Archive - 2015

Activision Unveils Gamescom 2015 Line-Up

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies Screenshot

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombies Screenshot

COLOGNE, Germany – August 5, 2015 – Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), will showcase a blockbuster line-up of some of the world’s most anticipated next-generation gaming releases at Gamescom 2015.  With the show opening to trade and press on Wednesday, August 5 and to consumers on Thursday, August 6 at the Koelnmesse GmbH Exhibition Centre in Cologne, Germany, Activision will offer consumers and industry influencers the opportunity to get hands-on with some of the biggest titles of the year.

Call of Duty®: Black Ops III, Destiny: The Taken King and Guitar Hero® Live will all be playable at the SONY Computer Entertainment Deutschland booth located in Hall 7.1.  Skylanders SuperChargers will be playable in the Nintendo booth located in Hall 9.1 A10/B10.

Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing Inc., comments: “Activision has methodically expanded its slate by creating one breakthrough innovation after another. At Gamescom, we are showcasing what may be our best slate ever withCall of Duty: Black Ops III, Skylanders SuperChargers, Destiny: The Taken King, and Guitar Hero Live, each introducing significant innovations that will change the way people play.  Four great brands; four amazing games.  It’s a great time to be a gamer.”

 

Activision’s Gamescom 2015 line-up includes:

 

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Developed by award-winning studio Treyarch, Call of Duty: Black Ops III redefines how Call of Duty is played.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is set in the year 2065, where bio augmentation and cybernetic enhancements have given rise to a new breed of Black Ops soldier.  Through Direct Neural Interface (DNI) technology, players are now connected to the intelligence grid and their fellow operatives during battle.  This elite squad consists of men and women who have enhanced their combat capabilities to fight faster, stronger, and smarter. Black Ops III also offers the deepest, most rewarding multiplayer ever offered in Call of Duty®, featuring a brand new chain-based fluid movement system, Specialist characters with unique weapons and abilities, Gunsmith weapon customization tools and a range of new eSports capabilities.

In addition, Treyarch’s signature Zombies mode makes its return with “Shadows of Evil,” an on-disc experience set in a 1940s film noir-inspired era that follows four unwitting characters that must work together to stay alive while a mysterious, shadowy figure offers them a path to redemption.  Call of Duty: Black Ops III, slated for release on November 6, 2015, is in development for the PlayStation® 4 system, Xbox One™ and PC and is not yet rated. For more information, visit:www.callofduty.com, www.youtube.com/callofduty.

At Gamescom 2015 in Cologne, Germany, eSports will be the focus of a special Call of Duty: Black Ops III Global eSports Reveal live stream. Treyarch developers will be on hand to share some exciting news and features coming with Call of Duty: Black Ops III. A global group of competitive players will also be participating in a series of show matches.

The live stream can be seen at callofduty.com on Wednesday, August 5th at 7pm CEST (10am PDT, 1pm EDT).

 

Destiny: The Taken King

From Bungie and Activision comes Destiny: The Taken King, the first major expansion and by far the largest addition to the Destiny universe yet. At Gamescom, Bungie and Activision are pleased to announce that every edition ofThe Taken King will include one character boost.  The character boost will allow a player to instantly level up any existing or newly created guardian to the minimum level required to play The Taken King. Also being revealed today is the latest trailer for the game called “We Are Guardians,” which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnTYt_lu4CE.

Destiny: The Taken King will be available on September 15 for the PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Xbox One™ and Xbox 360™. At launch PlayStation® gamers will also get access to a host of additional content for The Taken King, including a Strike, a Crucible map, three sets of gear and an exotic weapon, exclusive until at least fall 2016. For more information, visit www.DestinyTheGame.com. For exclusive updates, follow the official Destinysocial channels at www.facebook.com/DestinyTheGame and @DestinyTheGame on Twitter, and interact directly with the developers at www.Bungie.net.

 

Guitar Hero Live

The pop culture phenomenon that introduced a new way to interact with music is back with the all-new Guitar Hero Live.

Guitar Hero fans will need to warm-up their vocal chords.  At Gamescom, Guitar Hero Live is confirming singing mode for local co-operative play, bringing the party back to the living room like never before.  Singing alongside the core guitar-based gameplay has always been something that defined the Guitar Hero party experience, and the inclusion of vocals in the game delivers another way for players to have fun together in Guitar Hero Live.  By plugging in any USB mic, aspiring rock stars will be able to sing to tracks in GHTV and in Quickplay in GH Live, complete with a lyrics highway and note track along the top of the screen.

Revealed earlier this week was the latest behind the scenes video for the game, viewable here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5BHwm5F3c.

Across both game modes, Guitar Hero Live will give players access to more tracks than ever before in a previous Guitar Hero title.  Joining the line-up of songs announced thus far, bringing the total to 100, are the following:

  1.  Megadeth – Hangar 18
  2.  In Flames – Deliver Us
  3.  Boston – More Than a Feeling
  4.  You Me At Six – Lived a Lie
  5.  Blink-182 – The Rock Show
  6.  Rush – Limelight
  7.  Kasabian – Club Foot
  8.  Dream Theater – The Looking Glass
  9.  Royal Blood – Come on Over
  10.  Charlie XCX – Famous
  11.  Passion Pit – Take a Walk
  12.  Panic! At the Disco – Girls Girls Boys
  13.  James Bay – Hold Back The River
  14.  Echosmith – Cool Kids
  15.  MGMT – Time to Pretend
  16.  Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire

Also at Gamescom, Guitar Hero Live is unveiling Rock the Block, the second music festival in GH Live. GH Live is the first person, live-action mode that puts you on stage as the lead guitarist.  Rock the Block is set in the US and takes place in the heart of an imagined city landscape in the game. With its origins in a number of smaller festivals that used to take place in and around Boulder City, Rock the Block is a spontaneously evolving event that encourages attendees and passers-by to be drawn into the festival experience.  Rock the Block joins SoundDial, the previously announced UK-based festival, as the two fictional settings a player will visit inGuitar Hero Live. Within the two festivals fans will play a variety of stages, ranging from small club stages, to headlining massive, open air mainstages.

Guitar Hero Live will be available October 20, 2015 in North America and onOctober 23 in Europe for the PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Xbox One™, Xbox 360™, Nintendo’s Wii U™ system and select mobile devices to be announced soon.  For more information about Guitar Hero Live, please visit

http://www.guitarhero.com, www.youtube.com/guitarhero or follow @guitarhero on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

 

Skylanders SuperChargers

Rev your engines! Skylanders®, the #1 kids’ console franchise worldwide¹, is taking to Land, Sea and Air with the high-octane, action-adventure videogame Skylanders SuperChargers this fall.

Skylanders SuperChargers will debut at Gamescom two Skylanders franchise firsts — racing and online multiplayer gameplay on console. Whether fans prefer co-operative play in Adventure Mode or competitive multiplayer with up to four friends in Racing Mode, Skylanders SuperChargers‘ online gaming is fueled with adrenaline-pumping action right out of the box. Skylanders‘ all-new Racing Mode, playable in Land, Sea and Sky environments, features supercharged racing combat, layering in even more depth and excitement to the game’s online multiplayer component. Skylanders SuperChargers delivers more ways to play than ever before:

  • Single-player Adventure Mode
  • Online and local co-op Adventure Mode
  • Local 2-player head-to-head racing in split screen
  • Online competitive racing with up to 4 players

Fans can augment their Skylanders SuperChargers experience with a complementary, dedicated racing combat game — Skylanders SuperChargers Racing — for the Wii™ system and Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system. All-new tracks, augmented with power-ups, boosts, hazards and more, offer up to 50 different and exciting gameplay experiences. On Nintendo 3DS, gamers can enjoy competitive multiplayer via local play or online with up to four players.

Skylanders is packing some major star power with two of Nintendo’s most iconic characters — Donkey Kong and Bowser — as guest stars in Skylanders SuperChargers. Donkey Kong and his Land vehicle, Barrel Blaster are available with the Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Packs for Wii U, while Bowser™ and his Sky vehicle, Clown Cruiser come with the Skylanders SuperChargers RacingStarter Packs for Wii and Nintendo 3DS. The Supercharged characters are not only playable in Skylanders SuperChargers Racing, but also work in Skylanders SuperChargers on the Wii U™ system and as amiibo in compatible Nintendo games. Gamescom attendees will be able to get their hands on Donkey Kong and Bowser in Skylanders SuperChargers for Wii U in the Nintendo booth, Hall 9.1 A10/B1.

Skylanders SuperChargers will be available on September 25 in Europe andSeptember 20 in North America on the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation® 4 system, PlayStation® 3 system  and Nintendo’s Wii U™ system. Additionally, the completeSkylanders SuperChargers experience will be available on iPad®².  Skylanders SuperChargers Racing will be available on September 25 in Europe and September 20 in North America for Wii™ and Nintendo 3DS. For more information, visit: www.skylanders.com, www.youtube.com/skylandersgame  or follow @SkylandersGame on Twitter and Facebook or @SkylandersTheGame on Instagram.

Nordic Games Acquires Jagged Alliance and More From bitComposer

jagged_alliance_13226021998185

Vienna/AUSTRIA, 5th of August, 2015: Nordic Games announced today that it has closed an asset purchase agreement with bitComposer Entertainment AG to acquire the intellectual properties “Jagged Alliance” and other franchises, among those also numerous license- and distribution rights to “Panzer Tactics HD”, “North and South”, “Giana Sisters – Twisted Dreams”, “Citadels”, “Bridge Project” to name just a few.

The acquisition itself is being handled by Nordic Games Licensing AB, based in Karlstad, Sweden, whereas the day-to-day business (sales and distribution, evaluation of sequels & new content etc.) will be conducted by Nordic Games GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria.

“The decision to acquire Jagged Alliance was an absolute no-brainer for us”, comments Reinhard Pollice, Business & Product Development Director at Nordic Games. “The other titles in said acquisition coupled with the license- and distribution rights to other IPs are a great opportunity to further expand our range of games.”

The Krytac Trident LMG Enhanced is Available Now

Krytac LMG Enhanced Airsoft Rifle Promo Image

August 5, 2015 – The KRYTAC TRIDENT LMG Enhanced is now available at your local KRYTAC Dealers. This new addition to the TRIDENT family is the ultimate support weapon with a 3500 round box magazine, keymod hand guard, and the versatile KRYTAC Battery stock. The LMG-E holds plenty of ammo and batteries for just about any battlefield situation. To find a KRYTAC dealer near you visit our dealer locator.

Stay up to date with the latest KRYTAC product releases, promotions, and events by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Sound BlasterX Product Line Announced at Gamescom

Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Product Line Announcement Image

Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Product Line Announcement Image

COLOGNE, Germany – August 4, 2015 – Creative Technology Ltd today announced at gamescom 2015 the Sound BlasterX Gaming Series, a new line of gaming audio peripherals designed for today’s generation of discerning gamers.

Gaming content in this day and age encompasses immensely compelling graphics, expansive environments and incredibly detailed audio, akin to a full cinematic experience, delivered on multiple platforms, from mobile, to consoles and PCs. Famous for pioneering gaming audio on PCs and launching the multimedia revolution with the Sound Blaster line of sound cards, Creative continues to innovate and improve the gaming audio experience for today’s gamers. The Sound BlasterX line is committed to upgrading a user from “good enough” audio to the full cinematic experience that discerning gamers of today are looking for, wherever they are playing.

The series is comprised of circumaural (over-the-ear) and in-ear headsets, and an external USB sound card with a built-in amplifier to provide gamers with a durable, complete, high-performance, high-definition gaming audio solution that is built to last.

Each product in the Sound BlasterX series is designed to deliver pristine aural performance and maximum comfort while levelling up a gamer’s overall experience by producing sound on par with today’s advanced graphics and game storytelling.

“Think about when you go to the movies – you go for the big screen, sometimes the 3D element, and cinematic sound. Movies wouldn’t be the same without perfectly timed sound effects, and that’s what many of today’s gamers are missing out on with their overall experience – the nuances that will determine win or lose – and they might not even realize it by settling for basic audio solutions. The graphics and storylines of today’s games are the best they have ever been and for audio details to match that requires something much more than basic motherboard audio or run-of-the-mill gaming headsets. With Sound BlasterX, we have a renewed focus on building gaming audio products that last and are designed to elevate gaming audio to complement the astounding graphics found in today’s games. We’re taking gaming from a desktop experience, to a cinematic experience. Once you hear the difference a BlasterX product makes in your games, there’s no going back to mediocre basic audio,” said Low Long Chye, General Manager of Audio at Creative.

The Sound BlasterX Gaming Series comprises of:

  • Sound BlasterX H7 – the ultimate HD 7.1 Surround USB circumaural gaming headset
  • Sound BlasterX H5 – the professional-grade analog circumaural gaming headset
  • Sound BlasterX P5 –  a miniature yet powerful high-performance in-ear gaming headset
  • Sound BlasterX G5 – a 7.1 HD audio external sound card with built-in headphone amplifier

With this line of peripherals, Sound BlasterX offers a range of high-performance cross-platform gaming audio solutions for gamers – whether on PCs, mobile devices or consoles.

“As gamers, we’re extremely excited about the all new the Sound BlasterX Pro-Gaming Series,” said Jason Bass, COO of compLexity Gaming. “When we tested the products, we were amazed by the performance, build quality, how comfortable they were, and most of all, their signature sound. In fact, the team felt that the headsets resembled studio monitors. The headsets delivered amazingly accurate audio and were so comfortable that we felt as if we were wearing nothing at all.”

The gaming headsets are tuned to enhance the listening experience and not to overwhelm. The entire Sound BlasterX range allows gamers to experience an amazing level of detail while being immersed in the gaming experience for extended hours without listening fatigue. The Sound BlasterX series of products offer a best in class audio solution for gamers with different usage preferences. Audio quality and clarity, comfort and durability are important no matter what level gamers are gaming at and the Sound BlasterX series cater to both the pro and casual gamers.

The Sound BlasterX Gaming Series also comes with the BlasterX Acoustic Engine software for PC that allows gamers to customize their audio profile to the game genres that they are playing. It is designed to intelligently decrease distractions and enhance essential audio details in games, giving gamers an added advantage.

The recently launched Sound Blaster X7 with its companion E-MU XM7 professional speakers, offers an ultra high-end gaming audio solution that completes the Sound BlasterX Gaming Series. This biggest, baddest, boldest Sound Blaster delivers an astounding 24-bit/192kHz high resolution audiophile experience for the ultimate gamer.

More details of the Sound BlasterX H7 and Sound BlasterX H5, the Sound BlasterX P5, and the Sound BlasterX G5 will be announced in separate press releases.

Pricing and Availability

The Sound BlasterX gaming series is priced as follows:

  • Sound BlasterX H7 – US$159.99
  • Sound BlasterX H5 – US$129.99
  • Sound BlasterX P5 – US$69.99
  • Sound BlasterX G5 – US$149.99

Products in the Sound BlasterX series will be available at creative.com over the next few months:

  • Sound BlasterX H5 End-September 2015
  • Sound BlasterX P5 End-October 2015
  • Sound Blaster H7 November 2015
  • Sound BlasterX G5 November 2015

For in-country retail store availability, please refer to authorized dealers.
For more information about the Sound BlasterX Gaming Series, visit BlasterX.com.

Homefront: The Revolution ‘Thank You’ Trailer

HOMEFRONT THE REVOLUTION ANNOUNCE 7 copy

Larkspur, Calif., August 4, 2015 Deep Silver today revealed a new cinematic trailer for the upcoming open-world first person shooter, Homefront: The Revolution. Developed by Deep Silver Dambuster Studios, Homefront: The Revolution puts the player in the middle of a full-blown guerrilla war in an occupied United States. The game is scheduled for release in spring 2016 on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PC, Mac and Linux and will be fully playable at gamescom 2015 at the Deep Silver booth in hall 9.

Brand new trailer can be viewed here:

Homefront: The Revolution throws players into an alternate near-future dystopia, where a humanitarian crisis has brought the U.S. to its knees under the brutal military control of a globally dominant Korean corporation. Surveillance drones, armored patrols and police violence have become everyday life in Philadelphia, the once proud birthplace of American independence. However, in the ruined outskirts of the city, a resistance is getting stronger…

On their path to freedom, players have to fight a seemingly unwinnable guerrilla war against a superior military force. Using hit and run tactics, ambushes and infiltration, the resistance relies on surprise attacks and an arsenal of improvised weapons to throw back the oppressors and spread the flame of revolution.

For more news on Homefront: The Revolution visit the official website at www.homefront-game.com; or follow us via Facebook: www.facebook.com/homefrontgame; YouTube: www.youtube.com/homefrontgame or Twitter: www.twitter.com/homefrontgame.

About Homefront: The Revolution
Homefront: The Revolution is an open-world first person shooter where the player must lead a Resistance movement in guerrilla warfare against a superior military force. A living, breathing, open world responds to your every action – the Resistance Cell can inspire a rebellion on the streets and turn Occupation into Revolution, as oppressed civilians take up the fight.

But the enemy has the advantage – superior technology, firepower, heavy armor and air support. Players must learn the art of guerrilla warfare – ambush, sabotage, infiltration, deception – and fight a running battle through the war-ravaged suburbs of Philadelphia.

The single player campaign is just the start – in a thrilling Co-Op mode, players can form their own Resistance Cell and become renowned as Heroes of the Revolution.

Features:

  • • Explore a living, breathing open world – experience true open-world gameplay in a first person shooter, brought to life with astonishing CRYENGINE-powered visuals
  • • Wage Guerrilla Warfare – this is no linear shooter; learn the art of guerrilla warfare and use ambush, infiltration and hit and run tactics against your foe in thrilling unscripted firefights
  • • Build the Resistance – recruit revolutionaries to the cause, establish bases and safehouses, capture and customize a deadly arsenal, and build improvised, homebrew weapons for the perfect Guerrilla Tool Kit
  • • Ignite the Revolution – from oppressed citizen to revolutionary leader, an epic single-player campaign tells the story of the second American War of Independence. The dynamic, evolving world responds to the player’s actions as an oppressed nation rises up in defiance against the occupation
  • • Online Co-Op – take the battle online, form a Resistance Cell with your friends and earn your reputation as Heroes of the Revolution

Son of Conjoined Exhibit Announced for Son of Monsterpalooza

son-of-monsterpalooza-conjoined-exhibit

If you are going to be at the famous Son of Monsterpalooza horror festival next month, know that there is one sick and twisted (in a good way) sculptural art exhibit planned from the mind of Chet Zar called “Son of Conjoined”. This exhibit will feature all manner of twisted amalgamations. Son of Conjoined will be open all weekend at Son of Monsterpalooza, which runs from September 18 – 20, 2015.

Tickets are available now! ➨ http://www.monsterpalooza.com/fall/tickets/index.html

Reserve your special hotel room rate here! ➨ http://www.monsterpalooza.com/fall/hotel/index.html

Jabbawockeez to Bust A Move at Halloween Horror Nights

Jabbawockeez Join Lineup at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

Jabbawockeez Join Lineup at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

Universal City, California, August 4, 2015 – Jabbawockeez, the highly-accomplished, award-winning hip hop dance group, universally recognized as America’s best dance crew, will bring their innovative choreography, intricate synchronized style and signature white masks to Universal Studios Hollywood in an electrifying new show during “Halloween Horror Nights,” beginning Friday, September 18, 2015.

Currently starring in the acclaimed “PRiSM” show at the Luxor in Las Vegas, and following up with a newly reimagined performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this fall, the Jabbawockeez are considered dance movement pioneers having shattered the glass ceiling for dance groups worldwide as the first dance crew to ever headline their own show in Las Vegas.

The all-new, high energy Jabbawockeez show, created exclusively for “Halloween Horror Nights,” will transport guests into a new realm of gravity-defying choreography accompanied by stunning special effects, pulse-pounding music and the Jabbawockeez unique brand of humor. This “Halloween Horror Nights” show will also mark their introduction into horror-themed entertainment and will take place at the park’s Castle Theatre venue, performing multiple times per night throughout the event.

“The Jabbawockeez are the perfect complement to ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ as we continually seek to elevate our event with compelling, cutting edge entertainment,” said John Murdy, Universal Studios Hollywood Creative Director and Executive Producer of “Halloween Horror Nights.”  Their progressive art form parallels our groundbreaking approach to creating movie quality haunted attractions and we are excited to collaborate with them to infuse their energetic Las Vegas show into our ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ event.”

“Halloween Horror Nights” 2015 at Universal Studios Hollywood kicks off on Friday, September 18, 2015 and continues on select nights through November 1. The popular event brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror.  Featuring an all-new slate of unrivaled film production quality mazes, frightful scare zones and a fully re-imagined “Terror Tram” experience uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties, “Halloween Horror Nights” will taunt, terrorize and torment guests with spine-chilling haunted attractions during Southern California’s most extreme Halloween experience.

Recent maze announcements include, “Guillermo del Toro Presents Crimson Peak: Maze of Madness,” based on Legendary and Universal Pictures’ much-anticipated Crimson Peak film directed, co-written and produced by celebrated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro; “The Walking Dead:  Wolves Not Far,” based on season 5 of the critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award®-winning television series, and “Insidious: Return to the Further,” based on the bone-chilling Insidious film trilogy.

Join the “Halloween Horror Nights” conversation using #UniversalHHN on Facebook at Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood, Instagram @HorrorNights, Twitter and Periscope @HorrorNights.  Add us on Snapchat, username HorrorNights for nightly live content and watch the terror come to life on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube.

To learn more about the all new Jabbawockeez show at “Halloween Horror Nights,” click here.