PopDojo Philippines

Your one-stop shop for everything POP! We write reviews, news, and editorials about the latest movies, shows, games, and more!

[popdojo]

PERSONA 5 TACTICA COLLABORATION CAFÉ COMING TO MANILA,  PHILIPPINES! 

SEGA is pleased to announce that a special collaboration café for  Persona 5 Tactica—an upcoming tactical RPG from ATLUS will be coming to Manila, Philippines.  Experience the full force of Persona 5 Tactica and try out the collaboration menu and special  activities to commemorate the launch of the latest title from ATLUS! 

Persona 5 Tactica Collaboration Café – Moon Rabbit Café & Restaurant 

Dive into the enchanting world of Persona 5 Tactica at our collaboration café! Indulge in a  delectable array of menu items inspired by the game and partake in special activities that bring  you closer to your beloved characters. Immerse yourself fully in the Persona 5 universe with  thematic decorations and find out which Persona 5 Tactica character you are with our special AR  filter. Join us for a limited-time experience in Manila, and don't forget to strike your best Triple  Threat pose at our café photo spot! 

For more information, visit the café or check out ATLUS SEA official Facebook page here.

[popdojo]

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Released Today!

SEGA is thrilled to announce that Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (hereafter referred to as Like a Dragon Gaiden) released today on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Steam!*

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a brand new story depicting the  continuation of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life from the perspective of Kazuma Kiryu. The story  features renowned cast members including Takaya Kuroda, Yasukaze Motomiya, Yoshiyuki  Yamaguchi, First Summer Uika, and Kim Jae Wook.

THE STORY OF KIRYU CONTINUES..

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a brand new story depicting the  continuation of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life from the perspective of Kazuma Kiryu. The story  features renowned cast members including Takaya Kuroda, Yasukaze Motomiya, Yoshiyuki  Yamaguchi, First Summer Uika, and Kim Jae Wook.

FIGHT LIKE A DRAGON!

While in combat, you can switch between two new combat styles: Pummel foes with Kiryu's  signature Yakuza style or employ gadgets to deftly take out your enemies using his Agent style. 

TAKE A BREAK AND SING A SONG!

In addition, there are various minigames available, including the Coliseum—the main attraction of  the Castle, a cabaret club where the five winners of the Live Hostess Audition will appear in live  action, karaoke with even more song options, Pocket Circuit and more!

NEW GAME, FAMILIAR LEGENDS.

The Legendary Fighter Pack* is a DLC that includes Goro Majima, Taiga Saejima and Daigo  Dojima. These three legendary yakuza from the Tojo Clan will participate in the Coliseum, located  inside the Castle. 

Who is truly the strongest? Find out in this intense battle between legends! 

(*Customers who pre-order the title by 11:59 PM on Nov. 8, 2023 (JST) will receive the pre-order bonus. The  bonus will be sold separately after this period. 

*In order to use this content, the main game “Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name” is required.  If the latest patch is needed to use this content, please update first before playing the game.)

BONUS CONTENT: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Special Demo Confirmed! 

A special demo for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will be included as bonus content with Like a  Dragon Gaiden!

This demo can be unlocked by completing Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name,  and it features special additional scenes that will not be included in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. 

*Internet connection required to play. 

What are you waiting for? Get the game now and find out what happened to Kiryu before the events of Yakuza: Like A Dragon and Infinite Wealth!

*Only digital versions of the Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition will  be released on the Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows,  and PC (Steam).

[popdojo]

ESGS Reaches 10th Year Milestone Celebrating E-Sports, Games, And Tech!

It’s that time of the year again – 3 days of video games, esports , tech and more.

The Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit, the Philippines’ premier video game, esports, tech and gaming pop culture celebration reaches a major milestone in 2023. In its 10th installment since its inception in 2014, the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit (ESGS) brings new additions and surprises to this year’s event through its back-to-back main presenter Globe Telecom, and with their major gaming convention comeback, platinum exhibitor Samsung.

Powered by GlobeReaffirming its commitment to the ever-evolving gaming community, Globe returns as the main presenter of the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit (ESGS) for the second consecutive year. The highly-anticipated event is slated to be held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City from November 3-5, 2023. Part of their return as this year’s main presenter are also amazing perks for Globe subscribers and ESGS attendees.

“Globe customers attending the event can expect exclusive perks such as a 5% discount on tickets, 10% discount on ESGS merchandise, an opportunity to win a 3-day pass by redeeming Globe Rewards points on GlobeOne app an express lane for attendees displaying a registered Globe SIM card, and complimentary GET bus shuttle services between the World Trade Center and three specific Ayala Malls”, says Mark Singson, Subcultures Manager for Gaming and Anime for  Globe Telecom. Mark also adds “There will also be a grant tailored for a standout game developer, cosplayer, or game merchant.”

Samsung is back!Samsung Electronics Philippines (SEPCO) is also one the main exhibitors for this year’s ESGS, and this is part of the technology leader’s vision to enhance the gaming experience across different platforms. SEPCO President Min Su Chu highlights, “We’ve seen how gaming has become intrinsic to the daily lives of enthusiasts and hardcore games. We want to encourage them to play their way and enter a new dimension of game play with Samsung. We are excited to show them our full suite of offerings in the ESGS.”

Among the Samsung gaming devices that gamers can look forward to in the ESGS include the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Z Fold5, the Tab S9 and the newly launched S23 FE and the Tab S9 FE – all designed to give mobile gamers leveled up gameplay wherever they may be. They can also check out the Samsung OLED TVs, which has been a market game changer due to innovations on picture quality and sound features, perfectly paired with the Q Soundbar for an enhanced cinematic & gaming experience. The Samsung Odyssey Display will also be part of the ESGS, with its curved screen sizes paired with tournament grade specifications for a personalized gaming setup. Gamers can try as well the Neo G9, which is the world’s first dual UHD monitor, and the Oled G9, the first dual QHD OLED Monitor.

Bigger and more to offer

ESGS 2023 is taking place in the World Trade Center, Pasay City. The venue is home to some of the biggest trade, culture and business events and expos in the Philippines. Beginning November 3, ESGS is livening up the legendary halls with special programs, tournaments, cosplay competitions, and exciting exhibitions from their partner brands including Globe Telecom, Samsung, JBL Quantum, Riot Games, ASUS Republic of Gamers, MSI, Tecno Mobile, RUMBLE ROYALE, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and many more.

ESGS 2023 also introduces new feature areas celebrating the various gaming interests. For the first time this year, the Cosplay Village is going to be set up with different showcases and competitions including the ESGS 2023 Cosplay Contest, guest panels, and meet and greet opportunities. Independent game developers are also getting the spotlight with Indie Fest to feature some of the country’s talented game creators and their demos for attendees to try out. ESGS also takes the opportunity to share gaming industry knowledge and opportunities at Gaming Class, with featured speakers from Ubisoft Philippines, Keywords Studios and more. New and improved this year is the ESGS Marketplace, featuring more merchants and even more artists selling their wares. And a new area last year, the Astra Arena is back with much-awaited tournaments - the Valorant tournament, JBL Quantum League for and the much-awaited League of Legends comeback tournament, the LoL Empyrean Cup.

Introducing the ESGS Creator Grants

As a part of the event’s 10th year milestone celebration, ESGS is giving back to the community that helped make the event as big as it is now. In partnership with Globe Telecom, ESGS 2023 introduces the Creator Grant program with rewards and incentives offered to various creators in the gaming field – Independent Game Developers, Cosplayers, and Artists and Merchants. The ESGS 2023 Creator Grants aim to highlight and encourage local creators to continue with their craft with up to PHP 500,000 in rewards and incentives. And together with Globe, Lenovo Legion also comes in to support Independent Game Developer Grant for a lucky Indie Fest participant.

The latest in tech at ESGS 2023

The annual celebration of games will not be complete without an amazing lineup of tech brands, each with their own showcase of latest offerings, products and activities. Lenovo Legion invites attendees to experience beyond performance with the latest in Lenovo Legion products powered by 13th Gen Intel Core H series processors and higher frame rates, the new Lenovo AI Engine+. JB Aquino, Lenovo Philippines Consumer Product Manager mentions, “2023 is shaping up as an exciting year for gaming with Lenovo. We're excited to see Legion fans again and showcase our latest and greatest in gaming innovation. Customers should definitely look forward to exciting product showcases at our booth, hot off our recently-announced product lineup from IFA 2023.”

MSI’s Gaming Booth is set to create an immersive experience for attendees with their cutting-edge technology and innovation that fuels the passion for victory, to offer a full range of MSI Gaming Motherboards, Graphics Cards, Laptops, Desktops, Monitors, Gaming Gears and other PC components. 

ASUS Republic of Gamers is also back this year with their showcase of gaming laptops, smartphones, desktop monitors, peripherals and accessories. Sean Agno, Product Marketing Lead of Gaming for ASUS Philippines says that they are “Excited to see all the faces of gaming in the Philippines and how the industry can come together to celebrate one thing - their passion for gaming. Seeing familiar faces, the excited crowd, and the amazing atmosphere of the venue hall. And the mere fact that every year the bar is set higher, I am really excited to see what this 10th Anniversary can bring.“

First time participant LG Electronics brings their range of gaming displays starting with the LG OLED Ultragear monitors. LG Electronics is looking forward to introducing this range of products to the Philippine esports and gaming community, aiming to raise the bar by providing cutting-edge technology and design in the gaming display category.

And also joining for the first time ever is TECNO MOBILE. TECNO recognizes how esports has become an integral part in the lives of Filipinos and are dedicated to provide our consumers the best possible gaming and entertainment experience through their smart devices, featuring top-of-the-line performance. This new partnership with ESGS gives TECNO MOBILE the platform to bring cutting-edge technology to the competitive gaming landscape in the Philippines and to gaming fans and communities, and to propel mobile esports and gaming to new heights.

JBL Quantum is also in ESGS 2023 inviting everyone to enter battles with confidence, explore new worlds, and perfect your play with their lineup of gaming audio. Available to test in their booth, JBL Quantum products are developed by designers and engineers passionate about immersing players into their favorite games, with audio that’s almost too good to be true. Attendees are invited to power up their devices and step into a new world, with captivating sound at every turn. Plus discounts of up to 50% will be available exclusive only in ESGS 2023.

More booths and showcases from brands and creators

ESGS will not be complete without the creators and other gaming brands. Premier Influencer agency RUMBLE ROYALE brings their roster of talents to ESGS 2023 for hosting, meet and greet and panel sessions. RUMBLE ROYALE is well known for developing rising talents, creating quirky, unforgettable content, broadcasting memorable gaming events and the most unique marketing and activation strategies.

The Pokémon Company is also joining this year and is thrilled to distribute Pokémon Card Fun Packs and playmats to all ESGS 2023 attendees. Pokémon cards provide everyone with the perfect opportunity to deepen bonds with friends, family, and partners. It will be exciting to see all participants unbox their packs, share their favorite cards, and challenge one another in battles, all while forging new connections and strengthening existing ones!

For Competitions, Riot Games brings major esports action to attendees with their presence in ESGS 2023. Riot  Games is excited to see the competitive fire within our Filipino League of Legends community burn bright once again. Since taking back publishing rights for both League and TFT early this year, Riot Games has sights on revitalizing our local efforts to enhance local play, beginning with reigniting the passion for competitive League play and introducing people to TFT during ESGS!

See you at ESGS! 

ESGS 2023 is on November 3-5, 2023 at the World Trade Center Manila, Pasay City. Tickets are available online via https://slashevent.com/e/esgs-2023. Tickets are also available onsite. For more information about the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit, please visit the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/ESGSPhilippines 

https://twitter.com/esgsphilippines

https://www.instagram.com/esgsofficial

https://www.tiktok.com/@esgsphilippines

ESGS is organized by Gariath Concepts, in partnership with main presenter Globe Telecom and Platinum Exhibitor, Samsung.

[popdojo]

Legendary Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Creates Animatronics in FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S Starring Josh Hutcherson!

From the global box-office hit “Hunger Games,” Josh Hutcherson stars in “Five Nights at Freddy’s”, a thrilling survival movie as he takes on the role of Mike, an unemployed security guard with a checkered past who has stepped up to become the guardian to his young sister!

From the horror game, the film now introduces the audience to a seemingly harmless set of animatronic stage performers in an abandoned amusement park that comes to life when darkness strikes.

With a lot on his plate, Mike accepts an overnight watchman gig at a shuttered Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, where the animatronic stage performers have a strange habit of moving about in the night.  When Mike was 12, his younger brother Garrett (Lucas Grant) was taken by an unknown man from a park while Mike and his parents were only yards away. Mike has been haunted by that event—and searching for his brother and his brother’s kidnapper—ever since. Even in his dreams. “Mike’s a guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders,” Hutcherson says. “He’s acting as this father figure, while at the same time dealing with his own deeply personal trauma.”

Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the world’s premiere creature effects house, created the animatronic and puppet effects for the film. They are the iconic creators behind such cultural touchstones as Sesame Street, Dark Crystal, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Babe. 

As for performing with the animatronic creations from the legendary Jim Henson's Creature Shop, Hutcherson says the experience was nothing less than jaw-dropping. "Watching them come to life was incredible,” Hutcherson says. “They have this texture and quality that only Henson can do. As an actor you actually get something physical and real to interact with. My character is supposed to be haunted by these things, and now I have a creature in front of me that, in the right light, is terrifying.”

Although the film has plenty of fantastical moments, Hutcherson focused on the humanity inside the story. “Because the world of Five Nights is larger-than-life, we wanted to find a way to ground these characters,” Hutcherson says.

Game creator and film producer Scott Cawthon was wowed. “Josh Hutcherson brought such a grounded realness to his role,” Cawthon says. “When I watch him, I really believe that this is a guy just doing his best to take care of his little sister. He is immediately likeable and relatable, and you want him to be successful in what he is setting out to do.”

From Universal Pictures (PH),  Five Nights at Freddy’s opens November 1 in cinemas nationwide. 

[popdojo]

ENDLESS Dungeon - Full Review

Pop Rating: Poppin' Hot! Perfect For: Roguelike enthusiasts and Hades lovers Where to Play: Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/X/S Age Rating: Everyone (Guns, Monster Blood)

Amplitude Studios revives a classic game with a new twist. Endless Dungeon is the sequel to Dungeon of the Endless and it's going to blow your mind…

"Are you dreaming or are you living?" ENDLESS Dungeon is an Endless (pun intended) loop of Survive, Die, and Revive. It is a twin-stick tower defense roguelike dungeon crawler that improves upon its predecessor's gameplay mechanics while having its own identity for the Endless franchise.

ENDLESS Gameplay

Aside from being obviously 3D - a far cry from Dungeon of the Endless' pixel graphics - Endless Dungeon did what should have been a feature from the start: Point and shoot. Something that its predecessor did not include but maybe that's just an overlooked feature that in retrospect would have increased player agency and survivability.

There's also a hub area for you and your gang to hang out with and read LORE if you're interested. Every character in The Saloon looks really interesting and at least one of them always has something to say and most of the lore can be read right next to the most adorable character in the roster, Cartie!

Being a roguelike, Endless Dungeon's maps are procedurally generated meaning you'll never probably see the same layout for every run. After every floor comes two branching paths and you can go whichever way you want. Each character has their own unique play style ranging from turret camping to rocking out and increasing your attack speed. So if you ever get tired of playing one character, you can switch to a different one. Or you can switch their chips that change how you play the game. Or if you want to add some spiciness to your gameplay, the Cafe's Beverage Challenges can add some specific modifiers to your game! I've never tried, and I've only unlocked one out of five.

They also ditched the character leveling from the first game for something much more dynamic. Chips and Weapon Mods! Using Cells gathered throughout the Station, you can spend them on semi-permanent boosts for your characters and permanent boosts for your guns!

ENDLESS Beauty

While it's not like other indie games that like to flaunt their art and lore, Endless Dungeon keeps theirs compact and are stored in little books that you can gather throughout your runs and read and watch them after your run.

Each Zone feels lived in (not just by the creatures) and distinct from one another. You'll find the Astral Zone to be similar to a giant base for spacecraft. Headquarters is this huge military museum. The Devotion Gardens is a large space for hydroponics. Even the Saloon, the main hub of the game, feels like it's jury-rigged for each person trapped inside, giving their own corner their own personal taste. Personally, I turned off Ray Tracing to give it a more cel-shaded feel and it looks much better and less draining on my setup.

As for the Music, it's electrifying- exhilarating even. Arnaud Roy decimates the Station itself with his engaging beats and synthful melodies while Lera Lynn relieves our hearts in the Saloon with her soothing vocals.

ENDLESS Multiplayer

I highly recommend you play this game with a friend or two and go dungeon diving. Unlike its predecessor where you can just switch between characters and let them do their own thing in their own rooms, Endless Dungeon forgoes finding other characters during your runs and lets you play with the characters you (and your friend) chose. From start to destruction. With eight playable characters to let you mess around with your friends, you'll either play well together or if you're playing too well together, sabotage each other. Shove your friends into a bug swarm! A little warning though, the difficulty changes for a 3-person team instead if you do a 2-person one.

While the previous game has you having your own pool of resources, this new game gives your team a shared pool. If you use the resources, everyone else will know, so let that be known.

Looking for a group is pretty weird. You can join strangers' games if they make their game public and you can join. But until the desired number of players is filled up, i.e. if the host sets it to 3 players instead of just 2 and there are only two of you in the server, you cannot go dungeon delving. And people can just leave your game anytime especially when crap hits the fan. What's up with that? But good thing I found two good people to play with.

ENDLESS Issues?

While Endless Dungeon isn't a bad game, in fact, it's a really great game and I didn't really experience major bugs, the worst things that happened to me were some selection options not picking up like whenever I select an Industry Generator, suddenly it's a Science Generator or a Food Generator. Geometry Collision is also a little iffy in that sometimes I or a different character would get stuck next to a cliff or a wall, and I'd need to go backwards to get out of it.

While visually stunning and graphically undemanding, a fresh install had my settings on Ultra with ray tracing on. But why set it like that in the first place and not have me decide if I want ray tracing on at launch? I dunno, just a nitpick pet peeve thing on my part.

The real issues come from Multiplayer. I've experienced issues where laser turrets are firing at nothing, red warning marks on the ground from an already dead mob, and the creme de la creme, network latency! But we've all been there, yeah? So I'm not getting into it.

ENDLESS Conclusion

Endless Dungeon is an amazing sequel to one of the best indie titles of 2014 and throughout its visual errors and technical jank, it's still a definite recommendation for everyone. These bugs and glitches are so secondary to the marvel of Endless Dungeon's awesome worldbuilding, intriguing lore, glorious gameplay, and vibing music, that you'll overlook the faults in it (Except for game-breaking bugs like an immortal boss). It's just that good of a game.

Get a copy of Endless Dungeon and fight endlessly through the Station with friends (or by yourself) now! You won't regret it!

[popdojo]

SEGA IS GOING TO ESGS 2023!

SEGA has announced details for their booth at two upcoming events. The first event is the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit (ESGS) held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila between the 3rd and 5th of November 2023! The second event is Indonesia Comic Con 2023 which will take place at the Jakarta Convention Center on the 4th and 5th of November 2023!

For the second consecutive year, SEGA will be having a showcase at ESGS and demos for Sonic Superstars, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Like a Dragon: Infinite ∞ Wealth, ATLUS's Persona 5 Tactica, and Persona 3 Reload will be available at the booth's demo corner.

Visitors who play the demos or participate in activities at the booth will receive a free gift!

Postcards for HATSUNE MIKU: COLORFUL STAGE!, which launched in Southeast Asia in September 2023, will also be distributed around the booth.

After ESGS, SEGA will then be making their debut in Indonesia Comic Con on the same month! Of course, they'll also have a booth with mentioned demos!

Whether you're in the Philippines or Indonesia, better check out the latest games that SEGA has to offer!

[popdojo]

The Lobby Holds First Physical Activation in Makati

The Lobby, Gariath Concepts’ online content hub on gaming and esports, home to shows Rage Quiz and Scream Stream, will be holding its first physical activation in collaboration with GG Truck, Mercato Centrale and Make It Makati. Happening on October 28-29 at the Mercato Central Makati located at Paseo de Roxas St. by the Ayala Triangle Gardens. The event invites everyone to a night of fun and excitement through dancing, retro gaming and of course, outdoor dining. This two-day happening is in partnership with local communities Just Dance PH and Pinoy Retro Gaming.

Day one is going to be all about movin’ to the groove as Just Dance PH gathers up their communities and opens up an outdoor dance floor for everyone to enjoy and dance through the music as if it was a party. Happening together with the Millennium Market, the Just Dance PH Dance Night will feature tunes and grooves from the 90s, with the dance and rhythm hits from the era filling the airwaves. Day two is also all about retro in collaboration with Pinoy Retro Gaming. As the name suggests PRG will be bringing everyone’s favorite retro games to play, and enjoy.

Aside from the gaming activities, Mercato Centrale’s Tastemakers, is simultaneously happening featuring cuisines made by Mercato Centrale food vendors. It’s a weekend of gaming, dancing and dining happening this October 28-29, 2023 in Mercato Centrale Paseo de Roxas St. Makati, Entrance fee PHP 50 and the event is from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

About Gariath Concepts

Established in 2015, Gariath Concepts has marked a position in the gaming industry, providing events and conventions that showcase the aspects of esports and video gaming to the community. It has also built good relationships with brands around the industry, providing excellent service and creative ideas. Some of its notable events include Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup 2021, MPL-PH Season 8, Tekken Online Challenge, TM Funlaro, Pinoy Gaming Festival (PGF), REV Major and Electronics Sports and Gaming Summit (ESGS).

[popdojo]

LIKE A DRAGON: INFINITE WEALTH Brand-New Trailer Unveiled at the Xbox Partner Preview!

SEGA showcased a new trailer, showcasing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's new mini-game Dondoko Island (Playstation®4, Playstation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Steam) has been unveiled at the Xbox Partner. The game is slated for release on January 26, 2024.

Watch the Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth new trailer featuring a new mini-game Dondoko Island here:

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a dramatic RPG that depicts the series' most compelling tale to date. Two beloved characters take the spotlight as dual protagonists in this adventure—Ichiban Kasuga, who has hit rock bottom once again, and Kazuma Kiryu, who faces one final battle as he enters his twilight years.

Experience one-of-a-kind combat with dynamic, fast-paced RPG battles where the battlefield becomes your weapon, and anything goes. With a plethora of new jobs, more in-depth customization, and plenty of ways to develop your characters, build the strongest party possible.

Protagonists: Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu

Ichiban Kasuga(Portrayed by Kazuhiro Nakaya) Hello Work, Contract Worker

“There's still a long road to go, but I'm making headway.”

The first hero of the story, Kasuga carries on Masumi Arakawa's legacy of rehabilitating former yakuza back into society, intent on not letting anyone fall through the cracks. Shocked to learn that his mother is alive and well in Hawaii, he goes in search of her. There, on that small slice of paradise, he once again crosses paths with the legendary yakuza—Kazuma Kiryu.

Kazuma Kiryu(Portrayed by Takaya Kuroda) Daidoji Faction, Agent

“Geez. How far has our hero fallen? Enough to make Masumi Arakawa cry.”

The second hero of the story Once a legend in the yakuza world, Kiryu now lives in secrecy as an agent for the influential Daidoji that operates in both the political and financial circles. On a mission for the faction, he pays a visit to Hawaii where his fate once again intersects with Ichiban Kasuga.

Turn Dondoko Island into a high-end resort!

The newly released trailer takes place on an islet called Dondoko Island, which is one of the minigames featured in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

Dondoko Island has earned a reputation for being the go-to place for illegal dumping. Change the island's image by destroying trash around the islet. The garbage you collect can be used to create DIY furniture and buildings. Transform Dondoko Island from a scrap heap to a five-star resort!

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has a ton of other fun minigames in store for you, so look forward to them!

Smash up garbage with a bat to tidy up the island. You can find materials to construct furniture and buildings.

Develop the island by adding furniture and infrastructure. You can even create familiar buildings from the series through DIY.

[popdojo]

Samba de Amigo: Party Central - New DLC is Out Now!

SEGA just shared that two new DLCs for Samba de Amigo: Party Central, The Phantom Thieves of Hearts and Virtual Singer Music Packs are now available! Details on the next DLCs releasing in November have also been revealed.

*The base game of Samba de Amigo: Party Central is required to run downloadable content. If the latest patch is required, please update first before playing the game. *All content and names are subject to change without notice.

Upcoming DLC Scheduled for October 26

Phantom Thieves of Hearts Music Pack

"Life Will Change"

"Rivers In the Desert"

"Colors Flying High"

Joker and Morgana Costume & Accessories Pack

Virtual Singer Music Pack

"Good-bye declaration"

"The Vampire"

"phony"

Upcoming DLC Scheduled for November 30

Amigo's Favorites Music Pack

"Take on me"

"Tubthumping"

"Do It Well"

Party Music Pack

"Spicy Beach BBQ -Sizzling Mix-"

"Happy Holidays -Jolly Party Mix-"

"World New Year -Funky Party Mix"

"Happy Birthday -Cake and Candles Mix-"

[popdojo]

The Sega Halloween Sale is Now Underway - Discounts of Up to 90% Off!

The SEGA Halloween Sale is currently underway at the PlayStation™ Store. For a limited time, select PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 titles will be available at bargain prices.

In celebration of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name—the newest installment to the series—releasing on November 9, Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be discounted by 66%. Other titles on sale include Sonic Frontiers—which received a massive free update called The Final Horizon at the end of September, adding new storylines and playable characters—and STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life, a vibrant remake of the title originally released in Japan in 2003.

Persona 5 Royal Remastered, an acclaimed title that comes with over 40 DLC, is also on sale.

Check the exclusive website to see what other titles are on sale! The SEGA Halloween Sale will last until November 17, 2023.

PS5™ – Ryu Ga Gotoku 7: Hikari To Yami No Yukue International

PS4™– Yakuza 6:The Song of Life

PS5™/PS4™ – Sonic Frontiers

PS5™/PS4™ – Persona 5 Royal

*Starting dates and prices may vary by store and region. Please confirm that the price has been discounted before making a purchase.

[popdojo]

Bond With Family and Friends With Trolls Band Together’s Delectable Mix of Classic and Original Pop Band Music

Trolls Band Together celebrates the full pop-music extravaganza fans love about the Trolls movies – and turns it all the way up in local cinemas on November 15.

While the previous film, Trolls World Tour, explored and highlighted myriad musical genres, Band Together emphasizes, appropriately, bands… together. “The music identity of this film is pop music, and more specifically, ‘family band,’” producer Gina Shay says. “This film celebrates family bands (e.g., Bee Gees and The Jackson 5) and boy-band music through the decades. Justin Timberlake (co-executive music producer and voice talent for Branch) and the music team wanted to honor pop through the decades. As the film progresses, we hear all the eras of family band music of the ’70s through the early 2000s. Justin does a brilliant job of weaving in and out of these classic covers and original songs to invigorate and immerse the audience in this experience.”

Among the original songs for Band Together are *NSYNC’s “Better Place” (the first musical release in two decades by the iconic boy band, of which Timberlake was a member) and the newly released “It Takes Two,” performed by various artists led by Anna Kendrick (Poppy) and pop star Camila Cabello, herself a former member of girl group Fifth Harmony and who voices a new character in the film.

Watch the It Takes Two Official Lyric Video here:

To ensure that the film stayed in-sync with Branch’s boy-band past, the filmmakers focused specifically on pop-centric sounds of the ’90s. “Branch and his brothers were in a pop-family band,” director Walt Dohrn says. “It was our mission to do a lot of pop this time. We brought in a number of collaborators to make sure that each sound fits into the narrative.”

The exciting challenge was commissioning original new songs that fit seamlessly into the musical landscape they were designing. “It’s hard to write original songs that stand up against classics we all love,” Dohrn says. “I feel the songs in this movie stand up to those.”

Timberlake has always been involved in the music of the Trolls movies and he was even more involved for this chapter. “Justin was essential in the last movie – working with all the different collaborators like George Clinton and Ludwig Göransson,” Dohrn says. “For Trolls Band Together, Justin had ideas with classic, familiar songs. We had even more collaboration with him on this film, and I’m excited to put the songs out into the world.”

In Trolls Band Together, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are back for an action-packed, all-star, rainbow-colored new chapter in the beloved Trolls franchise. After two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, Poppy and Branch are now officially, finally, a couple (#broppy)! As they grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favorite boyband phenomenon, BroZone, with his four brothers. BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and Branch hasn’t seen his brothers since. But when Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains, Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop-culture obscurity.

Featuring Trolls’ signature psychedelic joy-bomb of new and classic pop hits, Trolls Band Together stars a dazzling cast of musical superstars and comedic powerhouses as new franchise characters, including Troye Sivan, Eric Andre, Daveed Diggs and Kid Cudi, as Branch’s brothers and BroZone bandmates; Amy Schumer and Andrew Rannells, as the pop-star villains who kidnap Branch’s brother Floyd; as well as Zosia Mamet, RuPaul Charles, and four-time Grammy nominee and Latin Grammy winner Camila Cabello.

The returning cast includes Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kenan Thompson, Aino Jawo, Caroline Hjelt, Anderson .Paak, Ron Funches and Kunal Nayyar.

Tap into the beat before the new movie opens in cinemas with this sing-along of Kendrick and Cabello from the film’s lyric video trailer “It Takes Two”!

Get ready for another dose of infectious pop music when Trolls Band Together finally opens in cinemas November 15.

[popdojo]

ENDLESS™ DUNGEON Releases Brand New Song From Its Space Western Soundtrack!

It’s hard to believe that we’re just one week from the release of our rogue-lite tactical action game ENDLESS™ Dungeon on PC & Consoles! To get you in the mood, we have released a brand-new song ‘Endless’ from the soundtrack, written by singer-songwriter Lera Lynn (HBO’s True Detective) and Amplitude Studios resident composer Arnaud Roy (HUMANKIND™, ENDLESS™ Space, ENDLESS™ Legend).

ENDLESS™ Dungeon

ENDLESS™ Dungeon is tactical action rogue-lite game with a twist of tower defense. Play alone or with up to two friends in co-op as you try to make your way through the mysterious space station on which you find yourselves trapped.

Protect your crystal from waves of oncoming monsters. If it dies, you die, so be careful!

ENDLESS™ Dungeon OST

Tracks from our unique, interactive soundtrack are performed by the in-game band at the Saloon, where players get reloaded between runs to upgrade weapons, chat to locals and drink boosting beverages. As you progress, so does the band, unlocking more musicians and songs to get your toe tapping before you jump back into the Station and try again.

The band even features a 3D avatar of Lera herself, whose melancholy crooning is a lovely reward after a string of hard-fought battles.

ENDLESS™ Dungeon is releasing on PC and consoles on October 19th and the full soundtrack will be available on all streaming services. You can pre-save the soundtrack here.

We hope you enjoy!

-The Ampliteam

[popdojo]

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Gets 95% Fresh Rating On Rotten Tomatoes, Oscar Buzz

The reviews are in. “Killers of the Flower Moon” is “yet another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators,” reads the critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes. The popular review aggregator has given Scorsese’s highly anticipated film a 95% Fresh rating, out of 97 reviews.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon” will premiere in theaters around the world, including IMAX® theaters, on October 18.

Watch the trailer here:

Empire Magazine was very impressed, particularly with Scorsese, describing the film as “exceptional filmmaking, by an exceptional filmmaker,” and gave it 5 stars.

Collider praised the acting, calling “Killers of the Flower Moon” a “triumph for its leading cast” DiCaprio, De Niro and Gladstone.

Direction and acting weren’t the only ones that caught positive attention from critics. The Hollywood Reporter commended many aspects of the film, describing it as “a film as richly atmospheric as it is character-driven, heightened by the somber colors of Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography and the evocative details of Jack Fisk’s customarily scrupulous period production design.”

Deadline’s critic said that despite the film’s runtime of 3 hours and 26 minutes, “I never looked at my watch” and said that the film “feels truly epic in many ways, but all in service to the story.”

The New York Post was all praises too. “Good old reliable Marty pulls it off again, addictively unraveling a tale that’s almost too terrible to be true with panache, gusto and just the right amount of cultural respect,” they raved. “Plus, it’s phenomenally entertaining. Scorsese remains one of the very, very few directors who can craft an ‘important’ movie that’s also stylish and easy to devour.”

Positive reaction to “Killers of the Flower Moon” has also earned the film Oscar frontrunner status. The nominations have yet to be announced, but pundits are saying that the film will get nominations in all the major categories. “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a strong contender for best picture, directing for Scorsese, and acting for DiCaprio, De Niro, and Gladstone, all of whom have been garnering praise since the film’s debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year.

At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), “Killers of the Flower Moon” is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal. Also starring Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, based on David Grann’s best-selling book.

Hailing from Apple Studios, “Killers of the Flower Moon” was produced alongside Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. Producers are Martin Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and Daniel Lupi, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Sommer, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul serving as executive producers.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Connect with #KillersOfTheFlowerMoon and tag paramountpicsph

Photo and Video Credit: “Apple Original Films / Paramount Pictures International”

[popdojo]

SAMBA DE AMIGO: VIRTUAL PARTY Was Released Today for Meta Quest! Comes With a Unique Mode That Brings the Party to You

Samba de Amigo: Virtual Party released today on Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, and the Meta Quest Pro. This latest addition to the series makes full use of the Touch controller's intuitive design.

Shake your maracas to the rhythm and hit the targets while enjoying the colorful and gorgeous environments! New modes MR MULTIVERSE and MR PARTY fuse together the real world with virtual reality to bring you an out-of-this-world experience!

Claim “The Vampire” and More on Meta Store for a Limited Time Only!

Users who purchase Samba de Amigo: Virtual Party from the Meta Store will be able to download the hit song "The Vampire" free of charge. This limited offer is only valid until January 12, 2024, so be sure to not miss out on the offer!

You'll also be able to download both the Matsuken Samba II costume and the Meta Quest 3 Costume Pack for free.

The Digital Deluxe Edition is Available Now!

If you purchase Samba de Amigo: Virtual Party Digital Deluxe Edition from the Meta Store, you'll be able to acquire the following content:

The Standard Edition of the game

Sonic the Hedgehog Music Pack o “Open Your Heart” from Sonic Adventure o “Reach For The Stars (Re-Colors)” from Sonic Colors: Ultimate o “I’m Here” from Sonic Frontiers

SEGA Music Pack o “Baka Mitai (Taxi Driver Edition)” from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio o “Go Go Cheer Girl!” from Space Channel 5: Part 2 o “Rhythm Thief Theme” from Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure

Sonic the Hedgehog Costume & Accessories Pack

Tails Costume & Accessories Pack

Super Monkey Ball Costume & Accessories Pack

Puyo Puyo Accessories Pack

Space Channel 5 Costume & Accessories Pack

Additionally, you can also purchase the following downloadable content separately:

Sonic the Hedgehog Music Pack

SEGA Music Pack

Japanese Music Pack o “Kaikai Kitan” o “MATSUKEN SAMBA II” o “KING”

K-Pop Music Pack o “Dynamite” o “Permission to Dance” o “Cupid (Twin Version) – Sped-Up”

Virtual Singer Music Pack o “Good-bye declaration” o “phony”

[popdojo]

WONKA Serves up an Early Christmas Treat! Release Date Moved up to December 6 in PH, One Week Ahead of the U.S.

Step into a world of pure imagination, and get ready for an early Christmas present! 🍫🎁🎄 The release date for the much-anticipated “Wonka,” starring Timothée Chalamet as the beloved chocolate-maker, has been moved up to December 6 (formerly January 2024 yet) in international markets, including the Philippines. Thus, Filipino fans will be among the first to watch the film, which will be released locally one week ahead of the U.S.

Watch the new trailer:

About “Wonka”

Based on the extraordinary character at the center of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, “Wonka” tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today. “Wonka” is an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, all told with fabulous heart and humor. Starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role, this irresistibly vivid and inventive big screen spectacle will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time—proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.

Directed by Paul King, with a screenplay he co-wrote with Simon Farnaby. Produced by David Heyman, Alexandra Derbyshire and Luke Kelly.

Starring alongside Chalamet are Calah Lane (“The Day Shall Come”), Emmy and Peabody Award winner Keegan-Michael Key (“The Prom,” “Schmigadoon”), Paterson Joseph (“Vigil,” “Noughts + Crosses”), Matt Lucas (“Paddington,” “Little Britain”), Mathew Baynton (“The Wrong Mans,” “Ghosts”), Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water,” the “Paddington” films, “Spencer”), Rowan Atkinson (the “Johnny English” and “Mr. Bean” films, “Love Actually”), Jim Carter (“Downton Abbey”), with Oscar winner Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”). The film also stars Natasha Rothwell (“White Lotus,” “Insecure”), Rich Fulcher (“Marriage Story,” “Disenchantment”), Rakhee Thakrar (“Sex Education,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral”), Tom Davis (“Paddington 2,” “King Gary”) and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (“Paddington 2,” “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” “Mary Poppins Returns”).

In cinemas December 6, “Wonka” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #WonkaMovie

Photo & Video Credit: “Warner Bros. Pictures”

[popdojo]

Will You Rise Above Your Enemies to Become Egypt’s Next Great Leader? TOTAL WAR™: PHARAOH Is Out Now!

SEGA® and The Creative Assembly™ Limited. proudly announced the launch of Total War™: PHARAOH on Steam for Windows PC. A return to the historical roots of the iconic strategy game franchise, Total War: PHARAOH immerses players in the turbulent events of the Egyptian New Kingdom period where they’ll determine the fate of three great cultures as they fight for survival amid the cataclysmic Bronze-Age Collapse.

Watch the release trailer here:

REWRITE HISTORY IN YOUR VISION

A strategy game where turn-based civilisation management and real-time strategy battles collide, Total War: PHARAOH empowers players to rule an iconic Bronze-Age civilisation and rewrite history in their own vision. Manage your empire in matters of diplomacy, economy, and military strength, before commanding thousands strong legions of soldiers and war machines in intense tactical conquests across a vibrant recreation of this turbulent age.

Total War: PHARAOH - KEY FEATURES

Events Inspired By History: Experience an authentic recreation of Ancient Egypt and witness the death of Pharaoh Merneptah as you prepare your people to stand against the civilisation defining events of the Bronze-Age collapse.

Unearth Ancient Egypt: Uncover a beautiful and vibrant recreation of Ancient Egypt at the height of its power. From the fertile banks of the river Nile to the windswept, arid deserts of the Sinai Peninsula and the mountainous crags of ancient Anatolia, this magnificent visual reimagining brings the beauty and brutality of Egypt’s most tumultuous era to life.

Diverse Playstyles: Wage war with three unique Bronze-Age Cultures; the Egyptians, Hittites and Canaanites and choose one of their historical leaders to command your armies. Charm the courts as peerless diplomats, charge into battle as unwavering commanders or cause chaos as fearless warlords.

Conquer The Bronze-Age: Prove your legitimacy to become Pharaoh, or Great King, and expand your growing empire on a campaign map that spans the rich cultural hubs of Egypt, Canaan and Anatolia.

Near-Infinite Possibilities: With a brand-new Campaign Customisation feature, no two campaigns will ever feel the same. Determine how you play with an extended range of options, such as random starting positions for all factions, detailed resource settings, the ability to toy with natural disasters and much more.

Dynamic Weather: Enemy armies aren’t the only challenges to overcome on the battlefield. Lead your soldiers through sudden and dramatic shifts in weather, such as thunderstorms and sandstorms, and witness the tides of battle turn as it directly impacts the surrounding terrain.

Worship The Gods: Pledge your allegiance to the gods of this ancient world with nineteen deities to choose from, spread across each of the cultural pantheons. Show enough reverence to earn gameplay bonuses but disrespect them at your peril.

Newcomer Friendly: The new tutorial system is perfect for brand-new players and those requiring a refresher course on the mechanics of the game. Here players will learn basic and advanced techniques of generalship and engage in a narrative experience that leads into the main campaign.

And Much More: Emulate the deeds of past Pharaohs, customise your bodyguard, embark on grand sieges, manipulate the courts, fight back against the mysterious Sea Peoples invaders and much more.

EARLY ADOPTER BONUS

As an early-adopters bonus, players who purchase Total War: PHARAOH within the first week of its release can gain access to the Avatar of the Gods Cosmetic Pack, and the Heart of the Shardana Cosmetic pack. For more information regarding each, please visit the Total War: PHARAOH FAQ.

For more information about Total War: PHARAOH and the other Total War games in development, visit the Total War or Total War: PHARAOH website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to Total War’s YouTube channel for future news about gameplay videos.

About Total War™

With more than 42.5 million copies sold, Total War is one of the most established and critically acclaimed series in gaming. A drive for historical authenticity and superb gaming quality has helped establish the franchise as one of the most successful PC games of all time. Alongside the core historical-based games, the Total War series has expanded to include free-to-play mobile (Total War Battles™: KINGDOM), fantasy epics (Total War™: WARHAMMER®), and historical snapshots (Total War Saga™: THRONES OF BRITANNIA).

About The Creative Assembly™ Limited

The Creative Assembly Limited is one of Europe's leading games development studios, founded in 1987 and located in West Sussex, UK and in Sofia, Bulgaria. With a heritage of award-winning AAA titles, including the multi-million selling Total War™ series, Creative Assembly continues to build an impressive portfolio of games and world-renowned partnerships; working with Games Workshop on Total War™: WARHAMMER®, Twentieth Century Fox on Alien: Isolation, plus 343 Industries and Microsoft on Halo Wars 2. Creative Assembly has, with their exceptionally talented team of over 700, amassed a wealth of awards, including multiple Best Place to Work awards and recent accolades from BAFTA, Music+Sound and Develop’s Industry Excellence awards.

About SEGA® Europe Limited

SEGA Europe Limited is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. SEGA wholly owns the video game development studios Two Point Studios, Creative Assembly, Relic Entertainment, Amplitude Studios, Sports Interactive and HARDlight. SEGA Europe’s website is located at www.sega.co.uk

[popdojo]

Legendary Director Ridley Scott Brings to the Big Screen a Spectacle-Filled Action Epic in NAPOLEON

Ridley Scott’s brilliant filmmaking is unmatched. See the acclaimed director’s work on the big screen in Napoleon, starring Academy Award® winner Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby (The Crown, Mission Impossible movies), in cinemas November 29.

Watch Ridley Scott talk about his work in Napoleon in the “Real Filmmaking” vignette:

To prepare to shoot the movie, Scott assembled his team in a war room – which in this case was as literal a war room as can be when the subject is making a movie. With large-scale models of the sets for battles at Waterloo, Austerlitz, and Toulan, art department drawings, models, Scott – who is an excellent artist and has always storyboarded his own films – brought the entire team together to share his vision and direct his crafts team in the images he is looking to achieve.

On Napoleon, Scott would employ up to 11 cameras at once. Phoenix, who plays iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, was gratified by the opportunity to work again on a Ridley Scott set. “If we happen to get lucky and discover something, and there is a special moment where something was unplanned, then it’s almost guaranteed that Ridley has captured it,” he says. “To have that opportunity as an actor is really rare. Trying to chase something and recreate it is virtually impossible.”

“It allowed us to bring an improvisational nature to the way we worked,” says Kirby, who plays Napoleon’s one true love, Josephine. “You don’t need to remember the exact movements you did in the previous shot. It’s an opportunity for collaboration, as we would go and watch the monitor with Ridley and throw ideas out about what could be done differently.”

Shares production designer Arthur Max, a frequent collaborator of Scott’s: “There is no background with Ridley, no cheating; it’s all about scale and the density of detail. It’s like living in a painting – it is challenging, but also immense fun.”

Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by Scott, Napoleon captures the iconic French emperor’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed. The film opens in cinemas November 29.

Napoleon is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #Napoleon

Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”