Coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in December
Seattle, Washington - August 28th, 2019 - This just in: Unbound Creations is bringing its unapologetically politically charged potboiler and news editor sim Headliner: NoviNews to Nintendo Switch on September 5th. Pre-orders are available on the Nintendo Switch eShop. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will follow in December through publisher Chorus Worldwide.
Cast in the role of a "Headliner", you operate as the chief editor of the country's largest news publication. Acting as the voice of the publication, you must decide what stories to run, meet your quotas, keep your audience engaged, and make enough money to keep food in the dog bowl. Controversy equals clicks, and with the world in conflict, it's up to you to cultivate the country's culture through the court of public opinion.
Beyond making executive decisions behind your desk, Headliner: NoviNews also lets you walk the streets as your custom made avatar observes how the stories you ran influenced the public. Which politicians will they support? Will a riot break out? How will you report on said riot? With geopolitical tensions at an all-time high, it's never an easy decision being the Headliner!
"I've been a big fan of the Nintendo Switch since its inception, and felt like there was untapped potential for it to house serious political games," said Unbound Creations founder and director Jakub Kasztalski. "I've always been interested in how media shapes people's perceptions, which in turn shapes reality. What stories we deem newsworthy, and how we report on those stories, fundamentally changes our entire society. Headliner: NoviNews explores the trials and tribulations of trying to remain unbiased in an inherently biased world."
Headliner: NoviNews recently won the "Best Overall Game" of Intel Buzz Seattle, 2018, was a finalist for Best Action & Adventure Game at the 2018 TIGA Awards, and it was part of the Official Selection at PAX West 2018's Indie Megabooth and the same year's Seattle Indies Expo.
Headliner: NoviNews is coming to Switch!
What the Critics are saying:
"Shows quite neatly how all these issues have a lot of overlap that defies the easy answer of just picking a 'side'" - Rock, Paper, Shotgun
"A fascinating concept, and worthy of a look." - PC Gamer
"It's kind of perfect." - Philip DeFranco
"Fake news!" - Donald Trump**
Interview opportunities are available with the game's creator - Jakub "Koobazaur" Kasztalski, a Polish expat who majored in "comparative ethnic conflict" before travelling the world to places like Japan, Italy, and Ireland, studying regional conflicts. Kasztalski would be more than happy to discuss the game, its mechanics, and how his background in studying ethnic conflict and media has informed his decisions in the making of Headliner: NoviNews.
**Actually fake news. Donald Trump hasn't played this game. It hasn't been on Fox and Friends. But maybe, with your help, it could be!