Latest news with #RPG
Gizmodo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
West End Games' Classic ‘Star Wars' RPG Is Still Setting the Blueprint for Its Universe
In the years since Lucasfilm overhauled Star Wars continuity—reclassifying years of Expanded Universe material as 'Legends' before wiping a clean slate of continuity it has developed over the last decade-plus—much of what has been rebuilt has been done so off of the back of re-canonizing elements of that old material. In some ways re-imagined, in others just lifted wholesale, the journey of modern Star Wars is as much about adding new stories as it is weaving the old ones back into them. There are perhaps two pillars that define the reconstructive effort above all. The story of Star Wars' future, as in that in the wake of the events of Return of the Jedi, has somehow inexplicably turned to 1994's The Courtship of Princess Leia as its guiding light. But the story of Star Wars' recent past, the trajectory of the rise of the Imperial machine that has been a richly delved period of exploration in everything from Andor to Bad Batch, from games, comics, and books, to movies like Rogue One and Solo? That's been West End Games' Star Wars RPG. First published in 1987, Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game spent over a decade filling out the background of the world before and after the original Star Wars trilogy across multiple editions and a plethora of sourcebooks. Without much to go on beyond the material Marvel's ongoing Star Wars comic series had developed at the time (itself coming to an end the year West End Games' Star Wars story began), the RPG would become an early groundwork for what would become the beginning of the Star Wars Expanded Universe as we would come to know it in the early 1990s. From species names to Rebel Alliance command structures, from events that still resonate now like the Ghorman Massacre depicted in Andor, Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game was the right combination of coming along at the perfect time and its creatives being given the exact level of free reign to create a perfect sandbox of Star Wars creation. And create WEG did, with dozens of intricate sourcebooks that didn't just cover the broad strokes of what it would mean to have a roleplaying game experience in Star Wars' galaxy, but the nittiest, grittiest details, many of which didn't just go on to shape the Expanded Universe when it began in earnest, but expand even further with the addition of the material created there, delving further and further into Star Wars' past with supplements based on the Tales of the Jedi comics, or Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy (itself shaped by the early writings of the RPG, given to Zahn as a guideline). It wasn't just raw informational data that WEG's books provided to shape the EU (and in turn modern continuity), but style and tone. This is most keenly felt in Greg Gorden's Imperial Sourcebook, which does a deep dive into details about different facets of the Empire's structure, from intelligence to military, and also explores things like COMPNOR—the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order, essentially the political superstructure of Imperial power—to elucidate the specific fascistic character of the Empire's oppressive tactics. But beyond the actual material itself, one major thing that still remains influential in visions of contemporary Star Wars, is how West End Games taught its writers to write Star Wars. West End Games' Star Wars style guide had a bit of a viral moment a decade ago when it re-emerged on the internet (at places like this very website!), to compare and contrast how its dos and don't matched up with what was then the nascent status of modern Star Wars in the wake of the reboot of canon and the release of The Force Awakens. But while the gift of hindsight can be enjoyable, WEG's advise on what made good Star Wars can still be felt throughout the very best of the material that we're getting today. The style guide pushed writers to be expansive and additive to Star Wars' world, rather than to simply play in what was already in the toybox. Familiar characters were to be few and far between, moral storytelling to be less clear-cut, with villains (new villains!) that had motivation beyond evil for evil's sake. Again, its approach to stories of the Empire were some of its most fascinating, pushing writers to remember that the Empire was made up of genuinely awful people, but also a galaxy of citizenry who had little choice than to conform to the grip of Empire, and who became its willing tool was different to just a regular person with their own wants and needs. Star Wars is a broad sandbox, but West End Games pitched an enduring vision of it that strove for maturity and intelligence, that took the base framework and world of the original movies and genuinely pushed them into new and compelling territories in order to give players a rich and thriving universe to play in. There's an argument to be made, of course, that not all Star Wars should adhere to this tone or particular frame of interest: WEG's vision of Star Wars leaned more into the military sci-fi of its view of the Imperial/Rebel conflict, and not necessarily too far into Star Wars' space fantasy roots, an equally important aspect of the universe. But it's remarkable to see how what has become some of the very best of Star Wars in the modern day—across books, television, comics, games, and movies—carry so much of Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game's heritage, not just in reference to the worlds, names, places, and events it first explored, but in the tonal vision it had for the galaxy far, far away. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Android Authority
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Android Authority
One of the best RPGs of all time is coming to Android on August 5
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR Disco Elysium will launch on Android on August 5. It will feature full voice acting and revamped, mobile-first gameplay. The first two chapters are free, with the full game costing $9.99. Disco Elysium is one of the most celebrated titles of the past decade, with numerous awards and accolades under its belt. A mobile port was announced earlier this year, and now it finally has an official release date. The stylish 2019 RPG will launch on August 5, and it will feature the full voice acting found in The Final Cut version released in 2021. The voice acting is only available in English, but the text has been translated into nearly a dozen languages, with more coming this fall. The original game has been revamped to fit the vertical format and enable shorter gameplay sessions to make it more accessible on mobile. The idea is that players can hop in and hop out at any time to 'captivate the TikTok user with quick hits of compelling story, art, and audio,' according to studio head Denis Havel. Disco Elysium is one of the most unique and immersive RPGs of all time. If you haven't already played it, Disco Elysium is an unconventional RPG where you play as a detective who suffers from drug-induced amnesia. Tasked with solving a murder with the help of your partner, you'll uncover secrets about your past and the world around you via eccentric dialogue options and tabletop-style dice rolls. Without spoiling anything, it's one of the most immersive and unique RPGs of all time, taking home many awards upon its release in 2019. It's widely considered one of the best examples of video games as an art form, with an art style based on oil painting techniques. It also has a chilling soundtrack by the band British Sea Power, providing a truly unforgettable audio and visual experience. The first two chapters of Disco Elysium will be available for free on Android, and the full game will cost $9.99. You can pre-register now on the Google Play Store to pick it up on day one. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Geek Culture
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Cancelled 'Dungeons & Dragons' RPG By 'Counter Strike: GO' Developer Leaked Online
Gameplay footage and concept art from developer Hidden Path Entertainment's cancelled Dungeons and Dragons RPG have leaked online, offering a glimpse at an open-world RPG that almost was. Hidden Path, the studio behind the Defense Grid series and co-developers of the 2012 multiplayer FPS Counter-Strike: Global Offensive , first started working on the project four years ago, as made known via a series of job listings by the studio for a 'AAA, third-person, open-world fantasy RPG that will be taking place inside the Dungeons & Dragons franchise.' The project, codenamed Project Dante , was unfortunately short-lived, as one of the studio's founders, Michael Austin, announced its cancellation in 2024 via a post on LinkedIn, stating that the studio had been 'in numerous active discussions to find replacement funding', and ultimately had 'no choice but to pause development on that project and reduce the company size until we have an opportunity to return to it', letting go 44 developers as a result. Now, an eight-minute video and various concept art for the doomed title have leaked online, offering a tease of what could have been. This leak comes from MP1st, with gameplay clips showcasing its third-person exploration and combat. The game would have featured a companion system, with the leaked video detailing the player character accompanied by two other characters, Kavir and Ri Om, who assist with combat and puzzle-solving. Early footage of its cinematics, voice work and even an entire song sung by NPCs were shown, although most were place-holders. A collection of concept art was also leaked, including various Dungeons and Dragons imagery like a five-headed hydra, a party facing off against a volcanic dragon, and an adorable white cat with wings, alongside art for the various characters players would meet in the game. According to MP1st, the game was believed to be near the final stages of its development when it was cancelled, with its unfortunate fate likely being a part of a series of five cancellations by publisher Wizards of the Coast in early 2023, making it a real shame that a project so far along in its development was axed so suddenly. Still, there are many more Dungeons and Dragons titles in the works for fans of the iconic tabletop franchise, including a single player action-adventure game from the former director of Respawn's Star Wars Jedi games, Stig Asmussen, and his new studio Gian Skull, alongside a magic-focused title from Ubisoft alumni Jeff Hattem's Invoke Studios. Let's hope these titles will actually see the light of day and not suffer the same fate as Project Dante . 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. Dungeons & Dragons Hidden Path Entertainment Leaks
Geek Culture
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
‘Digimon Story: Time Stranger' Embraces Olympos XII Focus With Digi-Ride Feature & Travel Between Worlds
The vast evolution (pun intended) of the Digimon franchise makes it easy to forget its humble roots as a series of virtual pets, intended as an alternative to Tamagotchi, especially as it started to branch out into a harder-edged style and darker narratives as development progressed over time. But its momentum in the gaming space wouldn't have reached current heights without Digital World , originally released in Japan in 1999, then a year later in the Western world. Boasting a fair share of antiquated quirks and jank, the adventure wouldn't be a good fit for modern audiences, and yet, there's something to be said about its willingness to explore uncharted territory. After all, it was this spirit of experimentation that turned the title into a subseries and kicked off other offshoots, including the Digimon Story games, which have built a reputation for non-linear Digivolution, monster collection, and, more recently, mature storytelling elements. Making a highly anticipated return to the role-playing game (RPG) space is Digimon Story: Time Stranger , coming eight years after Hacker's Memory . The first entry in the series on Xbox and debuting an official English dub, it continues to flesh out established lore across the wide-spanning universe, while tapping into existing elements woven into its core identity. For starters, Olympos XII is now at the front and centre of the upcoming jaunt, allowing the team at to weave a distinctive, fairy tale-flavoured look into the Digital World (or Digi-World), a parallel reality where the Digimon live. 'For this new game, we focused on Olympos XII, so Digimon will play a central role in the story,' shares producer Ryosuke Hara in an exclusive interview held for select Southeast Asian media. 'When we crafted the worldview of the digital world, we paid attention to modelling it after a mythical setting.' The association doesn't come as a surprise, considering the group's etymological connection to Roman and Greek mythos. In Digimon jargon, the Olympos XII refers to 12 Mega-level Deity or Shaman, otherwise known as God Man, Digimon modelled after the Roman version of the 12 Olympians from Greek mythology, which manage the Digital World: Iliad – itself a nod to Homer's classic literary Greek epic – that exists on a different Server from the Digital World ruled by Yggrasill. While Digimon Story: Time Stranger is far from the first to highlight their significance, the Olympos XII focus offers the opportunity to further explore the bond between humans and Digimon, and incorporate new features at the same time. Where artificial cyberspace served as the focal point in its predecessor, the forthcoming entry divides its attention between the real world and Digital World: Iliad, such that its protagonist, an agent of the Special Investigation Bureau ADAMAS, can travel between space and time to solve the mystery behind a city-levelling disaster in Tokyo. As gleaned from a 15-minute hands-on preview, the Digi-World is shaping up to be a promising easter egg hunt for longtime enthusiasts, showcasing a crowded marketplace teeming with Digimon across various media and designs, from Digimon Tamers ' Terriermon and Gargomon to Devimon, which debuted in the Digimon Adventure anime series, and ToyAgumon. This time, however, the fun doesn't just lie in capturing and collecting critters – in a series first, players will be able to mount Digimon via the Digi-Ride feature and traverse the world at large. 'This came from the perspective of a fan, and I thought it would be good to have such a feature,' says Hara. 'To choose the Digimon for riding, we used an animation where they appeared as reference, and thought about which would be fun to ride on,' he adds, pointing to Beelzemon and Mechanorimon specifically. It remains to be seen if the ability extends to flying Digimon, as only Garurumon could be accessed during the hands-on session. The mechanic worked well enough in practice, despite a stiff quality to turning manoeuvres as opposed to natural movement, with the producer highlighting details like varying the action of getting on and riding, as well as the speeds, for different species. Adding to the shine, Digivolution and Degeneration can now be carried out anywhere, bringing more versatility into the mix-and-match process that welcomes its biggest roster to date. Indeed, there will be plenty of room to toy around here. Digimon Story: Time Stranger boasts a whopping 450 Digimon, all impressively made from scratch. As Hara explains, the team had to build from the skeleton up and 'make thorough changes' to the models that were developed for the PlayStation Vita, to match current console standards. Alongside the visual polish, the difference is also seen in combat, which inherits the series' signature turn-based system founded on a rock-paper-scissors framework. Essentially, certain monsters will be resistant to attacks of specific types and weak to others, presented in the familiar Data, Vaccine, and Virus format. Each Digimon is categorised into one of these three types, and enemies can have either resistance, vulnerability or neither to them. Depending on the Digimon, attacks may include elements or follow-up execution with quick-time event (QTE) elements, where players have to input the corresponding key in time. Three main critters will take to the battlefield, accompanied by three back-ups to swap to mid-fight, and up to three Guest Digimon. Expect 'more depth' for boss battles, too. According to Hara, Digimon Story: Time Stranger includes new attachments equipped with additional skills, allowing players to 'combine the different Digimon with the skills they want to use'. The mash-up of the new and old honours a long-standing tradition that dates back to the franchise's early days, with Hara highlighting how combat comes into play: 'In terms of improvement, we have three different elements – adventure, training, and battle – and these are the constant or unchanging themes of Digimon .' Coming in almost a decade after the previous outing subjects Digimon Story: Time Stranger to another challenge. Returning fans are a given, but the game needs to be accessible for newcomers, especially with its Xbox debut and the rise of new technology in its absence. To that end, it puts players in the same position as the protagonist, who doesn't know anything about the Digi-World and its inhabitants, eliminating the prerequisite of prior understanding. On the flip side, series veterans will appreciate the little tie-ins to lore, starting with Agumon's role in the overarching narrative. 'The reason why we decided to feature Agumon is because he has a very close association with Olympos XII, and I believe those who have been following the series will probably know why we have Agumon appear at this time,' he teases. Digimon Story: Time Story is set to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC on 3 October. Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Bandai Namco Digimon Digimon Story: Time Stranger Geek Interview
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NETMARBLE OPENS GLOBAL PRE-REGISTRATION FOR NEW MASSIVE PET BRAWL RPG STONEAGE: PET WORLD
SEOUL, South Korea, June 17, 2025 /CNW/ -- Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality games, has officially opened global pre-registrations for its upcoming mobile-based massive pet brawl RPG title, StoneAge: Pet World. Based on the beloved Stone Age IP, which launched in 1999 and was enjoyed by over 200 million players worldwide, StoneAge: Pet World offers a fresh take on the franchise while preserving its iconic charm and gameplay. Players can capture and nurture hundreds of unique pets in a vibrant prehistoric world true to the original's spirit. This new installment enhances the legacy with intuitive, modern systems built for today's mobile gamers. To mark the global pre-registration, Netmarble released the game's first teaser video. Players can pre-register via the official game website, Google Play, and the Apple App Store. Upon launch, all players will receive free access to two mount pets and every in-game pet. In StoneAge: Pet World, players embark on an epic quest to become the ultimate Pet Trainer by collecting, raising, and battling a wide array of pets, including fan favorites like Mogaros, Veldor, and Yangidon. The game offers deep strategic customization, allowing players to build massive battle decks with up to six trainers and 18 pets—24 units in total. Each trainer and pet has unique skills, enabling a wide range of tactical combinations. Classic features from the original, including pet mounting, capturing, and hybrid trainer-pet battle strategies, have been revamped for a modern audience. Players can also enjoy new gameplay systems such as Clans for cooperative tribal-building, and epic Boss Raids "Advent Battle" where up to 100 pets can battle at once. Further updates on global pre-registration for StoneAge: Pet World will be shared on the official website. About Netmarble Corporation Founded in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading global game developer and publisher. Through acclaimed franchises and strategic partnerships with top-tier IP holders, the company delivers innovative and engaging gaming experiences to audiences worldwide. As a parent company of Kabam, SpinX Games, Jam City, and a major shareholder of HYBE and NCSOFT, Netmarble's diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling:ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Netmarble View original content to download multimedia:
