Archive - 2015

Need For Speed E3 Announcement with Trailer

2015/06/15
Jerry Paxton
E3, Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

need-for-speed-e3

GOTHENBURG, Sweden – June 15, 2015 – Ghost Games™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, is bringing together 20 years of history and inspiration from some of the most beloved games in the venerable franchise, to create the definitive Need for Speed™ experience.

The new Need for Speed introduces compelling and innovative gameplay through Five Ways to Play – Speed, Style, Build, Crew, and Outlaw. Each drives your Need for Speed game through an interconnected narrative. Built around five real world automotive icons, each of whom is a hero of today’s car culture, they will inspire the player to experience all Five Ways to Play. Earn their respect and build your reputation on your journey to become the ultimate icon.

Action-packed overlapping stories, rich with distraction based gameplay, ensure variety and personal preference. Carve your own path through Ventura Bay by playing different event types and propel your progression by ultimately winning your way.

Speed – Pedal to the metal, high speeds, maximum adrenaline rush. Keep your nerve and never lift off the gas, the fearless always push the limits.
Style – Expression through driving, sliding the car into a corner sideways with ultimate precision. For some, style is all that matters.
Build – Take your car to the extreme through visual and performance modification. The constant need to improve and personalize. Craftsmen build, searching for perfection.
Crew – Ride together with your Crew and never hit the streets alone. Put your faith in others and the skill of close proximity chaos.
Outlaw – Messing with and escaping from the cops. Push the limits and live life on the edge as you crave the thrill of the chase.

“We’re bringing in Five Ways to Play to ensure that your gameplay experience is all your own and helps propel your progression every second, every minute,” said Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer at Ghost Games. “We want everyone to experience that perfect Need for Speed moment – driving insanely fast, sliding through a corner in your customized ride alongside your friends, whilst being chased by the cops.”

Coming November 3, 2015 in North America, Need for Speed delivers rich, authentic customization and delivers on one of the most requested feature by fans. Working with Speedhunters, the game will deliver hand-picked iconic cars, the hottest authentic after-market brands, performance tuning, and personalized handling. Your car will become your form of self-expression on the road as you set up your ride as you hit the streets.

Need for Speed will launch worldwide on Origin™ for PC, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. To join the Need for Speed conversation on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter®.

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Announced with Trailer

2015/06/15
Jerry Paxton
E3, Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

mirrors-edge-catalyst

June 15, 2015 — DICE™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, today announced that Mirror’s Edge™ Catalyst will be available February 26, 2016 in the United Kingdom (February 23, 2016 in North America and starting February 25, 2016 in Europe).Mirror’s Edge Catalyst immerses players in the origin story of Faith, and her rise from a careless young woman to a heroine who opens the eyes of an entire city. Featuring fluid movement and combat in a massive city where you can run free and explore, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst adds a new level of immersion to action adventure games by putting you in the first person perspective. You are not just watching Faith’s fight for freedom, you will experience it through her eyes. To watch the reveal trailer from E3 2015 for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, please visit: http://www.mirrorsedge.com/en_GB/ .

“When we set out to bring Mirror’s Edge to a new generation of gamers, we knew we wanted to deliver on the potential of the first game – building an iconic heroine in Faith, bringing a beautiful, stylised world to life, and delivering fluid first person action,” says Sara Jansson, Senior Producer at DICE. “In Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, you will get to feel what it’s like to glide across the skyline of the city. You will get to know what it feels like to be a projectile who plows through your opponents. And you will get to experience Faith’s story.”

In Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, you will experience the rise of Faith, a daring Runner who uncovers a hidden truth within the walls of the city of Glass. Through her journey, Faith will explore every corner of the city, from the highest, most pristine skyscrapers, to the dark and gritty tunnels that lie beneath. Players will need to master the environment, using their momentum and timing their combat to fight the oppression of the ruling elite, uncovering the dark secrets behind the city’s beautiful façade.Mirror’s Edge Catalyst gives players the freedom to explore the entire city, discovering a variety of new activities, like ‘Dash’, races from point A to B, environmental puzzles and story missions to complete at their own pace.

For players that want to show off their perfect technique or how well they’ve mastered the city can pre-order Mirror’s Edge Catalyst to receive the Combat Runner Kit or Speed Runner Kit*, respectively. The Combat Runner Kit includes unique in-game items including a combat-themed Projection Shader, changing how a player appears in their friend’s game world, a Runner Tag to stand out in the leaderboards, and a unique background to customize a player’s Screen Hacks. The Speed Runner Kit also comes equipped with a Projection Shader, Runner Tag and unique Screen Hack background, but the features are more themed to the speed of their skill.

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst will be available at retail and for digital download on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Origin™ for PC. To join the conversation on Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, please visitwww.facebook.com/mirrorsedge or follow us on Twitter® atwww.twitter.com/mirrorsedge . Press assets for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst are available at ea.gamespress.com.DICE™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, today announced that Mirror’s Edge™ Catalyst will be available February 26, 2016 in the United Kingdom (February 23, 2016 in North America and starting February 25, 2016 in Europe).Mirror’s Edge Catalyst immerses players in the origin story of Faith, and her rise from a careless young woman to a heroine who opens the eyes of an entire city. Featuring fluid movement and combat in a massive city where you can run free and explore, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst adds a new level of immersion to action adventure games by putting you in the first person perspective. You are not just watching Faith’s fight for freedom, you will experience it through her eyes. To watch the reveal trailer from E3 2015 for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, please visit:http://www.mirrorsedge.com/en_GB/ .

“When we set out to bring Mirror’s Edge to a new generation of gamers, we knew we wanted to deliver on the potential of the first game – building an iconic heroine in Faith, bringing a beautiful, stylised world to life, and delivering fluid first person action,” says Sara Jansson, Senior Producer at DICE. “In Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, you will get to feel what it’s like to glide across the skyline of the city. You will get to know what it feels like to be a projectile who plows through your opponents. And you will get to experience Faith’s story.”

In Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, you will experience the rise of Faith, a daring Runner who uncovers a hidden truth within the walls of the city of Glass. Through her journey, Faith will explore every corner of the city, from the highest, most pristine skyscrapers, to the dark and gritty tunnels that lie beneath. Players will need to master the environment, using their momentum and timing their combat to fight the oppression of the ruling elite, uncovering the dark secrets behind the city’s beautiful façade.Mirror’s Edge Catalyst gives players the freedom to explore the entire city, discovering a variety of new activities, like ‘Dash’, races from point A to B, environmental puzzles and story missions to complete at their own pace.

For players that want to show off their perfect technique or how well they’ve mastered the city can pre-order Mirror’s Edge Catalyst to receive the Combat Runner Kit or Speed Runner Kit*, respectively. The Combat Runner Kit includes unique in-game items including a combat-themed Projection Shader, changing how a player appears in their friend’s game world, a Runner Tag to stand out in the leaderboards, and a unique background to customize a player’s Screen Hacks. The Speed Runner Kit also comes equipped with a Projection Shader, Runner Tag and unique Screen Hack background, but the features are more themed to the speed of their skill.

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst will be available at retail and for digital download on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Origin™ for PC. To join the conversation on Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, please visitwww.facebook.com/mirrorsedge or follow us on Twitter® atwww.twitter.com/mirrorsedge . Press assets for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst are available at ea.gamespress.com.

D23 Expo Announces Walt Disney Animation Studios Events

2015/06/15
boothby
Geek News, News

MICKEY MOUSE

BURBANK, Calif. – June 15, 2015 – Walt Disney Animation Studios today announced its most exciting presence at D23 EXPO yet. The event, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place August 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

CALENDAR OF KEY PRESENTATIONS/ PANELS/ EVENTS:

Every Story Is a Journey: The Upcoming Films of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios

Friday, August 14, 3:00 pm  – Hall D23

After meeting the Emotions inside the mind of an 11-year-old, taking a trip to San Fransokyo where a boy genius and his robot save the world, and falling in love with a queen with icy powers who wants to “let it go,” come see where Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios plan to take you next. In what has become a D23 EXPO must-see, host John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, presents “Every Story is a Journey.” Filmmakers will unveil never-before-seen footage from Pixar’s upcoming The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory and Disney Animation’s Zootopia and Moana. The event will include surprise announcements, musical performances, and appearances by the films’ star voice talent. Cell phones, cameras and all recording devices will be checked for this presentation.

Welcome to Zootopia!

Saturday, August 15, 1:30 pm – Stage 28

Welcome to Zootopia, a magnificent mammal metropolis, and home to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next feature, the comedy-adventure Zootopia. Join directors Byron Howard (Tangled, Bolt) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), producer Clark Spencer (Wreck-It Ralph, Bolt), and artists from the incredible production team as they introduce rookie rabbit-officer Judy Hopps, con-artist fox Nick Wilde and a host of dynamic animal characters, sharing footage and behind-the-scenes stories with D23 EXPO-goers.

Aladdin – The Making of a Classic

Saturday, August 15, 6:00 pm – Stage 28

Join Walt Disney Animation Studios filmmakers, including legendary directors John Musker and Ron Clements, animators Eric Goldberg (Genie) and Mark Henn (Jasmine), as well as Jasmine herself, Linda Larkin, and the two actors who gave life to the character Aladdin: Scott Weinger and Brad Kane, as they unveil the stories behind one of the great Disney classics, Aladdin, a film that led to a “whole new world” for animation.

The Shorts of Walt Disney Animation Studios: from Paperman to Prep & Landing, Feast to Frozen Fever

Sunday, August 16, 11:30 am – Stage 28

When Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Studio in 1923, their first medium for storytelling was the animated short. More than 90 years later, Walt Disney Animation Studios continues this tradition, making groundbreaking and award-winning shorts including Feast, Paperman and this year’s hit Frozen Fever. Join the filmmakers behind these shorts and so many others, including Get a Horse!, John Henry, Lorenzo and The Ballad of Nessie for a conversation about this truly animated art form.

Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Celebration!

Sunday, August 16, 3:00 pm – Hall D23

Join host Chris Montan, president, Walt Disney Music, and the Oscar®-winning songwriting team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez as they take you on a once-in-a-lifetime musical journey through the world of Frozen. This one-day-only performance features your favorite friends from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film—including Anna and Elsa––with sing-along experiences and fascinating stories behind some of your favorite Frozen songs.

The Tunes Behind the Toons: Screening/Q&A

Sunday, August 16, 6:00 pm, Stage 28

D23 EXPO invites you to a special screening and Q&A panel for The Tunes Behind the Toons, a short form documentary that celebrates the power of music in animation. From the silent film days when organists played live accompaniments, to the music within today’s animated features, this documentary traces the origins of cartoon music and its pioneers. Featuring interviews with Alan Menken, Randy Newman, Patrick Doyle, Mark Watters, Bruce Broughton, Richard Sherman and many others. Producer/director Dave Bossert will lead a star-studded Q&A following the presentation.

ON THE EXPO SHOW FLOOR:

Animation – Show Floor Exhibition

For the first time at D23 EXPO, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios have created a joint experience no Disney fan should miss. With live demonstrations, presentations and autograph signings with top filmmakers from each studio, plus free giveaways and interactive displays featuring the films Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, Zootopia, Finding Dory and Moana, this is a can’t-miss attraction for animation fans.

An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg

D23 EXPO 2015 hosts the first public exhibition anywhere of “An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg.” Celebrate Goldberg, whose artistry at Walt Disney Animation Studios began with his groundbreaking work on Genie in Aladdin, and continues to this day on projects such as the upcoming Moana and the 2014 Oscar®-nominated Mickey Mouse short Get A Horse! The exhibition features a collection of more than 100 of Goldberg’s caricatured creations of Disney characters, drawn in a style reminiscent of art seen on the famed walls of Sardi’s Restaurant and The Brown Derby. This incredible collection of art is from the newly released book An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the Disney Characters, and will be available for purchase in the Walt Disney Publishing pop-up shop on the EXPO show floor.

Frozen Album Signing

With the purchase of Frozen: The Songs or Frozen Picture Disc at the Disney Music Emporium, guests will be issued a wristband to secure a space for an album signing with Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Tom MacDougall (Co-Producer, Frozen Soundtrack) on Saturday, August 15 at 10:30 am.

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. Through June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

About Walt Disney Animation Studios 

Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Located in Burbank, WDAS continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, stretching from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 2014’s Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6. Among the studio’s timeless creations are Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Tangled and the Academy Award®-winning Frozen, the biggest animated film of all time.

About D23 EXPO 2015

D23 EXPO—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks and celebrities. For the latest D23 EXPO 2015 news, visit D23EXPO.com. Presentations, talent and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 EXPO conversation, make sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23EXPO.

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold and General Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.

The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Returns this October with A New Maze – Lullaby

2015/06/15
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News

queen-mary-dark-harbor

LONG BEACH, Calif., (June 15, 2015) –The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor rises once again from the deep history of the infamously haunted ship October 1 – November 1, 2015. Dark Harbor is thrilled to unveil the horrific new maze, Lullaby, that tells the tale of the ship’s youngest soul, Scary Mary. The chilling new Side Show of Freaks and Oddities, new attractions and new monsters will be orchestrated by The Ringmaster and all of the ghoulish spirits of the Queen for its most frightful season of thrills yet.

Lullaby will take fear-seekers on a terrifying voyage with Dark Harbor’s youngest soul, Scary Mary, who has haunted the Queen Mary ever since her horrific drowning in the poolroom in 1952. Mary was a bad seed from birth. Before her death, mysterious tragedies and unexplained occurrences seemed to follow in Mary’s wake.  She isn’t looking for just one playmate; she wants a whole playground of souls to play with in the afterlife.  She can be spotted through out Dark Harbor, but the poolroom of the ship is her playroom. One must proceed through Lullaby with caution, as it may be the last journey through Dark Harbor as a mortal soul.

Dark Harbor will introduce the new Side Show of Freaks and Oddities that will take guests through an immersive experience into the grotesque world of freaks like never before imagined.  Enjoy a specialty cocktail at the Side Show Bar for an up-close and personal look behind the Side Show curtain and catch an exclusively freaky live Side Show performance.

Dark Harbor guests will get lost in the depths of the Queen Mary’s haunted history through the Deadrise, Soulmate and B340 mazes as well as visit the feared Voodoo Priestess in her Voodoo Village with dark magic gypsies in a setting wrought with shrunken heads and voodoo dolls.

The Ringmaster will orchestrate the freaks and monsters of the Circus maze and its terrifying mad house that will disorient illusions through horrific magic, paranormal wonders and spirited thrills. The Ringmaster, The Captain and their band of spirits including Samuel the Savage, Graceful Gale, Half-Hatch Henry and of course Scary Mary will haunt the grounds of Dark Harbor nightly.

Dark Harbor brings the true haunted tales of The Queen Mary to life, offering the most authentically frightening experience available. The annual event begins October 1 and continues to scare those who dare through November 1. Ticket prices start at just $20 online, with Fast Fright, VIP Passes, and lodging packages available. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.queenmary.com/dark-harbor.

BenQ Unveils Curved 35 Inch Gaming Display with 144Hz Refresh Rate

2015/06/15
Jerry Paxton
E3, Geek News, News, Tech News

BenQ-XR3501_Front

COSTA MESA, Calif. — June 15, 2015 — BenQ America Corp., an internationally renowned digital lifestyle solutions provider and professional gaming monitor pioneer, today announced that the company’s XR3501 curved gaming monitor will be making its U.S. debut at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2015, held June 16 to 18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Equipped with RevolutionEyes™ technology, the 35-inch panel unleashes a more immersive gaming experience by providing gamers with a dramatic 2,000R curvature — the highest of any LCD monitor — in addition to a 144Hz refresh rate and extra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio. The monitor will be showcased by BenQ partner DXRacer USA at booth 5536.

“As the official gaming monitor sponsor of Major League Gaming, BenQ remains fully committed to innovating new products and technologies that push gaming to unprecedented levels of excitement,” said J.Y. Hu, Vice President, Business Line Management at BenQ America Corp. “Featuring a 2 meter curvature, ultra-fast refresh rate, and over 20 color options, our XR3501 monitor goes beyond the specs found in typical curved displays to give players a sense of immersion for the ultimate gaming experience. We invite E3 attendees to try it out for themselves and get a firsthand look at the future of gaming.”

BenQ’s new XR3501 monitor offers a larger viewing area and seamless peripheral views, providing a more authentic sense of engagement with captivating gaming content. With a focus on Eye-Care and visual comfort, the panel is equipped with BenQ’s RevolutionEyes technology. A 144Hz refresh rate and 4ms GTG response time create smooth imaging that preserves the high-motion details of today’s gaming requirements. Featuring 20 options of color vibrancy, the VA panel also adds an extra layer of color optimization to deliver higher color reproduction and crisper viewing angles. Other features include Low Blue Light technology, BenQ’s Black eQualizer technology, and picture–in-picture capabilities that allow the connection of multiple sources.

The gaming industry’s annual E3 expo brings together thousands of top video game vendors and professionals from over 100 countries to discover the market’s latest innovations for computer, video, and mobile games. BenQ partner DXRacer USA specializes in ergonomic and aesthetic products for competitive gamers and eSports enthusiasts. E3 attendees can try out the BenQ curved XR3501 gaming monitor at DXRacer USA’s booth.

More information on E3 and DXRacer USA is available at www.e3expo.com and www.dxracer.com, respectively. Details on BenQ’s full line of gaming monitors can be found at http://gaming.benq.com.