Something a little different and for those who have greenfingers and like gardening, Curve Digital and Skyhook Games have announced Lawn Mowing Simulator, a stunning mowing simulator and detailed business management game set in the British countryside, coming to Xbox Series S|X and PC summer 2021.
Lawn Mowing Simulator explores the Great British countryside and invites players to ride an authentic and expansive roster of licensed lawn mowers from prestigious manufacturers; Toro, SCAG and STIGA as they manage their mowing business.
Before Lawn Mowing Simulator releases later this year, Skyhook Games and Curve Digital are giving players access to the game for a limited time period via the Xbox Insider program. Pre-registration starts now, with the flight taking place from April 2nd until April 16th.
“We’re incredibly excited to show the world our first in-house developed game,” said David Harper, co-founder of Skyhook Games. “We can’t wait for players to experience the satisfaction of manicuring a lawn to perfection within Lawn Mower Simulator’s idyllic setting.”
“It feels great to be able to reveal Lawn Mowing Simulator alongside Skyhook Games. The team have done an amazing job recreating the experience of lawn mowing across the gorgeous British countryside“ added Simon Byron, Publishing Director at Curve Digital. “We’re excited for players to get hands-on with Lawn Mowing Simulator as early as next week through the Xbox Insider Program and to hear everyone’s thoughts.”
Lawn Mowing Simulator will feature:
PHYSICALLY AUTHENTIC LAWN MOWING EXPERIENCE
Execute ground checks, set your blade height, and measure your engine load as you complete a variety of contracts across Career Mode, Free Mode or Challenge Mode. Take your mowing to further heights with several attachments from stripe rollers, mulching kits, grass collectors, recyclers, flail decks and more.
BEAUTIFUL RURAL BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE
Lawn Mowing Simulator is set in a beautiful British countryside town. Busy residential streets, vast castle grounds, quaint cottage greens, and large equestrian fields are just some of the locations that await your mowing blades.
REAL WORLD LICENSED MOWER MANUFACTURERS
Toro, SCAG and STIGA front line Lawn Mowing Simulator with their real-world machines painstakingly re-created visually and physically. 12 Mowers are available in the base game, each with their own challenges, attachments and upgrades to pursue.
ACCURATE AND ATTENTIVE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Build your own lawncare business from the ground up. Purchase and upgrade your headquarters, hire employees, purchase advertising and balance the books as you grow and expand your business.
Punishing action role-playing game, Thymesia, from OverBorder Studio, is to be published under Team17’s independent games label. Today’s partnership announcement will see the studio’s debut title arrive on PC later this year. Set against a world ravaged by a plague, Thymesia will challenge players with fast-paced melee combat while they unravel the mysteries that haunt the harrowingly beautiful world.
Thymesia steps out of the darkness with this announcement trailer:
At the heart of the story is Corvus, a mysterious character capable of seizing enemy diseases and using them as weapons against his adversaries; players will engage in visceral combat, combining ferocious offensive abilities, perfectly timed parries, and dynamic dodges to take down unforgiving enemies. Players will also have the ability to customise Corvus to their own play style, upgrading and improving various stats to aid in their journey to recover Corvus’ memories.
Thymesia Key Features:
Weaponising diseases: As Corvus, players can seize diseases from enemies and wield them as deadly weapons
Engaging combat: Players will need to use their entire arsenal to avoid death; dodging attacks and parrying at precisely the right time will be instrumental to survival
A dark and deadly world: With a sinister and gloomy backdrop, Thymesia oozes character through its environments and setting
Unforgiving enemies: Corrupted by the plague, and mutated into monsters, the enemies are twisted and incredibly hostile, challenging players at every turn
Replayability: The ability to customise Corvus and try different builds, coupled with the multiple different endings available, means no two playthroughs are ever the same.
Moon Lee, Game Director, OverBorder Studio, said:
“The amount of enthusiasm from the community has been incredible and we’re happy to be working with Team17 on Thymesia. Their support has been instrumental in the game’s development, and we can’t wait to share the challenging world we’ve created with players later this year.”
Craig McCarthy, Producer, Team17, said:
“Thymesia is a unique title for Team17, and we’re dead excited to be working with OverBorder Studio on this dark and gloomy title. We’re confident that players are going to enjoy exploring the world and testing their combat skills as Corvus, challenging themselves against the monstrous foes that await.”
Victura and Highwire Games today announced that the upcoming first-person tactical military shooter Six Days in Fallujah will feature a groundbreaking technology developed by Highwire Games called “Procedural Architecture,” which re-shapes the entire battlefield each time the game is played, assembling entire buildings and city blocks procedurally.
See a video demonstration of Procedural Architecture:
Six Days in Fallujah recreates true stories from the 2004 Second Battle for Fallujah, with help from more than 100 Marines, Soldiers, and Iraqi civilians who were present during the battle. It is scheduled for release on PC and consoles in late 2021.
The stories in Six Days in Fallujah are told through gameplay and documentary footage featuring dozens of service members and more than 26 Iraqi civilians with diverse experiences and perspectives about the battle. These eyewitnesses speak directly to players through video and audio, and players solve real-life challenges from the battle during gameplay.
These stories inspired the development team to explore new ways to make tactical military shooters more like actual combat.
“Marines told us they never knew what was waiting behind the next door,” says Six Days in Fallujah’s creative director, Jaime Griesemer. “But, in video games, we play the same maps over and over again. Just knowing the layout of a building in advance makes playing a combat encounter in a video game very different than actual combat.”
“Memorizing maps is fake. It’s that simple,” says Sgt. Adam Banotai, who led a squad of Marines block-by-block through Fallujah. “Clearing an unfamiliar building or neighborhood is terrifying. You have no idea what’s about to happen, and this is one of the reasons we experienced such high casualties.”
To simulate the uncertainty and danger of urban combat, Highwire Games and Victura invested more than three years building technologies that allow a modern game engine to assemble every room in every building procedurally, along with the dynamic AI and sound systems needed to support game environments that do not remain static.
In Six Days in Fallujah, every map is a new map, so players never know what to expect. While mission objectives and events are consistent with the true stories, every scenario becomes a unique experience each time players restart, ensuring no game ever plays the same way twice.
“With Procedural Architecture, even the game designer doesn’t know what’s about to happen in Six Days in Fallujah,” according to Victura CEO Peter Tamte. “And the best way to overcome this uncertainty is by deploying real military tactics, just like you would if you were really there.”
Six Days in Fallujah will launch for PC and consoles in 2021. For more information about the game go to Six Days in Fallujah at www.sixdays.com. Six Days in Fallujah is also on Twitter (@VicturaGG), and YouTube.
ABOUT SIX DAYS IN FALLUJAH
Six Days in Fallujah is a first-person tactical military shooter that recreates true stories of Marines, Soldiers, and Iraqi civilians during the toughest urban battle since 1968. Players lead a fireteam through real-life encounters enabled by unique technology that simulates the uncertainty and tactics of urban combat. Six Days in Fallujah is produced and published by Victura and developed by Highwire Games, which is led by many of the original Halo and Destiny leadership. Six Days in Fallujah launches for PC and console platforms in late 2021. More information is available at www.sixdays.com.
Today GT Manager lets players take charge of a Gran Tourismo racing team and speed along the world’s most iconic racing tracks. In direct line with the rise of a new genre within the racing category, GT Manager – developed by French studio, The Tiny Digital Factory – allows players to build their own GT team in the ruthless world of motorsports. Available for free today on all app stores, GT Manageroffers the best experience of motorsport management in the market.
A new game genre anchored in The Tiny Digital Factory’s legacy
GT Manager is the result of more than 10 years of experience building racing games from The Tiny Digital Factory team, having worked in partnership with Codemasters and Eden Games, including co-development on the official F1 Mobile Racing game, downloaded by 16 million players and played daily by 150,000 people. In offering unprecedented features and content, comparable to the best football management games, GT Manager carries the ambition to join the segment’s leader, F1 Manager, at the top of the rankings.
Racing games on mobile never managed to reach the top spots of mobile game rankings because of the lack of accuracy and the quality of the racing experience inherent to the devices’ small screens. GT Manager positions itself on the fast-growing segment of Sport Management games and in direct line with games conceived specifically for mobile in the racing category which represents five percent of current mobile games revenues. The game plays in portrait mode and offers short game sessions to be played on the go.
GT Manager: sophisticated and accessible, the perfect balance for motorsport management games fans
Players will be able to master the art of the race as a racing team manager through an experience centered in management and tactical decisions taken from the pit.
The game offers a deep immersive experience in the universe of race management. Every player takes on the role of a young manager who will reinforce their expertise and network through their encounters with the leading experts of the track. Here, the engineer, the mechanic, the sponsoring manager are as important as the driver. It’s the player’s capacity to hone his skills which will allow him to make the difference in Career mode. This progressive evolution brings both sophistication and accessibility to the experience. GT Manager features a wide range of official GT championships licenced car models and authentic tracks to add to the authenticity.
GT Manager: An in-depth experience from the pit lane
Players take charge of every aspect of their GT team, before, during and after the race. From the development center and their headquarters, they will take all the major decisions regarding investments and the budget management of the team. From their team’s factory, the player can – through experience and investments – manage more and more aspects of the team’s life, from training to sponsorship scouting.
On the track, the race strategy is essential to get in front of one’s rivals. Going faster is not the solution to win. Tire wear, car settings and the information provided by your race team will have a major impact on the race’s results.
“GT Manager has been conceived by a team with many years of experience in developing racing games. GT Manager is the result of our expertise and we are proud to offer the first racing game fully developed, produced and edited by our Lyon-based studio from The Tiny Digital Factory”, Stéphane Baudet, CEO of The Tiny Digital Factory, explained.
In GT Manager, players will…
Manage pilots from the pit without any driving skills required.
Collect 19 official cars from major brands with various GT championships, under licence : Porsche, Mercedes, McLaren, Nissan, Audi, Chevrolet, Renault / Alpine, Ford, Honda, Aston Martin, Brabham, Saleen.
Build their own headquarters (five buildings and 12 departments), invest in their production factory and in R&D, recruit pilots, engineers and sponsors…
Equip their factory with more than 200 different cards.
Score points in the championship ranking to move up the next league.
Improve the performances of cars and pilots’ statistics.
Take part in daily races in endurance, sprint, at night and in seasonal events, on 11 different iconic racetracks.
Compete online in 1vs1 races to build their weekly and seasonal rankings.
Choose their tire strategy and adapt their general race strategy to react to race incidents.
GT Manager is now available for free on the Apple, Google, Huawei and Samsung stores!
Sades, manufacturer of high quality gaming peripherals is pleased to announce the release of the Battle Ram.
A gaming combo built for experienced and novice gamers, the Battle Ram is a keyboard and mouse combo complete with a mouse pad to give you everything you need to get started on your gaming. Quality gaming peripherals are a vital addition to a gaming setup, and the Battle Ram combo is designed to improve your gaming experience.
FULL SIZE KEYBOARD
The ergonomically designed keyboard features 104 keys, 25 keys without conflict, plus 12 additional FN and multimedia keys. The WIN key can be disabled for gaming and with a switch lifespan of 10 million cycles you can start button mashing your way through a game without worrying about wearing out the keys. The optional Battle Ram software allows further customization to fine tune the setup to your preferences.
Don’t worry about spilling any drinks mid gaming session – the Battle Ram keyboard is waterproof to keep you going through any accidental spills, and the optional RGB lighting gives you the chance to choose how you want your setup lit.
CONTROL WITH PRECISION
The Battle Ram mouse performs well in speed, accuracy and responsiveness thanks to the PMW 3050 sensor and optimized sniper button. All buttons can be customized according to the game being played, and have a lifespan of up to 10 million clicks. The RGB lighting is also optional so you can create an eye catching gaming combo set.
The SADES Battle Ram is available now from www.amazon.co.uk for £39.99
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced ROG Phone 5, ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, the latest and most powerful incarnation of the world’s most advanced gaming smartphone.
The ROG Phone 5 series is powered to win by the flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 5G Mobile Platform featuring advanced 5G communications and premium Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite Gaming™ features. The upgraded GameCool 5 cooling system along with the all-new performance manager in Armoury Crate ensure maximum performance is available for any gaming scenario.
For ultra-smooth and ultra-responsive gaming visuals, the ROG Phone 5 series is equipped with a Samsung-built 144 Hz / 1 ms AMOLED HDR10+ certified display with an industry-leading 300 Hz touch sampling rate and ultra-low 24.3 ms touch latency.
Gamers can play longer with the ROG Phone 5 series thanks to the monster 6000 mAh battery, and the phones come with a 65-watt HyperCharge adapter that tops up the battery in the shortest possible time.
The ROG Phone 5 series continues the ROG built-for-gamers design philosophy with ROG Vision, a never-before-seen rear matrix display — available exclusively on ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate — that shows customisable animations in response to a variety of system and in-game events.
There are also massive enhancements to the pioneering and still-unrivalled AirTrigger 5 control system, and the powerful GameFX audio system has also been overhauled to deliver even more immersive sound.
Dare to win
The ROG Phone 5 series harnesses the massive power of the latest flagship Snapdragon 888, which packs industry-leading innovations in 5G, AI, gaming, and camera technologies. Snapdragon Elite Gaming allows gamers to harness the power of ultra-smooth play at the highest possible HDR quality levels, with desktop-level capabilities. It also debuts Qualcomm Game Quick Touch, so players can experience up to a 20% increase in touch responsiveness and lower latency. With up to a stunning 35% increase in GPU performance and 25% in CPU performance, even the most demanding 3D mobile games run smoothly with maxed-out settings.
To enable maximum sustained performance, the GameCool 5 cooling system in the ROG Phone 5 series now has an optimum thermal structure featuring a centred CPU with the battery split into two parts, one located on each side of the CPU. This ensures that the heat generated by the CPU is transferred to all the edges and corners of the chassis simultaneously for higher thermal efficiency. The reshaped 3D vapor chamber and extensive graphite sheets also help to spread the heat evenly across the device to reduce heat build-up in the middle.
The completely revamped AeroActive Cooler 5 now intakes and expels an incredible amount of air directly onto the centre of the phone — right where the CPU is — to deliver an amazing 10°C drop in the CPU temperature.
The all-new performance manager in Armoury Crate now includes X Mode, with multiple system profiles to give gamers even more performance settings and performance tuning tools, so they can instantly adapt the phone to the task at hand.
Additionally, ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is the world’s first smartphone to use 18 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which dramatically increases the overall gaming performance and takes the user experience to the next level.
Dare to see
Cutting-edge displays have been a signature ROG Phone feature since its inception, and the ROG Phone 5 series continues this tradition. Boasting an industry-leading 300 Hz touch-sampling rate, the 144 Hz / 1 ms AMOLED display — built by Samsung — delivers a super-smooth gaming experience, with an ultra-low touch latency. Tuned in collaboration with leading visual-processing company Pixelworks®, the supreme visuals are enhanced even further with world-beating Delta-E <1 colour accuracy, the new always-on HDR technology that improves non-HDR visuals, and a screen that’s protected by the toughest ever Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™. The ROG Phone 5 series is built to endure — and built to win.
Dare to play
To extend both screen-on time and the lifespan of the monster 6000 mAh battery, ROG Phone 5 series is optimised using new software optimisations and power-saving mechanisms, including a charging upper limit, steady charging, and enhanced scheduled charging. There are also passive power-saving mechanisms to limit inactive apps and deliver up to 67% more power savings. The ROG Phone 5 series always optimises itself for the best power efficiency, however it’s being used.
Rapid charging is assured by the bundled 65-watt HyperCharge adapter, which gets gamers up and running again in the fastest possible time.
Innovative ROG Vision
ROG Phone 5 Ultimate and ROG Phone 5 Pro let gamers make their presence known to the world with the exclusive ROG Vision, a pioneering rear matrix display that’s never been seen on any phone until now. ROG Phone 5 Pro features a colour ROG Vision display, while ROG Phone 5 Ultimate has a monochrome version.
ROG Vision can display a variety of cool animations that show whether the phone is charging, if there’s an incoming call, whether X Mode is enabled, and more. Owners can even create custom animations to make their phone even more personal.
Built for gamers
Total control is the name of the game for the ROG Phone 5 series, and the massively upgraded AirTrigger 5 control system now gives gamers up to four distinct ways to interact with their ROG Phone 5, delivering an unrivalled level of game control. The AeroActive Cooler 5 now also features two extra physical buttons to allow a genuine console-like gaming experience.
The ROG Phone 5 series supports an unprecedented total of 10 different motion controls, so gamers can easily pick the moves to fit their game. In a racing game, for example, they can swivel the phone to steer or pull it towards them to brake. Game control has never been so easy.
ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate additionally features innovative hidden rear touch sensors on the back cover, which provide L2/R2 trigger functions, just like a game console controller. These also work together with the ultrasonic sensors, the AeroActive Cooler 5 buttons and the motion controls to provide full control for a total gaming experience.
The GameFX audio system in the ROG Phone 5 series now incorporates symmetrical seven-magnet dual speakers for truly balanced stereo sound effects. Optimised in collaboration with audio specialist Dirac, the projected sound quality will grab the user’s aural senses and take them to a different world. There’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a hi-fi-grade ESS DAC for lossless audio processing. The AudioWizard audio-tuning app has also been completely revamped to optimise sound for different audio styles, including Game, Cinema, and Music settings. GameFX audio on ROG Phone 5 series delivers the crystal-clear in-game sound effects and powerful aural soundscapes that gamers never dared to hope for in a phone.
For the ROG Phone 5 series, we’ve teamed up with some of the most popular game titles to give owners a series of different theme packs for customising their device with their favorite characters and screens. Gamers can also share, discuss, and interact via ROG Connect, an online community that’s built into the ROG Phone 5 series.
AVAILABILITY & PRICING
ASUS ROG Phone 5 (12GB / 256GB) will be available in the UK from the end of April 2021. MSRP: £799
ASUS ROG Phone 5 (16GB / 256GB) will be available in the UK from the end of May 2021. MSRP: £899
ASUS ROG Phone 5 Series
Processor
2.84 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 5G Mobile Platform with 5 nm, 64-bit Octa-Core Processor
GPU
Qualcomm® Adreno™ 660
UI
Android™ 11 with new ROG UI
Display
6.78″ 20.4:9 (2448 x 1080) 144 Hz / 1 ms Samsung AMOLED display
800 nits outdoor readable brightness
1,200 nits peak brightness
Delta-E < 1
111.23% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage
Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™
Supports Always-On HDR display
HDR10 and HDR10+ certified
Capacitive touchscreen with 10-point multitouch (supports glove touch)
Dimensions
173 x 77 x 9.9 mm
Weight
239 g
Battery
6000 mAh typical capacity
Memory
ROG Phone 5 Ultimate: 18 GB LPDDR5 RAM
ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone 5: Up to 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM
Storage
ROG Phone 5 Ultimate and Pro: 512 GB UFS 3.1 ROM
ROG Phone 5: Up to 256 GB UFS 3.1 ROM
Sensors
In-display fingerprint sensor, face recognition, accelerometer, e-compass, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient-light sensor, ultrasonic sensors for AirTrigger 5 and grip press
Wireless Technology
Integrated WiFi 6E (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2×2 MIMO)[7]
Swiss developer Blindflug Studios today announced a completely refreshed and optimised version of iconic nuclear war strategy game First Strike, launching 10 March for PC, iOS and Android devices. First Strike Classic reprises First Strike: Final Hour with a brand-new AI with new behaviours and a redesigned user interface. The First Strike Classic update replaces the older versions of First Strike on Steam, Google Play Store and Apple App Store free of charge.
First Strike has been played by over 11 million players since its release in 2014 in almost every country on Earth. Be it South Sudan, China, the Virgin Islands, the US or Mongolia, there are First Strike players everywhere with only one exception: North Korea.
See the First Strike: Classic trailer below
Over the years, the First Strike fan community has requested new content. This remastered version of the game will now serve as the base for future content updates. Those expansions are exclusive to the free version of the game, which are planned to start rolling out in summer 2021.
First Strike: Classic Features:
Twelve playable nuclear superpowers – You decide which real-world superpower you play, from the USA to Russia, China or North Korea.
Devastating superweapons – Build twelve technologically advanced rockets, from Tridents to the TSAR, unique to each nation.
Build rockets and missiles, conquer territories and research new devastating nuclear technologies.
Control the world – shoot and defend against nuclear rockets on a 3D globe.
Improvements of the remaster:
First Strike’s classic fast-paced strategy gameplay – completely remastered!
New artificial intelligence with new behaviors
Refreshed graphical user interface
Social Hub for the fan community
Update serves as base for future expansions, planned for summer 2021
First Strike: Classic launches 10 March for PC, iOS and Android.
The journey to the NEOVERSE for PlayStation gamers starts today! After successful launches and thousands of positive reviews on both Steam and Nintendo Switch, Tino Gamez now brings thecharismatic Heroes, multiple skill combinations and unlimited destinations of NEOVERSE to both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms.
Check out the NEOVERSE PlayStation Launch Trailer below..
About Neoverse
NEOVERSE is a time warping multiverse game consisting of thrilling adventures that are packed with exciting challenges. Combining roguelite, deck-building and strategy gameplay together, NEOVERSE puts your skills to the test. Embark on an adventure with a cast of unique heroes to save the living realms.
Be the Saviour of NEOVERSE
Create your own Strategy with 300 cards and over 100 skills.
Choose from three charismatic Heroes, each with their own unique abilities and specialties.
Over 70 types of Monsters to battle, each with their own skills, techniques and fighting styles.
Multiple skill combinations for each Hero. Play your way.
Play for fun and adventure or take on challenging levels for more hardcore players.
Start your Journey Across Time and Space
Every adventure is different! Customize your experience with new cards each time you play.
Your future destinations will depend on every decision you make.
The future and beyond are legendary tales yet to be told!
Endless Gaming Experience
Strategy customization is your key to saving the Neoverse.
Weave your talent tree and create your own skill combination.
Switch between gear options to master the game.
NEOVERSE is available to purchase from the Official PlayStation Store US here for $23.99 and the Official PlayStation Store UK here for £15.49.
FUZE Technologies, creator of the popular FUZE4 Nintendo Switch coding platform is so excited to announce their coding competition in association Wireframe Magazine.
Have you always wanted to become a game developer or perhaps you have a ready-made game concept that’s just waiting to be put in to action? Code your game using FUZE4 Nintendo Switch. It can be any genre or style you like, as long as it’s retro-themed, coded using FUZE, and submitted via the platform by the closing date: Monday 19 April 2021.
What’s that, you don’t own FUZE4 Nintendo Switch? No problem! To support the competition FUZE is giving away up to 200 copies of its award-winning coding application worth £12.99 each, that’s over £2,500 worth of Nintendo Switch software for free!
Using FUZE4 Nintendo Switch entrants can create their game(s) and submit it to the judging panel for the chance to have their work appear on Nintendo Switch via the FUZE platform. Perfect for beginners and more experienced coders alike, FUZE4 Nintendo Switch is easy to use with step-by-step tutorials to get you started, even if you have no prior coding knowledge. There are no limits to the kind of games you can create – the only thing that can hold you back is your own imagination.
The competition will be announced in issue 48 of Wireframe Magazine which is available to buy from various newsagents and online, or can download for free from https://wireframe.raspberrypi.org/ from the 4th of March.
Full competition details along with instructions to claim your free download code are available at www.fuze.co.uk/wireframe.
You can enter multiple times and even win multiple prizes. Entrants can be any age but those twelve years or under must communicate via a parent or guardian. The competition closes on the 19th April 2021, so there’s plenty of time to get your entries in. The full list of prizes include:
5 Evercade handheld consoles and game packs worth over £530
16 Retro Fusion books worth over £300
2 My Retro Computer cases worth £378 A whole lot of Kudos and the chance to see your game published and available on Nintendo Switch via the FUZE platform!
