Pixel P&L: 4chan's Unlikely Masterpiece Makes its Way Into Steam

Good Morning. It’s Tuesday, July 30. In today’s feature, we delve into the chaotic yet persevering development of Katawa Shoujo on 4chan, showcasing a unique tale of resilience and determination. Additionally, we bring you highlights from the conclusion of the Skyesports Championship 2024, the announcement of the 2024 PUBG Mobile Global Championship, and other notable events.

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Fifteen years ago, an unlikely project emerged from the depths of 4chan: a visual novel titled "Katawa Shoujo." Born from the notorious online message board known for its anonymity and often controversial content, this game captured the hearts of many with its unexpected depth and emotional storytelling. The game, translating roughly to "Disability Girls," follows the life of Hisao Nakai, a teenager who navigates a new school for students with disabilities after being diagnosed with a heart condition. Through its diverse cast—Emi, Hanako, Lilly, Rin, and Shizune—the game explores themes of acceptance, growth, and personal struggles.

Our latest feature dives deep into the chaotic development of this game, from its inception on the chaotic message boards of 4chan to the rollercoaster ride of drama, departures, and unexpected triumphs. Discover how a ragtag group of anonymous users created a narrative that blends heartfelt storytelling with explicit content, resulting in a unique gaming experience.

Now, after more than a decade since its release, "Katawa Shoujo" is set to debut on Steam. This move promises to introduce a new generation to the game's poignant narrative and complex characters. As it transitions to one of the world's largest digital distribution platforms, the game's legacy is poised to expand, bridging its past infamy with a promising future.

The Skyesports Championship 2024, a $300,000 international Counter-Strike 2 esports tournament, concluded at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai, on July 28. The six-day event featured 11 teams from across the globe, vying for the prestigious title and substantial prize pool.

Sponsored by the controversial betting platform 1xBet, alongside AMD, LG UltraGear, Oddin.gg, and Red Bull, the tournament garnered significant attention. According to EScharts, the event peaked at 47,676 viewers, maintained an average viewership of 16,541, and amassed a total of 793,948 hours watched.

French team 3DMAX emerged victorious, securing the $100,000 grand prize. Earlier in the week, the tournament was criticized for subpar event facilities and production delays.

2024 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship to Be Hosted in London's ExCel Auditorium

The 2024 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship (PMGC) will be hosted at London's ExCel Auditorium, as announced by James Yang, Senior Director of Global Esports at Level Infinite. The championship, boasting a $3 million prize pool, will conclude the 2024 esports season from December 6th to 8th. Revealed during the ongoing PUBG MOBILE World Cup in Riyadh, the event promises intense competition with 48 global teams vying for the title. Indian teams are expected to remain absent due to the ongoing ban on PUBG Mobile, with BGMI operating its esports circuit independently. 

BLAST Premier Secures Streaming Partnership with KICK for 2024 Season

Counter-Strike esports circuit BLAST Premier has inked a non-exclusive partnership with streaming platform KICK for the remainder of its 2024 season. As part of the agreement, tournaments including the BLAST Premier Fall Season and World Final will be accessible on BLAST Premier’s official KICK channel. The partnership aims to enhance accessibility, with coverage available in over 150 territories and 28 languages. In addition to KICK, BLAST Premier continues to stream on Twitch, YouTube, and its proprietary platform BLAST.tv.

Full Details for Honor of Kings Invitational Midseason at Esports World Cup Revealed

Level Infinite has unveiled comprehensive details for the Honor of Kings Invitational Midseason, 2024 Riyadh, set to occur at the Esports World Cup from August 1 to 4. The event will feature teams from around the globe competing for a $3M prize pool in a single round-robin format, followed by knockout stages. To commemorate the event, a new exclusive skin, Heavenblade, for the hero Allain, and a theme song “Invincible” will be released. The tournament will be streamed on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch.tv, TikTok, and Honor of Kings’ in-game TV.

Crunchyroll Grosses Over $1 Billion from Licensed Goods in 2023

Crunchyroll, the anime streaming service, generated approximately $1.1 billion from retail sales of licensed consumer products and experiences in 2023, according to a report from License Global. Ranking 36th out of 88 companies, Crunchyroll trailed behind other anime giants such as The Pokémon Company International ($10.8 billion) and Toei Animation’s One Piece ($5.4 billion). Bandai Namco Group and Toho reported $2.7 billion and $1 billion, respectively, while VIZ Media earned $550 million. 

Did you know that the iconic first-person shooter game Doom II has been used by the U.S. military to train soldiers and simulate combat scenarios? In the late 1990s, the U.S. Marine Corps adopted a modified version of Doom II, known as Marine Doom, to enhance military training.

Marine Doom, a single-level PWAD for Doom II, was made available for public download on March 21, 1996, by Sergeant Daniel G. Snyder. In the game, a fireteam of four Marines—comprising a Team Leader, two riflemen, and one machine-gunner—must accomplish specific missions, such as the destruction of an enemy bunker or a hostage rescue in a foreign embassy. Soldiers played on separate computers in the same room, allowing for coordinated movements and communication.

Though Marine Doom was later superseded by the homebrew game America's Army in 2002, it remains a pioneering example of the intersection between video games and military training, demonstrating the lasting legacy of Doom in both virtual and real-world combat preparedness.