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Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Heading to Switch in SeptemberDark fantasy side-scrolling RPG Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is coming to Nintendo Switch. The game will release on the console in just a few weeks.
The post Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Heading to Switch in September appeared first on RPGamer .
Aug 12
Is Jim Carrey’s Net Worth Taking a Hit? LA Mansion Sale Raises Questions
Jim Carrey has finally sold his Los Angeles mansion for $17 million, as per a report from TMZ. Carrey had been trying to sell his estate for the last two and a half years, putting it on the market in February 2023. It was also reported that he sold it at a way lower price […]
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Aug 12
Deals For Today: TCGPlayer Is Consistenly The Cheapest For Sealed Pokémon CardsAs of August 12, TCGPlayer has sealed Pokémon TCG sets from $27.98, up to 25% cheaper than Amazon. Plus, Doom: The Dark Ages (PS5) is $44.99 at Best Buy, and the LEGO Game Boy set is back up for preorder.
Aug 12
Rumor: After Joseph Quinn, Another Stranger Things Star Joins MCU In Spider-Man 4
Joe Keery is reportedly tapped to play Harry Osborn in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as per Cinema Solace. The character is one of Peter Parker’s best friends in the comics who ended up becoming his nemesis. Joe Keery is rumored to have joined the cast of ‘SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY’ Rumors suggest he could play […]
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Aug 12
Alan Tudyk’s DC Gem Had The Best Superman and Batman Scene That James Gunn Must Recreate
Alan Tudyk voiced Clark Kent / Superman in the 2014 animated movie Justice League: War. It features one of the best scenes between the Last Son of Krypton and Batman, which I don’t mind James Gunn stealing for his rebooted DCU. In the movie, Batman and Superman meet for the first time, leading to an […]
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Aug 12
Battlefield 6 – First Beta’s Positive Reception, Stable Servers Cause Spike in EA Share PriceEA's share price rose by around 4.7 percent to $176.11 per share, bringing the company's market capitalisation up to $41.94 billion.
Aug 12
15 must-play indies to mark 15 years of PlayStation PlusFor the past 15 years, PlayStation Plus has served as a welcoming home for indie games, connecting players with some of the most innovative, heartfelt, and personal experiences the world of video games has to offer. The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog (included with PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium memberships) puts a huge library of indie […]
Aug 12
Voldemort’s Dark Legacy in Harry Potter Might Be the Result of One Massive Accident
In the Harry Potter universe, Voldemort’s reign of terror is remembered as one of the darkest periods in wizarding history. But what if part of that darkness wasn’t entirely by default? A curious theory suggests that his dark legacy was shaped, in part, by the Deathly Hallows themselves. While only ever seeking one of the […]
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Aug 12
Interview: Preparing BUSTAFELLOWS season 2
One of the reasons 2025 is looking to be a strong game for folks who enjoy otome games or titles with romantic elements is because of games like Nippon Cultural Broadcasting eXtend Inc’s BUSTAFELLOWS season 2. A near direct follow-up to the previous adventure, it again combines drama and elements of an investigative thriller with a heroine who’s now in an established relationship with one of the leads from the previous game. To learn more about its development, Siliconera spoke with eXtend Producer and Scenario Writer minetaka about both the original game and the sequel .
Jenni Lada: When did development on BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 begin?
minetaka: Originally, we had no plans to create a sequel to BUSTAFELLOWS , as we considered it a complete, standalone story.
After the game’s release, however, we were overwhelmed by heartfelt feedback from players, along with countless messages filled with love for the characters. As I read through them, I found myself wanting to return to the city of New Sieg and see them once again.
At that stage, I hadn’t even thought about a release schedule. I simply approached the original team and said, “I can’t stop thinking about making a sequel. Would you be willing to work on it with me again?” Fortunately, everyone was enthusiastic and open to the idea. They all shared the same desire to return to the world of BUSTAFELLOWS and create something together once more.
That’s why, on December 19, 2020, the first anniversary of the original game’s release, we officially announced the development of Season 2 .
At that moment, we had nothing in place: no outline, no production plan, and no clear scenario in my mind. Normally, creating a visual novel requires a considerable amount of time, both in planning and production, so beginning development from that point was especially challenging.
Knowing that BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 would be released worldwide, how did that influence the game’s development?
minetaka : From a creative standpoint, there was no particular impact.
Whether the game would be released only in Japan or internationally did not affect the worldbuilding or the way we approached the story.
Of course, when it comes to entertainment, I believe there are many cultural elements that should be acknowledged and respected. But that does not mean that, ‘we don’t have to take them into consideration because it is for Japan.’ From the very beginning, the city of New Sieg was created as a place where diverse races, cultures, and beliefs coexist.
Nowadays, even if we release a Japanese language version for the Japanese market, it can be accessed and played by people from all over the world. I’m truly grateful that we often hear feedback from international players who have enjoyed the Japanese version. Given this, there is no creative impact on whether the game is for the Japanese or global market.
One thing I’ve always wondered, as someone born and raised in Japan, is how my portrayal of a fictional “American” city is perceived by people who actually live in the U.S. We didn’t aim to create a perfectly accurate representation, but I do worry that it might unintentionally come across as disrespectful from a local’s perspective. I genuinely love American culture and have great respect for it, so I would be very happy if that appreciation shines through in the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4TrUjEpcRQ
What was your goal when preparing a sequel to the original BUSATFELLOWS ?
minetaka: When it comes to the sequel, around 90% of players will have already played the first game. This means the most people picking it up are those who found the original interesting or grew to love the characters.
It’s incredibly challenging to create something that meets the expectations of those players.
If we made something similar to the first game, it would risk feeling repetitive. On the other hand, going too far in a new direction might not be what players were hoping for. As someone who enjoys watching drama series, I know many of us have felt this before: “ Season 2 wasn’t as good as I’d hoped.” Maybe it felt too similar to the first season, or maybe it changed so much that it no longer felt like the same show.
When it comes to a sequel, finding the right balance can be difficult.
If our goal was just to make something acceptable, it wouldn’t be nearly as difficult. We could take the feedback from the first game, keep the parts that were popular, cut out any unpopular elements, and produce something that’s easy to enjoy or at least not disliked.
This is not what we wanted to create. We weren’t trying to make a “three-star” game.
We wanted to focus on creating something we truly believed in and to depict the world we wanted to bring to life. We knew this approach might not connect with everyone, but at the same time, we believed it could deeply resonate with others. This kind of creative risk, which could lead to either one-star or five-star reviews, puts us on a path that we felt would allow our work to grow and evolve.
A new flowchart will be added to BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 . Could you share how you came up with this design and what you focused on to ensure a smooth and comfortable gameplay experience?
minetaka : When it comes to UI design, I tried to avoid making it look too “game-like.” For example, displaying the protagonist’s face icon next to the text window helps convey emotions more clearly and makes the screen more visually engaging. But in real life, we don’t talk while watching our own facial expressions, do we? Instead, we want players to imagine the atmosphere and emotions of a scene through the words of other characters or the protagonist’s inner monologue. Having a face icon constantly display different expressions might disrupt a player’s ability to imagine the scene for themselves.
Although it might be easier for the player, and it might feel more “game-like,” in terms of immersion, I believe it’s more important not to disrupt the player’s imaginative engagement. That’s why we chose not to give the protagonist a face icon.
When their expression does play a crucial role in a scene, I find other ways in showing it on the screen. Nonetheless, while I place great importance on narrative immersion, at the end of the day, this is still a game.
If it’s difficult to play, then it simply won’t be enjoyable. That’s why features like the flowchart are important. They help players understand the overall story structure and provide a convenient way to revisit specific parts.
We wanted people to enjoy the story for a long time and thought it was a necessary feature for them to play the game repeatedly.
As for the UI design itself, it was once again handled by Chiaki Sasame, who also worked on the original BUSTAFELLOWS and Side Kicks! beyond . They consistently maintain a thoughtful balance between functionality, making the game easy to play, and helping players fully immerse themselves in the world.
In Season 2 , the concept is built around the idea that the player is “logging into” the artificial intelligence anima , which was created by Scarecrow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ySJy2bqvU
How did you incorporate fan feedback into Bustafellows season 2 ’s development?
minetaka : Feedback related to the usability of gameplay has always been a priority to us. While we do our best to put ourselves in the player’s position and go through a lot of trial and error, no matter how we approach it, we can never truly be in the same position as the player. We often get feedback from players on areas we didn't realise or perspectives we hadn't thought of ourselves. Much of what we overlook as developers often becomes clear through player feedback, which is incredibly valuable to us.
At the same time, we pay close attention to both positive and negative feedback regarding the game’s content, story, and characters, while being careful not to let it influence our own vision. Some players may interpret the story exactly as intended and others may see it in a completely different way. Whether the interpretation is positive or negative, incorporating the feedback directly into our work can be risky.
What a creator wants to express and communicate does not necessarily reach everyone in the same way, this is what makes storytelling interesting.
When it comes to Season 2 , there are some story developments that are challenging. It was pointed out to me that these developments might be “disliked’’ by many players. Despite this, I stood by my original vision and kept the story as I had originally created it.
All the characters are charming, but none of them are perfect. It’s their flaws, mistakes, and sometimes unlikable actions that make them feel truly alive.
That said... Once the game was released, I have to admit, I watched over it for reactions with a bit of anxiety holding my breath a little. (laughs)
Although BUSTAFELLOWS is classified as an otome game, it also incorporates adventure elements within the visual novel format. For BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 , what design choices did you implement to appeal to a wider audience?
minetaka : This is something I have held as a belief for a long time. I never really set out to make a so-called “otome game.” When I say “so-called,” I’m referring to the fact that players often make assumptions on the game before even beginning to play it. I believe that categorising a game as an “otome game” based on preconceived notions narrows the scope of the genre itself.
Before release, I often get questions from fans like: “What’s the recommended play order for the character routes?” “How many romanceable characters are there?” “Are there any hidden routes?”
And of course, I understand where that comes from.
Knowing that kind of information in advance can help players enjoy the game more efficiently, especially for players who would like to focus on the characters. However I also think this takes away the surprise of meeting the characters for the first time and discovering for yourself who they are and what kind of stories unfold around them.
That initial experience can be lost when too much is revealed beforehand.
To be clear, I am not against the otome genre classification.
I think it is important that meaningful genres are established. However, I do not agree with a playstyle that takes away the surprise and the benefits of being a game in that genre.
What I hope for is a broader experience that isn’t limited by definition, where people can approach the story and the world with a fresh perspective, regardless of labels.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more people could just enjoy these amazing titles released under the “otome” genre with an open mind, and not bound by expectations?
When creating BUSTAFELLOWS , we’ve made a conscious effort to not limit ourselves by convention but to offer something new and emotionally impactful.
When someone starts Bustafellows Season 2 , you get an option to pick whose “route” you will be on. How did you come up with that decision to start the game?
minetaka : BUSTAFELLOWS is a multi-ending game,so which character’s ending is considered the ‘official’ story depends entirely on the player’s choice.
Since Season 2 is a sequel, we felt it was important to offer multiple starting points, allowing each player to experience a true continuation of their story.
But, as I mentioned before, we didn’t want it to have a typical ‘game-like’ design.
If you were only thinking of it as a game and wanted the quickest, easiest way to find out, you might just ask, “Whose episode would you like to read?”
In Season 1 of BUSTAFELLOWS , the name of the cat the protagonist owned changed depending on which character's episode it was with.
In Season 2 , we used that idea by asking, “What’s your cat’s name?”, a simple question that helps each player feel like they’re continuing their story.
We could have created a prologue that averaged out all of the episodes from Season 1 , or we could have reset all the characters' relationships and had players start fresh. But since Season 2 is a true sequel, we focused on designing the game to build directly on the previous season, allowing each story to continue exactly where it ended. As a result, the game turned into “five entirely different stories” right from the prologue, which made the production far more demanding than we expected.
But I really do believe that the more challenging the production is, the more interesting the result can be.
Still, I truly believe that when you push through a tough production process, you often come out with something much more interesting. I think we created something truly engaging and it turned out the way we wanted it to be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5ZgSqI6Oq8
You released demos for both BUSTAFELLOWS and BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 . What kind of reaction did you get after releasing the demo versions? How difficult was it to prepare these demo versions?
minetaka : We didn’t create a demo for people to play and decide whether they feel the game is interesting or not. We made it with the intention of inviting people to "try it even if you’re not sure. “ I promise you’ll want to see what happens next.” That said, we knew there would be some people who might try the demo and feel it wasn’t for them, so of course we had concerns about that.
But when asking players to invest both their money in purchasing the game and their time in experiencing a long story, we felt it was important for them to engage with the game itself and to offer more than just illustrations, text, or videos shared on our official website or social media.
To be honest, we released the demo version with the confidence that anyone who played it would want to continue with the full game.
What do you think of the possibilities for BUSTAFELLOWS season 3 ? If you were to make a third entry, what would you like to explore or try?
minetaka : Just like with the first release, we have put everything we wanted to do and express into Season 2 , so we haven’t left any ideas or plans for what comes next.
We gave it our all.
But this is the same as after the release of Season 1 , I received a lot of feedback and messages, and I have the same feeling in me that I want to go back to the city of New Sieg.
I don’t have any specific ideas for what kind of story I want to write next. However, the fact remains that these characters are still living in New Sieg, so if you go looking, I believe the story will naturally begin to reveal itself.
If I had the opportunity to, I would be interested in making a prequel. I’d like to explore the stories before Teuta and the others met. For example: before Limbo became a lawyer, when Shu was working alongside his mentor as a killer of killers, before Helvetica became a cosmetic plastic surgeon, when Mozu had just become a Coroner, when Scarecrow was a genius hacker or when Teuta, Luka and Adam were in their school days. I see many possibilities for stories.
Given the nature of BUSTAFELLOWS , its story, and sometimes cinematic nature, how would you feel about other adaptations of it such as an anime?
minetaka : The story was originally created for the game, so if we were to adapt it into other forms, like an anime, comic, or novel, I believe it would need to be rebuilt for the specific platform.
Each platform has its own format and way to be enjoyed.
I think it would be very interesting to expand the world of BUSTAFELLOWS in the world of anime. I’d love to see that world brought to life in a new way myself.
It would make me very happy to see the world of BUSTAFELLOWS continue to grow and reach people through all sorts of different forms in the future.
BUSTAFELLOWS and BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 are available for the Switch and PC worldwide.
The post Interview: Preparing BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 appeared first on Siliconera .
Aug 12
13 Years Later, The Way George R.R. Martin Defended ASOIAF’s Most Devastating Death Makes Me Worried For The Winds of Winter
Ned Stark’s death scarred many fans for life, but George R.R. Martin sternly insisted that killing off a beloved major character at the end of his first book was the right thing to do. No one expected that plot twist because Ned was perceived as an honorable protagonist by readers. While speaking at the Toronto […]
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Aug 12
Project Thea Brings First Public Demo to GamescomMuHa Games has announced that Project Thea, its upcoming dark strategy survival RPG, will make its public debut at Gamescom.
The post Project Thea Brings First Public Demo to Gamescom appeared first on COGconnected .
Aug 12
Elden Ring Nightreign Next Everdark Sovereign: When Is the Next Rotation Due?
The current rotation for Everdark Sovereign Caligo is almost ending in Elden Ring Nightreign. With the Everdark Sovereigns rotating on a weekly basis, we can expect the next Everdark Sovereign on August 14 and 21. But which boss is getting the next Everdark version? The veil thins, and the Night hungers still. On July 31, […]
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Aug 12
PUBG Creator Launches Open Beta For New Survival Game, Prologue: Go Wayback
Last December, PUBG Battlegrounds creator Brendan “Playerunknown” Greene announced the debut title of his new indie studio, Prologue: Go Wayback. Billed as an open-world survival game boasting dynamic environments and emergent gameplay, the game is set to debut in PC Early Access, but players can dive in now with the release of its first open beta. Greene’s studio, Playerunknown Productions, says Prologue: Go Wayback is a survival game “where every journey is unique.” Players explore a procedurally generated wilderness modeled after the Czech Bohemia region to reach a weather tower. Accomplishing this involves using a small suite of tools, such as a map and compass, while learning how to navigate the terrain by utilizing natural landmarks and minimal direct guidance. The game has no scripted path, quest markers, or instructions, giving players the freedom to explore as they see fit. Players are also challenged to manage fluctuating statuses such as body temperature, hunger, and thirst as they travel from shelter to shelter to reach the tower. Prologue: Go Wayback leverages machine learning (ML) technology to generate realistically rendered terrain maps in Unreal Engine 5. To avoid pulling from copyrighted materials, Playerunknown Productions states it has trained its ML model to use publicly available open-source data that the studio then vets. Check out the game's new screenshots in the gallery below. Prologue is also the first of a three-game plan to build Project Artemis , a larger project designed to “create and deliver a technology and platform that enables massive-scale creation and emergent play.” These three games, two of which are unannounced, will represent a solution to what the studio refers to as the "three problems of scale: realistic terrain generation, player and NPC interactions, and millions of players sharing the same online space." Prologue is designed to tackle the terrain generation aspect of this initiative. The open beta comes after six months of playtests by the game’s Discord community. It will remain available and regularly updated with new features until the game’s Early Access launch on Steam and Epic in the coming months. Green posted a video message stating that planned updates include community-requested features such as a map editor, a world settings menu letting players set the world as they choose, and a save game function.
Aug 12
The Thing Actor Michael Chiklis Says Critics Got 2005's Fantastic Four and Its Sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer Wrong: 'They Really Maligned Our Films'The release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps has brought Marvel’s first family into the MCU, but it has also sparked a reappraisal of 2005’s Fantastic Four movie and its sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer, according to The Thing actor Michael Chiklis.
Aug 12
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced Update Adds Dark Rot Mode, DLSS 4, and Photo Mode UpgradesThe Enhanced update for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II introduces a range of new features and technical improvements across all platforms. Players who have completed the game can now access Dark…
The post Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced Update Adds Dark Rot Mode, DLSS 4, and Photo Mode Upgrades appeared first on TwistedVoxel .
Aug 12
20 Most Unhinged South Park Episodes, Ranked
South Park is well-known for its unhinged comedy and satire that voices relevant issues while featuring big-name celebrities like Donald Trump, Paris Hilton, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the list continues. Ever since its inception on August 13, 1997, South Park has made a name for itself for not taking things lightly. Spanning over 330 […]
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Aug 12
Emily Rudd Defends Charithra Chandran From Racism: Eiichiro Oda on One Piece Season 2 Casting Including Vivi
The first look at One Piece live-action season 2 has sparked controversy over the casting of Charithra Chandran as Vivi, but the series’ cast has come forward to defend her. Emily Rudd, who plays Nami, expressed her support for Chandran as she posted a story on her official Instagram account while also discussing the blatant […]
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Aug 12
One Piece Live-Action Actor Stands up for Vivi Actress Charithra Chandran Against Racist Fans
Charithra Chandran, who is set to play Nefertari Vivi in Season 2 of One Piece’s live-action, is receiving racist remarks after the first look was released, and Rob Colletti, Wapol’s actor, is having none of it. He came to her defense after fans bombarded her comments with hate, targeting her for being a woman of […]
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Aug 12
Noah Centineo’s Dark 77% RT Series Proves He’s Born to Play Young Rambo
Noah Centineo is reportedly set to star in a Rambo prequel as the titular character, and this Netflix series, The Recruit, shows why he is the perfect fit. Centineo shot to fame with the rom-com film franchise To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, and while he played against type in films like Black Adam, […]
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Aug 12
Final Scene of Neil Patrick Harris’ Spider-Man Series Goes Viral 22 Years Later
Many fans seem to have forgotten that Neil Patrick Harris voiced Peter Parker in MTV’s animated series, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series. Recently, the final scene of the show has gone viral on X, making fans ask what show it was to begin with. Harris’s Spider-Man was a one-season show that ran in 2003, with […]
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Aug 12
ARK: Survival EvolvedArk: Survival Evolved is a action-adventure survival video game developed by Studio Wildcard.
