Latest news with #GameSpark
Tokyo Weekender
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
73-Year-Old Grandma Wins Tekken 8 Tournament as Panda
A fierce Tekken 8 tournament featuring players aged between 60 and 90 is gaining attention across Japan, and reshaping what many thought possible for senior citizens in gaming. The event, hosted by the Care e-Sports Association , brought together elderly residents from multiple care homes to compete online in one of the world's most fast-paced fighting games. What began as a small initiative to engage seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic has now evolved into a full-fledged movement, challenging assumptions about aging, digital literacy and the scope of competitive gaming. List of Contents: From Shogi to Tekken More Than a Game A New Vision of Aging Related Posts From Shogi to Tekken Founded in 2019, the Care eSports Association initially organized events centered around classic games such as Shogi and Othello. Five years later, it took a bold step: introducing Tekken 8 to its lineup. The decision was driven in part by the association's PR representative, Shinpei Hama, who also competes professionally in Tekken 8 as part of the Rox3Gaming team. 'Some of the participants are living with dementia, but many really enjoyed the game,' said Hama in an interview with Game Spark . 'As they chose characters, they seemed to get more attached to them. Some players practiced with passion, saying they wanted to win at least once. They had about a month to practice before the event, and a few of them stayed up late into the night, playing about 60 games.' The livestreamed Amigo Club Cup Tekken 8 Finals racked up significant viewership online. 'The response was bigger than anything we've done before,' said Hama. 'Even voice actors and game streamers reached out with praise.' More Than a Game Beyond entertainment, the tournament sparked deep emotional engagement. Some participants were living with cognitive decline, and were able to find joy, attachment and drive through the game. Champion Yoshie Murabe, who had never played video games before, chose Panda as her fighter simply because she likes pandas. Asked by Game Spark about her feelings after the tournament, she said, 'I was happy to win.' While practicing, she said she got the hang of the game quite easily, adding that there wasn't anything in particular she 'found difficult.' During the game, Murabe's only thoughts were to win, and she looks forward to competing in upcoming tournaments beyond Tekken 8 . A New Vision of Aging The success of the Tekken 8 tournament could open new doors for the elderly. Hama hopes to explore more accessible titles, such as GeoGuessr , in future events. 'We've realized seniors are better at video games than we assumed,' he said. 'We still plan to host traditional games like Shogi, but we also want to try something that really breaks the mold.' The tournament didn't just showcase the digital skills of the older generation, it proved that competitive spirit and emotional engagement don't fade with age. The Care eSports Association is turning gaming into a meaningful, intergenerational bridge and the players are ready for that. Related Posts Middle-Aged Man Trading Cards Go Viral in Rural Japan Town Nike Collaborates With Tekken To Produce a Shoe Befitting a Main Protagonist Kick Back With Some Cocktails at This Tekken 8 Bar in Kyoto
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Death Stranding 2 is full of Hideo Kojima's bizarre Easter Eggs, even his team didn't want them
Hideo Kojima I Credits: Kojima Productions Hideo Kojima is back with another wild ride, and this time, he's not holding back. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach brings more emotional storytelling, haunting visuals, and intense gameplay, but it's also hiding something else. The renowned video game developer himself has packed the game with Easter eggs, and he admits, many of them might just make players cringe. From strange references to subtle sky messages, the legendary game creator has sprinkled his signature style all over the sequel, whether you like it or not. Kojima went full 'Kojima' In an interview with GameSpark , Kojima openly said that most of the Easter eggs were his idea and his team didn't even want them. 'Even if I asked the staff to add them, they just pretended not to hear,' he joked. But he went ahead anyway, hiding secrets that players will only notice on a second or third playthrough. 🙏👍🫶😍🙇🏻🎮🎬 — HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) June 26, 2025 Some are funny, some are just plain weird, but all of them are very "Kojima." Easter Eggs that might make you 'cringe' Kojima warned players that some Easter eggs could make them uncomfortable. Want an example? Looking at the stars in a hot spring at night might show you some unexpected things, if you zoom in closely. He says it's all for the players who love to explore and dig deeper into the game's world. Cameos, self-references, and odd surprises HIDEO Kojima san <-> Feet Fetish, dates back to MGS IV days (Quiet🤫)If you know, you know! ->— Pure PlayStation (ピュア プレイステーション) (@Pure_PS) June 25, 2025 Just like Death Stranding, the sequel features tons of familiar faces. Kojima said many celebrities came to the studio asking to be included in the game. Not all of them made it in, but many were scanned and saved for later use. On top of that, there's a character named Neil who looks and sounds a lot like Snake from Metal Gear, a clear nod to Kojima's past work.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beloved Konami PS2 Game Permanently Delisted From PS Store
An acclaimed Konami PS2 game has been delisted from the , and the publisher has suggested that its removal is permanent. Developed by Treasure, originally released on the PS2 in 2004, followed by a digital release for the PS3 in 2015. The latter has now been pulled from PSN. Gradius V's delisting was first reported by GameSpark (via Delisted Games), who noticed that the game was no longer available to purchase via PS3's storefront. The website decided to reach out to Konami, and surprisingly, received a response. A machine translation of Konami's statement reveals that the publisher blamed software license expiry for Gradius V's removal. It's unclear what software license Konami is referring to since the company owns the Gradius IP. As Delisted Games points out, the PS3 version was released in 2015, so it looks like Konami had a 10-year agreement of sorts. Whatever that agreement was, it's unlikely to be renewed as the publisher has told GameSpark that 'there are various issues that cannot be resolved immediately and there are currently no plans' to revive Gradius V or port it over to modern consoles. Those who already own the game will continue to have access to it, but Gradius V can no longer be purchased on the PS3 since it didn't release on disc. The post Beloved Konami PS2 Game Permanently Delisted From PS Store appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
