Archive - 2019

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Thinblood Clan Introduction

STOCKHOLM – April 24, 2019 – Paradox Interactive today revealed additional details about the background and disciplines for Thinbloods found in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. Players begin the game as a newly embraced Thinblood, a second-class group of vampires with abilities weaker than those from one of the great clans. As the story progresses, players will eventually join one of the five full-blooded Kindred clans, each of which will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Check out the lore video to learn more about Thinbloods and get a sneak peak at their abilities in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2:

Thinbloods are a recent, weaker strain of vampire who face a constant struggle to survive in the World of Darkness. While they are often treated as second-class citizens by full-blood Kindred, Seattle’s leadership has been uncharacteristically tolerant of Thinbloods. As Seattle has only relatively recently come under Camarilla control, it remains a city of opportunity where Thinbloods can navigate their way into the higher circles of vampire society; however, they are rarely shown the same respect or legal standing that full-blood clan members enjoy.

Tune in to the Paradox Interactive Twitch channel today at 9 a.m. Pacific (12 p.m. Eastern) where the Bloodlines 2 team will give a breakdown of Thinbloods and their place in vampire society here: https://www.twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive.

At the beginning of Bloodlines 2 players choose one of three Thinblood disciplines, Chiropteran, Mentalism, or Nebulation. These Thinblood disciplines were adapted for Bloodlines 2 from the pen and paper tabletop RPG and grant unique combat and traversal abilities that can be upgraded throughout the game to enhance effectiveness or add special effects.

Each of the Thinblood disciplines and their progression are detailed below:

Chiropteran – Strong affinity for bats, allowing vampires to move through the air and summon swarms.

  • Glide — first active power. Glide greatly lowers the weight of the vampire’s skeleton and muscle mass to allow them to briefly float, reaching otherwise inaccessible areas, swoop down on NPCs to knock them down, or rain down other Disciplines from afar.
  • Bat Swarm — second active power. The vampire can summon a small swarm of bats to attack a target NPC, temporarily disabling them and dealing low damage. This power can be upgraded until a true Maelstrom of leathery wings surrounds the vampire, harrying and damaging those who come too close.

Mentalism – Use telekinesis to manipulate objects and even pull weapons from enemy hands.

  • Pull — first active power. Manipulate inanimate objects using telekinesis, even weapons held by NPCs.
  • Levitate — second active power. Suspends a living NPC in the air. Its strength can be enhanced until the vampire can levitate everyone and everything in an area, and throw suspended enemies around like ragdolls.

Nebulation – Allows the vampire to summon and command mist.

  • Mist Shroud — first active power. Summon a shroud of mist that surrounds the player for a short period. The shroud muffles the sound of footsteps and reduces the range at which the player can be seen. In addition, the player may partially transform into a cloud of mist to perform a choking attack on an NPC or travel through a tight space, like a ventilation fan or duct.
  • Envelop — second active power. Create a stationary, swirling cloud of mist on a target that surrounds, blinds and forcefully enters the lungs of NPCs that it touches.

Like Thinbloods, each of the five full-blood clans has their own unique abilities, upgrades, and more, giving players new ways to experience the darkness that lurks in Seattle.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is now available for pre-order on the Paradox Store. To learn more about Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, please visit www.bloodlines2.com.

Toast Custom Console Cover Review

Starting as a Kickstarter project, Toast was able to crowdsource their first laser in 2012 and have been running full speed since then, adding more and more items that they were able to custom cut and etch with lasers. Based out of Portland, Oregon they are a family business dedicated to having fun while making cool products. They even have a wooden mascot named Justin Beaver. When my Toast arrived the first thing I did was read all the instructions prior to assembly. That is because until you get the pieces in place the kit is very fragile, thinner than those balsa wood airplanes of my youth by far. As long as you read and try to follow the instructions, the company has a “butterfinger” clause in case you break your kit or make an irreversible mistake when placing the parts. I can have really shaky hands sometimes so I was a little nervous starting the setup but even my wiggly hands managed to pull it off.

Each piece has the show outside and a backing that is completely covered with 3M adhesive, guaranteeing it won’t just fall off over time. 3M is very assuring for such a purpose but it tends to cause the butterfinger moves or close calls. As you lay down the pieces you need to do it in their precise order so the seams match up and you want to double check where you are putting the pieces to make sure they are precisely in place before you push it down solidly. Once you push it down it is only a matter of moments before the sticky side is semi-permanent in its spot, meaning you might get lucky taking the part back off using the recommended tips but odds are the wood piece won’t survive the removal and replace. Surprisingly I didn’t need to contact them about getting a new piece since I managed to place all of them perfectly shakes and all.

Though the pieces aren’t very thick and are practically as light as a feather it is surprising how detailed their laser etching is. I chose the GamingShogun logo since most of the review games I play on a console are played on that one (including three at the time) so I figured it should be the nicest looking system. The etching turned out absolutely beautiful and made me immediately wish I had one for my PS4 next to it so they could have the class of Toast. I’m even considering getting a gaming laptop cover with my Halloween and hockey IIOY? Twitter and FB account that travels with us a couple of months each year as well as getting a lot of use at home. It just adds a level of sophistication.

Care needs to be taken when putting your Toast kit together but as long as you are patient and careful the results are terrific and manages to elevate the class of whatever it is put on. If you have your system out on display or you want your cellphone to look really nice or you want your logo to be display on all sorts of products then the Toast Team are the folks for you, they even have custom wooden stickers. Personally I plan to have my Toast cover stay on my Xbox One for all it’s years that I will keep it, and I hope to Toast more items in the future.

Midsummer Scream 2019 to Feature Immersive World Building Panel

LONG BEACH, CA – Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror fan convention, will assemble some of the top names in immersive world building on Sunday, August 4, at the Long Beach Convention Center.

The art of creative immersive experiences for guests – whether it be a terrifying haunt, theatrical production, or pop-up attraction – has become big business in the entertainment world. Southern California is home to many of the brightest minds and hottest talents in the industry, and Midsummer Scream is bringing some of them together on one stage to discuss their own experiences and creative processes with their fans!

World Building: Creating Alternate Realities and Immersive Experiences will feature film industry veteran Jon Braver, creator of the Delusion franchise; Bonnie Hallman, Director of Creative at Mycotoo, who has contributed greatly to Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood’s Horror Made Here, and both Westworld and Game of Thrones for SXSW; Justin Fix, founder of JFI Productions, creator of Creep Los Angeles, and The Willows; Aaron Keeling, Co-Founder of E3W Productions, writer/director of The House on Pine Street, and immersive productions including In Another Room, At the Bitter End, and collaboration with the Overlook Film Festival; and film director Darren Lynn Bousman, director of Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Repo! The Genetic Opera, and creator of The Tension Experience. Noah Nelson, Founder of No Proscenium, and Co-Founder of LEIA – the League of Experiential & Immersive Artists, will moderate the discussion.

“Immersive experiences have become a large draw for audiences wanting to become even more entangled in fantasy worlds, whether all-new concepts created from scratch by their creators, such as time travel at Delusion, into the haunting home of The Willows, or as part of marketing campaigns for existing franchises such as Westworld or Game of Thrones,” says Midsummer Scream Executive Director David Markland. “There’s no way to celebrate the darker side of themed entertainment and not have this evolving, popular segment of the industry in the spotlight at this year’s show. This is going to be an must-see presentation for many of the most dedicated fans out there.”

Tickets are on sale now at MidsummerScream.org. More news and information regarding Midsummer Scream 2019 will be announced in the weeks and months ahead.

Frostpunk Celebrates 1.4 Million Copies Sold

Warsaw, Poland – April 24, 2019 — 11 bit studios have had an immensely successful run over the past few years and are proud to announce that their hit title, Frostpunk has sold over 1.4 million copies on PC. Recently announced to be coming to both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 later this summer, let’s take a look at how Frostpunk has become one of 11 bit studios’ crowning achievements.

A grim society simulator and post-apocalyptic city-builder in one, Frostpunk was released exactly one year ago today, on April 24, 2018. In celebration of this momentous anniversary, 11 bit wanted to share some of the numbers behind the in-game economy and show how the game is performing overall.

  • Frostpunk sold over 1.4 million copies on PC
  • Development costs were recovered within 66 hours of Frostpunk going on sale
  • 43.8% of players finished the main campaign
  • 59% of players chose the path of Faith
  • 2.9% of players failed in Serenity mode (just like our producer, Marek)

You might think there’s more information to that last stat and there certainly is! Marek Ziemak — a producer at 11 bit studios responsible for Moonlighter, and more — always had a tough time building a stable economy and keeping his citizens satisfied in Frostpunk. Sadly, he couldn’t even find success in the game’s easiest version, Serenity Mode. The dev team found this amusing enough that they even created an achievement, lovingly titled “Hi Marek!”, with an icon picturing a mildly irritated Marek.

“Frostpunk is one of the most satisfying projects I have ever seen in creation, but I still find it challenging to play. It’s just like my job as a producer! Sometimes, when you lead and focus on creating something beautiful, the people under your charge might not always love every decision you have to make.”

Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered Edition Nintendo Switch Trailer

Vienna/Austria, April 24th, 2019 – No response has been received from Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity since June, 2018 due to a dust storm on Mars. The rover completed its mission, so now it’s your turn to explore and – actually – defend Mars! Become the best Guerrilla fighter of a famous resistance group and swing your sledgehammer against the suppression and power of The Earth Defense Force. Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch™ on July 2nd 2019 for a SRP of $ 29.99 | € 29,99 | £ 26.99.

You prefer other platforms? Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered Edition is also available on PC, and the other consoles out there!

Nightmare Cinema Official Trailer 2

April 24, 2019 – In this twisted horror anthology, five strangers are drawn to an abandoned theater and forced to watch their deepest and darkest fears play out before them. Lurking in the shadows is the Projectionist, who preys upon their souls with his collection of disturbing films. As each reel spins its sinister tale, the characters find frightening parallels to their own lives.

Produced by: Mick Garris, Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton, Joe Russo

Screenplay by: Mick Garris, Alejandro Brugués, Richard Christian Matheson, Sandra Becerril, David Slade & Lawrence C. Connolly

Release Date: June 21, 2019 in Theaters & On Demand

US Distributor: Good Deed Entertainment

Rating/Run Time: R / 119 Minutes

BATTLETECH: Urban Warfare DLC Announced

STOCKHOLM – April 23, 2019 – Paradox Interactive and Harebrained Schemes today unveiled details for the next big thing to hit BATTLETECH this summer. Urban Warfare will bring ‘Mech combat to the vast cityscapes of 3025. With electronic warfare, large-scale building destruction, environmental mechanics, new enemy units and more, the urban sprawl will be a whole new battlefield on June 4th, BATTLETECH: Urban Warfare is available for preorder now at the SRP of $19.99 and is also available in the BATTLETECH Season pass.

City combat is center stage in this expansion, introducing new street features including blocked lines of sight, collateral damage rules, and all sorts of new destruction. Weigh the hazards and benefits before going into urban battle, though – explosions, floods and more await. With new urban challenges, the return of lost technologies, new ‘Mechs, vehicles, encounters and flashpoints, Urban Warfare takes the BATTLETECH experience to new, gritty heights.

“Urban Warfare delivers one of the biggest ‘Mech combat player fantasies there is: Fighting it out on the streets and rooftops of epic sci-fi cityscapes,” said Mitch Gitelman, Co-founder of Harebrained Schemes and Game Director of BATTLETECH. “The truth is, we’ve wanted to build city combat environments and gameplay for years, so we’re thrilled to be finally bringing this experience to BATTLETECH.”

Key features:

  • Urban Warfare – Street brawls introduce new tactical gameplay challenges as ‘Mech combat moves from wide-open natural landscapes to vast urban sprawls. Every building in the new urban biome is fully destructible, so you’re never more than a few salvos away from a new line of sight, or the defensive cover of high-rise rubble. Abandoned explosive fuel trucks, destroyed coolant exchanger buildings, and broken electrical transformers that disrupt targeting will drastically change the battle as you go.
  • Electronic Warfare – The return of these lost technologies will forever change the 31st century battlefield. ‘Mechs equipped with Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) and nearby friendly units are obscured from enemy targeting systems, and immune to indirect fire. Meanwhile, ‘Mechs equipped with Active Probe can reveal, locate, and target enemy units that would otherwise be hidden.
  • Two New BattleMechs – The experimental Raven 1X sports an advanced electronic warfare package combining ECM and Active Probe systems into a lightweight component. The Javelin is a compromise between speed and firepower, with close-range knockout power.
  • New Flashpoints – A wide variety of new branching short stories that link together mercenary missions, crew conversations, special events, critical choices, and rare bonus rewards.
  • Three New Enemy Vehicles – The Tank sports a variety of weapons to fight at all ranges with speed and agility, the Packrat is a battlefield support vehicle equipped with a prototype version of ECM, and the Rotunda is a reconnaissance vehicle equipped with a prototype version of Active Probe.
  • New Encounter – Attack and Defend is a challenging new mission type where your mercenaries must destroy an enemy’s base to stop a steady stream of attackers before they can overcome your forces and knock out your employer’s base.

Get your Urban Warfare pre-order on and get more info at www.paradoxplaza.com/battletech-urban-warfare

World War Z Sells 1 Million Copies in First Week

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. – April 23, 2019 – Saber Interactive, in partnership with Focus Home Interactive, has announced that World War Z, the action-packed co-op shooter inspired by Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster film, has sold more than 1 million units since it launched last week on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Windows PC.

“We are humbled and thrilled by the immense success so far of World War Z, especially on PC thanks to the tremendous support of the Epic Games Store,” said Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch.  “Moving forward, we’ll continue to expand the game and its community with new improvements, stability updates and bonus gameplay content, beginning very soon with a special new mission for the Tokyo episode.”

Powered by Saber’s dynamic Swarm Engine™, World War Z unleashes hundreds of fast-moving, bloodthirsty zombies – able to move and strike as one collective herd as well as break off into individual attackers – at a time on players. Choose from six distinct classes and an arsenal of deadly weapons, explosives, turrets and traps. Outlive the dead through intense four-player co-op campaign missions around the world, including New York, Jerusalem, Moscow and Tokyo, and battle both zombies and real human opponents in competitive, team-based Players vs. Players vs. Zombies (PvPvZ) multiplayer.

World War Z is currently available digitally and at most major retailers on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One for $39.99, as well as Windows PC via the Epic Games Store for $34.99. This game is rated M (Mature) by the ESRB. For more information, visit http://wwzgame.com, and follow the game on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WWZGame, Twitter @WWZTheGame, and Instagram @WWZGame.

Mortal Kombat 11 Out Now

Burbank, Calif. – April 23, 2019 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that Mortal Kombat 11, the latest entry in the renowned franchise from award-winning NetherRealm Studios, is now available for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4 Pro computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch™ system and PC.

Mortal Kombat 11 follows the events of Mortal Kombat X and introduces a time-bending narrative bringing together iconic characters from different Mortal Kombat eras, along with various franchise-first fighters, culminating in the ultimate generational clash as current characters collide with their past selves. Mortal Kombat 11 also debuts the innovative Custom Character Variation System, which offers nearly infinite customization options for players, providing a deeper and more personalized experience than ever before.

“After more than 25 years, the Mortal Kombat franchise has never been more relevant and continues to get stronger, thanks to the talented team at NetherRealm Studios and the passionate community,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “With today’s launch of Mortal Kombat 11, the NetherRealm team has created the most personalized Mortal Kombat experience yet, coupled with best-in-class gameplay, iconic characters and an immersive, cinematic story that is sure to excite both fans and new players.”

“The entire team at NetherRealm Studios has been hard at work on Mortal Kombat 11, and we’re excited to see players around the world finally get their hands on the game,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. “Mortal Kombat 11 introduces more ways to customize your favorite fighters than ever before, new gameplay modes, franchise-first characters and of course our time-bending new story that both fans and new players will enjoy.”

In Mortal Kombat 11, the story continues as Raiden’s defeat of the evil Elder God, Shinnok, has drawn the ire of Kronika, the Keeper of Time, and upset her desired balance between good and evil. To restore stability in the realms, Kronika has only one option – rewind time to its beginning and restart history. Through the immersive story mode, players take on the role of various fighters from past and present Mortal Kombat eras, who must join forces to defeat Shao Khan’s Outworld armies and solve the temporal crisis at stake.

Mortal Kombat 11 features a robust roster of new and returning fighters with unique abilities and Fatalities. UFC champion, Olympic medalist and WWE superstar, Ronda Rousey, takes on the role of Sonya Blade, alongside multiple fan-favorite characters, including Scorpion, Raiden, Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, Cassie Cage, Jax Briggs, Jacqui Briggs, Kitana, Skarlet, Baraka, Kano, D’Vorah, Kabal, Jade, Erron Black, Kotal Kahn, Noob Saibot, Frost and Shao Kahn. They are joined by a variety of franchise-first fighters such as Geras; a powerful servant of Kronika who can manipulate time; Cetrion, the Elder Goddess of Virtue and Guardian of Life; and The Kollector, a corrupt enforcer and loyal associate of Shao Kahn.

Mortal Kombat 11 is packed to the brim with multiple modes for all players, including the Towers of Time, which builds upon NetherRealm’s past gameplay experiences and allows players to test their skills through various challenges, providing more ways than ever to continue the fight. The Krypt also makes a return as part of Shang Tsung’s mysterious island, allowing players to explore and interact with the environment in new ways, while unlocking rewards that can be used in other modes of the game.

The Mortal Kombat 11 Standard edition is available for $59.99 (SRP). The Mortal Kombat 11 Premium Edition is available for $99.99 (SRP), including the base game and the Kombat Pack which feature six new downloadable content (DLC) playable characters, one-week early access to DLC characters, seven exclusive character skins and seven sets of gear. The Mortal Kombat 11 Kollector’s Edition is available for $299.99 (SRP), including the main game, Kombat Pack, Scorpion mask bust, exclusive steel case, commemorative magnet coin and authenticity plate. Shang Tsung is one of six playable DLC fighters included in the Kombat Pack. Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is lending his voice and likeness to the popular character that he portrayed in the classic 1998 Mortal Kombat film.

Players can also experience Mortal Kombat Mobile, available as a free download on the App Store and Google Play. Players can link Mortal Kombat 11 to the mobile game and unlock a special pack with a guaranteed Mortal Kombat 11 character. To learn more, follow Mortal Kombat Mobile on Twitter (@MKMobileGame) and Facebook (MKMobileGame).

To learn more about Mortal Kombat 11, please visit www.mortalkombat.com or join the community conversation on Facebook (MortalKombat), Instagram (@MortalKombat), Twitter (@MortalKombat), Twitch (NetherRealm), YouTube (Mortal Kombat), Discord (MortalKombat) or Reddit (MortalKombat).

Hitokiri Coming to For Honor in Year 3 Season 2

SAN FRANCISCO — April 23, 2019 — Today, Ubisoft announced that the Hitokiri, a new fearsome warrior, will be joining the Samurai Faction in For Honor® with the launch of Year 3, Season 2 on May 2 for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices and Windows PC. This new Season is the second of For Honor’s Year 3, which will continue to bring even more Heroes, new maps, seasonal events and more throughout the year.

The Hitokiri are ghostly warriors who have lost all faith in humanity. They wander the land clutching their Masakari, the mighty axes they used to sentence criminals, their presence on the battlefield spreading a black cloud that can terrify all enemies. This new archetype will have both female and male versions: Sakura and Yato. The Hitokiri will be immediately playable for all owners of the Year 3 pass on May 2 10 AM PST, while all other players will be able to unlock the Hitokiri on May 9 for 15,000 Steel.

In addition, Year 3, Season 2 will introduce additional Hero updates to improve the roster, focusing on the Lawbringer and on the Raider as well as a new map, Canopy, that will be added free for all For Honor players on May 2. A first look at Year 3, Season 2 and the Hitokiri will take place on a special Warrior’s Den livestream on Thursday, April 25 on the For Honor Twitch channel, https://www.twitch.tv/forhonorgame.

For those looking to receive seven days of exclusive access to new Year 3 Heroes at the time of their launch, along with other additional rewards, the Year 3 Pass is now available and is included in the For Honor Complete Edition.

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal in collaboration with other Ubisoft studios,* For Honor offers an engaging campaign and thrilling multiplayer modes. Players embody warriors of the four great factions – the bold Knights, the brutal Vikings, the deadly Samurai and the fearsome Wu Lin – fighting to the death on intense and believable melee battlefields. The Art of Battle, the game’s innovative combat system that puts players in total control of their warriors, allows them to utilize the unique skills and combat style of each Hero to vanquish all enemies who stand in their way.

For more information about For Honor, please visit forhonorgame.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/forhonorgame and on Twitter at twitter.com/forhonorgame.