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As a kid, I was 100% a Polly Pocket girl. I loved any kind of teeny toy and, since I’d often spend weekends or weekday evenings with a grandparent, it’d be convenient to take along. Ao Norte counts on that kind of nostalgia with Tiny Garden, its cozy farming sandbox. You’re basically taking over a tiny clamshell toy and customizing it to your liking. While there are some minor hiccups, and perhaps a major one depending on your setup, it’s absolutely pleasant.

Things in Tiny Garden begin with a player opening up a clamshell toy with a crank attached to it. You start with a blank garden with four plots of basic terrain open and a single bag of seeds. You plant seeds, then turn the crank to advance time. This makes the plants grow, can transform terrain type, and net you items you can trade for furniture or new seeds. So you start with a turnip. Growing that after one turn nets you an item you can trade for a cactus seed. That cactus will turn the ground it was on and the four adjacent ones into arid patches. The cactus could then be traded to get two carrot seeds. Growing one carrot means you can trade that for a Basic Collection. Your garden then grows, you can open part of the “house” portion in the upper half of the clamshell, and advance.

Basically, there’s some light puzzle element to it, but Tiny Garden feels like a sim that lets you play around with a tiny world. Determining the right way to plant to get the terrain you want or need to grow the things you want to unlock new items is important. But depending on what you want to do and the customization features you want, you don’t have to grow certain things unless you really want to. However, the more you do, the more you unlock, and that lets you unlock new types of plants and open up more opportunities. It also means occasionally getting little letters that offer hints about growing things and learning about the toy.

It’s fairly simple! Everything is rather obvious. You plant items, you harvest them, you use that to unlock new seeds or decorations, and you keep moving forward to build a little world that’s to your liking. The tutorials are pretty adequate, and what isn’t laid out is pretty easy to figure out on your own. I will say that some of the later plants and items take a bit of figuring out to unlock, but I didn’t find it too taxing and this is a very forgiving simulation.

I will note that the main issue I experienced involved getting Tiny Garden to run. Basically, I needed to go through three different types of PCs before the last one finally worked. Though the minimum requirements are quite low (Windows 7, 2GHz Dual Core Intel, 3GB RAM, 500MB, and Nvidia GTX 660 or AMD HD 7870), my Lenovo Legion Go and my cousin’s Windows 11 HP laptop both couldn’t run it. It would get to splash screen that showed the key art, then freeze. If I tried to proceed, I’d get a message that Godot wasn’t responding. Oddly enough, an older Dell Inspiron my cousin had with Windows 10 and Intel i3 did manage to run it, so I’m not quite sure what’s going on there. Unfortunately, there’s no demo available at the moment, so you can’t test it to make sure it runs on your platform of choice.

I adore the Tiny Garden aesthetics. It’s such a charming little sandbox. Frankly, it made me wish I still owned some of my old Polly Pocket sets. You know, the more detailed ones from the 90s that ended up more intricate than the ones being sold today. There are some times when it isn’t exactly -friendly, and I do wish the demo was still present in case others experienced the issue getting it to run that I did. But it’s definitely a cozy way to relax.

Tiny Garden is available on PCs. 

The post Review : Tiny Garden Leans Into the Polly Pocket Aesthetic appeared first on Siliconera.

Dr. Doot, streamer and Souls series challenge runner, took on Elden Ring's bosses during Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 in a sub-30-minute run. Defeating bosses like Radahn, Hoarah Loux and Malenia, Dr. Doot took on some of the fiercest bosses in the game not with a controller but an electronic Aerophone AE-10 saxophone.

Awesome Games Done Quick 2025, the charity speed running event that raises money for charity initiatives with a full week of video game, featured runs of everything from Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, Deus Ex, and Metal Gear Solid. This saxophone-controlled Elden Ring run was a special incentive for the event raising $1,500,000 for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Doot's run, on the Aerophone electronic saxophone, boiled down to him playing various notes on the saxophone to correspond with various actions. He could only do one thing at a time, by making a different midi "doot" sound on the saxophone. Dr. Doot has used this alternative control method to fight bosses in Dark Souls III, Sekiro and Elden Ring. Additionally, he has completed full runs without getting hit once by any of the main game's bosses while playing the saxaphone.

The run ran 29 minutes and 22 seconds with Dr. Doot defeating Rykard, Radahn, The Fire Giant, Gideon Ofnir, Radagon, and the Elden Beast without taking any damage. The main items used in the run were the Star Fist for its intense posture damage and bleed. The only fights in the run that managed to hit Dr. Doot were Godfrey, the First Elden Lord and Malenia, Blade of Miquella, who became legendary in the community for being one of the hardest fights in FromSoftware history.

FromSoftware will also be provide new challenges to players in the spinoff: Elden Ring: Nightreign. This multiplayer-focused stand-alone adventure will release in 2025, with a Network Test on the way in February.

Elden Ring is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X. It's expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree is also available on all platforms. Elden Ring: Nightreign, the stand-alone co-op spinoff, will release later in 2025.

The post AGDQ 2025 Featured an Elden Ring Speedrun on the Sax appeared first on Siliconera.

Bandai Namco has published more details on the Hatsune Miku concerts that will take place inside the Gundam Metaverse. People in Japan and the US will be able to enter the Metaverse in early December 2024 to watch the Vocaloid's concerts.

The first concert will run at the live venue area on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 3 AM PST. The final time people can catch the concert will be on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 8 PM PST. Bandai Namco will also frequently replay the concert in between those times.

The concert's set list will feature a total of four songs. Hatsune Miku will perform covers of "Tobe! Gundam" (Fly! Gundam) and "Flying in the Sky," which are the respective opening themes for the 1979 show Mobile Suit Gundam and the 1994 entry Mobile Fighter G Gundam. The Vocaloid will also bring two of her own signature songs: "Senbonzakura" by KuroUsa-P and Supercell's "The World is Mine."

The Hatsune Miku concerts will take place inside the Gundam Metaverse 3rd limited-time opening, which will be available via PC browsers in Japan and the US from 6 PM on December 4, 2024, until 10 PM on December 8, 2024, in the Pacific time zone.

The post Hatsune Miku Gundam Metaverse Concert Schedule Published appeared first on Siliconera.

The JRPG genre is more diverse than ever in its themes. You can get your turn-based math battles on in all kinds of flavors now, from farm simulating to Shakespearean magical girls. If you're looking for a little horror mixed in, there are plenty of games to choose from. To narrow down that list a little, we've got some of the best scary JRPGs for you to check out… if you dare! Which I assume you do, or you wouldn't have clicked on the article. Well, on to the list.

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Square Enix put out a lot of experimental games in the 32-bit era. Parasite Eve uses elements from a Japanese horror novel, but tells its own original story. It introduces us to Eve, a terrifying monster with the ability to make people spontaneously combust. Set in New York and using a variant on Square Enix's turn-based battle system, Parasite Eve stands out from its peers in more ways than one. It offers just the right mix of Japanese horror and JRPG traditions, making for one of the best scary JRPGs.

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The predecessor to the excellent Shadow Hearts games on the PlayStation 2, Koudelka is a rather unique game. Its art style is a lot creepier than that of its follow-ups, and the overall mood is darker. Set just before the turn of the 20th century, Koudelka follows the titular character as she explores a monster-filled monastery. There's not much else out there like Koudelka, as even the Shadow Hearts games have a less sinister feel to them.

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Really, any game from the Shin Megami Tensei series or its many spin-offs has a good chance of being one of the best scary JRPGs. Maybe not Jack Bros., but you know what I mean. Strange Journey's extremely oppressive atmosphere and clear inspiration from The Thing put it just over the top. You're no less powerful here than you are in any Atlus JRPG, but something about this game just make you feel deep dread. Perhaps it's the bizarre soundtrack, or the claustrophobic hallways. Maybe it's that there's a good chance of getting wiped out at any moment. Whatever the case, this is quietly one of the scariest JRPGs you can find.

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Originally released on Japanese computers, Laplace no Ma is part of a loose series of horror-themed JRPGs. The Super Famicom version has a fan translation, and is probably the best one to check out for non-Japanese speakers as a result. Set in a fictional Massachusetts town called Newcam, Laplace no Ma draws heavily on Lovecraftian lore. You have to explore a creepy mansion, but you're able to leave and use the town's facilities when needed. It has its share of rough edges, but it's very much worth checking out if you're looking for something creepy to play.

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The inspiration for the Resident Evil series may be a mere Famicom game, but it's still capable of sending chills down your spine. Sweet Home is something of a chimera, mixing elements of survival, adventure, and JRPG into a package that stands out on its platform. You've got limited resources in almost every sense, and if you don't make careful use of them you won't be escaping the mansion alive. One of the best scary JRPGs? If not, it's clearly one of the most important scary JRPGs.

Let us know what you think is the scariest, or the best, JRPG below!

The post The Best Scary JRPGs appeared first on Siliconera.

On July 19, 2024, FromSoftware announced that an update would be implemented to the Elden Ring end credits to add the names of missing translators that had been left out of the list.

The Tweet announcing this, posted by the official Elden Ring Twitter , stated that the fix would arrive in an patch. They do not state exactly who was left out, but the statement says that the exclusion was unintentional.

FromSoftware and Bandai Namco, earlier this year, announced that Elden Ring had sold over 25 million copies. With the addition of these names to the registry, more individuals who worked on Elden Ring will be able to prove their contributions.

Recently, the DLC expansion: Shadow of the Erdtree released on June 21, 2024. This is the only major content update planned for Elden Ring and it, along with the main game, has received a series of patches and fixes to address bugs and issues, including one doing a large rebalancing of the DLC's core mechanic. This update to the credits will arrive alongside a later content patch, but the exact timing is currently unknown.

Elden Ring and the DLC Expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, are available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and PC.

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Bandai Spirits has announced the launch of a new comprehensive brand called Rowtashii Noise, which aims to bring high-end collectible items to fans worldwide. This brand inherits the manufacturing techniques of the TAMASHII NATIONS line known for its collector's products for adults and is including figures for Oshi no Ko and Gintama for it's launch. The announcement was made on July 11, 2024. [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

Rowtashii Noise will introduce two new figure series: "Adokenette" and "Tekupiku. Adokenette is a 5-head-tall figure series that focuses on the concept of innocence. The figures feature poses that make it seem as if they are peeking out from behind something. The first Bandai spirits releases in this series will include Oshi no Ko in September, followed by Gintama in November. Each figure is priced at ¥3,960 (approximately $25 USD).

The Tekupiku series consists of chibi figures designed for portability, characterized by their large bag and eye designs. Figures from Bandai Spirits Gintama and Haikyu!! will be available starting in November. Each figure in this series is priced at ¥3,850 (approximately $24 USD).

Bandai Spirits plans to expand both series with various IP products and introduce new figure series in the future.

The first season of Oshi no Ko can be streamed on HIDIVE. Gintama and Haikyuu are streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post New Bandai Spirits Figures Include Oshi no Ko and Gintama appeared first on Siliconera.

Bandai Spirits has revealed a new SH Figuarts action figure modeled after Shinn Asuka from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom. The company will sell the figure in not only Japan but also the rest of Asia and the US. The figure will have a tax-inclusive price tag of 9,900 yen (~$61.25) in Japan.

This action figure will feature the depiction of Gundam SEED Destiny's original protagonist in the new movie that has been available to watch on Netflix and Prime Video since June 2024. Other than a gun, the package will also include a saber that Shinn used in a brief duel. In addition, the set will have multiple head parts with different facial expressions, including the series' iconic SEED eyes that are only available inside the helmet.

The owner will also be able to pose this figure together with SH Figuarts of other characters from the same entry, such as Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne. Bandai Spirits will also release an SH Figuarts of Athrun Zala in December 2024.

Here are some of the sample images for Shinn Asuka's SH Figuarts:

The SH Figuarts action figure of Shinn Asuka from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom will be available in Japan, the rest of Asia, and the US in January 2025. Bandai Spirits will open pre-orders for the product on July 12, 2024.

The post Gundam Seed Freedom Shinn Asuka SH Figuarts Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

SNK has announced that it will bring a new demo build of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves to Evo 2024. People who attend the annual fighting game tournament will be able to try out the new title ahead of its full release in early 2025.

This demo build will have the following five playable characters: Rock Howard, Terry Bogard, Preecha, Vox Reaper, and Marco Rodrigues. While the first three characters also appeared in the first demo build at Evo Japan 2024, Vox and Marco will replace Griffon Mask and Hotaru Futaba in the new list.

SNK is also preparing free merchandise giveaways related to the game in the venue. The company will give a neck strap to people who have filled out the demo's questionnaire. Visitors can also take a picture at SNK's photo spot and show it in an X post with the #FatalFury hashtag to get a beer bottle-shaped inflatable cheering stick.

The biggest highlighted merchandise will be fight stick buttons decorated with the game's characters. SNK will set up a versus spot using Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. Those who manage to defeat two other players in a row will be able to win one of the buttons. They must switch out after achieving the feat, although they can also return to get even more buttons.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will be available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store in early 2025. SNK will bring a new demo build of the Fatal Fury entry to Evo 2024, which will take place in Las Vegas on July 19-21, 2024.

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Fishing for cats, a new game by the indie developer xigehong, will make its way to Steam on July 25, 2024. The game is described as "a third person casual game where players fish in the park and attract stray cats," will be a realistic fishing sim set in a park full of cats.

The title, Fishing for cats, also describes the core gameplay loop. Players will be angling for fish and feeding it to the local cats in the park, building a relationship with the many cats they will encounter. You will also be able swim in the lake, go for pleasant jogs around the park, and roast fish to entice the many felines that will be roaming about.

You can take a look at screenshots from the game below:

For those looking for other cat-centric games, Little Kitty, Big City released in 2024. One of several titles featuring cats as a key fixture, this title will have you playing as a cat, instead of trying to curry their favor with fish.

Fishing for cats will release for PC through Steam on July 25, 2024.

The post Fishing for Cats Brings Park Fishing and Cats to Steam appeared first on Siliconera.

VShojo announced on its official social media that English auditions are now open for the independent Vtuber Agency. They will only be open until August 6, 2024, and people can apply at the official site.

The official VShojo Twitter announced that candidates will who apply will be ed one month after auditions close in August. It follows a similar announcement for auditions for new Japanese member from earlier in July 2024.

Those who audition must be over 18 years of age, provide their country of origin, and come up with a stage name. Applicants will need to provide information so that the company can get in touch with applicants should they make the cut. Candidates must prepare a two minute long audition video for VShojo as part of the audition process. The notice also stated that, while the company will and notify those candidates who make it past the initial round, ing the recruitment does not guarantee that the applicant will become a part of the company.

VShojo features Vtubers from multiple regions. Some of the most prominent include Ironmouse and Zentreya. The Japanese branch includes Kson and Henya the Genius. Meanwhile, Kuro and Michi Mochievee also represent the Asian branch. In addition, a number of independent Vtubers are also aided by the agency at times, such as Mint Fantome.

VShojo English Vtuber auditions are now open until August 6, 2024.

The post VShojo Vtuber Agency Opens New English Branch Auditions appeared first on Siliconera.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Producer Yoshinori Kitase, Director Naoki Hamaguchi, and Battle Director Teruki Endo will be attending Otakon 2024 for its 30th anniversary. This marks the first time these creators will visit Otakon. The announcement was made on Twitter.

You can view the official announcement post below, which includes a video message from Kitase and Hamaguchi: 

Otakon, known for celebrating Asian pop culture, will host Kitase, Hamaguchi, and Endo. It is unknown how involved the creators will be when present at the event, which runs from August 2-4, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The official site doesn't yet list a Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Otakon 2024 for them, but that should be updated on the schedule in the coming weeks.

For those new to the series, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a sequel and remake of the original FFVII, offering a fresh narrative while paying homage to the classic. It involves three parts, though only the first two are out now. FFVII

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is available on the PlayStation 5. The first entry in the remake series is on the PS4, PS5, and PC. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit the official Otakon website. The convention will be held from August 2-4, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

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On August 1, 2024, Mandalorian Bounty Hunter Jango Fett will return in a full remaster of the 2002 PS2 and GameCube game starring him. The release date was confirmed for this updated version of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, which will include textural overhauls and be playable on the PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

A trailer showcasing gameplay and the updated texture work debuted to show everyone what to expect. The game features mission-based gameplay, where you use all of Jango Fett's bounty hunting tools to accomplish jobs. Players will jetpack through areas, use Jango's twin blasters to fight off foes, and travel across famous Star Wars locales in pursuit of bounties. The game, focusing on the history of the famous Bounty Hunter and source of the Clone Troopers, shows the adventures he went on before becoming selected to be the Clone Trooper template.

The new Star Wars: Bounty Hunter release date trailer can be viewed here:

The rerelease is developed by Aspyr. Aspyr had a hand in Star Wars rereleases for a while now, porting the classic Star Wars: Battlefront games to modern consoles alongside the remasters of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. This game was also released exclusively for the PS4 in 2019, via a physical edition through Limited Run Games. It s the new Star Wars: Hunters hero-shooter.

The Star Wars: Bounty Hunter rerelease release date is August 1, 2024. It will be available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.

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Anycolor canceled the first-ever live Nijisanji concert in North America. Anime Expo 2024, originally going to hold the NIJISANJI EN SUMMER JAM on July 6, 2024 and a live concert, "Welcome to Wonder Wander World," on July 7, 2024, has announced that both of these live events will no longer be happening.

The press release, coming from the official Anime Expo site, did not clarify exactly why the Nijisanji live concert was canceled. This is also not the first time Nijisanji recently pulled out of a convention event. Nijisanji previously canceled an event at OffKai Expo in May 2024. Vtubers Millie Parfait, Enna Aloutte, and Reimu Endou were supposed to attend. The abruptness of this cancellation seems to be the main sticking point, with many people taking their laments to social media.

Nijisanji announcing that this first-ever live concert has been cancelded comes on the heels of a number of issues around Nijisanji's English Branch's decline and after the sudden departure of one of their talents, Selen Tatsuki.

While the Live concerts will no longer be happening, the NIJISANJI EN SUMMER JAM will be live streamed for free on the official Nijisanji Youtube Channel and according to Anime Expo, full refunds for the tickets will be offered and processed. In addition, Nijisanji has stated that they are working on special perks and offerings for individuals who purchased the tickets as an apology.

Anime Expo will be held from July 4-7, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

The post First-Ever Nijisanji Live Concert in North America Canceled appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix shared concept art of Kyrie Canaan from FFVII Remake. The artwork provides a look at an early design of the character, highlighting differences in her hair, socks, and shoes compared to her final in-game appearance.

Check out the Twitter post containing the concept art for Kyrie Canaan in the FFVII Remake below:

Kyrie Canaan appears in Final Fantasy VII Remake as part of several side quests. This concept art illustrates the changes made during development to her overall look, providing insight into the design choices that shaped her final appearance. Typically, this artwork is only available in their art book, Final Fantasy VII Remake Material Ultimania. However Square Enix has been sharing concept art through the official Final Fantasy VII Twitter for some time now, offering a look at the development process free of charge.

Previously, they shared concept art of Cloud's dress options, showcasing one of the three dresses Cloud can wear during the infiltration of Don Corneo’s mansion. Another piece of art features characters in their frog forms when inflicted with the toad status effect.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Its sequel, FFVII Rebirth, was released for the PlayStation 5 on February 29, 2024.

The post FFVII Remake Kyrie Character Concept Art Shared appeared first on Siliconera.

SuperGroupies released their latest collaboration with Hololive English, featuring merchandise, which includes a backpack and watch, inspired by Ninomae Ina’nis. The collection, which marks the fifth collaboration between the two brands, includes a range of fashion items designed to capture the essence of the popular VTuber. Reservations are now open and will remain open until July 8th, 2024. [Thanks, SuperGroupies!]

View the original announcement post below: 

The Ninomae Ina’nis Model SuperGroupies Wristwatch is priced at 24,200 yen (approximately $152 USD). Inspired by Ina's signature Necronomicon, this wristwatch features a leather belt with laser-etched tentacle patterns. The case back is engraved with a Takodachi, her mascot.

The Ninomae Ina’nis Model Outerwear is available for 25,300 yen (approximately $158 USD). This jacket features a tentacle motif on the back, pleats, and embroidery of Ina's hair ornament. The design uses her image color, purple, on the inside.

The Ninomae Ina’nis Model Backpack is priced at 22,000 yen (approximately $138 USD). This backpack incorporates purple and orange accents reminiscent of Ina’s costume. It includes a wide main pocket suitable for a laptop, and smaller sub-pockets for additional storage, making it both practical and themed.

Each item in the collection includes a special acrylic stand featuring new artwork by the artist Sakura-san.

The pre-order period runs from June 18, 2024, to July 8, 2024. For more details and to place reservations, visit the SuperGroupies website.

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