Archive - 2016

First Annual Steam Awards Winners List Revealed

Dec 31, 2016 – The winners of the first ever Steam Awards have been revealed http://store.steampowered.com/SteamAwards/. The winning titles were selected by community vote during the Steam Winter Sale, which runs thru January 2nd at 10am Pacific.

The winners are:

  • “Villain Most In Need Of A Hug” Won by Portal 2
  • “I Thought This Game Was Cool Before It Won An Award” Won by Euro Truck Simulator 2
  • “Test of Time” Won by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  • “Just 5 More Minutes” Won by Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
  • “Whoooaaaaaaa, dude!” Won by Grand Theft Auto V
  • “Game Within A Game” Won by Grand Theft Auto V
  • “I’m Not Crying, There’s Something In My Eye” Won by The Walking Dead
  • “Best Use Of A Farm Animal” Won by Goat Simulator
  • “Boom Boom” Won by DOOM
  • “Love/Hate Relationship” Won by DARK SOULST III
  • “Sit Back and Relax” Won by Euro Truck Simulator 2
  • “Better With Friends” Won by Left 4 Dead 2

For more info, please visit www.steamgames.com

Six Flags Great Adventure Celebrates New Year’s Eve

Jackson, NJ — December 29, 2016 Amid the dazzling lights of Six Flags Great Adventure’s Holiday in the Park®, families can ring in 2017 with a spin on some of their favorite rides followed by a holiday fireworks spectacular at 9 pm.

Fireworks are free with park admission, Season Pass and active Membership. Guests will have the best view from the Main Street Christmas section, where they will feel immersed in the festive music and eye-popping pyrotechnics lighting up the sky around them.

Holiday in the Park operates daily from 1 to 9 pm through January 2, 2017. More than a million glittering lights, lively holiday entertainment and delicious seasonal treats provide an escape from the hustle and bustle, and a way for guests to create their own magical, memorable holiday moments.

Holiday in the Park also features more than 30 thrilling rides such as the Sky Way, SkyScreamer, Carousel, Big Wheel and Tea Cups. Children can enjoy 11 pint-sized thrills in Whimsical Wonderland. Coaster fans can challenge world-class rides like Nitro, BATMAN™: The Ride, THE GREEN LANTERN, SUPERMAN – Ultimate Flight, THE DARK KNIGHT Coaster, Skull Mountain and THE JOKER. All rides and entertainment are weather permitting. Frontier Adventures including Safari Off Road Adventure, Bugs Bunny National Park, Golden Kingdom and Plaza del Carnaval do not operate during the festival.

More information about Holiday in the Park is available at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure.

Universal Studios Hollywood Grinchmas 2016 Review

Grinchmas has once again returned to Universal Studios Hollywood and I, while not quite sure what to expect when driving to the famed movie studio/theme park, had a wonderful time that made my heart grow three sizes that day. When we first walked up to the front gates of Universal Studios, the park decorations were striking. They are a blend of whimsy and class, with elegant ornaments and swooshing lines all throughout – especially in the Grinchmas themed area. It’s a delicate mix of Hollywood and Seuss that they balance extremely well. The security checkpoint was on top of their game, using metal detectors and going through belongings to look for any dangerous items (they have such an important job in keeping the guests safe – please give them some patience), and into the park we went!

The area of the dedicated to Grinchmas is a kid’s dream come true. There is a gigantic, Seuss-inspired christmas tree with some seriously cool lighting effects, as well as numerous activity stations where people can do festive things. Things like decorate a Grinchmas tree, buy holiday themed food and drinks, take a their pictures with the Grinch himself, and even scout out a good spot to watch the tree lighting ceremony which takes place every half hour. This fast turnaround time is excellent for guests as, unlike some other Southern California theme parks where people have to line up for hours on end to watch one show, if they miss one show another one is just around the corner.

Hogsmeade and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are in full form, although not really decorated for the season. We ate at the Three Broomsticks and had a great lunch – the establishment offers a wide variety of food – from beef stews to full English breakfasts! This is where I discovered the unsung hero of Grinchmas, hot ButterBeer. I love frozen ButterBeer – way moreso than the regular ButterBeer. However, this hot butterscotch-y beverage with full head of sweet foam warmed me up nicely on the cold Winter’s day we attended the park. The biggest thing that I would like to see in Hogsmeade is decorations to coincide with the season at hand. Christmas and Halloween are both displayed in the Harry Potter film and book series, it would be nice if story-themed decor graced the land for these holidays.

We ended up hitting the Universal Studios Tour a bit later in the day – I would say around 7:00 PM which, right now, is already in basically darkness. The tour was a lot of fun and, although some stuff was a bit too dark to enjoy comfortably, we saw some really cool movie locations. I finally came to the conclusion, however, that 3D film and glasses are being used way too much by the Studio these days. Peter Jackson’s King Kong 3D and the Fast and the Furious 3D drive-through areas are fun, but don’t feel real at all.

Back in the “good old days”, the back-lot tour attractions were created with physical effects. The best case for this is still in use at the tour – the Earthquake building. That stop is riveting, with actual objects coming loose, fire effects, scary lights, and a lot more. When things are physically right there in front of your eyes, they carry a lot more weight than 3D movies projected onto large film screens – but I digress…

Overall, the 2016 holiday celebration known as Grinchmas is a wonderful, fun attraction where families can come for some fun and joy. Plus, you get to enjoy all of the other attractions that Universal Studios Hollywood has to offer – attractions like HOT BUTTERBEER! You must try it – it is delicious and warms you up from the inside. Grinchmas runs until January 1st, so check it out before it’s too late!

Official Website

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Alien: Covenant Official Trailer Released

December 25, 2016 – 20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for ALIEN: COVENANT! Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his groundbreaking ALIEN franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world.

ALIEN: COVENANT Official Channels

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AlienCovenant.com

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Knott’s Berry Farm New Year’s Eve 2016

BUENA PARK, CA (December 2016) – The countdown to the New Year is on at Knott’s Merry Farm! With special fireworks, live entertainment, and extended hours, plus Knott’s signature rides and attractions, Knott’s New Year’s Eve celebration is the place to celebrate and ring in 2017.

Special one-night-only entertainment serves up family fun for a variety of ages and interests, including a family friendly comedian, swing dancing and more! Count down the New Year with festive music, party hats, noisemakers, friends and family. Knott’s Sky Cabin, towering over 200 ft. in the air, will dramatically rise to the top of the “K” tower as special lighting effects help countdown the final moments of 2016. When the cabin reaches the top at the stroke of midnight the skies above Knott’s will be ablaze with colorful fireworks!

Adding to the line-up of can’t miss entertainment are:

  •  Jumpin’ Joz Band and Memories Swing Dancers invite guests to jump, jive & swing to the sounds of Jumpin’ Joz. The resident “swingers” are always looking to teach some of their signature dance moves!
  •  THE REFLEXX the ultimate 80’s party band around, cover classics from bands such as: Depeche Mode, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, New Order, A-Ha, The Cure, Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls, Devo, and more.
  •  DJ Howly brings the party to the farm for a special New Year’s celebration, with high energy music and dancing taking place at the Calico Mine Stage. Family friendly comedian, Chipper Lowell, brings his hilarious comedy, magic and audience participation to the Wagon Camp.
  •  Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies, four country boys from deep in the hills of Anaheim will have the crowd’s toes tappin’, hands clappin’ and guts bustin’. The best darn tootin’ entertainment this side of the Santa Ana freeway. The comical and musical number can be seen at the Birdcage Theatre.
  •  OPA OPA Salsa Band, rich rhythms, remarkable unique vocals and vibrant music performed by an energetic salsa band will have guests dancing and enjoying the New Year’s celebration in Fiesta Village.
  •  Midnight Fireworks Spectacular, guests can ring in the New Year with a bang as the park’s skies wonderfully light up for an aerial fireworks display that will leave the young and young at heart in awe. A New Year’s Eve celebration is not complete without a delicious meal. Spur’s Restaurant is serving up a special New Year’s Eve buffet from 4pm-10pm; prices are $34.99+tax for adults, $29.99 for Seniors (62 and over0 and $18.99+ tax for kids (11 and under).

This New Year’s Eve, offers an exciting day on the Farm with Knott’s Merry Farm’s festive lineup of entertainment, delectable foods and holiday shopping! A few of this year’s seasonal highlights include:

  •  Merry Christmas, Snoopy!, in this exciting show filled with whimsy and spectacular ice skating, Snoopy enjoys all of the best parts of the season, including trimming the Christmas tree, awaiting Santa’s arrival and attending the festive Christmas Ball!
  •  When the sun sets on the farm, the buildings and paths in Ghost Town twinkle brightly to the beat of a holiday favorite as snow gently falls on all guests. Park guests can enjoy more of the nightly snow and glow experience in most of Ghost Town, from School House Road to the Saloon and down to the Assay Office.
  •  For the first time ever, the bustling streets of Calico are overflowing with seasonal joy as its gleeful citizens, from this summer’s Ghost Town Alive!, help guests celebrate the holidays with Christmas in Calico.
  •  Another nighttime tradition at Knott’s Merry Farm is the joyous Tree Lighting Ceremony, and this year it takes place at the recently added Calico Park. This all-new Calico Tree lighting Ceremony features the Calico Bell Choir and the Citizens of Calico as they join together around the tree for an illuminating Christmas celebration.
  •  The holiday season celebration continues at Camp Snoopy, with an all-new show debuting at the Camp Snoopy Theatre, A Peanuts Guide to Christmas, features delightful mash ups of holiday songs with a cheerful and heartwarming dose of the Peanuts gang.
  •  In the intimate setting of Ghost Town’s historic Bird Cage Theatre, catch a live performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or O. Henry’s A Gift of the Magi.
  •  Savor the ultimate comfort foods with Knott’s world-famous holiday treats. Santa’s Christmas Cabin serves up holiday delights like Santa’s homemade cookies, mouthwatering pastries, winter wine, craft beer, and more. Guests can also enjoy the fresh made-to-order, churros from the Churro Factory, cakes, cookies, muffins, as well as the legendary cooking at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant.
  •  Relax and unwind in Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village, as Ghost Town transforms into a shopping wonderland filled with dozens of local artisans selling their unique gifts.

Knott’s New Year’s Eve Celebration is included with regular daytime admission. Park hours on New Year’s Eve are 10am to 1am. A 2017 Knott’s Season Pass is a great way to visit on New Year’s Eve. 2017 passes offer a year of family fun and includes one free visit in 2016, including the New Year’s event.

And for a limited time, Season Passes can be purchased online starting at $90.00, the best price of the year. To purchase Season Passes or tickets, or for more information about Knott’s Berry Farm, visit www.knotts.com or download the Knott’s mobile app for your smartphone today. And join the conversation using #KnottsNYE.

Vampyr The Darkness Within Trailer

December 22, 2016 – Dontnod Entertainment’s new action RPG Vampyr today unveils a new cinematic trailer depicting the legends and tales of its mysterious protagonist, Dr Jonathan Reid. Set in 1918 London during a deadly bout of the Spanish Flu that left London’s alleys and promenade’s wailing in agony, Dr Reid awakes having arrived home from serving in the Great War with a deathly new ailment: vampirism. A Doctor, Reid considers his affliction another disease. As he tries to understand and to live with it, he desperately tries to continue his life as a doctor, helping those stricken with flu.

Watch today’s trailer to hear whispers in the night from Vampyr’s many citizens – each with their own names, back stories, and daily lives. When Vampyr releases in 2017 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, it will be you who decides whether to shrug off his ghoulish reputation, or lay waste to London’s already troubled streets.

In Vampyr, every citizen killed will affect London’s safety. From shop closures to missing kin, the act of killing is unavoidable, but who you kill, and how, is in your hands. Every civilian can be killed, or saved – but as hordes of vampire hunters prowl the streets, growing strong on the blood of the weak will be ever more tempting.

Embrace the legend in Vampyr, coming 2017 to PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Age of Conan Composer Returns for Conan Exiles

Oslo, Norway – December 22nd, 2016 – Funcom is thrilled to announce that Knut Avenstroup Haugen, the award-winning composer of the beloved and critically acclaimed ‘Age of Conan’ soundtrack, will once again return to produce new music for the world’s most famous barbarian. Haugen is joining Funcom to create an all-new soundtrack for the studio’s upcoming open-world survival game ‘Conan Exiles’ which enters Early Access on PC January 31st, 2017, followed by Xbox One Game Preview in Spring 2017.

“We are incredibly excited to have Knut join us once again,” says Creative Director at Funcom, Joel Bylos. “The music he created for ‘Age of Conan’ stands among the best ever made for gaming, and it helped bring the world of Hyboria to life for millions of players all around the world. We have listened to some of what he is working on for ‘Conan Exiles’ and all we can say is that players have something truly special to look forward to.”

“Returning to the Conan universe is an absolute pleasure, and I am very happy to once again be working with the team at Funcom,” says Knut Avenstroup Haugen. “The world of Conan is incredibly rich in culture and history, and it is a fantastic source of inspiration that allows me as a composer to explore a variety of different musical themes and soundscapes.”

The music for ‘Age of Conan’ as well as its expansions has received nominations for Best Score from several prestigious awards. Knut Avenstroup Haugen won the Best Original Song award at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for ‘Age of Conan: The Savage Coast of Turan’ and also won Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media from the International Film Music Critics Association. The original ‘Age of Conan’ soundtrack is available on Amazon.com for streaming and purchase. The soundtrack to ‘Conan Exiles’ will be made available after the launch of Early Access on PC. In addition to the sample released today, some of the new music will also be made available through various ‘Conan Exiles´ videos to be released in January.

Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set in the brutal lands of Conan the Barbarian, the world’s greatest fantasy hero. The game can be played on private and public servers, either in multiplayer or local single-player. In the world of Conan Exiles, survival is more than tracking down food and water. Journey through a vast, seamless world filled with the ruins of ancient civilizations, uncovering its dark history and buried secrets as you seek to conquer and dominate the exiled lands. Conan Exiles will be released into Early Access on the PC on 31 January 2017 and will hit the Xbox One Game Preview Program in Spring 2017.

You can learn more about Conan Exiles on www.conanexiles.com.

New German Destroyers Sail into World of Warships

December 21, 2016 — German reinforcements are ready to set sail and make waves in World of Warships. A branch of nine destroyers, starting from the Tier II V-25 to the Tier X Z-52 will unleash their devastating torpedoes to take on the mightiest of enemies in their path.

The Z-52 was one of the last German destroyers to be designed and laid down before the end of World War II. Her dimensions are considered to be quite large for your typical destroyer. Thanks to her dual-purpose artillery and current (for the period) automatic AA mounts, this ship boasts very powerful AA defense.

“We’re always excited to introduce a new ship branch with exclusive features to our players,” said Artur Plociennik, World of Warships Global Publishing Producer. “German destroyers excel in a number of tactical setups, and their torpedo armament is excellent and well-rounded. I’m really looking forward to seeing how players use these ships in battle.”

The Hydroacoustic Search consumable is definitely a boon for German destroyers. Combine this with the good ballistic property of their guns and their excellent torpedo armament, and these ships can be truly dangerous adversaries for enemy vessels. However, you should be wary of battleships and heavy cruisers, and plan your attacks against these ships in advance.

You can also check out your German destroyers on the new River Thames in-game Port.

For the latest information, visit the official World of Warships website:

War Thunder Open Beta Ends Game Launched

Dec 20th, 2016 — Gaijin Entertainment today announced that update 1.65 ‘Way of the Samurai’ marks the release of the originally proposed War Thunder game and ends Open Beta with all current in-game nations featuring their own aircraft and tank trees. The introduction of ships also means that War Thunder now takes the fight to land, air and sea to complement the game. Gaijin Entertainment will continue its commitment to improving the game through regular updates, as they progress toward the research trees of War Thunder Ships, which currently reside in pre-beta testing.

“After reaching this important development milestone, which marks the end of Open Beta, the goals set out for War Thunder in 2012 are now complete. We will focus on adding new features and improvements, to let virtual pilots, tankers and navy captains enjoy one of the most realistic, extensive and accessible war simulations of all time”, says Kirill Yudintsev, Creative Director of Gaijin Entertainment.

War Thunder’s ‘Way of the Samurai’ update will focus on completing the Armor of the Imperial Japanese Army, which adds 30 armored ground forces vehicles, featuring a full range of light and medium tanks as well as self-propelled guns and anti-aircraft vehicles modeled on interwar vehicles to proven mid-war workhorses and modern developments of the Cold War era.

Update 1.65 includes the integration of cockpit interiors for all aircraft with working gauges and indicators. The update contains two new maps for ground and combined arms combat, “Abandoned Factory” and “38th Parallel”. While the first challenges tankers and air support to identify targets in a maze of industrial workshops and loading bays, the latter propels players into the Korean peninsula and is the first ground combat location based on a post-World War II setting.  It also contains a dozen additional ground and air vehicles for other nations bringing the total number of available vehicles to more than 800.

In 2017, Gaijin plans to focus on two major game modes for War Thunder, the previously announced World War mode that allows players to experience massive operations across different theatres of World War II, as well as the full release of War Thunder Naval Forces for all nations.

Work will continue working on additional features such as adding new nations, new game modes and further improvements to eSport and other forms of competitive play.

Gaijin Entertainment also used the opportunity of War Thunder’s release to congratulate players with the start of a series of holiday timed events and specials. Everyone logging in to the game until New Year’s will receive a progression booster as a present. In addition, the holiday season will bring a variety of events where players can unlock several Premium vehicles and other content for free.

To find out more head over to the War Thunder devblog page here:

http://warthunder.com/en/news/?tags=Development

beyerdynamic Announces New MMX 300 Premium Gaming Headset

CES South Hall Booth 20639, January 2017 – The MMX 300 premium headset has received an excellent reputation among gamers and reviewers for years. Whether listening or speaking, the headset is seen as a reference when it comes to crystal-­clear sound and maximum speech intelligibility. For 2017, engineers at beyerdynamic are ready to unveil the MMX 300 Second Generation- the ultimate headset for high-level gaming.

Flexible, detachable cable concept for PC and console

The connection cable on the new MMX 300 is made from the same robust polyurethane as its predecessor, but is now detachable. The cable thus not only withstands pressure exerted by office chairs rolling over it, it also survives someone standing on it in the heat of battle: rather than tear the headset from the wearer’s head, the connector coupling releases effortlessly from the housing.

The 1.2 meter long basic cable is ideal for connection to the controller of a gaming console such as the PS4 or Xbox One. It also performs very well on laptops, smartphones or tablets. The remote control in the cable controls important functions such as volume and mutes the microphone when privacy is required. Because gaming PCs are often positioned beneath the desk, a special extension cable is included. This cable doubles the range of movement to 2.4 meters and adapts the four-pin connector to the separate microphone and headphone jacks of the sound card.

Uncompromising sound in stylish housing

The new matte black housing color can be regarded as a visual understatement. That’s because the MMX 300 is still a fully featured HiFi headphone with a cockpit-proven microphone. It takes its construction from pilot headsets, which beyerdynamic developed for the private aviation sector. The closed design attenuates ambient noise by a sensational 18 decibels – of immeasurable value at turbulent LAN parties.

Added to this is a tonal precision that gives players a critical strategic advantage. Whether creeping steps or rustling in the bushes as the enemy approaches from the rear, the MMX 300 Second Generation brings out the finest details that cannot be heard with other headsets.

The headset also works outstandingly in the opposite direction. The cardioid true condenser microphone transmits speech so clearly that it seems like online gaming team members are in the same room. Every command hits home and no word is missed, because the noise cancellation reliably suppresses distracting ambient noise. This is also noticeable when streaming games on Twitch TV and other online portals – where viewers need to understand the commentary of the gamer as effectively as possible.

beyerdynamic Manufaktur quality

The indestructible construction of the MMX 300 Second Generation is made possible with sprung steel headbands and solid aluminium yokes. Like all premium headphones from beyerdynamic, it is handcrafted at the company’s headquarters in Heilbronn, Germany.

The “Made in Germany” principle offers the advantage that the MMX 300 is also available for customization. The unique beyerdynamic Manufaktur allows individualists to custom-design their headsets and adapt them to suit their personal preferences (beyerdynamic.com/shop/mf/manufaktur.html). Personalized name engraving is just as much part of the package as the different ear pad covers and housing surfaces – ranging from a black high-gloss look for secret agents, to a bulletproof carbon look.

All in all, beyerdynamic’s best headset has just got a little better again- whether for gaming, Skyping, or relaxing and listening to music. That is the undoubted claim of its reference status.

Visitors to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) can see for themselves from January 5-8 2017 at the beyerdynamic booth (South Hall, booth #20639) in Las Vegas.
 
The MMX 300 Second Generation will be available in February 2017 through authorized dealers, or directly via the manufacturer at beyerdynamic.com