bribe officials with money to hinder the process of abolishing slavery. Additionally, the game includes a complete system of slave trading processes, and players can subject slaves to various forms of torture, including whipping, branding, and cutting. This game quickly sparked strong opposition and condemnation from Brazilian society and led to a government investigation. Federal Deputy Orlando Silva expressed disbelief that such a cruel and barbaric game could be released in a country that has suffered the trauma of slavery, and he officially filed a complaint about the game with the Brazilian authorities. Similarly, federal deputy Denise Pessoa emphasized that spreading cruel and hateful content through a game is unacceptable in a country where racism is considered a crime. People being tortured to the point of death is not a subject for casual entertainment. On the same day the game was taken down, Brazilian regulatory agencies initiated an investigation into how "Slave Simulator" could have been listed on the Google Play Store. Google's official statement declared that they have strong policies that all developers must follow, and any description or promotion of senseless violence is prohibited. Users have the right to report and monitor such violations, and Google will take appropriate action when they identify policy violations. The treatment of a highly sensitive historical topic, such as the transatlantic slave trade, in a video game format was met with strong criticism and public outrage. This game demonstrates that video game developers must be extremely cautious when handling such topics and must comply with the legal and ethical standards of the specific regions they intend to distribute their games. Game developers should be aware of the profound impact their products can have on society and culture and, therefore, should act responsibly.
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happy melon
Nov.3,2023
Asking for more money? "Rainbow Six" board game faced production difficulties and is requesting additional funds from backers! Originally born in Europe and the United States, board games have been immensely popular for several decades. Over the course of their long development, board games have become an essential social activity, perfect for family leisure, gatherings with friends, and even for business or casual occasions. They provide an ideal means of communication. Board games come in a wide variety of types, ranging from word negotiation games and graphic entrepreneurship games to map-based strategy games. Their content spans war, trade, culture, art, city-building, history, and more. As board games have gained increasing significance in the entertainment industry, many game companies have attempted to adapt their own intellectual properties (IP) into board games. For example, CD Projekt Red's "The Witcher" and Sony's "Bloodborne: Curse" have both introduced derivative board games. But can you imagine that a first-person shooter (FPS) game known for its immersive visual impact could one day be turned into a board game? Ubisoft's "Rainbow Six Siege" is a highly tactical shooter video game, and board games similarly test a player's intellect. The combination of these two gave rise to the "Rainbow Six Siege" board game. Renowned board game publisher Mythic Games obtained an official license from Ubisoft in 2021 and decided to release a derivative board game based on "Rainbow Six Siege." "Rainbow Six Siege" in board game form is nearly as rich in content as the video game. Operator abilities, breaching doors, reconnaissance, mission-based tactics, and more have all been incorporated into the board game, offering fans an opportunity to relive the video game experience. Mythic Games launched a crowdfunding campaign for "Rainbow Six Siege" on Kickstarter on June 3, 2021, offering three tiers: $69, $199, and $269. By the end of the campaign, "Rainbow Six Siege" had raised over $1.54 million in crowdfunding, with over half of the 10,884 supporters opting for the $199 tier or higher. The physical delivery of the "Rainbow Six Siege" board game to backers was originally scheduled for early June 2022. However, extensive production delays have prevented it from meeting the shipping deadline, largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As game development, production, and economic costs exceeded expectations, Mythic Games, on April 30 of this year, asked the crowdfunding backers to make an additional payment. The higher the tier chosen by the backers, the greater the additional amount required. If players do not make a decision within one month, they will be considered to have "forgone" the game. In the game's update log, Mythic Games also promised that this would be the only additional payment and would provide backers with extra rewards such as 3D modeling of operators, concept art, and more in the products delivered in October. If the minimum threshold of a 30% contribution is not reached with this additional payment request, all contributions will be refunded in full. Mythic Games blamed the international situation for the delay and excessive cost overruns for the "Rainbow Six Siege" product. They stated: "We did not anticipate the impact of the dual crisis of the new coronavirus and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which caused prices to explode across all areas. The estimates we relied on before and during the Kickstarter campaign are no longer applicable." The official explanation did not convince the players; rather, it kindled long-suppressed anger in everyone, and they felt that Mythic Games was taking advantage of the situation to "extort" money. In fact, this is not the first time Mythic Games has employed this tactic. In July 2020, they used a similar additional payment approach for their board game "Darkest Dungeon," citing the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and skyrocketing development and transportation costs. However, unlike "Rainbow Six Siege," the previous time Mythic Games and publisher Red Hook shared half the costs of the additional payment. This time, they seemed to have no intention of playing the "scapegoat" again. The second additional payment for "Rainbow Six Siege" has seriously damaged Mythic Games' reputation, and many players plan to cancel their original crowdfunding contributions and stay away from this controversial project. However, due to the limited monthly refund capacity set by Mythic Games, it may take several months to get a complete refund. Moreover, according to some backers who have made the additional payment, Mythic Games is attempting to impose additional charges in other ways, including the use of high shipping costs to compensate. Ultimately, the amount may reach twice the original crowdfunding contribution, depending on the region of the player. At this point, no one is concerned about the quality of the product; the focus is on how to get a refund from Mythic Games. While fans of "Rainbow Six Siege" eagerly anticipated the board game for two years, its bankruptcy is undoubtedly a source of disappointment. However, given Mythic Games' current attitude and reputation, it might be better for them to go out of business sooner rather than later.
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happy melon
Nov.3,2023
Another IP abandoned by Ubisoft? No release date in sight for a new installment in the "Watch Dogs" series! Ubisoft recently announced its financial performance for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023. The financial report shows that Ubisoft's total revenue for the fiscal year was 1.81 billion euros, representing a 15% decrease compared to the previous year. Net bookings amounted to 1.74 billion euros, reflecting an 18% decrease. The net loss reached 495 million euros, a significant contrast to the 80 million euros profit recorded in the previous year. Ubisoft's sales for the fourth quarter were 311 million euros, down 15% compared to the same period in the previous year. The financial report clearly indicates that Ubisoft's fourth-quarter revenue decline was more significant than expected, particularly the net bookings, which appeared to perform even worse than Ubisoft's revised forecasts. In fact, Ubisoft had already conducted an online investor meeting in January, during which the current CEO, Yves Guillemot, informed shareholders that the company would incur a loss of approximately 537 million USD for the entire fiscal year ending in March 2023. This loss is roughly equivalent to Ubisoft's net profits for the past five years. To address this massive financial deficit, Ubisoft had to continue delaying "Skull & Bones," a game still in the testing phase, and also cancel three undisclosed new projects to cut costs. However, these measures did not improve the company's situation, leading to a significant drop in the company's stock price. In May, dozens of employees were laid off, and even the troubled "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake" faced the possibility of being abandoned. From the results, "Prince of Persia" might not be the first IP to be abandoned, as Ubisoft's treatment of the "Watch Dogs" franchise has been questionable. On May 27, which marked the 9th anniversary of the "Watch Dogs" series, it was puzzling that only the underperforming Indian studio tweeted a commemoration, while Ubisoft's official accounts and the Montreal and Toronto studios, where the games are developed, remained silent. The Indian studio's poor reputation is well-known, as "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake" was transferred to the Montreal studio due to the lack of progress. It is difficult to understand why this underachieving studio was allowed to post a tweet commemorating "Watch Dogs." This is not the first time that Ubisoft has overlooked the "Watch Dogs" IP. In 2022, during the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Montreal studio, the banners displayed lacked any mention of "Watch Dogs." Although the banners included popular AAA titles such as "Far Cry 6," "Assassin's Creed Valhalla," and "Rainbow Six," it was evident that the banner on the right was identical to the one on the left. By the 2nd anniversary of "Watch Dogs: Legion" on October 29 of the same year, the Toronto studio, responsible for developing the game, tweeted a celebration message. However, the tweet received a flood of criticism from players, which is understandable given that "Watch Dogs: Legion" had faced criticism for its lackluster story, formulaic gameplay, and unresolved bugs. The addition of DLC content did little to address these issues. The original "Watch Dogs" game, released in 2014, garnered a warm reception. Its dark and oppressive atmosphere, combined with the hacker theme, was well-received, and the silent protagonist, Aiden Pearce, became another iconic character for Ubisoft. While the original "Watch Dogs" faced criticism for downgraded graphics, repetitive side missions, and poor driving mechanics, it introduced players to a new "hacker" genre of games. The original "Watch Dogs" achieved over 10 million in sales within a year, breaking Ubisoft's highest record for an original IP. Unfortunately, Ubisoft did not capitalize on the strengths of the original "Watch Dogs." The sequel, "Watch Dogs 2," made significant changes to the setting and plot. The series' story shifted from personal revenge to a higher-stakes national cause, resulting in a game that many players found to be a chaotic departure. The substantially changed "Watch Dogs 2" did not resolve the issue of repetitive side missions and was criticized for feeling "all over the place." Eventually, the game only reached 3 million in sales, less than one-third of the original's figures. By "Watch Dogs: Legion," the game had drifted even further from its original concept, featuring a lack of engaging story and character development and relying heavily on various high-tech weapons and drones for combat. The game's content was lackluster, and the presence of unresolved bugs in the game, even to this day, led to it becoming another canned project. The "Watch Dogs" series' key personnel have departed in recent years. Jonathan Morin, creative director for the first and second games, left Ubisoft and joined NetEase. Clint Hocking, creative director for "Watch Dogs: Legion," was reassigned to other projects. These two individuals were considered real talents, and it's hard to imagine what the future of the "Watch Dogs" series will look like. Abandoning this IP may be part of Ubisoft's development strategy change. Apart from "Assassin's Creed: Infinity" and "Avatar," there are several unfinished projects, including "Beyond Good & Evil 2," "Skull & Bones," "Splinter Cell: Remake," and more. Hopefully, "Watch Dogs" is just temporarily on Ubisoft's "inactive" list and will not be permanently abandoned.
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happy melon
Nov.3,2023
After all that hype, is this it? The Sony showcase was disappointing! Sony's highly anticipated PlayStation Showcase finally arrived as scheduled at 4 a.m. yesterday. Fans were hoping for some exciting announcements from Sony regarding games still in development. Regular Sony players are aware that the PlayStation Showcase is the largest of its kind, far surpassing the "State of Play" events. Moreover, it had been a year and a half since Sony last held a PlayStation Showcase, so anticipation among gamers was quite high. Perhaps Microsoft's recent underwhelming performance did not exert much pressure on Sony. Maybe the increased number of PlayStation 5 units provided Sony with confidence. However, despite a week of anticipation, the event did not deliver the excitement gamers were hoping for and left many underwhelmed. Nevertheless, there were some highlights in the event. Let's start with the positives. The centerpiece of the event was a 10-minute gameplay demonstration of the first-party title, "Marvel's Spider-Man 2." It showcased the skills and actions of Peter Parker's new Venom Suit, and the game seamlessly allows players to switch between Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Classic Spider-Man villains, Hunter and Professor Curtis Connors (the Lizard), also made an appearance in the trailer, raising expectations for an excellent gaming experience. After eleven years of waiting, "Dragon's Dogma 2" unveiled its first trailer, and with Capcom behind the game, fans hope that it will be a great success. While there is little information available about the game at this point, it's clear that the female character featured in the trailer is appealing, particularly in a time when gaming often adheres to political correctness. Rumored for some time, "Metal Gear Solid 3: Remake" was officially revealed at the event. As the origin of the "Metal Gear" series, fans have high expectations. However, the lack of a gameplay demonstration and no mention of the studio responsible for the remake raised concerns, especially given the departure of Hideo Kojima from the series and Konami's current state. Ubisoft's flagship IP, "Assassin's Creed," returned with a new installment, "Assassin's Creed: Infinity." After the "Mythology Trilogy," Ubisoft opted to return to the franchise's roots with a focus on parkour and assassination gameplay rather than RPG and exploration elements. Although Ubisoft is often teased for its "cookie-cutter" games, it has been three years since the last installment, and fans hope Ubisoft will deliver a compelling story as promised. The sequel to the classic horror game "The Evil Within" was unexpectedly revealed in the event. Even more surprising was the fact that a game published by Microsoft Studios made an appearance at Sony's showcase. "The Evil Within" is known for its immersive and suspenseful horror experience, similar to horror films in pacing and structure. According to the developers, even players who haven't experienced the previous game can easily immerse themselves in the story, promising a heightened horror atmosphere. For gamers primarily interested in the games, you can stop reading here, as we're about to delve into some criticisms. First, let's talk about the event itself. The one-hour presentation didn't feature many first-party Sony games. Even studios like Naughty Dog and Santa Monica weren't able to provide news about new titles. It was particularly disappointing given that Sony recently acquired several top-tier game studios. Having a few first-party titles was expected, but it was surprising that most third-party games were also underwhelming. Games like "FOAMSTARS," a PC version of "Splatoon," and "Towers of Aghasba," which looked like something from a Studio Ghibli film, didn't generate much excitement. Moreover, most of the games shown at the event had been previously announced, with new trailers as the only new content, and Sony was unwilling to reveal any new projects that are still in development. Perhaps the most ludicrous part of the event was the announcement of the "Cloud Console." Initially thought to be a joke, it turned out to be a streaming device, essentially a smartphone with an external controller. The only advantage is that it integrates with the PlayStation system, but it requires owning a PS5 to use and relies heavily on a stable internet connection, making it less appealing to those with unreliable internet. Due to the overall lackluster quality of the event, many players believe that this was the worst PlayStation Showcase in Sony's history. In a poll by Pushsquare, about 40% of players expressed dissatisfaction with the event. It might be the most barren year for Sony's game lineup. To add a touch of irony, shortly after Sony's event, Xbox announced that most of the games featured at the PlayStation Showcase would also be available on the Xbox platform, creating a feeling of Sony promoting games for its competition. Although Microsoft's performance was also underwhelming, with very few games officially launching, at least they were willing to create some hype. In contrast, Sony's event was lacking in surprises, except for the anticipated "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" and the enticing "Phantom Blade Zero." Games like "Death Stranding 2," "Silent Hill 2: Re," "Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth," and "Marvel's Wolverine," which had been rumored, were nowhere to be seen, leading to disappointment among fans. In conclusion, it appears that Sony oversold this event. Fans are now hoping for a new PlayStation Showcase with a stronger lineup of first-party games to restore their faith in Sony's ability to deliver exciting titles.
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happy melon
Nov.3,2023
An 18+ Chinese anime making waves in Japan? A martial arts Chinese anime quietly appeared in June, and it wasn't heavily promoted. The opening credits clearly state that it's for adults only, and from the trailer, you can see elements of martial arts, palace conspiracies, and heroic revenge. Because I had previously read the "Biaoren" manga, I had been following the "Biaoren" anime since its PV two years ago. When the opening was released, the author's work was impressive from start to finish. Today, let's talk about "Biaoren," a martial arts Chinese animation that brings back the passion of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. The original author, Xu Xianzhe, was born in 1984 in Yanbian, Jilin. Although he had no formal art training, he spent four years conceiving and investing in his debut work, "Biaoren." "Biaoren" is a hardcore martial arts manga created by Xu Xianzhe, and it began serialization in 2015. The original work was presented in black and white and quickly became a dark horse that swept the Chinese manga world, even making waves in Japan. It was featured three times on Japan's NHK TV news program and was praised by Japanese media as a "world-class Chinese anime masterpiece." This adaptation also drew the attention of many fans. The PV and opening theme are quite impressive. In the third year of Daye (607 AD), the Sui Dynasty was in turmoil under the ruthless rule of Emperor Yang Guang. Even the vast desert had become a dangerous place. In this emerging industry, a new profession known as "Biaoke" emerged. "Biao" refers to hired martial artists skilled in martial arts, tasked with escorting targets and completing bounties. The male protagonist, Daoma, is one such martial artist with extraordinary skills, traveling in the vast desert. On his way to evade the government's pursuit, he accepts an escort mission with the destination being the capital, Chang'an. He expected it to be a simple escort, but little did he know it would be fraught with dangers and conspiracies. Thus begins a journey that will change the fate of the entire nation. In a dilapidated border inn, a group of bandits surrounded the place. Daoma enters and presents a wanted poster, saying, "It doesn't matter what you've done or who you've killed in the past; I'm here to help you." The bandits offer 800 taels, a considerable sum, and Daoma has a young boy named Xiaoqi at his side, backing him up. A man and a boy? Accompanied by the childish counting of taels, the inn is filled with bloodshed and swordplay, and the bandits are defeated. Finally, the bandit leader willingly pays, and Daoma and Xiaoqi leave. Along the way, they come across corpses strewn about, and an injured man with a wanted poster is found. This man is none other than his mortal enemy, the Snake with Two Heads, a skilled swordsman who killed his father. Eight years ago, the Snake with Two Heads was involved in the murder of a high-ranking government official, and he has since disappeared into the border region, leaving no trace. Daoma wants to track him down, and this trip will change his destiny. This is just the beginning of "Biaoren." First, let's talk about the maturity rating. It's been a while since I've seen red blood in Chinese anime, and seeing scenes of violence, swords, and corpses is quite "adult." Next, the story has a solid foundation from the original work, and the overall plot is smooth, making it friendly to non-manga readers. However, there are some clear drawbacks. Compared to the original work, the anime's depiction of facial expressions, the intensity of the characters' eyes, and other aspects have some issues. Overall, the quality is there. From what I've seen in the first two episodes, when compared horizontally with Japanese animation, it's above average. When compared with other Chinese anime, it falls a bit behind "White Cat Legend," "Grand Court Diary," and "Wushan Wuxing." "Biaoren" is like a Chinese version of "Red Dead Redemption," with a large and complex story, and many characters have yet to appear. I look forward to how the anime will perform in the future, and I hope Chinese anime will continue to improve.
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