Archive - 2014

PAC-MAN Friends and PAC-MAN CEDX Hitting Comic-Con

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July 23, 2014 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA – BANDAI NAMCO Games America Inc. announced today their San Diego Comic Con 2014 exclusive mobile game lineup, which includes a sneak peek at  new entries in the legendary PAC-MAN© franchise: PAC-MAN CEDX and PAC-MAN Friends.

Over the years, gaming’s first icon has become one of the highest-grossing video game franchises of all time. PAC-MAN continues his domination in mobile games with 25 million downloads of the popular game, PAC-MAN Lite!

PAC-MAN Friends is a new original fast-paced game using CLASSIC PAC-MAN characters! With intuitive tilt controls, players maneuver PAC-MAN through progressively challenging mazes to rescue his FRIENDS from the GHOSTS’ castle! You can explore 95 increasingly challenging levels across 6 worlds and unlock 9 uniquely powered FRIENDS. Hours of light-hearted, fun adventure lie ahead! Players can also challenge their friends via social media to keep the excitement going!

PAC-MAN Championship Edition DX is the official sequel to one of the most beloved games of all time. PAC-MAN CEDX set the gaming world on fire with its critically praised and addicting gameplay. Now, all 3 original modes (Score Attack, Time Attack and Ghost Combo) are playable across 7 zones with over 150 levels of PAC- MAN action. Fun new power-ups and boosts will give you the leg up and the highest score in new, unending challenge modes. Combo ghosts, detonate bombs, collect fruit, and survive the infamous dark levels to become a PAC-MAN Champion!

PAC-MAN Friends is hitting mobile devices this September with PAC-MAN© Championship Edition DX scheduled for a late November release.

San Diego Comic Con fans can play both new PAC-MAN games at the BANDAI NAMCO Games America Inc. booth #121, from July 24th to July 27th.

For more information about the PAC-MAN mobile game, visit the official web site at http://www.bandainamcogames.com.

ScareLA Announces Making Monsters Panel

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — July 21, 2014 —  ScareLA, the first-ever Southern California Halloween convention, announced today their  “Making Monsters” panel joining lead make-up designers for Knott’s, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Queen Mary to take place on Saturday, August 9th at 5:30 PM on Stage 1. The attraction designers join on the same stage for the first time ever to discuss their upcoming season and unique monster-making techniques with fans.

“This is a huge deal for us, and an incredibly exciting moment for Halloween fans,” explains Rick West, Programming Producer of ScareLA. “For the first time ever anywhere, four of Southern California’s premier theme parks are coming together as a united front on one stage at the same time to discuss what it takes to bring thousands of monsters to life every night for their high-profile events! I am very excited about this panel in particular, because it embodies the spirit of what ScareLA is at its core – the celebration of Halloween as a singular community here in Southern California.”

Making Monsters panelists include:

  • Tim Barham from Knott’s Scary Farm, the event that began theme park Halloween events in 1973. A member of the Knott’s Berry Farm team for 20 years, Tim is the Area Manager of Wardrobe and Makeup Design.

  • Scott Ramp from Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest, where he has served as makeup designer for the past 21 years. An accomplished writer, director and actor, Scott also formed his own business in 1995 – The Scream Team – which supplies high-quality, hand-made foam latex appliances to haunters around the world.

  • Larry Bones from Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights. He will discuss the process and talented artists he’s overseen since HHN returned to Los Angeles in 2006. Larry is the owner of Bone Yard Effects, a full-service makeup production studio for the film and haunted attraction industry.

  • Christina Cofran from Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor. She is Dark Harbor’s Department Head/Makeup Supervisor. A 16-year veteran of Queen Mary’s Halloween events, Christina develops the look of Dark Harbor’s monsters, and trains a team of makeup artists each season in bringing the ship’s denizens to life.

The convention boasts a titillating speaker line-up revealing of over 20 West Coast attractions to unveil exclusive news about Halloween 2014 to their fans for the first time along with hands-on workshops, onsite attractions and an exhibitor show floor designed to inspire and promote play.

ScareLA returns to downtown Los Angeles on August 9 and 10, 2014 at The Reef (formerly LA Mart). The convention sets itself apart from other horror or haunted attraction conventions by focusing on engaging attendees with interactive and educational experiences at every turn.

For tickets or for more information, visit www.scarela.com. Follow ScareLA on social media on both Twitter @ScareLosAngeles as well as Facebook. Share, inspire, play – ScareLA.

SEGA Bringing Alien: Isolation and More to Comic-Con

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SAN FRANCISCO (July 22, 2014) – From the outer reaches of space to a fantastic ancient land, SEGA fans will get a chance to see the  hottest games of the year at San Diego Comic-Con International. SEGA is pulling out all the stops, giving fans their first chance for hands-on demos of Alien: Isolation™Sonic Boom™: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom™: Shattered Crystal, and a variety of ways to experience these franchises, both onsite and off. Alien: Isolation will be showcased in amazing, spine-tingling fashion at the FUTURE US booth #241 with game demos in a custom-designed, giant-sized Alien egg pod. Sonic Boom will have a presence at the Archie Comics Booth #2842. SEGA is also taking its presence to the next level this year, partnering with NERD HQ to give fans even more chances to have fun with some of the year’s most anticipated titles.

SEGA will invade Nerd HQ from July 24-27 at Petco Park, just steps away from the Convention Center. Presented by The Nerd Machine, this popular fan-focused event provides guests an additional destination to interact with brand-new titles as well as hands-on opportunities with never-before-seen games. Nerd HQ will be the official home for SEGA throughout the show, spotlighting its games and hosting panels discussing the new titles.

Following overwhelming excitement from its debut at E3, the newest title of the Alien™ franchise, Alien: Isolation, will come to life and showcase the true meaning of fear with an immersive gaming experience. A replica version of the iconic egg from the Alien series will be onsite at the FUTURE US booth, immersing gamers into a solitary gaming pod for a unique, chilling, fear-inducing event. Enter if you dare! To help extend the experience onsite, SEGA will also launch an Alien: Isolation Motion Tracker app available as a free download for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices. The app recreates the motion tracker used in both the original film and new game which will allow fans to locate the Alien: Isolation game at Nerd HQ. Alien: Isolation is available worldwide on October 7, 2014 for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Windows PC, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

When it comes to the fastest bipedal blue star in the world, SEGA has a big year ahead. To set the stage, SEGA will introduce playable versions at Comic Con.  The new games Sonic Boom™: Rise of Lyric for the Wii U™ system, developed by Los Angeles-based Big Red Button, and Sonic Boom™: Shattered Crystal for the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system, from San Francisco-based Sanzaru Games, will introduce new gameplay and the most vile and formidable villain in Sonic history — Lyric.

Announced earlier this year, Sonic Boom is a brand-new extension to the Sonic Universe that will introduce new video games, the first-ever CG-animated television series debuting on Cartoon Network in the 2014/2015 season, and a robust merchandise program anchored by master toy partner TOMY.

Comedy Central Announces Comic-Con Fan Events

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NEW YORK, July 21, 2014 – Comedy Central is invading San Diego with a series of events during Comic-Con starting with back-to-back panels as Comedy Central Presents “Key & Peele” and Introduces “Moonbeam City” on Thursday, July 24 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront.  The panels kick off with Emmy®-nominated series “Key & Peele” (stars Keegan-Michael-Key, Jordan Peele, Director Peter Atencio and moderated by Thomas Lennon) followed by the panel for upcoming animated series “Moonbeam City” (creator and Executive Producer Scott Gairdner and Executive Producer Tommy Blacha). Also, press interviews will be held in Indigo 204A on Thursday, July 24 with “Key & Peele” (Key, Peele, Atencio) from 2:30-3:30 p.m. The next day will feature a “Brickleberry” panel with series creators and Executive Producers, Waco O’Guin and Roger Black, joined by David Herman (“Futurama”), Tom Kenny (“SpongeBob SquarePant”), Jerry Minor (“Eastbound & Down”) and Natasha Leggero (“Suburgatory,” “Burning Love”) and held on Friday, July 25 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Convention Center Room 24ABC.

Comedy Central’s no-badge-required, free and open to the public event, #ComedyCentralCon will take place from 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 at The San Diego Wine & Culinary Center (200 Harbor Dr. #120) directly across from the Convention Center. #ComedyCentralCon’s “Moonbeam City” Laser Tag will bring to life the brand’s never before seen, newest animated series coming in 2015, starring Rob Lowe, Elizabeth Banks, Kate Mara and Will Forte. Fans will get a first look at the Moonbeam world, walk the streets of the city and compete with friends (6 on 6 players) in a “Team Death Match” to determine the top cop of Moonbeam City.

Also, fans at #ComedyCentralCon can snap a virtual pic with “Workaholics,” “Key & Peele,” “Broad City” and/or “Moonbeam City” in the Comedy Central GIF photo booth and win limited edition Comedy Central prizes.

“Brickleberry” autograph signings will take place at the FOX booth in the Convention Center (4229) on Friday, July 25 (time TBA). A “Workaholics” autograph signing with Blake Anderson, Anders Holm and Kyle Newacheck will take place at #ComedyCentralCon in the Wine Center located at 200 Harbor Drive #120 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

In addition, Comedy Central’s late-night host Chris Hardwick brings a live performance of the Emmy®-nominated series “@midnight” to the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Avenue, on Friday, July 25 at 10:30 p.m.,” Comedians participating in this show include Steve Agee, Grace Helbig and Brian Posehn. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

 

  • Thursday, July 24: Comedy Central Presents “Key & Peele” and Introduces “Moonbeam City” (Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel)

1:30-2:15 p.m. “Key & Peele” stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele who utilize a combination of filmed sketches and live stage segments to examine life in a provocative and irreverent way, from the perspective of two men used to being on the outside looking in.  Whether it’s satirizing the President, spoofing musical acts, or taking on religion, “Key & Peele” showcases their chemistry, camaraderie and unique point of view, born from their shared background and experiences growing up biracial in a not quite post-racial world. The panel will be moderated by Tom Lennon and include Key, Peele and Director Peter Atencio as they go behind-the-scenes and reveal details on their upcoming fourth season returning this fall.

2:15-3:00 p.m. The party continues with a first look at Comedy Central’s newest animated series “Moonbeam City.” The series is an absurdist take on the gritty, sex-drenched crime dramas from the 1980s and follows undercover detective Dazzle Novak (voiced by Rob Lowe), a handsome idiot who commits more crimes than most criminals. The show also stars his tyrannical chief, Pizzaz Miller (Elizabeth Banks), who won’t get off his back and hotshot rookie Rad Cunningham (Will Forte) who is dying to see him fail. With the world against him, “Dazzle” is thrust into a living nightmare: having to do actual police work. Moonbeam City is executive produced by Will Gluck’s Olive Bridge Entertainment in association with Titmouse Studios. The panel will include series creator and Executive Producer Scott Gairdner and Executive Producer Tommy Blacha.

 

  • Friday, July 25: “Brickleberry” panel (room 24ABC)

5:30-6:30 p.m. Creators and Executive Producers Waco O’Guin and Roger Black, along with David Herman (“Futurama”), Tom Kenny (“SpongeBob SquarePants”), Jerry Minor (“Eastbound & Down”) and Natasha Leggero (“Suburgatory,” “Burning Love”) will be on hand to exclusively premiere an episode from the upcoming third season which debuts on Tuesday, September 16 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, followed by a live table read and Q&A panel discussion.

Farming Simulator 15 First Screenshots

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Focus Home Interactive and Giants Software have released the first screenshots for their upcoming Farming Simulator 15, which is due out in early 2015 on PC and console platforms.

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PGF Partners with Zepp Labs to Use Sports Sensor Tech

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LOS GATOS, Calif. – (July 22, 2014) – Zepp Labs and Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) have agreed to a multi-year partnership, under which Zepp will be designated as the Official and Exclusive Swing Analysis and Technology Platform of PGF.

Zepp’s advanced 3D technology helps softball players of all ages and skill levels improve their game. The tiny sensor, which easily attaches to the end of a bat, captures over 1000 points of data per swing and creates a perfect 3D rendering on any smartphone or tablet. In addition to seeing their swing in 3D, players, coaches and parents get instant and actionable feedback and data including bat speed, hand speed, time to impact, attack angle and more.

According to Dan Hay, PGF Tournament Director, “Our collaboration with Zepp Labs will enable us to offer our players instant feedback and analysis of their swings, giving them concrete ways to improve. The added-value of this technology and the standards Zepp provides take fastpitch softball and PGF to the next level.”

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with PGF,” says Jason Fass, CEO of Zepp Labs. “They’ve built the leading softball platform, and we share a mutual goal of helping girls maximize their playing potential. This is a crucial relationship for us as we further incorporate Zepp’s proprietary metrics and platform into the fabric and vocabulary of today’s sports and athletes.”

The PGF National Championships has rapidly grown into one of the most premier softball events in the country. Starting July 19th and running for two weeks, PGF will host approximately 400 of the very top travel ball clubs and college coaches in Huntington Beach, Irvine, and Fountain Valley, California, with main focus on the Huntington Beach Sports Complex. Moving forward, all PGF camps and clinics will use the Zepp 3D sensor to capture, measure and analyze player swings at a Zepp hitting station. The Zepp sensor will be used to establish a new standard of swing evaluation metrics.

World of Warships Making Debut at Gamescom 2014

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July 22, 2014 — Wargaming today announced its presence at gamescom 2014, the world’s largest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment, to be held at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany from August 13–17, 2014. Wargaming will bring an exciting booth spectacle, delivering its trademark mix of AAA military combat gaming experience and supply top-tier giveaways for attendees and viewers at home.

Action-packed activities can be found at Wargaming’s massive 720 square meters booth located in Hall 8. The showfloor will feature gaming stations for participants to engage in intense battles and test their prowess. Available to play will be the global phenomenon of World of Tanks (PC), the award-winning World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition, the flight MMO World of Warplanes (PC) and the recently launched World of Tanks Blitz (iOS). Of special note is the premiere of World of Warships (PC) at the booth this year. Attendees of gamescom will have the opportunity to go behind closed doors and be the first to experience the anticipated PC naval combat game.

The daily entertainment will begin with immersive games with Wargaming on the show floor and continue into its signature live stage show, game presentations, talk shows with special guests and game developers, regular on-stage giveaways and prizes, including an Alienware X51 gaming system, HyperX FURY USB drives, Razer peripherals, Logitech hardware, and much more.

Catch the exclusive stream from Wargaming’s gamescom studio on Twitch on Wednesday, August 13, as well as Friday and Saturday, August 1516 with special prizes for viewers from Europe.

Be sure to come to the Wargaming booth for all of the gaming, entertainment and giveaways that the global leaders in free-to-play military combat games can pack into the biggest gaming show on the planet.

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EVE Online Launches Crius Content Update

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22 July 2014 – Reykjavik, Iceland – CCP Games, a leading independent developer of massively multiplayer games, has launched the largest overhaul ever to industry within its award-winning sci-fi game, EVE Online. Changes ripple across the stars, affecting everything from how player- constructed starbases function to spaceship blueprints to basic asteroid composition and adding new features like an intuitive new user industry interface and worker teams that supplement competition between solar systems.

Industry fuels EVE’s critically acclaimed “infernal machine” of harvesting, creation and destruction. These game systems collectively govern the creation of nearly every item in the game by players using raw and salvaged materials and make EVE the stuff of economic and sociological legend. With improvements to accessibility, diversity and meaning in industrial gameplay, EVE’s “Crius” release catalyzes player-driven action and rewards thoughtful and opportunistic planning for those who profit from the creation of spaceships, modules and innumerable other goods.

Sophisticated industrial operations underpin the famous player wars that rage across EVE’s thousands of star systems at the same time as smaller, individual efforts generate wealth, meaning and power for personal ambition. Crius allows player-influenced shifts in the industrial landscape to redefine the “sandbox” by adding assembly cost scaling and a market for work teams to supplement construction. Newer players will find an easier path into industry as manufacturing slots open up and the user interface is reimagined to be more intuitive and informative.
“Crius opens up EVE’s sprawling economy to a whole new generation of industrialists, as it has never been more intuitive, dynamic and interesting to build things for yourself or other players.” said Andie Nordgren, Senior Producer for EVE Online. “We’re eagerly awaiting to see how our players use one of the most sophisticated crafting and market systems in gaming now that it is live.”

From atmospheric audio to more wormholes in known space and more, Crius offers other changes in CCP’s ongoing commitment to improve EVE Online year after year.

Crius follows Kronos as the second update in a major shift for EVE development from two expansions per year to around 10 releases annually as CCP aims to deliver more content, more frequently, to its legendary playerbase. It is available free to all EVE Online subscribers and trial users.

Further information about Crius can be found on the feature page, in developer blogs and in the Crius in-development video.

ECOXGEAR Announces ECOSTONE Bluetooth Speaker

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San Diego, Calif. – (July 22, 2014) – ECOXGEAR, a leader in rugged and waterproof products for the adventurous lifestyle, launches its new Bluetooth speaker to answer the demands of outdoor enthusiasts looking for big sound in a dependably rugged form factor, the ECOSTONE waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

The ECOSTONE is designed to be the world’s most rugged and reliable portable Bluetooth speaker to accompany you on all of your outdoor adventures. The ECOSTONE has passed both the IP68 international waterproofing standards and military grade testing MIL810G which means it can withstand anything from being 100% submerged in water to a sandstorm in a desert with temperatures up to 140°F. The rubberized shockproof casing and rear mounted subwoofer give music lovers a speaker that can be enjoyed every boating trip, camping adventure or poolside experience.

Accidentally knock the ECOSTONE into your pool or overboard your boat without a worry, the ECOSTONE’s intelligent design allows it to pop back to the surface and float. ECOSTONE also features a convenient handle to carry your speaker by your side with ease while camping, surfing, hiking or just lounging by the beach. Featuring a USB battery charger for your smartphone or tablet, and integrated LED flashlight, ECOSTONE helps you navigate any journey.

“Now bigger and louder than any audio solution we’ve yet to introduce, the ECOSTONE is by far the most reliable option in the world of waterproof, rugged, portable speakers,” says CEO of ECOXGEAR, Greg Fadul. “Athletes, adrenaline junkies, and adventure enthusiasts favor our rugged speakers because they are 100% waterproof, not just water resistant, and allow them to take their music with them anywhere they go.”

ECOSTONE Collection

For added versatility, the ECOSTONE is equipped with detachable mounting options that can attach the speakers to anything, including your backpack, kayak, tent or car.

ECOSTONE is available now at Cabela’s, US Cellular, Amazon.com and this fall in West Marine, REI,  and other fine retail stores for $149 in Black, Blue, Orange and “Real Tree.” It is also available in Canada at Mountain Equipment, London Drugs and Visions.