Archive - 2015

Funcom Announces Horror Game The Park

2015/08/26

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

Funcom's The Park Haunted Amusement Park Game Screenshot

Oslo, Norway – August 26th, 2015 – Amusement parks are happy places, filled with the innocent joys of childhood and the exhilarating rush of hair-raising, but safe adventure. Balloons, cotton candy and fantastic rides to be dared. Perhaps that is how Lorraine pictured it too when she brought her son Callum to one… just before it descended into the most terrifying nightmare of her life.

Funcom is thrilled to announce ‘The Park‘, a unique horror story and the company’s first single-player experience since its award-winning adventure ‘Dreamfall: The Longest Journey‘. Releasing on the PC in October this year, ‘The Park‘ puts you in the shoes of a mother whose son goes missing. When night falls and the lights go out, what follows is a short, but intense horror story set against the backdrop of an amusement park where a dark and sinister secret is just waiting to be uncovered.

“It has been very exciting and creatively energizing for us working on a single-player experience again,” says Funcom CEO Rui Casais. “‘The Park’ is actually the outcome of what started with a small group of developers experimenting with new concepts and looking at how we could draw upon the universes we have built for our massively multiplayer online games and expand upon them into smaller-scale single-player games. Something special started to take shape, and ‘The Park’ ultimately became something we are eager to share with the rest of the world.”

Funcom will reveal further details about ‘The Park’ closer to the launch in October. In the meantime, please refer to www.theparkgame.com for the latest assets and information.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Product Unboxings on Force Friday

2015/08/26

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Geek News, Movie News, News

Glendale, Calif. (Aug. 25, 2015) – Star Wars: The Force Awakens products are set to be unveiled in the world’s first-ever global live toy unboxing event. Unfolding over 18 hours in 15 cities and 12 countries, the event will see highlights from the range of epic merchandise revealed in a rolling New Year’s Eve style celebration featuring top digital stars from the Maker Studios network.

“Star Wars toys have always played an important role in how our fans interact with the Saga,” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “They’ve inspired multiple generations to relive the experience of the movies and to create new adventures all their own. These spectacular Star Wars: The Force Awakens products will continue that tradition.”

Kicking off in Sydney, Australia on the morning of September 3, and continuing through Asia, Europe, Canada, and North & South America, selections from the new toy line will debut to global fanfare leading up to retailers around the globe opening their doors at midnight.

“Over the course of 18 hours, some of Maker Studios’ biggest stars will each be unboxing a new toy from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens product line in a different city around the world and sharing the experience live on YouTube.” said Leslie Ferraro, President, Disney Consumer Products. “We’ve seen tremendous excitement for these new products and can’t wait to see the global reaction from the Star Wars fan community.”

The Star Wars YouTube channel will host the live stream, which kicks off with the first unboxing in Sydney, Australia at 7:45 a.m. local time onThursday, Sept. 3 (5:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 2), with the grand finale at Lucasfilm in San Francisco at 8 a.m. PDT (11 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, Sept. 3. Each of the 15 locations will reveal a new product inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

These “unboxing” videos will feature online personalities sharing the excitement of opening the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens toys. Unboxing videos overall have captivated millions of Internet viewers and continue to grow in popularity. Eighteen of the top 100 most viewed YouTube Channels worldwide are dedicated to toys and toy unboxings. These 18 channels accounted for 8.1 billion views in Q1 2015.[1]

“We’re excited to be part of this first-of-its-kind initiative,” said Chris M. Williams, Chief Audience Officer, Maker Studios. “The unboxing world continues to expand rapidly as audiences around the world connect with digital creators who share their passions. This shared fandom helps attract billions of monthly views and consistently puts the genre at the top of the YouTube charts.”

The global unboxing event will incorporate traditional toy unboxers such as the popular EvanTubeHD, channels featuring families such as Bratayley, lifehack specialists such as ExpCaseros, gamers such as AlexBy11 and Star Wars fans from around the world, including Chris Pirillo, bringing with them a broad audience and appeal. The global line-up includes:

COUNTRY	CITY	MAKER TALENT	LOCAL TIME 9/3	EDT
Australia	Sydney	Bratayley	07:45	17:45 9/2
Japan	Tokyo	Einshine	11:00	22:00 9/2
Korea	Seoul	Dollastic	12:00	23:00 9/2
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Dante Basco	12:00	00:00 9/3
France	Paris	AyPierre	09:00	03:00 9/3
Spain	Madrid	AlexBy11	11:00	05:00 9/3
Germany	Berlin	Reyst	12:00	06:00 9/3
England	London	GamingBeaver	11:30	06:30 9/3
Brazil	Rio de Janeiro	Malena010102	08:30	07:30 9/3
USA	New York	EvanTubeHD	08:30	08:30 9/3
Canada	Toronto	Quill18	09:00	09:00 9/3
USA	Chicago	HobbyKidsTV	08:30	09:30 9/3
Mexico	Mexico City	ExpCaseros	09:30	10:30 9/3
USA	San Francisco	Chris Pirillo	08:00	11:00 9/3

The full schedule also is available at www.StarWars.com.

Several countries will join the live stream from YouTube Spaces (Berlin, Tokyo, London), with Star Wars commentators Anthony Carboni and Andi Gutierrez hosting the event from the YouTube Space, Los Angeles.

Fans can tune in to watch live unboxings at home or on mobile devices, and also enjoy the latest trailers on the upcoming movie, commentary from special guests, fun product videos and demos, and footage from recent Star Wars events.

The global celebration culminates at midnight local time, when many retailers around the world will open their doors to fans to purchase Star Wars: The Force Awakens toys, collectibles, books, apparel and more. Visit starwars.com for more details on participating locations. Additionally, select Disney Store locations around the world will take part. More details are available at www.DisneyStore.com/ForceFriday.

Fans are encouraged to document their experiences around the event on social media using the hashtag #ForceFriday.

DiRT Rally Gets New Multiplayer Rallycross Mode

2015/08/25

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

UK – August 25, 2015 – Codemasters today announced that DiRT Rally™ just got (more) serious with the introduction of the all-new multiplayer rallycross mode, free to download now for all Early Access players. From today, drivers will not just be racing against the clock, but against fellow DiRT Rally owners from around the world. A new video is available to view now at www.dirtgame.com.

DiRT Rally’s multiplayer update is the second pack to feature content from the FIA World Rallycross Championship and will see gamers compete online in the highly demanding, super-charged and full-contact racing of one of the world’s fastest growing motorsports. Players will be vying for glory across three locations in six of the world’s fastest off-road cars.

The cars:

DS 3 (Newly added today)
Subaru WRX STI (Newly added today)
MINI Countryman Rallycross (Newly added today)
Ford Fiesta WRX
Volkswagen Polo Rallycross
Peugeot 208 WRX

The tracks:

Hell, Norway (Newly added today)
Lydden Hill, United Kingdom
Höljes, Sweden

Since its launch this April, DiRT Rally’s player base has steadily grown month-on-month and to date:

Over 44 million kilometers have been driven
Players have driven 1.5 million clean stages
1.2 million barrel rolls have been complete

Today’s update continues Codemasters’ commitment of delivering free, regular and substantial content updates during DiRT Rally’s Early Access phase on Steam. Further content is planned for the coming months.

DiRT Rally is available to purchase here.

Screenshots

Inside Look at Ash vs Evil Dead #AshVsEvilDead

2015/08/25

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Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos

Beverly Hills, Calif., August 25, 2015 – STARZ today released a new inside look video into the world of the highly anticipated Original series “Ash vs Evil Dead” (premiering on Saturday, October 31 at 9 PM ET/PT). This comes on the heels of the official red-band trailer that was digitally released this weekend and features never-before-seen scenes.

The 10-episode first season of the half-hour series is executive produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, Bruce Campbell, the original filmmakers, and Craig DiGregorio who serves as executive producer and showrunner. “Ash vs Evil Dead,” is the long-awaited follow-up to the classic horror film The Evil Dead.

The cast is led by Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, “Burn Notice”) reprising his role of Ash Williams, the stock boy, aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. Rounding out the cast are Lucy Lawless (“Salem,” “Spartacus”) as Ruby a mysterious figure who believes Ash is the cause of the Evil outbreaks, Ray Santiago (“Touch,” Meet the Fockers) as Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s loyal sidekick, Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas) as Kelly Maxwell, a moody wild child trying to outrun her past and Jill Marie Jones (“Sleepy Hollow”) as Amanda Fisher, a disgraced Michigan State Trooper set to find our anti-hero Ash and prove his responsibility in the grisly murder of her partner.

“Ash vs Evil Dead” premieres Saturday, October 31^st at 9:00pm ET/PT exclusively on STARZ with a 10-episode season.

Pillars of Eternity: The White March: Part 1 Launch Trailer

2015/08/25

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

IRVINE, Calif – Aug. 25, 2015 — Obsidian Entertainment and Paradox Interactive today released the first of a two-part expansion to Pillars of Eternity, the role-playing game (RPG) phenomenon funded by over 70 thousand backers. The award-winning recipient for the Best Indy RPG at E3 2015 from MMORPG.com, “The White March: Part I” is the first addition to the critically acclaimed game, and includes an extensive array of new dynamic content for both Pillars of Eternity veterans and newcomers. White March expands the story and experience of the original game, adding new locations, quests, and companions to the world of Eora, as well as new gameplay features such as multi-class abilities, soulbound weapons, and a higher level cap, allowing players new ways to play in all areas of the game. The White March: Part I is available today as an add-on to Pillars of Eternity for Windows, Mac, and Linux PC for $14.99. A bundle with Parts I and II is available for $24.99, which will grant owners the second installment immediately upon its release.

View Eora in a way not yet seen before in a new launch trailer for The White March: Part I, available here:

In The White March: Part I, Obsidian Entertainment continues the tale of Pillars of Eternity, an RPG inspired by classics of the computer RPG genre. Featuring an expertly crafted story from Carrie Patel, author of the Recoletta series and writer on the original Pillars of Eternity, and Eric Fenstermaker, lead writer on Pillars of Eternity and one of the co-writers of South Park: The Stick of Truth alongside show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the new expansion has new lore and challenges to explore. Set during the middle of the original game similar to the classic Tales of the Sword Coast, the new expansion can be experienced regardless if players have completed the core game or not. Players will venture into a new setting inspired by the snowy environments of Icewind Dale, and meet new companions including The Devil of Caroc, a construct rogue, and the scarred monk Zahua. Additionally, players can make use of new advanced party-based AI during combat and other adventuring challenges.

The White March: Part I is available for purchase at http://buy.pillarsofeternity.com/. For more information on Pillars of Eternity, visit http://pillarsofeternity.com/.

Corpse of Discovery Launch Trailer

2015/08/25

Jerry Paxton

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

Chicago, IL (August 25, 2015) – Corpse of Discovery, Phosphor Games’ thought-provoking first-person planetary exploration game, launches on PC today. As a lone astronaut venturing across the terrain of uncharted planets searching for answers, the most crucial thing on your mind is how you can complete the mission you’ve been tasked with and return home to your family.

You can watch the Corpse of Discovery launch trailer here:

Corpse of Discovery is centered around the universal truths we often grapple with as we work to figure out our identity and how to best balance our time, our most precious resource. Heavily inspired by Creative Director Chip Sineni’s experiences as a developer spending long hours away from his family, Corpse of Discovery became a way for him to connect with others who’ve faced similar challenges. To keep his loved ones as near as possible while working on the game, he incorporated them through voice-overs and imagery.

As you search different planets for mission objectives, map undiscovered expanses, and fight against scorching heat and wild storms, messages from home serve as constant reminders of what you have given up in the name of the mission.

A deeply personal game about the cost of ambition, Corpse of Discoveryencourages players to ask themselves: What is worth sacrificing for success?

Dying Light: The Following 15 Minutes of Gameplay

2015/08/25

Jerry Paxton

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

August 15th, 2015 – Wroclaw, Poland/ After the release of the heart-pumping reveal trailer for Dying Light: The Following, Techland is giving fans the chance to take a closer look at the upcoming story-based expansion. A video has been released with over 15 minutes of uncut gameplay coupled with commentary from some of the Dying Light team – all recorded during last week’s Twitch stream. In the playthrough, fans are taken down the “The Trust Is Out There” quest chain, which showcases some of the core new features of Dying Light: The Following, including a massive new map, drivable and upgradeable dirt buggies, and new types of ranged weapons.

Dying Light: The Following will take players to a hazardous outback ruled by mysterious and fanatical cultists, whose beliefs have unnerving connections with the Harran zombie outbreak. The expansion will be priced at $14.99, while all Season Pass holders will receive it completely free.

Moreover, the 2nd edition of “Beyond Dying Light” Dev Tools contest for innovative fan-made maps is in its final week with submissions closing off on August 31st. Fans are competing for the chance to win an Alienware Alpha i7 and a Dying Light-branded backpack filled with various branded swag. More information and the submission form can be found at DyingLightGame.com/Devtools-Contest. To ease new users into the world of user generated content, Techland is keeping an ongoing series of video tutorials explaining ins and outs of the tools.

Just Cause 3 Win An Island Competition Announced

2015/08/25

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

LOS ANGELES (August 25, 2015) – Square Enix® today announced a competition and released a new trailer entitled “Skydive” that will give North American players who pre-order the Just Cause 3 Day 1 edition a chance to win their own real-life island.

The contest will be an exercise in destruction, with participants racing to score the most Chaos Points by unleashing Rico Rodriguez’s collection of guns, bombs, vehicles and his faithful grappling hook to wreak havoc all over the in-game island of Medici. The more creative and inventive the mayhem, the more Chaos Points players will earn, with an actual island at stake for the top-scoring winner.

The Just Cause 3 Win an Island Competition will begin at the game’s launch on Dec. 1, 2015 and run for 90 days. To receive a contest entry code, participants must pre-order the Just Cause 3 Day 1 edition for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Details, territories and rules can be found at www.jc3winanisland.com.

Jon Braver’s Delusion Finds Permanent Venue – No Haunt in 2015

2015/08/24

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

Looks like Jon Braver’s haunted play experience, Delusion, has found a permanent location! Their production company is now building out the space but, because of the timelines involved, will not host a new haunted play in 2015. Don’t fret, however, as Braver, in a letter to his fans, stated that the location would be able to host screenings, parties, magic, and more. Additionally, he says that there will be a limited run of a haunted play experience in early 2016! So, you won’t have to wait too long for your Delusion fix!

Here is the full letter:

To our amazing, loyal and patient Delusionals,

We cannot even begin to count the strange, disturbing and exhilarating memories (and people) from the otherworld of Delusion over the last four seasons.
Last year, I recall a guest so into the story that he begged our protagonist to sign his Playbill! This intimate, theatrical adventure means so much to so many people and we want nothing more than to share this experience further.

As many of you know, we’ve been looking for a long term and non-residentially zoned venue for quite some time. I am beyond excited to announce that we’ve found a special place to call our cryptic home for years to come! But can Delusion exist outside of the Fall season? Damn right it can. It’s interactive theatre! And strange, intimate adventures, to places we cannot even fathom, should exist any time of the year!

So for limited nights, starting early next year, you will play your part once again. And beyond the play, we’ll have special screenings, parties, live music, magic and so much more at the new space!

Ok, I know what you’re saying, “That’s amazing! But will there be a play this fall season?!” This time around, having recently found the right space, we need to focus on building out our most spectacular show yet. Of course I’d be lying if I said we won’t miss falling down the rabbit hole with you this Fall. But never fear (or do), as we will dive into another psychologically disturbing journey before you know it!

You should know that this is all your fault! You made us do it! So from all of us who create Delusion, we can never thank you enough for your incredible support. It has, and will continue to be, darkly euphoric.

Playing My Part,
Jon Braver – Creator/Writer/Director – Delusion

P.S. You made it this far! You deserve a hint about our first play at the new space:
A misshapen figure sits at the piano, his fingers dance across the keys as the darker melodies of Chopin bring him further, blissful misery.
“Death is… whimsical tonight.” He whips around and faces us.

Son of Monsterpalooza Announces Hollywood Treasures Exhibit

2015/08/24

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Geek News, Halloween, News

If you are attending the upcoming Son of Monsterpalooza event in Burbank, you might want to check out their Profiles in History “Hollywood Treasures” exhibit. There you will find all sorts of movie and pop-culture memorabilia. If you don’t know about Son of Monsterpalooza, be sure to check their official website out for ticket information and more. The event runs September 18 through 20 at the Marriott Burbank Hotel and Convention Center.

Hollywood Treasures Flyer (Click to Make Big)