https://www.scmp.com/rss/502011/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Shawn Levy turned down Free Guy the first time he was approached to direct it. The film, which stars Ryan Reynolds as Guy, a nonplayable video game character who discovers a new zest for life after falling for a gamer named Molotov Girl (Killing Eve star Jodie Comer), takes place mostly in Free City, a place not unlike the lawless, hyper-violent San Andreas of the Grand Theft Auto games. “I think I read about a third of the script and said, ‘You know what? This should probably be some hardcore... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3145171/how-ryan-reynolds-hit-free-guy-got-video-game-look-call?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3145171/how-ryan-reynolds-hit-free-guy-got-video-game-look-call?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Aug 2021 10:45:11 +0000 In the world of gaming, Sony is more than just the manufacturer of the popular PlayStation console. It also has more than a dozen premium game developers under its wing. Some of these companies have brought us iconic games like Marvel’s Spider-Man, The Last of Us and God of War. Now the Japanese gaming giant wants to expand. Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida said the company is interested in acquiring Asian developers and creating games for the Asian market. Of all the gaming studios that Sony owns,... https://www.scmp.com/games/5-chinese-game-companies-sony-should-buy/article/3029684?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/games/5-chinese-game-companies-sony-should-buy/article/3029684?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Sep 2019 15:34:45 +0000 What is it like to shoot guns while drifting in zero gravity? Boundary takes deathmatches to outer space. Developed by Shenzhen-based Surgical Scalpels and published by live-streaming giant Huya, Boundary is a space-based, tactical online shooter scheduled to be released on PlayStation 4 and PC in the first quarter of 2020. The game is part of Sony’s China Hero Project, an incubator program that supports Chinese developers, and it recently got two new demos. So I gave the demos a try to get a... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/boundary-film-gravity-guns/article/3024459?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/boundary-film-gravity-guns/article/3024459?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Aug 2019 14:01:51 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Monkey King: Hero is Back is supposed to be Sony’s marquee video game for the PlayStation 4 in China this year. But based on what the company is showing off at ACGHK 2019, it’s not enticing. The game’s release is just three months away, so presumably Sony has a mostly finished game somewhere that it could be showing off. Unfortunately, the world saw a better demo of the game in Shanghai a year ago. This latest demo has few interactive elements in the... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029504/sonys-monkey-king-hero-back-doesnt-look-its-ready-conquer-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029504/sonys-monkey-king-hero-back-doesnt-look-its-ready-conquer-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jul 2019 16:10:38 +0000 Monkey King: Hero is Back is supposed to be Sony’s marquee video game for the PlayStation 4 in China this year. But based on what the company is showing off at ACGHK 2019, it’s not enticing. The game’s release is just three months away, so presumably Sony has a mostly finished game somewhere that it could be showing off. Unfortunately, the world saw a better demo of the game in Shanghai a year ago. This latest demo has few interactive elements in the environment and odd design choices. For... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/sonys-monkey-king-hero-back-doesnt-look-its-ready-conquer-china/article/3020180?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/sonys-monkey-king-hero-back-doesnt-look-its-ready-conquer-china/article/3020180?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jul 2019 16:10:38 +0000 A new campaign for Total War: Three Kingdoms portrays China at its most corrupt and vulnerable… and Chinese gamers are thrilled. The Eight Princes campaign, now available as downloadable content (DLC), is based on the War of the Eight Princes period. The prolonged period of disorder ultimately weakened the Jin dynasty, making it vulnerable to neighboring barbarian kingdoms. This period of history in China is not remembered fondly, at least among those who remember it at all. The excitement in... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/new-total-war-campaign-draws-obscure-history-and-impresses-chinese-fans/article/3019128?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/new-total-war-campaign-draws-obscure-history-and-impresses-chinese-fans/article/3019128?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2019 15:45:50 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS A new campaign for Total War: Three Kingdoms portrays China at its most corrupt and vulnerable… and Chinese gamers are thrilled. The Eight Princes campaign, now available as downloadable content (DLC), is based on the War of the Eight Princes period. The prolonged period of disorder ultimately weakened the Jin dynasty, making it vulnerable to neighboring barbarian kingdoms. This period of history in China is not remembered fondly, at least among those... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029490/new-total-war-campaign-draws-obscure-history-and-impresses-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029490/new-total-war-campaign-draws-obscure-history-and-impresses-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2019 15:45:50 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS If you’ve been waiting to play Teamfight Tactics on mobile, Tencent now lets you do it. But it’s probably not in the way you hoped. The Chinese gaming giant recently revealed that it's bringing in-home streaming to its online game store WeGame. It currently only supports League of Legends, but that’s enough to get your fix of the popular auto battler mini game Teamfight Tactics. Auto battlers started with Dota Auto Chess and now Valve and Riot Games are... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029481/tencent-finally-lets-you-play-teamfight-tactics-mobile-only-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029481/tencent-finally-lets-you-play-teamfight-tactics-mobile-only-home?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jul 2019 14:16:01 +0000 If you’ve been waiting to play Teamfight Tactics on mobile, Tencent now lets you do it. But it’s probably not in the way you hoped. The Chinese gaming giant recently revealed that it's bringing in-home streaming to its online game store WeGame. It currently only supports League of Legends, but that’s enough to get your fix of the popular auto battler mini game Teamfight Tactics.   But sadly, in-home streaming means your mobile device needs to be on the same network as your PC running the game,... https://www.scmp.com/big-guns/tencent-finally-lets-you-play-teamfight-tactics-mobile-only-home/article/3018685?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/big-guns/tencent-finally-lets-you-play-teamfight-tactics-mobile-only-home/article/3018685?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jul 2019 14:16:01 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS In the past ten years, Ubisoft has taken its popular Assassin’s Creed game franchise to many historical settings: Classical Athens, ancient Egypt, colonial Boston, Victorian London and revolutionary Paris. Now Chinese gamers are calling for a new Assassin’s Creed game set in Chang’an, China’s majestic capital during the Tang dynasty that today is known as Xi’an. The informal campaign is gaining steam thanks to the latest hit TV show in China, The... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029477/calls-assassins-creed-ancient-china-inspired-hit-tv-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029477/calls-assassins-creed-ancient-china-inspired-hit-tv-show?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jul 2019 13:10:53 +0000 In the past ten years, Ubisoft has taken its popular Assassin’s Creed game franchise to many historical settings: Classical Athens, ancient Egypt, colonial Boston, Victorian London and revolutionary Paris. Now Chinese gamers are calling for a new Assassin’s Creed game set in Chang’an, China’s majestic capital during the Tang dynasty that today is known as Xi’an. The informal campaign is gaining steam thanks to the latest hit TV show in China, The Longest Day of Chang’an. The show itself actually... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/calls-assassins-creed-ancient-china-inspired-hit-tv-show/article/3018388?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/calls-assassins-creed-ancient-china-inspired-hit-tv-show/article/3018388?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jul 2019 13:10:53 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS For many people, a game involving monsters roaming a chess board and smashing each other until one side wins will bring to mind a very iconic scene in cinematic history: The “chess scene” from the original Star Wars. While the holographic chess game (dejarik for the real fans out there) from the film might not exist in the real world, there are some similarities with a new, very modern type of strategy game: Auto battlers. An auto battler is a... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/who-what/what/article/3028269/auto-battlers-started-dota-auto-chess-and-now-valve-and-riot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/who-what/what/article/3028269/auto-battlers-started-dota-auto-chess-and-now-valve-and-riot?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2019 14:03:36 +0000 Diablo Immortal is probably one of the most anticipated -- and detested -- games of the year. Hundreds of thousands of fans were infuriated by Blizzard’s announcement last year that the next Diablo game would be for mobile devices -- and it would be co-developed with a Chinese company, NetEase.   Now NetEase’s rival Tencent has beaten them to the punch by releasing a Diablo-like mobile game first. But if you were hoping that it would show that the classic PC game can work on mobile, well, the... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/tencents-answer-diablo-immortal-bombed-china/article/3016952?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/tencents-answer-diablo-immortal-bombed-china/article/3016952?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jul 2019 14:37:18 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Diablo Immortal is probably one of the most anticipated -- and detested -- games of the year. Hundreds of thousands of fans were infuriated by Blizzard’s announcement last year that the next Diablo game would be for mobile devices -- and it would be co-developed with a Chinese company, NetEase. Meet NetEase, China’s second-largest game publisher Now NetEase’s rival Tencent has beaten them to the punch by releasing a Diablo-like mobile game first.... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029455/tencents-answer-diablo-immortal-bombed-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029455/tencents-answer-diablo-immortal-bombed-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jul 2019 14:37:18 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The idea of “tiger parenting,” based on ideas of strict Chinese parenting, has drawn a lot of attention over the last several years. But what is it actually like to grow up with tiger parents in China? If you ever wanted to know, now you can experience it in the simulation game Chinese Parents.  This indie title is now accessible to an international audience, with an English version of the game that has already sold hundreds of thousands of copies in... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029452/hit-game-chinese-parents-funny-and-insightful-look-growing-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029452/hit-game-chinese-parents-funny-and-insightful-look-growing-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jul 2019 11:40:28 +0000 The idea of “tiger parenting,” based on ideas of strict Chinese parenting, has drawn a lot of attention over the last several years. But what is it actually like to grow up with tiger parents in China? If you ever wanted to know, now you can experience it in the simulation game Chinese Parents.  This indie title is now accessible to an international audience, with an English version of the game that has already sold hundreds of thousands of copies in China.  This life sim, developed by Moyuwan... https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/hit-game-chinese-parents-funny-and-insightful-look-growing-china/article/3016203?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/hit-game-chinese-parents-funny-and-insightful-look-growing-china/article/3016203?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jul 2019 11:40:28 +0000 There's no other way to put it: the most talked-about game in China right now looks like a blatant knock-off of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Be it the look, the story or the game mechanics, Chinese developer miHoYo's new game Genshin Impact -- aiming for PC and mobile -- looks to have taken much from the Nintendo game, widely hailed as one of the best of all time. Just like Breath of the Wild, Genshin Impact is a cel-shaded, open-world adventure game featuring a warrior who has... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/chinas-blatant-breath-wild-knock-sparks-outrage/article/3016176?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/chinas-blatant-breath-wild-knock-sparks-outrage/article/3016176?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:01:24 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS There's no other way to put it: the most talked-about game in China right now looks like a blatant knock-off of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Be it the look, the story or the game mechanics, Chinese developer miHoYo's new game Genshin Impact -- aiming for PC and mobile -- looks to have taken much from the Nintendo game, widely hailed as one of the best of all time. Just like Breath of the Wild, Genshin Impact is a cel-shaded, open-world... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029445/chinas-blatant-breath-wild-knock-sparks-outrage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029445/chinas-blatant-breath-wild-knock-sparks-outrage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:01:24 +0000 Chinese gamers appear to be as excited as the rest of the world for the much-anticipated strategy game Total War: Three Kingdoms, pulling in a huge number of pre-orders from China. But they’re also lamenting online their country's inability to project its own culture through homegrown games. More than a week before its release, the game had already seized the top spot on Steam's best-selling chart in China. In the US, the game has also ascended to the top spot on the same list two days ahead of... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/gamers-china-want-their-own-total-war-three-kingdoms/article/3011162?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/gamers-china-want-their-own-total-war-three-kingdoms/article/3011162?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 May 2019 15:07:23 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Chinese gamers appear to be as excited as the rest of the world for the much-anticipated strategy game Total War: Three Kingdoms, pulling in a huge number of pre-orders from China. But they’re also lamenting online their country's inability to project its own culture through homegrown games. More than a week before its release, the game had already seized the top spot on Steam's best-selling chart in China. In the US, the game has also ascended to the... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029369/gamers-china-want-their-own-total-war-three-kingdoms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029369/gamers-china-want-their-own-total-war-three-kingdoms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 May 2019 15:07:23 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Take a cyberpunk world, paint it in the style of exquisitely crafted pixel art, then throw in some neo-noir detective motifs and you get Tales of the Neon Sea. The new detective puzzle game from Chinese developer Palm Pioneer has almost all the right ingredients for an arresting experience. All the game really needs now is an engrossing story. While playing Neon Sea, I often found myself trudging through tedious puzzles, not knowing where they would... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029334/tales-neon-sea-beautiful-slow-cyberpunk-puzzle-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029334/tales-neon-sea-beautiful-slow-cyberpunk-puzzle-game?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 May 2019 13:07:27 +0000 Take a cyberpunk world, paint it in the style of exquisitely crafted pixel art, then throw in some neo-noir detective motifs and you get Tales of the Neon Sea. The new detective puzzle game from Chinese developer Palm Pioneer has almost all the right ingredients for an arresting experience. All the game really needs now is an engrossing story. While playing Neon Sea, I often found myself trudging through tedious puzzles, not knowing where they would take me, instead of feeling immersed in a... https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/tales-neon-sea-beautiful-slow-cyberpunk-puzzle-game/article/3009176?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/tales-neon-sea-beautiful-slow-cyberpunk-puzzle-game/article/3009176?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 May 2019 13:07:27 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Across the globe, fans are eagerly anticipating Game of Thrones’ upcoming final season in April. Meanwhile, in another dimension, winter is coming to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, as well.  Tencent recently updated PUBG Mobile a couple days ago with a new “innovation factory” option, under which players can find “extreme cold mode.” PUBG, the battle royale pioneer In this mode, snipers in ghillie suits will no longer be your only concern. You’ll... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029249/pubg-mobiles-latest-update-adds-new-adversary-mother-nature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029249/pubg-mobiles-latest-update-adds-new-adversary-mother-nature?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Mar 2019 13:30:12 +0000 Across the globe, fans are eagerly anticipating Game of Thrones’ upcoming final season in April. Meanwhile, in another dimension, winter is coming to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, as well.  Tencent recently updated PUBG Mobile a couple days ago with a new “innovation factory” option, under which players can find “extreme cold mode.”   In this mode, snipers in ghillie suits will no longer be your only concern. You’ll also have to fight against mother nature in an effort to keep yourself warm... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/pubg-mobiles-latest-update-adds-new-adversary-mother-nature/article/3003661?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/pubg-mobiles-latest-update-adds-new-adversary-mother-nature/article/3003661?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Mar 2019 13:30:12 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS This isn’t a game. But people wish it was. Chinese game developer Junliang Zhang made an impressive cyberpunk Chinese city using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine. The project, titled CyberNeon, feature many distinctly Chinese elements including the classic Hong Kong-style neon signs, logos of some of the country’s biggest brand names and even a movie line from China’s recent sci-fi hit The Wandering Earth. A fan of the project wrote online, “If this becomes a... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029232/cyberpunk-chinese-city-was-made-one-person?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029232/cyberpunk-chinese-city-was-made-one-person?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Mar 2019 13:22:29 +0000 This isn’t a game. But people wish it was. Chinese game developer Junliang Zhang made an impressive cyberpunk Chinese city using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine. The project, titled CyberNeon, feature many distinctly Chinese elements including the classic Hong Kong-style neon signs, logos of some of the country’s biggest brand names and even a movie line from China’s recent sci-fi hit The Wandering Earth. A fan of the project wrote online, “If this becomes a game, I’ll totally buy it. I wish there... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/cyberpunk-chinese-city-was-made-one-person/article/3002669?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/cyberpunk-chinese-city-was-made-one-person/article/3002669?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Mar 2019 13:22:29 +0000 Controversial Chinese indie game Bright Memory is being overhauled… again. It burst on to the scene in January to wide acclaim and amazement from gamers who couldn’t believe that the impressive-looking shooter was made by just one person. That’s when the developer admitted that, well, he had a bit of help: He said he used unlicensed art in the game, downloaded from pirate software sites. FYQD Studio apologized and replaced the illegal art with original -- but far less impressive --... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/controversial-shooter-bright-memory-getting-overhaul/article/3002189?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/controversial-shooter-bright-memory-getting-overhaul/article/3002189?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Mar 2019 11:37:39 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Controversial Chinese indie game Bright Memory is being overhauled… again. It burst on to the scene in January to wide acclaim and amazement from gamers who couldn’t believe that the impressive-looking shooter was made by just one person. That’s when the developer admitted that, well, he had a bit of help: He said he used unlicensed art in the game, downloaded from pirate software sites. FYQD Studio apologized and replaced the illegal art with original... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029223/controversial-shooter-bright-memory-getting-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029223/controversial-shooter-bright-memory-getting-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Mar 2019 11:37:39 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS I'm going to be a weirdo now and admit something: I really like fish. I love watching them at aquariums and fish markets. I like them steamed, cooked, grilled, and made into sashimi. I actually considered getting a fish tattooed on my body. This is why I was probably the only person who was excited about playing a game about fish. Koi, produced by Chinese game studio Dotoyou, follows a fish on a mission. It was actually the first game made entirely in... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029221/adventure-game-koi-all-about-fish-it-didnt-satisfy-my-fish-fetish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029221/adventure-game-koi-all-about-fish-it-didnt-satisfy-my-fish-fetish?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Mar 2019 11:31:22 +0000 I'm going to be a weirdo now and admit something: I really like fish. I love watching them at aquariums and fish markets. I like them steamed, cooked, grilled, and made into sashimi. I actually considered getting a fish tattooed on my body. This is why I was probably the only person who was excited about playing a game about fish. Koi, produced by Chinese game studio Dotoyou, follows a fish on a mission. It was actually the first game made entirely in China that went out on PlayStation 4 back in... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/adventure-game-koi-all-about-fish-it-didnt-satisfy-my-fish-fetish/article/3001534?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/adventure-game-koi-all-about-fish-it-didnt-satisfy-my-fish-fetish/article/3001534?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Mar 2019 11:31:22 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS It was a seemingly standard comment, the sort of thing posted to Steam thousands of times a day. But the response was heartbreaking. It all started when one gamer left a comment on the game Tiny Snow: “This game is ok. It’s just that the romantic plot between the main characters was a little unconvincing.” It’s a damning comment for a game that’s essentially an interactive romantic novel -- the plot is everything to Tiny Snow. But the game's developer... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029218/developer-says-his-romantic-games-arent-realistic-because-hes-never?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029218/developer-says-his-romantic-games-arent-realistic-because-hes-never?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:59:04 +0000 It was a seemingly standard comment, the sort of thing posted to Steam thousands of times a day. But the response was heartbreaking. It all started when one gamer left a comment on the game Tiny Snow: “This game is ok. It’s just that the romantic plot between the main characters was a little unconvincing.” It’s a damning comment for a game that’s essentially an interactive romantic novel -- the plot is everything to Tiny Snow. But the game's developer responded with brutal honesty. “The romantic... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/developer-says-his-romantic-games-arent-realistic-because-hes-never-been-love/article/3001635?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/developer-says-his-romantic-games-arent-realistic-because-hes-never-been-love/article/3001635?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:59:04 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Players worldwide were thrilled when thatgamecompany -- the brilliant mind behind console hits Flow, Flower and Journey -- announced during Apple’s Keynote in 2017 that their next game would come to iOS. Sky: Light Awaits has yet to launch officially, but we recently got our hands on the latest test version (0.4.6) for iPhone.  As the name suggests, this game is all about light: You play as children in a dreamy, bright landscape above the clouds.... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029212/sky-light-awaits-takes-you-back-childhood-dreams-hand-hand-friends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029212/sky-light-awaits-takes-you-back-childhood-dreams-hand-hand-friends?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Mar 2019 13:03:20 +0000 Players worldwide were thrilled when thatgamecompany -- the brilliant mind behind console hits Flow, Flower and Journey -- announced during Apple’s Keynote in 2017 that their next game would come to iOS. Sky: Light Awaits has yet to launch officially, but we recently got our hands on the latest test version (0.4.6) for iPhone.  As the name suggests, this game is all about light: You play as children in a dreamy, bright landscape above the clouds. Darkness has descended on many parts of the... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/sky-light-awaits-takes-you-back-childhood-dreams-hand-hand-friends/article/3001054?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/sky-light-awaits-takes-you-back-childhood-dreams-hand-hand-friends/article/3001054?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Mar 2019 13:03:20 +0000 Sometimes we just wish things would happen at the right time and in the right order. Side-scrolling puzzle game Clocker lets you do just that. It’s a clever Chinese indie game where you pause time and rearrange the order of events to reunite a father and daughter. Launched on Steam after 2.5 years of crowdfunding, Clocker is full of time-bending puzzles that force you to ponder how one event leads to another, and how things -- in game or in real life -- could turn out very differently even if... https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/clocker-exhausting-puzzle-game-explores-time-and-love/article/3001086?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/clocker-exhausting-puzzle-game-explores-time-and-love/article/3001086?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2019 11:09:20 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Sometimes we just wish things would happen at the right time and in the right order. Side-scrolling puzzle game Clocker lets you do just that. It’s a clever Chinese indie game where you pause time and rearrange the order of events to reunite a father and daughter. Launched on Steam after 2.5 years of crowdfunding, Clocker is full of time-bending puzzles that force you to ponder how one event leads to another, and how things -- in game or in real life --... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029201/clocker-exhausting-puzzle-game-explores-time-and-love?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029201/clocker-exhausting-puzzle-game-explores-time-and-love?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2019 11:09:20 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Take it from someone who went to school there: Sex ed is not good in China. So a bunch of Chinese high schoolers took it upon themselves to act out a few sketches, turning that footage into a sex ed game called Self-Reliance. They released it on Steam, with gamers giving them encouraging reviews and many media outlets recognizing their efforts. Maybe that explains why they got it wrong. The scenario in the video gives players a choice: Clean a friend’s... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029183/sex-ed-game-made-chinese-high-schoolers-gets-sex-ed-wrong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029183/sex-ed-game-made-chinese-high-schoolers-gets-sex-ed-wrong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Feb 2019 14:35:34 +0000 Take it from someone who went to school there: Sex ed is not good in China. So a bunch of Chinese high schoolers took it upon themselves to act out a few sketches, turning that footage into a sex ed game called Self-Reliance. They released it on Steam, with gamers giving them encouraging reviews and many media outlets recognizing their efforts. Maybe that explains why they got it wrong. The scenario in the video gives players a choice: Clean a friend’s toilet before sitting on it, or just sit... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/sex-ed-game-made-chinese-high-schoolers-gets-sex-ed-wrong/article/3000846?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/sex-ed-game-made-chinese-high-schoolers-gets-sex-ed-wrong/article/3000846?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Feb 2019 14:35:34 +0000 Two minutes in, we had to switch off all the lights and play Devotion in the dark. We wanted to soak in every bit of atmosphere from this immersive game. Devotion’s first-person perspective does an incredible job of transporting you right into the middle of a grungy 1980s apartment complex in Taiwan, showcasing the detailed art and accompanied by a spooky soundtrack. The game makes one hell of a first impression. ​​​​​​ I can’t say I’ve ever played a game like this. Yeah, there are horror... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/horror-game-devotion-immersive-triumph/article/3000923?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/horror-game-devotion-immersive-triumph/article/3000923?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:32:52 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Two minutes in, we had to switch off all the lights and play Devotion in the dark. We wanted to soak in every bit of atmosphere from this immersive game. Devotion’s first-person perspective does an incredible job of transporting you right into the middle of a grungy 1980s apartment complex in Taiwan, showcasing the detailed art and accompanied by a spooky soundtrack. The game makes one hell of a first impression. ​​​​​​ I can’t say I’ve ever played a... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029177/horror-game-devotion-immersive-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029177/horror-game-devotion-immersive-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:32:52 +0000 With 4.5 million players, Dota Auto Chess is turning into a gaming sensation. Of course, that depends on how exactly you define Auto Chess: Is it a game, a mod, or “a mod of a remake of a mod based on a map from another game”? Whatever it is, Dota Auto Chess is a strategy game made by Drodo Studio in China. The game essentially consists of two phases. First is the preparation round, where you pick heroes to assemble an army, and then place them on the board. After that is the battle round, which... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/how-popular-pc-gaming-hit-was-influenced-ancient-game-mahjong/article/3000845?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/how-popular-pc-gaming-hit-was-influenced-ancient-game-mahjong/article/3000845?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:32:30 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS With 4.5 million players, Dota Auto Chess is turning into a gaming sensation. Of course, that depends on how exactly you define Auto Chess: Is it a game, a mod, or “a mod of a remake of a mod based on a map from another game”? Whatever it is, Dota Auto Chess is a strategy game made by Drodo Studio in China. The game essentially consists of two phases. First is the preparation round, where you pick heroes to assemble an army, and then place them on the... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029173/how-popular-pc-gaming-hit-was-influenced-ancient-game-mahjong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029173/how-popular-pc-gaming-hit-was-influenced-ancient-game-mahjong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:32:30 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Remember that Chinese indie game that looked like Dark Souls crossed with Titanfall? The one developed by one guy, who admitted that he used graphical assets from pirated software sites? The game is Bright Memory Ep1, and it finally replaced the previously unlicensed assets with new ones. So instead of fighting a pack of humongous, demented dire wolves... we ran into a pack of sleepy lion chimeras in the updated version. The game simply doesn't look as... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029157/indie-game-bright-memory-looks-worse-after-replacing-stolen-art?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029157/indie-game-bright-memory-looks-worse-after-replacing-stolen-art?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Feb 2019 13:47:25 +0000 Remember that Chinese indie game that looked like Dark Souls crossed with Titanfall? The one developed by one guy, who admitted that he used graphical assets from pirated software sites? The game is Bright Memory Ep1, and it finally replaced the previously unlicensed assets with new ones. So instead of fighting a pack of humongous, demented dire wolves... we ran into a pack of sleepy lion chimeras in the updated version. The game simply doesn't look as good anymore. A quick refresher: Bright... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/indie-game-bright-memory-looks-worse-after-replacing-stolen-art/article/3000804?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/indie-game-bright-memory-looks-worse-after-replacing-stolen-art/article/3000804?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Feb 2019 13:47:25 +0000 Some games have complicated, high-concept pitches. The Hong Kong Massacre is not one of those games. It’s the video game version of a John Woo film, taking all the slow motion dual-pistol acrobatics of Hard Boiled, and combining it with the indie gaming classic Hotline Miami. It’s a great combination, adding a heavy dose of cinematic style to Hotline Miami’s fast-paced ultraviolence. To be honest, it’s hard not to continually compare the two games, because they share so much in common. The... https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/review-hong-kong-massacre-bloody-good-time/article/3000663?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/review-hong-kong-massacre-bloody-good-time/article/3000663?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Feb 2019 14:15:31 +0000 Some games have complicated, high-concept pitches. The Hong Kong Massacre is not one of those games. It’s the video game version of a John Woo film, taking all the slow motion dual-pistol acrobatics of Hard Boiled, and combining it with the indie gaming classic Hotline Miami. It’s a great combination, adding a heavy dose of cinematic style to Hotline Miami’s fast-paced ultraviolence. To be honest, it’s hard not to continually compare the two games, because they share so much in common. The... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029152/review-hong-kong-massacre-bloody-good-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029152/review-hong-kong-massacre-bloody-good-time?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Feb 2019 14:15:31 +0000 What do you get if you cross Overwatch with The Hunger Games? Imagine Symmetra somehow teleporting the whole team to sneak behind enemies for a chicken dinner. Because that’s what Wraith does in Respawn’s new battle royale game Apex Legends. Just so we thought the battle royale genre has figured out its pecking order, in walks this titan which really brings something new to the genre. There is plenty to love about Apex Legends. While many enjoy battle royale games for the freedom, sometimes I... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/apex-legends-most-satisfying-battle-royale-ive-ever-played/article/3000760?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/apex-legends-most-satisfying-battle-royale-ive-ever-played/article/3000760?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Feb 2019 13:57:30 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS What do you get if you cross Overwatch with The Hunger Games? Imagine Symmetra somehow teleporting the whole team to sneak behind enemies for a chicken dinner. Because that’s what Wraith does in Respawn’s new battle royale game Apex Legends. Just so we thought the battle royale genre has figured out its pecking order, in walks this titan which really brings something new to the genre. There is plenty to love about Apex Legends. While many enjoy battle... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029150/apex-legends-most-satisfying-battle-royale-ive-ever-played?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029150/apex-legends-most-satisfying-battle-royale-ive-ever-played?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Feb 2019 13:57:30 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS It’s almost the Lunar New Year. So let’s talk about something ominous and horrific! We've streamed the horror game Detention three times on our Twitch channel, and each time we were completely absorbed by it. It's a simple game, but still captivating. Developed by Red Candle Games, Detention puts you in control of a high school girl in the 1960s when Taiwan was under martial law. It starts with a boy named Wei meeting our protagonist Ray in their... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029139/horror-game-detention-taiwanese-silent-hill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029139/horror-game-detention-taiwanese-silent-hill?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Feb 2019 13:38:18 +0000 It’s almost the Lunar New Year. So let’s talk about something ominous and horrific! We've streamed the horror game Detention three times on our Twitch channel, and each time we were completely absorbed by it. It's a simple game, but still captivating. Developed by Red Candle Games, Detention puts you in control of a high school girl in the 1960s when Taiwan was under martial law. It starts with a boy named Wei meeting our protagonist Ray in their school, the last to evacuate from campus ahead of... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/horror-game-detention-taiwanese-silent-hill/article/3000683?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/horror-game-detention-taiwanese-silent-hill/article/3000683?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Feb 2019 13:38:18 +0000