Archive - 2014

Mixamo Now Offers Direct 3D Character Downloads for Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod

2014/11/10
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

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San Francisco, CA – Nov 6, 2014 – Users of Valve’s Source Engine-based modding applications, Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod, just received a major productivity boost in the creation of 3D characters. Today, Mixamo, Inc announced that it has released a direct download feature that will enable anyone creating a 3D character with the latest version of its character creator software Fuse (which just launched today on Steam), and animating it with its Animations, to import those characters straight into Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod.

Valve pioneered the concept of modding back in 1998 with the release of Half-Life and its development tools. The concept has since spread to a number of popular games and millions of gaming fans. From maps to weapons to tutorials and more, Valve and other publishers continue to enable gaming fans to create a near limitless amount of user-generated content for their games.

Mixamo’s technology has been designed from the ground up to democratize the 3D character creation process for everyone. Using Mixamo’s patented Fuse character creator and its online animation technology, beginning artists, modders and experienced game developers alike can all create and animate detailed 3D characters in minutes, rather than the days or weeks it takes with other tools. This latest feature extends that simple content creation to users of popular software made with the Source Engine: Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod.

“Gabe Newell noted in a Reddit AMA earlier in 2014 that the biggest improvements [to its engine technology] will be in increasing productivity of content creation. Today’s feature release is the realization of that concept for the creation of game characters,” said Stefano Corazza, CEO of Mixamo. “Our entire pipeline is predicated on the same notion that user-generated content should be easy to create and get into games. We’ve now simplified that process for the tens of thousands of developers and modders using the Source engine and for the over 6 million users of Garry’s Mod. As far we know, we’re the first-ever 3D modeling and animation service to do so.”

Valve fans interested in creating 3D characters for Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod can experience this new functionality in the latest version of Mixamo’s character creator software, Fuse 1.3, which just launched on Steam and is available at a time-limited promotional price of $24.75 (Standard price: $99.99).

Mixamo has also published workflows on its website to show modders how to take advantage of this latest direct download feature for:

Garry’s Mod: https://community.mixamo.com/hc/en-us/articles/204187833-Tutorial-Fuse-to-Garry-s-Mod-Ragdoll and

Source Filmmaker: https://community.mixamo.com/hc/en-us/articles/203859456-Tutorial-Fuse-to-Source-Filmmaker

Direct downloads of 3D characters is currently only available for the Windows© versions of Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod. Support for Dota 2 is coming soon.

NHL Legends Come to NHL 15 Hockey Ultimate Team

2014/11/10
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

nhl-htu

November 10, 2014 – Your dream NHL lineup is now ready for you to create. Electronic Arts announced that starting today, NHL® Legends are available in NHL 15 Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) for the PlayStation®4 and Xbox One consoles. News on HUT Legends on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 will be shared soon. With over 8 million games played and 34% player growth from NHL 14 to NHL 15, Hockey Ultimate Team continues to be the most popular mode in the NHL franchise. With NHL Legends, there’s even more reason to play and improve or create the perfect team of superstars from the past and present.  Imagine what’s possible when you have current Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby picking up speed through the neutral zone alongside former greats Mario Lemieux and the ‘Russian Rocket’ Pavel Bure, while Ray Bourque patrols your blue line and Patrick Roy mans your goal crease. Each Legend will have their own distinct look, unique attributes, and may be available in Gold Packs. Watch the NHL15 Hockey Ultimate Legends trailer here to see some of your favorite players come to life in the game.

Throughout the year, NHL 15 will be releasing special edition items to celebrate historic performances and milestones by these Legends. Learn more about these historic NHL moments and limited edition items at our HUT Legends website.

Full List of HUT Legends

Wayne Gretzky

Quite simply the best player to ever lace them up. When you consider that he had more assists (1,963) than anyone had points, it really puts his offensive dominance into perspective. Take control of The Great One, only in Hockey Ultimate Team.

Mario Lemieux

With an unparalleled combination of size, speed and skill, Lemieux was arguably the most physically talented hockey player to ever play the game. Experience why they called him Super Mario.

Patrick Roy

With three Conn Smythe Trophies and the most playoff wins of all-time, it’s not hard to see why many consider Roy the greatest goalie of all time. His impact on the goaltending world can still be felt today, as he popularized the butterfly style used by most goaltenders today.

Ray Bourque

The highest scoring defenseman of all-time threw over 6,000 pucks in the net during his NHL career, with many of those bulging the twine.

Joe Sakic

Burnaby Joe will go down as one of the best players and captains of this generation. He surpassed the 100 point plateau six times in his NHL career and won two Stanley Cup® Championships. Unleash Sakic’s world-class wrist shot on helpless opponents in HUT.

Nicklas Lidstrom

He made it look easy. With extraordinary awareness, stick work and positioning, Lidstrom was dominant on the defensive side of the puck. The seven-time Norris Trophy winner would be a perfect fit for any team.

Pavel Bure

When Bure was on the ice, it looked like a video game. It wasn’t just his explosiveness that separated him from the rest; it was his ability to pull off high-skill plays at incredible speed that made him almost impossible to stop.

Eric Lindros

For a period of time in the 1990’s Eric Lindros was the most physically dominant player in the NHL. At 6’4” and 240 pounds, ‘The Big E’ could punish you on the ice and the scoreboard.

Mike Bossy

During his era, Bossy was the best pure goal scorer the NHL had ever seen. He is the fastest player to score 100 goals and is still the record holder for most goals-per-game.

Luc Robitaille

Lucky Luc wasn’t the fastest skater or the most gifted player on the ice, but he always had a knack for being in the right spot at the right time. He still stands as the NHL’s highest scoring left winger of all-time.

Mike Modano

Drafted 1st overall in 1988 by the Minnesota North Stars, Modano lived up to the hype. He was one of the best skaters of his time and a prolific goal scorer – finishing his career as the highest scoring American-born player in NHL history.

Jari Kurri

Kurri was an integral part of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty in the 1980’s and was known as Gretzky’s right-hand man. He finished his career as the highest scoring European player in NHL history with 601 goals and 797 assists.

Doug Gilmour

A fan favorite wherever he played, Gilmour was nicknamed ‘Killer’ because of his physical style of play despite his small stature. He played a complete game and is a perfect fit anywhere in your HUT lineup.

NHL 15 is the start of a new generation of hockey videogames, where the sights, sounds and feel of the fastest team sport on the planet come to life in a way players have never experienced before. Featuring 12 Player NHL Collision Physics and Real Puck Physics, NHL 15captures the hard-hitting chaos and unpredictability of the game of hockey. Players are immersed in authentic arenas across the National Hockey League and hang on every play called by an all-new broadcast commentary team led by NBC Sports legends Mike “Doc” Emrick and Eddie Olczyk.

NHL 15 is now available at retail stores throughout North America and Europe on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One the all-in-one games and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports videogames, including Madden NFL football, EA SPORTS FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, PGA TOUR® golf, SSX™ and EA SPORTS UFC®. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com.

Blizzard Unveils Team-Based Shooter Overwatch at BlizzCon

2014/11/07
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Overwatch

ANAHEIM, Calif.—November 7, 2014—In front of a live crowd of more than 25,000 BlizzCon® attendees and an expected online audience numbering in the millions, Blizzard Entertainment today announced Overwatch™, a pick-up-and-play first-person shooter featuring an amazing cast of heroes and set in an all-new Blizzard game universe.

The action of Overwatch takes place in a technologically advanced, highly stylized future earth. In a time of global crisis, an international task force of soldiers, scientists, adventurers, and oddities known as Overwatch had come together to restore peace to a war-torn world. After many years, the group’s influence waned, and it was eventually disbanded. Overwatch might be gone now . . . but the world still needs heroes.

With an emphasis on accessibility and pure fun, Overwatch brings Blizzard’s signature easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay to the FPS genre. Harnessing the power of their hero of choice, players will join forces in teams of six and battle each other across a range of futuristic global locations, from the hologram-lit streets of London to a bazaar in the shadows of a high-tech Egyptian pyramid. Every battlefield is iconic and built to highlight each character’s unique abilities, and fights can shift from streets to rooftops to open skies within the span of a breath.

“Overwatch is our take on a vibrant, near-future universe with amped-up characters and action-packed team-based gameplay,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “With every new Blizzard game, we look at our favorite aspects of a genre and put our own spin on things. Our goal with Overwatch is to create an awesome FPS experience that’s more accessible to a much wider audience while delivering the action and depth that shooter fans love.”

The heroes of Overwatch each bring their own distinct weapons and superabilities to bear. Here’s just a glimpse of the numerous heroes that will ultimately fill Overwatch’s rosters:

  • Tracer, a former British test pilot who shrugs at danger, can execute impossible acrobatic assaults thanks to her ability to teleport, drop energy bombs, and even reverse time.
  • Reinhardt, a hulking German soldier in battle armor, can charge great distances and pin his enemies to a wall or slam the ground with his rocket hammer to knock them off their feet.
  • Hanzo, a bow-wielding Japanese mercenary, has the ability to scale walls with his bare hands, fire off a tracking device that illuminates nearby enemies for his team, and unleash a huge spirit dragon that does grievous damage to all enemies in its path.
  • Symmetra, an Indian architech, manipulates light and energy to shield her allies and damage her enemies—and she can turn the tide of any battle by building a device that instantly transports her teammates to the front lines.

While each hero represents a formidable force on their own, players can amplify their potential by assembling into a well-balanced team and creatively combining powers. No matter which hero or playstyle they prefer, players will be able to team up and accomplish the incredible in Overwatch.

At BlizzCon this weekend, Overwatch is fully playable and running on 600 PCs, and attendees there are the first in the world to play it. Gamers at the show are able to select from a current roster of 12 playable heroes and go 6v6 against each other, capturing or defending points and attacking or delivering payloads across three wildly different maps. New heroes and maps will continually be added to the game as development progresses, and beta testing will begin in 2015.

Learn more about Overwatch, including all of the heroes and maps revealed at BlizzCon, and sign up to participate in the upcoming beta test at the official website, www.playoverwatch.com. Further details about the game will be announced there in the months ahead.

With multiple games in development, Blizzard Entertainment has numerous positions currently available—visitjobs.blizzard.com for more information and to learn how to apply.

Elite: Dangerous Release Date Announced

2014/11/07
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

elite-12_Anaconda

Cambridge, UK — November 7, 2014 — Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) has announced via their community newsletter that Elite: Dangerous will release for personal computer on December 16, 2014.

The game is currently available for pre-order, as the exclusive ‘Elite: Dangerous Mercenary Edition‘, which includes the full game, an additional Eagle fighter, ship liveries, Day One decal and other digital goodies for £35.00 ($50, €40). Pre-orders receive a £4.99 discount on the final release price of £39.99 ($59.99, €49.99).

Players who pre-order the Mercenary Pack can upgrade to immediate Beta access at any time for £15.

All backers who have purchased Beta access or higher will receive the Mercenary Pack – including the final game – upon release.

Big Update Released for Stronghold Crusader 2

2014/11/07
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

stronghold-crusader-2

November 7, 2014 — Firefly Studios has released a new update (1.0.19574) for Stronghold Crusader 2, the recently released ‘castle sim’ sequel. The update, which is now live on Steam, introduces a new skirmish map, unit stats, map balancing and bug fixes:

New Features

Balance Changes

  • ‘Close Encounters’ multiplayer map re-balanced.
  • ‘Isolation’ Desert Heat Trail mission re-balanced.
  • ‘Hope Springs’ Way of the Warrior Trail mission re-balanced.
  • Trebuchet damage halved.

Bug Fixes

  • Help icons now all linked to correct help file pages.
  • Lobby type (Public, Friends and Invite) now displays correctly for clients.
  • Players prevented from moving troops into neutral estates during peacetime using the mini-map.
  • Gatehouse will not continue to be captured once enemy troops are no longer on top of it.
  • Exploit removed where player Lords could be pushed out of the playable map area.
  • Walls are now always built at correct plateau heights, fixing various wall bugs.
  • Rally points no longer visible for enemy or ally players in multiplayer.
  • Saves and resyncs now always work when using a custom map sent to clients through the multiplayer lobby.
  • Knights will not dismount before crossing bridges on horseback.
  • Iron Mine workers will not die when an Iron Mine is deleted or destroyed.
  • Engine tower armour values fixed.
  • Fixed various crash and sync issues.

Full list of updates since launch – http://strongholdrts.tumblr.com/

In a new blog post on the official Stronghold Crusader 2 website, Firefly revealed that the majority of post-release content for the game will be made available for free. “We really are just getting started and, after we have finished working on fixes and optimisation, the team will be adding more features and content. Extra AI characters will come in the form of paid-for DLC, but the majority of this post-release content will be free and automatically downloaded through Steam.”

Stronghold Crusader 2 is out now on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/232890/

Knott’s Berry Farm Announces 2014 Merry Farm Plans

2014/11/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

knotts-merry-farm-014 copy

BUENA PARK, CA. (November 2014) – Starting November 22nd, Knott’s Berry Farm is filled with the spirit of the holiday season as it wondrously transforms into Knott’s Merry Farm! The perfect place to make holiday memories and traditions invites guests to celebrate with new attractions, live entertainment, a crafts fair, festive food, lavish holiday decorations including snow in Ghost Town’s Main Street, and more.

New this year, Snoopy, the Peanuts, and a cast of world class ice skaters will perform in a breath taking new ice show, Merry Christmas, Snoopy! in the 2,100 seat Charles M. Schulz Theatre. In this exciting new show filled with whimsy and spectacular skating, Snoopy enjoys all of the best parts of the season, including trimming the Christmas tree, awaiting Santa’s arrival, and attending the festive Christmas Ball! Select days November 22 – Jan 4.

Back for its second season, the Wilderness Dance Hall in Ghost Town will be home to Santa’s Christmas Cabin for the holiday season. Here, the young and the young at heart can share their wish lists with jolly ol’ St. Nick and take home a picture of the occasion.  Indulge in holiday delights like Santa’s homemade cookies, mouthwatering pastries, winter wine, craft beer, and more.

Savor the ultimate comfort foods with Knott’s world-famous holiday treats, including fresh made-to-order maple lollipops in Ghost Town, churros from the Churro Factory, cakes, cookies, muffins and gingerbread men in the Farm Bakery, as well as the legendary cooking at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant.  (Some experiences require additional fees)

The Ghost Town and Calico Railroad will once again invite guests to celebrate Christmas on Engine 41.  Climb aboard a vintage railcar and meet an ever-changing group of Ghost Town residents eager to share their Christmas plans, from 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily.  Over in Camp Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus and Lucy invite you to dance, sing and join in on the holiday fun in the live show, Lucy’s Wish List in the Camp Snoopy Theatre.

Relax and unwind in Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village, as Ghost Town transforms into a shopping wonderland filled with dozens of local artisans selling their unique gifts. Can’t-miss highlights of the Village include powerful chainsaw sculpting and elegant glass blowing demonstrations. Entrance to the Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village is free Monday through Thursday and is included with daily theme park admission Friday through Sunday (available November 22 through January 4, 2015). Ghost Town also celebrates of the sounds of the season with the Dickensian vocal quartet. In the intimate setting of Ghost Town’s historic Bird Cage Theatre, catch a live performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or O. Henry’s A Gift of the Magi.

When the sun sets on the Farm, the buildings and paths in Ghost Town’s Main Street will be filled with glow and snow! Thousands of sparking lights will dance to the beat of familiar holiday music while snow gently falls in this spectacular one-of-a-kind moment each night.  Another nighttime tradition at Knott’s Merry Farm is Snoopy’s Merriest Tree Lighting show on the Calico Square Stage. This whimsical tree lighting features a cast of marching Toy Soldiers, dancing Snowmen, and America’s most famous beagle, Snoopy!

The perfect stocking stuffer is now on-sale! 2015 Season Passes include one free admission in 2014, unlimited visits in 2015, as well as access to exciting seasonal events happening year-round at Knott’s Berry Farm. Season Passes offer exclusive discounts, special Passholder events, Bring-a-Friend Days and more.  For affordable year-round fun for everyone on your “nice” list, Season Passes can be purchased online at knotts.com starting at $79.50 or six easy installment payments of just $13.25 until January 4, 2015.

Make fun part of your holiday tradition at Knott’s Merry Farm! To learn more visit knotts.com or call (714) 220-5200. Join the festive conversation using the holiday hashtag #MerryFarm on the Knott’sFacebook or Twitter page.

EA Sports FIFA World Gets New Game Engine

2014/11/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – November 6, 2014 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that EA SPORTS™ FIFA World, a free-to-play* football game for PC, launched a new gameplay engine, the game’s biggest update yet.

The new engine raises the bar for free-to-play football games and introduces a number of fan-favorite gameplay features from previous FIFA franchise titles, including Attacking Intelligence, which gives teammates the ability to analyze the play and better position themselves to create a variety of attacking opportunities, and Complete Dribbling adds creativity in attack by allowing fans to utilize precise dribble touches while facing defenders. Also included in the update, First Touch Control,  adds realism and variety in gameplay by eliminating near-perfect ball control and Tactical Free Kicks gives fans the option to position up to three attacking players over the ball, providing additional passing options and dummy runs, and resulting in elaborate free kicks. The new gameplay features are complemented by the addition of more than one thousand gameplay animations, helping to keep fans immersed in the action on the pitch.

“The new engine gives fans an even better, more realistic football experience while still keeping the game fun and accessible for fans around the world,” said Line Producer Alex Grimbley. ”And it all comes only six weeks after our New Season update, where we gave fans the ability to keep and use players from previous seasons in their current FIFA Ultimate Team squads, allowing fans even more possibilities when building their teams.”

After installing the free update, fans will immediately notice visual upgrades, including a new modernized look for the user interface and match presentation. The match experience has been enhanced by the addition of commentary adopted from FIFA 15, and six new stadiums have been added, including Villa Park, Boleyn Ground (Upton Park), The KC Stadium and the Liberty Stadium. FIFA World can now be played in Italian with a fully localized user interface and Italian match commentary, featuring Pierluigi Pardo and Stefano Nava as presenters – the game is now available in 10 languages.

By removing the barriers of having access to a console or a high powered PC, EA SPORTS FIFA World brings the FIFA experience to more gaming and football fans around the globe. Since entering Open Beta, EA SPORTS FIFA World has seen over 50 million matches played by fans from over 180 countries. Fans with an average spec laptop or desktop PC and a broadband Internet connection can play a fun, free*, authentic football game, driven by live content and featuring real players and real clubs from 33 leagues.

EA SPORTS FIFA World and the new gameplay engine update are available on Origin now. Start building your club for free* by registeringhere.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Soundtrack Out

2014/11/06
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

MiddleearthShadowofMordor_BlackCaptain_Screenshot copy

November 6, 2014 — Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) announces the release of the original soundtrack to the critically-acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Players can immerse themselves in the world of Mordor with an epic and engaging 47-track original score by legendary video game musical composers Garry Schyman and Nathan Grigg. Schyman is an award-winning composer responsible for acclaimed musical scores in gaming and film, including BioShock Infinite which earned him the British Academy of Film and Television award for Best Original Music. Grigg, a game industry veteran, composed original scores for numerous Monolith games including F.E.A.R., Condemned, No One Lives Forever 2 and more.

The Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor soundtrack is available for purchase now on iTunes. To sample four complete tracks from the original soundtrack for free, click here:

World of Tanks Update 9.4 Sees Two New Combat Modes

2014/11/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

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November 5, 2014 — Wargaming today announced Update 9.4 for World of Tanks has released in North America and Europe, and will go live in Asia and Korea on November 6. The newest update introduces significant improvements to Strongholds, reworked Team Battles mode, and a new historical map Stalingrad, an extremely realistic imagining of 1942 Stalingrad.

Strongholds and the structures that produce Reserves for a Clan have been extended to level 10. In addition, Clans now have the ability to seek out and attack other Clan Strongholds and each Clan is able to designate specific times where they are available to defend opposing Clan attacks. Both of these actions can be completed by any Clan member.

“With Strongholds, we are creating an ecosystem for World of Tanks Clan players,” said Anton Pankov, Executive Publishing Producer at Wargaming. “We have continued to augment Strongholds with additional features since the release in 9.2, and plan to regularly develop content for the new metagame based heavily on player feedback.”

The all-new 7/54 mode format redesigns Team Battles play and adds 11 maps specifically adjusted for 7vs7 gameplay. The new setup will eliminate camping and low tier scout tanks from gameplay by requiring players to create a team of Tier 6–8 tanks adding up to a Tier total of 54. Each team will have a defined role in gameplay; the attacking team will attempt to capture one of the two enemy bases while the other one will defend those bases until the timer runs out or the opposing team has been destroyed.

For more information about World of Tanks and to download the award-winning, free-to-play action MMO, visit: