FTS: SQUARE ENIX OFFICIALLY UNVEILS SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER


The next adventure is on its way! You ready?!



Eidos-Montréal to Deliver Lara Croft’s Defining Moment

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 27, 2018) – Square Enix®, Eidos-Montréal™, and Crystal Dynamics® today revealed the full trailer for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the latest entry in the critically acclaimed and award-winning Tomb Raider® series. Created by a team of veteran Tomb Raider developers at Eidos-Montréal, in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics, the game will be available on September 14, 2018 for the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, PlayStation®4 system and Windows PC/Steam®.


In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be.

The star of the critically acclaimed 2013 Tomb Raider reboot and the award-winning Rise of the Tomb Raider®, Camilla Luddington, makes her return as Lara Croft® with yet another stunning performance in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.



“Thanks to their incredible expertise, knowledge of the franchise and outstanding creativity, Eidos-Montréal, in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics, is delivering a powerful experience with Shadow of the Tomb Raider,” said Yosuke Matsuda, president and representative director of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. “Shadow of the Tomb Raider will take the series to new heights and Lara Croft to new depths.”

Shadow of the Tomb Raider will challenge Lara Croft in new and unexpected ways,” said David Anfossi, Head of Studio at Eidos-Montréal. “Our team has created a diverse set of skills, combat techniques and equipment for players to master, and they’ll certainly need them if they hope to survive the deadly jungle environments and tombs.”



Last night, Square Enix welcomed fans, community leaders, press, and industry influencers to events in Montreal, London, and Los Angeles so they could experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider.  Now, a wealth of information, screenshots, and more is now available at TombRaider.com.

Fans in the New York City area will be able to enjoy a Special Preview ofShadow of the Tomb Raider at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, April 27. This free event will start at 4 p.m. EST, and will take place inside of the BMCC Theater at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Join the creative team as they discuss the evolution of Lara Croft and share in the techniques, tools and inspiration behind the series. Panel attendees will be able to witness an exclusive extended gameplay demo for the upcoming Shadow of the Tomb Raider game.

Pre-orders are available now for the Standard, Digital Deluxe, Croft, and Ultimate Editions. For full details on pre-order items, the Season Pass, key beats in the upcoming campaign, and more information on Shadow of the Tomb Raider, please visit the official website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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SQUARE ENIX AND NVIDIA ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION ON SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER

Nixxes Software Developing PC Version of Shadow of the Tomb Raider

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 27, 2018) – Square Enix®, Eidos®- Montréal, and Crystal Dynamics® today announced they will be working with NVIDIA to develop the PC version of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the latest entry in the critically acclaimed and award-winning Tomb Raider® series.

NVIDIA will lend its gaming and PC development expertise to help bring the PC platform's advanced gaming features to Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This effort will help maximize the performance benefits of the NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 10-series GPUs for PC gamers across the world. This continues the collaboration that began in the series’ previous title, Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Delivering the climactic conclusion to Lara Croft’s origin story in remarkable new detail, developers Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal are also partnering with the talented studio Nixxes Software for the PC version of Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Long-standing veterans of the Tomb Raider franchise, Nixxes Software will lead the development of Lara Croft’s defining moment for PC gamers everywhere. The studio boasts outstanding experience working on past hit Square Enix titles such as Tomb Raider: Definitive EditionRise of the Tomb RaiderDeus Ex: Mankind Divided and many others.



Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

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BATTLETECH



 


From original BATTLETECH/MechWarrior creator Jordan Weisman and the developers of the award-winning Shadowrun Returns series comes the next-generation of turn-based tactical 'Mech combat. 


The year is 3025 and the galaxy is trapped in a cycle of perpetual war, fought by noble houses with enormous, mechanized combat vehicles called BattleMechs. Take command of your own mercenary outfit of 'Mechs and the MechWarriors that pilot them, struggling to stay afloat as you find yourself drawn into a brutal interstellar civil war. Upgrade your starfaring base of operations, negotiate mercenary contracts with feudal lords, repair and maintain your stable of aging BattleMechs, and execute devastating combat tactics to defeat your enemies on the battlefield.

COMMAND A SQUAD OF 'MECHS IN TURN-BASED COMBAT
Deploy over 30 BattleMechs in a wide variety of combinations. Use terrain, positioning, weapon selection and special abilities to outmaneuver and outplay your opponents.

MANAGE YOUR MERCENARY COMPANY
Recruit, customize, and develop unique MechWarriors. Improve and customize your dropship. As a Mercenary, travel a wide stretch of space, taking missions and managing your reputation with a variety of noble houses and local factions.

TAKE PART IN A DESPERATE CIVIL WAR
Immerse yourself in the story of a violently deposed ruler, waging a brutal war to take back her throne with the support of your ragtag mercenary company.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR 'MECHS
Use your MechLab to maintain and upgrade your units, replacing damaged weapon systems with battlefield salvage taken from fallen foes.

PVP MULTIPLAYER & SKIRMISH MODE
Customize a Lance of 'Mechs and MechWarriors to go head-to-head with your friends, compete against opponents online or jump into single-player skirmish mode to test your strategies against the AI.



Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

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EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 WINGDIVER THE SHOOTER






Spawned from the war for existence itself between the Ravagers and the
Earth Defense Force (EDF) featured in Earth Defense Force 4.1 THE SHADOW
OF NEW DESPAIR comes a brand new 3D, top-down shoot 'em up spinoff!

Players will step into the shoes of a soldier in Pale Team, an elite branch
of the EDF's Wing Diver division, and once again fight in the world featured in 4.1.

This game features 60 different weapons to collect and master throughout
the game's 6 missions and 5 difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Hard, Hardest,
and Inferno)! There's even a leaderboard for high-scores!

Story:
It's been several months since the most recent invasion of the Ravagers, alien beings
from another planet. The EDF have been developing a new aviation unit for
their Wing Diver soldiers. Their research has focused on making the units
suitable for long-term flight, and ground-breaking advances have been made
so soldiers can emergency reload without going back to the ground. The unit's
testing, being undertaken by the elite Pale Team, was entering its final stages
when the incident happened.

That very same day the EDF was amassing its forces in preparation
to launch an attack on the enemy mothership.
But that's when a large enemy force appeared, as if
they'd been lying in wait from the very beginning!

The EDF could only send what few forces they had remaining to eliminate
these giant monstrosities.

Our story begins with an emergency dispatch order coming to Pale Team,
right as their training is about to finish...

SHOOT UP TIME:
When the stage stops scrolling, its time for SHOOT UP TIME!
A huge influx of enemies will appear on the screen, forcing you to rely
on instincts alone to kill them all! The more you kill, the higher your COMBO
gets, and the bigger your score will become!

The Ravagers Versus The EDF:
These in-game missions are fully voiced with a whole host of characters that
will interact with and support you. From the Ranger Units fighting on the
ground to your other Pale Team members providing back-up, and even
civilians trying to escape!

Now go, Soldier, and carry out your mission!




Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

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DooDoo Juice... Reviewed! + SDGT Comic


This review involves poop. Yeah, poop, enjoy!


I just had to do a review about this product, and it wasn't to rescue us from Luis's aftermath. First off, the name is comical... and the company even takes a light-hearted comical approach with their product description (found on the bottle). I got a good chuckle, which was appreciated and felt challenged to make a comical review. So here we go!

Have you ever had to take a massive dump and didn't want your friends, co-workers or your new Bae to know (even though everyone goes... and you're not some magical being with the ability to avoid taking craps... ever)?

Well, we got the hook up on this spray called... DooDoo Juice. Sounds like a horrible prank that will result in a stomach pump, but this is actually real. It's not something you drink (so please don't try), and it's not actually some sort of juice extracted from doo-doo... it's a citrus-scented product that you spray prior to... the doo. You spray the toilet before you drop the 1 - 2 combo and no one will know. 

It's funny though because everyone goes (including you)... and even that becomes the motto to try to get out of the embarrassment of "going". "Everyone goes", that's more than the duh of the day... try "I took a dump because I'd like to live". No matter how big of a duh that is... it's still one of life's embarrassing acts (at least to some).

I tried DooDoo Juice out today as a matter of fact (don't judge me)... and it works. No courtesy flushes needed.

Pretty cool stuff... and it comes in handy for those times when there's a line at the bathroom and a dump feels more like a lightning round on a game show (I'd call "the Deuce"... for obvious reasons). Where you race against the clock to get in and get the crap out at record-breaking speed so that the next challenger can try to beat your time.

The price works at $8.99, but I think sales would increase if it were in a sweet spot of $4.99. Right now it's one of those products that would work for some of us at that price, but it would be an impulse buy at $4.99. I'd even expect multiple orders at that price, which would be 4 bottles for $20 but they do provide a discount if you buy more. The design of the label is simple, but... I think its just right. The bottle size is small enough to fit in your pocket, or your purse (hint hint).

I appreciate the citrus scent of this product too, which smells waaaayyyy better than the smell it's replacing. Trust me, I'm appreciating it already. Burritos at the office today, so trust me I'm very happy. Check it out for yourself at www.DooDooJuice.com.


Product Design 5
Product Quality 5
Product Scent 5
Product Price 3


4.5 out of 5 Cool Points











Brought to you by... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

Mobile Edge Core Gaming Backpack + Core Power... Dual Reviewed!


What is this? A new package arrived at the office, so you know what that means... it's review time!


Opening up the box... immediately you kinda sorta see what's inside already (clearly it's a package from Mobile Edge), but let's go ahead and dig in. This will be our very very first dual review, enjoy!



The first thing out of the box is a Mobile Edge: Core Power... 27,000 mAh Portable Laptop Charger.


Time to open this up. It has nice durable packaging, which should reassure those of you looking to buy a portable charger and you get nervous about the shipping and handling portion (like I do).


After lifting up the bigger flap area, you get access to the charger.


I'll get back to the charger but let me knock out the accessories first. The cord obviously comes with it, but what also comes with this are... plug converters for international use. I'm glad they included these in the box because it makes it completely travel-friendly without the need to buy a separate set. You never know when this will come in handy... sometimes you may think of these sorts of things in terms of travel, but the average gamer isn't thinking about this. You likely have to be on the go often with a well-used passport to think of this sort of thing but with this on deck... you won't be stuck without power to your phone, tablet or laptop. You never know when you need these things, and some cell phone batteries suck. The block you see are the assortment of converters put together so you don't have to worry about carrying small pieces (I like that).


The portable laptop charger has a 27,000 mAh bank... which is a nice amount of juice. The body of this charger has a smooth but textured feel allowing for it to be gripped easily (no slipping and sliding like some).

The dots you see next to the power button are the lights that represent the power meter... and once all are lit, its full (this official duh of the day has been brought to you by... Blu).

Speaking of light, this charger also has a built-in LED flashlight and it feels like a pretty durable device. I wouldn't recommend tossing off a building to test how durable it is... but it doesn't feel like it would just... break if it drops onto your desk or falls out of your hand.

The front has the following ports:
AC outlet for your laptop 110V/85W... allows for charging not just your laptop, think of those times when your 3DS or your Nintendo Switch is running low and you need juice. (This immediately came to mind in that regard.)

USB-C Out... for those of you with these types of cords (which includes myself).


Quick Charge 3.0 Technology USB & 5V/2.4A USB... which allow you to charge 3 USB devices at the same time.


You also get short circuit & overcharge protection.

Now on to what I'm sure you really want to hear. My experience with this charger is that the first charge was about 4 hours... and it was suggested that I plug it up for that long. After getting a full charge and turning it on, I chose to let it sit for about 30 minutes with nothing plugged in (the charge remained full). After that, I plugged in my laptop and my phone. I was using both, my phone was playing music, and my laptop was being used to write up this review. It took about 1 hour & 12 minutes to charge the laptop and about 2 hours for the phone. After this, 5 of the 8 lights were off.

When the laptop wasn't in use, I was able to charge the laptop in about 45 minutes. The phone was about the same time (using the quick charge 3.0 port). After this, 3 of the 8 lights were off.

The laptop by itself left 2 of the 8 lights off. The phone by itself (in quick charge 3.0 port) left 1 of the 8 lights off. (The devices were off.) Am I pleased with this? Heck yeah. This charger could also come in handy for those of you on the go with a camera and you're running low on battery, but you have a long day with a need for juice. Usually, people (at least those that I know) have two batteries... one in the camera and one for backup. This charger would allow you to keep it moving... and that makes my mind wonder regarding the various things I can charge on the go. This phone... while I still use it, will become best friends with this charger when I'm on the go (because the battery goes quickly unless I activate the battery saver). Before I forget, for those of you who live in areas where there's a greater chance of losing power... due to hurricanes, blizzards, etc. this would definitely come in handy for something like that too... or if you're traveling and you need a working cell phone for safety reasons. Oh yeah... this would be perfect for game and tech related events like E3, CES, PAX, and... you get the idea. It also charges drones... I won't say all because some are gigantic, but the ones geared towards consumers for sure. Now on to the other item in this package! 

Phone used: Alcatel Idol 5 S & Laptop used: HP ENVY X360 Convertible


The second thing out of the box is a Mobile Edge: Core Gaming Backpack. Specifically, the one with the velcro front panel... the MECGBPV1 model.

Right off the bat, you might be wondering "Why in the heck would there be a velcro version?". Well, this is... a core gaming backpack. 

The velcro front was created specifically aimed at gamers on eSports teams... which allows for team patches to be placed with a velcro backing. 

You see the circle patch? You can pull that off and position it anywhere you want or just take it off completely, but I believe that was put there to spell out what that area can be used for. 

If you're not part of an eSports team, no problem... if you have your own velcro patches... just treat it like a canvas.

Hmmm... wouldn't be a bad idea to get Sdgt Studio velcro patches.

Another thing that stood out to me immediately about this backpack is the handle... (I mean) look at this thing. You don't just have a tough sturdy handle, it has comfy finger grooves, the same durable ballistic nylon as the rest of the backpack (as i'd expect) but... it also has a freaking metal cable rope built in with metal bolts. Their motto is "Bring It On" and... (whew) they weren't playing with this one. (I'm just getting started.)


You have four pockets on this backpack that can house mouses, game controllers, water bottles and whatever else can fit... but I probably wouldn't put my controllers here (gotta protect those analog sticks).


I'd house my controllers here, see the two netted zipper pockets? They are a perfect fit for controllers.
You might be wondering what that cord is... but, I'll get back to that later. Onward!
This is the same area of the backpack you see in the image above this image, which holds a full-size keyboard (as you see here). The controllers would be on the outside of the part where the keyboard is, and there is also a netted zipper area seen above those two pockets that can comfortably fit two game cases inside. Directly across from there is a tablet pocket (seen here). Now you may be concerned about your tablet with these other items inside, but no need to worry about that. Not only is that pocket padded, its a fleece material on the inside of that pocket that feels like a plush baby blanket (I should really get one of those in adult size one day). So your screen is protected.
Another plus about this section of the backpack... is something that made me almost cheer. (Almost.)
It has a headphone holder/strap. If you like to keep your things neat in your backpack, this is arguably one of the best backpacks I've come across to do that. I don't like my headphones compromised... so this is a beautiful thing, and its small touches like this that get an additional thumbs up. There's room for headphones even if the earphones don't rotate.


The pluses don't stop there, this see-through compartment for the laptop is also checkpoint friendly. You don't have to whip it out and place it in a bin, just unzip this area and let it roll through. This picture may seem like its upside down... but it's actually me letting this section hang down to show you that the velcro strap holds well. The velcro actually runs straight down the outside of this compartment to firmly secure laptops of various sizes (the backpack holds up to 18" screens). I appreciate the checkpoint friendly design to make it a smoother process... I already don't like going through the whole process at the airport (although I completely respect it for what it's worth), but this helps.



The bottom of this backpack is durable and I don't see it sliding on the ground... which is a plus. You probably wouldn't see me sitting my backpack on the ground unless its carpeted, but you're covered when and if you do. Now on to the reason, this is a dual review... remember that cord you saw?


That cord actually part of a quick-charge 3.0 USB charge port.


The compartment in this section of the backpack holds the portable charger (or any you might have), so if you have to charge USB connectable devices on the go... no need to open it up, just connect it externally. This could also hold an external hard drive... which could be useful in some cases... like when I'm getting a vehicle serviced (but I have access to an outlet for my laptop) or there is a flight delay and i'm near an outlet. Based on the space you have in the bag... and the additional cord holes in the backpack, you can place a harddrive elsewhere.


By the way, you also have sections for pens, your phone, business cards, keys (they have a hook w/ a spring clip), cables, and if you need to carry a folder or more... the compartment across from the laptop holder is available for that, etc. This section allows for an address card for those just in case situations where you might not get your backpack back... but you're hopeful the card will be utilized by a kind person to get it back in one piece with everything as you left it. There are also 3 SD Card slots and 3 Memory Stick slots... so there is plenty of storage (even if you don't use it all). Did I mention that there's a lifetime warranty? No? Well... there is and... the portable charger has a two year warranty.

Now on to comfort, because it could be one kickass backpack... but if it's super uncomfortable it would be pointless. Luckily... they didn't fall short in that department. This backpack has padded air-mesh shoulder straps, a chest strap (to prevent the backpack from slumping), and a ventilated back panel (that has 6 pads for the various points that make contact with your back). So is this backpack comfortable? Yes... I've walked around with it loaded for up for online gaming via my laptop and there was no noticeable discomfort whatsoever. This area also has a trolley strap for those times you just want to pull your luggage on wheels without carrying anything.
Now as far as the price is concerned, you're looking at about $130 retail. I thought it would be about $150 but $130 gets absolutely no complaints from me. The portable laptop charger's price is about $200... which is about right. Many don't have the ability to actually charge a laptop... and I've had too many run ins with bad ones at lower price points (not to say good can't be cheaper... I've just had some disappointments), so a durable charger with the power to get the job done at this price point almost gets a shrug. This would be a steal at $150. While it's the same company and pairs well with the backpack... it's totally not set in stone that you have to get this particular one to use with the core gaming backpack. That said, if I were Mobile Edge... i'd give a dual purchase discount to those that buy both.

If I were the person working on the next generation of this backpack... i'd add in solar power that can connect to this external charger via the ac adapter's port. That way... it can be charged up on the go... so that it can charge up those other items on the go.

Overall, this award-winning backpack is on point. Yeah you see the pictures, yeah you heard my review, but test it out for yourself... they kicked butt in the design. Going back to this being a core gaming backpack... they were thinking about what a gamer would appreciate. They made sure to accommodate needs instead of leaving it to chance. Comfort for travel, a port to charge on the go via a portable charger, a lifetime warranty, and a velcro front for patches that represent the pros and joes of gaming. Although I could complain and say there is no pocket up top where I can toss change and stuff... (that's a rarity anyway... but) the upper side pockets get the job done. They hit this out of the park.


Product Design 5
Product Quality 5
Functionality 5
Accessories 5
Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points




Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!


These products were sent to SDGT Entertainment by the Mobile Edge team.

QUBE 2... Reviewed!


Qube 2... is one beautiful looking... first-person puzzle adventure thinga-mah-game.


Qube 2 is the sequel to... (you guessed it) Qube that was released back in 2010 by fellow classmates. Qube actually began as a class project which is another origin point for some indie games, so... that's pretty cool. Qube 2 places you in the shoes of an archaeologist by the name of Amelia Cross who finds herself... stranded on an alien planet. The ultimate goal is... to get off of this planet, but its a game, so it's not exactly going to be that easy. During your journey you are... sorta kinda accompanied by a fellow survivor via your comlink. Commander Emma Sutcliffe communicates with you throughout your adventure as you solve puzzles to not only progress through the alien planet but to also meet up with Emma in order to escape together.

At the start of this adventure (after Amelia passes out)... she wakes up in a suit with gloves that allow her to manipulate panels for the purpose of solving the puzzles in each area. One color (blue) allows for bouncing, another (green) allows for you to create blocks, and the third (red) allows for an extendable block. You start off simple... which is to be expected, and the puzzles get more and more complex as you move forward in your adventure.

You will be facing over 80 puzzles in this visually appealing adventure... that honestly (honestly... like seriously) reminds me of Mirror's Edge, minus the cityscape... especially when you land from high places. I would've done a bit more with the water (especially since the fire and oil are done so well) in certain areas but other than that visuals get a thumbs up. 


When it comes to the audio, I listened with both surround sound, headphones, and standard tv speakers. Clearly, the standard television speakers didn't sound as good as the headphones and the surround sound, but overall good work on the audio. Price wise the game stands strong at $24.99, even though I would have aimed for a $19.99 price tag... but it's on point where it is.

One downside to this game that's not going to affect the overall score, and it's one that I like at the same time... is the first person action (but before you lose it... I'll explain). The first person view leaves something to be desired, and I know (I know... I know) it's a puzzle game, but perhaps the team can do something in the future where you take on an enemy and also solve puzzles in order to shake things up. I won't get into specifics (i'll hang onto my concepts) but you get the idea... it could bring something new to the table in a potential... Qube 3. The only con is the replay value. Yes, you have over 80 puzzles, and its a nice experience, but... replay value can be a plus (beyond the available achievements). A level editor works well to give replay value to puzzle games, but there could've also been a way to publish speed run times too... which is something to think about in the future. Statistics are available, but... that's not exactly screaming "challenge!".

Overall, this is a visually appealing first-person puzzle game delivering depth and a slew of puzzles at a good price. Will the team show off some new tricks in a potential third installment? Let's see, until then this is a job well done and I enjoyed the experience. I recommend this to fans of puzzle games with depth that doesn't require you to be... competitive, fans of variety, and fans of first-person games who want a change of pace in that genre.

Fun factor: 4

Visually: 5

Replay value: 2

Price: 5

"4 / 5 Cool Points"



Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!