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THE 6th LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2021 PROGRAMME

  • A diverse range of 40 games from around the world chosen as part of LGF’s first Official Selection
  • 10 days of free talks and video programming available online
  • Now Play This programme features 25 games reflecting on the climate crisis
  • An added Safer Together Campaign with Safe In Our World which looks to battle loneliness and open conversations about mental health.

Hundreds of games creators from around the world are set to participate in the sixth London Games Festival, which today unveils the full programme for its brand new entirely online event. The London Games Festival runs 19 March to 28 March and will be the most accessible version of the event yet, with content free online to anyone.

For the first time, London Games Festival has chosen an Official Selection of 40 games from around the world, representing quality, innovation and diversity. The Official Selection highlights developers from a global pool of creative talent across its four themes of Made In London, Narrative Excellence, International Innovators and Pick Up And Play. The games will be presented via a dedicated showcase site available from 19 March, with associated store promotions at digital retailers. A number of the games are due for release during the festival period while others have free demos available.

The line-up includes:

A Musical Story: The Road To Pinewood Glee-Cheese (France)

Acolyte Superstring (UK)

Aerial Knight’s Never Yield Aerial Knight (USA)

Aeon Drive 2Awesome (The Netherlands / Spain)

Antstream Arcade Antstream (UK)

Beard Defence Jolly Good (UK)

CityClick Lost Native (UK)

Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark Spooky Doorway (Ireland)

Dead Man’s Phone Electric Noir (UK)

DIdim Twohands Interactive (South Korea)

Do Not Buy This Game Kingblade Games (Israel)

Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins Maze Theory (UK)

Drive Buy GLITCHERS (UK)

Duality Biome Collective (UK)

Genesis Noir Feral Cat Den (USA)

Going Medieval Foxy Voxel (Serbia)

Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator Broken Arms (Italy)

Innchanted DragonBear (Australia)

King of Seas 3DCloud (Italy)

Legend of Keepers Goblinz Studio (France)

Lost Words: Beyond the Page Sketchbook Games (UK)

Murder by Numbers Mediatonic (UK)

Ping Pong Fury Yakuto (UK)

Puerto Viejo Bocata Games (UK)

Puzzle Heist Hutch (UK)

Star Hunter DX 1CC Games (UK)

Tandem: A Tale of Shadows Monochrome (France)

The Companion Studio 46 (USA)

The Wandering VIllage Stray Fawn Studio (Switzerland)

Theropods Lost Token (UK)

This is Reality ScribbleScape (UK)

TOEM Something We Made (Sweden)

Tunche Leap Games (Peru)

Underdogs Moonbear (UK)

Vahn’s Quest Plutomobile.inc (South Korea)

Waver Buried Things (UK)

Wild Planet Lukyantsev Company (Switzerland)

WildMeta (UK)

Zombieland: Headshot Fever XR Games (UK)

(NB. One title is still unannounced and is set to be revealed prior to 19 March.)

The Official Selection games will also be profiled at the LGF World Stage, the festival’s new destination for its talks, panels and broadcasts. Over 70 shows will be made available via YouTube and a dedicated LGF EPG at games.london over the course of the festival, with highlights including:

  • 40 original previews of the Official Selection games with developer commentary, exclusive first looks and premieres
  • Director’s Commentary: John Carpenter – a special event with the revered movie director which will be looking at his life through the lens of his love for video games
  • A free screening of the Tony Hawk documentary Pretending I’m A Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story – which looks at the origin of the bestselling games series and its legacy and ways it intersects with skating and music culture – followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers
  • Original documentaries by Games London looking at Games Are Good For You and The Game Tech Revolutionising Movies
  • Two exclusive music performances are scheduled for the opening and closing days of the festival, further showcasing the variety and depth of audio content in games. New York-based games designer Jane Friedhoff will be playing the EP mixes she has created using the game FUSER on Friday 19 March – while performances from Brian D’Oliveira (composer for Resident Evil 7, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and others), recorded at his studio La Hacienda Creative in Montreal, will close the festival on Sunday 28 March.
  • Refreshed episodes of the Ensemble Salons, Games London’s recent series of one-to-one interviews with the key talent in its exhibition focusing on Black, asian and marginalised ethnicities working in games
  • Launches of new programmes for consumers and industry alike from Games London’s Virtual Photography Challenge to a new cross-industry Green Games Guide intended to help developers hit 2030 sustainability targets
  • A London-based edition of the popular Games Jobs Live event which features career advice and experts talking about working in the games sector
  • Plus a series of industry panels and discussions on key issues and hot button topics in games, ranging from the ways fans have turned their love of games like Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox into a career, through to metaverse (covered in an exclusive fireside chat with CCP Games CEO Hilmar Petursson) and how games aid mental health

Opening up the mental health conversation further will also be a strand for the festival as it partners with games industry charity Safe In Our World on its new Safer Together Campaign. Safer Together will offer a public Discord that will launch during the festival and continue beyond, with the purpose of providing a public platform for gamers and industry folk to connect, discuss games and be a safe space for all to talk. To find resources and more information about Safe In Our World, please visit www.safeinourworld.org where the Discord Link will be announced at the beginning of the festival.

Elsewhere, the Now Play This programme will feature a further 25 games and experiences as its four-day event (25 March to 28 March) looks to engage players and creatives around the climate crisis and ways interactive works and inform and educate. Now Play This’s programming includes online talks and workshops plus a number of innovative in-game activities, such as the opening event: a ‘flight’ to the festival using Hosni Auji’s Airplane Mode. The full line-up has also been announced today and can be found at www.nowplaythis.net

The Museum of London in collaboration with Sacha Coward is also launching a brand new virtual video games tour on the first day of the games festival, available at www.museumoflondon.org.uk. The tour will take in some of the titles in museum’s video games collection and journey through the galleries to  see the incredible artefacts that inspired them.

Also set for broadcast during the festival is the BAFTA Games Awards, free to view live online during the evening of Thursday 25 March – the prestigious awards event named its nominees last week with over 30 games in the running.

The public-facing LGF content is also underpinned by a major business-to-business offer that will see hundreds of professionals log on for video meetings, pitches to investors and networking. The Games Finance Market specifically will feature 60+ major global funds meeting pre-selected studios from London, UK and around the world looking to get new games financed. The festival is using new online platforms and partners such as digital escape room company The Adventure Is Real (where delegates can network and meet new people while solving puzzles) to keep the business area fresh and engaging. The festival’s B2B strand is supported by Xsolla, Hiro Capital, CCP Games, Here East and Java Hub.

Overall, the online London Games Festival 2021 is set to include nearly 400 games businesses across all its programming making for its biggest showing since the festival started as a physical event in 2016. London Games Festival is backed by the Mayor of London and seeks to make London the games capital of the world. It is delivered by Games London, an initiative from Film London, the capital’s screen industries agency, and video games trade body Ukie (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment). 

Discover more about London Games Festival via www.games.london and @londongamesfest 

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Introducing The Self-Care Box

March’s Self-Care Box

We are proud to finally be able to reveal The Self-Care Box, part of the new Membership Boxes Collection. The Self- Care Box contains items to enable you to both treat you’re self to a relaxing evening as well as some tools to promote Self – Care during the month. Each box will include 4 items to treat yourself to a relaxing night such as bath salts, candle, facemask, chocolate/Tea/coffee plus a workbook, journal or planner plus an activity sheet and positivity stickers and a copy of the magazine.

This months Self-Care box was a little different due to time restrictions and contains more smaller items and has our 28-Day Planner but no activity sheet or stickers. Follow us on social media as we will upload the images of every month, of the box.

As previously mentioned, The Self-Care Box is part of a collection currently in development for our new membership (subscription) service. 5 boxes in total are planned The Self Care Box, The Book Box, The Business Box, The Food Box, The Theatre and Film Box, and The Gamer’s Box. With subscriber’s being able to choose the box they want upon sign up; the boxes will also be available for purchase separately – All boxes will release the first Wednesday of the month in line with the magazine publication dates.

For the next five months we will be introduction a new box each month with exciting giveaway’s on social media.

The Self Care Box is priced at £25.00 inc postage.

Buy Here

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EPOS invites you to “The Power of Audio in Gaming” Virtual Event

Copenhagen, Denmark – January 18, 2021 – Premium audio brand EPOS has revealed its first ever virtual gaming event for media and video game fans everywhere, “The Power of Audio in Gaming.” The special online broadcast is set to deliver a unique and graphically mesmerizing behind-the-scenes look at the future of gaming audio, told by key representatives from EPOS and others from the video game industry. EPOS’ “The Power of Audio in Gaming” event will commence at 01:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. PST on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

During the event, EPOS fans, press, gamers and audiophiles alike will discover fascinating insights from guest speakers about the importance of lifelike audio in gaming, and how it drives the development of audio equipment. Similarly, attendees will learn about how the brain interprets audio, and how EPOS builds upon over 115 years of experience to use this knowledge to further the audio experience of gaming. A panel of renowned figures from the gaming audio world will also converge to discuss live the future of the industry in 2021 and onwards.

A full agenda for “The Power of Audio in Gaming” follows:

  • Welcome – Jeppe Dalberg-Larsen, EPOS President
  • 15-Minute Keynote: “Brain Hearing – How the Brain Processes Sound” – Jesper Kock, VP of Research and Development
  • Expert panel: “What Does the Future Hold for Audio in Gaming?” – Five key industry leaders, led by Danish tech journalist David Guldager
  • 15-Minute Keynote, EPOS Products: “Unleashing the Power of Audio in Gaming” – Andreas Jessen, Senior Director, Gaming
  • Conclusion – Maja Sand-Grimnitz, Global Head of Marketing, Gaming

Live interpretations for the event will be provided in French, German and Japanese.

“EPOS is thrilled to welcome media and fellow gaming and audio enthusiasts to our first ever event for EPOS in Gaming,” said Maja Sand-Grimnitz, Head of Global Marketing, Gaming at EPOS. “We look forward to discussing the future of audio in gaming with industry leading experts, sharing our passion, knowledge and exciting new releases with viewers from the comfort and safety of their homes.”

Media and viewers interested in attending can visit the official EPOS landing page to register for access to the event. The event will take place in two sessions, at 01:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. PST on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

More details about “The Power of Audio in Gaming” can be found on the official EPOS website.

About EPOS

EPOS is an audio and video solution company developing and selling devices for business professionals and the gaming community. Based on leading and advanced technologies, the Danish founded company delivers high-end audio and video solutions with design, technology and performance as paramount parameters.

The establishment of EPOS is based on the decision to let the business segments of the joint venture – known as Sennheiser Communications – between Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG and Demant A/S evolve in different set-ups. Alongside the introduction of a new own-branded portfolio, EPOS continues to sell the current Sennheiser Communications portfolio co-branded as EPOS I SENNHEISER. 

EPOS is part of the Demant Group – a world-leading audio and hearing technology group. As such, it builds on more than 115 years of experience of working with innovation and sound.  

With headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, EPOS operates in a global market with offices and partners in more than 30 countries.   

Find more information at www.eposaudio.com

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We’re Back and with a 64-page issue including a new gaming column, 2 expert columns and more…

Did you miss us?

We’re back from our December break we have decided to come back to http://www.norwichnightsmagazine.com as our main website, after technical problems. We’ve expanded the magazine and after a successful launch event, the writers are hard at work preparing March’s issue. Meanwhile check out our current issue there’s a link to read online on the home page or buy your print copy at https://ko-fi.com/intermagazinesltd/shop

There will be lots of news coming over the coming weeks so check back regularly

See you soon!

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Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Reaps an Abundant Harvest with 500,000 Copies Sold Across Multiple Platforms

Available Now on PlayStation®4 , Nintendo Switch™ and Windows PC via Steam

London, United Kingdom – 25th November 2020 – Marvelous Europe Limited, in conjunction with XSEED Games, the independent-minded publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., and Marvelous Inc., have today announced that Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin has sold over 500,000 copies globally. The game’s performance at launch is one of the bestsellers for the company, and the celebrated success reflects digital sales and sell-in figures for a retail product which is largely sold out.

The action-platformer and rice cultivation title from indie developer Edelweiss launched in North America on 10th November 2020, in Japan on 12th November 2020, and in Europe on 20th November 2020 for the PlayStation 4 , Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC via Steam.

“We’ve known that Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin was a special game and would have broad appeal since our first meeting with Edelweiss,” said Kenji Hosoi, Executive Vice President at XSEED Games, “The game has been in development for many years, and we’re beyond excited at the reception it has received globally from critics and consumers alike. Thank you to everyone who has accompanied Sakuna and her companions on their journey!”

Developed by Edelweiss and published by Marvelous Europe Limited for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Europe and Australia, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin launched physically and digitally on 20th November 2020. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin was also released digitally for Windows PC on Steam via XSEED Games / Marvelous USA, Inc. on the 10th November 2020.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is available physically at selected retailers, and digitally from the Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Store, within Europe and Australia with an SRP of £34.99 / €39.99 / $59.95 AUD. A physical Collector’s Edition, known as the Golden Harvest Edition, is available to order from selected retailers across Europe and on the Marvelous Games Store for £49.99 / €59.99. The title has been rated PEGI 16, USK 12, and ACB PG.

For more information about the game, please visit www.sakunaofriceandruin.com.

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Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Launches on Nintendo Switch™ and PlayStation®4 within Europe and Australia

A Spoiled Princess Reclaims her Birthright as the Harvest Goddess in Action Platformer and Rice-Farming Simulation Hybrid

London, United Kingdom – 20th November 2020 – Following on from the highly successful launch in Japan, Marvelous Europe Limited are today excited to confirm that action/simulation game Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is now available physically and digitally for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 within Europe and Australia.

The momentum around Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin continues outside of Japan having received positive reviews from critics, as commented by Marc Melton, General Manager of Marvelous Europe.

“We’re thrilled to see the reaction for Sakuna: of Rice and Ruin in Japan last week. We always knew this was a special title from a passionate and talented indie team and are excited to now bring their huge success to Europe and Australia today. We can’t wait to share the game’s unique combination of beautiful art, unique side-scrolling combat and rice farming to the gaming community in the West, we’re already seeing some incredible review scores from major sites across the continent!”

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin delivers the unforgettable story of Princess Sakuna, a harvest goddess banished to an untamed island with a group of humans, has been brought to life by developer Edelweiss. Acclaimed for their work on the shoot ‘em up Astebreed, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin presents a return to the combat-focused platforming roots of their earlier title Fairy Bloom Freesia, featuring refined action gameplay mixed with unique rice-farming simulation.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is available as a physical Collector’s Edition, known as Golden Harvest, for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, and as a Digital Deluxe Edition on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 4.

A standard physical edition of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 are also available at selected retailers, and digitally from the Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Store, within Europe and Australia with an SRP of £34.99 / €39.99 / $59.95 AUD.

The Golden Harvest Edition of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is available to order from selected retailers across Europe and on the Marvelous Games Store for £49.99 / €59.99.

Golden Harvest Edition Contents:

▪ Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Game
▪ 132-page Artbook
▪ 3 Disc Soundtrack CD Collection
▪ Double Sided Poster
▪ Collector’s Box

The Digital Deluxe Edition is exclusive to the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 4 and is priced at £44.99 / €49,99 / $69.95 AUD.

Digital Deluxe Edition Contents:

▪ Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin PlayStation 4 Game
▪ Digital Soundtrack App with 42 tracks
▪ 4 Exclusive PlayStation 4 Themes
▪ PSN Avatar Set with 9 Avatars

About Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin:
Developed by Edelweiss, the team behind acclaimed indie darling Astebreed, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin combines side-scrolling action with deep crafting and rice cultivation. Players take on the role of Sakuna, a spoiled harvest goddess banished to a dangerous island with a group of outcast humans. As she explores the beautiful yet forbidding environments of the island, she will also find a home in a mountain village, proving herself worthy of her title by harvesting rice and bettering the lives of humanity.

Key Features:

▪ Refined Side-scrolling Platform Action: Using farm tools as weapons, chain together quick, heavy, and special attacks to take down demonic beasts, while mastering the magical “divine raiment” will be essential to grapple distant platforms, evade danger, and overcome powerful enemies.
▪ Detailed 3D Simulation-style Gameplay: Learn the ancient art of agriculture by following detailed steps from planting to harvesting to cultivate the perfect crop. As a harvest goddess, Sakuna’s strength grows with each successful rice crop, with attributes such as aesthetic and flavour directly correlating to her combat abilities.
▪ Creating a Home in the Wilderness: Sakuna’s mortal companions make weapons, armour, and meals for her using the materials and ingredients she gathers on her adventures, and completing quests for them will unlock even more options.
▪ A Fresh Take on Japanese Mythology: The heroine is part of a pantheon of gods and demons inspired by traditional Japanese mythology but featuring many unique twists. The story and world are filled with lovingly rendered details, some familiar and some completely original.

Developed by Edelweiss and to be published by Marvelous Europe Limited for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Europe and Australia, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin will launch physically and digitally on 20th November 2020. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin was also released digitally for Windows PC on STEAM via XSEED Games / Marvelous USA, Inc. on the 10th November 2020. This title has been rated PEGI 16, USK 12, ACB PG.

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Build, Craft, and Explore Tinkertown, Headup’s Multiplayer Sandbox Adventure, Arriving on Steam Early Access on December 3rd

A Cheerful Modern Take on 16-Bit RPG Classics, with Dungeons to Explore and Towns to Build

Cologne, November 18th 2020 – Games publisher Headup is delighted to announce that Tinkertown, Headup’s first in-house production, will be released on Steam Early Access on December 3rd.

Tinkertown is a drop-in multiplayer game where players build, craft and explore an exuberant, procedurally generated open world, and discover dungeons filled with enemies, bosses and epic loot. Play as a rogue, a warrior, a mage, or anyone you wish to be. Tinkertown offers a unique experience to all players based on the weapons and armour of their choice.

“Once Upon A Tinkertown” Trailer – What World Will You Create?

Explore the world through different biomes such as mystical forests, vast deserts, chilling ice tundras and mountains with glowing rivers of lava, all depicted with handmade pixel graphics contributed by the renowned artist, Misbug of Textorcist, and enhanced by tracks of exclusively composed soundtrack by Hiroki Kikuta of Secret of Mana.

The loot can be combined with countless resources and blueprints to craft tools, armour, and weapons as well as furniture. By creating workshops and machines, settlements can even turn into an impressive city.

The players who wish to try Tinkertown can register their interest with Steam’s new Playtest feature here. The game will be available to test for free from Nov 27 to Nov 29.

Tinkertown is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure as part of the federal government’s computer games funding program with a total of €153,669.

Come to Tinkertown – A refreshing new Multiplayer Sandbox Experience! Grab your shovel, your pickaxe, and your sword and enter the realms of Tinkertown. A magical place awaits filled with loot, danger, and creativity. Build your own village – from small shacks to impressive castles and townships.

Gather resources as you explore this procedurally generated world either by yourself or with friends! Need some extra challenge? While the surface world is mostly peaceful, only the most courageous explorers will enter the sinister dungeons scattered around the world, and defeat the horrors that live within. Epic loot awaits those who dare to face the underworld.

Features:

▪ Explore beautiful landscapes such as mystical forests, great deserts, steaming lava mountains, and more.
▪ Craft new equipment and become a rogue, a warrior, or wizard – or create a new loadout and invent your own play-style.
▪ Gather resources and discover new things to build.
▪ Build your own habitat – by yourself, or online with up to three friends.
▪ Descent into combat driven dungeons and battle large underworld bosses.

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Experience Love, Loss and Letting Go in the Award-Winning, When the Past was Around; launching on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox One in Mid- December

London, November 18th, 2020 — From the teams that brought cult hits Coffee Talk and A Raven Monologue, Indonesian developer Mojiken and Indie publisher, Chorus Worldwide proudly present When the Past was Around, a whimsical point-and-click puzzle game about love, loss and letting go. Prepare for your soul to be touched and your heart to be warmed When the Past was Around launches for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in mid-December.

The game offers a wordless yet profound narrative experience and features heart-wrenching moments to move players of all ages. When the Past was Around invites gamers to gather clues, solve puzzles and unravel secrets buried deep within the protagonist’s memory. Award-winning violin music accompanies you as you explore Eda’s world, as she re-traces the steps of her lost love within her memories.

When the Past was Around won the coveted Best Game Award at this year’s Gamescom Indie Arena Booth. Original music, composed by Masdito “ittou” Bachtiar, also won Best Audio at this year’s Taipei Game Show Indie Game Award.

Features:

▪ Pictures Paint a Thousand Words – Experience the game’s story not through words or dialogue, but through beautifully hand-drawn art created by talented Indonesian artist, Brigitta Rena.

▪ A Short, Sweet, Whimsical Journey – Explore a bittersweet tale between a girl and her love in disjointed rooms of memories through time.

▪ Personal and Relatable – A game about overcoming the past and finding yourself.

▪ Brain Teasing Puzzles – Solve intriguing puzzles to uncover the story.

▪ Award-Winning Music – Atmospheric violin music accompanies you from moments of peace to heart-wrenching sadness.

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Weekly Simple Hack

Simple Hack: For a quick breakfast, mix porridge, milk, and berries store in an airtight container in the fridge before bed, then simply heat in the morning.