Monthly Archives: April 2020
At Home With Olaf: Disney Animation Launches All-New Series of Frozen Shorts
Walt Disney Animation Studios has announced an all-new series of Frozen shorts, featuring the beloved character Olaf in 20 unique vignettes.
In a tweet on Monday, the company unveiled the first video in the 'At Home With Olaf' web series, which has been created by Disney animator Hyrum Osmond and voice artist Josh Gad from the comfort of their own homes.
The 41-second clip sees the lovable singing-talking snowman having fun with snow, as he starts throwing a stack of pre-made snowballs into the Arendelle forest one by one. Then, out of nowhere, a Snowgie appears. Olaf accidentally sends it flying through the air and onto the ice, as the two partake in an unconventional game of fetch. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/03/frozen-2-exclusive-deleted-scene"] "My friends Jennifer Lee and Hyrum Osmond called me up one day and asked me if I would be able to record some dialogue and sounds as Olaf from home," Gad explained on Twitter. "These little shorts done from home by Hyrum and the Disney Animation team are so charming and hopefully provide a smile during these scary times." Disney has yet to share a release schedule for the rest of the At Home With Olaf shorts, but they are expected to be uploaded to the new Disney Magic Moments video portal, together with Walt Disney Animation Studios' YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=46-movies-that-made-1-billion-at-the-box-office&captions=true"] The Walt Disney Company has been maximising its efforts to spread smiles and create magic amid the COVID-19 crisis. In March, the House of Mouse acknowledged the "challenging times" that people are experiencing around the world, as the company unveiled its plans to release Frozen 2 on Disney+ three months earlier than planned for families to enjoy from home. For a list of recommendations on how best to help, and stay safe, during the coronavirus pandemic, please read our resource guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.Starting this week, enjoy an all-new original Disney Animation digital series with everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf. #AtHomeWithOlaf created at home by Hyrum Osmond. Voiced from home by Josh Gad. #DisneyMagicMoments pic.twitter.com/gFFuHE8mev
— Disney Animation (@DisneyAnimation) April 6, 2020
Mafia 2 And Mafia 3 Definitive Editions Listed By Ratings Board
Mafia 2 and Mafia 3 Definitive Editions have been rated by the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee.
The news arrives thanks to a tweet from Nibellion, which links to the website of the ratings board where the games were found to be registered by Take-Two Asia Pte Ltd.
Each game is rated in three instances for PC, PS4 and Xbox One, suggesting that the game will land on all current-gen platforms at launch.
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If you click on any of the individual trademarks you'll see that the publisher is listed as 2K Games, with Mafia 3 studio Hangar 13 developing the project. You may remember that Mafia II was developed by 2K Czech, which has now been merged into Hangar 13. The developer has studios in Novato, Brighton, Prague and Brno.
We first heard rumours of a return for the Mafia franchise back in August of 2019, when initial trademarks were filed. Over the weekend, we heard from Gematsu that the Definitive Edition for Mafia 2 was rated in Korea, which backs up the credibility of this remaster.
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There's no information about a potential release date for either of these Definitive Editions but we'll no doubt hear more about them soon.
For more on Mafia 2, check out our review of the game from 2010, where we called it "a solid little game that will give you a fun ride." To get up to date with all things Mafia ahead of this potential series update, check out our video which runs through the storyline of the entire series in just five minutes.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter, wise guy.
Saints Row 3 Remaster Announced
Saints Row 3, the hit 2011 open-world crime/comedy action-adventure, is being remastered for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. It will be released on May 22 under the name Saints Row: The Third Remastered. Check out the trailer above, which shows some side-by-side comparisons between the original version and the remaster.
Saints Row 3 is arguably the most beloved in the long-running crime-and-mayhem franchise, in which you, as the head of the Third Street Saints gang in Steelport, have built an empire. Naturally, there are challengers to the Saints' throne, and chaos ensues. You'll jump out of airplanes, ride in convertibles with hungry tigers, appear on life-threatening reality TV shows, and more. Here's what we thought of Saints Row: The Third when it originally released.
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The remaster will include 30+ pieces of DLC, and the game world has been given a visual upgrade. New weapon models, car models, lighting, and more headline the improvements on offer here.
Saints Row: The Third Remastered is being developed by Sperasoft under the direction of the original development team at Volition. We recently got a demo of Saints Row 3 Remastered. Take a look at what we thought.
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Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.
Cooking Mama: Cookstar Creators Move to Quash Cryptomining Speculation
The developer and publisher for Cooking Mama: Cookstar have moved to quash speculation that the game allows for background cryptocurrency mining when running on Switch.
Last week, IGN reported on the confusing release and provenance of the new Cooking Mama game, which has seen the digital version pulled from Nintendo eShop, while making its way to select stores as a boxed game. Subsequently, a tweet including a supposed screenshot from Discord chat about the game began circulating.
That screenshot alleged that, while running, the game is "Usiing your system to mine Crypto Currency and potentially handig your personal info as well [sp]". Cryptocurrency mining (a.k.a. cryptomining) is a process of authenticating cryptocurrency payments, earning a small payment in the process - if true, this would mean your Switch hardware was being used to earn money for a third party. A reply to that original message includes a series of follow-up details, some of which are drawn from IGN's report, and several of which are provably false.
Following that tweet, both developer 1st Playable and publisher Planet Entertainment (through the Cookstar Twitter account) have refuted the allegation. Tweeting for the first time since 2017, 1st Playable explained: "As the developers we can say with certainty there is no cryptocurrency or data collection or blockchain or anything else shady in the code. The Nintendo Switch is a very safe platform, with none of the data and privacy issues associated with some mobile and PC games." The Cookstar Twitter account echoed the same point, and referred to a much-discussed 2019 press release that indicated publisher Planet Entertainment did aim to add blockchain technology to its games, including Cooking Mama - a goal it says never came to fruition. "We looked at these options as a means to allow players to trade in-game assets", reads a follow-up tweet. "However, we only explored the theory behind the concept, not the implementation. Cooking Mama: Cookstar, nor any of our other titles in the past or near future will utilize crypto technology." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=cooking-mama-cookstar-screenshots&captions=true"] Independent sources have supported the developer and publisher's statements. Several Twitter users that reverse engineer games have reported that the game contains no code related to blockchain or cryptomining. IGN has verified with players that do own the game that claims of it causing the Switch to overheat also appear to be false, although battery drain does seem to be an issue (this could be down to any number of factors, however). Cookstar can also be played offline, contrary to claims that it was an always-online game to allow for background cryptomining. This controversy has also has helped clear up some of the previous confusion around Cooking Mama: Cookstar, primarily who made the game, and its connection to blockchain technology. However, aside from acknowledging "distribution issues", neither developer or publisher has addressed why the game was pulled from Nintendo eShop in the first place. IGN has, once again, reached out for comment. [poilib element="accentDivider"]We looked at these options as a means to allow players to trade in-game assets. However, we only explored the theory behind the concept, not the implementation. Cooking Mama: Cookstar, nor any of our other titles in the past or near future will utilize crypto technology.
— Cooking Mama: Cookstar (@CookstarMama) April 6, 2020
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update Reduces the Number of Eggs You’ll Find
Nintendo has reduced the number of "some eggs" players will find in Animal Crossing: New Horizon's Bunny Day event - seemingly responding to public outcry about how many freaking eggs there are right now.
The news was revealed in a set of patch notes from Nintendo, which detailed changes coming to the game as part of Version 1.1.4. "During the Easter event, the appearance rate of some eggs has been adjusted until April 11, 2020," the patch notes read. Below, it mentions that the rate of eggs will increase again on April 12th to commemorate Easter Sunday.
It's not immediately clear which egg types have seen the reduction in numbers, although it seems likely that eggs caught while fishing would be a target.
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If you've been playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons recently you will have been forced into the Bunny Day event, where Zipper the 'rabbit' has infected the island with countless eggs, replacing many of the normal resources players are trying to collect on their daily adventures.
Despite the fact that Zipper is objectively terrifying, this eggstravaganza has caused chaos for players who don't care much for the Bunny Day exclusive crafting items, which include an absurd variety of egg-infused furniture, and outfits that turn your islander into an egg. Many players have turned to social media to address the issue, putting Zipper in the firing line.
It's a lot to deal with and can be overwhelming for those players who just want to go about their day fishing for Sea Bass. Water Eggs have replaced some of the fish in the water, meaning you can waste precious tools reeling fish-shaped, bait nibbling eggs out of a pond. It's a nightmare.아니...공포게임 동물의숲 pic.twitter.com/gRayrRiJHP
— 산개 (@SUPERMAGlCPlG) March 31, 2020
The same can be said for Sky Eggs, which replace the gifts attached to balloons you can shoot down with your slingshot. You can't even whack a rock for iron without receiving Earth Eggs. Luckily, Nintendo has seemingly listened to the fans on this occasion and quickly issued a fix to address the distaste towards Zipper and his insane eggpocalypse. If you're still striving to attain a 3 Star Town Rating amidst this egg-onomic crisis, check out our guide to help summon K.K. Slider sooner rather than later. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN who loved Zipper in Silent Hill 3. Follow him on Twitter.Here's all the fish coming to N. Hemisphere Animal Crossing players this month:
- Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg - Water Egg — Ben Bertoli™ (@SuperBentendo) April 2, 2020
Hamilton! Cast Surprises Young Fan With Reunion on John Krasinski Show
John Krasinski released the second episode of his new YouTube series, aptly titled Some Good News, featuring a special guest appearance from Lin-Manuel Miranda and the rest of the Broadway cast of Hamilton.
Taking to Twitter, Krasinski shared the latest instalment of his feel-good newscast, which spotlights positive stories from around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In one segment, Krasinski chatted to Aubrey, a Hamilton superfan who planned to see the Broadway musical for her 9th birthday but was forced to stay home due to government directives.
"We were supposed to see Hamilton in Jacksonville tonight—DD's 9th bday present (seeing Hamilton has been her dream since she saw her 1st Broadway show last year), but we're home watching Mary Poppins Returns instead. At least we're safe & healthy," Aubrey's mother tweeted on March 21. Hearing this news, Krasinski and his wife Emily Blunt promised to fly Aubrey and her mother out to New York to see the show once the crisis had passed over. The duo then surprised the young fan with a virtual performance of her favourite song, Alexander Hamilton, from the opening of the hit stage show, led by Lin-Manuel Miranda via live video on Zoom. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/11/14/why-lin-manuel-miranda-wants-to-wait-for-a-hamilton-movie"] Miranda was joined by former castmate Leslie Odom Jr., then Daveed Diggs, followed by Okieriete Onaodowan, Phillipa Soo and Christopher Jackson alongside Jasmine Cephas Jones, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff and many, many more. Elsewhere in the episode, Krasinski highlighted the huge corporations, local companies and wider communities who have banded together in a massive effort to provide more medical supplies to all of the healthcare heroes currently working on the frontline to fight the coronavirus outbreak. The host also acknowledged the "incredible" response to the first episode, which has now amassed over 12 million views on YouTube. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=new-movies-coming-to-vod-early&captions=true"] John Krasinski is one of several celebrities offering lighter entertainment options for those living in lockdown. J.K. Rowling recently launched a Harry Potter At Home hub with the Wizarding World team while Seth MacFarlane launched a podcast hosted by Family Guy's Stewie and Brian. Plus, Jodie Whittaker transformed into Doctor Who for an "emergency transmission" and Sir Patrick Stewart has been reading daily sonnets to his fans. For a list of recommendations on how best to help, and stay safe, during the Coronavirus pandemic, please read our resource guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.When you get the @HamiltonMusical Original Broadway Cast together with @johnkrasinski for #HamAtHome... that's #SomeGoodNews: https://t.co/OBPihXUYAF pic.twitter.com/bryA5yTrCW
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) April 6, 2020
Resident Evil 3: The Board Game Coming To Kickstarter
A board game based on Resident Evil 3 - made by the same team responsible for the Resident Evil 2 board game - is set to launch on Kickstarter later this month.
Resident Evil 3: The Board Game will land on Kickstarter on April 28th, 2020. The tabletop game has been created by Steamforged Games in collaboration with series publisher Capcom. This follows the release of Resident Evil 2: The Board Game, which was revealed by Steamforged back in 2018 and launched last year.
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The board game is naturally focused on survival horror and will allow up to four players to experience a "19+ hour campaign with an overarching storyline."
The game can also be experienced via one-shot scenarios and will see you taking control of Resident Evil 3's most important characters, including heroine Jill Valentine and UBCS mercenary Carlos Oliviera.
"Players must carefully manage resources, make intelligent and meaningful decisions, and be wary of curveballs thrown by the tension deck," the statement reads. "[The Tension Deck] is a mechanic carried over from the RE2 board game which will surprise players with unexpected threats to replicate the terrifying suspense of the video game."
If you would like to support the game ahead of its crowdfunding launch, you can follow the campaign over on Kickstarter. If the campaign reaches 2500 followers, the developers will unlock a miniature of Jill Valentine in biker gear.
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For more on Resident Evil 3, check out our review of the new version of the game, which we called a "wonderful continuation of Capcom's latest remake efforts." If you're already playing and looking for pointers whilst navigating Raccoon City, consider checking out our detailed Walkthrough.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade Review – Materia Improvements
Editor's note: In June 2021, developer Square Enix released an upgraded version of Final Fantasy VII Remake for PlayStation 5, which included improved visuals and technical performance, as well as some new features, including a photo mode. Our impressions on how the improvements impact Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS5 are written by Phil Hornshaw. The original review of Final Fantasy VII Remake was first published in April 2020 and is written by Tamoor Hussain.
In the opening of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife, a mercenary and former member of an elite private military group called SOLDIER, takes on a job with an eco-terrorist cell named Avalanche. Their mission is to blow up a reactor that siphons Mako, the lifeblood of the planet, and uses it to power the sprawling industrial metropolis Midgar. The group infiltrates, braves resistance from Shinra Electric Company's forces, and sets off an explosion that renders the reactor inoperable.
In the 1997 original, what followed was a hop, skip, and jump through a few sections of the city back to Sector 7, and the safety of Avalanche's hideout. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, having carried out the mission, you're asked to walk the streets in the aftermath and witness the harrowing consequences of your actions. The sector lies in ruin, fires rage, buildings are crumbling, and the heartbreaking human cost is laid bare.
Continue Reading at GameSpotFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade Review – Materia Improvements
Editor's note: In June 2021, developer Square Enix released an upgraded version of Final Fantasy VII Remake for PlayStation 5, which included improved visuals and technical performance, as well as some new features, including a photo mode. Our impressions on how the improvements impact Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS5 are written by Phil Hornshaw. The original review of Final Fantasy VII Remake was first published in April 2020 and is written by Tamoor Hussain.
In the opening of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife, a mercenary and former member of an elite private military group called SOLDIER, takes on a job with an eco-terrorist cell named Avalanche. Their mission is to blow up a reactor that siphons Mako, the lifeblood of the planet, and uses it to power the sprawling industrial metropolis Midgar. The group infiltrates, braves resistance from Shinra Electric Company's forces, and sets off an explosion that renders the reactor inoperable.
In the 1997 original, what followed was a hop, skip, and jump through a few sections of the city back to Sector 7, and the safety of Avalanche's hideout. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, having carried out the mission, you're asked to walk the streets in the aftermath and witness the harrowing consequences of your actions. The sector lies in ruin, fires rage, buildings are crumbling, and the heartbreaking human cost is laid bare.
Continue Reading at GameSpotRocksmith DLC Winds Up After 383 Weeks of Support
Ubisoft has confirmed that the Rocksmith team is no longer building new Rocksmith DLC, bringing an end to an epic 383 weeks of song releases for the respected guitar instruction game. The encore is over and the house lights are on.
“As of this week’s Opeth Song Pack, Rocksmith Remastered has concluded its scheduled DLC releases,” explains a statement published on Ubisoft.com. “After 383 weeks of DLC releases, this pack brings us to a total of 1570 songs in the Rocksmith library, spanning over seven decades (or three centuries, in the case of Bachsmith) and covering a multitude of genres for guitar and bass.”
While there will be no more new songs, the team has stressed weekly online content is still planned for Rocksmith fans.
The shift in focus is attributed to the fact the Rocksmith team is currently “hard at work on a new project”, which is a mystery for the time being.
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The original Rocksmith was first released in October 2011 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and arrived on PC a year later. The finger pickin’ good follow-up, Rocksmith 2014, was released in 2013 (and Rocksmith 2014 Remastered was released in 2016 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4). Pitched as a guitar (and bass) teaching tool rather than a traditional game, Rocksmith differs from Guitar Hero and Rocksmith by allowing users to plug in their own electric guitars to play along and learn the tracks.
For those who chose to rock, we salute you.
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Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. He doesn't always listen to rock at home but when he does, so do his neighbours. You can find him on Twitter every few days @MrLukeReilly.