Notizie

The Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 have been out since 2020 and 2023, respectively. Since then, many games have been released for the Meta platforms, with new titles every year that excite fans and bring new experiences to virtual reality. Some popular games released include Beat Saber, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners, and The Room VR. Each game has brought its own unique experience, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in virtual reality gameplay and keeping players coming back.

2024 was another good year for virtual reality games, with releases like Max Mustard, Batman: Arkham Shadow, and Vail. While previous years' titles are still doing well, newer titles have continued to push the industry forward. These games offer players fresh gameplay experiences and intriguing stories that keep them engaged and excited about the future of VR gaming. Out of all the games released this year, these are the 10 most talked-about and highly rated.

UFA Hires ‘September 5’ Exec Producer Christoph Müller

Fremantle’s German production house UFA has hired Constantin Film’s Christoph Müller for its cinema division. The producer, who is an exec producer on the Golden Globe-nominated September 5, joins from Constantin Film and will begin at UFA Fiction on February 1, 2025. He also is known for productions including the Oscar-nomnated Sophie Scholl, box office hit Er Ist Wieder Da and Elyas M’Barek and Sönke Wortmann’s films Contra and Der Nachname. “We want to open up new business areas and continue to expand on already successful ones,” said Sascha Schwingel, CEO of UFA. “I am therefore very pleased that we are now strengthening our team with Christoph Müller, who is a renowned producer of cinema productions that delight audiences and critics alike. With him on the team, we will significantly increase the rate of our successful cinema productions.” Sebastian Werninger, Managing Director of UFA Fiction,...

The Irem Collection Volume 2 offers a nostalgic journey through arcade gaming history with three iconic titles: GunForce, GunForce II, and Air Duel. While some games may not be big names, their inclusion in this collection holds greater significance for gamers and vintage lovers.

One of the most popular franchises in the run-and-gun genre is Metal Slug, and GunForce II is widely regarded as its precursor. This connection alone makes the collection a noteworthy artifact, allowing players to discover the creative stepping stones that led to creating a great series.

This collection aims to preserve the specialized arcade experiences that helped define the 1990s gaming era. Titles like GunForce and Air Duel, while overshadowed by contemporaries like Contra and 1942, are historically significant as early pioneers of genre mechanics.

Adding modern conveniences like casual modes, save states, and internet leaderboards makes these sometimes punishingly difficult games more accessible. Whether you’re a...

In an era where big-budget, Aaa projects continue to define the video game industry — for better or for worse — a few publishers and studios are making their mark using popular games from the past. Remakes and remasters proliferate year after year, some expected like Resident Evil, others long overdue like The Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver, and still others shocking, like the PlayStation 1 era platforming relic Croc: Legend Of The Gobbos.

Other publishers are taking a different approach — toeing the line between “remake” and “reimagining.” Longtime Japanese developer Square Enix...

Konami’s Contra is a bonafide classic, despite its recent fare not quite reaching that same level. So, leave it up to those who grew up loving the original games to come up with their own interpretation of the classic run-and-gun. That’s what Ivan Valeryevich Suvorov and Retroware have done with Iron Meat, which is out now on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Xbox Series. A physical edition is also available (and running out fast) from Strictly Limited Games.

Iron Meat immerses players in a world overrun by The Meat: an all-consuming interdimensional biomass that spawned from scientist Yuri Markov’s experiments on the Moon. As a soldier named Vadim, what are you to do other than grab your rifle and battle against mutated victims and machines, dodge bullet barrages, and crush bosses?

As you might expect, Iron Meat pays homage to Contra...

Fans of classic arcade action rejoice: Iron Meat brings fast-paced run-and-gun shooting to PCs and consoles. Developed by indie studio Retroware and solo creator Ivan Suvorov, this love letter to ’90s shooters feels right at home alongside genre legends like Contra. Earth has fallen under attack from a nightmarish blob known only as “The Meat,” which devours metal and twists whatever it touches into new terrors. As Vadim, one of the last human soldiers, it’s up to you to battle abominations across nine levels and take the fight to the flesh itself.

Retroware aims to capture that nostalgic Contra vibe while refining the formula for modern times. Ivan respects the genre’s roots but trims away dated frustrations. Controls feel tight, loads are lightning quick, and continues flow freely. Yet challenge remains for those seeking it. Three difficulties cater to all, ensuring first-timers and series veterans alike can enjoy this gory galactic scrap.

Zurich Film Festival (October 3-13) has added 11 titles to its line-up of gala premieres, including world premieres of Der Spitzname and Landesverräter.

Der Spitzname is a German comedy directed by Sönke Wortmann, who has previously premiered at Zurich with Family Affairs, Contra and How About Adolf? Janina Uhse and Florian David Fitz play a couple who invite their family to the Alps ahead of their impending wedding, only for familial bonds to quickly unravel.

Michael Krummenacher’s Swiss-German co-production Landesverräter will also world premiere. Set during the Second World War and based on a true story, a wannabe singer sells...

When Ridley Scott unleashed Alien onto unsuspecting film fans way back in 1979, no one probably thought that the film would spawn a franchise that would take over the media landscape. Today, the franchise is still going strong, having conquered the box office, comics, novels, board games, action figures, and of course, video games.

With Fede Álvarez‘s Alien: Romulus set to invade theatres this week, it seems like a ripe opportunity to delve into the sea of video games that have spawned from the film franchise.

Really, there are a lot of games, both official and not-so-official. So, to keep this concise, we’ll look at official games that are directly related to the Alien franchise, keeping the Alien vs. Predator titles separate (for now).

Screenshots courtesy of Mobygames.

Alien – Atari 2600 (1982)

You had to start somewhere, and for 20th Century Fox’s video game division, this was it. Designed by...

Theres a rich relationship between anime and video games thats only become more pronounced in recent years. Its not uncommon for the most popular and mainstream anime titles whether its Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, or Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba to have faithful video game adaptations. Alternatively, there are many anime that actually adapt video games and turn them into deep anime series that go beyond their source material. The video game industrys improving hardware helps developers blur the lines between these mediums and create passionate games that genuinely feel like episodes of their respective series.

Its remarkable to see how far anime video games have come, but its also important to recognize that these games wouldnt be where they are today without decades of less advanced titles. Many modern gamers can quickly dismiss retro titles from the 80s and 90s because theyre less polished or lack current quality-of-life features.

Vampire Survivors, the top-down shoot-em-up title from Poncle, has been a long time coming to PlayStation platforms. The game has been a major hit and fans on Sony’s consoles have been waiting for it but the developer hasn’t given a specific launch date for the game.

Developer Poncle has now provided an update on the game and it seems like the game is getting the same treatment for PS5 and PS5 and Black Myth: Wukong for Xbox Series. The update isn’t what fans were hoping for but it’s still better than radio silence.

Vampire Survivors Launch on PlayStation Consoles Is Still Far Away Vampire Survivors still doesn’t have a launch date for PlayStation.

Poncle had announced back in April that Vampire Survivors would be coming to PS4 and PS5 in Summer and since it’s summer, fans were asking when exactly the game would be releasing on the platform.

Alt-rock band Vampire Weekend has turned in iconic albums: their self-titled release, “Contra,” “Modern Vampires of the City” and “Father of the Bride.” The last two of these were especially important for the band, bringing them Grammys for Best Alternative Music Album in 2014 and 2020, respectively. On top of that, “Father of the Bride” earned the band their first nominations outside of the alternative category: Best Rock Song (“This Life”) and, most importantly, Album of the Year. Now the band is back with their fifth studio album, “Only God Was Above Us,” and with this new release, there’s potential for another big Grammy night for the band.

This new album comes four years after the success of “Father of the Bride,” which topped the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified gold in the US. While it managed an Album of the Year nomination, however, it wasn’t necessarily the band’s most beloved collection,...

Bethesda's Starfield includes a nod to classic video games with a subtle "Cheat Codes" reference next to a dead Npc. Fans familiar with the Konami Code will recognize the homage to retro games in Starfield's hidden Easter egg. While entering the Konami Code in Starfield doesn't unlock anything, it's still a fun reference.

In a game as big as Starfield, it stands to reason that even some of the most obvious Easter eggs would remain hidden for month after release but thanks to one eagle-eyed fan, the latest discovery is a throwback to the classic era of video games. Bethesda is known for sneaking in plenty of fun references to other titles in its massive RPGs, and while some can be quite on the nose, most are subtle nods of recognition. Starfield is no different, but to really appreciate this new find, one must be familiar with some classic hardware.

It’s no surprise that after 35 years, people are still playing Nintendo’s classic grey brick in the Game Boy. What is surprising is that fans are developing and releasing games for the system. Thanks to programs like Gb Studio, you too can develop your own Game Boy games, and that of course includes horror games. And there are plenty of ’em. So rather than listing off the usual suspects that includes Castlevania, Contra, and the like for the Game Boy’s anniversary, here’s a selection of more recent handheld horrors that you (if you have the right equipment) can play in all their spinach-coloured glory.

Batty Zabella

Developer Ice Cold Blood’s mix of horror and comedy a la Elvira in Game Boy form, Batty Zabella puts you as the eponymous heroine as she tries to save her family and rid her home of phantoms. The game plays...

The popular top-down shooter Vampire Survivors is coming to PlayStation. This comes after many requests for it, which the announcement trailer referenced with a wall of tweets and YouTube comments from desperate fans. The game is set to release sometime this summer.

Coming to PlayStation at Long Last

Vampire Survivors is coming to PlayStation.

After two years and many requests from players, Vampire Survivors is finally coming to PlayStation, releasing this summer.

Vampire Survivors is coming to PlayStation this summer.

Contra crossover Dlc coming on May 9.#vampiresurvivors pic.twitter.com/e0YrirQH8O

— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) April 10, 2024

Twitter/X user Shinobi602 shared the news. It is a top-down shooter where the player fights through hordes of undead and supernatural foes such as bats, werewolves, and witches, and, interestingly, not vampires.

SUGGESTEDFallout’s Jonah Nolan Understands the Task Ahead: “When people have spent 50 to 100 hours in a world, their level of investment...

Having already been released to Steam, Xbox and the Nintendo Switch, the wait is almost over for PlayStation owners wanting Poncle’s Vampire Survivors. The hit roguelike will be heading to Sony’s console later this summer. In addition, a new Dlc will be coming to Vampire Survivors next month in the form of a crossover with Konami’s Contra series in Operation Guns!

Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns will launch May 9 across PC and consoles, and will head to the PlayStation version once it’s been released. The Dlc will sport 11 new characters, including classic Contra mainstays Bill and Lance, characters from Contra: Hard Corps, and even Bill and Lance’s counterparts in Probotector!

The Dlc will also feature a new stage called Neo Galuga, a new bonus stage, as well as 22 weapons from the series, including the iconic Spread Shot. The Dlc will be topped off with 13 music tracks directly from the Contra series,...

Though there are many things that make the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) one of the greatest consoles ever made, it’s the game’s arcade-like action experiences that arguably age best. Those titles were not just often the showcase for the many things that Sega aspired to do with the Genesis but the kind of purely enjoyable games that remain wonderfully easy to return to after 30+ years.

While I come to celebrate the best of the best of those games today, please note that defining the seemingly simple action genre can be a remarkably challenging experience. For the purposes of this list, I tried to focus on more “pure” action games where the combat was the main draw. Among other things, that meant that Action RPGs and more platforming-heavy Action Platformer titles weren’t really considered for this list. We’ll pay homage to games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Beyond Oasis another day.

Konami is trying once again with the Contra series in a reimagining of the one that started it all. Contra: Operation Galuga was revealed today during the Nintendo Direct, and is set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch in early 2024. Pre-orders are available now via the Nintendo eShop.

Developed by WayForward, Contra: Operation Galuga (named after the Contra universe’s Galuga Archipelago where series antagonist Red Falcon first appears) is described as a “thorough reimagining” of the 1987 classic. Operation Galuga will feature modern graphics and sound, new stages, new enemies and bosses, new play mechanics, an updated weapons system, and two-player co-op action in Story Mode, and four-player co-op in Arcade Mode.

The previous game in the Contra series, Contra: Rogue Corps, was released back in 2019 for PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

The post Konami Returns to ‘Contra’ Series With ‘Contra: Operation Galuga’ for the Switch...

Vampire Weekend have released a vinyl-only live album called Frog on the Bass Drum Vol. 01, which pulls audio from a June 2019 show in Indianapolis where there was, in fact, a frog pictured on their bass drum.

The setlist from the show featured songs from all four albums of their discography — 2008’s self-titled debut, Contra, Modern Vampires of the City, and Father of the Bride — plus the official release of a 10-minute long cover of Bob Dylan’s Infidels track “Jokerman.” To boot, vocalist Ezra Koenig dropped a quick flow from “Pizza Party,” the debut track from L’Homme Run, the college rap group he formed with Vampire Weekend drummer Chris Tomson.

Frog on the Bass Drum Vol. 01 also comes with the band’s Quarterly Report newsletter. See the artwork and tracklist below.

2,500 copies of the LP were pressed by the vinyl’s manufacturer, Jack White’s Third Man Pressing in Detroit,...

They received the most automatic funding from the Ffa for German films at the German box office.

Constantin Film and Warner Bros Germany were the most successful local production companies and distributors for German films at the German box office in 2022, according to the German Federal Film Board (Ffa).

They have been dubbed ‘Industry Tigers’ by the Ffa and means both companies receive the most in the Ffa’s automatic ‘reference funding’ from the organisation, in line with the amount their German films grossed locally and were exposed at international film festivals in 2022.

Munich-based Constantin Film received €1.2m in production...

Walter Smith III has released his stunning new cover of Kate Bush’s “Mother Stands for Comfort,” the latest single from the saxophonist’s forthcoming Blue Note debut return to casual out April 7. The album features pianist Taylor Eigsti, guitarist Matt Stevens, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Kendrick Scott as well as guest appearances by trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and pianist James Francies return to casual is available for pre-order now on Blue Note Store exclusive color vinyl, black vinyl, CD, or digital download.

Walter Smith III

It was Akinmusire who first introduced Smith to “Mother Stands for Comfort,” which is the sole non-original composition on the 10-song set. “From the moment I heard it, the mood and character of the piece grabbed me,” recalls Smith. “‘Mother Stands for Comfort’ was my introduction to Kate Bush’s music, and the more I heard the more I was drawn into her style.

The Famicom (the Japanese version of the Nes) is turning 40 in 2023. While 40 isn’t quite as old as it used to be when we’re talking about people, it’s pretty much ancient for any piece of technology. The Famicom/Nes were released at a time when people were debating over Betamax vs. VHS, rocking out on their Sony Walkmans, and checking the time on their Casio watches. It’s natural that many of the games made for the Nes will not have aged that well in the grand scheme of things. Of course, that makes it that much more impressive that there are some Nes games that have actually aged incredibly well.

What does it mean for an Nes game to age well? The answer to that question will vary from person to person. For me, though, a game ages well when you can play it today and not...

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque touched on the success of the company’s original programming during Thursday’s Q4 investors call, including the recently debuted local-language series Contra Las Cuerdas.

The Spanish-language series, which is executive produced by WWE Studios, debuted on Netflix globally on January 25. It follows a young mother who enters the wrestling ring in the arenas of Mexico to regain the affection of her lucha libre-loving daughter after being in prison.

“Strong content is the bedrock of this company and drives our business,” Levesque said during the call, citing several data points from Parrot Analytics.

Since its debut, the scripted comedy has become the third-most in demand show in Mexico, according to data from Parrot. It’s also currently sitting in second place on Netflix’s Top 10 in Mexico. The streamer doesn’t give viewing data by country, so exact numbers are unavailable.

Contra Las Cuerdas,...

It feels fair to say that graphical improvements between console generations in recent years have been relatively gradual. The PS5 and Xbox Series X are obviously more powerful than their predecessors, but the differences sometimes come down to framerate and fidelity. By comparison, the graphical leap from Nes to Snes was massive.

For the first time, the color palettes of games were held back by relatively few limitations. Most sprites actually looked like they were meant to represent. Backgrounds were heavily detailed and properly animated, while an industry-wide embrace of the entire pixel art concept inspired new visions that remain beautiful to this day.

That was just the beginning of what the Snes was capable of, though. With a little creativity and enhancement chips that unlocked increased power, developers were even able to squeeze some early 3D effects out of Nintendo’s 16-bit console and produce some truly impressive visuals that still hold up.

Pablo Larrain’s ‘Spencer’ has been nominated for best film.

Andreas Kleinert’s Dear Thomas has emerged as the front runner at this year’s German Film Awards, known as the Lolas, with 12 nominations.

The black-and-white biopic of East German poet, dramatist and filmmaker Thomas Brasch is nominated in the best feature film category, as well as for direction, screenplay, lead actor, cinematography and production design.

Andreas Dresen’s Berlinale competition title Rabiye Kurnaz Vs. George W. Bush is not far behind Dear Thomas with 10 nominations, the same number his Gundermann attracted in 2019.

Austrian director Sebastian Meise’s Great Freedom,...

Konami is one of the most controversial video game companies in the industry. They have classic franchises such as Contra, Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Silent Hill. But they've bowed out of making video games after mistreating creators and rushing products.

Related: 10 Easter Eggs In Netflix's Castlevania Referencing Konami's Video Games

The company's history extends well back into the age of the arcade. They made plenty of titles that at the time became gameplay innovators. The colored lights and sounds of Konami cabinets were a guarantee of a great game back in the past.

Berlin-based sales agency Picture Tree Intl. has added to its European Film Market slate “Love Thing,” starring top German actor Elyas M’Barek, whose credits include “The Collini Case.” Also on the slate is “Soul of a Beast,” which debuts its trailer below.

Despite the virtual nature of the EFM, the company has taken additional office space at the Marriott Hotel in Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz.

“Love Thing,” which also stars Lucie Heinze, Peri Baumeister and Alexandra Maria Lara, is directed and written by Anika Decker, whose last feature “High Society” sold widely. Decker scripted box office successes like “Rabbit Without Ears,” which grossed $85 million.

“Love Thing” is produced by German production-distribution powerhouse Constantin Film, which has set its release for July 7. The producers are Rüdiger Böss and Philipp Reuter; the co-producers are Anika Decker and Jan Decker; and the executive producer is Martin Moszkowicz. Picture Tree will present a first teaser trailer to select buyers.

Picture Tree Intl. has acquired Iranian genre crossover feature “Without Her,” and will introduce the film to buyers during the upcoming European Film Market at its Marriot Hotel located office in Berlin. The film’s trailer is debuting with Variety (below).

In Arian Vazirdaftari’s feature debut, Roya is getting ready to emigrate from Iran when she meets a quiet young woman who appears lost and doesn’t remember anything. Roya takes her in, providing her with a home and introducing her to her husband, family and friends – all the while blissfully unaware that this woman has come to replace her.

The storyline of a woman losing her identity dives into the genre tradition of Hitchcock, Polanski and De Palma, while connecting it with the tradition of social realism in Iranian cinema, Picture Tree Intl. said in a statement, with gripping performances from Iranian actors Tannaz Tabatabaei, Saber Abar and Shadi Karamroudi.

Germany is the third biggest market for ‘No Time to Die’.

Universal Pictures was the clear winner at the German box office in the second pandemic year as overall takings increased year-on-year by 25.8% in 2021.

According to Comscore, German cinemas posted total box-office takings of €361.8m and sold 40.4m tickets - up 18.3% on 2020, but 63% down on the 110m admissions in 2019.

Universal secured its market leader position of 31.9% market share of box-office gross and 29% for admissions thanks to the year’s biggest release, No Time To Die, which had taken €64.6m by the end of the year, and accounted for almost 15% of...

Giuseppe Tornatore was jury president for the inaugural competition featuring 16 features.

Georgian director Levan Koguashvili’s Brighton 4th has won best film at the inaugural edition of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival, unfolding in Jeddah from December 6-15.

It follows a raft of prizes for the New York-set father-son drama that world premiered at Tribeca where it won best international feature, actor and screenplay.

There were 16 features from the Middle East and Africa in the inaugural competition.

Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore presided over the main competition jury with Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, Palestinian-American director Cherien Dabis, Morelia...

The inaugural edition of the Red Souk project market handed out $355,000 worth of prizes and other collateral awards.

Egyptian-uk filmmaker Lotfy Nathan’s debut fiction feature Contra scooped the top $30,000 post-production at the inaugural Red Sea Souk project market over the weekend.

The Tunisia-set, post-revolutionary tale follows an impoverished young man who is left in sole charge of his younger sisters when his father dies suddenly. It is lead produced by Julie Viez at Paris-based Cinenovo and Films Constellation is handling sales.

It was among five works in progress and 11 in projects in development or production, and another 12 projects developed...

Helping a selection of five European films to connect to Latin American distributors, Efp’s Film Sales Support (Fss) program has awarded grants to three sales agencies to step up their digital campaigns for this year’s hybrid Ventana Sur market.

Two companies from Germany have received support this year, as well as one from Spain. The unspecified amounts are to help the companies to “broaden their online presence and solidify business communications with buyers from Latin America attending Ventana Sur this year,” according to a press statement.

The new initiative underscores the fact that Ventana Sur has become an ever larger distribution springboard for European salles agents and their European films. “Ventana Sur is also a platform for European films, and this year sales are happening online. The onsite part is more focused on projects, pitching, and networking. Marketing is even more important to make films visible when going online,...

Films presently on release include ‘The French Dispatch’ and ’Ghostbusters: Afterlife’.

Austria’s cinemas are being forced to close their doors from next Monday (November 22) as part of a national lockdown announced by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna on Friday morning.

The lockdown, which is expected to last 10 days and could be extended for another 10 days, means Austrians are not allowed to leave their homes except for work, essential purchases such as food or medicine and for exercise.

A partial lockdown had already been introduced for unvaccinated Austrians since last Monday (November 15) but cinemas remained open.

Now exhibitors and distributors...

Berlin-based Picture Tree International has picked up global sales rights to two Scandinavian romantic comedies – the Finland’s “70 Is Just a Number,” about an aging female pop singer, and Sweden’s “Till Sun Rises,” about two lovers who escape their respective marriages to come together at night with the help of an ancient and magic book.

Pti will launch sales on the films at AFM, prior to their local releases via Nordisk Film: Dec. 29 and Dec. 25, respectively.

“70 Is Just a Number” is directed by Finnish comedy queen Johanna Vuoksenmaa, who directed “21 Ways to Ruin Your Marriage” – the top grossing Finnish film in 2013 with more than 400,000 admissions, still the biggest box office hit ever written, directed and produced by a woman in Finland. Produced by Nina Laurio and Riina Hyytiä with their Finnish company Dionysos Films, the film was supported by Finnish Film Foundation, and Tampere City/Film Tampere. The local broadcaster is Yleisradio.

Mary Berry BBC Series

Great British Bake Off alum and Britain’s Best Home Cook judge Mary Berry is reteaming with BBC One for Mary Berry’s Fantastic Feasts. The three-part series, which will also air on iPlayer, sees Berry help novice cooks who want to surprise a loved one with a great meal, teaching them a selection of achievable, impressive dishes. On the day of the special event, Berry and two celebrity helpers will be on hand to assist. Mary Berry’s Fantastic Feasts is produced by Rumpus Media. Emily Hudd and Kelly Sparks are executive producers. Applications for aspiring cooks are open and an air date has yet to be set.

Viacom Buys Chilean TV Network

ViacomCBS Networks International has closed previously announced acquisition of Chilevisión from WarnerMedia. The acquisition includes Chilevisión’s free-to-air television network, which is Chile...

Picture Tree International has picked up world sales rights on Sönke Wortmann’s latest feature “Contra.” Pti will launch the film onto the market with a first promo at AFM, which starts Monday.

“Contra” had its world premiere at the 16th Zurich Film Festival, and is set for a Christmas release in German-speaking territories by Constantin Film, one of the world’s top independent distributors. Pti will give the film a physical market premiere at February’s European Film Market.

Wortmann has been one of German cinema’s leading directors since the early 90s, with films like “Maybe, Maybe Not” (“Der bewegte Mann”), which was the most successful German film of the 1990s, soccer drama “The Miracle of Bern” (“Das Wunder von Bern”), and “Pope Joan” (“Die Päpstin”).

“Contra” follows the fallout for a university professor, Richard Pohl, after he directs a xenophobic insult at law student Naima Hamid. After...

Kazuhisa Hashimoto, the producer credited with creating the most famous and memorized cheat in video game history, has died at the age of 61.

Video game maker Konami confirmed the death of Hashimoto, who entered the “Konami Code” command – “Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start” – into both the video game and pop culture lexicon.

“We are saddened to hear about the passing of Kazuhisa Hashimoto, a deeply talented producer who first introduced the world to the ‘Konami Code,’” Konami tweeted Wednesday. “Our thoughts are with Hashimoto-san...