Archive - 2016

Knott’s Soak City Now Open for 2016 Season

2016/05/23

BUENA PARK, Calif. (May 2016) – Knott’s Soak City has opened its gates for daily operation of Orange County’s premier waterpark. Located just steps from Knott’s Berry Farm theme park, the 13 acre Soak City is the perfect destination for a day of fun. The water park is colorfully adorned with 1950s theming inspired by surf towns of the California coast. The water slides and attractions at Knott’s Soak City pay tribute to the area’s rich surfing heritage with names like Malibu Run and Laguna Storm Watch Tower. And like those at Knott’s theme park, the slides and attractions at Knott’s Soak City are truly world-class.

Pacific Spin is Soak City’s most action-packed water adventure, carrying passengers at a maximum speed of 35 feet per second. This thrilling multi-person raft ride includes a 132-foot long tunnel that drops its riders 75 feet into a six-story funnel. After pitching riders back and forth through swirling water, the ride culminates in a waterfall splash. Guests with the need for more speed can brave the waves from high atop Old Man Falls or race friends headfirst on a mat down the multi-lane speed slides of Banzai Falls. Take in the summer sun and conquer the swells of the Tidal Wave Bay Wavepool. In addition, the park’s figure-eight Sunset River is one of the longest water park lazy rivers anywhere.

With 35 semi-private cabanas available for rent by the day, guests can have it made in the shade. Soak City cabanas are furnished with lounge chairs and an umbrella shaded table, and offer waiter service and free inner tube rentals. Cabana reservations can be made at soakcityoc.com.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 24 – August 7, plus Monday July 4, all 2016 Knott’s Soak City, Gold and Platinum Season Passholders can enter the water park half an hour before it opens to all other guests with exclusive early entry starting at 9:30 a.m.

Knott’s Soak City holds the distinction of being one of the safest water parks in the United States. For the 15th consecutive year, the lifeguard staff of Soak City has been awarded the Platinum National Aquatic Safety Award for consistently exceeding the criteria for aquatic safety. The award is granted only to facilities scoring in the top eight percent of the audit criteria as established by Jeff Ellis & Associates, a leader in aquatic safety consulting for water parks worldwide.

Guests can maximize their summertime fun by upgrading to a Gold Season Pass to ride and slide at both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City every day of the 2016 season. A Gold Season Pass is $114.00 or 6 payments of $19.00 when purchased online now through May 30, 2016. The best prices for daily tickets can be found online at soakcityoc.com.

The 2016 Soak City operating season runs daily through August 28, plus September 2 – 5, and September 10 – 11, 2016.

Operating days, hours and prices vary and are subject to change. For date-specific information visit www.soakcityoc.com. And join the conversation by using #SoakCityOC.

Overwatch Launch Day Activities and Animated Short

2016/05/23

Jerry Paxton

In addition to the new animated short above, Blizzard has released some information regarding various cool Overwatch launch day events! Check out the following:

Clueless Gamer with Conan O’Brien

Tonight at 8pm PT / 11pm ET watch Game of Thrones stars Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey play Overwatch with Conan in this very special edition of Clueless Gamer.

More info is available here: https://twitter.com/TeamCoco/status/734514735559888898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

“Hero” Animated Short Featuring Soldier: 76

Old habits die hard for one ex-Overwatch agent in the fourth and final animated short for this season. “Hero” follows the masked vigilante Soldier: 76 on a personal mission to Dorado where he’s set to investigate the illegal activities of the Los Muertos gang—but an unexpected complication threatens to compromise his objective.

Watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPRRupAM4DI

Overwatch Launch Protocols

Overwatch will launch in all gameplay regions on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 at the same time globally, beginning at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Here’s a link to the launch protocols, which outline everything you need to know for launch day!

Blog post:

https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/blog/20119623

The Conjuring 2 VR Trailers

2016/05/23

boothby

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

May 23, 2016 – Enter the Hodgson’s house from the upcoming film The Conjuring 2 and experience the true terror of the Enfield haunting in 360 video. Please note for mobile users; viewing 360 content requires the use of the Facebook or YouTube Mobile Apps and does not work with mobile browsers.

Facebook 360: https://www.facebook.com/TheConjuringMovie/videos/vb.225980604130526/1095887210473190/?type=2&theater

YouTube 360: https://youtu.be/A6aRkhlqWuE

Samsung Milk VR: https://samsungmilkvr.com/view/MKeqgfa4zck

Syberia 3 Gets A Release Date

2016/05/23

Jerry Paxton

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

PARIS – MAY 23, 2016 – Today, game publisher Microïds announced that it plans to release Syberia 3, the latest installment of the cult adventure game saga from Benoit Sokal, for Playstation®4, Xbox One, PC and Mac worldwide on December 1, 2016. With over three million copies sold and a Metacritic rating of 80+, Syberia is one of the most revered adventure series of all time. For the long-awaited third iteration of the fabled franchise, author and artistic director Benoit Sokal has created an exciting new adventure for heroine Kate Walker and her companions.

The game can be glimpsed in new screens released today by Microïds and Benoit Sokal, and in the game’s new introductory video entitled “Kate Walker’s New Journey”.

In the video, Benoit Sokal and members of the development team unveil new aspects of the Syberia saga’s return. The short documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the game’s production and shows several sequences of the actual game itself. Though some of the visual, audio and voice rendering are still works in progress that may yet be altered, the team wanted to share with the community a first glimpse of the title’s cinematic scope. Another video, to be released soon, will focus on important aspects of the world of Syberia, with particular emphasis on Kate Walker’s new journey.

Syberia 3 begins with Kate Walker adrift on a makeshift craft. Fortunately, a caravan of the Youkol people, whom she encountered in Syberia 2, finds her before her life slips away. Determined to evade their common enemies, Kate decides to help the nomads fulfill the oddest of their ancestral traditions: accompanying the transhumance of the snow ostriches to the holy steppes where they can reproduce. The journey unfolds through scenery that is by turn enchanting and laid to waste, where the young woman will experience her most dangerous and wonderful adventures, with her pursuers always right behind her…

With cinematic scope, unforgettable characters, and sweeping story, Syberia 3 is the most technically advanced and visually spectacular Syberia game to date. The game’s rich and interactive score is created by award-winning composer Inon Zur. Rendered in full 3D for the first time ever, Syberia 3 has been developed for the PS4 and Xbox One consoles as well as PC and Mac from its inception. This will offer players a new level of freedom to explore its beautiful landscapes and cities and allow them to unravel mysteries and enigmas in ways never seen before in the saga.

Syberia 3 is scheduled to be released on December 1, 2016 for Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC and Mac in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Polish and Russian.

Comment, share and find all the news regarding the Syberia universe on the dedicated Twitter feed @syberia using the hashtag #syberia3.

For more information, please follow Microïds on facebook.com/microids, twitter.com/microids_off and YouTube.

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition Coming to Retail June 14

2016/05/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

May 23, 2016 – Nordic Games partners up with Microsoft Studios and Moon Studios to bring the Steam version of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition to retail. The publisher will offer two editions – Standard and Limited Edition – which will both release on June 14, 2016.

“My colleagues and I at Nordic Games were Ori fans from the very beginning”, said Reinhard Pollice, Business and Product Development Director at Nordic Games. “There is a fundamental connection with platformers in our team. Combine this with the unique art style, the gripping atmosphere, and the immaculate gameplay of Ori and the Blind Forest, and you’ll see our team drooling all over this amazing game. In more formal words: We are more than happy to work together with Microsoft Studios and Moon Studios and publish this gem of a game in its PC retail version and give it the physical representation it deserves.”

“Since we released Ori and the Blind Forest, we’ve received many mails, tweets and requests from fans asking for a boxed retail release, so we’re extremely pleased to finally make everyone’s wish come true,” said Thomas Mahler, CEO of Moon Studios. “We hope that all of you will be pleased with what we’ve put together for this retail release of Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition. We can’t wait to finally see Ori and the Blind Forest on shelves and we once again want to thank all of our fans and everyone who supported Moon and Ori over the last few years – we’re deeply humbled and appreciative, thank you so much!”

The Standard retail version of the Definitive Edition retails at EUR/USD 19.99 and includes:

Premium Packaging
Quickstart Guide
Game DVD
A3 Poster

The Limited retail version of the Definitive Edition retails at EUR/USD 29.99 and includes:

Steelbox
Quickstart Guide
Game DVD
Audio-CD OST
2 Postcards
2 Double-Sided A3 Posters

And for those who enjoy playing Ori on Xbox One, Microsoft will – in partnership with stores across the US –release the critically-acclaimed Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition for Xbox One on June 14, 2016 for $19.99.

What’s new about the Definitive Edition?

Packed with new and additional content: new areas, new abilities, more story sequences, multiple difficulty modes, fast travel between areas and much more!
Discover Naru’s past in two brand new environments
Master two powerful new abilities – Dash and Light Burst
Find new secret areas and explore Nibel faster by teleporting between Spirit Wells

About Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is a must-play, award-winning franchise that tells the tale of a young orphan destined for heroics, through a visually stunning action-platformer. Featuring hand-painted artwork, meticulously animated character performance, a fully orchestrated score and dozens more features, Ori and the Blind Forest explores a deeply emotional story about love and sacrifi ce, and the hope that exists in us all.

TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 Announced

2016/05/20

Jerry Paxton

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

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (May 19, 2016) – Leading video game developer and publisher, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., today announced the TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 – North America, scheduled to hit major North American cities throughout the rest of the year in anticipation of the home console release of TEKKEN 7.

The TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 – North America aims to bring together the top TEKKEN players from around the country for the largest ever TEKKEN tournament in North America for a knockdown, drag-out competition through 18 different cities across the United States and Canada for bragging rights and cash prizes. The nationwide tournament series is the only place in North America for fans to get their hands on the arcade version of TEKKEN 7.

“The TEKKEN series is a cornerstone of the fighting game community and continues to evolve and advance the genre forward with each installment,” said Katsuhiro Harada, Director of TEKKEN Project at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. “I’m excited to see what the North American TEKKEN community is made of as they compete over the next seven months in the TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 in North America.”

“The TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 – North America series of events expands upon our tournament footprint that was set in motion earlier this year through our partnership with Wizard World Comic Cons and Gaming Tour,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “The added reach of the TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 – North America events will ensure that TEKKEN fans across the country will have an opportunity to experience the next chapter of the storied TEKKEN videogame franchise and compete for cash and glory.”

The TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 – North America began on February 19, 2016 at Wizard World in Portland, OR and will continue through November 6, 2016 at the Wizard World Comic Con and Gaming Tour in Pittsburg, PA. Tournaments will be held at Wizard World Comic Con and Gaming Tour sites and key fighting game circuit cities. Each tournament event will feature a prize pool of $3,000 with a final prize pool of $20,000 at the TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 – North America finals. For full tournament rules and regulations please visit https://www.bandainamcoent.com/news/tekken-tour-na.

TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 – North America schedule and locations:

Date	Location	Event
February 19-21	Portland, OR	Wizard World
March 18-20	Atlanta, GA	Final Round
April 1-3	St. Louis, MO	Wizard World
April 29-May 1	Des Moines, WA	NorthWest Majors
May 6-8	Minneapolis, MN	Wizard World
May 27-29	Chicago, IL	Combo Breaker
June 2-5	Philadelphia, PA	Wizard World
June 17-19	Sacramento, CA	Wizard World
June 24-26	Orlando, FL	CEO 2016
July 29-31	Columbus, OH	Wizard World
August 5-7	Orlando, FL	Wizard World
August 18-21	Chicago, IL	Wizard World
August 19-21	Philadelphia, PA	Summer Jam X
September 9-11	Richmond, VA	Wizard World
September 23-25	Austin, TX	Wizard World
October 14-16	Southern California	SoCal Regionals
October 28-30	Toronto, Canada	Canada Cup
November 4-6	Pittsburg, PA	Wizard World

Final Event:

Date	Location	Event
TBA	TBA	TEKKEN 7: The King of the Iron Fist Tournament 2016 North America Final

LucidSound LS30 Wireless Gaming Headset Review

2016/05/20

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

Exuding extreme amounts of elegance and class, one does not assume that the LucidSound LS30 wireless gaming headset is a gaming headset. It looks far more like the headset of an audiophile looking to pull every ounce of audio quality from their collection of Mozart or Bach. I assure you that underneath the LS30’s classy exterior lies the heart of a keen gaming headset with a lot going for it. If you have never heard of LucidSound, don’t feel bad. They are a relatively new player in the headset market. However, the company’s creators have a history of experience in Tritton, a long-time gaming headset maker.

While the LS30 we reviewed featured a black, dark gray, and brushed aluminum construction – there is an additional flavor of LS30 being made by LucidSound. This flavor comes in a gold and white body – two colors which rarely adorn a gaming headset. In my mind, that flavor resembles more the interior of a luxury automobile – or, what I *think* a luxury automobile looks like inside. I preface it like that as I am a light pickup truck guy. Vroom vroom!

In terms of connection and setup, the LucidSound LS30 can be connected to an audio source via a 3.5mm headphone plug. The sound quality of the unit in this configuration is fine. It sounds like pretty much any wired stereo headset. However, the LS30 truly shines once connected via its 2.4 GHz wireless dongle. The sound is crisp and seems much more voluminous than its headset form factor should be able to allow. The sound can become somewhat distorted when pumping out a lot of bass but, then again, huge amounts of bass is often a crutch for headset makers. In this case, LucidSound has actually put some great audio quality in the unit that does not rely on bass to cover up imperfections. Plus, too much bass fries your brain – really!

Officially, the LS30 is unsupported when it comes to connecting to your PC via the wireless USB dongle. However, it is possible and I suggest you search around “the Google” for instructions should that be something you are wanting to have happen.

I got the chance to play several of my favorite titles with this headset – and took way too long doing it. Master of Orion, Fallout 4, DCS: A-10C Warthog, Squad – all of them sounded great. On my console, I took the game for a spin with Destiny and DOOM. Time after time, the headset came through with a terrific level of audio quality. The microphone is awesome as it can be unplugged if not needed – a feature more headsets need to utilize, and it picked up my voice in Squad without issue.

In terms of comfort, the LucidSound LS30’s leather earcups are soft, with great cushioning, and don’t compress too hard onto your ears. I did get some ear sweat happening after a while but, hey, that’s leather for you. Aside from that, the wearing experience is great and the overall light weight of the headset’s design adds to this immensely.

Overall, the LucidSound LS30 wireless gaming headset is an elegant piece of audio tech that will allow you to enjoy some great wireless audio from your game console ~~or PC~~. The LS30 retails for $149.99 which, while pricey, feels about right for a gaming headset like this. It also bolsters the LS30’s aesthetic as more of a luxury gaming headset.

[easyreview title=”LucidSound LS30 Wireless Gaming Headset Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

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First Screenshots From Tour de France 2016 Games

2016/05/20

boothby

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

May 20, 2016 – The Tour de France 2016 official games will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in June. Cycling lovers and Grande Boucle enthusiasts will be able to wear their favorite team’s jersey and ride in the Tour as a cyclist on the console editions, or become the sports manager on the PC edition. Today you can discover the first screenshots for the Tour de France 2016 official games, which will come out this year, with a peloton full of new features.

In the Tour de France 2016 for consoles, play as the greatest champions seeking to wear the yellow jersey in the 21 stages of the 2016 Tour, and in other big competitions such as the Criterium International or the Dauphiné. You will guide your rider in the heart of the race and you will have to attack, sprint, counter-attack, choose the best trajectory and make the best tactical decisions. Decide to hit the road alone, challenge your friends or play cooperative on the same screen.

This year, experience even more realistic stages thanks to enhanced graphics that bring the new route to life as you run by the Mont Saint-Michel, the Mont Ventoux and a big final on the Champs Elysées. The Challenge mode, that puts your descent skills to the test, is now multiplayer, while the Pro Team, in which you build your team over several seasons, benefits from many improvements and from a brand new sponsor and objective system! Finally, sprint lovers can now “throw their bikes” and win precious inches in order to be the first to cross the line.

On PC, become the sports manager for a team of professional riders, and take part in a great 2016 season packed with new features, during more than 200 competitions (550 stages) including the famous Tour de France 2016 and La Vuelta. It is up to you to coordinate every aspect of a team’s life: recruiting, contracts with cyclists and sponsors, managing the staff, training and handling the race calendar… in addition to making real time key decisions during the stages. Play by yourself or challenge managers from all around the world in an entirely rethought online multiplayer mode (create competitions, races, rules, co-op events…)!

In this new edition, the Pro Cyclist Mode, which lets you play as a young cyclist whom you guide to the top, is back with more interactions between you, your teammates and your manager. The Career mode provides a more intense challenge thanks to a new objective and sponsor system. This 2016 edition is more realistic, thanks to its graphical improvements, new sceneries, clearer interface, improved relaying of information, and a more advanced AI that takes into greater consideration cyclists’ physiological abilities and also improves shape and behaviors during breakaways. Finally, you will be able to share content with the community using the Steam Workshop to constantly renew your game experience.

The Technomancer – Companions Trailer

2016/05/19

Jerry Paxton

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

May 19, 2016 – The Technomancer, the sci-fi RPG set on Mars, releases on June 28 and will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. A few days ago the Gameplay Trailer unveiled deep RPG mechanics – character evolution, dynamic combat, crafting, equipment customization, multiple ways to solve quests – as well as a captivating story where all your choices will have a direct impact on the destiny of Mars.

Today, the Companions Trailer unveils how all these gameplay mechanics are enriched by the interactions and relationships you will create with the companions who will follow you in your journey through the Red Planet.

Each companion has his own story. Get to know them because some will join out of loyalty, others out of mere opportunity… or as a result of a chain of unfortunate events. When you are out there, exploring or fighting, you may select up to 2 companions in your party to come with you. Choose carefully, as they all have their own unique fighting styles that should complement your own, including special talents useful for utility, such as crafting, knowledge in science, or lockpicking. Picking one companion over another thus has a significant impact on the way you play The Technomancer, as well as there is an impact on the story you are living.

Your companions all have their agenda or preoccupations. They regularly ask you for help or for favors. Should you decide to accept their requests, you will trigger a special series of missions that let you learn more about their past. These quests follow their unique scenario that enriches the main story. Completing these side quests will add numerous hours of gameplay, and will improve your relationship with your companions…

Your companions level up alongside you. Each one gets his own inventory from where you can modify their gear at any time. Equip them with new weapons and armour that you can upgrade with your crafting talents. Make sure to provide them with the best equipment, you will drastically increase their survivability and lethality. And, you can also make sure they look appropriately badass as they run with you around the deadly place that is Mars.

Each of your companions has his/her own behavior, opinions, and moral code. If you act too much against their beliefs, they might get so upset that they would go so far as to leave your group. On the contrary, shine and prove worthy of their trust, and you’ll nurture friendships… or even romances. All your decisions will have irreversible consequences on Mars and its inhabitants!

This is perfectly illustrated in today’s 3 minute-long Companions Trailer!

Forge the destiny of Mars in this epic sci-fi RPG, available June 28 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

10 Minutes of Hard Reset Redux Gameplay

2016/05/19

Jerry Paxton

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

May 19, 2016 – Unapologetically over-the-top and forged from old-school brutality, a modern classic FPS returns to show the kids how it’s done. Hard Reset Redux is coming June 3 to PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

The world as we know it has ceased to exist. Surrounded by vast, hostile wastelands, the remnants of humankind’s dwindling population live within the closed city of Bezoar, but the walls have been breached. As a CLN soldier, you are all that stands between the hive mind machines of The Sanctuary and total extinction.

No level grinding fluff. No pointlessly tacked-on multiplayer. Just a hardcore, no-#@%$-given, single-player FPS. Hard Reset Redux re-energizes Flying Wild Hog’s cyberpunk shooter for a new audience with an upgraded visual engine and rebalanced gameplay, along with new enemies and weaponry.

From developer Flying Wild Hog (Shadow Warrior 1 and 2), and publisher Gambitious Digital Entertainment, Hard Reset Redux comes to PC, PS4, and Xbox One on June 3rd.

For more information about Hard Reset Redux please visit http://gambitious.com/games/hard-reset-redux and follow us on Twitter, @GambitiousInc or like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FlyingWildHog.