The Book of Nod

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The Book of Nod
Author
LanguageEnglish
SeriesWorld of Darkness
PublisherWhite Wolf Publishing
Publication placeUnited States
Pages134
Followed byRevelations of the Dark Mother 

The Book of Nod is an epic poem written by Sam Chupp and Andrew Greenberg and published by White Wolf Publishing in 1993. Based on the tabletop role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade and the World of Darkness series, it centers on Caine, the biblical first murderer.

[1] [2]

Summary

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[3]

Production and release

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The Book of Nod was written by Sam Chupp and Andrew Greenberg,[4] and was published by White Wolf Publishing in 1993[5] in the form of a softbound 134-page book.[4]

Reception

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Magia i Miecz praised the artwork, calling the book "beautifully illustrated".[6]

Casus Belli described it as Vampire: The Masquerade's equivalent to the Necronomicon.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 117. Excelsior Publications. December 1998. p. 15.
  2. ^ Appelcline, Shannon (2014). Designers & Dragons: The '90s (2nd ed.). Evil Hat Productions. pp. 7–52. ISBN 978-1-613170-84-7.
  3. ^ Konzack, Lars (2015-10-17). "Mark Rein•Hagen's Foundational Influence on 21st Century Vampiric Media". Academic Quarter. 11. Aalborg University: 115–128.
  4. ^ a b McCubbin, Chris (1994-08-01). "The Book of Nod". Pyramid. Steve Jackson Games. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  5. ^ Bassingthwaite, Don (1999). "Revelations of the Dark Mother". SF Site. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  6. ^ "Panorama ŚM". Magia i Miecz. No. 5. Wydawnictwo MAG. 1999. pp. 6–8.
  7. ^ "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 80. Excelsior Publications. April–May 1994. p. 14.

WTA Heart of Gaia

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https://archive.org/details/PCXL09May1999/page/n53/mode/2up

Death March Club
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Izanagi Games
Release2020
Genre(s)Action-adventure

Death March Club[a]

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-10-03-heres-your-first-look-at-death-march-club-the-new-game-from-the-danganronpa-and-zero-escape-devs https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/4/17936360/death-march-club-too-kyo-games-danganronpa-zero-escape https://gematsu.com/2018/10/death-march-club-details-story-characters-reycho-and-vanilla http://www.siliconera.com/2018/10/04/death-march-club-gets-its-first-screenshots-details-for-story-and-main-characters/ https://www.destructoid.com/death-march-club-looks-to-channel-all-kinds-of-danganronpa-and-zero-escape-vibes-525625.phtml https://kotaku.com/danganronpa-zero-escape-creators-team-up-for-a-new-mur-1829507855

Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: Desu Māchi Kurabu (デスマーチクラブ)

References

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Steins;Gate 8-bit

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http://www.siliconera.com/2018/08/30/steinsgate-elite-shows-off-its-famicom-style-bonus-game-for-switch-in-a-new-trailer/ http://www.siliconera.com/2017/12/14/steinsgate-elite-nintendo-switch-comes-bonus-famicom-style-8-bit-steinsgate/ http://www.siliconera.com/2018/07/29/steinsgate-elite-gets-a-new-trailer-for-its-bonus-famicom-game/ https://gematsu.com/2017/12/steinsgate-elite-first-print-copies-japan-include-famicom-style-steinsgate-switch-linear-bounded-phenogram-hd-ps4-ps-vita

The Bride was a Boy
花嫁は元男子。
(Hanayome wa Motodanshi.)
Manga
Written byChii
Published byAsukashinsha
English publisherSeven Seas Entertainment
PublishedFebruary 2016

The Bride was a Boy (Japanese: 花嫁は元男子。, Hepburn: Hanayome wa Motodanshi.)

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2018-06-01/the-spring-2018-manga-guide/the-bride-was-a-boy/.132349 https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-11-17/seven-seas-licenses-the-bride-was-a-boy-manga/.124189 https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-05-08/north-american-anime-manga-releases-may-6-12/.131330 https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-626928-88-6 https://ddnavi.com/news/298595/a/

Jake Hunter Detective Story: Ghost of the Dusk
Developer(s)Arc System Works
Publisher(s)
SeriesJake Hunter
Platform(s)Nintendo 3DS
Release
  • JP: August 31, 2017
  • NA: 2018
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Jake Hunter Detective Story: Ghost of the Dusk[a] is an adventure game in the Jake Hunter series, developed by Arc System Works. It was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017 in Japan, and is planned to be released in 2018 in North America.

Gameplay

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In addition to the main scenario, the game also includes remakes of four stories from the Jake Hunter mobile games:[1][2] "No.21: Oni Hime Den", "No.22: Ai Yue Ni", "No.23: Wasurenagusa no Omoi", and "No.24: Yurameku Hitotose".[3]

https://www.famitsu.com/news/201707/13137592.html https://www.famitsu.com/news/201705/19133458.html

Plot

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Development

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https://gematsu.com/2018/05/jake-hunter-detective-story-ghost-of-the-dusk-launches-this-fall-in-north-america https://gematsu.com/2017/05/first-look-jake-hunter-ghost-dusk https://gematsu.com/2017/05/jake-hunter-ghost-dusk-launches-august-31-japan https://gematsu.com/2017/02/arc-system-works-acquires-jake-hunter-workjam-titles-jake-hunter-ghost-dusk-announced-3ds https://gematsu.com/2017/07/jake-hunter-detective-story-ghost-dusk-coming-north-america-2018 https://www.famitsu.com/news/201706/13135350.html https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-11/arc-system-works-acquires-jake-hunter-theresia-game-rights-from-workjam/.111937 https://www.usgamer.net/articles/arc-system-works-picks-up-jake-hunter-series-sequel-coming-to-3ds

The game was published for the Nintendo 3DS on August 31, 2017 by Arc System Works in Japan,[1] and is planned to be released in 2018 by Aksys Games in North America.

Reception

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The game won Famitsu's "Silver Hall of Fame" award.[1]

Famitsu and Gamer.ne.jp enjoyed the game's traditional adventure game formula, and called its jazz soundtrack wonderful and atmospheric.[1][3] Gamer.ne.jp appreciated how the game was accessible to new players by not requiring knowledge of previous entries in the series.[3]

Ghost of the Dusk was the twelfth best selling video game in Japan during its debut week, with 6,132 copies sold.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Known in Japan as Tantei Jingūji Saburō: Ghost of the Dusk (探偵 神宮寺三郎 Ghost of the Dusk, "Detective Saburō Jingūji: Ghost of the Dusk")

References

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My Solo Exchange Diary
一人交換日記
(Hitori Kōkan Nikki)
Manga
Written byKabi Nagata
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
Original runDecember 10, 2016February 2, 2018
Volumes2

My Solo Exchange Diary (Japanese: 一人交換日記, Hepburn: Hitori Kōkan Nikki), or Exchange Diaries by Myself

Synopsis

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Darling of Loving Vows is a spin-off from Steins;Gate, and is a romantic comedy visual novel taking place in a different world line than those in the original game.[1][2] In the world line the game takes place in, the characters still have the possibility to change the past by using D-mails, but SERN has little influence and does not have rounders hunt the main cast. Instead, the player character Rintaro Okabe's main problem is paying the bills for the laboratory. The game has multiple routes, each focusing on Okabe building a romantic relationship with one of the characters from Steins;Gate.[1] The player affects the direction of the plot by picking choices, by answering Okabe's phone, and by clicking on highlighted text within text messages on the phone.[3] The game does not feature any game over states or routes where the player loses.[4]

Plot

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The game begins with Okabe having shifted to a world line where the laboratory has financial difficulties, and invents gadgets to sell. Kurisu creates a pair of bracelet-like devices meant to help relationships, which monitor the users' body conditions, and send a shock if it detects that they are angry, move too far from each other, or try to remove the device by force. Okabe accidentally activates them on himself and Kurisu, and they cannot remove them until they understand each other's feelings or the batteries run out.

Okabe sends a D-mail warning himself in the past to not use the device; the D-mail causes shifts to different world lines depending on what its exact contents are. In one route, the D-mail causes the shift to a world line where Okabe and Luka are a couple. Okabe is unsure about being in a same-sex relationship, but they go on a date, during which he alone sees a dragon in the sky. Following scriptures from Luka's family's shrine, Okabe and Luka undergo "special training", consisting of games like charades, and when Okabe again sees the dragon, Luka seals it with a sword. Later, the dragon is revealed to be an illusion caused by a gadget Kurisu had developed, and the scriptures are drafts for Luka's father's novel.

In another world line, the laboratory members are creating a music video for a contest, hoping to win money for the laboratory. Moeka is to perform the vocals, but her social anxiety makes it difficult for her to speak. Moeka suggests that Okabe can earn money for the laboratory by helping her write an article on the occult. They visit rumored paranormal spots, but eventually go to Moeka's apartment to create fake paranormal photographs. Moeka's guardian, Tennouji, arrives, and Okabe hides in her closet, overhearing Tennouji mentioning that Moeka is in love with Okabe. When the laboratory members record the music video, Moeka sings the wrong lyrics and is upset with herself, locking herself up in her apartment. Okabe follows her, and convinces her that she is important to him and the laboratory members.

In one world line, Daru misunderstands a hug from Suzuha as romantic, and decides to abandon his anime and video game hobbies and not go to the ComiMa convention. Suzuha asks Okabe to help Daru understand and make sure he goes to ComiMa, so that he will meet his future wife there and so that Suzuha will be born in the future.

AA/DR development

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[5] [6] [7] [8]

Reception

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Zero Time Dilemma was well received by critics on all platforms,[9][10][11] and was the second-best reviewed PlayStation Vita game of 2016 on Metacritic, after Steins;Gate 0.[21] During its opening week in Japan, it sold 5,375 copies on the PlayStation Vita and 3,916 copies on the Nintendo 3DS, for a total of 9,291 copies sold.[22] It was the third best selling digital PlayStation Vita game of June 2016 in Europe, despite being released three days before the end of the month.[23]

Famitsu's four reviewers enjoyed the game's setup of three different teams and non-chronological plot progression, with the player getting a greater understanding of the story as they play; one of them said that learning what was going on in the fragments was "fantastic", and that they liked the emphasis on "interpersonal human drama". Another of them commented that the "light banter" dialogue is helpful in motivating the player. One of them said that the game would be enjoyable even for players who have not played previous entries in the series.[4]

The reviewers at Famitsu noted that the puzzle rooms were challenging and fun, but wished that the game had included a hint function for people who primarily play the game for the story; one of the reviewers also commented that the way the player uses items is difficult at some points. They appreciated how the puzzle rooms, unlike many other escape-the-room games, do not feel artificial.[4] IGN praised the "inventive" puzzles, "stellar" storytelling, darker tone, decisions and consequences, "beautiful character moments," and "mind-bending plot."[17] Metro praised the "excellent script" and said it is "one of the best narrative-driven video games" they've "ever played," and "a milestone in video game storytelling, pushing it forwards in terms of thematic complexity and decision-making".[20]

Destructoid called the game a "hallmark of excellence" ruined only by the "abysmal presentation" of the cut scenes.[12] One reviewer at Famitsu liked how the game allows the player to skip past already viewed cutscenes, while another commented that the cutscenes are not perfectly lip-synched to the Japanese voice acting.[4] Metro said the "voice-acting can be of variable quality and the animation is very low tech."[20]

The game has won or been nominated for some awards: it won Destructoid's award for the best PlayStation Vita game of 2016,[24] Game Informer's award for the best ending in an adventure game of 2016,[25] and RPGFan's Reader's Choice award in the adventure games and visual novels category.[26] It was a runner-up for Hardcore Gamer's Best Story, Best Voice Acting and Best PlayStation Vita Game of 2016 awards,[27][28] and was nominated for IGN's Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita games of the year awards.[29][30] It was selected for two of RPGFan's Editors' Awards: Peter Triezenberg ranked it as the fifth best game of the year,[31] while Robert Fenner selected it for his Most Disappointing category;[32] and Mira was included on Destructoid's list of their favorite new video game characters of 2016.[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b Eisenbeis, Richard (2015-07-29). "The Three Steins;Gate Spin-off Games You've Probably Never Heard of". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  2. ^ Ishaan (2014-08-20). "Steins;Gate Love Comedy Spin-Off Follows Original Game To PSP". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2014-08-20. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  3. ^ Leo, Jon (2011-06-24). "Big in Japan June 13–19: Zelda 3D". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2016-09-04. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  4. ^ a b c d e "ZERO ESCAPE 刻のジレンマ". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1438. Enterbrain. June 2016.
  5. ^ http://gyakutensaibanlibrary.blogspot.com/2016/11/discussion-interview-between-producers.html
  6. ^ http://gyakutensaibanlibrary.blogspot.com/2016/08/portraying-mitsurugi-reijis-conflict.html
  7. ^ http://gyakutensaibanlibrary.blogspot.se/2016/07/only-worries-when-they-announced-mayoi.html
  8. ^ http://gyakutensaibanlibrary.blogspot.se/2016/08/portraying-mitsurugi-reijis-conflict.html
  9. ^ a b "Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  10. ^ a b "Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
  11. ^ a b "Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  12. ^ a b Andriessen, CJ (2016-06-23). "Review: Zero Time Dilemma". Destructoid. Modern Method. Archived from the original on 2016-09-02. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  13. ^ Patterson, Mollie L. (2016-06-24). "Zero Time Dilemma review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. EGM Media, LLC. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  14. ^ Romano, Sal (2016-06-21). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1438". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-06-21. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  15. ^ Gwaltney, Javy (2016-06-23). "Zero Time Dilemma". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  16. ^ Arendt, Susan (2016-06-28). "Zero Time Dilemma Review". GamesRadar. Future plc. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  17. ^ a b Koczwara, Michael (2016-06-29). "Zero Time Dilemma Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  18. ^ Theriault, Donald (2016-06-22). "Zero Time Dilemma (3DS) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  19. ^ Frank, Allegra (2016-06-29). "Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma Review". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  20. ^ a b c "Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma review – the final chapter". Metro. June 30, 2016.
  21. ^ Dietz, Jason (2016-12-20). "The Best Videogames of 2016". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
  22. ^ Romano, Sal (2016-07-06). "Media Create Sales: 6/27/16 – 7/3/16". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  23. ^ Dutton, Fred (2016-07-07). "Battlefield 4 was the best-selling game on PlayStation Store last month". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  24. ^ Carter, Chris (2016-12-23). "Destructoid's award for Best Vita Game of 2016 goes to..." Destructoid. Modern Method. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  25. ^ Gwaltney, Javy (2017-01-06). "2016 Adventure Game Awards". Game Informer. GameStop. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  26. ^ "Games of the Year 2016: Best Adventure/Visual Novel". RPGFan. 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved 2017-01-07.
  27. ^ "Best of 2016 – Day One: Story, Soundtrack, Voice Acting". Hardcore Gamer. 2017-01-01. Archived from the original on 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  28. ^ "Best of 2016 – Day Seven: PS Vita, 3DS, Artistic Design, Technical Graphics". Hardcore Gamer. 2017-01-07. Archived from the original on 2017-01-08. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  29. ^ "3DS Game of the Year". IGN. Ziff Davis. 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  30. ^ "PlayStation Vita Game of the Year". IGN. Ziff Davis. 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  31. ^ Triezenberg, Peter (2017). "Peter Triezenberg's Awards". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  32. ^ Fenner, Robert (2017). "Robert Fenner's Awards". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  33. ^ Andriessen, CJ (2016-12-23). "Good golly, there were a lot of great new characters in 2016". Destructoid. Modern Method. Archived from the original on 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2017-01-12.