The Simpsons Showrunner Addresses Apu Backlash

The Simpsons showrunner Al Jean has addressed the backlash for how the show dealt with the controversy surrounding Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.

Jean and the show were criticized for the recent episode "No Good Read Goes Unpunished," which dealt with the outcry over the stereotypical portrayal of one of the series' oldest characters in Apu (Hank Azaria.)

Before the episode aired, Jean tweeted, "New Simpsons in five minutes. Twitter explosion in act three." Jean followed up later by saying the show will try to find the right answer to the controversy. "I truly appreciate all responses pro and con. Will continue to try to find an answer that is popular and more important right," Jean tweeted.

Continue reading…

Gwent Will Be Revamped

The Gwent development team has announced significant changes coming to the digital card game.

A post on the game's official website details what's to come in the upcoming revamp, dubbed Gwent Homecoming, after stating the Witcher spinoff had "slowly drifted away from our original vision of standalone Gwent."

Some of the big changes include adjustments to core mechanics, such as adding benefits to cards placed in their preferred row, potentially getting rid of rows entirely, and fixing imbalances around turn order.

The team plans to revamp the player progression aspect and implement a new leveling system with suitable rewards while bringing back a greater focus on skill and player agency rather than RNG. Cards that aren't as balanced may still find a place in casual and Arena mode, which was added in February.

Continue reading…

Nightwing Leads New Titans Team After ‘No Justice’

DC's Titans series is returning and will deal with the aftermath of Justice League: No Justice.

CBR reports Titans #23 will see Dick Grayson/Nightwing recruit Donna Troy, Raven, Steel, Beast Boy, and Miss Martian to deal with the Metagene pandemic that was unleashed in No Justice. Titans #23 will also somehow tie-in with Teen Titans #20 (which is debuting a few weeks earlier) and Robin's version of the DC heroes.

Titans writer Dan Abnett will continue to pen the series, with art by Brandon Peterson. Ryan Sook and Brandon Peterson are doing the covers, with a variant cover by Stjepan Sejic. Titans #23 comes out on July 18. Check out the cover below.

Continue reading…

SEGA Genesis, Master System Games Coming to Switch

Classic SEGA games from the Genesis and Master System are making their way to Nintendo Switch.

During its annual SEGA FES event in Japan, the company announced a new initiative to bring classic games—including Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, and Thunder Force 2—to Nintendo's console under the Sega Ages label.

As reported by Polygon, over 15 games from SEGA's library of classics will be released on the Nintendo Switch eShop in Japan. There's currently no word on if/when the initiative will expand to those in the west.

Continue reading…

SEGA Mega Drive Mini Console Announced

SEGA has unveiled its new Mega Drive Mini console, which will be released in Japan later this year.

The console was announced in Japan during the company's annual SEGA FES event. Details regarding which games will be included in the (tentatively titled) SEGA Mega Drive Mini have not yet been revealed. A photo of the console being held, as well as a close-up image of the device, were posted on the official Japanese SEGA Twitter account.

DatS5VxUMAA45nu SEGA Mega Drive Mini, via Twitter

Continue reading…

Shenmue 1, 2 Being Re-Released on PS4, Xbox One, PC

Shenmue and Shenmue II are coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2018, SEGA announced today.

While specific graphical enhancements weren’t detailed, the publisher says the upcoming re-releases will be the "definitive version" of each game. These new versions will include "fully scalable screen resolution," PC graphics options, and an updated UI. Players will also have the choice between modern or classic controls, as well as original Japanese or English voiceovers.

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be available both digitally and at retail, while the PC version will be released via Steam. Preorders for all versions will go live "soon."

Continue reading…

Darksiders 3, Biomutant Publisher Skipping E3 – to Watch the World Cup

Darksiders 3 and Biomutant publisher THQ Nordic is skipping E3...because its employees have plans to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The company announced via a recent blog post it won't attend E3 2018 because it doesn't want to miss one of the biggest sporting events, which kicks off in Russia on June 14. E3 2018 takes place from June 12-14 in Los Angeles.

THQ Nordic will instead show its upcoming game lineup, including Darksiders 3, Biomutant, Wreckfest, and Fade to Silence at other events later this year. This includes Gamescom, which takes place in Cologne, Germany from August 21-25, and at PAX West in Seattle, taking place from September 1-4.

Continue reading…

Let Us Catch You Up on Fear the Walking Dead Before the Season 4 Premiere!

Interested in watching Walking Dead spinoff series Fear the Walking Dead now that it's undergoing a bit of a time jump/reboot but you've either never watched an episode or you've fallen drastically behind? No worries, we've got you covered!

It's an easy bet you won't have time to binge all three seasons before Fear's Season 4 premiere this Sunday, April 15th, following the Season 8 finale of The Walking Dead, so we've compiled a slideshow filled with the greatest hits from the series so that you can enter the new season all caught up.

Not only does Fear the Walking Dead have new showrunners in Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chamblis, but Lennie James' Walking Dead character, Morgan, is switching shows and joining the series as a core character. On top of this, Garret Dillahunt, Maggie Grace, and Jenna Elfman are also on board as new series regulars as Fear, which has always taken place in the past when compared to The Walking Dead, jumps the story up to the present.

Continue reading…