It’s back to the drawing board for Sony Pictures TV and Amazon MGM Studios, who are starting from scratch for Prime Video’s God of War, a series based on PlayStation’s smash hit video game of the same name.

According to Deadline, this comes after the departure of showrunner and executive producer Rafe Judkins, alongside fellow executive producers Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus. The trio left the project after completing various scripts for the show’s first season, with the studio reportedly considering a move to a different creative direction by hiring a new writing team for the series.

The series was first announced in 2022 and is set to follow the events of 2018’s God of War, which sees protagonist Kratos journeying with his son Atreus to the highest peak in the realm to scatter his late wife’s ashes.

Santa Monica Studio’s God of War franchise remains one of the most well-known IPs in gaming, spanning a total of seven games across four generations of PlayStation consoles. Originally focused on Greek mythology, 2018’s soft-reboot transitioned the series to the Norse realm, earning universal acclaim alongside its 2022 sequel, God of War Ragnarok.

Produced by Sony Pictures TV and MGM Amazon Studios, and in association with PlayStation Productions, the God of War series has been in production since March 2022. Despite the departure of key creative personnel, Santa Monica Studio’s Cory Barlog and Yumi Yang will remain as executive producers on the project, alongside head of PlayStation Productions Asad Qizilbash, senior producer Carter Swan, and Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Amazon & Sony Overhauling ‘God of War’ TV Series With New Creative Team appeared first on Geek Culture.

Xbox has wrapped up its Partner Preview Showcase today, unveiling both cinematic and gameplay trailers for its upcoming games. With a slew of titles announced in just a short, roughly 30-minute livestream, here’s a handy round-up of everything shown.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an upcoming soulslike action role-playing game featuring intense combat utilising a mix of swordplay and magical abilities. The game follows protagonist Wuchang as she unravels the secrets of her past while afflicted by the horrific Feathering disease. The title launches day one with Xbox Game Pass in 2025.

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House DLC

As Agent Estevez, players will return to Cauldron Lake and explore the twisted halls of the Lake House, a mysterious facility set up by the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), and unravel the dark mysteries within in Alan Wake 2’s upcoming expansion, coming 22 October 2024.

FBC: Firebreak

Have you ever played 2019’s Control and thought, “I wish I could play this in first-person and with my friends”? Well, good news folks, FBC: Firebreak is a three-player co-op shooter set within the FBC where players can get up close and personal with the Hiss and pump them full of lead. The game is set to release in 2025.

Cronos: The New Dawn

Coming in 2025, Cronos: The New Dawn is an upcoming combat-driven third-person survival horror game by Bloober Team, the minds behind Layers of Fear, The Medium and Blair Witch.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The latest trailer for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii shows off more of the game’s bombastic combat, alongside a first look at its naval battles, which evokes the same feeling as those seen in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. The game launches on 21 February 2025.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire

For anyone who loves classic cartoons but wishes they were a little less kid-friendly, Mouse: P.I. For Hire will scratch that itch in 2025 with a gritty, noir-fuelling first-person shooter, presented in black-and-white for that extra nostalgia kick.

Subnautica 2

Dive into the deep and face the alien horrors lurking below in Subnautica 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, coming 2025.

Mistfall Hunter

Mistfall Hunter adopts the well-established extraction shooter formula with an RPG twist. Kill creatures, collect loot and try to get out unscathed when the game launches in 2025.

Eternal Strands

Coming in early 2025 as a Day One Game Pass title, Eternal Strands pits players against massive foes with a combat system centred around combining spells of three different types: Frost, flame and kinetic.

EDENS ZERO

Adapted from Hiro Mashima’s hit manga, EDENS ZERO takes players to the stars and beyond as they adventure across the Sakura Cosmos. The fantasy action RPG is set to release in 2025.

Wheel World

Deck out your bike and hit the road in Wheel World in early 2025, a semi-open world biking title featuring a cell-shaded art style reminiscent of 2021’s indie hit, Sable.

The Legend of Baboo

Coming 2025, The Legend of Baboo follows Sepehr and his loyal dog Baboo as they embark on a journey through magical lands to rescue their family from a dark and ancient evil. But here’s the more important question: will we be able to pet the dog?

Phasmophobia Xbox Release

Chicken out and leave your friends behind in Phasmophobia, as the widely popular ghost-hunting horror game finally gets its Xbox release on 29 October 2024.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Xbox Partner Preview 2024 Showcases ‘Wuchang: Fallen Feathers’, ‘Alan Wake 2’ DLC And More appeared first on Geek Culture.

Apple is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its mobile payment service, Apple Pay, announcing that its service will evolve in the near future and provide additional features, alongside expanded instalment loan options.

As part of its global rollout, Apple will partner with DBS Bank in Singapore, granting access to instalment loan options for eligible credit or debit cards. Options outside of Singapore also include ANZ in Australia, Citi and Synchrony in the United States, and CaixaBank in Spain.

This news follows Apple’s decision in June to roll back plans for its Pay Later feature, instead prioritising partnerships with local financial institutes worldwide. This would allow banking partners to stay connected with Apple Pay instead of competing with the Cupertino giant directly.

In addition, Apple Pay users in Singapore will soon be able to redeem rewards when they check out with Apple Pay online or in-app on iOS devices. This feature is steadily being rolled out for eligible DBS cards locally but has already kicked off for users in the U.S. with iOS 18, with the ability to see their PayPal balance when using their PayPal debit card coming to Apple Wallet next year.

On the Apple Newsroom, Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, expressed excitement about providing users with more ways to pay and offering enhanced flexibility, while maintaining the high levels of trust and security that users expect.

“From the outset, we envisioned a world where you could use your iPhone to seamlessly pay for everything, all while keeping your personal and financial information safe and private,” said Bailey.

Apple Pay is currently used worldwide by hundreds of millions of consumers across 78 markets, available on millions of websites and physical storefronts, and is supported by more than 11,000 bank and network partners. The platform can now be accessed on third-party browsers and computers.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Apple Pay Turns 10, Partners DBS In Singapore For Installment Loans appeared first on Geek Culture.

Hailed as the first true Nintendo 64 (N64) clone console, Analogue’s upcoming release, the Analogue 3D, will feature full compatibility with all original N64 game cartridges, allowing players to revisit their favourite titles from an era long past.

In addition, the console also plays N64 games in an upscaled 4K resolution via HDMI cable, a major selling point for those frustrated with the infamously messy nature of N64 emulation. For those seeking a more traditional experience, original display modes and support for original N64 controllers are offered.

The Analogue 3D is powered by 3DOS, the company’s proprietary operating system built for the console. Serving as an evolution to its predecessor, the AnalogueOS, the new system will offer N64-specific features alongside support for save states and taking screenshots.

Although the Analogue brand is well-known among classic game fans due to their versions of other consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Sega Genesis, the Analogue 3D marks the company’s first foray into the N64 generation.

The Analogue 3D will cost US$249.99 and is set to launch in Q1 of 2025, with preorders beginning on 21 October 2024. For its full technical specifications, check out its official webpage.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Analogue 3D Console Plays Nintendo 64 Games In 4K For Just US$250 appeared first on Geek Culture.

IO Interactive, the developers behind the Hitman games, have teased details about Project 007, their elusive upcoming title set in the universe of James Bond, which will reportedly feature Bond’s origin story.

Speaking to IGN, studio head Hakan Abrak shared that Project 007 will be developed and published entirely by the company and that the title’s production is going “amazingly well”.

The game is set to feature an original Bond story, with heavy emphasis on the character’s beginnings. “What’s exciting about that project is that we actually got to do an original story. So it’s not a gamification of a movie. It’s completely beginning and becoming a story, hopefully for a big trilogy out there in the future. And equally important and exciting, it’s a new Bond,” Abrak revealed, “It’s a Bond we built from the ground up for gamers.”

IO Interactive is behind the immensely popular Hitman game series, known for its open-ended world design that encourages multiple approaches to its objectives. With the series now on hiatus, this leaves room for the studio to focus its efforts on developing a James Bond game worthy of the heights of 1997’s GoldenEye 007.

“It’s been almost 15 years since the last game.” added Abrak, “I just hope we’ll do a thing that will define James Bond in gaming for years to come. And that is not only one game, but that we create a universe for gamers to own for many years to come that we can grow with that next to the Bond on the movies.”

Having previously announced the project in 2020, IO Interactive is currently keeping a tight lip when it comes to the finer details of Project 007, with Abrak concluding, “I don’t have an update today, but believe me, it’s itching here as well to be talking about it soon.”

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post IO Interactive’s ‘Project 007’ Will Be Young James Bond Origin Story appeared first on Geek Culture.

Sony Pictures has announced a 25 April 2025 release date for their upcoming movie adaptation of the hit horror game Until Dawn, almost a week after the end of filming.

Originally developed by Supermassive Games, 2015’s interactive drama horror game Until Dawn will bring its signature spooks and thrills to the big screen next year, only a few months ahead of the game’s 10th anniversary. The film will be directed by David F. Sandberg, who helmed 2019’s Shazam! and its 2023 sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, alongside producer Gary Dauberman, who also wrote the movie’s final script.

The upcoming film is described as an “R-rated love letter to the horror genre” inspired by the events of the game, which featured a slasher mystery revolving around eight friends on a retreat to an isolated mountain lodge.

Peter Stormare is set to reprise his role as Dr. Hill, alongside his fellow castmates Ella Rubin (The Idea of You), Michael Cimino (Love, Victor), Ji-young Yoo (Expats), and Odessa A’zion (Hellraiser). The upcoming film marks a resurgence of the title a decade after its original launch, alongside the Until Dawn remake, which was released on PlayStation 5 and PC earlier this month.

The Until Dawn movie hits theatres on 25 April 2025.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Until Dawn’ Movie To Hit Theatres April 2025 appeared first on Geek Culture.

It’s over 9,000! 3D area brawler Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is a smashing success, selling three million copies worldwide, 24 hours after its launch on 11 October.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO marks the first sequel to the Budokai Tenkaichi series in 15 years, and rose to the top of Steam’s most-played charts during its early access period. The game launched with a 122,554 peak player count, the highest number of any Dragon Ball game on the platform. The title currently holds a 24-hour peak of 68,509 players on Steam, with 43,205 players at the time of writing.

Among the fighting games on the platform, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO sits triumphantly on its throne. In comparison, Street Fighter 6 saw an all-time peak of 70,573 players, while Tekken 8 peaked at 46,139 players. The game’s player count also dwarfs the franchise’s previous releases, with the next-highest peak player count being that of Dragon Ball FighterZ, which topped at 44,303 players.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero was developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Based on the immensely popular animanga series, the game delivers a stunning recreation of the series’ iconic battles, with a healthy dose of fan service in the form of an impressively in-depth battle customisation system.

For more Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, check out our unboxing of its Premium Collectors Edition below:

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO’ Sells 3 Million Copies In 24 Hours appeared first on Geek Culture.

Amazon Prime Video’s Secret Level series will feature a star-studded cast, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Claudia Doumit, and more, as revealed via a leaked trailer.

According to MP1st, the trailer appeared ahead of its stipulated 10 December release date. Although it was swiftly taken down via a DMCA takedown notice from Amazon, viewers were quick to extract its list of stars.

Below is the leaked list of the series’ main cast:

• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Kevin Hart
• Keanu Reeves
• Heaven Hart
• Temuera Morrison
• Ariana Greenblatt
• Emily Swallow
• Gabriel Luna
• Ricky Whittle
• Patrick Schwarzenegger
• Merle Dandridge
• Claudia Doumit
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
• Clive Standen
• Michael Beach

Secret Level is an upcoming animated anthology series with each of its 15 episodes being based on a different video game series. Titles featured will include hits such as God of War, Ghost of Tsushima and Armored Core. The series comes from Blur Studio, the folks behind the critically acclaimed Love, Death & Robots.

The series is also set to feature an episode based on Concord, PlayStation’s late hero shooter which was notoriously taken offline a mere two weeks after its launch. It has yet to be seen if Amazon will proceed with airing that particular episode.

Secret Level will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 10 December.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Amazon’s ‘Secret Level’ Trailer Leaks, Reveals Cast Of Arnold Schwarzenegger And Kevin Hart appeared first on Geek Culture.

OCBC has joined forces with Disney, marking a strategic five-year collaboration across three of its five core markets: Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

With this new partnership, OCBC is rolling out a programme featuring branded card designs, marketing activations and financial literacy content inspired by Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, providing special retail banking experiences and products.

The OCBC MyOwn Account soft-launches today on the OCBC app, in preparation for its official launch on 20 October. To celebrate, Wisma Atria’s OCBC branch will be spiffed up with Disney and Marvel-themed photo zones, featuring popular characters such as Stitch, Iron Man, and Spider-Man. Visitors will also have an opportunity to meet and greet “a special friend” from Disney’s Lilo & Stitch.

Financial literacy content such as comics and activity sheets for children will be available digitally on the OCBC app and website, along with print versions at its Wisma Atria branch. These feature Disney characters from Wreck-It Ralph and include financial guidance from teachers and parents. Over 100,000 physical copies of the comic will also be handed out to students at 110 secondary schools nationwide.

In addition, select OCBC cards and bank accounts will sport Disney design bundles, including merchandise like limited-edition Disney-themed OCBC pins in “blind packs”. This is set to launch by mid-2025.

Mr Sunny Quek, Head of Global Consumer Financial Services, OCBC, said, “Collaborations like these enable us to attract new customers and bring to the market products and services that are not based on pricing or rates alone. I am therefore confident we will accelerate our acquisition of new-to-bank customers across our Southeast Asia core markets in five years.”

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post OCBC Kicks Off Five-Year Regional Partnership With Disney appeared first on Geek Culture.

It’s time to plug back into the Grid. Tron: Catalyst, the latest game set in the world of Tron and the sequel to 2023’s Tron: Identity, has been announced with a 2025 release window.

Developed by Bithell Games and published by Devolver Digital alongside its subsidiary Big Fan Games, Tron: Catalyst is described as “an all-new story-driven, isometric action-adventure game, set in the immersive and diverse locations of the Arq Grid.”

Set in the Arq Grid, first introduced in Tron: Identity, players will take on the role of Exo, a courier who gains a mysterious power known as the Glitch after a package explodes. Armed with this new ability, they must now fight to escape the pursuing peacekeepers and unlock the mysteries of the grid.

Marking a departure from the original’s visual-novel gameplay style, Tron: Catalyst will feature a top-down camera perspective, with a dynamic combat system mixing up melee and ranged Identity Disc abilities, alongside the Light Cycle battles the series is known for. Composer Dan Le Sac also returns to work on the game’s soundtrack.

The official game description reads, “The Arq Grid stands on the brink of collapse. With your Identity Disc and Light Cycle, fight to escape by wielding the power of the Glitch loop. Electrifying action and a rich story combine in a new adventure set within Disney’s iconic Tron universe.”

Tron: Catalyst is set to release in 2025 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Game Sequel ‘Tron: Catalyst’ Announced For 2025 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Imagine being 28 years old and playing video games for the better part of 16 years. Then you find yourself at a new job covering video games, among other things, in early September, and on the first day of work, you’re told that the company is sending you to TGS that very same month.

That’s Tokyo Game Show, the annual video game convention held annually in Tokyo, Japan. Yes, Japan – home of Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Sony, PlayStation, and Sega – and if you are a gamer, you’ll understand it when they say there is no video games culture without Japan, and TGS is the mecca that all gamers yearn to experience. 

So, long-time gamer, a new job, and an all-expense ticket to the ultimate video game convention, complete with full media credentials – that’s like winning the lottery and meeting the girl of your dreams that same week. Sure, there have been visits to local game events in Singapore, from GameStart Asia to the upcoming Gamescom Asia… but that’s like replacing an A5 Miyazaki Wagyu steak with one from the neighbourhood Char Grill Bar – it’s similar but definitely not the same. And there’s no way those events can be compared to TGS, and going in with little idea of what to expect (I was a first-timer, after all), what eventually awaited me was both incredible and intimidating at the same time. 

So strap in, and let me take you on a virgin TGS 2024 experience for those who are preparing for that eventual trip, and for those who realise they’ll never make it there. Never say never because you never know if the things learned along the way on this inaugural trip can help any of you potential convention attendees out there looking to make full use of your first foray into the world of gaming cons.

Day one of the convention was as hectic as it was exciting, and the first thing you learn is that TGS isn’t technically in Tokyo. The global gaming event is held at Makuhari Messe, a massive convention centre in Chiba City, just outside of Tokyo (Yeah, CGS doesn’t have that nice of a ring to it), which meant it took more than an hour by train to get there from our hotel in Shinjuku. Along the way, the sight of fellow attendees on the packed train, some in cosplay outfits, should have provided indicators of how crowded the convention space would be, but it never prepared me for just how crowded it got.

Upon exiting the station, that’s when realization, along with a massive daisy chain of people shuffling their way towards a building in the distance, set in. It was only when the crowd moved closer that the scale of the event truly hit me. TGS is spread across 11 halls and 2 separate buildings, requiring a rather substantial walk in between. Was there even enough time to make it through everything? 

The exterior of the convention centre was plastered with huge posters of upcoming games, including Doom: The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Here’s a fun fact—Bethesda, one of the world’s biggest game developers and publisher of both games, isn’t even at TGS and had only bought up all the ad space outside, which is something they apparently do every year.

Once inside, and after receiving the coveted media pass, it was onwards to the halls, via the VIP media entrance, no less. Almost immediately, the chatter in the halls and all sorts of noises coming from the various booths started to overwhelm, but in a bizarre way. You start hearing familiar music overlapping one another, and while you might not be able to put your finger on it, your brain registers a level of familiarity.

In most instances, you’ll never know where the music or sound comes from but sometimes, you’ll hear the distinctive “!” sound from the Metal Gear series and upon looking up, you see the massive Konami booth at the opposite end of the hall, and catch sight of the giant LED screen playing promotional videos for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

Alas, the iconic sound attracted almost everyone else as well, as we all made a beeline towards the booth only to realise that a substantial queue had already formed for the much-anticipated demo. And therein lies my first TGS mistake of constantly returning in the hopes of seeing a shorter queue, instead of prioritising exploring everything else TGS had to offer. 

And offer it did. Every booth at the show had some form of centrepiece to draw attention. Giant statues were the most common sights, from Bandai Namco’s giant Goku statue to Square Enix’s massive ceiling-mounted Slime. Some booths even had live shows playing, like the one at SEGA / ATLUS, which featured a live-action performance reenacting cutscenes from role-playing game, Metaphor: ReFantazio.

So what do all these booths and events have in common? My first learning point.

Prepare For Leg Day

Be prepared to walk, or at least spend prolonged hours on your feet. Once inside the various halls, you’ll realise that there are no seating areas whatsoever, and between exploring the various booths or waiting in line for game demos, you are going to be spending most of your time on your feet. To prepare accordingly, wear comfortable shoes and thick socks to prevent abrasions and blisters.

There are seating areas in the corridors outside the convention halls, but due to its layout, constantly walking in and out of the hall can be time-consuming. There are specific exit and entrance points for attendees, and these are situated on opposite ends of the building. Very much like how most shopping centres work, this means that you have to walk almost the entire stretch of the halls just to exit, and vice versa, so it makes much more sense to stay within the confines of the hall, to save both time and energy.

After exploring the halls and figuring out which game demos I wanted to try out, I made the (bad) decision to return to where it all started, Konami. Instead of the shortened queue I had previously hoped for, the crowd had ballooned to an almost impressive amount (it would turn out to be the largest crowd I encountered throughout the experience). 

As I really wanted to try out the demo for Metal Gear Solid, I reluctantly joined the seemingly never-ending queue, only to be met with learning point number two.

The Importance of Translation Apps

Language barrier is a big issue in Japan, with a majority of the folks at the event unable to speak conversational English. The evolution of TGS to cater to a global audience means that by this time, every game booth should have at least one English-speaking staff member, but to avoid the awkward situation of staff frantically scrambling to find that one person who can understand you, it’s probably best to use translation apps to help you in a pinch. 

Here’s the thing, don’t even bother with any fancy voice-to-text translation software you might have because the crowd at the convention halls are loud, and these apps will simply fail to pick up your voice amidst the chatter that constantly fills the hall. Stick with the manual way, and type out your queries.

Conversely, camera translation apps such as Google Lens are a godsend. Game booths prominently feature signs (which are entirely in Japanese) detailing important information such as queue times or availability, and having an app to translate them can help avoid disappointment. Taking my experience waiting in line for Metal Gear Solid’s demo as an example, it turned out demand was much higher than expected, resorting to them handing out tickets on a first-come-first-serve basis, subsequently only allowing ticket holders to try out the game’s demo. This was what caused the massive lines I was unfortunately right in the middle of.

Unbeknownst to me, the ticketing period was already closed, and staff members were holding up signs conveying this information. I wasn’t aware of this fact and continued waiting until my stupidity was conveyed to me via a Google-translated conversation with staff. Translating the sign beforehand would have prevented my ensuing disappointment, and saved precious time to try out other games.

After the whole Metal Gear mishap, I moved on to check out other titles, but at this point, there were long queues at practically every booth, and with the convention’s closing hour looming ever closer, I decided to spend the rest of my time doing a little bit of recon. 

Formulate A Game Plan On Day 1

With so many booths to explore, demos to try out, and so little time, I realised it was essential to have a plan of action beforehand, to make full use of the time available. TGS 2024’s operating hours were from 10 am to 5 pm, which didn’t leave enough time to fully experience everything it had to offer. Making the decision to spend day 1 exploring in preparation for day 2 ended up being the right move, as it gave me the leeway to immerse myself in the atmosphere of TGS. Booths came in all shapes and sizes, some tucked away in corners or less travelled locations, so it became sort of an adventure navigating the various nooks and crannies trying to find a hidden gem.

And it paid off, oh it really did. Near closing time, I was wandering around aimlessly getting ready to leave, when I chanced upon a familiar sight in the corner of my eye. It was the silhouette of a character I recognised from a trailer viewed a few months prior – Phantom Blade Zero. 

Needless to say, Phantom Blade Zero skyrocketed to the top of my “to-try” list for day 2. This really goes to show that no matter how hard you try to plan, a gaming convention as large as TGS will always find ways to surprise you. Having a game plan is important but always keep an open mind and explore. Who knows, you just might chance upon something that surprises you. Like a phantom.

Prioritise Demos On Day 2

Now armed with a clear game plan, I headed into day 2 as a man on a mission, making it a point to reach just as the convention hall doors opened at 10 am. Once in, I immediately made my way to Phantom Blade Zero and was one of the first in line. Needless to say, the demo did not disappoint, and honestly, I’m still thinking about the roughly 10 minutes I spent with it, and you can share in that experience with my preview here.

Second on my agenda was Dynasty Warriors: Origins, one of the few games that shaped my gamer life. And here I was, and words can’t describe the feeling of playing the demo, and getting to experience the next evolution of my favourite game franchise ahead of everyone else. 

Next, I headed to the booth for The First Berserker: Khazan, a title I had no prior knowledge of, but I was lured to due to a massive LED screen that surrounded the entire booth. Like most other booths, this one had a rather long queue, but I had an ace up my sleeve – my media pass. One flash of my pass and I was brought to a separate counter, and one exchange of information later, I had secured a demo slot exclusively for me. Media privileges sure felt good.

One thing to note though, tailor your expectations regarding the game demos. Most of them last only 15 minutes each (with a select few being up to 30 minutes), so prepare to spend more time queuing for the demo than actually playing it. Here’s a pro tip – prioritise queues with 10 or so people versus empty ones. Game demos operate in batches, and an empty queue signifies that the previous batch has just gone in, requiring a wait time equivalent to the demo’s entire duration. Joining a line of people might seem counterproductive, but the chances of the ongoing demo reaching its end is much higher, leading to shorter wait times.

The First Berserker: Khazan marked the last of my planned titles to try, and I used the remaining time left trying demos that had shorter queues (like Dragon Age: The Veilguard), and also exploring the merchandise shop, where I acquired Silent Hill and Fallout themed pins to deck out my backpack. As just like that, two days flew by, and I was left with an experience I would never forget.

Overall, the entire game convention experience, especially for a newcomer, can be wrapped up with a single word – overwhelming. From the crowds to the sights and sounds, prepare for a literal assault to all your senses, and that’s okay, I’ve learnt that it’s all part of the experience. It can all be quite stressful for first-timers, but with proper planning and focus, your first gaming convention can be both an exciting and fulfilling adventure.

My closing advice for all you potential convention goers? Start small. Gamescom Asia 2024, held in Singapore from 18 to 20 October, might be your best bet. Baby steps people, you’ve got this.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post TGS 2024 Was A Hectic, Eye-Opening Learning Experience For This Noob Lifelong Gamer appeared first on Geek Culture.

Valve has added a new disclosure to its video game distribution storefront Steam, clarifying that users do not own the games they purchase and instead only have access to a license for the product bought.

The addition to Steam’s shopping cart page now reads, “A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam.”

The reasoning for the addition has not been officially confirmed, but it is likely due to a new law. In September 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law forcing digital storefronts to clearly state that customers are purchasing a license to use digital media, rather than owning the actual product.

This comes as a direct response to companies removing content from users’ accounts. In April 2024, after the shutdown of the online-only racing game The Crew, Ubisoft began deleting the game directly from players’ accounts. Sony also attempted to remove Discovery shows from PlayStation libraries in December 2023 but backtracked the move shortly after.

With the law coming into effect in 2025, Valve has likely added the new disclosure to get ahead of it. With digital storefronts banned from using terms such as “buy” or “purchase” for any digital products other than a license, Valve already seems to have covered its bases.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post You Don’t Own Your Games, Says Steam To Customers In Updated Disclosure appeared first on Geek Culture.

Has Tesla been exposed for potential plagiarism? Alex Proyas, the filmmaker behind 2004’s I, Robot, has taken to Twitter/X and slammed Tesla CEO Elon Musk for ripping off his designs.

Tesla had previously unveiled its new robotic prototypes during its We, Robot event (the first red flag of things to come) on 10 October 2024. Its name plays into the title of Issac Asimov’s 1950 short story collection, which was also the inspiration for the I, Robot film.

Among the products showcased were the Optimus robotic humanoid, the Robovan, a self-driving bus that can transport up to 20 people, and the Cybercab taxi, an autonomous vehicle with wing-like doors. Users on social media were quick to point out how all three bear a striking resemblance to designs seen in the 2004 action flick.

Design appropriation was not the only issue arising from the event, with the Optimus robots raising eyebrows after the revelation that they were not fully autonomous, instead being remotely controlled by an operator. Despite all the hype, the event also reportedly failed to impress investors, with Tesla’s stock falling by 10% after.

It seems like there are still some ways to go before real life can fully imitate reel life, but if all else fails, at least now we have usable props for I, Robot 2. The original film was set in Chicago in 2035, with a synopsis that reads:

“In 2035, highly intelligent robots fill public service positions throughout the world, operating under three rules to keep humans safe. Despite his dark history with robotics, Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) investigates the alleged suicide of U.S. Robotics founder Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell) and believes that a human-like robot (Alan Tudyk) murdered him. With the help of a robot expert (Bridget Moynahan), Spooner discovers a conspiracy that may enslave the human race.”

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘I, Robot’ Director Criticises Elon Musk Over Android Design Similarities appeared first on Geek Culture.

Crystal Dynamics and Aspyr are bringing more of Lara Croft’s adventures to the modern era via the Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection, which is set to arrive on 14 February 2025.

Check out the official announcement trailer below:

The upcoming collection will feature updated versions of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, three games in the franchise largely considered by fans as its poorer entries.

To address this, Aspyr aims to enhance the titles with improved visuals and reworked controls, alongside new trophies for completionists. This follows the previous Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection, which provided the same treatment for the first three games in the franchise.

The announcement comes alongside the latest Tomb Raider milestone — 100 million units sold. “We owe our thanks to you, the fans, as well as to all the passionate developers and artists whose talent and imagination have given us so many stories and experiences to share together for nearly three decades. We’re extremely grateful for the Tomb Raider community’s collective spirit of adventure, and we look forward to all the journeys still to come as Lara Croft and Tomb Raider continue to reach new heights,” said Crystal Dynamics via an official statement.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered will launch on 14 February 2025 for the PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered’ Brings Lara Croft Games To The Modern Age appeared first on Geek Culture.

The age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is truly upon us. Evolving from more than just a tool for image creation and text generation, AI offers immense help to businesses, increasing operational efficiency by facilitating routine tasks and streamlining processes, all while using deep learning to adapt on the fly, effectively reducing instances of human error.

But fully utilising AI requires a ton of processing power, and handling taxing processes and complex tasks requires a beefy rig with specialised components, where choosing the right parts spells the difference between being at the forefront of technological innovation, or falling behind. Equipped with the latest cutting-edge capabilities, TECHYARD keeps users in the AI race with a wide range of offerings and PC components on its online portal, specially tailored to harness the full potential of AI. 

Integrating the power of Gigabyte AI TOP (short for trillions of operations per second), an all-rounded AI training solution that’s a cut above traditional methods, these products allow businesses to have a localised environment for AI training and development, bringing optimised power efficiency and durability to handle the immense workload required – for both desktops and laptops alike. 

DESKTOP SOLUTIONS

Gigabyte TRX50 AI TOP: The high-performance AI motherboard

The foundation of a good rig is the backbone that holds everything together. The gaming-focused Gigabyte TRX50 AI TOP motherboard features topline compatibility with AMD’s Threadripper 7000 series and Treadripper Pro 7000 processors, and up to 192GB DDR5 memory capacity, ensuring unbeatable performance and transfer speeds. 

The TRX50 AI TOP is also packed with additional features including 10GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 7  connectivity, 16 quad PCle 5.0 slots for multi-GPU setups and more, maximising the configurations for AI model training across the board. For those who rely on external accessories, the board houses a slew of ports, including four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, two USB4 Type-C ports, and more. 

The Gigabyte TRX50 AI TOP motherboard is available from TECHYARD at S$1,450.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070Ti Super AI TOP: AI-Ready GPU

Designed from the ground up for AI computing, the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070Ti Super AI TOP features 8448 CUDA cores, 264 Tensor cores, 16GB of GDDR6X high-speed memory, and NVIDIA DLSS 3 support, which delivers up to four times rendering speeds. The 3rd Generation RT Cores, meanwhile, double ray tracing performance in various titles, creating lifelike shadows, reflections, and other effects to ensure a speedy, immersive experience even under the most demanding AI training conditions. 

With such power at its disposal, heat management is most definitely essential. To this end, the GPU’s cover features an inward-dented design, ensuring ample space for fans to breathe even while stacked together, optimising airflow and improving heat dissipation. Its frame is also entirely metal, leveraging its high thermal conductivity to effectively transfer heat from critical components, further improving cooling efficiency.

The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070Ti Super is available from TECHYARD at S$1,449.

LAPTOP SOLUTIONS

GIGABYTE AORUS 15: 15.6″ QHD Intel Core Ultra 7 155H RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop

The world’s first dual AI-powered laptop, the GIGABYTE AORUS 15 comes equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, featuring a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to handle sustained AI workloads and AI offload specifically.

Outfitted with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 laptop GPU, the laptop promises AI-accelerated performance with Nvidia Ada Lovelace Architecture and DLSS 3, offering 20x faster speeds in generative AI workflows compared to laptops with no discrete GPUs.

All this is complemented with a crisp 15.6” QHD 165Hz screen, which balances clarity and smoothness. Dolby Vision Technology also improves upon standard High Dynamic Range (HDR) 4K videos, and its built-in wide colour gamut ensures rich images for ultimate immersion.

The GIGABYTE AORUS 15 is available from TECHYARD at S$2,050.

GIGABYTE AORUS 16X: 16″ Intel i7-14650HX RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop

The latest lineup of AI gaming laptops from AORUS, the GIGABYTE AORUS 16X features an Intel Core HX processor that provides desktop-tier performance with up to 24 CPU cores and 32 CPU threads, not only allowing for smooth gaming framerates but also optimal workflows for processing tasks. This configuration, coupled with AI acceleration, is expected to raise performance by over 30% compared to standard H processors.

Incorporating the AORUS AI Nexus, a seamless AI experience, the AORUS 16X includes various generative AI applications, a dynamic GPU switch for efficient power management, and smart AI Model-powered overclocking for better performance.

The AORUS 16X also boasts an enlarged viewing area in a 16:10 aspect ratio, offering unmatched immersion with GIGABYTE’s patented four-sided super-slim bezel design, measuring only 3mm at its slimmest part. With its WQXGA 165Hz screen (2,560 x 1,600 pixels), users can look forward to equal parts clarity and responsiveness.

The GIGABYTE AORUS 16X is available from TECHYARD at S$2,299.

GIGABYTE AORUS 17X: 16″ Intel i9-14900HX RTX 4080/4090 Gaming Laptop

The big brother to the AORUS 16X, the GIGABYTE AORUS 17X is equipped with the latest 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14980HX processor, providing unparalleled performance for both work and play. With 24 CPU cores and 32 CPU threads, multitasking becomes a breeze, reducing the time needed for processing tasks and increasing overall work efficiency.

Featuring support for the highest specification of DDR5-5600 memory, it offers blazing-fast load times and seamless multi-tasking suited for even the most GPU-intensive workloads. The laptop comes with a choice of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or 4090 laptop GPU, making it an unbeatable gaming powerhouse.

Rounding out the experience is a top-of-the-line screen, offering QHD resolution alongside a butter-smooth 240Hz refresh rate, with a 100% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut for vivid images and the ultimate immersion.

The GIGABYTE AORUS 17X is available from TECHYARD at S$5,399.

Now that you are equipped with the latest AI-ready systems, it’s time to fully savour your AI creations. To this end, TECHYARD also offers a range of OLED monitors to enhance your viewing pleasure.

GIGABYTE AORUS FO27Q2: 27″ 240HZ QD-OLED Gaming Monitor

Standing as one of the fastest and most responsive OLED monitors out there, the GIGABYTE AORUS FO27Q2 features a 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED panel with a responsive 240Hz refresh rate, delivering uncompromised picture quality with vibrant colours at an excellent 1.5M:1 contrast ratio. Additionally, the 0.03-millisecond response time and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro further enhance immersion through lightning-fast responsiveness and zero screen tear or stuttering.

Using GIGABYTE OLED care, an AI-based algorithm that minimises risks of burn-in issues, the monitor offers a prolonged lifespan that’s not only safe, but smart, running AI-based presets in the background to ensure minimal interference.

The monitor also ships with a wide range of connectivity options, boasting 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB Type-C port to ensure that no device is left behind. Tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustments are all present for an ergonomic viewing experience.

The GIGABYTE AORUS FO27Q2 is available from TECHYARD at S$799.

GIGABYTE AORUS FO32U2P: 32″ 240HZ 4K Gaming Monitor

For those seeking to enjoy everything the AORUS FO27Q2 has but in a 4K screen package, look no further than the AORUS FO32U2P.

Marking the world’s first OLED monitor featuring DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20, the gaming monitor offers the same unmatched qualities as the AORUS FO27Q2, now with a 32-inch UHD 4K resolution upgrade.

The new UHBR20 display standard provides top-of-the-line 80Gbps bandwidth and eliminates display stream compression, ensuring uninterrupted high-data flow and a seamless viewing experience. External connections won’t be an issue, either, with DP 2.1, mini  DP 2.1 and DP 1.4 ports allowing for multiple monitor setups and transporting video signals via a single cable. 

The GIGABYTE AORUS FO32U2P is available from TECHYARD at S$1,699.

From businesses looking to harness the full potential of AI to tech enthusiasts and hardcore gamers, TECHYARD provides a one-stop destination for quality computer parts and accessories, offering not only a comprehensive shopping experience but also top-of-the-line customer support and expert advice for beginners.

For more information, check out TECHYARD’s website. 

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Gigabyte’s AI TOP Desktops, Aorus Laptops & OLED Monitors Elevate The Ultimate AI Experience appeared first on Geek Culture.