Microsoft has announced that its next generation gaming console, the Xbox One, will be released on November 22nd, 2013 in 13 different markets. The Xbox One will cost $499.99 and is available for pre-order at the Microsoft store and other retailers. The Xbox One’s competitor, the PlayStation 4, is set to release on November 15th, 2013.
We recently got the chance to interview the producer of Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare haunted attraction, Steve Kopelman. The event takes place on various days from October 10 through November 2 and features not only an assortment of haunted houses but, also, a variety of musical acts.
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Q) What were the inspirations and goals in creating the Great American Nightmare?
A) The goals were to give the patrons the most “bang for the buck” while producing an event that is quintessential Rob Zombie.
Q) How long was the design process for your three haunted houses at the event?
A) We started this past February and are still coming up with new ideas.
Q) Who designed each of the mazes and what are their respective backgrounds in the field?
A) Steve Kopelman, a 32 year haunted house veteran, designed the actual mazes but the works of Rob Zombie inspired all the themes. Essentially, Rob’s movies dictated just about every scene.
Q) Is the Great American Nightmare using its own makeup artists or did you guys contract the work out to an effects house?
A) Christopher Mills of Silver Shamrock Lab is heading up our make up department. He will be overseeing all the test make-ups along with designing numerous special character masks.
Q) With the increasing popularity of haunted attractions, what does the Great American Nightmare give guests that they can’t find anywhere else?
A) Never has a haunted attraction event been so integrated with music. In addition to 3 different haunted attractions, we will feature some type of national musical act each and every night. Our price point is more than fair and we have designed something that is just bursting with activities the patrons can experience. Additionally, people ultimately go to haunted attractions to get scared and the masses haven’t had the opportunity to experience extreme haunted houses. We truly believe we are different.
Q) Is the Great American Nightmare something that you hope to become an annual event or is this a special, 1-time attraction?
A) We not only hope and expect it to become an annual event, we hope to expand the brand globally.
Q) Are there any props from the films that the event’s mazes are based on in the mazes themselves?
A) We won’t be using actual movie props but we will be recreating many scenes from Rob’s movies.
Q) Is there anything that was deemed “too extreme” for the haunt-going public that didn’t make the cut into this year’s event?
A) When it comes to this event I don’t think we could be any more extreme.
Q) How many scare actors are you guys utilizing at the event this year?
A) There will be 140 scare actors throughout the mazes.
Q) We have to ask, will the “Murder Ride” feature a “push-car” like in the film House of 1000 Corpses or is it all walk-through?
A) No, it is a walk through, but the murder rider has been expanded immensely and will cover more than 14 different serial killers.
Q) Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about the Great American Nightmare?
A) The attractions themselves are a form of immersive theatre. It will be the patrons first chance to actual live the movie rather than watch the movie. The haunted houses are not designed for those who are easily scared or offended. They would be better off attending an amusement park.
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We would like to thank Steve Kopelman as well as Kristine Ashton-Magnuson at AM-Media for making this interview possible!
2K Games has released the gameplay demonstration of XCOM: Enemy Within that was first shown at gamescom and then at PAX Prime 2013.
September 3, 2013 — Space Hulk®: Deathwing™ is a First-Person Shooter experience of Games Workshop’s classic Space Hulk boardgame set in the universe of Warhammer 40,000, developed on Unreal Engine 4 by Streum On Studio, the team behind E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy. Published by Focus Home Interactive and co-produced by Cyanide Studio, Space Hulk: Deathwing offers players the chance to experience a desperate battle against Genestealers in the claustrophobic tunnels of a Space Hulk, as they will gain skills, new abilities and new equipment thanks to experience earned during perilous missions.
Today, Space Hulk: Deathwing is being unveiled for the first time through a first teaser of the game: discover this video where a Deathwing Terminator, stranded in a Space Hulk, is being chased by a horde of Genestealers…
Space Hulks drift along the currents of the Warp, the immaterial dimension of Chaos. Made up of gigantic mangled asteroids, derelict ship wrecks and other spatial debris, they sometimes grow to the size of a moon and often contain treasured and ancient lost technologies. However, they are ripe with danger including infestations of the lethal Genestealers.
Players take on the role of a Space Marine from one of the most secret and most feared Space Marine Companies: the Deathwing from the Dark Angels. Strap on your Terminator armour and equip the emblematic weaponry of the Space Marines to overcome the threats awaiting you in the Space Hulk. As a Librarian, you will also master the destructive powers of the Psykers. Your skills and performance in battle grant you Fervor Points, to spend on 4 skill trees allowing you to improve your abilities, unlock new powers, access powerful relics and devastating new weapons.
The Kave 5.1 surround sound gaming headset is the flagship of ROCCAT’s headset line-up. It features solid construction, dual sound profiles, futuristic remote control, and a lot of other cool features. Overall, the design is mainly black accented with TRON-style blue lighting. It has a decent weight and feels fairly comfortable when sitting on one’s head for a long time. Setting the ROCCAT Kave up for use is very simply – one simply plugs the USB cable into an available port for power and the four 3.5mm plugs into your sound card’s surround sound jacks. In my testing, we were using a Sound Blaster ZXr sound card. Of course, the big draw of this headset is its 5.1 surround sound for playing your favorite games with – so, let’s take a look at that!
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CENTER/FRONT/REAR DRIVER UNITS
Frequency response: 20~20,000Hz
Max. SPL at 1KHz: 114±3dB
Max. input power: 100mW (30mW)
Drive diameter front: 40mm
Drive diameter rear: 40mm
VIBRATION DRIVER UNITS
Frequency response: 20~100Hz ()
Max. input power: 1000mW
Drive diameter: 30mm
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MICROPHONE
Frequency response: 20~18,000Hz
Sensitivity at 1KHz: -36dB
Directivity: omni-directional
Diameter: 4×1.5mm
SYSTEM
Connection: 4 X 3.5mm jack plug
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Cable length: 3,4m total (2,0m Remote > PC)
Between ear cups and remote: 140cm
Between remote and splitter: 180cm
Between splitter and PC: 20cm
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While gaming, its multi-channel separation was exceptional, allowing me to very easily acquire targets based on sound alone. The Kave pumps out quite a bit of bass and volume, thoroughly taking your ears along for the ride. Playing several sessions of Battlefield 3, there were several moments where I experienced a “jump scare” and turned my head to see who was behind me while, in reality, it was all generated by the Kave. Additionally, the Kave features a vibration system which provides some really neat feedback allowing you to feel the bass.
Unfortunately, for music and movie viewing, I found that the sound equalizer needed some tweaking for the audio to be acceptable. Thankfully, to make movie watching more palatable, ROCCAT has included a slider switch on the remote control that adjusts the sound curvature between gaming and movie modes. It is not perfect, but should help get you in the right direction to enjoy the surround sound while watching whatever flick you like. In both gaming and movies, we noticed that the midrange sounds coming from the speaker drivers sounded slightly “muted’.
Speaking of the remote control, its design looks like something that would be used in the CiC of the Battlestar Galactica. It features a cool blue light, sliding sound adjusters, mode slider, and a lot of other useful functions. Everything worked great with the remote and I have no complaints about it. The rotary volume dial is surprisingly pleasant to use with a great tactile “feel”.
The stylish boom microphone works very well, and those individuals I used Skype with had no issues hearing my voice or making out what I was saying to them. Additionally I had good response from teammates while we were all using Ventrillo during multiplayer sessions. When muted, there is a cool blue ring of light on the end of the microphone – a nice visual cue when you are or are not audible to others.
Overall, the ROCCAT Kave 5.1 is a very good set of 5.1 surround sound gaming headphones that can also put out decent audio for movies and music – although, that is not the focus of this headset. The ROCCAT Kave 5.1 surround sound gaming headset retails for about $120 dollars and is available now.
[easyreview title=”ROCCAT Kave 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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Plenty of you readers out there have probably heard of Game Dev Tycoon, even if you haven’t played it, because of the humorous way GreenHeartGames dealt with folks who pirated/cracked the game. They knew they would get pirated/cracked, even at the incredibly affordable price of the game – so, they did a preemptive strike. They went on the net and uploaded their own specially-coded, cracked version of the game to pirate sites and waited. This was the first, somewhat discouraging result:
When you are a little indie game developer, it’s sad to see your game getting stolen on such a massive scale. Or, so it would seem. Then, these kind of posts started filling the web…
…and the developer’s revenge eventually sunk in. All cracked versions of the game were coded to have the games players develop become victims of piracy and make no money. Those who purchased legal copies, however, got an in-game email message thanking them for their support. I still get a laugh that this message, and those like it, can still be found on discussion boards. The game’s community, which grew and rallied after the trick was revealed, are quick to point out and chastise those who aren’t will to pay less than $10 for the game. I’m just glad that it became part of Steam Greenlight so I can give it a play and review!
Description:
Start your adventure in a small garage office in the 80s. Enjoy the hand-crafted level design while you develop your first simple games. Gain experience, unlock new options and create your first game engine. In Game Dev Tycoon the decisions you make during development really matter. Decide which areas you want to focus on. Does your game need more gameplay or should you focus more on quests? These decisions will have a major impact on the success of your game.
Once you have successfully released a few games you can move into your own office and forge a world-class development team. Hire staff, train them and unlock new options. With experience and a good team, you can release larger, more complex games. Larger games bring new challenges and you will have to manage your team well to deliver hit games.
Features:
– Start a game development company in the 80s
– Design and create games
– Research new technologies
– Create custom game engines
– Move into bigger offices
– Forge a world-class development team
– Unlock secret labs
– Conduct industry changing products
– Unlock achievements
Hands On:
When I heard about this game I laughed at what the developers did but wasn’t really sure what the appeal of the game might be, if you wanted to make games why not just make real games instead of playing a game about making games. When I got hands on though, I immediately saw the where the fun was – Game Dec Tycoon is a very fun sim game with realistic issues and developments with a strong puzzle element. You have to choose what the topic of your game will be about – topics such as horror, UFO, fantasy, etc. You have to select what type of game you are creating, such as adventure, simulation, strategy. You have to select what game engine to use as well as what platform to develop it for. The right combination of all these at the right time will please both the AI critics, who review your games on a 1-10 scale, and the masses who buy your games. Sales, of course, will result in loads of money for research, business expansion, and more employees to work on your games. A bad combination and the critics kill you in the reviews, nobody buys the game and you lose money – too much and it is bankruptcy time and a big game over. You have marketing strategies, engine building, and market analysis to consider. You even have the game’s version of E3 (called “G3”) to decide if you want a booth at and how big.
With this much detail, the game could border on requiring a serious sim player to get the most out of it. Thankfully, it is presented in a very user-friendly manner. However, I still think it might appeal to the occasional sim player because of how quickly you find yourself getting behind your projects you have created and wanting them to succeed. You will lose this game when you first start playing – probably quite a bit. But, each time, you will get farther into the game and you are able to transfer over what you learn from one game to the next. There is definitely a rush when your project winds up scoring some 10s and you suddenly have the cash flow to do new things.
Last Call:
If you like a great sim with an excellent sense of humor, this is definitely the game for you. The game injects enough realism in it that anyone thinking of starting their own game company should give it a play but still also manages to be fun and driving for someone who just wants to play a game not make one. In real life, you won’t see me on any game developer’s personnel list but you will see me playing this on Steam and trying to make that next must-play title.
[easyreview title=”Game Dev Tycoon Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
Sometimes, less is more – a lot more. While I have had the pleasure of reviewing some really excellent, expensive goggle systems, the GX-1000 from Guarder ranks among the most functional and comfortable I have ever worn. Better yet, this pair of goggles is only about $25 dollars.
Outwardly, the Guarder GX-1000 goggles appear somewhat skeletal, like the BOLLE T-800 goggles they are designed after. The black, thin rigid frames are shielded behind a large, poly-carbonate lens, give the whole thing a spartan appearance. The goggles feature an elastic, adjustable strap which easily fits around most helmet types – although, I did not have a PASGT helmet to try it with.
As for added accessories, the Guarder GX-1000 will not disappoint you. In the box comes a cleaning cloth/soft pouch for storage as well as two extra lenses – one yellow and the other smokey. Again – this is all for $25 dollars. In terms of construction, the goggles feel very solid and the wrap around shape makes it easy to fit them over prescription lenses. The poly-carbonate lenses are all 100% UV-A/B filtering as well as meet MIL-SPEC, OSHA, and ANSI standards for safety.
The poly-carbonate lens sits slightly away from the frame, which could be an issue for some fields as there is a small gap in between where, technically, a BB could fit. However, the lens is taller than the frame – so, in order for that to happen, the shooter would have to be firing from directly above or below you. Personally, I never had an issue with it while I was using it. One HUGE benefit to this gap between the lens and the frame is that the goggles simply do not fog up – air and moisture do not get trapped inside them like full-seal goggles.
In terms of protection, the lenses are very rigid and easily take BB strikes. I had the unfortunate luck of getting sprayed across the face by an opposing player with a PolarStar and the goggles didn’t even show a scratch. I have the utmost confidence in this set of goggles.
Overall, Guarder’s GX-1000 airsoft goggles are an excellent purchase and, without a doubt, feature the best “bang for your buck” in any airsoft goggles I have yet to try. The Guarder GX-1000 is $25 dollars over at EVIKE.com.
[easyreview title=”Magpul PTS RM4 Scout ERG by KWA Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]
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ROCCAT Studios has sent us a new mouse to drag through the ringer that is my weekly gaming schedule. The ROCCAT Lua is a traditional three-button mouse that is designed to be ROCCAT’s entry level gaming mouse. Sporting some nice features and a comfortable feel, the ROCCAT Lua comes in at a inexpensive $29.99.
Description
The ROCCAT Lua has a very nice and comfortable design to it. The Lua is ambidextrous, and feels just as natural in the left hand as it does in the right. The plastic that covers the mouse is textured and slip proof, providing a nice surface that is easy to grip without feeling like sandpaper.
The three-button design is configured in a typical format with the left, right and center buttons within easy grasp of each other. Technically, the ROCCAT Lua has a fourth button, just under the mouse wheel, but this button only controls the DPI. By hitting this button, you can switch between a series of DPI settings on the fly. By using the control panel for the Lua, you can also configure the settings you use most, instead of having to cycle through all of the presets.
The mouse measures 1.4 inches (height) by 2.5 inches (width) by 4.6 inches (length) and weighs 3.5 ounces (including cable).. These dimensions gives the ROCCAT Lua a smaller profile than most mice that I have used in the past. The Lua just felt tiny in my hands and that gave me the perception that the Lua was a fragile mouse. While the mouse proved to be more durable than I first expected, the lower profile and lighter weight never allowed the Lua to feel completely right in my hands.
The design for the Lua is basic, but not dull by any means of the word. The ROCCAT logo on Lua lights up in a nice blue that matches my Black Widow Ultimate keyboard quite nicely. The light in the logo can be set to a few options, including a breathing mode that fades the light in the logo in and out. Unfortunately, the color isn’t customizable but still looks slick on the desk.
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[/wpcol_1half] [wpcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]Technical Specifications
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Performance
Whenever I test out a mouse for a review, I try to play games from several different genres to see how the mouse will react to different play styles. This week, I tested the ROCCAT Lua in Hearthstone, Knights of the Old Republic, Team Fortress 2, and through my daily tasks of web browsing and writing.
My first impression is one that lasted with me all the way through the testing, this mouse is small in my hands! At 1.4 inches tall, the ROCCAT Lua is small enough that it bothered me during game play. I am coming from just using the Razer Spectre mouse, so part of it may be that I am used to a larger, heavier mouse. Besides the height and overall size of the Lua, the mouse was extremely comfortable in my hands and the buttons were extremely responsive.
The driver that can be installed through the ROCCAT website contains a full control panel, that allows you to customize your settings. I was able to remove some of the slower DPI settings from the button switch, so i can change my settings quickly between the ones that I use the most. You are also able to switch the lighting style, polling rate, button assignments, and pointer speed through this window.
For Hearthstone, Knights of the Old Republic, and my daily tasks, the ROCCAT Lua did the job just fine. These games and tasks have a lighter demand on mice in general, and besides missing the feature to be able to program the mouse for KOTOR, the Lua did just fine. For Team Fortress 2, the ability to switch DPI settings on the fly really came in handy and I can feel that this type of game is what the Lua was designed for.
Final Thoughts
The ROCCAT Lua is a great entry level gaming mouse with a very nice price tag of $29.99. The ROCCAT Studios driver allows you to change your settings to match your need, though the Lua is missing some of the features that gamers really love, like programmable macros. The Lua is a very slick looking mouse, with the light up ROCCAT logo in blue, but is quite small for my hands. Coming in at 1.4 inches tall and weighing 3.5 ounces, the Lua is a lightweight compared to other mice on the market, but has a very comfortable feel. Personally, I like my mice with a little more weight and height to fit my larger hands. The only other downside to the Lua is the lack of a braided USB cord, but it is understandable when taking the price into consideration. The ROCCAT Lua is a great way to get into the world of gaming mice for a very small start up cost.
[easyreview title=”ROCCAT Lua Gaming Mouse Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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Image from DCS: P-51D Mustang
MOSCOW, Russia – September 1, 2013 – Legendary flight simulation designers Ilya Shevchenko, Igor Tishin, and Matt Wagner are excited to announce an upcoming Kickstarter campaign for a new WWII flight simulation being developed for the PC. DCS WWII: Europe 1944 is the start of an exciting new flight simulation series. Built by industry veterans at RRG Studios with the same approach that made famous flight sims of the past great, and in partnership with the experts at the Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics, the simulation aims to satisfy seasoned aces as well as attract new pilots to the genre.
DCS WWII: Europe 1944 will take the player to the skies over Western Europe at the height of WWII in 1944. Players will attack enemy ground vehicles in the famous P-47 Thunderbolt in the Battle of Falaise, or intercept waves of B-17 Flying Fortresses in their Messerschmitt Bf.109; or attempt to fend off incredible new Me.262 jet fighters in their suddenly slow and obsolete propeller-driven Spitfires.
With successful Kickstarter funding of stretch goals, the project will include more famous historical aircraft, such as the Lockheed P-38, de Havilland Mosquito, Messerschmitt Me.262, and even a flyable version of the Boeing B-17.
The simulation is based on the award-winning DCS engine used in such stellar products as DCS: P-51D Mustang and DCS: A-10C Warthog. DCS WWII: Europe 1944 will boast an all-new EDGE landscape engine, as well as many new and updated features.
As all simulations in the DCS line, DCS WWII titles will boast detailed recreations of famous WWII aircraft and meticulous modeling of individual aircraft systems. Combat missions over a huge game world painstakingly recreated from period maps will offer rich single-player experience recreating famous battles from both sides.
DCS WWII will also ship with advanced AI that recreates historical tactics and models pilots of varying skill levels, from bumbling rookies to merciless aces. Other features such as the dynamic weather and seasons, comprehensive training, robust multiplayer , a powerful mission and campaign editor, as well as a mission replay system, pilot log book, and other features will all add up to incredible player experience.
“With unparalleled attention to detail, our developers have decades of experience with aerial combat simulations,” said Ilya Shevchenko of RRG Studios. “We are famous for our ability to make our games fun while maintaining unwavering dedication to historical realism. We can do it because the relatively simple aircraft of the WWII era do not require extensive training, and nimble controls and simple weapons naturally lead to fast-paced close-quarters battles.“
“We want to open a new page in WWII combat simulations,” said Matt Wagner of Eagle Dynamics. “At the same time we strive to recapture everything that made the flight simulations of the past great, starting with a thick spiral-bound manual and comprehensive training, and ending with great free-for-all multiplayer. We want to keep creating the content that we enjoy creating and that our fans enjoy playing for years to come.”
The team intends for DCS WWII: Europe 1944 to act as the forerunner of a long-running DCS WWII simulation series covering all theaters of WWII, and expanding into other nearby conflicts, such as the Korean War.
In addition to industry-leading attention to detail, incredible graphics, unparalleled flight dynamics, and award-winning multiplayer, DCS WWII: Europe 1944 will also shop with an innovative distribution model. As the last major release in the DCS line, DCS World, DCS WWII will also be distributed via a free-to-play model. The full-featured core game will be available as a free download, allowing anyone to check out the game and its features. Additional modules containing new aircraft or new gameplay areas will be available as a separate purchase.
The free-to-play model allows a wider audience access the core game by, in essence, offering a free demo that allows anyone to try the game before they buy it. At the same time, the model accurately reflects immense development costs attached to historically accurate study sims.
The Kickstarter campaign for the title will launch on September 5th.
2K Games and Firaxis have released a new trailer for their upcoming XCOM: Enemy Within titled ‘War Machines’.
