Archive - 2018

Screamfest 2018 Announces First Wave of Films

2018/09/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – September 25, 2018 – America’s largest and longest running horror film festival, Screamfest Horror Film Festival, is proud to announce the first wave of its official 2018 film line up.  In its 18th year, the festival, which will run from Oct. 9-18, 2018 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood, has launched careers – providing a platform for filmmakers and actors to showcase their latest work to enthusiasts and general audiences. Actress Lin Shaye, the star of the successful horror franchise Insidious and other popular horror films including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Dead End, 2001 Maniacs, and the soon-to-be-released reboot, Grudge, will serve as this year’s festival ambassador.

“Screaming is good for the soul,” said Shaye.  “I am extremely excited and honored to serve as this year’s Screamfest ambassador and scream with all of you! I’m thrilled to support and celebrate a space where filmmakers, actors and fans can unveil their hard work, and celebrate the horror genre.”

 Screamfest Horror Film Festival will offer unique access to some of the most creative forces in the horror genre through film screenings, Q&As and conversations with some of the most captivating artists working in the industry today.

“We could not be more excited to partner with Shaye,” said Belofsky.  “Her work has inspired many and she has become a force in the horror and genre community.”

The festival is best known for discovering Paranormal Activity in 2007. Other past premieres include Tragedy Girls, Tigers Are Not Afraid, Trick ‘r Treat, 30 Days of Night, Let the Right One In, The Grudge, The Collection, The Human Centipede and Diary of the Dead. Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Sam Raimi, Clive Barker, Eli Roth, James Wan, Zack Snyder, William Friedkin and John Landis are just some of the filmmakers who have supported the festival year after year.

Film festival badges are currently on sale at www.ScreamfestLA.com and individual film tickets will be available end of September 2018. All screenings are open to the general public. Winners will receive a 24 karat gold dipped skull trophy designed by the legendary, Academy award-winning special make-up effects creator, Stan Winston, who partnered with the festival until his passing.

Screamfest Horror Film Festival is proud to announce that the following films have been admitted to the festival – the first wave of the 2018 line up.

SPLINTER-VERSARY– 10 year anniversary screening of SPLIINTER 

***Splinter premiered at Screamfest 2008 and took home six awards that year. ***

A couple retreats to the wilderness for the weekend but are car-jacked by an escaped convict and his girlfriend on the run from the police. As they travel the backroads, they find themselves in deeper trouble. A parasitic creature has taken over the woods, and the two couples are now in its sights. Finding shelter at a gas station, they must use their wits and every weapon at their disposal to stave off the onslaught, not only from the insatiable creature, but also each other.

Directed by:

Toby Wilkins

Produced by:

Kai Barry & Ted Kroeber

Executive Producer(s):

Graham Begg, Chad Burris, Jamie Carmichael, Mark Cuban

Written by:

Ian Shorr, Kai Barry

Main Cast:

Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo & Jill Wagner

AMITYVILLE MURDERS: (US) – 2018

Directed by Daniel Farrands

Written by   Daniel Farrands

Cast: John Robinson, Chelsea Ricketts, Paul Ben-Victor, Diane Franklin, Burt Young, Lainie Kazan

Produced by Eric Brenner and Lucas Jarach

On the night of November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. took a high-powered rifle and murdered his entire family as they slept. At his trial, DeFeo claimed that “voices” in the house commanded him to kill. This is their story.

World Premiere

DEMENTIA II (US) – 2018

Directed by Matt Mercer and Mike Testin

Written by   Matt Mercer and Mike Testin

Cast: Suzanne Voss, Matt Mercer, Najarra Townsend, Graham Skipper

Produced by Matt Mercer and Mike Testin

Suzanne wasn’t always this confused. She wasn’t always DEAD either… When an ex-con takes a job as a handyman for an unstable elderly woman to avoid a parole violation, it becomes a choice he may regret.

West Coast Premiere

DISCARNATE (US) – 2018

Directed by Mario Sorrenti

Written by   Mario Miscione, Marcella Ochoa

Cast: Thomas Kretschmann, Nadine Velazquez, Josh Stewart, Chris Coy, Bex Taylor-Klaus

Produced by Harald Kloser (Independence Day: Resurgence.White House Down, 2012), Marcella Ochoa, Co-produced by John Michael Elfers

A neuroscientist’s obsession with a drug that expands the human mind inadvertently unleashes a deadly supernatural force on his team.

World Premiere

DRAUG (Sweden) 2018

Directed by Klas Persson and Karin Engman

Written by   Klas Persson and Karin Engman

Cast: Elna Karlsson Thomas Hedengran Nina Filimoshkina Ralf Beck Urban Bergsten Matti Boustedt

Produced by Klas Persson and Karin Engman

In the 11th century a missionary goes missing somewhere in the huge forests bordering the northern parts of Sweden. Among the rescue party chosen to find him is Nanna, a young woman on her first real mission and her first return to the part of the country where she was born. But what they will find deep inside those woods is something else entirely. Something dark. Something ancient. Something evil.

World Premiere

THE FINAL WISH (US) 2018

Directed by Timothy Woodward Jr.

Written by  Jeffrey Reddick, Jonathan Doyle, William Halfon

Cast: Lin Shaye ( Insidious franchise, Ouija franchise) Michael Welch (Twilight franchise, All The Boys Love Mandy Lane) Tony Todd (Final Destination, Hell Fest, Candyman) Spencer Locke (Insidious: The Last Key, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Resident Evil: Extinction)

Produced by Jeffrey Reddick, Lauren De Normandie, Timothy Woodward Jr, Johnny Cleveland, Thommy Hutson

From the creator of the Final Destination franchise comes a new tale of death. Following the passing of his father, Aaron Hammond (MICHAEL WELCH) returns to his hometown to help his devastated mother (LIN SHAYE) and to confront his past demons. Shifting through his father’s belongings, Aaron comes upon a mysterious item that is far more than it seems.

World Premiere

THE GOLEM (Israel)  2018

Directed by  Doron Paz and Yoav Paz

Written by   Ariel Cohen

Cast: Alex Tritenko, Brynie Furstenberg, Hani Furstenberg, Ishai Golan, Lenny Ravich

Produced by Ariel Cohen, Doron Pazm Shalom Eisenbach, Yoav Paz

In this re-imagining of the old mystical folklore, when a woman’s tight-knit Jewish community is besieged by foreign invaders, she conjures a dangerous creature to protect them but it may be more evil than she ever imagined. THE GOLEM is the third feature for co-directed by Doron and Yoav Paz.

North America Premiere

THE HAUNTED (UK )  2018

Directed by:

David Holroyd

Written by David Holroyd

Cast:

Sophie Stevens, Nick Bayly, Ray Macallan, Maggie Daniles, Kirstie Steele, Virginia Denham

Produced by:

Crispin Manson, Matthew Stradling

In a rambling, isolated house, Emily’s first night-shift as carer to an elderly dementia patient turns into a nightmare as she is tormented by a vengeful spirit and uncovers the house’s dark secrets.

World Premiere

LOST IN APOCALYPSE (China) 2018

Directed by Sky Wang

Written by   Sky Wang, Baiying Wu

Cast: Martin Yang, Mingyi Yang, E’Naan Zhang, Ray Wang, Fengzhu Jia, Qianhua Chen, Simpson Tang, Man Yang

Produced by Iris Liu

A group of seemingly unrelated individuals fight their way out of a virus-infested hotel, only to find themselves at a worse place than before.

West Coast Premiere

OPEN 24 HOURS (US) 2018

Directed by  Padraig Reynolds

Written by   Padraig Reynolds

Cast: Emily Tennant, Brendan Fletcher, Vanessa Grasse

Produced by

A paranoid delusional woman, Mary White (Vanessa Grasse), has just been released from a mental hospital for setting her serial killer boyfriend on fire. Her boyfriend, James Lincoln Fields is brutal serial killer known as The Rain Ripper. After being released from the Hospital, Mary’s vulnerable demeanor aids her in obtaining employment at an all night petrol station. However, left alone to her own devices, her paranoia and hallucinations return with furious consequences. Customers and friends suddenly start turning up dead, mutilated, all around her. Is The Rain Ripper back to finish her off?

West Coast Premiere

PLEDGE (US) 2018

Directed by Daniel Robbins

Written by   Zack Weiner

Cast: Zachery Byrd, Aaron Dalla Villa, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Phillip Andre Botello, Jesse Pimentel, Erica Boozer, Joe Gallagher, Zack Weiner, Jean-Louis Droulers

Produced by Mark Rapaport, Keaton Heinrichs, Akiva Nemetsky

A group of college freshmen pledge an exclusive fraternity but soon realize there’s more at stake than they could have ever imagined.

US Premiere

TUMBBAD (India) 2018

Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, Anand Gandhi

Written by  Mitesh Shah, Adesh Prasad, Rahi Anil Barve, Anand Gandhi

Cast:  Sohum Shah, Harish Khannaa, Anita Date, Mohd Samad, Jyoti Malshe, Deepak Damle, Dhundiraj Prabhakar Jogalekar

Produced by Amita Shah, Mukesh Shah, Sohum Shah

A greedy village boy, in 19th century India, pursues a cursed Ancestral treasure, guarded by the devil himself. TUMBBAD opened the Venice’ Film Festival’s Critic’s Week 2018.

West Coast Premiere

YOU DIE (Italy) 2018

Directed by Alessandro Antonaci, Stefano Mandalà, Daniel Lascar

Written by   Alessandro Antonaci, Stefano Mandalà, Daniel Lascar

Cast:  Erica Landolfi, Simone Moretto, Micol Damilano, Rocco Marazzita, Alice Piano, Simone Valentino, Carola Cudemo, Ja’Michael Darnell, Daniele Marmi

Produced by Daniel Lascar, Simone Offredo, Francesco Scrufari

US Premiere

The Conjuring House Launch Trailer

2018/09/25
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

September 25, 2018 – This Halloween, the disfigured and demonic residents of The Conjuring House reign supreme over anyone who dares to cross their doorstep. RYM Games announced today that The Conjuring House, their psychologically-driven horror title, is now available on Steam for $19.99 (a 20% discount from $24.99). Players will be put in a constant state of anxiety that crescendos into raw panic and terror. Do not expect your average horror game – players will experience things in The Conjuring House that only dwell in the deepest, darkest corners of their nightmares. Truly terrifying horrors await players in the game, from human sacrifices, to demonic entities who lurk around every corner, yearning to kill you. A nod to classic horror games, The Conjuring House is designed to be challenging – where just when you think you can’t solve the next challenge, you do, and delve deeper into the darkness.

View the launch trailer HERE:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker Launch Trailer

2018/09/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Larkspur, Calif. – Sept. 25, 2018 – Owlcat Games and Deep Silver proudly announce the highly anticipated Pathfinder: Kingmaker, the RPG allowing aspiring adventurers to recruit party members aligned with their playstyle, shape the surrounding world through meaningful choices and influence their own capitol city, is now available for both Windows PC and Mac via Steam and GOG.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker allows players to carve their own path through the lawless Stolen Lands, exploring the vast and fantastical world of the Pathfinder® Roleplaying Game universe. Setting out from humble beginnings, characters will face fearsome beasts, meet lifelong companions, and build their own kingdoms as a deep and engaging story unfolds around them.

“Making Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been the most incredible journey,” said Oleg Shpilchevsky, Head of Owlcat Games. “As a team we have lived this game, poured our passion, energy and personalities into it. The time has now come to allow fans to experience all that the Stolen Lands has to offer. We hope you enjoy it.”

“We’re thrilled to see Pathfinder’s world of Golarion so vividly realized by the team at Owlcat,” says Paizo Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Erik Mona. “Pathfinder: Kingmaker brings one of Pathfinder’s most exciting epic adventures to computers everywhere, leaping from the tabletop to the computer and bringing the exciting environments and canny creatures of Kingmaker to life on the computer screen.”

For more information on Pathfinder: Kingmaker, please visit https://owlcatgames.com/.

# # #

Pathfinder: Kingmaker takes players on a tour through the infamous Stolen Lands, the dangerous and turbulent territories well known within Pathfinder fandom. The computer RPG revisits familiar characters and well-known locations of the series’ lore as well as treat players to brand new adventures, deadly foes, and unforeseen twists and turns. Fans of the fantasy pen-and-paper RPG will experience its epic, heroic universe in new ways while computer RPG gamers will discover their favorite genre in a more contemporary light, in stunning 3D graphics that bring the universe to life.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker will challenge players as both adventurers and rulers as they claim explored lands and carve their own kingdom from the wilderness. Kingdom founding goes beyond simple stronghold-building to become a true reflection of the hero’s character and choices made throughout the game. Each kingdom is a living thing shaped by alignment, choices, allies, and the hero’s ability to lead his or her people.

Product Details

Title:                                    Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Platforms:                          PC
Genre:                                 RPG
Players:                               Single Player
Developer:                         Owlcat Games
Publisher:                           Deep Silver
Age Rating:                        ESRB Rating Pending
Release Date:                    Sept. 25, 2018
Pricing:                                Explorer Edition – $39.99
Noble Edition – $54.99
Royal Edition – $69.99
Imperial Edition – $84.99

Absolver: Downfall Free Expansion Out Now

2018/09/25
boothby
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Paris – Independent developer Sloclap and sucker punch experts Devolver Digital have launched Absolver: Downfall, a new, free expansion for the online melee combat brawler Absolver on PlayStation 4 and PC. Absolver will also be 50 percent off on PlayStation 4 and PC for the next week to celebrate the launch of the new Downfall expansion. Absolver: Downfall brings a new game mode, new combat style, new school challenges, and a fistful of new gear for Prospects and Absolvers.

With 4 million players and counting, Absolver released late last year to critical acclaim and a loyal community of players that has grown with ongoing updates to the game as new content, modes, and gameplay upgrades have been introduced since launch. The Absolver community is set to receive a fantastic, mysterious new expansion this fall that will introduce a whole new way to experience the world of Adal.

Update includes:

Downfall Mode: Absolvers will face their toughest challenge yet as they battle through the new Adalian Mines as a solo warrior or in online cooperative play. Each run through the procedurally sequenced mines and temples offers a unique path through a variety of challenges against upgraded enemy combatants and three intense boss fights.

Faejin Combat Style: The new Faejin Combat Style blends defense and offense with percussive strikes and fluid power. The new approach is a complex style for experienced Absolvers, featuring shifting defensive abilities and two dozen attacks for bare hands, war gloves, and armed combat.

School Challenges: Absolvers who have reached the Disciple rank in a school can participate in School challenges, by using their school’s decks and powers in 1v1 Combat Trials. All wins representing one’s school count in the School challenges, with individual and collective performances of the schools bringing fresh rewards every three weeks, at the end of the season.

For more information on Absolver visit absolver.com and follow @Absolver on Twitter.

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Tickets On Sale Now

2018/09/25
boothby
Geek News, Halloween, News

September 24, 2018  – Southern California’s most terrifyingly authentic haunt, the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, will once again rise from the depths for 23 nights of terror Sept. 27 through Nov. 2 with six reimagined mazes, an entirely NEW park footprint, along with NEW maze designs, INTERACTIVE alternate paths, THRILLING live entertainment and, FOUR new secret bars to discover. The infamous spirits of The Ringmaster, Scary Mary, The Iron Master, Chef, The Captain, Samuel the Savage, Half-Half Henry, Voodoo Priestess, Graceful Gale, and hundreds of bloodcurdling spirits that are ready to scare those who dare for the haunt’s most frighteningly immersive season yet.

WHEN:

Sept. 27 through Nov. 2, select nights


WHERE:
The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802

NEW EXPERIENCES:

  • Scavenge through the murky depths of Dark Harbor in hopes of uncovering the secret hidden bars that lurk within. Make a stop at the Gallow’s Healing Well and stumble upon The SideBar, Door 13, The Line Up, and The Broken Compass and experience the strongest spirits at Dark Harbor.
  • Venture into the frigid depths of Ice Cave for a unique 9-degree ice bar experience with vodka samples, hidden surprises, and upgraded thrills.

NEWLY-INTENSIFIED RETURNING MAZES:

  • FEAST: Face the terrifying wrath of Chef as his vengeful staff are joined by the lost souls of poisoned passengers, all hell-bent on serving the living to the dead.
  • INTREPID: Doomed to rot away aboard the infamous Intrepid collecting the souls of his plagued brethren, wander through the sea witches lair to reveal the deadly pact that drives the Iron Master’s fury as he’s trapped within his Iron Hell.
  • CIRCUS: Escape the Ringmaster and sneak behind the curtains to unveil the horrors lurking within the shadows and dark corners of the Big Top
  • DEADRISE: Step aboard the sunken Grey Ghost and be put through the ranks through an extensive boot camp led by Half-Hatch Henry, climb and try not to get lost as you explore the bowels of a sunken warship heading full steam into the flames of war.
  • B340: Retrace the steps of the detective working towards answering the savage 1946 murders onboard The Queen Mary, discover what truly drove Samuel to kill while seeing the true carnage left behind in stateroom B-340.
  • LULLABY: Join the paranormal experts and ship guides who claim there are far more horrendous secrets behind Mary’s demise and her attachment to her loving teddy.

ADDITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT AND  ATTRACTIONS:

  • The PYRE: The Voodoo Priestess and her Tribe have taken over The Pyre – Fire Stage for nightly captivating and death-defying fire performances.
  • AERIAL RING: Nightly Aerialists will emerge and rise above all with nightly death-defying aerial shows throughout the evening.
  • SLIDER ALLEY: Sparks will fly and hell will be raised as dozens of Dark Harbor’s sinister sliders roam and take to the streets emitting sparks throughout the fog filled harbor as they slide and startle in every direction.
  • CREEPY CABANAS: Host a private soiree, order up a freak, and enjoy the views of various shows throughout the night.
  • R.I.P. LOUNGE: Take in the sights with an view of Dark Harbor from above with Graceful Gale in the newly designed RIP Lounge hosting cocktails and a buffet that’s truly to-die-for.
  • SINISTER SWINGS: Take a spin on the infamous Michael Jackson Neverland Ranch Swings that light the sky.
  • MONSTER PARTY: Cap off the night with a party like no other. Dance and let loose with the spirits who’s energy never seems to die.

TICKETS:

  • General Admission tickets start at just $29 online.
  • Fast Fright tickets start at just $69 online.
    • These limited passes give you expedited, priority entry into our event and mazes, with shorter lines!
  • Evil Express tickets start at just $89 online.
    • The Evil Express Pass allows you to gain access into the exclusive VIP Expedited Access Lane into both the Event and all six mazes.
  • VIP Tickets start at just $99 online – MUST BE 21+ TO PURCHASE
    • Wristband includes Expedited VIP Admission into both the Event and all six mazes plus access into the exclusive RIP Lounge with (2) Well Drink Tickets.
  • Ultimate Scream starting at $229 online
    • With only 20 ticket sold per night, join a Private Tour Guide who will walk you past all the lines while you learn the story and background that runs deep within the veins of The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor and the history that has inspired the stories.
  • Admission Tickets, Ultimate Scream Experiences, Cabanas, hotel packages, and private parties reservations are available to purchase tickets visit queenmary.com
  • Inquiries for hosting special events (Birthday Parties, Engagements, Team Outings, etc.) please contact VIP@EpicEntertainmentGroup.com.

PARKING:
Parking starts at $20 per vehicle.

Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas Announced

2018/09/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Haarlem, the Netherlands, September 20, 2018 – Publisher Iceberg Interactive and developer Darkling Room announced today Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas, a new stand-alone installment in the Crown ghost-hunting adventure franchise.

Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas is the first game in the series to be presented in 3D and is due to be released December 2018 for PC.

The transformation to 3D can be admired in the following launch trailer:

Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas is a spooky festive tale, set at Northfield Church during an endless Christmas Eve. Beyond the Church, the Carrion Woods await, where the wood-dwellers still haunt the pines and rocky places. Nigel Danvers, ghost-hunter, encounters the spirits that rise when the North Wind doth blow, bringing heavy snow.

Northfield is haunted by the terrible Winter of 1349, when the Black Death swept across the land, killing over two thirds of the population. The plague was silent, invisible and deadly. Everyone was blamed, from witches to wood folk, as the once kind people of Northfield turned on each other. T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the church, plenty was stirring, especially the ghosts. To break the trap and escape, Nigel must make a terrible decision on the loneliest night of the year.

Jonathan Boakes, creator and writer of the Crown franchise:

“I’m very pleased to be moving the Crown games in a new direction. It’s been refreshing to move the ghost-hunting games to full 3D. All the new whizzes and bangs of 3D have given us new vigour, with lots to look forward to. Wrap up warm, the Carrion Woods await.

The main star of the game is Northfield Church, which has been painstakingly recreated inside and out, with full exploration. The church is based on Duloe Church, just up the road from me, here in Cornwall, so it was a nice job to capture both textures and actual photogrammetry of the site.”

Wishlist Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas on Steam now, to be notified when the game releases.

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 2018 Review

2018/09/24
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, Haunted Attraction Review, News, Reviews

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights has been a Southern California’s flagship haunted attraction for quite some time now thanks to their film tie-ins and big budget. We got the chance to visit the event during its opening weekend thanks to their amazing PR team, and stayed for the whole night, beginning at 7PM and finished at 1AM. This year, the flagship street zone and opening ceremony are tied into Michael Dougherty’s modern Halloween classic, Trick r Treat, and it was a welcome change from The Purge inspired opening of the last few years.

This year’s mazes include the previously-mentioned Trick r Treat as well as Poltergeist (based on the 1982 film), Stranger Things Season 1, Halloween 4, The Horrors of Blumhouse Chapter Two, Universal Monsters, and the Terror Tram. Overall, most of the mazes in this year’s lineup were at the very least “good”. However, the two standouts were Poltergeist and Universal Monsters. Poltergeist recreated the facade of the Freeling house from the film and the maze hit all the right moments that scared you as children. For the movie buffs out there, you might be interested to know that Steven Spielberg actually ghost directed Poltergeist while a very young Tobe Hooper was listed as the director on paper. Universal Monsters was a trip through the various Universal Monsters films of old, from Dracula to Frankenstein and many more. I loved that the event paid homage to these classic monsters and did so with terrific set design to sell their various environments. A big runner up award in this goes to Holidayz in Hell. It’s not quite a street zone, but not quite a maze and serves as a transitional area between guests and the New York street backlot mazes. Holidayz in Hell takes a year’s worth of holidays and, as it suggests, places them in some sort of Hell dimension with tons of gory props to look at along the way.

Unfortunately, the Stranger Things maze didn’t quite live up to its potential. In terms of set design and construction, its beautifully-crafted. Moving from the woods to the Byers house and then on to Hawkins Lab and the school – each look amazing. The designers and builders should be given big kudos for their work. Also, John Murdy (the director of Horror Nights) did an amazing job with the audio work in this maze. Where the maze loses its spark is in its scares. The Demogorgon is shown way too early in the maze and there is no real build up to what should be the final confrontation between it and Eleven at the maze’s climax. The biggest problem with the maze design of Halloween Horror Nights is its dependence on dark “Boo Box” hallways. What was once just a spice that could allow the event to hold large puppets (such as in the maze based on John Carpenter’s The Thing) is now simply everywhere – in every maze – multiple times. You just start expecting you turn into a dark corner hallway now.

Trick r Treat was a mixed bag with some really great beats separated by some more Boo Boxes. Also, I got the feeling that the designers of this maze didn’t quite watch the film closely enough as the scene in the maze with Kreeg didn’t happen that way at all in the film. But, I digress… In any case it is wonderful that this sleeper of a film upon its release has become the cult classic that it is today and garnered such attention. Between this and the maze from Murder House Productions, the Trick r Treat fan in me is very pleased.

Halloween Horror Nights features some terrific 2D and prosthetic makeups this year, thanks to the folks at Magee FX. This studio is also responsible for the prosthetic work on the Whoville citizens during Universal Studios Grinchmas event. They have done a great job of selling each maze’s and street area’s scare actors. For Trick r Treat (and its associated scare zone), they masterfully-replicated the masks of the various special school children who perished in the bus crash as seen during the film. In Universal Monsters, they brought to life some of the classic movie monsters of old, including Frankenstein. They are to be commended for their practical makeup work.

As usual, the park was sold out on the night we attended and, reflecting this, the Stranger Things maze had a two hour wait in line for standard admission guests! I highly recommend that you pay for the upgraded front-of-the line tickets – you will not regret it! On the food front, Horror Nights had a decent array of food options this year. We ate from the New York street backlot food truck and I had a tasty meatball sub while my wife had some good sliders. In the upper lot, you’ll find quite a few options as well, including my favorite Luig’s Pizza near Springfield.

Overall, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights is a lot of fun this year, with tons of things to see and do. While I am concerned by the dependence on Boo Boxes between visual beats in the various mazes, Horror Nights has, as usual, gone all out on set design and makeup effects. I loved the focus on Trick r Treat and can’t wait to see what the event has in store for us next year. Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights runs through the end of October – you can find ticket information and more at their official website.

Photo Gallery

Space Hulk: Tactics Genestealer Trailer

2018/09/24
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

September 24, 2018 – Focus Home Interactive and Cyanide Studio are proud to announce the pre-order beta for Space Hulk: Tactics will begin on Steam tomorrow, Tuesday, September 25. A faithful adaptation of the classic Warhammer 40,000 board game of Man versus Alien in desperate battle, Space Hulk: Tactics brings new twists to the formula along with extensive customisation, two full campaigns, and much more.

In today’s trailer we profile the Genestealers, the festering malice at the heart of the Space Hulk, ready to cut down any and all Space Marine Terminators that come aboard. Their strategies and playstyle are completely different, creating truly asymmetrical multiplayer. Using their numbers and agility to their advantage, the Genestealers are a more aggressive force, but one with less options on how to handle each situation.

In the Steam pre-order beta, players can look forward to playing these Genestealers but also the Terminators, in skirmish and multiplayer across five maps. Also available is the full customisation system and the map editor, letting the creatives in the community get started early on new creations and master plans.

A preview of each faction’s campaign will also be playable, serving both as a tutorial and a taste of what awaits in the full game. Save games will be compatible with the release version, so players can immediately continue their mission on October 9. The pre-order bonuses will also be available in the beta, giving access to second founding chapters and other alternate versions of the base game’s Blood Angels, Space Wolves, Dark Angels, and Ultramarines chapters.

The pre-order beta will run up until the launch of the game, with regular updates to address bugs and balance issues as reported by the community. On launch day, October 9, players will gain access to more official maps as well as the two complete, massive single-player campaigns. All Steam pre-orders have a 10% discount up until launch and will give instant access to the beta, as well as the pre-order cosmetics.

The Space Hulk: Tactics pre-order beta begins September 25 on Steam. The game releases on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on October 9.

 

Helicopters Take Flight in War Thunder

2018/09/21
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

September 20, 2018 — Gaijin Entertainment today announced the release of content Update 1.81 “The Valkyries” for the vehicular combat game War Thunder. It introduces combat helicopters as a playable vehicle type and adds plenty of other content to the game, including new tanks and aircraft, new locations, and the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One support for the Xbox One version.

Combat helicopters are the latest type of vehicle added to the arsenals of War Thunder, with a dozen variants for the United States and Soviet Union leading the initial spearhead this update. For the U.S., this includes three variants of the Bell UH-1 Huey, a true symbol of the Vietnam War, as well as three variants of the Bell AH-1 Cobra, the first dedicated combat helicopter to enter series production. The Soviet Union receives the multi-purpose Mi-4AV, multiple variants of the famous “flying tank” Mi-24 “Crocodile” (NATO reporting name “Hind”) and its modern modification Mi-35M.

During the initial closed testing, helicopters will be able to participate in combined arms battles with ground vehicles on all difficulty settings, where they will be able to use their impressive armament of cannons, rockets, bombs and guided missiles with lethal effect in close air support and anti-tank duty. Vulnerable against attacks from anti-air vehicles as well as aircraft, helicopter pilots have to use their speed and maneuverability to evade incoming fire, use the environment to hide and learn to strike at the right moment. To research and play with helicopters, players can join the closed testing by completing special in-game tasks or through the purchase of a helicopter pack in the store. More helicopters for different nations will follow with future content updates and new game modes involving helicopters are planned to be trialed during testing.

Further additions include new modern tanks and aircraft, including the M247 Sergeant York SPAAG with proximity fuse shells for the U.S., the popular French Batignolles-Châtillon Char 25t, the Leopard A1A1 with L/44 cannon for Germany as well as the T-80B for the Soviet Union. Four new locations are also available: On “American Desert”, ground vehicles engage in close-quarter-combat in a fictional American village of the 60s, while “Vietnam” challenges pilots to heated dogfights over the indochinese jungle. “Mediterranean Port” and “Green Mountains Gulf” are two new naval maps modelled after the Italian and North Sea coast, respectively.