Today is a special day: I’m taking my mom to an open air concert in Maastricht, a beautiful city in the south of our country. André Rieu and his orchestra is performing tonight in what promises to be a big event. Rieu is Dutch, a violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra. Together they have turned classical and waltz music into a worldwide concert touring act, as successful as some of the biggest global pop and rock music acts.
Now I’m not normally into classical music, but I can tell you from experience from visiting the concert two years ago: it’s a real happening, the scenery in the Roman city is very fitting and the atmosphere is breath taking. It really gives you goosebumps. My mom is in a wheelchair, so it takes some planning to go, but tonight is the night! 
An another note, lots of gaming news too this week, so let’s get started:
Pokémon Go released
The fans have been avidly awaiting the release of Pokémon Go for their mobile. And after some extensive field testing, the mobile game has been released in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Apparently the release is close for Canada, Europe and South America too. Pretty soon we will be able to find Pokémon hiding in the real world around us and be able to catch them. When you find a Pokémon Egg, it will hatch after you’ve walked a set amount of distance. You’ll be able to join a team and battle. I’ve downloaded the American version just now, but I haven’t tried it yet. I did see on the internet that they send players to the strangest of places when you combine it with Pokémon: lots of Pokéstops and Gyms seem to be in churches. Have you already downloaded your mobile game, and what are your first thoughts?
Release date for World of Final Fantasy
Not exactly news, but a game that made a blip on my radar this week because a gaming friend mentioned she was going to get it at release: World of Final Fantasy. It will be released for the PS4 and the Vita on October 25 worldwide. Now I’ve played Final Fantasy games in the past, and I’ve always like the RPG’s. This new one promises the same good RPG adventure with toy like visuals. And I do love cutesy visuals as you know!
Code: Realize – Future Blessings
If you’ve enjoyed Otome game Code: Realize – Guardians of ReBirth on the Vita like I have, there’s some good news. A follow up visual novel will be released called Code: Realize- Future Blessings. The new game will feature supplemental stories and routes set after the different endings of the original game. I always love that in books too, when an adventure full of suspense embellishes a bit about the happy ever after too. No exact release date yet, and so far it’s only been announced for North America by the way.
New game after Hotel Dusk and Trace Memory
I still remember playing Hotel Dusk: Room 215 on my DS very fondly. It was the first visual novel that I played, honing my detective skills. Cing, the developer behind that game and the Trace Memory series is no more but the man behind it, Taisuke Kanasaki is going to bring us a new game together with Arc System Works. Chase: Cold Case Investigations will be released in the 3DS eShop in fall 2017. In the game you will follow detectives Shounosuke Nanase and Koto Amekura, investigating a five year old murder. Some time to go before we will see any of it, but still, good news.
All DLC for 7th Dragon III Code: VFD will be free for a week
Last week I shared news about the release of 7th Dragon III Code on July 12 in North America, and how I wasn’t sure based on the demo. I’m still in doubt, as a gaming friend who’s opinion matters to me is enthusiastic. Plus knowing that the game includes time travel, and the fact that NintendoLife rates it with a 9 out of 10 has me tempted too.
I have a few more days to make my decision, because one thing’s for sure: if you want to buy it, right upon release is a good time. Sega announced they will bring 8 DLC add ons, a couple for every week till the end of July. And each of them will be free to download a week after they are released. Here’s the schedule:
July 12, 2016
- Gold Rabi Outbreak! quest: Gold Rabi encounters. Free until July 18, 2016. $1.49 after.
- Nagamimi Doll: free DLC that adds a talking Nagamimi to the player’s dorm.
- Seed Outbreak! quest: Dragonsbane Seed encounters. Free until July 18, 2016. $1.49 after.
July 19, 2016
- Code: Otaku!: recruit 7th Dragon 2020’s Hacker. Free until July 25, 2016. $1.99 after.
- Code: Student!: recruit 7th Dragon 2020’s Samurai. Free until July 25, 2016. $1.99 after.
July 26, 2016
- Allie’s Death March: boss rush of every encounter, with the bosses at their max level. Free until August 1, 2016, $1.49 after.
- Code: Lucier!: recruit 7th Dragon 2020-II’s Lucier. Free until August 1, 2016. $1.99 after.
- To My Beloved Unit 13: unlock classes’ ultimate weapons and the Blaster Raven character. Free until August 1, 2016. $1.49 after. (Note: only available in the quest list after beating 7th Dragon III Code: VFD.)
Want to add your own trivia questions to the Gaming Ladies Quiz?
As I mentioned this week, I didn’t get around to making a new Quiz for this week about handheld gaming. I was wonder if you would like to come up with a question of your own? At least you’ll know for sure you’ll have that answer right, by the time your questions pops up in the quiz!
Just make sure you come up with a question about gaming on a handheld device, give four answers (with only one of them being right of course) and send it to me. You can use my email address ygeloven@gmail.com or message me on Facebook or Twitter.
That’s it for this week. Are you exited about any of the titles I mentioned? Thanks again for reading, and sharing this excellent cup of coffee!
I’m actually very excited about Chase: Cold Investigations, and I’m glad you talked about it. I love mystery games, and I especially enjoyed Cing’s titles, particularly Hotel Dusk and its sequel Last Window. I was sad when Cing went out of business. C:CI has the same creators as those old games, and is basically a Cing game at this point. I’m excited for it!
I’m also enjoying Pokemon GO too! I find it pretty compelling to catch Pokemon, even though the game is a little glitchy at the moment. I’m starting to run out of Pokeballs though, and as a free-to-play game, they expect you to buy items through their microtransaction shop. If I can find more Pokestops for free Pokeballs, I think I’d play this a lot longer. We’ll see, but I’m overall amused by the app!
My Pokemon Go is very glitchy too, I’ve often seen the screen that says they are having some difficulties at the moment. Was to be expected of course with all fans jumping on the game.
It’s working better now, but those initial days were pretty tough for the game. It’s fun to see other people in public playing along.
There is so many games to look forward to that I’m going to be broke by christmas!! How is your daughter doing btw? My dad had his tonsils removed at age 40 and he was so miserable!
Thanks for asking, yes, she is doing better. But it sure isn’t a walk in the park!
Same here, I’m seriously doing the math about what games to get and which not..choices have to be made!
So lucky to see Andre Rieu live! I love classical music too! I’m currently taking part in Carmen the Opera.
I do love murder mysteries, I hope to find more! Maybe one for the Vita?
Part of Carmen the Opera, wow!
It was awesome indeed, Rae, the weather held, so that was luck too!