Archive - 2015

2K And Gearbox Reveal New Battleborn Features and E3 Trailer

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New York, NY – June 4, 2015 – 2K and Gearbox Software, the award-winning creators of the critically acclaimed Borderlands franchise, today announced that Battleborn™ will include 25 unique playable heroes, a story mode playable alone or with friends, three distinctly different competitive multiplayer modes and a persistent progression system. The companies also released an all-new trailer showcasing many of the first-person shooter’s 25 heroes in action.

Battleborn is set in a distant future, where nearly every star in the universe has gone dark at the hands of a mysterious enemy. Solus, the last star, is the only beacon of hope for the universe’s surviving population. The fading of stars has led to a great war among those desperate for the last remaining resources. Heroes, called Battleborn, fight for the dominance of their unique factions as all life in the universe teeters on the brink of extinction. Now, the mysterious enemy is threatening to finish what they’ve started, and only an unlikely alliance between the universe’s most powerful heroes can stop them.
Game modes and features for Battleborn include:

  • Story Mode: Battleborn’s Story Mode is a narrative experience playable in a single-player capacity, as well as cooperatively by up to five friends via splitscreen* or online. The Story Mode is modular, allowing players to choose which missions to enjoy next. The modular structure of Story Mode also allows players to replay missions for the chance to earn better loot;
  • 25 Playable Heroes: Battleborn has a deep and diverse roster of 25 playable heroes, each with its own personality and equipped with unique weapons and powers. An accelerated character growth system, known as the Helix System, allows players to level up a character from 1 to 10 in a single story mission or competitive multiplayer match;
  • Competitive Multiplayer: Battleborn’s team-based competitive multiplayer action can be experienced by up to 10 players online in 5v5 matches and will include three distinct modes:
    • Incursion: Teams of heroes defend their base from waves of AI-controlled minions while working together, alongside their own minions, to destroy their opponents’ base;
    • Devastation: Teams of heroes face off in a fast-paced death match and must capture and hold objectives on the map to win;
    • Meltdown: Teams of heroes protect their minions as they march to their death at the center of the map. Points are scored for minions who throw themselves into the incinerator, and the team with the most points wins.
  • Persistent Progression System: All experience points, whether earned through playing Battleborn’s Story Mode or Competitive Multiplayer modes, contribute to leveling up individual Character Rank, as well as player profile Command Rank:
    • Character Rank: Each hero can permanently rank up from 1 to 10 outside of missions and matches, allowing players to swap out augments in their helix skill tree, as well as unlock skins.
    • Command Rank: Players can rank-up their own player profile, unlocking badges and titles to impress friends, and loot that can be used to benefit any hero the player chooses to command.

Battleborn will be playable at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) from June 16-18, 2015 in 2K’s booth – #1001 – in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Battleborn is not yet rated by the ESRB and is currently scheduled for worldwide release this winter for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC. For more information on Battleborn, follow the game on Twitter and Twitch, become a fan on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube and visit http://www.Battleborn.com.

* Battleborn supports 2-player splitscreen and can connect with other splitscreen or solo players online to create a full 5-player party

Xbox to Appear at PC Gaming Show

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LOS ANGELES – June 3, 2015PC Gamer today announced that Microsoft has joined the upcoming “AMD Presents The PC Gaming Show Powered by PC Gamer” event as both a sponsor and participant. Taking place in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 16, 2015at the Belasco Theater, the show will feature appearances and announcements from some of the biggest names in the PC gaming industry. Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer and several game developers will share the latest details about gaming on Windows 10 as well as showcase several upcoming games.

“For us, the PC Gaming Show is the ideal place to speak directly to PC gamers, and it’s a great time to talk about Windows 10 – the best operating system we’ve ever created for gamers on PCs,” said Phil Spencer, head of Xbox at Microsoft. “With Windows 10, we’re bringing the best of Xbox with the best of Windows gaming, including Xbox Live and the new Xbox app, Game DVR for nearly every game, and DirectX 12 for better gaming graphics and performance.”

“Windows is a vital element of the PC gaming experience for so many of us, and I’m excited to see what Microsoft has in store,” said Tim Clark, Global Editor-in-Chief, PC Gamer. “The PC Gaming Show is a celebration of every aspect of the platform, so I’m delighted Xbox has decided to play such a key part in it.”

Presented by AMD, organized by PC Gamer, and streamed live in partnership with Twitch, the show will bring the PC gaming community together under one roof for announcements and presentations from both major companies and rising independent developers. Hosted by Sean ‘Day[9]’ Plott, participants of the show include Dean Hall (DayZ), Blizzard, Bohemia Interactive, Tripwire Interactive, Fullbright, Cliff Bleszinski (Boss Key Productions), Devolver Digital, Nexon, Creative Assembly, Square Enix, CCP Games, Paradox Interactive, and many more.

For more information and to register for press access, please visit: www.PCGamingShow.com and follow #pcgamingshow.

WizKids Partners with Nickelodeon for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tabletop Games

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JUNE 3, 2015 (Columbus, OH) – At Origins Game Fair today, WizKids announced a partnership with Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, to produce multiple tabletop games based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The first two games developed under this partnership will be a special series of TMNT HeroClix™ figures, and a TMNT Dice Masters™ game, both set for release later this year.

“We are very excited to partner with Nickelodeon on expanding the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand,” said Justin Ziran, President of WizKids. “We expect fans of both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and WizKids will be very pleased with the lineup of games we have in store, and we can’t wait to get them in players’ hands in the coming months.”

WizKids has seen great successes in its HeroClix collectible figure-battling and Dice Masters Dice Building™ products, and is very excited to bring fan-favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters, spanning all iterations of the comics from classic to present day as well as the classic cartoon and current hit CG-animated series on Nickelodeon, to both games.

“The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are classic and beloved characters, and we can’t wait to see them integrated into WizKids’ tabletop games,” said Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Global Toys and Publishing, Nickelodeon. “We are as excited as our fans are to see Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, Shredder and more come to life in HeroClix and Dice Masters.”

Wizard World Coming to Orlando in 2016

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ORLANDO, Fla., June 3, 2015 – Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) today announced the addition of Wizard World Comic Con Orlando to its 2016 schedule. The inaugural event will be held August 5-7 at the Orange County Convention Center.

Celebrity and comics creator guests and other details about the event will be announced as they are confirmed..

Wizard World has 26 events scheduled on its 2015 calendar. Confirmed events for 2015 and 2016 are available at www.wizardworld.com/wizcon.html .  Along with Albuquerque, N.M., and Greenville, S.C., Orlando is one of three inaugural shows to date scheduled for 2016 Wizard World debuts.

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World Comic Con Orlando show hours are tentatively set for Friday, August 5, 2016, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, August 6, 2016, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, August 7, 2016, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wizard World Comic Con Orlando is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor.

For more on the 2016 Wizard World Comic Con Orlando, visit  www.wizardworld.com/home-orlando.html .

GUNNAR Launches Heroes of the Storm Gaming Eyewear

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CARLSBAD, Calif. – June 2, 2015 – GUNNAR, the creator and world’s leading manufacturer of computer and gaming eyewear, today unleashed two new styles inspired by Blizzard Entertainment’s free-to-play online team brawler, Heroes of the Storm™. GUNNAR’s new Heroes of the Storm Strike and Siege models are forged with the same commitment to peerless quality, competitive design, and stylish fun that drive each of Blizzard’s unique creations. Wearers can personalize their frames at launch with up to 20 interchangeable Heroes of the Storm temple sleeves (sold separately), adorned with beautiful artwork featuring some of Blizzard’s most iconic characters.

Created from feather-light, high-tensile steel for an easy fit with incredible durability, the Strike and Siege are built with the same one-piece front construction and fastener-free hinge design to deliver a smooth, sleek look and feel. Their gently curved, ultra-slim temples are structured to conform flexibly to a variety of head shapes without sacrificing stability, bolstered by adjustable silicone nose pads for extra grip. The Siege also features a wider fit than the Strike to comfortably accommodate larger game faces.

GUNNAR’s proprietary and precision-engineered lenses reduce the harsh glare and eye fatigue associated with computing and gaming to keep players feeling energized and alert when the action demands it most. Both the Strike and the Siege offer a wide-format lens shape for crisp, panoramic viewing of high-resolution displays.

Today’s announcement coincides with the official global release of Heroes of the Storm, which is now available to play for free on Windows and Mac. Heroes of the Storm brings together a diverse cast of iconic characters from Blizzard’s Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® universes, and challenges them to compete in epic, adrenaline-charged battles. Players can choose from more than 35 Blizzard heroes and customize them to suit their play style, and then team up with friends to fight across seven dynamic Battlegrounds—with more heroes and Battlegrounds on the way. For more information or to download the game free, visit www.heroesofthestorm.com.

The Heroes of the Storm Strike and Siege are now available in either Onyx Fire or Onyx Ice color schemes directly through GUNNAR’s website for $79.99 each. Individual swappable Heroes of the Storm temple sleeves can be purchased from GUNNAR online for $14.99 each.

Skylanders SuperChargers Reveal Trailer

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Santa Monica, Calif. – June 3, 2015 Skylanders® is bringing another trailblazing innovation to the #1 kids console franchise(1) with the launch of Skylanders® SuperChargers on September 20, 2015 in North America. Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) and the leaders of the toys-to-life category it created, expands upon the franchise’s signature gameplay to introduce vehicles-to-life — an entirely new way for fans to experience the magic of Skylands.

At the helm of powerful, tricked-out land, sea and sky vehicles, Portal Masters can engage in a high-octane action-adventure videogame like never before. Kids can speed across Skylands’ roads in vehicular combat, race down roaring rapids and engage in aerial dogfights as they barrel-roll through enemy swarms for the first time. Developed by Vicarious Visions, Skylanders SuperChargers offers a rich story-driven gameplay experience, filled with vehicle-based and on-foot adventures, combat, puzzles, mini games, activities and platforming, set within a variety of all-new compelling environments.

“We created the toys-to-life category and have continued to lead it by bringing new innovations and new magic to the genre with each and every game. First we brought action figures to life, and now we’re bringing vehicles to life with Skylanders SuperChargers,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. “We love making these games because in order to do it well, you have to constantly tap into your inner kid. What kid hasn’t imagined epic vehicles with amazing powers and dreamed about the adventures they could have with them? Skylanders SuperChargers makes those dreams real.”

Skylanders SuperChargers features a brand-new class of heroes, called SuperChargers who are distinct with fresh moves, powerful attacks and all-new weapons.  These SuperChargers also have special in-game abilities that help Portal Masters fight Kaos.  Twenty new SuperChargers character toys and 20 new vehicle toys will be available.

Players will have the ability to customize all vehicles in-game with super cool modifications and upgradeable weapons. For the ultimate gameplay experience, players can pair a SuperCharger Skylander with its signature vehicle to create a SuperCharged combination, unlocking an exclusive mod that revs up the performance of both the vehicle and character. Not only are the vehicles playable in the game, but also many feature moving parts, making them fun to play with outside of the game.  Additionally, Skylanders SuperChargers supports all 300+ Skylanders toys from previous games, enabling all Skylanders characters to pilot land, sea or sky-based vehicles.

“Since first partnering with Activision to bring the original Skylanders® Spyro’s Adventure to our stores, we have believed whole-heartedly in the magic and innovation of this brand, as well as the company’s ability to reimagine and redefine play experiences with the toys-to-life concept,” said Richard Barry, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys”R”Us, Inc. “With each new introduction, Activision never disappoints its highly loyal fans of the franchise, and we are thrilled to continue to offer the broadest assortment of all Skylanders® merchandise, including the newly introduced Skylanders SuperChargers.”

The game’s storyline focuses on Kaos’ latest attempt to rule Skylands. In his efforts to take down the Skylanders, Kaos has unleashed his most sinister weapon ever – a massive “Doomstation of Ultimate Doomstruction” capable of eating the sky itself!  Fortunately, Master Eon has seen the warning signs and assembled a special team of Skylanders to pilot an unstoppable fleet of land, sea and sky vehicles with the power to travel through the reign of destruction to stop Kaos!

To support the game’s announcement, motorsports champion Travis Pastrana stars in the Skylanders SuperChargers trailer. Check out Pastrana having a blast with the Skylanders! Fans can pre-order Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Packs beginning on June 3 at select retail destinations worldwide for the suggested retail price of $74.99 in North America, which includes two new Skylanders characters, a first-of-its kind Skylanders vehicle, newly designed Portal of Power®+ and the full AAA game. Skylanders SuperChargers will be available on Xbox 360™ and  Xbox One™video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 and PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment systems, Nintendo’s Wii U™ system, and a different, unique adventure will be made available on Nintendo’s Wii™ system and the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system. Additionally, the complete Skylanders SuperChargers experience will be available on iPad®. The game will be available on September 20 in North America, September 24 in Australia/New Zealand; and on September 25 in Europe.

Bethesda Softworks Announces Fallout 4 and First Trailer #Fallout4

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June 3, 2015 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today confirmed the upcoming global release of Fallout® 4, the next generation of open-world gaming. The world premiere of the game will take place during Bethesda’s E3 Showcase being held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on June 14th beginning at 7pm PST, and streamed live around the world via Twitch and YouTube.

Fallout 4 is being developed for Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and PC by award-winning Bethesda Game Studios® under the direction of Todd Howard.  This eagerly-awaited game is the follow up to the 2008 ‘Game of the Year’, Fallout® 3, and the first title from the world-renowned studio since the release of their global phenomenon and 2011 ‘Game of the Year’, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim®.

“We know what this game means to everyone,” said Game Director, Todd Howard, “The time and technology have allowed us to be more ambitious than ever. We’ve never been more excited about a game, and we can’t wait to share it.”

The game’s official trailer, created in-game at Bethesda Game Studios, can be viewed at: www.fallout4.com.

Fallout 4 has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

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Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration Announced for D23 Expo

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BURBANK, CA – June 2, 2015 D23 EXPO 2015 will feature the world premiere of Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration—a live concert performance featuring a 32-piece orchestra celebrating the Silly Symphony animated short films and their accompanying music, hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin. Fans will delight in watching selected Silly Symphony shorts from Disney’s archives while the music is performed live in synchronization with the picture, presented using high-quality, newly restored digital film masters. The music will be performed as it would have been recorded during those historic days at the Disney Studios on Hyperion Avenue in the 1920s and ’30s. This very special concert event will showcase the music of the Three Little Pigs, The Old Mill and many other classics. To ensure as many guests are able to see the concert as possible, two 70-minute presentations will take place on Sunday, August 16, one at 11 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m. in Stage 23.

For the first time ever, Disney Music Emporium, the online destination for collectible Disney music products, is creating a pop-up store on the show floor of D23 EXPO 2015. Over the three-day Ultimate Disney Fan Event, the Emporium will feature album signings by composers and Grammy®-winning Disney music producers. Limited quantities of a wide assortment of music products, including Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels vinyl, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Master Score music sheet book, picture disc vinyl, plus lithographs and posters will also be available. Additionally, visitors to the Disney Music Emporium will be able to pre-order the long-awaited The Silly Symphony Collection box set, featuring the complete restored soundtracks from all 75 Silly Symphony shorts from 1929–1939, with over eight hours of music on 16 vinyl LPs.

  • The Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection CDs, including The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Fantasia, Pinocchio, and Disneyland, will be available in the Emporium. A limited quantity of lithographs for each title featuring the back cover artwork designed by Lorelay Bove (Visual Development Artist, Walt Disney Animation Studios) will be a gift with purchase.  For more information on the Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection, please visit: http://waltdisneyrecords.com/d23expo/legacycollection.html
  • With the purchase of select music products at the Disney Music Emporium, guests will be issued a wristband to secure a space for an album signing. For a list of album signings and artist appearances at the Pavilion, please visit:  http://waltdisneyrecords.com/d23expo/signings.html

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Universal Studios Hollywood Launch Countdown Video

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Here is the official video announcement detailing the Universal Studios Hollywood Spring of 2016 launch of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”. One big thing to take away from all of it is that the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey dark ride at USH will be in 3D by way of special, Quiddich goggle themed glasses that riders will wear. This is an upgrade that the Universal Studios Florida version of the ride will eventually be upgrading to.

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