Archive - 2017

The Jim Henson Company and McFarlane Announce Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal Figures

2017/05/19
boothby
Geek News, News

Tempe, AZ and Hollywood, CA – May 19, 2017 –The Jim Henson Company has partnered with McFarlane Toys, which will harken back to its roots of “Movie Maniacs” to create figures of classic characters from two of Henson’s most well-known features Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.

Directed by visionary Jim Henson and executive produced by George Lucas, Labyrinth is a fanboy favorite and wonder of puppetry. Stuck babysitting her brother, teenager Sarah, resentfully wishes The Goblin King (memorably portrayed by David Bowie) can take him away. When her wish comes true, Sarah must head into the Labyrinth herself to save him. Since its 1986 release the film has garnered a cult popularity and is still reveled in today’s era as a timeless classic.

The Dark Crystal, directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, brilliantly weaves a timeless myth of good and evil. In another time, The Dark Crystal, a source of balance and truth in the universe, was broken, dividing the world into two factions; the wicked Skeksis and the peaceful Mystics. Now, as the convergence of the three suns approaches, the crystal must be healed, or darkness will reign forever. The Dark Crystal’s fanbase has only risen since the film’s debut and has also developed a cult following of fans across the world.

McFarlane Toys has produced highly detailed figures and construction sets for various entertainment properties and this collaboration with The Jim Henson Company will give fans of these iconic films new and unique action figures that are “true to life” replicas of their on-screen personas.

The upcoming toys will include a 7-inch figure of Labyrinth’s Jareth The Goblin King, and for The Dark Crystal, fans can look forward to figures of Jen and Kira. Each figure will be highly detailed and come fully articulated to recreate infamous movie scenes. These figures will also debut in new window box collector packaging and will come with Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal branded detailed bases.

“Fans of both Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal continue to grow, while both brands also enjoy the passionate and loyal support of committed followers for decades,” said Vice President of Global Consumer Products for The Jim Henson Company, Federico San Martin.  “We are looking forward to McFarlane toys introducing the characters that defined these classic adventures to our legions of fans around the world.”

“Jim Henson was one of the most visually creative minds, and these incredible movies are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Todd McFarlane, Owner and CEO of McFarlane Toys. “We pride ourselves on our creativity and attention to detail, and to be able to make figures of these iconic characters is something pretty special.”

McFarlane Toys’ Labyrinth Jareth The Goblin King figure will be available at major retailers this November carrying an MSRP: $19.99 (and now available for pre-order, HERE).  The Dark Crystal Jen and Kira figures are slated to release Spring 2018.  For more information about The Jim Henson Company visit www.henson.com. For more information about everything McFarlane Toys, fans are encouraged to check out www.mcfarlane.com as well as the McFarlane social media channels for updates and news.

Midsummer Scream’s Scream Park Presentation Schedule

2017/05/19
boothby
Geek News, Halloween, News

Here is the schedule for Midsummer Scream’s “scream park” presentations. A scream park, for those of you who don’t know, is a large haunted event with multiple haunted houses to be experienced therein. The Midsummer Scream Halloween / horror convention will run on July 29 and July 30 at the Long Beach Convention Center. You can find ticket information and more at their official website.

Saturday, July 29

  • 1:30pm: Knott’s Scary Farm
  • 3:00pm: Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest
  • 6:00pm: Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor

Sunday, July 30

  • 1:30pm: Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights

TEKKEN 7 Story Trailer Released

2017/05/19
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

May 19, 2017 – TEKKEN 7 is but the latest chapter of the TEKKEN saga, complete with its own twists and turns that are sure to draw players into the drama of this long running saga. Today we’re sharing a new TEKKEN 7 Storyline Trailer to give everyone a glimpse of what to expect when the bone-crushing action begins on June 2, 2017 as TEKKEN 7 launches on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PCs in the Americas.

We’re only weeks away from launching TEKKEN 7, are you ready for the next battle? We’ll see on June 2nd.

The Shining Coming to Halloween Horror Nights

2017/05/19
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., ORLANDO, Fla. (May 19, 2017) – For the first time ever, the psychological  horror film, The Shining, will bring unspeakable terror to “Halloween Horror Nights” in terrifying new mazes opening at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, beginning this September.

The twisted minds behind the nation’s best, most intense Halloween events will bring every gruesome moment and paranormal haunting that fans have seen in the film to life in original, disturbingly authentic mazes.

“The Shining” maze at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights will provide guests with a unique opportunity to relive some of the film’s most iconic, and sinister, moments.  While venturing through the eerie Overlook Hotel, guests will be thrust into the hotel’s tragic history of murder and madness, bearing witness to caretaker Jack Torrance’s spiraling descent into insanity. Nightmarish visions will come to life in this macabre maze, overwhelming guests with the “shine” of the murderous, ghostly entities that lurk around every turn – all while trying to escape the wrath of Jack Torrance as he violently succumbs to the hotel’s paranormal forces.

The Shining has been regarded as “a masterpiece of modern horror” by critics and fans alike. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film’s enormous influence on pop culture has been captured throughout a multitude of films, television shows, music and more since its disturbing debut in 1980.

Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 20 years, guests from around the world have visited Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood and Orlando to become victims inside their own horror film. The streets of each coast’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing “scare-actors” lunge from every darkened corner. Multiple movie-quality haunted houses are erected throughout the event, based on everything from iconic slasher films to hit horror television series to haunting original stories.

Additional details about Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” will be revealed soon. For more information about Halloween Horror Nights at either Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Shadow Warrior 2 Console Launch Trailer

2017/05/19
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

Austin, TX  – Flying Wild Hog and Devolver Digital have announced that the katana-heavy first-person shooter Shadow Warrior 2 is now available digitally on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. For a limited time, eager ninjas can get Shadow Warrior 2 for a discounted price of $34.99 along with a free download of the Shadow Warrior for Xbox One or PlayStation 4 [shadowwarrior.com].

Shadow Warrior 2 makes its move to consoles after a successful debut on PC late last year, taking the trademark Shadow Warrior melee combat and outlandish style to the next. A stunning evolution of Flying Wild Hog’s reboot, Shadow Warrior 2 ratchets up the action with online cooperative campaign mode, scores of unique weapon combinations, and a stunning mix of hand designed and procedurally generated worlds. Players assume the role of smart mouthed corporate shogun Lo Wang to wield a devastating combination of guns, blades, magic and wit to strike down the demonic legions overwhelming the world he inadvertently corrupted.

“Flying Wild Hog is excited and relieved to finally bring our biggest and best project to the PlayStation and Xbox communities,” said Michal Szustak, Studio Director at developer Flying Wild Hog. “Shadow Warrior 2 is a huge accomplishment for our little team and a new benchmark for the series so we hope that both our fans and new comers enjoy Lo Wang’s latest misadventures.”

Shadow Warrior 2 is available now on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. For news and information on the series, follow @ShadowWarrior on Twitter or visit shadowwarrior.com.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Continuum Available Now

2017/05/18
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Santa Monica, CA – May 18, 2017 – Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Continuum, the second DLC Map Pack for the game, is available now on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC. Continuum delivers four new maps, including the return of one of the most beloved maps from Modern Warfare 2, Rust, re-imagined for today’s generation with an ultramodern look. The new DLC pack also features “Shaolin Shuffle,” the next chapter of the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare zombies experience set in 1970s disco era New York.

Shaolin Shuffle, features the return of Willard Wyler, the mysterious movie director villain. This time, Wyler has trapped the four protagonists inside a new horror film, set in the unforgettable 1970s. Players face all-new zombie enemies across a variety of disco-era New York locations, including subways, flashy nightclubs and a martial arts dojo headed up by the “Shaolin Sister.” In addition to hallmark Call of Duty action, Shaolin Shuffle introduces four unlockable fighting styles, each with its own set of unique combat moves. The four playable characters return, and are voiced by the same actors from the original story, but now take on funky, over-the-top roles from the ‘70s era including “the Punk Rocker,” “the Sleazebag,” “the Street Poet,” and “the Disco Chick.”

In addition to the Shaolin Shuffle, Continuum includes four new multiplayer maps:

  • Turista – A plush spa and resort, Turista is nestled in the middle of a giant skeleton of an ancient creature. With sniper spots scattered across a majestic, central waterfall, Turista also boasts tight interiors for fans of close-quartered combat and a three-lane design that caters to a variety of play styles.
  • Scrap – Set in an abandoned junkyard on the Moon, Scrap features a combination of extended sightlines and tactical pathways that reward players who engage in both long and short-range combat.
  • Archive – Fast, frenetic action sets the pace in Archive, a post-futurist art gallery where tight engagements contrast with open exterior battlegrounds in this wide three-lane style map.
  • Excess – Perched atop a gilded penthouse in a sprawling future metropolis, Excess is a small, circular map re-imagined from the classic Modern Warfare 2map, Rust, that retains the intense, fast-paced combat from the original.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Continuum DLC Map Pack is available for a great value via the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Season Pass, which can be purchased on its own or obtained as part of the Legacy Pro or Digital Deluxe editions of the game. Season Pass gives discounted access to all four Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare DLC Map Packs released during 2017 (discount based on a Season Pass suggested retail price of $49.99, and four individual DLC Map Packs at a suggested retail price of $15 each). Upon purchase, Season Pass owners also receive three base weapons released to date, as well as 10 Rare Supply Drops and 1,000 bonus Salvage Credits to craft new prototype weapons.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com. Fans can also follow @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Flight Sim World Now on Steam Early Access

2017/05/18
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

CHATHAM, Kent – May 18, 2017 – Flight Sim World®, developed by specialist simulation developer and publisher Dovetail Games, has now been released into Steam’s Early Access program.

Take control of your exquisitely modeled aircraft from take-off to landing through a variety of dramatic weather conditions. Either fly with friends in multiplayer mode, or fly solo from over 24,000 airports worldwide.

If you are new to flight simulation, learn the basics while working towards obtaining your in-sim qualifications in our true-to-life flight lessons. For those who demand more of a challenge, a series of complex missions will push your skills to their limit.

As part of Flight Sim World’s release into Steam’s Early Access program, regular updates will be delivered over the coming months – including a weather system upgrade, flight planner expansions, and enhanced multiplayer functionality. Additionally, the Flight Sim World team will be collating and acting on player feedback for the complete duration of the early access period.

“The flight sim community is a fountain of experience and expertise and early access is our way of drawing upon that knowledge to make Flight Sim World the best it can be,” said executive producer Stephen Hood. “With this release, we are forging a brighter and more vibrant future for flight simulation.”

Flight Sim World is now available to purchase on Steam for $24.99 / £19.99 / €24.99.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Getting Nighttime Light Show

2017/05/18
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

Universal City, CA, May 18, 2017 – Beginning June 23, guests are invited to see “The Wizarding World of Harry PotterTM” in a whole new light when Universal Studios Hollywood introduces its all-new “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts TM Castle,” featuring a dazzling light projection experience against the backdrop of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

As night falls on Hogsmeade village, “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle” will shine brightly with an awe-inspiring spectacle that showcases the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin that culminates with awesome beams of lights that fan into the night sky.

The colorful state-of-the-art light display and special effects projection, designed to dance across the stunning Hogwarts castle, will be accompanied by a special musical arrangement created by Academy Award-winning composer John Williams based on his original scores composed for the film series. The musical arrangement that will emanate in a surround sound environment was conducted by prolific arranger William Ross and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra in London.

This new summertime feature will take place multiple times a night during its run.  Live rehearsals with annual pass previews and very limited guest access will begin in June in preparation for the June 23 grand opening.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including as its iconic focal point, Hogwarts castle.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they watched on the silver screen.

The architecturally stunning land also includes the incredibly captivating and highly acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” thrill ride, now enhanced with 4K-HD and ride film projecting at an astounding rate of 120 frames-per-second for an even more immersive glimpse into Harry Potter’s world, as well as “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor family coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” resonates with immense detail, inviting guests to revel in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World with the opportunity to enjoy authentic food and beverages at multiple locations, including Three Broomsticks™ and Hog’s Head pub, as well as the Magic Neep and Butterbeer™ carts.

A foray through the shops adds to the authenticity of the land with eight retail venues and locations, including Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear and Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Join the conversation online using #WizardingWorldHollywood. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Pizza Connection 3 Announcement Trailer

2017/05/18
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Wiesbaden, 18. May 2017 – Mamma mia… Long awaited by fans around the world, the newest installment of the cult series “Pizza Connection” returns to the PC with even more flavour and extra cheese. Make ’em a pizza they can’t refuse!

In addition to the series’ tried and true basic ingredients, economic simulation Pizza Connection 3 offers a number of hot new toppings! Work your way through a challenging campaign to rise from a simple pizza baker in the streets of Rome to the owner of the world’s most successful pizza chain! Use the famous Pizza Creator to design your own signature pizzas.

Show your competitors the way to sell pizzas and create a unique taste experience for your customers each time they visit one of your restaurants. Whether you do so by means of target group oriented advertising and great pizzas in stylish restaurants or by dancing along the crust of legality through the occasional use of sabotage and violence is entirely up to you.

It’s time to once again enrich the world with tasty pizzas and redefine good taste.

Menu:
  • No one’s invented your favourite pizza yet? Vegan, straight vegetarian or meat with added meat? Create your own pizzas using the legendary Pizza Creator and over 75 different ingredients!
  • The 12 mission single player campaign lets you rise step-by-step from a simple pizza baker in Rome to the world’s greatest pizza mogul.
  • From Sydney to Berlin to Washington DC: Conquer the world’s greatest metropolises with your own pizza chain and discover their unique tastes!
  • Customize your restaurants the way you want: Floorplan, furniture, personnel, interior decorating. There is a little interior decorator in every pizza baker.
  • Use market analyses and sophisticated marketing strategies to reach your customers with targeted advertising.
  • Get rid of your competitors by using particularly spicy ingredients such as sabotage and bribery.
  • The free game mode offers an alternative to the campaign rich in its diversity. You yourself can determine a wide range of parameters such as startup capital, number of residents, competitors and much more, allowing you to create your own challenges.

Pizza Connection 3 will be released in Spring 2018 for PC, Mac and Linux (SteamOS). This delicious title is being cooked up by the – as the team photo clearly shows – incredibly serious, Trier-based German studio gentlymad and released by the no less serious Assemble (released as in published, not released as in allowed to escape…).

And, of course, we just couldn’t resist serving up a tasty trailer to garnish the announcement. Anyone who doesn’t end up craving pizza after that is obviously beyond help…