More Capcom PC deals this week with GamersGate’s string of Capcom 48-hour sales. Expect to see Capcom deals on their site now through October 5th, starting with the ones below.

Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara – $14.99 | $7.50
Resident Evil 6 – $39.95 | $10.00
DmC Devil May Cry – $49.95 | 24.98
Ducktales: Remastered – $14.99 | $7.50
Resident Evil 4 HD Remastered– $19.99 | $10.00
Fairy Bloom Freesia – $7.99 | $1.60
Resident Evil Revelations – $49.95 | $12.49
Remember Me – $49.95 | 24.98
Dead Rising 2 – $19.95 | $9.98
Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition – $29.99 | $7.50
Resident Evil 5 – $19.95 | $9.98
Bionic Commando: Rearmed – $9.95 | $1.99
Devil May Cry 4 – $19.95 | $4.99
Dark Void – $9.95 | $1.99
Age of Booty – $4.99 | $1.00
Dark Void Zero – $4.95 | $0.99
Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition (Four Pack) – $89.99 | $22.50
Dead Rising 2: Off the Record – $29.95 | $14.98
World Gone Sour– $4.99 | $1.00
DmC Devil May Cry Costume Pack DLC – $3.99 | $2.00
Resident Evil 6 Onslaught Mode DLC – $3.99 | $1.00
Remember Me: Combo Lab Pack DLC – $3.99 | $2.00

The Nintendo Entertainment System, guys, amirite? At age thirty I still don’t know what a “bit” is, but apparently you only need eight of them to create an infinite number of infinitely deep, dark hellscapes; vivid worlds cloaked in thick, oppressive atmospheres that creep and sprawl through your imagination like spiderwebs through a horrid countryside tunnel. Sure: the NES library in its seemingly endless vastness had its light-hearted selections. We all remember the Noid. But it had a particular knack for generating dark worlds filled with foreboding.  

Maybe that creeping dread wasn’t purely a product of the physical worlds depicted in the games themselves. Maybe it was because games were so hard back then. Maybe it’s because most backgrounds consisted of endlessly repeating patterns and there’s something inherently, terrifyingly, mechanically alien about that. Maybe it’s because the edge of the screen worked as though it were the merciless edge of existence—events and encounters that occurred elsewhere mere moments ago were immediately forgotten, nullified. Maybe it’s because the NES’s color palette had, like Chicago before it, so damn many blues. Maybe it’s just because I was an overimaginative kid (though that, I feel, is an oxymoron). But I have faith that I’m not the only NES player who felt and still feels this way. 

Just look at these foreboding NES backdrops and setpieces. 

There is perhaps no Capcom NES game more synonymous with “hellscape” than Street Fighter 2010, a game about warping to alien planets in an alien galaxy and doing lots of backflips. I know, I’ve been talking about this game a lot lately. I do not apologize. On quite the contrary: You’re welcome.

At one point in the game, you warp into the cold, soulless lair of “Electric Tommy,” an equally cold and soulless robot-like entity equipped with an electric coil. The lair is a nonsensical maze of blinking bulbs and machinery of unimaginable function. The background sprawls beyond the traversable confines of the level, and shadowy doorways suggest this is just part of an impossibly expansive, impossibly expensive complex. It boggles the mind to ponder what this place is even for. 

Another stage of the game places you in a dingy, seedy dive bar confined to a single screen. Unseemly hooded creatures with beady eyes and other drunkards watch on excitedly as you battle to the death with an armored gorilla man. I wonder if that pinball machine ever really gets any play. 

The shoot-‘em-up Legendary Wingsswitched intermittently between overhead and side views. The gateway signifying this switch was none other the gaping robo-demon pictured above. You and your wings would have to be the stuff of legends to venture into the mouth of this thing, not just once, but once per stage. Just look at that impossibly black mouth. What lurks within, no one knows.

↑ Turns out it’s filled with an endless wall of guts and faces.

One of the final encounters of Bionic Commandotreats you to what is my favorite screen in all of NES gaming. 

In games built out of repeating tiles, the occurrence of a unique, singular image meant you were officially experiencing Something Important. The nefarious “Master-D” awakens from his long sleep within a massive, fluid-filled chamber. The also-nefarious Generalissimo Killt stands indignantly before you. A wall of incomprehensible dots and lines extends for unknown lengths in the background. Are those lights? Pipes? Wires? Secret morse code? (Actually, I looked this up; if it is morse code, it says “AAAAAAA,” suggesting that yes, it is morse code.) All of these elements are unique to this one moment in the game. In its time, this moment was as powerful as any modern-day stinger or plot twist—arguably even more powerful, since your imagination was doing so much more work. 

↑ In my head, these kinds of backgrounds always extended infinitely. Only the power of evil itself could have built a place like this. 

One of the reasons I love the NES version of Strider so muchis that it maintains this dark, atmospheric aesthetic with futuristic landscapes thick with blue-purple hues and laden with bizarre technology and setpieces whose abstractness stimulates the imagination. 

↑ Zain is allegedly some sort of tree, but there’s a lot of twisted stuff going on in this bizarre form. Are those fallopian tubes? 

↑ Yggdrasil, the final threat, is even more nightmarish than the other trees. Are those faces? Plus: more unexplained technology filling the background.    

↑ I’m particularly fond of this design. This is the Blue Dragon, which, somehow, is a ship. That blob shooting out of it is Strider Hiryu himself. Which begs the question: Why does he need a ship?! You decide!

Mega Man games tend to have a lighter aesthetic with their cartoony-eyed, comically impractical robot creations, but there’s still something about the implied vastness of the stages that oozes atmosphere. Each stage is a pure, undistilled, and seemingly boundless (in that you never see the boundaries) manifestation of a theme, be it electricity, gravity, or, uh, “guts.”   

Snake Man’s stage in Mega Man 3 is, on closer inspection (or technically, further inspection), made almost entirely out of murderous robot snakes. The larger snake whose head is in the upper right, for example, extends several screens below and on into the infinite. The background of the stage is also comprised of a repeating scaly pattern. Is this, too, the body of some unfathomably enormous snake-bot?? And what inhabits the unseen areas that the stage wraps around? You decide! 

↑ The later games in the classic series introduced more distinct—though basic—setpieces in each stage. Star Man’s stage in Mega Man 5 begins with this rad shot of a pair of satellite dishes and the moon. 

↑ I stitched together some screens from the stage and added the implied space in the bottom left just to see what it’d look like. Pretty epic, huh?

↑ In one of the most iconic shots in all of gaming, Mega Man surveys that which he fights to protect. 

There you have it. Those are just a few of my favorite foreboding backdrops and setpieces from Capcom’s stellar NES library. Your turn! Post images in the comments or just describe ‘em.

Hot on the heels of the yesterday’s release of Patch #2 for  Dead Rising 3  on the PC, today saw the surprise release of Patch #3! 

Patch #3 is a much more minor affair–it will increase the overall volume for the game to better match the sound output level of the Windows sound system. As an additional bonus, the dev team has included a little gift in this patch as a token of appreciation to thank the community for all their constructive and helpful feedback. Those who download Patch #3 will receive:

– Ken Masters outfit
– Battle-hardened Nick outfit
– Custom muscle car skin

For the past couple of weeks, a virus has spread through Raccoon City . To help fight this outbreak, two famous BSAA agents have been dispatched to the area. You may know these agents as Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine!

So what does that mean for you? When Resident Evil launches early next year, you’ll be able to play through the game not only with their usual lineup of outfits, but also the BSAA / RE5-era costumes!

With its improved visuals, additional costumes and long list of Achievements/Trophies, Resident Evil is lookin’ pretty nice!

Digital PC game distributor Green Man Gaming is following up this week’s Capcom Sale with

Hi everyone! Janet Hsu again, here with another episode of “Great People Around Town: Legal Edition!”

Now, I know some of you were hoping Mr. Takumi would reveal the latest prosecutor to join the ranks of esteemed Ace Prosecutors at Tokyo Game Show, but even though he didn’t, fear not! For I have plenty of prosecutors for you right here! So read on to get your weekly dose of classy prosecuties!

——————

“Great People Around Town” – the morning news show segment that brings you special on-the-spot interviews with the people in your neighborhood!

Host: Today, we’ll be talking with the fine folks of the Prosecutor’s Office. In fact, we here at “Great People Around Town” have been granted a very special interview with that up-and-coming prosecutor, Mr. Miles Edgeworth, himself!

Good morning, Prosecutor Edgeworth!

Host: “Great People Around Town” – we’re here for our interview…?

Edgeworth: Hmm…

Host: I’m pretty sure—

Edgeworth: Three minutes.

Host: But your boss—huh?

Edgeworth: Two and a half. Now hurry up and conduct your interview before I bid you good day.

Host: R-Right! They say that despite your age – you’re only 24 after all – you’ve been a star prosecutor for four years now. Have the seasoned veterans around the office been a big help to you? I’m sure you’ve learned some great tips from the likes of Winston Payne…

Host: Um, grey suit, glasses, slightly receding hairline?

Edgeworth: …………Ngrk! The janitor?! Why would I–?!

*ahem* While I’m sure Mr. Payne is a valued veteran…

Host: Ah, yes. Our sources say he hasn’t lost a single case in 40 years. That’s amazing!

Edgeworth: Mr. von Karma is a man to be respected and feared. It is under his tutelage that I have been able to flourish and make my courtroom debut when I was but 20.

Host: Speaking of your career, what is your response to allegations that you may have forged evidence? Is there any truth to the “Demon Prosecutor” moniker?

Host: Um, I’ll take that as…

Host: …………*gulp* Aaaand, that wraps it up for us here at the Prosecutor’s Office! Thank you for your time, Mr. Edgeworth, and good luck with your next trial! *dashes out of the office with camera crew in tow*

——–

Host: We are here at the Gatewater Hotel, where a criminal investigation is underway. If we are lucky, we just might catch the prosecutor on this case… Oh, there she is! Ms. Franziska von Karma! Do you have a minute?

Host: I’m the host of “Great People Around Town”, and I’d really appreciate just a moment of your time.

Franziska: “Great People”…? Fine. But make it quick.

Host: Thank you very much. As some of our viewers may or may not know, you are actually rather new to the Prosecutor’s Office. Would you mind filling us in on why you picked our fair city?

Franziska: I left a promising career in Germany and came here for one reason and one reason alone: revenge. You’ll see– you’ll all see!

Host: I-I see… And how are you getting along with the other prosecutors? I imagine it must be different from what you’re used to. I heard Prosecutor Payne tried to help you settle in?

Franziska: There is no man by that name in the Prosecutor’s Office. *readies whip*

Host: R-Right, moving on… It’s said that you are related to another prosecuting legend – a Mr. Manfred von Karma? Is this correct?

Franziska: Now, if you are done, I must return to my duties.

Host: Just one more—Aaaah!

Franziska: *cracks whip* Get out. Now.

Host: And that, ladies and gentlemen, was Ms. Franziska von Karmaaaaaaaah!!!

Franziska: Foolishly foolish fool foolhardily engaging in foolish tomfoolery meant to foolishly squander my time.

Host: YEOW! YEOW! YEOWWWWWW!!! *dashes away very quickly*

——–

Host: It appears there is no rest for the righteous as the Prosecutor’s Office investigates yet another heinous crime – this time at that fanciest and frilliest of French restaurants “Trés Bien”. With me now is the prosecutor in charge of this case, Mr. Godot. Nice to have you on the show.

Godot: Hah. You got that right, but this isn’t just any crime – this one’s personal.

Host: Your beloved–?

Godot: Coffee. *takes a whiff of his steaming coffee mug* Someone’s stained its rich darkness with the milky white streak of death.

Host: You mean the chef messed up your order…?

Godot: *slams his mug on the table* Are you blind? Take a look around. A man lost his life here, or do they not teach you people how to observe in journalism school anymore?

Host: But didn’t you just say your coffee was the vic–?

Host: Um…

 

Godot: So, if my sweetheart isn’t the victim, then what role did she play in this murder? Well, shouldn’t that be obvious?

 

Host: I… uh… No…?

 

Godot: Hah! Don’t worry. Like the fine aroma of Godot Blend #102, the scent of a crime scene is quick to enrapture all first-timers and have you thinking that down is up.

 

Host: Riiiight… *mouths at the camera* I have no idea what he’s trying to say anymore…

So just how long have you been a prosecutor?

Godot: *blissfully breathes in the aroma of his coffee*

Host: Okay… I’m going to guess you’ve been one for a while.

Godot: *continues to indulge in his coffee*

Host: So, um, what about Mr. Payne? Surely, someone of your standing has met with him before?

Godot: Wouldn’t you like to know.

Host: Well, yes, I would… We all would. That’s why I’m asking…

Host: Are you saying that he doesn’t exist, or that you just don’t remember who he is?

Godot: A man with no presence may as well not exist at all.

Host: Um, you know what? Never mind…

Godot: If you don’t like my answer, you only have yourself to blame. But if it’ll make you feel better, here – have a cup o’ Joe… on you! *throws cup of coffee onto host*

Host: TH-THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANKS!!! *runs away while attempting to get out of scalding hot clothes*

———-

Host: At this point in time, dear viewers, I’m beginning to suspect that this “Prosecutor Winston Payne” fellow may not actually exist, and that my crew and I have been fed bogus info about the members of the Prosecutor’s Offi—Wait… That grey suit and those glasses… That receding hairline… It can’t be…

Excuse me, but are you by any chance Prosecutor Payne?!

Host: Actually, no. I’m from “Great People Around Town”.

Payne: Oh! The morning news show? It’s about time people recognized the greatness that is Winston Payne!

Host: Well, that’s just the thing. Our sources said you are one of the most veteran prosecutors in the district, but whenever I asked one of the younger folks about you, they seemed to have no idea who you are…

Payne: *ahem* I mean, I may be one of the old hands, but it doesn’t mean I’m useless. In fact, I used to be called the “Rookie Killer” back in the day.

Host: Were you, now?

Payne: I make it a point to educate the younger prosecutors and to help them out wherever I can. Take that transfer from Germany, Ms. Franziska von Karma. I tried to tell her I would help her settle in, and all I got in return was a faceful of leather. I was only trying to be a genteel-man.

Host: I know that feeling all too well… Speaking of whippings, tell me about your relationship with Phoenix Wright.

Host: But from what I understand, he’s the one who’s always schooling you…

Payne: Hee hee hee! My, how misinformed you are. A student never outgrows their master! If they did, then THEY’D have to be named the new master, wouldn’t they?

Host: Well, yes, that was my point… While we’re on the topic of mentors, what do you think of Mr. Wright’s superior, Ms. Mia Fey?

Host: Uh, okay then… Guess I should be grateful I’M not the one running away for a change…

————

Host: Well, wasn’t today’s show exciting! Let’s review the highlights! We met the “Demon Prosecutor” Mr. Miles Edgeworth, who is as intimidating outside of court as in. Then, we spoke with the vengeful Ms. Franziska von Karma, who likes to speak with her whip apparently. And finally, Mr. Godot, whose history with the Prosecutor’s Office is shrouded in mystery… and very hot coffee, as my 1 ^st -degree burns will attest to… *holds finger up to earpiece*

Host: Oh, I’m being told that I forgot about Mr. Winston Payne. I’m sorry, but he just wasn’t that memorable… Ah! I mean, well…! We’re just about out of time here! Until next time, don’t forget to be “Great People Around Town”!

——–

You know, come to think of it, I guess a certain in-no-way-ace prosecutor was revealed at TGS… Poor Winston Payne! I guess the guy can’t help being a Loser with a capital “L” – it’s in his blood, so to speak.

Join me next time for more antics, including an introduction to Ace Attorney gameplay (for anyone who’s ever seen the “Objection!” generator but never tried their hand at the game before).

Until then!

Tune into our Twitch channel at 4pm PT for a look back at  Viewtiful Joe 2,  the game that put Silvia on the  map. 

See ya there!

Ample feedback from the PC gaming community has allowed the  Dead Rising 3  PC dev team to reproduce and resolve a couple more issues some users were facing, resulting in a second patch, which is live now. 

Change log

• Fixed a problem which was causing the game to crash after booting for many NVidia Optimus players
• Fixed an issue which was causing some NVidia Optimus systems to enumerate video devices incorrectly
• Made a change which improves performance and stability for some users

The patch has been tested against the new GeForce 344.11 WHQL drivers . It is recommended that you update to the latest driver as it contains fixes that address other stability issues.

If you notice any new or persisting issues, please provide any further feedback by using the feedback guidelines outlined  HERE . Thanks for the all your patience and cooperation!

Those eagerly anticipating the arrival of  Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy for the 3DS this winter will definitely want to check out the following comparison gallery, which provides a good idea of just what kind of facelift these handheld classics are getting. All screens in this batch come from the very first Phoenix Wright game, originally released in the west on the Nintendo DS in 2005. Feels like just yesterday.

Look and see!

↑ Check out the difference in her hair.

↑ Samurai Dogs stand is looking pretty sharp. Plus you can see that trash can now!

↑ Looking much more statuesque now.

↑ The clearer graphics will definitely help when searching for clues.

↑ In real life, improved fingerprint imaging might actually have bearing on the outcome of a case. Here it just looks purty.

↑ Check out that painting.

↑ The judge’s beard has undergone some serious improvement. So smooth! Also note the etched patterns behind him.

↑ Luminol.

↑ Same digital camera, more pixels. Dahaha.

↑ More like Miles Smooth edgeworth, amirite?

↑ The finger of justice has never looked better.

↑ I swear she looks five years younger.

↑ His smooth, shiny hair only incriminates him further.

Hope you enjoyed! The Trilogy will be out on the 3DS eShop sometime this winter. More blogs to come soon!

We’ve got yet another Capcom sale this week, this time on digital PC distributor Green Man Gaming. They’re knocking up to 80% off a slew of Capcom titles for the remainder of the work week. List of deals below!

Dead Rising 2	19.99	9.99
Dead Rising 2: Off the Record	29.99	14.99
Lost Planet 3	49.99	12.49
Devil May Cry 4	19.99	4.99
DmC Devil May Cry	49.99	12.49
Remember Me	29.99	5.99

It is now Tuesday of #RathaWeek and today I wanted to acknowledge various awesome pieces of equipment we can craft from these formidable enemies. As the saying goes,  with rad monsters come rad equipment … right?

Let’s get to it!

Above you can see an assortment of Rathalos and Rathian armor sets, and I have some more pictures below, but here’s a selection of very cool Rath weapons you can craft in  Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – some even brand new… like this Rathalos Switch Axe:

You can almost see a Rathalos face there..

Speaking of Rathalos’ face… check out those eyes staring right at you in this Rathalos Charge Blade!

One more Charge Blade for ya… this one is from the Rathian!

Moving up the chain, here’s Pink Rathian’s poisonous Sword and Shield

One more step up, and a personal favorite: a Sword and Shield from the Gold Rathian… which actually starts as a Rathalos S&S… go figure.

A Rathalos Bow, now featuring the new Power Shot

Rathalos Long Sword

Closing out the weapons section of this post… the Gold Rathian + Silver Rathalos Insect Glaive, which is actually the first IG design I post here. One of my favorite designs in the entire game.

See the little silver wyvern wings near the blade? And the Gold Rathian scales on the other end?

Now onto armor sets!

As most of you know  Monster Hunter Tri and  Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate  introduced new armor designs for Rathalos and Rathian, but one of the cool things about  Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is that it brings back the some of the original armor designs back as  EX Rathalos and  EX Rathian  armor sets.

EX Rathian (Blademaster)

EX Rathian (Gunner)

EX Rathalos (Blademaster)

EX Rathalos (Gunner)

On top of that, there’s a new system (which we’ll explain in finer detail at a later time) where you can get an entirely new armor design for some monsters… including the power couple in question. Check it out!

Rathian (Blademaster) Relic armor

Rathian (Gunner) Relic armor

Rathalos (Blademaster) Relic armor

Rathalos (Gunner) Relic armor

I don’t know about you, but that Relic Rathalos armor is just so rad… Instant pre-order material right there!

So, what’s  your favorite Rathalos and/or Rathian equipment? And why?

Let us know in the comments, draw a funny picture or compose a song about it… or whatever your heart tells you to do… either way, let us know!

—

FYI, we’ve already started our Facebook album, so keep an eye on that to see your Rath fan work featured. And if you haven’t submitted anything, there’s still time!

It’s #RathaWeek Monday! So let’s live stream only Rath-…

… Wait; you don’t know what #RathaWeek is? It’s just our celebration of Rathalos and Rathian for being awesome and around us for roughly 10 years now. Read more about it  here .

Now, what was I saying… ah yes; live stream, today at  3pm PT  over at  twitch.tv/capcomunity . See you there!