Archive - 2016

Gunjack 2: End of Shift Announced as Google Daydream Exclusive

2016/10/04

Geek News, Mobile News, News, Trailers / Videos

4 October 2016 – London, UK – CCP Games today announced Gunjack 2: End of Shift, the sequel to the critically acclaimed and best-selling VR shooter Gunjack, which is currently available for Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR platforms. Gunjack 2: End of Shift is created exclusively for Google’s Daydream mobile VR platform and will be released in November 2016.

Gunjack 2 is developed by CCP’s Shanghai studio which has quickly become world renowned as a leader in the creation of quality mobile VR experiences.

“We are extremely excited for the Daydream platform and what it means for VR” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP. “Collaborating with Google and developing Gunjack 2 for their VR platform has been an amazing experience. We started a new chapter for CCP a year ago with the launch of our first VR title, and now the upcoming release of its sequel on the Daydream platform bears testament to our commitment to VR in gaming and entertainment.”

Gunjack 2: End of Shift seamlessly incorporates the Daydream controller as players use it to aim and shoot down swarms of enemies, strategically deploy their special weapons, and activate their energy shields to survive the most dangerous situations. The game will also include daily generated missions, ensuring endless replayability.

Presence and storytelling are also core to the new title and Gunjack 2: End of Shift leverages cinematic cut-scenes and voice acting to makes players feel, more than ever, fully immersed and engaged in the action and narrative of the game.

“Gunjack 2’s core gameplay is all about destroying masses of enemies, and Google’s Daydream controller allows us to make that experience even more natural and fun,” said Jean-Charles Gaudechon, executive producer of Gunjack 2: End of Shift. “In Gunjack 2, we’re pushing the limits of what a mobile VR game can be.”

In Gunjack 2: End of Shift players are transported to a heavy-duty mining rig in the Outer Ring of the EVE universe. Part ship and part station, the vast Kubera platform is home, far from the eyes and comforts of civilization.

Everyone fights in New Eden. Some fight for power. Others for money. But out here, on the fringes of space, most fight simply to see another day. As a turret operator charged with destroying waves of attackers, players stand united with their crew mates in defense of the rig.

These are not soldiers, but survivors, the scourge of would-be plunderers. With a formidable arsenal at their disposal, players will live the life of a Gunjack and protect the Kubera, its precious cargo and their crew, from bandits trying to blow the rig apart!

SteelSeries Launches Arctis Headset Line

2016/10/04

boothby

Geek News, News

CHICAGO – October 4, 2016 – SteelSeries, leader and innovator in gaming peripherals, unveils the Arctis line, a selection of three gaming headsets that shatter preconceived notions of what a gaming headset should sound, feel and look like. The Arctis lineup reimagines the gaming headset through a complete overhaul of traditional gaming designs and headset technologies.

With Arctis, SteelSeries questioned everything about gaming headsets and challenged the features that have become gaming headset stereotypes. The company is taking a stand and making a promise to gamers that Arctis will always:

Deliver great audio quality for gaming, music, movies and more
Represent design-forward thinking and timeless style, instead of looking like a bulky toy
Include a microphone that delivers exceptionally clear and natural-sounding voice communication
Deliver the best technology in every model of the line, regardless of price

“Arctis is not a gaming headset. It is a headset line for gamers,” said Ehtisham Rabbani, SteelSeries CEO. “That is how we approached the new audio line-up – with a fresh perspective as to who our customers really are and what they want. Brands have been distracting gamers for far too long with meaningless specification races and options that encourage spending more in order to get gaming-level quality. Arctis changes that.”

The Best Sound and Microphone in Gaming

Arctis emerged from the belief that gamers should only have to choose between the features that best suit them, and not sacrifice the quality of the product. SteelSeries challenged every past industry decision and set a new standard of excellence by incorporating the company’s flagship speakers and the new ClearCast microphone.

Every headset in the Arctis family features SteelSeries’ award-winning speakers, which are also found in their $300 headsets. Powerful, low-distortion speakers combined with 7.1 surround sound deliver total immersion while gaming.

The ClearCast microphone found in each Arctis headset is another leap forward in gaming technology;

“Even the most popular gaming headsets on the market featured gaming microphones that have been mediocre at best,” states Rabbani “We truly believe that the industry has been approaching headset microphones completely wrong, so we questioned it. Why not look into a different type of microphone that would exceed gamers’ expectations?”

All Arctis models feature a re-engineered, retractable bi-directional microphone called ClearCast – a SteelSeries exclusive noise-canceling microphone that delivers incredibly clear voice communication, focusing on the user’s speech while acoustically eliminating virtually all background and surrounding noise.

Comfort Without Compromise

SteelSeries questioned everything when developing the Arctis line. The result is a new ski goggle suspension headband and ear cushions with exclusive athletics-inspired AirWeave fabric.

“We took inspiration from athletic brands and incorporated elements that performed exceptionally under stressful circumstances,” says, Ehtisham Rabbani, CEO of SteelSeries. “Our exclusive AirWeave material combines the breathability and moisture-wicking ability of athletic fabrics with the sound isolating qualities of leather – it’s the best of both worlds.”

Every Arctis headset comes with the new ski goggle suspension design, featuring an adjustable and removable headband that comfortably stretches to fit heads of all shapes and sizes. The patented headband design evenly distributes weight across the top of the head to prevent pressure points, even after prolonged use.

Celebrating a New Generation of Gamers

The desire to acknowledge that gamers are dynamic individuals with different personalities and interests was a driving force behind the product development. The Arctis lineup celebrates the passions that drive each gamer by providing them with an elegant canvas to customize and personalize.

“Gaming alone does not define gamers,” adds Rabbani. “The Arctis does not impose preconceived notions of what gamers like, but offers a blank canvas that allows them to express themselves and dictate what gaming should look like for them.”

SteelSeries’ award-winning suspension design also becomes customizable on the Arctis headsets, exchanging the traditional Siberia suspension with a new ski-google suspension headband. SteelSeries will offer a variety of different colors, patterns and an artist-series of headband styles that can be purchased exclusively on SteelSeries.com.

Unique Selection

Arctis features three unique headsets with the same outstanding comfort and performance, allowing gamers to choose their model based on additional features. Arctis 3 outperforms all other headsets in its class. The analog wired headset is equipped with 7.1 surround sound and is fully compatible with PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, VR and mobile devices.

The Arctis 5 is an illuminated wired headset with customizable Prism RGB illumination and a USB connector cable with a ChatMix Control dial for quick access to in-game chat volume. Featuring DTS Headphone:X 7.1 digital surround, the Arctis 5 is also multiplatform allowing gamers to switch effortlessly from the USB connection on their PC to a 3.5mm connection for laptops, tablets, mobile gaming listening to music and more.

The lag-free wireless Arctis 7 is also equipped with DTS Headphone:X, volume, mute mic and Chat Mix Control on the headset, and showcases a full-wrap ski-goggle suspension design to further highlight the headband. Its steady, low-latency wireless connectivity is engineered for gaming, while a rechargeable 15-hour battery and a 40ft range elevate the headsets prime wireless features.

The Arctis 3, Arctis 5, and Arctis 7 gaming headsets are now available exclusively at Best Buy for $79.99, $99.99 and $149.99 respectively. For more details about the Arctis or SteelSeries’ entire selection of gaming accessories, visit www.SteelSeries.com.

Capcom’s Scary Lineup for NY Comic Con 2016

2016/10/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

October 4, 2016 – Capcom is descending upon New York Comic Con 2016 this weekend with terrifying horrors in VR for Resident Evil 7, zombie slaying madness in Dead Rising 4, and frightening new looks for iconic fighters in Street Fighter V. Visit Capcom at booth #1420 to check out playable demos of these exciting games.

GAME LINEUP AND DEMO DETAILS

· Resident Evil 7 biohazard (PlayStation 4 with optional PlayStation VR mode, Xbox One, Windows PC; Coming January 24, 2017) – Experience a disturbingly realistic PlayStation VR demo that delivers an intense up close and personal look at the game. In the demo, explore the sinister plantation mansion and encounter Marguerite Baker of the disturbed Baker family. Resident Evil 7 is the next major entry in the renowned survival horror franchise, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This demo is making its North American event debut at NYCC.

· Dead Rising 4 (Xbox One, Windows PC; Coming December 6, 2016) – Frank West makes his heroic return to Willamette to investigate a new zombie outbreak during the holiday season. Equipped with his wit, his camera, and a whole lot of duct tape, tear up the zombie hordes with a huge number of combo weapons and vehicles, or just tear up the landscape with all-new EXO Suits.

· Street Fighter V (PlayStation 4, PC; Available Now) – Vice President of the Illuminati and recent roster addition Urien, plus, the upcoming Halloween costumes and themed stage are all playable at the event. Fans ready for a challenge can also sign up for tournaments throughout the weekend at the Capcom booth for a chance to win prizes.

Outlast 2 Demo Available Until November 1

2016/10/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 Review, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Montreal, Canada – October 4, 2016/ After terrifying players at PAX East, E3, and Gamescom, the Outlast 2 demo is available today for free on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

The demo will be available until Tuesday, November 1 only, so download it while you can and make your Halloween a bloody one with Outlast 2.

The Outlast 2 demo provides a sneak peek at what Red Barrels have been working on for the last few years. More features and environments will be unveiled in the coming months, but in the meantime, be sure to check out the Outlastcomic book series, The Murkoff Account. With two issues out of five released to date, The Murkoff Account bridges the gap between the original Outlast and Outlast 2.

Read The Murkoff Account here: http://www.redbarrelsgames.com/comic-books/

Funcom Announces Hide and Shriek for Halloween

2016/10/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News, Windows PC News

Oslo, Norway – October 4th, 2016 – Funcom, an independent developer and publisher of PC and console games, today revealed a new seasonal game set to release on the PC this Halloween. ‘Hide and Shriek™’ is Funcom’s second Halloween-themed game following last year’s successful release of ‘The Park’, a first-person psychological horror experience which also launched on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 earlier this year. Whereas ‘The Park’ offered an immersive single-player story, ‘Hide and Shriek’ is a competitive multiplayer game where players are the ones scaring each other!

“Last year we were the ones scaring the players, this year they’ll be doing the scaring,” said Funcom CEO Rui Casais. “’Hide and Shriek’ is a ticket to quick, fun ten-minute multiplayer matches where players get to indulge in the spirit of Halloween by setting each other up with traps and surprises.”

Funcom’s Halloween game last year, ‘The Park’, was an experimental project for the company’s Oslo studio mainly intended to increase the development team’s experience with the Unreal Engine. ‘Hide and Shriek’ is a similarly experimental title developed by Funcom’s North Carolina studio, developed by a small team over to increase their competence with the Unreal Engine.

‘Hide and Shriek’ is a one vs. one multiplayer romp played out in ten minute matches. Your objective is simple: be a mischievous little rascal and scare your opponent half to death before time runs out! If there is no clear winner when the timer stops, the player with the most points wins the game. There is just one catch: you are both invisible! You will need to use cunning traps and potent spells to reveal your opponent in order to scare them. Just remember they are looking for you too, and if you`re not careful you might be the one jumping in your seat!

‘Hide and Shriek’ will be available this Halloween on Steam, 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 or visit the game’s Steam page directly.

Tt eSports Announces X Gaming Chairs

2016/10/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Taipei, Taiwan – October 4^th, 2016 – Tt eSPORTS, the energetic and powerful challenger announces a new category addition to the Tt eSPORTS brand in the form of the GT FIT & COMFORT and X FIT & X COMFORT series professional gaming chairs, the new GT FIT & COMFORT series also available in black/red, black/blue and black/green color options. Built with stunning streamlined gaming aesthetic and mixed with true ergonomic form with maximum function; the chairs create a perfect balance between desired gaming comfort and expected performance during the most intense gaming sessions. With anti-fatigue design and the highest quality of construction materials, the chair offers maximum customization to suit both gaming and comfort needs of enthusiasts. Both series comes in two available sizes.

For more information on the X FIT Gaming Chair, please visit: http://www.ttesports.com/productPage.aspx?p=251

For more information on the X COMFORT Gaming Chair, please visit: http://www.ttesports.com/productPage.aspx?p=255

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor 2016 Review

2016/10/04

Jennifer Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Haunted Attraction Review, News, Reviews

For the past few years the Queen Mary has set sail for Halloween with a sizable event to compete with local heavyweights Halloween Horror Nights and Knott’s Scary Farm. 2016 is no different and California’s most legitimately haunted Halloween event welcomed fans aboard yet again.

Full disclosure before we get into our review; I did serve as talent at a competing Halloween attraction for over a decade. Those days are long behind me now as I turn my enthusiasm towards a critical eye for the haunt industry.

Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary has long been one of my favorite Southern California haunts. The design team knows full well the massive benefit that their host location serves them and they play directly to its strengths year after year. The Queen Mary has a long history as one of the world’s most haunted places and the team at Dark Harbor takes this opportunity to throw you right into the middle of those hauntings, sending you through the cramped bowels of the ship, diverting you to some of the most notorious locations like the ship’s pool and boiler room, and bringing you face to face with some of the more recognizable ghosts at the center of the ship’s stories.

The mazes at Dark Harbor, for the most part, have character and it shows. One consistent that I enjoyed tremendously is that almost every maze starts with a private moment with a character that brings you into the world of what you’re about to see. Take Lullaby for example. Lullaby is centered around the ghost of ‘Scary Mary,’ a little girl who long ago drowned in the Queen Mary’s pool (true story). Guests are staggered and sent through in smaller groups and are sent down the dark stairs into the lower decks of the ship by themselves so that they can start their experience by coming face to face with the clergyman presiding over Mary’s funeral. He welcomes you, says prayers for Mary, and warns you of what lies ahead. In fact, every maze is built around the concept of a singular character. The aforementioned Lullaby with Scary Mary, Dead Rise featuring the Captain, or Intrepid with the all new Iron Master.

Dark Harbor breaks down like this; Three mazes aboard the ship, two mazes inside the nearby dome, one maze outside in the midway and a handful of upcharge attractions. Of all of the attractions, I would have to say Circus was my personal favorite. Circus features a new layout versus previous years and feels like an all new maze. Circus begins with a pair of clowns guiding your group into fake hallways and dead ends before allowing you into the maze proper which is full of interactive rooms like a knee deep ball pit to crawl through or a hallway full of moving floors. Circus is located inside of the dome right next to the all new Intrepid which has the distinction of being one of the biggest disappointments of the night.

Intrepid tells the story of the Iron Master, the man in charge of building the Queen Mary. You are invited aboard his train to take a journey to his scrapyards where demonic steel workers slave away over molten iron. Unfortunately a majority of this maze felt unfinished as we were walking past unpainted walls and barely decorated scenes. What did work, however, was the wide open spaces utilized in the maze to allow their sliding talent some room to breathe and do their thing.

As far as the up-charges go, they can be skipped over for the most part. Hex is a paintball shooting gallery, nothing more, nothing less. Panic 4D is a short animated film with in theater effects like smell and water featuring CGI ripped straight out of 1998 and an over use of a poking effect that left the center of my back sore after the film was done.

Some quick takes:

Intrepid: An underwhelming and bare bones maze, especially considering the theming found in the other attractions. C
Dead Rise: Loud and aggressive. Avoid if you don’t want to get wet. Otherwise a very fun outdoor maze to cool off in. B
Soulmate: As good as it ever was, although an odd choice to change up its always reliable ending scene. A-
Circus Big Top Terror: Highlight of the night. Excellent new layout and use of interactivity. A+
Lullaby: Classic Dark Harbor, even if its only in its second year. Excellent use of the ship. A+
B340: More great use of the interiors of the ship. A
Hex: Avoid. Instead, go shoot paintballs at a human at a real field. F
Panic 4-D: Avoid. F

Overall, Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary continues to be a standout Southern California halloween attraction. Its a great, and cheaper, alternative to other local Halloween theme park attractions and shouldn’t be missed, especially as it hits its stride in its seventh year

Universal Studios Hollywood Announces California Neighbor Pass

2016/10/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Universal City, California, October 3, 2016 – MEGATRON and OPTIMUS PRIME Transformers. Bart, Homer, Marge and Maggie Simpson. Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptor dinosaurs. Gru and the Minions. Walkers. Wizards and wands…just a few of the most fun neighbors around sharing one awesome residence: Universal Studios Hollywood.

Universal Studios Hollywood, on the heels of its billion dollar-epic transformation, rolls out the welcome wagon with its all-new California Neighbor Pass, inviting neighbors from across the Golden State to visit The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and experience a completely reimagined theme park.

Representing Universal Studios Hollywood’s single largest investment ever made, this sweeping makeover has had an astounding effect on the destination. With over 75 percent of the area completely transformed, residents from Southern to Northern California are invited to visit and experience as if for the very first time with the new California Neighbor Pass.

Chock full of benefits, the new pass enables guests to choose any day for their first visit and return to enjoy Universal Studios Hollywood for more than 200 select days and weekends for only $119. Discounts on general admission tickets for friends and family to the theme park and popular “Halloween Horror Nights” and at participating CityWalk locations as well as special events and sweepstakes opportunities are also included in the California Neighbor Pass program.

As the world’s largest movie and television production studio, theme park and behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, guests can escape the everyday to play hooky with some of Hollywood’s giant stars and take a spin on the park’s compelling thrill rides and immersive lands, including “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™,” “Transformers: The Ride 3D,“ “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem,” Super Silly Fun Land, The Simpsons Ride, Springfield and “Fast & Furious: Supercharged” on the world famous Studio Tour.

To learn more about this new 9-month pass and other Annual Pass options, please visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/tickets. Additional information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Ghost Recon Wildlands Gameplay: Stealth Takedown Mission

2016/10/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

October 3, 2016 – In Ghost Recon Wildlands, you have the freedom to play how you choose. Watch the new gameplay walkthrough and explore one of the many ways you can approach your mission to take down the Santa Blanca Cartel – with stealth.

Developed by Ubisoft Paris, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is a military shooter set in a massive and responsive open world, entirely playable in single-player or up to four-player co-op. Players will discover Bolivia a few years from now, a country turned into a narco-state by the vicious Santa Blanca drug cartel. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands will be available March 7, 2017 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, please visit http://www.ghostrecon.com.

Harmonix reveals 18 Rock Band DLC tracks for October

2016/10/03

boothby

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

Boston – October 3, 2016 – In celebration of the October 18 release of Rock Band™ Rivals, Harmonix revealed 18 new tracks that will be joining the Rock Band 4 DLC music library this month. The first two will be available for purchase tomorrow, October 4, on both Xbox One and PlayStation®4 for $1.99 per track:

Harvey Danger – “Flagpole Sitta”
Jane’s Addiction – “Stop”

Other new tracks set to join Rock Band throughout the month of October include:

Andy Grammer – “Honey, I’m Good.”
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
Shawn Mendes – “Treat You Better”
Sia ft. Sean Paul – “Cheap Thrills”

The following songs will be available on October 18^th for free to players who pre-order the Rock Band Rivals Wireless Jaguar™ Bundle ($89.99), Rock Band Rivals Band Kit ($199.99) or the Rock Band Rivals Digital Download($29.99). They will also be joining the Rock Band 4 DLC music library later this month for $1.99 per track or as part of the “Rock Band Rivals Launch Pack” bundle for $15.99:

Bring Me The Horizon –“Happy Song”
Capital Cities –“Safe and Sound”
Eagle-Eye Cherry –“Save Tonight”
The Neighbourhood –“Sweater Weather”
Of Monsters And Men –“Little Talks”
Pharrell Williams –“Happy“
Semisonic –“Closing Time”
Sia –“Chandelier”
Skillet –“Feel Invincible”
Weezer –“King of the World”

The following Amazon-exclusive pre-order bonus tracks will also be available later this month:

Maroon 5 – “One More Night”
Matchbox Twenty – “3am”

Pre-orders for Rock Band Rivals, which adds online multiplayer and a hilarious new campaign mode to Rock Band, are currently available digitally and in a new suite of retail bundles. Pre-order bonuses, including additional bonus songs and custom guitar controllers, are available at select retailers and will be awarded until the pre-order period ends on October 17. For more details visit http://www.rockband4.com/.