Archive - 2019

MXL APS Podcasting Bundle Audio Podcast Starter Kit Review

2019/09/16
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

MXL is a long-time maker of audio equipment – with a large assortment of products. They have also provided some very interesting bundle packages to those creators wanting to get into the video and audio game. One of these bundles is the APS Podcasting Bundle. Featuring all the hardware you need to get started, the MXL APS Podcasting bundle is a terrific choice for the podcaster or streamer looking for a microphone solution. The MXL APS Podcasting bundle is made up of three products: The MXL BCD-1 Live Broadcast Dynamic Microphone, MXL BCD-Stand microphone stand, and the MXL Mic Mate Pro. Let’s take a look at each of these products and why they justify the bundle’s price point.

The MXL BCD-1 microphone features a cardioid polar pattern and XLR connector. Requiring 48v of Phantom Power, the microphone was built for radio broadcasts and professional-level use. It displays great side audio rejection (meaning less ambient noise interference from the sides and rear) as well as an internal, built-in shock mount. Usually, you have to purchase shock mounts separately from the microphone. With the built-in shock mount of the MXL BCD-1, you can skip that step – or – buy an additional shock mount for even better shock reduction. The choice is your’s and will depend upon your needs and recording environment. In my testing of the MXL BCD-1 microphone, I found it to be an outstanding option with excellent audio pickup. The sound is rich, clear, and will increase your content’s production value. They even include a windscreen and swivel mount in the microphone box. By itself, the microphone costs around $150 dollars.

The MXL BCD-Stand microphone desktop stand pairs terrifically with the MXL BCD-1 thanks to its articulating arm and multiple mount options. Included in the kit are both a wall mount and a clamp mount which allows for great flexibility in where the BCD-Stand is mounted. The articulating arm features mostly smooth movement (save for some rough rotational movement) and provides just enough tension to keep itself in place once manipulated. Even more impressive is that the BCD-Stand comes with a built-in XLR cable routed through the arm. This makes connecting your BCD-1 to your Mic Mate Pro a very easy thing to do without having to worry about cable management. The drawback to this would be that if something ever happened to the cable, you won’t easily be able to replace it as the cable is laid within the armature itself. By itself, the MXL BCD-Stand retails for about $70 dollars.

The MXL Mic Mate Pro allows you to adapt a pro-level XLR microphone into a USB input for your computer’s digestion. It even supplies a connected XLR microphone with 48v of phantom power. By itself, the MXL Mic Mate Pro retails for about $90 dollars. One of the coolest things about the Mic Mate Pro is that it does not require any software to connect to your computer. It is absolutely plug-and-play, allowing you to record from that pro-level BCD-1 without issue. The Mic Mate Pro even features a headphone monitor port as well as gain and monitor level knobs. The one drawback to the MXL Mic Mate Pro is that it connects to your computer by way of a mini-USB to USB-A cable. Those aren’t the most common these days so be careful not to lose it, otherwise you’ll be buying more on Amazon.

Overall, the MXL APS Podcasting Bundle is an outstanding option for those creators looking to setup their home recording studio. By bundling these three products together, MXL has allowed creators to save some money when compared to purchasing them individually. Not only is money being saved, but the products themselves make setting up one’s home, office, or dorm recording studio VERY simple by way of easy to use instructions.

Blair Witch Review (Steam)

2019/09/15
Ripper71
Geek News, Halloween, News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Blair Witch takes you into the forest a few years after the disappearance of the kids from the original movie. You play former police officer Ellis and, with him, is his former police dog Bullet. Together, you two will venture into the woods to try and find a missing boy. Ellis is a very troubled man, he has a dark past which unfolds slowly as he and Bullet find and then lose the boy’s scent over and over as well as coming in contact with different horrifying elements of evil the deeper they go.

In the Blair Witch movie, there is a question of how much is the madness of the filmmakers and how much is the evil of the titular Blair Witch (the sequels undermine this duality). This comes into play in the game as well but in a different way which is nice doesn’t just retread the same ground as the movies. You do find yourself wondering if Ellis is going mad but in some cases Bullet is upset and scared which seems to accompany the most supernatural dangers the game is presenting. I used this as a gauge as to what might be real and what might not be. This was a personal choice, how you see this game is definitely open to interpretation which is a sign of a good game.

The game maps feel like an open forest enough to make you truly feel lost going over what seems like the same locations over and over – however, the world is actually on rails! Great job to Bloober Team for making this feel open but also directing you to goals almost subconsciously. You’ll have to find certain things to advance yourself to the next area where you have to find mission objects or perform some action such as looking at tapes and a tape recorder you found. You literally work with found footage of the missing boy and his abductor. The game is loaded with lots and lots of puzzles but they don’t feel contrived or there just to pad the game time. They advance the story as well as giving you a window into the individuals you are tracking. The forest is beautifully designed with terrific dynamic sound helping to pull you into the world and lose track of time. It looks real enough to make me think twice about taking any camping trips anytime soon…

There is a definite feeling of good and evil at play in the game with forces caught in the middle. There is the Blair Witch and her supernatural ways and then there is Bullet, one of the best dogs ever portrayed in a video game. As long as you treat Bullet right he is by your side as an emotional support, a grounding influence in a hostile environment. You can pet him (so adorably animated), give him treats and keep him close to try to help hold onto some possible sanity. Mentally Ellis is quite the mess, I don’t think he deserves Bullet but I think we players do, for all the horrors we witness, petting a big, sweet German Shepard behind the ears is a nice break.

I love Bullet so much (perfect name for a police dog) that I’m going to ask my family if we can give our next dog that name. I actually have played the game a couple more times to just spend time with Bullet and to see what happens if Ellis decides to treat Bullet bad which honestly made me almost want to cry. It does feel like a different game when you make different choices, every one of them has an impact and might effect what happens when it comes time to roll credits, the characters’ fates are in your hands. If you care about Bullet then care about Bullet in the game.

Just as Bullet is a physical and mental embodiment of good, The Blair Witch is the embodiment of evil. In the movie you mostly just saw lots of twig art and stones as signs of the Blair Witch, how much of it was created by Heather, Mike, and Josh’s encroaching madness and how much is the Blair Witch’s supernatural doing is left to interpretation. In the game there are physical evils that has Bullet barking warnings to you which I chose to think of as actually being there but if you REALLY want to go down the rabbit hole you can consider if Ellis is imagining Bullet barking.

One of the reasons I have been able to play the game a few times and still hit my review deadline is the length of the game, if you take it easy going through then it might take as many as 6 hours, if you are good at puzzles and spend less time taking in the environment and just try to bust through as fast as you can you might hit more around the 4-5 hour mark. When you consider the game is $29.99 on Steam it’s kind of pricey for a one time play-through game, the game is so well done I still think it is worth it but with a definite replayability with different endings if feels like an even better price. For $38.99 you can get the game with all three movies included which if you like the movies can be a great deal at an extra $3 each.

Being a horror themed game age and maturity might want to be considered, there is a bit of gore, really well done jump scares and nightmarish subjects that might be a bit much for younger players. In some ways the game reminds me of the movie Dr. Strange and the game Alan Wake, then in other ways it reminds me of Jacob’s Ladder. It’s loaded with adult themes some of which hopefully with any luck kid gamers don’t even know about, Ellis for example has a badly damaged psyche from a lifetime of experiences. Add this to an environment that is creepy and jump scare filled enough to make adults have bad dreams then you may want to think about the youngsters. Also some choices might result in bleak and depressing endings the like that hopefully most kinds and some adults haven’t themselves ever experienced.

Blair Witch The Game is one of the best horror games I have played in a long time, it’s atmosphere pulls you in then makes you jump back again. It is beautifully immersive and terrific at storytelling while giving some challenging puzzle play. It reminds me a lot of the first movie but I think it is better, it tackles heavy subject manner in a mature yet entertaining way with great gaming elements. You can even give dog biscuits to Bullet, when you play and you should play it, rub him once behind the ears for me.

Philips Momentum Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

2019/09/15
Ripper71
Geek News, News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews, Windows PC News

In 1891 when Gerald Philips and his Father, Fredrick, established Philips and Co. in the Netherlands to “manufacture incandescent lamps and other electrical products” they dreamed of lighting up the world. That was a long time ago and many companies and come and gone since then, Philips was smart enough to diversify while always keeping the idea of “electrical products” in mind so that today they do everything from electric toothbrushes to MRIs, electronic sleep masks to blenders and airfryers. It seemed only time until they made ways into electronic gaming which brings us to the Philips Momentum Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.

It’s not Philips first keyboard by a long shot but while they have been making reliable gaming products this one appeals to entry level gamers who want the precision of mechanical keys but can’t afford the higher prices that most of the well known gaming companies price point. Also as a player you really want to give a mechanical keyboard a play before any heavy investing into it. I know a lot of people who liked the idea of mechanical keyboards but when they find themselves in a college dorm room working on a paper late into the night their roommates want to kill them for hearing “clickity clackity” when they want to get some sleep. In our household I’m the only one who uses a mechanical  keyboard at home which is nice since when they hear my keyboard tapping away they SOMETIMES leave me alone to write or at least wait for a break in my typing. If you are a serious gamer I really recommend getting a mechanical keyboard with up to 50 million keystrokes and a satisfying strike feeling that lets you know that key has been hit both by feel and sound. I recommend having a backup keyboard in case you do need to be quiet at times and if you get a USB one like the Momentum switching is as easy as changing which is plugged in or having one off to the side that you can go back and forth between.

The Momentum also has Ambiglow, their name for the keyboard’s lighting system which has some great strong points with only a couple drawbacks. The upper surface of the keyboard is one die cut piece of metal which is often seen on higher end keyboards with raised keys so that instead of just lighting up through the key it also lights up the spaces between and around them.This helps the gamer see the location of the keys but also provide ambient light to play by. On the right light settings it can also show you where you typed in case you weren’t sure if you had hit an extra key. Besides having raised keys to help light escape the keyboard also has large letters on the keys with the numerical keys on the top row splitting the space evenly with the shift characters such as “!@#$” so that if you are typing by the keyboard as a light source you can easily see the shift characters which often get lost by being too small to see. All the letters are nicely sized in a unique font that has a gaming look to them.

Every subsection of keys have their own coloring so that at a glance you can look in the right spot to type, F keys are all blue, WASD is pink, PRTSC and PGUp and Dn section is dark green, number pad is yellow with red + and – section, all other keys are a mint green. It makes for a colorful sight but also helps locate the keys quick. Another feature of the lighting that helps you in hitting the right key are the M keys that will pre-light keys that are used in most FPS, MMORPG, and RPG setups so that you just hit one key and you are all ready to go from your favorite shooter to some WoW then maybe finish your day in some civilization game. If they don’t fit your game you can change the lighting setup and save it down to the M key of your choice. These macro programming keys can have up to 104 strokes in it giving really nice customization and can really effect your gameplay.

Those are the M setups but most of the built-in lighting effects are designed to help you with them too or you can set it so that it just makes bad ass patterns. There is a nice size wheel built into the upper right corner of the keyboard which can be turned for computer volume or pushing down on the wheel button allows you to sort through all the lighting options. Some are directly connected to which keys you hit, for example one has a dark keyboard that only lights up when you hit a key then it might just glow then fade or hitting one will cause a lighting reaction across the keyboard. These can look so cool that it winds up looking like the gamer is doing more than just hitting a few keys, every light except the wheel can be tied into the effects. If you find them changing too distracting you can just shut the effects off, writing with lots of effects can be rough. You can even turn off the lights completely.

The lighting system is both very nice and robust but also a bit limited. There are lots of pre-saved lighting effects and up to 19 can be stored. One of the only drawback is that the keys aren’t changeable RGB lit which enables you to change key colors to whatever you want. The Ambiglow system relies on lighting to help separate keys but this also prevents you from making the keys to a color you want. Changeable RGB lighted mechanical keys can be more costly which may be why it is absent from the keyboard to keep the pricing down but it has become fairly expected in lighted mechanical gaming peripherals. This really limits what you can build lighting wise. I can see this effecting the fun of building your own lighting setup since it limits what color can go where, if this isn’t an important feature to you then this is easy to overlook and won’t effect plug and play ready to rumble time.

The weight of the Momentum is kind of a mixed bag, it could be lighter that would make it more travel worthy or it could be heavier to keep it from sliding around your desk. The underside of the keyboard and the removable wrist rest are a lightweight plastic with the wrist rest being really light and magnetic so that if you have another wrist rest you prefer it is easy to take off. The wrist rest is the only part of the keyboard that has a kinda cheap feel to it so it’s nice that another magnetic one can be used in it’s place or if you travel you can take it with you without weight concerns. The metal surface of the keyboard makes it look nice but also adds weight so should be a consideration when using it for travel plus every mechanical keyboard should be thought twice about when traveling in case you share a room.

The Philips Momentum mechanical gaming keyboard is a great addition to any gamer’s setup and at $39.99 it won’t break your bank. It has most of the features that pricier mechanical keyboards on the market do and a couple most don’t such as the incredibly easy to use key memory building and 19 programmable lighting functions that can be accessed at the touch of a button. With over a month of vacation coming up this keyboard will be traveling with me which should be about the best endorsement we can give.

 

Wreckfest Console Edition Review

2019/09/15
JonAutopsy
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 4 Review, Reviews

It’s always kind of a bummer when you don’t see total destruction damage when getting into massive collisions in racing games. When damage is minimal from a crash that should’ve maimed both drivers, it takes some of the realism out of a generic racing title. This is why I’ve always gravitated towards more objective or power-up style racing like Wipeout, Mario Kart, and the like. However, ever since Destruction Derby back in the 90s, I’ve always loved some demolition derby games and Wreckfest definitely hits most of the marks.

Focusing on the career mode, there are various styles of races to choose from as you work your way up from the Juniors across the multiple unlockable leagues as you complete the point-limit for each one. Within each league are the races which range from demolition racing around an oval track, figure-8s, and many other variations as well as wide open arenas, there’s also riding lawn mower demolition derby, school bus races, pure survival, and many others. The variety of each league and their stages, all stages of which are unlockable as you progress within each league and though it’s easy to unlock all of them, you don’t necessarily have to compete in every single race of each league in order to progress to the next level, you just need to score enough points within each race all of which contain their own bonus objectives like spinning cars three times or causing a certain amount of damage to other racers.

The driving and action is fantastic with a real feel for speed in some of those long stretches where you know you’re going to have to use that E-brake at the next turn. The crashes are great looking and with up to 24 vehicles racing at a time, things can look incredibly visceral on some of those massive crashes on the more intense tracks. It definitely kept me interested with how great everything kept up, especially for the amount of action going on the screen with dozen car pile-ups occurring. It’s easy to translate the bonus you may receive along the way for wrecking other cars, hitting them in specific ways, or getting caught up with a “Rival Driver” which includes bonus points if you focus damage on them during the course of the race.

There’s a good amount of vehicles to unlock and choose from within the store, each with their own car class ranging from C, which is the class of the vehicle you start your career with, to B, and of course A which are the highest styles and strengths to purchase from the prize money you receive, each race. Each vehicle also has its own internal upgrades to purchase including engine and exhaust, wheels and armor, just to name a few. Though all custom paint styling to every vehicle you purchase is free, unfortunately the paint style choices, though fully customizable as far as whatever colors you want the art to be, are incredibly limited, usually only to about four or five different styles per vehicle. Along with that, there’s no customizing spray paint or words on your vehicle, nor can you assign your own number! That’s right, you’re locked into the number each art style comes with, along with spray painted words on the vehicle which aren’t in any way moveable or changeable, aside from what color they are. I’ve played demolition derby games years or even decades old where everything on the demo cars are customizable since that’s one of the fun things about real demolition derby is the custom spray paint jobs the drivers and crew take to their vehicles. It was definitely a let down not being able to have full control of what my vehicles looked like aside from a few preset selections.

One big problem in between matches is the load times. Loading up a course can sometimes take minutes of sitting there, watching a loading screen. A friend of mine who purchased the game recently mentioned the same issue so I know it wasn’t just something I was experiencing alone. As well, if the race involves a series of races where you need to finish within the top 8 to continue on, the loading in between races is so long and with no on-screen visual to inform you it’s loading, it literally seems as if the game has froze and you’re waiting for your system to blue-screen. I even went to the main PS4 menu the first time this happened and shut down Wreckfest thinking the game had locked up and I wanted to prevent my system from crashing entirely (just in case).

You really need to be conservative with in-game prize winning from races when spending it in the store. Don’t dump all your money into your starting vehicle (or a single vehicle) because you’ll need higher class cars (B and A classes) in order to access future races as you progress through the leagues. As each stages are previously locked, you cant see what each race needs as far as prerequisites and you could find yourself stuck behind races you cant race because you don’t have the cash to buy a new vehicle. A linked problem with that is you can only have one career mode going at a time so it auto-saves and instantly loads you back in each time you select career mode. The problem there is that for as long as I searched, I could not find a way to start a new career, even if it meant overriding the one I was currently in. The only way to start a new career is to manually go into your PS4 settings and delete the career save file. Until it gets patched, there’s currently no other way to start a new career.

The music is great. It definitely had a ring of modern day nu-metal which I felt was totally suitable for a game like this.  Still, no mention of the artists or their tracks playing was disappointing. As always, I will say every sports game, especially one involving a league where you’re going to put multiple hours into it, should have a TON more songs as well as easy ways to skip tracks. The EA FIFA series has always been great about their music and I’ve always used them as a great example of how lots of music choices and easy selection can make a game that much better.

Aside from it’s short-falls, Wreckfest is a lot of fun and if you’re a demolition derby racing fan, you will absolutely enjoy your time with this game. If there’s a sequel, I would definitely like to see a ton more custom paint options for every vehicle and an easier way to get around the leagues so you know what you have to prepare for within the game, financially. Still, I’ve enjoyed my time so far with Wreckfest.

Five Nights at Freddy’s AR: Special Delivery Announcement Trailer

2019/09/13
boothby
Geek News, Mobile News, News, Trailers / Videos

Redwood City, Calif. – September 13, 2019 – Illumix, an integrated gaming and technology company that is transforming the future of mixed reality games, is shaking things up this Friday the 13th by announcing Five Nights at Freddy’s AR: Special Delivery. This Fall, fans of one of today’s most popular and iconic horror properties will be treated to a completely new audio and visual gameplay experience, as the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise will be set in Augmented Reality for the first time ever. Currently in development, Five Nights at Freddy’s AR: Special Delivery will allow players to get their favorite animatronics on demand and bring them to life in their real world through an AR survival horror game never before seen, via iOS and Android devices.

Recently, the creator of Five Nights at Freddy’s, Scott Cawthon, came out of his public hiatus to announce what was in the works for the fan-favorite franchise on his Steam page. Illumix anonymously dropped a teaser last week setting the community ablaze with predictions, rumors, and anticipation for the new AR game. Today, Illumix is officially coming out as the studio behind the FNaF AR game mentioned by Cawthon and is opening pre-registration for Five Nights at Freddy’s AR: Special Delivery.

“Augmented Reality offers new ways for players to interact and engage with their favorite franchises by blending real-world environments, fictional characters, and innovative gameplay,” said Kirin Sinha, CEO and Founder of Illumix. “With Five Nights at Fredddy’s AR: Special Delivery, we wanted to evolve beyond the traditional AR-optional geolocation gameplay and deliver a more meaningful AR experience by having AR as the core component of the game.”

Illumix made headlines in 2018 when they came out of stealth mode and were funded by top Silicon Valley VC investors to build AR games supported through best-in-class gaming practices and advanced AR technology. They are realizing their unique vision of the future of AR gaming by merging the fictional universe of Five Nights at Freddy’s with players’ real-time and everyday world – at home, school, work, or anywhere they choose to go.

Fans of Five Nights at Freddy’s have viewed video content, covering the PC games, mobile ports, and more recent VR experience, over eight billion times. They have downloaded the various games over 100 million times and will be getting a FNaF feature film, which is currently in the works. Five Nights at Freddy’s AR: Special Delivery will bring a whole new dimension to the franchise via mobile devices later this year. For those wanting to be among the first to get their special delivery, pre-registration is now open via https://www.fnafar.com.

For more information on Five Nights at Freddy’s AR: Special Delivery, please visit us at https://www.fnafar.com; follow us on Twitter @FNAFAROfficial or Instagram @fnafargame; add us on Snapchat @illumixofficial; or subscribe to the official Illumix YouTube channel.

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 2019 Begins

2019/09/13
boothby
Geek News, Halloween, News

Universal City, CA, September 13, 2019 – Universal Studios Hollywood rolled out the red carpet to usher in “Halloween Horror Nights” 2019 attended by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele and cast members from Universal Pictures’ blockbuster Us, including Evan Alex, Madison Curry, Alan Frazier, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Cali and Noelle Sheldon; Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters) and filmmaker Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, National Lampoon’s Animal House); acclaimed director and executive producer Greg Nicotero (“Creepshow,” “The Walking Dead”), filmmaker Eli Roth (Haunt, The House with a Clock in Its Walls), GRAMMY® Award-winning musician SLASH, multi-platinum recording artist and filmmaker Rob Zombie (House of a 1000 Corpses), executive producers Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer (“Stranger Things”), and John Murdy, Executive Producer, “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood.

“Halloween Horror Nights” continues on September 13-15, 19-22, 26-29; October 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27, 31; and November 1-3, 2019.

Additional talent attending the premiere event included director Michael Dougherty (Godzilla); Bill Moseley (House of 1000 Corpses); Tichina Arnold (“The Neighborhood”); Lauren Ash (“Superstore”); Jaime Camil (“Jane the Virgin”); special effects artists/filmmakers Stephen, Charles and Edward Chiodo (Killer Klowns from Outer Space); Cody Christian (“All American”); Grant Cramer (Killer Klowns from Outer Space); Devin Druid (“13 Reasons Why”); Kelly Osbourne; Nolan Gould (“Modern Family”); Seth Green  (“Family Guy”); Andrey Ivchenko (“Stranger Things”); Nia Souix (“Dance Moms”); Dylan Sprayberry (“Teen Wolf”), recording artist Angela Aguilar and Angélica Vale, and hip hop dance crew Jabbawockeez.

Opening night also featured a special “Behind the Screams” panel highlighting filmmakers and musicians who have collaborated with Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights” over the years. John Murdy led the insightful discussion that included filmmaker Eli Roth, director and producer, Greg Nicotero and musician, Slash.

This year’s terrifying “Halloween Horror Nights” lineup of mazes and attractions includes:

  • “Us,” an all-new maze based on the blockbuster film from Universal Pictures and visionary Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele
  • “Ghostbusters,” Sony Pictures’ classic 1984 film comes to life for the first time ever in this all-new maze
  • “Stranger Things,” based on seasons 2 and 3 of Netflix’s critically-acclaimed supernatural thriller
  • “Killer Klowns from Outer Space,” the popular 1980s horror sci-fi film lands at “Halloween Horror Nights” in this all-new chilling maze
  • “Creepshow,” maze inspired by the 1982 cult classic movie directed by George Romero and Shudder’s brand new anthology series, reimagined by acclaimed make-up artist, director and executive producer, Greg Nicotero
  • “Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man,” inspired by Universal’s original cinematic monsters and the movie studio that invented the horror film genre
  • “House of 1000 Corpses,” inspired by Lionsgate’s 2003 cult classic film and directed by multi-platinum recording artist and filmmaker Rob Zombie
  • “Holidayz in Hell,” an all-original maze featuring demented versions of everyone’s favorite seasonal celebrations
  • “Curse of Pandora’s Box,” an all-new original maze based on the twisted Greek mythology tale
  • “The Walking Dead,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s permanent attraction inspired by AMC’s popular television series
  • The Jabbawockeez award-winning hip hop dance crew returns by popular demand with an all-new, high-energy performance created exclusively for “Halloween Horror Nights”

Tickets are available at Hollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com and advance purchase is recommended as event nights will sell out.  Following are the various tickets options:

    • Universal Express™  One-time priority access to all mazes, Jabbawockeez performance and theme park rides.
    • Multi-Night Passes Ultimate Fear Pass:  scare all 32 nights
    • Frequent Fear Pass:  scare 25 select nights
    • September Pass:  11 select nights throughout the month of September
    • R.I.P. Tour Groups of up to 12 can scare in style with the new

R.I.P. Tour featuring a VIP guide, unlimited Universal Express access to all mazes, attractions and Jabbawockeez show, private VIP trolley transportation to backlot mazes, interactive themed photo ops and special tour of the Universal backlot, gourmet buffet dinner at the VIP Dining Room & Lounge, access to lounges for drinks and desserts, and complimentary valet parking.

    • After 2 p.m. Day/Night Combo Experience the park’s popular daytime attractions,

and remain for the terror that awaits at “Halloween Horror Nights.”

For updates and exclusive “Halloween Horror Nights” content, visit Hollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com, like Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood on Facebook; follow @HorrorNights #UniversalHHN on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat; and watch the terror come to life on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube.

The Surge 2 Story Trailer

2019/09/13
boothby
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

9/13/2019 – In The Surge 2 on September 24, life on earth as we know it is coming to an end. Deck13’s latest hardcore action-RPG entry begins after the deFrag nanovirus strikes following the launch of a Utopia rocket. In Jericho City, one lone warrior – you – must fight through hell, high water, and amnesia to discover the truth about the virus, the city, and much more. Experience the start of this story in the new trailer, released today.

Here, we meet our hero, and many of the inhabitants of Jericho City. Nano-cultists run rampant through the streets, harvesting everything they can from the environment for their mysterious ends. The government forces of A.I.D attempt to maintain a stranglehold on the city with violent means. All the while, Athena, a girl with whom you have a special connection, leads you through the streets to a destination unknown.

This mystery accompanies gameplay that refines and enhances the Surge formula, bringing new weapons, new gadgets, enhanced ranged combat, additional implants, and much more. Dismemberment and limb-targeting still form the backbone of how you fight, loot, and choose your loadout, but with more options than ever before.

Pre-orders are now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and come with the URBN Gear Pack, which includes a new armor set, two new weapons, and other cosmetics and equipment. The Surge 2 releases September 24.

Borderlands 3 Out Now

2019/09/13
boothby
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Today, 2K and Gearbox Software are proud to announce that Borderlands® 3, the next installment in the award-winning, genre-defining shooter-looter series, is now available worldwide on PlayStation® 4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Games Store.

This release marks the culmination of nearly five years of development and re-establishes the series as a true genre leader, with best-in-class shooting, deeper-than-ever customization, irreverent humor and memorable characters, and intuitive, innovative cooperative multiplayer gameplay. To see the official cinematic launch trailer, please click here. To see recording artist The Heavy perform the game’s title sequence track during the recent Borderlands 3 launch party, see here:

“There is something special about seeing an idea start and watching that idea go through multiple people who each contribute their effort and their talent to make the idea a reality,” wrote Borderlands 3 Creative Director Paul Sage in an open letter to fans published earlier today. “I cannot stress enough how the team has come together to make sure we have produced a worthy successor to Borderlands 2, but I hope more than just feeling the team’s passion, more than getting to experience the next Borderlands, you get to sit down, laugh a little, and just have a damn good time.”

Early critics agree, Borderlands is back and better than ever. IGN awarded Borderlands 3 a 9/10, noting “its arsenal of fun is unmatched.” Meristation proclaimed the game is “destined to become a classic,” while Shacknews deemed it “an absolute masterpiece.” Destructoid described Borderlands 3 as “a hallmark of excellence,” and USgamer called the game “an absolute blast.”

The franchise, which combines the exhilarating action of a first-person shooter with the rich progression and loot systems of a role-playing game, has sold-in more than 48 million units worldwide to date. The most popular title in the series – Borderlands 2 – still draws in more than one million unique monthly users more than six years after the game’s initial release in 2012.

Borderlands 3 expands and improves many of the key features that made the series a critical and commercial success, while also introducing innovative new concepts to its proven formula, including:

  • A Mayhem-Fueled Thrill Ride: The fanatical Calypso Twins have united the bandit clans and are closing in on the galaxy’s ultimate power. Only you, a thrill-seeking Vault Hunter, have the arsenal and allies to take them down. Uncover the rewarding mysteries, memorable inhabitants, and deep lore of the extensive Borderlands narrative universe.
  • Your Vault Hunter, Your Playstyle: Become one of four extraordinary new Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, deep skill trees, and tons of personalization options.
  • Lock, Load, and Loot: With multiple distinct weapons manufacturers, a revolutionary content generation system, and special legendary drops to uncover, your ever-improving arsenal comes with near-infinite possibilities. Shotguns with bullet shields? Rifles with multiple elemental damage types? SMGs that grow legs and chase down enemies? All of the above!
  • New Borderlands: Discover new worlds beyond Pandora, each featuring unique environments to explore and enemies to destroy. Tear through hostile deserts, battle your way across war-torn cityscapes, navigate deadly bayous, and more!
  • Quick & Seamless Co-Op Action: With the new “level-sync” system, the experience seamlessly scales for each individual player. That means you can play with anyone at any time online or in split-screen co-op, regardless of your level or mission progress. Plus, when you take down enemies and challenges as a team, “loot instancing” ensures you reap rewards that are yours alone – no one misses out on loot.

With multiple editions chock-full of digital bonus content, fans can pick the loot-splosion that’s right for them: the Borderlands 3 Standard Edition is available for $59.99 and includes the base game. The Borderlands 3 Deluxe Edition is available for $79.99 and includes the base game, as well as the following bonus digital content: Retro Cosmetic Pack, Neon Cosmetic Pack, Gearbox Cosmetic Pack, Toy Box Weapon Pack, and XP & Loot Drop Boost Mods.

Finally, the Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition is available for $99.99 and includes all the bonus digital content of the Deluxe Edition plus the Borderlands 3 Season Pass, which includes: four (4) campaign DLC packs featuring new stories, missions and challenges; Butt Stallion weapon skin, weapon trinket, and grenade mod. Please note that starting September 17, 2019, the digital version of Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition will update to the full MSRP of $119.99.

Developed from the ground up with AMD, Borderlands 3 will take full advantage of the most powerful PC hardware available, and is optimized for top performance and incredible gaming experiences on AMD Radeon™ graphics cards and Ryzen™ processors. Please note that, while Borderlands 3 is currently available on PC exclusively through the Epic Games Store, the game will be available on additional PC digital storefronts in April 2020.

For fans, launch is only beginning. As revealed at PAX West, 2K and Gearbox Software will continue support Borderlands 3 with free seasonal content updates and free raid-like events called Takedowns, the first of which are scheduled to go live this fall. In addition, 2K and Gearbox plan to release four major downloadable campaign expansions, available collectively with purchase of a “season pass” or individually upon release. The first of these DLC packs is scheduled to launch this winter. For additional details, please refer to this blog.

In order to keep the community engaged and apprised of all this upcoming content, 2K and Gearbox have created The Borderlands Show, a monthly video program hosted by Kinda Funny’s Greg Miller. The first episode of The Borderlands Show will air live on September 18 and will include new details regarding upcoming content, as well as an interview with Borderlands 3 Creative Director Paul Sage. Tune in to twitch.tv/borderlands at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on September 18 to watch.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta Now on PlayStation 4

2019/09/13
boothby
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – September 12, 2019 – Today, the highly-anticipated Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® beta* kicks-off for PlayStation 4 fans to get hands-on with an early look of the game’s critically-acclaimed multiplayer. Throughout the weekend, Infinity Ward will be logging valuable feedback and gameplay information ahead of the game’s global launch on October 25.

Following the recent Modern Warfare 2v2 Gunfight Open Alpha, which was the largest Alpha or Beta in Call of Duty history on PlayStation 4, the Modern Warfare Beta will deliver a deeper look at Modern Warfare’s multiplayer universe, including tight close-quarter 2v2 Gunfight gameplay, traditional 6v6 Multiplayer and large-player count experiences on massive maps featuring a wide array of vehicles. The Beta will expand in Weekend 2 to include all platforms, and for the first time in Call of Duty history, feature crossplay, with fans across console and PC able to play the Modern Warfare Beta together prior to next month’s launch.

Winner of the “Best Online Multiplayer” by Game Critics Best of E3 2019, Modern Warfare’s ultimate multiplayer playground delivers an action-packed online experience with best-in-class down the barrel gameplay, along with unprecedented depth and variety in gameplay. The Beta test will feature a suite of new multiplayer modes that redefine the Call of Duty sandbox, ranging from the close-quarter frenetic 2v2 Gunfight, up to and including the epic large-scale Ground War mode supporting up to 64 players, night gameplay maps, and the fully immersive Realism mode.

“With Modern Warfare, we’re bringing the gaming community together like never before. Starting with the beta we are going to be soliciting player input and feedback that will help us to polish and refine the Day One experience at launch,” said Patrick Kelly, Creative Director and co-Studio Head, Infinity Ward. “Starting this weekend we’re planning to give players access to new features and maps each day. Then next weekend, we will introduce crossplay, enabling players to connect with friends and other gamers across platforms. We are also planning to expose more new content and ways to play in the second weekend. In all, we can’t wait for the community to jump in both weekends.”

Players will have two weekends to join in on the fun, with new content and playlists rolling out throughout the beta. Those who have pre-ordered any version of the game at participating retailers will be able to access the beta early as follows.

  • PlayStation 4 Exclusive Beta – Weekend 1
  • September 12 – 13 (Early Access, PlayStation 4)
  • September 14 – 16 (Open Beta, PlayStation 4)
  • Beta featuring crossplay testing – Weekend 2
  • September 19 – 20 (Early Access, PC and Xbox One; Open Beta, PlayStation 4)
  • September 21 – 23 (Open Beta, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One)

For the full rundown of all planned Beta content as well as information for feedback and updates, please visit https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty.

While the beta is just a portion of the overall Modern Warfare multiplayer offering, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare offers a unified narrative experience across all modes of play, including the thrilling single player story campaign and the all-new Special Ops co-op mode accessible to all skill levels.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is scheduled for release globally October 25th on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The title features a fully-optimized PC version, developed in partnership with Beenox, which will be available exclusively on Battle.net®, Blizzard Entertainment’s online gaming platform. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is published by Activision, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) with development led by award-winning developer, Infinity Ward, and additional development support from Beenox, High-Moon Studios and Raven Software.