Author - Jerry Paxton

Microsoft’s Xbox One X Launches

2017/11/07

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 6, 2017 — The official launch of the world’s most powerful console, Xbox One X, brings a new era of immersive 4K gaming and 4K entertainment to gamers across the globe. With 40 percent more power than any other console, Xbox One X is where console gamers can play the best versions of games. The new console launches with the largest games lineup in Xbox history, with more than 70 Xbox One X Enhanced titles coming in the first week and more than 50 available on launch day, including “Forza Motorsport 7,” “Super Lucky’s Tale,” “Assassin’s Creed Origins,” “Middle-earth: Shadow of War,” and “FIFA 18.” The Xbox One games library consists of more than 1,300 games and more than 220 exclusives, all of which play best on Xbox One X. More titles are on the way like the hottest game on the planet “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” releasing as an Xbox One console launch exclusive Dec. 12, 2017.

“We built Xbox One X to give game creators the most powerful platform to bring their visions to life and to give gamers the best console to play the games of the past, present and future,” said Phil Spencer, head of gaming, Microsoft Corp. “We’re excited to offer gamers the world’s most powerful console with access to the largest games lineup in Xbox history — more than 1,300 titles and more than 220 exclusives.”

Microsoft saw incredibly strong preorder sales of Xbox One X, and expects the new console to be in high demand this holiday season. Gaming fans worldwide are encouraged to get the new console early before quantities run out.

The biggest global launch in Xbox history — now available in 35 markets

Across the world, fans flocked to special Xbox events to celebrate the highly anticipated launch of Xbox One X. Launch festivities were captured in a live broadcast from the Mixer NYC Studio on Mixer, Xbox.com, Twitch and Facebook Live, with key highlights including these:

Inspired by the new Xbox racing game “Forza Motorsport 7,” the world’s first Xbox One X was hand-delivered in New Zealand via the fastest supercar in the country.
In Australia, Xbox opened the doors to the Xbox Stay N’ Play, a boutique, gaming-themed experience situated in front of the iconic Sydney skyline in Pirrama Park.
In Germany, Xbox set a new world record for the “World’s Largest Unboxing” after unboxing a giant Xbox One X in the Munich International Airport, and celebrated the launch with more than 700 fans in front of Berlin’s largest 4K theater screen.
In the U.K., some of the country’s biggest content creators and special guests were featured in an extended 14-hour Xbox livestream hosted at the Xbox One X Apartment in London.
In France, thousands of fans tuned into an eight-hour Mixer livestream, which highlighted the various Xbox One X launch activities taking place in Paris, including the midnight opening at Fnac Champs Elysées.
In Mexico City, hundreds of fans attended an Xbox One X midnight madness event hosted with Game Planet to celebrate the official launch of the highly anticipated console in Mexico.
In collaboration with Canadian designer and artist Brian Espiritu, Xbox designed custom Xbox One X consoles inspired by the city of Toronto to give away to five lucky Xbox fans.
In the lead up to launch, Xbox Live Sessions, an interactive, fan-focused livestream on Mixer, hosted celebrities including Chris Evans, James Corden, DJ Khaled, Chandler Riggs, and more to play their favorite games on Xbox One X. In addition, 16 years after helping Bill Gates introduce the original Xbox, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson surprised three Make-A-Wish kids with their own custom consoles before the official Xbox One X launch.
At Microsoft Stores, including the flagship Microsoft Store on Fifth Avenue in New York, and other retailers worldwide, eager fans lined up more than 24 hours in advance of the console’s release to be among the first to get their hands on Xbox One X before it sells out worldwide. Shaquille O’Neal, Liam Payne, Ronda Rousey, Odell Beckham Jr., and Caleb McLaughlin made special appearances to surprise fans throughout the launch event at the Microsoft Store in New York.

Similar spectacular celebrations took place in additional Xbox One markets. Xbox One X is available now in 35 markets worldwide, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, UK, and U.S.

The power of Xbox One X

Xbox One X is built for true 4K gaming, with enough power to drive native 4K resolutions, High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut into a pristine visual package beyond what’s capable in existing consoles. Existing Xbox One games play even better, with improved textures, smoother frame rates and faster load times, even on a 1080p TV. Xbox One X is also the only product in the world that packs all of the following features in one amazing device: 4K gaming for the world’s greatest games, a built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, 4K streaming capabilities, High Dynamic Range support for gaming and video, and premium audio that puts gamers in the center of spatial sound with Dolby Atmos support. The craftsmanship in the Xbox One X hardware means it’s not only the world’s most powerful console, it’s also the smallest and most feature-rich Xbox ever.

Xbox One X Enhanced

Today, with the launch of Xbox One X, more than 50 popular Xbox One games are receiving free updates as part of the Xbox One X Enhanced program, with more than 70 total coming in the first week. Xbox One X Enhanced games have been updated or built specifically to take full advantage of the world’s most powerful console and its 4K UHD and HDR capabilities. More than 160 new and existing games will be enhanced for Xbox One X to take advantage of its full power, including “Forza Motorsport 7,” “Super Lucky’s Tale,” “Middle-earth: Shadow of War,” “Assassin’s Creed Origins,” “Halo Wars 2,” “Gears of War 4,” “Halo 5: Guardians,” “Minecraft,” “FIFA 18,” “Final Fantasy XV” and “Star Wars Battlefront II,” with more titles on the way like “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” releasing Dec. 12, 2017, as a console launch exclusive through the Xbox Game Preview program. More information on the Xbox One X Enhanced program can be found by visiting https://www.xbox.com/enhanced.

Xbox One family of devices

Xbox One X is the newest member of the Xbox One family of devices, which will coexist alongside Xbox One S. Only on Xbox One can gamers experience the best games of the past, present and future, with more than 1,300 Xbox One games and more than 220 exclusives playable across the entire Xbox One family of devices. Furthermore, all Xbox One accessories are also compatible across the family.

Whether playing on Xbox One X or Xbox One S, gamers are treated to gaming features exclusive to the Xbox platform:

Xbox Live, the fastest, most reliable gaming network¹.
4K UHD Blu-ray, 4K streaming and 4K gaming
Xbox Game Pass, a monthly membership that provides unlimited access to more than 100 games.

How to get an Xbox One X

Xbox One X is available in 35 Xbox One markets and retails at US$499, £449, €499, C$599 and A$649², with additional markets launching soon. The latest on where to buy Xbox One X can be found at xbox.com/xboxonex. Local retailers, including Microsoft Store, also have more information.

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

¹Independent IHS Markit study, June/July 2017. Tested on Xbox One versus PlayStation 4 on five of the top- selling games with matchmaking; results may vary, not an endorsement.

²Prices are estimated retail prices; actual retail prices may vary.

BlizzCon 2017 Sees Over 30,000 Attendees

2017/11/06

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

IRVINE, Calif.—November 6, 2017—At BlizzCon^® 2017, more than 30,000 players gathered to experience the latest updates to their favorite Blizzard games and cheer on top esports competitors, with millions more joining online. Over two days packed with developer panels, friendly competition, and live entertainment, the Blizzard community learned about and went hands-on with new heroes, new gameplay updates, and new expansions coming to the company’s blockbuster franchises.

Attendees and viewers also witnessed the dramatic conclusions to three esports championships and three exhibition-style competitions:

StarCraft^® II World Championship Series Global Finals

Winner: Rogue

With two championship titles already under his belt in 2017, Rogue arrived on the global stage at BlizzCon as a favorite to win the whole tournament. Once he got warmed up in the grand final against SoO, he showed the world he definitely deserves the title of WCS Global Champion with a 4–2 series win.

Heroes of the Storm^® Global Championship Finals

Winning team: MVP Black

MVP Black and Fnatic met in the final match of the HGC Finals after both teams moved past the semis with 3–0 wins. When the dust settled, it was MVP Black standing tall over the Swedish powerhouse with a 3–1 victory after a barnburner of a finale. MVP Black’s unwavering determination and dedication to their craft was enough to secure them their first trophy at BlizzCon.

World of Warcraft^® Arena World Championship

Winning team: ABC

The European streak continues as ABC sweeps Panda Global in the most decisive championship match in the history of the tournament. Working against a hostile crowd, ABC triumphed behind the Arcane Mage play of Alex ‘Alec’ Sheldrick to bring the WoW Arena trophy to Europe for the fourth straight year.

Overwatch^® World Cup

Winning nation: South Korea

South Korea was always expected to be the “final boss” at BlizzCon—and runner-up Canada fought valiantly in taking a single map—but in the end the story finished as expected. Ryujehong and company’s sudden vulnerability didn’t make a difference as South Korea goes two-for-two in Overwatch World Cup Championships.

Hearthstone^® Inn-vitational

Winning team: Grimestreet Grifters

After two days of frenetic and varied play among the 12 community personalities, the Grimestreet Grifters—comprised of Andrey ‘Reynad’ Yanyuk, Hakjun ‘Kranich’ Baek, and Pathra Cadness—emerged victorious. The best-of-11 finals saw the format of each game drawn from a sealed envelope, and players were individually eliminated from the stage until the Grifters claimed the trophy 6–5 over the Chillblade Crusaders.

StarCraft: Remastered Ultimate Title Fight

Winner: Bisu

Although Lee “Jaedong” Jae Dong and Kim “Bisu” Taek Yong’s lengthy careers largely overlapped, they hardly ever played each other outside of team leagues. That changed when the two StarCraft legends met in the Ultimate Title Fight, a best-of-five showmatch with $25,000 on the line. In the fifth and final game, Bisu seemed to get a read on Jaedong’s aggressive strategy, and managed to hold him off to take the series 3–2.

In addition to all the epic esports action, Blizzard made several major announcements for its games at the show, including:

World of Warcraft

· Battle for Azeroth™—In the seventh expansion to World of Warcraft, the war between the Horde and the Alliance reignites as players embark on a journey to recruit new allies, race to claim the world’s mightiest resources, and fight on several fronts to determine which faction will lead Azeroth into its uncertain future.

· WoW^® Classic—In addition to a new expansion, Blizzard also announced early plans to develop a gameplay experience that recaptures players’ first journeys into the original World of Warcraft.

Hearthstone

· Kobolds & Catacombs™—A new Hearthstone expansion, coming in December, will bring players down into the dungeons beneath Azeroth—and equip them with 135 new cards.

· Dungeon Runs—Kobolds & Catacombs brings with it a brand-new, highly replayable single-player game mode for Hearthstone featuring challenging, high-stakes subterranean journeys inspired by the classic fantasy dungeon crawl. Dungeon Runs are free for all players; no pre-built decks are required for entry.

· New Legendary Weapons—For the first time in Hearthstone, Legendary weapons are coming – and every class will get one!

· Free Legendary Cards—To celebrate the new expansion, all players will receive a free legendary minion, Marin the Fox, on November 6, as well as a free random legendary weapon for logging in when Kobolds & Catacombslaunches in December.

· Eager treasure seekers can pre-purchase the new expansion card packs in a special 50-pack bundle for $49.99 and receive the jewel-encrusted “For the Hoard!” card back for free!

StarCraft II

· StarCraft II going free-to-play—Starting November 14, players will get free access to the acclaimed Wings of Liberty^® campaign, ranked ladder play, and all Co-Op Commanders up to level five.

· Mira Han and Matt Horner—the newest Co-op Commander for StarCraft II’s popular Co-Op mode is actually two commanders in one: command a devastating mixture of high-powered Dominion air units as Matt Horner and fast-moving ground units as Mira Han.

· War Chest Season 2—Following the success of this year’s War Chest, StarCraft II will once again offer a fresh batch of seasonal content for players in support of StarCraft II esports.

Heroes of the Storm

Hanzo and Alexstrasza—Two new heroes, both dragons in their own right, will bring new and dramatically different styles of play to the Nexus in Blizzard’s fast-paced MOBA, Heroes of the Storm, later this year.
2018 Gameplay Update—Several in-game changes are coming to Heroes of the Storm in the near future, including a wider field-of-view camera, new Mercenary mechanics, and other core gameplay updates.
Voice Chat—Players in a party will automatically use Blizzard Voice Chat (unless they opt-out) and teams will have the choice to opt-in.
Performance-Based Matchmaking—Lets the player’s personal performance in matches directly influence their matchmaking rating whether they win or lose.

Overwatch

· Moira—A new support hero, the life-draining geneticist named Moira, will soon be joining the roster of Overwatch, Blizzard’s acclaimed team-based shooter.

· Blizzard World—An amusement park celebrating the worlds of Diablo^®, StarCraft, and Warcraft^® serves as the location for Overwatch’s newest map.

· “Honor and Glory”—The latest in the acclaimed series of animated shorts released for Overwatch takes viewers into Reinhardt’s past as he wrestles with a decision of whether to answer Winston’s call to join the newly reforming Overwatch.

· Overwatch League—The inaugural season’s 12 city-based teams will sport in-game home and away uniforms and face off in the league’s Atlantic and Pacific divisions. League matches will be played over four days each week of the regular season, which starts January 10, 2018. Watch on Overwatchleague.com and on the forthcoming Overwatch League companion app.

For more information on the celebration of games, players, and esports excellence at BlizzCon 2017, or to watch VODs of the action with the BlizzCon 2017 Virtual Ticket, visit www.blizzcon.com .

Total War: Arena Free for All Weekend Underway Now

2017/11/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

November 3, 2017 — Creative Assembly and Wargaming Alliance announced today the free-to-play battle game Total War: ARENA has launched a limited-time open weekend. Players who are not part of the closed beta can join the fray with just a Wargaming.net account and hit the battlefield from November 3 at 2PM UTC through Monday November 6 at 6AM UTC.

The open weekend will allow full access to the latest version of Total War: ARENA, letting new commanders test their mettle in epic scale 10 vs 10 multiplayer battles. Choose a commander from three historical factions: Romans, Greeks and Barbarians, and fight on ancient battlefields with your own customized army. This follows on from recent content patch 2.2 that added Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, a new Roman commander and master of defensive and supportive play.

“We’re really excited to open Total War: ARENA to gamers everywhere for the weekend,” said Sergei Laptenok, Total War: ARENA Product Director at Wargaming Alliance. “This is a fantastic opportunity for players, both new and old, to explore all the awesome features and provide valuable feedback so we can all make ARENA better together.”

Download Total War: ARENA here:

https://totalwararena.com/en/download/

For more information on Total War: ARENA, visit:

totalwararena.com

TPcast Partners with VRstudios for Location Based Wireless VR Experiences

2017/11/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

BELLEVUE, WA. – November 1st, 2017 – VRstudios, the leading provider of award-winning VR solutions for Location-Based Entertainment (LBE), announced today, a partnership with TPCAST Technologies headquartered in Beijing. VRstudios will become the first commercial distribution partner of TPCAST in the United States, and will be deploying TPCAST’s wireless technology in a new VRcade® product line to be announced soon. VRstudios currently has deployed 50 systems of its next generation VRcade products in 14 countries around the globe. The partnership with TPCAST will provide VRstudios with technology that will be utilized for a new product concept that will complement the company’s existing VRcade Zone™ and VRcade Arena™ systems.

“VRstudios was the first company in the world to provide totally wireless, full-motion capability to virtual reality,” said Kevin Vitale, VRstudios’ CEO. “By partnering with TPCAST we can provide an even more comprehensive product line of high performance attractions to address the requirements of LBE facilities around the globe. This exemplifies the benefits of our Attraction Management Platform™ that has been designed to allow easy integration of the best emerging technologies in the VR industry.”

“We are excited to partner with VRstudios, the leader in delivering immersive VR attractions to the commercial LBE market, and enable them to expand the LBE industry and create a pivotal change in the future of wireless, full-motion, arena-scale VR,” said Udi Yuhjtman, TPCAST’s North America GM. “TPCAST is committed to the VR market by supporting untethered high-end systems providing a fully immersive experience with enhanced video and audio quality.”

VRstudios is very pleased to be adding TPCAST into the “VRstudios Partner Showcase” program along with several major technology and game industry companies to be announced in the coming months. TPCAST is the first company to introduce a commercial Wireless Adapter for Virtual Reality, which preserves video quality and application performance. Launched on November 11th, 2016, TPCAST created the world’s first commercial wireless VR adapter for HTC VIVE. In October 2017, TPCAST announced that it is working on a wireless adapter for the Oculus Rift headset.

VRstudios recently announced its Attraction Management Platform (AMP), the VRcade Arena™, an 8-player, free roaming, warehouse-scale system, and Terminal 17™, a high action multi-player arena game, as the latest additions to its product line. AMP as well as a half-sized VRcade Arena will be demonstrated for the first time publicly at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando, Florida, November 14-17.

About VRstudios:
VRstudios is the VR industry’s premier global provider of Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) solutions. VRstudios makes it easy for owners and operators of theme parks, family entertainment centers, cinemas and casinos to offer innovative virtual reality attractions to their guests. VRstudios’ Attraction Management Platform (AMP) enables quick installation and efficient operation of VR attractions. VRstudios launched in 2014 as the first company to offer out-of-home fully immersive VR with free-roaming, wireless and untethered, multi-player capabilities.

About TPCAST:
Creator of the first commercial wireless virtual reality solution, TPCAST’s vision is to unleash the VR world by making all VR/AR/MR head-mounted displays (HMDs) wireless. The company’s patented technologies enable highly efficient bi-directional communications between the PC and a VR HMD with near-zero latency. TPCAST’s mission is to work with the VR Industry including HMD manufacturers, game developers, content providers, silicon manufacturers, and key VR technology providers to deliver the best wireless VR experience to consumers and enterprises.

Razer Unveils D.Va peripheral Line for Overwatch

2017/11/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News

ANAHEIM, Calif. (BLIZZCON 2017) – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the officially licensed D.Va peripheral suite for Overwatch™, the record-breaking, team-based game by Blizzard Entertainment, developer and publisher of some of the world’s most epic games.

The gamer-inspired set of peripherals emulate the in-game persona of former professional StarCraft II player Hana Song (aka “D.Va”). The line includes D.Va’s iconic MEKA headset brought to life as a brand new Razer analog on-ear headset with integrated mic; a tournament-grade D.Va Razer Abyssus Elite gaming mouse; and an esports-preferred D.Va Razer Goliathus Medium Speed mouse mat.

“Since launching over a year ago, Overwatch has become a worldwide phenomenon and so has the love and affection for Blizzard’s beloved character, D.Va,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “She’s a gamer through and through and plays to win. When the idea to have a character-specific suite of products came up, the decision was ‘easy mode.’”

The D.Va Razer MEKA gaming headset features an omnidirectional mic and in-line controls for seamless communication with teammates. It is compatible with PC, Mac, Xbox One™, Playstation® and mobile devices.

The Abyssus – Razer’s original best-selling competitive “StarCraft” mouse – is reimagined with tournament-ready accuracy, sensitivity and responsiveness. The new gaming mouse features a true 7,200 dots-per-inch (DPI) optical sensor, 220 inches per second (IPS) tracking and up to 30 G acceleration. Gamers may access an array of dynamic Razer Chroma™ lighting effects on the mouse through Razer Synapse 3 (beta).

The D.Va Razer Goliathus mouse mat complements D.Va’s new Abyssus, optimized for all types of sensitivity settings and sensors types on any mouse.

The D.Va Razer Abyssus Elite gaming mouse and D.Va Razer Goliathus mouse mat are available today at www.razerzone.com. The D.Va Razer MEKA Gaming headset will release later this year. Interested parties may visit https://www.razerzone.com/licensed-and-team-peripherals/overwatch-dva for more information about officially licensed D.Va peripherals from Razer.

ABOUT OVERWATCH:

Overwatch is a team-based, multiplayer shooter featuring a cast of 21 dynamic heroes. Taking place on a near-future Earth, Overwatch gives players the ability to bend time, defy physics, and unleash over-the-top powers and weapons. Teams compete in six-on-six, objective-based maps set across the world; players will vie for control of an ancient temple in Egypt, escort an EMP device through King’s Row in London, battle for control of Lijiang Tower in China, and more—all while swapping between playable characters on the fly.

Final Open Alpha Weekend for Deep Rock Galactic Announced

2017/11/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

November 2nd, 2017 Stockholm, Sweden: Coffee Stain Publishing and Ghost Ship Games are offering budding intergalactic miners the chance to join the final Open Alpha Weekend of Deep Rock Galactic, taking place from November 9th to 12th. Deep Rock Galactic first began recruiting brave space mining dwarves when it enterd Closed Alpha on Steam in December 2016 and since then tens of thousands of the finest recruits across the galaxy have taken part in testing and you can be the next bearded badass if you sign up before midnight on November 6th.

Deep Rock Galactic is a co-op shooter which takes up to 4 players through perilous procedurally generated caves in search of valuable and rare minerals. Heading to Steam Early Access and Game Preview on the Xbox/Windows 10 Store in 2018, players impatient to grapple with hordes of dwarf hungry monsters should act now. To ensure player safety in the Open Alpha, Deep Rock Galactic has limited access to a smaller set of the caves of Hoxxes IV to First Dive, Lost Overhang and Infested Chasms, but for the most daring of dwarves there is a brand new mission type that needs testing. In ‘Motherlode’ players are invited to join their bearded brethren in gathering unique and invaluable resources in an extremely perilous Glyphid breeding ground.

You can find more details about the Open Alpha here or watch the official Open Alpha recruitment video here:

To join the Deep Rock Galactic Open Alpha testing initiative on Steam, sign up at deeprockgalactic.com before midnight on November 6th (11:59 PM – CEST)

The Steam Open Alpha test will run on Steam from November 9th (1:00 PM – CEST) to November 12th (10:00 PM – CEST)

Queen Mary Announces New Year’s Eve Party

2017/11/02

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

LONG BEACH, Calif., (November 1, 2017) –Toast to 2018 aboard the majestic Queen Mary and ring in the New Year with a night of captivating live entertainment, delicious food, and spectacular drinks culminating with one of SoCal’s top New Year’s Eve fireworks display on Sunday, December 31, 2017.

New Year’s Eve revelers will voyage throughout the ship’s decks, ballrooms, and salons for one night of multiple celebrations with live music performances, multiple DJs, dueling pianos, and more! Dubbed Southern California’s top fireworks display, the 15-minute-long fireworks show paints the night sky with exhilarating colors in-sync to New Year Eve themed music off the stern of the ship.

Las Vegas style showgirls will kick-off the evening’s celebrations and a variety of live music will play throughout the night including top 40 hits from DJ Carisma on the Verandah Deck Gazebo and EDM favorites from DJ Cutt in the Queens Salon. Country music star, Daniel Bonte and the Bona Fide, will perform in the Royal Salon and dueling pianos will take over the Britannia Salon.

The Queen Mary’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza offers a celebration for everyone. Guests can choose to enjoy a more mellow night with delicious food, dazzling drinks, and live entertainment, or dance the night away in a country bar or club-like atmosphere. The annually sold-out event caters to nightlife lovers of all tastes.

New Year’s Eve on The Queen Mary runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Guests must be 21 years old to attend. Tickets are $119 per person. Reservations for dining at Queen Mary’s restaurants are required. Bottle service packages and private champagne suites are available. For more information, pricing, hotel packages and more, visit http://queenmary.com or call 877-342-0742.

Knott’s Merry Farm Returns Starting November 17, 2017

2017/11/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

BUENA PARK, CA. (November 2017) – Joy is in Season again at Knott’s. From November 17 through January 7, Knott’s Merry Farm provides the perfect backdrop for your family’s holiday memories with a park transformation that surrounds you with the glorious sights, sounds and scents of the season. Guests of all ages can enjoy classic shows like Merry Christmas, Snoopy!, the festive ice show. Stroll through the merry streets of Calico for unique seasonal treats that can’t be found anywhere else, traditional live Christmas Carolers, a Christmas Crafts Village offering unique and personalized gift ideas, Santa’s Christmas Cabin, the enchanting Snow and Glow show with nightly falling snow set to thousands of sparkling lights and traditional Christmas music, plus so much more.

Charming holiday shows remain at the core of the Knott’s Merry Farm experience and continue to delight. Audiences can dance and sing along to the live performance of It’s The Merriest Christmas Show Ever, Charlie Brown at the Calico Mine Stage. The Peanuts Gang star in this toe-tapping, merry musical sure to bring out the Christmas joy in all. Select dates, November 17, 2017 – January 7, 2018.

The seasonal live entertainment continues with special showings of the breathtaking ice show, Merry Christmas, Snoopy! starring the Peanuts Gang and a cast of world-class ice skaters. In this whimsical show, Snoopy enjoys all of the best parts of the season including trimming the Christmas tree, awaiting Santa’s arrival, and attending the Christmas Ball! Showing select dates, November 17, 2017 – January 7, 2018 at the Charles M. Schultz Theatre.

Brand new this year, our culinary team is introducing the Christmas Pizza, a dish that deliciously combines the exquisite flavors of a holiday meal into one perfect bite. The Christmas Pizza, which can be found at Hollywood Hits, has soft dough covered with holiday toppings like sliced turkey, stuffing, turkey gravy and sweet cranberry sauce. Santa’s Christmas Cabin opens its doors to spread the joy of the holidays through delicious seasonal food items and a visit with the jolly fellow himself, Santa Claus. Guests can indulge in one-of-a-kind seasonal treats like freshly-baked cookies, mouthwatering pastries, exquisite chocolate-dipped cheesecake on a stick, seasonal craft beers, gourmet hot chocolate with marshmallows and hot spiced holiday wine, plus new offerings such as hand-made chicken and beef tamales. Knott’s world-famous holiday treats including delectable homemade holiday churros can be found throughout the park.

Families visiting Camp Snoopy won’t want to miss the holiday show, A Peanuts Guide to Christmas, performing daily at the Camp Snoopy Theater. The Peanuts Gang offer their take and unique wisdom on surviving the holidays, while singing you a mashup of their favorite holiday tunes.

Holiday shoppers can stroll through Ghost Town’s Christmas Crafts Village featuring dozens of local artisans selling their unique crafts and gifts. Also available in Ghost Town, inside the historic Bird Cage Theatre, Knott’s melodrama company brings to life Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and O. Henry’s A Gift of the Magi. Performances available on select dates, November 17, 2017 – January 7, 2018. The Birdcage Theatre is also home to the toe-tappin’, hand-clappin’, comedy and bluegrass of Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies who continue their Knott’s Merry Farm residency this holiday season on select nights.

As the night falls on Ghost Town, the town twinkles brightly to the beat of holiday songs as snow gently falls. With the nightly Snow and Glow, everyone can experience the magic of the holidays as the town is covered with snow, a sight that can’t be missed.

The perfect stocking stuffer is now on-sale. A 2018 Season Pass includes one free visit to enjoy Merry Farm in 2017, unlimited visits in 2018 with no blackout dates, discounts on select food and merchandise, and access to exciting year-round seasonal events. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to Knott’s Berry Farm and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. Now at the lowest price of the year, Regular Season Passes start at just $92.00 or six easy payments of $15.33 and Gold Season Passes are $110 or six payments of just $18.33. These offers end January 7, 2018. Applicable taxes and fees apply online. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.
For more information about Knott’s Berry Farm please visit knotts.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smartphone. Join the festive conversation using the holiday hashtag #MerryFarm.

Razer Unveils Its Own Phone

2017/11/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

LONDON – Razer today unveiled the Razer Phone, an Android smartphone with groundbreaking audiovisual technologies and processing muscle that takes personal entertainment to the next level.

The first device from Razer’s mobile division, the Razer Phone comes with a phenomenal display, cinematic audio and enough power to last a user all day, all in the palm of his or her hand.

SMOOTHER. BRIGHTER. FASTER.

The Razer Phone is equipped with the world’s first 120 Hz UltraMotion™ display that delivers the fastest refresh rates and smoothest graphics among today’s smartphones.
UltraMotion’s adaptive refresh technology synchronizes the GPU and display to remove image tearing or lag while driving efficient power usage.
The 5.72-inch display – a Quad HD IGZO LCD – delivers vibrant and sharp images with a wide color gamut.

TRUE-TO-LIFE CINEMATIC AUDIO

The Razer Phone is powered by Dolby Atmos® technology to provide true cinematic audio via front-firing speakers with dual dedicated amplifiers.
A THX-certified USB-C audio adapter with a 24-bit digital audio convertor (DAC) guarantees audiophile-quality sound with one’s favorite headphones.

INSANE PERFORMANCE

The Razer Phone ensures the ultimate viewing and gaming experience with the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 Mobile Platform and a massive 8GB of RAM.
Users can fine-tune their experiences with the Razer Game Booster app, and the phone’s best-in-class thermal design reduces throttling to maximize power and performance.

POWER THAT JUST KEEPS GOING

The Razer Phone packs a large 4,000 mAh battery, one of the largest capacities found on smartphones today. This allows gamers to keep playing all day long, while Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 4+ enables rapid charging.

AMAZING CAMERA PERFORMANCE

With dual rear 12 MP cameras, the Razer Phone gives photographers a versatile tool to create amazing images. Zooming from wide angle to telephoto is seamless with a quick pinch on the display, and the dual-tone flash ensures that subjects will always look natural.

A PREMIUM EXPERIENCE FOR POWER USERS

The Razer Phone’s sleek, 8-mm-thin aluminum body is a beauty to behold and to hold. It comes with Android Nougat and will receive the Android Oreo upgrade in spring 2018.
The device comes with Nova Launcher Prime with Google Assistant Integration. A wildly popular launcher, Nova Launcher Prime offers extreme customizability of the Android experience to suit every taste and need.

WATCH. LISTEN. PLAY.

Every feature of the Razer Phone was designed to bring users the ultimate in mobile entertainment:

Watch – Enjoy movies the way they were meant to be seen. Feast your eyes on a big screen with crisp details and the smoothest motion, complete with true-to-life vibrant colors. Add loud, riveting sound to complete the cinematic experience right in your hand.
Listen – Go ahead and turn up the volume—everything sounds amazing. Expertly tuned audio delivers all the highs and lows of your favorites tracks whether you listen through the stereo speakers or your favorite headphones. Don’t suffer in silence, there’s enough battery power to keep your tunes streaming all day long.
Play – From your everyday commute to playing in a tournament, experience buttery smooth gameplay and lightning-fast performance thanks to top-of-the-line components. Dial in your graphics to optimize your experience no matter what game you’re playing. And with a larger battery size, you can indulge in the latest games without worrying about running out of power.

“It’s common knowledge that I’m obsessed with my smartphones, I play a ton of games on them, and they’re my go-to for streaming content,” said Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “We have wanted to make a phone with gaming-level tech for years, and the Razer Phone delivers in every way we imagined.”

GAMING PARTNERSHIPS

Razer is proud to partner with the world’s top gaming companies, including Tencent® and Square Enix®, to bring the best gaming experiences to mobile and take full advantage of the Razer Phone’s extraordinary features. Mobile games are being optimized by partners for Razer Phone’s UltraMotion display with frame rates of up to 120 frames per second.

“Arena of Valor,” which Tencent is launching soon in North America, is the world’s most popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). Players battling on the Razer Phone will engage in overclocked action and turbocharged team fights, thanks to the device’s powerful gaming capabilities.

“The future of gaming is rapidly expanding to mobile devices, and both Razer and Tencent are at the forefront of fast-tracking development,” said Vincent Gao, global marketing director at Tencent Games. “Arena of Valor brings gamers a fast-paced, competitive experience, and the Razer phone was built to handle the visuals, sound and quick-reflex mechanics of the game. This partnership sets the standard for the next generation of mobile screen play.”

OTHER GAMING PARTNERSHIPS

· “Final Fantasy® XV Pocket Edition” from Square Enix

· “Gear.Club” from Eden Games

· “Lineage 2: Revolution” from Netmarble Games Corporation

· “Old School RuneScape™” from Jagex Limited

· “RuneScape™” from Jagex Limited

· “Shadowgun Legends™” from Madfinger Games

· “Tekken™” from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe

· “Titanfall™: Assault” from NEXON Co., Ltd. and Particle City, Inc.

· “World of Tanks Blitz” from Wargaming Group Limited

RAZER THEME STORE

The Razer Theme Store allows gamers to customize their phone, changing wallpapers, icon packs and colors throughout the phone. It includes custom ringtones by Razer DJs and custom wallpapers inspired by the world’s top gaming titles, such as “Shadowgun Legends™”.

THREE AS EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN CARRIER

In Europe, Razer has exclusively partnered with Three to be its launch carrier in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden

Dave Dyson, CEO at Three UK, said: “My ambition is always to innovate in ways that deliver better experiences for our customers and a partnership with Razer is a perfect fit. Razer has produced something that is a step ahead of any other mobile gaming device and I am delighted to be able to make this exclusive experience available to Three’s customers.”

Susan Buttsworth, CEO at Three’s international opportunities development division at CK Hutchison, said: “The launch of Razer Phone with Three marks another step in growing our Group strategic partnership with Razer and our position in the wider mobile gaming space. Not only is the device fine-tuned for gamers but it will also be of appeal to customers looking for a best of breed entertainment device, thanks to its stunning display and great audio quality. We look forward to a deeper co-operation with Razer, and will continue to bring to the Three customer base the most new and exciting products, services and digital experience.”

RAZER PHONE SPECIAL EDITION

1,337 sets of the Razer Phone Special Edition with Razer’s iconic green triple-headed snake logo will be available from Three stores in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, at Razer Store in San Francisco, and online in the USA and Canada via Razerzone.com.

The standard edition of the Razer Phone features a chrome triple-headed snake logo.

PRICING

Recommended Retail Pricing: US$699.99 / €749.99 / £699.99

AVAILABILITY

Three Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden.

Razerzone.com: North America, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden.

The Razer Phone will also be available on Amazon.com and at selected Microsoft Store locations in the USA.

From November 1, 2017, 9 p.m. GMT, pre-orders will begin at Three outlets and on the Three website. The Razer Phone can also be reserved on Razerzone.com in launch countries. The Razer Phone will go on sale in launch countries from November 17, 2017.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series Collection Announced

2017/11/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., November 1st, 2017 — Leading publisher of digital entertainment Telltale Games and Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment announced today that The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series Collection will arrive in stores on December 5th at retailers across North America and Europe, gathering all 19 episodes in the award-winning series onto one disc for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The collection will also be available digitally on both platforms starting that same day. The collection includes the recent third season, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, as well as visually enhanced versions of Season One, Season Two, 400 Days, and the three-part Michonne mini-series.

In addition to the announcement of this upcoming collection, Telltale also confirmed that Gary Whitta (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Book of Eli) will be returning to Telltale’s writers room as a Story Consultant for the series’ upcoming fourth and final season. Whitta was part of the BAFTA-award winning team of writers on the first season of the Telltale series and will be collaborating with Telltale and the creative team at Skybound Entertainment on the final chapters of Clementine’s storyline.

“Collaborating with Telltale on the first season of Clementine’s journey through the world of The Walking Dead was one of the highlights of my career, so reuniting with them to now bring her story to a close with this final season feels like a homecoming,” said Whitta. “Clementine has become not just one of the most compelling characters in the Walking Dead pantheon but one of the great video game characters of all time. I hope we’re able to do justice to her and to her millions of fans. This one feels special.”

The Walking Dead is an unparalleled journey into the heart of what it means to be human in a world that’s lost its humanity. Set in Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book universe, your story is determined by the choices you make. Season One of The Walking Dead: A Telltale Series redefined expectations for storytelling in video games, winning over 100 Game of the Year awards. Now the first three seasons, as well as horror anthology 400 Days and the three-part mini-series starring blade-wielding icon Michonne, will be available in one place for the first time, allowing you to prepare for the upcoming fourth and final season starring beloved survivor Clementine (due out in 2018).

“Clementine has meant so much to fans since the series premiered in 2012,” said Melissa Hutchison, the award-winning actress behind the iconic character. “It’s incredible to see this series collection arriving all in one place for players to relive the journey or catch up on her tragic tale of survival before we head into the final chapters of her storyline next year.”

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series Collection will be available at retail and digitally on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One starting December 5th, 2017 for the suggested price of $49.99 USD or equivalent. The Walking Dead: The Final Season (working title) will debut in 2018 on consoles, PC/Mac, iOS, and Android-based devices. Additional platforms are yet to be announced.

To date, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series has sold more than 50 million episodes worldwide, earning more than 100 Game of the Year awards from outlets including Metacritic, USA Today, Wired, Spike TV VGAs, Yahoo!, The Telegraph, Mashable, Polygon, Destructoid and GamesRadar. It was also the recipient of two BAFTA Video Games Awards for Best Story and Best Mobile Game.

For more information on the game, visit the official website and Facebook page, and follow Telltale Games on Twitter. For more information on The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, and all of his titles, visit Skybound.com.