Archive - 2012

Tiny Troopers Review (PC/Steam)

2012/09/08
Ripper71
News, Reviews

When I was only a lad I used to have hundreds, actually thousands of the little toy army men.  I got a set for my birthday once that had 6 different colors of army men all modeled after the real uniforms worn by soldiers around the world.  I was the envy of all the kids in the neighborhood and they were always coming over to my house to play with them.  Each color also had a military vehicle designed after one of theirs so there was plenty to go around.  Then the Atari 2600 hit my house and the army men became an occasional play toy because what was better than interactive tv games?  I still collected them, I even got the little tiny ones the size of a thumb nail which I just shoved a couple handfuls of in my pocket when going to visit relatives.  I lost so many of them at my great grandma’s house in her sand backyard that we were finding them for nearly a decade later.  The point is when you grew up with the little green army men they continue to hold a place in your heart long after your youthful imagination gave them voice and gunfire.  I think that is the core reason that games like Command and Conquer, Warcraft, Starcraft and so many other strategy games are so popular.  We are given our little green army men, given a mission and we send them off to war, all the while listening to them talk from the screen.  The game Tiny Troopers is one of those games, in this case looking more like the little plastic heroes than most with missions just like you would have made up as a kid.

Graphics/Sound:

The graphics in this game are simple but nice, the landscape has good detail to it and the figures look like Lego men marching off to war, they don’t bend their knees and their faces are simplistic.  The gunshots and music are dramatic but the voices, trying to emphasis the tininess of the troopers, are small and squeaky while they yell out iconic lines from different movies such as “game over man!  game over!” or “mommy!” making sure that this game is supposed to be fun and challenging but it is not designed to be anything realistic.

I will admit seeing one of the little Lego figures writhing and groaning in pain with his ribs showing and a growing bright red blood splatter under him is a little disturbing at first but it is done cartoonish enough to not have any real lasting effect except to remind you which area you have covered by checking out the blood spatters left behind.

Gameplay:

The gameplay is pretty straight forward, the challenge is in the strategy.  Left mouse button moves you, right fires your weapon and clicking on a special weapon then ctrl-right click uses it.  That’s all there is control wise, you can fire your gun while you are moving around but you must stop firing your gun to move.  So if you know an enemy is about to shoot at you you click on a spot on the map and while your are heading there you shoot at the enemy.  They don’t track your movements very well at the lower levels so usually a small bit of movement is all that is required for them to miss.  Certain missions require you to survive waves of attacks in which case you want to keep moving otherwise the zero in on you and you get taken down.

That brings up an interesting point in the gameplay, if your character dies it is KIA and no longer available.  If you are in mid mission you might be able to get reinforced with a fresh face but if you wipe out your whole team then you get a whole new team when you try to do the mission again.  This can be a little frustrating because the more missions your troop survives the higher their rank and the tougher they are.  When you see your highest ranking officer drop because you didn’t notice a landmine in the shadow of a vehicle or that a tank is actually still live it can be a bit frustrating.  It can also be proper incentive to not let that happen in the first place.

In games where there are no real repercussions for losing a mission or losing a team member carelessness can be the result of impatience.  In this game you move carefully, use any advantage such as range or intel that you can get not just to win but to have the best team you can for the next mission.  Once you beat a mission in campaign mode you can go and play it again in single mission mode so that if you have a favorite map or think you could just have done one better you can go give it another try.

Last Call:

Tiny Troopers is addictive “one more mission” kind of fun.  The controls are simple, they gameplay is pretty straight forward but takes planning and strategy if you want to get out of a mission with your team still intact.  It is so much fun on the PC that I picked it up for my iPhone so that I can take this game on the road just like I used to take my little green army men.

Trailer:

Gallery:

Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron (Xbox 360)

2012/09/08
Ripper71
News, Reviews

There is almost always a dark time in a universe, it is how we define the heroes and villains of the story.  The funny thing is that often, because we want the hero to shine, that dark period is alluded to rather than directly addressed as a verse is establishing itself.  A great example would be in the Star Wars Universe the first movie speaks of a dark time when Luke’s father is killed by a villain by the name of Darth Vader who hunted down and destroyed the Jedi.  We don’t see it but we imagine great battles with the Jedi dwindling in numbers.  This movie has a great heroic end and once the heroes are established the verse can be put into dark times again.  Very much the same thing can be said of the Star Trek movies, where the heroes of the enterprise are established and then the dark force of Khan descends upon it.  This isn’t limited to movies, fans of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series wondered for quite a while all the detail in the battle of Jericho Hill before it was briefly delivered in the books and delved into in the comics (which I highly recommend).  The point is that generally the most dramatic and beloved parts of a universe is when the hero is put to the greatest test and barely succeeds and this near defeat changes them.  In the Transformers Universe this moment is The Fall Of Cybertron, so the pressure was definitely on with this installment of the story because it defines all stories that follow.

Storyline:

Optimus Prime is not an optimist as he walks the halls of one of the Autobot bases talking to Bumble Bee about the eminent loss of the war and that the only chance left for them is to run for it.  All of the escape ships have either made it or been destroyed by this point except for one last great ship, the Ark.  The problem is the planet’s Energon supplies have been depleted and there isn’t enough juice to use automated systems, defend the base AND launch the Ark so manual routing and re-routing as well as trying to find alternate sources of energy become the challenge of the day.  That and the fact that the Decepticons want nothing more than the complete destruction of all Autobots.

You find all this out at the beginning of the game and you only need to glance at the control information in the game booklet to see you will play different Autobots and Decepticons throughout the game, the nice part being the wide variety.  There are heroes great and small in most good stories and that is definitely the case here.  This is one of the darkest times for the Transformers and this game doesn’t shy away from that.  This is the Wrath Of Khan, Empire Strikes Back and Jericho Hill of the Transformers ‘verse and they make sure if feels like it.  It even gives a great and dark origin for the Dinobots!

Atmosphere:

The graphics and sound are done really well and they test your video level at the beginning for a reason, they want to make sure the atmosphere is dark.  The voice acting is well done and fits Transformers which is important since there is no organic life on the planet.  Everywhere you look it is metal and yet they have to give that metal a balance between the realistic and the personalities we have grown to love.  The graphics during transformations are terrific, I changed a few times just to watch the animation and the sounds all reinforce the point that these are living and very heavy machines.  The atmosphere pulls you in immediately and the cutscenes are done both well and emotionally.

Gameplay:

The Transformers saga of the post-Saturday morning cartoons era has been plagued by issues, from storyline to effects in the movies and storyline to gameplay in the games.  Actually as video games go the Transformers Universe’s gameplay options have immensely run the gambit and some are known as the most spectacular failures in recent years.  It became known for being a miss more often than a hit with fans of the ‘verse lining up each time to pay their money knowing they were definitely taking their chances.

That is why I am so happy to say that while the gameplay on this title isn’t necessarily original, it is both solid and enjoyable, so much so that I think the gameplay lends itself to replay.  In most ways it is very much a standard third person shooter with first person aimed shot.  This is a run and gun game with limited cover and generally some strategy necessary to clear certain waves of enemies.  The big difference is that as a Transformer you can run and gun as a robot or as your vehicle shape.  The vehicle is very similar to the classic styles we are used to with the exception of the cars being hovercrafts and everything in the designs and weapons are made to have a vaguely alien feel.

Each form has it’s advantages and weapons stock so if you find yourself running out of ammunition in one form you can switch to the other and keep fighting.  When in robot form you can pick up or purchase different weapons as well as upgrade them, while in vehicle form you only have your standard weapon but your speed is greatly increased, especially when you use boost.  Also different enemies have different vulnerabilities so certain enemies which might be slow but tough will knock you around in robot form and take your lunch money (ok maybe not that last part) but once you change to vehicle form you can keep out of their attack range and they are weak against you vehicle weapon.  After a while you get used to knowing which enemy to attack in which form.

As I mentioned before this is a dark time for the Transformers, particularly the Autobots, so one of my favorite features is the variety of characters you get to play, including Decepticons.  I consider myself an Autobot fan but I had an incredible time playing Megatron and some of the most enjoyable missions are actually ones that mess up the chances for the Autobots to escape.  Playing both sides also means more vehicle choices and ways to complete missions.  Most missions don’t have an exact way they have to be completed, you are often given a Transformer, told to complete a task and it is up to you how you do it and in what form.  If I go into this any deeper I would start to give away plot points so I will just say sometimes switching back and forth between vehicle and robot form make for the best mission success.  The only complaint I feel I need to bring up is there is a great deal of difference in difficulty between Easy and Normal, they needed some level in between.

Multiplayer:

The multiplayer is pretty standard third person shooter stuff with team, capture the flag, co-op survival mode and such being the gameplay possibilities with the two main differences being that you can switch between robot and vehicle at any time you like and you have to earn money during the match to pick up more weapons, health, or ammo.  There were a few times when I was too low on cash to get more ammo so I would go into a melee fest on the enemy to get more precious money.  This definitely makes it so that no two multiplayer games play out exactly the same and really holds a players interest.

Last Call:

Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron is my favorite Transformer game and possibly my favorite Transformer storyline of all time.  I like the darker storylines, I like when the good guys have to accept that this may well be their last stand, the dark days show character and when combined with straight forward third person gameplay I think this is a must play for any fan of the franchise.

Trailer:

Gallery:

HHN Hollywood Extreme Horror Makeup Event Pics

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
Halloween, News

Universal City, California, September 6, 2012—The artistry that transforms mere mortals into the most frightening creatures imaginable was revealed today at Universal Studios Hollywood, as extreme Hollywood horror make-up masterminds offered a sneak peek at this year’s bone-chilling“Halloween Horror Nights” event, which takes place on select nights from September 21 to October 31, 2012.

Extreme Hollywood horror make-up artist Larry Bones and his innovative special effects team partnered with “Halloween Horror Nights” Creative Director, John Murdy, to demonstrate how many highly dramatic, morbidly disturbing creatures will come to life during the event.

As the skilled professionals created the illusions of severed heads, oozing wounds and slashed throats, an additional team of experts showcased other effects employed to craft the many scare-actors featured throughout “Halloween Horror Nights.”  Costume designers were on hand to distress and customize wardrobe, wig makers teased and twisted locks, and a graphic artist adeptly illustrated original “Halloween Horror Nights” concept art.

The extreme Hollywood horror make-up showcase helped set the stage for the September 21 launch of this year’s thrilling “Halloween Horror Nights” event.  For more information and to purchase tickets, including options for Front of Line tickets that enables priority access at each maze and theme park attraction, and special Killer Deal Nights tickets to save up to $25, guests can visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/hhn,.  Advance purchase is recommended as event nights will sell out.

This year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in the living, breathing, three-dimensional world of the most notorious and terrifying creatures.  Featuring a slate of unrivaled film production quality mazes, terror-filled Scare Zones and a new “Terror Tram” experience, uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties, “Halloween Horror Nights” will taunt, terrorize and torment guests with incomparable spellbinding and spine-chilling haunted attractions.

AMC’s Golden Globe®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning TV series will have a significant presence during “Halloween Horror Nights” when the critically-acclaimed hit takes center stage in a riveting new maze, “The Walking Dead:  Dead Inside.” It will also headline the event’s signature backlot experience, “Terror Tram:  Invaded by The Walking Dead” featuring hordes of roving, flesh-eating zombie “walkers.”

Other haunted attractions will include “Welcome to Silent Hill,” based on the popular video games and film franchise; “Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D,” a new 3D maze inspired by the legendary shock rocker’s classic concept album; a reimagined experience, “La Llorona: Cazadora de Niños,” based on the terrifying Mexican and Latin American legend that has terrified children for centuries; “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre:  The Saw is The Law,” maze based on filmmaker Tobe Hooper’s notoriously unsettling 1974 horror film classic; and the “Universal Monsters Remix,” walk-through attraction featuring Universal’s legendary horror monsters of yesteryear, re-defined for the 21st century along with the pulse-pounding sounds of dance and electronic-fusion music.

The ever-popular “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” will also add to the dynamic “Halloween Horror Nights” event, joining suchtheme park’s favorites as “Transformers™: The Ride –3D,” “Jurassic Park® In the Dark,” “The Simpsons RideTM” and “Revenge of the MummySM – The Ride.”

Details on “Halloween Horror Nights” are available at Halloween Horror Nights, on Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood” and on Instagram @HorrorNightsHollywood or #UniversalHHN.  Updates from Creative Director John Murdy can be found on Twitter at:Twitter.com/HorrorNights, as he reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information.  “Halloween Horror Nights” maze announcement videos can be seen at Universal Studios Hollywood’s YouTube Channel.

“Halloween Horror Nights” kicks off on Friday, September 21, 2012 and continues on select nights through Wednesday, October 31.  Event dates are: September 21, 22, 28, 29 and October 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31.

Images from the Event

Giada i53 Mini PC Review

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
News, Reviews

Giada’s new i53 mini PC was designed to be a fast and efficient home entertainment PC in a very small form factor. We were fortunate enough to get one on loan for a while and have been pleased with its usage. Here are the i53’s official specifications:

CPU 3rd Gen Intel® CoreTM i7/i5/i3(Optional)
Chipset Intel® HM76 Express
GPU Intel® HD 4000
System Memory
4G DDR3-1333 (1 x SO-DIMM slot，Max 8G)
Storage 500G 2.5″HDD
I/O
1 X USB3.0
4 X USB2.0
1 X Card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO)
1 X HDMI
1 X  VGA
1 X SPDIF （Line out)
1 X LAN (RJ45)
1 X DC-in Jack
LAN Gigabit LAN + Wi-Fi 802.11n + Bluetooth
Audio AUDIO-out/MIC-in
Power Consumption
30W
Size 192 x 155 x 26 mm
Color Black & White
OS Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (Optional)

The Giada i53’s design is very sleek, available in a white or black outer shell. The unit stands up on its side by way of an included base and nicely fits into your entertainment device array. Getting the i53 set up was very simple. All I had to do was plug the included HDMI cable from the mini PC to my display, then plug in a mouse and keyboard. After making sure that the power cable was also plugged in, we were off and running.

As you would probably guess, a wireless keyboard with touchpad would be the best way to interact with the i53, even when considering the included remote control. The OS is Windows 7 Home Premium and ran as one would expect. Something I did not expect, however, was the lack of media software included on the PC. So, the first things I did was connect to our WI-FI network and download iTunes.

There is no lack of connectivity in the Giada i53, which features gigabit LAN, Bluetooth, and Wireless-N capabilities – all very important in a media PC, and the download progressed quickly. After installing iTunes and setting up our account, I purchases, downloaded, and screened Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger. The 1080p video was smooth and the audio crisp, providing a very enjoyable movie-watching experience. I then navigated over to Netflix, logged in, and began streaming an episode of the USA Network’s Psych. After caching the video a bit, the playback was very good and, again, provided a very enjoyable viewing experience.

I was also able to run some video games on the Giada i53, which features an Intel HD4000 GPU. I installed Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft II on the machine as well as 2K Games Borderlands. Both played well, despite my having to turn down some of the detail settings. While this machine would not be anywhere near my first choice as a gaming rig, it does have some chops to play some last-gen PC games.

In addition to testing out the media functionality of the i53, I also got to use the PC from a productivity standpoint, checking email, writing this review, and even paying some bills. I found no issues with this, despite having to zoom in sometimes on various parts of the desktop/program due to my display’s large size and distance from the couch.

Overall, I highly recommend the Giada i53 as a home media PC. Its got a sleek look as well as plenty of features which allows for the PC to be great for not only video and audio playback but, also, a bit of gaming as well as home productivity.

Images

Wikipad Comes to GameStop this Halloween

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
News

LOS ANGELES, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012—GameStop (NYSE: GME), the world’s largest multichannel retailer of video games, has partnered with Wikipad, Inc. to offer the Wikipad tablet, the first tablet with an attachable console-quality gamepad controller, through its stores and website. The Wikipad will be available October 31 to consumers at a retailer price of $499 USD.

“GameStop is the retail destination when it comes to video games. Nobody but GameStop provides gamers with the best gaming content on the market. And for those that purchase or pre-order a Wikipad at GameStop, their tablet will have access to valuable extras including exclusive free, full-length game titles. The Wikipad is powered by an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and will support PlayStation®Mobile platform,” said Fraser Townley, President of Sales for Wikipad, Inc.

Customers can pre-order the Wikipad now at GameStop stores nationwide or online at www.GameStop.com. Wikipads pre-ordered at GameStop will come with value-added extras including full-length titles and an issue of Game Informer Digital.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Wikipad to launch this unique new gaming tablet,” said Joe Gorman, vice president of GameStop’s mobile business unit. “We love the innovation and know our customers are excited to see it in action.”

Wikipad will launch in October with a full suite of games delivered by the latest video game platforms, including PlayStation®Mobile, NVIDIA’s Tegra Zone, Google Play as well as several upcoming unannounced platforms.  To bring the best gaming experience to consumers, Wikipad will offer a premium 10.1” IPS screen, ultra-light chassis, quad core processor, expandable memory and an attachable console quality game controller.
For more information on the Wikipad tablet, visit: www.wikipad.com.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Available for Pre-Order

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
News

New York, NY – September 7, 2012 – 2K Games and Firaxis Games announced today that XCOM®: Enemy Unknown, the re-imagining of one of the best PC games ever made, is now available for digital pre-sale for $49.99 MSRP from participating digital retailers. By pre-purchasing XCOM: Enemy Unknown, gamers are guaranteed to receive the Elite Soldier Pack, a free launch bonus offering top-of-the-line soldier customization features that will only be available while supplies last.

The Elite Soldier Pack will provide the ultimate tools for soldier customization in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, including:

  • Classic X-COM Soldier: Players will instantly receive a new recruit in their barracks inspired by the original X-COM: UFO Defense. The iconic soldier with the blonde, flattop hairstyle will return fully modernized.
  • Soldier Deco packs: Players can customize their soldier with several aesthetic upgrades to armor suits, including the new Hyperion and Reaper soldier armor kits.
  • Complete color customization: A variety of colors and tints for all armor sets in the game allow players complete control to customize their squad’s look.

In addition to the digital pre-sale bonus, all PC versions of XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be powered with Steamworks. XCOM: Enemy Unknownplayers will enjoy the benefits of Steamworks features, such as Steam Achievements, auto-updating, multiplayer matchmaking, Steam Cloud support and more.

Released in 1993, the original X-COM still reigns as one of the best PC games of all time and has been reimagined as XCOM: Enemy Unknown by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will expand on the X-COM legacy with an entirely new story, enemies and technologies to fight hostile aliens and defend Earth. In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, players will oversee combat strategies and individual unit tactics as well as base management and resource allocation as commander of a secret global military organization, XCOM. With equal emphasis on deep strategy and intense tactical combat, XCOM: Enemy Unknown will allow gamers to control the fate of the human race by defending against a terrifying global alien invasion.

To digitally pre-purchase XCOM: Enemy Unknown for PC, please visit: http://www.xcom.com/preorder.

A special edition of XCOM: Enemy Unknown for PC (MSRP $59.99) will be available at participating retail locations. This special edition will contain a copy of the game for PC and a number of unique XCOM items, including an art book; fold-out poster of the XCOM headquarters; XCOMinsignia patch; and a collection of digital bonus assets such as desktop wallpaper, soundtrack and more.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information, please visit http://www.xcom.com. For the latest news and information on XCOM: Enemy Unknown, become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/XCOM.

2K Games is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

Keith Carradine Joins Hitman Absolution Cast

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
News

COPENHAGEN (September 7, 2012) – IO Interactive A/S, a Square Enix studio, today revealed the next Hollywood talent in HITMAN: ABSOLUTION’s stellar cast. Keith Carradine will take on the role of the villainous Blake Dexter, a twisted character and maybe the most vicious adversary Agent 47 has faced yet. Dexter comes to life through Carradine’s outstanding performance capture and voice acting skills. Keith Carradine’s latest work includes the role of Sheriff John Taggart in the blockbuster movie “Cowboys & Aliens.”

Players can learn more about Blake Dexter in the latest release of the ICA files video series. The ICA (International Contract Agency) files are a series of videos that provide in-depth background information on the main cast in HITMAN: ABSOLUTION and features exclusive art from comic artist Ben Oliver.

HITMAN: ABSOLUTION is scheduled for release across North America, Europe and PAL territories on November 20, 2012 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.

C-Virus to Wipe Us All Out

2012/09/06
Jerry Paxton
News

NEW YORK – Sept. 6, 2012 – The National Center for Infectious Disease Research (NCIDR) has published key findings predicting the end of human life to occur on October 2, 2012. Lead researcher Dr. Harvey Joseph-Carlson cites recent wide-spread C-virus outbreak across North America, Europe and Asia as the cause for the projected end to humanity.  The report highlights a rapid increase in the infected population as well as a decline in food rations, medical resources and lack of hope as key factors into his final projected end date.

“The end of humanity is a sad and inevitable reality that’s closing in fast on October 2, 2012,” notes Dr. Joseph-Carlson. “We have witnessed gruesome acts due to the widespread contagion and without a cure to the C-Virus we have run out of time and hope to save mankind.”

Dr. Joseph-Carlson’s research documents how the rise of C-Virus infection spreads rapidly through densely populated cities and filters into rural locations.  The infection maps within the report outline how contaminated populations become “uninhabitable zones” for non-infected bystanders.

The origins of the C-Virus are still unclear.  The C-Virus is a highly contagious mutagenic, non-carcinogenic virus and has no known cure.  The incubation period of the virus is also unknown but victims are prone to see symptoms within 24 hours.

For more information and first-hand accounts please visit http://nohopeleft.com.

About NCIDR

The National Center for Infectious Disease Research (NCIDR) was founded in 1998 to address the challenges to international health posed by infectious diseases. The scope of the center has evolved to include the study of infectious diseases that are emerging from populations around the world and are attributable to today’s internationally mobile society.

 

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest 2012 Revealed

2012/09/06
Jerry Paxton
Halloween, News

JACKSON, NJ—September 5, 2012—Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS® promises family-friendly “thrills by day,” while an amped-up “fright by night” will deliver more Zombie Zones, Terror Trails, Halloween-themed shows and more screams than ever before. Now six weeks long, Fright Fest begins Sept. 22 and runs weekends through Oct. 28.

Thirty Halloween-themed shows and attractions await guests during Fright Fest’s twenty-first season. By day, families can enjoy favorites like the Trick-or-Treat Trail, Monster Mash Bash musical, Professor Slithers’ Creepy Critters animal show, Haunted Wagon Tales ride, Spooky, Kooky Magic Show and more. Guests can also enjoy the park’s famous line-up of thrill rides, including Adventure Alley featuring four new rides for 2012—SkyScreamer extreme swing ride, Fender Benders bumper cars, Air Jumbo flying elephants and Deja Vu scrambler.

After 6 pm, the park transitions to “fright by night” and is not recommended for children under 12 and those who scare easily. Scream-seekers can expect new shows including The Awakening, Dead Man’s Party—The Guest List, Circus of Thrills, Doc Swan’s Sideshow of Oddities and after a multi-year hiatus, the return of popular shows like Bad Bob the Bone Butcher and Professor Zombini’s Freak Show starring Coney Island sideshow icon Todd Robbins.

Zombie Zones including The Bloody Fountain, Circus Psycho, Bone Butcher Terror-Tory and the all-new Shipwreck Cove feature midway-roaming zombies hunting for their next meal. By popular demand, ghoul-repellent whistles will not be offered this season which makes all guests equally delectable to resident zombies.

Four outdoor Terror Trails provide the most intense Fright Fest scares. Voodoo Island, Fright Fest’s new Terror Trail, takes guests on a tour of a reality show set cursed by cannibals. Two Terror Trails feature new themes – the steampunk-inspired Insanity: Gears of the Mind and the toxic Wasteland. The Manor and its zombie-infested halls return for a second season. All four areas remove guests from familiar park surroundings and transport them into a gauntlet of terror in terrifyingly remote areas of the property.

Guests can also enjoy the return of show favorites like the multimedia spectacular Ghoulmaster’s Ghosts featuring new music and surprises, and the Dead and Local music showcase.

Spooktacular Charitable Events

Six Flags hosts the tenth-annual American Red Cross Blood Drive Sept. 29. Guests can donate a pint of blood to earn a free ticket to Fright Fest. Reservations must be made by calling 732/928-2000, ext. 2834. Up to 200 donors are needed and will be taken on a first call, first serve basis. Must be 16 or older, at least 110 lbs. and in good health to donate.

Six Flags Great Adventure hosts the 6th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Sept. 30 – New Jersey’s largest 5k run/walk. The day honors breast cancer survivors, those lost, and unites a community in the fight against breast cancer. In 2011, more than 15,000 participants and spectators turned out to support the Race for the Cure. For more information, log onto sixflags.com/greatadventure and go to the events tab.

2013 Season Passes – Great Family Value at Cost of One-Day Ticket

The best way to enjoy the thrills of the 2013 season is with a Season Pass. 2013 Season Passes are currently on sale for the price of a one-day ticket when purchasing four or more – $62.99 per person. When purchasing and processing by Oct. 28, 2012 guests will receive a free upgrade to “premium” status, which includes the theme park and new Safari Off Road Adventure, unlimited admission to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, bring-a-friend free days, early park access and more. Plus, guests receive one free parking pass when purchasing four or more passes during this limited time offer. 2012 Season Pass and Summer Thrill Pass holders receive a special renewal discount. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure.

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