https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/324021/feed Video gaming has come a long way since the early days of Space Invaders and Pac-Man, with the advent of powerful consoles and virtual reality, and our smartphones doubling as portable gaming devices. Here’s where you’ll find reviews of the latest games and hardware, as well as news from the video gaming industry. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Despite two much-maligned live-action film adaptations inspired by the popular fighting video game Street Fighter in the past several decades – its namesake 1994 film and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009) – it seems Hollywood has yet to give up on the franchise. Paramount Pictures just premiered its live-action reboot film Street Fighter starring Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa and Callina Liang. The film’s plot follows the game’s fighter avatars Ryu (Koji) and his estranged... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3371024/martial-arts-action-franchise-street-fighter-back-who-its-star-callina-liang https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3371024/martial-arts-action-franchise-street-fighter-back-who-its-star-callina-liang Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:00:12 +0000 James Mottram James Mottram When Kitao Sakurai, the Japanese-American director of a new film adaptation of the Street Fighter video game franchise, called to say she had the role, Callina Liang reacted the way anyone might expect. “I was in a park screaming at the top of my lungs,” the 26-year-old actress reveals with a giggle over Zoom. Starring Andrew Koji (Warrior) as Ryu and Noah Centineo (Black Adam) as Ken, the film allows Liang to live out her 16-bit dreams, playing Chun-Li, the franchise’s first-ever female... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3370287/who-callina-liang-actress-playing-chun-li-new-street-fighter-movie https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3370287/who-callina-liang-actress-playing-chun-li-new-street-fighter-movie Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A 60-year-old woman in southern China has defied public stereotypes surrounding senior citizens by becoming a popular e-game live-streamer. Zhong Juanjuan, affectionately known as Auntie Juan by internet users, has amassed 527,000 followers on social media. She hosts two daily live-streaming sessions, each typically attracting around 10,000 viewers, as reported by Beijing News. Zhong, who lives in a suburban area of Meizhou in Guangdong province, only began playing computer games six years ago.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3369504/chinese-woman-60-becomes-gaming-streamer-after-playing-understand-sons-addiction https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3369504/chinese-woman-60-becomes-gaming-streamer-after-playing-understand-sons-addiction Fri, 02 Oct 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo Thirty years ago, Japanese video game designer Satoshi Tajiri combined round Gashapon capsules from coin-operated toy vending machines with his childhood bug-collecting hobby to create a virtual world where players could explore, catch and trade creatures with special abilities. When he released Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green for the Game Boy handheld game console in February 1996, a global phenomenon was born. Today, the franchise, which officially rebranded as Pokemon in 1998... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3368998/7-pokemon-experiences-tokyo-celebrate-30-years-pikachu-and-co https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3368998/7-pokemon-experiences-tokyo-celebrate-30-years-pikachu-and-co Tue, 29 Sep 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak In the 1990s, Chun-Li was not only the first female playable character introduced in the Street Fighter video game franchise – she was also the first female playable character to gain mainstream recognition in the arcade and fighting game industry. The fictional Chinese martial artist has become something of a pop culture icon over the years. She remains one of the world’s most cosplayed video game characters, while US rapper Nicki Minaj borrowed the heroine’s name for her 2018 single,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3367398/why-are-chun-lis-thighs-so-big-street-fighter-characters-origin-and-cultural-impact https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3367398/why-are-chun-lis-thighs-so-big-street-fighter-characters-origin-and-cultural-impact Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The White House on Tuesday pulled a Tetris-style game called Build the Wall from its new online arcade, four days after a warning by the classic game maker that it takes copyright infringement seriously. The block-stacking game, subtitled Zombie Border Siege, told players to “protect the border from the coming horde”. It was no longer available on the website on Tuesday. The White House did not immediately respond to a request asking why it was removed. The Tetris Company said on Friday that it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366834/white-house-pulls-build-wall-game-after-warning-tetris https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366834/white-house-pulls-build-wall-game-after-warning-tetris Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:02:18 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Tetris said on Friday that it did not give permission for the White House to use the game’s iconic imagery for a controversial online arcade that the Trump administration released on Thursday. “The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of Build the Wall and did not authorise or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game,” Tetris said in a statement. “We are currently reviewing the matter,” the statement continued. A block-stacking game called Build the Wall included... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366448/tetris-says-it-didnt-give-white-house-permission-build-wall-game https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366448/tetris-says-it-didnt-give-white-house-permission-build-wall-game Fri, 04 Sep 2026 23:57:46 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump’s White House on Thursday unveiled a website featuring classic arcade games - but with a “Maga” twist, in which players can deport migrants and build a border wall. Rights groups swiftly criticised the release of the online games, which comes as the Trump administration steps up its mass arrest and deportation programme for undocumented migrants. One game called Rio Run - an updated version of the game Snake - features a digital version of US border tsar Tom Homan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366329/white-house-launches-video-games-depicting-migrant-arrests-and-border-walls https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366329/white-house-launches-video-games-depicting-migrant-arrests-and-border-walls Fri, 04 Sep 2026 05:29:34 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A US Army unit is offering its troops a special bonus if they re-enlist soon: four extra days off timed around the November release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI. Commanders of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believe free time to indulge in the latest entry in the Grand Theft Auto series – in which players commit carjackings, battle police in shoot-outs and attempt audacious heists – will sway some soldiers to extend their military commitments. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3364738/us-army-unit-offers-soldiers-4-days-play-grand-theft-auto-vi-if-they-re-enlist https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3364738/us-army-unit-offers-soldiers-4-days-play-grand-theft-auto-vi-if-they-re-enlist Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:16:42 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Alibaba Group Holding has agreed to sell its wholly owned gaming business Lingxi Games to Trustar Capital as the Chinese technology giant pivots away from noncore sectors to prioritise e-commerce and artificial intelligence, according to an internal letter issued on Monday. “As part of Alibaba’s broader strategy to sharpen its focus, the group has decided to entrust Lingxi to Trustar Capital,” stated the letter seen by the South China Morning Post and signed by Lingxi CEO Zhou Bingshu. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3364287/alibaba-sells-gaming-arm-lingxi-games-tech-giant-sharpens-focus-ai-and-e-commerce https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3364287/alibaba-sells-gaming-arm-lingxi-games-tech-giant-sharpens-focus-ai-and-e-commerce Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Hundreds of rapt fans sat in a convention hall in Paris recently, erupting into cheers after a competitor darted across the scene and left two opponents dead within seconds. The victims were only pixels on a screen, as the setting was a friendly esports match where leading players exhibited their skills in Honor of Kings, Tencent Holdings’ top mobile game. One of the most recognised stars on that stage was Chen Zhengzheng, better known as Cat. Holder of five international championships, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3364057/chinas-cat-honor-kings-great-reflects-his-gaming-career-amid-esports-explosion https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3364057/chinas-cat-honor-kings-great-reflects-his-gaming-career-amid-esports-explosion Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Yohji Lam Yohji Lam A pair of Hong Kong cosplayers have clinched multiple awards, including the grand championship prize, at the 2026 World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, Japan, on August 2. The winning duo, Ar Lu and Ronnie Kui, dazzled audiences with their handmade costumes inspired by the video game Monster Hunter. Their performance depicted bipedal cat Felyne and playable game character Hunter battling against an ancient dragon with Hong Kong’s Lion Rock as the backdrop. “Mum, I did it! Hong Kong’s the greatest of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3362878/hong-kong-team-wins-grand-prize-2026-world-cosplay-championship-nagoya-japan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3362878/hong-kong-team-wins-grand-prize-2026-world-cosplay-championship-nagoya-japan Tue, 04 Aug 2026 07:15:12 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang In the past week, one regulation has forced many people in China to say goodbye to long-standing “relationships”. As of July 15, the government placed artificial intelligence (AI) companions under tight supervision. It comes as automated companions have experienced something of a boom over the past few years. According to the rules, AI-human interactions should not encourage violence or harm users’ physical and psychological well-being. Moreover, AI bots should not lure users into sharing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3361300/chinas-crackdown-ai-companions-wont-fill-emotional-void https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3361300/chinas-crackdown-ai-companions-wont-fill-emotional-void Thu, 23 Jul 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran After two teenagers opened fire at a Philippine high school this week, the first question lawmakers asked was not about gun control, but the internet. Three pupils were killed and 20 injured at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte province, on Monday – the highest total casualty count of any Philippine school shooting. It has renewed calls to restrict Filipino children’s access to social media and online games, coming months after police said they had disrupted a school shooting... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3358147/philippines-worst-school-shooting-puts-social-media-games-dock https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3358147/philippines-worst-school-shooting-puts-social-media-games-dock Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service The first rule of spycraft, we learn early on in 007 First Light, is to always do the unexpected. The thing is, the game – an origin story chronicling how James Bond becomes a 00 agent – is full of what you’d expect from a Bond story: quippy one-liners, endless charisma, highly competent people romping around stunningly beautiful places and a story so over the top you can’t help but shake your head at it. But what is unexpected is how the somewhat clichéd individual elements are shaken (not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3357878/007-first-light-one-best-james-bond-games-ever-made-review https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3357878/007-first-light-one-best-james-bond-games-ever-made-review Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:15:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Internet cafes played a vital role in the early days of digital development, providing Hongkongers with access to the new technology. But this role declined over time as laptops and smartphones became common. The cafes suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic but are now beginning to enjoy a revival, with a focus on gaming. Some are even providing overnight accommodation in private booths, offering a bed, cheap food and a hot shower. The service, available for as little as HK$200 (US$25.50) a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3356874/hong-kongs-internet-cafes-enjoy-revival-safety-must-be-priority https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3356874/hong-kongs-internet-cafes-enjoy-revival-safety-must-be-priority Sat, 20 Jun 2026 22:45:05 +0000 Reuters Reuters Claude Guillemot, who ⁠co-founded French video-game ⁠publisher Ubisoft with ⁠his brothers in 1986, has died, the company said on Saturday. “Ubisoft was deeply saddened to learn of the death of ‌Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corp, in an accident,” the statement said. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further statements ⁠will be made at this time,” it added. Guillemot, 69, died ‌on Friday in a plane crash in La... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3357796/ubisoft-co-founder-claude-guillemot-dies-plane-crash-france https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3357796/ubisoft-co-founder-claude-guillemot-dies-plane-crash-france Sat, 20 Jun 2026 19:37:51 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Russia has lifted its ban on the popular gaming platform Roblox after tens of thousands of children and parents sent letters complaining about the measure. The platform, which allows users to build their own games and share them with others, was among Russia’s most popular mobile games, tying third with TikTok in usage time among children in early 2025, according to Kaspersky Lab, a Moscow-based global cybersecurity firm. In a statement published on Wednesday, Russia’s digital ministry said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3356768/disgruntled-parents-and-children-force-russia-remove-roblox-ban https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3356768/disgruntled-parents-and-children-force-russia-remove-roblox-ban Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:53:18 +0000 dpa dpa The Japanese concept of kaizen – continuous improvement – could be used to describe the evolution of the Forza Horizon franchise. It is a series that began with a simple concept. Playground Games wanted to build an open-world racer that was truer to life than its peers using the ForzaTech engine. It offered the realism of a sim but livened the genre’s cold edges with a vibrant environment full of activities celebrating car culture. Since then, Playground Games has taken on the kaizen ethos,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3355295/forza-horizon-6-brings-open-world-car-racing-franchise-japan-and-it-winner https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3355295/forza-horizon-6-brings-open-world-car-racing-franchise-japan-and-it-winner Sun, 31 May 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Theatre emphasises the principle of directorial intention, a specific creative vision and message that a performance aims to communicate. Hong Kong-born actress Kaja Chan applies this theory to her life. She has known she wanted to act for as long as she can remember, and has steered her career with unwavering focus. Chan, 25, was born to a Polish mother and Chinese father and grew up in Sha Tin and Tai Po in Hong Kong’s New Territories. Now based in London, Chan is making her mark across every... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3355254/hong-kong-born-actress-kaja-chan-her-burning-desire-she-rises-tv-video-games https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3355254/hong-kong-born-actress-kaja-chan-her-burning-desire-she-rises-tv-video-games Sat, 30 May 2026 04:15:04 +0000 dpa dpa The popular bat-hero is back, and yes, the cape, too. The design is slightly more angular, but the game is just as much fun as ever thanks to the friendly Lego characters we know and love. The story of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight draws on defining moments from the whole of Batman’s history through film, television and video games, and weaves them together. That means, of course, that Legacy of the Dark Knight is set in Gotham City, where Bruce Wayne sets out to hunt down crime boss... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3354460/lego-batman-and-robin-return-stylish-humorous-legacy-dark-knight-video-game https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3354460/lego-batman-and-robin-return-stylish-humorous-legacy-dark-knight-video-game Fri, 22 May 2026 11:15:04 +0000 James Mottram James Mottram 2/5 stars In Mortal Kombat II, action star turned reluctant hero Johnny Cage has a moment of self-reflection. Calling himself a dinosaur, he remarks that doing a bunch of karate poses “went out in the 90s”. You may well feel the same about this latest take on the popular video game franchise, in which players fight to the (usually grisly) death. This tedium feels 30 years out of date. Following two little-liked movies that came out in the 1990s, the 2021 film Mortal Kombat rebooted the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352583/mortal-kombat-ii-movie-review-karl-urban-stars-brainless-outdated-action-sequel https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352583/mortal-kombat-ii-movie-review-karl-urban-stars-brainless-outdated-action-sequel Wed, 06 May 2026 16:00:07 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa “I always picked Sub-Zero whenever I played Mortal Kombat,” says Ludi Lin when asked which avatar he gravitated towards in the iconic fighting game. “I like that he can freeze opponents. It gives me a moment to think about what I’m going to do next.” It’s an intriguing choice, given Lin plays Liu Kang – the franchise’s central hero – in the Mortal Kombat films. It’s a regular Monday when we meet at East Hong Kong hotel in Quarry Bay. We begin with the usual small talk – the weather, travel,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3352613/ludi-lin-liu-kang-mortal-kombat-2-asian-representation-and-his-upbringing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3352613/ludi-lin-liu-kang-mortal-kombat-2-asian-representation-and-his-upbringing Wed, 06 May 2026 09:03:22 +0000 dpa dpa Saros, the successor to the roguelike game Returnal, is shaping up to be one of the best games of the year. Finnish developer Housemarque has refined a great deal, added new elements and pushed the game close to a fully fledged third-person shooter, while remaining true to its roots and delivering a wild, challenging experience. The game, a PlayStation 5 exclusive, opens with a striking introductory sequence: a telescopic survey has discovered a previously unknown, seemingly inexhaustible... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352004/saros-review-returnal-successor-one-best-games-2026-so-far https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352004/saros-review-returnal-successor-one-best-games-2026-so-far Sat, 02 May 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A senior monk in China has attracted widespread social media attention for enthusiastically playing electronic games. Venerable Huayan, from Mingjiao Temple in Hefei in central Anhui province, has been a Buddhist monk for 20 years. He began to play e-games when he was a primary school pupil in the early 2000s, Counter-Strike (CS) is his favourite, according to the news portal Sina.com. Huayan once achieved the Legendary Eagle Master position, a very high ranking in CS. He said the most... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3351166/video-game-loving-china-monk-defends-hobby-says-gaming-religion-serve-similar-life-purposes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3351166/video-game-loving-china-monk-defends-hobby-says-gaming-religion-serve-similar-life-purposes Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma A Hong Kong survey has found a 20 percentage point gap in relationship scores between parents and children who play video games together and those who do not. The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong on Sunday urged parents to adopt a new approach to supervising their children’s gaming habits, encouraging families to take part in such activities together rather than just observing. The group issued the call after conducting a survey of the experiences and attitudes of parents, young children and teenagers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351491/can-parents-and-children-playing-video-games-together-level-their-relationship https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351491/can-parents-and-children-playing-video-games-together-level-their-relationship Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:45:13 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Yongsan in central Seoul was once the capital of electronics in South Korea. For those shopping for gadgets, a visit to the area was a must. However, with the widespread adoption of online shopping leading to a decline in physical electronics sales, the neighbourhood has found a new identity. The area, centred around I’Park Mall, is now emerging as a major hub for subculture content and pop-up events, drawing a growing number of visitors seeking offline experiences. I’Park Mall embodies that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350990/seoul-mall-one-best-places-buy-anime-and-fan-merch-city https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350990/seoul-mall-one-best-places-buy-anime-and-fan-merch-city Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Actors Jack Quaid and Claudia Doumit have tied the knot. The couple were married on Saturday in an intimate ceremony at Mona Farm in Braidwood, Australia, per the Daily Telegraph. The star-studded guest list included Quaid’s parents – Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid – as well as actors Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner and Henry Golding. The couple’s The Boys co-stars Karl Urban, Colby Minifie and Nathan Mitchell were also in attendance. The show is currently in its fifth and final season. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3350996/meet-claudia-doumit-who-just-married-her-boys-co-star-jack-quaid https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3350996/meet-claudia-doumit-who-just-married-her-boys-co-star-jack-quaid Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:07 +0000 dpa dpa Video game developer Capcom brought forward the release date for its long-awaited space sci-fi adventure Pragmata to April 17 amid global excitement over the successful Artemis II moon mission. Players slip into the spacesuit of Hugh Williams, a spacecraft engineer in the near future who travels to the Cradle moon station run by the Delphi Corporation. The base was founded to mine and research the raw material Lunafilament, which is used to expand the base and to build support robots using 3D... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3350400/pragmata-review-moon-set-game-released-early-amid-artemis-ii-buzz-amazing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3350400/pragmata-review-moon-set-game-released-early-amid-artemis-ii-buzz-amazing Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Jane Cai Jane Cai When the American sitcom Growing Pains was first broadcast in China in the 1990s, it was the first window for many in the country into American middle-class life. In the series, a doctor father, a journalist mother and four children live in a spacious suburban home with room for mistakes and second chances. While the show lightly touched on serious social issues, it projected a picture of health, stability and security. However, Chinese viewers have had a chance to rethink the show since state... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3349077/growing-pains-meets-kill-line-new-chinese-hot-take-american-dream https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3349077/growing-pains-meets-kill-line-new-chinese-hot-take-american-dream Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto never imagined that the “little character I drew would become so big”, bouncing through the decades from pixelated New York sewers to a silver-screen space epic. There were more technical constraints when the red-capped plumber made his 1980s debut, says Miyamoto, the design mastermind of Japan’s Nintendo, as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits the cinemas this week. In the earliest Mario arcade games, the character was only 16 pixels tall, a far cry from the rich... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3348737/tough-choices-mario-creator-shigeru-miyamoto-made-new-movie https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3348737/tough-choices-mario-creator-shigeru-miyamoto-made-new-movie Sat, 04 Apr 2026 09:15:08 +0000 James Mottram James Mottram 2/5 stars It will come as a surprise to absolutely no one that Nintendo’s crown jewels, those lovable plumbers Mario and Luigi, are back. The Super Mario Bros Movie was a staggering hit in 2023, grossing US$1.36 billion and showing just how beloved these video game icons really are. Now comes the inevitable sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Loosely inspired by the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy and its 2010 follow-up, the film takes us back to the hallucinogenic Mushroom Kingdom and its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3348483/super-mario-galaxy-movie-review-nintendo-sequel-looks-great-lacks-laughs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3348483/super-mario-galaxy-movie-review-nintendo-sequel-looks-great-lacks-laughs Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:00:09 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China is seeing surging public interest in science fiction amid its push for technological development, with revenues reaching a record high and online search traffic more than tripling last year, according to a new report. China’s sci-fi industry saw its gross revenues reach 126.1 billion yuan (US$18.2 billion) in 2025, up 15.7 per cent year on year, according to an annual report released at the China Science Fiction Convention on Friday, as reported by Xinhua. The report also highlighted a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3348421/chinas-sci-fi-industry-rides-tech-wave-revenues-hit-record-high https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3348421/chinas-sci-fi-industry-rides-tech-wave-revenues-hit-record-high Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:02:19 +0000 dpa dpa Nintendo Switch 2 just got its indie power-up – and it is wild: a Zelda-like game with a roguelike bite, a psychedelic Souls-like co-op, and Super Meat Boy going full 3D chaos. At every Game Developers Conference, Nintendo highlights projects from independent studios through its Nintendo Partner Preview. The coming projects on their systems are not all exclusives, but they are proof that indie studios care about being on the company’s platforms. The surprising part of the preview was that all... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347927/3-stand-out-indie-nintendo-switch-2-games-coming-soon-blighted-mina-hollower https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347927/3-stand-out-indie-nintendo-switch-2-games-coming-soon-blighted-mina-hollower Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa In Pokemon Pokopia, the development studios Game Freak and Omega Force show how the Pokemon phenomenon can be applied to Nintendo’s tried-and-tested gameplay formula from the Animal Crossing series. The result is a sugary-sweet treat for anyone who has wanted a cosy life-simulation game in the Pokemon franchise, enriched with a surprisingly sophisticated building system and a slightly melancholic story. In the game, you step into the role of a Ditto. This Pokemon has the ability to transform its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347985/pokemon-pokopia-nintendo-switch-nuanced-love-letter-entire-genre https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347985/pokemon-pokopia-nintendo-switch-nuanced-love-letter-entire-genre Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service With more than 66 million units sold since the God of War series debuted on Sony PlayStation 2 in 2005, the opportunity to transform the modern gaming classic into a retro, 2D, side-scrolling, Metroidvania-style prequel marked a new triumph and challenge for Mega Cat Studios. God of War Sons of Sparta, which follows the harrowing journey of a young Kratos and his brother into Spartan manhood in ancient Greece, all started with one swing hefty enough to rival the arc of the future god-killer’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347797/why-video-game-god-war-sons-sparta-coming-age-mega-cat-studios https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347797/why-video-game-god-war-sons-sparta-coming-age-mega-cat-studios Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Coco Feng,Wency Chen Coco Feng,Wency Chen ByteDance has struck a deal to sell its gaming studio Moonton to Savvy Games Group, a Saudi gaming company owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, for more than US$6 billion, according to information from the two sides on Friday. Moonton, known for the popular online battle title Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, recently signed an agreement to sell to Savvy, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Moonton CEO Zhang Yunfan said in an internal memo on Thursday seen by the South China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3347352/bytedance-sells-games-studio-moonton-saudi-firm-over-us6-billion-amid-pivot-ai https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3347352/bytedance-sells-games-studio-moonton-saudi-firm-over-us6-billion-amid-pivot-ai Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:32:59 +0000 Matt Glasby Matt Glasby This is the latest instalment in a feature series reflecting on instances of East meets West in world cinema, including China-US co-productions. In the early 2000s, long before China began opening up to the commercial possibilities of Western cinema, the idea of filming a potential blockbuster in the country seemed nothing short of revolutionary. Previous efforts were either prestige pictures, such as 1987’s The Last Emperor or tiny indies like A Great Wall (1986). But anyone who could mount an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346728/how-doa-dead-or-alive-tried-create-new-kind-blockbuster-amid-chaotic-china-shoot https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346728/how-doa-dead-or-alive-tried-create-new-kind-blockbuster-amid-chaotic-china-shoot Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Edmund Lee Edmund Lee 3/5 stars One of the most beguiling aspects of Gamer Girls is that it never acknowledges its characters’ gaming addiction for what it is. Too distracted by the craving for just one more match to function at your day job? Never mind. Needing to grind out another 500 hours of playtime within weeks to qualify for tournament selection? No problem. Despite its casual treatment of the gruelling, burnout-inducing realities of esports, and its light-touch approach to the toxic misogyny that often... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346211/gamer-girls-movie-review-angela-yuen-leads-ensemble-beguiling-hong-kong-esports-drama https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346211/gamer-girls-movie-review-angela-yuen-leads-ensemble-beguiling-hong-kong-esports-drama Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa Since its inception in 1996, the Resident Evil series has been an integral part of the horror game genre. The series reached its peak in 2005 with an action-packed, genre-defining fourth instalment. There was a low point with the sixth instalment in 2012, controversial among fans. Now, developer Capcom has rejuvenated the series by returning to its survival horror roots with Resident Evil: Requiem. It picks up on two successful strands from past games. We meet charismatic protagonist Leon S.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346216/resident-evil-requiem-review-best-elements-series-past-combine https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3346216/resident-evil-requiem-review-best-elements-series-past-combine Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Lenovo has revealed several new proof-of-concept prototypes, including a “modular” laptop with two displays and detachable ports, as well as a portable gaming device featuring a folding display. The devices, announced to coincide with the start of the MWC Barcelona conference in Spain on March 2, are not final and do not have a confirmed release date. In addition, the company unveiled a concept device resembling an alarm clock with an AI-powered assistant built in. The Chinese company, which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3345375/lenovo-reveals-modular-thinkbook-foldable-legion-go-mwc-2026 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3345375/lenovo-reveals-modular-thinkbook-foldable-legion-go-mwc-2026 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:15:08 +0000 Paul French Paul French You could be forgiven for thinking that the UK has gone samurai mad of late. Director Michihito Fujii’s Last Samurai Standing remains high up the Netflix UK chart, Penguin Books is enjoying a massive bestseller in Shotaro Ikenami’s multi-volume The Samurai Detectives, and the FX miniseries retelling of James Clavell’s Shogun (originally a 1975 novel) was a surprise hit and won various awards. The samurai-inspired Assassin’s Creed Shadows was the fastest-selling video game in Britain in 2025,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3345076/gripping-london-samurai-exhibition-explores-japans-warrior-class-and-cuts-through-myths https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3345076/gripping-london-samurai-exhibition-explores-japans-warrior-class-and-cuts-through-myths Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse With its use more commonly associated with hugely popular video games such as Fortnite and Batman Arkham City, the powerful Unreal Engine is becoming a go-to tool for 3D projects beyond the video games industry, from TV news graphics to acclaimed animated series and films. Created for the 1998 first-person shooter game Unreal by programmer Tim Sweeney – who founded the game’s development company and is now CEO of what it has become: Fortnite developer Epic Games, the engine was soon made... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3345082/what-do-black-myth-wukong-and-star-wars-mandalorian-have-common https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3345082/what-do-black-myth-wukong-and-star-wars-mandalorian-have-common Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak This year’s Pokemon Day, which falls on February 27, also marks the 30th anniversary of the internationally known and loved multimedia franchise. Helmed by the determined and compassionate Pokemon trainer Ash Ketchum and his loyal but stubborn “pocket monster” partner Pikachu, this Japanese IP has spawned a huge range of anime series, films, video games and merchandise. The now multibillion-dollar franchise began life as a role-playing video game series created by Satoshi Tajiri for the Game Boy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344721/how-pokemon-took-over-world-beloved-franchise-turns-30 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344721/how-pokemon-took-over-world-beloved-franchise-turns-30 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa Playing Tetris could help reduce distressing memories of trauma, a study has found. Health workers who played the classic computer game as part of their treatment experienced fewer flashbacks, researchers say. Experts are now hoping to test the method, which they describe as “accessible, scalable and adaptable”, on a larger group of people. The trial, carried out by researchers in the United Kingdom and Sweden, included 99 National Health Service (NHS) staff exposed to trauma at work – such as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344065/how-playing-tetris-can-help-reduce-traumatic-memory-flashbacks-according-new-study https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344065/how-playing-tetris-can-help-reduce-traumatic-memory-flashbacks-according-new-study Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Outside Jonggak Station in central Seoul on a chilly Saturday evening, the air carries a hum of anticipation as an escalator climbing towards the third floor of a downtown office complex funnels hundreds of League of Legends fans towards a single glowing destination: LoL Park, the home of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) competition and the beating heart of Seoul’s esports scene. An hour before the big match between KT Rolster and Gen.G begins, the concourse feels like a high-stakes... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340978/how-seoul-became-worlds-esports-capital-and-using-it-key-tourism-strategy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340978/how-seoul-became-worlds-esports-capital-and-using-it-key-tourism-strategy Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:15:08 +0000 Ben Jiang,Coco Feng Ben Jiang,Coco Feng The new year kicked off with the blockbuster public market debuts of two Chinese artificial intelligence high-flyers – Zhipu AI and MiniMax – making them the world’s first publicly listed large language model (LLM) start-ups. The listings put them ahead of US rivals including Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Amazon.com-supported Anthropic, which have yet to reach public markets. Both Chinese companies have been backed by heavyweight investors, including state-linked funds and big tech groups such as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3341063/next-level-why-chinas-game-makers-are-quietly-bankrolling-generative-ai https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3341063/next-level-why-chinas-game-makers-are-quietly-bankrolling-generative-ai Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Lisa Lim Lisa Lim “Avatar” nowadays might immediately conjure up an image of the blue-skinned Na’vi from Pandora in the Avatar sci-fi film franchise, or the fantasy action series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The word, in fact, is originally rooted in Hinduism, being the incarnation of a deity on earth in human or animal form to counteract some particular evil in the world. Pronounced “uhv-TAAR”, avatārat derives from Sanskrit avatāra, verbal noun of avatarati, meaning “descends”, which is composed of ava meaning... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/article/3338475/incarnations-word-avatar-visiting-deity-sci-fi-hit-and-online-personality https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/article/3338475/incarnations-word-avatar-visiting-deity-sci-fi-hit-and-online-personality Sun, 04 Jan 2026 04:15:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Vince Zampella, the acclaimed co-creator of video gaming juggernaut Call of Duty, has died in a car crash. He was 55. The developer and executive died on Sunday while driving his Ferrari on a scenic road north of Los Angeles, according to local broadcaster NBC4. “For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed,” the California Highway Patrol said in a statement, without identifying the two victims in the crash. The CHP added that both... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337401/call-duty-co-creator-vince-zampella-killed-car-crash https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337401/call-duty-co-creator-vince-zampella-killed-car-crash Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:28:15 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s video game industry revenue grew 7.7 per cent to a new high this year, as domestic titles from the likes of Tencent Holdings and NetEase continued to expand globally and bets on artificial intelligence paid off, according to data released on Friday by the country’s semi-official gaming industry association. The country’s gaming market posted total sales of 350.8 billion yuan (US$49.8 billion) for the year, breaking the previous record of 325.8 billion yuan set last year. The numbers were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3337112/chinas-video-game-sales-reach-record-2025-amid-overseas-expansion-ai-investment https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3337112/chinas-video-game-sales-reach-record-2025-amid-overseas-expansion-ai-investment Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:50:15 +0000