Some conventions are started by people who have a whole bunch of industry connections that can put out advertising and pay for lots of big appearances. Others have to start small and work their way up by way of grass roots efforts. GameACon in Las Vegas was one of these smaller events. I had heard about it rather last minute and it felt like most people who went did so the same way. It was a nice little event! There was fun tournament play, lots of Jenga sets to topple, a few cosplayers in attendance, and a couple important companies that showed up as anchors such as Microsoft and Alienware. There were also a handful of booths there, one of which I had to be dragged away from because it had Pocky and glow in the dark toys!
We took in an enjoyable panel about the fun and pitfalls of cosplaying, watched a few tournament rounds, and I debated picking up a straight razor from the weapons merch booth (I am “Ripper” after all). We saw people running in and hugging each other, especially among the few cosplayers since they had planned to meet up which was definitely the way to do it.
GameACon has its share of growing pains right now but I really hope that they are able to get stronger and give it another shot next year. Some word of mouth will kick in from this year and they just need to get some print notice out and maybe a few celebs (I hear some will fly out for airfare and room!) which are always a draw. Here’s to hopefully seeing you again next year!
Here’s our video walkthrough of “Dark Ride”, one of the new haunted mazes featured at this year’s Knott’s Scary Farm in Buena Park, CA. The maze was wonderfully-done and really conveyed the experience of walking through a decrepit, old-school carnival dark ride.
(Farnborough, United Kingdom) September 22, 2017 — nDreams, the UK’s leading publisher and developer of VR content, and Paw Print Games announce Bloody Zombies is now available on Xbox One (£10.79/€13.49/$14.99). Bloody Zombies is a four-player co-op brawler that allows friends online and locally, to work together to tear through the undead hordes, while competing for the highest score.
Bloody Zombies is set across a London wasteland, bloody zombies run amok and four rough-and-tough cockney misfits must work together to literally beat back the rotting hordes. Free-Form combat, taking down a terrifying variety of undead with an expanding special move-set.
For more information, please ‘like’ Bloody Zombies Facebook page www.facebook.com/BloodyZombies or check out our videos and upcoming developer playthroughs at YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/nDreamsVR or tweet us at @nDreamsVR using the hashtag #BloodyZombies.
San Sebastian de los Reyes, Spain – September 22nd, 2017 – MercurySteam, the award winning independent development studio behind the multi-million selling Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series and the critically acclaimed Metroid: Samus Returns, today announced that Raiders of the Broken Planet is out now for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Available as a free download on Steam, the Xbox Store and the PlayStation Store, the Prologue contains two missions, 4 characters and sets the stage for the incredible story to follow. The first campaign of the 2017 Season – Alien Myths – is available to purchase for €9.99/$9.99/£9.99. Containing four missions, a gripping story, four new characters, new weapons and more, Alien Myths represents incredible value for players who want to visit the Broken Planet and participate in the unforgettable adventure the Raiders are embarking on.
“Raiders of the Broken Planet is easily the most ambitious title MercurySteam has ever produced. It has taken us three years to get here and I’m so proud to be launching thePrologue and Alien Myths campaign today! We hope players can see the amount of love and passion that has gone into this title,” said Enric Álvarez, Co-Owner of MercurySteam. “We want the barrier of entry to be as low as possible which is why we have a freePrologue, followed by individual €9.99 campaigns, as opposed to a €60 retail release. Publishing Raiders of the Broken Planet ourselves gives us the freedom to make these decisions.”
Three more campaigns will be released at regular intervals: Wardog Fury, Hades Betrayaland Council’s Apocalypse. Each campaign will tell a new parallel story focusing on different members of the Raiders while also adding new playable characters. Campaigns will cost €9.99/$9.99/£9.99 individually. The parallel nature of the stories ensures players can jump in at any time, enjoying the adventure in any order they please. Playing all four campaigns will reveal even more about the mystery at the centre of the Broken Planet.
For the ultimate Raiders of the Broken Planet experience, players can purchase the Founders Pack for €39.99/$39.99/£39.99. The Founders Pack includes access to every campaign on launch and additionally grants players immediate access to three new characters, Mikah, Dr. Kuzmann and Ginebra, 10 days prior to full release, without having to purchase them with in-game currency.
In Alien Myths, Harec and the Raiders must find the legendary Protectors but they need the help of Shae, Harec’s old flame, in order to help him do it. Shae doesn’t trust him, though, after how things ended last time. Across four intense missions, he’ll also recruit three more Raiders: Hans, Mikah and Ginebra. Each character has dramatically different play-styles with unique abilities, weapon proficiencies as well as different strengths and weaknesses. Alien Myths is an exhilarating adventure that encourages you to play missions again and again, either as part of a Raider team or going rogue as the Antagonist.
In Raiders of the Broken Planet you pick your protagonist and work together with three other players in a counter-operative adventure. The biggest idea underpinning the game is something akin to Dark Souls, whereby a single player, The Antagonist, can invade a match just as it begins and choose to fight alongside the bad guys against the four-player human team. The goal of this Antagonist is stop the Raiders and prevent them from achieving their mission objectives, which change from scenario to scenario in each mission.
Los Angeles, CA (September 22, 2017) – The 20th Anniversary celebration of Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues with a one-of-a-kind fan experience during New York Comic-Con. For years celebrities have been invited to gifting suites to fill up their bags with complimentary items, but this time Buffy’s loyal fandom will have the opportunity to do the same at the Buffy Fan Gifting Suite. The New York City suite will be open for one day only on Friday, October 6th from 1 – 6 PM allowing attendees to choose a few items from a wide-assortment of Buffy merchandise – from apparel and accessories to games and brand new books – all for FREE!
Starting today, fans of the iconic series can select a gifting suite appointment time and find additional details by visiting BuffySlays.com – the new online shopping destination from 20th Century Fox Consumer Products showcasing exclusive Buffy merchandise. While registration for the Buffy Fan Gifting Suite is on a first come first serve basis, wait list information will be posted in the days ahead on the Buffy Facebook page. A New York Comic Con badge is not a requirement to access the gifting suite.
The Buffy Fan Gifting Suite will feature a wide variety of apparel, merchandise, and unique collectibles that have been released this year in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the iconic TV show. Highlights below of participating partners with a selection of downloadable images here.
The gifting suite will feature a selection of exclusive Buffy merchandise from Fox Consumer Product’s all-new shopping portal, BuffySlays.com. Items currently available now for purchase include a Buffy varsity jacket, a selection of unique tees, mugs, blankets, notebooks, posters and more.
Releasing next month, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Official Grimoire: A Magickal History of Sunnydale (Insight Editions) is the first and only truly comprehensive collection of every magical moment from all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, humorously narrated by beloved resident witch Willow Rosenberg. Completely illustrated and annotated by the rest of the gang, this book of spells is a unique keepsake for fans of the Buffy-verse and an incredible celebration of the show’s twenty-year legacy. This grimoire from the baddest witch around will teach potential slayers and aspiring wiccans everything they’ll ever need to know about magic in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Buffy: Demons of the Hellmouth, from Titan Books, is a fully licensed guide to the vampires and other demons that flocked to the Sunnydale Hellmouth. This in-universe illustrated guide is written by Rupert Giles, and also contains handwritten notes from Buffy and Willow.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Guide to the Buffyverse (Harper Design) is a comprehensive, authorized compendium of all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer, published in celebration of the revered show’s twentieth anniversary. Coming October 3rd, fans can discover Buffy’s world fully with this full-color A-to-Z encyclopedia that catalogs, explains, and cross-references every detail of the Buffyverse, from characters, locations, and weapons to episodes, demons, and recurring gags. Packed with content from the television show, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia is the first companion book that also includes key facts from the official canon comics and its spin-off show Angel—making this comprehensive volume the only truly complete guide to the entire Buffyverse. Lavishly produced and written by Buffy experts, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia is the authoritative source for fans, allowing them to indulge in the intricacies and nuances of the series as never before. With color stills and photography throughout, an eerie cover with special effects, and an incredible design that reflects the show’s aesthetics, this fully authorized companion is a must-have for all Buffy enthusiasts.
Funko, purveyor of pop culture and licensed-focused collectibles, will feature at the gifting suite their brand new Funko Rock Candy: Buffy the Vampire Slayer-Willow Collectible Figure, and Funko Rock Candy Vampire Slayer-Buffy Collectible Figure. Additionally, Funko’s New York Comic Con booth (#722) will offer an exclusive Buffy the Vampire Slayer Pop! 2-pack! (Buffy & Faith). Following NYCC, this 2-Pack will only be only available at BoxLunch stores and BoxLunch.com. BoxLunch, a cause-driven pop-culture gift store, offers fans numerous Buffy items to purchase including apparel, accessories and collectibles. For every $10 spent in-store or online, BoxLunch helps provide a meal to a person in need through their partnership with Feeding America.*
The team of imaginative pop culture fanatics at Ripple Junction have locked themselves in the library and studied up on the last 20 years of fandom celebrating Buffy. Ripple Junction has developed a full line of tees for young men and women available at major retail outlets, as well as ripplejunction.com and Amazon.com.
Releasing on October 3rd from Simon & Schuster, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 20 Years of Slaying: The Watcher’s Guide Authorized. A special hardcover collector’s edition of the authorized Buffy the Vampire Slayer Watcher’s Guides, now with updated content from the cast and crew! Just in time for the show’s twentieth anniversary, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Watcher’s Guides have been compiled into one hardcover collector’s edition for the first time! Inside, you’ll find all the best content from Volumes 1–3 of the original Watcher’s Guides, as well as exclusive new content, including never-before-seen interviews with the cast and crew.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Adult Coloring Book (Dark Horse) – Enter the world of the Slayer, the Chosen One who wields the skill to fight vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness– Favorite characters and moments from the beloved television series are represented in this delightful adult coloring book. Contains 45 black-and-white, detailed, and original illustrations.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Big Bads & Monsters Adult Coloring Book (Dark Horse) brings to life these ready-to-color pages filled with your favorite Big Bads and monsters in your own way in this follow-up to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Adult Coloring Book. Forty-five original black and white illustrations give you the Chosen One and all the Scoobies, and a rogues gallery of the very worst and most interesting vampires, demons, witches, and more, interspersed with elements of magic, a little humor, and the heart of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
From Jasco, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Board Game where players must help Buffy The Vampire Slayer protect Sunnydale from the forces of evil in this fully cooperative board game.
Hot Topic, the retail destination for music and pop-culture inspired clothes and accessories, plus fashion apparel for girls and guys is celebrating 20 years of slaying. Hot Topic offers a wide selection of Buffy merchandise inspired by beloved characters from the show including Willow’s iconic pink, fuzzy sweater, tops featuring memorable quotes from the series, and more.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Vampyr Stationery Set includes a 192-page blank pocket journal, 20 blank notecards featuring iconic Buffy quotes, envelopes, and 20 Hellmouth sticker seals. Enclosed in a keepsake box designed to look like it came from Giles’ library, this special stationery set allows fans to share the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with their fellow Scoobies. (Insight Editions)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Vampyr Hardcover Ruled Journal includes a section of text adapted from the original Slayer Handbook before giving way to blank ruled pages. Atmospheric, engrossing, and designed with a dynamic in-universe aesthetic, this blank ruled journal invites readers to add their own story to the legacy of the Slayer. (Insight Editions)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sunnydale High Hardcover Ruled Journal is a finely crafted writing journal that includes a ribbon bookmark, elastic closure, inside back pocket for storage, and beautiful leatherette cover featuring the iconic emblem of Sunnydale High. (Insight Editions)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Season 8 Vol 1 (Dark Horse) A New York Times bestseller! Series creator Joss Whedon brought Buffy the Vampire Slayerback to life with this comics-only follow-up to Season 7 of the television show. Aptly named Season 8, these comics are the official sequel to Buffy and continue where the live-action series left off with the Slayer, her friends, and their ongoing challenge to fight the forces of darkness. This oversized omnibus edition is one of two volumes that will contain the entirety of Season 8. Contains Buffy Season 8 Library Edition Volumes 1-2 (excluding sketchbook materials), all series covers (Buffy Season 8 #1-#20), the Willow one-shot Goddesses and Monsters, and the “Always Darkest” short from MySpace Dark Horse Presents #24.
About Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The series, created by Joss Whedon, premiered on the WB Network on March 10th, 1997. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series, which ran for seven seasons from 1997-2003, stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers. Chosen to battle vampires, demons and other forces of darkness, Buffy is aided by a Watcher who guides and teaches her as she surrounds herself with a circle of friends called the “Scooby Gang.”
About 20th Century Fox Consumer Products
20th Century Fox Consumer Products licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of 20th Century Fox Film, 20th Century Fox Television and FX Networks, as well as third party lines. The division is aligned with 20th Century Fox Television, the flagship studio leading the industry in supplying award-winning and blockbuster primetime television programming and entertainment content and 20th Century Fox Film, one of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures throughout the world.
*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks. BoxLunch guarantees a minimum of 5,000,000 meals (monetary equivalent of $500,000) to Feeding America and member food banks from Feb 2, 2017 to Jan 31, 2018. Meal claim valid as of 7/1/17 and subject to change. Feeding America – 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60601, Tel: 800.771.2303
Over the years, there has developed a more extreme sort of haunted house. One that pops up around Halloween in far smaller quantity than traditional haunted houses. I call them “shock houses”. Those looking for them can find them through word of mouth and other underground channels. There is a huge market for these extreme experience too, and they generally require a reservation and sell out early in the scary season. The fact that the public can’t just walk up and buy a ticket adds to the mystery and, when we talk about how we go to haunted houses, people always want to know if we have been to one of them. These places have you sign waivers for indemnity that aren’t just for theatrics.
A few years ago, The Houses October Built was released. The film was about a group of twenty somethings, four guys and one girl, going around the country trying to find the scariest haunted house for a documentary they’re filming. In discussing what entails the “scariest” haunted house it falls somewhere between a haunt and a shock house. In their search, they end up getting the attention of a legendary underground shock house called the “Blue Skeleton” that sends them a private invitation. The first film is a combination of found footage from the group and found footage from various security cameras.
Now, The Houses October Built 2 is getting ready to be released, and we got the chance to see an advanced screener for review. In the film, which takes place after the events of the original, the crew is back on a quest for intense haunted houses. After the events of the first film, Zack (Zack Andrews) is tight on money and wants to cash in on their 15 minutes of internet fame by going to haunts across the country and rating them as pseudo-celebrities. He gets the four guys together no problem but Brandy (Brandy Schaefer), who is the real draw thanks to The Houses October Built, has had enough trauma in her life. Now known as “coffin girl”, she is reticent to return on the haunted house quest due to the trauma she previously-incurred.
They talk her into coming along with the promise that they will only attend normal haunted houses. Knowing her one friend is severely tight on cash, she agrees. During their travels, they get the attention of an extreme shock house known as “Hellbent”. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it!
That is all in the setup you need, and I’ll avoid spoiling anything else for you. The movie shows some of the very good and well known haunted houses from around the country and has some creepy surprises and twists. It’s nice that they are using actual haunted houses too instead of just setting up fake ones. In The Houses October Built 2, you are shown the haunts and you can look them up if you like!
I’m trying to decide which of the movies I liked better but I think they follow a nice, natural progression. Zack, who was the mastermind behind the search for the shock house in the first one is still hooked on the idea. Brandy, who was jumpy to begin with in the first movie, winds up with the a rough, lingering reaction to the Blue Skeleton and definitely doesn’t want anything to do with them. The Houses October Built 2 attempts to ratchet things up.
One thing I watch for in found-footage films are cameras or angles that aren’t explained in a movie. You would be amazed how often what is supposed to be a three camera shoot suddenly has a completely unexplained shot or uses a camera view that nobody would care enough about to have pointed a static camera at (a chair storage room for example). This movie not only explains how every shot could happen but showed just about every cameraman in one of the shots so you knew they had even more than you probably thought to get all the angles. Technically, it makes sense.
The film moves along nicely with good pacing thanks to director Bobby Roe, who is also one of the writers and actors in the film. Unfortunately, the climax of The Houses October Built 2 is not quite as satisfying as the original’s ending was, but the entire film is a fun ride. The Houses October Built 2 is due out on September 22, and I highly recommend you watch both films back to back. The two of them a great double feature on an October evening with the lights turned down low.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole has gone gold and is almost here. Production on the game has completed and is officially confirmed for launch. Get ready for release on October 17th 2017!
Here is our walkthrough for Knott’s Scary Farm’s revised Trick or Treat maze. Trick or Treat Lights Out puts a new spin on the maze by turning out the lights and arming guests with remotely controlled flashlights. Thoughout the maze, your flashlight will change colors, vibrate, even turn off!
Baltimore, MD – September 20, 2017 – Independent games publisher Versus Evil today announced its partnership with Obsidian Entertainment to publish Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. The sequel to the critically acclaimed, award-winning RPG Pillars of Eternity, will launch on Windows PC, Mac and Linux in early 2018.
“Pillars of Eternity and Obsidian are practically synonymous with quality RPGs and we couldn’t be happier to work with their team and their community in supporting Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire”, said Steve Escalante, General Manager of Versus Evil. “The sequel builds on the massive critical success of the first game and will be one of the premier RPGs to launch in 2018. Fans of the franchise will be thrilled with everything that this sequel has to offer, and newcomers to the Pillars universe will get to experience a technically superior RPG adventure with a more meaningful companion system, deep progression mechanics and uniquely rich storyline for the first time.”
For its part, Obsidian Entertainment CEO Feargus Urquhart said: “We are thrilled to be working with the team at Versus Evil on Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, the first sequel we’ve ever made into one of our own IPs. Partnering with a team that is as passionate as we are about making Pillars of Eternity outstanding has already been such a gratifying and exciting experience. We know that Steve and his team will treat Deadfire right and help us make it the game that our incredible fans and generous backers expect and deserve.”
In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, players embark on a dangerous voyage of discovery as they hunt down a god to save their own souls.
Building on the award-winning gameplay of the first Pillars of Eternity, every aspect of Deadfire has been improved and expanded. Vastly more detailed graphics, deeper game mechanics, increased player choice and reactivity, a new companion relationship system, streamlined combat, and an entirely new, hand-crafted adventure make Deadfire the ultimate cRPG experience.
Players travel the far-flung region of the titular Deadfire Archipelago by ship, where they will discover new races, visit exotic islands, defend their ships against pirates, and, most importantly, choose their allies carefully, as there are powerful factions to encounter at nearly every port.
ARNSBERG, GERMANY (September 22, 2017) – UMAREX GmbH & Co. KG (UMAREX) headquartered in Germany receives the first worldwide license from the well-known Austrian weapons manufacturer, GLOCK, for the reproduction of its internationally recognized pistols. UMAREX is thus writing a new chapter in its success story as the world market leader in licensed replica handguns. Eyck Pflaumer, managing partner of UMAREX, summarizes the results of the intensive negotiations, “For years now, the trust between our two companies has been growing and we are looking forward to further developing this relationship with GLOCK. From November 2017 onwards, gun fans will find the first replicas of these famous pistols in outdoor retail locations almost everywhere in the world.”
Founded in 1963, GLOCK has been setting the global standard for handguns with polymer frames for decades. UMAREX and GLOCK are two world market leaders meeting on equal terms, the best prerequisites for a successful partnership. UMAREX will in the future build the famous GLOCK pistols in the categories “Airguns” (4.5 mm / .177) and “Airsoft” (6 mm). GLOCK replicas will be distributed worldwide through sporting goods dealers, except in France and French territories. Umarex USA and the Elite Force Airsoft group of Umarex USA will distribute the world-leading GLOCK pistol replicas exclusively throughout North America. Distribution in the USA is expected to begin first quarter 2018. Particularly attractive for collectors, the license allows the replicas to carry the original markings and be marketed in authentic packaging.
