Archive - 2017

Wizard World Relaunches Wizard and WizPop Daily

2017/08/16

LOS ANGELES, August 16, 2017 – As the saying goes: “Nothing stays dead in comics.” Pop-Culture leader Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) today announced the digital re-imagination, re-conception and re-launch of Wizard, as part of a new digital initiative which includes WizPop, a daily pop-culture news service reporting on the biggest stories of the day in pop-culture, entertainment, and fandom. WizPop will also feature a weekly round-table reviewing the relevant news of the week. Bridging video, editorial and convention operations, the revitalized Wizard digital initiatives will speak to fans worldwide in Wizard’s distinctive snarkily-smart voice.

The predecessor to the re-constituted Wizard was Wizard Magazine: The Guide to Comics, had a wildly successful run for nearly two decades as the respected and widely-followed voice of comics and fandom.

Brian Walton, the former Editor In Chief of Nerdist and Vice President of Editorial Operations at Legendary Digital Networks will serve as Editor In Chief of Wizard in addition to his role as Director of Content for Wizard World. Luke Y. Thompson, formerly of Nerdist, Topless Robot, Deadline, and OC Weekly, has joined Wizard World as Associate Editor.

WizPop the daily video news service will share the uniquely authoratiative point-of-view of Wizard covering the larger universe of all things pop-culture.

In addition to standing as a daily digital presence, plans are in the works to return to publishing Wizard as a premium quarterly magazine.

From “Casting Calls” to “The Drawing Board,” classic Wizard Magazine columns will be revived as web-based articles and regular video features. Wizard and WizPop will feature news and reviews of the latest in comics, tech, movies, gaming, TV, music, and toys. Also returning will be the hallmark in-depth feature interviews with some of the biggest names in the comics and entertainment industries.

“To a generation of fans the Wizard name has stood at the intersection of entertainnment and pop culture. By introducing Wizard and WizPop as vibrant digital incarnations, Wizard World will expand its pre-eminent position in the industry to connect and interact with millions of fans every day,” said John D. Maatta, Wizard World President & CEO. “With the triumverate of Wizard, WizPop and the Wizard World live convention platform we have created a 24 hour a day digital and live experiential platform serving the fans of pop culture—the Wizard experience and the on-going conversation doesn’t stop when a Wizard Comic Con ends.”

On August 25, at the 20th annual Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, Wizard and WizPop will launch at www.wizardworld.com.

Check out the first episode of WizPop at http://wizd.me/7ge0.

Master of Orion: Conquest Unveiled at Gen Con 2017

2017/08/16

boothby

Geek News, News

August 16, 2017 – The original Master of Orion (MoO) computer game released in 1993, creating the 4X video game genre and capturing the attention of strategy loving gamers for over 30 years. The Master of Orion series has been featured on numerous “greatest games of all time” lists; several retrospective reviews from such established gaming media sites as GameSpot and IGN regard MoO as the standard by which turn based strategy games set in space are judged.

This iconic series was most recently rebooted by Wargaming Labs as Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars—featuring immersive gameplay and garnering a nomination for the 34^th Annual Golden Joystick Awards 2016 PC Game of the Year.

Now tabletop gamers can also “Conquer the Stars” as Catalyst Game Labs has inked a deal to publish a stellar series of games based in the storied Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars universe. First to arrive will be the galaxy crushing dueling deckbuilder: Master of Orion: Conquest.

“Wargaming Labs is proud to partner with Catalyst Game Labs to deliver the universe of Master of Orion to tabletop gamers with the first product; the Master of Orion: Conquest deck building game,” stated Michael Buonagurio, Special Projects & Research Manager, Wargaming Labs. “The wealth of experience Catalyst brings to the project will now deliver this venerable and loved video game to a new audience of gaming communities.”

“Anyone who has ever lost a large piece of their soul to a 4x game understands their appeal,” said Loren Coleman, Owner of Catalyst Game Labs. “And Master of Orion rates among the best. Focusing on fleet engagements, Conquest brings X-termination to the fore!”

Be among the first to experience Master of Orion: Conquest this weekend at Gen Con 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana! Make your way to the Catalyst Game Labs booth at Hall H, Booths 1611 & 1703 and get ready to battle for galactic domination…one killer deck at a time.

Look to www.catalystgamelabs.com and Wargaming.net in the future for more details on these upcoming games!

Escape Room LA Unveils The Pyramid

2017/08/15

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

(Los Angeles; August 15, 2017) — Escape Room L.A., Southern California’s largest escape room experience, adds yet another adventure to their already exciting roster of four escape rooms with The Pyramid, inspired by the secrets and rituals of the ancient Mayans. With tickets on sale now for the first game running September 16 2017, The Pyramid offers participants a fully-immersive journey through a series of rooms as they solve puzzles, challenges, and even must offer sacrifices to the gods. Upon entering, players realize they have been summoned to save a Mayan civilization by restoring the mask of the jade warrior.

“This game is loosely based on histories and traditions within the Mayan culture. I started by researching the civilization and then taking a few creative liberties to give the game a well-rounded, fully-realized experience,” says creator and founder John Hennessey of Escape Room LA. “We’re combining new technology with ancient and authentic Mayan elements to create a thrilling game full of many surprises!”

The epic adventure takes participants on a journey into an undiscovered Mayan pyramid, where players solve puzzles involving cryptic Aztec calendars, battling the elements, and fighting indigenous creatures—to name a few. The mysteries deepen as players advance to the ultimate challenges in the final tomb. Unlike other puzzle-solving escape rooms, The Pyramid takes players through a multi-sensory journey. The set of the game was designed by Jeff McLaughlin, who has won numerous LA Drama Critics Circle Awards and LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, accompanied by Industrial Designer Mazin Dajani and Construction Coordinator Kyle Rettinger.

Located in a commercial building in Downtown LA, Escape Room L.A. brought over 25,000 people to the neighborhood last year, offering more than 80 games per week. Visitors range from escape room connoisseurs; corporate employees seeking unique team bonding experiences; celebrities like Billy Crystal, Conan O’Brien, Neil Patrick Harris, Seth McFarlane, and Emma Stone; and folks looking for unique and out of the box activities. Prospective players can try their luck at any of the five rooms Tuesday through Friday evenings (every 30 minutes from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.), and weekend afternoons and evenings (every 30 minutes from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.). Tickets range from $32 to $37, depending on the date and time. For bookings and additional information, visit www.escaperoomla.com, or call 213.689.3229.

Destiny 2 – Official PC Open Beta Trailer

2017/08/15

Jennifer Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

August 15, 2017 – For the first time, Destiny 2 will be available for PC on October 24 via Battle.net®, Blizzard Entertainment’s online gaming service.

Beginning August 29, players worldwide are invited to experience Destiny 2 on PC, including the opening story mission, ‘Homecoming’, along with cooperative and competitive modes. All who pre-order Destiny 2 can jump into the action with early access to the beta on August 28.

You can view the Destiny 2 – Official PC Beta Trailer here

Just Survive Gets Huge New Update and Trailer

2017/08/15

Jennifer Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

SAN DIEGO – Aug. 15, 2017 – Daybreak Games has released its largest update to date for the open world zombie survival game Just Survive™. Alongside new content, which includes a brand-new map and new Stronghold system, a new narrative has been established, separating Just Survive from the H1Z1® universe. Just Survive’s rebranding and content update represents the development team’s evolved vision for the game and lays the foundation for future updates in the months to come.

“Our new logo and key art highlight all the aspects of the game that players know and love—from base building and defending, to looting and exploring, and also reflects how Just Survive is developing into a more mature and polished game,” said Ben Jones, Just Survive Creative Director. “Just Survive is about more than just killing zombies, it’s about the player’s survival journey. Re-establishing society isn’t an easy task, and this update introduces a variety of features, like Strongholds, that encourage players to band together through the dangers and tension of post-apocalyptic life while striving to reclaim their world from the zombie hordes.”

As the most comprehensive update in the game’s history, the development team has made changes to many aspects of the game, introducing a new map, adding the Stronghold base-building system, weapon revamp, and in-game curency system:

Badwater Canyon: A completely new world map designed with multiple styles of gameplay in mind and featuring targeted loot distribution, strategic verticality, exploration opportunities, and hundreds of easily identifiable base pads for Stronghold construction. Badwater Canyon will be rolled out steadily over time, region by region, as it is created in order to give appropriate focus to each aspect of its overall design. It has replaced the game’s original map.
Stronghold: A new system where players can build robust structures and fortify them with an array of defenses and traps to fend off coordinated attacks. Challenging players with opportunities to attack and defend, Strongholds encourage creative problem solving. In addition, these bases can be customized by players to make their in-game homes unique.
Weapon Revamp: All weapons have been rebuilt from scratch, introducing tiers to each weapon type while fine-tuning them to look and feel unique. In addition, we’ve improved melee combat with a new hit registration system and attack animation overhaul.
Golden Eagle Coins: Items found in the world can be exchanged for a new in-game currency tied to individual characters. These aim to create true value for each item in the world, tackling the problem of item hoarding. Golden Eagle Coins are required to purchase new Stronghold locations, and this currency’s usage will continue to be expanded in the future.

Other changes in this update include refined harvesting mechanics, a rebalancing of systems, itemization overhaul, and modification to spawning and death. A complete list of changes and fixes in today’s update is available at: http://www.justsurvive.com/news/game-update-patch-notes-8-15

Just Survive is currently available in Steam Early Access for Windows PC. For more information, visit www.justsurvive.com, and follow the game on Facebook, Twitter and Twitch.

CCP Games Announces VR Optional EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone

2017/08/15

Jerry Paxton

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

15 August 2017 – London, UK – Today, CCP Games announced that on September 26, 2017, the fan-favorite virtual reality game, EVE: Valkyrie, will become EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone , representing a major expansion for the renowned multiplayer first-person spaceship shooter. Bursting out of VR and onto TVs and monitors, EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone enables PC and PlayStation®4 gamers to fly and fight alongside each other, both in and out of VR, in fully balanced online space combat.

Since its debut on Oculus Rift in March 2016, EVE: Valkyrie launched on PlayStation®VR and HTC Vive®, introduced cross-platform play, and received five extensive game updates packed with new maps, modes, enhancements, and improvements. Now, the Warzone expansion will dramatically upgrade the EVE: Valkyrie experience for both new and current players, introducing a huge range of exciting new features and gameplay systems.

At launch, incoming players can purchase EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone for $29.99, while all current EVE: Valkyrie owners will receive the expansion as a free download, replacing the base game. CCP has released a new trailer to announce EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone here

“If you can play first-person shooters, you can pilot one of EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone’s amazing ships,” said Andrew Willans, Lead Game Designer at CCP’s Newcastle Studio. “Not having access to VR hardware will no longer hold gamers back from diving weapons-first into intense and highly competitive space combat with friends. We look forward to seeing the already intense competition between Valkyrie pilots going up a notch, as more players from around the world can join existing pilots for space-dogfighting battles.”

“Releasing EVE: Valkyrie for high-end VR headsets embodied the culmination of a decades-long dream for CCP,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. “We’ve had great success in establishing the title as one of the most popular multiplayer games in virtual reality and grown it over the last two years with genre-leading post-launch support, which has resulted in a thriving community. Now we’re starting the next step in EVE: Valkyrie’s journey by bringing this great game to an even wider audience – those who haven’t made the leap into VR yet – all while we continue to experiment with additional unannounced VR projects in development.”

EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone introduces a next-generation fleet of iconic ships – including the new Covert class ship, “Shadow” – each one with their own distinctive role to play in battle. With new weapons – including powerful Ultra abilities – and a fully redesigned progression system for each ship, players will have more control over how they evolve their arsenal to suit their playstyle.

New to EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone will be the ‘Extraction’ game mode that puts capture-the-flag in outer space for an exhilarating gameplay experience. The Warzone expansion also features two new maps, “Fleet” and “Outpost,” as well as new Wormholes that introduce a fresh challenge each week. Players will also be able to fight for Spoils of War to earn Loot Capsules, enabling them to unlock a hangar-full of personalization options for their ships and pilot.

More info about the game can be found by visiting www.evevalkyrie.com and fans can follow EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Players can find out how the Warzone expansion will affect them by visiting www.evevalkyrie.com/changes.

Razer Announces Atheris Wireless Notebook Mouse

2017/08/15

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News

IRVINE, (Calif.) – Razer^™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the Razer Atheris, the ultimate wireless notebook mouse with the world’s longest-lasting battery life[1] and lag-free wireless gaming-grade performance.

Designed for mobile work and play to outlast any competition, the Razer Atheris offers up to 350 hours of continuous use on a single pair of AA batteries, providing power for even the most enduring boardroom meetings or intense gaming sessions.

The Razer Atheris is equipped with Razer’s proprietary wireless Adaptive Frequency Technology (AFT) providing industry-leading transmission for the most reliable, stable connection. AFT is enabled through a compact USB dongle that stores away conveniently in the mouse, and Bluetooth LE connectivity is also available for devices without a USB port.

With a 7200 DPI optical sensor, the Razer Atheris is capable of blazing accuracy across multiple high-resolution monitors and provides the unfair advantage when it comes to work or play. Sporting a sleek and compact ambidextrous design, the Razer Atheris is suitable for both right and left-handers.

“We created the Razer Atheris to be the ultimate mobile productivity mouse – allowing users to bring their A-game in any situation whether it’s in the boardroom or the gaming arena,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “The Razer Atheris outperforms and outlasts the competition with unparalleled reliability.”

The Razer Atheris is available now at RazerStore.com. It will be available worldwide in Q4.

For more information, visit https://www.razerzone.com/gaming-mice/razer-atheris

Cities: Skylines PlayStation 4 Edition Launch Trailer

2017/08/15

boothby

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos

STOCKHOLM — Aug. 15, 2017 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher of best-selling games across many genres and platforms, today announced that Cities: Skylines,the smash-hit city-building game from Colossal Order, has launched today for the PlayStation®4 system as Cities: Skylines – PlayStation®4 Edition. Now refined and optimized by Tantalus Media for play using a DUALSHOCK 4 controller, the PlayStation®4 Edition provides the strategy and creativity that Cities: Skylines is known for in an experience perfect for a couch and big screen. The game includes the popular After Dark expansion, which adds a series of new features focused on improving nightlife and tourism in players’ in-game cities. Cities: Skylines – PlayStation®4 Edition is available as a digital download or via physical retail by Koch Media for $39.99.

Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the classic city simulation. The game introduces new mechanics to realize the thrill and hardships of creating and maintaining a real city, and allows for high levels of customization and personalization. The PlayStation®4 Edition has been adapted for play with new UI and controls while sacrificing none of the strategy and creativity.

Cities: Skylines – PlayStation®4 Edition features:

Build the city of your dreams: Plan road networks, bus lines and parks. Bring education, healthcare and safety to your citizens. Build it your way!
Extensive local traffic simulation: Managing traffic and the needs of your citizens to work and play will require the use of several interactive transport systems – use careful road planning alongside buses, trains, subways, and much more.
Districts and policies: Ban heavy traffic in your downtown area, assign free public transport to your waterfront, or ban pets in suburbia. Designate parts of your city as a district in order to set policy at the local level, and give different parts of town their own personalities.
After Dark included: Watch your city become an entirely different place at night: a day-night cycle will have your citizens seeking out places to unwind after work. Add in new policies and zones to create popular hotspots and provide enough taxis and trains to get to and from the clubs!

To purchase Cities: Skylines – PlayStation®4 Edition, visit https://www.paradoxplaza.com/cities-skylines-ps4/cities-skylines-ps4.html.

SteelSeries Announces APEX M750 Mechanical Keyboard

2017/08/15

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News

CHICAGO – August, 15 2017 – Today, SteelSeries announced the APEX M750, the ‘complete package’ mechanical keyboard, delivering durability in a beautifully simplified package. The M750 brings new QX2 mechanical switches, per key RGB lighting and SteelSeries Engine Apps to gamers, giving them the ultimate combination of beauty, performance and customization.

The APEX M750 features SteelSeries’ QX2 linear mechanical gaming switches to deliver ultra-fast and consistent gameplay. Their low-force, linear actuation point also deliver a whisper-quiet response and have a guaranteed lifespan of 50 million key presses. The keyboard was designed with an aerospace aluminum core for durability, stability and a sleek, modern look.

“Gamers have strong and vocal opinions about keyboards; and it’s a crowded market with vast options of different switches, features and materials, but there are always compromises. That is what makes the Apex M750 different – we didn’t compromise on any of it, instead we listened and are delivering the complete package,” said SteelSeries CEO, Ehtisham Rabbani. “With the launch of the new keyboard we are proud to bring new and first-to-market SteelSeries Engine features to gamers, like the Discord App, ImageSync and more.”

New SteelSeries Engine Features

The launch of Apex M750 kick starts several exciting upgrades in SteelSeries Engine. The powerful software suite, with the most intuitive, easy-to-navigate UI, features new Engine Apps delivering reactive lighting, chat notifications and unparalleled customization.

Discord Chat Integration

SteelSeries Engine now features a chat notifications in partnership with Discord. This new feature allows real-time chat notifications from Discord to be synced to SteelSeries illuminated products. Streamers, gamers and esports players can light up the new Apex M750 with customizable notifications that indicate new messages, mute status and more

New SteelSeries Engine Apps also include:

ImageSync is the easiest way to create complex lighting, allowing gamers to simply upload any animated GIF and automatically converting it into a customized lighting effect.
Audio Visualizer syncs the illumination on the M750 (and all SteelSeries illuminated products) with any music or playlist of the user’s choice
Gigantic, the popular strategic shooter, is now integrated with SteelSeries Engine, delivering real-time, in-game reactive illumination and haptic feedback across all SteelSeries-compatible devices

SteelSeries Engine users can still experience:

PrismSync dynamically syncs multi-color lighting effects between the M750 and all other Prism-enabled gear
GameSense lighting provides immersive, reactive effects that respond to in-game events like low ammo, health and cooldown timers.

The APEX M750 is available now at http://steelseries.com/m750 for $139.99.

The Secret World TV Series Announced

2017/08/15

Jennifer Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

OSLO, Norway – August 15^th, 2017 – Funcom is excited to share the news that Johnny Depp’s Infinitum Nihil and G4C Innovation’s Gudrun Giddings have partnered to produce The Secret World, a TV series based on Funcom’s massively multiplayer online game The Secret World and its reincarnation, the shared-world online RPG Secret World Legends. The TV series is based on the universe of the Secret World IP and centers on a team of undercover agents and the shadowy war between secret societies, the Illuminati, Dragon and the Templar. Central to the plot is also the battle against the supernatural in an adventure that spans across our world, multiple dimensions, and incorporates the realms of ancient myths and legends as well as today’s conspiracy theories and headline news.

The pilot was written by James V. Hart (Hook, Dracula, Contact) and Jake Hart. Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, Sam Sarkar and Gudrun Giddings will produce together with Showrunner Pam Veasey. (CSI-NY). CAA (Creative Artists Agency) is packaging.

“The Secret World universe is full of stories just waiting to be told,” says Funcom CEO Rui Casais. “From secret societies to myths and legends that are all coming true, The Secret World captures some of humanity’s greatest mysteries and asks “what if?”. As the developers of The Secret World and Secret World Legends, we think it is a fantastic premise for a television show and one we hope will capture the collective imagination of the audience.”

“It is one of the most character-driven and well-developed games I know of,” says Gudrun Giddings, who optioned the media rights back in 2012. “Hence it naturally lends itself to fantastical storylines with intriguing characters, a thrilling, and binge-worthy international TV show.”

Sam Sarkar, who developed the project from its inception with Gudrun Giddings said: “From the moment Gudrun first brought this to me, I loved this property. I live for conspiracy theory. I don’t believe it, but I love it. This is the secret story of the people who rule the people who rule the world.”

Funcom recently rebooted The Secret World as the shared-world online RPG Secret World Legends. About two weeks following the initial launch on June 26^th 2017, Funcom announced that it was encouraged by the initial success of the reboot and said that it was years since the company last saw a similar player surge in the Secret World universe. Secret World Legends offers a more accessible experience than before, with revamped combat, progression, and a host of other improvements.

Set within a dark and mature story universe, Secret World Legends plunges players into a sweeping adventure into the supernatural underbelly of myths and legends that exists in the shadows of our own realm. Travel the globe in pursuit of mysterious forces threatening the world, using your wits and abilities to solve complex investigations and uncover the truth. The developers will be continuing to add content and new storylines going forward, finally allowing them to bring the story of The Secret World forward in new, exciting directions. Secret World Legends is currently available on www.secretworldlegends.com and Steam. For more information on Secret World Legends, including a detailed breakdown of the game’s features, visit www.SecretWorldLegends.com.