Star Wars Exhibitions Makes Final Stop in Singapore This January

If you’re a Star Wars fan in Singapore, listen up!

Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition, the definitive and official exhibition based on the movies of a galaxy far far away, is making its way to Singapore this month.

The exhibition will be held at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands from January 30 to June 13, 2021.

The show will features models, props, costumes and so much more from the original trilogy including A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, alongside the prequels and The Force Awakens.

Check out costumes from beloved characters such as Darth Vader and Boba Fett, fresh off the latest season of The Mandalorian, as well as models used for R2-D2 and Yoda.

Tickets will be priced at S$25 per adult and S$80 per family (two adults, two kids), and will be sold from January 15 on the ArtScience Museum website.

For a preview of what’s to come, check out

Fortnite Copies Apex Legends’ Ping System, Respawn Beacons Spotted As Well

Since the launch of Apex Legends, the latest addition to the Battle Royale genre which has taken the gaming world by storm, it was only a matter of time before Fortnite would make its move to fend off the competition.

Following EA’s announcement that Apex reached 25 million unique players in its first week – a feat that took Fortnite twice that time – industry experts and casual gamers alike have been expecting Fortnite to buckle at the introduction of a formidable opponent.

So it was unsurprising that when Fortnite introduced Season 8, it included a new feature that Apex players will find familiar: a ping system.

As shown in the video below by TmarTn, players on Fortnite can now highlight to teammates a particular location or weapon with a tap of a button.

The feature has been a widely popular one in Apex, allowing for strangers to play together in a squad without the need for a microphone, and we’re sure it’s going to have a positive effect amongst Fortnite players.

Besides the ping system, several bugs that have appeared in game may have revealed Fortnite’s plans to introduce respawn beacons as well, another beloved feature in Apex. 

Vans with holograms on their roof have begun appearing in the game, bearing a strong resemblance to the devices in Apex that allow you to bring back dead teammates.

[caption id="attachment_14809" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Credit: Reddit user u/Smithstirini[/caption]

It’ll be interesting to see how the games will fare out in the coming months, particularly with Apex Legends introducing its battle pass system this month.

The Latest Trailer for Detective Pikachu Reveals Mewtwo Appearance

The Pokemon brand has seen a huge resurgence in the mainstream over the last couple of years, mostly thanks to the once omnipresent Pokemon Go mobile game.

As a result, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood studios jumped at the chance of making a live action Pokemon film.

Enter Detective Pikachu, the Pokemon movie that no one quite expected but are intrigued enough to pay a ticket for, no less due to the odd choice of voice actor in Ryan Reynolds for the title character.

In the latest trailer, we get a better glimpse of the film, including a preview of the other Pokemon that will make an appearance in the movie.

This includes the extremely powerful Mewtwo, which gained popularity as one of the rarest Pokemon to find and catch in the Game Boy games.

The movie has raised many eyebrows for its hyper-realistic look, particularly with the fur found on Pikachu. Regardless, I have a sneaky feeling this film is going to be a good one.

Check out the trailer below.

Nintendo Announces A Tetris Battle Royale Game For The Switch

With the rise of battle royale games such as Fortnite, PUBG and the latest addition to the fray in Apex Legends, it was just a matter of time before things start getting out of hand.

But while many might look at Tetris 99 with scepticism, the idea is actually quite a refreshing one.

Rather than taking on the iconic puzzle game in isolation, Tetris 99 puts you in the thick of a competitive mode with 98 other players until there is only one player remaining.

Players can also sabotage other players by throwing tetrominoes to mess up with their flow.

Tetris 99 is now available for free for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.

All the announcements from this morning’s Nintendo Direct can be watched down below.

Sony To Launch “PlayStation Classic” Mini Console This December

At a time when everything old is new again, Sony has just announced that it too will be launching a new mini console that pays homage to the classic PlayStation that debuted in the 90s.

Dubbed the PlayStation Classic, the upcoming console will look identical to the original PlayStation with the addition of an HDMI port and a 45% reduction in size.

The console will come pre-loaded with 20 beloved games from the 90s such as Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, Jumping Flash and Wild Arms.

The PlayStation Classic will arrive with two controllers, an HDMI cable and a USB cable to power the device.

It will be available in Singapore just in time for Christmas on December 3.

For a closer look at the miniature console, check out the launch video below.

3 Reasons To Check Out This Year’s Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention

Geeks, nerds, fanboys, comic heads and video game lovers, listen up! One of the biggest pop culture events is back this month and you do not want to miss out.

The Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention – STGCC, for short – is making its return to Marina Bay Sands Expo and is set to be bigger than ever.

Whether you’re into anime, Marvel and DC, Dota 2 and the like, there’s bound to be something for you at STGCC 2018. Here are 3 reasons to convince you:

1) Cosplay The Weekend Away!

[caption id="attachment_14508" align="alignnone" width="800"] Image: STGCC[/caption]

If you’re big on cosplay, there’s no reason why you should miss out on STGCC 2018, easily the home of all cosplayers in Singapore. Sew up that outfit you’ve been dying to be seen in and get spotted amongst like-minded cosplayers.

What’s more, you could even be rewarded for your cosplaying, courtesy of SINGER. That’s right, if you’re attending in cosplay and snap a photo at the SINGER Experience Zone, all you need to do is post your photo on Instagram with the hashtag #cosplaywithSinger and you might be walking home with some attractive prizes from the legendary sewing machine company.

2) Gain Insights From Panel Interviews

[caption id="attachment_14507" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image: Marvel Studios[/caption]

It’s not every day that you get to be in the same room with legendary comic book artists and toy makers. Over the STGCC weekend, gain a treasure trove worth of insights into the inner geekdoms of artists like David Finch, Range Murata and Frank Cho.

If you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has birthed life into modern classics like Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, you won’t want to miss the panel session with Ryan Meinerding, the head of visual development at Marvel Studios. Ryan will be on deck on Sunday to give you a glimpse on the design process that takes place in shaping the movies we know and love. You might even get to see a couple of concept art as well!

3) Revel in eSports Excellence

[caption id="attachment_14505" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image: GameAxis[/caption]

Besides immersing yourself in the world of comics and toys, this year’s STGCC will also be co-located with GGXP 2018, a fresh new event for gaming and esports lovers. This year’s edition plays host to the WESG SEA Singapore qualifiers, with the winners earning a spot at the regional finals in Kuala Lumpur.

See the very best that Singapore has to offer battle it out in beloved games like Dota 2, CS:GO, Starcraft II, Vain Glory and Hearthstone.

Besides eSports, casual game lovers can check out the Freeplay Zone where you and a partner can team up on Overcooked 2!

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STGCC 2018 takes place on September 8-9, 2018 at Marina Bay Sands Expo. To get your tickets, click here.

Star Wars x Bata Heritage Pop-Up Officially Launches in Singapore

Bata Heritage has officially kicked off its Star Wars-themed pop-up at ION Orchard, featuring limited edition sneakers from the Star Wars x Bata Heritage collection.

The collection features Star Wars favourites such as Darth Vader and R2D2 on the classic Bata Tennis and Bata Bullets silhouettes.

[caption id="attachment_13305" align="alignnone" width="1008"] Image: Justinn Lim / The PLAYBOOK[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13297" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image: Justinn Lim / The PLAYBOOK[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13294" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image: Justinn Lim / The PLAYBOOK[/caption]

The pop-up store will channel your inner child thanks to a VR light sabre game and accompanying music from the original trilogy.

The collection consists of three colourways for the Bata Tennis, each representing R2D2, Darth Vader and the Stormtrooper. The Bata Bullets high tops, on the other hand, will arrive in either white or black, representing the light and dark sides.

[caption id="attachment_13292" align="alignnone" width="683"] Image: Justinn Lim / The PLAYBOOK[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13296" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image: Justinn Lim / The PLAYBOOK[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13311" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image: Justinn Lim / The PLAYBOOK[/caption]

The hyper-limited collection will only be sold in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, with only 3,000 pairs available.

The pop-up is also on a limited run from May 4-6, so be sure to visit it especially if you’re a Star Wards fan.

The Bata Heritage x Star Wars pop-up is located at ION Orchard (Basement 4) this weekend between 11am to 9pm. The collection will also be available online at bataheritage.com starting from May 4.

Star Wars x Bata Heritage Collection Lands in Singapore on May The 4th

While Bata often gets associated with white school shoes, the company has been making strides in producing exceptionally stylish footwear for the new sneaker-wearing generation and its latest Star Wars collaboration cements its place in today’s sneaker world.

The Star Wars x Bata Heritage capsule collection will feature characters we know and love on the classic Bata Bullets and Tennis silhouettes. Both sneaker silhouettes are iconic in their own right and make the perfect backdrop for this year’s Star Wars Celebration on May the 4th.

The Bata Bullets, for instance, was first introduced in 1964 as a basketball shoe for the Baltimore Bullets and was later relaunched in 2016 just as ‘retro’ became cool again. The Bata Tennis, on the other hand, has been around even longer when it was first manufactured in 1936 for school children in India to wear for P.E.

For the collaboration, the Bullets will come in either white or black, representing the light and dark side of the Force. Light sabers can be found at the back of the shoe to truly give it the Star Wars edge.

The Bata Tennis will take on three variants, each featuring tri-coloured graphics of Darth Vader, R2D2 and the Storm Trooper respectively.

The Star Wars x Bata Heritage SS18 Collection will arrive in Singapore via a curated pop-up store at ION Orchard (Basement 4) from May 4 to May 6, 2018, between 11am to 9pm. The collection will also be available online at bataheritage.com on the same day.

For a closer look at the entire collection, check them out below.

Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch Are Coming To Singapore For Avengers: Infinity War

Attention, all Marvel fans! Robert Downey Jr. is coming to Singapore alongside his superhero co-stars for the premiere of Avengers: Infinity War at Marina Bay Sands on April 16.

Joining Downey will be Doctor Strange himself, Benedict Cumberbatch, with Karen Gillan, who plays Nebula, and co-director Joe Russo.

According to the press release by Marina Bay Sands, the night will be a “show-stopping red carpet-style fan event” and will be free to public. Access will be on a first come first serve basis.

Details were limited but MBS noted that event venue, time and admission details will be released later on Monday, 2nd April at noon.

Stay tuned for more details.

If You Didn’t Already Know, PUBG Is Now Officially Available on Mobile

The official mobile version of the highly-popular PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – or PUBG, for short – is now available on iOS and Android worldwide.

The global mobile release of the game came weeks after its initial launch in China and a recent Beta test in Canada.

While the original PC and XBOX versions were developed by South Korea’s Bluehole, the mobile version is officially licensed by China’s mega-conglomerate Tencent. Ironically, Tencent also owns 40% of Epic Games, the developer of PUBG’s competitor Fortnite.

After spending a day on the game, it’s safe to say that the mobile version is a faithful adaptation of its PC counterpart. Although graphics have been dailed down to run smoothly on handheld devices, everything else seems pretty close to the original as possible. This includes the map, weapons, game mechanics, vehicles and character stylisations.

As noted by most players on social media and Reddit, there are even certain elements from the mobile version that they hope would get ported over to the PC as well. This includes a clever levelling up system, daily rewards, in game text chat and more.

The best part of it all: the mobile version is free to play. So wait no longer, give ‘PUBG Mobile’ a search on the App Store or Play Store and download it now. Quick note to download it over wi-fi as the game is nearly 1GB in size.