Review: Turlock Holmes

Developer – Find the Lamp Games Publisher – Neverland Entertainment Platforms – PC (Reviewed) Review copy given by Publisher What happens when you find yourself stuck in an underground mall with a dead body and some Turtle Soup? Well, you get a fun turtle friend, named Turlock Holmes to help you discover what happened to the body of course! Turlock Holmes is a fantastic indie game that completely blew my mind, and that truly stands out from the crowd! It’s a detective narrative puzzler, that immerses you in a mysterious world where you must use your wits to solve a series of bizarre and intriguing puzzles. It’s completely unique and unlike any other game out there. The game’s unique mechanic is that it doesn’t provide you with pre-set options to choose from; instead, you get to drive the investigation yourself by asking questions and getting answers from an AI-host (Turlock Holmes) who only responds with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ It’s up to you to use your curiosity and question-asking skills to solve the mystery! The game starts off with a mysterious scenario where a girl finds herself trapped in an underground mall with a dead body and some turtle soup. Your job is to help her escape and solve the mystery surrounding her predicament. Along the way, you’ll encounter other bizarre scenarios, such as a boy lying dead on the sidewalk with only his underwear and an umbrella, and a stewardess who’s taking care of a pilot with broken legs, but the pilot seems terrified of her. You’ll encounter a variety of strange and intriguing characters, each with their own secrets and motives. The game’s story is told through a series of puzzles, and as you progress through the game, the story unfolds, and the mystery deepens. The gameplay is engaging and challenging, with puzzles that range from simple to mind-bendingly complex. You’ll need to use your reasoning and imagination to figure out the answers to some truly bizarre scenarios. The game’s got a great sense of humor, too – some of the puzzles are fun and light-hearted, while others have a darker, thriller-like feel to them. But don’t worry – there’s nothing revolting or unpleasant in the game. One of the best things about Turlock Holmes is that it’s a game that you can play alone, and it really makes you think. You’ll need to use your detective skills to figure out the answers to the puzzles, and the game doesn’t hold your hand or give you any hints unless you spend coins to get a keyword or a hint. As you progress through the game, you’ll earn collectibles that you can use to dress up your very own turtle! It’s a great way to track your progress and feel a sense of accomplishment as you solve each puzzle. The game’s visuals are simple but stylish, with a unique art style that’s both quirky and charming. The sound effects and music are also top-notch, with a haunting soundtrack that adds to the game’s mysterious atmosphere. All in all, Turlock Holmes is a fantastic game that’s perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery, puzzle-solving, or just something a little bit different. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind game that you won’t want to put down until you’ve solved the last puzzle. So grab your detective hat and get ready to join Turlock Holmes on an unforgettable adventure.
EA closes Ridgeline Games, developers of Battlefield Single-Player

Electronic Arts dropped the biggest news of the day by announcing major layoffs cutting 5% of its workforce and impacting 670 talented individuals. It seems the next Battlefield game will see an impact as EA has officially shut down Ridgeline Games, the studio that was working on the single-player for Battlefield. Reports suggest that the development of single-player content in Battlefield is being moved to Criterion. Here is what Laura Miele, President of EA Entertainment and Technology said about the recent move: “To ensure our work continues uninterrupted, we immediately appointed leadership at Criterion to oversee our single-player work. “As part of this change, we’ll be winding down Ridgeline as a standalone studio in Seattle, with some team members joining Ripple Effect. They’ll continue to work with teams across DICE, Ripple, and Criterion as they build the next Battlefield experience.” Marcus Lehto recently left the studio days before this news dropped. The veteran game developer who also worked on Halo is devastated by the news: Gut punched to see EA lay off my team. So many very talented devs who were incredibly valuable to the Battlefield franchise. https://t.co/N3lYSjeO6z — Marcus Lehto (@game_fabricator) February 28, 2024 It was not too long ago either that a report was shared from Insider Gaming that the next Battlefield game will have a free-to-play Battle Royale mode similar to what Call of Duty has with Warzone. The next Battlefield game still isn’t expected to come out until 2025, but it will be interesting to see how EA handles it. EA has also canceled its unannounced Star Wars FPS game that was expected to be the first game of The Mandalorian from Respawn Entertainment. Source: Insider Gaming
EA has canceled unannounced Star Wars FPS developed by Respawn Entertainment

It wasn’t too long ago when rumors were swirling about Respawn Entertainment developing a first-person Star Wars Mandalorian video game. Today, EA announced it will be cutting 5% of its workforce impacting 670 employees within the company. After the news of EA laying off more employees came out, questions were asked about which games were impacted. EA Entertainment president Laura Miele confirmed that they have canceled the in-development Star Wars FPS to VGC. “Respawn‘s unique ability to connect with players and create exceptional game experiences is unrivaled in entertainment,” she said in a statement. “As we’ve looked at Respawn’s portfolio over the last few months, what’s clear is the games our players are most excited about are Jedi and Respawn’s rich library of owned brands. “Knowing this, we have decided to pivot away from early development on a Star Wars FPS Action game to focus our efforts on new projects based on our owned brands while providing support for existing games. “It’s always hard to walk away from a project, and this decision is not a reflection of the team’s talent, tenacity, or passion they have for the game. Giving fans the next installments of the iconic franchises they want is the definition of blockbuster storytelling and the right place to focus.” The Star Wars FPS video game was being led by Peter Hirschmann who had worked on the original Battlefront games. On the bright side, EA wants to focus on the successful Star Wars Jedi series that has been well-received by fans Source: VGC
Electronic Arts is laying off 5% of its workforce

Electronic Arts is the latest company to announce major layoffs the day after Sony Interactive Entertainment announced it will be laying off about 900 people. EA said today that they will be cutting 5% of its workforce which will impact 670 employees within the company. This move comes as part of the company’s plan to focus on projects that will likely provide it the most success. These job cuts will also impact studios and cancel certain games that are in development within Electronic Arts. EA CEO Andrew Wilson said EA will be “moving away from the development of future licensed IP that we do not believe will be successful in our changing industry” It seems clear that EA wants to focus on live service games like Apex Legends which has been their biggest success since 2019 bringing in consistent content every year. The company did not confirm what games or studios will see the biggest impact with these moves. Source: Gamesindustry.biz
Remedy Entertainment Buys Control Rights From Publisher 505 Games

Over the course of its release in October last fall, Alan Wake II has climbed to being one of the best releases that year. “Game design is an art and Remedy Entertainment have created something of a masterpiece with Alan Wake 2. The four long years of development have paid off, and the passion and love from the studio truly speaks for itself,” we wrote in our review for the game upon its release then. Additionally, the team is also churning the pot with more games on the way. Previously, it confirmed a second Control game is in the works. Atop of that, a spin-off experience is also underway with the title ‘Codename Condor’. And, it’s also working on a remake collaboration with Rockstar Games on the first two Max Payne titles. In a new announcement this week, Remedy Entertainment reveals that a new arrangement with publisher 505 Games lands the rights for Control in the Finnish studio’s possession. The deal is to cost EUR 17 million and 505 Games to stand as the publisher until December 31st of this year. Ever since we signed up with 505 Games in 2017 to develop and publish Control, we have enjoyed a good partnership in building Control into a successful game that has sold over 4 million units and generated shareable net revenue of approximately EUR 100 million to Remedy and 505 Games. As part of Remedy’s long-term strategy to have more ownership over our business and the IPs we have created, we have gotten back all rights for Control and the in-development Condor and Control 2. Having complete ownership over the Control franchise gives us the freedom to decide the best path forward. We will consider our options carefully, knowing that Control is considered an attractive franchise by many partners. Tero Virtala, Remedy Entertainment CEO “Condor and Control 2 have both progressed well in recent months and we expect these projects to reach their next development stages during the first half of 2024. The development of Condor and Control 2 will continue normally when we consider the best publishing, distribution and financing model for these projects. “As we amicably part ways, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 505 Games team for our partnership over the years and for helping to establish Control as a gaming franchise with a lot of future potential,” Virtala continues in the press release. In the past, we witnessed Remedy Entertainment operate similarly with Alan Wake when it bought the rights from Microsoft. You can read the full report by heading here. What is your opinion on the deal for Control? Source: Remedy Entertainment
Sifu, EA Sports F1 23, Hello Neighbor 2, Destiny 2: Witch Queen Coming To PlayStation Plus For March 2024 Free Games

Thus far for 2024, PlayStation Plus has started off strong for its free monthly titles. In January, users were welcomed with A Plague Tale: Requiem, Evil West, Nobody Saves The World. And, February also continued this too. Currently, the free game lists consists of Foamstars, Rollerdrome, and Steelrising which is still available to download. Additionally, the game catalog faced impressive titles being injected as well. January’s update introduced Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, Resident Evil 2, Just Cause 3. And following in February only recently, subscribers now access Need For Speed Unbound, Tales Of Arise, The Outer Worlds – only a few of what the full list consists of. Now with March on the way, 2024 needs a new list of titles. And for the new roster, Sony Interactive Entertainment is continuing the list of heavy-hitter releases that will add weight to your growing backlog. In that, March 2024 is to feature four titles – EA Sports F1 23, Sifu, Hello Neighbor 2, and Destiny 2: Witch Queen. Of the games added, we encourage you read our review on Sloclap’s Sifu. “Sloclap has created something new, fresh and exciting. SIFU’s tight combat focus and gorgeous level design creates a compelling action experience. SIFU’s tight combat focus and gorgeous level design creates a compelling action experience. Sloclap has created something new, fresh and exciting to bring the beat em up genre to the next generation.” Beyond the titles, more platforms are reportedly in the works to integrate PlayStation Plus support. Previously, it was revealed that the service is opening itself to more devices including PC as well as mobile gaming as well. You can read the full report by heading here. What has you most excited for the newest PlayStation Plus additions? EA Sports F1 23, Sifu, Hello Neighbor 2, and Destiny 2: Witch Queen come to PlayStation Plus from March 5, 2024 to April 2, 2024. Source: PlayStation Blog
Skull and Bones Season 1 – Raging Tides is now available for free

Skull and Bones was finally released earlier this month after years of delays since its announcement at E3 2017. Since its launch, the game achieved record player engagement with over four hours of average daily playtime, the second highest ever at Ubisoft. The first-ever season for Skull and Bones, Raging Tides is now available for free bringing extensive new content to all players at no charge. Season 1 Raging Tides Features Tides of Terror: Increasingly difficult seasonal events where players will fight against La Peste’s Fleet of Pestilence. Players will eventually go against him in a World Event, culminating in a final showdown where they will seek out his base of operations, the Blighted Bastion, for an epic battle. New World Events: Players will encounter Elite Warships from megacorporations like the DMC (Opwelling), and local factions like the Clan of Fara (Mizerja). Merchant Convoys carrying high-value loot will also be present along trade routes in the Indian Ocean. New Bounties: Player can pick up bounties leading them to terrifying legends such as the mysterious Ghost Ship (Rode Maangodin) that haunts the Open Seas, or the terrifying Sea Monster (Zamaharibu) that awaits unsuspecting pirates in the depths. New Leaderboard rewards: Higher-tier weapons and equipment. Seasonal Smuggler Pass: Three free tracks allow players to acquire new gameplay items and blueprints to further optimize and customize their ship’s loadout. There will also be free cosmetics from captain and ship cosmetic sets to resources and Pieces of Eight. The Premium pass also adds extra cosmetics and Gold premium currency. Skull and Bones is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Exclusive Interview With Hello Kitty Collector’s Pack Original Xbox Ebay Seller DeansToyBox

Dean also known as DeansToyBox, the owner of an eBay store ( https://www.ebay.com/usr/deanstoybox ) specializing in rare toys and collectibles, was just searching for any ordinary item on Carousell.sg, the Singaporean marketplace, for his online eBay business. However during his search, Dean stumbled upon a rare discovery – an original Japanese Xbox of the Hello Kitty Collector’s Pack, still complete with its box, game, controller, and manuals. This was no ordinary find, as it was a rare item that could attract many collectors and enthusiasts. Dean said in an Exclusive Interview with me, that he found the Xbox while searching on Carousell.sg, the Singaporean marketplace, while searching for normal Toys and came across a Hello Kitty Collector, just to his surprise, there was a rare item that caught his eye in one of the photos, the Japanese Xbox of the Hello Kitty Collector’s Pack, still complete with its box, game, controller and manuals. Dean says he contacted the collector via Carousell.sg and found out the seller only originally purchased the Xbox as she was a Hello Kitty collector and has never even played the Xbox. Dean knew that this Xbox was something special, and listed it up for Ebay Auction where it ended with a closing bid of US $10,050.00 (SGD $13,529.30) with Free Postage, much more than Dean was originally expecting the auction to reach when he started the bidding at $1,500.00. Dean was more than excited to sell the Very Rare Hello Kitty Collector’s pack for such a high amount, However, Dean realized after trying to reach out to the buyer on eBay that the buyer wasn’t serious and didn’t reply to any of Dean’s messages asking the seller about payment. Dean then hopped onto Facebook Marketplace, where he ended up selling the Xbox to an Xbox collector for $6000 via PayPal. In the original eBay listing Dean did disclose that the Xbox Fails to power on, but should be an easy fix for any collector to perform something such as a case-swap. Hello Kitty, made its debut in 1974 and has since become one of the most recognized faces in media, amassing a massive following and generating billions in revenue. The beloved cat has become a cultural phenomenon and a media titan, with Hello Kitty-themed video games, cartoons, and a vast array of merchandise. The franchise is now considered one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time, thanks to its enduring popularity and widespread appeal. Limited-edition Xbox consoles are highly coveted by collectors due to their unique designs and special accessories. Microsoft has a history of releasing exclusive consoles that celebrate some of the platform’s most popular games and movies, such as Diablo 2 Remastered, Bluey, Sonic the Hedgehog and Palworld, with customized designs. These consoles often feature exclusive shells and skins, created in collaboration with game developers, making them a must-have for collectors and fans of the platform. With their limited availability and distinctive designs, these consoles have become highly sought-after items in the gaming community. The high price tag of the Hello Kitty Xbox auction can be attributed mainly to its scarcity. With only 550 units ever produced, the Hello Kitty Xbox was originally released as a limited-edition giveaway from the retailer, Best Denki in Singapore, making it an extremely rare and highly sought-after item. The console was offered as part of a promotion, where customers who purchased a $5000 Samsung TV from the retailer received the exclusive Hello Kitty Xbox as a gift as reported by Consolemods.org. Since the promotion was not repeated, and the console was never re-released, the Hello Kitty Xbox has become an incredibly rare and valuable piece of merchandise, especially after Last year, voice actor Megumi Hayashibara announced that she would be leaving her role as the beloved mascot character after more than three decades, which helped making it an irresistible find for collectors and fans of the beloved character and possibly part of the reason the Xbox sold for such a high value.