LOS ANGELES (Oct. 21, 2016) — After nearly two years of unsuccessful negotiations, SAG-AFTRA has called a strike against certain video game producers, effective at 12:01 a.m. PT today.
SAG-AFTRA is striking the following video game employers: Activision Publishing, Inc.; Blindlight, LLC; Corps of Discovery Films; Disney Character Voices, Inc.; Electronic Arts Productions, Inc.; Formosa Interactive, LLC; Insomniac Games, Inc.; Interactive Associates, Inc.; Take 2 Interactive Software; VoiceWorks Productions, Inc.; and WB Games, Inc. The strike covers all games made by these companies that went into production after Feb. 17, 2015.
SAG-AFTRA members will picket Electronic Arts in Playa Vista, CA at 10:30 a.m. PT, Monday, Oct. 24.
October 20, 2016 – Developer Battlestate Games has published the first of two packs of screenshots featuring the enhanced graphics in their upcoming FPS/MMO Escape from Tarkov. Since its Closed Alpha launch, the game is being constantly improved in anticipation of its soon-to-come Beta testing phase. Developer Battlestate Games is working diligently on several important items, such as, large-scale online testing and performance optimization. Upon release, Escape from Tarkov will feature massive upgrades to its visuals, courtesy of significant engine upgrades, which will make the game’s graphics even more lifelike than before.
Key graphical changes include:
Improved shaders with added Physically Based Rendering (PBR) features
Ambient light portals (improved indoor lighting)
Complete and improved sky lighting in full daylight cycle
New Screen Space Ambient Occlusion
Contact Ambient Obscurance
New tone mapping
Eye adaptation
Improved SSR (screen space reflections)
New color correction
Reworked and improved most of the materials and textures of characters, weapons, and objects
Optimized terrain and vegetation
Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore story-driven MMO featuring elements of FPS and RPG. The events take place in the Russian city of Tarkov, which has been sealed off by roadblocks and sunk into the chaos of local warfare between private military companies. Escape from Tarkov’s Hazardous Environment Combat Simulator employs a number of custom system modules to create incredibly immersive gameplay and make players feel the reality of what is happening in the game.
The closed beta-testing of Escape from Tarkov is planned for 2016. To learn more about Escape from Tarkov and to sign up for closed beta, visit www.escapefromtarkov.com. ‘Like’ the game on Facebook and follow the game’s development on Twitter @bstagames for all the latest developer updates and news.
Players can get guaranteed access to Escape from Tarkov testing stages by placing a pre-order on the official website: www.escapefromtarkov.com/preorder-page
San Diego, CA – October 20, 2016 – This weekend Turtle Beach Corporation(NASDAQ: HEAR), a leading audio technology company for over 40 years, launches the all-new TURTLE BEACH® STREAM MIC – a first-of-its-kind professional-quality desktop microphone created for gamers livestreaming from their consoles. Livestreaming has a massive presence in the world of entertainment. Content creators actively livestream everything from competitive matches for their fans to enjoy, to video walkthroughs and tutorials on Twitch, MLG.tv and YouTube. With the STREAM MIC, gamers and content creators are now able to livestream with professional quality audio directly from their Xbox One, as well as from PS4™ Pro and PS4™, PC and Mac thanks to universal plug-and-play compatibility. The STREAM MIC has a MSRP of $99.95 and will be available at participating retail outlets starting this Sunday, October 23, 2016.
“With the continued growth of console livestreaming, we saw an opportunity to not only enter a new market, but to do so in true Turtle Beach form by introducing another high-quality product that works across multiple platforms and improves the experience through innovative features and better audio,” said Juergen Stark, CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “Not only is the STREAM MIC the first and only mic that allows gamers to livestream directly from Xbox One (in addition to the other platforms), but it also provides studio-quality digital voice processing tools and software designed to elevate gamers’ livestreaming content to new heights.”
Though the STREAM MIC is the first product in an all-new category for Turtle Beach, the company’s proven audio expertise clearly shines through, as evidenced by highly positive early consumer reviews on Amazon as well as from notable content creators alike, all touting the sound, features, flexibility and ease of use:
“As someone obsessed with sound quality, the ability to get studio level quality from the STREAM MIC is astounding,” said Ben “ProfessorBroman” Broman*, Content Creator on Twitch and YouTube. “I’m always on the lookout for new tech to bring to my broadcast, and the sound quality, flexibility and ease of use makes the STREAM MICmy first choice in all broadcast situations.”
“Just plugged in the STREAM MIC from Turtle Beach, and bam, crisp audio for my PS4 lobby,” said Joseph “Swiftor” Alminawi, Content Creator on Twitch and YouTube. “Using the STREAM MIC, the players in my lobby easily got the best audio they’ve ever heard from me.”
“The Turtle Beach STREAM MIC is perfectly sized and enhances my audio quality more than I could have imagined,” said Mike “SattelizerGames” Misetich, Content Creator on Twitch.
In addition to the ability to livestream gameplay directly from multiple platforms, theSTREAM MIC features adaptive mic patterns and fully customizable software, while a dual-capsule mic array with advanced digital processing supports multiple pick-up patterns for different applications and environments, and a zero-latency headphone output provides accurate monitoring so anyone can stream like a pro.
Full details for Turtle Beach’s STREAM MIC are below:
Console Livestreaming Made Easy – The STREAM MIC is the first ever professional quality desktop microphone designed specifically for gamers livestreaming directly from their Xbox One and PS4 consoles.
Multiplatform Compatibility – Quickly and easily connect the STREAM MIC to the Xbox One, as well as PS4 Pro and PS4, PC and Mac via USB thanks to universal plug-and-play compatibility.
Adaptive Mic Patterns with TruSpeak™ Technology – High definition voice pick-up from both tabletop and boom mounted positions provide for exceptional clarity whether the mic is stand-mounted beneath, or placed on a surface near the user.
Professional Processing Performance – Studio-grade digital processing balances EQ, gain and compression to deliver superior voice performance so anyone can stream like a pro.
Built-In Headphone Amplifier – The onboard headphone output delivers zero-latency monitoring of game audio and voice levels so you can hear exactly what your audience hears.
Personalized Voice Tuning – A quick and easy download of Turtle Beach’s latest AUDIO HUB software gives gamers additional voice presets to personalize their livestream output.
Multiple Mounting Options – The STREAM MIC features multiple mounting options so gamers can use standard 5.8-inch microphone stands and booms (available separately), and its compact size means that large mics continuously falling down during a broadcast are a thing of the past.
All-in-one Recording Solution – Whether recording livestream commentary, vocals, podcasts, voiceovers, interviews or more, the STREAM MIC is all you need for professional quality recordings on any device.
For more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, October 19, 2016) – ScareLA, the summer Halloween convention, is excited to announce the dates for its fifth year event. Faithful to its tradition of kicking off the scare season early among thousands of fright-loving fans in Los Angeles, ScareLA will return on August 5-6, 2017.
Debuting in 2013, ScareLA is the first fan convention dedicated to celebrating the spirit of Halloween. The event has become a mecca for horror lovers on the West Coast and beyond extending the Halloween season through the summer. Attracting nearly 12,000 attendees in 2016, ScareLA is one of the fastest growing independent conventions in the U.S. to-date.
“We are thrilled to announce our 2017 dates today with our favorite holiday, Halloween, just around the corner,” said Lora Ivanova, ScareLA Executive Producer and Founder. “ScareLA, has solidified itself as the premier destination for a fast-growing audience which loves, lives and works in the scare entertainment industry. Built to bring people together to create and inspire, we could not be prouder of our community this season and are eager to share further 2017 plans as they unfold.”
Situated in the entertainment capital of the world, ScareLA spotlights the rich Southern California scare industry and community, from its iconic seasonal theme park events, to haunted attractions, home haunts, theater, film, escape rooms, interactive experiences and more.
For more information, visit www.scarela.com or follow ScareLA on social media at www.facebook.com/ScareLAcon, Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation using #ScareLA.
October 20, 2016 – Drawing inspiration from the timeless stories of Lewis Carroll, Alice VR merges past and future to create a sci-fi tale of mystery and discovery. Experience a part of that vision with a preview of three compositions of the original soundtrack composed by Francois Jolin from Eon Sounds included with every purchase of Alice VR.
In addition to the soundtrack, every purchase of Alice VR also comes a 40-page art book with notes from the developers, a set of exclusive wallpapers, and additional behind-the-scenes footage from the making of Alice VR.
Stranded on a foreign planet after an emergency landing, you exit the ship to find that all of the inhabitants have mysteriously disappeared. Venture deep into a world of wonder and abandoned beauty, undermining the laws of physics and choosing the paths that will ultimately decide the fate of both you and the planet.
Alice VR will be available October 27th for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, OSVR, and standard PC.
October 20, 2016 –Dead Age, the tactical zombie horror RPG from Headup Games and Silent Dreams, will leave Early Access see full release on Steam on November 4. The game, which puts players in the role of survivors of a zombie apocalypse, challenges players to rebuild society, brick by brick, while fighting off the undead hordes in challenging tactical turn-based combat. In Dead Age, you will manage survivors, go on dangerous scavenging runs, build alliances, craft equipment and make difficult story-influencing decisions. There’s a lot to do to rebuild a zombie-ravaged world…are you up to it?
Find out on November 4 when Dead Age hits full release on Steam!
October 19, 2016 – To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the launch of Star Wars Battlefront, we’re excited to announce that Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Ultimate Edition will be available as a boxed retail product in stores this November. This special edition of the game includes everything you need to expand your galaxy and live out your ultimate Star Wars™ battle fantasies. The Ultimate Edition includes Star Wars Battlefront Deluxe Edition, as well as the Season Pass and its four expansion packs: Outer Rim, Bespin, Death Star and Rogue One: Scarif. Combined, that’s over 30 maps, 14 heroes and 14 game modes.
Also coming this holiday, players can put themselves in the cockpit of an X-wing with PlayStation VR in the Star WarsTM BattlefrontTM Rogue OneTM: X-wing VR Mission, free to all owners of Star Wars™ Battlefront™.
Head to the blog to learn about more in-game events and giveaways coming up in Star Wars Battlefront this holiday.
October 19, 2016 — The Royal Navy may have been on the horizon for some time, but now the branch of 10 British light cruisers are finally ready to set sail in World of Warships. The line of British cruisers consists of agile, stealthy vessels, making them perfect for rushing headlong into objectives, while singing “Rule, Britannia”. They are excellent at hunting destroyers, and their low detectability and rapid-firing guns make them efficient in encounters with more “neutral” cruisers. Combine this with their excellent torpedo armament and the smoke screen ability, and you’ll be able to punch a hole through well-armored foes.
“The Royal Navy has such a rich history and we’ve had our sights set on including her line in the game for a while,” said Artur Plociennik, World of Warships Global Publishing Producer. “Because we respect its history so much, we wanted to ensure we had every detail down, to create an exceptional player experience.”
Begin your journey through the Tech Tree in the Tier I Black Swan, and as you work your way up through every tier, from the Leander to the Edinburgh, keep your eyes locked on the end goal: The Tier X Minotaur. She was the epitome of design for light cruisers at the beginning of the postwar period. In addition to her compact dimensions, maneuverability, and low detectability, this cruiser boasts an amazing firing rate, and her dual-purpose guns provide a superior AA engagement area radius. Also, who can forget that a formidable advantage of the Royal Navy is their torpedoes? They have the option to fire singularly from multiple tube launchers. Make sure you get the most out these legends.
Lastly, players who have reached Account Level 4 in the game will find containers with some mystery booty inside. All you have to do to haul up these treasures is simply play the game.
Now, stick the kettle on, whip out the scones, and take a British cruiser for a spin.
For the latest information, visit the official World of Warships website:
Oslo, Norway – October 19th, 2016 – Funcom, the independent developer and publisher of PC and console games behind games such as ‘The Longest Journey’, ‘Age of Conan’, ‘The Park’, and ‘The Secret World’, announced today that its new game ‘Hide and Shriek’ will launch on Steam on October 25th, and as of today the game is available for pre-purchase through the Steam page. Also released today is the first gameplay video showing two players scaring each other half to death!
‘Hide and Shriek’ is a one vs. one multiplayer game where players collect points and scare the other player through the use of spells, traps, and jump scares. Players can summon dark demons, set up elaborate traps, and jump out of hiding to scare each other senseless. The catch is that you are both invisible, and in order to find and scare the other player you must observe telltale signs such as doors opening or objects flying through the air, or trick them into clever traps that will reveal their position.
“We’re very excited to finally show off how the game actually looks and plays,” says Game Director Romain Amiel. “We’ve had people test the game recently, and they all struggle to compare it to other games. The simple truth is that ‘Hide and Shriek’ offers something new and different, and as a team we’re very proud to be bringing that to gamers. You have to experience it for yourself.”
‘Hide and Shriek’ will be available On October 25th on Steam, and will be fully localized to German, French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Korean, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese languages. For more information, please visit www.hideandshriekgame.com. Streamers and press eager to play the game can get in touch with Funcom directly to receive access.
