Author - Jerry Paxton

BenQ RevolutionEyes Gaming Monitors Featured at QuakeCon 2014

BenQ_XL2420Z

COSTA MESA, Calif. — July 15, 2014 — BenQ America Corp., a globally renowned LED and gaming monitor expert, today announced its participation at QuakeCon 2014. The gaming event, which is the largest BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Computer) LAN party in North America, is being held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas from July 17-20. The annual festival attracts thousands of computer gamers who make the pilgrimage from all over the world to play with their friends on a giant gaming network, as well as to see the latest technology and compete in world-class tournaments. As the official visual sponsor, BenQ is outfitting the competition with its highly acclaimed RevolutionEyes™ gaming monitors.

“We are excited to showcase our award-winning displays at one of the country’s largest video game events rooted in the origins of the first-person shooter genre,” said Bob Wudeck, Associate Vice President, Strategy and Business Development at BenQ America Corp. “At QuakeCon 2014, our RevolutionEyes professional gaming monitors will help to enhance game play with advanced features engineered exclusively for professional gaming.”

Now available on all new monitors, BenQ’s RevolutionEyes technology brings exceptional monitor performance and enhanced visual comfort across the entire gaming line. Led by BenQ’s market-leading ZeroFlicker™ innovation, the monitors eliminate backlight flickering at all brightness levels, increasing eye comfort and allowing gamers to spend longer periods engaged in fast-action play. Featuring “Low Blue Light” technology, BenQ monitors remove up to 70 percent of blue spectrum light to protect gamers’ eyes during extended periods of play without affecting picture quality. All BenQ gaming monitors feature BenQ’s Black eQualizer, which enables total gaming visibility by allowing players to adjust brightness without over-exposing white levels, revealing critical combat details with improved visibility in darkened areas.

Gamers will battle it out on BenQ’s ultra-smooth XL-Z series of first-person shooter (FPS) purpose-built gaming monitors. The new displays add enhancements such as Motion Blur Reduction, gaming refresh rate optimization management (GROM), and 1-ms GTG response times. In addition, the new models offer BenQ’s latest firmware, which enables third-party utility support for further optimization options. The end result is striking visual clarity, seamless motion fluidity, and added viewing comfort for hours of action-packed game play.

More information on QuakeCon 2014 is available at www.quakecon.org. Additional information on BenQ’s full line of gaming monitors is available at www.BenQ.us.

Ubisoft’s Comic-Con 2014 Plans

sam_the_german

SAN FRANCISCO — July 15, 2014 — Today, Ubisoft announced its Comic-Con International: San Diego lineup featuring a selection of Ubisoft’s highly anticipated titles including, Assassin’s Creed® Unity™, Far Cry 4™, The Crew™ and Just Dance® 2015. In addition to hands-on time with some of the games, fans will have access to panels featuring Ubisoft titles.

San Diego Comic-Con attendees will be able to truly immerse themselves in the Assassin’s Creed Universe with the Assassin’s Creed Experience, a massive parkour obstacle course located on the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade at Harbor Dr. The Assassin’s Creed Experience allows fans the opportunity to become a Master Assassin and try free-running techniques such as rolling and vaulting, including a separate 25-foot “Leap of Faith.” Fans who complete the course will receive a free limited edition Assassin’s Creed Experience T-shirt (while supplies last) and bragging rights. The latest single-player demo of Assassin’s Creed Unity, showcasing the new hero, setting and features will also be shown at the Assassin’s Creed Experience. Additionally, consumers who pre-order the game on-site will receive a free Assassin’s Creed guillotine T-shirt (while supplies last). Additionally, Assassin’s Creed is teaming up with Schick Hydro® for the second year in a row to extend the Schick Hydro Challenge to Assassin’s Creed fans and help them discover a shave so smooth it could start a revolution. Attendees visiting the Assassin’s Creed Experience can get a free, customized shave by professional barbers and French-Revolutionary-inspired swag to inspire their sharpest selfies yet. For the duration of the Assassin’s Creed Experience, Schick will offer shaves with the cutting edge Schick Hydro® 5 razor, along with giveaways and prizes. The Assassin’s Creed Experience will be open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday – Saturday, and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday. Assassin’s Creed Unity will also be presented a few times a day throughout the duration of the show at the Xbox® Lounge at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel at 1 Market Place.

Attendees at the San Diego Convention Center will have the opportunity to check out The Crew at Ubisoft’s booth (#135) from July 23 – 27 in the Exhibition Hall. Fans will get their hands on a demo for The Crew, the revolutionary driving game that connects players online like never before. Players will be able to own the road in a massive, open-world re-creation of the United States that is brimming with exciting challenges. Gamers who pre-order The Crew at the Ubisoft booth will receive a free, exclusive T-shirt (while supplies last). For registered attendees outside of the show floor, The Crew will also be available at the Xbox Lounge at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel at 1 Market Place.

Just Dance 2015, Ubisoft’s latest installment of the world’s number one dance game, will be featured on Wii U™ in the Nintendo Gaming Lounge at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina at 333 W Harbor Drive during the week of Comic Con. Visitors can check-out the game’s all-new features and dance to the hottest track list yet, with songs including “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, “Summer” by Calvin Harris, and “Burn” by Ellie Goulding.

Panels

Comic-Con attendees can learn more about their favorite Ubisoft titles at panels. Seats are limited and attendees are encouraged to line-up early to hear from developers, industry experts and more at panels including:

Far Cry 4Thursday, July 24 from 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. room 6DE – Learn about the Himalayan inspiration behind Far Cry 4’s Kyrat – Go behind the scenes to learn about what went into building Far Cry 4’s open-world Kyrat for the next-generation.  The team traveled to Nepal with VICE to draw inspiration and create authentic Kyrati characters and environments native to the region.

Assassin’s Creed UnityFriday, July 25 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm Heads will roll! Assassin’s Creed Unity Demo and QA – Hosted by Aisha Tyler, come learn about how the blockbuster Assassin’s Creed franchise has been re-imagined for the next generation of gaming, and meet mysterious Arno, the new hero in Assassin’s Creed Unity. And join us to see the world premiere of an Assassin’s Creed inspired animated short, showcasing the brutality of the French Revolution created by famed musician and master of horror Rob Zombie, and artist Tony Moore, co-creator of The Walking Dead! Room 6BCF.

Visit the UbiBlog (www.ubiblog.com) for exclusive news and features from Comic-Con.

Marvel Announces Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years

StarWars_MARVEL_OMNI_V1HC

New York, NY – July 15th, 2014 – In 1977 a phenomenon dawned. Marvel Comics published the very first STAR WARS comic-book series. Now, the House of Ideas is re-presenting those original adventures in its over-sized Omnibus format – STAR WARS: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS collecting STAR WARS (1977) #1-44 and ANNUAL #1.

It’s the return of the Jedi to Marvel in an opening volume that begins with Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and ends with Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. In between, the rebels face a wealth of new perils — from space pirate Crimson Jack to the bounty hunter Beilert Valance, as well as a surprisingly svelte Jabba the Hut (one “t”). Luke goes back to Tatooine, Leia battles alone, Han and Chewie play the deadly Big Game, and Darth Vader hunts for answers! Revisit all your old favorites and discover some new ones!

There’s no doubt, the Force is strong with this collection!

“With Star Wars poised to return to its comic book home, what better time to revisit the first adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 and, of course, Darth Vader?” says Marvel Editor In Chief, Axel Alonso.  “I am extremely proud to present these original Star Wars stories, told as only Marvel can, in the first in a massive and glorious Omnibus series.”

STAR WARS: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS comes out of lightspeed in January 2015 and is written by Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin, Archie Goodwin, Jo Duffy & Chris Claremont, with pencils by Howard Chaykin, Carmine Infantino, Walter Simonson, Herb Trimpe, Michael Golden, Al Williamson and Mike Vosburg. Each copy of STAR WARS: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS will also be wrapped in a glorious covers by Howard Chaykin and Greg Hilderbrandt.

cd Projekt RED Announces Comic-Con 2014 Plans

witcher-comiccon

July 15, 2014 — CD PROJEKT RED, the creators of the open world fantasy RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, are thrilled to invite you to Comic-Con San Diego, where the studio will be present at a series of exciting events.

“Since this is the first Comic-Con for Geralt of Rivia, we’re going the extra mile to talk to as many Witcher fans as possible, at as many places as possible–we have a really mighty line up” said Rafał Jaki, Witcher Franchise Director, CD PROJEKT RED. “It’s a real pleasure to see The Witcher among all those comic book and movie characters we know and love”, Jakiadded. Explore San Diego Comic-Con and check out The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

* The first ever consumer preview of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at the The Witcher Panel. Featuring Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt of Rivia; Paul Tobin, House of Glass writer, Dark Horse, Nick McWhorter, VP Licensing, Dark Horse, and Rafał Jaki, Witcher Franchise Director, CD PROJEKT RED and special guest–video game journalist Geoff Keighley.

  • Thursday, July 24th, 10-11AM, Room 6A, San Diego Convention Center

* The Art of the Game Panel, hosted by Dark Horse, featuring Rafał Jaki, Witcher Franchise Director

  • Friday, July 25th, 4-5pm, Room 7AB, San Diego Convention Center

* Geek & Sundry Consumer Lounge at Jolt’n Joe’s Gaslamp, 379 4th Ave, San Diego

  • Thursday, July 24th, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM – The Witcher Trivia Madness,
  • Friday, July 25th, 10 AM – 11 AM, The Witcher Adventure Game Sneak Peek,
  • Friday, July 25th, 11 AM – 12 PM, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Live Demo.

Every Witcher Panel attendee will receive a special, SDCC limited-edition postcard with Witcher artwork by Simon Bisley

Visit fb.com/thewitcher and twitter.com/witchergame for updates from the show!

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Auditions

Fright Fest 2013 color logo

Jackson, NJ – July 15, 2014 – More than 200 scare actors, trained dancers, variety performers and technicians are needed to fill a variety of zombie roles and support positions during this fall’s annual Fright Fest celebration at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Six Flags seeks individuals with a passion for Halloween and scaring. The park’s casting team is looking for nearly a dozen trained dancers for the popular Dead Man’s Party and Ghoulmaster’s Ghosts stage shows, more than 150 scare actors for the park’s haunted midways and creepy terror trails, variety performers for street shows, and technicians to work behind the scenes to create the ambience of Fright Fest through special effects, lighting and sound.

No prior acting or scare experience is necessary to fill the acting roles.  Auditions include several fun acting exercises in a group setting.  Dancers must be ready to showcase their inner zombie and have dance training in jazz and hip hop. They will learn several dance combinations during the audition with professional dancer/choreographer and Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance finalist Ashle Dawson. No preparation is required for either set of auditions, but headshots and resumes are welcome. Variety performers should arrive ready to showcase their talents, such as magic, juggling, stilt walking, etc.

Applicants interested in technician positions should complete the pre-employment application online and arrange an in-person interview.

Anyone interested in applying for a Fright Fest position should first complete the pre-employment application at www.sixflagsjobs.com. Audition dates, times and locations are available on the website. Additional questions can be answered by calling the Entertainment Department at 732-928-2000 ext. 2225.

Fright Fest begins Sept. 20 and runs weekends through Nov. 2.

WHAT

Dance Auditions:

  • July 18 at 7 p.m.
  • July 19 at 1 p.m.

Scare Actor and Variety Performer Auditions:

  • July 25 at 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 2 & 3 at 1 p.m.
  • Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 16 at 1p.m.
  • Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.

Please be prompt, as latecomers will not be permitted to audition. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Guests are not be permitted inside the auditions.

WHERE

Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ 08527.  Use Employment/Service Entrance on Route 537. Dance auditions take place in Showcase Theater; acting auditions take place in the Employment Center.

Pharrell Williams to Choose NBA 2K15 Soundtrack

CB_PW_Shot4_0927_v1_QC_LR

New York, NY – July 15, 2014 – 2K today announced a new collaboration with internationally-renowned artist and producer Pharrell Williams to curate the most extensive and unique soundtrack compilation in NBA 2K franchise history forNBA® 2K15, the next installment of the top-selling and top-rated NBA video game simulation franchise*. The partnership brings together one of music’s most creative minds with one of the most successful entertainment properties of the last decade.

“It was a cool experience. I tried to curate songs that were diverse but yet still proved to be motivational to gamers,” said Pharrell. “It was important to me that the music complemented the on-court action of NBA basketball in NBA 2K15. I hope everyone enjoys it.”

A renowned visionary across music, fashion, and design, Pharrell has served as a pop-culture force since his days as a founding member of N.E.R.D and the Neptunes to his latest venture with multi-media creative collective i am OTHER. His work includes producing tracks for some of the biggest albums of the decade, such as Kendrick Lamar’s “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” and Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange,” as well as hit singles “Happy,” “Blurred Lines” with Robin Thicke and “Get Lucky” with Daft Punk.

“Pharrell’s passion and reputation as a visionary producer and expertise from working with the NBA will be evident in the largest and most eclectic NBA 2K soundtrack ever,” said Alfie Brody, Vice President of Marketing for 2K. “We really listened to our fans’ feedback on how we could improve their experience from a music standpoint, and we’re confident Pharrell’s collaboration in NBA 2K15 will impress players as much as it’s impressed us.”

Pharrell’s soundtrack selections will be revealed later this summer. Follow @NBA2K on Twitter and use the hashtag #YourTimeHasCome for the latest NBA 2K15 news.

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K studio, NBA 2K15 is not yet rated by the ESRB. NBA 2K15 is scheduled for release on October 7 in North America, and on October 10 internationally for the PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment systems, the Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360  games and entertainment system from Microsoft; and Windows PC.

Customers can also pre-order NBA 2K15 by visiting http://2kgam.es/BuyNBA2K15.

GX Gaming Unveils QuakeCon 2014 Peripheral Lineup

genius-gx

July 15, 2014, Chino, California – GX Gaming will be attending QuakeCon 2014, giving attendees a chance to check out and possibly win the latest GX Gaming gear at their booth in conjunction with Enermax: #242.

GX Gaming Series

The GX Gaming Series encompasses a full range of professional PC gaming peripherals. Designed for MMO, RTS, and FPS gamers, the GX Gaming Series includes diverse products such as 7.1-channel headsets, programmable keyboards and mice, and gaming speakers that deliver thundering bass.

Get Your Game On

Attendees will be able to get their game on at the GX Gaming booth on four high-end PCs, provided by AVATARGamingPC, fully decked out with GX Gaming gear such as the Manticore keyboard and award-winning Gila mouse.

Compete to Win

Visitors to the booth with also be able to experience GX Gaming’s latest speaker system, SW-G2.1 2000, at the interactive gaming TV station where attendees will be able to challenge one another and test their gaming skills to win swag, prizes and much more.

Genius invites all QuakeCon 2014 attendees to come by booth #242 to play around with, and perhaps win, its latest product offerings.

About Genius

Genius is a leading international brand in personal peripheral products connecting people to their devices in the mobile and digital world. Established by KYE Systems Corp. in 1983, Genius products have been recognized and honored by many prestigious industry design awards like Red Dot, IF Design and Good Design. Genius has always been going after better user experience through innovation, simple design and high quality measures in its product line ranging from keyboards, mice, touch pens, trackpads, speakers, headphones, power bank, docking stations, gaming controls, carrying cases and additional wired and wireless accessories that will help people stay connected to the mobile and digital world. For more information, you can visit the Genius website at www.geniusnet.com. You can also view the Genius company profile on YouTube athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyaWkIDodxI.

From Dusk Till Dawn Announced as Horror Nights Maze

hhn 2014 from dusk till dawn image

UNIVERSAL CITY, Ca., ORLANDO, Fla., (July 14, 2014) — From cult horror film to breakthrough television series on El Rey Network, “From Dusk Till Dawn” will add terrifying maze to its credits when filmmaker Robert Rodriguez’s acclaimed supernatural show debuts as a menacing new “Halloween Horror Nights” experience at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, beginning Friday, September 19.

This all-new maze, inspired by the critically acclaimed television series, will thrust guests into the deviant world of “From Dusk Till Dawn,” where they will encounter sordid mythological creatures known as “Culebras,” serpent-like vampires who have tormented the earth for centuries.  Residing within the elusive and sinister nightclub, “The Twister,” located just over the Mexican border and above cursed ancient ruins, the “Culebras” prove to be a band of immoral and depraved beasts with a deadly agenda. As guests navigate the maze and venture deep within the bowels of “The Twister,” they will find themselves face to face with a cast of perverse characters, including exotic dancer, Santanico Pandemonium, a mysterious and irresistible “Culebras” femme fatale and Queen Vampire.

Based on the film of the same name, “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” is a supernatural crime saga centered around bank robber, Seth Gecko and his violent, unpredictable brother, Richard “Richie” Gecko, who are wanted by the FBI after a bank heist leaves several people dead.  While on the run to Mexico, Seth and Richie encounter former pastor Jacob Fuller and his family, whom they take hostage. Using the family RV to cross the border, chaos ensues when the group detours to a club populated by vampires and are forced to fight until dawn in order to get out alive. The series deepens the tone of the film, From Dusk Till Dawn, upon which it is based, adding new characters and backstories that expand the Mesoamerican mythology behind the creatures inside the club.

“Universal Studios’ ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ event is the ideal platform to take fans of ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ to literally experience the terror of stepping into the show,” said Robert Rodriguez.  “It has been an incredible opportunity to work closely with the Creative teams at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort to bring this maze to life with such detail and authenticity.  This maze will capture the visceral excitement and thrills of the series, and I can’t wait to experience it myself.”

A versatile and award-winning filmmaker, Robert Rodriguez is renowned for directing a variety of successful and groundbreaking film sagas, including such cult horror classics as Planet Terror, Machete, Grindhouse and From Dusk Till Dawn, upon which El Rey Network’s hit television show, “From Dusk Till Dawn:  The Series” is based. Rodriguez is also the Founder & Chairman of El Rey Network, a 24-hour, general entertainment English-language cable channel which debuted in the U.S. in December 2013.

“Robert Rodriguez’ genius in pushing the boundaries of the horror genre is a perfect pairing for ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ as we continue to intensify our event with the most credible horror voices within the entertainment industry,” said John Murdy, Creative Director for Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of “Halloween Horror Nights.” “This radical new maze will give fans of ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ an unprecedented opportunity to experience the show’s Mesoamerican mythology and will come to life with the same attention to detail and production value that Robert’s work is known for.”

“Robert Rodriguez’s vision of ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ has translated so well into a maze experience,” said Michael Aiello, Director of Entertainment – Creative Development, Universal Orlando Resort.  “We will feature the over-the-top gore that the show does so well and our guests will come face-to-face with Robert’s unique and wickedly cool take on the vampire mythos that is completely authentic to the show. From the Nightclub interiors to the inner sanctum of its tombs, these bloodthirsty beasts will be everywhere and have a thirst that can’t be quenched.”

Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” events have a more than 20-year history of creating incredibly entertaining, horrifying Halloween experiences that are consistently rated the nation’s best. The events on each coast feature highly-themed, disturbingly real, haunted mazes based on everything from films to nightmares – and streets filled with hundreds of specially trained “scareactors.” In addition to the “From Dusk Till Dawn” maze, other announced mazes include, “The Walking Dead:  The End of the Line.”

To learn more about the “From Dusk Till Dawn” maze featuring Robert Rodriguez and the series cast members, click here:  “From Dusk till Dawn” maze announcement video and here “From Dusk till Dawn” cast Q&A

HBO and Cinemax Announce Comic-Con 2014 Panels

game-of-thrones-season-4

July 14, 2014 — The HBO series TRUE BLOOD and GAME OF THRONES and the CINEMAX series BANSHEE are confirmed for panels and autograph sessions at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2014.

Below is panel information on the three series. Expect live coverage of all HBO and CINEMAX Comic-Con activities at HBO Connect (hbo.com/connect) and at TRUE BLOOD #TrueToTheEnd and GAME OF THRONES #SurviveTheRealm. For BANSHEE, fans can go to cinemax.com and #SDCCBanshee.

Friday, July 25

The GAME OF THRONES panel in Hall H at 1:40 p.m. will be moderated by Craig Ferguson. The panel will include: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, executive producers, writers and showrunners of GAME OF THRONES, and George R.R. Martin, co-executive producer and author of the bestselling fantasy book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” on which the HBO drama is based. Cast members scheduled to attend (in alphabetical order): John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), Rory McCann (Sandor “The Hound” Clegane), Pedro Pascal (Oberyn Martell), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark). Autograph signing is at the WB booth at 3:30 p.m.

The panel for BANSHEE in Room 6A at 7:15 p.m. will be moderated by Grantland staff writer Andy Greenwald. Panelists include: creator and executive producer Jonathan Tropper and cast members Antony Starr (Lucas Hood), Ivana Milicevic (Carrie Hopewell), Ulrich Thomsen (Kai Proctor) and Geno Segers (Chayton Littlestone). Autograph signing is at the WB booth at 6:15 p.m.

Saturday, July 26

The TRUE BLOOD panel in Ballroom 20 at 5:00 p.m. will be moderated by Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly. Panelists include: executive producer Brian Buckner and cast members (in alphabetical order) Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur), Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pam Swynford de Beaufort), Anna Camp (Sarah Newlin), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette Reynolds), Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton), Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse), Nathan Parsons (James), Carrie Preston (Arlene Bellefleur), Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte), Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton) and Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby). Autograph signing is at the WB booth at 2:00 p.m.

To pick up official product from GAME OF THRONES, TRUE BLOOD and other favorite HBO series, fans can visit the HBO Pop Up Shop at Market St. and 8th Ave. The Pop Up Shop, which has made previous stops at SXSW in Austin and at the Linq in Las Vegas, will be open at Comic-Con on Thursday (10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.), Friday (10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.), Saturday (11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.) and Sunday (9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.).

PLEASE NOTE: Cast and producers scheduled to attend are subject to change. HBO is not organizing additional media activities for the casts of TRUE BLOOD and GAME OF THRONES.