Among the many games shown, Team Xbox formally announced an improved version of the Xbox Series S console – a carbon black Xbox Series S loaded with 1 Terabyte SSD all set for commercial release on September 1, 2023 with a price tag of $349.99. This machine is also referred to as Xbox Series S – 1TB.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official Xbox.com announcement. Some parts in boldface…
Meet the new Carbon Black Series S with 1TB of storage. Whether you’re looking to upgrade from your current console or are new to Xbox, the Xbox Series S – 1TB offers you another option within the Xbox family of devices. The bold Carbon Black color is the same sleek, modern matte finish as Xbox Series X and the Xbox Wireless Controller. This console features the same next-gen speed and performance of our 512GB Series S, now with double the storage so you can download even more of your favorite games to your console where they’ll be ready to play when you are. Plus, you’ll make the most of every gaming minute with features like Quick Resume, lightning-fast load times, and gameplay of up to 120 FPS – all powered by Xbox Velocity Architecture.
Better Together – Xbox Series S pairs seamlessly with all our fan-favorite Xbox accessories. You can also add an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription (membership sold separately) so you can play new games built natively for Xbox Series S and X like Starfield and Forza Motorsport on day one. Plus with games added all the time, there’s always something new to play.
Available Worldwide September 1 – Launching September 1 (just in time for Starfield), pre-orders for Xbox Series S – 1TB start today at xbox.com or microsoftstore.com for $349.99 ERP. We’ll be adding more retailers and regions in the weeks to come.
Now watch the official Team Xbox YouTube video below…
If you ask me, I don’t intend to buy the Xbox Series S – 1TB as I already own an Xbox Series X console which is the more expensive machine as it is a premium product. Still, there is no denying that the Xbox Series S – 1TB and its older (soon to be phased out) predecessor strongly appeal to gamers who have limited amounts of money to buy new game consoles, as well as gamers who don’t care much about 4K resolution gaming and movie viewing at home.
Xbox Series S – 1TB release on September 1 is very strategic as the epic Bethesda-developed Xbox-exclusive sci-fi RPG Starfield will be released just days after. A little over a month later, the Xbox-exclusive Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released. Sometime in 2024, the Obsidian-developed Xbox-exclusive fantasy RPG Avowedwill be released. I would not be surprised to see the Xbox Series S – 1TB sell a lot (note: first-time gamers as well as owners of the old Xbox One consoles and even those with Xbox Series S consoles will be more likely customers) before those Xbox exclusives get released and eventually more new subscribers to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) (note: I encourage you to subscribe) will be realized. There will also be a lot of other new games, game compilations and remastered games that will be released in the 4th quarter this year.
Watch out for Xbox Series S – 1TB on September 1, 2023.
Welcome back my readers and sports fans! The past weekend at Gamagori, Japan, Philippine triathletes managed to land in the Top 10 categories in all four contests of 2023 Asia Triathlon U23 and Junior Championships. Take note that the U23 and Junior races all had 750 M swim – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run courses.
In the U23 Men event, Cebu-based Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) medalistAndrew Kim Remolino finished 7th place overall with an official time of 59 minutes and 27 seconds. In the U23 Women’s contest, Raven Faith Alcoseba of Cebu Province clocked 1:06:02 finishing 9th place.
Among the Juniors, SEA Games medalist Matthew Justine Hermosa finished 7th among the Men with 1:01:51 while in the women’s race, the Philippines had two Top 10 finishers thanks to SEA Games medalistKira Ellis (1:09:14) and her teammate Samantha Corpuz (1:09:31) ranking 6th and 8th place respectively.
Other Filipino triathletes who finished were as follows: U23 Men – Joshua Ramos 1:02:21 at 26th place, Iñaki Lorbes 1:02:39 at 28th place, and Juan Baniqued 1:06:21 at 34th place. U23 Women – Erika Burgos 1:10:01 at 22nd place. Junior Men – Dayshaun Ramos 1:05:43 at 19th place. Junior Women – Gene Quiambao 1:10:22 at 11th place.
The Philippine Team’s campaign at the 2023 Asia Triathlon U23 and Junior Championships in Japan is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The Philippine team will be competing in more events overseas.
On the side, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) announced election of Philippine officials at the Asian Triathlon Congress which goes as follows:
Asia Triathlon Executive Board: Tom Carrasco Jr. – Senior Vice President
Asia Triathlon Technical Committee: Sarita Zafra
Asia Triathlon Coaches Committee: Coach Ani De Leon – Brown
Asia Triathlon Women’s Committee: Maya Montecillo – Bono
Asia Triathlon Para Athlete Committee: Coach Anthony Lozada
Watch out for more Philippine multisport updates right here!
Welcome back my readers and sports fans! The Philippines achieved victories in specific categories during the recent Powerman Malaysia 2023 Duathlon according to a Manila Bulletin sports news report reflecting the official race results published. The Filipino duathlete who won the silver medal in the Elite Men’s race was John Chicano who previously won medals in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin sports article. Some parts in boldface…
Merry Joy Trupa and John Chicano became the best performing Filipino athletes in the elite division of the recent Powerman Malaysia 2023 Duathlon race after clinching the gold and silver medals, respectively, held in Putrajaya.
Trupa ruled the women’s elite by a hairline by clocking 3 hours, 13 minutes and 34 seconds, beating teammate Rhia Stawicki (3:13:35) by one second. Yon Man Yun crossed the finish line six minutes later to grab the bronze in 3:19:16.
Reigning Southeast Asian Games champion Chicano, for his part, continued his strong showing in international tournaments with a silver-medal finish in the men’s side, timing 2:44:00 to settle behind eventual gold medalist Malo Moysan of France.
Moysan, a French Grand Prix and Spain Open Duathlon titlist, lived up to his billing and timed 2:40:45 for the gold medal.
Moysan and Chicano were head-to-head in the first run leg with the Filipino trailing only by mere seconds before the French duathlete gained a comfortable four-minute lead in the bike leg and never slowed down.
It was a 2-3 finish for Team PH after Maynard Pecson clinched the bronze with 2:49:17.
Meanwhile, other Filipino podium finishers include Jena Valdez, who won the gold in short distance female (15-17), and silver winners Aidanreed Mercado (short male 18-29) and Sophia Capistrano (short female 18-39).
Welcome back my readers and sports fans! Eleven members of the Philippine triathlon team will be competing in the 2023 Asia Triathlon U23 and Junior Championships in Gamagori, Japan in a few days from now, according to a sports news release published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Among the members are those who won medals in the recent Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…
The Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) will send 11 athletes to Japan for the 2023 Asia Triathlon U23 and Junior Championships that will be held in Gamagori on June 22 to 26.
The event distance in the U23/Junior (Sprint) will be 750m (swim), 20km (bike), and 5km (run) while in the U23/Junior Mixed Relay (Super Sprint), it will be 280m (swim), 7.2km (bike), and 2km (run).
Cebu City’s Andrew Kim Remolino and Faith Raven Alcoseba, Iñaki Emil Lorbes, Juan Francisco Baniqued, and Joshua Alexander Ramoswill compete in the U-23 division while Erika Nicole Burgos, Gene Heart Quiambao, Kira Ellis, Lady Samantha Jhunace Corpuz, Dayshaun Karl Ramos, and Matthew Justine Hermosa, who is also from Cebu, are entered in the Junior division.
The athletes will be accompanied by coaches Ani de Leon-Brown, Louann Ramos, and Cebuano Roland Remolino, as well as TRAP secretary general Ramon Marchan, when they leave on June 21.
“We are sending our next-generation triathletes to the Asian Championships, as part of our long-term program to maximize exposure in world-class competitions and high-performance training camps for our high-potential triathletes. Their performances in these events will likewise be a basis for selection to the Asian Games in Hangzhou (China) in September plus the results of the recent SEA (Southeast) Games in Cambodia,” TRAP president Tom Carrasco said in an interview on Saturday.
Supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Philippine triathlon team is off to competing in more events overseas now that the 32nd SEA Games are over. Watch out for more Philippine multisport updates right here!
With their combined might, Team Xbox, Bethesda and their strategic partners successfully pulled off a great Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Directdouble feature! Great in the sense that they collectively premiered a wide variety of games including several Xbox-exclusive titles (both the announced and the brand new ones) that gamers can look forward to on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC and via cloud gaming. What was shown was clearly a lot of fun to watch and there several bouts of surprises that I experienced along the way.
To be clear, 27 games were showcased. 21 games are coming to Game Pass (Xbox Game Pass and/or PC Game Pass). 13 of the games were from Xbox game studios. There were also several 3rd party games from different publishers including Capcom, SEGA, Atlus and Ubisoft.
1st Party Games from Xbox Game Studios matter a lot – The Xbox Games Showcase 2023 started with the reveal of the new Xbox-exclusive Fable role-playing game (RPG) from Playground Games which utilized in-game graphics for a cinematic style of presentation emphasizing the British approach on fantasy, comedic tone and style of play the game franchise is known for. There were a few moments of action shown but it is hard to determine if those will indeed be implemented in gameplay form. As I anticipated, Fable was shown without a release date nor an estimated year for release. All we can do now is wait for the developers to complete and polish it.
Also shown early during the showcase was the much-needed update on Avowed, the first-person fantasy RPG from RPG specialists Obsidian Entertainment (The Outer Worlds, Fallout: New Vegas). Compared to Fable, Avowed has progressed so much with its development, actual gameplay footage was shown with some storytelling cutscenes included. Set in the world of Eora (the same setting as established in the Pillars of Eternity series), gamers will play the envoy of Aedyr who is tasked to investigate rumors of a spreading plague with a secret that threatens to destroy everything. While it looks inspired by Bethesda’s Skyrim, Avowed clearly has its own flavor and style to its first-person battles and movement. This game is set for release sometime in 2024 exclusively on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC with Xbox Game Pass inclusion. I am really looking forward to this game.
Still in the realm of fantasy but with a different approach on game design, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was shown during the showcase with an appearance by Melina Juergens (Senua) preceding it. Compared to the previous pre-release showing of the game, the newest video focuses more on the aspect of Psychosis and how Senua deals with it. Based on what was shown so far, it seems to me that the game has progressed far enough with its development and the it could be in the polishing stage right now. The Xbox-exclusive Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II handled by Ninja Theory will be released sometime in 2024.
Next are three Xbox-exclusive games that really surprised me during the showcase: Clockwork Revolution from InXile, South of Midnight from Compulsion Games and Towerborne from Stoic Studio. I was surprised in the sense that there were no pre-showcase insider reports and the rumor mills did not have anything to anticipate what the above mentioned games would be.
Clockwork Revolution is time-traveling first-person game with a strong steampunk flavor and game design that emphasizes role-playing reactivity. Its visual style reminds me of BioShock Infinite. South of Midnight is a new third-person action-adventure set in a magic realist version of the American South. Towerborne, the product of the partnership between Team Xbox and developer Stoic Studio, is a new adventure game that promises a brand-new take on action RPGs and it will be released sometime in 2024.
At long last, developer Turn 10 announced that Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released worldwide on October 10, 2023 and it will come with more than 500 cars, 20 completely rebuilt international race tracks with multiple layouts and the promised full dynamic time-of-day with weather, living crowds and interactive tracks. For this year, the car customization and tune-ups of Forza Motorsport (2023) was emphasized more. I will definitely play this upcoming racing game on my Xbox Series X this October.
The juggernaut of all Xbox-exclusive games – Starfield – was so huge and detailed, a standalone showcase of it was efficiently done by Todd Howard and his teammates at Bethesda. I will be writing a separate post for Starfield soon but I want to remind you all that the game will be released on September 6, 2023 and it will have a ton of gameplay features! Check out the latest Starfield trailer below plus those from other Xbox exclusives such as Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
The 3rd party games at the showcase that got my attention – When it comes to games from other game publishers, Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) in the form of Persona 3 Reload (early 2024), Persona 5 Tactica (scheduled for November 17, 2023) and Metaphor: ReFantazio (2024) from Atlus and SEGA made quite a splash during the showcase in relation to the curious absence of the Xbox Game Pass-bound JRPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. It seems to me that Team Xbox made serious efforts to reach out to its Japanese partners to secure more JRPGs which will strengthen the Xbox ecosystem as the premiere place for RPGs. With that being said, Team Xbox pulled off the right moves and the Persona games franchise has a dedicated following worldwide.
While my dream scenario of Capcom unveiling a big-budget remake of Dino Crisis at the showcase did not come true at all, the Japanese publisher actually made it and went on to unveil the game Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. The game has a fantasy setting with strong Japanese aesthetics and action-adventure gameplay. It is will have a Day 1 launch on Xbox Game Pass as well.
Dungeons of Hinterberg looks really fascinating with its game design and play style complete with having a very unique artistic approach for its visuals. It will be released in 2024 with Xbox Game Pass included. Also coming to XGP but within 2023 is Jusant, the new game from French developer Don’t Nod that emphasizes exploration by means of climbing and puzzle solving.
Conclusion – I can say it out loud that the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 – Starfield Direct double feature is not only great on its own but it is also a notable improvement over the previous Xbox showcases of the past two years. The Xbox-exclusives are indeed coming in the 2023-2024 period, and that includes having Starfield and Forza Motorsport (2023) scheduled for release in September-October this year. 2024 at this stage is looking great as well not only with the Xbox-exclusives but also with the 3rd party games. Xbox Game Pass subscribers also have new games to look forward to in the near future.
As game development can be tricky, unpredictable and complicated, delays of game releases are always possible. As such, we gamers can only hope that the game developers won’t encounter anymore problems with their respective games so that they will be completed, polished and get released as planned.
In ending this piece, posted below is the entire Xbox Games Showcase 2023 – Starfield Direct video from the YouTube channel of Xbox. I highly recommend watching it all in 4K. Enjoy!
Not only that, those who want to watch the streams in 4K resolution at 60FPS should head on to YouTube.com/Xbox and YouTube.com/Bethesda. There will also be multi-language support in the forms of subtitles.
What to expect? Based on the recent tweets by Xbox Games Marketing executive Aaron Greenberg, the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct will combine for roughly two hours non-stop games and it will all be about games. There won’t be any movie trailers to disrupt the double feature. Look at the tweets below…
Already, it has been confirmed that there will be no CGI-trailers about Team Xbox’s games at the two showcases. Personally, I prefer to see gameplay footage showing how the upcoming games function and how they could turn out fun. When it comes to showing story cutscenes, using gameplay graphics is more preferrable to me.
What video games to expect from Team Xbox? While it is inevitable to me that they will show the promised 2023 exclusives Forza Motorsport (2023) and Bethesda’s highly anticipated Starfield, I can only speculate that Phil Spencer and his team will give fans big updates (note: to be showcased visually, not just mere announcements) about other Xbox-exclusives such as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (read my article), the new Fable role-playing game (RPG), the fantasy RPG Avowed from Obsidian Entertainment (read my last article of Avowed), and possibly State of Decay 3 from Undead Labs. While it is possible that the troubled Xbox-exclusives Everwild and the Perfect Dark reboot could also be shown, I’m not confident about them. I also do not expect anything to be shown about Hideo Kojima’s Xbox project nor the other exclusive game Contraband.
I am anticipating that a final release date for Forza Motorsport (2023) will be announced, and the same should happen with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (possibly late-2023 or early 2024). Avowed, if its development has progressed a lot since the first announcement, could be announced for 2024 and it should help satiate gamers’ demand for the epic open-world fantasy RPG experience of the Elder Scrolls game franchise. In my view, the Elder Scrolls VI is still years away from getting released. As for Fable, it could be shown but without a release date.
Starfield will have its very own showcase immediately after that of Xbox. That being said, I am anticipating a very in-depth gameplay demonstration of the game, some more bits about its story and core concept, and hopefully there will be options for gamers to play the game in 30FPS and 60FPS with varying resolutions. I personally want to play Starfield on my Xbox Series X console in 60FPS. I hope they will show more space battles which I think will add more variety to the gameplay as a whole. We will find out soon from Bethesda and Todd Howard on Starfield Direct.
When it comes to the Gears of War franchise, I’m not really anticipating a new Gears sequel. What would be more doable, in my opinion, is Team Xbox revealing a Gears Tactics sequel which should delight fans of the 2020 game as well as gamers who love playing turn-based tactics games. For me, the time is right to announce a new Gears Tactics game!
In my view, the time is right for a Gears Tactics sequel to be unveiled while gamers worldwide endure the long wait for the next Gears of War game.
As for games from other companies that could be part of the Xbox Games Showcase, I am anticipating an appearance and updates about Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes in terms of new gameplay and hopefully a final release date within 2023 (note: this Japanese RPG will also launch on Xbox Game Pass). Very recently, Japan-based developer Rabbit & Bear Studios posted updates about the game on social media which just might mean there will be a possible appearance on the showcase. Take note that Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes’ inclusion on Xbox Game Pass is significant and this weekend’s online event is the best opportunity to promote it and make both XGP subscribers and JRPG fans excited.
There is the possibility that Konami could show Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars and announce a firm release date for 2023. The showcase is also a great opportunity for Konami to promote the classic games to a worldwide audience and finally start executing their marketing plans that should excite Suikoden fans as well as gamers who love JRPGs.
When it comes to dream scenarios (note: the unlikely) that could really make waves if they ever happen at the Xbox showcase, that would be Capcom showing a big-budget remake ofDino Crisis (comparable to what they did with Resident Evil 2, 3 and 4) as well as announcing remastered versions of Breath of Fire RPGs for release on modern consoles plus Xbox Game Pass. I understand Capcom has its very own games showcase scheduled for the next day but the Xbox showcase is still a great opportunity to make waves with gamers worldwide. More wild scenarios? That would SEGA announcing the next Virtua Fighter game or a fully remastered Shining Force III (with all three chapters together), 2K Games revealing XCOM 3 (note: it’s been seven years since XCOM 2) plus Square Enix actually announcing a remastered version of Xenogears (note: this year marks the 25th anniversary of the game).
At this stage, we can only wait and see what will happen next. Team Xbox should show more games related to the latest Xbox Game Studios Publishing developments and other deals they made with developers – both the big and the smaller independent ones – so far. Not only that, there has to be something new and ready to be revealed from Team Xbox’s game studios such as Compulsion Games, inXile Entertainment and others. The excitement and suspense are building up!
Watch out for the games, the exciting stuff and big announcements at the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature this weekend!
In concluding this article, posted below for your enjoyment are Xbox-related videos.
If you love tactical role-playing games as well as robot action with some sci-fi and military concepts mixed in, then you should watch out for the release of Front Mission 1st: Remake on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One on June 30, 2023. The game, which is actually a remake of Square Enix’s 1995 game Front Mission, was developed and published by Forever Entertainment.
For the newcomers reading this, Front Mission is an existing franchise of games under Square Enix which landed on multiple consoles, the PC and other platforms through the decades. The first-ever Front Mission released in 1995 only in Japan on the Super Famicom was a critical and commercial hit which paved the way not only for further games but also enabling the Front Mission franchise to branch out on other forms of media such as film, novels, comic books, radio dramas and more. Front Mission 1st: Remake is not just a remake of the 1995 original game but also features a modern mode with improved controls as well as a fully orchestrated soundtrack.
To begin with, watch the official trailer below…
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Xbox.com announcement issued by Forever Entertainment. Some parts in boldface…
On June 30th, Front Mission 1st: Remake will make its highly anticipated debut on Xbox One and Xbox Series S|X. Deploy on a mission and play through the intricately woven narrative of this iconic tactical RPG series.
You must analyze your situation carefully before making your next move. Pay close attention to the details.
Huffman Island is the only place where the Oceania Cooperative Union (O.C.U.) and the Unified Continental States (U.C.S.) share a land border, making this place the epicenter of the Second Huffman Conflict in the year 2090.
Leading a reconnaissance platoon, O.C.U. Captain Royd Clive is tasked with investigating a U.C.S. munitions plant. However, their mission takes an unexpected turn when they find themselves ambushed by U.C.S. wanzers – triggering a chain of events that thrusts the entire island into a full-fledged war. Amidst the chaos, Royd’s fiancée, Lieutenant Karen Meure, goes missing in action.
Mech action is fun to watch.
Discharged from military service, Royd embarks on a pursuit to uncover the truth. As his investigation progresses, he gradually unearths a conspiracy and the powers that orchestrated it.
Assemble your Team and Plunge into the Heart of the Action – Front Mission 1st: Remake is an immersive tactical turn-based RPG that puts you in the role of a valiant pilot navigating war machines called wanzers through hazardous battlefields. Experience the realities of war through strategic maneuvers, while enjoying upgraded graphics and a fully re-orchestrated soundtrack that elevate the classic Front Mission gameplay to modern-day standards.
Way back in 1995, I got to play the original Front Mission on a rented Super Famicom console and played it for an hour. As it was written in Japanese, I did not understand the text but that did not stop me from enjoying the gameplay which was turn-based, strategic and packed with action. I enjoyed the mech action (nicely animated 2D sprites) and the challenge to be strategic with my next moves. I also enjoyed how the game compelled me to pay close attention to details such as how the different parts of my mechs can be customized, the different values each component came with, and the added capabilities that proved to be crucial offensively and defensively.
Urban settings like this make the locations of battle more interesting.
In 1999, I played Front Mission 3 on the PlayStation One and it was the North American version (published by Square Electronics). As it was in English, I was able to understand the situation, the details and explanations. Like the first Front Mission game, I had fun playing it and I was also impressed with how the developers utilized 3D polygons to enhance the presentation. What I could not forget was the part when the narrative of the game focused on a secret base located inside Taal Volcano in the Philippines. As a Filipino, that part of the game was a big and really delightful surprise to me.
Looking at the Front Mission 1st: Remake trailer, which is very short, it seems to me that the game is looking good and promising enough. Right now, I am very interested in it.
Watch out for Front Mission 1: Remake on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One on June 30, 2023.
In ending this piece, posted below are Xbox-related videos plus one Front Mission-related video for your enjoyment. Don’t forget to watch out for Team Xbox’s showcase events (including the Starfield Direct) on June 11, 2023.
Even though new cases of COVID-19 grew significantly nationwide over the past several weeks, that did not stop the forward momentum for Philippine tourism as the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed that foreign tourist arrivals in the country surpassed the 2,000,000 mark as of May 12, 2023, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. Take note that that total number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country for the year 2022 was at 2.65 million and it looks likely for the Philippines to exceed that figure before the year ends.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines breached the two million mark in international arrivals for the first five months of 2023, surpassing last year’s baseline target.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced the good news over the weekend, citing the latest data of 2,002,304 international visitor arrivals from January 1 to May 12 that exceeded the entire 2022 target of 1.7 million foreign visitors.
“Notwithstanding the challenges and difficulties that our country faced, a pandemic and the various calamities that come into our shores, the good news is that these have done nothing to break the Filipino spirit or to diminish the beauty of the Philippines,” DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a news release.
“We’re very optimistic for the prospects in out country in terms of being a tourism powerhouse in Asia, anchored on the strength of our Filipino culture as well as the values of sustainability, resilience and global competitiveness.”
South Koreans made up almost a quarter of the total number of visitors with 487,502 (24.35 percent); followed by Americans with 352,894 or 17.62 percent; Australians, 102,494 (5.12 percent); Canadians, 98,593 (4.92 percent); Japanese, 97,329 (4.86 percent); Chinese, 75,043; Taiwanese, 62,654; British, 62,291; Singaporeans, 53,359; and Malaysians, 36,789.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from watching the movie and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers! For only the 2nd time since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the world, I managed to watch a movie inside the local cinema at SM Southmall in Las Piñas City. What is intriguing is that the movie I saw is actually a carefully edited compilation of footage sourced from an upcoming live-action series that is an ambitious Philippine adaptation of a certain giant robot anime from Japan. The movie I saw was Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience. Behind it all, the movie is part of GMA Network’s strategy of building up awareness for the Voltes V: Legacy TV series set to launch on May 8, 2023.
For the newcomers reading this, the original Voltes V anime series (Japanese title: Chôdenji mashin Borutesu Faibu) was launched in Japan in 1977. Shortly after, it made its English language debut here in the Philippines (note: Japanese characters’ names were Westernized) and ultimately it became very popular and it made an impact on millions of Filipinos who saw it and replayed it in the many years that followed. I noticed that many Filipinos of my generation think of Voltes V first when anime comes to mind. While I myself never became a fan, I saw lots of Voltes V anime episodes on TV at a time when Internet access, video streaming and social media were not yet realized here in the Philippines. I even saw GMA’s edited Voltes V anime movie (containing footage of the final five episodes of the anime series) in the cinema in 1999.
In recent years, GMA Network and its local talents joined forces with Toei Company of Japan to create a live-action TV series adaptation of the anime and there will be eighty episodes (double the anime TV series’ episode count) for broadcasting nationwide. This is Voltes V: Legacy and already the local production team went through lots of hard work making the episodes, the sets, the props, the costumes and the computer-generated images (CGI) to bring the classic series into life in coordination with Toei which reviewed and supervised the production. A lot of money has been spent into Voltes V: Legacy which was felt in GMA’s increased production costs.
As for Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience, the so-called movie contains varied footage allegedly from the first three weeks’ worth of TV episodes and it was exclusively screened in SM Cinema sites around the country for a limited time.
The story begins in the planet of Boazan where people with horns live in prosperity and privilege while those without horns have no choice but to live a hard, lower life. A gifted young Boazanian man named Hrothgar – who was born into royalty without horns and lived with his personal secret long enough into adulthood – was exposed by Zambojil’s group to be hornless and unworthy of Boazan’s throne. Sometime later, Hrothgar leads several fellow slaves and prisoners in an uprising against Emperor Zambojil’s authority. Before getting overwhelmed by the imperial forces, Hrothgar escapes into space with an Boazanian spacecraft and crashes into the sea on Earth.
He is discovered by Mary Ann and he gets introduced to Dr. Smith and Commander Robinson. Hrothgar informs them of his Boazanian origin and he expressed to them that Earth’s defenses are too weak to protect its people from alien invaders. As he adjusts with Earth life, Hrothgar changes his name into Ned Armstrong, marries Mary Ann and have children together. After several years on Earth, Ned Armstrong worked closely with Dr. Smith to prepare the people for future invasions…
Quality
The iconic Voltes V looks bulkier and more mechanical in CGI form and the good news is that the overall quality is great and there is a lot of fun seeing the giant robot in action. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
To begin with, the creative team of GMA managed to establish a cohesive narrative for the cinematic experience which is not an easy thing to do considering all the content from many selected episodes that had to be edited and arranged properly. This involves the presentation of the story details, the live-action elements, the CGI-heavy shots and the human performances to create a narrative that was easy enough to follow and absorb in my experience. I noticed that the so-called movie moved at a medium-to-fast pace which is not surprising because the goal of GMA was to entertain moviegoers and convince them to anticipate the live action TV series. Considering the speed of the pacing, there were some moments when I felt that some scenes were missing which only reminded me that the slower and more dramatic moments were being saved for the TV series.
When it comes to adapting the classic anime’s elements into live action, the creative team did a pretty good job most of the time. The costumes of the five pilots were made with a more practical physical design (note: they are not body tight) while retaining the classic colors and the V logo. The interior set of the Camp Big Falcon operations room looked more futuristic complete with having many people simultaneously operating. The interior set showing Prince Zardoz and his trusted companions closely resembles that of the anime. There was one particular physical set that did not look convincing – the outdoor street market in Boazan early in the movie had that indoor feel which not even the lighting could hide and the CGI shot showing the rest of the outdoor area and the far distance did not match with the place.
More on the artistic side of the presentation, I enjoyed the way the production people emulated the classic anime designs of not only the characters but also the key structures (places) and the giant robots (Voltes V and the two beast fighters) into live action. The cinematic Prince Zardoz looks so much like his anime counterpart and the same can be said about Dr. Smith and Mrs. Armstrong. The two beast fighters here were rendered to look much like their anime versions but were animated in a way to emphasize mass and scale.
The strategic posing in this notable shot is a fun and honorable throwback to a key moment in the very first episode of the original Voltes V anime TV series. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
There were some notable artistic discrepancies and flaws however. The cinematic Princess Zandra, Draco and Commander Robinson clearly did not quite match their anime counterparts. For some reason, Princess Zandra appeared with a very different costume displaying subtle sexiness instead of royalty. Could it be possible the creative team took inspiration from the Fatima Blush character (played by Barbara Carrera) in the 1983 James Bond movie Never Say Never Again while modernizing Princess Zandra? As for Draco, he does not look as intimidating as his anime version and he even looks more like a cosplayer! Commander Robinson here does not display the maturity of the anime version due to the questionable quality of the costume provided and the actor’s appearance. In my experience watching the anime series, Commander Robinson looked and felt like a military man in his early fifties which the live action version never captured.
Now I want to talk about Voltes V itself. The highlight of the CGI combined with really good art direction is the iconic giant robot, including the five vehicles that compose it. To begin with, the use of CGI emphasizing multiple moving mechanical parts to emphasize Voltes V is a very smart move done by special effects team. While each vehicle has a new visual aesthetic to match the live action approach, they still remained recognizable to me. The biggest visual highlight in the movie is the volt-in sequence when each vehicle combined to form Voltes V in robotic form. As each vehicle connected to each other, the classic sequence from the anime was replicated excellently. Given the artistic direction and the CGI’s emphasis of multiple moving parts, the volt-in sequence here is much more detailed than the anime version! I should state that it is very likely that the visual effects team worked overtime to achieve the high-level of detail, the vibrant colors and the impressive animation on Voltes V.
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With the approach on multiple moving parts, Voltes V itself looks bulkier in a mechanical fashion which I really admire. It should be stated that showcasing the iconic giant robot in action – complete with CGI presentation of the many Voltes weapons – is a visual feast complete with very vibrant colors! Each time Voltes V hits a beast fighter by punching or using a weapon, there is strong impact felt with each blow! The sound effects team really did good work adding weight and power to the action.
The work done by the special effects crew in this external shot of Jamie Robinson’s cockpit is very impressive and detailed! Ysabel Ortega acted convincingly to what happened. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
Considering the high detail and strong animation on Voltes V, the two beast fighters shown in this movie had very similar visual qualities. There was no major discrepancy on visual quality between the iconic robot and the enemy during battles.
More on the CGI, I can declare that the locally produced visual effects (by GMA Video and Riot, Inc.) looked very good for the most part! Apart from the battles between the giant figures, the sequences of animating the Voltes V vehicles, the Boazanian flying saucers (with fast moving sharp edges that make them resemble motorized wood-cutting blades), the fighter planes and physical damage of places were nice to see. There were, however, several explosions that were badly rendered (note: even looking flat and out of place) in key scenes and there were moments when military vehicles looked more like they belong in video games from a few console generations ago. The formation of the blade of Voltes V’s laser sword clearly needs more work as it looks unpolished. In the post-credits scene, CGI for Octo 1 was badly done!
Apart from action scenes, the giant robots and their weapons, CGI was also used on established places or structures. Camp Big Falcon really looks magnificent while the floating mechanical Boazanian skull appeared very creepy. In shots showing the far distance, Camp Big Falcon in the background still looks good even though the visual quality falls short of capturing true photo-realism.
Considering the way GMA edited the footage and selected visual effects shots for this so-called movie, the overall quality of the CGI literally landed some notches short of photo-realistic levels. That’s not criticism at all but a confirmation that Filipino-produced CGI showcased here is the best I have seen yet! All in all, an impressive ton of work by the special effects teams using computers.
As for the human performances, I can say that the cast collectively did a good job bringing the characters to life and this includes paying special attention to details from anime while adding certain elements that reflect modernization. Zardoz was portrayed to be sadistic and obsessed on conquering planet Earth which reflects his imperial task and the pressure that comes with it. Sometimes, Zardoz looked and acted even psychotic. Mary Ann Armstrong is the definitive mother figure here and the producers emphasized her more with scenes showing her as a very focused authority during crisis as well as a tender and loving woman during her time with the family. In some ways, Mary Ann Armstrong is almost like the protagonist of this so-called movie and the live action version looks deeper than the anime version. While the live action Commander Robinson needs a lot of improving, Dr. Smith here really looks and feels like he was instantly ripped off the anime resulting in a very straightforward version fans will recognize. The live action Ned Armstrong here has some elements that deviate from what was portrayed in the anime (note: a very skilled fighter whose moves were so obviously choreographed during an action scene) while retaining key elements that still made him recognizable.
The actors who played the five pilots of Voltes V performed nicely. Even with all the layered Tagalog expressions (including gestures that we Filipinos are familiar with), Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie are all very recognizable not in terms of looks but through the dialogue, character details and acting. The production team really worked hard to not only balance their respective shares of the spotlight, but also get good enough performances from the actors. Take note that apart from the on-set dramatization, the actors of the Voltes V team had to perform accordingly in their respective cockpit scenes (note: the special effects teams painstakingly provided all the CGI to specifically reflect what had been happening with the pilots and with their machines) and this includes internal communications between the members. What we have right now are the best actors available portraying Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie and making them recognizable in terms of characterization.
With regards to the music, I can say that this one clearly needs improvement. There is orchestrated music in this cinematic experience that played new tunes while also redoing/recycling classic tunes from the anime TV series. When the anime tunes were played by the orchestra with a modern approach, they were recognizable to my ears but the power and essence of the original tunes were not replicated successfully. Sometimes, I just wished that the anime tunes were played more while the orchestra focused more on providing new music.
As for the famous Voltes V theme song, the new version performed by Julie Anne San Jose is a letdown! I’m not saying San Jose is a bad singer but her version – which even used the Japanese lyrics – lacked impact compared to the original version. While the volt-in sequence proved to be a grand visual feast for the fans and viewers who love great looking CGI sequences, its cinematic impact was brought down a bit by San Jose’s version of the theme song. How I wish that the movie producers just used the classic song from the 1970s anime series!
This original theme song should have been used in Voltes V: Legacy instead of the new version.
Conclusion
As expected, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience has a mix of strong points and flaws. The good news is that the good outweighed the bad and I pretty much enjoyed this cinematic version of the live action adaptation done by GMA, its strategic partners and the local talents. As this so-called movie was a mix of content from several episodes edited to form a suitable narrative, it succeeded in entertaining and engaging me. Yes, there were flaws and there were some parts showing weaknesses but those things did not damage the viewing experience too much. There is a good amount of fun with this so-called movie.
Obviously this cinematic version is part of GMA Network’s strategy to build up anticipation for the upcoming TV series (which has a declared 80 episodes for broadcasting). While some people will perceive Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience as a blatant form of marketing or even as corporate gimmick, I personally see it as a worthy showcase in the local cinema (note: cinemas here in the Philippines are still recovering from the massive damage of COVID-19) and it just might not be repeated. Let me remind you readers that this newest Voltes V adaptation highlights the peak of Filipino-produced CGI visuals and the Filipinos’ collective efforts to really make a worthy live action adaptation of a foreign entertainment property. This so-called movie is clearly not perfect (note: it is not deserving of perfect 10/10 scores that others gave it) but it is pretty good to watch in the cinema.
Voltes V looks better than ever and made a big entertaining impact in the cinema. How will Voltes V: Legacy turn out on TV given the fact that there are so many episodes set for broadcasting?(photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
As mentioned earlier, I’m not a fan of the Voltes V anime and I’m not exactly anticipating the Voltes V: Legacy TV series. I do confirm that the long-lasting legacy Voltes V is clearly thriving here in the Philippines and the new TV series could potentially make a deep impact on Filipinos who love entertainment and possibly replicate what happened in the 1970s and 1980s when the classic anime TV aired on TV nationwide. How the new TV series will turn out is clearly GMA’s own problem.
Overall, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience is recommended.
Australia’s seasoned triathletes finished 1-2 in the men’s elite division and 1-3 in the women’s elite race to enthrone themselves as the new power at the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) featuring the sprint distance in celebration of its 30th year yesterday at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Last year’s 3rd placer and 6th seed Oscar Dart (world ranking -112) outkicked (wr- 300) and 22nd seed Joshua Ferris, 2022 Asia Triathlon Cup Ipoh champion, after running breast -to-breast almost the whole 5 kilometers.
Dart and Ferris were even when they completed the 750-meter swim and 20-kilometer bike with Dart posting aggregate time of 52 minutes and 05 seconds for the race, seven seconds ahead of Ferris.
Reigning NTT Asia Triathlon Cup Subic Bay titleholder Ren Sato (wr-35) of Japan exchanged places with Dart. This time Sato could only cross the finish line 18 seconds behind Dart whom he beat by 37 seconds in the standard distance.
Strong finishing kick also carried Aussie Charlotte McShane (wr-91/2nd seed) to the top of the podium, towing China’s Yifan Yang (wr- 167/14th seed) and her teammate Ellie Hoitink (118/9th seed).
McShane clocked 58:43 with Yang and Hoitink checking in at 58:54 and 58:58, respectively, in the first and oldest sporting event (both local and international levels) sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Standard Insurance, Hoka, Fitbar, Asian Center for Insulation Philippines, Inc., and TYR.
Rounding out the elite male top 5 positions in the event, organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), were last year’s 5th placer Japan’s Genta Uchida (4th, 52:38) and Jumpei Furuya (5th, 52:38).
Chinese duo, Meiyi Lu (4th, 59:07) and Anqi Huang (5th, 59:20) completed the top 5 in the elite female category.
2021 Southeast Asian gold medalist Fernando Jose Casares landed in 25th position in the 66-strong fleld with a time of 54:46. Three-time SEA Games gold medalist Kim Mangrobang timed 1:01:07, good for 24th place out of 48 entries.
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The above information was sourced from an official press release issued by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines. Some parts were modified for this website.
Author Carlo Carrasco 