Game Source Entertainment announced that it will set up a booth at Gamescom 2024. Five games will appear at the booth, including Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini. That means Gamescom 2024 visitors will be able to check the DDR Classic Mini first-hand ahead of its release in late September 2024.
Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini was originally revealed to mark the series' 25th anniversary in 2023. It will contain tracks from the first three major releases of the long-running arcade rhythm game series.
Zuiki has also opened public pre-orders for the mini console in April 2024, and the company will formally release it on September 27, 2024. While Zuiki's own store can only ship items domestically, the product is also available to order on web stores outside Japan, such as Playasia, PNP Games, and VideoGamesPlus.
DDR Classic Mini will not be the only title Game Source Entertainment will bring to Gamescom 2024. The company will also feature demos of Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade, the rogue-lite deckbuilding battle game Lost in Fantaland, the boys-love romance game Voice Love on Air, and the horror survival game Suffocate.
Gamescom 2024 will take place at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, on August 21-25, 2024.
AI’s impact on the gaming industry is undeniable and it’s starting to show its teeth. According to Wired, AI is not just helping developers, but it’s also taking over jobs. From character animation to QA testing, tasks that once required a human touch are now being handled by machines. This shift is causing a lot of buzz, and not all of it is positive. Some in the industry see it as a threat to job security, with AI systems performing tasks faster and often with greater precision than their human counterparts.
The Bright Side: Deeply Enhanced Gameplay
But let’s not get too bleak here. AI isn’t just about stealing jobs; it’s also about making our games more immersive and interactive. The Appinventiv blog highlights how AI is enhancing gameplay experiences. Think about the NPCs that react more realistically, adapting to your actions and decisions in real-time. AI-driven game design allows for more dynamic storylines, creating a more personalized gaming experience. It’s like having a game that learns and evolves with you, making each playthrough unique.
Crafting the Future of AI
Despite the controversy, there’s no denying that AI is a powerful tool for creativity. Developers can use AI to craft more intricate and engaging worlds. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming. AI can analyze massive amounts of data to predict player preferences, helping developers create content that resonates more deeply with their audience. It’s about creating games that feel more alive, more responsive, and ultimately, more fun.
AI in gaming is a double-edged sword. It’s reshaping the industry, bringing both challenges and opportunities. As a gamer, I’m excited to see where this technological evolution takes us. But it’s crucial that we find a balance, ensuring that the integration of AI enhances our gaming experiences without compromising the human element that makes game development so unique.
In Attack on Titan Revolution, families, also known as clans, provide character-specific advantages through perks. These perks can range from minor buffs to skills and abilities, depending on the family’s rarity. Of course, you want the best families such as Yeager or Ackerman, so use our list to know what perks come with that family. In Update one of AoTR, they’ve added a new Mythical family, the Fritz!
Family Perks are unique abilities and enhancements that are tied to your chosen Family in AoTR. These perks vary in effect and power, ranging from small stat boosts to the acquisition of special skills.
Family Types and Rarity
There are four categories of Families in Attack on Titan Revolution, each with a different likelihood of being randomly assigned to your character:
Common (80%): These families do not offer any additional perks.
Rare (19.6%): Rare families may grant 1-2 minor buffs and potentially a skill.
Epic (0.35%): Epic families guarantee at least one skill and 3-5 more significant buffs.
Legendary (0.05%): The rarest and most sought-after, Legendary families offer up to 3 skills, numerous buffs, and potentially additional passive abilities unique to each specific family.
Mythical (0.025%): Higher than Legendary, this family offers even more skills and buffs and is currently the best in the AoTR experience!
All Mythical Family Perks
Fritz
Fritz Family Skill
Let it RIP
An Ackerman-only version of Torrential Steel. Press an ability button to start spinning rapidly for six seconds, aiming at the mouse cursor dealing constant damage to anything you come in contact with.
Swift Strikes
An Ackerman-only version of Lethal Tempo. Press an ability button to chain to every titan within range, killing them.
Fritz Bonus Ability
Rage Mode
Build up a bar rage by killing titans and dealing damage, increasing all ODM stats by 20.0% and skill cooldowns are reset.
Fritz Additional Information
Raid DMG +20%
Gain +20% damage, +15% crit chance, +15% crit damage.
Gain +10% ODM gas, +10% ODM range, +10% ODM control.
Dash +1
Unlocks an additional slot for Offense Perks
All Legendary Family Perks
Ackerman
Ackerman Family Skill
Let it RIP
An Ackerman-only version of Torrential Steel. Press an ability button to start spinning rapidly for six seconds, aiming at the mouse cursor dealing constant damage to anything you come in contact with.
Swift Strikes
An Ackerman-only version of Lethal Tempo. Press an ability button to chain to every titan within range, killing them.
Ackerman Bonus Ability
Rage Mode
Build up a bar rage by killing titans and dealing damage, increasing all ODM stats by 20.0% and skill cooldowns are reset.
Ackerman Additional Information
Cannot become a titan shifter.
Gain +20% damage, +15% crit chance, +15% crit damage.
Gain +10% ODM gas, +10% ODM range, +10% ODM control.
Gain Double Jump, +1 Boost Dash
Gain an extra offensive perk slot.
Reiss
Reiss Family Skill
Conquer
Press an Ability Button to stun all pure titans around you for 5 seconds.
Command
Press an Ability Button to direct a spear into the ground, granting:
+15% Blade durability
+15% Crit Chance
+30% Damage reduction
+4 Health regen to nearby allies for 15s
☆Arise
Press an Ability Button to shift, regardless of your shifting bar.
Reiss Additional Information
Gain +10% Titan stats.
Gain +10% XP boost and a -10% Upgrade cost.
Gain +5% XP for all party members.
Gain an extra support perk slot.
Yeager
Yeager Family Skill
Boosted Regen/Resolve
Press an Ability Button to fully heal yourself, all injuries and restore 50% of gas.
Berserk – Exclusive to Yeager Family
Press an ability button while shifted to unleash a gut-wrenching roar as your muscles become super-heated, gaining:
11% DMG
6% SPD
You take + 14.5% more DMG and lose 1.9% of your HP per second due to your body burning up and being pushed to its absolute limits.
Shifter Regen
Press an ability button to regenerate 55 health and 2 injuries over a period of time. 100 second cooldown
Yeager Bonus Ability
Invigorate
On the verge of death, use the wrath of your willpower and prevent your mistakes with a second life.
YeagerAdditional Information
10% titan shifting cooldown.
Gain +20% Attack Titan stats.
Gain +15% Crit Chance.
Gain an extra defense perk slot.
All Epic Family Perks
Arlert
Arlert
Arlert Family Skill
Shifter Regen
Press an ability button to regenerate 50 health and all injuries over a period of time. 100 second cooldown
Arlert Additional Information
Gain +10% Colossal Titan stats, Colossal titan AoE +20%.
Gain +10% Crit Chance.
Braun
Braun Family Skill
Shifter Regen
Press an ability button to regenerate 50 health and all injuries over a period of time. 100 second cooldown
Braun Additional Information
Armoured Titan +10%
10% less DMG as a Titan
Max HP +10%
Finger
Finger Family Skill
Shifter Regen
Press an ability button to regenerate 50 health and all injuries over a period of time. 100 second cooldown
Finger Additional Information
Cart Titan +10%
ODM Gas +10%
Titan Shifting lasts 5% longer
Galliard
GalliardFamily Skill
Shifter Regen
Press an ability button to regenerate 50 health and all injuries over a period of time. 100 second cooldown
GalliardAdditional Information
Can Titan Shift
Crit DMG +10%
Jaw Titan +10%
Titan Attack Speed +10%
Ksaver
Ksaver Family Skill
Shifter Regen
Press an ability button to regenerate 50 health and all injuries over a period of time. 100 second cooldown
Ksaver Additional Information
Beast Titan +10%
ODM Range +10%
Titan DMG +10%
Leonhart
LeonhartFamily Skill
Shifter Regen
Press an ability button to regenerate 50 health and all injuries over a period of time. 100 second cooldown
LeonhartAdditional Information
DMG +10%
Female Titan +10%
Titan Run Speed +10%
Tybur
Tybur Family Skill
Shifter Regen
Press an ability button to regenerate 50 health and all injuries over a period of time. 100 second cooldown
Tybur Additional Information
Gold +10%
Titan Shift lasts 10% longer
Warhammer Titan +10%
Zoe
Zoe Bonus Skill
Last Stand
Embrace the end, capped at 40% HEALTH. Ignore injuries for 30s. While being in Last stand you get:
+15% DMG
+15% ODM SPEED
+30% DMG REDUCTION
Be prepared to meet your fate if injuries persist after 30s
If you're looking for a political message in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, consider the following: The story begins "many generations" after the death of the previous reboot trilogy's hero, Caesar. Caesar was the first ape to speak, following the spread of a strange virus. Eventually, he became the leader of the apes in a war against the remnants of humanity. Caesar's teachings—apes should not kill each other, and apes are stronger together—have become quasi-religious dogma (ape-ma?) amongst the apes who live on in the post-apocalyptic world.
But those beliefs have been perverted by an authoritarian sect run by Proximus, a strutting, vainglorious bonobo bent on unifying and dominating the fragmented ape clans into something greater. Proximus preaches strength and glory; it turns out the bonobos, like all men, are obsessed with Rome. But his footsoldiers massacre peaceful ape clans, and his murderous forces wear face coverings and are known as "masks." His whole kingdom appears to be built on personal whim and something resembling slavery. Talk about a banana republic.
Masks, mad dictators, post-pandemic chaos, power fantasies of restoring Rome? Perhaps this is a story about Trump? About antifa? About revolution and empire? But no, not really. It's just a story about a bunch of animated monkeys fighting.
The sociopolitical notions about an ape society built atop the ashes of human civilization are the most interesting concepts in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes—and the least well-explored. Rather than dig in and engage with the story's fundamentally political underpinnings, the story is, instead, content to nod in their direction while pursuing a notably less thoughtful action-adventure story.
The end result isn't bad: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a solid enough summer blockbuster, with top-notch special effects and a family-friendly emotional core that most movies of this class lack. But what's frustrating is that the movie gestures at something much more interesting than what ends up on screen.
The story starts with a trio of young chimpanzees who belong to a peaceful, idyllic clan devoted to the raising of eagles. But soon their village is attacked by masked-wearing outsiders, including a silverback brute named Sylva. Truly, it's gorilla warfare.
Noa, the son of the eagle clan's leader, manages to escape. The movie then becomes a sort of road movie in which Noa must return to his tribe and free them from Proximus' authoritarian rule. Easy rider, raging apes.
Noa is no Caesar, but he's a chimp off the old block: thoughtful, full of moral conviction, yearning to grow into something more. After the attack on his village, he runs into Raka, a wise old Orangutan who has studied Caesar's teachings, and who steals every scene he's in. The pair are soon joined by Mae, a human woman who initially appears to be a mute scavenger but turns out to be something more. All of this comes to a head when Mae and Noa reach Proximus' kingdom, which consists of a gigantic, rusted-out ship that's been beached near a massive, locked bunker that he believes holds tools that will make him more powerful. There's a sort of Mad Max parallel here, but with inquisitive monkeys instead of leather-clad car fiends; perhaps this picture should have been called Furious George.
Proximus has been studying ancient Rome, with the help of Trevathan, an older human man (William H. Macy) who has accepted the notion that apes will rule the earth. Some of the movie's most interesting scenes involve Trevathan arguing with Mae about whether to accept ape dominion. But until the movie's final moments, it's not at all clear what Mae's alternative is, or why she even thinks there is an alternative. What is Mae even fighting for? Too much of the movie's worldbuilding is shuffled into what are effectively footnotes.
What's left is a relatively simple narrative about a young ape struggling to free his clan and finding himself in the process. It's competently told, and the computer character animation is consistently excellent, with everything from wet fur to minor skin blemishes convincingly rendered. Yet that impressive level of detail doesn't extend to the story, which at two and a half hours long threatens to turn this into Kingdom of the Planet of Bored Apes.
In many ways, it's a relief that the movie doesn't really attempt to be a Trump-era political tract. (Remember the Gorilla Channel?) But I do wish the story had taken its own ideas about politics and civilizational conflict a little more seriously. The movie is fine, but simian swagger aside, it doesn't have much thematic heft; Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes amounts to little more than a couple hours of monkeying around.
Cancellation Watch: Status updates for the sci fi and fantasy shows on the broadcast networks, cable channels, and streaming services as well as breaking news on the currently airing, returning, and upcoming genre entries.
Status Updates
Quantum Leap (NBC, Status: Renewal Possible): This show returned from hiatus last week and only posted a 0.18 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic with 1.7 million total viewers, down from its Fall average of a 0.29 rating. The Tuesday 10 PM EST slot is a more challenging hour and this one is not getting much of a lead-in from the third season of La Brea. If NBC moved the show to this hour to kill it off, that would be disappointing. I will be watching how it tracks over the coming weeks to decide if I should move it to Bubble status, and fans should probably make a Call to Action on the social networks to give it some support.
Masters of the Universe: Revolution Netflix, Status: Renewal Possible): Apparently, only five episodes of this show have been planned so far, and any additional seasons will depend on the viewership. It made it into the Netflix Top 10 for its premiere week but dropped out the week after. This series has been better received than Masters of the Universe: Revelation, and Kevin Smith does have more plans for the property, but that will be up to Netflix execs at this point.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Disney+, Status: Renewal Possible): This show slipped in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings for its third week, dropping to Number 6 with an estimated 627 million minutes watched. But it continues to perform well for a Disney+ original and should be on track for a second-season renewal.
You can see the status of all the shows from the current season at our Cancellation Watch Page.
AMC just announced that its season-long anthology series The Terrorwill be returning for a third year, but that show counts all the way back to the 2018-19 season and will not return until 2025. The score for the current season remains unchanged at fourteen renewed sci fi and fantasy entries for the 2023-24 season (36% of shows tracked) vs. six that are cancelled or ending (15%). Below are this season’s numbers, and you can see the list of shows and keep up with the score throughout the week at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Show Count
39
Cancelled
4
10.3%
Ending
2
5.1%
15.4%
Renewed
14
35.9%
On the Bubble
6
15.4%
Renewal Possible
13
33.3%
Mini-Series
3
Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV
Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.