LOS ANGELES (Nov. 2, 2018) – The popular FINAL FANTASY® TRADING CARD GAME (“FFTCG”) released its seventh card expansion, “Opus VII” today. The “Opus VII” set features original, never before revealed, exclusive artwork by Toshitaka Matsuda (FINAL FANTASY V), Toshiyuki Itahana (FINAL FANTASY Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates), Akira Oguro (FINAL FANTASY Legends) and Kumiko Koike (FINAL FANTASY, various monsters).
Featuring 138 unique cards, the set also introduces individual characters, Noctis (FINAL FANTASY XV) and Lasswell (FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS®) for the first time, with more support coming for both titles next year. Each “Opus VII” Booster Pack features twelve total cards with one premium foil card, bringing players even closer to completing their FINAL FANTASY TRADING CARD GAME collection.
Players who purchase a full Booster Display Box from participating retailers can receive a full art version of Noctis while supplies last.
The FINAL FANTASY TRADING CARD GAME also recently released its first Two Player Starter Set: Villains & Heroes, themed around DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY NT. The new Starter Set features two decks and is a full two-player game without need for additional cards. Both decks contain popular, powerful cards, including Genesis (Crisis Core: FINAL FANTASY VII) and Vivi (FINAL FANTASY IX), that can be used to supplement existing FINAL FANTASY TRADING CARD GAME decks.
THE QUIET MAN brings an adrenaline-fueled, cinematic gameplay experience from an all-star development team, including Human Head Studios (Lost Within, Prey, Rune), action director Tatsuro Koike (Yakuza series), renowned comic book writer team Man of Action Entertainment (BEN 10, Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man, and the characters and team of BIG HERO 6). Talented Grammy award winning artist Imogen Heap also lends her talent in creating and performing THE QUIET MAN theme song, and original track titled “The Quiet.”
In a story that unravels across a single night, players take the role of deaf protagonist Dane as he fights his way to discover the motives behind the kidnapping of songstress Lala by a mysterious masked man.
A free patch will also be available approximately one week after release, titled THE QUIET MAN – ANSWERED –, which will offer answers to the unique mysteries of THE QUIET MAN by providing another play through with sound and voices.
THE QUIET MAN supports subtitles in 29 languages, including French (Canada), Spanish (Latin America) and Portugese (Brazil).*
Boney Island was a long-running home haunt in the North Hollywood area for many years. Unfortunately, it became a victim of its own success and ended up having to close up shop due to the burden on its local city infrastructure due to the amount of traffic it received every year. Thankfully, it’s back! And, it’s back as its own haunted attraction right next door to the LA Ghost Train. Boney Island features a number of family-friendly activities, such as a variety of photo opportunities featuring animated skeletons, a small haunted forest maze, and a large musical stage show.
For a scant ticket price of $15 dollars a person (Children 2 and under are free), we entered the event when it opened up at 6PM and picked up a container of kettle corn and some sodas. Then we began looking at the various photo opportunities. Each photo opp has some sort of animated or interactive element and you can spend a lot of time just enjoying them. From there, we walked through the small “Deadwood Forest” maze which, while not scary, does feature a lot of cool blacklight-lit props and animated items. Finally, we watched the huge stage show at 6:45PM that featured singing pumpkins, a conjuring skeleton, and powerful glowing fountains – all moving in concert to various spooky tunes. The show is extremely impressive and, even while I was recording it through my smartphone, I could not help but smile in amazement.
One of the nice things about Boney Island is that it is extremely family-friendly and nothing will scare your children to the point of psychosis or anywhere near it, actually. In many ways, Boney Island is a perfect pairing to a night at the LA Ghost Train as both make for a terrific family Halloween event to bring your whole clan out to. Be forewarned, that parking for Boney Island is a bit tricky as you need to use the small park parking lot near the entrance or along Zoo Dr. So, you might want to get there early to grab a good spot. The entrance is across a public park with some uneven ground, so you also might want to pack a flashlight for once it gets dark.
Overall, Boney Island is an amazing family-friendly Halloween event that you should absolutely come out and see. Check out the official website for more information.
October 31, 2018 – Insurgency: Sandstorm, the intense FPS sequel to indie smash-hit Insurgency, is already entertaining thousands of players in its ongoing pre-order beta. Now, a major update on November 8 will bring many much-requested changes as developers New World Interactive prepare for launch on December 12. This update includes a brand new map, Precinct, a new Insurgent weapon, as well as various new options, tweaks, and fixes.
The new update teaser trailer showcases Precinct, a large scale urban map set in a city within the fictional, contemporary conflict of Insurgency: Sandstorm. Tight corners, broken barricades, destroyed streets of burnt-out cars and makeshift roadblocks epitomize this map, bringing the frenetic action and tactical squad-based play of Insurgency to a brand new, urban locale.
Other improvements include graphical options, anti-aliasing, animation and character models, plus related optimisation improvements to help the game run better on more systems, along with additional cosmetics, and a new Alpha AK weapon. These, plus additional server browser improvements, will continue to see changes in the run up to release.
Finally, gameplay changes will target everything from hundreds of improvements and bug fixes to the specifics of movement speeds, weapon statistics, map layouts, an Unreal Engine update to version 4.20, and more. A full changelist will be available upon release.
Insurgency: Sandstorm releases on December 12 for PC. Steam pre-orders are available now and give instant access to the ongoing beta testing phase. Insurgency: Sandstorm will come to consoles in 2019.
AUSTIN, Texas, October 30, 2018 — Shroud of the Avatar™: Forsaken Virtues, the record-setting crowdfunded game from famed game designer Richard Garriott, is now available for anyone to play…no purchase necessary! The makers of Shroud of the Avatar, Portalarium™, expanded the free to play features last week and also turned on an overhauled new user experience, a highly anticipated update to the game which should be a welcome addition to all new players ready to venture in Garriott’s fantasy world of New Britannia.
“We are thrilled to open up Shroud to a larger audience of gamers,” said Creative Director Garriott. “We have removed almost all gameplay restrictions from our free players. Now those players can trade freely with other players, own land and play through the entire story! This means that you no longer need to make a purchase to have the Shroud of the Avatar experience!”
The new user experience is an important addition to Shroud. Executive Producer Starr Long explained, “We’ve separated our tutorials from the story-telling spaces in the starting areas. We now have a focused tutorial area in the Isle of Storms where we walk players through the game basics. These progress in a gated fashion so the players must finish learning a skill and utilizing it before they can travel to the next part of the tutorial. We’ve been working on this for several months and are excited to roll this out at the same time we are launching free to play.”
Also choosing one’s story path is now independent of a player’s starting decks. Players start with three decks: Blades, Ranged, and Magic. Once all the tutorials are completed, players will then journey through the lunar rift to one of the three starting areas. Those areas are now polished to be more focused and tighter in their direction. Plus with no more tutorial elements in those areas, those starting scenes are now entirely focused on story.
Shroud of the Avatar launched in March and since that time the Portalarium team launched a new website and has added a multitude of quality of life updates and major features to the game world including:
• Player made heraldry
• Brewing
• Obsidian trials (risk free PVP)
• Major expansions to the fishing system including different water types, more than 25 different fish types with scaling sizes of trophy fish
• Player made dungeons
• Seasonal enemies (Atavists of Purity, Aether Creatures tied to a comet, Pumpkin Head)
• Global banks (they were local before)
• Global chat
• Ability to bypass town sieges & control points
• Elimination of experience point decay on death
• Automatic open multiplayer in towns/overworld/starting areas to increase connectivity with players
• Looking for Group system
• Performance enhancements (frame rate and load times)
• Doubled XP gains across the board (crafting and adventuring)
• And much more
Shroud of the Avatar is the largest crowdfunded video game to ship digital and physical products. The game raised more than $12.3 million when it launched in March. Portalarium has now shipped the boxed version of the game, including the beloved cloth maps and manual illustrated by Denis Loubet, to more than 8,000 backers. More backers are scheduled to receive their boxes in the coming weeks. A version of the box can be purchased via Amazon or directly from the Shroud of the Avatar store(this version is signed by Lord British).
Moenchengladbach/Germany, October 29, 2018– The eagerly awaited King Crab DLC for Fishing: Barents Sea now has a final release date: On November 7, astragon Entertainment and developer Misc Games will release the exciting expansion which will set out fans of the high seas to the big adventure of king crab fishing. A closer look at the two new ships Selfy and Svalbard shows the new features coming soon to future crab fishers.
The Selfy which is based on the ship models of Norwegian ship manufacturer Selfa Arctic AS is the first of the two new ships from the King Crab DLC. The reliable vessel is a true all-rounder in providing a smooth transition from regular fishing to the slightly different mechanics of catching king crabs. She can be equipped either with line and nets or crab pots and a sorting table. Her storage provides more than enough capacities for cod, shellfish, pollack and redfish. With over 500 hp and a maximum speed of 30 knots fishing lovers can still catch the whole range of fish from the Barents Sea before they fully head to the catching of the majestic crustaceans with the next ship of the King Crab DLC.
After learning the basics of crab fishing such as detecting the locations of crab areas and lowering crab pots into the sea, the second ship of the King Crab DLC is the very right choice for virtual fishers. With almost 55 meters the Svalbard is five times longer than the Selfy, equipped with significantly larger crab pots and exclusively designed for king crab fishing. Appropriately, a large and powerful crane for throwing out and hauling in the heavy crab pots is located on deck of the Svalbard. This beast with an 1125 horsepower engine is the perfect companion for making the dream of becoming a successful king crab fisher in Northern Norway come true.
The King Crab DLC for Fishing: Barents Sea will be available on Steam™ on November 7, 2018 for 9.99 Euro/11.99 USD/8.99 GBP (RRP). The main game Fishing: Barents Sea for PC is already available in retail or as a digital download for 19.99 Euro/19.99 USD/16.99 GBP (RRP).
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – October 29, 2018 – Stern Pinball, Inc., a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball, in collaboration with Ka-Pow Pinball, proudly announced today the availability of the one-of-a-kind Beatles pinball machine. Only 1964 units will be produced in recognition of the year in which the world forever changed when Ed Sullivan introduced America to four young mop-topped musicians from Liverpool, England. The deal was brokered by Bravado Merchandising, the Beatles North American licensing agent.
The game is available in three models named for the recording industry’s sales award levels. The Diamond Edition, the highest level and most difficult to attain, is limited to only 100 units. The Platinum Edition is limited to only 250 units. The Gold Edition is limited to 1614 units.
The Beatles pinball machine will immerse players in 1960’s Beatlemania and feature eight timeless hit songs from that era:
A Hard Day’s Night
Can’t Buy Me Love
Ticket to Ride
All My Loving
Help
Drive My Car
It Won’t Be Long
I Should Have Known Better
The game also features iconic introductions by Ed Sullivan along with custom speech and callouts by Hall of Fame disk jockey, Cousin Brucie. Cousin Brucie introduced The Beatles at New York’s Shea Stadium in 1964.
The retro-themed playfield features four flippers, eleven drop targets, eight stand-up targets, multiple skill shots, two opto-spinners, a ball-catching magnet and a magnetic spinning record disc in the center of the playfield. Players, friends and family will enjoy full screen animations as well as simulated reel scoring on the game’s high definition video screen.
All models feature unique art packages and custom powder-coated armor. The 100 Diamond Editions are numbered, certified collectible and include a mirrored backglass. The 250 Platinum Editions are numbered and certified collectible.
Complementing the immersive Beatlemania theme and exciting gameplay experience, Stern Pinball’s powerful SPIKE™ electronics hardware system enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations on the high-definition video display. SPIKE™ reduces system complexity and energy usage resulting in enhanced reliability and simplified servicing. The state-of-the-art electronic system also powers a high-fidelity 3-channel audio system that is three times more powerful than audio systems of previous generations.
“We are very proud of this Beatles pinball machine that was produced in collaboration with our good friend, Joe Kaminkow,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “We can’t wait for players to experience Beatlemania when they play this game.”
Pricing and Availability:
Please contact your local Stern Pinball distributor or dealer for availability and pricing. To find an authorized Stern Pinball distributor or dealer in your area, please visit: www.sternpinball.com/buy
The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum has once again brought back their Ghost Train for the 2018 spooky season. Based near the Los Angeles Zoo, the Ghost Train sees guests climb aboard and ride miniature trains of all kinds – from steam to diesel. This family-friendly haunted attraction is fun for children and adults alike and guests are transported through various spooky dioramas along the roughly twenty minute journey.
This year, the Ghost Train has added some new scenes and surprises which are all well designed and bring some fresh, spooky fun for those riders who have experienced it before. The best part about the LA Ghost Train is that it is unique – I can’t think of another haunted train experience in SoCal. The sets are spooky and have some startling elements, but it is all very tame in comparison to most haunted houses, which usually try to outdo each other in the gore factor. Most of the sets at the LA Ghost Train are activated by the train passing by sensors and are of the animatronic or static prop variety, but the event does have some impressive pyrotechnic effects – there are no scare actors at the LA Ghost Train.
A bit of interesting trivia: Along the spooky tracks, you will run into some Disney-inspired scenes. Walt Disney was actually a part of the LALSRM and the barn that used to sit on his property in LA is now on-site at the museum as well. Also, the museum runs non-spooky tours every Sunday during the rest of the year so you can always bring your kids back for more fun and learning about the railroads. An additional note of interest: These miniature trains are not toys – they are actual working trains, just smaller! The level of technical skill needed to keep them in working order is highly commendable.
Tickets run anywhere from $20 at the door to $25 and $30 with online advanced purchase (which gets you faster line access) and are all well worth the price of admission. Be warned, the Ghost Train is a Halloween time tradition for a multitude of families in Southern California, so the lines can get long. If you want to ensure a good parking spot and place in line, get there early! Parking is available in a small public lot as well as along Zoo Dr. The Ghost Train runs on various days throughout October. Please check their official website for more information.
October 26, 2018 – Today we are proud to announce that Red Dead Redemption 2 is now available worldwide for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One systems.
An epic tale of honor and loyalty set in the dying days of the outlaw age, Red Dead Redemption 2 follows Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang as they rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. Following a botched robbery in the western town of Blackwater, the gang are forced to flee and with federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, leaving Arthur to make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him.
Red Dead Redemption 2 will also include access to Red Dead Online. The Red Dead Online beta is planned to launch this November – an evolution of the classic multiplayer experience in the original Red Dead Redemption, blending narrative with competitive and cooperative gameplay in fun new ways.
Check out important game launch information including about today’s day one Title Update, how to report issues and feedback via the new Rockstar Support website and more.
Download the free Red Dead Redemption 2 Companion App for iOS or Android and connect directly to your game as you play, and get the Red Dead Redemption 2 Complete Official Guide published by Piggyback – available in both Standard and Collector’s Edition at the Rockstar Warehouse.
FREMONT, CA, October 25th, 2018 – CORSAIR®, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the launch of the new CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE and CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE RAPIDFIRE mechanical gaming keyboards. The newly released duo of K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE keyboards builds upon the renowned heritage of the award-winning K70 RGB MK.2 by combining the fastest actuating CHERRY® MX Low Profile RGB keyswitches with a new slim design, for a more comfortable typing experience while preserving the K70 range’s mechanical precision and gaming performance.
At the heart of the K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE keyboards are new CHERRY MX Low Profile keyswitches, combining trusted CHERRY mechanical switch performance with a new, lower 11.9mm switch height and short actuation distance. Combined with redesigned, low profile keycaps, these switches reduce the full keypress distance to both bottom out the key and actuate the switch, lessening keypress fatigue during extended typing or gaming. The K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE RAPIDFIRE features CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB Speed keyswitches exclusive to CORSAIR, engineered for maximum performance with an ultra-fast 1.0 mm actuation distance, while the K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE uses CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB Red mechanical keyswitches, which offer familiar smooth and linear movement with a low 1.2mm actuation distance.
The housing for these new low profile switches has also been engineered to increase LED diffusion, and combined with redesigned keycaps that sit closer to the LEDs, make each individual RGB backlit key shine brighter and more vividly than ever before. Users can control their lighting patterns and effects with CORSAIR iCUE software, allowing for full customization and synchronization with iCUE-compatible devices across their entire system. In addition, iCUE also offers full control to create powerful macros and custom key remaps.
The K70’s iconic brushed aluminum frame has been redesigned to perfectly complement these new switches. At a height of just 29mm, it’s the slimmest desktop mechanical gaming keyboard that CORSAIR has ever created. Users will immediately feel the difference of the low profile chassis, allowing them to keep their hands closer to their natural position, placing less stress on the palm and wrists. This slim form factor also enables the K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE range to fit effortlessly into any modern desktop setup.
The CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE and K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE RAPIDFIRE come complete with all of the extras that PC gamers demand of a fully-featured CORSAIR K70 keyboard: dedicated multimedia controls, a knurled aluminum volume roller, a USB pass-through port for additional devices, onboard profile storage to take your settings anywhere and 100% anti-ghosting with full key rollover to guarantee that every keypress always registers. Both keyboards also come with additional replacement low profile FPS and MOBA gaming keycaps for the WASD and QWERDF keys—specifically textured, sculpted and color-accented for the most often used keys for gaming.
The CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE and CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE RAPIDFIRE merge the high performance of a mechanical gaming keyboard with the all-day, all-night comfort of low profile design.
The CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE and CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE RAPIDFIRE mechanical gaming keyboards are available immediately from the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors, as well as direct from the CORSAIR webstore.
The K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE and K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE RAPIDFIRE are backed by a two-year warranty and the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.
