UK Deals – The Evil Within for only £7.99
Nintendo Issues Statement About Fire Emblem ‘Gay Conversion’
Nintendo has issued a statement clarifying how the Western version of Fire Emblem fates differs from its Japanese counterpart.
In a statement to Siliconera, Nintendo said the following:
“Making changes is not unusual when we localize games, and we have indeed made changes in these games,” says Nintendo. “When we localize a game we do so in order to make it appropriate for that particular territory. All our choices were made from that point of view.
“In the Conquest edition a male main character created by the gamer can pair up with another male character (Niles) which ultimately leads to marriage. Similarly, in the Birthright edition, a female main character created by the gamer can pair up with and eventually marry another female character (Rhajat). Like married couples of the opposite gender, these same-sex couples enjoy the stat boosts that come with marriage, which means when they are paired up in battle they are stronger than when they are apart or paired up with another character.
Shadow Puppeteer for Wii U Gets a Release Date
Shadow Puppeteer is coming to Wii U on January 28.
Developed by Sarepta Studio, Shadow Puppeteer is a co-op puzzle-platformer where players control a boy who’s been separated from his also-playable shadow. Puzzles may involve traversing real world objects as the boy, or manipulating a light source to move around a two-dimensional world as the shadow.
If you mix the atmosphere of Limbo with the 2D elements of A Link Between Worlds then wrap it in a Tim Burton aesthetic, you’d be along the right tracks.
Shadow Puppeteer features both single-player and couch co-op, and will retail for $15 in the U.S. and €15 in Europe. If you want to see more of the game, be sure to head on over to the IGN Shadow Puppeteer channel.
Destiny’s Next Update Is an Ode to Valentine’s Day
Bungie has announced that Destiny's next update will focus on "celebrating the rare variety of companionship that can only be found in the heat of battle." The event is called Crimson Days, and starts February 9—just in time for Valentine's Day. Expect the event to be similar in size to Festival of the Lost, Destiny's Halloween event.
Crimson Days brings not only bug fixes and improvements, but a new 2v2 Crucible mode as well—Crimson Doubles. We'll receive more information about the new mode with the next weekly update. For now, Bungie tells us just that it's "born of new gameplay and mechanics that only battle-tested star-crossed lovers will appreciate."
WB and DC Show Off Batman v Superman Merchandise
Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Comics have teamed up to bring Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice from the big screen to the real world by way of a huge licensing and merchandise initiative.
DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson said her company is "thrilled to be partnering with licensees around the world to support the film."
Mattel is the master licensee for toys related to the upcoming movie, which means toy stores will see an invasion of characters from the movie, including figures in the Mattel Multiverse line, "which captures the superior accuracy and details of the film’s characters."
Other toys to look forward to are LEGO sets, Funko Pop! figures, high quality statues, and a voice change helmet so you can go around asking everyone you know if they bleed. There's also an 18-inch figure from NECA, and other toys coming from "Hot Toys, Kotobukiya, SquareEnix, Medicom Toy, Prime 1 Studio and Union Creative."
The Continuing Appeal of The X-Files
The X-Files was a hugely successful series, crossing over from cult sci-fi series to bonafide hit, running nine seasons in the process (and resulting in two feature films). That being the case, it’s a big deal that FOX has re-assembled creator Chris Carter and stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson for a new, six-episode limited series.
I spoke to Carter about what it was like returning to The X-Files after so long and the continuing appeal for both him and the other original X-Files writers he re-assembled - using the first and sixth episode to tell mythology-heavy episodes, while episodes 2-5 are standalone installments, delving into the horrific, creepy and even highly comical (see Darin Morgan’s third episode!) realms the series is known for.
Mario 3D World Headlines Week 2 of Nintendo’s Winter Sale
The second week of Nintendo's Winter Warm-Up Sale has begun, offering discounts on an array of platforming titles for Wii U and 3DS.
This week's theme is "Jumpin' Fun," and as such, Nintendo has discounted some of Wii U's most popular platformers, including Super Mario 3D World and Rayman Legends, which are currently available for $42 and $28, respectively.
Also on sale for Wii U is the original Donkey Kong Country, which is just under $6, and Game & Wario, which has been marked down to $21. Meanwhile, 3DS owners can pick up SteamWorld Dig for $5 and Sonic Generations for $21.
You can check out all of this week's deals over on the Nintendo eShop.
The Martian’s Benedict Wong Joins Doctor Strange
Prometheus and The Martian actor Benedict Wong has joined the cast of Doctor Strange.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wong will play Doctor Stephen Strange's sidekick and manservant who, coincidentally, is also named Wong.
For those unfamiliar the Marvel character, Wong is the descendant of a Chinese monk named Kan who studied the occult. In addition to being a healer, he's also skilled in martial arts and protects Strange's body when the Sorcerer Supreme is off in another dimension.
Rock Band 4 January Update Delayed
Rock Band 4's January update has been delayed by a week, and is now the game's February patch. No official date has been announced, but Harmonix promises that it'll be released during the first week of the month.
As discussed in December this update will fix score exploits, allow leaderboard postings for Play a Show mode, and improve audio quality. The February update will also launch Rock Band 4's new Psychonauts themed-gear, available for free in the Rock Shop.
Last week we showed off new #Psychonauts helmets for your RB characters, available in the Rock Shop soon! pic.twitter.com/Iae2RC9euh
Deadpool Has a Message for the People of Australia
Ryan Reynolds' Merc with a Mouth has a few choice words for the people of Australia.
To honour Australia Day on January 26, Deadpool waxes lyrical on our proud nation's criminal past, Hugh Jackman, and predilection for "blackout drinking" in a new video. Check it out below.
The video is in line with 20th Century Fox's 'cheeky' marketing for its upcoming R-rated superhero flick.
Deadpool opens in theaters on February 12, 2016.
Lucy O'Brien is Entertainment Editor at IGN’s AU office but is a proud New Zealander. Follow her ramblings on Twitter.