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First Playable 2022

Italian Video Game Awards

International Industry Leaders Celebrate a lot of Talent!

Milan, 9 June 2022: Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association (IIDEA), Italy’s video game trade body representing the national games industry and fostering the growth and development of the sector, is proud to announce the nominees of this year’s prestigious Italian Video Game Awards. The ceremony is set to air in July on the opening night of First Playable 2022; originally the premier international gaming B2B event in Italy, First Playable is making an in-person return following the pandemic for its 4th edition of bringing together the Italian games industry.

In addition to the trio of categories whose nominees are listed below, the Italian Video Game Awards will also bestow recognition on the worthy winners of Outstanding Italian Company and Outstanding Individual Contribution.

“There’s so much talent in the Italian games industry, it’s a privilege to play a role in championing and celebrating it”, said Thalita Malagò, General Manager at IIDEA. “The Italian Video Game Awards put the spotlight on the growth and excellence of our industry. Seeing the work that’s being produced, by larger studios and indie developers alike, it’s clear that the future of Italy’s games industry is bright.”

The jury for this year’s awards was built on a foundation of different perspectives, from both games industry figureheads and leading specialized members of the press. Renowned game developer, studio founder and consultant Rami Ismail, ex-PlayStation Access host and currently Head of Influencers and Engagement at Frontier Developments Hollie Bennett, and Jon Goddard of metaverse developer Lockwood Publishing and formerly Jagex brought their vast industry experience and expertise to the judging panel.

Leaders in specialist video game media approached the judging process with their broad, industry-wide scope of knowledge to access submissions to the highest standards. MCV/DEVELOP’s Editor Richie Shoemaker, Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+ Sam Loveridge and Vikki Blake whose work can be seen across some of the world’s largest games B2B and B2C outlets including BBC, Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, MTV and PC Gamer formed the second half of the 2022 jury.

With the judges having evaluated submissions and cast their votes, here are the chosen nominees (in alphabetical order) for the Italian Video Game Awards 2022:

Best Italian Game

  1. Dice Legacy by DESTINYbit
  2. Faraday Protocol by Red Koi Box
  3. Hot Wheels Unleashed by Milestone
  4. Martha is Dead by LKA
  5. Vesper by Cordens Interactive
Italian Video Game Awards

Best Italian Debut

  1. Angry Giant by Jokerrsoft
  2. Faraday Protocol by Red Koi Box
  3. Nostalgici Anonimi by Hufu Interactive Storytelling
  4. RiMS Racing by RaceWard Studio
  5. Vesper by Cordens Interactive
Italian Video Game Awards - Chris Jones Gaming

Best Innovation

  1. CUCCCHI by Fantastico Studio
  2. Dice Legacy by DESTINYbit
  3. Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator by Broken Arms Games
  4. Martha is Dead by LKA
  5. Vesper by Cordens Interactive

You can check out the nominations for this year’s awards, and read about the jury, over at www.firstplayable.it/italian-video-game-awards/. The Italian Video Game Awards ceremony will take place on 5th July at 6pm BST/7pm CEST, hosted by internationally revered games industry presenters, and will be available to stream in English via FirstPlayable – Twitch.

Italian Video Game Awards - supported by Chris Jones Gaming
Hot Wheels Unleashed on Chris Jones Gaming

Hot Wheels Unleashed

Mattel and Milestone announce the HOT WHEELS™ – Looney Tunes Expansion for Hot Wheels Unleashed™

Here’s a teaser: https://youtu.be/UjmsR2c6zeQ

Theale, UK, May 23, 2022 – Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) and Milestone, a leading global racing game developer, announce today the HOT WHEELS™ – Looney Tunes Expansion for Hot Wheels Unleashed™, licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, that will be available starting from July 14, 2022.

The Looney Tunes Expansion makes the competition really animated with five new vehicles, a themed Track Builder Module, themed customisation items for the Basement and the Player’s Profile, and a new environment where players can relive the hilarious adventures of the classic animated series: the Looney Tunes Adventure Park. This is a theme park divided into 4 areas, including the iconic desert set of Wile E. Coyote™’s epic fails.

The Looney Tunes Expansion is included in the HOT WHEELS™ Pass Vol. 3 or can be purchased separately from July 14, 2022. Together with the Looney Tunes Expansion, the HOT WHEELS™ Pass Vol. 3 also includes 9 vehicles, 3 Themed Customization Packs and 3 Track Builder Modules and can be purchased from June 9, 2022.

This looks like a bunch of fun. I’ll be checking it out!

This game will me mentioned at the Italian Video Game Awards in July 2022.

PACER

Pacer was just released for Xbox on March 9th. The game had already been released on Playstation and PC. Pacer is an action packed anti-gravity racing game from R8 Games. Originally known as Formula Fusion and rebranded to Pacer in 2019, it’s the only game that R8 Games has released to the public. However, many of the developers at R8 have established themselves in the industry and worked on various major game franchises. This includes the Wipeout series, which PACER seems to have drawn much inspiration from. Like any good racing game, PACER lets the player customize their vehicle to their heart’s content. But where PACER really sets itself apart from most next-gen racing games would be the actual racing gameplay.

You can customize your craft at the Garage. Everything from the engine to the brakes can be fine-tuned.

High-Octane

PACER takes place in the year 2075. Anti-gravity motorsports have developed into a world renowned competition between highly skilled pilots. But crashing is far from the greatest danger that the pilots face while they’re racing. Every craft can be customized in a variety of ways and they can be fitted with deadly weaponry. You could be dodging bullets and bombs the whole way to the finish line. In the single-player campaign mode, you’ll advance through 10 unique race teams around the world to win the PACER World Championship. But there are plenty of other game modes beyond the campaign.

With up to 10 players in each race, there’s plenty of danger on the track.

Racing Around the Globe

Singleplayer and online multiplayer races have 8 individual game modes. One of these game modes, called “Storm”, is inspired by Battle Royales where you have to flee the ever encroaching storm as the battle races on. Plus, the game lets you race and battle on 14 different tracks that are located across the world. These numerous modes and tracks have kept people playing and kept people interested in the game. There are also plenty of other nice features that set the game apart. Every craft can be heavily customized to your preferences. So if you want to focus on the vehicle’s handling or speed, you can go for it. PACER also lets you create your own playlist from over 80+ songs in their library. This library includes tracks from many artists, including original songs from CoLD SToRAGE written exclusively for PACER. If you’re in the market for a new racing game with a twist, consider giving PACER a try.

#PACER #Indie #Racing #Battle

Hello Kitty Kruisers

Hello Kitty Kruisers

LONDON, UK – 26 April 2018 – Rev your engines, Hello Kitty fans! Videogame publisher Rising Star Games wants you to know that the fast and fun multiplayer arcade karting game Hello Kitty Kruisers is available on Nintendo Switch™ in Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and more. The game has released digitally via Nintendo eShop with a suggested retail price of €24.99/£24.99. Hello Kitty Kruisers is available at physical retailers across Europe and beyond from tomorrow with a suggested retail price of €29.99/£29.99.

Hello Kitty fans who purchase the UK English-language version of the physical version of Hello Kitty Kruisers will find a bonus super-cute item inside! Inside each of the UK English-language boxed versions of the game is one of six adorable official Sanrio iron-on badges. Which surprise will you get?!

In Hello Kitty Kruisers players take to the starting grid with Hello Kitty along with her Sanrio friends as they race on land, over water in addition to through the air. Will anyone pip Hello Kitty to the podium? Race in single-player or with up to three friends, along with unlocking new outfits and vehicles for your favourite characters. In addition, you can challenge your racing skills in the super-exciting Adventure mode!

Hello Kitty Kruisers
Hello Kitty Kruisers

Hello Kitty Kruisers is published by Rising Star Games and is available now on Nintendo Switch™ across Europe and beyond. For more information follow Rising Star Games on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or visit the official Rising Star Games website.

Gran Turismo Sport

Gran Turismo Sport

GT Sport

Gran Turismo Sport. Since I (yes I am the only one posting these days, lol) published an article regarding Forza Motorsport 7 (It is my duty to bring you information and media from all gaming platforms), I cannot help but think of the Gran Turismo series of games. Our family has always favored the Playstation over the XBox One, and we had many a great race in all of the Gran Turismo releases. It became a thing to wait for the next release. The visuals say it all..

Gran Turismo Sport
Gran Turismo Sport Fisherman’s Ranch Race

Gran Turismo Sport
Gran Turismo Sport Audi

Gran Turismo Sport
Gran Turismo Sport Nurburgring Nordschleife Sunset

Gran Turismo Sport
Mercedes-AMG Safety Car

Gran Turismo Sport

Gran Turismo Sport
BMW M4 Coupe

Gran Turismo 4
Dodge Challenger Hellcat

Forza Racing Championship 2018

Forza Racing Championship 2018

From the XBox Wire! 

Already Under way, but in case you missed it..

700 cars in 60 fps 4K!

Drivers start your engines! Turn 10 Studios is taking racing esports to the next level with the Forza Racing Championship (ForzaRC) 2018. Taking the physicality of real-world motorsport and blending it with the approachability of racing esports, ForzaRC 2018 is built on the award-winning Forza Motorsport 7 –  which features more than 700 cars, 60 frames per second, and native 4K resolution on Xbox One X. Drivers of all skill levels will compete for glory and more than $250,000 in prizes, our largest prize pool to date.

Starting today, drivers can register at the official site, ForzaRC.com, to compete in the first ranked season of global competition, which begins April 2.

ForzaRC 2018 – Pre-Season Invitational Presented by IMSA

In advance of the 2018 season start, we’re kicking things off with the ForzaRC 2018 Pre-Season Invitational on March 24 in Seattle, WA, home of Turn 10 Studios. We’ve invited some of the best drivers and teams in the world to compete and set the stage for a season of exhilarating races. We’ll have more details to share, including participating racers, cars, tracks, and more in March.

ForzaRC 2018 – Regular Season

Forza Racing Championship 2018
Forza Racing Championship 2018

Following the Pre-Season Invitational presented by IMSA, the regular season begins. The season is split into two series, each consisting of seven weeks of ranked events and culminating in a live playoff event with a prize pool of $75,000. At the end of the two series, the top 24 drivers will be invited to compete in the Forza Racing World Championship 2018 for their shot at a $100,000 prize pool and the title.

Here’s a look at the 2018 season calendar, which will be updated regularly at ForzaRC.com:

  • Series 1: April 2 – May 23
  • Series 1 Playoffs: June 16 – 17, live in Seattle
  • Series 2: July 9 – August 29
  • Series 2 Playoffs: September 29 – 30, live in Mexico City
  • World Championship: October 2018 (final date TBA), live in London

Ranking Up

When the competition begins on April 2, all registered drivers begin their race to the top of the leaderboard. As part of each seven-week series, drivers will compete in ranked events, earning points and climbing the leaderboard as they go. Look for a full breakdown of the tournament structure and scoring in March.

Tune In

We’ve got a season full of racing excitement lined up this year. Want to watch it all go down live? Catch all the action live through our Mixer player on ForzaRC.com. Couldn’t catch the livestream but want to catch up on all the action? Check out the official ForzaRC YouTube for all the VODs, highlights, and more.

Check out the 2018 broadcast schedule which will be updated regularly on our Mixer player at ForzaRC.com:

  • ForzaRC 2018 Pre-Season Invitational – March 24, live in Seattle
  • Series 1
    • April 11 – June 6 – Weekly broadcast every other Wednesday
    • June 16 – 17 – Series 1 Playoffs, live in Seattle
  • Series 2
    • July 18 – August 29 – Weekly broadcast every other Wednesday
    • September 29 – 30 – Series 2 Playoffs, live in Mexico City
  • Forza Racing World Championship – October 2018 (final date TBA), live in London

Esports Features

We’re always looking for new ways to deliver a phenomenal experience to both players and fans alike and we’ve got a number of new, esports-centric features lined up for Forza Motorsport 7. Today, we’re excited to share the first two features: Spectate and Seed the Grid. These exciting features are a cornerstone of the Forza Motorsport 7 esports experience and, since they last appeared in Forza Motorsport 6, have been rethought and redeveloped from the ground up for Forza Motorsport 7 to deliver a dramatically improved on-track experience for both drivers and viewers:

  • Spectate
    Watch live multiplayer races with our brand new Spectate feature. Improved camera transitions and performance means you’ll never miss the action. Positioning data for on-track cars is 100% precise as well, which means that what players see in Spectate is exactly what’s happening in the race.
  • Seed the Grid
    Players will be able to set up multiplayer races just as they like with the new Seed the Grid feature. Lobby hosts can now manually set the grid order during race setup, and a completely overhauled interface offers hosts and viewers alike new details, like real-time player grid position changes.

Both Spectate and Seed the Grid will be added as part of our February content update for Forza Motorsport 7 and represent just the start of our esports feature set.

Ready to Compete?

Whether you are new to esports racing or are among the fastest drivers in the world, register for ForzaRC 2018 and we’ll see you on the track!

Forza Racing Championship 2018
Forza Racing Championship 2018

Forza Racing Championship 2018
Dell Gaming Car Pack

Forza Racing Championship 2018
Forza Racing Championship 2018 – Ford Raptor

World Rally Championship 6

World Rally Championship 6

WRC 6 NOW IN STORES FOR PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE, AND PC/STEAM.

The Official Game of the FIA World Rally Championship Brings thrilling eSports Competition and Latest Roster of Rally Racers to Gamers

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (Mar. 3, 2017) – Leading interactive entertainment developer and publisher BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. and Bigben Interactive, a worldwide player in video game publishing, have released WRC 6, a new entry in the acclaimed rally racing series. WRC 6 enables players take on all 14 official rallies, play-as or against the official drivers and teams in the 2016 FIA rally season for a complete racing series. WRC 6 is now on sale in the Americas or the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM®.

Developed by Kylotonn Racing Games, WRC 6 is an extreme motorsport challenge that offers the complete rally experience with accurately reproduced tracks, teams, and drivers from the World Rally Championship. In addition, the game offers 11 new Super Special Stages that combine unique driving challenges with iconic environments from around the world. To help friends compete against each other, WRC 6 includes a split-screen multiplayer mode, diverse and challenging new stages, the eSports WRC Championship, and more realistic vehicle behavior to help players lose themselves to the rush of the race.

Racers who have mastered every jump, turn, and terrain of WRC 6 will have an opportunity to put their racing skills to the test with a series of official competitions for Season 2 of the Esports WRC Championship. The championship is open to all WRC 6 players to enter where they’ll compete in a series of rally races that run parallel to the official WRC calendar. The eSports WRC Championship rounds end in November 2017, followed by a final competition. Players will have multiple opportunities to put in their best performances through a variety of conditions and stages. The routes and additional information will be available before each event on www.esportswrc.com .

“Since its start in 1973, the FIA World Rally Championship has become the authoritative name in gritty and challenging rally races. We can’t wait to see gamers climb in the driver’s seat and experience the high octane driving experience the talented teams at Kylotonn and Bigben have created to bring the rallying action to gamers,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “With its fast cars, fierce eSports competition, and rich roster of courses, WRC 6 lives up to that world famous racing series and truly puts players in the driver’s seat.”

“We’re excited to work with BANDAI NAMCO to bring the excitement of the newest season of the FIA World Rally Championship to the Americas. Perhaps the best part for us will be seeing racers from around the globe squaring off to determine who in the best racer in the world,” said Benoît Clerc, Head of Software at Bigben Interactive. “We work hard to make games that everyone can enjoy, and with WRC 6, beginners and veteran racers alike will have an opportunity to experience the exhilaration of rally racing at the highest level. There’s something here for everyone!”

WRC 6 is available for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC via STEAM®. For more information on BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. and WRC 6, go to: http://www.bandainamcoent.com/home.html or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or join the conversation at https://twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

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