The Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto event takes place February 20, but that won’t be the end of the festivities. Developer Niantic is following that event with a week-long Kanto Celebration, which will give players even more chances to catch Gen 1 Pokemon and take advantage of other bonuses.
The Kanto Celebration kicks off at 10 AM local time on February 21 and runs until 8 PM local time on February 27. Throughout the event, the following Gen 1 Pokemon will appear in the wild more frequently than usual:
Bulbasaur
Charmander
Squirtle
Weedle
Pikachu
Geodude
Clefairy
Psyduck
Slowpoke
Gastly
Voltorb
Magikarp
On top of that, the following Pokemon will appear more frequently when you use Incense:
Caterpie
Pidgey
Spearow
Poliwag
Abra
Seel
Machop
Krabby
Exeggcute
Horsea
Goldeen
In addition, there will be event-exclusive Field Research tasks that lead to encounters with Doduo, Magnemite, Diglett, Omanyte, Kabuto, Snorlax, and other Gen 1 Pokemon, while the Legendary monsters Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Mewtwo will all appear in five-star Raids. You’ll also have another chance to learn previously Community Day-exclusive moves when you evolve the following Pokemon during the event:
Evolve Ivysaur to get a Venusaur that knows Frenzy Plant
Evolve Charmeleon to get a Charizard that knows Blast Burn
Evolve Wartortle to get a Blastoise that knows Hydro Cannon
Evolve Pichu to get a Pikachu that knows Surf
Evolve Eevee and its evolution will know Last Resort
Evolve Dragonair to get a Dragonite that knows Draco Meteor
You can read more details about the Kanto Celebration event on the official Pokemon Go blog.
The aforementioned Pokemon Go Tour: Kanto event is a one-day paid event that runs from 9 AM to 9 PM local time. Mimicking the original games, the event will be available in Red and Green versions, and the version you choose will determine which Pokemon you’ll be able to encounter in the wild.
The event will also feature an exclusive Special Research task line. Completing this will lead to an encounter with Shiny Ditto as well as unlock a new kind of challenge called Masterwork Research. If you manage to complete that, you’ll earn a chance to catch a Shiny Mew.
In the meantime, Pokemon Go’s Lunar New Year event is underway until February 14, while the game’s Valentine’s Day event is scheduled to run from February 14-18. The Legendary Eon Pokemon Latios and Latias are also back in five-star Raids until February 20.
Comic-Con International, the organization behind both San Diego Comic-Con and WonderCon, has released a statement explaining that WonderCon 2021 will not be happening as an in-person event this year due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. The event will be replaced by WonderCon@Home for the second year running on March 26 and 27.
WonderCon@Home is also reducing its schedule to two days rather than three due to “limited financial resources” after 2020’s cancelations and digital events.
Here is the statement in full.
Currently, CCI’s other convention, San Diego Comic-Con, is still scheduled to be held in person in July of this year, depending on the status of the pandemic. Both WonderCon and SDCC were held as digital events in 2020 with pre-recorded panels broadcast on YouTube featuring talent from major movies and TV.
I’ve always wanted to own my own arcade machine. Ever since I saw the movie BIG. An apt title for sure – the idea that I could one day purchase a cabinet for personal use was big. Huge even, considering the cost and space needed to house such a machine. It’s safe to say that I didn’t get one for Christmas that year. Nowadays, things are a bit different though. And not just because I’m an adult with disposable income.
There are several companies that specialize in producing licensed cabs on a smaller scale. A lot of them, as seen in our Best Arcade Cabinets list, provide solid experiences. Take SNK’s MVSX Arcade Machine – this nostalgia box offers 50 classic games, a decent sized screen, and authentic joystick/button placements. All in a machine that can sit comfortably on a countertop or coffee table.
SNK’s MVSX is a solidly built cabinet. The wood paneling feels sturdy enough to forgo any real damage aside from some chipped paint. Dropping it is still out of the question of course. I just don’t see it shattering if bumped or banged while being moved about.
Actually, I wouldn’t even worry about the paint. The exterior seems to have a glossy finish that’s somewhat scratch resistant; I might have bumped or banged the MVSX when I moved it to my office. It still looks great. The red paneling could’ve used a bit more flair though – I would have loved to see Haohmaru from Samurai Shodown or another classic character envelop a side or two. That said, the box art from multiple SNK games on the marquee was a nice touch.
Weighing 28lbs, with modest dimensions – the width, height, and diameter sit at 19.5, 25, and 15.8 inches respectfully – the cabinet isn’t as imposing as its full-sized counterparts. This makes finding a home for the machine that much easier. The same thing goes when you add the 32-inch, DIY base. Shipped alongside the MVSX for review, this base helps to complete the arcade aesthetic. It sports glossy red paint, left and right player arrows, and a cool makeshift coin door.
The idea is to mimic what it felt like to stand in front of these MVS (Multi Video System) arcade machines years ago without taking up too much space. And for the most part, it works. Sliding the MVSX into a corner behind my desk, it stays fairly out of the way. I can easily pull it from the wall, allowing two people to comfortably play together. And though your mileage may vary in terms of height – the arcade/base combo is around 5 feet tall – the average person shouldn’t have to bend very far to reach the sticks.
Speaking of controls, the MVSX sports the classic Neo Geo MVS joystick and buttons layout. Those of us who remember the old SNK arcade machines – or were lucky enough to own the console/AES (Advanced Entertainment System) version – should feel right at home. The buttons, moving from red at the bottom left to blue at the top right, slope upwards on the right side of each joystick. They all are positioned in a way that allows players to rest their hands on the base of the cabinet and still be able to easily hit all of the needed buttons.
Most of SNK’s games use this four-button setup, so it shouldn’t take fans long to get back into the swing of things. The controls should resonate with newcomers as well given how they’re customizable. By hitting the Options/Back button, housed at the top of the control panel, you’ll be able to bring up the required menus. Once there, you can change the color-coded A, B, C, and D buttons however you see fit. There are two extra white buttons, below the colorful ones, that can also be customized. This is rather helpful when playing one of SNK’s many fighters; there are times when I prefer my punches and kicks on opposite sides, for instance.
The spacing between first and second player’s controls can be a little tight. You might need to lean a bit so that both people can stand or sit comfortably in front of the machine. But the buttons aren’t close enough to restrict movement. The 17-inch 4:3 LCD display and stereo speakers also help in this regard as players won’t need to crowd each other in order to see or hear what’s going on.
Going back to the control panel, there are other buttons worth mentioning. Lining the top of the panel are the left and right Player Start buttons, Options, Start Game, and volume knob. The Start Game button acts as the insert coin function; you’d press that before hitting Player Start. The Options/Back button brings up an assortment of options, including the ability to swap between arcade and console modes, pick a preferred language, save game states and change image settings to emulate old CRT monitors.
SNK’s MVSX certainly looks the part. It has most of the arcade-like elements one would expect, just in a smaller package. And by utilizing modern software it can be upgraded; a USB port, sitting next to the power button on the back of the cabinet, facilitates firmware updates.
SNK MVSX Home Arcade – Performance
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the MVSX. Some of that can be attributed to nostalgia – a lot of these games play exactly like I remember. Which is one of the reasons I’m usually hesitant about purchasing a MAME arcade cabinet; the allure is the potential ability to play authentic arcade ROMs. Flaws and all. And that’s what we get with the MVSX. All of the games are licensed by SNK. And unless I’m mistaken, the arcade versions of the games presented here are, in fact, the actual arcade versions.
The MVSX does offer the console versions of their games as well. From what I can tell, most are near-identical gameplay-wise. This shouldn’t be surprising when one considers that SNK’s MVS and AES (arcade and console) games are more or less the same; the Neo Geo AES console was made to replicate the arcade experience as much as possible. So much so that the cartridges were interchangeable. History aside, what all of this amounts to is a collectible aspect. Fans who just want both versions of each game and/or enjoy picking out the little differences between versions – like KoF ’94 running and looking slightly better in MVS mode – should be ecstatic.
The other reason I had a great time was due to the games themselves. SNK has compiled a strong list. There are some questionable inclusions and we’re missing gems like King of the Monsters. The sheer number of fighting games on tap can feel redundant at times; do we really need both Samurai Shodown V and Samurai Shodown V Special? Still, there’s plenty of fan favorites here, with franchises ranging from King of Fighters to Metal Slug, and sports games like Super Sidekicks and 3 Count Bout. There’s even lesser known, yet ultra-rare games like Kizuna Encounter.
Returning to some of these old games was a real treat. All of them looked great, with the 1280×1024 LCD screen producing near pixel perfect images. I especially liked that I could toggle the CRT scan lines. My time with the MVSX wasn’t without its issues though. The main culprit being the buttons. To the touch, they feel great and don’t seem cheaply made. Most of the buttons give a solid “click” when pressed. That said, I did notice a few of them tend to stick more than I’d like. It wasn’t enough to ruin a match; they didn’t hinder my inputs during play. But it was enough to make me worry about their longevity. (Manufacturer Gstone says it hasn’t noticed this issue on any other units, but says it will replace the buttons if the problem does arise on new machines.)
At some point, you’re going to have to replace the buttons. It’s inevitable. That aspect of owning the MVSX (or any arcade machine) shouldn’t come up this early though. And while SNK provides a warranty of sorts, it doesn’t outright sell replacement parts. Meaning that if the buttons get stuck or need replacing after the warranty expires, you’ll have to look elsewhere for new buttons.
Thankfully, the joysticks fared a little better. There were times when a character wouldn’t behave the way I wanted if they had moves with similar inputs, such as Terry Bogard sending out a Power Wave instead of a Rising Tackle in KoF ‘96. The joysticks felt a little loose, which might have led to them misrecognizing my movements. This could also be chocked up to user error as I didn’t have trouble performing complicated moves in other some of the other games.
Streaming services Disney+ and Hulu both saw massive increases in subscriptions over the past year. As of January 2, Disney+ went from 26.5 million in December 2019 to 94.9 million and Hulu went from 30.4 million to 39.4 million during the same span as people around the globe bunkered down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disney+ saw a tremendous growth in its subscriber base between December 28, 2019 and January 2, 2021, nearing 95 million subscribers, according to Disney’s Q1 earnings report. This is a 258% increase in people who have signed up for the streaming service over the past year.
However, revenue for the service dipped 28% per subscriber over that same time period. The reason for that stems from Disney+ Hotstar, which launched on April 3, 2020 and September 5, 2020 in India and Indonesia, respectively. As explained in the report, the “average monthly revenue per paid subscriber for Disney+ Hotstar is significantly lower than the average monthly revenue per paid subscriber for Disney+ in other markets.” These numbers do not take into account Disney+’s Premier Access, in which subscribers could pay a premium to watch Mulan early during Spring 2020.
Hulu also saw gains over the past year, with a 30% increase in subscribers to the service and a 25% increase to its Live TV service as well. This resulted in a gain of 26% in monthly revenue per paid subscriber.
The increase in subscribers for both services–outside of the introduction of Disney+ Hotstar to India and Indonesia–is most likely a factor because of people staying at home more over the past year, along with Disney+ original series The Mandalorian Season 2 landing on the platform and Pixar’s Soul arriving last Christmas to all subscribers.
Currently, WandaVision is airing on Disney+ with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier coming in March, so subscribers numbers will most likely continue to rise as they approach the 100 million subscriber mark.
The Disciples series is back, with publisher Kalypso Media and developer Frima Studio announcing Disciples: Liberation will be released for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC in Q4 2021. The dark fantasy strategy RPG franchise hasn’t seen a new entry since Disciples III: Renaissance, which came out over a decade ago.
A new (very creepy) trailer for Disciples: Liberation released alongside the announcement (as a heads up: maybe skip it if you’re not a fan of needles or folks messing with eyeballs). In it, you see a man and a woman undergoing a painful-looking ritual being forced upon them by a shaman-looking character, before the woman awakens and goes outside to meet with the man and shaman she saw in her dream–it’s implied that she saw a dark consequence to choices she could have made, but thankfully it seems she managed to avoid that fate.
It’s a very unsettling trailer, y’all.
If Disciples: Liberation looks interesting to you, you can sign up for the game’s closed alpha. It’s only taking 200 players though, so maybe curb your expectations if you’re thinking “Oh, I’ll definitely make it in.”
In Disciples: Liberation, you’re tasked with saving the land of Nevendaar, a journey that takes place over the course of more than 270 quests in an 80+ hour single-player campaign that can end in five different ways depending on the decisions you make. The crux of the game is like its predecessors: recruit an army to duke it out in large-scale battles. There’s also an online component where you can challenge your friends in PvP.
Paramount Pictures has tapped Godzilla vs Kong’s Adam Wingard to direct the upcoming re-imagining of Face/Off, according to Deadline. Wingard will also co-write the script with his writing partner Simon Barrett (You’re Next).
A remake of this 1997 single-malt batty action flick is a tall and truly bizarre order since it will likely be difficult to outdo the original. For readers who have not yet experienced the unique film, you can check out our list of 23 things to know beforehand–but the cult classic where sworn enemies John Travolta (playing Sean Archer, and FBI agent) and Nicolas Cage (playing Castor Troy, a terrorist) exchange faces is a lot for anyone to wrap their minds around. Despite Face/Off’s potent mind-blowing capabilities for just existing in the first place, the film was a commercial success at the time, grossing $245 million worldwide. So, in some ways, it’s no wonder a remake will be attempted and the real question is why it has taken this long.
For Cage, Face/Off represents one of countless roles where the actor has demonstrated an innate ability to transcend expectations and the boundaries of even good taste–he is beyond brilliant in roles that are beyond dumb. It’s thanks to this that he has stayed busy and remarkably prolific, including a recent turn as Nicolas Cage playing Nicolas Cage on Netflix’s History of Swear Words. That film seems tame compared to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, an upcoming 2021 film in which the actor plays himself as an inadvertent CIA informant against a drug kingpin.
Travolta, meanwhile, has been working steadily since Face/Off but has clearly shied away from unconventional roles. Although he clearly still has a sense of humor about himself, as a recent Super Bowl commercial demonstrates.
Godzilla vs Kong is slated to hit theaters worldwide on March 26 and will also be on HBO Max in the US on that day. For more check out GameSpot’s guide to the biggest movies to watch in 2021.
Event promotor Media Indie Exchange (The MIX) has announced some of the digital events it will hold throughout the year, starting with a celebration honoring Black History Month.
Starting on February 25, The MIX will host the “Game Changers: Celebrating Black Developers” livestream. It’ll feature a showcase of games created by Black developers, with Black Twitch creators and industry professionals holding 1-on-1 chats with marginalized game makers. The following day, February 26, will see the “Black Voices in Gaming Showcase.” Presented by Humble Bundle Games, this livestream continues the “Game Changers” broadcast. It’ll also feature a special emphasis on Humble’s Black Game Developer Fund and a sponsorship through Kickstarter. Both presentations will be streamed on Twitch’s Gaming channel, with “Game Changers: Celebrating Black Developers” going live at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET on February 25 and “Black Voices in Gaming Showcase” starting at the same time on February 26.
The MIX also outlined its March event, which runs from March 13-14. Called Game Dev Direct, the event kicks off with a two-hour broadcast starting at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET on March 13. Then at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET is a livestream presented by Paradox Interactive, which will feature an “inside look” at upcoming titles from the Sweden-based publisher, including new trailers, reveals, and interviews with developers from affiliated studios like Another Indie and Headup.
Finally, in June, is the Guerrilla Collective. This livestream, which hasn’t been dated, will house news and reveals from a variety of developers and publishers. Details about this event will be announced soon, The MIX said in a press release. Once the event kicks off, demos of many of the revealed games during the Guerrilla Collective livestream will go live.
The MIX 2021 Digital Events
February:
Game Changers: Celebrating Black Developers, February 25 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET
Black Voices in Gaming Showcase, February 26 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET
March:
Game Dev Direct, March 13-14 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET
1C Entertainment and Koch Media have announced that King’s Bounty 2–the successor to the turn-based tactical RPG King’s Bounty— will be released on August 24 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. This is a delay from the game’s original March 2021 release date, due to the developers deciding more time was needed to ensure the best experience for players.
“As a team, we had to make the difficult decision to move King’s Bounty 2’s release to a later point in 2021 to ensure the team has adequate time to deliver a King’s Bounty best possible experience,” said Nikolay Baryshnikov, CEO of 1C Entertainment.
According to a producer on the team, the game is basically ready, but it needs a bit more time to get things just right. “We are currently at a stage where the game is complete and playable, but we need more time to finish playtesting, fixing, polishing, and postponing launch will give us the precious months to balancing phase, much needed for such important project for us,” said King’s Bounty 2 producer Denis Maltzev.
“Seeing the love and passion you, as our fans, put behind this project, we are grateful for all your support and ask you for a little more patience with us. We’re hoping that this won’t be a long delay and please make sure to keep an eye on our channels to receive all upcoming updates on the game as we get closer to the new release date.”
The recently launched Discovery+ streaming service is rolling out original content, and coming soon is Luda Can’t Cook. The cooking original follows Ludacris–F9 franchise star and a self-admitted terrible home cook–whose endgame is to be able to make an edible dinner for his mother. Is there anything more wholesome than that?
Premiering on Discovery+ on February 25, Chris Bridges–also known as Ludacris–will star on the one-hour long special. He can’t cook, and he’ll be the first one to tell you that. “I have a wife, and she does all the cooking, which is part of the reason I can’t cook because I’m lazy and whenever I’m hungry, I want to eat,” Ludacris said during a panel at the TCA winter press tour. “I don’t want to cook. It’s a timing thing because I’m so busy. My kitchen is pretty fully equipped. I just rely on her to cook everything.”
That doesn’t mean Ludacris hasn’t tried to cook in the past. “I don’t even know how to cook rice,” he admitted. “I’m gonna be honest with you guys, like if I tried to put some rice in there, it’s gonna stick to the pot.”
While his failures in the past in the kitchen may be embarrassing, he does have one dish he is ok with. “The whole ‘Luda Can’t Cook’ thing is only 99% true. I can cook tacos.”
Ludacris will dive head-first into learning how to make Indian food, a pretty complex cuisine for a first-time cook. However, the goal is to make his mom some food. “I feel like I can even get on the level and surpass my mom if I continue on this journey that I’m on right now,” Ludacris said. “And you know it’s good to see her on the show because she gets to see my skills, and you know everything that I kind of grew up with.”
Helping out Ludacris in the kitchen is none other than James Beard Award-nominated Chef Meherwan Irani, showing him the ins and outs of the kitchen. Luda Can’t Cook is executive produced by Will Packer (Girls Trip, Wendy Williams: The Movie) and will arrive to Discovery+ later this month.
The free play promotion has already begun, and it runs until 11:59 PM PT on Sunday, February 14.
Additionally, each game is currently on sale, so when the free weekend ends you can pick up the games for a lower-than-usual price.
NASCAR Heat 5, for example, is discounted to $20 USD, while game’s Gold edition is marked down to $30. Vermintide 2 is on sale for $7.50 USD, while Space Crew is only $13.40 USD as part of the promotion.
If you’re still on the hunt for a new Xbox Series X or S console, check out GameSpot’s handy restock guide to find out everything you need to know to give yourself the best chance to get one the next time stock is resupplied.
