Tournament, recruiting, and whatever team news can go here.
Let me know. ~Matholameu

Click on Naruto to go and decide what Anime you would like to see here in Kaleidoscope.

'Pokemon Sun And Moon' Image Shows Battle Gameplay And Possible Starter Evolution Types Leak

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"Pokemon Sun And Moon" battle gameplay can be seen in a new screenshot, and recent website leaks may point to starter evolution types. The details come to Design & Trend via Serebii.net and the Japanese "Pokemon Sun And Moon" page. Both sources combine to offer a substantial chunk of news about the upcoming games. First, we'll take a quick peek at the official information. Apparently battle gameplay was showcased during the most recent episode of the Japanese "Pokemon-themed" show, Pokénchi. No video footage is available at this time, but a single screenshot has found its way to the Internet. As seen below, Litten and Rowlet are engaged in combat. Not much else is worth talking about, but a green health bar and level indicators are visible. Keen eyes have also noticed that bystanders have gathered to watch the match as well. This tiny aesthetic accoutrement wasn't possible in past "Pokemon" titles. For those that like to delve more into the realm of speculation, a vulnerability in the Japanese "Pokemon Sun And Moon" site may also reveal the evolution types of the starters Litten and Popplio. The process for locating the details is documented in the video below, but it revolves around hidden type icons on the starter bios page. The ones that are currently visible are categorized under numbers one, two, four and five. A web search for the missing number three reveals an icon for a ground type. Because the proceeding icon four is Litten's fire, the inference is that its evolution type may be fire-ground. Similarly, a search for icon six reveals a fighting logo. Because Rowlet already has two types, grass and flying, the assumption is that the fighting classification might apply to Popplio. These concealed graphics may be stored online for an announcement to be revealed later. Of course, as with any leak, this should be taken with a grain of salt. Even though the extra images exist, there's no truly direct correlation tying them to the starter trio. In other words, it's equally possible that these ground and fighting mentions could relate to any other "Pokemon" in the game. They could be made for any number of purposes that don't necessarily denote starters or evolutions at all. "Pokemon Sun And Moon" are expected to release Nov. 18 on 3DS.

Pokemon Sun And Moon' News, Leaks: Alola’s Starter Evolution Types, Mystery Pokemon Unveiled

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In line with Nintendo's much anticipated titles "Pokemon Sun" and "Pokemon Moon," new information has leaked about the evolutions of the Alola Starters. Also, a new generation 7 Pokemon has been spotted from the game's latest trailer. Following the revelation of the "Pokemon Sun" and "Pokemon Moon" starters and legendaries on May 10, "Pokemon" fans and gamers has speculated the potential typing of the starters' final evolution. According to YouTuber pdwinnall, Pokemon Japan has leaked the typing of the final evolution of the Alola starters. He mentioned that the type of the final evolution of Rowlet the owl remains grass flying. An interesting note is that Litten the cat's final evolution is set to be fire and ground while Popplio the sea lion is set to evolve into a water fighting Pokemon. If the aforementioned Pokemon typing is true, then it is safe to note that such starter evolution typing will be the first in the "Pokemon" game history. As far as game strategies are concerned, this also means that Popplio is the only one that will not have a quadruple weakness to a certain type, as Rowlett's grass-flying type is four times weak to ice while Litten's fire-ground type is four times weak to water. Aside from the interesting starter evolution typing, the recent "Pokemon Sun" and "Pokemon Moon" trailer has teased the gameplay for the game, which includes the game characters, certain areas, and a mysterious Pokemon in-game. As per rumors, the said Pokemon, which is presumed as a dog, a fox, or a deer, is the first normal type in the seventh generation Pokemon game and follows the footsteps of Kanto's Rattata, Johto's Sentret, Hoenn's Zigzagoon, Sinnoh's Bidoof, Unova's Lillipup, and Kalos' Bunnelby.

Pokémon GO Game App Launches Beta Registration in US, Australia, N. Zealand

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The official website for The Pokemon Company International and Niantic Labs' upcoming Pokémon GO iOS and Android app game started registration for the game's closed beta test in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand on Monday. Players will use the app to be able to find Pokémon in the real world using location-based technology. Certain Pokémon are available only in certain areas: for example, water types will be found in lakes or oceans. The smartphone can be set to vibrate when a Pokémon is nearby. Players can also find "PokéStops" and Pokémon Gyms at "interesting places, such as public art installations, historical markers, and monuments." At PokéStops players can acquire Poké Balls and other items. After the player explores enough, these PokéStops will offer Pokémon Eggs that will hatch after the player walks a certain number of steps. Pokémon Gyms will be empty until players assign Pokémon to them. Each player can only assign one Pokémon to the Gym, and so must work with a team to defend the Gym. At a certain point in the game, players will be asked to join one of three teams. Players can gain levels as a trainer to catch more powerful Pokémon and receive better items. Catching enough of one kind of Pokémon will allow the player to evolve that Pokémon. The game will also offer achievement medals. Nintendo also hopes to let players pay attention to their surroundings instead of just looking at their screens by offering the "Pokémon Go Plus" wristband device. The device can also be used as a clip to be clipped onto suit jackets, etc. The "Pokémon Go Plus" device will have LED and vibration functions that will alert players to something happening in the game. The device uses Bluetooth technology to connect to players' smartphones. Players can still play the game without the device. Niantic Labs and The Pokémon Company revealed the augmented reality smartphone app last September. Niantic has raised US$20 million from The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, and Google for the game, and the three investors will give Niantic another US$10 million upon meeting unspecified performance goals. Pokémon GO will be available in 2016 for Android phones and iPhones. Field testing began in Japan in March. The beta test registration is available in the United States, not all of North America. It is also available in Australia and New Zealand.

Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius Smartphone Game Heads West This Summer.

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Square Enix announced on Monday that it has opened preregistration for a western release of the iOS and Android game Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius. The app is slated to launch this summer, and will be available in six languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Korean. Players who preregister can receive exclusive in-game items. The number of items received will depend on the number of registrants. Square Enix will reveal more information at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) this June. Gumi subsidiary A-Lim developed Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, and it draws inspiration from A-Lim's previous Brave Frontier smartphone game. The game features art by Yoshitaka Amano. Players from five-man parties composed of characters from the Final Fantasy franchise, tackle dungeons, with the ultimate goal of defeating bosses, gaining experience, and earning money. Square Enix released the game in Japan last October.
"Final Fantasy Brave Exvius - Pre-Registration Trailer"

One Piece: Burning Blood Game's Promo Video Previews Pirate Flag Battle Mode.
"PS4・PS Vita「ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD」第4弾PV"

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Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming a promotional video for its One Piece Burning Blood PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PC, and Xbox One game on Thursday. The video previews the game's online modes including Pirate Flag Battle mode, as well as the game's pre-order bonus characters. Bandai Namco Entertainment America began streaming an English version of the trailer on Thursday. The English version includes different gameplay footage and fewer pre-order bonus characters. Confirmed playable characters in the game include: Luffy, Doflamingo, Fujitora, Law, Kuma, Brook, Chopper, X. Drake, Enel, Crocodile, Ace, Sabo, Kuzan, Smoker, Captain Kid, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Franky, Boa Hancock, Nico Robin, Nami, Perona, Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji, Whitebeard, Marco, Jozu, Jimbei, Luffy (two years ago), Sengoku, Shanks, Koala, Marshall D. Teach, Jesus Burgess, Bon Clay, Ivankov, Buggy, and Gekko Moriah. The game shipped in Japan on April 21 on the PS4 and PS Vita only. The game will ship for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox One on May 31 in North America and June 3 in Europe. The digital PC version will launch in June. The North American version of the game will have a Collector's Edition, which includes the game, two figurines of Whitebeard and his grave, and an official artbook. It will only be available for the PS4 version of the game. Europe will also have a "Marineford Edition," which includes the same items as the North American Collector's Edition, but will be available on both the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game. Those who pre-order the game in North America and Europe will get an exclusive metal case, as well as codes for Afro Luffy, Kung Fu Luffy, and Luffy Gear 4 as playable characters. Bandai Namco Entertainment will also release the game in Latin America in 2016 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox One. Bandai Namco Entertainment plans to release the game in 12 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Neutral Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Announced for PS4, Xbox One, PC in 2016

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Bandai Namco Entertainment's web countdown ended on Tuesday with an announcement of the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 game for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam) this year. The game's website confirms that Dimps is developing the title after it worked on the first Xenoverse game. The first game shipped for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 consoles in Japan on February 5, 2015. It then debuted in the United States on February 24, 2015 and in Europe on February 27, 2015. It also debuted on PC via Steam on February 27, 2015.
"Dragon Ball XENOVERSE 2 - Announcement Trailer | PS4, XB1, PC"

Resident Evil 7 Goes Back to Horror Roots, Will Be Announced at E3 - Analyst

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Resident Evil 7 is in development and will be announced next month at E3 2016, according to Japanese analyst Serkan Toto. Writing on Twitter today, he also revealed that the game will return to the franchise's horror roots, and that Capcom has hired designer Jordan Amaro to work on it. He's no stranger to big-name franchises, as he also worked on 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The existence of Resident Evil 7 would come as little surprise. In October last year, veteran producer Masachika Kawata told fans to "stay tuned" for news about the game. "We're currently not at a state to talk about it," Kawata said at the time. "But please stay tuned." In October 2013, a reference to Resident Evil 7 was spotted on a contract employee's resume. GameSpot's Resident Evil 6 review scored the game a 4.5/10, calling it a "messy mix of annoying quick-time events and constant set pieces." Overall, the game was met with mixed review scores. Capcom shipped 5 million copies of the game, but said various "challenges" and "inadequate organizational collaboration" led to the title performing below expectations. Some have remarked that the Resident Evil series has strayed from its horror origins in favor of focusing more on action. In that 2015 interview, Kawata seemed to agree. "Since there's been more spinoff titles, I can see how it can be perceived in such a way," Kawata said. "And of course I believe that we should produce titles that bring out the horror. I'm thinking about it and also preparing for it." Capcom has not announced plans to hold its own E3 briefing this year; historically, the company operates a booth on the floor, but does not conduct its own show. Interestingly, just recently, Capcom announced that three "major" unannounced games will arrive by April 2017. One of these is expected to sell 4 million copies, suggesting it comes from an established franchise. However, nothing so far has linked it to the Resident Evil series. The next Resident Evil game is shooter spinoff Umbrella Corps, which comes out in June for PlayStation 4 and PC. Capcom is also planning to release Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 on PS4 and Xbox One, though release dates for these new-generation ports have not been announced. 2016 is the 20th anniversary of the Resident Evil series. In support of this, Capcom has teased that it is planning a "full-scale offensive" to mark the milestone.

All the Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Games

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The Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature, introduced in November 2015, lets you play Xbox 360 games on the new console. But what games are available? We've now rounded them all up--and we'll continue to update this post as new games are made available. Microsoft has promised that "hundreds" are still on the way. Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Lineup (As of May 17, 2016): A Kingdom for Keflings, A World of Keflings, Aegis Wing, Age of Booty, Alan Wake, Alan Wake's American Nightmare, Alien Hominid HD, Altered Beast, Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed II, Asteroids and Deluxe, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts n Bolts, Banjo Tooie, Banjo Kazooie, BattleBlock Theater, Bejeweled 2, Bellator: MMA Onslaught, Beyond Good and Evil HD, Blood of the Werewolf, BloodRayne: Betrayal, Borderlands, Braid, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Juarez Gunslinger, Carcassonne, Castle Crashers, Castlestorm, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, The Cave, Centipede & Millipede, Comix Zone, Condemned, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Crazy Taxi, Dark Souls, Dark Void, Deadliest Warrior: Legends, Defense Grid, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut, Dig Dug, Dirt 3, Dirt Showdown, Discs of Tron, Doom, Doom II, Doom 3: BFG Edition, Doritos Crash Course, Double Dragon: Neon, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, Dungeon Siege III, Earthworm Jim HD, Fable II, Fable III, Faery: Legends of Avalon, Fallout 3, Feeding Frenzy, Feeding Frenzy 2, Final Fight: Double Impact, Frogger, Frogger 2, Galaga, Galaga Legions DX, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Gears of War, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Gears of War: Judgment, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime, Golden Axe, Grid 2, Halo: Reach, Halo: Spartan Assault, Halo Wars, Hardwood Backgammon, Hardwood Hearts, Hardwood Spades, Heavy Weapon, Hexic HD, Hydro Thunder, Gunstar Heroes, Ikaruga, Iron Brigade, Jeremy McGrath's Offroad, Jet Set Radio, Jetpac Refuelled, Joy Ride Turbo, Just Cause 2, Kameo, Kane and Lynch 2, The King of Fighters '98, Left 4 Dead 2, Lego Batman, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Lode Runner, Lumines Live!, Mass Effect, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug XX, Might and Magic Clash of Heroes, Mirror’s Edge, Missile Command, Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine, Monday Night Combat, Monkey Island: SE, Monkey Island 2: SE, Motocross Madness, Ms. Splosion Man, Ms Pac-Man, Mutant Blobs Attack, MX vs. ATV Reflex, N+, NBA Jam: On Fire Edition, Nights Into Dreams, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, Outland, Pac-Man, Pac-Man C.E, Pac-man CE DX+, Peggle, Perfect Dark, Perfect Dark Zero, Phantasy Star II, Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds, Pinball FX, Plants vs. Zombies, Portal: Still Alive, Prince of Persia, Putty Squad, Puzzlegeddon, Rayman 3 HD, Rayman Origins, R-Type Dimensions, Runner 2, Sacred 3, Sacred Citadel, Saints Row IV, Sam and Max: Beyond Time and Space, Sam and Max Save the World, Samurai Shodown II, Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd and Co., Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World, Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage, Shadow Complex, Skullgirls, Small Arms, Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic CD, Sonic The Fighters, Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Soulcalibur, Soulcalibur II, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Space Giraffe, Spelunky, Splosion Man, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, Super Meat Boy, Supreme Commander 2, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Texas Hold 'Em, Ticket to Ride, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas2, Torchlight, Toy Soldiers, Toy Soldiers Cold War, Trials HD, Tron: Evolution, Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon, Viva Piñata, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Wolfenstein 3D, ZZuma, Zuma's Revenge! Don't see your favorite game here? Back in November, Microsoft said it is holding discussions with all major publishers and developers to possibly bring their games to the program. However, the decision about whether or not a game is added to the lineup ultimately comes down to individual publishers.

Pokemon Sun And Moon Release Date, Starters And Region Have Been Unveiled In First Gameplay Trailer.

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A new trailer dropped for Pokemon Sun and Moon. Though there was some concern that this tease wouldn’t actually be anything substantial, anyone who got up early to watch it should be thoroughly satisfied. We saw the three starters, a glimpse of the new region, both legendaries, and (best of all) got a release date that may have been earlier than we were expecting. Pokemon Sun and Moon launches on November 18th, 2016. Nintendo ’s biggest game of the year probably isn’t going to be Star Fox Zero, and we know now it’s certainly not going to be The Legend of Zelda, which has been delayed into 2017. Rather, it seems likely it may be Pokémon Sun and Moon on 3DS, which has just gotten a new full-length trailer that shows off the game and its new trio of starter Pokémon. It’s rather beautiful, and that’s not unexpected, given that we’re likely approaching the end of the 3DS’s lifecycle, and it seems probable that this will be the last fully new Pokémon released for the handheld. It’s certainly a step forward from X and Y, and looks a bit like Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Its aesthetic with its player avatars is actually approaching that of the animated series more so than ever before. The three starters are predictably weird and adorable. There’s Rowlet, a flying grass type with a leaf bow-tie (or bikini top, depending on how you look at it), Litten, a fiery kitten, and Popplio, some sort of trained seal-clown-water-dog. I mean, how can you not pick Litten out of that line-up? Or maybe that’s just the Charmander-chooser in me talking. Pokemon Sun and Moon were first announced awhile back as the next games in the Pokemon series that are coming later this year as part of the series’ 20th anniversary. At the time, all we got were mere sketches, but now we have our first gameplay trailer for the game that has revealed our three starters as well as other big information. The trailer reveals right off the bat that Sun and Moon will be taking place in what is known as the Alola region. Then the trailer shifts to show us our three new starters in the games that are known as Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio. Rowlet is a grass quill Pokemon that is a dual Grass and Flying type with the ability Overgrow. Litten is a fire cat Pokemon and is a Fire type with the ability Blaze. Lastly, Popplio is a sea lion Pokemon and is a Water type with the ability Torrent. We also get a glimpse at a few other Pokemon, but there are no details as to their names or types quite yet. The rest of the trailer mostly just gives an indication of the locale of Alola that we can expect. Pokemon Sun and Moon are releasing later this year for the Nintendo 3DS on November 18. Make sure to check out the trailer for yourself below to see these brand new Pokemon.
"Pokemon Sun and moon Gameplay Trailer" You did good, Pokemon. This was a solid amount of info for a new trailer, we got to see some gameplay, and an unexpected release date on top of that! I know I’ll be watching the trailer over and over, simply because the games look lovely. The graphical style is similar to X and Y’s, but with more polish. Plus, the game’s theme played during the trailer can give us some hint as to the musical tone we’ll hear throughout Alola. Those drums around 1:00 are snazzy! The only downfall is that, given the region’s location, rumors of revisiting Kalos or any other continent ala Pokemon Gold and Silver are all but debunked. Drat.

Update: Pokemon Sun And Moon Release In November, Region Based On Hawaii

Spoiler

A new trailer dropped for Pokemon Sun and Moon. Though there was some concern that this tease wouldn’t actually be anything substantial, anyone who got up early to watch it should be thoroughly satisfied. We saw the three starters, a glimpse of the new region, both legendaries, and (best of all) got a release date that may have been earlier than we were expecting. Pokemon Sun and Moon launches on November 18th, 2016. Nintendo ’s biggest game of the year probably isn’t going to be Star Fox Zero, and we know now it’s certainly not going to be The Legend of Zelda, which has been delayed into 2017. Rather, it seems likely it may be Pokémon Sun and Moon on 3DS, which has just gotten a new full-length trailer that shows off the game and its new trio of starter Pokémon. It’s rather beautiful, and that’s not unexpected, given that we’re likely approaching the end of the 3DS’s lifecycle, and it seems probable that this will be the last fully new Pokémon released for the handheld. It’s certainly a step forward from X and Y, and looks a bit like Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Its aesthetic with its player avatars is actually approaching that of the animated series more so than ever before. The three starters are predictably weird and adorable. There’s Rowlet, a flying grass type with a leaf bow-tie (or bikini top, depending on how you look at it), Litten, a fiery kitten, and Popplio, some sort of trained seal-clown-water-dog. I mean, how can you not pick Litten out of that line-up? Or maybe that’s just the Charmander-chooser in me talking. Pokemon Sun and Moon were first announced awhile back as the next games in the Pokemon series that are coming later this year as part of the series’ 20th anniversary. At the time, all we got were mere sketches, but now we have our first gameplay trailer for the game that has revealed our three starters as well as other big information. The trailer reveals right off the bat that Sun and Moon will be taking place in what is known as the Alola region. Then the trailer shifts to show us our three new starters in the games that are known as Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio. Rowlet is a grass quill Pokemon that is a dual Grass and Flying type with the ability Overgrow. Litten is a fire cat Pokemon and is a Fire type with the ability Blaze. Lastly, Popplio is a sea lion Pokemon and is a Water type with the ability Torrent. We also get a glimpse at a few other Pokemon, but there are no details as to their names or types quite yet. The rest of the trailer mostly just gives an indication of the locale of Alola that we can expect. Pokemon Sun and Moon are releasing later this year for the Nintendo 3DS on November 18. Make sure to check out the trailer for yourself below to see these brand new Pokemon.
"Pokemon Sun and moon Gameplay Trailer" You did good, Pokemon. This was a solid amount of info for a new trailer, we got to see some gameplay, and an unexpected release date on top of that! I know I’ll be watching the trailer over and over, simply because the games look lovely. The graphical style is similar to X and Y’s, but with more polish. Plus, the game’s theme played during the trailer can give us some hint as to the musical tone we’ll hear throughout Alola. Those drums around 1:00 are snazzy! The only downfall is that, given the region’s location, rumors of revisiting Kalos or any other continent ala Pokemon Gold and Silver are all but debunked. Drat.

One Piece Film Gold Gets 3D/4D Screenings, Hands Out 'Volume 777' to Theatergoers (Updated)

Spoiler

This year's 24th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Monday that theatergoers who see the One Piece Film Gold anime film in Japan will receive a "Volume 777" book. Original manga creator Eiichiro Oda is compiling the volume, which will include rough character designs and "secret pages" published first in the volume. The volume will also chronicle the secret of the film. Weekly Shonen Jump also revealed the cover design for the volume on Monday. The print run for the special volume will be limited to 5 million copies. Additionally, the issue revealed that the film is getting screenings in 3D, 4DX, and MX4D. With the 4DX or MX4D systems, certain theaters have motion seats that move in sync with certain action sequences onscreen. Similarly, effects such as scents and wind will operate in accordance with the action onscreen. The second Attack on Titan compilation film, the live-action Attack on Titan films, and the Girls und Panzer film all used the same or similar technology in special screenings of the films alongside the conventional screenings. The upcoming MX4D Kagerou Daze -in a days- film is the first "short movie" in Japan to be produced exclusively with MX4D presentation in mind. Ticket pre-orders for One Piece Film Gold began in December, and the official website for the film revealed the third round of pre-order bonuses on Monday. Those who pre-order tickets starting on May 21 will receive one of 10 possible casino chip earphone jack plugs. The bonuses are limite to 100,000 units. Previous bonuses included a clear file and a calendar. One Piece Film Gold will open in Japan on July 23.

Nintendo Aims for 3D Animation of Its Characters to Enter Film Business.

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The game company Nintendo is in tie-up talks with multiple production companies throughout the world to enter the movie business. According to the Asahi Shimbun paper, Nintendo aims to strengthen its character franchise business and grow the number of people playing games. Asahi says that 3D animation of Super Mario Brothers and other popular games may be seen in a few years. The newspaper is reporting based on responses from Nintendo's current president, Tatsumi Kimishima, in an exclusive interview. Thus far, Nintendo's involvement in movie-making has mainly been in the form of giving production companies the rights to use its characters for fees. However, Kimishima said, "We want to do as much as we can ourselves." Asahi reports that Nintendo has not just Japan, but the United States and the rest of the world market in mind, and that the company aims to complete the first work in this new venture in two to three years. The company is looking not just into movies, but also into selling projects on home video throughout the world. Kirishima specifically refrained from naming specific characters such as Mario, but said he wants to use intellectual property popular worldwide. Asahi indicates the potential for 3D animation movies with such game characters as Mario and The Legend of Zelda protagonist Link. The Super Mario Bros. game franchise previously inspired a 1993 live-action film, which Kimishima acknowledged was not well-received. Disney licensed the use of the Mario Brothers games' antagonist Bowser from Nintendo for the 2012 3D CG movie Wreck-It Ralph. Nintendo also agreed to let the 2015 live-action Pixels film use its Donkey Kong character. When The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Netflix is producing a live-action television program based on The Legend of Zelda video games, Nintendo told Niconico News, "We will not comment on the rumors or speculations." Shigeru Miyamoto, leader of Nintendo's Software Planning and Development (SPD) Division, told the business news website Fortune during E3 2015, "As we look more broadly at what is Nintendo's role as an entertainment company, we're starting to think more and more about how movies can fit in with that—and we'll potentially be looking at things like movies in the future." Universal Studios Japan and Nintendo announced in March that they plan to open a 40-billion-yen (about US$350-million) Nintendo-themed attraction at Osaka's Universal Studios Japan theme park by the time the Tokyo Olympics are held in 2020.

Bandai Namco Opens Dragon Ball Countdown Site

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Bandai Namco Entertainment launched a website featuring a countdown timer and images of previous films, television anime, and games from the Dragon Ball franchise. The countdown will end on Tuesday, May 17. Bandai Namco Entertainment's latest game in the franchise is the Dragon Ball Fusions Nintendo 3DS game which features new "EX Fusions" between characters.

Assassin's Creed Movie Will Break History of Video Game Film Mediocrity, Ubisoft Says

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Video game movies have a track record of mediocrity and worse. But Ubisoft believes its upcoming film based on Assassin's Creed could break through and become a hit. Ubisoft's Azaizi Aymar, who is the head of content for the Assassin's Creed brand, spoke up on Twitter to respond to a suggestion that "movies based on video games have and never will work." Aymar doesn't see it that way. As an example, he pointed to how movies based on comic books didn't always have the critical and commercial standing they have today. Like comic book movies, video game films will get better, and Assassin's Creed could be the film to prove that, he argued. Aymar is not alone in thinking video game movies will eventually get better. Adrian Askarieh, who produced last summer's Agent 47, which was one of the worst-reviewed video game movies of all time, said earlier this year the key to making better video game movies is to involve the creators. "Marvel became Marvel once they started creating their own movies," he said. "I think the way to do video game movies is, number one, have filmmakers that are passionate about them and know them; they're fans, they're not just looking at it as a job. And also have developers and publishers involved." Ubisoft has established an internal film division, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, to develop films alongside Hollywood production companies. Ubisoft was apparently quite involved in the production of Assassin's Creed to ensure it was staying true to the game franchise. Assassin's Creed's first trailer came online last week. The response was generally positive, though not everyone was pleased with its use of Kanye West's "I Am A God." The film has a deep roster of talent attached to it. Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender plays the lead role, alongside Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, Brendan Gleeson, Jeremy Irons, and Michael Kenneth Williams. It is directed by Justin Kurzel, who also directed Fassbender and Cotillard in Macbeth. Additionally, with no new mainline Assassin's Creed game coming out this year, the film's marketing team has more space and opportunity to promote the picture, according to Ubisoft. Assassin's Creed opens on December 21, a week after Star Wars spinoff Rogue One comes out. Fox reportedly has plans for two sequels. "It's not a one-off," producer Pat Crowley recently said. "Everybody expects that this movie will continue." You won't have to wait until December to see a video game movie, however, as Angry Birds comes out this Friday, May 20. The movie already opened in some international markets, bringing in $43 million, which is ahead of The Lego Movie for its initial opening. Additionally, Legendary's Warcraft, which is based on Blizzard's popular PC game, comes out in June. For more on Assassin's Creed, check out GameSpot's interview feature, "Michael Fassbender on Why Assassin's Creed Will Matter to Moviegoers." In other news about video game movies, Nintendo has announced it is in discussions with multiple partners to produce films based on its franchises. No projects have been announced, but CEO Tatsumi Kimishima is not interested in a simple licensing deal. He said he wants Nintendo to be more heavily involved than the company was in the production of 1993's poorly received live-action Super Mario Bros.

Blue Exorcist Stage Play Unveils New Visual, Additional Cast

Spoiler

The official website of Ao no Exorcist: Kyōto Guren-hen (Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Crimson Chapter), the new stage play adaptation of Kazue Katō's Blue Exorcist manga, revealed a new visual and additional cast members for the play on Sunday. The additional cast includes: Ikkei Yamamoto as Ryūji Suguro, Kōji Saikawa as Renzō Shima, Yūto Doi as Konekomaru Miwa, Nozomi Maeda as Shiemi Moriyama, Mami Katō as Izumo Kamiki, Taiyō Ayukawa as Mephisto Pheles, Hitomi Yasueda as Shura Kirigakure, Asami Tano as Nemu Takara, Kōhei Hayashida as Jūzō Shima, Ryūnosuke Matsumura as Kinzō Shima, Mitsuru Karahashi as Shirō Fujimoto, Kōsen as Tatsumi Suguro, Nozomu Masuzawa as Yaozō Shima, Masaya Matsukaze as Saburōta Tōdō, They will join the previously revealed cast: Ryō Kitamura (Yowamushi Pedal stage play's Jinpachi Tōdō) as Rin Okumura and Shūto Miyazaki (Yowamushi Pedal stage play's Hayato Shinkai) as Yukio Okumura. The play will adapt the Impure King Revival arc from volumes five to nine of the manga, which begins when the "Left Eye of the Impure King" is stolen from the academy. Yukio chases after the culprit, while Rin and the others look for the "Right Eye" that is sealed away in Kyoto. The play will run for 11 performances at Tokyo's Zepp Blue Theater Roppongi from August 5 to 14. Advanced tickets went on sale on May 3, while general admission tickets will go on sale on June 18 for 7,800 yen (about US$73). Daisuke Nishida, who directed the Ao no Exorcist: Ao no Homura Kakusei-hen/Kyōto Fujō-Ō-hen stage play in 2014, will return to direct and write the script for the new play. Manga creator Kazue Katō is also helping with the script, and Office ENDLESS is producing the play.