Ubisoft Toronto Founder Departs from the Company

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Written by Dustin Murphy

Jade Raymond Twitter

Yesterday morning we received an email that had stated that Jade Raymond, founder of Ubisoft Toronto has parted away from the company, and in turn she is pursuing new careers. In this transition, Ubisoft has appointed Alexandre Parizeau to the position of Managing Director of the Toronto Studio. During Raymond’s time at Ubisoft, she was most well known for her roles as producer on the first Assassin’s Creed title (2004-2007), but also served as the executive producer on Assassin’s Creed 2 (2008-2009) and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist (2010-2013). She had also opened the Ubisoft Toronto studio where she served as the managing director of it since 2009. This is the very role she is turning over to Mr. Alexandre Parizeau starting October 29th, 2014.

“I’ve spent 10 extraordinary years at Ubisoft, and I am proud to have been part of many of the best teams in the industry making truly remarkable games,” said Raymond. “This is one of the hardest decisions of my career, but the Toronto studio is strong and on a solid path. I’m confident that now is a good time for me to transition leadership of the studio to Alex and to pursue my other ambitions and new opportunities. Stay tuned for more on what’s next for me, but for now, I’d like to thank Ubisoft for its partnership through the years, and I wish them the very best in all their next endeavors.”

With her career spanning over 15 years in the gaming industry, Alexandre Parizeau will be demonstrating his capabilities as part of the studio’s core members, but also his capabilities as a team builder and leader. Within his timeframe he worked on projects such as Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Black List, Splinter Cell Conviction, but also Rainbow Six. All of these he served as producer and or senior producer on their projects. As he transitions into this position, he will be reporting to Yannis Mallat, Ubisoft’s CEO of the Montreal and Toronto studios. Mallat will oversee the continued growth and continuation as a game development location. In turn, Mallat will also help oversee and be a key contributor to some of the biggest brands to come out of Ubisoft. This also includes and is not limited to titles that have yet to be announced.

“On behalf of Ubisoft, I’d like to thank Jade for her leadership and many contributions over the years, and wish her all the best in her next adventures,” said Mallat. “The Toronto studio is a key part of the Ubisoft global network, and Alex has been at the heart of the studio’s growth over the years. He was the obvious choice to lead this talented group of people as they continue to develop amazing games.”

More information about Ubisoft Toronto can be found here for those who wish to read more about the studio itself: http://toronto.ubisoft.com/en

Special Note from the author: We at Blast Away the Game Review want to congratulate Jade Raymond on her accomplishments and the amazing titles she had worked on. We also can’t wait to see what her future holds. We would also like to welcome Alexandre Parizeau into the newly obtained position and can’t wait to see what comes out.

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Prepare to Cook with Senran Kagura Bon Appétit This November

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Written by Dustin Murphy

SENRANKAGURA Bon Appetit! logo

 Ready to see how the characters from the Hanzō, Gessen Girls’ Academy, and Heibjo Clandestine Girls Academy can cook? We will be seeing this as the game launches on November 11th, 2014 for North America through the PlayStation Network. Unlike Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus, this game will not be launching physically like the previous title. Additionally, XSEED Games has also stated that the Gessen x Hebijo expansion will follow on November 25th, which will put both the Gessen x Hebijo expansion pack will release on November 25th. This will implement the other two academies into the title. This will bring the games total roster to a size of 20 shinobi to choose from. This expansion will also include a soundtrack app, which will include the songs for each character.

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 So what goes in in this game? Like before, the game carries on the games insanely silly and outrageous combos along with tempting specials and offbeat humour into a fast-paced rhythm game, which is set to a soundtrack of upbeat and fun Japanese songs while all the while cooking! The game will be released as a spin-off from the base series of which it comes from. This game will continue the story with the grand rivalry between the ever-competitive filled shinobi school-girls. This will include them taking a break from their ever-going fighting situation that has been going on. This time around they are cooking some amazing Super Dishes for their guests to eat from, all of this being hosted by shinobi master Hanzō himself. What is their prize? A magical scroll he has promised to them through his first ever “Super Dish Gourmet Cook-off”.

 For those who purchased Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus, be prepared for some awesome gifts! Importing their costume and character from the previous title, characters will be able to use their DLC in Bon Appétit! This will also allow them to import the two playable bonus characters Daidōji and the masterful Rin. Both of these characters will include complete new visual novel scenarios, music, and battles. In order to use Rin’s content, the Gessen x Hebijo DLC must be purchased.

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 So are you interested? In order to enter the cook off, Meterosie, developing alongside Marvelous Inc. of Japan have developed this game exclusively for the PlayStation Vita. The game is being published by XSEED Games for North America and will be available November 11th while the DLC will launch November 25th, 2014. Marvelous Europe will launch the game digitally in Europe on November 12th, 2014. The game will be priced at 14.99 USD while the DLC will be available as well for 14.99 USD. The game has been rated M for Mature in North America, 16+ by PEGI in Europe, and MA15+ in Australia. Stay tuned for our upcoming review.

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Samurai Warriors 4 Releases on PlayStation Consoles

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Written by Dustin Murphy

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Launching today on the PlayStation family of consoles, Samurai Warriors 4 has now launched in North America. Samurai Warriors 4 launches as the newest entry to seek out the tactical action that over 34 million players have managed to experience within its ten year history and on the 10th anniversary of the series.  This newest entry is a new chapter in the Warring States saga that many players are familiar with, this also includes the first installment to be released on the PlayStation 4. The title has now released on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita.

“With every new installment, we strive to bring great advances to the series, making it even more immersive and exciting for players,” said Hisashi Koinuma, Producer for SAMURAI WARRIORS 4. “We are so thankful for the devoted supporters who have waited four years for SAMURAI WARRIORS 4, our greatest hope is that players feel like they are truly making their own mark on history.”

“We couldn’t be happier with what we’re delivering to honor the 10th anniversary of this revered tactical action franchise,” said Amos Ip, SVP and General Manager of KOEI TECMO America. “With its debut on PlayStation 4, a multitude of new content and the Special Anime Pack, we’re confident SAMURAI WARRIORS 4 offers a satisfying experience for both longtime fans and newcomers to the series.”

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Boasting a large roster of 55 playable characters, the game includes warriors new and old, which also features them in a new way; upgraded graphics and new or rearranged battle moves. This will allow you, the player, to exterminate enemies in more rapid ways than before, but all the mean while using a powerful Rage Attack and deadly finishing moves with the Mighty Strikes capability. For those who are familiar with the series, Samurai Warriors 4: Special Anime Pack has exclusively launched on the PlayStation 4. This game includes a large bit of content that includes content from Samurai Warriors: Legend of Sanada anime, the official soundtrack and several DLC packs that are there to help celebrate the games 10th anniversary as well as the games packaging.

Samurai Warriors 4 is developed by Omega Force and published in North America by KOEI TECMO America.  The PlayStation 3 and PS Vita system versions are available for digital download through the PlayStation® Store for $49.99 and $39.99, respectively. The PlayStation 4 standard edition (physical/digital) is available for $59.99 and the Collector’s Edition Samurai Warriors 4 4: Special Anime Pack is available at participating retailers for $74.99. For those looking to purchase the game, please note that it is rated T for Teen by the ESRB in North America.

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Spellbind Studios Gives a Glimpse at Crafting in Rogue Wizards

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Written by Dustin Murphy


Crafting, fighting, and even forging is going to be an amazing portion to Rogue Wizards. This will allow you to use the Forgestone and Cauldron crafting systems that have recently managed to push their way into the game! What will this do? Let you become more of a powerful nemesis for your enemies. So lets get to it and let you take at a look in this upcoming title that seeks to invade your PC, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms soon!

“We’re excited to offer our growing base of supporters and fans a closer look at our crafting system via the Forgestone and Cauldron, which complement the procedurally generated dungeon and loot systems in Rogue Wizards,” said Spellbind Studios founder Colin Day. “Our project has secured approximately half of its goal, which is a great milestone for us. We’d like to thank our community for helping us get this far and ask for their continued support in spreading the word of our project over the next few weeks to help make Rogue Wizards a reality.”

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While viewing or after viewing the video, don’t forget to head over to the Kickstarter page and donate to bring this game to consoles and handhelds near you! The campaign on their Kickstarter page ends on November 11th: Rogue Wizards on Kickstater.

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

GamerGate Controversy Notice:

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 Due to many attacks on both sides of the fight has occurred, we want to let you – our readers know where we stand on this. We do not support nor partake on either sides of this ‘fight’. With this, we will not be partaking or covering anything to do with GamerGate and will not be joining the tirade of opinion editorials that have been hitting the stream lately from some of the industries biggest voices in journalism and criticism. This in turn means we will also not be doing any takes or thoughts regarding this. We want to apologize if this infuriates or bothers any of our readers. This is because we do respect the community as a whole and support the growth as well as the prosperity of the unique media that we are fortunate to experience.

If we are asked by the PR teams we work with, we will respond to them accordingly, but in the privacy of our own homes or personal offices where we ‘work’. Our reviews, articles, and editorials are purely based on our take, the information we get, and how we as a team believe would be best written for you, our readers. With this being said we will operate as we always have. This includes our thoughts, our criticism, and our editorials. We appreciate your continued support in following us, but also your criticism we may receive privately or in our comments.

Best,

Dustin Murphy
President and Founder of Blast Away the Game Review

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Wired Productions Announces Tiny Troopers Joint Ops for PSN

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Written by Dustin Murphy

TinyTroopersJointOps_01

Prepare to take on a new bite-sized arcade shooter exclusively to PlayStation Network. Developed by an independent video games publisher, Tiny Troopers Join Ops seeks to dominate games on your PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Releasing sooner on PlayStation 3 and Vita, Tiny Troopers Joint Ops will be taking on the strike mission starting October 28th with PlayStation 4’s version to follow at a later date. The cost? A easy to throw down 7.99 USD.

Releasing with some of the fan favourite features from the hit titles Tiny Troopers 1 and Tiny Troopers 2: Special Ops that were developed by Kukouri Mobile Entertainment, which has sold a combined total of eleven million downloads worldwide. That alone being quite the impressive feat and Tiny Troopers Join Ops looks to have a share in an increased player base.

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So what’s new here? Tiny Troopers Joint Ops looks to incorporate new features as well as the well known Cross Buy feature that Sony has become heavily supportive of as well as Cross Saving between all three versions so that players can play on the go. The newest title will also feature newly designed control setups that are made exclusively for each of the games formats to help with each of the formats that the title can be played upon.

What can you expect when purchasing the title? Over 50 mind-bending mini-maps, which also includes a Zombie Survival Mode that has online leaderboards. Ready to see how many zombies you can pick apart? Purchasers can also recruit specialist mercenaries such as Medics, Machine Gunners and the Elite Delta Force that will also help players mow through enemy forces for those wanting to enjoy the games new twin-stick arcade control system. Sound familiar? It should thanks to other indie titles using the same system.

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About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Pre-Order Bonus for Company of Heroes 2: Adrennes Assault Announced

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Written by Dustin Murphy

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 Sega of America, Inc. and Sega Europe Ltd. have announced that those who pre-order Company of Heroes 2: Adrennes Assault has been announced. Those who pre-order the game will get an all-new Company known as “Fox” Company. Who are they? A band of Rangers who are led by Captain Monte Durante and will sit in combat beside the other three companies. This includes Airborne, Support, and Mechanized. As many know; you can choose up to three companies on a campaign to play-through; each of them being unique to their play style, specializations, abilities and Office. So what does this mean? Prepare to take on the enemy with an all new setup to your combat preparedness.

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 “We are really excited to offer such a substantial piece of content to those who pre-order!” said Alex Price, Brand Director at Relic Entertainment. “There are a huge amount of playthrough options for Ardennes Assault already, but the inclusion of Fox Company adds even more variety to the game.”

Just with his excitement, players should be prepared to pick up the expansion and or the series while they are at it. Company of Heroes 2 is currently 75% and Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies is 66% off till tomorrow morning at 10am PST. Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is being developed by Relic Entertainment and Published by Sega America and Sega Europe. The title is slated to release on November 18th, 2014 on Windows PC through digital download platforms.

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Prepare to Draw Your Swords with Shin Megami Tensei IV Europe

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Written by Dustin Murphy

Shin Megami Tensai IV Screenshot 01

 Do you have the patience, the virtue, and the honor to be a Samurai of Mikado? Prepare to show the elders that you have what it takes to pass their challenges that a virtuous samurai must overcome. As the first numbered title in the franchise, Shin Megami Tensei IV seeks to immerse Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand via the Nintendo eShop as a digital download starting October 30th. The price? €19.99/£17.99 respectively.

Overtime the DLC will be released over the span of a month following the games release. This will include armor and customization packs, stages to help boost XP, money, and much more, but also end-game content that will also add new standalone content for you Samurai of Mikado to explore. Will this be enough to drive you all into purchasing the game as it prepares to release?

For information please head over to the official Shin Megami Tensei IV Website: http://www.atlus.com/smt4

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Updated – Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Release Date Possibly Leaked on PSN

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Written by Dustin Murphy

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Update: With a response from Capcom, we’ve learned that the date is merely a placeholder and no date has truly been given as of yet for Resident Evil: Revelations 2. We will let you know once a date has been firmly been established. For more information: http://www.capcom-unity.com/gregaman/blog/2014/10/14/psa-resident-evil-revelations-2-release-dates-still-unconfirmed

 One of the first episodic games to come out of the Resident Evil franchise looks like it could be headed our way sooner than later. According to the PlayStation Store, the episodic title could be sneaking its way to the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, XBox 360, XBox One and PC starting February 17th, 2015.

On the official PlayStation Store listing, Sony also goes onto state that the complete season will cost 24.99 USD, which will feature all four episodes that are soon to launch. With the pre-order players will get an exclusive raid mode that is to include an exclusive “Raid Mode ‘Throwback’ Stage Pack” simply for pre-ordering. Do take note that this is not a date that has been officially released by Capcom.

We have reached out to our contacts at Capcom for an official statement regarding the PlayStation Network Listing and will update this once we hear back.

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation Announced for North America

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Written by Dustin Murphy

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 Gamer’s, get ready for a new chance to enter the world of Gameindustri. Idea Factory International has finally released the first set of English screenshots for Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation. This entry was developed around the premises of Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, which released on the PlayStation 3.

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 Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 carries a new story, new battle system, new voice acted characters, and all new playable characters that seek to bring a refreshing and new gameplay experience to fans new and old to the series. Idea Factory International has also announced that the game will be launching in early 2015 for both North America and European markets. The game will release in both physical and digital formats. This release is exclusively for the PlayStation Vita.

Stay tuned as we prepare for our review of Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;birth1 coming soon.

About the Writer:

DustinMurphyDustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.