Archive - 2015

NBC4 Presents The Wishing Tree at Universal CityWalk

2015/11/23

Universal City, California – November 23, 2015 – During this joyful season of giving, Universal CityWalk and NBC4 Southern California are collaborating to present the first-ever “The Wishing Tree” event, inviting the public to pay it forward by making a wish for someone deserving.

From Friday, November 27 through Tuesday, December 22, Universal CityWalk visitors may place their wishes for friends and family next to the decorative trees adorning Universal CityWalk’s “5 Towers” plaza. NBC4 viewers can also share their wishes at www.NBCLA.com/wishingtree.

Wishes will be granted live weeknights from December 9 – 23 during the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. from Universal CityWalk with longtime NBC4 Weathercaster Fritz Coleman.

Those visiting The Wishing Tree are encouraged to post photos and video using #NBC4You. Updates and a schedule of the Holidays at Universal CityWalk can be found at www.CityWalkHollywood.com as well as on CityWalk’sFacebook- Universal CityWalk Hollywood, Twitter and Instagram @CityWalkLA. Viewers can tune in to NBC4’s Today in LA at 4:30 – 7 a.m. and News at Noon, and follow @NBCLA on Facebook and Instagram for highlights of the surprising moments.

“NBC4 is pleased to collaborate with our family at Universal CityWalk on The Wishing Tree and inspire a tradition of giving during the holidays,” said Steve Carlston, President and General Manager of NBC4 Southern California. “The Wishing Tree aligns with the station’s legacy of supporting the community through several philanthropic initiatives.”

In addition to The Wishing Tree, Universal CityWalk will ring in the season with a wintertime transformation from Friday, November 28, 2015 through Friday, January 1, 2016. A spectacular 40-foot tall Christmas tree will glisten with 200,000 LED icicles choreographed to the lights and sounds of the season in the “5 Towers” plaza, plus Santa Claus will make nightly appearances and offer special photo opportunities. Each evening, snow falls hourly at the heart of CityWalk. Admission to Universal CityWalk is free.

Mad Catz Announces Standalone Rock Band 4 Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller

2015/11/23

Jerry Paxton

San Diego – November 23, 2015 – Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT/TSX: MCZ) announced today the availability of the standalone Rock Band 4 Wireless Fender StratocasterGuitar Controller for Xbox One and PlayStation^®4 computer entertainment system. Built to deliver an unrivaled rock experience, the Wireless Guitar Controller is perfect for shredding in the game’s new flagship feature – Freestyle Guitar Solos. Now, gamers can purchase the standalone Wireless Guitar Controller, ideal for use as a lead guitar with either the digital or software versions of Rock Band 4. In addition, gamers can now use the Wireless Guitar Controller to complement their Band-in-a-Box^™ bundle, allowing their band to play both lead and bass guitar simultaneously and experience the ecstatic rush of playing with a full four-piece band.

The Rock Band 4 Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller is now available for purchase for either the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 through the Official Rock Band 4 Store online atstore.madcatz.com and other top retailers.

Based on the authentic and iconic Fender Stratocaster Guitar, a defining symbol of rock n’ roll for decades, the Rock Band 4 Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller features two sets of fret buttons, a silent strum bar, a whammy bar, and a redesigned tilt sensor for precision Overdrive activation. With improved battery life and no need for external adapters or dongles, the Wireless Guitar Controller seamlessly connects with either the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 gaming console and features automatic game calibration technology, adapting to your TV screen for low latency, fuss-free precision.

“With Rock Band 4, Harmonix has created the defining music gaming platform for this generation –delivering the only full-band experience available and an ever growing music library of rock’s biggest acts,” said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “We’re excited to now give gamers the opportunity to add a Wireless Guitar Controller, and complete their Rock Band 4 experience.”

Called “the new benchmark for rhythm gaming” by GamesRadar+, Rock Band 4 delivers the ecstatic rush of a live full-band game experience like never before. Rock Band 4 builds on the core gameplay people love, with brand new features, including game-changing Freestyle Guitar Solo gameplay that allows players to craft their own face-melting and truly original guitar solos.

For more information or to purchase Rock Band 4 Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller, please visit: http://store.madcatz.com/Rock-Band-4/

For more information on Rock Band 4 and to stay up to date with the latest news and announcements, head over to http://www.harmonixmusic.com and http://www.madcatz.com, and follow @RockBand and @MadCatz on Twitter for updates.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Google Cardboard VR Experience Unveiled

2015/11/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

BURBANK, CALIF. (November 23, 2015)—Disney announced today that in an unprecedented collaboration with Google, Star Wars fans will have an opportunity to share in immersive experiences—Awaken the Force Within and Google Cardboard Virtual Reality—in celebration of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Awaken the Force Within global program starts today and fans logging onto google.com/starwars can make a choice to be on the Dark Side or the Light Side for the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Their favorite Google apps will transform to reflect the path they choose. Special experiences have been developed for Android Wear Watches, Google Calendar, Chrome, Chromecast, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Now, Waze and YouTube with added features for fans to discover on their Inbox by Gmail, Google Translate and Google Search.

Coming on December 2 is a new virtual reality experience developed along with Google and Verizon. This will feature the first-of-its-kind serialized Google Cardboard Virtual Reality (VR) experience that combines a compelling story and exclusive, never-seen-before content, which ties directly into the opening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with the very latest cutting-edge Virtual Reality technology.

ILMxLAB, a laboratory for immersive entertainment from Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, created the Virtual Reality content for the Google Cardboard VR Experience utilizing the group’s combined expertise in special effects, design and artistry.

The Google Cardboard Virtual Reality experience launches via the official Star Wars app and is available on both Android and iOS devices.

Four custom Google Cardboard viewer designs featuring popular Star Wars images will also be available exclusively in Verizon stores beginning December 2.

The Park Review (PC/Steam)

2015/11/22

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

The Park is a nice little jaunt into madness designed to remind former players of The Secret World what they are missing, and also give current players more lore and gear to add to their ever expanding experience in a place where nightmares are the norm. If you have nothing to do with TSW that’s okay, The Park is still a creepy cool ride.

Features:
– Explore Atlantic Island Park and step onto rides such as the Ferris Wheel, the Bumper Cars and the Rollercoaster; just beware, some of them have a life of their own
– Enter the mind of Lorraine, a woman facing every parent’s worst nightmare, and unravel her story as well as the dark and tragic history of the park
– Call out for Callum to respond, and interact with the environment around you while examining clues and listening to Lorraine’s own inner voice as the game progresses
– State of the art graphics and audio deliver a uniquely atmospheric setting rich in mood and mystery, developed by a team of award-winning AAA developers

Hands On:
The Park works as a stand alone game where you follow your narrator Lorraine down a path of madness or nightmare, or both. Exactly what happened is left up to some personal interpretation but it all falls nicely into the madness of The Secret World mythos in which the events of the game have been rumor among the townsfolk of Kingsmouth for some time. There are easter eggs to The Secret World and Stephen King’s writings which often nodded to in the SW universe so if you are familiar with either it is fun, if you are into both even more so.

It is a story played in the first person with a narrative that seems at times to have choices but is in reality very linear. In the very opening moments of the game you and your son are leaving Atlantic Island Park and your son Callum goes running back in and you follow. Only the moment you go through the turnstiles the world shifts and don’t expect it to shift back anytime soon. You search for Callum and find sometimes important but usually just interesting TSW lore by shouting for him which results in a wavering in the air that points you the direction to go. If a player only cared about completing the game they could ignore the pages of information and just charge through the game and be done in probably about an hour, said player would also have missed out on the whole importance of the game and it’s very purpose which is to expand on the Secret World lore. If you aren’t a SW player it entices you to become one through showing you the nightmarish world it creates and giving a costume and some talismans for the core game as well as a week of free premium play. The costume isn’t a boring one like some side games might give you either, it is downright awesomely creepy, It think even horror film worthy.

I played and reviewed The Secret World whey it first came out and I loved it even though it had a few buggy issues. It was a solid MMORPG. Since then it only got better and tells it’s stories as if the player is playing through issued of a comic book series even going as far as to break it up into individually titled Issues which are then on sale to play. There is a mix of mini-transactions and subscription play much like Star Trek Online even having a lifetime membership available to bypass the subscription and some mini-transactions just like STO. If someone is still looking for a Christmas gift for me the lifetimes subscription…

But I digress. If you want to soak in the atmosphere of the game and get all the lore you can it will probably run you closer to three hours, which when combined with the in-game gear it becomes a very reasonably priceed addition to anyone’s TSW experience. Wear headphones, turn off all the lights. Play in an empty house if you can and this game might just give you a creepfest. If the player is prone to being jumpy at startle scares in movies or creepy moments then this game will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you are a bit jaded and desensitized like yours truly then you will still appreciate how well crafted the mood is set and maintained and I will admit to jumping at one point just as strongly as the professional level haunt attractions I attended during October. One spot I was in a dark dead end hall, there is a dead body at my feet, the screen image is flickering and shifting which you come to learn quickly is not a good sign. The music is at a tension building level and I know from my experience with horror games and haunts that when I turn around there will be something there. But the game has worked to build up a subtle tension so when I turn and see what is there the music crescendos the screen does a slight flicker and something creepy is standing there in state-of-the-art graphics and I jumped high in my chair. As far as I am concerned getting me to jump at all is worth the game’s price.

My two minor issues were that one of the repeating creeps in the game just didn’t strike me as very creepy because it was a little too cartoonish. I think the quality of the graphics and the great design of the secondary creep might have added to this and for some people it might be just fine. I think I would have just preferred maybe a hyper realism to that character since it was definitely in the game’s abilities. The other issue was that the game had load screens which can really pull the player out of the tension. For some it is a moment to catch their breath and is probably for the best but I just found it distracting. Both are minor issues that plenty of players would probably disagree with.

I would also like to make a point, and there is a warning on the game to this effect, that the subject matter gets dark, maybe too dark for some players with certain traumas or sensitivity to deep, dark themes.

Last Jump:
The Park is a terrific little game that works beautifully as a stand alone game but is practically a must for anyone who has played The Secret World. It is loaded with lore, mind games and creepy atmosphere that would have Scooby Doo saying “Rew you, I’m raying in the ran.” There is a mystery to solve that is left to the mind of the player, the darker your thoughts the darker the ending. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself trying to put some time aside to dive into The Secret World after…

[easyreview title=”The Park Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition Review (PC)

2015/11/22

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

War! What is he good for? Absolutely nothing…. unless you also mean being a scapegoat for the great “powers that be”. When you are one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who can you count on to have your back? Why, Death of course, since he is one of the constants of the world (why isn’t Taxes the Fifth Horseman?) and a true blue brother indeed. So in Darksiders II Deathfinitive Edition you play big blue Death and you reap like a bad ass.

Features:
– Play Death: Become the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen, able to destroy entire worlds and battle forces beyond Heaven and Hell.
– Epic Universe: Unlike anything the player has seen before, delivered in the unique style of Joe Mad.
– Player Choice & Customization: Customize your experience with varied armor sets, weapons, and Skill Trees allowing players to create their own Death.
– Replay-ability: Explore a vast open world, complete dozens of side quests and customize your Death with a full leveling system, Skill Trees and endless equipment combinations.
– Traversal: Death is a nimble and agile character capable of incredible acrobatic feats allowing the player to explore the world like never before.

Deathinitive Edition Features:
– Darksiders 2 with all DLC included and integrated into the game which offers a total playtime of more than 30 hours
– Reworked and tuned game balancing and loot distribution
– Improved Graphic Render Engine for higher visual quality especially in terms of lighting and shadows
– Improved and reworked level, character and environment graphics
– Running in native 1080p resolution
– Steam Trading Cards

Scythe On:
If you notice a degree of levity in this review it is because the game doesn’t take itself too seriously either. Yes, it has an earth shattering storyline but it plays as a hack n’ slash that borrowed lovingly from the aspects of other games to create a well polished beast of beauty.

The control system plays out much like in God of War, with lots of dodging followed by wicked double attacks. There are also epic bosses and splattering finishing moves for yard trash. The weapon system is similar to a couple different games and allows Death to wield two scythes as well as a secondary weapons of your choice. When it comes to weapons this game is practically in overkill mode with options. You might want to play through more than once just to keep trying out different ways to do Death’s reaping duties. The game already had plenty to start with, the Deathinitive Edition adds weapon DLCs to bolster it even further. Combine this with other customization such as skill trees and you wind up with a Death all your own.

Loot drop is similar to a few dungeon crawlers in design. reminding me of Krater and it’s better known bigger cousin Diablo. As it says above it is an open world much of which you can run around on a mount so you can enjoy the vast space without finding it tedious.

The balance of enemies, particularly the boss battles is nicely done so that you feel a ton of satisfaction dispatching peons but not outmatched when taking on bosses. It may be slight tweaks from the original game, mainly of which aren’t really noticeable to someone who hasn’t played it in three years but they do add up to quite a difference.

This does bring up the question: how is the Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition much different from it’s older gen predecessor? The keys are in content and graphic quality. The old gen game was good and if you got all the DLCs you are getting pretty close to what the Deathinitive Edition is. But with all the addition content in one bundle combined with a reworked engine and native 1080p you’ve got the old game with a beauty of a polish that makes it not just tolerable but a deeper pleasure to replay. If you never played it before you are in for even more of a treat since you won’t have the slightly dodgy memory of having to piece together DLCs to get all your content. If you met certain requirements upon launch the Deathinitive Edition it was even free to those who purchased the original version three years ago, the requirements being certain of the above mentioned DLCs.

Last Reaping:
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition hasn’t reinvented the game that came out three years ago but it put the content together in a beautiful native 1080p resolution package that makes it worth replaying or finally discovering. There has always been thousands of ways to die, now there are thousands of ways to Death.

[easyreview title=”Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

Euro Fishing 2015 Review (Steam/PC)

2015/11/22

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

For the cubical dwellers and desk jockeys who can’t get out into nature enough, Dovetail Games has come out with another installment of Euro Fishing!

Hands On:
This is a game genre that not everybody understands and a lot of that has to do with the environment you live in. The United States has fishing areas in city parks, sometimes with competitions in little ponds as well as lakes. Then there are those who live in rural areas where nature is just very accessible and so don’t know what it is like to live in a busy city where the only fish you might see on a regular basis are Koi. With this in mind, fishing games like Euro Fishing 2015 wind up being hugely successful and heavily scrutinized for quality, mechanics and realism.

When it comes to styles of play Euro Fishing 2015 gives you a vast variety with different lakes, fish, rods, reels, bait, tackle, and even boss fish. You can have more than one pole in play and can even “chum” the water by casting a rocket which dumps bait in the area. You can play on your own in a casual manner or you can compete with people around the world in multiplayer tournaments. When it comes to mechanics you actually pull back on the mouse then push it forward releasing a button to cast your line and you have to watch line tension to keep from losing the fish through slack or tension. I used to fish for steelhead in rivers and trout in lakes most of my life and without having a controller shaped like a fishing pole this is about as realistic as you can get. The game supports a regular video game controller but to me that actually gets further from the feel of fishing rather than closer.

So there is a nice variety of gameplay and the mechanics are about as good as you can hope for on a keyboard and properly complicated. That brings us to visual and audio quality. Audio wise the game really does sound like you are out in nature and the sound of line going out and being reeled in is spot on. The graphics could be a little better, the fish are well rendered but the people look like 3D models, particularly when it comes to the eyes. They are solid where it really counts though on the rod, tackle, reel and fish so the slightly creepy models can be overlooked, especially with such great audio.

Multiplayer play can be hit and miss when it comes to population, though a pretty decent crowd tends to show up for tournaments because few people can resist competition, even if it is landing carp. This is something else to keep in mind, if you are used to playing deep sea big game fish games don’t expect to be landing marlins. These are freshwater lake fish and though they have fight in them it is an entirely different kind of experience. If you forget that, you are likely to lose your lure in some reeds or weeds.

Last Cast:
Euro Fishing 2015 is a solid title in the lake sports fishing field and liable to keep pulling in players to their multiplayer tournaments right up until Euro Fishing 2016 comes out. So take a break from the paper shuffle, pull up a reel or two, put on your headsets and enjoy some nature and fishing for a while. (Editor’s Note: I would love to see a VR fishing title)

[easyreview title=”Euro Fishing 2015 Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Coming to Consoles

2015/11/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox One News

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Nov. 19, 2015 – Activision Publishing, Inc. has announced it will bring Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, Torn Banner Studios’ intense, melee-oriented action game, to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One next month. This new release features 24-person online multiplayer, over 25 maps, dedicated server support, and a new horde mode for teams of up to six.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is expected to storm the PlayStation®4 via the PlayStation®Store and Xbox One through the Xbox Games Store in North America on Dec. 1 for $19.99 MSRP. Also launching that day for $29.99 MSRP on both platforms is Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Ultimate Edition, which includes the full game, plus the Barbarian Character Pack, Marauding Arbiter Pack, Inquisitive Dreadnaught Bundle and Barbarian Weapon Pack. Pre-orders for both versions are expected to open on Nov. 25 for Xbox One only.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare makes combat fast, forceful and precise with a deep melee fighting system and the ability to quickly switch between first and third-person perspectives. Lay waste to castles and villages as one of four distinct classes – Knight, Vanguard, Man-at-Arms and Archer – in battles of cold, ruthless steel across a multitude of solo and team-based modes. The game includes over 60 period-authentic swords, axes, maces, javelins, bows and more, complemented by a range of armors, helmets and siege weapons, including catapults, ballistae, boiling oil and battering rams.

A number of cosmetic DLC sets, each sold separately, will also be available when Chivalry: Medieval Warfare arrives. The Barbarian Character Pack contains savage barbarian skins for each of the game’s four classes. The Marauding Arbiter Pack features new skins and helmets for the Vanguard class. The Inquisitive Dreadnaught Bundle holds new skins, helmets and special weapons for the Knight class. Finally, the Barbarian Weapon Pack delivers five brutal weapons of war.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is rated M (Mature) by the ESRB. For more information, please visit www.tornbanner.com/chivalry, and follow the game on Facebook.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com, or by following @Activision.

About Torn Banner Studios

Torn Banner Studios is an exciting independent video game company located in Toronto, Canada. Passion and innovation are the core elements of everything that Torn Banner creates. For more information, visit TornBanner.com, or follow @TornBanner.

Mark Hamill’s Star Citizen Character Reveal

2015/11/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Chris Roberts’ Cloud Imperium Games has released a short clip/teaser of Mark Hamill’s character in Squadron 42, the single-player experience in the upcoming space game simulator, Star Citizen. Mark’s character is Lt. Cmdr. Steve “Old Man” Colton.

Trailer

Mordheim: City of the Damned Launch Trailer

2015/11/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

November 19, 2015 – Focus Home Interactive and Rogue Factor today proudly unveil the launch trailer for their video game adaptation of Games Workshop‘s cult classic Mordheim. Set in the Warhammer world’s decimated Empire city, Mordheim: City of the Damned is a turn-based tactical game where you lead Warbands into bloody and lethal skirmishes. The game blends RPG elements, fast-paced tactical combat and intricate unit customization in a time wrought by chaos and rivalry where only the strongest survive.

After the Comet of Sigmar crashed on Mordheim, the City of Damned turned into a terrifying battlefield where rival warbands fight fiercely for the control of key neighborhoods, looking for glory and fortune by acquiring the very valuable Wyrdstone fragments.

Mordheim is a hostile place, so make sure you’re ready when traveling across all the different districts. From the Temple of Sigmar, to the Market District or the Count Steinhardt’s palace, Mordheim is not only filled with enemy Warbands but also with other evil creatures lurking in the shadows, such as the great Chaos Ogre, the lethal Alluress, the Curator, and many more.

Featuring four independent campaign modes for each of the four Warbands, as well as multiple online modes, develop your Warband and take them into the fray online, enjoying many maps within the City of the Damned, featuring both procedurally generated campaign missions, and procedural map elements.

Having explored the game in detail through the Overview Trailer, and its exciting campaign in our Campaign Trailer, it’s time to delve into the city and fight for glory and Wyrdstone.

Rainbow Six Siege Siege The Day TV Spot with Idris Elba

2015/11/19

boothby

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

SAN FRANCISCO – November 18, 2015 – With just weeks to go until the highly anticipated return of Rainbow Six, Ubisoft® is kicking off the launch of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege with the release of a new live-action trailer starring Golden Globe Award–winning actor Idris Elba. Elba takes the lead role in the explosive trailer entitled “Siege the Day” that brings to life an actual in-game multiplayer match with counter-terrorist operators facing off in a setting inspired by the House map from the game. He also enlightens viewers on the exciting and destructible foundations of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege in the complementary featurette series, “The Laws of Siege.”

Ubisoft also announced that an open beta will take place November 25–29 on Xbox One, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. The open beta will be an invitation for all players to try Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege for free, ahead of the worldwide launch on December 1.

The trailer and the featurettes were shot over four days in Prague, directed by Park Pictures founder Seb Edwards along with Angus Wall, two-time Academy Award–winning film editor (The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and founder of Rock Paper Scissors and its sister company, VFX. Ubisoft worked with Los Angeles–based agency Omelet on development of the concept and overall creative direction and execution of the “Siege the Day” campaign.

“Getting to work on a set with explosions and big destruction always adds an element of excitement. The Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege shoot was unique in that my character is at the eye of the storm during the chaos around him,” said Idris Elba. “In the game, walls can be shattered; ceilings and floors can be breached to change how players experience the game. My character walks the viewer through the destruction, while coming out unscathed on the other end.”

The “Siege the Day” television ad will air nationally to promote the launch of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege and can be seen during key television moments such as Thanksgiving Day football and the mid-season finale of The Walking Dead.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, please visit rainbow6.com.