Archive - 2014

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Details

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LOS ANGELES (Oct. 27, 2014) – This past weekend, London hosted over 2,000 FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN® fans at its first European FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival. At the event, SQUARE ENIX® announced more details for the upcoming expansion, Heavensward™.

During the opening ceremony presentation, Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida introduced flying mounts, new beast tribes and primals and a new job: Dark Knight. These will all be featured inHeavensward when it launches next spring.

Flying mounts enable players to take their adventure to new heights. Two types of flying mounts were revealed at the Fan Festival, a flying black chocobo and single-rider airships, both making it easier to explore the floating lands that will be featured prominently in the expansion.

Heavensward also introduces two new beast tribes, the Vanu Vanu and the Gnath, as well as their primals, Bismarck, and Ravana, respectively.
Finally, the first new job to be released in Heavensward was revealed: Dark Knight. This new job will serve as a tank, wields a two-handed greatsword, utilizes darkness-based actions and unlike the existing jobs in the game, will not feature a base class that later evolves into a job.

Yoshida concluded the keynote by announcing that more details, and more jobs will be revealed (he said while pretending to shoot a gun), for Heavensward will be shared at the next Fan Festival event, taking place in Tokyo on December 20 – 21.

The free trial version for PC is available for download at www.ffxiv-freetrial.com. The free trial features the ability for new players to play up to 14 days for free and allows for character development until level 20.

Related Links
The Lodestone: http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/
Official Website: http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com
Heavensward Official Website: http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/heavensward/
Official Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasyXIV
Official Twitter:  @FF_XIV_EN
Official YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/FINALFANTASYXIV

ARES Knight’s Armament M110 SASS Airsoft Sniper Rifle Review

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ARES has created a truly amazing airsoft replica of the Knight’s Armament M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System). For the history/real steel firearm aficionados out there, the Knight’s Armament M110 SASS is based off of legendary weapon designer, Eugene Stoner’s, AR-10 platform. Fielded from 2008 to the present, the M110 SASS was meant as a semi-automatic replacement of the venerable M24 sniper rifle platform utilized by the US Army.

The ARES replica was built under the grueling specifications of Knight’s Armament, and comes in both tan and black varieties. Out of the box, the rifle measures in at about 41 inches in length and is roughly the exact dimensions of the real steel M110. The big difference between the two is in their weight – the real firearm weighs about 16 lbs whereas the airsoft version weighs in at slightly over 8 lbs. While bring 50% lighter, this airsoft rifle has plenty of heft and lugging it around the field is a bit of a workout.

Additional out of the box accessories include three rail covers, two QD sling attachments, one QD sling point rail mount, a 160 round mid capacity magazine, and a replica of the real M110’s scope mount. A final bow on the ARES Knight’s Armament M110 airsoft sniper rifle experience comes from its certificate of authenticity. Each M110 SASS from Knight’s Armament and ARES should have one in the box to denote the airsoft gun’s attention to detail and function. Additionally, each ARES Knight’s Armament M110 SASS has its own serial number, which just adds an additional layer of “tacticool” to the airsoft gun.

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ARES does make some additional accessories, which you can see in the image gallery. The first are additional midcap magazines for the rifle, which contain 160 rounds and run about $25 dollars each. They also make a replica of the real steel M110’s barrel extension, which adds about seven inches to the overall length of the M110. The barrel extension has a spring loaded mounting system which holds very well and requires no tooling around with it at all. Once gotten the hang of – taking the extension on and off will only require seconds. The bipod which you see in the photo gallery is just a random model I had floating about my kit and, well, I always recommend getting a stable bipod for your airsoft sniper rifles.

A final touch of awesome that you will enjoy is that ARES has removed the standard trigger system found in most AEGs and replaced it with an electronic control switch. This system allows you to use an optional control box to customize the firing modes of the airsoft rifle. Without the control box, you will have great benefits of the electronic switch trigger, such as better longevity than than traditional “contact” trigger switches and a very speedy response time from trigger pull to BB firing.

Overall, the ARES Knight’s Armament M110 SASS airsoft sniper rifle is an exceptionally well-built airsoft gun that is an almost exact replica of the real steel firearm. It retails for about $500 dollars and is well worth the price of purchase should you be looking for a serious AEG sniper rifle.

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[easyreview title=”ARES Knight’s Armament M110 SASS Airsoft Sniper Rifle Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

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WE Tech FN SCAR-H SSR AEG Rifle Review

WE Tech SCAR-H SSR Airsoft Rifle

WE Tech SCAR-H SSR Airsoft Rifle

Recently, I got the chance to check out the WE Tech FN SCAR-H SSR airsoft rifle. This is the airsoft rifle version of the real steel FN SCAR-H Mk 17 Sniper Support Rifle (SSR), chambered in 7.62mm. It is a rifle, in the real world, designed to give operators long-range precision as well as close up fighting capabilities – something that is often times hard to do in one package. The longest of the WE Tech SCAR series, the SCAR-H SSR measures just over 1,000mm in length and, amazingly, only weighs about 7 lbs. This is, in large part, due to its lightweight, yet very durable aluminum upper receiver and polymer lower receiver. For you lefties out there, note that this rifle’s magazine release and fire selector are ambidextrous. Additionally, the rifle features a very long, monolithic upper rail for optics as well as side and lower rails for whatever accessories you prefer. Internally, WE Tech added a good array of pre-upgraded parts inside the gearbox, such as a polycarb piston, ported piston head, steel gearset, and 8mm bushings.

WE Tech SCAR-H SSR Airsoft Rifle

Using .25g BBs, the airsoft rifle was rated at 377 FPS using our in-house chronograph. On the field, I was consistently impressed with the WE Tech SCAR-H SSR’s lightweight design. I have used a lot of airsoft guns in my time as a player and this was, by far, the best rifle combination of size and weight I have fielded. The trigger response is super-snappy thanks to it pre-compressing the spring the first time you pull the trigger. In fact, I would actually recommend that you fire the rifle once in semi-auto with no magazine in it for the first shot. Then, the spring will be compressed and subsequent rounds will fire as normal – but, I digress. After you are finished playing, you will hear a very strange sound as you switch the airsoft rifle back to the safe fire mode. This is the super-cool feature of an automatically decompressing spring! You no longer have to fire a single shot at the end of every game to decompress your spring simply switching the gun to safe will work even better. This is an awesome feature and something I wish more airsoft guns would implement.

WE Tech SCAR-H SSR Airsoft Rifle

Something I wish WE Tech included in the box was a black, metal flash hider as the rifle only comes with the bright orange plastic one. It would be nice to have the option to change it out for milsim events. As a reminder, GamingShogun.com recommends that you keep your orange flash hiders on your airsoft guns anytime they are not in designated, milsim events on monitored, private property – safety first, folks! In the box, you will find a 330-round high capacity magazine – it is worth noting that you can ONLY use WE Tech SCAR-H magazines in this airsoft rifle. Additionally, at the time of this writing, WE Tech does NOT make mid-capacity magazines for this rifle yet. This is a big problem should the games you play only allow mid-caps. If you want to use this in a milsim game, you would want to speak to the game host in order to setup some alternative rules (maybe you only get 1 magazine for the game, etc).

Overall, the WE Tech FN SCAR-H SSR airsoft rifle is one of the nicest airsoft weapons I have had the chance to field. It easily gives the VFC-built version a run for its money in the externals department, and takes the lead when it comes to internal quality and features. The WE Tech FN SCAR-H SSR retails for $429.99 at AirSplat.com and we would like to thank them for letting us use one from their inventory in this review.

[easyreview title=”WE Tech FN SCAR-H SSR AEG Rifle Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

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New MiGs Heading to World of Warplanes in Update 1.6

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October 24, 2014 — Wargaming today announced the launch of content update 1.6 for its massively multiplayer aviation combat game World of Warplanes. The update adds a new line of Tier 5 and higher Russian MiG fighters as well as revamps the currently existing plane roster by adding a new multirole class of warplanes for ultimate player freedom and customization.

Known for their breakneck speed and power, the Russian MiG line of jets helped define an entire era of aircraft combat. Starting at Tier 5, the new line of aircraft includes the MiG-3, MiG-9 and the legendary MiG-15bis, one of the world’s first swept wing jet fighters to be ever produced and find success in the skies of battle.

Update 1.6 will also see major changes in the creation of a brand new class of warbird—the multirole fighter. Made specifically for players looking for fighters with a balance between both air and ground combat, the new multirole class will allow them to outfit planes with armaments balanced between high caliber guns and ground destroying bombs and rockets. Previous aircraft in the fighter class, as a result, have now been designated as pure aerial combat dogfighters, which will also benefit from new balance changes for both cannons and machine guns.

Lastly, the El Halluf map will see its boundaries extended, providing a more ample landscape for battle.

For more information on World of Warplanes Update 1.6 and to register for a free account, visit:

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Sackboy is Coming to Costume Quest 2 on Sony Platforms

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October 24, 2014 – Oakland, CA – Get ready for the sack attack! Everyone’s favorite Sony mascot, Sackboy, is coming to Costume Quest 2 exclusively on the PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system platforms! As an added bonus we’re happy to announce October 28th as our official release date for both platforms. Just in time for All Hallows’ Eve, this sweet sequel is priced at only $14.99!

Halloween is all about the costumes, and this year Double Fine has teamed up with Sony to bring the one and only Sackboy to the Costume Quest universe. Available as a hidden bonus, players must seek out the four pieces to assemble this legendary ensemble. In explore mode, Sackboy is a true DIY masterpiece fashioned from a burlap sack, buttons, thread and a whole lot of love! While transformed, he takes on his more familiar fabric form to tangle with Dr. White’s demented dental delinquents. During combat Sackboy charges up to deliver the ‘Little Big Beat Down,’ proving big pain can come from small packages. Unleash his fabric fists of fury for yourself when the free Sackboy content goes live in the coming weeks, final release date to follow!

Costume Quest 2 is the sequel to the Halloween hit Costume Quest and features all the humor, style and fun of the original with all new outfits, a brand new story and time travel! Team up with trick or treating twins Wren and Reynold as they set out to save October’s most hallowed day from Dr. Orel White, a misunderstood dentist dedicated to a world free of cavities, candy and Halloween. Track the Dentist and his Time Wizard associate through three expansive timescapes and get things back to normal. Updated combat streamlines the process, while adding new features like Battle Cards and Persistent Health which can be replenished at one of the many Water Fountains sprinkled in the levels. While checkpoints are plentiful to keep the action moving, players can equip the Candy Corn costume to add a little more challenge to their quest! (And get a super sweet trophy, to boot!)

Costume Quest 2 is rated E10+ and will release October 28th for PlayStation®3 & PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system platforms at only $14.99 through the PlayStation®Network. News on release dates for other console versions are forthcoming; please stay tuned to www.costumequest2.com

Be sure to join and update the official Wiki on Curse Gamepedia as you play, and keep updating strategies and new information as you find it!

For more information, please visit our website: www.midnight-city.com

For more on Double Fine Productions, please visit: www.doublefine.com

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Thermaltake Announces New Versa H34 and H35 PC Chassis

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Taipei, Taiwan-October 24, 2014-Thermaltake, an industry leader in computer chassis, thermal solutions, and power supply units, is pleased to introduce the new Thermaltake Versa H34 and H35 mid-tower chassis, specifically designed for gamers and home-computer builders. With a modular drive rack design, both the Versa H34 and H35 have enough space for high-end hardware and expansion. Ample ventilation options, a cleanable dust filter, and a perforated mesh bezel help to keep the entire system cool and dust-free. The Versa H34 and H35 also deliver advanced liquid cooling solutions and stress-free cable management to customize users’ computer or gaming systems.

Other Details:

Built for Gamers: To ensure a smooth gaming experience and prolong the life of components, the Versa H34 and H35 incorporate perforated panels, built-in removable dust filters, and a raised foot-stand to allow clean air intake and rapid heat dissipation. The transparent side window draws attention to the chassis’s inner workings.

Modular Design: Innovative “2+3” 5.25” and 3.5” modular drive design with tool-free drive tray installation enables flexibility when setting up storage solutions, maximizes internal space, and minimizes hassles.

Stress-free Cable Management: A wide cable routing gap for easy cable management and hiding cables behind the motherboard tray facilitates building and tinkering (upgrades), reduces wire entanglement, and provides better airflow and dust management. Additionally, water tube holes with rubber grommets are used to support external liquid cooling systems

Optimized Ventilation: Both models are equipped with two 120mm turbo fans, which spin up to 1000RPM, capable of drawing in fresh air and extracting hot air. For gamers with extreme ventilation needs, 120mm and 140mm pre-mounted holes can support up to eight fans in total.

Complete System on the Go: Users can build a complete high-end solution, supporting up to a 360mm radiator liquid cooling system along with a long graphic card. The Versa H34 and H35 protect users’ hardware and increase the CPU’s overclocking potential. Most importantly, outstanding cooling efficiency is delivered throughout the entire case.

Thermaltake releases exclusive “Tt LCS Certified”

Tt LCS Certified is a Thermaltake exclusive certification applied only to products that pass the design standards of hardcore enthusiasts. The Tt LCS certification was created so that power users can know which chassis has been tested to be most compatible with extreme liquid cooling configurations to ensure the best performance, features, and fit. Thermaltake’s Versa H34, H35 chassis and Core series of chassis—comprising Core V71, Core V51, Core V1 and Core V31—is Tt LCS Certified, meaning DIY PC enthusiasts can rest assured of optimal performance.

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Announces New Acts and Attendance Growth

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[Long Beach, Calif.] – On Thursday, October 2, The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor unleashed a spectacle of new haunted spirits, mazes and attractions that landed the annual festival on the Travel Channel’s list of the top ten haunts in the world. Nightly Dark Harbor attracts thousands of brave thrill seekers and continues to experience record-breaking attendance growth annually making it the fastest growing haunt in Southern California.

This year the annual haunt unveiled three new terrifying mazes. B340 and Soulmate depict the true torrid tales of two unfortunate Queen Mary passengers of the past. Samuel the Savage and Graceful Gale both haunt the cruise liner and take Dark Harbor guests on a horrific journey through their insanity and demise.  The new Voodoo Village maze summons the Voodoo Priestess to arise from the swamps with her band of gypsies and witch doctors to taunt guests and control all mortal and spirit souls.

The all-new Encounter experience unveiled at Dark Harbor 2014 invites a very small number of lucky (or unlucky) guests on a top-secret paranormal journey in the most intimate and frightening caverns deep within the Queen Mary ship. The Monster Midway offers the new thrilling Sinister Swings ride and welcomes back the Bucking Monster Ride and the Freakshow with a whole new cast of terrifying freaks including the harrowing Beast that has been unleashed upon all Dark Harbor guests.

Iconic Dark Harbor mazes Deadrise, Submerged and Circus returned this year, haunted by the spirits of The Ringmaster, The Captain, Half Hatch Henry, Scary Mary and more than 200 monsters nightly.

Dark Harbor presents harrowing entertainment and special ghoulish events throughout the season. A nightly show on the main stage welcomes the Queen Mary spirits showing off their terrifying talents with magic acts, circus performances, monster dance parties, fire breathing, live bands, DJs and the Dark Harbor Sliders performing the Slider Olympics down slider alley.

Oct. 25 welcomes the dancing zombies of Thrill the World Los Angeles (TTWLA), a tribute to Michael Jackson to celebrate “Thrill It” day. TTWLA will perform a special set in front of Dark Harbor’s Sinister Swings that are on loan from the Neverland Ranch.

Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 are the only evenings that Dark Harbor guests are invited to wear costumes and participate in the haunted costume contest for a chance to win a cash prize.  The iconic “Jewels” will return to Dark Harbor for a special drag show and host the costume contest on Halloween night. Oct. 31 also presents the annual Little Monster’s Ball from 4-6pm with a child-friendly version of Dark Harbor complete with trick-or-treating, face painting, family entertainment and a kids’ costume contest. Kids admission is free at the Little Monster’s Ball with purchase of a $10 parent’s general admission ticket. Nov. 1 celebrates Dia de Los Muertos with special themed monsters and an entertaining parade before the closing evening of the event on Nov. 2.

Dark Harbor will be open Oct. 23-26 and Oct. 29-Nov. 2 from 7 p.m.-12 a.m. Thurs. and Sun. nights and 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat. evenings. Tickets for Sunday, October 26 and November 2 are only $19 using promo code SUN1012 when purchasing online. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.queenmary.com/events/dark-harbor.