Archive - 2017

TRANSFORMERS: Titans Return Official Trailer

2017/11/07
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

November 7, 2017 – Hasbro, a global play and entertainment company, and Machinima, the premiere digital video programmer of gamer and fandom-focused content, have released the official trailer for the second chapter of the upcoming digital series TRANSFORMERS: TITANS RETURN.

The trailer provides a first look at the incredible voice-talent making their debut in the Prime Wars Trilogy including Peter Cullen, who originated the voice of Optimus Prime in the 1980s animated Transformers series, Judd Nelson, who is reprising his roles of Rodimus Prime and Hot Rod from the 1986 animated Transformers movie, Michael Dorn as Fortress Maximus, Wil Wheaton as Perceptor, Nolan North as Metroplex and Jason David Frank as Emissary.

Continuing the massive worldwide interest in Transformers: Combiner Wars, TITANS RETURN debuts November 14 in the U.S on Verizon’s go90, a premium mobile entertainment destination, and on Tumblr in the rest of the world, with the exception of Sohu.com in China. The series features 10 episodes at approximately 11 minutes per episode. Since launching the trilogy’s first installment of the digital series in August 2016, Transformers: Combiner Wars, has garnered more than 125 million global views across a variety of digital platforms.

ABOUT TITANS RETURN
TITANS RETURN stars Peter Cullen, who originated the voice of Optimus Prime in the 1980s animated Transformers series and will be making his Prime Wars Trilogy debut in the upcoming installment as the voice of Optimus Prime. Cullen will be joined by a host of fan favorites including Judd Nelson, who is reprising his roles of Rodimus Prime and Hot Rod from the 1986 animated Transformers movie, Michael Dorn as Fortress Maximus, Wil Wheaton as Perceptor, Nolan North as Metroplex and Jason David Frank as Emissary.

They are joined by returning talent from Combiner Wars, including Abby Trott (Windblade), Jason Marnocha (Megatron), Frank Todaro (Starscream), Lana McKissack (Mistress of Flame), and DashieGames (Menasor), as well as a new set of influencers like MatPat (Computron), Rob Dyke (Devastator) and Tay Zonday (Chorus of the Primes).

Picking up right where the destruction of the Combiner Wars left off, TITANS RETURN takes the action of the Prime Wars Trilogy to new ‘heights,’ and features return appearances from many fan-favorite Transformers characters as well as introduces new Autobots and Decepticons. In the series, enormous Transformers called Titans are awakened and these massive characters bring massive problems. Trypticon, a gigantic lizard-like Transformer, rises to wreak havoc on Cybertron, while Windblade and a rag-tag team of Transformers must resurrect an ancient ally. Not all Transformers will survive, as beloved heroes are changed forever while others’ sparks are blown to oblivion. Like Combiner Wars, sophisticated storytelling reveals more than meets the eye for older audiences and kids of all ages when a sinister secret is discovered.

Rise of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X Enhancements Trailer

2017/11/07
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox One News

REDWOOD SHORES, CA (November 7, 2017) Today, Square Enix® and Crystal Dynamics® announced that enhancements for the critically acclaimed Rise of the Tomb Raider® are now available for Microsoft’s Xbox One X in conjunction with the new console’s launch. Players who have already purchased the game for Xbox One can now freely download and experience the wide range of new technical features on Xbox One X.

“We’re always pushing ourselves to deliver the highest fidelity experience in our games and we love taking those next steps with any new technology,” said Scot Amos, Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “This launch coincides perfectly with our commitment to always offer the best we have as a reward for our dedicated and passionate fans. Providing these awesome new enhancements as a free upgrade enables Xbox players to maximize their Tomb Raiding experience.”

View the Rise of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X Enhancements trailer here:

Developed in partnership with long-time partners Nixxes Software, the Xbox One X features for the award-winning experience include the highest fidelity graphics ever in a Tomb Raider game. The new technical enhancements leverage the full power of Xbox One X and offer visual settings that gamers can tailor to their taste.

“Partnering with Nixxes Software has allowed us to deliver an incredible level of fidelity and immersion,” said Ron Rosenberg, Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “They have proven once again that they are masters at getting every ounce of power out of a new platform.”

Xbox One X players can choose from one of three visual modes:

  • Native 4K: (full 3840 by 2160) for the highest fidelity resolution
  • Enriched Visuals for stunning graphic upgrades
  • High Frame Rate for the smoothest possible gameplay

New Xbox One X tech enhancements for Rise of the Tomb Raider include:

  • HDR display support for more vibrant and accurate color representation
  • Spatial audio support, including Dolby Atmos®, for true 3D audio
  • Enhanced texture resolution for Lara Croft®, NPCs, and environments for even more immersive and realistic details

Additional visual enhancements include:

  • Improved volumetric lights
  • Improved reflections
  • Enhanced foliage
  • Upgraded polygonal detail
  • Improved anti-aliasing
  • Amplified texture filtering

In addition to these visual enhancements, current season pass owners who own an Xbox One X will receive all of the new content featured in Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration™. This includes the “Blood Ties” single player content, co-op play for Endurance mode, “Extreme Survivor” difficulty setting for the main campaign, 20 Year Celebration outfit and gun, and five classic Lara skins. Additionally, all previously released downloadable content such as Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch, Endurance Mode, Cold Darkness Awakened, 12 outfits, seven weapons, and 35 expedition cards are available. With over 50 hours of gameplay, this is the most comprehensive version of the award-winning experience.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration received over 100 awards and nominations and is one of the highest rated games on next generation systems. Lara Croft becomes more than a survivor as she embarks on her first Tomb Raiding expedition to the most treacherous regions of Siberia in search of the secret of immortality.

Related Links
Official Homepage: www.TOMBRAIDER.com  
Official Twitter:  @TOMBRAIDER
Official Facebook page:   http://facebook.com/TOMBRAIDER
Official Tumblr:   http://tombraider.tumblr.com/
Official YouTube Channel:   http://youtube.com/TOMBRAIDER

ARK: Survival Evolved Launches on Xbox One X

2017/11/07
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox One News

Seattle, WA – November 7, 2017 – Studio Wildcard today announced that its dinosaur survival-adventure game ARK: Survival Evolved is now available as a launch title for Xbox One X from Microsoft. Provided as a free update to Xbox players, ARK on Xbox One X takes full advantage of the new system’s power, delivering next-generation gaming with brilliant HDR visuals, 1440p high-resolution options, longer draw distances and enhanced visual effects, higher framerates, significantly reduced load times and much more. All these new features make ARK: Survival Evolved on Xbox One X the ultimate visually and technically advanced dinosaur survival experience on any console.

Watch the ARK “Respawn” live action trailer HERE:

“Ever since the original announcement of the Xbox One X, we’ve been excited to see how far Microsoft would push the hardware specs, and how far that would let us push ARK,” said Jeremy Stieglitz, Lead Designer, Lead Programmer, Development Director, Co-Creative Director, Co-Founder of Studio Wildcard. “When gamers get their hands on this powerful new console, and of course, on the new build of ARK, we expect they’ll be just as impressed as we are with how much more visually immersive the world of ARK becomes.”

More than 10 million players have washed up on the shores of the mysterious ARK island thus far, vying to survive by hunting, taming, training and breeding more than 100 dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures found wandering the vast open-world. Xbox One X owners of ARK will have immediate access to these Xbox One X enhancements, with progression following players from platform to platform.

Xbox One X Enhancements:

  • The “Eyes” Have It – Enjoy “Detail Mode” with buttery smooth 30 FPS gameplay at 1440p or 60 FPS at 1080p in “Medium Quality”
  • See Farther, and With More Detail: In 1440p “Detail Mode”, long-range shadows, high quality textures and extended draw distances enhance visual fidelity, while the “TrueSky” system renders volumetric clouds, realistic atmospheric fog & sunlight scattering, and dynamic weather systems.
  • Split Screen and Split Up: In local splitscreen multiplayer mode, players can now split up to independently explore the islands.
  • More Power Means More Players: With increased hardware performance, Xbox One X servers can now host 70 players in a game.
  • Get There Faster: Improved loading and streaming times get you where you want to go on the ARK faster than before!

Powered by Unreal Engine 4, ARK: Survival Evolved takes on the survival genre with a unique blend of emergent multiplayer cooperation and competition. Players awake stranded and starving on the beach of a mysterious island among a herd of other confused humans. On ARK, they must then hunt, harvest, craft, research technology, and build shelters to protect against scorching days, freezing nights, volatile weather systems, dangerous wildlife, and potential enemies. Tame, train, ride and breed one of 100 amazing dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts, including gargantuan creatures on a scale never before seen in video games! Fly a Pteranodon squadron over the snow-capped mountains, race through the deep jungle with your pack of trained Raptors, tromp through a fortified enemy base along a convoy of gigantic Brontosaurus, or chase down prey on the back of a raging T-Rex.

ARK: Survival Evolved is rated “T” for Teen (Violence, Blood, Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol) by the ESRB.

Feel like riding a dinosaur? Join the ARK growing band of survivors in the community forums HERE: https://survivetheark.com/forums/

For the latest updates follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, visit the Website at playark.com and watch us tame and train leviathan dinosaurs on Twitch.TV.

World of Tanks Now on Xbox One X

2017/11/07
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox One News

November 07, 2017 – Wargaming is excited to announce that World of Tanks, the free-to-play, online tank warfare game is now playable in 4K resolution and with HDR support as a launch title on Microsoft’s newest and the world’s most powerful gaming console – the Xbox One X.

World of Tanks made its first console debut in 2014 on the Xbox 360 and has been continuously enhanced and updated with new content and graphical improvements for the Xbox platform. Today, with the power of the Xbox One X, World of Tanks makes its biggest graphics leap on Xbox, offering tankers full native 4K resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR) support.

Additionally- for the very first time as the only title from the launch portfolio – players with an Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One S or Xbox One X can team up and use the voice chat to coordinate their tactical maneuvers on the battlefield, no matter which Xbox generation they are using. The strategic and tactical tank battle game provides full cross-platform playability across Xbox 360 and the Xbox One family.

“We are honored that World of Tanks is one of the launch titles today on the Xbox One X,” said TJ Wagner, Creative Director and Executive Producer at Wargaming’s Chicago-Baltimore studio. “The capabilities the new platform offers has allowed us to make World of Tanks look and play better than ever before on Xbox. Our team has been hard at work to enhance every aspect of the game, and we are looking forward to how the game will keep evolving on the platform to give the best tank gaming experience out there.”

New players will get the opportunity to kick off their tanking career with World of Tanks X Edition Starter Kit – available for free in the Microsoft store. It includes the base game plus the American Tier II T1E6-X1 Light Tank including 100% Trained Crew plus a free Garage Slot and 3 Days Premium time to give the new soldiers a boost to start with!

Exclusively available in the Microsoft Store is the immaculate Xbox Scorpion Bundle, which celebrates the new addition to the Xbox One family. It includes crew customization vouchers, Premium Time, XP Boosts along with special camouflage crew and the fierce M56 Scorpion, an American Tier VII Tank Destroyer that is perfect for snipers who also like to be on the move. Other tankers will certainly feel the sting as players leave their mark on the battlefield! Tank commanders can even add their calling card to their tank with the Scorpion emblem included in this bundle.

For more information on World of Tanks on the Xbox One X visit:

www.console.worldoftanks.com

The Xbox Scorpion Bundle is available under this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/xbox-scorpion-bundle/c018vg4rh0z5

SteelSeries Unveils Arctis 3 Bluetooth Gaming Headset

2017/11/07
boothby
Geek News, News, Tech News

CHICAGO – November 7, 2017 – Today, SteelSeries introduced a new Arctis gaming headset to the award-winning line-up, the Arctis 3 Bluetooth. This addition of Bluetooth allows users to hear audio from both Bluetooth sources and wired connections at the same time. Arctis 3 Bluetooth is designed for everywhere you game, with remarkable sound, comfort and style on all gaming platforms, including PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, VR and mobile.

Arctis 3 Bluetooth is now even more ideal for Nintendo Switch. Gamers can connect to their phones via Bluetooth to use the Nintendo Switch Online chat mobile app, while using the wired connection to hear game audio from their Nintendo Switch. This is the first headset with this type of compatibility for the Nintendo Switch.

The Arctis 3 Bluetooth also allows console gamers to connect with their friends and community on Discord’s mobile application over Bluetooth, while simultaneously listening to in-game audio from their Xbox One or PlayStation 4 over a wired connection. This connectivity allows gamers to take calls, join VoIP chat and stream music wirelessly over Bluetooth while hearing balanced and powerful game audio through the 3.5mm connection.

SteelSeries Audio Category Manager, Brian Fallon says, “This is the first time that you can simultaneously have wired gaming audio and wireless Bluetooth. Bluetooth is incredibly useful for connecting wirelessly to mobile devices for chat and music, but as most gamers know, Bluetooth has too much latency for gaming. That is why this is a wired headset for gaming and Bluetooth for everything else.”

“We’ve noticed gamers hacking away at blending console game audio and Discord voice for quite some time,” says Eros Resmini, CMO of Discord. “SteelSeries makes that whole process easy with this product and let’s more gamers use Discord with their friends.”

The Arctis 3 Bluetooth features SteelSeries’ low-distortion speakers to deliver incredible sound while gaming on PC, portable console and across mobile devices. Featuring the best microphone in gaming, the SteelSeries ClearCast mic is a retractable bi-directional system that delivers clear voice communication while acoustically eliminating all background and surrounding noise. The athletics-inspired AirWeave performance fabric ear cushions and exclusive ski goggle headband provide extreme and long-lasting comfort.

Intuitive SteelSeries Engine software allows for personalized audio settings, with an innovative, detachable and interchange cable system and a built-in share jack for multi-player listening to make Arctis 3 Bluetooth the best all-platform headset available.

The Arctis 3 Bluetooth is available now at https://steelseries.com/arctisbt for $129.99.

Microsoft’s Xbox One X Launches

2017/11/07
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Xbox One News

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 6, 2017 — The official launch of the world’s most powerful console, Xbox One X, brings a new era of immersive 4K gaming and 4K entertainment to gamers across the globe. With 40 percent more power than any other console, Xbox One X is where console gamers can play the best versions of games. The new console launches with the largest games lineup in Xbox history, with more than 70 Xbox One X Enhanced titles coming in the first week and more than 50 available on launch day, including “Forza Motorsport 7,” “Super Lucky’s Tale,” “Assassin’s Creed Origins,” “Middle-earth: Shadow of War,” and “FIFA 18.” The Xbox One games library consists of more than 1,300 games and more than 220 exclusives, all of which play best on Xbox One X. More titles are on the way like the hottest game on the planet “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” releasing as an Xbox One console launch exclusive Dec. 12, 2017.

“We built Xbox One X to give game creators the most powerful platform to bring their visions to life and to give gamers the best console to play the games of the past, present and future,” said Phil Spencer, head of gaming, Microsoft Corp. “We’re excited to offer gamers the world’s most powerful console with access to the largest games lineup in Xbox history — more than 1,300 titles and more than 220 exclusives.”

Microsoft saw incredibly strong preorder sales of Xbox One X, and expects the new console to be in high demand this holiday season. Gaming fans worldwide are encouraged to get the new console early before quantities run out.

The biggest global launch in Xbox history — now available in 35 markets

Across the world, fans flocked to special Xbox events to celebrate the highly anticipated launch of Xbox One X. Launch festivities were captured in a live broadcast from the Mixer NYC Studio on Mixer, Xbox.com, Twitch and Facebook Live, with key highlights including these:

  • Inspired by the new Xbox racing game “Forza Motorsport 7,” the world’s first Xbox One X was hand-delivered in New Zealand via the fastest supercar in the country.
  • In Australia, Xbox opened the doors to the Xbox Stay N’ Play, a boutique, gaming-themed experience situated in front of the iconic Sydney skyline in Pirrama Park.
  • In Germany, Xbox set a new world record for the “World’s Largest Unboxing” after unboxing a giant Xbox One X in the Munich International Airport, and celebrated the launch with more than 700 fans in front of Berlin’s largest 4K theater screen.
  • In the U.K., some of the country’s biggest content creators and special guests were featured in an extended 14-hour Xbox livestream hosted at the Xbox One X Apartment in London.
  • In France, thousands of fans tuned into an eight-hour Mixer livestream, which highlighted the various Xbox One X launch activities taking place in Paris, including the midnight opening at Fnac Champs Elysées.
  • In Mexico City, hundreds of fans attended an Xbox One X midnight madness event hosted with Game Planet to celebrate the official launch of the highly anticipated console in Mexico.
  • In collaboration with Canadian designer and artist Brian Espiritu, Xbox designed custom Xbox One X consoles inspired by the city of Toronto to give away to five lucky Xbox fans.
  • In the lead up to launch, Xbox Live Sessions, an interactive, fan-focused livestream on Mixer, hosted celebrities including Chris Evans, James Corden, DJ Khaled, Chandler Riggs, and more to play their favorite games on Xbox One X. In addition, 16 years after helping Bill Gates introduce the original Xbox, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson surprised three Make-A-Wish kids with their own custom consoles before the official Xbox One X launch.
  • At Microsoft Stores, including the flagship Microsoft Store on Fifth Avenue in New York, and other retailers worldwide, eager fans lined up more than 24 hours in advance of the console’s release to be among the first to get their hands on Xbox One X before it sells out worldwide. Shaquille O’Neal, Liam Payne, Ronda Rousey, Odell Beckham Jr., and Caleb McLaughlin made special appearances to surprise fans throughout the launch event at the Microsoft Store in New York.

Similar spectacular celebrations took place in additional Xbox One markets. Xbox One X is available now in 35 markets worldwide, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, UK, and U.S.

The power of Xbox One X

Xbox One X is built for true 4K gaming, with enough power to drive native 4K resolutions, High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut into a pristine visual package beyond what’s capable in existing consoles. Existing Xbox One games play even better, with improved textures, smoother frame rates and faster load times, even on a 1080p TV. Xbox One X is also the only product in the world that packs all of the following features in one amazing device: 4K gaming for the world’s greatest games, a built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, 4K streaming capabilities, High Dynamic Range support for gaming and video, and premium audio that puts gamers in the center of spatial sound with Dolby Atmos support. The craftsmanship in the Xbox One X hardware means it’s not only the world’s most powerful console, it’s also the smallest and most feature-rich Xbox ever.

Xbox One X Enhanced

Today, with the launch of Xbox One X, more than 50 popular Xbox One games are receiving free updates as part of the Xbox One X Enhanced program, with more than 70 total coming in the first week. Xbox One X Enhanced games have been updated or built specifically to take full advantage of the world’s most powerful console and its 4K UHD and HDR capabilities. More than 160 new and existing games will be enhanced for Xbox One X to take advantage of its full power, including “Forza Motorsport 7,” “Super Lucky’s Tale,” “Middle-earth: Shadow of War,” “Assassin’s Creed Origins,” “Halo Wars 2,” “Gears of War 4,” “Halo 5: Guardians,” “Minecraft,” “FIFA 18,” “Final Fantasy XV” and “Star Wars Battlefront II,” with more titles on the way like “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” releasing Dec. 12, 2017, as a console launch exclusive through the Xbox Game Preview program. More information on the Xbox One X Enhanced program can be found by visiting https://www.xbox.com/enhanced.

Xbox One family of devices

Xbox One X is the newest member of the Xbox One family of devices, which will coexist alongside Xbox One S. Only on Xbox One can gamers experience the best games of the past, present and future, with more than 1,300 Xbox One games and more than 220 exclusives playable across the entire Xbox One family of devices. Furthermore, all Xbox One accessories are also compatible across the family.

Whether playing on Xbox One X or Xbox One S, gamers are treated to gaming features exclusive to the Xbox platform:

  • Xbox Live, the fastest, most reliable gaming network1.
  • 4K UHD Blu-ray, 4K streaming and 4K gaming
  • Xbox Game Pass, a monthly membership that provides unlimited access to more than 100 games.

How to get an Xbox One X

Xbox One X is available in 35 Xbox One markets and retails at US$499, £449, €499, C$599 and A$6492, with additional markets launching soon. The latest on where to buy Xbox One X can be found at xbox.com/xboxonex. Local retailers, including Microsoft Store, also have more information.

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

1 Independent IHS Markit study, June/July 2017. Tested on Xbox One versus PlayStation 4 on five of the top- selling games with matchmaking; results may vary, not an endorsement.

2 Prices are estimated retail prices; actual retail prices may vary.

Injustice 2 PC Open Beta Begins

2017/11/06
boothby
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

November 6, 2017 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that the top-selling videogame Injustice 2 is coming to PC (Steam and Microsoft Store) Nov. 14. Originally developed by NetherRealm Studios, Injustice 2 is being adapted for PC by QLOC and beginning today fans will be able to participate in an open beta that will be available on Steam. For the first time, PC players will be able to experience the super-powered hit game featuring Justice League characters Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg, as well as other iconic DC characters such as Harley Quinn and Green Arrow.

Developed by the award-winning NetherRealm Studios, Injustice 2 features a massive roster of DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains and allows players to build and power up the ultimate version of their favorite DC characters. Players can fight their way across an epic Story Mode, ever-changing Multiverse and online multiplayer guilds – all while earning rare and valuable gear to fully customize their characters. The game is currently available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

For more information about Injustice 2 please visit www.injustice.com. Join the Injustice 2 conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and official forums.

Please feel free to share the news with readers and let us know how else we can assist in your coverage.

BlizzCon 2017 Sees Over 30,000 Attendees

2017/11/06
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

IRVINE, Calif.—November 6, 2017—At BlizzCon® 2017, more than 30,000 players gathered to experience the latest updates to their favorite Blizzard games and cheer on top esports competitors, with millions more joining online. Over two days packed with developer panels, friendly competition, and live entertainment, the Blizzard community learned about and went hands-on with new heroes, new gameplay updates, and new expansions coming to the company’s blockbuster franchises.

Attendees and viewers also witnessed the dramatic conclusions to three esports championships and three exhibition-style competitions:

StarCraft® II World Championship Series Global Finals

Winner: Rogue

With two championship titles already under his belt in 2017, Rogue arrived on the global stage at BlizzCon as a favorite to win the whole tournament. Once he got warmed up in the grand final against SoO, he showed the world he definitely deserves the title of WCS Global Champion with a 4­–2 series win.

Heroes of the Storm® Global Championship Finals

Winning team: MVP Black

MVP Black and Fnatic met in the final match of the HGC Finals after both teams moved past the semis with 3–0 wins. When the dust settled, it was MVP Black standing tall over the Swedish powerhouse with a 3–1 victory after a barnburner of a finale. MVP Black’s unwavering determination and dedication to their craft was enough to secure them their first trophy at BlizzCon.

World of Warcraft® Arena World Championship

Winning team:  ABC

The European streak continues as ABC sweeps Panda Global in the most decisive championship match in the history of the tournament. Working against a hostile crowd, ABC triumphed behind the Arcane Mage play of Alex ‘Alec’ Sheldrick to bring the WoW Arena trophy to Europe for the fourth straight year.

Overwatch® World Cup

Winning nation: South Korea

South Korea was always expected to be the “final boss” at BlizzCon—and runner-up Canada fought valiantly in taking a single map—but in the end the story finished as expected. Ryujehong and company’s sudden vulnerability didn’t make a difference as South Korea goes two-for-two in Overwatch World Cup Championships.

Hearthstone® Inn-vitational

Winning team: Grimestreet Grifters

After two days of frenetic and varied play among the 12 community personalities, the Grimestreet Grifters—comprised of Andrey ‘Reynad’ Yanyuk, Hakjun ‘Kranich’ Baek, and Pathra Cadness—emerged victorious. The best-of-11 finals saw the format of each game drawn from a sealed envelope, and players were individually eliminated from the stage until the Grifters claimed the trophy 6–5 over the Chillblade Crusaders.

StarCraft: Remastered Ultimate Title Fight

Winner: Bisu

Although Lee “Jaedong” Jae Dong and Kim “Bisu” Taek Yong’s lengthy careers largely overlapped, they hardly ever played each other outside of team leagues. That changed when the two StarCraft legends met in the Ultimate Title Fight, a best-of-five showmatch with $25,000 on the line. In the fifth and final game, Bisu seemed to get a read on Jaedong’s aggressive strategy, and managed to hold him off to take the series 3–2.

In addition to all the epic esports action, Blizzard made several major announcements for its games at the show, including:

World of Warcraft

·       Battle for Azeroth™—In the seventh expansion to World of Warcraft, the war between the Horde and the Alliance reignites as players embark on a journey to recruit new allies, race to claim the world’s mightiest resources, and fight on several fronts to determine which faction will lead Azeroth into its uncertain future.

·       WoW® Classic—In addition to a new expansion, Blizzard also announced early plans to develop a gameplay experience that recaptures players’ first journeys into the original World of Warcraft.

Hearthstone

·       Kobolds & Catacombs™—A new Hearthstone expansion, coming in December, will bring players down into the dungeons beneath Azeroth—and equip them with 135 new cards.

·       Dungeon Runs—Kobolds & Catacombs brings with it a brand-new, highly replayable single-player game mode for Hearthstone featuring challenging, high-stakes subterranean journeys inspired by the classic fantasy dungeon crawl. Dungeon Runs are free for all players; no pre-built decks are required for entry.

·       New Legendary Weapons—For the first time in Hearthstone, Legendary weapons are coming – and every class will get one!

·       Free Legendary Cards—To celebrate the new expansion, all players will receive a free legendary minion, Marin the Fox, on November 6, as well as a free random legendary weapon for logging in when Kobolds & Catacombslaunches in December.

·       Eager treasure seekers can pre-purchase the new expansion card packs in a special 50-pack bundle for $49.99 and receive the jewel-encrusted “For the Hoard!” card back for free!

StarCraft II

·       StarCraft II going free-to-play—Starting November 14, players will get free access to the acclaimed Wings of Liberty® campaign, ranked ladder play, and all Co-Op Commanders up to level five.

·       Mira Han and Matt Horner—the newest Co-op Commander for StarCraft II’s popular Co-Op mode is actually two commanders in one: command a devastating mixture of high-powered Dominion air units as Matt Horner and fast-moving ground units as Mira Han.

·       War Chest Season 2—Following the success of this year’s War Chest, StarCraft II will once again offer a fresh batch of seasonal content for players in support of StarCraft II esports.

Heroes of the Storm

  • Hanzo and Alexstrasza—Two new heroes, both dragons in their own right, will bring new and dramatically different styles of play to the Nexus in Blizzard’s fast-paced MOBA, Heroes of the Storm, later this year.
  • 2018 Gameplay Update—Several in-game changes are coming to Heroes of the Storm in the near future, including a wider field-of-view camera, new Mercenary mechanics, and other core gameplay updates.
  • Voice Chat—Players in a party will automatically use Blizzard Voice Chat (unless they opt-out) and teams will have the choice to opt-in.
  • Performance-Based Matchmaking—Lets the player’s personal performance in matches directly influence their matchmaking rating whether they win or lose.

Overwatch

·       Moira—A new support hero, the life-draining geneticist named Moira, will soon be joining the roster of Overwatch, Blizzard’s acclaimed team-based shooter.

·       Blizzard World—An amusement park celebrating the worlds of Diablo®, StarCraft, and Warcraft® serves as the location for Overwatch’s newest map.

·       “Honor and Glory”—The latest in the acclaimed series of animated shorts released for Overwatch takes viewers into Reinhardt’s past as he wrestles with a decision of whether to answer Winston’s call to join the newly reforming Overwatch.

·       Overwatch League—The inaugural season’s 12 city-based teams will sport in-game home and away uniforms and face off in the league’s Atlantic and Pacific divisions. League matches will be played over four days each week of the regular season, which starts January 10, 2018. Watch on Overwatchleague.com and on the forthcoming Overwatch League companion app.

For more information on the celebration of games, players, and esports excellence at BlizzCon 2017, or to watch VODs of the action with the BlizzCon 2017 Virtual Ticket, visit www.blizzcon.com .

Total War: Arena Free for All Weekend Underway Now

2017/11/03
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

November 3, 2017 — Creative Assembly and Wargaming Alliance announced today the free-to-play battle game Total War: ARENA has launched a limited-time open weekend. Players who are not part of the closed beta can join the fray with just a Wargaming.net account and hit the battlefield from November 3 at 2PM UTC through Monday November 6 at 6AM UTC.

The open weekend will allow full access to the latest version of Total War: ARENA, letting new commanders test their mettle in epic scale 10 vs 10 multiplayer battles. Choose a commander from three historical factions: Romans, Greeks and Barbarians, and fight on ancient battlefields with your own customized army. This follows on from recent content patch 2.2 that added Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, a new Roman commander and master of defensive and supportive play.

“We’re really excited to open Total War: ARENA to gamers everywhere for the weekend,” said Sergei Laptenok, Total War: ARENA Product Director at Wargaming Alliance. “This is a fantastic opportunity for players, both new and old, to explore all the awesome features and provide valuable feedback so we can all make ARENA better together.”

Download Total War: ARENA here:

For more information on Total War: ARENA, visit:

Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope Fan Film Debuts November 14th

2017/11/03
boothby
Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

Not quite sure how we missed this, but the teaser for Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope (an upcoming fan film) is worth checking out! The full film will be released on November 14th, 2017 on YouTube.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., October 23, 2017– Machinima top talent creators Robot Underdog announced that the fan-favorite film Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope will debut on YouTube on November 14th with the full installment of this hit live-action, crowdfunded saga.

DBZ: LoH is a live-action film based on the #1 anime, manga and video game series Dragon Ball Z and millions of fans across the world are anticipating this live-action adaptation. This film faithfully retells the Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks anime, while also drawing inspiration from the manga, capturing the characters, story, and action of the originals created by Akira Toriyama. This attention and care have earned Light of Hope plenty of accolades within the Dragon Ball fan community

DBZ: LoH faithfully retells the Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks anime, while also drawing inspiration from the manga, capturing the characters, story, and action of the originals created by Akira Toriyama. This attention and care have earned Light of Hope plenty of accolades within the Dragon Ball fan community. Alongside the series’ gritty, character-focused approach, it’s the faithfulness to the original material that sets it apart from other fan films and has helped the pilot film earn 28M views to date. Two years ago, DBZ: LoH released a humble spec pilot that took the Dragon Ball community by storm. Thousands of fans across the world loved the pilot so much they rallied together to fund an Indiegogo campaign for the full film. DBZ: LoH is truly for fans – by fans.

“This project was only possible because of the passion and love from cast, crew, and fans. Together, we were able to bring to screen all the aspects fans loved about the original – the characters, story, intense action and visuals ” explained Co-creator Rita McMillin.

The DBZ: LoH Team:

  • Donnie McMillin and Rita McMillin (Co-Creators – Directors, Producers)
    LA Based husband/wife team who are producing and directing the film together. They are the co-founders of Robot Underdog brand and Youtube channel. Rita is also the co-writer.
  • Derek Padula (Co-writer)
    Derek is this world’s first professional Dragon Ball scholar. He’s also the author of the Dragon Ball Culture book series, and the #1 best-selling book Dragon Ball Z: It’s Over 9000!
  • Z Team Films (action design)
  • The Cast: Kenny Leu (The Long Road Home, NCIS), lifelong
    martial artist Amy Johnston (Street Fighter Resurrection, stunt double in Deadpool and Captain America: Winter Soldier) Tyler Tackett, Ruthann Thompson, and Jack Wald as Trunks

About DragonBall Z: Light of Hope
​Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope could be the last stand of the Saiyans.

With Goku, Vegeta, and the other Z Warriors dead, the merciless Androids #17 and #18 are burning the world to ash. It is up to Gohan and Trunks to save the future timeline. To accomplish this, Gohan must find a way to mentor the young Trunks and teach him to find strength in his heartache. Meaning the apprentice must grow up painfully fast to save every human life possible. While they battle, Bulma is working to create a time machine and a cure to prevent Goku from dying in the past timeline. Even if they can’t change the future, they can give hope to the past.

A boy must lose his childhood. A grieving son must act as a father. A widowed wife must conquer time. Through the darkness of loss, can this family find a Light of Hope?