Archive - 2017

Operation Lionclaws LCXVI After-Action Report

2017/06/29
Jerry Paxton
Action Sports, Airsoft News, Articles, Geek News, News

Lionclaws 2017 has come and gone and, now that I have recovered from the game, I am bringing this after-action review for your airsoft reading entertainment. Once again at George Air Force Base in Victorville, CA. This time, I left the SOCOM faction and went with the Russian side. I have wanted to build a Russian loadout for some time and even bought a new AK style airsoft rifle for the event.

This year, the two sides (SOCOM and Russian) where replaced with three factions: SOCOM, Red Scorpion, and the Black Widow Militia. The idea was that the SOCOM and Russian forces were fighting over land occupied by the militia. In concept, it could have been a great political game as well, but a lot of that potential was left unrealized. This year’s Operation  Lionclaws event was much more chaotic and disorganized in comparison to the amazing event from last year. I believe there are two main reasons for this. First, having three factions was simply too complicated for both the game control personnel and map layout. Second, there was a severe lack of communications with the leadership on our side – as opposed to last year when each group had a radio operator player who’s sole job was to relay communications between the squad leaders and the faction leadership. Whereas last year’s game felt like a “real” MilSim style event, this year’s event felt more like a large pick-up game. But, I digress…

The George Air Force Base AO was over grown with dead grasses in many areas, making the usually dangerous AO even more treacherous to the uninitiated. There were several “real world” calls throughout the weekend where EMTs had to take people out of the area for sprains and cuts (there is a lot of debris everywhere). Despite this, the area still works well for the game and there are plenty of places to gain cover and advantageous positions. We had one person in our squad that brought a large hand axe and was making his own doorways inside the duplexes… He seemed to be having a good time.

Players brought out a number of types of airsoft guns, from the crazy to the basic, and it is always great to see what people bring out for the event. My favorite was a player that had made a “terminator” style P90 submachine gun and his own custom kydex pouches for the magazines. It was really impressive!

Overall, the 2017 Operation Lionclaws game was a fun airsoft event, albeit less so than last year’s offering. It is my hope that for the 2018 Lionclaws event they return to a two-side setup and increase communication and planning between the leadership and the various squads.

Gallery

ScareLA 2017 Offering Educational Classes

2017/06/28
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News

Los Angeles, California, June 27 – ScareLA 2017 is coming to the Los Angeles Convention Center, featuring a plethora of professional demos and seminars on everything from makeup to set building to costuming to animatronics. In addition, there are hands-on workshops and make-and-takes for all ages taught by top industry professionals. Among the many seminars and make-and-take workshops scheduled this year are non-latex skeleton corpsing with Bill Ramsey, turning wood into rusted steampunk gear with Melissa “Hauntzilla” Winton, zombie outbreak silicon prosthetics with Kyle Vest (“Skin Wars” season 2), how to make scary videos to grow your haunt with Timothy Sedillo, and insights into the escape room craze with Madison Rhoades. Additional intriguing make-and-take classes include Jon Mario demonstrating out-of-kit effects such as cuts, burns, bruises, blood and more.

Is your dream date really Cinderella or a serial killer in disguise? Join Abel Horwitz’s Serial Killer Speed Dating and find out. Drew Badger will be covering the basics that every haunt actor needs to know to make a lasting impression on haunt visitors. And, of course, sound is a big part of haunting and horror. Jon Autopsy will be returning for a fourth year to ScareLA to conduct an interactive class on haunted attraction sound design.

Warren Kong of Lightswitch will be presenting a free, 40-minute seminar called “Beyond the Strobe Light: A Marriage of Lighting and Scenic,” which will cover the use of colored light, UV paint and effects with lighting, monochromatics, and shadow play. Warren will also offer a free, 45-minute make-and-take session called “Light It Up.” In this workshop, there will be three stations working with different aspects of using light to create effects.

“We changed the education programming quite a bit from last year based on feedback from attendees,” stated Philip Hernandez, Education Producer for ScareLA. “Instead of requiring an extra student pass for attendees, all programming on the Education Stage, Movement Space, and some of the workshops is included in any admission pass. All monsters are welcome in these sessions! The only extra charges are material fees for classes in which participants physically take something home with them—make-and-take classes. We’re focusing on bringing more hands-on experiences and individual attention to the convention despite the increase in venue size for the make-and-take sessions and having more attendees.”

Space in seminars and make-and-take classes is limited, and these sessions are filling up fast. To see a schedule of and register for sessions and workshops, visit https://register.growtix.com/schedule/scarela_2017

Zen Studios Announces Pinball FX3

2017/06/28
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

San Francisco, CA – June 28, 2017 – Zen Studios is excited to announce Pinball FX3, the next generation pinball platform that will redefine the console and PC digital pinball experience. Designed to bring the community together like never before, Pinball FX3 is built around multiplayer match-ups and competitive tournament play.

Zen Studios also placed a strong focus on helping players become more competitive, and have designed new single-player modes featuring special challenges that will help players develop their skills as they connect with the Pinball FX3 community.

Pinball FX3 will release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10, and Steam. A teaser trailer can be linked from the Zen Studios YouTube Channel:

For the past decade, Zen Studios has been delighted to share their passions with millions of players, taking them on an exciting, evolutionary pinball journey and is proud to announce that players will be able to bring a majority of their previous Pinball FX2 and Zen Pinball 2 purchases with them to Pinball FX3 on Xbox One, Steam and PlayStation 4 at no extra charge.

“Zen Studios has enjoyed a deep conversational relationship with the pinball community for over a decade. We have learned from each other, worked together, and developed a better game together,” said Mel Kirk, Vice President of Publishing at Zen Studios. “Pinball FX3 is a milestone step forward for players on console and PC, and I am excited that many of our new features are suggestions from the community. We remain 100% committed to providing our players with an exceptional value, allowing them to bring their collection forward with them as we can all enjoy a host of new features and upgrades together from day one.”

While video game pinball has long been a solitary single player experience, Zen Studios has worked to create a new tournament structure that elevates competitive play in an exciting and engaging way. Players will have the ability to create their own pinball tournaments, compete in player vs. player match-ups and leagues, and compete in a variety of score based objectives that refresh constantly so there is always a new challenge awaiting.

As always, the pinball wizards at Zen Studios are working on new and exciting content. Pinball FX3 will launch with three brand new tables from a brand-new IP partner. These tables will be announced at a later date.

Stay tuned to Zen’s social media channels and www.pinballfx.com for more news and information about Pinball FX3.

About Zen Studios

Zen Studios is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for all major digital game platforms, and is recognized as one of the premiere independent gaming studios in the world. Zen is an internationally renowned publisher headquartered in Budapest, Hungary with offices in the United States. Zen Studios has worked with some of the largest brands in the world of entertainment, including Marvel Entertainment, South Park, FOX, Bethesda, and Lucasfilm, as well as revered gaming properties like Valve’s Portal and TellTale Games’ The Walking Dead. Zen Studios’ CastleStorm franchise has also won the developer critical acclaim and commercial success, including the coveted Editor’s Choice awards from both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

A Bad Moms Christmas Teaser

2017/06/28
boothby
Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened women as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas.  And if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers.  By the end of the journey, our moms will redefine how to make the holidays special for all and discover a closer relationship with their mothers.

Genre: Comedy
Cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Jay Hernandez, Cheryl Hines, Peter Gallagher, Justin Hartley, David Walton, with Christine Baranski, and Susan Sarandon
Writers/Directors: Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
Producer: Suzanne Todd
Release Date: November 3, 2017

Facebook.com/BadMoms
Twitter.com/BadMoms
Instagram.com/BadMoms
#BadMomsXmas

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 20 Years of Slaying SDCC Fan Event and Merchandise

2017/06/28
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, SDCC

Los Angeles, CA (June 27, 2017) – Iconic cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues its 20th anniversary celebration during San Diego Comic-Con with a special fan event hosted by Legion M in conjunction with 20th Century Fox Consumer Products.

Coinciding with San Diego Comic-Con, the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 20 Years of Slaying” fan event will be held Saturday, July 22 from 6-9 pm at Side Bar in the Gaslamp Quarter (exact address is 536 Market Street).  Fans interested in attending the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 20 Years of Slaying” event can register on the official Buffy Facebook page here. A portion of this event will also be livestreamed to this Facebook page.

Scoobies, Slayerettes and Whedonites can take part in a night of slayage that will include the following:

  • Buffy Fandom Feud Trivia Contest – Fans will get the opportunity to win Slayer Swag as they team up to show off their Buffy knowledge!
  • Buffy Cosplay Contest – Damian Beurer co-host of Super Power Beat Down, and executive at Legion M, will host this Buffy Cosplay showdown. Calling all Buffy Cosplay fans to bring their best Scooby Gang cosplay for the opportunity to win Slayer Swag!
  • Once More, With Feeling! – At the party, fans can show-off their improv skills when they get to reenact their favorite Buffy show moments.
  • Fans will be treated to select appetizers and a Buffy 20thanniversary cake as they sip on signature Slayer drinks, available during the event.
  • Photo opportunity with a life-size image of The Gentlemen from the popular episode “Hush.” Fans who share on social media will receive an exclusive spell in a small glass vial, a perfect keepsake for Buffy fans, from the forthcoming book Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Official Grimoire(Insight Editions, October 2017).
  • Various stations including an in-person Buffy table-top board game competition from Jasco Games, and an interactive wall-sized Buffy coloring book pages from Dark Horse. Fans will be able to color and create their own Buffy art for a special digital mosaic in celebration of #BuffySlays20!
  • Plus, additional giveaways and surprises!

In regards to the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 20 Years of Slaying” fan event, Legion M Co-founder Jeff Annison stated: “As a fan-owned company we can think of no better way to spend a Saturday night in San Diego than hanging out with some of the best fans on the planet!” ​

Also at San Diego Comic-Con, fans will have the opportunity to pre-order the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition DVD boxed set at the Fox Booth #4229 for $99.98. Available everywhere on September 19, 2017, the DVD collection includes an official “Buffy” Dark Horse Comic Book featuring an exclusive cover available to fans for a limited time.

About the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition DVD Boxed Set

The teen years can be brutal. Especially when you’re Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) –  a Sunnydale High School student destined to slay supernatural, blood-sucking baddies instead of hanging out at the mall. Over the seven seasons of this thrilling, witty show, Buffy struggles to maintain allies in the fight against evil, while also engaging in on-off romances with a moody vampire (David Boreanaz) or two (James Marsters). Now you can own this 39-disc set containing all 144 episodes of one of the smartest, funniest, most action-packed series ever to slay on the small screen – also starring Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head and Nicholas Brendon.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 20th Anniversary Consumer Products:

A wide-range of key licensees and retail partners are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer including Hot Topic, BoxLunch, Dark Horse, Simon & Schuster, Insight Editions, Funko, Harper Design, AC/DC Apparel, Jasco, Upper Deck, Ripple Junction, among others. They are sharing with fans a unique collection of Buffy apparel, accessories, board games, new books, comics and more. Among the recent highlights:

  • Coming this August, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is joining the Funko Rock Candy line! Unable to escape her destiny, this series includes the Vampire Slayer herself, Buffy Summers, and her academically-excelling counterpart Willow Rosenberg…Together they’ll save the world! Add them both to your collection this Summer.
  • The eagerly awaited Buffy the Vampire Slayer fashion collection is now available online at hottopic.com.  Hot Topic, the retail destination for music and pop-culture inspired apparel, accessories, collectibles and more, is celebrating 20 years of slaying with a fashion collection inspired by the style of beloved Buffy characters. The line features six pieces including Willow’s iconic 90s sweater, a long trench coat inspired by Buffy, a black motorcycle jacket inspired by Faith, a white high-low dress inspired by the dress worn by Buffy in Prophecy Girl, as well as tops featuring iconic lines from the series.

Walt Disney Studios Unveils D23 Expo Film Presence

2017/06/27
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News

BURBANK, Calif., June 27, 2017 – The Walt Disney Studios presents an exclusive look at its unparalleled film slate at D23 Expo 2017 in Anaheim, California, taking place July 14–16.

At two marquee Hall D23 presentations, the Studio will give fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse at its upcoming releases, with animated films from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios showcased on Friday, July 14, and live-action projects from Disney, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm taking the stage on Saturday, July 15.

Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm are responsible for some of the world’s biggest movie hits, including recent blockbusters such as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and The Jungle Book; Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia and Moana; Pixar Animation Studios’ Inside Out, Finding Dory, and Cars 3; Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Doctor Strange, and Captain America: Civil War; and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. While the films to be featured in Hall D23 will remain under wraps until showtime, the Studio’s upcoming slate includes Pixar’s Coco; Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and Avengers: Infinity War; Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time and Mary Poppins Returns; Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2; and more.

In addition, a new event has been announced for Sunday, July 16, at 10 a.m. in the D23 Expo Arena: Celebration of an Animated Classic: The Lion King. Producer Don Hahn, director Rob Minkoff, animators Tony Bancroft and Mark Henn, and special guests will be in attendance during this not-to-be-missed look back at the timeless and beloved Disney animated film.

HALL D23 PRESENTATIONS:

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films, Hosted by John Lasseter

Friday, July 14, 2:30 p.m. – Hall D23

Were you there in 2015 when Ellen DeGeneres and Dwayne Johnson wowed the crowds? When Zootopia’s sloth scene screened for the very first time? And when Randy Newman, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody celebrated the 20th anniversary of Toy Story? Then you know the Animation presentation at Hall D23 is a MUST. Join host John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, as he presents Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Upcoming Films. Never-before-seen footage from Pixar’s upcoming feature Coco and Disney Animation’s Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be unveiled, as well as surprise announcements, musical performances, and appearances by star voice talent. Cell phones, cameras, and all recording devices will be checked for this presentation.

Disney, Marvel Studios & Lucasfilm – Live Action at The Walt Disney Studios

Saturday, July 15, 10:30 a.m. – Hall D23

The Walt Disney Studios is home to the biggest and most beloved brands in filmmaking today, with a number of highly anticipated projects from Disney, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm in the works. At this exclusive Hall D23 presentation featuring never-before-seen footage, surprise star appearances, and more, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at an exciting array of spectacular films on the horizon from these world-class studios. Cell phones, cameras, and all recording devices will be checked for this presentation

CALENDAR OF KEY EVENTS: 

The Power of the Princess

Saturday, July 15, 10:30 a.m. – Stage 28

Walt Disney Animation Studios invites you to The Power of the Princess, featuring Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), and Auli‘i Cravalho (Moana)—the talented actresses who brought these iconic characters to life—as they share stories of making their films and the impact of their characters on people around the world. Hosted by Walt Disney Animation Studios animators Amy Smeed and Kira Lehtomaki.

Creating the Worlds in Pixar’s Universe

Saturday, July 15, 12:15 p.m. – Stage 28

Pixar’s films are filled with beloved characters living in relatable yet previously unimagined worlds. Join Pixar production designers and artists who have created the mountain tops, oceans, and “monstropolises” in which your favorite characters live. These artists create the setting and cultivate the mood of every scene using extensive research, incredible imagination, and each individual director’s vision, giving life to the amazing worlds in Pixar’s movies.

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure: A Sneak Peek at the New Frozen Featurette

Saturday, July 15, 2:30 p.m. – Stage 28

Be among the first to see both exclusive and behind-the-scenes footage from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ newest Frozen holiday featurette, the highly anticipated Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. The film, which features the talents of the original Frozen cast, as well as brand-new songs, is directed by the Emmy®-winning team Stevie Wermers-Skelton and Kevin Deters (Prep & Landing) and produced by Oscar®-winning producer Roy Conli (Big Hero 6, Tangled).

The Evolution of Pixar’s Characters

Saturday, July 15, 6 p.m. – Stage 28

From the waves in their hair to the shoes on their feet, Pixar characters are designed to be full of personality and to tell a story. Hear from the legendary Pixar artists who have created the most memorable characters in Pixar’s history. These are the visionaries who start with an initial doodle and see the evolution of a character through to final animation—the people who let technology influence the art and make the impossible, possible.

Celebration of an Animated Classic: The Lion King

Sunday, July 16, 10 a.m. – D23 Expo Arena

Join a Disney celebration of the magic, the music, and the majesty of the animated classic The Lion King. Producer Don Hahn, director Rob Minkoff, and animators Tony Bancroft and Mark Henn, along with some very special guests, reveal the secrets behind the making of the timeless animated classic.

Bambi’s 75th Anniversary

Sunday, July 16, 11:30 a.m. – Walt Disney Archives Stage

Join us as we commemorate the 75th anniversary and Walt Disney Signature Collection release of Bambi, the endearing, timeless tale of a wide-eyed fawn that has touched generations. Audiences can look forward to hearing personal stories from the voice cast, anecdotes behind the making of this film and its exquisite hand-drawn artwork, and much, much more. It’s groundbreaking animated classics like Bambi that were created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney and still influence many great visionaries and animators today.

ALL WEEKEND ON THE D23 EXPO SHOW FLOOR

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios once again join forces for a must-see animation experience at D23 Expo. Artist demonstrations, autograph signings with top filmmakers, fan giveaways and interactive displays featuring the latest films including Cars 3, Coco, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, and Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, make this booth one to visit over-and-over again.

Marvel Studios Pavilion

At the Marvel Studios Pavilion, fans will get an up-close look at the costumes and props from Thor: Ragnarok, including photo opportunities with exclusive set pieces from the film, as well as incredible costumes from Black Panther. Marvel Studios will host multiple giveaways and events within its pavilion space in Hall B. Fans will get the chance to meet with Marvel Studios’ filmmakers, development team, and talent. Exclusive artwork will be given away daily, along with other surprises. Details on talent appearances and special signings will be made available on the D23 Expo app.

Disney Music Emporium – Album Signings and Exclusive Products

Disney Music Emporium, the online destination for collectible Disney music products, returns to D23 Expo 2017 with a pop-up store on the show floor. Over the three-day Ultimate Disney Fan Event, the Emporium will feature album signings by artists and award-winning composers. Limited quantities of a wide assortment of music products will be available, including new releases from Marvel, Moana, Beauty and the Beast, and Disneyland attraction picture discs, plus lithographs, Crosley turntables, and posters. For a complete list of talent appearances and album signings, visit http://waltdisneyrecords.com/d23expo/signings.html.

Disney Movie Rewards and Disney Movie Club

Throughout the D23 Expo 2017, Disney fans will be able to experience a unique augmented reality photo booth presented by Disney Movie Rewards, the premier loyalty program for all your favorite Disney Movies. Fans will be able to earn mystery points which can be used for great rewards like Blu-rays, movie tickets, and exclusive collectibles only available at DisneyMovieRewards.com. Disney Movie Club, the ultimate source for building your Disney movie library, will also be there hosting a special augmented reality gallery. Come by for free giveaways and a special sign up offer just for D23 Expo 2017 attendees. For more magic and savings visit DisneyMovieClub.com.

Disney Family Movies

The subscription, video-on-demand service Disney Family Movies provides the ultimate in family entertainment from one of the world’s largest film libraries, giving viewers unlimited access to a selection of beloved classic and contemporary films and animated shorts from The Walt Disney Studios. Each of the 12 titles remains in rotation for a month, with new movies added weekly. Stop by our booth in Hall C to learn about this fun service, available through your television provider.

 

Tickets for D23 Expo 2017 are available for $81 for one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $72 for a one-day adult admissionand $53 for children 3–9. Multi-day tickets are also available. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2017, visit D23Expo.com.

The Golf Club 2 Launch Trailer

2017/06/27
boothby
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

June 27, 2017 – Walnut Creek, CA – Video game publisher Maximum Games, in partnership with developer HB Studios, today celebrates the release of their highly-anticipated sports game, The Golf Club 2, the next installment from the beloved franchise. Hailed for its authenticity and social engagement, fans can now take to the green as The Golf Club 2 is out today for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and Windows PC.

“We’ve swung hard with this game by packing in tons of new features and enhancements for our players, both from our own creative minds as well as from fan feedback,” said HB Studios game producer, Shaun West. “The result is an amazing and robust experience that is more realistic and authentic, while delivering on our signature style of fun, customization and competition – both on the course and in the club.”

The Golf Club 2 features:

  • A highly authentic golf experience both on the green and in the club.
  • Single-player Career Mode – players progressively rise through the ranks to claim top spot.
  • Online Societies – create, customize and run societies with friends, or join existing ones based on skill level and play styles… ascend to the top to have the biggest and best society!
  • Refined Course Creator – more creative freedom to build the ideal course to suit any player’s style, whether starting fresh or upgrading a previous masterpiece from the original game which features more than 150,000 user-generated courses.
  • Stunning environments – experience a vast range of customizable terrain.
  • Cutting-edge swing mechanics – Delivers a more authentic and calculated way to control the swing and the desired outcome for each shot creating realistic outcomes.
  • Uninterrupted gameplay – zero load times between holes.
  • Unlimited customization options – players will have the ability to customize almost everything, from course designs and club décor to characters.
  • Dynamic online tournaments – Create and host online tournaments, inviting other players to buy in for a chance to prove their skills and win in-game currency and notoriety.

“We are thrilled to provide players a next-level golfing experience,” said Christina Seelye of Maximum Games. “Fans of the original will find themselves right back in the game, but this time with so many more added features and enhancements, as well as an expanded community of golf aficionados to engage with for friendly competition and bragging rights.”

For additional product information, please visit: www.thegolfclub2.com.

The Golf Club 2 was developed by HB Studios and is published by Maximum Games. The game is now available on PS4, Xbox One, and digitally on PC via Steam for MSRP $39.99, and has been rated “E for Everyone” by the ESRB.

For more information on Maximum Games, please visit: http://www.maximumgames.com.

Six Flags Great Adventure Announces July Events Calendar

2017/06/27
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News

Bad Bunny, Jory Boy and J Alvarez in Concert – July 1

Six Flags welcomes Bad Bunny, Jory Boy and J Alvarez in concert in July 1, presented by Coca Cola®. All hailing from Puerto Rico, this concert will celebrate reggaeton music. Jory Boy began his solo career with his debut album in 2015. J Alvarez’s 2012 album Otro Nivel de Musica Reloaded holds many accolades including a Latin Grammy Awards nomination. Bad Bunny rose to popularity in 2016 with the release of his early singles, “No Te Hagas,” “Soy Peor” and “Tu No Vive Así.” The concert will take place in the Northern Star Arena at 7 p.m. and is included with valid theme park admission, Season Pass and active Membership.

July 4th Fest Sponsored by Coca-Cola® – July 2, 3 & 4

Guests are invited to celebrate Fourth of July weekend at the park July 2, 3 and 4. By day, thrill seekers can celebrate the American tradition of riding their favorite roller coasters such as Nitro, Kingda Ka and El Toro. At 10 p.m. each night, Coca-Cola® will sponsor elaborate firework displays accompanied with live music, food and entertainment.

Faith, Family & Praise Day: Rock and Rejoice – July 8

Guests are encouraged to bring their loved ones to Faith, Family & Praise Day July 8 for an uplifting rock and rejoice concert celebration in the Northern Star Area. The concert is hosted by Liz Black and features Pastor Charles Jenkins, Latice Crawford, Wess Morgan, Livre, Bryan Andrew Wilson, Angel Taylor, Kasey Edwards and Dave James. This day of praise also includes an all-you-can-eat lunch in the Catered Picnic Grove from 2 to 4 p.m., which requires a separate meal ticket. The concert begins as 7 p.m. and is included with theme park admission, Season Pass and active Membership.

Fright Fest Dance Auditions – July 21 & 22

Great Adventure’s iconic Fright Fest show “Dead Man’s Party” and the new “Unleashed” stage spectacular are looking for extraordinary dancers trained in musical theater, jazz, hip hop, ballet, freestyle and partnering. Open auditions will be held July 21 at 6 p.m. and July 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the park’s Showcase Theater. Dancers should arrive with a variety of dance shoes ready to learn choreography, freestyle and bring out their best inner zombie. New applicants should apply online at www.sixflagsjobs.com before attending the auditions and enter through the employee entrance on Route 537 (1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, NJ).

Fright Fest Zombie and Specialty Performer Auditions – July 28 & 29

Six Flags Great Adventure is seeking individuals with a love for scaring as casting for the 2017 Fright Fest begins July 28 at 6 p.m. and Saturday July 29 at 1 p.m. in the Employment Center. The Entertainment Department is looking for street zombies, haunted maze actors and specialty performers with unique skills. New candidates should apply at www.sixflagsjobs.com prior to the open auditions and come prepared to participate in fun group exercises in front of a panel of judges. Specialty performers should come prepared to showcase their talents. No costumes, props or previous scare experience is required. Applicants should enter through the employee entrance on Route 537 (1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, NJ).

DC Summer of Super Heroes: Military Appreciation Day – July 29

Six Flags says “thank you” to our brave men and women in the military as part of the DC Super Hero Summer.  The event includes discounts on admission, exclusive ride time after hours on BATMAN: The Ride, THE DARK KNIGHT and the all-new JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle for Metropolis, and a performance by the USO Show Troup. Discounts are available online using the promo code HERO, and at the entrance gate for active and retired military with I.D.

DCS F/A-18C Hornet VR Experience at E3 2017 with Exclusive Screenshots

2017/06/27
Jerry Paxton
E3, Geek News, News, Previews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

Being a huge fan of flight simulation, I couldn’t wait to check out the upcoming DCS: F/A-18C Hornet from The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics while at the E3 Expo. There has been a lot of buzz about it, as there also is with Thrustmaster’s creation of a new HOTAS flight stick to play along with it. We previously reviewed the HOTAS Warthog from Thrustmaster, and how it played with DCS: A-10C Warthog, so anticipation was high. I walked up to Thrustmaster’s E3 booth in the South Hall and waited in line to try out the sim. I sat down in the gaming chair they had setup and got my Oculus Rift headset donned without trouble. Then Eagle Dynamics SA senior producer, Matt Wagner gave me a quick briefing on where my aircraft was flying over and what I was supposed to do.

The cockpit of the F/A-18C is beautifully rendered and I wanted to press every button I could see. Of course, being that this was a VR demo, physically pushing the buttons is a bit difficult. Apparently, they came up with some great workarounds for this based on where you are looking to act as a pointer, but I didn’t get a chance to try that. This was just about flying around, launching short-range Sidewinder missiles, and making strafing runs against ground targets. It was a nice sandbox to play around in and I couldn’t help but get the chills as I leaned over to my right to see the ground below my aircraft. The sense of immersion brought about by the VR, coupled with the realistic cockpit, was really cool. I would LOVE to see this attached to some kind of home game room motion platform for even more immersion, but my wife would probably be pretty upset by the $15,000 dollar motion platform purchase and large footprint – I digress… You can get a sense of the gameplay demo, minus VR immersion, in this video:

E3 2017 Gameplay Demo Overview

Also, I’d like to thank Matt Wagner  for sending us these exclusive screenshots from the upcoming Hornet add-on. The aircraft is beautifully-detailed and its quality cannot be denied.

Exclusive DCS F/A-18C Screenshots

After flying around for about five minutes or so, our play session ended and I doffed the VR headset, returning to actual reality. I was shocked to find out that everything I had experienced was from the pre-alpha build of the Hornet and can’t wait to see how the new aircraft shapes up.

In a glass case next to the play area, there it was: Thrustmaster’s upcoming F/A-18C HOTAS grip. This unit, once purchased, can be swapped out on the Warthog HOTAS flight stick and will be the ultimate peripheral to play the DCS flight simulation with. This hot-swappable grip system was a feature heavily-alluded to when Thrustmaster initially announced the Warthog many years ago. It is nice to see that functionality finally being used and I hope it opens up more options in the future – perhaps when the F-14 Tomcat add-on is released! Talk to me, Goose!

As a final topping on this flight simulator sundae, we were allowed to look at a very early build of the AV-8B add-on for DCS world, which will fully-realize the aircraft’s fabled thrust-vectoring system. The cockpit looks absolutely stunning and we can’t wait to see it in action. As an added bonus to this, here are some exclusive shots from DCS AV-8B for your viewing enjoyment:

Exclusive AV-8B Harrier Screenshots

Neill Blomkamp and Oats Studios Announce FIREBASE

2017/06/27
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 23, 2017) From Oats Studios and filmmaker Neill Blomkamp (District 9,Elysium, and Chappie), comes the science fiction short FIREBASE, available for free June 28, 2017 on the Oats Studios YouTube, Steam, and Facebook channels.

FIREBASE will be the second independently made sci-fi short released by Oats Studios following the success of the Sigourney Weaver helmed “Rakka”.

Synopsis

Set during the Vietnam war, FIREBASE follows American soldier “Hines” through an ever deepening web of science fiction madness. The fabric of space-time literally beginning to bend around him.

About OATS Studios

Oats Studios is a new experimental filmmaking “lab”. The Studio is an independent incubator of ideas that has the capacity to handle all aspects of production from start to end. Oats Studios works in an open source format with the audience by allowing the fans to interact with the filmmakers and the studio directly and allowing the fans access to the actual film’s assets to then merge with their own creativity.

Our goal is to make more original and interesting short film content and eventually full-scale feature films & series from the titles that we create.