Today, Crunchyroll will be live streaming the third annual Anime Awards. Before the show starts tonight at 6PM PT / 9PM ET, we're sharing an exclusive sneak peek of the show's opening. You can watch the video above.
The opening for this year's Anime Awards includes scenes from several notable series and movies from 2018, including Violet Evergarden, Aggretsuko, Planet With, Devilman Crybaby, Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, Mirai, and Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku. All of these anime are nominated for at least one award this year. But they're not the only ones. The most popular nominee is Megalobox, which is up for eight of the 15 award categories. Other popular 2018 series, such as A Place Further Than the Universe, Zombie Land Saga, and My Hero Academia, have been nominated as well.
This year, voice actress Cristina Vee is scheduled to host the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. She's most well-known for her portrayal of The Familiar of Zero's Louise, Sailor Moon's Rei Hino, Devilman Crybaby's Miki Makimura, and Konosuba's Darkness. Crunchyroll has also announced that industry professionals and well-known anime fans, such as Made in Abyss composer Kevin Penkin, Roosterteeth director and writer Miles Luna, and IGN senior editor Miranda Sanchez, are scheduled to announce the winner for each category.
You can catch the full livestream of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards to watch the crowning of the best of anime in 2018, and see sneak previews of new upcoming anime projects as well. Tune in exclusively on Twitch and Crunchyroll. If you need a reminder for which series and movies have been nominated, we've outlined each category below. As one of this year's judges, I had a hand in determining the list of nominees.
Apex Legends encourages you to create a squad that leverages the strengths of the game's characters. Its eight playable characters each comes with their own unique abilities, so composing an effective team of three requires a bit of trial and error.
If you've chosen Pathfinder, you have interest in scoping out the path ahead for your squad. As a scout, it's your responsibility to use his various mobility options to spot enemy locations and strategic points of interest.
Sometimes a squad's path to success is made possible by a solid recon player. Pathfinder handles that role in spades with abilities that provide advantageous intel. With abilities that increase its mobility and awareness of nearby enemies, your responsibility as Pathfinder is to serve your squadmates and keep them in the know about what's happening in the battlefield. With its endearingly optimistic personality, Pathfinder makes playing the scout a charming and fulfilling experience.
Abilities
Tactical: Grappling Hook
Pathfinder's Grappling Hook can be used to get to hard-to-reach places quickly. It's your go-to method for getting a lay of the land.
Passive: Insider Knowledge
Pathfinder's Passive ability Insider Knowledge allows you to scan a survey beacon that will reveal the ring's next location. Use this whenever you see the survey beacon as it can greatly help you gain a positional advantage over the next team.
Ultimate: Zipline Gun
Pathfinder's ultimate ability is Zipline gun creates a zipline that everyone can use, allowing your whole squad to reach areas not as easily accessible.
Tips To Play
The Grappling Hook is Pathfinder's deadliest weapon. The most obvious use is to get him to high ground for sniping, since you get can get some very good vantage points for the Longbow DMR, Triple Take, or Kraber.
Don't discount the grapple's ability to make you go fast, though.It can be used to do some fun tactical plays to swing around enemies or to try to get up and over them. Getting good with the grapple can let you swing over top of enemy positions to land in perfect positions for flanking, or to totally confuse enemies as they lose track of you. What's more, with practice, you can get good at using the grapple swing to save yourself from bad situations by zipping through the air and getting away quickly.
Pathfinder's ultimate ability is great to get to high vantage points for sniping. Also, this ability allows your team to traverse long distances, or flank enemies. It's also great for creating escape routes; set up a zipline leading away from enemies as you prepare for an ambush, so if things don't go your way, you can quickly reposition for healing or to make a run for it.
The Insider Knowledge ability is pretty invaluable, and you should be making use of it in every match as often as you can. It shows you where the next ring will be, allowing you to plan your movements around the map better than other players. You can use that information to get set up in strong positions ahead of other teams, so that by the time they arrive when the ring forces them to move, you can be waiting--ideally with high ground and a sniper.
In combat situations, try to stay up high as much as you can--as Pathfinder, verticality is a capability you have that other characters don't. Pop up on rooftops, zip from building to building, and generally use your mobility to get to places your enemies don't expect to see you. Smart players will try to get angles on opposing squads they don't expect, so while the rest of your team is distracting them, you can show up on a nearby rooftop, laying down machine gun fire. It's a great way to rack up kills and knockdowns with hit-and-run tactics.
Ziplines are noisy, but they're much quicker than running, and you're tougher to hit in the air than you are on the ground. Don't be afraid to toss ziplines when you have them to help you quickly climb hills or pass over buildings, even in a combat scenario, because the added speed might be enough to get you out of harm's way.
After several hours with Anthem, I can't say I'm particularly interested in it yet. I've completed some missions, upgraded my loadout, and gone on some more missions, but I'm not yet invested in anything I'm doing. I will, of course, keep playing, and I'll be posting a full review in the coming days. There's just nothing here so far that's driving me forward. I'm curious, but only to see if my first impression--that this is a somewhat generic, Destiny-like experience--will be proven wrong.
Anthem starts, well, kind of like Destiny 2. The Freelancers, who fight off threats using mechanized combat suits called Javelins, have fallen out of favor with humanity after a significant loss in the game's tutorial mission. It's not clear why this one failure is enough to discredit the Freelancers, but after a two-year time skip, they are scattered to the winds, now underdogs who must climb back up the ladder to "hero" status. This means starting with basic weaponry, even though you were a rookie two years prior and presumably have more experience since then. Your life revolves around taking contract missions from people in the downtrodden citadel that is your base, Tarsis, which you return to after each excursion.
There's a lot of jargon thrown around throughout the opening minutes with little explanation--it kind of feels like you're listening to a conversation about people you don't know, so none of it carries much weight. There's also a long cutscene that consists of an NPC narrating background details for you, so it's also not clear how much your character is supposed to know and about what. I did gather that there's an ancient mystery at the heart of everything, but I'm not yet sure what exactly is intriguing about it. The story so far feels like a justification for why I need to level up and find new loot, rather than the groundwork for a vibrant sci-fi world that's enticing to explore.
Mission structure doesn't help this much; so far it's been going from point A to point B, shooting some enemies, and then heading to the next waypoint. If you play solo, you can take this at your own pace and presumably stop to take in the sights, but playing co-op with friends or by matchmaking--which the game recommends as the best way to play, and which nets you better rewards--means you'll have to keep up with everyone else. It also makes it easier and faster to complete missions, which is welcome, since they mostly consist of fighting waves of enemies while your NPC partner back at Tarsis scans something nearby (much like Destiny's Ghost).
It is moderately satisfying to find new loot even if the missions themselves aren't thrilling, and I am having fun experimenting with loadouts. You get an assortment of weapons and upgrades after each mission, so you can constantly change up your equipment between contracts and try out new combinations. I'm playing the Ranger class currently, and I've established a good flow of using my guns, grenades, and missiles in rotation.
Anthem's mech-powered flying keeps missions from being completely one-note. It's my favorite part of the game so far; you have to keep your suit from overheating while you fly, which means you can get creative (or at least add flourishes as you go). The main cooling methods are water and literally cooling your jets by descending. It's exciting to nosedive only to pull up at the last second, and there's something serene about flying under a waterfall and into a strange cave. The most exciting thing to happen to me in Anthem so far is finding an upgrade for my suit that increased its heat resistance, letting me fly longer. I'm hoping I find more reason to explore than I currently have, if only to have more reason to be in the air.
I'm currently treating Anthem's disparate missions as an excuse to try a new weapon or special attack, which, combined with flight, gives me incentive to keep going. I'm hoping that I get more out of the story as I go on, but so far it's too generic to get its hooks in me. I'll keep playing on PC--I've luckily only been kicked due to server issues twice--so look out for the full review in the next few days.
Apex Legends is similar to other battle royale games, but it where it differs is its emphasis on teamwork. The game has eight different character to choose from, each with their own unique abilities. Deciding which character to play as and knowing how their abilities can best contribute to your team's survival is essential.
For a character like Caustic, defensive tactics is the name of the game. His deadly gas traps can easily overwhelm and hinder mobility of enemy squads, offering your fellow teammates fertile opportunity for an easy ambush. At a glance, Caustic's abilities often seem more contextual than universally functional, but with a little practice, you can use that to your advantage.
As stated above, Caustic's strategies are a bit contextual. His Gas Traps are lethal, but it takes a firm understanding of their capabilities to use them effectively. And with such a large map where numerous battle scenarios are possible, finding the right time to leverage Caustic's strengths proves more difficult than you'd expect. That said, getting a feel for that takes time, so remain patient and don't hesitate to adjust his abilities to the needs of your team.
In battle, Caustic is best in close quarters situations. His gas abilities let you control a fight by blanketing areas to force enemies out of or away from them, and can give your team a serious advantage as your opponents are damaged, slowed, and blinded. He's also good for countering tracker or scout characters such as Bloodhound or Wraith--gas traps placed carefully can slow people following you, block pathways, and force players to move through pathways that help your teammates.
Use Caustic to try to control the battlefield and give your team strategic advantages, and sew chaos among enemy teams whenever possible by gassing them out. Just be aware that your gas can negatively affect your teammates. It won't kill them, but it can blind and slow them.
Abilities
Tactical: Nox Gas Trap
Caustic can drop Nox Gas Trap canisters that release deadly gas when shot or triggered by enemies. Gas effectively blinds enemies, while damaging them over time, making it great for close-range encounters.
Passive: Nox Vision
Nox Vision allows you to see enemies through Gas. It's pretty convenient, as enemies afflicted by your toxic gas are highlighted in green for both you and your squadmates.
Ultimate: Nox Gas Grenade
Caustic's Ultimate Ability Nox Gas Grenade blankets a large area in Nox Gas. This ability can be used defensively or offensively, putting enemy squads into a state of panic in confined space or sending them running in the other direction.
Tips To Play
While you're likely to be inclined to surprise enemies with Caustic's traps, it's a great idea to set some down as you're fighting to tip the balance in your favor. It's also possible to block doors and hallways with your traps, which can physically impede people from getting past them. You can throw up to six Nox Gas Traps at a time. You have three on cooldown, but once that ends, you can drop three more, or drop one as you get them back off a cooldown. Another great way to use the Nox Gas Traps is laying them down behind your team as you move up. This will alert you if anyone's triggered them or are trying to sneak up on you. In addition, you can drop traps near downed enemies in hopes of luring their teammates near them. Any traps you don't use, you can also pick back up, so keep that in mind.
The enemy outlining provided by Caustic's Nox Vision is a nice perk that should encourage you to use your traps more liberally. The gas won't hurt your teammates but be aware that their visibility in gas is still similar to smoke grenades, so try not to go overboard--lest you want to frustrate your squad.
Caustic's Nox Gas Grenades are useful in leading enemies into an ambush. It's also particularly useful in pushing enemies away, so you can give your squad time to revive downed teammates. You can even throw them in the opposite scenario, preventing enemy squads from bringing back their friends.
Another handy strategy is comboing Caustic's gas trap and gas grenade in a confined space. If you're able to block an enemy into a room with a trap, throw a grenade inside. Assuming they aren't smart enough to grenade the door, this deadly combination should make for a guaranteed kill.
All this talk about deadly gas is great, but don't think the enemy is completely powerless. Beware of incoming Grenades or Arc Stars while your gas is active on the field.
Apex Legends is a battle royale game centered around the concept of surviving as a team. You can wordlessly ask for weapons and equipment or point out enemy locations with the game's ping system. Downed teammates can be revived, and you can respawn dead allies if you grab their banner in time. Everything in the game revolves around your squad working together, and that starts with knowing how to use your chosen Legend's unique abilities to benefit the team.
Wraith is one of the six Legends unlocked in Apex from the start (with two more you can earn or purchase), and this interdimensional skirmisher is one of the most versatile characters in the game. Although she's designed to excel as a hit-and-run tactician, Wraith can fit into Mirage's role as a trickster or handle Bloodhound's recon duties in a pinch. In this short guide, we're going to take a look at Wraith, and explain how this Legend can open up new avenues towards victory for you and your squad.
If you're still on the fence about picking up Apex Legends, check out our review. If you're already playing Respawn's battle royale game and you're looking for a few extra tips, we have a guide on becoming a champion, as well as a gallery of the best weapons in the game.
Wraith is one of the three offense-focused fighters in Apex Legends, so she's specifically designed to be one of her team's major damage dealers. Her abilities make her an ideal candidate for your squad's point person, so don't expect to hang back when it's time to move out. That doesn't mean you should go off on your own though. Wraith may be able to take care of herself, but she's a force to be reckoned with when she's using her portals to help her entire team get the drop on an enemy.
Confusing the enemy should be your main concern as Wraith, but if need be you can use her skills to aid downed allies, scout ahead, get your team out of a losing firefight, set ambushes, or trick an enemy into killing themselves. Regardless of how you use Wraith, it's important to keep moving during a fight. Wraith is most useless when she's standing still and trying to snipe an enemy from afar, where her abilities can really only be used defensively. Because you'll usually be in the thick of things as Wraith, you'll want to nab at least one weapon with a decent fire rate that packs a punch at close range. The EVA-8 and Mastiff shotguns are your best bets, but the Peacekeeper, Wingman, and Flatline are all excellent choices as well. Also, try to avoid executing enemies. Wraith has some really cool execution animations, but you want to keep moving to kill the enemy team as quickly as possible.
Wraith's Skills
Passive Skill: Voices From The Void - A voice warns you when danger approaches. As far as you can tell, it's on your side.
With this passive, voices warn of any incoming threat that might harm Wraith, so stick close to your teammates to defend them as well. The voices are whispered, so for the best results, play Apex Legends with headphones, subtitles on, or both. On very rare occasions, this passive makes enemy footsteps louder as well, so headphones might be the way to go, since you don't get an audible warning for those. Don't forget to hit the button prompt when the voices speak up, so you can alert your teammates as well. Knowing an enemy has spotted you, that a grenade is fast approaching, or that one of Caustic's Nox Gas Traps is waiting for you around the corner or behind a closed door can make a difference between victory and defeat
Tactical Skill: Into The Void - Reposition quickly through the safety of void space, avoiding all damage.
When Wraith journeys into the void, she becomes untouchable and nearly invisible. She also moves a lot faster too, so you can use this skill to escape an approaching ring wall. Wraith can't interact with anything while in the void, though, meaning she can't pick up weapons or items, see enemies or allies, attack, or open or close doors.
Ultimate Skill: Dimensional Rift - Link two locations with portals for 60 seconds, allowing your entire team to use them.
Wraith has one of the most useful Ultimate skills in Apex Legends. She can drop portals next to downed allies so they can crawl through and teleport to safety, or use the massive speed boost she gets from placing her first portal to escape an approaching zone wall. If you don't have a Bloodhound on-hand, you can use Wraith to drop one portal, run ahead to scout some buildings, and escape through a quickly placed second portal if any enemies are hiding inside.
Tips To Play As Wraith
Once you've gotten a knack for Voices From The Void, Wraith can become nearly untouchable at long range. Not only are you warned when someone tags you, the voices speak up when you're in a sniper's scope. The second you hear that you've got a sniper on you, warn your teammates and use your tactical skill, Into The Void. You'll disappear and become untouchable, much to your enemy's chagrin.
Speaking of Into The Void, because of its drawbacks, it's best used defensively to escape a firefight or ambush. However, you can also use the ability to reach downed allies or safely flank an enemy's position. If your team has another pinned down, you can use Into The Void to get the drop on someone, but that's much easier to do if you're chatting with friends and they guide you to where an opponent is hiding. To truly master Into The Void, learn all the tiny details of Apex Legends' map, so you know what you're doing and where you're going when you blink out of existence.
As a final note, pay close attention to the shadows that populate the void. They aren't enemies or allies. They're actually Wraith. Because she's caught between dimensions, Wraith can see every outcome she's ever made, making, or will make, in both this universe and others. Those shadows mark where she'll come out of the void if she heads in that direction, so they're basically marking her possible futures.
Above, we listed how Wraith can support her team with Dimensional Rift, but as an offense-focused character, this skill is best used for killing enemies. If Wraith uses Dimensional Rift, she can follow up with Into the Void to speed across the battlefield unscathed before placing her second portal. With this strategy, you can teleport your entire team into a flanking position behind another squad. To safeguard your first portal, you can have Gibraltar throw his Dome Of Protection over it, or have Bangalore's Smoke Launcher hide its location.
If you really want to mess with an enemy, have your squad wait behind cover with grenades, before rushing forward and placing a portal next to an another team. The second it's set, teleport back to safety while your allies step through to the enemy squad, drop their grenades at their feet, and then transport back. If you have a Caustic on your squad, his Ultimate can do insane damage with this technique, especially within enclosed spaces. If you're in the midst of a firefight, drop one portal and run to the nearest map edge to drop your second. With any luck, in the confusion of battle, your enemies will think you escaped through the portal and "follow you" through it to kill you, only to appear in open air and fall to their deaths instead. You can trick people into teleporting outside the ring wall too. If the edge of the map and ring are far away, having a waiting Caustic Nox Gas Trap or a Gibraltar with a Spitfire or Devotion and his Gun Shield up can work too. We've done a lot experiments with what Wraith's portals can and can't do if you need any more combat strategies.
How To Counter Wraith's Weaknesses
Despite the wide range of attacks Wraith can pull off with her skills, she can be easily countered by a Bloodhound. The technological tracker can tell where Wraith has gone, and see her through walls. If you're playing Wraith and see a Bloodhound, taking them out should be your first priority.
Wraith is also at her best when she is the one causing the confusion, not the other way around. Disorienting Wraith with Bangalore's Smoke Launcher, Caustic's Nox Gas Grenade, or Mirage's Psyche Out or Vanishing Act are the best ways of knocking her off her game once she's within killing range. If you're playing Wraith and your enemy responds with any of these attacks, don't panic. Use Into The Void and get out. Remember, your abilities are best used to surprise the enemy. If you're the one being surprised, you need to retreat and try again.
Star Wars: Episode IX has wrapped filming, marking the end of what Disney has dubbed the "Skywalker saga." In an emotional pair of tweets, director JJ Abrams and actor John Boyega shared a photo and thanked the cast and crew.
The photo in both tweets shows actors Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac having a good hug in costume on what appears to be a desert backdrop. The three play the principal characters of the new trilogy: Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron, respectively.
"It feels impossible, but today wrapped photography on Episode IX," said Abrams. "There is no adequate way to thank this truly magical crew and cast. I'm forever indebted to you all."
Boyega expressed similar sentiments.
That's a wrap on Star Wars episode 9 and the end to a chapter of my life that I couldn't be more thankful for. What a process! It really has been a joy to be in these movies surrounded by amazing people. JJ thank you for making my dreams come true. pic.twitter.com/8b83vQKKDc
Abrams directed the first film of the new trilogy, The Force Awakens, and helped set the course for Disney's ownership of the franchise. Rian Johnson directed the second film, The Last Jedi. Episode IX (title yet to be revealed) was set to be helmed by Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow, but that fell apart due to creative differences and Abrams returned to close out the trilogy.
With the end of the Skywalker saga coming later this year, it's unclear exactly what direction Disney will move with the franchise afterward. The company has pumped the brakes on its spin-off anthology films, after Solo disappointed at the box office and Disney CEO Bob Iger has suggested fans got fatigued by too much Star Wars. The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson is still preparing to direct his own trilogy of films, but we're not sure where in the universe those take place.
Meanwhile, the company is preparing to launch its own streaming service, Disney+, which will have its own slate of original shows: The Mandalorian, a Rogue One prequel starring Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), and a new season of The Clone Wars.
We're giving away one (1) Metro Exodus Xbox One Bundle, and two (2) Metro Exodus Spartan Collector's Edition games to (3) lucky fans. Entering into our Instagram giveaway below is easy -- just like and follow for a chance to win!
NO PURCHASE OR WIRELESS DEVICE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD OR AGE OF MAJORITY, WHICHEVER IS OLDER IN YOUR STATE OF RESIDENCE, AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. IF YOU ARE ACCESSING THIS SWEEPSTAKES VIA YOUR WIRELESS DEVICE, DATA RATES MAY APPLY.
Administrator & Sponsor: GameSpot, a Division of CBS Interactive, Inc. ("CBSI"), 235 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94105.
Prize Provider: Deep Silver Inc., 900 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 103, Larkspur, CA 94939
Sweepstakes Entities: CBSI and Deep Silver Inc.
THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED OR ADMINISTERED BY INSTAGRAM.
1. Acceptance of Rules. By entering the Metro Exodus Console and Spartan Edition Giveaway (the "Sweepstakes") operated on the CBSI social web site accessible at the domain "instagram.com/GameSpot" (the "CBSI Service"), you hereby accept and agree to these official rules (the "Official Rules") of this Sweepstakes and the decisions of the Administrator in connection with this Sweepstakes, whose decisions are final.
No purchase, entry fee or use of wireless device is necessary to enter or win. If you are a wireless service subscriber and have a smartphone, tablet or other wireless device that allows you access to the Internet, you may also enter the Sweepstakes via any of those devices during the Promotion Period (as defined below). If you chose to access this Sweepstakes via any of those wireless devices, you may be charged data rates according to the Terms and Conditions of the Service Agreement with your wireless carrier.
2. Eligibility. This Sweepstakes is offered and open to persons who are: (a) Registered Users (as defined below); (b) legal residents of the United States; and (c) at least 18 years old or age of majority, whichever is older in their state of residence, at the date of entry in this Sweepstakes. For purposes of these Official Rules, "Registered User(s)" means a person who has successfully completed the registration form, obtained a user identification, an associated password on the social website Instagram and follow GameSpot (@gamespot). There is no fee associated with becoming an Instagram Registered User. Employees, directors, and the immediate family members of the Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, advertising and promotion agencies and legal and financial advisors are not eligible to participate in this Sweepstakes. For purpose of the foregoing, "immediate family" means parents, spouses, children, siblings or any members of the same households of such employees and directors. This Sweepstakes is void in all U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited by law.
3. Entering the Sweepstakes: To enter the Sweepstakes, if not already, become a Registered User (as specified above), and enter, during the Promotion Period (as defined below), by following the instructions below:
1. Follow @deepsilver
2. Like the post related to the Sweepstakes on the CBSI Service
Participants can gain additional entries by Tagging their friends in separate comments on the CBSI Service. Participants may receive a maximum of five (5) additional entries to the Sweepstakes via this action; one (1) per each unique friend tagged.
Limit of six (6) entries per person during the Promotion Period.
4. Promotion Period. The Sweepstakes begins on February 15, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time ("PT") and ends at 12:00 p.m. PT on February 25, 2019 (the "Promotion Period").
5. Prizes. The Sweepstakes will award one (1) grand prize (the "Grand Prize") and two (2) runner-up prizes (the "Runner-up Prizes"). The Grand Prize consists of one (1) Metro Exodus Xbox One Bundle. The Grand Prize has an approximate retail value ("ARV") of Five Hundred Dollars (US$500.00). The Runner-up Prize consists of one (1) Metro Exodus: Spartan Collector's Edition game. The ARV of each Runner-up Prize is One Hundred Fifty Dollars (US$150.00). The Grand Prize, the Runner-up Prize, collectively, the "Prizes"). The ARV of Prizes to be awarded is Eight Hundred Dollars (US$800.00).
6. Prize Restrictions. No assignment, transfer, conversion to cash or cash redemption or substitution of a Prize is permitted, except Administrator reserves the right to substitute a Prize with a prize of comparable or greater value, should a Prize or part of a Prize become unavailable. Prize is solely for personal use and may not be used in conjunction with any other promotion. All Prize details are at the sole discretion of the Sweepstakes Entities.
7. Odds/Drawings/Winner Notification. Odds of winning a Prize depends on the number of eligible entries received during the Promotion Period. On or about February 25, 2019, after the conclusion of the Promotion Period, the Prize drawings will be conducted at random by Administrator, whose decisions are final and binding in all respects. The potential Prize winners (the "Winners") will be notified by Administrator, via a message to their Instagram Service account. Potential Winners will be asked to provide their personal information, such as their name, physical address, date of birth and phone number in order to confirm eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. For purposes of clarity, each Prize has its own standalone drawing. In the event a Winner does not respond within the allotted time frame, a new drawing will be conducted in attempt to fulfill that Prize and the Runner-up Prize Winner will not be eligible for the Grand Prize. Administrator will select up to two (2) alternate Winners per Prize. If no contact has been made with the alternates after a reasonable effort has been made during three (3) business days from the first notification attempt to the last alternate, such Prize shall not be awarded.
8. Prize Taxes. All federal, state, local and other tax liabilities arising from this Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, winning a Prize, will be the sole responsibility of each Winner.
9. Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release and Publicity Release. Winners may be required to complete, execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release, and where lawful, a Publicity Release (collectively, the "Release Forms"), as well as a W-9 tax form within five (5) days of notification of winning. Failure to return Release Forms timely, or if a Prize notification or a Prize is returned as non-deliverable, or if a Winner is found not to be eligible or not in compliance with these Official Rules, may result in disqualification with an alternate Winner selected in accordance with these Official Rules.
10. Publicity Release Terms. Except where prohibited by law, a Winner's acceptance of a Prize constitutes permission for the Sweepstakes Entities to use Winner's name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, and address (city and state) worldwide and in all forms of media, in perpetuity, without further compensation.
11. Improper Conduct. Administrator, in its sole discretion, may disqualify any entrant from participation in or use of any or all portions of this Sweepstakes, and refuse to award a Prize, if a Winner engage(s) in any conduct Administrator deems to be improper, unfair or otherwise adverse to the operation of the Sweepstakes or detrimental to other entrants of the Sweepstakes. Such improper conduct includes, without limitation, falsifying personal information required during entrant registration or Prize claim, violating any term or condition stated herein, accumulating entries through methods such as automated computer scripts or any other programming techniques, allowing others to use entrant's personal information for the purpose of accumulating entries, or intentionally trying to defraud, reverse engineer, disassemble or otherwise tamper with the computer programs in connection with this Sweepstakes. Winners agree that Administrator may void a Prize or any part of a Prize that a Winner may have won and/or require the return of a Prize or any part of a Prize that a Winner may have won as a result of such improper conduct. Winners further acknowledge that any forfeiture of a Prize and/or return of a Prize shall in no way prevent Administrator from pursuing other avenues of recourse, such as criminal or civil proceedings in connection with such conduct. WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS SWEEPSTAKES MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, EACH OF THE SWEEPSTAKES ENTITIES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
12. Integrity of Sweepstakes. If, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned by reason of infection by computer virus, worms, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which Administrator, in its sole opinion believes could corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, Administrator reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this Sweepstakes and select the Winners from entries received prior to the action taken or in such other manner as Administrator may deem fair and appropriate.
13. Lost or Corrupted Entries. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, lost, late, incomplete, corrupted, stolen, misdirected, illegible or postage-due entries or mail, if applicable; or for any computer, telephone, cable, network, satellite, electronic or Internet hardware or software malfunctions, unauthorized human intervention, or the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry or other information, or the failure to capture any such information. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by registration information submitted by end users or tampering, hacking or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Sweepstakes, and assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to the Sweepstakes.
14. Damaged Property. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, injury or damage to any entrants or to any other person's computer or property related to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes or downloading materials from this Sweepstakes.
15. Sweepstakes Errors. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with errors and/or ambiguity: (a) in the Sweepstakes; (b) in any related advertising or promotions of this Sweepstakes; and/or (c) in these Official Rules. In the event of any ambiguity(s) or error(s) in these Official Rules, Administrator reserves the right to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes or to correct any such ambiguity(s) or error(s) without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Sweepstakes.
16. Prizes and Winners. The Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you/entrant hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, the selection and announcement of the Winners, the distribution of the Prizes, the acceptance/possession and/or use/misuse of any part of a Prize and/or any injury or damage to any entrant's or third person's property related to or resulting from any part of a Prize or any part of this Sweepstakes.
17. Release and Indemnity. Each entrant in this Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, the Winners, hereby releases and agrees to hold harmless the Sweepstakes Entities and their parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind to person, including death, and property, arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a Prize, participation in this Sweepstakes and participation in any activity related to this Sweepstakes.
18. Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT WILL THE SWEEPSTAKES ENTITIES, THEIR PARENTS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES AND RELATED COMPANIES, THEIR ADVERTISING OR PROMOTION AGENCIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS, BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE SWEEPSTAKES OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
19. Disclaimer of Warranties. THE SWEEPSTAKES AND PRIZES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
20. Identity Disputes. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of the winner based on an email address, the winning entry will be declared made by the Authorized Account Holder of the email address and/or wireless phone number submitted at time of registration into Instagram and/or entry into the Sweepstakes. For purposes of these Official Rules, "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.
21. Binding Arbitration. The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules and/or this Sweepstakes. Any controversy or claim, arising out of, or relating to, these Official Rules and/or this Sweepstakes shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of New York, in the City of New York and judgment on the arbitration award may be entered into any court having jurisdiction thereof.
22. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This promotion is governed by U.S. law and is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited by law. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Administrator in connection with this Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, U.S.A., without giving effect to the conflict of laws rules thereof, and any matters or proceedings which are not subject to arbitration, as set forth in Section 21 of these Official Rules and/or for entering any judgment on an arbitration award, shall take place in the State of New York, in the City of New York.
23. Winner's List/Official Rules. For the name of the Winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope for receipt by March 15, 2019 to "Winner List, Metro Exodus Console and Spartan Edition Giveaway" 1401 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. For Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address marked "Official Rules: Metro Exodus Console and Spartan Edition Giveaway" for receipt by March 15, 2019. Residents of VT may omit postage on the self-addressed envelope. The name of the Winners may be posted, and the Official Rules will be posted on GameSpot.com.
The annual toy convention, Toy Fair, is well underway at the Javits Center in New York City. Many of the reveals from the show have been action figures, but there are other interesting products tied into your favorite franchises. Hasbro has announced Star Wars Lightsaber Academy, which allows you to train to become a master of the light sword.
Available this fall, the Lightsaber Academy toys allow the user to interact with an app to learn official Star Wars moves and train with Jedi or Sith masters. Additionally, you can battle with your friends to prove who is the real Jedi master.
Pictured above is the top tier of the Lightsaber Academy toys, priced at $50. This lightsaber interacts with the app via Bluetooth and tracks your movement--and is the only one in the line that does so. In turn, you will be evaluated and scored based on your performance. The lightsaber features lights, sounds, app connectivity, and character voices from the movies.
On the lower-pricing tier are the Level 1 assortment lightsabers--pictured above. Priced at $8 each, the toys come with a code that accesses content in the Lightsaber Academy app. However, they do not have the motion tracking the $50 set has.
Finally, there are the Level 2 Lightsabers, and you can choose between Luke Skywalker's or Darth Vader's weapon. Priced at $20, these lightsabers light up and make sounds, and there is a button you can press to hear the characters speak. Additionally, it comes with codes to unlock content in the app. While you can still learn all the moves from the movie, it does not have the same interactivity as the $50 one.
All of the Lightsaber Academy toys will be available this fall.
Anthem is live for those with early access through one of EA's paid services, which means you may have some of your pre-order or special edition loot there for the taking already. This only goes for those who have full access to the game through Origin Access Premier, though, so other services will have to wait.
An EA help page details the steps for claiming various rewards. For the time being, only Legion of Dawn rewards are available, and only to Origin Access Premier members. In a tweet, EA explained that this is because the 10-hour trial available through Origin's basic tier or EA Access on Xbox One can be played without owning the game.
The process for unlocking your Legion of Dawn loot seems simply enough. It's just a matter of gaining access to Prospero's store and then claiming your loot from the helpfully named "Rewards" tab. To reach that point you just need to complete the tutorials, followed by Prospero's mission. You'll have to go to the Forge to equip them, or to the Squad screen to equip your banner.
Pre-order bonuses won't be available until the official launch day, February 22, on all platforms. Those can be equipped in the Forge (for equipment) or the Squad menu (for banners). The digital soundtrack CD on Origin should download automatically, but if not, you can find it under Extra Content in your Game Library.
The rolling access to Anthem is a bit more complex than you might expect. Right now, Origin Access Premier members on PC can play the entire game. The basic tier of Origin Access PC and EA Access on Xbox One instead offers a ten-hour trial that can carry over progress to the main game. If you're on PS4, there is no Access program. The game will release widely for everyone on February 22.
No comments:
Post a Comment