BEAT BUGSTM HITTING THE GYM THIS SUMMER


Beat Bugs Is All the Buzz at the 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

May 2, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA – Beat Bugs, the preschool-targeted,

Netflix Original Series revolving around the lives and adventures of

five charming and funny child-like bugs who live in an overgrown

backyard, was all the buzz at the 44th Annual Daytime Creative Arts

Emmy® Awards. The animated program took home the gold for

“Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Series” on Friday at

the Pasadena Civic Auditorium celebration.

Beat Bugs is a family animated series inspired by the music of The

Beatles, and re-recorded by today’s hottest contemporary artists like

P!nk, Eddie Vedder, Rod Stewart, Tori Kelly and more.

“With ‘Beat Bugs’ we started with the greatest songwriting of all

time, and with a team of extraordinary writers, we tried to do it

justice. Thank you to the Academy.”— Josh Wakely, writer, director

and producer of “Beat Bugs”

Kids in United States, United Kingdom and Australia to Band Together for Beatles-Inspired Music Fun at My Gym Locations

Beat Bugs and My Gym have struck a chord to activate a musically-inspired promotion at 178 My Gym locations in United States, United Kingdom and Australia this summer.  In the months of June and July, children who attend classes at My Gym will enjoy Beat Bugs music, games and other fun activities, including coloring sheets and puppet shows.

Created by Josh Wakely, Beat Bugs, is an Emmy Award-winning animated kids series featuring music inspired by The Beatles.  Currently a hit on Netflix, the story revolves around the lives and adventures of five best friends; charming and funny childlike bugs who explore and learn in their suburban backyard home. Each episode ties in a Beatles song in an innocent and child-friendly fashion, sung by one of the characters or guest stars that include mega-musicians P!nk, Sia, Aloe Blacc, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson and more. Beat Bugs introduces a new generation to the music of the most influential band in rock history, The Beatles.

My Gym’s facilities provide a local place where children learn and grow through unique and exciting activities. My Gym Kids worldwide develop healthy minds and strong bodies under the guidance of trained and loving instructors in a safe, clean and noncompetitive environment.  Find a location near you at www.mygym.com.

FOLLOW BEAT BUGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

www.Facebook.com/BeatBugsOfficial

www.Instagram.com/Beat_Bugs

www.Pinterest.com/BeatBugsOfficial

www.Twitter.com/Beat_bugs 

Hasbro Reveals ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ SDCC 2017 Exclusive

Following the exciting Transformers: The Last Knight movie release on June 21, fans will have the opportunity to take home a piece of the film with this Voyager Class Optimus Prime figure which will be available for purchase exclusively at Booth #3329 at SDCC 2017. The figure, which converts to Western Star truck mode based on Transformers: The Last Knight, features movie inspired detailing and collectible packaging. It also comes with a free gift with purchase: an authentic piece of truck tire used in the film with a certificate of authenticity from Western Star! 


Ben 10: The Wait Is Over – It’s Hero Time!

​The Wait Is Over – It’s Hero Time! 

Toy Line from Playmates Toys Based on Cartoon Network’s New Ben 10 Animated Series Available Now as a Limited Exclusive at Toys“R”Us®

 

El Segundo, CA (June 6, 2017) – It’s hero time! Playmates Toys announced today that its Ben 10 toy line is available now as a limited exclusive at Toys“R”Us® stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com.  The entire Ben 10 toy line will become available at all other major retailers beginning in August.  The toy line is inspired by Cartoon Network’s fresh take on the beloved Ben 10 animated series, which premiered in the United States in April.  The collection of fun-filled toys includes action figures, vehicles, playsets and role play items.

 

“Fans of Cartoon Network’s new Ben 10series will now be able to bring home the action-packed adventures seen in the show,” said Karl Aaronian, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Playmates Toys. “The expansive toy line that we developed includes unique transformations, special features and technology to provide kids with an imaginative play experience where their favorite characters are brought to life.”

 

The new Cartoon Network series is centered on fun loving, 10-year-old, Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max as they travel throughout the country during summer vacation. Once Ben finds the Omnitrix, a mysterious watch that transforms him into 10 different heroic aliens, a world of extraterrestrial superpowers opens up to him.

 

“We’re excited to introduce a new generation of fans to Ben 10, providing them with the opportunity to connect with the brand even further with the introduction of Playmates Toys’ new toy line,” said Pete Yoder, vice president, Cartoon Network Enterprises for North America. “The toy line captures the essence of the new series — action, excitement and all-around fun.”

 

The toy line from Playmates Toys features the following:

·         The Basic Action Figure assortment features a variety of 5-inch, highly detailed and articulated figures based on the show, including Ben Tennyson, the 10 different heroic aliens that he transforms into and key villains from Season 1. Other figure assortments include Deluxe Power Up figures, with lights and sounds, and Giant 10-inch figures.

·         The Rustbucket Vehicle & Playset, the main vehicle seen in the show, transforms into a 3-level playset that stands over 2 feet tall and is packed with action features including an alien transformation chamber, plasma blaster, alien lab and more.

·         Rounding out the collection is role play, including both a Basic and Deluxe Omnitrix, allowing kids to transform into any one of Ben’s 10 aliens, and Transform-N-Battle gauntlets and masks.

About Playmates Toys

With a history of over 50 years, Playmates Toys is today among the most well-respected and innovative marketing and distribution companies in the global toy industry with a proven history in the creation of imaginative products as well as the development and management of profitable, long-term brand franchises. Key brands include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Voltron Legendary Defender and Ben 10. From its offices in Hong Kong and California, Playmates designs, develops, markets and distributes its products in over 60 countries worldwide. For more information, visithttp://www.playmatestoys.com.

 

About Cartoon Network Enterprises

Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) is responsible for building consumer products and merchandising programs for a wide range of brands by securing and supporting long-term licensing partnerships across all categories. As the global branding and merchandising arm of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, the division manages the consumer product programs for the networks’ award-winning original programming, brands and characters including Ben 10, Adventure Time, The Powerpuff Girls, Steven Universe, The Amazing World of Gumball, Mighty Magiswords, and We Bare Bears, as well as Rick and Morty on Adult Swim.

 

Cartoon Network is Turner’s global entertainment brand and the # 1 animation network in the U.S., offering the best in original content for kids and families with such hits as, Adventure Time, The Powerpuff Girls, Steven Universe, We Bare Bears and The Amazing World of Gumball. Seen in 192 countries and over 400 million homes, Cartoon Network is known for being a leader in innovation with its approach to engaging and inspiring kids at the intersection of creativity and technology. Its pro-social initiative, Stop Bullying: Speak Up is an acknowledged and often used resource for kids and adults looking for tools that can assist in dealing with the ongoing issue of bullying.

Cartoon Network is part of Turner, a Time Warner company that creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult multi-platform content for consumers around the world. Turner brands and businesses include CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International and CNN.com, TBS, TNT, TCM, truTV, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, Turner Sports, Bleacher Report, iStreamPlanet and ELEAGUE.

TEDCO Toys Celebrates 100-Year Anniversary of the Original Gyroscope

Hagerstown, IN  June 1, 2017 – TEDCO Toys, a nationwide manufacturer and distributor of science and educational toys, is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of their Original Gyroscope.

The Original Gyroscope dates back to 1917, making it the oldest American-made gyroscope manufactured by a family-owned business in existence today. For over 70 years the Chandler Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, produced and sold literally tens of thousands of gyroscopes. In 1982, TEDCO Toys purchased the Chandler Company. Since then, the toy line has expanded and sales are now global.

TEDCO Toys is a small company with a big heart. In addition to the Original Gyroscope, TEDCO manufactures the Gyroscope Twin Pack, Gyroscope Nostalgic Pack, Precision Gyroscope and Gravitron. All gyroscopes are manufactured from USA-made components in the company’s manufacturing facility in Hagerstown, Indiana, the heart of America where outstanding quality still counts. TEDCO’s Original Gyroscope won the Parents’ Choice Award by the Parents’ Choice Foundation.

The Original Gyroscope was used in the NASA Toys in Space program, with Dr. Rhea Seddon showing the effects of zero gravity on the gyroscope while in space. Steve Jobs used TEDCO’s Original Gyroscope in his Apple iPhone 4 presentation on June 7, 2010, because the iPhone 4 incorporated gyroscopic technology for user-friendly features.

A truly classic toy, the TEDCO Toys Original Gyroscope is now thrilling its third generation of science lovers. Captivated by its ability to spin on a string or the tip of a pencil without falling over, children ask, “how does it do that” and then quickly set out to master all the tricks themselves.

TEDCO also manufactures Light Crystal Prisms, the Original Pet Tornado and Blocks and Marbles sets, in addition to distributing a large collection of science kits and educational toys. TEDCO’s Pet Tornado was named one of the top ten science toys for kids for 2012-13 by Squidoo.

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS EMBARK ON NEW ADVENTURES WITH NEW ANIMATED SERIES COMING TO CARTOON NETWORK IN 2018


BURBANK, Calif. (May 23, 2017) — Production has begun on DC Super Hero Girls, an all-new animated action-comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation and based on characters from DC Entertainment. Featuring fresh character designs and storytelling from Emmy® Award–winning producer Lauren Faust (Super Best Friends Forever, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends), DC Super Hero Girls will be coming to Cartoon Network in 2018.

 

The world may know them as Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl, but not-so-typical teenagers Diana, Kara and Barbara, alongside their Super Hero friends have much more to deal with than just protecting the citizens of Metropolis from some of the most sinister school-aged Super-Villains of the DC Universe. After all, being teens is tough enough, what with school, friends, family and the chaos that comes with managing a social life. . But add super powers and a secret identity to the mix, and things can get a lot more complicated.

 

Sure, gal pals Bumblebee, Zatanna and Green Lantern Jessica Cruz are always there to lend an ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a fist to punch with, and their bros in the Justice League amp up the fun whether they’re at a concert or taking down a crime ring. But what happens when Diana and her favorite study buddy and fencing partner, Tatsu, can’t agree on how to dole out justice as Wonder Woman and Katana? Or when Barbara finds out her Gotham-Con bestie is teen-fiend Harley Quinn? Along with all their friends, foes and frenemies, this squad of super teens navigates the unique growing pains that come when you’re a teenager trying to fight the battles of the world and the battles of growing up at the same time.

 

The new series is a global initiative with Cartoon Network and builds on the successful DC Super Hero Girls direct-to-video movies as well as digital webisodes launched in 2015 and viewed by millions of fans on the DC Super Hero Girls YouTube channel, as well as the DC Super Hero Girls mobile app.

 

Sam Register (Teen Titans Go!, Justice League Action) serves as executive producer.

 

YOUTUBE TO LIVESTREAM LCD SOUNDSYSTEM PERFORMANCE FROM GOOGLE I/O ON MAY 18

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GrbcN7M4eui3npTdiY9cr6QD3_qndSsVi2BUBFGxEbvTdLA6EXXUZyIomG4PsNsyOk53bLyyX5H92e0T76nImm8Fn-K5wUxgnpXtwGU5BmrcTGxh07KBzhCoVlt2GmQDTGfJQYbn

Full Musical Set Will Mark the First Time a Google I/O Performance is Live Streamed

 

Fresh from a highly anticipated return with their new singles “Call the Police” and “American Dream,” LCD Soundsystem will take the stage at this year’s Google I/O conference to perform a full set packed with favorites spanning their acclaimed catalog. Previously an experience only open to Google I/O attendees, this will be the first time a performance from the event will be available to fans worldwide.

 

Kicking off at 9:00 PM PT on Thursday, May 18, the LCD Soundsystem performance at Google I/O will be available to stream here: youtube.com/lcdsoundsystem

 

About Google I/O

Google I/O is an annual developer festival held at the outdoor Shoreline Amphitheatre, bringing local developer communities together to experience the I/O keynotes and sessions with one another in real-time, around the globe. They may also offer unique activities such as hackathons, codelabs, and demos.  With hands-on learning, technical talks, and Googlers on-hand to share their insights, Google I/O is returning for the second year at Shoreline Amphitheatre.  From May 17-19, you’ll dive into hands-on learning experiences, listen to technical talks, and get a chance to hear more about Google’s latest developer products.

FIVE POINTS FESTIVAL BRINGS TOGETHER NYC’S BEST FOOD TRUCKS AND CRAFT BREWERIES

Sixpoint Brewery Debuts Mad Scientist + NYC’s Favorite Fast Bites

 

New York, NY (May 15, 2017)—Hungry New Yorkers, comic collectors, and art toy enthusiasts will all find something exciting at the Five Points Festival, a designer toy and comic convention presented by Clutter Magazine andMidtown Comics and sponsored by Playcrafting. On May 20-21, NYC’s most outstanding food trucks and breweries from around the US will gather at Pier 36 (299 South St), giving festival goers full access to some of the city’s most raved about trucks, curated by the Live Fast Group. They’ll be able to wash it all down at the neighboring beer garden fueled by Lagunitas Brewing Company which will feature a selection of brews from local favorites and nationally renowned producers as well as the exclusive debut of a new India Pale Ale brewed by Brooklyn’s Sixpoint Brewery. Food trucks and the beer garden will be open during Festival hours for guests to reenergize before diving back into two full days of programming. For up-to-date details about the culinary offerings, visit www.FivePointsFest.com/food-trucks.

 

The new Festival will be a collision between comic artists and writers, toy designers and customizers (with an extensive Neo-Kaiju and Sofubi section), and original street artists, all punctuated with an impressive lineup of craft food and beer. Enthusiasts familiar with art toys will have the chance to meet some of the world’s most iconic misfit artists and brands shaking up the industry like Huck Gee, Kidrobot, James Groman, Ron English of Popaganda, Simone Legno of Tokidoki, Super7, Tara McPherson, and Mighty Jaxx on the show floor.

 

Art and beer combine in perfect harmony with Sixpoint Brewing’s Mad Scientist, an exclusive double IPA, their signature style, brewed specially to commemorate the first year of the Five Points Festival. Sixpoint’s commitment to quality and creativity echoes the high-level craftsmanship on display at Five Points, with great care taken to create the perfect companion beer. Both beer aficionados and Festival enthusiasts will appreciate the juicy cherry flavor profile and thematic hop aroma featuring Mosaic and Galaxy hops further bridging the art and beverage worlds. The beer debuts at Five Points on draft, and after resting in Sixpoint’s lambic barrels, will be available in local bars all over New York City.

 

Head brewer Marcus Lutter said of the process, “We worked really hard to create a beer that personified the artistry represented at Five Points Festival. Using a barrel to age the beer added complexity while tart cherries offered balance and we think a variety of beer drinkers will enjoy our latest roll out.”

 

Food Truck Participants

  • Big D’s Grub – With two trucks serving New York City, Big D’s has become an Asian-Fusion institution with mouthwatering dishes like bulgogi tacos with pickled vegetables and fragrant green and red curries. (Saturdayonly).
  • Korilla BBQ – a Veteran of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race,” they focus on Korean BBQ with creative pairings like bacon-kimchi fried rice. (Sunday only).
  • Mac Truck – Helmed by celebrity chef Dom Tesoriero, New York City’s first and only mac n’ cheese food truck is known for cheesy creations like the cheeseburger mac n’ cheese and friend Mac Bites.
  • Nuchas Empanadas – With a variety of unique flavor combinations catered to meat-lovers and vegans alike in their baked (not fried) empanadas, Nuchas has something for everyone.
  • Phil’s Steaks – Bringing the flavor of Philly to New York City, Phil’s Steaks has quickly generated a cult following for their authentic cheesesteaks using high quality beef ribeye and freshly baked rolls shipped directly from the City of Brotherly Love.
  • Toum – Toum has been serving up delicious Lebanese food for over four years using traditional methods and rustic ingredients to elevate customer-favorites like crisp falafel, beef shawarma, and their signature Toum garlic whip.

 

Craft Brewery Participants

  • Coney Island Brewing Company – Located in the heart of Coney Island, Coney Island Brewing Company offers eight house-brewed beers on tap that rotate regularly including their Mermaid Pilsner, Siren’s Cry, and Vagabond Wit.
  • Bronx Brewery – The team behind Bronx Brewery lives by the philosophy to “do one thing and do it right,” which shows with their impressive lineup of approachable and well-balanced ales.
  • Brooklyn Brewery – Since its founding in 1988, Brooklyn Brewery has grown to include a wide-ranging collection of beers including a smooth Brooklyn Lager, hoppy East IPA or roasty Brown Ale.
  • Lagunitas Brewing Company – Lagunitas began on a kitchen stove in Northern California in 1993 and has always looked to the future…Whether supporting local communities by turning beer into money for the cause, or simply fueling stories, art, and songs with IPA and other fine ales.
  • Sixpoint Brewery – Paying homage to the Sixpoint Brewers’ star, a code followed by brewers for centuries, the Brooklyn-based brewery offers a selection of core beers year-round in addition to seasonal varieties and one-time unique beer series.
  • Stella Artois – Steeped in 600 years of history, Stella Artois has become a household name for their Belgian beer and Cidre.

 

For more information about Five Points Festival, please visit fivepointsfest.com and follow the Five Points Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To inquire about press passes, email maura@lindarothpr.com or call 202-888-3573.

 

Five Points Festival

The Five Points Festival is a collision of toys, comics, and counterculture curated by Clutter Magazine (cluttermagazine.com). A designer toy and comic convention in New York’s Lower East Side, Five Points is two days and nights of comic artists and writers, vinyl and plastic toys, original art, resin, plush, blind boxes, graphic novels, indie comics, blanks, minis, kaiju, Japanese vinyl, posters, prints, apparel, food trucks, and craft breweries – capped off by the 2017 Designer Toy Awards. The antidote to the average con, Five Points brings together tastemakers, misfits, and rebels with the new, retro, and infamous in a one-of-a-kind marketplace. For more, visit fivepointsfest.com.

 

Sixpoint Brewery

Sixpoint was born out of an 800-square-foot garage in Brooklyn, New York City, in 2004 by award-winning homebrewer-turned professional Shane Welch, who had amassed over 1,000 individual recipes.

THE POKÉMON COMPANY INTERNATIONAL NAMES WICKED COOL TOYS AS MASTER TOY LICENSEE

THE POKÉMON COMPANY INTERNATIONAL NAMES WICKED COOL TOYS AS MASTER TOY LICENSEE

 

The Pokémon Company International Will Also Become a Strategic Investor

in the Innovative and Growing Toy Company

Bellevue, WA—May 8, 2017—Building on its mission to bring the best Pokémon experiences to fans around the world, The Pokémon Company International announced the appointment of Wicked Cool Toys as master toy licensee for the globally popular Pokémon brand, starting in July 2018. Wicked Cool Toys will have the rights to manufacture and market action figures, play sets, plush, roleplay items, and other toys based on the hit Pokémon animated series in worldwide markets, excluding regions in Asia where the brand is managed by The Pokémon Company International’s parent organization, The Pokémon Company. 

“Pokémon is one of the most beloved entertainment properties in the world, and Wicked Cool Toys is thrilled to become part of that legacy,” said Michael Rinzler, co-president of Wicked Cool Toys.

“We can’t wait to deliver innovative and fun toys that embody the joy of Pokémon to kids and the brand’s millions of passionate fans around the world,” said Jeremy Padawer, co-president of Wicked Cool Toys.

The Pokémon Company International also announced it has become a strategic investor in Wicked Cool Toys and  will have a seat on the toy company’s board of directors. This new partnership will allow for enhanced collaboration in the development of Pokémon toys with the growing toy company. The investment in Wicked Cool Toys is in line with the strategic partnership approach The Pokémon Company International engaged in with Niantic Inc., the developers and publishers of Pokémon GO.

“Toys are a major part of Pokémon’s mission to bring the fun and joy of the brand to kids and fans around the world, and we’re excited to welcome Wicked Cool Toys to the Pokémon family as its master toy licensee,” said Colin Palmer, vice president of Marketing & Licensing at The Pokémon Company International. “Wicked Cool Toys is a growing company, and we’re thrilled to build a strategic partnership with them through both collaboration and financial investment.”

TOMY will continue to be a key licensing partner for the Pokémon brand and will produce select items as well as products inspired by Pokémon video games, such as the popular Pokémon Z-Ring, which interacts with the mega hits Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, currently available for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.

The development of Pokémon toys from Wicked Cool Toys will begin immediately, with the first products expected to arrive at retail locations in fall 2018.

Prey Review

Arkane have, in just a short amount of time, mastered their craft. The Dishonored games did a great job at throwing a bunch of tools at the player and letting them navigate rich deep worlds the way they want to. Prey feels the same, only amplified. Trading in swords and spirits for guns and neurological enhancements, Prey could be construed as Arkane’s take on science fiction. It hits some pretty familiar beats throughout, but Prey feels like a natural evolution of the Arkane trademark formula.


Prey itself takes place in an alternate timeline where John F Kennedy survived the assassination attempt in 1963, in turn directing more funding into the space program and sending us into space much earlier. In Prey, you are Morgan Yu, an employee for Transtar who presently owns the research space station Talos-1. Morgan wakes up with little to no memory of his past, but discovers that he himself is intrinsically tied to the station and its bizarre alien research.

 Prey-Screen-CorpsePrey’s storyline sounds pretty cliché and at times it is, though the story isn’t afraid to head into stranger directions than you’d normally expect. As the game began I wasn’t too keen to progress in the story, instead exploring the space station at my own leisure. Though as I got further in, Prey threw some twists at me that hooked me on the ideas it was selling. Despite this, I still found the playable character somewhat unlikable and the main villain quite forgettable. Still, Prey’s story hits the right beats at the right time to pique players’ interests. Think of it as a warped combination: Memento meets Dead Space meets BioShock.

When you play the first hour or so of Prey, more seasoned gamers will see where the game draws inspiration. You’re on a space station, it’s falling apart, you start off with a wrench, you use powers to defend yourself called psionics and you’re being lead along by a faceless or mysterious voice. Prey is woven from strong genes – taking inspiration from Dead Space, Dishonored, System Shock and BioShock. It’s a first-person game that isn’t afraid to have moments of quiet time to let you explore the sprawling space station that is Talos-1 at your own pace and leisure.

That’s really the name of the game with Prey. It’s an open world, that lets you explore areas of the space station in (almost) whatever order you wish. Everything is connected, whether you want to naturally get to an area using the winding corridors of the space station or you want to leave the station and re-enter it elsewhere while floating in space. Prey’s densely packed world, shortcuts and connections all come together to give the game a sense of having an open world without the barren filler environments that commonly come with it.

When you’re navigating the world of Prey you’ll be outfitted with a variety of abilities, weapons and powers that let you approach the playground of Talos-1 the way you want to. Most weapons serve a dual purpose – they can also be used to create platform on the walls to circumvent obstacles, or activate buttons from a short distance away. Each weapon having multiple uses encourages experimentation, as well as thinking outside of the box.

When you’re done with Prey once, I’d be surprised if you didn’t want to jump into it again. Not only because you’ll probably miss something while trying to explore the sprawling Talos-1 station, but also because you can change the outcome of the game based on your treatment of others throughout the story. It’s nothing totally revolutionary, but given Prey’s flexible systems, running through a second time is bound to be different to your first, intentional or not.

Your play style will greatly decide how long it’ll take you to run through Prey, though I’d estimate most players would get at least fifteen to twenty hours out of their first run. Perhaps even more if they explored the station thoroughly. This much is certain: Prey is a game that just begs to be played at least once more once you’ve finished it.

Taking a page out of Dishonored’s book, Prey features a stylised art style to bring its world to life. The result is something that never looks hyper-realistic but something more distinctive instead. Artistically speaking, Prey brings together retro designs with futuristic ones to create something not unlike BioShock’s Art Deco style. From a technical standpoint, the game is running on CryEngine which brings with it the usual caveats for consoles – namely longer than desirable load times. It’s not the best-looking game, especially compared to others, but Prey does its own thing and it does its own thing well.

Prey’s world is run down yet colourful, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the experience. Composed by Mick Gordon, the score is filled with sublime synth beats and strange, otherworldly noises and sound effects to create something eerie, atmospheric and tense. These pieces do an amazing job at elevating the already strong atmosphere aboard Talos-1, and is quite possibly one of the strongest soundtracks I’ve ever heard in a game.

Prey is another win for Arkane. It’s a game where everyone who plays it will have a different experience. One thing is certain though – that Prey remains a consistent experience from beginning to end. Providing players with intuitive gameplay systems with great synergy, freedom to approach combat how you want and game design that rewards creativity are just three ways that Prey succeeds. While BioShock was heralded as the spiritual successor to System Shock, Prey feels like a much more successful attempt. An absolute joy to play and experience.

follow me on twitter @julianexcalibur