NBA 2K21 - Kobe Bryant, Damian Lillard and Zion WIlliamson are this year's cover stars

NBA 2K21 - Kobe Bryant, Damian Lillard and Zion WIlliamson are this year's cover stars

Everything is Game: Damian Lillard, Zion Williamson and Kobe Bryant are the Cover Athletes for NBA® 2K21

This year’s cover athletes represent the present and future of NBA superstardom; 2K also celebrates Kobe Bryant’s incredible lifelong pursuit of victory and legacy in the Mamba Forever Edition

  2K today unveiled the full roster of cover athletes for NBA® 2K21, the next iteration of the top-rated and top-selling NBA video game simulation series of the past 19 years*. On the cover of the current-generation version of NBA 2K21 is five-time NBA All-Star and Portland Trail Blazers' standout Damian Lillard. Zion Williamson – New Orleans Pelicans forward, 2019 1^st Overall Pick and consensus 2019 National College Player of the Year, lands the cover for the PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X version. Finally, NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s lifetime achievement of basketball excellence is celebrated in the Mamba Forever Edition.

To view the Kobe Bryant trailer click the image below

NBA 2K21 will be available on current-generation platforms on September 4, 2020 and is available for pre-order today; it will also be available on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X as a launch title this holiday. With extensive improvements upon its best-in-class graphics and gameplay, competitive and community online features and deep, varied game modes, NBA 2K21 offers one-of-a-kind immersion into all facets of NBA basketball and culture – where Everything is Game.

“NBA 2K21 is a monumental leap forward for the franchise,” stated Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts. “We’re combining all of our experience and development expertise to craft the best game possible and for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, we are building the game from the ground up to take full advantage of next-gen power and technology.”

To view the Damian Lillard trailer click the image below

This year, NBA 2K21 will offer two editions of the game on digital and physical formats - standard and a special Mamba Forever Edition. NBA 2K21 will be available for $99.95 in Australia and $109.95 in New Zealand on current-generation platforms; the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X version of NBA 2K21 will be available for $109.95 in Australia and $119.95 in New Zealand. NBA 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition will be available for $149.95 in Australia and $159.95 in New Zealand for both current and next-generation platforms.** It includes dual-access where purchasing Mamba Forever Edition on either current or next-generation platforms provides a copy of the standard edition game on the other generation at no additional cost, within the same console family. A full breakdown of pre-order details is available at https://nba.2k.com/.

To view the Zion Williamson trailer click the image below

For NBA 2K21, Legend Edition is replaced by the Mamba Forever Edition, celebrating Kobe Bryant’s lifelong pursuit of victory and legacy in the sport of basketball. For many fans, Kobe’s achievements on the court and love for the game had tremendous impact around the world and his list of awards and accolades is intensive: five-time NBA champion, 18-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, 2008 NBA MVP, 11-time All-NBA First Team, 9-time NBA All-Defensive First Team, two-time NBA Scoring Champion, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist, the all-time leading scorer for the Los Angeles Lakers and much more. Kobe was the cover athlete for NBA 2K10, the Legend Edition of NBA 2K17 and is immortalized in the NBA 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition with unique custom covers for both current generation and next-generation versions of the game that honour the span of his career, from his days wearing No. 8 and scoring 81 points to scoring 60 points wearing No. 24 the night of his final NBA game.

While the next-generation version of NBA 2K21 is being built from the ground up for next-generation consoles, 2K is also introducing several initiatives to bridge the two versions of the game. NBA 2K21 will feature MyTEAM Cross-Progression and a Shared VC Wallet within the same console family (PS4 to PS5, Xbox One to Xbox Series X). MyTEAM Cross-Progression enables all MyTEAM Points, Tokens, cards and progress to be shared on both current and next-generation versions of NBA 2K21 in the same console family; similarly, the Shared VC Wallet means any earned or purchased VC is accessible across both current and next-generation versions of NBA 2K21 in the same console family. As shared earlier, players who are interested in picking up both versions of NBA 2K21 on either PlayStation or Xbox can check out the Mamba Forever Edition, which provides dual-access by providing purchasers with a copy of the standard edition of NBA 2K21 on the other generation at no additional cost, within the same console family.

“Each of our cover athletes represent different eras of the game of basketball – Damian Lillard dominates the court today, Zion Williamson is a standard bearer for the next generation of NBA superstar and what more could be said about Kobe?,” stated Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing at NBA 2K. “Three athletes representing the current, future and storied history of the game. Today’s exciting announcement is just the first of many for NBA 2K21; it’s going to be a huge year for basketball fans and NBA 2K gamers.”

Looking ahead, NBA 2K will be releasing additional announcements and news about NBA 2K21 including the soundtrack reveal, first looks at gameplay and features for both current and next-generation versions of NBA 2K21, 2K Day celebration and much more.

NBA 2K21 will be available worldwide on PlayStation® 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™, Windows PC and Google Stadia on September 4, 2020. NBA 2K21 will also be available on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X as a launch title this holiday.

For more information on NBA 2K21, please visit https://nba.2k.com/. Follow NBA 2K on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook for the latest NBA 2K21 news.

2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

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Scoob!: Film Review

Scoob!: Film Review

Vocal cast: Will Forte, Zac Efron, Jason Isaacs, Gina Rodriguez, Amanda Seyfried
Director: Tony Cervone

The Hanna Barbera cinematic universe fires its opening salvo with the reimagining of Scooby Doo for a 2020 audience - mixing in some Avengers' style elements with some old school nostalgia sure to delight fans.

In this latest, Norville "Shaggy" Rogers befriends lonely mutt, Scooby, founding a friendship on food and hijinks. After a casual Halloween meeting with Fred, Velma and Daphne and an unmasking of a ghost, the gang forms Mystery Inc, deadset on solving mysteries.

However, when Scooby and Shaggy are ostracised after a business deal from Simon Cowell excludes them, they find themselves caught up in Dick Dastardly's quest to open the Underworld...

While Scoob has some great nostalgia for those brought up on the show, it does move massively away from its mystery roots in favour of an Avengers-style adventure.

At times, that's no bad thing, but given that Cervone's peppered the film with hints of the past - from a pitch perfect recreation of the original titles to cameos from other Hanna Barbera characters - there's an occasionally disjointed feel to the proceedings.

Younger fans may be more amused by the animated antics than older ones, given the film's propensity for silliness and catchphrase moments. Some of the clearly winking jokes about Avengers fall a little flat, if truth be told.

Odd pop culture references feel a little out of place, and will age quickly, but there's no denying Scoob! wants to be a good shaggy dog film - whether that's enough for this origin tale to guarantee its future is questionable at best.

However, for a blast of fun during the school holidays and indoors thanks to Covid-19, Scoob! proves diverting enough for the younger end of the audience.

SCOOB! is available to rent or buy in New Zealand on the following platforms:

• Apple TV, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Playstation, Xbox, Sky, Neon

Ubisoft Brings Battle Royale To New Heights With HYPER SCAPE™

Ubisoft Brings Battle Royale To New Heights With HYPER SCAPE™

UBISOFT BRINGS BATTLE ROYALE TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH HYPER SCAPE^™

Discover a New Fast-Paced Urban Battle Royale During the Limited-Time PC Technical Test

Today, Ubisoft^® announced Hyper Scape™, a free-to-play fast-paced urban battle royale first-person shooter. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Hyper Scape takes place in the distant future of 2054, where up to 100 Contenders descend upon the virtual city of Neo-Arcadia to engage in action-packed and fast-paced matches to be crowned champion. Starting today, Hyper Scape is available in a limited-time PC technical test in many territories across North America and Europe[1]. Interested players can try out the game during the technical test by tuning into one of the content creators currently broadcasting Hyper Scape on Twitch with Twitch Drops enabled. Full list available here.

Click the image to be taken to the trailer

Hyper Scape was designed from the ground up as an intense, vertical and fast-paced battle royale experience. Three-player squads and solo players can dive into the futuristic virtual city of Neo-Arcadia to engage in dynamic firefights, quickly transitioning from narrow streets to open rooftops and deadly interiors.

Hyper Scape introduces Hacks, abilities that players can loot in the world the same way they do weapons. Hacks grant offensive and defensive capabilities to suit all playstyles. Laying down a mine that seeks enemies, protecting the squad with a big wall or turning invisible to sneak up on opponents are just a few examples of the Hacks players can combine and swap effortlessly. All Hacks and weapons can be upgraded through the Fusion mechanic to produce more powerful iterations of the pre-existing item.

Hyper Scape innovates and twists the battle royale formula in many ways, such as the unpredictable Decay which dissolves the map of Neo-Arcadia into different patterns, or the unique Echo mechanic that keeps players active in the battle even when they’re down. At the end of a Hyper Scape match, the climatic showdown phase starts when the Hyper Scape crown spawns on the map. Players have two different ways to claim victory, either by picking up and carrying the crown for 45 seconds or by being the last player or squad standing.

Hyper Scape is fun to play and rewarding to watch. Developed in partnership with Twitch, the Hyper Scape Crowncast Twitch extension will entertain viewers by letting them impact the game in real time, creating unprecedented interaction between streamers and their fans. Viewers will also have a real-time impact on the battle by voting on events that affect all contenders within a match, such as low gravity or infinite ammo.

"We’ve built something really unique and fresh by streamlining the experience to focus on fun and intensity. We’re really excited to let players have a try at it right away and we can’t wait to hear what they think of it" said Graeme Jennings, Senior Producer on Hyper Scape at Ubisoft Montreal. "But this is just the start. Hyper Scape is a universe that is built to grow, and our players will see the beginnings of that even during our technical test.”

"What makes Twitch so unique is the real-time engagement between our streamers and their fans. While traditionally this kind of interaction has been about commenting on gameplay, Hyper Scape transports viewers into the game themselves, to serve as active participants,” said Sharmeen Browarek Chapp, VP of community product at Twitch. “The fact that fans can now directly impact what’s happening in the game to either help or challenge streamers is an entirely new experience. We’re thrilled to partner with Ubisoft on this and cannot wait to show our communities what else we have in store for them!”

For the latest on Hyper Scape, please visit https://hyperscape.com/

GTA Online Celebrates Independence Day: Business Battles Rewards, Doubled Missile Base Series Rewards, Discounts, and More

GTA Online Celebrates Independence Day: Business Battles Rewards, Doubled Missile Base Series Rewards, Discounts, and More

Celebrate Independence Day in GTA OnlineSpecial Business Battles Rewards, Discounts and More

Procure some rare patriotic gems alongside the customary GTA$ and RP rewards this week in Business Battles – including the Statue of Happiness T-Shirt or the Supa Wet Beer Hat. Plus take home timely items like the Firework Launcher, the Liberator Monster Truck and celebratory clothing and Face Paints for 50% off and much more.

Take 50% off celebratory gear, vehicles, accessories and more through July 8^th
Double Rewards in Missile Base Series
Go underground and earn Double GTA$ & RP in the Missile Base Series, competing in tense team-based modes like Every Bullet Counts, Juggernaut, Slasher and more - deep within the bowels of Mount Chiliad.

Get a chance to win the Western Sovereign
This week, the Western Sovereign is also up for grabs on the podium at The Diamond Casino & Resort. Point it in the general direction of a ramp and jump it over a local landmark. For our sake and yours: please wear a helmet. Beer hats count as helmets, right?

DISCOUNTS
Mammoth Avengers and their customizations are 60% off, too. Plus, avoid the huddled masses and retreat to the safety of a heavily discounted underground Bunker, or take advantage of sales on a wide range of other properties, vehicles and customizations:

50% Off Arcade Properties

50% Off Vehicles:

• All Yachts
• Mammoth Thruster
• HVY APC
• Pegassi Oppressor Mk II
• Mammoth Tula
• RM-10 Bombushka
• V-65 Molotok
• Principe Deveste Eight
• Emperor ETR1
• Bravado Gauntlet Hellfire
• Buckingham Luxor
• Buckingham Luxor Deluxe
• Buckingham Swift
• Buckingham Swift Deluxe

50% Off Independence Day Specials

• Liberator monster truck
• Sovereign motorcycle
• Musket
• Firework Launcher
• Vehicle Horns
• Tire/Parachute Smoke
• Face Paints
• Clothing
• MOC Liveries
• Mk II Weapon Livery
• Haircuts
• Masks
• Firework Ammo
• USA Parachute Bag

70% Off All Bunkers, Hangars and Facilities 

TWITCH PRIME

GTA Online players who have connected their Twitch Prime accounts to Social Club can earn the first in a new round of GTA$200,000 bonuses just by playing between July 2nd - 8th. You'll be able to earn up to GTA$1,000,000 in bonus cash between now and July 29th.

Plus, get a rebate on the base property purchase price of Pixel Pete’s Arcade, 70% off the Declasse Mamba roadster and 80% off the V-65 Molotok jet fighter.

To ensure access to future benefits, make sure to visit Twitch Prime and sign up.

PLAYSTATON PLUS BENEFITS

As a special benefit for PlayStation Plus members, play between now and August 5th to get GTA$1,000,000 deposited into your in-game Maze Bank account within 72 hours of log-in. Earn GTA$1,000,000 each month in GTA Online until the launch of GTA Online on PlayStation 5.

Head over to the Social Club Events page for a full rundown of all current special events, bonuses and discounts.

Check Rockstar Support for details and limitations.

Minecraft Dungeons: XBox One Review

Minecraft Dungeons: XBox One Review

Developed by Mojang Studios and Double Eleven
Published by XBox Studios
Platform: XBox One

There's no denying that Minecraft Dungeons is a light shallow game.

Mojang's take on the classic Gauntlet-style dungeons crawler may be derivative, but it isn't half fun. Fusing together the blocky imagery of Minecraft with the unending hordes of Gauntlet makes for an entirely pleasant way to spend some gaming downtime.

The game centres on you, as you take on the hordes of the Zombies, Illagers and Endermen as they impede you from trying to reach the castle owned by Archie, the rejected Illager who got possessed by an orb of evil.

There's a level of cutesy to Minecraft Dungeons which engages all ages and proves to be a tonic for some bitesize fun.

Weapons and skills can be augmented by crafting and using enchantments to power up your inventory. Plus collecting gems throughout gives you the chance to randomly collect other materials to use to your advantage.

While it may lack some of the patented Minecraft crafting requirements, Minecraft Dungeons transfers the blocky aesthetics to the game, and ensures fans of the Mojang experience aren't left out.

But crucially, it doesn't become so entrenched to the original game that it is not approachable for non-fans. You don't need to know your Illagers from your Zombies to be part of it. And along with an online team up and the chance to expand the leads out, the game really does owe a massive debt to Gauntlet.

More Minecraft Fun-geons than a Dungeon dwelling experience, this easy and breezy game is perfect all ages family fare, that's as addictive as it is playable.

The Grudge: Blu Ray Review

The Grudge: Blu Ray Review

With its split time narratives and its desire to try and do something different with Ju-on, The Grudge's 2020 outing has laudable intentions.

This time around, the curse of the angry ghost is brought to America, and a cop (Riseborough, channeling Scandi chic and dour faces) sets about investigating the murders in a suburban house, that have plagued generations.

But the more she investigates, the more drawn into the world she becomes - and the more she faces the possibility she will be taken....

The Grudge has an intriguing premise - but by stretching it out across three time different periods, and chopping and changing the narrative, the film denies the movie going audience the one thing a good horror movie should give them - frights.

Less a jump fest, more a choppy psychological piece, this outing for Ju-on, which began back in the early 2000s when Ringu and its ilk were popular, feels like a frustrating exercise in tedium and endurance, a haunted house horror that barely has the frights to match its macabre machinations.

Riseborough is gritty enough, but doesn't get enough to do with a script that demands she's more dour-faced than anything else. Bichir adds yet another horror outing to his CV, but his grizzled detective does little but grumble about proceedings and warn of horrors.

Weaver impresses as a suicide assistance nurse, but with the time jumps, the film loses the build up of tensions when it needs them the most, and each set piece leads inevitably to where you expect it would - and where the script has already shown you. There's little to surprise here, making the 90 minute run time still feel like time is going backwards.

Simply put, The Grudge is a drudge, one of 2020's worst and most frustrating missed opportunities. 

Richard Jewell: DVD Review

Richard Jewell: DVD Review

If Richard Jewell achieves anything, it'll be proof that the best performances come from unshowy actors determined to fall into their roles and make the best subtle use of their time on screen.

Eastwood's tale of one man caught in a maelstrom is perfect for his ageing Libertarian views, as he aims a salvo at the media and pushes the old ways of the American dream.

Hauser plays Jewell, a vulnerable oaf caught in his belief of authority and his inability to see the system is out to get him and manipulate him when he's accused of bombing Centennial Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

With his profile fitting the FBI's suspicions he's not the hero he's hailed as after he saved many in the park, Jewell finds his life - and that of his mother's - caught in the headlights.

Richard Jewell benefits from terrific turns from Hauser as the wronged man, Rockwell as the lawyer who decides to take the case after years of friendship, and Bates' silently-stoic-but-ultimately-rising-to-the-occasion mother.

When it concentrates on this triumvirate, the film packs a power punch that's subtle, unshowy and ultimately engrossing.

Which is why it's a shame that those swirling around Jewell's escalating plight, and those plotting his downfall, are nothing more than once-over-lightly stereotypes and caricatures.

From Wilde's contentiously sleazy reporter Kathy Scruggs who's made to trade sex for scoops (something the film's been slammed for) to Hamm's just bad FBI agent who was caught off guard when Jewell discovered the bomb, the film's outer edges damage the relatively engrossing tale that ensues.

Throw in Confederate flags, a scene of the US flag being waved in full camera that Roland Emmerich would be proud of and the whole mix starts to feel a little queasy, a touch of retro jingoism of the worst order.

Ultimately, Richard Jewell deserves to be seen for Hauser and Rockwell's performances alone, their character moments dazzling quietly under the ensuing heavy-handedness that Eastwood and his writer deploy.

It may be following Eastwood's desire to laud the common man caught in the unstoppable force of

the Government crusade his latest films have pushed, but the more powerful moments of Jewell, thanks largely to Hauser's understated and overwhelming performance, soar high above some of the other misdeeds of the rest of the film.